How much lower can Move go?
When I started at Move in May ‘06, the stock (and my options) was priced at slightly above $6. Today, I see the stock end today at $0.89, making for a very sad looking chart and definitive proof that I know nothing about timing my employment options. I’m also not particularly good at reading financials, but I do know enough to know that having a market cap of $136M when you have $140M in total assets (down from over $200M in total assets from last year) is not a good thing. I’d think they’d be an obvious take-over target except my guess is that many suitors would view the contract with NAR as more of an impediment to growth than an asset.
Which begs an interesting question… How much lower would the stock have to go before NAR steps in, realizes Russell’s dream and buys back operation of realtor.com from Move? My guess is that there’s a bunch of reasons this couldn’t happen, but still… It would seem that something will have to give at some point if the stock price keeps dropping.
On a more positive note for Move, they did win their patent case today that had to do with putting listings on a map (at least that’s how I remember the case being explained to me!).
kravtee and 8 others are discussing. 
Eli and one other person are discussing. 
Stratton is discussing. 
Jim Reppond 4:23 pm on November 21, 2008 Permalink |
Let’s see… that’s works out to a loss of just over 70% of it’s value since August 15th when it closed at $2.99. I know the market has tanked for everyone. But that says a LOT for the lack of confidence investors have in this company. It probably doesn’ t help to remember that back in 2006 when they were called HomeStore.com the former COO and CEO were convicted of investor fraud and sentenced to 15 years in jail. I’m assuming they are still in jail and not running the company again… right?
Michael Wurzer 4:36 pm on November 21, 2008 Permalink |
Dustin, I’m not entirely sure but I don’t think that litigation is the major mapping patent case most have been focused on as that involves what has become known as the 989 patent.
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/5032989.html
I’m not sure if the cases are related or not, but thought I’d mention it.
Dustin 5:19 pm on November 21, 2008 Permalink |
Jim: There’s definitely new management since those troubles…
Dustin 5:20 pm on November 21, 2008 Permalink |
Michael: I came in after the lawsuits had already started and did my best to stay away from them. Considering I’m not sure which patent this lawsuit refers to means I did at least somewhat of a good job not getting involved!
Jim Duncan 6:08 pm on November 21, 2008 Permalink |
In all honesty, I’d love to see NAR look at, and show the membership, how feasible/expensive/cheap it would be to reclaim RDC.
How much closer to zero does it have to get? And what are Move’s options to earn profit other than advertising or “upselling” to the members/Realtors?
Loren Nason 6:17 pm on November 21, 2008 Permalink |
woopideedoo!
A patent to put listings on a map
BIG F****N DEAL!
That patent is just as bogus as Amazons one-click patent
I should patent a special device that closes the traps of stupid patent lawyer scum.
It’s called Duct Tape
but my patent will be for STFU Tape its a special type of Duct Tape that makes people STFU.
Ok I feel better now
Irina Netchaev 10:03 am on November 23, 2008 Permalink |
It’ll be interesting to see when NAR steps in and takes over. Once they do, how will they make Move.com more realtor friendly.
Move has been taking advantage of realtors for years. I’m not to sad to see them tank.
I am sad about the timing of your stock options. THAT SUCKS!!!!
Dustin 11:19 am on November 23, 2008 Permalink |
It will be interesting… Mike Simonsen mentioned (in a tweet) that the stock could go all the way to zero… which is theoretically possible, but I just don’t see it. It also seems clear to me that if NAR would buy out Move, they’d have to spin off companies like Moving.com, Top Producer and Move.com (especially move.com since NAR likely has no place running the official website of the national association of new home builders.)
Jay Valento - Long Beach Real Estate 7:25 pm on November 24, 2008 Permalink |
Buy it back and take it down…have the consumer go to the local market to find homes from happy real estate professionals that provide excellent content on their websites.
Dustin 7:33 pm on November 24, 2008 Permalink |
Jay: Are you suggesting that REALTORS are a good resource for local listings and information?
Jay Valento - Long Beach Real Estate 8:40 pm on November 24, 2008 Permalink |
Yes. Most of my clients don’t go to Realtor.com for anything. I have found listings on Realtor.com that are a year old…I am a little confused…I list a house. Realtor.com posts it on their website for free. Then, they turn around and ask me to pay for advertising….shouldn’t they be paying me for the opportunity to display my listing to their audience? It is quite crazy.
Dustin 9:06 pm on November 24, 2008 Permalink |
Jay: You make a great point… I was just teasing you a bit with my question. Of course REALTORS should be the local expert and while I *could* make an argument for the opposite case, in general, I agree that the listings of all agents collectively are more valuable to realtor.com than the value of realtor.com to any one agent.
Kevin Tomlinson-Miami Beach Real Estate 10:14 pm on November 24, 2008 Permalink |
The lower the better. Let’s get it back in our own hands.
Hey, do you think Realogy will make it?
Jay Valento - Long Beach CA Real Estate 10:57 pm on November 24, 2008 Permalink |
I know you know Dustin….is there a place to post topic questions?
Dustin 11:42 pm on November 24, 2008 Permalink |
sure… best place is to head over to the 4realz hotlist where you can post just about anything you like. I moderate new users, but only until folks get the hang of using the tool!
Dustin 11:44 pm on November 24, 2008 Permalink |
Kevin: Don’t know enough about realogy, but the Notorious Rob recently made a great case for them being fine in the long run…