The Motley Fool: The Boring Portfolio

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (Jan. 12, 1998) -- U.S. markets were highly volatile once again, as the quarterly blizzard of earnings reports began in earnest. The S&P 500 closed up 12 points, or 1.24%, after being down that much in early trading. The Nasdaq finished Monday's session up 4 points, or 0.29%.

For its part, the Boring Portfolio gained 0.92%. Winners outnumbered losers five to three.

Shares of Cisco Systems <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(Nasdaq: CSCO)") else Response.Write("(Nasdaq: CSCO)") end if %> rose $1 9/16 as the company officially announced the newest member of its Gigabit Switch Router (GSR) product line, the Cisco 12008.

As the name implies, GSRs integrate routing and switching functions and operate at very high speeds. The 12008 is a carrier-class device, expected to appeal to Internet service providers, cable operators, and large enterprise customers. (Carrier-class (adj.) Built to operate with very high reliably under peak load conditions in telecommunications networks. See also: "Bomb-proof.")

The new product fills a niche between Cisco's 12004 GSR and its high-end 12012 GSR. It is available now, starting at a base price of $19,900. Sport suspension and limited-slip differential are extra.

Prime Medical Services <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(Nasdaq: PMSI)") else Response.Write("(Nasdaq: PMSI)") end if %> rose $3/8 on the bid, or 5.5%, in triple the stock's normal trading activity. I saw no news. Prime is not scheduled to report its fourth-quarter results until late next month.

Tidewater <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(NYSE: TDW)") else Response.Write("(NYSE: TDW)") end if %> eased $3/8. Tidewater is slated to report earnings around Jan. 21, but we'll get some hints before that. Offshore drilling company Rowan <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(NYSE: RDC)") else Response.Write("(NYSE: RDC)") end if %> is expected to report its results on Wednesday and Global Marine <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(NYSE: GLM)") else Response.Write("(NYSE: GLM)") end if %> on Thursday.

Borders Group <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(NYSE: BGP)") else Response.Write("(NYSE: BGP)") end if %>, Carlisle Companies <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(NYSE: CSL)") else Response.Write("(NYSE: CSL)") end if %>, and Green Tree Financial <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(NYSE: GNT)") else Response.Write("(NYSE: GNT)") end if %> round out Monday's Borefolio winners. No news of note on any of them, although announcement of the official launch of the Borders.com Website could come very soon.

TODAY'S NUMBERS

Stock  Change    Bid 
 CGO   -  1/16  23.81 
 BGP   +  3/8   29.00 
 CSL   +  1/8   40.69 
 CSCO  +1 9/16  55.69 
 FCH   -  7/8   35.94 
 GNT   +1       24.06 
 PMSI  +  3/8   12.00 
 TDW   -  3/8   42.63

                   Day   Month    Year  History 
         BORING   +0.92%  -5.98%  -5.98%  18.30% 
         S&P:     +1.24%  -3.22%  -3.22%  51.09% 
         NASDAQ:  +0.29%  -4.00%  -4.00%  44.83% 
  
     Rec'd   #  Security     In At       Now    Change 
   2/28/96  400 Borders Gr    11.26     29.00   157.64% 
   6/26/96  150 Cisco Syst    35.93     55.69    54.97% 
   8/13/96  200 Carlisle C    26.32     40.69    54.56% 
    3/8/96  400 Prime Medi    10.07     12.00    19.18% 
    3/5/97  150 Atlas Air     23.06     23.81     3.27% 
   11/6/97  200 FelCor Sui    37.59     35.94    -4.40% 
  12/23/96  100 Tidewater     46.52     42.63    -8.38% 
    2/2/96  200 Green Tree    30.39     24.06   -20.81% 
  
     Rec'd   #  Security     In At     Value    Change 
   2/28/96  400 Borders Gr  4502.49  11600.00  $7097.51 
   6/26/96  150 Cisco Syst  5389.99   8353.13  $2963.14 
   8/13/96  200 Carlisle C  5264.99   8137.50  $2872.51 
    3/8/96  400 Prime Medi  4027.49   4800.00   $772.51 
    3/5/97  150 Atlas Air   3458.74   3571.88   $113.14 
   11/6/97  200 FelCor Sui  7518.00   7187.50  -$330.50 
  12/23/96  100 Tidewater   4652.49   4262.50  -$389.99 
    2/2/96  200 Green Tree  6077.49   4812.50 -$1264.99 
  
                              CASH   $6427.47 
                             TOTAL  $59152.47