The most profitable, but nearly forgotten online retailer – eBay

Maybe with the exception of the youngest generation, I’m tempted to say that everyone knows eBay. The online retailing dinosaur which was once declared dead due to explosively growing and more modern competitors, is still alive. In fact, it’s even the most profitable such platform. Not noticed by many, its stock has been climbing up to the second-highest point after the separation with PayPal. Time to look at eBay?

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Smooth ride or highway to hell for Harley-Davidson?

When a company announces a big buyback (percentage-wise, I don’t care about big headline numbers), I usually start to get interested, provided the case is overall solid. Harley-Davidson on the surface checks several boxes like a famous brand, a loyal customer base, a rock-solid balance sheet, relatively stable earnings and cash flow generation paired with a low valuation – and on top now also a new aggressive buyback program of the equivalent of no less than 20% of stock outstanding. Is this now an incredible contrarian opportunity?

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Post the Volatility crash – next leg up? + new stock idea to benefit

Isn’t it amazing how forgetful market participants can be? Not even a full month ago, sentiment was as if the (financial) world were about to implode. Just a week later the panic-induced market losses were already gained back and three weeks later the crowd is smelling new all-time highs again. What I’m concerned about is expectations seem to be that nothing unfortunate will happen again. I have become a bit concerned, as complacency seems to be EXTRAORDINARILY high. In such an environment, small shifts are enough to cause a market panic – there are a few signs to be aware of. And a new stock idea for my members to capitalize on that, too.

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Uncle Sam as tenant – part III – prison stocks

Five months ago, I published two articles, each about a company renting out different facilities to US government agencies like the FBI, the postal service or the Department of Veteran Affairs. Both were REITs with seemingly safe tenants and high occupancy ratios. I was not convinced of these stocks, though, due to either high debt and / or the financial well-being of some tenants. Today, I am discussing in this third article the two big private prison stocks.

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Two years of Financial Engineering – about impatience and patience

With this weekly coming off the press, my blog has officially turned two years. Like I have done in August of 2023, I am using this time of the year again for a review to write down my current thoughts regarding the past, the present and the future. While last year’s review was a bit more multi-facetted, I want to discuss the topic of impatience and patience now and how it applies to my stock ideas.

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Estée Lauder – after –75% still not pretty + dividend in danger

A common misconception is that lower stock prices are akin to cheaper shares. Without much explanation, it is logical that this can only apply when the underlying business has at least been stable. Otherwise it is possible that a stock even becomes more expensive! While this is not the case at Estée Lauder, despite a 75% drop from its all-time high, the stock is still looking ugly valuation-wise. A decent downside risk remains. On top, the likelihood for a dividend cut or even entire suspension is significant.

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Flow Traders – it was right to cut the loss

My longer time readers and members will be familiar with the Dutch company Flow Traders as it once was one of my stock ideas (my very first report I published since launching my blog). In late September 2023, now ten months ago, however, I closed this case at a small loss of –10% (including dividends). It was not an easy decision as this was more an unconventional stock idea (basically a hedge against a market crash). Looking back, this was absolutely the correct decision to cut the small loss, because it would be a bigger hole now…

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Interview with a fellow investor + YouTuber

Herewith, I am happy to publish another interview – my third in total and this time with Darrell Thomas who invited me several times to his growing YouTube channel “The Money Levels Show”. As a stock investor and blogger myself, I am always interested in what my colleagues are thinking, saying, writing or in this case broadcasting about different topics regarding stock investments. 

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After raising big money during the mania – is Gamestop a buy now?

Over the last weeks, the stock of struggling gaming retailer GameStop has been making big waves for a second time after 2021. Fortunately, management made use of the mania and raised an insane ~4.3 bn. USD via two equity raises. With such a huge cash pile and no debt, GameStop is not in danger of going bankrupt anytime soon. As the stock is down again significantly, is it now worth a look?

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The case of NIKE – NOT worth every price

About two weeks ago, the stock of former darling Nike collapsed by 20%, something many thought could not be possible for a market leader. Especially, as Nike’s shares have fallen already by 40% from their all-time high at truly excessive valuations. But of course it’s possible, as a lower stock even by this margin is not automatically an attractive investment from a risk and reward perspective (sorry buy-the dippers). Today’s Weekly is a lesson about valuations and market behavior, something we need to remind ourselves all over again not to fall into valuations traps, no matter how bullish sentiment is.

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