"For good reason, there are hundreds of investment managers who are devout Warren Buffett-style value investors," observes Ian Wyatt.

The editor of The 100K Portfolio explains, "From 1965 to 2010, under Buffett's leadership, Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A or BRK.B) has seen it's per share book value increase at an annual rate of 20.2 percent.

"Since Warren Buffett is now 80 years young, and his partner Charlie Munger is 87, the future leadership of Berkshire is certainly a concern.

Continue reading Berkshire Hathaway Offers Vision and Value

Berkshire Hathaway Offers Vision and Value originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Chasing Value: Insured Profits or a Mountain of Risk?

Chasing Value: Insured Profits or a Mountain of Risk? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Chasing Value: Homeowners Choice Earnings, Another Great Quarter

Chasing Value: Homeowners Choice Earnings, Another Great Quarter originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 17:00:00 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.

"A stock that should do well in 2011 is Ameriprise Financial (AMP); the company offers financial planning, asset management, and insurance products," says dividend reinvestment specialist Chuck Carlson.

The editor of The DRIP Investor explains, "The company's product focus on meeting the retirement needs of 'mass affluent individuals.'

Continue reading Top Picks 2011: Ameriprise Financial (AMP)

Top Picks 2011: Ameriprise Financial (AMP) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 13:00:00 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.

"Aflac (AFL) represents a top year-ahead pick based on its solid operating momentum and modest valuation," says Richard Moroney.

The editor of Dow Theory Forecasts explains, "In our proprietary ranking system (known as Quadrix), the stock earns an Overall score of 99.

Continue reading Top Picks 2011: Aflac (AFL)

Top Picks 2011: Aflac (AFL) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 01 Jan 2011 13:00:00 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.

"Insurers benefit when things go wrong; that explains our latest top pick, Catlin Group Ltd. (CNGRY)," says global stock specialist Vivian Lewis.

The editor of Global Investing explains, "Incorporated and regulated in Bermuda, and listed primarily in London, Catlin Group is the largest syndicator at Lloyd's of London, the reinsurance business. It's also a favorite holding of institutional investors.

Continue reading Top Picks 2011: Catlin Group (CNGRY)

Top Picks 2011: Catlin Group (CNGRY) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 30 Dec 2010 12:20:00 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.

"Financials appear to offer among the best opportunities for 2011," says ETF specialist Jim Farrish.

The editor of Sector Exchange explains, "Indeed, my favorite ETF idea for the coming year would be the First Trust Financials AlphaDEX ETF (FXO), a well diversified way to play the sector overall.

Continue reading Top Picks 2011: First Trust Financials AlphaDEX (FXO)

Top Picks 2011: First Trust Financials AlphaDEX (FXO) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Spun-off from American Express in 2005, Ameriprise Financial (AMP) is in the midst of a transformation from an insurer to a full-blown money management firm," notes long-term value investor John Buckingham.

The editor of The Prudent Speculator explains, "Eyeing an opportunity to gather assets on the cheap, the company spent close to $2 billion during the financial crisis.

"The company purchased Columbia Asset Management, J&W Seligman and H&R Block Financial. In total, it acquired $224 billion in new assets, bringing total assets under management to over $445 billion.

Continue reading Ameriprise (AMP): A 'Prudent' Pick in Financials

Ameriprise (AMP): A 'Prudent' Pick in Financials originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Catastrophe bond capacity is maturing, and not much of it is coming back. In the first quarter, $1.8 billion in cat bond risk capital matured, and only $508 million returned in the form of new issuances, according to Thomson Reuters. This quarter, $2.77 billion is maturing, and the absence of first-time issuers makes it unlikely that the market will replace it all. More than a billion of it was from State Farm's Merna Re transaction. The successor to it has already been issued, cleverly named Merna Re II, at only a fraction of the previous bond.

Continue reading Catastrophe Bond Issuance Gap Is upon Us

Catastrophe Bond Issuance Gap Is upon Us originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 12 Apr 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Chubb CEO Says Bailouts Cost Insurers Opportunity

Chubb CEO Says Bailouts Cost Insurers Opportunity originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 22 Mar 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Merna Re, the largest catastrophe bond of all time, is set to mature in June, and State Farm is already putting together its replacement, the creatively named Merna Re II. The successor, planned for issuance in April, is said to be for $400 million in risk capital, though investor demand could push it as high as $700 million. This still pales in comparison to the $1.2 billion that the original brought in the door.

If State Farm is able to stimulate demand for Merna Re II, which would protect the company from non-California earthquake risk in the U.S., it will be third cat bond to come to market in 2010, which is expected to be a strong year for this form of risk transfer. The cat bond market fell silent after the near-collapse of American International Group (AIG) in September 2008 but was still the third busiest in terms of capital issued in the history of the cat bond market. Heading into 2009, prospects for the cat bond space seemed uncertain, but a robust fourth quarter eventually resulted in a year-over-year increase, driven mostly by repeat issuers.

Continue reading State Farm Planning Monster Cat Bond

State Farm Planning Monster Cat Bond originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Munich Re Profit Surges by More Than 60%

Munich Re Profit Surges by More Than 60% originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Annual Ritual: Speculating on Florida Insurance Market's Strength

Annual Ritual: Speculating on Florida Insurance Market's Strength originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Insurance

Continue reading Insurance Company Upgrades Beat Downgrades by 50% in 2009

Insurance Company Upgrades Beat Downgrades by 50% in 2009 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of a special report, Top Picks for 2010, the 27th annual survey in which TheStockAdvisors.com asks the nation's leading advisors for their single favorite stock for the new year. See all 80 stocks listed here.

"Universal Insurance Holdings (UVE) is my stock pick for 2010," says Neil Macneale, editor of the In his 2-for-1 advisory.

Incidentally, Neil's top stock pick in last year's report -- Teck Resources -- soared 650%. Here's his new favorite for the coming year.

Continue reading Top Picks for 2010: Universal Insurance (UVE)

Top Picks for 2010: Universal Insurance (UVE) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 30 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of a special report, Top Picks for 2010, the 27th annual survey in which TheStockAdvisors.com asks the nation's leading advisors for their single favorite stock for the new year. See all 80 stocks listed here.

"Aflac (AFL) is best known in the U.S. for its 'duck ads,' but actually earns over 75% of its money from Japan," says Dirk Van Dijk.

In selecting the stock as his top pick for 2010, the strategist for Zacks.com, recalls "Aflac happens to be an old favorite of mine, a stock that I first recommended back in 1991." Here's his current update.

Continue reading Top Picks for 2010: Aflac (AFL)

Top Picks for 2010: Aflac (AFL) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 25 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"The hands-down choice for growth in the insurance sector is in China, where the industry is just getting off the ground." says says growth stock expert Timothy Lutts.

In The Cabot Stock of the Month Report, he suggests, "CNinsure (CISG) is the king of the Chinese insurance industry. We believe the stock most attractive insurance industry investment in China today.

"When properly managed, a property and casualty insurance company is an excellent vehicle for participating in a region's growth. However, the average age of top insurance companies in the U.S. is 108 years and their assets of the U.S. are growing slowly.

Continue reading CNinsure (CISG): The 'king of China's insurance industry'

CNinsure (CISG): The 'king of China's insurance industry' originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"I have four Hurricane Season stock picks -- two bullish, two bearish -- to play this summer's potentially wild weather," says Sean Broderick in his Uncommon Wisdom advisory.

"Last year's stormy weather spawned 16 named storms, which was higher than the long-term average of about 10 tropical storms and six hurricanes per year in a typical Atlantic hurricane season.

"The major hurricane forecasters have now made their predictions, and it's for a 'moderate' hurricane season. That's good news for America's oil and gas industry.

Continue reading Hurricane plays: Winners and losers

Hurricane plays: Winners and losers originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Concerning the current debate over executive bonuses, value investor Charles Mizrahi contents, "As a shareholder, I have the choice of becoming partners with more than 7,000 businesses on the American stock exchanges."

In his Hidden Values Alert he states, "I've found two companies with managers who are aligned with shareholders. Their compensation packages put them in the same boat as shareholders, and as an owner that is exactly where you want them to be."

Here, the advisor looks at insurance firm Markel Corporation (NYSE: MKL) and business supplies retailer Staples (NYSE: SPLS).

Continue reading Shareholder-focused managements: Markel (MKL) & Staples (SPLS)

Shareholder-focused managements: Markel (MKL) & Staples (SPLS) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 09 Mar 2009 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of a special annual report -- Top Stock Picks '09 -- in which TheStockAdvisors.com asked 75 leading newsletter advisors to select their favorite investment for the new year.

"HMS Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: HMSY), which makes its money by correcting errors in Medicaid payments and recovering misspent money, is my top pick for 2009," says growth stock specialist Dave Dyer.

In his Dave Dyer's Newsletter, he explains, "This is a company whose fundamentals appear to improve as the economy declines.

"If you think that the unemployment rate will rise in 2009, then you ought to love HMS Holdings. They recently raised their 2009 guidance because they expect higher unemployment.

"The company stated that the unemployment rate is the most important leading indicator of growth in the Medicaid program, which in turn, is one of the most important drivers of their revenue.

"Medicaid is funded by the federal government and administered by the individual states. With 40 of the 50 states under contract, HMSY essentially has a monopoly in this market.

Continue reading Top Stock Picks '09: HMS Holdings (HMSY)

Top Stock Picks '09: HMS Holdings (HMSY) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.