Apart from showing investors yearly returns of 148%, 74%, 98%, 23% and in 2009 heading for another great year of success with market beating returns of over 100% already, Trident Confidential Editor, Lance Spicer has had remarkable success predicting events and trends since he started the newsletter, which is now the highest returning stock market newsletter in the world since inception.

Here are just a few of the predictions he has made over the years that have resulted in huge windfalls for investors (all documented in the Trident Confidential Newsletter Archives):

2004

Predicted Robotic Surgery

When he first began the newsletter (after having written over 30 books), he predicted a small US company would pioneer robotic surgery. No-one had ever heard of this tiny $15 company. Today that investment has returned over 2,300% and Intuitive Surgical’s da Vinci system is in hospitals all over the world.

Predicted the Commodity Boom

He told investors that a commodity boom like no other was approaching and to buy BHP at around $9. By 2008, the commodity boom he predicted is now in full swing and BHP has returned over 400%.

2005

Predicted the Emergence of China and the Coming Energy Crisis

He predicted China would have energy problems and their need for commodities and energy would force up energy. He warned that oil would be a problem and would increase and China’s increasing usage would force up prices.

Predicted A Huge Rise in Uranium

He predicted Uranium would rise rapidly and thought investors should invest in companies like Cameco and Rio Tinto. Uranium then proceeded to rise rapidly over the next 2 years.

2006

Predicted Emerging Markets would take off

Predicted Emerging Markets like China, India, Russia and Brazil would be good places to invest. Over the next two years Emerging Markets out performed all others. Investments were then made to reflect this prediction with outstanding success and returns.

Predicted Higher Oil Prices

In May 2006 he told subscribers that oil would rise over the next two years due to the world running out of cheap, accessible oil and recommended investors take advantage of two great oil plays before everyone got on the bandwagon.

2007

Predicted High Oil Prices in 2008

In February 2007 he told readers, “we need to jump on energy stocks!” He predicted the culprit would be China and that they would soon challenge the USA as the world’s biggest consumer of oil – He was right! Again.

Predicted Chinese Stock Market was forming a Bubble

In November 2007 he said that he thought the Chinese stock market was entering “bubble” territory and was over valued. In 2008, the Chinese market fell 50%.

Predicted a Food Crisis

He predicted that food would become an issue and that the best way to play this was to buy fertiliser companies. The rest is history, some of his picks returned over 100% in months. 2008 saw fertiliser prices soar as well as soft commodities such as corn, wheat and rice.

2008

Predicted Major Problems with Financial Stocks

Late 2007 and in early 2008, he told his readers to stay “well away from Financial stocks” even warning to stay away from Australian banks, as contrary to the banks own reports, he felt they were carrying US sub-prime debt. He was right, we are now seeing even Australian banks writing off billions. Australian banks dropped to multiyear lows as a result.

Predicted that Australian Interest Rates would rise

In early 2008, he predicted Australian interest rates would rise too far and would cause housing pain and criticised the RBA for their inability to see the signs. He was right again, the RBA seems to have pushed rates “one rate hike too far”.

Predicted the Worst Stock Market Conditions since 2001

In early 2008, he expected the worst year since 2001, and got it. He then predicted a recovery later in 2008 – seems he got that too!

Predicted the Recovery in Financial Stocks and The July "Bottom for Financials" – To the Day!

On July 14 2008, he sent an urgent alert to all his subscribers and told them that financial stocks would bounce and told them his “favoured” stocks (which funnily enough were the stocks that bounced the highest). In fact, one of them was “responsible” for the enormous change in sentiment. Two weeks later he had shown returns of between 35% and over 60% on those stocks. Lance’s call that the bottom had been reached was the first (as far as we can tell) published report. He picked this bottom of the market perfectly.

Predicted Oil to drop back $80 pb.

In July 2008, he told subscribers that oil would fall back to a range of $80-$100 pb. He was correct as oil suffered "demand destruction" and returned to around $80pb.

Predicted the "Crash"

On the 8th October 2008, he told subscribers to expect a drop of up to 1,000 points on the Dow, then a subsequent bounce of up to 1,000 points. Of course it happened - He told subscribers this would the best opportunity in decades. When the lows came in March 2009, he told subscribers to be buying stocks when everybody was selling - The result was that by September 2009, their portfolios were up over 100% for the year.

The Future?

Well, suffice to say, he’s an optimist, but understands perfectly the machinations of the market and knows how to take advantage of market trends and sentiment. You don’t make nearly 100%pa without knowing what the market is doing.

The future as he’s sees it? He likes to look back at history and “know’s it’s not different this time”. It never is. Markets go through cycles, up and down, thankfully, most of the time it’s up. As for the rest of 2009?

His view is it’s a “professional stock pickers market” and believes if you pick the right stocks over the year, you’ll have a good chance of making market crushing profits, as he has done since he started Trident Confidential. It’s important to have the right tools and the right information.

The leaders of the past Bull Market may not necessarily be the leaders of the next one. The fundamental differences between the best and worst performing stocks will be huge. Making sure you are looking for those fundamentals will be the difference between huge returns and mediocre ones. In the latest Trident Confidential, you can read about the stocks that Lance believes will lead the next Bull Market.

While further share price pain could occur in the very short term, he expects the latter part of 2009 to show a return to more normalised trading conditions as the market always anticipates the economy, it doesn’t reflect it.

The decisions you make now, and the investments you buy during the next 6 months, may determine your wealth over the next decade. Now, is not a time to procrastinate and wait “for something to happen”, it’s beginning to "happen” already!

"I was a little skeptical at first, but I thought I'd give it a go. Well, I invested in (name deleted) in early August 4 weeks later I'm up over 80% on my money. You guys are brilliant. Thanks!" - Ken J, Terrigal NSW, Australia