What Makes a Perfect Stock?
Yet while few stocks have everything one might want in an investment, knowing the most desirable traits of great stocks can guide you in making choices for your own portfolio.
growth
7 Retailers That May Become Household Names in 2012
Their brands aren't well known in the U.S. yet, but experts suggest you keep an eye on these seven emerging retailers with hot store concepts that are ripe for expansion. They could soon be headed to a mall near you.
Five Restaurant Stocks Worth Sampling Now
Legendary investor Peter Lynch espoused the philosophy "Buy what you know." Well, who doesn't know restaurants? We know where the crowds are, and we know what we like to eat. Here are five chains that managed to grow during the market lull, positioning themselves perfectly for the future.
Earnings Season: Harbinger to Next Round of Layoffs?
Wall Street will watch second quarter earnings for telltale signs that the economy has slowed or that corporate margins are even tighter than is feared. But the ones reporting negative outlooks are likely to go back to the same old solution they used so often in recent years: layoffs.
Norton Everywhere May Be Symantec's Mobile Moneymaker
Symantec is the global leader in the security software market, but its share of that market has been declining. Can its Norton Everywhere initiative leverage the companies strength in the PC world into the domain of smartphones and tablets?
Lowe's Incentive Program May Boost Its Market Share
As the competition between home improvement heavyweights Lowe's and Home Depot intensifies, customer service is emerging as one of the key features on which they will need to innovate. Lowe's latest attempt is a new incentive program for customers paying with the store's credit card.
Why $4 a Gallon Gas Wouldn't Last Long
Not long ago, everyone knew gas was sure to reach $4 a gallon for regular on a nationwide basis soon. Now, though, that sure thing is looking iffy: Gas prices are wavering, and a number of factors at home and abroad are about to come together to push demand -- and prices -- lower.
Stock Buybacks:
A Warning Sign for Smart Investors
Last year saw a surge in stock repurchases -- companies like ExxonMobil, Walmart and Microsoft bought back shares at record levels. Buybacks can be seen as a cash giveaway to investors, and they boost earnings per share. But there's a strong reason to be wary of companies that do buybacks.
Where You Should Invest in the Latest Tech IPO Wave
A new crop of tech IPOs are en route to the market, among them vacation rental website HomeAway, online radio site Pandora and business networking site LinkedIn. But how can you tell if these startups are worthy of your cash? Here are the four questions to ask before buying into an IPO.
In Construction, a Year of Flat Growth Would Be Welcome
Want to see how the construction industry will do in 2011? Look at how architects did in 2010. By that gauge, last year's thin uptick in building design and engineering services foretells a similar small gain ahead for builders -- after two years of steep declines.
A More Bullish Forecast From Deutsche Bank
The bank now says positive trends in consumer spending, employment and the stock market will likely boost U.S. economic growth higher than the 3% most analysts had previously predicted. Deutsche's chief equity strategist is predicting a 23% rise in the stock market for 2011.
Job No. 1 for Larry Page: Halt Google's Brain Drain
When Google co-founder Larry Page replaces Eric Schmidt as CEO, he'll have a host of things to worry about: ad revenues, growth, Facebook, privacy concerns and just how to get the company's rebel groove back. But first on his agenda will have to be reversing the flow of top employees out the door.
Quora: Finally, a Killer Online Q&A Service Comes Together
Under the radar, a little company called Quora has started to go ballistic. It aims to create a social watering hole where interesting, sophisticated questions are asked, and intelligent answers are provided, without spam, trolls, stupidity or flame wars.
Intel Will Have to Prove Itself All Over Again in 2011
Intel's stock is up just 2% this year compared to the Nasdaq's 17% rise, and investors fret that the explosive growth of smartphones and tablets will crimp the market for the PC chips that produce the bulk of Intel's revenue. But the tech giant has a plan.
New Year Hurdles: Top 10 Challenges for CEOs in 2011
With the recession over -- in a sense, anyway -- many CEOs are happy to be standing. And after three tumultuous years, some are even cautiously optimistic. But 2011 is sure to present a whole new set of obstacles for corporate chiefs to confront -- and conquer.