Archive for June, 2007

Where Do We Go From Here?

Wednesday, June 27th, 2007

I’ve been completely out of sync the past few weeks regarding the blog portfolio.  I am spending a lot of time on my longer term portfolios.  Generally, I continue to like large capitalization stocks with strong dividends.  I fought every anti-smoking bone, but lost and purchased some Altria (MO).  I will share with you that I have initiated significant positions in AT&T (T) and the PowerShares Water Resources ETF (PHO).  On Zecco, I have been buying AT&T July $40 calls on dips and flipping them intraday for 10-20% profit after fees.  I have to be careful with daytrading limits, because my balance is only around $15k there.

I continue to search for solid plays for the blog, but my traditional well of stocks is too volatile to avoid hitting stop losses on these volatile days.  I could extend my stop loss limits significantly, but I still believe the market is in for dip deeper than in February followed by a much slower recovery than we witnessed earlier this year.

As an aside and for a what’s on tap… I have ordered dozens of Annual Reports for the Energy industry and have been getting to know their financials, CEOs, and relative comparisons.  It is amazing what great clues and indicators annual reports can be.  I highly encourage you to try it.  Pull up one of the free annual reports services and order a random report of a completely new company to you (preferably not a OTCBB).  Read the annual report and make your own estimate on where you think the company is headed.  Be sure to read the shareholder’s letter, not just the company’s discussion of financials included in the SEC report.  Then, look-up the stock’s history since the day the Annual Report was issued.  I think you will be surprised at how well you can invest with simply the annual report by your side. 

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CLOSED POSITION: OSI Systems Inc (NASDAQ: OSIS)

Tuesday, June 26th, 2007

Five Percent Stocks announced that OSI Systems Inc (NASDAQ: OSIS) has hit its stop loss price in the Five Percent portfolio. The blog has closed its position in OSI Systems Inc (NASDAQ: OSIS). 

Sell price: $26.85
Days held: 3 days
Position opened at: $28.20
Return: -4.8%
Reason closed: Stop loss

Please keep in mind that Five Percent Stocks works strictly to its mission of short-term investments seeking the magic 5% number within 30 days. We have a pre-determined stop loss benchmark noted in the original BUY posting to close immediately any position. Closing the position is not an indication of our view of this stock as a long term investment. To repeat, we are not professional brokers and do not intend for this advice to influence your own investments.

See the original BUY posting for (OSIS)

CLOSED POSITION: Edison International (NYSE: EIX)

Wednesday, June 20th, 2007

Five Percent Stocks announced that Edison International (NYSE: EIX) has hit its stop loss price in the Five Percent portfolio. The blog has closed its position in Edison International (NYSE: EIX).  I got stopped out as interest rates spooked everyone (but especially utilities) this afternoon.  More importantly, even as interest rates eased earlier in the week, Edison had no upward movement.  Tough ‘un, but this poor feller never stood a chance.

Sell price: $54.90
Days held: 3 days
Position opened at: $56.14
Return: -2.3%
Reason closed: Stop loss

Please keep in mind that Five Percent Stocks works strictly to its mission of short-term investments seeking the magic 5% number within 30 days. We have a pre-determined stop loss benchmark noted in the original BUY posting to close immediately any position. Closing the position is not an indication of our view of this stock as a long term investment. To repeat, we are not professional brokers and do not intend for this advice to influence your own investments.

See the original BUY posting for (EIX)