Got some hot stock tips for me?

HardDrive · 12-01-2006, 06:31 PM

I just plopped $20,000 into the market and its looking for a home. I may have an additional $18k soon (If TWTC doesn't start marching north).

I was planning on putting a big chunk of it in Berkshire B stock.

Anyone have any well reasoned alternative ideas?

pwd72s · 12-01-2006, 06:37 PM

Not really...other than to say I would never place more than 4% of the equity portion of my portfolio into any single stock. But I do have a question for you. Warren Buffett isn't getting any younger...are you sure he has company management in place to run the show as well as he does? If not, what's going to happen to Berkshire/Hathaway stock when he gives up the reins?

Dottore · 12-01-2006, 06:41 PM

How about a solid Euro-denominated oil stock as a hedge against both the declining dollar and the rise in oil prices when full fledged war breaks out in the middle east.

Or some Porsche shares.

Either one would be a solid punt in my view.

Shuie · 12-01-2006, 06:44 PM

XOM. Its really high right now, but it just keeps going up

You almost buy 1/5 of a share of BRK.A with $20k if you were looking for something long term

Joeaksa · 12-01-2006, 06:52 PM

Stock tips? Hell yes! BUY LOW, SELL HIGH!

There you go, works for me everytime!

Hugh R · 06:57 PM

What PWD said. Diversify, and then do it again. I might have as much as 6-7% in any one thing. Except cash, I'm about 20% in cash (CDs) right now.

legion · 12-01-2006, 06:59 PM

I've been thinking about sinking some money into my local cable company. Their service is excellent and their products are on the pricey side (cable, broadband, and now VOIP). I've had them for 4 years and not a year has gone by without some major upgrade to some product.

I still invest the old-fashioned way...

(Research and park money for the long-term.)

motion · 12-01-2006, 07:06 PM

Screw stocks.... spoons is where it is nowadays.

slakjaw · 12-01-2006, 07:07 PM

Legion, you say pricey cable. You must be talking about Comcast.

I have been building up S shares for awhile now.

competentone · 12-01-2006, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by HardDrive
Anyone have any well reasoned alternative ideas?

It would take a long time to explain the "well reasoned" part (and you shouldn't accept my reasons, but come up with your own!), but I'll give you a "money where my mouth is" reply:

What I'm overweighted in:

Short (through options): GOOG
Long (bought when on the pink sheets a few years ago -- some at 50 cents, split-adjusted, a share!): HLS

Some trades this year:

Long (trading both the equity and options): GG and GSS (I'm out of both right now, but am looking for a re-entry point for another long position.)

Cautionary note: My general approach toward investing involves "speculation." Some of the above stated positions/ideas should be considered as highly speculative.

pwd72s · 12-01-2006, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hugh R
What PWD said. Diversify, and then do it again. I might have as much as 6-7% in any one thing. Except cash, I'm about 20% in cash (CDs) right now.

We're wasting our time Hugh...these guys are looking for the quick and big score. Wish them well, and give them a shoulder to cry on when they lose...

slodave · slodave's Garage

Lately I have been getting tons of stock related spam, I mean e-mail. I'd be happy to forward it to you.

HardDrive · 12-01-2006, 07:38 PM

Thank you for the replys.

We are diversified and have other holding, but the $20k would represent a decent chunk of our stock portfolio.

@pwd72s, I have considered Buffetts age in the equation. I am admittedly banking on him cultivating a compotent crew of successor.

Any opinions on the Hertz IPO?

john70t · 12-01-2006, 07:56 PM

Plastics....

+1 on the diversifying. 1/3rd US funds, 1/3 Asian, 1/3rd European.

The whole world would have to blow up to lose more than 67%. GrainOfSalt(gos)-I know little about economics.

BRPORSCHE · 12-01-2006, 08:48 PM

Ok so I am just a kid compared to you guys....but hear me out.

When I was a freashmen in high school I was playing around a little bit with the new to me, stocks. I was addicted, since my dad is employed by exxon (xom) was a natural pick, but I wanted something new, something freash, and I know this is completely retarded and totally immature, but I grabbed a newspaper and a pencil and put it down on the paper. It was GILD. I bought it 5 years ago at $33 and change. Today it closed at 65.22. Crazy, huh?

BRPORSCHE · 12-01-2006, 08:56 PM

Here is a 5-year snapshot of GILD:

tabs · 12-01-2006, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pwd72s
We're wasting our time Hugh...these guys are looking for the quick and big score. Wish them well, and give them a shoulder to cry on when they lose...

+1

"If the Bulls get Thanksgiving the Bears get Christmas." Mother in Tucson.

As of late she doesn't like being away from the screen for very long...she doesn't want to be on the wrong side of this market.

tabs · 12-01-2006, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by motion
Screw stocks.... spoons is where it is nowadays.

Compare to...http://www.findartinfo.com/search/signatures~keyword~147582.asp

and check this for roughly 20 x 25....http://www.findartinfo.com/search/listprices~keyword~147582~name~John_Lavery_(sir).a sp

HardDrive · 12-01-2006, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pwd72s
We're wasting our time Hugh...these guys are looking for the quick and big score. Wish them well, and give them a shoulder to cry on when they lose...

No. I'm not looking for a 'big score'. Would I be putting my money in Berkshire Hathaway if were looking for a big score?

Moreover, the investments that I have made that were high risk have paid off very well.

TWTC: Purchased in 2002 for 1.12 a share. Currently trading for roughly $18 a share.

A $1000 investment now worth $18,000. Not sure what your definition of a big score is, but that sure mets my standard. I have done well with Dynegy after the huge fall as well.

pwd72s · 12-01-2006, 11:14 PM

No more than 4% of the equity side of a portfolio should be in a single stock...just my opinion. Here's another weird stat to consider. There are over 7,000 mutual finds out there...some load, some no load, some with high fees,some with low fees...all claiming they hold the key to success. Guess what? With all the MBA's doing analysis, with all the computer programs they have, with all their monitoring of all the world's markets, their reading of corporate quarterly reports...less than 5% of these funds beat the total market index. And the names of the 5% that do outperform the total market index change in any given year. I'm supposed to analyze a single stock among all the offerings? Nope...Everybody is looking for the next Microsoft, and I'm sure such a company is out there, along with countless thousands of others that will fail. As soon as you have a sure way to pick only the winners, let me know.

Until then, I'll rely on my home analyst Cindy...she spends spare time on financial posting boards. Then from time to time, she'll get naked, smear herself with wood ashes, go out back among the trees, and study chicken entrails. And damned if she doesn't beat most mutual fund managers...year after year.

BTW, I'll also add that we're nervous...partly age related, but other factors as well. we're 40% equities. The rest is cash or treasury issues. At least for the time being.