Triple Your Money!

May 2007
Kiplinger: Triple Your Money

Want to try your hand at tripling money over eight years with individual stocks? Charles McQuaid, manager of Columbia Acorn, suggests looking for companies with resilient business models, rising profit margins, an ability to gain market share and strong demand for their products. Oh, yes, the shares must also sell at the right price. Once you've found a winner, he advises holding tight. "With great businesses, if you sell, you end up regretting it most of the time."

McQuaid is still enthusiastic about two top holdings, despite enormous price appreciation over the years: Coach (COH) and Expeditors International of Washington (EXPD). Every time an economist predicts the death of the American consumer, shares of Coach, a luxury-accessories maker, slip. McQuaid then picks up more shares, which recently traded at $49. "If the consumer's dead, she's being buried with a brand-new Coach handbag," he quips.

He quips? Oh, Charles. You're such a scamp! Hahaha!

It's been 9 years. Coach closed today at $39.41. The consumer died. She was buried with her used Coach handbag.