$2,209,446!
Actually that's DOWN $64,619 in our paired Long and Short-Term Portfolios since our last review on November 18th but it's up $1,609,446 (268%) from our $600,000 start back on October 1st, 2019 so, on the whole – we're in pretty good shape and playing defensively to protect our gains in what I still consider to be a dangerous market. The past few weeks have been an excellent example of WHY we hedge. Having our hedges in place not only allowed us to ride out the dip with our longs but it gave us cover to add new positions when stocks went on sale – as well as improving the positions we had. In fact, if the pre-market rally holds up this morning – we should have enough gains in the LTP to recover our deficit.
It's been our busiest month in a long time as the Thanksgiving dip was our first real chance to bargain shop since September and we took full advantage of it, adding 4 short puts and 15 bullish positions (up from 25 total) to our LTP in November and December. After sitting with CASH!!! on the side for so long – it felt good to be back in the game. Patience is the hardest thing I have to teach our Members – the lessons take a very long time to take hold. IBM, for example, was our Trade of the Year in 2018 as they were under $120 at Thanksgiving but they hit $150 and we got out and then they went below $120 again when the virus hit and we bought them again but got out at $140 and then we waited again and, this Thanksgiving, $115 made them our Trade of the Year again, for 2022:
Obviously we love IBM, but not so much that we don't know when they are overpriced and, just like our children – we sell them when the price is right. Well no, that's the problem people have with stocks – they think they are children but they are not – and you DO need to sell them when you make a nice profit. Stocks don't love you and you shouldn't love them – remember that…
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