The Tampa Tribune from Tampa, Florida • 37

ww yr wfwwf ''r WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1998 THE TAMPA TRIBUNE BUSINESS FINANCE 3 7 Send comments and tips through e-mail to: businessfinancetampatrib.com BERNIE KOHN, Business Editor, (813) 259-7804 Business tax, (813) 258-8504 TheMoneyPage Technicians bullish It's a Titanic hit A look at the basics of 401 (k) plans offered by 20 leading employers around Tampa Bay: 1P Analysts and money managers who study companies' earnings prospects are divided ahnnt whoth. Have questions about investments? Insurance? Real estate? Retirement? Estate or college planning? The Tampa Bay Society of the Institute of Certified Financial Planners will answer your questions for free in a weekly Tribune column, "Dollars and Sense." Write to the society at P.O. Box 2601, Brandon 33509-2601, or e-mail at PFA gte.net Letters and responses may be edited for clarity. Employer match How long must How long must Form of Number Rate of on amount of employee wait employee wait match of plan employee Employer employee Income to be eligible to be 100 vested makeup options participation GTE (hourly) 50 on 6 Immediate 2 years Stock 16 66 Columbia HCA 100 on 3 First Jan. 1 7 years Cash 5 33 Publix 50 on 3.

lyear 5 years Stock 4 44 cap at $750 TECO 55 on 6 6 months Immediate Stock 7 NA Tech Data 50 on 5 lyear Immediate Cash 9 50 cap at $500 Home Shopping 50 on 6 6 months 5 years Cash 14 55 Eckerd (no response) 1 25 on 3 lyear 7 years Cash 9 NA Times Publishing 1.25 of pay1 90 days lyear Cash 6 62 Florida Progress 75 on 6 6 months 5 years Cash 9 78 Nielsen Media 50 on 6 Immediate 3 years Cash 6 NA IMC-Agrico 100 on first 3, Immediate Immediate Cash 4 9 NA 50onnext3 Raymond James 100 on first $500, 6 months 6 years Cash 14 88 50 on next $500 Chase Manhattan 100 on 5 lyear 3 years 7 85 stock Media General 55 on 6 lyear Immediate Stock 4 70 4 IBMAdvantis 50 on 6 Immediate Immediate Cash 7 NA Bamett Banks' 100 on 6 90 days 6 years Stock 8 80 Jabil Circuit None lyear NR NR 6 50 Raytheon E-Systems 50 on 3 Immediate Immediate Cash 9 NA. Time Customer Service 66 on 6 1 year 4 years Stock 10 70 NA Not available NR Not relevant Late Monday night, at a theater somewhere in the world, "Titanic" became the biggest moneymaker in movie history, breaking the global box-office record set by "Jurassic Park." 20th Century Fox said Tuesday the disaster epic has grossed more than $919.8 million worldwide, vs. $913.1 million for "Jurassic Park." And "Titanic" did it in just 10 weeks. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet as young lovers on the doomed ship, "Titanic" could end up selling more than $1.2 billion in tickets, analysts say. The movie also is on track to break the domestic box-office record of $461 million set by the 1977 release and subsequent re-releases of "Star Wars." Fox produced the film, which cost an estimated $200 million, with Paramount Pictures, a unit of Viacom Inc.

Each company is expected to enjoy profits of at least $200 million, industry experts say. "Titanic" soon will be shown on some 200 screens in China, believed the widest release for a Western film in that country. President Jiang Zemin reportedly enjoyed a private screening so much he asked for another showing for friends. Remarks trip up bonds U.S. bonds posted the biggest loss in almost three weeks as in- er U.S.

stocks will continue rallying in 1998 and beyond. Yet technicians, who pore over historical charts and data for clues about 1 the market's future performance, are speaking with one voice. Stocks, they say, are headed higher. The high volume accompanying this year's advance implies that investors are buying with greater "conviction," technical analysts say. The technicians' charts and statistics indicate that demand for equities is strong.

And a wide range of companies are setting records, suggesting the rally has "breadth." "Technically, when you have a broad rally you're in great shape," said Ken Tower, a market analyst at UST Securities a unit of $58 billion-asset U.S. Trust Co. "People are optimistic about a wide range of companies. When you have a narrow rally, that indicates a market top." While Tower and his fellow technical analysts foresee higher share prices, the caveats are abundant. Stocks may "consolidate" for the next few weeks before rallying, they say.

What's more, their charts indicate that market indexes may top out at midyear. vestors interpreted remarks from Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan as a signal the central bank won't lower interest rates any time soon. "The Fed has no grounds to ease credit based on the strength of the economy," said Tad Rivelle, who helps manage $1.8 billion in bonds at Metropolitan West Asset Management in Los Angeles. The Fed chairman delivered the first part of his semiannual congressional testimony to the House Banking Committee Tuesday and will speak to the Senate Banking Committee today. The benchmark 30-year Treasury bond fell 2732, or $8.44 per $1,000 bond, to 102 932, pushing its yield up 6 basis points to 5.96 percent, the highest in a month.

The two-year note yield, more sensitive to Fed rate expectations, rose 11 basis points to a seven-week high of 5.57 percent. A staff and wire report GTE salaried employees receive 75 on 6. 2 Employer acquired by larger company; benefits may change. Employer contribution irrespective of employee contribution. 4 Programs for union employees may differ under negotiated agreements.

Includes The Tampa Tribune, WFLA-TV, Sunbelt Newspapers, Hernando Today, Highlands Today, Professional Communications Inc. mvESTOptions put employee I in control of retirement plan The Tribune 50 Index ft Biggest daily gainers Biggest daily losers Today's stocks Close: 1216.60 Down 13.39 1325 rr 1 125 212 29 216 223 Net Net Hunk WO Stock Hcker Ctos Chj. Cbj Rank TribSOStock fttv Close Chg. Cng. 24 KreislerManufacturing KRSL 10.5 1.2513.51 12 ABR Information Services ABRX 26.4375 30 Nobility Homes NOBH 15.63 1.63 11.61 35 Pages Inc.

PAGZ 1.625 40 EuropaCruises KM 0.906 0.06 7.41 1 TechOata TECO 45.5625 13 BreedTechnotogies BDT 20.813 0.75 3.74 38 Technologies GRTK 3.125 37 Paradise tic PARF 14.0 0.25 1.82 49 Numed Home Health NUMD 1.75 9 Catata Marketing P0S 485 Oil 1.70 39 Junto Sports JSI 1.8125 19 Contour Medical CTMI 7.75 0.13 1.64 16 Reptron Electronics REFT 11.125 17 TecWorce Corp. TFRC 7.88 0.13 1.61 44 C.H. Heist HST 7.5 33 Oavel Comm. Group OAVL 23.75 0.38 1.60 2 Jabi Circuit JBL 46.125 29 WermediaConm OX 72.75 1.00 1.39 27 Healths Services HPS 25.25 This it a daily update on the performance of The Tribune SO, an annual ranking of the best-performing public companies based in West Central Florida made by the Tribune each May. Source: Nordby International Inc.

mtm Net YTD Dh Otow dig. Chg. Dhr CIom Chg. Chg. Net YTD Dl Oo Chg.

Chg. 12 tft 451.1 Stock Sybron PLCSys 33ft -67 PLM 5ft -67 Net YTD T- Net VTD Dhr Cton Chg. Chg. 1.7 Stock KFXtnc KVPtiB KVPhA talus 90 KankakB Keane KYFsIB Stock Stock Di Clote Chg. Chg.

TOSCa 24 -ft 2 -ft 24ft -ft 16.3 24ft 16.9 4'ft ft 21.0 .48 34ft ft 43ft 6.5 .50 13 TabPrd 20 13 -ft 5. Fina 3.20 63ft ft -1. Tao-ltn 3ft tft Jin RnlFedls Ji2 .196 7 -ft 6.9 HAttSI PMC 128114ft PMCCT 1.721 20ft -ft PMCCn 8 -ft PGEplA 1.50 24 PGEplB 1.37 23 PGEpID 1.25 21ft -ft PGEplE 1.25 22ft tft PGEplH 1.12 19 PGEplU 1.76 28 tft Team 3 -ft 3.6 TecOpsSv .60 13 6.5 Teche .50 21ft -ft FAusPr .72 8 10.3 1.3 1.0 4.5 4.9 -13 1.9 0.9 -12 seytnq -w -21. FtEmp 3.20472ft -3ft 1. KevsHerill.OO 57ft ft 4.1 TeinR Kilem 8 19.6 .05 30ft -ft 24.4 .42 43ft -ft FtNatCp .44 24ft 4.0 FslWVs .601 24 TelDla ft PGEplX 1.72 25ft FstfedA 20ft -ft Flaregn 7 -ft 5.0 .56 28ft ft 12.5 PacGale 5ft ft 6.4 Knar 2" -ft KingPwn 57.5 KilMlg 6ft 4ft 1.8 KogrEq 1.00 22ft tft 1.4 Knig 5 -122 7ft ft 172 A AMC 26? 17.7 AMCp) 1.75 44 ft 162 ARC 4ft 4ft ARMFnn .08 22ft ARM pt 2.38 26 ft 2.4 ARVUv 13' ASRInv 2.00 22ft -ft 3.2 ATTFd 2.806125 -ft 5.5 AcmeU 5ft Admflsc .1 12 -ft AOvMag -12V tft 40.7 AdvPhot 1ft AMcain .96 11 ft 2.7 Aerocntyn 7 AirWal 1ft -'it 33 3 AirWatrt Alrmgds 9ft -ft AHaagenl.44 17ft -V 1ft tft FlaPOt 1.20 23 -ft ForsM 62 -ft 26.5 FoANalR 1ft -405 IFntin 325e 5 -ft 10ft ft -12 16ft ft 0.8 IXRBU 2 -ft Tenera TexatkF Textjioteh TexBimt TtwnCel Tbermed ThrmBio ThCardo ThmoEco ThrFtr ThiFOit ThmFe ThrKsts FmtSel .44 6 ft 20 ft 4.4 5 ft 417.6 -ft -622 8 -ft 18.3 5 -ft 2 tft 7ft -167 'ft 833 2ft -ft 4ft -ft 1.5 20 15ft ft PacPharm PtVSPMd PtrnHW PenAmCp PaxsnC Penob 20 PeopleTel PemC PhiNet Phonettl PicoPd FreqEls From Page 1 preparing for retirement on the employee.

"Are people saving enough? You will be hard-pressed to find someone to say yes. The near universal consensus is that people need to do more," said Paul Yakoboski, a researcher at the EBRI. "THE MISSING LINK is that the overwhelming majority of workers have no idea how much they need to accumulate. So, they are flying blind," he said. "If you ask them if they are saving enough, they couldn't answer.

They have no basis for an answer." It's daunting and there is little help. Here are some tips on 401(k) investing, and some information about what makes a good 401(k): Tampa financial adviser Laura Waller says you should put as much into your 401(k) as possible the maximum, if you can afford it, to take full advantage of the tax shelter. For most plans, that maximum is 15 percent of income. The maximum runs as high as 25 percent in some companies, notably ColumbiaHCA Healthcare which employs about 9,300 people in 10 Tampa Bay-area hospitals. "It really depends on your cash-flow needs.

The maximum is the ideal, because it's tax-sheltered," WaUer said. But for employees who can't afford that, "they ought to get as least as much as the company matches." Young workers, who need the income for first homes, first cars and first children, may want to contribute less to retirement. Still, they should put away as much as they can. At 25, even a small contribution will generate a large nest egg, and make retirement savings easier when they reach their 50s. For most employees, the most attractive feature is the employer match.

In general, high company match correlates with high employee participation. The most generous plans match the employee contributions dollar-for-dollar. In a survey of 20 large Bay-area employers, the most generous match belongs to Barnett Banks which matches dollar-for-dollar up to 6 percent of the employee's income. Nationally, the average is 50 cents per dollar up to 6 percent of employee income, which is typical for most Bay-area employers. A key decision for employees is how to invest.

By law, 401(k) plans must offer at least four investment choices. Some offer dozens, plus the company stock. The Tampa Bay area's largest private employer, GTE, offers 16 investment options. normally, investment options range from su 6.6 D4 7 Jit 16.7 281 12 ft r-neom Fnschs losing money, to emerging market or high technokv gy stock funds, which are very risky but offer the potential for huge returns. What's right for each investor depends on age; retirement plans, and tolerance for risk.

Workers who can't sleep if they think they may lose money i should not be investing in Asian emerging markets. In general, the longer you expect to wait until you use the money, the more risky you can afford to b. Waller said a time-honored rule of thumb still works: Subtract your age from 100, and invest that proportion in stocks. Put the rest in bonds. Then ire-adjust the funds annually.

So if you're 30, put 70 percent of your 401(k)in stock funds, and 30 percent in bonds. At 60, and just five years from retirement, most of funds should be-in safe, reliable bonds. Still, there should be some stocks in the portfolio. At Home Shopping Network in St. Petersburg the company recently improved its match and expanded the investment options from six to 14.

The reS suit was a 10 percent increase in participation, said Benefits Manager Kristi Marckese. While those are the keys for most employees, there are other aspects that employees should watch: The makeup of the company match. Most errt- ployers provide the match in cash, which allows thtf employee to invest it at their discretion among the; plan options. Some, however, provide the match up company stock, which is inherently riskier and may not be appropriate for people who do not deal risk well or are close to retirement. Some companies tie the match to company profitability, but that applied to just one in the Tampa Bay area, TECO.

Eligibility and vesting. Eligibility is how long a new employee must be there to begin making a contribution. Most major employers allow it immediati-ly, but some make a new employee wait a year. The vesting requirement describes how long an employee must work to own the company match. At some, employees must stay seven years to be fully vested in the company match.

Those who quit before then give up all or part of the company match. "1 Borrowing and emergency withdrawals. plans allow employees to borrow a portion of the value of the plan. By law, the upper limit is $50,000 and 50 percent of vested value. Some plans impose stricter limits.

Most in the Tampa Bay area allowed the legal limit. Other benefits. Some companies offer what appear to be stingy 401(k)s, but reward employees in other ways. Profit sharing and employee stock ownership programs can supplement self-funded retire ment plans. Jabil Circuits in St.

Petersburg provides no company match for its 401(k), but provides a profit-sharing plan, based on the performance of the employee's production plant. 17 25 -ft 19ft -ft 9ft ft 2 12" ft 33ft -ft Lancers 11ft Landaur 130128" ft 25 Lsrlech 4ft 43.5 UKao 10" -ft -206 LeathFac ft ft 12.5 .15 2'ft -ft FrontAdj i. 4. -G- 1ft 4ft Atfln 5.5 lehSTcul 21 412 10ft ft ThermoOp PedmBco .40 10 ft -15 .1 GAFnd GSTTefe GamaB LiVem .321 18ft Net VTD Stock Uv Clow Chg. Chg.

CamdnNnl.KH 59 1 2.0 CMarcg .14 13ft 0.9 CdnOmo.3019" ecCancTr CanyonRs CapPcHI 3ft 21.7 CapProps .10 8ft 19.3 Cardiolch 1 Carematnc 25 -id -130 CaroPpI 5.00 84 8.9 Carvetfep 05e 15 -62 CasllAM .68 24'fi 60 CasFd 1.48a 25 ft CelScd CelSa S'tt CFCdao .01 8.1 CenMt 350 50 105 CertSe 2.42e 31 3.8 ChadTK 6 -ft -22 5 CMMMn 23p 13 -ft 6.8 ChaseCp 211 16 16.4 ORwIs 72a 32 147 Chief 21 2.4 Chllntpl lil 29 -ft 0.7 CitFFin 21 7.4 Ctelnc 6'V 6.7 arvwCn 13 tft 23.3 CoastO 2 -ft Cognilm 17 CohenSt 5.9 ColLb llh -ft CokiEng 7 -ft Comtoce 6 tft 10.9 Comincg .30 16 ft 8.5 CmclAa 6 ft 3.7 CmdrAp 4 -V 39.6 CmdrAnl ft-H CmBkPa 84b 41 CnWyeSCs 1S 10.9 CmtyCap WD 14.2 CompTi 8ft -ft 1.5 Comclek 7 1.6 Cmptre Cmpulmn 2 -ft 7.9 ComslhBs 22 -ft 4 nuvj 12 4ft 8 16.9 16ft 0.8 PmdeBs .40 15ft .48 19ft -ft 3.3 13 ft 12.6 .10 5ft 24.2 60825 -ft 0.7 -ft 9.0 -ft 15.8 AHRsn AlniH Watt eclunlec 2 ThrOptk 1.091 14 4 ThrmPw 11 -ft 34 3 TfxmRe 20 6 ft 3.0 PittWa .561 7 4ft 17 87 2 4.8 LynchC MDsms 1201 38 -ft 5 31' AltLiving iayiCn 6ft -ft 15.4 TlmoSer 10 ft 8.1 PlnRsc -M- 15 ft 6.3 ft 0.5 ware 1.27 13 1.521 49 GnAuto 1- ft 10.0 "TTnEmps 16ft ABkCT TNSpect 9ft ThmiTer 6" -ft -177 ThrmVolt 5 AmBitit -ft 167 GnMicr 7 .40. 28 .28 3ft 4ft 11 ft ft -ft -ft 21.8 -ft 7.1 PlyRB PoMud Polymed Polyph Polyvisn GenDr 28b18V 5.5 Thrmolse 3.8 ft 1.8 120a 14ft 20.8 19.3 19.8 MAISys 2 -ft 10.0 MBCaplA.88 10V MDCg 7" 18.3 MSB Sep .60 34 MSR 1 tft 6.7 Magiwkn 1ft 4 413.6 MaqnHunt 4ft tft MePS 1.00 13ft 411.3 -ft ft 5.9 3.01e 94 AIM 84 AIM 85 AIM 86 AIM 88 Alsraet ft 2.0 3ft 1. 85 14 17 -ft 9V .441 22 ft 4ft -ft IGeldiGId 18 GianlFd .78 35" GlcWatr 31 GteWatr ot2.27 25ft 223e13'ft4ft 3.7 ronays ft 25 1 444.6 Thmgst Thrmolx Thnrwds TtirRvF is 1.44e 35lft 3Bft -1ft 12.6 Prpdlg 2ft ft 20.6 AmerPag Glallll .70 18 .68 17 -ft MalibuEnt 3 -ft 421.6 .086 2 1ft ft -ft -ft ft 8.5 ft MardCOO a3.54 34ft-1 1.28 45ft ft 6.0 14 2ft Tompkn TooAirM 7ft 5.6 9 4 412.4 12 4ft 22.8 7 11.9 ft ft 15" 4ft 0.8 rresHB PrlceCmi Price! PrimeRsn ProAcllv PrtBco GitJOcn GlobSml GWink GoWeo GldStafl Maiton 6ft tft 2.1 MarqGrp 3ft ft 41.7 MaimPh 15ft -ft 2 4.8 1ft -ft -56 8ft -ft 22.2 11ft 1 16 -ft 8.3 4 2'V -ft 132 ft-ft 25.0 AStS AmSlid ATechC Ampel Ampei Amlec Armest 3ft tft MaxmPwt 6 ft 20.0 GldFkl ProoCTs 24a 1 ManPtn 14.3 37.5 1 49 413.2 Prvena .12 4ft 15 -ft 9.5 Maxam TopSrn TWAt TWA TransFnd Transmonl TrexMed Trmlech TubMex TumrC Pivftor .12 17 GoKTrsi 1.64 28 GorniRup J6 19 GrahamCp 17 tft 16.4 Gteenort 14ft ft 15 tft AndreaEs McRae! 7 il ft ft -06 08 5ft 12 -ft 28.0 10 11.9 13'ft ft 14ft ft 7.2 6 -ft 16 -ft 25 -52 MeasSod 3Vi -ft MedcR 16ft tft 414.7 PbSIII 1.36 22 GmSlCA -ft AngMjg 12H 19 0.7 AngPx 5 ApexS4n 11 -ft Aoooee 2ft Vt Meda 56 45ft -'ft PbSt20 1.12a 21 -ft 5.1 PulnCA .93 16 -ft -12 GreMf 4ft ft -24. ConcdF 811s CnsTom .60 17 GreyhndL 4ft ft 7 PIGMT3 60 13ft 0.5 MediaLog 1ft 4ft 4i Metta) 13 -ft 20.2 Medio rrf 13 13.0 GristSioan 1 -ft ApcfeOln 10V! ArcLd 38e 5 12 TCoWMtl US Ion 16 30.1 Q-R 10 ft ArmorH ft USB Hid .20 21 GwePip 10ft ft GrSroc 3ft GoiLfl 11 -ft 35 4ft 4 ft 417.6 15.6 1.7 Medio MictiGp 2 -ft 2020ft -ft USFGP 1.70a 18ft ft OCOptwt 4ft 485.7 MercSrs 7 tft 32.6 1 ft 20.0 UTIEnos 12ft -ft Consrwie 5 -101 CceMat 4 -Vt 23.7 ComCor 20" CwnetBk 24a 19ft 0.6 Man 1 Cowtk) 27e 4ft ft ecCrettC 1ft -ft II -ft 19Vi 3ft 14 ft Ouebcor .40 16 -ft 6.3 RFPow 2'ft -ft Ramcon 12ft ecRander ft RUonlm 2.20 24ft -ft -32 20 8ft ft 1ft 35.6 16.1 6ft (Jnapm UnpiwtB UniMrt Mm Unlab Unimar 1 UnqMbl .32 11 10.5 4 18.8 -ft 333 4 -ft 14.3 5ft 17.3 2 46.7 1'ft 4ft 412.5 8 12.2 24ft ft 6ft Arrow Aitiytfi AstLivngs AttPrem Aides Atlantlt AudnBCn AudbCmn Audwx AuloSpfA Autotote AvenEiKii Aa -ft J3J 6 -172 CrwH .52 Tft 3ft 19 7 Halifax ecHataF HalEP Halsey halei'Ms Harorl HangOr HanvDir -ft 6.1 3ft ft 108.0 ft ft 4.9 6 -V 13ft UnLap -ft 10.3 3Jtft uuron 6ft -V UMobH .70 12 -ft 2.1 Harken OnCP CmCPB Crystal CiysDxgn Cubic Cytelnl Cycoran ICypros 9 -ft 1.9 2 12.8 5 1ft 4 Harold Hasbro Hasting HawAif per-conservative money market funds, which offer BSHO .341 6 ft 1.9 .32 35ft 11.5 47 ft 17.5 3ft -ft .601 22ft ft 2'ft 15ft USBiowt ft ft USBesd 10ft tft 11.0 USCell 28 ft -ft USExpInc 3ft 4ft 21.4 UnilelV 7 10.9 UNIT! 1.361 25ft ft 3.9 UnrtyBc .01 20ft ft 52 19 19 -ft 41' ft 7ft V( 91.7 18 27 ft 13 -V 6.7 2ft -ft 560 3 -ft -D 12ft ft -148 3 -250 fti 16.7 2 -ft 7 1.7 8ft 1K ft 10 12.3 low returns around 5 percent but nearly no chance of Haw HPl BAT Ind 1.0961916 5.7 BFXHosp 2 BHC 1.006136 4.6 Mendlwt 9ft tft 7.6 MnPt8pf 32 9 14.5 MLRusMn 9ft -ft 57 MLEr02n 10 -ft 11.1 ML Ml 10ft 7.5 MLTTYkf 12" -ft 43.0 Metro 13 7.0 MetPro 271 15 -ft Meteorn 3 -ft Melrlkan 15ft ft 40.4 Melromda 11ft -ft 20.4 Melrompl3.63 51ft -ft 13.8 MichAnt 2" -ft 29 MidABc .841 33ft -ft MidcstEn -ft 182 Md .70 65 42 MidlRi 3 4ft 4412 MidRsnt 1ft tft140.0 Millennia '-74i IMrnnMul .76 14ft -ft 6.5 MnPpfA 5.00 78 ft 2.3 M009A 34 -02 MMed 12 103 Mortrfs 2ft tft 5 3 MorgoGp .06 9 6.8 MS AMD n3 86 25ft ft 18.6 MSTBR 3.36 75 ft 42 MSPEQ 102ft -1 5.9 MomStj ft -ft 430.0 Muluph 2 00e 4 -ft 4362 Muflfn 9'ft -ft 44.0 MunMg 1.43e 20 4ft 6.1 Munvsl .60 9 -ft tRedEmp 19ft ft 5.5 RedEmpt .78 16ft -ft 4.0 ReedMs 4 ft 23.1 Relac 10 -ft RegaW ,48 30ft tft 3.0 ResAssIn 15ft -ft 1.7 Richmtgn 2 -ft 10.5 RicNm 6ft tft 2.0 RoAlg .7018" -ft 9.9 Rivera 14ft 16.0 RivieraTn 8ft ft RobHlsPh 12" -ft 35.3 RoMsRIn I4p 8 1.4 Rogers 39ft -V RoMc .14 1 Rottkind 3 192 RoyalOg 1ft -ft RoyceGpl1.86 25ft -ft -22 SJW 2.341 61 -ft 2.1 SVBcp .48 40 SabaPet 6 -ft SagaCms 20 -ft SDgoptC .88 15ft ft 0.6 SDgoptH1.82 26ft 35 SFeGatn 1ftm.3 DRSTech IDanyA DakotsM ecDallG DanlHd Darings Oatamet Dataram VIS Hold 6ft -V -132 ValFri 14ft Transamerica dishes up hot item to investors "HiartidT 16 -ft 2.3 Mean 1 12.0 HectaCm 9'ft ft 4.7 Hecos .07 34ft 19.7 Hem .351 7 -ft 4.3 HeUCap 1ft 357 Hemspi 3" ft -62 Hmisphwt 1ft -4i 74 lift BadgrMs .601 38 -ft Baker 9 -ft IBaCaren Tft ft BakJwn .05 14ft ft BaWw 5 ft 7.5 BanFd 4.51e 26 ft 10.3 BtSWndn 20 24 10.6 BTdeoP 1.88 25ft BTdepO 1.91 25 4ft ValyRs VKAdM2 .74 13ft -ft 2.9 .12 -ft -2 5 19ft ft A Kiplinger' report 101 HSOearT 6ft 44.7 HtqWdlnc 1.06 14ft -ft 8.6 BarHabnl28 52 tft Like so many other financial-services companies, HolivCo 26 -ft 10ft Vl Daylontln 1 -ft nmnats 10 8.1 Oelab .191 43ft 1 7.8 OenAraer 2ft 129 DevnE 20 33 -ft KaMeffl 19'ft ft 23 HmeSecrn BayardOn tayCoipH Bayou BeardCo 11ft -V 6 6ft 4t 81.5 5 4.8 HomeslVi 14 iHondo 6 HooperHsK 17 HRPIms 9ft 2' -ft BemaGold VKCal VKFLO VKMAV VKOHV VKSelS Versar Viacom ViacB ton Vicos VislaGg VoyAZ VoyCO VoyFIa VoyMN VoyMN3 7.1 Transamerica best known for its pyramid-shaped building that graces San Francisco's skyline has entered the booming mutual-fund business. But unlike the often stodgy funds marketed by many other insurance -ft -ft tft 21.9 ft -ft BergCa 8.506148' 2 4.0 .73 14ft ft 32 .7814 2.1 .70 14ft -ft 4.1 .72 12 -ft 4.1 5ft ft 14.1 43 -ft 7.0 43-'" 6.0 12ft 69.9 .06 30ft 8.9 ft -ft .77 14ft ft 0.4 74 14ft 32 76a 14 -ft 0.4 93a 16 4.1 .82 14 ft 68 .76 13ft 4.9 -w ScandC 3 Schuls 20 22 ScotBcos 20m 10ft 31 2ft KBeiicp 84 -w ft 6 10' ft 32 8 ft 7.8 Diamndsn DtgilCTl 0i9P Diodes OtvCpRsn Hospftwte 12ft HostFdg Xe 6 MunyAZ .74 13ft ft 3.4 ton 172 9 -ft 31.6 SbdCp 1.00 406 Seass .16 12 Salcare 9 6.0 3.1 -ft -ft 24.7 2.0 ft 8.3 4ft 7.1 Myerslnd 20b 20 HovoEn HudsnCBs.51 2 -ft 9.5 8 9ft -ft 16.9 46ft -V 10.1 25 20ft -ft N- companies, 1 ransamenca rre- 1 SentryT 1 -ft -ft 4.6 HudGn 1.00 47ft HungTel 10 BmkSame .40 BioRA BiscAog rtenrrvDi in DolAutEx 275 47 ft 10.1 Drewlnd 12ft -ft 0.5 DtylMu .58 9ft -ft DrylNV 10 DwHar 10 -ft 63e 13 ft 7.8 ft-ft! mier Equity (800-892-7587) is a sizzler.

NFC NTNCom NVR Habors 1 BlkBIOS .90 12 3.5 30 40.0 20ft 4ft ICAIQ .88 16ft Money Sa 16. E- Premier Equity is the top-per ft 30.3 -07 NalGsO 24b10ft NalHRlyn 18ft il 14 ft 3.2 69 13 ft 38 -14J -ft ICHCpn 3ft IGi 3ft ILXIncs Tft Mil 9ft ImoacCn BRST BNJIQ BNYIO SevnSean 26 ft -ft 49.5 SheltdPlm ft -ft Silco .151 21ft 124 SgnlTech 7 36.6 SiheiFds ft SkyCI 6ft SmlBIn 24 SmtBrnM ft 21 Sottnet 6 1.0 ecSotoen ft 3ft ft 4.5 Power forming long-term-growth fund over the past 12 months. It finished in the top 10 percent -12 23.2 13.6 -ft 66 .60 21ft 16 EMT 15ft ecETSIrrt EXXA EXXB EZServ EZEMA E2EUB EstnCo EchaBay EdoBrsgn i ImoacMs 16ft -'ft ImpHh .036 9 -ft -172 hnpOifa 2.20 58ft ft IncOoff .601 11 ft 11 59 SoddK 24 4" Nhttcres 35 NtPalnl 13 -ft NtlRly 21 rWrn 4 Nflmjd 1ft NMxAr 1.541 14 NYTEI Neiteln1.0124"tti Itmtn 9 -ft NmdtAn 70e 15ft tft Norexs 16 -ft 2 -ft ft 14.3 211 7 ft 35 21t Tft 7.4 i2 22 -ft 11.4 1 -ft 98 18 41 6ft -ft 1.B7e11ft tft 78 SonusCon 7ft tft BogenC 7ft 36 Boownt 2' -ft 10.0 I kilocuren 14 1 53.3 WRIT 1.08 17 ft 1.5 WashSvg .10 1ft 4 ft Webcolnd 7 ft 107 (Veto 20 12 -ft -73 WelGrd 6 -ft 11.6 Wedstrdn 14 ft WendtBr 1 ft 10.0 Wesco 1.141 349 1 163 WIRET 1.1214" 6.6 WstStrg .40 20 -67 Westowin 19 649 WhitmE 6 4 4J WrdsEgn 3 WnstRs 5 -ft Wmon 370 WireleeiT 20 8 ft tJ4J! WsPpt 4.50 72ft -V t2.8 WoWB 32 6 Moreover, the retirement account from which -J Premier Equity was cloned has shown consistency in its performance. Except for 1989, it has beaten the 500 every year for a decade. The fund is one-; third more volatile than the average long-term- 1 growth fund and nearly two-thirds more volatile than the 500.

But, Bickerstaff says, "A great deal of our volatility has been on the upside." vS Bickerstaff, who works closely with the firm's i eight other analysts and portfolio managers, looks for businesses with a competitive edge. He wants companies that have exclusive products or are the low- cost producers in an industry. The fund owns just 30 to 40 stocks, many of them industry leaders, such as technology giants Intel and Microsoft, and financial-services companies Merrill Lynch and Charles Schwab. The median market value of the fund's stocks is about $5 billion. On average, these stocks trade at 34 times trailing 12-month earnings.

Bickerstaff holds stocks an average of four years and sells when a stock outperforms "our most optimistic projections," or if a company's fundamentals -a deteriorate. Bickerstaff spends most of his time visiting with company officials and tearing apart balance sheets and income statements. As a valuation tool, he looks primarily at pretax cash flow relative to what the whole company should sell for in a private transac- tion. I among its peers in its first full year, 1996. While the fund levies annual expenses of 1.5 percent, Inslron 16 17 -ft -9 9 EPi Etswth SCElplB'02 18ft ft SCEdplCl.06 18 SCEdptDi.08 18 SCEdptEI.I9 21 SCEdpfGI 45 25ft -ft SCEd44 2.09 25ft SlMsIB .601 22ft SwGAFii .441 20ft 7 -47 EwoCmn it has no sales charge.

kWOrth 7ft Heqlc 1ft -125 mePlyun 21ft WBSys 4ft -ft WfiAs 64 29 1ft 13 Heron 4 -ft 30 6 Henoi 8 ft 4.7 Emewus lOftft -ft -14J 17ft 1 8.7 Ordinarily, you might wait for evidence that Pre Wiecti 6 -ft BootsCtsn 5 ft 3.9 BosMd 28 22V -ft 1.4 BwlA .40 6 -ft 22 BwtCH 6 ft ft 221 Bomw 24 Borne .36 42 ft 62 IBmgVws 20 29ft 214 IBrtfog 2 -ft BBG .84 8ft -ft 1.001 16 -ft 101 MB US 120f 13 ft 6.3 EmerR EnflRsI) NAVarx 19 tft -213 NorestBs 21 18 tft NIMIch .151 9 tft Ncraw 4 -ft Nstorn 1 4ft -16 mier Equity, which has assets of just $110 million, can put up good, long-term numbers. But the fund is 211 9ft ft 15.5 Spatial! 1ft -ft 16.0 SpcChm 1ft 59 SportsCI) 9 -27 Numac EmSafen 7 Envtft 9 -ft 14 EimoIsI Tft -ft 11.1 ErooBi 72113ft -ft EqualFJc .24 15 ft 60 Equusll .506 25 -ft 120 NCAPI NGAF1 NovWA 7 -ft 10.7 8 -ft 4.5 4ft 333 4'ft -ft 2 6.7 4ft -ft 4.8 .74 14 tft 2.3 .79 15 tft 2 9 ft 0.5 -0 WrComM IRIS WstGC kntrsysdn WEBAsta 39e 9 WEBAstr .146 11ft 4ft WEBCan 246 13 WEBGer .136 16 -ft WEBHK 69e10ft -ft WEB Ha 22 WEB Jon -ft 60 4.7 42 7.1 9.7 4.4 a clone of a $900-million Transamerica retirement account. Premier Equity's manager, Glen Bickerstaff, 41, has also managed the retirement account since Stage ft 4ft SPDR UoeUBft-ift 64 SldAuton 11ft -ft 122 Spl1.02 13 -ft 11.5 Steohan .08 13 -ft 3.3 -c 10t 21 -ft iEi HPoly CEFmkg CEC sn OOkieo Intel plA2 06 26ft ft 4.0 3ft 27.3 9 ft 1987. ssBc EtzLav OSulhaC .32 StrtCan .896 7ft 85 SievlntA 2 -V 28.0 5ft -ft 30 2 7 -F 16a 14ft -ft" -25 utwi Over the past 10 years, the retirement account KmLaser IJPMClit 16ft ft Oncor 3 -ft SlihlrM 20ft ft 21.5 SloneStB 20ft ft -76 SlrgCmp 7ft -ift 16.0 StralCon 7 -ft 16 has returned an annualized 28.8 percent an all- Oncorind 6 -ft OneLbpH.60 16 -ft ft 128.6 JTSCoro Oroanons 22 WEB Mat 6" 4ft 21 3 WEB Max .516 14 -ft WEBS O1 tft 28 WEBSwd -ft 8.6 WEBSw! 57e 17ft -ft 11.7 WEB UK 59e19ft -ft 11.0 X-Y-Z XCLUds 5ft -ft 313 Zevexn 10 ft 160 JmMMHiSi 153 6.9 CETfnvS -iO CFXCp .88 30ft -16 CIM 8ft -ft 2.3 CVBFns .40 26 5.1 CVFCpn 6ft ft 375 CaWvsn 95ft-1V Cablvspl 2.13 38ft -ft 0.8 CatHeMg 3 -ft iCaWA .12 10ft -ft -67 ft -ft Cambw .10 6 21 Camt 20 2.4 1 -ft OxtdTEnl.476271 -ft JWChar Jactyn Jiryann tFFPMkn 3s.n 57.5 FFP 1 ft1000 FM 1ft 184 FaDlnds .70 32 -ft 4.8 FaJRivtn .96 151 FaWhBc 241 21ft 4 9 FamiTel 2ft-ft32J FamTKlB ft ft FernHii 3 -143 but-impossible 10 percentage points per year more than Standard Poor's 500-stock index. That's better than any mutual fund has done during the past 10 years.

11" -ft 0.5 4 2.9 2ft 6ft -ft 13 ft 8.3 Sulcus 2ft ft Suprmlnd .841 10 -ft 4194 SuietvC 4 SussexBn 25 -ft 12.4 SmgNSI 4 -ft PABBk 381 34. 4ft 409 PC Our PGECappH.97 25 -ft 1.0 KBKCap I 7 -i.