Yeah, the newer more instant type platforms are very popular in this type environment....no doubt about it. We are kind of old school in a way. Although, in many ways, there are certain things I do like about our relatively small group. It does seem a bit more personal in the fact that we do recognize and sort of know a bit about each other's investing styles and preferences. I enjoy that I "know" a bit about the posters here. I also think it cuts down on a lot of riff/raff. We tend to be respectful and decent toward each other; regardless of investing thoughts or opinions. That is uncommon in many places. So, it is overall a nice experience. The "views" are kind of hard to put a perspective on, simply because we really never get any feedback. I don't put much stock into those for that reason and I wouldn't doubt that a significant portion of those are bots of some sort or other internet skimmers.
Nice post Strathmore. I knew you were one of our regular posters outside the (US). I just couldn't remember from where, but this post reminded me of the location. I think you bring up a good point. We all started out a certain kind of way and those experiences shape us to the investor we are today. It takes time and some lessons along the way. Nice return YTD as well.
Wow! Amazing that you’ve heard of our little island! Your research is spot on, W — it really is a wonderful place to live. When I was younger, I didn’t appreciate it as much. It was always such a hassle having to get a boat to the mainland. I’ve always been a fan of live music and used to go to lots of concerts and festivals, so travelling to and from the island was always a pain — and an added expense. I feel completely the opposite now that I’m a bit older. There aren’t many (if any) places in this country where I’d rather live with my daughter.
For me, it all started in quite a random way. I was at a party around February or March 2020, and some drunk guy was telling everyone that he’d started investing in stocks. No one was really paying him any attention, but something about it must have stuck with me because the next day, I was at home researching stocks and investments. About two weeks later, I opened my account and started investing. I was reading and googling a lot… and that’s when I found this thread. I started from the beginning and read every post. It was quickly obvious there was some valuable knowledge here — and it was coming from real people with real experience, not from someone with an agenda. I’ve learned far more here than anywhere else. And as I’ve said before, if it weren’t for this thread, I wouldn’t have been able to stay strong during the rough times — especially given the mainstream view on stocks that I’m exposed to over here.
Thanks LORI.....another random event turns someone into an investor. It really is amazing how this happens. Some little life event that has NO significance.....just randomly turns out to be a major turning point in someones life. How is that DRUNK GUY...doing with his investing? You should thank him some time for the gift he gave you. And....now here you are with five years of investing under your belt. You have certainly learned to invest during some CRAZY times. STAY STRONG......and.....you will be rewarded.
I love the....ORIGIN STORIES. I got a text from my daughter yesterday....she and her husband both have brokerage accounts that I help manage. She was excited that they have now hit a new....HUGE....milestone......$950,000. They are age 44 and 40. AND since they work for government....they both will have a GREAT pension.....so this brokerage money is icing on the cake. At their ages.....and even if the markets revert to about average 10% returns.....they should have about $8,000,000 to $10,000,000....by age 65. They both own the same portfolio as I do.....and they both put $500 into the SP500 every month. Their ORIGIN STORY......a father and father-in-law......that relentlessly hounded them to start with $100 per month into a SP500 ETF.
NO.....even with full data....the FED.... has ZERO ability to spot any economic trend any earlier than anyone else. At this point POWELL is hopelessly lost in his BIASED views. He may not see it........and it may not be intentional....but he is LOST and way outside the mandate of the FED in what he is doing and saying. Thank God we will be done with him soon....what a FOOL. The Fed Cuts Again. But Can It See Through the Data Fog? Scrutiny on the Fed’s lack of data misses a key point. https://www.fisherinvestments.com/e...uts-again-but-can-it-see-through-the-data-fog
I have a busy week this week. An art "draw" today. I will drop in on a show by some friends tonight and do a few songs. In the studio on Wednesday evening. A show to play on Friday. Three auctions that I am following this week. AND....a 300 mile drive to attend an art event with a friend on Sunday. The art draw today is a fun little event. A major Western artist is having a gallery showing of about 30 small works. The major galleries have a lot of customers and dont want to show favoritism....so in a show like this....they price each painting before the show......and people put their name in for the "draw". On the appointed day....they draw out one name and that person gets the....."privilege"....of buying the painting for the pre-set price. They usually set the price very reasonably....below the auction value. So these draw events...tend to get a lot of attention from collectors.....and a lot of entries. I have never had my name drawn....perhaps today will be my first time.
WOW.....two-in-one....for me. Two of my stocks....AMZN and NVDA..... with good news for the future. OpenAI, Amazon strike $38 billion agreement for ChatGPT maker to use AWS https://finance.yahoo.com/news/openai-amazon-strike-38-billion-140552701.html
BILLIONS and BILLIONS.....are being raked up week by week for my companies. pretty soon it is going to add up to real money. Microsoft inks $9.7B deal with Australia’s IREN for AI cloud capacity https://finance.yahoo.com/news/microsoft-inks-9-7b-deal-140419428.html Everyone asks....where is the AI pay-off? It is right in front of your face...we are seeing it everyday.
Speaking of my stocks: Microsoft to invest over $15 billion in UAE, secures US export licenses for Nvidia chips https://finance.yahoo.com/news/microsoft-invest-over-15-billion-120845259.html
The environment right now....which I have called a GOLDEN ERA....continues to go beyond what I ever imagined. If government, the world, and other outside factors can stay stable and under control.....we are in a BOOM that has potential to last for 3-10 years. As usual I will WARN....there will be bumps along the way. Perhaps even a BEAR MARKET at some point. Investors have to realize that this is.....NORMAL.
My PLTR reports after the bell today. I am looking forward to reading the usual CEO letter. Very entertaining.
Well we are now open and the big averages are.....MIXED. The DOW is slightly red and the rest are nicely green. We will sort things out over the course of the day from here. S&P 500 rises to start November trading, led by tech: Live updates https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/02/stock-market-today-live-updates.html We are seeing the impact of the AMAZING big tech earnings today. “Fundamentally, the U.S. earnings picture remains strong and supported by these 3 factors: AI spending visibility remains strong and Amazon’s strong 3Q25 report is the latest evidence of this; financials are driving innovation via blockchain; the Fed is dovish and lowering interest rates; and QT (quantitative tightening) is ending Dec 1,” wrote Tom Lee, head of research at Fundstrat."
Earnings so far are...... KILLING IT. https://advantage.factset.com/hubfs/Website/Resources Section/Research Desk/Earnings Insight/EarningsInsight_103125.pdf EARNINGS UPDATE • Earnings: With 64% of S&P 500 companies reporting.....83% have reported a positive EPS and 79% have reported a positive revenue surprise. • Earnings Growth: Earnings growth for the S&P 500 is 10.7%. So far.....the 4th consecutive quarter of double-digit earnings growth for the index. • Valuation: 12-month P/E.....(SP500)....is 22.9. Well above the 5-year average (19.9) and 10-year average (18.6) These numbers are HUGE compared to the historic norms. YET.....many people are still not seeing or feeling what is happening. That is a HUGE POSITIVE for the markets. We are nowhere close to irrational exuberance. We are STILL climbing a high wall of worry. Great news for the...BULL MARKET.
It actually is a........ STEALTH RALLY.....compared to what many people think. I see one comment that the SP500 has been UP for....SIX...straight months. I have not checked but I assume this is true. I did not know it.
I have not looked at my account but I can see my stocks and I am having a .....GREAT...open today. Five stocks UP and three down. RIDING THE WAVE.......BIG TIME. I am sure there are many people that are holding big tech stocks like NVDA and PLTR and starting to feel a little jumpy about all their gains. REMEMBER......there is nothing wrong with taking a bit of profit. With NVDA and PLTR and some other stocks......the gains have been so huge that many people can simply cash in their original investment amount....and let the majority of their holding.....the gains..... ride. At that point you are risking nothing but.....FREE MONEY. Of course when I say....."cash in"...I dont mean to leave that money in cash....unless it is money that you will need in the shorter term. I mean that it should be invested in other holdings.....or something new that you wish to add..... or perhaps a basic SP500 ETF......in other words a LATERAL MOVE...that keeps the money exposed to the stock market gains. I am NOT making an investment recommendation in making this statement.....every person has to do what is RIGHT FOR THEM and their situation.
NICE....seeing my two portfolio....STARS.....working together. Palantir Technologies (PLTR) and Nvidia Join Forces to Enhance AI-Driven Logistics https://finance.yahoo.com/news/palantir-technologies-pltr-nvidia-join-103153696.html PLTR has been my most successful....."training wheels stock"....over the past seven years. It is now a FULL position and in fact due to the big gains....OVER....a full position. One of my most dominant holdings. AND....for me it all started out as a little MOMENTUM trade that netted me 104....FREE SHARES. It BALLOONED from there as I added funds at various times as the company proved itself to me. Other "training wheel" positions that did not make the cut.....WMT, PG, CMG, TSLA,.....and many others over the past seven years. They come and they go. Very few make the cut to become full positions. I still have good vibes regarding.....WMT and PG.....but I just dont want to tie up money in those companies right now. My big.....TURN AROUND...candidates....BA and NKE. Although at this time.....I would definately NOT buy either one. They have not proven that they are going to recover yet. Especially BA. I think BOTH are still about 2-3 years from turn around....if ever. So.....I am NOT interested in holding either one through that process. I hope NKE turns it around...I held that stock for a long, long, time....many decades..... and would like to see than get their MAGIC back. It will ALL depend on the new MANAGEMENT.....and whether than can undo the TOXIC business, marketing, and customer culture that got ingrained into the company.
A big.....SHOUT OUT....to ZUKODANY for turning me onto PLTR. He recognized and discussed it on here way before anyone else. He is the reason that I now own it and made a bundle over the past years on that stock. I hope he is doing well and still has all his PLTR shares.....and the fortune that he would have made on them. if you ever lurk here ZUKODANY....say "HI"....once in a while.
