Thursday, October 30, 2025
As I review 2021’s first-quarter earnings results, I have been struck by how company after company announced new or increased share buyback programs. Companies describe buybacks as “returning cash to shareholders.” I think that is a load of crap, and I have several thoughts on why widespread stock buybacks are a terrible idea. Alphabet Inc. […]
Over the last six months, different high-yield sectors have caught up with the broader market’s gains kicked off a year ago. Higher share prices mean lower yields for income-focused investors, and with most of these stocks, current yields are markedly lower than they were a few months ago. I have recently reviewed exchange-traded funds (ETFs), […]
I get to communicate with a lot of investors. Many express fears about a potential stock market crash, primarily triggered by eyeball-seeking financial news sources. Sure, investors should plan for the next market downturn…but to use a fighter pilot expression, pulling the ejection handle is not the answer. After graduating from the U.S. Air Force […]
My Dividend Hunter service provides a list of high-yield investments to build an income-focused portfolio. Many closed-end funds pay very high yields, so the conflux of my focus on high yield and investors discovering closed-end funds (CEFs) leads to many questions from my subscribers about specific funds. Let me share what I think about the […]
I am asked daily about the timing and potential for the next stock market correction or “crash.” While I may not be as smart (or as marketing savvy, truth be told) to accurately predict the next stock market downturn, I do have a plan to prepare for the next time U.S. stocks fall in value. […]
The “coronacrash” of February–March 2020 devastated some previously outstanding income stocks. It has been interesting to watch how different companies handled the crisis and how they have performed coming out of the ruins. One of my favorite finance real estate investment trusts (REITs) has made all the right moves to keep the recovery of the […]
You invest in dividend-paying stocks by researching stocks by first understanding how they work and the terminology that accompanies them. Today I want to offer some help for anyone who is feeling confused by all the information available on financial news platforms. I see many people with little investment experience jumping into the stock markets […]
During a recent early morning inbox check, I noticed an email subject bearing the question “Will the Stock Market Crash Soon?” With the major market indexes trading at record levels, fears are that the markets are due for a tumble. Plus, market crash headlines make great clickbait…but are they a valid reason to sell your […]
Recently, my wife—who does not follow the financial world—asked me how a hedge fund works. She read about the immense loss suffered by Credit Suisse due to the Archegos hedge fund meltdown. She wanted to know if the losses would affect customers of the bank. The discussion started me thinking about how complicated our financial […]
Last week, the forced unwinding of the Archegos Capital Management hedge fund put fears of a market collapse into investors’ minds. While it appears to have been an isolated case, the fund’s collapse vividly points out the dangers of using leverage to boost investment returns. Let’s discuss how excess leverage can turn declines in security […]
