Stop the Barron's Microsoft Series

 

In his most recent love letter to Microsoft, Savitz leads by saying that, while not many professional money managers seem to agree, "the nattering nabobs are dead wrong."

Last year, Savitz opened by talking not about nabobs, but for variation "the cynics" who thought Microsoft would keep "shuffling along." Wrote Savitz: "That would be a serious mistake. Microsoft shares, in fact, are among the technology sector's most alluring bets."

He was even more direct back in 2004, when The Business Press Maven still had his youth and looks. His first sentence was "When it comes to Microsoft, investors are missing the big picture."

Actually, Savitz, those nabobs and cynics seem to have a better handle on the situation than you, but that's not even the point.

The Business Press Maven, as (almost) always, sets the gold standard in business reporting. Does that mean that I am always right, a pillar of genius? Well, not exactly. But when I am talking about a stock I've been wrong about in the past, I will say, "Hey, I've been a dope on this one."

Look at my work on Oracle (ORCL Quote), where Larry Ellison has apparently made it his personal mission to pull earnings beats out of his sail bag to prove me wrong. But every time I talk about the company, I let you know: I have spoken about this one before and have been wrong as rain. You can then form your own opinion about whether the reality I see affecting Oracle is just taking a little longer to unfold than I originally surmised or whether Ellison is fated to beat The Business Press Maven with one hand tied behind his jib.

Interestingly enough, Savitz did once mention one of his previous Barron's cover stories trumpeting Microsoft's stand that it is still a growth company. This came halfway through his campaign in last year's article.

But this week's installation in the "Microsoft is a growth stock" series contains no references to the other related articles. And that, Mr. Murdoch, makes my soul feel like it's been sitting in a hardback chair. Fix it.

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At the time of publication, Fuchs had no positions in any of the stocks mentioned in this column.

A journalist with a background on Wall Street, Marek Fuchs has written the County Lines column for The New York Times for the past five years. He also contributes regular breaking news and feature stories to many of the paper's other sections, including Metro, National and Sports. Fuchs was the editor-in-chief of Fertilemind.net, a financial Web site twice named "Best of the Web" by Forbes Magazine. He was also a stockbroker with Shearson Lehman Brothers in Manhattan and a money manager. He is currently writing a chapter for a book coming out in early 2007 on a really embarrassing subject. He lives in a loud house with three children. Fuchs appreciates your feedback; click here to send him an email.

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