2008 Free Commentary Archive
May 2008
Grab
Superior Gains by Investing in Legal Monopolies
Monopolies are responsible for some of the greatest fortunes
in history. Although pure monopolies may be rare, investors can always
seek out the next best thing.
The
Foreign Bank with an 8.4% Yield
This company is one of the largest banks in the U.K.,
and took minimal losses during the subprime crisis.
Foreign
Stocks are Skyrocketing -- Here's How to Capture Your Piece of the
Action, and Lock in Yields of 23.0%
It has long been understood
that the U.S. drives the world economy, but that is
changing. This year may mark a "perfect storm" of negativity
for the U.S. economy, but much of the world is expected to
enjoy strong growth -- and pay big dividends.
April 2008
This
Stable Shipping Company Sports a 7.4% Yield
Danaos (DAC) carries a big yield and is one of the most
solid companies in the shipping industry.
Capture
11% Yields with Preferred Securities
With stocks in a slump and bond
yields at their lowest level in years, yield-hungry
investors are scratching their heads in search of a safe
place to park their money. Enter: preferred stocks.
Here's
How to Profit from Uncle Sam's Spendthrift Ways
The U.S. budget is expanding faster than ever. Not all
government contractors are surefire winners though. Invest
in these industries to get the biggest bang for your buck.
This
Tax-Advantaged Fund has a 7.1% Yield and 3-Year Annualized
Gains of +15.4%
Eaton Vance
Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Fund's (ETG) goal
is simple: distribute a high level of dividend income that
qualifies for the reduced tax rate.
Lock
in 13.3% Yields by Investing in
the Canadian Economic Boom
The Toronto Stock Exchange has increased
+178% in the
last eight years, compared to
just about +4% for the S&P 500.
And the 1 trillion barrels of
oil in the Canadian oil sands
region means that this is likely
just the beginning.
This
Company has 529
Billion Potential Sales a Year
Although
it may seem pricey,
Google is trading at a bargain. Its unassailable
position, massive 62% market share and +30% earnings growth
make it a great investment.
These
ETFs Offer 10%-Plus Yields
Powered by Earnings
ETFs have come a
long way since first being introduced. Today, there are scores of these funds
for the yield-hungry investor to choose from, with some two
dozen offering yields of up to 10% and higher.
Gain
Exposure to the Lucrative Alternative Energy Sector with
this Fund
Thanks to $100 oil,
investing in alternative energy has been great to investors.
This fund offers a way to profit from this rising sector.
March 2008
The
Rarest Investment on Wall Street -- Lock in 15.4% Yields with Income
Deposit Securities
It was greeted as "an
oddball security from Canada" when it debuted in December 2003.
But investment managers are warming up to these securities and for good
reason -- IDSs pay more than
four times
the average yield delivered by the S&P 500 Index.
How
to Keep Uncle Sam at Bay -- and Boost Your After-Tax Returns
April 15th is right around the corner, and there's a
good possibility that you could have been sitting better --
with either a narrower tax liability or a fatter refund.
Why
this Stock is Up +18% in the Past Month
As the credit market collapses around us, many companies
are taking huge losses on defaulted debt, but what is one
company's garbage is another's gold.
It
Pays to Seek Shelter in this Pharmaceutical
Firm
Abbott's (ABT) product lines address every stage
of the healthcare process, ranging from prevention to treatment. This
balance means the firm is nearly recession-proof.
The U.S. Dollar is
Plummeting -- Here's How to Profit... and Lock in
Dividend Yields of up to 24.9%
What's bad news for the U.S. traveler
can be great news for the U.S. investor.
And the best way for you to make money
off the tumbling dollar? Buying select foreign securities.
Capture
Yields as High as 10.5% with Safe Treasury Funds
You would be hard-pressed to find safer payouts than
those offered by U.S. Treasuries. And bond funds provide the
best way to gain exposure to these securities.
Booming Agricultural Markets
Have Propelled this Stock +208% in a Year
Potash is a key
natural fertilizer. As a result, this firm has been able to
steadily increase the price it charges for the product --
leading to windfall profits for investors.
You're in Luck: There is Now an ETF Geared Toward One
of the Hottest Sectors Around
Van Eck has just launched an ETF geared exclusively toward
coal, and increasing
world-wide demand would have lead to annualized returns of
+44% over the past three years.
Forget China! Investors Look to Singapore for Double-Digit
Yields
China and India are terrible places to search for high yields.
For the most part, companies in these two emerging markets pay little or
no dividends. But income investors can benefit by investing in countries
directly benefiting from the boom.
How
to Invest in the Soon-to-be Booming Liquefied Natural Gas
Industry
U.S. production of natural gas is at a standstill. With
consumption expected to more than quadruple in the next
few decades, this method of transportation will become
increasingly profitable.
The
Unique Fund that can Protect Your Portfolio from Rising
Inflation
Whether the market tailwinds are credit write-downs, inflation fears, a slumping dollar,
or interest rate surprises, this fund has it covered.
February 2008
With
the Potential to Rise +37%, Darden (DRI) Should See Renewed Buying
Interest
As the owner of some of the world's most popular
restaurants, Darden has plenty of room for growth -- and share price
gains.
Gems
Amid the Rubble: Mortgage REITs Yielding 9.9%
While most slid in 2007, a few
high-yield mortgage REITS broke out to new multi-year highs
and averaged total returns of +43% last year.
Warren
Buffett Just Stockpiled 63 Million Shares of this Stock
Rising shipping volumes and commodity prices have
spurred the world's greatest investor to load up on shares
of this company.
Rake in
Bond Yields 600 Basis Points Above U.S. Treasuries
High-yield bonds were tainted years ago by scandal, but the market has
evolved since then. And now we could be on the doorstep of a historic
buying opportunity.
Uncovering
the Next McDonald's
Annual spending on dining out is increasing around the
globe, and niche restaurants are fighting for more than scraps of
market share.
The
Airplane
Lessor with a High-Flying 11% Yield
Although Babcock
and Brown Air (FLY) is a new company, the firm has deep roots in
the leasing industry. And with a strong outlook, investors
could be in for quite a ride.
Lock
in a 21% Yield in this Undervalued Growth Region
With well-educated populations, diverse
economies and impressive natural resources,
the economies of Eastern Europe are growing quickly. Best of
all, there are numerous opportunities to earn eye-popping
yields.
With
Steady Long-Term Growth, Enterprise Products (EPD) Should Continue Gushing
Out Profits
With natural gas consumption on the rise, EPD stands to add to its already
impressive +500% gains over the last eight years.
January 2008
Profit
from the Gaining Momentum of
e-Commerce with LivePerson (LPSN)
Why try to guess which retailers
come out on top in cyberspace?
Instead, back the company that
over 6,000 firms rely on to get
the most out of their marketing
dollars and optimize their
e-commerce.
Foreign
Debt Pays Big Dividends
Turmoil in U.S. stocks sent investors fleeing to the
safety of government bonds recently. The strong demand for
U.S. Treasuries has pushed yields lower, but foreign bonds
are offering safety and
better rates.
Teekay
LNG (TGP) is Expected to Boost its Cash Distributions +12.5%
a
Year
TGP is an established firm in the liquefied
natural gas (LNG) shipping business. With long-term
contracts on all of its LNG carriers and plans to double its
fleet size, TGP is an excellent long-term play.
This
Latin American Telecom has Risen
+575% in the Last Four Years and
Still has Room to Run
Latin America has been one of
the best places to stash your
money lately. America Movil
(AMX) has been a true standout
in the region, but at its
current prices, it remains a
steal.
Software
Developers: Finding the Next
Microsoft
The average operating profit margin for the Bloomberg
World Software Index currently stands at nearly +20%,
significantly greater than the S&P 500 average. But this
is just one of the reasons software developers make prudent
investments.
Brighten
your Portfolio with Green Energy
Currently, alternative energy
accounts for just a small
percentage of the nation's
electric use. Given the
increasing price of fossil
fuels, it is likely that other
sources of energy will soon
become more viable.
Earnings
are up +23% at this Central
European Telecom
Roughly 80% of Hungary's phone
customers subscribe to Magyar's
(MTA) traditional, fixed-line
phone service. In addition,
Magyar controls 45% of the
cellular market. These stable
businesses generate the cash
flow to support a strong
dividend and fund future growth.
IGT:
One of Our Favorite Stocks for the New Year
With a dominant market share and strong growth drivers, we like slot
machine maker IGT in 2008.
This
Island Idyll Can be a Paradise for Income Investors
New Zealand may not be on most investor's radar, but with average yields
of 7.3%, it should be.
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|
Income Security
of the Month
Our "Income Security of the Month" for May 2008 invests in
a fast-growing overseas market that doesn't get much exposure in the
mainstream financial press. And although it typically makes enormous
annual dividend payments -- it has paid an average dividend of 24.5%
per year over the past five years -- this fund is perhaps most
appealing for its total return potential. Specifically, the fund has
delivered total returns of +297.3% since 2003, and
it ranks in the top 10% of its category over the past decade.
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Top
10 Stocks for 2008!
Since we began publishing this report back in 2003, the picks we've
featured have consistently beaten the broader market -- delivering average
gains of +21.3% per year and outperforming the S&P by a nearly
2-to-1 margin. Act now to reserve your copy of our newest report -- Top
Ten Stocks for 2008. |
