Who is beating the market YTD (2014) and how?

[steelyman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brat I have a bit of cash to invest. When I look at the ETFs and mutual funds that I am considering they track the S&P, have lower dividends and are higher risk (so says Vanguard and Morningstar.) They don't seem to me to have the potential for a home run. Sigh....

Sometimes it's good to play "small ball"?

[Lsbcal]

I would rather have a very high batting average!

[steelyman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lsbcal I would rather have a very high batting average!

So would the Cubs, but look at their record vs. the Cards!

[robnplunder]

Still up but only slightly (1.4% vs S&P's 2%).

[TallTim]

Just slightly ~ 3% YTD.

[SVHoper]

Shocked to see still positive: 6.7% YTD... REITS the saving grace (due to bad 2013)... small caps, emerging and emerging small taking a bit of a recent pounding.

Would like to work out an oil play but can't see any that i can buy and hold.

[Fermion]

Paid off our house this year so I guess we are beating the market considering I am now putting what once was our mortgage payment into a falling market (averaging down).

[kgtest]

Got pounded by Airlines, Oil and Smallcaps. Losing to the S&P now and only up 2.43 on the year in the market. I am about to put a big cash equity deposit into a nice home though so that if only subliminally balances out my losses IMO. I need some tax loss harvesting this year anyways. I am hoping my Healthcare rail and AAPL pull through and save my portfolio this year lol.

[clifp]

Schwab's portfolio tool tells me I'm up 6.27% for the year. I am crushing my target moderately aggressive portfolio of .33%. In part because my International exposure has varied from 15% to 7.5% (today I just sold a bunch of international ETF this month) vs the 20% weighting. But my risk level is the same as the benchmark.

[pb4uski]

I'm up less than 1% for the year, 5% for last 1 months. Both annualized rates.

At a quick glance it looks like international and small-caps are dragging and emerging markets and international bonds are helping pick up the slack.

[eytonxav]

Only up 2.3%, but still sitting on big cash position. I tend to like corrections when I have dry powder.

[HFWR]

Up around 2% after the recent beating...

[MichaelB]

Quote:

Originally Posted by clifp Schwab's portfolio tool tells me I'm up 6.27% for the year. I am crushing my target moderately aggressive portfolio of .33%. In part because my International exposure has varied from 15% to 7.5% (today I just sold a bunch of international ETF this month) vs the 20% weighting. But my risk level is the same as the benchmark.

Do you have a specific allocation and price target in mind for the international investment?

[imoldernu]

Only IBonds... up 4.1% thru Sept.

Hardly ever look, so had no idea.

[BBQ-Nut]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pb4uski I'm up less than 1% for the year, 5% for last 1 months. Both annualized rates.

Same here.... 0.7% YTD

[sengsational]

My IRR for all investments as of September 30 was 6.1% (down from 13.3% on June 30).

I ran the numbers this past weekend, though, and the IRR was down to 2.9%. If today's rally takes care of yesterday's damage, the 2.9% will hold.

[clifp]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelB Do you have a specific allocation and price target in mind for the international investment?

I do have a specific allocation 20% but not price target. I have been using Vanguard and Schwab ETFs (VEU, SCHF, and SCHE) but I don't have a good feel for how they translate into the EAFE index or something else.

Starting late last year I've been buying international, with emphasis on buying them in my taxable account (so I could get credit for the foreign taxes).

When I decided to cut back on equities, my international funds were flat to down, so I decided to do some tax harvesting.

I do intend to buy more international, since I think they are more of a bargain on relative basis now than they were a year ago. But of course I have to wait for a while to avoid the wash rule.

[steelyman]

Although I use Quicken for all investments, the only thing I can track easily from an iPod is an IRA.

As of today, its YTD return is 0.39%

Wake up mama, turn your lamp down low!

[MichaelB]

Quote:

Originally Posted by clifp I do have a specific allocation 20% but not price target. I have been using Vanguard and Schwab ETFs (VEU, SCHF, and SCHE) but I don't have a good feel for how they translate into the EAFE index or something else. Starting late last year I've been buying international, with emphasis on buying them in my taxable account (so I could get credit for the foreign taxes). When I decided to cut back on equities, my international funds were flat to down, so I decided to do some tax harvesting. I do intend to buy more international, since I think they are more of a bargain on relative basis now than they were a year ago. But of course I have to wait for a while to avoid the wash rule.

Thanks

[sengsational]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sengsational My IRR for all investments as of September 30 was 6.1% (down from 13.3% on June 30). I ran the numbers this past weekend, though, and the IRR was down to 2.9%. If today's rally takes care of yesterday's damage, the 2.9% will hold.

According to this: S&P 500 Return Calculator - Don't Quit Your Day Job...
The annualized YDT return of the S&P500 as of the end of September was 15.75%. The index itself is down 7.47% since the end of September to 'now', putting the YTD at around 8.3%. I'm certainly not beating that!