To: TokyoMex who wrote (2414 ) 3/25/1998 11:03:00 PM From: Matthew Cooper Respond to of 34592
Got something that's sure to move tomorrow. JTS, the underdog of the hard disk manufacturers, was profitable this quarter (but just barely... $65,000 net = 0.00 EPS). Even though it is low, profitability arrived a full quarter sooner than the best estimates on the street, even sooner than the CEO had hoped. It trades on the AMEX for 7/16. It has been pretty stagnant there for quite some time and has been looking for a reason to break out. Sure to be a good short-term trade. Expect ridiculous volume. It may be a good short candidate (it is marginable thru Datek) if we see heavy volume and a large run-up tomorrow. Their history and current situation is a mixed bag. The CEO is Tom Mitchell (formerly of SEG). They are using old technology (MG heads) instead of the newer stuff WDC, QNTM, and SEG are using. They have a factory in Madras, India, that pumps these drives out at about a dime a dozen; their cheap cost is about the only thing going for them. They recently suspended their failed 3" portable hard disk drive program. They have contracts with Packard Bell and a rumored one with Compaq. Their drives may be used for the cheap, "network" computers, but their appears to be no contracts on the table yet. They just secured an exclusive distributione agreement in India. Hope to capture 50% of the market their within a few years (doubtful, but probable given their ties with the Indian government). They have had labor problems here in the US, people leaving the company like crazy, but things in India look good. What do you guys think? I don't think it is a good long-term, but there is sure to be smokin tomorrow.