Stock tips, Ford

I bought a small amount of stock with Ford when it was like $1.41. My strategy was that the government would prop up the automakers and they had the best lineup to survive it all, I figured their stock would rise back to pre-2007 levels, in the 13's. I also wanted to stay in it long enough to avoid short term capital gains taxes. I saw 18 bucks, and figured they still had a great market share and fleet, and wanted to stay in it for a bit longer.

Well now it's back at 14. Not bad, but not as high as I've seen it by a large stretch. I know no automaker is a really good money making bet, so I am thinking of selling it. What say the masses? Do I wait it out? Is another recovery coming following QE3,QE4 and QE17?

Please, no politics, no agendas, no religion.

I'd say you've already made a 1000% profit, and just sell it.

Yah, you've done well. I've had a small amount of Ford stock for nearly 10 years now, and I very seriously considered adding to my position back when it was down where you bought it. I couldn't do it. I figured they'd go the way of GM and the stock would be worthless. Now I'm back to even.

I could see the stock running to 20 within a year, but it could just as well go the other way. I'd take your profits.

I'm holding onto mine, hell I bought more when it plunged ~3.5% the other day.

You're already way in the black, what's the harm of riding it out long-term?

SELL

1988RedT2 wrote: I figured they'd go the way of GM and the stock would be worthless.

I didn't do that well. I also bought some GM. I was an idiot, and under the impression that post-bankruptcy their stock would be converted. Whoops! At least my read on the market was right on.

Osterkraut wrote: I'm holding onto mine, hell I bought more when it plunged ~3.5% the other day. You're already way in the black, what's the harm of riding it out long-term?

At some point people are going to realize that automakers don't make any money anymore.

Way back when my sister was making like 15k/yeah, my Dad said, "Well, you made more than Ford did this year".

I firmly believe that when it all evens out cars are going to have to get more expensive or more de-contented for any of the mainstream carmakers to make any money at all.

Sell, and lock your gains in.

When it comes to investing, the difference between the winners and the losers is that the winners know when to sell and not get greedy. SELL.

So who buys stock when it is really, really high? I never understood that. Or the rest of the stock market.

people who think its going to continue going up

I'm not saying that it will be the best move to sell, but it is one of the smartest.

A guy I work with as a caddy was laid off from his job, but was doing okay because of his stock investments. He would be living extremely well--as in, retired in Naples at the age of 51--if he had been even smarter with them. Here is his quote that has always stuck with me: "Buy low, and sell high... I've got that buy low part down, it is the sell high that I keep forgetting!"

EDIT: One other thing that I will sometimes do: If I have $50 worth of stock in 2005, and in 2010 it is worth $500, I will sell $100 worth of it. That way I've got double my money back and still have quite a bit left in case it goes higher. Obviously these are just random numbers that are easy to use, and it is different for a college student who is just playing with his money than it is for someone with a family, but it is something to think about.

FYI there could be some negative spin coming to Ford this summer which could affect stock value.

We had an ISLAM educator speak to us over the weekend to esplain a little more about what ISLAM does or doesn't really say, mean or require in their religion and how to get along with Islamic people, but that is immaterial to the Ford content, except for the fact that they made us aware of an issue developing this summer.

Ford is the the major supporter of an Islamic festival held in Dearborne, Michigan. Why Dearborne you ask? It has the highest concentration of Muslims in the nation and is home to the largest Mosque in the U.S. Nationwide, Muslims make up only 1-3% of the population but at Dearborne they make up 33%. I didn't know that.

First of all let me say I'm not saying anything wrong about Islam, Chrisitianity or anything, I'm only telling you about a city issue that happens(ed) during the festival.

Since 2009 the city has bowed to Islamic pressures to keep "control" of the Christians to a degree way beyond the standards set for Muslims. A small group of Apologists (people who try to understand both sides and break down barriers between the religions so everyone can get along) went to the festival in 2009 and were harrassed, thrown out of Dodge and received numerous death threats. The harrassing and being thrown out of Dodge was performed by the Security forces. No one knows who sent the death threats.

At this particular event the Imams and the Apologists were sitting down to a cordial debate and the Imams had no issue with the Apologists being there. Security stormed in and hauled the Apologists off while destroying most of the video shot. (a 1st amendment issue)

I've seen the video and everything was cordial and non confrontational up to the point the security arrived.

3 of the Apologists went back in 2010 and were jailed, cameras confiscated and they were told they were no longer welcome in Dearborne - Old west style! The first time everyone took a live and let live attitude thinking it was an isolated event but this time charges have been filed against the security company and the city who allowed it as well as jailing the 3 guys.

Because of the 1st amendment issues and the blacklisting, "We'll arrest you the minute you cross the city limits" many more groups of people will be headed to Dearborne this year which portends some pretty negative publicity.

No one knows who is behind the hard stance of the security forces or the city. And no one blames either the Muslims or the Apologists.

Ford is scheduled to fund the festival again this year and since all hell could break loose Ford stands to get a black eye. This will become a world wide issue sure to show how the poor Muslims are mistreated in the Great Satan. Lots of good brain washing material for the middle east.

So my point is that if you are going to sell, sell before the festival or enough after to let the hurrah die down.

Ummm... OK. It's spelled "Dearborn", by the way.

I also bought quite a bit of Ford stock when it was in the $2-3 range. My strategy has been to sell it off in chunks. I sold about a third of it when it hit $12, and probably another quarter a month or so ago since it seems to have stagnated at it's current level. So I still have a pretty good chunk, but I've diversified and more than taken my profit out, too. When I say "sell", I mean convert the Ford stock into mutual funds, this is all happening in my 401k.

My feeling is that the company is fundementally pretty strong and should be solid for at least the next few years, but the big growth in the stock value is probably done at this point.

racinginc215 wrote: ROFLMAO at the above. and there is no E in Dearborn.

I would have sworn that the Dearborne heaters I grew up with had an e in the name. They say the memory is the 2nd thing to go.

racinginc215 wrote: ... and there is no E in Dearborn.

So it's "Darborn"? Doesn't sound right to me!

Interestingly this is supposedly one of the top places for the FBI to recruit middle eastern spies and analysts. It seems the FBI doesn't have enough of them.

And Ford is the primary sponsor, not just A sponsor hence why fallout could be greater on them. Who knows how much crap will come down, the festival may back down, but if you're selling stock it's good to know any potential blackeyes of the company that could affect values.

This is just one of those issues that has the potential to have a lot of fallout in the world's eyes. it's a touchy subject.

Back before stocks took a BIG nosedive, pre 2008/2009, folks had suggested that auto stocks would never be the big money makers that stock in companies like Apple or even Starbucks were money makers. Remember, pre 2008 Starbucks was a decent buy.

Buy Ford stock to enjoy, maybe even to visit a stockholder's meeting, but don't keep it to make money.

There, now that I've put it in print.....DO THE OPPOSITE. When it comes to money, I'm an expert on BAD advice.

Seriously, all the world's car companies are at the point that they must expand by a large margin, or die. The ones that will expand are the ones that are ideally poised in emerging markets. The "news" in China is that GM is raking in the money....you never hear about Ford in China. Find out why and you will know whether to keep or sell your Ford stock.

It is true that Dearborn has the highest Arab-American population. The reason is Ford. In the hay-days of the 50's, Ford encouraged Muslim workers who were known for being willing to work on Sunday and non-drinkers.
The oldest families in the area are just 4 or 5 generations old into the US.
Many are from Lebanon. The homes in the east side of Dearborn are mostly two level duplexes. What was common is that a man would come over to America, work hard, rasie money, and bring over his wife. Along would come his brother who would live in the same building and then after rasing fortune, his family. With further fortune raised the workers would get themselves out of the Ford Plant, typically the nasty River Rouge plant, my starting their own business. Being the "shopkeepers of the world" common choices were gas station, grocery/convenience store and resturant.

All I know is that you can get some damn good chicken schwarma in Dearborn.

I also invested in Ford when it was below $1.50. I've since sold enough shares to triple my money from my original investment. I've held onto the rest of my shares. There's a local financial guy who says "You can't go broke by taking a profit". It's always better to get out wth a slightly smaller profit than try to hit the market just right.