AI - Artificial Inflation

Pepsi’s Frito-lay division reported a 16% gain in revenue even though sales volume was flat from the year before. It would be interesting if I could tell you that the revenue gain came from some startling Artificial Intelligence application that boosted margins for Dorito’s. But there was another kind of AI at work – artificial inflation.

Pittsburgh Rare Market

As investors, we try to come up with the perfect recipe for selecting the companies we invest in. Rising dividends, expanding market share, positive cash flow, whatever it may be. And there are plenty of examples of great investors we can learn from and copy. Warren Buffett is a common example, and for very good reason. He follows a simple recipe and he knows exactly what the final dish will look like.

Is It Really that Bad?

If you wanna get a laugh from your family, friends or co-workers today, I’ve got a sure-fire way you can get at least a small grin from even the most cynical and humorless person you know…   Tell ‘em you’re bullish on stocks. 

A Dull Market

I don’t mind telling you – this has been one of the least enjoyable weeks to write about the stock market in a long while. Trading has been directionless. I’ve watched at least two dozen upside breakouts for individual stocks fail. And despite the clear unwillingness to take stock prices higher, the bears have been unable to get a decent sell-off going…

Today's Trading Plan (April 19, 2023)

A month ago, investors thought THE Charles Schwab Corporation might be the next banking domino to fall. Shares were crushed from $75 down to $50. But its earnings report Monday makes that +30% drop look a little overdone.

The Truth About Rare Earths

The notion that China is somehow in the driver’s seat is laughable. China’s position in the economic warfare vehicle is more like a grungy teenager on a skateboard clinging to the bumper: it’s only along for the ride, and if things get bumpy, it will end up with a face full of asphalt.

More China Selling

Right now, we’ve got American owned shell companies funneling U.S. tech to Russia to build the bombs that rain down on Ukraine. Tankers brimming with Russian oil are welcome in India and Turkey. Income mutual funds feast on that 8% Altria dividend that’s driven in part by cigarette and Juul vaping sales. Two-thirds of Americans favor a waiting period for gun purchases that only 9 states’ lawmakers have approved. Walmart (NYSE: WMT) agreed to pay a $3 billion fine for dealing opioids…

A Failure to Fear Monger

Welp, guess I’ll join the legions of financial/investment writers out there and talk about inflation and the Fed. Even with banks failing and a big jump in the number of economists and strategist-types saying recession is about to take us all for a ride to lower stock prices, the Fed is still the one driving this crazy bus…

Fair Value? Really?

With 5,300 stocks out there, it’s a pretty good bet that a pretty solid percentage are complete crap and should be completely off-limits for individual investors. And I will be so bold as to say that even within Morningstar’s cozy little neighborhood of 700 stocks, there will be more than a handful of crap.

Primed for Gains on Delaware's Legalization Bill?

MariMed (OTCBB: MRMD) Primed for 87% Gain on Delaware Marijuna Legalization Bill Last week, the Delaware Senate approved two new bills designed to legalize cannabis for recreational purposes. The last time a legalization bill got to the governor, it was vetoed, but it looks like this time there will be enough votes to override any potential veto.

A New Monroe Doctrine

I started formulating my semi-retirement plan 5 or so years ago, when my kids were leaving for college. I‘ve never really entertained the idea that I’d just quit working altogether. Market and economic analysis, investing and trading and writing about it is in my blood, and I couldn’t stop even if I wanted to.

The Case for Schrödinger (NASDAQ: SGDR)

This year (2023), AI products, software and services are expected to generate $500 billion in revenue from businesses and governments looking for better and faster ways to make use of the massive amounts of data our digitized world generates.