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 : Gorilla and King Portfolio Candidates -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Mike Buckley who wrote (35910)	12/3/2000 7:25:34 PM
From: Thomas Mercer-Hursh	Respond to of 54805

Where Thomas and I apparently agree is that a lot of people simply don't want to take the time to learn how to run their own DCF or won't take the time for whatever reason that is their choice to make. Including among the reasons, their belief -- valid or not -- that computing their own DCF or building a spreadsheet to do so is beyond their capability. While I would agree with Pirah that just about anyone reading this forum could be taught to do this, i.e., the belief is not valid given the presence of will and help, in the absence of desire and help, the belief may be perfectly valid. For that contingent, we need good guidance in the intuitive interpretation.

To: Mike Buckley who wrote (35910)	12/4/2000 2:06:30 AM
From: tfrugal	Respond to of 54805

"people should not be made to feel.... that a DCF analysis is something only a valuation expert or math whiz can do" This is a common problem that many people are "math shy", and avoid even considering doing any number crunching. "I wonder if I can at least convince you to use a DCF model in a spreadsheet that's already prepared" Just the kind of tool that could demonstrate math's power and use in investing, While at first it will seem like a "magic box" sooner or later we mathshy/ lazy investors will want to tweak the parameters....GOTCHA. Playing with a prepared spreadsheet would be an excellent "gateway" to getting more fluent in math, as well as business. "Erick@shamelesslyleveragingothersduediligence.com"/meto

To: Mike Buckley who wrote (35910)	12/4/2000 2:47:52 AM
From: chaz	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 54805

Mike, I am by no means math challenged...at least I am a whiz at workshop geometry. When it comes to spreadsheets and the math behind them, I don't have a clue. In fact, I don't even know what a spreadsheet is or why what they do is so appealing. Up til now, I don't think I've had a reason to use them...about like you and cell phones. I do remember that early on Visi Calc gave people in accounting a reason to buy an Apple, and that 1-2-3 was a killer app for the PC. Today, I guess it's MS Excel that most people use. I've never seen one on a computer, and so, if someone cares to give me (and maybe others) a brief summary of just what these things are, I'd be all ears. So tell me, just what is a spreadsheet and what do they do that would make them useful to an investor? Chaz