Investing 102

[toy71camaro]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

This morning I'm (as usual) watching the talking heads on CNBC... and again they're always blabbering about the same stocks... BLACKBERRY (BBRY) is one they just can't seem to forget... So as usual -- I decide to pull up the stock on Google Finance website just so I can "confirm" why I wouldn't be interested in listening to whatever they're talking about.

5 plus years ago all of my working professional friends had Blackberry phones - in fact - we jokingly called them Crackberries. If you were a lawyer etc -- you had one. But I noticed -- because that's the way my brain is wired (to pay attention to small details) that one by one - these folks were switching and their new phones were mostly iPhone - but the point is - they were buying anything but another Blackberry.

The chart is just awful --- regardless of what period you stretch it out to... so unless you bought it at it's IPO -- you're underwater in a major way.

Year to date you'd be DOWN 13% in a market that's UP 13% --- so your "loss" is even more dramatic - because while owning a loser you've also missed a gain in some other name.

I'm posting this -- not because it's so informational -- but to once again ask that as "investors" -- to pay attention to what you see and or feel about some business - or product - regardless of what it is. If you're a carpenter and notice that everyone used to use Makita -- and now all the saws and tools are Black and Decker... or vice versa -- those things (trends) can make you -- or loose you (if you're invested in the WRONG one!) money.

Let's say you own Home Depot or Costco or Wal Mart or Nordstrom or (pick a name/brand/product).... and you find yourself not going there anymore... Then you need to check your ownership - because you just might be part of a trend that you need to pay attention to.

Let's just pick on Apple because it's so obvious that there has been a major trend towards their products... if you looked around this Christmas and nobody got a new "iWhatever"... that would raise the hair on the back of my neck if I owned the shares. Or if you owned Faceybook -- and you notice there are fewer of your buddies posting and they've switched to using Instagram (I'm pulling these out of my you know what because I use neither). Just saying -- use your own "sense" for what's going on.

I did this/seen this with Apple. I knew it was "right around teh corner".. I knew they were going to take a hit. I own like $100 worth of apple from a purchase of about 6 years ago. I didnt sell it, really isnt worth the trouble at that price. But when Apple was pushing $700 I chuckled inside. I just knew it was only a short time before the wind left its sails. How did i know this? because *I* was tired of apple myself. It got "boring". No "ground breaking technology". They just keep polishing the same old turd. And I left Apple. I still have some of their stuff, its not bad stuff, it "always works". But, i need something more interesting.

[Tony_SS]

How is Lowes doing? It seems like they do great in this area, and there aren't many Home Depot's at all. That is the trend here anyway.

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by toy71camaro

I did this/seen this with Apple. I knew it was "right around teh corner".. I knew they were going to take a hit. I own like $100 worth of apple from a purchase of about 6 years ago. I didnt sell it, really isnt worth the trouble at that price. But when Apple was pushing $700 I chuckled inside. I just knew it was only a short time before the wind left its sails. How did i know this? because *I* was tired of apple myself. It got "boring". No "ground breaking technology". They just keep polishing the same old turd. And I left Apple. I still have some of their stuff, its not bad stuff, it "always works". But, i need something more interesting.

I get this "judgement" from my kids.... they're the "out front" leading edge of what's hot or not in tech... and they still LOVE Apple. I don't own the shares. They're too expensive - just dollar wise - with too small of a dividend for MY portfolio.

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by Tony_SS

How is Lowes doing? It seems like they do great in this area, and there aren't many Home Depot's at all. That is the trend here anyway.

That's a question you'd have to research for yourself... and for me -- since I shop at both... if I want "housewares" I might go to Lowe's -- if I want hardware or lumber I go to Home Depot. I own neither stock. I think as a "guy" I prefer Home Depot... but I seem to make more trips to Lowe's. Go figure.




As a stock --- Home Depot (HD) is killin' Lowe's (LOW) in the share appreciation department on a YEAR TO DATE basis... the only place they have any parity is ONE YEAR - otherwise HD has been the place to be invested.

[WSSix]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

That's a question you'd have to research for yourself... and for me -- since I shop at both... if I want "housewares" I might go to Lowe's -- if I want hardware or lumber I go to Home Depot. I own neither stock. I think as a "guy" I prefer Home Depot... but I seem to make more trips to Lowe's. Go figure.

Research has shown this is how it breaks down. Women shop at Lowes. Men shop at Home Depot. The stores, while similar, have a different feel to them on the inside. I personally shop at which ever has the cheaper price. Well, I used to anyway. Back in Georgia, they were across the street from one another. Here, I only have a Home Depot 65 miles away. I shop on Amazon now

[GregWeld]

I wish I had some words of wisdom to add to this thread.... but what I really hope is that some of you actually INVESTED and are now seeing what that's all about, and are happy that you did.

[takid455]

Had a WIN today.

Selected 2 stocks that I have been watching and used the low bid technique.
Picked up the one yesterday but then it went down so that was a bust. About even today. The other I put in must have came through after hours and automatically was up 0.70/share. An even + increase = WIN! Plus both have dividends!

Lets hope they stay in the green...

[toy71camaro]

Originally Posted by takid455

Had a WIN today.

Selected 2 stocks that I have been watching and used the low bid technique.
Picked up the one yesterday but then it went down so that was a bust. About even today. The other I put in must have came through after hours and automatically was up 0.70/share. An even + increase = WIN! Plus both have dividends!

Lets hope they stay in the green...

Don't get caught thinking to short term. This is LONG TERM INVESTING. not day trading. Those two stocks will have their good/bad days. But what matters is where they will be 10 years from now, 20 years, etc. In fact, in the short term, you WANT them in the red. Then your getting a discounted purchase from your dividend payments.

On a good note, the market has picked up again (for my bunch). I'm back at +7% overall since Feb.

[WSSix]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

I wish I had some words of wisdom to add to this thread.... but what I really hope is that some of you actually INVESTED and are now seeing what that's all about, and are happy that you did.

I am and I hope others are as well! Right now, I'm just biding my time and watching the changes the account is going through. I'm still thinking of adding more stocks to a different account with money I have in savings. We'll see.

[GregWeld]

I'm laying in my hotel room this morning looking out at Victoria harbor (B.C.). I drove the '32 up (and then took the ferry) for Deuce Days.... should be a good car show and there are 957 entrants... with the cut off date at 1951.

So as usual I'm reading anything "market related" and came across a decent piece on TESLA. Since it's both CAR and "Investing" related --- I thought it was worthy of a link.

I've been asked about investing in TESLA. My response has been -- I love the idea and the product.... but a guy sometimes has to interject abject business math -- with some stock market mindset and try to come up with an "investment". For me - the answer is no... but I'm the same guy that has never bought a share of Google either... it was too high priced at $400/500/600.... now that it's almost $1000. So obviously the market thinks better than I do. My point being -- sometimes you gamble and win -- sometimes you gamble and lose. With TESLA.... Who knows. We don't have a crystal ball. I tend to agree with the comment in the article that once the rich "green" / uber cool guys have bought their car.... there's not a market after that UNLESS ---- YES the "unless" ---- Tesla manages to come out with a more affordable version.... etc. Who knows. I don't.

Remember my "priced to perfection" posts... in order for a stock to maintain a price point that is super high... the company has to do everything spectacularly. One hiccup and you get slaughtered. The "fast money" shifts very quickly!

But ---- The car is spectacular (IMHO) which tells me that this company is quality. And people can make HUGE money by being "early" and catching a 1000's fold return.

http://www.thedetroitbureau.com/2013...nalyst-report/


EH!!