Disclosure of Stocks in Author’s Current Market FIRE Portfolio (as of 1/25/2023)

In the interest of transparency to the readers of this site, this article discloses the specific stocks held in the author’s personal stock portfolio. These stocks are not being recommended for any other investor or trader, as others’ circumstances and objectives may differ. Nonetheless, these disclosures are being offered so that readers may have some idea of what I consider to be a Market FIRE-optimized stock portfolio in the current economic environment and that has allowed me to apply the principles described elsewhere in this site. Additionally, these disclosures are intended to allow readers to be aware of my general holdings in the event that my other writings could be considered to have any particular company or sector bias based on the specific stocks that I hold.

Additionally, for almost all of these stocks, I have outstanding covered call options. The only exceptions are for Berkshire Hathaway Class B, Tesla, and Bed Bath & Beyond. I previously have had covered calls against Bed Bath & Beyond but do not currently. I also do not currently have covered call options outstanding against Berkshire Hathaway and Tesla.

The following table shows each stock currently in my portfolio, along with the ticker symbol and general company description:

In constructing this portfolio over time, I have attempted to maintain a reasonable amount of diversification, while still emphasizing certain sectors in which I have stronger conviction than other parts of the market. At the current time, the energy exploration, materials, discount retail, and industrial areas are ones currently favored in my portfolio, given the current slow-growth but (for now) non-recessionary, inflationary economic outlook.

Despite the rising interest rate situation, the technology sector also is well represented in my portfolio. However, the technology companies in which I currently hold stock are primarily technology companies that are profitable and/or relatively reasonably valued and also relate to sub-fields that are experiencing secular growth even in the current economic climate, such as travel, transportation, electric vehicles, and logistics. Additionally, these are companies whose stock may be expected to appreciate more than other types of companies when interest rates eventually stop rising and ultimately decrease.

It should be noted that some speculative positions appear in this portfolio, namely Bed Bath & Beyond and Roblox. Bed Bath & Beyond is by far my smallest current position and was essentially a left-over from after I sold a larger position in the company at a more favorable time in its corporate history, in particular when it was in the middle of a plausible corporate turnaround scenario with a far stronger cash position than it currently has. I closed out most of that position long ago, at a substantial profit, and only maintained the small position I currently have for occasional covered call writing during bursts of feverish meme-stock buying that sometimes leads to short-term spikes in the stock’s price and elevated options premium, and also as a speculative (but very small) holding in the event that the company averts bankruptcy and/or liquidation.

Future articles will address the bull (and bear) case for some of the stocks that are held in my portfolio. Future articles will also disclose changes in this portfolio, such as complete liquidation of certain positions and acquisition of new positions in other companies.