Probably the most practical set of examples on when to sell stocks from your portfolio by R Venkataraman writing for Economic Times.
I have many stocks, which I am holding for years. I don’t look to optimise every stock, and I don’t think it is worth the time and effort. I am not a professional fund manager, and retail investors should ideally not waste time trying to optimise a portfolio. There will be duds and some stars and vice versa. The key is to emerge fine on an overall portfolio basis.
I have sold shares when I need money to do something in the real world, which in my case, was real estate. If you don’t need to break the portfolio, please don’t.
I have sold shares when I needed to sell X to buy Y. At that time, I evaluated all stocks, and picked the ones to sell, which in my opinion, would not do as well as the new entrant. I am not an active churner; this exercise happens rarely.
I have sold shares when stocks were giving returns beyond my imagination, which happened this year. This is a new feeling for me because most stocks in my portfolio usually move slowly. This year, some of my stocks have risen vertically. So I have booked profits. I use a mental model, which is not very scientific. So don’t waste time trying to poke holes in it.
Develop your own rule of thumb that makes you happy. I tell myself, sell 50% of the stocks, so that remaining stocks are free. This I learnt from my friend HM, who used an acronym SHAD – sell half at double – and let the rest run.
Selling stocks? To do it or not to do is indeed a big question
