Renewable energy companies have been hit hard by the recent increases in interest rates. Many of these companies borrowed a lot of money to build out their energy projects, with debt at very low-interest rates. Higher interest rates put the business models at risk, as they are forced to refinance when the debt matures. But […]
Author: Tim Plaehn
Time for My 2024 Crystal Ball
One of the most popular finance games when the New Year comes around is to make forecasts about the upcoming year. Most predictions don’t come to pass—the future is just too darn fickle. However, it is the start of a new year, so I, too, will take a shot at some predictions. Because some things […]
A New Year’s Resolution for Solid, Stress-Free Returns
Is one of your resolutions to figure out how to be more successful and less frustrated with your investment results? Prior to the final two months of the year, the stock market was volatile and frustrating. If you weren’t correctly invested at the end of October, you missed out on most of the year’s gains […]
How to Profit with Closed-End Funds
Investors are attracted to closed-end funds (CEFs) because of high yields and (often) stable monthly dividends. These types of dividends can provide stability in retirement. The challenge is not all CEF dividends are created equal. So let’s take a look at what to look out for… The CEF Connect website lists 423 CEFs that trade […]
REITs Are Set for Another Stellar Month
November was an excellent month for the U.S. stock market. The S&P 500 gained 9.1% in the month, compared to losing 5% over the previous two months. I was especially pleased to see the real estate sector (read: REITs) near the top of the sector performance chart. And more is coming. Let me show you… […]
Self-Storage REITs are Back – Don’t Miss Out
Self-storage real estate investment trusts (REITs) have an excellent long-term track record. However, the pandemic shutdown, followed by the reopening of the economy, produced a boom and then a bust for self-storage operators. The year-and-a-half decline for these REITs is over, and it’s time to add some self-storage to your portfolio. Let’s take a look […]
Five Preferred Stocks for Massive Yields in 2024
Preferred stock issues can include a lot of specific features, such as whether they are cumulative or not, convertible or not, and whether there are extraordinary call provisions. With the massive increase in interest rates, preferred stocks with fixed-to-floating coupon rates are poised for significant, locked-in yield increases. That’s a massive 2024 profit opportunity just […]
Here’s a High-Yield Investing Strategy That Actually Works
My Dividend Hunter service focuses on building a stable and growing income stream from a diversified portfolio of high-yield investments. I am often questioned about which one, two, or three on the recommended portfolio are the best to buy now. The year-to-date portfolio results show that cherry-picking stocks is not the way to go. Let […]
What to Do if You Own a Stock Subject to a Short Attack
A few weeks ago, one of my Dividend Hunter recommended stocks was the target of a short attack press release. The company has a stable, profitable business. The small market cap becomes the main appeal to short sellers, making it easier to manipulate the share price. Here’s how to tell if the short attack is […]
Lock in a 500% Return in 7 Years
Qurate Retail saw its business decimated by the pandemic-related supply chain issues. The company’s share price cratered. But the investing public has not yet noticed the company is on its way to a recovery. With a locked-in return, the preferred shares offer a compelling value to patient investors. Here’s how… Qurate Retail (QRTEA) operates the […]