My multi baggers

 

My successful multi baggers

 

I’ve traded a wide range of stocks over the years, which naturally led to both big winners and big losers. Since I turn over my portfolio roughly once a year, I usually sell most losers within a year (for tax-loss harvesting) and hold onto winners longer to benefit from long-term capital gains treatment in my taxable accounts.

 

Given this relatively short holding period, it’s harder to catch multi-baggers—but I still manage to. Why? I believe there are always better opportunities out there as the market evolves. While this belief is debatable, the strategy has worked well for me so far. I try to thoroughly review each stock before selling, though it’s easier said than done. I need to read my book periodically.

 

This method may not suit everyone, so don’t follow it blindly. But it does help make my investment books more interesting—I have plenty of examples to share!

 

As of July 7, 2025, here are some of my multi-bagger success stories (note: some dates may be off slightly, especially those based on brokerage statements).

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SMCI

Fidelity once published a list titled “Best Stock in Each Sector” (11 sectors total). I analyzed all of them and chose SMCI. I also featured it among eight picks in my book “Best Stocks to Buy for 2023”.

 

Performance from the above book (12/15/2022 – 12/15/2023):
+272%, compared to +9% for the RSP (equal-weight S&P 500 ETF)

 

This became my first twelve-bagger, from initial purchase to its peak. Of course, no one can sell at the peak—unless they have a time machine. I sold most of my shares, but still hold a small position.

Here are some of my trade details:

 

Sell Date	Return	Annualized return
03/16/2024	1,133%	885%
03/18/2024	1,067%	849%
01/01/2024	320%	299%
01/09/2024	308%	288%

 

Looking back, I clearly sold too early in early 2024 and missed the peak. Since these were held in a taxable account, I was more motivated to wait out the one-year mark. Including the profits from covered calls would have made the returns even sweeter.

Lesson: Use trailing stop orders on rapidly rising stocks.

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TTWO (Take-Two Interactive)

 

I bought TTWO based on strong fundamentals and the long-term outlook for the video game industry. The stock delivered a solid return. I sold some (unfortunately didn’t track exact profits) and gifted shares to loved ones—who still hold them.

Performance:
+662% total return from May 1, 2015, to January 1, 2025 (annualized return: 68%)—you get $68 on the initial investment of $100 every year for almost last 10 years!

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NVDA (NVIDIA)

About two years ago, during a monthly Zoom chat with my high school classmates, Mr. X told us he was experimenting with ChatGPT and was blown away. That caught my attention. (Mr. X, when you're in Boston, I owe you a giant lobster dinner.)

 

After buying NVDA, I asked ChatGPT what stocks it thought would perform well—and NVDA was among them. It’s now my largest holding (as of July 8, 2025), though I’ve traded parts of it along the way.

 

Note: The Forward P/E is about 30—roughly half of the current P/E—and the new 2025 product line appears to be sold out. The stock is fully valued in my view. A covered call I wrote forced me to sell some shares on 05/23/2025.

 

Buy Date	Sell Date	Return	Annualized return
04/02/24	05/23/25	23%	20%
07/21/23	05/23/25	138%	75%

 Last year I checked my holding of NVDA.

Stock	Buy Date	Performance	Remark
NVDA	07/21/23	194%
NVDA	04/02/24	48%
NVDA	12/15/22	1,206%	Sold in 2024

These returns don’t even include the profits from four covered calls in 2024 and another three in 2025.

Today (7/7/2025) my statement showed me I have 9 positions gaining 28%. The only long-term position has 81% profit.

Lesson: Listen to your friends, and do research before actions.