couldashoulda

Get Ready for the Bond ETF Boom

Good info. Thanks for your efforts. learned much

38 Companies with Top Financial Strength

Thanks for the analysis you did here and have done
in the past. I enjoy your work.

Some thoughts for whatever its worth
Per my math these stocks( equally weighted) have gained (excluding dividends) about 12% YTD and 31% since March 1. S&P 500 has gained 5% and 29% over the same periods. S&P equal weighted (more comparative) has gained 17% and 43%

If these stocks are , say, twice as valuable fundamentally as the other 460 or so stocks in the S&P 500, then the market really doesn't reward fundamentals. If this analysis was true, say, 1/1/2008. The results would be better. They would have lost 22% vs 40% or so for the S&P 500. Of course you cant use the criteria for this list as valid necessarily retroactive for 2008.

This and other analyses has led me to some rules for my own investing.
1. Don’t invest in individual stocks usually. Use aggregates such as ETF's or mutual funds.
2. Success is dependent on the following general scale:
What you buy 10%
When you buy 25%
When you sell 65%
Which leads me to a requirement to have some form of a technical analysis game plan vs fundamental.

Just for fun and hopefully learning, I am selecting
the best 6 or so of these per my technical criteria
and I will track them over coming months

2 of Morningstar's Favorite ETFs

I wish I had teachers that graded on this kind of curve !!!
S&P lost 42%, but our best ever fund lost only 35% ! take a bow.

U.S. Stocks: Today vs. 1938

I view the charts not so much as a comparison of causes and effects on the market of this recession versus the 30's depression but rather
simply a comparison of this market sell off to an earlier one of similar amplitude and duration regardless of causes. I find it instructive if not definitive as to what might happen. (history rhymes).

If folks can identify charts for other market sell offs that are similar to today and the resultant market dynamics, I would like to see them

Asset Allocation: The Key to Proper Diversification

My asset allocation model for the last year:
"If it ain't goin' up, don't buy it.. Nothing is goin' up so dont buy anything..'cept gold.. maybe

Dennis Gartman: Go Long Infrastructure, Short Everything Else

Trillions of $ in infrastructure may be the right area but it would seem it is the slowest to get off the ground. Even with industrial capacity down, it still would take alot of time to get the right industries/providers/c... geared up and spending. Maybe Leap options are a good bet.

Emerging Market ETFs: Investors Appear to Be Regaining Appetite for Risk

Any comments on today's rather precipitous drop?

Solar Stocks on Sale

Much of your articles points were true when the stock was at 25. May be a great VALUE but nobody wants to buy it now so its dead money. If it aint going up, dont buy it

Too Late to Short SPY? An Historical Perspective

Sundays NYT has a great interactive chart comparing every bear market as to depth and duration. Very Interesting. More yet to fall looks like

Largest Bond ETF Now Trading At a Massive Discount

I believe AB is pointing out that the ETF is at a discount to the total value of the 174 bonds in the index. Each of the 174 would of course have the exposure you identify, but the article concerns "tracking error" which seems to be more prevalent in ETF's given reason volatility, especially in commodities.
Same thing as a closed end fund

Take a Look at Junk - Barron's

whoops ! my above post was intended for a different article. SORRY

Take a Look at Junk - Barron's

ETF AGG has cheaper fees by 1/2, better perfromance in past year by factor of 2 and is more flexible. Why use these mutual funds ??

Stop Yelling About FDIC Limits - In Fact, Just Stop Yelling

If Promontory is a good thing, doesn't that ifso facto mean that the base law should be raised from 100,000. Why force folks into a dance amoung banks.

Tactical Asset Allocation, Part I

perhaps a simpler approach is the Point and Figure methodology which is probably the oldest in investment methodology.
It helps you determine three things;
1. what is the risk level of the total market.
2. what sectors are performing best relative to all others
3. What is the risk level of individual stocks within each of the best sectors.

The foundation of the method is relative strength. I find it very helpful, once learned. just a suggestion. Many books/sites availble to teach it.

Attractively Valued International Dividend Stocks

DS
Thanks for the fine analysis. One worry --- Some of these have a high(er) Div yield because the stock has dropped significantly over the past x months. Is there anywhere someone might have insight on this potential problem other than doing the homework you identify.
I'm lazy. Thanks again