Robert Ciura

Editor's Choice

• Will These Theme Parks Take Investors on a Wild Ride?

  By Robert Ciura - May 20, 2013 | Tickers: FUN, SIX |

  Income investors have a tough job, which is the increasingly difficult search for yield. Markets keep breaching new highs, and it seems that the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 Index are up a percent or more every single day.

  When it comes to producing yield from your equity investments, it’s easy to default to the usual suspects: utilities, consumer staples, or telecom stocks. While those are more »

• Should You Sell in May and Go Away?

  By Robert Ciura - May 4, 2013 | Tickers: CSCO, JNJ, MCD |

  As the calendar turns toward the second quarter of the year, it’s again time to revisit the popular investing adage, "Sell in May and go away." As the theory stipulates, investors should get rid of their stocks and head for the safety of cash, so as to avoid the market’s seemingly inevitable spring swoon.

  Over the past few years, the theory held true. In May 2010, the S more »

• Is This Your All-Clear Signal to Buy Retailer Stocks?

  By Robert Ciura - March 19, 2013 | Tickers: TGT, TJX, WMT |

  Good news investors, the American consumer is back, or at least in a better condition than many had anticipated. If you go by last month’s retail sales report, you’d likely come to the conclusion that the consumer is in much better shape than many in the media had predicted coming into this year. On the heels of a widely positive report, should you "buy the news" and jump more »

• As Spring Hits, Should You Buy These Outdoor Retailers?

  By Robert Ciura - March 12, 2013 | Tickers: CAB, DKS, HD |

  Slowly but surely, the days get longer and the temperature gets warmer. Outdoor retailers have been on an absolute tear as of late, and now that spring is finally near, could be primed for further gains. These stocks aren’t lacking high growth rates and have some lofty valuations to prove it. If you’re an investor who enjoys both the outdoors and stocks that offer outsized gains, these stocks more »

• Could These Two Companies Follow Dell's Lead?

  By Robert Ciura - February 20, 2013 | Tickers: BBY, DELL, PBI |

  In early February, Dell (NASDAQ: DELL) announced it would be taken private in a $24 billion deal.  The company’s shares would be valued at an offer price of $13.65 per share.  Depending on how long an investor has owned the stock, this may be seen as good or bad.  The offer price is significantly higher than the multi-year low of $9 seen in November, but nowhere near levels more »

• Why I'm Holding Lockheed Martin in Spite of Possible Defense Cuts

  By Robert Ciura - January 28, 2013 | Tickers: LMT, NOC, RTN |

  The defense industry is in the middle of a swirl of headlines regarding impending budget cuts in the United States.  This threat is an overhanging risk for any of the major U.S. defense firms that rely on government contracts, primarily Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), Raytheon (NYSE: RTN), and Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC).  The question to investors now is, should shares in these firms be dumped?

  Sequestration, the $1.2 more »

• Are These Internet Stocks Too Risky?

  By Robert Ciura - January 23, 2013 | Tickers: AMZN, PCLN, CRM |

  Prudent investing often invokes derision from the investing community.  Value investing doesn’t get much air time from the financial media.  Instead, it’s easy to get carried away with the hot stocks of the day.  Disciplined investing means following the ideas proposed by Benjamin Graham, whereby the investor diligently avoids paying too much for a stock’s earnings and dividends.  Legendary investors Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger have invested more »

• Waste Management's Economic Moat Makes it a Buy

  By Robert Ciura - January 14, 2013 | Tickers: CWST, RSG, WM |

  One of my favorite thoughts from legendary investor Warren Buffett is to look for companies with large ‘moats.’  Simply put, Buffett intends to hold stocks for long periods of time—usually forever.  To do this, a company needs to have a strong competitive edge in order to survive over time.  Businesses that operate in industries that are hard for competitors to penetrate stand a much better chance of surviving for more »

• Look to This Stock for Steady Returns

  By Robert Ciura - January 8, 2013 | Tickers: CL, PG, CLX |

  A company that sells its products every day to millions of consumers, regardless of the prevailing economic conditions, deserves a place in every investor’s portfolio.  Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) is just that type of company, and can provide a much needed dose of stability to all equity investors.  Last year the company celebrated its 175^th anniversary.  With a portfolio of market-leading brands and a great dividend, P&G more »