Weren’t we told stocks of consumer staples should be cornerstones of every mindfully assembled portfolio? With their defensive business models, predictable demand (one needs to eat, drink, clean, etc.), strong brands, consistent dividends and long histories as proof of being in business for a reason, this sounds like a no-brainer. Winning by not losing, everything else is too speculative, isn’t it? However, over the last five and even ten years, exactly this group of stocks has disappointed extremely. Many are in the red and even factoring in their dividends the performance was abysmal. Are valuations now cheap enough to take a bite?
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Will Altria’s stock thrive under Trump 2.0? + new research report
Although the tobacco story seems to be well-known and boring, a few things have happened in the recent past. The feared menthol ban is now off the table. And with a more corporate-friendly administration Trump 2.0, there’s a good chance tobacco companies won’t be further pressured. Marlboro-maker Altria massively outperformed the S&P 500 over the last twelve months with double (!) the latter’s return. Does Altria now belong into a well-suited stock portfolio? My Premium PLUS members receive my latest stock idea – an indirectly tobacco- / nicotine-related company with the potential to be a multi-bagger already by year-end.
Continue readingOld money doesn’t go out of style – Ralph Lauren + new research report
Whether markets go up or down, it seems as if the spotlight only belongs to stocks linked to the sectors of tech, certain resources like uranium, lithium and maybe some oil and gas as well as the typical dividend stories. However, in the background and barely noticed by the broader public an entirely different name has made a ferocious comeback – Ralph Lauren. Boring for some, timeless for others, shares of RL outperformed the S&P 500 over the last one, three and five years (and even quarter-century). Not by little, but by a wide margin. Even before dividends. So, what’s in store for this iconic name?
Continue readingHalozyme Therapeutics – an overlooked bargain? + new stock idea
Feeling uncomfortable with everybody’s darling stocks, my motivation was and still is to find stock ideas with what I call “an own life”. With that I am looking for companies with internal triggers or catalysts which can influence shares positively (almost) regardless of what broader markets do. While I do not believe (for now) in a hefty stock market crash which pushes down all equities, I cannot rule out a nosebleed correction in the tech sector. In search of uncorrelated stock ideas, I spent some time on the Pharma / biotech sector. Halozyme Therapeutics is a seemingly lowly-valued stock. My Premium PLUS members have already received my latest potential-multi-bagger stock idea in an exclusive research report to kick off the year 2025.
Continue readingWarm-up for 2025 – better expect the unexpected
Despite having done a combined review-and-outlook Weekly already, I decided to write another one with the focus solely on the outlook for 2025. Over the last weeks, I have gathered new ideas, but also brought my thoughts in order during the days that I took off. There are a few other things I wanted to share. What could the next investing year have in store for us?
Continue readingStocks of Dollar Stores – now finally a buy?
This Weekly is an update taking a second look at North American “dollar store” operators Dollar General and Dollarama. After almost exactly to the day two years ago, I featured both names in an analysis concluding that I have sympathies for the businesses as such, but not for their stocks. Something quite interesting has happened since: one stock totally cratered, the other advanced by another 75%. The development could not have been more different! What do both have in store now?
Continue readingDrill Baby, drill + new research report “Trump Trade 2.0”
One of the expectations for the second term of president-elect Donald Trump is that “dirty” energy will see a huge revival due to pushing back the strict ESG policies of the current administration. Less wind and solar and back to more oil, gas and coal, maybe with nuclear mixed in. However, despite the perception being that Trump is good for oil and gas producers, the above would be exactly the opposite as more supply means lower energy prices. Will we see aggressive drilling and lower energy prices or shall we prepare for something entirely different? All my members receive my latest stock idea, my second “Trump Trade” which should be a big beneficiary either way.
Continue readingIs focus-investing risky?
One of the first principles a new investor stumbles upon is “don’t put all eggs in one basket”. In other words, diversification is said to be the key to investment success. My longer time readers know that I am strictly opposing this approach in its extreme form. The viewing angle might be even the right one – winning by not losing, respectively by minimizing risks – which is also my strategy. However, there’s a material difference between buying blindly a big basket and focussing on a few investments where one has done the homework.
Continue readingAntitrust has come into fashion – Capri Holdings after its 50% crash
Back in May, I wrote about the stock of Capri Holdings, the owner of wannabe-luxury fashion brands Michael Kors, Versace and Jimmy Choo. My assessment was that despite looking like a bargain, the stock was too risky due to its weak execution on a business level with deteriorating fundamentals. Capri and competitor Tapestry were appealing the blocked takeover attempt by Tapestry which now has been called off for good by the Federal Trade Commission. Capri crashed by 50% in response to the announcement of the deal-freeze. Is the stock now cheap enough?
Continue readingInPost – polish highflier transforms Europe’s parcel delivery market
Delivering parcels to so called parcel machines instead of to the door of the receiver is a major growth story. Coming with benefits for all parties, this win-win concept has not only transformed many big (former) state-owned postal businesses by infusing some new growth into them. It has also created a Polish company that has specialized exactly on this business without operating capital-intensive logistics or legacy mail. It is rolling up many European markets full-steam. The last coup: a takeover in the UK, the continent’s biggest e-commerce market. Is InPost’s stock a must-own?
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