In investing, they don't all work out. General Cable Corp. (BGC), which I first wrote about on May 5, 2009, at a price of $34.59, has been stopped-out at at the sell/stop loss of $28.

The stock of General Cable, which develops, designs, manufactures, and distributes copper, aluminum, and fiber optic wire and cable products for the communications, energy, and electrical markets, has been retreating since it announced a Q4 production cut back in mid-2009.

On the other hand, not all the stocks paying out big bucks for Super Bowl ad spots are going to see a lift as a result.

Here are five stocks having too much trouble right now for a few glitzy ads to fix.

Disney (DIS): A Toy Story sequel may get a decent draw, but this entertainment giant needs a new brand to rejuvenate its bottom line and build lasting success in 2010.

There have been no problems selling big-ticket ads for this weekend's broadcast of Super Bowl XLIV. And with good reason -- this has been one of the best years for football on television, with viewership up across the board. The recent NFC and AFC championship games were the NFL's largest combined audience for the two championship games since January 1982.

With all those eyeballs, the real winners could turn out to be the companies with the most aggressive (and the most memorable) advertising spots.

Well, I finally did it. Last week, I sold my position in Activision Blizzard (ATVI), at a price of $10.62 per share. I thought about it long and hard, but in the end, I felt it was the right thing for me to do at this time.

In case you haven't noticed, shares of the video game publisher have been in something of a downtrend as of late. The industry isn't what it used to be. Gaming isn't going away, certainly, but those who follow this sector will no doubt agree that the growth is possibly no longer there, at least for the short term.

After strong same-store sales during the crash of 2008, Walmart (WMT) has become its own worst enemy as it continues to price itself out of profitability. The holiday pricing war sparked by this retail behemoth could win traffic, but is sure to result in slim margins and even slimmer earnings for this pick in the fourth quarter.

See the complete list of 13 Dow Stocks that are doomed.

And for more hot stocks to buy and sell, check out:

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Verizon (VZ) is betting the farm on a high-stakes bid to supplant the Apple (AAPL) iPhone with its Droid device. In the long run this may be a good move, but in the short run the ad blitz and high cost of this rollout are really going to eat away at Verizon's bottom line.

While spending on tech devices has been strong, the bottom line is that the initial price point for the Droid may be a bit high and it will take some time for consumers to catch on to this smart phone, considering how loyal Apple users are. Things may change in a few weeks if I hear some favorable news, but for now VZ is a sell.

Next: Dog of the Dow #13: Walmart (WMT)

Procter & Gamble (PG) is a company that overreached and now has a cumbersome fleet of brands. To its credit, the company is currently shopping around some product divisions including Braun small appliances, Iams pet foods, Duracell batteries and Pringles snacks.

But the bottom line is that it will take some time to streamline this patchwork company -- so investors shouldn't hold their breath.

Next: Dog of the Dow #12: Verizon (VZ)

McDonald's (MCD) was a favorite of mine during the recession, as a weak dollar boosted overseas revenue and value-conscious consumers flocked to the Golden Arches. But low-priced fare can only take you so far, and competitors have started to erode MCD's hold on cheap eats.

What's more, the company's successful McCafe offerings took cash away from Starbucks (SBUX) in early 2009 -- but now cheaper at-home alternatives to brewing coffee are cutting into McDonald's java sales. That's bad news for MCD, and I rate this stock a sell.

Next: Dog of the Dow #11: Procter & Gamble (PG)

Kraft (KFT) had hoped to win Wall Street's attention by pursuing Cadbury, but instead it has come across as wishy-washy in a bid that may never come to fruition.

And rather than growing, Kraft may actually be shrinking now that rumors are circulating that the company is shopping around its Maxwell House coffee brand. Obviously, a good company should be growing and not shrinking.

Next: Dog of the Dow #10: McDonald's (MCD)

Home Depot (HD) is kind of a no-brainer. Home sales have trickled to nearly nothing, and with falling property values it doesn't make a heck of a lot of sense to add on that sun room you've always wanted.

The final nail in the coffin is weak consumer spending that is hurting retailers of all stripes. Until housing and consumer confidence both improve markedly, HD is a sell.

Next: Dog of the Dow #9: Kraft (KFT)

General Electric (GE) posted third-quarter profits that were down 44% over last year. While other companies are returning to growth mode, GE is still scrambling to survive -- announcing recently that it plans to lay off almost 3,000 more workers to stay afloat.

Next: Dog of the Dow #8: Home Depot (HD)

Exxon Mobil (XOM) left much to be desired after its recent Q3 report. Earnings were down 68% compared to last year. Its refining business swung to a loss. Earnings fell short of analysts' expectations. Revenue decreased 40%. Should I go on?

Next: Dog of the Dow #7: General Electric (GE)

Chevron (CVX) saw its profits slashed in half in its recent Q3 earnings report, and that's even after a big jump in output and a sharp cut in operating costs.

If producing more and spending less can't get this company on the right track, it's basically out of options in the short term. While it may be faring better than some other oil stocks, I still rate CVX a sell.

Next: Dog of the Dow #6: Exxon Mobil (XOM)

Boeing (BA) hung its future on the Dreamliner, but this messy project has turned into quite a nightmare for stockholders. The next-generation plane is two years late after five delays ... so I'll believe this launch when I see it.

It's tough to trust a company that is this poorly run.

Next: Dog of the Dow #5: Chevron (CVX)

Since the financial crisis, Bank of America (BAC) has received $20 billion in TARP funds and a guarantee to cover $118 billion in potential losses.

The result? Bank of America lost more than $2 billion in the third quarter, worse than analysts expected, and had to set aside more than $11 billion more to offset bad loans.

Next: Dog of the Dow #4: Boeing (BA)