Wall Street is active with plenty of mergers and acquisitions. Even during economic downturns, some companies look to combine forces. However, history isn’t kind to most mergers. That’s because the acquiring company has to either issue a lot of stock or go into debt. Issuing too much stock dilutes shareholders. And adding on debt can reduce a company’s ability to deal with unforeseen circumstances. That’s why the end of a potential merger may actually be the best outcome for a company... and investors Recently,JetBlue Airways (JBLU) was prevented from its proposed plan to acquireSpir...

Big banks have kicked off earnings season. And there’s been a mixed result overall. Most banks are taking a more conservative approach, as benefits the Fed’s “higher for longer” strategy on interest rates. However, while bank lending activity is down, the market’s strong return is helping banks that have a large wealth management division to make better profits right now. That’s a trend that could likely continue. It’s a trend that bodes well for Wall Street investment bankGoldman Sachs (GS). Overall earnings rose 50 percent, and wealth management revenue rose by a hefty 23 percent. ...

The market has been in rotation mode for a few weeks now. High-flying tech stocks have been underperforming as other sectors have been beating the market instead. If that trend continues, then many sectors that lagged in last year’s rebounding stock market could trend higher. That means a number of companies in traditionally slower-moving parts of the market could have above-average returns in the months ahead. For instance, with the market up 20 percent over the past year,Comcast (CMCSA) is up about half that, just 10 percent. The market is concerned with the ongoing decline in t...

Many stocks aren’t near their all-time highs, even as the market headlines are. That could be an opportunity for investors, particularly those who focus on undervalued industry leaders. Leaders will typically lead the rest of the sector higher once a turnaround starts. They also tend to sport the best profit margins. And for dividend-paying sectors, leaders tend to offer the best yields. The restaurant space lagged last year, as rising interest rates weighed on this defensive part of the market.McDonald’s (MCD) rose just 10 percent in the past year, even as revenues rose 14 percent a...

Investing in industry leaders tends to work well for investors over time. But in any industry, upstart companies may work to build themselves up into a leader over time. Finding those growth plays can lead to great investment opportunities. That’s true for sectors that have a low barrier for entry, and where a competitor has the ability to create some big differentiation. These companies can likely see years of growth as they compete to become the industry’s largest. One potential example isCasey’s General Stores (CASY). The convenience store chain is the third-largest. And they’re c...

2023 saw the housing market freeze up. Existing homeowners didn’t want to move, as they would have to pay significantly higher for a mortgage than on their existing home. That resulted in a tight housing inventory, which helped keep home prices high. 2024 will likely see interest rate cuts. Mortgage rates have already dropped, and some potential sellers are hitting the markets. With the housing market thawing out, potential sellers may start looking to spruce up their homes. That bodes well for home improvement plays, such as industry leaderHome Depot (HD). The home improvement retai...

Last year, the market was obsessed with the AI theme. While there’s been some market rotation, it’s clear that the AI trend is here to stay. But given how much the big players in the space have run, investors may be better off buying smaller names. For the AI hardware stocks, that may be a tall order. However, there are plenty of AI hardware stocks that still have plenty of room to run. One such potential winner isMarvell Technology (MRVL). The chipmaker is pushing on AI technologies, but hasn’t run up as far as other names in the chipmaking space. Marvell also benefits from infra...

Investors have many ways of looking at a company. Ideally, a company will show growth. But a company can do much to show growth, and even pay up to do so. That could mean a winning share price in the short-term, at the risk of long-term dangers to a company. That’s why investors should look for companies that can grow and improve their profit margins over time. That’s a sign of a company getting better at doing its job, and having more cash for shareholders. Apparel retailerAbercrombie & Fitch (ANF) is up over 220 percent in the past year. Despite the challenges for clothing reta...

After leading the market for most of last year, big-cap tech plays investing heavily in artificial intelligence (AI) may take a backseat. That could lead some to think that there was a mini-bubble in AI that is now deflating. However, that’s not how bubbles work. AI is still in its early stages. And it will take years for the trend to play out. That’s why the potential for a bubble exists down the line. For 2024, however, AI stocks may slow. That doesn’t mean the story is dead. Just that investors will need to pick and choose carefully, and use pullbacks to their advantage. It’s also...

Consumer spending shifted last year, with customers opening up their wallets to buy more services like travel and tourism. As a result, less money was available for goods. That trend looks likely to continue. And until it shifts back, spending on dining out at restaurants looks like a trend that will push even higher, even amid concerns of an overall consumer spending slowdown. Restaurant stocks fared well last year. And those that offer reasonable prices can likely continue to improve this year. That includesYum! Brands (YUM), owner of chains such as KFC and Taco Bell. The compan...