2011 results

2011 was another year of education for me.  As I've indicated in previous posts, I've realized a lot of gain, but I've also maintained higher levels of unrealized losses than in the past, so it's hard to call 2011 and unqualified success.

The graph below represents the positive side of my 2011 results as compared to 2009-2010.

Blue - monthly realized gain

Yellow - 6 month moving average

Red - 12 month moving average

I also learned (or re-learned) the following lessons.

• Take profits when you can.  There are several underwater holdings that were once well in the black.  Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda.
• Be wary of small cap stocks.  These cannot be quickly liquidated in quantity at market price.
• Stick with dividend stocks that pay on a quarterly basis.  TSYS and NOK are exceptions to this rule that have resulted in marginal reductions in my dividend income.

2012 is off to a slow start and I have not made any conscience changes in strategy as I did in 2011.  I find myself with significant holdings in market index ETFs and I'll need to decide if this approach continues to make sense in a (hopefully) rising market.  I also expect to have funds from a relatively large 401k becoming available and I'll need to decide if I want to put these finds into the investment pool and handle them in some other way.   

December 2011 Trading

December capped a very interesting 2011.  Like the rest of 2011, I took profits in December and collected dividends.  I also found myself with considerable unrealized losses for most of my holdings, although I'm well off the lows.

December did hold one surprise that I didn't recognize until the month was over.  This was the first month since I've been trading when I did not make a single purchase.  This, along with sales lowered my percent invested to less than 85% for the first time since July.  This leaves me better prepared to take advantage of buying opportunities that might arise.  But I'd be happy with a bit of a rally that would allow me to become considerably more liquid.

Sales this month:

• Entergy Corp - 7% gain.  After holding some shares for over a year, I finally was able to close out this position with the desired gain. 
• Harte-Hanks, Inc - 7% gain.  I was able to close out about 20% of these holdings before the stock dropped again.  This has reinforced the lesson I had previously learned about small cap stocks.  These are challenging to unload at the desired prices and should be avoided if possible. 

Current holdings and unrealized gains/losses are as follows. 

The following dividends were collected. 

• Entergy Corporation
• Harte-Hanks, Inc.
• Exelon Corporation
• Life Partners Holding, Inc 
• Harris, Corporation
• iShares S&P 500 Index Fund

November 2011 Trading

November was very volatile, with no gains being realized until the last day of the month.  And even those were quite modest.  But the month ended on a significant up-note as did October, so the expectations for December are quite high.  As with October, I continue to be about 91% invested.

The only sale this month:

• Lockheed Martin Corporation - 7.4% gain - small gain, small holding, but not bad for a nine day holding.  Second month in a row to sell my LMT holdings. 

Current holdings and unrealized gains/losses are as follows.  Very similar to the end of October.
 

No dividends were collected during the month. 

October 2011 Trading

October represents another mixed month, but most of the news was good.  Although unrealized losses still exists, things moved in the right direction leading me to my highest ever market values and net worth in both absolute and adjusted terms.  I was also able to collect gains for a couple of small holdings.

Sales this month:

• Intel Corporation - 15% gain - nice run up on a four month holding.
• Lockheed Martin Corporation - 7% gain - small gain, small holding, but 7% is 7% on a three month holding. 

Current holdings and unrealized gains/losses are as follows.  All holdings moved in a positive direction and 3 holdings are actually in the black including IVV which is my largest holding.  ETR and EXC are also relatively large holdings.

The following dividends were collected. 

• Navios Maritime Holdings
• SPDR S&P 500

September 2011 Trading

It was the best of months....

........it was the worst of months.

September was the single highest revenue month that I've experienced to date.  I had the single largest percentage gain on a stock (85%!) and the largest revenue associated with dividends in a month.  

September was a horrible month for the market, my unrealized losses have approached, but not surpassed the absolute and percentage highs experienced in September.  And given the fact that I've been nearly 100% invested (95% at month end), I' was limited in my ability to use my remaining cash to buy in at the low prices.  

Sale this month:

• Harleysville Group Inc. - 85% gain!  I bought into this stock in a small ways about 6 months ago.   At the time, I expressed concern that I was putting too much money into small caps, so I did not double-down as the stock price dropped after my initial buy-in.  Although my holding was small, I was very happy to hear the buyout rumors, then the actual announcement of a buyout tender from Nationwide at a very lucrative price.  As I noted above, this pushed my realized gain above the previous monthly high.

Current holdings and unrealized gains/losses are as follows.  Another challenging month with lots of ground to make up.  Several stocks poked their head above water during the course of the month, but most sank again just as quickly.

The following dividends were collected.  Best dividend month to date.

• Entergy Corporation
• Intel Corporation
• Harte-Hanks, Inc.
• Exelon Corporation
• Life Partners Holding, Inc 
• Harris, Corporation
• Lockheed Martin Corporation
• Harleysville Group Inc.
• iShares S&P 500 Index Fund