Disregard the numbers in post 25842. Here is the downside case update which is even more bearish.
$3.11/shr vs. earlier post $3.35/shr. PE of 15 =$46.65 stock price
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Actually, my downside case is pretty bearish. So is the analyst consensus of 33% EPS growth.
In my scenario,
ASPs would have to decline faster than IDC projections for 98.
qtrly - yr/yr EPS growth (i.e. Q497 EPS divided by Q498 EPS) would only equal IDC's prediction for the industry as a whole. This would suggest little market share gains... not likely given the current pressure the big 4 are applying to the little PC outfits who own >50% of the market.
Net margins would have to erode quickly... there are too many things working against serious net margin erosion, the asian situation, reduction in SGA and tech support due to extended internet business model, continuing shift towards servers and workstations and the prolonged avoidance of playing in the entry level market.
Dell would have to finish 98 with a 21% unit growth rate... seriously below forecasts.
One must take into account the effects of the stock buyback as well. Here are my downside numbers with 96 and 97 for trend reference.
Net 4Q Rolling Qtr Shrs OS Rev EPS Margin EPS Q1 96 390 1,638 0.21 5.00% 0.74 Q2 389 1,690 0.29 6.60% 0.86 Q3 382 2,019 0.39 7.40% 1.06 Q4 372 2,412 0.51 7.80% 1.39 Q1 97 368 2,588 0.54 7.70% 1.72 Q2 364 2,814 0.59 7.60% 2.03 Q3 360 3,188 0.691 7.80% 2.33 Q4 356 3,379 0.73 7.70% 2.55 Q1 98 350 3,546 0.75 7.40% 2.76 Q2 346 3,615 0.75 7.20% 2.92 Q3 342 3,862 0.80 7.10% 3.03 Q4 338 3,934 0.80 6.90% 3.11 Qtr vs. year ago Qtr RevGrth Erngrth Qtr/Qtr Units ASP Q1 96 44% 53% 20% N/A N/A Q2 40% 74% 37% 670,528 2,520 Q3 43% 108% 36% 795,863 2,537 Q4 57% 189% 29% 921,386 2,618 Q1 97 58% 157% 7% 977,154 2,649 Q2 67% 105% 9% 1,056,240 2,664 Q3 58% 77% 17% 1,214,500 2,625 Q4 40% 45% 7% 1,299,515 2,600 Q1 98 37% 39% 7% 1,390,481 2,550 Q2 28% 28% 4% 1,446,100 2,500 Q3 21% 16% 9% 1,576,249 2,450 Q4 16% 10% 4% 1,639,299 2,400
Not saying that it can't be worse than this, however, this scenario falls well below Dell internal, IDC and industry analyst forecasts. If it were to happen, and my opinion is that it likely won't, the stock would get crushed nearly to the same magnitude as if they had lost money for the year. So, when it comes to stock price, a more bearish scenario does'nt really matter.
MEATHEAD |