***Tripster's 2008 Investments (Ongoing thread)***

[Tripster]

I couldn't be more proud of where this thread has gone and how far it has come this year. Keep getting it fellas. Here is a recap of my original calls....

TGB (Taseko Mines)- Gold mining company Current price: 4.75 Target: 8.40 by August.

Got up to 6.40 in March, right now in the $4.00 range. Still one of my long term faves.

GRMN (Garman)- GPS systems - down about 45% in the last 3 months...way oversold. Currently at $71. May dip to $65, will be $100 by June.

Totally wrong on this one. Down to $49 right now. Plenty of upside however, but with people driving less, there isn't much of a huge market for navigation. Bad pick.

NUE (Nucor Steel)- Steel Company. Good sales numbers. Increased dividend. Should hit 80 by year end, currently $53.

Hit $80 back in May, currently down to $59.77. Good buy. I'm jumping on it.

BIDU (Baidu.com)- Chinese Google. Very volatile. Only get in it if you have large gonads. Currently at about $330. Consistently hits $390-410, but could drop to $250. Be very careful. This stock is a day traders dream/nightmare. Unless you can swallow being under for a few months, leave this one alone.

Did drop to $250, even $230. Will wait for it to hit $250 again before I jump on it. The less said about this stock, the better for me.

CFC- (Countrywide)- Wait till it drops to $5 again, and you should see another quick bump to $7. This is a long term investment. This stock was $40 a few months ago. Bank of America isn't stupid. If they can pump $4 billion in this company, surely you can drop a couple G's.

Got back up to $7 back in February. I sold. Part of BAC now.

AZZ-(AZZ Inc.) - Yes, AZZ! Perfect for BGOL investors...right? Anyway, they manufacture electrical equipment, etc. Current price $33. Expect it to hit 46 by end of March.

Currently at 47. Got out at $46.

ETFC (E-trade)- Currently near an all time low. $3.10 a share. I think they are going to be bought this year. IMO. If so, you are looking at doubling your money in a very short period of time. Could go to $10 a share. I'd be happy with 8. I've made a good amount of money longing and shorting this stock (timing has to be perfect). Currently have about 10,000 shares in this one. May buy another 10K if it goes any lower. You might want to jump on this one.

Got up to $5 a share, never did hit higher. Hovering around $3.40-3.80. Still expect a bump in the next 6 months. I got out at $5.

I'll update regularly. Peace.

 

[^SpiderMan^]

Do you know anything about investing in precious metals?

 

[Tripster]

Do you know anything about investing in precious metals?

Not in the metals directly. But I do invest in a gold mining company (Taseko Mines- TGB). Gold is a good investment over the next couple of years. Your best bet is to find a couple of ETFs (Exchange Traded Fund) that track the specific metal in which you are trying to invest. But don't go buying a whole bunch of gold jewelery thinking you're investing in gold.

 

[puzzle]

good info, thanks

 

[master-ceo]

I see this guy in Atlanta Chapes JPL Running Comercials like a motherfucker to buy your used gold.

Whats a good investment/trading site to fuck with? I wanna get started.

What are some good books?

 

[Tripster]

I see this guy in Atlanta Chapes JPL Running Comercials like a motherfucker to buy your used gold.

Whats a good investment/trading site to fuck with? I wanna get started.

What are some good books?

I trade with TD Ameritrade, but I think they are all ok (Etrade, Charles Schwab, etc.)

As far as books, "What the CEO wants you to know" is a very good book, not necessary focused on investing, but business in general. There is also "The Intelligent Investor", but my advice would be to go to your local bookstore, and browse through the Finance/Investing section and just pick a couple to start with. The most important part is reading SOMETHING, regardless of what it is or who wrote it.

 

[^SpiderMan^]

Not in the metals directly. But I do invest in a gold mining company (Taseko Mines- TGB). Gold is a good investment over the next couple of years. Your best bet is to find a couple of ETFs (Exchange Traded Fund) that track the specific metal in which you are trying to invest. But don't go buying a whole bunch of gold jewelery thinking you're investing in gold.

Curious,what are the advantages of getting an ETF as opposed to buying the actual metal?Other than storage of course.

 

[Efkie]

Curious,what are the advantages of getting an ETF as opposed to buying the actual metal?Other than storage of course.

Perhaps the most important, although subtle, benefit of an ETF is the stock-like features offered. Since ETFs trade on the market, investors can carry out the same types of trades that they can with a stock. For instance, investors can sell short, use a limit order, use a stop-loss order, buy on margin, and invest as much or as little money as they wish (there is no minimum investment requirement). Also, many ETFs have the capability for options (puts and calls) to be written against them. Mutual funds do not offer those features.

For example, an investor in an open-ended fund can only purchase or sell at the end of the day at the mutual fund's closing price. This makes stop-loss orders much less useful for open-ended funds – if your broker even allows them. An ETF is continually priced throughout the day and therefore is not subject to this disadvantage, allowing the user to react to adverse or beneficial market condition on an intraday basis. This stock-like liquidity allows an investor to trade the ETF for cash throughout regular trading hours, and often after-hours on ECNs. ETF liquidity varies according to trading volume and liquidity of the underlying securities, but very liquid ETFs such as SPY, DIA, and QQQQ can be traded pre-market and after-hours with reasonably tight spreads. These characteristics can be important for investors concerned with liquidity risk.

A more subtle advantage is that ETFs, like closed-ended funds, are immune from some market timing problems that have plagued open-ended mutual funds. In these timing attacks, large investors trade in and out of an open ended fund quickly, exploiting minor variances in price in order to profit at the expense of the long-term unit holders. With an ETF (or closed-ended fund) such an operation is not possible--the underlying assets of the fund are not affected by its trading on the market.

More info
I think there are more advantages.

With that said, how does one determine the target price for a stock ?

 

[Tripster]

Curious,what are the advantages of getting an ETF as opposed to buying the actual metal?Other than storage of course.

Whenever you buy the metal itself, you are paying a premium. If they guy who pulled it out of the ground isn't handing it directly to you (which he isn't) then you are paying everyone who touches it before you. (tarriffs, wholesalers, distributers retailers) Everyone has their "value-add" in there by the time you purchase it. Trusss.

If you buy an ETF or a company who mines the gold DIRECTLY, then you are paying a much cheaper price for the commodity. Now if you were a commodities broker, you would actually "own" gold bullion stored somewhere, but of course it would never actually "touch" your hands, however they have the "cheapest" price available. The ETF actually attempts to "track" the price of gold by making these investments FOR you, so you don't have to try and "own" and "store" gold for youself, but you still get the financial benefits of "ownership".

Hope that helps.

 

[divine]

good drop! Im going to jump on that Countrywide stock!

 

[Tripster]

good drop! Im going to jump on that Countrywide stock!

I would wait for the "dip" first. Around 5 or maybe even $5.50. If you get in now at 6.33 you may be overpaying. I could be wrong. But I'm waiting for the dip from a risk perspective.

 

[LueDiamonds]

Thanks 4 da info Want to make some $$$ work 4 me this year. So many options need a good starting point

 

[Tripster]

If you need a good pick today, Etrade may be a good day-trade today. IBM came out with some good news, and it looks like we are going to have a good day overall on the market. Etrade is up .10 in pre-market trading. If you're day trading, I'd look for a bump to 4.20 then sell.

You gotta be in though. If you're not in the market in general, make this month your month to get your brokerage account started. Its very easy, but if you can't buy, you can't make money. Don't sit around and let this stuff pass you by. Let's get it!!!!

 

[txguy80]

Peace fam,


Strong post brother!!! I have been doing some investing for a few years now myself. Myself and 2 of my friends just started an investment club, something I would recommend to all the brothers on the board. I like scottrades platform. I know the real estate market is very uncertain, something I have been looking at though is are REITS.(Google it)

I am feeling the reits that invest in storage places, apartment complexes and shopping mall right now. Also, on the etf front, I understand they have one now that invest in africa. Brothers get in now, 5 years from now you will be saying "damn if I would have gotten in then".

As far as countrywide, I currently own 500 shares, my shares will be converted to Bank of America stock, for every 1 share I own I will receive .1822 shares of BOA stock. BOA is a better more solid name.

Peace

 

[Tripster]

Trying to get brothers MOTIVATED. I'm NEVER here to brag. You can get it too!

Etrade is at $3.22 right now, up .17 this morning. I've made $2,750 and I haven't lifted a finger. I have about 12,500 shares...if I sell at 4.20 I will make about $14,500 today.

"Come on....who wanna get paid".

 

[txguy80]

Peace fam,

Damn Trip, do the damn thing brother. I bought e-trade at about 5 something a share back when I believe it was fidelity, not sure came in and bought about 20 percent of the company for about 2.5 billion. Cramer was saying they have one of the worst porfolio's he has ever seen. I am hoping someone comes in and buys them for their infa-structure as a company.( citi,merrill,boa)

What is your opinion of jim cramer, some love him some hate him, I guess you can't be right all the time.

 

[Heist]

 

[Tripster]

Peace fam,

Damn Trip, do the damn thing brother. I bought e-trade at about 5 something a share back when I believe it was fidelity, not sure came in and bought about 20 percent of the company for about 2.5 billion. Cramer was saying they have one of the worst porfolio's he has ever seen. I am hoping someone comes in and buys them for their infa-structure as a company.( citi,merrill,boa)

What is your opinion of jim cramer, some love him some hate him, I guess you can't be right all the time.

Jim has a lot of knowledge and over 40 years of experience, yet he's still right only 50% of the time, which you can flip a coin and get that. What he does is...since he's so popular, he can actually in a few cases, determine whether a stock goes up or down based on his analysis. But again, he's wrong as often as he's right.

I think someone is going to come in and buy etrade. They still have a lot of customers and they claim they are not heading toward bankruptcy. Also, Citi has about $2 billion in them right now, and they aren't stupid either. If it drops, it drops, but I see more on the upside than the downside. Worth the risk for me.

Up to 3.26 in the premarket right now.

 

[ibobby]

what's the pros and cons of TD Ameritrade? pricing? etc etc? Best type of account? etc etc

 

[ned pepper]

say how do the taxes work with all that? do you get taxed if you withdraw the money, or whether u make any at all. im looking to get into stocks as well. since we headed for a recession (or so they say) i want to get in when shit is low. i am already plotting on some UPS stock at a discount (since i work for them). but i am always lookin for somethin to keep me busy. i tried the domain thing. but i think this will be better. or so i hope.

 

[doggish_098]

if you want to make some quick money on the daily basis i would pick up some of that luke entertainment stock early in the mourning and then get ride of it in the afternoons. The best performing day i saw it have so far was it opened at .44 and closed at 1.50. It is not a long term investment unless you want to hold out for them to sign a big name player, but on the short term it is good money. LKEN check it out

 

[Tripster]

say how do the taxes work with all that? do you get taxed if you withdraw the money, or whether u make any at all. im looking to get into stocks as well. since we headed for a recession (or so they say) i want to get in when shit is low. i am already plotting on some UPS stock at a discount (since i work for them). but i am always lookin for somethin to keep me busy. i tried the domain thing. but i think this will be better. or so i hope.

You are taxed on ALL realized capital gains. What I mean by "realized" is if you have made $$$ from selling a security. There is long-term capital gains (anything you hold for more than 1 year before selling) and short-term (less than 1 year before selling).

Long term capital gains is generally taxed at 15% unless you are in the lower tax bracket, in which case its 5%. Short term captial gains is taxed at your regular tax bracket whatever that is.

You don't have to actually "withdraw" the money to be taxed on it, just when you actually SELL the stock, is when the tax comes into play. Of course, you have to keep up with everything yourself, but your online broker will send you a statment of your gains/losses for the year as a total for tax purposes.

 

[Tripster]

what's the pros and cons of TD Ameritrade? pricing? etc etc? Best type of account? etc etc

TD Ameritrade is 9.95 per trade. Most brokerages fall between 6.99-10.99 per trade. No real cons, its pretty straight forward. You'll need 1K to start. If you're not an experienced trader, don't get a margin account, just get a cash account. Margin accounts allow you to borrow $$$ to increase your buying power. Stay away from that unless you have experience.

I have a margin account and a cash account (2 seperate ones).

Hope that helps.

 

[King D]

Thanks tripster. This thread should be made a sticky

 

[water]

Thanks for the thread tripstar...........




I'll check out those you posted.

I'm taking a beating right now on GRMN.

Also have AAPL, RIMM

I'll post some more stuff for the fam, have to bounce now......

 

[OFF-BALANCED]

How do you go about your research???

I think this is something I need to start doing

 

[Tripster]

Thanks for the thread tripstar...........




I'll check out those you posted.

I'm taking a beating right now on GRMN.

Also have AAPL, RIMM

I'll post some more stuff for the fam, have to bounce now......

That's alright, bruh, GRMN will probably drop to $65 like I mentioned, but stay in there and hold out till $100 in June/July and you'll be straight.

RIMM hurt me a bit earlier because I should have gotten in back in '99 when the stock was $4 bucks. But I wasn't mature, and would have sold when it hit $4.50. I never would have held it for 9 years. Some stocks are just like that....LONG TERM HOLDS. And you got to know which ones to trade more actively, and which ones to stay into. Holla. Lets get it!

 

[water]

Today was a much better day!!!

 

[??????]

i think i might buy some shares in countrywide...

so do you guys use e-trade or what?

how much do i need to put up to start trading?

 

[water]

i think i might buy some shares in countrywide...

so do you guys use e-trade or what?

how much do i need to put up to start trading?

I use tdameritrade.

Check their website..............


Word of advice: Do your homework on what you invest.

 

[xswift01]

Fire thread U posted here. This is what I need to start this year off right. Keep em comin braw

 

[alexw]

I dont understand none of this shit

I need to find a good book

I need to supplement my teaching income which is low

Id love to make a 100k a year

right now its half of that

Tipster is there any books you recommend??

 

[??????]

I use tdameritrade.

Check their website..............


Word of advice: Do your homework on what you invest.

so what is the best way to research?

are you guys members of any stock forums with all the inside info?

please break down everything us n00bs need to do

 

[Tripster]

I dont understand none of this shit

I need to find a good book

I need to supplement my teaching income which is low

Id love to make a 100k a year

right now its half of that

Tipster is there any books you recommend??

That's ok, that's the purpose of this thread. You will be successful because you're not afraid to say when you don't understand something, which is half the battle....most brothers I know won't do at least that.

I really haven't read a lot of books per say on investing, I've mostly used the internet over the years to increase my knowledge. There's enough there, trust me. However one good book on business (which will help you with investing) is "What the CEO wants you to know" by Ram Charan. Very good book.

If you are new to investing, I would point you to this site...

http://www.fool.com/school/basics/basics.htm

This is one of the most comprehensive sites on investing I've seen. And they speak PLAIN ENGLISH without all of the investment mumbo jumbo. I'd recommend you go there regularly. Pick a topic, and study it for a week, then go to another, you'll understand this stuff in no time.

Let's Get It!!!!

 

[water]

so what is the best way to research?

are you guys members of any stock forums with all the inside info?

please break down everything us n00bs need to do

I work in wireless tech so I read and understand that industry.

Get a good grip on a particular industry, maybe start with the one you are working in.

Maybe you can setup google alerts to send you relevant articles etc...

When you sign up with tdameritrade, you can set-up a watch lists of stocks you are interested in.

track these stocks, read news on them, analyst reviews (don't put too much faith in them, they look for suckers) etc.....

After a while you will get the hang of what to look for.

maybe google "stock tutorial" to learn about the different ways of executing an order etc....