If you like big yield and significant price appreciation potential, then this particular closed-end fund (CEF) is worth considering. It’s a sector-specific CEF that yields nearly 11% (paid monthly). And not only is the sector an attractive contrarian play for multiple reasons right now, the fund is trading at a double-digit discount to its NAV which suggests it may have even more upside rebound potential ahead.
High Income: CEF Quick Screen Ideas
If you like to generate steady high income, Closed End Funds (CEFs) may be on your radar. For example, equity CEFs often generate steady quarterly distributions in excess of 7%. If you are a young person saving for retirement, it’s generally a good idea to NOT invest in CEFs, but if you’re already retired (or semi-retired) then CEFs can be worth considering. This article highlights 30 equity CEFs (many trading at attractive discounts), and we also share our views on how CEFs can be valuable if used correctly.
New Trades and Year-End Performance
We finished the last trading-day of 2016 with two new purchases. We also finished the full-year with all three strategies (Income Equity, Disciplined Growth, and Smart Beta) beating the S&P 500. The two trades were in the Disciplined Growth and Smart Beta (ETF-only) portfolios, and we detail them in this report. We also believe all three strategies are well-positioned for continued out-performance in 2017. Please login to review the new trades and all of our current holdings.
5 Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) for 2017
The following table shows the performance of 40 sector and industry ETFs sorted by year-to-date total returns. And not surprisingly, given the high political uncertainty this year, health care (and biopharmaceuticals, in particular) have performed very poorly, especially versus the S&P 500 which is up 13% this year. This article details five specific ETFs (across markets, sectors and industries) that we believe are particularly attractive headed into 2017...
Mean Reversion Monitor - Rankings Part II
As we mentioned in Part I of this report, the worst performers this year are often the best performers next year, and vice-verse. Here's a more detailed look at what has (and what has not) been working so far in 2016, and our views on what might deliver the best and worst performance in 2017, as well as how we are positioning our current holdings.
A Small Cap Software Company with Big Upside
This week’s members-only investment idea is a small cap Software as a Service (SaaS) company with very significant price appreciation potential. The stock fell after the November election, but for all the wrong reasons. The stock price still hasn’t recovered yet, and we believe it has big upside potential in 2017 and beyond because it offers a better product with little competition and a very big total addressable market. This stock has room to run!
Top 4 Tech Stocks Worth Considering
In this week's Weekly, we review our top 4 Tech Stocks worth considering. We own shares of all four of the top 4 (we own three in our diversified Blue Harbinger Disciplined Growth strategy, and one in our diversified Blue Harbinger Income Equity strategy). Tech stocks have been beat up since the November election. Without further ado, here is the list...
Apple: Will Trump Extend an Olive Branch?
During Wednesday’s “Tech Summit,” President-Elect Trump will likely extend an olive branch to Apple whereby he’ll offer a tax-break so companies (like Apple) can bring large overseas cash balances back to the US. However, of course there will be strings attached (for example, Trump wants iPhones manufactured in the US, despite daunting economics). This article reviews Apple’s current valuation, its healthy dividend, some of the possible results of the Tech Summit, and our views on whether now is a good time to buy Apple or jump ship!
Exciting Updates at Blue Harbinger
In this week’s Blue Harbinger Weekly, we provide a brief update on our shipping company holding (which has gained over 30% since early November), recap links to our newest reports on Saratoga Investment Corp., Facebook, “Big Risks Facing the BDC Industry,” and our latest Blue Harbinger Watch List. And last, but not least, we’re excited about our new update on personal investment advisory and custom portfolio management services.
Facebook: On Sale for Christmas?
Facebook shares are down more than 10% since late October while the market is up. Arguably, Facebook is down because of slowing growth fears, the incoming administration’s hostility to West Coast tech companies, and renewed concerns (and lawsuits) over unfriendly shareholder voting rights. However, this one-trick-pony (online advertising) may still have a lot of room to run. So do the negatives justify the lower share price, or is now a great time to “buy low” just in time for Christmas!?
This Country ETF has Room to Rebound & Run!
In sticking with this week’s ETF/Smart-Beta theme, our members-only investment idea is a country-specific ETF. It’s one that’s been beat up politically and in the market, but remains stronger than many investors give it credit for. It’s a diversified, relatively low-cost, way to benefit from a rebound and continued long-term production and growth.
Blue Harbinger Asset Allocation Outlook
This week we review the performance and provide an outlook for our all-ETF portfolio, “Smart Beta.” This portfolio, as well as our two other portfolios (e.g. Income Equity and Disciplined Growth) have benefited from an intentional allocation to small cap stocks, particularly since the US election. We also cover growth/value tilts, sectors, non-US and fixed income allocations. However, the big question is “how should investors be tilting their allocations going forward?” We share our views.
Paylocity: Hyper-Growth in 5 Charts
Paylocity (PCTY) has negative net income, and a forward price-to-earnings ratio (91.4x) that would make most value investors shriek! However, it has also been experiencing “hyper” revenue growth that is hard to ignore. This article reviews Paylocity’s hyper-growth in five charts, and then provides our views on whether this Arlington-Heights-Illinois-based, zero-dividend-paying company, is worth considering...
Our 29 Favorite Stocks: Performance Review & Outlook
This week's Weekly provides a brief update on each holding in our three Blue Harbinger strategies: Income Equity, Disciplined Growth, and Smart Beta. On average, our holdings continue to significantly beat the S&P 500 since the November 8th US elections, adding to our growing track record of outperformance. We believe the portfolios are well-positioned for continued outperformance in the future. Without further ado, here are the updates...
Post-Election Dow 30: Ranking the Best and Worst
Following the results of the US elections on November 8th, there have been some clear market winners and losers. In this third installment of “Ranking the Best and Worst” (the previous two covered Big Dividend BDCs and Big Dividend REITs), we rank the post-election performance of the thirty Dow Jones stocks, offer explanations for those that have diverged, and conclude with our views on the top Dow Jones stocks worth considering.
Johnson & Johnson: Dividend Powerhouse, New ACA Risks
JNJ is an absolute dividend powerhouse having increased its dividend for more than 50 years straight. However, the company faces new and increased uncertainty risk in light of a Republican House, Senate and President-elect that seem determined to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In addition to its attractive growing dividend payment, significant long-term capital appreciation potential, and reduced risk via its large and diverse revenue base, we believe JNJ could eventually benefit from reduced regulatory burden under a modified ACA, but is now the right time to buy?
Post-Election Investment Opportunities
Following Tuesday’s election results, the market reacted significantly. The “Blue Chip” Dow Jones Industrials Average had its best week in 5-years (+5.4%) as investors bought industrials and banks assuming they’ll benefit from more spending, less regulations, and increased inflation under Trump. In this week’s Weekly, we provide some age-old “boring” yet sage advice on how to prepare for the next market shock, as well as three specific investment ideas that we consider attractive right now.
IBM: Has Big Blue Lost Its Way? Or Not?
IBM offers an attractive (3.5%) dividend yield, but the dividend alone is not enough if the stock can’t provide some long-term capital appreciation. In this article, we review IBM’s shrinking legacy business, its attempt at growth via “strategic imperatives,” its dividend, share buybacks, valuation, and risks. And we also provide our strong views on whether it’s time to buy or sell Big Blue.
Our Two Favorite Big-Dividend BDCs
This week’s Weekly covers our two favorite big-dividend Business Development Companies (BDCs). They yield 13% and 10%, respectively. And we own both of them in our Blue Harbinger Income Equity portfolio. They’ve both sold off modestly over the last two months as higher yielding equities in general have sold off, thereby creating a more attractive entry point for long-term income-hungry investors.
Five Attractive Long-Term Opportunities
This week’s Weekly highlights five attractive long-term investment opportunities. Specifically, we review market sector ETFs, geographic regions, and individual stocks, and then point out five that are flashing buy signals. As Ben Graham says, the market is a voting machine in the short-term, but a weighing machine in the long-term.