The Initial Investment: August 2022

My journey with Lumen Technologies began in August 2022, when I purchased 150 shares at $10.9487 per share, for a total investment of $1,642.31. I followed this up with an additional 16 shares at $10.929 per share, bringing my total initial investment to over $1,800.

At the time, Lumen appeared to be a promising opportunity in the telecommunications sector. I was particularly interested in the company’s fiber-optic expansion plans and its strong dividend yield. Confident in its potential, I planned to hold the stock long-term.

Buying More as Prices Dropped

As the stock price began to drop, I saw an opportunity to lower my average cost per share. In November 2022, I purchased an additional 100 shares at $5.7878 per share. I wrongly believed in the company’s long-term prospects and continued to buy. Then came the good part followed by another 100 shares in July 2023 at $1.7864 per share, and 100 more shares in September 2023 at $1.54 per share. It were good moves, because at those prices Lumen was priced as dead, even though it was still alive.

The Dividend and the Realization

In September 2022, I received a $41.50 dividend payment on my 166 shares. This dividend was a small but welcome return, reinforcing my belief that the investment might still pay off in the long run.

In August 2024, I had a great surprise: Lumen was involved with Microsoft in AI project. I was great for two reasons:
1) Everybody figured out that the company had to be alive to do projects with Microsoft
2) The AI hype!
3) The price came back to a more reasonable $6 per share

The Sale and the Cool Outcome

• Total Amount Spent on Purchases: $2,628.59
• Total Number of shares bought: 466
• Total Revenue from Sale: $2,653.32
• Total Number of shares sold: 410
• Total Received (including Dividend): $2,694.82
• Cash Capital Gain: $24.73
• FREE LUMN SHARES TO KEEP FOREVER: 56. Thank you “free shares strategy!”
  

So, after accounting for the dividend and the sale, I made a gain of 56 free LUMN shares plus $66.23 on your investment in Lumen Technologies

Lessons Learned

This experience with Lumen Technologies taught me several valuable lessons:

1. Patience Can Pay Off: Sometimes, staying the course and allowing time for an investment to recover can lead to unexpected gains. While the road was bumpy, the eventual outcome was positive.
2. Reevaluating Strategies Is Crucial: Although I ultimately sold my shares at a profit, it was important to reassess my investment strategy regularly. This helped me recognize when it was time to exit and lock in gains.
3. Unexpected Successes Happen: Not every investment goes as planned, but that doesn’t mean it can’t end well. Flexibility and a willingness to adapt can turn potential losses into gains.

Conclusion

What began as a seemingly poor investment decision with Lumen Technologies ended up being a success. The combination of a well-timed sale and a steady dividend turned what I once considered a mistake into a profitable outcome. This experience has reinforced the importance of patience, adaptability, and regular reassessment in my investment strategy. As I move forward, I’ll carry these lessons with me, confident that even when things don’t go as expected, there’s always the potential for a positive outcome.

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