Playboy's Cybergirl 2005

To continue the new "quick blurbs" blogging style, here's one that's bound to generate interest given the buzzwords tagged to it: Barron's, Playboy, Cybergirl, Morningstar, stock-picking contest, Bill Miller :-)

Some of you may have read the update on Amy Sue Cooper's stellar performance in stock picks at the end of Q1. This week's Barron's just printed an article titled "Brains and Booty" on Amy Sue Cooper, Playboy's Cybergirl 2005. Ms. Cooper apparently has quite a penchant for the stock market and is the runaway leader in a Playboy/Tradingmarkets.com stock-picking contest. She has outperformed all 9,771 Morningstar 5 star-rated mutual fund managers with a model portfolio that is up 53.17% YTD!! And she even presents her reasons for the pick and so this may not have been a dart-throw victory:

Amy Sue Cooper's Reasoning: (quoted)

1. Amgen (AMGN), the world's largest biotechnology company, and Abgenix (ABGX), a company specializing in the discovery, development and manufacture of human therapeutic antibodies, announced that they have signed a definitive merger agreement under which Amgen will acquire Abgenix for approximately $2.2 billion in cash plus the assumption of debt. This merger could possibly benefit this company tremendously. I am a nurse so this only makes sense.

2. Indevus Pharmaceuticals (IDEV) this is a pharmaceutical company that has new drugs in the third FDA approval phase. The drugs could possibly prevent against STD's and HIV. This is a risky company, but you have to take a gamble once in a while. Again I am in the health care profession and consider drug companies to be fun investments.

3. Microsoft (MSFT) The reason I am choosing this company is that I wanted a strong technology company. There are currently 600 million personal computers and this number is projected to increase to the billions. Microsoft did well last year and will hopefully continue this trend with new technology ideas that will help enhance the company. Plus Bill Gates is the Man.

4. Dril Quip (DRQ) is a company that manufactures oil-drilling equipment. This company has a chance of doing very well. Especially considering the fact that so many countries are industrializing. Plus it's a drilling company that just sounds exciting.

5. Pacific Ethanol (PEIX). When it comes down to it, I am a tree hugger. We all have to live and breathe in this world why not and make it a better place to live. Recently Bill Gates has invested in this company, hopefully because he is a tree hugger as well. I am hoping that the trend will be to move towards better fuel-efficient cars and this company will benefit from that trend.


Now the question in everyone's minds - will Playboy give Ms. Cooper a financial column and finally validate the tired excuse of "I just buy it for the articles".

"Bill Miller, looking for a fund manager to help maintain your record?"

Last Updated: May 3rd 2006

SeekingAlpha: This blog also appears in the Media Stocks Blog of SeekingAlpha at http://mediastockblog.com/article/10062