"A look at my Trading Portfolio"
Hello Friends! Thanks so much for stopping by and visiting my blog, Stock Picks Bob's Advice. As always, please remember that I am an amateur investor so please consult with your professional investment advisors prior to making any investment decisions based on information on this website.

It has been awhile since I reviewed my holdings here and this is about as good a time as any to do this. I currently have 18 positions in my "trading portfolio" and my goal is to get it up to 25 positions. These are my stocks as of today and some of my sale points:

1) Affymetrix (AFFX): I purchased 160 shares of AFFX on 1/27/05 at a cost basis of $40.98, no sales have been made, and the current price is $41.45. I have a gain of 1.15%, and shall either be selling it next at a loss of (8)%, or 1/4 of my holdings at a gain of 30%.

2) American Healthways (AMHC): I purchased 300 shares on 6/18/04 at a cost basis of $23.53. 75 shares were sold 11/3/04 at $32.65, for a gain of $9.12 or 38.8%. Currently, AMHC closed at $32.08 for a gain of 36.36%. My next sale point will be at a 60% gain on the upside, or at break-even on the downside.

3) American Medical Systems (AMMD): I purchased 200 shares of AMMD with a cost basis of $25.82 on 1/9/04. I sold 50 shares at $32.08 on 6/24/04 for a gain of $6.26 or 24.2%. My second sale was 35 shares on 12/21/04 at $40.92 for a gain of $15.10 or 58.5%. Currently, AMMD closed at $38.00 with a gain of 47.17%. My sale point on the way down will be back at a 30% gain (1/2 retracement of the top sale-point), or at a 90% gain on the upside, in which case I will once again sell a 1/4 position.

4) Cal Dive Intl (CDIS): I purchased 200 shares on 11/3/04, with a cost basis of $38.20. My first sale was 50 shares on 2/25/05 at a price of $49.87, for a gain of $11.67 or 30.5%. CDIS closed today at $47.730, for a gain of 24.95%. I shall be selling the remaining shares on the downside if it crosses "break-even", otherwise, another 1/4 position is planned to be sold at a 60% gain level.

5) Cantel Medical (CMN): My shares have a cost basis of $13.36. I have sold shares three times, at the 30, 60, 90% level. Thus, I shall be selling an additional 1/4 position if the stocks hit a 120% gain, otherwise, the remaining shares will be sold on the downside if the stock retraces to a 45% gain. CMN closed at $26.94, for a 101.65% gain from the purchase.

6.) Coach (COH): I have 68 shares remaining at $59.13 for a 254.87% gain. COH shares were acquired in 2/25/03 at a cost basis of $16.66. I have sold COH shares six times (!), at 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, and 240% levels. The next sale on the upside is at a 300% gain level. On the downside, remaining shares will be sold if the stock retraces to a 120% gain.

7.) Cooper (COO): I have 45 shares remaining at $83.00/share for a gain of 207.64%. These shares were originally acquired 2/20/03 with a cost basis of $26.98/share. I have sold portions of my position five times: at a 30, 60, 90, 120, and 180% level. My next sale point on the upside is a 1/4 postion sale at 240%. On the downside, remaining shares will be sold if the stock retraces back to a 90% gain.

8.) Cytyc (CYTC): I have 225 shares of CYTC which closed at $22.160, for a 49.17% gain. CYTC shares were purchased 1/29/04, with a cost basis of $14.86. I have sold shares of CYTC three times, and thus, if the stock retraces back to a 45% gain, then the stock should be sold. On the upside, I am waiting for a 120% gain and then shall be able to sell a portion!

9.) Dell (DELL): I have 120 shares of DELL which closed at $39.710 today, for a gain of 57.99%. DELL shares were acquired 2/14/03 at a cost basis of $25.13. I have sold shares twice (30%, and 60% gains); and shall sell again at a 90% gain, or at 30% on the downside.

10.) Exactech (EXAC): I have 135 shares of EXAC which has a cost basis of $10.78, closed today at $16.52, with a gain of 53.21%. I have sold EXAC three times: at 30, 60, and 90% gains. Thus, I should be selling the remaining shares if it passes the 45% gain level going lower, or sell another 1/4 of my shares if the stock price rises to a 120% gain.

11.) Hibbett Sporting Goods (HIBB): I have 130 shares remaining at $29.30, with a gain of 200.71%. These shares were originally purchased 3/6/03 with a cost basis of $9.74. I have sold HIBB shares five times (30, 60, 90, 120, 180% gain). Thus, on the downside, I would be a seller of the remaining shares at a 90% gain or at 240% on the upside!

12.) Mentor (MNT): I have 200 shares at $31.970, which closed at $31.97, with a loss of $(480.00), or (6.98)%. These shares were purchased 2/3/05 with a cost basis of $34.37. Thus, the stock will be sold if the stock closes at or trades through an 8% loss; otherwise, I shall be selling a portion at a 30% gain.

13.) Quality Systems (QSII): I have 68 shares remaining at $89.00/share for a gain of 187.14%. These shares were acquired 7/28/03 at a cost basis of $31.00/share. I have sold shares of this stock five times with a 30, 60, 90, 120, 180% gain. My next sale on the upside is 240% gain, otherwise I shall sell the remaining shares if the stock drops to a 90% gain level.

14.) ResMed (RMD): I have 120 shares which closed at $56 for a loss of (6.26)%. These shares were acquired on 2/4/05, with a cost basis of $59.74. The stock shall be sold if it hits an (8)% loss on the downside, or 1/4 position sold at a 30% gain on the upside.

14.) Starbucks (SBUX): I have 35 shares of SBUX which closed at $53.50 today for a gain of 134.55%. These shares were acquired 1/24/03 with a cost basis of $22.81/share. I have sold portions of my position four times at 30, 60, 90, and 120% gain levels. Thus, my next sale on the upside is a 180% gain, and on the downside, would liquidate the remaining shares at a 60% gain.

15.) SRA Int'l (SRX): I have 160 shares which closed at $61.410 for a gain of 2.95%. These shares were acquired 2/1/05 for a cost basis of $59.65/share. I have not sold any shares of this original position, and thus, will sell all shares at a loss of (8)% or sell 1/4 of shares at a 30% gain.

16.) St Jude Medical (STJ): I have 240 shares of STJ which closed at $37.660, for a gain of 30.33%. These shares were acquired 10/15/03 with a cost basis of $28.90. Thus far, I have sold only one portion of my holdings at a 30% gain range. Thus, on the downside, will sell remaining shares at break-even. On the upside, another 1/4 of shares will be sold if the stock hits a 60% gain.

17.) Sybron Dental (SYD): I have 150 shares of SYD which closed at $35.85 for a gain of 38.74%. These shares were purchased 11/18/03 at a cost basis of $25.84. I have made one sale at a 30% gain on 1/25/04, so I shall be selling the remaining shares at break-even or another 1/4 of shares at a 60% gain.

18.) Ventana Medical Systems (VMSI): I have 150 shares of VMSI which closed at $68.11 for a gain of 45.10%. VMSI shares were purchased 4/16/04 for a cost basis of $46.94. A single portion of the holdings was sold on 11/29/04 at the 30% gain level. Thus, I shall be selling remaining shares if the stock retraces to break-even, or 1/4 of my position if the stock continues rising to a 60% gain.

To be fair, I sell my losers quickly, so there ARE a lot of sales at losses that are not posted above this and last year. As of 3/12/05, for 2005, I have taken a net of $(1,343.96) in short-term losses (under 12 months), and a net of $4,739.82 in long-term gains. So "realized" profits and losses are still in the profit column.

In 2004, I ended up with $457.42 in short-term gains and $4,376.29 in long-term gains that were realized.

Since many of my positions show "paper-profits", that is gains that have not been taken (I have not sold the stocks yet), my "unrealized gains" stand at $30,816.58.

Additional facts about my trading account. As of 3/12/05, the account had a net worth of $56,884.47. I do have a heavy margin load that I would ultimately like to pay down as this magnifies the volatility in both directions. My "Margin Equity Percentage" is 51.80%, with my securities market value of $109,810.24, with $52,925.77 in margin. I would NOT recommend this margin to anyone!

I hope that this is helpful for you to see what I have been holding, and my actual trading gains and losses. Mentor and ResMed are threatening to be sold at that 8% loss...and Exactech is also threatening a sale at the downside. You can see how the portfolio, however slowly, tends to move out of equities in a down market. Please let me know if this review is helpful for you in understanding what I am doing in my trading activities. I try to be as transparent as possible in all of this! Regards!

Bob