Wednesday, February 11, 2026

AMCR, ATHPRB, BHK, CLX, CTO, ELC, GPC, GTY, INVH, KBWY, LYB, NSAPRA, OPRA, PGX, PFFR, SBSI, STKL, TFC, UPS

Dollar Value of Trades Discussed in this Post

Inflow  Common Stock/Stock Funds (Item # 2): $124.21 

Outflow Common Stocks (Item # 1): $3,205.82

Realized Gains: $436.58

Net Outflow Stocks/Stock Funds: $3,081.61

The theme of this post is to selectively pare common stock positions and to emphasize other income producing securities. 

Treasury Bills Purchased at Auction (Item # 3): $40,000 in principal amount

Corporate Bonds (Item # 4): $6,000 in principal amount, total cost at $5,924.82. 

I am going to quit buying corporate bonds maturing prior to 2030 since the yields are too low for the credit risks compared to treasury yields for the same maturities.  

Inflow Equity Preferred Stocks (Item # 5): $399.75

Inflow Leverage Bond CEF (Item # 6): $95.15

Inflow Exchange Traded First Mortgage Bond (Item # 7): $208.2

Inflow "Preferred" Stock ETFs (Item # 8): $408.6

I have quit citing quotes and other data from the Marketwatch website, which is behind a paywall. I will be citing data instead from MSN Money, which is accessible without a subscription. 

Trump credits his tariffs for the DJIA closing above 50,000 and claims that index will hit 100,000 before his second term ends: 

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Economy

Employment Situation Summary - 2026 M01 Results The BLS reported this morning that the economy added 130,000 jobs in January with an unemployment rate of 4.3%. The Dow Jones consensus was at +55,000. Of the job gains, healthcare added 82,000 and the "social assistance" category added 42,000. 

Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings increased by 3.7%. "The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for November was revised down by 15,000, from+56,000 to +41,000, and the change for December was revised down by 2,000, from +50,000 to +48,000. With these revisions, employment in November and December combined is 17,000 lower than previously reported." The trend has been to lower the previously reported numbers. 

"Payroll employment change little in 2025 (15,000 per month on average)(See Table B-1)"(emphasis added) 

2025 Job Numbers with Revisions: 


December retail sales were flat 


Retail Sales - Census Bureau.pdf

Trump threatens to block opening of new bridge between US and Canada - ABC NewsTrump threatens to block new bridge in latest tirade against CanadaTrump, 79, Loses It Over a Bridge in Bonkers Truth Social Screed The six lane bridge, paid for by Canada, links Windsor, Canada and Detroit, Michigan. While the bridge will save tens of millions in transportation costs for U.S. businesses, Trump said he would block its opening  "until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them, and also, importantly, Canada treats the United States with the Fairness and Respect that we deserve" and those negotiations must start "IMMEDIATELY". 

Is it possible for a sane U.S. President to write that post and then publish it for the world to see?  

The post is completely untethered from reality. Trump has repeatedly made false and misleading statements about U.S. trade with Canada. I discussed a few of them in this video published about 10 month ago: Trump's Routine Demonstrably False Statements about U S-Canada Trade - YouTube 

Trump has continued making false statements at a fevered pace about U.S. - Canada trade since I published that video. Trump has probably irreparably damaged trade relations with Canada who is and will continue to seek out trading partners in foreign countries, particularly in China. 

There are already widespread boycotts of U.S. products and services by Canadian citizens and that can reasonably be expected to intensify. 

Among other demands, Trump wants Canada to transfer at least half ownership to the U.S. of this bridge, even though the U.S. had no involvement in the financing or construction. 

Trump publicly supported this bridge project in his first term. Trudeau-Trump joint statement affirms confidence in Gordie Howe bridge project | CBC News 

Income in the United States: 2024 - Census Bureau Publication. I missed reviewing this report when it was released in September 2025. I was not encouraged by the data. 

Page 5

The Fed - Table: Distribution of Household Wealth in the U.S. since 1989

The top quintile is doing fine but the rest of the country is in various degrees of struggling to make ends meet. 

Layoffs in January were the highest to start a year since 2009, Challenger says

Whistleblower Complaint.pdf Borges is the former chief data officer of the Social Security Administration. In this Complain, Borges claims that the DOGE Boys who were allowed access to confidential SS information uploaded the SS database to an unsecure site. The information included SS numbers, race, sex, parent's names, date of birth and addresses.  The purpose was to deliver this information to an advocacy group that wanted "to overturn election" results. This kind of information could be used by fraudsters to effectuate identity theft. 

I have locked my files at all three credit bureaus. I also have a credit monitoring service just in case someone tries to steal my identity for some other reason.  

One long term headwind for U.S. jobs will be the implementation of AI. 

The estimate of job losses that I have seen range from 5% to 20%.                      

The losses are only starting.    

See,e.g., Citigroup to Axe 60,000 Jobs by 2026 — What It Signals for Bank Workers Everywhere | IBTimes UK

AI taking white-collar jobs. Economists warn 'much more in the tank'

AI jobs danger: Sleepwalking into a white-collar bloodbath

++++

Trump and His Orwellian/Authoritarian Party

Trump's Ordered the Criminal Prosecution of Several Democrat Politicians for Exercising their First Amendment Rights

Trump appointed the Fox News personality, Jeanine Pirro, to be the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia. She was confirmed with 50 republican votes in the Senate. 

It was disclosed yesterday that Pirro had sought to criminally charge several Democrat politicians, including Senator Kelly, for correctly stating the law about obeying unlawful orders. Trump had clearly demanded that the democrats be criminally charged for exercising their First Amendment Rights and their Constitutional Rights under the Speech and Debate Clause. 

Only political appointees tried to secure a grand jury indictment which failed. DOJ fails to secure indictment in connection with Democrats involved in 'illegal orders' video The FBI cooperated in this illegal investigation. 

Ms. Pirro deserves to be impeached in the House, assuming the Democrats regain control after the midterms which hopefully will not be successfully stolen by the republicans, even though it will be impossible to secure a conviction in the Senate.  

Trump accuses Democrats of 'seditious behavior, punishable by death,' for urging military to ignore illegal orders 'Punishable by DEATH': Trump Floats Execution for Democrats Speaker Johnson supported those Trump comments. Mike Johnson defends Trump's 'sedition' attacks on Democrats - POLITICO  

What the military oath of enlistment says about legal and illegal orders - ABC News

What US Law Says About Sedition and Troops Defying Illegal Orders - Newsweek

Trump's DOJ Attempted to Expedite the Deportation of Liam Ramos and His Father:

Almost immediately after Liam Conejo Ramos and his father were returned from an ICE detention facility, the DHS filed a petition for expedited consideration for their deportation trying to have a hearing last week. Administration seeking expedited removal of 5-year-old and family, Rep. Castro says - ABC News; DHS requests expedited deportation proceedings against family of Liam Conejo RamosFact Sheet: Expanded Expedited Removal - National Immigration Forum DHS denies that this action is a retaliation for embarrassing Trump but does not explain why an expedited hearing was necessary since a hearing had already been scheduled for later this month.  

As I discussed in my last post, the existence of the Ramos family asylum petition prevented the lawful seizure of Liam and his father and forced transfer to an ICE detention center, assuming the Trump Administration wished to follow the law. 

Todd Blanche and DHS do not have the legal authority to decide an asylum claim. The Trump Administration's original seizure and abduction was consequently unlawful which is not relevant in Trump's America. 

Only an immigration judge can decide whether to grant or deny the asylum petition. 

Cruelty is the objective. Trying to expedite the asylum hearing immediately after their return from detention is proof of retaliation. 

Ongoing Republican Efforts to Deter Citizens from Voting:  

Trump's party is not a conservative one in the American tradition but the antithesis of one.  

Trump doubles down on suggesting federal government 'get involved' in state elections - ABC News

Trump Says He'll Accept 2026 Election Results if 'Honest' Trump does not need any proof to declare an election as dishonest. This statement highlights the more likely than not seizure of voting machines after the 2026 midterm elections located in blue or swing states. 

He also claimed that he did not say "nationalize" the federal elections. Trump: "I didn’t say ‘nationalize". 

Two days before this denial, Trump had this to say: "The Republicans should say, 'We want to take over. We should take over the voting in at least — many, 15 places.' The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting." (emphasis added) Trump says Republicans should 'nationalize' elections 

It does not matter to Trump that he is caught on tape using the word that he denied using two days earlier. Almost 80% of republicans view Trump as honest and that is after 10+ years of making demonstrably false or misleading statements that need to be measured in the tens of thousands. 

Trump tried in early 2025 to nationalize the elections by Executive Order. That effort was blocked since it was blatantly unconstitutional. 2025-10-31-Memorandum Opinion.pdf The government has appealed that district court decision. There is no way that this litigation can be resolved prior to the midterms.

And even if the republicans are successful in implementing the provisions of Trump's Executive Order through legislation, district courts will enjoin the enforcement based on the same constitutional issues discussed in the previously linked opinion.  

The republicans are now trying to pass the "Save Act" that will make it more difficult for American citizens to vote and will disenfranchise millions. That is their purpose  and will be the result when and if passed.  New SAVE Act Bills Would Still Block Millions of Americans From Voting 

The new version passed by the House Republicans is called Make Elections Great Again Act. The provisions that interfere with the right to vote are discussed in that article and many others. E.G. What You Need to Know About the SAVE ActFive Things to Know About the SAVE Act

The claim about non-citizens voting is not supported by the evidence, but only republican reality creations. That claim has already been disproven in multiple comprehensive audits done by states of their voter rolls.  The SAVE Act: Addressing a Non-Existent Problem at the Cost of Voter Access?Five Things to Know About the SAVE Act

Republicans want to require new voters to prove their citizenship by producing a birth certificate or a passport. The purpose is to discourage young people from even registering to vote since a majority will not vote the right way. A substantial number of U.S. citizens do not have copies of their birth certificate and do not have passports. 

What about a young married woman trying to register who has changed her name and consequently does not have a birth certificate in her new name?   

It simply needs to be recognized that these Republican efforts to deter voting are just a relatively small part of their ongoing authoritarian push to take near permanent control over the federal and state governments, including a few blue states.   

Former Trump attorney, Kurt Olsen, previously sanctioned by an Appellate Court for making false election related claims,  referred the Fulton County 2020 Presidential Election for Criminal Prosecution



Warrant affidavit for Fulton County ballots | DocumentCloud As previously discussed, the warrant is signed by the federal attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, Thomas C. Albus, who has been identified as one of the Trump election deniers. The search warrant was signed by Magistrate Judge Catherine Salinas, who I had previously identified as the judge who allowed this search to occur. Judge Salinas failed miserably to do her job.  

The FBI agent who signed an affidavit, parroting claims previously made by election deniers and dismissed, is identified as Hugh Raymond Evans. The affidavit appears to me to have been written by an advocate rather than an unbiased investigator. I am curious whether Kurt Olsen or Albus participated in writing that sworn testimony 

Evans' affidavit parrots claims made by those promulgating conspiracy theories on the far right and the members of the 100% Trumpster controlled George Board of Elections. Debunked claims from election deniers influenced FBI raid in Georgia, affidavit revealsDOJ shares why it raided Georgia election hub and seized 2020 ballots Evans is better at repeating claims than most parrots. He submitted a garbage affidavit to support the seizure of voting records and voter information. 


Moncla had plead guilty to voyeurism charges for secretly filming guests in his bathroom and was ordered to pay $3M in damages. ProPublica on X: "Kevin Moncla, who pleaded guilty to a voyeurism charge and was ordered to pay more than $3 million for secretly filming guests in his home bathroom, has tried repeatedly to prove that the 2020 vote in Fulton County, Georgia, was tainted by fraud-X Just the kind of guy the Trump FBI views as credible. 

The fact that the FBI even used information supplied by him highlights the political nature of the alleged FBI investigation. FBI's Fulton County raid was based on reams of debunked 2020 fraud claims from election deniers, records show - Democracy Docket Evans believes that those people are credible, even though their claims had previously been debunked, as noted in the previously linked article. Evans failed to include exculpatory and credibility information in his sworn Affidavit. 

It was disclosed yesterday that the FBI seizure of Fulton County voting records and voter information was initiated by a criminal referral by the the former Trump campaign lawyerKurt Olsen, that Trump appointed as Director of Election Security and Integrity. Trump campaign lawyer sparked FBI probe of Fulton County ballots: Affidavit  States United and LDAD, with Bipartisan Support, File Ethics Complaints Against Attorney Kurt Olsen for Election Lies and Frivolous Election Lawsuits - States United Democracy Center Those were filed in mid-2024. 

Federal appeals court split on attorney sanctions in Arizona ballot case Kurt Olsen was sanctioned for making false, misleading and unsupported factual assertions on behalf of Kari Lake. A Trump appointed appellate court judge, Patrick Bumatay, dissented from that 2 to 1 ruling. 


I did find an Arizona Supreme Court order affirming the dismissal of an ethics complaint filed against Olsen. Decision Order.pdf (one judge dissented in part)

Ethics complaints were also filed against Olsen in Maryland and D.C. but I could not find any results. Complaint Filed with Maryland.pdf 

Trump repeated debunked fact free conspiracy theories after the FBI started its seizure of election records. Those included the demonstrably false claim about the 2 election workers who later won a defamation suit and a ridiculous claim that Italian spy satellites, controlled by China, changed votes from Trump to Biden. At least Evans had enough integrity not to based the search on those kind of claims, at least so far. 

The FBI is going to waste the time of its agents and will not find evidence justifying a criminal prosecution. The issues raised in the Evans affidavit have been thoroughly investigated already with the results publicly available.   

Since the FBI/DOJ are no longer independent of Trump, frivolous criminal prosecutions ordered by Trump and/or his servile minions at the DOJ may still occur, even though they have no chance of resulting in convictions. 

The seizure of voting records from the 2020 election is a dry run and a precursor to what is likely to happen shortly after the 2026 midterms through a combination of DHS/DOJ/FBI employees who are 100% loyal to Trump. 


The republicans, acting on Trump's orders, have proven how easy it was to seize voting records and voter information from a November 2020 election. It is only necessary to find a compliant judge to issue the seizure warrant, using fact free conspiracy theories as the justification, and there are no shortage of those judges in the U.S. now. 

Republicans will try to steal that midterm election and will probably be more successful than they were in 2020 given who is now running the DHS/DOJ/FBI. 

Fulton County will challenge the purported probable cause in the Evans affidavit, hopefully bypassing the Magistrate and going directly to a federal district court judge.  






Prove You are A Citizen and You Will Be Arrested and Trumpster Response to ICE Protests:  

Texas man charged with assault after fight with student protesters - YouTube This video shows a 44 year old white guy, wearing a red hat, attacking a teenage girl who are simply protesting against ICE.

In Nebraska, a vehicle with a large Trump flag ran over a student at an ICE protest and left the scene. Police locate driver in hit‑and‑run at Fremont protest | Nebraska Public MediaHigh school student protesting ICE hit by car with Trump flag - YouTube The driver drove by the protesters several times before hitting the student.

U.S. Citizen had to prove citizenship or be arrested by Border Patrol Agents - YouTube The citizen had to prove that he was a U.S. citizen or a multitude of federal officers who had surrounded his car would arrest him. This occurred 80 miles from the border. They searched his car without a warrant, tore open a bag in his trunk, took his phone without a warrant, and attempted to delete the video taken from the unlawfully seized phone unaware that the citizen could restore it. The Border Patrol agents told him that under the new Administration they could do whatever they wanted which describes the  state of affairs under the current fascist U.S. government.


Federal Agents Brutally Pushed Woman To Ground  - YouTube She was a U.S. citizen. They searched the car without a warrant. U.S. citizens need to document as many cases with videos because the paramilitaries will offer a narrative that is inconsistent with what actually  happened. 


It is clear that the republican politicians will try everything they can to steal both the 2026 and 2028 elections and will blindly follow the orders of our Dear Leader in an effort to accomplish that objective. 

J.D. Vance, who may be the republican nominee for President in 2028 if Trump does not run for a third term, refused to apologize for making demonstrably false statements about Alex Pretti. JD Vance once again refuses to be a normal human being - YouTube




2-year-old girl arrested in ICE raid, held for 27 hours - YouTube DHS claims the mother, who was not arrested, would not take the child preferring that she be sent to an ICE detention facility with her father.  

"Christian" Nationalism and the Authoritarian Use of "National Security" as a Justification for Near Absolute Presidential Power



Trump is their MAGA Messiah, God's "Chosen One" to Rule the U.S. and the World. Trump to The Atlantic: 'I run the country and the world'- USA Today 





Some of the more cherished comments made by the Chosen One were summarized in the previous links including the following: Trump referring to his critics as "lunatics" comparable to "the gestapo"; referring to Biden as "Crooked Joe" and the Republican Congressman Massey as a "moron"; calling the Mayor of Minneapolis "a horrible fake major"; repeating his false claims about the 2020 election; claiming no real Christian could ever vote for a Democrat; and generally ranting in his usual "grievance-filled, narcissistic, conspiratorial, factually false, divisive, and insulting" manner. The 3,500 self-described christians in attendance gave him a standing ovation for this speech.   


DOJ raises 'national security' concerns in legal fight over Trump ballroom - ABC News Trump invokes national security as the justification for doing whatever he want to do without Congressional authorization. He justified imposing tariffs on bathroom cabinets and vanities on national security grounds. In Trump's America, the Courts can not even question whether there is any justification for invoking national security, but must defer to the U.S. King's decision.

Trump's authoritarian actions are the natural by product of decisions made by the 6 Monarchists on the Supreme Court. 

Most of the judges appointed by Trump will be a cancerous blight on America's legal system for decades to come IMO.  

+++

Fascism in the U.S.

Fascists have far more power now than at anytime in U.S. history. 

Since the U.S. government is now controlled by a fascist and his apparatchiks, it is not surprising that leaders of western democracies now recognize the U.S. as a hostile power. See, e.g., French president warns of US hostility to Europe and "Greenland moment"  - Newsweek (2/10/26) 

Canada has rightly concluded that the U.S. President and the government he controls has declared what amounts to a war against Canada and its citizens.







None of this is new news. 

++

DOJ's Epstein Cover Up Continues

Epstein Files Redacted to Protect 'Prominent' People, Lawmakers Allege | TIME Yet another clear cut case of a cover up.  Rep. Massie on the Epstein files: we found 6 men whose names have been redacted who are implicated - YouTube Trump has repeatedly attacked Massie since he will not play ball on the Epstein files. 


It needs to be remembered that almost all House republicans, at Trump's direction, voted against having a vote on releasing the Epstein files. Trump ordered Speaker Johnson to prevent a vote. The only way to bypass the Speaker was through a discharge petition signed by 218 House members. 

Only 4 republicans signed the discharge petition along with all Democrats, which then required everyone to vote. Epstein discharge petition secures final signature needed to force House vote on releasing files - CBS News All 4 were necessary to pass the discharge petition. Trump pressured at least 2 of those republicans to remove their signatures. Trump pushes GOP to block House move forcing Epstein files disclosure Trump knew that Massie was a firm yes vote, as a co-sponsor, of the discharge petition. 

The republicans did whatever they could to sweep the matter under a rug and then bury the rug. 

It was only after the discharge petition passed that they voted in favor of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, knowing that there was nowhere left to hide anymore. 

I believe the Trump/DOJ/FBI cover up will continue indefinitely. It may take several more years to force the disclosure of documents required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act and the subpoena issued by the House to the DOJ.  

The DOJ is currently making it very difficult for House members to review the redactions. I am aware of only 2 GOP House member who have taken the time to review the improper DOJ reductions, Thomas Massie and Lauren Boebert, two of the 4 House republicans who signed the discharge petition. 


+++


'Brutal Lie': Trump's Justification for Chicago Raid Cracks No statement made by DHS can be accepted at face value and must be presumed to be false until real evidence confirms the validity. DHS has gone pure Orwellian. 







ICE agents chase woman back to her Louisiana home - YouTube She is a U.S. Citizen but she had brown skin that allowed ICE to target her under the Monarchists Kavanaugh Rule. 



Trump's Extortion Racket

Trump Says He Wants $1 Billion From Harvard in New Attack - YouTube It is routine now for Trump to extort money from America's elite universities. The extortion is implemented by impounding research and other grants, which is detrimental to the public, until the University bends a knee, kisses Trump's ring and pays a very large sum of money. 

Trump is abusing his power in this kind of extortion racket. A federal judge ruled last September that Trump had violated Harvard's First Amendment rights. District court ruling against Trump in Harvard case - First Amendment issues The court granted a summary judgment to Harvard. 84 Page Decision.pdf Trump is appealing that order. 

Trump has received several adverse rulings that his extortion efforts directed at the nation's most prestigious law firms were unconstitutional. Several federal district court judges have held that Trump violated their First, Fifth Amendment Due Process and 6th Amendment Constitutional rights. Trump is appealing those orders. 





I have not heard a single republican politician criticize those actions even in the mildest of terms. Consequently, all republican politicians must be deemed to support Trump's actions. 

If the appellate courts rule against Trump, finding that he has used what amounts to extortion to violate Constitutional rights of law firms and universities, and the Democrats regain control over the House, those flagrantly unconstitutional abuses of Presidential power will be at least 1 of the numerous impeachment articles that will be passed by the House. Conviction is impossible in the Senate where a 2/3rds vote is required to convict. 

Trump is doing what all fascist leaders have done throughout modern world history with zero push back from incumbent republican politicians. A few retired republicans have been critical including Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger but then they never drank the MAGA Kool-Aid. Adam Kinzinger: "They Lie Like It's Breathing." - YouTube
 
Trump is primarily banking on the 6 Supreme Court Monarchists overruling all adverse appellate decisions by concluding that the first American King acted within his Kingly powers with these various shakedowns. They have been undermining the very reason why there was an American Revolution in the first place to oust King George, but sanctioning extortion by a President that violates constitutional rights may be a bridge too far, even for them. 

++

Trump Depiction of the Obamas as Apes:



Trump does not became an extremely stable genius by claiming that he is one over and over again even when he uses all cap letters "I AM AN EXTREMELY STABLE GENIUS!!!!!!!". Trump 'I'm an extremely stable genius' - POLITICO 

Trump does not become the most honest person in the world by claiming to be so. 'The most honest person in the world': Hear who Trump was talking about - YouTube 

Nor can he avoid being who he really is by claiming to be something that is not. 


White House defends it and slams 'fake outrage'.  The initial response was to defend it, as everyone knows now.  

A few republican politicians objected to Trump's depiction, most likely fearing how people of color would react in the upcoming midterm elections by voting against them.  

IMO, Trump proves that he is a energetically terrible person almost daily, usually multiple times each day. 

After more than a  decade of disgusting and repulsive comments and actions, a handful of republican politicians drew a line in the sand with depicting the Obamas as apes. That really says a lot about who they really are as well. 

Trump will not apologize for posting that image for the world to see, as expected. Trump won't apologize for racist post depicting Obamas as apesTrump deletes racist meme of the Obamas 

Trump claims that he did not see the depiction of the Obamas as apes in the 62 second video, but that some staffer who was up in the middle of the night allegedly screening Trump's late night and early morning posts failed to detect this obviously racist depiction. 

Trump published his post 12 minutes before midnightThe Obama Meme on Trump’s Truth Social Was Exactly What It Looked Like - The Atlantic (noting that the generator of the video also appeared to behind the video, reposted by Trump, that show him raining down excrement on protesters). 

The WH refused to identify the staffer. Trump wants you to believe that he does not actually push the button to publish his posts even if the publication occurs when normal people are asleep. 

Several self-described christian Trump supporters accepted his claim and urged him to fire the staffer. Trump’s ‘racist’ Obama ‘apes’ post - The Independent (naming 2); Top Trump pastor reveals "direct" request to president after Obama ape post - Newsweek

Trump is not going to fire anybody since there is no culpable person other than Trump. 

Many will believe Trump on this matter and all others, which is incomprehensible given his history. 

He is a pathological liar, a terrible person, a misogynist, and a racist IMO, which I based on an objective view of his actions and words over a decade rather than blindly accepting what he claims to be as tens of millions do even when contradicting by overwhelming evidence. 

I believe Trump thought the depiction of nonwhites as animals - not really human like caucasians - is what he actually believes as a White Suprematist;  and the depiction may have just been so funny to him, like his "jokes", given his deeply immature and disturbed juvenile personality. 








At a minimum, Trump sent a clear signal to his millions of racist  supporters that he is still with them.

My Video (published over 2 years ago): Trump's Personality - YouTube



Trump is not restoring truth but creating an alternate Orwellian U.S. history. Hopefully, the republican revisionist U.S. history will not survive for much longer.

Trump has for example caused the removal of signs and exhibits related to slavery and a 1863 photo showing a black man's back heavily scarred from whippings. Our National Parks in crisis: Trump’s administration continues its effort to censor historyNPS Removes Signs at Grand Canyon, Glacier National Parks


++++

Allegation Regarding Trump Moscow Tape

Ex-KGB official says 2 countries have copies of compromising Trump video - Alternet.orgKremlin and Kazakhstan Both Have Kompromat on Trump, Says Ex-KGB Spy Chief (2/8/26) The allegation is based on statements made by former KGB officer Alnur Mussayev, who once headed Kazakhstan’s security services. Mussayev has made these allegations previously. I suspect that they formed the foundation for part of the Steele Dossier. The tape was allegedly made at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Moscow in 2013. Mussayev claims that both Russia and Kazakhstan have copies of the tape. The hotel is owned by Vernia Capital, an investment group associated with the Kazakh oligarch Bulat Utemuratov. That guy was close to Nursultan Nazarbayev, the Kazakhstan "President" for 29 years, which allegedly explains how Kazakhstan has the tape. 

+++

Municipal Bond Early Redemption: 5


This bond was issued by the Metropolitan Government of Nashville Airport Authority and would have have matured on 7/1/45. The coupon was 3.875%. Interest payments were federally tax exempt. The bond was purchased at 98.694.

Corporate Bonds - Early Redemption: 6


This bond was bought through the Fidelity corporate notes offerings. Those bonds are sold at par value in initial public offerings. Those bonds have limited call protection which is a disadvantage when the issuers can refinance at lower rates. I have lost most of them to early calls. 

First Mortgage Bonds

I also owned 1 of the Entergy Arkansas FM bond in a RI account. 


+++++

1. Small Ball Sells

Several small ball sales will be discussed in my next post that were made on 2/5/25 or later, excerpt for STKL which I sold on 2/6. There were too many to discuss in 1 post.  

A. Pared WPC - Sold 10+ Shares at $71.47 (High Cost)

Quote: W.P. Carey Inc. (WPC) at MSN Money

Proceeds: $727.26

"W. P. Carey ranks among the largest net lease REITs with a well-diversified portfolio of high-quality, operationally critical commercial real estate, which includes 1,682 net lease properties covering approximately 183 million square feet as of December 31, 2025. With offices in New York, London, Amsterdam and Dallas, the company remains focused on investing primarily in single-tenant, industrial, warehouse and retail properties located in the U.S. and Europe, under long-term net leases with built-in rent escalations."

SEC Filings

Website: Leaseback Build-to-Suit Real Estate Finance | W. P. Carey

Last DiscussedItem # 2. Eliminated Duplicate Position in WPC - Sold 30 in Interactive Brokers Account at $64.2 and 10 in Schwab Account at $64.2  (7/29/25)(profit snapshot = $323.07)(discussed 2025 second quarter report, SEC Filed Press Release and SEC Filed Supplemental

Profit Snapshot: $62.94

New Average cost per share: $57.41 (40+ shares)

Snapshot Intraday on 2/5/26 after pare 

Reduced from $58.98

Dividend: Quarterly at $.92 per share ($3.68 annually) 

WPC Stock Dividend History & Date | Seeking Alpha

There was a dividend cut in 2023 4th quarter caused by the spinoff of WPC's office properties into a new REIT called  Net Lease Office Properties (NLOP)W. P. Carey Announces Completion of Spin-Off of Net Lease Office Properties 

2025 Tax Information: No ROC Support

The Section 199A dividends are listed in Box 5. 

Tax Information - W. P. Carey Inc.

Yield at New AC: 6.41%

Last Ex Dividend: 12/31/25 (owned all as of)

Last Earnings Report (Q/E 12/31/25): This report was released after I sold the shares. 

SEC Filed Press Release 

Revenues: $442.386M 

GAAP Net Income: $148.319M

GAAP E.P.S. $.67

FFO per share: $1.3

AFFO per share: $1.27

GAAP to AFFO Reconciliation: 

2025 AFFO per share: $4.97, up from $4.7

2026 AFFO per share guidance: $5.13-$5.23

SEC Filed Supplemental - Information about the debt can be found at pages 12-15

Other Sell DiscussionItem # 6.E. Eliminated 1 Duplicate Position in WPC - Sold 5 at $54.2 (9/30/23 Post)(profit snapshot = $59.5) 

WPC Realized Gains to Date: $484.03

Some small profits, primarily in RI accounts, were not discussed.  

B. Eliminated TFC - Sold 5 at $53.68

Quote: Truist Financial Corporation (TFC) at MSN Money

Proceeds: $268.43 

TFC is a bank holding company that is generally described as a super regional and arguably a borderline money center bank (e.g. BAC, C). 

I sold this lot for a variety of reasons: (1) I was not going to buy more anywhere near the current price; (2) there has been no increase in the dividend since the 2022 third quarter; (3) earnings growth has been slow; (4) the annual dividend income paid for shares was only $10.4 which is not worth continuing to monitor earnings; and (5) the safety of bank dividends is not that high as reflected in 2008 Near Depression period and its aftermath.  

This bank cut its quarterly dividend from $.47 to $.15 in 2009. The bank did not surpass the $.47 penny rate until the 2021 third quarter when the dividend was increased from $.48 from $.45.   

TFC: Detailed Earnings Estimates - Zacks.com

TFC SEC Filings

Profit Snapshot = $132.52

Last Buy DiscussionItem # 2.B. Restarted TFC Bought 2 at $30.87; 1 at $28,85; 1 at $28.53; 1 at $27.45; 2 at $26.8  (5/30/20 Post)

Dividend: Quarterly at $.52, last raised from $.48 effective for the 2022 third quarter payment.  

TFC Stock Dividend History & Date | Seeking Alpha

Yield at $53.68 Sales Price: 3.87%

Next Ex Dividend: 2/12/26

Last Earnings Report (12/31/25 Post):  

SEC Filed Press Release 

Comparisons are to the 2024 4th quarter

GAAP Net Income: $1.3B

E.P.S. = $1.00, up from $.91

Adjusted E.P.S.  = $1.12

NIM (TE): 3.07%, unchanged

Adjusted Efficiency Ratio: 54.9%, down from 56%

NPL Ratio: .48%, up from .47%

Charge Off Ratio: .57%, down from .59%

Loans and Deposits: 

More financial data can be found in the SEC Filed Quarterly Performance Summary

Last Bond Offering (1/26):  Prospectus for $1.25B 4.597% fixed-to-floating rate SU maturing in 2032. The floating rate starts 1 year prior to maturity.  

Some Prior Sell DiscussionsThis bank was formerly known as BB&T and traded under the BBT symbol. Some of the profit originated from National Penn shares that were exchanged for BB&T stock.


TFC -BBT Realized Gains to Date: $3,329.77 (some small gains, primarily in RI accounts, were not discussed) 

C. Eliminated Duplicate Position in CLX after Earnings Report (Fidelity Account) - Sold 4+ at $117.3+:

Quote: The Clorox Company (CLX) at MSN Money

I still own 17+ shares in my Schwab account. I will consider adding 1 share lots in that account when the purchases lower my average cost per share which is currently $100.27.  

Proceeds: $509.93 

Clorox - Detailed Earnings Estimates - Zacks.com

Brands | The Clorox Company

CLX SEC Filings 

10-Q for the Q/E 12/31/25 This is the report for the second fiscal quarter. The fiscal year ends on 6/30/25

Investment Categories: Long term contrarian value/Bond Substitute with a flavor of Dividend Growth

Profit Snapshot: $43.08

Last DiscussedItem # 1.K. Added to Falling Knife CLX in Fidelity Account - Bought 1 at $97 (12/25/25 Post); Item # 1.H. Added to Falling Knife CLX - Bought 1 at $102.9; 1 at $101.9; 1 at $100.2; 1 at  $98.9 (11/22/25 Post )Item # 1.M. Added to Falling Knife CLX - Bought 1 at $109.87; 1 at $106.8- Schwab Account (11/8/25 Post)(discussed 2025 third quarter report; SEC Filed Press Release)

Dividend: Quarterly at $1.24 per share ($4.96 annually) 

CLX Stock Dividend History & Date | Seeking Alpha

Last Ex Dividend: 1/28/26 (owned all as of)

Last Earnings Report (12/31/25): There was a positive reaction to this report. I suspect that was due to many investors expecting worse and/or the price had already reflected a more dire report. 

SEC Filed Earnings Press Release and  Supplemental 

Revenues at $1.67B, down 1% vs. the consensus at -2.7% 

I did not like the revenue decline in the household segment resulting from both volume and price declines: 

Supplemental

Adjusted E.P.S. $1.39 with the consensus at $1.43, down from $1.55 in the 2024 4th quarter. 

Free Cash Flow: $326M

Reaffirmed 2006 adjusted E.P.S. at $5.95 to $6.3

With a guidance midpoint at $6.125, the forward P/E at $117.3 is 19.15 with my target range to keep a duplicate position being a forward P/E of 15 to 18. 

D. Eliminated Duplicate Position in AMCR (Fidelity Account) - Sold 6 at $47.17

Quote: Amcor PLC at MSN Money - Packaging Company

Proceeds: $283.02 

"Amcor is the global leader in developing and producing responsible consumer packaging and dispensing solutions across a variety of materials for nutrition, health, beauty and wellness categories. Our global product innovation and sustainability expertise enables us to solve packaging challenges around the world every day, producing a range of flexible packaging, rigid packaging, cartons and closures that are more sustainable, functional and appealing for our customers and their consumers. We are guided by our purpose of elevating customers, shaping lives and protecting the future. Supported by a commitment to safety, over 75,000 people generate $23 billion in annualized sales from operations that span over 400 locations in more than 40 countries."

I still own 23 shares in my Schwab Account. 

AMCR underwent a 1 for 5 reverse split on 1/14/26. Amcor Completes One-for-Five Reverse Stock Split 

Profit Snapshot: $26.56

Dividend: $.65 per share, unchanged from the $.13 per share amount paid prior to the reverse split. 

Next Ex Dividend: 2/25/26

Last Earnings Report (Q/E 12/31/25):  

SEC Filed Earnings Press Release

The report is for the second fiscal quarter. 

Revenues: $5.499B

GAAP E.P.S. $.38

Adjusted E.P.S = $.86, up 7%

Reconciliation (Box- Far Right):

Most of the adjustments relate to Amcor's acquisition of Berry Global. Amcor completes combination with Berry Global 

"Free Cash Flow $289 million including Berry transaction, restructuring and integration costs of $69 million"

Guides Fiscal 2026 Adjusted E.P.S. to $4.00 - $4.15

E. Pared UPS - Sold 2 at 115.89 - Highest Cost Shares

Quote:  United Parcel Service (UPS)- MSN Money

Proceeds: $230.38 

"UPS is one of the world’s largest companies, with 2024 revenue of $91.1 billion, and provides a broad range of integrated logistics solutions for customers in more than 200 countries and territories".

UPS to cut additional 30,000 jobs in Amazon unwind, turnaround plan UPS cut 45,000 jobs in 2025. UPS decided to unwind its Amazon business because of low margins. 

UPS SEC Filings 

Investment Category: Bond substitute with some dividend growth. The bond substitute category simply defines the goal when the dividend yield is high. The goal is to harvest the dividends and to exit the position at an annual profit of 2% or higher.

Last DiscussedItem # 1.K. Added to UPS - Bought 1 at  $95.5 (4/13/25 Post) Given the volume of 1 or 2 share buys, I do not discuss most of them.  I continued to buy this stock in 1 share lots as the price declined.   See snapshot under "new average cost" below,  1 share at $88.37 and 1 at $85, and I would have continued averaging down in 1 share lots and was about to go to 2 share lots. This is what I call small ball. The materiality is only on a total stock portfolio basis rather than for each stock.     

Profit Snapshot: $7.5

New Average cost per share this account: $89.49 (3+ shares)

Snapshot Intraday on 2/4/26 after pare

Dividend: Quarterly at $1.64 per share ($6.56 annually), last raised from $1.63 effective for the 2025 first quarter payment. The dividend had been raised effective for the 1st quarter payment starting in the 2010 first quarter but was not raised in the 2026 first quarter. 

UPS Stock Dividend History & Date | Seeking Alpha

I have turned off dividend reinvestment due to the price rise. 

Yield at New AC 7.33%

Next Ex Dividend: 2/17/25 

Last Earnings Report (Q/E 12/30/25):  

SEC Filed Earnings Press Release

Revenues: $24.5B

GAAP E.P.S. $2.10

Adjusted E.P.S $2.38

Reconciliation: 

2025 Full Year: GAAP E.P.S. of $6.56 with Non-GAAP at $7.16 and adjusted free cash flow of $5.5B. 

F. Eliminated STKL  - Sold 35 at $6.39

Quote: Sunopta (STKL) at MSN Money

Proceeds: $223.74

Dividends: None. 

Profit Snapshot: $56.93

STKL is being acquired by Refresco for $6.5 per share in cash. Refresco to Acquire SunOpta for $6.50 Per Share in Cash

Investment Category: Lottery Ticket Basket Strategy. 

Last Sell DiscussionsItem # 1.B Sold:  50 STKL at $9 (2/24/14 Post)(profit snapshot = $141.6);  Item # 2. Sold 50 STKL at $6.64-LT Category (9/25/12 Post)(profit snapshot = $56.1); Item # 4. Sold 100 STKL at $4.06 (9/30/2009 Post)(profit snapshot = $224.04, lot bought $1.65)

The largest annual gain was $807.93 on two 100 share lots sold in 2007 before I started this blog in October 2008.


For all of those buys, I assigned the Lotto classification. The stock never graduated from that category. 

Final STKL Realized Gains: $1,286.6

G. Eliminated Duplicate Position in LYB (Fidelity Account) - Sold 2+ at $56.56

Quote: LyondellBasell Industries NV (LYB) at MSN Money

Proceeds: $157.97

LYB: Detailed Earnings Estimates - Zacks.com As of 2/8/26, the average E.P.S. estimate for 2026 was at $3.09 and at $3.87 in 2027. 

Chemical stocks have been in a bear market that started in around 2021-2022. LYB had a double top near $117 that occurred in June 2021 and May 2022. I have invested a few dollars in this stock primarily for the dividend. I still own 10+ shares in my Schwab account. 

When demand is robust, earnings will soar but the stocks will still be generally priced at single digit P/E multiples since investors recognize the historical boom and bust cycles. 

LYB reported diluted GAAP E.P.S. at $16.75 in 2021, at $11.81 in 2022 and at $6.46 in 2023. SEC Filed 2023 Annual Report at page 65 

When valuing the stock, I will not take the average of those 3 years (E.P.S. of $11.67) and assign a below market multiple of 15 which would give me an absurd price of $175.1. I know that any boom will be followed by a bust with earnings continuing to decline and may move into negative territory for 1 or 2 years. These companies are hard to value. 

It helps that LYB has not cut the dividend. If I am going to play with these stocks, I will buy a few shares during a bust period and hope that it does not last too long and the dividend is maintained. 

Profit Snapshot: $24.56 

Dividend: Quarterly at $1.37 per share ($5.48 annually), last raised from $1.34 effective for the 2025 second quarter payment. 

LYB Stock Dividend History & Date | Seeking Alpha

Unlike other chemical companies, LYB has not yet cut its dividend. I do not regard the dividend as safe and am surprised that it has not yet been slashed. Demand for chemical products has been lackluster for about 3 years now, indicating that the world economy is not as healthy as advertised. Chemicals industry trends in 2026 | McKinsey

I did own a few shares when LYB paid a $5.2 special dividend. 

Yield at $56.56: 9.69%

Last Ex Dividend: 12/1/25 (owned all as of)

Last Earnings Report (Q/E 12/31/25): 

SEC Filed Press Release

Revenues: $7.091B, down from $7.808B

GAAP E.P.S ($.45), down from ($1.87)

Adjusted E.P.S. ($.26), down from $.77

Reconciliation: 

LYB SU Bond: I own 2 LYB International Finance 3.5% SU maturing on 3/2/27, which are guaranteed by LYB. Item # 2.B. Bought 2 LYB International Finance 3.5% SU Maturing on 3/2/27 at a Total Cost of 97.463 (2/10/25 Post)(YTM then at 4.784%, rated at BBB/Baa2); Bond Page | FINRA.org

Last EliminationItem # 1.C. Eliminated LYB - Sold 6 at $98.42 (2/13/23 Post)(profit snapshot = $53.85)

H. Pared GTY in Schwab Account - Sold 5 at $31.33 (Highest cost lot)

Quote: Getty Reality Corp. (GTY) at MSN Money - a REIT

Proceeds: $156.65

Our Portfolio | Getty Realty

Investment Category: Equity REIT Common and Preferred Stock Basket Strategy

As of 9/30/25, GTY  "owned 1,130 properties and leased 30 properties from third-party landlords. These 1,160 properties are located in 44 states across the United States and Washington, D.C. Substantially all of our properties are leased on a triple-net basis to convenience store operators, petroleum distributors, express tunnel car wash operators and other automotive-related and retail tenants. . . . Our triple-net lease tenants are responsible for the payment of all taxes, maintenance, repairs, insurance and other operating expenses relating to our properties, and are also responsible for environmental contamination occurring during the terms of their leases and in certain cases also for environmental contamination that existed before their leases commenced" 10-Q for the Q/E 9/30/25 at page 8

GTY SEC Filings

2024 Annual Report

Last EliminationItem # 3.A. Eliminated GTY - Sold 5 at $35.65 and 20 at $35.69  (1/3/23 Post)(profit snapshots = $211.35).

Profit Snapshot: $8.18

New Average cost per share this account: $27.28

Snapshot Intraday on 2/5/25 after pare

Reduced from $27.52

Dividend: Quarterly at $.485 per share ($1.94 annually), last raised from $.47 effective for the 2026 1st quarter payment. 

GTY Stock Dividend History & Date | Seeking Alpha

Yield at $27.28: 7.11%

Last Ex Dividend: 12/26/25 (owned all as of)

Last DiscussedItem # 1.F. Added to GTY in Schwab Account - (1/1/26 Post) I discussed the third quarter earnings report in that post. SEC Filed Press Release

GTY is scheduled to report its 4th quarter results after the market closes. 

I. Pared Duplicate Position in CTO (Schwab Account) - Sold 3 at $18.32

Quote: CTO Realty Growth Inc. (CTO) at MSN Money

I sold my highest cost shares. 

Proceeds: $54.96

CTO SEC Filings

Recent NewsCTO Realty Growth Announces Full Year Investment Activity and Leasing Update for the Collection at Forsyth (1/6/26) "The Collection at Forsyth is a 561,000-square-foot premier outdoor lifestyle destination located at the intersection of Georgia 400 and Peachtree Parkway. The Center features a dynamic mix of national retailers, local boutiques, restaurants, fitness concepts, and entertainment venues, serving one of Atlanta’s most affluent and fastest-growing counties."

In addition to owning real estate, CTO, through a subsidiary, receives a fee as the external manager of Alpine Income Property Trust (PINE) which was $1.176M in the third quarter,  CTO 10-Q at page 45 I also own PINE shares in several of my accounts. I will discuss paring one position in my next post as the shares reacted favorably to PINE's 4th quarter report. 

CTO owns 16.1% of  PINE's equity and receives dividends amounting to $700,000 in the third quarter.  10-Q at pages 20, 45

The quarterly change in the value CTO's ownership interest will be a line item. A decline in value will result in an addition to GAAP income in the FFO calculation, while an increase will be a subtraction. No actual or gain or loss is realized on the PINE shares but the change in unrealized values during a quarter is including as an accounting entry in GAAP.  

CTO invests in secured commercial real estate investments. A discussion of those investments can be found at pages 17-18 of the 10-Q. The ones existing as of 9/30/25 are listed in this table: 

Last DiscussedItem #3.E. Added to CTO in Fidelity Account - Bought 5 at $16.89 (8/26/25 Post)Item # 3.G. Added to CTO in Schwab Account - Bought 5 at $16.59 (8/19/25 Post)(discussed 2025 second quarter report,SEC Filed Press Release)  

Profit Snapshot: $2.5

New Average cost per share: $16.77 

Snapshot Intraday on 2/4/26 after pare

Reduced from $16.8

Dividend: Quarterly at $.38 per share ($1.52 annually) 

CTO Stock Dividend History & Date | Seeking Alpha

Yield at $16.77: 9.06%

Last Ex Dividend: 12/11/25

Last Earnings Report (Q/E 9/30/25): 

The 2025 4th quarter report is scheduled for release on 2/19/26 after the market closes. 

SEC Filed Press Release 

Revenues from Income Properties: $33.439M

Interest received on commercial loan investment was reported at $3.142M. 

Core FFO Per Share: $.48

AFFO per share: $.50

Reconciliation: 


2025 Guidance: AFFO per share $1.96-$1.99

Recent Sell DiscussionsItem # 3.B. Pared CTO in Schwab Account - Sold 8 at $20.52 (12/26/24 Post)(profit snapshot = $15.68); Item # 2.A. Pared CTO in Schwab Account - Sold 13 at $20.37 (12/12/24 Post)(profit snapshot = $12.89); Item # 3.H. Sold 10 CTO at $19.72 (11/7/24 Post) 

Stock Split: 3 for 1 in 2022. 

CTO Equity Preferred StockI also own the $25 par value equity preferred stock, CTO-PAthat has a 6.375% coupon. My AC per share is $18.89. {Last Discussed: Item #2.C. Added to CTOPRA - Bought 3 at $17.77 (11/11/23 Post)Item # 1.A. Bought 5 CTOPRA at $18.5; 2 at $17.8 (9/30/23 Post)}

J. Eliminated Placeholder Position in GPC - Sold 1 at $147.91

Quote: Genuine Parts Co. (GPC) at MSN Money

Proceeds:  $147.91 

GPC is a global distributor of automotive and industrial parts. 

GPC Detailed Earnings Estimates - Zacks.com

Website: Genuine Parts Company

GPC SEC Filings

Last DiscussedItem # 3. Restarted GPC as a Placeholder - Bought 1 at $113.51 (10/31/24 Post) I noted in that post that the stock "declined $30.1, or 20.97%, on 10/23 in response to an earnings report and lowered guidance." I purchased the position the next day. 

A Placeholder is a reminder that I want to buy more shares at a lower price. As I scroll through my account positions, I may see the position and the lower price and then decide whether to buy more. If the price goes up too much, reaching a point where I would not buy any shares, I will frequently just jettison the position. 

Last EliminationItem #6.D. Eliminated GPC - Sold 1 at $178.35 (11/15/22 Post)(profit snapshot = $57.1) I noted in that post that I had a fair value range at that time of $121-146. That range explains why I sold the 1 share that had been bought at $121.24. Item # 2.L. Bought 1 GPC at $121.24 (3/24/22 Post)  This is another example of a Placeholder position rising too much in price using my fair value estimates.  

Profit Snapshot: $34.4

Dividend: Quarterly at $1.03 ($4.12 annually), last raised from $1 effective for the 2025 first quarter payment. The quarterly dividend was at $.615 in th 2015 4th quarter. 

GPC Stock Dividend History & Date | Seeking Alpha

GPC is an S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrat, which means that it has raised its dividend for at least 25 consecutive years. I have a small ball position in an ETF that owns those stocks. NOBL | S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF | ProShares  

Yield at $147.91: 2.7855%

Given my current income objective, this dividend yield is not attractive to me. A continuation of the dividend growth, and buying after a significant price decline, may prove beneficial to someone much younger.   

Last Ex Dividend:12/5/25

Last Earnings Report (9/30/25): The 2025 4th quarter report is scheduled for release on 2/17/26.

I am just going to link the report for the third quarter and take a snapshot of some relevant data. 

SEC Filed Press Release 

This is not impressive: 

K. Sold 1 TGT at $113.84 - Highest Cost Lot

Quote: Target (TGT) at MSN Money

Proceeds: $113.84

"Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) serves guests at nearly 2,000 stores and at Target.com"

TGT Detailed Earnings Estimates - Zacks.com  

TGT SEC Filings

Target has had a series of disappointing reports for several years. I discussed some of its problems in this recent post: Item # 3.L. Started TGT as a Placeholder - Bought 1 at $96.43 (8/26/25 Post)

Arguably the current price is reasonable, provided those analyst estimates are hit and earnings growth continues, but I lack confidence in that actually happening.  

Profit Snapshot: $17.41

New Average cost per share: $91.23 (4+ shares)

Dividend: Quarterly at $1.14 ($4.46), last raised from $1.12 effective for the 2025 third quarter. 

TGT Stock Dividend History & Date | Seeking Alpha

I have turned off dividend reinvestment due to the price rise.  

Yield at New AC: 5%

Last Ex Dividend: 2/11/26

Last Earnings Report (Q/E 11/1/25): This is for the third fiscal quarter. 

SEC Filed Press Release 

E.P.S. $1.51, down from $.185


Comparable Sales: 


Adjusted E.P.S. $1.78 (excludes severance charges and "asset-related charges"), down from $1.85

Reconciliation: 

"Full-year GAAP EPS is now expected to be approximately $7.70 to $8.70. Full-year Adjusted EPS, which excludes the gains from the litigation settlements in the first quarter and severance and asset-related charges in the third quarter, is now expected to be approximately $7.00 to $8.00." 

L. Pared SBSI Again - Sold 2 at $33.84 (Highest Cost Lot)

Quote: Southside Bancshares (SBSI) at MSN Money

Proceeds: $57.68

SBSI Earnings Estimates - Zacks.com

SBSI SEC Filings

Investment Category: Regional Bank Basket Strategy

Profit Snapshot: +$10.38

New Average cost per share: $27.43

Reduced from $27.5

Dividend: Quarterly at $.36 per share ($1.44 annually)

SBSI Stock Dividend History & Date | Seeking Alpha

Yield at New AC: 5.25%

Next Ex Dividend: 2/19/26

Last Earnings Report (Q/E 12/31/25): I discussed this report in my last post and have nothing further to add here. Item # 1.E. Pared SBSI - Sold 3 at $33.35 (2/4/26 Post)(profit snapshot = $11.38); SEC Filed Press Release

SBSI Realized Gains to Date: +$657.9 

M. Eliminated INVH - Sold 10 at $27.4+:

Quote: Invitation Homes (INVH) at MSN Money

Proceeds: $274.05

INVH SEC Filings

Invitation Homes Inc. - Investor Relations

Profit Snapshot: $9.62


Last DiscussedItem # 1.F. Started INVH - Bought 5 at $25.69; 5 at $26.2   (12/18/25 Post) 

This company is a REIT that buys single family homes and then rents them out. 

Subsequent to my purchases, Trump announced that he wanted to prohibit institutional buyers from buying single family homes. Trump ban on institutional investors in housing: experts have doubts Trump issued an Executive Order on this subject but seems to recognize that he needs Congress to enact legislation to implement the ban. 

This creates uncertainty about this REIT's business and is consequently not worth holding 10 shares primarily for the dividend yield which is not that high. Investors, analysts react to Trump’s single-family home buying ban | Multifamily Dive

If Trump's proposal goes nowhere, I will consider restarting a position. 

Trump claims that this policy when implemented will bring down home prices, but that is mostly just Trump PR. Will Banning Corporate Homebuyers Make Housing More Affordable? | Yale Insights; The institutional buyers own a slither of single family homes, meet a market need by renting them out to those in need of housing, and will then frequently sell the homes. The institutions are in effect providing capital for homebuilders to build new homes. 

What would restrain new home prices would be for Trump to lift all tariffs are products and materials used in that construction. 

Dividend: Quarterly at $.30 per share

INVH Stock Dividend History & Date | Seeking Alpha

I received 1 dividend payment (just $3).

2. Small Buy Buys

A. Added 2 KBWY at 2 15.97+; 2 at $15.88

Quote: Invesco KBW Premium Yield Equity REIT ETF (KBWY) at MSN Money

Cost: $63.71

This ETF owns the highest yielding equity REITs which amounts to a collection of the riskiest ones IMO. 

Top 10 Positions as of 2/9/25: 

I have a significant overlap in my individual positions. I currently own 19 of 31 stocks owned by this fund. My contrarian style tends to lead me to these REITs as opposed to ones that would be characterized and priced by many REIT investors as blue chips. 

Last Discussed:  Item # 1.J. Added to KBWY in Fidelity Account - Bought 5 at $15.49; 5 at $15.23  (10/11/25 Post) 

I was willing to buy at a higher price since I am more willing to accept more risk for yield given the decline in Treasury Bill yields with lower yields possible as the FED cuts the FF rate more. I did reduce my average cost per share some with this last add. 

Sponsor's website: Invesco KBW Premium Yield Equity REIT ETF

Expense ratio: .35%

KBWY Morningstar Page Currently rated 1 star

Goal: Any total return in excess of the dividends paid.  

Risk EvaluationHigh IMO. I currently own 17 of the stocks owned by this fund. They are not quality equity REITs IMO. Many have cut their dividends over the past several years. I would describe them generally as the riskier equity REITs with significantly higher dividend yields than the quality ones.  

Last Sell DiscussionItem # 3.E. Pared KBWY - Sold 10 at $20.54; 17+ at $20.63  (10/16/24 Post)(profit snapshot = $11.39). I sold my highest cost lots.  

New average cost per share this account: $16.04 (55+ shares)

Reduced from $16.15. 

Dividends: Monthly at a variable rate. 

KBWY Stock Dividend History & Date | Seeking Alpha

Yield: About 9.42% based on TTM dividends and a $16.04 AC per share.

Last Ex Dividend: 1/20/26

B. Added to OPRA - Bought 5 at $12.1:

Quote: Opera Limited (OPRA) at MSN Money

Cost: $60.5 

OPRA dived in price during the period when investors were selling software stocks based on fears that AI products would replace them or diminish their importance. The closing price on 2/2/26 was $14.1 and the intraday low on 2/5/26 was at $11.71. I placed another order for 5 shares on 2/5 that was not filled. This is typical small ball trading. 

I do not have the expertise to form an opinion on whether AI products will diminish or replace OPRA's products at some future time.  

OPRA SEC Filings - Foreign Company Forms

2024 SEC Filed Annual Report

OPRA Analyst Estimates | MarketWatch

Investor Relations | Opera Limited

OPRA Profile Page at Reuters

OPRA Valuation Page at Reuters

Opera is based in Norway. 

New Average cost per share: $12.83 (25 shares)

Dividend: Semiannual at $.4 per share

OPRA Stock Dividend History & Date | Seeking Alpha

Yield at New AC: 6.235%

Last Earnings Report (Q/E 9/30/25): I discussed this report here: Item # 1.G. Started OPRA - Bought 10 at $13.4(12/5/25 Post); SEC Filed Press Release

I do not have access to any analyst reports. 

Maximum Position: 50 shares

3. Treasury Bills Purchased at Auction: 40


A. Bought 20 T Bills at the 2/5/25 Auction

56 Day Bill

Matures on 4/7/26

Interest: $112.93

Investment Rate: 3.701%

B. Bought 10 T Bills at the 2/9/25 Auction

182 Day Day Bill

Matures on 8/13/26

Interest: $176.94

Investment Rate: 3.613

C. Bought 10 T Bills at 2/9/25 Auction

91 Day Bills

Mature on 5/14/26

Interest: $91

Investment Rate: 3.684%

4. Corporate Bonds

A. Bought 2 W.P. Carey 3.85% SU Maturing on 7/15/29 at a Total Cost of 98.901 - Interactive Brokers Account:  

Issuer: W.P. Carey (WPC) at MSN Money

I have a position in the common stock, see Item # 1.A. above. 

Total Cost:  $1,978.02   (The TC number does not include the accrued interest paid to the seller since I will receive that sum from the issuer when the next interest payment is made)

Finra Page: Bond Page | FINRA.org

Credit Ratings: Baa1/BBB+

YTM at Total Cost: 4.195%

Current Yield at TC: 3.918%

I now own 4 bonds. 

Other WPC Currently Owned SU Bonds

6 WPC 4.25% SU Maturing on 10/1/26, Bond Page | FINRA.org

Last Purchase Discussion: Item 2.H. Bought 2 W.P. Carey 4.25% SU Maturing on  10/1/26 at a Total Cost of 99.201 (11/14/24 Post)(YTM then at 4.693%) 

2025 Maturities 






B. Bought 2 Oaktree Specialty Lending 2.7% SU Maturing on 1/15/27 at a Total Cost of  98.015

Issuer: Oaktree Specialty Lending (OCSL) at MSN Money - A BDC

Total Cost: $1,960.3 

OCSL SEC Filings 

OCSL SEC Filed Earnings Press Release for the Q/E 12/31/25 

Finra Page: Bond Page | FINRA.org

Credit Ratings: Baa3

YTM at Total Cost: 4.88%

I will not own more than 2 OCSL bonds and will keep the maturities short. 

I had 2 mature in 2025: 

C. Bought 2 Oneok 5.05% SU Maturing on 11/1/34 at a Total Cost of 99.325 (Interactive Brokers Account)

Issuer: Oneok Inc. (OKE)- MSN Money

OKE Detailed Earnings Estimates - Zacks.com

OKE SEC Filings 

OKE SEC Filed Earnings Press Release for the Q/E 9/30/25 

10-Q for the Q/E 9/30/25 

I have a small ball position in the common stock:

Price as of 2/6/26 (9+ Shares AC at $26.67) 

OKE Last DiscussedItem # 1.I. Added to OKE - Bought 1 at $72.65 (12/25/25 Post);  Item # 2.J. Sold 1 OKE at $111.71 (11/27/24 Post)(profit snapshot = $83.79); Item # 2.A. Eliminated Duplicate Position in OKE (Fidelity Account) - Sold 5+ at $64.78; 1 at $64.93 (9/2/23 Post)(profit snapshot = $274.91)

Total Cost: $1,986.5  

Finra Page: Bond Page | FINRA.org

Credit Ratings: Baa2/BBB

YTM at Total Cost: 5.146%

Current Yield at TC: 5.084%

I now own 4 bonds. The purchase of the other 2 were discussed here: Item # 4.D. Bought 2 Oneok 5.05% SU Maturing on 11/1/34 at a Total Cost of 97.498  (7/3/25 Post)

Other Currently Owned SU Bonds

4 OKE 4.25% SU Maturing on 9/24/27; Bond Page | FINRA.orgItem # 2.W. Bought 2 Oneok 4.25% SU Maturing on 9/24/27 at a Total Cost of 98.695 - Fidelity Account (2/10/25 Post)Item # 2.N. Oneok 4.25% SU Maturing on 9/24/27 at a Total Cost of  98.695 - Interactive Broker Account (2/10/25 Post)

2 OKE 4.35% SU Maturing on 3/15/29, Bond Page | FINRA.org

2025 OKE Matured Bonds


2024 OKE Matured Bonds: 2 in a RI Account




5. Equity Preferred Stocks


A. Added to NSAPRA - Bought 5 at $20.6

Quote:  NSA-PA - Yahoo Finance

Cost: $103

Issuer: National Storage Affiliates Trust (NSA) at MSN Money

I own the common stock. 

Last NSA DiscussionItem # 1.J. Added to NSA in Fidelity Account - Bought 2 at $28.16; 2 at $27.68 (12/25/25 Post) 

NSA SEC Filings

Investment Category: Advantages and Disadvantages of Equity REIT Cumulative Equity Preferred Stocks, part of the Equity REIT Common and Preferred Stock Basket Strategy

Last Sell DiscussionItem # 7.A. Eliminated Duplicate NSAPRA (Schwab Account) - Sold 10 at $23.385  and Item # 7.B. Pared NSAPRA in Fidelity Account  -Sold 10 of 40 at  $23.6 (5/23/25 Post)(profit snapshots = $13.83) 

Last Buy DiscussionItem # 2.A. Added to NSAPRA - Bought 5 at $21.35; 15 at $21.21 - Fidelity Account (11/29/25 Post) 

Prospectus 

Placement in the Capital Structure: Equity with a preferential claim to cash compared only to the common stock owners and junior in priority to all bonds. 

Par Value: $25

Coupon: 6%

Optional Call: At par value + accrued and unpaid dividend on or after 10/11/22. 

Maturity: None, potentially perpetual 

Stopper Clause: Standard  (company must eliminate the cash common share dividend before deferring payment of the preferred dividend)

New Average cost per share:  $21.6  (55 shares)

Yield at $21.5: 6.94%

Calculation: .06% coupon x. $25 par value = $1.5 annual dividend per share ÷ $21.60 total average cost per share =  6.9444%

Last Ex Dividend: 12/15/25

5 Year Chart: 

B. Started ATHPRB - Bought 10 at $19.85; 5 at $19.65


Quote: ATH-PB - Yahoo Finance

Cost: $296.75

Issuer: Athene Holding Ltd. - private company owned by Apollo Global Management (APO) 

While Athene is a privately owned company, financial results are filed with the SEC since the company has sold bonds and preferred stocks to the public. 

Athene Holding SEC Filings 

SEC Filed 2025 3rd Q. Report 


Prospectus 

Placement in Capital Structure: Equity Preferred Stock, senior only to common stock and junior to all bonds and credit facility borrowings. 

Coupon: 5.625% paid on a $25 par value. 

Dividends: Qualified, non-cumulative and paid quarterly. 

Optional Call Date: On or after 9/30/24. I do not anticipate that this preferred stock will be called at par value. Currently, the company is having to pay higher coupons for senior unsecured bond and junior bonds.  

Ratings- Athene Holding Ltd.

For the preferred stock issued by the holding company, the ratings are Baa3 by Moody's and BBB by S&P.  

Fitch has a BBB-. Fitch Affirms Athene's Ratings; Outlook Stable (8/20/25)

Average cost per share: $19.78 (15 shares)

Yield at $19.787.14%

Calculation: .0565% x. $25 par value = $1.4125 annual dividend per share  ÷ $19.78 = 7.1411%

Next Ex Dividend: 3/13/26

Athene Holding Ltd. Declares First Quarter 2026 Preferred Stock Dividends 

Owned SU Bond: I own 2 of the Athene Holding 4.125% SU Maturing on 1/12/28, Bond Page | FINRA.org

Last Bond Offering (6/25): Prospectus for $600M 6.875% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Junior Bond Maturing in 2055. 

6. Leveraged Bond CEFs

A. Added to BHK - Bought 10 at $9.51+

Quote: BlackRock Core Bond Trust (BHK) at MSN Money - Leverage Bond CEF

Cost: $95.15  

BHK SEC Filings 

BHK SEC Filed Semiannual Report for the period ending 6/30/25

SEC Filed Quarterly Report Q/E 9/30/25 

Sponsor's Website: Core Bond Trust | BHK (As of 1/30/26, the effective duration was at 9.88 years, and  the leverage was at 33.97%. The number of holdings was then at 1,622 ) 

New Average cost per share: $9.51 (30 shares)

Dividend: Monthly at $.0746 per share ($.8952 annually)

Some ROC Support

Yield at New AC: 9.41%

Next Ex Dividend: 2/13/26

Data Date of 2/4/26 Trade

Closing Net Asset value per share: $9.97

Closing Market Price: $9.55

Discount: -4.11%

Average 3 Year Discount: -.41%

Sourced: BHK-CEF Connect (Click Pricing Information Tab)  The table provided at that page shows that this CEF traded at significant premiums to net asset value per share between June 2024 through April 2025.  

I will consider eliminating any leveraged bond CEF when the price exceeds net asset value per share. 

Some Sell DiscussionsItem # 5.A. Eliminated BHK Again - Sold 20 at $10.07 (10/11/25);  Item # 1. Eliminated BHK - Sold Remaining 54+ Shares at $11.64  (10/24/24 Post)(profit snapshot  = $89.67; premium to NAV per share then at +8.75%); Item # 2.D. Pared BHK - Sold 20 at $11.85 (9/19/24 Post)(profit snapshot = $21.24);   Item # 2.N. Pared BHK - Sold 5+ at $11.36 (8/8/24 Post)(profit snapshot = $4.76);  Item # 3.A. Sold 100 BHK at $12.74 (1/20/19 Post)(profit snapshot = $63); Item # 1 Sold Remaining BHK at $13.07 Update For CEF Basket Strategy As Of 3/21/16 - South Gent | Seeking Alpha (profit snapshot = $28.17); Item # 4 Sold 200 of 300 BHK at Update For CEF Basket Strategy As Of 2/26/16 - South Gent | Seeking Alpha (profit snapshot = $47.43); Pared Interest Rate Risk Exposure In Roth IRA: 200 BHK At $13.86 - South Gent | Seeking Alpha (profit snapshot = $99.55); Item # 1 Sold 200 BHK at $13.86-Taxable Account-Completes BHK Transition to Roth IRA (1/14/15 Post)(profit snapshot = $75.23); Sold All of the Bond CEF BHK at $14.058 (2/21/12 Post)(profit snapshot = $68.3) Some smaller profitable trades were not discussed. 

Realized Gains in BHK to Date: $514.27

The long term decline in BHK's price does not inspire confidence in the managers of this fund, particularly since investment grade corporate bonds were in a bull market for most of the period prior to 2022. I do far better just buying individual bonds and trading them some. 

10 Year Average Annual Total Return through 2/6/25: 4.21% Total return would be with dividends reinvested. DRIP Returns Calculator | Dividend Channel

I have nothing further to add to a recent discussion: Item # 5.A. Restarted BHK in Schwab Account - Bought 20 at $9.51 (12/11/25 Post) 

7. Exchange Traded First Mortgage Bond

A. Bought 10 ELC in Vanguard Account at $20.82

History this Account: 


Quote: Entergy Louisiana at MSN Money

Issuer: Entergy (ETR) - Utility Holding Company

Last DiscussedItem # 4.B. Bought 10 ELC at $20.66 - Vanguard Account (1/15/26 Post)Item # 4.A. Added to ELC in Schwab Account - Bought 10 at $20.45+ (1/8/26 Post)  


Par Value: $25

Coupon: 4.875% paid on a $25 par value

Interest Payments: Quarterly

Trades Flat: (no accrued interest is payable to the seller, whoever owns on the ex interest date receives the entire interest payment)

First Mortgage Bond, with lien attaching to substantially all assets. 

Credit Ratings: A2/A 

Optional Redemption: Anytime now at par value + accrued and unpaid interest.  

Interest Rate RiskHIGH given the potentially long maturity and asymmetric in favor of the issuer given the optional call right. 

The interest rate risk resulting from an early call due to a significant decline in interest rates is mitigated by the realized gain at a $25 par value call. 

New Average cost per share this account: $21.14 (70 shares) 

Yield at $21.14: 5.765%

Calculation: .04875% coupon x. $25 par value = $1.21875 in annual interest per share ÷ $21.14  average cost per share this account= 5.7651% 

Next Ex Interest Date: 2/27/26

Maximum Position ELC - All Taxable Account: 300 shares

Current ELC Position - All Taxable Accounts: 260 shares ($316.88 in annual interest income)

I also own this FM bond in 2 RI accounts. 

8. "Preferred" Stock ETF

My Videos: Preferred Stock ETFs - YouTubeFixed Coupon Equity Preferred Stocks - YouTubeFloating Rate Equity Preferred Stocks Issued by U S Companies - YouTube

A. Restarted PGX - Bought 20 at $11.33+

Quote: Invesco Preferred ETF (PGX) at MSN Money

Cost: $226.7

Sponsor's website: Invesco Preferred ETF 

The name suggests that this fund owns only equity preferred stocks. 

I put "preferred" in quotes since preferred stock ETFs will own some exchange traded senior unsecured and first mortgage bonds. Those securities pay interest. A number of equity preferred stocks owned by PGX will pay cumulative and non-qualified dividends (REITs). PGX will have a significant exposure to preferred stocks issued by bank holding companies that pay non-cumulative and qualified dividends. 

Last DiscussedItem # 7.E. Eliminated PGX - Sold 40 at $11.75 (1/9/25 Post)(profit snapshot = Net of +$6.36)

Last Buy Discussions:  Item # 4.B. Added to PGX - Bought 5 at $11.3 (8/5/23 Post);  Item # 2.B. Bought 5 PGX at $11.04 (5/27/23 Post)

Dividends: Monthly at a variable rate. 

PGX Dividend History | Seeking Alpha

Yield: Using the past 12 months of dividends and the $11.33 price, the yield is about 6%

Last Ex Dividend: 1/20/26

PGX – Invesco Preferred ETF – ETF Stock Quote | Morningstar - Currently rated at 2 stars. 

Other Sell Discussions- Taxable Accounts OnlyItem # 5 Sold: 200 PGX at $14.38 (11/12/2010)(profit snapshot = $155.36); Item # 1.A Sold 50 PGX at $14.35 (3/3/19 Post)(profit snapshot = $45.46);Item # 3.A. Eliminated PGX - Sold 100 at $14.51 (8/1/2020)(profit snapshot = $61.46)

I highlighted the blog post dates and sale prices to emphasize that this kind of security is not appropriate IMO as a long term hold when evaluated on a total return basis. 

B. Started PFFR - Bought 10 at $18.19


Cost: $181.9

I believe this is my first purchase of this ETF. 

This ETF will own both Mortgage and Equity REIT preferred stocks. I dislike the Mortgage REIT preferred stocks more than other preferred stock sectors based on my opinions about the risk/reward balance. 

Sponsor's website: InfraCap REIT Preferred ETF | Virtus Investment Partners

Expense Ratio: .45%

I prefer owning individual REIT preferred stocks that I can buy without paying a commission. The ETF does offer more diversity than I have currently have with my individual positions. Of the top 10 holdings, I own UMHPRD and VNOPRM. Based on the last Annual Report disclosure, I also own the following preferred stocks owned by this fund: ADCPRA, AHHPRA, CTOPRA, GMREPRA, GOODN (preferred stock series E); GNLPRB, GNLPRD, and SLGPRI. Of those preferred stocks, GOODN and ADCPRA pay monthly dividends. 

Dividends: Monthly at $.123 per share ($1.476 annually), last raise from $.12 effective for the January 2026 payment. 

PFFR Dividend History & Date | Seeking Alpha

Yield at $18.19: 8.114%

I view a few of the preferred stocks owned by this fund as providing unacceptable to me credit risk for the current dividend yields. Those include the ones issued by hotels, DigitalBridge Group, Hudson Pacific, and Diversified Healthcare.   

The last annual report was for the fiscal year ending 10/31/25 which is downloadable from the sponsor's website. As of that date, the cost of investments was reported at $110.436M with the value at $106.836+M. 

PFFR – InfraCap REIT Preferred ETF Page at Morningstar - Currently rated 2 stars. 

DisclaimerI am not a financial advisor, but simply an individual investor who has been managing my own money since I was a teenager. In this post, I am acting solely as a financial journalist focusing on my own investments. The information contained in this post is not intended to be a complete description or summary of all available data relevant to making an investment decision. Instead, I am merely expressing some of the reasons underlying the purchase or sale of securities. Nothing in this post is intended to constitute investment or legal advice or a recommendation to buy or to sell. All investors need to perform their own due diligence before making any financial decision which requires at a minimum reading original source material available at the SEC and elsewhere. A failure to perform due diligence only increases what I call "error creep". Stocks, Bonds & Politics: ERROR CREEP and the INVESTING PROCESS Each investor needs to assess a potential investment taking into account their personal risk tolerances, goals, and situational risks. I can only make that kind of assessment for myself and my family members.   

4 comments:

  1. One of my leading gainers today is a small ball position in SW.

    Smurfit Westrock (SW)
    $51.41 +$5.66 (+12.37%)
    10:44 AM EST
    https://www.cnbc.com/quotes/SW?qsearchterm=sw

    SW reported earnings this morning. I am struggling to explain the stock price pop.

    Adjusted E.P.S. was reported at $.34, down from $.47.

    Adjusted free cash flow was better than the 2024 4th quarter at $679M, up from $257.

    I suspect that the price rise is due to the guidance out to 2030 that is contained in a separate SEC filed release:

    https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2005951/000110465926012986/tm265780d1_ex99-2.htm

    SW did recently raise its dividend to $.4523 from $.4308.

    Prior to today, I sold 2 shares at $44.85 which I will discuss in my next post. That pare reduced my AC per share in my Fidelity account to $34.18. I also own 5 shares in my Schwab account with a $35.71 AC. All of those shares were bought in 1 share lots between 10/29/25 to 11/19/25. I may eliminate that position today given my transition into a more energized stock risk mitigation approach.

    ReplyDelete
  2. In the Economy section of this blog, I have a snapshot of the BLS annual revisions to the 2025 monthly job numbers.

    Previously, I have noted just how weak the jobs market was in 2025.

    The revisions reduced the total nonfarm job additions in 2025 to just 181,000 which is far worse than just weak. Trump celebrated the report in a Truth Social post.

    According to Trump, the U.S. economy is booming and has never been better. Trump's characterizations of the U.S. economy are either false or misleading.

    The Stock Jocks have misplaced optimism in the better than expected preliminary jobs number for January, which was still weak by historical standards, showed that most of the gains were in the recession resistant sectors of healthcare and "social assistance". Most of those jobs are not high paying ones.
    https://www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/january-jobs-revisions-trump-rcna258398

    Looking at the job numbers, it does not appear that the kind of jobs held by undocumented immigrants, who have been deported or are in the process of being deported, are being filled by U.S. citizens to any material degree. I suspect that this will continue in important economic sectors that will lead to supply chain disruptions particularly in agriculture, food processing and construction and lead to labor shortages in other sectors including hospitality and fast food restaurants.

    I sold some stocks that were up today.

    Most of the proceeds realized today will generated by profitably eliminating a BDC position and eliminating 2 duplicate positions in UDR, an apartment REIT, which has been in a rally mode since reporting 4th quarter earnings. I do share the enthusiasm for that report. I still own 62+ UDR shares in my Schwab account with an AC per share at $38.895. The shares sold had lower AC per share numbers.

    UDR Inc
    https://www.cnbc.com/quotes/UDR?qsearchterm=udr

    I will frequently start duplicate positions in a stock.

    One reason is that I will reinvest the dividends in one account and take the dividends in cash.

    Another reason is to start positions at a lower cost than my the main position, and then liquidate the shares at a profit which is what I did with UDR.

    I will then consider adding to the remaining position when a purchase reduces my existing average cost per share; or, in some cases, I will adopt a more restrictive approach that permits a new purchase only when made at the lowest price in the chain. Both are risk mitigation techniques with the later alternative reserved for stocks deemed more risky by me.

    For UDR, the restriction is the purchase must reduce my average cost per share.

    I have turned off dividend reinvestment for UDR in my Schwab account which will normally occur when the likely reinvestment price would increase my AC per share and/or I do not want to buy shares at the likely reinvestment price. This is another risk mitigation technique.

    ReplyDelete
  3. A published a YT companion video to this blog post earlier today:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8fZdFNpc0M

    ReplyDelete
  4. Getty Realty Corp (GTY)
    $32.49 +$1.42 (+4.57%)
    11:05 AM EST
    https://www.cnbc.com/quotes/GTY?qsearchterm=gty

    In Item #1.H., I discussed selling my highest cost 5 shares in my Schwab account which reduced my average cost per share to $27.05 in that account.

    The pop today is due to the 4th quarter report released after the market closed yesterday.

    https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1052752/000119312526046677/gty-ex99_1.htm

    AFFO per share at $.63

    The company reaffirmed its 2026 AFFO per share guidance of $2.48 to $2.5, note the narrowness. GTY is a net lease REIT.

    I am tilted to the same favorable reaction as reflected in the price pop today, but will continue to sell a few of my highest cost shares. I am done with doing that in my Schwab account and will take a look in other accounts where I own positions for possible sells of the highest cost lots (no more than 5 shares). This is all about risk mitigation.

    ReplyDelete