Citrix Seen as Hot Stock for 2000 by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent "People will discover that Citrix is an enabling technology for developing applications over the Internet, and we think they'll be willing to pay a higher premium for the stock." -- Wendell Laidley, Credit Suisse First Boston Networking software maker Citrix Systems...
Caching Stocks Lead Internet Sector by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Several trend-spotting analysts say they expect to see a small group of white-hot caching -- or controlled content distribution -- stocks, such as Akamai Technologies Inc. {AKAM}, Cacheflow Inc. {CFLO}, Digital Island Inc. {ISLD} and Inktomi {INKT}, continue to lead the Internet...
AltaVista IPO Seen Big, Despite Losses by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Analysts say AltaVista Co.’s pending initial public offering is likely to be a big success, despite the firm’s sizable financial losses. "I suspect the reaction to the IPO will be fairly spectacular, primarily because of the company’s relationship with CMGI," says David...
Are the Linux Backers Right? by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent "I believe open source software will have an impact on the category of Internet infrastructure software. It already has. Part of it’s because businesses don’t have to pay the extra licensing fees." -- Steve McClure, an analyst at International Data Corporation As companies such...
Maxygen Engineers Strong IPO Showing by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Analysts believed Maxygen Inc.’s {MAXY} public offering today should fare well, thanks largely to the impressive track record of the company’s cofounder, biotechnology pioneer Alejandro Zaffaroni. They were right. Maxygen hit Wall Street at $36 a share, far above its initial pricing of $16...
Caliper IPO Tests Biotech Waters by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Biotech toolmaker Caliper Technologies Corp.’s initial public offering is another test for investors’ appetite for tech stocks that don't involve the Internet, e-business or broadband. Caliper, a life-sciences firm that make devices that speed up pharmaceutical research, hit Wall Street today at...
IPO MedicaLogic Off to Good Start by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Shares of MedicaLogic Inc. {MDLI} are already profiting from the concept of putting medical records online, debuting at 25 on Friday morning. The initial public offering of 5.3 million shares priced late Thursday at $17, above an original range of between $14...
VA Linux Tries to Overtake Red Hat by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Investors continue to buy into the Linux craze, making today's VA Linux Systems' IPO the best-performing debut in Wall Street history. The stunning debut makes VA Linux the new poster-child for the Linux business, replacing previous IPO darling Red Hat. Shares...
Preview Systems Jumps on First Day by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent ,/p> Preview Systems Inc. {PRVW} has more than doubled from its offering price on its first day trading, opening at 57, after pricing its 3.8 million share offering late Tuesday at $21 a share. Preview Systems intraday stock performance The initial public offering's stated...
NetRatings IPO Makes Strong Debut by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent NetRatings Inc. {NTRT}, one of two main rivals in the Web-rating wars, has made a strong debut, opening at 28, after pricing its 4 million share offering at $17, above its stated range of $14 to $16. NetRatings Inc. intraday stock performance The growing...
More Gains Seen for Keynote Systems by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent "I believe they're in on the beginning of a very big boom. I'm amazed people haven't been jumping up and down about it." -- Bill Glassman, senior analyst at the Gartner Group Several analysts say Keynote Systems Inc.’s {KEYN} stock should continue to...
HealthCentral Takes Aim at Dr. Koop by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent "HealthCentral's biggest asset is Dr. Dean Edell. If he can succeed in driving traffic to the. . .site, they'll have a very good business model." --Dr. Wally S. Buch, a physician and general partner at Atherton Ventures The success of HealthCentral.com {HCEN}...
New Issue Digimarc Opens Strongly by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Shares of Digimarc Corp. {DMRC} have gotten off to a strong start, but several analysts say there's reason to be cautious about the company, despite its strong marketing alliances and seemingly versatile technology Digimarc opened at 75 and has traded as high as...
McAfee Jumps on First Trading Day by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent New issue McAfee.com Corp. {MCAF} has moved up sharply in its trading debut, opening at 22, after pricing its 6.25 million share offering late Wednesday at $12, at the high end of its expected $10 to $12 range. McAfee.com intraday stock performance "McAfee...
Web Site Offers Gurus’ Stock Picks by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent When it comes to picking Internet stocks, conventional ideas about appropriate valuations have pretty much been thrown out the window. But sooner or later, the Internet mania could fade away like other once-sizzling investment crazes, such as tulip futures or biotechnology...
WebTrends Seen Continuing to Rise by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Several analysts say WebTrends Corp.’s {WEBT} stock should continue to move up smartly, thanks to increased demand for services that analyze Web-surfing patterns. "We think WebTrends is an undiscovered gem," says Rob Owens, senior analyst at Pacific Crest Securities, based in Portland, Ore....
Push into E-Commerce Seen Driving BEA by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Analysts are upbeat about software company BEA Systems Inc.’s {BEAS} prospects, citing strong sales, smart acquisitions, and exploding demand for the company’s products. And investors, who have driven the stock up more than sixfold this year, seem to agree. BEAS one-year stock...
by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent CacheFlow's products help the Internet run faster by speeding up the delivery of Web pages to users. But investors and analysts' speedy hopes for CacheFlow {CFLO} stock were exceeded today, when its shares opened at $110. Its initial public offering of 5.5 million shares priced last...
Investors Bid New Issue Imanage up Sharply by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Investors have bid up Imanage Inc. {IMAN} sharply, with the stock opening at $20. The company's 3.6 million shares were priced at $11 late Tuesday, above the company's stated range of $8 to $10. IMAN post-IPO performance chart San Mateo, Calif.-based Imanage,...
Quintus Corp. IPO Makes Strong Debut by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Quintus Corp. {QNTS} gives investors a chance to bet on a company that combines preexisting call-center tools with the automated e-mail and Web-based customer-interaction technologies that helped propel Kana Communications Inc. {KANA} and Silknet Software Inc. {SILK} to very successful recent...
Immersion Corp. Makes a Strong Debut by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Immersion Corp.’s {IMMR} stock has debuted strongly Friday, after pricing 4.25 million shares earlier in the afternoon at 12, above its stated range of 9 to 11. The stock has jumped to 17 3/16. The San Jose, Calif., company gives computer joysticks,...
One Step Ahead: Tech Funds Give the Scoop by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Technology investors looking for an edge will find one at the Web sites of several top performing tech-oriented mutual funds that offer free information about their own recent buy and sell decisions. Most mutual funds are required by law to...
Expedia IPO Takes Off Strongly by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Despite Microsoft Corp.’s {MSFT} woes, analysts expected the company’s online travel agency, Expedia Inc., to enjoy a successful initial debut today. Expedia hit the market at $39 a share, up 179 percent from last night's pre-trading price of $14 a share. The 5.2...
Cobalt Hits It Big on Debut by Hal Plotkin and Eric Fleming Experts said appliance-server pioneer Cobalt Networks Inc. {COBT} would make a big splash when it began trading today. But the company's stock opened at $140 a share this morning, well above its $22 initial pricing. Goldman Sachs led the offering, with...
Webvan Hits Market As Expected by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent "I still expect it to go up 50 percent or so on the first day of trading. ...
One Step Ahead: More Health-Care IPOs? by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Need surplus medical equipment or an update on prostate surgical procedures? Two companies are trying to extend the concepts behind eBay Inc. {EBAY} and Amazon.com Inc. {AMZN} to the lucrative business of catering to health-care companies. Analysts say the pending Neoforma.com and...
Analysts Say Puma’s Best Days Are Ahead by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Analysts say Puma Technology Inc.’s {PUMA} best days are still ahead, despite the fact that the company’s stock has already moved up more than 400 percent since August. "I like the stock very much and have for some time," says John...
IPO Pipeline: Content + Commerce = How2 by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Although implementation challenges remain, analysts say they’re impressed with the way IPO-bound How2.com Inc.’s business model marries content and commerce. "I’m certainly optimistic about the space they’re in," says David Cooperstein, research director at Forrester Research, based in Boston. "The beauty...
Investors Curious About XML Bandwagon by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent The language of business in the next decade may not be English but a new version of the lingo that powers today's Internet. Already, some publicly traded companies -- and their stocks -- are cashing in on the hype. Soaring stock prices of...
CV Therapeutics: A Heart-Stopping Stock by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Although big drug stocks led the drug/biotechnology sector’s rebound this week, several analysts say they’re more excited about the stock of a lesser-known biomedical firm, CV Therapeutics Inc. {CVTX}. "We definitely see it getting back into the $20s," says Franklin M. Berger, an...
Transactions Put CyberSource in Driver's Seat by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Analysts say CyberSource Corporation’s smart marketing and winning business model are the main reasons why the company’s stock is up more than 250 percent since its June IPO. "CyberSource has a compelling story for investors who like companies that provide e-commerce infrastructure,"...
E-Stamp and Stamps.com to Duke It Out by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Although its stock is up sharply since its IPO, E-Stamp Inc.’s {ESTM} ultimate fate may hinge on what happens after rival Stamps.com {STMP} enters the fray later this month. "Some customers may find Stamps.com easier to use," says Bonnie Brooks, principal...
Is Healtheon a Buying Opportunity? by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Although one prominent analyst sees Healtheon Corp.’s {HLTH} stock as a buying opportunity, others say the company still needs to prove itself in the marketplace. Healtheon’s stock is down more than 50 percent since it topped out in May, immediately following the company’s...
Will the Palm Pilot IPO Lift 3Com's Stock? by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent "We're not negative on the stock. It's a good stock. We agree it's undervalued. It's just not the most exciting thing out there right now." -- Bert Hochfeld,Technology analyst at Josephthal & Co. Some analysts say one of next year's most...
Personal Touch Pays Off for Art Technology by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent A growing list of blue-chip customers and expectations of future industry consolidation have helped drive Art Technology Group Inc.'s {ARTG} stock price up more than 300 percent since the company's July IPO. "I'm very positive on them," says David Truog, an...
IPO Pipeline: Immersion Set for This Week by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Immersion Corp.’s initial public offering, expected this week, will test investors’ appetite for the company that gives computer joysticks, steering wheels, and other gaming products a more realistic feel. "There’s really no alternative to Immersion because of their patents," says Fred...
TiVo Soars But Challenges Remainby Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent TiVo, Inc.’s {TIVO} stock has tripled after the company’s IPO. But some analysts question if the interactive TV company is worth the price of admission to investors. Among the concerns voiced by analysts: the inability of TiVo to fend off competitors; a lawsuit...
The Server Boom, Part II: Cobalt Plans IPO by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent In Part One of this two-part series, we looked at the server market and how you can profit from the sector’s next big wave: the widespread distribution of digital products. Now in Part Two, we discuss other ways to...
Cashing in on the Coming Server Boom by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent In Part One of this two-part series, we look at the server market and how you can profit from the sector’s next big wave: the widespread distribution of digital products. If you know what to look for, you can cash in...
Getting Back to Business in Taiwan by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. {TSM} says it has received commitments from local authorities pledging that 85 percent of its electrical power will be restored by this weekend, according to a statement released by the company. The company posted revenue of $923.3 million...
Who Is Next After Kana and eGain? by Hal Plotkin, Silicon Valley Correspondent Post-IPO stock-price surges for both eGain Communications Corp. and Kana Communications, Inc. bode well for several other similar pre-IPO companies serving the same fast-growing market. On Tuesday, Kana's stock shot up more than 200% from its initial offering price of $15....
ExpressDoctors Combines House Calls and the Net by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent "We take care of everything the doctor needs so they can focus on patient care. That's something most doctors can't find anywhere else." -- Rob Kelly, CEO of ExpressDoctors ExpressDoctors Inc. is combining the simplicity of toll-free calling with the power of...
Searchbutton.com Sees Profit Before IPO by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Searchbutton.com Inc. is a rare breed of Silicon Valley start-up. The CEO of the nine-month-old firm says his company will actually be making money before it goes public, which could happen as early as next year. "I’d certainly buy the stock when they...
Wink Stock Outruns Company Performance by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Wink Communications Inc.’s {WINK} stock price has soared since the company’s recent initial public offering, though the money-losing Interactive TV company shows no signs of posting profits anytime soon. "A lot of people are making very aggressive forecasts for the market [Wink’s] in,"...
Start-Up Collab.Net Hopes to Follow Red Hat’s Example by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent With backing from a top-notch Silicon Valley venture-capital firm and Hewlett-Packard Co. {HWP} as its first customer, start-up Collab.Net Inc. is poised to become a major player in the fast-growing open-source software industry. "I’m very excited about what they’re doing,"...
Epinions.com Aims to Change Online Shopping by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Start-up Epinions.com Inc. is hoping to change the way people shop online, just in time for the upcoming holiday shopping season. While some analysts are skeptical, others say the company could quickly become a major force in the e-commerce sector. "Third-party intermediaries,...
Netro Soars on Broadband-Wireless Hopes by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Netro Corp.’s {NTRO} stock price has soared since its recent IPO, reflecting hopes that the company’s alliance with Lucent Technologies Inc. {LU} will make it a dominant player in the rapidly growing broadband-wireless market. "They have excellent technology, and there’s going to be...
AOL Gives Preview Travel Its Money’s Worth by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Preview Travel Inc.’s {PTVL} ads on America Online Inc. {AOL} are generating far-better results, dollar for dollar, than the company’s ad buys on Web portals Excite@Home {ATHM} or Lycos Inc. {LCOS}, according to a recent independent study. While that’s good...
Beam Me up Some Cash by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Start-up Confinity Inc. hopes to become a financial services powerhouse by pioneering an inexpensive new way to move money: wireless cash. "[The company] may have a handle on something quite good," says Robert Sterling, an analyst at Jupiter Communications, based in New York. Headquartered...
Picking the Right Internet Stocks by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Figuring out which Internet companies have the best chance to succeed over the long run takes logic, industry knowledge, and a willingness to ask unfamiliar questions. "The industry is beginning to develop a new set of metrics," that help investors determine the relative...
Agile Software Succeeds by Design by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Product-design software maker Agile Software Corp.’s {AGIL} has high hopes it can use its early success to become the dominant player in an emerging new market. "Agile has at least a couple of years lead," over would-be competitors, says Bruce Richardson, vice president...
Apple’s New TV Campaign Targets Intel by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Apple Computer Inc.’s {AAPL} new TV ads lampooning Intel might leave some investors worried that the world’s dominant microprocessor maker may be slipping. But several key analysts say few PC buyers are likely to be swayed by the tough new Power Mac...
To Be or Not to Be? by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Although some industry watchers are skeptical, one analyst says demand for Be Inc.’s {BEOS} computer operating system will help drive the company’s stock price up more than 100 percent over the next 12 months. "I’m quite optimistic that when computer users find...
So, You Want to Be an Angel Investor? By Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Many high net-worth individuals want a piece of the pre-IPO action "angel investors" sometimes pocket. But becoming a successful angel investor takes much more than just money. It also requires sound judgment, seasoned mentors, and a high tolerance for...
Mypoints.com Builds Loyalty and Value By Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Mypoints.com Inc. {MYPT} may have faced some bad timing with its recent IPO, but online consumer incentive company has caught analysts' attention as a stock to watch over the next year. The San Francisco-based company debuted on Nasdaq on August 20 at $8.00...
Need for Speed Sends Two Stocks Soaring by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Brocade Communications Systems Inc. {BRCD} and Gadzoox Networks Inc. {ZOOX} are benefiting from soaring demand for storage area networks (SAN) -- the newest stretch of high-tech pavement on the fast-growing information superhighway -- which could pose an obstacle for the...
Corel Rides Linux Bandwagon by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Corel Corp. {CORL}, the maker of the once-dominant WordPerfect word-processing software, is hitching its wagon to the fast-rising Linux star. The Canadian company plans to release an easy-to-install version of the Linux operating system, called Corel Linux, early next year. The product drew rave...
Potholes on the Information Highway by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent The stock of tiny Tumbleweed Communications Co. {TMWD}, a provider of secure online-communications services to the United States Postal Service, among others, has jumped about 50 percent since the company’s early-August IPO. "Tumbleweed is extremely well-positioned to exploit growth in online technology," says...
Solectron Shines in Outsourcing Sector by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Solectron Corp. {SLR}, a Milpitas, Calif., manufacturer of electronics products for blue-chip customers such as International Business Machines {IBM}, Hewlett-Packard Co. {HWP}, and Cisco Systems Inc. {CSCO}, is benefiting from strong sales by its customers and high utilization of its plants and...
Two Net Companies Test Soft IPO Market by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Two Internet companies–one that’s already been priced and one slated to be priced after the close today–are testing the softening Internet initial public offering market, despite the fact that both are losing money and facing stiff competition. HeadHunter.NET Inc. {HHNT}, an...
Sun's Magic Is Its Servers by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Sun Microsystems Inc.’s {SUNW} splashy Java and Jini software and its next-generation high-performance multimedia chip, Majc, have captured a lot of attention recently. But it’s Sun’s success selling high-end UNIX servers, used in internal corporate networks and to power Web sites, that led...
Best Is Ahead for Applied Materials by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Strong demand and a pending switch to new semiconductor-manufacturing technologies means the future looks bright for Applied Materials Inc. {AMAT}. "I’ve been following the company since it went public, and this is about the best outlook we’ve ever had for them," says...
Couch Potatoes Shun Quokka by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Fears that couch potatoes aren’t ready to follow sports on the Internet have contributed to a steep post-IPO slide for Quokka Sports' {QKKA} stock. The company, based in San Francisco, portrays itself as the leader in "digital sports immersion." Recently, the stock has been...
Grove Latest to Tout Linux by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Intel Chairman Andrew S. Grove is the latest passenger to jump on the Linux bandwagon, making an unscheduled public appearance at an industry tradeshow in San Jose. The move is sure to increase investor interest in Durham, N.C.-based Red Hat, a Linux-distributor that...
Future Looks Bright for Web Sites Targeted at Women by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Despite the recent dot-com gloom, the future looks rosy for Web sites targeted at women. According to a recent study by Nielsen Media Research and CommerceNet, the number of female consumers online jumped more than 80 percent last...
Tellme Networks Isn’t Saying Much By Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent CNBC.com "If it’s just another way to get stock quotes or sports scores, it’s probably not that interesting." -- Amanda McCarthy, Forrester Research Despite the recent flurry of good press generated by Palo Alto-based Tellme Networks, Inc., key industry analysts aren’t convinced the secretive...
Investor Optimism Leaves Some Worried by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Aug 6 1999 4:00PM ET Despite the market's volatility this summer, investor optimism measured in July hit record levels last month and the danger exists of a big mismatch between expectations and reality. Fully three-quarters of investors surveyed in July say they are optimistic...
New Buyer Services Pose Threat to Online Retailers by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Aug 5 1999 6:00AM ET New services that pool purchase orders from consumers are challenging not only old-fashioned brick and mortar operations but also first-generation online retailers. "If these companies build-out to where they could be, they’ll pose a real threat,"...
Yahoo! Struggles With Its Valuation by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent August 3, 1999 6:02AMET “You still can’t do the math and come up with an explanation for how it’s worth [today’s price] 134.” -- Nick Moore, Jurika & Voyles analyst Despite falling roughly 40% from its 52-week high, some analysts think Yahoo!’s stock remains significantly...
Venture Investments Up, But Returns Trend Downward By Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Aug 2 1999 6:08AM ET Venture capital investments in early-stage companies were up sharply during the second quarter this year despite a big drop recently in the average return that VCs had received on their investments. "There is simply no way we...
Hewlett Packard Pulls Out the Stops by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Jul 30 1999 6:03AM ET The selection of Carleton "Carly" Fiorina as Hewlett Packard’s new president and chief executive officer sparked a flurry of well-deserved attention last week. But the bigger buzz around Silicon Valley centers on the savvy way Hewlett Packard...
The Mouse Business Is Roaring by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Jul 29 1999 9:27AM ET Strong sales of sub-$1000 PCs and Apple’s popular iMac computer are helping drive after-market computer mouse sales to record levels. According to a recent report by Intellect ASW, a New York marketing group, recent numbers show a 41 percent...
FCC Gives Boost to AT&T's High-Speed Hopes by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Jul 28 1999 9:11AM ET Thanks to an assist from the Federal Communications Commission, AT&T's {T} considerable investments in high-speed information services have a much better chance of paying off. Recently, the FCC has put its support behind cable companies, indirectly giving...
Pending Red Hat IPO Boosts Server Market by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent Jul 27 1999 9:36AM ET The recent IPO filing by software vendor Red Hat, Inc. signals increased demand in the fast-growing market for a widely accepted operating system that competes with Microsoft products. The Durham, N.C.-based company’s IPO is expected to contribute...
E-Mail Responders Get Ready for IPOs by Hal Plotkin, Silicon Valley Correspondent Jul 23 1999 9:01AM ET Investors looking for hot new Internet initial public offerings will soon have an entirely new category of Net start-ups to consider: e-mail answering services. Sound a bit dry? This new group of soon-to-be public companies solves real problems...
Third-Party Software, International Sales To Determine Apple's Future by Hal Plotkin Silicon Valley Correspondent CNBC.com Jul 21 1999 6:06AM ET Steve Jobs' expected rollout of Apple Computer's new laptop may capture investors attention but two other items will determine the company's long-term prospects. There are encouraging signs in both those areas -- with some important caveats. The...