October 2, 2019

Should You Buy Johnson & Johnson Stock in October?


JNJ stock's always been a good pick for the long-term healthcare investor, though short-run price volatility is likely



With a market cap of $340 billion, Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), the healthcare giant, is currently number 37 on the Fortune 500 list. Over the past 12 months, JNJ stock is down about 7%. This compares to a more than 16% drop in the iShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSEArca:IHE) which includes JNJ shares at a whopping 22.6% weighting among its 45-stock portfolio.

In August, the consumer and pharmaceutical healthcare firm made the news when an Oklahoma judge found Johnson and Johnson guilty of helping fuel the state’s opioid crisis by aggressively marketing painkillers. The ruling came amid various lawsuits that the company faces regarding its talc-based baby powder.



Now many investors are wondering whether there could be more headaches ahead for the company and how the JNJ stock price might fare in the last quarter of the year. Until its next earnings report in mid-October, I expect JNJ shares to trade between a range, mostly $120-$130. Long-term investors may regard any upcoming weakness in the Johnson & Johnson stock price as opportunity to buy into the shares.



September 28, 2019

Week's Most Significant Insider Trades: Week of September 23, 2019



Disposals:



Chubb Ltd (NYSE:CB) EVP Joseph F. Wayland sold 6,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $158.05, for a total transaction of $1,027,325.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 77,201 shares in the company, valued at $12,201,618.05. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink.
CB opened at $158.84 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a current ratio of 0.32. The stock has a market capitalization of $71.86 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.83, a P/E/G ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 0.69. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $157.07 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $147.59. Chubb Ltd has a 52-week low of $119.54 and a 52-week high of $162.19. Read more …

Eli Lilly And Co (NYSE:LLY) SVP Alfonso G. Zulueta sold 4,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $117.00, for a total value of $526,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 33,806 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,955,302. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link.
LLY opened at $113.25 on Wednesday. Eli Lilly And Co has a one year low of $104.17 and a one year high of $132.13. The stock has a market capitalization of $109.62 billion, a PE ratio of 20.41, a P/E/G ratio of 2.01 and a beta of 0.16. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $112.34 and its 200 day moving average price is $116.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.98, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a current ratio of 1.13. Read more …

Ross Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:ROST) insider James S. Fassio sold 15,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $108.66, for a total value of $1,629,900.00. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink.

James S. Fassio also recently made the following trade(s):
On Friday, July 12th, James S. Fassio sold 85,238 shares of Ross Stores stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $104.85, for a total value of $8,937,204.30.

Shares of ROST stock opened at $107.03 on Tuesday. Ross Stores, Inc. has a 12-month low of $75.91 and a 12-month high of $110.88. The company has a current ratio of 1.31, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $105.80 and its 200-day moving average price is $99.97. The stock has a market capitalization of $39.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.30 and a beta of 0.84. Read more …





Omega Healthcare Investors Inc (NYSE:OHI) CAO Michael Ritz sold 2,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $42.00, for a total value of $105,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 5,485 shares in the company, valued at approximately $230,370. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link.

Michael Ritz also recently made the following trade(s):
On Friday, August 23rd, Michael Ritz sold 5,000 shares of Omega Healthcare Investors stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $40.50, for a total value of $202,500.00.

NYSE:OHI opened at $42.01 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17, a quick ratio of 2.78 and a current ratio of 2.78. Omega Healthcare Investors Inc has a one year low of $31.69 and a one year high of $42.25. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $40.23 and its 200 day simple moving average is $37.57. The stock has a market cap of $9.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.82, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.47 and a beta of 0.37. Read more …

Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE:DRI) SVP Douglas J. Milanes sold 1,600 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $119.05, for a total transaction of $190,480.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 6,793 shares in the company, valued at approximately $808,706.65. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink.
Shares of NYSE DRI opened at $116.44 on Friday. Darden Restaurants, Inc. has a 1 year low of $95.83 and a 1 year high of $128.41. The stock has a market cap of $14.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.08 and a beta of 0.34. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $121.60 and a 200 day moving average of $119.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.18, a current ratio of 0.43 and a quick ratio of 0.30. Read more …


Acquisitions:



Nothing to mention!


20 Dividend Stocks to Fund 20 Years of Retirement


The traditional wisdom for funding retirement used to be the “4% rule.” You would withdraw 4% of your savings in year one, followed by “pay raises” in each subsequent year to account for inflation. The theory: If you’re invested in a mix of dividend stocks, bonds and even a few growth stocks, your money should last across a 30-year retirement.

But today’s world is different. Interest rates and bond yields have been stuck in the basement for far too long, reducing future expected returns. Compounding the problem: Americans are living longer than ever before.

If you’re wondering how to retire without facing the uncomfortable decision of what securities to sell, or questioning whether you are at risk of outliving your savings, wonder no more. You can lean on the cash from dividend stocks to fund a substantial portion of your retirement. In fact, Simply Safe Dividends has published an in-depth guide about living on dividends in retirement.

Many companies in the market yield 4% or more. And if you rely on solid dividend stocks for that 4% annually, you won’t have to worry as much about the market’s unpredictable fluctuations. Better still, because you likely won’t have to dig into your nest egg as much, you’ll have a chance to leave your heirs with a sizable portfolio when the time comes.





Here are 20 high-quality dividend stocks, yielding on average above 4%, that should fund at least 20 years of retirement, if not more. They have paid uninterrupted dividends for more than 20 consecutive years, have fundamentally secure payouts and have the potential to collectively grow their dividends to protect investors’ purchasing power over time.


September 27, 2019

Notable Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades for Week of September 23, 2019



Upgrades:



Kimberly Clark (NYSE:KMB) was upgraded by stock analysts at Barclays from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday, The Fly reports.

KMB has been the topic of several other reports. Zacks Investment Research raised Kimberly Clark from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $149.00 target price on the stock in a report on Thursday, August 22nd. Bank of America reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $143.00 target price (up from $135.00) on shares of Kimberly Clark in a report on Wednesday, June 19th. ValuEngine lowered Kimberly Clark from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, August 1st. Wells Fargo & Co reissued a “hold” rating and set a $130.00 target price on shares of Kimberly Clark in a report on Tuesday, July 23rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their target price on Kimberly Clark from $145.00 to $147.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 24th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. The company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $131.36. Read more …

Guggenheim upgraded shares of Sanofi (NYSE:SNY) from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research note issued to investors on Monday, BenzingaRatingsTable reports.

Several other equities analysts also recently weighed in on the company. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a buy rating on shares of Sanofi in a research report on Thursday, August 29th. Sanford C. Bernstein initiated coverage on Sanofi in a research report on Tuesday, September 3rd. They set an outperform rating and a $52.00 target price on the stock. UBS Group upgraded Sanofi from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated a neutral rating on shares of Sanofi in a report on Tuesday, August 6th. Finally, Zacks Investment Research upgraded Sanofi from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $47.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Thursday, August 29th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Sanofi currently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of $49.67. Read more …

Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report report published on Tuesday morning, The Fly reports. Jefferies Financial Group currently has $260.00 price objective on the iPhone maker’s stock, up from their prior price objective of $210.00.

Several other brokerages also recently commented on AAPL. Longbow Research reiterated a hold rating on shares of Apple in a research note on Tuesday, September 10th. Raymond James upgraded Apple from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $250.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 18th. Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price target on Apple from $187.00 to $165.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, September 13th. Monness Crespi & Hardt restated a buy rating and issued a $265.00 price target (up from $245.00) on shares of Apple in a research note on Wednesday, July 31st. Finally, Needham & Company LLC raised their price target on Apple from $225.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 11th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seventeen have given a hold rating, twenty-four have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. The stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $219.47. Read more …


Bank of America upgraded shares of Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE:BNS) (TSE:BNS) from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research note published on Tuesday, BenzingaRatingsTable reports. The brokerage currently has $62.00 price target on the bank’s stock, up from their previous price target of $52.00.

Other equities research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. Zacks Investment Research cut shares of Bank of Nova Scotia from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, August 29th. ValuEngine cut shares of Bank of Nova Scotia from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 2nd. Barclays reaffirmed an average rating and issued a $78.00 price objective on shares of Bank of Nova Scotia in a research note on Thursday, May 30th. BMO Capital Markets cut their price objective on shares of Bank of Nova Scotia from $80.00 to $78.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, August 28th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of Bank of Nova Scotia in a research note on Wednesday, August 28th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. The company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $74.14. Read more …

September 26, 2019

It might be time to focus on prescriptions




Created through the combination of Walgreens and Alliance Boots in 2014, Walgreens Boots Alliance is a leading pharmacy retailer and drug distributor in the world. It is the largest retail pharmacy across the USA and Europe. The company also has a presence in 25 other countries

Walgreens’ operations can be organized into three segments – Retail Pharmacy USA is the largest accounting for ~75% of 2018 revenue (prescription drugs and general merchandise), Retail Pharmacy International (9% – prescription drugs and retail health, beauty, toiletries, and other consumer products) and Pharmaceutical Wholesale (16% – wholesaling and distribution of brand-name pharmaceuticals). Its retail segment consists of 18,500 stores operating in 11 countries with over 390 distribution centers.



Walgreens has a huge portfolio of iconic brands like Walgreens, Duane Reade (U.S.), Boots and Alliance Healthcare, as well as health and beauty product brands such as No7, Botanics, Liz Earle, and Soap & Glory.


September 23, 2019

5 stocks you shouldn't hold through the next recession


Don't look to these companies for recession protection



It’s easy to predict that a recession will come eventually. They always do. The trick is in the when – and even the most experienced experts take a lot of swings without making contact.

But more strategists and economists are increasing their odds of a forthcoming recession. An August survey by the National Association for Business Economics showed that three of four economists expect a recession by 2021. It could come sooner than that. Also in August, Bank of America analysts said there’s a greater-than-30% chance of a recession within 12 months. In a June interview, economist Gary Shilling said, “I think we’re probably already in a recession.”

There are plenty of potential catalysts. Numerous international central banks are easing their policies to battle slowing economic growth. America’s Federal Reserve is no exception – it just announced the second cut in its benchmark interest rate this year. The U.S.-China trade war is exacerbating things, with a salvo of tariffs weighing on consumers here and abroad. This has been reflected in the Treasury yield curve, which has inverted several times in 2019 – a recessionary warning sign.





Don’t look to these five stocks for recession protection. Many businesses surely will feel the pinch of an economic pullback. But these five better-known names – while fine companies in some respects – have issues such as high debt levels and struggling growth despite the economic expansion that might make a downturn more painful for them than others.



September 22, 2019

Is Wells Fargo Stock A Buy Right Now? Here's What Earnings, Charts Show


Wells Fargo (WFC) is one of the world's biggest banks, but has been dogged by regulatory issues. So is Wells Fargo stock a buy right now? Here is what fundamental and technical analysis says.


Wells Fargo is one of the Big Four U.S. banks, along with fellow titans Bank Of America (BAC), Citigroup (C) and JPMorgan Chase (JPM).

Founded in 1852, its history dates back to the California Gold Rush. Henry Wells, the first president of American Express (AXP), and William G. Fargo, its vice president, decided to form their own company. They made the move after American Express, at the time an express mail firm, balked at the idea of westward expansion.

Today Wells Fargo is a titan of Wall Street and a stalwart of Main Street.

These Businesses Keep Stagecoach Rolling

Community Banking is the most famous face of the firm, with its nationwide branches. It offers a complete line of financial products to consumers and small businesses. Services including checking and savings accounts, credit and debit cards. It also makes home loans, auto loans, student loans and small business loans.



Wholesale Banking provides financial solutions to businesses across the U.S. and the world. It provides business banking services to mid-market and large corporations. Such firms generally have annual sales of $5 million and above. It specializes in serving the international needs of U.S. companies and the U.S. needs of multinational corporations.

Finally, Wealth and Investment Management provides wealth management, investment and retirement products. Services include asset management, investment services, portfolio analysis and monitoring.



September 21, 2019

Week's Most Significant Insider Trades: Week of September 16, 2019



Acquisitions:



Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (NYSE:CHD) CEO Matthew Farrell bought 7,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 16th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $71.32 per share, for a total transaction of $499,240.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 111,362 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $7,942,337.84. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink.

NYSE:CHD opened at $72.75 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $17.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.33 and a beta of 0.14. Church & Dwight Co., Inc. has a one year low of $54.46 and a one year high of $80.99. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $76.89 and a 200 day simple moving average of $73.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 0.44 and a current ratio of 0.78. Read more …

Kraft Heinz Co (NASDAQ:KHC) Director Jorge P. Lemann purchased 3,496,503 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 16th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $28.60 per share, for a total transaction of $99,999,985.80. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 3,516,449 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $100,570,441.40. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlinkRead more …

Kraft Heinz Co (NASDAQ:KHC) Director Damme Alexandre Van purchased 250,000 shares of Kraft Heinz stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 18th. The shares were bought at an average price of $28.45 per share, with a total value of $7,112,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 8,168 shares in the company, valued at approximately $232,379.60. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website.

KHC stock opened at $28.14 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $34.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.09, a PEG ratio of 2.38 and a beta of 0.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a current ratio of 1.18. Kraft Heinz Co has a one year low of $24.86 and a one year high of $58.08. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $27.33 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $30.54. Readmore …

Dominion Energy Inc (NYSE:D) Director Michael E. Szymanczyk purchased 21,400 shares of Dominion Energy stock in a transaction on Friday, September 13th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $78.85 per share, for a total transaction of $1,687,390.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 19,541 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,540,807.85. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink.

Shares of Dominion Energy stock opened at $80.92 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.38, a quick ratio of 0.42 and a current ratio of 0.60. Dominion Energy Inc has a 52-week low of $67.41 and a 52-week high of $81.04. The stock has a market capitalization of $64.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.98, a P/E/G ratio of 3.92 and a beta of 0.22. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $76.83 and its 200-day moving average price is $76.46. Read more …



AbbVie Inc (NYSE:ABBV) Vice Chairman Laura J. Schumacher purchased 25,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 16th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $70.42 per share, with a total value of $1,760,500.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 164,838 shares in the company, valued at $11,607,891.96. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website.

Shares of NYSE:ABBV opened at $72.39 on Friday. AbbVie Inc has a fifty-two week low of $62.66 and a fifty-two week high of $96.60. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $66.77 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $74.47. The firm has a market cap of $107.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.15, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 0.95. Read more …


5 Utility Stocks for Conservative Investors


Utility stocks have a lot to offer investors these days



These days, the news cycle is driving the show. It seems that every day, how the market finishes is 100% based on what’s going on with the trade war, what the Federal Reserve is doing, or just how good or bad the data has been. For conservative or investors near or in retirement, it can be maddening. Which is why utility stocks could be the best thing for their portfolios.

After all, utility stocks feature plenty of steady cash flows and high dividends. It doesn’t matter so much what the economy is doing as people still need to heat their homes, keep the water flowing, and power the lights. This steadfastness makes utility stocks a prime choice for conservative investors. And now with the Fed decreasing rates, other investors tend to like them too.

No wonder why the sector proxy — the Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSEArca:XLU) — has gained over 21% year-to-date. That’s before dividends.



As you can see, there is power in owning the power producers. For conservative investors, the sector’s strength and boring nature really do pay plenty of benefits in a market like this. With that, here are five utility stocks worth buying today.


September 20, 2019

Notable Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades for Week of September 16, 2019



Upgrades:



UBS Group upgraded shares of ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research note issued to investors on Monday morning, BenzingaRatingsTable reports.

COP has been the subject of a number of other reports. ValuEngine raised shares of ConocoPhillips from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, June 27th. Mizuho raised shares of ConocoPhillips from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their target price for the company from $74.00 to $80.00 in a research report on Wednesday, June 26th. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on shares of ConocoPhillips from $84.00 to $81.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, July 12th. Zacks Investment Research raised shares of ConocoPhillips from a strong sell rating to a hold rating and set a $52.00 target price for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 11th. Finally, Barclays assumed coverage on shares of ConocoPhillips in a research report on Monday, August 19th. They set an overweight rating and a $79.00 target price for the company. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company. ConocoPhillips has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $76.85. Read more …

Wedbush upgraded shares of Lowe’s Companies (NYSE:LOW) from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a research report sent to investors on Monday, BenzingaRatingsTable reports. They currently have $135.00 target price on the home improvement retailer’s stock, up from their prior target price of $115.00.

Several other research firms have also recently commented on LOW. ValuEngine raised Lowe’s Companies from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 10th. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on Lowe’s Companies from $123.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, August 22nd. UBS Group boosted their target price on Lowe’s Companies from $115.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, August 22nd. Barclays boosted their target price on Lowe’s Companies from $95.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, June 24th. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group boosted their target price on Lowe’s Companies from $116.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, August 22nd. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have given a buy rating to the stock. The company presently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of $118.00. Read more …

JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Raytheon (NYSE:RTN) from a neutral rating to an overweight rating in a report released on Monday morning, BenzingaRatingsTable reports. The brokerage currently has $230.00 price objective on the aerospace company’s stock, up from their previous price objective of $225.00.

RTN has been the subject of several other research reports. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on shares of Raytheon from $205.00 to $218.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, June 10th. UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of Raytheon from $205.00 to $215.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday. Bank of America reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $265.00 price objective (up previously from $224.00) on shares of Raytheon in a report on Friday, July 26th. Vertical Research downgraded shares of Raytheon from a buy rating to a hold rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from $216.00 to $203.00 in a report on Tuesday, June 11th. Finally, ValuEngine downgraded shares of Raytheon from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Friday, June 28th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the company. The stock presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $212.00. Read more …



Barclays upgraded shares of Schlumberger (NYSE:SLB) from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a research report sent to investors on Monday morning, BenzingaRatingsTable reports. Barclays currently has $50.00 price objective on the oil and gas company’s stock, up from their prior price objective of $45.00.

Several other equities analysts have also issued reports on the stock. Wells Fargo & Co cut their price objective on shares of Schlumberger from $48.00 to $44.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, September 12th. Stifel Nicolaus raised shares of Schlumberger from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $50.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Friday, June 7th. Piper Jaffray Companies set a $40.00 price objective on shares of Schlumberger and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, July 1st. Bank of America cut their price objective on shares of Schlumberger from $51.00 to $45.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, August 28th. Finally, Raymond James reissued a hold rating on shares of Schlumberger in a report on Friday, June 21st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and fifteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. The company currently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $51.11. Read more …

September 18, 2019

Exxon Stock Offers a Safe and High-Yielding Dividend


Higher oil prices will increase Exxon's massive cash flow and support future dividend increases



Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) stock hasn’t exactly been a barn-burner this year, up only 7%. Much of its recent gains came from the recent spike in oil prices due to the Saudi oil field attacks.

This conflict is good for XOM stock. Most of its earnings come from its upstream operations — selling oil and gas it discovers in the U.S. and abroad. For example, $3.26 billion of Exxon’s $3.13 billion in total earnings this past quarter came from upstream earnings. Its downstream and chemical earnings just covered up corporate level losses.

In effect, higher oil and gas prices will lead to higher Exxon Mobil cash flow. XOM stock will do well if the prices of oil and gas remain high over the next year.

For example, the West Texas Intermediate spot price is still down almost 15% in the past year. This is after the 15% spike on Sept. 16 and subsequent 5% fall the next day. So, in effect, Exxon stock will do well if the tension stays high in the Middle East.



But even if this scenario does not last, Exxon Mobil will continue to produce massive amounts of cash flow. In the first half of 2019, Exxon produced $14.4 billion of what it calls “Cash Flow from Operations and Asset Sales.”

This is more than enough to cover the dividends XOM stock pays. Exxon’s dividends cost only $7.2 billion in the first half. This is 50% of the Cash Flow from Operations and Asset Sales.



September 14, 2019

Week's Most Significant Insider Trades: Week of September 9, 2019



Acquisitions:


Halliburton (NYSE:HAL) Director William E. Albrecht purchased 8,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 12th. The stock was bought at an average price of $19.35 per share, with a total value of $154,800.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 16,000 shares in the company, valued at $309,600. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website.

Shares of Halliburton stock opened at $19.75 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $17.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.39, a P/E/G ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 1.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 2.26 and a quick ratio of 1.59. Halliburton has a 52-week low of $16.97 and a 52-week high of $42.57. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $19.77 and a 200-day simple moving average of $24.65. Read more …

Keurig Dr Pepper Inc (NYSE:KDP) insider Mary Beth Denooyer acquired 6,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 10th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $26.97 per share, with a total value of $161,820.00. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website.

Mary Beth Denooyer also recently made the following trade(s):

On Tuesday, September 3rd, Mary Beth Denooyer acquired 6,000 shares of Keurig Dr Pepper stock. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $26.85 per share, with a total value of $161,100.00.
On Tuesday, August 27th, Mary Beth Denooyer acquired 6,000 shares of Keurig Dr Pepper stock. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $26.78 per share, with a total value of $160,680.00.
On Tuesday, August 20th, Mary Beth Denooyer acquired 6,000 shares of Keurig Dr Pepper stock. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $27.99 per share, with a total value of $167,940.00.

Shares of Keurig Dr Pepper stock opened at $27.66 on Friday. Keurig Dr Pepper Inc has a 52-week low of $22.19 and a 52-week high of $31.06. The company has a 50 day moving average of $27.69 and a 200 day moving average of $28.09. The company has a quick ratio of 0.23, a current ratio of 0.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58. The company has a market capitalization of $38.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.60, a P/E/G ratio of 1.45 and a beta of 0.45. Read more …


Disposals:


Eli Lilly And Co (NYSE:LLY) SVP Stephen F. Fry sold 9,452 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.00, for a total transaction of $1,086,980.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 100,211 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $11,524,265. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link.

Eli Lilly And Co stock opened at $111.07 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.98. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $111.39 and a 200-day simple moving average of $117.06. The stock has a market cap of $110.64 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.16. Eli Lilly And Co has a 12-month low of $104.17 and a 12-month high of $132.13. Read more …

Mondelez International Inc (NASDAQ:MDLZ) EVP Vinzenz P. Gruber sold 40,377 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, September 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $56.68, for a total value of $2,288,568.36. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 112,137 shares in the company, valued at $6,355,925.16. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link.

MDLZ stock opened at $56.48 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $80.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.24, a P/E/G ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.82. The company has a current ratio of 0.44, a quick ratio of 0.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $54.63 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $52.17. Mondelez International Inc has a 1-year low of $38.78 and a 1-year high of $56.72. Read more …

September 13, 2019

Notable Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades for Week of September 9, 2019



Upgrades:


BHP Group (NYSE:BHP) was upgraded by equities research analysts at Goldman Sachs Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note issued to investors on Monday, The Fly reports.

Other equities research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. Bank of America cut BHP Group from a “neutral” rating to an “underperform” rating in a research note on Friday, August 16th. BNP Paribas lowered shares of BHP Group from a “neutral” rating to an “underperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, September 5th. ValuEngine cut shares of BHP Group from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Thursday, August 1st. Deutsche Bank upgraded shares of BHP Group from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 4th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of BHP Group from an “underweight” rating to a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, July 12th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. The stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $62.00. Read more …

Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded shares of Diageo (NYSE:DEO) from an underperform rating to a market perform rating in a research report sent to investors on Tuesday morning, BenzingaRatingsTable reports.

DEO has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Societe Generale cut shares of Diageo from a buy rating to a sell rating in a report on Thursday, September 5th. They noted that the move was a valuation call. Zacks Investment Research raised shares of Diageo from a sell rating to a hold rating and set a $178.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Monday, May 27th. Finally, Kepler Capital Markets cut Diageo from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 9th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. The stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $178.00. Read more …

Argus upgraded shares of HCP (NYSE:HCP) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report sent to investors on Tuesday morning, BenzingaRatingsTable reports.

HCP has been the subject of a number of other reports. Barclays began coverage on HCP in a research report on Tuesday, September 3rd. They issued an overweight rating and a $37.00 price objective for the company. KeyCorp increased their target price on HCP from $32.00 to $34.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, July 1st. TheStreet upgraded HCP from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research report on Friday, August 2nd. Raymond James raised shares of HCP from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $35.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Thursday, June 13th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on shares of HCP from $34.00 to $37.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, September 3rd. They noted that the move was a valuation call. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. HCP currently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $33.30. Read more …


Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of Schlumberger (NYSE:SLB) from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a research report sent to investors on Tuesday morning, BenzingaRatingsTable reports. Morgan Stanley currently has $51.00 price objective on the oil and gas company’s stock.

A number of other brokerages also recently commented on SLB. Gabelli began coverage on Schlumberger in a research report on Thursday, June 27th. They set a buy rating and a $55.00 price objective for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on Schlumberger from $41.00 to $34.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Monday. Raymond James restated a hold rating on shares of Schlumberger in a report on Friday, June 21st. Stifel Nicolaus raised Schlumberger from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $50.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Friday, June 7th. Finally, AltaCorp Capital reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Schlumberger in a report on Thursday, June 20th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. The stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $51.44. Read more …

September 12, 2019

9 Best Dividend Stocks to Buy for Every Investor


Dividend stocks can offer another tool for investment success



No matter where we are in the economic cycle, it’s always good to remind ourselves of what worked and what didn’t. In 2017, Wall Street forecast a rough yea,r but quite the opposite happened. Benchmark indices hit all-time records, while investors ended up being upbeat about most sectors.

In 2018, the long-running bull market took a breather as investors switched from risk-on to risk-off.

This year so far has only been a little forgiving and that might not last, which is why I recommend that investors get selective. Fortunately, with dividend stocks, investors don’t have to feel pressured to always pick winners.

Although picking high-flying growth companies is a sexier endeavor, they aren’t always the smartest stocks to buy. With passive-income yielding firms, you get the potential to make capital gains and obtain  residual payouts to bolster your position. During a down period, dividends can also help you ride out the storm.



But don’t mistake benefiting from these yields as “boring” strategies. As with any asset class, you can dial up the risk for the chance of greater rewards.. No one knows your investment style better than you!

The following ideas are broken down into three sections: stable, mid-level and high-yield (speculative). Each section has something to offer, depending on how much risk you’re willing to take.



High Dividend Stocks


High dividend stocks appeal to many investors living off dividends in retirement because their high yields provide generous income.

Many of the highest paying dividend stocks offer a high yield in excess of 4%, and some even yield 10% or more.

However, not all high yield dividend stocks are safe. Let’s review what high dividend stocks are, where stocks with high dividends can be found in the market, and how to identify which high dividends are risky.

At the end of the article, we will take a look at 22 of the best high dividend stocks, providing analysis on each company. Almost all of these high yield stocks offer a dividend yield greater than 4%, have increased their dividends for at least five consecutive years, and maintain healthy Dividend Safety Scores.

The market’s strength has reduced the number of safe dividend stocks with high yields, but there are still several dozen worth reviewing.



By the way, many of the people interested in high dividend stocks are retirees looking to generate safe income from dividend-paying stocks. If that sounds like you, you might like to try our online product, which lets you track your portfolio’s income, dividend safety, and more.



September 10, 2019

Billionaire Hedge Fund Manager Loading Up on AT&T Inc.; Here’s Why


Legendary Investor Just Bought $3.2 Billion of AT&T Inc.




If you want to make a lot of money in the stock market, it pays to follow this type of investor: shareholder activists.

Shareholder activists fight for changes at poorly managed companies. They can pressure firms on anything from dividend hikes and asset spin-offs to throwing out under-performing executives. And as we have pointed out in situations like Nestle SA (ADR) (OTCMKTS:NSRGY, SWX:NESN) and Whole Foods Market, Inc., that can serve as a catalyst for explosive returns.

In the crosshairs today: AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T). On September 9, billionaire Paul Singer disclosed a $3.2-billion stake in the company. And in an open letter to AT&T’s board of directors, the hedge fund honcho chastised Chief Executive Officer Randall Stephenson’s track record and he proposed options to unlock value. (Source: “A Letter to AT&T,” Activating AT&T, September 9, 2019.)



Admittedly, Mr. Stephenson has made some smart calls. In 2007, just after taking on the top job, he bet big on wireless to fuel AT&T’s growth. By signing an exclusivity deal with Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), the company exploited the “iPhone” to gain market share.



September 9, 2019

Goldman Sachs: 3 High-Yield Dividend Stocks to Buy Now


Worried about recent market volatility? These six stocks will help calm your nerves.


According to Goldman Sachs, the time is now ripe for dividend investing. The firm’s chief US equity strategist, David Kostin, writes: “With the 10-year Treasury yield at just 1.5% and the Fed likely to cut two more times this year, investors should look for opportunities in dividend stocks.”

Similarly, in a recent interview with CNBC, Mark Tepper, president and CEO of Strategic Wealth Partners, commented: “As an investor, it’s important to understand that the 30-year yield is pretty much in line with the dividend yield on the S&P 500 right now. So, which would you rather own over the next 10 years?... You’re getting the same yield with a growth component if you invest in stocks.”





For investors looking to pick up some top dividend names, Goldman Sachs screened for stocks with both strong dividend growth and high dividend yields, based on dividend estimates and payout ratios. We used TipRanks to pinpoint three of the most promising stocks on Goldman Sachs’ dividend growth list. As you will see all three of the stocks covered below have a buy consensus from the Street, based on the last three months of ratings:



September 7, 2019

Week's Most Significant Insider Trades: Week of September 2, 2019



Acquisitions:


AbbVie Inc (NYSE:ABBV) SVP Nicholas Donoghoe purchased 7,525 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 29th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $66.19 per share, with a total value of $498,079.75. Following the purchase, the senior vice president now directly owns 13,090 shares in the company, valued at $866,427.10. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink.

Shares of ABBV stock opened at $67.03 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $66.18 and a 200 day moving average price of $75.18. AbbVie Inc has a twelve month low of $62.66 and a twelve month high of $96.60. The company has a market capitalization of $98.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.47, a PEG ratio of 1.58 and a beta of 0.95. Read more …

Intel Co. (NASDAQ:INTC) CEO Robert Holmes Swan acquired 10,918 shares of Intel stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 28th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $45.70 per share, with a total value of $498,952.60. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 168,955 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,721,243.50. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Read more …

Intel Co. (NASDAQ:INTC) CFO George S. Davis acquired 5,458 shares of Intel stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 28th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $45.70 per share, with a total value of $249,430.60. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 13,276 shares in the company, valued at approximately $606,713.20. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website.

INTC stock opened at $49.84 on Thursday. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $48.13 and a 200 day moving average price of $49.91. Intel Co. has a fifty-two week low of $42.36 and a fifty-two week high of $59.59. The stock has a market capitalization of $208.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.68, a P/E/G ratio of 1.43 and a beta of 0.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 1.48 and a quick ratio of 1.04. Read more …

UnitedHealth Group Inc (NYSE:UNH) Director Timothy Patrick Flynn purchased 2,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 28th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $227.55 per share, with a total value of $455,100.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 5,524 shares in the company, valued at $1,256,986.20. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink.

Shares of UNH stock opened at $229.59 on Friday. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $244.08 and its 200 day simple moving average is $244.79. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a current ratio of 0.67. UnitedHealth Group Inc has a twelve month low of $208.07 and a twelve month high of $287.94. The company has a market capitalization of $217.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.83, a PEG ratio of 1.23 and a beta of 0.62. Read more …


Keurig Dr Pepper Inc (NYSE:KDP) insider Mary Beth Denooyer purchased 6,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 27th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $26.78 per share, with a total value of $160,680.00. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link.

Mary Beth Denooyer also recently made the following trade(s):

On Tuesday, September 3rd, Mary Beth Denooyer bought 6,000 shares of Keurig Dr Pepper stock. The stock was bought at an average price of $26.85 per share, with a total value of $161,100.00.
On Tuesday, August 20th, Mary Beth Denooyer bought 6,000 shares of Keurig Dr Pepper stock. The stock was bought at an average price of $27.99 per share, with a total value of $167,940.00.

Shares of NYSE KDP traded down $0.13 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $27.02. 46,138 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,134,656. The company has a market capitalization of $37.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.14, a P/E/G ratio of 1.44 and a beta of 0.45. Keurig Dr Pepper Inc has a 12 month low of $22.19 and a 12 month high of $31.06. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $27.77 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $28.12. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 0.33 and a quick ratio of 0.23. Read more …