Trading Tips Blog

Companies are focused on growth. Sometimes, things don’t go to plan, and they have to cut back on headcount. That’s a bad sign. But sometimes, a company that’s growing finds ways to do more with fewer employees. That’s why markets send shares of a company higher after what first appears to be bad news. If a company can continue to grow with a smaller headcount, its profitability improves. With many of today’s AI trends underway, job layoffs at a company could be ...
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Mark Alexander, a director at W.P. Carey (WPC), recently bought 3,500 shares. The buy increased his stake by 10%, and came to a total cost of $195,531. This marks the first insider buy in 15 months, as Alexander was the last buyer with a 1,000 share buy in May, 2023. Otherwise, the company’s Chief Accounting Officer sold a small position over two transactions in the past year, making the only other insider activity. Overall, W.P. Carey insiders own 1.2% of shares. The ...
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Technology company MicroStrategy (MSTR), best known for holding a massive amount of bitcoin, is up 250% over the past year. One trader sees shares trending higher in the months ahead. That’s based on the October 18 $139 calls. With 64 days until expiration, 29,760 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 115, for a 259-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $21.05 to make the bullish bet. MicroStrategy recently traded at a post-stock-split price ...
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Every company operates differently. A great company is one that can operate with a lean platform. That means they may not be in the business of acquiring physical goods that then have to be manufactured. Ideally, investors should see the best returns with a company that has a high profit margin, and low cost to acquire that revenue in the first place. Companies with that structure that lead their industry should deliver great returns over time. One potential winner is Airbnb (ABNB) ...
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Prithvi Gandhi, CFO at Beacon Roofing Supply (BECN), recently added 5,000 shares. The buy came to a total cost of $411,000, and is an initial position for the CFO. This is the first insider buy since last November, when a division president paid $125,603 to buy 1,725 shares. Otherwise, company insiders have been steady sellers of shares, evenly mixed between regular sales and sales following the exercise of stock options. Overall, Beacon Roofing insiders own 0.6% of shares. The distributor of roofing ...
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Wall Street megabank Citigroup (C) is up 31% over the past year, far outperforming the overall stock market. One trader sees shares continuing higher over the next 13 months. That’s based on the September 2025 $67.50 calls. With 401 days until expiration, 10,144 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 148, for a 69-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $3.30 to make the bullish bet. Citigroup shares recently traded for just under $58, ...
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With the entire market selling off in recent weeks, investors have a chance to buy shares of great companies, no matter what sector they’re in. For tech companies, it can mean getting a hefty discount to recent higher. For other companies, any dips may be short-lived. Investors who focus on industry leaders may have to pay up no matter what happens in the market. But in many cases, that can be worth it. Amid last week’s market volatility, only a handful of ...
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Ruth Porat, a director at Blackstone (BX), recently bought 269 shares. The buy increased her stake by 1%, and came to a total cost of $34,868. Porat was the last buyer, with a 277 share pickup for just over $33,000 back in May. She and a second director also bought in February. Otherwise, two insiders, a director and the company’s Chief Accounting Officer, sold shares in the past few months. Over the past two years, sellers outnumber buyers. In total, Blackstone ...
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