Don't Sit On Losses: How This Simple Rule Spared Investors From Meta's 77% Crash (2024)

Sitting on losses is never a good strategy because those losses can pile very quickly. Even strong stocks can dive and give up all gains from a buy point in a single session. That is why watching for sell signals and knowing how to sell stocks is vital to investing.

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There are different ways of finding topping signs. Chart analysis offers a clear clue through IBD's 7% sell rule. The sell rule is a simple and effective way of cutting your losses in a disciplined manner.

When a stock breaks out of a base, watch out if it falls below the base's buy point. This in itself is not a sign of a failed break out. However, if the stock falls 7% or more below the entry, it triggers the 7% sell rule. It is time to exit the position before it does further damage.

That way, investors can still be in the game for future opportunities by preserving capital. The deeper a stock falls, the harder it is to get back to break-even. A drop of 7% takes a 7.5% gain to fully recover. A drop of 20% takes a 25% rebound. A 30% decline takes a 42.9% bounce.

The 7% stop loss applies to any stock purchase at any level. If you bought a stock at 45 and the buy point was at 43, you want to calculate the 7% sell rule from your purchase price.

Selling Stocks: Advantage For Small Investors

The 7% sell rule is one of the tools nimble investors have that larger funds that hold massive positions among a wide range of stocks may not.IBD founder William O'Neil would point out that it is "a terrific advantage" that the nimble and decisive individual investor has over the institutions.

Don't Sit On Losses: How This Simple Rule Spared Investors From Meta's 77% Crash (1)Shares of Meta Platforms (META) broke out of a flat base with a buy point of 377.55 on Aug. 30, 2021 (1). Volume was lower than average, which could have alerted a watchful investor. Shares rose to 384.33 but quickly started to fall.

The stock fell below its 50-day moving average on Sept. 20 (2) — the first sign of trouble.

That same day, Meta's dropped as low as 349.80. That was a 7% decline (to 351.12) from the buy point.

Two days later, the stock gapped down and the 7% loss was quite clear by now. Shares plummeted to 88.08 by November 2022. That's a loss of 77% from the August 2021 entry.

Despite its 148% gain this year, Meta has yet to get back to its August 2021 levels, and investors holding on to its shares would still be waiting to get back to break-even. But those who sold in September 2021 would have the capital to get back into the stock for its 2023 rally.

How To Sell Stocks: Market Conditions Matter

The 7% sell rule holds true in bull markets. But in a bear market, it may be wise to exit earlier if the stock falls 3% to 4% from a buy point after a breakout.

The 7% sell rule is one of the simplest rules investors can follow. IBD had been calling it the 7%-8% sell rule, but as a practical matter, it is treated as a 7% loss trigger.

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Don't Sit On Losses: How This Simple Rule Spared Investors From Meta's 77% Crash (2024)

FAQs

What is the 7% stop-loss rule? ›

Always sell a stock it if falls 7%-8% below what you paid for it. This basic principle helps you always cap your potential downside. If you're following rules for how to buy stocks and a stock you own drops 7% to 8% from what you paid for it, something is wrong.

What is the 7 percent rule in investing? ›

The seven percent savings rule provides a simple yet powerful guideline—save seven percent of your gross income before any taxes or other deductions come out of your paycheck. Saving at this level can help you make continuous progress towards your financial goals through the inevitable ups and downs of life.

Should I sell my stocks before a crash? ›

It's normal to feel pessimistic after a crash, but if you're investing for the long term, doing nothing is often the best course. It's important to remember that when you sell investments in a downturn, you lock in your losses.

What is the 1 rule of investing? ›

Warren Buffett once said, “The first rule of an investment is don't lose [money].

Should I sell my stocks now in a recession? ›

While selling stocks during a market downturn might make you feel better temporarily, doing so reactively because stocks are tumbling isn't a good long-term investment strategy. Volatility is a normal part of investing in the stock market, so occasional market selloffs should be expected.

What is the 7 rule for stocks? ›

The rule states that a company's stock price should either be seven times its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) or 10 times its operating earnings per share. To apply the 7/10 rule, first determine the company's operating earnings per share or EBITDA.

Is a 7% return realistic? ›

While quite a few personal finance pundits have suggested that a stock investor can expect a 12% annual return, when you incorporate the impact of volatility and inflation, 7% is a more accurate historical estimate for an aggressive investor (someone primarily invested in stocks), and 5% would be more appropriate for ...

What is a safe percentage to withdraw in retirement? ›

However, there are some tasks—such as retirement planning—where rules of thumb won't yield the best possible results. That's because retirement planning needs to be unique to each person. An example of one of those retirement planning rules of thumb is the 4% rule for a safe withdrawal rate.

What is the 70 20 10 rule in stocks? ›

Part one of the rule said that in the next 12 months, the return you got on a stock was 70% determined by what the U.S. stock market did, 20% was determined by how the industry group did and 10% was based on how undervalued and successful the individual company was.

Should I cash out my stocks now? ›

Key Takeaways. While holding or moving to cash might feel good mentally and help avoid short-term stock market volatility, it is unlikely to be wise over the long term. Once you cash out a stock that's dropped in price, you move from a paper loss to an actual loss.

Where is your money safest during a recession? ›

Where to put money during a recession. Putting money in savings accounts, money market accounts, and CDs keeps your money safe in an FDIC-insured bank account (or NCUA-insured credit union account). Alternatively, invest in the stock market with a broker.

Is it better to hold cash in a recession? ›

Cash. Cash is an important asset when it comes to a recession. After all, if you do end up in a situation where you need to pull from your assets, it helps to have a dedicated emergency fund to fall back on, especially if you experience a layoff.

What is Warren Buffett's golden rule? ›

"Rule No. 1: Never lose money. Rule No. 2: Never forget Rule No. 1."- Warren Buffet.

What is the safest investment with the highest return? ›

Overview: Best low-risk investments in 2024
  1. High-yield savings accounts. ...
  2. Money market funds. ...
  3. Short-term certificates of deposit. ...
  4. Series I savings bonds. ...
  5. Treasury bills, notes, bonds and TIPS. ...
  6. Corporate bonds. ...
  7. Dividend-paying stocks. ...
  8. Preferred stocks.
Apr 1, 2024

What are Warren Buffett's 5 rules of investing? ›

Here's Buffett's take on the five basic rules of investing.
  • Never lose money. ...
  • Never invest in businesses you cannot understand. ...
  • Our favorite holding period is forever. ...
  • Never invest with borrowed money. ...
  • Be fearful when others are greedy.
Jan 11, 2023

What is the golden rule for stop loss? ›

The golden rule of Stop Losses is that they should never be moved away from the market once the trade is opened. If a trader feels that their stop loss is incorrectly placed, they are recognising that the foundations of their trade are incorrect and therefore they should close out.

What is the 6% stop loss rule? ›

The 6% stop-loss rule is another risk management strategy used in trading. It involves setting your stop-loss order at a level where, if the trade moves against you, you would only lose a maximum of 6% of your total trading capital on that particular trade.

What is the 3-5-7 rule in trading? ›

A risk management principle known as the “3-5-7” rule in trading advises diversifying one's financial holdings to reduce risk. The 3% rule states that you should never risk more than 3% of your whole trading capital on a single deal.

What is the best stop loss rule? ›

4. What stop-loss percentage should I use? According to research, the most effective stop-loss levels for maximizing returns while limiting losses are between 15% and 20%. These levels strike a balance between allowing some market fluctuation and protecting against significant downturns.

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