Monthly Portfolio Performance Report

Two months have gone by, and after a market peak mid July, my stocks took a big hit, lowering my year to date return to +15.20% from a high of +26.74% on 07/13, and bringing my monthly losses to -6.02%.
Even with above expectation earning announcement my biggest loser was Volcom plunging -29.21%! The last time this stock lost a third of its value it went on a bull run, rising 140% over 11 months. This may well be an excellent buying opportunity, now that their European infrastructures are up and running the next quarterly earnings should bring a big upside surprise.

GOOG: -2.43%

NUAN: -1.49%

MRK: -0.30%

EEM: +1.12%

VLCM: -29.21%

GLD: +2.29%

COP: +2.98%

Monthly Portfolio Performance Report

I know it has been a while, but it was a good while. Markets are going in only one direction and it’s up…for now. We just went through a great month of May the DOW was the biggest gainer with + 4.5% followed by the S&P +3.33% who set new record highs for the first time since 2000, and the NASDAQ +3.12%.

As far as my holdings go, this is the first time this year I failed to beat the DOW, my portfolio had a + 4.4% return, due to a slight down turn in gold prices, but my YTD (year to date) return is still far above the markets (+17.38% compared with +9.52% for the DOW). My performance for May was as such:

GOOG: +7.40%

NUAN: +9.21%

MRK: +3.00%

EEM: +4.92%

VLCM: +2.95%

GLD: -2.56%

COP: +11.58%

For June I think there should be a slight correction in energy prices, at least until we see the first hurricane come through the Gulf of Mexico, and I would take a good look a tech and semi-conductors in particular, since a few of them are back to 2005 levels, right before they had a real good run up.

Good luck out there.

Monthly Portfolio Performance Report

Well it’s the beginning of a new month and I want to keep sharing how I did. Plus it keeps me honest about my stocks.

• GLD +2.27%
• COP –0.53%
• EEM –3.47%
• VLCM +13.03%
• GOOG –10.06%
• MRK –0.69%
• NUAN +22.67%

For a total weighted gain of +2.17%

Not that my biggest gainers were my smallest cap companies and that I am expecting a reversing trend for the month of March. I wouldn’t be surprised if I end up giving back most of these gains. I expect a lot of red ink this month, down 1.1% on the first day, and probably continue to slide until the fed decides to lower the rates hopefully in May.

I hope Google will bottom out, and energy prices will help lift Conoco.
I still think Merk is a not fully valued, the new drugs coming out indicates great potential, I think most analyst underestimate the sales the will generate.
Nuance has made an other acquisition, and I still expect a lot of upside down the road, and Volcom is just getting started its European growth, and I have a strong feeling the Volcom culture will integrate itself well. European youth will receive well this type of “we’re not the big bag corporations” attitude.

I do plan to take advantage of recent events to add a position, the bargains will be out there, I have a real interest for the financial industry, but I have not yet ruled anything out.

Stock Performance

The first month of the year has passed and it’s time to tally up the results. The portfolio that I managed as performed as such:

• GLD +2.56%
• COP –7.70%
• EEM –0.32%
• VLCM +9.91%
• GOOG +8.91%
• MRK +1.77%
• NUAN –0.94%

For a total weighted gain of +2.31%

My only concern for the month of February is the emerging markets. I’m afraid the long streak they are on is about to end, and I expect some below domestic return performance. As they say--most of the money comes at the end of a run, and I think this is what we are seeing right now. I have seen many TV reports praising the benefits of having emerging markets exposure, and heard enthusiasts pouring as much as 40% of their portfolio in international stocks.

It’s hard to imagine that the countries theses companies are established in will be supportive in economic hard times. A small recession could seriously impair their ability to grow, as I have seen it many times, popular and socialist governments will turn their attention to the neediest of the population instead of the fortune 500 (I don’t think the level of campaign donation by emerging markets countries could ever attain the levels seen in the U.S.).

Be wary of overexposure to one sector!