This is part of a series of profiles highlighting women investors in the Fool community. Find out what makes the fairer sex better at picking stocks at fool.com/girl.
New Hampshire native and golden retriever fan Linda Queen first got into investing while working for a tech company. She calls her sales position an "accidental job," but her success in investing -- an early Netflix purchase enabled her to buy a house! -- has been no accident. Though she's drawn to many different types of companies, her stocks all have one thing in common -- a good story. Read on to learn more about Linda (goldengirl2362 on the boards), including what she's buying right now.
How did you first get started investing?
I just found my first seed money check from 2006. I worked for a tech company where I could buy company stock at a 15% discount through auto deduction. So I did that, but I wanted to learn more about the company and buy other stock, so I started reading articles on Fool.com, and eventually subscribed to Stock Advisor.
In one of my first issues, they recommended Netflix, so I bought at under $20. I could see the potential, in part because I couldn't remember the last time I'd gone to Blockbuster!
I really didn't start buying a lot of stocks until 2009 during the early recovery -- that was when I realized I could use my 401(k) to buy stocks.
How would you describe your investment approach? What kinds of stocks are you most drawn to?
I'm pretty heavily weighted in tech companies, because that's the industry I work in. Stocks with good stories also appeal to me -- companies like Whole Foods (Nasdaq: WFM ) . I really look for stocks that are fun to follow and that I can easily explain. I like to be able to do the quick pitch. I'm starting to identify more with the Rule Breakers approach now, so I'm trying to incorporate more of those stocks.
Any notable investing successes or failures?
Well, Netflix bought me a house, so that's been the biggest success. Whole Foods has been a good one, too -- I'm so excited it's coming to New Hampshire! As far as failures, I bought one of my customer's stocks, but I didn't evaluate it at all. It's down 68%, so I'm trying to think of it as gone money. I learned my lesson for sure -- its management wasn't strong.
In our upcoming book, Warren Buffett Invests Like a Girl, we make the case that women are better suited temperamentally to be great investors -- they are generally more patient, take less risk, stay calmer in turbulent markets, do more research, and hold for the long term. Do you think you invest like a girl?
My strategy is to take small positions and buy in thirds. I know every two weeks I'll have a little more money to invest and I just keep buying. I'm not a short-term thinker and I don't sell often. When I have it's because the company was being acquired or because the Fool has recommended we sell. Occasionally, I sell to offset capital gains or for political reasons.
Finally, what stocks are you buying (or watching) now?
I just bought my first position in Ameresco (Nasdaq: AMRC ) . It's a Massachusetts-based company, and I like the alternative-energy story behind it. Westport Innovations (Nasdaq: WPRT ) is another stock I like -- it's in the natural gas industry, and I think that will be very well received.
I'm watching Seaspan (NYSE: SSW ) because I like the dividend play there. Oh, and Sam Adams maker Boston Beer (NYSE: SAM ) -- it's local and I know and like the product!
Want to learn more about how to invest like a girl? Warren Buffett Invests Like a Girl is available June 21, but you can get Chapter 1 today for FREE.
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