Boring Portfolio

Boring Portfolio Report
Wednesday, May 22, 1996

(FOOL GLOBAL WIRE)
by Greg Markus (MF Boring)

ANN ARBOR, MI, May 22, 1996 -- The major market indexes continued to set new records today, and the Foolfolio had its best day ever. The Boring Portfolio, on the other hand, fell a bit more than one-half percent in net value.

It happens. Every cloud has a silver lining. Tomorrow is another day. When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping. Or something like that.

So what does MF Boring plan to DO about this case of the Borefolio blahs? Well, head out of town, actually. First, I'll be hopping over to Arizona to confer with a member of the Yaqui tribe. Then I'll head south to the Sonoran desert, there to ponder a course of action to get the Borefolio fully invested in solidly performing, truly Boring stocks upon my return. Accompanying me will be a sheaf of stock ideas provided my dozens of helpful folks (and one or two cranks) in the Boring Stocks folder and via e-mail -- plus a few of my own schemes. And my Powerbook (a plugged-in vision quest, I guess).

No kidding. This is quite literally what I'll be doing next week. I shall return tan, rested, and ready: the man with the plan. Look out Wall Street. Keep those NASDAQ computers well-chilled. Boring will be buying.

As for today, Borefolio stocks that had been strong recently were weaker in Wednesday's session, while Green Tree Financial, which had been wilting in the summer heat, was the sole gainer. Green Tree advanced $ 3/4.

The only relevant news I could locate on Wednesday pertained to Borders Group. Following on yesterday's healthy first quarter earnings report, two analysts upped their EPS projections for BGP's current FY, while keeping estimates for the following FY unchanged, at least for now. Both analysts reiterated their "buy" recommendations on the stock and stated that they saw continued upside despite Border's impressive share price appreciation to date. Nonetheless, BGP fell $ 1/8.

Prime Medical and Texas Industries also declined an eighth-point each, while Shaw Group fell $ 7/8. No news on any of them. LCSI, as usual, was unchanged at $18. Patience.

Finally, I turned Lam loose from the Borefolio today, selling 100 shares at $39 1/2 each.

Transmitted: 5/22/96

TODAY'S NUMBERS
BGP - 1/8 ...GNT + 3/4 ...LCSI --- ...PMSI - 1/8 ...SHAW - 7/8
 ...TXI - 1/8 ...
*Scroll down or expand screen for full portfolio accounting
                   Day   Month    Year  History
        BORING   -0.55%   3.22%   9.25%   9.25%
        S&P 500  +0.84%   3.70%   9.14%   9.14%
        NASDAQ   +0.23%   4.77%  19.82%  19.82%
    Rec'd  #   Security     In At       Now    Change
   3/8/96 400 Prime Medic    10.07     17.38    72.54%
  2/28/96 200 Borders Gro    22.51     36.00    59.93%
  1/29/96 100 Texas Indus    54.52     65.75    20.59%
   2/2/96 200 Green Tree     30.39     32.50     6.95%
  4/12/96 300 The Shaw Gr    18.84     19.00     0.85%
  3/25/96 200 LCS Industr    26.14     18.00   -31.14%
    Rec'd  #   Security      Cost     Value    Change
   3/8/96 400 Prime Medic  4027.49   6950.00  $2922.51
  2/28/96 200 Borders Gro  4502.49   7200.00  $2697.51
   2/2/96 200 Green Tree   6077.49   6500.00   $422.51
  4/12/96 300 The Shaw Gr  5652.49   5700.00    $47.51
  3/25/96 200 LCS Industr  5227.49   3600.00 -$1627.49
  1/29/96 100 Texas Indus  5449.99   6575.00  $1125.01
                             CASH  $18102.01
                            TOTAL  $54627.01