Q: Hi 5i,
I have trouble making good decisions about when to sell, both when a stock has risen and when one has fallen. I've found myself selling winners too soon (which at least only leads to loss of opportunity, not actual loss) and holding on to falling stocks too long which ultimately leads to both loss of opportunity because the money is not better deployed elsewhere as well as to eventual actual loss.
I have a general question and also specific questions related to this conundrum - please deduct points as you see fit.
Can you suggest 'rules' or at least guidelines that I can incorporate into my investing methodology regarding when to sell which, although they likely won't work perfectly in every instance will, if applied consistently over time, help me to make better decisions about when to sell?
And specifically: I've done well with DCBO but can't confidently determine whether I should hold longer or take my profits and look to use the cash elsewhere. In discussions about LSPD for example, your view seems to be that it has lots of runway left and continuing to hold could well be worthwhile. I haven't heard that about DCBO though, and can't confidently determine if its future prospects realistically support continuing to hold rather than cashing in at its current high levels.
Which brings me to the opposite scenario involving AT, which I bought recently in my TFSA only to see it nosedive almost immediately afterwards. I'm down 22% in the space of a week and for the life of me don't know whether I should bail now and cut potential future losses, or hold on hoping for an increase to at least near where I bought - $16.65 .
Your advice regarding the above specific scenarios would be greatly appreciated - and maybe if there are worthwhile general rules or guidelines for when to sell you could also explain how you'd apply them to the 2 opposing scenarios I've described as I'm sure that would help me going forward.
Thanks a ton for your anticipated help in dealing with this issue that vexes me greatly!
Peter
I have trouble making good decisions about when to sell, both when a stock has risen and when one has fallen. I've found myself selling winners too soon (which at least only leads to loss of opportunity, not actual loss) and holding on to falling stocks too long which ultimately leads to both loss of opportunity because the money is not better deployed elsewhere as well as to eventual actual loss.
I have a general question and also specific questions related to this conundrum - please deduct points as you see fit.
Can you suggest 'rules' or at least guidelines that I can incorporate into my investing methodology regarding when to sell which, although they likely won't work perfectly in every instance will, if applied consistently over time, help me to make better decisions about when to sell?
And specifically: I've done well with DCBO but can't confidently determine whether I should hold longer or take my profits and look to use the cash elsewhere. In discussions about LSPD for example, your view seems to be that it has lots of runway left and continuing to hold could well be worthwhile. I haven't heard that about DCBO though, and can't confidently determine if its future prospects realistically support continuing to hold rather than cashing in at its current high levels.
Which brings me to the opposite scenario involving AT, which I bought recently in my TFSA only to see it nosedive almost immediately afterwards. I'm down 22% in the space of a week and for the life of me don't know whether I should bail now and cut potential future losses, or hold on hoping for an increase to at least near where I bought - $16.65 .
Your advice regarding the above specific scenarios would be greatly appreciated - and maybe if there are worthwhile general rules or guidelines for when to sell you could also explain how you'd apply them to the 2 opposing scenarios I've described as I'm sure that would help me going forward.
Thanks a ton for your anticipated help in dealing with this issue that vexes me greatly!
Peter
