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DDR - Dicker Data

For those that missed it, DDR hired Pal Randazzo to manage its icloud division. This is a great opportunity, cloud based storage is only going to get bigger.

 
Again, my caution would be bigger is not always better. Plenty of really awful businesses in cloud storage. Its capital intensive, low margin and a crowded market. Maybe DDR can leverage their partnerships and create real business value here, but like any business its not a given. Its close to narrative speculation when investors just unquestioningly accept the hype from companies about their growth and expansions.

The proof is in the results down the track, the Financial Statements going forward will tell us whether a specific strategy has a sufficient IRR to justify the capital allocation.
 

Nothing is a given.

I can only go by what my business is doing, and all the other businesses and suppliers that I use and know. For us Cloud storage has been a great tool for business, as software developers use it on business programs it has allowed us to make savings. We have cut down costs by having easy access from any PC from any location, dropping subscriptions required to install programs on to multiple PCs. there is also the savings of not having to buy storage devices that require periodical replacement.

Cloud storage is still a teenager, there is going to be much more on offer from it in the future.
 
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Cloud storage is still a teenager, there is going to be much more on offer from it in the future.

You are still missing the point I am trying to make, it doesnt matter how great a product is or how well a tool or service works, that doesnt mean its a good business, or a good part of a business. Ultimately what matters is the IRR that capital employed generates from the business activities. What you have described is the benefits for a business of moving to cloud based storage, that says nothing to the economics of providing that storage.

(Note I am not arguing that its not going to be a great sector for DDR, just that you cant assume that from the narrative hype, nor experience as a user.)
 

I'm not arguing with you or saying that you are wrong. I'm just pointing out the benefits of a good product, a business that uses some profits to expand, future proofing, etc.

One thing you mentioned was your dislike of companies that give decent dividends, I am the opposite, I like a business that gives a decent dividend as long as it is sustainable. I prefer a CEO to take payment by dividend rather than cash and million-dollar bonuses. Is DDR's business plan and revenue sustainable? Could ask the same thing about many businesses that don't pay a dividend and are struggling.

Like you said, "nothing is a given".

 
is DDR building/buying the storage , or is it discretely leasing storage as 'a white label ' customer ( from an existing cloud storage facility )

IF buying or building will it be clever enough to innovate in the process , the mainstream server farms have issues that could be eliminated ( like propriety hardware 'lock-in ' )
 
Not sure @divs4ever, I haven't looked into it in any detail, but i suspect all they are really doing is providing support to customers of cloud providers that they are reselling. After all they are just a box reseller so I cant see them pivoting into their own products & services. I could be wrong though, and its immaterial to my point - the quality of capital allocation decisions can rarely be assessed based on management narrative to the market.
 
Like you said, "nothing is a given".

I am giving up, I am obviously failing to articulate my points well enough and you keep misunderstanding and even strawmanning me. Au revoir!
 
OMG galumay is a baby, spits the dummy and puts me on his banned list so that I can't see any of his posts and then posts about me.

galumay "I am giving up, I am obviously failing to articulate my points well enough and you keep misunderstanding and even strawmanning me. Au revoir!"



 

From what I have read, DDR use established companies, such as Microsoft. Which I reckon is a much better idea, because cyber security is the current big thing and experience from established players is important. Just look at the banks and phone companies that have been hacked, damage to reputation.

DDR are a major distributor, with decades of experience and strong relationship with companies that save a lot of money by not having to invest in areas that DDR are well established in. The question is, can DDR maintain and build on those bonds.





I almost sold DDR because I saw possibilities of DDR struggling after Covid, but then other world issues popped up that play into the hands of DDR. Increased cyber-attacks on business, new software that enhances cloud-based software and applications, etc.

But as someone recently stated 'nothing is a given'. Just like the not so recently hyped company Tritium was on top of the world one minute and is now battling revenue issues.

 
There were trapped sellers no doubt, on LHS of the chart from the earnings report in Feb of this year. The latest price action has covered that and volume continues to be healthy. I wouldn't mind a breather here..
 

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Its funny seeing speculative traders interested in DDR! For years the very tight registry with tiny free float meant that only investors were interested, and there was very little discussion about the business anywhere.
 
Its funny seeing speculative traders interested in DDR! For years the very tight registry with tiny free float meant that only investors were interested, and there was very little discussion about the business anywhere.

funny? that’s a strange term for an investor to use on a long term holding maybe less comments and more research
 
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