Louis' Blog Archive
Takeaways from A Historic Week for the Market
March 28, 2020
This past week has certainly been one for the history books! Not surprisingly, the financial media has been churning out so much information it’s hard to keep track. So, in today’s Market 360, we’re going to tap the brakes a bit and dig into the market’s action, day by day.
Why Growth Investors Should Be Optimistic AND Cautious
March 27, 2020
I want investors to be very, very careful right now. Not because of the pullback today – that’s no surprise, since previously this week we had the biggest market rebound I ever remember. It’s because a lot of low-quality stocks actually performed incredibly this week.
The Trap That’s Being Laid for Value Investors
March 26, 2020
If you’ve ever seen sports reports or interviews with athletes, you know all about this: When a team wins, they attribute their success to their efforts as individuals and as a team. You’ll hear all about how special the group is, how individuals worked harder than anyone else and were destined for success. If, on the other hand, a team fails, it’s often the fault of … the officials.
What’s Winning and What’s Losing in This Market
March 25, 2020
Emotions are running high these days – and in the financial markets, that’s been showing up as wild swings, up and down, each time a bullish or bearish headline emerges. The thing to remember is, you have to set emotions aside if you want to be a successful long-term investor. And who doesn’t? I certainly have my opinions about the coronavirus crisis, oil price wars, and more.
How Relief Checks, Seasonality Pave the Way for Strong Close to March
March 24, 2020
Well, folks, obviously we had an incredible day on Wall Street. So today I’d just like to talk about what’s behind that, and how it’s affecting the investing landscape. Right now, whether you ask President Trump, Speaker Pelosi, or anyone else, it’s very obvious what has to happen: The Treasury Department needs to put money in people’s pockets now, period. As I write this, the deal that’s taking shape is for $1,200 of stimulus per person, or $3,000 for the average family of four, immediately.
2 Surprising Things I’m Seeing in This Market
March 23, 2020
In this fickle, volatile market, I’m seeing some strength under the surface. I’m also seeing a couple of things that surprised me – and which I’d most like to make you aware of today. If you want your investments to be successful long-term (and who doesn’t?) then you’ve got to take your biases, fear and greed out of the equation…and apply smart, proven tactics consistently. That’s true now more than ever. And I’ve kept on with my weekly Portfolio Grader scans and stock research.
Weekly Upgrades and Downgrades
March 23, 2020
During these busy times, it pays to stay on top of the latest profit opportunities. And today’s blog post should be a great place to start. After taking a close look at the latest data on institutional buying pressure and each company’s fundamental health, I decided to revise my Portfolio Grader recommendations for 56 big blue chips. Chances are that you have at least one of these stocks in your portfolio, so you may want to give this list a skim and act accordingly.
4 Things I Demand From Any Dividend Stock – In Any Market
March 21, 2020
All throughout the 10-year bull market, people were asking themselves: “Why bother with dividend stocks?” Well, now that the credit markets have gone off the rails – and central banks are scrambling to regain control – income stocks are looking a lot better. So today, I want to make sure that you are prepared to buy the RIGHT dividend stocks, when the dust settles in this market.
Encouraging Signs Emerge As We Weather These Stormy Markets
March 20, 2020
We had a nice little rebound this morning before that momentum faded midday. The herky-jerky action is all the more reason for investors to hold tight until April. But in the meantime, I wanted to touch base and let you know what I’m watching today. Much of it is very encouraging.
The Problem With Buying “Coronavirus Stocks” Right Now
March 19, 2020
In basketball, players and coaches will often talk about the “hot hand.” This refers to the expectation that someone who has made several baskets in a row has a greater chance of making the next one. But that’s a fallacy. The belief in the “hot hand” is a well-studied example of Recency Bias.