U.S. markets were mixed most of Monday with what felt like very directionless trading on light volume. A selloff late in the day erased the small gains, and markets closed in the red today.

Another weak housing figure did not manage to cause too much harm as -- by now -- investors are conditioned to expect poor housing data. Consumer spending and income rose in February, topping expectations. U.S. investors also continued to expect that oil infrastructure would keep growing based upon Middle East build-outs for expanded production.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Stocks Give Up Gains (ALU, EBAY, GSIC, FSLR, EWJ, CCJ, PKD)

Closing Bell: Stocks Give Up Gains (ALU, EBAY, GSIC, FSLR, EWJ, CCJ, PKD) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Realty Income (O) is one of our favorite companies; they continue to grow their portfolio of properties which will ensure their dividend stream will grow for years to come," says Steve Christ.

The editor of Wealth Advisory explains, "The company recently announced its 54th consecutive quarterly increase and the 61st dividend increase since Realty Income went public in 1994.

"The company recently announced that it had signed definitive purchase agreements to acquire up to 33, single-tenant, retail, distribution, office and manufacturing properties under long-term, net-lease agreements for approximately $544 million.

Continue reading Realty Income (O) Ups Dividend for 54 Consecutive Quarters

Realty Income (O) Ups Dividend for 54 Consecutive Quarters originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of Japan: A Special Report for Investors.

"The battered northeast of Japan -- the center of the country's pulp and paper industry -- will take years to revive. I anticipate Japan will have to import wood products and the Finnish giant Stora Enzo (SEOAY) will be one of the suppliers to Japan," asserts Vivian Lewis.

The editor of Global Investing explains, "Northern Europe is where pulp will come from, and where Japan will buy the lumber it needs to rebuild.

Continue reading Japan: Stora Enzo (SEOAY)

Japan: Stora Enzo (SEOAY) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Quarterly reports from Oracle (ORCL), Discover (DFS) and Tiffany (TIF) will highlight news on the earnings front this week.

Elsewhere on the economic calendar, the focus will be on housing, with existing home sales data due from the National Association of Realtors on Monday, new home sales numbers from the Census Bureau on Wednesday and data on housing starts released on Thursday.

Also watch for durable goods orders in February and the final GDP for the fourth quarter.

Continue reading Week in Preview: Housing Data and Late Season Earnings (ORCL, DFS, TIF)

Week in Preview: Housing Data and Late Season Earnings (ORCL, DFS, TIF) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 20 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"One of the best inflationary hedges of the 20th century is often forgotten -- timber," suggests Larry Spears.

The contributing editor to Money Morning explains, "In the modern era, inflation has never been a match for timber. On average, the price of harvested lumber itself has risen more than 5% annually over the past 100 years.

"Since 1910, the value of timberland as an investment has risen faster - and with less volatility - than stocks as measured by the Standard & Poor's 500 Index. Here's a trio of stocks to benefit from this trend.

Continue reading Timber: The 'Forgotten Inflation Hedge'

Timber: The 'Forgotten Inflation Hedge' originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Women Top the Home Foreclosure List: Here's What to Do

Women Top the Home Foreclosure List: Here's What to Do originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The housing market got a bit of bad news Monday morning, with pending home sales falling faster than expected in January.

Consumer confidence has been on the rise over the past couple of months, but that boost in confidence did not carry over to pending home sales, which were down 2.8% during the month of January.

Continue reading Pending Home Sales Down in January

Pending Home Sales Down in January originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Compelling valuations and improving fundamentals mean that 2011 could be a strong year for shares of the biggest U.S. banks," suggests Elliott Gue.

The editor of Personal Finance explains, "To benefit from this outlook, Bank of America (BAC) is a new addition to the model Growth Portfolio.

"Bank of America suffered mightily during the financial crisis of 2007-09. Not only were the bank's legacy loan portfolios hit hard by delinquencies and charge-offs, but the company also assumed additional liabilities and credit risk when it acquired Countrywide Financial and Merrill Lynch.

Continue reading Bank of America Corp. (BAC): Bank on It

Bank of America Corp. (BAC): Bank on It originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Economist Gary Shilling has agreed to share with BloggingStocks his 18 investment strategies for 2011, beginning with Gary Shilling's Investment Strategies for 2011. But he will only be revealing them a little at a time, over the next few weeks, so check back often!

My investment strategies for 2011 are driven by my forecasts for the economies and financial markets here and abroad. In my view, the overarching reality that will dominate 2011 and, indeed, the next decade or so is financial deleveraging, as spelled out in my new book, The Age of Deleveraging: Investment Strategies for a Decade of Slow Growth and Deflation, which was published in November 2010 by John Wiley & Sons.

Continue reading More Investment Strategies for 2011: Health Care Providers and Medical Office Buidlings

More Investment Strategies for 2011: Health Care Providers and Medical Office Buidlings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Is the ADP Jobs Report Good News?

Is the ADP Jobs Report Good News? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"MGIC (MTG) is the leading U.S. private mortgage insurer; in fact, the company claims to have founded the mortgage insurance industry in 1957," notes turnaround specialist George Putnam.

The editor of The Turnaround Letter explains, "After many years of relatively steady earnings, MGIC was forced to sharply increase its reserves beginning in 2007 as more homeowners began defaulting on their mortgages.

"As a result, the company posted large losses in each of the last three years, which reduced its capital to a precarious level. Almost all of the other mortgage insurers suffered similar fates, with several competitors being forced out of business.

Continue reading MGIC (MTG): Mortgage Turnaround?

MGIC (MTG): Mortgage Turnaround? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Even after the recent bump in long-term yields, they remain too low to meet most investors' needs," says Marvin Appel.

The editor of Systems & Forecasts explains, "The iShares NAREIT Mortgage Plus Capped Index ETF (REM) appears to be a good solution for those seeking income in 2011; its current SEC yield exceeds 10%.

"About 2/3 of its holdings are mortgage REITs, which are companies that borrow at short-term rates and use the proceeds to buy mortgage-backed securities.

Continue reading NAREIT Mortgage Plus (REM): The Right REIT

NAREIT Mortgage Plus (REM): The Right REIT originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This not good news. Market researcher Zillow, which tracks home prices, reported that prices dropped 5.1% in November 2010, the 53rd straight month of declines. Zillow does not include foreclosures in its data, according to CNNMoney.

Zillow forecasts that home prices will continue falling into the second half of this year. According to Zillow, "The bottom will be very long and rocky."

Another research company, CoreLogic, which also tracks the home market, reported that home prices declined in 44 states, up from 18 in June.

Continue reading November Home Prices Down 5%, More Downside Expected

November Home Prices Down 5%, More Downside Expected originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Last time around, I was bearish on Lennar (LEN). This was following the company's third-quarter report. Well, now we've got the fourth-quarter report to consider. Should I change my opinion?

You know, I feel like I should. Yesterday's price action was somewhat compelling. The stock experienced an increase in value of 7%. The closing price was $20.24, not too far away from the 52-week high of $21.79. The 52-week low for the stock is $11.93, so the shares are comfortably above that level.

Continue reading Lennar Earnings: Time to Be Bullish?

Lennar Earnings: Time to Be Bullish? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

KB Home (KBH) is ending the week on a high note, after the homebuilder comfortably surpassed Wall Street's fiscal fourth-quarter earnings expectations. Bright and early Friday morning, KBH announced quarterly net income of $17.4 million, or 23 cents per share, on revenue of $451 million. Adjusted housing gross margins improved to 19.7% from 19%.

This marks KBH's first quarterly profit, without the aid of tax gains, in almost four years. Analysts were anticipating KBH to swallow a deficit of 17 cents per share on revenue of $441.3 million, so these results definitely qualify as a positive surprise.

Continue reading KB Home Rallies After Solid Q4 Report

KB Home Rallies After Solid Q4 Report originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are the next four of my 2011 picks. I am behind schedule, after publishing the first 5 earlier in the week (see: Chasing Value: 2011 Stock Picks -- 5 of 11). This year instead of starting completely anew, I am adjusting my 2010 picks. There is no sense in abandoning good ideas just because the calendar turned a page.

You will actually find support of running themes I have been writing about over the past few months. One of these is the idea of making a contrarian investment in a basket of stocks that have been both scalded and scolded in the headlines. Six stocks were included in such a group that I called the "toxic stocks" (see: Chasing Value: Toxic Stock Update #3 -- BAC, BP, C, GE, GS, RIG).

Continue reading Chasing Value: 2011 Stock Picks -- 6, 7, 8, 9

Chasing Value: 2011 Stock Picks -- 6, 7, 8, 9 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is one in a series in which more than 60 newsletter advisors share their Top Stock Picks for 2011. This special report is courtesy of TheStockAdvisors.com.

"With fewer people tapping the housing market, apartments are filling up fast. That's one big reason I like Equity Residential (EQR) for 2011," says income specialist Amy Calisti.

The editor of The Daily Paycheck explains, "Equity Residential is an S&P 500 company and the largest real estate investment trust (REIT) of its kind.

Continue reading Top Picks 2011: Equity Residential (EQR)

Top Picks 2011: Equity Residential (EQR) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is one in a series in which more than 60 newsletter advisors share their Top Stock Picks for 2011. This special report is courtesy of TheStockAdvisors.com.

"Founded in 1938, Owens Corning (OC) -- my top pick for 2011, is a leading manufacturer of building products, including insulation, roofing products, and composite materials," says George Putnam.

The editor of The Turnaround Letter explains, "The stock looks quite cheap, particularly for a company with such a strong business franchise in a temporarily depressed sector.

Continue reading Top Picks 2011: Owens Corning (OC)

Top Picks 2011: Owens Corning (OC) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 02 Jan 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In projecting U.S. GDP growth at about a 2% rate for the remainder of this year and in 2011, I have noted that the two propellants of growth so far in this economic recovery -- the inventory revival and fiscal stimuli -- are largely exhausted.

But are there other sectors of the economy that might serve as the backbone of any meaningful economic recovery? I don't see any, especially with U.S. consumers continuing their saving spree, repaying debts and remaining hesitant to spend like they did during the boom times of earlier years.

Continue reading Bleak Prospects for Further Economic Growth

Bleak Prospects for Further Economic Growth originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Owens Corning: A Construction Turnaround

Owens Corning: A Construction Turnaround originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.