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Stock Market Articles, Stock Reviews, Screens and Idea Stocks

7 Potentially Undervalued Stocks With Low P/E

by February 24, 2012

Price to Earnings ratio provides a useful indicator of valuation. While one should never rely on just one indicator to make investment decisions, this is a good starting point to find stocks to buy, specially when it is paired with other filters. In this screen, in addition to a Price to Earnings multiple below 15, [...]

[Member] HCII is a Buy With a Catalyst Already in Place

by Shailesh Kumar February 21, 2012

This is a past Premium recommendation and is made available for your reference. For more past trades, refer to our trade history. Homeowners Choice Inc (HCII) is a home owner insurance holding company in Tampa, Florida. Through its various subsidiaries, it provides homeowners’ insurance, condominium owners’ insurance and tenant insurance to property owners in Florida. [...]

The Nature of Risk in Value Investing – Not the Same as Volatility

by February 18, 2012

Held long enough, the price of a security approximates its value. Buying overvalued stocks in most cases deliver lackluster performance as the value struggles to catch up with the price. The price may decline, or if the business is growing value at a rapid pace, than perhaps there may be some price appreciation. Regardless, there [...]

8 Small Cap Stocks Undervalued by the Balance Sheet

by Shailesh Kumar February 9, 2012

Often small cap companies see their stock price languishing in the bargain bin. These stocks may be under followed, or perhaps investors have given up on the stock waiting for the market to realize their value. These can be great stocks for a patient investor to buy into at the right price and wait for [...]

Portfolio Update: Value Stock Guide Portfolio Up 12.90% vs 4.41% for S&P500 in January 2012

by February 4, 2012

January completes a remarkable month for the Value Stock Guide portfolio, and this is a great time to update my readers with certain highlights. To recap, as of Jan 31, 2012, the Value Stock Guide portfolio performance compared to S&P 500 are as follows: As of Jan 31, 2012 VSG Portfolio S&P500 Jan 2012 12.90% [...]

Vishay Intertechnology Inc (VSH) – A Good Value But Be Cautious

by Shailesh Kumar February 2, 2012

Vishay Intertechnology (VSH) designs, manufactures and sells passive electronic components and discrete semiconductors. The company has grown over the last 5 decades by pursuing a strategy of growth through acquisitions. The current valuation of the company shares may be attractive to a value investor looking to get an exposure in the semiconductor sector. The Value [...]

[Member] NEI – A Net-Net Stock, Also Undervalued By Earnings

by January 24, 2012

This is a past Premium recommendation and is made available for your reference. For more past trades, refer to our trade history. After exiting my position in Xyratex, it would have been disappointing if I did not find a way to get my exposure to the storage sector back. With the remarkable growth in the [...]

Efficient Market Hypothesis Doesn’t Always Work

by Shailesh Kumar January 22, 2012

Investors are constantly reminded that the markets are efficient and there is no use trying to beat the market as it cannot be done on a consistent basis. In fact, we are told, that over 70% of the mutual funds fail to beat the market, presenting this as an evidence to somehow imply, in some convoluted logic, that we are better off handing over our money to the same mutual funds and invest passively, rather than take control of our own portfolio. I find this argument even more vacuous, considering that the best investors and stock pickers, who also happen to manage significant sums of money, do not usually run mutual funds.

Exited XRTX at $16.10, 30% Gain in 7 Months

by January 19, 2012

I closed out my stake in Xyratex, (XRTX) today for a 29.94 % gain (excluding dividends). The stock was initially purchased on June 30, 2011. Average cost for this and subsequent purchases was $12.39/share. The position in this stock in the Value Stock Guide portfolio was closed as the stock hit the target price today. [...]

Is Zix Corporation Stock (ZIXI) Undervalued?

by Shailesh Kumar January 16, 2012

ZIXI stock has shown up on many of my screens before and every time it did not make it to the Value Stock Guide Watch List. At a first glance, the stock indeed looks undervalued on many levels but a deeper look reveals a different picture. I want to outline my reasons on why I [...]

Monthly Membership Option is Now Available

by January 15, 2012

Update: Monthly membership plan has been retired. Click to see why Just a quick update about the Premium membership program. I am pleased to offer a monthly membership option in addition to the annual membership. Both of these choices are equivalent in terms of benefits and access, except for the cost. Annual membership works out [...]

[Member] Bassett (BSET) – Undervalued Balance Sheet – Buy

by Shailesh Kumar January 5, 2012

This is a past Premium recommendation and is made available for your reference. For more past trades, refer to our trade history. Bassett Furniture Industries (BSET) designs, manufactures and markets home furnishings in the United States. The company operates in three segments: Wholesale – The Wholesale segment engages in the design, manufacture, sourcing, sale, and [...]

11 Worst Stocks for 2011 – Finding Value in the Scrap Heap

by December 30, 2011

It can be very profitable to screen for the “worst stocks” for value opportunities. Includes downloadable data.

Buy Stocks – Stay Focused – Investment Advice for 2012

by Shailesh Kumar December 29, 2011

Coming off a roller coaster year in the stock market, it is quite natural to be apprehensive about what lurks as 2012 rolls in. Should you buy stocks in 2012 or if you are out of the market now, than should you continue to wait and see? I will let the professional economists look in [...]

21 Best Investments in Mid Cap Stocks for 2012

by December 28, 2011

21 Best Investments in Mid Cap Stocks for 2012 picked for valuation and earnings. Includes downloadable spreadsheet.

50 Best Small Cap Stock Picks for 2012

by Shailesh Kumar December 26, 2011

50 Best Small Cap Stock Picks for 2012 for valuation and earnings. Includes downloadable spreadsheet.

31 Best Large Cap Stocks to Buy for 2012

by December 25, 2011

31 best large cap stocks to buy for 2012 selected for valuation and earnings. Includes downloadable spreadsheet.

32 Best Dividend Stocks for 2012

by Shailesh Kumar December 25, 2011

32 of the Best Dividend Stocks for 2012 based on yields, dividend growth, reasonable valuation and diverse industries/sectors. Downloadable spreadsheet.

[Member] Reducing My Targets for American Greetings (AM)

by December 23, 2011

American Greetings (AM) released its Q3 earnings before the market opened yesterday morning and I have to say, they shocked everyone that follows this company and its stock. AM’s management is clearly testing investors’ patience and their reticence in the conference call to elaborate on certain items did little to assuage the shareholders. Here are [...]

Get the Value Stock Guide Toolbar

by Shailesh Kumar December 18, 2011

It is free and it is versatile. And it is available for Firefox and Internet Explorer. Chrome and other browser users are currently not supported. Download it here If you are a member, you will love it. It allows you to login to the membership area and access all the member pages right from the [...]

Stock Research Tools and Methods to Find and Research Undervalued Stocks

by December 18, 2011

There was a time when I used Edgar Online’s I-Metrix tool to do run basic screens and pull fundamental data in Excel that I can build my models on. The pro subscription, which you need for the Excel plugin, runs about $5K/year, and while the tool is powerful, I didn’t feel that the value it [...]

How to Buy Stocks at a Discount?

by Shailesh Kumar December 16, 2011

How to Buy Stocks with a Bargain Hunter’s Attitude We all look for the best bargains when we are in the market for an appliance or clothing or an automobile. After all, why should we not save money when we can? Ironically, when it comes to buying stocks, most investors are likely to go with [...]

Value Investing in 2012 Will Require More Investigative Skills

by December 16, 2011

Occasionally we publish guest articles from authors not affiliated with VSG. Opinions expressed in these articles are of the author’s and does not necessarily reflect mine. It is important to read other points of view. In this article, Tom Cleveland from the team at ForexTraders gives his take on what value investing principles should be [...]

[Member] American Greetings (AM) Should Be Bought At These Prices

by Shailesh Kumar December 15, 2011

Please note that this is a past premium recommendation. We are now out of this stock Just in time for the holidays, I want to highlight American Greetings stock, which I believe offers a compelling value at the current prices. American Greetings (NYSE: AM) makes and markets greeting cards (print and online), gift accessories, party [...]

Investment Portfolio Management – You Decide to Buy Stocks, Now What?

by December 11, 2011

Investment portfolio: Do s and Don’t s I have taken a position that excessive diversification creates a suboptimal portfolio. Beyond a certain level, further diversification does not lessen any more risk, but it does hurt performance of the portfolio. My respected colleague, Ken Faulkenberry echoes the same thoughts when he talks about over diversification and [...]

Deconstructing Value Investing: Income Statement – Part II

by Shailesh Kumar December 4, 2011

Income Statement Use in Value Investing Earlier we discussed identifying value stocks using balance sheet. In this article we will take on the income statement. Classic value investing focuses on balance sheet with an understanding that in most industries, earnings power has no value as over time, competition and threats of substitution erodes any competitive [...]

Using SWOT Analysis to Determine Moat

by November 25, 2011

SWOT Analysis – Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats Back in my consulting days, SWOT analysis used to be a quick way to zero in on some of the key challenges and opportunities in the market for a business (just like you would use SWOT to build a business plan). What I really like about SWOT [...]

Abbott Labs Breakup and Moat

by Shailesh Kumar November 25, 2011

Abbot Labs (ABT) announced earlier that it is splitting up into two companies. It will spin off its proprietary drug business by the end of 2012 and retain the rest of its businesses under the Abbott name. At $82 Billion in market value, Abbott is too large of a company to attract my interest, but [...]

Diversified Investments: Mediocrity Comes at a Price

by November 25, 2011

Diversified Investments: When More is Less Asset diversification, as it is practiced today, is a crutch. From financial advisors, mutual fund industry, media, personal finance bloggers, and every one in between, there is a consensus that diversification is essential for a good portfolio. Nothing can be further than the truth. If You are Risk Averse, [...]

Shipping Industry Shakes Up As Bankruptcies and Restructuring Perk Up

by Shailesh Kumar November 22, 2011

I have commented earlier stating that shipping stocks could present a great buying opportunity as the industry continue to reel from the glut of new ships and decline in charter rates over the last 2 years. I have resisted the urge of buying so far, believing that there is some more pain in the industry [...]

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