15101

Look for Efficiently-Run Companies to Thrive in Choppy Economic Times

With interest rates at their highest levels in 15 years, companies can’t just rely on cheap debt as an option when making decisions. The companies that will fare best will be those that have strong cash flows and are run efficiently. That should keep profit margins high, and provide the capital to benefit from new opportunities as they emerge. The more efficiently a company can operate, the more resilience it will have in the years ahead. One company that’s been working on ...
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15095

Buy the Earnings, Not the Earnings Report

Earnings season can create some big swings in share prices. And they can create some counterintuitive moves. Companies that beat earnings can sell off. Companies that miss on earnings can see shares rally. And then there come the moves from any forward guidance. Over time, earnings drive a company’s share price. So even if a company misses the mark for some reason in a given quarter, if its earnings are improving, shares will likely trend higher in time. The market punishedAlphabet (GOOG), ...
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15091

A Safe Way to Play the Bitcoin ETF Rumors

Bitcoin is having a strong year. Rumors of an ETF approval are helping to push the crypto’s price higher, even if the actual news hasn’t materialized yet. Chances are investors will continue to see big daily volatility in cryptos like bitcoin for some time. Those looking to play the overall rising trend in the space can find less volatile places to play it. That means ignoring companies with heavy bitcoin exposure, such as bitcoin mining companies. Cryptocurrency brokerages could benefit from the ...
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15085

Overlooked Laggards Can Win in a Market Rally

When stocks sell off, good names sell off with bad ones. And companies that have been lagging their industry peers tend to sell off harder. In a turnaround, however, they can have more room to run. Plus, they tend to have lower valuations than industry leaders, which means any upside surprise isn’t priced in. Investors have plenty of options in the tech space going into the end of the year. With stocks likely to see a seasonal rebound, some of the ...
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15082

This Upscale Oligopoly Player Has Long-Term Potential Here

The market’s selloff over the past few months may be nearing a peak. While there could be another leg lower first, the drop has hit great companies to own hard enough to be a buy here. That’s especially true for companies that don’t have many competitors. Most mature industries only have a few companies, and have to cater to customers on other criteria than price. When the economy recovers, as it always does, these companies can move to new highs. In the ...
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15076

Uncertain Times or Not, Cash Flow Matters

Investors tend to focus on earnings and sales. But cash flow is also a critical component of analyzing a company. It shows how money comes in as revenue, is spent on goods and services a company needs to run, and how the remainder ends up on the balance sheet. A company with strong cash flows has enough money coming out at the end to pay a dividend to shareholders, or buy back shares, after investing in maintaining the company’s growth. This earnings ...
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15072

In Uncertain Markets, Quality Stocks Hold Up Best

Markets are still setting up for a year-end rally. But the selloff of the past month has taken many great companies far lower. While tech stocks have been hit the hardest, consumer goods companies have also seen heavy selling as they compete with the rising yields on bonds. That means investors may have a great opportunity to buy shares of defensive companies now, ahead of both a year-end rally and a likely move lower for interest rates later in 2024. Consumer goods ...
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15068

Invest Where Other Companies See Value

One way to find market-beating trades is to look at companies that have suitors. A company that receives an unsolicited buyout offer can get a sense of what their shares would be worth if they were taken over. If the company rejects the offer, it may be a sign that they see even more value to their shares. That could lead to a higher offer, or a bid from a third company that sees an opportunity. Such a move is underway in ...
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