INVESTools Update  Tech Portfolio Posts Stellar Gains in 2001!    2001 has been a difficult year for many investors, as stock prices have plummeted from news of war, poor company earnings estimates and increasing corporate layoffs.   But some stocks (and some investors) are actually posting huge gains this year!   Subscribers to David Fried's The Buyback Letter  are earning stellar profits for the year, as the 5-stock High Tech Portfolio has gained an incredible +39.23% YTD(+9.61 in November alone), while his Stock Pickers Portfolio is up over 31% for the year. By contrast, The Nasdaq lost 21% of its value over the same time frame.   Fried's other portfolios have hit their stride in November, as the Buyback Dogs Portfolio earned an impressive +14.57% for the month, his 20-Stock Buyback Index gained +6.11%, and his Buyback Income Index shot up +5.61%  And these profits are not uncommon for Fried, whose 5-year performance has earned him the coveted #1 ranking by newsletter watchdog Hulbert Financial Digest.Since inception, Fried's Stockpickers Portfolio has gained 146% (vs. only +84% for the S&P 500.)  In addition, his 5-stock Buyback Dogs portfolio is up 104.93% since inception vs. +42% for the S&P 500 over the same time frame. 19 of Fried's last 22 trades have been profitable, with an average profit of 179%!       A Huge Profit Opportunity For Today's Buyback Investors?   Right now may be the best time for investors to get back into the market, as a potentially  huge buying opportunity has emerged for buyback investors who act immediately:    "Investors who focus on stock buybacks have a serious advantage in the current market," Fried says. "Recent moves by the Securities and Exchange Commission have made it easier for companies to buy back their stock while share prices are at their weakest. This ultimately creates higher earnings per share and, therefore, stronger share prices."  In the current issue of The Buyback Letter (available FREE for 30 days from INVESTools ), Fried lists his new "Best Buy" stocks that represent your best value right now. Insiders in these companies are bullish about their firms, and management are buying back their stock on the open market.   Click Here for these top Buyback Stocks and your FREE 30-Day Subscription to The Buyback Letter     Why The Average Buyback Value Stock  Outperforms The Market By 45.3%:  The New York Times  reports that a study of all U.S. stocks from 1980-1990 found  that the stock of an average company announcing a repurchase plan will  beat the  market decisively (12.1% for the average company, 45.3% for a value stock) in  the four years following the repurchase announcement.  This makes sense. After all, when a company buys back their own stock, it's  an  enormous vote of confidence  by those who know it best - senior executives. No  one else knows the firm's financial situation, market share, business plans,  competitive advantages and new product strategies better than those with  hands-on, day-to-day experience.  But, these executives aren't talking. They keep their plans, tactics, and  research behind closed doors.  The only indicator of their well-founded optimism  is a stock buyback. It's a powerful indicator that no serious investor should  ignore.   Just how powerful are buyback stocks? In the last 10 years if you had invested  $10,000 in a typical S&P 500 portfolio, you investment would have grown to  $67,917 - an excellent return. But that same $10,000 invested exclusively in  value buyback stocks would have grown to $130,254 - nearly $70,000 more in profits!   The Buyback Letter is available FREE for 30 days from INVESTools.  With your FREE 30-Day Subscription, you'll be on the inside track of the market's safest blue-chip companies that are aggressively buying back their own stock.    Click Here for your FREE 30-Day Subscription to The  Buyback Letter        If the link above doesn't work, go to:   http://www.investools.com/c/go/BACK/UPDT-116back    or call 1-800-567-2683 and activate your free subscription with the help of our friendly customer service team.   To be removed from the email distribution list for the FREE INVESTools Advisory and Updates, send an email to: Advisory Unsubscribe Requests   (IMPORTANT: This is an automated system and does not cancel your paid newsletter or service subscriptions on INVESTools.com) If you have tried unsubscribing in the past -- and believe that you received this message in error -- please send an email to itfeedback@investools.com  to voice your concerns and be removed from the list.    ? 2001 INVESTools.com, Inc. All rights reserved.