Here's what I have in my Roth IRA right now:
Blackboard (BBBB). This is a software business that provides a hosted Web application for higher education. College students log on to their university's Blackboard system for assignments, course materials, etc. This is a June 2005 recommendation from the MF Hidden Gems newsletter. I liked their earlier pick Quality Systems (QSII), which produces medical billing software and is up 60%, and Blackboard has the same "feel." I got in at $19.94 on May 26, and today's closing price was $23.53. It moved up nicely when they announced an expansion into the UK. I think this one has the potential to really take off, so I'll probably hold it for several months.
Lennar Corporation (LEN). This is a homebuilder and I bought it primarily because Jim Cramer made a pretty compelling case for the homebuilders a few weeks back, and Lennar was one of the ones he mentioned prominently. I looked at the numbers and liked it. I got in at $58.30 on May 26, and it closed today at $62.23. If I'd had more free "chunks" I would have bought a "basket" of homebuilder stocks, probably including Hovanian (HOV) and KB Home (KBH), but I had to settle for two, so I picked Lennar and Toll Brothers (see below). Toll Brothers is up much more than Lennar, and I'm uncomfortable being overweight in a sector for very long, so I'm tempted to sell the Lennar soon.
Neenah Paper (NP). This is a specialty paper manufacturer spun off from Kimberly-Clark and is a Hidden Gems recommendation from last January that was a few percent under its recommended price when I joined Hidden Gems. I bought in at $30.29 on May 25, and it closed at $31.35 today. It was up above $33 earlier this month on news that a Finnish paper strike looked like it would last longer than usual, but it's come back down significantly from that peak. I don't know, I just don't see this one taking off; this chunk could probably be better put to work elsewhere.
New York & Co. (NWY). A clothing retailer, formerly Lerner's, spun off from the Limited Companies in 2002, focusing on professional women aged 25-45. This was a Hidden Gems recommendation in May. I got in at $18.96 on May 26; today it closed at $20.70. I'm pretty happy with this one's performance so far and will probably keep it for a while.
Toll Brothers (TOL). Another homebuilder (see Lennar Corp. above) recommended by Cramer. Got in at $91.52 on May 26; it closed today at $101.48. Remember, this is a sector play -- with interest rates almost certain to go up further, I don't think I'll hold TOL for more than a few more months. They announce earnings for the current quarter twoard the end of August; I'll probably wait for that and re-evaluate then.
Overall my portfolio is up 9.69% since the end of May for a total dollar value of $5505.87.
Note: Purchase prices include commission spread over the number of shares I bought. For example, Neenah Paper was actually executed at $30.08, but $7 over 33 shares raised the price a little over 21 cents a share. Closing prices do not include the commissions I'd pay if I were to sell. This is the way Scottrade's Gainskeeper page does it so it's easist to do it that way here.
Posted by kindall at June 29, 2005 02:53 PM