Browse by ▼

Brian Nichols

All Posts

  • Five Stocks that are Better Investment Alternatives to the S&P 500

    By Brian Nichols - May 19, 2013 | Tickers: ACE, M, MMC, NI, NOC

    In a previous article, I looked at five stocks in particular that presented more growth, a better valuation, and paid out a better dividend than an investment in the S&P 500. In addition, these particular companies also increased the price of their dividend last week, and while I already looked at five, there are also five more worth noting.

    In the last piece, I explained that I am using more »

  • Too Many Questions Make This Thursday Mover a Sell

    By Brian Nichols - May 19, 2013 | Tickers: ACAD, AEGR, SNY

    Shares of Aegerion Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: AEGR) rallied an incredible 31.37% on Thursday after a series of bullish notes that painted a clearer picture for its newly approved (rare-cholesterol disease) drug Juxtapid. While the company’s current market capitalization of $1.75 billion suggests that Aegerion has a potential blockbuster on its hand, the reality is not quite so bullish.

    What created the movement?

    Aegerion Pharmaceuticals had previously reported that more »

  • Five Dividend Boosts Worth Noting

    By Brian Nichols - May 18, 2013 | Tickers: COH, KEY, TIS, SPTN, TEL

    Last week we saw countless companies declare their quarterly dividend, and a select few that elected to increase their yield compared to last year. In this piece I am looking at five that might present a good investment opportunity to shareholders.

    For this particular piece, I am using one of the value-seeking strategies found in my book Taking Charge With Value Investing (McGraw-Hill, 2013) and that is to seek value more »

  • Are these Top Post-IPO Performers Still a Buy?

    By Brian Nichols - May 18, 2013 | Tickers: AMBA, CHUY, SSTK, SCTY, TSRO

    Investors are no stranger to large IPO pops, but in the last year we have seen incredible post-IPO pops, indicating that these companies were priced too cheap. Thus I am looking at the top five to determine if more upside exists.

    #5 Ambarella Inc (NASDAQ: AMBA)

    Since its IPO on 10/10/2012 the technology company Ambarella has rallied 154.60%. Currently the stock is trending higher and is just more »

  • What’s Moving These Biotech Stocks?

    By Brian Nichols - May 18, 2013 | Tickers: ARIA, INFI, ONTY

    As one of the most important conferences in biotechnology approaches (ASCO) we are seeing wild swings of volatility. On Thursday there were several stocks that moved to the downside, and in this piece I am determining if any are a buy after the large moves.

    Ariad Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ARIA)

    Shares of Ariad Pharmaceuticals fell more than 4% after a report from Fox News suggested that cancer patients are now electing more »

  • Three Upgrades on Friday Worth Noting

    By Brian Nichols - May 18, 2013 | Tickers: GILD, HON, NOC

    While the market continued its miraculous run on Friday with gains, the following three stocks saw even greater upside due to the remarks and calls of analysts. In this piece, I am looking at these three stocks, all of which I believe are “buys”

    This Pharma Company Just Keeps Getting Better

    Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ: GILD) had seen a bit of a pullback on Thursday, but then erased those losses with more »

  • This Stock Makes Linkedin Look Cheap!

    By Brian Nichols - May 17, 2013 | Tickers: LNKD, SCTY

    Linkedin is by now means a value investment. The company is considered by some to be a great short opportunity, with decelerating growth and a massive valuation compared to fundamentals. Yet despite these facts, Linkedin does in fact appear to be a value investment, when compared to another high-flying speculative name.

    Linkedin: Not Cheap By Any Means

    Linkedin (NYSE: LNKD) is controversial, as investors debate whether or not upside could more »

  • Are these Top Performers a Sell?

    By Brian Nichols - May 17, 2013 | Tickers: ACAD, RAD

    Late last year I began using Motley Fool’s My CAPS as a way for readers to track my new investments and those that fit under the guidelines in my book Taking Charge With Value Investing (McGraw-Hill, 2013). The concept of CAPS is to make selections based on a time allowed and then you earn points for every percent that your selections outperform its index. The score is then totaled more »

  • Tiger Management Makes Bold but Unwise Decision

    By Brian Nichols - May 17, 2013 | Tickers: AAPL, DNKN, HRB, MHFI, MON

    Currently, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) is trading with losses of 4% at a price of $426.00 after news that Tiger Management’s Julian Robertson unloaded its remaining 42,000-shares stake in the company, down from 101,000 shares in Q4--thus eliminating a $100 million stake the firm had owned for many years. However, the firm also initiated new positions, with what appears to be the money from its stake in more »

  • Are These Wednesday Post-Earning Movers a Buy?

    By Brian Nichols - May 17, 2013 | Tickers: DE, M, XONE, VIPS

    With the market continuing to rally, I am looking at the most volatile stocks of the day on Wednesday, those that are responding the quarterly reports. Sometimes, earnings can produce great opportunities, but the questions remains of whether or not any value was presenting on this specific day.

    Don’t Let Large Yearly Gains Scare You With this Winning Selection

    One of the market’s best performing stocks is most more »

  • Are these Impressive Comeback Stocks a Buy?

    By Brian Nichols - May 17, 2013 | Tickers: GREK, NBG, YRCW

    In this article I am looking at a unique duo of stocks, those that are trading with mindboggling multi-year losses but have shown recent strength to produce great short-term returns. The goal is to look at each without bias, and determine if there is any value to these recent breakouts.

    YRC Worldwide (NASDAQ: YRCW)

    After YRC Worldwide posted its Q1 earnings, resulting in its stock doubling, I was very critical more »

  • Outlook for the Most Shorted Stocks

    By Brian Nichols - May 17, 2013 | Tickers: BRLI, BTH, CSTR, QCOR, SPPI

    When you look at the S&P 500’s most shorted stocks, all are cheap yet short investors continue to bet on lower prices. Therefore, I am looking at the most shorted stocks according to Bespoke Investment Group’s monthly list, to determine if any are a “buy.”

    Company

    Short-Interest vs. Float

    Shares Short (4/30)

    Shares Short (3/30)

    Blyth (NYSE: BTH)

    68.36%

    5.62 million

    5.32 more »

  • Despite Large Gains, this Stock is Still a Buy

    By Brian Nichols - May 17, 2013 | Tickers: ACT, ALXN, WCRX

    Rumors of mergers and takeovers have overshadowed the good fundamental news surrounding Actavis (NYSE: ACT). Actavis is the world’s third largest generic drug maker, and is growing just as fast as any of the high-profile pharmaceutical names. Now, with takeover chatter beginning to fade, investors can turn their focus back towards fundamentals, and the large upside that is still present.

    The Actavis Sweepstakes

    If you’re a new investors more »

  • Are These Stocks a Buy After Earnings?

    By Brian Nichols - May 17, 2013 | Tickers: CPA, IOC, SCTY

    As most of the big-name companies have already reported earnings, investors don’t seem quite as preoccupied with current and upcoming reports. Yet despite the volume of companies reporting being lowered, there are still many market-moving reports. With that said, I am looking at three companies that reported on Tuesday to determine if any are a buy.

    An Expensive Stock With Future Upside Priced Into its Valuation

    The most watched more »

  • Two Large Cap Stocks With Market Leading Value

    By Brian Nichols - May 16, 2013 | Tickers: F, GM

    An Industry With Great Upside Potential

    In my book “Taking Charge With Value Investing (McGraw-Hill, 2013)” I spent an entire section discussing fair value and determining at what price a stock becomes a buy. I have went on to prove this on many occasions, using the Motley Fool CAPS to track selections based on my strategy, which obviously bodes well in my favor. Thus when people ask me “which industry more »

  • Tiger Management to Regret these Investment Choices

    By Brian Nichols - May 15, 2013 | Tickers: AAPL, DNKN, HRB, MHFI, MON

    Currently, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) is trading with losses of 4% at a price of $426.00 after news that Tiger Management’s Julian Robertson unloaded its remaining 42,000 share stake in the company, down from 101,000 shares in Q4. Thus eliminating a $100 million stake the firm had owned for many years. However, the firm also initiated new positions, in what appears to be with money from its more »

  • Three Value-Presenting Stocks With Upgrades on Monday

    By Brian Nichols - May 15, 2013 | Tickers: DDD, GLW, PCYC

    An analyst upgrade can sometimes be highly useful in allowing you to learn about a new company that might have flown under-the-radar. With the markets trading at all-time highs investors are scrambling to find the best opportunities. In this article I am looking at three stocks that I believe are presenting such an opportunity, even after upgrades on Monday.

    This Stock Continues to Rebound

    After a year of no return more »

  • Three Monday Upgrades That You May Want to Ignore

    By Brian Nichols - May 15, 2013 | Tickers: SQNM, BA, WCRX

    An analyst’s upgrade almost always causes a stock to trend higher. However, those gains can often be a value-trap. In this piece, I am looking at three such stocks; those that I believe are presenting a value trap to investors.

    Avoid the Large Buyout Rumors

    Warner-Chilcott (NASDAQ: WCRX) saw a slew of upgrades from firms Morgan Stanley, UBS, and CRT Capital, all of whom are buying the idea of more »

  • Did Monday’s Market Moving Downgrades Create a Buying Opportunity

    By Brian Nichols - May 15, 2013 | Tickers: ANR, AZO, CTRP

    On Monday we saw several stock-moving downgrades from high-profile firms. While many of these downgrades are warranted, some are following the leader of prior downgrades, and may create upside for the investor. Thus I am looking at the top downgrades to determine if any present value.

    AutoZone (NYSE: AZO)

    In my book Taking Charge With Value Investing (McGraw-Hill, 2013) I present a value-finding formula that I call (10-10-10) which has more »

  • Controversial Stocks Trade Higher: Buy, Hold, or Sell?

    By Brian Nichols - May 14, 2013 | Tickers: AMD, NBG, TZOO

    For the past month, as the markets have created new all-time highs, there have been numerous stocks to rally under the radar. What might have been top-market news in years past has gone unnoticed, and as a result, I am looking at three stocks that have exploded higher to determine the reason and whether or not each is a buy, hold, or sell!

    Waiting for a Pullback in this Fast-Moving more »

  • Page 1 of 20