2/13/08

Economics

The cost of universal healthcare:

http://mjperry.blogspot.com/2008/02/spending-someone-elses-money-is-real.html

Politics

Domestic

Obama on foreign policy:

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives2/2008/02/019763.php

International War Against Radical Islam

The Market

Technical

A technical look at the Market:

http://www.thestreet.com/p/_htmlrmd/rmoney/technicalanalysis/10403128.html

Fundamental

Street estimates for S&P 2008 closing value:

http://bespokeinvest.typepad.com/bespoke/2008/02/bear-blinks.html

Subscriber Alert

This morning at the Market open, our Portfolios will continue to make small additions to some holdings: the Dividend Growth Portfolio will Buy a 1/4 position in Johnson Controls (JCI-$35), the High Yield Portfolio will buy a 1/5 position in Reynolds American (RAI-$64), and the Aggressive Growth Portfolio will buy a 1/5 position in Amphenol (APH-$38).

http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=JCI

http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=RAI

http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=APH

Aggressive Growth Buy List

Company Close 2/124 Buy Value Range

Accenture Ltd $35.16 $32-36

American Eagle Outfit 21.94 22-25

Amphenol 37.87 35-40

Quest Diagnostic 53.66 48-55

Eaton Vance 34.89 33-38

Fastenal Inc 41.65 36-41

Microsoft 28.34 26-30

SAP Inc 48.25 46-54

Sun Hydraulics 21.75 21-25

News on Stocks in Our Portfolios

Expeditors Int’l (Aggressive Growth Portfolio) reported fourth quarter and full year earnings per share of $.28 and $1.19 respectively versus $.28 and $1.06 in the comparable 2006 periods. Analysts had been expecting fourth quarter profits of $.34 per share. The stock declined 8% on this disappointment. Like two other of our holdings that have gotten popped lately (CME and LCAV), EXPD was trading above its Buy Value Range before the news--indeed last July the stock had traded into its Sell Half Range and the Aggressive Growth Portfolio took appropriate action. It closed yesterday ($40.95) above its current Stop Loss Price ($38.50). Given that plus the fact that I think that the company will continue to grow at an above average pace, the Aggressive Growth Portfolio will continue to Hold EXPD as long as it remains above its Stop Loss Price.

http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=EXPD

Coca Cola (Dividend Growth Portfolio) reported fourth quarter operating earnings per share of %.58 versus expectations of $.55 and $.52 recorded in the comparable 2006 quarter.

http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=KO

More Cash in Investors’ Hands