Are Vampires Sucking the Life from Your Portfolio?

On this date in 1897, Bram Stoker first published his famous novel, Dracula. Since then, the fanged night-owl has been draining the blood of victims and capturing the hearts of readers across the globe. Let's face facts: Dracula is so much cooler than Edward, the Twilight twit. Unlike the modern heart-throb version, Dracula was not an oversexed teenager but an actual menace, chased by Van Helsing and crew, and finally, mercifully, returned to dust by the end of the novel. To honor bloodsucking pale men everywhere, here are four stocks that might be draining the life right out of your portfolio today. Computer Sciences Corporation CSC If you follow the news, this stock seems like a sure winner. The company just signed a $42 million contract with the US Post Office, and announced today a new versions of device-agnostic mobile insurance applications that give agents, insurance professionals and policyholders on-the-go access to services. Despite the good news, the stock is down 15% on the day. What the heck is going on? The company has a less-than-ideal debt/free cash ratio of 5.12, but that's hardly a deal-breaker in an era of easy credit Fed policy. The EPS of $5.30 is worth a smile, but the last quarter was rough. Consider chugging some holy water before buying this stock on the cheap, or cutting losses. Quantum Fuel Systems Worldwide QTWW Alternative fuel stocks are getting impossible to predict. Gas prices, despite recent clawbacks, are still high and trending higher. It's pretty clear that the world is going to need to develop alternative fuels in the near future. It's not like governments haven't noticed. QTWW says it has been awarded a $1.37 million grant by the California Energy Commission (CEC) for launching a new generation of PHEV systems. The program's target is to develop technology that will speed up the adoption of PHEVs by way of improved operational efficiencies and reduced cost." And yet the stock is down 4% on the day and off its yearly high by 50%. It may be time to throw some garlic on this bad boy and consider looking for alternative forms of alternative transportation energy elsewhere. Yingli Green Energy YGE Maybe solar stocks aren't the best stock for nocturnal vampires who turn to dust in sunlight. In three months, the stock has dropped nearly 40%, crushing any hope investors had of sending their children to private school. Don't look now, YGE, but Van Helsing is right behind you. China Cord Blood CO What could be more appealing for a vampire, and more horrifying for an investor, than the thought of stockpiles of stem cells and embryonic cord blood stores in a freezer? The overall trend of this stock has been downward since last summer. Maybe resist the temptation to bite into this neck and stick to more savory stocks.