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SIVY ON STOCKS from money.com
December 4, 2000 ========================================= CHAT TONIGHT: Monday, December 4 at 8pm ET, 5pm PT Michael Sivy identifies sectors and stocks that possess true value in a rocky market. AOL users go to Keyword: Live http://www.money.com/chat/ ========================================= Nasdaq crash victim Applied Materials has fallen to fire-sale prices. By Michael Sivy The Dow may be down only 10 percent from its 52-week high, but the Nasdaq is in the middle of a screaming bear market, down nearly 50 percent from its high in March. Computer stocks have been among the hardest hit, particularly PC makers: Compaq is down 34 percent from its peak, Dell is off 68 percent and Gateway, 76 percent. The weakness extends down the food chain. Intel, which counts on PC makers for a large slice of its semiconductor sales, has lost 56 percent. And Applied Materials [AMAT], the leading producer of semiconductor equipment, is off 66 percent. I don't believe that the outlook for these stocks is nearly as bleak as their recent performance suggests. It's true that the crucial fourth-quarter season isn't looking very bright. And the most pessimistic analysts argue that PCs are becoming like television sets -- commodities distinguished only by price. Without the ability to charge premium prices for added bells and whistles, the thinking goes, already-thin profit margins will deteriorate even more. But over the next five years, sales for top companies in the PC sector are projected to grow 12 percent to 15 percent annually, and earnings could rise 16 percent to 20 percent or more. The next few months may be trying, but they should offer investors great long-term buying opportunities. And the best one, to my mind, figures to be Applied Materials, which is capable of growing profits an average of 25 percent a year. The stock's big drawback is its extraordinary volatility. Even when it looks cheap, it's capable of falling further if the technology sector is doing poorly. And since two-thirds of sales come from overseas, Applied Materials is fully exposed to the vagaries of international economics, from the weak euro to Asian financial problems. In fact, I've recommended the stock several times before at higher prices, only to watch it go even lower. At this point, however, I don't see how it could fall much more. Analysts have reduced earnings estimates for the current fiscal year (ending Oct. 1, 2001) from $3.50 a share two months ago to as little as $2.10 today. But even based on these reduced estimates, at $38.50 a share the stock is trading at less than 19 times earnings, or just 0.8 times its long-term growth rate. Business conditions may well be tough through the first half of 2001, and some analysts see the stock going as low as $33 or $34 before bottoming. But business conditions should improve by the second half. Given that the stock could easily trade at more than double today's price in a more favorable market, the potential upside looks 10 times greater than the downside. ### Post your comments on Michael's column at: http://www.money.com/depts/investing/sivy/index.html To subscribe or unsubscribe to Sivy on Stocks, go to: http://www.money.com/email/ Earning Releases and Calls For the latest corporate earnings releases and online conference calls click on: http://money.ccbn.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Special Internet Offer!!! Sign up for a RISK-FREE issue of MONEY MAGAZINE at http://www.money.com/subscribe2 Or if you prefer call our toll-free number 1-800-544-4594 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * We may, from time to time, contact you with offers for Time Inc. products and services which we think may be of interest to you. If you would prefer us not to contact you in this manner, AND YOU DID NOT INDICATE THIS PREFERENCE AT THE TIME YOU SIGNED UP for the Sivy on Stocks online newsletter or any other Time Inc. online newsletters, please let us know by sending us an e-mail at <no_solicit@money.com<. Additionally, from time to time we may provide your e-mail address to carefully chosen companies whose offers we think may be of interest to you. If you would prefer us not use your e-mail address in this manner, AND YOU DID NOT INDICATE THIS PREFERENCE AT THE TIME YOU SIGNED UP for the Sivy on Stocks online newsletter or any other Time Inc. online newsletter, please let us know by e-mailing us at <no_transfer@money.com<.
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