My end of year review of AMSC
INTRO Here's my semi-annual exercise to see if I remember why I own the stocks I own, and so I can check back and see if their stories have changed. I post in case it helps others too.
AMSC
AMSC (market cap is $0.171B was $0.201B)
AMSC (formerly AMerican SuperConductor)
AMSC is based on providing goods and services derived from their superconducting cable technology with additional abilities acquired from companies they bought or merged with. It is easiest to describe superconducting cables that were supposed to “do for electricity transmission what fiber optics did for telecommunications” (paraphrased). Such technology also allows for more efficient motors, voltage regulators, and similar infrastructure projects. The company is also involved in wind turbine design. Ideally, energy efficiency needs in the utility industry can benefit from more efficient cables, motors, etc.
The potential is large because the industry is large and vital, but the industry is also very conservative. Adoption of the technology and sales for AMSC have been below expectations. After a precipitous drop from intellectual property theft and a customer turning into a competitor, there was more of a drop with a slight recent rebound. Supposedly, two major positives may be the market in India, and off-shore wind farms. Neither has significantly affected the company’s finances. Projects like Tres Amigas (a project to connect the Continental US power grids) have faded.
I continue to hold, but this exercise may convince me to sell, particularly as I conduct this exercise with my other stocks. A spike based on good, quantifiable news would keep me in; and a spike based on market momentum or trading quirks may convince me to sell - if I haven’t already sold.
DISCLOSURE LTBH since 2003 but the first shares were sold years ago, fortuitously in hindsight because I actually made a profit.
(I've also collected links to the other discussion boards and my other stocks over on my blog trimbathcreative.net ) |
