Paul Zimbardo - Seeking Alpha © seekingalpha.com. Use of this feed is limited to personal, non-commercial use and is governed by Seeking Alpha's Terms of Use (http://seekingalpha.com/page/terms-of-use). Publishing this feed for public or commercial use and/or misrepresentation by a third party is prohibited. SeekingAlpha.com http://seekingalpha.com/author/paul-zimbardo 8 High-Yield Dividends To Research Now http://seekingalpha.com/article/1446231-8-high-yield-dividends-to-research-now?source=feed 1446231 Investing in quality dividend equities is a time-tested strategy to mitigate losses, dampen volatility, and generate income in most market environments. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 are both at record highs but there are concerns that too many stocks are overvalued. The rally may have room left to run but it would be wise to position yourself for downside protection. Most companies with high yields have strong financial positions that make them attractive to investors. Additionally, these companies usually have high cash flows from operations, one of the most important factors in a prospective investment. The yields on junk bonds are near record lows and some are now yielding less than five percent: would you rather buy low quality bonds or high quality equities with comparable, or higher, yields?

This week there are eight ex-dividend candidates that have been analyzed below based upon

]]> Mon, 20 May 2013 03:44:52 -0400 Paul Zimbardo Investing in quality dividend equities is a time-tested strategy to mitigate losses, dampen volatility, and generate income in most market environments. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 are both at record highs but there are concerns that too many stocks are overvalued. The rally may have room left to run but it would be wise to position yourself for downside protection. Most companies with high yields have strong financial positions that make them attractive to investors. Additionally, these companies usually have high cash flows from operations, one of the most important factors in a prospective investment. The yields on junk bonds are near record lows and some are now yielding less than five percent: would you rather buy low quality bonds or high quality equities with comparable, or higher, yields?

This week there are eight ex-dividend candidates that have been analyzed below based upon


Complete Story »]]> NTI SLF TYG COP HE AVA PAAS Paul Zimbardo Apple: The Important 'Halo' Metric Investors Are Ignoring http://seekingalpha.com/article/1431211-apple-the-important-halo-metric-investors-are-ignoring?source=feed 1431211 Apple (AAPL) has experienced a tumultuous 2013 in which the stock has dropped 19%, despite the overall market rally. Apple has jumped five percent in the past month and investors are holding their breath to see if an Apple rally is forming. Optimism surrounding the company has diminished and in a surprising shift, the media is now extremely critical of Apple. Now more than ever it is important to monitor developments for Apple and its competitors. Below I will layout the reason why I continue to recommend Apple and, as a supplement, present complementary option strategies. For details on my methodology, please consult the first article in the series as well as my Instablog.

(click to enlarge)

(Source: Finviz.com)

Apple reported its second quarter 2013 results recently and they were generally in-line with my expectations. To say that Apple was slumping ahead of earnings

]]> Mon, 13 May 2013 16:40:38 -0400 Paul Zimbardo Apple (AAPL) has experienced a tumultuous 2013 in which the stock has dropped 19%, despite the overall market rally. Apple has jumped five percent in the past month and investors are holding their breath to see if an Apple rally is forming. Optimism surrounding the company has diminished and in a surprising shift, the media is now extremely critical of Apple. Now more than ever it is important to monitor developments for Apple and its competitors. Below I will layout the reason why I continue to recommend Apple and, as a supplement, present complementary option strategies. For details on my methodology, please consult the first article in the series as well as my Instablog.

(click to enlarge)

(Source: Finviz.com)

Apple reported its second quarter 2013 results recently and they were generally in-line with my expectations. To say that Apple was slumping ahead of earnings


Complete Story »]]> AAPL Paul Zimbardo 7 High Yield Dividend Stocks To Avoid And Consider This Week http://seekingalpha.com/article/1430711-7-high-yield-dividend-stocks-to-avoid-and-consider-this-week?source=feed 1430711 Investing in quality dividend equities is a time-tested strategy to mitigate losses, dampen volatility, and generate income in most market environments. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 are both near record highs but there are concerns that consumers will not be able to support the rally for much longer. The combination of political and economic indecisiveness is resulting in a flight to high quality U.S. equities. Most companies with high yields have strong financial positions that make them attractive to investors. Additionally, these companies usually have high cash flows from operations, one of the most important factors in a prospective investment. The yields on junk bonds are at record lows and some are now yielding less than five percent: would you rather buy low quality bonds or high quality equities with comparable, or higher, yields?

This week there are fourteen ex-dividend candidates that have

]]> Mon, 13 May 2013 14:51:44 -0400 Paul Zimbardo Investing in quality dividend equities is a time-tested strategy to mitigate losses, dampen volatility, and generate income in most market environments. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 are both near record highs but there are concerns that consumers will not be able to support the rally for much longer. The combination of political and economic indecisiveness is resulting in a flight to high quality U.S. equities. Most companies with high yields have strong financial positions that make them attractive to investors. Additionally, these companies usually have high cash flows from operations, one of the most important factors in a prospective investment. The yields on junk bonds are at record lows and some are now yielding less than five percent: would you rather buy low quality bonds or high quality equities with comparable, or higher, yields?

This week there are fourteen ex-dividend candidates that have


Complete Story »]]> ARR BPL DUK ED FSC MAIN PMT Paul Zimbardo Which High Yield Dividend Stocks To Avoid This Week http://seekingalpha.com/article/1413401-which-high-yield-dividend-stocks-to-avoid-this-week?source=feed 1413401 Investing in quality dividend equities is a potent strategy to hedge against a possible stock market decline. The Wall Street Journal recently published an article on how dividend-paying stocks are hot due to the demand for income generating securities. Most companies with high yields have strong balance sheets that make them ideal for defensive investors. Additionally, these companies usually have high cash flows from operations, one of the most important factors in a prospective investment.

There are five candidates that have been analyzed below based upon SA readership criteria. The majority of the companies are energy related, including a pipeline company and diversified utility company. Yields are generally clustered in the four-to-five percent bracket but there are three equities yielding over six percent. Four of the five market capitalizations are below five billion and one company has a market cap of over $20B. I prefer that my ex-dividend

]]> Wed, 08 May 2013 08:40:39 -0400 Paul Zimbardo Investing in quality dividend equities is a potent strategy to hedge against a possible stock market decline. The Wall Street Journal recently published an article on how dividend-paying stocks are hot due to the demand for income generating securities. Most companies with high yields have strong balance sheets that make them ideal for defensive investors. Additionally, these companies usually have high cash flows from operations, one of the most important factors in a prospective investment.

There are five candidates that have been analyzed below based upon SA readership criteria. The majority of the companies are energy related, including a pipeline company and diversified utility company. Yields are generally clustered in the four-to-five percent bracket but there are three equities yielding over six percent. Four of the five market capitalizations are below five billion and one company has a market cap of over $20B. I prefer that my ex-dividend


Complete Story »]]> KFN NMM SE TE Paul Zimbardo 4 High Yield Dividends To Consider And 2 To Avoid http://seekingalpha.com/article/1404111-4-high-yield-dividends-to-consider-and-2-to-avoid?source=feed 1404111 Investing in quality dividend equities is an established strategy to hedge against a possible stock market decline. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 both hit new records on Friday but many investors are worried that the rally in equities could be running out of steam. The combination of political and economic indecisiveness is resulting in a flight to high quality US equities. It seems as if many investors are quick to forget that the US government is facing $85B of federal spending cuts this year. Most companies with high yields have strong financial positions that make them attractive to investors. Additionally, these companies usually have high cash flows from operations, one of the most important factors in a prospective investment. While some investors are buying Italian ten-year bonds yielding four percent, I suggest considering relatively safe American equities with comparable, or higher, yields.

There are eight

]]> Mon, 06 May 2013 00:30:00 -0400 Paul Zimbardo Investing in quality dividend equities is an established strategy to hedge against a possible stock market decline. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 both hit new records on Friday but many investors are worried that the rally in equities could be running out of steam. The combination of political and economic indecisiveness is resulting in a flight to high quality US equities. It seems as if many investors are quick to forget that the US government is facing $85B of federal spending cuts this year. Most companies with high yields have strong financial positions that make them attractive to investors. Additionally, these companies usually have high cash flows from operations, one of the most important factors in a prospective investment. While some investors are buying Italian ten-year bonds yielding four percent, I suggest considering relatively safe American equities with comparable, or higher, yields.

There are eight


Complete Story »]]> EEP ARLP NRGY ACMP FII ETR Paul Zimbardo High-Yield Dividend Stocks To Avoid And Consider This Week http://seekingalpha.com/article/1380401-high-yield-dividend-stocks-to-avoid-and-consider-this-week?source=feed 1380401 Investing in high-quality dividend equities is a popular strategy to combat an increasingly uncertain stock market. Many investors follow the axiom of "sell in May," but if you hold your dividend stocks, you can still generate income, even when the market is volatile. The Dow rebounded nicely from a very poor week, despite the fake tweet crash that temporarily crashed the market. The combination of political and economic indecisiveness is resulting in a flight to high quality US equities. Most companies with high yields have strong financial positions that make them attractive to investors. Additionally, these companies usually have high cash flows from operations, one of the most important factors in a prospective investment. While some investors are buying Italian ten-year bonds yielding four percent, I suggest considering relatively safe American equities with comparable, or higher, yields.

This week six candidates have been analyzed below

]]> Mon, 29 Apr 2013 03:30:45 -0400 Paul Zimbardo Investing in high-quality dividend equities is a popular strategy to combat an increasingly uncertain stock market. Many investors follow the axiom of "sell in May," but if you hold your dividend stocks, you can still generate income, even when the market is volatile. The Dow rebounded nicely from a very poor week, despite the fake tweet crash that temporarily crashed the market. The combination of political and economic indecisiveness is resulting in a flight to high quality US equities. Most companies with high yields have strong financial positions that make them attractive to investors. Additionally, these companies usually have high cash flows from operations, one of the most important factors in a prospective investment. While some investors are buying Italian ten-year bonds yielding four percent, I suggest considering relatively safe American equities with comparable, or higher, yields.

This week six candidates have been analyzed below


Complete Story »]]> LGCY NYCB ETP FE SO PAA Paul Zimbardo Apple Earnings Forecast: Will The Stock Fall Further? http://seekingalpha.com/article/1360381-apple-earnings-forecast-will-the-stock-fall-further?source=feed 1360381 It seems as if every quarterly financial release is the most important ever for Apple (AAPL), but this quarter is certainly unique. Apple's stock has declined 22% in the past three months and has dropped nearly fifty percent since its peak of $705. Apple is one of the worst performing stocks in 2013 and optimism for the company has seemingly vanished. Apple's highly anticipated second quarter fiscal 2013 earnings will be released Tuesday and I have lost count of how many times people have asked me what to do with the stock before earnings. Is it time to capitulate and sell before the stock declines further? Is it time to start buying shares now that we are trading at such historical lows? Read on to find out.

To predict Apple's financial performance, I focus on the last twelve months of reported performance, new products, reported trends, and

]]> Tue, 23 Apr 2013 03:56:58 -0400 Paul Zimbardo It seems as if every quarterly financial release is the most important ever for Apple (AAPL), but this quarter is certainly unique. Apple's stock has declined 22% in the past three months and has dropped nearly fifty percent since its peak of $705. Apple is one of the worst performing stocks in 2013 and optimism for the company has seemingly vanished. Apple's highly anticipated second quarter fiscal 2013 earnings will be released Tuesday and I have lost count of how many times people have asked me what to do with the stock before earnings. Is it time to capitulate and sell before the stock declines further? Is it time to start buying shares now that we are trading at such historical lows? Read on to find out.

To predict Apple's financial performance, I focus on the last twelve months of reported performance, new products, reported trends, and


Complete Story »]]> AAPL Paul Zimbardo 6 Dividends To Consider Or Avoid This Week http://seekingalpha.com/article/1357371-6-dividends-to-consider-or-avoid-this-week?source=feed 1357371 Investing in high quality dividend equities is a popular strategy to combat an increasingly uncertain stock market. The Dow suffered its worst weekly decline in almost one year and the situation was not much better for the S&P 500 or the Russell 2000. The combination of political and economic indecisiveness is resulting in a flight to high quality US equities. Most companies with high yields have strong financial positions that make them attractive to investors. Additionally, these companies usually have high cash flows from operations, one of the most important factors in a prospective investment. While some investors are buying Italian ten-year bonds yielding less than five percent, I suggest considering relatively safe American equities with comparable or higher yields.

This week six candidates have been analyzed below based upon SA readership criteria. Two real estate investment trusts ("REITs") were added because they met all requirements except

]]> Mon, 22 Apr 2013 03:48:13 -0400 Paul Zimbardo Investing in high quality dividend equities is a popular strategy to combat an increasingly uncertain stock market. The Dow suffered its worst weekly decline in almost one year and the situation was not much better for the S&P 500 or the Russell 2000. The combination of political and economic indecisiveness is resulting in a flight to high quality US equities. Most companies with high yields have strong financial positions that make them attractive to investors. Additionally, these companies usually have high cash flows from operations, one of the most important factors in a prospective investment. While some investors are buying Italian ten-year bonds yielding less than five percent, I suggest considering relatively safe American equities with comparable or higher yields.

This week six candidates have been analyzed below based upon SA readership criteria. Two real estate investment trusts ("REITs") were added because they met all requirements except


Complete Story »]]> PSEC BTE GOV EPD RY OHI Paul Zimbardo Why I Would Sell Apple If It Rehires Ron Johnson http://seekingalpha.com/article/1341891-why-i-would-sell-apple-if-it-rehires-ron-johnson?source=feed 1341891 Ron Johnson served as an Apple senior Vice President from 2000 to 2011 and oversaw the launch of the Apple Stores that were critical in turning Apple (AAPL) into the success it is today. After a prolific tenure, Johnson joined J. C. Penney (JCP) in a high-profile corporate move. At the time, JCP was trading for approximately $30 per share and since then it has lost more than half of its value. Earlier this month J.C. Penney's board said enough was enough and parted ways with Ron Johnson. As soon as I saw the news that Ron Johnson was a free agent, I wondering how long it would take for Apple rumors to start. The answer was not very long as they started to crop the same day.

Analysts have been extremely critical of Ron Johnson due to J.C. Penney's decline but I believe it

]]> Mon, 15 Apr 2013 11:33:33 -0400 Paul Zimbardo Ron Johnson served as an Apple senior Vice President from 2000 to 2011 and oversaw the launch of the Apple Stores that were critical in turning Apple (AAPL) into the success it is today. After a prolific tenure, Johnson joined J. C. Penney (JCP) in a high-profile corporate move. At the time, JCP was trading for approximately $30 per share and since then it has lost more than half of its value. Earlier this month J.C. Penney's board said enough was enough and parted ways with Ron Johnson. As soon as I saw the news that Ron Johnson was a free agent, I wondering how long it would take for Apple rumors to start. The answer was not very long as they started to crop the same day.

Analysts have been extremely critical of Ron Johnson due to J.C. Penney's decline but I believe it


Complete Story »]]> JCP AAPL Paul Zimbardo 3 Quality Dividends To Consider, 2 To Avoid This Week http://seekingalpha.com/article/1340541-3-quality-dividends-to-consider-2-to-avoid-this-week?source=feed 1340541 Dividend investing is a popular strategy as more investors are uncertain about the future of the stock market and the economy. With interest rates at historical lows, it is very difficult to generate income from your investments. Saving for retirement is becoming a more challenging task for more Americans and recent propositions to individual retirement accounts would only make the situation worse. The combination of political and economic security is resulting in a flight to high quality US equities. Most companies with high yields have strong financial positions that make them attractive to investors. Additionally, these companies usually have high cash flows from operations, one of the most important factors in a prospective investment. While some investors are buying Italian ten-year bonds yielding less than five percent, I suggest considering relatively safe American equities with comparable or higher yields.

This week there were only two candidates that met

]]> Mon, 15 Apr 2013 02:06:30 -0400 Paul Zimbardo Dividend investing is a popular strategy as more investors are uncertain about the future of the stock market and the economy. With interest rates at historical lows, it is very difficult to generate income from your investments. Saving for retirement is becoming a more challenging task for more Americans and recent propositions to individual retirement accounts would only make the situation worse. The combination of political and economic security is resulting in a flight to high quality US equities. Most companies with high yields have strong financial positions that make them attractive to investors. Additionally, these companies usually have high cash flows from operations, one of the most important factors in a prospective investment. While some investors are buying Italian ten-year bonds yielding less than five percent, I suggest considering relatively safe American equities with comparable or higher yields.

This week there were only two candidates that met


Complete Story »]]> MAIN SNH CXW CL CVS Paul Zimbardo Facebook Home: The Trojan Horse That Threatens Apple, Google, And More? http://seekingalpha.com/article/1331551-facebook-home-the-trojan-horse-that-threatens-apple-google-and-more?source=feed 1331551 One of the longest running technology rumors can finally be put to rest as Facebook (FB) finally announced the Facebook phone last week. Well, there is not really a Facebook phone, but instead a user interface layer, Facebook Home, which sits above Google's (GOOG) Android. Facebook Home is essentially a glorified wrapper over Android that lets users see their Facebook activity even before they unlock their smartphone. I believe Facebook's objectives are three-fold:

  • Increase use of Facebook, especially on mobile where most future growth is forecasted
  • Increase immediate revenue through new target advertising
  • Establish a mobile ecosystem that can ultimately lead to an entire operating system

Over the past year I have oscillated between being bullish and bearish on Facebook as the company is very difficult to get a read on from an investment standpoint. Will Facebook Home be the next big thing that catapults

]]> Wed, 10 Apr 2013 03:57:24 -0400 Paul Zimbardo One of the longest running technology rumors can finally be put to rest as Facebook (FB) finally announced the Facebook phone last week. Well, there is not really a Facebook phone, but instead a user interface layer, Facebook Home, which sits above Google's (GOOG) Android. Facebook Home is essentially a glorified wrapper over Android that lets users see their Facebook activity even before they unlock their smartphone. I believe Facebook's objectives are three-fold:

  • Increase use of Facebook, especially on mobile where most future growth is forecasted
  • Increase immediate revenue through new target advertising
  • Establish a mobile ecosystem that can ultimately lead to an entire operating system

Over the past year I have oscillated between being bullish and bearish on Facebook as the company is very difficult to get a read on from an investment standpoint. Will Facebook Home be the next big thing that catapults


Complete Story »]]> AAPL GOOG FB Paul Zimbardo 4 Ex-Dividends To Consider, 2 To Avoid This Week http://seekingalpha.com/article/1326211-4-ex-dividends-to-consider-2-to-avoid-this-week?source=feed 1326211 Dividend investing is an exceptionally popular strategy as more investors are uncertain about the future. Just last week fresh concerns arose regarding the health of the economic recovery as a poor jobs report derailed the market. Despite the Dow trading above 14,500, many investors are justifiably concerned that a bear market is on the horizon. Consequently, many investors are pursuing high yielding equities because of their quality. Most companies with high yields have strong financial position and liquidity that make them attractive to investors. Additionally, these companies usually have high cash flows from operations, one of the most important factors in a prospective investment. While some investors are buying Italian ten-year bonds yielding less than five percent, I suggest considering relatively safe American equities with higher yields.

This week there are seven candidates, six of which have been analyzed below based upon SA readership criteria. Half of

]]> Mon, 08 Apr 2013 05:12:23 -0400 Paul Zimbardo Dividend investing is an exceptionally popular strategy as more investors are uncertain about the future. Just last week fresh concerns arose regarding the health of the economic recovery as a poor jobs report derailed the market. Despite the Dow trading above 14,500, many investors are justifiably concerned that a bear market is on the horizon. Consequently, many investors are pursuing high yielding equities because of their quality. Most companies with high yields have strong financial position and liquidity that make them attractive to investors. Additionally, these companies usually have high cash flows from operations, one of the most important factors in a prospective investment. While some investors are buying Italian ten-year bonds yielding less than five percent, I suggest considering relatively safe American equities with higher yields.

This week there are seven candidates, six of which have been analyzed below based upon SA readership criteria. Half of


Complete Story »]]> ARR CJREF.PK DRI FSC MFA SJR Paul Zimbardo 6 High-Yielding Large Caps Going Ex-Dividend This Week http://seekingalpha.com/article/1311711-6-high-yielding-large-caps-going-ex-dividend-this-week?source=feed 1311711 Dividend investing is an extraordinarily popular topic now as more retirees pursue income. The Wall Street Journal published an article this weekend titled 'Five Really Dumb Money Moves You've Got to Avoid' and the number one mistake was reaching for yield. With savings rates near zero, investors are pursuing high-yield opportunities without fully understanding the risks. While some investors are buying Italian ten-year bonds yielding less than 5%, I suggest considering American equities with comparable risk-adjusted yields.

This week, I had to expand my usual ex-dividend screen to capture companies with 3% yields due to a lack of candidates. I specifically focused on companies that have been growing their yields and/or have had yields in excess of 4% in the past. The six companies are extremely diverse and are from industries ranging from banking to information technology to food wholesale. The yields are packed in a

]]> Mon, 01 Apr 2013 10:49:36 -0400 Paul Zimbardo Dividend investing is an extraordinarily popular topic now as more retirees pursue income. The Wall Street Journal published an article this weekend titled 'Five Really Dumb Money Moves You've Got to Avoid' and the number one mistake was reaching for yield. With savings rates near zero, investors are pursuing high-yield opportunities without fully understanding the risks. While some investors are buying Italian ten-year bonds yielding less than 5%, I suggest considering American equities with comparable risk-adjusted yields.

This week, I had to expand my usual ex-dividend screen to capture companies with 3% yields due to a lack of candidates. I specifically focused on companies that have been growing their yields and/or have had yields in excess of 4% in the past. The six companies are extremely diverse and are from industries ranging from banking to information technology to food wholesale. The yields are packed in a


Complete Story »]]> BMY CMCSA CSCO RTN SYY TD Paul Zimbardo Can T-Mobile And These Catalysts Boost Apple Shares? http://seekingalpha.com/article/1300591-can-t-mobile-and-these-catalysts-boost-apple-shares?source=feed 1300591 Apple (AAPL) has quietly climbed four percent in the past month and investors are holding their breath to see if an Apple rally is forming. Apple started 2012 with a strong run but has been one of the worst performing stocks in 2013. Optimism surrounding the company has diminished and the media is now extremely critical of Apple. Now more than ever it is important to monitor developments for Apple and its competitors. Below I will layout the reason why I continue to recommend Apple and, as a supplement, present complementary option strategies. For details on my methodology please consult the first article in the series as well as my Instablog.

(click to enlarge)

(Source: Yahoo! Finance)

Apple finished another strong week as shares jumped 4.1% on positive news. I have been following both Apple and Google (GOOG) very closely and Google's relative outperformance

]]> Tue, 26 Mar 2013 09:34:45 -0400 Paul Zimbardo Apple (AAPL) has quietly climbed four percent in the past month and investors are holding their breath to see if an Apple rally is forming. Apple started 2012 with a strong run but has been one of the worst performing stocks in 2013. Optimism surrounding the company has diminished and the media is now extremely critical of Apple. Now more than ever it is important to monitor developments for Apple and its competitors. Below I will layout the reason why I continue to recommend Apple and, as a supplement, present complementary option strategies. For details on my methodology please consult the first article in the series as well as my Instablog.

(click to enlarge)

(Source: Yahoo! Finance)

Apple finished another strong week as shares jumped 4.1% on positive news. I have been following both Apple and Google (GOOG) very closely and Google's relative outperformance


Complete Story »]]> BBRY AAPL Paul Zimbardo 6 mREIT Dividends To Consider And Avoid This Week http://seekingalpha.com/article/1298791-6-mreit-dividends-to-consider-and-avoid-this-week?source=feed 1298791 Real Estate Investment Trusts ("REITs") and particularly mREITs have been a hot topic in the market as the net interest rate spread continues to narrow. This is still a very lucrative market segment as even low interest rate spreads can be profitable due to the use of leverage. SA Contributor Rupert Hargreaves recently wrote a great overview of interest rates spreads for some popular REITs and it is a great read.

REITs come in many shapes and forms but at the most fundamental level are companies that buy and sell real estate assets. At one extreme you can have a company that owns real property and on the other end of the spectrum there are companies that hold no real assets but instead buy mortgage backed securities ("MBS"). Companies generate income primarily from the net spread between the interest income earned on these securities/investments and the cost of borrowing

]]> Mon, 25 Mar 2013 12:25:15 -0400 Paul Zimbardo Real Estate Investment Trusts ("REITs") and particularly mREITs have been a hot topic in the market as the net interest rate spread continues to narrow. This is still a very lucrative market segment as even low interest rate spreads can be profitable due to the use of leverage. SA Contributor Rupert Hargreaves recently wrote a great overview of interest rates spreads for some popular REITs and it is a great read.

REITs come in many shapes and forms but at the most fundamental level are companies that buy and sell real estate assets. At one extreme you can have a company that owns real property and on the other end of the spectrum there are companies that hold no real assets but instead buy mortgage backed securities ("MBS"). Companies generate income primarily from the net spread between the interest income earned on these securities/investments and the cost of borrowing


Complete Story »]]> CMO CXS HTS IVR NLY TWO Paul Zimbardo 4 Profitable Financial Firms Going Ex-Dividend This Week http://seekingalpha.com/article/1298641-4-profitable-financial-firms-going-ex-dividend-this-week?source=feed 1298641 Despite the Dow continuing to set all-time highs, investors are nervous. Just last week the euroZone was on the brink of collapse (again) and there are signs that the United States employment recovery is not as robust as the numbers make it seem. With this in mind, I continue to pursue high-quality, high-yield American equities because they simultaneously generate income and provide capital gain opportunities. Companies that have high-dividend payouts generally have strong financial positions and are able to generate robust cash flows from operations - two of the most important criteria in a potential investment.

This week there are 13 candidates, four of which have been analyzed below based upon SA readership criteria. Note that the eight real estate investment trusts ("REITs") focused on securities are going ex-dividend this week and have been analyzed in a separate article to better address the intricacies in

]]> Mon, 25 Mar 2013 11:45:25 -0400 Paul Zimbardo Despite the Dow continuing to set all-time highs, investors are nervous. Just last week the euroZone was on the brink of collapse (again) and there are signs that the United States employment recovery is not as robust as the numbers make it seem. With this in mind, I continue to pursue high-quality, high-yield American equities because they simultaneously generate income and provide capital gain opportunities. Companies that have high-dividend payouts generally have strong financial positions and are able to generate robust cash flows from operations - two of the most important criteria in a potential investment.

This week there are 13 candidates, four of which have been analyzed below based upon SA readership criteria. Note that the eight real estate investment trusts ("REITs") focused on securities are going ex-dividend this week and have been analyzed in a separate article to better address the intricacies in


Complete Story »]]> BMO CM PSEC STWD Paul Zimbardo Is The Intuitive Surgical Sell-Off Over? http://seekingalpha.com/article/1290171-is-the-intuitive-surgical-sell-off-over?source=feed 1290171 Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) is a leading medical device company that specializes in minimally invasive surgery ("MIS") with its da Vinci Surgical System. The platform enables surgeons to perform surgeries by guiding the precise medical instruments through a console. The primary benefits are that such a surgery can be performed with a high level of precision and without requiring "open surgery" and large patient incisions. In the United States the cost of the da Vinci procedures are generally reimbursable by insurance companies but the costs of medical procedures are always scrutinized and this is one of the largest risk areas for the company. As part of Obamacare, in 2013 Intuitive Surgical and all other medical device manufacturers will have to pay a tax of 2.3% on certain revenue sources. The company estimates that it will pay approximately one percent of global revenue due to the tax but it

]]> Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:31:07 -0400 Paul Zimbardo Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) is a leading medical device company that specializes in minimally invasive surgery ("MIS") with its da Vinci Surgical System. The platform enables surgeons to perform surgeries by guiding the precise medical instruments through a console. The primary benefits are that such a surgery can be performed with a high level of precision and without requiring "open surgery" and large patient incisions. In the United States the cost of the da Vinci procedures are generally reimbursable by insurance companies but the costs of medical procedures are always scrutinized and this is one of the largest risk areas for the company. As part of Obamacare, in 2013 Intuitive Surgical and all other medical device manufacturers will have to pay a tax of 2.3% on certain revenue sources. The company estimates that it will pay approximately one percent of global revenue due to the tax but it


Complete Story »]]> ISRG Paul Zimbardo Is The New Samsung Phone An 'iPhone Killer'? http://seekingalpha.com/article/1283751-is-the-new-samsung-phone-an-iphone-killer?source=feed 1283751 Samsung (SSNLF.PK) announced its highly anticipated Galaxy S4 smartphone this past week in an event that shows how drastically the smartphone market has shifted in the past year. In the past, non-Apple smartphones would get brief media coverage, if any. For example, there was no real anticipation leading up to the Galaxy S III announcement and the major publishers merely had a brief recap of the launch. In a surprising turn of events, the S4 received a similar level of attention as an Apple (AAPL) product launch. There were some striking contrasts between Samsung's event and a typical Apple event and the consensus is that the Samsung announcement was lackluster with regard to both presentation and phone specifications. HTC's president was less kind and he called the presentation "embarrassing." Opinions here on Seeking Alpha have been mixed: some believe that Samsung leapfrogged Apple

]]> Mon, 18 Mar 2013 14:38:18 -0400 Paul Zimbardo Samsung (SSNLF.PK) announced its highly anticipated Galaxy S4 smartphone this past week in an event that shows how drastically the smartphone market has shifted in the past year. In the past, non-Apple smartphones would get brief media coverage, if any. For example, there was no real anticipation leading up to the Galaxy S III announcement and the major publishers merely had a brief recap of the launch. In a surprising turn of events, the S4 received a similar level of attention as an Apple (AAPL) product launch. There were some striking contrasts between Samsung's event and a typical Apple event and the consensus is that the Samsung announcement was lackluster with regard to both presentation and phone specifications. HTC's president was less kind and he called the presentation "embarrassing." Opinions here on Seeking Alpha have been mixed: some believe that Samsung leapfrogged Apple


Complete Story »]]> GOOG SSNLF.PK AAPL Paul Zimbardo The Best REIT And Private Equity Dividends This Week http://seekingalpha.com/article/1281621-the-best-reit-and-private-equity-dividends-this-week?source=feed 1281621 Financial services has been one of the best performing sectors in the past year as banks have gone to great lengths to improve their financial positions and reduce risk after the financial crisis. When most people hear about investing in financial services they instinctively think about the mega-cap banks but there are many other types of financial services. These large banks can be quite risky as the latest Federal Reserve stress test recently proved. If a bank fails to meet predetermined Fed requirements then the company cannot distribute a dividend. I ask, why take the risk.

Not only are there regional banks but there are insurance companies, private equity firms, and real estate investment trusts (REITs) available for investment. These smaller entities are less complex and are far easier for investors to understand than the likes of Citigroup (C) or Bank of America (BAC). These entities

]]> Mon, 18 Mar 2013 02:34:07 -0400 Paul Zimbardo Financial services has been one of the best performing sectors in the past year as banks have gone to great lengths to improve their financial positions and reduce risk after the financial crisis. When most people hear about investing in financial services they instinctively think about the mega-cap banks but there are many other types of financial services. These large banks can be quite risky as the latest Federal Reserve stress test recently proved. If a bank fails to meet predetermined Fed requirements then the company cannot distribute a dividend. I ask, why take the risk.

Not only are there regional banks but there are insurance companies, private equity firms, and real estate investment trusts (REITs) available for investment. These smaller entities are less complex and are far easier for investors to understand than the likes of Citigroup (C) or Bank of America (BAC). These entities


Complete Story »]]> AGNC AINV CYS MAIN MTGE SLRC Paul Zimbardo Should You Sell Google And Buy Apple? http://seekingalpha.com/article/1262491-should-you-sell-google-and-buy-apple?source=feed 1262491 Apple (AAPL) has fallen five percent in the past month and investors are scratching their heads. Apple started 2012 with a strong run but has been one of the worst performing stocks recently. Optimism surrounding the company has vanished and the media is now extremely critical of Apple. Now more than ever it is important to monitor developments for Apple and its competitors. Below I will layout the reason why I continue to recommend Apple and, as a supplement, present complementary option strategies. For details on my methodology please consult the first article in the series as well as my Instablog.


(Click to enlarge)

(Source: Yahoo! Finance)

If you have not heard the news, Google (GOOG) is the new technology king and Apple is approaching obsolescence. That may not be entirely true but it certainly appears that way from reading the headlines. Google Glasses

]]> Mon, 11 Mar 2013 09:13:02 -0400 Paul Zimbardo Apple (AAPL) has fallen five percent in the past month and investors are scratching their heads. Apple started 2012 with a strong run but has been one of the worst performing stocks recently. Optimism surrounding the company has vanished and the media is now extremely critical of Apple. Now more than ever it is important to monitor developments for Apple and its competitors. Below I will layout the reason why I continue to recommend Apple and, as a supplement, present complementary option strategies. For details on my methodology please consult the first article in the series as well as my Instablog.


(Click to enlarge)

(Source: Yahoo! Finance)

If you have not heard the news, Google (GOOG) is the new technology king and Apple is approaching obsolescence. That may not be entirely true but it certainly appears that way from reading the headlines. Google Glasses


Complete Story »]]> GOOG AAPL Paul Zimbardo