It's Like a Game of Chess

Chess seems to be a game you learn as a kid and then tend to only play when the grandparents are in town. Although like some, I never learned chess. Now attending San Diego State University, I learned how to play with my roommate, and now I play a game once a day.

What Chess Can Do For You 

The reason why chess is so interesting is because of the psychology behind it. Such a small simple game becomes a complex strategic game with certain theories, openings, closings, and sacrifices. Doesn't investing sound eerily similar? Isn't investing a complex strategic game with theories, openings, closings, and sacrifices? You can play chess defensively, you can invest defensively. You can play chess aggressively, you can invest aggressively. You can have a big ego during chess, and you can have a big ego investing as well. Chess can do multiple things for you. It can first give you a break from the real world and can get in a trance and yet its just a chess game. Like basketball for me, chess can give you a break from a stressful environment or a bad day. You may think opening a chess game is easy, simply move a pawn or a minor piece forward, but its like investing that way. It seems easy to click a button and buy a stock, but just as one simple opening effects the rest of the game for you, so does buying a stock. 

Navigating your way through a game of chess can be similar to navigating your way through an investment

Now realize this, lets compare chess strategies to investing. Chess positioning is critical, so is it to investing, valuing all pieces on a chess board is key as well as it is to investing, all assets are valuable, now when risking these assets for a greater profit, chess can be compared to this as well. Chess you may have to sacrifice a piece to gain a greater piece down the road. And as in chess you make a move now for a future move down the road. When investing, if you are skimming off your gains at the end of the year for example, you are doing so for future moves down the road. When you make a move in chess, it has to be in reasoning an argument of why this move is made and you must think from the opponents side what move he would do. This can be seen in investing as well. Every trade that is made or investment must have reasoning behind, an argument of why you made this trade or this investment, what will it do for you in the future? How will you close out this trade or investment?  

Conclusion

By thinking your way through a chess game you raise questions that may even apply to investing. As the questions and similarities in the article stated could be used in investing, understand the why to what you do. And even if you think chess and investing are dissimilar, it takes your mind off of the stresses in life and makes you think about your decisions in the game of chess, and the game of life. 

Tesla: The Be All End All of Automobiles

     Tesla has been a crazed stock on the market for the last 2 years on it's amazing run it's been having. Tesla motors has been labeled the future of the automotive industry and could have the potential to be bigger than GM and Ford combined. While the stock has enjoyed better success than GM or Ford, it still has a heap of opposition against it. For one thing that investors have is the evaluation of Tesla. Tesla has been growing not only on earnings but mostly, on pure hype. Tesla has drawn many oohs and ahhs, but it's high prices on it's models and costs could scare investors away. Here's my take on Tesla:

        The Potential
Tesla's concept is revolutionary. Musk's genius way to power a car finally made electric cars a legitimate success. Plus to even start a car company at this day and age is a feat. Now the concept moves away from a gas engine and instead uses the actual frame of the car as the battery. Install it with other high tech features, take away gears, the shifts and constant buffer time most cars have from shifting to gear 2, 3, or 4, and you have the concept of Tesla's car. To move away from the combustion engine and go towards a complete battery, and to start a car company with success (the first to do so in the last 50 years) is breathtaking and deserves the recognition its been having. The potential for Tesla is enormous.

        The Downside
As genius of an idea this is, there is actually a lot of downsides toward Tesla that many would not expect. In fact, an argument could be made that there is more of a downside to Tesla than an upside. Here I'll take a look at a few downsides of the company:

1. Fans of Tesla don't really do anything for the company from an investors stand point
Tesla has an enormous following coming from investors and consumers. The investors have contributed to the success that Tesla's stock has enjoyed the past two years. The consumers might be in curiosity and bring Tesla up in conversation because of how revolutionary and just flat out cool the car is. But the average consumer doesn't do much for the company. Obviously word of mouth is crucial to get the word out for a company, but Tesla does not need that anymore, they need people to buy there car. Sadly the pricing for a Tesla has been pricy and is grouped in the luxury car category. A model S can go for over a $1,000 a month. Until Tesla produces a cheaper car, many consumers won't be able to get their hands on it. Therefore the target consumer would stay the wealthy individuals.

2. Its Giga factory
It has been in talks with Panasonic, one of Japan's largest electronic producers, to build an estimated $5 billion factory in Nevada. This factory would produce lithium-ion batteries for its cars and in hope would lower the cost of making the batteries and lower the key cost of the car. Thus, making the car more affordable for the consumer. Now there is plenty of upside to this giga factory it is set to build, but this is also a downside for Tesla. $5 billion dollar project is a hefty price for one factory, and the risk reward could be costly. Plus, although Tesla's are more environmentally friendly than any other car on the road (look on Tesla's site for the comparison of energy costs compared to fuel costs of an average car) lithium-ion batteries have raised slight concern for how energy efficient they actually are to produce. The metals that the batteries require are said to be incredibly harmful for the atmosphere. Plus the change of owning an electric car to an average car is a huge. Many consumers could even be skeptical about the change.

3. Some States Don't Like It
Perhaps one of the biggest hurtles for Tesla to overcome is its negative impact on lobbyists. Some states have banned the sales of Tesla (Texas, Virginia, Maryland, and now New Jersey). This is because Tesla doesn't use a car dealership to sell its cars. Instead Tesla sells through itself, and the auto industry lobbyists aren't too happy.

4. The Hype
From the investors stand point buying Tesla is an investment for the future. Well, that price that Tesla is trading at is already counting the future in it. The hype seems to be what is driving Tesla stocks higher instead of its actual earnings. People believe that the earnings will rise in the stock in the future, therefore they go and buy it now. Well those future earnings are already built into the stock price, that is how Tesla has been such a successful stock. The real value of the company still needs to be proven by its earnings, and its cut down on costs to produce the car.

Conclusion
Do not get me wrong, Tesla is an amazing company and in fact has tremendous upside. For instance, Elon Musk is one of the best entrepreneurs of my time. With him at the helm Tesla and the rest of Elon Musk's adventurous projects could be huge successes. I am only giving concerns of why Tesla could be an over-speculated company. Maybe not now, but down the road earnings and the growth its been promising has to live up to its expectations. These expectations have been set incredibly high, and Elon Musk definitely knows what he's doing. October 9th Tesla is set to make announcements regarding an updated product line and more. Like the Apple events, this may be eye candy for consumers, enthusiasts, and investors alike. But, understand when investing in it, measurements for actual sustained growth is needed. And other car companies are following in Tesla's footsteps for electronic cars. Invest with Care.

Trimming and Adjusting in a Slow, Slow Economy

2014 has so far been a weird trading cycle at least for me so far. I've realized as time goes on that the growth stocks that were so successful in 2013, are not so successful in 2014. Some may have  been lucky and have avoided a rough 2014 so far, but it seems like high cap stocks have had a great run so far, and after the slight dip in the end of January, the markets have gotten to steady up pace. It may have been slow but it seems in the recent weeks its been picking up and now breaking through record highs once again to start June off. The whole "sell in May and go away" saying may not have been the best idea. But with the transition from small cap stocks to high cap stocks complete, and other adjustments taking place, did you feel like you missed out? Or can't quite get the trends?

The Trimming Technique
          One of the key decisions in investing is not only when to buy, but also when to sell. The trickiest might be the latter. Lets say you gain a huge return on an investment, but hold on to it because you are afraid its not at the top, and so you think it can keep climbing, instead it falls and you lose much more of the profit you were hoping for. Or other way around, the stock takes a turn for the worst, and so you aren't quite sure if you should sell your loses and move on or stick with the same roller coaster. Its a tricky decision that has investors in a predicament. And so the biggest tip I can give is the trimming technique. Take a look at your portfolio and if you are pleased with the returns, and truly believe the stock has had a great run and believe its in your best interest to take the earnings and run, then so do it. If the stock keeps going while you sold it, you might kick yourself, but I'd rather kick myself with a profit then with a loss. And with the trimming technique, you can just trim some of your gains and keep the stock, therefore, if the stock keeps rising you still get some gains while holding onto a percentage you already made. It works with stocks in the red too. Trimming is used when you believe your investment is at a higher risk then originally perceived; a certain percentage of your gains or losses are cut off to lower the risk of an investment.

The Advanced Reconstitution Phases
          This technique deals with funds rather than individual stocks in a portfolio, although it can still be used. Certain investment websites have a create your own "ETF" where you get to customize a portfolio based on percentages you want to invest in with certain individual stocks. Basically, in the instance of Motif Investing, you can trade 30 stocks for the same fee as one stock, the 30 stocks can be any of your liking and you can customize the percentage of your money goes to each stock. Neat right? Well this type of investing has its disadvantages and advantages and make sure you read up on these customizable "ETF's" first. Reconstituting is typically done quarterly or yearly. Reconstituting is done when a fund looks at its stocks and either add/remove its existing stocks or change the existing ranking of stocks in the fund. This is done to keep the portfolio or fund in tact with market trends. Reconstituting is critical to the success of a fund. Now, this can also be done with certain portfolios. Obviously for individual investors, trimming is an easier way adjust their portfolio, but with those customizable "ETF's"  this reconstituting technique could be possible. Invest with Care.

The Worldwide Developer's Conference: The Ecosystem of Apple

        I know I know, I have already talked about Apple last time but this time isn't about some deal. This time its about there Worldwide Developers Conference they host every year in San Francisco. Now the conference is used to showcase new software technologies and programs for developers. So the first matter we have to get out of the way is that this conference is intended for developers not consumers. So if you watched the keynote Monday and at the end said, "so what did they announce other than software updates" then you are like me. But lets try to look at the picture from Apple's perspective.

Apple's Positioning 

        The conference this year certainly didn't set off any fireworks, but from Apple's perspective they are trying to feed programmers with the tools they need to make their own fireworks. The conference was not about updating their product line, (which I desperately wish they did)  but was about connecting their products and updating their software with new features and easier ways for developers to write code. These announcements were certainly a positive for coders and developers but for consumers and investors, we were not very impressed. Early media coverage has mixed thoughts. Some media outlets focus on the positive of what they said, the new apps including a health and home app, the new finger recognition software and how it can be used through 3rd party apps, and more. Some media outlets focused on the negative what they said, what they didn't say. No new flashy watches or Apple Beat head phones has consumers disappointed. So in reality Apple addressed the glass half full instead of half empty.

My take on WWDC 2014

      I watched most of the key note speech presented by CEO Tim Cook as well as other developers and Apple assistants who presented various presentations and demos of the new software updates a preview of IOS 8 and other new apps. I am not a developer nor am I a enthusiast of coding. But I can understand the positives of the new software they released. The beginning Mr. Cook took shots at Google, then went on to explain its developing software and how it is now much easier to use as well as a new health app that can put charts of your health onto one screen. (I guess that's why they hired some renowned doctors) They also have a new home app that synchronizes all of your home security needs in one app. Tim Cook introduced updates to the Icloud, which connected their applications and devices together. They touched on how they have given more customization and speed into their developing software by using their new software which makes it more easier for developers to use. Apple also emphasized how this new update will not compromise on their well known safety features. 

What To Take From The Conference

      I might of missed a couple of points from the keynote but I got the highlights and there is some conclusions I would take from the conference that are important. Apple made strides to connect all of their devices, update their interface, add some more apps, and make it easier for developers to develop. As an investor and from the big picture, this isn't much and is why Apple fell on Monday. The small picture though has some pretty big implications. Obviously the absence of new products is a red flag for investors, but the strides it made with its developing software is a sign new developers can now be able to make big money apps easier and faster. Also its home and health apps shows how its incorporating its brand into more markets. From an investing stand point that's a good sign. Mr. Cook shared powerful data showing how they have 130 million new customers buying there first Apple product and probably switched from an Android device. (taking a shot at Google) This figure is important because it shows how Apple is still growing and it can retain these customers as well. I didn't like how Tim Cook talked up the update at the end and shared how the new coding software is the biggest thing since the app store. I still wan't to know what the wickedly smart Angela Ahrendts, the former CEO of Burberry who transformed the British company into a money machine with style is going to do at Apple as retail chief. Plus what they plan to do with Dr. Dre's beats. In the end it was a software heavy conference that might of bored consumers, excited developers, and concerned investors. 

In conclusion

       So I end by saying what I've always said about Apple, it  won't be an exciting stock like it was when Steve Jobs was at the helm. But, the anticipation and expectations for something new to come out of Apple is growing and growing. And instead of addressing it, they have made strides to get into new markets, knowing it has lost ground in other markets. "Apple put itself into a great position for the future of their products" but when will those products come out is what everyone is dying to know. Apple has been on a run for the most part because of its fundamentals. It still has a heaping amount of cash, a great dividend yield, and shows great sales from its Iphone's and Ipads, which lets face it, we'll keep buying their new Iphones for as long as they keep updating them. The stock has made a rebound on Tim Cook's reinvestments back into the company, but will not reach new heights until they come out with a new product that consumers will crawl to. Which i'm sure Apple fans will definitely crawl to whatever they have next. Invest with care. 

Apple Buys Dr. Dre's Beats?

Apple stirred their behemoth pot of cash Friday with the rumor that they are buying Beats by Dr. Dre for a reported $3.2 billion. Still chump change for Apples large cash flow. Apple has recently been spending their mountain of cash on expert doctors, and stock buy backs. Apple has been rediculed by many for the lack of innovation to their old product line, as well as their lack of decisions made over the heaping cash load  (look back to my article on What's The Deal With Apple for some background).

 Dr Dre, one of the last pioneers of the competitive 90s  rap ventured into the business world and along with Interscope Record's Jimmy Lovine  have managed Beats by Dr. Dre. The Santa Monica based company boasts a large profit margin on their marked up expensive headphones. They also have huge names from numerous celebrity endorsers from the sport world to the hip hop world. Long story short a lot of people wear Dr. Dre's headphones. So now the 90s rapper who smartly got into the business aspect of hip hop, the headphone. Many have theorized this makes Dr. Dre the first billionaire in hip-hop, although that is not going to be accurate, he still will make a hefty amount of money.

Why Did Apple Buy Beats?
For those of you keeping track, this was Apple's biggest acquisition ever at $3.2 billion. And they still put down a lot of cash to buy them, so why did they? Well their is some disturbing reasons why:

1. Apple's Itunes service lost $1.34 billion dollars in sales of 2013, while Spotify sales rose showing their fall in the music industry that was once dominated by Apple. Instead, Apple ventured on to new products and failed to keep their strong position in music. It took till now to realize they should probably be doing something to get back into music, so they bought the best headphones.

2. Steve Jobs had a long track record with Jimmy Lovine and so buying Beats was something Tim Cook thinks Steve Jobs would've done.

3. They like where Beats is heading (although Im not sure where that is). Dre's Beats are at the top of their game, great business advice would say never buy something at the top of what they are doing, it is hard to say they can really grow this company from where it is now. Beats has ventured into the highly competitive aspect of the music industry in music streaming. This is not such a good idea. People are accustomed to getting music for free, whether its Spotifiy, Pandora, or Youtube, music streaming is extremely competitive. And so for people to pay for your product, it better be worth every penny or else your target audience will not budge. In conclusion, Apple bought them on the thought they could grow their music streaming services.

4. Apple was scared at the number they saw in red from their Itunes service, this has not happened since they opened the Itunes store, they want to be relevant again when it comes to music. Even though Dre's beats are profitable, other headphones will and some already have, cut into Dr. Dre's market.


In Conclusion
In the end, Apple's team of coders, programmers, high valued businessmen, geeks, nerds, and whatever doctors are doing in Silcon Valley will team up with hip hop music men, partiers, and the laid back lifestyle of Santa Monica. Apple and Beats mix could work out for the company, but as an investor, this deal isn't for the short term. The message that Apple is sending through this deal isn't a bright one for the future, many media outlets have questioned their deal. Again this is only speculation, and the rumor has it the deal will go through but no word from Apple's side of things. Only Apple knows what Apple is doing. Invest with care.

Ford

Ford the motor company, still trying to dig its way out of the 2008 recession and can successfully say its one of the only surviving motor companies out of Detroit. General Motors mess is still in clean up mode, and the rest of the auto making industry has been shipped overseas. There were over 1,800 automobile manufacturers in the United States between 1896 and 1930. Now a few survive: Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors make up the main automakers left in the United States. Now minor car companies have been made in the United States but many have failed and others have never gained enough traction from investors.

The Exception
Now while mentioning the car industry and the U.S., it is hard to not mention this one. Tesla is one of the only successful start up car companies in the modern era and is why the story is so interesting. Elon Musk, a brilliant entrepreneur and inventor, took the gamble to start up Tesla. It paid off big time, not only is Tesla one of the hottest stocks on the market but its also revolutionizing the car industry by bringing back the electronic car.

The History of Ford
But, this is about Ford. Ford was founded in 1903 and revolutionized the auto making industry by introducing assembly lines in the process of car making. Henry Ford created the Model T, one of the first affordable cars in the United States and is widely accepted as one of the most influential inventions of the 20th century. Ford didn't go public into 1956 and tried to maintain the concept of a family ran business after Henry Ford passed. The company has been passed down from Mr. Ford and is now ran by his great-grandson Will Ford Jr. Although, the families involvement has dwindled.  The Ford family has retained 40% voting rights after going public. Even though shareholders round out the majority 60%. Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally a critical decision maker who brought Ford out of its fall from 2008 will step down this summer and is going to be replaced by COO Mark Fields. Now Ford for most of the 20th century was consistently up their in names of the largest automakers in the world. By the late 20th century and 21st century, Ford and GM gave ground to foreign automakers. Toyota and Honda in Japan took top spots in the worlds automakers. By the 2008 recession, Ford, GM, and Chrysler were critically hit by sales and expenses that financially sunk the automakers  into laying off mass amounts of jobs contributing to the recession. Amazingly, Ford did not take as much money from the government then Chrysler and GM, so they are able to say they did not get "bailed out" and instead built there way from the bottom by themselves (for the most part). Now, Ford is steadily veering towards success again and still consistently a top automaker in the world, this year at number 5. In the U.S. Ford is 2nd behind GM.

Investment Perspective
Ford is a credible car company and has been reliable although it's stock my not suggest it. Ford has changed it's reputation from it's classic American muscle car look to a wide range of cars and trucks. The Ford F-150 is one of the most popular trucks on the road and there new Ford Raptor is gaining media and Ford fans attention. Not only should there truck line pick up, but there renewed Taurus and Focus look like they could give Ford good profit in the years to come. Recently, it's been more advantageous to buy an actually Ford than invest in the stock. It was trading around $17 for the majority of the second half of 2013 and dropped to it's $15 level in January off of a bad earnings report where they predict expenses will rise for 2014 from rolling out their new product lines. My opinion that type of a fall was on the red number from the expenses, rightfully so, investors should be worried but the pay off should be greater in the long run. It has struggled to get back to it's $17 level so far in 2014, but it's a non volatile stock for the most part, and so its $15 range should move up in the future. And like the rest of the auto industry, Ford also blamed it's bad quarter results to the bad winter storms. It's new product line should pay out not only for consumers but investors as well.

The special edition Ford F-150 SVT Raptor has media outlets buzzing

but will the expanded F-150 lineup draw in more customers?

In Conclusion 
From an outside looking in on the company I can only make my analysis from the data released by Ford and the compared stock price. Ford should be able to grow from it's new product line, unless natural disasters hit and Ford blames another bad quarter on the weather again. Keep in mind the risk reward factor, Ford could be pleased by sales from its expanding product line, or they could take a hit from it and backfire. They raised expenses and so they need some sales the next few quarters to solidify their investments. Invest with Care.

The Competitive Edge

A New Investing Era - High Frequency Trading 
     Investing has indeed changed from the sites and sounds of the New York Stock Exchange. Instead the mix between home traders, office traders, and high frequency computer specialists have conquered the market place and are here to stay. The average trader sits with two or three computer screens constantly marking tickers or analyzing a chart. For an investor at home, they seem to be largely out of the mix. CBS's 60 Minutes a couple weeks ago had a segment on high frequency trading that caught the attention of most media outlets. The report showed how hundreds of millions of dollars could be moved and traded milliseconds before the average investor could put a stock order in. Thus, the value of a few cents a second could add up to a large profit at the end of a year or so. Investing itself takes time and diligence and to know that after a long heavily thought out decision could get undermined by someone else's click of a button is down right upsetting. Even though the effects of high frequency trading on  the average investor  is debated, it still could be a cause for concern for the average investor. Understandably, high frequency trading accounts for a majority of volume for today's markets, and so it is here to stay.

The New Normal - Earnings vs. Hype 
       The markets have prospered on a long lasting bull run from the 2009 lows, but most analysts have expected a pullback of at least 10%. We still have not gotten that 10% yet. We had a 7% pullback in late January, but other than that this bull market has been excelling. 2014 has so far been a bumpy start especially after such success from the markets last year. The markets have either dipped a little, or just stayed relatively flat for most of 2014 so far. Now, was 2013's market run on hype or on earnings? Well it was a mix of both. But do not get ahead of yourself, the market hype was real. Many stuffed their money into Biotechs or even newer industries like 3D printing. In the great run we had last year it seemed hard to tell when these stocks were going to slow down, they were getting higher and higher and it seemed like the gains on some stocks were outrageous. Celgene, one of my stock picks in the beginning of last year was on fire. Now it seems reality has hit. Many investors realized there gains were to good to be true and sold out at the end of 2013; a smart choice. Celgene now is down 17% this year. This is where the hype ended. In realization, both Biotechs and 3D printing stocks as well as a majority of the market, were trading well above earnings. Sound investors would show you red flags immediately after looking at those companies earnings compared with their share value. This is where the debate comes in.

The Competitive Edge
       The debate of sound tactic investing and hype seems like it would be a no brain solution. When actually looking in depth, both have their advantages and disadvantages. Sound investing tactics, looking through fundamental values, companies balance sheets, and other Benjamin Graham like strategies would be a safe way to invest. But in 2013, this way would not give you certain outrageous gains like in the case of Celgene's 117% gain. In contrast, the major US indexes averaged around a 30% gain for the year. 30% in one year is quite impressive and even sound investments could beat the market, but the investing hype would've gotten you even better gains. So where's the debate? Well the sound investors would look at the certain companies and through fundamentals come to the conclusion that the stock is trading far above its earnings. While the hype of other investors would look at the momentum of the stock and buy it. The new era investor would win round 1. Well what about getting out of the market? Investors should realize that 30% gains in 2014 will not come so easily, instead allocating their money elsewhere will not only provide better gains, depending on where you move it, it will save you from a correction. This is where the growth stocks of 2014, so far, have proven to be wrong. As I said before Celgene is down 17%, as well as other Biotech companies, selling off at the years end would've been the smart choice, and if you stayed in thinking for more gains, you were proven wrong.

      In conclusion, sound investors and investors playing off of momentum both have their advantages as well as their disadvantages. Playing both earnings and momentum is the best decision possible, and fundamentals should always be factored in when making investment choices. Where sound investors win, is when they can realize to go against the public opinion and go off of fundamentals to save their profits, instead of riding the ups and lows of today's markets, they have already moved on to allocating there investments elsewhere to save their money, or gain more profit. In the end, every investor will find their niche, whether it's high frequency trading, small caps vs. large caps, momentum, or following what the experts say, everyone should play there niche to their advantage. Invest with Care.

Carl Icahn: The Count Dooku of Wall Street

At my age, many ask me who my favorite investor is or who I aspire to be. It is easy to say Warren Buffet or Milton Freedman. Although Carl Icahn may or may not be someone to aspire to be but there is no doubt that Icahn has made a huge name for himself. Icahn is just that, an icon. No mean for the pun but he is easily up there with the best investors in the game. What makes Icahn so interesting is his style of investing and even more so; his story. The book King Icahn: The Biography of a Renegade Capitalist goes into the life of Carl Icahn and how he amassed his fortune.

Carl Icahn's story is intriguing, he wasn't raised in a family with financial prestige, his dad was a frustrated opera singer that ended up switching between the cantor for his local synagogue and a substitute teacher. His mother was also a school teacher. Carl Icahn focused on his studies and majored in philosophy at Princeton. He then decided that wasn't his thing, so he wen't to med school in New York. He then dropped out after 2 years to join the army. Still hasn't picked up investing. Finally, he started investing and started his own company that is now the empire Icahn Enterprises. He then amassed a huge amount of money to try and control numerous amounts of companies in his favor to turn enormous profits. He over the years has developed a ruthless reputation. He can be considered a corporate raider, by buying certain percentages of companies to control their agenda in the stock holders favor, then ditched the company to pursuit another. He is the Count Dooku of Wall Street. It seems with age, that he actually is resembling the Star Wars antagonist Count Dooku. Count Dooku in Star Wars is the well respected master Jedi. Just like Count Dooku, Carl Icahn is regarded as a legendary investor. Icahn's reputation as a corporate raider is because of his almost hostile take overs of companies just to turn a profit. Some just say Icahn's methods are aggressive and benefit each company he comes in contact with.

His style of trading and more in depth look at his story can be found in the book King Icahn by Mark Stevens. Mr. Icahn has also spent some change on some million dollar horses. He is a diversified investor that can certainly stir up feuds with other investors, like last years feud with billionaire investor Bill Ackman. Carl Icahn can certainly be admired for his story and respected for his success in investing. But is he someone to look up to? After you  read into his business holdings, and his raids on Phillips Petroleum and TWA, you can decide whether or not to admire the Count Dooku of Wall Street.

Comcast and Time Warner - The Merger Explained

Recently, media reports showed that Comcast proposed a $45.2 billion takeover of Time Warner Cable Inc. This takeover would be quite a hefty deal for the market and the government to grasp. Two of the largest cable providers merging just sounds like a deal that the government will sniff out. The FTC, or Federal Trade Commission along with, surprising, the IRS, and sometimes the SEC, will have some report and analyzation of the merger in due time.

My Rant on Comcast
Non business related, Comcast is the provider for my TV and I do enjoy the on demand options, (although the movies I want to watch always have a fee to them) as well as the freedom to watch without weather interference (sorry directTV) Comcast simply is frustrating. Comcast is a monopoly in the cable industry regardless of its merger with Time Warner, Comcast knows that its customers will reluctantly stay with them regardless of the premium they put on for extra channels. They know customers don't want to go through the hassle of switching cable providers and that most customers certainly won't go to satellite providers. So, Comcast has its customers right where they want them; in a struggle of paying big money for more shows or movies. I just can't get over their ridiculous fee that they charge for some of its on demand products.(other than Netflix movies are coming hard to find)All of their "Xfinity" commercials always show the classic "pay for 6 months" fee thats always lower than what you actually end up paying for it in the long run. I'll have to admit, there customer service has gotten better over the years and the monopoly that they have is only going to get grow.

The Growing Diversity of Comcast
Comcast over the years grew from the cable company, to the phone company, to the internet company, and now to the home security company. Its pretty amazing how many aspects of our lives Comcast could cover. Reading some articles that might say how the cable industry is the next to fall is an intriguing topic, but is hard to pinpoint and should be thrown away at the moment. For now, cable companies are still bringing in profit, and are diversifying themselves to reap more profits. Regardless of the fact, many Netflix or Hulu users tend to stray away from normal cable and rely more and more on Netflix. Comcast realized this and so they recently have added a home security component to its already diverse product line. The home security not only adds a different industry to go into, but also adds a mobile perspective that Comcast has been trying to unlock. And so, the growing diversity of Comcast, can only go up.

Will the Merger Happen?
With all of the diversity in Comcast, I haven't even began talking about the merger with Time Warners Cable. This would involve the two largest cable companies and give Comcast a huge boost in its already dominant industry. That just sounds like a no go from Washington. Well the government as I said before, will have some sort of report on the merger and review its eligibility soon. I wouldn't make any promises of this going through just yet. In time, we'll see. The main argument why this just might squeeze by the government regulators is how comcast and time warner do not have any overlapping markets and so customers won't see any changes to their services since they serve different area codes. Many are arguing its in the publics best interest. Still, Washington will needs to overlook the case and make an announcement soon.

All Hype?
There is an interesting book out about mergers by Thomas  Straub explaining the failures of mergers. Mergers are complicated, government interference is usual, and they are extensive and sometimes confusing. The main point to look at is how much media covers acquisitions and mergers like dogs chasing a ball, they go after mergers for the sake of a news story. Granted, this merger should be covered and is obviously major news, but there are plenty of mergers out their that have failed by either the government or just simply didn't work out. The successful merger that many point out would be the 1998 merger between Exxon and Mobile to create the giant oil company that is today Exon Mobile. Now I'm not saying that this deal will end up being the next Exxon Mobile and I'm not saying this merger will end up being another failed merger, (unless the government intervenes) I'm just saying from a long term perspective, the deal isn't going to be a gold mine of profit for investors, but watch the deal carefully. Invest with care.

The Pullback We Need?

2013 Markets around the world enjoyed great gains throughout the entire year. 2014 a month in, and American markets have pulled back. Dow Industrial down a cool 7% while the S&P is down 5% and tech heavy NASDAQ down 4%. Many investors believe that a pull back between 10%-15% is what is considered "healthy" for the market to stay true to its pricing. Analysts have been worrying and uneasy about the Fed's transition and tapering of its purchases of bonds. Others believe the sell off is because of how overpriced most stocks are compared to their earnings.
 
The worrying over the pullback is why many have been very speculative of the market and after such a great year being speculative is a natural reaction. Now the question being asked is how much of a pullback is considered healthy? And when does the real worrying kick in?

Look at your portfolio 

Financials did not kick 2014 off with a bang. Usually January is a good month for investors, but this January was the opposite. Financials fell off of their highs like most of the market and could continue to fall with the Fed's tapering.

The most important move I made over the winter was setting aside some cash. A good 10% was how much I put down, and it wouldn't hurt to put a little more down either. Do not expect 2014 to be such as great of a year for equities as 2013 was. Its going to be choppier. I prepared by not only setting the 10% in cash, but also put  a small percentage into hedge positions. TZA or Direxion Daily Small Cap Bear Shares, for example is one of many hedges investors can have on the market.  The fund carries 3X the bear, or down side of the stocks it owns. And so in general, when the market goes down, these funds go up. They aren't bad ideas to own during pullbacks, but a few reminders. Trading hedge positions of any kind are typically a risky trade and experience should be required before setting aside any money into these funds. Only set aside a very small percentage into market hedges, and if you are hesitant or even questioning yourself, then the best hedge is to stay in cash. A lot of research must go into hedge positions before risking your investment.

Small Caps vs. Large Caps

Looking into small cap stocks tends to be riskier. They can be more volatile and depending on the stock, they can be unpredictable. Large caps you can expect more out of the stock. Compared to small caps, large cap stocks are like bread and butter. The big 30 on the Dow don't tend to flex up or down as volatile as low cap stocks do. A great dividend paying stock thats a big name tends to stay with the market obviously depending on the any big company news. In volatile market, small caps are riskier and should be treated with more care than trading a large cap stock.

In Conclusion
Choppy trading sessions should be something to expect more of this year and the market may not have the upswing like 2013 had, and so you won't get too lucky just picking a random stock these days, you have to realize whats going to fit your own goals. Using stock screening programs to fit certain criteria is a great start to picking out a few companies to invest in. I'd stray away from growth stocks this year unless they look absolutely promising. 3D Systems which has been on my watch board, got blitzed yesterday, the lesson to learn is not too panic and make decisions based on a great reasoning. Don't just sell just to sell, or don't buy just to buy. If you are in dire need for a growth stock the main stream profit maker Tesla is an intriguing one to look up. Don't be so scared when you see the market pull back like this. It's not the first time the market has pulled back a little bit, and it won't be the last.

Stock Watch List 2014

After Some research and consideration I have came up with a list of stocks to watch for 2014. At the end of the year I will see how I did.

Apple - Apple addressed its employees with a letter saying that big things are happening at Apple in 2014. Whether or not it was just a pep talk at new years is up in the air. Apple's fall from its $700 level and Carl Icahn trying to give advice to CEO Tim Cook all looks fishy to me. As I wrote about Apple last year, I'll say it again, Apple does not look like the same Apple we saw on the rise in the mid 2000's with Steve Jobs at the helm. That being said lots of mutual funds still carry Apple as its top holder. Apple's customers still have a high percentage of returning to its products, a good thing, plus Apple has tones and I mean tones of cash flow it can either reinvest back into the company (like Icahn says) or raise its already high dividend, or sit on it like its been doing. It finally stuck a deal with China's largest mobile carrier; another good thing, but will its success run to China or not is still in question. Keep in mind while Apple had an OK year, the tech heavy NASDAQ went up 40% while Apple was just staying behind. Obviously if Apple comes out with new products instead of just updating their tiring product line Apple will be a stock to look at but don't expect it to be as revolutionizing as the Ipod. I'd Give Apple a C short term and B- long term. It depends on the market and whether or not Apple really has any big cards up its sleeves.  


Ford Motor - I recently added Ford to my portfolio for the specific reason of its under evaluation. To me I think Ford is undervalued. Its sales for 2013 was strong and its expected to have an even better 2014. It has recently fallen below its moving average and to me that signals a buying opportunity. I had ford on my stocks to watch last year and it was a steady moving stock and still returned some gains, look for 2014 to be a year that Ford gets going. I would give Ford a B- short term and A long term. Short term its overhead has to get passed some negative publicity of the costs it is taking to get its new product line going, but long term it should pay off.

Cliff Natural Resources - Cliff Natural Resources got a bad rap from me last year, and for the right reason, natural resources companies had a real rough 2013. The sector has been drilled and was in the red for most of last year. What intrigues me about Cliff Natural Resources was its second half of 2013. It picked up a 56% gain, in all honesty the stock may be something to stay away from in 2014, but its still an interesting stock to watch for the next couple of years. I would continue my bad rap for Cliff Natural Resources and give it D short term and C- long term. Long term the stock could have a better year than it did.

RPC Inc - RPC Inc was also in my stocks to watch for 2013 because of the Obama's administrations promise on self sufficient energy here in the U.S. Instead of investing in heavily regulated energy stocks, I found the guy that makes the shovel for all the gold miners. RPC makes the equipment that a lot of independent oil and gas companies use. It went up 51% last year and it should have another solid year. I'd give RPC a B+ short term and A- long term. It should be a durable stock to watch for 2014.  

American Water Works - I had American Water Works on my list of stocks to watch last year and it did OK considering what the market did, the reason why its back on the list is because its a great long term investment. American Water Works has a bunch of subsidiaries that are regulated by the U.S. That makes American Water Works a regulated company which means it doesn't fluctuate too much. Its got a .30 beta value and it really won't move too much. Water will always be an interesting investment as the population keeps booming in the future to come. Since its a utility, I'll give American Water Works a B- short term and B+ long term. Remember to treat it as a long term investment. 

Urban Outfitters - Urban Outfitters is a large retail company that seems to be one of the only large retailer that is not near its 52 week high, like most stocks are. It had a bad 2013 and since it is a cheap retail company doesn't mean you should just jump into it. I would give Urban Outfitters a B- short term and a C- long term. Short term holiday season and cloths for teenagers seem to be in an uprising but long term it will be depending on its summer output.

Nordstrom Inc - I'm going to use Nordstrom as a short term investment. This specialty retailer had an OK year in 2013 and honestly in the long term depending on the market, I don't expect this stock to surprise me in a huge upward run. Why I am writing on it is specifically for short term. I would give Nordstrom a B+ short term and C long term. I believe Nordstrom will meet and have a great earnings report with a good holiday season. 

Nike Inc - Nike is one of the largest retailers when it comes to sports wear and almost every athlete that I come in contact with, will be wearing something from Nike. Nike has an enormous amount of market cap and with the Olympics coming up Nike will sure be in full attendance. I will give Nike a B- short term and B long term. I think that it will be a steady moving stock. It was a better P/E ratio compared to other companies at their 52 week highs. Its got room to continue its run.

Emerson Electric Co - Emerson Electric is new to the list this year and in summary Emerson is a diversified industrial company. Its got decent fundamentals and it has had great gains throughout the year. Emerson isn't really volatile but its been etching out good gains throughout the years and its momentum shouldn't fall out on it. Again it might do as the market does so don't be surprised if it pulls back. Emerson Electric reminds me a lot like GE, and they are pretty similar, although GE is even more diversified. I would give Emerson Electric a B- short term and B- long term. It looks like a great stock, but it has to break through hits moving average for it make some good profits.  

The TJX Companies - TJX is really just TJ Maxx. It also has other Homegoods under its name but I'm going to refer to it as TJ Maxx. Since Christmas is over the season's earnings report will be key for TJ Maxx, the company will do as retailer sales do. But TJ Maxx's advantage is its lower prices appeal to a more economical shopper, which seemed to be more popular for the shopping season this year. I would give TJ Maxx an B+ short term and B long term. The small drop off its only because I'm reluctant to think it will continue momentum into the summer.

Chesapeake Energy Corporation - Chesapeake is new to the list but it isn't old to me, I've had my eyes on this energy stock for awhile and if you are looking to buy energy stocks this stock seems to always be mentioned. A lot of energy mutual funds have Chesapeake in its top holdings and its a stock that was up 59% last year. The best thing is, it can still continue its rise. If you are looking at energy stocks, this one is the one to look at. Only downside is the dividend yield is not that inviting and its regulations it goes through by the government. I'd give Chesapeake Energy a B+ short term and A- long term. 

Gold - Yes just plain gold. Research to find a gold stock but just the commodity itself is what I'm talking about. Make sure your an experienced commodity trader, but Gold has been in a lot of investment conversations because of how much it as fallen in 2013. Gold and the Dollar mostly carry an inverse relationship and the Dollar had a strong year, so in turn, Gold had a miserable year. Many people believe Gold is so low that there is a huge buying opportunity. Remind yourself this, why would the same forces that drove Gold prices down stop? If the Dollar is poised for another good year, than Gold could continue to fall. I say Gold is a C+ short term and D long term. I really think the market can have a decent year, and now that Yellen is assuming Bernanke's role, she is rumored to continue in the same direction that Bernanke was headed 

Facebook Inc - A lot of people have been asking me to write about Facebook. Being in the so called Facebook generation many old school investors that are curious about Facebook usually look to younger people's opinions to whether Facebook is the real deal. Facebook was designed for connecting people, and now since Zuckerberg took Facebook public, he has been trying to develop ways for Facebook to make money. Advertising seems to be Facebook's biggest revenue and it still scares me as whether or not it can be sufficient enough or not. Teens like me still slightly use Facebook but mostly use Twitter, its all business advertising when it comes to Facebook. I give Facebook a C- short term and C+ long term. Honestly I am not shorting nor buying Facebook, watching it is my plan for now. It seems a little overvalued though.

Read my stock of the weeks to look at other stocks to research. These stocks should be good to research and take a look at and consider for 2014. Be sure to check out my other articles on the blog. Check out my Google + account  +Alleyway Investing and check out my Twitter @AlleywayInvest. Alleyway Investing's Twitter has other helpful tips as well. Twitter, Google +, and this blog is written and operated by Jon Morris. Not Responsible for Loses. Opinionated Investment Ideas 

Reviewing The Markets and The Watch List From 2013

               Not to many analysts could have predicted the year that the markets had. 2013 treated investors with nice gains in various sectors throughout the Dow Industrial, S&P, and the NASDAQ. Sorry if you were in some basic material stocks or gold because those sectors did not do so hot. In review, the economy, measuring by the GDP, grew at a modest rate under 2% each quarter, well below the growth the economy had in 2012 (according to NY Times). The Fed was struggling to gauge when to taper throughout the year, and the recent plan of action they have didn't seem to effect the markets at all in 2013. Dow Industrial grew 28% in the year. S&P 500 gained 32% in 2013. The NASDAQ also gained a whopping 41% YTD. How can these markets put up these numbers in a slow growing economy. Well economic uncertainty seemed to actually help the markets gain momentum and hold it with the Fed's taper plan moved all the way back to the end of the year. Washington also might of chipped in with spending cuts and tax plans. Although uncertainty of growth in the economy was in question and is sure to be in question in 2014, the issue of continuing more job growth is sure to be a huge issue to tackle for politicians in congress.

           As 2014 has much in store, here's how my Watch List from last year did.

Apple - I gave apple a C- short term and B long term. As I said, without the genius brains of Steve Jobs the continuing of updating their product line seems to be getting a little tiring. Carl Icahn wants to use CEO Cook as a puppet and is promoting his own agenda for what he thinks is best for Apple. Icahn wants to use Apple's gigantic cash flow to use while it is rumored that the Apple board may not want to go with Icahn's buy back ideas. Apple fell 18% in the short term (from January to June) more than my C- expectancy. Apple then gained 25% in the second half of the year rebounding from a bad first half it had. In the end YTD Apple gained 10%, a modest gain compared to the monster performance the NASDAQ had (41%). Until Apple comes out with new products, it will continue to be a questionable stock check out my Watch List 2014 to see what I think about Apple this year.

Cisco - I'll admit it, I might of given Cisco a generous rating last year ( B short term, A long term) and talked it up to much. Its marketing plan seemed to fail as its new product lines like their cloud technology did not seem to budge the stock too much. It gained 25% in the short term and YTD only gained 15%. Its second half of the year is what kicked investors, it was in red territory and fell leaving Cisco floating at its typical moving range for the past couple of months. I'll admit I over talked the stock but its dividend is always intriguing to look at and its fundamentals may attract investors since it may be undervalued.

Disney - Personally, I loved Disney this year and its returns should prove why I love it so much. Its silently up 55% YTD and is setting all time highs in the process. The real question is whether it can continue its great run. And for that you have to read my Watch List 2014. I gave Disney a C short term and B+ long term.

Citigroup - Citi had a good year and is up 34% YTD. I gave it a C- short term and A- long term. It was pretty steady in the short term and long term and so it was not to volatile which is a positive especially with a 34% gain for 2013. It would be nicer if Citigroup had a better dividend but banks should have a good 2014.

3D Systems - This has to be a stock that many investors got to look at. Its turning heads left and right, its the center piece of my portfolio and the center piece of its industry. Its growing from a mid cap stock to a large cap stock and is easily my stock of the year. It is up an unbelievable 173% YTD and its industry is still in its infancy and can continue to grow. If you think its a short opportunity...good luck.

Hormel Food Corp - Hormel Foods blew past my expectations of C+ short term and D+ long term. Hormel Food is up 47% and increased its increased production is the main reason of its success. Hormel food proved me wrong in 2013. The economy seemed to help this stock a lot and it was a great buy as one of the top food stocks to get in 2013.

Ford Motors - I recently added Ford to my portfolio as I believe it is recently undervalued, and one thing I've learned is if you want a safe slow moving stock, you found one. Its up 20% YTD and its new production line for 2014 should give it a positive outlook for this year. I gave it a C short term and B long term.

Express Scripts - I bragged about Express Scripts in the beginning of the year and it did go up 33% but I gave it a generous A long term and did not expect Walgreen to shift companies away from Express Scripts to Aon Hewitt Corporate Health Exchange. With this change and some dangers in private health exchanges Express Scripts only glided with the market instead of beating it.

Cliff Natural Resources - I really did not like the condition Cliff Natural Resources was in at the beginning of the 2013, I only mentioned it as a stock for the future, and the future was clearly not in 2013. I gave it a D- short term and C long term. Cliff Natural Resources is down 26% YTD and the beaten up material industry did not get any mercy in 2013. Although keep I gave it a horrible rating for the short term, its actually up 60% in the second half of 2013 and could be an intriguing stock to look at for a rebound in the next couple of years.

RPC Inc. - I gave RPC a A- long term and it produced. Up 47% YTD and beating most of the market. Once again the Obama administration made a statement by saying they want the US to be more energy dependent and RPC was happy to here that news. That news helped RPC gain in 2013 and expect the same from this company in 2014.

Goldman Sachs - Goldman Sachs is always a giant that is mentioned when talking about financials in the market. Its the upper echelon status gives it a lot of attention, both negative and positive. I gave Goldman Sachs an A- long term and it is up 41% YTD. Goldman Sachs is poised for a great 2014.

Gilead Sciences - With the Affordable Healthcare Act passed it was expected to be a big year for biotech. Biotech delivered, and in the middle of it was Gilead Sciences. Many successful mutual funds carried Gilead Sciences as its main position and no wonder why; it is up 108% YTD. I gave Gilead Sciences a B long term and it was easily even bigger. Now with the year over, check out my 2014 stock list to see what I think Gilead will do next year.

American Water Works - I gave American Water Works a C- long term and it was just that. The stock was okay, although compared to the rest of the market, its 15% YTD is still under the markets average. Water in general is an interesting trade and like real estate, land and water are limited and are a great long term investment, remember longggg term investment.

Macy's - Macy's I thought had a little more juice in it after its great run in 2012. But it continued its run and beat out my C+ long term rating. Macy's ended the year 43% YTD returns. This is in an economy that consumer income has only moderately increased, imagine how well it can do with a strong growing economy..

Madison Square Garden Company - Now the Knicks have been having a horrible year, but that hasn't stopped Madison Square Garden from squeezing some profits. Although it is up 32% YTD the NASDAQ was up 41% and so although it had some gains, it didn't keep up with the market. especially in the later ends of 2013. From July to December, it fell 3% and after a great first half of 2013 it just settled and didn't do too much to end the year. Long term I gave Madison Square Garden a B-.

         At the end of the year, after I chose these stocks to look at and evaluate, the grades I gave them were how I think of them. an A grade means I like them a lot, B is I like them, C is okay, D is I don't like, and F is I really don't like. For me, Short term is anything 6 months and before while long term is usually a year or more. As you can see with the stocks I chose the percentages are intriguing and some of them have beaten the market remember to keep in mind how the market did compared to the stocks gains and check out my 2014 watch list for other stocks you should take a look at.
         To Review My Picks that I had and the grade levels from when I wrote about these stocks last year visit this link to my blog post from last year.
 http://alleywayinvesting.blogspot.com/2013/01/stock-watch-list-2013.html

 Invest with Care. Not Responsible for Loses. Opinionated Investment Advice. NY Times Credit. Google Finance for percentage statistics. YTD = Year To Date. While the markets are closed on New Years Day, YTD numbers are usually to December 31st.