2007 Free Commentary Archive
December 2007
This
New Fund Offers Exposure to One of the Hottest Sectors Around
The DaxGlobal Agribusiness Index is up +87% in the past year. Until
recently there was no way to profit from this move, but thanks to Van
Eck, there is now.
Benefit
from the Sell-Off in MLPs Before the Opportunity is Gone
In the past few months, Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs) have been hit
hard due to the subprime scare. Many investors believe that these
companies cannot continue to pay such high dividends, but this is far
from true.
One
Blockbuster Drug Could Net
Gilead (GILD) a Half-Billion
Dollars
Long-term growth estimates for
this solid biotechnology company
are conservative. Just one drug
in the development pipeline has
the potential to produce $500
million in annual revenue.
Double
Your Dividends by Investing in Foreign Companies
Imagine going to a supermarket and shopping in just half of the aisles.
This is essentially what investors with no foreign exposure are doing
with their portfolios.
Profits
to Rise +20% a Year at Expeditors International (EXPD)
This firm is the leader in the non-asset-based freight business. It acts
as a transportation broker, allowing EXPD to take part in the
international shipping boom without the overhead of owning and
operating huge fleets.
Profit
from Tax-Loss Selling with Closed-End Funds
Many closed-end funds tend to sell off in the last few weeks of the year
and then rally in January. Here is how to profit from this phenomenon.
If
Emerging Markets Cool, You'll Want Share of this New ETF
We all know emerging markets have been hot. But if you think a slowing
U.S. economy will temper future growth abroad, this ETF is for you.
How
You Can Profit From Institutional Buying
Every day, large institutions make changes to their positions that affect
stock prices. Learning to spot these moves can drastically increase your
profits.
Lock in an 11.5% Yield with This Unique Hybrid Security
This stock/bond combo linked to steel maker Nucor (NUE)
carries an appealing double-digit yield.
November 2007
Profit
from a +200% Increase in the Market for GPS Devices with Garmin (GRMN)
Thanks to its 50% share of the market for personal navigation devices,
Garmin could continue its meteoric rise.
A
Mid-Grade Bond Fund with a 7.1% Yield and Only Moderate Risk
With expert management, this fund provides invaluable diversification
from stocks in a time of market uncertainity.
Mid-Cap
Growth -- The Single Best-Performing Corner of
the Market Over the Past Five Years
Mid-cap growth stocks have delivered average annual returns of +19%
over the past five years, and that winning streak should continue over
the long haul.
Shipping
Stocks -- A Perfect Way to Profit from Booming Global Trade
Global trade is growing, and that spells rising demand for
shipping services. Even better, there's an income kicker -- water
transport firms generate strong cash flows and pay out huge dividends of
up to 15.4%.
Maximize
Your Returns with High-Yield Retirement Funds
In response to the aging baby boomer crowd, "retirement
funds" have become one of the fastest-growing segments of the fund
market. Most have also shown remarkable resilience in the face of recent
market volatility.
Playing
the Global Boom in Non-Residential Construction
Although spending on U.S. residential construction topped out in late
2005, spending on
non-residential construction continues to soar.
New
Germany Fund Delivers +40% Annual Gains
Germany is home to the
largest economy in all of Europe, and thanks to a series of reforms, the
nation is on a tear. Well placed to profit from that trend, this fund
has delivered eye-catching annual gains in excess of +40%.
Profiting
from Tremendous Growth in Latin America
If you're ignoring Latin America's investment potential, then you're
missing out on one of the most compelling economic growth stories on the
planet.
Gain Exposure to an Area of the Market
That's Normally Off-Limits to Small Investors
The PowerShares International Listed Private Equity ETF (PFP) invests in
a unique and highly profitable corner of the market -- private equity
firms. Over the last two decades, investments in this unique asset class
have delivered sizzling +14.2% annualized returns.
This
Fund Carries a 10.6% Yield and Sells at a Discount
Nicholas-Applegate Convertible &
Income Fund (NCV) has produced total
returns (including distributions) of around +12% annually over the past
three years, beating more than a third of the funds in its category.
The
Best Way to Invest in the Red-Hot Metals Sector
Global economic expansion has helped push metals like
copper and gold to fresh highs. Here is a great way to
profit from this trend.
October 2007
Enjoy
a 12.4% Yield with Centerline (CHC)
Although tainted with the subprime mess,
this real estate finance company has no subprime exposure. And thanks to
panic-selling, the shares now yield over 12%.
After
a Recent Run, Shares of Corning (GLW) Still Offer Great Value
Thanks to the firm's cutting-edge technology, Corning shares
have
been on a tear -- but they still trade at a PEG ratio
of only 1.0.
Shares
of Windstream (WIN) Provide Stable Income for Conservative Investors
Those more interested in solid income than capital gains
may find this firm appealing.
The
Central Europe & Russia Fund (CEE) Has Showered Investors with +35% Annualized
Gains
This fund has earned handsome returns by
investing in Central and Eastern Europe, Turkey, and Russia.
Use
this Fund to Profit from the $150 Billion Market for Luxury Goods
Global wealth is on the rise, as is demand for luxury
goods. Here is how investors can benefit from this trend.
Asta
Funding (ASFI) Looks to Capitalize on Rising Consumer Defaults
The effect of a worsening credit market is a boon for investors of this
company.
Benefit
from the Falling Dollar with Shares of this Energy Trust
Not only does this trust yield 8.1%, but investors also
benefit from the weakening greenback.
September 2007
These
Preferred Shares Offer an Above-Average 6.2% Yield
Those looking for higher yields and reasonable safety might like
Freddie Mac's preferred shares.
Benefit
from China's Expansion with Shares of this Shipping Firm
China's growth has led to a strong rise in shipping
rates, which benefits this well-positioned company.
One
of the Cheapest Financial Stocks in the World
Shinhan Financial (SHG) is Korea's
second-largest bank, yet the firm's stock trades at half the valuation of its
peers.
Double
the S&P with this Unique Fund
Backtesting shows
that this new fund would have more than doubled the S&P 500
over the past decade.
A
15.3% Yield Makes this Security Appealing for Aggressive Investors
Over the past 12 months, this fund has paid out $2.93
per share in dividends, giving it a phenomenal yield.
The
Best of Both Worlds: A Firm with an 8.5% Yield and a 40% Discount
This pharmaceutical company has been hit hard in recent
weeks, making it an appealing investment for both income and
value investors.
Twelve
Companies Generating Mountains of Free Cash Flow
Free cash flow gives the best sense of a firm's
profitability, and these companies score highly on
that metric.
This
Focused Fund Has Outperformed 80% of its Peer Group
By investing in only a select few of its strongest ideas, this fund has been
able to beat out the vast majority of its competitors.
Subprime
Turmoil Has Left These Preferred Shares with a 9.3% Yield
Investors looking for income and value may
be interested in the preferred shares of this well-known mortgage lender.
August 2007
Diebold
(DBD) Offers Growth of Nearly +20% at a Sharp Discount
This leading manufacturer of ATMs is set to grow
earnings at an +18% clip, yet trades 27% below its fair
value.
A
Sagging Credit Market Should Lead to Higher Profits for Portfolio
Recovery Associates (PRAA)
Although the recent credit squeeze is bad news for most sectors of the
economy, this firm stands to gain.
A
Major Buyback Plan Has Home Depot Ready to Soar
Wall Street loves stock buybacks, and Home Depot has announced
one of the largest in history.
Upstream
MLPs: The New Canadian Trusts
This new breed of master limited partnership (MLP) has seen average
annualized gains of +121% -- and for good reason. These securities could
be the new Canadian trusts.
This
New Fund Will Offer a Steady Yield and Foreign Exposure
The newest offering from the growing Wisdom Tree family of funds looks
to offer yield-hungry investors access to the fast-growing emerging
markets.
Profit
From Companies Paying Down Their Debt
Paying down debt shows investors that a firm's core business is strong.
We found 17 companies doing just that.
Invest
Alongside George Soros With Shares of Amgen
This firm's' valuation level is appealing -- and many of
today's legendary investors are now piling in.
Capture
a 6.6% Yield With This Cash Cow
Investors in this master limited partnership (MLP) have seen steadily
increasing dividend payments, in addition to a steadily increasing share
price.
Twenty-One
Firms Benefiting From the Boom in Alternative Energy
With the price of oil near record highs, many are looking toward
alternative energy sources. Here are nearly two-dozen stocks benefiting
from this trend.
Recent Winners:
Chile's Growth Paid Off for This Fund
Since being featured in High-Yield
Investing, shares of Chile Fund (CH) have moved sharply higher.
July
2007
Beat
the S&P by 45% by Investing in Spin-Offs
Nine out of ten spin-offs top the S&P in their first two
years -- by an average of 45%. This firm looks to continue
this trend.
Marriott's
Reputation for Quality Should Spur Steady Growth
With a name synonymous with quality,
Marriott (MAR) has lifted its earnings per share by +70% in just three
years. Even better, future increases seem very likely.
Nine
Companies Boasting Accelerating Growth
We all know Wall Street has a hunger for growth, so we found nine firms
that could fulfill the Street's appetite -- and benefit shareholders.
Recent
Winners: Three Income Stocks That Delivered Average Gains of +191%
In under a year, three stocks we profiled
in High-Yield Investing showed gains of +111%, +138%, and +325%.
Finding
Value and 11.0% Yields in REITs
A downturn in mortgage lenders has left some great
values -- and high yields.
 Investing
Like Buffett
Warren Buffett is affectionately known to many as the "Oracle
of Omaha." He remains the most successful and most widely
recognized value investor in modern stock market history.
In this report, we will show you some of his techniques and
highlight some of his holdings and others that fit his criteria |
Conservative
Investors Will Appreciate This Security's Solid 5.7% Distribution
For those who want a safe investment
with a solid long-term track record, we found the perfect thing.
Recent
Winners: Chinese Commodity Stock Delivers Gains of +168%
Nine months ago, Nathan Slaughter profiled
this company in Half-Priced Stocks. Ever since, the stock has
skyrocketed, benefiting readers who took his advice.
June 2007
China's
Leading Oil Company is a Foreign Growth and Value Play
With a PEG of just 0.5, "Sinopec" is more than just a
play on energy markets and China -- it's a value play as
well.
A
Shareholder-Friendly Firm Ready to Buy Back $1 Billion Worth of Stock
SunTrust Banks is one of the largest regional banking firms in
the U.S. And in a move that will benefit its investors, the firm is
planning to repurchase $1 billion worth of stock this year alone.
Recent
Winners: Calling Up +50% Returns
In the August 2006 issue of
High-Yield Investing, Editor Carla Pasternak profiled a
thinly-traded micro-cap company with a 9.6% yield. Let's check back in
on that pick.
This
Trust Pays a Tax-Advantaged Yield of 12.5%
Investors who have an appetite for risk could be rewarded by this
Canadian trust's double-digit yield.
This
Hot Growth Stock Has Increased Revenues at a +193% Annual Rate
Investors looking for a company
trading at a discount to its phenomenal growth may be interested in
shares of this firm.
Recent Winners: Using Warren Buffett's Strategy to Profit
By following in the investing legend's footsteps, we let out readers in on an
undervalued industry that returned big gains over the past year.
Thanks
in Part to its 11.1% Yield, This Canadian Trust is Staging a Comeback
Provident Energy Trust has risen
+33% since November, yet it still yields an astounding 11.1%.
Twenty-Two
Firms Following in Starbucks' Footsteps
These companies share a trait with the ubiquitous coffee retailer --
strong pricing power as shown by their healthy margins. In fact, all 22
carry operating margins that are better than 90% of the S&P 500.
May 2007
A
Little-Known Stock with Huge Growth Ahead
This restaurant chain should see enormous
growth in the coming years. With less than 500 locations, the company
has plenty of room to expand
--
that's great news for investors who catch
the stock early.
Eleven
Companies That Could Boost Their Dividends
Forget earnings. If you really
want to see if a company's dividend is secure, then you need to evaluate
the real bottom line -- free cash flow (FCF). These 11 firms have
growing FCF, which could mean dividend hikes in the near future.
Eaton
Vance: A Solid Firm Well-Positioned for Future Growth
Eaton Vance (NYSE: EV) is perhaps best known for its closed-end fund
offerings. In each of the past four years, no other firm has issued more
closed-end funds than EV. This is great news for Eaton Vance's
investors.
Aggressive
Investors May Find This Fund's 15.8% Yield Appealing
This closed-end fund invests in a diversified basket of mid-cap U.S.
growth stocks. In the past 12 months, the fund has paid out $0.89 per
share, giving it an impressive yield of 15.8% -- enough to get any
income investor's mouth watering.
One
Stock that Appeals to Value and Income Investors
This firm has raised its dividends by +27% annually over the past decade
-- and more increases are likely on the horizon. Couple that with its
20% discount to fair value, and this is a stock that has something for
everyone.
Thanks
to a Pullback, this REIT Now Yields 6.7%
Gramercy Capital Corp. (NYSE: GKK) is a real estate
investment trust (REIT) that makes loans to commercial real estate
developers. Like other stocks in the
sector, GKK has come under pressure lately. But the pullback has left
this solid security yielding 6.7%.
Thirteen
Stocks Set to Squeeze Short Sellers
In 2004, shares of Travelzoo soared over +1000% thanks to a short
squeeze of huge proportions. We have the exclusive names and ticker
symbols of 13 more stocks that could do the same thing in the near
future.
April 2007
Recent
Winners: Three Firms that are More Profitable than Microsoft
In April 2006, Paul Tracy wrote an
interesting article in his newsletter that
featured firms with stronger margins than
one of the world's most dominant companies
-- Microsoft. Now it's time to look back at his picks, including one
that has gained +25%.
This Monopolistic Firm
is Now Trading 25% Below its
Fair Value
Chunghwa Telecom controls 95% of Taiwan's fixed
phone lines. It is also the leading player in the country's
cell-phone market. These steady businesses enable the firm to pay
out a 6.3% yield, yet the shares still trade at a sharp discount to
their true worth.
Why
Now is the Best Time to Invest in This Stock
Microsoft's Vista is giving many PC users around the globe a reason to
update their computers. This company is updating its ubiquitous software
as well -- at the perfect time to benefit from the worldwide computer
upgrade cycle.
Invest
in This Fund Today for a 9.3% Yield and Exposure to Hot Overseas Real
Estate Markets
This fund allows investors to profit from the commercial real estate
markets in Europe, Asia, and Australia. Even better, it also offers a
yield approaching 10%.
No
Kidding: Children's Place Has Stellar Growth at a Cheap Price
Even with gains of +23% annually over the last three years, PLCE still
has a rock-bottom PEG ratio of 0.8. For this and other reasons, this is
definitely a stock worth exploring.
The
Hot Casino Market Has These Gaming Stocks Booming
From Macau to Vegas, people
are in love with gambling. We have found a few gaming stocks that will
benefit from this love affair and put dollars in investors' pockets.
This
Solid Shipping Stock Yields 10.4%
Thanks to strong demand from China for oil and iron ore, shipping stocks
have been on a tear in recent months. One of the best performers, Eagle
Bulk Shipping (EGLE), has delivered gains of +50% for shareholders over
the past year. And best of all, the stock still offers a generous 10.4%
dividend yield.
March 2007
Louisiana-Pacific
Still Offers Great Value for Long-Term Investors
The housing market has weighed on the company, but Warren Buffett's
wisdom says now may be the time to buy.
Invest
in These Undiscovered Growth Stocks Before the Crowd
By running our advanced screening tool for firms with huge growth and
little analyst coverage, we found almost 20 stocks that should move
higher when Wall Street discovers what it has been missing.
Receive
a Stable 5.6% Yield With Shares of Valero L.P.
With its geographically diverse assets, stable revenue streams, and sound balance sheet, we consider VLI a fairly low-risk investment with solid dividend growth potential.
Discounted
Fast-Food Stocks Offer Some Safety in a Market Downturn
While competition is fierce and margins are thin, fast-food restaurants
see plenty of demand. And no matter the shape of the economy, this
demand is stable and should buoy stock prices for the industry.
This
Company's Surprise Hit Could Mean Future Gains for Shareholders
With its unique design, unparalleled interactivity and attractive price,
Nintendo's Wii has proved popular with consumers. Investors may find the
company's shares appealing as well.
February 2007
Earn
Better Returns With Monthly Dividend Payers
You may have noticed that most securities pay their dividends quarterly,
that is, every three months. Others pay monthly and a few securities may
pay annually or semi-annually. Although quarterly payments are far more
typical, the more frequent monthly dividends do provide a slight
advantage for investors.
Beat
the S&P with These Foreign Companies
The S&P 500
finished 2006 up about +15% including dividends -- its best year since 2003.
While this isn't shabby, it pales in comparison to
the +127% gain logged by China's Shanghai and Shenzen 300
Index, the +53% jump in India's Sensex, and the +33% gain in Brazil's
Bovespa. The point of this comparison: it's
a mistake for U.S. investors to ignore foreign markets.
This
Chinese Stock Has Gained +70%, But Will its Recent Run Continue?
We profiled this stock as a possible China play in one of our recent
issues. Since then, the shares have returned better than +70%, earning a
nice gain for those who invested just a few short months ago.
A
15%
Dividend Yield Plus the Safety of a Diversified Fund
The PIMCO International StocksPLUS Total Return Strategy Fund (PIPDX) is quite possibly one of the highest yielding mutual funds around. And with a low expense ratio and no front load or deferred sales charges, expenses won't eat into your total returns very much.
 Economic
Moats: Rock-Solid Companies With Sustainable Competitive
Advantages
It has long been one of the most fundamental axioms of basic
economics: success invites competition. But companies with wide
economic moats are able to insulate themselves from this threat
and produce steady growth year after year. This report offers
in-depth analysis of two stocks with moats as wide as an ocean. |
UPS
vs. FedEx -- Analysis of the Two Giants in Package Delivery
Since their humble beginnings, both of these companies have gone on to
become major players in their industry. But which one is worthy of your
investment dollars?
How
to Find Probable Takeover Targets
As mergers and acquisitions become more common, investors stand to earn
big returns if they are able to identify takeover targets before a deal
a is announced.
January 2007
Keep
More of Your Income in Your Pocket With This Tax-Advantaged Fund
By investing in securities that qualify for the reduced dividend tax
rate, the Nuveen Tax-Advantaged Total Return Strategy Fund lets you put
more money into your pockets -- instead of Uncle Sam's.
 Top
Ten Stocks for 2007
After hundreds of
hours of research, due diligence and healthy intra-company debate,
we've managed to narrow the vast investing universe down to just
ten stocks that we think are poised to deliver superior returns in
the years ahead. |
Stock/Futures
Exchanges -- One of the Most Profitable Industries on the Planet
Today's modern exchanges enjoy one of the most lucrative business
models on the planet. As the volume of securities traded worldwide
increases, so should the revenue for exchanges -- and their share
prices.
Shares
of Dell Trade 30% Below Fair Value
As growth in the PC market has slowed, investors have punished
shares of this leading company. And while Dell is not the growth
story it once was, the stock is now quite attractive from a value
standpoint.
This
Covered-Call Fund Offers a Different Way to Extract Extra Yield
By writing call options on the securities in its portfolio, the Eaton
Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund II is able to offer more cash to
shareholders -- in the form of an 8.5% yield.
Getting
an Edge With Shuffle Master
Over the past year, the stocks of leading gaming firms have skyrocketed, in part because of optimism surrounding the development of new mega-resorts in the booming Macau market. However, while nearly all of the casino operators have surged, their suppliers have (no pun intended) almost been lost in the shuffle. This is where Shuffle Master comes into play.
Turning
the Corner to Profitability
While losses are tolerable early in a company's lifecycle, every company must eventually turn a profit to survive. That magic moment when a company's business model starts to gain traction and losses turn to positive net income is one of the most profitable times to invest.
