When stock prices are strong and your portfolio is showing green across the board, it’s hard not to feel good.
But that’s also when the doubt creeps in.
Should you buy more and ride the wave higher?
Should you take some profit before prices fall?
Or wait for a correction that may or may not come?
You’re not alone in wondering. Many investors are asking the same questions right now.
Markets hit new highs, headlines get louder, and everyone starts looking for the “right” move to make.
The truth is, there’s no perfect timing. But there is a smarter way to navigate moments like this.
Long-term investing success doesn’t come from guessing the next market move. It comes from owning quality businesses that can grow, pay dividends, and compound your wealth over time.
A reminder from the steady ones
Let’s look at one of Singapore’s most consistent performers, ST Engineering (SGX:S63).
At over S$8.50 today, the stock has more than doubled since 2015 while paying more than a dollar in dividends along the way. Investors who stayed invested through each market high didn’t just hold on, they built wealth steadily, year after year.
Or take Parkway Life REIT (SGX:C2PU), one of Asia’s leading healthcare REITs. It continues to deliver reliable income with a TTM DPU of S$0.1503. In its 1H2025 report, the REIT also reported low gearing of 35.4 percent, and an interest coverage ratio of 9.1 times. With no major debt refinancing needed until September 2026, Parkway Life REIT shows how a strong balance sheet and defensive sector can help you ride through uncertainty.
Both companies highlight one simple truth: markets may rise and fall, but solid businesses keep doing what they do best, generating profits and paying dividends.
So, buy, hold, or take profit?
Here’s how I think about it.
If the company’s fundamentals remain strong, with steady earnings, healthy cash flow, and dependable dividends, there’s no rush to sell just because prices are up.
If you’re adding new positions, focus on fit. Does it strengthen your diversification and income mix? Does it help your portfolio work harder for you?
And if one stock has grown too large or the fundamentals have changed, trimming or rebalancing can make sense.
But don’t let market highs cloud your discipline.
Stay invested through the cycles
At The Smart Investor, our Smart Dividend Portfolio holds 24 Singapore stocks chosen for their ability to deliver consistent dividends and long-term value.
Some are steady income generators. Others provide modest growth. Together, they form a portfolio built to compound over time through both rallies and downturns.
Because the real edge in investing isn’t timing every peak and trough. It’s staying invested in the right businesses, letting dividends roll in, and allowing time to do its work.
So as markets hit new highs, don’t focus on predicting what comes next. Focus on the quality of what you already own and let compounding take care of the rest.
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Disclosure: Joanna Sng own shares of Parkway Life REIT and ST Engineering.
