Symantec (SYMC) looks somewhat alluring on the surface: it is trading at 18 times next year’s earnings. It looks even more appealing if you factor in a $4 billion cash pile, which accounts roughly for 20% of the company’s market capitalization. However, a look at company stock options expense kills the appetite for the stock, as stock options wipe out 20% of the earnings. Though the company has lowered stock options issuance, curbing it down 2%, the stock options that were issued awhile back are coming to haunt the company as they have a ten year exercise period.
Oh did I mention Microsoft (MSFT) is wanting to wet its beak in the security software market?
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