Assessing the Retail Stock Landscape
After rising 25.3% from Christmas Eve 2018 through April 30, 2019, the S&P 500 stock index fell 6.6% in May. A pullback was clearly overdue, and there was plenty of fuel to keep investors on the edge of their Many...
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Property & Casualty Insurance Stocks Are On My Radar
Today I’m taking the opportunity to remove two stocks from the portfolios, in the quest to (a) pare back the number of stocks in the portfolios and (b) add new stocks to the portfolios. Clearly, two...
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A Rising Stock Market Brings Opportunites Today
U.S. stock market indexes have emerged from recent trading ranges and embarked on renewed uptrends as they seek to retrace all-time highs that were established in August through October 2018. Your stock portfolios will likely achieve additional appreciation...
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The Calm Before the Next Market Run-Up
I suppose it makes sense that a calendar quarter that was characterized by two big stock market downdrafts could be followed by a calendar quarter that delivers two stock market run-ups. And while I anticipated and frequently about...
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Buying Low is the Best Revenge
We’ve successfully struck upon some successful trades recently in the days leading up to various companies’ earnings releases, including Apple (AAPL) and Knight-Swift Transportation (KNX). If you’re looking for another similar opportunity, scroll down to review Marathon Petroleum in...
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The Stock Market is on Winter Vacation ... in the Dog House
We’re entering 2019 at what might be the bottom of a three-month stock market downturn. I anticipate that the market won’t return to its 2018 all-time highs until the third quarter of at...
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Another Dow 30 Shakeup is Coming
November brought some significant news about General Motors (GM) and United Technologies (UTX), while General Electric (GE) continues to invite investor inquiries. As our portfolio stocks experience share price recoveries alongside the broader market, in the aftermath of October...
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Apple (AAPL) Redux
Welcome to November, holiday season, winter’s coming, and mid-term elections! As if a stock market correction wasn’t providing enough excitement…
Today I’m doing something slightly different. I normally feature one stock from each of our three portfolios in the monthly issue. Today of...
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General Electric: Still a Hot Mess
This week, General Electric (GE) announced that, after a brief tenure, CEO and Chairman John Flannery is being replaced by Larry Culp, former CEO of Danaher Corp. Don’t get all excited about Larry Culp, nor about yesterday’s jump GE’s...
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How to Exercise Caution While Riding the Bull Market
Many investors remember that late in the summer of 2017, I cautioned you that the stock market was due for a pullback. At that time, the market had risen steadily since November 2016, and showed sign...
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Valuable Investor Tools
If you’re not in the habit of listening to quarterly earnings conference calls, I suggest that you pick one of your stocks, and visit the company’s investor relations page. You’ll likely find their earnings press release, a webcast of the management call...
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Distinguishing Between Normal Equity Market Corrections, Bear Markets and Recessions
I’m going to make a really simple statement. Please read it three times and tell me if it helps you relax just a little bit:
The S&P 500 index rose 21.7% in 2017, and it’s 1.7%...
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News About International Trade Negotiations and NAFTA
The vast majority of Americans are not exposed to what’s happening in international trade negotiations, simply because the topic is too extensive to be covered by common news sources. So instead, Americans receive sound bites amounting to two...
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Stock Sector and Industry Trends
Energy stocks experienced lots of bullish price action in recent weeks. I expect most of them to pause in their uptrends, and that could include pullbacks, which would be perfectly normal. Use the pullbacks to add to your favorite stocks.
Yesterday,...
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My Favorite New Stock Today
Today I’m introducing three new stocks to the Cabot Undervalued Stocks Advisor portfolios, including footwear manufacturer Skechers USA (SKX), which joins the Buy Low Opportunities Portfolio. I’m especially pleased to recommend Skechers because I love their products. As we few...
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The Almost-Final Decision on the Section 232 Investigation
As expected, the U.S. government’s Section 232 investigation into the national security implications of international trade abuses in the steel and aluminum industries will likely result in tariffs on imported steel. No surprise there, because the Department...
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Interesting Times
Unexpectedly strong increases in employment and wages sent stock and bond markets tumbling last week, thus pushing Treasury yields higher in keeping with inflation fears. A strong economy is good for workers and companies, but as it fuels inflation, the Federal Reserve to...
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Happy New Year!
Warning: I’m buying and selling 11 stocks today.
It’s hard to send holiday greetings to a broad audience, because different people celebrate different holidays, but today is the second day of a new year for me, and I’m excited about that. I huge...
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The Market is Moving!
As we wrap up 2017, now is not the time to rest on our laurels! The stock market is moving again, spurred on by sector rotation, bargain hunting and ongoing shenanigans in Congress. I know that most financial outlets and will...
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The Verdict Is In:
Resounding Rebound in Energy Stocks
I’m so glad to have held many different types of energy stocks in the portfolios this year. Sometimes the stock market hands you an incredible gift on a silver platter, and all you need to do (1)...
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