What should you do when a stock you own is down 20%, 30%, or even 40%?
We review major names like UnitedHealth and six others that are currently in the red. But instead of reacting emotionally, Mike shares a clear, practical decision-making framework.
Whether you’re holding long-time favorites or recent disappointments, decide if it’s time to sell, wait, or buy more.
Not Sure What to Buy—or When?
Whether you’re sitting on cash or staring at a portfolio that needs a refresh, the DSR Investment Roadmap helps you cut through the noise and move forward with purpose.
This free step-by-step guide answers the questions that keep DIY investors stuck:
- How many stocks should I hold?
- When is the right time to buy?
- Do I need to cover every sector?
- What rules should guide my decisions?
- Which metrics actually matter?
Instead of guessing, follow a proven plan that helps you build (or rebuild) a dividend growth portfolio you can trust—one step at a time.
—> thedividendguyblog.com/roadmap
You’ll Learn
Your Process > Short-Term Results
Before panicking over poor stock performance, look at your overall investment process. Focus on what you control, not what the market throws at you.
Real-World Case Studies of Losers
- Apple (AAPL) – Down ~20% amid concerns over AI innovation and slow revenue growth.
- Target (TGT) – Down ~25%, driven by poor earnings and slowing sales. Mike remains unconvinced about its future.
- UnitedHealth (UNH) – Down ~40% after a perfect storm: cyberattack, legal issues, and weak guidance. Mike sees a recovery opportunity but admits it’s high risk.
- TFI International (TFII) – Suffering from earnings drops in a cyclical trucking industry. Still, Mike sees long-term potential as they execute their classic acquisition playbook.
- Apogee (APOG) – Down ~45%, hit by lower demand and weak guidance. Small cap + cyclicality = big swings.
- Robert Half (RHI) – Talent services firm down 40%+ as EPS and revenue decline. Strong balance sheet, but not Mike’s type of stock.
- Adentra (ADEN.TO) – Construction materials distributor, down 24%. The post-COVID hangover continues. Could be a speculative hold—or time to say goodbye.
Why Stocks Go Down—and What to Do About It
- Look at three layers of decline: market-wide, sector-specific, or company-specific issues.
- Don’t sell just because it’s down. Check the dividend triangle, revenue trends, earnings, and payout ratio.
- Revisit your investment thesis. If it’s broken, act. If it’s still valid, ask yourself how long you’re willing to wait.
- Monitor management’s recovery plan and quarterly improvements.
- Hope is not an investing strategy. But clear metrics and a defined time horizon are.
Related Content
This article presents some of the key takeaways from the roadmap—enough to get you moving in the right direction.
Roadmap to Build a Dividend Growth Portfolio from Scratch (Without Getting Overwhelmed)
Any topic starting with “could, would, should, potentially, may, etc.” should be considered as market noise and be dumped in the trash. Do you know why? Because you can spend your entire life working on different possible scenarios. I have explained my thoughts in more depth in my latest income report, which is available below.
Big Beautiful (Bill) Noise, Same Strategy–May Dividend Income Report
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This podcast episode has been provided by Dividend Stocks Rock.
When Mike says he has a 10% limit in his portfolio before he trims a stock, does he mean a specific stock is more than 10% of his holdings or that the market value of the stock has gone up 10% or more?
Thank you.
Melodie
10% of my holdings! 🙂