11 Stocks for 2008
E-Trade (ETFC): The company has just been crushed. Does everyone think it's going to go bankrupt? I don't think it will, and if it doesn't go under it will probably double or more. If nothing else I think it can move higher once this intense year-end pressure eases.
Accuray (ARAY): I still think this stock has the best chance to be the next Intuitive Surgical (ISRG), although it's a very tall order. In just a few quarters the backlog has doubled while everything is growing at a great clip as well (except the stock price).
TomoTherapy (TTPY): Another possible "the next ISRG." I don't like this name as much, but it's got good growth and a unique product offering in ARAY and Varian Medical's (VAR) space.
Sepracor (SEPR): I see a theme here… It's been a rough year for SEPR, but it just raised guidance ending October and it only helped for a couple of days. This is not, as some people think, a one trick pony.
Horsehead Holding (ZINC): This is a recent IPO, very cheap, and a commodity play that I think could run again until mid-year.
First Horizon National (FHN): This company is a regional bank in Tennessee and surrounding states. Like Fifth Third Bancorp (see below), FITB increased its loss reserves recently but the stock is so washed out it didn't cause much additional selling pressure. We get another 50 bps or more at the discount window, and these are the kinds of names that could really recover.
Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB): See FHN
National City Corporation (NCC): See FHN and FITB. Actually, many off-coast regional banks could make this list.
Discover Financial Services (DFS): Discover Card just reported a pretty strong growth quarter. It had writedowns that were already disclosed but the stock got hit a little more anyway. If I had a list of stocks that could see the greatest share price gains in 2008, this could be on that list. DFS probably has the toughest qualifying standards of any credit card issuer and, therefore, it should not be assumed that the company will face the same credit losses that many other consumer lending companies are facing.
Toll Brothers (TOL): I think this homie could have a good run next year, and it may just start in January.
Monster Worldwide (MNST): If we don't drop into recession, the Monster could make a monster move higher. The company owns its market and this could be one to put away for longer than just a short term trade.
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Long story short they got nasty with me and I got the account basically hi-jacked by a corrupt company. They refused to talk to me and refused to return the money. I spoke to an attorney and they said this is is standard practice for companies prior to going belly up. I guess they try to hold on to all the assets they can prior to going bankrupt. That made me feel real great. A word of warning to all those that have accounts there. MOVE THEM! If you can. If you are thinking about opening one, DON'T! You would be sorry you ever did. I have spent numerous hours and money trying to deal with these crooks, don't make the same mistake I did.
I do not have a position long or short in this company.
I am not a basher.
I am simply a person they screwed, please beware.
And what were their reasons for not returning your money?
On December 24th at 12:20 PM
Bruce H wrote:
I had an E-trade account that I funded with quite a large sum of money before I realized they were in such deep crap. I decided this was not the company for me and decided after a week and a half to pull the plug and asked them to wire the funds back.
Long story short they got nasty with me and I got the account basically hi-jacked by a corrupt company. They refused to talk to me and refused to return the money. I spoke to an attorney and they said this is is standard practice for companies prior to going belly up. I guess they try to hold on to all the assets they can prior to going bankrupt. That made me feel real great. A word of warning to all those that have accounts there. MOVE THEM! If you can. If you are thinking about opening one, DON'T! You would be sorry you ever did. I have spent numerous hours and money trying to deal with these crooks, don't make the same mistake I did.
I do not have a position long or short in this company.
I am not a basher.
I am simply a person they screwed, please beware.
On December 24th at 09:01 PM
Kathy Schiller wrote:
Okay so what happened in the end??
And what were their reasons for not returning your money?
On December 24th at 12:20 PM
Bruce H wrote:
I had an E-trade account that I funded with quite a large sum of money before I realized they were in such deep crap. I decided this was not the company for me and decided after a week and a half to pull the plug and asked them to wire the funds back.
Long story short they got nasty with me and I got the account basically hi-jacked by a corrupt company. They refused to talk to me and refused to return the money. I spoke to an attorney and they said this is is standard practice for companies prior to going belly up. I guess they try to hold on to all the assets they can prior to going bankrupt. That made me feel real great. A word of warning to all those that have accounts there. MOVE THEM! If you can. If you are thinking about opening one, DON'T! You would be sorry you ever did. I have spent numerous hours and money trying to deal with these crooks, don't make the same mistake I did.
I do not have a position long or short in this company.
I am not a basher.
I am simply a person they screwed, please beware.
Why don't you try wire transferring your money out? i do it all the time. Do it in pieces if you have to.
Lp
On December 24th at 11:42 PM
Paul Wingo wrote:
That's very interesting. I've been with ETrade since '98 and likewise have a substantial sum with them. I recently transferred several hundred thousand in assets to Merrill and not only did I get full cooperation from ETrade but they waived the partial acct. transfer fee. I didn't move my assets out of fear but for other reasons but I have friends that have moved some substantial funds of late and had no problems either. Did you deal with CS or your Relationship Mgr.?
On December 24th at 09:01 PM
Kathy Schiller wrote:
Okay so what happened in the end??
And what were their reasons for not returning your money?
On December 24th at 12:20 PM
Bruce H wrote:
I had an E-trade account that I funded with quite a large sum of money before I realized they were in such deep crap. I decided this was not the company for me and decided after a week and a half to pull the plug and asked them to wire the funds back.
Long story short they got nasty with me and I got the account basically hi-jacked by a corrupt company. They refused to talk to me and refused to return the money. I spoke to an attorney and they said this is is standard practice for companies prior to going belly up. I guess they try to hold on to all the assets they can prior to going bankrupt. That made me feel real great. A word of warning to all those that have accounts there. MOVE THEM! If you can. If you are thinking about opening one, DON'T! You would be sorry you ever did. I have spent numerous hours and money trying to deal with these crooks, don't make the same mistake I did.
I do not have a position long or short in this company.
I am not a basher.
I am simply a person they screwed, please beware.

















