Five Stocks For St. Patrick's Day 2011 (SAM, DEO, KO, TSN, AAPL)

Many may not believe St. Patrick's Day is comparable to consumer-driven holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas as far as the stock market is concerned, but you may be surprised to learn just what kind of opportunities this Irish celebration presents. While it is true that there is very little emphasis on gift-giving or large-scale consumer purchases during this time, there are nevertheless some trading ideas for this holiday, as with most holidays. As a result, we decided to compile a list of five stocks that you will want to keep your eyes on in the days leading up to, and following, St. Patrick's Day 2011.

The Boston Beer Company SAM – While some beer companies have seen a downturn in their share prices in the current economic climate, craft beers have generally been the best performers in the sector. In fact, the Boston Beer Company has seen almost non-stop growth over the previous twelve months and is currently trading at nearly twice its price versus one year ago.

Diageo DEO – Diageo also cashes in on this holiday thanks mainly to its association with alcohol. The company, which owns many adult beverage brands including Guinness (the national beer of Ireland) has historically seen gains of up to 2.05% in the days leading up to and including St. Patrick's Day.

Coca-Cola KO - If alcohol does not interest you, perhaps soda will. Coca-Cola recently announced plans to launch Coca-Cola Music, a new global marketing tactic aimed at teens, beginning March 22. Given the company's plans for a massive launch event and promotional campaign, as well as their continued growth over the past month, it seems that this might be an ideal time to buy.

Tyson Foods TSN – Tyson, one of America's largest food companies, generally sees small increases in its shares in the days leading up to this holiday, thanks mainly to their corned beef products. Additionally, Tyson may be of interest to those looking for a slightly longer-term investment as their shares might see yet another increase as Easter approaches.

Apple AAPL - With the shipping of the much-anticipated iPad 2 just days away (March 11), it should come as no surprise that Apple made our list. While it is true the launch of the iPad 2 might not impact Apple shares quite as much as the original iPad (Apple rose 10.6% in the first month following the original iPad's debut), investors might still be pleased with the returns from this generation.