I just wrote a check this morning for my monthly power bill, made payable to American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) in the amount of $260.02.  I’m not alone. AEP serves five million residential and business customers in 11 states.  #-ad_banner-#Rain or shine, that’s five million checks that pour in each… Read More

During the course of 2012, investing in agricultural stocks proved to be tricky. One of the nation’s worst droughts on record up-ended the business model of so many companies as crops wilted and cattle were brought to premature slaughter.#-ad_banner-# Yet there were a few beneficiaries of the drought. Back in July, I suggested that Bunge (NYSE: BG) and Ingredion (Nasdaq: INGR) would prosper, and in that time, they’ve scored gains of 22% and 42% respectively. Back… Read More

During the course of 2012, investing in agricultural stocks proved to be tricky. One of the nation’s worst droughts on record up-ended the business model of so many companies as crops wilted and cattle were brought to premature slaughter.#-ad_banner-# Yet there were a few beneficiaries of the drought. Back in July, I suggested that Bunge (NYSE: BG) and Ingredion (Nasdaq: INGR) would prosper, and in that time, they’ve scored gains of 22% and 42% respectively. Back then, I looked at another major agricultural play, but sensed that it was too soon — perhaps the back half of 2013 and into 2014 was the time to really focus on this company, I thought. Find out why Warren Buffett buys agricultural stock, and how it’s the next big thing. He’s already loading up on shares of Archer Daniels Midland (NYSE: ADM), acquiring 6 million shares in the fourth quarter of 2012 at an average price of $27. Shares have risen a bit further since, and show signs of… Read More

I’ll never forget my first visit to Starbucks (NYSE: SBUX). Many of my friends were talking enthusiastically about this fancy new coffee shop from Seattle that had just opened in the neighborhood. When I saw the prices and the strange names of the beverages, I nearly fainted in surprise. Heck,… Read More

The biotech industry is known for extreme innovation that can frequently lead to huge gains for early investors. Take Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) for example. When the company released its groundbreaking cholesterol medicine Lipitor in 1996, the best-selling drug in the history of the pharmaceutical industry,… Read More

My colleague David Sterman recently highlighted an interesting company called Equinix (Nasdaq: EQIX), which owns facilities that house Internet traffic equipment. That may not sound interesting by itself, but it was a rather unusual move the company recently made that caught my attention. Equinix decided to become a … Read More

Finding winning investment ideas isn’t just about being correct; it’s about being timely. Nearly a year ago, I suggested that huge upside lay ahead for MEMC Electronic Materials (NYSE: WFR). The… Read More

After this weekend, my nest will be empty. In fact, right about the time you read this article, I’ll be loading the car in preparation for a 33-hour drive to Nashville, Tenn. That’s where my remaining homebound daughter, 25, will be… Read More

Fourth-quarter earnings season is almost over and the results have been pretty underwhelming. Out of the 342 S&P 500 companies that have reported so far, representing 78% of the index‘s total… Read More

Editor’s note: Each week, one of our investing experts answers a reader’s question in a Q&A column at our sister site, InvestingAnswers.com. It’s all part of our mission to help consumers build and protect their wealth through education. This week’s question… Read More

In the summer of 2015, both political parties will begin the search for their next presidential candidate. By that time, the whole tenor of political positions will have sharply changed. At least, we can only hope so. #-ad_banner-#That’s because our… Read More