Apple (AAPL): Profit-Taking

If you’re a long-time reader of Get Irked, then you already know that Apple (AAPL) remains one of my favorite long-term investments. Jim Cramer of Mad Money always says, “Own Apple, don’t trade it.”

I absolutely hate taking profits in Apple. However, to be a disciplined investor, there are rules to follow and it’s important to take profits in every position from time-to-time, no matter how much you love the company and believe in it for the long-term.

As an owner of Apple shares for more than 7 years (I first opened the position on April 18, 2013), I’ve learned some of the habits of Apple’s stock. For example, if Apple shares head higher into an earnings report – as they did heading into Thursday’s – then it’s a good idea to take profits as Apple is often a “buy-the-rumor, sell-the-news” stock when it comes to that sort of thing.

In other words, when it comes to an earnings report, Apple’s stock often sells off if the stock price rises into it and often pops if the stock price drops going into it. In this case, the stock price rose into the report giving the sign that it was time to take profits.

So, on Thursday, I took profits at $292.04, selling some shares I bought back on March 20 for $232.97, locking in +25.36% in profits and “reducing” my per-share cost from -$79.73 per share to -$119.61 per share (in other words, each share I hold in my portfolio represents $119.61 in profits already taken above and beyond the initial investment capital made back in 2013).

True to form, despite reporting an earnings beat Thursday afternoon after the close, Apple’s stock sold off in extended hours, dropping -2.55% to $286.30 (-1.97% lower than where I sold during the day). My next buy target for Apple is $215-220 and my next sell target will beyond its all-time high of $327.85 made back in January.

AAPL closed the week at $289.07, down -1.02% from where I sold Thursday. 

IDEXX Laboratories (IDXX): Profit-Taking

IDEXX Labs (IDXX) took off on Monday along with the rest of the market, triggering a sell order I had in place to take profits at $275.31. This sale took +61.78% in profits on shares I purchased a little over a month ago on March 23 for $170.18.

My per-share cost was lowered -9.17% from $137.11 to $124.54. I have no plans to take additional profits in the position at this time, however, I will add shares back in if IDEXX pulls back to $186-187, a key support level above March’s lows.

IDXX closed the week at $270.75, down -1.66% from where I sold on Monday.