In the midst of deep fear and melodramatic headlines in May, I dove into the market suggesting investors take a hard look at three companies that would survive anything the world could throw at them.

There are often profits to be made from the headlines as fear and greed drive the market. You must have read umpteen times in journals worldwide "my pal Warren's" trumpeting smart investors to buy on fear. Well, last may Novartis AG ADS (NVS), Telefonica SA (TEF) and Unilever ADR (UL) were on sale as fear ruled the day. So let's see how these ideas worked out.

Continue reading Chasing Value: Novartis, Telefonica, Unilever Bought on Fear

Chasing Value: Novartis, Telefonica, Unilever Bought on Fear originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 04 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I have wriiten so much about Huaneng Power International ADR (NYSE: HNP) that I am not sure there is much more to say. This is another one in my must-own category, so it is just a matter of when you get in. Most of my sentiments can be found in Volatile Markets: Huaneng Power (HNP) is my pick for the next 50 years.

HNP pays a sizable 3.6% dividend yield and has plenty of room to run. It has come down a lot with the rest of the inflated Chinese stock market, but this one is not threatened by competition and is a good long-term value. It is the largest utility company in China, entrenched in government projects and receives support that would be full of conflicts of interest in a western economy.

I have made the case recently that electric utilities have been great investments over the long term in Serious Money: Electric utilities are the place to be, and I am still a believer. China's growth curve will continue to dwarf that of the United States. It takes electricity for all the things you know about and many you do not. I am not sure that the average investor is aware for example that the production of aluminum consumes a lot of electricity. And it is being used in increasing amounts as reducing energy costs often means reducing weight.

Aluminum is used in windows, cars, planes, electronics, and this is a great trend to follow as well. One of my top picks last year was Aluminum Corp of China ADS (NYSE: ACH), and I would have included it here if not for its sky-high price.

Continue reading Chasing Value: Huaneng Power still the one in China

Chasing Value: Huaneng Power still the one in China originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 05 Jan 2008 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

A trio of leading advisors are looking outside the US for opportnity in the telecom sector: Nick Vardy sees potential with Telefonica S.A. (NYSE: TEF), David Fried looks south of the border to Telefonos de Mexico (NYSE: TMX) and Dave Dyer recommends the more diversified Emerging Markets Telecommunications Fund (ASE: ETF).

In his Global Bull Market Alert, Nick Vardy explains, "Spanish telecom group Telefonica S.A. is like a corporate conquistador, exploiting its historical links to expand into Latin America. This new Spanish explorer is reaping rich profits for itself and its shareholders.

"Telefonica's global footprint extends across three continents and 23 countries with a total population of 670 million. This conquistador planted its first flag in Latin America 15 years ago and today is the leading telecom in Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Peru.

"For an organization that is already the fifth-biggest telecom company in the world with close to 207 million customers, Telefonica's profits are still expanding at a breathtaking rate.

"Just recently, Telefonica announced that its third-quarter net profit rose 39% year-on-year. Overall, net profit jumped to €4.02 billion from €2.9 billion a year earlier. Also important to us, Telefonica is a stock that has held up remarkably well despite the recent market jitters, recently hitting a record high. We recommend buying the shares at market."

Continue reading Three experts offer a trio of global telecom plays

Three experts offer a trio of global telecom plays originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 10 Dec 2007 10:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Each year Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, surveys the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is part of his 24th annual Top Picks Report.

China Life Insurance Co. (NYSE: LFC) is the favorite conservative stock for 2007 from Jim Trippon, editor of The China Stock Digest. The advisor, who maintains permanent offices in China, says, "Although the stock has performed strongly in 2006, we still see strong gains ahead.

"China Life is China's largest insurance company; it has written more than 48 million individual and group policies and has a huge sales force of 640,000 agents who operate in 9,300 field offices throughout the world's most populous country.

"China Life first caught our attention as a potentially huge growth engine in December 2005 with its announcement that it had been given the go-ahead by the China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC) to set up a pension business as it moves to expand into the fast-growing corporate annuities sector.

"This is a major breakthrough in a nation of 1.3 billion prospects who can no longer rely on the government for their pensions. CIRC expects the country's corporate annuity net premiums to grow by 100 billion Yuan, or US$124 million, annually for the next several years. We expect China Life's historical statistics to move up rapidly as its large sales force is tasked to move aggressively into pension funding."

To see Jim's favorite speculation for 2007, click here.

Top Picks 2007: Trippon sees "pension profits" at China Life originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 31 Dec 2006 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Each year Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, surveys the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is part of his 24th annual Top Picks Report.

China Direct, Inc. (OTCBB: CHND) is the favorite speculative idea for 2007 from Jim Trippon. The editor of The China Stock Digest explains, "China Direct invests in companies that need a capital infusion to achieve the next level in their growth.

"Unfortunately, major Chinese banks and other large financial institutions have shunned smaller institutions and typically lend only to the country's very large cap companies. The small to mid-cap investment gap is where China Direct comes in.

"This year China Direct has invested $4 million to acquire controlling interests in five companies, including a chemical maker, a magnesium refiner, a logistics company, a toy producer, and a metals recycling firm. China Direct projects that revenues will double from 2007 to 2008 as it continues its small and mid-cap acquisition and expansion strategy.

Continue reading Top Picks 2007: China Stock Digest speculates on China Direct

Top Picks 2007: China Stock Digest speculates on China Direct originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 24 Dec 2006 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.