The starting gun has sounded in the consumer staples category. Billionaire activist investor Carl Icahn’s widely reported bid to acquire Clorox (NYSE: CLX) has led investors to focus on the broader sector, looking for other companies that may be in play. On occasion, a deal for one company… Read More

Waiting until the last minute, the politicians that run the United States of America are finally on the cusp of a major government overhaul — a move that was badly needed in light of its eye-popping budget deficits. Yet while the move to finally trim budget deficits should be applauded,… Read More

Before the global economic downturn of 2008, a clear investing theme had emerged. Rising incomes across the world were leading to richer diets and triggering a boom for all kinds of stocks that helped farmers be more productive. This emerging trend helped enrich shareholders of Mosaic (NYSE: MOS), the world’s… Read More

With the economy showing new signs of weakness, profit forecasts are coming into question, especially for companies that are counting on consumer spending. But toy maker Hasbro (NYSE: HAS) laid down a path in 2008 and 2009 that should set the stage for robust results in 2012 and… Read More

Though it’s only halfway over, 2011 is shaping up to be a forgettable year for many solar stocks. A slowdown in orders from Germany and Italy, which collectively account for half of current global demand, has led to price wars and declining forecasts. Yet for one company,… Read More

Companies in the high-technology industry must innovate constantly in order to stay competitive. Right now, a predictable turn of events is unfolding: an industry pioneer has posted very impressive growth. Heavy competition ensued, crimping growth and profit margins, forcing the company to refocus its game plan to remain on the leading edge. And now that things are turning around, it spells real opportunity for investors. This is precisely what’s happening with Cree Research (Nasdaq: CREE). Cree grew hordes of fans when sales of its light-emitting diode (LED) lighting products began… Read More

Companies in the high-technology industry must innovate constantly in order to stay competitive. Right now, a predictable turn of events is unfolding: an industry pioneer has posted very impressive growth. Heavy competition ensued, crimping growth and profit margins, forcing the company to refocus its game plan to remain on the leading edge. And now that things are turning around, it spells real opportunity for investors. This is precisely what’s happening with Cree Research (Nasdaq: CREE). Cree grew hordes of fans when sales of its light-emitting diode (LED) lighting products began to surge in mid 2007. But growth and profit in recent quarters has slumped and the company is now saddled with many detractors. The good news is clear catalysts are in place to win back the hearts of currently dubious investors. An impressive stretch of sales growth has come to an end Cree has poured massive sums into research and development (R&D) efforts to establish a leading position in LED lighting, which is more energy-efficient than standard forms of lighting. These lights used to be too dim for many industrial applications, but with… Read More

Many investors tend to ignore stock buyback announcements. Seemingly massive share repurchase programs become a lot less impressive when you realize they are mostly attempting to offset generous stock option grants for insiders by reducing growth in the share count. Adding insult, some… Read More

Michael Dell is surely heaving a sigh of relief. His efforts to revamp his namesake computer company had received little respect on Wall Street, but since last Labor Day, analysts are finally warming up to the stock. Shares have risen more than 30%, and some analysts speak bullishly about… Read More

Imagine showing up to a party and find you’re the only one in the room. This is the lonely feeling many companies experience when they complete their initial public offering (IPO). These companies spend a great amount of energy preparing for their debut,… Read More

After surging for nearly two years, the stock market appears to have reached a plateau. Every time the S&P 500 makes a move to surpass its two-year high of 1,370, it falters anew. Whether it can finally breach that mark and move up another 20% or 30% will be decided… Read More