THE MERGER EDITION
15 JUNE 2009
ICLUBcentral, BetterInvesting Merge
The Proverbial Two Heads Are Better Than One Prevails
As your roving reporter so uh, subtly points out whenever she has the chance, she is privy to the most classified of information from deep within the walls of Harvard Square. Such was the case once again last week when she received word of the merger between ICLUBcentral and BetterInvesting.
It only makes sense, she declared, when she caught wind of the breaking news. What could be better than ICLUBcentral - the top developer and seller of fundamental stock analysis and accounting software for long-term investors on planet Earth, teaming up with an organization that has been devoted to investor education for more than half a century?
Your inquisitive reporter has learned that there aren't any changes on the horizon for StockCentral or InvestEd. You'll continue to receive the best in products and services. What's more, your intrepid reporter has learned, the best is about to get better. According to one source, "With BetterInvesting's and ICLUBcentral's tools, resources and educational offerings all under one roof, we can provide anything you need to build wealth over the long term, including Web-based tools for beginners, desktop software for experienced investors, accounting products and services for investment club members, and education and community support for investors of all experience levels." Your most articulate reporter is forced to admit that she couldn't have said it better herself.
Should you have any questions about the merger, now is not the time to exercise your shy bones! Go to the Merger Central webpage, or, if you prefer to speak to a real live person, pick up your phone and dial ICLUBcentral: 877-334-2582.
Onto this week's headlines...
GOT QUESTIONS?
Doug Gerlach to Lead Q & A Session
Speaking of questions, Doug Gerlach says, bring 'em on! Whether it's the ICLUBcentral/BetterInvesting merger you are pondering or you've got questions about the StockCentral community -- from the columns to the Gazette and, of course, the forum, this is your chance. So, ask away. Guru Gerlach will moderate an open session Q&A June 16. Sign up today for the Webinar, which begins at precisely 9 p.m. Eastern Time.
QSII PRICE SURGES
SC Member Asks: Is it a Signal to Sell?
SC Member Keith Hoile is soliciting input and feedback in the SC Community Forum from his sage investor counterparts. "QSII (Quality Systems, Inc.) has a current price 30 percent above our cost," he writes. "The SSG now reflects a PAR of 8.2 percent. Is this a 'sell' signal?"
Some of his wise peers have already chimed in. "I think you might want to re-evaluate your Forecast Low Price," writes Armin Fields in response to the SSG Keith posted. "Instead of choosing one of the four standard options, you decided to select the "open-ended" choice and raise the Low Price in the next 5 years to $31.90.
"In the midst of a deep recession," he continues, "where prices keep going down and down and down, you should have a very, very good reason (and an even better crystal ball) to increase the Forecast Low Price to $31.90. Your choice of a Low Price for QSII can be the difference, in this case, between a SSG Buy and a SSG Don't Buy.
"Also, I almost always project future growth from the Last Quarter except, for example, when the last Q is atypical (not the case here). The choice of the projection point, without more, can be the difference between a SSG Buy and a SSG Don't Buy."
Ask and you shall receive. Visit the QSII Forum to check out Keith's SSG, link to Armin's SSG blog entries on the matter, or leave your own pearls of wisdom.
LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!
SC Member Seeks Investor Opinions
This reporter dares to reveal that if you are one of the many investors who have oft wished for the chance to take a risk with someone else's money -- albeit hypothetical -- your time has come. It is but a golden opportunity, your reporter declares, as you will remain anonymous to boot!
"In this experiment, you will be able to choose up to ten pieces of information about a particular publicly traded company, whose name is concealed," Carolyn Payne writes in the SC Community Forum. After viewing your choice of information, you will be asked how much of a hypothetical $5,000 you would like to invest in the company."
"Once the investment is made, you will then take Alan J. Rowe's Decision Style Inventory Test. Immediately, after submitting your answers, you will be given your results and a description of the style characteristics."
"I believe that the results will be valuable to standard setters in their future decisions about information requirements for publicly traded companies. Participation in this experiment is completely voluntary and anonymous. You will be asked a few demographic questions, but no identifying information will be collected."
This experiment is part of Carolyn's research for her doctoral thesis. Your bleeding-heart reporter implores you to take a few minutes to help a fellow investor out - and learn a little bit more about yourself in the process!
TODAY'S ENTIRELY RELEVANT QUOTATION
"The move up is going to be slower and we're going
to have periods of sideways movement. But slow and steady
is good because it's more sustainable."
-Gary Webb, CEO, Webb Financial Group, on the market's next moves following the news that the DJIA just finished
its best 13-week run since Nov. 1982