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Q: I am brand new to your service. My major concern about [other information sources] and your service is that I continue to suffer from stock information overload. I feel paralyzed by too much information and feel incapable of deciding what stock information should help me make the decision of what to ultimately buy. For example, ANSI and BSTE are ranked stocks #21 and #22. Both have similar ratings with some differences that seem to speak to subtle pros and cons of each stock - one has better momentum (ANSI) while the other better A/D and is more undervalued (BTSE). How does one decide from here based on this information? Is there any science to the ultimate decision or is it a guess and a wish for good luck (aka a "crap shoot")? Please let me know. I am trying to be an earnest student of the market and your system - but feel forever frustrated by all this information! Am I untrainable?

A: Great questions. I just pulled up the charts and analysis of ANSI and BSTE in today's updated database to look at the stock information. To me, the choice is obvious - ANSI. In fact, after being stopped out of ANSI, a week or so ago, we got back into this Top Stock Pick today on the breakout to new high. The reason for ANSI over BSTE, all other stock information variables assumed somewhat equal, is it's chart pattern. ANSI is breaking out of a long flat base, BSTE shows a wide and loose base structure. Also, we rely a lot on one stock information item - our final GSA Rank - ANSI is 75.09, BSTE is 73.45. The stock information overload that you speak of is all put together in our ranking of approximately 30 fundamental and technical factors.

In summary, after a stock meets our minimum ranking criteria, it is the chart pattern that is the ultimate deciding factor. On our Stock Performance page, look at the chart patterns of our Top Stock Picks that gained as much as 50 - 100% within a 6 month period, and see if you can discern a common theme here. Almost all the charts have a sound basing pattern, either cup shaped, or flat, and the price is approaching or actually at a new 52 week high. It will take time to read the chart correctly and cut through the stock information overload, and even then we will all make mistakes. But you will greatly improve your stock picking skills by learning to buy at the right time.

Hope this helps with your information overload problem.

GSA