Investing 102

[GregWeld]

Seems there have been quite a few "earnings disappointments" -- along with rather anemic hiring numbers...


I don't make predictions - and I don't change my investments... all cash cows...

But I will say that this "weakness" may overshadow the optimism that 2013 was the beginning of great things to come. That's good and bad. Good because maybe the interest rates won't rise as fast as I thought "could" happen... but bad because the market if a forward looking mechanism. 2013's big gains were based on the forward view of all things being good and great... now if we see they aren't as good and great... then the market will adjust (not good - because it will adjust downward).

So far - this seems to be a "stock pickers" market -- where if you're in the right names - you're okay - but if you're in the wrong names you get taken to the woodshed. Just look at what happened to Best Buy (BBY) (I'd never be in that name anyway - but it's a good example of missing the goal posts!) Compared to a best of breed name like Amazon (AMZN)....

[GregWeld]

I always have to put this caveat in here --- I AM NOT recommending this stock to anyone --- nor is this thread about what stocks to buy or sell. I'm using this as an EXAMPLE only for Investing 102 information --- which is more about how to THINK and what to read about and what's IMPORTANT.


I own 20,000 shares of National Retail Properties (NNN).... I actually currently have a large red number in it -- but have owned it for a long time and I'm not selling nor am I adding to my stake.... but the EXAMPLE here is what we're looking at -- the bold letters being what I consider to be important for stocks that I personally want to own.

So here's my point. I have currently a PAPER LOSS in this holding... But since I'm not selling it -- do I really care? NO. I have to have trust in the company (insert ANY company) that I own that they're well managed and that they're profitable -- and that they're willing to share that profit with me as an owner. The rest will take care of itself.






The Board of Directors of National Retail Properties, Inc. (NYSE: NNN), a real estate investment trust, declared a quarterly dividend of 40.5 cents per share payable February 14, 2014 to common shareholders of record on January 31, 2014. National Retail Properties is one of only four publicly traded REITs and 102 publicly traded companies in America to have increased annual dividends for 24 or more consecutive years.

National Retail Properties invests primarily in high-quality retail properties subject generally to long-term, net leases. As of September 30, 2013, the company owned 1,850 Investment Properties in 47 states with a gross leasable area of approximately 20.3 million square feet.

[gearheads78]

Sorry guys I put about $4000.00 to work yesterday so you can thank me for the market being down this morning.

[toy71camaro]

Originally Posted by gearheads78

Sorry guys I put about $4000.00 to work yesterday so you can thank me for the market being down this morning.

LOL. Good job!

[Sieg]

Originally Posted by gearheads78

Sorry guys I put about $4000.00 to work yesterday so you can thank me for the market being down this morning.

I feeling ok right now with the Dow down 220 and my portfolio is only off .5%........so far.

[gearheads78]

Originally Posted by Sieg

I feeling ok right now with the Dow down 220 and my portfolio is only off .5%........so far.

I was .64% down.

I've spent the last 45 days or so waiting for a small pullback before entry and over the last two weeks have been wading my way in. I put the last $4000.00 of the $17000.00 from my 401k rollover in and you saw what happened today. The market knew the last of my dry power was in.

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by gearheads78

I was .64% down.

I've spent the last 45 days or so waiting for a small pullback before entry and over the last two weeks have been wading my way in. I put the last $4000.00 of the $17000.00 from my 401k rollover in and you saw what happened today. The market knew the last of my dry power was in.

Classic!


Trust me --- this happens every time. It's a test of your will... It's like they used to tell me if I wanted to buy a boat... put on a slicker - step in the shower - turn on the cold water - and every hour on the hour flush a $100 bill down the toilet... if you can do that for 24 hours - "you're a boater".

You have to be able to stand the sight of a "loss" of capital... even though it IS NOT A LOSS... because you haven't sold... so it's a paper loss. You have to be able to get thru it. If not -- and you get cold feet and SELL -- then you've suffered an actual capital loss. Do that every time you invest -- and you're history. So better to find out right away what kind of an INVESTOR you are.

WE ALL HATE IT. Make no mistake about it - regardless of how much money you do or don't have -- we all hate the sight of red.

[gearheads78]

I have a few small spec positions I will watch closely but the rest I hope to own for ever and just keep adding and waiting for my dividends.

[Vegas69]

Ouch....

[Sieg]

Originally Posted by Vegas69

Ouch....

Purchasing opportunities may be on the horizon!

It's times like this that it's wise to have a little cash reserve in your budget.