Research in Motion (RIMM) is nothing compared to the iPhone by Apple (AAPL) and Google's (GOOG) Android based phones.  RIM will never catch its competitors, even Nokia (NOK) has a better chance at a turnaround. 

Billy Halleck had an easier time surviving in the movie "Thinner" than Research in Motion (RIMM) will have becoming (as their CEO said) a "lean, mean, hunting machine."  Sure they will.

Trading terrible and lying in the dumpster today are shares of Research in Motion (RIMM), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and of course Nokia (NOK).  Let's get dirty with these down on their luck companies.

July 4th 2012 is here and volatility while it stays (hopefully at record lows).  None the less its time to review some of the best stock picks of the week including some defensive plays, short squeezes, and anything but RIM.

What's a Covered Call?

The covered call is a strategy where an investor writes a call option contract (sells an option) while at the same time owning an equivalent number of shares of the underlying stock.If this stock is purchased simultaneously with writing the call contract, the strategy is commonly referred to as a buy-write.

While you may have heard that trading options is risky business, covered calls are actually a very conservative strategy, and most brokerages even allow retirement IRA accounts to write covered calls.

Research in Motion (RIMM) shares fell19% on Friday for a YTD decline of 49%.  Cue Charlie Day and team from Horrible Bosses and dump the coke on the floor.

The short answer, yes it's time to buy Apple Inc (AAPL) but don't expect an incredible return on investment. At this point you should not expect to achieve the average analyst 12 month estimate of $708.  That's a big 35% increase in share price if you bought Apple today.