Do Not Pitch a Stock and Say it is a Hold

I received a good question from a reader about stock pitches...does a stock pitch have to be a "Buy" or a "Sell" (or short)?  The quick answer is YES.

Interviewers will want you to take a stand and in their minds a "Hold" is not a stand.  The only exception I can think of is if a stock pitch you already prepared and submitted has moved to a price where your recommendation is no longer valid (e.g., you said to buy stock A at $30 and the day you walk into the interview it is $35 and your target price is $37).   In this instance you should note that the stock has already moved but if it comes back in to $30 you would be a buyer for reasons X, Y and Z.

Your interviewer might not like this and in this case will probably ask you to pitch another stock.  This is another reason why I recommend you have multiple longs and shorts to pitch in an interview.

Related posts:

Tips for Preparing a Stock Recommendation

Stand Out by Going the Extra Mile

Know Your Audience’s Investment Time Frame

Know the 3 Key “What Counts” Factors for Your Stock Picks

Don’t Live in the Past

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