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Growth Investing

A Tractor of a Stock

September 25, 2008
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An investor with a system knows that research never stops.  Even when there’s no buying going on, the preparation for buying has to continue.  So here’s an idea for your growing watch list of stocks. My investing idea is Icon (ICLR) an Irish company that provides support for pharmas, biotechs and medical device makers that need help with product development, research and clinical trials.  Icon has been consistently profitable, with positive earnings for more than a decade.  And after a modest rough patch in 2004–05, the company has booked 11 straight quarters of earnings growth, finishing with a 35%...

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The #1 Stock on my Watch List

September 21, 2008
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My stock idea is, very simply, the #1 stock on my watch list right now.  The company sports most of the characteristics of past big winners–fast sales and earnings growth, healthy profit margins, a unique position in a mass market, and a huge opportunity for growth going forward. It’s Concur Technologies (CNQR), a relatively small ($193 million in revenue) company whose software allows companies to save 50% to 80% on travel-related costs.  The idea is simple–it’s computerizing and automating many of the aspects of booking, tracking and reporting travel expenses.  No more paper-based expense reports! And the service is...

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Quick Thoughts

September 19, 2008
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Wow.  A hectic week is becoming even more hectic this morning. The U.S. has followed the U.K.’s lead in banning short selling among financial stocks; the Fed is pumping more money into the system, and is accepting short-term Fannie/Freddie paper as collateral; the Feds are backing money market funds; and the market is going to open up more than 5%. I don’t have any sure-fire answers as to how this all plays out–we are truly in unprecedented territory.  In fact, the last three days in a row, the NYSE has seen more than 30% of all stocks traded there reach...

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Wind Power Big and Small

September 15, 2008
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Nahant, the town where I live just north of Boston, is breezy in the summertime, which keeps the weather from getting as hot as on the mainland (Nahant is made up of two islands). The downside is in autumn and winter when that idyllic summer breeze turns into an often-relentless wind. But it turns out that the wind may become a new advantage. The Nahant alternative energy committee has approved a plan by an area startup called Deerfield Energy to replace the street lamps along the causeway to the mainland with lampposts topped with wind turbines. Since the causeway...

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Selling Rules in the Value Investing System

September 15, 2008
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A few weeks ago we did a series where we answered your growth investing questions. This week J. Royden Ward is going to answer your value investing questions. Please feel free to ask more questions or just send us a comment. Question: I started buying value stocks in May and June and some of those are already down more than 20%. I know that we are on buy and hold but in the Cabot newsletters Tim Lutts emphasized selling stocks that have lost more than 20%. Your thoughts? Answer: Tim and others are referring to...

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