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From early March to mid-June, the major market averages all rallied more than 35%. That big of a move in just over three months
was remarkable, and technology was one of the chief sectors leading the charge. Now, we’re not talking about some obscure small-cap
tech stocks. We’re talking about some of the biggest names in the corporate world.So, how long can this run in tech stocks last? Well, nobody knows for sure, but what we here at OptionsZone do know for certain
is that when it comes to diagnosing the trends in specific market sectors, there’s no better tool than the ChangeWave
Alliance Research Network. By conducting targeted surveys of experts in specific industries, the ChangeWave Alliance has accurately
called many of the biggest secular growth trends of the past decade.
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Survey Says … Tech is Back
In the first quarter, an Alliance survey showed a leveling off in the rate of decline for business IT spending. And ChangeWave’s
latest survey shows U.S. corporate IT spending is rapidly stabilizing. The survey shows a dramatically improved outlook for
IT spending in the third quarter.Fifteen percent of respondents said their company’s IT spending will increase. This is a solid improvement from the previous
survey conducted in February, and, most importantly, the first recorded uptick in a ChangeWave survey in two and a half years.
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Who Are the Biggest Winners?
Based on the results of the Alliance’s latest survey, we could be in for a protracted upswing in IT spending as we head into
the back half of 2009. That upswing will likely add fuel to the share prices of the biggest and best technology stocks.So, now that we know about the positive trends in IT spending, the question becomes: Which IT stocks are best positioned to
benefit from the renewed fortunes in the corporate IT space? And which stocks will likely keep heading higher for the rest of
the year?Let’s take a look at the top six tech stocks now.
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Tech Stock #1: Apple (AAPL)
This juggernaut is perhaps the best of breed personal technology company operating today. Apple’s (AAPL) uncanny
ability to consistently bring some of the best, most addictive, and dare we say "coolest" products to the market year
after year has made it one of the greatest success stories in all of corporate history.Sales of its recently released iPhone 3GS far outpaced even the most optimistic industry estimates, proving once again that
Apple knows what the market wants and how to deliver a winner. And, according to the latest Alliance IT
spending survey, Apple continues to show surprising momentum in corporate smartphone market sales.Apple is one of the Top 10 Summer Stocks.
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Tech Stock #2: Cisco Systems (CSCO)
The second stock on our list is Cisco Systems (CSCO). This company
practically built the backbone of the Internet with its outstanding Internet Protocol routers. As IT spending ramps up over the
next six months, Cisco shares are very likely to ramp up as well.In addition to its router business, the company provides a variety of computer networking solutions that reach myriad IT networking
subsectors. As overall spending in the IT sector improves, overall sales for Cisco’s products will likely also improve, and that
makes Cisco one tech stock that you want to own now.
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Tech Stock #3: Microsoft (MSFT)
There is no bigger tech giant than Microsoft (MSFT). As Americans,
the company’s products have become daily parts of nearly all of our lives. And, as the biggest behemoth in the corporate software
space, Microsoft will be a big beneficiary of the trend toward greater IT spending.Think of Microsoft as a barometer of sorts for the health of the corporate IT sector. When companies need to spend money on
IT, it’s almost certain that some of that money will be sent to the very smart men and women who ply their trade in Redmond, Wash.Microsoft is scheduled to announce earning on July 23. Get 12
Keys to Trading Earnings for Profits.
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Tech Stock #4: Oracle (ORCL)
Oracle (ORCL) is known for being the premier provider of business
enterprise software. The company is also known for the spending habits of its flamboyant, yet truly brilliant CEO, Larry Ellison.
Like Microsoft, Oracle’s products are ubiquitous in corporate IT departments around the globe. This ubiquity means that when IT
spending increases, so too does Oracle’s earnings.In April, Oracle announced that it would be acquiring Sun Microsystems (JAVA).
This acquisition, though still pending, will likely have significant ramifications for the entire corporate IT sector. With Sun
Microsystems’ Java and Solaris technologies contributing to Oracle’s bottom line, Oracle will undoubtedly become the overwhelming
leader in the enterprise software space.When it comes to trading options, can you make the grade? Take
our quiz to find out.
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Tech Stock #5: Research In Motion (RIMM)
The makers of the iconic BlackBerry smartphone have been the undisputed champion of the corporate cell phone space for many,
many years now. Research In Motion (RIMM) is far out in front of nearest
rival Palm (PALM), and though Apple (AAPL)
has started to make some progress in the corporate smartphone market, when it comes to serving the needs of big corporate smartphone
users, Research In Motion is virtually in a class by itself.According to the latest corporate IT spending survey,
corporate smartphone buying is set for a big resurgence in the coming quarter. Thirty-six percent of respondents reported their
company plans to buy smartphones in Q3, and in terms of manufacturers, Research In Motion continues to maintain its dominant share
of those planned purchases going forward.
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Tech Stock #6: VMware (VMW)
Our final tech stock isn’t as well known as the previous five, but it could be soon. That company
is virtualization software maker VMware (VMW). The firm’s software not
only helps IT professionals streamline their operations, but it also helps companies cut cost by reducing the number of energy-gobbling
network servers required to run those IT departments.VMware was the first company to introduce the virtualization concept to the corporate IT world, and for most of its early years
it had no rivals. And while there are now some strong competitors entering the space, VMware still makes the rules when it comes
to virtualization software.
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A Flight to Tech Quality
You’ve just seen our six favorite tech stocks to own for the rest of the year. And, in addition to the reasons we’ve already
enumerated, we have one final thought for you to keep in mind.Tech stocks are likely to stay hot for the same reasons they caught fire in the first place. Typically, tech stocks carry lots
of cash on their books, along with little or no debt. Both of these attributes are highly desirable in an unstable economic environment;
and to be certain, this economy is anything but stable.What this means is that investors may well continue their flight to tech-stock quality, and when they do, you’ll want to own these
six tech winners.
