Politicians hate stock buybacks. Companies love them—and right now they show no signs of stopping. Yes, buying back stock might seem difficult for companies right now. President Biden, in his State of...
Tag: The Trader
The Stock Market Doesn’t Look Cheap, Any Way You Slice It
Stock indexes closed another losing week in a downbeat February, as investors continue to debate the path of the economy and monetary policy. It’s a decidedly muddled outlook for the market from a fun...
Any Way You Slice It, Stocks Still Don’t Look Cheap
Text size This past week’s numbers gave investors plenty to fret about. Spencer Platt/Getty Images Stock indexes closed another losing week in a downbeat February, as investors continue to debate the ...
Intel Cut Its Dividend. Home Depot, McDonald’s, and Other Stocks Could Be Next.
Intel is cutting its dividend. In a treacherous environment for the economy and profits, more companies could do the same. On Wednesday, Intel (ticker: INTC) cut its dividend by 66% to an annual 50 ce...
Intel Cut Its Dividend. These Stocks Could Be Next.
Intel is cutting its dividend. In a treacherous environment for the economy and profits, more companies could do the same. On Wednesday, Intel (ticker: INTC) cut its dividend by 66% to an annual 50 ce...
A Sideways Stock Market and the Case for Selling in March
Investors have heard the dictum “sell in May and go away.” This year they might want to consider selling in March. The May adage follows from market seasonality. Historically, investors have realized ...
Stock Market Has Worst Week of 2023. No News Is Bad News.
It’s the middle of February, and the stock market finally seems caught in the winter doldrums. There may be more gray days ahead. Even the most optimistic investors will admit that January’s blisterin...
The Stock Market Is in the Mood to Rally, Even if It Defies Logic
Text size John Taggart/Bloomberg Oh, what a difference a few simple words can make. “The disinflationary process has started,” said Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell at Wednesday’s press conferen...
An Unstoppable Stock Market Is About to Meet the Immovable Fed
The stock market has acted as if the Federal Reserve doesn’t exist as it jumps out to a quick start to the year. Expect Fed Chairman Jerome Powell to remind it when the central bank hikes interest rat...
Wells Fargo, Disney, and 10 Other Stocks Value Investors Are Watching
Text size Eaton Vance’s Adam Dunn expects cost cutting at Disney and a more balanced approach to growth and profitability at Disney+ under newly reinstalled CEO Bob Iger. Getty Images Sometimes, being...
Martin Marietta Stock Can Thrive in Both Inflation and Deflation
Despite a solid start to 2023, the stock market could still get rocky. That’s where sand and gravel supplier Martin Marietta Materials comes in. Martin Marietta (ticker: MLM) is a producer of aggregat...
Why Utilities and Energy Are the Stock Market Sectors to Play Right Now
If 2022’s stock market could be described as brutal, 2023’s might best be described as befuddling. Thankfully, there is a portfolio for that. What’s so befuddling? It’s not just that there is uncertai...
Inflation Isn’t the Stock Market’s Biggest Problem Now. Deflation Is.
Generationally high inflation was the story of 2022. That’s not going to be the story of 2023. The boogeyman of disinflation—and even some deflation—is about to become the biggest risk to stocks, and ...
Charles Schwab Stock Is Ready to Put 2022 Behind It. It’s Time to Buy.
It was a tale of two halves for Charles Schwab stock in 2022. This year is looking a whole lot better. Schwab (ticker: SCHW) finished last year off 1%. But there was a lot more action than that minusc...
The Stock Market Had a Great Start to 2023. Earnings Season Could Be a Problem.
Text size This coming Friday marks the start of fourth-quarter earnings season, with Jamie Dimon’s JPMorgan Chase helping to kick off the festivities. Ting Shen/Bloomberg Investors got their Goldilock...
These 3 Sectors Have Had a Good Run. They Still Look Strong for 2023.
Yes, the stock market can always get worse—and that means three of this year’s best-performing sectors could continue to outperform in 2023. After a punishing 2022, Wall Street isn’t expecting the sit...
From T-Mobile to Starry Group Stock. Lessons From My Picks in 2022.
The year was humbling for many in markets. Growth stocks, the dominant trade for much of the past decade, fell out of favor. There were few winners to be found outside of the energy sector. Bond price...
Stocks Limp Toward 2023 as the Data Show Few Signs of a Clear Direction
Stocks limped on the low volumes of the pre-Christmas week, battered by conflicting data and leaving investors with a muddled outlook going into 2023. It’s a dynamic in which good news and bad news te...
The Fed Is Making a Mistake—and the Stock Market Will Pay the Price
We all make mistakes—but the Federal Reserve may be making a bigger one than most. That could mean another difficult year for the stock market in 2023. Those concerns were front and center this past w...
As Carvana Plunges, Consider These 5 Car Dealer Stocks
It was a bad week for Carvana —and a bad week for used-car dealers. But some auto-dealer stocks might still be worth buying. After falling almost 40% this past week, Carvana (ticker: CVNA) is off an i...
The Stock Market Had a Terrible Week—and Now the Fed Meeting Is on Tap
Things tend to slow down for the holidays. The stock market isn’t there yet. With Christmas just a couple of weeks away, it’s easy to look ahead to candy canes, caroling, and presents under the tree, ...
Stocks Rise on Cooling Inflation and Fed Moderation. That Doesn’t Mean the Bear Market Is Over.
Christmas came early this year for the stock market. Is there a Grinch waiting to ruin it? It was a week of surprises both good—Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell essentially confirming a smaller ...
Slowing Inflation Isn’t Good for All Stocks. The Challenge That Tesla and Others Could Be Facing.
Inflation may have peaked, which could be bad news for stocks that have benefited from higher prices. It has taken time, but the market has finally coalesced around the idea that inflation won’t get h...
6 Preferred Stocks That Offer Safety and High Yields
There still is plenty of yield in the depressed preferred-stock market—even after the recent half-point yield decline in the Treasury 10-year note to 3.7%. Many preferred issues yield 6% or more and o...
It’s Time for the Stock Market to Worry About Recession
The stock market is so over the Federal Reserve—but that doesn’t mean it’s out of the woods just yet. Attention is now turning to the U.S. economy—and whether it sinks into recession will determine if...
Match Group Stock Has Been Knocked Down. It’s Time to Pick It Up.
Online dating has been a heartbreaker for investors in Match Group this year. The stock, however, now looks like a keeper. It hasn’t been an easy year for Match (ticker: MTCH). Its stock has fallen 65...
Oil Prices Could Jump in December. Energy Stocks Should Get a Jolt.
Oil prices have had a quiet November, holding steady around $90 per barrel. There’s a good chance the calm won’t last. A new set of sanctions from Europe will ratchet up the pressure against Russia an...