stocks to buy today

Here's Your Key to a Winning Financial Plan in 2013

By , Executive Editor, Money Morning -

If you're like most of the rest of us, you've probably made your fair share of New Year's resolutions by now.

If that's the case, here's one more "resolution" to add: Review my investment plan for 2013 and beyond.

As regular readers of my work know, I have a real love for old investing adages and aphorisms. And there's one that really applies to today's story.

Back during World War II, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill told listeners that "he who fails to plan is planning to fail."

And was he ever right.

So many investors fail precisely because they "wing it" and don't have a plan of any kind.

It's not the plan itself that's really so important; it's the insights that you gain from creating the plan that are the real benefit. You reassess - and remind yourself of - such things as:

  • Your risk tolerances.
  • Your current financial situation, as well as where you eventually want to be.
  • Any ancillary issues (like saving for your son's college education, or making sure you can handle taking care of an elderly parent).
  • Any problem investments you might be holding, or any "holes" in your allocations that need to be filled.
  • And the steps you need to be taking to actually meet all of these goals.
We're looking at this today because the start of a new year is, from a psychological standpoint, a really sound time to undertake such an assessment . We're already assessing our personal lives with "resolutions." So why not just add one more exercise - a financial one - and spend a little extra time thinking about it, too?

Here are some tips that will help you map out your financial plan for 2013:



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Stocks to Buy in 2013: Don't Miss the New Developed Market Leaders

By , Money Morning -

When looking for stocks to buy in 2013, many investors turn to the markets that outperformed the Standard & Poor's 500 Index in 2012.

For example, they might like Germany. The MSCI iShares Germany Index Fund (NYSE: EWG) soared more than 32% in 2012.

That's far better than the 15% gain from the S&P 500. It's also much stronger than the 15% gain from the iShares MSCI EAFE Index Fund (NYSE: EFA), which tracks developed-market equities in Europe, Australia, Asia and the Far East.

But amid slowing growth and frothy equity valuations, German stocks appear unlikely to continue such performance in 2013.

That's why investors should check out these other developed market players ready to soar in 2013. They're all expected to deliver gains that could rival Germany's explosive 2012 profits.



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Stocks to Buy Now: Bet on these Three Casino Stocks for 2013

By , Contributing Writer, Money Morning -

Rather than being suckered by the glamour and neon lights at casinos, savvy investors looking for stocks to buy now are putting the odds on their side and betting on "the house."

That's because casino stocks are promising big returns for shareholders.

Plus, the gaming industry is still in the early stages of what should be a sustained recovery from the financial crisis that had lightened gamblers' wallets.

But identifying the best casino stocks to buy now involves more than a weekend jaunt to Vegas.

Due diligence on gaming stocks now requires a look at gambling's biggest hotspot - Macau, a former Portuguese colony that is now a special administrative region under Chinese rule.



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How to Choose the Best Global Value Stocks to Buy

By , Money Morning -

It's no surprise investors are having a hard time finding strong stocks to buy.

After all, nobody's getting too excited about the recent rally. Europe is about to implode, Japan's in a coma, China's suffering a slowdown and the United States faces the possible fiscal cliff.

That's why I was talking to fund manager George Fraise of SGA Global Growth (MUTF: SGAGX) the other day, to find out where the growth - and potential for profit - is in the global market.

Fraise said he's very bullish on global value stocks, and outlined his strategy for picking the right ones.



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Stocks to Buy Now: Don't Miss This Looming M&A Wave

By , Money Morning -

As investors hunting for the best stocks to buy, we often get so caught up in the big names of the day that we miss a powerful opportunity right in our community.

I'm talking about community bank stocks, and they're about to offer you one of the biggest profit opportunities of the next few years.

In fact, patient long-term investors could see profits similar to those enjoyed in the 1990s as banks recovered and consolidated.

Stocks to Buy: Why It's Time for Small Banks

Community banks usually have just a few branches and less than $1 billion in deposits. They have seen their stock prices fall dramatically over the past few years from the peaks reached in the 2006 boom days.

Between 2006 and the depths of the credit crisis, the NASDAQ Bank Index plunged by more than 60% and has not really recovered. Some of the poorly managed ones lost it all and were liquidated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC).

Those that are left should benefit from the eventual recovery of the real estate markets - but the truth is most of these banks won't be around that long.

That's because as the credit crisis unfolded legislators and regulators were quick to react - or overreact. They applied new rules and regulation not just to the large institutions that caused most of the problems, but also to the smaller community banks.

With literally hundreds of new banking regulations on the way, many smaller banks simply will not be able to comply and still operate profitably. It will also be difficult for smaller banks to access the capital markets to raise the money needed to grow.

The most logical course of action will be to sell out to a larger institution.



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The Best Stocks to Buy According to Top Hedge Funds

By , Money Morning -

Knowing the best stocks to buy, and when to buy them, can be a daunting task.

But looking at the moves of the largest hedge funds enables investors to gain insight into what the big boys are doing.

FactSet Research Systems Inc. (NYSE: FDS), a financial research firm that provides analysis of the markets' biggest players, recently released its quarterly report on the stock positions held by the 50 largest hedge funds.

While the top held stock, Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL), had its exposure in the overall funds reduced by 1.8 million shares, the list of most added stocks might surprise you.

Best Stocks to Buy: Where Hedge Funds are Investing

In the third quarter, overall the top 50 hedge funds increased their exposure to stocks by 3%.

Here's a rundown of the top 10 stocks that the top hedge funds were buying last quarter, listed in order by the amount of market value added to the funds.

Stocks to Buy Now: Two Intoxicating Recession-Proof Plays

By , Contributing Writer, Money Morning -

As you look for stocks to buy now, it's as simple as watching the behavior around you...

For example, you might feel like the fiscal cliff, devastation from Superstorm Sandy and more gridlock in Washington is enough to drive you to drink.

And millions of people are doing just that.

Even in the worst of times, alcoholic beverage companies continue to generate rock-steady revenues and surging profits -- no matter what the rest of the market is doing.

Truth is, not many people will give up their nightly rituals, even if times are tough. During the Great Recession, booze purveyors have been particularly resilient, making them good stocks to buy ahead of slow growth in 2013.

Over the last five years, the S&P 500 has returned less than 1.2% annually. By contrast, a Wine, Beer, and Spirits Folio focused on the sector returned 9.1% per year.

Better yet, beer, wine and liquor makers are one of the few industries that have been able to raise prices, according to an industry report by Value Line.

To cash in on this trend, consider the stocks of these two stalwart beverage companies.



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What Stocks to Buy Now

By , Money Morning -

What Stocks to Buy Now

Money Morning's Shah Gilani appeared on Fox Business' "Varney and Co." this morning (Tuesday) to discuss the slow growing U.S. economy and its effect on the stock market.

Host Stuart Varney asked Gilani if there are any stocks worth buying given the recent economic indicators and 1.5% growth rate in the U.S. Gilani didn't disappoint and offered a couple of stocks to buy now - one of which he is picking up himself.

You can see all of Gilani's analysis in the accompanying video.

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