What are some stocks that should be bought?

[Pathfinder55]

Well I found out about a "virtual stock trader" (www.updown.com). And I was just wondering what stocks you think people should buy to make some money off of.

[pooky]

Hot stock tip #1: Don't ask for stock tips on a computer forum.

Hot stock tip #2: If you aren't willing/able to do the research yourself, don't buy stocks yourself. Either invest in something safer (bonds, cds, money market funds, mutual funds, etc), or pay someone else to invest your money for you. If you are going to buy a stock, you should be able to give me at least 3 good reasons why you want that stock. You should be able to do this on a weekly basis. If you can't do this, you might as well take your money to the tracks.

[themadchemist]

Hot stock tip #1: Don't ask for stock tips on a computer forum.

Hot stock tip #2: If you aren't willing/able to do the research yourself, don't buy stocks yourself. Either invest in something safer (bonds, cds, money market funds, mutual funds, etc), or pay someone else to invest your money for you. If you are going to buy a stock, you should be able to give me at least 3 good reasons why you want that stock. You should be able to do this on a weekly basis. If you can't do this, you might as well take your money to the tracks.

My comment was going to be that I avoid giving stock advice, but I'll change it. If you read the original post, the OP is asking for stock advice for a "virtual trader." Therefore, I don't know that your comment really applies.

[Melrose]

As much as I hate to say thia, MicroSoft is actually a good stock. The dividends are good and it's relatively stable.

My boss dabbles in the market with MarketShare.com...MicroSoft is one of his favourites as is Corning, Inc. He says both are good.

[aethelbert]

Screw stocks... buy oil!

[iJohnHenry]

Ones that go up, like Apple last year. ;)

[Badandy]

As much as I hate to say thia, MicroSoft is actually a good stock. The dividends are good and it's relatively stable.


So is my CD.

You want stocks to go up, and while I agree with you that MSFT will probably go up in the coming years, it being stable is not a reason to buy it.

[Surely]

Ones that go up, like Apple last year. ;)

O RLY?

[aethelbert]

O RLY?
If I read correctly (which I know that I did), the poster that you quoted said last year.

[iJohnHenry]

Thank you.

Appl closed @ $91.43 last April 16th.

(Source: http://finance.google.com/finance/historical?q=NASDAQ:AAPL&start=0&num=25)

[Melrose]

So is my CD.

My DVD is stable too... :D

[Badandy]

My DVD is stable too... :D

Unfortunately my laser disc has been going downhill since '99.

[Sun Baked]

A hot rocket stock is a short ride, so expect to jump out of those rather quick ... don't get caught up in rising stock prices, hit your profit goal and pull out.

Long term stocks are once troubled markets, where the company is turning around the business but the market hasn't embraced them -- the bastard child stocks.

The the long shots slot machine style stocks, where the industry is in trouble and the threat of BK still looms -- sort of like the auto industry. Get something (maybe) or lose everything with these.

First and last ones are the risky ones. Finding the ugly duckling stocks in the bastard child industries are likely the ones to go after.

---

Most people look short term, so finding long term stocks to go after are generally tougher.

[Cromulent]

What's your strategy? Are you long term or short term?

[Melrose]

Unfortunately my laser disc has been going downhill since '99.

:D If only we had invested in Blu-Ray... alas

I've been thinking about CDs lately, though. I also got me a buy-it-yourself-online account, but don't have the guts to actually use it yet :( They say never invest more than you can afford to lose, so there I go.

[themadchemist]

Screw stocks... buy oil!

Yes, it is always smart to buy stocks and commodities at an all-time high...Wait...No, that's opposite.

[Badandy]

I expect oil to drop pretty sharply in the next 5-10 years. If you want to buy oil and make a profit you'd have to hold it for a long, long time. And if you did that, you could just be earning 3%-10% every year somewhere else...

[heehee]

Yes, it is always smart to buy stocks and commodities at an all-time high...Wait...No, that's opposite.
There is a thing called inflation, all time high doesn't mean anything in commodities. ;)

[Surely]

If I read correctly (which I know that I did), the poster that you quoted said last year.

Who cares about last year? Maybe we should applaud Enron's performance and ignore everything after it's peak too.

And BTW, I'm in NO WAY trying to compare Apple and Enron, I'm just trying to point out (by using an extreme example that most people are familiar with) that you have to look at the whole picture, not just the good parts.

[themadchemist]

There is a thing called inflation, all time high doesn't mean anything in commodities. ;)

Well inflation affects stocks as well as commodities, since the thing inflating is the currency we use to value the item. That said, it would be hard to argue that oil, as a commodity, is a good buy right now. Even if, when you factor in the effects of inflation, the oil price is not at an absolute maximum, it is at a local maximum, to be sure.

[heehee]

Well inflation affects stocks as well as commodities, since the thing inflating is the currency we use to value the item. That said, it would be hard to argue that oil, as a commodity, is a good buy right now. Even if, when you factor in the effects of inflation, the oil price is not at an absolute maximum, it is at a local maximum, to be sure.
I'm just saying, I dont have any oil in my portfolio, most of my portfolio is gold. :p

[themadchemist]

I'm just saying, I dont have any oil in my portfolio, most of my portfolio is gold. :p

Most of mine looks more like fool's gold, but we'll wait a couple of years and see who the real fool is. At least, that's what I keep telling myself.

[Patrick425]

Hot stock tip #1: Don't ask for stock tips on a computer forum.

Hot stock tip #2: If you aren't willing/able to do the research yourself, don't buy stocks yourself. Either invest in something safer (bonds, cds, money market funds, mutual funds, etc), or pay someone else to invest your money for you. If you are going to buy a stock, you should be able to give me at least 3 good reasons why you want that stock. You should be able to do this on a weekly basis. If you can't do this, you might as well take your money to the tracks.

ditto