AOL 99: KING OR PAUPER? POLL update; 1/31/99 185; 1/1/00 333
Art Stone stands alone.
In fact, no one comes close. Stone has let it be known: his Jan. 31 prediction for AOL is not a mere $200, but an outlandish $287.
The next highest guesses are at $250, by Annette and tang.
Art's forecast shoots right through the AOL ozone, that's for sure. At $287, AOL would have to gain 85 percent from now until the end of this month.
Of course, stranger things have happened in much less time.
His Jan. 1, 2000 guess of $37 -- that's not a typo, folks -- still remains, however. More on this at a later date, I hope.
There's much on the minds of stock market players, let alone AOL shareholders.
The Y2K problem -- resolved or not -- can't let at least one AOL shareholder rest for the new year. The fragile psyche of stockholders is worth considering, perhaps above all, says happy girl.
Have the minds been put to ease? Will people (fund managers, moms and dads, institutions) believe Y2K is a non event (from blowout point of view)? People don't have choices with something like Euro. But with Y2K they do. Come Dec 1999 will I leave my money in AOL and hope nothing happens ? Especially if it has grown like I hope it will. What do ***you*** think ? After all, its all investor psychology which drives markets.......
That hasn't stopped happy girl from a healthy 190 prediction for AOL as of Jan. 31. Her end-of-year guess for AOL is 300.
The bullish Millionairess is even more optimistic, with prognostications of 190 and 380. She referred threaders to a ZDNet story by Eric C. Fleming that may bring more smiles to the friendly faces of AOL holders come Monday.
America Online Inc. (NYSE: AOL) shares should have a happy New Year. On Monday, hundreds on index funds will buy shares of AOL to match its weighting on the Standard & Poor's 500 index.
The Dulles, Va. company will be added to the S&P 500 after market close on Thursday.
AOL has returned 551 percent year-to-date, closing Wednesday at 147 7/16. With all the chatter about Web portals, the online service provider now serves as the access provider for 15 million members across the world. And now AOL gets near blue chip status with membership to a well-followed index.
The big deal is that 546 institutional investors will have to buy AOL on Jan. 4, according to CIBC Oppenheimer. Right now, 554 institutions hold AOL shares, making up more than 70 percent of outstanding shares. Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX), a traditional media company, has 982 institutional holders, controlling about 60 percent of available shares.
Millionairess did issue a disclaimer on the story, though, noting errors she's experienced in web publications.
For those of you who haven't submitted predictions, feel free to do so. For those of you who want to change your picks, go right ahead.
And as for any prizes for the most accurate guessers...we'll see.
=====================
1999 2000
Jan31 Jan1
287 37 Art Stone
250 540 tang
250 500 Annette
230 400 Dave Kosmayer
214 400 Bret
210 450 CRICKET
204 260 David Montgomery
200 460 Phillip A. Strong
200 400 Brian Malloy
195 245 Ted Downs
192 470 Voltaire
190 475 49er Steve
190 387 Uncle Frank
190 380 Millionairess *****
188 315 Andy
185 400 lebo
185 260 sam
182 409 Modano
182 300 Jolie Renee
180 350 RocketMan
180 350 John Brinley
180 300 happy girl *****
180 300 Jon Stept
180 290 Tunica Albuginea
180 280 Jorge
180 250 James Fulop
170 530 Frank Ellis Morris
170 425 Vendit
170 325 Dennis J Baltz
170 232 Jinx3d
168 260 bob
165 315 Gregory Mullineaux
162 242 james d brady
160 425 Larry
155 320 BomboochaBoy
150 250 LindyBill
145 300 sakura
145 225 David Tesorero
140 185 chalu2
137 65 The Guru 00
***** denotes new entry
averages
1999 2000
Jan31 Jan1
185 333
(7203) (12312)
(39 polled)
===========================
Analysts' targets
MSN
old targets
6/99 $246
6/00 $379
new targets
6/99 $266
6/00 $409
Gerard Klauer Mattison
$175 |
