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Pandemic Portfolio: Update #22

This is an update to a series. See Starting a Portfolio from Scratch to learn how it started.

Let’s get aggressive!

Last month, I spoke of how I intended to “put the fleet out to sea” by developing a more aggressive buying plan for the positions in the portfolio. Thanks to the biggest market-wide selloff we’ve seen in awhile, the past month has been incredibly active with me adding to almost every single position… some of them more than once!

In fact, the only position I didn’t add to was Barrick Gold (GOLD). However, seeing as how GOLD was already the biggest position in the portfolio going into this update, I’m definitely not too upset about that.

Let’s see what happened to the Pandemic Portfolio since the last update!

Barrick Gold (GOLD): Strategy Update

Current Price: $18.37
Per-Share Cost: $21.33 (Unchanged since last update)
Profit/Loss: -13.88%
Allocation: 6.932%* (-0.036% since last update)
Next Buy Target: $17.70

The shiny yellow metal appears to have bottomed, at least for the moment. After dropping to a low of $17.56, Barrick (GOLD) found support and bounced, briefly crossing over $20.00 a few days ago before once again losing support into the end of October, closing out the month at $18.37.

The strength seen under the $18 mark has motivated me to raise my buying price target to $17.70. However, given how Barrick has quickly grown into one of the biggest positions in the portfolio through accumulation, I am targeting its recent high of $25.15 as a point to take profits. The gold space is not like typical portfolio classes – it swings in stages so we may be in a trading range here and I need to take that into account.

Costco (COST): Added to Position

Current Price: $491.54
Per-Share Cost: $261.18 (+4.744% since last update)
Profit/Loss: +88.20%
Allocation: 4.703%* (+0.387% since last update)
Next Buy Target: $450.90

On Tuesday, September 28, Costco (COST) sold off with the rest of the market, triggering a buy order I had in place which filled at $451.31.

The order increased my per-share cost +4.744% from $249.35 to $261.18, however, my new per-share cost is still a -14.89% reduction from my first buy on May 12, 2020 at $306.88. Since COST bounced significantly from my buy in September, I am looking to re-add near the same price target at $450.90, and I have no sell targets at this time.

As of this update, COST is $491.54, up +8.91% from where I added.

Crown Castle (CCI): Added x 2 & Dividend

Current Price: $180.30
Per-Share Cost: $152.60 (+3.866% since last update)
Profit/Loss: +18.15%
Allocation: 6.992%* (+1.658% since last update)
Next Buy Target: $167.70

Getting more aggressive started almost immediately after the last update with REITs like Crown Castle (CCI) and Digital Realty Trust (DLR) selling off. CCI dropped and filled a buy order I had in place on Monday, September 27 with the order filling at $180.56.

The order raised my per-share cost +2.981% from $146.92 to $151.30, still maintaining a -9.53% reduction from my first buy at $167.24. CCI paid out its quarterly dividend on Friday, October 1, lowering my per-share cost -0.661% from $151.30 to $150.30.

On Friday, October 8, CCI continued to sell off while the rest of the market rose, triggering a buy order at $170.41. The order raised my per-share cost +1.530% from $150.30 to $152.60. My current per-share cost still represents a -8.75% discount from my first buy on July 21, 2020 at $167.24. From here, my next buy target is $167.70 and I do plan to take profits if CCI tests its all-time high with a sell order at $203.65.

CCI closed this update at $180.30, up +2.74% from my $175.49 average buy.

Digital Realty Trust (DLR): Added x 2 & Dividend

Current Price: $157.81
Per-Share Cost: $126.04 (+3.660% since last update)
Profit/Loss: +25.21%
Allocation: 6.893%* (+1.493% since last update)
Next Buy Target: $139.75

Like Crown Castle (CCI), Digital Realty Trust sold off on Monday, September 27 triggering a buy order that filled at $151.52. The order raised my per-share cost +2.805% from $121.59 to $125.00.

Digital Realty paid out its quarterly dividend on Friday, October 1, lowering my per-share cost -0.704% from $125.00 to $124.12. 

On Tuesday, October 5, Digital Realty continued to sell off, triggering another buy order I had in place that filled at $143.00. This buy raised my per-share cost +1.547% from $124.12 to $126.04, still a reduction of -12.08% from where I first opened the position on May 12, 2020 at $143.35. From here, my next buy target is $139.75 and I plan to take profits if DLR tests its all-time high with a sell order that I have in place at $167.90.

DLR closed this update at $157.81, up +7.16% from my $147.26 average buy.

Microsoft (MSFT): Added to Position

Current Price: $331.62
Per-Share Cost: $199.20 (+14.87% since last update)
Profit/Loss: +66.48%
Allocation: 6.262%* (+1.888% since last update)
Next Buy Target: $281.70

I rectified the mistake I made selling some Microsoft (MSFT) this past July by adding on the dip when Microsoft filled my $283.07 buy order on Thursday, September 30. The buy did raise my per-share cost +14.87% from $173.42 to $199.20, but this monster has been such a growth leader, I needed to increase my allocation.

Since Microsoft bounced significantly – even making new all-time highs – my next buy target is to re-add at $281.70 and I have no sell targets at this time.

MSFT closed this update at $331.62, up +17.15% from where I added at $283.07.

Pepsico (PEP): Added to Position & Dividend

Current Price: $161.60
Per-Share Cost: $124.90 (+3.718% since last update)
Profit/Loss: +30.16%
Allocation: 4.441%* (+0.827% since last update)
Next Buy Target: $151.10

As promised in the last update, I decided to get much more aggressive with this portfolio, and I ended up adding to Pepsico (PEP) when it pulled back to $151.71 on Thursday, September 30.

The buy replaced shares I sold on July 13 for $153.81, locking in a pretty negligible -1.37% discount, but, more importantly, increasing my allocation in this stalwart consumer staples play. The order also increased my per-share cost +4.344% from $119.70 to $124.90, however, that per-share price still represents a -6.07% reduction from my first buy on May 13, 2020 at $132.97. On Friday, October 1, Pepsico paid out its quarterly dividend, lowering my per-share cost -0.60% from $124.90 to $124.15.

Since PEP bounced dramatically after my buy – even making a new all-time high – my next buy target is to re-add to the position should it pull back to $151.10, and I have no sell targets at this time.

PEP closed this update at $161.60, up +6.52% from where I added at $151.71.

UnitedHealth (UNH): Added to Position

Current Price: $460.47
Per-Share Cost: $322.83 (+1.014% since last update)
Profit/Loss: +42.64%
Allocation: 5.115%* (+0.702% since last update)
Next Buy Target: $391.90

UnitedHealth (UNH) sold off with the rest of the market throughout September and into October, triggering a buy order on Friday, October 1 that filled at $387.93. The order raised my per-share cost +1.014% from $319.59 to $322.83.

Since the $390 held support very admirably before UNH bounced to reach new all-time highs, I’m looking to re-add should UNH sell back off to those levels with a buying price target at $391.90. I have no sell targets at this time.

UNH closed this update at $460.47, up +18.70% from where I added at $387.93.

Waste Management (WM): Added to Position

Current Price: $160.23
Per-Share Cost: $114.60 (+9.949% since last update)
Profit/Loss: +39.82%
Allocation: 3.034%* (+0.744% since last update)
Next Buy Target: $150.95

On Friday, October 1, Waste Management (WM) continued to come under selling pressure from earlier in the week which triggered a buy order that filled at $148.45. The order raised my per-share cost +9.949% from $104.23 to $114.60, still a modest -0.31% reduction from my first buy on January 14, 2021 at $114.96.

WM did end up bouncing to reach a new all-time high from where I added, so my plan is to re-add if WM sells off to test support at the same level. From here, my next buy target is $150.95 and I have no sell targets at this time.

WM closed this update at $160.23, up +7.94% from where I added at $148.45.