Different market sectors move at different times. But when a sector does take off, it will often need to pause for a while before moving higher. This consolidation trend is normal, and in some sectors can last for years, in others, for weeks. The cryptocurrency market has been consolidating for a few months now following bitcoin’s halving in April. That may have shaken out momentum traders hoping for a quick ride to new all-time highs. Today, it’s creating an opportunity across the crypto space. And with discussion about more crypto ETFs, the big winner could be Coinbase (COIN). T...

While the markets test new all-time highs and pull back, several companies have seen bigger jumps over the past few months. That includes a resurgence in meme stocks, some of which have seen triple-digit gains at times. Some stocks have also jumped on meme-like news. With markets still in a bullish mood, it’s best to separate the strong performers from the hopefuls at current prices. This week, trader Keith Gill ofGameStop (GME) fame, disclosed a 6.6% stake in pet supply retailerChewy (CHWY). The retailer has struggled in the past year, with shares down 30%. However, earnings have...

With the first half of the year on the books, tech has cemented its place as the runaway winner. But tech returns have started to slow. And with investors looking more defensively and with the potential for interest rate cuts ahead, other sectors may soon lead. That could mean that underperforming sectors in the first half of the year can have their turn to outperform. And investors who position themselves could stand to benefit. One underperforming sector is real estate. With interest rates high, and specific issues such as office vacancies weighing on the sector, it’s easy to see w...

While tech stocks have had a big move higher to start the year, other sectors have lagged. That’s creating a new opportunity. Tech stocks are starting to slow down, and could even pull back. That means that other sectors may be ready to outperform. In any sector, owning the best names can mean reasonable returns. Those returns can be even better when bought right before an uptrend. And when the best company has plans to grow further. Things are lining up well for industrial giant Honeywell (HON). The company has struggled with its various operations in recent years, but has been maki...

The past year has been a challenge for investors. While tech stocks have been soaring, the data suggests that the real economy has been muted. Consumer spending is weak and trending lower. The labor market is showing a similar decline. However, one industry leader has just indicated that business is faring well. And that could be a sign that the economy will continue to hold up, even with today’s lackluster data. The industry leader is shipping and logistics giant FedEx (FDX). Shares hit a new 52-week high this week on the back of strong earnings, guidance, and analyst upgrades. F...

Investors have several ways to hedge themselves from inflation. Owning shares of great companies that can pay an increasing dividend over time is one way. But when inflation spikes suddenly, companies can also take a hit to their profits. Owning a small position in gold can reduce the impact of sudden inflationary jolts. And it can ensure that investors protect their purchasing power over time. Inflation is down but not out. Gold is in a similar situation today. After making new all-time highs earlier this year, it’s pulled back. And now the metal may be in a buy range. Given the ...

The past decade has seen retailers shift heavily into online sales. While there’s still demand for many goods at brick-and-mortar stores, investors are more willing to buy online. Catering to that growing demand in new and innovative ways can give any retailer an opportunity to profit over time. It also means a retailer can continue to expand their market share as the world goes increasingly digital. Discount store chain Target (TGT) has been shifting with digital trends in recent years. Now, it’s partnering with Shopify (SHOP) to improve its e-commerce experience. The fit looks l...

The stock market’s returns this year have been concentrated heavily into tech stocks. That’s created an opportunity, as there’s are still several values in other segments of the market, even with stocks near all-time highs. Astute investors will be able to find opportunities likely to trend higher in the coming months outside of tech. One place that could be ripe for big returns comes from companies with strong brands. That’s because a strong brand tends to grow the most when the economy does well, and hold up relatively well even in down times. It’s been a down time forNike (NKE)...

The first wave of AI investments has been centered around big-tech companies providing hardware or software needed to run AI programs. The next wave is unfolding, and will create new investment opportunities elsewhere. While the current generation of AI programs requires significant processing power, the next wave will include simpler programs that can be run on-the-go. That’s what creates new investment opportunities for investors today. For those looking for an AI system that can run on a piece of hardware like a smartphone, communication chips are key. In the wireless chip space,Q...

The stock market’s return has been massively influenced by the returns inNvidia (NVDA). The designer of GPUs and other hardware has surged thanks to an interest in AI. But with the share split over, the stock price may slow its gains from here. That will allow other chipmakers also seeing a big boost in business right now to see massive returns in their share price. A few could even outperform Nvidia in the second half of the year. One contender is memory chip manufacturerMicron (MU). While shares are already up 130% over the past year, the stock trades at just 10 times earnings. ...