I recently boasted to some people about a couple of my recent all-star picks in WEN and DPS.  The former has risen 60% since I bought it in October.  The latter has returned 20% in about a week and a half, after watching it for the right entry point for three months.

Now that is a very micro view of just two great picks and who knows what the longer term will bring to them.  But I'll take my wins especially in this market where wins are hard to come by.  All I know is I'm up overall in the past three months!  Can you say that?

So for anyone who might put any value in my opinion, here is a snapshot of a few that I'm watching and the price I'm looking for before entering.  And that's the key... know what you want and know what you want to get in at and have patience.  If it doesn't hit your price, oh well, there's others out there.  Insist on buying at the price you want it and wait for it.

Retail

How could I possibly want retail stocks right now?  I don't own any in this sector right now, so I'm waiting and watching.  It's going to be a nasty Christmas, but that's the point.  They get hammered by poor sales, but we win out of it... as long as we pick companies that aren't going to be out of business in 6 months!  So what we want to do is pick the leaders of the losers.

I like Macy's (M).  It hit really ridiculous lows in mid-November and I was sleeping or would have pulled the trigger.  Can you believe it was in the $5 range?!  Now it's back up over $10, where it should be.  They've outperformed expectations, but should have a poor holiday like eveyrone else.  I am a buyer at $7.  Hefty dividend too, as long as they keep it.  Don't buy it for the dividend though, who knows if it will be there if times get really tough.

Limited (LTD) also looks good to me.  Their name is a misnomeur because they don't really own The Limited stores anymore... they sold that over a year ago.  They own Bath and Body Works and Victoria's Secret.  I am waiting to see $7 on this one also, which would be around a 52 week low.

Tech

Yahoo! (YHOO) - If you are risk averse, stay far far away.  Yahoo is definitely a company in trouble.  They are cutting jobs and cutting products left and right.  That's the bad news.  The good news?  They are cutting jobs and cutting products left and right.  Yes, that's also the good news... it means they are getting costs under control and they are re-focusing on their core competancies and on what works rather than what is not.  They got stretched too thin, tried to do too much, made too many acquisitions, etc etc.  I think it's a good buy under $10.... could be a good buy here at $13, but too risky for me at this point.  They are definitely still a potential to be bought by Microsoft (or some other deal) or merger with AOL.  Would be nice to be holding the stock on that day (sell on that news!).

Research in Motion (RIMM) - Can you believe this was a $120 stock and is now at a third of that?  The Blackberry has been out-shined by the iPhone lately, but it is not going away.  The Storm, despite its problems, seems to be really loved.  I haven't gotten my hands on one (I need to to get a real feel for the stock) but the reviews I've heard are great.  This is a great deal anywhere in the $30s.  I think I definitely buy it if we see $34 or $35 if they have a bad Christmas.

Verizon (VZ) - Great great great.  Look at the dividend!  And they are still gaining marketshare.  Buy it at $27.

AT&T (T) - I like them too.  Again, great dividend from the former monopoly.  They are getting into the television business with U-Verse as a direct competitor to cable.  If they can get that right, wow!  I'm hoping for a chance to buy rock bottom though... maybe $23 or $24.

Others

Administaff (ASF) - I've been watching this one for months.  I think this is a great mid-cap play because it is a trend that's increasing especially in a down economy:  outsourcing your payroll and HR duties.  They are a smaller competitor to Paychex.  I think this is a huge growth stock.  I want it at $15.

Scotts-Miracle Gro (SMG) - Great company, great product, expanding reach.  Even with September right now, has held up great with the down-turn and even accelerated.  If it has antoher downward motion to under $25 you better buy it.  I don't know that we'll have that chance though.  Good even here at $29, but I'm waiting.