The Cold, Hard Facts Behind Funding Your Retirement [View article]
Dennis, the problem with a 20% trailing stock is you will be wiped out in a flash crash. I have stopped using them and would tell retirees to put money into relatively safe consumer staple stocks (KO, PEP, JNJ, etc.). The average person cannot compete safely with the high frequency traders and manipulators. I know this can put an individual at the mercy of a declining market over a few years, but I don't want to be crushed by the rapid swings that trigger stop losses. Regards
Could BHP Billiton Be Headed For A Fall? [View article]
This large, well managed and well diversified materials company is more reasonably valued in the range of $65-80 per share. Debt and equity costs are projected well into the future versus financing costs today. Long: BHP, VALE
A Closer Look At Enterprise Products Partners' Distributable Cash Flow As Of Q1 2013 [View article]
Ron, thanks for another excellent analysis. I agree with your comments although I view any conservative MLP yield less than 6% as inadequate. Long: EPD, NGLS, ETE, ETP
A Closer Look At Enterprise Products Partners' Distributable Cash Flow As Of Q1 2013 [View article]
heartky, remember only the difference between your purchase price and market price is capital gains and subject to a step up in basis (assuming it is a positive difference). The difference between your purchase price and depreciated basis is not eligible for step up in basis and is taxed as ordinary income. (Some people dispute that the recapture of depreciation is taxable upon death and the IRS has not issued a specific ruling.) I believe it is and plan accordingly. Long: EPD and eight other MLP's.
Linn Energy: Don't Believe The (Negative) Hype [View article]
On a specific neutral point, Barron's lists all their stock recommendations and subsequent performance at least once a year. Roughly 55% of their buys work out. The rest do not. Same with sell recommendations. Conspiracy or not, the sell on Linn could be wrong! Long: LINE and many MLP's
Its always hard to understand Cisco. Chambers has been a serial acquirer, buys back tons of stock, but long term holders can expect little more than the new dividend that started in 2012. I still hold a small position in the stock, but cannot understand where the creativity will come from to push this cash cow to higher levels. Simply employing a market timing strategy, as the author suggests, doesn't do it for me.
Total SA: A Mixed Bag Dividend Play [View article]
hwood and others: You don't have to care about France, but you can miss out on some good dividend paying multinationals such as Total. They do business all over the world in many currencies and tax jurisdictions.
Total SA: A Mixed Bag Dividend Play [View article]
North, I have recovered 100% of foreign tax withholdings some years and around 590% in other years, depending on total taxable income. I agree you can carryover. Long: TOT, E, FTE and other FX stocks.
Linn Energy: Don't Believe The (Negative) Hype [View article]
Thanks Elliott for a great analysis. I am long LINE and am also a Barron's subscriber. I notice that Barron's does very little analysis and relies on some outside firm to do the work. In this case, its a fund that is short the stock. I agree that your analysis is thorough and Barron's is simply a mouthpiece for a short seller. Barron's should be ashamed to do such superficial and biased "reporting". Long many MLP's
10 Shocking Earnings Season Trends (Part I) [View article]
Lou, a few clarifications are in order. First, there were many earnings "beat" rates based on companies talking down their expected earnings and then "beating" them. This is an old Wall Street game. Many of these same companies reported lower revenue growth which means they were cutting expenses to grow earnings. This is not a good sign as cost cutting is coming to an end. Second, the middle class is being hollowed out by lack of pay raises and the re-imposition of the payroll tax and this is a continuing threat to middle class retailers. Lastly, the endless reporting of better housing numbers. A close examination of these numbers reveals two important facts. The first is that construction increases have been mostly in apartments, not single family homes. Second, sales have been mostly in the low end, low priced homes purchased by investor funds (Wall Street) from banks, not sales to arms length individual homeowners. As an investor, I would look to Home Depot and maybe a few regional banks for growth. I would stay away from homebuilders and money center banks. Regards
The author has no clue as to how MLP's work, especially measuring the P/E ratio which is irrelevant.I t would be good if Seeking Alpha could screen articles before publishing.
There is a sliding income limit to how much you can recapture the foreign tax withholding credit on Form 1040. The more you make, the smaller the credit. If I recall correctly, somewhere around $100,000 in taxable income will get you 100% credit. I own many foreign stocks, some of which have withholding taxes. Some years I get it all back, some years less as my taxable income fluctuates. Regards
The Cold, Hard Facts Behind Funding Your Retirement [View article]
Could BHP Billiton Be Headed For A Fall? [View article]
How To Take Some Of The Risk Out Of Tobacco Investing [View article]
A Closer Look At Enterprise Products Partners' Distributable Cash Flow As Of Q1 2013 [View article]
A Closer Look At Enterprise Products Partners' Distributable Cash Flow As Of Q1 2013 [View article]
Linn Energy: Don't Believe The (Negative) Hype [View article]
Cisco: Buy The Market's Oversight [View article]
Total SA: A Mixed Bag Dividend Play [View article]
Total SA: A Mixed Bag Dividend Play [View article]
Linn Energy: Don't Believe The (Negative) Hype [View article]
10 Shocking Earnings Season Trends (Part I) [View article]
As an investor, I would look to Home Depot and maybe a few regional banks for growth. I would stay away from homebuilders and money center banks. Regards
Total SA: A Mixed Bag Dividend Play [View article]
The Dividend Income Magical Mystery Tour [View article]
The Dividend Emperor's New Clothes [View article]
What's Up With Conoco's Dividend? [View article]