One of the biggest challenges in investing in the stock market is picking the best stocks. In my book, “The Confident Investor” I teach my readers how to pick Good Companies. This page is designed to show the raw performance of these companies. It is not designed to show my personal portfolio, which may or may not exceed the performance stated here. Since I use the trading system described in my book, you can assume that I beat the performance recorded here.

I must caution you, I do not actually propose that you “buy and hold” any given stock, but rather you should “buy to hold” the stock. My investing technique teaches you to efficiently move your money to the stocks that are currently increasing in value the most. I use my Watch List for this work, these are Good Companies that I wait for great buying opportunities. This strategy is well described in my book, “The Confident Investor” and tends to be a very safe strategy in bear markets while typically still providing above market returns in a bull or flat market.

My Short Term Watch List are 15 companies that are hot right now. I select this list every quarter. I evenly divide a portion of my portfolio among these 15 companies. The next quarter, I add or delete companies as necessary and then re-balance the portfolio. This tends to be a more risky strategy because I don’t bail out on bad stock movement (at least until the end of the quarter). In a bull market or a flat market, these very well-run and high-performing companies tend to beat the general market by a significant margin.

BL-TCI-cover

You can purchase my book wherever books are sold such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Books A Million. It is available in paperback as well as e-book formats for Nook, Kindle, and iPad.

WATCH LIST STOCK RESULTS

Stock
Ticker
Company
name
Current
price
Year
ago
Year ago
change
Quarter
ago
Quarter ago
change
Month
ago
Month ago
change
Week
ago
Week ago
change
AAPL Apple Inc. $216.16 $157.48 37.26% $187.92 15.03% $193.53 11.69% $217.58 -0.65%
ABMD ABIOMED, Inc. $381.03 $147.67 158.03% $394.28 -3.36% $384.21 -0.83% $358.82 6.19%
ADBE Adobe Systems Incorporated $261.51 $151.45 72.67% $243.56 7.37% $261.93 -0.16% $245.70 6.43%
ADS Alliance Data Systems Corporation $236.93 $219.84 7.77% $212.60 11.45% $233.56 1.44% $238.03 -0.46%
ALGN Align Technology, Inc. $367.60 $172.55 113.04% $318.54 15.40% $363.02 1.26% $357.30 2.88%
ALXN Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. $117.50 $137.54 -14.57% $117.74 -0.20% $136.51 -13.93% $116.00 1.29%
AMAT Applied Materials, Inc. $42.73 $42.79 -0.14% $50.61 -15.58% $46.95 -8.99% $43.57 -1.92%
AMN AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. $57.50 $37.75 52.32% $54.80 4.93% $62.20 -7.56% $57.20 0.52%
AMZN Amazon.com, Inc. $1,913.34 $945.26 102.41% $1,610.15 18.83% $1,808.00 5.83% $1,882.22 1.65%
ANET Arista Networks Inc $307.10 $173.73 76.77% $255.75 20.08% $276.28 11.16% $269.04 14.15%
AVGO Broadcom Inc $206.71 $239.66 -13.75% $248.36 -16.77% $223.18 -7.38% $209.27 -1.22%
BABA Alibaba Group Holding Ltd $173.37 $171.74 0.95% $199.20 -12.97% $194.18 -10.72% $172.78 0.34%
BKNG Booking Holdings Inc $1,907.62 $1,793.48 6.36% $2,110.62 -9.62% $2,083.13 -8.43% $1,840.68 3.64%
CBPO China Biologic Products Holdings Inc $87.87 $91.57 -4.04% $79.53 10.49% $102.41 -14.20% $91.99 -4.48%
COHR Coherent, Inc. $181.97 $220.05 -17.31% $174.08 4.53% $176.42 3.15% $181.18 0.44%
CRTO Criteo SA (ADR) $26.27 $46.98 -44.08% $25.34 3.68% $36.27 -27.56% $27.02 -2.75%
CRUS Cirrus Logic, Inc. $44.03 $55.33 -20.42% $38.73 13.68% $42.16 4.44% $42.83 2.80%
CVGW Calavo Growers, Inc. $105.50 $69.10 52.67% $88.10 19.75% $92.95 13.50% $100.83 4.64%
DPZ Domino’s Pizza, Inc. $297.97 $177.06 68.28% $249.84 19.27% $260.00 14.60% $285.04 4.54%
EA Electronic Arts Inc. $128.97 $116.93 10.30% $131.85 -2.18% $141.90 -9.11% $128.01 0.75%
FB Facebook, Inc. Common Stock $174.65 $166.32 5.01% $184.92 -5.56% $176.26 -0.92% $173.80 0.49%
GOOGL Alphabet Inc Class A $1,236.75 $930.50 32.91% $1,084.08 14.08% $1,285.50 -3.79% $1,215.85 1.72%
GTN Gray Television, Inc. $17.00 $14.25 19.30% $11.40 49.12% $15.30 11.11% $16.90 0.59%
HSKA Heska Corp $100.92 $95.80 5.34% $101.79 -0.85% $105.59 -4.42% $100.41 0.51%
HZO MarineMax Inc $21.25 $16.10 31.99% $23.35 -8.99% $18.95 12.14% $20.20 5.20%
IBP Installed Building Products Inc $47.10 $54.55 -13.66% $61.75 -23.72% $54.75 -13.97% $49.35 -4.56%
ILMN Illumina, Inc. $340.60 $192.19 77.22% $266.22 27.94% $311.59 9.31% $325.88 4.52%
JAZZ Jazz Pharmaceuticals PLC $167.41 $146.00 14.66% $165.02 1.45% $176.30 -5.04% $173.81 -3.68%
KNX Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc $32.81 $37.09 -11.53% $40.39 -18.77% $32.25 1.74% $32.90 -0.27%
LGIH LGI Homes Inc $56.76 $43.79 29.62% $61.10 -7.10% $55.44 2.38% $55.96 1.43%
LRCX Lam Research Corporation $172.46 $155.79 10.70% $200.93 -14.17% $177.26 -2.71% $169.91 1.50%
LULU Lululemon Athletica inc. $138.76 $60.21 130.46% $106.18 30.68% $124.49 11.46% $130.19 6.58%
MA Mastercard Inc $209.40 $131.98 58.66% $190.93 9.67% $207.37 0.98% $203.21 3.05%
MEI Methode Electronics Inc. $39.85 $38.55 3.37% $40.29 -1.09% $39.05 2.05% $39.95 -0.25%
MKSI MKS Instruments, Inc. $91.95 $78.73 16.79% $112.36 -18.16% $92.50 -0.59% $88.71 3.66%
MKTX MarketAxess Holdings Inc. $187.38 $189.02 -0.87% $210.08 -10.80% $199.92 -6.27% $189.08 -0.90%
MTZ MasTec, Inc. $42.05 $39.70 5.92% $47.80 -12.03% $48.85 -13.92% $43.30 -2.89%
MU Micron Technology, Inc. $50.70 $30.29 67.38% $61.35 -17.36% $53.76 -5.69% $47.11 7.62%
NFLX Netflix, Inc. $358.82 $165.95 116.22% $351.29 2.14% $363.09 -1.18% $316.78 13.27%
NSP Insperity Inc $115.35 $39.05 195.43% $90.21 27.86% $102.25 12.81% $112.55 2.49%
NVDA NVIDIA Corporation $272.22 $163.50 66.50% $249.28 9.20% $254.84 6.82% $244.82 11.19%
NXST Nexstar Media Group Inc $82.25 $59.62 37.95% $66.67 23.36% $76.77 7.13% $78.35 4.98%
PATK Patrick Industries, Inc. $63.40 $46.27 37.03% $59.55 6.47% $62.00 2.26% $61.35 3.34%
PYPL Paypal Holdings Inc $90.10 $59.97 50.24% $80.96 11.29% $89.14 1.08% $85.45 5.44%
REGN Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc $376.33 $477.80 -21.24% $293.74 28.12% $373.59 0.73% $374.26 0.55%
SBUX Starbucks Corporation $52.75 $53.13 -0.71% $57.52 -8.29% $51.09 3.24% $53.56 -1.51%
STZ Constellation Brands, Inc. Class A $207.60 $196.02 5.91% $216.07 -3.92% $213.89 -2.94% $203.93 1.80%
SUI Sun Communities Inc $101.44 $87.16 16.38% $93.11 8.94% $96.10 5.56% $101.86 -0.41%
SWKS Skyworks Solutions Inc $92.72 $100.65 -7.88% $99.97 -7.25% $95.09 -2.49% $0.00 0.00%
TGS Transportadora de Gas del Sur SA (ADR) $14.60 $17.86 -18.25% $17.46 -16.40% $16.33 -10.59% $0.00 0.00%
THRM Gentherm Inc $46.18 $30.20 52.90% $35.10 31.55% $44.95 2.73% $0.00 0.00%
TMUS T-Mobile Us Inc $64.98 $63.74 1.95% $56.59 14.83% $59.37 9.45% $0.00 0.00%
TNET TriNet Group Inc $54.09 $35.27 53.36% $52.97 2.11% $58.05 -6.82% $0.00 0.00%
ULTA Ulta Beauty Inc $238.00 $212.36 12.07% $251.05 -5.20% $251.88 -5.51% $0.00 0.00%
UNH UnitedHealth Group Inc $253.37 $191.68 32.19% $244.09 3.80% $257.00 -1.41% $0.00 0.00%
V Visa Inc $138.25 $102.83 34.45% $131.28 5.31% $142.50 -2.98% $0.00 0.00%
WCG WellCare Health Plans, Inc. $270.37 $168.82 60.15% $220.08 22.85% $258.35 4.65% $0.00 0.00%

Over the last year, my Watch List returned 32.67%
Over the last quarter, my Watch List returned 5.26%
Over the last month, my Watch List returned -0.59%
Over the last week, my Watch List returned 13.03%

 

SHORT TERM WATCH LIST STOCK RESULTS

 

Stock
Ticker
Company
name
Current
price
Year
ago
Year ago
change
Quarter
ago
Quarter ago
change
Month
ago
Month ago
change
Week
ago
Week ago
change
ABMD ABIOMED, Inc. $381.03 $147.67 158.03% $394.28 -3.36% $384.21 -0.83% $358.82 6.19%
ADBE Adobe Systems Incorporated $261.51 $151.45 72.67% $243.56 7.37% $261.93 -0.16% $245.70 6.43%
ALGN Align Technology, Inc. $367.60 $172.55 113.04% $318.54 15.40% $363.02 1.26% $357.30 2.88%
AMZN Amazon.com, Inc. $1,913.34 $945.26 102.41% $1,610.15 18.83% $1,808.00 5.83% $1,882.22 1.65%
ANET Arista Networks Inc $307.10 $173.73 76.77% $255.75 20.08% $276.28 11.16% $269.04 14.15%
HSKA Heska Corp $100.92 $95.80 5.34% $101.79 -0.85% $105.59 -4.42% $100.41 0.51%
LGIH LGI Homes Inc $56.76 $43.79 29.62% $61.10 -7.10% $55.44 2.38% $55.96 1.43%
LULU Lululemon Athletica inc. $138.76 $60.21 130.46% $106.18 30.68% $124.49 11.46% $130.19 6.58%
MA Mastercard Inc $209.40 $131.98 58.66% $190.93 9.67% $207.37 0.98% $203.21 3.05%
MU Micron Technology, Inc. $50.70 $30.29 67.38% $61.35 -17.36% $53.76 -5.69% $47.11 7.62%
NFLX Netflix, Inc. $358.82 $165.95 116.22% $351.29 2.14% $363.09 -1.18% $316.78 13.27%
NSP Insperity Inc $115.35 $39.05 195.43% $90.21 27.86% $102.25 12.81% $112.55 2.49%
NVDA NVIDIA Corporation $272.22 $163.50 66.50% $249.28 9.20% $254.84 6.82% $244.82 11.19%
TNET TriNet Group Inc $54.09 $35.27 53.36% $52.97 2.11% $58.05 -6.82% $0.00 0.00%
WCG WellCare Health Plans, Inc. $270.37 $168.82 60.15% $220.08 22.85% $258.35 4.65% $0.00 0.00%

Over the last year, my Short Term Watch List returned 92.37%
Over the last quarter, my Short Term Watch List returned 12.78%
Over the last month, my Short Term Watch List returned 3.88%
Over the last week, my Short Term Watch List returned 12.35%

Short Term List returned 92%
High growth stock: Insperity Inc ($NSP) at 195%
Total Execution Time: 12.293619155884 Sec

My efforts to find great companies is primarily based on analyzing the fundamentals of each company. It is almost impossible for the average investor to directly understand the effectiveness of a company’s IT spending. Luckily, we don’t have to because that effectiveness should result in growing revenue and growing profitability (which we can directly monitor).

As you read the annual reports of companies though, an important consideration is the CEO’s comments about how IT investment is helping the company. If you fail to see this line of commentary, it should be a red flag for you. Conversely, a strong emphasis by the executives on IT spend that offers competitive advantage should at least be a signal to you to continue watching the company’s performance.

From the cited WSJ article (article may be behind a paywall):

The secret of success for Amazon, Google and Microsoft is how much they invest in their own technology.

New data suggests that the secret of the success of the Amazons, Googles and Facebook s of the world—not to mention the Walmart s, CVSes and UPSes before them—is how much they invest in their own technology. IT spending that goes into hiring developers and creating software owned and used exclusively by a firm is the key competitive advantage. It’s different from our standard understanding of R&D in that this software is used solely by the company, and isn’t part of products developed for its customers.

Source: Why Do the Biggest Companies Keep Getting Bigger? It’s How They Spend on Tech

Symbol Stock Price change today
ANET Arista Networks Inc 9.1893%
NFLX Netflix, Inc. 5.7936%
PYPL Paypal Holdings Inc 3.1128%
DPZ Domino’s Pizza, Inc. 2.9544%
EA Electronic Arts Inc. 2.2679%
MKSI MKS Instruments, Inc. 2.1099%
MA Mastercard Inc 2.0368%
NVDA NVIDIA Corporation 2.0162%
MU Micron Technology, Inc. 2.0121%
NXST Nexstar Media Group Inc 1.9207%
LULU Lululemon Athletica inc. 1.8796%
ADBE Adobe Systems Incorporated 1.7549%
WCG WellCare Health Plans, Inc. 1.704%
AVGO Broadcom Inc 1.6586%
V Visa Inc 1.4778%
ILMN Illumina, Inc. 1.4536%
STZ Constellation Brands, Inc. Class A 1.3276%
GOOGL Alphabet Inc Class A 1.2767%
BABA Alibaba Group Holding Ltd 1.1612%
ALGN Align Technology, Inc. 1.1029%
UNH UnitedHealth Group Inc 1.094%
ABMD ABIOMED, Inc. 1.0877%
SUI Sun Communities Inc 1.0862%
FB Facebook, Inc. Common Stock 1.0093%
ULTA Ulta Beauty Inc 0.9482%
IBP Installed Building Products Inc 0.8565%
CVGW Calavo Growers, Inc. 0.7641%
CRUS Cirrus Logic, Inc. 0.7551%
SWKS Skyworks Solutions Inc 0.7366%
HZO MarineMax Inc 0.7109%
ALXN Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 0.5993%
TNET TriNet Group Inc 0.5033%
BKNG Booking Holdings Inc 0.4454%
THRM Gentherm Inc 0.4098%
KNX Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc 0.3364%
AAPL Apple Inc. 0.3109%
TMUS T-Mobile Us Inc 0.3067%
GTN Gray Television, Inc. 0.295%
SBUX Starbucks Corporation 0.1709%
AMZN Amazon.com, Inc. 0.1309%
ADS Alliance Data Systems Corporation -0.0506%
AMN AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. -0.0869%
AMAT Applied Materials, Inc. -0.1402%
PATK Patrick Industries, Inc. -0.1575%
LRCX Lam Research Corporation -0.1794%
NSP Insperity Inc -0.2163%
CRTO Criteo SA (ADR) -0.2277%
COHR Coherent, Inc. -0.2393%
MEI Methode Electronics Inc. -0.4994%
REGN Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc -0.7542%
LGIH LGI Homes Inc -0.9078%
MKTX MarketAxess Holdings Inc. -0.9515%
JAZZ Jazz Pharmaceuticals PLC -1.233%
TGS Transportadora de Gas del Sur SA (ADR) -1.4937%
HSKA Heska Corp -2.2188%
MTZ MasTec, Inc. -2.4362%
CBPO China Biologic Products Holdings Inc -15.8474%

Stock ticker Stock name Last Close Recommendation
AAPL Apple Inc. $215.4900 Strong Buy or Hold, but there are some concerns
ABMD ABIOMED, Inc. $376.9300 Very Concerned, may need to wait
ADBE Adobe Systems Incorporated $257.0000 Very Concerned, may need to wait
ADS Alliance Data Systems Corporation $237.0500 Very Concerned, may need to wait
ALGN Align Technology, Inc. $363.5900 Very Concerned, may need to wait
ALXN Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. $116.8000 Very Concerned, may need to wait
AMAT Applied Materials, Inc. $42.7900 Concerned, but watch close as good things may happen soon
AMN AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. $57.5500 Very Concerned, may need to wait
AMZN Amazon.com, Inc. $1902.9000 Very Concerned, may need to wait
ANET Arista Networks Inc $282.6100 Very Concerned, may need to wait
AVGO Broadcom Inc $205.5900 Very Concerned, may need to wait
BABA Alibaba Group Holding Ltd $172.2300 Very Concerned, may need to wait
BKNG Booking Holdings Inc $1894.9000 Very Concerned, may need to wait
CBPO China Biologic Products Holdings Inc $100.9000 Very Concerned, may need to wait
COHR Coherent, Inc. $183.8400 Concerned, but watch close as good things may happen soon
CRTO Criteo SA (ADR) $26.3500 Very Concerned, may need to wait
CRUS Cirrus Logic, Inc. $43.7000 Strong Buy or Hold
CVGW Calavo Growers, Inc. $104.7000 Very Concerned, may need to wait
DPZ Domino’s Pizza, Inc. $289.4000 Very Concerned, may need to wait
EA Electronic Arts Inc. $126.1100 Very Concerned, may need to wait
FB Facebook, Inc. Common Stock $172.9000 Very Concerned, may need to wait
GOOGL Alphabet Inc Class A $1221.1600 Very Concerned, may need to wait
GTN Gray Television, Inc. $16.9500 Very Concerned, may need to wait
HSKA Heska Corp $103.2100 Very Concerned, may need to wait
HZO MarineMax Inc $21.1000 Very Concerned, may need to wait
IBP Installed Building Products Inc $46.7000 Very Concerned, may need to wait
ILMN Illumina, Inc. $335.7200 Strong Buy or Hold
JAZZ Jazz Pharmaceuticals PLC $169.5000 Very Concerned, may need to wait
KNX Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc $32.7000 Very Concerned, may need to wait
LGIH LGI Homes Inc $57.2800 Very Concerned, may need to wait
LRCX Lam Research Corporation $172.7700 Concerned, but watch close as good things may happen soon
LULU Lululemon Athletica inc. $136.2000 Very Concerned, may need to wait
MA Mastercard Inc $205.2200 Very Concerned, may need to wait
MEI Methode Electronics Inc. $40.0500 Some Concerns, may need to wait
MKSI MKS Instruments, Inc. $90.0500 Very Concerned, may need to wait
MKTX MarketAxess Holdings Inc. $189.1800 Very Concerned, may need to wait
MTZ MasTec, Inc. $43.1000 Very Concerned, may need to wait
MU Micron Technology, Inc. $49.7000 Very Concerned, may need to wait
NFLX Netflix, Inc. $339.1700 Very Concerned, may need to wait
NSP Insperity Inc $115.6000 Strong Buy or Hold
NVDA NVIDIA Corporation $266.8400 Very Concerned, may need to wait
NXST Nexstar Media Group Inc $80.7000 Very Concerned, may need to wait
PATK Patrick Industries, Inc. $63.5000 Very Concerned, may need to wait
PYPL Paypal Holdings Inc $87.3800 Very Concerned, may need to wait
REGN Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc $379.1900 Concerned, but watch close as good things may happen soon
SBUX Starbucks Corporation $52.6600 Strong Buy or Hold
STZ Constellation Brands, Inc. Class A $204.8800 Very Concerned, may need to wait
SUI Sun Communities Inc $100.3500 Some Concerns, may need to wait
SWKS Skyworks Solutions Inc $92.3100 Very Concerned, may need to wait
TGS Transportadora de Gas del Sur SA (ADR) $13.3900 Concerned, but watch close as good things may happen soon
THRM Gentherm Inc $48.8000 Strong Buy or Hold
TMUS T-Mobile Us Inc $65.2100 Some Concerns, may need to wait
TNET TriNet Group Inc $59.6100 Very Concerned, may need to wait
ULTA Ulta Beauty Inc $239.4000 Very Concerned, may need to wait
UNH UnitedHealth Group Inc $261.4200 Concerned, but watch close as good things may happen soon
V Visa Inc $142.1000 Very Concerned, may need to wait
WCG WellCare Health Plans, Inc. $298.1300 Strong Buy or Hold

Symbol Stock Price change today
ABMD ABIOMED, Inc. 2.321%
ULTA Ulta Beauty Inc 2.0026%
ANET Arista Networks Inc 1.8928%
NVDA NVIDIA Corporation 1.5296%
NSP Insperity Inc 1.4035%
COHR Coherent, Inc. 1.373%
TNET TriNet Group Inc 1.1883%
CBPO China Biologic Products Holdings Inc 0.8798%
STZ Constellation Brands, Inc. Class A 0.7474%
V Visa Inc 0.6802%
WCG WellCare Health Plans, Inc. 0.6414%
THRM Gentherm Inc 0.6186%
ALGN Align Technology, Inc. 0.6171%
MTZ MasTec, Inc. 0.5834%
ADBE Adobe Systems Incorporated 0.5713%
LULU Lululemon Athletica inc. 0.5314%
PYPL Paypal Holdings Inc 0.4945%
MA Mastercard Inc 0.4454%
UNH UnitedHealth Group Inc 0.2608%
HZO MarineMax Inc 0.2375%
PATK Patrick Industries, Inc. 0.2368%
SUI Sun Communities Inc 0.2197%
AAPL Apple Inc. 0.2046%
CVGW Calavo Growers, Inc. 0.0478%
ILMN Illumina, Inc. -0.0179%
GOOGL Alphabet Inc Class A -0.0483%
AMZN Amazon.com, Inc. -0.105%
LRCX Lam Research Corporation -0.1791%
KNX Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc -0.2136%
REGN Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc -0.2578%
SBUX Starbucks Corporation -0.3029%
FB Facebook, Inc. Common Stock -0.4262%
SWKS Skyworks Solutions Inc -0.4529%
AMAT Applied Materials, Inc. -0.4652%
DPZ Domino’s Pizza, Inc. -0.734%
ALXN Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. -0.7647%
MKTX MarketAxess Holdings Inc. -0.8179%
NXST Nexstar Media Group Inc -0.86%
GTN Gray Television, Inc. -0.8772%
HSKA Heska Corp -0.9025%
CRUS Cirrus Logic, Inc. -0.907%
TMUS T-Mobile Us Inc -0.9117%
AVGO Broadcom Inc -0.9396%
AMN AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. -0.9466%
MU Micron Technology, Inc. -1.0748%
MEI Methode Electronics Inc. -1.1111%
BKNG Booking Holdings Inc -1.1528%
EA Electronic Arts Inc. -1.1832%
LGIH LGI Homes Inc -1.3094%
ADS Alliance Data Systems Corporation -1.3648%
MKSI MKS Instruments, Inc. -1.3691%
NFLX Netflix, Inc. -1.53%
CRTO Criteo SA (ADR) -1.5689%
TGS Transportadora de Gas del Sur SA (ADR) -1.6165%
IBP Installed Building Products Inc -1.6842%
JAZZ Jazz Pharmaceuticals PLC -1.9097%
BABA Alibaba Group Holding Ltd -3.16%