(COP) - (PWE) - Jack Adamo, Insiders PLUS newsletter

Jack Adamo, editor of the Insiders PLUS newsletter, explains that he is not one to time the market. This featured expert points out that 64 of the 75 positions he closed are higher today than when he closed them. This is why he plans to withstand the tough times and why he believes he'll beat the market by the end of the year like he has in the past. Check out his commentary and read his portfolio updates. Commentary from January 6 There's no gentle way to put it; we had a terrible week. As Jack Adamo predicted, energy and gold shares are taking a shellacking. The latter because of weak signs in the economy, the former for the same reason, as well as the exceptionally warm winter in the Northeast, where 80% of heating costs occur. Whether the heat is a sign of global warming, or just the El Nino winter, Adamo doesn't know, but if it doesn't turn around within a few weeks, energy stocks will have a very rough quarter. A friend of Adamo's asked him why Adamo and his do not sell their energy stocks and buy them back later since Adamo thinks the outlook is so tough right now. Adamo told him that he doesn't know anyone who is smart enough to get all this in-and-out stuff right. Moreover, Adamo's track shows he does better if he just sticks with the stocks he chooses. Adamo recently reviewed the positions his team closed in the last 6 years. Most of the stocks they sold due to the near-term outlook ended up doing fine anyway. Excluding the bear funds they bought, 64 of the 75 positions they closed are higher today than when they closed them. That's 85%. Observe that even if Adamo and his team had held onto dogs like WorldCom, the mistakes would have been more than compensated for by doubles and triples in stocks like Celgene and Energizer, JC Penney, etc. Despite any near term economic weakness or variables in weather, we are in a demand-driven long-term bull market in energy. Adamo and his team will do best if they stick with it. There isn't one stock in the portfolio now, particularly in the sectors being punished, that Adamo would want to let go. Hence, his strategy here is to stand fast for what might be a painful couple of quarters. By the end of the year, Adamo thinks he'll be fine, and should even beat the market, as Adamo and his team have every year prior to this one. Portfolio Updates include: Conoco-Phillips (COP) reported that refining margins in the fourth quarter fell substantially. That added to the slide in energy stocks. Penn West Energy Trust (PWE) announced a new contract for its natural gas production covering about 25% of its 2007 output. By Adamo's calculations, the price averages about 2' per mcf less than last year's average of $8.68 Canadian. Obviously, this is a very minor difference. Penn West has about one-third of its 2007 natgas production hedged so far. If it keeps getting prices like this, the stock should be due for a big rebound. So far, however, the market is still focused on falling commodity prices. This article highlights the commentary of Jack Adamo for the Zacks.com audience. Jack Adamo provides insightful analysis, market commentary, and favorite recommendations on a timely basis in "Insiders PLUS" newsletter. Try it free for 30 days and see if you can improve your investment performance. Learn more about "Insiders PLUS" and 30-Day Free Trial. And get immediate access to current issues and special reports. Click here now. Here's How You Can Profit from the Pros Find out what other leading experts are saying about the market. And what stocks they are recommending. For free. Just sign up for our free email newsletter, Profit from the Pros, where we'll give you the commentary, advice, and insight from those rare few experts who consistently beat the market year in, year out. | Blog Home| VitalStocks Home