the home team...

Admit or don't...everyone playing fantasy sports has got a home team bias. I see it year after year, marginal players from hometown teams tend to make fantasy rosters after showing just a tad bit of talent or production. Why not, right? Local news provides a bit more in-depth coverage, you also get to watch games live so "personal scouting" plays a factor, and of course, production from a home town player is that much more vindicating. For example, in my Hawaii leagues, Shane Victorino is drafted a few notches higher than normal. And in my Seattle leagues, players like Seneca Wallace, Wladimir Balentien and Damien Wilkins (when he was on the Sonics, not this OKC thunder crap) routinely got shuffled into rosters.

So does that apply in investing? It should right? I should have more access to the information just based on my general closeness, geography-wise. And that information can come from local newspapers, local magazines, or just word on the street. Either way, hopefully that gives me a better understanding of what's to come...and top that off...I get a sense of local pride. So who have I locked in on for my next pick?

Hoku Scientific: HOKU

Who are they: an alternate engery company, they specialize in fuel cells and solar energy (both the polysilicon and the photovoltaic systems )

Why I like them:
1 - they are local (as explained)
2 - oil/gas is a limited resource and something that flucuates like crazy. Right now the price of gas is decently cheap but just 6 months ago we were complaining about $4.00 per gallon. At some point, oil is going to be so limited that we need to turn to renewable energy sources.
3 - Hawaii is a hot bed for alternate engery and Hoku sits pretty close to the forefront on that. With the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative (HCEI), Hawaii is aiming to have 70 percent of the states electricity from renewable sources. So that's gotta bode well for Hoku.

So them's my reason and Hoku Scientific is my pick. I'm starting to fill out this Teamfolio with some small cap teams, so I might start looking a little bigger soon. Regardless, here's one for the home team.