Verimark wins stock pick competition with 77% increase

Listed television retailer Verimark was the best performer in Moneyweb’s stock picking competition last year.

The choice of Hein Vogel, Verimark stock increased by 77%.

The market as a whole was down 8.5%. The competition, which has been running for over a decade, offers the Moneyweb community a chance to show off their stock-picking skills (and luck).

It’s an informal competition, with no prizes other than bragging rights.

At the beginning of the year, each entrant chooses one JSE-listed company.

The best performer for the year wins.

Verimark, with its attempted delisting, has a colourful history on the JSE.

It was perhaps the quintessential unloved, contrarian pick at the beginning of 2018.

When it was chosen by Vogel it had a dividend yield of 14%.

The stock pick results contain a warning for those hoping to catch a falling star.

Steinhoff was chosen by 116 out of 696 entrants in 2018.

This was after it lost more than 90% of its value the previous year.

But instead of bouncing back, it went on to lose another 63%.

The table summarises the community stock picks for 2018.

It was perhaps the quintessential unloved, contrarian pick at the beginning of 2018, with a dividend yield of 14%.