For Patient Investors, It’s Time to Follow the Smart Money

Every quarter, hedge funds, investment firms, and other notable individuals have to update their stock holdings with the SEC, via a 13F filing. The data can show what moves investors have made in the past few months. With the market still coming off a correction, looking at the data as a whole, investors can see where the broadest number of major investors were the most bullish. Following this smart money can tend to outperform the market over time. While 13F data may ...
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Insider Trading Report: MGM Resorts International (MGM)

IAC Inc., a major owner of MGM Resorts International (MGM) has been picking up shares with multiple buys in the past week. That includes a 279,800 share buy, for just under $10 million, and another buy for 283,700 shares, also for just under $10 million. Both buys increased the company’s holdings by nearly 1 percent. That’s the first insider buy at the company since June, when a director picked up 38,000 shares, paying just over $1.1 million. There have been some smaller ...
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Unusual Options Activity: Conoco Phillips (COP)

Shares of oil and gas major Conoco Phillips (COP) have nearly doubled over the last year thanks to strong oil and gas prices. One trader sees further upside ahead for the company. That’s based on the September $120 calls. With 24 days until expiration, 12,135 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 218, for a 56-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $0.61 to make the bet. Shares recently traded around $105, so they ...
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Pick and Shovel Plays Don’t Go Out of Style

When times get tough, some types of companies have some big problems. Others tend to fare well. Those that do well succeed in part because they’re in a recession-resistant industry. One type of company fitting that bill is one that offers pick and shovel plays. While that can mean those specific tools, the broader concept is the infrastructure and tools needed to keep an economy or sector going. These stocks tend to hold up well, even in fearful markets. One such play ...
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Insider Trading Report: Cleveland-Cliffs (CLF)

Celso Goncalves, CFO at Cleveland-Cliffs (CLF), recently picked up 6,000 shares. The buy increased his holdings by 4 percent, and came to a total cost just under $18,500. That buy came a day after the CFO bought 5,000 shares. A company president has also been bullish this year. Over the past three years, company insiders have largely been buyers, with only a handful of sales by company directors. Overall, insiders at the company own 1.4 percent of shares. The steel producer has ...
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Unusual Options Activity: Freeport-McMoRan (FCX)

Shares of commodity producer Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) have been sliding in recent weeks, on signs of cooling inflation. One trader sees the possibility for a further decline in the coming weeks. That’s based on the September 9th $27 put options. With 18 days until expiration, 2,905 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 127, for a 23-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $0.24 to make the bet. Shares recently traded just over $31, so ...
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Buy Leading Companies Offering Low-Cost Entertainment

Consumers are starting to show signs of pulling back on spending in a number of areas. For a recession, that tends to mean a large slowdown in a number of high-cost activities, such as cruises or other vacations. That also means that low-cost forms of entertainment tend to hold up well. As with low-cost food or beverages, demand remains much stickier, no matter how the economy declines. Investors who follow this trend can find profitable opportunities now. One potential low-cost opportunity is ...
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Insider Trading Report: Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP)

Maurice Milikin, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP), recently picked up 12,979 shares. The buy increased his holdings by about 17 percent, and came to a total cost of just over $517,000. The buy is a follow-up, as the officer has been a steady buyer since June. Other company executives have also been buyers in recent months, with one company director making a sale. Over the past three years, insider buying has far exceeded sales. Overall, officers and directors ...
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