#44 Investment Journal - Ep.3

News and update on my portfolio

Aug 12, 2024

Welcome to Episode 3 of my Investment Journal! The purpose of the Investment Journal, in addition to the deep dives and other articles on specific stocks, is to take you along on my investment journey, share updates on my portfolio and some general thoughts on the stock market and certain companies.

Portfolio Update

As previously announced, I've been focusing on streamlining my portfolio. Recently, I sold my entire position in Prologis, the logistics REIT, realizing a small profit. Additionally, I exited my position in Kering, the French luxury conglomerate struggling with its Gucci brand, though this was at a significant loss. While Kering remains an interesting turnaround story, I currently lack confidence in the company and its management, leading me to reallocate the freed cash into more promising opportunities.

I also fully divested from Engie, Vici Properties, Banco Santander, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Royal Bank of Canada, and Johnson & Johnson.

During the recent market volatility, I reinvested the available cash, focusing solely on increasing my positions in Alphabet, Amazon, JP Morgan, and American Express. The majority of these additions were in Amazon and Alphabet, two companies I've discussed in detail over the past few weeks.

Which Stocks Am I Watching Right Now?

Currently, there are a few stocks that have caught my attention, both for potential investment and to write about.

First up is Airbnb. It’s been on my watchlist since its IPO, and the company has been performing quite well. Its valuation is also becoming more attractive. Having used Airbnb personally several times, I’ve always been satisfied with the accommodations and overall experience, which further strengthens my interest in the company.

A few weeks ago, I initiated a small position in SoFi Technologies. I’ve been doing periodic research on the company by reviewing its annual and quarterly earnings reports. I’m still trying to understand the divide in opinions—some see SoFi as a great opportunity, while others dismiss it as just another “bank.”

In the realm of European companies, I need to take a closer look at two of my positions that have faced challenges recently. The first is Carl Zeiss Meditec, the German health technology company, which reported disappointing numbers.

The second is Eurofins Scientific, which recently came under attack from a short seller. I read the Muddy Waters Capital report and from my point of view there are a lot of accusations but little evidence. While the company’s overall metrics appear solid, I anticipate that a lot of patience will be required here.

Lastly, I’m uncertain about my positions in DHL Group and Canadian National Railway. Both are underperforming, and I’m not sure what course of action to take with them at the moment.

Post pipeline

In the coming weeks and months, I’ll be publishing not only regular earnings reviews and stock valuation updates but also several in-depth analyses. Here’s a glimpse of what I plan to explore:

SoFi Technologies: A fintech company that I’m still evaluating to understand its true potential.
Expedia: While everyone is focused on Booking Holdings and Airbnb, Expedia stands out with an attractive valuation and significant potential for improved profitability and growth.
Walt Disney: The iconic content and entertainment giant that has faced some challenges.
Jumbo S.A.: A fascinating Greek toy retailer that I’ve recently invested in.

And that’s just a few of the ideas I’m working on—so stay tuned! If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to stay updated.

Paid posts

I dedicate a significant amount of time to building my knowledge about businesses, stocks, and investing. I also invest heavily in tools and subscriptions to stay up to date and deliver the most valuable insights. Writing articles regularly requires time, effort, and discipline, and while I love sharing this information for free, I believe my work has value and is worth supporting.

With that in mind, I'm pleased to announce that in addition to my free posts, I'll be offering paid posts, mostly deep dives and stock analysis. These will be published regularly, in some cases broken up into shorter, more manageable pieces for easier reading. I will continue to publish free earnings reports, stock updates (partly free) and this investment journal.

I sincerely appreciate everyone who chooses to subscribe to the paid tier. I'm fully committed to providing valuable insights, and I'm always open to your feedback and requests.

Thank you

I've been on Substack for about nine months now, and I'm really glad I decided to start posting on this amazing platform. To all my current subscribers, and to those who may join soon, thank you so much for your continued support. Every like, share, and comment truly means a lot to me. And a special thank you to all paid subscribers! Thank you for your outstanding support and trust in my work.