Good news, bad news. I know this can be a HOT topic, so please be civil in your responces or I will ask the Mods to delete it.

About 6 months ago the DOW was way down, many companies stocks had fallen to serious lows, some didn't survive. I personally knew that there were some good companies out there that their stock lost a ton of value, but I knew they would survive so I bought the stocks.

Oshkosh Truck builds Firetrucks and Military transport vehicles, they had just opened a new plant in China. The stock had been as high as $55 and dropped to $4. I bought a bunch @ $4 and just sold it at $33 (nice profit for 6 months)

Citibank (sorry I know they suck but it was a good stock to buy) I bought for under $2 and just dumped it at $5.60 (and I don't even have a credit card from them )

Anyone else doing good with the upturn? What do you think is a good stock?

Thats a very good sign. I've been following prices of precious metals a lot lately too. Silver was around $9.00 an ounce a year ago and is double that now. I knew it would be a good thing to invest in... just a matter of having money to invest

Oh, don't get me wrong, I can't retire from what I made, I didn't have a lot to invest either, but Every $150 netted $700 on Oshkosh truck, and Every $100 on Citigroup payed back almost $200. There is always a risk, just like getting on the bike, some days are GREAT Riding, some you crash and hope to get back on again. or wonder WHY was I on it to begin with?

The stock market is just as wild to me!

Different animal than it was 20-25 years ago, that's for sure..

I am too young to remember that. I got in Citi at 1.79. I also bought Harley at 10.79 in Jan. Over 23 now. I wont talk about the losers, but lets just say that PNC taking control of National city set my retirement back about 5 years.

I'm a stock broker, and if I may recommend... don't try to find issues that are going to multiply... it's rare, and they are hard to find... rather, buy issues that pay a safe dividend and raise it consistently. They're not hard to find.

That said, read, "The Single Best Investment: Creating Wealth with Dividend Growth," by Lowell Miller. It could change your life!

Thanks for the tip on the book.

I work in the Private Equity world. I did alot of trading over the winter as work was slow and the market was a roller coaster.

Made some good coin, but lost more then half of what I made from the Feb to April stretch so I jumped ship. I thought I was a genius, but in reality, I was just riding the waves the big mutual funds and hedge funds were creating when they had to dump, and when shorts covered to take profits. When the big boys got their cash back to play, they whipped my ass, h aha

Will take a look at that book. I don't have a lot of cash saved/made by any means, but good for my age. After I took a break in the market, i figured I'd wait for the next dip to buy in. hasn't come yet, I am patient though. I really don't want to throw it back in at this level.

I like the confidence investors have, but I just don't like earnings yet. Too much profit from cost cutting instead of sales. I will wait and if I lose out so be it. The dividend book sounds lovely.

I actually started to invest by buying beaten down stocks with good dividends back in the last recession when I was in college.

Was a little nervous this time around because times are very diff. Cash is what companies need, so divies are first to go right now, or previously.

Enjoy the thread. But I also enjoy them all. Everyone here is great.

My favorite movie quote: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsMc-IswG3w

javawave wrote:
I wont talk about the losers, but lets just say that PNC taking control of National city set my retirement back about 5 years.

made mine a whole lot leaner....

Bah, it's all good. I only lost 70% of my 401k...

But on the bright side, I enjoy my job and it's a damned good thing too it seems. I have a chunk invested here and there, for "fun", but nothing serious. If it works out, it's a new garage, or a new truck, or something like that. If it doesn't, I'll just leave it, and perhaps it might be worth something to my kids.