Only in long term growth mutual funds that generally outperform the S&P 500. How old are you? What's your employment situation? Got an emergency fund? Got kids to send to college? Got debt? Individual stocks are nothing but a fun hobby, like taking a 20 to the Blackjack table and then walking away if you lose it.
Go find and listen to Bill Ackman's interview on CNBC today......this guy isn't a nutjob alarmist. Lots of folks "hate" the guy for being a billionaire but he isn't a blowhard or doomsday prognosticator. It's just what he thinks right now. His main point is measures to STOP THIS THING need to start now and be much more aggressive than the current "ideas"....because the alternative of a 18 month or so "slow roll" of this thing through our economy would be absolutely devastating. Maybe he's right, maybe he's wrong. The real answer to the OP's question is: It's impossible to know. EDIT AND ADD: Here we go again....Dow futures not looking good at all again tonight as well as other, currently open, world markets (South Korea market "limit" down and halted). UGLY. It looks like the markets are caught in a negative feedback loop. Large funds that have typically been really leveraged up and now likely being forced to de-leverage and that process will continue to fuel the fire. They really don't have a choice.
Stay the course market will probably drop some more I have both mutual funds and stocks with dividends. Dividends will likely get cut for some but they will go back up later. This will be the time to get some of the bigger stocks that have been paying divs for a long time J&J comes to mind how about Boeing that stck really went down. You just have to keep diversifying on different sectors in the market S&P 500 index fund is very good to have. I have a medical fund that has gone up 600+% in the last 8 years and it has not dropped that much. A lot higher after 2016 and was skyrocketing before that, FSMEX look that up, has not dropped that much, good fund. Even if you start buying now you always dollar cost average yes you will lose a little if drops more but market should go past 20,000 after this is over. We are approximately back to 2016 right now some are lower especially oil related stocks.
I’m waiting for some stability in the country and the markets. I see it going down to 16,000 or so. We are months away from stability. The virus problem has not peaked or flattened. We have more debt than ever and uncertainty regarding who our president with be at the end of the year. I’m thinking early next year as a time to get back in. I know I won’t hit the bottom but this is investing NOT gambling. Cliff
If you have a 401K, my opinion is to continue contributions at or above the rate you are now. Dollar cost averaging will eventually enhance the overall value of your portfolio. I personally would hold off jumping in with cash until there is some light at the end of the tunnel. And then, do as others here have said, solid companies that pay good dividends.
I agree a buying time is presenting itself. Three things I will do. One do not wait for the light at the end of the tunnel as the market is already headed up at that point, you missed the bottom. Two make several buys and dollar cost average your new holdings. Make sure you do not invest money you may need if the Covid 19 hangs around for a little while. Happy investing I hope your profits buy some new Buicks!!!! Jim
We’re in a short dark tunnel right now; when jobless numbers and earning reports start being posted, the market is going to fall notably farther. Report this morning is the next unemployment apps period may be over 2.25 million, and 2nd quarter GDP may see a contraction of 24%. Dow has already dropped 9,000 without fundamental bad news like that.
As of this weekend, the Dow is down 30.7% for the month of March. I agree with the most of you that we likely haven't even seen the bottom yet. I think another 10 to 30 percent is not only possible, it is very likely. The "comeback" is going to be completely dependent on the length of the response measures that are necessary to corner Covid-19. If it is largely beaten back in 4 to 6 weeks, I can see a rather "good" bounce back. Anything after that, I think we are going to see companies that were highly leveraged (mine owes 91 billion) begin to enter bankruptcy at a fairly rapid pace. That will also slow the economy as jobs are shed and unemployment grows. Eventually there will be merger opportunities and things will cycle back up but that will take years. But... No one is talking about Baby Boomers. From what I am reading I think they were already pulling money out to play it safe and money markets were bulging. Now I've read there has been a run on money market accounts signaling their unease even with that investment vehicle. These folks aren't going to jump back in unless they see that "good bounce back" that I mentioned earlier. This will further slow the market from going back up IMHO. Then there is the whole one world money theory. The globalists were being pushed back pretty hard of late. If all of this is by design, or to be used as an opportunity for those with that agenda, the financial aspect may get a lot worse. God, I hope not. So, I lean towards our nation and many others conquering the virus much like China did. In a month or two, we should be out of the woods. God, I hope so.
Invested a few more dollars Monday. I will probably buy a little more later this week. Timing the market is gambling, and I'm not a gambler. The shares are selling for about 20% less then they were a month ago so now I can pick up some shares at a significantly lower price then at the peak. I'm OK with that. I don't believe that the American economy is going to tank permanently; as long as the virus doesn't kill me, I should eventually profit from the current mess. We shall see.
My 401k automatically invests a portion of every paycheck, so $1k every 2 weeks. With stock prices 'on sale', I did change the new investments to be 100% stock instead of a stock/bond mix. During dips like this I'll shuffle $$ around to maintain near a 60/40 stock/bond ratio. When stocks do very well, I'll sell some to put back into the bond portion. If you have a target date retirement fund, it will automatically re-balance for the recommended stock/bond ratio. A 401k plan is highly recommended if you have one available! Many stocks are down 30-60% and are a great value at this time. Others like Amazon and Walmart have weathered the storm well and barely changed from the market peak last month.
Darren My buddy plays in the market. And he’s good. His house and Deer camp all paid by the interest. When the market dropped big a month ago. Apple stock dropped. He bought many shares. Tesla dropped. he bought. He’s not worried at all . This will pass. and everyone 4o1k. will go back up. It’s just a shame these people with low immune systems. are dying. God bless them. And all of us.