3 US Stocks that Power Boosted my Portfolio

Stock Booster

Stocks	Average Price Bought	Period	Price Sold	Period	Profit %
Las Vegas Sands	$16.15	2009	$59.50	2017	368%
Bank of America	$12.30	2011	$24.70	2017	200%
Wendys	$4.70	2012	$14.70	2017	313%

There were many stocks bought and sell during 2008 to 2009. It was not the best strategy to use. Most stocks bought and sold average about 150% profit. However, I do have to emphasize that there were also some stock that I lost while investing. It's human nature and the key is to learn how to remind yourself to control the emotion. 

So here we show US Stocks that profited at least 200% and above. These stocks boosted my portfolio significantly. I sold most of my earlier stocks in 2017 to realign my investment portfolio in Tech stocks which is my current portfolio here.

LAS VEGAS SANDS (LVS)

This was the most exciting stock I ever bought. On 7 Nov 2008, LVS announce possible bankruptcy and it nosedive to USD 3.23 on 21 Nov 2008. 

This was in my newsfeed because Singapore was building MBS during this period and construction was at a standstill after LVS made the announcement that it may bankrupt. 

Singapore PM then made the announcement that MBS will be fully supported to ensure construction would be completed and open in April 2010. This vote of confidence fully demonstrates that the casinos had to be completed. This was an indication or a hunch that LVS may survive with support to complete MBS. 

In Jan 2009, I bought at USD 5.75 when the price sort of stabilise. I continue to buy over the next few months averaging at USD 16.15. I continue to hold the stock and receive dividends for 7 years before i decided to sell to realign my investment portfolio. 

As much as you want to buy really LOW and sell really HIGH, you have to read and feel the pulse on the ground. In this situation with a government giving full backing to complete the MBS project, you would have an idea that this was going to be a good buy. In Singapore, you could know that MBS must be a success and the government was dead serious to ensure that it will be. 

I'm still on the look out for amazing buys and this was the best example I had experienced. 

Bank of America (BAC)

I couldn't pinpoint why this was bought but it was on my watchlist since 2008 because it was fluctuating. At one point it was at USD 5. Normally, the gameplan was to keep track the stock and review the past 6 months stability. 

So probably it was stable at the USD 10.00 and i bought it at USD 12.30 in April 2011. Then it nosedive to USD 5.00 when they had controversy after controversy.

Instead of panicking and selling off, I just kept it for 7 years. When it was time to realign my portfolio, it was a tidy profit.

Wendys (WEN)

Wendys reopened in Singapore in 2009. Previously it was operating in Singapore in the 1980s and it closed down. 

When it opened outlets from 2009 to 2012, you can feel the excitement or noticeable trends on the Wendys burger. That is when I put it on my watchlist. I decided that there was demand for it. But you have to understand that Singapore is such a tiny market and people taste in F&B here are very fickle minded. I went ahead to buy at USD 4.70 in 2012 anyway because I was occasionally eating Wendys and I thought it was good. 

True enough, Wendys winded down its operations in 2015. But still, the company was doing well because it had expanded in Asia and likely did well in other countries.

I believe they didn't capture a customer base monopolized by Mac Donalds, Burger King and many fast food eateries. 

Anyway, I sold it for a very good profit. 

So Shake Shack came to Singapore recently and I would expect to fare worse than Wendys. 

Firstly, I was unimpressed by the burger. It was definitely way overhyped. 

Also, the market here is tiny and highly competitive. But let's see because Shake Shack announce to open its third outlet.

Summary

As for most stocks that I invest, I just follow the 3 Simple Ways outlined here. As I have to worked, it would be quite troublesome to spend too much time to study and analyse on the financial aspect of the company. 

Sometimes it is just the feel on the ground and the latest developments you notice where you stay and how these stocks will improve. 

US Stocks are good to invest because they are transparent in the stock market. These have been in the stock market for nearly 100 years and they are internationally traded. It will be difficult to be manipulated by single entity. That is important as a retail investor.

Stocks in other countries will be difficult to assess and this will be covered more in my next blog. 

In hindsight, I think I should have held on for a longer period. But in 2017, I decide to reassess and realign my portfolio because there is a new wave coming and we needed to be prepared. 

~tschuss