For the last four years, a group of personal finance and investing bloggers have had a friendly stockpicking contest.

My picks in the Fourth Annual Bloggers’ Stockpicking Contest did well. I managed to end up in first place with a performance of +35.64% for 2012.

Adding in my performances in 2009, 2010, and 2011 of +56.14%, +26.56%, and -17.04%, respectively, my cumulative return would be 122.37% with an annualized rate of return of 22.29% for the last four calendar years. (If you’ve been using my picks in your portfolio, please send me a cheque equivalent to 1% of net assets + 20% of any outperformance over the TSX composite index return, per year.)

That reminds me. I should write a post on Investment Newsletter incubation.

Anyhoo… I won’t be making any picks for 2013, as I’ll be declining to enter any future contests at this time. But you can check out the other guys’ picks from the links at the end of this post.

The reason for no longer participating is simply a consideration of time. Seeing as how I’ve made it clear throughout the past four years that I take the competition the least seriously, it should come as no surprise that it was only a matter of time before this friendly little project fell down low enough on my list of priorities that it would be discarded.

So I’ll leave you with the regular follow up on my four picks for the last year, some disclaimers, and then links to my alpha-seeking brethren.

Top 2012 Stock Picks

The criteria was to pick four securities in equal dollar amounts listed on a Canadian or American exchange (not including derivatives) to just sit on for the duration of 2012 with no changes allowed. We were to provide updates every quarter and the contest ends on the last trading day of 2012. The initial prices were based on the closing prices on December 30th, 2011. The final prices are based on the closing prices on the last trading day of 2012. *I’ve kept the original rationale for making my picks one year ago. And honestly, that was about as much thought that I actually put into it.

1. Starbucks @ $46.01 (NASDAQ:SBUX) ' I just had one so it's top of mind right now.''FINAL: $53.63 plus four dividend payments, +18.28%

2. Apple @ $405.00 (NASDAQ:APPL) ' iPad 3, iPhone 5, and Apple might re-invent the TV this year. I also understand Steve Jobs and Tupac will release a collaborative album in 2012.''FINAL: $532.17, plus two dividend payments, +32.59%

3. Research in Motion @ $14.50 (NASDAQ:RIMM) ' Perhaps they got beaten up too much, perhaps they get bought out. Then again, perhaps they have further to fall.''FINAL: $11.87, -18.14%%

4. Bank of America @ $5.56 (NYSE:BAC) ' Bit of a contrarian play' and that's about as much thought I put into it.''FINAL: $11.61 plus four dividend payments, +109.83%

This Doesn't Sound Like You

Regular readers know that I don't normally talk about specific investments. For the first year's contest I initially hesitated since I was worried that some readers might take some of these picks to heart and actually buy them themselves as part of their investment portfolios. However, I decided to participate anyways deciding that I'll just disclaimer the heck out of it. To that end:

This Is Just For Funsies

THIS STOCK PICKING CONTEST IS JUST FOR FUN, IT IS NOTHING MORE THAN GAMBLING. DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT BUYING THE STOCKS LISTED HERE OR ON ANY OF THE OTHER BLOGGERS' SITES WITHOUT FIRST CONSULTING A PROFESSIONAL FINANCIAL ADVISOR. IF YOU BUY THEM ANYWAYS BASED ON THIS POST, YOU MUST RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND BEFORE PLACING THE ORDER AND REPEAT, 'I AM A NUTBAR'.

What The Other Guys Picked

Here is a list of links to the other participating members' performance: