Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Strategies & Market Trends : Value Investing -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Wallace Rivers who wrote (11355)	10/23/2000 2:41:41 PM
From: Jurgis Bekepuris	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 78614

Wallace, T swap to WCOM. It's a question impossible to answer. T has wireless assets, cable assets and overall asset infra-structure that may be very valuable. However, some of the infrastructure is old and needs to be constantly renovated. It is not clear where T will make money (except of dying long-distance cash cow) and where will it grow (business services? wireless?). Four way division is not very exciting, because each of divisions will have its own share of problems. Which one of them would you like to hold? I am also uncertain whether separating a wireline and wireless assets is smart. WCOM has more modern infrastructure, profitable Internet backbone business. However, they lack wireless assets and may have to buy them or spin-off wireline long distance. Both are tricky propositions. You may want to reread Mike Burry's writeups on both companies. His insight is pretty much on the point. In the end, it's a gamble. Either of them may be two-three bagger in a year, and both could hover around current lows. Toss a coin. Jurgis - I took the same chance by switching from LU into TLAB.

To: Wallace Rivers who wrote (11355)	10/23/2000 3:37:58 PM
From: Paul Senior	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 78614

I don't know if swapping out of T is a wise move or not. I'm holding on to my T (at a loss now) because they may -or will- announce a restructuring and the stock has begun to react to that (or maybe the stock has now finished reacting to it ??). Compared to some of my other losers, T has tremendous visibility and interest (from media and investors). It's possible that many are selling for the reason as you are now, but it's also possible that the stock could rise quickly from its current level. So I'm holding. I'm playing WCOM by ICIX. --- would rather make the speculative bet that the merger will go through than purchase WCOM outright. It's a bet. It's only T that you are considering for tax loss selling? Too bad I can't give you some of the many losers that I have that I am able to select from. (wry -g-) Paul

To: Wallace Rivers who wrote (11355)	10/23/2000 3:42:23 PM
From: Madharry	Respond to of 78614

IMHO and not owning either of these companies, I think it is a wise move. I am far from being a technical expert but the scuttlebutt that I read is that T has a somewhat dated infrastructure. I have not been impressed with the way management seems to make a habit of overpaying for strategic assets and Long distance service, which t has a major stake in is just going to have decining margins for the forseeable future. Its a new ball game and I am not convinced T is going to be a future player. WCOM has state of the art systems. So if it were me I would switch and feel I was moving my assets to a more solid base. Of course free advice is usually worth exactly what you pay for it. OT I have today started to repurchase shares in an old favorite of mine ICGE. The stock has now fallen about 90% or so from its high and has now bounced off the $10 levels. We all know the internet and B2B is dead. so I see this is as a very nice contrarian play just in case all the pundits are wrong. This is bar none the biggest player in the space and I see it as a long term survivor. No doubt many of its investments will prove to be worthless but business model makes sense. Focus on developing the B2B space provide consulting services to your subsidiaries and participate in the inevitable boom. This stock IPoed at $12 in the Summer of 99 and split 2 for one after soaring to over $300. Now it can be had for something less than that. MRVC- rumor has it that the road show for its first ipo LMNE has been announced. the stock is up about 15% as we speak but well down from its recent highs. I continue to be underwater on most of my recent purchases but hope springs eternal. BFRE had a wonderful one day bounce the day I afte I added to my position and now sells for more than its cash value. SOFN sells for less than its cash value. ALSC is selling for about 1/2 of what its worth. LDP is lightly traded but very exciting. a long term buy. I guess it is under the radar screen because the principal owns a vast number of shares and the ipo market is presumed dead. Meanwhile the portfolio of marketable securities and their private investments at cost are less than the market cap. so its insuranve and asset management business are free. Its private portfolio includes investments in 4-5 optical /networking companies. I am counting on 2-3 more home runs of the scope of NUFO. SFE is slowly rebounding along with ICGE which it continues to have a major stake in.