The Quartet of Pain: A Contest By James J. Cramer 5/11/01 11:17 AM ET

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Here is the quartet of pain that has killed the most growth managers in the last year: Exodus (EXDS:Nasdaq - news - boards), Inktomi (INKT:Nasdaq - news - boards), Akamai (AKAM:Nasdaq - news - boards) and Ariba (ARBA:Nasdaq - news - boards). They are the four New Economy stocks that took everyone in. Some of us got in and got out. Others are still waiting.

Anguishing Akamai

These four are now single-digit stocks. I think they are going lower. But it doesn't matter what I think. These stocks were supposed to be arms merchants supplying to everyone on the Web. They weren't supposed to need dot-coms to make it, either. They were supposed to be pure plays on the wonderful growth in the Internet.

Agonizing Ariba

Here's what I propose. Money managers, investors, traders: Break out of the chains of this quartet! Instead, place your bets here, by guessing which of these stocks will get to $12 the fastest -- and on what date.

Extinguished Exodus?

If one of these ne'er-do-wells closes above $12 on your day I am going to send you the coolest thing we ever made here, a (now rare) TheStreet.com penknife. I did a limited run and I am ready to start sending them out to the winners. Send your pick, with a date and (if you like) an explanation to me at CramerContest@TheStreet.com. Entries will be accepted through next Friday, May 18, at the market close.

Indolent Inktomi

Of course, you can keep any of these dogs in your portfolio and continue to underperform. Or you can play the game. Just imagine, all of the pleasure of watching the stocks with none of the pain of owning them!

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