We're officially just days away from the kickoff of earnings season, and the market simply refuses to stop marching higher. For bulls, these rallies may seem like a dream come true. For skeptics like me, they're opportunities to see whether companies trading near their 52-week highs really deserve their current valuations.
Keep in mind that some companies deserve their lofty prices. AT&T
Corny valuation
Despite running the risk of being gang-tackled by both the Motley Fool Rule Breakers and Motley Fool Hidden Gems advisors, I think it may be time to take your profits and run on Chipotle Mexican Grill
The company has been and remains an outperformer in the restaurant sector, but rising food costs are set to eat into its bottom line. As fellow Fool Rich Duprey pointed out earlier in the week, corn and wheat prices have ascended to record highs, and even Chipotle commented that costs are running higher than in 2010. True, the entire sector will be dealing with rising input costs, but investors have come to expect a significant level of outperformance from Chipotle. Any dropoff from its recent growth rate could spell disaster for Chipotle, which may cause investors to rush for the exits.
Tempting ... NOT!
Next up is Anworth Mortgage
Anworth pays out its dividends depending on how much profit it generated during the previous quarter. Before last week's release, quarterly distributions had fallen four quarters in a row. Meanwhile, the housing market continues to struggle, with recent data also showing a 22.5% freefall in housing starts in January. Compound this with KB Home's
All that's silver does not shine
I know this might be hard to believe, but not all silver companies appear to be good investments. I think Fools should particularly steer clear of MAG Silver
This silver mining company is still in the exploratory stages of its existence, while rival silver plays Silver Wheaton
What's your take on the companies mentioned here; hold them or fold them? State your case in the comments section below, and consider tracking my predictions by adding Chipotle Mexican Grill, Anworth Mortgage, and MAG Silver to My Watchlist.