Investors/Traders

[kapolani]

Hey guys.

Just curious if any of you invest/trade?

Started getting back into it lately. Mostly been doing the mutual funds for the last5 years or so. Didn't have the time to watch the market and trade.

What are some of your picks?

Got on early with AAPL and RIMM so been riding that. Nothing too major yet just a few hundred shares of each.

Been looking at MOT and DELL. Think that they should be solid in a year or so.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Mine are doing ok right now.

I don't have a great deal invested but they have been doing pretty good the last few days.

NEM I bought at 26.50 is currently trading between 44-50
CHK I bought at 20.50 and is currently trading around 28
I bought a penny stock and should have cashed it in a month ago as it was pretty high, but I got greedy and thought it would go higher...now I am just even with it.

I also bought WFC when it was doing good, I have took a hit on it but it is making a slow comeback.

 

[theogt]

Why not just gamble?

 

[kapolani]

Why not just gamble?

You know what? It basically is gambling.

But, if you do your research and are diligent it's a much safer gamble.

It's almost a crap shoot right now, but there are some bargain stocks out there that are worth much more than they are priced.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Hey guys.

Just curious if any of you invest/trade?

Started getting back into it lately. Mostly been doing the mutual funds for the last5 years or so. Didn't have the time to watch the market and trade.

What are some of your picks?

Got on early with AAPL and RIMM so been riding that. Nothing too major yet just a few hundred shares of each.

Been looking at MOT and DELL. Think that they should be solid in a year or so.

If you don't have time to personally manage it, you are better off sticking with funds. To invest in individual stocks properly requires lots of time, patience, and dedication. Not only do you need to know what their outlook is, you need to know what their outlook is worth. You should always have a pre-planned exit strategy for a stock your in before you even buy it in the first place.

Funds are easier as you just need to keep abreast of market conditions and the sectors you are investing in.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Why not just gamble?

Of the gambling games, it's closest to Poker. Poker is a game of skill that pits you against others rather than you at a disadvantage against the house.

Someone always wins the pot in Poker, and someone always wins the pot in the market.

 

[theogt]

Of the gambling games, it's closest to Poker. Poker is a game of skill that pits you against others rather than you at a disadvantage against the house.

Someone always wins the pot in Poker, and someone always wins the pot in the market.

Agreed.

Invest (don't "trade") in index funds. Play poker with the "mad money."

 

[kapolani]

If you don't have time to personally manage it, you are better off sticking with funds.

Agreed. It's more of a hobby right now for me.

invest in individual stocks properly requires lots of time, patience, and dedication. Not only do you need to know what their outlook is, you need to know what their outlook is worth.

Investing doesn't require a lot of time. Find a stock you like and buy some. It goes without saying it's safer to invest in big companies like Apple etc.

Trading OTOH takes a lot of time and some patience. People often get confuse the two.

You should always have a pre-planned exit strategy for a stock your in before you even buy it in the first place.

For trading I agree. For investing it's more of a buy and wait approach.

Funds are easier as you just need to keep abreast of market conditions and the sectors you are investing in.

Funds are the easiest because you have a board that makes all the decisions. You're more diversified. And, if you automatically invest you benefit from dollar cost averaging.

 

[YosemiteSam]

I disagree. You ALWAYS MUST have an exit strategy, even with log term investing. Blue chips are usually a good long term investment, but even blue chips can make you a poor man if you're not aware of their value. Ask anyone who owned airlines or motor company stocks since 2000 or even Starbucks. Many of those were blue chip can't miss stocks. I rode Starbucks from about 26.5 to $36 and got out and peaked close to $40 it came crashing down to bottom out below $10.

If you're long term investing, use a fund. Let the guys that spend all day watching the stocks, watch your stocks.


btw, Starbucks for the most part is cyclical. It's value goes up as it gets colder. Right now, SBUX isn't a bad buy, but you had better be out before Jan. 1st. (it's usual tipping point) They are near saturation so in my opinion they don't have long term investment power. Just good for a monetary gain to close out each year. (of course as long as the market dictates)

Of course, acting on someone's opinion without properly doing your home work can break you in a hurry.

 

[kapolani]

I disagree. You ALWAYS MUST have an exit strategy, even with log term investing. Blue chips are usually a good long term investment, but even blue chips can make you a poor man if you're not aware of their value. Ask anyone who owned airlines or motor company stocks since 2000 or even Starbucks. Many of those were blue chip can't miss stocks. I rode Starbucks from about 26.5 to $36 and got out and peaked close to $40 it came crashing down to bottom out below $10.

Didn't think that the above scenario needed to be said. Of course you're not going to hold a stock until it crashes.

An investor should be well diversified and monitor their portfolio.

When you said exit strategy I was mostly thinking about trading. When to get in and when to get out.

I trade for fun, but invest for retirement.

If you're long term investing, use a fund. Let the guys that spend all day watching the stocks, watch your stocks.

Agreed.

btw, Starbucks for the most part is cyclical. It's value goes up as it gets colder. Right now, SBUX isn't a bad buy, but you had better be out before Jan. 1st. (it's usual tipping point) They are near saturation so in my opinion they don't have long term investment power. Just good for a monetary gain to close out each year. (of course as long as the market dictates)

I trade mostly in technologies. I'm an engineer and consumer so I tend to pick stocks that interest me and have growth potential.

Of course, acting on someone's opinion without properly doing your home work can break you in a hurry.

Never get your investment advice from the internet...

 

[kapolani]

Apple has been doing outstanding.

I bought in when it was ~ $80 a share.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Apple has been doing outstanding.

I bought in when it was ~ $80 a share.

Back when I was investing (prior to dumping every penny I had into a house) Apple was around $59 and proceeded to hit almost $200. I never bought it though because I've been prejudice against Steve Jobs. I knew they had big value, but I refuse to act on it.

I still say their time is coming though. I think they aren't far from their top end valuation and I believe their competition is going to start gaining on them in the smart phone / portable music realm which is their bread and butter.

They appear to doing the hand-me-down features which means innovation is slowing.

 

[Temo]

If you're in long term and want to try something riskier than AAA rated bonds, use a no-load index fund (preferably from Vanguard). Don't use managed funds, most of them underperform the market over the long run.

If you really want to trade, just be aware that it's more gambling than investing for most people. So don't trade with money you need.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Penny stocks and go all in! :laugh2:

 

[TheKey]

I invest. I have been on the Ford train since 4.50ish, its up around 7.20 now. I have made good value in EP and GE as well. My new favorite in the last few days is PMI.

 

[Bigdog]

Bought GE when it was down to 8.90 and now it is up to 14 the last I check.

 

[TheKey]

Bought GE when it was down to 8.90 and now it is up to 14 the last I check.

GE is all the way up to 17 bigdog

 

[kapolani]

Back when I was investing (prior to dumping every penny I had into a house) Apple was around $59 and proceeded to hit almost $200. I never bought it though because I've been prejudice against Steve Jobs. I knew they had big value, but I refuse to act on it.

I still say their time is coming though. I think they aren't far from their top end valuation and I believe their competition is going to start gaining on them in the smart phone / portable music realm which is their bread and butter.

They appear to doing the hand-me-down features which means innovation is slowing.

Analysts are saying that AAPL could hit 215+.

I'll probably sell way before then.

AAPL has a strong product line and don't forget about the revenue generated from the App store. That thing is a cash cow.

I agree that the comp will make a run this coming year. I bought some RIMM and MOT.

 

[kapolani]

GE is all the way up to 17 bigdog

I'm still kicking myself for not getting some when it was at 5.00 a share.

I'm looking at Citi right now. It just got upgraded.