Rumors of the demise of 'buy & hold' investing have been greatly exaggerated, to say the least. This strategy is as relevant in the current pandemic market environment as it is in normal times.
Stocks have made a strong recovery since the March 23rd bottom, with all the major indexes now at or close to pre-pandemic levels. This rebound followed the sharpest market downturn in history, in which stocks lost more than a third of their value after peaking on February 19th.
The tens of thousands of new investors that have entered the market during the COVID-driven shelter-in-place environment appear to have gravitated towards active trading instead of building long-term portfolios. They seem to have bought into claims from purveyors of market timing who never tire of reminding us that the ‘buy & hold’ investment strategy was no longer relevant to the current environment.
It is important to remember that long-term investing, particularly a 'buy & hold' approach, remains as relevant today as it has ever been. And notwithstanding naysayers' claims to the contrary, empirical evidence continues to show the long-term superiority of this investing strategy over any other approach.
But to adequately benefit from this tested and proven strategy, investors need to guard against three major pitfalls. Here they are:
1) 'Buy & Hold' Doesn't Mean 'Buy & Forget’
Staying engaged with your portfolio is a must. Investing for the long run doesn't mean that you lose sight of developments in your portfolio. The 'buy & forget' mantra is a simplified take on the typically long holding horizons of investment icons such as Warren Buffett.
Buffett may be in the habit of keeping his investments for the long term, but he stays fully tuned into what's happening in each of his holdings. While the Oracle of Omaha is no doubt one of the most successful and famous exponents of the 'buy & hold' investing approach, he is by no means the only one. All of the successful practitioners of this approach stay well-informed of what is going on with each of their holdings and stay ready to make necessary adjustments as market conditions evolve.
More . . .
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Notification of Release: 5 Stocks Set to Double
Five Zacks' experts each revealed their single favorite stock with the best chance to gain +100% and more in the months ahead. For example, one is a revolutionary tech giant that controls 80% of the market share in its region and has 14 of 14 analysts shouting Buy.
Today, you are invited to download the just-released Special Report that names these stocks and spotlights why their gain potential is so exceptional.
See Stocks Now >>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2) Don't Fall for the 'Buy What You Know' Mantra
Guard against the simplistic beauty of the 'buy what you know' mantra; another one of those skin-deep lessons learned from Warren Buffett's investment style.
Adherents of this 'philosophy' load up on stocks from a bunch of companies whose products they use. And then they keep those stocks forever, a la Buffett who has famously hung onto his investment holdings for years.
Being familiar with a company's product(s) is a useful, but not necessary, starting point to 'knowing' the stock as an investment opportunity. The decision to buy the company's stock should follow a thorough, due diligence process that gives you a solid appreciation of the company's prospects, competitive position and the proper value of its stock, particularly in the context of the portfolio as a whole.
In fact, studies show that people have a crippling blind spot when it comes to stocks that they think they know. Too often they will overlook the negatives of the firm because they have fallen in love with the stock. Love is nice in your personal life, but there is no place for passion and emotions while evaluating stocks.
3) Stick with a Plan
Avoid haphazardly or randomly filling your portfolio with stocks you like. Always build your portfolio around an investment outlook and stay ready to make adjustments should that outlook change.
I am not suggesting that you need to have an elaborate and explicit outlook for GDP growth in the next quarter or year, but you absolutely need to have a base-case sense for the economy and the market.
For example, we are experiencing an economic downturn whose severity will raise solvency concerns for many companies in industries that are victims of social-distancing policies like airlines, hotels, restaurants, etc. But we know that the unprecedented fiscal and monetary stimulus provides more than sufficient ‘bridge’ for the economy to bounce back at the other end of this downturn.
In other words, if you have a longer holding horizon, it hardly matters whether the shape of the recovery resembles a ‘V’ or a ‘U’, i.e., an instant recovery or a slowly unfolding one. What matters is that there will be a recovery and many of these companies will thrive if they have the financial wherewithal to withstand the next few months of pain.
And you must stay nimble and flexible enough to adjust your positions should your outlook change.
Putting It All Together
Please keep each of these pitfalls in mind while putting together your stock portfolio to increase your odds of success. Note that we here at Zacks have been successfully managing a number of long-term investing portfolios that practice such ‘buy and hold’ investing strategies, one of which is our Top 10 Stocks portfolio. It features the 10 best stocks to buy and hold this year and includes picks that have climbed +90.2%, +161.1% and as much as +187.6% so far this year.*
All of our long-term portfolios are part of the unique arrangement called Zacks Investor Collection which gives you access to the picks and commentary from all of our long-term portfolios in real time for the next 30 days. Plus, it includes Zacks Premium research so you can find winning stocks, ETFs and mutual funds on your own.
Here’s another great head start: With your 30-day trial you can download our just-released Special Report, 5 Stocks Set to Double, free.
Each is the personal favorite of a Zacks expert to have the best chance to gain +100% and more in the months ahead:
Stock #1 - Revolutionary Tech Giant Dominates Region
It blew Q1 estimates out of the water and still has an incredibly attractive valuation. Yet it already controls 80% of the market share in its region and is expanding steadily. 14 of 14 analysts are shouting Buy.
Stock #2 - Emerging Biopharma Stock Could Triple
Young small-cap has promising therapies in the pipeline for liver diseases with no known treatments. Big banks significantly “de-risked” the stock, and its average Wall Street target exceeds its current price 3X over.
Stock #3 - Cloud-Software Sensation Set to Skyrocket
Thrives on remote working which could be the norm even after the pandemic subsides. With users in 180 countries and soaring revenues, it recently stunned investors with a $600 million stock buyback plan.
Stock #4 - Industry-Best Shipper Primed for Energy Turnaround
Small, nimble, and growing, it has the best and newest fleet. Before taking a hit from reduced energy demand, it traded at 2X its current price. Now shares are starting to swing upward. Don’t miss the full-blown rebound.
Stock #5 - 75% of Americans Aged 13-34 Use This App
Global social media company rides 4 unstoppable forces: digital ad spending, mobile gaming, augmented reality, and smartphone usage. Just inked new deals with Disney, ESPN, ViacomCBS, NBCUniversal, and more.
The earlier you get into these stocks the higher their profit potential. Also, the opportunity to download 5 Stocks Set to Double free ends Sunday, August 2.
Start now with Zacks Investor Collection and 5 Stocks Set to Double >>
Happy Investing,
Sheraz Mian
Sheraz Mian is the Director of Research. He manages the Zacks Equity Research team of analysts and is one of the country’s leading analysts of aggregate corporate earnings. He manages the Zacks Focus List and Top 10 portfolios.
*As of market close on July 28, 2020.
Image: Bigstock
Avoiding the 3 Pitfalls of 'Buy & Hold' Investing
Rumors of the demise of 'buy & hold' investing have been greatly exaggerated, to say the least. This strategy is as relevant in the current pandemic market environment as it is in normal times.
Stocks have made a strong recovery since the March 23rd bottom, with all the major indexes now at or close to pre-pandemic levels. This rebound followed the sharpest market downturn in history, in which stocks lost more than a third of their value after peaking on February 19th.
The tens of thousands of new investors that have entered the market during the COVID-driven shelter-in-place environment appear to have gravitated towards active trading instead of building long-term portfolios. They seem to have bought into claims from purveyors of market timing who never tire of reminding us that the ‘buy & hold’ investment strategy was no longer relevant to the current environment.
It is important to remember that long-term investing, particularly a 'buy & hold' approach, remains as relevant today as it has ever been. And notwithstanding naysayers' claims to the contrary, empirical evidence continues to show the long-term superiority of this investing strategy over any other approach.
But to adequately benefit from this tested and proven strategy, investors need to guard against three major pitfalls. Here they are:
1) 'Buy & Hold' Doesn't Mean 'Buy & Forget’
Staying engaged with your portfolio is a must. Investing for the long run doesn't mean that you lose sight of developments in your portfolio. The 'buy & forget' mantra is a simplified take on the typically long holding horizons of investment icons such as Warren Buffett.
Buffett may be in the habit of keeping his investments for the long term, but he stays fully tuned into what's happening in each of his holdings. While the Oracle of Omaha is no doubt one of the most successful and famous exponents of the 'buy & hold' investing approach, he is by no means the only one. All of the successful practitioners of this approach stay well-informed of what is going on with each of their holdings and stay ready to make necessary adjustments as market conditions evolve.
More . . .
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notification of Release: 5 Stocks Set to Double
Five Zacks' experts each revealed their single favorite stock with the best chance to gain +100% and more in the months ahead. For example, one is a revolutionary tech giant that controls 80% of the market share in its region and has 14 of 14 analysts shouting Buy.
Today, you are invited to download the just-released Special Report that names these stocks and spotlights why their gain potential is so exceptional.
See Stocks Now >>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2) Don't Fall for the 'Buy What You Know' Mantra
Guard against the simplistic beauty of the 'buy what you know' mantra; another one of those skin-deep lessons learned from Warren Buffett's investment style.
Adherents of this 'philosophy' load up on stocks from a bunch of companies whose products they use. And then they keep those stocks forever, a la Buffett who has famously hung onto his investment holdings for years.
Being familiar with a company's product(s) is a useful, but not necessary, starting point to 'knowing' the stock as an investment opportunity. The decision to buy the company's stock should follow a thorough, due diligence process that gives you a solid appreciation of the company's prospects, competitive position and the proper value of its stock, particularly in the context of the portfolio as a whole.
In fact, studies show that people have a crippling blind spot when it comes to stocks that they think they know. Too often they will overlook the negatives of the firm because they have fallen in love with the stock. Love is nice in your personal life, but there is no place for passion and emotions while evaluating stocks.
3) Stick with a Plan
Avoid haphazardly or randomly filling your portfolio with stocks you like. Always build your portfolio around an investment outlook and stay ready to make adjustments should that outlook change.
I am not suggesting that you need to have an elaborate and explicit outlook for GDP growth in the next quarter or year, but you absolutely need to have a base-case sense for the economy and the market.
For example, we are experiencing an economic downturn whose severity will raise solvency concerns for many companies in industries that are victims of social-distancing policies like airlines, hotels, restaurants, etc. But we know that the unprecedented fiscal and monetary stimulus provides more than sufficient ‘bridge’ for the economy to bounce back at the other end of this downturn.
In other words, if you have a longer holding horizon, it hardly matters whether the shape of the recovery resembles a ‘V’ or a ‘U’, i.e., an instant recovery or a slowly unfolding one. What matters is that there will be a recovery and many of these companies will thrive if they have the financial wherewithal to withstand the next few months of pain.
And you must stay nimble and flexible enough to adjust your positions should your outlook change.
Putting It All Together
Please keep each of these pitfalls in mind while putting together your stock portfolio to increase your odds of success. Note that we here at Zacks have been successfully managing a number of long-term investing portfolios that practice such ‘buy and hold’ investing strategies, one of which is our Top 10 Stocks portfolio. It features the 10 best stocks to buy and hold this year and includes picks that have climbed +90.2%, +161.1% and as much as +187.6% so far this year.*
All of our long-term portfolios are part of the unique arrangement called Zacks Investor Collection which gives you access to the picks and commentary from all of our long-term portfolios in real time for the next 30 days. Plus, it includes Zacks Premium research so you can find winning stocks, ETFs and mutual funds on your own.
Here’s another great head start: With your 30-day trial you can download our just-released Special Report, 5 Stocks Set to Double, free.
Each is the personal favorite of a Zacks expert to have the best chance to gain +100% and more in the months ahead:
Stock #1 - Revolutionary Tech Giant Dominates Region
It blew Q1 estimates out of the water and still has an incredibly attractive valuation. Yet it already controls 80% of the market share in its region and is expanding steadily. 14 of 14 analysts are shouting Buy.
Stock #2 - Emerging Biopharma Stock Could Triple
Young small-cap has promising therapies in the pipeline for liver diseases with no known treatments. Big banks significantly “de-risked” the stock, and its average Wall Street target exceeds its current price 3X over.
Stock #3 - Cloud-Software Sensation Set to Skyrocket
Thrives on remote working which could be the norm even after the pandemic subsides. With users in 180 countries and soaring revenues, it recently stunned investors with a $600 million stock buyback plan.
Stock #4 - Industry-Best Shipper Primed for Energy Turnaround
Small, nimble, and growing, it has the best and newest fleet. Before taking a hit from reduced energy demand, it traded at 2X its current price. Now shares are starting to swing upward. Don’t miss the full-blown rebound.
Stock #5 - 75% of Americans Aged 13-34 Use This App
Global social media company rides 4 unstoppable forces: digital ad spending, mobile gaming, augmented reality, and smartphone usage. Just inked new deals with Disney, ESPN, ViacomCBS, NBCUniversal, and more.
The earlier you get into these stocks the higher their profit potential. Also, the opportunity to download 5 Stocks Set to Double free ends Sunday, August 2.
Start now with Zacks Investor Collection and 5 Stocks Set to Double >>
Happy Investing,
Sheraz Mian
Sheraz Mian is the Director of Research. He manages the Zacks Equity Research team of analysts and is one of the country’s leading analysts of aggregate corporate earnings. He manages the Zacks Focus List and Top 10 portfolios.
*As of market close on July 28, 2020.