Sunday, June 21, 2009

Returns as of Jun 2009

The format of this report includes an options expiration report and summary, open position summary, closed position summary, average monthly return, total return since inception, year-to-date return, and yearly returns.

Performance is based on a Working Capital Model (see the bottom of this report for details). The three basic objectives are, growth of base income, profit production from trading, and overall growth in working capital. Market value, while monitored, does not play a role in meeting any of these objectives. The income generated by the assets in the portfolio is more important than their current market value.

Options Expiration Report for Jun 2009

Revised on 6/22: I had an error in the market value due to using cash secured puts so I corrected it. The result was a lower account value than originally reported.

This was a good month for my account value, which went up 2.13% vs 4.34% for the S&P 500, and 5.58% YTD vs 1.99 YTD for the S&P 500. However, this is the second month in a row where I only generated income of about a half percent of working capital, which is well below my goal of 1%/month. I believe that part of the reason is due to the big rise in the market since March. Bull markets are great when you're establishing new positions, since you can play offense. However, when you have existing positions that you've held through a market downturn, then you need to play defense instead and accept lower premiums due to roll outs.

I've also been holding more cash than my target allocation of 10% since I was anticipating needing to average down on several ITM positions. However, I decided to try a new strategy this month of using cash secured puts in lieu of averaging down. I did this with 4 positions this month, AXP, BHP, BJS, & PFCB. In the case AXP, BHP, & PFCB, I allowed the stocks to be called away, and in the case of BJS, I got a partial assignment due to ex-dividend date. I re-entered the same number of shares on all of these positions by selling cash secured puts. For AXP & BHP, I increased my cost basis by less than the cost of averaging down, and for BJS & PFCB I had no increase in cost basis since I sold a put at the same strike as the call that was exercised. This is an different strategy than any I've used in the past and one I just thought of recently, so only time will tell how well it works.

I'm going to review all of my positions this week and may sell some more cash secured puts in addition to selling calls on the same positions. If I have enough funds left over, I may enter some new positions also.

That's all for this months report.

Expiration Summary

Total Open Positions: 32
Total New Positions: 0
Total Equity Positions: 31
Total Fixed Income Positions: 1
Total Closed Positions: 0
Total Rolled Positions: 16
Total Expired Options: 11

Average Working Capital Per Position: 2.36%
Average Holding Period to Expiration: 587 days

Asset Allocation Before Expiration (based on working capital)

Cash: $60,684.94 (19.33%)
Equities: $219,659.00 (69.96%)
Fixed Income: $33,620.95 (10.71%)

Working Capital Results

Starting Working Capital: $312,371.83
Deposits to Working Capital: $0.00
Withdrawals from Working Capital: $0.00
Net Invested Capital: $200,000.00

Total Working Capital: $313,964.89
Base Income: $448.88
Trading Results: $1,102.20
Total Income: $1,551.08
Ending Working Capital: $315,515.97

Base Income Return: 0.14%
Trading Return: 0.35%
Working Capital Return: 0.49%

Market Value Results

Starting Value: $193,582.94
Ending Value: $197,715.63
Market Value Return: 2.13%

Open Position Summary After Expiration

Total Open Positions: 32
Total Equity Positions: 31
Total Fixed Income Positions: 1

Average Working Capital Per Position: 2.57%
Average Holding Period to Expiration: 648 days

Asset Allocation After Expiration (based on working capital)

Cash: $57,313.03 (18.16%)
Equities: $224,581.99 (71.18%)
Fixed Income: $33,620.95 (10.66%)

Closed Position Summary

Total Trading Period: 4 years 1 month
Total Positions Closed: 230
Positions Closed for a Profit: 223 (96.96%)
Positions Closed for a Loss: 7 (3.04%)
Average Holding Period: 110 days
Average Annualized Return: 18.51%

Average Monthly Returns

Average Monthly Return on Invested Captial

Avg. Monthly Return: 1.40%
Avg. Annualized Return: 16.88%
Standard Deviation: 1.44%
Sharpe Ratio: 0.97

Average Monthly Return on Working Capital

Avg. Monthly Return: 1.32%
Avg. Annualized Return: 15.91%
Standard Deviation: 1.36%
Sharpe Ratio: 0.96

Average Monthly Market Value Return

Avg. Monthly Return: 0.19%
Avg. Annualized Return: 2.30%
Standard Deviation: 5.48%
Sharpe Ratio: 0.03

Total Return Since Inception (May 2005-Present Month)

Working Capital Results

Starting Working Capital: $50,000
Deposits to Working Capital: $150,000.00
Withdrawals from Working Capital: $0.00
Net Invested Capital: $200,000.00

Total Working Capital: $200,000.00
Base Income: $7,341.75
Trading Results: $108,174.22
Total Income: $115,515.97
Ending Working Capital: $315,515.97

Base Income Return: 3.67%
Annualized Base Income: 1.02%

Trading Return: 54.09%
Annualized Trading Return: 14.98%

Working Capital Return: 57.76%
Annualized Working Capital Return: 16.00%

Projected vs Actual Results

Projected Total Income: $86,253.38
Actual Total Income: $115,515.97
Percent of Goal: 133.93%

Projected Working Capital: $286,253.38
Actual Working Capital: $315,515.97
Percent of Goal: 110.22%

Market Value Results

Starting Value: $200,000.00
Ending Value: $197,715.63
Market Value Return: -1.14%
Annualized Market Value Return: -0.28%

2009 YTD Annual Return

Working Capital Results

Starting Working Capital: $300,574.83
Deposits to Working Capital: $50,000.00
Withdrawals from Working Capital: $0.00
Net Invested Capital: $200,000.00

YTD Total Working Capital: $300,574.83
YTD Base Income: $2,236.82
YTD Trading Results: $12,704.32
YTD Total Income: $14,941.14
YTD Ending Working Capital: $315,515.97

YTD Base Income Return: 0.74%
YTD Trading Return: 4.23%
YTD Working Capital Return: 4.97%

Projected vs Actual Results

YTD Projected Income: $15,787.38
YTD Actual Income: $14,941.14
YTD Percent of Goal: 94.64%

YTD Projected Working Capital: $286,253.38
YTD Actual Working Capital: $315,515.97
YTD Percent of Goal: 110.22%

Market Value Results

YTD Starting Value: $187,257.83
YTD Ending Value: $197,715.63
YTD Market Value Return: 5.58%

2008 Annual Return

Working Capital Results

Starting Working Capital: $230,383.52
Deposits to Working Capital: $50,000.00
Withdrawals from Working Capital: $0.00
Net Invested Capital: $200,000.00

Total Working Capital: $280,383.52
Base Income: $3,429.18
Trading Results: $16,762.13
Total Income: $20,191.31
Ending Working Capital: $300,574.83

Base Income Return: 1.22%
Trading Return: 5.98%
Working Capital Return: 7.20%

Projected vs Actual Results

Projected Income: $24,499.71
Actual Income: $20,191.31
Percent of Goal: 82.41%

Projected Working Capital: $270,466.00
Actual Working Capital: $300,574.83
Percent of Goal: 111.13%

Market Value Results

Starting Value: $236,676.52
Ending Value: $187,257.83
Market Value Return: -20.88%

2007 Annual Return

Working Capital Results

Starting Working Capital: $210,627.78
Deposits to Working Capital: $0.00
Withdrawals from Working Capital: $0.00
Net Invested Capital: $150,000.00

Total Working Capital: $210,627.78
Base Income: $852.50
Trading Results: $18,903.24
Total Income: $19,755.74
Ending Working Capital: $230,383.52

Base Income Return: 0.40%
Trading Return: 8.97%
Working Capital Return: 9.38%

Projected vs Actual Results

Projected Income: $21,019.70
Actual Income: $19,755.74
Percent of Goal: 93.99%

Projected Working Capital: $195,966.29
Actual Working Capital: $230,383.52
Percent of Goal: 117.56%

Market Value Results

Starting Value: $181,185.77
Ending Value: $186,676.52
Market Value Return: 3.03%

2006 Annual Return

Working Capital Results

Starting Working Capital: $117,840.28
Deposits to Working Capital: $50,000.00
Withdrawals from Working Capital: $0.00
Net Invested Capital: $150,000.00

Total Working Capital: $167,840.28
Base Income: $762.75
Trading Results: $42,024.75
Total Income: $42,787.50
Ending Working Capital: $210,627.78

Base Income Return: 0.45%
Trading Return: 25.04%
Working Capital Return: 25.49%

Projected vs Actual Results

Projected Income: $18,842.40
Actual Income: $42,787.50
Percent of Goal: 227.08%

Projected Working Capital: $183,415.96
Actual Working Capital: $221,094.78
Percent of Goal: 120.54%

Market Value Results

Starting Value: $157,659.27
Ending Value: $181,185.77
Market Value Return: 14.92%

2005 Annual Return (May-Dec)

Working Capital Results

Starting Working Capital: $50,000.00
Deposits to Working Capital: $50,000.00
Withdrawals from Working Capital: $0.00
Net Invested Capital: $100,000.00

Total Working Capital: $100,000.00
Base Income: $60.50
Trading Results: $17,779.78
Total Income: $17,840.28
Ending Working Capital: $117,840.28

Base Income Return: 0.06%
Trading Return: 17.78%
Working Capital Return: 17.84%

Projected vs Actual Results

Projected Income: $6,104.19
Actual Income: $17,840.28
Percent of Goal: 292.26%

Projected Working Capital: $106,104.19
Actual Working Capital: $117,840.28
Percent of Goal: 111.06%

Market Value Results

Starting Value: $100,000.00
Ending Value: $107,659.27
Market Value Return: 7.66%

Definition of Terms

Working Capital is the total cost basis of the stocks and cash in the account. Working capital is increased by dividends, interest, realized capital gains, and deposits. Working capital is decreased by realized capital losses and withdrawals.

Working Capital Return is the percent of income, from option premium, dividends and interest, and net capital gains/losses, on Working Capital since the beginning of the reporting period.

Net Invested Capital is the net result of all deposits to and withdrawals from the working capital.

Base Income is the income from interest and dividends only.

Trading Return is the net capital gain/loss from the sale of securities, including option premiums.

Market Value is the market value of the stocks, options, and cash in the account if all positions were liquidated (i.e. the mark-to-market value).

Market Value Return is the percent change in Market Value since the beginning of the reporting period.

Measuring Performance

The following information is from "The Brainwashing of the American Investor" by Steve Selengut and is based on his Working Capital Model.

Performance is the functional effectiveness of efforts to produce a desired effect, expressed either as objectives or goals. An objective is something that is aimed at and a goal is an end result that you are striving to attain. None of this speaks if indices or averages, calendar quarters or years, or even competition. Therefore, the only valid performance analysis is one that compares your personal results with your own personally stated goals and objectives. Monitoring investment performance the Wall Street way (e.g. market value) is inappropriate and problematic for goal-oriented investors.

The following is all the data you need to analyze the performance of your investment portfolio:

Line 1 - Working Capital: the total cost basis of the stocks and cash in the portfolio. Working capital is increased by dividends, interest, realized capital gains, and deposits. Working capital is decreased by realized capital losses and withdrawals.

Line 2 - Base Income: the income derived from dividends and interest only, without including that received from capital gains. One of the key objectives is to produce annual increases in base income at a rate that beats inflation.

Line 3 - Trading Results: the net realized capital gains from trading activities, including the sale of stocks, options and other securities.

Line 4 - Market Value: the total market value of the portfolio (i.e. mark-to-market value).

Line 5 - Net Invested Capital: the net result of all deposits to and withdrawals from the portfolio.

Lines 1-3 should slope steadily upward regardless of what Line 4 is doing. Line 4 will rarely be above Line 1. During the accumulation phase, Line 5 may stay flat or move upward, if deposits are being made. During the withdrawal phase, Line 5 should slope downward. If you're withdrawing less than the portfolio is generating, Lines 1-3 will continue to go up. However, if working capital moves lower, it's likely that you've crossed into negative cash flow territory and some tighter expenditure controls could be necessary.

Using this performance measuring method you'll know exactly where you are, where you've been, and what you need to do without even once bothering to ask how the market is doing. Remember, as long as you're meeting your income objectives and have positive cash flow, it doesn't matter what the market is doing. Ultimately, the income generated by your assets is more important than their current market value.

NOTE: Returns are calculated on a fiscal basis, not on a calendar month/year basis. Monthly returns are from one options expiration to the next. Yearly returns are from Dec options expiration to Dec options expiration of the following year.

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