What’s the smallest return you’ve taken on an individual stock?

[Anonymous]

I used to invest in stock when I was younger and not particularly savvy about the market, as I figured it was better than just letting money sit in a savings account. Since then I have switched over the mostly mutual funds though have some of the stock holdings.

I have 1 stock that I have held for years that was supposedly a strong buy at that time and has since been downgraded many times; it’s a solid company (so not a tech fad), but I’d like to get my money out, pay the capital gains (long term), and just take the cash or re-invest it in another fund. Problem is -- I’m ready to sell now that it’s finally about to cross into positive territory for me. I have no reason to believe and the news does not indicate that this stock will pop, but there is something strange to me about cashing out when my return after taxes would be < 1%. But it still seems better than letting it sit there and stagnate. Have you done it before?

[Anonymous]

You are being too emotional in your thinking. Is it a good company or not? Why are you selling?

Sell if you need the funds for something else or if you think there is a better investment.

I've sold when I've made money, and when I've lost money. I sell the stocks that don't have good numbers. Don't overthink it. Also, you can't predict the future. No regrets.

[Anonymous]

Sell the loser and keep the winner runs

[Anonymous]

Can you invest the money in something that will generate a better return? Only look forward. The past is irrelevant at this point.

[Anonymous]

Umm, plenty of stocks are sold with negative returns. It's worth it when you can use the $ for a better investment. Don't get too hung up on each individual stock in your portfolio.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you invest the money in something that will generate a better return? Only look forward. The past is irrelevant at this point.

+1. This is the advice to heed. It doesn't matter if the stock had made 1% or 450% or -30%. Sell it if you feel something else will net you higher returns than staying in this one.

[Anonymous]

Sell it and move on. Stocks do not always go up and you picked one that did not go up. After commissions and other fees, you will almost likely lose money.

[Anonymous]

buy low sell high

[Anonymous]

Agree. Past makes no difference. Sell if you can put the money to some better use.

[Anonymous]

Sell. I, too, hold long term, but sold dell a week before news of the buy off. My only other loser was united, and I wish I'd sold that before it crashed to $0.

[Anonymous]

PP here. Try to look at portfolio as whole. This was balanced against my biggest gains which are multiple baggers.

[Anonymous]

Just sell it.

You've had this stock for years. Even if you sold it for exactly what you paid for it, you're money is worth less because of inflation. Sell it, use the money to do something smarter and learn from your mistake (buying individual stocks). Everyone makes investing mistakes, especially early on. Also, if you sell for a loss you can do tax loss harvesting.

[Anonymous]

sell it and buy a low-fee index fund (check out vanguard) with the proceeds. then let it sit and forget about it. you will get higher returns that way than you will ever get trying to pick stocks.