Helping young people to become wealthy on the pocket change they waste.

 

Gaffer's Portfolio 

November 30, 2009

 

It's difficult to know whether to be glad or embarrassed! Eleven months into test, the portfolio has outstripped the S&P 500 Index by more than 100%.

I tried to choose the various stocks, as you know from previous comments, as a rank beginner might. In fact, with the lack of research I thought I might be handcuffing myself.

Each stock started with an arbitrary investment of $1,000. Since then, $100 has been added to each.

Walmart is a slivver above breakeven and two others are losing: Verizon fractionally but Vulcan Materials is off a bundle: 34.95% overall despite my assumption it would do well because of stimulus money. It probably will...eventually!

Vulcan is useful to demonstrate the value of a diversified portfolio. Had we invested in this single stock, we would probably have been ready to jump off the nearest bridge by now, especially after seeing how well the rest of the market has done in the period.

But, even counting Vulcan's drag, the portfolio as a whole is up 45.6% annualized. That allows us to be patient with Vulcan. It's easy to be magnanimous under those conditions!

A month from now, the portfolio will reach its first anniversary. The day after that, it will be rebalanced, locking in some of the profits where they exist and moving more money into laggards such as Vulcan, Verizon and Wall-Mart.

Taking some profit in Freeport-McMoRan, up more than three times the money invested in it over the year, is probably a good move too. And all of this done with no debate, no worry or agonizing, no thought. Gradually, over time, we guarantee buying relatively low and selling relatively high. 

Company Original purchase price   Company background   2008 price range   Recent price   Number of shs held   Recent value
Caterpillar, Inc. (CAT) $44.67 The company is engaged in construction & mining equipment, diesel & natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines in its size range. It operates in 3 principal lines of business: Machinery, Engines and Financial Products. $31.95 - $85.96 58.39 25.6597 1,498.27
Diana Shipping, Inc. (DSX) $12.76 The Company is engaged in the ocean transportation of dry bulk cargoes worldwide through the ownership and operation of bulk carrier vessels. $6.85 - $41.10 15.55 85.0101 1,321.91
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc. (FCX) $24.44 Through its subsidiaries, the Company engages in the exploration, mining, and production of copper, gold, and silver. It also smelts and refines copper concentrates, and markets the refined copper products. $15.70 - $127.24 82.80 43.0921 3,568.02
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS) $84.39 Global investment bank, securities and investment management firm that provides a wide range of services worldwide to a substantial and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments and high-net-worth individuals. $47.41 - $216.79 169.66 12.6005 2,137.81
The Home Depot, Inc. (HD) $23.02 The Company is a home improvement retailer,which operates in two reportable segments, Retail and HD Supply. $17.05 - $31.08 27.36 48.7018 1,332.48
Intel Corp (INTC) $14.66 The Company develops advanced integrated digital technology platforms and components, primarily integrated circuits, for the computing and communications industries. $12.06 - $27.42 19.20 73.3437 1,408.20
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) $59.83 Engaged in the research and development, manufacture and sale of a range of products in the health care field in many countries of the world. $52.06 - $72.76 62.84 18.4176 1,157.36
Korea Electric Power (KEP) $11.61 Korea Electric Power Corporation, an integrated electric utility company, engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity; and development of electric power resources in the Republic of Korea. As of December 31, 2007, the company  $6.89 - $21.99 13.72 93.5039 1,282.87
Kraft Foods, Inc. (KFT) $26.85 The Company, through its subsidiaries, is engaged in the manufacture and sale of branded foods and beverages in the United States, Canada, Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. $24.75 - $34.97 26.58 42.9845 1,142.53
Nike, Inc. (NKE) $51.00 The Company designs, develops and markets footwear, apparel, equipment, and accessory products. $42.68 - $70.60 64.89 21.3854 1,387.70
PepsiCo, Inc. (PEP) $54.77 A global snack and beverage company. The Company manufactures, markets and sells a variety of salty, convenient, sweet and grain-based snacks, carbonated and non-carbonated beverages and foods. $49.74 - $79.79 62.22 20.3340 1,265.18
Potash Corp./Saskatchewan (USA) (POT) $73.22 An integrated fertilizer and related industrial and feed products company. $47.54 - $241.62 112.42 14.7628 1,659.63
Schlumberger Limited (ADR) (SLB) $42.33 An oilfield services company, supplying technology, project management and information solutions that optimize performance in the oil and gas industry. It consists of two business segments: Schlumberger Oilfield Services and WesternGeco. $37.07 - $111.95 63.89 25.2259 1,611.68
Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (ADR) (STP) $11.70 A solar energy company that designs, develops, manufactures and market a variety of PV cells and modules. Also provides PV system integration services in China. $5.36 - $90.00 14.95 92.4336 1,381.88
Toyota Motor Corp (ADR) (TM) $65.44 The Company is engaged in the design, manufacture, and sale of sedans, compact cars, sport-utility vehicles, trucks & related parts & accessories throughout the world. It also provides financing, vehicle and equipment leasing & other financial services. $55.41 - $117.59 78.54 17.0387 1,338.22
Transocean, Inc. (RIG) $47.25 The Company is an international provider of offshore contract drilling services for oil and gas wells. Its primary business is to contract the drilling rigs, related equipment and work crews primarily on a dayrate basis to drill oil and gas wells. $41.95 - $163.00 85.39 22.7064 1,938.90
..  -
Ultra Petroleum Corp. (UPL) $34.51 An independent oil and gas company engaged in the development, production, operation, exploration and acquisition of oil and natural gas properties. $28.85 - $102.81 46.99 31.5702 1,483.48
Union Pacific Corp (UNP) $47.80 The Company owns transportation companies. The Railroad, along with its subsidiaries and rail affiliates, is its reportable operating segment. $41.84 - $85.80 63.26 23.2274 1,469.36
Verizon Communications, Inc. (VZ) $33.90 The Company is a provider of communications services. $23.07 - $44.50 31.46 34.5121 1,085.75
Vulcan Materials Company (VMC) $69.58 The Company is a producer of construction aggregates and a major producer of asphalt mix and concrete. Its business consists of the production, distribution and sale of construction aggregates and other construction materials and related services. $39.52 - $100.25 48.48 16.8137 815.13
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (WMT) $56.06 The Company operates retail stores in various formats around the world. Wal-Mart Stores retail formats include: Discount Stores, Supercenters, and Neighborhood Markets. $43.11 - $63.85 54.55 20.2444 1,104.33
Total: 31,390.71
To November 30, 2009, S&P 500 Index up 21.30%
Gaffer's portfolio annualized return on investment 45.60%
Begun January 1, 2009, with $20,000. Adding $200 each month end.
Similar results cannot be guaranteed for you. All investment carries some risk.
Portfolio annualized return on investment 1 month S&P 500 change 1 month portfolio change S&P 500 change y.t.d.  Portfolio value, $20,000 on December 31, 2008
S&P500 index 45.60%
31-Dec-08 903.25
30-Jan-09 825.88 Above calculation is based on $20,000 initial capital, reinvested dividends and fresh investment of $200 each month.                                    -8.57% -2.47% -8.57%
27-Feb-09 735.09 -10.99% -7.34% -18.62%
31-Mar-09 797.83 8.54% -11.67%
30-Apr-09 871.81 9.27% 13.09% -3.61%
29-May-09 919.14 5.43% 0.83% 1.76% 24,127.80
30-Jun-09 896.42 -2.53% 4.96% 0.76% 25,524.58
31-Jul-09 987.48 10.16% 9.10% 9.32% 28,046.79
31-Aug-09 1,020.62 3.36% 0.72% 12.99% 31,390.71
30-Sep-09 1,057.08 3.57% -1.51% 17.03% 28,677.48
30-Oct-09 1,036.19 -1.98% 2.10% 14.72% 29,268.98
30-Nov-09 1,095.63 5.74% 6.29% 21.30% 31,111.44