Filed under: Television, Rants and raves, Pfizer (PFE), Marketing and advertising, Merck and Co (MRK), Politics

Talk about your tempest in a teapot, here’s a good one for you. It seems that a congressional committee has taken up arms against Dr. Robert Jarvik, inventor of the artificial heart, because he didn’t row his own boat in his current appearance in a Lipitor television advertisement. The concern is over whether the doctor should be represented as rowing a boat when the person in the boat pictures isn’t actually him. Next, Congress will be exposing the fact that M & M’s don’t really talk to Santa Claus. Dang it, I hate when that happens.

Further noise is being made because the good doctor is apparently not licensed to practice medicine. That makes some people question his worthiness to crow for Lipitor. That’s funny, I don’t remember him claiming that he’d prescribed the stuff to anyone himself. Does it really matter in the final analysis if the man isn’t licensed to work in a hospital? Not to me. He’s a doctor who knows hearts and he wants people to know how they might better care for their own. He apparently uses the product, it works for him, and he’s willing to talk about it. That’s kind of the basics of simple endorsement, isn’t it?

I’ll tell you what I think this is all about. I think some of those good old boys in the halls of Congress probably sold short on Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) , and they’re probably mad because Dr. Jarvik’s endorsement isn’t allowing Lipitor to be crushed by Zocor, its cheaper generic competition. You can almost see their smug bipartisan grins as you read the whole story from Stephanie Saul in The New York Times. I think they want to muddy the waters just long enough for their short bets to come in, regardless of the cost to Dr. Jarvik’s reputation. Those Washington stuffed shirts sure got their committees all whipped up in a massive hurry on this one, didn’t they. That’s kind of telling, isn’t it.

I suppose next they’ll be telling us that geckos don’t really talk about car insurance. Could that even be possible?

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Peas raise money for Peapod
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Money makes the candidates go ’round
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GAZANS SPENT FUNNY MONEY
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Filed under: Marketing and advertising, Media World, ValueClick Inc (VCLK), Stocks to Purchase

The U.S economy may be in for a period of sluggishness (we hope it’s just cyclical sluggishness), but the web continues its growth ramp, and with this in mind, ValueClick is worth an evaluation

ValueClick (NASDAQ: VCLK) is one of the world’s largest and most diversified on the internet marketing services companies.
Analysts see 2008 revenue increasing 15-20% following a likely 15-17% rise in 2007, as the internet continues to grab an increasing share of marketing budgets. Analysts also expect VCLK to add to its corporate customer base.

Meanwhile, the company’s revenue mix remains favorable, and operating margins appear to have bottomed in 2007. Further, there’s ample room for VCLK to broaden its international footprint. The Reuters F2007/F2008 EPS consensus estimates for VCLK are $0.71/$0.83.

The dangers? Analysts are keeping an eye on increasing competition in the sector, particularly from deep-pocketed competitors. Further, a Federal Trade Commission investigation into VCLK’s promotional-based offerings is expected to be resolved relatively quickly: stay tuned.

The First Call mean rating for VCLK is: Buy [21 firms]. Mean 2008 target: $27 [high: $30, low: $22].

Stock Analysis: ValueClick is a moderate-risk stock not suitable for low-risk investors. Investors with an investment horizon longer than two years should be rewarded from VCLK’s shares. Sell/Stop Loss if you were to buy shares in this company: $13.

Disclosure: Lazzaro has no positions in stocks. In addition to private real estate holdings, he owns corporate and municipal bonds, and cash certificates of deposit.

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