Dear Action Alerts PLUS Subscriber,
"No, you are not an idiot. You had made money in the position and you were ready to move on."
That's what my wife said to me trying to talk me off the ledge after I told her FleetBoston Financial FBF got a huge bid the week after I sold it. "These things happen," she reminded me. "You've got to push it out of your head."
I wish I could, but after the rough week we had last week, I could have used a $45 bid for a formerly big position right about now.
But besides the kick-myself routine, there is a valuable lesson learned here. I wanted to move on; I had made my money in Fleet. I had seen a graphic last week on CNBC showing Fleet was the bank that was up the most in the last year and I felt piggish, that I had overstayed my welcome on this not-great franchise.
I hadn't. I had forgotten one of the cardinal rules of investing: I'd become bored with a good position when others, notably Bank of America (BAC) , were intriguing. Getting bored is no reason to sell. Feeling piggish without being piggish is no reason to sell.
Alas, my wife said: "Save the anger for the Newell Rubbermaids and the Raytheons. You made money in Fleet."
Regards,
James J. Cramer
DISCLOSURE: At the time of publication, Cramer was long Newell Rubbermaid and Raytheon.