A concentrated position in a single stock can happen to investors for many reasons. They may receive company stock as part of their employee compensation package or they may have bought shares of a single company, hoping to choose a big winner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, it\u2019s unlikely that a single stock will outperform the market as a whole. By only selecting a single stock, you can introduce a lot of risk into your portfolio. If your selected stock tanks, it can drag your portfolio down with it. Here\u2019s a look at why concentrated positions are so risky and what you can do to mitigate that risk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Investing in a single stock can be tempting. However, it\u2019s very difficult to pick one that\u2019s going to outperform the market as a whole \u2014 even for professionals. Why? Millions of investors buy and sell stocks every day, and they react almost instantly to any new information about a company. As a result, stock prices tend to reflect all available information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To choose a single stock that beats the market, you must find one that most people, including institutional investors, have overlooked. Institutional investors have access to vast amounts of information that the average investor does not, so it is unlikely you will spot something they haven\u2019t already considered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most stocks actually underperform the market average, so even if the stock you pick does well in a given year, it\u2019s likely that the broader market will still do even better. Over the long term, most individual stocks decline in value. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A single stock position can still be a small part of your portfolio. The 5 Percent Rule is a popular guideline that suggests that no more than 5 percent of the total value of your portfolio should rest in any one asset. Because it is so hard to choose stocks that will beat the market, it is perhaps best to think of this portion of your portfolio as entertainment, or a place where you can experiment. Avoid investing more money than you are prepared to lose. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To limit the risk of overconcentration, focus on developing a diversified portfolio that includes different asset classes. Go further by diversifying across sectors, sizes, and geographical regions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Broad market index funds \u2014 which seek to replicate a market index \u2014 can be a helpful tool for diversification, spreading risk exposure across hundreds of different companies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019ve just acquired company stock, you may find yourself in a concentrated position. For this reason, it can make sense to sell company stock soon after acquiring it, reinvesting the money in a diversified mix of stocks, bonds, and other investments. Selling stocks can trigger capital gains taxes, so you may want to work with an advisor to make sure you sell assets and reinvest as tax-efficiently as possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sometimes you can end up overconcentrated in a single stock without trying. For example, let\u2019s say that 95 percent of your portfolio consists of index funds and bond funds, while the other 5 percent is in a single stock. If that single stock has a great year and doubles in value, it could now represent much more than 5 percent of your portfolio. Avoid overconcentration by rebalancing your portfolio, which could mean selling some of your single stock position and buying more mutual fund shares. Or it could mean directing additional savings to the index funds and bonds funds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s impossible to eliminate all risk from your portfolio. But by avoiding overconcentration in a single stock and diversifying your portfolio, you can potentially mitigate it over the long term.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is no guarantee that a diversified portfolio will enhance overall returns or outperform a non-diversified portfolio. Diversification does not protect against market risk. Please note that rebalancing investments may cause investors to incur transaction costs and, when rebalancing a non-retirement account, taxable events will be created that may increase your tax liability. SOURCES<\/p>\n\n\n\n https:\/\/peterlazaroff.com\/dont-gamble-your-future-on-your-companys-stock\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2900447<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax or legal
advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific situation with a qualified tax or legal
advisor.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n