President Barack Obama is visiting Cuba this week, making him the first sitting President to visit the country in nearly a century. The last President to visit was Calvin Coolidge in 1928. Relations for the United States and Cuba have been strained for more than 50 years, going back to the Cold War and including the trade embargo imposed by John F. Kennedy in 1962.   #-ad_banner-#But a lot has happened over the past few years, and Obama continues to make more headway than any other President when it comes to mending the relationship.  In late 2014, he announced a… Read More

President Barack Obama is visiting Cuba this week, making him the first sitting President to visit the country in nearly a century. The last President to visit was Calvin Coolidge in 1928. Relations for the United States and Cuba have been strained for more than 50 years, going back to the Cold War and including the trade embargo imposed by John F. Kennedy in 1962.   #-ad_banner-#But a lot has happened over the past few years, and Obama continues to make more headway than any other President when it comes to mending the relationship.  In late 2014, he announced a restoration of diplomatic ties between the United States and Cuba. Then in mid-2015, the two countries reported their respective embassies in Washington D.C. and Havana, Cuba.  A strengthening of relations would mean that Cuba as a country is now open for business, which would be great news for U.S. companies, as well as Cuba.  A Prime Spot For Travel One of the best ways to profit on a strengthening relationship with Cuba will be with tourism.  Cuba’s impressive beaches hold a lot of potential as a vacation destination, and it also holds appeal for business travel as the Caribbean’s… Read More

Benjamin Franklin was a Founding Father, statesman and signer of the Declaration of Independence.  He was also a brilliant inventor — creating bifocals, the lightning rod and the odometer. #-ad_banner-#But his greatest invention has been shrouded in mystery for more than 250 years…  It involves controlling one of the most important resources known to man: energy. In 1749, through a revolutionary experiment, Franklin created a device that could capture and harness energy. Then, 150 years later, Thomas Edison picked up where Franklin left off. Since then, many others have carried forward this work. But… Read More

Benjamin Franklin was a Founding Father, statesman and signer of the Declaration of Independence.  He was also a brilliant inventor — creating bifocals, the lightning rod and the odometer. #-ad_banner-#But his greatest invention has been shrouded in mystery for more than 250 years…  It involves controlling one of the most important resources known to man: energy. In 1749, through a revolutionary experiment, Franklin created a device that could capture and harness energy. Then, 150 years later, Thomas Edison picked up where Franklin left off. Since then, many others have carried forward this work. But a few months ago, a band of scientists — backed by an eccentric billionaire — took Franklin’s dream to new heights. They finally broke through — and now it has the potential to make early investors a fortune. From Franklin, Tesla, Edison — And Now Musk We’ve all heard the first part of the folk tale… Ben Franklin was convinced that lightning bolts contain energy, and he wanted to prove it. So during a thunderstorm, he flew a kite with a metal key attached, hoping the kite would get hit. Read More

I remember watching the movie Gung Ho in 1986 and wondering along with the rest of the country if Japan was going to buy the red, white and blue in its entirety. The movie was about a Japanese acquisition of a Pennsylvania auto factory, but at the time it seemed the land of the rising sun was buying up just about every other sector as well.  It was most evident in real estate, with massive buying of commercial properties on the West Coast. According to the LA Times, Japanese buyers poured nearly $17 billion into U.S. property at the peak… Read More

I remember watching the movie Gung Ho in 1986 and wondering along with the rest of the country if Japan was going to buy the red, white and blue in its entirety. The movie was about a Japanese acquisition of a Pennsylvania auto factory, but at the time it seemed the land of the rising sun was buying up just about every other sector as well.  It was most evident in real estate, with massive buying of commercial properties on the West Coast. According to the LA Times, Japanese buyers poured nearly $17 billion into U.S. property at the peak in 1988 and owned almost half (45%) of the premium downtown office space in Los Angeles by the early 1990s. #-ad_banner-#The real estate frenzy helped the FTSE NAREIT U.S. Real Estate Index jump an annualized 15.6% over the decade through 1989, sending prices and investor sentiment higher. The index is up less than half that at an annualized pace of 7.4% over the decade through 2015 but that may be about to change.  New buyers have emerged from the east and it’s starting to look like the 1980s all over again. Commercial Real Estate Has A New Deep-Pocket Buyer… Read More

I would bet few investors really understand what’s behind the success of technology behemoth, Apple, Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL). The rags to riches story of Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak building the first Apple computer in a garage is widely known. And of course, it’s products like the iPod, iPhone and Macbook that first come to mind when you think of the company’s biggest hits. #-ad_banner-#But today I want to share with you the secret that’s led Apple to become the world’s largest company by market capitalization and helped its share price skyrocket more than 9,700% since 2001. … Read More

I would bet few investors really understand what’s behind the success of technology behemoth, Apple, Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL). The rags to riches story of Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak building the first Apple computer in a garage is widely known. And of course, it’s products like the iPod, iPhone and Macbook that first come to mind when you think of the company’s biggest hits. #-ad_banner-#But today I want to share with you the secret that’s led Apple to become the world’s largest company by market capitalization and helped its share price skyrocket more than 9,700% since 2001.  You see, it’s not the company’s revolutionary products that drive its success… The key to understanding the company’s success can be seen in a simple pattern. Once you identify this pattern, the catalyst to future growth for Apple — and the way investors can make money from the company today — will be apparent. After Apple sold the first iPod in October 2001, it was not received well by critics, consumers and investors. Just look at this chart showing Apple’s share price in the 18 months following the iPod launch:… Read More

With each economic report, it seems more certain that the U.S. economy is not teetering on the precipice but rather continuing to grow moderately, with a positive impact on consumer spending and corporate earnings. Not surprisingly, U.S. stock market volatility has decreased and investors are again comfortable taking on a little more risk in the form of smaller growth stocks. Here are two up-and-coming technology stocks to consider now: Proofpoint (Nasdaq: PFPT) is a small but fast-growing cybersecurity provider, a leader in the burgeoning “security as a service” industry, which provides cloud-based protection against hacking, phishing, malware and spam. Proofpoint’s… Read More

With each economic report, it seems more certain that the U.S. economy is not teetering on the precipice but rather continuing to grow moderately, with a positive impact on consumer spending and corporate earnings. Not surprisingly, U.S. stock market volatility has decreased and investors are again comfortable taking on a little more risk in the form of smaller growth stocks. Here are two up-and-coming technology stocks to consider now: Proofpoint (Nasdaq: PFPT) is a small but fast-growing cybersecurity provider, a leader in the burgeoning “security as a service” industry, which provides cloud-based protection against hacking, phishing, malware and spam. Proofpoint’s products protect messages, social media and data for enterprises and consumers. Improved security of sensitive information has been a huge priority of government and corporate organizations for years. It’s increasingly a concern for individuals as well — especially given the proliferation of so-called “ransomware” programs that shut down personal computers until an expensive repair software is purchased (from the scammer that sent the virus in the first place). #-ad_banner-#​Proofpoint’s innovative technologies, which include next-generation email security solutions, use encryption and other secure storage technologies to stymie outside attacks; their services include preventative threat intelligence and quick-response solutions to stop new… Read More

Imagine Stephen King’s “Trucks” meets “Short Circuit”… But hopefully with a lot less blood and a bit more reliability. That’s what’s happening on the M6 motorway, the UK’s longest and busiest motorway, dubbed the “Backbone of Britain,” later this year. The UK Chamber of Commerce estimates that £1.7 million-worth of goods and commerce flow down the M6 every hour. #-ad_banner-#But automated “platoons” of semi trucks could push that figure much higher, while cutting costs significantly. Here’s how it works. The lead truck will be driven by a person, while a convoy of nine other semis will be piloted autonomously, each… Read More

Imagine Stephen King’s “Trucks” meets “Short Circuit”… But hopefully with a lot less blood and a bit more reliability. That’s what’s happening on the M6 motorway, the UK’s longest and busiest motorway, dubbed the “Backbone of Britain,” later this year. The UK Chamber of Commerce estimates that £1.7 million-worth of goods and commerce flow down the M6 every hour. #-ad_banner-#But automated “platoons” of semi trucks could push that figure much higher, while cutting costs significantly. Here’s how it works. The lead truck will be driven by a person, while a convoy of nine other semis will be piloted autonomously, each following the lead truck, drafting in the slipstream, and saving as much as 15% in fuel consumption. Daimler AG (XETRA: DAI) is already testing automated tractor trailers in Germany, and its vehicles will likely be used in the UK program and on U.S. roads. Indeed, its Freightliner Inspiration Truck is the first — and only — truck of its kind to be granted a license for road use in the United States. The Inspiration is chock full of radar, sensors, cameras and other equipment that control speed, distance from other vehicles and lane position. It can sense traffic and road… Read More

You wouldn’t know it from the headlines about obesity, but Americans spend a lot of time and money on fitness — and that spending is rising every year. The aging of America, which eventually could be a drag on the fitness segment as the Baby Boom population gets extremely old, is still a net positive: doctors increasingly insist that seniors stay active, driving demand for athletic shoes and apparel from folks well into their 70s. Spending on athletic and sports clothing rose about 13% from 2009 through 2014, for example — and faster-growing segments, such as women’s activewear, are booming. Read More

You wouldn’t know it from the headlines about obesity, but Americans spend a lot of time and money on fitness — and that spending is rising every year. The aging of America, which eventually could be a drag on the fitness segment as the Baby Boom population gets extremely old, is still a net positive: doctors increasingly insist that seniors stay active, driving demand for athletic shoes and apparel from folks well into their 70s. Spending on athletic and sports clothing rose about 13% from 2009 through 2014, for example — and faster-growing segments, such as women’s activewear, are booming. Here are two ways to play the trend: #-ad_banner-#​Foot Locker (NYSE: FL) is the world’s largest athletic-shoe retailer, with more than 3,400 stores in 23 countries as well as a robust online-retail business. In addition to its flagship brands (Foot Locker, Lady Foot Locker and Kids Foot Locker), Foot Locker operates under the Champs Sports, Footaction, SIX: 02, Runners Point, Sidestep and Eastbay brands. What’s remarkable about Foot Locker is that it’s growing so rapidly, 42 years after its founding. Sales are growing at 5% to 7% annual rate, thanks to annual increases in sales per square foot (a key… Read More

Tax season is in full swing, and the tax filing deadline just a little more than a month away.  Although it’s rather annoying for taxpayers, the beauty of the tax business is that taxes must be filed every year regardless of how the economy is doing. This makes the companies preparing tax returns and selling tax software steady businesses.  #-ad_banner-#Plus, with the U.S. economy strengthening there has been a steady rise in employment, which is increasing demand for tax-related companies.  But the industry has become more aggressive when it comes to attracting customers. The winners will be those that can… Read More

Tax season is in full swing, and the tax filing deadline just a little more than a month away.  Although it’s rather annoying for taxpayers, the beauty of the tax business is that taxes must be filed every year regardless of how the economy is doing. This makes the companies preparing tax returns and selling tax software steady businesses.  #-ad_banner-#Plus, with the U.S. economy strengthening there has been a steady rise in employment, which is increasing demand for tax-related companies.  But the industry has become more aggressive when it comes to attracting customers. The winners will be those that can offer the most value to customers, while keeping things relatively cheap and easy. With that, there are a number of ways to use your portfolio to play tax season this year.  The DIY Play Intuit (Nasdaq: INTU), parent company of TurboTax, is a big bet that people will continue to gravitate toward the do-it-yourself tax prep model.  The latest data from the Internal Revenue Service shows that self-prepared e-filings are up 3% so far in 2016. But TurboTax is seeing even bigger gains, with 9% growth in e-filings from this time last year. This means that TurboTax is stealing… Read More

I’m often amazed at how short-sighted the pundits on Wall Street can be. Present them with nearly a century’s worth of facts and they still refuse to believe what’s right in front of their faces.  #-ad_banner-#Specifically, I’m talking about the power of relative-strength investing. Longtime readers might already be familiar with relative-strength investing. We’ve talked about it before in previous StreetAuthority Daily issues. But for those who need a refresher, allow me to provide a brief recap. If used correctly, this strategy could be the very thing that helps you land your next 100%-plus return.  I find it funny that… Read More

I’m often amazed at how short-sighted the pundits on Wall Street can be. Present them with nearly a century’s worth of facts and they still refuse to believe what’s right in front of their faces.  #-ad_banner-#Specifically, I’m talking about the power of relative-strength investing. Longtime readers might already be familiar with relative-strength investing. We’ve talked about it before in previous StreetAuthority Daily issues. But for those who need a refresher, allow me to provide a brief recap. If used correctly, this strategy could be the very thing that helps you land your next 100%-plus return.  I find it funny that when it comes to purchasing material items, people always seem to go with the latest craze or the hottest new products — yet the same can’t be said for buying and selling stocks. The notion of buying the best-selling new gadget, clothes or automobile seems like common sense to consumers. But here’s the ironic part, if you take this same concept and bring it into the investing world, many on Wall Street will simply scoff at you. Most have long considered the idea of buying the best performing stocks as “thoughtless” or “foolish.”… Read More

Last week, I examined mid-cap stocks and talked about why they’re a happy hunting ground for investors today. To summarize, investors have poured money back into U.S. stocks after the January swoon, as economic indicators are confirming that the U.S. economy remains on a growth path, with positive trends for employment and consumer spending, with low inflation and interest rates. It’s true that the global economic picture looks precarious, so we can’t be complacent about risk. But companies that generate all or most of their revenue in North America should be fine over the next few quarters. #-ad_banner-#In this environment, midsized… Read More

Last week, I examined mid-cap stocks and talked about why they’re a happy hunting ground for investors today. To summarize, investors have poured money back into U.S. stocks after the January swoon, as economic indicators are confirming that the U.S. economy remains on a growth path, with positive trends for employment and consumer spending, with low inflation and interest rates. It’s true that the global economic picture looks precarious, so we can’t be complacent about risk. But companies that generate all or most of their revenue in North America should be fine over the next few quarters. #-ad_banner-#In this environment, midsized companies stand a good chance to outperform expectations. The largest companies are safe havens in time of uncertainty, and many continue to look attractive. But as fears of a U.S. recession abate, the mid-cap sector could outperform — especially when it comes to attractively valued shares of companies catering to consumers. I told you about one such company earlier this week. Here are two more attractive targets in the mid-cap field: Lamar Advertising (Nasdaq: LAMR) specializes in outdoor advertising. If that phrase evokes billboards, you’re right — but Lamar, though more than a century old, is a leader in 21st… Read More