Investing 102

[sik68]

Hi Greg / Others,

Sears announced it is going to offer 200 to 300 stores for sale to a REIT to raise cash, and lease them back. Any insights on what this can signal for a company that uses this strategy?

My thoughts are unchanged after the announcement: they cannot survive with the current business model. They raise one-time cash, so what...now their ongoing expenses are higher. Assets are to be bought and held, like we do... not sold.

[ErikLS2]

Originally Posted by sik68

Hi Greg / Others,

Sears announced it is going to offer 200 to 300 stores for sale to a REIT to raise cash, and lease them back. Any insights on what this can signal for a company that uses this strategy?

My thoughts are unchanged after the announcement: they cannot survive with the current business model. They raise one-time cash, so what...now their ongoing expenses are higher. Assets are to be bought and held, like we do... not sold.

To me this is the same thing as someone taking out a home equity line of credit because they need money.

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by ErikLS2

To me this is the same thing as someone taking out a home equity line of credit because they need money.

Couldn't agree more with this statement. The retail world has changed... and Sears didn't - hasn't - or couldn't. IDK and really don't care because to me the store ceased to exist about 25 years ago. I wouldn't bet against them - but I wouldn't invest in this name either because it has just about nothing a guy wants in an investment. A dying business... in an overcrowded retail space... with virtually no hope of regaining it's luster. Buy / invest in businesses that are solid and not on the cusp of having a bankruptcy auction.

[AMSOILGUY]

Is anybody on here investing in 3D printing? Has this been talked about? I see lots of this being talked about in the news. I can't remember where or when but sometime this year I believe the first 3D car was printed. Whos leading the way in this technology?

[captainofiron]

Originally Posted by AMSOILGUY

Is anybody on here investing in 3D printing? Has this been talked about? I see lots of this being talked about in the news. I can't remember where or when but sometime this year I believe the first 3D car was printed. Whos leading the way in this technology?

believe it or not, I think (if I remember right) SpaceX and NASA (Marshall) have 3D printed rocket engine chambers.

they are very precise cross sections that normally take alot of welding/machining and many months to fabricate one, so 3D printing would be great here

[gearheads78]

Originally Posted by AMSOILGUY

Is anybody on here investing in 3D printing? Has this been talked about? I see lots of this being talked about in the news. I can't remember where or when but sometime this year I believe the first 3D car was printed. Whos leading the way in this technology?

Long term there will be huge winners here but its to early in the game to know who will come out on top. A year ago anything with the word 3D in it was just skyrocketing but they have all been on a steady decline since. I made a little money and sold when things started to fall back. Many have been really beat up over the last 6 months. I have re-purchased a little SSYS and I am currently a little down but I think long term it will pay out. DDD has really been killed but if it goes much lower I may buy a little again. Its a good company but HP announcing they are getting in the 3D game and them trying to incorporate all their companies they have bought is causing the stock to be really beat up. I have one more I own and am in the green on but it is a pure gamble so I won't even mention the name.

[mach1stang]

Ok sorry if it's been posted in here before but I'm a slow reader and have only made it to page 4 lol! But I'm 23, working 50+ hours in heavy equipment and not making $15.75 and I'm just not happy with my financial situation, I'm trying to start my own business and a family and just don't feel comfortable with money and the long weeks are taking their toll on me now so I gotta do something.

I don't make a lot so the thought of shelling money out without really knowing exactly whats gonna be returned or when scares me, but whats a good starting amount of money to put towards stocks for somebody in my position?

Thanks
Kody

[Woody]

Originally Posted by mach1stang

Ok sorry if it's been posted in here before but I'm a slow reader and have only made it to page 4 lol! But I'm 23, working 50+ hours in heavy equipment and not making $15.75 and I'm just not happy with my financial situation, I'm trying to start my own business and a family and just don't feel comfortable with money and the long weeks are taking their toll on me now so I gotta do something.

I don't make a lot so the thought of shelling money out without really knowing exactly whats gonna be returned or when scares me, but whats a good starting amount of money to put towards stocks for somebody in my position?

Thanks
Kody

It is a really difficult question to answer not knowing anything else about your financial situation. If you have any high interest rate credit card debt, I would pay that off before investing anything in the stock market. Also, not knowing if you have any savings set aside, I would advise you to have enough of an emergency fund for 9 to 12 months of living expenses. Home ownership is a goal many people have and if that is a desire of yours you may choose to make that a priority as well. Once those items are taken care of you can start to think about investing in the stock market and assuming you do not have a 401k at work, a Roth IRA may be your best option.

I learned to pay myself first when setting aside money for investing. I set up my budget to be able to save a minimum of 10% of my earnings for investment purposes. So if you make $787.50 a week (50 hours x 15.75), set aside $78.75 per week, once you save $1,000 or so, buy a stock that you like. Repeat the process until you have 10 to 20 stocks, then start adding more funds to your existing holdings. As you make more money, you will invest more by keeping the budget set to invest 10% of your earnings.