Is Clever Better in a Down Market?
During the years 1984-2004, a portfolio of clever ticker-symbol stocks (SEA, TAP, YUM, for example) would have beaten the market by a substantial and statistically significant margin. "Would a Stock by Any Other Ticker Smell As Sweet?" describes this in exhaustive--and even exhausting--detail. This 22-page paper was produced by three Pomono College economists.
In today's turbulent investment waters, however, results are mixed. While LENS (Concord Camera) showed a recent six-month gain of 40.51% and BOOM (Dynamic Materials) was up an equivalent 34.91%, CASH (Meta Financial Group) declined 29.82% and CAR (Avis Budget Group) dropped a whopping 51.27%.
Other entertaining (but not necessarily lucrative) symbols that might not have crossed your path: MOO (Market Vectors, a livestock company); WOOF (VCA Antech, veterinary services); GEEK (Internet America); BABY (Natus Medical, medical products for infants); SEED (Origin Agritech Limited); UGLYX (Leuthold Undervalued and Unloved, a mutual fund specializing in undervalued companies); TINY (Harris & Harris Group, venture capital for tiny technology); DIET (eDiets.com); NUT (Macadamia Orchards); CHUX (O'Charleys restaurants); BID (Sotheby's); FUN (Cedar Fair, amusement parks); WOLF (Great Wolf Resorts); CAKE ( Cheesecake Factory).
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