The Daily Workshop Report
by Robert Sheard (TMF Sheard)

LEXINGTON, KY. (Feb. 21, 1997)

Technology stocks took it on the chin again, and as usual, it was based on something specious. One of the many gooroos floating around the swamp pit of rumors called Wall Street expressed a "worry" that computer makers' profit margins may have peaked out. So naturally, the entire sector sold off today.

If you watch the business cable channels (I know, I know, but the golf tournament wasn't on yet), you've undoubtedly heard the rumor snafu created by the Wall Street Journal. A well-respected analyst (no names to protect the innocent) was reported yesterday in the Journal to be turning cautious, roiling the Dow somewhat. So when she announced a hike in her target for the S&P 500 today, there were a lot of raised eyebrows.

This just reinforces the idea over and over again that the person you should be listening to about your investments is you. Do your homework, make reasoned decisions based on a working strategy that you know holds up well, and you'll do very well over the long run.

If you start getting caught up in the daily he-said-she-said nonsense, you're sure to become more emotional, less rational, more irritable, and less productive (that is unless someone's paying you to play he-said-she-said).

Hey, anyone know when we're getting the Golf Channel here in Lexington?

Don't forget the Thoroughbred Stock Challenge. The entry form for March's game is now available and I'll accept entries up until the opening bell on Monday, March 3. Have a Foolish weekend.

Monthly Growth Screens
     (Jan. 3 to present)
  24.73%  Relative Strength  
  18.14%  YPEG Potential  
  13.20%  Low Price/Sales  
   7.18%  S&P 500 Index  
   2.28%  Investing for Growth  
  -8.60%  EPS Plus RS  
 -11.10%  Formula 90  
 -12.68%  Unemotional Growth  

Annual Value Screens
     (Jan. 1 to present)
   7.66%  Dogs of the Dow  
   7.50%  Dow Jones Ind Avg  
   6.49%  Beating the S&P  
   3.37%  Dow Combo  
   2.17%  Unemotional Value  
   2.17%  Beating the Dow  
   0.77%  Foolish Four