100 Best Stocks (2006)

I enjoy this book and use it as a reference. I try to keep a 20 stock portfolio and use this book to stay diversified. It doesnt contain many smaller companies. These are all large dividend paying companies. I think that it would be nice if it contained portfolios for folks of different ages and risk assumption.

Mr. Slatter has a good idea in trying to narrow the universe of companies to invest in down to 100. He writes up a couple page profile on each company which tells you the pros and cons and some background history. He provides you with the web address which would be a good next step. All of the companies in the book are quite substantial and on average probably solid long term investments. It is always interesting to read his commentary at the beginning of the book, even if you do not agree with everything. He also does a good job of gathering significant reporting that has occurred in various publications into one place from the past year. THat is a time saver. Think of this book as an annual newsletter. It is a lot cheaper than most newsletters you can buy.

John Slatter's strategies to some may be archaic, to others nonsensical. But really, when it comes to investing, everyone has their own strategy anyway, so what is the fuss all about? Slatter's statement about stocks is really in reference to the "bond craze" that some people get, the real estate markets and commodities. People who don't understand those particular markets should stay away from them as they have a good potential to get burned if they are ignorant about their moves within it. More people understand stocks, he knows that, so he is going to speak to these people. The definitions of market lingo are great and very clear. The company profiles are great and give pretty good insight into each company and what makes them valuable. Updated information? Why try and find that in a book anyway? The internet will do for updated information. Afterall, the author is only giving an opinion as to what makes those particular stocks valuable. He is definately not writing a stock atlas or performance history. Good read, thought through all the way.

After perusing about 30-40 books that deal with the topic, I purchased one book, The 100 Best Stocks You Can Buy in 2003. I am convinced I made the right choice. Mr. Slatter's book is excellent--insightful, readable, thorough--and full of useful bits of information the novice will overlook.

For an inexperienced investor, unlike myself, this book provides some useful hints and tips to help evaluate which stocks to buy and sell. The introductory section provides some useful quick checks to help a novice evaluate which stock to buy from a particular sector.The main part of this book contains information on 100 companies that John Slatter recommends to watch in 2000. They are elegant categorized according to what the aims of your investments are (e.g. Agressive Growth or Income). For each company there are a number of reasons to buy, but also the author points out possible shortcomings in the stock. Coverage for the companies is fairly comprehensive and Slatter also states company investor contacts, so further information can be requested. However, the information the book contains is outdated, with Company accounts dating from 1998. The book is very useful, but only if you in consultation with the latest financial information.I recommend this book to anyone who is new to investing in American markets, as it gives the reader a brief introduction to a whole host of companies across a broad range of sectors. Not a book you can read cover to cover, but a useful reference tool.