Oil Prices Sure Helped My Stock

[FC]

I have been holding a cheap stock GSNH (Greater Sooner Holding Co.) I was bummed about the drop in price from 44c to 27c per share. Today it went up to 74c. I had 2162 shares. I really wrestled with whether to sell or not, but I made $650! Better take it and run!

[Guest Guest]

Hey FC,

Good score. But for future reference, always buy in blocks of 100 shares. So, get 2100 or 2200, but not 2162. The 2162 ID's you as a newbie and the pit people will get you.

 

Dr.Hess

 

[FC]

What are pit people?

I'm also wondering what EPS is? Any idea? That's one I need to look up.

[Limpid Lizard]

Pit people are those who buy and sell on the floor. When one ends up with an odd number of shares, it is not always through the error of buying odd lots. For example, owning 100 shares of XYZ corp could change to 133.333 shares through no fault of one's self through a 2-3 split. LL

[FC]

Thanks.

Wish everything was a 60% profit in less than two months!

Boeing and General Dynamics are doing well.

[Eldora]

EPS is "earnings per share". Another word of advice...never place "market" orders to buy or sell. That gives the specialists all the leeway they need to fill your order at the price most beneficial to them, not you. Instead place limit orders which specify the price you're willing to pay (if buying) or accept (if selling). Any broker can do it, even the online ones.

[FC]

Thanks. I noticed that when I put "limit" on my sale of the GSNH that it took a while, but I got the price I wanted. I'll use that regularly now.

 

When EPS goes from, say, 1.5 to 1.4, is that then worse? I would assume so.

Boy, I bought Boeing at the right time! I dumped Yahoo and will dump Ebay when it goes up some more. I'm not impressed with their performance. I've made my share of mistakes in a little less than two months, but I knew I would. Patience is a true virtue with stocks, plus "know when to hold 'em; know when to fold 'em". I've made $945 on $8000 to $23000 (later), in less than two months, despite being a greenhorn. I rolled over my IRA to a Scottrade self-directed IRA. I need a whole lot more than this to retire, so time to get crackin'.

 

Biggest secret (no secret) to winning is to immerse one's self into devouring information on the market, and work hard at it. I have gotten mighty discouraged some weeks, but little successes help a lot. Investor's Business Daily is my best resource. They show charts of high-performing stocks, and it has been productive. I like the format of Success Magazine's www.success.investortoolbox.com a lot, but they are snake oil salesmen in person. Costs too much, but wish I could find their charts and format elsewhere. Morningstar has good articles on companies, but their 5 star ratings haven't helped much at all at buying productive stocks. Scottrade should be cheaper. I wonder if the $4 trade sites are worthwhile?

[fritz]

I'm no expert in the financial world. I just take the advise of my financial advisor, whom I believe is making more off of it than me.

 

Such is the world of high finance. Sometimes I wish I were just a poor illegal Mexican immigrant. Some of them make more money on the job than me, and they don't have to pay any taxes. They don't have to have insurance (either automobile or health). They get free lunches at school for their numerous offspring. They get preferential treatment in all federal and state programs.

 

Hell, I could go on and on.

 

Anybody wanna buy my stock in HCA? The fellows handling the stock keep saying that since everybody will eventually need to use health care facilities, that that stock is a good investment. It's just that I ain't seen it yet.

 

When I have to go to a hospital owned by HCA, I pay through the nostril for their "care". At the time, I think that since I am paying them so much money for my "care", that it will go towards increasing the value of my portfolio.

 

I ain't seen it yet.

 

fritz

[Eldora]

If you're using Scottrade you have a pretty fair amount of "tools" to use, for example: charts, quotes, earnings data and the like. Breaking news is either a killer or a gold mine! Briefing.com is good for news. You just probably need to delve into it to learn where everything is and how to interpret it. The best online broker I've found (and I still use them) is OptionsXpress. They have slightly higher commissions but I know a lot of professional traders who use them. You tend to get faster and better "fills" and the research is second to none. They also offer futures if you're interested but that's a whole other animal completely. Good luck! I'm glad to hear you're doing OK. Caution and patience are key in this game.

[Dr.Hess]

Eldora has sound advice, especially concerning Limit trades. Market trades are for suckers. I have some notes on my site you might want to read. Go to home.flash.net/~hess then click on "Stocks & Bondage".

 

Dr.Hess