Posted Jul 2nd 2009 6:00PM by Sheldon Liber
Filed under: Rants and raves, Competitive strategy, General Electric (GE), Diageo plc (DEO), Anadarko Petroleum (APC), Wells Fargo (WFC), Chasing Value, Commodities, Anglo Amer ADR (AAUK), S and P 500, DJIA, Stocks to Buy, Intuitive Surgical Inc (ISRG), NASDAQ, Annaly Capital Management (NLY), Best Stocks for 2009, American Eagle Outfitters (AEO), EZCORP (EZPW)
The second quarter is now behind us and for the most part it was a positive one in terms of the market pushing higher almost 40%. This is the second review of my 2009 stock picks through June 30 (see: Chasing Value: 9 picks for 2009 -- APC, GE, ISRG, WFC and more). There was a lot of talk about green shoots this past quarter as Wall Street was looking for any small bit of optimistic data to support the market.
The federal printing presses continued to run at full speed pushing the dollar lower and oil prices higher. While the feds were printing money to cover their deficits, the States do not have that same luxury and many of them are having trouble balancing their budgets to the tune of billions of dollars.
Continue reading Chasing Value: 2009 picks 731% better than S&P -- 2nd quarter review
Posted May 11th 2009 1:30PM by Sheldon Liber
Filed under: General Electric (GE), Diageo plc (DEO), Anadarko Petroleum (APC), Wells Fargo (WFC), Chasing Value, Anglo Amer ADR (AAUK), Intuitive Surgical Inc (ISRG), Annaly Capital Management (NLY), Best Stocks for 2009, American Eagle Outfitters (AEO), EZCORP (EZPW)

The 2009 clock is ticking loudly. Last December I posted
Chasing Value: 9 picks for 2009 -- APC, GE, ISRG, WFC and more. This is the first follow-up, four months later, through April 30 2009.
The year started off with continued turbulence. We have a new president, Barack Obama, who will boldly lead us where no man has gone before --
trillions further in debt, most likely.
Not that this is his doing, but it is his chosen calling, and right now he is calling out to the Congress to move forward on various contentious budget proposals and continued federal stimulus packages.
Continue reading Chasing Value: 2009 picks -- 1st review
Posted Feb 9th 2009 2:00PM by Sheldon Liber
Filed under: General Electric (GE), Diageo plc (DEO), Anadarko Petroleum (APC), Wells Fargo (WFC), Chasing Value, Anglo Amer ADR (AAUK), Stocks to Buy, Intuitive Surgical Inc (ISRG), Annaly Capital Management (NLY), Best Stocks for 2009, American Eagle Outfitters (AEO), EZCORP (EZPW)
The 2009 clock is ticking loudly. The year has started off with a lot of continued turbulence. We have a new president, Barack Obama, who will boldly lead us where no man has gone before -- two trillion further in debt, most likely.
Not that this is his doing, but it is his chosen calling, and right now he is calling out to the Senate minority to compromise, and get yet another federal stimulus package off the shelf and out the door.
Continue reading Chasing Value: 2009 picks -- news and views
Posted Jan 2nd 2009 7:00PM by Melly Alazraki
Filed under: Apple Inc (AAPL), General Electric (GE), Pfizer (PFE), Wal-Mart (WMT), McDonald's (MCD), Diageo plc (DEO), Amgen Inc (AMGN), Activision Inc (ATVI), Wells Fargo (WFC), Anglo Amer ADR (AAUK), Stocks to Buy, Stocks to Sell, Intuitive Surgical Inc (ISRG), Rite Aid Corp (RAD), Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan (POT), Annaly Capital Management (NLY)

The first trading session of the 2009 may have brought some optimism with it as markets rallied, but it's difficult to imagine all our troubles over after a year that set one bad and worse record after another. Stocks mirrored the global economic slowdown brought on by the housing market and the financial markets crises.
Still, there are many who still seek to invest in hope that one day they could get nice returns on their investments. While the recent volatility in the stock market benefited some shrewd day traders, most investors know to stick to a long-term, stable investment plan.
To help achieve some of these long-term return, BloggingStocks contributors continued to suggest some companies to invest in, as well as some to avoid:
Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI) -- despite having his confidence in the stock shaken somewhat lately as sales may have been softer than expected, Steven Mallas is still bullish on the stock and feels it is
attractive at these levels.
Take-Two Interactive (NASDAQ:
TTWO), however, "seems a little
scary to be buying in now," he says.
Continue reading Stock picks and pans for troubled times: ATVI, MCD, WMT, WSM, AMGN, AEO ...
Posted Dec 31st 2008 12:45PM by Sheldon Liber
Filed under: General Electric (GE), Diageo plc (DEO), Federal Natl Mtge (FNM), Anadarko Petroleum (APC), Wells Fargo (WFC), Chasing Value, Anglo Amer ADR (AAUK), Stocks to Buy, Intuitive Surgical Inc (ISRG), Annaly Capital Management (NLY)
Anybody have capital gains to show this year? I didn't think so. Not unless you were shorting the market, and in particular financials. I got clobbered with everyone else. There were not many places to hide. Picking winners was like guessing where each piece of debris would land after the tornado moved through town.
The average crystal ball is looking quite foggy about now, nevertheless I have rummaged throughout the stock market to select nine stocks that I think offer more reward than risk. The market is priced for the worst in so many cases that I think the list could have included 50 companies without too much trouble.
In 2007 and 2008 I owned some but not all of the picks for the year. This year I own all of the stocks and they were all acquired in the latter part of the fourth quarter for a new portfolio.
Continue reading Chasing Value: 9 picks for 2009 -- APC, GE, ISRG, WFC and more
Posted Dec 22nd 2008 6:00PM by Sheldon Liber
Filed under: General Electric (GE), Diageo plc (DEO), Anadarko Petroleum (APC), Wells Fargo (WFC), Bargain stocks, Chasing Value, Commodities, Anglo Amer ADR (AAUK), Annaly Capital Management (NLY)
Continue reading Chasing Value: Starting 2009 now -- AAUK, APC, DEO, & WFC
Posted Dec 19th 2008 5:25PM by Melly Alazraki
Filed under: Apple Inc (AAPL), Walt Disney (DIS), Research in Motion (RIMM), Goldman Sachs Group (GS), General Mills (GIS), Qwest Communications Intl (Q), Stocks to Buy, Stocks to Sell, Annaly Capital Management (NLY)

This week was saved today as the White House finally approved a $17.4 billion auto bailout package using TARP money. Stocks were stable after two days of decline, but all-in-all the week wasn't bad. It's the third week now that stocks, while perhaps having big swings daily, end up not so bad.
Once again, this stagnant time could be exactly the time investors may want to look for long-term deals. They may have to hold on to them for a while as the markets continue their up and down swings. But eventually, if it's a few months or a year from now, stocks will start to recover and cheap deals bought today may be big gainers.
But where are the deals? BloggingStocks contributors added some ideas this week:
The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:
DIS) is one of Jamie Dlugosch's
favorite blue-chip names. Analysts expect the company to make $2.12 per share in the current fiscal year ending in September. If the company earns $3 per share down the road with a 15 multiple, Disney shares could double. In the meantime, it pays 1.5% dividend yield.
Qwest Communications International (NYSE:
Q) has many shortcomings to be sure, but "the company also has very valuable assets and strong cash flow" and the stock "would command a
good premium in a takeover." according to George Putnam.
Continue reading Stock pick and pans for troubled times: DIS, Q, RTN, RIMM, GIS, BIDU, STE ...
Posted Dec 19th 2008 3:08PM by Sheldon Liber
Filed under: General Electric (GE), Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A), Chasing Value, Stocks to Buy, Obama Picks, Annaly Capital Management (NLY)
For 2009 I will be tracking a real portfolio created this quarter in scary times, when everyone is second guessing themselves, the market, and the economy. Last week I wrote Chasing Value: Annaly Capital Mgmt -- from watch list to buy noting that Annaly Capital Management (NYSE: NLY) was acquired, for among other things its 15% yield and basic stability. It trounced the market in 2008, but the yield by itself was very rewarding and I expect that to continue.
Yesterday General Electric (NYSE: GE) dropped over 8% from $17.39 to $15.96. This triggered a buy order I had in at $16.00, after a negative outlook by rating agency Standard & Poors suggested that there was the potential that GE could lose its prized AAA rating sometime in the next two years based on stress it was feeling on its balance sheet related to its financial services division, and GE's uncertainty in other businesses.
Continue reading Chasing Value: Add General Electric to the list
Posted Dec 17th 2008 2:58PM by Sheldon Liber
Filed under: Money and Finance Today, Bargain stocks, Chasing Value, Stocks to Buy, Housing, Federal Reserve, Best Stocks for 2008, Annaly Capital Management (NLY)

It was only a couple of days ago I posted
Serious Money: What's on your watch list? suggesting you had to be ready because you never know when an opportunity might arise to acquire a value proposition.
Then yesterday the market was up but sluggish in anticipation of Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke possibly announcing a cut in the overnight rate, so I pulled the trigger on the one stock I could get at the right right price that was the most interest rate sensitive.
- Annaly Capital Management (NYSE: NLY) is one of the stocks mentioned in Fortune Magazines "Ten Promising Stocks for 2009" and is currently paying almost a 15% yield at Friday's closing price of $14.92. The company borrows money at short term rates and only invests in long-term Federally backed mortgages. They have avoided subprime loans and derivatives entirely.
I bought NLY for $14.80 per share locking in at an actual yield of 15.01%. Sure enough, Bernanke slashed rates to the bone letting the rate float from 0% to .5% and the DJIA jumped finishing the day up several hundred points, while Annally closed at $15.84, one of my big gainers for the day.
Continue reading Chasing Value: Annaly Capital Mgmt -- from watch list to buy