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Technology Stocks : Asyst Technologies (ASYT) Good Value/Where is the Bottom? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Q. who wrote (1081)	9/17/1998 11:06:00 AM
From: Drake	Respond to of 2313

Thanks, John. I needed that.

To: Q. who wrote (1081)	9/17/1998 7:27:00 PM
From: Think4Yourself	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 2313

John, Thanks for the post. Since the folks posting here are usually quite knowledgeable, I decided to look into your claim. My conclusion is that, for the most part, you are correct. The small cap semi companies are SEVERELY oversold (except for PRIA). Many are trading between book and free cash. I disagree with your statement that Asyst should be lumped in with the others for three reasons: 1. Most of these companies have been and are going to continue losing relatively more money than Asyst. 2. Asyst is trading closer to cash then most of these other companies with bleaker future earnings forecasts 3. Asyst has a monopoly picture that needs to be smack in the center of any manufacturers future fab roadmap, due to the trend towards shrinking line widths. Regarding my initial complaint, I still kind of have it. These companies know the industry is going to turn around soon. Why aren't they buying their shares for treasury stock? They can turn around and resell it in a year or two for 2-3 times what they paid for it. That would be enhancing shareholder value both on the buy and the sell. If I had $100,000 right now, I would still buy Asyst, based on what I discovered. My numbers follow: Company Price Cash Book PE est-EPS PRIA 11.25 1.81 5.97 -30.1 -.08 BRKS 8.5 6.44 12.80 -35. -.13 SFAM 9. 8.85 18.10 11.14 -.02 IPEC 7.25 2.41 7.85 -3.52 -.40 MTSN 3.25 2.74 4.42 -81.25 -.16 GSNX 3.75 2.29 5.57 -125. -.16 EGLS 9.75 6.71 9.79 -325. -.21 ASYT 8.5 7.25 10.91 6.12 -.03 Source: Yahoo