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Messages: What Members Are Asking On-Line

by CI Staff

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CAN SLIM Backtesting Results

I saw on the Motley Fool Web site (www.fool.com) that your CAN SLIM picks netted you a 503% return in five years. Was this backtested data or a real money account?

—G.T.
via E-mail

CI editors respond: AAII tracks over 60 stock-screening methodologies and reports the passing companies and performance (Figure 1) of each in the Stock Screens area of the AAII Web site (www.aaii.com/stockscreens). Since December of 1997, we have been tracking the monthly performance of each of these screens. This performance is based upon hypothetical portfolios and is not based on actual trading results. Furthermore, the performance reported does not take into account commissions, time slippage, or bid-ask spreads. For more information on how we calculate the monthly performance of the screens we track, visit the frequently asked questions (FAQs) section of the Stock Screens area (www.aaii.com/stockscreens/faqs.cfm).


Quicken Data Transfer

I have used every version of Quicken since Quicken for DOS. During a recent migration from PC to Mac, I found out the data transfer for investments did not carry through cost data and, in my particular instance, no conversion was possible at all even though the Quicken box suggests the exporting of data is possible. After I contacted Intuit tech support, they agreed to convert my PC data to Mac data for $100+ after having paid for a new program. CI should point things like this out.

—C.L.
via E-mail

CI editors respond: Thank you for your comments. While we try to cover as many specifics as possible when testing programs for comparisons, we are not always able to take into account every contingency a user may face. When migrating data from one system to another—especially from Mac to PC or vice versa—it is a good idea to contact the software manufacturer before purchasing the program to see if it can handle such a data migration.


High-Yield Screening With DRPs

Does AAII have a screen that will reveal the companies offering their stocks under a DRP (dividend reinvestment plan) and showing those with the higher dividends?

—B.R.
via E-mail

CI editors respond: In the Stock Screens area of the AAII Web site (www.aaii.com/stockscreens), we have a screen covering stocks with dividend reinvestment plans (DRPs). Specifically, the screen is called Dividend Reinvestment Plans and can be found with the Growth and Value screens. The criteria that make up the screen specify that:

  • Only those companies offering dividend reinvestment plans are included;

  • Companies in the utilities sector and real estate operations industry are excluded;

  • Dividends have increased over each of the last five years;

  • Five-year growth rate in dividends is greater than the industry’s median dividend growth rate over the same period;

  • Current dividend yield is greater than the five-year average dividend yield;

  • Payout ratio for the last 12 months is less than or equal to 50%; and

  • Five-year earnings growth rate is greater than or equal to the industry’s median earnings growth rate over the same period.
Each month, we publish of list of the 30 companies with the highest dividend yields at AAII.com’s Stock Screens area. The Dividend Reinvestment Screen is also included in AAII’s Stock Investor Pro stock screening and database program.


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