Investors are willing to pay a premium for a brand. The name brand of anything, from shoes to soda will carry a premium compared to a lesser-known or even a store brand. Companies with strong brands tend to have premiums attached to their share price too, which can make it hard to buy shares at a reasonable price. That’s why traders should use any market volatility to focus on buying strong branded companies, as they end up being the proverbial baby thrown out with the bathwater. That may be the case withNike (NKE). The global shoe brand has seen shares drop over 10 percent in the pa...

A record number of companies have gone public so far this year, with a few more months left on the calendar. And the total amount of capital raised has been a record too. Yet many freshly-public companies haven’t been strong performers. In time, that will change, as fast-growing companies start to show their mettle and move higher on the back of strong growth. Recently-public companies that can’t grow will likely see their shares slide in time. One fast-grower isSoFi Technologies (SOFI). The company received a buy rating recently, on the grounds that the company was the fastest growi...

While the recurring revenue model is one that can often lead to steady profits and returns for investors, a truly great company can essentially sell the same product repeatedly, marking up profits on top of profits. That’s the case withTake-Two Interactive (TTWO). The video game development company has seen shares surge on new that it’s remastered three of its classic Grand Theft Auto games. Players new and old alike are potential buyers, thanks to upgraded graphics and a repackaging for current-generation consoles. While shares have performed well in the past week on the news, th...

Most companies are having a solid year, even when comparing their sales and earnings to post-pandemic quarters. However, a few sectors haven’t fared too well in recent months and have missed out on most of 2021’s gains. One such area is with pot stocks. These companies were popular at the start of the year, but have since been lagging the overall market. But that may be about to change. For instance, one industry leader,Tilray (TLRY) moved higher even after reporting a loss last week. The company saw revenues rise, and while it missed on earnings, the company guidance suggests that c...

While many companies have reported trouble in finding workers right now, news of a strike is a different, pre-pandemic sort of labor problem. Yet that’s the case atKellogg Company (K), where nearly 5 percent of the company workforce has gone on strike. While a prolonged strike could mean favorite cereal brands getting sold out at grocery stores, shares of the company were slightly up the day the story broke. Yet it does point to the relative value the company is trading at now. Shares of the branded food giant are trading at about 16 times forward earnings, a nice discount to the ove...

Software companies remain one of the best places for tech investors. It doesn’t require physical facilities to manufacture hardware, and a piece of software can be copied endlessly with little extra cost. That creates high profit margins. Today, software companies that offer data and analytic services can best use a recurring revenue model to create steady and growing cash flows as well. That’s a particularly attractive space for investors in tech today. One clear winner in the space isPalantir Technologies (PLTR). While shares were caught up in speculative trading at the start of th...

Investors are already aware of the top trends likely to produce trillions of dollars in wealth over the next decade. With markets having a classic autumn selloff from overpriced levels, some companies are looking ahead to that future. The best way to grow for many firms right now is to acquire smaller and faster-growing companies, particularly when those firms provide access to a new market for existing products. That may be the case withQualcomm (QCOM). The wireless chipmaker has partnered up to buy Veoneer, a Swedish-based auto-parts maker. The combination could allow for more adva...

With inflation continuing to come in hot, investors are turning to commodities. It’s been less than 18 months since oil prices briefly traded at negative prices thanks to some desperate traders. Now, the pain is coming at the gas pump as oil prices are likely to buck a seasonal trend higher, just as winter sets in and natural gas prices are also on the rise. Nearly every company in the space will benefit. Some are already preparing shareholders with specific predictions.ExxonMobil (XOM) stated that higher prices will likely boost its third-quarter earnings by $1.5 billion. Like ma...

It’s clear that supply chain disruptions and ongoing fiscal and monetary stimulus measures will likely continue to keep prices heading higher. With elevated inflation rates looking more certain, and with bonds offering no real returns after inflation, investors may need to look beyond stocks to hedge with commodities. Historically, gold has served the role of a hedge against rising inflation and political uncertainty. It’s been knocked down from its 2020 highs, but is showing signs of robustness. However, when gold rises, silver prices tend to rise even higher. That makes investments...

Despite a global pandemic, supply chain issues, and other short-term fears, technology continues to create new industries and services that consumers are willing to spend money on. One of the top new industries is space tourism. This year has seen the launch of the first few space flights with civilian passengers. The market is starting as an expensive niche, but will likely expand in the years ahead, and serve as a springboard for other space travel. One of the industry leaders,Virgin Galactic (SPCE), has seen its shares launch up and come back down repeatedly over the past year. On...