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 : Market Gems:Stocks w/Strong Earnings and High Tech. Rank -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: LastShadow who wrote (5451)	2/20/1998 8:49:00 AM
From: John J H Kim	Respond to of 120523

BEAVERTON, Ore. (CBS.MW) -- Timberline stock continued strengthening Tuesday, onÿ heavy volume, as market sources speculated big players are buying up stakes in the maker of construction software. "My guess is that some institution is buying up the shares," said Dick Sinise, research director at Kennedy Capital Management in St. Louis. A portion of Kennedy's $1.6 billion under management is invested in Timberline stock. With housing starts continuing at the highest level in the decade, the demand for the company's software appears solid. There were about 1.47 million U.S. housing starts in 1997. Over the past 10 trading sessions, shares have added 25 percent on daily volume that has been 2 to 12 times heavier than average. The stock rose 1/2 to 17 on Tuesday, with 660,000 shares changing hands compared to the 60,000 average. ÿ Broader interest Tom Cox, Timberline's chief financial officer, acknowledged that institutions have been calling about the company and that a regional brokerage is considering picking up coverage of the company. He declined to be more specific. The coverage could be significant for Timberline, based just outside of Portland, Ore., because no major investment houses currently follow the company. Cox said Timberline's strong fourth quarter has sparked some of the recent interest in the company, which has a market capitalization of about $117 million. The company earned 64 cents per share on revenue of $35.2 million for the year that ended Dec. 31. That compares to 31 cents per share of earnings on revenue of $28.7 for the year before. ÿ Takeover? Takeover talk may also be boosting the stock, Sinise said. "Management in past has indicated they are open to that," Sinise said. "They're accommodating. They see it's better to be a smaller part of a larger company than a smaller company" on its own. Timberline makes software that allows building professionals to automate much of the construction procession, such as bidding and cost estimates. Another market source says the company's specialization on a narrow market has made it attractive to suitors. "It's a niche software company, and niche software companies tend to get rolled into larger players," said Bruce Gulliver, analyst at Jefferson Research in Portland, Ore. He added he didn't know of any on-going talks at Timberline. Cox declined to comment on any talks.

To: LastShadow who wrote (5451)	2/20/1998 9:52:00 AM
From: David Fitz	Respond to of 120523

Last, IIT has an approximate earnings release of february 23. Would you hold through earnings? Thanks. David