Is investing in Ethanol Stocks a sure bet?
610133
Not realy. Check out this article:\n\nhttp://yahoo.businessweek.com/autos/content/may2006/bw20060504_832755.htm
160926
Any responsible trader or investor will tell you that there is no such thing as a "top" stock pick. Every equity has risk involved. You need to think for yourself. Taking tips on Yahoo is a good way to end up in the poor house.
351409
http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewPrint&articleId=11322\n\nEthanol could be a huge boost to small farmers and the rural economy. But unless we are vigilant, the big winners could be the usual suspects.\n\nWhen president bush suddenly embraced wood chips and biofuels on national television, renewable energy producers received a prime-time injection of hope. Ethanol backers forecast a boon for farmers and the environment. Yet serious questions remain about whether ethanol merely enables our addiction to an unsustainable auto-centered society -- unless it’s part of a broader shift in consumption and production. \n\nEqually critical is the matter of what a carbohydrate economy means for America’s two million farmers (by no means a monolithic lot), and for the future of sustainable agriculture. Will biofuels benefit smaller growers, or just large-scale producers and agribusiness? How will pressures for increased production and reduced energy prices effect farmers? Would small and mid-sized growers fare any better in the energy economy than they have in a rapidly consolidating food economy that has driven so many off the land and into poverty? \n\nThe stakes are significant: Protecting smaller-scale, diversified farms is intrinsic to ecological stewardship and rural economic health, sustainable farming advocates (and some biofuels proponents) argue. A major biofuels expansion could spur yet more large-scale industrial agriculture, which often relies heavily on petroleum-based fertilizers and pesticides and deploys fuel-guzzling farm machinery. Pressures for large-volume production and cheap energy might ultimately harm smaller farmers and the environment -- unless there are explicit policies to protect both.
384032
The most recent spike in prices is due to the elimination of MTBE as an oxidiant in gasoline. The rules protecting the seller from lawsuite over MTBE change on May 5. There is a serious concern there might not be sufficient ethanol to make up for the MTBE loss.
789408
Unfortunately, I'll probably dealing primarily with stocks listed on American exchanges, I'll see if I can come up with a Toronto one.\n\nAltria (nee Phillip-Morris, MO) is a great stock to get because it's a solid tobacco company with some great brands (Marlboro) and they're just entering the smokeless tobacco market, which could be a huge payoff.  Also, this "light cigarette" class action hit the stock too much and I expect to see MO gap up in the future.  And they pay a 4.20% dividend.  It's hard not to like it.\n\nFor alcohol, the market seems to be going into liquor as opposed to beer these days, especially among the younger crowd (who tends to drink more).  This isn't strictly empirical, but I think going into a liquor company is a better bet.  For that, DEO is your best bet.  They have a great stock of brands (Morgan, J&B, Cuervo, Tanqueray) and are have some beer and wine brands (but their strength is far and away their liquor).  It's relatively cheap at 19.51 P/E and has a 3.90% dividend also.\n\nI don't know too much about weapons, but if you're into military stuff, Halliburton and even Boeing are sound investments.  Handguns, Smith and Wesson (SWHC) is the only one that comes to mind it's forward P/E seems a little high at 27.56 for manufactured goods in what seems to me a tight market, but there's not much industry data to go on (not very many handgun companies).  They're trading on the upper end of their 200dma so this stock could move upwards (and it's been trending up all year).  Analysts are bullish, so I'd say it's worth watching.\n\nFor gambling, you need to go where the money is, and that means what's hot.  No casino's hotter than Sands (LVS) which has exploded over the past year, but I'm worried that the money might have been made there.  It's the best casino stock out there, but it's the most expensive.  Casinos are still a good investment, but I'm thinking with concerns over the Democrats taking over (and the economic / legislative ramifications) you might want to go a little cheaper.  Harrah's (HET) is another good casino stock that's not so pricey as Sands.\n\nAs far as sex stuff, it's pretty hard for me to come up with a recommendation.  I'm sort of cold on the industry because a lot of it is privately held, and the public issues don't get coverage.  If somebody can come up with a good investment, I'd love to hear it, though.\n\nHowever, I'd be interested to know why you're interested in sin stocks.  As I touched on earlier, some people think a Democratic congress could hurt some of these companies (especially tobacco).  Maybe you're thinking these were irrationally factored into the price and that these stocks could jump up after the election?\n\nEdit:  Full disclosure.  The only stock listed that I own is MO.
56822
I pretty much stick with the mutual funds, but I hear solar stocks are good for long term investments.
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It is not wise to invest all your portfolio in just one stock.\n\nI can advise you.
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Can't help you much with the Bird Flu or Meth but I would think the big companies (Merck, Johnson and Johnson, etc) all have something in the works.\n\nThese are companies currently producing or about to ethanol...\n\nhttp://www.ethanol.org/productionlist.htm
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I don't think all the "experts" are in agreement on the benefits of Ethanol blending.  It burns cleaner, so that helps the environment, but from what I have read, the energy required to produce Ethanol is equal to the energy you create by burning it.  Typically we burn fossil fuels in the Ethanol creation process, so other than propping up the corn industry, we haven't gained a thing.  So in answer to your question, are Toyota and Honda doing anything with Ethanol, unless they can cheaply modify their cars to burn gas and/or ethanol, I doubt if they'll do anything with it. If we pass laws to forcibly raise the amount of Ethanol consumption in the US, that might force the Japanese car manufacturers to accommodate Ethanol.
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Most airlines are poorly run, and with the increase in oil.  this will sound the death knell for them.  I would keep away from all airline stocks except for maybe jetblue
43493
The argument is that if the price of oil is high enough we will turn to alternative energy sources, one of which is ethanol, made from agricultural products, primarily grain. This demand for high-priced fuel will raise the price of grain, which is also used for making bread.
167901
Ethanol is not the answer for raising gas prices. They produce it as a cleaner burning fuel. It all deals with the theory of global warming. I don't buy it, but that is the reasoning they use for it.
46951
There are some solid energy stocks up there. Take a look at NXY, ECA, or some of the Canadian energy trusts such as Canadian Oil Sands Trust. The trusts offer some steady returns from a predictable and valuable asset base (oil and gas reserves). Plus you get more bang for oyur buck if you figure the Canadian dollar will rise versus the US dollar over time.
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AMAT is a solid company but there is a huge overhead supply of stock that is just waiting for an opportunity to be dumped on the market at break even.  Tell you what to do.  Take a small position, maybe 100 shares.  If it goes up 2 bucks a share add to the position.  If it goes up another buck add some more.  I agree the solar is a potential but this stock has been a dog for so long I expect it will take a good while to work out the overhead supply.
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You have two logical choices.\n\n1. Invest in the oil companies themselves.\n2. Invest in oil futures or options.\n\nThe safer choice of course would be choice 1.  Futures trading involves much higher levels of risk.
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If farmers started planting crops for ethanol production and people actually used it, the farmers would make more money than the oil tycoons.  The oil tycoons are so rich and powerful that they will do their best to prevent any of this from happening.
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Ethanol improves the octane index in the gasoline. Depending on the quantity.