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Matt Swayne

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  • Finding the Once and Future Berkshire Hathaway

    By Matt Swayne - March 19, 2013 | Tickers: AINV, BRK-B, BRK-A, MKL, WTM

    If there is a Holy Grail in stock investing, it’s Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK-B).  If there’s a Merlin in the investing world, it’s Warren Buffett.  If, a few decades ago, you threw some money behind Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, you would be Camelot-style rich, which is much richer than even Gangnam-style rich.  And while we may have missed the bulk of Berkshire Hathaway’s dramatic rise to more »

  • Finding the once and future Berkshire Hathaway

    By Matt Swayne - February 24, 2013 | Tickers: AINV, BRK-B, BRK-A, MKL, WTM

    If there is a Holy Grail in stock investing, it’s Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. (NYSE: BRK-B).  If there’s a Merlin in the investing world, it’s Warren Buffett.  If, a few decades ago, you threw some money behind Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, you would be Camelot-style rich, which is much richer than even Gangnam-style rich.  And while we may have missed the bulk of Berkshire Hathaway’s dramatic rise more »

  • Sweetheart Surprise: Low-Maintenance Stock Market Hotties

    By Matt Swayne - February 12, 2013 | Tickers: ALK, CSTR, DFS

    One of the lessons investors learn is to never fall in love with a company or it’s stock.  But, it’s February. It’s the season of love and I get carried away.

    Sweetheart stocks are the ones that consistently go up in value, but aren’t too expensive. In the world of romance, we call these beautiful creatures “low maintenance.” They often -- but not always -- appear in industry more »

  • Stock Super Buys for the Big Game

    By Matt Swayne - February 5, 2013 | Tickers: BUD, KO, PEP, UA

    The NFL is really weird about other people using the words “Super” and  “Bowl.” Notice that advertisements usually call Sunday’s titanic matchup between the Ravens and the 49ers as the “the Big Game.”

    That’s because those NFL folks know more than just 3-4 defenses and spread offenses--they know about branding. So do the companies that are going to advertise or have product placements during the Super... errr..  the more »

  • Prognosis Positive: Medical Growth Stocks to Watch

    By Matt Swayne - January 29, 2013 | Tickers: ALNY, CELG, EBS, EXEL

    Skyrocketing healthcare costs will not be solved by politicians. Why do I say this? Because, let me ask you, when have politicians solved anything?

    Go ahead. Take your time. I’ll wait.

    Politicians may struggle to tame medical costs, but medical research firms are new treatments for many of the world’s most devastating -- and costly -- diseases. This can lead to new less expensive cures and a healthier and more more »

  • Bailout’s Best Bets, Or Indebted Duds?

    By Matt Swayne - January 18, 2013 | Tickers: AIG, F, GM, GS, JPM

    In 2008, the bottom fell out. When that bottom fell out, some of America’s best and brightest no-brainer investments hit rock bottom, too. Like debt-addicted junkies, the leaders of these one-time A+-rated companies slouched to Washington D.C., top hat in hand, to beg for money from the American people.  After nearly five years, signs of life are starting to emerge in the economy. Many of the companies more »

  • Stocks to Own When Robots Take Your Crappy Job

    By Matt Swayne - January 14, 2013 | Tickers: AAPL, IRBT, RTN, SI

    Sometime in the near future, you’ll drive to work, go into your cubicle and stretched across your keyboard, you'll see a pink slip.

    On your seat will rest a cardboard box, the universal symbol of “you’ve been dismissed.”

    The next thing you know, a security guard is standing next to you. But, wait a minute, as you look into the guard's steely, vacant eyes, it hits more »

  • As Gold Loses Luster, Gold Mining Stocks Suffer

    By Matt Swayne - January 10, 2013 | Tickers: ABX, GG, NEM

    I am writing this from the inner sanctum of my spacious central Pennsylvania bunker. The plan was that after the Mayan apocalypse or complete global financial meltdown -- take your pick -- I would arise with a cache of gold and portfolio of gold mining stocks to become a wealthy, benevolent-ish warlord.

    Should I now switch to a plan B?

    As a gold bug, I know that gold isn’t just for more »

  • Yahoo: On a Better Path

    By Matt Swayne - January 4, 2013 | Tickers: FB, GOOG, YHOO

    It might be a little premature, but the stock that was once a laggard in the technology sector is starting to show signs of improvement -- and that’s making a good case that a recent management change was a smart start.

    After a revolving door of executives at Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO), the current management team led by newly-hired CEO Marissa Mayer, seems to have stuck their feet in that swing more »

  • Will Walmart and Retail Stocks Ever Rollback Up?

    By Matt Swayne - January 4, 2013 | Tickers: TGT, WMT

    All this talk of fiscal cliff diving has temporarily perched at least one major retailer.

    But will it be on that perch for long?

    After decades of impressive growth, WalMart’s (NYSE: WMT) stock flatlined as it faced new challenges from other retailers, especially Target, during the 1990s and early 2000s. Then, in 2008, its stock regained traction and grew steadily, reaching an all-time high in October of 2012.

    Since more »

  • 6 Investment Resolutions for Lucky '13

    By Matt Swayne - December 28, 2012 | Tickers: BBRY

    Each year diet gurus and exercise buffs drag out their latest celebrity spokesperson to convince you that they have a system to make this New Year the skinniest year ever. Hypnotists say they can make this year smoke free. A host of support groups open their doors the first of the year for those who may have over-indulged and want to quit.

    So, are eating and smoking habits especially susceptible more »