Optimism in the air. The S&P 500 is up 4% so far this year, and the Q4 earnings results – we’re about halfway through the reporting season – have been better than expected. The conventional wisdom, and hints from the Federal Reserve, say that interest rates will start coming down later this year, and there’s a growing belief that the economy may have dodged the recession bullet. In his recent market strategy note, Oppenheimer’s chief investment strategist John Stoltzfus describes the current moo
Our modern world tends to divorce us from our food supply, and that’s unfortunate. A stronger understanding of the sources of the food we eat, and the complexity of the supply chain that brings that food to our tables, would bring us a myriad of benefits – not the least of which is a clear view of some sound investment opportunities. In order to reach our tables, food must be prepared, preserved, and packaged, a set of interrelated processes that takes time, extensive facilities, and a trained l
Americans have a long-lasting love affair with cars, and it shows in the economy. The automotive industry accounts for approximately 3% of the nation’s GDP, and car sales are a huge business. In its mid-2023 report, the National Auto Dealers Association reported that 16,839 franchised dealers had sold 7.66 million light-duty vehicles (cars and light trucks) in 1H23. Total dealer sales in light-duty vehicles for the half-year came to $614 billion and that was supplemented by $73 billion worth of
Who doesn’t love a passive income? That’s precisely what dividend stocks offer – a consistent payout solely based on your ownership of shares. The beauty of it lies in its simplicity; there are no obligations attached. Investors can choose to cash in immediately, reinvest in more shares, or save it for a rainy day. But hold on, there’s more to it! The top-notch dividend stocks are versatile assets that offer more than just periodic payments to attract investors. Dividends contribute to the overa