Here are two numbers to consider: 25% and -60%. These numbers should be moving in tandem, so there’s a really good chance the positive number will be sucked back down by the negative number. I’m talking about the stunning rally for dry-bulk shipping stocks and the sharp… Read More

It was bound to happen. When I first began looking at stocks to add to my $100,000 Real-Money Portfolio, I knew I’d eventually come to a crossroads where I might have a holding that didn’t quite turn out how I’d hoped (or at least not yet), and I’d be faced… Read More

Analysts aren’t always right. They’re not always timely either. But when they’re in consensus about a stock, especially when that opinion is bearish (analysts are notoriously rosy with their outlooks), then there’s a good chance their collective opinion is on target, and investors… Read More

Last summer, when Netflix (Nasdaq: NFLX) was messing with its pricing plans, alienating its customers in the process, I spotted a clear opening for rival Coinstar (Nasdaq: CSTR), which runs a kiosk-based DVD distribution system. As I wrote then: “Thanks to Netflix, Coinstar’s DVD business will thrive… Read More

As the market has crawled ever higher during the past three years, a clear theme has emerged: When the market slumps, investor pessimism gets carried to extremes; and when the market posts a strong rally, things are not as solid as they appear. Read More

While the mainstream financial media chases every conceivable Facebook angle ahead of its initial public offering (IPO), which is expected sometime in May, it’s important not to get lost in the frenzy. About $5 billion worth of… Read More

For companies that carry a huge load of debt, there is no room for error. Cash-flow targets need to be met simply to assure investors that funds will be in place to meet future bond redemptions. If… Read More

At the start of each year, the chief strategists at Wall Street firms analyze dozens of variables and make bold prognostications for the year ahead. They distill all of their conclusions into one simple number — the S&P 500, and where it will reside… Read More

In the past few years, I’ve continually marveled at the stunning piles of cash parked on the balance sheets of many high-tech firms. These companies had been holding lots of cash to stay strong in case industry conditions waned. But even with the sharp economic blows of 2008 and 2009,… Read More

As an income investor, 2012 is a pivotal year for your U.S. and Canadian holdings. First, as you may know, this is the year when the Bush tax cuts are slated to expire on Dec. 31.   We’ve enjoyed nearly a decade of reduced… Read More