All Right, All Right, All Right … AMEN!

It was vintage Matthew McConaughey on Sunday night as he thanked God first for his Best Performance by An Actor in a Leading Role in his acceptance speech. (You could have heard a pin drop in the Hollywood audience.)

We have noted here previously that McConaughey nearly stole the show at Wolf of Wall Street despite a sparse few minutes at the very beginning of the movie. I will also confess that I was relieved that Leonardo, Jonah Hill, Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts remained in their seats all Sunday night. Maybe there’s more to thespian excellence than a spewing epidemic of the F-word.

I have not seen Dallas Buyer’s Club, recipient of several awards including Matthew’s but I probably will. Our own buyer’s club, this community of long-term investors, celebrated its own annual achievement awards this past weekend too. Manifest Investing and the Mid-Michigan chapter of NAIC teamed up to present this year’s red carpet, black tie, and latte-toting pajama party on Saturday morning. The Guest Knights (Herb Lemcool, Matt Spielman and Nick Stratigos) stole the show and the Audience toted home their first Golden Knight. It won’t be their last. The Wisdom of Crowds, Communities and Clubs is formidable, indeed. The awards for 2013:

• Best Stock Selection (2013): Audience Choice, Ken Kavula, Cy Lynch for Priceline (PCLN)
• Best Stock Selection (All-Time): Hugh McManus for Southwest Airlines (LUV)
• Best Picture: Mark Robertson for Crossing Wall Street, highlighting the exploits of one Eddy Elfenbein
• Best Accuracy (2013): Guest Knights Herb Lemcool and Matt Spielman
• Best Accuracy (All-Time): Guest Knights Herb Lemcool, Matt Spielman & Nick Stratigos
• Best Relative Return (2013): Ken Kavula
• Best Relative Return (All-Time): Guest Knights Herb Lemcool, Matt Spielman & Nick Stratigos

A wonderful community steeped in collective (and shared) wisdom. Join us for the next Round Table on March 25.

All right. All right. All right. AMEN.

Companies of Interest

I have troubling drumming up much excitement for Issue 3 of the Value Line Investment Survey.

Maybe it’s the average Quality Rank of 57. Or the average EPS Stability of 55.

This week’s update batch is chock full of companies that get whipsawed by economic tides … and that makes them non-core in our investing universe. There are a few exceptions — like some of the specialty chemical companies, some of David L. Babson’s places to remain vigilant for price swoons. But for the most part, these companies can be treacherously volatile on the operating performance side. And that obviously translates to the stock prices. It’s generally a pretty good idea to double check against S&P fair values for the companies in this batch.

Materially Stronger: Interdigital (IDCC), Chesapeake Energy (CHK), Avery Dennison (AVY), Magellan Midstream (MMP), Zebra Technologies (ZBRA), Minerals Technology (MTX)

Materially Weaker: Encana (ECA), American Vanguard (AVD), Arch Coal (ACI), Boardwalk Pipeline (BWP), Alpha Natural Resources (ANR), Walter Energy (WLT)

Morningstar P/FV Nudges

The average price-to-fair value (P/FV) for the companies in this week’s update batch — according to Morningstar — is 99%.

S&P P/FV Nudges

The average price-to-fair value (P/FV) for the companies in this week’s update batch — according to S&P — is 115%. (!) The two research giants clearly have a difference of opinion this week.

Market Barometers

The average Value Line low total return forecast held steady at 3.4%, unchanged from last week.

Coming Attractions

This coming Saturday (March 8), we’ll spend some time with the retirement savings plan for government employees in a FREE webcast. We’ll take a look at the items on the menu — as we do for any qualified plan — take a look at how these components have performed, and some perspective on the outlook.

Time: 10:30 ET

Please feel free to share this opportunity with friends and family who have access to the Thrift Savings Plan. “Seating” is limited.

Registration: http://www.manifestinvesting.com/events/146-a-few-moments-with-thrift-savings-plan-march-8-2014