1952 Topps set question?

[Bigdaddy]

Originally Posted by Gorditadogg

You can speculate or gamble on any number of things with the intention of making a profit. That does not mean you are investing.

Company's stocks are priced based on their expected future profits. If you understand the company's business and estimate their prospects well, you can continue to hold the stock and take future dividends. Once the profits prove out, the stock price will adjust to reflect its underlying profits. For real estate, you can collect rents and earn cash flow. The point is, there is underlying financial value to these assets that you can measure, and that you continue to accrue while you have the asset.

Contrast that with your 52T Mantle. There is nothing that card is doing to earn anything for you. It is just sitting in your closet, or safe deposit box. The only way you can get any financial return on that card is to sell it to somebody else. There is no Plan B.

You can make money on cards, for sure. A lot of people on this board have made a lot of money buying and selling cards. Good for them. I hope to eventually sell my cards for a profit. But just understand that if you are buying cards hoping to sell them for more later, you are not investing, you are speculating.

Less than half of publicly traded stocks pay dividends. Would you say then that over half are not investments and the buyers are just speculating?

[ALR-bishop]

If some years back you had decided to buy stock in Eron and Worldcom and a 52 Mantle you made at least one good choice

[Gorditadogg]

Originally Posted by Bigdaddy

Less than half of publicly traded stocks pay dividends. Would you say then that over half are not investments and the buyers are just speculating?

They are still investments. Their pricing is based on intrinsic valuation. There is underlying income there although the company reinvests it, rather than paying it out. The fact they don't pay dividends makes them riskier. Many people who buy and sell stock are speculating for sure.

[campyfan39]

Selfishly, I wish people would not buy vintage cards for investment because it takes cards out of circulation and drives up prices for pure collectors like me.

I would be hesitant to invest in cards for my kids or grandchildren, unless they were really into baseball. I would invest in land to help them build on one day. If I had already done that, I would use my wealth to do things with them and give them things they loved now, while I am alive.
Just my take.