There’s nothing like being burned by an investment, and those with money in emerging market stocks learned about it the hard way in 2011. As a group, emerging markets plunged nearly 19%, making them one of the worst-performing… Read More

It was bound to happen. When I first began looking at stocks to add to my $100,000 Real-Money Portfolio, I knew I’d eventually come to a crossroads where I might have a holding that didn’t quite turn out how I’d hoped (or at least not yet), and I’d be faced… Read More

Every few weeks, another major manufacturer announces plans to shut down production in China and bring jobs closer to home. Some companies such as GE (NYSE: GE) aim to boost production in the United States (GE will make hot water heaters in Kentucky, for example). That’s because China is no… Read More

How would you like to own a company that is GUARANTEED to sell everything it can produce? You could charge any price for your product and it wouldn’t matter. The world is so desperate for what your selling it will pay ANYTHING to get its hands on… Read More

Analysts aren’t always right. They’re not always timely either. But when they’re in consensus about a stock, especially when that opinion is bearish (analysts are notoriously rosy with their outlooks), then there’s a good chance their collective opinion is on target, and investors… Read More

I’ve been thinking about biotech stocks a great deal lately. The sector seems to be trading much better in the early weeks of 2012, with a few spectacular gainers already in the bag and likely more to come. Yet investors are also well aware many biotech stocks simply flame out… Read More

The appeal of investing in turnaround stocks is very compelling. Some companies look to revamp products to re-invigorate sales growth. Others find ways to slash expenses and unlock major profit-margin gains. Still, others look to clean up a debt-laden… Read More

With all of the media buzz that surrounds next-generation smartphones and their new apps, it’s hard for investors to get too excited about good old-fashioned telecoms these days. That’s a shame, since these companies can be a rich source of dividends for income investors. Many pay 5% yields, and some… Read More

Last summer, when Netflix (Nasdaq: NFLX) was messing with its pricing plans, alienating its customers in the process, I spotted a clear opening for rival Coinstar (Nasdaq: CSTR), which runs a kiosk-based DVD distribution system. As I wrote then: “Thanks to Netflix, Coinstar’s DVD business will thrive… Read More

The story was picked up by the major news sources as a “cute” human interest feature. You might have seen the headlines like “How a Secretary Made and Gave Away $7 Million.” But for me, this wasn’t some light news piece. This was a story that resonated… Read More