Rick Pendergraft

Rick Pendergraft Rick Pendergraft. Inspired by his high school economics teacher, Rick Pendergraft fell in love with the markets at an early age. He entered his first investing competition at 17, and opened his first brokerage account before he finished college. At the age of 23, on the third options trade he had ever placed, Rick turned $1,800 into $22,000 in less than a week, when the company he bought became the target of a takeover. He admits it was a stroke of luck, but it was a memorable education as to the leverage that options can provide.

After a ten year career in banking, Rick decided to pursue trading full-time. To get his foot in the door, he started out in the sales department at Schaeffer’s Investment Research. It was not long before his talent was recognized and he was invited to apprentice under Bernie Schaeffer, one of the top options traders in the world. Rick thrived in his new position and twice received the award for "Top Trader."

Rick has developed a loyal following of readers who are grateful for his timely warnings and profitable advice. He is widely recognized as a market expert and has been frequently quoted by Reuters, BusinessWeek, Forbes, USA Today, the New York Times, and the Washington Post. Rick’s primary focus is on identifying short and intermediate term rising and falling trends in the major market sectors. His analysis is based on technical factors along with indicators of market sentiment

Rick is currently the Editor-in-Chief of Triple Wave Investor. He lives near Delray Beach, FL with his wife and three children.

Recent Articles

When Sin May Be a Good Thing
by Rick Pendergraft (05/06/2008)

Yes, the economy is in the toilet. Fortunately for you, there are a few easy ways to "recession-proof" your portfolio.

Two Different Approaches, Same Results
by Rick Pendergraft (05/05/2008)

There are many ways to trade. There are many ways to make money in the market. The key is to find the type of trading that works best for you.

The Weak Dollar and Global ETFs
by Rick Pendergraft (05/02/2008)

Can one invest in global or foreign ETFs by using a company like TDAmeritrade - and how do you find the best ones? Are these a good hedge against the falling dollar?

We Aren’t Watches, So We Shouldn’t Be Timing Things
by Rick Pendergraft (04/18/2008)

Many economists are finally starting to use the "recession" word to describe the U.S. economy. Almost daily, someone is calling the bottom of the market.

A Company’s Misstep Can Lead You to Profits
by Rick Pendergraft (04/16/2008)

Starbucks (SBUX) CEO Howard Schultz recently announced that the company would start offering energy drinks in its stores. He also mentioned that Starbucks would be getting into the "health and wellness business."

What Do Golf and Trading Have in Common?
by Rick Pendergraft (04/14/2008)

Last week was Masters week, and I've got golf on the brain. This got me thinking about the similarities between golf - one of my favorite sports - and trading. (And, no, "They are both frustrating as hell" is not one of them.)

A Rumor I Bought Into
by Rick Pendergraft (04/12/2008)

I have cautioned you before against investing in rumors, regardless of the source. But I recently bought into one myself.

Worth Their Weight in Gold
by Rick Pendergraft (04/04/2008)

Everyone's heard about oil going over $100 a barrel recently. Getting less publicity is the dramatic bull market in precious metals. Year to date, gold is up almost 17 percent and silver is up almost 37 percent.

Are You Kidding Me?
by Rick Pendergraft (04/02/2008)

You never know when the market will make an unexpected major move, up or down. That's why I recommend being somewhat balanced between bullish and bearish positions.

Just How Bad Is the Economy?
by Rick Pendergraft (03/28/2008)

Report after report has come out detailing just how bad the economy is. But February's Philly Fed Survey really put it into perspective.

The “S” Word
by Rick Pendergraft (03/26/2008)

The financial press is a-buzz with talk about "stagflation." But you won't know how to handle the hype unless you know what stagflation really means for you and your portfolio.

Learning About Charts
by Rick Pendergraft (03/21/2008)

When it comes to short-term trading, I base most of my decisions on technical analysis, and then use sentiment analysis as a secondary driver.

Get in on the Agriculture Bull Market
by Rick Pendergraft (03/19/2008)

Agriculture is booming and shows no sign of slowing down. So anything agriculture-related should do well in your portfolio for the foreseeable future.

The Best-Laid Plans
by Rick Pendergraft (03/17/2008)

As an investor, you've done your research. You've laid out your plans. But then some outside force comes in and changes everything. What do you do?

ETR Insider Report: My 10 Commandments of Trading
by Rick Pendergraft (03/13/2008)

One thing I realized is that I have developed several "rules" that have helped me make significant gains over the years. For instance, there are 10 trading principles that I use to guide my trading.

2 Stocks to Put in Your Cupboard
by Rick Pendergraft (03/08/2008)

During times like this, when the economy slows and discretionary spending dries up, there are still some products that people keep on buying.

Another Recession-Resistant Stock
by Rick Pendergraft (03/06/2008)

If I told you there is a stock that more than doubled during the last recession, would you be interested? UST Incorporated (UST) did just that.

Your Government Is Being Irresponsible… Again
by Rick Pendergraft (03/04/2008)

Are you looking forward to getting your rebate check from the government? Have you decided how you are going to spend it?

2 Things to Watch to Protect Your Portfolio
by Rick Pendergraft (01/15/2008)

With the market struggling over the past few months, you might be wondering whether to lower your stock holdings. You can keep an eye on two things that can save your portfolio.

Return to the Article Directory