R&D Expenditures as % Revs (most recent FY) and Forward PE Comparisons:

Industry Related:
IO - ION Geophysical 49,541/679,523 = 7.3% . . . FwdPE 29
OYOG - OYO Geospace 8,945/134,495 = 6.7% . . . FwdPE 35
BOLT - Bolt Technology 289/48,876 = 0.6% . . . FwdPE 7
SLB - Schlumberger 818,791/27,564,767 = 3.0% . . . FwdPE 23

Technology Cos:
AAPL - Apple Computer 1,333/36,537 = 3.6% . . . FwdPE 21
CRAY - Cray 51,775/282,853 = 18.3% . . . FwdPE 17
IBM - IBM 6,337/103,630 = 6.1% . . . FwdPE 11
GOOG - Google 2,793/21,796 = 12.8% . . . FwdPE 21
MSFT - Microsoft 9,010/58,437 = 15.4% . . . FwdPE 14
INTC - Intel 5,722/37,586 = 15.2% . . . FwdPE 13
NVDA - NVidia 855,879/3,424,859 = 25.0% . . . FwdPE 19

Re the above list of companies, in which company or companies, might investors find the MOST innovation and thereby growth, sales buzz, investor interest, etc.?

Re the above list of companies, in which company or companies, might investors find the LEAST innovation and thereby the least likely long-term growth, least sales buzz, lowest investor interest, fewest new investors, etc.?

Investors use R&D levels to help evaluate future company growth. BOLT has the lowest forward PE of the companies listed above. Most CEOs and corporate Boards are well aware of the need to invest in their business. Where would Intel be today without innovation and re-investing company profits in new and exciting products? NVDA is the clear R&D winner, above. Ahead of the Bell: NVidia UP after beating views, 11/6/09 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091106/ap_o...

A clean balance sheet is nice, even necessary; however, in the technology sector - R&D expenditures do help determine future growth potential - at the Sales level, as well as investor interest. BOLT's CEO and Board should wake-up.