As one of the weekend "tasks" of this website, I like to look back on stock picks from the past. Starting about a year out, I have missed enough weekends of review that I am now 1 1/2 years out on reviews. On June 17, 2007, I reviewed stock picks from the week of January 16, 2006 . Moving ahead a week, let's take a look at the picks from the week of January 23, 2006!
As I have frequently pointed out, these reviews assume a 'buy and hold strategy' of investing, where equal dollar amounts of each stock are purchased and held regardless of subsequent price action. In practice, I advocate and employ a very different strategy that sells stocks quickly on small losses and slowly as the stocks appreciate. However, for the ease of this review, this analysis assumes a simpler buy and hold approach to all of these stock picks. The difference in this approach would certainly affect the outcome of the performance.
On January 26, 2006, I posted National Instruments (NATI) on Stock Picks Bob's Advice when the stock was trading at $36.81/share. NATI closed at $32.31 on July 6, 2007, for a loss of $(4.50) or (12.2)% since posting.
On April 26, 2007, National Instruments (NATI) reported 1st quarter 2007 results . Revenue for the quarter came in at $172 million, up 11% over the prior year same quarter. Net income (GAAP) came in at $19 million, up 51% from prior year's $12.6 million result. On a per share basis this was $.23/diluted share, up from $.15/diluted share the prior year.
With the satisfactory price chart, a solid quarterly report, and a still good Morningstar.com "5-Yr Restated" financials ,
NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS (NATI) IS RATED A BUY