Where to invest 15k for 7 months

Screening Filters

1. Market Capitalization ≥ $5B ('market_cap': {'min': '5000000000'})

   • Purpose: Focus on larger, more established companies.
   • Rationale: For a relatively short 7‑month horizon, stability matters more than aggressive growth. Large-cap companies typically:
     • Have more diversified revenue streams
     • Are less volatile than small/mid caps
     • Are less likely to face existential risks in the near term

   This reduces the chance of sharp, idiosyncratic moves in a brief holding period.

2. Beta: LowRisk / ModerateRisk ('beta': ['LowRisk', 'ModerateRisk'])

   • Purpose: Limit exposure to price volatility relative to the overall market.
   • Rationale: Beta measures how much a stock typically moves compared to the market (e.g., S&P 500). For a 7‑month investment:
     • Lower-beta stocks are less likely to experience large swings
     • Moderate risk allows some participation in upside without extreme volatility

   This is aligned with a shorter time frame where you have less time to “wait out” big drawdowns.

3. Defensive / Stable Sectors
   ('sector': ['Consumer Non-Cyclicals', 'Utilities', 'Healthcare', 'Telecommunications Services'])

   • Purpose: Tilt toward sectors that tend to be more resilient across economic cycles.
   • Rationale:
     • Consumer Non-Cyclicals (Staples): People buy food, household goods, and basic necessities regardless of the economic environment.
     • Utilities: Power, water, and gas are essential services; demand is stable. Often regulated and less cyclical.
     • Healthcare: Healthcare demand is relatively inelastic; people need treatment and medications in all conditions.
     • Telecom Services: Communication and data services are now basic infrastructure with steady recurring revenues.

   For a 7‑month period, you typically want less sensitivity to economic surprises. These sectors historically show lower drawdowns and more predictable cash flows, which can translate into smoother stock performance.

4. Major U.S. Exchanges Only
   ('list_exchange': ['XNYS', 'XNAS', 'XASE'])

   • Purpose: Restrict to stocks listed on major, regulated U.S. exchanges (NYSE, NASDAQ, NYSE American).
   • Rationale:
     • Better liquidity (easier to enter/exit within 7 months at reasonable prices)
     • Stronger regulatory oversight and disclosure requirements
     • Lower operational and trading risk than OTC or foreign small exchanges

   With only seven months, you don’t want to be stuck in illiquid names where selling in time is difficult or costly.

5. Debt-to-Equity ≤ 1.5
   ('debt_equity': {'max': '1.5'})

   • Purpose: Filter out highly leveraged companies and favor balance-sheet strength.
   • Rationale:
     • Companies with excessive debt are more vulnerable to interest-rate changes, refinancing risk, and downturns
     • Over a short horizon, a negative credit event or refinancing problem can cause a sudden drop in share price

   Keeping debt/equity below 1.5 focuses on firms that are less likely to face near-term financial distress, consistent with a capital-preservation mindset over 7 months.

6. Dividend Yield (TTM) Between 1% and 6.5%
   ('dividend_yield_ttm': {'min': '1', 'max': '6.5'})

   • Purpose: Target stocks that provide a meaningful but sustainable income stream.
   • Rationale:
     • Minimum 1%: Ensures you’re not just in “story” stocks; companies paying dividends are often more mature and cash-flow generative, which can be desirable for a shorter holding period. You may collect one or more dividend payments within 7 months to partially offset price volatility.
     • Maximum 6.5%: Very high yields can be a red flag (dividends at risk of being cut, or distressed fundamentals). Capping yield excludes many “yield traps” that could drop in price sharply.

   This strikes a balance between income and safety, rather than chasing risky ultra-high yielders.

Why Results Match Your 7‑Month Investment Goal

• The screen shifts you toward larger, more stable companies with lower to moderate volatility, which is appropriate when you don’t have years to ride out market swings.
• It emphasizes defensive sectors and sound balance sheets, both of which reduce the likelihood of severe company-specific or sector-specific shocks within a 7‑month window.
• By focusing on liquid, major-exchange listings, it supports the practical need to be able to exit the investment on schedule.
• The dividend yield band aims to give some income cushion over your short holding period while avoiding extreme, potentially unsustainable yields.

This set of filters doesn’t eliminate risk—equities can move significantly even in seven months—but it systematically tilts the selection toward relatively conservative, resilient stocks that are more suited to a shorter investment horizon than highly speculative or leveraged names.