More utility sector consolidation is ahead. Read More

One of the Great Truths of Investing is that diversification is the key to avoiding roller-coaster returns in your long-term portfolio. That “Truth” looks more and more like a myth. I’m not saying diversification won’t smooth out returns in some cases. It will. That’s certainly true in a stock portfolio. Read More

It's still a strong company, and buying on dips will be profitable. Read More

We may be living in the “Year of the Mega Deal,” but the latest announced merger may signal an era is coming to an end.Bayer’s (OTC: BAYRY) proposed takeover of Monsanto (NYSE: MON), is a transaction valued at $66 billion including debt, making it the biggest deal of the year… Read More

Now that both presidential candidates have informed the world of their blood pressure and cholesterol counts, here’s hoping the inane campaign coverage turns to topics that really matter to the future of our country and the world.From an economic perspective, it’d be nice for the media to examine both candidates’… Read More

The first MLP IPO of 2016 offered investors a stake in the successful shale driller’s midstream assets. Read More

Great economic news yesterday. The Census Department announced that median household income rose 5.2% in 2015. That’s much higher than expected, and the biggest jump since the Great Recession ended. What does it mean? First, that other signs of wage growth aren’t an illusion. Lower unemployment tends to put upward… Read More

Despite advances elsewhere, U.S. remains the dominant producer with an unmatched range of investment opportunities. Read More

Ah, football. Still savoring that first weekend.But my pigskin party was interrupted yesterday by the latest evidence that the average American family is woefully unprepared for retirement.The Economic Policy Institute, CNBC reported, found the average retirement savings of all U.S. families is around $96,000, which is low, and even… Read More

After stocks nosedived last Friday following hints that the Federal Reserve would raise rates, every word from Fed Governor Lael Brainard’s speech Monday were scoured, sifted and sniffed for meaning.Fortunately, sulky investors received this pacifier: Brainard said the case for a preemptive rate hike was “less compelling.” For clarity, in Fedspeak… Read More