OptionsXpress shares look overvalued - Barron's

NEW YORK, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Shares of OptionsXpress Holdings Inc OXPS.O look overvalued after a strong run, according to a Barron's report on Sunday that questioned the wisdom of the online brokerage's acquisition of Optionetics.

OptionsXpress, a Chicago-based brokerage firm that specializes in the equity options and futures business for online investors, said in April it planned to acquire Optionetics, a company that offers seminars on trading.

The business weekly Barron's said the $20 million acquisition "seems ill-advised" based on the record of Optionetics founder, George Fontanills.

Barron's also said the Optionetics acquisition, which was meant to increase its customer base, will not add luster to OptionsXpress's results as growth in options trades slows.