For me, all of those are profitable depend on how you handle it. Holdinh btc is profitable if it rise and you aqymuire it at a very low price. Short term trading or daybtrading is also effective way on how to gain more but with a higher risk than long term.
Everything depends on the person and his skills and experience. As I see it, the newbie cannot deal with the day trading as in 95% he will make a mistake and lose the money. Here, the beginner should better hold.