Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) made history last month with the biggest corporate bond issue ever: $17 billion in six different maturities. That’s more than the GDP of the 29 smallest countries combined — and Apple did it by promising to pay just 1.4% a year in interest.#-ad_banner-# Everyone caught the news, but many overlooked the huge consequences it has for the… Read More

Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) made history last month with the biggest corporate bond issue ever: $17 billion in six different maturities. That’s more than the GDP of the 29 smallest countries combined — and Apple did it by promising to pay just 1.4% a year in interest.#-ad_banner-# Everyone caught the news, but many overlooked the huge consequences it has for the market. This deal has the potential to push a lot of stocks higher and not just those tied to the Cupertino, Calif.-based giant. Apple will be using the debt to return $100 billion to shareholders through dividends and stock repurchases over the next two years. Evidently, the Street likes the plan, with big investors like David Einhorn buying more… Read More

Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) made history last month with the biggest corporate bond issue ever: $17 billion in six different maturities. That’s more than the GDP of the 29 smallest countries combined — and Apple did it by promising to pay just 1.4% a year in interest.#-ad_banner-# Everyone caught the news, but many overlooked the huge consequences it has for the… Read More

Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) made history last month with the biggest corporate bond issue ever: $17 billion in six different maturities. That’s more than the GDP of the 29 smallest countries combined — and Apple did it by promising to pay just 1.4% a year in interest.#-ad_banner-# Everyone caught the news, but many overlooked the huge consequences it has for the market. This deal has the potential to push a lot of stocks higher and not just those tied to the Cupertino, Calif.-based giant. Apple will be using the debt to return $100 billion to shareholders through dividends and stock repurchases over the next two years. Evidently, the Street likes the plan, with big investors like David Einhorn buying more… Read More

Insurance agents reach for the antacids whenever the economy slows down. Their clients start to look for ways to trim costs, and reduced insurance coverage (and the smaller premiums they are charged) eats into the insurers’ bottom lines. Any hopes of actually raising insurance premiums go out the window, as a client will quickly jump ship to a rival in search of a better deal.#-ad_banner-# Yet as the economy strengthens, the whole dynamic changes. Once a clear economic upturn is underway, competition… Read More

Insurance agents reach for the antacids whenever the economy slows down. Their clients start to look for ways to trim costs, and reduced insurance coverage (and the smaller premiums they are charged) eats into the insurers’ bottom lines. Any hopes of actually raising insurance premiums go out the window, as a client will quickly jump ship to a rival in search of a better deal.#-ad_banner-# Yet as the economy strengthens, the whole dynamic changes. Once a clear economic upturn is underway, competition becomes less cutthroat, clients grow less sensitive to the cost of insurance, and insurers can finally push through long-delayed premium increases. With the U.S. economy on the mend — economists expect U.S. GDP to rise at nearly a 3% pace in the second half of this year — the stage is set for insurers to move back into the sweet spot of their pricing cycle. Right about now, you… Read More

A few years ago, StreetAuthority sent a report to readers of my Top 10 Stocks advisory covering the 10 Best Stocks to Hold Forever. It quickly became one of the most popular pieces of research in StreetAuthority’s history. Read More

A few years ago, StreetAuthority sent a report to readers of my Top 10 Stocks advisory covering the 10 Best Stocks to Hold Forever. It quickly became one of the most popular pieces of research in StreetAuthority’s history. Simply put, these are the 10 stocks that we think you can buy today and basically hold for the rest of your life. When you own them, you don’t have to worry about events such as inflation or deflation, bear markets or recessions, “flash crashes” or rising interest rates. But… Read More

A few years ago, StreetAuthority sent a report to readers of my Top 10 Stocks advisory covering the 10 Best Stocks to Hold Forever. It quickly became one of the most popular pieces of research in StreetAuthority’s history. Simply put, these are the 10 stocks that we think you can buy today and basically hold for the rest of your life. When you own them, you don’t have to worry about events such as inflation or deflation, bear markets or recessions, “flash crashes” or rising interest rates. But don’t just take my word for it — the numbers speak for themselves. Here’s how the 10 “Forever” stocks have done since first being released in mid-July 2011: — They’ve returned 36.7% on average, compared with a 28% gain in the S&P 500. — Our biggest winner is up 81%, with three others posting gains above 50%. — Six have announced dividend increases. I’m not telling you this to brag about our success. My job is to help investors make money, so I want to show you why… Read More

Over the last three years, I have quietly created a proprietary system comprised of three different types of dividend-paying stocks that I believe will outperform any other dividend strategy on the planet. The Dividend Trifecta is a three part approach to dividends that multiplies the effectiveness of every dollar you invest. The plan is specifically engineered for people who want to retire sooner. Or, for those who would like to get a steady stream of extra… Read More

Over the last three years, I have quietly created a proprietary system comprised of three different types of dividend-paying stocks that I believe will outperform any other dividend strategy on the planet. The Dividend Trifecta is a three part approach to dividends that multiplies the effectiveness of every dollar you invest. The plan is specifically engineered for people who want to retire sooner. Or, for those who would like to get a steady stream of extra income now. And, I can tell you after managing a $5 million trust fund for a non-profit, I’ve been pitched every investing “system” available.  Many so-called systems are complicated and should only be used by professional investors willing to sit in front of their computer screens for hours on end each day. But, I believe The Dividend Trifecta works for the vast majority of people willing to put it into action. This investing technique requires no risky options trading… no… Read More

Consumers have an insatiable appetite for new and better products and services, and they tend to reward the companies that fulfill their desires. However, shifting consumer preferences can erode brand loyalty at even the best-loved companies. When this happens, expenses are slashed and dividends are cut as the formerly high-flying company struggles to remain relevant in the ever-changing consumer culture. Once the dividends start to be cut, yield investors will start to dump the stock,… Read More

Consumers have an insatiable appetite for new and better products and services, and they tend to reward the companies that fulfill their desires. However, shifting consumer preferences can erode brand loyalty at even the best-loved companies. When this happens, expenses are slashed and dividends are cut as the formerly high-flying company struggles to remain relevant in the ever-changing consumer culture. Once the dividends start to be cut, yield investors will start to dump the stock, sending share prices downward. The key to avoiding these “dividend trap” stocks is to look for a weakening fundamental and technical situation when the dividend yield is staying steady or climbing. Here are two stocks that may become “dividend traps” due to the changing consumer landscape. Garmin (Nasdaq: GRMN) This manufacturer and marketer of GPS equipment pays a hefty dividend yield of 5%. Generally, this would be a positive, but in this instance, it signals trouble.#-ad_banner-# The… Read More

Insurance agents reach for the antacids whenever the economy slows down. Their clients start to look for ways to trim costs, and reduced insurance coverage (and the smaller premiums they are charged) eats into the insurers’ bottom lines. Any hopes of actually raising insurance premiums go out the window, as a client will quickly jump ship to a rival in search of a better deal.#-ad_banner-# Yet as the economy strengthens, the whole dynamic changes. Once a clear economic upturn is underway, competition… Read More

Insurance agents reach for the antacids whenever the economy slows down. Their clients start to look for ways to trim costs, and reduced insurance coverage (and the smaller premiums they are charged) eats into the insurers’ bottom lines. Any hopes of actually raising insurance premiums go out the window, as a client will quickly jump ship to a rival in search of a better deal.#-ad_banner-# Yet as the economy strengthens, the whole dynamic changes. Once a clear economic upturn is underway, competition becomes less cutthroat, clients grow less sensitive to the cost of insurance, and insurers can finally push through long-delayed premium increases. With the U.S. economy on the mend — economists expect U.S. GDP to rise at nearly a 3% pace in the second half of this year — the stage is set for insurers to move back into the sweet spot of their pricing cycle. Right about now, you… Read More

Insurance agents reach for the antacids whenever the economy slows down. Their clients start to look for ways to trim costs, and reduced insurance coverage (and the smaller premiums they are charged) eats into the insurers’ bottom lines. Any hopes of actually raising insurance premiums go out the window, as a client will quickly jump ship to a rival in search of a better deal.#-ad_banner-# Yet as the economy strengthens, the whole dynamic changes. Once a clear economic upturn is underway, competition… Read More

Insurance agents reach for the antacids whenever the economy slows down. Their clients start to look for ways to trim costs, and reduced insurance coverage (and the smaller premiums they are charged) eats into the insurers’ bottom lines. Any hopes of actually raising insurance premiums go out the window, as a client will quickly jump ship to a rival in search of a better deal.#-ad_banner-# Yet as the economy strengthens, the whole dynamic changes. Once a clear economic upturn is underway, competition becomes less cutthroat, clients grow less sensitive to the cost of insurance, and insurers can finally push through long-delayed premium increases. With the U.S. economy on the mend — economists expect U.S. GDP to rise at nearly a 3% pace in the second half of this year — the stage is set for insurers to move back into the sweet spot of their pricing cycle. Right about now, you… Read More

Insurance agents reach for the antacids whenever the economy slows down. Their clients start to look for ways to trim costs, and reduced insurance coverage (and the smaller premiums they are charged) eats into the insurers’ bottom lines. Any hopes of actually raising insurance premiums go out the window, as a client will quickly jump ship to a rival in search of a better deal.#-ad_banner-# Yet as the economy strengthens, the whole dynamic changes. Once a clear economic upturn is underway, competition… Read More

Insurance agents reach for the antacids whenever the economy slows down. Their clients start to look for ways to trim costs, and reduced insurance coverage (and the smaller premiums they are charged) eats into the insurers’ bottom lines. Any hopes of actually raising insurance premiums go out the window, as a client will quickly jump ship to a rival in search of a better deal.#-ad_banner-# Yet as the economy strengthens, the whole dynamic changes. Once a clear economic upturn is underway, competition becomes less cutthroat, clients grow less sensitive to the cost of insurance, and insurers can finally push through long-delayed premium increases. With the U.S. economy on the mend — economists expect U.S. GDP to rise at nearly a 3% pace in the second half of this year — the stage is set for insurers to move back into the sweet spot of their pricing cycle. Right about now, you… Read More