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What Are You ... Buying ... Selling ... and/or Pondering? (Summer 2017)

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  • can't decide when to sell next slug of pdi, with its premium so friggin high
  • Maybe when it reaches the premium of another PIMCO fund, PHK, which is 28%? And PGP sells at 61% premium.
  • whoa, whoa

    thanks

    talk about paying way extra to those who bet on the judges deciding the next beauty queen
  • Hi guys.
    Just pondering.....last I heard we had 3 carrier groups heading for Korea. I guess they made it....have not heard. I wonder what makes up a group and what are the carrier's names. Silly me.....I forgot. Since we seem to want to blow things up on the board lately. I do hope Trump isn't in France to learn how to arreter.... well, you know how the French are. I see the VIX is so low, it's at....well, a Lehman moment. Yet I see nothing but blue skies and sunshine. Could it be right? Glad I don't own banks. Swore them off with gin. MLPs and whiskey....yep! Some things country boys just won't do anymore. Well, got to go. The sun's shining and the Dukester's been quite prolific in the back yard.
    God bless
    the Pudd
    p.s. I thought better of you guys than to debase yourselves with seeing things get deflated.
  • @MFOMembers: Just sold NLY that I've held since 2010, bought Hertz Corp. 7.375% 01/15/21 some at$99 and the rest at par.
    Regards,
    Ted:(
  • The user and all related content has been deleted.
  • @Maurice: Its an old fashion bond,security debt, with a BBB+ rating. I have an excellent broker who knows I'm always looking for yield above 5%+

    Regards,
    Ted:)
  • edited July 2017
    Hello,

    An update.

    Old_Skeet is still with his current investment objective and that is to take excess portfolio cash and invest it into hybrid type funds. Curently, hybrid funds make up about 45% of my overall portfolio and I am wanting to increase the hybrid allocation by another 5% over time.

    In review, at the first part of July a recalibration was made to the barometer's earnings feed, due to better 3rd quarter earnings expectations, resulting in a barometer reading of 153 putting the reading in fair value territority with positive bias movement. As of Friday's market close (7/21) the barometer produced a reading of 145. With this new reading the barometer has now moved from the upper part of its fair value range to the lower part of fair value range with negative bias movement. Generally, a higher barometer reading indicates there is more investment value in the S&P 500 Index over a lower barometer reading. Bias is determined by the direction of reading movement.

    Have a great summer ... and, I wish all "Good Investing."

    Old_Skeet
  • TedTed
    edited July 2017
    @MFO Members: On 8/2/17 my ARI-A preferred stock is being called. With the proceeds. I'm considering buying THOCX for a little international exposure.
    Regards,
    Ted
    http://www.quantumonline.com/search.cfm?tickersymbol=ARI-A&sopt=symbol
  • Hi @Ted,

    I own the A share version of Thornburg Global Opportunities THOAX. It has been one of my better performers in the growth area of my portfolio through the years.

    Indeed a good fund.

    Skeet
  • @Ted, check out IWIRX, as another possibility for global. Had it for a few years, been pleased with it.
  • Cut back on two three-year performance laggards, WSVIX and BRUFX. Using some proceeds to make my annual contribution to GPMCX and to initiate position in RPGAX. Thanks to those who contributed to discussion on global allocation funds. I particularly like the TRP fund's use of in-house MFs for the foreign bond allocation; despite its lack of a five-year record, I'm taking the plunge. TRP now NTF at Schwab makes it easier to own for me. @Slick: agree with you on IRIWX, a global fund for everyone except M* who has it as LB.
  • edited July 2017
    Just took profit from SFGIX, decided to stick with it. Sold a bit of PNM. Great results for me in both these selections. We're taking a Dec-Jan Asia trip. Everything else I own is in retirement accounts. I don't wanna tap those, yet.
  • edited July 2017
    Recently opened positions with SGENX (LW at Fidelity) and FRIFX in my tax-deferred accounts. Will slowly DCA into both until the end of the year.
  • Personally not buying/selling anything right now. I'm comfortable with current 401k allocation of 20% bonds, 18% alternative, 30% domestic stocks, 22% internationl/emerging market stocks, 5% in a global equity ETF, and 5% in a medical ETF. I have added to these positions via payroll 401k and employer matching for much of a year. Only changes have been selling out of a preferred stock fund and moving dollars to a small cap ETF, swapping of an under-performing mid cap fund for an mid cap index ETF, and swapping of an international stock fund. The older I get, the less I find a need to fuss with my own accounts.
  • I rebalanced as the market reached new height to EM. Trimmed VNQI and increased allocation to PIMIX. Nothing is attractive so I just let cash sit.
  • How do yall decide when to pull the plug and move assets that have made money. For example, I own PRMTX, trp telecommunications. I was accumalating shares in $30 range and now trades in $90 arena.
  • 1. Use shares of this appreciated asset to make charitable gifts rather than write a check. This way you avoid realized taxable capital gains, you get the charitable deduction, and the charity pays no taxes when they sell.
    2. Sell shares to reduce total value to original amount purchased. You will owe taxes on the gain. Actual gain depends whether you identify the specific shares sold or whether you use the "average" of basis. Taxes owed may be $0 to as much as 18%, depending on your AGI in the year sold.
    3. Gift shares to a child. They inherit your basis and can sell shares with perhaps lower tax consequences. Downside is if applying for college scholarship, this must be declared as their asset.
    4. Do nothing, allow shares to be inherited at your death when beneficiary receives a step-up in basis.
    5. Do nothing, watch gain disappear during a bear market, then you can sell with no tax consequences (not such a great idea, but a lot of people get so hung up on taxes, they default to this).
  • edited July 2017
    Hi @jafink63,

    BobC did a good job of providing some avenues to consider.

    In addition, I'm thinking you are asking this question as this security is held in a taxable account?

    With this in mind ... below is a thought.

    If you are reinvesting fund capital gain distributions and dividends start taking them in cash rather than reinvesting them. I am not sure of the size of this position within your portfolio; but, if it is a sizeable poistion you might also consider selling shares over time and at a measured pace keeping in mind taxes that would be owed. No since in getting thrown into a higher tax bracket because of sizeable lump sum sale proceeds.

  • Thanks Bob and Old Skeet. I should of wrote more information and reviewed before I posted, for which I learnt my lesson. Actually it's in Roth IRA, what I initially invested was removed to get into PRGTX when it opened as new fund. The shares left in PRMTX are basically profit.
    I should really find me a good financial person to review my portfolio.
  • GPMCX and ARTGX both got trimmed today. It was just a shade early for both, but close enough. Things are getting a bit squirrelly. Money will go directly to the spend bucket.
  • I almost always try to sell the shares, in a fund or a stock, that result in the least amount of taxes. I also sell losers at the end of the year to help off-set taxable gains. I like BobC's suggestion of gifting a highly appreciated asset.
  • @jafink63

    If you are talking Roth and you don't need the money soon, just leave it alone, or diversify into broader funds.
  • edited July 2017
    Hello,

    A update on Old_Skeet's barometer.

    At the beginning of July the earnings feed was recalibrated and as a result the barometer began the month with a reading of 153 which put it above the mid point reading in fair value of 150. At this time the 500 Index reading was 2423. I generally close the month on the last Friday of each month with the exception being in December which is closed on the 31st. This month, the barometer closed the month with a reading of 143 which based upon it's scaling put the S&P 500 Index in the lower range of overvalued at a reading of 2472. Generally, a higher barometer reading indicates there is more investment value in the Index over a lower barometer reading.

    According to the Elder Impluse System there was much consolidation with the 500 Index that took place during June with some good upward price movement that followed in July as the systems signal changed from blue to green. Generally, with a signal reading above the 65 moving average a green signal indicates increase the position recommedation, a blue signal indicates hold the position recommedation, while a red signal above the 65 moving average indicates hold the position recommendation; however, should the price drop below the 65 moving average then the red signal becomes a trim position recommedation.

    It is interesting, back in November coming off the recent Presidential election the Elder Impluse System and the Barometer both gave increase position signal recommendations. With this, I have now begun to follow the Elder Impluse System and compare it to barometer readings. Currently, the barometer has three feeds a breath feed, an earnings feed and a technical strength feed.

    Within my own portfolio during the first part of July I continued to take excess cash and expand my footprint in hybrid funds.

    Being a retail investor, the above information is posted for informational purposes only and is information that I use to help me govern my own portfolio. It is not meant as investment advice.

    Wishing all ... "Good Investing."

    Skeet
  • edited July 2017
    Hi Ol'Skeet & Thank you.

    Curious - Has your valuation style/method changed over the past 5 years?

    Today's post sounds like 70% or more technical analysis (looking at market trends, relationships, movements). I respect those who do technical - but am not a practitioner myself. In the past I considered you largely a value investor with a firm focus on what your indicators suggested to be fair valuation. (However, your use of seasonality had technical aspects.)

    If you are still largely value focused, where do you see various domestic indexes (for example the NASDAQ or DJ) in relation to fair/reasonable value? 10% overvalued? 20% overvalued? etc.

    Personally, I've tilted a bit more in the direction of international holdings over the past 6-12 months for both valuation reasons and what I view as chaos in our government and proposed policies that may inhibit growth. I'm not alone on that, as several others have moved in that direction recently. Which international markets, if any, do you favor now?
    ---


    I concur with your last sentence. Folks in need of personal financial advice need to consult a qualified, preferably fee-based, financial advisor.
  • Couple of bonds wew called recently, bought att cusip 00206rdj8 bonds yield 5.1% few days ago.
  • edited July 2017
    Hi @hank,

    Thank you for your comment and question(s).

    I am still much a value investor as my style orientation is 40% value, 35% blend and 25% growth and I general add to or open new positions when I can find value. I too have been raising my allocation towards foreign assets; and, thus far this year have increased my foreign holdings from 30% to 35% range. Currently, I'm thinking 40% foreign will be my upper limit to foreign exposure.

    As far as technical analysis goes I am still with fundmentals a good bit and that is the reason for the earnings feed in the barometer. And, yes the breath feed and technical strength feed would be considered technical analysis tools. But, I feel the breath feed is very important in using technical analysis to gain a perspective on how broad base a rally driven by fundamentals might be. My thinking is that to a large part stocks follow corporate earnings.

    I don't follow the Nasdaq or Dow Jones much because I am not as active now in retirement that I once was years back and, with this, I have been increasing my footprint in hybrid funds that have a history of throtteling their allocations based upon their managers read on the markets. When I was actively engaging the markets my annual returns on my master portfolio were north of 15% including cash. Now, that I have begun to moved towards a larger allocation in hybrid funds my master portfolio's investment returns have dropped and are now in the 10%-11% range and when cash is included, about 9%. Year-to-date my investment return is 9.1%. Based upon my amount of principal a 9% annual return is more than what is currently needed to meet my cash needs. So with the excess cash I have been and plan to continue to expand my footprint in hybrid funds. This might change in a good stock market pullback where I'll most likely become a buyer of equity funds when I feel better vaue can be had.

    And, yes ... I believe investors should consult qualified financial advisors before they follow the postings made on public boards. Understand, I am a retail investor who chose to post what I am doing for information purposes only because in the past some of the board's members asked me to post my positioning and thinking. This lead to my taking over and maintaining this thread after it's former host (Scott) left the board a few years back along with my desire to keep it going. From my perspective it has been one of the better on-going threads.

    I hope this helps answer your question(s) and I have not rambled as I typed this. In addition, please forgive spelling errors as I do not have spell check on my tablet that travels with me on trips.

    Thanks again for stopping by and reading and most of all to those that make comment thus keeping the thread active, on-going and engaged with postings and exchanges.

    Skeet
  • edited July 2017
    Thanks Ol'Skeet,

    You more than answered my question. I appreciate these threads and read all the comments. Haven't shared any buys or sells recently because I've maintained pretty much the same allocation for probably 6 months or longer. The tilt to international was accomplished with a small investment in an international equity index fund around year end and also some gradual movement out of DODBX in favor of RPGAX. Since both are part of my balanced category, that shift hasn't affected the overall allocation (but the latter has done better this year).

    Like you, I'm retired and like hybrid/allocation funds. And, like you I suspect, I'm at the high end of my allocation to cash, thinking valuations are rich and have been so awhile. Won't toss a cash % out there because the percentage wouldn't be very meaningful. First, different investors define their cash position differently (I include some bonds) and secondly, if you're into allocation funds they're likely holding an extra dose of cash for you - depending on manager and type of fund.

    Thanks & Wishing you well.

  • Hank, you asked about which international markets we favor. Personally I would not favor any specific market, and for that reason would leave the decision to a successful, active manager. Favoring one region/country over another is something I prefer to avoid, although I have taken a toe-dip holding in something from time to time, but no big bets for sure. And although the EAFE, ACWI, and EM indexes are doing well this year, I believe this will not last. As you know, we like ICEIX, QFVIX, and BISMX. For indexes, we like EFAV and VEA. Emerging markets we like SIGIX, ODVYX, and we throw MAPIX into that group, also. For indexes, EEM and EEMV fit the bill. You ask good questions, and your comments here are logical.

  • Hi guys!
    Have rolled my 401 into the IRA at Fidelity.....too many company restrictions. Added FTIPX and FUSVX to replace the indices I lost. Everything had to come over in cash from company funds. Brokerage could stay as is. Also added to FMIJX and GLFOX also VWINX. Still have a mountain of cash. Will now wait a while to see how things go. I'm in no rush.
    God bless
    the Pudd
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