Stocks to Watch - June '10

Watch list for June '10

NLY--------16.96
QSFT------19.35

This month we have a financial and a technology company. We'll be checking the performance of these picks by the end of June.
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Results for "Stocks to Watch - May '10"

For the month of May, this was our watch list and outcome:


Stock Symbol-------5/1/10---------------5/31/10

AYR-----------------12.01-----------------9.85 (down 17.99%)
NOC-----------------67.83----------------60.49 (down 10.82%)

Results were not memorable, our average loss for this month was 14.40% compared to the S&P 500 which declined about 9.18% in May, not a good show for those of us who remained long in the market.
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Stocks to Watch - May '10

Watch list for May '10

AYR-------12.01
NOC-------67.83

This month we have an aircraft leasing and an aerospace/defense company. We'll be checking the performance of these picks by the end of May.
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Results for "Stocks to Watch - April '10"

For the month of April, this was our watch list and outcome:


Stock Symbol-------4/1/10---------------4/30/10

AAN----------------22.53----------------22.57 (up .16%)
AIZ-----------------34.89----------------36.43 (up 4.41%)
RCII----------------23.87----------------25.82 (up 8.17%)


Our average gain for this month was 4.25% compared to the S&P 500 which saw a 1.48% increase in April.
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BINGO! AKAM Gives Us Something to Smile About

On good earnings report, Akamai Technologies, Inc. (AKAM) has gained about 15% in today's early trades.
Back on 2/25/09 I liked AKAM at 18.23, today we see a huge pop and trading at 38.25 (a 110% return in 14 months).
My rule is: too high + too fast = cash-in.
I say take profits and look for other oportunities.
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USU on the Upswing

Increasing my long position on USU.
Chart and future prospects look promising, trading this morning at 6.43.
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Stocks to Watch - April '10

Watch list for April '10

AAN------22.53 (after 3/2 split on 4/16/10)
AIZ-------34.89
RCII------23.87

This month we have a retailer, an insurance company and a rental company. We'll be checking the performance of these picks by the end of April.
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Results for "Stocks to Watch - March '10"

For the month of March, this was our watch list and outcome:


Stock Symbol-------3/1/10---------------3/31/10

DECK----------------120.20--------------138.00 (up 14.81%)
ENDP----------------22.75----------------23.69 (up 4.13%)
RTN-----------------56.24----------------57.12 (up 1.56%)


Our average gain for this month was 6.83% compared to the S&P 500 which saw a 5.88% increase in March.
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Stocks to Watch - March '10

Watch list for March '10

DECK----120.20
ENDP-----22.75
RTN------56.24

We have chosen a mix of sectors for this month. We'll be checking the performance of these picks by the end of March.
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Results for "Stocks to Watch - February '10"

For the month of February, we chose to follow these stocks :


Stock Symbol-------2/2/10---------------2/26/10

AMGN----------------58.72----------------56.61 (down 3.59%)
CEPH----------------64.80----------------68.67 (up 5.97%)
GENZ----------------54.19----------------57.20 (up 5.55%)


Our average gain for this month was 2.64% compared to the S&P 500 which saw a 2.85% increase in February.
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Stocks to Watch - February '10

Watch list for February '10

AMGN----58.72
CEPH----64.80
GENZ----54.19

It appears that biotech may be the flavor of the month. We'll check the performance of these companies in about four weeks.
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Results for "Stocks to Watch - January '10"

For the month of January, we chose to follow these stocks :


Stock Symbol-------1/1/10---------------1/31/10

BCE-----------------27.61----------------25.75 (down 7.22%)
CEPH----------------62.42----------------63.84 (up 2.27%)
NLY-----------------17.35----------------17.38 (up .17%)


The average loss for this month was 1.59% compared to the S&P 500 which deteriorated 3.84% for January.
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Stocks to Watch - January '10

Watch list for January '10

BCE-----27.61
CEPH---62.42
NLY-----17.35

We'll check the performance of these companies at the end of the month.
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Results for "Stocks to Watch - December '09"

For the month of December, we chose to follow these stocks :


Stock Symbol------12/1/09--------------12/31/09

BCE-----------------26.50----------------27.61 (up 4.19%)
DUK-----------------16.68----------------17.21 (up 3.18%)
RTN-----------------51.53----------------51.52 (down .02%)


The average return for this month was 2.45% compared to the S&P 500 which gained 1.78% for December. Happy with the results.
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A Dividend Play: NLY

Having kept an eye on NLY for about four years, I think this may be a good time to seriously consider owning this security.

Annaly Capital Management, Inc.(NLY), is a real estate investment trust, which owns, manages, and finances a portfolio of investment securities.

Positives are:

•Nice chart pattern.
•Consistent uptrend and rebound from the lows of early March '09.
•Excellent average daily volume of over 8.2 million shares.
•Exceptional dividend yield of 15.2%.
•Forward P/E ratio is at about 7.


Trading this morning at 18.52, I look for a continuation of the uptrend.
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Short Term Returns From UNH

Bought on October 28, 2009 at 26.11, UNH is up 4.04% for the day (at 29.66). Over a period of 6 weeks we realized a gain of 13.60%.
I say take these short term returns and cash in the profits.
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Stocks to Watch - December '09

Watch List for December '09

BCE-----26.50
DUK-----16.68
RTN-----51.53

We'll check the performance of these companies at the end of the month.
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Results for "Stocks to Watch - November '09"

For the month of November, these stocks appeared to be poised for a good performance:


Stock Symbol------11/1/09--------------11/30/09

CEPH----------------54.58----------------54.95 (up .68%)
NOC-----------------50.13----------------54.80 (up 9.32%)
UNH-----------------25.95----------------28.67 (up 10.48%)


The average return for this month was 6.83%, not bad when you consider that the S&P 500 gained 5.74% for the same period of time. In any case, a very good month at the market.
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Good Signals From BCE

With many stocks hitting 52 week highs, and after taking a pounding a year ago, BCE appears to be lagging in its recovery.

BCE Inc. (BCE) provides communication services to residential and business customers in Canada. Its services include Bell Home Phone local and long distance services, Bell Mobility and Solo Mobile wireless, high-speed Bell Internet, Bell TV direct-to-home satellite and VDSL television, IP-broadband services, and information and communications technology services.

Positives are:

•Good chart pattern.
•Consistent uptrend and rebound from the November 26 '08 drop.
•A fair average daily volume of over 647,000 shares.
•A nice dividend yield of 5.7%.
•Forward P/E ratio is at 12.

Trading this morning at 25.84, I am betting that the trend continues and that the stock price will get back to the mid 30's level by the first quarter of 2010.
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