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On this page we provide full details of our yearly performance since the inception of this site. (Last updated January 1, 2012)
Below, we show you graphs that indicate our average performance by category (Strong Buy, Buy, Sell and even our personal portfolio). After that we show you graphs that show how each individual Buy or Sell rated stocks did each year. We even provide you with links that will show you the names of all these stocks. Absolutely nothing is hidden from you!
The first graph below is of a type often called a "mountain chart". You can see why - it shows how a mountain of wealth can be created over a period of years. In 2008, we lost ground, but we regained that ground in 2009 and 2010 and our Buy-or- Strong-Buy-rated stocks and the Editor's personal portfolio are both up over 300% (quadrupled) since the end of 1999. Meanwhile the Canadian TSX index is up just 42% in the 12 years since the end of 1999 and the S&P 500 index is actually lower by 18% since the end of 1999.
Past performance is no guarantee of future performance nor is it necessarily in any way indicative of future performance.
Since the beginning of 2000, our Stock Picks have turned $100,000 into more than $400,000 dollars with no further investments. And this occurred despite two market crashes in that time. This performance has walloped the market.
| Average Increase | '00 | '01 | '02 | '03 | '04 | '05 | '06 | '07 | '08 | '09 | '10 | '11 | Value of $100,000 Invested at Start of 2000 | Compounded Average Yearly Gain | Total Gain Since Start of 2000 |
| Our Buy or higher Rated Stocks | 18% | 14% | 1% | 57% | 25% | 28% | 20% | -1% | -34% | 37% | 15% | 0% | $ 424,000 | 12.8% | 324% |
| Editor's Personal Returns | 19% | 5% | -8% | 40% | 21% | 33% | 18% | 1% | -23% | 44% | 14% | 3% | $405,000 | 12.4% | 294% |
| Toronto Index | 6% | -14% | -14% | 24% | 13% | 22% | 15% | 7% | -35% | 31% | 14% | -11% | $ 142,000 | 3.0% | 42% |
| S&P 500 Index | -10% | -13% | -23% | 26% | 9% | 3% | 14% | 4% | -38% | 24% | 13% | 0% | $ 82,000 | -1.6% | -18% |
Dividends were not readily available to be included and are therefore excluded in the above table, as they almost always are when stock indexes are discussed. (Except that the Editor's portfolio in the table includes dividends, since that is how brokers report actual portfolios). Costs of trading are of course excluded in the table except again for the editor's portfolio for which the performance is after all trading costs. The editor's portfolio is also after the impact of changes in the U.S. dollar exchange rate while the other line items do not include this.
We rate stocks all through the year, but for performance tracking purposes we track the stocks that we had rated at the start of each year, as further explained below. Complete details of each stock in each rating category are provided in links to each year below.
We don't exaggerate our performance in any way such as by telling you only about the gains of only our best Stock Picks (as do many sites), or basing the performance on the highest subsequent price (as do many sites). We also deal mostly in stocks with reasonable trading liquidity and unlike many sites, we certainly do not in any way attempt to force the prices of our Picks up through promotion (some Sites do that with penny stocks). We honestly show you all the results including the editor's personal results. Can you think of any other stock rating Site with that kind of honesty? Would you trust a stock picking Site that was less than completely honest?
The following table shows how we have out performed the market. Black numbers are where we beat the market, red numbers are where we underperformed.
If you can't consistently beat the market, someone apparently forgot to tell us that!
Percentage by Which we Beat (or trailed) the market each Year
| "2000" | "2001" | "2002" | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | Average Out Performance | |
| Editor's Personal Portfolio | 13% | 19% | 6% | 16% | 9% | 11% | 4% | (6%) | 12% | 14% | (1%) | 14% | 9% |
| Average Strong Buy | 23% | 28% | 19% | 55% | 13% | 8% | 1% | 5% | 4% | 11% | (16%) | 6% | 12% |
| Average Buy or higher | 12% | 28% | 15% | 32% | 12% | 7% | 5% | (8%) | 2% | 7% | (0%) | 11% | 10% |
The Charts Below Show Our average performance for each rating category, year by year. You can clearly see that on average, our Strong Buys, our Buys, the Editor's personal portfolio and our Model Portfolio, have all easily beaten the TSX Market Index over time.
For each year we use the same scale from minus 50% to plus 50% so that each year can be easily compared to other years.
In 2011 we beat the market for the 10th time in twelve years.
In 2010 we about tied the market. (click for full details by individual stock) Our 1 and only Strong Buy however did not perform. And the two stocks we rated Sell actually rose substantially in price. Still, our Buys on average about tied the market.
In 2009 we again beat the market. (click for full details by individual stock)
In 2008 we beat the market but it was an ugly year. (click for full details by individual stock)
2007 (click for full details by individual stock) was not a very good year for us, but it was not too bad and we can't expect every year to be a good one.
2006 (click for full details by individual stock) was a good year as we outperformed the TSX index for the seventh straight year. Note that the Sells unexpectedly rose that year, but this was based on only two stocks. We no longer feature many sell-rated stocks since we pre-screen for buys rather than sells.
2005 (click for full details by individual stock) was a very strong year for us, as we handily beat the TSX, which itself had a good year
2004 (click for full details by individual stock) was a Strong year for us
2003 (click for full details by individual stock) was a Spectacular year for us, and the TSX itself did well also. Note, our Strong Buys were literally "off the chart".
2002 (click for full details by individual stock) was a tough year - we beat the TSX but our returns were low. Here the sells went down by an amount that was "off the chart". In 2001 and 2002 we were very glad to avoid the big losses that most investors suffered.
In 2001 (click for full details by individual stock) we had a good year, even as the TSX fell. It was easy to find Sells in 2001.
2000 (click for full details by individual stock) our first full calendar year, was a Strong year for us.
The following graph shows our compounded average annual gain since the start of 2000. (updated for 2011) This was an excellent performance, particularly when you consider that it includes the market-crash years of the early 2000's and of late 2008, early 2009.
Be sure to scroll down to the additional charts below which vividly illustrate the remarkable consistency with which our individual Buy rated stocks have moved up in price.
The fact that you are viewing this material tells me that you are someone who has an interest in taking charge of your investment decisions and learning how to accumulate significant wealth. If so, I believe that our stock rating service and educational articles can help you to accumulate significant wealth. Possibly you can reach a point where your investments are making more each year than the average person makes by working all year.
Our success comes from our detailed analysis of financial data for each company and does not depend on luck or on trying to predict commodity prices.
The Graphs below show a very good consistency in picking winning stocks most years
There can be no guarantee that future returns will be as good as the historical returns shown.
Click For Full Details By Year: "2000" "2001" "2002" 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Have you ever noticed that most stock picking services do not display their performance record clearly and that virtually none of them show you the track record of the author's own personal investments?
Well, this Site is different. Our superior track record is honestly presented above. We show you the good picks and (unlike most others) we show you our bad calls as well.
FUTURE RETURNS MAY NOT BE SIMILAR TO PAST RETURNS.
The overall performance record of the stock picks on this site has proven to be outstanding (even after accounting for any and all bad calls). This performance is attributable to the consistent use of a rational, diligent, mathematical method that tends to identify bargain priced stocks. This method is based on our close studies of the methods used by the world's greatest investors including Warren Buffett and the late Benjamin Graham.
Past performance does not guarantee future performance, but if you believe that it makes sense to go with a consistently winning track record, from an honest and credible source, then consider Subscribing to our Stock Research.
While Performance here is measured mostly by yearly snap-shots, the model portfolio available to paid subscribers as well as the editor's personal portfolio, both track picks made throughout each the year.
The Graphs below illustrate an exceptionally consistent ability to predict winners and losers. (Though 2008 was an exception as was, to a lesser extent 2002 but we did beat the market both of those years)
If you have any questions about the exceptional track record demonstrated here, please do not hesitate to email us at editor@investorsfriend.com. We have extensive records to back up all of our performance figures.
If you agree that the Performance figures above are impressive and are from a trustworthy source then, if you are not already a subscriber to our stock ratings, why delay? Take action to benefit from these stock ratings by subscribing now.
Here is the graph for 2011. Although we beat the market it was not a great year and only 40% of our stock picks rose in price. Counting one Sell which did fall in price we batted 43% correct overall.
Here is the graph for 2010 which was a good year and 81% of our Buys rose in price. Counting the two Sells which rose in price we batted 74% overall.
Here is the graph for 2009 which was a great year and 82% of our stocks rose in price.
Here is the graph for 2008: (We were badly hurt by the market crash in 2008, Only 8% of our Picks rose in price.)
Graph for 2007, (here we batted only 42%
correct, a weak year for us, although the higher-rated stocks generally
did well, it was lower rated buys that did badly)
Graph for 2006 (Here we batted 83% correct on the Buys and 76% correct Overall)
Graph for 2005 (Here we batted 83% correct on the Buys and 71%
overall)
(Click the link to see the names of all the individual stocks)
Graph for 2004 (we batted 92% correct on the buys and 86% correct overall)
Graph for 2003 (we batted 86% correct on the buys and 82% correct overall)
Graph for "2002" (we batted 45% correct on the buys and 50% correct overall)
Graph for year "2001" (we batted 69% correct on the buys and 73% correct overall)
Graph for "Year 2000" (we batted 75% correct on the buys and 71% correct overall)
Past performance is no guarantee of future performance nor is it necessarily in any way indicative of future performance.
Measuring performance is somewhat difficult given that a stock originally rated a Strong Buy may later change to a weak buy or even occasionally to a sell.
We have attempted to show performance in the most honest and transparent fashion possible.
Year 2000 performance includes only all those stocks that had an active rating as of January 1, 2000. Year 2000 performance shows the changes in price from the rating that was made closest to but not later than January 1, 2000 through to the rating made closest to but prior to December 31, 2000. (Stocks which were no longer covered were priced through to December 31, 2000. It is fair to use the stock price on the day it was rated rather than using the exact calendar year. So, year 2000 performance is not exactly calendar 2000 but it is reasonably close.
The same process was followed for 2001, the beginning price for 2001 is the ending price used for 2000. Again, for 2002, the beginning price is the ending price from 2001. Beginning in 2002 there are a few U.S. currency stock picks. The performance figures generally exclude the impact of currency (U.S. dollar exchange rate changes) except in the editor's personal portfolio currency impact is embedded in the results and in the Model Portfolio, the currency impact is included.
For 2003 we reviewed all the Stock Picks at December 31, 2002 to insure that the ratings were still valid and updated any that were not. This insured that for 2003, our analysis year coincides exactly with the calendar year, which was not the case in previous years, as explained above. Similarly for 2004 and each year after that.
Shawn Allen, CFA, CMA, MBA, P. Eng
President
InvestorsFriend Inc.