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

To: W Shakespeare who wrote (374)	1/20/2000 7:12:00 PM
From: gmccon	Respond to of 413

Anybody else think you'll be able to get some of this one at 6 or 7? Maybe lower? Sometimes these perfectly good companies just need to consolidate at ridiculously low prices. Then, pow! Greg

To: W Shakespeare who wrote (374)	1/21/2000 8:22:00 AM
From: Mozingo	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 413

Certainly hope you're correct about the recovery. I hold a bundle of LVCI and have watched my stake go down 67 percent since original purchase. Of course I doubled a couple of times thinking that the false hype over pricing wars would end and the industry would recover sooner than this. But you're right that LVCI keeps posting good numbers. One of my small concerns is that TLC has launched a major ad campaign at least where I live. I'm also seeing that Lasik is getting a lot of airplay as well and a recent ad showed procedures for both eyes at under $3000. Would like to know what LVCI is up to with regards to marketing and strategy for future growth and acquisitions. Anyway, let's hope the whole industry rebounds. Regards. Gary

To: W Shakespeare who wrote (374)	1/21/2000 12:31:00 PM
From: Rob S.	Respond to of 413

I called the company and talked with management this morning for almost an hour. Here is what I determined: As we already know, procedures (sales) in October were flattish, in NOV & DEC they were up nicely. January, as expected, is off DEC's pace but looking OK so far. LVCI sees itself as the low cost major provider. As the industry matures they expect further consolidation and probable opportunities will emerge to expand through acquisitions. That is still just speculation but a reasonable one. LVCI does conservative accounting. There are no expected write-offs and no longer-term balloons in amatorization of costs, as is the case with some others in the industry. So while bombs may be going off at VISX and elsewhere, the ground (accounting methods used) looks stable under LVCI. There is some pricing adjustments being seen but there is also some "elasticity of demand". That means that when prices come down it stimulates more people to do the procedures. As a result, sales and profits grow. For the near term this will offset the pricing pressure adjustments needed in analysts models. In the longer term it fits with projections for long-term expansion of the industry. Given this scenario, which company is best positioned to take advantage of it? LVCI is the low cost, most flexible, quality provider. The net effect of the maturation of the industry is that LVCI will do comparatively well. And doing well in a growth industry isn't a bad place to be. IMO, this is a fine time to pick up shares - while there is deep concern (panic) because of troubles at competitors who have not built their business on a flexible and low cost model. Hang in there or better yet buy more at this level. By the time that earnings are released you won't see near this price again.