IBD

Homebuilding is still crawling out of the abyss, but construction spending in the energy and transportation sectors has already topped pre-recession highs and looks to stay robust. Manufacturing-related construction is approaching a midpoint between its previous high and recession-era low and has shot up recently. Construction employment is picking up speed too, along with the flow of dollars. Payrolls in the sector grew by 21,000 in

Sharply higher production on strong oil prices helped Concho Resources and Continental Resources, which reported fourth-quarter figures late Wednesday. But derivative losses and one-time expenses hit both U.S. exploration firms. Domestic energy output has surged in recent years, as new technology lets explorers unlock fossil fuels via hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling as well as via traditional vertical wells. Concho

Earnings season may be winding down, but not for leading stocks. At least eight companies from the IBD 50 list report quarterly results this week. Most are consumer-related. Tuesday, Feb. 21 Herbalife (HLF) Herbalife sells nutritional products worldwide via a massive direct sales force. Asia accounts for most of its growth. Fourth-quarter earnings likely rose 11% to 73 cents a share, analysts say. Sales probably rose 16% to $856.6 million. Shares

If you're like most people, you've had those days when you needed to buy a new watch, a new pair of pants, a new pingpong table, a new ambulance, a new water treatment plant or a new dental X-ray machine. Problem is, you don't have much time. What you really need is a single place where you can knock off all of these items at once. Liquidity Services (LQDT) has you covered. It operates online auction marketplaces for surplus and salvage assets,

Tens of billions of dollars in bank revenue could be in jeopardy with a new federal probe announced Wednesday into overdraft fees, just as giants like Bank of America (BAC) are searching for new ways to ring up charges on customers. BofA, Wells Fargo (WFC), JPMorgan Chase (JPM), SunTrust Banks (STI) and Regions Financial (RF) recently backed away from debit card fees charged to customers. The fees came partly in response to the Dodd-Frank

MGM Resorts International (MGM) continued to lose money in the fourth quarter, but narrowed its loss for the quarter from last year as more people visited its Las Vegas casino resorts, and it benefited from revenue from its rapidly growing Macau site. Investors sold off early though after it missed analyst profit estimates. The operator of the Bellagio, CityCenter and MGM Grand resort casinos in Las Vegas lost 21 cents a share, vs. a

The U.S. housing market has been showing signs of a turnaround, but that didn't help Toll Brothers' (TOL) first-quarter results, which swung to a surprise loss on increased cancellations. The National Association of Realtors also said Wednesday that existing home sales in January rose 4.3% over the prior month to an annual rate of 4.57 million, the highest level since May 2010. In intraday trading, Toll Brothers shares were down 5% to 22.54, but

Discounters Dollar Tree (DLTR) and TJX Cos. (TJX) both boosted sales among their budget-conscious consumers, but results were largely in-line with views and guidance was weaker, leaving investors unimpressed. Dollar Tree, which runs more than 4,000 discount variety shops, reported fourth-quarter earnings of $1.60 a share, up 24% from a year ago, matching Wall Street projections. Sales climbed 13% to $1.95 billion, slightly above forecasts. Sales

The leading Young Guns on Tuesday's IBD Stock Screen went public in recent years and quickly shot up in stock price, riding strong earnings and fundamentals. Stocks tend to make their biggest price moves in the early stages of business, and the companies on the list went public in the last 15 years. Being a relatively new public company doesn't mean the Young Guns are young. In fact, some have been around for decades, allowing them to establish

Drilling in oil-rich shale formations in Texas and North Dakota, and higher crude prices should deliver rising earnings for energy firms Continental Resources (CLR) and Concho Resources (CXO). Shares of both companies, which will report fourth quarter earnings after the market closes Wednesday, have soared in recent weeks. Continental's stock has surged 99% since Oct. 3, closing at $90.38 Tuesday. Concho's stock has leapt 72% to $115.84 over the

They may not cater to the same crowd, but some of the strongest retail performers flexed their muscles in the fourth quarter, reporting solid gains Tuesday for the crucial holiday period. The healthy showing was broad-based with hotshots such as Home Depot (HD), Macy's (M), Saks (SKS) and Steven Madden (SHOO) topping analyst forecasts. Wal-Mart Stores (WMT), the world's largest retailer, missed profit and sales estimates, but U.S.

After an eventful 2011 for Accretive Health, followers of the firm look for things to settle down this year. Accretive (AH) provides revenue cycle management systems to hospital systems, including software and services to help clients register patients, track patient care, collect unpaid bills and verify insurance benefits. Such products are in high demand as cash-strapped hospitals seek new ways to trim costs and collect unpaid debt. The upshot

Lower consumer credit defaults last month, including improved mortgage default rates, are the latest hopeful sign for top mortgage lenders like Bank of America (BAC) and Wells Fargo (WFC). The overall credit default rate slipped to 2.16% in January from 2.24% in December, led by first-mortgage defaults falling to 2.08% from 2.19%, according to a survey from Standard & Poor's Indices and Experian. In intraday trading, BofA shares were up nearly 2%,

Upscale department chain Saks (SKS) posted a strong fourth-quarter profit gain as affluent consumers continue to buy quality goods like handbags, jewelry and clothing. Saks' profit climbed 31% to 17 cents a share in the quarter, beating analyst estimates by 3 cents. Revenue rose 6.8% to $925.1 mil, topping forecasts for $866 million. Saks shares rose 3% to 11.22 in late trading after the company reported that same-store sales climbed 7.7%, and

Department store giant Macy's (M) beat forecasts, as targeted promotions convinced consumers to spend more money over the holiday season on family, friends and themselves. Earnings climbed 7% to $1.70 per share in the fourth quarter vs. analyst expectations for $1.65. Sales climbed 5.5% to $8.72 billion, largely in line with estimates. Sales at stores open more than a year surged 5.2%. And sales from its Macy's and Bloomingdale's websites jumped

Kraft Foods' (KFT) fourth-quarter earnings were in line with forecasts, amid accelerating profit growth, although sales were a bit lighter than analysts expected. The food giant released more details of its plan to split into two companies later this year and provided guidance for the coming year. The parent of Jell-O, Oscar Mayer meats and Maxwell House coffee said earnings per share rose 24% to 57 cents, matching Wall Street forecasts. Kraft's

Low-price guarantees lured more customers into Wal-Marts during the critical holiday shopping period. But those discounts eroded margins, and pinched earnings at the world's largest retailer. The company warned of more margin declines to come as it pushed prices lower to lure in more cash-strapped customers. Wal-Mart Stores (WMT) posted fourth-quarter earnings of $1.44 per share, excluding one-time gains, up more than 7% a year ago. Analysts had

Home Depot (HD) expects the sun to continue shining on earnings this year after it warmed up fourth-quarter results enough to top analysts' expectations, raising hopes for a housing recovery. The top home improvement retailer said on Tuesday it sees full-year profit of $2.79 a share, 2 cents better than forecasts. That includes share repurchases. It also sees sales growth of 4%, above views for 3%, helped by an extra week of sales. In intraday

Five notable retailers reported fourth-quarter earnings results before Tuesday's open, including the biggest and some of the best-performing in the entire sector. Home Depot (HD) The No. 1 U.S. home improvement chain earned 50 cents a share, up 39% vs. a year earlier and eight cents above Wall Street estimates. It was the ninth straight quarter of double-digit profit growth for the once-struggling chain. Revenue climbed about 6%,

MGM (MGM) is expected to continue a string of losses that extends back eight quarters when it reports fourth quarter and 2011 results Wednesday morning. The casino operator is seen narrowing its loss though to 18 cents a share, vs. a 20-cent loss the same quarter last year. MGM's stock price has climbed 64% since Dec. 19 on strong recent revenue increases. It posted sales gains of 3%, 17% and 43% in its prior three quarters. For MGM's fourth

Pharmacy benefits management firm Express Scripts (ESRX) has been in a standoff with drug chain Walgreen (WAG) since the start of the year. Investors and analysts will look for guidance on how that will impact the current year, when it reports fourth quarter earnings Wednesday after the market closes. Analysts expect Q4 earnings to climb 19.7% to 85 cents at the pharmacy benefits manager. Consensus estimates call for revenue to climb 2.7% to

Some tentative signs that the housing market may finally be turning around have helped boost Home Depot (HD) stock 48% since October, and Q4 earnings Tuesday could extend that rally. Lowe's (LOW) has seen a similar climb in that period. But unlike its rival, Home Depot has posted eight consecutive quarters of double-digit per-share profit growth. Analysts expect that streak to continue, with EPS growing 17% to 42 cents. Revenue is seen up 2.5% to

Packaged food companies, including Kraft Foods (KFT), are under pressure from the rising costs of key ingredients, such as coffee and peanuts. Such conditions create a dilemma: Food companies can pass along price hikes, potentially alienating customers and reducing sales, or trim expenses and reduce profits margins. Last year, Kraft largely was able to pass along price increases. Most recently, it announced in November that it would raise the

Wall Street hits the malls next week as a dozen major retailers report earnings results for the holiday quarter. With the U.S. economy and job growth improving, consumers are spending more freely. The retailers reporting generally have been strong earnings and stock performers in recent months, from giants such as Home Depot (HD) and Macy's (M) to specialty chains such as Dollar Tree (DLTR) and Limited Brands (LTD). Even industry giant Wal-Mart

Two weeks without "Linsanity" finally forced regional sports network Madison Square Garden (MSG) and Time Warner Cable (TWC) to resolve their rate dispute late Friday and return N.Y. Knicks broadcasts to viewers. The N.Y. attorney general had been brokering talks, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the end of the blackout of Knicks games on Time Warner, allowing Time Warner customers to watch Knicks superstar Jeremy Lin. In after-hours trading, MSG

The rise of cloud computing and of powerful mobile devices like smartphones and tablet computers may seem like two distinct trends. But the two are, in reality, closely linked. And both are driving investment in gear made by companies like ASML (ASML), KLA-Tencor (KLAC) and Ultratech (UTEK) in order to produce advanced chips to run them. "Smartphones and tablets are driving the buildout of the cloud infrastructure," said Morningstar analyst Andy

Colombia is no Brazil. But it may be the next best thing in Latin America, especially when it comes to oil. New oil discoveries and rising production are helping fuel one of the fastest-growing economies in the region. And by some estimates, onshore oil production over the next six years could nearly double from current levels. That's a big turnaround from early in the millennium when oil production had fallen so sharply that Colombia faced the

Washington Mutual, the largest bank in U.S. history to fail, had its Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan approved by a judge Friday, settling lawsuits for bank-unit buyer JPMorgan Chase (JPM) and setting up debt and equity investors to collect $7 billion. Subprime mortgages sank WaMu in September 2008, allowing JPMorgan to buy its banking unit from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. for $1.9 billion. Lawsuits were soon exchanged over who owed what to

The senior-housing and other health care property owner Ventas (VTR) beat fourth-quarter analyst estimates, with results boosted by acquisitions. The health care real estate investment trust posted a 16% hike in funds from operations to 89 cents per share, vs. expectations for 87 cents. Funds from operations are a key metric for evaluating REITs. Its revenue climbed 115% to $571.4 million. "Ventas delivered excellent results in 2011, as our

Income tax refunds that can give consumer spending a lift may not offer much of a boost this spring, as fuel prices rise and eat into any extra spending cash. A payroll tax cut extension will provide less of a benefit too. Average gasoline prices nationwide have risen to $3.58 a gallon from about $3.32 at the start of the year. Consumer prices jumped last month due in part to fuel costs. Higher prices also offset income gains, leaving real average

General Mills (GIS), producer of Cheerios and other cereals, cut its third-quarter earnings estimate due to lower-than-expected sales. Shares fell nearly 4% to 38.24 during midday trading. It now sees full-year earnings per share of $2.53-$2.55, down from earlier estimates of $2.59-$2.61. The new numbers are below Wall Street estimates of $2.60. The company will release third-quarter earnings on March 21. Rival cereal and packaged-food producer

HMO Amerigroup's (AGP) fourth-quarter topped profit forecasts on higher premiums and a nearly 5% increase in enrollment. The health care company also guided for revenue growth this year above analysts' expectations. Shares were up 4% to 73.31 in intraday trading. Amerigroup earned 67 cents a share in Q4, down from $1.59 a year ago, but beating Wall Street expectations by 5 cents. The health maintenance organization's revenue advanced 9.6% to $1.65

Increased sales in developing markets helped H.J. Heinz's (HNZ) third-quarter earnings not just catch up to Wall Street expectations, but beat them. Campbell Soup's (CPB) profit also topped forecasts. Heinz, a ketchup and frozen food producer, said its third-quarter earnings rose 13% from the prior year's third quarter to 95 cents, beating forecasts by 10 cents. Sales grew 7% to $2.92 billion, above views. Shares of Heinz were up 5% to 54.55 in

The companies in Thursday's IBD Stock Screen of leading small-cap stocks may not be household names, but they're doing better than the rest of the market and churning out hefty profits. Small-cap companies tend to have the most room for growth and are nimble enough to lead the way in their industries or quickly catch up to the pacesetters. They also can get snapped up by bigger companies that recognize a leader in a field. That's what happened

Augie Byllott turned a nice profit on the $104,500 sale of a shabby foreclosed home he bought from the bank last August for $28,000. The four-bedroom house in Orlando, Fla., had been vacant over a year, vandalized, and was a real eyesore, says Byllott, a managing member of Homeowner Resource, a local real estate investment firm that buys mostly foreclosed properties. Byllott gave the distressed property a complete overhaul, including a new

Credit reporting agency TransUnion says 6.01% of mortgage holders were behind on their payments by 60 days or more in the fourth quarter of 2011, up from 5.88% in the third. To be sure, the rate is down significantly from the fourth quarter of 2010, when 6.41% of mortgage holders were behind by two or more months. But the uptick is still unwelcome news. "We were hoping for better, because delinquencies remain very high," said Tim Martin, group

The giant woodsy retailer Cabela's (CAB) beat fourth-quarter estimates on higher sales and improved margins. Adjusted earnings per share climbed 23% to $1.06, 7 cents above analysts' consensus estimate. Revenue climbed 5.4% to $983.7 million, vs. analyst estimates for $963 million. Sales at its retail stores climbed 9.8% to $525.6 million, with revenue from stores open more than a year up 1.7%. Online and catalog sales climbed $1.9% to $378.9

The business opportunities branching out from NBA star Jeremy Lin are piling up like his statistics, as attention shifts to retail sales of his New York Knicks jersey and prospects for a shoe deal. Mitchell Modell, CEO of privately held Modell's Sporting Goods, told CNBC that in the last two days he secured 168,000 products with the words "Lin" or "Linsanity" on it, including jerseys, T-shirts and towels. That could be a sign of good things to

Chemicals maker Huntsman's (HUN) profit topped fourth-quarter forecasts as sales rose in construction-related markets like insulation and paint. The maker of polyurethanes and other chemicals used by construction, auto and appliance makers reported that earnings per share hiked 12% to 28 cents, a penny more than analysts expected. The company had posted year-over-year profit increases of 55% and 38% the prior two quarters. Sales climbed 9% in the

The typical long-haul tractor-trailer truck gets about 6 miles per gallon in the U.S., according to industry data. The average daily run for a long-haul, over-the-road truck driver is roughly 500 miles. The Energy Information Association estimates that the average retail price of on-highway diesel fuel will be $3.91 per gallon this year. Do the math, and it comes out to about $325 in fuel costs for a typical 500-mile haul. That doesn't even

Americans nursing along their jalopies bought up belts, batteries and other car components, boosting Advance Auto Parts ' (AAP) fourth quarter. The Roanoke, Va.-based operator of 3,700 auto-parts stores posted earnings of 90 cents per share, up 58% from a year ago, and 15 cents better than analysts' forecasts. Revenue climbed 4.5% to $1.3 billion, just slightly over analyst forecasts. Sales at stores open more than a year climbed 2.9% in the

Duke Energy Corp. (DUK) reported fourth-quarter earnings per share above Wall Street forecasts. But revenue missed views as a mild East Coast winter hurt sales. The electric and natural gas supplier's fourth-quarter earnings rose 14% to 24 cents a share, beating estimates by 3 cents. Sales fell 2% to $3.37 billion, below expectations of $3.72 billion. Shares were up 2% to 21.25 in intraday trading. The U.S. Franchised Electric and Gas segment

General Motors' (GM) fourth-quarter profit came in lower than analyst forecasts, but sales rose as more confident consumers replaced aging cars. GM earlier had said it expected results might come in below expectations because of weakness in Europe and South America. The company is also struggling to close a shortfall in its pension funding that continues to draw resources from R&D and marketing. It ended the year with its pension plan 88% funded,

Last year's acquisition of Timberland boots helped apparel brand VF (VFC) beat fourth-quarter earnings forecasts, despite higher cotton and component costs. But its guidance for 2012 was shy of estimates. VF earnings per share surged 30% to $2.32, excluding acquisition costs, 2 cents higher than analysts' expectations. Revenue climbed 37% to $2.9 billion, with the Timberland acquisition contributing $549 million in sales. Without Timberland sales,

Foreclosure filings are heading back up again, allowing top mortgage lenders like Bank of America (BAC) to start unwinding backlogs that were frozen last year due to the "robo-signing" probes. In January, foreclosure filings, which include default notices, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions, rose 3% from December, when filings fell 9% to hit the lowest total since late 2007, RealtyTrac said. For all of 2011, filings were down 34% from the

GNC (GNC) reported healthy fourth-quarter results as its profit and revenue topped Wall Street expectations. The vitamin and supplement store's fourth-quarter earnings surged 106% to 35 cents a share from 17 cents a year ago, beating projections by 5 cents. Revenue climbed 17% to $509.6 million, also topping expectations of $495.6 million. Shares were up 6% to 31.68 in intraday trading. Since its IPO at 16 a share in April 2011, its stock has more

Citigroup (C) agreed to pay $158.3 million to settle claims its mortgage unit tricked the government into insuring risky home loans over several years. The settlement announced after the market closed Wednesday is on top of the $2.2 billion Citigroup has to pay in connection with the $25 billion mortgage loan settlement announced last week by the Justice Department and other mortgage lenders. "For far too long, lenders treated HUD's (Housing and

Media company CBS (CBS) reported after the market closed that its fourth-quarter earnings jumped 24% to 57 cents a share, beating analyst estimates by 4 cents, as its lineup of No. 1-in-category TV shows, including "Two and a Half Men" and the "CSI" crime drama franchise, propelled gains. But the broadcaster's revenue fell 3% to $3.78 billion, missing analyst forecasts for $3.9 billion. Shares fell 2.5% in after-hours trading as investors

No MSG on TWC in NYC? Stop the Linsanity. The New York Knicks' surprising breakout star Jeremy Lin has led the team to a six-game winning streak, not only lifting his team, but becoming a ratings bonanza for regional sports network Madison Square Garden (MSG). The trouble is MSG went dark Dec. 31 on Time Warner Cable (TWC), a major cable provider in the New York metro region, in a dispute over network fees. Time Warner Cable subscribers account

Capital One Financial's (COF) shares were up nearly 2.5% to 49.27 in afternoon trading after the bank won Federal Reserve approval for its $9 billion acquisition of ING Direct. Regulators rejected opposition raised by consumer groups that the merger would greatly expand Capitol One's business, making it "too big to fail." That's the standard in the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial reform laws that require the Fed to assess how much of a risk such mergers

The threat of generic competition is something just about every U.S. drugmaker must come to terms with eventually. Most know the precise date they will lose patent protection for certain drugs. But for Endo Pharmaceuticals (ENDP), it's not that simple. Endo sells branded and generic pharmaceutical products used to treat a variety of conditions. Its biggest product is Lidoderm, a pain patch that accounts for more than one-quarter of the company's overall sales. Lidoderm is scheduled to lose U.S. patent protection in 2015.

The auto industry continued to lead manufacturing's turnaround in January when output jumped 6.8% from December, accelerating from a 3.8% increase that month. The pickup in activity on assembly lines did not appear to hurt the quality of vehicles produced. A J.D. Power and Associates dependability survey of 2009 model year cars found that 25 of 32 brands improved their scores. Toyota (TM) brands such as Lexus, Yaris, Prius and Tundra, took the top

Homebuilders' glum view of the economy improved slightly again in February for a fifth straight month. The modest uptick boosted homebuilder stocks, many to or near new 52-week highs. Shares of KB Home (KBH), Pulte Group (PHM), Toll Bros., (TOL) and D.R. Horton (DHI) all were higher in midmorning trading, but they gave up most of their gains as the overall market faded in the early afternoon. Insulation and building materials maker Owens Corning

Dean Foods (DF), parent of Silk Soymilk and Land O' Lakes dairy brands, trounced analyst profit expectations in the fourth quarter, and said it's "cautiously optimistic" about the current quarter. Earnings per share soared 80% to 27 cents, topping forecasts by 4 cents. Revenue grew 5% to $3.3 billion, just missing the Street's estimate of $3.34 billion. The food company expects first quarter EPS of 18-23 cents, the midpoint above estimates of 19

Cereal maker Kellogg (K) will buy Pringles from Procter & Gamble (PG) for $2.7 billion in cash after a previous deal with Diamond Foods (DMD) fell through. Kellogg shares were up 5% to 52.97 in intraday trading, P&G was up less than 1% to 64.59 and Diamond Foods climbed 4.4% to 23.28. Diamond Foods, the maker of Pop Secret popcorn and Emerald Nuts, signed a $1.5 billion deal in April with P&G for the potato chip brand. After selling off its

Farm machinery maker Deere & Co. (DE) posted an 8% hike in quarterly earnings per share, above expectations, thanks to strong orders from farmers still flush with cash. It raised 2012 outlooks slightly but warned of rising material costs, expenses of meeting more stringent emissions standards and hits from currency transactions. Shares of the world's No. 1 agriculture equipment maker slipped 3.4% late morning to 85.99. The Moline, Ill.-based

Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF), parent of Abercrombie/Fitch, Hollister and Gilly Hicks brands, reported fourth-quarter results roughly in line with analyst forecasts and said it expects strong international sales. The fashion clothing retailer earned $1.12 per share, vs. $1.38 last year, matching estimates. Revenue for the quarter jumped 16% to $1.33 billion, in line with views. Shares climbed 12% in intraday trading -- it's biggest daily rise in two

The Dr Pepper Snapple Group's (DPS) profit and revenue popped above Wall Street estimates despite a rise in commodity prices. The maker of Canada Dry ginger ale and A&W root beer said fourth-quarter earnings per share rose 22% vs. fourth-quarter 2010, to 82 cents, beating forecasts by 8 cents as it raised drink prices. Sales increased 3% to $1.46 billion, topping expectations of $1.45 billion. Shares were up 2.5% to 40.07 in intraday trading.

A growing global population is increasing the demand for food, and Deere & Co. (DE) is expecting sales of its farm equipment to rise in 2012. Analysts are expecting the tractor and combine producer to report first-quarter earnings per share of $1.23, an increase of 2.5% from '11. Sales are expected to rise 6% to $6.49 billion. In early 2011, the company said it planned to achieve sales of $50 billion by 2018 by expanding in emerging markets where

Americans are holding on to their cars and trucks longer than ever before, pushing those struts, belts and brakes to their limits. That's boosting the earnings horsepower of repair shops and auto parts retailers, including Advance Auto Parts (AAP). The auto retailer will roll out its fourth-quarter results before the market opens on Thursday. Analysts are looking for earnings to surge 32% to 75 cents per share. The consensus estimates call for

Specialty drugmakers, industrial firms and tech companies dominate Tuesday's IBD Stock Screen of S&P 500 components with top earnings and composite ratings. Big-cap leaders like Apple (AAPL) offer the stability of an established player with the growth of a new entrant. Indeed, the maker of iPads and iPhones saw its stock price rise again Tuesday, a day after topping the 500 mark for the first time. In its fiscal first-quarter, Apple announced a

Stocks eased in lower volume Wednesday, but leading stocks advanced on the whole. Investors largely dismissed a batch of disappointing economic reports and another debt downgrade for Greece. U.S. homebuilders sold off after data showed existing-home sales in January fell short of the consensus estimate. A disappointing reading from the Markit Eurozone Services Purchasing Managers' Index sparked concerns about Europe's ability

Oil prices hit a nine-month closing high above $106 a barrel on Wednesday. Natural gas prices bounced 9% last week, but remain almost 30% below year-ago levels. The disparity in those two numbers helps explain why, despite an obvious energy boom, the energy sector ranks No. 29, near the bottom of IBD's 33 sectors. Within that sector, IBD tracks 10 oil and gas industries. Only four rank in the top third of IBD's 197 industry groups. That doesn't

Pound this into your head: As much as 37% of a stock's price movement is directly tied to the performance of the stock's industry group. An additional 12% is due to strength in the overall sector. That's from IBD research. Next, erase this myth from your belief system: When a stock makes a new high, it's too late to buy it. Now have a look at IBD's 52-Week New Highs & Lows list. It is a trove of leadership potential. It appears daily, usually

Most Sector Leaders rose Wednesday in mixed volume, led by Alexion Pharmaceuticals (ALXN) and chipmaker InvenSense (INVN). Alexion, which makes drugs to treat cancer, blood disorders and other diseases, climbed 1.65 to 83.46 in above-average turnover. The stock is 18% beyond a 70.52 buy point from a flat base, putting it well outside of a buy range. Fellow drugmaker Celgene (CELG) also rose, but in below-average volume. The stock added 0.61 to

Late Tuesday, Herbalife (HLF) announced quarterly results that easily topped views and beefed up its shareholder payout. Herbalife hiked its quarterly dividend by 50% to 30 cents a share from 20 cents. That's the third increase in less than two years. With the latest lift, Herbalife's quarterly payout has tripled from when it first started paying shareholder dividends in 2007. The new dividend will be paid March 22 to shareholders of record March

IShares, the world's largest ETF family, has spawned the first sector-specific bond ETFs: 1. iShares Financial Sector Bond Fund (MONY) 2. iShares Industrials Sector Bond Fund 3. iShares Utilities Sector Bond Fund Those hold bonds issued by financial, industrial and utilities companies. The average coupon in the MONY index is 5.3% with an average maturity of eight years. ENGN holds bonds issued by all sectors except for financials,

Treasury debt prices jumped on Wednesday, as concerns Greece might not be able to avert a disastrous default despite a second financial bailout supported safe-haven bids for bonds. Investors are worried that Greece will struggle to meet the demands of its new 130 billion euro rescue plan, as many economists question the country's ability to pay off its debt as it confronts a contracting economy. Moreover, rising oil prices due to ongoing unrest in

Gold jumped to a three-month high on Wednesday, reversing early losses after bullish technical factors triggered fund buying, and platinum prices hit their highest in five months on supply worries. Platinum outperformed gold's 1% gain, rallying 2% on the prospect of a shortage driven by a labor dispute in South Africa, the world's top platinum producer. Bullion turned positive late in the session and accelerated upward once it breached technical

Traffic on the Internet can be like traffic in L.A. Without enough roads and proper policing, you'll end up with jams, chaos and a host of security problems. Allot Communications (ALLT) can't help Los Angelenos (if only!), but it does help Internet service providers maintain a smooth flow. Allot, based in Hod-Hasharon, Israel, provides traffic-management and security to Internet service providers and companies. The company relies on its

IBD 50 constituent Herbalife (HLF) saw its shares gobbled up on massive volume Wednesday. The price performance is highlighted by a six-plus month breakout to all-time highs from a slightly flawed high level corrective double bottom base and follows the nutritional supplement provider's overall better-than-expected fourth quarter earnings report. The gain of 6.88% to 66.78 also looks technically promising as the action gapped slightly above the

Stocks sustained modest losses Wednesday, as the Nasdaq fared worst with a 0.5% decline. The S&P 500 dipped 0.3%, while the Dow Jones industrial average edged down 0.2%. Volume decreased across the board from Tuesday's levels, according to early data, taking some of the punch out of the losses. After hours, Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) fell as it reported first-quarter profit that beat forecasts, but its Q1 sales and Q2 outlook fell short of estimates.

Soft economic data at home and another Greek debt downgrade cooled the Wall Street bulls somewhat Wednesday, although soft volume suggested that investment funds weren't rattled. The Nasdaq fell 0.5%, the S&P 500 0.3% and the Dow Jones industrial average 0.2%. Volume decreased 6% on the Nasdaq and 4% on the NYSE, according to preliminary data. In the U.S., existing-home sales rose less than expected in January, while service- and

Apparel companies keep showing strength this week, with three making the Stock Spotlight screen: Under Armour (UA), Lululemon Athletica (LULU) and Genesco (GCO) . Athletic clothing maker Under Armour extended its streak of strong quarterly growth in profit and sales with its fourth-quarter report, out Jan. 26. The Baltimore company said EPS rose 41% to 62 cents, above forecasts, as sales grew 34% to $403 million. But Under Armour also reduced its

Stocks remained mildly lower in late-afternoon trading but were still off intraday lows Wednesday following weaker-than-expected economic data in the U.S., Europe and China. The Nasdaq was down 0.4% and the S&P 500 eased 0.3% after sinking as much as 0.6% and 0.5%, respectively. The Dow Jones industrial average was 0.1% lower. Volume was down 2% on the Nasdaq and NYSE compared with the same time Tuesday. Wal-Mart Stores (WMT), which slid 4% on

Stocks remained lower in early afternoon trading Wednesday following weaker-than-expected economic data in the U.S., Europe and China. The Nasdaq was down 0.5%, the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones industrial average each fell 0.2%. Volume was mixed compared with the same time Tuesday, up 2% on the Nasdaq and down 1% on the NYSE. Wal-Mart (WMT) lost 2% in heavy volume, weighing on the Dow, after the world's biggest retailer reported weaker-than-expected

Stocks were lower at midday Wednesday after Fitch downgraded Greece's credit rating, saying that Athens was likely to default even after it received a new round of bailout funds. The Dow Jones industrial average, the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 each slipped 0.2%. Volume was slightly lower compared with the same time Tuesday, down 1% on the Nasdaq and 3% on the NYSE. Wal-Mart (WMT) was down 2% in heavy volume, weighing on the Dow, after the world's

Stocks opened quietly Wednesday, as soft overseas action and mixed earnings reports left the market searching for direction. The Dow Jones industrial average was a shade higher, the Nasdaq a fraction lower. The S&P 500 slipped 0.1%. Volume was lower compared with the same time Tuesday, down 9% on the Nasdaq and 17% on the NYSE. Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) and Wal-Mart (WMT) were both down more than 1%, dragging the Dow. Dell (DELL) and Netflix (NFLX)

Stock futures continued to slip lower ahead of Wednesday's open as earnings reports weighed to the downside. Dow futures dropped 20 points. Nasdaq 100 futures traded down 5.3 points and S&P 500 futures were off 2.8 points. Action in overseas markets was mild as uncertainty over the staying power of the Greek debt deal and bailout accord dragged on trade. Asia's markets closed slightly higher. Europe's markets traded fractionally lower after a

Just as a canoeist avoids rowing upstream, a successful investor doesn't fight the stock market. Typically, three of every four stocks rise during a market uptrend and fall in a correction. So it's important to know where the market's at before buying stocks. Every day, IBD identifies the market's current state in the Market Pulse box, which accompanies The Big Picture column. IBD also helps readers find stocks poised to soar during an

The market started out the holiday-shortened week with a seesaw performance Tuesday, ultimately finishing mixed and little changed. The S&P 500 tacked on 0.1%, while the NYSE composite edged up fractionally. The Nasdaq lost 0.1%. Volume decreased across the board from Friday's levels. All three indexes reversed lower after hitting session highs around midday. They ended in the bottom half of their narrow trading ranges for the day, although off

Unlike stocks, trading options involve more than simply being a bull or bear. For starters, there are important Greeks other than delta (direction), which are embedded in all calls and puts. At a minimum, to be a more well-informed directional strategist, a trader should know the potential impact of variables such as time decay (theta), implied (vega) and statistical volatility, dividends and possibly interest rates (rho), depending on one's time

Oil prices are climbing again, and producers will be pressured to find more, extract more and deliver more. So if you have an oil well, you need all the help you can get. By dividing its business into three segments, Amsterdam-based Core Laboratories (CLB) supplies exactly that help. First, Core Laboratories describes what's in the oil- or gas-producing reservoir. What's to know? Plenty. Producers must cope with various grades of oil or gas in

Tom Galvin and his colleagues aim to do a lot with a little. Their Columbia Select Large Cap Growth Fund is focused. It held just 29 names as of Dec. 31. The managers have picked each for its likelihood to do more and more business. "We view the U.S. GDP as a $15 trillion cash register," said lead manager Tom Galvin. "And we ask ourselves, 'For whom the bell tolls?'" In other words, which companies are the best at making that cash register ring

January engine and equipment sales data from Caterpillar (CAT), combined with jumps in copper and silver prices and a big earnings surprise from Astec Industries (ASTE)boosted mining and construction equipment stocks Tuesday. The mining and construction equipment group scaled up to a No. 28 ranking out of 197 in Tuesday's IBD. It ranked No. 172 at the start of the year. The group's needle-bending gain came from Astec. The Chattanooga, Tenn.-based

Oil rose to a nine-month high on Tuesday after Greece received a financial bailout and top Asian consumers moved to cut crude purchases from Iran, following Western sanctions designed to limit the country's nuclear program. Euro zone financial ministers agreed to a $172 billion rescue for Greece to avert a chaotic default, firming the euro and making dollar-denominated commodities cheaper for foreign buyers. Iran's top customers in Asia moved to

Treasury prices fell Tuesday after a long-awaited bailout deal for Greece dented appetite for safe-haven assets, but losses were moderated by concerns over Athens' implementation of stringent austerity measures. The 30-year Treasury yield reached a technically significant level in upward trend, putting strategists on watch for a definitive break to higher yields in the long end of the Treasury curve in the coming days. "Treasuries have been caught

Physically backed precious metals exchange traded funds gapped up Tuesday as the dollar sank on news that Greece secured its second bailout. SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) gapped up 2.2% to 171.02 in average volume. IShares Silver Trust (SLV) jumped 3.4% to 33.38 in above average volume. Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX) climbed 3.1% 55.82. Global X Silver Miners ETF (SIL) rose 1.8% to 24.55. In the futures markets, gold picked up 1.4% to 1,760.10 an

Nordstrom (JWN) recently joined fellow high-end retailers Coach (COH), Michael Kors (KORS) and Ralph Lauren (RL) in reporting better-than-expected quarterly results. The company also increased its quarterly dividend and announced a big stock buyback. On Friday, the department store chain upped its payout by 17% to 27 cents a share. Nordstrom will pay the dividend March 15 to shareholders of record March 1. Nordstrom has returned cash to

The 11 Sector Leaders ended mixed Tuesday, reflecting the major averages, as concern about rising oil prices offset optimism over a new bailout deal for Greece. Apple (AAPL) led the list, climbing 12.73 in strong volume to 514.85 and closing at its intraday high. The stock is trying to recover from a bearish reversal last Wednesday after it hit an all-time high of 526.29. The iPad maker is 20% beyond a 427.85 buy point from a cup-with-handle base,

The only thing that drives stock prices is supply and demand -- not earnings or sales or any other fundamental factor -- asserts Charles Biderman, founder of TrimTabs Investment Research. That's the guiding principle upon which he built his Santa Rosa, Calif.-firm in 1990 and TrimTabs Float Shrink ETF (TTFS) last year. It's still thinly traded, but TTFS returned 24% since it started trading Oct. 6 vs. 17% for the S&P 500. It's gained 12% year to

Despite news of debt-ridden Greece finally securing another bailout, stocks wavered to a narrowly mixed finish Tuesday. But some notable companies made waves after the close. Herbalife (HLF) jumped in extended trading after delivering Q4 results that smashed expectations. Dell (DELL), however, sold off after it reported Q4 earnings that missed views by a penny. Sales managed to top expectations. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.1%, thanks

Wabtec (WAB) continued to find support near its 10-week moving average Tuesday, as the railcar equipment maker posted fourth-quarter earnings that matched Wall Street's expectations. Before the opening bell, Wabtec said Q4 EPS jumped 50% to 96 cents, with growth down slightly from Q3's 52% gain. Revenue increased 36% to $534.6 million, beating estimates. The Wilmerding, Pa.-based company's guidance topped forecasts. It sees adjusted 2012 EPS of

Stocks reversed lower to a mixed close Tuesday after pushing into new highs. But volume was oddly quiet despite news over the long weekend that the EU had finally hammered out a deal to rescue Greece. The Dow Jones industrial average briefly touched the 13,000 level, making a gain of 0.8%, before turning tail and ending up a scant 0.1%. The S&P 500 ceded all but a fraction of its earlier 0.7% advance. The Nasdaq only rose as much as 0.2%, and

Stocks reversed lower late Tuesday afternoon as oil hit a nine-month high above $105 a barrel following Iran's announcement that it would halt crude shipments to Britain and France. The Dow Jones industrial average and the S&P 500 were fractionally lower while the Nasdaq was down 0.2%. Volume was down modestly compared with Friday morning's action. Friday's trade was boosted by expiring options. Stocks had risen earlier, with the Dow touching

Stocks were modestly higher early Tuesday afternoon following the euro zone's passage of a new bailout for Greece. The Dow Jones industrial average briefly touched 13,000 for the first time since May 2008. The Nasdaq was up 0.2%, the S&P 500 0.4%, and the Dow Jones industrial average 0.3%. Volume was down sharply compared with Friday morning's action. Friday's trade was boosted by options expiring. Casino operator Wynn Resorts (WYNN) gapped up to

Stocks were modestly higher at midday Tuesday following the euro zone's passage of a new bailout for Greece. The Dow Jones industrial average briefly touched 13,000 for the first time since May 2008. The Nasdaq was up 0.3% while both the S&P 500 and Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.4%. Volume was down sharply compared with Friday morning's action. Friday's trade was boosted by options expiring. Casino operator Wynn Resorts (WYNN) gapped up to a

Stocks opened with mild gains Tuesday as rising oil prices and mixed earnings outweighed the euro zone's bailout for Greece. The Nasdaq, S&P 500 and Dow Jones industrial average all rose 0.2%. Volume was down sharply compared with Friday morning's action. Wynn Resorts (WYNN) topped the S&P 500, gapping up to a 7% gain in strong trade. The casino and resort operator announced it had concluded a yearlong investigation, finding company director Kazuo

Stock futures kept early gains Tuesday, despite a pullback in overseas markets and as investors sorted through a heavyweight docket of Q4 reports from retailers. Dow futures held steady, up 35 points. S&P 500 futures traded up 2.6 points and Nasdaq 100 futures were up 2.85 points. Overseas, Asia's markets ended narrowly mixed and Europe's markets pulled back, despite a deal clearing the way for a $170 billion bailout of Greece by the euro zone.

Health care stocks accounted for five of the 10 worst performances in the IBD 50 last week. One wounded med stock got pushed off the list. For the week, the average IBD 50 stock rose 1%. That lagged the Nasdaq's 1.7% rise. Gilead Sciences' (GILD) high-volume 14% dive followed results showing a high relapse rate in hepatitis C patients treated with a combination of Gilead's GS-7977 plus ribavirin. The stock had soared recently on Gilead's $11

Stocks were mixed Friday as the S&P 500 shed an old distribution day and the Nasdaq narrowly avoided adding one. The S&P 500 rose 0.2%, the NYSE composite 0.3%. But the Nasdaq fell 0.3%. Volume was higher on the NYSE and slightly lower on the Nasdaq. The lower volume on the Nasdaq was somewhat unexpected because Friday was an options expiration day, which usually boosts volume. However, the three-day weekend, courtesy of Monday's

Online travel-services firm Priceline.com (PCLN)has been posting strong profit and sales growth despite economic turmoil in Europe and weak growth in the U.S., its biggest markets. Priceline, which offers a service that guarantees customers the lowest-possible hotel and rental car rates, has posted two straight quarters of accelerating profit growth and three straight quarters of ever-greater revenue growth. The company is expected to announce

Dollar General (DG) is taking steps toward future growth. In January, the company said it plans to open an additional 625 stores in 2012. It currently has more than 9,900 stores in 38 states, giving it more stores than any other U.S. retailer. Dollar General will enter the California market with an estimated 50 locations. Rivals Dollar Tree (DLTR), Family Dollar (FDO), Big Lots (BIG) and 99 Cents Only already have a presence in the Golden State.

Most Sector Leaders, led by Apple (AAPL) and InvenSense (INVN), fell on Friday as investors awaited a decision on a new Greek rescue package that's expected this week. In all, eight of the 12 leaders fell. Volume was mixed. Apple edged down 0.09 to 502.12 in above-average volume. The maker of iPads and iPhones is far beyond a 427.85 buy point, but it's stalled around the 500 mark following Wednesday's negative reversal from a record high.

Institutional investors showed a lot of love for transportation-related stocks Valentine's Day week as the sector builds momentum. Automakers in general were having a good week even before General Motors (GM) announced its year-end results Thursday. The report had its weak spots, but it showed the once-sidelined company was again a force to be reckoned with. GM shares bagged a 7% gain for the week. Toyota Motor (TM), which clobbered expectations

Following solid business results earlier this month, auto dealer Group 1 Automotive (GPI) shifted its dividend higher. The Houston-based company on Thursday said it's raising the quarterly payout by nearly 8%, or a penny, to 14 cents a share. Group 1 Automotive will dole out the dividend March 15 to shareholders of record March 1. "Group 1's board of directors is pleased to reward the company's shareholders with another dividend increase after

A stock can have great fundamentals and a solid chart, but if big investors aren't buying it, it's not going to get very far. To see what the big guns are doing, read IBD's Mutual Fund monthly and quarterly special sections. These are typically published during the first week of each month. Institutional buying is a key part of CAN SLIM investing. Mutual funds and other professionals dominate the trading on the major stock exchanges. Armed with

U.S. Treasuries ended lower on Friday as Greece appeared to be making progress toward restructuring its debt, dampening demand for safe-haven U.S. bonds, and before a holiday-shortened week that will include $99 billion in new supply. The U.S. Treasury is scheduled to sell $35 billion in two-year notes on Tuesday, $35 billion in five-year notes on Wednesday and $29 billion in seven-year notes on Thursday. The U.S. bond market will be shut on

Natural gas futures rose nearly 5% on Friday, as word of more production cuts rallied the market ahead of the long holiday weekend. In addition, some cooler weather in long-term forecasts and several unexpected nuclear power plant outages this week kept momentum to the upside, traders said. "The natural gas short-covering rally is continuing for another day, resulting in futures ending the week with solid gains. The market sentiment is slowly

Copper -- the so-called metal with a Ph.D. in economics -- melted down Friday, casting a dark cloud over the stock market rally. IPath Dow Jones UBS Copper Subindex Total Return ETN (JJC) fell 2.65% to a four-week low of 47.75. Copper on the London Metal Exchange, the world's largest metals market, fell 1.4% to $3.71 a pound. First Trust ISE Global Copper ETF (CU) -- a basket of copper miners -- ended nearly flat, down 0.06% at 33.76. The red metal is

The Stock Spotlight screen has a history of identifying winners. So, it might be worth looking at stocks that are new to the screen. IBD looked for stocks that made the lineup in the past four days but hadn't appeared in the previous three weeks. Seven stocks fit that description. They run the gamut from approaching potential buy points, to being in a buy zone, to being extended. Let's look at them. Caterpillar (CAT) is approaching a potential

Where did India go wrong? A stunning 2009 election upset by the reformist Indian National Congress released a flood of optimism. It was a vote for economic development and reform. India would fulfill its potential as an emerging market powerhouse. Then the least-likely thing happened: nothing. And from there, things got worse. A look at IBD's Daily World Map shows India's benchmark exchange-traded note, the Barclays iPath India (INP), leading with

Stocks delivered a mixed performance Friday, but finished with solid gains for the week. The Nasdaq lost 0.3%, while the Dow Jones industrial average and S&P 500 rose 0.3% and 0.2%, respectively. Volume increased across the board from Thursday's levels, according to early data, helped by monthly options expirations. For the week, the Nasdaq advanced 1.6%, the S&P 500 1.4% and the Dow Jones industrial average 1.2%. The Dow now has gained ground in

If you are planning to sell investment property, you might think taxes will be low -- or nonexistent -- because your property has lost value. But you could well owe more tax than you expect. That's because depreciation deductions over the years have lowered your cost basis. The lower your basis, the more tax you'll owe on a sale. So you may owe tax even though a property you sell lost value. But if you plan to buy another property, you may be in

Mixed economic data didn't seem to have much impact on stocks Friday, with the market coasting into the long weekend with a mixed close. The Dow Jones industrial average climbed 0.4%, while the S&P 500 added 0.2%. But the Nasdaq -- weighed down by a 14% decline by Gilead Sciences (GILD), the 18th-largest stock in market-cap terms on the Nasdaq -- dipped 0.3%. January consumer prices rose less than expected last month. But prices excluding energy

IBD 50 constituent Gilead Sciences (GILD) is atop the unusual option activity list this afternoon and for all the wrong reasons much to the chagrin of directional bulls. With about an hour remaining in Friday's session, shares are off 14% following the biotech outfit's disappointing results from "genotype 1 null responder hepatitis C patients" enrolled in its ELECTRON study. On the option side, daily volume of about 12,000 has ballooned to more

Stocks remained mixed in late afternoon trading Friday amid generally positive economic data and growing optimism that a bailout for Greece will finally be approved. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.3%, the S&P 500 was up 0.2% and the Nasdaq slipped 0.3%, weighed down by a 13% decline in Gilead Sciences (GILD), the 18th-largest stock in market-cap terms on the Nasdaq. Baidu (BIDU), down 4% earlier in the day, pared its losses and was little

Stocks remained mixed in early afternoon trading Friday amid generally positive economic data and growing optimism that a bailout for Greece will be approved. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.2%, the S&P 500 was up 0.1% and the Nasdaq slipped 0.4%, weighed down by Baidu's (BIDU)4% drop and a 15% decline in Gilead Sciences (GILD), the 18th-largest stock in market-cap terms on the Nasdaq. Volume was boosted by monthly options expiration, up

Stocks were mixed at midday Friday as investors weighed generally positive economic data and growing optimism that a bailout for Greece will be approved. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.2%, the S&P 500 was flat and the Nasdaq slipped 0.4%, weighed down by Baidu 's (BIDU) 4% drop and a 16% decline in Gilead Sciences (GILD), the 18th largest stock in market cap terms on Nasdaq. The Chinese online search portal reported late Thursday that Q4

Stocks opened mixed Friday as investors digested earnings reports, optimism on a Greek bailout and December consumer price data. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.2%. The S&P 500 managed a 0.1% gain and the Nasdaq slipped 0.2%, weighed down by Baidu's (BIDU) 4% slip. Volume was boosted by options expiration, up 64% on the Nasdaq and 15% higher on the NYSE compared with the same time Thursday. Optimism of a deal clearing the path to bailout

Stock futures slipped into mixed trade Friday after consumer prices rose slightly more than expected in December.Dow futures held a 36-point gain. S&P 500 futures were up two points, while Nasdaq 100 futures edged a fraction below the waterline.Consumer prices climbed 0.2% in January, above

Brent crude resumed its climb toward $120 a barrel on Thursday on supply concerns over Iran and an expected drop in North Sea output. Brent crude gained after dipping earlier in the day and was up by 46 cents at $119.27 a barrel. On Wednesday, it hit a session peak of $119.99, the highest intraday price since August, and settled at $118.93, the highest settlement since June. In euro terms, Brent prices were at the highest level since 2008,

Nothing says bull market like a spate of breakouts from top-rated stocks. It's even better when those breakouts work. That's what you're looking at now. With the S&P 500 at its highest in months, and the Nasdaq at its highest in years, this is the time to watch profits pile up on the great stocks in your portfolio. Gun maker Sturm Ruger (RGR) is rising nicely, but offered a difficult entry. It broke out from a cup-with-handle pattern Dec. 9. The

Stocks stuck to a confident tone Thursday as the indexes surged despite a ratings warning from Moody's. The Nasdaq popped 1.5%, the NYSE composite 1.2%, the S&P 500 1.1% as indexes closed practically at session highs. Volume fell across the board, which suggested that institutional investors were acting with restraint. Restraint, though, isn't always negative. Funds might be happy to stand pat. If institutions wanted to sell into

USAA Growth & Income is a far-ranging hunter for stocks that can produce growth of capital as well as dividends. The $1.2 billion fund holds growth, value and blend stocks. The large-cap portfolio even has 22% of its money at work in midcaps. Even-handed as it is, the fund has certain favorites. Large-cap growth stocks are the biggest single investment style -- market capitalization group of holdings. And sector weightings show that the fund

Most Sector Leaders rebounded Thursday, led by Apple (AAPL) and Concho Resources (CXO), as the major averages hit multi-year highs on strong economic data. The Nasdaq, S&P 500 and Dow Jones industrial average each rose 1% or more Thursday, erasing the previous day's losses, after initial jobless claims and mid-Atlantic manufacturing data came in better than expected. Apple, down most of the day following a sharp drop Wednesday, ended up 4.54 at

I was schooled in options a long time ago, back before smartphones and much closer to the days when Gordon Gekko's clunker of a device was the coolest and most mobile toy on the market. Not much has changed since then in the pricing of options. There have been some minor tweaks to the Black Scholes model, but those founding fathers of modern option pricing got it mostly right. And as for the strategies themselves, well they've remained wholly

Treasury prices fell on Thursday as employment and other data showed a brightening economic picture and new reports indicated that Greece was getting closer to reaching an agreement to swap its debt and avoid a disorderly default. Data on Thursday showed that the number of Americans filing for new jobless benefits fell to a near-four-year low last week and factory activity in the mid-Atlantic area grew in February. Hopes rose that Greece had made

Older big-cap companies are known for paying shareholder dividends. Coca-Cola (KO) fits the bill, but it's also growing the top and bottom lines consistently. The corporate titan has paid dividends since 1920. It hiked its payout Thursday. Citing confidence in its long-term cash flow, the world's biggest beverage firm lifted its quarterly payout to shareholders by 8.5% to 51 cents a share from 47 cents. The dividend will be paid April 1 to

If you've ever wondered whether you're in a so-called "stock pickers' market," then you ought to get familiar with the IBD Mutual Fund Index, shown today on Page B2. IBD has picked 20 leading growth funds and tracks their performance to create this index. So if you see the index outperforming broad market indexes like the S&P 500, then you know that active management -- stock pickers, in other words -- have the upper hand. They're beating out

The "new" factor is a key element in superior stock performance. Regal Beloit (RBC), a manufacturer of electrical and mechanical motion-control products, might not sound like a candidate for new. Yet historically the company has been aggressive on the acquisition front, making 21 buys in the past five years. In August, Regal wrapped up the biggest acquisition in its history. Regal bought Electrical Products Co., or EPC, from A.O. Smith (AOS). This

Two highly rated international stocks moved in opposite directions Thursday after reporting fourth-quarter earnings. Luxembourg-based Altisource Portfolio Solutions (ASPS) tacked on 2% in heavy turnover, while China's NetEase.com (NTES) dropped 4% in fast trade. Before Thursday's opening bell, Altisource said Q4 EPS rose 44% to $1.02, well above Wall Street's forecasts, as sales also grew 44%. That sent the 2009 spin-off up as much as 6% out of

Stocks rallied into the close Thursday, ending near session highs with solid gains. The Nasdaq led with a 1.5% rise, while the S&P 500 tacked on 1.1% and the Dow Jones industrial average rose 1%. But volume decreased slightly from Wednesday's levels on both main exchanges, according to early data, taking some punch out of the broad move higher. After hours, Baidu (BIDU) rose as China's Web search leader reported fourth-quarter profit and revenue

A weak job market and rebounding gasoline prices make it an unlikely time for a renaissance in the mobile-home and recreational-vehicle trade. But the industry's top players are on a tear. Thor Industries (THO) climbed in eight of the past nine weeks, posting a gain of about 50% since a Nov. 29 low. Winnebago Industries (WGO) gained in nine of the past 11 weeks, and is up more than 65% from a Nov. 25 low. Cavco Industries (CVCO) rose five of the

Economic data and hopes for progress in Greece combined Thursday to fuel solid gains for the major stock indexes. When the bell closed, the Nasdaq swelled 1.5%, the S&P 500 1.1% and the Dow Jones industrial average 1%. The S&P 500 poked to its highest since May 10, 2011. The Nasdaq ended at its best level since December 2000. But volume fell 8% on the Nasdaq and 3% on the NYSE, according to preliminary data. January housing starts were stronger

Stocks held at session highs late Thursday afternoon, as new claims for jobless benefits fell to their lowest level in nearly four years and manufacturing growth continued to pick up. The Nasdaq climbed 1.4%, the S&P 500 1.1% and Dow Jones industrial average 1%. Volume was down slightly on both the Nasdaq and the NYSE vs. the same time Wednesday. New claims for jobless benefits fell by 13,000 last week to 348,000, the lowest since March 2008.

Stocks held at session highs early Thursday afternoon, as new claims for jobless benefits fell to their lowest level in nearly four years and manufacturing growth continued to pick up. The Nasdaq, S&P 500 and Dow Jones industrial average were each up 1%. Volume was down on the Nasdaq and slightly higher on the NYSE vs. the same time Wednesday. General Motors (GM) jumped 7% after reporting that profit for 2011 leapt 62% to a record-high $7.6

Stocks were higher at midday Thursday after new claims for jobless benefits fell to a near-four-year low and manufacturing growth continued to pick up. The Dow Jones industrials led, up 0.7%. The S&P 500 added 0.6% and the Nasdaq was up 0.4%. Volume was down on the Nasdaq and slightly higher on the NYSE vs. the same time Wednesday. General Motors (GM) jumped 5% after reporting that profit for 2011 leapt 62% to a record high $7.6 billion. Microsoft

After a mixed open, stocks pulled higher Thursday on a solid read on Philadelphia-region manufacturing. The Dow Jones industrials led, up 0.4%. The Nasdaq and the S&P 500 each added 0.3%. Volume was lower on both main exchanges compared with the same time Wednesday. Microsoft (MSFT) powered up 2% to lead the Dow. NetApp (NTAP) topped both the Nasdaq 100 and the S&P 500 in price performance. Philadelphia-area manufacturing surged this month,

Stock futures reversed early losses and climbed into mixed territory Thursday after encouraging housing and jobs data. Nasdaq 100 and Dow futures rose two points. S&P 500 futures culled losses and

Stocks let early gains slip through their fingers Wednesday, handing the major indexes moderate losses. Volume climbed, a hint that institutional investors sold with a bit more vigor than usual. The Nasdaq showed the most dramatic reversal among the key averages, going from a 0.9% gain to a loss of 0.5%. Despite the decline, the unusually smooth ride since Jan. 1 is largely uninterrupted. The S&P 500 also fell 0.5%. The NYSE

Brent crude oil extended its run-up on Wednesday, closing at an eight-month high on escalating Middle East tensions, while copper fell on possible delays to Greece's bailout package. On the agricultural front, soybeans hit new four-month highs as dry weather threatened crops in South America. Cocoa had its biggest gain in nearly three weeks after West African supplies slowed. The 19-commodity Thomson Reuters-Jefferies CRB index closed up 0.3%. The

It would be hard to overlook our timely discussion from yesterday. Not only was our focus on reminding investors with open profits to "remember hedging and protecting gains before it becomes a dicier situation", but the object of our fascination was none other than a technically extended Apple (AAPL). If you missed it, which if you're an active investor, would be next to impossible, the second half of trade Wednesday saw Apple shares ravaged by a

Online marketplace MercadoLibre (MELI) and drugmaker Celgene (CELG) rose in higher volume Wednesday even as most Sector Leaders followed the major averages lower. Apple (AAPL) reversed course, sinking sharply after hitting a new record high. MercadoLibre, Latin America's version of eBay, jumped 4.01 to a record 99.24 in more than double the stock's average daily volume. It's now 8% above a 91.55 entry, putting it out of buying range. Profit for

Is the big Cat back? A few days ago, we talked about the preponderance of thinly traded stocks in the Spotlight screen. In Wednesday's IBD, Caterpillar (CAT) popped up in the screen. Cat trades more than 7 million shares daily. So, thin is not a concern. Caterpillar's industry group was No. 21 in Wednesday's IBD, up from 111 three weeks ago. Research shows the industry group accounts for 37% of a stock's move. The sector powers 12%. Cat's machine

Not many leading stocks booked hefty advances as the market pulled back in mixed trade on Wednesday. Near the head of the winners' list was WellCare Health Plans, (WCG) which surged 9% to a new high on a solid Q4 report. Peer AmeriGroup (AGP), which plans to report quarterly results Friday, jumped 4% in early trade, then settled to a 2% gain. The Medical-Managed Care group held a No. 24 rank out of 197 groups in Wednesday's IBD. It was a top-20

The dollar rose as most commodities, U.S. and global markets slumped Wednesday as a decision to give Greece a second aid package was postponed. PowerShares DB USD Index Bullish (UUP) rose 0.34% to 22.22. It tracks the dollar against euro, Japanese yen, British pound, Canadian dollar, Swedish krona and Swiss Franc. UUP has added 0.43% so far this month. It's gained 6.6% from its May 2011 low, when the U.S. dollar index hit a three-year-low.

Stocks flashed warning signals Wednesday as the major indexes reversed lower in rising volume. The blue chip Dow Jones industrial average led the losers as it trimmed 0.8%. The Nasdaq was up as much as 0.9% midsession but finished 0.5% lower. The S&P 500 and the NYSE composite fell 0.5% and 0.4%, respectively. Volume rose across the board, according to preliminary calculations. The combination of losses in faster volume slapped the indexes with a

With fourth-quarter earnings season winding down, here's a quick look at how some highly rated ADRs fared. Taiwan-based chip designer Silicon Motion (SIMO) has struggled even after reporting better-than-expected EPS growth of 147% on Feb. 2 after the market's close. The stock showed volatile action on Feb. 3, ending with a 2% gain. But then on Feb. 7, Silicon Motion plunged 12% in huge turnover, slicing through its 50-day moving average. It's now

U.S. Treasuries finished little changed in price on Wednesday as conflicting reports on Greece's progress to secure a second bailout muddied the outlook for Europe's debt crisis. The market was little impacted after minutes from the Federal Reserve's January policy meeting, released on Wednesday afternoon, showed a few central bank officials felt another round of bond buying would be needed before long to support the U.S. economy. Treasuries

The market turned some early gains into losses Wednesday after the Fed minutes showed a disunited policy board and one high-profile stock staged a downside reversal. Worries about Greece also weighed. The Dow Jones industrial average slid 0.8%, the S&P 500 0.5% and the Nasdaq 0.6%. Early data showed the Nasdaq's volume dipped, but the NYSE's moved up. The market was enjoying a rather breezy session -- decent gains with good volume -- until about

Isaac of Nineveh became an Eastern Orthodox saint even though he ignored every theological dispute of his time. If you observe silence, he wrote, "inexpressible light will dawn upon you." Isaac might have made a fantastic money manager. Filtering out market noise is essential if you seek to stick to right action. But what is right action? Right action in investing involves three things. First, you must zero in on the price and volume action of the

MasterCard (MA), Polaris Industries (PII) and Nu Skin Enterprises (NUS) have recently raised their dividends. Now, cable services provider Comcast (CMCSA) has joined the growing list of companies increasing shareholder payouts. On Wednesday, the company announced its biggest dividend increase in years and unveiled a big stock buyback. The company, which has announced dividend hikes during the month of February in recent years, boosted its annual

Stocks reversed lower in late afternoon trading Wednesday after minutes from the Federal Reserve's January meeting dashed expectations for a new round of asset purchases to spur the economy. Apple (AAPL) fell, reversing course after hitting another record high. The Nasdaq fell 0.2%, the S&P 500 was down 0.4% and the Dow Jones industrial average dropped 0.7%, reversing earlier gains. Volume was 5% lower on the Nasdaq and 15% higher on the NYSE vs.

Stocks retreated in early afternoon trading Wednesday as investors weighed generally positive U.S. economic data against worries about Greece. Apple climbed to another record high before pulling back in heavy trading to lose its morning gains. The Nasdaq was up 0.2% while the S&P 500 was down 0.3% and the Dow Jones industrial average fell 0.7%. Volume was 6% lower on the Nasdaq and 12% higher on the NYSE vs. the same time Tuesday. Apple (AAPL) was

Stocks remained mixed at midday Wednesday as investors weighed generally positive U.S. economic data against worries about Greece. But Apple climbed to another record high. The Nasdaq rose 0.9% and the S&P 500 0.4%. But the Dow Jones industrial average was down nearly 0.2%. Volume jumped 17% on the Nasdaq and rose 9% on the NYSE, vs. the same time Tuesday. Apple (AAPL) continued its run, jumping 3% in heavy volume to its ninth straight record

Stocks opened mixed Wednesday as investors assessed up-and-down economic data and a pullback in overseas markets. The Nasdaq held a 0.3% gain. The S&P 500 rose 0.1% while the Dow Jones industrial average dipped 0.3%. Volume jumped 38% on the Nasdaq and rose 15% on the NYSE, vs. soft trade at the same time Tuesday. Hewlett Packard (HPQ) led the Dow, rising more than 1%. Teva Pharmaceautical (TEVA) topped the Nasdaq 100, jumping 3% after its Q4

Stock futures remained higher, but trimmed early gains Wednesday, despite a surge in New York region manufacturing and solid gains in overseas markets. Dow futures were up 47 points, but down from an 82-point gain earlier this morning. Nasdaq 100 futures were 13.25 points higher and S&P 500 futures were