There are many ways that companies can reward shareholders. Most maturing companies will pay out a part of their earnings in the form of dividends. Those dividends can be spent, kept as cash, or reinvested. While less mentioned but possibly more popular, many companies have implemented share buyback plans. This reduces the total shares outstanding, which rewards remaining shareholders. It also helps a company report higher earnings per share, even if their overall earnings don’t improve. One company showing growing earnings and rewarding investors with a bigger buyback right now isCi...

The pandemic is largely over in the United States and around the world, as many cities, states and countries have started dropping mask and social-distancing mandates that have marked nearly two years now. Already, travel trends have pointed to a recovery in that sector, with further room to go before getting to pre-pandemic levels. That will likely accelerate as plans for Covid passports and other restrictive measures to travel now appear unlikely. But one clear winner is already emerging. The company?Airbnb (ABNB). The company matches hosts with those looking for spaces, and can pr...

It’s no surprise that conventional energy stocks have been strong performers in the past year. From industry leaders to smaller players, rising energy prices have fueled market-beating performance. With oil nearing $100 per barrel, it may be unthinkable, but the commodity could further rally further. Given the amount of insider trades and unusual options activity in the energy sector we’ve seen over the past year and a half, it’s clear that institutional investors and experts are betting on a further rally as well. Adding to the potential for a big rise quickly is in the political re...

There’s an old saying that the Chinese word for crisis is also the same word for opportunity. That can be the case in the stock market often, as short-term fears create long-term buying opportunities for astute investors. That’s the case with many beaten-down tech stocks right now. While there are still some pockets of overvaluation, a number of opportunities are available for industry-leading companies at a reasonable price right now. One clear-cut example isAdvanced Micro Devices (AMD). Last week’s market selloff led to a 15 percent drop for the industry-leading chipmaker stock. Ev...

The current economic data shows inflation is running hot, supply chains are strained, and consumers are increasingly uncertain. A company that can thrive and grow now is one that’s going to be rewarded by investors in today’s market. The best place to find such companies are one that offer a powerful brand, which tends to hold more value, or which offer a service, as services are removed from supply chain constraints and tend to be highly profitable. One such area that looks ripe for continued growth is in security software plays. It’s clear from earnings season that companies likeDa...

The economy is rapidly changing. But one consistency for investors is to consider companies with strong cash flow. Any firm that can keep money coming in during good times and bad is one worth considering for the long haul. It’s even better for investors when a company finds new venues for generating cash during poor times. The pandemic created a number of opportunities for companies, with some still continuing to grow in the post-pandemic era. Case in point?The Walt Disney Company (DIS). The company reported strong subscriber numbers for its streaming service, a sign that its conten...

A number of high-profile technologies are being rapidly developed and will become mainstream in the next few years. That includes everything from the rise of cryptocurrencies, to the growing Metaverse, to other tech like self-driving cars. While each of those tech trends has specific companies, the infrastructure for those technologies will disproportionately will fall on a small number of firms. The absolute top player for these tech trends is graphics processing companyNvidia (NVDA). The company has already been a big winner, but shares have hit a bear market on the most recent mar...

One way to profit in the stock market is to find where large buy orders are occurring and then follow along. That’s typically done by institutional investors, but the launch of a popular new ETF could also bring a lot of new capital into a niche sector and lead to a big move higher. That could be the case in the coming days as a new ETF focused on Bitcoin mining companies comes onto the market. With crypto prices starting to rise in recent weeks, the combination could be explosive. With many mining companies holding onto their mined crypto during the recent selloff, these companies l...

Companies with a strong brand have pricing power. They can raise prices faster than a product without a brand attached to it. That can create a valuable company, and one with higher profit margins than competitors. With a market correction, many companies with strong brands have seen their shares get thrown out like the proverbial baby with the bathwater. Astute investors should view big selloffs as buying opportunities. One such opportunity may be inClorox (CLX). The cleaning supply brand, best known for its bleach, saw shares drop over 14 percent as the company reported that rising...

For years, the FANG stocks have become market dominators. It’s easy to see why. But in the past decade since the term was coined, many of these companies have seen new firms eat into their profit margins. That could come from a proliferation of competitors, such as in social media or streaming services. That’s why investors are seeing wild swings in these companies as earnings season unfolds. It’s also revealing another truth about the market. It’s the fact that nothing lasts forever. And investors who find companies that can take on the major dominant players and grab market share, ...