Companies hate to cut dividends. Knowing the backlash they’ll get from stockholders, many executives and board members consider it a desperate act of last resort. They will halt non-discretionary expenditures, reduce payroll and overhead, and even take on debt in order to maintain distributions.
And that’s exactly why dividend hikes send such a strong bullish signal. A company wouldn’t bump quarterly payouts to $0.60 per share from $0.50 unless it were fairly certain that incoming cash flows would be more than sufficient to cover the higher dividend, with room to spare. The last thing they want is to raise it today only to lower back down tomorrow. A dividend hike is a clear vote of confidence for future success.
—Sponsored Link— He Taught 3rd Graders How To Invest In 3 Easy Steps
While financial “experts” use industry jargon to confuse you, one former chemical engineer set out to do something radically different. Using three easy steps, he successfully boiled investing down to a language and a system that even a 3rd-grader can understand. So if an elementary student can learn to use his strategy effectively, imagine the incredible power it could have in your hands… Full story here.
As you may know, one feature of my premium High-Yield Investing newsletter is a screen for double-digit yielders. As part of my mission to scour the investing universe to find the highest and safest income screens for my premium subscribers, this is just one feature we use to identify potential future additions to our portfolio.
Top 5 Safest Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Trina Solar Limited(TSL)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Roberto Pedone]
Another potential earnings short-squeeze candidate is integrated solar-power products maker Trina Solar (TSL), which is set to release numbers on next Monday before the market open. Wall Street analysts, on average, expect Trina Solar to report revenue of $645.68 million on earnings of 15 cents per share.
The current short interest as a percentage of the float for Trina Solar is extremely high at 24.5%. That means that out of the 76.94 million shares in the tradable float, 18.88 million shares are sold short by the bears. If the bulls get the earnings news they’re looking for, then shares of TSL could easily rip sharply higher post-earnings as the bears move to cover some of their positions.
From a technical perspective, TSL is currently trending below both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, which is bearish. This stock recently formed a double bottom chart pattern at $8.67 to $9.04 a share. Shares of TSL have now started to rebound off those support levels and it’s quickly moving within range of triggering a major breakout trade post-earnings above some key near-term overhead resistance levels.
If you’re bullish on TSL, then I would wait until after its report and look for long-biased trades if this stock manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $10.72 to $11.19 a share and then above its 50-day moving average of $11.17 a share with high volume. Look for volume on that move that hits near or above its three-month average action of 5.17 million shares. If that breakout materializes post-earnings, then TSL will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at its 200-day moving average of $12.49 to $14 a share, or even $14.50 to $15 a share.
I would avoid TSL or look for short-biased trades if after earnings it fails to trigger that breakout and then drops back below some near-term support levels at $10 a share to those double bottom support levels at $9.04 to $8
- [By Spencer Israel]
Axiom Capital Managing Director Gordon Johnson upgraded the entire alternative energy sector from Market Underweight to Market Overweight and upgraded SolarCity Corp (NASDAQ: SCTY) from Sell to Hold and Trina Solar Limited (ADR) (NYSE: TSL), Yingli Green Energy Holding Co Ltd (ADR) (NYSE: YGE) and JA Solar Holdings Co., Ltd. (ADR) (NASDAQ: JASO) from Sell to Buy.
- [By Elizabeth Balboa]
The firm has a Sell rating on First Solar, JA Solar Holdings and Trina Solar Limited (ADR) (NYSE: TSL). It maintains a NC rating on SunPower Corporation, Canadian Solar and JinkoSolar Holding.
Top 5 Safest Stocks To Invest In Right Now: lululemon athletica inc.(LULU)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Chris Lange]
Lululemon Athletica Inc. (NASDAQ: LULU) will report its most recent quarterly results on Wednesday as well. The consensus estimates are EPS of $0.52 and $609.71 million in revenue. Shares traded at $67.22 on Friday, in a 52-week range of $47.26 to $72.70. The consensus price target is $65.50.
- [By Craig Jones]
Najarian also noticed bullish activity in Lululemon Athletica inc. (NASDAQ: LULU). He said that short-term options traded significantly higher on private equity rumors. He has a long position in the name.
- [By Peter Graham]
Athletic apparel stock Lululemon Athletica inc (NASDAQ: LULU) reported Q2 2017 earnings after the Thursday market close with results toppingexpectations as online sales surged 30% after an effort to beef up the eCommerce strategy plus the Company raised its outlook. Net revenuegrew 13% to$581.1 millionas total comparable sales increased 7% and comparable store sales increased 2%, or increased by 2% on a constant dollar basis. Direct to consumer net revenue increased 29%, or increased 30% on a constant dollar basis. During the quarter the Company held an online warehouse sale. Excluding the impact of this sale, direct to consumer net revenue increased 15%, or increased 16% on a constant dollar basis. Net income was $48.711 million versus net income of $53.625 million. The Company ended the second quarter of fiscal 2017 with $721.2 million in cash and cash equivalents compared to $535.3 million at the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2016. The CEO commented:
- [By Trey Thoelcke]
And Lululemon Athletica Inc. (NASDAQ: LULU) is expected to release its most recent quarterly results on Thursday afternoon. The consensus forecast calls for $0.35 in EPS and revenue of $567.55 million. The stock ended the week at $60.21 a share. The consensus price target is $61.97, and the 52-week range is $47.26 to $79.41.
- [By Jon C. Ogg]
When companies raise guidance, or at least when they lift the lower-end of their prior targets, investors usually cheer. But in the case of Lululemon Athletica Inc. (NASDAQ: LULU) there is of course a high-valuation bar that has to be considered. Lululemon narrowed its guidance to the upper-end of prior ranges, but the shares hardly budged on Monday despite having a full trading day to absorb the news.
- [By WWW.THESTREET.COM]
Athleisure apparel company Lululemon (LULU) , reeling from a 23% drop in its stock price last week, has added a veteran of publicly-traded retailers to its board.
Top 5 Safest Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.(NCLH)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Dan Caplinger]
The stock market once again proved its resiliency on Wednesday, bouncing back from extensive declines early in the session to recover most of its losses. The Dow Jones Industrials actually managed to post yet another record close with a modest gain, and although other major market benchmarks suffered declines, they weren’t significant. Moreover, some favorable news from certain pockets of the market helped bolster investor confidence. Toll Brothers (NYSE:TOL), Lantheus Holdings (NASDAQ:LNTH), and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NASDAQ:NCLH) were among the top performers on the day. Below, we’ll look more closely at these stocks to tell you why they did so well.
- [By Teresa Rivas]
Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCLH) was up nearly 7% on Wednesday afternoon, following its fourth-quarter earnings report.
Norwegian said that it earned 56 cents a share, a penny ahead of analysts’ expectations. Revenue rose 8.5% to $1.13 billion, also squeaking past the $1.11 billion consensus estimate.
For the full year, Norwegian said it expects to earn between $3.75 and $3.85 a share, with a midpoint a penny above the $3.79 average analyst estimate. It’s first-quarter EPS guidance of 36 cents also came in ahead of the 34-cent consensus.
Instinet analyst Harry Curtiswrites that after recent missteps, it was “vital” for Norwegian’s forecast to meet expectations but not seem too optimistic, a balancing act he believes the company achieved.
He reiterated a Buy rating and $52 price target on the stock:
NCLHs 2017 EPS outlook ($3.75 to $3.85) brackets our forecast ($3.75) and the Streets ($3.79). However, we believe there could be upside to that range, given the positive booking and pricing trends so far this year. We remain positive on the shares of NCLH, which we believe should continue to outperform through 2017.
Norwegian was recently up 6.8% to $51.49.
- [By Monica Gerson]
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NASDAQ: NCLH) is expected to report its quarterly earnings at $0.37 per share on revenue of $1.10 billion.
Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ: JAZZ) is projected to post its quarterly earnings at $2.31 per share on revenue of $338.86 million.
- [By Ben Levisohn]
Shares of Carnival have dropped 4.2% to $43.74 at 2:39 p.m. today, while Royal Caribbean Cruise (RCL) has tumbled 5.6% to $66.15, and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) is off 4.3% at $38.63.
Top 5 Safest Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Two Harbors Investments Corp(TWO)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Lisa Levin] Gainers
Comstock Resources, Inc. (NYSE: CRK) shares shot up 52 percent to $7.235 after the company disclosed a deal with Arkoma Drilling L.P. and Williston Drilling, L.P. to buy oil & gas properties in North Dakota. Comstock announced withdrawal of tender offers for outstanding secured notes.
MarineMax, Inc. (NYSE: HZO) shares gained 24.2 percent to $21.80 as the company posted upbeat Q2 results and raised its FY18 outlook.
Mattersight Corporation (NASDAQ: MATR) shares rose 22 percent to $2.625 after the company agreed to be purchased by NICE Ltd.
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE: CMG) jumped 21.3 percent to $411.871 as the company reported stronger-than-expected results for its first quarter on Wednesday.
Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: AXSM) rose 17 percent to $3.10 after the company disclosed a positive outcome of the interim analysis of STRIDE-1 Phase 3 trial of AXS-05 in treatment resistant depression.
Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: UCTT) rose 15.9 percent to $18.34 following upbeat Q1 earnings.
PCM, Inc. (NASDAQ: PCMI) gained 15.6 percent to $12.20 following Q1 results.
O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ: ORLY) surged 14.4 percent to $260.3901 following upbeat Q1 profit.
Concord Medical Services Holdings Limited (NYSE: CCM) gained 13.8 percent to $3.70.
Penn National Gaming, Inc. (NASDAQ: PENN) rose 13.5 percent to $29.815 after reporting strong Q1 results.
BioTelemetry, Inc. (NASDAQ: BEAT) rose 13.5 percent to $38.30 as the company reported stronger-than-expected earnings for its first quarter.
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMD) shares rose 13.1 percent to $10.985 as the company reported upbeat results for its first quarter.
SJW Group (NYSE: SJW) shares gained 11.8 percent to $63.59 following Q1 results. California Water Service Group made an offer for SJW.
Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ: CHDN) climbed 9.8 percent to $278.40 following Q1 results.
CYS Investments, Inc. (NYSE: CYS) - [By David Hanson]
This week at the Barclays Capital Global Financials Conference, droves of CEOs, CFOs, and CIOs trotted on stage to address a room full of eager analysts. One of the lone mREITs represented was Two Harbors (NYSE: TWO ) . CEO Tom Siering and CIO Bill Roth weighed in on the current environment.
Top 5 Safest Stocks To Invest In Right Now: TRC Companies Inc.(TRR)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Lisa Levin]
Shares of TRC Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRR) got a boost, shooting up 16 percent to $7.53. TRC posted Q4 earnings of $0.20 per share on revenue of $132.3 million.
