Kent Mergler
Kent Mergler
companies confidence consistent degree high network
The two companies are similar, but Symantec has been a more consistent performer. I just do not have a high degree of confidence in Network Associates.
companies figure money near people prospect trading
I can't figure out why people want to own unprofitable companies with no prospect of making money in the near future. That's just trading paper,
companies consistency defense earnings good industry looking opposed solid stock theme wind
We own L-3 because it's a good solid stock as opposed to being part of an industry theme play, ... The defense industry has the wind at its back now but most companies don't have the earnings consistency we're looking for.
busted companies huge market mostly relief sigh strength
The real strength in the market in 2003 was from small-cap and mostly busted companies. It was a huge sigh of relief that many unprofitable companies did not go out of business.
companies earnings growth invested likely progress selected strong tech technology until
We are not heavily invested in tech and are not likely to be so until we see fundamental progress. We've always selected companies with strong earnings growth and most technology companies don't have that at this point.
action best companies finally quality recovery relief starting worst
Some of the worst companies have been the best performers. But a lot of the recovery in the poorer-quality companies was just relief that they survived. We're finally starting to see some better action in the higher-quality names.
bought companies continue current improvement quite rather solid volatile
You've got companies that are going to continue to be volatile for quite a while because most of them are being bought on expectations of an improvement in the future, rather than solid current earnings.
problem sure technology
I'm not sure that the problem is with technology,
buy carefully consistent likely pull ready seems soon tech trigger watching whoever
At this point, we're watching tech carefully but we are not ready to pull the trigger yet and buy more with this volatility, ... What seems to be consistent is that whoever just went up is likely to get clocked soon afterward.
assuming case higher problems risk seen willing worse
Assuming the problems are no worse than what we've seen to date, you can make a case for a recovery. But that's a higher risk than we're willing to take.
continue influenced market recession rest selective stocks tech
The whole market will continue to be influenced by the war. For the most part, the tech stocks are still in a significant recession than the rest of the economy. It's going to be selective stocks that are going to be leaders.
environment favor growing larger quality return stable
Once you get a more stable environment with a consistently growing economy, that would favor a better return for larger quality names.
company extremely full gray hairs high less portfolio quality sticks type
This is an extremely high quality company that's well managed and sticks to its knitting. Fundamentally, it has just been beautiful. If you can have a portfolio full of this type of stock, you'd have a lot less gray hairs
consider core expect expensive stock
The stock is expensive but you'd expect it to be expensive. We consider it a core holding.