The stock market is trending higher, once again nearing all-time highs. Investors are bullish on the economy, as taxes are unlikely to rise, and regulations are likely to see hefty cuts. While that bodes well for the economy, it also means the stock market is likely to make new highs in the months ahead. And that will happen thanks to bullish trades going in and out of stocks. That should bode well for brokerage firms, a subset of the financial sector. These companies tend to move higher based on increased market activity. And they don’t carry the risk of an insurance company of bank...

The market still loves tech plays, whether AI or not. However, the rest of the economy still continues to show signs of booming. That means that other sectors can also perform well. And they may even be better performers this year. Recent data shows that inflation is moderate, and the jobs market remains strong. That bodes well for areas such as construction and other signs of a physical booming economy. That includes industrial goods. And that could mean a good year for an industrial distributor such as Fastenal (FAST). The company just missed on its most recent earnings report, ...

It’s been a challenging year for packaged food companies. Consumers have cut back on favorite name brands following years of above-average inflation. And the rise of new weight loss drugs have curbed appetites for many packaged foods. However, markets tend to not just react to events, but overreact. And now, investors may have a chance to pick up leading consumer brands at a reasonable price. Such stocks could even be market leaders this year. For instance, chocolate maker Hershey (HSY) has dropped nearly 20% in the past year. Shares are at 52-week lows. Yet even with a slight drop i...

AI has been the market’s hottest trend for over two years. It’s still in its early stages, with more room to run. More importantly, it hasn’t derailed other parts of the tech trend either. That includes robotics, which, combined with AI software, can allow for a revolution in reducing human physical labor. Robots can perform the same routine tasks for hours on end without a break. Or do more complicated work. That’s where a company like Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) comes into play. The medical technology company’s robots can be used to handle delicate surgeries. Already one of the gr...

Over time, markets tend to trend higher, much like how the overall economy continues to move higher. And that should bode well for financial services, which help cater to a growing economy. That can include banks, although banks can be subject to market fears. Insurance companies tend to be steady performers, but increasing natural disaster risks are leading to some concerns there. That leaves asset management as an ideal niche for investors in financial stocks today. That’s best seen with BlackRock (BLK), the world’s largest asset manager. BlackRock just beat earnings, showing a 21%...

Markets are off to a challenging start for 2025. Yet some asset classes are faring better than others. The commodity space, which fared relatively well in some respects, continues to thrive. For 2025, however, the early winner out of the gate has been the energy space. Oil prices have been pushing higher. That’s due to a combination of fears, including another round of sanctions against Russia. Further gains look likely in 2025. Given the prospect for strong returns after poor performance in 2024, investors should consider upping their holdings to energy plays. It’s also likely to ho...

In any industry, some consolidation is normal over time. It’s also healthy when the largest players in the industry make notable acquisitions. That’s because acquiring smaller companies can be a good driver for growth down the line, and offer a smaller company the financial strength of a larger one. Over time, industries tend to come down to a few major players, who often pick up promising up-and-coming growth plays. That looks like the case with healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), which recently entered into an agreement to buy mental health therapy company Intra-Cellular ...

One market strategy is known as the “Dogs of the Dow.” By buying the five worst-performing stocks in the Dow 30 at the start of a year, investors have historically outperformed the market. That’s due to a concept known as “mean reversion.” Simply put, a stock that underperforms in one year is likely to outperform in the next, averaging out to a more typical return. This strategy can work with other beaten-down stocks. That includes Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA), which was a poorly-performing stock last year, and even got kicked out of the Dow. However, shares just had their best one...

Nothing ever moves in a straight line. Investors who think they’ve missed out on a trend can likely have several opportunities to buy in, especially for a trend with years behind it. The AI trend of the past few years has seen a number of pullbacks, including the market’s 8.5% peak-to-trough decline in 2024, and a 10% pullback in 2023. But a new trend is emerging that’s much more fast-moving. That trend is quantum computing. Companies focusing just on this technology took a massive dive earlier this week, following comments from Nvidia’s CEO about how long truly quantum computing wou...

The bond market has disconnected from the stock market in recent months. Despite the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates a full point, bond yields have ticked higher. Some see the 10-year Treasury, the bellwether for the bond market, trending towards a 5% yield. That’s not too much further from its current level near 4.7%. And it suggests that most of the bond market’s move higher may have already occurred. If that’s the case, now may be an ideal time to lock in relatively high bond yields. Should rates move materially lower, bond holders will see the price rise as yields drop. An...