Posted on 01/28/2013 4:35:16 PM PST by PieterCasparzen
With corporate profits at record levels and stocks regaining the ground lost during the financial crisis, Wall Street anxiously anticipates the return of the individual investors to equity markets. It may be a long wait, because the little guy may have concluded stocks are a sucker’s bet.
Investors, as opposed to traders, buy stocks in companies whose profits they expect to rise. The conventional wisdom says stock prices will follow profits up, but over the last two business cycles, that simply has not happened.
In March 2000, the S&P 500 first closed above 1500. Since corporate profits are up 135 percent but stocks have made virtually no gain since over the last thirteen years.
Buying stocks does not seem to pay any more, because most of the increased value created by higher profits has been captured by hedge funds, electronic traders, private equity funds, aggressive M&A shops, and trading desks at investment banks, which have multiplied over the last two decades.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
I’ve made plenty of money on stocks over the past ten years. You just have to do proper analysis of the companies, and figure out how you’re going to get paid. A highly profitable company that throws away its cash is not what you want.
What, all stocks? That’s hardly possible. You must be able to buy cheap and sell dear something, at least.
With the DOW closing today at 13,881 where the all time (2007) high was 14,098... it’s hard to consider getting back in (100% cash currently). Seems like the only place for this puppy to go is down, and buying at the top ain’t my idea of investing...
I have a friend who made over a million dollars on the futures market. I have no idea what that is but he was pretty wealthy before so I doubt it really made that much difference in his life.
But on the other hand, it may be that Barry and his minions will continue to prop up the market and get it to new highs in the next two years before the next election.
Not if you are short.......
Fwiw-
I have as well. It takes a lot of studying and effort. I’ve found a few that have done well. It is a constant learning process, researching, defining entry and exit points, reading filings, studying the companies. But it has been worth it. I find that I can only concentrate on a few at a time, ideally no more than three. I’ve made a lot of mistakes over the years as well..but have done better than if I had left it all in a mutual fund or someone else’s hands. With today’s markets, it’s not for everyone.
No worries with a privately-held business. Keep making profits, you know what it’s problems are, if it goes bad shut it down.
There is no “market” for your stock to worry about. Book value, the value of the business is all yours.
If one is smart enough to figure out the vagueries of the stock market, one is certainly smart enough to run a business, IMHO.
Since the dollar has lost approximately 24% of it’s value during the last 5 years, the DOW would have to top 17,500 in today’s $ to equal 2007’s high of 14,164.
ping
He'll suck your brain out.
When dollars are printed, then sent out, they can ony purchase assets denominated in dollars. Thus US stocks wind up as the sump/dump.
A Fox News web reporter moonlights as Egypt’s President?
Wow talk about versatile....
My portfolio is more like 25. I don’t like to put more than 3% of my money in any one thing. The smartest guy can be surprised.
I am not sure how long it took him tho he did it between our contacts. We both worked together during several Summers when we were in college.
He always seemed to have some money. During the 60s he drove an XKE and now has among other cars, a Rolls Royce. In the last 20 years or so, we only have contact about every year. He waited until he was in his 60s to marry, tho he always did look younger than he was.
He got most of his wealth from inheritance but at one time he had squandered most of it. Maybe in the stock market, I am not sure. I will say he always was generous and still is.
hmmm, you understand the above but not the future's market?
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