This is the fun portfolio that you'll love to own -- the portfolio whose returns you'll love even more. The media core of this portfolio is relevant to consumers across the board -- Google
Even if you're tough on your portfolio and measure its success only by its returns, my five stocks would have made you very happy. Over the past five years (since 2004, for Google), this portfolio would have returned you an average of 210%! You can't argue with those returns, especially when you compare that with a measly 8% return from the S&P over the same time period. And how would Alyce's portfolio have held up over this same period? It would have returned 155%. That's good, but nowhere near my portfolio's returns.
And if you're the skeptic who can't be persuaded by historical prowess, think about this: My portfolio has enormous growth potential. Elizabeth Arden
For further developments in the medical field, look no further than Spectranetics
And while some might doubt Google's continued mastery of the Internet space, the company has released new products at least once every quarter since it went public. With that type of sensitivity to changing consumer tastes, and with a company willing to take risks to reach its customers, investors can't go wrong in the long run. Google is unquestionably the leader in the Internet search arena, and it's doubtful that Alyce's pick, Yahoo!
While Alyce's retail-centric team will be sensitive to any consumer fickleness, a team like mine should hold up through fads, tastes, and trends -- all the while providing excellent returns that beat the market. And that's what you want in a portfolio.
Alyce Lomax's rebuttal
Shruti says, quite rightly, "You can't argue with returns," so let's talk history. Here's one factoid: Tom Gardner recently outlined how and why Urban Outfitters became a 25-bagger in five years, and Google simply doesn't have that kind of track record yet. Regarding growth prospects, Toyota's winning over customers with quality, affordability, environmental friendliness, and fuel efficiency; Yahoo! is stealthily adding services that will fit into what many believe will be the Internet's next phase, Web 2.0; and Urban Outfitters, Coldwater Creek, and Rare Hospitality all have plenty of room for growth, considering their relatively low store counts. Sounds like a slam dunk to me.
Will Shruti's fun portfolio win out over Alyce's trend-setters? It's in your hands. Check out Alyce's team, and then vote.
Fool analyst Shruti Basavaraj owns shares of Spectranetics and Elizabeth Arden. Alyce Lomax owns shares of Urban Outfitters but of none of the other companies mentioned. You'll love The Motley Fool's disclosure policy.