THE "BOON OR BUST?" EDITION
1 APRIL 2010
CURRICULUM, INSTRUCTORS AND CAMARADERIE
InvestEd 2010 Attendance "Pays for Itself"
Whether the economy's experiencing Recession or Recovery, wise investors are always on the hunt for value. With this in mind, your inquisitive reporter ponders, could there be a better value than a conference that pays for itself? One profitable investing idea gleaned at the 2010 InvestEd Conference, Aug. 6 - 8 in Baltimore, Md., could exceed the cost of attending InvestEd. Opportunities abound.
The session schedule features an innovative sparkle that appeals to newbies, intermediate, and advanced investors. InvestEd's roster of instructors sets the bar high and includes Bob Adams, Joe Craig, Mary Ann Davis, Phil Keating, Bakul Lalla, Lynn Ostrem, and Saul Seinberg, among many others. Seymour "Zinc" Zeenkov, an InvestEd Instructor says, "When Saul presents a session, you know you're taking part in investor education that's as good as any you'll ever have."
Throughout the weekend, attendees will have the opportunity to listen, collaborate, and exchange ideas with investing's finest minds — instructors, corporate representatives, and attendees. Expand your computer skills in the hands-on Computer Lab, and gather at the after-hours Cyber Cafe in a friendly and fun oasis. And don't forget to bring your computer!
As if the cutting-edge curriculum, top-notch instructors, and camaraderie weren't enough, your most competent reporter feels obliged to mention the myriad of opportunities — discount and otherwise — that attendees can take advantage of at this very moment:
* Early Registration. Register by the stroke of Midnight April 30 and take advantage of the early registration rate of $389.
* Rebate Referral Incentive. Attend InvestEd 2010, bring friends who did not attend InvestEd 2009, and receive a $25 referral rebate for each referral.
* Discount Programs. StockCentral members can shave an extra $10 off their registration fee; students with valid I.D. have their own special rate of $359.
* Subscribe to the new InvestEd Monthly Newsletter. Receive investor education articles, technology tips, webinar announcements, and InvestEd news.
The feeling of family, financial food for thought, and fun . . . With all due respect, your reporter declares that investors who fail to sign up for InvestEd 2010 must be simply mad!
UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE: BOON OR BUST?
How Might New Law Affect Industry, Investors?
After a tug-of-war that lasted a year, President Obama's moment finally arrived. He put his John Hancock on the massive health care reform bill March 23, signing into law legislation that will extend coverage to 32 million uninsured Americans as it is phased in over the next several years.
Experts predict that while increased regulation from the federal government will likely mean lower profit margins for health care companies, they may be offset by the increase in the industry's "customer base." Time will tell.
What's your take? Does health care reform present an opportunity for long-term investors? Or will your club steer clear? Turn up the heat on the debate at StockCentral.
On to this week's headlines . . .
ALMOST FAMILY, INC.
Does Graying Population = Opportunity?
As the debate over the wisdom of a universal health plan rages on, long-term investors are ready to seize brand-new opportunity. "I have been looking for investment ideas to capitalize on our graying population," Karen Stepic posted on the SC Forum. Enter Almost Family, Inc. (NASDAQ: AFAM), a provider of home health nursing, rehabilitation and personal care services.
"I am attracted to the low debt and the fact that their sales and earnings have not taken a huge hit in this recent recession," she writes. "For my SSG, I chose to conservatively estimate growth at 13.7 percent. That is the rate that the industry as a whole has grown over the last 5 years. MSN Money gives a 5-year estimate for AFAM at 20 percent, but that seems a bit pie-in-the-sky to me."
After checking seven different data providers, fellow SC Member Armin Fields reported back to Karen on the Forum: "Value Line reported no long-term estimate and the average of the other six was a 19.17 percent with S&P low at 17.50 percent," he writes. "Zacks was high at 20 percent, but doesn't seem way out of line with the others."
Industry comparisons are also revealing, he notes. "StockCentral's Industry Comparisons (see Sector/Industry Averages) shows that the Home Health Care Industry consists of 12 companies with a five-year average Pre-Tax Profit Margin of 10.3 percent."
Not only do industry comparisons shed light on AFAM's performance, but they also point to other companies that might be worth a closer look. To find out which company's Industry Average ranks first and where AFAM falls in the pack, check out the rest of the discussion on the Forum.
"STATE" OF AFFAIRS
Club's Procrastination Could Prove Quite Taxing
It may well be considered the Russian roulette of investment club tax filing. The rules for filing state returns not only vary from state to state, your reporter notes with a bit of exasperation, but may change from one year to the next. And, an increasing number of states require partnerships to file a return if the partnership has any partner who resides in that state, regardless of where the partnership is officially located. What, then, is there for an investment club to do? Your most diligent reporter has the answer: plenty.
Assume your state doesn't require investment clubs to file returns and you could be right, or wrong — and faced with a stiff penalty. A little bit of investigative reporting never hurt anyone.
To get you started, you should know that all clubs located in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, or Wisconsin must file a return with their state agencies. Fortunately, clubs in these states can use ICLUBcentral's State Club Tax Printer software to generate the necessary forms.
The April 15 tax filing deadline is quickly approaching. To learn more about filing your club's taxes, check out the FAQs on the Club Tax Printer Support page.
TODAY'S QUOTATION FOR THE HARD OF HEARING
"I hope this health care plan covers hearing aids, because it's clear Democrats who voted for it have not heard the majority of Americans who didn't want government-controlled health care crammed down their throats."
- Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour