The No. 2 soda maker in the United States and the world’s largest snack food maker, Pepsico (NYSE: PEP), looks like an emerging market play, particularly on the resurgence of Latin America. While U.S. soda sales have flat-lined for all of the major players, overseas sales account for about half… Read More

J.C. Penney Company (NYSE: JCP) shares lost more than half of their value in 2012. The sell-off came after posting multi-year highs above $43 in February 2012, even against the backdrop of a tough economy. In 2013, a $20 support base was violated, and the decade lows around $14, made… Read More

A 15%-plus jump in the Energy Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLE) took the fund from close to $68 in November to a 52-week high just over $80 in March. And while the recent pullback has knocked XLE off its highs, it has held its ground at $74, the midpoint support,… Read More

I believe the advice, “Don’t fight the Fed,” holds true no matter what language it’s said in. Although in Japan, I suppose the phrase would be, “Don’t fight the BOJ.” Japan’s economy has been mired in what many call the “Two Lost Decades.” However, new leadership at the Bank of… Read More

Metals are in the news, this time for a historic decline that has knocked gold and silver prices down double digits in just a few days. Out-of-favor investments often yield good returns in the long run. The basic materials sector is down more than 20% during the last 52 weeks… Read More

The airline industry has seen a recovery in profitability and share prices. U.S. airlines are expected to lead the recovery in the global sector’s profits this year, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). And the Amex Airline Index (NYSE: XAL) has ran from about $35 in September to… Read More

Materials stocks have mostly missed out on the broader market rally during the past year, which has taken the S&P 500 index almost 17% higher. In stark contrast, United States Steel Corp. (NYSE: X) is down about 34% over the same period and is trying to base out at key… Read More

The fight over the fate of nutritional supplements multi-level marketing company, Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE: HLF), has been deemed a “Battle of the Titans.” Billionaire investors, most prominently Carl Icahn (for) and William Ackman (against), have taken massive positions. While either could end up being right depending on the time frame,… Read More

The fight over the fate of nutritional supplements multi-level marketing company, Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE: HLF), has been deemed a “Battle of the Titans.” Billionaire investors, most prominently Carl Icahn (for) and William Ackman (against), have taken massive positions. While either could end up being right depending on the time frame,… Read More

We’re coming up on the one-year anniversary of Facebook’s (NASDAQ: FB) IPO, and it’s safe to say that after the initial hype dissipated on the first trading day, investors have not necessarily “liked” the stock. A solid price base was finally formed at $18 from August to November. By January,… Read More

J.C. Penney (NYSE: JCP) shares have lost more than half of their value since the beginning of 2012. The sell-off occurred after posting multi-year highs above $43 despite the backdrop of a tough economy.  With the latest push to the downside, the $20 support base has been violated. In fact,… Read More