U.S. companies are sitting on a total of more than $1 trillion in cash, but many are being rather stingy with their dividend payouts while they wait to see how the… Read More

You’ve no doubt heard many times that one of the best ways to make money in the stock market is to buy stocks when they’re “hated.” In fact, Warren Buffett has followed this path to profits countless times and used it to amass his vast fortune. I don’t think I could find many stocks that have been more “hated” over the past few years than Bank of America… Read More

You’ve no doubt heard many times that one of the best ways to make money in the stock market is to buy stocks when they’re “hated.” In fact, Warren Buffett has followed this path to profits countless times and used it to amass his vast fortune. I don’t think I could find many stocks that have been more “hated” over the past few years than Bank of America (NYSE: BAC). From its role in the financial crisis and housing bubble to ongoing litigation issues associated with those dark chapters for the economy, it seems like the company can’t catch a break. But, of course, just because a stock is hated doesn’t mean you should buy it. To determine this, we have to look much deeper.#-ad_banner-# But before we do that, the first and most obvious thing to consider is that none other than Buffett himself has issued a vote of… Read More

Can an apparel company that built its success on catering to women participating in a “touchy-feely” activity repeat that success by marketing to men? Although this Canadian company has marketed its products to men since it was founded in 1998 — and earns a surprising 12% of its revenue from that segment — it is looking to attract men in the U.S. and overseas. However, the company had an embarrassing setback earlier this year when it was forced to recall some of its women’s… Read More

Can an apparel company that built its success on catering to women participating in a “touchy-feely” activity repeat that success by marketing to men? Although this Canadian company has marketed its products to men since it was founded in 1998 — and earns a surprising 12% of its revenue from that segment — it is looking to attract men in the U.S. and overseas. However, the company had an embarrassing setback earlier this year when it was forced to recall some of its women’s yoga pants because a manufacturing flaw had made them too revealing for some activities. The fiasco sent its stock price reeling to $65 in March from a high above $75 last year. If you haven’t guessed, I’m talking about Lululemon Athletica (Nasdaq: LULU).#-ad_banner-# The company is now looking to replace CEO Christine Day, who has been at the helm for more than five years. Lululemon’s best days may still be ahead, considering that more people worldwide are becoming attuned to maintaining a… Read More

If you lost a chunk of your portfolio during the Great Recession or were late to the party as the market recovered, you might be trying to make up that lost ground with aggressive investments. With the market steadily climbing upward, you would probably be less likely to go for safe, defensive plays intended to protect your money rather than grow it. While that’s a good strategy at this point in the economic cycle, it… Read More

If you lost a chunk of your portfolio during the Great Recession or were late to the party as the market recovered, you might be trying to make up that lost ground with aggressive investments. With the market steadily climbing upward, you would probably be less likely to go for safe, defensive plays intended to protect your money rather than grow it. While that’s a good strategy at this point in the economic cycle, it might also pay to consider one particular real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns, operates and develops retail properties, including a sizable representation of grocery-anchored retail properties in its portfolio. The grocery-anchored retail component provides the safe defensive play, while the REIT also stands to benefit from rising construction activity as the economy improves. Regency Centers Corp. (NYSE: REG) grows by acquiring new properties, developing properties and investing in partnership with others. Typically, the REIT… Read More