It’s time for a look-back at our Top Picks from 2013—a year in which our contributors averaged a 31.27% return. I’ve broken the updates down alphabetically—into digestible sections—so that you can easily find the stocks in which you are interested. In each of the alerts, I’ve included the advisor’s current advice on the pick, whenever available, and given you the return from the date of recommendation through the end of 2013. Today’s updates cover companies beginning with the letters A-D.
A
Almaden Minerals (AAU or AMM.TO) was recommended by Dave Banister of Active Trading Partners. The shares declined by 62.38% during 2013.
Apple, Inc. (AAPL) was picked by both Russ Kaplan of Heartland Adviser and Stephen W. Quickel of US Investment Report. Quickel noted, “One would be mistaken to assume that this enormously talented company has run out of its creative juices. To be sure, Apple one day will grow at a slower percentage pace just because it has grown so large. But at $150 billion
in revenues, we aren’t there yet.” And in our Issue 747, July 24, Kaplan updated the stock: “By many measures, Apple can qualify as the bluest of the blue chips. It is rock solid and sitting on $39 billion in cash and virtually no debt. Its price earnings ratio is in the 9 range, making it close to the lowest Apple has ever been, and considerably below that of the Standard & Poor 500. The stock pays an above average dividend while you wait.” The shares gained 8.42% by the end of 2013.
ARM Holdings (ARMH), recommended by Cabot Stock of the Month, was sold by editor Timothy Lutts, for a 4.45% gain in May.
Asia Pacific Wire & Cable Corp., Ltd. (APWC) was picked by William Velmer of S.A Advisory. At the end of 2013, the shares were down -2.63%.
B
Bank of America (BAC) was a favorite of The Cabot Market Letter, and has returned 30.3% during the holding period. Editor , Michael Cintolo updated his pick in Issue 747, July 24, commenting, “I’m just as bullish in the second half of the year on BAC—rising interest rates could actually help the firm (along with its peers) as the yield curve finally steepens, and earnings projections remain buoyant for this year ($1 per share, give or take) and next ($1.30). All told, I still think the financial sector turnaround in general, which kicked off last November, is in effect, which should help BAC outperform in the back half of 2013.”
Bombardier (BDRAF) was chosen by Vivian Lewis of Global Investing and had a return of 8.75%. In our July 12 Daily Alert, Lewis said, “Credit Suisse has just raised its target price for BDRAF to $5 (from $4.75). Canadian analysts are bullish (11 out of 13 rate it buy and only two say hold). PI has a higher target price of $5.50 for the stock, now at $4.456.
C
Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated (CORT), recommended by The Cheap Investor, saw one of the highest returns, gaining 81.36%. Editor Bill Mathews noted, “We like Corcept because they have several products in FDA trials, over $100 million in cash (three years burn rate), institutions and insiders are in the stock at much higher prices and it’s selling near its 52-week low.”
Coronado Biosciences, Inc. (CNDO) was chosen by John McCamant of Medical Technology Stock Letter, and updated in our July 26 Daily Alert. The shares have declined 53.29%.
D
Datawatch Corporation (DWCH), recommended by The Oberweis Report, was our second best performer of the Top Picks, gaining 148.25%. Editor David Covas updated the company in our August 13 Daily Alert, saying “DWCH has its foot in the door of major clients, including SAP, Thomson Reuters, Credit Suisse and Citigroup. The market demand for data, and especially real-time graphic data, is off the charts. The company has a lot of work to do to capitalize on the opportunity, but they appear to be stepping up to the challenge. Enjoy the ride and hold your shares. Datawatch is a hold.”
Direxion Daily 20+ Yr Trsy Bear 3X Shrs (TMV) was picked by Gray Cardiff of Sound Advice, and has gained 28.14%. In our July 23 Daily Alert, Cardiff noted, “[TMV is] not for an indefinite ‘buy and hold’ investment strategy. Excess volatility in bond yields over an extended period will cause erosion in the prices of these [leveraged] ETFs. More importantly, they will drop when bond yields decline, and are only for periods when bond yields are certain to rise substantially. However, these ETFs are worth a substantial investment right now for the immediate future because the profit potential is so great.”