This week’s “Making Money” column will be less of an introductory course and far more stock picks. For those of you who have successfully established an account, I commend you. For those who have not yet done so, I wonder what has prevented you from wanting to make money.

Bullish: Domino’s Pizza (DPZ)

                Following the introduction of its reinvented menu and pizza, Domino’s has expanded at a rapid pace; a rise that I am inclined to believe is likely to continue. When one walks into a Domino’s store, he or she is likely to notice the extensive variety of options. One has probably walked into the store in the first place due to the massive advertising campaign that Domino’s launched subsequent to its new pie. I am excited by Domino’s due to the both the product at hand and the desire for expansion that DPZ has set forth. Inexpensive pizza and free, swift delivery to areas surrounding a Domino’s store have been attracting a larger quantity of people, especially those who have experienced the negative effects of the Recession. Moreover, DPZ is an international business that has attracted people throughout the world, and its foreign presence signifies growth and potential longevity.

Hesitant: Blockbuster (BLOAQ.PK)

                Blockbuster, until the inception of Netflix, was the largest and most renowned video supplier in the United States. The fact that Blockbuster plummeted from stardom to bankruptcy so quickly is indicative of the extraordinary technology revolution that has consumed people. Video stores have since been replaced by companies that deliver videos to one’s front door. Blockbuster, a Chapter 11 company, should not, however, be considered a lost cause. Recently, Blockbuster penned an agreement with Time Warner that will provide Blockbuster’s video boxes (similar to Redbox) with an edge. Although an underdog to Netflix and Coinstar, the respective owners of Netflix and Redbox, Blockbuster contains a name that has been engrained into the mind of the public. The trust that Blockbuster has gained should not be overlooked, and Blockbuster’s new attempts at snatching a piece of the video box and internet market convey progress. Unlike Borders, Blockbuster is adjusting the modern era and clawing its way back to the peak on which it once stood. Peter Lynch, a former Fidelity investor, constantly mentions “turnaround companies,” a group to which Blockbuster has the potential to belong.

Bearish: Borders Group, Inc. (BGP)

                Borders, a book company similar in concept yet far more naïve than Barnes and Noble, skyrocketed on Friday, January 14, 2011. The reason for this sudden increase revolved around the fact that GE Capital has said that it will fund Borders in its restructuring process. Many originally thought that Borders would soon file for Chapter 11, but GE’s optimism provided investor s with the sparks they needed to opt into BGP. However, this should not ignite the “buy” mindset that so many are prone to enact after seemingly good news. Borders remains a struggling company that relies on the methods of the past. I believe that Borders has waited far too long to participate in the e-reader game that is now dominated by Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Borders is a conventional company that has refused to acclimate with future ideas, so its low price and recent news should not excite anyone except the paper book manufacturers upon which Border’s so heavily relies.