That all seems very unlikely, but an absolutely wonderful idea. The magnanimous picture that you paint was certainly not extended to suppliers. In fact, it was Apple, as the customer that insisted on complete and utter satisfaction. It's very difficult to show a collegial approach to the product cycle, at any point, from design to assembly there was a ruthless need to compete at every level.
Most would agree that Steve Jobs had his share of flaws. Had his biography been published in an environment presided over by a health and vibrant STeve Jobs, the reaction would be less deferential.
Can flawed people create an ideal? Yes, but it requires recognizing and addressing the flaws before you can be a shepherd.
At Apple, everything was purposeful and focused for sure. You may choose to believe that it was for the glory of serving the customer, but you can be equally certain that someone was keeping an eye on the business.
In fact, why not make the customer even happier and reduce the prices? After all, if the price structure contributes to profit and profit is not primary, come on, make every one happier.
Will that happen? No, unless there is a significant assault on market share. The epiphany, when it comes, will be dictated by simple market pressures and not a need to create joy in the consumer universe.
I will take that as the compliment that was surely intended. But I wonder if you're trying to rub in the fact that American Idiot will not have opened yet when I'll be visiting London in a few months.
Based on the arbitrarily chosen time line, that was not really arbitrary at all, in that case, Home Depot was the best choice for a stock investor, made even better by having paid out three dividends (with another next week)
Remember, this article wasn't questioning which was a better investment for the period starting tomorrow. It was backward looking, stating from a very meaninful date in the lifetime of Apple, the death of its heart and soul.
Your application of the "Law of Small Numbers" which I just made up is inappropriate. I make the rules. Your iPads are ancient history. They are part of a glorious tapestry, but believe it or not, someone, most likely Apple, will supplant it.
But if it turns put to be someone else, Apple will react like a momentum stock.
Before I forget, my wife is in California at the moment. Just the dog and I. What was that model's number again?
The fact that I don't see many people eating a Big Mac while riding a Harley on the highway doesn't in any way reflect on a Big Mac.
"There is a time for all seasons" has been an expression that's passed the test of time for a reason. Handling a hammer in the museum might be cause for alarm, just as being tuned into your iPod listening to The Sex Pistols while doing a neurorsurgical procedure would be.
Are you referring to the same Gene Munster who recklessly suggested on the day that Scott Thompson was rumored to be the new CEO at Yahoo!, that Yahoo was a likely buyer of Netflix?
Or are you referring to the publicity hungry Gene Munster who received attention by being the first to predict a $1,000 share price for Apple?
Any investment is contrasted against another. Apple has had an amazing trajectory, but it is entering uncharted territory, not just in terms of stock price, but in terms of evolving its culture and the public's perception. In this instance, the Home Depot trajectory was equally amazing, yet received no love or adulation.
There was no mention in the article that Apple was overpriced, but there are certainly reasons for concern as the company needs homeruns more than most any publicly traded company that comes to mind.
Apple's share price is also driven by that love and adulation to a degree. You can't quantify it, but you can't blindly deny it, either. As with your response, the company, its legacy and its products engender passion.
Visionary as he was, Jobs was frequently given a free pass from scrutiny, including options back dating scandals, that would have sunk any lesser person.
By the way, there is a word "idiopathic". It means of unknown cause or reason. That word could certainly be used to describe the behavior of many stocks. In fact, for Apple supporters, "idiopathic" could be used to describe its lack of share pricing similar to its peers.
Are You Too Proud To Collect Crumbs? [View article]
Thank you. I did in fact recently look at one or two of their trading interfaces and got a bit of a headache. In fact, I don't even use E*Trades Pro interface, instead I use Market Trader. Not as robust, but I don't do technical analyses
That's sometimes what happens when you start getting set in your ways. However, given that I do over 2000 trades/yr, I maybe an idiot not to look at it more rigorously.
I just tried the link and it did work for me. It is an Adobe PDF file. Do you have the free reader on your computer? You can download it from Adobe.
In fact, I did, have a large loss of $3 per share at one point in the year. I don't recall the details, but I'm certain that was the result of a "Collecting Crumbs" trade, probably resulting in shares being assigned after an unexpected large price gain the day or two before expiration http://seekingalpha.co...
Yet, despite that loss, the active management of those shares still more than offset the loss.
I included only the 3 year results in the article, but you can see the 1 year results (May 24, 2011 to May 23, 2012) at: http://bit.ly/LcP1we
Incidentally, if you look very critically at the trading results, you'll see that the ROI that I claim in my various articles is always understated. That's because I use the accumulated amount put at risk during the assessment period. No one does it like that. Most would probably look at the maximum number of shares held at any one time and then extrapolate that through the holding period. They would certainly cherry pick the period, as well.
But, had I used the extrapolation technique, In that case, the one year result would be based on a cost basis of about $105,000, as there was a brief period in July that I held a total of 7000 shares at an average cost of $15, still quite a bit higher than current price.
So, if I did ROI on basis of the maximum that I had invested at one time and then conservatively assumed that I had the same amount invested all year (which I did not, thereby further understating the return), the more accurate ROI for the one year period would have been approximately 7.5% versus a 0.1% loss on the S&P 500.
By the way, thanks. Hope you enjoy the book and find it useful.
You're very welcome. See my article "Collecting Crumbs" that talks about ways to squeeze additional pennies out of holdings when there is a day or two left until expiration
The operative phrase is "Don't care," I didn't own shares back then. Maybe there was a good reason for not doing so.
But it's easy enough to look up. What's the time frame you want and the reasoning for choosing that specific time frame? The reality is that if it's bad, it will only be so for an inveterate buy and hold investor. After all, who else holds the same shares for 3 years, much less longer than that?
This is not your grandfather's stock market. The message has to be "Adapt or get in line with Bogle."
If not assigned I'm more likely to jhold and sell call optionsto squeeze out more income. That's easier to do than having to find a new opportunity sometimes.
That is not a brokerage specific issue, it is industry wide, having been reduced from $0.05 a few years ago.
The truth is that it isn't always so. There have to still be buyers of those shares.
I usually trade in double digit contract lots and multiple accounts.
When I wake up Monday morning it's very common to see that some accounts had all contracts of a specific holding assigned, while others had only partial execution.
Obviously, the closer to the strike price, the less likely someone who is an options buyer and lover of leverage will want to take possession of shares and risk unleveraged funds, particularly as there may be share price risk over the weekend that would put the contract exercise in a capital loss position.
However, even with the exceptions, it is still a good rule to anticipate the assignment of such shares. In those cases, I look for the first opportunity to repurchase shares, but at a lower price. Funny how that happens with great regularity.
Are You Too Proud To Collect Crumbs? [View article]
No, unfortunately it is essentially through economy of scale.
The initial trading rate at E*Trade (which I use) may be lower, while the per contract rate id the same as with Ameritrade.. Additionally, you do have to factor in the potential closing costs if assigned.
I will make those trades even if the net result is as low as $0.05/share, as my rationale is that I will end up with that much more money. Sometimes, I simply look at the result of the trade as paying for a night out rather than as a turning point in my investments.
Maybe It's The Apron Color [View article]
Most would agree that Steve Jobs had his share of flaws. Had his biography been published in an environment presided over by a health and vibrant STeve Jobs, the reaction would be less deferential.
Can flawed people create an ideal? Yes, but it requires recognizing and addressing the flaws before you can be a shepherd.
At Apple, everything was purposeful and focused for sure. You may choose to believe that it was for the glory of serving the customer, but you can be equally certain that someone was keeping an eye on the business.
In fact, why not make the customer even happier and reduce the prices? After all, if the price structure contributes to profit and profit is not primary, come on, make every one happier.
Will that happen? No, unless there is a significant assault on market share. The epiphany, when it comes, will be dictated by simple market pressures and not a need to create joy in the consumer universe.
Maybe It's The Apron Color [View article]
If that's the case, very cruel.
Maybe It's The Apron Color [View article]
Remember, this article wasn't questioning which was a better investment for the period starting tomorrow. It was backward looking, stating from a very meaninful date in the lifetime of Apple, the death of its heart and soul.
Your application of the "Law of Small Numbers" which I just made up is inappropriate. I make the rules. Your iPads are ancient history. They are part of a glorious tapestry, but believe it or not, someone, most likely Apple, will supplant it.
But if it turns put to be someone else, Apple will react like a momentum stock.
Before I forget, my wife is in California at the moment. Just the dog and I. What was that model's number again?
Maybe It's The Apron Color [View article]
Maybe It's The Apron Color [View article]
"There is a time for all seasons" has been an expression that's passed the test of time for a reason. Handling a hammer in the museum might be cause for alarm, just as being tuned into your iPod listening to The Sex Pistols while doing a neurorsurgical procedure would be.
Besides that, I enjoyed the creative uses of "i"
Maybe It's The Apron Color [View article]
Or are you referring to the publicity hungry Gene Munster who received attention by being the first to predict a $1,000 share price for Apple?
Any investment is contrasted against another. Apple has had an amazing trajectory, but it is entering uncharted territory, not just in terms of stock price, but in terms of evolving its culture and the public's perception. In this instance, the Home Depot trajectory was equally amazing, yet received no love or adulation.
There was no mention in the article that Apple was overpriced, but there are certainly reasons for concern as the company needs homeruns more than most any publicly traded company that comes to mind.
Apple's share price is also driven by that love and adulation to a degree. You can't quantify it, but you can't blindly deny it, either. As with your response, the company, its legacy and its products engender passion.
Visionary as he was, Jobs was frequently given a free pass from scrutiny, including options back dating scandals, that would have sunk any lesser person.
By the way, there is a word "idiopathic". It means of unknown cause or reason. That word could certainly be used to describe the behavior of many stocks. In fact, for Apple supporters, "idiopathic" could be used to describe its lack of share pricing similar to its peers.
Are You Too Proud To Collect Crumbs? [View article]
That's sometimes what happens when you start getting set in your ways. However, given that I do over 2000 trades/yr, I maybe an idiot not to look at it more rigorously.
Everyone Hates Sallie Mae [View article]
In fact, I did, have a large loss of $3 per share at one point in the year. I don't recall the details, but I'm certain that was the result of a "Collecting Crumbs" trade, probably resulting in shares being assigned after an unexpected large price gain the day or two before expiration http://seekingalpha.co...
Yet, despite that loss, the active management of those shares still more than offset the loss.
I included only the 3 year results in the article, but you can see the 1 year results (May 24, 2011 to May 23, 2012) at: http://bit.ly/LcP1we
Incidentally, if you look very critically at the trading results, you'll see that the ROI that I claim in my various articles is always understated. That's because I use the accumulated amount put at risk during the assessment period. No one does it like that. Most would probably look at the maximum number of shares held at any one time and then extrapolate that through the holding period. They would certainly cherry pick the period, as well.
But, had I used the extrapolation technique, In that case, the one year result would be based on a cost basis of about $105,000, as there was a brief period in July that I held a total of 7000 shares at an average cost of $15, still quite a bit higher than current price.
So, if I did ROI on basis of the maximum that I had invested at one time and then conservatively assumed that I had the same amount invested all year (which I did not, thereby further understating the return), the more accurate ROI for the one year period would have been approximately 7.5% versus a 0.1% loss on the S&P 500.
By the way, thanks. Hope you enjoy the book and find it useful.
Double Dipping Dividends [View article]
http://seekingalpha.co...
Seeking Mediocrity [View article]
But it's easy enough to look up. What's the time frame you want and the reasoning for choosing that specific time frame? The reality is that if it's bad, it will only be so for an inveterate buy and hold investor. After all, who else holds the same shares for 3 years, much less longer than that?
This is not your grandfather's stock market. The message has to be "Adapt or get in line with Bogle."
Double Dipping Dividends [View article]
Double Dipping Dividends [View article]
The singular question is "who owns the shares before the stock goes ex-dividend?"
Double Dipping Dividends [View article]
At this point, I would like to see my shares assigned on Friday so that I can use the funds for some other opportunity.
Double Dipping Dividends [View article]
The truth is that it isn't always so. There have to still be buyers of those shares.
I usually trade in double digit contract lots and multiple accounts.
When I wake up Monday morning it's very common to see that some accounts had all contracts of a specific holding assigned, while others had only partial execution.
Obviously, the closer to the strike price, the less likely someone who is an options buyer and lover of leverage will want to take possession of shares and risk unleveraged funds, particularly as there may be share price risk over the weekend that would put the contract exercise in a capital loss position.
However, even with the exceptions, it is still a good rule to anticipate the assignment of such shares. In those cases, I look for the first opportunity to repurchase shares, but at a lower price. Funny how that happens with great regularity.
Are You Too Proud To Collect Crumbs? [View article]
The initial trading rate at E*Trade (which I use) may be lower, while the per contract rate id the same as with Ameritrade.. Additionally, you do have to factor in the potential closing costs if assigned.
I will make those trades even if the net result is as low as $0.05/share, as my rationale is that I will end up with that much more money. Sometimes, I simply look at the result of the trade as paying for a night out rather than as a turning point in my investments.