This is the announcement of the results for Value Idea Contest for the submissions we received during the first quarter. We have also created new rules for you to win $1000 if your value idea pick doubles its stock price within a year of submission. There is no limit on the number of prizes to be awarded.
This is the list of qualified submissions during the first quarter:
These are the scores from the judges:
These are the comments:
Seaboard Corporation - Partnership Opportunity in Successful Business
An interesting idea. It will be great if the author can discuss more about competition, the valuation, the financial condition, the risk in business downturns etc. The discussions of the quality and the creditability of the management will be appreciated.
The Washington Post is not as cheap as you think.
A detailed discussion on an old company that is trying to reinvent itself. The share is traded at a deep discount of the parts added together. Good management. Strong financial condition, impressive buybacks. One concern is if the company will continue to have margin declines in the future.
Exelon Looks Good
An interesting play as everyone is pessimistic about natural gas. High dividend yield. High quality company in a distressed industry.
Take a Memo - Staples Needed for Your Portfolio
A top player in a competitive industry. Financial condition is strong. It is a little hard to convince readers that other retailers cannot take market shares from the company.
UFP Technologies – A Small, High-Quality FCFer
A small cap growth company in a niche market. The profit margin is improving and the balance sheet is getting stronger. Some discussions of competitors will help readers understand more. The margin of safety seems not as big.
Avon: World-Leading Direct-Selling Business with Consistent Growing Dividend for More Than a Decade
Some questions need to be answered: is debt level a worry? How better is the company positioned compared with other companies mentioned. The dividend payout is now close to 100%, how much is the risk in dividend cut?
Yesterday Is History, Tomorrow a Mystery, now DJCO is a Present.
A great business managed by great people. The only risk seems to be the succession.
Analysis of Dart Group
An airline business which operates quite differently from other airlines. Traded at a discount than its net current asset value. The airline seems to have its uniqueness and operates much more efficiently than others.
Flowers Foods: Bakery producer with consistent growing business performance
Why the company was losing money 10 years ago as it had a long history? What does the company do differently? What about the competition? Any other risks? A lot of questions need to be answered to get to deep.
France Telecom (FTE): upsides and risks
Good analysis of FTE and overview of other companies in the industry. Compared with those industries, FTE seems to face bigger challenge with growth and expense controls.
Therefore the winners are:
First Place: Yesterday Is History, Tomorrow a Mystery, now DJCO is a Present
Second Place: Exelon Looks Good
We are changing the value idea contest rules to encourage more idea sharing. We will reward qualified value idea submissions $1000 if the idea double in 12 months.
To qualify for the contest, your submission must follow these rules:
1. The idea must be well researched. Your analysis must cover at least these areas:
a. Company history and business
b. Financial strength
c. Management
d. Valuation
e. Risks
2. It is recommended that you follow the format of past winners. An example is this month’s winner here: Yesterday Is History, Tomorrow a Mystery, Now DJCO Is a Present
3. The stock must be traded in the US, although it can be a foreign company.
4. We will evaluate each submission in the seven areas on 1-5 scale:
a. Business Quality
b. Financial Strength
c. Management
d. Analytical Depth
e. Undervalued?
f. Presentation
g. Readers' comments and authors' responses.
5. The writing is exclusive to GuruFocus. But you can post an abstract at other places and link to the full article on GuruFocus.
6. The same idea has not been submitted for the contest by others within the previous 6 months.
7. The investment ideas must be long term value oriented. Long only.
The awards:
1. The submissions that follows the above rules will quality at least $25 in writer’s compensation
2. Those scored 26 or above will be awarded $100. There is no limit on the number of awards per month.
3. The stock picks of those scored 26 or above will be tracked for up to 12 months. If a pick doubled within 12 month of submission, the author will be awarded $1000 in cash.
This contest is now open. The deadline for each month’s submission is the end of the month. Please submit to win $1000.
This is the list of qualified submissions during the first quarter:
These are the scores from the judges:
| Ticker | Business Quality | Financial Strength | Management | Analytical Depth | Undervalued? | Presentation | Comments | Total |
| DJCO | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 30 |
| EXC | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 29 |
| WPO | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 28 |
| SPLS | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 25 |
| DRTGF | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 26 |
| FTE | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 26 |
| UFPT | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 23 |
| SEB | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 22 |
| AVP | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 21 |
| FLO | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 21 |
These are the comments:
Seaboard Corporation - Partnership Opportunity in Successful Business
An interesting idea. It will be great if the author can discuss more about competition, the valuation, the financial condition, the risk in business downturns etc. The discussions of the quality and the creditability of the management will be appreciated.
The Washington Post is not as cheap as you think.
A detailed discussion on an old company that is trying to reinvent itself. The share is traded at a deep discount of the parts added together. Good management. Strong financial condition, impressive buybacks. One concern is if the company will continue to have margin declines in the future.
Exelon Looks Good
An interesting play as everyone is pessimistic about natural gas. High dividend yield. High quality company in a distressed industry.
Take a Memo - Staples Needed for Your Portfolio
A top player in a competitive industry. Financial condition is strong. It is a little hard to convince readers that other retailers cannot take market shares from the company.
UFP Technologies – A Small, High-Quality FCFer
A small cap growth company in a niche market. The profit margin is improving and the balance sheet is getting stronger. Some discussions of competitors will help readers understand more. The margin of safety seems not as big.
Avon: World-Leading Direct-Selling Business with Consistent Growing Dividend for More Than a Decade
Some questions need to be answered: is debt level a worry? How better is the company positioned compared with other companies mentioned. The dividend payout is now close to 100%, how much is the risk in dividend cut?
Yesterday Is History, Tomorrow a Mystery, now DJCO is a Present.
A great business managed by great people. The only risk seems to be the succession.
Analysis of Dart Group
An airline business which operates quite differently from other airlines. Traded at a discount than its net current asset value. The airline seems to have its uniqueness and operates much more efficiently than others.
Flowers Foods: Bakery producer with consistent growing business performance
Why the company was losing money 10 years ago as it had a long history? What does the company do differently? What about the competition? Any other risks? A lot of questions need to be answered to get to deep.
France Telecom (FTE): upsides and risks
Good analysis of FTE and overview of other companies in the industry. Compared with those industries, FTE seems to face bigger challenge with growth and expense controls.
Therefore the winners are:
First Place: Yesterday Is History, Tomorrow a Mystery, now DJCO is a Present
Second Place: Exelon Looks Good
Win One-Thousand Dollars with the New Rules for Value Idea Contest
We are changing the value idea contest rules to encourage more idea sharing. We will reward qualified value idea submissions $1000 if the idea double in 12 months.
To qualify for the contest, your submission must follow these rules:
1. The idea must be well researched. Your analysis must cover at least these areas:
a. Company history and business
b. Financial strength
c. Management
d. Valuation
e. Risks
2. It is recommended that you follow the format of past winners. An example is this month’s winner here: Yesterday Is History, Tomorrow a Mystery, Now DJCO Is a Present
3. The stock must be traded in the US, although it can be a foreign company.
4. We will evaluate each submission in the seven areas on 1-5 scale:
a. Business Quality
b. Financial Strength
c. Management
d. Analytical Depth
e. Undervalued?
f. Presentation
g. Readers' comments and authors' responses.
5. The writing is exclusive to GuruFocus. But you can post an abstract at other places and link to the full article on GuruFocus.
6. The same idea has not been submitted for the contest by others within the previous 6 months.
7. The investment ideas must be long term value oriented. Long only.
The awards:
1. The submissions that follows the above rules will quality at least $25 in writer’s compensation
2. Those scored 26 or above will be awarded $100. There is no limit on the number of awards per month.
3. The stock picks of those scored 26 or above will be tracked for up to 12 months. If a pick doubled within 12 month of submission, the author will be awarded $1000 in cash.
This contest is now open. The deadline for each month’s submission is the end of the month. Please submit to win $1000.
