Update - December 29, 2020

A Bittersweet Goodbye

I have a problem.

I want to tell you more about one of the hottest stocks in our portfolio… but I don’t want to ruin your holiday spirit.

We’re up by more than 50% on the play since late summer.

But the reason the stock is soaring doesn’t elicit much holiday spirit or end-of-the-year nostalgia.

Alarm.com (ALRM), as you know, makes its money keeping its customers safe from bad guys. And it just made an acquisition of a company that makes technology that all of us wish would not need to exist.

But before we get to that news and what it means to the company’s already expanding bottom line…

I found an uplifting story to share.

In many ways 2020 has been the year of the doorbell camera.

It’s not hard to jump around the internet and find story after story of package thieves, shootings, kidnappings and other horrible deeds caught on the sorts of doorbell cameras Alarm.com makes.

But what Joan Sullivan’s camera caught recently is anything but bad.

As you can see in the screenshot above, a tiny “elf” scurried up her walk last week and slid something under her door.

It was a note that simply read, “Thank you for spreading Christmas joy. We love your lights!”

We don’t need proof that there’s more good news in the world than bad… but sometimes a reminder helps.

Especially as we turn our attention to Alarm.com’s newest business venture…

Unfortunate Technology

The company recently made a bid for Shooter Detection Systems, a privately owned leader in indoor gunshot detection technology.

With the company’s technology – which uses microphones and high-tech infrared flash sensors – first responders can be quickly notified of a shooting and its location within a large public building.

The company’s products are currently used in schools, airports, government buildings and large entertainment facilities.

And while the pandemic has stolen the headlines this year, it appears that 2020 will be yet another year that smashes records for the number of shootings in public places.

It’s not good news for our society or culture, but it is good news that capitalism and forward-thinking entrepreneurs are diligently working on solutions… and being rewarded handsomely for their work.

Again, our shares of Alarm.com have surged by more than 50% since I first recommended them. Much of that gain has come in the last few weeks as shares rocketed from $72 at the start of the month to new all-time highs above $100.

The rising valuation comes as investors reward the company for its smart acquisition strategy, innovation and, of course, rising sales. The company is on track to have yet another record sales year, with revenues once again stretching over the half-billion-dollar mark.

It’s hard to put a price on protection, but the market is doing its best.

And as our portfolio shows… the price is going up.

Big Gains All Around

But as we turn the corner and wrap up quite an interesting year, it’s important to note that Alarm.com’s 50%-plus gains will not end the year atop our leaderboard.

In most years, that sort of surge in a mere five months would surely win top prize. Not this year.

That award goes to our cryptocurrency pick… Monero (XMR). It’s up more than 70%.

And a 50% gain is not even good for second place.

That spot goes to Scotts Miracle-Gro (SMG)… which is up over 60%.

In all, we’ve got nine open stock recommendations… with eight of them good for double-digit gains this year.

Incredible.

From a profit perspective, 2020 was a very strong year for us. As we prepare to turn the calendar in just a few days, it will be a bittersweet goodbye.

Next week, I’ll release a reader favorite… my “big prediction” issue. It’s where I look back at the year that was and make some big, bold calls for the months ahead.

Without giving it away, I’ll tell you this… The next year is going to be a doozy.

The big gains are just getting started.

P.S. My team and I have been hard at work answering readers’ crypto questions. The mailbag has been flooded. I’m excited too. 2021 is shaping up to be a HUGE year for crypto… and we’ve got big things planned. In the meantime, I want you to keep your questions coming. Email us anytime at mailbag@manwardpress.com.