My mid year review of MVIS
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.
MicroVision
MVIS (market cap is $0.194B was $0.086B)
Here we go again...
MIcroVision is a company based on the technology of oscillating mirror(s) on chip(s). Bounce light one way, and create a projector and display. Bounce light the opposite way, and create a sensor or a camera. Bounce light both ways and people can interact with the projected image. The advantage of MicroVision's tech is the ability to create devices that are small, use less power than some competitors, and project images that are always in focus. Their projectors aren't as small as embedded cameras, but they are closer to those camera's size than to conventional projectors.
The disadvantage of MicroVision, or its tech, or both, is that the company has yet to attain and sustain profitability. Whether that is a failure technologically or managerially is difficult to ascertain because the company's management is known for rarely communicating specifics about the long line of business opportunities that have been unfulfilled.
Currently, there is greater interest in the company (as measured by the traffic to various discussion groups) and in the stock (as measured by those discussions but also by price and volume growth.) The greater interest may be yet another wave of investors/speculators/gamblers, or from higher expectations that some of the indicators and rumors seem less risky this time. Finding a MicroVision logo inside a Microsoft Hololens certainly helps. Hints that there are potential LiDAR customers, display only customers, etc. also help.
As usual, the company lacks clear and credible communication from the management. The recent low share price of under $0.20 was worrisome (though enthusiasm has returned the price to over $1.20.) The threat of yet another reverse split is also worrisome. Regaining NASDAQ listing compliance helps. Buyout rumors are common. A buyout might be more beneficial for the purchaser and MicroVision management than for the retail investor.
MicroVision is a classic case of risk and reward. History proves that the risk has been high. The potential reward also remains high. Every year it seems like next year will be the turning point. Occasionally, it seems like the turning point will happen any day. Maybe the company, the technology, and the stock will finally succeed.
DISCLOSURE LTBH since 1999 (though the very first shares are gone), and my patience is gone, yet my perseverance and majority of shares remain. Dilution no longer means that I have more than enough if the company finally succeeds and the stock reaches the heights I think are possible. I may buy and have bought more simply because the stock is so cheap.
(I've also collected links to the other discussion boards and my other stocks over on my blog trimbathcreative.net ) |
