Financial Select Sector SPDR (XLF) is an investment fund which copies the Financial Select Sector index. At least 95% of of XLF’s investments are in the same companies that the index i9nvests in. The index is industry specific and invests in insurance, capital markets, commercial banks, diversified financial services, real estate investment funds, thrifts and… Continue Reading
MF Global Holdings Ltd. has filed for bankruptcy due to its overextension of European debt which will not be repaid. MF Global was a giant investment company with over 2000 employees worldwide. Deutsche Bank and JPMorgan Chase are the company’s largest creditors. MF Global owes Deutsche Bank more than $one billion and owes JPMorgan over… Continue Reading
Limited Brands Inc (LTD) retails women’s apparel, personal care and beauty products, and accessories in Canada and the U.S. It has seven brands including Victoria’s Secret, Henry Bendel, Pink, The White Barn Candle Company, La Senza, C.O. Bigelow and Bath & Body Works. Limited Brands markets its goods through specialty retail stores, catalogues and websites.… Continue Reading
Acme United Corp. (ACU) develops measuring, cutting and safety products and sells them in the United States, Europe, Canada and Asia. Acme sells to the home, school, office, industrial and hardware markets. Acme’s cutting products include several types of knives, garden cutting tools, medical cutting instruments, etc. The measuring products include rulers, tape measures, compasses,… Continue Reading
McKesson Corporation (MCK) offers a wide range of services to the health market. They have a Distribution Solutions segment which distributes drugs, medical equipment, supplies and provides outsourcing and consultancy services to Medical organizations throughout North America. McKesson also has a Technical Solutions segment which provides software solutions to many types of health providers in… Continue Reading
Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) could be a good investment for investors who like to sleep at night. Microsoft has a sideways oriented graph. For the last year it has flowed up and down 5 times with a maximum variation between $24 and $29. The last three ups and downs are getting shorter and are down to… Continue Reading
Marriott International, Inc. (MAR), a leader in the hotel industry, just reported having a good third quarter. Revenue grew almost 11% and revenue per available room grew about 7%. In addition room occupancy trends were up 2% in spite of price increases. Adjusted Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) rose 9% in the… Continue Reading
Kodiak Oil and Gas Corp. (KOG) is an oil and natural gas company operating in the United States. In September the company announced that it will buy a leasehold of potential oil mining area in the Bakken (located in North Dakota, US). The company also has operations in Montana, Wyoming and Colorado. Kodiak will pay… Continue Reading
Intel Corporation is the famous international microprocessor producer that also produces many other computer and communication device parts. It was founded in 1968 and after 42 years is still growing. In fact, its earnings have increased 5.9 % over the past five years and its dividends have increased by 13.5% during the last five years.Its… Continue Reading
In today’s volatile and often downwards market, investors are looking for stocks that are defensive, that will hold their own at the beginning of a down market until they can be sold off. However, if the market goes up these stocks will also go up. David Hefty, CEO of Hefty Wealth Partners, commented on the… Continue Reading