To: eDollar.com who wrote (6063 ) 7/2/1999 12:58:00 PM From: Topannuity Read Replies (2) | Respond to of 16809
I've changed the rating scale to permit negative and positive grades from -2 to +2 for each factor. I also added a 7th factor encompassing the "Current Environment" for IPOs as favorable to unfavorable. What do you think? ********************************************************1. Industry-related Factors Does this company operate in a big-ass market? Are its products or services in "HOT" sectors, e.g., internet infrastructure, enabling technologies, DSL, wireless internet communication, B-to-B commerce, verticals, hosted services, etc.? Choose from most positive (+2) to most negative (-2) (______) ....+2....+1....0....-1....-2.... Your explanation: ********************************************************2. Company-related Factors Are the company's sales revenues growing exponentially? Does this company have the "first-mover" advantage over all its competitors? Will this company emerge as the category leader in its market? Does this company have the leading edge in its technology, products or merchandising model? Does this company have strong brand recognition (the "branding" advantage)? Does this company have a winning merchandising and customer service strategy? Does this company attract high-profile clients or consumers? Does this company have multiple (or blended) revenue sources? Has the management team demonstrated success in prior public ventures? Does the management team hustle? Does the company have the best people in this field? Choose from most positive (+2) to most negative (-2) (______) ....+2....+1....0....-1....-2.... Your explanation: ********************************************************3. Venture-Capital Backing Was this company backed early on by leading venture capital firms? [These venture capitalists are very careful in choosing the companies they back. It's a good sign when the successful v.c. firms backed an IPO from its early development.] Choose from most positive (+2) to most negative (-2) (______) ....+2....+1....0....-1....-2.... Your explanation: ********************************************************4. Float Is the float relatively small (3-5 million shares)? [Here's the float--in millions-- for some recently priced IPOs which are trading at least 100% above their IPO levels (as of 6/18/99): BRCD 3.2; CMTN 4.0; CPTH 4.5; EXTR 7.0; MKTW 2.7; MMXI 3.0; MRBA 4.0; PCLN 10.0; PRSF 8.0; PHCM 4.0; RBAK 2.5; RTHM 9.4; STRM 7.0; SILK 3.0; VERT 3.5] Choose from most positive (+2) to most negative (-2) (______) ....+2....+1....0....-1....-2.... Your explanation: ********************************************************5. Quality of the Lead Underwriter Is this company being underwritten by at least one of the three best-performing lead underwriters--Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, Merrill Lynch, and Goldman Sachs? [These brokers are very careful in choosing the companies they underwrite because they need to protect their long-established reputation for offering quality IPOs and quality investments. If this IPO passes muster with Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, Merrill Lynch, or Goldman Sachs, it's usually a good deal.] Choose from most positive (+2) to most negative (-2) (______) ....+2....+1....0....-1....-2.... Your explanation: ********************************************************6. Buzz / Excitement Level Is there a lot of "BUZZ" about and anticipation for this IPO? One way to guage this interest is by counting the number of messages about this IPO on the SI threads. [The buzz factor can add to the appeal of an issue, but the absence of buzz does not necessarily detract. Some great stocks generate buzz, and some great stocks don't, for whatever reason. Here are some hard figures on this concept: The PCLN SI thread had 598 messages up to the morning of March 30, 1999, when it began trading. I believe this is the record number of pre-IPO posts for any issue. PCLN was one of the biggest first-day movers, jumping from $16 to $84. see techstocks.com VERT had 69 pre-IPO messages. On the other hand, an IPO with few pre-IPO messages may still turn out to be a big winner. Recent examples are RBAK (8 pre-IPO posts), HLTH (7 pre-IPO posts), CMTN (15 pre-IPO posts), and BRCD (12 pre-IPO posts).] Choose from most positive (+2) to most negative (-2) (______) ....+2....+1....0....-1....-2.... Your explanation: ********************************************************7. Current Market Environment for All IPOs Choose from most positive (+2) to most negative (-2) (______) ....+2....+1....0....-1....-2.... Your explanation: