Stock Of The Month: BBEP

Yet another oil and natural gas L.P. stock has joined the portfolio...

BreitBurn Energy Partners (BBEP)

Positives:

Generous 7.6% dividend yield.

Low payout ratio (34%) and positive free cash flows ensure stability of future dividends.

Negatives:

Low ROA and ROE (3% and 5% respectively).

Additionally, the plug has been pulled on the YRC Worldwide (YRCW) experiment. I can't say I didn't see it coming, either.

Here's my current portfolio. As always, I believe in all of these stocks - until I sell them.

Apple (AAPL) 11.53%

Southern Copper (SCCO) 10.95%

Google (GOOG) 7.19%

Dominion Resources Black Warrior Trust (DOM) 6.58%

Ace Limited (ACE) 4.33%

Baidu (BIDU) 4.23%

Apache (APA) 4.00%

The Distressed (AIG, BGP, C, CRIC, ENER, ETFC, F, GIGM, JSDA, MOT, PCS, WFC) 3.93%

BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust (BPT) 3.77%

Hugoton Royalty Trust (HGT) 3.72%

Annaly Capital Management (NLY) 3.72%

Cherokee (CHKE) 3.59%

Frontline (FRO) 3.24%

Great Northern Iron (GNI) 3.21%

American Software (AMSWA) 3.14%

Prospect Capital (PSEC) 2.81%

Vodafone (VOD) 2.72%

Blackstone (BX) 2.60%

Intel (INTC) 2.50%

McDonald's (MCD) 2.49%

F5 Networks (FFIV) 2.43%

DuPont (DD) 2.41%

BreitBurn Energy Partners (BBEP) 2.29%

Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) 1.37%

Cree (CREE) 1.16%

Stock Of The Month: BIDU

Getting rid of Baidu (BIDU) in January 2008 is undoubtedly the worst sale of my investing career. Taking a 192% profit off the table, it is up some additional 250% since. This trade now stands as my personal Exhibit A of how not to manage a winner.

I'll never be able to get the same cost basis, but at least I can try to build the same position as before. After this month I'm just short of halfway back; perhaps the market will put it "on sale" sometime in the future, just for me...

Baidu (BIDU)

Positives:
The Google of China.
High margins (39% profit, 43% operating), ROA (25%), ROE (45%).
No debt.

Negatives:
Very expensive P/E ratio of 102.


Here's my current portfolio. As always, I believe in all of these stocks - until I sell them.

Apple (AAPL) 11.93%
Southern Copper (SCCO) 10.83%
Google (GOOG) 6.79%
Dominion Resources Black Warrior Trust (DOM) 6.60%
Ace Limited (ACE) 4.61%
The Distressed (AIG, BGP, C, CRIC, ENER, ETFC, F, GIGM, JSDA, JTX, MOT, PCS, WFC, YRCW) 4.16%
Apache (APA) 4.07%
Baidu (BIDU) 4.05%
Annaly Capital Management (NLY) 4.05%
BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust (BPT) 3.97%
Hugoton Royalty Trust (HGT) 3.89%
Cherokee (CHKE) 3.74%
Frontline (FRO) 3.57%
American Software (AMSWA) 3.16%
Great Northern Iron (GNI) 2.96%
Prospect Capital (PSEC) 2.85%
Vodafone (VOD) 2.83%
Blackstone (BX) 2.79%
McDonald's (MCD) 2.63%
DuPont (DD) 2.59%
Intel (INTC) 2.50%
F5 Networks (FFIV) 2.06%
Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) 1.48%
Cree (CREE) 1.30%

Autumn Cleaning

I recently took the opportunity to lock in some capital losses for a few underperforming (lousy) stocks. Gone are Tidewater (TDW), PDL BioPharma (PDLI), and Jackson Hewitt (JTX). The proceeds were split between two stocks I already own, that I felt deserved larger slices of my portfolio: Apache (APA) is in the Gulf oil & gas sector like Tidewater, but is far superior in its management and execution; and Cherokee (CHKE) is a high-yielding licensor of intellectual property like PDL, but with a more stable cash flow. As for Jackson Hewitt...I have no peer stock currently, and won't seek one in the future.

Stock Of The Month: INTC

This month's stock is one of the most undervalued I've seen in quite a while...some would say it's cheap for a reason.

Intel (INTC)

Positives:

Massive positive free cash flows ($8.6B per year).

$18B cash, just $2B debt.

P/E of just 11, and an outstanding PEG (forecast) of 0.74.

Healthy 3.5% dividend yield.

Negatives:

Lots of recent acquisitions to integrate (Texas Instruments' cable modem business, Infineon's wireless chip segment, and most controversially, the entirety of McAfee and their security software(!)).

"Slowing" of PC sales.

Here's my current portfolio. As always, I believe in all of these stocks - until I sell them.

Apple (AAPL) 11.52%

Southern Copper (SCCO) 9.66%

Dominion Resources Black Warrior Trust (DOM) 6.77%

Google (GOOG) 6.74%

Ace Limited (ACE) 4.91%

Annaly Capital Management (NLY) 4.63%

The Distressed (AIG, BGP, C, CRIC, ENER, ETFC, F, GIGM, JSDA, JTX, MOT, PCS, WFC, YRCW) 4.41%

BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust (BPT) 4.15%

Hugoton Royalty Trust (HGT) 4.09%

Frontline (FRO) 4.02%

Prospect Capital (PSEC) 3.15%

American Software (AMSWA) 3.11%

Vodafone (VOD) 3.00%

McDonald's (MCD) 2.96%

Great Northern Iron (GNI) 2.92%

Intel (INTC) 2.73%

DuPont (DD) 2.72%

Blackstone (BX) 2.51%

Tidewater (TDW) 2.41%

Apache (APA) 2.32%

F5 Networks (FFIV) 2.28%

Cherokee (CHKE) 2.04%

Baidu (BIDU) 1.88%

Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) 1.72%

PDL BioPharma (PDLI) 1.71%

Cree (CREE) 1.50%

The 613 Greatest Albums Of All Time (a.k.a. My CD Collection)

This is a list of every album I own, ranked best to worst; the non-ranked albums at the bottom are compilations, greatest hits, box sets, singles, or classical.

Enjoy.

1. Nirvana - In Utero (1993)
2. Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness (1995)
3. Pantera - Far Beyond Driven (1994)
4. Beach Boys - Pet Sounds (1966)
5. Dylan, Bob - Blonde On Blonde (1966)
6. Led Zeppelin - IV (1971)
7. Beatles - Revolver (1966)
8. Beatles - Rubber Soul (1965)
9. Hendrix, Jimi - Electric Ladyland (1968)
10. Pearl Jam - Vitalogy (1994)
11. Dylan, Bob - Highway 61 Revisited (1965)
12. Soundgarden - Superunknown (1994)
13. Jackson, Michael - Thriller (1982)
14. Radiohead - The Bends (1995)
15. Rolling Stones - Exile On Main St. (1972)
16. U2 - Achtung Baby (1991)
17. Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream (1993)
18. R.E.M. - Automatic For The People (1992)
19. Jackson, Michael - Off The Wall (1979)
20. Love - Forever Changes (1967)
21. Nirvana - Nevermind (1991)
22. Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral (1994)
23. Outkast - Speakerboxxx / The Love Below (2003)
24. Led Zeppelin - Houses Of The Holy (1973)
25. Deftones - White Pony (2000)
26. Led Zeppelin - III (1970)
27. Beatles - The White Album (1968)
28. Public Enemy - It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back (1988)
29. Buckley, Jeff - Grace (1994)
30. Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon (1973)
31. Zombies - Odessey And Oracle (1968)
32. Who - The Who Sell Out (1967)
33. Gabriel, Peter - So (1986)
34. Bowie, David - The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars (1972)
35. Springsteen, Bruce - The River (1980)
36. Radiohead - OK Computer (1997)
37. Metallica - ...And Justice For All (1988)
38. Hole - Live Through This (1994)
39. Hendrix, Jimi - Axis: Bold As Love (1967)
40. Guns N' Roses - Use Your Illusion I/II (1991)
41. Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti (1975)
42. Smith, Elliott - XO (1998)
43. Rolling Stones - Let It Bleed (1969)
44. Sonic Youth - Dirty (1992)
45. White Stripes - Elephant (2003)
46. Sex Pistols - Nevermind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols (1977)
47. Faith No More - Angel Dust (1992)
48. De La Soul - De La Soul Is Dead (1991)
49. Outkast - Stankonia (2000)
50. Wilson, Brian - Smile (2004)
51. Rolling Stones - Beggars Banquet (1968)
52. Costello, Elvis - This Years Model (1978)
53. Hendrix, Jimi - Are You Experienced? (1967)
54. Lennon, John - Plastic Ono Band (1970)
55. Bowie, David - The Man Who Sold The World (1970)
56. Prince - Dirty Mind (1980)
57. Cash, Johnny - At Folsom Prison (1968)
58. Rolling Stones - Between The Buttons (UK) (1967)
59. Pavement - Slanted And Enchanted (1992)
60. Eels - Electro-Shock Blues (1998)
61. Springsteen, Bruce - Darkness On The Edge Of Town (1978)
62. Beck - Odelay (1996)
63. Wonder, Stevie - Songs In The Key Of Life (1976)
64. Nirvana - Bleach (1989)
65. Pearl Jam - No Code (1996)
66. Beach Boys - Today! / Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!) (1965)
67. Depeche Mode - Violator (1990)
68. Portishead - Dummy (1994)
69. Dr. Dre - The Chronic (1992)
70. R.E.M. - New Adventures In Hi-Fi (1996)
71. Smashing Pumpkins - Adore (1998)
72. Rage Against The Machine - Evil Empire (1996)
73. U2 - The Joshua Tree (1987)
74. Swervedriver - Mezcal Head (1993)
75. Costello, Elvis - Armed Forces (1979)
76. Jay-Z - The Blueprint (2001)
77. System Of A Down - Toxicity (2001)
78. West, Kanye - The College Dropout (2004)
79. Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique (1989)
80. Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
81. Metallica - Master Of Puppets (1986)
82. Radiohead - Kid A (2000)
83. Guns N' Roses - Appetite For Destruction (1987)
84. Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)
85. N.W.A. - Straight Outta Compton (1988)
86. Costello, Elvis - My Aim Is True (1977)
87. Lennon, John - Imagine (1971)
88. Smith, Elliott - Either/Or (1997)
89. Stone Temple Pilots - Tiny Music...Songs From The Vatican Gift Shop (1996)
90. Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers (1971)
91. Alice In Chains - Dirt (1992)
92. Who - Who's Next (1971)
93. Korn - Korn (1994)
94. White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan (2005)
95. Weezer - Weezer (1994)
96. Foo Fighters - Foo Fighters (1995)
97. Springsteen, Bruce - Born In The U.S.A. (1984)
98. Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation (1988)
99. Phair, Liz - Exile In Guyville (1993)
100. Rolling Stones - Aftermath (UK) (1966)
101. Television - Marquee Moon (1977)
102. White Stripes - De Stijl (2000)
103. Smith, Elliott - Roman Candle (1994)
104. Sonic Youth - A Thousand Leaves (1998)
105. Smith, Elliott - Elliott Smith (1995)
106. Pantera - Vulgar Display Of Power (1992)
107. Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin (1999)
108. Clash - London Calling (1979)
109. Mann, Aimee - Bachelor No. 2 (1999)
110. Dylan, Bob - Blood On The Tracks (1975)
111. Velvet Underground - The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)
112. Cars - The Cars (1978)
113. Love And Rockets - Earth, Sun, Moon (1987)
114. 2pac - All Eyez On Me (1996)
115. Beach Boys - Little Deuce Coupe / All Summer Long (1964)
116. Beach Boys - Surfer Girl / Shut Down Volume 2 (1963)
117. Beach Boys - Surfin' Safari / Surfin' U.S.A. (1962)
118. Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band - Trout Mask Replica (1970)
119. Jay-Z - Reasonable Doubt (1996)
120. Husker Du - Zen Arcade (1984)
121. Sonic Youth - Sister (1987)
122. Roxy Music - Country Life (1974)
123. Wonder, Stevie - Innervisions (1973)
124. Bowie, David - Hunky Dory (1971)
125. Cure - Disintegration (1989)
126. Harvey, PJ - To Bring You My Love (1995)
127. Notorious B.I.G. - Ready To Die (1994)
128. Red Hot Chili Peppers - By The Way (2002)
129. Cure - Faith (1981)
130. Dylan, Bob - Love And Theft (2001)
131. Husker Du - New Day Rising (1985)
132. Weezer - Pinkerton (1996)
133. Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002)
134. Rage Against The Machine - The Battle Of Los Angeles (1999)
135. Megadeth - Rust In Peace (1990)
136. Sonic Youth - Washing Machine (1995)
137. Led Zeppelin - Presence (1976)
138. Oasis - (What's The Story) Morning Glory? (1995)
139. De La Soul - 3 Feet High And Rising (1989)
140. Stone Temple Pilots - Purple (1994)
141. Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here (1975)
142. Led Zeppelin - II (1969)
143. My Bloody Valentine - Loveless (1991)
144. West, Kanye - Late Registration (2005)
145. Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots (2002)
146. Wonder, Stevie - Talking Book (1972)
147. Led Zeppelin - I (1969)
148. Nirvana - MTV Unplugged In New York (1994)
149. Smith, Elliott - Figure 8 (2000)
150. Springsteen, Bruce - Born To Run (1975)
151. Husker Du - Candy Apple Grey (1986)
152. Catherine Wheel - Chrome (1993)
153. Who - Quadrophenia (1973)
154. Wonder, Stevie - Music Of My Mind (1972)
155. Cure - Pornography (1982)
156. Metallica - Kill 'Em All (1983)
157. Jay-Z - Vol. 3...Life And Times Of S. Carter (1999)
158. Simon, Paul - There Goes Rhymin' Simon (1973)
159. Public Enemy - Fear Of A Black Planet (1990)
160. Springsteen, Bruce - Nebraska (1982)
161. Buckley, Jeff - Sketches For My Sweetheart The Drunk (1998)
162. Jane's Addiction - Nothing's Shocking (1988)
163. Team Sleep - Team Sleep (2005)
164. Jane's Addiction - Ritual De Lo Hibitual (1990)
165. Snoop Doggy Dogg - Doggystyle (1993)
166. Oasis - Definitely Maybe (1994)
167. Drake, Nick - Pink Moon (1972)
168. Limp Bizkit - Significant Other (1999)
169. Morissette, Alanis - Jagged Little Pill (1995)
170. Beck - Mellow Gold (1994)
171. Smashing Pumpkins - Gish (1991)
172. Nine Inch Nails - The Fragile (1999)
173. Anthrax - Sound Of White Noise (1993)
174. Tool - Lateralus (2001)
175. Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain (1994)
176. Black Sabbath - Paranoid (1970)
177. Hum - You'd Prefer An Astronaut (1995)
178. Deftones - Around The Fur (1997)
179. Beastie Boys - Licensed To Ill (1986)
180. Morphine - The Night (2000)
181. Beatles - Abbey Road (1969)
182. Smashing Pumpkins - Pisces Iscariot (1994)
183. Hole - Celebrity Skin (1998)
184. Queens Of The Stone Age - Era Vulgaris (2007)
185. Gabriel, Peter - Passion (1989)
186. Beck - Sea Change (2002)
187. Beatles - Magical Mystery Tour (1967)
188. Limp Bizkit - Three Dollar Bill, Y'all (1997)
189. Mann, Aimee - The Forgotten Arm (2005)
190. My Bloody Valentine - Isn't Anything (1988)
191. Sonic Youth - Sonic Nurse (2004)
192. Pearl Jam - Binaural (2000)
193. Jay-Z - The Black Album (2003)
194. Afghan Whigs - Gentlemen (1993)
195. Bjork - Post (1995)
196. Garbage - Garbage (1995)
197. White Stripes - The White Stripes (1999)
198. Harvey, PJ - Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea (2000)
199. Beatles - A Hard Day's Night (1964)
200. Rolling Stones - Some Girls (1978)
201. Cars - Candy-O (1979)
202. Tool - Undertow (1992)
203. Apple, Fiona - Tidal (1996)
204. R.E.M. - Out Of Time (1991)
205. Pink Floyd - The Wall (1979)
206. No Doubt - Return Of Saturn (2000)
207. Beck - Mutations (1998)
208. Outkast - Aquemini (1998)
209. Grateful Dead - American Beauty (1970)
210. King, Carole - Tapestry (1971)
211. Drake, Nick - Five Leaves Left (1969)
212. Lynn, Loretta - Van Lear Rose (2004)
213. Outkast - Atliens (1996)
214. Soundgarden - Badmotorfinger (1991)
215. Hill, Lauryn - MTV Unplugged 2.0 (2002)
216. Queens Of The Stone Age - Lullabies To Paralyze (2005)
217. Pearl Jam - Riot Act (2002)
218. Hum - Downward Is Heavenward (1998)
219. Beastie Boys - Ill Communication (1994)
220. Eels - Blinking Lights And Other Revelations (2005)
221. Green Day - American Idiot (2004)
222. Metallica - Ride The Lightning (1984)
223. Limp Bizkit - The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1) (2005)
224. Pantera - The Great Southern Trendkill (1996)
225. Soundgarden - Down On The Upside (1996)
226. Local H - Pack Up The Cats (1998)
227. Tool - Aenima (1996)
228. Pearl Jam - Yield (1998)
229. Beck - Midnite Vultures (1999)
230. Bjork - Debut (1993)
231. Deftones - Adrenaline (1995)
232. Cohen, Leonard - Songs Of Leonard Cohen (1967)
233. Amos, Tori - Little Earthquakes (1991)
234. Dream Syndicate - The Days Of Wine And Roses (1982)
235. Sunny Day Real Estate - Diary (1994)
236. Guns N' Roses - Chinese Democracy (2008)
237. Fugees - The Score (1996)
238. Dylan, Bob - Time Out Of Mind (1997)
239. Deftones - Diamond Eyes (2010)
240. Beatles - Help! (1965)
241. Breeders - Pod (1990)
242. Mazzy Star - So Tonight That I Might See (1993)
243. Tears For Fears - Songs From The Big Chair (1985)
244. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible (2007)
245. Mann, Aimee - Lost In Space (2002)
246. Radiohead - In Rainbows (2007)
247. Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot...The Son Of Chico Dusty (2010)
248. Cure - The Cure (2004)
249. Beck - One Foot In The Grave (1994)
250. Catherine Wheel - Ferment (1992)
251. Apple, Fiona - Extraordinary Machine (2005)
252. Keys, Alicia - The Diary Of Alicia Keys (2003)
253. Guided By Voices - Alien Lanes (1995)
254. Rentals - Return Of The Rentals (1995)
255. Blink-182 - Blink-182 (2003)
256. Pixies - Surfer Rosa (1988)
257. Aaliyah - Aaliyah (2001)
258. Strokes - Is This It (2001)
259. Rage Against The Machine - Rage Against The Machine (1992)
260. Stone Temple Pilots - No. 4 (1999)
261. Faith No More - The Real Thing (1989)
262. Offspring - Smash (1994)
263. Alice In Chains - Sap (1992)
264. Beatles - Please Please Me (1963)
265. Beatles - With The Beatles (1963)
266. Rancid - …And Out Come The Wolves (1995)
267. Urge Overkill - Saturation (1993)
268. Hole - Pretty On The Inside (1991)
269. Rancid - Let's Go (1994)
270. Blink-182 - Enema Of The State (1999)
271. Def Leppard - Hysteria (1987)
272. Amos, Tori - From The Choirgirl Hotel (1998)
273. Queens Of The Stone Age - Songs For The Deaf (2002)
274. Deftones - B-Sides & Rarities (2005)
275. Pearl Jam - Vs. (1993)
276. Swervedriver - Raise (1991)
277. Foo Fighters - There Is Nothing Left To Lose (1999)
278. Flaming Lips - Transmissions From The Satellite Heart (1993)
279. Ocasek, Ric - Troublizing (1997)
280. Sonic Youth - Murray Street (2002)
281. Harvey, PJ - Rid Of Me (1993)
282. Rentals - Seven More Minutes (1999)
283. Nirvana - Incesticide (1992)
284. Led Zeppelin - Coda (1982)
285. Black Crowes - The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion (1992)
286. Guided By Voices - Bee Thousand (1994)
287. Sugar - Copper Blue (1992)
288. Queens Of The Stone Age - Queens Of The Stone Age (1998)
289. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication (1999)
290. Keys, Alicia - As I Am (2007)
291. Marilyn Manson - Mechanical Animals (1998)
292. Blur - The Great Escape (1995)
293. Helium - The Magic City (1997)
294. Ministry - Psalm 69 (1992)
295. Sonic Youth - Evol (1986)
296. Flaming Lips - Clouds Taste Metallic (1995)
297. Replacements - Let It Be (1984)
298. Plant, Robert | Krauss, Alison - Raising Sand (2007)
299. Bjork - Homogenic (1997)
300. Amos, Tori - To Venus And Back (1999)
301. Beatles - Beatles For Sale (1964)
302. Hendrix, Jimi - First Rays Of The New Rising Sun (1997)
303. Jay-Z - Vol. 2...Hard Knock Life (1998)
304. Slayer - Divine Intervention (1994)
305. Sugar - File Under: Easy Listening (1994)
306. Public Enemy - Apocalypse 91...The Enemy Strikes Black (1991)
307. De La Soul - Buhloone Mindstate (1993)
308. Apple, Fiona - When The Pawn... (1999)
309. Prince - 1999 (1982)
310. Ride - Nowhere (1990)
311. Cat Power - The Greatest (2006)
312. TLC - Crazysexycool (1994)
313. Replacements - Tim (1985)
314. Metallica - Death Magnetic (2008)
315. DMX - It's Dark And Hell Is Hot (1998)
316. Urge Overkill - Exit The Dragon (1995)
317. Megadeth - Peace Sells...But Who's Buying? (1986)
318. Sonic Youth - The Eternal (2009)
319. Rolling Stones - Flowers (1967)
320. Helium - The Dirt Of Luck (1995)
321. Portishead - Portishead (1997)
322. Oasis - The Masterplan (1998)
323. Cash, Johnny - American Recordings (1994)
324. Blur - Blur (1997)
325. Jay-Z - American Gangster (2007)
326. Hum - Electra 2000 (1993)
327. Mellencamp, John - The Lonesome Jubilee (1987)
328. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991)
329. Stone Temple Pilots - Core (1992)
330. Beatles - Let It Be (1970)
331. Def Leppard - Pyromania (1983)
332. System Of A Down - Mezmerize (2005)
333. Morphine - Yes (1995)
334. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium (2006)
335. Placebo - Black Market Music (2001)
336. Hill, Lauryn - The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill (1998)
337. Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped (2006)
338. System Of A Down - Hypnotize (2005)
339. Zwan - Mary Star Of The Sea (2003)
340. White Stripes - White Blood Cells (2001)
341. Pink - Try This (2003)
342. Catherine Wheel - Like Cats And Dogs (1996)
343. Pink - M!ssundaztood (2001)
344. Pearl Jam - Ten (1991)
345. Black Flag - Damaged (1981)
346. Amos, Tori - Under The Pink (1994)
347. Jackson, Michael - Bad (1987)
348. Tool - 10,000 Days (2006)
349. AC/DC - Highway To Hell (1979)
350. Hendrix, Jimi - South Saturn Delta (1997)
351. Bon Jovi - Slippery When Wet (1986)
352. Pearl Jam - Lost Dogs (2003)
353. Ben Folds Five - Whatever And Ever Amen (1997)
354. Gorillaz - Demon Days (2005)
355. Helmet - Meantime (1992)
356. Wonder, Stevie - Fulfillingness' First Finale (1974)
357. Slint - Spiderland (1991)
358. Beach Boys - Sunflower / Surf's Up (1971)
359. Deftones - Deftones (2003)
360. Gorillaz - Gorillaz (2001)
361. Limp Bizkit - Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water (2000)
362. Young, Neil - Mirror Ball (1995)
363. Soundgarden - Louder Than Love (1989)
364. Alice In Chains - Alice In Chains (1995)
365. Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere (2006)
366. Catherine Wheel - Adam And Eve (1997)
367. Dylan, Bob - Modern Times (2006)
368. Breeders - Last Splash (1993)
369. Pink - I'm Not Dead (2006)
370. Deftones - Saturday Night Wrist (2006)
371. Local H - As Good As Dead (1996)
372. Everclear - Sparkle And Fade (1995)
373. Nine Inch Nails - Pretty Hate Machine (1989)
374. N.E.R.D - In Search Of... (2002)
375. Smith, Elliott - From A Basement On The Hill (2004)
376. Metallica - St. Anger (2003)
377. Guided By Voices - Isolation Drills (2001)
378. Anthrax - Stomp 442 (1995)
379. Afghan Whigs - Black Love (1996)
380. Oasis - Be Here Now (1997)
381. Foo Fighters - The Colour And The Shape (1997)
382. Gorillaz - Plastic Beach (2010)
383. Beck - The Information (2006)
384. Soundgarden - Ultramega OK (1988)
385. Nine Inch Nails - With Teeth (2005)
386. Bush - Sixteen Stone (1994)
387. Anthrax - The Greater Of Two Evils (2004)
388. Everclear - World Of Noise (1993)
389. Audioslave - Out Of Exile (2005)
390. Local H - Whatever Happened To P.J. Soles? (2004)
391. Black Crowes - Amorica (1994)
392. Placebo - Placebo (1996)
393. Korn - Follow The Leader (1998)
394. System Of A Down - Steal This Album! (2002)
395. Chevelle - Point #1 (1999)
396. Smashing Pumpkins - Machina II/Friends And Enemies Of Modern Music (2000)
397. Yorke, Thom - The Eraser (2006)
398. Elastica - Elastica (1995)
399. Screaming Trees - Dust (1996)
400. Pixies - Doolittle (1989)
401. Police - Synchronicity (1983)
402. Cornell, Chris - Euphoria Morning (1999)
403. Alice In Chains - Jar Of Flies (1994)
404. Sepultura - Roots (1996)
405. Audioslave - Audioslave (2002)
406. System Of A Down - System Of A Down (1998)
407. L7 - The Beauty Process: Triple Platinum (1997)
408. Smashing Pumpkins - Machina/The Machines Of God (2000)
409. Pantera - Cowboys From Hell (1990)
410. Radiohead - Amnesiac (2001)
411. Radiohead - Hail To The Thief (2003)
412. White Zombie - Astro-Creep: 2000 (1995)
413. Garbage - Bleed Like Me (2005)
414. Placebo - Without You I'm Nothing (1998)
415. Amos, Tori - Boys For Pele (1996)
416. Korn - Life Is Peachy (1996)
417. Petty, Tom - Wildflowers (1994)
418. DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - He's The DJ, I'm The Rapper (1988)
419. Ben Folds Five - The Unauthorized Biography Of Reinhold Messner (1999)
420. Darkness - Permission To Land (2003)
421. Weiland, Scott - 12 Bar Blues (1998)
422. Blur - Parklife (1994)
423. R.E.M. - Green (1988)
424. Anthrax - We've Come For You All (2003)
425. Sonic Youth - Goo (1990)
426. Kasabian - Kasabian (2004)
427. Megadeth - Countdown To Extinction (1992)
428. L.L. Cool J - Mama Said Knock You Out (1990)
429. Beastie Boys - Check Your Head (1992)
430. Sepultura - Chaos A. D. (1993)
431. DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - Rock The House (1988)
432. Garbage - Version 2. 0 (1998)
433. Ludacris - Word Of Mouf (2001)
434. Led Zeppelin - In Through The Out Door (1979)
435. Amon Amarth - With Oden On Our Side (2006)
436. Coldplay - A Rush Of Blood To The Head (2002)
437. Metallica - Metallica (1991)
438. Killers - Hot Fuss (2004)
439. Radiohead - Airbag/How Am I Driving? (1998)
440. A Perfect Circle - Mer De Noms (2000)
441. Van Halen - Van Halen (1978)
442. Black Sabbath - Master Of Reality (1971)
443. Bush - Razorblade Suitcase (1996)
444. Days Of The New - Days Of The New (1997)
445. Kid Rock - Devil Without A Cause (1998)
446. Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory (2000)
447. Live - Throwing Copper (1994)
448. Hatfield, Juliana - Only Everything (1995)
449. Nine Black Alps - Everything Is (2006)
450. Sponge - Wax Ecstatic (1996)
451. Megadeth - So Far, So Good...So What! (1988)
452. Red Hot Chili Peppers - One Hot Minute (1995)
453. Veruca Salt - American Thighs (1994)
454. Jackson, Michael - Dangerous (1991)
455. Hole - My Body, The Hand Grenade (1997)
456. My Chemical Romance - Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge (2004)
457. Jackson, Michael - Invincible (2001)
458. White Zombie - La Sexorcisto: Devil Music Vol. 1 (1992)
459. D Generation - No Lunch (1996)
460. Dandelion - I Think I'm Gonna Be Sick (1993)
461. Anthrax - Volume 8: The Threat Is Real (1998)
462. Beck - Guero (2005)
463. Beastie Boys - Hello Nasty (1998)
464. Garbage - Beautifulgarbage (2001)
465. Nine Inch Nails - Broken (1992)
466. Branch, Michelle - The Spirit Room (2001)
467. Down - Down II - A Bustle In Your Hedgerow... (2002)
468. Cranberries - Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? (1993)
469. Linkin Park - Meteora (2003)
470. Kyuss - Welcome To Sky Valley (1994)
471. Van Halen - Van Halen II (1979)
472. Screaming Trees - Uncle Anesthesia (1991)
473. Placebo - Sleeping With Ghosts (2003)
474. Fountains Of Wayne - Fountains Of Wayne (1996)
475. 10,000 Maniacs - Our Time In Eden (1992)
476. Mann, Aimee - Whatever (1993)
477. Aerosmith - Toys In The Attic (1975)
478. R.E.M. - Fables Of The Reconstruction (1985)
479. 7 Year Bitch - Viva Zapata! (1993)
480. Raconteurs - Broken Boy Soldiers (2006)
481. Drive-By Truckers - Decoration Day (2003)
482. Live - Secret Samadhi (1997)
483. Jay-Z - The Dynasty Roc La Familia (2000)
484. Sonic Youth - Confusion Is Sex/Kill Yr. Idols (1983)
485. Portishead - Third (2008)
486. INXS - Kick (1987)
487. Toadies - Rubberneck (1994)
488. Cinderella - Night Songs (1986)
489. Placebo - Meds (2006)
490. Black, Frank - Frank Black (1993)
491. Brickell, Edie - Ghost Of A Dog (1990)
492. Ice Cube - Amerikkka's Most Wanted (1990)
493. Metallica - Garage Inc. (1998)
494. Def Leppard - High 'N' Dry (1981)
495. Stabbing Westward - Darkest Days (1998)
496. Counting Crows - August And Everything After (1993)
497. Poison - Look What The Cat Dragged In (1986)
498. L7 - Hungry For Stink (1994)
499. Hatfield, Juliana - Become What You Are (1993)
500. Mann, Aimee - I'm With Stupid (1995)
501. Queens Of The Stone Age - Rated R (2000)
502. Sugarcubes - Stick Around For Joy (1992)
503. Blind Melon - Blind Melon (1992)
504. U2 - How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb (2004)
505. Poison - Open Up And Say...Ahh! (1988)
506. Silversun Pickups - Carnavas (2006)
507. Walkmen - The Walkmen (2001)
508. Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz - Kings Of Crunk (2002)
509. Jones, Norah - Feels Like Home (2004)
510. Beck - Modern Guilt (2008)
511. Springsteen, Bruce - Tunnel Of Love (1987)
512. Van Halen - 1984 (1984)
513. Blink-182 - Cheshire Cat (1994)
514. Presidents Of The United States Of America - The Presidents Of The United States Of America (1995)
515. Sonic Youth - Bad Moon Rising (1985)
516. Audioslave - Revelations (2006)
517. Jane's Addiction - Strays (2003)
518. Stone Temple Pilots - Stone Temple Pilots (2010)
519. 7 Year Bitch - Gato Negro (1996)
520. That Dog - Retreat From The Sun (1997)
521. Madonna - Bedtime Stories (1994)
522. Black, Frank - Teenager Of The Year (1994)
523. Mad Season - Mad Season (1995)
524. Smashing Pumpkins - American Gothic (2008)
525. Temple Of The Dog - Temple Of The Dog (1991)
526. Guns N' Roses - G N' R Lies (1988)
527. Verve - Urban Hymns (1997)
528. Springsteen, Bruce - We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions - American Land Edition (2006)
529. Nine Black Alps - Nine Black Alps (2005)
530. Keys, Alicia - Songs In A Minor (2001)
531. RZA - RZA As Bobby Digital In Stereo (1998)
532. Nada Surf - High/Low (1996)
533. Helmet - Betty (1994)
534. Bubba Sparxxx - Deliverance (2003)
535. Kravitz, Lenny - Are You Gonna Go My Way (1993)
536. Wreckers - Stand Still, Look Pretty (2006)
537. Smashing Pumpkins - Zeitgeist (2007)
538. Radiohead - Pablo Honey (1993)
539. Rage Against The Machine - Renegades (2000)
540. Sepultura - Arise (1991)
541. Adams, Bryan - Reckless (1984)
542. Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero (2007)
543. Rasputina - Thanks For The Ether (1996)
544. Cranberries - No Need To Argue (1994)
545. Alice In Chains - Facelift (1990)
546. Silverchair - Freak Show (1997)
547. Brickell, Edie - Shooting Rubberbands At The Stars (1988)
548. West, Kanye - Graduation (2007)
549. A Perfect Circle - Thirteenth Step (2003)
550. Bush - Golden State (2001)
551. Guns N' Roses - "The Spaghetti Incident?" (1993)
552. Jones, Norah - Come Away With Me (2002)
553. Morissette, Alanis - Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie (1998)
554. White Stripes - Icky Thump (2007)
555. Jewel - 0304 (2003)
556. Bloc Party - Silent Alarm (2005)
557. Harper, Ben - Fight For Your Mind (1995)
558. Sweet, Matthew - Girlfriend (1992)
559. Fountains Of Wayne - Utopia Parkway (1999)
560. Nine Inch Nails - The Slip (2008)
561. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (2005)
562. Aguilera, Christina - Back To Basics (2006)
563. Sponge - Rotting Pinata (1994)
564. Corgan, Billy - The Future Embrace (2005)
565. Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand (2004)
566. Rollins Band - Weight (1994)
567. Doughty, Mike - Haughty Melodic (2005)
568. Love, Courtney - America's Sweetheart (2004)
569. Stone Roses - Second Coming (1994)
570. No Doubt - Tragic Kingdom (1995)
571. Candlebox - Candlebox (1993)
572. Outkast - Idlewild (2006)
573. Megadeth - Youthanasia (1994)
574. Sharp, Matt - Matt Sharp (2004)
575. At The Drive-In - Relationship Of Command (2000)
576. Blink-182 - Dude Ranch (1997)
577. Belly - Star (1993)
578. N.E.R.D - Fly Or Die (2004)
579. Prodigy - The Fat Of The Land (1997)
580. Eleven - Eleven (1993)
581. Foo Fighters - One By One (2002)
582. Bon Jovi - New Jersey (1988)
583. Pantera - Reinventing The Steel (2000)
584. Branch, Michelle - Hotel Paper (2003)
585. Morissette, Alanis - Under Rug Swept (2002)
586. Jewel - Pieces Of You (1994)
587. Springsteen, Bruce - The Rising (2002)
588. Wolfmother - Wolfmother (2006)
589. Velvet Revolver - Contraband (2004)
590. Blink-182 - Take Off Your Pants And Jacket (2001)
591. Ludacris - The Red Light District (2004)
592. Eels - Shootenanny! (2003)
593. Fountains Of Wayne - Welcome Interstate Managers (2003)
594. Stabbing Westward - Wither Blister Burn + Peel (1996)
595. Fireball Ministry - Their Rock Is Not Our Rock (2005)
596. Bush - The Science Of Things (1999)
597. Stone Temple Pilots - Shangri - La Dee Da (2001)
598. Marilyn Manson - Antichrist Superstar (1996)
599. Interpol - Turn On The Bright Lights (2002)
600. Fountains Of Wayne - Traffic And Weather (2007)
601. Pantera - Power Metal (1988)
602. Johnson, Jack - On And On (2003)
603. TLC - Fanmail (1999)
604. Nappy Roots - Watermelon, Chicken, And Gritz (2002)
605. Metallica - Load (1996)
606. Dr. Dre - 2001 (1999)
607. Metallica - Reload (1997)
608. Jackson, Michael - History (1995)
609. Soulfly - Soulfly (1998)
610. Hole - Nobody's Daughter (2010)
611. Jewel - Spirit (1998)
612. Spank Rock - Spank Rock And Benny Blanco Are…Bangers & Cash (2007)
613. West, Kanye - 808s & Heartbreak (2008)
-----------------------------------------------
311 - Greatest Hits '93-'03 (2004)
Abdul, Paula - Greatest Hits (2000)
Aerosmith - Big Ones (1994)
Beach Boys - Endless Summer (1974)
Beatles - 1962-1966 (1973)
Beethoven, Ludwig Van - Symphony No. 9; "Fidelio" Overture (1991)
Berlioz, Hector - Symphonie Fantastique; La Damnation De Faust (1972)
Blondie - The Best Of Blondie (1981)
Carpenters - The Singles 1969-1973 (1973)
Cars - Anthology: Just What I Needed (1995)
Cash, Johnny - The Sun Years (1990)
Cream - The Very Best Of Cream (1995)
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Chronicle: 20 Greatest Hits (1991)
Cure - Staring At The Sea: The Singles (1986)
Duran Duran - Decade (1989)
Eminem - Curtain Call - The Hits (2005)
Foo Fighters - This Is A Call (1995)
Foo Fighters - Big Me (1996)
Genesis - Turn It On Again - The Hits: The Tour Edition (2007)
Green Day - International Superhits! (2001)
Henley, Don - Actual Miles: Henley's Greatest Hits (1995)
Idol, Billy - The Very Best Of Billy Idol (2008)
Jackson, Janet - Design Of A Decade 1986/1996 (1995)
Jett, Joan - Fit To Be Tied: Great Hits (1997)
Lennon, John - Lennon Legend (1997)
Madonna - The Immaculate Collection (1990)
Madonna - Something To Remember (1995)
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus - Symphonies Nos. 35-41 (1966)
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus - Le Nozze Di Figaro (1999)
Nine Inch Nails - Further Down The Spiral (1995)
Nirvana - Oh, The Guilt (1993)
Nirvana - Singles Box (1995)
Nirvana - Nirvana (2002)
Nirvana - With The Lights Out (2004)
Pearl Jam - Merkinball (1995)
Petty, Tom - Greatest Hits (1993)
Police - Every Breath You Take: The Classics (1995)
Prince - The Hits 1 (1993)
Prince - The Hits 2 (1993)
Queen - Classic Queen (1992)
Queen - Greatest Hits (1992)
R.E.M. - Eponymous (1988)
Simon, Paul - Negotiations And Love Songs 1971-1986 (1988)
Smashing Pumpkins - Lull (1991)
Smashing Pumpkins - The Aeroplane Flies High (1996)
Smashing Pumpkins - Ava Adore (1998)
Smashing Pumpkins - Greatest Hits (2001)
Smith, Elliott - New Moon (2007)
Steve Miller Band - Greatest Hits 1974-78 (1990)
Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich - Nutcracker Suite; Serenade For Strings (1982)
TLC - Now & Forever - The Hits (2003)
U2 - The Best Of 1980-1990 (1998)
Various Artists - Batman & Robin Soundtrack (1997)
Various Artists - Crow Soundtrack (1994)
Various Artists - Crow: City Of Angels Soundtrack (1996)
Various Artists - DGC Rarities Vol. 1 (1994)
Various Artists - End Of Days Soundtrack (1999)
Various Artists - Last Action Hero Soundtrack (1993)
Various Artists - No Alternative (1993)
Various Artists - O Brother, Where Art Thou? Soundtrack (2000)
Various Artists - Singles Soundtrack (1992)
Various Artists - Sub Pop 200 (1988)
Various Artists - The Beavis And Butt-Head Experience (1993)

Quick Stock Update

I recently sold Blockbuster (BLOKA.PK), Fannie Mae (FNMA.OB), and Motors Liquidation (MTLQQ.PK), all for having .XX in their ticker symbol (someday, I will learn to sell immediately/avoid stocks when they transition to Over-the-counter Bulletin board or PinK sheets). I also sold Ambac (ABK) for wondering out loud whether its stock was worthless.

All four stocks were sold at a significant percentage loss, but relatively insignificant monetary loss (but not so insignificant that I wouldn't bother to lock in those losses ASAP). Such is just part of the fun of owning a bucket of stocks that could only be called "The Distressed".

I will use the proceeds from these sales towards a newer, healthier, better stock in September.

Stocks Of The Month: FFIV, YRCW

For this month, I've added a new high-flying non-dividend paying stock, and bought a little more of a distressed (and dangerous) transport stock.

F5 Networks (FFIV)

Positives:

Solid quarterly earnings (46%) and profit (78%) growth.

No debt.

Positive cash flows.

Possibly the next Cisco Systems, or a takeover candidate.

Negatives:

Somewhat expensive P/E ratio of 55.

Low insider ownership (0.5%).

YRC Worldwide (YRCW)

Positives:

Business headed towards profitability, after narrowing loss in latest quarter.

Negatives:

Probably one more lousy quarter away from bankruptcy.

Horrible fundamentals.

Here's my current portfolio. As always, I believe in all of these stocks - until I sell them.

Apple (AAPL) 11.68%

Southern Copper (SCCO) 9.35%

Dominion Resources Black Warrior Trust (DOM) 7.31%

Google (GOOG) 7.16%

The Distressed (ABK, AIG, BGP, BLOKA.PK, C, CRIC, ENER, ETFC, F, FNMA.OB, GIGM, JSDA, JTX, MOT, MTLQQ.PK, PCS, WFC, YRCW) 5.41%

Ace Limited (ACE) 4.71%

Hugoton Royalty Trust (HGT) 4.52%

Frontline (FRO) 4.46%

Annaly Capital Management (NLY) 4.43%

BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust (BPT) 4.07%

Prospect Capital (PSEC) 3.24%

American Software (AMSWA) 3.01%

Vodafone (VOD) 2.86%

Great Northern Iron (GNI) 2.75%

McDonald's (MCD) 2.71%

Blackstone (BX) 2.68%

DuPont (DD) 2.65%

Tidewater (TDW) 2.41%

Apache (APA) 2.37%

F5 Networks (FFIV) 2.18%

Cherokee (CHKE) 2.14%

Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) 2.03%

Cree (CREE) 1.94%

Baidu (BIDU) 1.92%

PDL BioPharma (PDLI) 1.91%

Stocks Of The Month: BIDU, CREE, ISRG

First, some housekeeping: Palm (PALM) was bought out by Hewlett-Packard, and I sold Biovail (BVF) after they announced a merger with Valeant...freeing up some additional cash for 3 high-flying non-dividend paying(!) stocks, 2 of which I've previously owned.

Baidu (BIDU)

Positives:
The Google of China.
High margins (36%), ROA (23%), ROE (42%).
No debt.

Negatives:
Very expensive P/E ratio of 96.

Cree (CREE)

Positives:
Designer and manufacturer of LEDs and LED-related hardware.
Excellent revenue (79%) and earnings (1012%!) growth.
$1B in cash, no debt.
Positive cash flow.

Negatives:
Somewhat expensive P/E ratio of 60.
Low ROA (5%) and ROE (7%).

Intuitive Surgical (ISRG)

Positives:
Super-cool surgical robots.
Excellent revenue (74%) and earnings (204%) growth.
No debt.
Positive cash flow.

Negatives:
Low insider ownership (1.3%).

Here's my current portfolio. As always, I believe in all of these stocks - until I sell them.

Apple (AAPL) 12.82%
Southern Copper (SCCO) 9.51%
Google (GOOG) 7.10%
Dominion Resources Black Warrior Trust (DOM) 6.60%
Annaly Capital Management (NLY) 5.08%
Ace Limited (ACE) 5.03%
The Distressed (ABK, AIG, BGP, BLOKA.PK, C, CRIC, ENER, ETFC, F, FNM, GIGM, JSDA, JTX, MOT, MTLQQ.PK, PCS, WFC, YRCW) 4.78%
Frontline (FRO) 4.73%
Hugoton Royalty Trust (HGT) 4.64%
BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust (BPT) 4.41%
Prospect Capital (PSEC) 3.50%
American Software (AMSWA) 3.02%
Great Northern Iron (GNI) 3.01%
Vodafone (VOD) 2.90%
McDonald's (MCD) 2.88%
Tidewater (TDW) 2.53%
Blackstone (BX) 2.48%
DuPont (DD) 2.46%
Apache (APA) 2.35%
Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) 2.18%
Cherokee (CHKE) 2.08%
Cree (CREE) 1.94%
PDL BioPharma (PDLI) 1.87%
Baidu (BIDU) 1.79%

Stock Of The Month: NLY

June's SOTM is the same as January's SOTM.

Annaly Capital Management (NLY)

Positives:
Huge profit and operating margins (91% and 93% respectively).
+18% spread between ROE and ROA.
Positive operating cash flow ($11B).
Trailing P/E of 5, forward P/E of 6.
Whopping 14.9% dividend yield.

Negatives:
Huge debt ($55B)...of course, debt is their business.
Low insider holding (0.63%).

Here's my current portfolio. As always, I believe in all of these stocks - until I sell them.

Apple (AAPL) 12.25%
Southern Copper (SCCO) 9.80%
Google (GOOG) 7.51%
Dominion Resources Black Warrior Trust (DOM) 7.07%
The Distressed (ABK, AIG, BBI, BGP, C, CRIC, ENER, ETFC, F, FNM, GIGM, JSDA, JTX, MOT, MTLQQ.PK, PALM, PCS, WFC, YRCW) 5.72%
Frontline (FRO) 5.54%
Hugoton Royalty Trust (HGT) 5.08%
Ace Limited (ACE) 4.84%
Annaly Capital Management (NLY) 4.83%
BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust (BPT) 4.36%
Prospect Capital (PSEC) 3.67%
American Software 3.53%
Biovail (BVF) 2.90%
McDonald's (MCD) 2.90%
Great Northern Iron (GNI) 2.81%
Vodafone (VOD) 2.67%
Blackstone (BX) 2.67%
DuPont (DD) 2.56%
Tidewater (TDW) 2.55%
Apache (APA) 2.47%
Cherokee (CHKE) 2.22%
PDL BioPharma (PDLI) 1.70%

Stock Of The Month: DOM

Dominion Resources Black Warrior Trust (DOM)

Positives:
9% dividend yield.
As a trust, has a 100% payout ratio and is a pure dividend stock.

Negatives:
Little to no opportunity for capital gains.

Here's my current portfolio. As always, I believe in all of these stocks - until I sell them.

Apple (AAPL) 12.53%
Southern Copper (SCCO) 9.55%
Google (GOOG) 7.76%
Dominion Resources Black Warrior Trust (DOM) 7.69%
The Distressed (ABK, AIG, BBI, BGP, C, CRIC, ENER, ETFC, F, FNM, GIGM, JSDA, JTX, MOT, MTLQQ.PK, PALM, PCS, WFC, YRCW) 5.91%
Frontline (FRO) 5.12%
Ace Limited (ACE) 5.05%
Hugoton Royalty Trust (HGT) 4.53%
BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust (BPT) 4.46%
American Software 4.00%
Prospect Capital (PSEC) 3.84%
Biovail (BVF) 3.25%
McDonald's (MCD) 3.03%
Blackstone (BX) 2.99%
Great Northern Iron (GNI) 2.85%
Tidewater (TDW) 2.83%
Vodafone (VOD) 2.64%
DuPont (DD) 2.63%
Cherokee (CHKE) 2.55%
Apache (APA) 2.53%
Annaly Capital Management (NLY) 2.14%
PDL BioPharma (PDLI) 1.86%

Stocks Of The Month: BPT, HGT, PSEC

First, while I was sleeping...Tesoro (TSO) suspended its dividend indefinitely, and Terra Nitrogen (TNH) failed to pay its dividend for the current quarter...shame on them. Therefore both stocks have been sold, allowing for 3 new stocks for March.


BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust (BPT), Hugoton Royalty Trust (HGT)

Positives:
Massive 16% and 9.3% dividend yields respectively.

Negatives:
100% payout ratio (due to being trusts) equals lumpy dividends.


Prospect Capital (PSEC)

Positives:
13.9% dividend yield.
6+ year history of increased dividends.
Low forward P/E of 9.

Negatives:
Private equity / venture capital / risky financial company...buyer beware.

Here's my current portfolio. As always, I believe in all of these stocks - until I sell them.

Apple (AAPL) 10.66%
Southern Copper (SCCO) 10.21%
Google (GOOG) 8.84%
Dominion Resources Black Warrior Trust (DOM) 5.90%
The Distressed (ABK, AIG, BBI, BGP, C, CRIC, ENER, ETFC, F, FNM, GIGM, JSDA, JTX, MOT, MTLQQ.PK, PALM, PCS, WFC, YRCW) 5.83%
Ace Limited (ACE) 5.03%
Frontline (FRO) 4.54%
BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust (BPT) 4.50%
Hugoton Royalty Trust (HGT) 4.43%
Prospect Capital (PSEC) 4.36%
American Software 3.89%
Blackstone (BX) 3.79%
Biovail (BVF) 3.30%
Great Northern Iron (GNI) 3.21%
Vodafone (VOD) 3.06%
Tidewater (TDW) 2.97%
Apache (APA) 2.95%
McDonald's (MCD) 2.80%
DuPont (DD) 2.46%
Annaly Capital Management (NLY) 2.43%
PDL BioPharma (PDLI) 2.30%
Cherokee (CHKE) 2.19%

Stocks Of The Month: The Distressed 2010

I have to admit...I've been looking forward to this for a while.

Last February, I made the completely liberating decision to buy crappy stocks and not care if they lose money. Pleasantly/well timed to the market recovery, 7 of those 10 stocks are in the black one year later.

So I will repeat the selection progress from last year: 10 more lousy stocks, each 1/10th of what I usually invest per month. And 10 more snarky comments for each wretched stock.

Without further ado, I present to you the 10 newest members of "The Distressed" (percentages are from 52-week high):

Ambac Financial (ABK, -71%): bond insurer which somewhat famously imploded in the fall of 2008.
Blockbuster (BBI, -76%): just like Netflix, but with way more overhead and debt.
Borders (BGP, -73%): old-fashioned, old-media retailer very near to bankruptcy.
China Real Estate Information (CRIC, -45%): irresistible intersection of the twin bubbles of China and real estate.
Energy Conversion Devices (ENER, -74%): beat-down solar cell and nickel battery company.
E*Trade (ETFC, -49%): nearly wiped out by mortgage business. Minus points for annoying talking baby commercials.
GigaMedia (GIGM, -61%): the worst of many Chinese online gaming stocks.
Jackson Hewitt (JTX, -81%): completely inferior competitor to the larger, healthier HR Block.
Palm (PALM, -45%): largely invented the smartphone, only to get trampled by everyone else.
MetroPCS (PCS, -69%): second-tier mobile provider. Bonus points for "Tech & Talk" commercials.

Here's my current portfolio. As always, I believe in all of these stocks - until I sell them.

Southern Copper (PCU) 10.92%
Apple (AAPL) 10.67%
Google (GOOG) 9.03%
Terra Nitrogen (TNH) 6.82%
Dominion Resources Black Warrior Trust (DOM) 6.46%
The Distressed (ABK, AIG, BBI, BGP, C, CRIC, ENER, ETFC, F, FNM, GIGM, JSDA, JTX, MOT, MTLQQ.PK, PALM, PCS, WFC, YRCW) 5.76%
Ace Limited (ACE) 5.07%
Tesoro (TSO) 4.90%
Frontline (FRO) 4.55%
American Software 4.02%
Blackstone (BX) 3.66%
Biovail (BVF) 3.24%
Vodafone (VOD) 3.11%
Tidewater (TDW) 3.05%
Great Northern Iron (GNI) 3.03%
Apache (APA) 2.97%
McDonald's (MCD) 2.90%
DuPont (DD) 2.42%
Annaly Capital Management (NLY) 2.40%
PDL BioPharma (PDLI) 2.35%
Cherokee (CHKE) 2.19%

Stock Of The Month: NLY

For what it's worth, I still think Annaly is the best real estate stock out there (for those of you that really want to be in real estate). - January 1, 2009

I'm going to try something new for the Stock Of The Month: instead of a lot of blahblahblah (which usually reads remarkably similar from month to month), I'm just going to list the good and bad from Yahoo's Key Statistics page.

Annaly Capital Management (NLY)

Positives:

Huge profit and operating margins (83% and 86% respectively).

+7% spread between ROE and ROA.

Positive operating cash flow ($9B).

Trailing P/E of 13, forward P/E of 6.

Whopping 17.3% dividend yield.

Negatives:

Huge debt ($57B)...of course, debt is their business.

Low insider holding (0.55%).

Here's my current portfolio. As always, I believe in all of these stocks - until I sell them.

Apple (AAPL) 10.70%

Southern Copper (PCU) 9.84%

Google (GOOG) 9.39%

Terra Nitrogen (TNH) 6.92%

Dominion Resources Black Warrior Trust (DOM) 6.68%

Frontline (FRO) 5.40%

Ace Limited (ACE) 5.36%

Tesoro (TSO) 5.35%

American Software 3.94%

Blackstone (BX) 3.53%

The Distressed (AIG, C, F, FNM, JSDA, MOT, MTLQQ.PK, WFC, YRCW) 3.42%

Biovail (BVF) 3.38%

Tidewater (TDW) 3.32%

Great Northern Iron (GNI) 3.22%

Vodafone (VOD) 3.21%

McDonald's (MCD) 3.00%

Apache (APA) 3.00%

DuPont (DD) 2.56%

Annaly Capital Management (NLY) 2.55%

PDL BioPharma (PDLI) 2.32%

Cherokee (CHKE) 2.23%

2009 Stock Recap

2009 was a pretty good year for the portfolio - a 39.0% return vs. 23.5% for the S&P 500, and only 1 stock sold after a ridiculous 19 the previous year:

Atlas Resources (ATN)/Atlas Energy (ATLS)
Year-opening price: $14.85
Sold: Apr @ $28.47 (92%)
Year-closing price: $30.14 (103%)

With that out of the way, here are the ongoing concerns, ranked from worst to best:

Motors Liquidation (MTLQQ.PK)
Bought: Feb @ $3.00 (as GM)
Year-closing price: $0.47 (-84%)
Slowly but surely meandering its way to zero.

YRC Worldwide (YRCW)
Bought: Feb @ $2.90
Year-closing price: $0.84 (-71%)
Shaping up as a lottery ticket due to likely bankruptcy.

Frontline (FRO)
Year-opening price: $29.61
Sold: Nov @ $23.99 (-19%)
Re-bought: Dec @ $29.30
Year-closing price: $27.32 (-7%)
Did a terrible job of trading, but I still like the business.

Dominion Resources Black Warrior Trust (DOM)
Year-opening price: $16.60
Year-closing price: $14.29 (-14%)
Saved by the dividend.

Jones Soda (JSDA)
Bought: Feb @ $0.46
Year-closing price: $0.43 (-7%)
Sugar-high, then sugar-crash for this stock.

Ace Limited (ACE)
Year-opening price: $52.92
Year-closing price: $50.40 (-5%)
A still-very-sleepy financial company.

Citigroup (C)
Bought: Feb @ $3.41
Year-closing price: $3.31 (-3%)
America's worst bank, desperately needs to be broken up and sold off.

Cherokee (CHKE)
Bought: May @ $18.30
Year-closing price: $17.82 (-3%)
11% dividend yield.

Great Northern Iron (GNI)
Bought: Oct @ $94.73
Year-closing price: $94.00 (-1%)
Most recent commodity play, bought near the top.

PDL BioPharma (PDLI)
Bought: Jun @ $6.94
Year-closing price: $6.86 (-1%)
14.5% dividend yield.

McDonald's (MCD)
Bought: Nov @ $62.49
Year-closing price: $62.44 (0%)
Hoping for international growth, and domestic stability.

Tesoro (TSO)
Year-opening price: $13.17
Year-closing price: $13.55 (3%)
An up-and-down stock - not for the faint of heart.

DuPont (DD)
Bought: Sep @ $32.36
Year-closing price: $33.67 (4%)
Big and boring, just like I hoped.

Vodafone (VOD)
Bought: Oct @ $21.47
Year-closing price: $23.09 (8%)
Should be sure and steady growth for years.

Terra Nitrogen (TNH)
Year-opening price: $94.25
Year-closing price: $104.08 (10%)
The 6% dividend helps here.

American International Group (AIG)
Bought: Feb @ $25.40 (split-adjusted)
Year-closing price: $29.98 (18%)
I have no idea where this stock is going.

Tidewater (TDW)
Year-opening price: $40.27
Year-closing price: $47.95 (19%)
A quietly solid year for this offshore oil services company.

Biovail (BVF)
Bought: Apr @ $10.92
Year-closing price: $13.96 (28%)
Bought strictly for the dividend (which was slashed), but capital gains have made up for it.

Apache (APA)
Year-opening price: $74.53
Year-closing price: $103.17 (38%)
Nice bounceback for this oil and gas company.

Blackstone (BX)
Bought: Feb @ $4.43, Jul @ $10.17
Year-closing price: $13.12 (38%)

My favorite weasels of Wall Street.

Wells Fargo (WFC)
Bought: Feb @ $18.40
Year-closing price: $26.99 (47%)
America's finest bank (not that that really means anything).

American Software (AMSWA)
Bought: Mar @ $3.52
Year-closing price: $6.00 (70%)
Nice little tech stock.

Motorola (MOT)
Bought: Feb @ $4.43
Year-closing price: $7.76 (75%)
The phone slump could be over with the Droid.

Fannie Mae (FNM)
Bought: Feb @ $0.60
Year-closing price: $1.18 (97%)
Some people believe this stock is worthless, and I'm not certain they're wrong.

Google (GOOG)
Year-opening price: $307.65
Year-closing price: $619.98 (102%)
2009 was the year Android finally broke through.

Southern Copper (PCU)
Year-opening price: $16.06
Year-closing price: $32.91 (105%)
Copper a big participant in the commodity bull run, version 2.0.

Apple (AAPL)
Year-opening price: $85.35
Year-closing price: $210.73 (147%)
Can the iPhone and App Store be stopped?

Ford (F)
Bought: Feb @ $1.86
Year-closing price: $10.00 (438%)
Dare I say it, the great American car company.