Stockpickr: Picking at Domain-Name Stocks

Internet domain names such as vodka.com (sold for $3 million in 2006), business.com (sold for $7.5 million in 1999), sex.com (sold for $12 million in 2006) and even a misspelled word like mortage.com (sold for $242,000 in 2006) are part of the land grab of the 21st century.

Following the fortunes of companies that are stockpiling domain names -- the "arms merchants" of the domain name business -- is well worth your while, regardless of the state of the economy.

The Internet is only going to get bigger, and domain names are the keys to the kingdom if you want to do business online. And the supply is diminishing every day. I want to keep an eye on the top public companies that are stockpiling domain names and building up tangible value on their balance sheets without most of Wall Street being aware of it -- and identify those that are good buys.

But first, a brief detour. ...