Consumers have an insatiable appetite for new and better products and services, and they tend to reward the companies that fulfill their desires. However, shifting consumer preferences can erode brand loyalty at even the best-loved companies. When this happens, expenses are slashed and dividends are cut as the formerly high-flying company struggles to remain relevant in the ever-changing consumer culture. Once the dividends start to be cut, yield investors will start to dump the stock,… Read More

Consumers have an insatiable appetite for new and better products and services, and they tend to reward the companies that fulfill their desires. However, shifting consumer preferences can erode brand loyalty at even the best-loved companies. When this happens, expenses are slashed and dividends are cut as the formerly high-flying company struggles to remain relevant in the ever-changing consumer culture. Once the dividends start to be cut, yield investors will start to dump the stock, sending share prices downward. The key to avoiding these “dividend trap” stocks is to look for a weakening fundamental and technical situation when the dividend yield is staying steady or climbing. Here are two stocks that may become “dividend traps” due to the changing consumer landscape. Garmin (Nasdaq: GRMN) This manufacturer and marketer of GPS equipment pays a hefty dividend yield of 5%. Generally, this would be a positive, but in this instance, it signals trouble.#-ad_banner-# The… Read More

Insurance agents reach for the antacids whenever the economy slows down. Their clients start to look for ways to trim costs, and reduced insurance coverage (and the smaller premiums they are charged) eats into the insurers’ bottom lines. Any hopes of actually raising insurance premiums go out the window, as a client will quickly jump ship to a rival in search of a better deal.#-ad_banner-# Yet as the economy strengthens, the whole dynamic changes. Once a clear economic upturn is underway, competition… Read More

Insurance agents reach for the antacids whenever the economy slows down. Their clients start to look for ways to trim costs, and reduced insurance coverage (and the smaller premiums they are charged) eats into the insurers’ bottom lines. Any hopes of actually raising insurance premiums go out the window, as a client will quickly jump ship to a rival in search of a better deal.#-ad_banner-# Yet as the economy strengthens, the whole dynamic changes. Once a clear economic upturn is underway, competition becomes less cutthroat, clients grow less sensitive to the cost of insurance, and insurers can finally push through long-delayed premium increases. With the U.S. economy on the mend — economists expect U.S. GDP to rise at nearly a 3% pace in the second half of this year — the stage is set for insurers to move back into the sweet spot of their pricing cycle. Right about now, you… Read More

Insurance agents reach for the antacids whenever the economy slows down. Their clients start to look for ways to trim costs, and reduced insurance coverage (and the smaller premiums they are charged) eats into the insurers’ bottom lines. Any hopes of actually raising insurance premiums go out the window, as a client will quickly jump ship to a rival in search of a better deal.#-ad_banner-# Yet as the economy strengthens, the whole dynamic changes. Once a clear economic upturn is underway, competition… Read More

Insurance agents reach for the antacids whenever the economy slows down. Their clients start to look for ways to trim costs, and reduced insurance coverage (and the smaller premiums they are charged) eats into the insurers’ bottom lines. Any hopes of actually raising insurance premiums go out the window, as a client will quickly jump ship to a rival in search of a better deal.#-ad_banner-# Yet as the economy strengthens, the whole dynamic changes. Once a clear economic upturn is underway, competition becomes less cutthroat, clients grow less sensitive to the cost of insurance, and insurers can finally push through long-delayed premium increases. With the U.S. economy on the mend — economists expect U.S. GDP to rise at nearly a 3% pace in the second half of this year — the stage is set for insurers to move back into the sweet spot of their pricing cycle. Right about now, you… Read More

Insurance agents reach for the antacids whenever the economy slows down. Their clients start to look for ways to trim costs, and reduced insurance coverage (and the smaller premiums they are charged) eats into the insurers’ bottom lines. Any hopes of actually raising insurance premiums go out the window, as a client will quickly jump ship to a rival in search of a better deal.#-ad_banner-# Yet as the economy strengthens, the whole dynamic changes. Once a clear economic upturn is underway, competition… Read More

Insurance agents reach for the antacids whenever the economy slows down. Their clients start to look for ways to trim costs, and reduced insurance coverage (and the smaller premiums they are charged) eats into the insurers’ bottom lines. Any hopes of actually raising insurance premiums go out the window, as a client will quickly jump ship to a rival in search of a better deal.#-ad_banner-# Yet as the economy strengthens, the whole dynamic changes. Once a clear economic upturn is underway, competition becomes less cutthroat, clients grow less sensitive to the cost of insurance, and insurers can finally push through long-delayed premium increases. With the U.S. economy on the mend — economists expect U.S. GDP to rise at nearly a 3% pace in the second half of this year — the stage is set for insurers to move back into the sweet spot of their pricing cycle. Right about now, you… Read More

Insurance agents reach for the antacids whenever the economy slows down. Their clients start to look for ways to trim costs, and reduced insurance coverage (and the smaller premiums they are charged) eats into the insurers’ bottom lines. Any hopes of actually raising insurance premiums go out the window, as a client will quickly jump ship to a rival in search of a better deal.#-ad_banner-# Yet as the economy strengthens, the whole dynamic changes. Once a clear economic upturn is underway, competition… Read More

Insurance agents reach for the antacids whenever the economy slows down. Their clients start to look for ways to trim costs, and reduced insurance coverage (and the smaller premiums they are charged) eats into the insurers’ bottom lines. Any hopes of actually raising insurance premiums go out the window, as a client will quickly jump ship to a rival in search of a better deal.#-ad_banner-# Yet as the economy strengthens, the whole dynamic changes. Once a clear economic upturn is underway, competition becomes less cutthroat, clients grow less sensitive to the cost of insurance, and insurers can finally push through long-delayed premium increases. With the U.S. economy on the mend — economists expect U.S. GDP to rise at nearly a 3% pace in the second half of this year — the stage is set for insurers to move back into the sweet spot of their pricing cycle. Right about now, you… Read More

Insurance agents reach for the antacids whenever the economy slows down. Their clients start to look for ways to trim costs, and reduced insurance coverage (and the smaller premiums they are charged) eats into the insurers’ bottom lines. Any hopes of actually raising insurance premiums go out the window, as a client will quickly jump ship to a rival in search of a better deal.#-ad_banner-# Yet as the economy strengthens, the whole dynamic changes. Once a clear economic upturn is underway, competition… Read More

Insurance agents reach for the antacids whenever the economy slows down. Their clients start to look for ways to trim costs, and reduced insurance coverage (and the smaller premiums they are charged) eats into the insurers’ bottom lines. Any hopes of actually raising insurance premiums go out the window, as a client will quickly jump ship to a rival in search of a better deal.#-ad_banner-# Yet as the economy strengthens, the whole dynamic changes. Once a clear economic upturn is underway, competition becomes less cutthroat, clients grow less sensitive to the cost of insurance, and insurers can finally push through long-delayed premium increases. With the U.S. economy on the mend — economists expect U.S. GDP to rise at nearly a 3% pace in the second half of this year — the stage is set for insurers to move back into the sweet spot of their pricing cycle. Right about now, you… Read More

Insurance agents reach for the antacids whenever the economy slows down. Their clients start to look for ways to trim costs, and reduced insurance coverage (and the smaller premiums they are charged) eats into the insurers’ bottom lines. Any hopes of actually raising insurance premiums go out the window, as a client will quickly jump ship to a rival in search of a better deal.#-ad_banner-# Yet as the economy strengthens, the whole dynamic changes. Once a clear economic upturn is underway, competition… Read More

Insurance agents reach for the antacids whenever the economy slows down. Their clients start to look for ways to trim costs, and reduced insurance coverage (and the smaller premiums they are charged) eats into the insurers’ bottom lines. Any hopes of actually raising insurance premiums go out the window, as a client will quickly jump ship to a rival in search of a better deal.#-ad_banner-# Yet as the economy strengthens, the whole dynamic changes. Once a clear economic upturn is underway, competition becomes less cutthroat, clients grow less sensitive to the cost of insurance, and insurers can finally push through long-delayed premium increases. With the U.S. economy on the mend — economists expect U.S. GDP to rise at nearly a 3% pace in the second half of this year — the stage is set for insurers to move back into the sweet spot of their pricing cycle. Right about now, you… Read More

Insurance agents reach for the antacids whenever the economy slows down. Their clients start to look for ways to trim costs, and reduced insurance coverage (and the smaller premiums they are charged) eats into the insurers’ bottom lines. Any hopes of actually raising insurance premiums go out the window, as a client will quickly jump ship to a rival in search of a better deal.#-ad_banner-# Yet as the economy strengthens, the whole dynamic changes. Once a clear economic upturn is underway, competition… Read More

Insurance agents reach for the antacids whenever the economy slows down. Their clients start to look for ways to trim costs, and reduced insurance coverage (and the smaller premiums they are charged) eats into the insurers’ bottom lines. Any hopes of actually raising insurance premiums go out the window, as a client will quickly jump ship to a rival in search of a better deal.#-ad_banner-# Yet as the economy strengthens, the whole dynamic changes. Once a clear economic upturn is underway, competition becomes less cutthroat, clients grow less sensitive to the cost of insurance, and insurers can finally push through long-delayed premium increases. With the U.S. economy on the mend — economists expect U.S. GDP to rise at nearly a 3% pace in the second half of this year — the stage is set for insurers to move back into the sweet spot of their pricing cycle. Right about now, you… Read More

Private-market value. It’s a simple concept most investors overlook. Yet it’s an approach that has catapulted fund manager Mario Gabelli into the billionaires’ club. He’s made big profits at his firm, GAMCO Investors, which now manages more than $40 billion in… Read More

Consumers have an insatiable appetite for new and better products and services, and they tend to reward the companies that fulfill their desires. However, shifting consumer preferences can erode brand loyalty at even the best-loved companies. When this happens, expenses are slashed and dividends are cut as the formerly high-flying company struggles to remain relevant in the ever-changing consumer culture. Once the dividends start to be cut, yield investors will start to dump the stock,… Read More

Consumers have an insatiable appetite for new and better products and services, and they tend to reward the companies that fulfill their desires. However, shifting consumer preferences can erode brand loyalty at even the best-loved companies. When this happens, expenses are slashed and dividends are cut as the formerly high-flying company struggles to remain relevant in the ever-changing consumer culture. Once the dividends start to be cut, yield investors will start to dump the stock, sending share prices downward. The key to avoiding these “dividend trap” stocks is to look for a weakening fundamental and technical situation when the dividend yield is staying steady or climbing. Here are two stocks that may become “dividend traps” due to the changing consumer landscape. Garmin (Nasdaq: GRMN) This manufacturer and marketer of GPS equipment pays a hefty dividend yield of 5%. Generally, this would be a positive, but in this instance, it signals trouble.#-ad_banner-# The… Read More