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PLAYING WITH AAPL STOCK: How to not lose?

lPHONE

lPHONE

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Nov 17, 2009
671
1
I'm a n00b at stocks, but I'm doing research. I want to open an eTrade account and buy 5 shares in AAPL.

I want to do it at the right time. Stock opened at 214 and now it's up to 218.95.
If I can get it at <$210 in the next couple days, that would be a good time to buy, no?
And if stocks reach 260> in the coming weeks, and when I sell, then I have made $50 per share, ($250 total) correct? Is that how it works?

One last question: If all I want to do is buy and sell, which company is going to be the cheapest? eTrade, Scot-Trade, td ameritrade?
 
G5Unit

G5Unit

macrumors 68020
Apr 3, 2005
2,107
10
I'm calling the cops
It's always difficult to tell right before an Apple product comes out.

One thing I have been able to figure out is that AAPL stock will always rise very high in the few weeks before an event, such as in January, June, and October.

After the events, the stock takes a hit for a couple days, usually due to said product not being able to cure cancer, print money, etc.

Then takes a month or so to level off, and then eventually surpass the price that it was at during the previous event. The cycle goes on and on and on.


Right now my "formula" is kind of a toss up though, as the iPad has already been announced, but it has not yet shipped. AAPL stock is pretty high already, highest it's ever been if I'm not mistaken.

I bought 3 shares at $123 a few years ago, and I've only really made money in the long term. I wouldn't expect AAPL reach $260 for at least another 6 months or so(If all goes well with the iPad, then $260 is VERY possible, being a whole new market and all).
 
lPHONE

lPHONE

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Nov 17, 2009
671
1
thanks, next question:
If something goes horribly wrong and APPL drops to $150 or something, is my investment totally gone or does it come back when APPL stock reaches the original price I bought it for?

also, with the whole online thing. who's going to charge me the least for what I want to do? eTrade?
 
G5Unit

G5Unit

macrumors 68020
Apr 3, 2005
2,107
10
I'm calling the cops
lPHONE said:
thanks, next question:
If something goes horribly wrong and AAPL drops to $150 or something, is my investment totally gone or does it come back when AAPL stock reaches the original price I bought it for?

also, with the whole online thing. who's going to charge me the least for what I want to do? eTrade?
Click to expand...

Most places will charge you between 5-10 dollars per transaction. I use charles schwab, but I think eTrade is cheaper.

And it is of course possible that AAPL stock will drop to $150. When I bought it went from $123 all the way up to $189 in less than a year, only for it to drop into the low 80s high 70s in even less time than that.

Over time of course, it gradually rose following the stock market drop.

I think you'll be pretty safe in the long run(2+ years), but don't expect to be safe over the course of only the next few months.
 
rdowns

rdowns

macrumors Penryn
Jul 11, 2003
27,397
12,521
lPHONE said:
thanks, next question:
If something goes horribly wrong and APPL drops to $150 or something, is my investment totally gone or does it come back when APPL stock reaches the original price I bought it for?

also, with the whole online thing. who's going to charge me the least for what I want to do? eTrade?
Click to expand...


You have no business buying stocks asking a question like this. :rolleyes:
 
lPHONE

lPHONE

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Nov 17, 2009
671
1
lPHONE

lPHONE

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Nov 17, 2009
671
1
rdowns said:
First, I'm not a moderator.

Second, it was probably the best advice you received. If you don't know what happens of the stock goes down, you don't belong buying stocks. Go do some research; you won't get an education here.
Click to expand...

I'm NOT BUYING stocks yet, I'm still RESEARCHING it.
I was having a nice Q.A. with G5 until you trolled my thread.
 
E

euanmackie

macrumors member
Dec 26, 2007
93
0
lPHONE said:
You have no business being a moderator with that kind of advice
http://www.google.com/search?num=10...="the+only+wrong+question"&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=
Click to expand...

Demi-Gods arnt moderators.. however it was a harsh but kind point to make. He is most likely trying to prevent you making a loss on your money before you get a knowledge of the system. if i was in your position i would start by reading some financial news papers then from that making some theoretical stock purchases. seeing how they mature over the week to see if you were correct. And throughout his learning the process. I would suggest that this period is very hard to predict if and or how the price of the shares will change, however i would maybe wait till it kind of settles after the ipad?

Apple Shares dont pay dividends on the price at this point and are expensive shares to start with. unless your doing it as a enthusiast and a fanboy i wouldn't recommend them as a good place to start.
 
lPHONE

lPHONE

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Nov 17, 2009
671
1
euanmackie said:
Demi-Gods arnt moderators.. however it was a harsh but kind point to make. He is most likely trying to prevent you making a loss on your money before you get a knowledge of the system. if i was in your position i would start by reading some financial news papers then from that making some theoretical stock purchases. seeing how they mature over the week to see if you were correct. And throughout his learning the process. I would suggest that this period is very hard to predict if and or how the price of the shares will change, however i would maybe wait till it kind of settles after the ipad?

Apple Shares dont pay dividends on the price at this point and are expensive shares to start with. unless your doing it as a enthusiast and a fanboy i wouldn't recommend them as a good place to start.
Click to expand...
I've been wanting to buy stock in Apple for quite some time and now that I've go the opportunity to invest and not jeopardize my lifestyle if I lose it, the stock just happens to be at an all time high. I'm afraid that after the iPad it will never go back down again unless Steve has a stoke.

Why does it not pay dividends?
 
E

euanmackie

macrumors member
Dec 26, 2007
93
0
lPHONE said:
I've been wanting to buy stock in Apple for quite some time and now that I've go the opportunity to invest and not jeopardize my lifestyle if I lose it, the stock just happens to be at an all time high. I'm afraid that after the iPad it will never go back down again unless Steve has a stoke.
Click to expand...


It was on a sure and steady rise before the global downfall period. Apple are a sure bet because of there capitol they have available to them at a moments notice. so a lot of investors see them as a safe long term bet. With the sort of purchase your looking to make i would say now is a good time as ever to do it. as your in for the longer game plan.. 2-3 years plus. and therefore can take a few dollars up and down as the trend rises upwards hopefully! your correct in your day to day changes and patterns. i might be tempted if i was you until a bit of bad press comes to light about apple or if for example they have a bad batch of ipads as this might take 20ish off the price, however as i said thats more short term and wouldn't worry too much. Best thing is to do it then almost forget about it.
 
lPHONE

lPHONE

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Nov 17, 2009
671
1
euanmackie said:
It was on a sure and steady rise before the global downfall period. Apple are a sure bet because of there capitol they have available to them at a moments notice. so a lot of investors see them as a safe long term bet. With the sort of purchase your looking to make i would say now is a good time as ever to do it. as your in for the longer game plan.. 2-3 years plus. and therefore can take a few dollars up and down as the trend rises upwards hopefully! your correct in your day to day changes and patterns. i might be tempted if i was you until a bit of bad press comes to light about apple or if for example they have a bad batch of ipads as this might take 20ish off the price, however as i said thats more short term and wouldn't worry too much. Best thing is to do it then almost forget about it.
Click to expand...

I think I'm going to take your advice (wait for bad press or something) and see if I can get it at <200.
I guess in the meantime, I'm going to buy what's left of Yahoo! in hopes of it's resurgence.
 
E

euanmackie

macrumors member
Dec 26, 2007
93
0
lPHONE said:
I think I'm going to take your advice (wait for bad press or something) and see if I can get it at <200.
I guess in the meantime, I'm going to buy what's left of Yahoo! in hopes of it's resurgence.
Click to expand...

Good effort bud. dont fall into the forever waiting trap.. its such a tough one! and yeah good ol Yahoo!
 
jtrue

jtrue

macrumors newbie
Mar 7, 2010
9
0
Beech Mountain, NC
etrade will get you

i would be wary of etrade. When your stock goes down and you are forced to wait it out. etrade comes swooping in with some pretty remarkable quarterly fees. I like their trading interface the best, but you REALLY need to read the fine print. And reread it every quarter as your balance changes. Paying for those talking babies (which are hilarious) ain't cheap.
 
sushi

sushi

Moderator emeritus
Jul 19, 2002
15,639
3
キャンプスワ&#
OP, another option to consider, is to invest in a mutual fund that focuses on technology related stocks. So instead of buying stock in only Apple, you can purchase shares of a mutual fund that invests in multiple technology related companies in addition to Apple.

Mutual Fund Info

One bit of advice. Be willing to loose your investment in an individual stock if you make a bad decision. Not all stocks go up. Not all companies stay solvent.

As for Apple, I would venture to say that they will be around for quite a while. As for their stock price, over the long run it's hard to say since there are so many variables. My guess, and it is only a guess, is that Apple will double within the next 10 years.
 
C

coupdetat

macrumors 6502
Jul 11, 2008
451
0
FX120 said:
You don't buy stock late into a rising trend.
Click to expand...

QFT.

Start with a different stock. Think about all of the products you care about/enjoy, and think about the ones you think have yet to be "discovered". I made plenty of money off ARM (stock ticker ARMH) and Ford (F) off these principles since I started trading in 2008. There are certain companies out there that just haven't reached the public consciousness in terms of success, but possess lots of strong characteristics.

I'd consider Apple to be overvalued right now. It is delivering great profits, but I think its fundamental business model is starting to smell like mid-90's Apple, not early-00's Apple. Then again, I don't have the balls to short AAPL either, so I'm steering clear for now.
 
akutad

akutad

macrumors regular
Jul 12, 2008
150
0
London, Ontario, Canada
rdowns said:
First, I'm not a moderator.

Second, it was probably the best advice you received. If you don't know what happens of the stock goes down, you don't belong buying stocks. Go do some research; you won't get an education here.
Click to expand...

I think what was meant was that you will get your ass handed to you if you buy stocks with no financial literacy. If you were willing to go in and buy 5 apple stocks because you "love" apple then that is not how an investor buys stocks.

Timing the market is the worst way to make money. Your asking to be slaughtered. Learn how to make money in an bull market, bear market and a sideways market. Once you learn that then paper trade for six months before you use real money. Getting a hold of your emotions is the key and using a system.
 
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