This looks interesting – Margin of Safety style – expensive book unless its same as this version Walker’s Manual of Penny Stocks?
Anyone have a LEGAL copy feel free to contact us
H/T CornerOf Berkshire
This newest annual from Walker’s (Walker’s Manual of Western Corporations, 1994) covers 500 non-NASDAQ stock companies, either traded over-the-counter or by private transaction, that fit the editor’s profile of small or under-reported public companies whose stock has long-term value. Allocating one page per firm, the book provides name, address, two to four years worth of 20 data elements (e.g., per share, operating results, and balance sheets), officers, number of owners, and a few lines of comment, all in very legible typeface. Eleven different indexes describe the companies by such measures as price/earning ratios and net income growth. All are U.S. firms except for six from Canada, and they range from local phone companies to such familiar names as Kohler and Rand McNally. A comparison of 25 companies found 18 in Moody’s Manuals and ten of those 18 in its “Unlisted Over-the-Counter” section; Standard & Poor’s Corporation Records had 17 of 25. Those libraries with either the Moody’s set or S&P’s have most of the data found in Walker’s. As an investment identification tool, Walker’s is reasonably priced, meets its goal, and is quite an acceptable investment purchase, particularly for smaller libraries.?Patrick J. Brunet, Western Wisconsin Technical Coll. Lib., La Crosse
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Walker’s is aimed at folks who want to get a handle on companies that are not covered in standard business directories. Labeling them “The Undiscovered 500,” this specialized investment directory profiles companies not traded on the major exchanges such as NASDAQ, companies that are public but virtually unknown, and locally traded public companies. These undiscovered companies may be attractive investment candidates. Companies included range from Rand McNally and Kohler to the Ellensburg (WA) Telephone Company. Data for this source were acquired via “numerous talks with market makers, bankers, attorneys, regulators, business development agencies, and stock brokers.”
The one-page company profiles are in six sections: company description and contact information; per share information; four years of annual financial data (operating results, balance sheet, performance and financial condition); brief comments (e.g., “company entered into a joint venture agreement with . . .); officers/ownership information; and miscellaneous other data (e.g., SIC code, number of employees, stock symbol). Other than the introductory information, all data are presented in chart format. Unlike many business directories, the layout of Walker’s is excellent. Charts are easy on the eyes, with sensible use of several typefaces and ample white space. Walker’s concludes with indexes by company name, state, and SIC code. Eight specialized lists group companies by revenues, net interest income, market capitalization, price/earnings ratios, price to book value percentages, compound revenue growth percentages, compound net income growth percentages, and number of shareholders.
Investors may find this well-designed source useful in targeting companies that merit further study. However, since up-to-the-moment data are critical for investors, libraries should be aware that a number of World Wide Web sites provide information on some of the companies in Walker’s. For example, searches by company name, via AltaVista, yielded information on Olokele Sugar at a USDA site about cane sugar marketing allocations and allotments (http://www.usda.gov/news/releases/). A corporate fact sheet on Knowledge Broker was found at http://www.kbi.com/facts.html. Much may be learned about the Portland Brewing Company at http://realbeer.com/portland/history.html. Using the SEC Edgar database (http://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/srch-edgar), researchers may read the full text of Best Lock Company’s 10-K report. (In addition, Best Lock is in Moody’s OTC Manual.) The SEC site also provides reports for Ravens Metal Products.
At $75, Walker’s is reasonably priced and packs a lot of information. Public and academic libraries may wish to acquire it for investors needing a place to start with their research.
