CLX

Retired Investors Don’t Buy Bonds Until?

Introduction The primary attractions supporting investing in bonds or other fixed income instruments have traditionally been high income and safety.  People invest their principal in bonds and receive a stated interest rate (coupon) over the life of the bond and are given the promise of having their principal returned at maturity.  Under normal times, bonds …

Trying To Beat The Market Is A Fool’s Errand

Introduction Proponents of indexing as the best investment strategy seemed to take great delight in reporting how the vast majority of professionally managed portfolios (mutual funds, separately managed accounts, hedge funds, ETFs, etc.) fail to outperform the S&P 500.  Therefore, they argue, it is best not to even try.  Investors should simply invest in index …

Are Blue-Chip Consumer Staples Worth Today’s Premium Valuations?

Introduction to the Consumer Staples Sector The Consumer Staples sector consists of companies that provide essential products.  In other words, Consumer Staples are products that people cannot or are unwilling to do without.  As a result of the essential nature of Consumer Staples, there are several attributes that distinguish this sector from most others.  First …

The Best Use of Corporate Profit (cash)

Introduction I have recently authored two articles showing that, all other things being equal, a stock that pays its shareholders a dividend generates a higher total return than a stock with similar growth characteristics that doesn’t. This is based on the reality that stock prices follow earnings in the long run, and it is this …

Newsflash: The Dividend Aristocrats Found The Lost Decade

Introduction There are many people who continue to hold a jaundiced view of stocks because they were traumatized by the last two recessions.  Precipitous drops in equity prices drove them to distrust stocks and stock markets.  However, I believe that most of the negative sentiment is a function of what I would describe as vague …