NYU Portfolio Managers Battle Over Crocs

Both sides appeared to agree on one thing, however -- that newer members often succumb to groupthink when voting on a new pick. Goto said, "One of the challenges that more experienced members have in IAG is to share insight with more novice members to give them some framework on which to base their votes. Without that framework, less experienced members really have no tendencies one way or another -- with respect to growth [versus] value , 52-week highs [and/or] lows -- and tend instead to vote with the most dominant voices in the room."

While growth stocks might require a higher "burden of proof," it shouldn't be forgotten that they can offer us quite a bit in exchange. Here are a few of the stocks (with year-to-date performance) that Sangani says had an uphill battle at IAG meetings, when their share prices were each pretty close to 52-week highs:

• Google (GOOG - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr): Up over 50%
• Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr): Up over 135%
• Blue Nile (NILE - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr): Up around 110%
• CTrip.com (CTRP - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr): Up over 80%

It's understandable why many feel like investing in a stock trading at a high is a bad idea (what goes up must come down, right?). But these four stocks help show that what goes up can sometimes keep going up. Which side was right in the Crocs battle? As of November 1, Tamagnini and the sell camp (see "Thursday's Winners & Losers").

If you want to learn how to get a step ahead of stocks trading at 52-week highs, check out "How to Trade 52-Week Highs."