There has scarcely been a more important time for investors to hunt for high yields than right now.  The key reason? Safety. But it doesn’t have to stop there. I’m about to show you how you can lock in safe, double-digit yields, during times of economic uncertainty. All it takes is a couple of simple screening tools, the brains to understand that cyclical swings are an opportunity — not a reason for panic, and the guts to follow through with conviction.#-ad_banner-# As I’ll explain in a moment, readers of my High-Yield International advisory were able to do this very thing… Read More

There has scarcely been a more important time for investors to hunt for high yields than right now.  The key reason? Safety. But it doesn’t have to stop there. I’m about to show you how you can lock in safe, double-digit yields, during times of economic uncertainty. All it takes is a couple of simple screening tools, the brains to understand that cyclical swings are an opportunity — not a reason for panic, and the guts to follow through with conviction.#-ad_banner-# As I’ll explain in a moment, readers of my High-Yield International advisory were able to do this very thing in 2009. And if they could do it back then — during one of the most uncertain economic times in the past century — then it can easily be done again. First, let’s take a look at where we stand… Investors face myriad macroeconomic concerns in 2012. Since the beginning of the year, U.S. economic data have weakened markedly — job creation has been uninspiring at best, and consumers have been hesitant to spend. Meanwhile, many economists are worried about the so-called 2013 “fiscal cliff,” a host of tax hikes and government-spending reductions due to go into effect on Jan. Read More

Some people built their fortunes by reinvesting dividends. My mother was one of them. For example, she parlayed a $2,500 investment in Bristol Myers (NYSE: BMY) into $65,000 simply by reinvesting dividends into shares of the company over some 30 years. Read More

Investors have cheered the central bank easing its position on the economy as the S&P 500 recovered to its highest levels since 2007. Europe seems on the way out of its multi-year debt crisis,… Read More

The search for income-producing investments keeps getting harder. Uncle Sam continues to deliver paltry payouts on government bonds and notes, which has forced many investors to seek out dividend-paying common stocks. Trouble is, the popularity of these investments has pushed their stock prices up — and their dividend yields down. The average dividend-paying stock in the S&P 500 yields just 2.5%. Even investment-grade corporate bonds offer little help. The average payout (with a duration… Read More

The search for income-producing investments keeps getting harder. Uncle Sam continues to deliver paltry payouts on government bonds and notes, which has forced many investors to seek out dividend-paying common stocks. Trouble is, the popularity of these investments has pushed their stock prices up — and their dividend yields down. The average dividend-paying stock in the S&P 500 yields just 2.5%. Even investment-grade corporate bonds offer little help. The average payout (with a duration of 2-5 years) is just 3.5%, which is well below the historical average yield of around 5%. That’s why preferred stocks are getting a fresh look from many investors. Not only do their payouts often exceed 5%, but they offer the chance of solid capital appreciation if the stock market moves higher. Preferred stocks are a favorite vehicle for companies with steady, predictable cash flows. If the going gets tough, these companies can temporarily defer payments to preserve cash. This… Read More

With interest rates showing no sign of improving anytime soon, investors are more apt to continue turning to dividend-paying stocks for decent income, despite the added risk relative to bonds. But these stocks have become so popular, that reasonably-priced assets are getting… Read More

It’s the first thing I look for when I buy a stock.  You won’t find it often, because it’s extremely rare. But when you do, you have the chance to make a significant amount of money in a short period of time. Let me explain… If you’re a regular Investor… Read More

Small-cap stocks, especially microcap stocks with market caps of less than $300 million, offer traders the largest potential gains and come with the greatest potential risk. But there are several ways traders can… Read More

Think of where you’d be right now if you’d made this move 10 years ago.#-ad_banner-# The S&P 500 has returned 92% during that time (a 7% average annual gain). Meanwhile, Permian Basin Royalty Trust (NYSE: PBT) is up 575% during the same… Read More

Big Pharma just struck a big blow against its generic competition. Fueled by a string of high-profile drug patent expirations, a wave of new generics has hit the market in the past few years. A… Read More

Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN) is changing the world, again. The first time this happened, Amazon was changing the retail landscape and demonstrating that success didn’t require brick-and-mortar stores. In the late 1990s, Amazon gained more than 4,500% in less than three years, before peaking at $356 (unadjusted for splits) in December… Read More