Most loyal Fool readers know how we feel about selling. If you've found a great company with top-notch management and a strong competitive advantage, the best time to sell is almost never.
But that doesn't mean we hold on blindly. Things change, even with the greatest of companies. That's why we're constantly evaluating our stocks and watching for the danger signs that can torpedo our portfolios.
Today I'd like to share three rules for selling, as set forth by Fool co-founder Tom Gardner for his Motley Fool Stock Advisor members.
1. Selfish management
Tom calls this the "worst possible development" for any of his companies. If the executive team starts worrying more about lining its own pockets than creating value with the business, it's time to let go. For clues, keep an eye on excessive compensation, aggressive accounting, active insider selling, and declining market share. A classic example of this occurred at Ahold
2. Competitive disadvantages
Competitive advantages lead businesses to high returns on capital and equity. They could result from many things -- for instance, Wal-Mart's
3. An unstable financial model
First, some positive examples: Think of Wrigley
What about valuation?
Obviously, a stock carrying a sky-high valuation is a candidate for selling. But this is the toughest call of all. If properly valuing a company was so easy, after all, everyone would be rich ... happily buying low and selling high. Even Tom has been burned in this area, selling Whole Foods Market a couple of years ago in Stock Advisor, only to watch it more than double in value afterward. (Whole Foods has since been restored to the ranks of Stock Advisor picks.) So tread carefully here; it takes a large number of accurate valuation-based sell calls to make up for just one missed multibagger.
But the three sell signs I've outlined above aren't too hard to spot. Tom and his brother, David, have employed accurate selling and buying guidelines on their way to outstanding performance in Stock Advisor -- 75% total average returns versus 37% for equal amounts invested in the S&P 500. You can get a look at their top picks for new money now, plus all their past recommendations, free of charge with a 30-day trial. There's no obligation to subscribe, and full access to the Stock Advisor service is just a click away.
This article was originally published April 12, 2006. It has been updated.
Fool editor Rex Moore is brought to you by the letter "R." He owns no shares of the companies mentioned in this story. Wal-Mart and Intel are Inside Value recommendations. Wrigley is an Income Investor pick. The Fool has a disclosure policy.