15167

Higher Labor Prices are a Short-Term Problem

The past few years have seen soaring wages due to strong worker demand. Today, some workforces are pushing wages higher following the latest bout of inflation. While wins for workers sound bad for companies in the short-term, there’s a long-term benefit. Happy workers are more likely to stick around. That lowers the costs of hiring new employees. And a happier workforce is one that can be more productive and attentive to protecting a company’s brand. Recent pay deals include workers in Las ...
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15168

Insider Activity Report: Enterprise Products Partners (EPD)

John Rutherford, a director at Enterprise Products Partners (EPD), recently bought 10,000 shares. The buy increased his holdings by 7 percent, and came to a total cost just under $260,000. This is the first insider activity since August, when another director bought 50,000 shares, at a slightly higher price. Going back over the last two years, there have been over a dozen insider buys with no sales. Most of the buys have been directors, with a three from the CEO. Overall, company ...
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15169

Unusual Options Activity: Foot Locker (FL)

Sports apparel chain Foot Locker (FL) has dropped nearly 40 percent over the past year. One trader is betting on a rebound in shares in the coming weeks. That’s based on the December 15 $22.50 calls. With 31 days until expiration, 8,084 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 177, for a 46-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $1.15 to make the bullish bet. Shares recently traded for about $20.50, so they ...
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15161

Until Interest Rates Drop, Invest with This Trend

High interest rates have led to a standstill in the housing market. And it’s also led to car payments soaring, which in turn has reduced activity there. More parts of the economy could likewise freeze up as interest rates stay higher for longer. However, while some areas freeze up, opportunities can emerge in other parts of the market. Investors who lean into those trends now can likely see solid returns, even as other places continue to trend lower. For instance, Copart (CPRT), ...
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15163

Insider Activity Report: Albemarle (ALB)

Kristin Coleman, an Executive Vice President at Albemarle (ALB), recently bought 1,373 shares. The buy came to a total cost just over $167,000 and doubled the executive’s stake. That’s the first insider activity since May, when a division president bought 1,260 shares, paying just over $246,000. Going further back, company insiders were sellers in the high $200 to low $300 range, and were buyers in early 2022 the last time shares were trading under $200. Overall, Albemarle insiders own 0.2 percent ...
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15164

Unusual Options Activity: Seritage Growth Properties (SRG)

Retail real estate investment trust (REIT) Seritage Growth Properties (SRG), jumped over 15 percent last week following strategic asset sales and strong earnings. One trader sees further upside ahead. That’s based on the January 2024 $9 calls. With 67 days until expiration, 11,839 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 270, for a 44-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $0.45 to make the bullish bet. Seritage shares recently traded for about $8.65 following ...
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15154

Buy the Overreaction to Poor Earnings

This earnings season came at a time of market weakness. That set the tone for how most stocks have fared. Companies that have beaten earnings haven’t had much of a move higher on the news. However, those that missed on earnings have been heavily punished. Fortunately, the earnings move could mean investors have a longer-term opportunity. That’s because a company that’s been hard hit from earnings may start to trend higher in the weeks ahead. Despite good earnings relative to the impact ...
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15156

Insider Activity Report: Cincinnati Financial (CINF)

Dirk Debbnik, a director at Cincinnati Financial (CINF), recently bought 1,000 shares. The buy increased his stake by about 2 percent, and came to a total cost of $98,781. That buy comes about six weeks after another director also bought 1,000 shares. Company insiders have generally been buyers this year, with just one sale. Over the past two years, a similar number of consistent director buys far outpacing sales has been the case. Overall, company insiders own about 1.6 percent of ...
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