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Greg Williamson

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  • Dividend Achievers for the Long Haul, Part 1

    By Greg Williamson - May 24, 2013

    Investing in companies that pay reliable dividends can add a level of stability and predictability to a portfolio. It's a known fact that dividend paying companies tend to hold up better than non-dividend payers during bear markets. In addition, investing in companies with a combination of exceptional earnings and dividend growth can provide very attractive, market beating returns over the long term.

    Dividend Achievers

    In order for a company more »

  • An Attractive Opportunity Still Exists Despite the Market's Run Up

    By Greg Williamson - May 15, 2013 | Tickers: GE, KMB, GWW

    The Dow Jones Industrial Average is at an all-time high near 15,000. In 2009, when it fell below 7,000, most investors (including myself) could not have fathomed that it would get to this level so quickly. This is a reminder that the stock market is the best investment vehicle over the long haul for growing your nest egg. It is exciting to watch the Dow achieve the 15 more »

  • Effectively Incorporate ETFs Into Your Portfolio

    By Greg Williamson - May 14, 2013 | Tickers: EEM, DIA, SIJ

    Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are very popular investment opportunities that trade as stocks and hold a group of assets such as stocks, bonds, and commodities. ETFs are designed to track the performance of a particular index, sector, investment strategy, or global location, and are available in more styles and options than you can shake a stick at.

    ETFs are a very effective way to add diversity to a portfolio by more »

  • A World Full Of Robots!

    By Greg Williamson - May 10, 2013 | Tickers: ISRG, IRBT, OII

    The term robotics may sound sexy, but robots can actually be very dull because they are designed to repeat similar functions over and over again. Fortunately, these dull, repetitive functions can lead to very attractive returns for investors.

    Robots can be very productive, essential, convenient, and can perform tasks that are dangerous for people to perform. They are utilized for an ever-increasing number of industrial, healthcare, energy, residential, and military more »

  • Smart Investment Opportunities Within the Smartphone Industry

    By Greg Williamson - May 9, 2013 | Tickers: AMT, MSFT, NOK

    I am sure that most of you have heard the popular saying "this is the best thing since sliced bread", which is used often in sales when describing an innovative product. Well, in my opinion, smartphones are better than sliced bread!

    A decade ago, it was inconceivable that a phone could be utilized for functions such as internet browsing, e-mail, verbal capabilities (Siri), and photos. As impressive as these functions more »

  • Should You Go "All-in" With These Great Companies?

    By Greg Williamson - May 1, 2013 | Tickers: AAPL, NFLX, DIS

    As a recreational poker player, I find it exciting to occasionally throw all of my chips on the table and go "all-in." Sometimes this can pay off, especially during the rare occasion of having pocket aces.

    However, this is a concept that I do not recommend with investing, regardless of how much you believe in a company. A disciplined, long-term approach is vital in developing a diverse, well-managed portfolio that more »

  • Trounce the Market With This Diabetes Care Company

    By Greg Williamson - April 28, 2013 | Tickers: BDX, LLY, NVO, SNY

    Diabetes currently affects an estimated 350 million people worldwide. This number is projected to grow to well over 500 million people by 2030.

    Diabetes is a very serious disease that results from high levels of glucose caused by the body not being able to effectively produce insulin (type 1 diabetes) or use insulin (type 2 diabetes). Diabetes is a leading cause of a wide variety of complications including kidney failure more »

  • Assessing P&G's Declining Level of Dividend Increases

    By Greg Williamson - April 27, 2013 | Tickers: JNJ, PG, WMT

    Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) is one of the most popular dividend stocks in the world with an impressive payout history that includes 122 years of uninterrupted dividends and 57 years of consecutive annual dividend increases.

    Its current dividend yield is 3% and with a payout ratio of 54%, P&G  has the capability  of significantly boosting its dividend. P&G has averaged an annual dividend increase of 10.8% per more »

  • 2 Biotech Companies With Multi-Bagger Potential

    By Greg Williamson - April 18, 2013 | Tickers: CELG, EXEL, VRTX

    Some investors consider speculation to be a dirty word, but it can be an important component of a diversified portfolio. Although speculative stocks have an increased level of risk, they also have enormous reward potential. The following four keys will allow you to improve your chances of hitting a home run with speculative stocks, while ensuring that your portfolio is protected:

    1.) Limit your speculative holdings to between 10% to more »

  • Two Spectacular, Speculative Biotech Companies With Multi-Bagger Potential

    By Greg Williamson - April 15, 2013

    Some investors consider speculation to be a dirty word, but it can be an important component of a diversified portfolio. Although speculative stocks have an increased level of risk, they also have enormous reward potential. The following four keys will allow you to improve your chances of hitting a home run with speculative stocks while ensuring that your portfolio is protected:

    1.) Limit your speculative holdings to between 10 to more »

  • What's Next for Apple?

    By Greg Williamson - April 15, 2013 | Tickers: AAPL, GLW, NUAN

    Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) is not the largest company based on revenue or market cap, but it is widely recognized as being the most successful and innovative company in the world.

    Under the leadership of Steve Jobs, Apple began an amazing period of innovation that started when the company completely revolutionized the music industry with the iPod and iTunes. This success was followed by Apple's creation of the iPhone and more »

  • Add International Exposure to Your Portfolio With These Fabulous Companies

    By Greg Williamson - April 1, 2013 | Tickers: BHP, ABV, UL

    Many investors fear international stock ownership because they believe that there are extreme risks associated with companies located outside the United States. I believe that these investors are missing the boat, because some of the best publicly traded companies in the world are located internationally. By selecting the best international opportunities, you can add an additional level of diversity to your portfolio and achieve attractive returns.

    Advice for adding international more »

  • Biotech Madness!

    By Greg Williamson - April 1, 2013 | Tickers: AMGN, CELG, CBST, GILD

    March Madness is well under way with the Final Four taking place this weekend. There is no doubt that the Final Four will be entertaining, but there is an even better type of madness going on called Biotech Madness! I have come up with my Final Four Biotech company selections as well as the winner, which will be announced later in this article.

    Biotech Facts and Opportunities

    • Biotechnology utilizes modern more »

  • Biotech Madness!

    By Greg Williamson - April 1, 2013 | Tickers: AMGN, CELG, CBST, GILD

    March Madness is well under way with the Final Four taking place this weekend. There is no doubt that the Final Four will be entertaining, but there is an even better type of madness going on called Biotech Madness! I have come up with my Final Four Biotech company selections as well as the winner, which will be announced later in this article.

    Biotech Facts and Opportunities

    • Biotechnology utilizes modern more »

  • Get the Best of Both Worlds With This Pharmaceutical Company

    By Greg Williamson - March 25, 2013 | Tickers: CELG, LLY, TEVA

    The pharmaceutical industry has two very distinct product options: branded drugs and generics. Advancing a branded product from the initial discovery to successful commercialization requires extensive research, trials, and marketing efforts that can take many years and millions of dollars. Sometimes these efforts result in failure when adverse effects occur or the appropriate approvals are not obtained. However, a company and its investors can be rewarded substantially with Billions in more »

  • An Attractive Time to Invest in Robotic Surgery

    By Greg Williamson - March 18, 2013 | Tickers: ISRG, MAKO

    Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ: ISRG) is widely known for its successful da Vinci robotic surgical system, which is used for a wide variety of minimally invasive surgeries. The da Vinci system consists of robotic arms equipped with surgical equipment and a high-tech camera system, which provides a 3D image to a nearby console operated by the physician. Some of the documented and proven benefits over conventional surgery are a reduced size more »

  • How to Survive the Next Market Crash

    By Greg Williamson - March 12, 2013 | Tickers: MMM, JNJ

    Recently there have been a wide variety of reports and opinions regarding where the stock market is heading next. Some analysts have predicted a severe market crash worse than the one that occurred during the Great Recession and others have predicted a completely opposite scenario resulting in a continued bull market that will take the Dow Jones Industrial Average (Dow) to over 20,000. I typically ignore these market predictions more »

  • Get to Know this Rock Solid, Diversified Utility Company

    By Greg Williamson - March 4, 2013 | Tickers: CX, CHK, MDU

    Utility companies are sometimes thought of as boring, steady income opportunities with limited capital gain potential. However, over my 11 years of investing I have found that well-managed utility companies can provide significant capital gains as well as a growing income stream, resulting in excellent returns for patient, long term investors. Today, I am going to highlight MDU Resources (NYSE: MDU), which has been a rock solid performer for my more »

  • Live Better By Investing in Wal-Mart

    By Greg Williamson - February 25, 2013 | Tickers: AMZN, COST, DG, TGT, WMT

    Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) is one of the most successful companies in U.S. history. I am still amazed at how Wal-Mart grew from only one small grocery store in Arkansas into a global retail giant consisting of over 10,000 stores. Wal-Mart's stock has been equally as impressive, increasing from a split adjusted $0.06 per share in 1972 to a close of $69.12 at the end of more »