In recent years, alternate energy stocks have seen a large number of investments in the markets. Investing in oil stocks has become a great way to diversify your investment portfolio. Although these stocks come with their own set of risks, there are some safe stocks that offer you an excellent return for your money. In fact, here are a few top oil stocks that are currently grabbing everyone’s attention.
Chevron Corp
Chevron is one of the widely known oil companies globally that aims to offer reliable and affordable energy solutions. Amidst the current oil chaos, Chevron is a high-yield stock to invest your money in. Recently, Chevron cut its management spending by 48% and its operating expenses by 12%. Most importantly, it discontinued its buyback program to make sure that its dividends of 6.1% do not get affected.
Conoco Phillips
Those looking for top oil stocks to buy should definitely consider this option. Based on production and proven reserves, this is one of the world’s largest E&P companies. This company is involved in the effective production of oil and natural gas through its innovative techniques. The stock has a payable cash dividend of $0.43 per share, and its previous closing was $39.27, while its market cap was $42.6 billion. In addition, with its recent acquisition of Concho Resources, its market cap is likely to increase by $10.9 billion.
Talos Energy
This is an independent company that focuses on the production and exploration of oil and gas. The company uses its years of experience and emphasis on development and asset optimization to safely develop energy resources. It previously closed at $8.58 with a market cap of $642.6 million. In addition, its low PE ratio allows it to smoothly make it to the list of top oil stocks to buy.
Diamondback Energy
Diamondback is another oil stock company that has garnered a great reputation in the markets. It focuses on the development and exploration of natural gas and oil reserves. Its stock previously closed at $40.52 with a market cap of $6.524 billion. Moreover, the company, in its fiscal report, announced a cash dividend of $0.375 per share.
Due to the oil and gas industry’s huge potential during economic growth, purchasing its stocks can turn out to be an excellent investment. However, it is recommended by the experts that one must do their part of research in order to choose the best stocks for investment. Mentioned above are some of the top oil stocks that you can consider buying.
Are you considering gold as a possible investment? Will it protect you against financial uncertainty? Gold is a solid investment; its value cannot be influenced by government policies. The price is driven by supply and demand. As the value of the dollar falls, gold value will actually rise.
Want to know how to invest in gold? Here are a few suggestions.
Gold bullion: There is nothing that matches the tangible satisfaction of owning physical gold. Gold bullion is the best way to buy gold for investment. A bullion is a refined and stamped weight of precious metal. Gold bullion comes in two forms: gold bars and gold coins.
Gold bars: The term gold bullion often conjures up visions of stacked bars of gold. Gold bars come in several sizes, from 1 gram bars to bars weighing several pounds. Gold bars are the favored choice among investors.
Gold coins: Gold coins have long been in use all over the word as currency. Now, these coins are minted by the government not as currency, but as a commodity. Private mints can only produce gold bars or rounds; they cannot mint coins. So, gold coins give the added satisfaction of having been minted at a recognized national mint. Gold coins sell at a slightly higher premium than gold bars.
Gold prices are based on the spot price of gold, with a premium added. As spot prices vary, the price of gold also changes often. Watch the daily gold price to know the right time to sell your gold if you need to.
Gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs)
These are special types of ETFs which track the price of gold. Right now, there are three backed Gold ETFs in the United States:
SPDR Gold Shares
iShares Comex Gold Trust
ETFS Gold Trust
SPDR Gold Shares is the most popular Gold ETF, and iShares Comex Gold Trust is the cheapest. ETFS Gold Trust, which has its gold bullion stored in Switzerland, is the newest. It gives investors choices of different types of gold. Currently, one share in each of these ETFs equal 1/10th of an ounce of physical gold.
Gold mutual funds
Like equity mutual funds, these funds also hold portfolios of stocks in various companies. The difference is that all these are gold mining companies.
Senior gold stock
Most of these stocks are in well established, large mining companies. These companies have a record of working consistently productive mines. These are called senior gold stock.
Junior gold stock
If you have high risk tolerance, you can own these speculative stocks. These are stocks in new mines at the exploratory stage. These are small to medium investments, and very risky. They have the potential to create huge returns if they do strike gold. But, they may not discover any precious metal and you stand the risk of losing your investment.
Gold options and futures
These investments rely on the future price of the underlying asset. The options market is complex and needs investors with good knowledge and an appetite for risk.
Many investors suggest buying gold bullion as the best way to invest in gold. You can buy gold bullion online through established dealers.
Opening a gold individual retirement account (IRA) is another effective way to own physical gold. Opening a Goldco IRA account enables one to secure their purchase and buy precious metals once the IRA is funded. A company representative from Goldco guides one through the entire process, making it convenient and hassle-free.
Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) are a collection of securities that are bought and exchanged just like regular stocks. They can be a mix of stocks, bonds, or commodities. However, the value of an ETF keeps changing every day. Here is a list of useful tips to follow if you wish to invest in ETF stocks:
Check the level value of assets
All ETF stocks come with a particular value. Experts recommend that you do not buy ETFs that have a low level of assets. Look for ETF stocks to buy that are at least $10 million or higher. These high asset stocks add more value to the investor.
Know the costs involved when buying and maintaining the assets
You definitely have to pay money to buy the stocks. However, there are other costs involved that you need to be aware of too. Some ETFs are close-ended; it means you have to pay an extra management fee to buy and retain them. If you buy the asset through a broker agent, then trading fees and commissions have to be added to the cost. Be aware of these as they can be substantial.
Decide between domestic and foreign ETFs
Another very important point to note when you consider ETF stocks to buy is choosing between domestic and foreign ETFs. Most domestic ETFs offer tax benefits to buyers. The foreign ETFs don’t offer this option. Tax implications for these will vary between different regions. Talk to your investment advisor about this.
Check the level of trading activity every day
Did you know that some of the popular ETFs are traded in millions every day? A very successful ETF can be identified based on its daily activity levels. Make sure you check the past few months of activity of the ETF before you consider buying it. The higher the trading value, the more is the liquidity of the stock and the better it is for investment.
Know the risks of buying ETFs
When you decide on the right ETF stocks to buy, you also have to consider the risks of investing in this instrument. Consider the following risks and be prepared to handle them.
Once you are aware of all these factors, it becomes easy to choose the right ETF stocks to buy. Always understand that investment choices are subject to market risk.
Fixed income is sometimes considered boring, but they’re a lot safer than other options. Even though these attributes can be unattractive when it comes to the equity bull market, experts believe otherwise. Debt markets in the country have emerged from the foundation in leading banks. According to financial experts, the longevity of fixed income through dozens of economic cycles testifies to their credibility. The government has never defaulted when it comes to paying off debts.
There are some reasons behind the popularity of fixed income funds.
Stability In Regular Income: The most convincing reason why rising numbers of investors consider fixed income investment is due to its ability to produce income. Government bonds also offer stability since they scarcely default on payments. But there’s a slight chance of big companies to default on their interest payments. Even if the situation turns against you, you can rest assured that you’ll be compensated.
A Broad Range Of Diversity: Fixed income investments offer incredible counterbalance to available equities in multi-asset portfolios. As an investor, you can reduce the risk of investment in your portfolio by opting for fixed income investments, since there’s little correlation between two types of assets over a long period of time.
Lowered Volatility: If you track the evolution of fixed income investments, you’ll find that they’re relatively safer compared to equity. Thus, it can be considered that you won’t incur losses on your actual investments. Also, note that regular fluctuations in the prices of bonds are lower compared to that of equity markets.
A Wide Array Of Bond Choices: Fixed income investment is a class of broad assets made from a wide range of options. You can choose from high-yield, investment grade corporates, emerging-market debt, inflation-oriented bonds, municipal bonds and others. Different factors cast their impacts on every single bond type. This allows it to become diverse within fixed income investment as a whole.
A Steady Flow Of Income: Besides the advantage of capital appreciation, fixed income investments offer security by ensuring a steady flow of revenue generated from the balance of the portfolio. The bonds, along with preferred stocks, can fetch you steady dividends along with interest payments. In turn, this creates consistent cash flow for investors. The rate of fixed income and dividend rates would be set when you invest the money. This payment is guaranteed as long as the issuing body doesn’t default. The feature of the fixed income securities is the primary reason why fixed income securities have attracted investors nearing retirement.
These reasons are bound to propel you into investing in fixed income without looking for riskier investment options.
Everyone wants to get into investment. Everyone also wants to ensure that they don’t take a risk. But do those two actually go hand in hand? It can, if you do the necessary research.
So, what are some low risk investment options that you can get?
Lending Money To Others
At first glance, this might not seem like a viable investment method. But it actually can be. If someone you know needs money, you can loan them the necessary money with the interest rate that you can both agree on. Once you loan them the money, ensure that a contract is written out and distributed to both them and yourself. This ensures that you’re doing it legally and both of you are clear on the terms.
Once they’ve received the money, they’ll pay it back to you in installments, with the interest rate that you’ve both agreed on. Make very sure that the payments are made on time, and you can have a pretty solid investment. Remember this also counts as a source of income, so you’ll have to show it on your tax returns.
Credit Cards: The idea of credit cards being an investment option might not be directly obvious. But there is an avenue there.
In some credit cards, you get the option of rewards through points. That’s something that can be incredibly beneficial for you. Why?
Sometimes, those points can be directly translated into cash. Collect enough of those points through valid purchases, and you’re making a solid investment option through those points, since the cash that you earn can be a lot more than just meager pennies.Take a look at the credit cards that offer this, and see which one suits you the best. But remember that credit cards can be a liability if you go overboard with them, so be careful as to how much you spend.
CDs: Certificates of Deposit are one of the most low risk investments ever, and that’s why they’ve endured for a very long time. You can ask for one through your bank, or union. You can even get them through an investment broker.
You essentially lock in your money for a period of time that you’re comfortable with, and let it accumulate the interest during that time. In this time, you cannot take out the money. After the maturity period is done, you’ll get the initial amount that you locked in, along with the interest that was accumulated. You can even put it back into investment mode if you want. Over time, this can be very beneficial.
Almost everyone wants to retire young and rich. That’s why most people want to start investing so that they get a high return on the money that they have. This lets the money to continue to flow in. You can choose banks or financial institutions for this purpose. Here are some of the pros and cons of investing in conventional methods like Bank fixed deposits, versus financial institute mutual funds.
Fixed Deposits
Fixed deposit is an investment plan where you invest a sum of money in a bank for a set period (tenure) with a specific rate of interest. This is one of the most common investment approaches with banks.
Pros:
Low risk
The safest investment with a bank is a fixed deposit. It gives steady growth and provides maximum security to your principal amount.
Assurance
When you open a fixed deposit, the interest rate is predetermined and remains the same throughout the term. This means that the growth of your principal isn’t subject to any other influencing factors.
Tax benefits
You can get tax benefits when you start a fixed deposit. Your taxable amount will be deducted according to the deposit you’ve made.
Cons:
Lower earnings
When compared to other investment plans, these have a very low rate of return. Although it’s risk-free, the earnings are mediocre at best.
The effect of inflation
When compared to inflation, FDs don’t offer returns good enough to beat the inflation. They’re just a decent investment that offers security at most.
Taxable
In spite of having tax benefits, FDs don’t entirely save tax. The returns you get after maturity are taxable. This means you won’t get the full benefit of your investment. That’s a major drawback.
Low liquidity
FDs come with a lock-in period. This takes away flexibility in your investments.
A premature withdrawal has two side effects. First, you’ll be charged a fee for pre-closure. Second, the interest rate reduces. Both are losses that should be avoided.
Mutual Funds
Stock or equity is the ownership of shares in a company or business.
Pros :
Highest returns
From all investments option, equity/stocks are the best when it comes to returns. If invested properly, the average returns ranges from 12-15%. Some good investors can even reach numbers of up to 20%.
Liquidity
Another advantage with stock investment is that you can withdraw your money anytime you want.
This flexibility works better in the long run since it lets you keep control of your money.
Tax-free Dividend
Many companies give regular dividends on stocks. That’s a great way to generate an alternate income. The best part is that is that it’s not taxable.
Defeat Inflation
With returns being high, stocks are a great option to beat inflation significantly.
Cons:
Highest Risk
Equity is the least secure investment you can make. With some strategic planning and proper management, this can be avoided to an extent.
Reallocation
Equity funds don’t perform all that well when you leave them to mature like FDs and PFs. They need to be monitored regularly.
According to market fluctuation, certain funds might not perform well. In those times, you should reallocate these funds to a more profitable organisation. This isn’t easy and needs you to monitor the market regularly.
Whether you’re investing with banks or financial institution, both have their own merits and demerits. You should take a call based on your current status and financial goals that you’ve set.
Fixed income investments pay high returns after a period of time even if payment amounts vary. Individual fixed income investments are widely favored for their security. You can consider this investment regardless of whether your aim is to do some savings for future, receive dependable income, or diversify your investment portfolio. Fixed income investments can help you preserve the principal amount and minimize taxes to reach individual financial goals.
What Is Fixed Income Investment?
Fixed income investments get their name from their working principle. They’re devised in such a manner so they earn you a fixed amount of money after a period of time. Common variants of fixed income investments include agency bonds, government and treasury bonds, corporate bonds, mortgage-backed securities. They also include certificates of deposit, securities, and preferred stocks.
What Are The Different Types Of Fixed Income Investments?
There are various types of fixed income schemes available in the United States. Weigh all your options before investing in them. Here are some of the most sought after investment plans.
Individual Bonds: Bonds pay a set schedule of fixed interest payments along with an assurance to pay off the whole money at maturity. Bonds are issued by a number of companies, including government agencies, the U.S. treasury, municipalities, and corporations.
Exchange Traded Funds And Bond Funds: Mutual funds and exchange traded funds are some professionally managed investment schemes in the country. They’re made of a diversified mix of underlying securities. You can find some investment plans with low minimum amounts.
Certificates Of Deposit: Certificates of deposits, commonly known as CDs, are a type of bank deposit that pay a specified amount of interest for a period of time. Rest assured that the total sum invested would be returned to you at the time of maturity. CDs are generally insured by the FDIC, which adds another layer of security to it.
Preferred Securities And Stock Funds: These are a particular class of stock which pays off fixed dividends or interest amount to shareholders. You can get the benefit before the dividends are paid to the general shareholders. You can access these fixed amount investments through the corporations. The prime advantage of stock bonds and preferred securities is that they have the properties of both bonds and stocks.
Managed Accounts: A managed account is a type of portfolio of all the personal securities you own. The securities are selected for management on the basis of some discretion by an asset management form.
Each of these fixed income investments has their own set of benefits and terms and conditions. You can choose one according to your individual financial goals and start investing.
Penny stocks, also known as Cent stocks, are a quick, easy, and inexpensive way to dip one’s toe into the share market when you don’t have a lot of money to invest. But it is not really for newbies since it requires some understanding and a decent level of knowledge and understanding of the market.
Historically, investing in penny stocks is considered a risky business, especially during volatile market conditions. But if you want to head down that path, you can maybe start by investing a small portion in a few different ones to see how it impacts your portfolio. It is, however, better to figure out how open to risk you are before doing so. After ascertaining for yourself how open to risk and volatility of the market you are, and understanding your objectives and options, you can go ahead and invest in the penny stocks that you are comfortable with. Whether you manage the stocks yourself or have a professional handle them for you, remember to always evaluate your comfort and needs when making such investments, and always study the sector or industry, before making decisions to buy or sell. That being said, here are some of the companies that are buzzing as worthy penny stock investments right now, due to the industries and sectors they do business in (pharma, food and transport, mining).
John Bean Technologies Corp: Providing materials to the food packaging industry, as well as solutions to air transport sector, this company is on the pulse of modern living, with packaged foods and air travel clearly burgeoning industries with continuing upward trajectory. So, investing in penny stocks of this company will surely offer a good return on your investment.
Hecla Mining Company: Specializing in the mining of precious minerals, the Hecla Mining Company has the distinction of being the oldest minerals stock that’s traded. And with the pro-mining attitude of the administration, that just further sweetens the appeal of investing in Hecla Mining Company’s penny stocks.
Valeant Pharmaceuticals Intl Inc.: At present the price of Valeant Pharma’s penny stock is very low, making it a good investment, since for sure as a biotech company one can expect it to rise again.
Twitter Inc.: Twitter hardly needs an introduction, and with major growth plans in the works, including bringing in half a million new user accounts, this is one of the good bets for dabbling in penny stocks.
Buying a luxury crossover may not be a possibility for everyone, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t fulfill your dream of owning one of these smooth riding vehicles, at least for a short period. Leasing luxury crossovers have become much more affordable as automakers need to purge 2017 vehicles to pave the way for the newer 2018 models. Let’s take a look at the best lease deals available on luxury crossovers:
Verizon Wireless, Sprint, and AT&T are the leading mobile carriers who offer free cell phones readily where consumers choose one of their select wireless phone plans. Here are some of the best deals by various service providers that offer free cell phones.
Sprint: It is one of the best performing networks in the US. Users get stronger, faster and more reliable services with Sprint. New customers can get one line for $50 or up to five lines for $90. For promotions, they have offered HD streaming along with 10 gigabytes of high-speed data, which is quite different from their usual unlimited plans.
These promotional offer and pricing are only valid until March 31, 2018. After which, users have to pay the regular price that is for one line $60 and second line $40. An additional price of $30 has to be paid for each line and can get an automatic payment discount. Those who choose autopay have to pay $5 less per line.
T-Mobile: If you are looking for a wider selection of mobile phones, here is the best one. Existing & new customers get a chance to have two Samsung Galaxy S7 smartphones with a mail-in rebate without paying any cost for them. To avail it, the users need to trade their old phones and those who are already using the service, need to activate on a new line of the service.
Users can get high-speed unlimited data just for $100 along with an autopay discount, which is just $20 off on the regular prices of the service provider. One plan includes HD streaming and 10GB of data with 4G LTE speed. Skipping automatic payments can result in adding an extra expense of $5 per month per line.
Boost Mobile: Boost Mobile offers various unlimited plans, calling plans, data plans, unlimited streaming music without extra data charges, and so much more. You will get a lot of benefits without undergoing any annual contracts. The service is knocking $200 off the price of multiple iPhone models, including the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, and $220 off the SE. It means you can get a new iPhone for just $179.99, which is almost $100 less than the cheapest used model available online for used products. It is also offering 10GB for $70 per month and $a discount of $5 if you choose automatic payments.
You can choose these service providers to get a free cell phone along with their service connection.
Area rugs are a great alternative to wall-to-wall carpet, specifically because they are clean and easy to remove. Moreover, it is easy to switch from one to another if you get bored or you want to redecorate. When it comes to using area rugs in your home, there are a few important guidelines to keep in mind. Before shopping for area rugs, it is imperative that you check out these do’s and don’ts.
Do’s for area rugs:
Don’ts for area rugs:
Different types of area rugs
Area rugs are a great decorative option for the home, office, or any other area wherever they may be placed in whether for functionality or aesthetic reasons. When it comes to area rugs, there are different kinds of rugs you can choose from that suit your needs best. There are two basic types of rugs—handmade rugs and machine-made rugs. Handmade rugs are of various types such as pile rugs and flatweaves. There are also some low-grade handmade rugs available such as hand-tufted, hand hooked, and hand-loomed rugs. The choices among machine-made rugs, lower-end handcrafted rugs, and hand-knotted rugs are usually a matter of budget because the lower-end handcrafted rugs or machine-made rugs cannot often compare to a fine handmade rug.
Maintenaning area rugs
Cleaning tips for every type of area rug may vary, but there are certain things you can do to maintain your rug to help it appear its best and last for many years to come. Generally, medium-to-high pile rugs have to be well cleaned at least once a year to get rid of dust, hair, and any allergens as only vacuuming will not be sufficient. Moreover, low-pile and flatweave rugs must be dusted periodically. You can also check the cleaning guidelines before making a purchase. Rugs manufactured from natural fibers such as jute and sisal can’t actually be cleaned of stains and so huge spills could result in everlasting damage.
Styling tricks for area rugs
The following are some tips and tricks that will help you style the area around the rugs to enhance the ambiance of your home.