If you’ve ever been to Mexico, then Carlos Slim owes you a gracias. It’s almost impossible to go a day in this country without spending a peso in one of his business. Slim is the third richest person in the world, behind Bill Gates and Warren Buffett,… Read More

Uganda, the East African nation sandwiched between the Congo and Kenya, is blessed with significant mineral resources. Its rich, fertile land is not prone to drought, and although agriculture has long encompassed a majority of the country’s economy — coffee is its most significant… Read More

This week brought a significant bit of news in the ethanol world. Industry-watchers might assume I’m talking about President Obama’s Wednesday announcement with the Energy and Agriculture secretaries that a federal biofuel output quota schedule had been finalized, a move that… Read More

The vast majority of investors regret not having bought Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) or Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) 20 years ago, long before they became the behemoths they are today. Consider this, though: Many investors in 20 years from now will probably look back at the opportunities available in today’s market with… Read More

Many investors focus on short-term trends, buying or selling stocks in anticipation of how the current quarter will play out. This myopic approach can keep them from finding great long-term investments. Touch-screen maker Synaptics (Nasdaq: SYNA) is a prime example. The company recently reported a tepid fiscal… Read More

Cigarette makers must be worried. A tiny U.S. company has a drug that could all but destroy nicotine addiction in America and beyond, and its shares give investors a chance to profit from this potentially world-changing… Read More

President Obama has given his speech, the Republicans have had their say and the punditry has opined and moved on. Investors should now consider what effect the State of the Union address and the president’s 2010 agenda might have on their portfolios. The speech’s… Read More

Sitting in his college dorm room, a student stared at his jar of coins, wondering what to do with them. Two years later, Jens Molbak started a company that allowed customers the convenience of pouring their change into a machine and getting dollars in return. Read More

A 13% yield — these days or any other — is impressive for any company. Fewer than 50 out of the thousands listed on U.S. exchanges can match that payout. Such a robust yield is a show-stopper on its own,… Read More

It took a talking duck to make one of the largest insurance companies rise from obscurity to one of the most recognized names in the business. Aflac Inc. (NYSE: AFL) provides health insurance for 40 million people worldwide and has received numerous awards for being the best-managed… Read More