Weak Sister
What it is:
A weak sister is a security, economy or operating unit that performs worse than all the others.
How it works/Example:
Let's say John Doe's portfolio contains five stocks: Company A, Company B, Company C, Company D and Company E.
Company A and B have returned 25% over the last five years. Company C has returned 15%. Company D has returned 40%. Company E has returned only 1%. In this portfolio, Company E is the weak sister and is pulling down the average return of the whole portfolio.
Why it matters:
Weak sisters drag down overall performance, which is why there is often a temptation to get rid of them. However, weak sisters can sometimes surprise everyone and thus may be worth sparing. Because they are valued the lowest or have the lowest expectations, and growth or improvement can be dramatic.