Again, “I’m not bragging. I’m not boasting.” That’s what I said in my recent post. (QBTS And Luck – October 10, 2025) I’m not even celebrating. The emotional news of selling a bit of my QBTS holdings hasn’t sunk into my hormones. The news is still having to settle in through my brain. That journey, that mental and emotional journey is what I intend to share because it is a bit of reality that might be useful to other people, other investors. My main quote from the morning, “Whew.”

For those who want to review my history with QBTS, click through this link. 

As I type, the stock is up over 3,600% in the most recent twelve months.

As I type, it is up over 13.5% so far today. It is a wild ride, and one that benefits from watching the daily news even though I rarely trade. Here I am in October, and this is my first trade of the year. I am not an active trader, but I do find the market more fascinating than most fiction.

As I mentioned in that previous post, “Knowing, or at least guessing well, about when to sell is an art that involves math.”

Despite my daily diligence, I missed a peak at $39.55. I slept in. It happens. I resigned myself to waiting and watching for the stock to recover investors’ enthusiasm, knowing it might take months. 

This morning, I didn’t sleep in as much. Evidently, it started up over $1, dropped, then rose. Here comes the emotional or at least the biomedical response. I calmed myself to leave that tab open because the stock just might meet my $40 goal, or at least my $38.50 acceptable target, while I made breakfast and dove through my normal morning routine. Regardless of the market and finances, a person’s got to eat, and brushing my teeth is a good idea.

But I couldn’t pretend to myself that it was an unemotional response. I wasn’t eager, like on a child’s Christmas morning. I wasn’t as worried as some are around a crisis. I was somewhat anxious and concerned and hopeful. And I kept reminding myself that I could miss this peak, too, and that it would be okay. I didn’t need to sell. I could benefit from a sale, and stocks are held to sell (sans dividends), so it was prudent that I watched. So, I watched.

That didn’t take long. As I ate breakfast, the stock climbed back up towards $38. I’ve missed out on gains on several occasions by waiting for that next dollar, but waiting for that next dollar is how my QBTS managed to go from ~$1 to ~$37. 

Here is the advantage of not selling everything.

I was ‘only’ going to sell about a quarter of what I held. When I bought the stock, I purposely bought it in a few blocks. I sold the first block when the stock rose enough for me to recover my initial investment. That was 20% of my holdings. I was planning on selling the next block, which would be 25% of my holdings. Each block was the same size, but each sale diminished the shares remaining in my account. Whatever I did, I’d still have those other shares.

And I watched. And I refreshed the screen. And I watched. And I noticed my feelings. 

Personal finance shouldn’t be a stress. I’ve lived through a portion of life that definitely was, but this sale would largely be a discretionary benefit. I didn’t have to do it. I wanted to do it.

My feelings of anxiety and concern could have a cost. Mental health is important. Why raise my blood pressure over a few extra pennies? Granted, those few extra pennies would be multiplied by how many shares I sold, and that reality was not to be ignored. More can be better. But despite the movie line, greed is not good. I asked myself was it good enough to sell at $37.50 instead of $38.50 or even waiting for $40? I’d miss out on the price of an appliance, but if the stock fell back I’d have most of the gain, and if the stock continued to rise my other shares would reflect that.

I sold at $37.955. Whew. Good enough.

I double-checked my account balance, updated my rarely opened investment spreadsheet, and slowly and calmly returned to the day’s chores.

I frequently reflect on a variation of an old adage.

Chop wood, carry water.
Reach enlightenment.
Chop wood, carry water.

Though I prefer my modern variation.

Pay bills. Do laundry.
Celebrate progress.
Pay bills. Do laundry.

Goals are great. Celebrate them as they are reached, but life will return to familiar chores.

BTW I type this while my washer/dryer is busy cleaning the weekend’s clothes. The bills are already paid.

BTW As I type this,  QBTS is up >17% and is above where I sold those shares, $38.71.

My approach to personal finance is not unemotional. I am human. I have emotions. I decide not to ignore them. Personal finance does require a personal choice about how to balance emotions versus practicality. Irrational pessimism and irrational optimism are extremes to avoid. But pessimism and optimism can benefit the process by encouraging and considering the possibilities. How bad can things get? How good can things be?

Now that I’ve sold the stock, my cash balance has blossomed. I will not spend it all in one place. The majority will be reinvested. That’s the way investing works. I’ll also set aside some for the inevitable taxes (long term capital gains). There’s a personal debt I want to repay. And I won’t ignore the small celebrations that this sale can enable. Maybe a new fridge. Maybe a short trip or two. The biggest emotional benefit I’ve experienced has been a cash cushion in my checking account. But that’s a story I’ve already touched on in this blog and in my recent book, Muddling By. Hmm. I wonder if I can afford a bit more advertising? First, go check the laundry.

OK. Maybe another look at the stock. Up 23%?! I missed some of that money, but not most, but I also saved my psyche a morning of anxiously asking myself, “Do I sell now? How about now? But what if?”

Additional thought:

Is this an assault on the shorts? Hmm. Maybe not directly. But, some news item says some bank says they might invest in quantum companies, which may also result in a short squeeze unintentionally. That’s a lot of action based on a lot of uncertainty. OK.

Interim results, up 4,000% in the most recent twelve months.

At market close, QBTS was $40.62, up 23% for the day, up 3,921% for the recent twelve months – and I’m going to take a nap. Whew.

Feels like a bubble, but I already got my initial investment out, just realized >700% profit, and still have 3/5 of my initial shares. I should feel more celebratory. Maybe a drink with dinner, eh?