Go For Broke

Friday, April 29, 2022 -- $44,133.64 (+$252.41, +0.58%) Although the portfolio snapshot is showing a value of $48,033.64, I am changing my reporting methodology today.  Rather than use the latest prices at semi-random time that I happen to take the snapshot of the portfolio, I am going to use the portfolio's closing price.  This can be calculated by taking the snapshot value and adding or subtracting the after-hours loss or gain, respectively.  I am doing this because after-hours trading is often based on very small volume and frequently is not as strong of an indication of value as the closing prices are. If you look closely you will notice that I sold another 1,000 shares of KIND at a loss because I was close to the margin call limit.  I also purchased 10 SPY $374 puts that expire on Monday.  These are more of an insurance purchase and will almost certainly expire worthless.  Realistically, the only scenario in which they result in a gain is if Russia wou...

  Thursday, April 28, 2022 -- $43,881.23 (-$2,000.00, -4.36%) The portfolio reached an all-time low today and is approaching margin call territory.  It might be time raise some cash to drop the margin level even though it means selling KIND at a substantial loss.

  Wednesday, April 27, 2022 -- $45,881.23 (+$1,760.00, +3.99%) Not much happening today.  Despite KIND being down almost 4% the portfolio went up almost 4%--perhaps because KIND recovered in after hours trading or possibly because of the choppiness of valuations in options trading.

Tuesday, April 26, 2022 -- $44,121.23 (-$3,780.00, -7.89%) Back to the drudgery of down days.  KIND lost most of its gain from yesterday.  What is the saying about progress?  One step forward, two steps back--is that how the saying goes?

Monday, April 25, 2022 -- $47,901.23 (+$4,860.00, +11.29%) An up day!  Let's break out the champagne and celebrate!  At least until the next disastrous portfolio update!

Friday, April 22, 2022 -- $43,041.23 (-$4,159.46, -8.81%) I think I might be inured to large losses.  Down almost 9% and I am just thankful that the portfolio was not down even more.  To meet my margin call, I sold 1,000 shares of KIND at a significant loss.  Lets home next week slows down the bleeding.

Thursday, April 21, 2022 -- $47,200.69 (-$4,890.88, -9.39%) Another day another crushing blow to the portfolio.  KIND was down 5% today while the portfolio lost more than 9% of its value.  It now stands at about one-half of its starting value.  And, you can see from the snapshot what happens when you invest on margin and the market moves against you--you get a margin call!  So I will have to sell some of my shares at a significant loss tomorrow.

Wednesday, April 20, 2022 -- $52,091.57 (-$11,620.00, -18.24%) Over 18% down in a single day!  KIND was completely crushed dropping almost 10% today on below average volume.  There were no obvious news stories about KIND which might have contributed towards the plunge.  Still we set a record for the lowest value for the portfolio since inception!

Tuesday, April 19, 2022 -- $63,711.57 (+$3,870.00, +6.47%) A welcome up day for KIND!  Perhaps if KIND goes up a little more I will sell some covered call options on the 15,000 shares of KIND that are in the portfolio.

Monday, April 18, 2022 -- $59,841.57 (-$1,750.00, -2.84%) After the 3-day holiday weekend, KIND closed down just under 1% today and the portfolio was down almost almost 2.5%.

Thursday, April 14, 2022 -- $61,591.57 (-$3,930.00, -6.00%) The $6 KIND puts executed because KIND closed at $5.41/share, so there are now 1,000 more shares in the porfolio.  KIND closed down a little less than 3% and the portfolio was up 6%.  Yesterday's gains plus a couple hundred dollars are wiped out.  These daily emotional highs and lows associated with daily gains and losses are one of the reasons why many people prefer the head-in-the-sand approach to investment management--it is much less stressful to not know what is happening to your investments on a day-to-day basis!

Wednesday, April 13, 2022 -- $65,521.57 (+$3,650.00, +5.90%) KIND closed up about 3% and the portfolio was up almost 6%.  Life is good!  At least until tomorrow when the sky will start falling!

Tuesday, April 12, 2022 -- $61,871.57 (-$4,520.00, -6.81%) Again, KIND closed down today, this time almost 1.5%, and given the prior days odd pricing from Robinhood, the portfolios approximate 100% leverage and the vagaries of the pricing of options, the portfolio was down almost 7% which is within the boundaries of what we could reasonably expect.  For some reason, the market seems to continue being surprised at the persistent high inflation we are seeing, even though most people have seen and felt it for quite some time.

Monday, April 11, 2022 -- $66,391.57 (+$1,530.00, +2.36%) Again, KIND closed down today a little less than 1% but somehow Robinhood is showing a gain for the portfolio and even a $2,660 after-hours gain!?  This does not make sense because, at least at this point, KIND is down about 0.4% after hours.  So, don't put too much stock into what Robinhood is claiming valuations are.

Friday, April 8, 2022 -- $64,861.57 (-$1,210.00, -1.83%) KIND closed down today a little less than 1% and the portfolio was off a little less than 2%.  KIND is definitely showing some level of strength in the $5 range.  The portfolio is short 10 KIND $6 put options which expire next Friday, so if KIND does not close over $6 on that date, then they will be exercised forcing the purchase of 1,000 shares of KIND at $6.

Thursday, April 7, 2022 -- $66,071.57 (-$310.00, -0.47%) Yay, a non-nosebleed day.  Most people would be quite unhappy losing almost 1/2 percent of their portfolio in a single day, but given the carnage this portfolio has suffered this week--down more than 27% since Monday--I find the mere 1/2 percent loss to be refreshing!

Wednesday, April 6, 2022 -- $66,381.57 (-$15,390.00, -18.82%) Today's nosedive makes yesterday's plunge seem like a stroll in the park!  KIND closed down 13.7% which hammered the portfolio.  With more Russia sanctions coming and the Fed becoming more aggressive in tamping down inflation KIND's recovery could take a long time!

Tuesday, April 5, 2022 -- $81,771.57 (-$8,780.00, -9.70%) So, it seems that there was no real good reason for KIND's big jump yesterday--at least if today's plunge is any indication--assuming we can discount the broad market decline factoring into KINDs drop.  So KIND ended down about 4.5% and the portfolio sank 9.7%.  Hopefully we will have better luck tomorrow!

Monday, April 4, 2022 -- $90,551.57 (+$14,160.00, +18.54%) For no obvious reason, KIND closed up over 11% to $6.73/share and the portfolio was up over 18%.  It does seem a little odd given that three days ago, on Friday, Goldman Sachs reduced their 12-month price target for KIND from $10/share to $8/share.

Friday, April 1, 2022 -- $76,391.57 (+$700.00, +0.92%) One of the rare less-than-1%-movement days for the portfolio.  Yay!  I have a feeling this will not carry over to Monday.  The weekend provides and extended period of time during which events can transpire that will move KIND either up or down!