Significant Insider Buys: Merrill Lynch, XL Capital
August 2, 2008
In our Small Cap Momentum model stock portfolio, insider purchases are one of our main criterion for selecting our picks. Why? Quite simply because insiders almost always know more about the business than any analyst could ever know. Obviously we cannot rely solely on insider purchases, but it’s a very good place to start researching. Here are some significant insider purchases that we ran across during our research that are intriguing.
JP Morgan Islamic Unit Executive Arrested
July 30, 2008
You’d think this story would be pretty big, but turns out only MarketWatch covered it. Try Googling this story. The only sites I see that discuss it are MarketWatch and a handful of Arab sources. Anyway, here’s a snippet of the story, courtesy of MarketWatch writer Mirna Sleiman.
The Financial Crisis Ain’t Over
July 29, 2008
Today, many financial stocks rebounded, thanks to a drop in oil, the Consumer Confidence Index coming in above expectations, and a Merrill Lynch (NYSE: MER) offering. Does this mean we found the bottom and are now on our way to a solid recovery? Some say yes. I say absolutely not.
RIP IndyMac
July 11, 2008
Earlier this evening, IndyMac Bank (NYSE: IMB) was seized by US banking regulators after depositors decided it was time to withdrawal their cash from the distressed bank. Unfortunately, many depositors - roughly 10,000 - had more than the $100,000 FDIC insured funds with the bank, and will likely lose all uninsured deposits. It was yet another dark day for Wall Street. Read more »
4 Stocks Ben Graham Would Like
June 9, 2008
Benjamin Graham is widely regarded to be the founder of modern value investing. His greatest student, Warren Buffett, attributes much of his success to Graham’s teachings. In this article, we take an in-depth look at stocks that Ben Graham might have liked.
Sovereign Bancorp: Finally a Bottom?
May 21, 2008
Sovereign Bancorp (NYSE: SOV) has been beaten down badly. They, like every other bank, made poor decisions when selecting which loans they would fund. As an investor, it’s my job to look for signs that struggling banks have finally hit bottom. If such signs existed, certain banks would be the value of the decade. Well, folks, I think I found such a sign in Sovereign. Read more »
Countrywide CEO: Struggling Homeowners “Disgusting”
May 21, 2008
Facing the potential loss of his home, Daniel Bailey decided to do what his lender, Countrywide Financial (NYSE: CFC), said to do: contact them to work out a deal so he can keep his house. Mr. Bailey didn’t expect, however, to receive a reply from the CEO, Angelo Mozilo. Read more »
Beware of the Financial Value Trap
May 12, 2008
JPMorgan (NYSE: JPM) CEO Jamie Dimon said on Monday that he anticipates a deep and protracted recession in the aftermath of the credit crisis. Investors should heed this warning and make sure they don’t fall victim to the value trap. Read more »
Merrill’s Level III Assets Jump by 68%
May 6, 2008
Merrill Lynch (NYSE: MER) reported today that their Level III assets - those that are the hardest to value - jumped to $68.9 billion from $41.4 billion reported at the end of 2007. An increase of this magnitude signals that the end of the financial crisis may not be as near as many have thought. Read more »
Investing Strategy: Value/Growth Blend
May 5, 2008
There are many investment strategies used by a myriad of both individual and professional investors. Some prefer the growth strategy while others prefer a value approach. While both good in their own regard, a combination of the two trumps them both, and here’s why. Read more »
-
Advertisement
