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 : VISX -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: ajs who wrote (476)	3/29/1998 5:07:00 PM
From: Jim Mac	Respond to of 1754

Since FTC has no problem with Visx collecting procedure fees on its lasers (FTC told Visx this many months ago), and Visx's patent position is strong, the only possible problems I see are some extra court costs, which Visx will easily absorb with their tremendous cashflow. Remember, Visx should be announcing hyperopia filing any day now, will be introducing its new scanning laser at April's ASCRS meeting in San Diego, and in a few weeks will announce EPS of at least $0.50, up about 150% from a year ago, whether taxed or not. 1998 EPS growth will be at least 100% all year, with the prospect of higher earnings after the dissolution of PPP, and hyperopia availability in 1999, combined with additional laser sales ( including Japan, the second-biggest market after U.S. once approval comes). I think anybody shorting Visx is taking a VERY big risk. I won't be surprised if VISX is at $40 or more by June.

To: ajs who wrote (476)	3/30/1998 4:36:00 PM
From: Jim Mac	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1754

Summit tried many years ago to find a way around Visx patents. They failed. Why? Because Visx's patent rights are SOLID. Summit's failure to find a weakness in Visx's position contributed to Summit agreeing to form Pillar Point Partners. If Summit, a tenacious competitor, couldn't find a way to undermine Visx's patent position, then who can? NO ONE CAN. NO ONE WILL. And NO ONE can stop Visx from collecting procedure fees on its lasers, which are the most productive in U.S. FTC itself, told Visx many months ago it had no problem with that. Misinformed speculators (shorts) are living dangerously. Informed investors are accumulating VISX. Just look at last week's buying/covering binge and the support VISX has in the mid-20's. When 98Q1 earnings are released in a couple weeks, and FTC meeting leads to no more than a dismissal of complaint or a rumble date a year hence, VISX will blow through $35.