Over the past decade, several national radio station operators have declared bankruptcy, and those that remain are on the ropes.  Shares of Cumulus Media (Nasdaq: CMLS), for example, traded for $20 a decade ago, but now fetch less than $5. These radio firms have been hit by the double-barreled assault of satellite radio and audio streaming  services. Indeed, the next generation of car stereos is more likely to feature buttons for Pandora (NYSE: P), Sirius XM (Nasdaq: SIRI) or Spotify. The number of listeners inclined to peruse the AM and FM dials will dwindle. Still, it’s an industry in flux… Read More

Over the past decade, several national radio station operators have declared bankruptcy, and those that remain are on the ropes.  Shares of Cumulus Media (Nasdaq: CMLS), for example, traded for $20 a decade ago, but now fetch less than $5. These radio firms have been hit by the double-barreled assault of satellite radio and audio streaming  services. Indeed, the next generation of car stereos is more likely to feature buttons for Pandora (NYSE: P), Sirius XM (Nasdaq: SIRI) or Spotify. The number of listeners inclined to peruse the AM and FM dials will dwindle. Still, it’s an industry in flux and even Sirius XM and Pandora have had their share of controversy. My longer-term concerns around Sirius XM have not gone away.  The company’s satellite radio service is popular now, but with firms like Apple, Google and Microsoft aiming to control in-car entertainment systems, Sirius can no longer count on strong direct relationships with auto makers to pre-install its platform. The balance is already titling towards streaming audio services such as Pandora, Spotify and others. Pandora, for its part, has had plenty of detractors. As I noted back in May, Pandora’s Q1 results raised concerns about growth and margins. Second-quarter results were slightly better,… Read More

Let me tell you, if you are a contrarian investor and looking for a place to hunt for bargains, this is it. Are you familiar with the S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index?  Standard and Poors describes this index as “a broad market indicator of Canadian micro cap securities in Canada.”  This index of stocks has been beaten down relentlessly. Check out the performance for the index over its recent history. It is truly a chart that only a bargain hunter could love. Read More

Let me tell you, if you are a contrarian investor and looking for a place to hunt for bargains, this is it. Are you familiar with the S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index?  Standard and Poors describes this index as “a broad market indicator of Canadian micro cap securities in Canada.”  This index of stocks has been beaten down relentlessly. Check out the performance for the index over its recent history. It is truly a chart that only a bargain hunter could love. This entire index of stocks needs to increase by 250% just to get back to where it was in early 2011. The performance of this index has been so miserable that today a full five years after the global financial crisis stock prices are back near the lows seen in those dark days. #-ad_banner-#​This performance is terrible on its own. When you compare it with the S&P 500 (which has nearly tripled from the March 2009 lows) it is almost indescribably bad. It almost goes without saying — given how beaten down these stocks are… Read More

Even the world’s greatest stock pickers make mistakes, including the famous activist investor Carl Icahn. At the end of 2012, Icahn closed his position in one of the world’s leading heavy-duty truck and specialized construction equipment manufacturers. The decision to sell followed a failed hostile takeover attempt in which Icahn offered to buy out current shareholders for almost $3 billion, excluding the nearly 10% stake he already owned. #-ad_banner-#​Had Icahn been successful, he would have pushed for the election of six new board… Read More

Even the world’s greatest stock pickers make mistakes, including the famous activist investor Carl Icahn. At the end of 2012, Icahn closed his position in one of the world’s leading heavy-duty truck and specialized construction equipment manufacturers. The decision to sell followed a failed hostile takeover attempt in which Icahn offered to buy out current shareholders for almost $3 billion, excluding the nearly 10% stake he already owned. #-ad_banner-#​Had Icahn been successful, he would have pushed for the election of six new board members who supported his vision for the company — to spinoff of its JLG subsidiary that makes aerial work platforms and tow-behind trailers. However, not enough shareholders accepted Icahn’s tender offer, and he ended up walking away from the stock entirely. While hindsight is always 20/20, there must be some degree of seller’s remorse on Icahn’s part. Since he jettisoned the stock nearly 20 months ago, the price has spiked 68% — and that’s with a 10% pullback following a third-quarter earnings miss reported on… Read More

By now, many investors have heard about the massive gambling mecca in the Chinese protectorate of Macau. Billions of dollars have poured into the strip, creating a similar amount of profits for investors.  Yet investors may not have heard of the prologue to this story. The “Macau story” is played out: growth has sharply slowed and investment opportunities have dried up. Or so the financial press would have you believe.  The truth is quite different. For far-sighted investors, a fresh chance at upside has emerged, especially for my favorite Macau gaming stock, Melco Crown… Read More

By now, many investors have heard about the massive gambling mecca in the Chinese protectorate of Macau. Billions of dollars have poured into the strip, creating a similar amount of profits for investors.  Yet investors may not have heard of the prologue to this story. The “Macau story” is played out: growth has sharply slowed and investment opportunities have dried up. Or so the financial press would have you believe.  The truth is quite different. For far-sighted investors, a fresh chance at upside has emerged, especially for my favorite Macau gaming stock, Melco Crown Entertainment (Nasdaq: MPEL). A nearly 40% plunge since early March, paired with a still-robust growth outlook, means it’s time to buy.    I first looked at Melco Crown four years ago and I encourage you to read what I wrote back then before continuing. The expansion strategy laid out then exceeded my wildest expectations. Shares went on to deliver a nearly 1,000% gain.   #-ad_banner-#​Maturing, not slowing The era of rapid growth for Macanese casinos is nearing an end. Chinese citizens — especially the high-rollers — are feeling more… Read More

In the board rooms of Best Buy (NYSE: BBY), Barnes & Noble (NYSE :BKS), Bed, Bath & Beyond (Nasdaq: BBBY) and many other retailers, the same two concerns exist: Consumers aren’t spending.  Retail sales grew just 2.9% in the first six months of 2014, according to the National Retail Federation.  And whatever sales growth that can be had is often sucked up by Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN), which is expected to boost revenue $15 billion this year and another $20 billion in 2015 to nearly $110 billion in sales.   #-ad_banner-#​It’s… Read More

In the board rooms of Best Buy (NYSE: BBY), Barnes & Noble (NYSE :BKS), Bed, Bath & Beyond (Nasdaq: BBBY) and many other retailers, the same two concerns exist: Consumers aren’t spending.  Retail sales grew just 2.9% in the first six months of 2014, according to the National Retail Federation.  And whatever sales growth that can be had is often sucked up by Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN), which is expected to boost revenue $15 billion this year and another $20 billion in 2015 to nearly $110 billion in sales.   #-ad_banner-#​It’s only once you realize that shares of Amazon.com are off 20% this year, that you begin to understand that every corner of the retail sector is hurting. Many retailers now realize that they should have devoted more resources to their e-commerce portals. Bed, Bath & Beyond, for example, is just now taking its web presence seriously — and that came only after its shares were pummeled.  While some firms such as Walmart are spending hundreds of millions of dollars to internally boost their online sales platforms, others lack the money or skill to create a world-class website. Read More

From time to time we at StreetAuthority propose investments in “controversial” stocks that many of our readers may feel uneasy about. I’m talking about so-called “sin” stocks like tobacco, gambling and the like.  Make no mistake, these companies are often profitable for investors. Studies show that these stocks often beat the market. And it’s our job to identify the most profitable opportunities out there — no matter what they are.  #-ad_banner-#​But we always try to make it clear that if you’re not comfortable investing in these companies, that’s perfectly fine. … Read More

From time to time we at StreetAuthority propose investments in “controversial” stocks that many of our readers may feel uneasy about. I’m talking about so-called “sin” stocks like tobacco, gambling and the like.  Make no mistake, these companies are often profitable for investors. Studies show that these stocks often beat the market. And it’s our job to identify the most profitable opportunities out there — no matter what they are.  #-ad_banner-#​But we always try to make it clear that if you’re not comfortable investing in these companies, that’s perfectly fine.  Today, however, I’d like to turn that idea on its head and talk about an investment that helps fight the sin. In her May issue of Stock of The Month, Amy Calistri wrote about an unsettling trend regarding heroin use in the United States. Specifically, Amy’s research found that the number of heroin users in the U.S. is rising… and quickly.                On April 29, Fletcher Allen Health Care admitted 8 patients for heroin overdoses. In other words, it was… Read More

Marijuana needs to be legalized… At least that’s what the editorial board at the New York Times thinks. On July 27, the newspaper published an op-ed titled “Repeal Prohibition, Again.” In the piece, the board provided a laundry list of reasons the United States government should make pot… Read More

There’s a surprising secret located deep within the Swiss Alps. You could find this secret for yourself if you travel far enough into the mountains. That, however, is provided you can make it in through an explosion-proof door and past multiple security zones with bullet-proof lock gates — all while avoiding advanced face-recognition technology and 24 hour security. They call it “Swiss Fort Knox”… and it’s aptly named. The facility is actually a 1960’s Cold War bunker redesigned with the latest technology and re-purposed with one goal in mind — to counteract a rising global threat. And based on these… Read More

There’s a surprising secret located deep within the Swiss Alps. You could find this secret for yourself if you travel far enough into the mountains. That, however, is provided you can make it in through an explosion-proof door and past multiple security zones with bullet-proof lock gates — all while avoiding advanced face-recognition technology and 24 hour security. They call it “Swiss Fort Knox”… and it’s aptly named. The facility is actually a 1960’s Cold War bunker redesigned with the latest technology and re-purposed with one goal in mind — to counteract a rising global threat. And based on these intense security measures — which seem like something you’d see in a James Bond movie — you’d probably think the facility was housing a new technology designed to perform powerful, militaristic feats. But you won’t find tanks or any new spacecrafts in this hidden facility. This massive bunker isn’t equipped to counteract violent terrorist attacks… or find weapons of mass destruction. And though the Swiss claim the facility is capable of withstanding a nuclear attack, it isn’t meant to provide shelter during a massive weather event or other natural disaster. In fact, the primary threat in mind isn’t even a… Read More

It’s that time of the year again…  Game-Changing Stocks editor Andy Obermueller has just released his annual “shocking predictions report” for 2015. If you aren’t familiar with Andy or his shocking predictions report, then you’re missing out on one of the most controversial (yet insightful) pieces of research that our company regularly publishes. #-ad_banner-#​As StreetAuthority’s resident expert in what he calls “the next big thing,” it’s Andy’s job to track down and find the market’s hottest growth opportunities — especially… Read More

It’s that time of the year again…  Game-Changing Stocks editor Andy Obermueller has just released his annual “shocking predictions report” for 2015. If you aren’t familiar with Andy or his shocking predictions report, then you’re missing out on one of the most controversial (yet insightful) pieces of research that our company regularly publishes. #-ad_banner-#​As StreetAuthority’s resident expert in what he calls “the next big thing,” it’s Andy’s job to track down and find the market’s hottest growth opportunities — especially ones that aren’t on most investors’ radars yet.  We’re talking about the kind of returns you’ve dreamed of since first learning of the stock market… Andy won’t even consider making a recommendation unless it offers “10-bagger” (i.e. 4-digit gain) potential. That’s why once a year Andy publishes his shocking predictions list. This report gives him the chance to showcase some of his unorthodox — yet most promising — growth opportunities for the coming 12 months. Over the years these predictions have proven convincingly accurate…… Read More

It’s a private stock market shared by millionaires, celebrities and double-digit dividend yields. This market is riddled with former government big shots… The Clintons, Mitt Romney, Al Gore, Rudy Giuliani and George H.W. Bush have all made millions in it. According to Bloomberg News, Bill Clinton made $15.4 million in this market between 2003 and 2007. Warren Buffett, Goldman Sachs, George Soros and others have made billions from this private market, too. …Yet I doubt your average investor has ever… Read More

It’s a private stock market shared by millionaires, celebrities and double-digit dividend yields. This market is riddled with former government big shots… The Clintons, Mitt Romney, Al Gore, Rudy Giuliani and George H.W. Bush have all made millions in it. According to Bloomberg News, Bill Clinton made $15.4 million in this market between 2003 and 2007. Warren Buffett, Goldman Sachs, George Soros and others have made billions from this private market, too. …Yet I doubt your average investor has ever even heard of it. That’s because for the most part, no one but the wealthiest 6% of investors has had access to this “millionaires only” market. But that’s quickly changing. In fact, I predict that in 2015, this private market will open up to more investors than ever before. Today, I am going to tell you about a way to tap into this premier market immediately and without having to be a millionaire. I am talking about investing in business… Read More