The Daily Workshop Report
by Robert Sheard (TMF Sheard)

LEXINGTON, KY. (Mar. 25, 1997)

Despite the hike in interest rates announced by the Fed today (a generally expected move), technology stocks showed the first sign of life in several weeks. While not an amazing rally, any rally at all is a comforting sign to investors who have watched the Nasdaq get socked for an 11% loss in the past two months.

Today, though, there were a few winners scattered around our Growth screens. Some of the best performances were turned in by tech stocks like DELL COMPUTER <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(Nasdaq: DELL)") else Response.Write("(Nasdaq: DELL)") end if %>, QUANTUM CORP <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(Nasdaq: QNTM)") else Response.Write("(Nasdaq: QNTM)") end if %>, SCI SYSTEMS <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(Nasdaq: SCIS)") else Response.Write("(Nasdaq: SCIS)") end if %>, SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(NYSE: SEG)") else Response.Write("(NYSE: SEG)") end if %>, WESTERN DIGITAL <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(NYSE: WDC)") else Response.Write("(NYSE: WDC)") end if %>, and APPLIED MAGNETICS <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(NYSE: APM)") else Response.Write("(NYSE: APM)") end if %>.

Among the Value stocks, the major oil companies, CHEVRON <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(NYSE: CHV)") else Response.Write("(NYSE: CHV)") end if %>, TEXACO <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(NYSE: TX)") else Response.Write("(NYSE: TX)") end if %>, and EXXON <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(NYSE: XON)") else Response.Write("(NYSE: XON)") end if %>, and tobacco and food giant PHILIP MORRIS <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(NYSE: MO)") else Response.Write("(NYSE: MO)") end if %> led the pack. Philip Morris, of course, is still reeling from the recent plummet on its ongoing litigation worries. Nevertheless, the company's growth rate and high dividend yield keep attracting new buyers every time it gets whacked on the next chapter in its legal battles.

A couple of announcements: first, there's a correction to this week's database. We accidentally pulled the numbers for Gateway instead of Gateway 2000 from Investor's Business Daily, so check back for the correct values if you're looking at that stock.

Also, with the Motley Fool's announcement of a partnership with Final Bell, a hot-shot stock game with some cool prizes, I've decided to discontinue the Thoroughbred Stock Challenge after the March contest ends. My limited time and resources are no match for the structure of their game. Check out Final Bell when you have a chance. Let's get some of our strongest ponies runing towards their final bell (or whatever metaphor I've just slaughtered).

Monthly Growth Screens
     (Jan. 3 to present)
   8.15%  Relative Strength  
   5.48%  S&P 500 Index  
   4.55%  Low Price/Sales  
   3.03%  YPEG Potential  
  -6.38%  Investing for Growth  
 -13.98%  EPS Plus RS  
 -20.31%  Formula 90  
 -21.54%  Unemotional Growth  

Annual Value Screens
     (Jan. 1 to present)
   9.39%  Dogs of the Dow  
   6.64%  Dow Jones Ind Avg  
   6.33%  Beating the S&P  
   2.97%  Dow Combo  
   2.52%  Unemotional Value  
   2.52%  Beating the Dow  
  -1.04%  Foolish Four