Top Russian Stocks

Russia has a strong growing economy and as a BRIC country, is one of the four horsemen for worldwide investment opportunities, along with the 'B' in BRIC, Brazil, the 'I' in BRIC, India, and the 'C' in BRIC, China.

Some interesting facts about Russia:

1. Russia is the largest country in the world by area.
2. Russia is the ninth largest country by population.
3. Russia has the world's largest reserves of mineral resources.
4. It also has the world's largest reserves of energy resources.
5. It is the world's largest energy superpower.
6. It has the world's largest forest reserves.
7. It has about one-quarter of the world's fresh water.
8. It has a literacy rate of 99.4%.
9. More than 80% of Russian exports are from oil, natural gas, metals, and timber.
10. It has one of the lowest foreign debts among major economies.
11. It has the fourth largest amount of farmland in the world.
12. It has the world's largest natural gas reserves.
13. It has the second largest coal reserves in the world.
14. It has the the 8th largest oil reserves in the world.
15. It is the 5th largest renewable energy producer in the world.

The following are some of the companies that are based in Russia that trade in the United States, that were turned up by WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Mechel Open Joint Stock Company (MTL) is a mining and steel production company. The stock has a PE of 13, a forward PE of 5.8, and a PEG of 0.76.

Mobile Telesystems OJSC (MBT) is a provider of cellular telecommunications services in Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. The stock has a PE of 14, a forward PE of 9.7, and a PEG of 1.21 .

Vimpel-Communications (VIP) is a provider of wireless telecommunications services in Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Georgia, and Armenia. The stock has a forward PE of 7.9 , and a PEG of 0.27.

Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods OJSC (WBD) is a food, dairy, and beverage products company. The stock has a PE of 24, a forward PE of 12.9, and a PEG of 0.55. The stock even pays a yield of 1.0%.

You can find information on a dozen Russian stocks that trade in the US at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Author does not own any of the above. Picture is courtesy of the Kremlin Presidential Press and Information Office.


By Stockerblog.com

Highest Rated Stocks with the Highest Yields

If you look at some of the major firms that rate stocks, and you look to see what stocks meet their highest ratings, you can get a good idea of what the major consensus is for which stocks are considered quality investments. If several of them agree on what stocks are the best, then maybe those are worth a closer look.

Standard & Poor's highest rating is five stars. S&P is a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (MHP). The highest ratings for First Call Consensus are Buy and Strong Buy, the same with Jaywalk Consensus. The highest for Market Edge is Long, and for Jim Cramer 's TheStreet.com (TSCM), the top rating is Buy. The highest rating for ResearchTeam is Accumulate. Many of these stocks pay decent yields. Here are some stocks which got the highest ratings from these rating agencies according to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) forward PE: 13.6 yield: 2.5%

Eaton Corporation (ETN) forward PE: 12.7 yield: 3.0%

Sonoco Products Company (SON) forward PE: 12.9 yield: 3.3%

To see the rest of the high rated stocks, go to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Author doesn't own any of the above.

By Stockerblog.com

Lack of Food Can Cause Bigger Stock Market Trading Risks

According to a recent behavioral finance study, stock market traders who are hungry take substantially greater trading risks. The individuals in the study ended up taking the least amount of risk after a big meal.

Stocks Going Ex Dividend the First Week of August

Here is our latest update on the stock trading technique called 'Buying Dividends'. 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. In flat or choppy markets, your have to be extremely careful.

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 Excel list of the stocks going ex dividend during the next week or two. The list contains many dividend paying companies, all with market caps over $500 million, and yields over 3%. Here are a few examples showing the stock symbol, the ex-dividend date and the yield.

Hudson City Bancorp, Inc. (HCBK) market cap: $6.6B ex div date: 8/3/2010 yield: 4.9%

Global Partners LP (GLP) market cap: $432.5M ex div date: 8/2/2010 yield: 7.8%

R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company (RRD) market cap: $3.5B ex div date: 8/3/2010 yield: 6.1%

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 the high yield utility stocks and the Monthly Dividend Stocks at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com or WSNN.com.

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.

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 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.

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

Author does not own any of the above.

By Stockerblog.com

Top Brazil Stocks

Of the four BRIC countries, Brazil seems to be the country that is in the strongest shape and has the greatest potential, over Russia, India, and China. Here are some facts about Brazil:

1. Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world by both population and area

2. It has the ninth highest gross domestic product on a purchasing power parity basis, according to the International Monetary Fund.

3. It has the world's eighth largest economy at market exchange rates.

4. It is the largest economy in Latin America.

5. It is the largest producer of ethanol in the world, which comes from sugarcane.

6. The country's major exports include aircraft, automobiles, ethanol, electrical equipment, textiles, footwear, iron ore, steel, coffee, orange juice, soybeans and corned beef.

7. It is the world's tenth largest energy consumer.

8. Brazil is a major producer of energy from renewable sources, primarily hydroelectricity and ethanol.

So what Brazilian stocks should you invest in? One resource is the book I wrote Investing in Brazil Stocks: Get Rich from the South American Giant. Another way is to check out the list of Brazil stocks at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com. Here are some from the list.

If you are looking for a petrochemical company, there is Braskem S.A. (BAK), the largest thermoplastics producer in Brazil. The stock has a PE of 9 and a forward PE of 19.

With growth in the rebuilding of infrastructure, the demand for steel should increase, and should benefit Companhia Siderurgica Nacional (SID), the second largest Brazilian steel manufacturer. The stock has a PE of 16, a forward PE of 8, and a yield, based on historical payments, of 7%.

VAle (VALE) is the second largest mining company in the world and the largest logistics operator in Brazil. The stock has a PE of 26, a forward PE of 7, and a yield of 1.6%.

Banco Itau Holding Financeira S.A. (ITUB) is the second largest bank in Brazil, and also owns the investment company, Investimentos Itau. The stock has a PE of 16, and a forward PE of 12. It pays a small yield of 0.4%.

If you like beer, you'll love Companhia de Bebidas Das Americas (ABV) also known as AMBEV, which distributes beer, soft drinks sport drinks, and bottled water. The stock has a forward PE of 17.

CPFL Energia S.A. (CPL) is one of the largest electrical utilities in Brazil with a PE of 14, and a forward PE of 12. The yield is 6.7% based on historical dividend payments.

To see a list of all Brazilian stocks that trade in the US, check outWallStreetNewsNetwork.com or the book Investing in Brazil Stocks.

Author does not own any of the above. However, he wrote the above book.

By Stockerblog.com

Protect Your Portfolio with Bearish ETFs

Some investors have made some profits, want to hold on to their shares, but don't want to lose their gains if the market tanks. There are several ways of protecting a portfolio, including buying puts, shorting similar stocks, or just selling the stocks outright. However, there is an alternative, the bearish ETFs, also known as short ETFs.

An ETF or Exchange Traded Fund is structured to track various stock indices or the inverse of various stock indices. Most are traded on the American Stock Exchange. To get more bang for your buck, there are over 40 bearish ETFs that are leveraged, according to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com. These leveraged bearish ETFs cover numerous sectors, industries and sub-industries.

For example, if you own a lot of telecom stocks, you could by UltraShort Telecommunications ProShares (TLL) which was up 15.19% for the last three months. The ETF attempts to match twice the inverse of the daily performance of the Dow Jones U.S. Select Telecommunications index.

If you own a lot of mid-cap stocks, you could consider buying the Rydex Inverse 2x S&P MidCap 400 (RMS) which has a goal of matching the inverse daily performance of the Mid Cap 400 Index. The ETF is down 15% for the last three months.

For downside protection of a general portfolio, you could take a look at the UltraShort S&P500 ProShares (SDS) ETF which was down 13.22% for the latest three months. It tries to achieve twice the inverse of the daily performance of the S&P 500 index.

For a list of over 40 leveraged bearish ETFs, go to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com. Jut be careful about investing in these, as they may not always perform the way they are supposed to. They are primarily designed for short term index tracking as opposed to long term tracking.

Author does not own any of the above.

By Stockerblog.com

Brazil Coffee at a 5 Year High: Time to Look at Coffee Stocks

Today, September 2010 coffee futures were up over 2% for the day. Brazil Arabica coffee is trading around a five year high. So will this high price adversely affect coffee companies? Will the coffee retailers be able to pass through higher prices to their customers? Here are some coffee companies worth investigating.

Caribou Coffee Company, Inc. (CBOU) is a Minnesota company operates gourmet coffeehouses throughout the United States. The stock has a PE of 36 and a forward PE of 18.4.

Growers Direct Coffee Company, Inc (GWDC.OB) sells coffee grown in Papua New Guinea, Jamaica, and Ethiopia. This is an extremely low cap stock.

Coffee Holding Co.Inc. (JVA) is a New York based wholesale coffee roaster and dealer. It has a P/E of 6.7 and pays a yield of 2.5%.

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. (GMCR) is one of the "bigger' coffee companies, having a market cap of over $3.8 billion. This Vermont company roasts, distributes, and sells coffee products in the Northeast. Their current P/E is 57, their forward PE is 28.8.

Peet's Coffee & Tea Inc. (PEET) is an Emeryville, California based company which roasts, retails, and markets roasted whole bean coffee throughout the United States. They have a forward P/E of 28, and a forward PE of 25.7.

Starbucks Corp. (SBUX) is a Seattle, Washington company which roasts and markets whole bean coffees through over 13,000 stores throughout the world. This is the third reporter of earnings tomorrow. Their P/E is 23 with a forward P/E of 17.5.

To see lists of stocks of other industries, check out the lists at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Author does not own any of the above.

By Stockerblog.com

If You Only Read One Economics Books this Summer, Read this Book

The book, Predictably Irrational, Revised and Expanded Edition: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions by Dan Ariely, is one of the most fascinating, interesting, and informative books on economics. He is able to blend economics and psychology into a great read.

If you think you know about economics already, you may be right to a certain extent. For example, basic supply and demand works at all prices down to a penny, but once you drop from a penny to free (or what he call in the book FREE!), then economics is turned upside down. For example, did you know that attorneys would rather work for free than be paid $30 an hour?

He explains how relativity and comparisons affect our financial decisions (and personal decisions such as dating). He also talks about how compensation of gifts versus cash bonuses can make a big difference, and how it can affect employee morale. In addition, he also covers how ownership can affect the perceived value of the asset, and how it can vary widely from the perceived value of the non-owner. Did you know that the more expensive a medicine is, the more likely you will receive a positive benefit, even if it is the same medicine?

The nice feature about this book is that all the lessons he offers in the book are backed up by scientific experiments, that he has performed! He goes into detail about the experiments, without making it boring. Ariely talks about how the control groups and the experimental groups are set up, and even gives examples of a couple of the human guinea pigs for each of the experiments and what they experienced, and why they experienced it.

After the experiments are over, he thinks about the 'what-if's', and then performs follow-on experiments, and he tells you about the follow-on studies.

For an economics / psychology book, it is amazing how it holds your attention. I like the fact that he doesn't just tell you what he thinks; everything is back up with experimentation. I highly recommend that you read Predictably Irrational, Revised and Expanded Edition.

Great Opportunities with Pink Sheet Stocks

Some investors believe that pink sheet stocks are just penny stocks and scams. Not true! Pink Sheet stocks shouldn't be dismissed out of hand as sometimes that is the only way to invest in many top quality foreign stocks. As a matter of fact, dozens of European companies have opted out of trading on the New York Stock Exchange and have decided to have their ADR's traded on over-the-counter, such a Bayer (BAYRY.PK), the company that makes the famous aspirin brand along with many other medical products.

Bayer formerly traded on the NYSE but decided it wasn't worth the hassle or expense, so they now trade on the Pink Sheets. The stock has a PE of 23.62, a forward PE of 10.41, and a price earnings growth ratio of 1.85.

Volkswagen AG (VLKAY.PK) is the German car manufacturer which has the Volkswagen, Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, Skoda and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brands. The stock has a P/E ratio of 25.89, a forward PE of 10.11, and a PEG of 0.85.

Roche Holding Ltd. (RHHBY.PK), the Swiss pharmaceutical company, has a PE of 16.05, a forward PE of 9.89, and a PEG of 1.14.

Please note, the stock symbols for these stocks use the .PK extension for certain sites such as Yahoo Finance. You can get an Excel list of the top Pink Sheet stocks, which you can download and sort, at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Author does not own any of the above.

By Stockerblog.com

Top Yielding Stocks Under $5 a share

Many investors think that the perfect stock is one that sells for a low price and pays a high yield. It may be hard to believe but there are actually several stocks, including closed end funds, that sell for less than $5 a share and pay a dividend, with a dozen paying yields greater than 1.25%.

WallStreetNewsNetwork.com just posted a list of high yield stocks selling for around $5 or less, with yields ranging from 0.4% to 11.5%. Just remember that the yields are based on historical payments, and the dividends can be adjusted, reduced, or terminated at any time.

21st Century Holding Co. (TCHC) is an insurance underwriting and claims processing company which yields 6.3%. The stock recently traded at 3.79.

Qwest Communications International Inc. (Q), a telecom company, yields 5.7%. The stock trades at less than $6 per share.

Electro-Sensors Inc. (ELSE), which makes and sells industrial production monitoring and process control systems, has a yield of 3.5% with a trading price of 4.25.

For the full list of high yield stocks trading for less than $5, which can be downloaded and sorted, go to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Author does not own any of the above.

By Fred Fuld at Stockerblog.com

Highest Yielding Real Estate Investment Trusts

One of the best ways of speculating on real estate is through the use of Real Estate Investment Trusts, more commonly known as REITs. These investments pass through almost all their income to avoid double taxation, which is what most regular corporations are subject to. The REITs have several advantages over owning real estate directly.

First, REITs are very liquid, unlike owning property directly. If you need to get your money out, you can sell it and get your money in a couple days. Second, you can receive an income through dividends. Third, dividends can be received quarterly or even monthly for some REITs, just like rental income checks. Fourth, you don't have to worry about making sure the insurance, property tax, and other expenses are paid. Fifth, you won't get a call at two o'clock in the morning about a leaking toilet. And last but not least, you don't have to deal with evictions.

Although there are hundreds of REITs to choose from, you need to be cautious about which one you choose, especially the debt level. In terms of specialties, you can choose REITs that invest in apartment, commercial, industrial, government building, medical buildings, mortgages, and many other sub-categories.

WallStreetNewsNetwork.com has just come up with a list of over a dozen of the highest yielding Real Estate Investment Trusts. Yields range from 3.2% to over 20%, but I would recommend avoiding any REITS yielding above 7% as I don't believe those high yields are sustainable.

One example, is National Health Investors Inc. (NHI) which pays a decent yield of 6% and has a price to earnings ratio of 16.4%. The REIT invests in health care properties, mainly those involved in the long-term care industry. The company has been paid quarterly dividends since 1992.

Another high yield REIT is LTC Properties, Inc. (LTC) which sports a yield of 6.5% and sports a PE of 20.9 This is another long-term care real estate investment trust. This is a REIT that pays monthly dividends, and the dividend track record dates back to 1992 also.

Public Storage (PSA) offers a yield of 3.3%, and has a PE ratio of 32.8. This REIT has a different approach to the REITs described above, as it owns and operates self-storage facilities in the United States and Europe. The company has a long track record, with monthly dividends paid since 1988.

To see the entire list of high yield REITs, go to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Author does not own any of the above.

By Stockerblog.com

Top Yielding Canada Stocks

Canada didn't suffer as much as the United States did during the housing crisis. It also wasn't affected as much as the States during the financial crisis. As a matter of fact, the return on the S&P 500 over the last five years is negative, whereas the iShares MSCI Canada Index (EWC) is up about 40%.

For income investors, high income Canada stocks are a good way to diversify out of US dividend stocks. Just remember that income on Canada stocks is subject to Canadian withholding tax. WallStreetNewsNetwork.com has just published a list of top yielding Canadian stocks, 15 of which yield more than 2.5%. Here are some examples:

TransCanada Corp. (TRP) is a Calgary based oil and gas pipeline company which yields 4.4%.

Royal Bank of Canada (RY) is one of Canada's major banks. This Toronto, Ontario based company yields 3.8%.

Rogers Communications Inc. (RCI), a Toronto based communications and media company, yields 3.5%.

To see a list of over 15 high yield Canada stocks, which can be downloaded, sorted, changed, and added to, go to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Author does not own any of the above.

By Stockerblog.com

Top Nanotechnology Stocks

Nano means extremely small, and mathematically means one billionth. Nanotechnology is the science of manufacturing and utilizing extremely small particles and devices, sometimes as small as single atoms and molecules. A nanometer is one-billionth of a meter, which is approximately 80,000 times thinner than a human hair. Nanomaterials include carbon nanotubes used in electronics, body armor and cancer treatments, nanoclays which are used in composite materials, and nanoscale metals, alloys, and oxides, used in the energy and renewable energy industries.

WallStreetNewsNetwork.com just came up with over 40 different companies that are involved in the nanotechnology field. They range from the microcaps (or should I say nanocaps?) to the major multi-billion dollar corporations. For some of these companies, nanotech may be only a small part of the business. Here are a few examples of companies involved in this fast growing field.

Amkor Technology Inc. (AMKR) is in the business of microelectromechanical systems, microelectronic assembly and testing. The stock has a reasonable PE ratio of 6.8 and a very favorable PEG of 0.53.

ABB (ABB) has a nanotechnology research division relating to surface structures and material parameters. The stock has a PE of 16.9 and unfortunately a very high PEG of 13.9. However, the company does pay a yield of 2.4%.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM) manufactures microprocessors and microcontrollers. The stock has a PE of 14.3 and a decent PEG of 0.84.

Eaton Corp. (ETN) makes micro and nano connectors. The stock has a PE of 16.7 and a PEG of 1.47, with a yield of 2.7%.

Cabot Microelectronics Corp. (CCMP) develops proprietary Advanced Nanoscale Surface Technology is designed to deliver Angstrom level finishes. The stock has a PE of 17.2 and a PEG of 1.35.

An Excel list of over 40 nanotechnology stocks along with a description of their connections to nanotechnology, which can be downloaded, sorted, changed, and added to can be found at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Author does not own any of the above.

By Stockerblog.com

Top Stem Cell Stocks

In March of last year, President Barack Obama signed an executive order to eliminate a ban on federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research. This policy change should cause a substantial increase in research into stem cell therapy. Research has been continuing to utilize stem cells for gene therapy and the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, heart disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, and many other medical conditions.

Stem cells can come from various sources including embryos, cord blood, which is the blood from umbilical cords, and even in baby teeth. WallStreetNewsNetwork.com just came up with a downloadable list of over ten stem cell stocks. Maybe one of these will provide a cure for your portfolio.

Alexion Pharmaceuticals (ALXN) is a Connecticut based company with a $4.7 billion market cap that is involved in the development of biologic therapeutic products for the treatment of hematologic and cardiovascular disorders, auto-immune diseases, and cancer. The stock has a PE of 15.9 and a forward PE of 21.6.

Cellgene (CELG) is a $24.3 billion market cap company involved in the discovery and production, of therapies designed to treat cancer and immune-inflammatory-related diseases. One of their main products is Thalomid, which is used for the treatment of erythema nodosum leprosum, a complication of leprosy. They also received patent on placental stem cell recovery. The stock sports a PE of 29 and a forward PE of 16.5.

Integra Lifesciences Holdings (IART) is a New Jersey based $1 billion market cap company that develops, manufactures, and sells medical devices, implants, biomaterials, and instruments to the stem cell, surgery, and soft tissue repair markets. Their P/E is 17.8, and the forward PE is 11.5.

For an Excel database of over ten stem cell stocks which you can download, sort, and change, go to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Author does not own any of the above.

By Stockerblog.com

Will Lithium Be Worth More than Gold?

Lithium, the world's lightest metal, is one of the hottest metals in the investment field, primarily due to its connection to the lithium ion batteries. About 20% of the lithium production is used for batteries, another 20% or so for producing glass and ceramics, 17% for lubrications and greases, about 9% for pharmaceuticals, and the rest for air conditioning, aluminum production, construction, pool chemicals, and alloys.

Here are some interesting facts about lithium:

1. Lithium is used in used in more than 60% of mobile phones.

2. In the 1800's, lithium salts were used to treat gout.

3. Lithium is the leading treatment for treatment of bipolar disorder due to the counteraction of both depression and mania.

4. Communities whose water contained larger amounts of lithium had significantly lower suicide rates.

5. Metallic lithium and lithium hydrides are used as high energy additives to rocket propellants.

6. Major producers of lithium include Chile, Argentina, China, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Zimbabwe and the USA.

7. Lithium deuteride was the preferred fuel in early versions of the hydrogen bomb.

8. Lithium is used in red fireworks.

10. It was used in high temperature grease for aircraft engines in World War II.

WallStreetNewsNetwork.com has come up with a list of over 20 stocks involved in the lithium industry, from the mining companies to the producers of lithium ion batteries. The stocks range from microcaps to large corporations that pay dividends.

For example Sociedad Quimica y Minera (SQM), also known as Chemical & Mining Co. of Chile Inc., is the largest lithium producer in the world. This New York Stock Exchange traded company, which has a market cap of almost $10 billion, has a forward PE of 23.6 and a yield of 1.0%.

FMC Corp. (FMC) has a division based in Argentina called FMC Lithium, which owns the Salar de Hombre Muerto mine, containing 850,000 tons of reserves at up to 70 meters of depth. FMC has a forward PE of 11.5, and pays a small yield of 0.8%.

Advanced Battery Technologies, Inc. (ABAT) is one of the few battery manufacturers generating a profit. The company, which makes rechargeable polymer lithium-ion batteries, has a PE of 9.0.

Another alternative is to invest in the new Exchange Traded Fund called Global X Lithium ETF (LIT), which is designed to track the Solactive Global Lithium Index. This ETF just started trading a few days ago.

To see a list of over 20 lithium companies which can be downloaded, sorted, changed, and added to, go to WSNN.com.

Author does not own any of the above.

By Stockerblog.com

Stocks Under $3? On the New York Stock Exchange?

Surprisingly, there are about 45 stocks trading on the New York Stock Exchange which trade for less than $3 a share. Of course, some of these are on the verge of delisting, many are on the verge of bankruptcy, but you may find a few gems on the list of NYSE stocks under $3, just published by WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

As an example, with the recent oil spill, WSP Holdings Ltd. (WH) might be worth taking a look at. The company makes casing, tubing, and drill pipes for oil and natural gas exploration, drilling, and extraction along with pipelines. This China based company has a forward PE of 12.4, and trades for around 1.36 per share.

Phoenix Companies Inc. (PNX) is a provider of life insurance and annuities. The stock trades for around 2.11 per share. It sports a very favorable forward PE of 4.0 and an extremely favorable PEG ratio of 0.30.

If you are expecting a real estate turn-around in Calfornia, check out MPG Office Trust, Inc. (MPG), a real estate investment trust specializing in office buildings. The stock is currently at 2.90 per share, carries a forward PE of 10.7, and a PEG of 0.83.

To see the entire list of NYSE stocks under $3 per share, go to WallStreetNewNetwork.com.

Author does not own any of the above.

By Stockerblog.com

Guest Article: A Battle Royal in the S&P 500

A battle royal in the S&P 500

The battle between the bulls and the bears continues in the
S&P 500 with neither side able to gain the upper hand. This
choppy trading action will eventually lead to a large move
one way or the other. The bulls are betting that we are
headed higher and the bears are betting that the economy is
going to tank.

In my latest video, I share with you some of the key technical
points that are still in play and where the market needs to go
in order to break out of the current logjam that it's in.

As always our videos are free to watch and there is no need
for registration.

Please let us know your thoughts.

http://www.ino.com/info/591/CD3111/&dp=0&l=0&campaignid=3

All the best,
Adam Hewison
President of INO.com
Co-founder of MarketClub

Warren Buffett Books

Warren Buffett is a billionaire (one of the three wealthiest men in the world), a top investor and trader, and author. If you are looking for more books to read this summer, here are some great selections to choose from, some written by him and some about him. Happy reading!

by Buffett

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

The Essays of Warren Buffett : Lessons for Corporate America Warren E. Buffett (Author)

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)

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

By Stockerblog.com

Are High Yield Telecom Stocks Calling?

You own electric utilities, you own natural gas utilities, you own water utilities, but you still want more diversification for your income portfolio. How about telecommunication stocks, which could be considered semi-utilities?

There are some disadvantages; land lines are decreasing, cell phone usage is increasing, and more and more households are now using cell phones as their primary if not their only phone. The phone companies aren't standing still; they are pushing plenty of other services besides the usual telecommunications. Plus, the negative news has already been built into the price of many of these stocks, and then some.

This drop in stock prices has caused the yields to go up, creating some interesting income opportunities. WallStreetNewsNetwork.com has turned up about a dozen of these stocks yielding around 4% or more. As a matter of fact, six of the stocks yield more than 7%.

As an example, Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. (ALSK) is a provider of both wireless and landlines in the state of Alaska. The company has a market cap of $397 million, has a price to earnings ratio of 11.9 and pays a yield of 9.8%. The operating cash flow of $85.6 million significantly covers the dividend payout of $38.3 million.

Another high paying telecom stock is CenturyLink, Inc. (CTL), with a 8.3% payout. This Louisiana based company pays $833 million in dividends, easily covered by the $1.81 billion in operating cash flow. The market cap is $10.7 billion, with a PE ratio of 10.7.

To see the rest of the high paying telecommunications companies, check out the free Excel database of high yield telecom stocks, at wsnn.com.

Author does not own any of the above.

By Stockerblog.com

Top Yielding Water Utilities

I really like water utilities. I've always made money on my water utility investments. Water stocks provide good income diversification along with a portfolio of electric utilities and natural gas utilities. Water utilities provide good yields ranging from 2% to 5%. There are about a dozen water utility stocks with dividends that were turned up by WallStreetNewsNetwork.com on their water stock list that was just updated. Here are a few examples.

American Water Works Co., Inc. (AWK) PE: 16.5 forward PE: 13.2 PEG: 1.4 yield 4.2%

SJW Corp. (SJW) PE: 26.6 forward PE: 18.4 PEG: 2.1 yield 3.0%

Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. (CWCO) PE: 24.8 forward PE: 13.9 PEG: 0.7 yield 2.6%

To see a list of the rest of the top yielding water stocks, including four that yield more than 4%, which you can download, add to, change, and sort, check out WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Author does not own any of the above.

By Stockerblog.com

Statue of Liberty Evacuated

The Statue of Liberty was evacuated due to smoke, according to CBS. Possibly due to an elevator overheating.

Highest Yielding Natural Gas Stocks: They're a Gas, Gas, Gas!

Income investors like natural gas stocks for several reasons. First, they pay a decent dividend with over 15 paying more than 4%. Second, they provide diversification from electric utilities. The average price to earnings ratio for all these stocks is less than 15. And in terms of gas stocks, in addition to natural gas companies, investors can also choose propane distributors.

There are plenty of natural gas and propane gas utilities available to invest in. WallStreetNewsNetwork.com has just updated their list of about 25 gas utilities with yields ranging from 2% to above 8%. Here are some examples.

Amerigas Partners (APU) PE: 12.35 forward PE: 13.6 PEG: 2.5 yield: 6.9%

Spectra Energy (SE) PE: 14.53 forward PE: 11.8 PEG: 1.3 yield: 5.0%

Transcanada Corp (TRP) PE: 18.42 forward PE: 14.4 PEG: 3.4 yield: 4.6%

Northwest Nat Gas (NWN) PE: 16.24 forward PE: 15.4 PEG: 3.4 yield: 3.8%

You might also consider investing in electric utilities, which also pay fairly high yields, many in excess of 5%.

To see a list of 25 gas utilities in the form of a free downloadable Excel database of natural gas and propane stocks, eight of which yield more than 5%, go to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Author does not own any of the above.

By Stockerblog.com

Stocks Going Ex Dividend the Fifth Week of July

Here is our latest update on the stock trading technique called 'Buying Dividends'. 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. In flat or choppy markets, your have to be extremely careful.

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 Excel list of the stocks going ex dividend during the next week or two. The list contains many dividend paying companies, all with market caps over $500 million, and yields over 3%. Here are a few examples showing the stock symbol, the ex-dividend date and the yield.

Northwest Natural Gas (NWN) market cap: $1.2B ex div date: 7/28/2010 yield: 3.7%

Tanger Factory Outlet Centers Inc. (SKT) market cap: $1.8B ex div date: 7/28/2010 yield: 3.6%

Duncan Energy Partners L.P. (DEP) market cap: $1.7B ex div date: 7/28/2010 yield: 6.3%

ConocoPhillips (COP) market cap: $80.7B ex div date: 7/29/2010 yield: 4.2%

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 the high yield utility stocks and the Monthly Dividend Stocks at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com or WSNN.com.

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.

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 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.

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

Author does not own any of the above.

By Stockerblog.com

Shortest Games of: Baseball, Chess, Golf, etc.

BookofOdds has come out with an article called the Shortest Possible Games of Baseball, Golf, Tennis, Monopoly, etc. For baseball, the shortest possible game is 28 pitches, however, the shortest actual game was in 1944 between the Boston Braves and the Cincinnati Reds, at a total of 58 pitches.

As for chess, the shortest possible game is two moves for each player, but the loser has to 'play along'. For golf, the shortest theoretical is obviously 18 strokes; however, in actuality, the shortest would be 32 strokes.

The article also covers tennis, Trivial Pursuit, Rubik's Cube, darts, and more.

Monopoly is a registered trademark.

Book Review: One-Night Stands with American History

I just finished reading One-Night Stands with American History (Revised and Updated Edition): Odd, Amusing, and Little-Known Incidents by Richard Shenkman and Kurt Reiger, and it was very easy light reading.

If you are looking for a book that you can open at any page and start reading, then put down and start again later at any other page, this book is well worth taking a look at. It describes all the weird stuff that has taken place in American History, including a lot of financial history.

For example, did you know that H.L. Hunt, father of the Hunt brothers, was able to acquire his first oil well by winning it in a card game of five-card stud? Did you know that in the 1950's, General Motors hired seven psychologists to analyze the sound of the car doors slamming on their Chevys? Did you know that a Mickey Mouse cartoon was banned in 1932? Did you know that in 1929, only 2.3% of Americans had incomes over $10,000 per year? Did you know that during the 1920's, cigarettes were advertised as being good for your health? Did you know that Hollywood became the movie capital, not because of the great weather but because of its proximity to Mexico?

Of course, the book has a lot of other interesting history especially political history, including the man who was president of the US for one day, the Vice President of the US who was a Native American Indian, etc.

So for a nice summer read, get One-Night Stands with American History.

Time to Look at Your New Years Resolutions

New Years Resolutions in summer? What better time to look at your resolutions than half way through the year. Have you followed through with any of yours? For me, I haven't done much in the way of my exercise resolution. I guess I better get on it, since I have less than six months left.

At the beginning of January, I did an article on New Years Resolutions stocks, which included weight loss companies, exercise clothing companies, and get-a-job companies. WallStreetNewsNetwork.com has just updated the list of top New Years resolution companies, some of which may make your portfolio healthier. Here is a quick review.

Weight Watcher's International Inc. (WTW) is trading at loss than the price it was at for the beginning of the year, primarily due to the big dump in the stock price in late February. It was founded in 1963, and is one of the oldest weight loss companies. The stock has a forward PE of 10.4, and pays a fairly generous yield, at least compared to other New Years stocks, of 2.6%.

However, Herbalife Ltd. (HLF) has done quite well, rising from 40.95 at the beginning of January to over 48 today, and increase of about 20%. The company, which also provides nutritional supplement and personal care products, has a forward PE of 11.2, with a yield of 1.6%.

Lululemon Athletica Inc. (LULU) is another resolution stock that has performed fairly well, going from 30.91 to almost 38 today. It is a Vancouver, Canada based company that produces and markets fitness related apparel for yoga, running, dancing, and other exercise related activities. The stock has a forward PE of 26.5.

To see the entire list of New Years Resolution stocks, which can be downloaded, changed, and added to, go to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Author does not own any of the above.

By Stockerblog.com

High Yield Electric Utilities

We are having a long hot summer and people are running their air conditioners like crazy, using a lot of electricity. So what's the best way to make money off these hot customers? The best way is through electric utility stocks, and according to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com, there are more than 25 with yields above 5% this month. In addition, these companies can provide relative safety, security, and stability. In the past, utilities have paid favorable dividends for many years with low volatility.

Here are some examples of utility stocks with CD beating yields.

FirstEnergy Corp. (FE) has a very reasonable trailing PE ratio of 10.3, and forward PE of 9.0. However, the price earnings growth ratio is way high at 4.82. But the yield of 6.4% sort of makes up for it.

Duke Energy Corporation (DUK) yields 6.1%, has a trailing PE of 17.9, and forward PE of 12.2. The price earnings growth ratio is 2.81.

Westar Energy, Inc. (WR) also pays a decent yield of 5.8%. It has a trailing PE of 14.9, and forward PE of 12.2. The price earnings growth ratio is a favorable 1.36.

For more top yielding stocks, you can access a free downloadable Excel database of high yield electric utility stocks, which you can add to, change, and sort, at WSNN.com.

Author does not own any of the above.

By Stockerblog.com

More Summer Reading: Top Selling Investment and Trading Books

More Money Than God: Hedge Funds and the Making of a New Elite


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

Liar's Poker


The following book is one that I am looking forward to reading, not just because it has an interesting name but also because the author's pseudonym is even more interesting.
Diary of a Very Bad Year: Confessions of an Anonymous Hedge Fund Manager by Anonymous Hedge Fund Manager


The Millionaire Next Door


Jim Cramer's Getting Back to Even


The Neatest Little Guide to Stock Market Investing, 2010 Edition

Top Yielding Shipping Stocks

Income investors looking for some diversification from electric and gas utility stocks, should climb aboard some shipping stocks. There are two types of shippers, the liquid shippers which transport crude oil, petroleum products, and liquefied natural gas, and the dry bulk shippers, which transport iron ore, coal, grain, minerals, fertilizers, and other non-liquid items.

The shipping stocks generate some fairly high dividends with nineteen yielding over 4%, according to a list that was just developed by WallStreetNewsNetwork.com. For example, Nordic American Tanker Shipping Ltd (NAT) is a liquid shipper that yields 8.8%. International Shipholding Corp. (ISH) is a dry bulk shipper with a 7.1% yield. Another high yield dry bulk shipper is Navios Maritime Holdings Inc. (NM) paying 5.3%.

For a free Excel database of over 20 high dividend shipping stocks, go to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com. A few of these stocks yield more than 10%, but I think those yields are probably unsustainable.

Author does not own any of the above.

By Stockerblog.com

Top Infrastructure Stocks

After taking a driving trip from California to Yellowstone, I can assure you that money is being spent on Federal highways and bridges. I've never seen so many road closures in my life, in every state I went through. Many companies are reaping the benefit of this work. There are several ways of playing this sector, and after reviewing the list of infrastructure stocks that WallStreetNewsNetwork.com came out with, you will notice that there are the suppliers, the contractors, and the consultants. Many of these companies are involved in a variety of of industries, such as energy.

URS Corporation (URS) provides consulting, engineering, and construction services for surface, air, and rail transportation networks, ports and harbors, and water supply and water treatment systems. The stock has a very reasonable PE of 10.9, a forward PE of 10.3, with a great price earnings growth ratio, also known as a PEG ratio, of 1.04.

To see other top infrastructure stocks, go to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Author does not own any of the above.

By Stockerblog.com

Top Yielding US Master Limited Partnerships

Some investors just can't take it any more with the choppy market. They just want to take their money and put it in high income producing investments, such as Master Limited Partnerships. These investments provide high yields which may be partly or completely tax sheltered. They distribute substantially all of their income, thereby avoiding double taxation. Most of these partnerships are invested in oil and gas. WallStreetNewsNetwork.com just came out with a list of high yield US Master Limited Partnerships. Here are a few examples.

Suburban Propane Partners LP (SPH) PE: 14.2 Yield: 7.1%

Terra Nitrogen Company, L.P. (TNH) PE: 12.0 Yield: 7.1%

ONEOK Partners, L.P. (OKS) PE: 19.7 Yield: 7%

These partnerships are better off being owned in your personal account, as opposed to your IRA. Talk to your accountant before investing in these with your retirement plan funds, due to UBTI consequences.

For a free down-loadable list of over 15 of these high yield partnerships, go to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Author does not own any of the above.

By Stockerblog.com

Stocks Going Ex Dividend the Fourth Week of July

Here is our latest update on the stock trading technique called 'Buying Dividends'. 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. In flat or choppy markets, your have to be extremely careful.

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 Excel list of the stocks going ex dividend during the next week or two. The list contains many dividend paying companies, all with market caps over $500 million, and yields over 3%. Here are a few examples showing the stock symbol, the ex-dividend date and the yield.

LTC Properties, Inc. (LTC) market cap: $585.1M ex div date: 7/20/2010 yield: 6.4%

The Procter & Gamble Company (PG) market cap: $180.7B ex div date: 7/21/2010 yield: 3.1%

Royal Bank of Canada (RY) market cap: $75.2B ex div date: 7/22/2010 yield: 3.7%

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 the high yield utility stocks and the Monthly Dividend Stocks at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com or WSNN.com.

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.

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 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.

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

Author does not own any of the above.

By Stockerblog.com

Where has the Stockerblogger Been for the Last Week?

Yellowstone

Top Yielding Stocks Under $10

I like low priced stocks, you like low priced stocks, everyone likes low priced stocks. And if you get a dividend in addition, it makes the stock even better. WallStreetNewsNetwork.com just came out with its list of top yielding stocks under $10 a share. Many of the companies listed are closed end funds. However, there are several regular companies.

An example is Alaska Communications (ALSK) which sells for less than $9 per share, has a PE of 11.6, and pays a yield of 9.6%.

Another example is Hercules Technology (HTGC) which sell for less than 9.50 per share, has a fairly high PE ratio of 23.2, but a forward PE of 7.4, and pays a yield of 8.5%.

Provident Energy (PVX) sells for less than 7 per share and yields 9.6%.

For a list of stocks that pay a yield and sell for less than $10 per share, go to wsnn.com. Just remember, very high yields may not be sustainable.

Author does not own any of the above.

By Stockerblog.com

Top Yielding Big Pharmaceutical Stocks

There will always be a demand for medicine. And the companies that will benefit are the big pharma stocks. Plenty of these stocks pay high dividends according to a new list at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com. Here are a few examples:

Bristol Myers Squibb Co. (BMY) 5.0%

Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) 4.2%

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) 3.6%

For the entire list of high yield drug stocks go to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Author does not own any of the above.

By Stockerblog.com

Top Ethanol Stocks

The Neolithic people used ethanol as a beverage 9,000 years ago, according to some researchers. Ethanol was first used as fuel in 1840 as lamp fuel. With the price of oil bouncing way above $70 a barrel, fuel alternatives such as ethanol are receiving closer examination. For a list of all the stocks related to ethanol in some way, with financial data such as PE ratios and yields, and can be sorted, added to, and changed, go to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com. Some examples are listed below.

Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) has a corn processing division which produces ethanol from corn. The stock has a forward P/E of 8.9 and a yield of 2.3%.

The Andersons (ANDE) is involved in the management of ethanol production facilities and grain and ethanol trading. The stock has a forward P/E of 10 and a yield of 1.0%.

DuPont (DD) developed a measurement and reporting system to increase ethanol production. The stock has a P/E of 12 and a yield of 4.5%.

A list of stocks related to ethanol in some way, in an Excel format, which can be added to and sorted, can be found at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Author does not own any of the above.

By Stockerblog.com

Highest Yielding Entertainment Stocks

It doesn't matter whether we are in a recession, a depression, or in a booming economy. People will always go to the movies, rent DVDs, or order a movie from Netflix (NFLX). The demand will always be there, the revenues will always continue.

With all this money rolling in, the revenues must be going somewhere. WallStreetNewsNetwork.com has just developed a free spreadsheet database of all the high yielding entertainment stocks and notes that pay dividends over 3%. Dividend stocks are a great way of reducing risk in your portfolio, especially if you are going into the show business sector.

Time Warner (TWX), which owns Warner Brothers, has a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 12.5 and a yield of 2.9%.

Regal Entertainment Group (RGC) operates a chain of theaters throughout the United States in mid-sized metropolitan markets and the suburbs. The company has a forward PE ratio of 14, and pays a very nice dividend of 5.2%.

Another motion picture chain that has theaters in North and South America is Cinemark Holdings Inc. (CNK), with a forward PE of 10.5, and an extremely generous yield of 4.9%.

There are actually 18 entertainment stocks and notes with yields above 2%, four of which yield more than 7%, all of which can be found at wsnn.com. Some of the stocks on the list are senior notes, which trade like preferred stocks.

Author owns TWX.

By Stockerblog.com

Government Banning Oil Spill Free Speech according to CNN

Summer Reading Material

Full of Bull (Updated Edition): Unscramble Wall Street Doubletalk to Protect and Build Your Portfolio


The Small-Cap Investor: Secrets to Winning Big with Small-Cap Stocks


The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs: How to Be Insanely Great in Front of Any Audience


Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives


The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable


Fooled by Randomness: The Hidden Role of Chance in Life and in the Markets


Career Comeback: Repackage Yourself to Get the Job You Want


Burst This!: Frank McKinney's Bubble Proof Real Estate Strategies


SuperFreakonomics: Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes, and Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance


End the Fed


Sway: The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior


No One Would Listen: A True Financial Thriller


The Starfish and the Spider: The Unstoppable Power of Leaderless Organizations


Outliers: The Story of Success


Hit and Run [fiction]