14124

Invest With Companies Whose Executives Take Ownership

With all the ups and downs of the stock market, it’s sometimes easy to forget that a stock is an ownership stake in a company. And that shareholders, not company management, are the owners. Some company management teams may use that to their advantage, by awarding themselves substantial amounts of stock options, which then dilute existing shareholders. However, other companies may encourage executives to buy shares outright, and take an ownership stake in the company that’s also paying them a salary. That’s ...
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14119

This Tech Leader Could Make New Highs, Even in a Slowing Economy

Typically, growth stocks are a tough investment when economic growth has become slow and uncertain. The lofty valuations and predictions that look attractive in a bull market don’t look as good when the economy is likely to contract. However, some growth companies are able to position themselves for winning trends, even in a slowing economy. And those that can deliver could be the first stocks to make new all-time highs when things look rosy again. Right now, one bright spot in the ...
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14112

Keep Buying Strong Brands in Uncertain Times

While the next market-moving news may not be positive, over time, investing in the stock market is more rewarding than betting against it. And with so many companies knocked down last year and into the current banking fears, investors who start buying shares of companies with strong brands could see big profits ahead. Best of all, brands can include a variety of industries. And chances are that brand is a household name, which brings familiarity in uncertain times. One of the world’s ...
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14106

Amid a Declining Market, This Space Looks Set to Move Higher

While the stock market has been down over the past year, some sectors look set for a move higher. One such space is in commodities. Inflation remains sticky, which tends to keep prices of hard assets from declining too much. Plus, for many commodities, the fundamentals look strong today. There’s high demand and potentially lower supply for a number of resources. A second year of the Russia/Ukraine conflict looks likely to keep the wheat market tight in particular. One estimate is that ...
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14102

The Higher Margin Player in an Oligopoly Always Wins

Many industries consolidate over time into just a handful of players. These oligopolies can jockey for market share. Chances are one of the players will move towards higher-end consumers to differentiate, and others may shift to the lower end. Either way, the company that can sport the highest profit margin will typically be the best performer for shareholders over time. Higher profit margins provide more capital for reinvestment in the business, or for dividends or share buybacks for investors. In the credit ...
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14098

Stick With Strong, Accessible Brands in a Slowing Economy

Investors are more than willing to place trades outside their comfort zone in a bull market. But in a slowing economy, they tend to gravitate towards the tried and true. That explains the relative outperformance of value stocks in a flat or sideways market. Investors do the same thing as consumers. They cut back on new products and services, and stick with what’s tried and true. That’s why there are so many brands out there – including those at a reasonable ...
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14092

For Turbulent Markets, Seek Out Boring Companies

Market volatility is back. That means that companies can expect their share price to see sizeable swings by the day. As markets get turbulent, investors should look for companies that can continue to grow no matter what the economy does. Many gravitate towards income stocks. But a high payout along isn’t enough. Stability, rather than the potential for big growth, may win out in the market in the months ahead. That’s where a company like Honeywell International (HON) comes into play. As ...
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14089

In a Flight to Safety, Look for Cash-Generating Giants

Market sentiment has turned on a dime, as fears about the solvency of several banks has surged. In this flight to quality, investors are moving into assets such as Treasury bonds and gold. However, some stocks could be a better option here. That’s because some companies will continue to grow their income. And that can be used to buy back shares, pay out a growing dividend, or otherwise reward those with the willingness to buy in a fearful market. One of the ...
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