The financial sector is dominated largely by banks, but there are other niches in the space that can be a better place for investors. That’s because bank stocks can see massive declines during credit events. Or if a bank goes under, the stock can become worthless. That’s why other parts of the financial sector look reasonable. Many tout the insurance space. But asset managers are often an overlooked play. Asset managerBlackstone (BX) is one such player, although it may be better known now that it’s being added to the S&P 500. Asset management companies tend to grow massively d...

Markets tend to move in trends. Since bottoming out late last year, the trend has been higher, even with a few hiccups along the way like the drop in early August. With stocks trending higher, last year’s big losers have gained more ground than average. That trend will likely continue as well. That’s good news for investors looking to catch up this year who may have missed out on the first part of the market rally. The best-performing stock this year in the Dow has beenSalesforce (CRM). The sales software management company has been performing strongly, and looks likely to continue, ...

Investors tend to suffer from a “home country” bias. They tend to overweight positions in assets located in their own country, and fail to sufficiently diversify internationally. There are plenty of markets that offer better values than the U.S. market, even adjusting for political and currency risks. And in those markets are plenty of industry-leading companies that can provide great returns for patient investors. Especially those who buy unloved sectors. One simple place to start internationally is withUBS Group (UBS). The Swiss-based international bank just reported a record profi...

While markets have been excited about artificial intelligence this year, other tech trends haven’t gotten as much interest. That’s led to better valuations, particularly for companies that are rolling out new technologies of their own. One company in particular is putting out a new gadget that will likely significantly boost its bottom line. Even better? It looks like the company won’t be raising prices, a much-needed relief given the recent inflation. That company isApple (AAPL), and the new gadget is the iPhone 15. The product launch is in a few weeks, but it already looks like the...

Earnings season can see some wild, and often counterintuitive, swings. A company can beat on earnings, but can still sell off. Or a company can miss, but provide forward guidance that causes shares to soar. Amid this earnings season shuffle, investors can often get an opportunity to buy a high-flying stock once it’s had some of the wind knocked out of it. By buying at a lower price, investors can get better returns moving forward. The latest such opportunity is in aerospace supplierHeico (HEI). The company beat on earnings, but expectations were so high going in that shares sold off....

Retail stocks have been an out of favor sector with the market this year. Consumer spending on goods has dropped. And there’s been a rise in retail theft leading to higher levels of inventory loss, known in the industry as shrinkage. However, some companies could fare better than others going forward, and those that can improve on earnings and keep inventory low could give investors a great return in the months ahead. Electronics retailerBest Buy (BBY) has fared poorly this year, even with a beat in the most recent quarterly earnings. Shares remain flat amid a strong year-to-date mar...

While most stocks have pulled back in the past month, they still look strong relative to last year’s lows. However, some companies have specific issues at play that are keeping them from being near their highs. Understanding why a company can be out of favor with the market can lead to a great investment opportunity, if bought at the right time. Companies facing temporary legal problems, for instance, could be solid winners when they rebound. That could be the case with3M (MMM). The conglomerate has had legal woes from a number of old products, but is starting to make some progress o...

Great stocks tend to only look great over time. Over shorter periods, stocks can trade lower, or even sideways for prolonged periods of time. While that can be frustrating at first, taking advantage of that trend over time can lead to massive, market-beating gains. That’s especially true for industry-leading stocks, which may sometimes stay out of favor with the market for some time before they finally start to make their next rally higher. One industry leader isMonster Beverage (MNST). The energy drink producer has been one of the top performing stocks of the past quarter-century. A...

Companies that build out a successful leadership role tend to keep it over time. They don’t necessarily keep competitors at bay. Rather, they look at trends and adapt to them as needed. And given their existing size and cash flows, doing so allows them to roll with market changes. For instance, the rise of cryptocurrencies could lead to alternative payment systems that are cheaper to use and can move money internationally in the blink of an eye. That’s potentially bad news for financial companies likeVisa (V) which benefit from operating a credit card network that provides capital no...

The retail sector has been a laggard this year. The headline data suggests a bit of a slowdown, particularly compared to the pandemic era. However, behind the headlines, things are more nuanced. Customers can’t cut back completely on necessities like food or clothing. So even with a pullback, it may be seen more with luxury goods rather than wants. That logic also extends to necessities such as upkeep and repairs. Home improvement spending has dropped a bit. But homeowners are looking to maintain their homes, as they’re not looking to sell now and have to buy a new property with high...