Halloween Tricks and Treats 2005

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Welcome, Fools and Ghouls, to our annual Halloween stock-picking extravaganza. This year, our writers have selected seven Treats (stocks that we think are good bets for the long haul) and six Tricks (stocks that we'd steer clear of right now). We've even thrown in a couple of Scary Stories for good measure.

We've got lots of companies to consider for our goodie bags this year. Netflix (Nasdaq: NFLX). CNET (Nasdaq: CNET). Oracle (Nasdaq: ORCL). Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE: ANF), back for Round Two. And that's just a sampling.

Last year's results have brought some scary stories of their own -- and some big winners, too. Google (Nasdaq: GOOG), pegged as a Trick, ended up becoming a dandy of a Treat, with an increase of 86.54% so far. We hit the nail on the head with Xybernaut , which has fallen 95.53% since this time last year. Some of our other Tricks and Treats, such as Deere (NYSE: DE) and Intel (Nasdaq: INTC), have remained nearly flat, while some others -- Donald Trump Enterprises, anyone? -- did an about-face. Go figure.

Treats (Companies we pegged to go up)

Company	10/27/2004	10/25/2005	Total Return
Blue Nile (Nasdaq: NILE)	$29.35	$33.35	13.63%
Abercrombie & Fitch	$38.20	$49.48	29.53%
eSpeed (Nasdaq: ESPD)	$9.70	$7.02	-27.63%
Deere	$59.34	$58.25	-1.83%
Regis (NYSE: RGS)	$42.53	$36.42	-14.37%
TOTAL			-0.67%
S&P 500	$1,115.40	$1,196.54	7.27%

Tricks (Companies we pegged to go down)

Ticker	10/27/2004	10/25/2005	Total Return
Google	$185.97	$346.91	-86.54%
Donald Trump Enterprises	$1.30	$1.71	-31.54%
Intel	$21.75	$23.11	-6.27%
Blockbuster (NYSE: BBI)	$6.76	$5.09	24.72%
Xybernaut	$1.03	$0.05	95.53%
TOTAL			-4.1%
S&P 500	$1,115.40	$1,196.54	7.27%

Remember, as always, our Halloween picks are meant to be informed fun. Just as you don't go trick-or-treating to every house in the neighborhood, not every stock is for everyone, either. Always keep your larger investment goals in mind before plunking down your money on individual securities.

So are you ready for this year's lineup of ghosts and goblins? Light up the jack o'lantern, grab a bag of candy corn, and dig in!

Netflix and Regis are Motley Fool Stock Advisor recommendations. Blue Nile has been recommended by Motley Fool Hidden Gems and Motley Fool Rule Breakers.