"We have a bent towards growth companies, with new products or services that are producing major sales and earnings growth; nevertheless, we're also students of the market, and we believe that the recent 're-IPO' at General Motors (GM) provides a big opportunity for investors," says Mike Cintolo.

The editor of Cabot Market Letter explains, "Granted, we're not going to predict that the stock is going to triple or quadruple; we're talking about a company with well over $100 billion in annual revenue.

Continue reading General Motors (GM): Old Company, New Stock

General Motors (GM): Old Company, New Stock originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Commodity prices are surging. But rather than recommending a pure commodity play, I'm intrigued by Deere & Co. (DE), the world's largest manufacturer of lawn and farm equipment," says Dr. Melvin Pasternak.

The editor of Trade of the Week explains, "The stock not only benefits from strong commodity prices, but also more profits for farmers. And with farmers seeing fatter profits from their crops, many are taking the money and putting it into new farm equipment.

"According to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, September sales of row-crop tractors increased by +46.9% from August, while four-wheel drive tractor sales rose +20.5%.

Continue reading Deere & Co. (DE): Bet on 'Big Green'

Deere & Co. (DE): Bet on 'Big Green' originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"My latest trading idea is United Technologies (UTX), a company that is experiencing rising sales and profits, despite the weak overall economy in the U.S.," says Melvin Pasternak.

The editor of Trade of the Week explains, "Based on solid fundamentals and technicals, I think United Technologie appears poised for take off.

"United Technologies is an industrial conglomerate that makes Pratt & Whitney jet engines, Carrier air conditioners, Sikorsky helicopters and Otis elevators. The company is the world's largest maker of elevators and air conditioners.

Continue reading United Technologies (UTX): 'Poised for Takeoff'

United Technologies (UTX): 'Poised for Takeoff' originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Industrials stocks focus on the manufacturing, transport and construction of physical goods and heavy infrastructure," says Elliott Gue.

The contributing editor to Personal Finance explains, "The best in the sector share one key trait: powerful leverage to a global economic recovery led by growth in the emerging markets and renewed spending on basic infrastructure across the developed world. The S&P 500 Industrials has outperformed the broader market by 20% during the past year."

Continue reading ABB (ABB) and Shaw (SHAW): Industrial Gains

ABB (ABB) and Shaw (SHAW): Industrial Gains originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Old-fashioned American industrial companies that are poised to benefit from growing international markets will be good investments in 2010," explains Daniel Frishberg,

The host of Bizradio and editor of The MoneyMan Report adds, "Our latest buy recommendation is Timken Company (TKR), which fits perfectly into this model."

Continue reading Timken Co. (TKR): An Old-Fashioned American Industrial

Timken Co. (TKR): An Old-Fashioned American Industrial originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Any company that can consistently create revenue out of air is worth a look," says Jim Stack, referring to Air Products & Chemicals (NYSE: APD).

In his InvesTech Market Analyst, the advisor and money manager explains, "We especially like a company that can create over $10 billion a year in sales ... from air (actually industrial gases)." Here, he explains the reasons he rates the shares a 'buy' in his model portfolio.

"For APD, much of that 'air' revenue comes from the sale of tonnage gases. Tonnage gas delivery involves the on-site or pipeline delivery of hydrogen and other chemicals to oil refineries.

Continue reading Air Products (APD): More than hot air

Air Products (APD): More than hot air originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"DuPont EI Neumours (NYSE: DD) is a world-class company with a world-class dividend yield," says growth & income expert Bryan Perry. Here's the latest from his The Cash Machine.

"Some of the biggest winners in a recovering economy are those stocks of companies engaged in the basic businesses such as industrial chemicals, plastics, and adhesives.

"The firm can implement price increases along the way, which could translate into phenomenal earnings surprises and set a stock like DuPont in motion higher.

Continue reading DuPont (DD): 'World class'

DuPont (DD): 'World class' originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"The steel stocks tend to go through boom and bust cycles depending on global economic activity; they have been pummeled over the last year, as the global economy slowed," notes turnaround expert George Putnam.

In his The Turnaround Letter, he explains, "But the news about steel is not all bad." Indeed, he believes some steel companies are poised for a turnaround. Here's his review of 6 leading steel production companies.

"Weakness in two big steel consuming industries, autos and construction, has been particularly troublesome for the steelmakers.

"However, there is evidence that steel inventories are gradually being worked off to low levels. There are also signs that economic activity in China, which is a huge consumer of steel, will not fall off as far as some economists initially feared.

Continue reading Steel: Six stocks with strong turnaround potential

Steel: Six stocks with strong turnaround potential originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Being a great company is just half of the equation; buying a great company at a great price is the key to successful investing," says Jim Stack, a money manager noted for having accurately forecast the market's troubles over the past year.

In InvesTech Market Analyst, he looks to one stock that meets this criteria. He states, "An enviable line-up of dominant brands, outstanding profitability, financial strength, and attractive valuation make United Technologies (NYSE: UTX) a compelling buy."

"For most people, UTX is a behind-the-scenes powerhouse, providing many of the everyday industrial components we take for granted, but rarely think about.

Continue reading United Technologies (UTX): A 'compelling' buy

United Technologies (UTX): A 'compelling' buy originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 28 May 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"We're going to revisit a stock we've traded in the past: General Electric (NYSE: GE)," says growth & Income expert Mark Skousen.

In his specialty yield-oriented advisory service -- High Income Alert -- he asks, "Why buy a stock scraping the bottom?" Here, the leading advisor offers four reasons behind this new recommendation.

"GE, of course, is a global leader in appliances, aviation, healthcare, transportation, energy, water technologies, cable, film, consumer electronics, lighting, electrical distribution and finance.

"The U.S. economy is in the dumpster right now, so it's no surprise to find GE there, too. From a high of more than $40 a little more than a year ago, GE trades near its 52-week low today. And we see four good reasons to buy.

Continue reading General Electric: Four reasons to buy

General Electric: Four reasons to buy originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"The Obama administration is poised to spend a lot of money on infrastructure; one important sector is the the nation's electric power grid and the communications system," notes growth stock advisor Dave Dyer.

In his Dave Dayer's Newsletter, he explains, "Some products will win big, others will get nothing, but one company will get more business regardless of which products win: Quanta Services (NYSE: PWR), the leading electrical contractor in the country.

"Quanta's service business stands ready to expand with the infrastructure buildout no matter which products are selected.

"They do design, installation, maintenance, and repair on just about any type of network infrastructure (electric power, telecom, broadband cable, and gas pipelines.) Their moat against competitors is size. They are the largest in their field and that is in no danger of changing.

Continue reading Power play: Rebuilding the electric power grid

Power play: Rebuilding the electric power grid originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

What sectors are poised to outperform as a result of a Barack Obama presidency? To find out, we turn to fund expert Jim Lowell who recent prepared a report highlighting the top ETFs based on each candidate.

In The Forbes ETF Trader, he offers several top picks including ETFs that are focused on biotechnology and medical research, industrials, clean environment and clean energy technologies.

"SPDR Biotech (ASE: XBI) seeks investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance of the S&P Biotechnology Select Industry Index which is made up of the biotechnology sector of the S&P Total Markets Index.

"It began trading in January 2006. The top ten holdings are Genentech, Amgen, Gilead Sciences, Celgene, Genzyme, Biogen Idec, Imclone, Cephalon, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, and Alexion Pharmaceuticals.

"Vanguard Industrials (NYSE: VIS) seeks investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance of the Morgan Stanley Capital International US Investable Market Industrials Index.

Continue reading Obama Picks: Fund expert's top ETFs

Obama Picks: Fund expert's top ETFs originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 05 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Even with the poor outlook for the economy, there are many investment opportunities being created by high energy prices and the low dollar," notes Jim Powell. In his Global Changes & Opportunities Report, he explains, "American 'rust belt companies' look especially good."

"Surprisingly, rising fuel prices are making some American manufacturers more competitive and I could not be happier about the improved outlook for many efficient U.S. producers.

"U.S. machine tool makers are starting to take back some of the business they lost to Japan 20 years ago. U.S. imports of Chinese steel are declining dramatically, while domestic production is rising at rates not seen in years.

"The list of U.S. businesses that are benefiting from the new trade relationships will lengthen, but it won't happen overnight. It's not just a matter of being loyal to the home team. America will benefit from creating more real wealth instead of the flim-flam financial products that led to the phony boom.

Continue reading American favorites: Rust-belt resurgence?

American favorites: Rust-belt resurgence? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"I've never been a big fan of deep cyclical industries, such as autos, chemicals, and steel; the companies tend to have violent swings in their results as a result of economic cycles," observes Chuck Carlson.

However, says the editor of The DRIP Investor, "Every so often I'm willing to make an exception for a well-run cyclical company. Arcelor Mittal (NYSE: MT) is such a company." Here is his review.

"Arcelor Mittal is the world's number one steel company, with 310,000 employees in more than 60 countries. It has demonstrated the ability to navigate the often-difficult waters of the steel industry.

"For investors who are looking for stocks that should hold up in an inflationary environment, Mittal should be of interest. The company has pricing power -- for example, the company just announced a $100-per-ton price increase on its carbon and high-strength low-alloy plate steel products for all North American orders, effective May 4.

Continue reading Arcelor Mittal (MT): A 'steel' among cyclicals?

Arcelor Mittal (MT): A 'steel' among cyclicals? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"We like to invest in the strongest sectors and we think Industrials are on their way to the top," note Ron Rowland and Brandon Clay in All Star Investor.

The advisors explain, "Surveying the horizon of industrial companies, the most promising is Bermuda-based, Ingersoll-Rand (NYSE: IR). This is a stock you want for the next 12 months."

"The stock market is a leading indicator; it starts to decline before the economy slows down, and it starts to advance well before the economy improves. These lags often results in a stock market that starts moving up just when the public becomes 'convinced' that the problems are serious.

"Economic reports are likely to get worse. Housing foreclosures are likely to increase. Many more employees are likely to be let go. These are the perceptions that currently haunt investors.

"However, these are often the very same perceptions that create bottoms in the stock market. It is hard to see how the economy will crawl out of this mess, but eventually it will. The groundwork is now being laid.

"It may seem counter-intuitive, but investors should start planning for the next expansionary cycle. Markets move well ahead of facts, and it's time to invest accordingly. And indeed, industrials have risen in our rankings in recent weeks.

"A global leader of broad-based equipment offerings, Ingersoll-Rand is positioned to capitalize on the next phase of development like no other company in its sector. Here's why.

Continue reading Ingersoll-Rand (IR): It's time for Industrials

Ingersoll-Rand (IR): It's time for Industrials originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 08 Apr 2008 13:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Just call it the "half a loaf is better than none" or "the glass is half-full" earnings quarter, or... well you get the point.

Wall Streets' analysts expect earnings growth from S & P 500 companies to slow in the second quarter, but that doesn't mean that there won't be stand-out sectors.

For example, energy companies are expected to benefit from elevated oil prices, barely-adequate gasoline refinery capacity, and solid demand for petroleum-based products.

Also, the industrial and technology sectors are expected to fair well: the industrials boosted by continued strong global growth, the techs aided by corporate information technology spending.

On the downside, likely to post sub-par earnings results include the auto and housing companies: U.S. automakers are battling operational restructuring and a slowdown in consumer spending, while the housing sector continues to correct, due to a large supply of unsold homes, rising interest rates, and subprime loan defaults.

Market-wide, analysts expect S & P 500 companies to post Q2 year-over-year earnings growth of 4.4%, according to Thomson Financial. If that sounds like a modest slowdown compared to the double-digit earnings growth prior to 2007, you're right, and Wall Street has, accordingly, "lowered the earnings expectations bar" for this quarter. Hence, in general, companies that fail to exceed analysts' earnings estimates by 10% are not likely to face as harsh a treatment by investors as they would in quarters past, when the earnings expectations bar was higher.

Still, given the strong correlation between earnings growth and stock prices, lowered expecations or not, this quarter's earnings performance will provide investors with a telling data point regarding whether there's fundamental evidence to drive stock prices higher, and by extension, to continue the market's bull run of 2007.

Q2 earnings season: modest expectations for S & P 500 companies originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 10 Jul 2007 02:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.