TIPS

from Cramer of Mad Money:
Bear and bulls make money; pigs get slaughtered.
No one ever made a dime by panicing.

Have minimum of 5, maximum of 10 stocks, diversified.
Diversification is the only free lunch.
Remember to take money off the table.

Steps to good stocks:
1. Find a viable company (that make money with less debt).
    (Balance sheets are published quarterly)
    For every $1 you speculate, keep $4 in debt-free companies.
    Just say NO to debt.
2. Do your homework (1 hour per week for each stock).
    a. www.sec.gov and type in the ticker symbol
    b. look at quarterly and 10-K reports and SEC filings
    c. know how company makes money
    d. find out business model
    e. the quarterly conference call is a gold mine for information
    (at least read the transcripts)
       i. young companies should be focused on growing revenues
       ii. mature companies should be focused on increasing net profit
3.  We're looking of revenue growth and gross margin (look at the competition).
     Being a good sector is not enough.
     Good dividend, good management and growth are good reasons.
4.  Metrix Systems:
       Cable companies: enterprise value / number of subscribers
       Hotels: average revenue per room
       Airlines: average revenue per seat
       Retaliers and Restaurants: same store sales
       Tech: gross margin for product sold
       Financials: net interest margin
5.  As stock goes up take some off the table until it's the houses money then let it run.

Learn from the past by learning from your mistakes.
Learn from the numbers, study the arithmetic.
Set goals and stick to those goals.
Be honest, admit your mistakes so you can learn from them.
Don't hold onto a trade after your thesis is confirmed or not.
If results don't match your thesis, sell, cut your losses and get out.
Face reality. Come up with a new thesis and a new stock.
Bottom Line: Make a plan, stick to it and recognize whether it's working.

Investments are long-term (18 months).
Trading is short-term.
Short-term trades require discipline and homework.
Trade only when you know:
  1. Entrance
  2. Exit
  3. Time-frame
  4. Catalyst
No one is good enough to know a top or bottom.

A cyclical company is one that is sensitive to price changes and business cycle.
A secular growth stock is one to buy when the economy is weak.

What are the signs of a recession coming?...how the front line companies are doing.

PART OF THE 20 RULES OF CRAMERS' NEW BOOK:
1.  Don't fight the business cyle
2.  Following the analysts are not always bad to follow as the cover entire sectors, not just individual stocks.
3.  Analysts are never bullish or bearish enough
4.  When the street takes a side on a sector, it is usually not a strong stance.
5.  Don't be a snob.  Never sneer at an opportunity to make money.
6.  If a stock is shorted and hyped at the same time, then sell it.
7.  Past performance is not indicative of future success.  Don't let a sector go to your head.
8.