Trading Tips Blog

The economy ebbs and flows. Today’s slowdown will eventually give way to the next recovery and move stocks higher. The stock market tends to start moving higher before the economic data shows such a recovery. That’s why investors should focus on companies that will benefit from the next boom during a bust. Such a move ensures that investors and traders alike can capture the biggest part of the move as it happens. When the economy slows, so does the flow of goods ...
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Michael Kerr, a director at
EOG Resources (EOG), recently bought 20,000 shares. The buy increased his holdings by 12 percent, and came to a total cost of just under $2.61 million. The director also logged the last buy at the company in November 2021, with a 50,000 share buy for about $4.3 million. Since then, company insiders have been sellers of shares, mostly after exercising stock options. Overall, EOG insiders own about 0.5 percent of shares. The oil and gas exploration company is ...
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Shares of chipmaker
Micron Technology (MU) are down nearly one-third over the last year. One trader sees a further decline ahead for shares in the coming weeks. That’s based on the March 3 $48 puts. With 42 days until expiration, 2,658 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 103, for a 26-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $0.52 to make the bearish bet. Shares recently traded for just over $56, so they would need ...
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Some traders look for pure growth. Or pure value. Others may look for companies capable of big swings, depending on where they are in their industry cycle. Those looking to target cyclical companies need to start buying when things look down and out, not when things are going well. By buying at the low point of the cycle, traders and investors alike can catch big swings in traditionally more stodgy companies – and even beat the market doing so. Right now, industrial ...
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Thomson Leighton, CEO at
Akamai Technologies (AKAM), recently added 282 shares. The buy increased the CEO’s holdings by less than 1 percent, and came to a total price just over $25,000. The buy comes a week after the CEO bought 850 shares, paying just over $75,000 to do so. This follows on a pattern of buys going back to December. Over the past year, company insiders have largely been sellers of shares, including both officers and directors. Overall, company insiders own 1.5 ...
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Shares of residential construction company
PulteGroup (PHM) are down 7 percent over the past year, about half as much as the S&P 500. One trader sees a further drop ahead for shares. That’s based on the April $50 puts. With 91 days until expiration, 8,437 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 182, for a 46-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $2.78 to make the downside bet. Shares recently traded for about $51, so ...
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Typically, a new industry will start dozens if not hundreds of companies before consolidating over time. Although many industries tend to consolidate into just a few companies, those remaining firms will then start to compete with each other based on how they keep customers happy in a fully developed market. Having a choice can ensure that quality doesn’t slip, and that businesses find ways to deliver better results at lower prices for their customers over time. For instance, the US airline industry ...
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Richard Bingham, a director at
Midland States Bancorp (MSBI), recently added 4,000 shares. The buy increased his holdings by 22 percent, and came to a total cost of $100,000. The company’s corporate council bought 2,000 shares, for just under $51,000, latest last year. Generally, Midland States Bancorp insiders have been regular and modest sellers of shares following option exercises over the past few years. Insiders at the regional bank still own about 5 percent of shares. The bank has traded flat over the ...
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