If you're nearing retirement, Procter & Gamble (PG) might be a good addition to your stock portfolio. Its personal care focus, its history of creating new products, its near 50% dividend payout and its strong cash flow give it a stable outlook and make it a compelling choice for those looking to buy and hold.
When it comes to investing your hard-earned cash, today's marketplace offers more options than ever for small investors. But the key to success lies in sticking to a few basic principles -- and avoiding the irrational behaviors that plague our financial lives.
The short-term investors may account for most of the daily trading volume in stock markets, but slow and steady usually wins the investment race. The trick is to identify stocks likely to perform well over a period of years -- or even decades. Here are three strong options.
Despite turbulent times, U.S. markets are rising again. But is this a temporary bump, or the return of a bull market? The sharp-eyed analysts of Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs say its the latter, and their money is on strong growth ahead.
He may be one of America's richest men, but should small investors try to do what Berkshire Hathaway's legendary CEO does? Some analysts say no: The "Warren Buffett way" often doesn't translate to what's best for individuals, especially today.
After a few comatose years following the financial crisis, the IPO market is roaring back. And with names like Facebook and Groupon driving the rumor mill, smaller investors are wondering how to get in on the action. The answer: Carefully, thanks to the many risks.
There's a frenzy of stock buying going on now, because no one wants to be left out of the stock market recovery. But all those who are betting on short-term gains are engaged in what I call "wrong ball investing." Here's how to keep your eye on the right ball.
Prestigious management consulting firm McKinsey & Co. just published Value: The Four Cornerstones of Corporate Finance, a guide to help executives create shareholder value. Lead author Tim Koller shares his thoughts with DailyFinance about how the book might also help investors profit.
That strategy sure has taken plenty of abuse in today's frenzied, algorithm-powered trading world. But Albert Meyer is a money manager who's built an enviable record by keeping this faith. Here are five of his favorite buy-and-hold stocks.
Adjusted for inflation, the current stock market hasn't recovered nearly as much as it seems if you look at only nominal prices. At best, you've gained just 3.6%. But more likely, you're down by some 23%. And if you measure the Dow in something other than dollars -- say, oil or silver -- the return is even more distressing.
Buy-and-hold investing has been a loss for the last decade, and low-risk options will never get you the returns you'll need to retire in style. So how can you find real profits in the market? As venture capitalist and business guru Peter Cohen explains, the answer may be in anticipating surprises.
On his Mad Money show last week, Jim Cramer encouraged viewers to add short-term trading to their portfolios. But how can an investor determine with certainty when a stock has "flown too high" and when to buy it back?
Many investors are trying to make themselves feel safer in this uncertain economy by jumping out of stocks, buying bonds or even dabbling in higher risks looking for bigger returns. But that sort of short-term strategy could jeopardize your portfolio.
Finance expert Dan Solin has a simple gripe with CNBC's Jim Cramer: The Mad Money host acts like he has some special insight into the markets that is of value to investors, despite clear evidence that he doesn't. So how can you get better returns than Cramer? Read on.
Exchange-traded funds are lauded for their low cost, tax efficiency, and transparency, their popularity shows no signs of ebbing. But even a good thing can be misused. Read on for five ways that bad strategies can turn a good ETF into a bad investment.