Long-term gain, short term pain

The 3 month chart for Sky City Entertainments stock price doesn't tell the full story.
As a long-term investment it has managed to hold up well during one of history's
greatest market downturns.


OK readers, this piece isn't about Sky City it is about the benefits of investing for the long-term.

My critics-and I have quite a few because not everyone has the same approach to investing- would say holding onto shares long-term is a losers game and while every share in my portfolio is currently losing money, except for Fisher and Paykel Healthcare, ASB Preference shares and Sky City Entertainment [SKC.NZ]- Fisher and Paykel was added to and ASB Prefs have only been in the portfolio for a short term, Sky City was the first share in the portfolio and has been the base since its inception in 2002.

I would silence my critics simply by saying my Sky City holding has still remained positive during one of histories great market downturns and that is simply because it has been in my portfolio for a reasonable time.

Granted, the stockmarket has further to fall but Sky City has been the bedrock of the Share Investor Portfolio and will continue to provide a safety net in the current market turmoil.

My other losing stocks will recover-a couple may fail entirely-and looking at the long-term again (and I would contend that you must) they will provide a good return for my hard earned shekels.

Keep in mind if you are brave enough (some would say stupid but not me)to buy stocks in the next few months that your stocks may fall further in prices but as long as you have done your research and picked a solid company you will come out the winner in the long-run.


Related Share Investor reading

Why did you buy that stock? [Sky City Entertainment]
Long-term portfolio view wins the investing battle
10 Basic Buffett questions to ask before investing

Related Amazon reading



The Standard & Poor's Guide to Long-term Investing: 7 Keys to Building Wealth by Joseph Tigue
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c Share Investor 2008

Worlds most hated man: Bill Clinton

His romance with Monica Lewinsky was merely a stain on a blue dress and it caused the media to go into a frenzy.

The man primarily responsible for the worlds current financial mess is only rated a mention in the media these days because of his wife and her dalliances in the political world this year.

His dumb-arse Democrat mates from the 1990s are also high on the hit-list, they supported and advised him to pass legislation to allow deadbeat borrowers to suck on taxpayer guaranteed moola just so they could live in houses that they could never realistically afford.

Time to root him out from whatever bed he is currently sleeping in and put the blame where it lies-squarely on crooked Bill's shoulders.

c Political Animal 2008

Marketwatch: Michael Hill International

As you can see from the chart, Michael Hill International [MHI.NZ], the 200 plus store jewelry chain with stores in Australasia, Canada and most recently the United States, the share price is not looking great.

From a NZ$1.22 high over the last year down to a 59c closing price today, the company's shares are looking like a good buy.

What has kept the share price up consistently over many years was the regular increase in sales growth and profit that has historically just kept on coming.

Until now.

By no means is the slowdown due to anything else except recent rumblings over the global economic slump and various financial crises, so the negative impact on share price is nothing material about the viability of the business over the long-term but a macro economic factor that just cant be controlled by any business at the moment-sales and profit will be affected in the short to medium term.

This represents an opportunity rather than anything negative because once this economic slowdown is managed through Michael Hill should be back on its upwards trajectory again.

Now I am not saying go out and buy Michael Hill stock at current prices because the share price may well go further south before it goes north again but all financial indicators mark the company stock out as a screaming buy.

A current P/E ratio of 8.34 and a gross dividend payout of 8.68% alone make for attractive reading and historical financials should make any accountant leap for joy.

This is one of the stocks that I am looking at to add more of to the Share Investor Portfolio and will bide my time in current market conditions to hopefully get my fill at a lower price.



Related Share Investor reading

Michael Hill's profit shines
Michael Hill takes on the windy city
Why did you buy that stock? [Michael Hill International]
MHI has defined growth strategy
MHI profit sparkles


Essential Links:

Michael Hill Investor Information

From Amazon



Jewelry, Watches and Clocks Industry Report
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c Share Investor 2008

Pumpkin Patch buy-back shows confidence in future

I was in the process of writing something about the obvious merits of buying Pumpkin Patch Ltd [PPL.NZ] shares at prices of around 85c when I heard the news that management have decided that their shares are a bargain too.

Pumpkin Patch are planning a share buyback of up to 8.5 million shares beginning 28 November ending on 23 November 2009.

This is good management of shareholders capital at a time when the share price has slid more than 80% to the pre-IPO level of NZ$1.25.

It also shows managements long term faith in the company's future and from the amount I have written about the subject I clearly agree.

It makes me wonder whether Jan Cameron and and Rod Duke are going to add anymore shares now that their large stakes 1.Cameron 2. Duke in the Pumpkin have nearly halved in value since July and March this year.

Pumpkin Patch shares have been marked down recently because of the slow down in the global economy, especially affecting the retail sector, and their big hit in full year profit announced in September.

The news of the share buyback today sent shares rocketing more than 10c or 13.5% on low volume.



Pumpkin Patch @ Share Investor

Pumpkin Patch takes a hit
Pumpkin Patch ripe for the picking
What is Jan Cameron up to?
I'm buying
Why Did you but that Stock? [Pumpkin Patch]
Rod Duke's Pumpkin Patch gets bigger
Buyer of large piece of Pumpkin Patch a mystery
Pumpkin Patch a screaming buy
Broker downgrades of PPL lack long term vision
Pumpkin's expansion comes at a cost
Pumpkin Patch VS Burger Fuel
Pumpkin Patch profits flatten
New Zealand Retailers ring up costs not tills


Related links

2008 Full Year Profit

Pumpkin Patch- Investor relations
Pumpkin Patch- The clothing


From Amazon




On Target: How the World's Hottest Retailer Hit a Bull's-Eye by Laura Rowley
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How to Succeed at Retail: Winning Case Studies and Strategies for Retailers and Brands by Keith Lincoln
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c Share Investor 2008