2HRS2GO: Looking at Microsoft through the figures
In the blitz of statistics that left analysts with aching hands from writing so much yesterday afternoon, Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) tossed out a few intriguing tidbits. Microsoft's fourth quarter by the numbers:
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39 percent. Percentage growth rate in the fourth quarter, as reported on paper.
26 percent. Actual 4Q growth rate excluding a reduction in estimated product returns; Office 2000 coupon revenue; accounting changes.
31.6 percent. Average annual growth rate, fiscal 1993 through 1999.
19.9 percent. Maximum projected growth rate for fiscal 2000, according to Microsoft.
0 percent. Margin improvement expected by Microsoft in fiscal 2000. "We'll be lucky to keep it about constant," said Greg Maffei, Microsoft CFO.
0 percent. Investors who actually believe Microsoft's warnings.
$80 million. Amount spent on various trial defenses.
9-to-1. Microsoft's odds of winning the antitrust case, according to at least one online book, Nasa Sports International.
1-to-2. Odds of the federal government winning.
1-to-6. Odds of a settlement before a verdict.
2. Number of Ken Starr investigations that could have been paid for with Microsoft's legal expenditures.
0 percent. Unbiased observers who believe Bill Clinton's deposition.
0 percent. Unbiased observers who believe Bill Gates' deposition.
$217 million. Amount spent on stock option compensation.
$105 million. Options compensation for R&D employees
$940 million. Fourth quarter R&D budget
0. Revolutionary inventions of Microsoft.
All. Products resulting from refinements of pre-existing ideas.
$60. Price you pay to do the R&D department's beta testing for Windows 2000.
$21. Microsoft IPO price.
8. Stock splits since March 1986 IPO.
$93.50. Current Microsoft price.
64,014 percent. Total return on 13+ year investment.
100 percent. Satisfied long-term investors.
More than 10,000. People listening to yesterday's conference call.
2. Number of companies (Vcall, Broadcast.com) webcasting the call.
1:18:55. Hours, minutes and seconds of the call.
41:47. Time in minutes and seconds of the formal presentation.
Infinity. Seeming length of the formal presentation.
1. Analysts who complained of sore hands from taking so many notes during that presentation. "We think we set the world land Microsoft speed record for longest conference call prior to questions," Maffei joked. At least I think he was joking.
Other issues:
The overall market's day-long retreat continued into the afternoon. With two hours left in regular trading, the Nasdaq Composite Index was down 88.22 to 2742.07, the S&P 500 lower by 26.23 to 1381.42, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 134.87 to 11052.81. 22GO>