In case you missed it, a portfolio-shrinking "Departed" recap can be found here.
For the fourth time in the past five years, my portfolio underperformed the S&P 500, losing -4.3% vs. gaining 1.4%. But at least one long-stated goal was achieved: reducing the number of stocks I own, from 49 to 35. I hope to continue this consolidation by selling the losers and buying the winners.
And now, let's look at all the stocks I've held going into this year, from worst to best - based solely on 2015's performance, while mostly ignoring any intra-year volatility:
3D Systems (DDD)
Year-opening price: $32.87
Bought more: Jan @ $30.85, Apr @ $25.15, Jul @ $18.66, Sep @ $13.34, Nov @ $10.08, Dec @ $9.10
Year-closing price: $8.69 (-74%)
If only I kept my money under the mattress...
Stratasys (SSYS)
Year-opening price: $83.11
Bought more: Jan @ $77.33, Apr @ $41.19, Sep @ $30.05, Nov @ $25.64, Dec @ $25.38
Year-closing price: $23.48 (-72%)
...but really, I'm still not worried/thanks for the discount.
Twitter (TWTR)
Year-opening price: $35.87
Bought more: Feb @ $38.00
Year-closing price: $23.14 (-35%)
Calling it now: going to bounce back big time in 2016.
F5 Networks (FFIV)
Year-opening price: $130.46
Year-closing price: $96.96 (-26%)
Thought it fixed things last year; might just be in a lousy business.
American Express (AXP)
Year-opening price: $93.04
Year-closing price: $69.55 (-25%)
A shockingly poor year. Something is broken here.
Canadian National Railway (CNI)
Year-opening price: $68.91
Year-closing price: $55.88 (-19%)
Trains are still awesome...heavy things still need to be hauled around somehow...right?
Baidu (BIDU)
Year-opening price: $227.97
Year-closing price: $189.04 (-17%)
Struggled with the rest of China stocks.
Blackstone (BX)
Year-opening price: $33.83
Bought more: Jun @ $42.10
Year-closing price: $29.24 (-14%)
Theoretically should never have losing years, part one.
DuPont (DD)
Year-opening price: $73.94
Year-closing price: $66.60 (-10%)
Sold on first trading day of 2016 due to pending merger with Dow Chemical. Returned 101% (12% annualized).
Southern Copper (SCCO)
Year-opening price: $28.20
Year-closing price: $26.12 (-7%)
Has been dead money since 2008. The last survivor of a once commodity-heavy portfolio.
Lululemon Athletica (LULU)
Year-opening price: $55.79
Year-closing price: $52.47 (-6%)
Late-year rally saved it from the chopping block.
Intel (INTC)
Year-opening price: $36.29
Year-closing price: $34.45 (-5%)
Rest year after blockbuster 2013-2014.
BlackRock (BLK)
Year-opening price: $357.56
Year-closing price: $340.52 (-5%)
Theoretically should never have losing years, part two.
Apple (AAPL)
Year-opening price: $110.38
Bought more: Jun @ $127.74
Year-closing price: $105.26 (-5%)
The best company in the world, bar none.
Wells Fargo (WFC)
Year-opening price: $54.82
Year-closing price: $54.36 (-1%)
The best bank money can buy.
Ace Limited (ACE)
Year-opening price: $114.88
Year-closing price: $116.85 (2%)
Another quiet year.
Coca-Cola (KO)
Year-opening price: $42.22
Year-closing price: $42.96 (2%)
Black gold. Long-term hold.
Intuitive Surgical (ISRG)
Year-opening price: $528.94
Year-closing price: $546.16 (3%)
Took a breather after a bounce-back 2014.
Veolia Environnement (VEOEY)
Bought: Aug @ $22.71
Year-closing price: $23.59 (4%)
Water is the new oil, part one.
Tesla Motors (TSLA)
Year-opening price: $222.41
Bought more: Apr @ $190.23
Year-closing price: $240.01 (8%)
BMW, Ford, Volkswagen entering electric car market; Tesla would happily supply the "motors".
Boeing (BA)
Year-opening price: $129.98
Year-closing price: $144.59 (11%)
About as safe as safe can be.
American Software (AMSWA)
Year-opening price: $9.11
Year-closing price: $10.18 (12%)
Would you believe this no-name stock has returned 189% (27% annualized) since 2009?
Aqua America (WTR)
Bought: Jun @ $26.60
Year-closing price: $29.80 (12%)
Water is the new oil, part two.
Ansys (ANSS)
Year-opening price: $82.00
Year-closing price: $92.50 (13%)
The one boring 3D printing play (i.e. the one that actually paid off).
American Water Works (AWK)
Bought: Jun @ $52.62
Year-closing price: $59.75 (14%)
Water is the new oil, part three.
Costco Wholesale (COST)
Year-opening price: $141.75
Bought more: Dec @ $162.02
Year-closing price: $161.50 (14%)
The finest retailer in the world.
Under Armour (UA)
Year-opening price: $67.90
Bought more: Aug @ $99.87
Year-closing price: $80.61 (19%)
Bad timing on the buy, but still a nice year.
Microsoft (MSFT)
Year-opening price: $46.45
Year-closing price: $55.48 (19%)
Kept last year's momentum going.
McDonald's (MCD)
Year-opening price: $93.70
Year-closing price: $118.14 (26%)
Judging by the headlines, in trouble. But in reality, at an all-time high.
Qihoo 360 (QIHU)
Year-opening price: $57.26
Bought more: Feb @ $59.12
Year-closing price: $72.81 (27%)
Sold on first trading day of 2016 due to pending privatization at $77/share. Returned 22% (8% annualized).
Nike (NKE)
Year-opening price: $48.08
Bought more: Oct @ $61.62
Year-closing price: $62.50 (30%)
Back-to-back outstanding years.
Salesforce.com (CRM)
Year-opening price: $59.31
Bought more: Dec @ $80.25
Year-closing price: $78.40 (32%)
Dominates its market. Rewarded accordingly.
Starbucks (SBUX)
Year-opening price: $41.03
Bought more: Oct @ $57.01
Year-closing price: $60.03 (46%)
The finest restaurateur in the world.
Alphabet (GOOGL)
Year-opening price: $530.66
Bought more: Aug @ $665.75
Year-closing price: $778.01 (47%)
Out with Google/GOOG; in with Alphabet/GOOGL. The best proxy for tech money can buy.
Amazon (AMZN)
Year-opening price: $310.35
Year-closing price: $675.89 (118%)
The new Santa Claus, delivering 365 days a year.
