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Is MIPS Technologies a Rule Breaker?

Sat, 13/11/2010 - 11:22 by Tim Beyers

 I'm a believer in growth stocks. As an analyst for our Motley Fool Rule Breakers service, I think you should be a believer, too. But even I have to admit some growth stories are bogus, hence this regular series. Next up: MIPS Technologies (Nasdaq: MIPS). Is this designer of microcontrollers for digital TV and other consumer devices the real thing? Let's get right to the numbers.

 

Will Sherwin-Williams Fall Short Next Quarter?

Sat, 13/11/2010 - 11:18 by Seth Jayson

 There's no foolproof way to know the future for Sherwin-Williams (NYSE: SHW) or any other company. However, certain clues may help you see potential stumbles before they happen -- and before your stock craters as a result. Rest assured: Even if you're not monitoring these metrics, short-sellers are.

 

Is Dow the Perfect Stock?

Sat, 13/11/2010 - 11:15 by Dan Caplinger

 Everyone would love to find the perfect stock. But will you ever really find a stock that gives you everythingyou could possibly want? One thing's for sure: If you don't look, you'll never find truly great investments. So let's first take a look at what you'd want to see from a perfect stock, and then decide if Dow Chemical (NYSE: DOW) fits the bill.

 

Will Dover Whiff on Revenues Next Quarter?

Sat, 13/11/2010 - 11:10 by Seth Jayson

 There's no foolproof way to know the future for Dover (NYSE: DOV) or any other company. However, certain clues may help you see potential stumbles before they happen -- and before your stock craters as a result. Rest assured: Even if you're not monitoring these metrics, short-sellers are.

 

Where's the Cash Coming From at Hecla Mining?

Sat, 13/11/2010 - 10:45 by Seth Jayson

 Although business headlines still tout earnings numbers, many investors have moved past net earnings as a measure of a company's economic output. That's because earnings are very often less trustworthy than cash flow, since earnings are more open to manipulation based on dubious judgment calls.

 

Don't Say You Weren't Warned

Sat, 13/11/2010 - 10:42 by Jordan DiPietro

With the so-called lost decade close in our rear-view mirror, many investors think putting their money in index funds or ETFs that track the market just won't be good enough to secure a nice retirement. And I can't totally blame you if you feel that way; it's certainly been a rough decade. But if you're thinking about placing your hard-earned cash in a mutual fund with the promise of crushing the market, let me explain why that's a bad idea -- and how you avoid making an enormous and costly mistake.

 

Guess What? Harvard Says You're Dumb

Sat, 13/11/2010 - 10:34 by Rich Smith

"As stock markets slid in March, Judy Brady lay awake at night thinking about her portfolio. 'My retired friends who had all CDs and gold, and they were still making money, and my investments just kept going and going,' she said. 'I thought: I can't afford to lose all this.' So the 70-year-old retiree in Schaumburg, Ill., sold most of her stocks."
 -- The Wall Street Journal, May 18, 2009

 

Is Aflac the Perfect Stock?

Sat, 13/11/2010 - 10:27 by Dan Caplinger

 Everyone would love to find the perfect stock. But will you ever really find a stock that gives you everythingyou could possibly want? One thing's for sure: If you don't look, you'll never find truly great investments. So let's first take a look at what you'd want to see from a perfect stock, and then decide if Aflac (NYSE:AFL) fits the bill.

 

Are You Missing Something Easy at Titanium Metals?

Sat, 13/11/2010 - 10:22 by Seth Jayson

 Margins matter. The more Titanium Metals (NYSE: TIE) keeps of each buck it earns in revenue, the more money it has to invest in growth, fund new strategic plans, or (gasp!) distribute to shareholders. Healthy margins often separate pretenders from the best stocks in the market.  That's why I check on my holdings' margins at least once a quarter. I'm looking for the absolute numbers, comparisons to sector peers and competitors, and any trend that may tell me how strong Titanium Metals's competitive position could be.

 

7 Reasons to Worry About Next Week

Sat, 13/11/2010 - 10:20 by Rick Aristotle ...

 Are you feeling it? Somewhere between the rallying equity prices and market research giant Forrester's predicting a 16% spike in online sales during the holiday shopping season, it's easy to begin feeling good about the economy.

The 10 Best Dividend Stocks of The Decade

Sat, 13/11/2010 - 10:00 by Dan Caplinger

 When thinking of dividend stocks, we tend to think of large, boring companies like Wal-Mart or United Parcel Service.These stalwarts will most likely be around in 10 years, still paying you that quarterly dividend, but they will probably never be huge winners. For instance, in this decade, both Wal-Mart and UPS aren't among the top 10 or even the top 100 dividend stocks of the past decade, as measured by total return to shareholders.

 

3 Stocks That Are Automatic Wealth Machines

Sat, 13/11/2010 - 09:55 by Jim Mueller

 Suppose that, 30 years ago, you invested $1,000 in Altria, formerly Philip Morris, maker of the even-then-famous Marlboro brand of cigarettes. When you invested that grand, you would have had just 29 shares at the price of $34.50. Hardly enough to get on with, right? Well, today, through splits and spinoffs, you would have: