BY Dennis Hobein:

Contributor, Stock Traders Daily

Real Time Trading Reports:  Included are detailed trading reports designed to help investors realize opportunities in these companies.  The reports are linked to the stock symbols in the article below.

 Performance - Click Here

(La Jolla, CA)  While the stock market has rallied since the beginning of March this year, many technology stocks have outperformed the broader market. This is illustrated by the fact that the Power Shares QQQ Trust (Nasdaq: QQQQ) -- which tracks the tech-heavy Nasdaq – has outperformed the S&P 500 by nearly 10% over this time period. Taking it a step further, there is one particular space within the tech sector that has seen some incredible gains this year – internet based businesses. The performance of some of these companies is reminiscent of the “dot-com” craze of the 1998-2000. With gains in the high double-digits, or even triple digits, the question becomes whether this bubble will burst too. Below, we take a look at the performances of some of this year’s big winners in this space. As always, you can find our free trading reports on these stocks by simply clicking on the ticker symbols.

There’s No Stopping Google, Up 91% Year-To-Date

Google’s (Nasdaq: GOOG) mission to take over the world seems to be humming right along (that’s a joke, sort of). The stock has nearly doubled since March, and is now threatening the $600 “psych level.” The last time GOOG attempted to break above $600 (May 2008), it failed, and subsequently sold-off some 55%. Of course, the broader market had a lot to do with that, which cratered during the same time period. Since we don’t expect the stock market to fall off a cliff again, GOOG shares shouldn’t suffer the same fate if it again fails to breach that key level. Fundamentally speaking, GOOG is in great shape. It is continually taking search share from rival Yahoo (Nasdaq: YHOO), it has made strides monetizing assets such as YouTube, and its new Android platform for mobile phones is catching some momentum and may eventually become a bigger threat to Apple’s (Nasdaq: APPL) iPhone. One concern, though, may be its valuation. It has a 1-year forward P/E of 22.3x and a PEG of 1.4, which is on the high side.

Priceline.com Trading At Highest Levels Since Late 2000

Shares of on-line travel company Priceline.com (Nasdaq: PCLN) have put in staggering gains this year, up 193% year-to-date.  The upward trend, which began about a year ago, has essentially been uninterrupted, making a steady, clean move higher. The stock’s performance has been driven by exceptional earnings reports. For example, for the first three quarters of 2009, it has beaten the Street’s EPS expectations by $0.53, $0.27, and $0.18. Impressively – and uncommonly – this bottom-line outperformance has been driven by robust sales growth. Last quarter, PCLN’s sales grew by more than 30%. Of course, with an incredible move like this, the concern becomes valuation. Currently, PCLN’s 1-year forward P/E seems a bit rich, at 21.2x. However, with earnings expected to grow 24% in 2010, investors seem willing to pay up for this stock. Still, we suggest reviewing our free trading report on PCLN before entering a trade, to get a better handle on the key entry and exit points on the stock.

Amazing Gains For Amazon.com

Another “dot-com” winner this year has been Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN), sporting a 162% gain so far this year. Like PCLN, this e-commerce retailer has been consistently reporting strong quarterly results that top analysts’ forecasts. The main driver behind its growth has been the amazing sales of its popular Kindle e-readers. The near-term outlook appears to be favorable, too, because following the “Black Friday” and “Cyber Monday” shopping days, many analysts believe that AMZN was a clear winner as personal electronic devices found favor among shoppers this holiday season. However, after pulling back from $141 per last week, to $134 now, shares are currently right above its 20-day moving average. There is support around the $130 level should it not hold, but the $140 area may also now act as near-term resistance. For further analysis on trading strategies for AMZN, please click here to view our free report.