Single Stock Pick for 2008
 

Starting at Monday's closing price, state your single best stock pick for the 2008 calendar year.

I'll go with AAPL at Monday's close of $198.08

I bet it will gain at least 25% in 2008 to about $250.

I would not be surprised to see AAPL @ $400 ay the year end and roughly the same mkt. cap as MSFT. :D

We can check back on Dec. 31 and see how everyone did.

Best,

Kurt

A 50% gain would be $300.

$250 is a 25% gain.

Yup, my bad math. Corrected now!

Thanks.

I think AAPL will be good through maybe Q2. After that, I expect recessionary pressures to dish out a beating to retailers and companies like Apple.

I have a pretty sizeable position with WCG right now - bought after the stock tumbled from a high of about $130 to $30 after the feds raided them last year. Rumor is the investigation will turn up little evidence of any wrongdoing, and the stock has been creeping back up, to my elation. If it happens to hit its previous high mark again, that's approximately a 300% return. There's still room to get on board for those who haven't yet, although you won't get it for $30 anymore either.

I'm looking at NLY right now too, following Warren Buffet's opinion of them. I'm a little leery though.

My pick for this game would probably be an alternative energy player (there are several). As a bit more long-term pick I'd look (at the recommendation of Motley Fool) IMAX or McDonalds.

I recommend Twin Cities Federal Bank - TCB. Nice regional bank with little sub prime exposure but beat up badly with the rest of the financial sector. Pays a 5% dividend, PE ratio is between 8 and 9. It's at about 18 now, at the bottom of its 52 week low. It's still going down, maybe to 16-17, but when it comes back it will with a vengeance.

First Solar-FSLR, Arizona stock. Has proprietary technology on solar electric power modules (panel) development. 52 week range $27.54-$283. UBS rates it a BUY. OR anything solar. I do not directly own, maybe in a fund.

John_AZ

So, we have:

kstarnes with AAPL @ $198.08

MRM with TCB @ $17.93

John_AZ with FSLR @ $267.14


*prices are close on 12/31/2007
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Jeff didn't give us a specific pick.

Any one else want to put their money where their stock picking mouth is? :D

Best,

Kurt

CF

Its had a stellar run and its P/E (25) is still roughly half that of its competitors.

Btu

Put me down for WCG. . . Hope this goes up. Way up.

Updated:

kstarnes with AAPL @ $198.08

MRM with TCB @ $17.93

John_AZ with FSLR @ $267.14

MichiganMat with CF @ $110.06

Moses with BTU @ $61.64

P-O-P with WCG @ $42.41

--------------------

*closing prices on 12/31/2007

ExxMo

Updated:

kstarnes with AAPL @ $198.08

MRM with TCB @ $17.93

John_AZ with FSLR @ $267.14

MichiganMat with CF @ $110.06

Moses with BTU @ $61.64

P-O-P with WCG @ $42.41

LubeMaster with XOM @ $93.69

--------------------

*closing prices on 12/31/2007

ISIS. Good buy at $15. Med stocks are scary but this company has some good drugs in stage 3 testing.

Updated:

kstarnes with AAPL @ $198.08

MRM with TCB @ $17.93

John_AZ with FSLR @ $267.14

MichiganMat with CF @ $110.06

Moses with BTU @ $61.64

P-O-P with WCG @ $42.41

LubeMaster with XOM @ $93.69

TerryBPP with ISIS @ $15.75

--------------------

*closing prices on 12/31/2007

Similar situation with Temecula Valley Bank. Ticker: TMCV I've been trying to buy anytime it dips below 10...which hasn't been very often lately.

First Solar was one of the BEST stocks to own last year. Personally, I would be amazed if they could duplicate that. Hope you win with this one.

ISRG. Robotic Surgery. Look at it's history. An unstoppable trend...

MASI still has room to move..

Can I short a stock for this 'competition'?

How about the S&P index?

I think the fertilizers are the way to go this year, stock wise. so if the above are a negative (ghost rider) then put me down for POT. ...no that would be Potash - hahaha. Although, I bet that other crop would be lucrative as well - hahaa.

POT - 12.31.07 close: $143.49


**DISCLAIMER** I am more of a commodities guy these days so my ultimate pick would be a december '08 Gold call with an 850 strike. (don't know how much that is right now but I'm sure it's very expensive). Or, as I alluded to above, sell the S & P.