A twist on the stock-picking story

The Chicago Sun-Times handles its stock-picking story unlike any other paper I’ve seen. It doesn’t have readers compete against pros or reporters, and it doesn’t have a dart pick stocks. Instead, it asks its readers to send in their stock picks, and it offers a trip to the reader whose stock goes up the most. There’s no competition except against other readers. There is, however, a monkey picking stocks.

Here are the details: “It’s time to brighten your days by entering the Sun-Times’ Monkey Business stock-picking contest, 2006 edition!

“Send us your favorite stock, and we’ll track it all year. You’ll win the contest if your stock has the greatest price appreciation of all entries during 2006. Winning stocks in past years have gone up 300 or 400 percent.

“This year, we have a new prize to offer. Apple Vacations is writing up a vacation plan that will take our winner away from the cold and snow of next winter.

“Send us a pick of one stock only via e-mail or regular mail. The stock must be listed on a U.S. market and trade for at least $5 a share. This is so nobody can win on a penny stock that goes from a nickel to a quarter.”

Just one question: What if the same stock is picked by two different people? How do you break the tie?