To The Moon

DBS and Singapore Airlines (SIA) have been on a strong run recently. DBS hit an all time high on Monday. With momentum building in these market leaders, attention is now shifting to UOB and OCBC to see if they might follow the same upward path.

ocbc bank (O39.SI)

UOB (U11.SI)

DBS (D05.SI)

SIA (C6L.SI)

Let’s start with DBS. Personally, I really like the company, not just from an investor's perspective, but as a customer too. One initiative that stands out to me is DBS PayLah!’s Saturday cashback promo. From July 12 to September 27, DBS is offering $3 cashback when we use PayLah! at participating hawker centres and heartland stores on Saturdays.

Now, $3 may not sound like much, but in my household, it’s something we genuinely look forward to. It helps offset daily expenses, especially in a time when cost of living pressures are real. It’s not just a win for consumers like us. It’s also a meaningful way to support local businesses. These kinds of initiatives show that DBS understands both sides of the equation: their customers and the communities they operate in.

But when it comes to DBS stock, my enthusiasm is a bit more cautious. I’ve never owned it, and at current levels, I don’t plan to start. The 52-week range is $30.822 to $46.36, and the stock price closed at $46.29 today, essentially near its peak. While I recognize DBS as a strong, well-managed bank with solid financials, I simply don’t believe in chasing highs.

My approach to investing is simple: Buy low, sell high. Not the other way around. So unless the price pulls back, I’m content sitting on the sidelines. Patience over panic. Every time.

The same thinking applies to UOB and OCBC. Both are solid banks in their own right, but like DBS, their share prices are running hot. Tempting, yes. But I won’t let FOMO (fear of missing out) get the better of me. To me, missing out on gains is still better than holding the bag if things turn south.

Final Thought: DBS and SIA may be flying high, and UOB and OCBC could very well follow. But as investors, the question isn’t just “Can they go higher?” , it’s “At what cost do we join in?” For me, unless there’s a meaningful dip, I’ll be watching, not chasing.