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Welcome to the 106th edition of Festival of Stocks. The Festival of Stocks is a blog carnival dedicated to highlighting bloggers’ best articles on stock market related topics. This will include research and commentary on specific stocks, industry analysis, ETFs, REITs, stock derivatives, and other related topics.

I am proud to host the following selection of the best entries to the Festival of Stocks. This edition is arguably the most insightful I’ve ever seen. Thanks to all the authors for sharing your articles with everyone. Please keep ‘em coming.

Stock Analysis

Frank Lara Jr presents Friday Mailbag: “What to Buy?” (GE, AUY, BA, ZOLT, POT) posted at The StockMasters - Wall Street News and Commentary for the Savvy Investor
Getting back into the market after last week, what’s safe for the week ahead, a few stock picks and reasoning about financial blogs

Contrarian Profits presents 5 Fat-Dividend Paying Pharmacuetical Stocks posted at Contrarian Profits
Given the gut-wrenching financial turmoil of the last year, many investors are looking for more secure ways of investing. Floyd Brown says one way of doing this is to rethink the “boring” image of dividend-paying stocks. These stocks can offer great returns and a steady cash flow.

Bootstrap presents Boeing Boo-Boo? posted at Bootstrap Investing
Literally weeks after my post on the virtues of Boeing, the Machinists union refuses Boeing’s contract offer and threaten to strike. Great timing, right?

Michael Cintolo presents Lehman, Apple and Canaries posted at The Iconoclast Investor.
Back on May 29, I wrote an issue of Cabot Wealth Advisory that mentioned Lehman Brothers (LEH) as the canary in the financial coalmine. One thing for you to watch: Financial stocks … and Lehman Brothers (LEH) in particular.

Dividends4Life presents Stock Analysis: Nucor Corp (NUE) posted at Dividends 4 Life
Nucor Corporation is engaged in the manufacture and sale of steel and steel products. As the largest minimill steelmaker in the U.S., Nucor has one of the most diverse product lines of any steelmaker in the Americas. Linked here is a detailed stock analysis and commentary.

Steve Alexander presents Magic Formula Stock Review: ValueClick (VCLK) posted at MagicDiligence - Optimizing Joel Greenblatts Value Stock Strategy
ValueClick has a great business model and an attractive price. Only competition and the lack of a built-in moat prevent it from being a Top Buy.

Dividend Growth Investor presents UDR Dividend Stock Analysis posted at Create Rising Passive Income From Dividend Paying Stocks
UDR is a dividend champion as well as a component of the S&P 1500 index. It has been increasing its stock dividends for the past 31 consecutive years. Is this REIT a buy, sell or hold?

George presents Winners and Losers of the Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Bailout posted at Fat Pitch Financials
Remember the Monday market madness after the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac bailouts? If not, this post lists the most active stock winners and losers after that major market event.

Super Saver presents 9/8/08 Stock Position Update - It’s Ugly posted at My Wealth Builder.
As with last week, I continue to take no further action based on my buy list and short list of 7/7/08. So far I have taken four long and one short position, which has been closed. Given the volatility of the market, I continue to be cautious for both purchases and selling short.

Commentary

Robert D Flach presents THE FEELING IS DEMUTUAL posted at THE WANDERING TAX PRO.
Over the past few years many of the nation’s oldest and largest life insurance companies - including Prudential, John Hancock, MetLife, Principal, Mutual of New York – which began as mutual insurance companies have “demutualized”.

Jim presents Index Funds Are Only Part of Your Investment Plan posted at Blueprint for Financial Prosperity.
There isn’t a single reason why you shouldn’t like index funds. They’re cheap, they offer market rates of return without fail, and they are simple to buy. So why not put all your money into an S&P 500 Index fund like the Fidelity Spartan 500 Index or the Vanguard 500 Index, call it a day and enjoy more time with the family?

Pinyo Bhulipongsanon presents 5 Surefire Ways To Improve Your Investment Performance posted at Moolanomy.
Investing in the stock market is a risky business if you don’t know what you’re doing. Even if you do, it’s possible to lose a lot of money — e.g., Bear Stearns, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, etc.

Babak presents Richard Russell: Sage of The Dow Also Confused posted at Trader’s Narrative.
Far be it from me to criticize a luminary of technical analysis but it certainly appears that Richard Russell is confused. For those who are unfamiliar with him, Richard Russell is known as the Sage of the Dow for his expertise in Dow Theory.

Leon Gettler presents Volatility rules posted at Sox First
The US market has taken a hammering. Volatile times, perfect for for a trader with the agility of Spider-Man and the mathematical chops of Steven Hawking, but for everyone else, it’s just frustrating. Get used to it! Volatility is significantly greater in down markets than boom markets. The reason? Traders, like gamblers, chase losses. If they’ve lost lots of money, it’s tempting to make big bets to try and get it back.

Silicon Valley Blogger presents 14 Effective Strategies To Leverage A Weak Stock Market posted at The Digerati Life
There’s stuff you can do, even when the market is weak.

Raymond presents List Of the Best Online Discount Brokers posted at Money Blue Book.
So, you are finally sold on the idea of signing up for an investment brokerage account so you can start making money by investing in the stock market. Or, perhaps you are already an experienced trader but at times still wonder what other brokerage options are out there?