U.S. Investors poured a stunning $54 billion into emerging-market exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in 2012, according to research firm ETFGI. That’s a stunning growth from just $3 billion in 2011. The two largest ETFs in the category, Vanguard… Read More

Right now, many quality European multinationals are cheaper than their U.S. peers, as investors’ concerns about Europe’s economy have lowered share prices. The S&P 500 currently trades at 2.14 times book value and 12.4 times projected 2013 earnings, compared with 1.5 times book and 10.8 times estimated earnings for the Euro Stoxx 50 Index, an index for Eurozone blue chips. The EuroStoxx 50 also yields more than 4.5% — double… Read More

Right now, many quality European multinationals are cheaper than their U.S. peers, as investors’ concerns about Europe’s economy have lowered share prices. The S&P 500 currently trades at 2.14 times book value and 12.4 times projected 2013 earnings, compared with 1.5 times book and 10.8 times estimated earnings for the Euro Stoxx 50 Index, an index for Eurozone blue chips. The EuroStoxx 50 also yields more than 4.5% — double the S&P 500’s 2.25%. Yet even with all the negative headlines about Europe, I’ve had great success with several European stocks in my High-Yield International portfolio. Take Sanofi (NYSE: SNY), a French pharmaceutical company that’s up nearly 90% in the few short years I’ve owned it. Or U.K-based National Grid (NYSE: NGG), an electric distribution utility that has been paying a steady dividend since I added it in 2008 and is up 27% in two years. And now, I’ve pinpointed another European company worth considering for your… Read More

The best dividend-paying stocks are often familiar names that have been around forever, but don’t get much attention from analysts. And right now is the best time to invest in stocks that pretty much provide investors with a steady stream of income that grows bigger year after year.#-ad_banner-# Such is the case with Western Union (NYSE: WU), the global leader in money-transfer services. Going strong since the 1850s, the company went public in 2006 when it was spun off from First Data. Not many analysts pay attention to this… Read More

The best dividend-paying stocks are often familiar names that have been around forever, but don’t get much attention from analysts. And right now is the best time to invest in stocks that pretty much provide investors with a steady stream of income that grows bigger year after year.#-ad_banner-# Such is the case with Western Union (NYSE: WU), the global leader in money-transfer services. Going strong since the 1850s, the company went public in 2006 when it was spun off from First Data. Not many analysts pay attention to this stock, but dividend investors should find a lot to like about Western Union. It has a leading market share, 10 years of relatively consistent growth, a business model that produces enormous amounts of cash flow and a firm commitment to returning more of its cash to investors. This is what we here at StreetAuthority refer to as a Retirement Savings… Read More

Although it doesn’t make for a very interesting story, providing replacement parts for consumers can be just as profitable as unlocking the creative innovation that launches a new industry. Case in point: Cooper Tire & Rubber (NYSE: CTB). This company makes replacement tires for cars and trucks. It is the… Read More

There’s a wave of wealth sweeping rural areas across North America.#-ad_banner-# Sleepy, rundown towns are bustling with commerce and activity as the new-found money breathes life into the… Read More

Although it doesn’t make for a very interesting story, providing replacement parts for consumers can be just as profitable as unlocking the creative innovation that launches a new industry. Case in point: Cooper Tire & Rubber (NYSE: CTB). This company makes replacement tires for cars and trucks. It is the ninth-largest tire maker in the world and markets directly to consumers rather than supplying the parts needed for new cars where profit margins can be smaller. Tariff protection for tires was dropped in 2011, and Cooper… Read More

Although it doesn’t make for a very interesting story, providing replacement parts for consumers can be just as profitable as unlocking the creative innovation that launches a new industry. Case in point: Cooper Tire & Rubber (NYSE: CTB). This company makes replacement tires for cars and trucks. It is the ninth-largest tire maker in the world and markets directly to consumers rather than supplying the parts needed for new cars where profit margins can be smaller. Tariff protection for tires was dropped in 2011, and Cooper fell sharply when traders became concerned that cheap imports from China could hurt the company’s business. Those fears proved to be misplaced and Cooper saw sales and earnings rise as the stock price recovered. Despite strong financial performance, Cooper is trading with a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of about 5, less than half the industry average and well below the market average of about 14. Earnings… Read More

The stock market consolidated its gains last week while waiting for news. Earnings announcements this week could push prices out of their two-week trading range. Traders… Read More

Everyone knows fashion retailing is a cyclical business. The better the economy is, the more consumers spend. Conversely, when the economy is weak, people tend to stay at home and keep their purse strings tied tight. As a result, when it looks an… Read More

Each week, one of our investing experts answers a reader’s question in our the Q&A column at our sister site, InvestingAnswers.com. It’s all part of our mission to help consumers build and protect their wealth through education. This week’s question … Read More

For as long as I can remember, I have always questioned the status quo and the established way of looking at things.#-ad_banner-# If the majority is doing one thing, then it’s my natural state to think the opposite. But as you likely know, a… Read More