As we start to close the books on the second-quarter earnings season, a clear trend is now official: companies have struggled to boost sales and profit margins appear to have peaked, which has led to a higher-than-usual amount… Read More

Every time you turn on the financial news channels or read the business section in the newspaper, you hear or read about debt. It’s truly become the new hot topic in economic circles. From the debt crisis in the European Union to the individual level, managing debt is fact of… Read More

The art of short-selling is inextricably tied to the direction of the market. If the market has sold off for a number of sessions, then it’s risky to short stocks. This is because a reversal from… Read More

Let’s face it, investing isn’t always perfect. Sometimes companies which we invest in do things that make us cringe, like causing harm to the environment or selling a product with safety issues. Some companies are better about these environmental, ethical or safety issues, so many investors make their decisions on… Read More

The free market is truly like a jungle. In the jungle, once-mighty animals become old and frail, and they fall prey to younger, stronger beasts. The same thing happens with companies. Once-great investments become laggards if they… Read More

What would compel insiders to buy up company stock? After all, they typically receive shares anyway through annual stock option grants — for free. Some market watchers suggest that these folks buy… Read More

I can’t tell you how many times a client walks out of my office with my last pen, drains my last bit of ink asking for an extra report, or I find myself one or two envelopes short for a client mailing. I’m left jumping into my car for a… Read More

In June of 2009, both Cisco Systems (Nasdaq: CSCO) and insurance firm The Travelers Cos. (NYSE: TRV) received an invitation to a very exclusive club. Only 30 companies get to be members of this club, and it’s one of the crowning achievements for a company to be asked to join. Read More

Will Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) soon join the Dow Jones Industrial Average? A rising chorus of pundits suggests so. A few other firms may also be added, since the analysts who chose the index‘s components rarely make just one move. But to make way for… Read More

Think you’ve got a bead on the best sectors to own? It’s amazing how often assumptions can differ from reality. While most investors may believe the technology or financial sectors tend to offer the biggest returns or the most… Read More