$LLY looks like a double top and was just in a stage 6. Looks tired.
$Aspn is selling more of their product and is hoping to pick up GM. The only way to hold ASPN is to give it more room because it is very volatile.
$Snow
Looks like it is creating a cushion for me. Above the 21EMA and 50 sma with the 200SMA way above.
So, your expectation is that the 50dma provides support. If it fails and breaks your expectations, are you going to lock in your profits and wait for the next opportunity?
I am behind on my sell analysis. I sold $TOL on 8/16 due to IBD loss rule of 7-8%. I suspect the Fed will say good things about rates and it will pop (Friday), but I can’t sit on a loss. PHM is another good one to watch for rate news. I bought this a little high in the range, so that forced the sell (it was up 3.35% today). But because of that, I only bought a 1/3 position. Even though we had an FTD on 8/13, this did not really respond so I did not want to add more.
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Since this isn’t anywhere near an IBD trade I think that is a good idea Pete. I want to see just how much of a cushion I get. I might sell out early. Sort of like Cava. It is extended so want to see how far it runs before earnings. I am a little leary of both of them before earnings. No reason to make a winner a loser.
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Sold $MOGA during the downturn. I really liked it but had to raise cash in case the market kept falling. Discipline. I only had a 1/3 position because it jumped above the buy zone day after I bought that position. This was in the aerospace and infrastructure area and gave me diversity from tech. I could have bought back when it made it back over the 50dma on a big move, but I did not. That was 8/8, before the 8/13 FTD. So it goes.
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Sold out of Snow today for a 6.9% gain. I didn’t think it made sense to hold into earnings tomorrow. To much of a gamble with so little of a gain.
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Sold $VSEC on 8/1 as it tanked below 50dma after earnings. That day, it had an upside reversal so I did not sell, but should have. Sold on 8/2 for 10.47% loss, had 1/2 position. Obviously I did not know the market would start a bad slide, but it probably had a 7-8% loss on 8/1 and I ignored the rules. Shame on me. I did buy some high in the buy zone, but the team often talks about pyramiding in as a stock proves itself. E.G. 50% at pivot, 30% a little higher up and 20% a little higher if it is proving itself.
Another I had to sell going into decline was $GE. IBD was taking down the exposure level and this was a weak holding that fell below the 50dma the day before Ugly Monday. Another half position holding, 9.08% loss. Still has strong rankings and could be bought back if Powell makes us happy Friday.
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Seeing Biotech stocks breaking out but if you do not like the individual stocks take a look at $XBI it looks ready to take off too.
Good job, down 8% after earnings tonight. That is well below the 50dma line. Has some repair work to do. Maybe mid-October it will be ready.
Pete I have thought about this. It was more about limiting risk than being a good job. It could very well have gone up 20 percent but I would still have been happy with my decision. Now Cava reports tomorrow and I am up 4.18%. I thought it would take off when I bought it but it really hasn’t jumped up. But I am thinking of holding it because it is a very strong stock. The RS is at a 98 and rising. The funds are buying in. but I still have my stop set at $93.81 so my risk is low. Still thinking it over.
One issue that always comes up about stops is if they are stop limits or orders. Stop limits will only activate at that price, so if it gaps down, it may not activate. You’ll still have the stock. If a stop order, the price will activate a sale at that price or the current market price below the trigger and again, if it gaps down, the actual sales price can be lower. Just a point for those not use to using stops.
Lakedog
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Agree, I am still holding my recent buys and do have faith in the growth. SG reported well recently and CAVA is another new “fad” that has a good quarter and next few years.
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Good point Lake and that does happen. I write down my stops and set them also more to limit my risk. But if it does gap down the chances of having to sell lower are very high. What I found out if I didn’t set them then I would keep hedging by saying to myself I will sell when it bounces back. Not a good mind set to be in when a stock keeps dropping.
Hey Pete, Do you have a rule about holding an investment through earnings?
APP crossed it’s pivot point but pulled back into the base. I have been watching this one for awhile and it has good fund participation and earnings growth. I finally pulled the trigger at $91.20 /$86.64. Might have been to hasty. As Lake says amateurs buy early in the day, pro’s wait.
Andy, IBD guidance is to base it on your profit margin, if it goes down 10%, how bad are you hurt? I pay attention to that advice, but also will take my chances sometimes, so no hard and fast rule. I will try to avoid buying a stock with earnings in the next week or so, but I also bought CAVA with earnings do because I have more faith in its growth 
You can also sell and replace with short term, at the money calls.
I am looking at the Fed Speak from Jackson Hole as a big earnings report for the entire market. I have sold some minor non-IBD holdings to have cash ready for a disappointment dip. Also, September is historically the worst month, so maybe that impacts my thoughts.
I keep running through my IBD holdings and talking to myself about keeping or selling. I have some regrets about buying LLY before the FED, If I sell now I break even and can buy back.
So, thinking out loud:
GVA - good profits, can hold
SE - probably impacted by interest rates. Ok profits. don’t know
SHAK - not a lot of cushion.
LLY - break even. Should probably sell to have the cash. (just sold)
CARR - slight profits. Near a new buy point. I could sell, the if it breaks out on Fed, buy it back.
CAVA - up 4%, I am holding through earnings tonight, so we will see how I feel tomorrow.
RACE - 6.9% profit, not impacted on 8/5 slide. Keep
SPOT - 1.54% profit. Not doing anything. Sold.
TDG - 1/3 position on early buy. about even. Will keep and take my chances.
ONON - 1/3 early position, about even, will keep and take my chances.
MELI - up 8% on small position. Keep
AEM - good profits, gold minor. Keep
NVDA - small profits on recent adds. Earnings coming up. All early buys. Hmmm. Sell my recent adds. Ugh…
That puts me at about 30% cash in my IBD account.
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