FOOL PLATE SPECIAL
An Investment Opinion by MF Templar

CyberMedia Makes Macro Move

CYBERMEDIA <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(Nasdaq: CYBR)") else Response.Write("(Nasdaq: CYBR)") end if %> repaired $1 7/8 to $11 7/8 after it announced an addition to its product line. The Santa Monica-based software developer acquired worldwide distribution rights to MicroHelp Uninstaller from Los Angeles-based Luckman Interactive, the number nine business software title according to a January 1997 PC Data report. This addition broadens CyberMedia's line of automatic service and support software for personal computers, giving CyberMedia three of the top fifteen top-selling retail business software titles -- adding to its First Aid '97 (number four) and Oil Change (number fifteen) products. Despite reaching a high in the low $20s late last year based on comparisons with the success of MCAFEE ASSOCIATES <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(Nasdaq: MCAF)") else Response.Write("(Nasdaq: MCAF)") end if %>, the shares have been hammered in the general rout of software stocks.

CyberMedia's software products have attracted quite a bit of attention in recent months because of the company's proprietary ActiveHelp technology. This allows the software to scan the personal computer for problems and then reach out through the Internet to a central database of fixes called HelpCentral that CyberMedia updates with the latest in problem fixing data. CyberMedia's First Aid '97 locates and downloads bug fixes on the system, while Oil Change works to keep applications as current as possible, downloading patches, drivers and other enhancements. First Aid '97 includes anti-virus software developed by DR. SOLOMON'S GROUP <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(Nasdaq: SOLLY)") else Response.Write("(Nasdaq: SOLLY)") end if %>, another recent initial public offering.

Despite the string of awards and aggressive claims of market position, CyberMedia is still a relatively tiny company. In the year ended 1996, CyberMedia booked $38.5 million in sales with $15.8 million coming in the final quarter of the year. The company lost $0.42 per share in fiscal 1996, although in the final quarter of the year it did make a one-cent per share profit after recognizing $387,000 in interest income. The company has a $39.3 million cash hoard left over from its $16 per share initial public offering on October 23, 1996. With 12.4 million shares outstanding, net of cash the company sells for 2.8 times trailing revenues and 1.7 times its revenue run-rate (which takes the last quarter and multiplies it by four to get an annual result). Analysts expect an aggressive $0.35 earnings per share (EPS) this year and $0.63 next year as the company quickly grows revenues, putting the shares at 33.9 times this year's estimates and 18.8 times next year's estimates.

UPS

Multimedia PC board company CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(Nasdaq: CREAF)") else Response.Write("(Nasdaq: CREAF)") end if %> rose another $1 1/4 to $12 after yesterday's announcement that it will beat Q3 earnings per share (EPS) estimates of $0.30.

INTEGRATED PROCESS EQUIPMENT CORP. <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(Nasdaq: IPEC)") else Response.Write("(Nasdaq: IPEC)") end if %> moved $1 9/16 higher to $18 13/16 after the semiconductor capital equipment manufacturer said it has withdrawn its offering of 3 million shares, which would have expanded its share count by almost 20%.

ALEX. BROWN INC. <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(NYSE: AB)") else Response.Write("(NYSE: AB)") end if %> moved up another $5 to $49 5/8 on rumors that BANKERS TRUST <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(NYSE: BT)") else Response.Write("(NYSE: BT)") end if %> is looking to acquire the Baltimore investment bank and brokerage.

Pharmaceutical company CENTOCOR INC. <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(Nasdaq: CNTO)") else Response.Write("(Nasdaq: CNTO)") end if %> picked up $6 5/8 to $38 1/8 on news of positive test results for a treatment for Crohn's Disease, a hereditary degenerative disease of the intestines that has eluded most treatments.

Chip making equipment companies -- such as NOVELLUS SYSTEMS <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(Nasdaq: NVLS)") else Response.Write("(Nasdaq: NVLS)") end if %>, which is up $4 5/8 to $74 1/8, and ONTRAK SYSTEMS <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(Nasdaq: ONTK)") else Response.Write("(Nasdaq: ONTK)") end if %>, which is trading $1 7/16 higher at $28 1/2 -- are moving on yesterday's announcement from HEWLETT-PACKARD <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(NYSE: HWP)") else Response.Write("(NYSE: HWP)") end if %> that it is building a more than $1 billion wafer foundry in Singapore.

TRANSACTION SYSTEMS ARCHITECTS <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(Nasdaq: TSAI)") else Response.Write("(Nasdaq: TSAI)") end if %> gained $3 3/16 to $26 7/16 after signing a contract with Poland's second largest retail bank to provide financial transaction systems for that company's ATM network.

DOWNS

Specialty healthcare provider MEDICAL ALLIANCE INC. <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(Nasdaq: MAII)") else Response.Write("(Nasdaq: MAII)") end if %> suffered gross trauma in dropping $2 3/4 to $6 1/4 after the company said it will miss the sole Q1 earnings estimate of $0.06.

ULTRAK INC. <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(Nasdaq: ULTK)") else Response.Write("(Nasdaq: ULTK)") end if %> fell $4 3/4 to $11 3/4 after the security camera company announced the termination of its merger plans with retail inventory systems company CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(NYSE: CKP)") else Response.Write("(NYSE: CKP)") end if %>. Ultrak also said it will miss Q1 estimates of $0.21. Checkpoint forecast full-year EPS of $0.67, below the mean estimate of $0.89.

Projection systems company PROXIMA CORP. <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(Nasdaq: PRXM)") else Response.Write("(Nasdaq: PRXM)") end if %> joined the pre-announcement parade today in projecting an operating loss of up to $0.20 per share, undershooting estimates of $0.08 per share.

IBM <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(NYSE: IBM)") else Response.Write("(NYSE: IBM)") end if %> lost $1 1/8 to $130 after Merrill Lynch downgraded the company to "near-term neutral" from "near-term buy," saying the company will have a hard time making estimates for the coming couple quarters.

Supermarket chain FOOD LION <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(Nasdaq: FDLN.A)") else Response.Write("(Nasdaq: FDLN.A)") end if %> fell $1 5/16 to $6 3/4 after missing earnings estimates in reporting Q1 EPS of $0.10.

AUTOCAM CORP. <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(Nasdaq: ACAM)") else Response.Write("(Nasdaq: ACAM)") end if %> lost $1 3/4 to $9 after the specialty alloy component maker pre-announced Q3 EPS of $0.18 to $0.20, which will not meet estimates of $0.29.

CONFERENCE CALLS

CASCADE COMMUNICATIONS <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(Nasdaq: CSCC)") else Response.Write("(Nasdaq: CSCC)") end if %>
ASCEND COMMUNICATIONS <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(Nasdaq: ASND)") else Response.Write("(Nasdaq: ASND)") end if %>
To discuss merger announcement
(800) 475-6701 (code: 336788)

US DIAGNOSTIC INC.<% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(Nasdaq: USDL)") else Response.Write("(Nasdaq: USDL)") end if %>
Replay available after 3:00 PM EST through 4/8
(303) 267-1074

THIS WEEK'S CONFERENCE CALL SYNOPSES

SHIVA CORP. <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(Nasdaq: SHVA)") else Response.Write("(Nasdaq: SHVA)") end if %> Q1 Pre-Announcement
PAYCHEX <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(Nasdaq: PAYX)") else Response.Write("(Nasdaq: PAYX)") end if %> Q3 Conference Call
COLUMBIA/HCA <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(NYSE: COL)") else Response.Write("(NYSE: COL)") end if %> Conference Call To Discuss Investigation

FOOL PORTFOLIO STOCKS

FOOL PORTFOLIO               BORING PORTFOLIO
ATCT up $1/16 at $5 13/16    ATLS down $3/16 at $25 7/16
AOL up $1 3/8 at $46 7/8     BGP up $5/8 at $20 3/4
CHV up $1/2 at $64 7/8       CSL down $1/8 at $29 1/8
COMS up $1 1/2 at $33 7/8    CSCO up $2 5/16 at $50 11/16
GM down $1 1/8 at $53 1/4    GNT down $1/8 at $32 1/4
IOM up $5/8 at $17 1/8       ORCL up $7/8 at $39 1/2
KLAC up $3 at $39 5/8        OXHP up $1 1/4 at $59 3/8
LU up $1 1/2 at $53 1/2      PMSI  up $1/8 at $10 1/4
MMM unch. at $83 3/4         TDW down $3/4 at $44 1/8
T down $1/8 at $33 5/8

Have you checked out our exciting new game, Bust the Tipsters? It is hailed by many at Fool HQ as, "The most amazing interactive and educational game featuring a Foolish hero and evil stock manipulators and misinformers ever!" Check in and try to solve a new case every day, aided by Motley Fool as he tries to foil the villainous Dr. Mortimer Stocktout, Mo-Mental, the Churner, the Smile and Dial sisters, Cold-Call Pete, Pork Belly, the Whisper and the Talking Head. This fun new game pays off with education, amusement, and prizes from FoolMart. You'll find Bust the Tipsters in the Fool's School and in our Games area, with new cases six times a week. Enjoy!

Randy Befumo (MF Templar), a Fool
Fool Plate Special

Dale Wettlaufer (MF Raleigh), another Fool
Ups & Downs

Brian Bauer (MF Hoops), and yet another Fool
Editing