I believe the stock market has changed for the better in the past few weeks. Fundamentals are still bearish, but the economic news has been a little better. Most importantly, the technicals have improved. This a bull market again. Let me show you why… I’ll start with a chart of small-caps. Below is the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE: IWM). The blue rectangle shows a 10-month trading range. The upside breakout occurred coincided with a “buy” signal from my Income Trader Volatility (ITV) indicator, which is shown at the bottom of the chart. (For more on this award-winning indicator,… Read More

I believe the stock market has changed for the better in the past few weeks. Fundamentals are still bearish, but the economic news has been a little better. Most importantly, the technicals have improved. This a bull market again. Let me show you why… I’ll start with a chart of small-caps. Below is the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE: IWM). The blue rectangle shows a 10-month trading range. The upside breakout occurred coincided with a “buy” signal from my Income Trader Volatility (ITV) indicator, which is shown at the bottom of the chart. (For more on this award-winning indicator, click here.) —Sponsored Link— How To Invest In Real Estate Without Having To Buy Properties Many people think that the only way to invest in real estate is to buy a home or apartment for rental income. The truth is that you don’t have to deal with finding good properties, financing, tenants, maintenance, or other hassles of being a landlord to invest in real estate. It’s possible to let others do some of the work for you while you relax. Find out more — Click here now. Read More

The current stock market environment makes finding value stocks a challenge. Gone are the days when an investor could simply scan the market for underperformers. Finding true value in the market now requires digging deeper into the fundamentals as they compare to others in the sector. My research has uncovered three stocks providing actual value at current share prices.  1. Ultra Clean Holdings (Nasdaq: UCTT) Shares of this small-cap semiconductor manufacturer have soared over 240% this year. But despite being one of the top performers this year, UCTT remains a solid value pick due to its price-sales (P/S) ratio… Read More

The current stock market environment makes finding value stocks a challenge. Gone are the days when an investor could simply scan the market for underperformers. Finding true value in the market now requires digging deeper into the fundamentals as they compare to others in the sector. My research has uncovered three stocks providing actual value at current share prices.  1. Ultra Clean Holdings (Nasdaq: UCTT) Shares of this small-cap semiconductor manufacturer have soared over 240% this year. But despite being one of the top performers this year, UCTT remains a solid value pick due to its price-sales (P/S) ratio of 1.16. With the average P/S ratio in the sector being 2.12, UCTT’s value shines.  The P/S ratio is critical when evaluating companies in the technology space since it eliminates accounting games and management chicanery from earnings results. The P/S ratio is simply calculated by dividing the stock price by annual revenues, and provides a relatively accurate value picture that can then be compared to the company’s peers.  #-ad_banner-#Although it’s unlikely we will see this stratospheric stock performance repeat itself, UCTT continues to be an ideal value stock for your portfolio. Earnings per share (EPS) exploded over 100% in 2016,… Read More

When I was 12 years old, my grandfather loaned me his classic Hasselblad camera to shoot photos in the park near where I grew up. The light was dim and I wanted to capture the colorful tree line that was swaying in the wind, so I loaded up some high-speed Kodak film and hit the road. I knew I only had one chance to get that perfect light, perfect shot, perfect exposure. I wasn’t worried; I had faith in Kodak and its quality products. But sure enough, I had some incorrect settings and the pictures were useless. Even then, I… Read More

When I was 12 years old, my grandfather loaned me his classic Hasselblad camera to shoot photos in the park near where I grew up. The light was dim and I wanted to capture the colorful tree line that was swaying in the wind, so I loaded up some high-speed Kodak film and hit the road. I knew I only had one chance to get that perfect light, perfect shot, perfect exposure. I wasn’t worried; I had faith in Kodak and its quality products. But sure enough, I had some incorrect settings and the pictures were useless. Even then, I knew there had to be an easier way. —Sponsored Link— You Know What You Want To keep more of your own money. Make better than average returns… and fewer mistakes. VectorVest makes it easy to make better decisions. To stay in control as the markets move up and down, with at-a-glance guidance on what and when to buy, sell and hold. Analyze any stock free. Get your free report. Fast-forward to today and digital cameras (including higher-end smartphones) can turn even the worst photographer into the next Ansel Adams. On top… Read More

Running out of money is a genuine fear for everyone, no matter their age or income. During our working years, this anxiety is quieted by a steady cash flow, allowing us to build a “just in case” fund for unexpected expenses and, hopefully, a retirement fund. Because when you get to retirement age, that steady paycheck stops and money anxiety creeps in again.  Many investors turn to the stock market for security in uncertain times. Owning the right mix of growth and dividend stocks is the key to never running out of money in retirement and ensuring your financial security… Read More

Running out of money is a genuine fear for everyone, no matter their age or income. During our working years, this anxiety is quieted by a steady cash flow, allowing us to build a “just in case” fund for unexpected expenses and, hopefully, a retirement fund. Because when you get to retirement age, that steady paycheck stops and money anxiety creeps in again.  Many investors turn to the stock market for security in uncertain times. Owning the right mix of growth and dividend stocks is the key to never running out of money in retirement and ensuring your financial security should your income be slashed for whatever reason.  Stocks with a stable history, consistent dividends, and a genuine potential for price appreciation are perfect candidates.  In other words, consistency trumps high dividends and returns when it comes to saving for retirement.  My research has discovered a portfolio of five stocks that are a good start for anyone seeking to cement their financial security. #-ad_banner-#​1. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) A true diversified giant, this $355 billion behemoth boasts the world’s fifth-largest pharmaceutical business, a vast array of consumer products, and a complete medical device business. The company’s brand portfolio… Read More

I couldn’t believe we were hassling over 1/8 of an inch.   It was the fall of 2010 and I was helping my parents build a new addition to their house. I was assisting their contractor with the foundation, and when we measured everything out before we poured the footers and stem walls we were less than 1/8 of an inch off.  —Sponsored Link— Step 1: Buy These 5 ETFs Now… TQQQ, FAS, UPRO, plus two additional ETFs revealed in this FREE REPORT. Step 2: Follow the simple strategy inside this free trading guide and Step 3:… Read More

I couldn’t believe we were hassling over 1/8 of an inch.   It was the fall of 2010 and I was helping my parents build a new addition to their house. I was assisting their contractor with the foundation, and when we measured everything out before we poured the footers and stem walls we were less than 1/8 of an inch off.  —Sponsored Link— Step 1: Buy These 5 ETFs Now… TQQQ, FAS, UPRO, plus two additional ETFs revealed in this FREE REPORT. Step 2: Follow the simple strategy inside this free trading guide and Step 3: Collect as much as $16,978.31 in a week. Full list of ETF’s and strategy that has generated over $9.9 Million in cash payouts steadily now for 10 years. Revealed here… I thought that was pretty good. I mean, who would notice? Plus, it would be covered up in any event… But the contractor wouldn’t let it go. He wouldn’t be satisfied until we were perfect.    #-ad_banner-#What he taught me that day, I’ve carried over into my financial career.    You see, as you know the foundation is the most important part of any house. And… Read More

President Donald Trump is perhaps the most polarizing U.S. president of all time. Despite his sometimes-questionable rhetoric, one thing has remained constant throughout his campaign and presidency: Trump is 100% in support of American business. Throughout the election and into his time in office, Trump’s pro-business stance has given confidence to investors, who have sent the stock market soaring higher. Less than a year into his term, indexes are sitting near all-time highs and bullish sentiment is bursting at the seams.  Among the most talked about plans of the new administration is tax reform. While large corporations stand to gain… Read More

President Donald Trump is perhaps the most polarizing U.S. president of all time. Despite his sometimes-questionable rhetoric, one thing has remained constant throughout his campaign and presidency: Trump is 100% in support of American business. Throughout the election and into his time in office, Trump’s pro-business stance has given confidence to investors, who have sent the stock market soaring higher. Less than a year into his term, indexes are sitting near all-time highs and bullish sentiment is bursting at the seams.  Among the most talked about plans of the new administration is tax reform. While large corporations stand to gain the most from the potential changes, everyday investors will likely also benefit.  What To Expect From Trump’s Tax Plan 1. Higher Dividends Income investors rejoice! One of the most appealing effects of Trump’s proposed tax reform will be higher dividends across the board.  #-ad_banner-#The President has stated that he wants to slash the corporate rate all the way down to 20% from the current 35%. Primarily designed to incentivize corporations from fleeing the United States in search of lower rates, the tax plan represents $1.8 trillion in tax savings over the next decade. This inflow of wealth will… Read More

If you read yesterday’s issue of StreetAuthority Daily, then you know that my colleague Brad Briggs discussed why learning about Warren Buffett’s career still matters for investors today. In short, he mentioned that despite Buffett’s $80 billion fortune, you and I have a big advantage over him. —Sponsored Link— Big Tobacco’s Punishment: A Long Time Coming In November of 1998, the “Big Four of Big Tobacco” were sued for using misleading advertisements and manipulating scientific research. And in a landmark settlement they agreed to pay a historic sum of money in perpetuity to those affected. Read More

If you read yesterday’s issue of StreetAuthority Daily, then you know that my colleague Brad Briggs discussed why learning about Warren Buffett’s career still matters for investors today. In short, he mentioned that despite Buffett’s $80 billion fortune, you and I have a big advantage over him. —Sponsored Link— Big Tobacco’s Punishment: A Long Time Coming In November of 1998, the “Big Four of Big Tobacco” were sued for using misleading advertisements and manipulating scientific research. And in a landmark settlement they agreed to pay a historic sum of money in perpetuity to those affected. We estimate they’ve been paying out about $686 million a month. What you may not know is that you could personally claim a tax-free portion of this money… regardless of whether you’ve smoked a day in your life. See how you can cash in on Big Tobacco’s “forever income.” Timing. You see, because you and I don’t have massive portfolios like Buffett, it doesn’t take much to really move the needle. It’s a nice problem for Buffett to have, frankly, but it can really work to our advantage. That’s because, if we emulate Buffett’s habit of… Read More

When it comes to money, every now and then the U.S. government gets caught in the act of doing something terribly right. The creation of the Roth IRA in 1997 is a great example.  As the Trump administration rolls out its tax plan, the proposed rollback of the corporate tax rate from 35% to 20%, a major component of the plan, might also enter the tax-reform hall of fame. Sure, large multi-national companies  will benefit from the reduction, but these companies also have the luxury of tax benefits in many different countries. For example, in 2016 Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) had… Read More

When it comes to money, every now and then the U.S. government gets caught in the act of doing something terribly right. The creation of the Roth IRA in 1997 is a great example.  As the Trump administration rolls out its tax plan, the proposed rollback of the corporate tax rate from 35% to 20%, a major component of the plan, might also enter the tax-reform hall of fame. Sure, large multi-national companies  will benefit from the reduction, but these companies also have the luxury of tax benefits in many different countries. For example, in 2016 Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) had a domestic loss of $300 million and foreign income of $20.1 billion. The company’s net tax liability was $3.3 billion, or an effective rate of around 16.5%. Small- and micro-cap companies, on the other hand, do much of their business domestically. A 43% cut in the corporate tax rate would be a huge boon to these companies and their stocks alike. However, due to the sometimes esoteric nature of the space, one of the best ways to gain exposure is taking the fund route.  #-ad_banner-#One of the most experienced small-cap funds out there is the Royce Value Trust (NYSE: RVT),… Read More