Investment Ideas

50 Hated Pandemic Stocks, These 3 Are Worth Considering

After the initial pandemic shock in 2020, certain high-growth stocks performed well. Extremely well. Bolstered by extraordinarily low interest rates and a new crowd of “work-from-homers” (with newfound time to “invest”) it seemed the sky was the limit. Until it wasn’t. Flash forward to now, the market has fallen sharply this year (especially high-growth stocks), and there is no short supply of reasons to stay bearish. Very bearish. In this report, we share data on 50 high-growth stocks that have crashed, run through a list of compelling reasons (data points) to stay bearish, and then discuss the merits of three interesting high-growth stocks from the list that have crashed particularly hard, with a special focus on pandemic darling, Palantir (PLTR). We conclude with some important takeaways and our very strong opinion about investing in Palantir and investing in this market in general.

Cybersecurity Stock: Revenues Keep Growing Fast, Shares 35.2% Below ATH

This rapidly growing cybersecurity business announced earnings after the close on Tuesday. The results were better than the street’s already lofty expectations, plus the company raised forward guidance (both good things). This brief note is an update and follow up on our previous report, and a reminder to readers on how we feel about investing in this stock, at this time.

Big Data Stock: Massive Sales Growth, About to Turn EPS Profitable

This big data stock went public in late 2020. And after some incredible post-IPO gains in 2020-2021, the shares came crashing down as the high-growth pandemic bubble burst. However, the company’s massive revenues have continued to grow an incredible pace, it just announced impressive quarterly results last week, and it is about to turn EPS positive (a great thing in this environment). And critically important—there is still a lot more room to run (in terms of sales growth that will lead to massive profits in the relatively near future.

Top 10 Big-Dividend Preferred Stocks (6% to +10% Yields)

Some investors are happy to know that interest rates on top savings accounts have risen from approximately 0% in 2020 to over 1% (in some cases) in 2022. However, when you factor in inflation of over 8% (CPI is 8.5%) you’re still losing money (or at least losing buying power). For those willing to move further out on the income-investment spectrum, preferred stocks can offer a compelling combination of higher income and lower price volatility (as compared to common stocks). In this report, we rank our top 10 big-dividend preferred stocks, counting down from #10 and finishing with our #1 top idea.

9.6% Yield Preferred Shares: Discounted Price, Strengthening Conditions

The marine shipping industry can be volatile. However many of the companies in this group offer steadier big-dividend preferred shares (that can appeal to income-focused investors). In this report, we review a company that offers seaborne crude oil and petroleum product transportation services worldwide, including its attractive qualities and current risks, and with a special focus on its 9.6% yield preferred shares. We conclude with our strong opinion on investing.

Popular mREIT: Absolute Junk, 2 Better Big-Dividends

The popular mortgage REIT we review in this report offers huge dividends on both its common and preferred shares. And while some investors are drawn to these big income payments, we believe it is an absolute junk investment. In this report, we explain why it should be avoided, and then offer two better big-dividend opportunities for you to consider.

Cloud Monitoring Company: Lots of Long-Term Upside, On Sale

If you have the luxury of being a long-term investor, you have a distinct advantage and highly lucrative opportunity that is not available to others. Specifically, you can benefit from long-term compound growth (the eighth wonder of the world), particularly as it pertains to powerful secular trends. In this report, we review one such business (a SaaS application monitoring company) that will benefit from cloud migration and digitization secular trends over the long-term, despite the recent steep share price sell off (buying opportunity) so far this year.

Skip UTG: Two Better Big-Dividend CEFs

Closed-End Funds (or CEFs) are often an income-investor favorite because they can pay large distribution yields. However, CEFs come in many different shapes and sizes. One very popular CEF, The Reaves Utility Income Fund (UTG), has performed very well this year, but in this article we argue that it’s time to stop adding money to UTG because there are currently better CEF opportunities available. We will review two specific attractive CEFs (that we currently prefer over UTG) in this report.

The Trade Desk: 5 Top Growth Stocks To Crash Again Soon

The Trade Desk (TTD) reported strong results in its latest quarterly release on Tuesday. But despite the latest gains, the shares will likely crash again soon. In particular, high-growth stocks (like The Trade Desk) have rebounded hard since mid-June, but are still down dramatically year-to-date, and Wednesday’s newly released inflation numbers will likely embolden the fed in its fight against inflation. In this report, we review the ugly top-down environment for five top growth stocks that will likely crash again soon, then dig into the details on The Trade Desk in particular and then finally conclude with our strong opinion about investing in The Trade Desk and top growth stocks in general.

Attractive High-Growth SaaS Stock: Payroll and Human Resources

We purchased shares of this high-growth small-cap stock in our Disciplined Growth Portfolio in 2015 (when the share price was under $30 and the market cap was around $1.4 billion). It just announced another quarter of strong earnings on Friday, and the shares now trade at around $260 (and the market cap is over $14 billion). What’s more, we continue to like its exceptionally strong growth trajectory going forward (the shares have a lot more upside ahead). This report reviews the business and 10 things we like about it going forward.

Attractive 11.6% and 10.1% Yields: Try Small Cap CEFs Now

Unlike the S&P 500, the Blue Harbinger Income Equity Portfolio has posted a positive return so far this year. There are a lot of factors that have contributed to the outperformance, and one has been the noticeable omission of small cap stocks. However, there is growing evidence to believe now is an attractive time to add an allocation to small cap stocks within your portfolio. In this report, we review two very attractive ways to do that (particularly if you are an income-focused investor) with two highly-compelling closed-end funds (CEFs) that offer big double-digit yields. We review all the details in this report.

Medical Properties Trust: 50 Big-Dividend REITs, Down Big

With interest rates higher this year, big-dividend REITs have been hit hard, particularly those with higher levels of debt. And one name that just sold off even harder (following its earnings announcement on Wednesday) is Medical Properties Trust (MPW). MPW provides capital to hospitals, has a 7.2% dividend yield and has increased its dividend every year for the last nine years in a row. In this report, we compare MPW to 50 other big-dividend REITs (in terms of a variety of financial metrics) and then dig into its business model, current valuation, dividend safety, the four big risk factors it currently faces and finally conclude with our strong opinion on investing.

If I Could Own Just One Stock

As a long-term investor, I believe in owning a prudently-diversified portfolio of many stocks. However, if I could own just one stock, I’d want it to be a leader in the important categories of revenue growth, dividend income and financial strength (including profitability, a strong balance sheet and an attractive valuation). Following its new quarterly earnings release this week, this report reviews Microsoft’s business, its strengths (in the categories listed above), the risk factors it currently faces and then concludes with my strong opinion on whether Microsoft would be “the one.”

AGNC: Book Value Down, 12.1% Yield

Mortgage REIT AGNC Investment Corp (AGNC) announced quarterly earnings on Monday, and not surprisingly—book value took a hit (amongst all the interest rate and agency-spread movements). The yield has now mathematically climbed to over 12%, and some investors are left wondering if the shares are worth owning or if the risks are too great. In this report, we review the business, the outlook, valuation and risks, and then conclude with our opinion on investing.

Digital Turbine: Attractive If Acquired, Attractive If Not

The market has sold off hard this year, especially if you are a high-growth technology company. One name that has gotten hammered particularly hard is mobile growth platform, Digital Turbine (APPS). In this report, we give an update on the business, the opportunities, profitability, valuation (as an acquisition target and as a standalone company) and our opinion on investing.

Triton: Big-Dividend Common and Preferred Shares

With dividend yields ranging from 4.4% to 8.2%, shipping container leasing company, Triton International (TRTN), presents some interesting investment opportunities for income-focused investors that also like the potential for share price appreciation. This report reviews the company, its competitive advantages, current market conditions, valuation, risk factors and then concludes with our opinion about investing in the common shares as well as the five series of preferred stock.

Two New Purchases: Income Equity Portfolio

We just made two new purchases in our Income Equity Portfolio, one industrial REIT and one old-school blue-chip tech company. Both offer healthy dividends and attractive share price appreciation potential. As a reminder, the Income Equity Portfolio is outperforming the S&P 500 by double digits this year, and we’re using the broader market wreckage to pick up some low-priced shares.

Intel Is Ugly: So Are AMD, Nvidia and Micron

Top semiconductor businesses (including Intel, Micron, Nvidia and AMD) have a few things in common, such as strong margins and ugly year-to-date performance. However, their underlying businesses and growth rates are very different. This report focuses on Intel, the leader in PC and server chips, and then compares it to competitors Nvidia, AMD and Micron. We conclude with our opinion on investing.

Realty Income: 50 Big-Dividend REITs Compared

Realty Income (known as the monthly dividend company) has been a safe haven this year as markets have declined sharply but Realty Income’s share price has remained roughly flat. However, some investors are left wondering if Realty Income still offers an attractive valuation or if it’s time to shift new investment dollars elsewhere. We offer our opinion on the relative attractiveness of the shares, including a discussion of business strategy, the risks and the current valuation as compared to 50 other big-dividend REITs.