Soon we will be releasing out Top 10 Stocks for the second half of 2010.  There are a lot of factors that go into that list but the main one is we look for good companies that have been unfairly penalized due to market conditions at the time and the potential for the stock price to climb significantly during the last six months of the year.

One company sure to be on that list is [CE] Celanese Corp.  CE is a chemical company that has a lot going for it right now.  The fundamentals are strong, the company recently raised its dividend and there is plenty of growth ahead.

If you are looking for a stock pick that will not be beaten down by the market correction currently taking place take a long look at Celanese.

Fund Basics:

The investment seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation. The fund invests predominantly in the stocks of companies located outside the United States.

The Good:

This fund does an excellent job at finding undervalued growth stocks in the emerging markets category.  Brazilian Petroleum and Teva Pharmaceuticals are great examples of this.

The Bad:

The minimum investment of $100,000 will surely definitely cancel out most average investors.  Also over 50% of its holdings are European which figure to struggle early in 2010 before the global market corrections take place later in the year.  This is a high risk, high reward type of fund.  Definitely not for anyone who plans to retire in the next few years.

Top Holdings

Fund Manager:

James Anderson Started: Feb 6, 2003

Greg Aldridge Started: Feb 26, 2008

Report:

Info:

Vanguard International Growth Adm

Phone: 800-997-2798

Today we look at a Mutual Fund for a change.  Despite public opinion and the rise of ETF’s, a good Mutual Fund is still a very solid investment.  PRTAX is a tax free Mutual Fund with low expenses and good results.  I recommend taking a look at this fund and I think it could work for just about any type of investor.

The Good:

This fund is very conservative but that has led to an impressive track record over the past ten years.  Low fees and great tax advantages for this municipal bond fund make it worth taking a look at for any portfolio.

The Bad:

This fund may be too conservative for any investor seeking maximum returns.

The Lowdown:

A solid fund to consider for the conservative investor.

Fund Manager:

Mary J. Miller – Started March 1997

Report:

Top Holdings

While now might not be the time to make a purchase of this advertising and marketing company, I feel that it is worth a look as I can see the company possibly blowing up in the coming years.  Marketing and advertising budgets have been cut over the past couple of years, but I believe those budgets will eventually rise as companies will need to get the word out to consumers in order to maximize their profits.

IPG is a company to keep an eye.

From Reuters http://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/companyProfile?rpc=66&symbol=IPG please read the company description below.  Also, see the companies personal website http://www.interpublic.com/ for more information.

The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (Interpublic), incorporated in September 1930, is an advertising and marketing services company. The Company’s agency brands create marketing solutions on behalf of clients worldwide. Its companies cover a range of marketing disciplines and specialties, from consumer advertising and direct marketing to mobile and search engine marketing. The work Interpublic produces for its clients is specific to their needs. The Company’s solutions vary from project-based activity involving one agency and its client to long-term, fully-integrated campaigns created by a group of its companies working together on behalf of a client. Interpublic operates in two segments: Integrated Agency Network (IAN), which consists of McCann Worldgroup (McCann), Draftfcb, Lowe Worldwide (Lowe), Mediabrands and its domestic integrated agencies, and Constituency Management Group (CMG), which consists of the bulk of its specialist marketing service offerings. In July 2008, the Company increased its stake in the Middle East Communication Networks (MCN) from a minority position to 51% ownership.

The Company has three global brands that provide integrated, large-scale solutions for clients: McCann, Draftfcb and Lowe, as well as its domestic integrated agencies and global media networks. McCann offers communications tools and resources. McCann has four operating units: McCann Erickson Advertising, which has operations in over 100 countries; MRM Worldwide for relationship marketing and digital expertise; Momentum Worldwide for experiential marketing and promotions, and McCann Healthcare Worldwide for healthcare communications. Draftfcb is an agency model for clients seeking accountable marketing programs. The Company operates in both consumer advertising and behavioral, data-driven direct marketing sectors.

Lowe is an agency that operates in the advertising market. Interpublic’s domestic independent agencies include full-service agency brands, such as Campbell-Ewald, Campbell Mithun, Deutsch, Hill Holliday, The Martin Agency and Mullen. The Company also has marketing specialists across a range of channels. These include FutureBrand (corporate branding), Jack Morton (experiential marketing), Octagon (sports marketing), public relations specialists like WeberShandwick and Golin Harris, and digital agencies, led by R/GA. Its healthcare communications specialists reside within its three global brands, McCann, Draftfcb and Lowe.

The Company created a management entity, Mediabrands in 2008, to oversee its two global media networks, Initiative and Universal McCann, which provide specialized services in media planning and buying, market intelligence and return-on-marketing investment analysis for clients. Initiative and Universal McCann operate independently but often work closely with Draftfcb and McCann Erickson, respectively. The Company lists approximately 90 companies on its Website’s Company Finder tool, with descriptions and office locations for each.

For our Christmas Eve Stock Pick of the Day we chose a Mutual Fund which is in our Top Mutual Funds Report of 2010.  This is an interesting fund but make sure it is right for you before purchasing.

The Good:

Good balance of stocks with retail giants Amazon, Best Buy and Wall-Mart leading the way.  Solid financial institutions like Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley also featured in this fund.

The Bad:

This fund has a heavy turnover rate which at times can be very beneficial, however it causes more potential risks and can have some negative tax consequences.

The Lowdown:

G. Kenneth Heebner is a highly respected fund manager whose aggressive trading style and long term vision make this fund top notch.

Fund Basics:

The investment seeks to long-term growth of capital. The fund typically invests in the securities of between 20 to 100 companies at any one time. It may invest in companies regardless of the size of their market capitalization, but primarily invests in companies with market capitalizations of at least $100 million.

Top Holdings

Fund Manager:

G. Kenneth Heebner; Started: Sep 3, 1997

Report:

Minimum Investment: $2,500

Expenses: 0.97%

Load: None

Info:

CGM Focus

38 Newbury Street – 8th Floor

Boston, MA 02116

Phone: 800-345-4048

Web Site: http://www.cgmfunds.com