Yes, You Can Still Cash In

Where were you the evening of Sept. 26, 2003? And did you have more money than you have now ... or less?

Me, I was working on a column like this one. In fact, it was just like this one. And looking back, I may have stumbled on two simple ideas that could have made us both some money.

Don't worry, you're not too late
In case you weren't with us back in 2003, I'll give you the quick rundown:

still don't believe the rally in small-company stocks is kaput.If you don't have small stocks in your portfolio, don't assume you're covered by your mutual funds. Not even so-called "total market" funds.

I'll explain why in a moment. But first, back to September 2003, when a lot of experts were calling an end to the small-cap rally. I didn't buy it (and I hope you didn't, either).

Instead, I confessed that I'd loaded up on the iShares S&P SmallCap 600 Growth (IJT) the previous January at around $65. Then, I suggested you still had time to join me and make some money. If you did, you're up about 115%. And that's on a diversified index after the recent turmoil. Well done.

And you still have time
I won't rehash my argument for why I liked small caps then, but a few points are worth noting. First, we were coming out of a recession, and small-cap growth stocks are notoriously hot during recoveries. More important, we hadn't nearly made up the ground lost during the '90s mega-cap lovefest.

Don't sleep on this last point. I think it still holds. Sure, we catch some grief around here for constantly pointing out how difficult it would be for massive operations like Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) or Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) to double their tens of billions in revenues. But it's true -- and even that's not the worst of it.

After all, even if these guys make all the right moves, we still might not see the glory days of the '80s again. In fact, there are any number of large-cap stalwarts whose revenues and earnings have been solid, yet whose stocks have failed to break out since we last spoke in September 2003. That, my friend, is what I call a painful morning after.

But we're just getting buzzed
Even if I am irrationally exuberant about small caps, it's not the end of the world. In my view, the advantages of small companies extend beyond relative valuations. Small companies are simply more agile and better-poised for growth than the behemoths we hold in our "total market" index funds.

That's why I'm a fan of Tom Gardner's Motley Fool Hidden Gems approach. For one thing, Tom invests from the bottom up. When you focus on specific companies, you don't need strength in a sector, cap size, or investment style. And if you focus on small companies, you get another bonus -- if you know how to play it.

You see, there's less information out there, making the market less efficient in smaller, thinly traded stocks. Moreover, as Tom is fond of explaining, the lack of interest in these stocks keeps you out of crowded auction-house bidding wars like the one that broke the bank for large-cap investors in 2000.

Now, the problem with your mutual funds
Don't assume you're covered because you own broad-market stock funds, even so-called "total market" funds. In fact, these funds are market-cap weighted and dominated by large-cap growth stocks. Which means that, among other things, you're holding more of a stake in $121 billion Verizon (NYSE: VZ) than $23 billion Alltel (NYSE: AT).

In other words, you may think you own equal chunks of 3,669 stocks, but you don't. Even a total market fund gives you a whole lot more exposure to a $170 billion AIG -- and financial stocks in general -- than you may think. As for No. 3,669 (whatever that is), you barely have any.

In fact, just 10 massive stocks make up more than 16% of your "total market" portfolio. That's why the recent sell-off in Citigroup (NYSE: C) and the other money center banks sent you running for the Alka-Seltzer, while a 10-year 8,700% gain in little Chico's FAS (NYSE: CHS) -- or any of the market's 10 best stocks -- barely bought you lunch.

Famous last words
Finally, even if you agree that mega caps are finally ready to shine, you should still own small caps. Many (if not all) of tomorrow's Goliaths are little Davids today. And when we own smaller companies, an extra $1 billion in earnings can propel us into a whole new tax bracket.

If that sounds like some sweet action, you really should give Hidden Gems a try. Tom and his team of analysts have turned up a dozen or so stocks that doubled in value, including one 500%-plus gainer. Tom has me convinced that a 10-bagger is sitting on his buy list right now.

Honestly, if you're looking for small-cap ideas, that's where I'd start. And here's something else: You can check out every one of Tom's picks the instant you start your trial (you can even print out the entire scorecard and every back issue). If you're not impressed, simply don't subscribe ... and don't pay a nickel.

© 2007 Universal Press Syndicate.