SI
SI
discoversearch

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.
Technology Stocks : Micron Only Forum -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?


To: wily who wrote (39207)9/28/1998 9:49:00 AM
From: Carl R.  Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 53903
 
I have no comments on the allegations of "cooking the books" except to state that the bears have been making the same complaint for two years. Every earnings report they predict a disaster, and then if the report is better than anticipated, or if the stock rises following earnings the complaints are the same: management is lying about the future, management is lying about the present, and management is lying about the past. When it comes right down to it, MU's business is pretty simple as they make only one product line, memory. And it doesn't strike me that there can really be that many places you could hide the multi-billion dollar losses that the bears have been predicting.

I am much more concerned about the huge outstanding in-the-money call position. If earnings or the conference call aren't a blow out, these calls could be a definite negative factor until expiration.

Carl



To: wily who wrote (39207)9/28/1998 9:05:00 PM
From: Carl R.  Read Replies (3) | Respond to of 53903
 
Back to the accounting question. From my recollection the primary "accounting issues" have been the fact that MU has conveniently sold off divisions such as their contract manufacturing division, or shares of MUEI, at a profit, and then used the profits from these to reduce operating losses. Of course this is completely legal and proper, but could be misleading if you aren't aware of it. The most serious allegation I have heard was a couple years ago by MB where he was claiming that MU was depreciating equipment over too long of a time period. After all, semiconductor manufacturing equipment gets obsolete in a hurry.

The only allegations have been that the statements are misleading, not that they are fraudulent.

Carl