Stocks - The Best Buys 2

[Table 5]

I'm not as confident with individual stocks, so I tend to play sectors. TQQQ (A 3x Tech ETF) was my biggest gainer in 2020 (followed by URTY, UMDD, and GBTC). Probably gained around 250%, although I sold a bit on the way up. I know many people dislike leverages funds, but Tech seemed like a no-brainer at the time, so it made sense to leverage. Re-balancing a good chunk of my portfolio into it really helped to erase the deep loses from March. Individually, AC, UUUU, CNQ, and TEX have been good to me.

Biggest dogs so far have been individual stocks. WRAP (-40%) and FLDM (-35%, which at one point was at +70%, but I wasn't smart enough to cash out during the hype). I also leaned a bit too hard into Gold/Silver a few months ago so I'm down on those at the moment, although I still think longer term they are still good plays).

Moving forward into 2021 and beyond, I've shifted a good chunk into Energy (both traditional which I think is really undervalued, and renewable which I think will get a lot of political/social support), Uranium (go Nuclear!), Marijuana, Bitcoin, and REITs. I'm also trying to diversify more from North America...ie. Russia (RUSX), Japan, Africa (FAH).

[bomber317]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Also have had lightspeed for awhile, another winner. Actually I've picked all winners since January, and although I do countless hours of thorough research on companies and feel I have a huge knack for stocks as a newbie (took a course as well to better understand the industry), I have to assume I'll have some losers on my hands at some point.

Don't underestimate yourself. It sounds like you have some sort of system in weeding through companies.

Over time, if you are able to stay invested in those companies, I think you will have many more winners than losers.

I think where a lot of us run into problems are timing and emotion. Need an objective manner on buying and selling.

With that being said, I have a pretty good stock pick rate, but horrendous timing.

Last month, I finally decided to go with an Financial Advisor to handle my investments, mostly because of 2 reasons. I finally have enough equity to make it worthwhile and secondly, they also handle the Estate planning side of things.

I researched enough into Estate planning to know that it is way too complex for me to sort out.

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by bomber317

I think where a lot of us run into problems are timing and emotion. Need an objective manner on buying and selling.



With that being said, I have a pretty good stock pick rate, but horrendous timing.

I couldn't agree with this more. I had a hard time believing how strong the pull of FOMO was for me. It took a few poor decisions for me to get a handle on it. The only thing that saved my bacon is how I approach a new table game at the casino, bet small until I get comfortable with the game and still don't bet any more than I can stand to lose.

Next up is figuring out how much cash to keep to the side if a buying opportunity comes up.

[bomber317]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

I couldn't agree with this more. I had a hard time believing how strong the pull of FOMO was for me. It took a few poor decisions for me to get a handle on it. The only thing that saved my bacon is how I approach a new table game at the casino, bet small until I get comfortable with the game and still don't bet any more than I can stand to lose.

Next up is figuring out how much cash to keep to the side if a buying opportunity comes up.

best two tips I got

Buying - If I had $5 trillion dollars, would I buy this company outright?

Selling - Why am I selling this? Is there something I can move my money into that will perform better?

In the last 10-12 years, it is rare that Cash out performs anything long term. So you're better off be invested in something, and if something better comes along, move into that.

[Table 5]

I found that my biggest investing mistakes of 2020 were:
1) Not paying enough attention to my investments at the beginning of the year.
2) Paying way too much attention to my investments the rest of the year.

I need to learn to find the happy middle ground...involved, but without the obsession and needless meddling and tinkering.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by MJK

MMED and PLTR both up 13% today...crazy market!

MMED up again today. Now sitting at $3.09 per share. Crazy.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

I couldn't agree with this more. I had a hard time believing how strong the pull of FOMO was for me. It took a few poor decisions for me to get a handle on it. The only thing that saved my bacon is how I approach a new table game at the casino, bet small until I get comfortable with the game and still don't bet any more than I can stand to lose.

Next up is figuring out how much cash to keep to the side if a buying opportunity comes up.

Yeah, it's been the same but opposite result for me. Playing it safe with number of shares bought as I learn how it all works, so instead of thousands gained on lightspeed it's hundreds. It's okay though, it's a process. I'll get there. I'll put the serious money in when I start making huge cocky mistakes!!

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

Interesting new stock opened today on the TSE

Organic Energy Drink Company GURU

Opened at $8.00 and closed at $8.55

Might be worth following as the energy drink business can be a "monster"

TSE: GURU

https://www.guruenergy.com/en-ca

How does everyone feel with GURU at $14.95 (in terms of selling and placing money elsewhere)? It's hard to find good info on this company. Was the $8.50 to $15.99 the big play on them that came and went or do you see more room for growth?

Monster energy is at $88USD and obviously a canadian upstart doesn't have much hope of that ceiling, but do we see more room for growth or is what happened kind of what you could hope for in a Canadian energy drink company (and it was great)?

I made lots on this stock, but now I'm table5'ing it and over analyzing as I see other opportunities around.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by jayswin

How does everyone feel with GURU at $14.95 (in terms of selling and placing money elsewhere)? It's hard to find good info on this company. Was the $8.50 to $15.99 the big play on them that came and went or do you see more room for growth?

Monster energy is at $88USD and obviously a canadian upstart doesn't have much hope of that ceiling, but do we see more room for growth or is what happened kind of what you could hope for in a Canadian energy drink company (and it was great)?

I made lots on this stock, but now I'm table5'ing it and over analyzing as I see other opportunities around.

I don't follow that company and I can't give you specifics as far as what to do. But you really can't compare the ~$15 to ~$88 as far as a stock goes. You aren't comparing apples to apples because there are different amounts of shares outstanding and different valuations for the whole business. I've tried to explain to people that a company trading for $0.30 might be extremely expensive, whereas one trading for $100 might be extremely cheap.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by jayswin

How does everyone feel with GURU at $14.95 (in terms of selling and placing money elsewhere)? It's hard to find good info on this company. Was the $8.50 to $15.99 the big play on them that came and went or do you see more room for growth?

Monster energy is at $88USD and obviously a canadian upstart doesn't have much hope of that ceiling, but do we see more room for growth or is what happened kind of what you could hope for in a Canadian energy drink company (and it was great)?

I made lots on this stock, but now I'm table5'ing it and over analyzing as I see other opportunities around.

I got in at $8.20 the first day and bought more at $10.45, I'm a small player but I see it as a $30+ stock when things get back to "normal" because of the reviews and the distribution, hell, it's now sold in Walmart and Amazon prime.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Slava

I don't follow that company and I can't give you specifics as far as what to do. But you really can't compare the ~$15 to ~$88 as far as a stock goes. You aren't comparing apples to apples because there are different amounts of shares outstanding and different valuations for the whole business. I've tried to explain to people that a company trading for $0.30 might be extremely expensive, whereas one trading for $100 might be extremely cheap.

Yeah, I guess I was oversimplifying and just wondering aloud if a Canadian energy drink has much room to grow, market wise. Not a lot of start up energy drink companies to compare to.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

I got in at $8.20 the first day and bought more at $10.45, I'm a small player but I see it as a $30+ stock when things get back to "normal" because of the reviews and the distribution, hell, it's now sold in Walmart and Amazon prime.

Nice, although not currently available on Amazon. Great to hear about Walmart. Yeah, I'll stick with this one for awhile yet.

[moncton golden flames]

Originally Posted by jayswin

MMED up again today. Now sitting at $3.09 per share. Crazy.

my 1150 shares at average cost of $1.3 are very happy so far!

[Leondros]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Air BnB goes public sometime in December (estimate is mid month). I don't know. Revenue trending down during growth even pre covid. Probably some immediate growth in the first week or so due to excitement, but valued really high.

Anyone thinking of catching them at beginning in hopes of an initial surge then sell? Waiting until the inevitable dip to jump in for the hopefully jump in airlines/hotels etc after covid vaccines start to bring back some normalcy? Staying away altogether?

Anyone get in? Man that thing jumped like crazy. These valuations are hard to swallow!

[Table 5]

The $80 limit order that I set before market was not even close, lol. I guess I'll wait for the drop...if it ever comes.

[MJK]

Originally Posted by moncton golden flames

my 1150 shares at average cost of $1.3 are very happy so far!

I bought shares @ $1.90 during the offering...financing just closed so I sold half yesterday @ $3.65 and will ride the remaining shares + warrants.

BRAGG popped yesterday, I am up 128% on that one now! I think it has room to go up even further.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I'm not as confident with individual stocks, so I tend to play sectors. TQQQ (A 3x Tech ETF) was my biggest gainer in 2020 (followed by URTY, UMDD, and GBTC). Probably gained around 250%, although I sold a bit on the way up. I know many people dislike leverages funds, but Tech seemed like a no-brainer at the time, so it made sense to leverage. Re-balancing a good chunk of my portfolio into it really helped to erase the deep loses from March. Individually, AC, UUUU, CNQ, and TEX have been good to me.

Biggest dogs so far have been individual stocks. WRAP (-40%) and FLDM (-35%, which at one point was at +70%, but I wasn't smart enough to cash out during the hype). I also leaned a bit too hard into Gold/Silver a few months ago so I'm down on those at the moment, although I still think longer term they are still good plays).

Moving forward into 2021 and beyond, I've shifted a good chunk into Energy (both traditional which I think is really undervalued, and renewable which I think will get a lot of political/social support), Uranium (go Nuclear!), Marijuana, Bitcoin, and REITs. I'm also trying to diversify more from North America...ie. Russia (RUSX), Japan, Africa (FAH).

FAH is an interesting play. They are merging with Helios, an African focused investment manager. So they will end up having exposure to the asset management business, which is a good one. That said, they are trading at a big discount, and its hard to know whether they got a fair price from Helios. I'd be pleased to have it away from Fairfax - I'm not a huge fan of their ethics after having owned FIH.U (their India vehicle) for awhile.

If you're doing leveraged ETFs for a long term hold (and it this case that means longer than a day or maybe two), it might make sense to investigate call options on the underlying instead. Ie, in the money call options on QQQ would get you similar leverage, but without the path dependence issue that can badly hurt the long term returns of the leveraged etfs. Not advice, but something that might be worth looking into if that's exposure you're looking for. I personally wouldn't want leveraged tech exposure now, but I felt that way in the past and was wrong then...

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

FAH is an interesting play. They are merging with Helios, an African focused investment manager. So they will end up having exposure to the asset management business, which is a good one. That said, they are trading at a big discount, and its hard to know whether they got a fair price from Helios. I'd be pleased to have it away from Fairfax - I'm not a huge fan of their ethics after having owned FIH.U for awhile.

There's a pretty good podcast episode on Fairfax that speaks to the macro Africa thesis and FAH in particular....it's what lead me to look into it more. I don't have much allocated to it, but it does seem like an interesting long-term diversity play. https://www.theinvestorspodcast.com/...w-jake-taylor/

If you're doing leveraged ETFs for a long term hold (and it this case that means longer than a day or maybe two), it might make sense to investigate call options on the underlying instead. Ie, in the money call options on QQQ would get you similar leverage, but without the path dependence issue that can badly hurt the long term returns of the leveraged etfs. Not advice, but something that might be worth looking into if that's exposure you're looking for. I personally wouldn't want leveraged tech exposure now, but I felt that way in the past and was wrong then...

Hey, I'm always happy to take advice.

You're right, a call option on a leveraged tech ETF would've been something else, but at the time I wasn't particularly educated about options (still not if I'm honest). I personally don't mind leveraged ETFs for the long-term if I'm confident in the momentum of the sector. Leveraged ETFs like FAS, UMDD, URTY, TQQQ have been the biggest profit makers over the years for me, even though they were kept for months/years. But yes, when they fall, they fall hard and it's hard to get back to even.

I'm mostly out of leveraged tech now...because like you I'm not sure that I want to hold something leveraged on a sector that already feels very stretched. I actually shifted a good chunk of the money into ERX (2x Energy)...but this time with a 2023 call option like you suggest. That industry was/is so battered, that I think over the next two years some recovery is inevitable, which should lead to a fairly healthy impact on the ETF.

[bizaro86]

I personally wouldn't hold leveraged etfs or options on them for any longer than a day or two.

If I wanted leverage, I would buy call options on the non-leveraged versions of the ETF. For example, a 2023 call on QQQ instead of anything with TQQQ. The non-leveraged etfs won't have the path dependence that screws up the leveraged versions. If you buy deep in-the-money call options, the leverage is often not very expensive.

[IliketoPuck]

Originally Posted by Table 5

The $80 limit order that I set before market was not even close, lol. I guess I'll wait for the drop...if it ever comes.

$70 limit for me.