Microsoft's (MSFT: news, chart, profile) cash hoard is growing at about $10 billion a year, Barron's notes. Once the company finally works out how to distribute the treasure, as it has said is its policy, "the stock is apt to be appreciably higher," Barron's says.
Netflix (NFLX: news, chart, profile), the online DVD rental company, is overpriced at 56 times its estimated yearly earnings, says Barron's. Short-sellers have negative bets on about 40 percent of the company's shares, Barron's notes. To succeed, says Barron's, Netflix must hold off the looming competition from Wal-Mart and Blockbuster, plus continue to increase its $19.95 memberships and retain the customers. The estimated cost of luring those subscribers, Barron's says, was recently raised 10 percent for the year by Netflix.
Sony (SNE: news, chart, profile), TiVo (TIVO: news, chart, profile) and the major broadcast TV networks -- ABC (DIS: news, chart, profile), NBC (GE: news, chart, profile), CBS (VIA.B: news, chart, profile) and Fox (FOX: news, chart, profile) -- are mentioned by Barron's cover story as potential losers as consumer electronics meld computers with other entertainment sources. The article says computer component makers such as Intel (INTC: news, chart, profile) are the overall winners as their platforms control any PC-based systems.
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