Stock picks

[managingts]

I'm trying to diversify my portfolio to include stocks and not just mutual funds.

I like Amazon, Netflix, and Visa. I was just liking at those companies closely and they're up quit a bit this year to date alone.

Is it good to invest in them. I'm looking for long term investments.

Any other recommendations for long term but and hold?

Thanks.

[nrialto]

I like WM long term.

You can always look at Buffett's top-holdings to get an idea for good long term stocks. Just think, "what will people always need?"

[managingts]

I like WM long term.

You can always look at Buffett's top-holdings to get an idea for good long term stocks. Just think, "what will people always need?"

Money? Just kidding.

That's a good way to think it. Ty

[mindofmush]

Buy what you know.

And conversely, don't buy something you don't know anything about.

[Winner]

If I have to buy a couple of stock for long term then CPS is my top 5 on the list for very stable company. If you are LEO and/or run background check then you are using their service daily (Gov't pay a lot money for their service, but this is not majority of their income).
https://risk.lexisnexis.com/financial-services

Edit: I like to buy company that have long term contract with gov't that guarantee stable dividends.

You may want to invest in company that have Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRIP) - this will save you a lot on commission.

Enter your email if you like to have all 51... https://www.suredividend.com/best-drip-stocks/

Aflac (AFL)
AbbVie (ABBV)
Abbott Laboratories (ABT)
HCP, Inc. (HCP)
Emerson Electric (EMR)
Hormel Foods (HRL)
Ecolab (ECL)
ExxonMobil (XOM)
Genuine Parts Company (GPC)
Illinois Tool Works (ITW)
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
3M (MMM)
Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
S&P Global Inc. (SPGI)
Nucor (NUE)

[mjedlin66]

I would not buy VISA.

There are already a dozen alternate methods of payment that are more forward-thinking than VISA. Apple Pay, Venmo, cryptocurrencies, etc.

Visa is a giant corporation that isn't keeping up. Like GE.

[crondanet5]

Winner have you investigated VGR?

[cswift01]

Buy what you know.

And conversely, don't buy something you don't know anything about.

I bought things I didn't know and now regret that decision. If you buy single stocks, I suggest you buy single stocks of large cap, lowly valued companies. You can always check the dogsofthedow.com website for good valuations and dividend income.

[Winner]

No crondanet5, I have no knowledge of VGR. I trade mostly options since I use minimal risk to control a lot of shares. Yesterday I closed out my biggest gain for this year on DPS for over 1,300% profit (in @ $1.75 out @$25.12).

Today I'm going to buy the following calls:
IWM, TNA, AAPL, SBUX (short term call, I have open long term put).

Put: MAT (very large amount and will add thousand contracts or more)

Credit spread BIIB (330/340 put) & debit spread (340/350 call) expire Feb 16: this trade cost me a nickel and if BIIB hold above $350 by the expiration then my full profit is $10.

[TSPTiming]

If you like strong and steady dividends, my biggest holding is Wells Fargo preferred 7.5% Series L stock, symbol WFC-L in TD Ameritrade, Yahoo symbol WFC-PL, Stockcharts symbol WFC/PL. You won’t get much or any appreciation, but I love the steady 7.5% dividends. I’ve upped my holdings to 12 shares which pays me $300 every 3 months, so $1200/year, averaging to $100/month for many years to come. Here’s an article where I learned about it:
http://www.philosophicaleconomics.com/2 ... ed-stocks/

Next up, on this morning’s big drop I took advantage and finally got on board ROBO (a robotics ETF which has been on a straight line up for 2 years), and EPI, which I think is the best India ETF. I believe that India will be the best emerging market to be in for decades to come due to great demographics and other factors. Those are ETF’s, not stocks, but will be safer than picking individual stocks in those sectors.

I also have a 20-stock dividend portfolio which earned me just over 5% in dividends last year. One of those is the Wells Fargo stock, the others are: SO, DUK, PFF, ORI, GAIN, T, O, VTR, STAG, OHI, HCN, JNJ, PG, KO, PM, CAT, MCD, RDS-B, and VLO. The only losers last year in that group were T and OHI.