Retail stocks continue to underperform. Year to date (YTD), the S&P Retail Select Industry Index is up 0.35% compared to a 7% gain in the benchmark S&P 500 index. Over the past 12 months, the S&P retail index has risen 7% versus a 27% increase in the S&P 500. The main reason for the poor
In this article BRK.A Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Warren Buffett tours the grounds at the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholders Meeting in Omaha Nebraska. David A. Grogan | CNBC Warren Buffett shared a heartfelt tribute to the late Charlie Munger, calling his business partner of 60 years the architect of today’s Berkshire Hathaway. In
Warren Buffett ahead of the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholder’s Meeting in Omaha, NE. David A. Grogan | CNBC Berkshire Hathaway on Saturday reported a big rise in operating earnings in the fourth quarter, thanks to huge gains in its insurance business, while its cash pile expanded to record levels. The Omaha-based conglomerate posted operating earnings
Earlier in February, The New York Times reported on changes IBM (NYSE:IBM) has made to its pension plans that will likely save it millions in payments to its employees. This was the first time I’d read anything about the move. However, new stories about the subject started popping up as early as Nov. 7. Russell
The AI trade is alive and well, as Nvidia’s (NASDAQ:NVDA) earnings proved on February 21. It was one of the most awaited earnings reports this earnings season. Fortunately, the chip maker, regarded as the bellwether of AI stocks, delivered solid results. At a macro level, generative AI remains a priority spending area for companies. After
Social media stocks can come and go just as fast as the memes their platforms support. While the early days of social media stocks provided potential for huge growth akin to the dot-com bubble, many of these publicly traded companies are now faltering thanks to expanded regulatory action, increased competition and dwindling customer demand. The
Though small-cap stocks tend to outperform large-caps as a collective investment class, that truism hides a key risk when investing in small-cap stocks. There’s little barrier to entry, practically speaking, to public listing (and the few barriers are easily avoided, as in the case of SPAC mergers). This means that companies with limited prospects or
The tech sector has been filled with corporations that outperform the market or do most of the heavy lifting for index funds. These companies invest in innovative technology and optimize their existing digital infrastructures. Investors have made fortunes in this industry, and there’s plenty of additional upside if you have a lengthy time horizon. It’s
While the rest of the stock market endured a bear mauling in 2022, energy sectors became the best-performing asset class that year. My how things have changed. Today, oil prices are hovering around $80 a barrel and energy producers are marking down their profits. At the same time, concerns about slumping demand and the global
Chinese stocks have struggled, as indicated by the downtrend in the Shanghai index. It’s also noteworthy that the index has remained sideways (amid volatility) in the last five years. The reasons for depressed valuations include macroeconomic challenges and geopolitical factors. However, there is no doubt that several quality stocks in the Chinese market have overreacted
The future of the U.S. economy looks promising. Recent data indicates a significant increase in productivity, reminiscent of the economic boom experienced in the mid-1990s. Technology advances and the widespread adoption of hybrid work models contribute to this positive trend. If sustained, this surge in productivity could lead to higher wages, improved company profitability and
Investors have always searched for signs of bullishness in stocks that the market has discounted. The pursuit of value is never-ending. Those who can find bullish sleeper stocks among shares plagued by bearish sentiment stand to make a lot of money. Two of the stocks discussed below are plagued by bullish sentiment. Each of those
The Russell 2000, an index tracking the performance of small-to-mid-cap companies, ended 2023 in better shape than when it started. In particular, Russell 2000 stocks 16.8% in 2023, below that of both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq indices, which appreciated 24.2% and 43.4%, respectively. The index had been trailing the S&P 500 and Nasdaq since then. In 2024, the Russell
With stocks up 200%, you face a dilemma. While you don’t want to fight momentum, you also don’t want to buy into excessive exuberance and jump into a stock at its top, forced to hold until break-even or sell for a loss down the road. These three companies represent solid picks among the handful of
Just a year ago, most people were skeptical about AI. It seemed the general consensus was that this emerging technology was just the latest overhyped fad. Many figured its popularity would pass with time and prove to have little real-world, lasting value. So much for that. According to its latest earnings, Nvidia (NVDA) – the
Solar stocks continue to present intriguing opportunities for investors looking for growth potential. This February edition highlights three companies that stand out for their innovative approaches and strategic moves in the market. Each of these companies has demonstrated significant potential despite the challenges and volatility inherent in the solar industry. The recent headwinds battering the
There has been chatter in financial circles about whether this is a good time to pick growth stocks to buy and hold, as the concentration of market gains in a few large technology companies over the past year concerns investors. Just seven mega-cap stocks accounted for 69% of the 2023 gains of the S&P 500
The battles within the semiconductor sector are always fierce. Even now, when the demand for AI chips is extremely high, multiple firms are competing to become the top rival to Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA), and NVDA is fighting to remain the undisputed champion in the space. Similarly, in autos, smartphones, servers, and PCs, competition within the sector
Electric vehicle (EV) stocks took a hit in Q4 of 2023 as the long-term outlook for EV demand decreased. Many stocks that surged over the past three years now face price corrections as consumer values change. Despite the environmental benefits of EVs, most consumers lack access to robust charging networks that would make owning an
Once people are done fawning over generative AI, investors might think, “what will be the next big thing?” The field of quantum computing may be just that. Quantum computing has the potential to solve complex problems that generally slow down classical computers, such as optimization, cryptography, machine learning, and simulation. While quantum computing technology may still be