Closing Comments - 2011

For most investors Friday, December 30, 2011, saw the major market indexes wrap up a disappointing year on an appropriately lackluster note, with stocks settling modestly lower on the final trading day of 2011.

However, for those following the traditional AAS Model portfolio’s modest gain are to be reported with the AAS Equity Model up 1.4% for the year and both the ETF Model and the Mutual Fund Model up 1.10% for the year. It might be worth mentioning that the later two models were effectively closed a mid-year.

Those who adapted to the writings which were laced into the both the AAS Newsletter and the Alpha for the Independent Thinker blog site might have done considerably better, as we have.

Early in 2011 we introduced the AAS Active Traders portfolio which holds only thirteen equity positions and trades weekly if needed. This portfolio was up 6.72% for the year versus 0.00% for the S & P 500 Index.

Next we introduced the AAS Commodities Portfolio which holds up to six specific ETF’s and will trade daily on technical changes if needed. This portfolio gained 12.75% for the year versus 0.00% for the S & P 500 Index.

Lastly, we wrote from time to time about the benefits for some of Day Trading Options and while the strategy is not for everyone it can be employed by focused and technically oriented investors to generate portfolio income.

Last year I used all three strategies in personal accounts and find myself engaged, challenged and extremely blessed come the close of 2011. For the year the weighted return of the three buckets of capital was 35.63% as compared to 0.00% for the S & P 500 Index and sharply negative returns for the vast majority of mutual funds and virtually every category of Hedge Fund worthy of investing in. The only harbingers of profitability in the Hedge Fund universe appear to be in the high risk arbitrage sector along with the dark emerging markets.

This is the last issue of the Alpha Advisor Service – AAS Daily Newsletter. It has been our honor and pleasure to be of service to you. We extend to each of you our wishes for a Happy, Prosperous and Safe New Year. Remain cautious, measure twice -- cut once and always remember that they are armed and dangerous.

Click on the image below to enlarge the view.

We can surface the Great Investment Ideas, but you have to pick them!!

The abbreviated table below lists just the top five selections we surfaced recently for your continued research and investigation. While admittedly not a perfect system it does allow you to focus your time and efforts on picking the Best from the Best.

Note the selection dates in Column I, “Most Recent Buy Date”, this is the latest date when the security was listed as a Recommended Buy by the Alpha Advisor Service newsletter. Click on any of the inserts below to view an enlarged image.

Then take a look at the charts below when the price line on top or the histograms below turn Green the Alpha Advisor Service Buy Recommendation is in place. Timely, accurate and profitable.



Headwaters Inc. (HW)

Headwaters Incorporated (Headwaters) provides products, technologies and services in the building products, construction materials and energy industries. The Company generates revenue by selling building products, such as manufactured architectural stone, siding accessory products and concrete blocks; managing and marketing coal combustion products (CCPs), which are used as a replacement for portland cement in concrete; and reclaiming waste coal. It operates in three segments: light building products, heavy construction materials and energy technology.



Woodward, Inc. (WWD)

Woodward, Inc., formerly Woodward Governor Company, is a designer, manufacturer and service provider of energy control and optimization solutions. The Company designs, produces and services components and integrated systems that manage and control the energy of fluid movement, motion, combustion and electricity. The Company designs, produces and services energy control products. The Company has production and assembly facilities in the United States, Europe and Asia. The Company focuses on original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and equipment packagers. It also provides aftermarket repair, replacement and other service support for its installed products. Its customers include OEMs and end users of their products.



Myers Industries, Inc. (MYE)

Myers Industries, Inc. (Myers Industries) manufactures a range of polymer products for industrial, agricultural, automotive, commercial and consumer markets. It manufactures plastic reusable material handling containers and pallets and produces plastic horticultural pots, trays and flower planters. Other product lines include plastic storage and organization containers, plastic original equipment manufacturer parts, rubber tire repair products and custom plastic and rubber products. It is also the wholesale distributor of tools, equipment and supplies for the tire, wheel and under vehicle service industry in the United States. The distribution products range from tire balancers and alignment systems to valve caps, tire repair tools and other consumable service supplies. As of March 7, 2011, it operated 16 manufacturing facilities and 39 distribution branches located throughout North, Central and South America. On July 21, 2010, it acquired the assets of Enviro-Fill, Inc.




ViroPharma Inc. (VPHM)

ViroPharma Incorporated (ViroPharma) is a global biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of products that address diseases, with a focus on products used by physician specialists or in hospital settings. The Company markets and sells Cinryze in the United States for routine prophylaxis against angioedema attacks in adolescent and adult patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE). Cinryze is a C1 esterase inhibitor therapy for routine prophylaxis against HAE, also known as C1 inhibitor (C1-INH) deficiency, a genetic disorder. It also markets and sells Vancocin HCl capsules, the oral capsule formulation of vancomycin hydrochloride, in the United States and its territories. On May 28, 2010, ViroPharma acquired Auralis Limited, a specialty pharmaceutical company. In March 2010, the Company’s Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for Cinryze for acute treatment and prophylaxis against HAE was accepted by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).



Cambrex Corp. (CBM)

Cambrex Corporation (Cambrex) is a life sciences company that provides products and services for the development and commercialization of new and generic therapeutics. The Company primarily supplies its products and services worldwide to pharmaceutical companies and generic drug companies. Its business includes primarily the development and manufacture of pharmaceutical ingredients derived from organic chemistry. Cambrex’s products include active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and pharmaceutical intermediates. Services include custom development and current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) manufacturing services. In November 2010, the Company acquired a 51% interest in Zenara Pharma, an India-based pharmaceutical company focused on the formulation of final dosage form products. In March 2010, the Company completed the acquisition of IEP GmbH (IEP), a company in Wiesbaden, Germany, which is engaged in the field of industrial biocatalysis.




Please direct inquires and questions to Info@Alpha-Advisor.com

Health Spring Inc.

We moved Health Spring Inc to a Buy on October 7, 2011 based on our stock selection process. Nice trade see below.

To enlarge the image below click on the image.