Search Results
Results 501–550
of 585 found.
Invest In Stocks With A Margin of Safety To Reduce Risk And Enhance Returns
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
Of all of the many sound investing principles that legendary teacher and investor Ben Graham put forward, he believed that his concept of margin of safety was the most important of all. This investment lesson was so deeply ingrained into the mind of Ben Grahams most famous student, Warren Buffett, that he created his two most important rules of sound investing. Rule number one: Never lose money. Rule number two: Never forget rule number one. Clearly, both of these renowned sages understood the importance of minimizing risk, especially when investing in equities.
Utilities - Today's Best Bond Alternative
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
To refer to any stock or equity as an alternative to bonds or fixed income is sure to stir up the ire and consternation of many professional and individual investors alike who deem themselves prudent. Frankly, under normal circumstances I would tend to agree.
The Telecommunications Services Sector Untethered and Poised to Grow
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
Suffice it to say that the Telecommunications Services sector of today is not your grandfathers Telecommunications Services sector. The explosion, and rapidly becoming ubiquitous implementation, of wireless technologies have been disruptive and game changing. As a result, the very nature of the established stalwarts within this industry have gone through an extraordinary metamorphosis.
Is The Financial Crisis Over For Financial Stocks?
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
The cause of the financial crisis of 2007 -2008, also known as the Great Recession of 2008, is attributed to many different theories. However, one of the most common theories is an easy money regulatory environment that led to an abundance of subprime loans, which in turn inflated real estate prices to bubble levels. Additionally, many blame the Financial sector, predominantly the money center banks, for exploiting the lax lending requirements with reckless and greedy behavior.
For A Healthier Portfolio - Look Here
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
The Health Care sector is comprised of many diverse companies, as can be seen from the list of subsectors provided below. Historically the Health Care sector has been comprised of a significant number of companies with above-average growth rates of earnings. Consequently, a majority of the companies comprising the Health Care sector could be thought of as growth stocks over dividend growth stocks.
Are Blue-Chip Consumer Staples Worth Today's Premium Valuations?
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
The Consumer Staples sector consists of companies that provide essential products. In other words, Consumer Staples are products that people cannot or are unwilling to do without. As a result of the essential nature of Consumer Staples, there are several attributes that distinguish this sector from most others. First of all, the essential nature of the products that Consumer Staples companies produce, are for the most part, non-cyclical. Second, Consumer Staples tend to be very insensitive to economic cycles.
Beware Of The Valuations On The Best Consumer Discretionary Dividend Growth Stocks
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
The Consumer Discretionary sector consists of businesses that sell nonessential, and therefore, discretionary goods and services. Companies in this sector include retailers, media companies, consumer services companies, consumer durables and apparel companies, automobiles and components companies. Since so much of what this sector offers is discretionary items, companies in the sector tend to do best when the economy is strongest. Unfortunately, as we will soon see, so do the prices of their stocks tend to perform best when the market is performing best.
Finding Value In The Materials Sector Is A Material Thing
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
This is the third in a series of articles designed to find value in todays stock market environment. However, it is the second of 10 articles covering the 10 major general sectors. In my first article, I laid the foundation that represents the two primary underlying ideas supporting the need to publish such a treatise. First and foremost, that it is not a stock market; rather it is a market of stocks. Second, that regardless of the level of the general market, there will always be overvalued, undervalued and fairly valued individual stocks to be found.
Finding Great Value In The Energy Sector
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
This will be the second in a series of articles designed to find value in todays stock market environment. However, it will be the first of 10 articles covering the 10 major general sectors. In my first article, I laid the foundation that represents the two primary underlying ideas supporting the need to publish such a treatise. First and foremost, that it is not a stock market; rather it is a market of stocks. Second, that regardless of the level of the general market, there will always be overvalued, undervalued and fairly valued individual stocks to be found.
Searching For Value And Finding It In Today's Market - Sector By Sector
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
I think the market is overvalued now, is a common refrain that Im hearing from most of the individual investors I have recently been coming in contact with. Consequently, many of these same investors are also currently eschewing investing in common stocks because of that fear. Although I do not agree that the market is currently overvalued, I believe I understand why so many people think it is. Individual investors currently believe the market is overvalued because of two common fallacies that at first blush appear to be logical.
Own These World's Leading Brands And Never Fear A Recession Again
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
If you were to take the essence of most peoples beliefs and understanding about investing in common stocks, or the stock market for that matter, and turn it into a movie, I believe it would have to be labeled under the category science fiction. In other words, in my experience, most of what people believe about common stocks or the stock market is predicated more on opinion than on fact. But even more importantly, it is predicated on opinions that are driven by strong emotional responses.
This Is What Real Bubbles Look Like
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
With the stock market currently doing so well, numerous articles are popping up playing the bubble card. Personally, I dont believe we are anywhere near bubble levels for equities, at least in the general sense. I do think there are certain stocks that are currently overvalued, but very few that I would describe as dangerously so. To me, the true definition of a bubble is when prices have become so ludicrously high, that the dangers of a catastrophic loss large enough to be considered almost permanent become imminent or at least quite obvious.
General Electric Looks Like It's Becoming The Shareholder-Friendly Company It Once Was
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
General Electric (GE) was once revered as one of the bluest of all blue-chip companies in the world. During its glory days, GE was respected as an industrial conglomerate that manufactured some of the worlds best jet engines, locomotives, appliances and even the highly regarded General Electric light bulb. However, as best I can determine, the roots of General Electrics ultimate demise were established in 1930 when the company, responding to the great depression, formed GE Finance in order to help their customers finance GE appliances over time.
Many Of My Dividend Growth Stocks Have Become Overvalued, What Do I Do Now?
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
To me, theres almost nothing better than finding a great company that I truly want to own at a fair valuation, or better yet, undervalued. In the long run, it has been my experience that this usually leads to outsized future returns, especially if you buy stocks when they are undervalued at the time. But there is quite often a side effect that can prove very disconcerting. Once an undervalued stock starts moving to the upside, momentum will often carry it above what prudent fair valuation would dictate.
The Truth About The Impact Of Dividend Reinvesting
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
What follows will be several examples of different kinds of dividend paying stocks offered in order to provide deeper insight into several commonly held notions. With each example, I will focus on how much return comes from dividends and how much comes from capital appreciation. I will also illustrate the precise benefits and effects of dividend reinvestment as it applies to different types of dividend paying stocks.
How Can I Know If My Stocks Are Fairly Valued?
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
When the operating results of a business, i.e. its earnings and cash flows, do not represent an attractive rate of return on investment, it should be instantly obvious to the prudent investor that fair valuation is not present. Conversely, when the earnings yields are very high based on reasonable assumptions, the opportunities this represents should be readily apparent as well.
Based on Real Math The S&P 500 Is Fairly Valued
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
As investors, we do not believe in forecasting stock markets or stock prices on individual stocks. Instead, we approach investing as the process of calculating intrinsic value based on fundamentals. To us, the most important fundamental to be considered when evaluating the True Worth of a market or a common stock is earnings. Therefore, it's important that the reader understands that this article is offered as a mathematical calculation of what the S&P 500 is actually worth based on earnings.
Cyclical and Turnaround Stocks: There Is A Lot Of Value In This Market: Part 5
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
This article represents the final installment in our "There Is A Lot of Value In This Market" series. In some ways, this article represents prima fascia evidence supporting some of our main hypotheses. First of all, this article will clearly support the notion that not all common stock are the same, and therefore, they should all not be painted with the same broad brush stroke (generalities or opinions).
High-Yield Buys: There Is a Lot of Value In This Market: Part 3
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
In this part 3, we turn our attention to the highest yielding stocks that are constituents on the S&P 500. However, we submit that there are essentially two primary reasons that explain why these stocks offer such high yields.
Growth Stocks: There is a Lot of Value in this Market Part 2
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
In part one of this series we introduced the notion that in all markets whether bear or bull, there will always exist individual stocks that are fairly valued, overvalued or undervalued. In this same vein we argued that it's a market of stocks, not a stock market. To put this into context, we are simply suggesting that the discerning investor can always find bargains if they are willing to look and do their homework. However, we should also add that bargains can come from many different types of equities.
There is a Lot of Value in this Market: Part 1
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
Whenever there is a rise in stock values as we have experienced over the past year or so, it seems to be human nature to automatically assume that valuations have become too high. However, although it is possible that this is true, it is not necessarily so. A lot has to do with where valuations were before the run-up occurred. For example, if valuations were extremely low, then even after a rise, they can continue to be low or perhaps only have risen to becoming fairly valued.
How to Forecast Future Stock Returns: Part 3
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
A lot of what Part 1 & Part 2 attempted to convey is the logical and common sense nature of valuation in regards to sensible stock investing. Once you have determined that fair valuation, plus or minus, exists, then the prudent investor should look to future earnings growth as the likely source of future long-term returns. By applying the same principles that we presented and discussed in Parts 1 & 2, we can calculate within a reasonable range of predictability what our future returns might be.
How to Know What Rate of Return to Expect from your Stocks: Part 2
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
In this Part 2, we will focus on how to utilize current valuation in conjunction with earnings growth rates in order to come up with a reasonable expectation of the future total returns a stock can be expected to provide. The point is that neither can be looked at in isolation. In other words, the price you pay to buy the growth that the company ultimately delivers, will determine not only how much money you make (the percentage return on investment), but how much risk you took to make it.
50 Potential Investment Opportunities to Participate in the New Golden Age: Part Three
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
In parts one and two of this three-part series I presented a case that focused on the long-term potential for a bright future of economic strength and growth. Moreover, I pointed out that I felt that the best of what our economic future holds goes mostly ignored, in favor of a focus on our problems. Therefore, I concluded that there exists a general pessimistic view of our future that I believe is wrong.
The US Economy Sitting on the Threshold of a New Golden Age: Part Two
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
In part one of this multipart series on the US economy I offered the following basic opinion: The majority of the positive aspects underpinning the US economy are being mostly ignored by mainstream media in favor of the smaller, but more titillating, negative aspects. Consequently, I believe that many Americans, and since this is an investing blog, many investors, are holding a much more negative view of the strength of the American economy than is warranted. I offer massive outflows from equity funds into Treasury bonds as evidence supporting my thesis.
The US Economy Sitting On The Threshold Of A New Golden Age: Part One
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
In the past, Ive written numerous articles positing a long-term optimistic outlook for both our economy and the attractive future growth prospects of our great American businesses. Even though I hate to forecast the market in general, I have even presented evidence indicating that the general market as represented by the S&P 500 is currently reasonably priced and even slightly undervalued. My most recent contribution can be found here.
My Best Investment Advice - Watch Your Fellow Investors And Do The Opposite
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
In my opinion, the recent selloff in stocks defies commonsense and logic, but in truth and fact it usually does. In other words, its not uncommon to see investors selling at precisely the time they should be buying and vice versa. Moreover, when investor pessimism is at a high, like it is today, stocks become cheap causing people to panic and sell. Now when I review the data, I get optimistic and immediately began to suspect that all this pessimism is creating a great long-term opportunity for investors with a more optimistic view of the future.
Blue-Chip Dividend Growth Stocks Todays Strong Option For Retirement Portfolios - Part 1
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
There is a confluence of factors that are painting a very odd picture of current investor behavior. Common sense and a careful analysis of the market dynamics between equities and bonds today would indicate that investors should be acting in the exact opposite manner than they are. Interest rates are hovering at a 100-year low, which creates two problems for investors. First, there is not enough return from bonds to fund a retirees income needs or to fight inflation. Second, investing in bonds with interest rates so low makes it riskier to own bonds today than it has been in over a century.
Blue-Chip Dividend Growth Stocks Todays Strong Option For Retirement Portfolios - Part 1
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
There are many pundits and prognosticators that never weary of attempting to convince investors on how risky it is to invest in equities, even high-quality dividend blue-chip paying equities. Invariably, they will always point to volatility as the evidence supporting their thesis that stocks are too risky of an investment for retirees. I believe this is a great travesty that is prominently promogulated upon an unwary investing public. The inevitable interruptions in the business cycle have conditioned people into believing that stocks are riskier than they really are, at least in my opinion.
Newsflash: The Dividend Aristocrats Found The Lost Decade
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
Volatility can only hurt you if you react to it. And you should not react to it unless there is a real fundamental deterioration with the fundamentals of the businesses you own. If fundamentals are strong and price falls, then buy more if you can, or hold if you cant buy more. The very best companies can remain profitable even during our most severe economic challenges. Consequently, when you can find these companies on sale, regardless of what caused it, I believe you should consider optimistically investing in them. It sure beats taking losses that you dont need to absorb.
Yes, They Do: Low Interest Rates Do Make Stocks Cheap
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
Im inspired to write this article because I am so frustrated by the plethora of all the so-called expert market prognosticators that continuously bombard the public with negative forecasts. I consider this to be both erroneous and irrational. When the markets are doing well, we are immediately inundated with articles talking about how the market has surely topped and a big drop is imminent. The real truth of the matter is that nobody really knows. Not the Fed, nor any of the so-called experts. Pessimism is pervasive, but optimism is, in fact, more accurate and rational in my opinion.
Maybe Diversification Is Not All It's Cracked Up To Be
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
As I began digging into the many faces of diversification, I quickly learned that it is a much more complex concept than at first meets the eye. I feel I learned that there is no one-size-fits-all or even a set of universally applicable rules or principles. To a great extent, diversification turns out to be a very personal issue. How much or how little depends more on your goals and objectives, the knowledge and experience you possess, the time you can allocate to your investment portfolio, and of course, your tolerance for risk. Some of us need a great deal of diversification.
Volatility Is Not Risk
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
Rogers blog dealt with his feelings about a recurring theme in Barrons over the weekend referencing peoples complacency for risk. The first part of his writing dealt with the risks associated with the utilization of puts. On this subject, Roger and I are in agreement. However, the second part of his blog talked about what he felt was the great risk of using dividend paying equities as an alternative investment choice. The following analysis utilizing the F.A.S.T. Graphs earnings and price correlated research tool illuminates the important parts that I feel Roger left out.
If You Think All Utility Stocks Are The Same - Think Again
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
Utility stocks, especially regulated utility stocks share certain characteristics that differentiate them from the typical dividend growth stock. On the plus side, utilities are thought of as predictable stocks with low volatility characteristics. Utility stocks also tend to provide a higher current yield than many dividend growth stocks. On the other hand, all of this consistency comes at a sacrifice of growth. Since the typical utility has a significant portion of their businesses regulated, their ability to grow earnings and dividends is restricted.
CACI - Growth at a Ridiculously Low Price
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
We believe that CACI it is extremely high-quality Defense Company with a niche that is currently being unfairly discounted by Mr. Market. The company possesses a predictable and consistent opportunity for continued double-digit earnings growth that is significantly in excess of the average company. Nevertheless, it can currently be purchased at a significant discount to the average company. This company pays no dividends; it is purely an opportunity for growth that can currently be purchased at a significant discount to its True Worth.
Five Undervalued Dividend Paying Retailers
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
We believe the retail sector is currently a mixed bag where some of the best names are currently too pricey to buy. Retailers such as Costco (COST), Ross Stores (ROST) and T.J. Maxx (TJX) have seen their share prices skyrocket over the last year or so. On the other hand, not all leading retailers have followed suit even when their operating results have been comparable. We have identified five well-known and even leading retailers that offer attractive valuation, good dividend yields and the opportunity for double-digit total returns over the next five years.
Apple Does Not Need its Cash to Grow as Much as its Shareholders Need it to Spend
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
The debate surrounding active versus passive investment management continues to attract a growing share of investor interest. After several years of underperformance, active managers are finally outperforming their benchmarks YTD, but it may be too late. Investors, frustrated with the underperformance and higher fees, are piling en masse into exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and other low cost solutions. The time for an all-passive solution may not be right now, but active managers are undoubtedly concerned about what the future may hold.
The Truth About Earnings and How They Drive Stock Values and Shareholder Returns
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
I wanted to clearly establish the importance of a comprehensive fundamental analysis before an investment decision is made. However, determining fair value from the perspective of the right market price to pay to buy a stock is a function of applying the appropriate PE ratio to reported earnings, and the recognition that, long-term rates of return are going to be a function of the companys earnings. Finally, my objective was to provide, conclusive and undeniable evidence that this theory actually works under real-world conditions. Fair market value is clearly a function of earnings.
Investors In Common Stocks Must Get Valuation Right; Heres How
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
Investors should be careful and willing to always run the numbers out to their logical conclusions. But, it all starts with knowing what you are buying (investing in) in the first place. True investors, like Peter Lynch, and many of the other renowned investing greats such as Phil Fischer, Warren Buffett, etc., all invest as owners in businesses with a focus on the strength of the business behind the stocks they buy. Therefore, these investor greats are always buying the earnings power of the respective businesses they are investing in, relative to their goals and objectives.
Oracle Is Too Cheap To Ignore Any Longer
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
We believe that Oracle Corp. is just one of many technology titans that we believe the market is mispricing. Furthermore, we believe part of that stems from the general pessimism that has created the so-called flight to safety get out of equities. Pessimism thrives on uncertainty; and one of the main attributes of technology is uncertainty. We believe that investors seeking maximum capital appreciation at reasonable levels of risk might do well to take a hard look at not only Oracle, but the technology sector in general.
Nike (NKE): Just Do It - Sell
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
A close examination of the earnings and price correlated graphs, coupled with the historic valuations that the market has applied to Nike shares, it becomes clear and obvious that Nike shares are overpriced today. Even with its high expected future earnings growth, the headwind of such overvaluation seems likely to make it extremely difficult to achieve any acceptable long-term rate of return. On the other hand, its also obvious that the market has decided to price Nike at todays rich valuation, and therefore, its at least possible that it can continue to do so.
Fastenal (FAST): A Vivid Case of Overvaluation
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
We believe that the Fastenal Company is an extremely high-quality stock with a very bright future. Nevertheless, we feel that the current valuation the market is placing on their shares is not only higher than their fundamentals justify, but also seem excessive in light of the valuations that the market is generally applying to other businesses. Consequently, we believe that shareholders would be prudent to either sell their shares or at least take some of their profits off the table. The stock has had a great run over the last three years but valuation now appears to be excessive.
Has McDonalds Become Too Pricey To Buy or Hold?
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
There are two primary reasons for writing this particular article at this particular time. First of all, weve seen a running debate regarding whether McDonalds (MCD) is fairly valued or overvalued at todays valuation levels. Second, weve been challenged to write articles that were depicting full value or overvaluation because we have typically only written articles on undervalued selections. We believe that because McDonalds had such a strong run in calendar year 2011, that many people believe that it now must be overvalued after rising so much.
Becton Dickinson- A Healthy Dividend Growth Stock On Sale
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
Becton Dickinson & Co. is a blue-chip dividend growth stock that is on sale. Becton Dickinson is also a Dividend Aristocrat and Dividend Champion, that Value Line Investment Survey has awarded high scores for financial strength, price stability, earnings predictability and price growth persistence and a low beta of .65. The company has shown great persistence and strength through the last two recessions, and we believe that estimates for future growth are well reasoned and well defined.
Net1 UEPS Technologies (UEPS) Rises Over 30 Percent Rewarding Undervaluation
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
Primary reason this is happening is because the market was grossly undervaluing this company shares. Consequently, a piece of good news stimulated an incredible 30% advance in one single trading day. Common sense would tell us that the intrinsic value of a business, even a small business like Net1 UEPS Technologies, could not logically change by a magnitude of over 30% that quickly. Unless of course, it was through a merger, that increased the size and the value of the business by that much. The win of a contract would be unlikely to have such an impact.
The Top 25 Best Dividend Challengers To Buy Today
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
This is the third and final article of a series of articles we have prepared on dividend paying stocks with a history and legacy of increasing their dividends each year. Our first article covered Dividend Champions, dividend paying stocks with a history of increasing every year for 25 years. Our second article covered Contenders, companies that have increased their dividend every year for 10-24 years. This final article in the series will cover Challengers, companies that increased their dividend every year for a minimum of five, to up to nine consecutive years.
42 Dividend Contenders for Above-Average Total Return
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
With interest rates hovering near all-time lows, investors needing income are faced with very limited choices. The traditional high yield available from bonds and other fixed income vehicles are no longer available to meet the needs of retirees needing income to live off. Moreover, it is almost a certainty that todays low yields are not adequate enough to fight inflation. Consequently, there is a growing investor interest in dividend paying common stocks, especially those that have a long record of increasing their dividend every year.
Wal-Mart - The Worlds Greatest Retailer, After a Long Hiatus, is a Solid Buy
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
We are going to start the new year off by looking at Wal-Mart which we believe is a blue-chip growth and dividend income selection that can be purchased at a sound and attractive valuation. We believe it is currently fairly valued. Therefore, it represents a very attractive candidate for the long-term investor interested in above-average capital appreciation, with an attractive dividend yield that is greater than the 10-year Treasury bond yield and potentially growing at double-digit rates.The company represents an ideal long-term buy-and-hold investment for the prudent fundamental investor.
Dividend Champions a Rare Undervalued Opportunity
by Chuck Carnevale of F.A.S.T. Graphs,
We believe that based on earnings, 2012 is starting out with the stock market undervalued. We believe in the long-term ownership of great businesses purchased at sound and attractive valuations. Consequently, we view the stock market as merely the store that we shop at in order to buy the businesses we want to own.
Results 501–550
of 585 found.
