While the past year has been great for a number of tech companies, particularly the mega-caps leading the stock market higher, a number of smaller players are in a bear market and well off their highs. For companies working on long-term trends that could be big winners in the years ahead, the lackluster performance could mean a way to outperform the stock market in the year ahead as a rebound play. One such company isPalantir (PLTR). The big data company is part of a massive and growing trend that intersects with a number of other major tech trends today. The company has continued to...

Any company investing in electric vehicles was a popular place for investors in 2020 and going into 2021. But that interest waned, and a number of companies in the space ended up having a tough year. However, that could simply be a pause before EV stocks head higher, likely moving up again in 2022. That’s thanks to continued investment and capital flowing into the space, in what looks to be one of the biggest multi-trillion-dollar trends of the decade. Looking at opportunities in the space,NIO (NIO), the Chinese automaker that saw shares lose nearly 36 percent of their value in the p...

One investment strategy that has generated consistent excess returns is known as the Dogs of the Dow. Of the 30 Dow stocks, the ten companies with the worst performance over the past year are bought, and in turn, they tend to generate market-beating returns as stocks revert to their mean over time. For investors, the start of the new year is a time to look at which companies made the list, and look for opportunities. Of the Dogs this year, one stands out for both income and growth potential. That stock isIntel (INTC). The chipmaker is up just 5.1 percent over the past year. While ...

Nothing in the investment universe moves in a straight line. The market is prone to all sorts of rallies and pullbacks, with a number of sectors and individual stocks sometimes falling when the market is rising. 2021 was an unusual year where most stocks rallied, but a number of stocks traded well off their highs. Some fared even worse, but the new year is a time to reevaluate last year’s laggards as a potential rebound play. For instance, one the worst performing stocks last year – and for several years – has beenAT&T (T). The telecom company went on a buying binge to become a m...

The latest Covid variant has led to a number of hefty lockdowns in China. In turn, that’s delaying supply chain issues that have already plagued a number of manufacturers in the past year and a half. It’s particularly troubling in the tech space. That’s leading to investors shifting interest from companies away from China, or at least those cities in China under heavy lockdown. One of the biggest hit companies right now is Korean giant Samsung, which is now looking at a slowdown on chip output. But their bad news is good news forWestern Digital Corporation (WDC). Shares have spike...

Retail stocks tend to get a bad rap. It’s easy to see why. Profit margins tend to be low, growth can be slow, and supply chain issues over the past year have led to one shortage after another. But some companies have a great reputation, a moderate profit margin, and are able to consistently raise their income year over year. Any retailer that can do so indefinitely is a great one to own for the long haul. In this space, the champion isCostco (COST). The company limits its profit margins on any items sold, will cut off a supplier if they find out another retailer gets a better price, ...

While the stock market as a whole had a great year, a number of great companies didn’t go along for the ride. That may be due to reasons specific to a company, or simply because some great companies outperformed in 2020 and were simply taking a pause before moving higher. Investors can still profit from the growth of companies, even large ones, particularly if they’re working to increase profit margins and find new growth opportunities in the coming year. One such play isAmazon (AMZN). The company is best known for its ecommerce website, which still dominates with nearly 40 percent o...

The economy continues to move back to a pre-pandemic normal. That includes rising travel levels, as well as an increased number of in-person venues. One area starting to show strength at last: Cinema attendance. That’s thanks in part to Spider-Man: No Way Home, which crossed $1 billion in box office sales on Christmas. While another blockbuster film may take time to reach that box-office prowess, the strength of this film is enough to show that theaters can return to pre-pandemic levels in 2022. Some traders see the big winner asAMC Entertainment Holdings (AMC). The movie theater cha...

While the stock market has shaken off the Omicron variant fears and the potential for rising interest rates impacting the economy, not every company has gone along for the ride. Some have had a poor performance, even as they’ve been doing well operationally. That’s creating an opportunity for investors to buy a strong, industry-leading investment that offers strong profitability and cash flow, and with it a worthy stock to buy now. One such play?Mastercard Corporation (MA). The credit card payment processing company operates in a high-profit-margin oligopoly. Despite reporting a 4...

The busiest year for companies going public in over a decade has been a mixed one for investors. Most companies that had their initial public offering, or IPO, this year saw their shares sink, rather than rise. However, underperformance is no indication that a newly-public company is destined for failure. A number of companies that went public this year have already been strong performers, many even making a profit as they finally went public. Among some of the more profitable names going public this year is cryptocurrency brokerageCoinbase (COIN). Shares are still down about 25 perc...