My Top 4 Stock Market Winners for 2008

So far, 2008 has seen a bear market for stocks. Even my account is down about 13% so far this year - after multiple years of double-digit gains.

I am at peace because I have complete faith in my stock trading system, and view a bear market as the other side of the coin. The yin to the bull market's yang.

A bear market has its necessary place in the ecology of the marketplace.

However, it still feels comforting to look at my top four stock positions of 2008, if for no other reason than to show that some stocks do go up in a bear market.

ADP (ADP) I bought this stock on 1/24/08 at 38.71, because of the trend for businesses to outsource their payroll and human resources. The stock closed today at 42.46.

Visa (V) I previously wrote about this purchase. I bought it on 3/24/08 at 65.40, and it is now at 82.06. You can read part 1, part 2, and part 3 here.

The final two winners were bought because of high gas prices. Apache Energy (APA) was a pure hedge, and Cummins (CMI) is more of a longer term play on the need for fuel and energy economy.

Cummins is one of the world's leading manufacturers of diesel, natural gas engines and power generation equipment. It also manufactures automotive components such as filtration, turbochargers, fuel systems and emission solutions.

I bought APA on 12/13/06 at 68.84. It closed today at 132.66.

I bought CMI on 4/24/08 at 53.69. It closed today at 72.57.