The June 18 issue of Forbes magazine contains my column explaining why I am bearish on stocks. Although Google is one stock I panned, it just keeps going up. I firmly believe that the growth rate assumptions built into Google's valuation are unsustainable. After all, if Google's growth doesn't slow, it will eventually own all the assets in the world. When a high growth firm realizes that growth is slowing, it often starts acquiring other high growth companies. That often ends in trouble. Google seems to be going down this path.
The two other stocks I panned, Starbucks and Whole Foods, are already showing signs of weakness. I've been bearish on Starbucks for a while--largely because of rising gasoline prices. I just don't see how anyone but the very rich can afford to buy $5 lattes on a daily basis.
