Best stocks to buy roundup: Last week we highlighted 17 of the "best of the best" stocks for Money Morning readers to boost their portfolios heading into November.
Spooky October brought with it a stock market sell-off. That means a great opportunity - remember, "Buy low, sell high."
It's why Tech Investing Specialist Michael A. Robinson recommended four tech picks that may never be this cheap again. It's also why Global Energy Strategist Dr. Kent Moors suggested a natural gas stock he predicts will skyrocket in winter months.
Chief Investment Strategist Keith Fitz-Gerald highlighted a small tech company that won't be small for long. He also pointed out two energy plays that are "essentials" in the oil and natural gas sector.
You can find all of last week's tips and picks here in our latest list of the best stocks to buy now.
Money Morning's Latest "Best Stocks to Buy" List
- The markets had a bumpy ride in October. The Dow dropped more than 5% by mid-month. The S&P lost 5.55% and the Nasdaq was down more than 6% in the same period. That's exactly why Money Morning Defense & Tech Specialist Michael A. Robinson had his eye on four tech stocks to buy at "stupid cheap" prices. He encourages readers to jump on these bargains...
- This fall brought with it changing leaves, cool temperatures...and huge corporate spin-offs. On Sept. 30, eBay Inc. (Nasdaq: EBAY) announced it will spin off its PayPal unit in late 2015. On Oct. 6, Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ) said it will separate its personal computer (PC) and printer businesses from its corporate hardware and services operations. And on Oct. 10, Symantec Corp. (Nasdaq: SYMC) announced the split of its cybersecurity and data storage divisions. Overall, spin-offs are estimated to be worth $1.6 trillion so far this year - and Robinson's got a way for investors to grab a piece of that cash with just one move...
Money Morning Chief Investment Strategist Keith Fitz-Gerald believes that getting his "boots on the ground" is the best way to decide if he's going to recommend an investment. "I want to have a darned good idea of what a company does and how they do it. You can't find that on a website," he said last week. It's why he's so excited about a tech company he just visited in Richmond, Calif. Fitz-Gerald calls it "the most inspirational visit I've ever made to any company, in any industry, anywhere in the world." It's no wonder he told Money Morning readers to buy shares in this wearable tech robotics suit-company while they're still cheap...
- Right now, overall U.S. employment has yet to return to its pre-2008 recession levels. Still, oil and gas employs 40% more people now than it did then. In fact, it's the only sector with that kind of job growth. It's a sign "there's a whole lot of money flowing into the sector." Fitz-Gerald is particularly keen to tap into oil and gas via master limited partnerships (MLPs). That's because MLPs have an advantageous tax structure, plus typically higher dividend payments. The two MLPs Fitz-Gerald's a fan of not only deliver on those perks - they also offer impressive management and strong outlooks...
- November may be the first month since 2008 in which the U.S. economy will go without the Fed's quantitative easing (QE) program. Meanwhile, Japan and the U.K. are still buying up bonds to stimulate their economies, and the EU appears on track to follow. All this has run-up the U.S. dollar - the last three months alone have seen the U.S. Dollar Index surge 7% - while the euro and the yen have fallen off. Last week, Money Morning Resource Specialist Peter Krauth highlighted "a very rare, very lucrative opportunity right now" that's come out of this global currency conflict. Krauth's pick to play the currency war is this multinational, $240 billion energy behemoth...
- Oil prices are down roughly 21% since June. WTI and Brent crude both hit multi-year lows in October. But while oil dips, Money Morning Global Energy Strategist Dr. Kent Moors sees another energy opportunity for investors. He predicts natural gas prices are going to climb in the winter months as much as 23%. Higher demand and an increase in liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to Europe and Asia will fuel the rise. Moors urges readers to look beyond obvious choices like $215 billion Chevron Corp. (NYSE: CVX) or Wall Street favorite United States Natural Gas Fund LP (NYSE: UNG) to play this trend. Instead, he recommends this natural gas stock - it'll deliver more profit than the rest...
- October's stock market sell-off scared many investors away from stocks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 5.43% through Oct. 16. The S&P 500 fell 5.55% in the same period, and the Nasdaq suffered a 6.14% decline. That's why Money Morning rounded up seven of our experts' picks that are specifically tailored to get readers through a sell-off...
- Dividend stocks remain an income-generating investor favorite as we head into the final quarter of 2014, and companies are getting the message. In Q3, net increases (positive payout action minus negative ones) rose $12.3 billion during Q3 for U.S.-traded companies. That's up from $11.9 billion, or 3.7%, in the same period a year ago. The total number of dividend hikes so far in 2014 to 2,337, up 16.3% from 2,101 in the same period a year ago. Just in the week ending Oct. 17, 23 dividend stocks raised payouts. Here's the full list, including an investment banking giant that just topped earnings estimates, and a well-known energy company that raised its quarterly payout for a 6.23% yield...