The No. 1 key to long-term investing
Let the profitability of a company’s investment in itself guide your stock picking. For an example, look at how McDonald’s matches up against its competitors.
Let the profitability of a company’s investment in itself guide your stock picking. For an example, look at how McDonald’s matches up against its competitors.
I recommended both Home Depot and Lowe’s Companies in the January issue of Money magazine. Since then, both do-it-yourself retailers have reported earnings declines, and analysts expect results for the current year to be up only slightly – or even down.
Borrowing money to go to college is not the problem — borrowing money at relatively high rates is. Private interests have given student loans a bad name.
Consumers have some important new protections when they use plastic. But some analysts warn that the reforms will come with unforeseen costs.
A few simple calculations can tell you whether you’re doing fine or staring at debt disaster. And be sure to see how your peers are handling their burdens as well.
If you’re not doing all you can to keep your credit scores high, you’re borrowing trouble — and you could pay a very heavy price.
The best opportunity may have passed, but there’s still time to capitalize on the greenback’s relative strength. Here are a few investment ideas.
Welcoming those cornered by bad credit, rent-to-own stores are thriving. But the costs of their convenient payment plans are equivalent to sky-high interest rates.
The lure of low-priced stocks is that they can rise quickly when the market discovers them. But you may need some patience.
Source: 5 attractive stocks under $5
$1,200 legally yanked from savings accounts drove one man from his bank. Lower interest rates on credit cards and fewer fees attracted others to credit unions.
The Internet had made comparisons so simple that companies are now scheming to hide their real prices, making actual costs impossible to figure out ahead of time.
Source: The death of comparison shopping
There’s a lot to consider when insuring a car — rates, teen drivers, what happens if you have an accident. Is your insurer looking out for you?
The recalled models are being repaired, but prices are softening — creating tempting bargains.
Source: Should you buy a Toyota?
The credit meltdown damaged a lot of once-reliable dividend stocks, but don’t let that turn you away. Companies that pay you to own them may never have been more important.
Emerging-market stocks are outpacing US issues, and that’s a trend that will continue. Cash in by investing in companies poised to benefit from rising demand at home.
The Credit CARD Act means big changes in the ways issuers deal with their customers, and many of the old rules of credit card use are being rewritten.
The economy is weakening, the stock market is slumping and there’s plenty of bad news. It’s easy to feel confused.
Frugality got you through the tough times, but now your budget finally has a little breathing room. How can you upgrade your lifestyle without getting into trouble?
Like Schwab, Fidelity now offers no-commission purchases on some exchange-traded funds. It’s a big benefit to all investors, and it could signal an important new trend.
Source: An ETF revolution: Free trades
The economy is weakening, the stock market is slumping and there’s plenty of bad news. It’s easy to feel confused.