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A criteria for picking profitable stocks

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7 March 2008
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I bet you are wondering what criteria I use to pick my potential money making shares? Ok I will list them for you very briefly.

1. Adhere to your written down plan for buying and selling shares. I.e. The amount you are going to spend.

Have a stop loss in place (This is the amount you can afford to lose if things go the wrong way. 2% of the total value of your portfolio is a good guideline)

The % profit you want to make after allowing for brokerage etc.

The time frame you would like. (Not always possible) for the total transaction. Is it short, medium or long term?

The number of shares you want. (This depends also on your capital constraints)

Diversify don’t invest just in one area. Spread your risk over different types of companies. So if resources go downwards and you have Banks and Retail in your portfolio the chances of all thee going downwards are very slim.

Unless of course there is a general market crash then every thing goes down. Thank God they are not too common.

2. When I pick a stock one criteria I like is the stock to have the last high in the share price has been higher that the one the day before. I do this for a minimum of three days to five days consecutively. Plus the same for the troughs, I like each trough to be higher than the one the previous day.

3 Plenty of liquidity meaning a good volume of shares has exchanged hands recently.

4 Buyers outnumber sellers. If the other way round, the share price will drop downwards for sure.

4 Recent news or rumours of news .i.e. Takeovers, profits etc. Only good news of course.

5 Directors buying shares {not selling} in the last 2 to 3 weeks.

6 The “Trend Lines” show a definite trend upwards. If in doubt don’t trade.

7 A visual look {the old “eye ball test”} at the most recent chart, preferably over the last month’s performance.

Again if in any doubt drop the share till next time; just add it to watch list.

I have around 30 to 40 companies currently on my watch list. I whittle them down to around 3 -4 using those basic criteria above.

It is not a hard a fast criteria, make up some of your own preferences. Mine is just to give you a very basic idea to help you get started.

When it all boils down to it, there are no guarantees we are just working on the “Probability” of the share price going upwards.

NB If it is only 50- 50 probability don’t bother this is a share going sideways and you might as well toss a coin because you are now gambling.

If a share is going downwards I use the probability of 70% of it continuing that way, 20 % chance of going sideways, 10% going upwards.

The next is probability I use for an “Upwards” moving share price is 70% to continue upwards and 30% probability of either going sideways or downwards.

Remember these are only guidelines; if things don’t go to plan that is when you implement a “stop loss” (see past article if you want to know more on this.)

This article turned out longer than I expected it to, but if it helps you to make more successful trades then it is all worthwhile. Just remember me when you make your first million.
 
Re: A Criteria For Picking Profitable Stocks.

I bet you are wondering what criteria I use to pick my potential money making shares? Ok I will list them for you very briefly.

Not really, but thanks for posting anyway.

Why have you regurgitated something you wrote last month
 
Re: A Criteria For Picking Profitable Stocks.

Not really, but thanks for posting anyway.

Why have you regurgitated something you wrote last month

yeh looks familiar...always interesting to see peoples systems tho....theres always something you can take away from it, either something to possibly utilize or rule out entirely...

for example hes said diversify but i tend to carry 4-6 in my portfolio and jsut keep them under close watch with tightish stops... no point diversifying if you have to spread your capital to thin and your 'bet' isnt worthwhile
 

Is this a joke?

The number of shares you buy will depend on your % risk + capital base. It could also depend on a delta scaling method such as fixed ratio, max drawdown plus % max psychological drawdown such as fixed capital, or on a fixed volatility MM technique would depend on the ATR and what MA period you use.

Markets don't move down all at once too often? Have you been under a rock the last few months?

4) WTF? How do you know if buyers outnumber sellers, are you simply looking at DOM?

6) Trendlines going upwards or downwards? What trendlines? An MA and what period do you use or are you talking about a trend channel?

If a share is going upwards and downwards, how do you define "upwards" or "downwards", by a MA and what period?

Where do you get your 'probabilities' from?

This 'system' needs an aweful lot of explanation if anybody was seriously going to contemplate using it to make their 'first million'
 

i think your getting too picky with stock selection id just focus on minimising your losses with a solid stop loss system and now worry about win percentage as much.... no point having your win/loss ration really high if you lose all your capital with no use of stop loss/money management
 
Prior to investing on a mutual fund it is always advisable that you go into some market research.Every functional unit in the investment sector will promote their business.What matters here is the offer document that is provided to you at the time of the deal.Always remember that Mutual Fund Investments are subjected to Market Risks,hence it is important that you read the offer document carefully before you invest.If possible take the help of a financial adviser,may be that will help you to understand things in a clear perspective.
 
White, I think stop losses were covered near the top, though no mention of placement other than a 2% of capital regardless of individual trade circumstances.

Franklin, where did the mutual funds come into it...........should I click on your link in your sig?
 
White - what do you mean re picky re stock selection? I'm learning and working on developing a system. I see some on ASF who list 1001 things to consider, and others who have what appers to be minimalist systems.

I think I have my head wrapped around the importance of money management (stop losses/% of capital/max loss per share) and I understand about taking a large enough positon to reduce the effect of costs. What I am still getting to grips with things like entry/exit/stock selection/just how much research (paralysis through analysis). Particularly entry and exit (though I take it exit is managed through stop losses/trailing losses).

And then just how many indicators/filters to use.

At this stage I'm not able to be a trader (time/work won't allow this) so have an investor POV. Am aiming to learn and develop some systems which I can test in real time so that in 2 or 3 years time I can be better placed to trade if I so wish

I'm interested in comments (MRC as well) of your views. Though comments like delta scale... just loses me.


I am getting through Van Tharp atm & can see where he's coming from. Haven't finished yet.
 
Its very complicated.............. define "going up". Buy when the share starts going up and sell it when it stops going up. Manage risk and don't worry.
 
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