Do you remember the scene in the classic 1967 movie The Graduate when Dustin Hoffman is advised that the best opportunity for the future is in "plastics"? Well, today, the future looks even brighter -- but for a new generation of green chemical additives that make poly vinyl choride (PVC) more bio-based and fully biodegradable.

PVC is widely used in construction -- roofing, flooring and electrical cable insulation materials. But, PVC is also used in electronics, clothing and upholstery as well as for inflatable toys and pools. Interestingly, 50% of the world's PVC resin manufactured annually is used for producing pipes for industrial applications.

Thus, this is massive market -- to say the least.

Continue reading Psst ... There's a Great Future in Bio Plastics!

Psst ... There's a Great Future in Bio Plastics! originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Two Stocks to Buy Now: Could One Be a Ten-Bagger?

Two Stocks to Buy Now: Could One Be a Ten-Bagger? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 24 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

There are lots of analysts out there who say that, over the long term, stocks in the pharmaceutical sector should do well. For the most part, they are talking about cash rich pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer (PFE), McKesson (MCK), Medtronic (MDT) and Forest Laboratories (FRX) according to Gene Marcial of our sister site, DailyFinance.

But there are other, less obvious ways, to play growth in the pharmaceutical industry as well. Hilary Kramer, editor of GameChangerStocks.com, recently recommended two stocks that are "under the radar" and could do very well in the near future.

Continue reading Two 'Under the Radar' Pharmaceutical Stocks Ready to Pop

Two 'Under the Radar' Pharmaceutical Stocks Ready to Pop originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 23 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Stocks of Mortgage Insurers Rising

Stocks of Mortgage Insurers Rising originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Hilary Kramer: 'Under the Radar' Stocks Set to Rise on Chinese Economic Growth

Hilary Kramer: 'Under the Radar' Stocks Set to Rise on Chinese Economic Growth originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Profiting from Boutique Investment Banks

Profiting from Boutique Investment Banks originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Hilary Kramer: Three Undervalued Stocks for an Unpredictable Market originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 13 Apr 2010 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

For the past several days, I've been giving tips about how to predict trends and ride them to profits. My last tip is that sometimes you can make money by taking a clear trend -- and then ignoring it and investing in a less trendy stock, or even a stock that seems to be losing out because of that same trend.

Pinnacle West (PNW): How the West will win originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 15 Oct 2007 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

CNX GAS (CXG): This is the future -- a stock ready to rise originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 15 Oct 2007 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR), a Phoenix manufacturer of silicon-free solar-power modules. FSLR is significantly undervalued, by as much as $40 if you believe Bank of America.
• China Medical Technologies (NASDAQ: CMED), which develops cancer treatments in Beijing. CMED is expanding its operations into the rest of Asia, as well as into Russia and Europe.
• After stalling a bit last month, Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) is pushing higher again, bound for $600.
  

My new book, Ahead of the Curve, is hot off the presses. Here's an excerpt! You can also visit my AOL Coaches site.

StockWatch: Between the bells with business author Hilary Kramer originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Book review: Invest like a Fox ... Not like a Hedgehog

Book review: Invest like a Fox ... Not like a Hedgehog originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 30 Aug 2007 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In the current market instability, it's reasonable to wonder about the outlook for retailers like Nordstrom Inc. (NYSE: JWN). While Nordstrom is one of the leading purveyors of affordable luxury items, the company could be negatively affected if the economy suffers and consumers start pulling back.

But I'm cautiously optimistic about this company. For one thing, Nordstrom has affluent customers who are less likely to be severely hurt in purchasing power. But the company's revenues have also continued to grow at a steady rate, averaging 9% over the past few years. Even better, these results have been driven by solid same-store sales.

Continue reading Nordstrom Inc. (JWN): In fashion?

Nordstrom Inc. (JWN): In fashion? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 27 Aug 2007 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

You really should watch Hilary Kramer: Market has further to fall, but there is opportunity in KDN, CBI, ACH to get some market perspective. The video was posted on August 21, 2007 and she makes some very good stock recommendations. Over the past 18 months that I have been looking at her picks versus those of James Cramer, I have found that you would have done better with Hilary.

While giving her full credit for her stock picking and market coverage I find I must strongly disagree with a statement she made. Cautioning viewers that " There is going to be a meltdown" is not overly alarming, but I take great exception to her stating that "This market can go down 25%." She shared her fear that there are 9000 hedge funds and that 3000 might close down.

It is possible that people may panic in certain circumstances and the market can stray into irrational short-term behavior once again, but I find her reasoning a little soft. Let's assume that the 9000 hedge funds own 50% of the total equity in the stock market (they don't) and one third go out of business, that would equate to a 15% collapse of value (unscientific, I know, but there is some correlation).

Continue reading Kramer said a possible 25% market collapse?

Kramer said a possible 25% market collapse? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 24 Aug 2007 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The stock market has stabilized somewhat in recent days, but I still have a very pessimistic outlook for stocks, as I explain in this video. I think stocks could fall another 25%.

I am deeply worried about the financials, like mortgage company Countrywide Financial Corporation (NYSE: CFC) and high-end consumer stocks like Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE: JWN).

Nonetheless, I think there are opportunities in some niche plays. I advise investors with cash to put in the market to take a look at electric utility Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (NYSE: PNW), ballbearing company Kaydon Corporation (NYSE: KDN), and bridge builder Chicago Bridge & Iron Company N.V (NYSE: CBI).

Internationally, I suggest looking to China plays like Aluminum Corp. of China Limited (ADR) (NYSE: ACH) and global environmental plays like Veolia Environment (ADR) (NYSE: VE). Finally, I offer a stock tip: Darling International Inc. (ASE: DAR) is a little-known environmental company which gets paid to collect waste like animal by-products and cooking grease and turns it into biodeisel which it then sells. Enjoy the video!

Hilary Kramer: Market has further to fall, but there is opportunity in KDN, CBI, ACH originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Danaher Corp. (DHR): Makes everything and keeps growing originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 06 Aug 2007 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Panera Bread Company: A temporary rut

Panera Bread Company: A temporary rut originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 27 Jul 2007 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

For years, General Electric (NYSE: GE) has suffered from perceptions of mediocrity, and its stock price has stayed relatively flat. But its revenues and margins have been growing steadily, and its second-quarter results showed revenues up 12% over the second quarter of 2006, 8% of which came organically, and investors are paying attention again. The stock is now trading at a long-time high of $40, and a Goldman Sachs analyst report this week predicted the stock would reach as high as $45.

GE's success has resulted in large part from a continuing boom in global infrastructure needs, and all its divisions have been doing well of late except NBC and its health-care sector. The company has benefited from global trends, but CEO Jeffrey Immelt continues to make improvements, from investing in a major buyback program of $14 billion to getting out of the plastics business to, most recently, announcing GE would exit the subprime mortgage industry. GE's subprime division, WMC Mortgage, was a tiny part of the company, but Immelt was smart to avoid losing any more money, and to avoid the kind of negative publicity that has hit firms, like Bear Stearns, that are deeply involved in that failing industry.

Continue reading General Electric: Bringing good things back to life

General Electric: Bringing good things back to life originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 24 Jul 2007 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

That is the question many investors and analysts are asking after Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) missed its second-quarter earnings estimates by a mere $0.03. Google's shares dropped 7% on the news, and of course the rumors started flying.

It seems to me the concern is misplaced. Google's sales came in at $3.87 billion, which is 58% higher than they were a year ago. The stock price is up 20% on the year. Profits may have been down a bit, but that's a natural result of the kind of growth that Google has been pursuing. This is a company that will continue to grow as online advertising revenues grow, through its acquisition of DoubleClick, and through the management's continuing efforts to find new markets. I believe its profits will return over the long term. The company clearly suffers from high expectations, and that, more than anything, drove the small panic over the earnings report. For many investors, the dip in the share price will be a way to get in at a 7% discount.

I'm not the only one who feels this way. Lehman Brothers issued a report on July 13 predicting the share price would hit $610 in the next year. The report based this, in part, on overly optimistic expectations for earnings for the second quarter, but the prediction did factor in the higher operating expenses that helped cause Google to miss its earnings forecast. In other words, this latest report from Google shouldn't have been the shock it was given that analysts knew some of the costs of growth would come home to roost in the short term.

Continue reading Google: To Worry or not to worry?

Google: To Worry or not to worry? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Jul 2007 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

American Railcar Industries: Legislation will keep this train on track originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 28 Mar 2007 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Flamel Technologies SA (ADR)

Flamel Tech SA: Delivers the goods for Big Pharma originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 27 Mar 2007 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.