Itching to buy the rails here, as they are all on the ropes. They have come down gigantically and are perceived as companies that are just getting crushed by the weakening economy. It's a continual crushing for Norfolk Southern (NSC), Union Pacific (UNP), Burlington Northern (BNI) and CSX (CSX), all excellent, well-run companies. All have big declines in traffic and all have had hot-money share bases, particularly UNP and CSX. The latter, in particular, has hedge fund money up the wazoo, and it was interesting to see how a hedge fund that is on the board got in trouble with the short-swing profit rules that don't allow insiders to sell stock at a profit within six months. To me, the group represents the epitome, though, of why it is so hard to buy. Whenever I buy an economically sensitive stock -- and are these ever economically sensitive -- I want protection from the vicissitudes of this vicious market. That means dividends, and without accidentally high yields that represent a nice tradeoff vs. Treasuries, I think you are at the mercy of hedge fund sellers and mutual fund sellers. That means you have to wait, maybe even appreciably, despite the flirtations with the 52-week lows before you can pull the trigger on these. Obviously, it is so rough out there that if you buy say, CSX, with a 2.9% yield, you could be taking your life into your hands every time the estimates -- which are most likely too high -- get cut. In fact, I wouldn't be able to touch it until it gets to $22 using my discipline, which most likely means I am going to miss the darned thing. That's the price, however, of the discipline of buying even the finest companies, like the rails, which are true moneymakers. This is a market where you need more than just a "good company," particularly because the estimates that you might be betting on to "create" a price-to-earnings multiple could prove to be dead wrong. These companies are linked to car, timber, coal, chemical, steel and fertilizer freight. Every one of those commodities is on a remarkable downswing. That, to me, means, don't touch 'em until you have that support. You sure don't have it now. I say, no thanks.

From a recent Mad Money show: "This is the only supermarket chain I'm going to recommend. They've done an amazing turnaround. That's an absolute buy."

From a recent Mad Money show: "I think this is still a buy. I'm willing to hold this stock until it comes back."

From a recent Mad Money show: "This is one of the best stocks I know. The dividend is safe and this is one you should own."

From a recent Mad Money show: "I just don't find this one compelling enough. I'm going to say 'don't buy'; I just don't see anything compelling there."

From a recent Mad Money show: "I've been looking at this one. I would buy Dryships and I would buy Frontline (FRO) right here."

From a recent Mad Money show:"I know the bank and it doesn't have a big yield, so I'm not doing to recommend it. That sector is just getting dangerous."

From a recent Mad Money show:"I'm a sell, sell, sell. I don't want anything in consumer electronics. I'm even worried about Best BUY (BBY). Let's stay away and buy some later."