Choosing Stocks

Stock picking is a difficult task. There are thousands to choose from and a lot of criteria to consider--everything from the industry and products produced or services rendered, to revenue, cash flow--all kinds of ratios and numbers, company management, and the list goes on. There is no guarantee of success; just read the disclaimers at the bottom of securities ads. The only promise is that you will spend money and you may or may not see a return, and you may or may not lose money, including the principal invested.

Why Some Stocks Disappear

It takes a lot of time to carefully research stocks and decide which ones to invest in. Over the years investors buy and sell stocks for many reasons. Sometimes stocks disappear from an account—and from the exchange--for reasons the investor has no control over. This frequently happens when a company is bought out by another company. Shareholders may have an opportunity to obtain stock in the acquiring (or newly merged) company, but often the stockholder has no interest in owning the new company.

Ben and Jerry’s Stock Gone

An example of a stock that disappeared in 2000 was Ben and Jerry’s. The ice cream company produces a delicious, rich ice cream in a variety of flavors. The independent company was a socially conscious and community-minded business located in Vermont. Ben and Jerry’s was bought by the multinational mega-company Unilever.