Insurance stocks often look like lousy investments in a slow economy. Demand for policies can shrink as unemployment rises, and rivals undercut each other on price to snag whatever market share still remains. But you want… Read More
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If you’re like the majority of investors, I’d bet you have a negative view of stocks trading on the “pink sheets.” Most people conjure up thoughts of risky penny stocks that are more gambles than investments. In fact, many brokers provide… Read More
We can all be thankful for the remarkable rebound in the stock market, which has helped to rebuild many portfolios during the past 11 months. Stocks may power yet higher if the economy is indeed on the mend, but concerns remain that we’re due… Read More
There are more than 4.5 million hotel rooms in the United States. When you stay at any one of these rooms you can usually expect — no matter how many stars are next to the hotel’s name — a bed, a bathroom, a television, and a Gideon’s Bible. Read More
When a hot new technology shoots out of the gate, investors often get spoiled. They expect demand to keep growing and growing, and have little patience when the industry hits an inevitable speed bump. In recent years, carbon fiber garnered considerable buzz, as the lightweight — yet super-strong — material found its… Read More
In a highly uncertain environment, one thing is clear. The demand for health care will not merely continue… It will dramatically increase in the years to come. Health care has always been a “defensive” industry, as people get sick no matter… Read More
Investors with a stake in this overlooked land don’t mind the lack of publicity. While it may be a small country of less than 17 million people, its equity market packs quite a punch. In fact, it has posted a stunning return of +3,014% since 1989. That 30-fold increase would… Read More
They say success comes at a price. The same thing applies to capital gains. Most investors forgot that lesson in the 1990s, when high-growth “dot-com” stocks were all the rage. Growth at any price was the name of the game, and some investors paid dearly for it. Read More
Managing a large business can prove daunting when the many moving parts fall out of synch. Yet a fresh set of eyes can help to chart a new course, getting all the pieces moving in harmony. That lesson applies for investors in Cardinal Health (NYSE: CAH). New management has begun… Read More
My friend Barbara phoned and invited me to lunch a few weeks ago. When she offered to pay, I knew something was up. Barbara talked about her workout routine, her daughter’s job search, and her upcoming vacation to Panama. After asking me a cursory question or two,… Read More