Core Viewpoint - First Merchants Corporation is a century-old financial institution primarily operating in Indiana, with a significant market presence in Michigan and Ohio, holding 78% of its total deposits in Indiana [1] Company Overview - First Merchants Corporation is based in Muncie, Indiana, and has expanded its operations into Michigan and Ohio over time [1] - The company accounts for 78% of its total deposits in Indiana, indicating a strong regional focus [1]

Investment Strategy Overview - The investment style is termed "Fundamental Options," which combines fundamental analysis with options trading [1] - The approach includes various strategies such as income-oriented investments, growth at a reasonable price, deep value, and dividend aristocrats [1] Investment Focus Areas - Income-oriented investments primarily focus on Business Development Companies (BDCs) and Utilities [1] - Growth investments target the technology sector, leveraging a background in software development [1] - Deep value investments are based on discounted cash flow and other industry-specific valuation methods [1] - Dividend aristocrats are also a key focus area [1] Options Trading Strategies - The company employs 20-25 different options strategies for various purposes, including hedging, bullish substitutes, neutral trades, trading volatility, and earnings-related trades [1] Educational Initiatives - There is a passion for teaching, with experience in both formal and informal educational roles, including authoring a free local investing newsletter [1]

Investment Strategy - The company employs a contrarian investment style, focusing on high-risk, illiquid options and shares [1] - The investment portfolio is split approximately 50%-50% between shares and call options, with a typical investment timeframe of 3-24 months [1] - The company targets stocks that have recently experienced sell-offs due to non-recurrent events, particularly when insiders are buying shares at lower prices [1] Screening and Analysis - Fundamental analysis is utilized to assess the health of companies, including their leverage and financial ratios compared to sector and industry averages [1] - Professional background checks are conducted on insiders who purchase shares after sell-offs to ensure credibility [1] - Technical analysis is employed to optimize entry and exit points, using multicolor lines for support and resistance levels on weekly charts [1]

Group 1 - Eagle Bancorp (EGBN) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, and has experienced a significant capital gains decline of -52.60% over the past 10 years [1] - Following the collapse of SVB, regional banks, including EGBN, saw a sharp decline but managed to recover in subsequent quarters [1]

Group 1 - The investor has a contrarian investment style, focusing on high-risk, illiquid options and shares, with a portfolio split of approximately 50%-50% [1] - The investment strategy involves buying stocks that have recently experienced sell-offs due to non-recurrent events, particularly when insiders are purchasing shares at lower prices [1] - Fundamental analysis is employed to assess the health of companies, their leverage, and to compare financial ratios with sector and industry averages [1] Group 2 - Technical analysis is utilized to optimize entry and exit points, primarily using multicolor lines for support and resistance levels on weekly charts [1] - The investor conducts professional background checks on insiders who purchase shares after sell-offs to ensure credibility [1] - The investment timeframe typically ranges from 3 to 24 months, indicating a medium-term investment horizon [1]

Analyst's Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of NVO either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any in ...

Small deep value individual investor, with a modest private investment portfolio, split approx. 50%-50% between shares and call options. I have a B.Sc. in aeronautical engineering and over 6 years of experience as an engineering consultant in the aerospace sector. The latter statement is not relevant in any way whatsoever to my investment style, but I thought to add it for self-indulgent purposes. I have a contrarian investment style, highly risky, and often dealing with illiquid options. How illiquid? Well ...

Analyst's Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or ...

Investment Strategy - The company employs a contrarian investment style, focusing on high-risk, illiquid options and shares [1] - The investment portfolio is split approximately 50%-50% between shares and call options [1] - The typical investment timeframe ranges from 3 to 24 months [1] Stock Selection Criteria - The company targets stocks that have recently experienced sell-offs due to non-recurrent events, particularly when insiders are buying shares at lower prices [1] - Fundamental analysis is utilized to assess the health of companies, including leverage and financial ratios compared to sector and industry averages [1] - Professional background checks are conducted on insiders who purchased shares after sell-offs [1] Technical Analysis - Technical analysis is used to optimize entry and exit points, employing multicolor lines for support and resistance levels on weekly charts [1] - Trend lines are drawn in multicolor patterns to aid in analysis [1]

Core Viewpoint - The individual investor adopts a contrarian investment style, focusing on deep value opportunities, particularly in stocks that have recently experienced sell-offs due to non-recurrent events, while also considering insider buying as a positive signal [1] Investment Strategy - The investment portfolio is split approximately 50%-50% between shares and call options, indicating a balanced approach to risk and potential returns [1] - The investor's timeframe for holding positions typically ranges from 3 to 24 months, suggesting a medium-term investment horizon [1] - Fundamental analysis is employed to assess the health of companies, including their leverage and financial ratios compared to sector and industry averages [1] Stock Selection Criteria - The investor screens thousands of stocks, primarily in the US, looking for those that have undergone recent sell-offs, especially when insiders are purchasing shares at lower prices [1] - Professional background checks are conducted on insiders who buy shares post-sell-off, adding a layer of due diligence to the investment process [1] Technical Analysis - Technical analysis is utilized to optimize entry and exit points, with a focus on support and resistance levels on weekly charts, employing multicolor lines for clarity [1] - Trend lines are occasionally drawn in multicolor patterns to assist in visualizing market movements [1]