Give ’em the old flim flam flummox
Fool and fracture ’em
How can they hear the truth above the roar?
Richard Gere performing Razzle Dazzle in the movie Chicago, 2001
One of the many stanzas from the song with which could apply to the theme of this holiday special edition. I decided to present this weeks’ activity as a special post since the number of transactions is greater in three days than my normal 4-5 per month. Also included are three sales which I will elaborate on in some detail.
Roadmap 2 Retire presented another cautionary view reinforcing my approach. While I’m beginning to feel a little like Chicken Little, there are conundrums aplenty from which to choose when attempting to make sense of the economy. Perhaps the best illustration is the fact that Wisconsin farmers are going bankrupt in record numbers. This is a good part of Trump’s base in which their downturn has been accelerated by his policies. And the theory of ‘trickle down’ hasn’t made it to these rural enclaves yet he still carries a 42% approval rating there. It seems that every positive in the economy (low unemployment, low inflation, lower taxes (in theory) carries an equal negative (slowing GDP growth, low wage growth, increasing deficits).
Give ’em the old three ring circus
Stun and stagger ’em
When you’re in trouble, go into your dance
Since I’m no fortune teller I can’t provide any timing, but I dare say this juggling act will come to an end. Hopefully it’ll be a prettier end than any of his four bankruptcies. Like R2R, I’m perusing my portfolio and trimming a little of the speculation. Although I’ve been musing on this for awhile, it was time to begin the execution. Following are the first moves of mine in the pivot from macro to micro.
SELLS
- Owens & Minor (OMI)
- Following not one but two dividend cuts. I probably had a bit more patience with this one as it was an IRA holding, but enough already. Sold July 1st – net loss 74.2%.
- Uniti Group (UNIT)
- This one has been in the cross-hairs of the Windstream bankruptcy. As a result, they cut their dividend to preserve cash and satisfy their lenders. One lesson I previously learned (Orchids Paper (TIS), anyone?) is to bail when lenders force a dividend cut. Sold July 2nd, net loss 59.2%.
- After market close, UNIT announced the issuance of 8.68m common shares in conjunction with a preferred redemption. UNIT closed down July 3rd 2% from my sale price.
- This one has been in the cross-hairs of the Windstream bankruptcy. As a result, they cut their dividend to preserve cash and satisfy their lenders. One lesson I previously learned (Orchids Paper (TIS), anyone?) is to bail when lenders force a dividend cut. Sold July 2nd, net loss 59.2%.
- Lamar Advertising (LAMR)
- This one I groused about all year with the shenanigans they were playing with their 2017/2018 year end pay date. At tax time, I confirmed the forms sent to me and the corporate IRS filing were out of sync. Not being an accountant, I can’t say there’s any illegality – but this is one that has questions – therefore it was booted off the team on July 2nd with a gain of 46.6%.
The proceeds from the LAMR and UNIT sales were used to rebalance a portion of the portfolio across thirteen stocks. I have a pending limit order in place to deploy the OMI proceeds into RY.
With any luck this run will continue, however the pessimist within says it would be unlikely (check back around earnings season …)
Seeking Returns 