Three out of five Americans in their 30s are at risk of experiencing a decline in their standard of living after they retire. But despite this dire statistic, your retirement preparedness doesn't have to be hopeless. Constructing a great retirement portfolio is actually quite simple.
Getting a head start
Young investors harness the single most desirable trait in the entire investing universe: time. With time on your side, you have wiggle room to make up for any investing mistakes. Also, being young allows you to invest more aggressively than many investors. And investing small amounts of money now will give you significant advantages later in life.
If those reasons aren't enticing enough, consider that between 1926 and 2010, there was not one single rolling 20-year period with negative returns for stocks. Not one.
So let's get started!
Building your portfolio
You can construct a great portfolio using a simple method and several high-quality stocks. Allocate a portion of your portfolio in core stocks, a piece in growth stocks, and a sliver in aggressive stocks. If your risk tolerance is exceptionally high, consider stomaching an extra stock or two in the growth and aggressive piles. Instead, if your risk tolerance is low, add more core stocks and fewer aggressive ones.
Top 10 Consumer Service Companies To Invest In 2015: Prudential Public Limited Company(PUK)
Prudential plc provides retail financial products and services, and asset management services to individuals and businesses in Asia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. It offers savings, protection, investment, and unit-linked products; manages investments across a range of asset classes for internal, retail, and institutional clients; manages onshore mutual funds; and provides retirement planning, consumer and Islamic finance, and health solutions. The company also provides retirement savings and income solutions; variable annuities; fixed and fixed index annuities; term life, universal life, and variable universal life insurance; permanent individual life insurance; and institutional products, such as guaranteed investment contracts, funding agreements, and medium term note funding agreements. In addition, it offers pensions and annuities; investment plans; and car, health, home, travel, and protection insurance policies. Further, Prudential plc provides fund man agement services for individual and institutional clients. The company was founded in 1848 and is based in London, the United Kingdom.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Patricio Kehoe]
In fact, today the company announced that it will be launching a new universal life product for the Canadian market called Manulife UL by May 26 of this year. The new product will offer cost-effective insurance protection, as well as the opportunity for tax-advantaged investing, catering to customer�� demands for a more simplified insurance solution, which should help boost sales to some extent. Although the firm�� balance sheet is highly leveraged, exposing it to possible damages in the case of higher-than-expected policy liabilities, Manulife�� capital position has improved substantially over the past year. With a ratio of regulatory capital to capital required at 248%, the firm possesses excessive capital levels, well above competitors like Prudential Public Limited Company (ADR) (PUK), China Life Insurance Company Ltd. (ADR) (LFC), and Sun Life Financial Inc. (USA) (SLF), which all sport a 200% ratio. Moreover, the company�� excessive capital should allow it to maintain the above average dividend yield of 2.66% offered to shareholders.
- [By David O��ara]
Prudential
Shares in insurer�Prudential� (LSE: PRU ) (NYSE: PUK ) are up 51% in the last 12 months. In that time, the FTSE 100 is 16.7% ahead.
Top Quality Stocks To Watch For 2014: Lamar Advertising Company(LAMR)
Lamar Advertising Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides outdoor advertising services. Its outdoor advertising displays include billboards, such as bulletins, posters, and digital billboards; and logo signs to advertise nearby gas, food, camping, lodging, and other attractions. The company also offers transit advertising displays that provide advertising space on the exterior and interior of public transportation vehicles, transit shelters, and benches. As of December 31, 2011, it owned and operated approximately 143,000 billboard advertising displays in 44 states, Canada, and Puerto Rico; operated approximately 112,000 logo advertising displays in 21 states and the province of Ontario, Canada; operated approximately 30,000 transit advertising displays in 16 states, Canada, and Puerto Rico; and owned and operated approximately 1,400 digital billboard advertising displays in 40 states, Canada, and Puerto Rico. The company was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Tess Stynes var popups = dojo.query(".socialByline .popC"); popups.forEach(fu]
Lamar Advertising Co.'s(LAMR) first-quarter loss narrowed as the outdoor advertising company posted stronger revenue. However, revenue missed expectations. Shares fell 1.7% to $48.82 premarket.
- [By Steven Russolillo]
WATCH FOR: First-Quarter Productivity (8:30 a.m. Eastern Time): seen -1.1%; previously +1.8%. First-Quarter Unit Labor Costs (8:30): seen +2.8%; previously -0.1%. March Consumer Credit (3:00): seen +$16.1 B; previously $16.5B. Allergan(AGN), AOL(AOL), Avis Budget(CAR), CenturyLink, Chesapeake Energy(CHK), CF Industries(CF), Devon Energy(DVN), Duke Energy(DUK), Dynergy, Hertz, Humana, Keurig Green Mountain(GMCR), Lamar Advertising(LAMR), Molson Coors/Miller, Mondelez, Prudential, SolarCity(SCTY), Sotheby's(BID), Tesla Motors(TSLA), Transocean and 21st Century Fox are among companies scheduled to report quarterly results.
Top Quality Stocks To Watch For 2014: The Hackett Group Inc.(HCKT)
The Hackett Group, Inc. operates as a strategic advisory and technology consulting firm primarily in the United States and western Europe. The company offers executive advisory programs, benchmarking, business transformation, and technology consulting services, as well as shared services, offshoring, and outsourcing advice. Its executive advisory programs consists of advisor inquiry, an inquiry service used by clients for access to fact-based advice on proven approaches and methods to increase the effectiveness of selling, general, and administrative processes (SG&A); best practice research, a research that provides insights into the proven approaches in use at organizations; peer interaction program comprising member-led Webcasts, annual Best Practice Conferences, annual Member Forums, membership performance surveys, and client-submitted content; and best practice intelligence center, an online, searchable repository of practices, performance metrics, conference presentat ions, and associated research. The company?s bench marking services conduct studies in the areas of SG&A, finance, human resources, information technology, procurement, enterprise performance management, shared service centers, and working capital management. These services are used by clients to establish priorities, generate organizational consensus, align compensation to establish performance goals, and develop the required business case for business and technology investments. Its business transformation programs help clients to develop coordinated strategy for achieving performance improvements across the enterprise; and Hackett Technology Solutions help clients choose and deploy the software applications that meet their needs and objectives. The company was formerly known as Answerthink, Inc. and changed its name to The Hackett Group, Inc. in January 2008. The Hackett Group, Inc. was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Miami, Florida.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By ValueArtifex]
One such situation currently in the process of unfolding this month is a Dutch Tender by The Hackett Group (HCKT). I will briefly discuss the underlying business, what exactly a Dutch Auction (or in this case, a Tender) is, what options investors have when approaching this situation and how it could play out.
Top Quality Stocks To Watch For 2014: Hologic Inc.(HOLX)
Hologic Inc. develops, manufactures, and supplies diagnostic, medical imaging systems, and surgical products for the healthcare needs of women. The company operates in four segments: Breast Health, Diagnostics, GYN Surgical, and Skeletal Health. The Breast Health segment offers breast imaging products, such as Selenia full field digital mammography system, breast tomosynthesis, healthcome mammography products, screen-film mammography systems, SecurView workstation, CAD systems, stereotactic breast biopsy systems, breast biopsy products, breast brachytherapy products, MammoPad breast cushions, and photoconductor coatings, as well as Sentinelle medical MRI breast coils and workstations. This segment also develops a breast imaging platform, Dimensions, which utilizes a tomosynthesis technology to produce 3D images. The Diagnostics segment provides ThinPrep system, a solution for cervical cancer screening; rapid fetal fibronectin test for pre-term birth risk assessment; and hu man papillomavirus offering and InVitro diagnostics for cervical cancer tests. The GYN Surgical segment offers NovaSure system, a minimally-invasive procedure that allows physicians to treat women suffering from excessive menstrual bleeding; MyoSure system for the hysteroscopic removal of fibroids; and Adiana system, a form of permanent female contraception intended as an alternative to tubal ligation. The Skeletal Health segment provides QDR X-Ray bone densitometers that assess the bone density of fracture sites; Sahara clinical bone sonometers, which assess the bone density of heels; and Mini C-Arm imaging systems that are used to perform minimally invasive surgical procedures on a patient?s extremities. Hologic Inc. sells its products through a combination of direct sales and service forces, a network of independent distributors, and sales representatives primarily in the United States, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific. The company was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Bedford, Massachusetts.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Lauren Pollock]
Hologic Inc.(HOLX) reported a $1.11 billion write-down, resulting in a wider fiscal fourth-quarter loss at the women’s health-care-products company. Shares of Hologic were down 12% at $20.05 premarket, as the company’s guidance for the current quarter and its new fiscal year came in below Wall Street expectations.
Top Quality Stocks To Watch For 2014: Halcon Resources Corp (HK)
Halcon Resources Corporation (Halcon Resources), incorporated on February 5, 2004, is an independent energy company focused on the acquisition, production, exploration and development of onshore liquids-rich oil and natural gas assets in the United States. The Company has oil and natural gas reserves located primarily in Texas, North Dakota, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Montana. On August 1, 2012, the Company acquired GeoResources by merger. On December 6, 2012, the Company completed the acquisition of entities owning approximately 81,000 net acres prospective for the Bakken / Three Forks formations primarily located in Williams, Mountrail, McKenzie and Dunn Counties, North Dakota (the Williston Basin Assets), from Petro-Hunt, L.L.C. and Pillar Energy, LLC (the Petro-Hunt parties). As of December 31, 2012, the Company has working interests in approximately 128,000 net acres prospective for the Bakken / Three Forks formations in North Dakota and Montana.
The Company�� Woodbine / Eagle Ford acreage is prospective for the Woodbine, Eagle Ford and other formations, with targeted depths ranging anywhere from 7,000 feet to 10,400 feet. As of December 31, 2012, The Company has approximately 198,000 net acres leased or under contract primarily in Leon, Madison, Grimes, Brazos, and Polk Counties, Texas. The Company is the operator and has a 100% working interest in more than 12,000 net acres in Wichita and Wilbarger Counties, Texas that it is actively water flooding in shallow Cisco aged Pennsylvania sandstone and limestone reservoirs. As of December 31, 2012, the Company produced 484 million barrels of oil equivalent from approximately 700 active producing wells and approximately 230 active water injection wells.
The Company�� position in the La Copita Field covers 3,720 gross acres and 2,829 net acres in Starr County, Texas. As of December 31, 2012, the Company�� average net daily production was 623 barrels of oil equivalent per day. The Company operates 100% of this production a! nd its working interest ranges from 75% to 100%. The Company has various other oil and natural gas properties with varying working interests located across the United States, including the Austin Chalk Trend and Eagle Ford Shale in Texas, the Fitts-Allen Fields in Central Oklahoma, and various other areas across South Louisiana, Montana, North Dakota, New Mexico, and West Virginia.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Leading and Lagging Sectors
Thursday morning, the energy sector proved to be a source of strength for the market. Leading the sector was strength from Swift Energy Co (NYSE: SFY) and Halcon Resources (NYSE: HK). Healthcare sector was the leading decliner in the US market today. - [By Value Digger]
A) Halcon Resources (HK) is a US-based oil-weighted producer. I was bearish on Halcon at $8 when I shorted it, for the reasons mentioned here. I also noted then that the traders and the speculators pushed Halcon to an outrageous overvaluation at $8.
- [By Matt DiLallo]
The other risk that can't be overlooked is the threat from ceramic proppants, like those made by�CARBO Ceramics� (NYSE: CRR ) , which could take a greater market share than is currently projected. Referring to the demand chart, frac sand is projected to remain 75% of the proppant market as that market grows. However, some shale plays like the Bakken are forcing producers to turn to higher-cost ceramic proppants because the returns are better.�Halcon Resources� (NYSE: HK ) , for example, pointed out that its strategy to use ceramic proppants was one of the�driving forces�behind its improved returns in the Bakken. The company saw much higher initial production rates, while expecting better estimated ultimate recovery rates from its investment in ceramic proppants. If ceramics do end up taking market share, it could crush my investment in Hi-Crush.
- [By Matt DiLallo]
EOG isn't the only company improving upon its methods to achieve better returns in the play.�Halcon Resources� (NYSE: HK ) has experienced early positive results from updates it made to its Bakken drilling operations. Initial production results were improved in just the first two months of the project, with two wells seeing initial production rates increase by 20%, while a third well experienced an initial production rate that was 37% higher. Its success in the Bakken is the main reason behind the company's decision to spend about 38% of its capital budget on the play this year, which equates to about $475 million to drill 75 operated wells.
Top Quality Stocks To Watch For 2014: Carter's Inc.(CRI)
Carter's, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, sources, and markets branded children?s wear. The company provides products under the Carter?s, Child of Mine, Just One You, Precious Firsts, OshKosh, and related brand names. Its Carter?s brand baby products include bodysuits, pants, undershirts, towels, washcloths, receiving blankets, layette gowns, bibs, caps, and booties; playclothes products consist of knit and woven cotton apparel; sleepwear products comprise pajamas and blanket sleepers; and other products consist of bedding, outerwear, swimwear, shoes, socks, diaper bags, gift sets, toys, and hair accessories. The company also provides playclothes products, including denim apparel products, overalls, woven bottoms, knit tops, and playclothes products for sizes newborn to 12 under the OshKosh brand. In addition, it offers baby, sleepwear, outerwear, shoes, hosiery, and accessories under the OshKosh brand. The company sells its products in department stores, national chains, and specialty retailers, as well as through its Carter?s and OshKosh retail stores; and online at carters.com and oshkoshbgosh.com. As of December 31, 2011, it operated 359 Carter?s and 170 OshKosh outlet and brand retail stores in the United States; and 65 retail stores in Canada. The company was founded in 1865 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By AnnaLisa Kraft]
Carter's (NYSE: CRI ) , the branded marketer of baby and children's wear, is facing the headwinds of declining birthrates in the US and Canada. In the US, the crude birth rate (births per 1,000 people) has declined to levels not seen since the Great Depression: down 7% plus since 2007.Worldwide, the crude birth rate is expected to decline from the early 1950's 37.2 births to 13.4.
- [By Seth Jayson]
Calling all cash flows
When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on Carter's (NYSE: CRI ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.
Top Quality Stocks To Watch For 2014: HMS Holdings Corp (HMSY)
HMS Holdings Corp. provides cost containment, coordination of benefits, and program integrity services. The company?s services enable clients to recover amounts due from liable third parties, reduce fraud, and ensure regulatory compliance. Its coordination of benefits services route claims paid by a government program to the liable third party, which reimburses the government payor; cost avoidance services provide validated insurance coverage information that is used by government payors to reject claims that are the responsibility of a third party; and program integrity services are designed to identify payment errors and recover the erroneous payments. The company also offers audit programs, program design, benefit management, and general and pharmacy systems consulting services. It serves state Medicaid agencies, Medicaid and Medicare managed care plans, government and private self-funded employers, pharmacy benefit managers, child support agencies, the Veterans Health Administration, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, commercial plans, healthcare payors and sponsors, business outsourcing and technology firms, and government. The company was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in New York, New York.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Seth Jayson]
HMS Holdings (Nasdaq: HMSY ) is expected to report Q2 earnings on July 26. Here's what Wall Street wants to see:
The 10-second takeaway
Comparing the upcoming quarter to the prior-year quarter, average analyst estimates predict HMS Holdings's revenues will increase 3.0% and EPS will shrink -8.7%.
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