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.
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.
Burger King Holdings (BKC) launched a bit of an unexpected campaign this summer with offerings barbecue pork ribs. With a price tag north of $7 for eight pieces of the ribs, the product is an oddity in an era when most restaurants are racing to offer up bargains for cash-strapped consumers. Well it turns out Burger King's rib deal may wind down sooner than expected – but perhaps not for the reason you think. Demand was so strong for the tasty barbecue items that BK has just sold its 10 millionth rib and expects to exhaust its supply.
By
Jim Woods, Editor-in-Chief, Successful Investing, Intelligence Report, Bullseye Stock Trader
McDonald's (MCD) stock is one of the few blue chips that has really outperformed the market in recent months, with +11% gains in MCD stock year-to-date compared with a -3% slide in the broader market. And over the longer term, McDonald's strength is equally impressive, with McDonald's stock up over +21% in the last 24 months while the major indexes have lost about -20%. This is clearly a stock to buy, with great earnings and sales that proves McDonald's has staying power.
Take Two Interactive (TTWO) shareholders had cause to celebrate yesterday as the game publisher announced that its latest product, video game western Red Dead Redemption, old over 5 million units less than a month after its release. The game, developed by controversial and popular studio Rockstar Games, has been so successful that Take-Two has raised its forecast for fiscal year 2010, expecting a loss of only 10 to 30 cents where previous forecasts were predicting a loss of up to 60 cents a share. Take-Two shares went up more than 2% following the announcement on Tuesday.
BP shares are up today after falling more than 15% yesterday on fears that one or more of several pieces of bad news would push the company even lower.
WAG shares are down this morning as investors respond to the latest developments in the skirmish between drug store stocks Walgreen Co. (WAG) and CVS Caremark Corp. (CVS).
