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Robert Coleman

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  • Why These 4 Banks are Good Buys

    By Robert Coleman - July 3, 2012 | Tickers: BAC, C, GS, NES.DL

    Back in 2008, the global financial system saw its life flash before its eyes. With Lehman gone, Merrill Lynch and Bear Stearns sold, and AIG under government control, commercial and investment banks alike fought for their survival against waves of panic. Almost four years after this corporate version of The Hunger Games, investor confidence is again the problem as large-cap financial institutions retain historically low valuations in the face of more »

  • 3 Tobacco Stocks with Dividends that Won’t Quit

    By Robert Coleman - February 8, 2012 | Tickers: MO, PM, RAI

    The tobacco industry is one of the oldest in America, and the companies that have emerged as leaders in this industry have established a moat for themselves that can only be challenged by government intervention or radical cultural shifts. Whether or not you agree with the ethics of marketing tobacco, you have to admire the business models of these companies and the returns promised by owning a stake in them more »

  • Too Small to Fail? 3 Commercial Banks That Will Outperform Large-Caps

    By Robert Coleman - January 30, 2012 | Tickers: LKFN, MBVT, SBSI

    One of the most striking developments to come out of the 2008 financial crisis was the impressive performance of small-cap financials relative to their larger counterparts. With confidence in the financial system still lagging and the threat of a European economic breakdown looming, we can expect this trend to continue into the foreseeable future. Small banks typically benefit from their lack of exposure to high-risk assets, such as the subprime more »

  • Picking up the Pieces: 3 of the Cheapest Industrials Stocks on the Market

    By Robert Coleman - January 22, 2012 | Tickers: IIIN, LMIA, MLR

    Industrial production, particularly the manufacturing component, has been showing signs of life lately. The Federal Reserve’s monthly industrial index, in addition to the Empire State Manufacturing Survey and the Philly Fed Survey, all posted healthy numbers last week and presented an improved outlook for the coming year. While first quarter GDP growth in 2012 is expected to be slightly lower, industrial production could be one of the few bright more »

  • A BRIC Wall? Exploring Alternatives in International Investing

    By Robert Coleman - January 12, 2012 | Tickers: GXG, EZA, AFK, RIO, TRQ

    As confidence in the eurozone continues to wane, many investors have become reluctant to tie their money up in international assets. Despite the danger of a European recession and the widespread consequences it would bring, however, there is still ample reason to look overseas for your investments. International trade as a fraction of the national economy has tripled over the past 40 years, granting ever easier access to the rapid more »

  • You’ve Got Mail: AOL Going Back to the Basics

    By Robert Coleman - January 7, 2012 | Tickers: AOL, TWC

    AOL Inc. (NYSE: AOL) CEO Tim Armstrong announced on Thursday that the company will rely less on acquisitions and more on developing its own products, acknowledging that it was “candidly less focused on the creation aspect” in 2011. This statement follows a flurry of acquisitions late last year, resulting in a third quarter loss of $2.6 million. Moving forward, AOL will look to video, advertising, and subscription services for more »

  • Sears: Are We There Yet?

    By Robert Coleman - January 5, 2012 | Tickers: JCP, M, SHLD

    Since its recent announcement that it will be closing more than 100 store locations in the U.S., Sears Holding Corp. (NASDAQ: SHLD) has lost almost a third of its market value, continuing a precipitous two-month slide that has left many in doubt of the retailer’s future. In fact, if there is one word to sum up Sears’ recent performance it is just that: doubt. The struggling company has more »

  • Large Caps with Small Prices

    By Robert Coleman - January 3, 2012 | Tickers: GM, VLO, WLP, XRX

    One of the biggest problems for investors looking to put their money into the relative safety of blue chip stocks is that everyone else in the world is trying to do the same thing. Throngs of lemming-like profit seekers congregate to today’s winners, which more often than not become tomorrow’s losers as a result of their inflated prices. Because of this cycle, it is easy to get caught more »

  • Dividend Stability and Mitigating Risk as an Investor

    By Robert Coleman - December 31, 2011 | Tickers: MO, AEP, DTE, EXC, MRK, PG

    Over the next few years, it is not unreasonable for one to expect a significant market upswing as stocks return to their pre-recession levels and higher. It is important to remember, however, that there is no tried and true method of predicting market behavior. This means two things for investors:

    1) If there is in fact a bullish surge, there will be many temptations to buy hot, overpriced stocks that more »

  • The Least Valuable Players: 5 Underpriced Stocks for 2012

    By Robert Coleman - December 27, 2011 | Tickers: ADM, AVX, BAC, C, GLW, JPM, LLL

    While the markets may have been cruel and unforgiving for many investors since 2008, the upshot is a golden opportunity for bargain hunters and value investors alike. The “Great Recession” is technically over, but by no means does that indicate that stocks have returned to their appropriate price levels, and anyone willing to put in the time and effort can sort through the securities haystack to find an underpriced needle more »