Stocks that the Billionaires Own

Last month, Forbes Magazine published its Richest People in America issue which ranked the top 400 wealthiest people in the United States. Investors might want to take a look at what stocks the billionaires own, to get some stock purchasing ideas. It made them rich, maybe they will make you rich. Here is a list of some of the wealthiest Americans and the stocks they own.

Bill Gates - Microsoft (MSFT)

Warren Buffett - Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A) (BRK-A)

Larry Ellison - Oracle (ORCL)

Christy, Jim, Alice, and Robson Walton - Wal-Mart (WMT)

Mark Zuckerberg - Facebook (FB)

Sheldon Adelson - Las Vegas Sands (LVS)

Larry Page - Google (GOOG)

Sergey Brin - Google (GOOG)

Jeff Bezos - Amazon (AMZN)

Carl Icahn - Icahn Enterprises (IEP)

Steve Ballmer - Microsoft (MSFT)

What is interesting about this list, is that most of the people on it started a business which is now a publicly traded company, which made many investors wealthy who invested at the beginning. If you like interesting stock lists like this, check out the stock lists at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Top Warren Buffett Book Gift Ideas

Looking for gift ideas for the holidays? Here are the books related to Warren Buffett, the billionaire head of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A) (BRK-B). Some are written by this famous investor and some are about him, written by other authors.

by Buffett

The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book on Value Investing. A Book of Practical Counsel  Warren E. Buffett (Collaborator)

The Essays of Warren Buffett: Lessons for Corporate America, Third EditionWarren E. Buffett (Author) Lawrence A. Cunningham (Author, Editor)

Poor Charlie's Almanack: The Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger, Expanded Third Edition Warren E. Buffett (Foreword)

Los ensayos de Warren Buffett (Spanish Edition) Warren E. Buffett (Author)

Buffett, Icahn, Soros

Becoming Rich: The Wealth-Building Secrets of the World's Master Investors Buffett, Icahn, Soros


about Buffett

Trade Like Warren Buffett

The Warren Buffett Way, Second Edition

The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life

The Winning Investment Habits of Warren Buffett & George Soros

The New Buffettology: The Proven Techniques for Investing Successfully in Changing Markets That Have Made Warren Buffett the World's Most Famous Investor

Warren Buffett Speaks: Wit and Wisdom from the World's Greatest Investor

The Tao of Warren Buffett: Warren Buffett's Words of Wisdom: Quotations and Interpretations to Help Guide You to Billionaire Wealth and Enlightened Business Management

Don't wait to the last minute, buy a couple of these books now. Happy reading!!!

By Stockerblog.com

Stocks Going Ex Dividend the First Week of December

  

Here is our latest update on the stock trading technique called 'Buying Dividends,' also commonly referred to as 'Dividend Capture.' This is the process of buying stocks before the ex dividend date and selling the stock shortly after the ex date at about the same price, yet still being entitled to the dividend. This technique generally works only in bull markets, and can work in flat or choppy markets, but you need to avoid the technique during bear markets.

In order to be entitled to the dividend, you have to buy the stock before the ex-dividend date, and you can't sell the stock until after the ex date. The actual dividend may not be paid for another few weeks. WallStreetNewsNetwork.com has compiled a downloadable and sortable list of the stocks going ex dividend in the near future. The list contains many dividend paying companies, lots with market caps over $500 million, and yields over 2%. Here are a few examples showing the stock symbol, the ex-dividend date, and the yield.

Regal Entertainment Group	RGC	12/2/2014	3.9%
Avista Corp.	AVA	12/2/2014	3.8%
Bebe Stores	BEBE	12/2/2014	3.7%
Fidus Investment Corp	FDUS	12/3/2014	8.3%
PDL BioPharma Inc	PDLI	12/3/2014	7.6%
Destination Maternity Corporation	DEST	12/3/2014	5.1%
Iron Mountain	IRM	12/3/2014	5.0%
Old Republic International Corp	ORI	12/3/2014	4.8%
Comstock Resources Inc	CRK	12/3/2014	4.4%
American National Bankshares	AMNB	12/3/2014	3.8%
TrustCo Bank	TRST	12/3/2014	3.7%
Coach, Inc.	COH	12/3/2014	3.6%

The additional ex-dividend stocks can be found at wsnn.com. (If you have been to the website before, and the latest link doesn't show up, you may have to empty your cache.) If you like dividend stocks, you should check out some of the other high yield stock lists at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com or WSNN.com. Most of the lists are free. Dividend definitions:Declaration date: the day that the company declares that there is going to be an upcoming dividend.

Ex-dividend date: the day on which if you buy the stock, you would not be entitled to that particular dividend; or the first day on which a shareholder can sell the shares and still be entitled to the dividend.

Monthly Dividend Stock List
Record date: the day when you must be on the company's books as a shareholder to receive the dividend. The ex-dividend date is normally set for stocks at two business days before the record date.

Payment date: the day on which the dividend payment is actually made, which can be as long at two months after the ex date.

Book now available: Buying Dividends Revised and Expanded

Book now available: Stock Market Trivia
A Great Gift!

Don't forget to reconfirm the ex-dividend date with the company before implementing this technique.

Disclosure: Author did not own any of the above at the time the article was written.

By Stockerblog.com

Build Your Portfolio with Infrastructure Stocks

On 60 Minutes this evening, the prime story was about how the United States is in desperate need of infrastructure rebuilding. Highways are falling apart, bridges are falling apart, and it's not just roads and bridges. It includes seaports and airports and dams and canals.

The biggest problem is getting funding, and the government is still fighting over how to pay for infrastructure rebuilding. At some point, funding will be available, it will have to be available, and when that happens, the companies involved in infrastructure building and repairs with benefit.

There are more than half a dozen publicly traded infrastructure stocks, according to the free list of infrastructure stocks at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com. The stocks are in the business of providing supplies, building and repairing, and consulting.

One of the major beneficiaries of infrastructure rebuilding is Granite Construction  (GVA), which is involved in heavy civil contracting and producing construction materials. It repairs and builds roads, highways, bridges, and other infrastructure projects. The stock trades at 16.8 times forward earnings, and earnings for the latest quarter were up 17.2% year over year on a slight drop in revenues. The stock sports a yield of 1.5%.

AECOM Technology (ACM) provides technical and management services, including transportation design, water services, and facilities construction. The company recently took over URS Corporation, which provides engineering, consulting, and construction services for highway, air, and rail transportation networks, and ports and harbors. The stock has a price to earnings ratio of 14.5, and a forward PE of 9.5. Revenues for the latest quarter were up 23.3%, however, earnings were down 16.4%.

To access other top infrastructure stocks, go to the free list at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com, which has information on the PE, forward PE, PEG, and yield.

Author does not own any of the above.

By Stockerblog.com


Monthly Dividend Stock List

Stocks Going Ex Dividend the Last Week of November

  

Here is our latest update on the stock trading technique called 'Buying Dividends,' also commonly referred to as 'Dividend Capture.' This is the process of buying stocks before the ex dividend date and selling the stock shortly after the ex date at about the same price, yet still being entitled to the dividend. This technique generally works only in bull markets, and can work in flat or choppy markets, but you need to avoid the technique during bear markets.

In order to be entitled to the dividend, you have to buy the stock before the ex-dividend date, and you can't sell the stock until after the ex date. The actual dividend may not be paid for another few weeks. WallStreetNewsNetwork.com has compiled a downloadable and sortable list of the stocks going ex dividend in the near future. The list contains many dividend paying companies, lots with market caps over $500 million, and yields over 2%. Here are a few examples showing the stock symbol, the ex-dividend date, and the yield.

Lockheed Martin

LMT

11/26/2014

3.3%

MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc.	MOFG	11/26/2014	2.4%
Qualcomm, Inc.	QCOM	11/26/2014	2.2%
Reinsurance Group of America Inc.	RZA	11/26/2014	7.1%
Triangle Capital Corporation	TCC	11/26/2014	7.8%
TAL International Group	TAL	11/28/2014	7.1%

The additional ex-dividend stocks can be found at wsnn.com. (If you have been to the website before, and the latest link doesn't show up, you may have to empty your cache.) If you like dividend stocks, you should check out some of the other high yield stock lists at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com or WSNN.com. Most of the lists are free. Dividend definitions:
Declaration date: the day that the company declares that there is going to be an upcoming dividend.

Ex-dividend date: the day on which if you buy the stock, you would not be entitled to that particular dividend; or the first day on which a shareholder can sell the shares and still be entitled to the dividend.

Monthly Dividend Stock List
Record date: the day when you must be on the company's books as a shareholder to receive the dividend. The ex-dividend date is normally set for stocks at two business days before the record date.

Payment date: the day on which the dividend payment is actually made, which can be as long at two months after the ex date.

Book now available: Buying Dividends Revised and Expanded

Book now available: Stock Market Trivia
A Great Gift!

Don't forget to reconfirm the ex-dividend date with the company before implementing this technique.

Disclosure: Author did not own any of the above at the time the article was written.

By Stockerblog.com

More Books for the Holidays

If you are looking for additional books, either as gifts or for your own personal reading, here are a couple ideas.

Tony Robbins, the famous self-help guru, has just come out with a new book, his first in 30 years. The book is MONEY Master the Game: 7 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom and has already received rave reviews.

If you haven't read Flash Boys yet by Michael Lewis, you really should. It covers high frequency trading and the related front running, in a fascinating way. Almost like a stock market mystery.

Happy reading!

Stock Market History Through Old Photos

Back in the old days, the stock market and the economy in general had a huge effect on the American public, even those who never invested in their life. Here is a selection of fascinating photographs, which captured the histroy and spirit of the times.

The Crash of 1929

This photo was taken shortly after the crash of 1929. Just one example of the desperation people experienced. 

Central Park

This is what Central Park looked like at the beginning of the depression in 1930. People set up shacks in the park since it was their only option of having a roof over their heads.

Making Clothes from Flour Sacks

During the Depression in the 1930's, women were making clothes out of flour sacks, so the flour companies started making the sacks with designs and flowers on them.

Disney (DIS)

Disney was popular even during the early 1930's portion of the Depression. This is a meeting of the Mickey Mouse Club.

Harley Davidson (HOG)

 Harley Davidson, the famous motorcycle company, started small, building its first products in this little building back in 1903.

Tesla (TSLA)

 Where did the name Tesla come from? Nikola Tesla, the famous electrical inventor. That is not Tesla above, but Mark Twain in Tesla's lab in 1894.

Weeding Out the Best Pot Stock: GW Pharmaceuticals

Headquartered in Salsbury, United Kingdom, GW Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:GWPH) uses its proprietary cannabinoid product platform to create and develop new therapeutics that can be used for a variety of treatments. The company's therapeutics, along with current and proposed treatments, include:

·      Sativex® for treating chronic cancer pain and multiple sclerosis spasticity

·      Epidiolix® for the treatment of childhood epilepsy, Dravet syndrome, and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome

·      Cannabidivarion for treating epilepsy

·      GWP42003 for treating ulcerative colitis and schizophrenia

·      GWP42004 for treating type-2 diabetes

·      GWP42002: GWP42003 for treating glioma, a tumor that starts in the brain or spine

One important development is that Sativex® was given Fast Track designation by the FDA for the treatment of chronic cancer pain in patients with advanced cancer who are not responding to opioid therapy. It is currently in a Phase 3 program for cancer pain with the FDA. Sativex® is already approved in 26 countries for spasticity caused by multiple sclerosis.

Strong Cash Position and Growing Revenues

In an industry where most companies don't even report revenues, GW has been generating revenues for years. For the latest reported quarter, revenues were up by 4.9%. Although the company has been generating losses, it has a huge cash cushion from its secondary offering in June of this year, netting the company $118 million, an increase of 342% in cash position over fiscal year end last year.

GW  in GBP 000's	6/30/2014	6/30/2013*	% Change
Revenue	7,611	7,258	4.9%
Cash	168,268	38,069	342.0%
Total Equity	157,774	35,402	345.7%

Balance sheet data as of 9/30/2013, fiscal year end

Revenue Growth

Revenue growth was primarily due to an increase in Sativex product sales generated by a rise in shipments to the company's commercial partners. In addition, total net revenues were helped by an increase in income from license, collaboration, and technical access fees.

Net loss went from GBP 2.028 million to GBP 6.928 million, due to a higher cost of sales from the higher volume of inventory shipped, an increase in research and development expenditures, and a rise in administrative expenditures caused by increased staffing expenditures and an unrealized loss on foreign exchange.

Inventories have remained constant over last year, at roughly GBP 4.7 million. In regards to guidance, the company expects strong double digit revenue growth for 2014.

Business Developments

Epidiolex®

FDA Authorized Physician-Led Access Program with about 100 children now receiving treatment in the United States at six hospital locations.

Orphan Drug Designation, Fast Track Designation were granted. An Investigational New Drug Application  has been opened with the FDA for the treatment of Dravet Syndrome. An additional Phase 3 trial is on track to begin in 2015.

Orphan Drug Designation was granted by the FDA for treating Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome. Phase 3 trials are on track to begin in 2015.

The company is collaborating with New York State and Georgia for Epidiolex clinical trials for epilepsy.

Sativex®

Phase 3 cancer pain data is expected to be released at the end of 2014, which would lead to an FDA New Drug Application.

Cannabidivarin

A Phase 2 trial for epilepsy should begin at the end of 2014 or the beginning of 2015.

Competitiion

Competition for this company could be looked at several ways. It could be examined as a biotech company, such as Biogen (NASDAQ:BIIB) and Questcor (NASDAQ:QCOR).

Or it could be looked at as a medical marijuana company, of which there are dozens. However, most of the other companies in this field are microcap stocks and penny stocks. The nearest competitors, based on large market cap, are Solvay SA (OTC:SVYZY), at a $13 billion market cap, which produces Marinol, a form of the primary marijuana ingredient tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly known as THC, and Valeant Pharmaceuticals Intl.            (NYSE:VRX), at a $42 billion market cap, which  distributes nabilone/Cesamet, a form of synthetic THC. Yet, in both of these cases, the THC drug is only a small part of their business.

If you are looking for other competitors, you can find a list of over 100 marijuana stocks at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com, along with information on the Stockerblog.com Marijuana Stock Index.

Timeliness

In the recent November election, Alaska, Oregon, and the District of Columbia have legalized the recreational use of marijuana. However, what is more important, and not many realize, is that 23 states have already legalized the use of medical marijuana.

Summary

GW Pharmaceuticals is a worldwide leader in the development of plant derived cannabinoid therapeutics.

GW is one of the few medical marijuana stocks with a market cap of over a billion dollars.

The company has been in business for 15 years and has produced the first marijuana related prescription drug, Sativex.®

It recently raised $118 million in a secondary offering.

Revenues for the latest reported quarter were up 4.9%.

Conclusion

GW has had a heck of a run this year, doubling in share price, so an investor obviously has market risk, and considering the speculative nature of the stock, if the stock market tanks, this stock could suffer much more than the average stock.

As is typical for many biotech companies, GW is not generating earnings yet. On the plus side, the company is increasing quarterly revenues on a year over year basis and has several therapeutic products in the pipeline. In addition, it is flush with cash.

So for investors that are willing to take the risk, and want to participate in the medical marijuana industry, you can't find a more solid pure play than GW Pharmaceuticals.

Disclosure: Author did not have any positions in any of the above at the time the article was written and has no plans to do so in the next 72 hours. 

By Stockerblog.com

Stocks Going Ex Dividend the Fourth Week of November

  

Here is our latest update on the stock trading technique called 'Buying Dividends,' also commonly referred to as 'Dividend Capture.' This is the process of buying stocks before the ex dividend date and selling the stock shortly after the ex date at about the same price, yet still being entitled to the dividend. This technique generally works only in bull markets, and can work in flat or choppy markets, but you need to avoid the technique during bear markets.

In order to be entitled to the dividend, you have to buy the stock before the ex-dividend date, and you can't sell the stock until after the ex date. The actual dividend may not be paid for another few weeks. WallStreetNewsNetwork.com has compiled a downloadable and sortable list of the stocks going ex dividend in the near future. The list contains many dividend paying companies, lots with market caps over $500 million, and yields over 2%. Here are a few examples showing the stock symbol, the ex-dividend date, and the yield.

Dominion Resources

D

11/25/2014

3.4%

Evercore Partners	EVR	11/25/2014	2.3%
Lexmark International Inc.	LXK	11/25/2014	3.5%
NextEra Energy, Inc.	NEE	11/25/2014	3.0%
STAG Industrial	STAG	11/25/2014	5.3%
Student Transportation Inc	STB	11/25/2014	8.9%

F.N.B Corporation	FNB	11/26/2014	4.1%
Kellogg Co.	K	11/26/2014	3.2%

The additional ex-dividend stocks can be found at wsnn.com. (If you have been to the website before, and the latest link doesn't show up, you may have to empty your cache.) If you like dividend stocks, you should check out some of the other high yield stock lists at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com or WSNN.com. Most of the lists are free. Dividend definitions:
Declaration date: the day that the company declares that there is going to be an upcoming dividend.

Ex-dividend date: the day on which if you buy the stock, you would not be entitled to that particular dividend; or the first day on which a shareholder can sell the shares and still be entitled to the dividend.

Monthly Dividend Stock List
Record date: the day when you must be on the company's books as a shareholder to receive the dividend. The ex-dividend date is normally set for stocks at two business days before the record date.

Payment date: the day on which the dividend payment is actually made, which can be as long at two months after the ex date.

Book now available: Buying Dividends Revised and Expanded

Book now available: Stock Market Trivia
A Great Gift!

Don't forget to reconfirm the ex-dividend date with the company before implementing this technique.

Disclosure: Author did not own any of the above at the time the article was written.

By Stockerblog.com

Stocks Going Ex Dividend the Third Week of November

  

Here is our latest update on the stock trading technique called 'Buying Dividends,' also commonly referred to as 'Dividend Capture.' This is the process of buying stocks before the ex dividend date and selling the stock shortly after the ex date at about the same price, yet still being entitled to the dividend. This technique generally works only in bull markets, and can work in flat or choppy markets, but you need to avoid the technique during bear markets.

In order to be entitled to the dividend, you have to buy the stock before the ex-dividend date, and you can't sell the stock until after the ex date. The actual dividend may not be paid for another few weeks. WallStreetNewsNetwork.com has compiled a downloadable and sortable list of the stocks going ex dividend in the near future. The list contains many dividend paying companies, lots with market caps over $500 million, and yields over 2%. Here are a few examples showing the stock symbol, the ex-dividend date, and the yield.

Autoliv Inc.	ALV	11/17/2014	2.4%
Eastern Co.	EML	11/17/2014	2.8%
Target	TGT	11/17/2014	3.4%
Valero Energy	VLO	11/17/2014	2.3%

Cummins Inc.	CMI	11/18/2014	2.3%
Harris Corp	HRS	11/18/2014	2.6%
LTC Properties	LTC	11/18/2014	4.4%

The additional ex-dividend stocks can be found at wsnn.com. (If you have been to the website before, and the latest link doesn't show up, you may have to empty your cache.) If you like dividend stocks, you should check out some of the other high yield stock lists at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com or WSNN.com. Most of the lists are free. Dividend definitions:
Declaration date: the day that the company declares that there is going to be an upcoming dividend.

Ex-dividend date: the day on which if you buy the stock, you would not be entitled to that particular dividend; or the first day on which a shareholder can sell the shares and still be entitled to the dividend.

Monthly Dividend Stock List
Record date: the day when you must be on the company's books as a shareholder to receive the dividend. The ex-dividend date is normally set for stocks at two business days before the record date.

Payment date: the day on which the dividend payment is actually made, which can be as long at two months after the ex date.

Book now available: Buying Dividends Revised and Expanded

Book now available: Stock Market Trivia
A Great Gift!

Don't forget to reconfirm the ex-dividend date with the company before implementing this technique.

Disclosure: Author did not own any of the above at the time the article was written.

By Stockerblog.com

Books for the Holidays: Great Gift Ideas

If you have been watching TV, you have noticed that adds for Christmas shopping have already started. Now is the time to start your shopping, so you don;t have to wait for the last minute. How about a book on stocks and investing. The following is a group of top selling books about the stock market, Wall Street, and business.

Investment Scams

The Wolf of Wall Street

Catching the Wolf of Wall Street: More Incredible True Stories of Fortunes, Schemes, Parties, and Prison

The Wizard of Lies: Bernie Madoff and the Death of Trust

The End of Normal: A Wife's Anguish, A Widow's New Life

Chasing Madoff

Betrayal: The Life and Lies of Bernie Madoff


Books about Warren Buffett

Trade Like Warren Buffett 

How to Pick Stocks Like Warren Buffett: Profiting from the Bargain Hunting Strategies of the World's Greatest Value Investor

The Buffettology Workbook: Value Investing The Warren Buffett Way

J. K. Lasser's Pick Stocks Like Warren Buffett

The Warren Buffett Portfolio: Mastering the Power of the Focus Investment Strategy


Books by Ken Fisher

Markets Never Forget (But People Do): How Your Memory Is Costing You Money-and Why This Time Isn't Different

The Only Three Questions That Still Count: Investing By Knowing What Others Don't

The Ten Roads to Riches: The Way the Wealthy Got There (And How You Can Too!)


Books by James Altucher

Choose Yourself!

I Was Blind But Now I See: Time to Be Happy

 Trade Like Warren Buffett

Trade Like a Hedge Fund: 20 Successful Uncorrelated Strategies & Techniques to Winning Profits 


Books by Tim Ferriss

The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich (Expanded and Updated)

The 4-Hour Chef: The Simple Path to Cooking Like a Pro, Learning Anything, and Living the Good Life

The 4-Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat-Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman


Jim Cramer's Books

Jim Cramer's Getting Back to Even

Jim Cramer's Real Money: Sane Investing in an Insane World

Jim Cramer's Stay Mad for Life: Get Rich, Stay Rich (Make Your Kids Even Richer)

Jim Cramer's Mad Money: Watch TV, Get Rich

Confessions of a Street Addict

You Got Screwed! Why Wall Street Tanked and How You Can Prosper


Other Great Investment Books:


Code Red: How to Protect Your Savings From the Coming Crisis

The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book on Value Investing. A Book of Practical Counsel (Revised Edition)

Rich Dad Poor Dad: What The Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!

Stock Trader's Almanac 2014 (Almanac Investor Series)

One Up On Wall Street: How To Use What You Already Know To Make Money In The Market

Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder

Stock Market Trivia: Includes a Special Section on the Weird Words of Wall Street

Stock Market Trivia Volume 2: Who Says Wall Street is Boring?