If a BlackBerry bush falls in the forest but no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound? I guess that depends on cell-tower coverage and installed ringtones. Either way, we'll get a third-quarter update from BlackBerry maker Research In Motion
What Fools say:
Here's how Research In Motion's Motley Fool CAPS rating stacks up against some of its peers and competitors:
Market Cap (billions) |
Trailing P/E Ratio |
||
---|---|---|---|
Google |
$102.4 |
19.6 |
*** |
Apple |
$84.8 |
17.8 |
**** |
Nokia |
$62.0 |
8.6 |
**** |
Research In Motion |
$22.6 |
12.8 |
** |
Motorola |
$10.0 |
N/A |
** |
Data taken from Motley Fool CAPS and Capital IQ, a division of Standard & Poor's, on Dec. 17.
"People aren't rushing out to buy a new $200 phone when their old phone is working just fine," says CAPS player Foliobuilder in support of a thumbs-down rating on RIM. "Meanwhile Apple is eating RIMM's lunch because they have the consumer side and are now encroaching on the enterprise side."
On the other hand, all-star CAPS player DemonDoug poses the rhetorical question, "What kind of company is most likely to survive a severe downturn, even a depression, and possible U$dollar deflation (and therefore beat the S&P 500)?" The answer: "One with no debt," like Research In Motion.
What management does:
The BlackBerry has certainly held its own against an onslaught of iPhones, Androids, and assorted lesser lights. What other multibillion-dollar seller of high-tech goods can still double both sales and earnings year over year these days?
6/07 |
9/07 |
12/07 |
3/08 |
5/08 |
8/08 |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gross |
53.6% |
52.5% |
51.6% |
51.3% |
51% |
50.9% |
Operating |
26.5% |
27.1% |
27.8% |
28.8% |
29.2% |
28.7% |
Net |
20.7% |
20.7% |
21.1% |
21.5% |
21.7% |
21% |
FCF/Revenue |
16.7% |
13% |
16.3% |
20.4% |
12.2% |
13.5% |
Y-O-Y Growth |
6/07 |
9/07 |
12/07 |
3/08 |
5/08 |
8/08 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Revenue |
57.6% |
76.3% |
89.6% |
97.9% |
104.5% |
98.5% |
Earnings |
94.9% |
116.5% |
133.1% |
104.9% |
113.9% |
101.6% |
All data courtesy of Capital IQ, a division of Standard & Poor's. Data reflects trailing-12-month performance for the quarters ended in the named months.
One Fool says:
Research In Motion's unique market position is based on a huge and very adoring fan base. Sure, iPhones can run business applications. Of course you can connect to your company's Microsoft
I'm curious to see how the experiment from Verizon Wireless, a joint venture between Vodafone and Verizon