Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) made history last month with the biggest corporate bond issue ever: $17 billion in six different maturities. That’s more than the GDP of the 29 smallest countries combined — and Apple did it by promising to pay just 1.4% a year in interest.#-ad_banner-# Everyone caught the news, but many overlooked the huge consequences it has for the… Read More

Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) made history last month with the biggest corporate bond issue ever: $17 billion in six different maturities. That’s more than the GDP of the 29 smallest countries combined — and Apple did it by promising to pay just 1.4% a year in interest.#-ad_banner-# Everyone caught the news, but many overlooked the huge consequences it has for the market. This deal has the potential to push a lot of stocks higher and not just those tied to the Cupertino, Calif.-based giant. Apple will be using the debt to return $100 billion to shareholders through dividends and stock repurchases over the next two years. Evidently, the Street likes the plan, with big investors like David Einhorn buying more… Read More

Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) made history last month with the biggest corporate bond issue ever: $17 billion in six different maturities. That’s more than the GDP of the 29 smallest countries combined — and Apple did it by promising to pay just 1.4% a year in interest.#-ad_banner-# Everyone caught the news, but many overlooked the huge consequences it has for the… Read More

Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) made history last month with the biggest corporate bond issue ever: $17 billion in six different maturities. That’s more than the GDP of the 29 smallest countries combined — and Apple did it by promising to pay just 1.4% a year in interest.#-ad_banner-# Everyone caught the news, but many overlooked the huge consequences it has for the market. This deal has the potential to push a lot of stocks higher and not just those tied to the Cupertino, Calif.-based giant. Apple will be using the debt to return $100 billion to shareholders through dividends and stock repurchases over the next two years. Evidently, the Street likes the plan, with big investors like David Einhorn buying more… Read More

Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) made history last month with the biggest corporate bond issue ever: $17 billion in six different maturities. That’s more than the GDP of the 29 smallest countries combined — and Apple did it by promising to pay just 1.4% a year in interest.#-ad_banner-# Everyone caught the news, but many overlooked the huge consequences it has for the… Read More

Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) made history last month with the biggest corporate bond issue ever: $17 billion in six different maturities. That’s more than the GDP of the 29 smallest countries combined — and Apple did it by promising to pay just 1.4% a year in interest.#-ad_banner-# Everyone caught the news, but many overlooked the huge consequences it has for the market. This deal has the potential to push a lot of stocks higher and not just those tied to the Cupertino, Calif.-based giant. Apple will be using the debt to return $100 billion to shareholders through dividends and stock repurchases over the next two years. Evidently, the Street likes the plan, with big investors like David Einhorn buying more… Read More

Over the last three years, I have quietly created a proprietary system comprised of three different types of dividend-paying stocks that I believe will outperform any other dividend strategy on the planet. The Dividend Trifecta is a three part approach to dividends that multiplies the effectiveness of every dollar you invest. The plan is specifically engineered for people who want to retire sooner. Or, for those who would like to get a steady stream of extra… Read More

Over the last three years, I have quietly created a proprietary system comprised of three different types of dividend-paying stocks that I believe will outperform any other dividend strategy on the planet. The Dividend Trifecta is a three part approach to dividends that multiplies the effectiveness of every dollar you invest. The plan is specifically engineered for people who want to retire sooner. Or, for those who would like to get a steady stream of extra income now. And, I can tell you after managing a $5 million trust fund for a non-profit, I’ve been pitched every investing “system” available.  Many so-called systems are complicated and should only be used by professional investors willing to sit in front of their computer screens for hours on end each day. But, I believe The Dividend Trifecta works for the vast majority of people willing to put it into action. This investing technique requires no risky options trading… no… 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

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

For income investors, the problems continue to mount. Most recently, the yields available on junk bonds broke to record lows. Barclays U.S. High Yield Index fell below 5%. At this level, there seems to be little protection… Read More

Typically, investing is about making choices: growth versus value, long versus short, domestic versus international, or cyclical versus staple. Rarely do we get the best of both choices. Fortunately, the stars have aligned for one… Read More

Beta is one of the most commonly used measures of risk in the financial markets. Beta measures the volatility of a particular stock relative to the broader… Read More

In the depths of the financial crisis in late 2008, shares of tobacco maker Lorillard (NYSE: LO) were struggling as much as any other blue-chip stock. That summer, shares slid from around $20 to nearly $15 by… Read More