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Technology Stocks : MRV Communications (MRVC) opinions? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Sector Investor who wrote (23164)	8/18/2000 3:36:09 PM
From: Greg h2o	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 42804

<<Even Greg, tried to get me off that!>> nah, just a little gambling "vacation".... i don't think there's a single stock out there that should be considered a "buy and hold" stock.... sorry, doesn't sound like the comment you'd expect from me. but, you better be damned sure you know what you're doing if you decide to lighten up or overload a certain stock or sector. that's where all the research we're talking about comes into play. if ANY stock gets way out of whack in either direction, justifiable corresponding buys or sells should follow.

To: Sector Investor who wrote (23164)	8/19/2000 12:45:21 AM
From: Stu Bishop	Read Replies (6) \| Respond to of 42804

Hi Sector and gang, re: "How can an average investor buy and hold MRVC?" I just checked my investment records and I see that I first bought shares in MRVC on August 18, 1997, three years ago to the day. I have never sold a single share. I have since added shares twice: in Dec 1998, and just recently, on July 31. More than half my holdings were acquired in late 1998 at the post-split price of $3.25. I'd have to say that purchase was the crown jewel (to continue the analogy) of my investment career to date. I can relate to Robert's comments about not worrying about every nut and bolt, but understanding the important, obvious factors that will drive a stock. I recall reading a newsletter entitled "BREAKTHROUGH" sometime in the latter half of the 1980s. A friend of mine's father subscribed to it, and my friend would bring it to work when his dad was finished with it. I recall reading in it about fiber optics as applied to data transmission, and predictions of how optical would eventually displace metal in things like semiconductors, wiring, cable, etc. The newsletter discussed all the advantages from a scientific, physics-based perspective. It all made perfect sense to me at the time. I'm an aerospace engineer by the way. I was in my late 20s then and not too long out of college, and I was reading this solely for it's technical value. For investments I was buying US savings bonds and some mutual funds like Fidelity Magellan. Now fast forward to 1997, a decade later. By then I had been "online" and buying stocks for a couple years. Being an engineer, but new to stock picking, I was into the obvious techies, the no-brainers like Intel, Micron Technology, and Applied Materials. Then I recall reading one of the many lists that get published in mags like Business Week, NewsWeek, or Fortune about "the fastest growing companies", or something like that. That's where I first found out about MRVC. In the company description, there was a mention of fiber optics. I remembered the newsletter I had read ten years earlier that discussed fiber optics. And from my own experience and observations, I was aware of the obvious macroeconomic forces that would drive the growth of networking as far into the future as the mind could imagine. Another contributor mentioned how MRVC shares were trashed because of market inefficiencies. When the big drop happened, I remember the company saying that they were increasing R&D and SG&A. I knew that this would only help the company in the long run, and that's why I had the confidence to "back up the truck". Now, the networking sector, and in the last year, optical networking in particular, have only strengthened. This week Corning's Ackerman said that the demand is everywhere. Ciena said their business is limited only by their ability to deliver. Cisco continues to defy the big company, slowing growth conventional wisdom, with 61% y-y growth. After the pull back this Spring, and when the price recovery became obvious, I knew I had to add shares again late last month. Like Robert, I'm not sure what a triplexer is. But I understand the obvious. You really just need a good head on your shoulders, and I was fortunate to be born with one. I recall when I first posted back in late Summer 97, Sector welcomed me to the thread and guaranteed me a double in the next year. Well it didn't quite work out that way; but in three years it's worked out much better. The lessons: 1. I do believe a somewhat technical background is very helpful. 2. You don't need to know and understand every nut and bolt. But it's important to understand the major macroeconomic forces at work, and look for good companies in those areas. 3. More research can't hurt, and should increase one's confidence and ease one's mind. 4. Stick with the quality when you realize you've found it, hold the winners. 5. Patience. By the way that newsletter also touted Gallium Arsenide, GaAs, as an eventual successor to Silicon. Have you heard of Vitesse, Anadigics, Triquint, and RF Microdevices? I wish I knew how to get hold of the last ten year's issues of that newsletter! Good luck all. SPB