Topic: How To Invest

What is Pat’s commentary for the week of May 28, 2019

Article Excerpt

The Tesla/Elon Musk saga provides real-life examples of several investment concepts that play a big role in our investing system. It’s a particularly good illustration of the third of our three rules for investment success: downplay or avoid stocks in the broker/media limelight. Tesla has spent much of the past six years in that limelight. This is due to the drawing power of its glamour and vision, and its sales growth. It disregards the sorry state of its finances. Constant favourable attention about a stock from brokers and the media is not inherently a bad thing. The problem is that it tilts the odds against investors. When media comment and broker recommendations are frequent and generally favourable, it means investors have already heard all the good news, optimistic opinions and favourable predictions. Under those circumstance, surprises if any are apt to be unpleasant. Tesla Motors, $190.63, symbol TSLA on Nasdaq (Shares outstanding: 173.7 million; Market cap: $33.1 billion; www.teslamotors.com) is the world’s biggest…