January 6, 2010 11:00 AM
After Monday's explosion through 12-month highs, stocks treaded water yesterday as traders caught their breath and appraised the current state of the market.
"As goes January, so goes the rest of the year," has been one of those oft-repeated sayings on Wall Street for decades. If that's the case, then the year has blasted off to a strong start.
Even yesterday's mild hesitation is to be expected, as investors study the various possible stock and sector choices before making the leap of faith. Before that leap, traders usually want to know what immediate risks versus rewards there are at the current trading level.
For the Dow, the current support starts at the breakout level of 10,500 and has a bottom at 10,300. Within that trading spread are both the 20-day moving average and the 50-day moving average. A penetration of this zone [to the downside] would be serious enough to have traders liquidate positions at small losses since the near-term trend would be in doubt.
http://stockcharts.com/h-sc/ui
For the S&P 500, the current support starts at the breakout level of 1,135 and has a bottom at 1,090. Within that trading spread are both the 20-day moving average and the 50-day moving average. A penetration of this zone [to the downside] would be serious enough to have traders liquidate positions at small losses since the near-term trend would be in doubt.
http://stockcharts.com/h-sc/ui
Now we have some idea of the risk... so what is the possible reward?
First, the market clearly demonstrated by Monday's action that the bull market has been newly confirmed and the market is in a powerful uptrend. Traders will want to watch specific targets to take profits, like the first area of resistance at Dow 10,500 to 11,150, and then to 11,800. But longer-term investors may wish to hold for even bigger gains since the indications are strong that sometime within the next two years the Dow could reach its former high of 14,000 plus.
Trading Alert on Our Core Holdings
Microvision [MVIS]: Over the last three trading days, the MVIS stock has moved up very quickly from $3.07 to $3.60 this morning on some heavy volume indicating institutional buying.
http://stockcharts.com/h-sc/ui?s=MVIS&p=D&yr=0&mn=6&dy=0&id=p22460456358
There are essentially two reasons...
1. There is some favorable press release from Microvision this morning before the start of CES 2010 Expo. Here’s the link...
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Microvisions-SHOWWX-Puts-bw-1845964462.html?x=0&.v=1
It says...
“Interest and demand for this product is very strong and we’re excited to have the SHOWWX as our center piece at CES,” stated Ian Brown, Microvision Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “We have created a unique and engaging presentation for attendees which is sure to drive awareness of the product’s key features and benefits. We look forward to introducing the product in additional customer channels during 2010, with a planned Microvision direct campaign in the U.S. targeted for March.”
2. Last night, Microvision was at the CES media event called “CES Unveiled”. Over 800 media attended to get their first peak at some of the top innovations being exhibited at CES. SHOWWX was awarded a 2010 CES Innovations Honoree Award in the mobile accessories category, and as a result they garnered a lot of attention from the press. At times there were twenty people deep in front of Microvision demo area. According to CES there are over 6000 registered media coming to CES, so on the media front Microvision will be very busy and expects to get extensive media coverage. Today Microvision will be finishing the build-up of their tradeshow booth and add final touches to their presentations for the week. Expect to see both video and photos posted at Microvision blog at The Displayground...
http://www.microvision.com/displayground/
Quirky, innovative gadgets have chance to shine at CES...
http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/life-tech/uncategorized/2010/01/quirky-innovative-gadgets-have-chance-to-shine-at-ces/
Media coverage at CES 2010...
http://www.tommerritt.com/?p=1244&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
http://www.golem.de/1001/72206.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkOILshW8Cs
http://www.youtube.com/user/mvisvideo#p/a/u/1/F2qnrOsg6wg
CES 2010 Expo is conducting an on-line contest named “Last Gadget Standing” and Microvision’s laser PicoP projector SHOWwx is currently the front runner among the top 25 contestants. If you’ll be in Las Vegas this week, raise your hand — to help crown SHOWwx as the “Last Gadget Standing” on Saturday, 10:30 a.m., Jan. 9, in Room N255-257, in the Las Vegas Convention Center’s North Hall.
http://lastgadgetstanding.com/ballot-box/
Here's the link to a brief interview with Alexander Tokman. Topics include CES 2010, the SHOWWX™ laser pico projector and PicoP® embedded technology...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTvhwr8nTSM
Recommendation: Maintain long position with our core stock holding and add at prices below $3.48.
Apple [AAPL]: Maintain [net] long position with our options income strategy. However, keep an eye for the next resistance level at $215 on the chart.
http://stockcharts.com/h-sc/ui?s=aapl&p=D&yr=0&mn=6&dy=0&id=p22460456358
Emerging Markets ETF [EEM]: Maintain [net] long position with our options income strategy. However, keep an eye for breakout from the triple top formation at $42 on the chart.
http://stockcharts.com/h-sc/ui?s=eem&p=D&yr=0&mn=6&dy=0&id=p22460456358
Our current Model Portfolio is cautiously bullish and is 50% invested in stocks and options... with the rest in cash. There is no need for further diversification at this time.
Anant Goel
http://www.wealthbyoptions.com/
Showing posts with label Stocks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stocks. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Microvision: Capital Gains Tax for 2010 vs. 2011
I’m sure some of us will be making substantial profit on our holdings of MVIS stock in the year 2010.
I hope you are aware of Long Term Capital Gains Tax going up from 15% in 2010 to 20% in 2011.
Today is the last day to purchase Microvision stock so that when you sell some on the last trading day of 2010… you will still qualify for the 15% rate.
This is from Wikipedia…
“In the United States, individuals and corporations pay income tax on the net total of all their capital gains just as they do on other sorts of income, but the tax rate for individuals is lower on "long-term capital gains," which are gains on assets that had been held for over one year before being sold. The tax rate on long-term gains was reduced in 2003 to 15%, or to 5% for individuals in the lowest two income tax brackets (See progressive tax). Short-term capital gains are taxed at a higher rate: the ordinary income tax rate. The reduced 15% tax rate on eligible dividends and capital gains, previously scheduled to expire in 2008, has been extended through 2010 as a result of the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act signed into law by President Bush on May 17, 2006 (P.L. 109-222). In 2011 these reduced tax rates will "sunset," or revert to the rates in effect before 2003, which were generally 20%. President Obama's budget, announced on February 25, 2009, calls for the Capital Gains Tax to be reverted to the 20% rate before the Sunset date of 2011.”
Its not a bad idea to buy today and sell on the last day of 2010 and pay only 15% Long Term Capital Gains Tax.
Anant Goel
http://www.wealthbyoptions.com/
I hope you are aware of Long Term Capital Gains Tax going up from 15% in 2010 to 20% in 2011.
Today is the last day to purchase Microvision stock so that when you sell some on the last trading day of 2010… you will still qualify for the 15% rate.
This is from Wikipedia…
“In the United States, individuals and corporations pay income tax on the net total of all their capital gains just as they do on other sorts of income, but the tax rate for individuals is lower on "long-term capital gains," which are gains on assets that had been held for over one year before being sold. The tax rate on long-term gains was reduced in 2003 to 15%, or to 5% for individuals in the lowest two income tax brackets (See progressive tax). Short-term capital gains are taxed at a higher rate: the ordinary income tax rate. The reduced 15% tax rate on eligible dividends and capital gains, previously scheduled to expire in 2008, has been extended through 2010 as a result of the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act signed into law by President Bush on May 17, 2006 (P.L. 109-222). In 2011 these reduced tax rates will "sunset," or revert to the rates in effect before 2003, which were generally 20%. President Obama's budget, announced on February 25, 2009, calls for the Capital Gains Tax to be reverted to the 20% rate before the Sunset date of 2011.”
Its not a bad idea to buy today and sell on the last day of 2010 and pay only 15% Long Term Capital Gains Tax.
Anant Goel
http://www.wealthbyoptions.com/
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Microvision: Protect Your Intellectual Property Part 2
Recently, IEEE Spectrum has refreshed its annual assessment of IP portfolios in different technology sectors for the year 2007… including Electronics where Microvision is cited.
Here’s the link to IEEE Spectrum Patents Scorecard…
http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/static/patentsurvey2008
[Make sure to click on “Electronics" category to get the data and read the bottom foot notes for explanation of the terms used]
In this evaluation, the Adjusted Pipeline Impact (API) score indicates how frequently a company’s patents from the previous five years were cited by other patents... after adjusting for self-citation. Microvision scored 2nd in API [at 1.71] out of the Top 20 electronics companies… in the year 2007.
What does that really mean in terms of value of these patent citations by other patents to the overall market valuation of Microvision?
Let’s check with the experts in the business…
Scholars have learned that a powerful proxy for innovative expertise is how frequently a company’s existing patents are cited in patent applications. Indeed, one-quarter of all patents receive no citations, and a mere 0.01% earn more than 100 citations, according to Bronwyn Hall, an economist at the University of California at Berkeley.
http://www.jstor.org/pss/1593752
In a study by four economists covering seven industries that generate a large number of patents, researchers found that a patent mentioned 14 times by other patents is worth, on average, 100 times as much as a patent cited only 8 times. Another estimated that “companies with widely cited patents and a track record of turning them into products outperformed the market by 1,000% over a 10-year period.”
Let me re-state…
“…companies with widely cited patents and a track record of turning them into products outperformed the market by 1,000% over a 10-year period”.
In addition to this peek through the window to Microvision future …
There is a wealth of information there [ in the IEEE Spectrum Patents Scorecard] and a further in-depth study [and some research] by an experienced professional will quickly reveal where the future infringers, challengers, claimers and “patent trolls’ of Microvision IP portfolio are at work.
Anant Goel
http://www.wealthbyoptions.com/
Here’s the link to IEEE Spectrum Patents Scorecard…
http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/static/patentsurvey2008
[Make sure to click on “Electronics" category to get the data and read the bottom foot notes for explanation of the terms used]
In this evaluation, the Adjusted Pipeline Impact (API) score indicates how frequently a company’s patents from the previous five years were cited by other patents... after adjusting for self-citation. Microvision scored 2nd in API [at 1.71] out of the Top 20 electronics companies… in the year 2007.
What does that really mean in terms of value of these patent citations by other patents to the overall market valuation of Microvision?
Let’s check with the experts in the business…
Scholars have learned that a powerful proxy for innovative expertise is how frequently a company’s existing patents are cited in patent applications. Indeed, one-quarter of all patents receive no citations, and a mere 0.01% earn more than 100 citations, according to Bronwyn Hall, an economist at the University of California at Berkeley.
http://www.jstor.org/pss/1593752
In a study by four economists covering seven industries that generate a large number of patents, researchers found that a patent mentioned 14 times by other patents is worth, on average, 100 times as much as a patent cited only 8 times. Another estimated that “companies with widely cited patents and a track record of turning them into products outperformed the market by 1,000% over a 10-year period.”
Let me re-state…
“…companies with widely cited patents and a track record of turning them into products outperformed the market by 1,000% over a 10-year period”.
In addition to this peek through the window to Microvision future …
There is a wealth of information there [ in the IEEE Spectrum Patents Scorecard] and a further in-depth study [and some research] by an experienced professional will quickly reveal where the future infringers, challengers, claimers and “patent trolls’ of Microvision IP portfolio are at work.
Anant Goel
http://www.wealthbyoptions.com/
Microvision: Protect Your Intellectual Property Part 1
Today, as reported in the Wall Street Journal, Microvision has been ranked #43 worldwide in the electronics & instruments industry for the strength of their patent portfolio by “The Patent Board”, the leading independent provider of best practices research, tools and metrics for patent analysis and intellectual property investment.
According to The Patent Board, Microvision had a 29% increase in patenting and a 38% increase in Industry Impact™ this quarter.
Here’s the link to The WSJ/Patent Score Card from this morning…
http://online.wsj.com/mdc/public/page/2_3022-macromkt.html?mod=topnav_2_3000
Monday, September 28, 2009
Companies and private research firms are grouped by their Patent Board technology strength ranking which is based on the scale, quality, impact, and nearness to core science of a company’s patent-based intellectual property. This overall strength rating factors in both qualitative and quantitative aspects of a company’s patent portfolio.
With that in mind, the question comes to mind: “How well Microvision is prepared and plans to fend-off infringement to its Intellectual Property in the future… for the sake of its future?” Microvision is the only company, as of this day, that produces the RGB laser based single MEMS PicoP display engine/projector on this planet.
With the enormous size of the future Pico projector market [in terms of units & dollars] the financial rewards will certainly attract competitors that will…
Having said that…
Why Qualcomm you say?
Well consider this from personal experience…
“About 12 years ago, I had the opportunity of managing a semi-conductor company about three miles away from Qualcomm in San Diego. During the course of my tenure I made friends with a few Qualcomm executives and learned a few things about their patents and IP management as an asset… especially with a serious understanding of their company’s major [if not entire] business model that was based around licensing and royalty.”
“I still remember the “lobby wall” at Qualcomm with over 850 issued patents [currently over 1,200] framed and displayed proudly. Qualcomm’s patents were for CDMA technology and at the time [in 1996] they knew it would some day power billions of cell phones worldwide. Qualcomm managed their IP assets proactively, relentlessly, ruthlessly and very effectively… that is until recently before the Broadcomm debacle which cost Qualcomm $891 million dollars in IP infringement litigation and damages cost.”
The Wall Street Journal/Patent Board is the leading independent provider of best practices research, tools and metrics for patent analysis and intellectual property investment. The Patent Board’s team of experts, deep pool of knowledge and foundation in core research provides its clients with valuable insight on patent-based IP strategies. The Patent Board leadership is advancing the value of patent knowledge to both inform business strategy and to help define patent assets as the next critical financial asset class.
That’s a mouth full. The bare naked truth of all this for Microvision is…
“With the enormous size of the future Pico projector market [in terms of units & dollars] the financial rewards will certainly attract deep pocketed competitors that will infringe [and engage in all the above unscrupulous deeds] to test your resolve, create distraction, put financial burden of litigation… all in the hopes of extracting a cheap, if not free, licensing agreement.”
With that in mind, the question to ask is: “How well Microvision is prepared and how it plans to fend-off infringement to its Intellectual Property in the future… for the sake of its future?”
Anant Goel
According to The Patent Board, Microvision had a 29% increase in patenting and a 38% increase in Industry Impact™ this quarter.
Here’s the link to The WSJ/Patent Score Card from this morning…
http://online.wsj.com/mdc/public/page/2_3022-macromkt.html?mod=topnav_2_3000
Monday, September 28, 2009
Companies and private research firms are grouped by their Patent Board technology strength ranking which is based on the scale, quality, impact, and nearness to core science of a company’s patent-based intellectual property. This overall strength rating factors in both qualitative and quantitative aspects of a company’s patent portfolio.
Continue on to the Score Card…
*****
If you have been reading about the recent buzz about Pico projectors, you will know that the laser based PicoP display engine/projector market will be huge in the next few years. And sooner or later the competition will recognize that laser based Pico projection produces the most desirable and always in focus images. Laser based Pico projection is the way to go… and single MEMS will be the least expensive and scalable solution to the huge potential markets world-wide that is more the 2 billion units per year large.*****
With that in mind, the question comes to mind: “How well Microvision is prepared and plans to fend-off infringement to its Intellectual Property in the future… for the sake of its future?” Microvision is the only company, as of this day, that produces the RGB laser based single MEMS PicoP display engine/projector on this planet.
With the enormous size of the future Pico projector market [in terms of units & dollars] the financial rewards will certainly attract competitors that will…
Having said that…
• Blatantly infringe on Microvision patents;What’s needed is proactive, relentless, ruthless and effective IP portfolio management at Microvision… something similar to what was successfully done [and continues to be] at Qualcomm. The most effective and the least expensive way to do that, is to go out there and hire a senior patent engineer from Qualcomm and appoint him/her the CPO… the Chief Patent Officer at Microvision.
• challenge the validity of Microvision patents;
• claim conferring a “negative right” upon Microvision;
• claim Microvision as “patent troll”;
• and of course develop their own portfolio of “petty” patents to “fragment” the Microvision IP portfolio.
Why Qualcomm you say?
Well consider this from personal experience…
“About 12 years ago, I had the opportunity of managing a semi-conductor company about three miles away from Qualcomm in San Diego. During the course of my tenure I made friends with a few Qualcomm executives and learned a few things about their patents and IP management as an asset… especially with a serious understanding of their company’s major [if not entire] business model that was based around licensing and royalty.”
“I still remember the “lobby wall” at Qualcomm with over 850 issued patents [currently over 1,200] framed and displayed proudly. Qualcomm’s patents were for CDMA technology and at the time [in 1996] they knew it would some day power billions of cell phones worldwide. Qualcomm managed their IP assets proactively, relentlessly, ruthlessly and very effectively… that is until recently before the Broadcomm debacle which cost Qualcomm $891 million dollars in IP infringement litigation and damages cost.”
The Wall Street Journal/Patent Board is the leading independent provider of best practices research, tools and metrics for patent analysis and intellectual property investment. The Patent Board’s team of experts, deep pool of knowledge and foundation in core research provides its clients with valuable insight on patent-based IP strategies. The Patent Board leadership is advancing the value of patent knowledge to both inform business strategy and to help define patent assets as the next critical financial asset class.
That’s a mouth full. The bare naked truth of all this for Microvision is…
“With the enormous size of the future Pico projector market [in terms of units & dollars] the financial rewards will certainly attract deep pocketed competitors that will infringe [and engage in all the above unscrupulous deeds] to test your resolve, create distraction, put financial burden of litigation… all in the hopes of extracting a cheap, if not free, licensing agreement.”
With that in mind, the question to ask is: “How well Microvision is prepared and how it plans to fend-off infringement to its Intellectual Property in the future… for the sake of its future?”
Anant Goel
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Creative Imagination at Work: Pricing Strategy for SHOWwx
Here’s an example of creative imagination at work. However, the solution we seek is not product or service related. Here, the creative imagination is applied to profitability issue in marketing and could be called “creative marketing”… or “gorilla marketing”… or plain old making “lemonade from lemons”.
Here we go…
Currently, the competition in the Pico projector space comes from two major players, TI with its DLP technology and 3M with its LcoS technology. The competition sells its second generation Pico projector for about $395 and the quality of the image from their projectors looks like the picture on the left side below. Microvision’s PicoP projector SWOWwx, on the other hand, projects its image better than the one on the right side.
http://www.picoprojector-info.com/btendo-laser-projector-vs-lcos-projector-photo-1
If $395 was assumed as the average price for the baseline model and functionality [in-line with what the competition is asking], then Microvision could [and should] charge $599 for not only the better quality and vivid images but also some very interesting and differentiating features…
• Always-in-focus on any projected surface [projecting on curved surfaces or from an angel on flat surfaces]
• Short throw ratio 1:1 [bigger picture from short distance]
• Stunningly colorful, bright, vivid and detailed images [200% NTSC]
• Large images size [from 20” to 150” diagonal ]
• Higher image resolution (848×480) with HD pathway in future models
• Unmatched small font readability [size 8 font]
• Wide aspect ratio 16:9 [for wide screen experience]
• Fast refresh [60 Hz] to prevent motion blur when watching sports or action videos and movies
• High contrast ratio 5000:1
• Easy and simple plug and play. Single connector for TV-out [composite], VGA [RGB] and 3.5mm stereo jack─ audio pass through
• Longer battery life. Movie capable battery life when fully charged. Charges via Micro-USB
• 3 year warranty service… why not with all that MEMS reliability and exceeding drop test performance
• Headboard clamp for in-bed watching videos and movies on the ceiling
• All cables and leather case included
• Trade-in offer [worth $200 in exchange value] for any future PicoP projector.
All these features are inherent in the laser based PicoP display engine and they don’t really cost anything extra but they allow you to monetize the superior product functionality that Microvision offers. There is no reason to give it away for free…
http://www.microvision.com/pek/pico/
Since Microvision has more demand than they can supply [5:1 ratio], it only makes sense to monetize [profitably] whatever they are able to supply. It positions SHOWwx as the premium high quality PicoP Projector in the market. Interestingly, it gives you a payout even greater than the “Trifecta” on the racetracks…
This premium price strategy is what’s called “gorilla” marketing… where you choke the demand to bring it in-line with supply… all at the same time increasing your overall profitability… and keeping the competition trapped in their comfort zone of lower prices and at bay.
Apple uses this strategy all the time, why not Microvision?
Microvision can always drop the prices in the future, as the supply catches-up with demand. In the meantime, this strategy allows Microvision to convert a bad situation into profitably good strategy… like making lemonade from lemons.
This is another example of creative imagination at work… that just happened to be so appropriate and timely.
Anant Goel
http://www.wealthbyoptions.com/
Here we go…
Currently, the competition in the Pico projector space comes from two major players, TI with its DLP technology and 3M with its LcoS technology. The competition sells its second generation Pico projector for about $395 and the quality of the image from their projectors looks like the picture on the left side below. Microvision’s PicoP projector SWOWwx, on the other hand, projects its image better than the one on the right side.
http://www.picoprojector-info.com/btendo-laser-projector-vs-lcos-projector-photo-1
If $395 was assumed as the average price for the baseline model and functionality [in-line with what the competition is asking], then Microvision could [and should] charge $599 for not only the better quality and vivid images but also some very interesting and differentiating features…
• Always-in-focus on any projected surface [projecting on curved surfaces or from an angel on flat surfaces]
• Short throw ratio 1:1 [bigger picture from short distance]
• Stunningly colorful, bright, vivid and detailed images [200% NTSC]
• Large images size [from 20” to 150” diagonal ]
• Higher image resolution (848×480) with HD pathway in future models
• Unmatched small font readability [size 8 font]
• Wide aspect ratio 16:9 [for wide screen experience]
• Fast refresh [60 Hz] to prevent motion blur when watching sports or action videos and movies
• High contrast ratio 5000:1
• Easy and simple plug and play. Single connector for TV-out [composite], VGA [RGB] and 3.5mm stereo jack─ audio pass through
• Longer battery life. Movie capable battery life when fully charged. Charges via Micro-USB
• 3 year warranty service… why not with all that MEMS reliability and exceeding drop test performance
• Headboard clamp for in-bed watching videos and movies on the ceiling
• All cables and leather case included
• Trade-in offer [worth $200 in exchange value] for any future PicoP projector.
All these features are inherent in the laser based PicoP display engine and they don’t really cost anything extra but they allow you to monetize the superior product functionality that Microvision offers. There is no reason to give it away for free…
http://www.microvision.com/pek/pico/
Since Microvision has more demand than they can supply [5:1 ratio], it only makes sense to monetize [profitably] whatever they are able to supply. It positions SHOWwx as the premium high quality PicoP Projector in the market. Interestingly, it gives you a payout even greater than the “Trifecta” on the racetracks…
• Brings superior product to the market sooner[The Trifecta or triple is a bet made in horse racing to pick the first, second, and third place horses in a race. The payouts for hitting the Trifecta can be astronomical.]
• Creates “premium high quality” image perception from the start
• Generates profitable revenues in spite of the limited green laser delivery
• Prevents negative connotations associated with “out-of-stock” scenarios when there is more demand than supply
• Immediately engages the first movers─ that are also the center of future influence on others─ into purchasing a premium high quality product
• Keeps your potential customers engaged, interested and willing to wait for the superior product when more supply becomes available and the price has come down to with-in their affordability or price/value perception range.
This premium price strategy is what’s called “gorilla” marketing… where you choke the demand to bring it in-line with supply… all at the same time increasing your overall profitability… and keeping the competition trapped in their comfort zone of lower prices and at bay.
Apple uses this strategy all the time, why not Microvision?
Microvision can always drop the prices in the future, as the supply catches-up with demand. In the meantime, this strategy allows Microvision to convert a bad situation into profitably good strategy… like making lemonade from lemons.
This is another example of creative imagination at work… that just happened to be so appropriate and timely.
Anant Goel
http://www.wealthbyoptions.com/
Thursday, September 24, 2009
PicoP Projectors and Nano Scanners Could Revolutionize the Early Detection and Surgery in the Medical Field
Now that Microvision has commercially launched the world's first laser PicoP projector and its supply chain partners, Corning and Osram, have officially made their commitment to commercialize the Green Laser for Pico projector applications...
"Pico projectors and nano scanners could revolutionize the early detection and surgery in the medical field."
In today's marketplace, endoscopes are increasingly involved in performing some of the most common surgical procedures as well as diagnosing cancer and other conditions. They're also a critical component of minimally invasive (MIVS) visualization systems.
The Key Markets:
The immediate target opportunities for Microvision are…
The market for flexible endoscopes is estimated at $1.2 billion a year. It is dominated by Japanese camera companies, specifically Pentax, Olympus and Fujinon.
Microvision could partner with Pentax to introduce its miniaturized confocal microscope to this market. Pentax has an extensive sales force and service infrastructure throughout Europe, Japan, USA and South East Asia. It seeks to increase its market share by gaining competitive advantage through new and exclusive technology, providing a natural alignment of goals and strategy with Microvision.
Rigid Endoscope Market…
The global rigid endoscope market is estimated to be $1 billion a year. The market is more fragmented than that for flexible endoscopes. Some of the more significant participants include leading microscope companies such as Carl Storz, Leica, Richard Wolf, Stryker, Zeiss and Olympus.
Microvision should look to establish one or more partnerships to identify the likely initial applications. This could be followed by development of clinical pilot investigations and the design of the business models that will capitalize on the market position of those partners.
Research Confocal Market…
The global market for research confocal microscopes is believed to be worth $375 million a year.
The utility provided by Microvision’s miniaturized, high resolution, scanner has the potential to expand the scientific fields that can be effectively researched with confocal microscopes. New in vivo research applications can increase demand from this significant and established market. It also has the advantage of easier entry as there is a lower regulatory threshold.
I think Microvision has full-filled on the original feasibility contract with Johnson & Johnson's Ethicon Endo-Surgery Unit. This feasibility agreement was to target Medical Visualization Applications. Now it is up to Ethicon Johnson to take it further. GE imaging may also be involved in some way or form.
This is from Microvision Year 2006 10K [annual report]…
“Working with a development partner, we have also created prototype versions of a high resolution, miniature laser camera for certain medical applications. Under the agreement, we developed prototype units that are being used in product evaluation. We have delivered the prototype units and our development partner is evaluating the units to determine a commercialization plan.”
“In 2006, 51% of revenue was derived from performance on development contracts with the United States government, 24% from performance on development contracts with commercial customers and the remainder from sales of Nomad and Flic units.”
"In 2005, 35% of revenue was derived from performance on development contracts with the United States government, 42% from performance on development contracts with commercial customers and the remainder from sales of Nomad and Flic units.”
“In 2005, Ethicon Endo-Surgery Inc. accounted for 33% of total revenue.”
Here’s the link…
http://microvision.blogspot.com/2007/03/mvis-10-k-annual-report-for-2006.html
Microvision could rock the early detection and surgery markets in the medical field [with its HD PicoP projector and nano scanner technology] in the next 3 to 5 years.
Anant Goel
"Pico projectors and nano scanners could revolutionize the early detection and surgery in the medical field."
In today's marketplace, endoscopes are increasingly involved in performing some of the most common surgical procedures as well as diagnosing cancer and other conditions. They're also a critical component of minimally invasive (MIVS) visualization systems.
The Key Markets:
The immediate target opportunities for Microvision are…
• Flexible endoscopesFlexible Endoscope Market…
• Rigid endoscopes
• Research confocal microscopes
The market for flexible endoscopes is estimated at $1.2 billion a year. It is dominated by Japanese camera companies, specifically Pentax, Olympus and Fujinon.
Microvision could partner with Pentax to introduce its miniaturized confocal microscope to this market. Pentax has an extensive sales force and service infrastructure throughout Europe, Japan, USA and South East Asia. It seeks to increase its market share by gaining competitive advantage through new and exclusive technology, providing a natural alignment of goals and strategy with Microvision.
Rigid Endoscope Market…
The global rigid endoscope market is estimated to be $1 billion a year. The market is more fragmented than that for flexible endoscopes. Some of the more significant participants include leading microscope companies such as Carl Storz, Leica, Richard Wolf, Stryker, Zeiss and Olympus.
Microvision should look to establish one or more partnerships to identify the likely initial applications. This could be followed by development of clinical pilot investigations and the design of the business models that will capitalize on the market position of those partners.
Research Confocal Market…
The global market for research confocal microscopes is believed to be worth $375 million a year.
The utility provided by Microvision’s miniaturized, high resolution, scanner has the potential to expand the scientific fields that can be effectively researched with confocal microscopes. New in vivo research applications can increase demand from this significant and established market. It also has the advantage of easier entry as there is a lower regulatory threshold.
I think Microvision has full-filled on the original feasibility contract with Johnson & Johnson's Ethicon Endo-Surgery Unit. This feasibility agreement was to target Medical Visualization Applications. Now it is up to Ethicon Johnson to take it further. GE imaging may also be involved in some way or form.
This is from Microvision Year 2006 10K [annual report]…
“Working with a development partner, we have also created prototype versions of a high resolution, miniature laser camera for certain medical applications. Under the agreement, we developed prototype units that are being used in product evaluation. We have delivered the prototype units and our development partner is evaluating the units to determine a commercialization plan.”
“In 2006, 51% of revenue was derived from performance on development contracts with the United States government, 24% from performance on development contracts with commercial customers and the remainder from sales of Nomad and Flic units.”
"In 2005, 35% of revenue was derived from performance on development contracts with the United States government, 42% from performance on development contracts with commercial customers and the remainder from sales of Nomad and Flic units.”
“In 2005, Ethicon Endo-Surgery Inc. accounted for 33% of total revenue.”
Here’s the link…
http://microvision.blogspot.com/2007/03/mvis-10-k-annual-report-for-2006.html
Microvision could rock the early detection and surgery markets in the medical field [with its HD PicoP projector and nano scanner technology] in the next 3 to 5 years.
Anant Goel
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Jim Cramer the “Mad Money” Entertainer Exposed
While checking the news for Microvision stock MVIS this morning, I noticed the news heading…
“Jim Cramer Says Sell MVIS, Q and Buy GRA, AT&T”
“Wow” I said, and went looking for the video clip from the CNBC show. For those that didn’t see the show, here is the link…
http://www.cnbc.com//id/32969304
Ken Sailor posted [on Yahoo message board] this very informative piece about the Mad Money show…
This clip was at the start of the “lightning round”, the segment of the show where callers ask about a stock, and lightning quick, Cramer makes the call: buy, hold or sell. He starts each lightning round by saying that neither he nor his staff knows who the caller or the stock was ahead of time.
Watch him work. His staff hears the stock, and quickly pushes canned data onto his monitor. He’s looking at the PPS and earnings graphs, along with a few key stats, and probably a short sentence describing the company’s product or service. He digests this data (like a contestant in a hot dog eating contest) while she talks, and in about 5 seconds, he must make the call. After all, people are waiting for him, and there are many other callers to get to.
Now, snap second decision-making works for umpires and skeet shooters, but it’s no way to pick stocks. I like Cramer as an entertainer, but we must realize that there is a big difference between investment advice and entertainment.
Makes me wonder if Cramer took a second look later, after the show was over? Wondering, “what is this stock about, and why did it make such a big jump these last few days?” He’ll find out that this company is at the tip of the spear on this “Mobile Internet tsunami” he’s talked about before. Or maybe he will just forget about it. In a few weeks, there will be a buzz about a little company making a tiny PicoP display engine, and the “Image by PicoP” projector will shock and awe the public. He’ll notice it and realize the potential, and wonder, “Where have I seen that name before?”
So today will be an interesting one. Like the bogus and self-serving blog, from a short-seller hedge fund, at Seeking Alpha that ran this stock down… which ended up costing the Seeking Alpha web site some serious credibility, this will be a day where fear overcomes logic. The weak hands may fold. The ignorant may succumb to panic. But in the end, rational thought and detailed due diligence will always prevail.
I’ve seen Jim eat crow before. I have an old recipe around here somewhere. Now where did I put that…?
[credit: Ken (I see a buying opportunity) sailor]
If you think about it, seriously, it's very simple. Jim Cramer of Mad Money show is an entertainer and when an entertainer knows nothing about a question asked of him, he deflects into the least risky and most ambiguous posture available to him and that is, in this case, not a BUY, not a SELL, but a "Don't Buy"… which is in the realm of his safe world. It clearly shows that Jim Cramer is a clown and he knows nothing about Microvision and maybe not even know the fact that Microvision just announced commercial launch of the world’s first laser PicoP projector SHOWwx. He may not even know that over the next few weeks, at last three major name OEMs will be signing purchase agreements and salivating to get their hands on to integrate PicoP display engines into mobile devices and Cell Phones… before NetFlix, Blockbuster, Hulu and others start streaming movies and other video content… especially when 4G comes into the mainstream.
Jim Cramer just showed how shallow his knowledge and his show Mad Money is and therefore how much his recommendations should be even considered. Cramer calls Microvision a "Laser Company". Microvision does not make lasers… Corning and Osram make it. Microvision uses RGB laser lights its PicoP display engine. Granted that Microvision have not made money, as yet, from their PicoP display engines, but most of the current investors own this stock for the huge potential it represent in the next year or two. The only part that Cramer might have gotten correct was “speculative”. But if Cramer had been at the Microvision Annual Stock Holder Meeting this past week, held the SHOWwx standalone PicoP projector in his hands, and considered the possibilities, he might not have labeled it as "too speculative”… or “it isn't for me”.
If you want to know who Jim Cramer really is, read the blog post about him by Patrick Byrne from March 2008…
http://www.deepcapture.com/jim-cramer-is-a-complicated-man/
Numerous well-regarded money managers on Wall Street consider Jim’s career as a hedge fund manager was mediocre until he moved to TV. Whatever is the truth, Cramer’s primary affiliation is now with CNBC, where he has his own show, Mad Money (though Cramer continues to work as a part-time analyst and director for TheStreet.com).
“Whatever the truth is in that regard, it is clear that Jim Cramer’s investment horizon is short. Cramer believes that the market is irrational and that “buy-and-hold” is just “brainwashing that Wall Street relies upon to keep you from taking back your assets under its management.” (Jim Cramer’s Real Money, 234). In his writings he proudly describes how he trades on short-term volatility. Given Cramer’s access to both public and institutional information channels, it is plausible that he has been tempted to create the volatility upon which he trades. In recent writings, Cramer displays awareness that, as both a journalist and an investor, he is potentially conflicted.”
This blog post quotes Jim Cramer…
“I know it may look to some that I am corrupt because I praise stocks I own, even though I tell you I own them. But think about the logic of it: I champion the stocks I own because I like them enough to put my money behind them. I champion the stocks I own because I think they can make me money and you money, too. By similar logic I knock stocks I don’t own because I think they are too rich and you could lose money if you buy them. I try to explain this all of the time on radio and TV. Nevertheless, people confuse my motives and believe that I am picking on bad guys and pumping stocks I own so I can make money. If only life were that simple and if only I were that powerful!” (Jim Cramer’s Real Money, 58).
“Given the sheer size of Jim’s body of work it is difficult to know whether Jim Cramer uses his position as a public figure to manipulate prices. He has written thousands of articles and mentioned individual stocks many times over, at different times, as both a bull and a bear. Cramer’s opinions change so often that it is difficult to know what he believes. In fact, this inconsistency has become a rallying cry for critics. One well-known example is Jim’s shifting attitude towards Wharton Professor Jeremy Seigel, author of Stocks for the Long Run. In 2000, Seigel wrote an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal warning investors of excess valuations. Cramer responded in a piece on TheStreet.com as follows:
“I really have no use for theoreticians of the market. They make you no money. We are in a casino-like market and I want to game the casino. The absurdity of a Jeremy Siegel from Wharton coming out with some statement about valuation and how he thinks it’s wrong is just poppycock. Valuation is what it is. If you could sell only thousands of dollars worth of stock at these prices, then I would be wrong. But you can sell trillions of dollars worth. So what does it matter if an academic says the prices are wrong. They are the prices. That is the hand you are dealt, so figure it out or get lost.”
Most recently, on March 12th, the host of “The Dailey Show”, Jon Stewart, interviewed Jim Cramer of “Mad Money”…
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-march-12-2009/jim-cramer-pt--1
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-march-12-2009/jim-cramer-pt--2
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-march-12-2009/jim-cramer-pt--3
Jon Stewart fed Jim Cramer his words and took everything that Jim Cramer didn’t want to see or hear and finally said: “account for yourself sir” and forced Jim to defend his double speak. Jim Cramer kept talking about “shenanigans” and saying “they… they … they” trying to divert everything from himself… except to say that he wants to defend us, the investors.
So, do we really know who Jim Cramer is?
“Unfortunately there are many Cramer(s) on Wall Street handling investor’s money who don’t give a damn about their client’s interest but only about their personal greed!”
Anant Goel
“Jim Cramer Says Sell MVIS, Q and Buy GRA, AT&T”
“Wow” I said, and went looking for the video clip from the CNBC show. For those that didn’t see the show, here is the link…
http://www.cnbc.com//id/32969304
Ken Sailor posted [on Yahoo message board] this very informative piece about the Mad Money show…
This clip was at the start of the “lightning round”, the segment of the show where callers ask about a stock, and lightning quick, Cramer makes the call: buy, hold or sell. He starts each lightning round by saying that neither he nor his staff knows who the caller or the stock was ahead of time.
Watch him work. His staff hears the stock, and quickly pushes canned data onto his monitor. He’s looking at the PPS and earnings graphs, along with a few key stats, and probably a short sentence describing the company’s product or service. He digests this data (like a contestant in a hot dog eating contest) while she talks, and in about 5 seconds, he must make the call. After all, people are waiting for him, and there are many other callers to get to.
Now, snap second decision-making works for umpires and skeet shooters, but it’s no way to pick stocks. I like Cramer as an entertainer, but we must realize that there is a big difference between investment advice and entertainment.
Makes me wonder if Cramer took a second look later, after the show was over? Wondering, “what is this stock about, and why did it make such a big jump these last few days?” He’ll find out that this company is at the tip of the spear on this “Mobile Internet tsunami” he’s talked about before. Or maybe he will just forget about it. In a few weeks, there will be a buzz about a little company making a tiny PicoP display engine, and the “Image by PicoP” projector will shock and awe the public. He’ll notice it and realize the potential, and wonder, “Where have I seen that name before?”
So today will be an interesting one. Like the bogus and self-serving blog, from a short-seller hedge fund, at Seeking Alpha that ran this stock down… which ended up costing the Seeking Alpha web site some serious credibility, this will be a day where fear overcomes logic. The weak hands may fold. The ignorant may succumb to panic. But in the end, rational thought and detailed due diligence will always prevail.
I’ve seen Jim eat crow before. I have an old recipe around here somewhere. Now where did I put that…?
[credit: Ken (I see a buying opportunity) sailor]
If you think about it, seriously, it's very simple. Jim Cramer of Mad Money show is an entertainer and when an entertainer knows nothing about a question asked of him, he deflects into the least risky and most ambiguous posture available to him and that is, in this case, not a BUY, not a SELL, but a "Don't Buy"… which is in the realm of his safe world. It clearly shows that Jim Cramer is a clown and he knows nothing about Microvision and maybe not even know the fact that Microvision just announced commercial launch of the world’s first laser PicoP projector SHOWwx. He may not even know that over the next few weeks, at last three major name OEMs will be signing purchase agreements and salivating to get their hands on to integrate PicoP display engines into mobile devices and Cell Phones… before NetFlix, Blockbuster, Hulu and others start streaming movies and other video content… especially when 4G comes into the mainstream.
Jim Cramer just showed how shallow his knowledge and his show Mad Money is and therefore how much his recommendations should be even considered. Cramer calls Microvision a "Laser Company". Microvision does not make lasers… Corning and Osram make it. Microvision uses RGB laser lights its PicoP display engine. Granted that Microvision have not made money, as yet, from their PicoP display engines, but most of the current investors own this stock for the huge potential it represent in the next year or two. The only part that Cramer might have gotten correct was “speculative”. But if Cramer had been at the Microvision Annual Stock Holder Meeting this past week, held the SHOWwx standalone PicoP projector in his hands, and considered the possibilities, he might not have labeled it as "too speculative”… or “it isn't for me”.
If you want to know who Jim Cramer really is, read the blog post about him by Patrick Byrne from March 2008…
http://www.deepcapture.com/jim-cramer-is-a-complicated-man/
Numerous well-regarded money managers on Wall Street consider Jim’s career as a hedge fund manager was mediocre until he moved to TV. Whatever is the truth, Cramer’s primary affiliation is now with CNBC, where he has his own show, Mad Money (though Cramer continues to work as a part-time analyst and director for TheStreet.com).
“Whatever the truth is in that regard, it is clear that Jim Cramer’s investment horizon is short. Cramer believes that the market is irrational and that “buy-and-hold” is just “brainwashing that Wall Street relies upon to keep you from taking back your assets under its management.” (Jim Cramer’s Real Money, 234). In his writings he proudly describes how he trades on short-term volatility. Given Cramer’s access to both public and institutional information channels, it is plausible that he has been tempted to create the volatility upon which he trades. In recent writings, Cramer displays awareness that, as both a journalist and an investor, he is potentially conflicted.”
This blog post quotes Jim Cramer…
“I know it may look to some that I am corrupt because I praise stocks I own, even though I tell you I own them. But think about the logic of it: I champion the stocks I own because I like them enough to put my money behind them. I champion the stocks I own because I think they can make me money and you money, too. By similar logic I knock stocks I don’t own because I think they are too rich and you could lose money if you buy them. I try to explain this all of the time on radio and TV. Nevertheless, people confuse my motives and believe that I am picking on bad guys and pumping stocks I own so I can make money. If only life were that simple and if only I were that powerful!” (Jim Cramer’s Real Money, 58).
“Given the sheer size of Jim’s body of work it is difficult to know whether Jim Cramer uses his position as a public figure to manipulate prices. He has written thousands of articles and mentioned individual stocks many times over, at different times, as both a bull and a bear. Cramer’s opinions change so often that it is difficult to know what he believes. In fact, this inconsistency has become a rallying cry for critics. One well-known example is Jim’s shifting attitude towards Wharton Professor Jeremy Seigel, author of Stocks for the Long Run. In 2000, Seigel wrote an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal warning investors of excess valuations. Cramer responded in a piece on TheStreet.com as follows:
“I really have no use for theoreticians of the market. They make you no money. We are in a casino-like market and I want to game the casino. The absurdity of a Jeremy Siegel from Wharton coming out with some statement about valuation and how he thinks it’s wrong is just poppycock. Valuation is what it is. If you could sell only thousands of dollars worth of stock at these prices, then I would be wrong. But you can sell trillions of dollars worth. So what does it matter if an academic says the prices are wrong. They are the prices. That is the hand you are dealt, so figure it out or get lost.”
Most recently, on March 12th, the host of “The Dailey Show”, Jon Stewart, interviewed Jim Cramer of “Mad Money”…
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-march-12-2009/jim-cramer-pt--1
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-march-12-2009/jim-cramer-pt--2
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-march-12-2009/jim-cramer-pt--3
Jon Stewart fed Jim Cramer his words and took everything that Jim Cramer didn’t want to see or hear and finally said: “account for yourself sir” and forced Jim to defend his double speak. Jim Cramer kept talking about “shenanigans” and saying “they… they … they” trying to divert everything from himself… except to say that he wants to defend us, the investors.
So, do we really know who Jim Cramer is?
• Is this same Jim Cramer that has publicly admitted to “'gaming the system” by publicly denouncing a company while buying up its shares, or touting the company while all the while selling its shares, paying people in the press to do his bidding?I hope it is. Because we know the spots on this leopard that wants us to believe he is an investment “guru” and has our best interest at heart… au contraire.
• Is this the same Jim Cramer that said buy… buy… buy stocks just before the bottom fell out last year?
• Is this the same Jim Cramer, whose record for picking stocks is less than 46% over time? A chimp throwing its “poop” at a stock page would do better!
• Is this same Jim Cramer that is little more than a shill for his hedge fund buddies?
• Is this the same Jim Cramer that cried on TV saying the Fed had to act or all the hedge funds would go tits up? Which was followed-up with Treasury Secretary Paulson [Goldman’s former CEO] manipulating and blackmailing Congress into the biggest government bailout of Wall Street in the history of mankind?
“Unfortunately there are many Cramer(s) on Wall Street handling investor’s money who don’t give a damn about their client’s interest but only about their personal greed!”
Anant Goel
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