StockPickReport: Stock Research and Analysis for Applied

SHREVEPORT, La., Dec. 30, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- StockPickReport.Com (http://www.stockpickreport.com -- the web's only non-mainstream stock rating service), rates Applied Materials, Yahoo!, Brocade Communications Systems Inc., PalmOne Inc.

STOCKPICKREPORT RATINGS:

Applied Materials (NASDAQ:AMAT) -- BUY

http://www.stockpickreport.com/abrating.php?sym=AMAT

Yahoo! (NASDAQ:YHOO) -- BUY

http://www.stockpickreport.com/abrating.php?sym=YHOO

Brocade Communications Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:BRCD) -- SELL

http://www.stockpickreport.com/abrating.php?sym=BRCD

PalmOne Inc. (NASDAQ:PLMO) -- WEAK SELL

http://www.stockpickreport.com/abrating.php?sym=PLMO

STOCK COMMENTARY:


                      Thursday, December 30, 2004
                      StockPickReport Commentary

CONGRATULATIONS

We congratulate all of you who enjoyed the move higher Wednesday in ALTR, CLE, and CC. It's so nice to have stocks move up against the market. You know, we think that ALTR could be a big winner. The nice thing about ALTR is the clear stop/loss set up with the lows over the last couple weeks.

Anyhow, congrats on these stocks moving up the last few days.

Once More, We Hope You'll Donate

Yesterday it was 55,000 dead. Today, the number is 77,000. My 58-year-old uncle said to me today, "This earthquake and Tsunami disaster in Asia is probably the single greatest natural disaster of my lifetime." It is for mine, for sure.

Please, if you have not done so yet, donate a few dollars to the Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org. The Red Cross will be on the front lines while we are home in the safety and comfort of our homes and businesses. If you've donated, I thank you for your patience while I make this plea to those who may not have, yet.

In Good Company

Are headline writers reading our (StockPickReport) commentary? You'd think they might be. Check out the headlines from Wednesday night: Oil prices up, economy should be soft in 2005, Dollar drops versus Euro, etc.

If we believed the market was overbought before, well, when "mainstream wallstreet" begins to back down from their usual cheerleading, we suspect a pullback is around the corner.

Wanna know WHY the growth will be slower next year? Well, 'cause folks don't have a lot of free cash to spend. High oil prices are taking their toll.

And, speaking of high oil prices, it was just Monday evening that the Associated Press reported that oil prices "plummeted" below $42 -- as if to say that was some sort of victory.

Our point about "mainstream" news is that, well, it AIN'T NEWS. One day it's "all systems go." The next day it's "look out below" (rhyme scheme unintentional!) That's not news. That's BALONEY.

The GOOD "news" is that you will be able to make money if the market pulls back. How? Here are some ways we suggest you can profit in the coming market correction:


     1. First, make sure you are not afraid to SELL stock. If
        you have profits in some stocks, you will never lose
        money by MAKING money.  Your diligent use of stop/losses
        on your trades will go along way to shoring up your bank
        account.
     2. Second, if you want to stay long and NOT sell, you
        should sell some "covered calls" on stocks you own.
        Our preference is to sell deep "in the money" options
        that provide a nice return but also provide a cushion
        if the stock you hold drops.
     3. If there are stocks you want to buy now but you think
        they are too expensive we think you might want to sell
        puts on those stocks. Say, for example, you'd like to
        own Widgets.Com (Nasdaq:WIDGE), and WIDGE is at $35, but
        you want to buy it at $25, sell a $25 put on WIDGE. If
        WIDGE drops, you get to buy it at the price you wanted
        PLUS someone paid you to do that. If WIDGE doesn't drop,
        you just pocket the money. Now, if you don't understand
        what I just wrote, please pick up the book, "All About
        Options" at Amazon.Com. Or, email me.

The market going up is not good, and the market going down is not bad. How you are set up for either move is the important thing. And, based on the emails you send us, we think many of you are set up nicely.

Have a wonderful evening. See you tomorrow!

Remember, if you have any questions or comments, please email Don Harrold, don@stockpickreport.com

For More Commentary Go Here: http://www.stockpickreport.com

WHAT THESE RATINGS MEAN:

StockPickReport.Com ranks stocks with technical analysis. These ratings do not indicate a "long term" view. These ratings reflect an opinion for the short term. These ratings may change based on market conditions.

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"SPR does NOT guarantee any stock will go up OR down. Information published by SPR or emailed to members is opinion, and opinion only. We believe our information is good, accurate, and helpful. Traders should (in our opinion) make "buy" or "sell" decisions based on variables including (but certainly not limited to!), experience, portfolio size, risk-tolerance, and current market conditions - none of which we can determine."

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