Holiday Portfolio: Carrizo Ahead in the Polls

As we celebrate Presidents Day, let's take a look at a TheStreet.com tradition, the Holiday Portfolio.

Given the crosscurrents in the economy and monetary policy, I attempted to pick a basket of stocks for the 2007 portfolio that would not only offer solid upside in a market favoring growth but also provide a current income buffer in case we hit a bump or two along the way. We ended up with five stocks that provide all-weather opportunities.

Before delving into specifics, let's take a quick look at the purpose behind the Holiday Portfolio, which is now in its sixth iteration.

Across All Seasons

The concept behind the Holiday Portfolio is straightforward: I select a group of five stocks that I believe deserve watching over the next 12 months, and I follow them -- regardless of their performance -- throughout the year. I'll revisit the portfolio on each market holiday and, at times, make comments about the stocks in RealMoney's Columnist Conversation. The only way a stock will be removed from the portfolio is if it merges with another company or ceases to trade on a major exchange.

The portfolio serves two purposes. First, it follows the fundamental progress of a group of stocks over a lengthy period of time. My hope is that the portfolio will serve as a forum for in-depth discussion of investment decisions and company strategy, and reinforce the importance of ongoing portfolio analysis. Second, it provides an opportunity to look at both short-term trading strategies and longer-term investment strategies with the same stocks.

Today, let's review the five stocks selected last month and the outlook over the coming weeks.