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Rating: 
Summary: Good basic book
Review: Good basic strategy, would be great for beginners. Towards the end I know how my profs in school felt when I hit the filler material, it got VERY repetitive. Factual errors turn me off as well, Nokia is NOT a Japanese electronics company, and more comapnies had direct purchase plans then he listed in early '98 (like P&G). the pitch for the author's money management services at the end was a bit over the top as well.
Rating: 
Summary: Immensely Sensible
Review: Huguet realizes that many investors are frustrated by the fact that the performance of their investment portfolio is below their expectations. They are often confused about the world of investing. Because they are busy people, they are frequently short of time. Many rely primarily on indexing. Others have just begun their investment journey. They pay too much in taxes. They are concerned about pre-retirement investing. Or they are retired and fear that they will outlive their money. They may be concerned about financing the education of children or grandchildren. "Is there an investment strategy which will produce great returns over the long-term cycle of bull and bear markets?" Huguet asked himself this question and then began rigorous and extensive research to answer it. Great Companies, Great Returns is the result of his research.Essentially, Huguet concluded that there are certain stocks which every investor should own. Which stocks? He next concluded that there are a few great American companies in which to invest, companies whose stocks will produce outstanding, tax-efficient returns in a variety of market conditions. OK but which Great Companies? He identifies and then explains his selections. The strategy which Huguet advocates makes compelling sense for those whose long-term investment objectives are to maximize returns while minimizing risks and taxes, and thereby achieving the greatest returns (over time) from publicly-traded stocks. Large-cap companies really do have significant strategic advantages over their smaller-cap counterparts. Of these, Huguet has selected only 14. If a reader of Great Companies, Great Returns has a better combination of traits and/or a better selection of Great Companies in which to invest, Huguet would be delighted to know. (So would I.) I rate his book so highly for two reasons: Huguet's rationale for long-term investment is sound, and, while explaining his reasons for it, he provides a brilliant analysis of the companies in which he believes such an investment should be made. My guess is that this book will be most valuable to those who need both the rationale and the research in support of it.
Rating:
Summary: This portfolio is is a safe haven
Review: I've been following this portfolio [as a fund in my Yahoo screens], and I have seen it perform quite well. I bought the book in early 2000. I went back to check the stock performance of each of the companies mentioned since Dec. 31, 1999. and here is a brief history: Jan - March 2000 "the dot com crash": Portfolio showed weakness as analysts praised new economy and trashed old economy. Portfolio of companies was down about 17%. March - July 2000: Portfolio gained back its losses as investors returned to blue chip investments. August - December 2000: Portfolio showed strength as market turned sour and uncertain as election foes killed the markets. Dec. 31, 2000: Portfolio of 14 companies was up 16%. Not bad compared to NASDAQ and DOW Jones performace. Year to Date 2001: Portfolio has given back its gains but is showing resilience as of late, All in all, only down 3% from investment in January 1, 2000. The book is a great reference for these companies and I agree with the company strengths and weaknesses.
Rating:
Summary: This portfolio is is a safe haven
Review: I've been following this portfolio [as a fund in my Yahoo screens], and I have seen it perform quite well. I bought the book in early 2000. I went back to check the stock performance of each of the companies mentioned since Dec. 31, 1999. and here is a brief history: Jan - March 2000 "the dot com crash": Portfolio showed weakness as analysts praised new economy and trashed old economy. Portfolio of companies was down about 17%. March - July 2000: Portfolio gained back its losses as investors returned to blue chip investments. August - December 2000: Portfolio showed strength as market turned sour and uncertain as election foes killed the markets. Dec. 31, 2000: Portfolio of 14 companies was up 16%. Not bad compared to NASDAQ and DOW Jones performace. Year to Date 2001: Portfolio has given back its gains but is showing resilience as of late, All in all, only down 3% from investment in January 1, 2000. The book is a great reference for these companies and I agree with the company strengths and weaknesses.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Long Term Investment Strategy
Review: If you are nervous about investing in stocks, and if you're looking for a simple effective way to invest which will let you sleep soundly at night, then this book is a must read! Jim Huguet presents his ideas in a clear and logical way, as he explains the 12 characteristics that separate the good companies from the great companies. He provides a list of 14 great companies which meet his criteria and which therefore can be expected to provide excellent returns over the coming decades. The book provides a logical framework for selecting great companies in great businesses. The second part of the question is "What price should I be willing to pay for a great company?" Unfortunately, as other reviewers have noted, the author has not provided a specific answer to this question. Despite this weakness, the book is, in my view, a valuable addition to any buy and hold investor's library. In summary, "Great Ideas, Great Book"
Rating:
Summary: A well-thought alternative to the internet craze.
Review: If you're fed up with mediocre returns but can't stomach the volatility of internet stocks, this book offers an alternative. Huguet explains how a number of old-line companies have collectively been trouncing the S&P 500 by a wide margin for years. But just any established company won't do. Huguet explains in clear and concise terms how to identify these companies by focusing on what makes them great, not some obscure technical analysis that doesn't even look inside the company. This book could easily be titled "It's the basics, Stupid!". In short, a must read for serious long term investors who want to be able to sleep at night content that they own the bluest of blue chips.
Rating:
Summary: Common Sense Strategies for the Long-Term Investor
Review: Precious few individual companies in a portfolio should be held for the very long-term. Only companies that can create shareholder value, increase profits and intrinsic value steadily, and dominate their markets should be considered. "Great Companies, Great Returns" is a guide to developing a core investing strategy with the highest quality companies. This strategy includes owning companies with household names such as Citigroup, General Electric, and Johnson & Johnson, and is meant to be a viable alternative to indexing. As Jim Huguet says, "Core strategies differ from other investing strategies in that they are long-term, tax efficient, easy to understand, and proven, and provide excellent returns relative to the level of risk. This differs from "black box" strategies that buy stocks rather then companies, cost you dearly in taxes, and often underperform the market at high levels of risk." "Great Companies, Great Returns" does define the qualities of "terrific businesses," and then builds the case for a great company though twelve criteria (i.e., "screens"). The book is a primer for anyone who wants a disciplined methodology for identifying and selecting companies for long-term investment. The twelve screens in the book generated fourteen large capitalization companies. An overview for each of these companies is presented. This "Super Investing" strategy, in the author's opinion, invests in the 14 greatest public companies headquartered in the United States. The "Great Companies" strategy is also applied to IPO's, international companies, and mostly technology-based "Great Companies of the Future." The author covers, in detail, allocating, managing, and monitoring funds in a "Great Companies" portfolio. "Great Companies, Great Returns" contains charts, graphs, CEO interviews, worksheets, and a partial listing of helpful web sites.
Rating: 
Summary: a nice book to begin with
Review: presents some interesting techniques to evaluate companies (his 12 criteria) but simplifies these criteria too much. for someone looking to develop his/her own stock-picking philosophy, this is a nice book to begin with. the author mentions many other books which the reader can refer to for more detailed discussions. the last 100 pages (1/3 of the book) are basically useless. maybe best to make this a library book.
Rating:
Summary: Not bad
Review: The author had at least one glaring factual error -- Nokia's a Finnish, not Japanese company -- but the essence of this book is no less solid. The advice here is mostly repackaged from other sources in a form that is very useful and insightful. It's a lot common sense, but there are a few key insights that I found very influential: * These companies have competitive advantages and tremendous staying power. * They are extremely recession-resistant and globally diversified (important in bear markets and recessions, which we will inevitably encounter again sometime in the future) * Because of their unique advantages they have unparalleled track records of continued above-average earnings growth The author shows how a disciplined strategy of investing in these companies beats the market over the long-term. I think this advice, combined with dollar-cost averaging, is very useful. On a personal note, I have just started assembling my portfolio, and unfortunately I have been obsessing too much over finding the best values, not overpaying, and worrying about whether prices on such companies are too high. I have also been struggling with whether to adopt an aggressive, mostly technology portfolio composition . This strategy has a place in a good portion of my portfolio and will be combined with tech stocks and some small- and mid-caps. The author shows that these companies are richly valued for good reasons and will continue to be highly valued for their consistent earnings growth. Also, I think that such a strategy is a better alternative to the S&P 500 index, which many people use to make sure they don't underperform the large cap market. Clearly, you can outperform the index by emphasizing quality companies and consistently investing in them over the long-term.
Rating:
Summary: A core strategy suitable for most investors
Review: The author had at least one glaring factual error -- Nokia's a Finnish, not Japanese company -- but the essence of this book is no less solid. The advice here is mostly repackaged from other sources in a form that is very useful and insightful. It's a lot common sense, but there are a few key insights that I found very influential: * These companies have competitive advantages and tremendous staying power. * They are extremely recession-resistant and globally diversified (important in bear markets and recessions, which we will inevitably encounter again sometime in the future) * Because of their unique advantages they have unparalleled track records of continued above-average earnings growth The author shows how a disciplined strategy of investing in these companies beats the market over the long-term. I think this advice, combined with dollar-cost averaging, is very useful. On a personal note, I have just started assembling my portfolio, and unfortunately I have been obsessing too much over finding the best values, not overpaying, and worrying about whether prices on such companies are too high. I have also been struggling with whether to adopt an aggressive, mostly technology portfolio composition . This strategy has a place in a good portion of my portfolio and will be combined with tech stocks and some small- and mid-caps. The author shows that these companies are richly valued for good reasons and will continue to be highly valued for their consistent earnings growth. Also, I think that such a strategy is a better alternative to the S&P 500 index, which many people use to make sure they don't underperform the large cap market. Clearly, you can outperform the index by emphasizing quality companies and consistently investing in them over the long-term.
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