Morons! All of me!

[vicarz]

I'm in the black! Only...not as much.
So my horrible RIMM-job is clawing its way back up into tolerable negative territory of --15.22%, while my "maybe the US will make stuff again someday" industrial base stock Corning (GLW) has gone up a respectable 21.52% in under a year. With equal amounts in each I am back in the barely-black again of about +3%. You know, like a CD or savings account interest rate, only with more work, stress, monitoring, and tax liability potential.

However, when you consider my other considered stocks at that time (considered and listed in a spreadsheet on 1/9/09) and their performance as of today:
Apple (APPL) $109, today $198 - almost double
UHaul (UHAL) $34, today $52, 52%
Drew Ind DW $10, now $20.82 - about double
Goldman Sachs $80, now $165 - about double
Food Locker $7.36, now $10.44 - 42%
Hanes $10.77, now $25.50 - double and half again (ok 137%)
Coke (KO) $45, now $57.18 - 27%
Ho-foods (hfmi) $18, now 27.55 - 53%

So I can identify winning stocks, I'm just too stupid to buy them.

Comments

[doc-quixote.livejournal.com]

You know, like a CD or savings account interest rate

Savings account rates were more like 0.3% over that period, so you're doing better than that.

And remember: Until you sell, there is no gain or loss on your investment.

[vicar.livejournal.com]

My logical mind knows that, and yet when I peruse the theoretical #s...my ass hurts. Bad. I mean sure it's only a paper gain/loss, but I picked like 2 out of 10 and they were the worst of the lot!? That's amazing.

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

IR, $18.90 on 10/31/08, currently at $36.09

[vicar.livejournal.com]

I haven't heard of them and they didn't have much information available on (yahoo-finance)

Sorry if you are experiencing the smae thing though!

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

Ingersoll Rand, bought on a Buffett tip, actually ... my stupidity was buying at 16 and selling at 17 on the same day, then buying again a few days later in the middle of a dead-cat bounce, instead of holding 100 shares at 16.

[vicar.livejournal.com]

Ouch! I saw some of the news links regarding Buffett's attention. Must have something good going on, but no #s displayed. I get nervous on companies with no $ to track. At least you got some gains (sounds like)

Truly I can't complain because I made some gains, but just the sheer obvious difference between what I made (on these two) vs. what else I rejected...amazing.

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

For me, getting into stock was a lark, and a willing gamble.

I knew I could totally lose my shirt if I was stupid, so I set a hard limit on my spending, just like I do at the slot machines.

In stocks, it was $2k (not a lot, I know).

[vicar.livejournal.com]

2k is a lot for a slot machine :)

That's the right way to do it - play money is just that. Instead of an LCD big screen you tried to earn more - nothing wrong with that. The other idea I like is making a "if I spent the money" portfolio and seeing how your imaginary purchases do - however, in so doing you absolutely have to compare your progress to appropriate indicators / base-lines. No use judging your ability to pick tech stocks in the 90s...

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

My limit on slots is $40 - two twenties.
I have simple rules in slots - spend no winnings, walk away when allowance is gone, no questions.

Spent $20, won $100 on next to last dollar, spent last dollar, cashed out winnings.

Spent the other $20 I had, won $100 at $5 left, spent that five, and then ignored "don't spend winnings"; took me down to $180 in hand, ie, $140 richer.

Two days later, went to another casion (that was not worth the drive to get there), same policy, walked away with nothing.

Total for my entire gambling career = +$100

[vicar.livejournal.com]

I've tried variations on that and my typical take on $20 is $1.25. So, I don't gamble at all.