DNA - earnings upside on the cards, page-42

Quit understandable to dump a stock that keeps trending sideways -- or worse, zig-zagging wildly like DNA! Eventually you need to put the asset to work where it will produce positive returns (especially for stocks with no dividend). Many investors let the technicals alert them when to dive in, but I've never been good at picking when to get in.

For example, I held NAN for a year (2012 to 2013 I think), then sold break even at 50 cents -- it has since tripled. Also gave up on WBC when it was stuck around $20 for more than a year back in 2012 (although fortunately I didn't sell ANZ or NAB). Due to these lessons (and others!), I tend to hold if the fundamentals look solid, and try to remain skeptical about the evidence of those fundamentals.

One recent example: A tech stock I accumulated almost monthly between Nov14 to June15 was zig-zagging as much as DNA in a small range (68 to 82 cents). At one point it also suffered a bout of short selling. HC posters commented on this sad state, but I kept holding and buying on dips because the Half-year report and subsequent mgt statements provided good evidence the business was improving strongly. By June, the board was so frustrated (it said as much) with the share price that it started a buyback. UXC has since jumped 60% (I sold out just last month just before the takeover announcement). Similar stories with PGH, JHC, IFM, APA, TCL, OFX, to name a few. Plenty of goof-ups, too, but patience seems to work for me more than not.