THE "COMPANY DATA SERVICE CHANGES" EDITION
9 DECEMBER 2010
RIGHT ON SCHEDULE!
BetterInvesting, ICLUBcentral Make Morningstar Move
Your reporter loves it when things go as planned. Such is the case with the BI and ICLUBcentral move to the combined company data platform from Morningstar. "The changeover is scheduled to take place Dec. 22."
In her ongoing effort to keep you not just in the know, but among the first to know, your reporter gleaned the following hot-off-the-presses info from her most clandestine of sources:
What's the Scoop?
BetterInvesting and ICLUBcentral are moving to the combined company data platform from Morningstar. Both BI and ICLUB will continue to provide data for tools, including StockCentral.
In addition to the myICLUB.com reports, the SC Data Service provides fundamental company data for SC tools, including:
* Take Stock
* Roster of Quality Companies
* Sector/Industry Average browser
* Ratio Analyzer
* Stock Screener
* Company Reports
* Downloadable *.SSG Datafiles
Why the Change?
* Existing S&P and Morningstar contracts both were expiring.
* Consolidating with a single provider allows SC the ability to streamline
behind-the-scenes work. * Morningstar is making changes in the way it delivers company data, which allows us to add features to the SC data service.
What's Changing?
* Industry and Sectors are slightly different. Morningstar has been remapped to more closely match S&P's GICS.
* Free Cash Flow per Share replaces Cash Flow per Share.
* Long-term analyst EPS estimate growth rates.
* Faster quarterly & year-end reporting.
* Canadian companies added:
Toronto Stock Exchange; Toronto Venture Exchange
What's Not Changing?
* Your SC subscription term and expiration date.
* Your username or password.
* Any settings that need to be adjusted in your Toolkit 6 or other program.
* SC will continue to provide Take Stock Quality Index and
Take Stock EPS Growth Rate Estimates.
Your first-on-the-scene reporter has another golden nugget for you, her loyal SC readers: A second phase of improvements is scheduled to take place April 1, 2011. (No foolin'!)
What might be coming down the pike? How about 1- and 2-year EPS and revenues estimates, updates with preliminary quarterly and annual results, and more financial statement data. Not too shabby, eh?
On to more of this week's headlines . . .
THE CLOCK IS TICKING . . .
Pre-Order 2010 Federal and State Tax Printers and Save!
Perhaps one fellow investor told you that some states do not require investment clubs to file returns, while another said that some states levy stiff penalties for clubs that fail to file. Who's right?
Both. (You didn't expect a simple answer on the topic of tax filing, did you?)
Tax filing procedures differ from state to state. Contact your state's tax department (such as the Department of Revenue or Department of Taxation) for more information about your particular state's requirements. And take note: Tax laws do change, so even if your state did not require filings in the past, they may have changed their requirements for the 2010 tax year.
If that sounds a bit daunting and you're looking for top-notch support, you've come to the right place! Get your investment club ready for tax preparation early by pre-ordering your Federal and State Club Tax Printers from ICLUBcentral — the #1 tax preparation software for investment clubs.
Pre-order now and save — pay just $89.99 if you order before December 31, 2010. SC members save even more, and pay just $59.99! To receive discounts on ICLUBcentral software, including the lowest available prices for the 2010 Club Tax Printers, join StockCentral.com today!
WE'RE ALL ANTLERS, ER . . . EARS
StockCentral Member Unwraps His Wish List
Here at the very busy StockCentral HQ (a pace, your reporter notes, not unlike that of the North Pole this time of year), the dedicated staff works tirelessly to continuously improve the SC site. That's why your reporter was thrilled when SC member Greg Horning offered this candid insight recently:
"I have a suggestion that perhaps could make the Take Stock tool more informative. For example, I like the mini pop-up windows that the Ratio Analyzer provides when you move your cursor over the various ratios. That's informative and educational! It would be nice if that same capability worked when viewing a TSSW front/back when moving your cursor over a bold box or a chart. I generally refer to Ellis Traub's early edition book to understand the elements in the TSSW, but the mini pop-up window would be very nice."
Thank you, Greg. And duly noted. What about you? Got a suggestion? Send it on! If ever there was a season for magic and wishes that come true, it's this one.
TODAY'S ENTIRELY RELEVANT QUOTATION
"You've just had economists over the last 24, 48 hours examine this and say this is going to boost the economy; it is going to grow the economy; it is going to increase the likelihood that we can drive down the unemployment rate."
— President Obama, commenting on an agreement that would extend the Bush era tax rates for all income levels.