Tech Stocks are Tumbling
Holy Cats! I haven’t written in a couple of days because I was holding onto the handrails as the tech stock world fell 10 stories in freefall! Recently we’ve seen the big number stocks like Micron, SK Hynix, and Western Digital falling 50 dollars a day. Intel, HPE, and others are falling fast too, just they didn’t have the big numbers but percentage wise, they are dropping about the same.
I don’t hold huge positions in these companies, but I am invested in many of them. I got in when they were much cheaper and was delighted (though skeptical) when they jumped so high. So, as I watch them go from 1000 dollars to 700 dollars, I am comforted by the knowledge that I only spent 150 dollars originally. The problem is that these are companies that I really believe in. I didn’t buy them because they were AI related, or that I knew they were going to take off in price. I bought them because I thought they were a great company, and because I use their products.
I admit, I am a tech type of guy. I like technology, and I always have. I was building Heathkits when I was 10 years old. I like tech! So when I started on this journey, I found myself buying tech stocks, primarily based on the fact that I used their products. I guess that makes me an emotional investor, which I am ok with.
Warren Buffet says…
I’ve heard that Warren Buffet says that you shouldn’t buy stocks, you should buy great companies. Because that’s what you are doing. You are buying a company. I don’t try to be Warren Buffet. He’s way out of my league. But he has some very smart ways of looking at things, and has some great advice. He looks for a great company based on financial reports, market trends, and all that stuff. I just look to see what they make and if I like it or not. In fact, it’s usually the other way around. Here is a great product, let me find out who makes it.
That has gotten me into trouble on several stocks, but I’m ok with supporting a company that’s losing stock price now, if I really like what they make. That’s why I went with a lot of tech stocks, because I used a lot of tech products.
I think Tech will come back
Sure, a lot of tech is tumbling this week, and it may take a long time to start to climb again. I can’t read the market any better than anyone else, but I believe! I am not selling out on my tech stocks, and I am probably buying some more as they are down pretty far right now. I just don’t know yet. My money is limited and I need to make smart choices.
Let’s talk Agriculture
A while ago, I learned about something called “Regenerative Agriculture” and I looked at the results. There are so many benefits to the way that it works, but it’s just a little difficult to convince farmers who have done the same thing for centuries, to change. But for me, it’s using the earth in the way it was intended. I can’t go into a long lecture here about it but you can look it up. There are programs that support the training and organizing of this manner of growing some of which are (or at least were) supported by government.
Right now, we have a president who doesn’t know that we need farms for food. He thinks food just happens at McDonalds. But I won’t get into that.
Anyway, when I hear that companies like FMC, Walmart, and General Mills are supporting efforts to make the changes happen, I want to support them! It’s stuff like that which keeps me involved with companies like them. Some might say that I’m just an old hippy to believe in such things. That’s ok. I will wear that badge.
Another product I will look at
Yesterday I was talking to a friend named Patrick. He is an older guy like me, and he was thrilled with his latest purchase of shoes. He said that it has made a huge improvement in his walking capabilities. I have the same kind of issues (since we are both getting up there in age) and I think I’m going to go get a pair. My wife has been wearing them for a while, but when he brought it up and raved about how much better his walking was, well, it made got me interested.
They are a sneaker that are advertised as easy to slip on and off without the back collapsing on you. They are Skechers and I don’t know who makes them yet, but I think that I will try a pair and if they are helpful, then I will hunt them down and buy some stock if I can. I just hope they have stocks. But I will try the shoes anyway since Patrick was so happy with them.
My changing strategy
I am still working on changing my strategy to be a income investor looking for cash flow over net gains in stocks. But I reserve the right to do some emotional investing along the way! So far, I am making some changes based on my new direction, and I am looking for more. Lately I have changed some of my automatic re-investment of dividends and am making decisions on what to buy based on the ability of the company to provide dividends. More on that later as I progress. I hope this works out!
