Straightening Out an Investment

One of my dumbest investments was buying shares of Align Technology, the maker of Invisalign clear dental aligners and other products — and then selling the shares too soon.

I bought more than a decade ago, when the shares were trading for around $7, and held for a few months. After talking to several dentists (including one who was a close friend), I decided to sell when the shares were trading for about $8, moving that money into another dental-related investment that went nowhere.

The first dentist to recommend selling the stock was also the one who introduced me to Align, as he had a video ad playing nonstop on a TV in his waiting room. — R., online

The Fool Responds: Ouch. As you’ve probably noticed, those shares that once traded for $7 have recently been priced above $365 per share. If you’d bought $3,000 worth of shares, they would be worth more than $156,000. No one makes all the right investment moves, though our regrettable ones do sting.

Align Technology has posted many quarters’ worth of record sales, and there’s still plenty of room for further growth, from international opportunities and from the company’s potential to treat more severe kinds of teeth misalignment. You might jump back in if you believe in its future growth — but, of course, do your own research first. (The Motley Fool owns shares of and has recommended Align Technology.)