Legal cannabis is already the fastest growing industry in North America. North American cannabis sales jumped 30% in 2017, a repeat of 2016’s stunning gain. While that’s impressive on its own, the pace of growth is about to accelerate due to a huge catalyst directly on the horizon. Canada has announced plans to legalize recreational cannabis by July 2018. That would make Canada the first developed country in the world to legalize both medical and recreational cannabis. It’s also set to unleash a multi-billion dollar industry. Cannabis sales are expected to be between $5 and $7… Read More

Legal cannabis is already the fastest growing industry in North America. North American cannabis sales jumped 30% in 2017, a repeat of 2016’s stunning gain. While that’s impressive on its own, the pace of growth is about to accelerate due to a huge catalyst directly on the horizon. Canada has announced plans to legalize recreational cannabis by July 2018. That would make Canada the first developed country in the world to legalize both medical and recreational cannabis. It’s also set to unleash a multi-billion dollar industry. Cannabis sales are expected to be between $5 and $7 billion in the first 12 months after legalization. That would be between a 400 percent and 600 percent increase from Canada’s 2017 numbers. If you want to learn how you can potentially profit from this cannabis revolution, let me tell you about one of the most promising companies in Canada’s high-growth cannabis market. #-ad_banner-#​Aphria (TSE: APH) is an early leader in Canada’s high-growth cannabis industry. With a market cap of $2.4 billion, Aphria is the second-largest cannabis company in Canada behind Canopy Growth Corp’s (TSE: WEED) $6.6 billion. Shares of Aphria are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the… Read More

U.S. home prices are on a roll. And as we head into the New Year, I am expecting another record year for home prices in 2018. Today, I am going to reveal the safest, easiest and most profitable way to benefit from this trend. Fueled by record-low interest rates and housing inventories, home prices in the United States hit another all-time high in 2017. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller 20-City Composite Home Price NSA (SPCS20) Index measures the value of residential real estate in 20 major U.S. metropolitan areas, including New York, Los Angeles, Seattle and Chicago. The most recent update… Read More

U.S. home prices are on a roll. And as we head into the New Year, I am expecting another record year for home prices in 2018. Today, I am going to reveal the safest, easiest and most profitable way to benefit from this trend. Fueled by record-low interest rates and housing inventories, home prices in the United States hit another all-time high in 2017. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller 20-City Composite Home Price NSA (SPCS20) Index measures the value of residential real estate in 20 major U.S. metropolitan areas, including New York, Los Angeles, Seattle and Chicago. The most recent update showed that the index expanded 6.1% to 203 in August, breaking the previous all-time high of 198 from July of 2007. Take a look below. SPCS20 Index Level Since July 2007 Looking forward, I am expecting another record year. Not only will interest rates remain relatively low, but I see no short-term solution to historically low housing inventories. #-ad_banner-#One way to profit is with an income property such as a single-family home, condo, townhome or even an entire apartment complex. This can be a great way to capture capital gains from rising home prices and generate income… Read More

There are few things that can send a stock soaring like a positive earnings surprise. When a company exceeds expectations, it sends a powerful message to the street that business is booming — or at least improving. High, positive earnings surprises can have a dramatic effect on share price. This effect is on display now, as third-quarter earnings season wraps up. Amazon (Nasdaq: AMZN) delivered one of the best reports of the quarter, with earnings of $0.52 per share blowing past expectations of $0.01. The news sent shares of Amazon soaring 13% in one day, adding a mind-boggling $66 billion… Read More

There are few things that can send a stock soaring like a positive earnings surprise. When a company exceeds expectations, it sends a powerful message to the street that business is booming — or at least improving. High, positive earnings surprises can have a dramatic effect on share price. This effect is on display now, as third-quarter earnings season wraps up. Amazon (Nasdaq: AMZN) delivered one of the best reports of the quarter, with earnings of $0.52 per share blowing past expectations of $0.01. The news sent shares of Amazon soaring 13% in one day, adding a mind-boggling $66 billion to Amazon’s market cap in less than 24 hours. One way to profit from a positive earnings surprise is to predict which companies will beat the Street before it happens. #-ad_banner-#As you can see in the case of Amazon, this can be very profitable. However, it’s also a tricky move to pull off. It’s difficult to predict which companies will beat expectations. After all, you’re going up against the predictions of the world’s most successful and well-informed investment institutions.  Even if you’re right, it’s also difficult to predict how the Street will react to a report. But don’t… Read More

After doubling more than 19 times in the last five years, it would be easy to buy into the mainstream narrative that this global leader is overdue for a correction.  But that would be a mistake.  Despite a market-crushing 57% return in 2017, I expect it to be one of the best performing stocks of 2018. Not only is it the most innovative company in the S&P 500 with a proven history of disrupting multiple industries, it is successfully expanding into high-growth international markets and has major upward momentum. #-ad_banner-#Let’s take a closer look at why Netflix (Nasdaq: NFLX) could… Read More

After doubling more than 19 times in the last five years, it would be easy to buy into the mainstream narrative that this global leader is overdue for a correction.  But that would be a mistake.  Despite a market-crushing 57% return in 2017, I expect it to be one of the best performing stocks of 2018. Not only is it the most innovative company in the S&P 500 with a proven history of disrupting multiple industries, it is successfully expanding into high-growth international markets and has major upward momentum. #-ad_banner-#Let’s take a closer look at why Netflix (Nasdaq: NFLX) could be the number-one stock of 2018. Netflix Is The Most Innovative Company In The S&P 500 Netflix has completely disrupted three separate industries in the last 15 years. Netflix’s radical idea to send movies through the mail would eventually lead to industry giant Blockbuster filing for bankruptcy. When it became apparent streaming was the future of content distribution, the company was one of the first to market with its streaming service in 2007. Its streaming service has delivered a crushing blow to the traditional cable industry, giving birth to the term “cord cutter” after tens of millions of cable… Read More

Warren Buffett is the most successful investor of all time. His net worth of $81 billion makes him one of the richest people in the world. As is well known, the secret to his success is long-term, “buy and hold” investing. Buffett says that when he invests in a stock his goal is to own it “forever.” Investors looking to succeed in the stock market would be smart to follow his lead. However, in 2017, stocks worth holding forever seem impossible to find. That’s because the economy is evolving faster than ever. According to a recent… Read More

Warren Buffett is the most successful investor of all time. His net worth of $81 billion makes him one of the richest people in the world. As is well known, the secret to his success is long-term, “buy and hold” investing. Buffett says that when he invests in a stock his goal is to own it “forever.” Investors looking to succeed in the stock market would be smart to follow his lead. However, in 2017, stocks worth holding forever seem impossible to find. That’s because the economy is evolving faster than ever. According to a recent study from financial services firm Credit Suisse, the lifespan of S&P 500 companies has been falling for the last 70 years. #-ad_banner-#Back in 1950, the average age of an S&P 500 company was 60 years. In 1965, it had fallen to 33 years. By 1990, it was just 20. According to market-research firm Innosight, around 50% of the S&P 500 will be replaced in the next 10 years. This high turnover rate in the market makes it more difficult than ever for investors to invest like Buffett. But I’ve got a solution: Utilities are the perfect “forever stocks.” At first… Read More

The S&P 500 is having a great year. The leading index is up 13% in the first three quarters of 2017. At this rate it’s is on pace to finish with an 18% total return in 2017.   By almost every measure this is great news for investors. However, in one way it creates a dilemma. U.S. stocks looks expensive right now compared to historical averages and international counterparts.   The S&P 500’s P/E ratio of 25 is at the higher end of its long-term range. Take a look below.   Source: www.multpl.com/   This P/E ratio is also a… Read More

The S&P 500 is having a great year. The leading index is up 13% in the first three quarters of 2017. At this rate it’s is on pace to finish with an 18% total return in 2017.   By almost every measure this is great news for investors. However, in one way it creates a dilemma. U.S. stocks looks expensive right now compared to historical averages and international counterparts.   The S&P 500’s P/E ratio of 25 is at the higher end of its long-term range. Take a look below.   Source: www.multpl.com/   This P/E ratio is also a sharp premium to its international counterparts. For example, the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets (NYSE: EEM), which broadly tracks emerging market equities, has a forward P/E ratio of 13. The Vanguard Total World Stock Index (NYSE: VT) has a forward P/E ratio of 17.5.   #-ad_banner-#This relatively high valuation is making a lot of investors nervous. Not only can it be intimidating for investors to buy stocks trading at an all-time high, but an overbought market makes it difficult to find value stocks.   According to historical data, this has important implications for potential returns. A recent study by Bank of… Read More

March of 1998 was a big month for Pfizer and its shareholders. That’s when the new little blue pill called Viagra was released. It was a breakthrough for the pharmaceutical industry — the first ever male performance enhancement drug. Viagra’s commercial release created a new multi-billion drug market virtually overnight. Millions of American men and women enjoyed the benefits of the drug, but the biggest winner was Pfizer shareholders. As Viagra delivered record sales month after month, Pfizer’s share price jumped 64% in 12 months. Take a look below. Today, I see this same pattern repeating itself in… Read More

March of 1998 was a big month for Pfizer and its shareholders. That’s when the new little blue pill called Viagra was released. It was a breakthrough for the pharmaceutical industry — the first ever male performance enhancement drug. Viagra’s commercial release created a new multi-billion drug market virtually overnight. Millions of American men and women enjoyed the benefits of the drug, but the biggest winner was Pfizer shareholders. As Viagra delivered record sales month after month, Pfizer’s share price jumped 64% in 12 months. Take a look below. Today, I see this same pattern repeating itself in the cannabis industry. The FDA is close to potentially approving its first ever cannabis pharmaceutical — a final ruling could happen by the end of 2017, less than 12 weeks away. #-ad_banner-#This would be a ground breaking approval for the entire pharmaceutical industry and particularly for the cannabis industry. It could also give birth to the first ever cannabis blockbuster drug. This drug could generate more than $1 billion in annual revenue. Just like Pfizer with Viagra, this drug could send shares of this promising young cannabis biotech soaring over the next 12 months. The Company Behind This Game-Changing Treatment… Read More

Back in 2014 offshore drilling giant Seadrill (NYSE: SDRL) was a darling for high-yield stock investors. At the time, Seadrill was the largest offshore driller in the world by market cap. Revenue was surging, hitting a fresh all-time high early in the year.    Most importantly for high-yield stock investors, Seadrill was paying one of the best dividends in the entire global stock market. Between 2010 and 2014 Seadrill’s dividend yield ranged between 7.0% and 10.8% — topping off above 11.0% in early January. Take a look below.     Despite the impressive run of revenue growth and dividend payments,… Read More

Back in 2014 offshore drilling giant Seadrill (NYSE: SDRL) was a darling for high-yield stock investors. At the time, Seadrill was the largest offshore driller in the world by market cap. Revenue was surging, hitting a fresh all-time high early in the year.    Most importantly for high-yield stock investors, Seadrill was paying one of the best dividends in the entire global stock market. Between 2010 and 2014 Seadrill’s dividend yield ranged between 7.0% and 10.8% — topping off above 11.0% in early January. Take a look below.     Despite the impressive run of revenue growth and dividend payments, by the end of 2014 Seadrill investors were begging for mercy. When the price of oil crashed in the summer of 2014, it took Seadrill’s revenue and dividend payment with it. By the end of 2014 the company had scrapped its dividend payment entirely.   Two days ago, Seadrill — once the largest offshore driller in the world — filed for bankruptcy, virtually wiping out all of its remaining stock and bond holders. It was a stunning turn of events for a once great company, and an important lesson for high-yield stock investors.    #-ad_banner-#​Not All High-Yield Stocks Are Created… Read More

Cryptocurrencies have been red-hot in 2017.  Bitcoin, the most valuable cryptocurrency, with a market cap of $72 billion, is up 359%. Ether, the currency traded on the Ethereum platform and the second-largest cryptocurrency with a market cap of $33 billion, is up a mind boggling 4,231%. Even litecoin, with a market cap of $3.3 billion, is up 1,278%. These mind-blowing gains have not gone unnoticed. Everyday investors now want to learn how they can get in on the action. Google trends shows that searches for “bitcoin” just hit a new all-time high. Looking forward, I am bullish on… Read More

Cryptocurrencies have been red-hot in 2017.  Bitcoin, the most valuable cryptocurrency, with a market cap of $72 billion, is up 359%. Ether, the currency traded on the Ethereum platform and the second-largest cryptocurrency with a market cap of $33 billion, is up a mind boggling 4,231%. Even litecoin, with a market cap of $3.3 billion, is up 1,278%. These mind-blowing gains have not gone unnoticed. Everyday investors now want to learn how they can get in on the action. Google trends shows that searches for “bitcoin” just hit a new all-time high. Looking forward, I am bullish on cryptocurrencies. I think there is plenty of upside left, even with the massive gains we’ve seen already.  However, as someone who has bought and currently owns bitcoin, ether, and litecoin, the reality is that buying and holding cryptocurrencies is still extremely risky. #-ad_banner-#Not only is it more complicated to buy cryptocurrencies than stocks, but both crypto exchanges and personal crypto wallets are vulnerable to hackers. For example, in early July more than 150,000 ether coins, worth more than $32 million at the time, were stolen from three ether projects being developed by Edgeless Casino, Aeternity, and Swarm City. That theft… Read More

Retirees searching for income have been forced to make an uncomfortable compromise. With bond yields trading near a record low for most of the last eight years because of the financial crisis, many retirees were forced to shift out of bonds and into dividend stocks. This solved the problem in the short run. But in the long run stock dividends are much less reliable than bond yields. Depressions, world wars, and recessions have forced even the best companies to cut their dividend payments. That’s why I want to share one of the most reliable dividend payers in the history of… Read More

Retirees searching for income have been forced to make an uncomfortable compromise. With bond yields trading near a record low for most of the last eight years because of the financial crisis, many retirees were forced to shift out of bonds and into dividend stocks. This solved the problem in the short run. But in the long run stock dividends are much less reliable than bond yields. Depressions, world wars, and recessions have forced even the best companies to cut their dividend payments. That’s why I want to share one of the most reliable dividend payers in the history of the stock market. This S&P 500 leader has been paying a dividend for 132 years, surviving all the traumatic global events of the last century and then some.  If you’re looking for one of the most reliable dividends on the planet, this is a good place to start. Consolidated Edison (NYSE: ED) is one of the oldest utility companies in the United States, founded all the way back in 1823 — almost 200 years ago. Since then, Con Ed has evolved into one of the largest energy companies in the country, reporting revenue of $13 billion in 2016 and assets… Read More