Don't let the market dictate your mood for investing.
Actually, use Mr. Market's gloom to your advantage by doing the opposite.
In September, there was much talk about a sell-off and October was looming close by. I wrote back then that Foolish investors should just ignore the worry and home in on good quality stocks that were selling at discounts.
The short correction, about 9%, came and went, but now if feels like the ASX is in a slow grind going into the new year. That actually means it's a great time to look over what star performers still have a lot of juice left for 2015.
What S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) (Index: ^AXJO) stocks have given great total shareholder returns over the past year and which of those could make 2015 a very happy new year for investors? I've got two winners in mind.
–Sirtex Medical Limited (ASX: SRX)
I have watched this company, which makes a specialised liver cancer treatment product, shoot off upward this year. The past one-year total shareholder return now stands around 145%. Its product may become a first-line mainstream liver cancer treatment in the US if upcoming clinical trial results suggest that move. Production is expected to potentially triple from a positive trial result. The anticipated demand for the treatment may become huge.
At a 56 PE, though, new investors may want to wait. Even a positive trial result could spawn a quick sell-off from profit takers, so better price points may occur. Definitely follow this stock because the long-term growth prospects are huge.
— TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPM)
The telecommunications company is up about 77% over the past year and a 1.4% fully franked yield is the cherry on top. TPG is the first high-speed broadband provider that could be allowed to compete with the National Broadband Network Company in rolling out NBN fibre cable service. Even Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS) is watching how the ACCC may open competition with the NBN Co in case they can do it as well.
TPG's existing network infrastructure is concentrated in urban areas of several capital cities where the more profitable business is expected to be. It could potentially roll service to 500,000+ homes and businesses. Earnings growth is forecast to be around 23% annually for the next two years, so 2015 could just be the start of this big move. I'd have this one in your portfolio or at least at the top of your watchlist.
Concentrating on top-performing companies and paying less attention to the index keeps your mind clear. Under the "winners keep on winning" category, I think both stocks have great potential.
