Cory Diary : Mind Boggling Trades

Following article is just a re-collection as I struggle through my thoughts. Not an encouragement of what you should do or not. There is a lot of dynamics and risks on my actions and likely not suitable for anyone who attempt to follow as always.

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Has been quite some time since I last posted about my trading activities. Maybe is good time to re-collect on it on those that I can remember and correctly remembered. Since the last scare on stable Reits, I have decided to take profit on a number of my higher profit counters. 

However, there's still a need to continue my dividend "Story line". This few months saw a number of Reits actions. Very happening months and trading costs have been escalating which I have to watch closely as expense ratio can climb very fast with lowering profits when the market turns while I am searching for the Nirvana Portfolio to suit myself.

Maple Ind Tr

Not bad for a stock which I started investing only last year. In Year 2018, after dividends is only kopi money. Hardly cover my transaction costs. However the logic is clear for me and which I continue to add even more after. Year 2019 profits kind of exploded. Is good to have a happy closure on this counter. 

Basically I cleared out this counter. Good 5 digits profits for Year 2019. Rationale is that it has hit below 5% yield. I do like this counter though as I am expecting DPU growth for some period of time.What this mean is I am no longer have any Maple counters ( sigh ).... . Not sure is the best thing to do but it has been decided and so a counter less. 

Ascendas Reit

To cut the the long story short, sold all my Rights Shares however bought the Mother-Shares later. This push my holding relatively high. I have yet completely recovered to my previous  max profits on this counter net net. However, at roughly 5.5% yield I am happy to wait while collecting dividends.

This is the largest Reit in town. I have been harping how attractive it is for myself. And I am willing to go along with it growth along Singapore Story Line with the added twist on recent US acquisitions. Certainly I put a lot of faith in the management. I could be wrong and pay for it.

Accordia Golf Trust

AGT is something I owned few years back/ Not so profitable exercise. In fact net net a slight loss if my memory serves me correct. I hate the pendulum swing in the stock prices. The DPU swings too with the directional of the "weather" or weather ...

Back on this counter due to recent news on potential sales of all it's golf courses. The reason I go in is 2 folds. First the NAV and possible premium. Apparently, the market did not drives it high enough so I decided to do a calculated risk to buy some despite the premium. Of-course this is speculation move and can becomes long term holding which isn't that bad with roughly 7% yield @0.675. Yes, high can go higher ... . The fall can be great too sadly.

Fact check on myself. Without AK affirmation, I wouldn't have go in. After keying in the lots acquired on how much dividends I could get, Year 2020 dividends moved up nicely. So I thought maybe I should get 10 lots more but the price has ran away in the seconds that I was deliberating. I always remind myself that when one buy on speculation please treat the trade as such. I did not on this one.

Netlink BNB Trust

Decided to increase my holding since I am not going to clear them all. This to me is a defensive play while yield is average. There's talk about sustainability of the distribution but I am not sure is a concern considering the gearing is low. Anyway the size is risk adjusted and does help to spread out my dividend play. 5G risk is unknown 😱. Something I have to stomach with. However, I got a good enough 5 digits buffers on this year alone. 

The history on this one with me is boring. There aren't much profits on this one and for a period of time looking at how shipping trust or harbor trust go, this aren't one of my pillow that I can sleep soundly. I even lose money on this last year after dividends. Other than being similar to a business trust their commonality ends.

The only calculation I did is yield and that they are here to over stays for years to come. There has been many discussion on their viability. So we walk with our eyes open so blame no one. Just have to stay nimble.

FCOT

Took profits about 40% of it few weeks back. Is another nice 5 digits from this year alone in total considering I only start investing in them in Year 2018 and have the lots doubled in Year 2019. Why the confidence is like the enlightenment I had on it being treated as bond-like in nature. This easily explain why I make my moves on a number of other Reit counters.

Just yesterday there is this merger news. Frankly not sure is good or bad timing for me. It has maintained 2.4 cents for longest time I can remember quarterly. So they know how to make Shareholders happy. Let see what they could come out with. Hopefully I will have a better deal from FLT. The suspend is interesting.

Ascendas-h Trust

This has been with me for past few years. Is small but nimble. When I have it I know what I am going into. I have this tract rather closely quarterly and was quite interested in what they have been doing strategically. Unlike others, I have time to tripled my allocation over the years.

Together with the others, sold about 30% off this counter. This is the largest profit of all the reits I have of this year. You can say is re-balance of the profits 😌. I have nothing against Ascott Reit other than offering me a lower yield than AHT can but it is going to be in a stronger entity. Look forward to my Ascott Shares.

 DBS

Continue to increase my holding on this at opportune time. Right now is slightly above 8% of my portfolio holding. So, think I am good on this one.  CEO performs much better than the others. He knows what is Shareholder values I feel or my feel. The only risk is the digital banking licenses which I have not much clue on the impact. Gut feel is DBS should weather it through safely.

This counter also acts as a counter-balance on the Reits which are interest rates sensitive so that my portfolio do not swing like a pendulum. That's not saying both won't go lower on a single day though. Having dividend like nature and longevity in the business gives me the confidence.

STI ETF

Sold some off when it hits $3.3 early Nov. This is more of re-balance and improving yield moves as STI seems to hit a new peak. (Link). Should have sold more but hindsight is always 20/20. Future purchase will be to nominee account for long term and lower trading cost structure as a personal reminder. If one has followed my blog, STI has not been performing well for past decade. You can try to put your start point before GFC or after it's recovery and the end point today and see whether this is align to my thoughts. I am in it for long term diversification as a portion in my portfolio. With the yield at 3.x%, I would prefer to time the market on this one.

SPH Reit & CMT

Increased some SPH Reit shares as I view this is a better yield performer than CMT. My view is both their dividends and DPU will be quite defensive. Interestingly, I do bought some more CMT this month when it comes back up in yield. Maybe I should have only one of them in the future. There is always this balance between defensive and better yield fluctuating within my mind. Their combine holdings probably square off with AR in exposure.

Frasers 3.65% Bond

With the cash raised, I took some to buy some bonds. Think roughly 10% max holding now that I would go. Not sure this is the right move come to think of it today. I will have to give further thought on this size. This aren't the problem now as I have cash available for opportunity and Frasers family seems running well.

Aims Apac Reit

Average down at 1.373 and then sold half when it rebounded. This is the current size I am happy to hold and sleep well. One of the "alpha" in the Reit team as it provides 7% yield at today price I think. In term of profits, this year is kopi money. I am happy to keep the remaining as long term holding. This does help my Year 2020 plan.

Overall

After all above, there is still good amount of cash in net sales which will be for opportunity. My only concern is my portfolio has not been as stable as before. In the first 3 quarters of the year. almost always one counter will counteract the other falls quite amazingly. Not so now. Maybe the market has turned less bullish or maybe the counters are not in perfect fit to support each other which means will see lumpiness in P/L. P/L and Div are on-track. (updated for privacy 12/21) 

Cory

2019-1129

Cory Diary : Ten Laps

Decided to do a "tweets".

Trade talk has just taken a surpise turn for the worst to my dismay. Is now more like two arrogant kids having a face off. It could get worst. One would think two sensible adults will come to a compromise but life is unpredictable.

This has hit my first level warning. Having 11% returns in 4 months period, is like swimming ahead by 10 laps. So for this phase I will do further profit taking. 

Sold half of my Ascendas-h Tr as I have more than 2 years of dividends. The future dividend loss will be felt.

Sold only the amount increased of Mapletree Ind Tr which I have increased before ex-dividend. It was average up previously in anticipation of better market environment and net net after dividends still have slightly more profits. This is more like de-risk levelling move.

Sold SIA. Just few lots. While is gain ytd. Counter level is slight loss. Is non core so is a counter less to manage. I also decided to release one of my US stock at market price with similar story as SIA.


thanks

Cory
20190506

Cory Diary : Revisiting Thought Process - Portfolio

Decision Making

Back to Radar View to conceptualize my thinking .... on my investment size in each counter.

There are 3 scale markers in the chart with 0%, 5% and 10%.

For those who find it hard to read, the radar view display my investment size for each counter with those in the center has the larger allocation. Sitting on the most outer ring has zero investment now eg. HRnetGroup, PrkwayLfie Reit and Mapletree com Tr.

This year return so far hits XIRR 6.5% today which is pretty close to 6.4% profit year to date. Thanks to Reits/Trusts and the US stocks rebounding which I suffered from last year

 I still find amazing how far CMT has run. Even at this price or yield, I would not sell because with so much cash in the system is quite hard to find one that can give me 5% dividends with possible growths. Ascendas still has good yield in it despite the run up. If I have a chance I would acquire more but since it has hits 11% level, I need to be prudent despite my confidence.

Overall, the colours proportion is probably where I wanted with the blue dots growth/speculative occupying lower percentages and Red dots moving up slowly. I did not do fund injection this year yet as I moved some fund to up my SSB. I would be working to up a little more cash to fill it up to 50K dividend level plan.

Below is my thought process on why I do changes in my portfolio.

First Decision : Remove HRnetGroup(CHZ.SI)

Never could remember which is cap in the name ... (joking on the remove reason but is real I could not remember). I was finding option to reduce my counters and this came up. I like the story of the company but the stock just refuse to move (see link is at bottom of bubble) . Soon I realize this is not my type of stock. Another reason i could squeeze myself to think of just to make myself happy is that is buying up companies the right option for their type of businesses. Will they have moat and withholding power of their clients ? I could be wrong and stock shoot up after but I can live with it.

Second Decision : Remove Mapletree Com Tr(N2IU.SI)

The yield comes down to low 5%. There are no catalyst coming. I got enough capital gains. With CMT, FCT and Mapletree NAC Tr, I don't see a need for another Mall-like reit taking another spot in my portfolio.

Third Decision : Add Sheng Siong(OV8.SI)

This SS has been with me in and out for at least 5 years. Always bring me good luck kopi money. This supermarket player is simply well-managed at least on reporting front. The boss has the passion in him. I miss this counter so much after last sold at lower price than I I bought back some recently. Yes in love with it but I aren't irrational. So I come in again at smaller amount. If there is a SME counter to occupy a place, I want SS. China play seems minor so far. I will need to understand better but this won't my decision.

Fourth Decision : Add UOB(U11.SI)

I got enough exposure to OCBC and STI Index. Regardless every time Index move up, my performance still lag behind. One fix is to add more financial stock so I choose UOB. Sadly, DBS could have been better from recent reporting events. Nevertheless, the size is testing water. I have the understanding that DBS is higher up due to deliberate higher dividends given which could suffer if there is a change for lower later whereas OCBC and UOB have been a little conservative. Hope they do us proud....

5th Decision : Add more Ascendas-hTrust(Q1P.SI)

Got good gains from earlier investment. I still feel it has some more legs to go else if it go much lower I could consider to acquire bigger amount. Since it go higher, I decided to average up a little. The yield is pretty decent for seems like good acquisition by the management. I would be surprise to see poor results for next few reporting but we never can guaranteed therefore I demand better yield which it has. The market seems to have undervalue it.

Cory

2019-0226

Cory Diary : Preparation for 2019 Portfolio

We are near to end of year. While I am still hopeful for break even this year, there is good chance 2018 is negative to most investors on average. While everyone is still busy bandaging your wounds, I think we should at the same time prepare ourselves for 2019.



Portfolio is about managing risk

Managing Risk

1. Re-Balance : Reduced 25% in CMT in earlier blogging. This is due to good run-up to minimum expectation. I wish it could do more but I can settle with remaining 75% shares as they give good dividends even at this level.

2. Clean up : I have sold down largely AimsAmp Cap Reit yesterday. This is to take advantage of recent up swing at 1.37. I have this gut feeling it won't stay high for too long as is a resistance level. I have raised cash from this. The dividend gap to fill from this sale will be glaring if I do not do something this year.

3. Positioning for 2019 :

Shift some funds into enlarging Ascendas-hTrust at lower price. The yield is good. The gearing fine. The grow prospect is still worth a bet. This will fill some of my dividend plan.

Increased STI ETF as I think is at lower point. Averaging down Index ETF is much safer and is as keen as cost averaging and diversifying my risk rather than buying local banks shares directly which direction can be anybody guess.


Investigation Reviews

I looked at APTT a few times but sill do not feel comfortable. There will be technical rebound.
How large and how long is subjective. To myself, going in right now is pure gamble as I lack knowledge and feel for this counter. Short trade maybe nice but it won't be for 2019.

With recent low oil price, Keppel price still do not match the news. M1 purchase seems not a good deal. Property aren't helping. Chances are Keppel will have room to go much lower.

After losing OCC 5.1%, I have been actively looking for alternative. Temesek 2.7% doesn't cut it as is quite near to SSB level. Enlarging Fraser Bond 3.65% will put me over exposed to it. SSB has been max out. I won't want to put more into treasury for the yield is too low. Astrea IV trading premium is too high.


Looks like I still have few more punches to do but I am in no hurry.



thanks

Cory

2018-1128

Cory Diary : Reits 2018 Updates

Started writing on this last Friday night and then i broke off from my usual routine to finish it in one go. Too many things going on in my mind recently. One of them is work where we need to plan for mitigation plans due to tariff. Is sure going to be more costly for Americans but considering the significant amount of jobs created, looks like it could be a net plus for average folks. I will be expecting companies to start to move some of their production at least to other countries to reduce their cost from operating in China. Pace could speed up if the tariffs increases some more. From the looks of it, businesses in China will not look good as America is a Consumer Market of the world.

Another thing that keep me busy is Mew Two is now available in Raid. For those who is not familiar, is Pokemon Go game. Yup, I am still in it. The game keeps me busy with some exercise but just be careful on the roads. The other problem is if I am too near to garden or vegetation, there may be mosquitoes. Is still quite amazing that the game attracts a crowd. To take this Pokemon will need about 10 players and indeed a team effort until a lady came up with 4 phones at one go on the raid. Anyone need a new friend please message me. I need to complete a mission ....

Back to investment. I have shown my portfolio of equities previously. This time round I am writing about each of the reit/trusts as I can. My thoughts, fear, wish, dream ... whatever. Don't say what the hell this guy blogging on Friday night. I always could do and anytime whenever I feel the urge and when time permit. The first 2 Reits are the blood vines of Singapore and the other 3 are tapping E.Asia/Australia. As long the country and East Asia do well. So I do have a stake to ensure Singapore continue to prospers at least. In REIT investment I have the opinion that I do not have to max out my earning. I would prefer 有钱大家赚. So as long they perform well consistently, Management / Employees or private placement shareholders are welcome to earn form it.


ASCENDAS REIT, CAPITAMALL TRUST

This stocks have long history of dividends. If I can remember, there maybe some placements along the way. What I focus is the growing DPU. And that's what all matter isn't it ? I remember the former one hits 8% yield years ago. Now the yield has come down to 6% (give and take....) so there is nice capital gains on top of dividends. Is it attractive now ? Well, we can have some financial crisis and money got suck out of the system and stock price could drop to 6% price level. Will it really really happen? I dunno but I do know there is a lot of cash out there. A 2% yield drop could mean more than 20% reduction in stock value. Will take 3 years to recover if the stock continues to stay low. But I can wait while collecting the dividends. I would think is best to size my investment appropriately as there is some fluctuations over the years. I am not too worry if it goes lower. This is provided fundamentally the business has not changed to bad. If we have added up all the DPU and Capital gains over the years, the returns are in many times that we have invested.The thing is we need to have skin in it and forget about trying to time a perfect entry. The dpu would cover them over time.


ASCENDAS-HTRUST, MAPLETREE IND TR, MAPLETREE NAC TR

This is another class of reits that is well managed so far. The hospitality sector has seen it's dynamics so able to grow consistently is not easy.  Industrial reit is not cheap I would say. But the growth is there. Maple family has been on growth path so there will be rights issue along the way. My wish is that they stay within private placement sphere. Able to attract this class of private money is like giving confidence to the companies. If we are to issue rights to existing shareholders, I am not sure is it because they have problem to raise money without giving significant discounts. And this may be worrying. I use such indication to reinforce my judgement. So I am ok to earn lesser as long the path is right and make the company more powerful. The Maple managed malls is recent addition. There seems good potential to provide strong DPU. The gearing is high though so I am only comfortable to add only some for now. This 3 reits performance are more dynamic than CMT and Ascendas in my opinion.


FIRST REIT, PARKWAYLIFE REIT

Both Medical Reits. They don't manage the hospital operations. Both if we are to use P/B to value them, will be relatively expensive. The reason I believe is the stable earning it provides at constant growth and the properties. Their moat is high. Really high. Let put it this way. If my wife is pregnant, and need to do NIPS test. And the facility recommends say NIPS+ and the cost increases from $2000 to $4000. The additional $2000 can detect down syndrome much more accurate from 90% to 99%. Will you pay ? Happily, I will. And if there is a invasive test which cost only $500 with 100% accuracy but there is 1% chance she will miscarriage, will you choose this option ? I think most will say no way ! That's how safe is Medical Reit as their tenants have wider ability to pay.

But not all reits are the same. I am always wary of First Reit sponsor. If you have been following this reit, the Sponsor has not been in strong financial position due to over expansion in other businesses. However there are still many hospitals along the pipeline and they have been able to maintain strong DPUs. Is pretty hard to fake giving out money if they aren't making money out of it. The recent event is a case to watch more closely as the sponsor find innovative way to raise money without losing control of the reit. That's how I read it. I don't get to be sleepless over but need to watch it. I feel is unlikely to be a "Sabana Event". I did reduces my exposure a little bit from it and as a result took some losses from it YTD since is reference to end of last year price. Some analysts are positive over the deals. I take it with pinch of salt. The dpu is still good for now.

As for ParkwayLife Reit, I have size it such that I can be relax on it. The 4+ dividends is low but I can accept it as it helps spread my exposure with stable returns long term.


FRASERS L&I TR

Australia currency has not been doing well for couple of years. So I think it does has some impact on the returns. As long the DPU growth able to covers it, the Reit should be ok. They have freehold assets over there so this do make up for long term. They do has rental reversion but I feel it is not a surprise as there is clause within the contract that up the rental fee annually which can move it past the market rate.So not surprisingly when is up for renewal, there is reversion to mean at least. The European acquisition is something I do not really like as it draw away the future funding space so I sold all after. However the current yield is good and do not see reduction of it near term after rights issue. Another concern I have is that they aren't maple. I returned with smaller position nevertheless due to the strong yield.


NETLINK NBN TR

This is not "HPH Trust" or many Trusts out there in my view. Their asset has long term value and good moat.
Singtel hold the max they could on this one which tell me something. The G5 future rest on even more Fibre optics. Down side is that charges are regulated from my read in the internet. The DPU will be stable but I will not be surprise to see fluctuation. Some people hope for deeper correction before they go in. I do not think this make sense. The annual dividends is about 5.8% yield from the top of my head. If we park the money temporarily in SSB is about 2% short term. Opportunity cost is 3.8% yield. The waiting time outside could be expensive.If I am to part my money in other equity, I lose my opportunity fund.

If the Trust is indeed stable even $0.90 to $1.0 is not expensive. Here's the growth I hope for. But then will I sell ? Not if I have enough stake in it to do partial. Will the price go lower and lower. I feel is unlikely to happen unless manhole get obsoleted. They have good profitability improvement from cost cutting. How much can this go without affecting the operation or future growth is unknown but there is limit. I hope to see management take some stakes from the market. So far yet seen.


Cory
2018-0928

Cory Diary : Recent Trade Actions 20180130

2018 January is I feel a more memorable day for my portfolio other than in the black. Is the first time I have a proper clean up state of my Reit counters that is much better balanced to form a better core. Few things I did. Sold AGT moons ago. Sold SPH Reit some time back. And today, sold remaining lots of LMIR as well. Bought back Ascendas Reit and Ascendas HT.


LMIR

The more I learn about LMIR the more I am a little worried. The perpetual shares it has issued is a relatively huge burden. This obscure the gearing which I do not like at all. It would be much better if they are able to get private placement. Then the recent rating downgrade warning kind of sink in. With the current yield of more than 8%, they would need to find some way to raise money ( probably expensively ) this year or to further their acquisition. This is a red flag to me. Since I have achieved 15% returns since 2017 on this counter, is time to say good bye. I do love the yield. Sad.


SPH Reit

Negative revision is the outlook. It may get better but i do not like the few properties or the play on seletar mall to keep the price up. If the stock market is to turn, this won't be my core holding. The yield around 5% doesn't look so good despite the low gearing not gearing up.


Ascendas Hospitality Reit Trust

The plan to sell the two hotels look good considering the impact to dividend is minimal but the value unlocked is more than 10% of it's Nav. Furthermore, FHT results may have help my confidence a little.


Current Reits allocation is around 36% of  Equity Portfolio.


Cheers

Cory
20180130