The only ETF I own is down (SLV). I own individual stocks only.
I have worked in very large corporations (worked in plenty of small ones too). i fundamentally don't believe in today's short term oriented management classes that running corporate america.
moreover i lack any real knowledge on a long term real advantage one company has vs the other in many industry.
because I grew as child in Iran. I kind of know the very basics about oil companies. the 7 majors. the high level views between downstream or upstream businesses.
but how on earth would I independently know that Chevron is doing a good job in their refining business. or they are doing a good job in their lease business.
That is how would i even know Chevron is better or worse than Exon. the answer is I would not know. I don't think I would even have definitive answer if I was petroleum engineer.
when it comes to new fields, like medical sciences,biotech, I am 100% unqualified to have a real opinion on company's technology vs the other.
when it comes to banks to insurance companies, I have no real knowledge of how much risks they are taking. and whether they are underwriting things properly.
lets talk about a more meaningful thing that we can touch and feel.
we all drive cars. how would i know if GM, Ford, Honda, Toyota is gone doe better.
the reality is i dont know. i am biased against Ford. because I believe they are behind in autonomous and electric drive trains.
but in reality I would need to know how many big cars vs small cars they are producing. what is the cost structure of their factories globally.
it gets really complicated really fast.
but today as a whole i can actually buy an ETF and be as whole be bearish against the auto sector. thats because with autonomous technology i buy the thesis that less people will need to buy cars. and they would instead would desire transportation service rather than outright owning a car.
this paradigm could create dislocation in the industry that might take them years to adopt to.
but i have no ideal who will be winner or loser.
more over, how do i know if a company like Herba life or exon is gone regulatory issues or not. => I would not know.