Saturday, December 31, 2011

How The Stock Market Works

Here are two of my favorite YouTube videos. The stock market truly is the best investment for your retirement needs. Never underestimate the power of dividends! Happy New Year! I wish you much success and profitability in 2012!

Friday, December 30, 2011

PNC Financial Services - PNC

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., stock ticker PNC, is a diversified financial services company in the United States. PNC is engaged in retail banking, corporate and institutional banking, asset management, and residential mortgage banking, providing many of its products and services nationally. Their primary geographic markets included Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Florida, Virginia, Maryland, Missouri, Delaware, Washington, D.C., and Wisconsin. PNC also provides certain products and services internationally.

Most recently, PNC was given a buy rating by Morgan Stanley (MS). MS believes that due to PNC's ability to offset lower yields and if they are able to close the RBS Bank USA deal earnings per share can rise. PNC has a much lower risk loan portfolio than their competitors. Additionally, PNC pays a 35 cent quarterly dividend, which is a healthy 2.43% dividend yield. Back in 2005 their share price the exact value as it is today, however they paid a 50 cent dividend and before the Great Recession PNC was paying a 66 cent dividend. Now if that doesn't tell you that there will be more dividend increases over the next few years then I'm not sure what else to tell you. PNC's dividend increases make them a great value play.

PNC makes good solid positions and have gone after the Generation X market in a big way, rather than just going after them for credit cards. Their relationship and products with colleges students, for example, the Virtual Wallet, will bring them more customers. PNC is a conservatively managed bank and are expanding in an efficient, smart way. They have a stable deposit base, recent acquisitions were at reasonable prices, and the best part about PNC is that their exposure to troubled loans is considerably less than many banks (ahem Citigroup, ahh-chew Bank of America).

What I have noticed about PNC is that they are able to hold onto their customers. Their customer retention levels are much higher than their competitors. PNC is, like Destiny's Child says, a "survivor". They will not give up, they will work harder for their customers. When PNC acquired National City Bank they had a few bad quarters. They suffered due to a weakening of their credit portfolio, due largely to the residual issues from National City's acquired portfolio. As these bad loans were gradually erased from their books, they found, and continue to find, themselves with their traditionally strong franchise, yet now with an expanded footprint obtained on the cheap per the National City Bank acquisition.

In closing, please do your due diligence on this one. Banks are a tad risky right now, but for the long term you need to have at least one bank held within your Roth IRA stock portfolio. Similar to Wells Fargo, PNC was once a regional bank, but they are ready to play with the big boys who have fallen (C, BAC) and are ready to fly high! Please visit their website, here, and watch the videos below to learn more about this solid bank. Thank you for your time.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Hartford Financial Services - HIG

On May 11th, 2007 the Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., stock ticker HIG, was worth $105.34 and paying a 50 cent dividend. Today, December 28th, 2011 HIG sells for $16.07. Yes, that is a huge change in stock price, however HIG still pays a 10 cent quarterly dividend, which currently is a 2.49% dividend yield. 

Let's backtrack for a second. HIG, together with its subsidiaries, The Hartford is an insurance and financial services company. They maintain a retail mutual fund operation, whereby HIG, through wholly-owned subsidiaries, provides investment management and administrative services to The Hartford Mutual Funds, Inc. and The Hartford Mutual Funds II, Inc., consisting of 52 mutual funds, as of December 31, 2010. 

HIG is at a historical low, is a great value play, and while you wait for the share price to rebound you'll be paid. I am not some insider who has secret information about this company nor a psychic who can see the future, I just believe that HIG is where it's at for maximum gains. They are planning a buy back of their own stock in 2012 and their dividend will only keep growing at this point. Their P/E is among the lowest in their industry and should recover nicely as they return to respectable profitability in 2012. Essentially HIG has broke even during the past two quarter, however they are trading at less than half of their tangible book value!

If you want to go bargain hunting to feed your Roth IRA then look no further than the Hartford. Not only are they a long time insurance company, but they have several lines that cater to our aging population. As the baby boomers continue to hit their retirement years expect sales to pick up drastically. The last time you could pick up HIG at these levels was the early mid 1990's. HIG may not be worth what they were worth in 2007, but they are worth more now than they were in 1994. There is nothing wrong with buying HIG and holding on for the long term. They are a company with over two hundred years of business experience and have been through worse through their company's history and repeatedly come out of the storm just fine in the end. Think of HIG as an insurance policy for your Roth IRA. HIG is only going to increase in value! Believe it.

Please visit Hartford's website, here, and their Investor Relations website, here. Feel free to watch the videos below to learn more about this excellent company and consistent dividend payer. Have a great remainder of the week! I wish you much success with your Roth IRA stock purchases.

Monday, December 26, 2011

Update: Stock Picks for the week of 12/19/11 to 12/26/11

Greetings! I hope you all had a great holiday weekend. Back to the grind tomorrow.

I wanted to recap last week's picks for you since it is important to review all investments on a weekly, if not daily, basis. As you can see below, it was a profitable 14 for 15 week. All but WWE popped. CAT flew higher by $5.05. The over all net gain for the week of 12/19/11 to 12/26/11 was $29.47.

Always invest in high yielding dividend paying stocks for your retirement years. Hold on to your stocks for the long term so dividends have plenty of time to compound. Feel free to watch the video below about Waste Management and Caterpillar. WM and CAT will inject your Roth IRA stock portfolio with stability and profits. Until next time, happy investing and reinvest your dividends. Watch your smart investment decisions work for you!

Stock/Stock Ticker.. Quote @ 12/19/11..  Quote @ 10/26/11..   Net Gain/Loss  
AT&T Inc.  (Public, NYSE: T)  $28.97  $29.87 +$0.90
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.  (Public, NYSE: WWE)  $9.55 $9.43 -$0.12
Johnson & Johnson  (Public, NYSE: JNJ)  $64.04 $65.98 +$1.94
Waste Management, Inc.  (Public, NYSE: WM) $31.00 $32.73  +$1.73
Windstream Corporation  (Public, NASDAQ: WIN)  $11.58  $12.01 +$0.43
AstraZeneca plc (ADR)  (Public, NYSE: AZN)  $45.25 $46.29 +$1.04
Caterpillar Inc.  (Public, NYSE: CAT)  $87.20 $92.25 +$5.05
HSBC Holdings plc (ADR) (Public, NYSE: HBC)  $37.16  $38.51 +$1.35
Royal Bank of Canada (USA)  (Public, NYSE:RY) $47.05  $50.30 +$3.25
ConAgra Foods, Inc.  (Public, NYSE: CAG)  $25.45 $26.60 +$1.15
DTE Energy Company  (Public, NYSE: DTE)  $51.44 $54.70 +$3.26
CVS Caremark Corporation  (Public, NYSE: CVS)  $37.55 $40.99 +$3.44
Universal Health Realty Income Trust  (Public, NYSE: UHT) $37.41 $38.97 +$1.56
Steel Dynamics, Inc.  (Public, NASDAQ:STLD) $12.50 $13.35 +$0.85
Amgen, Inc.  (Public, NASDAQ: AMGN) $60.05 $63.69 +$3.64


General Electric Company - GE

General Electric Company, stock ticker GE, is a diversified technology and financial services corporation. GE's products and services range from aircraft engines, power generation, water processing, and household appliances to medical imaging, business and consumer financing and industrial products. As of January 28th, 2011 they held a 49 percent interest in a media entity that includes the NBC Universal businesses (click here to learn more about GE's NBC ownership). GE's business segments include energy infrastructure, technology infrastructure, NBC Universal, GE Capital and Home & Business Solutions. Effective January 1, 2011, GE reorganized technology infrastructure segment into three segments: Aviation, Health care and Transportation.


Facts:
- GE traces its beginnings to Thomas A. Edison, who established Edison Electric Light Company in 1878. In 1892, a merger of Edison General Electric Company and Thomson-Houston Electric Company created General Electric Company.
- GE is the only company listed in the Dow Jones Industrial Index today that was also included in the original index in 1896.
- In 2010, GE ranked #1 in health care and #19 overall on Fast Company's list of the world's top 50 most innovative companies.
- In 2010, GE was named in Ethisphere's list of the world's most ethical companies.
- In 2010, GE was named in Business Week's list of the world's 25 most inventive companies.
- In 2010, GE ranked among Fortune magazine's listing of the Most Admired Companies in the World for its 5th consecutive year.


Recent acquisitions:
- On February 1, 2011, acquired Dresser, Inc.
- On February 3, 2011, acquired Wellstream PLC.
- In September 2011, launched a new entity, Research Circle Technology Inc. (RCT).
- In October 2011, the Company's GE Energy Financial Services unit bought a 58% interest in Lightfoot Capital Partners L.P.

I love GE because they are a legendary American company and have been around since my grandfather was a little boy. Yes, that doesn't mean they will be around forever but you would think the Great Depression and Recession would have terminated them by now! Their financials are consistent. GE's stock price was hit hard during the Great Recession and still has not gone back to their historic levels. GE currently pays a 17 cent dividend, which is a 3.73% dividend yield. You can't beat that with a bat!

I believe that if the global market is going into or already in recession (at any level) when it comes out GE will be a front runner. They will continue to pay a good dividend until then and financial side is coming out of the banking issues successfully. GE possesses a strong profile in many different industries. The corporation also has potential growth through its leading position in aspects of alternative energy. A streamlined and downsized GE Capital has vastly improved prospects; the market has especially not taken this into account.

Dividends were recently increased, and a dividend increase seems likely in another year or two. GE Capital is finally coming around and looking much more stable than in 2010 or 2011. 2012 looks outstanding for the GE! It is hard to imagine a scenario where the American economy turns around and GE does not. GE has a decent PE and as previously stated, a growing dividend! Their EPS is expected to double in the next couple years.

Investors are still punishing GE for the sins of the past, however their strong holdings and a strong balance sheet make this a deal at $18.23 (GE share price as of 12/26/11). Upcoming energy efficient releases will continue to drive the top line. I think GE is poised to make a 10 to 15 percent profit year over year for the Common Man investor. Currently with a 3.73% dividend GE is a good wait and see opportunity in the short term. Long term, you will win and reap the benefits of a great decision in 2011.

With room to grow the dividend around 8% a year, I could see GE either doubling or at least hitting $23.00 fair market value in 2012. Please visit GE's website, here, and also their Investor Relations page, here. Check out the videos below to learn more about this classic dividend payer. Don't be afraid to take a chance on a company Reinvest those dividends for maximum gains! I hope you have a great day!

Friday, December 23, 2011

Holiday Dividend Stock Investments

Well it's that time of the year again.. Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa. All of these holidays include purchasing gifts for your loved ones, co-workers, etc. The 2011 holiday shopping season is wrapping up to be bigger than most predicted. Sales from November through this past Saturday rose 2.5%, compared with the same period a year ago. Online shoppers have spent almost 32 billion dollars online for the holiday season so far, a 15% increase from a year ago. The increases are good news for retailers.

This is the most important time of year for retailers. They can make between 25% and 40% of their annual sales in the last two months of each year. According to the National Retail Federation, this holiday season, stores are expected to ring up 469.1 billion dollars. Get yourself a piece of that pie! You cannot have yourself a merry little Christmas without picking up some of these great retail stocks (see below). Some of which have a dividend yield over 2%, which make them a classic Dividend Stock Investing for the Common Man's dream! These retail winners pay you to wait throughout the year with a healthy dividend yield. Once the holiday season arrives either sell off some shares to reap the profits or continue to hold. Instead of buying something you don't need with money that you may receive from a loved one, why not invest those residual funds into one of these stocks, which will fill out your retail/consumer spending sector of your Roth IRA quite nicely.

In conclusion, when you walk into these stores feel proud that you own a piece of the company! Until next time friends, reinvest those dividends within a Roth IRA and hold for life! Happy Kwanzaa and Hanukkah and have a very Merry Christmas! Feliz Navidad! Feel free to check out the videos below. I couldn't resist the Christmas Story Santa scene where Ralphie meets Santa at a department store.

Company Name/Stock Ticker/Dividend($)/Dividend Yield
Target Corporation  (Public, NYSE:TGT) Div/yield 0.30/2.32
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.  (Public, NYSE:WMT)Div/yield 0.37/2.43
Amazon.com, Inc.  (Public, NASDAQ:AMZN) 
Tiffany & Co.  (Public, NYSE:TIF) Div/yield 0.29/1.78
Coach, Inc.  (Public, NYSE:COH)Div/yield 0.22/1.47
The TJX Companies, Inc.  (Public, NYSE:TJX) Div/yield 0.19/1.16
J.C. Penney Company, Inc.  (Public, NYSE:JCP) Div/yield 0.20/2.24
V.F. Corporation  (Public, NYSE:VFC) Div/yield 0.72/2.23
Sears Holdings Corporation  (Public, NASDAQ:SHLD)
Macy's, Inc.  (Public, NYSE:M) Div/yield 0.10/1.24
Kohl's Corporation  (Public, NYSE:KSS) Div/yield 0.25/2.00
Best Buy Co., Inc.  (Public, NYSE:BBY) Div/yield 0.16/2.75
Costco Wholesale Corporation  (Public, NASDAQ:COST) Div/yield 0.24/1.13
Dollar Tree, Inc.  (Public, NASDAQ:DLTR)
Limited Brands, Inc.  (Public, NYSE:LTD) Div/yield 2.00/1.99
Guess?, Inc.  (Public, NYSE:GES)Div/yield 0.20/2.65
NIKE, Inc.  (Public, NYSE:NKE)  Div/yield 0.36/1.49
Lululemon Athletica inc.  (Public, NASDAQ:LULU) 
Abercrombie & Fitch Co.  (Public, NYSE:ANF) Div/yield 0.17/1.44
Nordstrom, Inc.  (Public, NYSE:JWN) Div/yield 0.23/1.85

PS..Mall REITs are where the gains are at! Check out these bad boys below. Higher dividend yields all around compared to the retail stores. Why not pick ups some Mall REITs? Just think, all of your favorite stores pay rent to these REITs. They are the brick and mortar which houses some of those sweet holiday name brands and killer holiday sales.

Company Name/Stock Ticker/Dividend($)/Dividend Yield
CBL & Associates Properties, Inc.  (Public, NYSE:CBL) Div/yield 0.21/5.21
General Growth Properties, Inc  (Public, NYSE:GGP) Div/yield 0.10/2.67
Glimcher Realty Trust  (Public, NYSE:GRT) Div/yield 0.10/4.30
The Macerich Company  (Public, NYSE:MAC) Div/yield 0.55/4.30
Pennsylvania R.E.I.T.  (Public, NYSE:PEI) Div/yield 0.15/5.73
Simon Property Group, Inc  (Public, NYSE:SPG) Div/yield 0.20/2.76
Taubman Centers, Inc.  (Public, NYSE:TCO) Div/yield 0.45/2.87
Regency Centers Corporation  (Public, NYSE:REG) Div/yield 0.46/4.91

Amazon CEO
Macy's CEO
A Christmas Story - Classic Scene

Monday, December 19, 2011

Stock Picks for the week of 12/19/11 to 12/26/11


Welcome back to Dividend Stock Investing for the Common Man! Listed below are the newest dividend paying stock selections for the Common Man's portfolio for the week of December 19th, 2011 to December 26th, 2011. Any one of these stocks will safeguard your Roth IRA stock portfolio with solid dividends, or what I like to call it free cash! I am bullish long term on each of these companies and I believe in their financials. I'll check back in next Monday to determine how well or poor these picks performed. Have a great remainder of the weekend. Continue to invest as much as you can each week to ensure that you have a solid dividend income stream of wealth! Once again, I am only a fan of these stocks and am not pumping them for my own personal gain. I just enjoy sharing which stocks I believe are dividend aristocrats and should be seriously considered when investing your hard earned dollars. Feel free to check out the videos below, which include CAG, WIN and WWE.


AT&T Inc.  (Public, NYSE: T)
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.  (Public, NYSE: WWE)
Johnson & Johnson  (Public, NYSE: JNJ)
Waste Management, Inc.  (Public, NYSE: WM)
Windstream Corporation  (Public, NASDAQ: WIN)
AstraZeneca plc (ADR)  (Public, NYSE: AZN)
Caterpillar Inc.  (Public, NYSE: CAT)
HSBC Holdings plc (ADR) (Public, NYSE: HBC)
Royal Bank of Canada (USA)  (Public, NYSE:RY)
ConAgra Foods, Inc.  (Public, NYSE: CAG)
DTE Energy Company  (Public, NYSE: DTE)
CVS Caremark Corporation  (Public, NYSE: CVS)
Universal Health Realty Income Trust  (Public, NYSE: UHT)
Steel Dynamics, Inc.  (Public, NASDAQ:STLD)
Amgen, Inc.  (Public, NASDAQ: AMGN)


Note: Stock prices as of 12/19/11

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Royal Bank of Canada - RY

Let's get down to business. Royal Bank of Canada, stock ticker RY pays shareholders 54 cents per share each quarter, which is currently a whopping 4.51% dividend yield. RY did not stop paying their dividend during the Great Recession and actually increased their dividend payment from 50 cents to 54 cents on June 22nd, 2011. They are Canada's largest banks as measured by assets and market capitalization, and are among the largest banks in the world, based on market capitalization. They are one of North America's leading diversified financial services companies, and provide personal and commercial banking, wealth management services, insurance, corporate and investment banking and transaction processing services on a global basis.

RY currently employs approximately 74,000 full and part time employees who serve close to 15 million personal, business, public sector and institutional clients through offices in Canada, the U.S. and 56 other countries. RY is currently among one of the twenty largest banks globally as of November 30th, 2011 (see picture below). Their Canadian goal is to be the undisputed leader in financial services and global goal is to to be the leading provider of capital markets and wealth management solutions.

You might be asking: Why invest in a bank stock considering that Bank of America and Citigroup are in the tank? Well, Canada's economy has fared much better than that of the United States, with a 2.4% gross domestic product growth rate and earnings rising 13% last quarter RY is one of the last remaining banks stocks which is worth any risk. Their dividend is never going away. Quote me. It should have been cut in half back in 2008, but stayed put.

Continued higher earnings will propel this stock higher in the short term and if RY's value decreases the dividend yield will increase and you'll end up getting paid to wait for the stock price to fly high once more. This truly is a win win. RY bank has taken fewer riskier lending positions and the Canadian economy remains in good shape. Additionally, they were recently listed among top 2011 third quarter stocks by Blackrock. Like most of the Canadian owned institutions the minimum reserve requirements as well as the lower exposure levels to toxic debt has kept it largely out of the mess currently seen in the sector. With the recent investment expansions into the United States and international investment markets profits should continue on its current level.

Please do your due diligence on this one, but I highly suggest putting this baby into the bank sector of your Roth IRA stock portfolio. The Royal Bank of Canada has great leadership, are consistently one of the best companies to work for, they are socially responsible and they know how to continue to make money even through difficult economic times. Enjoy the videos below, have a great remainder of your weekend!


Friday, December 16, 2011

Hershey Company - HSY

The Hershey Company, stock ticker HSY, is the sweetest producer of chocolate and sugar confectionery products. They pay a delicious 34 cent per share dividend, which is currently a tasty 2.32% dividend yield. HSY is a very reliable stock to place in you Roth IRA stock portfolio. They have a strangle hold on chocolate game and I do not foresee them every letting go. HSY's theme park is the place to go during the summer time in Pennsylvania!

Hershey's principal product groups include chocolate and confectionery products, gum and mint refreshment products, and pantry items, such as baking ingredients, toppings and beverages. Their diversified product line allows them to make money in every market. HSY operates as a single segment in manufacturing, marketing, selling and distributing various package types of chocolate and sugar confectionery products, pantry items, and gum and mint refreshment products under more than 80 brand names. They operate in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and other international locations, such as India, Korea, Japan, the Middle East, China and the Philippines. They markets their products in 60 countries.

Come on, admit it! During economic booms and busts we love chocolate! HSY is a very well know brand throughout the world. They have been around for about 125 years old. You should have a great deal of confidence in Hershey's long term stability. HSY is directed by the Hershey Trust Company, established in 1905 by the founder Milton Hershey to oversee the school that he established for orphans. Years later the Trust took control over the chocolate company. Now ponder this, how many companies are there that are guided by a Board of Directors that are as concerned with directing both the largest residential school for needy children as well as the largest chocolate factory in the world? 

Fact: In 2002, when the Trust wished to sell its controlling interest, Pennsylvania politicians, citizens, philanthropists, and the entire city of Hershey rebelled. More than half of the Trust member's were removed. 

Fact: All of the indicators of the company are consistent and strong. For example debt/equity, PE, gross profit margin, etc, and the essential fact is that there is no ten year period that it hasn't beat the S&P and Dow!

Please click here to visit Hershey's website, as well as here to visit their Investor Relations website. Also, feel free to watch the entertaining videos below. Hershey's really is a great stock to purchase and hold forever. Collect those dividend and let your money grow year after year! Go pick up some Hershey's stock and chocolate on Monday. Have a great weekend!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Vanguard REIT ETF - VNQ

If you have been paying attention then you already know that I believe Charles Schwab ETFs are the best in the business. Also, REITS RULE! That being said, I believe that I have found a great combo of both investment vehicles. Introducing the Vanguard REIT ETF, stock ticker VNQ. Vanguard has Charles Schwab beat with this REIT ETF.

VNQ is an exchange-traded share class of Vanguard REIT Index Fund. The fund employs a passive management or indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US REIT Index, a benchmark of United States property trusts that covers about two-thirds of the value of the entire United States real estate investment trust (REIT) market. The Fund’s investment advisor is Vanguard Quantitative Equity Group.

VNQ pays a healthy 50 cent quarterly dividend, which is currently a 3.59% dividend yield (as of 12/14/11). It is the best REIT ETF out today. Within this ETF, Vanguard invests in stocks issued by real estate investment trusts (REITs), companies that purchase office buildings, hotels, and other real property. Their goal is to closely track the return of the MSCI US REIT Index, a gauge of real estate stocks.

If you do not want to invest your hard earned dollars into one or two REIT stocks, then why not purchase some VNQ tomorrow and hold 106 REIT stocks. Click here for a complete listing of stocks held within VNQ. VNQ offers high potential for investment income and some growth. Investing in VNQ is appropriate for helping diversify the risks of stocks and bonds in a Roth IRA portfolio.

Click here to learn more about this solid ETF and watch the video below to learn more about REITs.

Note: I am long VNQ and hold no vested interest in VNQ or Vanguard. 

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Abbott Laboratories - ABT

Abbott Laboratories, stock ticker ABT, pays a 48 cent dividend, which is currently a 3.52% dividend yield! As of December 9th, 2011 ABT has declared 352 consecutive quarterly dividends. Now if that isn't stability I'm not quite sure what is. ABT continues to create products which improve and prolong our lives.

They are engaged in discovery, development, manufacture, and sale of diversified line of health care products. Their pharmaceutical products include a line of adult and pediatric pharmaceuticals manufactured, marketed, and sold directly to wholesalers and health care facilities ABT's diagnostic products include a line of diagnostic systems and tests manufactured, marketed, and sold to hospitals and commercial laboratories. Their nutritional products, which include a line of pediatric and adult nutritional products. Their vascular products include a line of coronary, endovascular, and vessel closure devices for the treatment of vascular disease.

On February 15, 2010, it acquired the Solvay Group's pharmaceuticals business. In March 2010, it acquired Starlims Technologies Limited. In April 2010, it acquired Facet Biotech Corporation. On September 8, 2010, it acquired Piramal Health care Limited’s Health care Solutions business.

Stash your money into this winner and fa-get-about it! In short, baby boomers will contribute to health care industry in a major way over the next 20 to 30 years. ABT is currently selling at 10 times earnings, they pay a solid dividend each quarter, have raised their dividend each quarter for the past 40 yrs, and they are projected to grow earnings per share 11% per year for the next 5 years!

Visit Abbott's home page, here, and their Investor Relations website, here. Thanks for your time.

Roth vs. Traditional IRAs

Noteworthy Roth IRA Youtube videos are below, enjoy! Have a great day tomorrow!

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Ford: The Return of the Dividend!

Finally Ford, stock ticker F, has started to pay a dividend again. Although it is only 5 cents a share, currently a 1.81% yield, it holds a lot of meaning. It proves that with persistence and great leadership a company can weather a massive economic downturn and survive. Ford vehicles are made to last and so is their dividend. Their craftsmanship is high quality and most of their cars have the top fuel mileage in each class.


Ford says that their United States sales grew 13% in November. Their sales totaled 166,865 vehicles last month, compared to 147,338 a year earlier. Sales of the Explorer tripled, while sales of the Ford Escape were up 46%Sales of Ford SUVs rose 29%. Truck sales were up 22.8%. Ford branded sales were up 20% from a year earlier. Ford plans to construct 675,000 vehicles in the first quarter of 2012, up 3% from this past year.

Currently selling at $11.03, Ford is still selling at a bargain. It's like walking into a Wal-mart and seeing those $5.00 classic DVDs or Blu-rays. Why would a movie like Officespace sell for $5.00? Well, that is how I view Ford. They are a classic automotive company which will never go out of business. It would have happened already. Ford has existed since June 16th, 1903 and if you have 20 to 30 years left in your working career then buying some F on Monday would be a good decision. Expect their dividend and share price to grow. Their customers are very loyal and demand Ford.

F may never be a high flyer, but they are a nice and consistent portfolio member. Visit the link below for "How to Buy Ford Stock". Also, watch the videos below and listen to one of the best CEOs on the planet, Alan Mulally. Until next time, pick up some F to diversify your Roth IRA stock portfolio and also, reinvest those dividends! Start compounding today!

http://corporate.ford.com/our-company/investors/investing-with-ford?releaseId=1244753633537

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Navios Maritime Holdings Inc. - NM

Navios Maritime Holdings Inc., stock ticker NM, is my favorite shipping company. They are global and a  vertically integrated seaborne shipping and logistics company. NM maintains their focus on the transport and transshipment of dry bulk commodities, including iron ore, coal and grain. NM has two solid and profitable business segments: Vessel Operations and Logistics Business.

Over the past couple of years NM's core fleet of ships, the average age of which is approximately 4.4 years, consisted of a total of 60 vessels, which can hold approximately 6.6 million deadweight tons. Navios Holdings owned 15 Capesize vessels, 13 Ultra Handymax (See first video below), four Panamax, and one Product Handysize tanker vessel. It also time charters in and operates a fleet of five Ultra Handymax, two Handysize, 10 Panamax, and 10 Capesize vessels charters, 17 of which are operational.

Navios Maritime is a great company getting beat down with no rhyme or reason. Their dividend of 6 cents per share, which is a 6.33% yield is sustainable. They have enough cash on hand and quarterly profits to continue to pay their dividend. I suggest picking up shares of NM at these levels and hold for the long term. In the meantime, enjoy that 6% dividend yield while you wait. NM's financials are solid and most of their vessels are contracted out over the next two years. Their average charter contacts are around 3 1/2 years and several being 5 plus years. Their Price/Book is 0.35 and they have a PE of 5.7. Navios Maritime is a great value in a punished sector.

In closing, please visit NM's homepage, here, and also their Investor Relations website, here. On December 2nd, 2011 NM rallied above their 50 day moving average, which is a plus! NM is very cheap now with an delicious, sustainable dividend. Hold this winner in your Roth IRA portoflio for tax benefits and count on that dividend every three months. At $3.79 per share, you can't go wrong!

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Steel Dynamics, Inc. - STLD

Steel Dynamics, Inc., stock ticker STLD, is the nation’s fifth largest producer of carbon steel products. Based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, SDI employs about 6,100 individuals and operates five electric furnace mini mills. Over 60% of STLD's steel shipments are flat rolled sheet steel and the remainder is long products (i.e. bars and beams) and fabricated products. STLD is among the most profitable American steel companies in terms of profit margins and operating profit per ton.

The primary sources of STLD's revenues are from the manufacture and sale of steel products, processing and sale of recycled ferrous and nonferrous metals, and the fabrication and sale of steel joist and decking products. STLD operates in three segments: steel operations, metals recycling and ferrous resources operations, and steel fabrication operations. During the year ended 12/31/10 actual metals recycling shipments were 5.2 million gross tons of ferrous materials, and 961 million pounds of nonferrous metallics. During 2010, its steel shipments were 5.3 million tons.

STLD had an outstanding third quarter 2011. Their net income was $43.3 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, during the third quarter of 2011, compared with net income of $18.7 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, during the third quarter of 2010, and net income of $98.7 million, or $0.43 per diluted share, during the second quarter of 2011. Their net sales increased $459.3 million, or 29%, to $2.0 billion in the third quarter of 2011 versus the third quarter of 2010, and net sales decreased $36.3 million, or 2%, versus the second quarter of 2011. Their gross profit percentage was 10% during the third quarter of 2011 as compared to 9% for the third quarter of 2010, and 13% for the second quarter of 2011.

STLD pays a pretty sweet 10 cent dividend, which is currently a 2.96% dividend yield (12/6/11 stock price of $13.78). Their financials show that they can support the dividend payments and should increase as the economy improves. STLD sold at $39.47 back in June 13th, 2008 and it will go back to that all time high eventually. This stock was shot down for no real reason other than the Great Recession. I believe construction is going to FLY HIGH in 2012. Steel demand will rise as construction conditions improve. Another positive for STLD is that they incur no union pension costs. They have a productive staff due to pay for production and safety. Also, welded rail is unique to the market and helped reduce the reliance on flat products.

Please visit STLD's Investor relations page, here and visit their website, here. Enjoy the videos below. Steel rules! America will need alot of it once the new housing market improves. Purchasing STLD tomorrow is a great investment in steel, which will safeguard your Roth IRA. STLD is a great growth stock and shows alot of promise.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

M&A: The Valence Group

Mergers and acquisitions, otherwise known as M&A, are part of the world wide business. Every company traded on the NYSE, AMEX, or NASDAQ can be bought and sold at any time. Just the other day Yahoo!, stock ticker YHOO, was next on the chopping block, as a few offers are in the works to buy Yahoo! or a percentage of the company. Just read the headlines pertaining to the AT&T and T-mobile merger, it's not a pretty sight! Economic weakness in the west (United States) has made countries like India and China very eager to purchase U.S. companies. By understanding this concept you can clearly define which companies are a solid stock investment and which are not. A critical part of a companies ability to conduct M&As effectively are by utilizing investment banks (definition).


A great example of an investment bank providing advisory services to companies and investors exclusively in the materials and chemical fields is the Valence Group. Valance is a chemical investment bank. They provide chemical advisory services to companies and investors exclusively in the chemical, material and related sectors. Valence's specialty is in chemical mergers and acquisitions.

Click here to visit their website and here to learn more about this well managed group. Feel free to watch this video below, which will teach you more about mergers and acquisitions. I suggest taking a look at your Roth IRA stock portfolio and pinpoint which companies you feel are potential acquisition candidates. Watch them closely over the upcoming year to determine if they still remain a solid investment. A company like the Valence Group is a much needed piece to the puzzle of M&As.

Ebix, Inc. - EBIX

Ebix, Inc, stock ticker EBIX, is the greatest international supplier of software and e-commerce solutions to the insurance industry. Ebix provides a range of application software products for the insurance industry ranging from carrier systems, agency systems and exchanges to custom software development for all entities involved in the insurance and financial industries. As of December 31, 2010, approximately 71% of Ebix revenues came from on-demand insurance Exchanges. It has operations in Australia, Canada, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore and Brazil. The Company operates through four main channels: Exchanges, Carrier Systems, Broker Systems and Business Process Outsourcing. In November 2011, the Company acquired the HealthConnect Systems, an online exchange for buyers and sellers of health insurance and employee benefits. Ebix also announced that HealthConnect would be integrated into its EbixHealth Division. Ebix earns alot of cash from their insurance exchanges! These are virtual toll bridges, and they don't require consistent infrastructure costs as a normal toll bridge would require. Their market share continues to grow through organic growth and acquisitions. Recently the company announced a $100 million buyback plan with $28 million already spent this year in buybacks. At current prices around $20.00, this poses as a very lucrative proposition for the long term shareholder! Management is very shareholder friendly and has turned around this company since 1999. Robin Raina, CEO, does believe in truth and honesty in running his company. He owns a lot of his company, does share buybacks, and has mastered acquisitions. Click here to visit EBIX's website, as well as here for their Investor Relations page. Also, check out these articles below. EBIX is an acquisition monster and began paying a dividend on November 10th, 2011. Things are on the up and up for EBIX. Get in now and thank me later. Have a great remainder of the weekend!


Ebix, Inc. Announces Increase to Share Repurchase Program








Get Educated! - Fast Forward Academy


Part of being a "Common Man" does not include sitting on the sidelines and watching others achieve financial freedom. Nothing in this world is given to you, and you must go out there and get it! Anything is obtainable if you put your mind to it. That being said, now a days it is very important to solidify your education and obtain a bachelor's degree or some form of post high school degree. Statistics show that those individuals who obtain a post high school degree make higher salaries. In stock market terms, if you make more money then you can invest larger sums of cash, which ultimately equals higher dividend payments. Let me step back for a second. Simply put, concentrate on obtain a degree if you have not already! Investing in your education is one of the best decisions to make.

That being said, there are a plethora of companies which can assist you in managing your professional education needs. I suggest Fast Forward Academy, LLC. Fast Forward provides individuals around the world with the tools to help them efficiently manage their education. They want to help students and professionals accomplish more in less time. Their goal is to make every effort to provide the most useful and efficient exam prep material in the market place, all designed to help their students "Learn Fast and Pass". Specifically, their principal focus is to supply rapid training and streamlined continuing education to professionals in the fields of taxation, securities, and insurance. If these three fields of work interest you then FFA is for you. 

Fast Forward Academy provides preparation exams and study guides which will assist you in passing IRS exams. Job creation is very important in the United States and now is the time to invest in your education so when that job opening becomes available you are ready! Click here to visit Fast Forward's website. There you will find all enrolled agent continuing education requirements. Click here for their Facebook profile, and here for their Twitter. Register here! Until next time, stay in school!

Options Brokers - Mytrack.com!

The stock market is a great place to make some trades to double or triple your money rather quickly or to invest little by little throughout your working career to obtain financial security during your retirement years. As you know, dividend stock investing is the way to go, but I have recently been more and more interested in options trading. It has been said that options are complex securities and can be extremely risky. This is true, however if you know what you are doing you can make some serious cash rather quickly. 


Click here for the technical definition of "Options". Options are a much more complex than purchasing stock, however they offer a world of opportunity. They are versatile and you can be as speculative or as conservative as you wish. One must only invest with residual income because it is very possible to lose all money when investing in Options.


There are places to go for Options help! Many brokers are out there, but my favorite options broker is https://www.mytrack.com. They are thee options brokers! All of the trading on their site is performed through Track Data Securities Corp., members of FINRA/SIPC/NFA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Track Data Corporation. In short, Track Data Corporation is a financial services company that provides direct access brokerage, real-time financial market data, news, and research to institutional and individual investors through dedicated telecommunication lines and the Internet. They were founded in 1981 and know how to assist you with any questions or inquiries. 


Check out MyTrack Data on Facebook, here or on Twitter, here, and also here are two very helpful links to get you started. Your future self depends on your current financial decisions! Good luck to you and happy investing! 


Open an account
Facts about Mytrack.com

Start Fresh Today!

Just as a rule of thumb, it is important to only invest your residual income into the stock market. Once you use your hard earned money to purchase necessities (i.e. food, clothing and shelter) that is only when you should begin purchasing stock. If you are currently experiencing any financial hardships you should not be investing money without either paying yourself first, or paying down your debt. If you are unable to stay a float sometimes bankruptcy is a solution. Getting your finances in order is sometimes impossible and if that's the case Startfreshtoday.com is a place to go for help. 


This company offers advice and solutions for consumers who are going through the bankruptcy process, for bankruptcy attorneys and even provides services for credit counseling agencies. You know, the people who may call you after dinner time hassling you to schedule a payment! Well, Start Fresh Today offers a wealth of knowledge which will calm your nerves. Their all-inclusive services include Pre-filing and Post-filing Bankruptcy Courses, Due Diligence Products, and comprehensive BAPCPA (Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act) resources.


Startfreshtoday.com provides an online bankruptcy course. This bankruptcy course is for anyone who is looking to get more info on bankruptcy, lawyers or credit counseling services. Don't let your debt ruin your life. Take control of your finances now, so you can invest those hard earned dollars into high yielding dividend paying stocks. If you are employed during your bankruptcy and have an earned income then I suggest opening a Roth IRA with your favorite broker and begin paying yourself first instead of your creditors. Feel free to watch the informative videos below and visit Startfreshtoday.com today if you have no where else to turn! I wouldn't steer you wrong. 


Stock Picks for the week of 12/5/11 to 12/9/11


Welcome back to Dividend Stock Investing for the Common Man! Listed below are the newest dividend paying stock selections for the Common Man's portfolio for the week of December 5th, 2011 to December 9th, 2011. Any one of these stocks will safeguard your Roth IRA stock portfolio with solid dividends, or what I like to call it free cash! I am bullish long term on each of these companies and I believe in their financials. I'll check back in next Saturday to determine how well or poor these picks performed. Have a great remainder of the weekend. Continue to invest as much as you can each week to ensure that you have a solid dividend income stream of wealth! Once again, I am only a fan of these stocks and am not pumping them for my own personal gain. I just enjoy sharing which stocks I believe are dividend aristocrats and should be seriously considered when investing your hard earned dollars. Feel free to check out the videos below, which include MCD, CKSW and EBIX.


General Mills, Inc.  (NYSE:GIS) $39.96
Diageo plc (ADR)  (NYSE:DEO)  $84.42
Simon Property Group, Inc  (NYSE:SPG) $122.80
Kraft Foods Inc.  (NYSE:KFT) $36.50
Darden Restaurants, Inc.  (NYSE:DRI) $47.53
McDonald's Corporation  (NYSE:MCD) $95.70
Pfizer Inc.  (NYSE:PFE) $19.89
Tiffany & Co.  (NYSE:TIF) $67.60
The Kroger Co.  (NYSE:KR) $23.36
China Mobile Ltd. (ADR)  (NYSE:CHL) $48.90
Bank of Nova Scotia (USA)  (NYSE:BNS) $48.09
Starbucks Corporation  (NASDAQ:SBUX) $43.91
J.C. Penney Company, Inc.  (NYSE:JCP) $32.98
ClickSoftware Technologies Ltd.  (NASDAQ:CKSW) $9.14
Ebix, Inc.  (NASDAQ:EBIX) $20.34


Note: Stock prices as of 12/2/11

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Diageo plc - DEO

Diageo plc, otherwise known as just Diageo, stock ticker DEO is engaged in the alcoholic beverage business with a collection of international brands. Diageo is a participant in the branded beverage alcohol industry and operates worldwide. Diageo produces and distributes a collection of branded premium spirits, beer and wine. The range of premium brands it produces and distributes includes Smirnoff vodka, CIROC vodka, Johnnie Walker scotch whisky, Baileys Original Irish Cream liqueur, Captain Morgan rum, JeB scotch whisky, Tanqueray gin and Guinness stout. In addition it also has the distribution rights for the Jose Cuervo tequila brands in North America and many other markets. Diageo’s beer brands include the global stout brand, Guinness. Diageo operates in North America, Europe, International and Asia Pacific. In June of 2010 DEO increased their ownership interest in London Group, the joint venture that owns NUVO, then in August of 2011 they acquired Mey Icki.

Currently DEO pays a $1.59 dividend, which is a 3.06% yield. They are buying back shares like it's going out of style. I strongly believe that high end items will always sell and during this fluctuating market there are lots of people who want premium stuff! No matter how bad the economy gets people are always going to buy booze. DEO holds a very strong competitive position with great brand names in the liquor industry. Their international exposure is key. It has long been said that as people age they tend to change from beer to distilled alcoholic products, and with the baby boomers moving their twilight years I expect more distilled alcohol to be sold which would bring more sales to DEO.

DEO's bottom line shows that consumers are gradually returning to the premium brands that they like as the economy slowly improves. Emerging markets will drive profits and DEO is well positioned to reap profits. Let's be honest, Diageo dominates the liquor isle. DEO owns the top liquor brand, the top vodka, the top tequila and whiskey along with all of Guinness and a 35% stake in Hennessy plus endless other brands! As long as people keep drinking go ahead and sleep soundly at night knowing Diageo is here to stay!

Feel free to visit Diageo's homepage, here. Also, analyze their brands here. Enjoy the videos below and you'll see why this stock is a winner! Go ahead and pour out alittle CIROC vodka and get this dividend party started right! Until next time, spend within your means, reinvest your dividends within a ROTH IRA stock portfolio, and drink responsibility.

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