Forum Archive Index - April 2000

["Nigel Bree" <nbree@kcbbs.gen.nz>]

> Couldn't agree more. I read somewhere that 80% of day traders lose money
> and I believe it. I don't see how the average bloke can out guess the
> professionals.

Yeah, but I can't believe anyone puts money on horses or goes to the
casino either. But if people are having fun (and watching stocks do their
thing *is* fun even if you don't have any intention of trading) and they
can afford to lose the money, it's their choice.

> Software is another area that I would like to look at (PRGS is one I am
> looking at). Perhaps you would share the names of the companies you are in
> as you have obviously done the hard yards.

No hard yards, I work in software so I can buy what I know (and be
given company options too, heh).

But you can't throw a rock without hitting software companies with solid
financials. The Motley Fool are doing a series on up'n'coming software
firms, and along the way they should generate a ton of ideas on ones
which you could consider. Start with
  http://www.fool.com/portfolios/rulemaker/2000/rulemaker000407.htm
and they have checked out Adobe so far:
  http://www.fool.com/portfolios/rulemaker/2000/rulemaker000414.htm

As noted in the Adobe article, there are a *horde* of companies which
are not quite yet in the $5 billion market cap category but are likely
to be soon. Some have P/E's at the high end but are growing fast enough
to deserve them, others like Intuit have a P/E of only 19 despite being
in great shape:
  http://www.fool.com/news/2000/foolplate000410.htm

A couple friends of mine work selling and installing BOBJ locally:
  http://quote.fool.com/estimates/estimates.asp?symbols=BOBJ
have a look at that estimated long-term growth!

Internet-related stocks may have been dominating media reports about
the so-called "technology sector", but the software firms have been in
business long enough - with established products and brands - to have
the earnings and growth numbers to back their market valuations.



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