I Kissed a Stock

• Email
• Share
• Print

I bought stock this morning.

That may not seem like a big deal to you, but it is to me. It's been several months since I traded in or out of the market. I have to go all the way back to July, when I finally lost my patience with Crocs (Nasdaq: CROX) and dumped the resin footwear maker.

I got crushed on that one, but I guess I got off easy. The stock has gone to shed nearly 80% of its value since then, as quarterly profits turned into losses and the trendy shoes have gone out of favor.

Back to the buy
What did I buy? I can't tell you. Well, not now anyway. We have trading restrictions that prohibit trading stocks that we write about in a window of 10 days before or after the trade.

I can tell you that it's a Rule Breakers recommendation. It's not one of my own newsletter picks. I don't think it's possible for me to shut my yap for 20 days on the stocks that I am responsible to watch for the growth stock newsletter.

If it wasn't for that, I would be jumping at the chance to pick up some of my recently recommended growth stock bargains.

• Baidu.com (Nasdaq: BIDU) remains China's leading search engine, but the stock has been pounded after an unfortunate -- yet exaggeratedly misunderstood -- marketing practice.
• IMAX (Nasdaq: IMAX) hit a fresh multi-year low on Friday, despite inking a five-picture multiplex deal with Disney (NYSE: DIS) earlier in the week. The move further validates the premium IMAX cinematic experience.
• Chipotle (NYSE: CMG) will have to settle for my lunch money instead of my investing money, which is a shame because the quick-service burrito chain's stock is getting hammered, despite holding up better than its rolling rivals.

So even though I would be all over these stocks -- and many more that I have singled out in the newsletter personally -- I can't. There is no way that I can spend 20 days in the cone of silence when Baidu is still in a public relations quagmire, IMAX is always on the cusp of a movie studio or exhibitor deal, and Chipotle is out to prove cynics wrong.

3 reasons to start nibbling
Why did I choose today to dust off the cobwebs of my online brokerage account and begin clicking buy orders? I have several reasons, and maybe some will apply to you.

• I cracked open my copy of Barron's over the weekend and had to rub my eyes when I got to the Market Laboratory data section. Just five Nasdaq-listed companies hit new 52-week highs this past week. 1,767 Nasdaq stocks, including Baidu and IMAX, hit 52-week lows. This may not be the bottom, but at least I know I won't be buying anywhere near the top.
• Cash in my brokerage IRA account had grown from 20% of my portfolio this summer to 32% today. The thicker slice has nothing to do with adding money to my account or even the Crocs sale. It's the result of my stocks falling in value. It's a familiar problem with most investors in recent months.
• I don't know when the market will recover. Even when equities bottom out, faith in the free markets must be restored. However, attractive valuations for growing companies are timeless no-brainers. "Now is the time," I recently wrote. "Time to buy? Are you nuts? How am I supposed to know that? I can't tell you whether the market is going to plunge another 10%, 20%, or even 30%. No one can. However, I can tell you that if you spend these next few hours, days, and weeks researching the companies that will bounce back the strongest when the market does turn around -- and it will -- you won't just beat the market. You will obliterate the market."

On that last point, I did take my advice to heart. I went against the selling herd mentality to brush up on my due diligence. There are several stocks that I know I want to buy. This morning is just my first step.

Unlucky in love
You're not supposed to fall in love with your stocks. Making out is OK. As long as you can take the time to take two steps back to assess the relationship you're about to get into with unbiased eyes, I don't have a problem. Pack a breath mint.

The real shame is when investors either shack up with their stocks for life or dismiss equities on the same grounds.

I was brutally bearish on BlackBerry maker Research in Motion (Nasdaq: RIMM) back in June. It's not fair to approach it the same way today, with the stock trading at roughly a third of its price back in June. The fundamentals of the corporate smartphone pioneer may have weakened somewhat, but the lower valuation is overdone. I'm not buying into the company right now, but it's not right to remain as bearish.

RIM is still growing, despite the pesky presence of Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) with its brisk-selling iPhones and every remaining old school handset maker angling for skin in the smartphone game.

I'm not about to pucker up and smooch RIM, but there will come a time -- and a price -- where a kiss will make perfect sense.

Are you ready to buy? What stocks are you looking to cuddle up with in the coming days? Let me know in the comment box below.  

Some other reads while you wait in line at the kissing booth:

• Now is the time, to dive into stock research.
• Fellow Fool Tim Beyers played by the rules before buying Apple last month.
• Let's hope Baidu cleans up nicely.