August 2014 Value Idea Contest Announcement

Author's Avatar
Sep 10, 2014

In order to encourage more idea sharing GuruFocus hosts a monthly value idea contest. We will reward qualified value idea submissions $1000 if the idea double in 12 months. Qualified authors will also receive $100 per submission. The submissions are evaluated monthly.

We review all the submissions in the area of business quality, financial strength, management, valuation, presentations and user comments. To qualify the award and compensation, the submission should score 26 or higher. The goal of the contest is to dig out high quality companies at reasonable prices. That is also how the scoring tilted to.

These are August submissions and the results of the review. Click on the tickers will bring you to the submissions.

Author Ticker Quality Financial Strength Management Analy. Depth Undervalued Presentation Comments Total
twcooper3 DVA 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 27
apolloportfolio GES 3 4 4 4 4 4 2 25
nnnguyen1221 ESI 3 2 2 2 3 4 2 18
Robert Abbott UMBF 4 3 4 4 4 4 3 26
apolloportfolio ADDYY 4 3 4 4 4 4 3 26
apolloportfolio CBPX 3 3 4 3 3 3 1 20
Robert Abbott EXPO 4 4 4 4 3 4 3 26
apolloportfolio EDU 4 4 4 4 4 4 2 26
apolloportfolio OSK 3 4 4 3 4 3 2 23
ValueStalker DE 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 28
apolloportfolio TLYS 2 4 3 4 4 4 2 23
apolloportfolio CFI 3 4 4 4 3 4 4 26
apolloportfolio HGR 2 1 3 3 4 4 2 19

These are the comments on some of the submissions. Authors please review the comments and hopefully they will help you to write better in future submissions.

apolloportfolio, GES:

Negative same store sales may suggest chanlenging business environment. DCF calculation for non-predictable companies may not be reliable. Over long term, a turnaround of business is needed, which can be hard.

nnnguyen1221, ESI:

More in-depth analysis of the company's business operations, financials is needed.

apolloportfolio, ADDYY:

It will be better if the author can analyze more about the company's business divisions, the competitiveness of products and services etc. Compare them with other competitors too.

apolloportfolio, CBPX:

Areas that need more discussion: Financial strength, business quality and growth, competitions, products, business divisions etc.

apolloportfolio, OSK:

The company business seems to be quite cyclical. Not much growth over the past 5 years.

apolloportfolio, TLYS:

This is a business that may not have competitive advantage. Compare the same store sales with its competitors will help readers to understand if it is more competitive.

apolloportfolio, CFI:

a highly cyclical industry. The company seems to be getting better with its operations. Also significantly cleaned up its balance sheet.

apolloportfolio, HGR:

The company keeps issuing new shares. Very poor balance sheet.

$100 will be paid to the qualified submissions. We will also track the performances of these submissions. $1000 will be paid to these authors if their picks double in the next 12 months. Non-qualified, but exclusive submissions will be paid as regular articles.

We are looking forward to more submissions. Wish your pick double in 12 months.