Juggling With Knives: Profits, protection and planning for volatility in stocks, bonds, real estate, and real life.
Jubak’s Picks
Stocks for a
12-18 Month Horizon
Performance
2019
+10.2%
2018
+10.2%
2017
+13.2%
Since Inception
+584%
Top 50 Stocks
50 Best Stocks in the World
Performance
2019
+21.19%
2018
-8.22%
2017
+28.1%
2016
+21.5%
Dividend Income
Stocks That Pay You
Performance
2021
+18.59%
2020
+15.71%
2019
+4.90%
2018
-15.52%
2017
+6.48%
2016
+26.8%
Volatility
Exploiting Temporary Market Trends
Performance 2017:
+53.06%
Perfect 5 ETFs
Active/Passive Portfolio
Performance since
October 2017
+23.46%
This website is based on my book, Juggling with Knives. Both the book and website are about volatility in everything from stocks and bonds to real estate, and real life topics such as jobs and education.
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Jim Will Be Moving All Juggling With Knives Subscribers to his JubakAM.com Website.
Jim will be moving all Juggling With Knives subscribers to his JubakAM.com website shortly, and at no extra cost. Towards the end of this month we'll provide all Juggling With Knives subscribers full access to Jim's JubakAM.com website.
If August 1 tariffs don’t lead to a climb in volatility in the next few weeks, it will be time to rethink options bets
I’m looking for volatility’s last stand in the next few weeks. Stock market volatility, as measured by the CBOE S&P 500 Volatility Index (VIX) just refuses to move higher. Tariff hikes? Who cares. Speculation that the President will fire the head of the Federal Reserve? What me worry? Signs that the Fed may postpone interest rate cuts? Shrug. Indications that inflation is creeping higher? Not even a raised eyebrow. A continued plunge in the dollar? Yawn. Since the VIX spiked to 52.33 on April 8 when everyone was shocked at the size of President Donald Trump’s Liberation Day tariffs, the VIX has headed only downward. The index has barely budged above 20 on the market’s most worried days. On Friday, July 18, it dropped another 0.67% to close at 16.41, below its 10-year average of 17.45. I find that perplexing. Unless you believe that this market is less risky than the average market over the last decade.
Pick #8 Qualcomm in my “10 New Stock Ideas for an Old Rally” Special Report
Today I added Qualcomm as Pick #8 for my Special Report “10 new stock ideas for an old rally” on my subscription JubakAM.com site The stock is already a member of my Volatility Portfolio on that subscription site. Here’s what I wrote
Yes, I’d buy Palo Alto Networks today–with these caveats
After yesterday’s earnings report–the company beat Wall Street estimates for the quarter–and radically lower guidance for next quarter and the rest of 2024–total billings for next quarter will grow by just 2% to 4% and revenue for all of 2024 will grow by just 15% to 16% from 2023–shares of Palo Alto Networks (PANW) took a big hit right between the eyes. The stock fell 28.44% at the close and lost $104.12 a share to $261.97. What do I recommend? I’d say “buy” with a couple of caveats. Why buy?
Please Watch My New YouTube Video: Quick Pick Nvidia Hold Through Earnings on August 23
Today’s Quick Pick is Nvidia (NVDA)–Hold Through Earnings on August 23. Nvidia reports late in this quarter’s earnings season, and this report is expected to be very good. Wall Street’s expectations range from a low of 75 cents a share to a high of $1.75 but the consensus is $1.66 a share, up from 32 cents last year. Nvidia has been reporting 30% positive surprises in recent quarters, so there’s a good chance the results may be even better than expected. My suggestion is to hold the stock through this report in August, and then think about selling. I know, I know. Sell Nvidia!? That’s crazy! Here’s the thing. At some point, Nvidia’s growth rate is going to start to slow. When it does, people will look at the stock and decide the slower growth rate may not
Microsoft soars on earnings, so I’m selling the shares I bought for my Volatility Portfolio
Back on March 24, I added shares of Microsoft (MSFT) to my Volatility Portfolio on the thinking that in a quarter when earnings were projected to be down for the Standard & Poor's 500 as a whole, reliable technology growth stocks such as Microsoft would outperform....
Gold pushes toward all-time high
Gold for June delivery closed at 2039.00 an ounce on the Comex today. That’s not too far away from the all-time record high of $2,070 an ounce. The move above $2,000 an ounce and any breach of the record at $2070 could trigger a rally as traders short gold buy to cover positions. That could well be true, but I’d note that this forecast of a gold rally is coming from traders long gold who are trying to talk a rally into being.
Oil rallies, finally
Oil rallied today, Monday, March 27, for the first time in, well, quite a while. Oil is likely to finish with a loss in March, for a fifth monthly drop. So today’s move, which saw West Texas Intermediate jump by almost 55, marked quite a shift in direction.
Please Watch My New YouTube Video: Quick Pick KBE Bank Stocks ETF
Today’s Quick Pick is SPDR S&P Bank ETF (NYSEARCA: KBE). I’m not suggesting buying this now: I’m suggesting you watch this and buy Put Options on this ETF when the time is right. The SPDR S&P ETF is approximately 80% regional banks. As you can imagine, it took a huge hit during the recent banking scare and would have been a great Put Option last week during the plunge in the sector. Options are a way to leverage the volatility of this market. The recent exit of my VIX Call Option resulted in a 100% gain in about a week. For KBE, I’d look at Put Options that climb in value as the price of the ETF sinks. At the time of recording, KBE was selling at about 37. I’m looking at the June 16 Put at a strike price o 38. At the moment, the Put is deeply underwater but I’ll continue to watch this rally to see when it’s worth it to jump in. At the moment, I suggest you watch this one: Don’t buy just yet but wait for the next shoe to fall in the banking crisis.
Adding Equinor as another energy play to my Jubak Picks Portfolio tomorrow
Today, Wednesday, February 8, Equinor (EQNR) reported a record $74.9 billion adjusted operating profit for 2022. That more than doubled the previous record. If you’re looking to add an energy stock to your portfolio ahead of a year that looks likely to be a good one for energy stocks, I’d suggest Equinor. I’ll be adding it to my Jubak Picks Portfolio tomorrow with a target price of $40 a share.












