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 : Working All Day, But Trading Behind the Bosses Back Thread -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: lazarre who wrote (681)	3/11/1999 9:31:00 PM
From: kaydee	Respond to of 779

Will this have any effect on the market tomorrow OR it is a non-event... Just wondering... Microsoft to Defer $400 Million in 3rd-Qtr Revenue (Update5) Microsoft to Defer $400 Million in 3rd-Qtr Revenue (Update5) (Adds details throughout.) Redmond, Washington, March 11 (Bloomberg) -- Microsoft Corp., the world's biggest software maker, said it expects sales to fall short of estimates in its current quarter as it defers $400 million in revenue because of a delay in the introduction of the Office 2000 word-processing and spreadsheet program. Chief Financial Officer Greg Maffei said the revenue must be deferred from the fiscal third quarter ending March 31 because it can only be recognized when customers redeem coupons for Office 2000 that were received when paying for Office 97. Analysts were expecting about $4.65 billion in total revenue for the quarter. The deferred revenue will be recognized in the fourth quarter. Office 2000 was originally expected to be in stores by the end of March, though Microsoft said in November that the product wouldn't be widely available until the June quarter because of continuing development work. Reaction to the revenue shortfall is expected to be more muted than for Dell Computer Corp., the top direct seller of PCs, whose stock tumbled last month after reporting that revenue rose less than expected. ''I don't see any negatives and it could end up being a mild positive,'' said Bill Whitlow, a portfolio manager with Safeco Northwest Fund, which owns Microsoft shares. ''Maybe investment income will be a little higher than previously thought.'' Among its upgraded features, Office 2000 relies more heavily on the Internet than previous editions. The revenue impact will reduce earnings per share by 8 cents in the third quarter but that will be offset by higher than expected investment income, Maffei said. The company still expects to meet consensus earnings estimates of 65 cents a share in the third quarter because of those investment gains, he said. Microsoft has a cash hoard of more than $19 billion. Per-share earnings in the fourth quarter will be about 8 cents higher than analysts previously expected, Maffei said. PC Demand ''The business is fine and (personal computer) demand is definitely there,'' said Maffei. ''We are seeing the usual seasonal trend in our business,'' he said. ''Nothing more or less.'' The briefing by Maffei follows Wall Street nervousness about Dell and Compaq Computer Corp. amid signs of slowing PC shipments. The software powerhouse has a reputation for managing analyst expectations to avoid unpleasant surprises. Office 2000 is the next generation of the popular group of word-processing and spreadsheet software. Analysts had expected it to be widely available in stores in the March quarter after the company said it would be released to CD-ROM manufacturers in the March quarter. Microsoft expects ''good customer demand'' for Office 2000, Maffei said. The Office line of software products accounted for about a third of Microsoft's total revenue of $14.5 billion in fiscal 1998, analysts estimate. Maffei also said Microsoft is seeing its business in Japan improve, though it may only be a cyclical improvement in demand because of the end of the fiscal year. ''Japan does appear to be getting a little better,'' he said. Shares of Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft rose 1/16 to 161 7/16. The disclosure on Office 2000 and Microsoft's revenue shortfall were made after the close of regular U.S. trading. The stock has doubled over the past year though it's down from its record high of 175 on Jan. 29.

To: lazarre who wrote (681)	3/27/1999 6:36:00 AM
From: Mark[ox5]	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 779

Hello again everyone! (don't yell) Sorry I dissapeared.. been crazy few weeks. Both my boss and our controller (his boss) left the co. over the past 1-3 weeks so workload has increased oh... about 1000% percent. But still trading... just no time to come to SI & read posts or post or anything like that. Apologies to anyone for leaving them out to dry. Been a great few weeks though :) Have been trading: CNET, (thank you split) EXDS, (thank you split in the next 2 weeks) ABOV, (wish I had kept it when I owned it in the mid 20s 1.5 mo ago) CMGI, (stud stock) AOL, (stud stock) GNET, (thank you Paul Allen) GBLX, (stud stock) ATHM, (starting a big move) ZD, (havent timed this one well) BCST, (thank you YAHOO!) DCLK's (thank you split) of the world... options are a beautiful thing when they work right. Anyways, I will be posting again but just at end of day, not during the day... just outlining possible position plays. Current positions: EXDS APRIL 130 CALLS (bought Tuesday when common was in the $120s/sold some Thursday when common was in upper $140s) EXDS APRIL 155 CALLS (bought Friday when stock went back to support of lower $140s) ABOV common been trading since $30s :) GNET APRIL 130 CALLS (trading) GNET APRIL 145 CALLS (bought Friday when stock hit $140) ZD APRIL 25 CALLS ZD APRIL 30 CALLS AWEB (daytraded Tuesday/Wednesday) Small position remaining P.S. TO Laz: GBLX had a hell of a run... reminded me of an internet stock.... :) Still love the stock long, just don't own it now.. it might be poised for another run very soon...