Facebook a Business as well as Social Media platform

A common name for a company that is really under fire right now by the government and is subject to potential regulation. However, our clubs feel that the company is in a good place for a discount stock purchase. Therefore we will begin 2019 with this as our first holding.

Its sales is at 51% over the last five years. Its earnings per share are at 74% and it pays no dividend. It is ahead of its industry where it really stands alone. It started with huge debt five years ago but it is for the last three years debt free. At $133 it is below the buy zone of   $156 to $225. It is a buy.

It is down now because of the political atmosphere. It is also shifting from a younger user base to older yet the young group is moving to Instagram that is also owned by Facebook.

investor.fb.com

Check out investor relations on the Facebook web site.

We will purchase 100 shares at $133 so cost basis is $13,300. That is our start for 2019

Unlocking the Power of the Genome

Sequencing and array-based solutions for analysis of genetic variation and function, in fields ranging from cancer research to agriculture.

Illumina, Inc. is an American company incorporated in April 1998 that develops, manufactures and markets integrated systems for the analysis of genetic variation and biological function. The company provides a line of products and services that serve the sequencing, genotyping and gene expression and proteomics markets. Its headquarters are located in San Diego, California.

It is THE company that makes equipment to analyze genetic samples collected by the dna research promotions prominent today.

We will buy 100 shares @ $350.00

Check out the website www.illumina.com

100 Genome Solutions COST $35,000 CURRENT VALUE $30,070

100 HDB BANK COST $10,076 CURRENT VALUE $10,281
100 TAL EDUCATION GROUP $2,838 CURRENT VALUE $2,677
100 CBRE GROUP COST $4,448 CURRENT VALUE $3,997

100  DORMAN INCORPORATED COST $6,114 CURRENT VALUE $8,859

100  CORNING INCORPORATED COST $3,366 CURRENT VALUE $3,007
100  SOUTHWEST AIRLINES COST $5,699 CURRENT VALUE $4,678
100  UNITED PARCEL SERVICES $10,600 CURRENT VALUE $9,714

Looks like our 2018 portfolio lost $4,808.38 or 6.9% the S&P is down 6.49%. We followed the market unfortunately.

Out 2017 portfolio is at a $413.50 gain since January 1, 2017. That is less than 1%.

TAL a Chinese Exposure

TAL Education Group, through its subsidiaries, provides K-12 after-school tutoring services in the People's Republic of China. It offers tutoring services to K-12 students covering various academic subjects, including mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, history, geography, political science, English, and Chinese. The company also provides tutoring services primarily through small classes, including Xueersi Peiyou, Mobby, and Firstleap tutoring services; personalized premium services under Izhikang name; and online courses. In addition, it operates jzb.com, an online education platform that serves as a gateway to its online courses through xueersi.com and other Websites, which offer college entrance examinations, high school entrance examinations, graduate school entrance examinations, preschool education, Chinese composition, and raising infants and toddlers. Further, the company provides educational content through mobile applications; operates mmbang.com and the Mama Bang app, an online platform focusing on children, baby, and maternity market; and provides consulting services for overseas studies and test courses preparation under the Shunshun Liuxue name. Additionally, it offers tutoring services for students aged two through twelve under the Mobby brand; education and management consulting, and investment management and consulting services; and develops and sells software and networks, as well as offers related consulting services. As of February 28, 2017, the company's educational network included 507 learning centers and 401 service centers in 30 cities. TAL Education Group was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Beijing, the People's Republic of China.

This is one of the fastest growing companies in China and has a great demand. The decline in the Chinese economy will have a small effect on this stock since education in China is valued the consume will not cut it in an attempt to adjust. My opinion of course. 

My son is a english educator and his experience in international education also plays a part in my selecting this stock for our imaginary portfolio. 

We are going to buy this company at $28.38.

100 HDB BANK COST $10,076 CURRENT VALUE $10,142
100 TAL EDUCATION GROUP $2,838 CURRENT VALUE $2,838
100 CBRE GROUP COST $4,448 CURRENT VALUE $4,368

100  DORMAN INCORPORATED COST $6,114 CURRENT VALUE $8,786

100  CORNING INCORPORATED COST $3,366 CURRENT VALUE $3,222
100  SOUTHWEST AIRLINES COST $5,699 CURRENT VALUE $5,461
100  UNITED PARCEL SERVICES $10,600 CURRENT VALUE $11,529

WE ARE UP 7.87 % COMPARED TO THE S&P UP .82% NOT BAD PROFIT OF $3,174.00
OUR CONTINUED PERFORMANCE OF OUR 2017 PORTFOLIO IS AT 14% GROWTH AND IS A PROFIT OF $9,086.00