From oil derricks to wind farms, nuclear plants to solar panels, there’s a wide variety of energy out there in the world. Some of it is finite, other sources are renewable. There’s even a sector of alternative energy to consider as well! That’s created a dynamic market sector that encompasses everything from power generating utilities to companies that explore and develop fossil fuels, with some exciting new technologies along the way. There are massive companies that are big players on Wall Street that trade on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), and penny stocks that just started up on th...

Some of the biggest stocks driving the market higher right now are tech stocks showing high levels of growth. That leaves most of the market ignored and unloved. Following the doctrine of value investing, today’s traders have an opportunity to pick up a number of great companies that trade at a compelling discount to the overall market. Remember, value investing isn’t just about the stock price of a company. It’s about its price ratios, or the price of shares relative to other metrics that makes for a value or growth play. We’ve tracked down a number of the best value stocks to buy right...

Clean energy, renewable energy, alternative energy, whatever you call it, it’s a fascinating market niche. Shunning fossil fuel energy sources like coal and oil, and focusing on at least climate change-friendly, clean-burning fuels like natural gas or uranium, there’s a lot going on in the alternative energy space.  But there’s also a vast array of renewable energy plays as well, such as solar power and wind. These green energy plays are truly optimal from an environmental standpoint, but have historically had high costs relative to oil prices, or have only worked best in low-population are...

Preferred stocks, sometimes called preference shares, are a hybrid investment. They’re a lot like a stock, but also a lot like a bond. Shares trade on an exchange much like a stock. But the shares have a defined “par” value that the issuing company can buy them back at, much like a bond. Preferred stock dividends tend to be larger than that of common shares, and it’s a fixed, qualified dividend not subject to change like common stocks. That means there’s less upside than a common stock, but there’s higher income than buying shares thanks to their guaranteed dividend payment. Many common ...

Utility stocks are generally made up of companies that generate electricity, natural gas, or provide water or sewage services. They tend to be big, established names with large market capitalizations—no penny stocks here! Why focus on the top utility stocks? Historically, utility companies have been less volatile than the overall market and have also offered steady, sizeable dividend yields. That’s thanks to the fact that these companies tend to be heavily regulated, but regulated in a way that ensures investors always get some profit out of it as well. While investors could buy an ETF c...