What strategy would you take to make money in the stock market today?

[paia423]

This is assuming the current state of the economy. You have between now and May 1 to invest a sum of money. What companies would you invest in and why? What sectors? Money must be invested in stocks with the primary goal in capital gain.

[popowich]

I'm not selling anything. I'm holding my current investments, and patiently waiting for good opportunities to buy companies that I already like at a discount.

-Raymond

[popowich]

Some moral support from the Fools...

-Raymond



Dear Fools,

It's tough to remain focused and Foolish as an investor when the
market throws us a seemingly endless run of triple-digit losses.
Where's the fun in losing money?

But having invested through markets like these before, and having
studied the master investors who've seen more of them than we have,
all of our newsletter advisors urge you to remember one thing: With
apologies to Dickens, "When it's the worst of times, it's the best of
times."

Whether the market is up or down, our aim is to find superior
businesses and buy them when they are cheap. Right now, we see an
exciting opportunity for investors who realize that a rational
temperament and a long-term focus are the advantages we hold over
Wall Street's panicky, short-term money.

Of course, we at The Motley Fool like to see our stocks go up as much
as anyone else. But we frankly don't care so much when those gains
come. We know markets are at times irrational. But while short-term
conditions can fog an investment thesis and confound day-traders,
we're far more concerned with the long upward climb.

That doesn't mean we put our heads in the sand. In tough times, we
pay attention, we study, we review, and we ask ourselves if our
original thesis remains intact. If our thesis no longer holds, we'll
part ways and move on. But we don't let our emotions override our
intellect. We don't mindlessly join the mass exodus. We benefit from
it. It might not feel like it when you look at your portfolio, but
it's a great time to be an investor.

As always, we're available on our community's message boards to talk
stocks, strategy, or just commiserate. We look forward to seeing you
there!