The stock market changes from minute to minute, and what’s hot today may not be hot tomorrow. Our expert analysts spot hot stocks that are heating up before the crowd swoops in to bid prices higher, and our journalists sift through the noise to shine a light on trending investments -- in spaces ranging from quantum computing to marijuana stocks -- to determine whether they’re actually worth your time.
Wal-Mart Stores (WMT) has acquired some 2 million shares of the U.S. prepaid credit card company Green Dot, a move that comes on the heels of an expected regulatory approval for Green Dot's $15.7 million acquisition of the Utah-based Bonneville Bank. Though Green Dot executives say the store would have no role in operating the bank, its minority stakeholder title -- less than 1 % of the company -- would give Wal-Mart indirect access into the country's financial space.
U.S. auto stocks Ford, GM and Chrysler have finished ahead of foreign automakers for the first time ever in the 2010 J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study. U.S. cars averaged 108 problems per 100 vehicles compared with 109 problems per 100 vehicles for imports. The following chart tracks initial quality for the past 12 years.
When investing retirement money in stocks, investors should consider simple trading strategies that work no matter what the market is doing. That means following the money to the best stocks to buy based on consumer trends. To help you cash in on this investing strategy, here are my five favorite guy stocks to buy right now - Playboy (PLA), Morton's Steakhouse (MRT), Rick's Cabaret (RICK), Cabela's (CAB) and Anheuser Busch InBev (BUD).
The BP Plc (NYSE: BP) oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is horrific. But investors looking for stocks to buy should consider the simple trading strategy of picking up BP shares at the bottom. Buying an undervalued stock can easily make you a quick profit. There is risk, of course, but buying BP stock could offer retirement investors significant rewards.
Retirement investors may be surprised to learn that some of the best stocks to buy right now are actually luxury stocks and consumer discretionary plays. While it's true that overall spending isn't quite as impressive as it was before the financial crisis, many luxury stocks, clothing companies and discretionary retailers are doing big business.
Apple Inc. (AAPL) stockholders have reason to be excited about the impending release of the iPhone 4, the latest model in Apple's line of popular smartphones. AT and T (T) released a statement on Wednesday afternoon revealing that they were completely sold out of preorders for the device and that any further preorders would not be filled until after the June 24 release date.
Burger King (BKC) has parterned with the Microsoft (MSFT) Xbox 360 Kinect controller to promote the video game system as well as its fast food retaurant stock. Burger King and Xbox have joined on video games in the past, with BKC mascots such as The King appearing in games. Previous games boosted sales and earnings for BK.
The 2010 IPO of AgBank, or the Agricultural Bank of China as the Chinese company is known, is on tap for the largest initial public offering of stock in history. The AgBank IPO is tentatively scheduled for July 15, and China stock watchers and U.S. investors alike are captivated by the offering.
After the May stock market swoon, financial stock Evercore (EVR) took a big tumble. Shares are down over -20% in the last month. However, investors should take notice because this pick could be the value buy of the year. Evercore is a great stock to buy, and I am confident that EVR has big upside for investors.
Poor Sears. Sears Holdings Corp. (SHLD), the retail stock behind the largest U.S. department-store chain Sears and discount retailer Kmart, peaked at nearly $200 a share in 2007. SHLD stock hasn't come anywhere close to that number in the last few years. More recently, the company has only had one quarterly profit in the last four reporting periods -- including an unexpected loss in the first quarter.
Starbucks (SBUX) has been on the resurgence in the last year and a half, with sales picking back up and shares racing up +240% since the March 2009 lows – almost five times better than the broader market. SBUX stock shows no sign of slowing down either, with Starbucks up about 22% year-to-date while the market is essentially flat.
BRIC investors should consult an ADR list to find the best investments in Brazil, Russia, India and China. Only by doing your own stock market research and consulting a complete ADR list of BRIC companies can you be sure your emerging market equities are low-risk and profitable for your portfolio.
Last week's report from the US Census Bureau on retail sales for May showed a drop of about 1.2% from April sales. It was the first drop in retail sales since September 2009, a winning streak longer than any in the past 10 years. Suspected retail weakness may have gotten its first piece of empirical evidence this morning as Best Buy Inc. (NYSE: BBY) reported earnings for its first fiscal quarter of 2011 that were well below analysts' average estimates of $0.50 EPS on revenues of $10.9 billion. Best Buy reported EPS of $0.36 on sales of $10.8 billion.
Fitch Ratings service has dropped its credit rating on BP plc (NYSE: BP) a breath-taking six notches, from 'AA' to 'BBB' this morning, and put the company on negative watch for additional downgrades. BP debt is now just two ticks above junk. According to Fitch, the ratings change is the result of the demand from the Obama administration that BP set up an escrow account to pay claims arising from the blown-out Macondo well.
At the end of May, I was telling China stock and ETF investors that the next 5% move in Chinese investments would be up rather than down. Well, during the following week my forecast largely played out as the May swoon ended and China stocks started to gain some momentum in the beginning of June. However, further problems emanating from Europe continue to act as an anchor on the global stock market despite last week marking the broader market's first weekly move upwards in a month.
Flowers Foods (FLO) is a great example of a fairly boring stock that's done incredibly well for investors. Despite having a market value in excess of $2 billion, Flowers is almost completely ignored by Wall Street. The stock is practically invisible on stock message boards but could be a great stock to buy.
With unemployment, a huge deficit and rock bottom interest rates, it's clear that economic trends are pointing to deflation at home and inflation abroad. Something has to give, but unfortunately the government continues to spend freely and run up the federal deficit and the Federal Reserve has refused to raise interest rates.
One of my favorite simple trading strategies for individual investors is to put your retirement money in a growing stock. That sounds pretty straightforward, but many investors quickly realize it's not as simple an investing strategy as it seems – especially when it comes to finding hot penny stocks to buy now. After all, many of the big-name stocks to buy that you hear about every day are massive blue chips that have already seen their biggest growth. And some of the penny stocks that are small up-and-comers are aggressive, risky investments that could cost you everything.
On Thursday, the Hong Kong stock exchange approved the 2010 ipo of the Agricultural Bank of China. The AgBank IPO application is for a $20 billion to $30 billion initial public offering. Hong Kong's approval now makes the Agricultural Bank of China a virtual certainty for this IPO, and AgBank stock could begin trading on both the Hong Kong and Shanghai exchanges by mid-July.
