Many investors take their lead from the so-called “smart money” in order to avoid market pitfalls and tap into outsized returns. This involves combing through analyst reports to see what the biggest shops on Wall Street are buying, and why. There’s no guarantee that even the “strong buy” stocks that are identified by market pros are going to go up,…
After back-to-back years of 20%-plus gains in 2023 and 2024, the S&P 500 is off to a sluggish start to 2025. Investors are dealing with a number of macroeconomic uncertainties, including a trade war, federal layoffs, slowing economic growth, high interest rates, and the possibility of stagflation. In other words, stock selection may be critical in 2025. The 10 best stocks…
The fiscal 2025 National Defense Authorization Act calls for $923.3 billion in U.S. military spending, up 4.1% from 2024 levels. The ongoing war in Ukraine; tensions between China and Taiwan; and conflicts between Israel and Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas may force the U.S. government to increase defense industry investment in the coming years, which could serve as a tailwind for…
The first four months of 2025 have been challenging for equity investors. The volatility and uncertainty that have plagued the stock market over the last few months have been a concern for investors. Still, there are reasons for optimism. Historically, stocks are excellent long-term investments. Despite the business cycle’s ups and downs, and through all kinds of geopolitical and economic…
A quarterly dividend payment from a high-quality stock may be as close to a sure thing as an investor can find on Wall Street. Even during periods of broad market weakness, the lower a stock’s price falls, the higher its dividend yield rises. Unfortunately, companies often cut their dividend payments as the first line of defense when times get tough,…
The Department of Education will restart “involuntary” repayments of defaulted student loans after a nearly five-year pause, cautioning that as soon as next month borrowers could be referred to debt collectors or even have their wages and benefits withheld. “Debt cannot be wiped away. It just ends up getting transferred to others,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Tuesday, a day after the…
Most dividend-paying stocks have a quarterly distribution schedule, meaning they pay dividends every three months. A relatively small number of companies, however, pay dividends monthly. Monthly dividend stocks are usually companies that have made paying income a top priority. In addition to being more convenient, monthly dividends are a better hedge against inflation when prices are rising quickly. Simply stated,…
It’s tempting to think some magic number will guarantee that a stock will go up or down. But the hard reality is that Wall Street is as much of an expectations game as anything else. That’s why finding stocks with good news updates can be just as important as finding stocks with strong fundamentals. Based on the news cycle and…
One of the key developments for energy investors in recent years has been a move among oil and gas production companies to return cash to shareholders. Now, many exploration and production companies are more focused on returning free cash flow to shareholders in the form of stock buyback and dividends. Here’s a look at top seven energy companies paying dividends.…
President Donald Trump’s inauguration ushered in an administration much more friendly to oil and gas companies than its predecessor. But White House policies could prove a double-edged sword for the industry. On the one hand, it seems that petroleum producers could enjoy a more relaxed regulatory environment and greater export potential. On the other hand, a global trade war sparked by Trump’s…