The stock market just had its worst start to a year since 1970. That trend looks likely to continue, as interest rates need to rise further to slow down inflation. Most companies are down, with some tech stocks notching losses of as much as 70 percent so far this year. But a few companies have managed to hold steady, or even deliver a slight gain. They may continue to be relative leaders in this market for a few more months yet. One winner here isAT&T (T). Shares are up about 5 percent since the start of the year, and that’s even after a drop for the company’s spinoff of its medi...

Some industries are more concentrated than others. While hundreds of bank stocks flourish, for instance, there are only a handful of companies with the overwhelming share of the soft drink market. Markets with an oligopoly, or even a duopoly, tend to become commonplace after an industry consolidates. That also makes those stocks solid investment choices. While a mature and slow-growth industry may not seem like an exciting play, having just a few players keeps those companies profitable. One such area is in packaged spices and condiments. Here, a few companies dominate the space. The...

Investors loved growth stocks during the stock market rally. With stocks now in a downtrend, investors are now looking less towards growth and now towards safety. One way investors can find safety is by focusing on companies that pay dividends. However, no dividend is alike. Income investors need to look at a stock’s payout ratio, to ensure a company isn’t paying out more than it’s earning. Another factor to consider is dividend growth. Over time, it’s more rewarding to own companies that grow their dividends than to buy a high-yielding stock with little or no dividend growth. The...

Some industries and companies are heavily dependent on economic cycles. Other trends are far more recession-resistant. Investors looking to profit now can stay on the defensive by investing in companies that can maintain their standing during an economic downturn. Most investors focus on areas like utilities, telecoms, and consumer goods to profit from the stock market. But there are other places as well where investors can likely see excellent long-term returns investing now. One recession-resistant area with growing spending is in pet products. Analysts have noted that spending in ...

Financial markets and stocks are in disarray. While companies like banks are down due to interest rate fears, a select number of companies related to financial exchanges are also being hard hit – even as trading volume has been exploding. These companies tend to be consistently and largely profitable. So any short-term decline due to market conditions will tend to unwind over time, leading to big returns for patient investors who buy during market fears. That’s true of both traditional assets and newer assets like cryptocurrencies. Now, with cryptocurrency markets in a massive dec...

The sharp rise in mortgage rates in the past year has caused the cost of financing a home to nearly double. Most investors are expecting a slowdown in home sales, as well as a price drop, as long as mortgage rates stay so high. However, while sales may slow down, homeowners will still need to maintain their homes and continue to repair their properties. That bodes well for beaten-down home improvement retailers. These companies are near 52-week lows, yet continues to show strong same-store sales. That trend has helped them continue to earn analyst praise in today’s markets. Among ...

With the stock market in the throes of a bear pullback, many are looking to history as a guide for when the bear will end. While the answer varies, chances are stocks will remain weak for a few more weeks and even months as economic data continues to come in. That said, investors who start accumulating shares of great companies, particularly industry-leading companies, will end up with a strong portfolio performance on the market’s next rally higher. Among the big tech players, a number of top companies bear focus for investors looking for a long-term rebound now. One such name isAdv...

There are two main ways companies can reward shareholders. One way is to pay a growing dividend from rising cash flows over time. Another way is to buy back shares when the company’s valuation is compellingly low. Some companies can do both, provided they don’t overpay to buy back shares. With many stocks down right now, a few companies are setting up for better returns when the market sentiment turns bullish again with increased buybacks. One company making a big buyback and increasing its dividend right now isDiamondback Energy (FANG). The company has plans to buy back $2 billion i...

Some sectors of the stock market perform differently at different times. Commodity producers and utilities have held up somewhat well in the current bear market, even as tech stocks have been hit hard. Another area hit hard has been financial stocks, particularly banks. These companies have had to contend with rising interest rates. Demand for mortgages has stalled, which tends to be a big source of business, as well as mergers and acquisitions for big banks. That said, valuations for a number of these companies is starting to look overdone. Case in point isCitigroup (C), which has s...

Markets have rapidly repriced in the growth prospects for a number of companies. While some of the most speculative names have taken the biggest dive, even great companies that have remained profitable while showing slow and steady growth are at a point where they’ve oversold. For long-term investors, this marks the best point in years to buy growth at a respectable valuation. That’s especially true when it involves companies playing to strong growth trends now. Investors looking forward can get great returns in blue chip companies right now. One such player isOracle (ORCL). The data...