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.
Strategies & Market Trends : Market Gems:Stocks w/Strong Earnings and High Tech. Rank -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?


To: puborectalis who wrote (40062)5/13/1999 11:53:00 PM
From: puborectalis  Respond to of 120523
 
To: K. Chu (26 )
From: stephen karasick
Thursday, May 13 1999 11:52PM ET
Reply # of 27

HOT_HOT_HOT....from Stockhouse.com..Miami, FL, May 13 /SHfn/ -- Copper
Mountain Networks [Nasdaq:CMTN] had a spectacular debut on Wall Street.
Shares closed at 68-7/16 representing a 226% premium over the higher than expected
$21 offer price on 4 million shares.
CMTN is a leading equipment provider to the high-speed DSL-providers.

Copper Mountain Networks received a boosted price range of $16-$18 from $12-$14
before clinching an offering price of
$21 on 4 million shares for a final offering amount of $84 million. Morgan Stanley Dean
Witter hopes to add CMTN to its
extensive list of ultra-successful new issues. Under Morgan, CMTN recieves support
from BancBoston Robertson Stephens
(famous for deals such as E*Trade, Ebay and Knight/Trimark), and Dain Rauscher
Corp.

Copper Mountain Networks is a leading supplier of high-speed DSL-based
communications products for the broadband
access market. Essentially, the company provides the means for network service
providers to expand into new markets and to
dramatically improve the speed of service. The high-speed connections are achieved
with the of Digital Subscriber Line (DSL).
DSL utilizes the existing copper wire telephone infrastructure to deliver data access
rapidly into business, multi-tenant unit and
residential markets. The company believes that DSL offers competitive advantages over
its broadband rivals, such as T-1,
integrated services digital network (ISDN), coaxial cable and wireless.

Copper Mountain believes that DSL has cost, performance and coverage advantages
over the other alternatives to broadband
connectivity. With DSL cost is an advantage because the telecommunications providers
may use the copper wire infrastructure
that already connects to most businesses and homes across the U.S. CMTN offers
scalable solutions for DSL through
products such as the CopperEdge DSL Access Concentrators, CopperRocket DSL
CPE and CopperView Network
Management Tools. The company believes that these products offer proprietary
features, reliabilty and ease of use. And in
addition, Copper Mountain states that its technical support, customer service, and size
give it a competitive edge.

However, it may be difficult to ascertain exactly what is meant by a competitive edge
and even more difficult to determine the
sustainability of any such advantage. The rapid evolution of the telecommunications
industry and the dynamic developments
among telecom equipment providers create both the largest threat to this company's
success and the largest opportunity for its
growth. There is no question that the need for improved Internet connectivity is
paramount to the progression of a world
economy heavily dependent on e-commerce. And with DSL offering data transfer rates
at speeds that are approximately 125
times faster than the fastest dial up modem, and 44 times the speed of ISDN lines, it
would seem on the surface, that the
technology is sure to ignite. Remember however, that the share price hinges precariously
on the acceptance of DSL over
emerging developments such as the latest rift of products in wireless. Formidable
competitors exist within the DSL space
including Cisco Systems, Ascend Communications (Lucent acquired), and Diamond
Lane Communications (acquired by
Nokia). It is not a far reach to imagine that an established leader in DSL equipment
products could be an acquisition target by a
service provider or larger competitor. It is interesting to note that one of the key
directors for this company is a director of
Ascend Communications and holds a 16.6% stake in the company, pre-offering.

As may be expected, this is another growth company that has never seen its way out of
the red, and has an admittedly short
operating history. However the $6.5 million loss in FY 1998 could be overlooked in
light of the fantastic growth potential within
this industry. And who could be unimpressed by a 10,241% growth in revenues over
the previous year. In a mere 12 months
the company moved from $211 thousand to $21.8 million in sales. Products are
distributed through a direct sales force and
selected OEMs and distributors to customers such as NorthPoint comunications,
Rhythms NetConnections, ICG
Communications, and UUNET, a subsidiary of MCI WorldCom Inc. Copper Mountain
has also formed key strategic
relationships with Lucent Technologies and 3Com Corp.

And while it is true that this firm relies upon a small number of customers, the strength of
management will likely facilitate the
entrance into new agreements as more and more companies look to join the race to roll
out DSL. Management boasts broad
expertise in telecommunications, networking, wireless. and Internet software gained
from companies such as ADC
Telecommunications, AT&T Bell Laboratories, Paradyne, Cisco, and Intel.

In short, Copper Mountain is witnessing the demand for faster connectivity grow
exponentially in tandem with the burgeoning of
the Internet as a marketplace. And it is this reporter's opinion that Copper Mountain has
a pulse on this red-hot market.

------

Previous