I know it's a bit early, but not going to be around much till after New Year now.

Right let's get the bragging over first!
I have had two tips before, in 2003, HEPH, listed on NASDAQ, in the drugs and anti-bio-terrorism sphere (slam-dunk at the time!) was my share of the year at $5. It reached $31, before coming back to $10.
And in 2004 it was GLD @12.75p. Year high of 27p, when I suggested selling half.

Sorry if you thought GLD was dull wait to see this one.............

Going for my bagger hat-trick tho'!

I wanted something that would be defensive as i think the market outlook is one at best of great uncertainty - but also a stock that is fast growing and profitable. I think I have found the perfect one! I have been building a small stake ever since i first spotted it. I did mention it once on the trading thread but to my satisfaction got no response.

Let's get one thing clear, this is NOT a short term trading stock. Only floated a few weeks ago and has had less than 100 trades. When i last looked there were only two posts on advfn! It is a buy and hold share.

It is Careforce Group. (CFG). Hardly flashy, but I think it is an absolute nugget. Placed at 106p, the shares have nudged up to 121.5p now. They provide homecare for the elderly who do not want to follow John Smith's mum's route and get dumped by offspring in a nursing home, but prefer to live alone at home. It is a very fragmented market at present with huge scope for consolidation. it operates in the South East alongside the likes of Supporta. One good thing is that none of those who supported the float seem remotely interested in banking a quick buck. The Royal Bank of Scotland has taken a near 6% stake, unusual in a company of this size.

It has a market cap of 16.6 million and the CEO is intriguing, Mike Rogers, who built up Nestor Healthcare from a small business. At flotation the company raised 7 million. So of its 16 million 7 million was in cash. They have already made one acquisition for 1.3 million, a business called Clarina which is already profitable and now with no recurring repayments should contribute about 400,000 next year, so have around 5.5 million still in the bank.

Careforce increased turnover from 7 to 12 million last year as a private business and made a profit around 500k. Turnover for the current year is surging again and could be close to 20 million, particularly as acquisitions add more, and profit around 1 million, though they could blow that forecast away, as this is a massive marketplace. Homecare services, on the whole, are inadequate at present and Careforce are one of few providers. Demand far outstrips supply.

I reckon a company like this with cash in the bank and already turning a profit could easily have been given a market cap in the 30-40 million bracket, so i can see this one doubling in the next 12-18 months. I am certain they will use the cash to grow the business by lucrative acquisitions. It is a proper, serious little business.

Buy at 123p, lock it away and hold "for the duration".

http://www.moneyam.com/cache/graph.php?epic=CFG

How does this look now Hawick old chum? I see it's retraced in the general rout recently.

Is it still worth buying and locking away?
B1


Gave up on HVX - bit of a disaster. Have started to reinvest in some of the mining stocks now they have come back so far (eg AEN - up 10% yesterday!) Also like POG the goldminer which looks v underrated.

Their interims were a bit disappointing in my view and they now need to prove they can control costs. A good little business and like many worth tucking away at these levels. I still like the company but I think things will take longer than I hoped, may well come good next year. I got stop-lossed recently (albeit for a gain).
Not one of my better picks I am afraid, but nice to see JCR flying against the trend.