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Biotech / Medical : Laser Vision Centers, Inc. (NASDAQ: LVCI) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: MGV who wrote (343)	12/1/1999 11:11:00 AM
From: Robert G. Harrell	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 413

I'm wondering if the analysts were/are picking up on the tone of the CC. There seemed to me to be a big change in the tone of the CEO from the recent annual meeting to this CC. Did any of the rest of you hear the annual meeting? They seemed incredibly confident and bullish in the meeting and very tentative in the CC. I have no intention of selling any time soon but I'm expecting a lot of volatility for a few months. When I loaded up with way too much stock on the way down, I thought the price war issue would be quickly dispelled and the stock would resume its steady climb. I wish the company had given more details about their projections for sales vs price if prices are cut. I wonder what their fee would be if the doctors end up reducing the procedure price to $1850 which is what I think they were guessing would be the low end. If there is considerable price elasticity, the company might make more money at the $1850 price point. Bob

To: MGV who wrote (343)	12/6/1999 5:11:00 PM
From: W Shakespeare	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 413

If you like roller coaster rides, this should be a very fun week for LVCI stock. Some potential ups, downs, and violent curves. 1.) TLCV's earnings shortfall announcement. Yawn! LVCI drops sharply on the news as is quite clear that most investors cannot distinguish between the companies in the sector. The news has absolutely nothing to do with LVCI or even with the sector. TLCV may be the biggest but it is also the slowest and the least well run. The comparison that comes to mind is Sears and Walmart. Sears was much larger initially but the company focused on large markets where it got murdered by the competition. Walmart, on the other hand, focused on small markets where it could dominate. TLCV's press announcements make it clear that they believe that they can succeed through size. I beg to differ. Success will come from efficiency and strategic advantage. 2.) A decision in the Visx v. Nidek case. Whenever rendered, the case verdict should propel the stocks in the industry one way or the other. I am hoping that VISX wins decisively since it will eliminate any uncertainty hanging over the industry and will prevent the growth of smaller inefficient players. 3.) LVCI's November procedure numbers. I look for a blowout. However, giving the stupidity of the investors in the sector, I doubt whether it will push the stock up much. 4.) Idiot analyst downgrades. It has become obvious that, with a few notable exceptions, most analysts following the industry are clueless and gutless. Some will be saying that no one wants eye surgery anymore and the industry is doomed. Others will comment that the price of procedures will drop to $0.50 an eye! Some will scream that VISX will raise its procedure fee to $500- an eye (if they win) or drop it to $.01 (if they lose). Ignore the idiot analysts and buy more on the drops.