This Stock Could Help Your Portfolio Take Off

Daniel Cross - INO.com Contributor - Equities


As the broader indexes experience higher volatility, new opportunities are available for savvy investors who aren't afraid of taking risks. In a market that's swung up and down by hundreds of basis points on multiple trading days, a stock that's been climbing higher on a relatively consistent basis is worth a second look.

As investors begin to resemble Chicken Little, afraid the sky is falling and the economy is about to reverse course, it helps to take a step back and take a wider view. If we examine the transportation industry – often heralded as a leading economic indicator – those red alarms don't seem to be quite as valid as you might think. Continue reading "This Stock Could Help Your Portfolio Take Off"

Navigating Volatile Markets Via Coupling Dividends And Share Buybacks - Part 3

Noah Kiedrowski - INO.com Contributor - Biotech


Introduction

The broader indices have been highly volatile recently due to weakness in China, an imminent Federal Reserve rate hike and persistently low oil prices. Navigating these volatile markets can be difficult. I posit that via investing in high-quality companies that offer the combination of high-quality dividends along with share buybacks may position an investor to contend with this volatility while potentially being rewarded handsomely during bull markets. On the front half of this dual synergy is the dividend space. This space offers many quality attributes such as decreased volatility, healthy yields, moderate risk exposure and a hedge against downside risk thus may be an ideal synergy for any long portfolio. Historically, companies that have an established track record of not only paying dividends but growing their dividends over the long-term have generally outperformed their respective index with decreased volatility. On the back half of this synergy is share buybacks. Share buybacks can serve as an effective way to drive shareholder value via returning capital to shareholders by repurchasing its own stock.

At times, I'll be using both The Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) and The PowerShares Buyback Achievers ETF (PKW) as proxies for this analysis. I will also select specific high-quality companies to exemplify these attributes. The combination of VYM and PKW may present an ideal investing strategy in which to invest and potentially capitalize on a cohort of companies that engage in both dividends and aggressive share buyback programs, particularly in these volatile markets. This article caps off a three-part series focusing on navigating volatile markets while focusing on high-quality companies that pay out dividends and engage in aggressive share buybacks. This series is primarily focused on these attributes utilizing ETFs as proxies to exemplify the mitigation of downside risk while being well positioned in bull markets. Continue reading "Navigating Volatile Markets Via Coupling Dividends And Share Buybacks - Part 3"

Has China Lost Control?

Lior Alkalay - INO.com Contributor - Forex


This morning's newswires are filled with stories of yet another dramatic intervention by China in the Yuan exchange rate. This time, though, it's in favor of the Yuan. That news, more than any, has investors alarmed as it seems to suggest that China has lost control. To that, I say how can you lose something you never had?

China Never Had Full Control

China and its financial authorities, namely the Peoples Bank of China, are viewed as the effective forces controlling the Chinese money market. That means not just the currency but also the financial markets and inflation. Hence, the state of alarm currently dominating markets makes sense. But the fact is that China never really had the control that investors believed it had. Because simultaneously controlling monetary policy and the currency is like "trying to hold the stick at both ends;" it's just not possible. Continue reading "Has China Lost Control?"

Silver Update: The Time Has Come

Aibek Burabayev - INO.com Contributor - Metals


The less you watch, the more you see the whole picture. The last time I posted a Silver update was three months ago, and nothing much has happened in the market, but the attitude has changed with a fresh look. Let's take a look at the details on the chart below.

FOREX:XAGUSD
Chart courtesy of TradingView.com

In my last Silver update, I had said that in the current downtrend it was preferable to take short positions with good protective stops just above resistance and the range had been defined within the $15-18.5 margins. Indeed, the price had broken below the $15 support level and dipped lower, testing the December 2014 low at the $14 level which would open the door to interim support at $12 level. This attack was repelled in the previous month and the market closed almost in between the $14-15 level at $14.60. Continue reading "Silver Update: The Time Has Come"

This Health Care Play Could Help Protect Your Portfolio

Daniel Cross - INO.com Contributor - Equities


The markets have been behaving badly over the past several weeks posting gains and losses of more than 100 basis points on several occasions. The indexes have shed about 3% just this week as investors scramble to find a sense of direction amidst a market where volatility reigns supreme. With so much uncertainty in stocks right now, it might be a good time to consider adding a defensive play to your portfolio.

As the economy continues to struggle, we could be headed towards a recession. It's a good time to reevaluate your holdings and think about adding something defensive into the mix. Certain sectors of the stock market tend to outperform when the overall economy contracts and picking up a solid, dividend paying health care stock could deliver the kind of defensive results your portfolio needs. Continue reading "This Health Care Play Could Help Protect Your Portfolio"