web analytics

Monthly Archives: February 2011

An Earnings Play for Next Week

February 4, 2011
By
An Earnings Play for Next Week

As to the current market, there’s no question that this market uptrend has been on thinner and thinner ice during the past few weeks.  The number of stocks hitting new highs (one measure of breadth) has declined each time the indexes reach new-high ground during recent weeks.  And this past Friday’s huge-volume selloff (just as the Nasdaq was trying to hit another new high) was a clear indication that the bears were making a stand. So it’s time to get out our bearish playbook, right?  Not so fast.  One thought that occurred to me this past weekend is that...

Read more »

Don’t Believe Everything You Think

February 3, 2011
By
Don’t Believe Everything You Think

On my desktop right in front of me I have a few sticky notes taped to the bottom of my monitor.  A few months ago I started writing down witty market truisms whenever I read or heard them, and then putting them in a place where I can see them.  It sounds lame, but every now and then when I’m stressing out about a stock or a decision (to buy or sell), one of these catches my eye and gives me some clarity. Some examples include “It’s hardest to keep things simplest,” “Only egotists and fools try to pick...

Read more »

Novartis: A Great Conservative Growth Stock

February 1, 2011
By

Still there are opportunities for investors in Switzerland. Which brings me to this issue’s recommendation. It’s pharmaceutical giant Novartis (NVS), which is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, but does business in 140 countries all over the world. Created in 1996 from the merger of Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz, the company generated $51 billion in revenues last year. Its biggest market was the U.S., accounting for 32% of revenues. Its biggest revenue-generators included Gleevec, Diovan, Lucentis, Amoxicillin, Augmentin, Claritin, and Excedrin. And it’s growing at a good pace, in large part by acquiring smaller competitors with valuable properties. Last year it acquired...

Read more »