All three of these companies, Northgate Minerals Corporation (AMEX: NXG), Alexza Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: ALXA), and Phoenix Companies Inc (NYSE: PNX) are really worth a look at for new investors.

And don’t Let a little normal profit taking here and there scare you off. 

I really like the story developing at Alexza Pharmaceuticals because it has some textbook ingredients on how free markets produce winners. Faithful shareholders win, the global public could get some ‘much needed’ central nervous system drugs, and a deep drug pipeline with a lot of trails and studies going on could turn the Company into a lasting, vibrant corporation in a very tricky and fickle industry.

I like the success of others and Alexza seems headed in a successful direction. The stock itself has very steadily, very slowly, very surely climbed from under $1 last December to its current $1.87 price, a seven month gain of 87%. The Company announced last month it was going to make a direct offering to raise $16 million for operating costs. I’m astonished that every Hedge Fund on Wall Street isn’t knocking on the Company’s door pleading to capitalize the firm with whatever they need. Perhaps they are…

Another good story developing is at Phoenix Companies, the life insurance specialist, which has staged an 18% gain in a month, bouncing from a dip to $2.10 to its current price of $2.48. The thing I really like about Phoenix Companies is their product innovation. Check out their site or news releases to get a look at some hybrid insurance offerings ‘that actually make sense’ for the consumers.

And last in this little grouping is Northgate Minerals which appears to have found a resistance level and shareholders and new buyers willing to come in with strength of support and perhaps inspire a break out: Upward. The stock is currently trading in the $2.64 range after dipping to $2.50 earlier in the month. Virtually no short sellers and positive, double digit EPS projections make this a stock worth looking at as a possible investment. The Company digs for both copper and gold primarily in Canada and Australia.

I haven’t, don’t, and do not intend on holding any of the companies mentioned in this article.