I first got into water stocks with SWWC(Southwest Water) back in 2002. Made good money on it but don't currently own it directly. It may be part of PHO.

Before PHO, I got into ITT, CLBH and WTS in terms of direct ownership.

My ITT is up 88%, my CLHB up 485% and WTS, which I've added to in 02/04, 02/05 and 02/07 is up 25.33%. My last buy of WTS brought my yields down.

I bought into PHO on 12/13/2005 and in 18 months it is up 33.45%.

I also directly own Layne(LYN) which is part of PHO. I bought into it on 7/20/06 and it is up 39.54%.

Many of these water stocks are, in my opinion, yet sleepers, in that the market pundits haven't really started hyping them.

Basin Water looks to me like it could be another Clean Harbors(CLHB). I think I would consider investing in this now.

This is just my opinion.

Originally posted in thread: 587

Thanks for the other names London, I believe the correct ticker for Layne is (LAYN).

Thanks again
fredP

Originally posted in thread: 587

HAL(ticker symbol) has the capabilities of doing a lot of water desalination projects in the Mideast.

As the Saudis pump oil from the ground the areas pumped out get filled with sea water, which isn't good for growing crops....therefore water desalination...therefore trusted Bush companies...therefore HAL.

HAL did a lot of water work for Lybia many years ago.

A sleeper, again, but worth looking into.

Originally posted in thread: 587

LondonRoad, I also own HAL and feel it is a sleeper. I also own GE, which builds the desalination equipment.

Originally posted in thread: 587

After hearing/reading all sorts of discussions - by both professionals and amateurs - of the investment ramifications of the global water supply, I still don't see how the global water balance can be used as part of a bullish thesis for domestic water utilities.

Domestic water utes are, generally, peculiar companies in a rather peculiar industry. I am not saying you can't make money on the stocks, but the global water balance shouldn't be part of the considerations.

Companies like Layne, which offer specific services in a fragmented industry (local and national) can offer some opportunities.

But the pump and valve companies are industrial commodities, and I have never liked how PHO combines them with the utes and other water-related (sometimes loosely) companies.

The best way, in my opinion, to explicitly invest in the global water industry is via the big foreign water utes. They do water a lot differently overseas and have a very different business model. The companies that going to actually design, build, and operate any solutions to the global water issues will largely come from this cohort.

Specific names include Veolia (VE), Suez (SZE), and Companhia de Saneamento...(SBS).

Claymore has an ETF that is more heavily weighted to these utilities. Here is an article on the product.

TJ

Originally posted in thread: 587

When did Claymore's Water ETF emerge?

Call me lazy.

Originally posted in thread: 587

Ok, I looked.

So, I am supposed to wait until 2007 for Claymore to come out with a Water ETF when I was getting into water stocks in 2002. The stocks I directly own are included in Claymore's ETF except Clean Harbors.

I don't like to think about the gains I would have lost out on if I had waited.

Originally posted in thread: 587

Claymore came out in 2007. If you own the stocks already, good for you, you don't need any version of an ETF.

The Claymore ETF is a better product, in my opinion, than PHO and it makes more sense to me as as the way to invest (going forward) in the water industry if that is one's targeted goal.

FTR, I have done very well without (much) direct or intentional investment in the water industry.

But the argument that the global water balance makes for a reason to own domestic water utes has no play. And it has limited play in the thesis underlying a lot of the other stocks held in PHO.

TJ

Originally posted in thread: 587

"But the argument that the global water balance makes for a reason to own domestic water utes has no play. And it has limited play in the thesis underlying a lot of the other stocks held in PHO."

Cutting through the rhetoric, the fact is PHO appreciated more than 30% over the past year. That is an acceptable return in my book, so I will continue to hold it based on the thesis of that water is a limited resource.

Originally posted in thread: 587

As I said in my first post, you can make money with the water utilities.

And you can certainly make money with the stocks - either partially or en total - that comprise the Palisades Water Index.

And you can make money on any stock, even if your investment thesis is a complete fantasy.

I have no issue or argument with any of those three points.

But if your investment thesis was actually the global water supply you would have done much better with the stocks of companies that actually work in that area than by trying to own the bizarrely constructed Palisades Water Index (and I describe the PWI that way as someone with considerable experience both in the water industry and as an investor).

TJ

Originally posted in thread: 587

"You would have done much better with the stocks of companies that actually work in that area than by trying to own the bizarrely constructed Palisades Water Index"

You're certainly entitled to your opinion. I will continue with mine, since they have obviously worked for me.

Originally posted in thread: 587

Is there a problem?

Sure, I am entitled to my opinion as you are entitled to yours.

And don't we post on public forum to express our opinion?, and, yes, some times to even exchange opinions?

A radical concept that, eh? :-)

TJ

Originally posted in thread: 587

U.S. Drought Monitor

Originally posted in thread: 587

Water attracts investors as potential liquid gold

Originally posted in thread: 587

Article in USA Today July 6, 2007 paper:

Water, water everywhere

The flood of new funds specializing in water continues unabated.

Water, that most precious of natural resources, could well be in short supply as the world population grows. Just one water fund existed at the start of the year: PowerShares Water Resources (PHO) made it debut in December 2005. Two other--Claymore S&P Global Water (CGW) and First Trust ISE Water (FTW)--started trading in May. And PowerShares Global Water Portfolio (PIO) began operations in June. Three more water funds will jump into the fund pool this month.

Originally posted in thread: 587

I bought Basin Water on 07/02/07 at $8.80 a share and so far it is up 42%...not bad for 19 days!

Originally posted in thread: 587

What is the name of the pipeline company that repairs failing waterpipe systems by sliding new pipe into the old pipe ?

Originally posted in thread: 587

The First Trust ISE Water ETF is symbol "FIW" vs. previously posted "FTW".

Originally posted in thread: 587

Up 20% in the last 2 days, check it out.

Originally posted in thread: 587

Article in Engineering News Record:

Real water: That's wet water, the stuff one needs for drinking, washing clothes, growing food, building houses and cooling power plants.

Paper water: That's the piece of paper that says how much real water someone has the legal right to use.

The result: Someone is going to go thirsty.

The situation is more difficult now that the state requires cities along the Rio Grande, including Santa Fe, to buy and transfer water rights to support their relentless population growth.

Former State Engineer Tom Turney estimates there are twice as many water rights promised in the lower Rio Grande as there is available water. It's hard to know whether there's enough actual water to satisfy all the claims on the Middle Rio Grande because the paper rights haven't all been quantified.

Water geeks debate who's responsible for this growing conundrum. The state engineer, farmers, developers, cities and a politically quagmired Legislature could all share the blame.

Regardless, the issue is affecting everyone in the state.

Developers, municipalities and county officials continue to buy, lease and transfer paper water rights in a kind of resource chess game. Nature holds the kings on both sides of the chessboard. No snow and no rain means no water in ditches, aquifers and pipes for exercising those water rights.

<a href="http://enr.construction.com/news/othersources/article.asp?SMDOCID=bhsuper_2007_09_21_SFNM_0000-3797-KEYWORD_Missing&SMContentSet=0">Water, Water</a>

TJ NC I have noticed that since your July 2nd post CGW has gone from $25.75 to current $26.21 or 1.78% while PHO has gone from $21.16 to $22.23 or 5.05%.  Thanks for your advise, however, I will continue with PHO.