alt="StockScouter investment returns chart" title="StockScouter investment returns chart" >It's been a while since we had a look at our StockScouter investments. Let's check in on how our investments are doing.

As you may recall, we're tracking Jon Markman's 2nd half of 2007 StockScouter portfolio. His system selects 10 stocks from the universe of stocks based on their timeliness and appreciation potential. I've been blogging about the StockScouter system since the most recent selection was made, tracking it's progress through the market's ups and downs.

According to Jon Markman. The StockScouter stock selection system has never had a six month period where it underperformed the S&P500. With less than three months remaining, the StockScouter portfolio has some catching up to do. Four of the ten original picks are down 10% or more. A fifth, Pride International, is down 8.8%. The worst performing stock in the group has been Hiland Holdings GP. Hiland is down over 20% since our hypothetical investment was made in July.

Unfortunately there are no big winners to make up for the losers so far. The highest performing pick in the portfolio to date is Penn Virginia, up 8.6% since July.

In total, my hypothetical StockScouter portfolio is down 4.3% since making my original, hypothetical, $10,000 investments in each of the ten securities in early July. The S&P500 Exchange Traded Fund, SPY, is up 1.7% in the same period.

Could the second half of 2007 be the first time since the system was introduced the StockScouter system fails to beat a simple buy and hold the broad market strategy? Only time will tell. Stay tuned for my next installment next month.

Previous articles in this series:
Tracking the StockScouter - My original article which kicked it all off
StockScouter 3 Week Progress Report
StockScouter progress report from Mid-August