Let it ride or step back?

[AZRedhawk44]

I'm up 55% on my little stock experiment.  Two stocks have done gangbusters, and one is a short term loser but I expect to rebound (and already see an uptick in the last two weeks... domestic energy stock).

I can close out right now well ahead of my initial investment.

Or, I can close out my two leaders and leave my  energy stock to continue its rebound.

Or, I can let it all ride.

What says APS?  Remember, this is about half of my house down payment and I intend to buy this summer.

[Fjolnirsson]

Take out 85-90%, and let the remainder ride awhile.

[Azrael256]

I'm not going to lecture, but I want to right now.

Book the profit, and do the math on the taxes.  Then decide whether or not the loss on the other will offset the tax on the profit.  Sales on stock owned less than one year are calculated at the income tax rate, not the capital gains rate.

Then stop playing short-term with the house payment.

Ok, I lectured a bit.  Sorry.

[AZRedhawk44]

I took out one stock 4 cents shy of its peak at the perfect time today.  Too cool.

I now have 75% of my initial investment made liquid, by only selling 1/3 of my holdings.  I'm going to let the other two ride for a bit.  One I imagine I can sell in another couple weeks, and the other needs a month or so.

[Werewolf]

Put in a trailing stop order.

You probably know what that is. If not someone is sure to chime in with the details.

[guns and more]

I remember when my buddy had a thousand shares of Yahoo. It went to $500.
He was afraid to pay the tax on the earnings so he let it ride. Shortly thereafter, it was $8.
Wow! Half a million. Poof.
Right now for me, cash is king.