Oil Shares -- How Fast Prices Can Change -- July 11, 2023

Locator: 45091INV.

This blows me away, but this is what consistent investing, month-in, month-out, DRIP programs over fifty years of investing can yield.

I've told this story many, many times, how I "stumbled into" CVX. I won't re-tell it now. It was pure lock. I made a conscious decision to buy the shares with no advice from any advisor. It was one of my first investment decisions.

But after my first few shares back in 1988 or thereabouts, I added to that holding through DRIPS. Later in life, I occasionally added more shares, but the bulk of CVX in my portfolio is from dividend reinvestment.

I never once sold a share of CVX over (2023 - 1988 = ) 35 years.  

There are not many things I need in life that I could have (not) bought today with the jump in price of CVX by almost $3 / share. Does that make sense? I don't know that for sure, but I bet I'm correct.

Anyway, whatever.

Then I noticed that today's closing price was $158 / share.

And I noticed that the 52-week high was $188 / share (actually higher, but $188 works better wiith $158 when telling the story).

This is within the last 52 weeks. The low in that same period of time was $132.

Throughout this period. (35 years), I assume CVX has paid around 3% most of that time.

But if "we" ever hit a new 52-week high ($188) -- wow, wow, wow -- I'll be able to buy Sophia a new Jiu Jitsu robe. A jump of $30 / share.

I have no idea how many shares of CVX (or for that matter the number of shares of 99% of the rest of my holdings) I have but I can only imagine. I don't look at number of shares or specific holdings unless I plan to sell something. If I don't plan on selling something, why should I bother checking in on the holding?

Don't take that out of context; there's a bit of hyperbole there but not much.

In 1988, shares were selling for $10 apiece.

I could have done better with so many other investments, but I have no complaints.

I won't tell you about the huge losses I've had over the years: I could start with Lucent. LOL.