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Seeing through the hype on Converted Organics' 'common stock dividend'

Shares of Converted Organics (NASDAQ: COIN) have been on a tear of late, rising from under $6 to Tuesday's closing price of $12.58 in the first weeks of January alone.

The Boston-based company describes itself as "dedicated to producing a valuable all natural, organic soil amendment or fertilizer product through food waste recycling" but so far has not reported any revenue. The company has not reported any substantive events so far this year (i.e. not a single 8-K or 10-Q or 10-K filed with the SEC in 2008), but investors have certainly been flocking to the stock.

One area of concern surrounding the company is this press release that it issued on December 18th:

Converted Organics Inc. (NASDAQ: COIN, COINW, COINZ) today declared a quarterly common stock dividend of one (1) share of common stock for each twenty (20) shares of common stock outstanding, payable to all holders of record of the common stock on the last day of December 2007. No fractional shares will be issued in connection with this stock dividend program. This dividend will be payable on January 14, 2008 to all shareholders of record on December 31, 2007.

The company gave no reason behind the "common stock dividend" and it's easy to see why: There's no possible reason for it. A share dividend only dilutes the ownership of each share -- it's like cutting a slice of pizza in half and calling the "new slice" a dividend. A "share dividend" can make sense as a means of effecting a stock split, but given the size of the dividend and the fact that Converted Organics closed at $3.70 the day before the announcement, that doesn't seem like a reasonable explanation.

But it certainly has succeeded in confusing some naive investors, with one message board poster declaring, somewhat poetically, that "This stock is like two beautiful breasts in your face, growth AND income!" Of course, this small company with no revenue, let alone earnings, is certainly not an income stock.

A promotional press release lacking in substance, suspiciously active and exuberant message board chatter, and a stock run-up that defies explanation are enough to plant Converted Organics firmly, with an ode to the best song on Britney Spears' new album, on my radar. Stay tuned.

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Last updated: July 06, 2008: 05:32 PM

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