Over the long-term, the stock market is a wealth-building machine. No matter how many corrections and bear markets are thrown Wall Street's way, each of the major indexes eventually puts notable downside moves in the rearview mirror.

However, just because the major indexes increase in value over time, it doesn't mean all stocks will be winners. In fact, a study from finance professor Hendrik Bessembinder of Arizona State University showed that a little over half of the 26,000 stocks he examined lost investors money between 1926 and 2015. 

While it can sometimes be tough to spot these potential portfolio land mines, others, at least in my view, stick out like a sore thumb. What follows are four stocks that I wouldn't buy with free money. Note, this isn't me advocating for anyone to run out and short-sell these companies. Rather, I'm suggesting completely avoiding putting money to work in these stocks... period.

Continue reading

Source Fool.com