Investment Shastra
when to sell a stock look for these 3 signs

When to sell a Stock? Look for these 3 Signs

To mitigate risk and earn great returns, you need to buy a stock at 50% discount to its MRP and sell once it crosses MRP. But, there are certain considerations you need to keep in mind while selling; so that you don’t sell early and lose out on higher profits or sell later and lose some gains.

So, what are these considerations and how do they help you in deciding when to sell the stock?

In earlier blog, we told you that the right price to buy a stock at a reasonable discount to its MRP. We also said that we need to sell, once it crosses MRP. Since no one can time the market, knowing when to sell is one of the toughest decisions, especially since greed usually takes over and you always hope for a higher price.

In theory, the perfect business to buy is, one we never have to sell. That’s our ultimate objective: To buy a company so wonderful and at a price so attractive, that we never sell it. Of course, this rarely happens in reality. Wondering why? Because not all companies stay wonderful forever. Also, the market at some point tends to grossly overvalue these companies, giving a sell opportunity.

At Moneyworks4me, we buy and sell on the following guideline –  Buy at/close to Discount Price and sell once it crosses its MRP. But, what if the company ceases to be wonderful before the stock price crosses its MRP. Or the market has grossly overvalued the company! There are many such considerations you need to keep in mind, and they will guide you to figure out the right time to sell the stock. Let’s see them:

While taking a decision to retire from your stock, you can be in 2 situations. Either the stock price is

1) Well above MRP – If the current stock price is well above its current MRP i.e. 20%+ above MRP – consider selling the stock, as the market is overvaluing the stock irrationally above its earning capacity.

Considering that the market has overvalued the company right now, there are chances that it will correct in the future. In such a case it would be a great opportunity to sell the stock now, book great profits and later, wait till it is available at a good discount again. This time you can wait for a slightly lower MOS than before, considering by now you have confidence that the company is a sure-shot winner in the future.

 2) Just above MRP – If the current stock price is just above the stock’s current MRP ( 0-20% above), you need to ask yourself –

a) Has the company ceased to be wonderful? : If the company’s MRP is stagnating and it is not a short-term trouble, most likely the company has ceased to be wonderful. In such a situation consider selling. This means that the company has ceased to have the sustainable competitive advantage, that earlier guaranteed great growth and is no longer attractive with a long-term perspective.

This will usually show up in the form of a poor performance in  its financial track record. If the financial track record is no longer good enough to warrant holding on to the company/business, sell it.  In such a case this will reflect in a stagnant or reducing MRP, due to our reduction in expectations of earnings capacity.

However, if the company is wonderful with an increasing MRP, consider holding the company till the market grpslly overvalues it i.e. (20%+ above MRP)

b) Is there a better opportunity available?: If you have found a better company, where the probability of growth and returns is higher and this company is available at an attractive discount. In such a case consider selling of your earlier investment, if you are sure there is a better opportunity available.

c)  Are you are in requirement of funds?If you are in need of funds, it is always better to sell off a stock that has crossed its right value (MRP), rather than selling one which yet has scope for appreciation in stock price

3) The company has ceased to be wonderful, before reaching its MRP – If there has been a sudden change in circumstance or you have received new information, that changes your opinion about the company that you once believed was wonderful, consider selling the stock; even though its current price may not have touched its MRP.

If the stop loss has been reached: When you buy a stock, it is usually with the expectation that the stock will go up and we will make a handsome profit. But what if the stock goes plummeting down! This is where a stop loss comes in. As the name suggests, it is the price level at which one should stop/limit the losses in a trade. The purpose is to define the maximum loss you are willing to take on your investment. One should not take unlimited risks in any investment, because if the stock starts going down, you may even face the risk of capital erosion.

Deciding the stop loss level will depend on a few factors like how much loss are you willing to take on a trade, how risky and volatile is the position, how is the market trending, etc. The trailing stop loss method seems to work the best amongst the different known methods.

Let’s understand how this method works with the help of an example. Suppose you bought a stock for Rs. 1000 and decide to set a trailing stop loss at 15% i.e. a stop loss will be triggered at Rs. 850 (You can also set a stop loss in absolute terms, say Rs. 150). If the stock moves up, the trailing stop loss goes up too. So, at Rs. 1100, the trailing stop loss will have moved to Rs. 935; at Rs 1300 the trailing stop loss will be Rs. 1105 and so on. However, if the stock turns south and comes down Rs. 1200 from Rs. 1300, the trailing stop loss remains at Rs. 1105. If the stock reaches Rs. 1105, the trailing stop loss is triggered and a sell trade will be executed, thus protecting a profit of Rs. 105 or 10.5% on your initial trade of Rs. 1000.

The discipline of following a stop loss will help you to not only minimize your losses but also protect your profits to a great extent!

If you liked what you read and would like to put it in to practice Register at MoneyWorks4me.com. You will get amazing FREE features that will enable you to invest in Stocks and Mutual Funds the right way.


Join our Telegram Channel:
Stock Investing
Mutual Fund Investing

Join our Telegram Channel:
Stock Investing
Mutual Fund Investing

Need help on Investing? And more….Puchho Befikar

Kyunki yeh paise ka mamala hai
Start Chat | Request a Callback | Call 020 6725 8333 | WhatsApp 8055769463

What’s your Reaction?
+1
0
+1
0
+1
0

Stay Informed: Subscribe to Our Newsletter for Key Updates

Team-MoneyWorks4me

A team of business leaders, equity research analysts & investment counsellors. Started in 2008; experienced in equity research, financial planning and portfolio management. Passionate about providing institutional quality research and advice to Retail Investors in a simple easy-to-understand-and-act manner.

10 comments

  • HOW I WILL COME TO KNOW THAT WHICH IS THE STOCK TRADING MORE THEN ITS MRP AND WHICH IS ON LESS THEN ITS MRP?

  • Hi,
    We had explained the methodology to calculate MRP (the real value of each stock), in Stock Shastra #11. Also, our article on the MRP concept featured in Outlook Profit 'Right Price', where we had explained the complete methodology. Here is the link for it http://bit.ly/cUvnGM . Also, on http://www.MoneyWorks4me.com , we have given the MRP and Discount Price for stocks. So, log on to MoneyWorks4me.com to find the MRP for your stocks.

  • THIS IS A WONDERFUL METHOD. EVERY INVESTOR NEEDS SOME GUIDELINES TO DECIDE THE CORRECT PRICE RANGE TO SELL THE STOCK. SELLING THE STOCK TOO EARLY REALLY HURTS. AFTER EVERY QUARTERLY RESULTS WE CAN EVALUATE MRP BASED ON CURRENT EPS AND IF THE REVISED MRP SHOWS STAGNATION THEN ONE CAN SELL. ONE MUST SURELY SELL WHEN SOME OTHER COMPANY IS AVAILABLE AT DISCOUNTED PRICE AND SHOWS SIGNS OF GROWTH. THANKS FOR THE STOCK SHASTRA.

    • Hi,
      Thanks a lot. We are glad that you liked the Shastra and have been spot on in stating the above. Keeping the above 3 signs in mind while selling your stock will help investors profit with minimal risk. Do keep reading and posting your feedback.

    • Hi,
      Thanks a lot. We are glad that you liked the Shastra and have been spot on in stating the above. Keeping the above 3 signs in mind while selling your stock will help investors profit with minimal risk. Do keep reading and posting your feedback.

  • Pl. give the date of your arriving at DP/MRP. in some cases you suddenly increase /decrease MRP and we should know the reason and for quick reference date be provided in your filter itself.

Search

Archives

×