portefeuille (99.78)

35 Comments – Post Your Own

#1) On July 20, 2009 at 10:04 PM, portefeuille (99.78) wrote:

... in this post of mine.

... in this post of mine. 

 

Report this comment

#2) On July 20, 2009 at 10:07 PM, portefeuille (99.78) wrote:

And again, I can only recommend making a list similar to mine, at least if you enjoy making calls like I do ...

Report this comment

#3) On July 20, 2009 at 10:23 PM, awallejr (82.39) wrote:

Yeah but you don't want "penny stocks" to be ratable.  Something goes up from .01 to .02 and you made 100%.  Gets a bit silly.  If you just want to track that stuff you can use the watchlist.

Report this comment

#4) On July 20, 2009 at 10:36 PM, portefeuille (99.78) wrote:

#3 I want to make calls that are visible to others. Why should you not recommend something at $0.01. I have not found anything good trading at $0.01 in the past months, but when I do I am going to recommend it.

Report this comment

#5) On July 20, 2009 at 11:02 PM, rofgile (98.98) wrote:

Heck, I wish in CAPS I could have bought SIRI at .135, when I found out it wasn't going bankrupt.  I sure as heck bought that in real life, and am quite happy I did. 

The company is a billion-dollar market cap.  What sense is it not to be rateable?   They should have limits on stocks based upon the market capitalisation.

I could understand not letting a rating on a company with below 30 million in market cap.  That would be an ultra-small cap. 

Report this comment

#6) On July 21, 2009 at 12:03 AM, TMFJake (63.55) wrote:

I think it would make more sense to create a separate "Micro CAPS" service for stocks that don't meet the 1.50 / 100M minimums...

Report this comment

#7) On July 21, 2009 at 8:00 AM, portefeuille (99.78) wrote:

Report this comment

#8) On July 21, 2009 at 9:06 AM, portefeuille (99.78) wrote:

#519) On June 01, 2009 at 9:58 PM, portefeuille (99.98) wrote: MAIL - 5.00 - outperform

(from here)

update

IncrediMail Increases 2009 Guidance for Growth; $26 Million Top-Line and $9 Million Operating Income

MAIL is currently at ca. $6.20.

 

Report this comment

#9) On July 21, 2009 at 9:19 AM, portefeuille (99.78) wrote:

Israel's IncrediMail renews AdSense deal with Google

 

enlarge

Report this comment

#10) On July 21, 2009 at 9:24 AM, portefeuille (99.78) wrote:

IncrediMail Continues Its Upside Surprises

Incredimail May Have More Good Surprises in Store

IncrediMail: Kick Butt Earnings

Three Israeli Baby Googles

Report this comment

#11) On July 21, 2009 at 9:28 AM, portefeuille (99.78) wrote:

------------------

Incredimail (MAIL) May Continue to Surprise Investors in the Year Ahead

Posted on May 19, 2009

Introduction

As we’ve noted in the past, we at Envoy love a good software turnaround story. The high margins and low capital needs of many software businesses, can lead to impressive earnings recoveries and explosive capital gains in the event that the company’s operations are realigned in a strategically correct manner.
IncrediMail (NASDAQ: MAIL), an Israeli provider of mostly free email and instant messaging (IM) software, is the latest software business to really grab our attention. After a management reshuffle, the company has focused more keenly on improving monetization of its core offerings, while simultaneously trimming corporate costs. The success of IncrediMail’s new strategic direction was made crystal clear in the firm’s recent financial results for Q1 2009.
After a long stretch of delivering pretty modest profits and some small losses, IncrediMail announced very robust first quarter earnings. Revenue rose 34%, but at the same time operating expenses fell 32%. The result was $2.5 million in operating profit, compared to a $900,000 loss in the prior year. Management had previously been guiding for $5 million in EBITDA for all of 2009. That target has since been raised to $7 million in operating income, which in our opinion remains a very low hurdle.
In addition to this improvement in profitability, we’re also intrigued by IncrediMail’s debt-free balance sheet, and the company’s plans for its excess cash. One encouraging move was the company’s share buyback, the first phase of which was recently completed. Even more appealing is the institution of an annual dividend policy, with a proposed $0.50/share one-time dividend now working its way through the Israeli court and regulatory system.
To get a better handle on the changes that have recently driven the stock to 52-week highs, as well as what lies ahead for the company, we recently checked in with Jeff Holzmann, President of IncrediMail.

Envoy Global Interview


Envoy Global Research (EGR): Can you briefly describe your main free software products, who the target customers are, and how you currently generate revenue from these products?

Jeff Holzmann (JH): Our flagship product, IncrediMail Xe, is a free e-mail client that enables users to customize their e-mails with a wide range of graphics, sound, and multimedia content. The program, with an active user base of over 7 million, offers a simple interface which appeals to less computer-savvy users. Our demographic for that product tends to skew female, with 69% of users over the age of 32. From IncrediMail Xe, users can pay to upgrade to the more fully-featured IncrediMail Premium.
Other offerings of ours include Magentic and PhotoJoy, both of which allow desktop enhacement through things like wallpaper, widgets, and screensavers. HiYo — our “rising star,” if you will — is a free add-on to instant messaging clients like MSN Messenger. HiYo offers unique animations, sound effects, winks, nudges and a wide selection of emoticons to enhance the users’ chatting experience. This program has seen over 5.5 million registered downloads since its introduction late last year, and is popular with a younger, more tech-savvy demographic.
Basically, we generate revenue in four different ways. The product sales via upgrades to premium software are straightforward enough. But, we also generate ad revenue by displaying banners on our website and in our free software. In addition, we have brand licensing and promotion arrangements with operators of third party websites. Finally, and most importantly, the vast majority of our revenue is generated via search queries, which is monetized with cost-per-click advertising (CPC) thru programs developed by major search engine providers like Google and InfoSpace.

EGR: Can you please describe the major transitions that Incredimail has gone through over the last few years?
JH: There have been two major shifts, one involving management and the other being a big change in our revenue strategy.
First, with regards to management, the reins were passed from Yaron Adler to his cousin and co-founder Ofer Adler in early 2008. Whereas Yaron was interesting in pursuing several new growth areas, Ofer has refocused on the core opportunity of driving search revenue via our free software offerings. This has allowed the company to reduce headcount, discontinue less promising business efforts, and really hone in on our fastest-growing source of revenue.
On the strategy front, our sales efforts used to focus primarily on upgrading our users from the free products to the premium offerings. Perhaps 2% of users would upgrade, and 98% would stick with the free software. Not the best model, perhaps, but it’s the one we IPO’d with, and we did generate nice profits from that business. In late 2006 though, the company began experimenting with Google’s AdSense program to try and monetize those other 98% of our users. Google quickly became a very important partner for us, and their AdSense program has been the main revenue driver for our company ever since.
EGR: How exactly does the Google relationship work?
JH: What happens is that the user downloads our software for free. Then, during installation, we give her the option of setting her home page to a very basic, Google-powered search portal called MyStart. This is very similar to when people download the Firefox browser, and their start page becomes a Google powered search portal. 86% of people downloading our software choose this Google-power search option homepage.
When the user searches the web by starting from our Google-powered start page, text ads will appear alongside these searches in Google, and other search providers, like Infospace. Advertisers pay Google and Infospace for these ads on a pay-per-click basis. Google, in turn, shares those advertising revenues with partners, like Incredimail, who help drive search traffic to Google. Collectively, our users are conducting over 100 million searches, or queries, per month.
Revenue from search surpassed our product sales in 2007, accounted for more than half of total revenue in 2008, and hit 71% of sales in the most recent quarter. There are no direct costs associated with these sales, resulting in extremely high gross margins for the company.
EGR: Since your revenue is a function of the number of people who download your free software products, how do you market these products and generate downloads in a cost-effective manner?
JH: There are various ways to market free software on the Internet. The basic strategy for most companies is to buy online advertising via keyword pay-per-click programs or banner ads. While we have done that in the past, and continue to engage in media buying activities to promote new products like HiYo, our main marketing strategy is a viral one. By that I mean that we rely on our users to bring in additional users, whether that’s friends, family, or whomever those users communicate with using our software.
So for example, say you send out an IncrediMail email with some animations that your cousin finds really entertaining. He sees a link at the bottom of the e-mail, and clicks through to download a copy of his own. A similar principle is at work with our HiYo instant messenger add-on. If you don’t have HiYo installed, and a HiYo-created instant message pops up, it informs you that you can only view the special emoticons included in your friend’s IM if you download the add-on yourself. This self-propagating marketing mechanism works quite well for us, and costs next to nothing.
EGR: So your search business has been growing fast, with this cheap viral marketing driving downloads. Why, then, did the company’s operating profits stay relatively flat until just recently?
JH: This is a function of a few factors. First, as I mentioned, the company was chasing several different market opportunities under the former CEO, and the related expenses have only recently dropped away. Second, the search monetization process takes time to fine tune. The more time we spend working with partners like Google, the better we get at maximizing search revenues from our free software downloads. Third, as I mentioned, we chose to do some media buying to support the HiYo launch last year. That marketing spend saw no offsetting revenue initially, as we didn’t begin monetizing the program immediately. However, since the beginning of 2009, we’ve significantly reduced the media buying and let the viral marketing take over. Now that HiYo has this momentum in place, we are able to start ramping revenue from the product without much additional expense.
Basically, the dramatic growth in profits we recently reported is the result of a transition to a new cost structure, a new revenue model, and the monetization of a new product. The results of these changes are reflected in recent financial results, but the success didn’t happen overnight.
EGR: Looking beyond the monetization of HiYo, can you outline the ways that IncrediMail intends to sustain topline growth in future years? Is that primarily driven by new software products?
JH: New products are certainly an important part of that equation, and one example of that would be our desktop enhacement program, PhotoJoy, which is currently in beta, but we believe will have mass appeal.
But, let’s not ignore our current slate of offerings, however. With product upgrades, such as the forthcoming IncrediMail 2, we can both retain existing users and bring additional customers in for the first time. We expect both new and upgraded products, after some initial marketing support, to quickly move into a position where they can drive search revenue with little associated ongoing cost.
Finally, we think there is substantial opportunity to potentially acquire other small software companies that have an interesting free software product, but may not have the needed corporate infrastructure to develop a large scale and profitable business around these downloads.
EGR: On the financial front, we noticed that your company recently announced a one-time dividend, as well as an ongoing annual dividend. Can you please explain the rationale behind this decision as well as where the company now stands in terms of delivering the dividend?
JH: Yes, concurrent with our year-end results in March, the Board announced a new annual dividend policy that will pay out at least 50% of annual net income, beginning with fiscal 2009. Soon afterward, the Board also approved a $0.50 per share dividend to be paid for fiscal 2008.
This policy is a result of listening to our investors, many of whom have asked why we are sitting on so much cash. In fact, at one point last year, the value of our stock was well beneath the level of cash sitting on our balance sheet. We definitely do not need that much cash to run this business, and we therefore think it is a shareholder-friendly move to dividend out our extra cash. With our CEO and other insiders holding a large amount of stock, management is of course receptive to any steps that will maximize total shareholder returns over the long run.
Now, as an Israeli company, the dividend enactment is somewhat more complex than many of your readers might be used to seeing. For the 2008 dividend, we have to obtain the approval of the Israeli court, due to the size of the proposed payout, which slightly exceeds our net income for the year. We expect to receive approval within a few weeks.
We are also waiting to see the level of withholding tax to be levied by the Israeli tax authorities. Basically, our tax structure will likely change because of the dividend, and we’re guiding for a 31% effective rate, like we reported in the first quarter, going forward.
EGR: What should investors look out for over the next 1 to 3 years to gauge success at IncrediMail?
JH: Investors should look for continued growth in revenue, allowing for the usual seasonality of our business due to Internet usage trends. Combined with strict cost controls, we should produce solid bottom-line results. Expenses will always be front-loaded when it comes to the launch of a new or upgraded product, but I believe HiYo will demonstrate that those are dollars well spent. Expect us to continue developing new products to complement our existing lineup, as well as upgrades to our most popular products like IncrediMail and HiYo. Both activities will keep people downloading our software and engaging with the products, and that in turn will drive search revenue.
EGR: Thanks for your time, Jeff, and best of luck.
Conclusion
After nearly a year and a half of transition, it appears as though IncrediMail is set to continue growing significantly in the years ahead. In the coming quarters, revenue ought to rise at a solid rate, but the most dramatic difference will be seen on the bottom line. With expenses cut to current low levels, we expect a series of very favorable year-over-year earnings comps. Our earnings model also suggests that operating income could potentially surpass management guidance.
With the first quarter results, the market has only just started to recognize why Incredimail’s business is so attractive. The company has very low incremental costs, in terms of R&D and marketing, to support existing products. As such, the resulting search revenue is extremely profitable, and the cash being thrown off by this streamlined operation is now being put right into shareholders’ pockets via the annual dividend.
Despite the recent run up in the stock price following Q1 results, we think Incredimail is still virtually unknown to most investors and therefore still has significant upside potential should our expectations for continued robust results in 2009 prove accurate.

Disclosure: Affiliates of Envoy Global Research, and its principals, own shares in MAIL. All ideas, opinions, and/or forecasts, expressed or implied herein, are for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation to invest, trade, and/or speculate in the markets. Any investments, trades, and/or speculations made in light of the ideas, opinions, and/or forecasts, expressed or implied herein, are committed at your own risk, financial or otherwise.

------------------ 

Report this comment

#12) On July 21, 2009 at 9:37 AM, portefeuille (99.78) wrote:

#164) On March 11, 2009 at 12:53 PM, portefeuille (99.98) wrote: JDAS - 10.32 - outperform

#564) On July 12, 2009 at 10:54 AM, portefeuille (99.98) wrote: JDAS - end outperform - 15.03 - no new rating

(from here)

(comment #564 should have been ignored, see comment #597 here!)

JDA Software Announces Record Second Quarter 2009 Results

JDAS is currently at ca. $21.04.

Report this comment

#13) On July 21, 2009 at 9:46 AM, portefeuille (99.78) wrote:

enlarge

Report this comment

#14) On July 21, 2009 at 9:55 AM, portefeuille (99.78) wrote:

The Fed’s Exit Strategy

Report this comment

#15) On July 21, 2009 at 10:16 AM, portefeuille (99.78) wrote:

JDA Software Group, Inc. Q2 2009 Earnings Call Transcript

Report this comment

#16) On July 21, 2009 at 10:39 AM, portefeuille (99.78) wrote:

CIT $3 Billion Rescue May Not Provide Permanent Cure

Report this comment

#17) On July 21, 2009 at 10:41 AM, portefeuille (99.78) wrote:

CIT Expects Loss of $1.5 Billion, Bankruptcy If Debt Swap Fails

Report this comment

#18) On July 21, 2009 at 10:42 AM, portefeuille (99.78) wrote:

#598) On July 21, 2009 at 10:27 AM, portefeuille (99.98) wrote: CIT - 1.00 - outperform

(from here)

Report this comment

#19) On July 21, 2009 at 10:46 AM, portefeuille (99.78) wrote:

enlarge

Report this comment

#20) On July 21, 2009 at 10:58 AM, portefeuille (99.78) wrote:

CIT issues new warning, sees Q2 loss of $1.5 bln

Report this comment

#21) On July 21, 2009 at 11:08 AM, portefeuille (99.78) wrote:

------------------  

As part of the terms of its loan from bondholders, CIT has to get the creditors to approve a restructuring plan by Oct. 1, the company said in the filing. Bondholders providing the financing include Boston-based hedge fund Baupost Group LLC, Capital Research & Management Co., Centerbridge Partners LP, Oaktree Capital Management LLC, Pacific Investment Management Co. and Silver Point Capital LP, people familiar with the deal said yesterday

------------------  

(from here)

For some information on Klarman (Baupost) see this post.

Report this comment

#22) On July 21, 2009 at 11:09 AM, portefeuille (99.78) wrote:

************************************************************************************

a guide to my blog posts can be found in the comment section to this post

(should be or should be close to the last comment)                                                                

************************************************************************************

Report this comment

#23) On July 21, 2009 at 3:28 PM, portefeuille (99.78) wrote:

update to comment #13 above

 

enlarge

Report this comment

#24) On July 22, 2009 at 8:54 AM, portefeuille (99.78) wrote:

The circled ones are players I have "created".

 

Report this comment

#25) On July 22, 2009 at 9:00 AM, portefeuille (99.78) wrote:

Nexavar in Combination with Chemotherapy Shown to Extend Progression-Free Survival in Patients with Advanced Breast Cancer

ONXX is currently at ca. $37.65. close yesterday was $28.69.

 

#202) On March 14, 2009 at 12:31 AM, portefeuille (99.98) wrote: ONXX - 29.41 - outperform

(from here)

Report this comment

#26) On July 22, 2009 at 10:33 AM, portefeuille (99.78) wrote:

Onyx Shares Rise on Breast-Cancer Data

Bayer says Nexavar shows promise in breast cancer

Report this comment

#27) On January 10, 2010 at 9:28 PM, streetflame (30.94) wrote:

portefeuille (99.97) wrote:

"Why should you not recommend something at $0.01. I have not found anything good trading at $0.01 in the past months, but when I do I am going to recommend it."

 

CHRI.OB @ $.01

Report this comment

#28) On January 14, 2010 at 12:05 AM, streetflame (30.94) wrote:

Today CHRI closed at $.0199, a cool 99% profit in 3 days.

Too bad I didn't make this trade.  It will probably drop to .015 or lower again though.

Report this comment

#29) On February 12, 2010 at 11:33 PM, UltraContrarian (32.03) wrote:

CHRI did dip down to $1.00 twice more, and traded a whopping $245 at that level.  Now it is trading at $.018 and I would put in a buy order at $.015.

Report this comment

#30) On February 12, 2010 at 11:35 PM, UltraContrarian (32.03) wrote:

Oops, I mean $.01 not $1 of course.

Report this comment

#31) On February 13, 2010 at 2:16 PM, UltraContrarian (32.03) wrote:

AOXY @ $.005.

Report this comment

#32) On July 12, 2010 at 11:12 PM, MegaEurope (21.22) wrote:

AOXY is up to $.0055.  I'm ending my outperform up 10%. Not sure what I was thinking, this is not much of a company.

CHRI is down to $.0085 ... had a rough 1st quarter.  Maybe a buy at this level.

 

OK on to my new outperform pick:

NTYN @ $.01.  This is definitely the highest quality pick so far.

 

Report this comment

#33) On July 25, 2010 at 4:32 PM, MegaEurope (21.22) wrote:

CHRI back up to $.01.  Looks like they had a reasonably good 2nd quarter.  NTYN holding steady at $.01.  Both still buys in my opinion.

New pick: CCTR.OB @ $.0073.  I suspect there is something wrong with this company but what the heck, it is priced to move.

Report this comment

#34) On August 29, 2010 at 1:51 AM, MegaEurope (21.22) wrote:

CHRI $.013
NTYN $.01 (hasn't traded since July)
CCTR $.0065

Report this comment

#35) On August 29, 2010 at 2:09 AM, portefeuille (99.78) wrote:

This comment section had "completely escaped my attention" ...

Report this comment

Blog Archive

2013

May (3) April (2) March (4) February (2) January (4)

2012

December (3) November (1) October (2) September (4) August (1) July (4) June (6) May (5) April (5) March (9) February (7) January (15)

2011

December (8) November (10) October (7) September (7) August (10) July (4) June (12) May (7) April (9) March (14) February (8) January (13)

2010

December (15) November (11) October (12) September (5) August (6) July (11) June (9) May (19) April (20) March (18) February (10) January (14)

2009

December (3) November (5) October (12) September (12) August (19) July (22) June (17) May (15) April (9) March (2) February (1)

2008

December (2)