To the casual observer, it must seem as if the market has been trending in only one direction — up –since bottoming out in March 2009. A gain of more than 100% in the S&P 500 since that bottom surely gives… Read More

For blue-chip stocks, it’s been another solid year. Fully 25 out of the 30 stocks in the Dow Jones Industrial Average are up this year, led by a 61% spike in Bank of America (NYSE: BAC ), a 44% gain for Home Depot (NYSE: HD) and a 39% jump for… Read More

Over the course of 2010 and 2011, we at StreetAuthority.com ran a number of articles focusing on the ever-rising cash balances of corporate America. Companies took the crisis of 2008 and 2009 to heart and started to build up huge reserves of cash for the next rainy day. And in… Read More

Investors looking to score big gains should always pay attention to the retail sector. Not the top retail stocks that seem to pound out modest sales gains each year, but the weaker retailers that have hit a rough patch. These retail firms could see shares slide far below prior peaks once same-store sales weaken and investors shun them. Yet these broken retailers can also become vastly oversold — and great bargain-hunting fodder. For example, I suggested that women’s apparel retailer Christopher & Banks (NYSE: CBK) was far too cheap — based on… Read More

Investors looking to score big gains should always pay attention to the retail sector. Not the top retail stocks that seem to pound out modest sales gains each year, but the weaker retailers that have hit a rough patch. These retail firms could see shares slide far below prior peaks once same-store sales weaken and investors shun them. Yet these broken retailers can also become vastly oversold — and great bargain-hunting fodder. For example, I suggested that women’s apparel retailer Christopher & Banks (NYSE: CBK) was far too cheap — based on tangible book value and sure enough, the stock eventually took off like a rocket. In fact, a number of oversold retailers make up the list of leading gainers in the just completed third quarter. In almost every instance, these retailers had traded sharply lower in prior quarters, which is precisely the time that you should be focusing on them. Whether it’s a buyout offer, or simply a… Read More

Did you have the misfortune of owning for-profit education stocks in the third quarter? Then you’re likely licking your wounds right now, and presumably, cutting your losses. Just look at the third quarter share price drops for some of the leading players in the sector. I noted… Read More

Economists at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are paid to worry. They have to soberly assess the various currents and cross-currents buffeting the global economy, making their best guess about what lies ahead for the… Read More

What’s the first thing people do when they hear about major shootings by a mentally unstable gunman? They go out and buy guns. These shocking news events tend to spook people, so they instantly take steps to ensure they don’t fall victims to the next shooter. As an example, gun… Read More

When he was head of General Electric (NYSE: GE), Jack Welch had one rule for his company: Be the top player in the field, or don’t even bother. The numbers backed him up. Business school professors repeatedly teach that an industry leader can have up to twice the… Read More

Over time, the nation’s major department stores have always sought to provide consumers with a unique shopping experience. Sears Holdings (Nasdaq: SHLD) was known for a healthy mix of hardware and appliances along with the usual assortment of clothes, jewelry and shoes. Kohl’s (NYSE: KSS) was known for a solid… Read More

Transitioning from a niche drug maker into a “Big Pharma player” can be fraught with challenges. As these companies seek to grow through the development or acquisition of new drugs, they need to keep an eye on their existing portfolios of products… Read More