Andy Obermueller
Government-Driven Investing
Keith Fitz-Gerald
New China Trader
Marvin Appel
Systems & Forecasts
Jim Powell
Global Changes & Opportunities Report

Winners from Federal regulation


Bookmark and Share

 Congratulations to Neil George; long-known in the newsletter community for his expertise in income investing, the advisor has just launched a new blog service, Stocks that Pay You.

He notes, "Most of the government 's proposed changes for the financial markets aren't new or needed; but what will happen will be a boost for some and a bane for others. Here, he looks at some winners and losers.

"In my view, tthese supposedly massive changes amount to window dressing. Banks and other related firms can continue to do what they've always done: cherry pick regulators and play off one regulator against another.

"So, unless we get the government actually empowering the guys down the line inside all of these agencies and departments, don't look for any big changes, because - while the players and the names might be changing - the contest is staying the same.

Advertisement
Banner

"The potential losers in this process will be some of the Federal Thrifts or FSBs that will have to go through a rebuilding of their corporate charters. This will cost money and bring a lot of attention to them and their capital bases. 

"If you happen to own any thrifts - and there are about a thousand public and private ones around the nation - you might want to cash out and wait for the dust to settle.

"Meanwhile, on the national side of the banking business, little is really changing. For investors in institutions with Federal capital as well as those that have bought themselves out of Federal capital, the changes should be viewed as good news that the firms will continue to be allowed to operate as they have been.

"This includes two sets of investments that I've been writing about for some time now. First are my two recommended bank preferred stocks.

"One is the Regions Financial Trust III pfd. Z (NYSE: RP-PZ), with an 8.875% dividend that's continued to trade higher - currently around 21 and above - giving you a very nice high yield of over 10%.

"The other is a local Saint Louis favorite of mine: FirstBanks Pfd. IV A  (NYSE: FBS.A) has a dividend of 8.15% and is trading ever higher again in the mid to upper 19 dollar range - resulting in a great high yield for retirement income of over 10%.

"The second set of investments include my favorite bank mini-bonds. These are bonds that have been packaged to trade like stocks - or at least preferred stocks that are again really just bonds.

"A couple of favorites that are trading and paying you well to own them include the Goldman Sachs 5.8% Lehman ABS minibond (NYSE: JZS), trading in the 17 dollar range giving you a high yield of over 8%.

"And the other is a Bank of America 5.875% minibond (NYSE: IKM) trading at a nice discount of 18 or so bucks each - giving you a big high yield dividend of just shy of 8%."




News Flash

Geron (GERN)
Steve Christ, The Wealth Advisory

In a recent 15-page ruling, a U.S. judge ruled that using taxpayer dollars to fund embryonic stem cell research violates a 1996 law; but in the case of Geron Corp. (GERN), the company won’t be affected at all.


Read more...

 

Industrial trio: BWA, TEN, DXPE
Stephen Quickel, US Investment Report

Among our new stock are three industrials that expected to grow earnings by 30% a year: Borg Warner (BWA), Tenneco (TEN) and DXP Enterprises (DXPE).


Read more...


Banner
Banner
   

Bullion Monarch Mining (BULM)
Max Bowser, The Bowser Report

Bullion Monarch Mining (BULM) -- a holding in our "penny stock" portfolio -- recorded its best revenue year ever.


Read more...

 

Global X Lithium ETF (LIT)
Jim Trippon, ETF Profit Report

It’s rare that we would recommend an ETF that is as new as Global X Lithium (LIT), but with the market taking a tumble, we believe we’re getting good value on this newly-minted vehicle.


Read more...

 

Consumer Staples (XLP)
by Doug Fabian, Making Money Alert

The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR (XLP) is an ETF that tracks companies that have products that people need in both good and bad economic times.


Read more...

 

WisdomTree SmallCap Dividend (DES)
by Walter Frank, MoneyLetter

WisdomTree SmallCap Dividend (DES), which sports an attractive 4.3% yield, has been added to our fund coverage.


Read more...

 

Closed-end income favorites
by Harry Domash, Dividend Detective

The latest new positions in our closed-end fund portfolio are Guggenheim Emerging Opportunity (GOF) and First Trust/Aberdeen Emerging Opportunity (FEO).


Read more...

 

Quality trio: XOM, GOOG, JNJ
by Adam Sharp, contributing editor Wealth Daily

Buying defensive blue chips makes sense. Three of my favorites are ExxonMobil (XOM), Johnson and Johnson (JNJ) and Google (GOOG).


Read more...

 

Xcel Energy (XEL)
by Roger Conrad, The Utility Forecaster

In late 2002 Xcel Energy (XEL) was on the brink of Chapter 11; it has since come back, recently earning a credit upgrade from S&P to A- with an "excellent" risk profile.


Read more...

 

Virginia Mines (VGQ)
by Adrian Day, The Global Analyst

Virginia Mines (VGQ) remains one of a handful of my favorite companies; the company continues ongoing rationalization of its extensive mining property portfolio.


Read more...