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.

Biotech / Medical : VVUS: VIVUS INC. (NASDAQ) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Don Dunlap who wrote (3026)	12/3/1997 10:10:00 PM
From: MIKE DUBIS	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 23519

Don: thanks for the input on the runup before earnings. I will keep that in mind. What do you mean when you say "vvus is looking better than ever?" Certainly, you don't mean the stock price.

To: Don Dunlap who wrote (3026)	12/4/1997 11:30:00 AM
From: Slim Pickens	Respond to of 23519

Hello Don and VVUS Thread, I've been following you for a long time and am long. December cc's written at 25. Was called out last month on 1/3 of position and bought back in plus more, on Fri. after Thanksgiving. I wanted to add some info I got from Zacks: The next reporting date, which covers fourth quarter, will be Jan. 3oth, and first quarter '98 will be reported on April 8th. Year end reporting takes longer because of outside auditors and year end closing procedures. One of the reasons I bought the stock was because IMO the earnings estimates are doable and beatable. One of Zacks features is to show changes in brokers earnings estimates. When estimates are increased, the stock price often benefits. Fourth quarter estimate is $0.31, the same as third quarter. With level production, that is doable. I hope they were able to squeeze out a production increase but we will see. The '98 first quarter estimate is $0.29. This is the one I'm hoping that analysts will increase. Zacks, who is "stingy" with their ratings, rates Vivus a Buy. Six of the seven brokers who report, are split between Buy and Strong Buy, while the seventh is undecided (Hold). It is interesting that the '97 year estimate is $1.15 while with 4th qtr of $0.31, we would have $1.17. The '98 year estimate (most recent three brokers) $1.65, up 41%. Definitely doable and beatable IMO. Five year growth estimate of 30% (only one broker responded) seems low and IMO will be increased over time. Thanks for the thread. Slim PS It's my birthday, buy ICNT (Incomnet) as my present. I'm way long.