Question to all....

[clarice]

I've always been a "contrarian" investor, buying on the lows.
Can any one suggest a stock "sector" IE: building/pharmas etc.that is really at the bottom
and could improve over the long run?

[Common Sense Party]

1. Good question. I don't follow sectors that much...

...but looking at this:

http://news.morningstar.com/stockReturns/CapWtdSectorReturns.html

Energy hasn't had that great a run the past few years.

[clarice]

2. Thanks, I will check it out. nt

[clarice]

3. Common...

I have another question if I may.....have you had much experience with
OTC (penny) stocks. It seems to me that it's like throwing money at a dart board.

[Common Sense Party]

4. I stay far, far away from those.

I'm not much of an individual stock person...but definitely not penny stocks. I'm more risk averse than that.

[clarice]

5. Me too. nt

[lastlib]

6. They're "penny" stocks for a reason......

They're more like throwing money at a toilet and seeing what floats and goes down last, and what sinks, and goes out first......If you're Warren Buffet and have money to burn, okay, go for 'em; otherwise, you're much better off putting money into something else.

These stocks have almost no coverage by analysts, and other trained experts, so unless you are extremely good at analyzing the value of a company, and have the time to do it, you'll be wading into a swamp full of things that bite and sting. I would not recommend anybody going there unless they have their eyes fully open and have the resources to investigate these stocks independently--even then, I would recommend extreme caution. Moreover, most of them do not have the cash flow or future value to make them very viable investments to the average person. "Cash flow" and "future value" are your friends in investment--stick to them, and you'll be golden (literally!)

[A HERETIC I AM]

7. Warren Buffet didn't get to the position he is in because he has or had money to burn!

Warren is an interesting guy, and has said some interesting things over the years, to wit;

"I try to buy stock in businesses that are so wonderful that an idiot can run them. Because sooner or later, one will."

And this;

"It's far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price."