The tenure of a company CEO can be judged in part by the stock price performance. Those who do a great job will see their shares rise well above that of other players in the industry. And when a great CEO announces their retirement, it’s likely that shares will drop on the concern that the replacement won’t be as good. Likewise, the announcement of a new CEO after a lackluster one can often give a company’s stock an immediate boost. That’s especially true when the new CEO has a track record for delivering great returns.  So it’s no surprise that shares ofThe Walt Disney Company (DIS)...

Consumer spending makes up about 70 percent of the US economy. Currently, sales remain strong, but there are some signs that consumers may be increasing their credit card usage to do so. If that continues, it’s likely that spending will start to come down in some parts of the economy. However, some retailers could benefit from that trend. Discount stores tend to hold up well no matter what the economy is doing for groceries or other basic supplies. In the clothing space, off-price retailers may be the winners here. That’s good news for stores likeTJ Maxx (TJX) andRoss Stores (ROST). ...

With the stock market down so heavily, traders may feel hit hard. But looking at the market objectively, a big down year leads to lower valuations. And for income-generating investments like dividend stocks, it can mean higher starting yields. Investors who can buy growing companies with reasonable dividends can likely see both a higher share price and a higher dividend payout when things turn around. One area where investors can get both is in beaten-down infrastructure plays. While the term can be vague, infrastructure companies come in all shapes and sizes. One of the top places t...

Investors are forward-looking. So while the market may be performing poorly this year, those who look further ahead can find bargains today that should be more valuable down the line. One area where this is playing out is in the tech space. A number of companies are providing lower guidance going forward. But given the selloff in the sector so far this year, shares may be oversold and could move higher on the first sign of a turnaround next year. That may be why semiconductor companyAdvanced Micro Devices (AMD) is getting analyst approval now, even amid a sector slowdown. The comp...

Many professional investors attract followers. And rightly so. Successful fund managers have to report their holdings to the SEC. That means their activity is updated every 90 days. So it’s easy to follow along someone who’s already shown the capacity to make a market-beating return, no matter what the market condition. And in a bear market, those who follow along can potentially get into a great company at an even better price. Right now, investors are following an investment inTaiwan Semiconductor (TSM) made byBerkshire Hathaway (BRK-B). While the buyer at Berkshire likely isn’t Wa...

At the end of the day, companies exist to sell a product or service. When times are tough, some goods are seen as luxuries. But many items are necessities. That’s why investors tend to pile into defensive stocks like consumer goods companies during a bear market. A bear market also helps to bring down valuations across the board. That makes defensive stocks, typically priced fairly high relative to their growth prospects, a much better buy ahead of a market turnaround. For example,Tyson Foods (TSN), saw sales beat forecasts. The meat producer has seen earnings grow just 0.1 percen...

Many companies get into trouble overleveraging while times are good. They take on too much debt. That becomes a problem with things slow, and the costs to finance that debt become too much to bear. In contrast, a number of companies have strong balance sheets. Even companies with some debt, but substantial cash, are in a great place right now. They can potentially make a great acquisition at a great price, or find ways to return that cash to shareholders. One company looking to return cash to shareholders isDoximity (DOCS). The healthcare information services company, which went publ...

Economists are predicting a gloomy holiday season. Real spending will likely be down thanks to slow economic growth and high inflation this year… not to mention the impact of supply chains. But consumers still remain robust, so it’s likely that retailers may be oversold going into the holidays. Investors who buy today can grab a reasonable value in any of the big-name big-box stores here. And if things go better than expected, they’ll be well positioned for some quick profits. Among the big-box retailers,Target (TGT) has held up surprisingly well. Plus, they’re investing in online sa...

Earnings season in a bear market can turn even a blue-chip stock into what looks like a penny stock with big moves up or down – usually down. But patient investors who buy an industry-leading company during a down market can get a great value. Patient investors can earn a great return buying values and waiting for the market to recover. And, as that happens, traders tend to be more forgiving in future quarters for a company during bull markets. The recent earnings ofThe Walt Disney Company (DIS) sent shares to a new 52-week low. The entertainment giant reported a slowdown in its stre...

Many investors have made money by buying the dip and being greedy while others are fearful. In today’s fearful markets, there are plenty of bargains. But some companies may continue to struggle right now, leading their share price lower. Buying companies who have seen their stock price increase this year may be a better way to go. Those companies that can deliver now can likely continue higher no matter what market conditions develop. Playing to that momentum could fare well. For instance, life insurance companyMetlife (MET) is up 17 percent in the past year, essentially the mirror i...