MASTERING
THE TRADE
ORIGINAL, INTERACTIVE SEMINAR ON TRADING USING
TECHNICAL ANALYSIS 

 SEC FILINGS

COMDISCO INC (CDO, 34.81)- The provider of IT outsourcing services said it plans to create a tracking stock for its Comdisco Ventures venture capital unit, with an IPO planned for the spring, pending regulatory and shareholder approval.  The company also said it sees first quarter earnings beating current estimates of 25 cents by 10 cents per share.  The shares jumped 7 points in after hours trading on the news.

GEMSTAR INTERNATIONAL GROUP (GMST, 65.63)- The company will be added to the NASDAQ 100 at the open on January 3rd.  The shares rose 11.38 to 77 in after hours trading on the news.

JTWO COMMUNICATIONS (JTWO, 15.19)- The owner of the National Lampoon name and nationallampoon.com web site said it lost 13 cents per share in its fiscal first quarter, compared to last year's profit of 16 cents. 

MICRON TECHNOLOGY (MU, 76)- The DRAM memory maker beat estimates by 42 cents as it earned $1.19 per share in its fiscal first quarter.  Revenues in the quarter more than doubled to $1.6 billion from last year's $794 million. The company attributed the strong earnings to higher DRAM prices and a sharp jump in gross margins.

MICROSOFT CORP (MSFT, 117.56)- The company's CFO Greg Maffei will resign to become head of Canadian fiber optic network operator Worldwide Fiber.  The shares dipped 1.88 in after hours trading on the news.

RAINFOREST CAFE (RAIN, 3.75)- The theme restaurant operator has agreed to be acquired by Lakes Gaming Inc (LACO, 8.25) in a $108 million all stock deal.  Under the terms of the agreement, RAIN shareholders will receive 0.55 shares of LACO for each share held, effectively valuing their shares at $4.54 based on yesterday's closing prices.

SCIENT (SCNT, 90.63)- The provider of services to e-commerce companies announced plans for a secondary offering of 2.35 million shares.

CIPRICO INC (CPCI, 11.06)- The storage device maker warned that fiscal first quarter earnings will fall short of expectations due to disappointing revenues.  The company now sees a "small loss" in the quarter, analysts were looking for a profit of 10 cents.

CONAGRA INC (CAG, 20.88)- The maker of refrigerated and packaged foods met expectations as second quarter earnings rose 15.2% to 53 cents a share, excluding restructuring charges.  Revenues increased 3.1% to $6.6 billion in the quarter, and the company said operating margins rose in all 3 of its major operating units.

CONSOLIDATED GRAPHICS (CGX, 20.38)- The commercial printing company warned that third quarter earnings will fall short of current analysts' expectations of 70 cents per share.  The company now sees earnings of $0.56-$0.70 in the quarter.  CGX attributed the shortfall to lower than expected sales and slowing growth in the printing industry.  The company said the conditions could persist into the next quarter and effect fourth quarter results.

DAOU SYSTEMS INC (DAOU, 3.25)- The provider of IT outsourcing services warned that lower margins and a Y2K related spending slowdown by its customers will result in a fourth quarter loss of $0.17 per share.  Analysts were looking for the company to record a profit of 5 cents in the quarter. 

FUNCO INC (FNCO, 18.5)- The new and used video game retailer warned that third quarter revenues and earnings will fall short of expectations due to weak December sales and margin pressures.  The company expects same store sales to dip 5% in the quarter, and expects the weakness to continue until Sony introduces its next generation PlayStation game in the fall of 2000.  Analysts were looking for the company to earn $1.01 in the quarter.

HERMAN MILLER INC (MLHR, 23.88)- The manufacturer of office furniture met expectations as second quarter earnings declined 15.2% to 41 cents per share.  Revenues were flat at $464 million, and new orders fell 1.1% to $469.8 million in the quarter.  The company blamed the decline in orders on customers delaying purchases until after Y2K.

LIBERATE TECHNOLOGIES (LBRT, 252.5)- The company announced a 2 for 1 stock split.  The shares rose 5.5 in after hours trading on the news.

NCR CORP (NCR, 32.56)- The company will join the S&P 500 after the close on New Year's Eve.

AMERICAN RETIREMENT (ACR, 6.13)- The provider of senior care facilities warned that lower than expected management fees during the fourth quarter will cause earnings to fall short of expectations.  The company now sees breakeven results in the quarter, excluding charges (including charges, the company sees a loss of $0.35-$0.39) , compared to analysts' expectations of a profit of 13 cents.

CSX CORP (CSX, 34.25)- The railroad operator warned that fourth quarter earnings will fall short of expectations.  The company sees earnings of $0.18-$0.24 per share in the quarter. Analysts were looking for the company to earn 60 cents.  CSX attributed the shortfall to a decline in container revenues at its Sea-Land unit, and to railroad congestion in the aftermath of Hurricane Floyd.

DOUBLECLICK INC (DCLK, 201.38)- The Internet ad agency announced a 2 for 1 stock split.  The shares jumped 19.63 to 221 in after hours trading following the announcement.

PORTAL SOFTWARE INC (PRSF, 109.5)- The maker of e-commerce software announced a 2 for 1 stock split.  The shares rose 11.5 in after hours trading on the news.

CMGI INC (CMGI, 211.81)- The company's Alta Vista Co. subsidiary has filed for an initial public offering of its shares.  The offering is expected to raise $300 million.  The shares rose 8.50 in after hours trading on the news.

COMMERCE ONE INC (CMRC, 405.25)- The e-commerce software maker said it has formed a partnership with eMediate to create a South African business-to-business e-commerce portal.

CVB FINANCIAL CORP (CVB, 23)- The bank announced a 5 for 4 stock split.

DOLE FOOD CO (DOL, 13.81)- The banana grower warned that pricing pressures caused by an oversupply of bananas in the European Union will result in fourth quarter earnings falling short of current analyst expectations.  The company now sees earnings of $0.02-$0.04 in the quarter. Analysts were looking for 18 cents.

HARRY'S FARMERS MARKETS (HARYC, 1.38)- The grocery and convenience store operator said its third quarter loss narrowed to 10 cents per share from last year's loss of 26 cents per share.   Revenues increased 5.2% to $33.59 million in the quarter.  The company attributed the improved results to the opening of two new stores.

LA SALLE RE HOLDINGS LTD (LSH, 12.38)- The reinsurer has agreed to merge with Trenwick Group Inc (TWK, 17.19) in a $250 million deal.  Under the terms of the agreement, LaSalle will become a subsidiary of the new company Trenwick Group Ltd.  La Salle shareholders will receive 1 share of Trenwick Group for each La Salle share held.

LASON INC (LSON, 23.31)- The provider of imaging outsourcing services warned that fourth quarter earnings will miss estimates by 31% to 38%.  Analysts were looking for the company to earn 61 cents in the quarter.  The company attributed the lowered forecast to a Y2K related revenue shortfall.  The company also said it has hired investment bankers to seek strategic alternatives for its e-commerce unit.

NOVELLUS SYSTEMS (NVLS, 85.19)- The semiconductor equipment maker said it expects to beat fourth quarter estimates.  The company now sees revenues of $190 million in the quarter and earnings "substantially" above the current consensus estimate of $0.65.  The company also announced a 3 for 1 stock split.

PREMIER CONCEPTS INC (FAUX, 7)- The jewelry retailer said third quarter revenues increased 9.7% to $2.96 million.  The company's third quarter loss narrowed to 27 cents per share from last year's loss of 69 cents.