Through most of the summer, investors had become increasingly confident about the strength and direction of the economic recovery, the likelihood of the arrival of several promising Covid vaccines, another round of federal economic stimulus and other favorable indicators.
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Election season is now in full swing. In less than seven weeks, or only 49 days, the country will select its next president, representatives from all 435 House congressional districts, 35 senators and 12 state governors.
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The recent (and ongoing?) tech momentum reversal appears to be due to a variety of concerns ranging from doubt about valuations, worries about the pace of the economy’s recovery, the lack of another stimulus package and slowing growth in the Federal Reserve’s asset purchases.
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Don’t Fight the Fed?
The U.S. Federal Reserve Bank, called by its colloquial name “the Fed” even on its website, made its informal but landmark policy change official last week. For the foreseeable future, the Fed will keep interest rates near zero, focusing almost on...
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Starting next Monday, August 31, before the market opens, the Dow Jones Industrial Average will have a new look.
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Second quarter earnings season is winding down. It was quite a quarter! We’re impressed that so many companies have aggressively reduced their operating costs in the recently completed quarter.
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We are mostly through the bulk of earnings season and it has been enlightening, particularly as we learn about the pandemic’s effects on profits. Earnings season should be a period when company results can be clearly measured, especially since we are dealing with numbers.
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A Few Thoughts on Rising Market Speculation
The stock market continues to favor high-tech “digital economy” growth companies, particularly after the remarkably strong earnings reports from Apple, Amazon and others. The performance spread between “digital economy” stocks and “physical economy” stocks suggest that speculative is...
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By far the worst performing sector in recent years has been the energy sector. From its peak in mid-year 2014 when oil prices reached over $100/barrel to its current state of complete disarray, the S&P Energy Sector index has collapsed 63%. For comparison, broad...
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The title of this note might be, “What to expect when you’re expecting … earnings.” As companies in the Cabot Undervalued Stocks Advisor portfolio start reporting earnings this week, let’s look into what is behind the results and estimates.
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Earnings season is upon us again. This quarterly ritual, when all public companies report their most recent results, is when investors can see hard facts about revenues, profits and balance sheets, as well as hear softer commentary from management about their explanations, outlook plans.
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Stocks produced one of their strongest quarters in living memory, with the S&P 500 returning 20.5% in the period ending June 30. The index has nearly fully regained its previously-lost value, declining only 6% for the first half of the year. Investors frequently how...
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How to Learn More about the Companies You Own
As the new Chief Analyst for the Undervalued Stock Advisor, I’d like to thank you for reading this month’s letter. I know you have many sources of investment ideas and advice, and I appreciate your in...
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There have been so many changes in 2020, it pains me to heap another change onto your laps, and yet it is time for me to do so. I’ve implemented the next phase of my longtime career plan by establishing a U.S. equity fund...
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Right now, U.S. stock markets are surging, largely due to the Federal Reserve’s bond-buying binge. As bond prices rise from the increased demand, bond yields fall (and they’re tremendously low).
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From an investor’s point of view, I will be cautious about owning P&C insurance stocks. We won’t know the cost of all the damage until second and third quarter earnings reports, but you can be sure that profits will suffer.
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How to Monitor Future Trouble in the Housing Market
U.S. stock markets continue to rise, carrying the majority of our portfolio stocks upward. There’s price resistance on the S&P 500 index at about 3,200, so that’s where I will anticipate an end to the run-up...
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The S&P 500 Index and the Dow Jones Industrial Average began new run-ups yesterday, while the NASDAQ Composite Index continues its uptrend. I’m glad that investors are continuing to make money during this market rebound.
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In keeping with last week’s comments, the stock market continues to show a willingness to rise in the near term. More than any other industry, oil refining stocks offer strong upside, including two within our portfolios.
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The stock market continues to exhibit a willingness to rise in the near term. I’m seeing constructive price chart patterns on both the S&P 500 index and on many individual stocks.
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