Professional investors have more of their portfolios in cash than at any time since 9/11.That’s remarkable—and a hopeful sign for the market in 2017.As we’ve said before, the U.S. stock market is vulnerable to a correction. Valuations are high, interest rates are likely to move higher, and there’s a not-insignificant… Read More

Economically, the energy sector has been in the doldrums for years now.But for investors, it’s been anything but boring.That’s because during the long cyclical downturn, energy prices have been fairly volatile. Check out this price graph for crude oil over the past 20 years.The collapses in 2008 and 2014 stand… Read More

Bankers have been in the hot seat thanks to a wave of scandals, ushering in the departure of Wells Fargo’s (NYSE: WFC) CEO and driving Deutsche Bank’s (NYSE: DB) share price below even financial crisis levels. On top of that, while revenue and earnings at most of the major banks… Read More

TransCanada just fired the first shot. Read More

Water utilities are largely insulated from potential disruption. Read More

It’s been a tense time for the stock market, which is richly valued and so vulnerable to any sort of bad news.But today, good news arrived to send us into the weekend feeling a bit more relaxed.(I’m not even going to comment on last night’s National(s) tragedy. There’s always next year.)First,… Read More

Over the past three months shares of Best Buy (BBY) gained 25% while the S&P 500 Index declined by nearly 2%. The biggest part of that jump occurred on Aug. 23, the day after Best Buy announced better-than-expected quarterly earnings. And over the past three days it has tacked on… Read More

Over the past three months shares of Best Buy (BBY) gained 25% while the S&P 500 Index declined by nearly 2%. The biggest part of that jump occurred on Aug. 23, the day after Best Buy announced better-than-expected quarterly earnings. And over the past three days it has tacked on… Read More

A new PBS documentary traces ethanol’s effects on public policy and the environment. As a contributor, I can tell you the picture often isn’t pretty. Read More

Big day in my household.First: Game Five tonight in the National League Division Series … Go Nats!Second: Bob Dylan won the Nobel Prize for Literature. Go Bob! (I’m a big fan.)The thing is, Dylan doesn’t care much about awards. In that sense, he reminds me of Warren Buffett, Peter Lynch… Read More