Trading Tips Blog

Long-term investors still have a wide shopping list of great companies trading well off their highs. Many stocks outside of the big tech space make the grade. Especially companies that have strong brands. The past few years have shown that high inflation can weigh on a company’s profitability. But a great company can keep raising prices faster than they lose customers. In that situation, they’re set up well for long-term inflation, even if it slows back to lower levels. That also means ...
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Bracken Darrell, President and CEO of
V F Corporation (VFC), recently bought 65,360 shares. The buy increased his stake by 83 percent, and came to a total cost of $1,005,296. This is the first insider buy of the year. However, last year saw over a dozen insider buys, largely from directors, but also a 10,000 share buy from the company’s interim President and CEO. The last insider sale occurred in May 2022. In total, VFC insiders own 0.9 percent of shares. The apparel ...
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Oil and gas giant
Exxon Mobil (XOM) has seen its shares slide 13 percent over the past year, as energy prices have traded in a range. One trader sees shares trending lower through the middle of next year. That’s based on the June 2025 $125 puts. With 492 days until expiration, 5,204 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 113, for a 46-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $24.20 to make the bearish ...
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The market rally since late 2022 has been driven by tech stocks, particularly large cap tech stocks developing artificial intelligence (AI) opportunities. That’s caused other sectors of the market to lag. Over time, improving earnings from these sectors is creating a better value. Investors may want to take some profits in high-flying tech stocks now that markets are soaring to all-time highs. Other companies can likely help push stock indices higher this year as they play catch-up with the overall market. For ...
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Jennifer Hyman, a director at
Estee Lauder (EL), recently bought 1,350 shares. The buy increased her stake by 135 percent, and came to a total cost of $198,045. This marks the first insider buy over the last two years. Otherwise, company insiders have been regular and steady sellers of shares, mostly in 2022 and early 2023, in particular the company’s President and CEO. Most sales from other executives have come following the exercise of stock options. Overall, Estee Lauder insiders own 0.4 ...
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Semiconductor producer
Micron Technologies (MU) have had a strong year, rallying 42 percent. One trader sees further upside in the coming months. That’s based on the May $100 calls. With 93 days until expiration, 14,221 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 354, for a 40-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $2.19 to make the bullish bet. Micron shares recently traded for about $85, so shares would need to rise $15, or over 17 ...
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Customers can have rapidly changing tastes. A company needs to provide products or services that meet those tastes, but can also be flexible over time. Sometimes, a company will be behind the curve in adoption to changes. Once they figure it out, however, shares may start to trend higher. As that happens, market expectations for a company can shift, resulting in a company going from being out of favor with the market to moving in favor. The latest company making the right ...
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Kirk Hachigian, a director at
NextEra Energy (NEE), recently bought 20,000 shares. The purchase increased his stake by 44 percent, and came to a total cost of $1,116,700. This is the first insider activity of the year. Several company directors, as well as the company President and CEO, bought shares last year. Two company insiders sold shares in the past year as well, with one of those sales coming from the exercise of stock options. In total, NextEra insiders own 0.2 ...
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