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Need to Know: Warren Buffett may have found a stock he likes — his own

Something unusual has happened in markets over the last week. The highflying tech stocks that investors have sought out for refuge have dropped, but so have the COVID-19 recovery plays in the travel and leisure sector.

Instead, it isn’t just financials that have gained ground as the big banks have reported results, but also . . . → Read More: Need to Know: Warren Buffett may have found a stock he likes — his own

Market Snapshot: Stock-index futures point lower after China selloff

U.S. stock-index futures lost ground Thursday, falling after a drop in Asian shares as U.S.-China tensions continue to rise and as investors await another round of corporate earnings reports as well as data on retail sales and weekly jobless benefit claims.

What are major indexes doing?

Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial . . . → Read More: Market Snapshot: Stock-index futures point lower after China selloff

Need to Know: Stick to Apple and Microsoft, at least for now, says this fund manager

China data, a Twitter hack, geopolitical tensions and virus concerns are scaring investors out of stocks on Thursday, with more earnings and weekly jobless claims ahead. Markets were cheering positive vaccine news just a day earlier.

The week has also seen the Nasdaq Composite US:COMP wobble, down 0.6% week-to-date, versus a 3% . . . → Read More: Need to Know: Stick to Apple and Microsoft, at least for now, says this fund manager

DBB: Bullish Target Nearly Hit

Thesis

In this regular note, we provide a discussion on fundamental dynamics across the industrial metals, with a special focus on copper, zinc, and aluminium, in order to formulate a clear view on the Invesco DB Base Metals ETF (DBB). By tracking many real-time micro indicators across the base metals space, we . . . → Read More: DBB: Bullish Target Nearly Hit

Transocean July 2020 Fleet Status Report Analysis

Transocean (RIG) has just released its new fleet status report. The company’s stock has performed better than most of its peers as Transocean avoided restructuring in the near term thanks to available liquidity and strong backlog. However, the future is highly uncertain for the company so it is especially interesting to see . . . → Read More: Transocean July 2020 Fleet Status Report Analysis

Wells Fargo blames COVID-19 and Fed rules, but also itself for disappointing results

Shares of Wells Fargo & Co. closed Tuesday down nearly 5%, but well off the day’s worst levels, after the bank reported a wider-than-expected second-quarter loss and said it was cutting its quarterly dividend by 80%.

Wells Chief Executive Charles Scharf said on the post-earnings conference call with Wall Street analysts that the . . . → Read More: Wells Fargo blames COVID-19 and Fed rules, but also itself for disappointing results

Market Snapshot: Dow futures up 400 points as vaccine hopes rise and investors await more earnings

Stock-index futures pointed to a higher start for Wall Street Wednesday, as investors took some cheer from positive results for a COVID-19 vaccine candidate in a study, looking past a continued rise in cases and as earnings reporting season continues and U.S.-China tensions rise.

What are major indexes doing?

Futures on the Dow . . . → Read More: Market Snapshot: Dow futures up 400 points as vaccine hopes rise and investors await more earnings

OPEC June 2020 Production Data

All OPEC data below is from the July 2020 OPEC Monthly Oil Market Report.

All OPEC data is through June 2020 and is in thousand barrels per day. All copied and pasted texts are in italics.

OPEC cut further in June, down almost 1.2 million barrels per day. . . . → Read More: OPEC June 2020 Production Data

Paul Brandus: The numbers don’t look so good for Donald Trump

A few months ago, President Donald Trump was bragging about the low unemployment rate. And then COVID-19 hit.

Numbers are inanimate objects that can either be the bane or boon of a president. Think 52 and 444, for example. This was the number of American hostages in Iran and the number of . . . → Read More: Paul Brandus: The numbers don’t look so good for Donald Trump

Retail – Especially Malls – More Impaired Than Most Suggest

In a recent Zoom interview sponsored by New York University, Sam Zell – who chairs five public companies and is worth an estimated $4.7 billion – said that “retail is more impaired than most people suggest.”

Hence the title to my article today. Because I agree with Zell in more . . . → Read More: Retail – Especially Malls – More Impaired Than Most Suggest

Fiat Chrysler: Significant Potential And Challenges Ahead

While performing our customary deep dive into Ferrari’s (RACE) stock and financial performance, we revisited and updated our work on its old parent company Fiat Chrysler (FCAU). If I decide to publish our Ferrari article publicly, this will serve as an excellent prelude in addition to a stand-alone analysis of Fiat Chrysler.

. . . → Read More: Fiat Chrysler: Significant Potential And Challenges Ahead

Yaskawa Had Decent Results Considering Its Industry

Yaskawa Electric Corporation (OTCPK:YASKY) recently published its 1Q20 results and presented its investors with estimates of next quarter’s financials. This article is divided into three sections, and the first section is a review of the main points of my last article. Part two and three will cover Yaskawa’s 1Q20 results and the . . . → Read More: Yaskawa Had Decent Results Considering Its Industry

Market Snapshot: Dow futures up 100 points as big banks kick off earnings season

Stock-index futures pointed to a higher start Tuesday as investors began to digest second-quarter results from a trio of big banks, kicking off earnings season.

What are major indexes doing?

Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average US:YM00 were up 105 points, or 0.4%, at 26,073, while S&P 500 futures US:ES00 advanced 7.30 . . . → Read More: Market Snapshot: Dow futures up 100 points as big banks kick off earnings season

Outside the Box: Congress won’t pass a new stimulus package, and that will crush the S&P 500

Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

The S&P 500 index has staged a remarkable rally since its March low. This is quite an achievement given the considerable downward earnings revisions that have occurred over the same time. Rather, price gains have been driven by expanding earnings multiples.

What has fueled optimism, in our view, . . . → Read More: Outside the Box: Congress won’t pass a new stimulus package, and that will crush the S&P 500

LF Capital Acquisition Corp. Warrants: Potentially Significant Upside By September 22, 2020

Investment Thesis

LF Capital Acquisition Corp. (LFAC) is a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) with its focus on the financial services and fintech industries. The SPAC is managed by a team of highly experienced executives and has a liquidation deadline of September 22, 2020. LFAC warrants (LFACW) are mispriced currently at $0.96 . . . → Read More: LF Capital Acquisition Corp. Warrants: Potentially Significant Upside By September 22, 2020

Need to Know: Stocks are resilient because investors have been braced for much worse COVID-19 news, says strategist

What’s going to get in the way of market gains? Clearly not bad news on COVID-19, as investors try to look on the bright side of these uncertain times.

Take this chart showing how Arizona cases have started to flatten, by Pantheon Macroeconomics, which expects as that state responded earlier than most to . . . → Read More: Need to Know: Stocks are resilient because investors have been braced for much worse COVID-19 news, says strategist

The Passive Zombie Army Will Keep Stocks Marching Higher – For Now

(Source: Pixabay, author)

For the past few months, I’ve been active on Seeking Alpha in the exchange and market data industry, covering specific stocks and the sector as a whole. Today I’m dipping my toe into the macro conversation after, in the course of my normal sector-specific . . . → Read More: The Passive Zombie Army Will Keep Stocks Marching Higher – For Now

Wall Street Breakfast: Earnings Season Set For Kickoff

Bulls gain ground

The risk-on mood spread across the globe overnight, tracking an end-of-week rally in U.S. stocks as traders look to the start of earnings season for further clues on how companies are planning for the future. The Nikkei and Shanghai climbed about 2%, the Euro Stoxx 50 is 1% . . . → Read More: Wall Street Breakfast: Earnings Season Set For Kickoff

Market Snapshot: Stock-index futures rise as investors prepare for earnings season kickoff

Stock-index futures pointed to a higher start Monday as investors prepare for the start of earnings season, looking past a continued rise in the number of COVID-19 cases.

What are major benchmarks doing?

Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average YM00, +0.78% rose 117 points, or 0.5%, to 26,094, while S&P 500 futures . . . → Read More: Market Snapshot: Stock-index futures rise as investors prepare for earnings season kickoff

Weyco Group: Cheap For Good Reasons

Source

For the past two years, shares in the Weyco Group (WEYS) have been under severe pressure. The stock reached an all-time high of $40 per share by mid-2018, and since then it has traded in a downward channel.

Currently, Weyco is trading at cheap . . . → Read More: Weyco Group: Cheap For Good Reasons

Starwood Property Trust: A Very Large mREIT With A Very Large 13.8% Dividend Yield

This article was coproduced with Williams Equity Research.

At iREIT, we cover a growing universe of equity and mortgage REITs, and our emphasis has always been quality research. We have become fixated recently on commercial mREITs, a sector that offers compelling risk-adjusted opportunities given the disruption in certain property sectors . . . → Read More: Starwood Property Trust: A Very Large mREIT With A Very Large 13.8% Dividend Yield

Invoking The Full Spirit Of ESG Investing

By Randall Dishmon, Senior Portfolio Manager

A holistic investment process examines the big picture beyond the rigid criteria of some ESG scoring techniques.

I’ve had two distinct careers in my professional life. Starting out as a civil engineer, working on large-scale commercial projects across the . . . → Read More: Invoking The Full Spirit Of ESG Investing

COVID-19 Raises New Questions In Emerging Markets, Fixed Income And ESG

By Kristina Hooper, Chief Global Market Strategist

The ripple effects of COVID-19 are impacting a wide variety of markets, and investors have lots of questions. Among them: Will production facilities leave China for other markets? What fixed income opportunities have been created by central bank intervention? And . . . → Read More: COVID-19 Raises New Questions In Emerging Markets, Fixed Income And ESG

The Wall Street Journal: OPEC and allies set to ease oil output cuts, anticipating demand recovery

An alliance of crude producers led by Saudi Arabia is pushing OPEC and its allies to increase oil production starting in August, officials in the group said, amid signs that demand is returning to normal levels following coronavirus-related lockdowns.

Key members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its Russia-led allies . . . → Read More: The Wall Street Journal: OPEC and allies set to ease oil output cuts, anticipating demand recovery

NewsWatch: S&P 500 earnings set to plunge as the coronavirus batters all sectors — with Wall Street counting on a bounce that may not come

MARKETWATCH FRONT PAGE

The one certainty about the outlook for companies in a COVID-19 world is that second-quarter earnings will be very bad, the worst in over 10 years. See full story.

The Biden-Sanders climate-change policy pact: 8 key features

Presidential candidate Joe Biden has advanced environmental policy recommendations that most analysts find . . . → Read More: NewsWatch: S&P 500 earnings set to plunge as the coronavirus batters all sectors — with Wall Street counting on a bounce that may not come

Commodities Corner: Why gold has become a ‘weapon of choice’ for investors

Gold prices have climbed to their highest levels in nearly nine years, with the precious metal seen as a ‘weapon of choice’ for gold investors dealing with pandemic-related uncertainty in the stock market, clearing the path to a fresh record in the second half of the year.

In Wednesday trading, the most-active August . . . → Read More: Commodities Corner: Why gold has become a ‘weapon of choice’ for investors

Outside the Box: Do these simple things to turn your retirement savings into big money

There isn’t much about the future that I can predict, much less guarantee to investors.

But here’s one thing I can guarantee: If you achieve as little as 0.5% extra annualized return on your portfolio while you’re accumulating assets — and continue to do so while you’re retired — you will be . . . → Read More: Outside the Box: Do these simple things to turn your retirement savings into big money

5 ways to beat the stock market — from a fund manager who’s done this for years

Wall Street is so full of greed, fraud and ego, a cynic might say it’s no place for any kind of spirituality to find a home.

But several religious precepts might actually help investors if they paid them more mind, judging by the long-term returns of Amana Growth Fund AMIGX, +0.06%.

The fund . . . → Read More: 5 ways to beat the stock market — from a fund manager who’s done this for years

Alexion Pharmaceuticals: Growth At A Reasonable Price (GARP)

Introduction

I find it very interesting that Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ALXN), after going public in 2001, did not generate their first profit until December 2008. As we all know, this was in the throes of what is now known as the Great Recession of 2008. Moreover, Alexion’s adjusted operating earnings have grown . . . → Read More: Alexion Pharmaceuticals: Growth At A Reasonable Price (GARP)

DBE: Ride The Bull Trend In Energy

As you can see in the following chart, the past few weeks have been quite favorable for traders in the Invesco DB Energy ETF (DBE) with shares continuing to push to new highs in the recent trend.

In this piece, I argue that DBE is likely headed . . . → Read More: DBE: Ride The Bull Trend In Energy

Earnings Outlook: S&P 500 earnings set to plunge as the coronavirus batters all sectors — with Wall Street counting on a bounce that may not come

The one certainty about the outlook for companies in a COVID-19 world is that second-quarter earnings will be very bad — the worst, in fact, in more than 10 years.

Although Wall Street is betting that earnings will start bouncing off the bottom in the third quarter, the beginning point for that bounce . . . → Read More: Earnings Outlook: S&P 500 earnings set to plunge as the coronavirus batters all sectors — with Wall Street counting on a bounce that may not come

Intuitive Surgical: Q2 Could Be Bad, 2H Worse

Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) makes automated, or robotic, surgery devices. The company has long been a growth stock, paying no dividend, but ramping revenue year after year. However, 2020 could be different, mainly because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital budgets. Intuitive will report Q2 results on July 21, 2020. . . . → Read More: Intuitive Surgical: Q2 Could Be Bad, 2H Worse

We’re All Doves Now (Central Bank Week In Review For 7/6-7/10)

The Reserve Bank of Australia kept rates at 25 basis points. Here is how it described the current economic situation in Australia (emphasis added):

The Australian economy is going through a very difficult period and is experiencing the biggest contraction since the 1930s. Since March, an unprecedented 800,000 people have lost . . . → Read More: We’re All Doves Now (Central Bank Week In Review For 7/6-7/10)

The Banks Have Stopped Hoarding Every Dime They Get From The Fed

The Banks Loosen Up

I had given up on writing weekly articles pegged on the Fed balance sheet. I had gotten bored telling you that the banks were hoarding cash, and judging from readership, you were bored too.

But 17 weeks into this, we finally see some signs of a . . . → Read More: The Banks Have Stopped Hoarding Every Dime They Get From The Fed

Wall Street Breakfast: Return Of The Stay-At-Home Trade

Improved oil demand, clouded outlook

“While the oil market has undoubtedly made progress… the large, and in some countries, an accelerating number of COVID-19 cases is a disturbing reminder that the pandemic is not under control and is casting a shadow over the outlook,” the IEA wrote in its closely watched . . . → Read More: Wall Street Breakfast: Return Of The Stay-At-Home Trade

Veritone Is Trading On AI Hype With 70% Downside

Veritone (VERI) is mostly a collection of low-quality acquisitions that the market has heaped value upon because of the AI hype around a business that makes up only 20% of the company’s revenue. The company currently trades at an enterprise value to revenue ratio of 7x 2020E revenue, a huge valuation . . . → Read More: Veritone Is Trading On AI Hype With 70% Downside

The Impact Of ETFs On Market Efficiency

By the end of 2018, the amount of assets in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) had passed $6 trillion. The growth in assets has led to many questions about how ETFs are impacting market liquidity, comovement of stocks and market efficiency. Lawrence Glosten, Suresh Nallareddy and Yuan Zou , authors of the September . . . → Read More: The Impact Of ETFs On Market Efficiency

Emerging Markets Rally As Economies Reopen In The Second Quarter

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact economies across the globe as they emerge from lockdowns, including emerging markets. Our Emerging Markets Equity team provides an overview of developments over the past month, and takes a look at how the pandemic is driving a trend toward deglobalization as well as new innovations.

Three . . . → Read More: Emerging Markets Rally As Economies Reopen In The Second Quarter

Quarterly Update (Q2 2020)

Here we are after a very interesting quarter.

At the end of February, I was chatting with an investor friend and he mentioned the coronavirus situation in China and how it is already starting to spread in Italy. For all practical purposes, the West was treating the virus as . . . → Read More: Quarterly Update (Q2 2020)

Deep Dive: What to expect as banks report earnings: more loan pain but plenty of fee income

The largest U.S. banks will announce their second-quarter results next week. Investors should expect another big hit to earnings as banks set aside more money to cover expected loan losses. On the other hand, the big banks are also continuing to see a boost to fee income from elevated investment-banking and trading activity, . . . → Read More: Deep Dive: What to expect as banks report earnings: more loan pain but plenty of fee income

A Turning Point For Emerging Market Debt

By Nicholas Hardingham, CFA, Senior Vice President, Portfolio Manager, Emerging Market Debt Analyst, Franklin Templeton Fixed Income; and Robert Nelson, CFA, Vice President, Portfolio Manager, Research Analyst, Franklin Templeton Fixed Income

With inefficiency comes opportunity, according to Franklin Templeton Fixed Income’s Nicholas Hardingham and Robert Nelson. They consider the . . . → Read More: A Turning Point For Emerging Market Debt

Waitr Holdings: A Compelling M&A Target In The Consolidating Meal Delivery Market

Overview

Waitr Holdings (WTRH) pre-released earnings on July 6th, and I believe it’s a signal from management of its intentions to sell the company. With tons of activity going on in the sector, positive macro headwinds, and very positive financials, it looks clear to me that Waitr stock has a disproportionate number . . . → Read More: Waitr Holdings: A Compelling M&A Target In The Consolidating Meal Delivery Market

Tactical Asset Allocation – July 2020

By Alessio de Longis, CFA, Senior Portfolio Manager, Invesco Investment Solutions

By and large, recent global economic data releases have shown signs of stabilization as most economies have begun the reopening process, confirming our Recovery regime initiated in June.

Our macro regime framework continues to . . . → Read More: Tactical Asset Allocation – July 2020

DAPL Ruling Nicks, Doesn’t Negate, ConocoPhillips’ Strategy

As a result of the pandemic demand contraction and March oil price war, ConocoPhillips (COP) is coming off a second quarter in which it curtailed production by over 25%, much of it in the Lower 48.

Cautious optimism about increasing demand and stabilizing oil price, offset somewhat by new waves . . . → Read More: DAPL Ruling Nicks, Doesn’t Negate, ConocoPhillips’ Strategy

3 Reasons To Speculate And Get Rewarded On STORE Capital

Time will tell if chasing yields from Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”) will damage the long-term health of an income investor’s portfolio. The pandemic is an unprecedented and unlikely event that disrupted businesses that could not prepare for the worst-case scenario. Months of business closings shook up the regular income from REITs. . . . → Read More: 3 Reasons To Speculate And Get Rewarded On STORE Capital

Toyota: Standing Pat Until Coil Plays Itself Out

If we pull up a daily chart of Toyota (NYSE:TM), we can see that shares presently seem to be undergoing a symmetrical triangle. Considering the bullish move shares underwent from May to November of last year, we expect this present coil to end up being a bullish pattern. The reason being is . . . → Read More: Toyota: Standing Pat Until Coil Plays Itself Out

Record U.S. Index Concentration Adds Hazards For Investors

By James T. Tierney, Jr.

US growth companies led the second-quarter rebound, fueled by the five largest technology and new media stocks, which now comprise more than a third of the Russell 1000 Growth Index (R1000G). Investors should be alert to the risks of high benchmark concentration.

. . . → Read More: Record U.S. Index Concentration Adds Hazards For Investors

Need to Know: After that 41% ‘moonshot’ for stocks, here’s what one strategist is telling investors to do next

A rally for technology and Chinese stocks has provided recent fuel for markets to keep rising and shake off concern around climbing U.S. COVID-19 cases. But pandemic worries may return on Thursday, as the daily deaths show signs of rising in the U.S., alongside a record jump in cases and the highest testing rate . . . → Read More: Need to Know: After that 41% ‘moonshot’ for stocks, here’s what one strategist is telling investors to do next

Market Snapshot: Dow futures point to lackluster stock-market open as investors await weekly jobs data

U.S. stock-index futures on Thursday were seeing muted action—though the tech sector looked to be perking up—as investors awaited a report on weekly jobless claims that is likely to show that more than one million Americans submitted claims for unemployment benefits amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, cases of coronavirus exceeded 12 million . . . → Read More: Market Snapshot: Dow futures point to lackluster stock-market open as investors await weekly jobs data

Recent Preferred Stock IPOs That Look Interesting

(This report was produced by Landlord Investor for the Yield Hunting marketplace service on June 18.)

After a lull in March and April, the preferred stock IPO market has come roaring back. A number of companies have issued preferreds, mainly in the banking and insurance sectors.

You may . . . → Read More: Recent Preferred Stock IPOs That Look Interesting

Retire Rich With REITs: Location, Location, Location

Last week, I published “Retire Rich With REITs, Even During Covid-19.” The article included Forbes‘ list of “the best places to retire that offer both affordability and a high quality of life.”

(Source)

An interesting read, both for professional and personal reasons, it prompted me . . . → Read More: Retire Rich With REITs: Location, Location, Location

Why The Stock Market Is Going Up When The Economy Is Still So Bad

To answer a question that is on many investors minds these days, David Baskin outlines 4 key reasons for why there has been such a contrast between stock market performance and the overall economy so far this year.

[embedded content]

Original Post

Editor’s Note: The . . . → Read More: Why The Stock Market Is Going Up When The Economy Is Still So Bad

Lopsided Equity Rally Highlights Growing Market Risks

By Christopher Hogbin

Global equities rebounded sharply in the second quarter, driven by massive stimulus efforts and progress in the fight against the coronavirus. But investors face new risks in the third quarter as companies and countries count the costs of the pandemic and cope with the threat of a . . . → Read More: Lopsided Equity Rally Highlights Growing Market Risks

Bond ETFs Vs. Bond Mutual Funds

The market gyration in March this year offers a good opportunity to stress test various instruments such as ETFs and mutual funds. In this article, we take a closer look at how bond ETFs behaved.

Broad-based stock index ETFs

The good news is that most broad-based stock index ETFs did . . . → Read More: Bond ETFs Vs. Bond Mutual Funds

Add Magic To Your Portfolio: 2 Dividend Growth Stocks To Buy

Each month, we issue The Mike’s Buy List for our DSR members. They get our best ideas for both U.S. and Canadian dividend stocks. The first Friday of each month, they receive our top 10 growth and top 10 retirement (yield over 4%+) investment ideas.

We are still following the . . . → Read More: Add Magic To Your Portfolio: 2 Dividend Growth Stocks To Buy

Quality Premium Needs Long-Term Investment Horizon

By Jason Ye

The quality factor has been outperforming the S&P 500 YTD, an accelerating trend in place since 2019.[i] In the small-cap space, however, quality underperformed the S&P SmallCap 600 in 2019 (see Exhibit 1). Despite this short-term divergence, quality has exhibited consistent premium in large caps and more . . . → Read More: Quality Premium Needs Long-Term Investment Horizon

China’s Equity Market Surges, Leaving Rest Of World Far Behind

China’s stock market is enjoying a banner year in 2020, partly due to a surge in prices in recent days. Using a set of US exchange-listed funds as proxies for the world’s major equity regions also shows that Chinese shares have pulled far ahead of the rest of the field, based on . . . → Read More: China’s Equity Market Surges, Leaving Rest Of World Far Behind

Need to Know: The surge from the March lows masks how volatile stock markets still are

Tuesday broke a remarkable run of five straight gains of at least 0.5% by the S&P 500.

How remarkable? Michael Batnick, director of research at Ritholtz Wealth Management, calculates that it is a roughly once-in-2,000 days likelihood, given that the S&P 500 SPX, -1.08% has gained at least 0.5% about 28% of the time, . . . → Read More: Need to Know: The surge from the March lows masks how volatile stock markets still are

U.S. Global Jets ETF: Ugly Earnings Season Ahead, But Winners Could Emerge

Airline investors must be shaking with excitement – or maybe fear. Second-quarter earnings season for major US-based airlines, most definitely the worst in the sector’s history, is only a few days away from kicking off.

I would not dare make predictions on whether carriers, as a group, will beat or . . . → Read More: U.S. Global Jets ETF: Ugly Earnings Season Ahead, But Winners Could Emerge

Will The U.S. Economic Rebound Continue?

The US economy is growing again. The growth to date is largely due to the snap-back effect that followed a sudden, sharp decline in output, but recent data clearly show that the coronavirus recession has bottomed and a recovery is unfolding. The mystery is whether the recovery will persist. The primary reason . . . → Read More: Will The U.S. Economic Rebound Continue?

After his latest firing, this cannabis entrepreneur raised $150 million for a hemp venture — during a pandemic

After being fired from his last two jobs, Canadian entrepreneur Bruce Linton is back with a new venture and a new goal: to disrupt the industrial supply chain.

The co-founder and former co–chief executive of Canopy Growth Corp. CGC, -2.59% WEED, -2.30%, the Canadian cannabis market leader, raised $150 million in an initial . . . → Read More: After his latest firing, this cannabis entrepreneur raised $150 million for a hemp venture — during a pandemic

Quick Tips And Tricks For Preferred Shares

So you want to analyze preferred shares better? You’re in the right place. Strap in for some quick lessons in preferred share analysis.

Which Preferred Shares Do You Cover?

I’ve put together a table showing the various preferred shares we have under coverage, though we plan to add a very . . . → Read More: Quick Tips And Tricks For Preferred Shares

Broadmark Realty: If There’s A Crisis, It Won’t Be A Housing Crisis

I recently became the president of my homeowner’s association, where I now oversee around 40 houses. Between that and what I do for a living… it’s safe to say I follow local real estate.

We moved here around seven years ago, appreciating its growth prospects. And apparently we chose well. . . . → Read More: Broadmark Realty: If There’s A Crisis, It Won’t Be A Housing Crisis

PIMCO CEF Coverage And Leverage Update For May

(This report was issued to members of Yield Hunting on June 18.)

The monthly update on PIMCO CEFs came out this week without much changes to the figures. Overall, we think the report was relatively benign and continues to signal the same result: Nothing to be afraid of here.

. . . → Read More: PIMCO CEF Coverage And Leverage Update For May

Broadcom: Valuation Indicates To Take Care

I wrote about Broadcom (AVGO) a few months back in this article. While in retrospect it could have been timed better, excellent things have happened with the stock – and also with my own stake, much of which was bought during the depths of the crisis and after the article was published. . . . → Read More: Broadcom: Valuation Indicates To Take Care

In One Chart: This fascinating chart shows the link between commodity prices and populism

It’s not an uncommon opinion that the combination of superlow interest rates and bond buying by central banks with aggressive fiscal spending will lead to a surge in inflation.

Barry Bannister, head of institutional equity strategy at Stifel, won’t disagree but thinks it will take decades to play out. He expects the combination to . . . → Read More: In One Chart: This fascinating chart shows the link between commodity prices and populism

CMC Markets: It Keeps Getting Better

In my previous article on CMC Markets (OTC:CCMMF), I outlined my bullish stance on the company and its prospects with the belief that volatility would continue at high levels into the future. CMC Markets would benefit from this fuelling further reinvestment into their own platform. The company just updated the market with . . . → Read More: CMC Markets: It Keeps Getting Better

Antero Midstream: It’s The Leverage, The Leverage, And The Leverage

Mr. Market has yet to learn that nothing succeeds like low financial leverage when midstream operations are analyzed. Antero Midstream (AM) consistently keeps its debt leverage under 4. Not many midstream companies are even close to that conservative ratio. Management has also managed to keep the ratio low without issuing preferred stock.

. . . → Read More: Antero Midstream: It’s The Leverage, The Leverage, And The Leverage

Politics And The Markets 7/8/20

This is the forum for daily political discussion on Seeking Alpha.

Please don’t leave political comments on other articles or news on the site.

The comments below are not regulated with the same rigor as the rest of the site, and this is an ‘enter at your . . . → Read More: Politics And The Markets 7/8/20

Lemonade – Sweet Or Sour, Time Will Tell

The public offering of Lemonade (LMND) has been a truly astonishing success with shares up 140% on their opening day, having risen from $29 to $70, a mind-blowing move higher of course for a period of just a day. The reason for that is somewhat understandable, yet at the same time . . . → Read More: Lemonade – Sweet Or Sour, Time Will Tell

Crestwood Equity Partners: The Distribution Could Go Either Way When Results Land

Introduction

The very high distribution yield of Crestwood Equity Partners (CEQP) is certainly alluring to many income investors, as a yield of 21% is certainly eye-catching. Whilst they have not taken the same path as many of their peers by reducing their distributions already in the first half of 2020, this could . . . → Read More: Crestwood Equity Partners: The Distribution Could Go Either Way When Results Land

Kirby Is A Buy

In the 276 days since I wrote my bearish piece about Kirby Corporation (KEX), the shares are down about 37% against a gain of ~7% for the S&P 500. While this is gratifying on some level, I must admit that a company that was too risky to buy at $80 may be . . . → Read More: Kirby Is A Buy

Global Check-Up: Earnings Breadth So Bad It’s Good

What a whirlwind first half of 2020 it was. A 35% drop in a few weeks, only to see one of the biggest and broadest rallies ever from late March through June. Ironically, stocks finished not far from unchanged during the first half of the year. If you emerged from under a . . . → Read More: Global Check-Up: Earnings Breadth So Bad It’s Good

Keeping Investing As Simple As Possible

As stated, this article is mainly for “fund” investors who like to keep things simple. By this I mean that you meet these three basic criteria:

1. You are a “fund” investor. You don’t like picking individual stocks because you’re either not good at it or you don’t wish to . . . → Read More: Keeping Investing As Simple As Possible

NGE: Nigeria Still Growing Too Fast To Trade At 4x Earnings

As one of the largest economies in the continent with the greatest demographic potential over the next 30 years, I am still somewhat surprised that there is only one US-listed ETF tracking the Nigerian equity market. I am also somewhat surprised that given the very high expense ratio and “monopoly” of access . . . → Read More: NGE: Nigeria Still Growing Too Fast To Trade At 4x Earnings

NextEra Energy: Driving Ahead In An Uncertain Environment

NextEra Energy (NEE) is one of the world’s leading energy companies. It currently operates some of the most impressive utilities and power companies. In fact, NextEra Energy operates one of the largest utilities in FPL (Florida Power & Light) and one of the largest renewable power companies in NextEra Energy Resources. While . . . → Read More: NextEra Energy: Driving Ahead In An Uncertain Environment

Venture funding remains elusive for Black tech entrepreneurs

A social protest movement sweeping the world has prompted the tech industry to accelerate its glacial progress in recruiting, hiring and promoting Black workers, with recent multimillion-dollar pledges, changes in employment practices, and upper-management appointments.

Yet one area remains agonizingly elusive: Venture funding.

Venture capital, from Silicon Valley to New York, remains . . . → Read More: Venture funding remains elusive for Black tech entrepreneurs

Under attack from short seller, J2 Global says it bought company from a consultant — documents indicate there’s more to the story

J2 Global Inc., a cloud service company and website operator, said the owner of a company it purchased was not a director — though public documents show he was on the board of one of the company’s subsidiaries.

J2 Global was accused by New York–based Hindenburg Research, a short-selling investment firm, of a . . . → Read More: Under attack from short seller, J2 Global says it bought company from a consultant — documents indicate there’s more to the story

S&P Global: The Case For New Highs

In early May, I wrote an article titled “2020 May Be Rough, But S&P Global Is Worth The Wait,” where I dove into the recent performance of S&P Global and shared my view of the stock in light of updated Q1 company guidance, recent trends in the energy and credit space, and . . . → Read More: S&P Global: The Case For New Highs

Retirement Advisor: Famous Last Words (Podcast)

Listen on the go! Subscribe to the SA for FAs podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Spotify (click the highlighted links).

The story of America’s first celebrity economist, Irving Fisher, should cure anybody still milling about for expert predictions.

This podcast (7:06) argues that investors, instead . . . → Read More: Retirement Advisor: Famous Last Words (Podcast)

5 Top-Rated Blue-Chip REITs To Buy During Turbulent Times

I’m writing a new book, The Intelligent REIT Investor, which should be complete by summer’s end. I’ve already dedicated it to my friend and mentor, Ralph Block, who inspired me to become a global voice for REIT investors.

As such, I plan to include some of his brilliantly-written chapters from . . . → Read More: 5 Top-Rated Blue-Chip REITs To Buy During Turbulent Times

3 Blue Chips To ‘Load Up’ Amid Uncertainty

My favorite quote from Warren Buffett is the following:

“The most important quality for an investor is temperament, not intellect.”

Put differently, investing is 10% intellect and 90% temperament. It’s not the person with the highest IQ who wins at the game of investing. It’s the person with the right . . . → Read More: 3 Blue Chips To ‘Load Up’ Amid Uncertainty

Municipal Bond CEFs Still Providing Good Value And Safety

Municipal Market Overview

We have made no secret that the municipal bond sector is one of our favorites. It has been hard to feel confident in this space in the last couple of months due to both liquidity concerns at the outset and credit concerns more recently. Munis were hit by the . . . → Read More: Municipal Bond CEFs Still Providing Good Value And Safety

The Ratings Game: Skyrocketing of COVID-19 cases around the U.S. slows dine-in restaurant recovery

Soaring cases of COVID-19 around the U.S. drove a week-over-week slowdown at casual-dining restaurants, according to data provided by Bernstein.

Casual-dining brands include Darden Restaurants Inc.’s DRI, +0.28% Olive Garden chain and Dine Brands Inc.’s DIN, +2.39% Applebee’s and IHOP brands.

The U.S. has now tallied 2.89 million cases of COVID-19, the highest . . . → Read More: The Ratings Game: Skyrocketing of COVID-19 cases around the U.S. slows dine-in restaurant recovery

Mark Hulbert: This spot-on predictor of who will win the 2020 presidential election is not the stock market or even opinion polls

Does the stock market predict the winner of U.S. presidential elections? Many argue that it does, pointing to the historical correlation between the incumbent party retaining the White House and the stock market’s strength in the months leading up to Election Day in November.

Given President Donald Trump’s preoccupation with the stock market, . . . → Read More: Mark Hulbert: This spot-on predictor of who will win the 2020 presidential election is not the stock market or even opinion polls

ESG Strategies – What Investors Expect From ETFs

By Detlef Glow

The growth of sustainable investing is constantly accelerating and can be seen as one of the most important growth drivers for the fund industry over the next few years. From my point of view, we may reach the breaking point where the majority of assets are . . . → Read More: ESG Strategies – What Investors Expect From ETFs

The Ratings Game: Tesla’s stock soars to 4th-straight record as Wall Street’s biggest bear raises price target

Shares of Tesla Inc. charged higher to a fourth-straight record close Monday, after even the most bearish analyst on Wall Street analyst lifted his price target following the electric vehicle maker’s blowout deliveries results.

Tesla rival Nio Inc.’s stock NIO, +22.70% also soared, in the wake of the China-based EV maker’s upbeat June sales . . . → Read More: The Ratings Game: Tesla’s stock soars to 4th-straight record as Wall Street’s biggest bear raises price target

Targa Resources: Surviving Easy But Thriving Will Likely Take Many Years

Introduction

When turmoil struck earlier this year, Targa Resources (TRGP) almost completely annihilated its dividend with an 89% reduction, which now only provides a yield around 2%. Investors who purchased Targa’s shares seeking its once-high dividend yield around one year ago are likely quite disappointed and unfortunately, it appears that they face . . . → Read More: Targa Resources: Surviving Easy But Thriving Will Likely Take Many Years

Immunomedics Positive Cancer Data, And Other News: The Good, Bad And Ugly Of Biopharma

Immunomedics Reports Positive Phase 3 Data for Cancer Drug

Immunomedics Inc. (IMMU) reported that its confirmatory Phase 3 ASCENT study met its primary endpoint. The trial aimed to test Trodelvy for treating brain metastasis negative patients with mTNBC who have previously received at least two prior therapies for metastatic disease. Trodelvy . . . → Read More: Immunomedics Positive Cancer Data, And Other News: The Good, Bad And Ugly Of Biopharma

Canadian Western Bank: COVID-19’s Impact On Provisions Appears To Have Peaked

Earnings of Canadian Western Bank (OTCPK:CBWBF) plunged by 28% sequentially to C$0.59 per share in the second quarter of this fiscal year. A surge in provision expense amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the contraction in net interest margin were the major contributors to the earnings decline. The bank’s earnings will likely improve . . . → Read More: Canadian Western Bank: COVID-19’s Impact On Provisions Appears To Have Peaked

Politics And The Markets 7/7/20

This is the forum for daily political discussion on Seeking Alpha.

Please don’t leave political comments on other articles or news on the site.

The comments below are not regulated with the same rigor as the rest of the site, and this is an ‘enter at your . . . → Read More: Politics And The Markets 7/7/20

BBN: Keep An Eye On The Rising Price

Main Thesis

The purpose of this article is to evaluate the BlackRock Taxable Municipal Bond Trust (BBN) as an investment option at its current market price. This is a fund I own and have recommended on many occasions, and has served me quite well. Although I continue to believe it could represent . . . → Read More: BBN: Keep An Eye On The Rising Price

Another New High For Semis

One month and a day since the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) last made an all-time, the index did it again Monday right at the opening bell clearing both short-term resistance and breaking a small string of lower highs that has been in place since that 6/5 high.

. . . → Read More: Another New High For Semis

Downgrading U.S. Equities To Neutral

We downgrade U.S. equities to neutral after a strong run amid surging COVID-19 cases and risks of fading fiscal stimulus.

We are tracking the interplay of containment measures and mobility changes on activity as economies have started to reopen.

Markets this week will expect to see improving U.S. non-manufacturing and services purchasing managers’ . . . → Read More: Downgrading U.S. Equities To Neutral

Arbitrage Opportunities In BlackRock Muni Closed-End Fund Reorganizations

Note: A modified version of this article was released to CEF/ETF Income Laboratory members on June 28, 2020, and data are from that date. Please check latest data before investing.

BlackRock announced a slate of muni bond CEF reorganizations last month, due to be completed “in or before the first . . . → Read More: Arbitrage Opportunities In BlackRock Muni Closed-End Fund Reorganizations

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Makes A Big Play For Dominion Energy’s Assets

One big question for watchers and investors of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) (BRK.B) in recent years has been what will happen to the company’s large cash reserves. In all, as of the end of its latest quarter, the conglomerate run by Warren Buffett had cash and cash equivalents worth $137.26 billion on hand. . . . → Read More: Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Makes A Big Play For Dominion Energy’s Assets

Canadian Solar: Steady Player In Rapidly Evolving Industry

Canadian Solar (CSIQ) has recovered quite well over the past few months. The company continues to perform well despite the negative impacts of the pandemic. Although the coronavirus has only had a limited impact on Canadian Solar so far, the company still has to deal with major disruptions moving forward.

. . . → Read More: Canadian Solar: Steady Player In Rapidly Evolving Industry

U.S. Real Estate Investment Trusts Led Risk Rally Last Week

After three weeks of losses, real estate investment trusts (REITs) in the US bounced last week, posting the strongest gain for the major asset classes, based on a set of exchange-traded funds.

Vanguard US Real Estate (NYSEARCA:VNQ) jumped 5.2%, the first weekly advance for the fund in four weeks, based . . . → Read More: U.S. Real Estate Investment Trusts Led Risk Rally Last Week

Wall Street Breakfast: Is Another Bull Run In The Making?

Lots of dry powder to support equity prices

The amount of money creation so far in the pandemic crisis is similar to what we saw during the financial crisis of 2008/2009, according to JPMorgan analyst Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou, “but has occurred much more quickly, in only a few months, as . . . → Read More: Wall Street Breakfast: Is Another Bull Run In The Making?

Canadian National Faces Serious Headwinds

Source: Forbes

The coronavirus has stymied business activity around the globe. For the first 26 weeks of the year, Canadian railroads reported an 8.3% decline in rail traffic. This implies Canadian National (CNI) could face serious headwinds going forward. In Q1 2020, Canadian National reported total revenue of $3.5 billion, . . . → Read More: Canadian National Faces Serious Headwinds