Small caps

It is believed that small-cap value stocks are excellent long-term investments, but over the past three years, the Russell 2000 Value Index has lagged the benchmark Russell 2000 Index and the Russell 2000 Growth Index in significant fashion. Small-cap value stocks lagging broader small-cap...

U.S. small-caps have rebounded nicely off their February lows, but the benchmark Russell 2000 Index is still saddled with a modest year-to-date loss. Exchange-traded funds investors have the benefit of choosing from myriad small-cap funds, some of which have been solid performers this year. One of...

When income investors think of dividend stocks, more often than not, those thoughts focus on large- and mega-cap names, but dividend hunters should not sleep on smaller stocks. More than half of the members of the S&P SmallCap 600 Index are dividend payers, a percentage that has steadily...

Sunedison Semiconductor Ltd (NASDAQ: SEMI) is down more than 5 percent on the day following Wednesday's earnings release and call. Prior to the release, Redstone upgraded the company from a previous Sell rating to Positive, while increasing the price target from $6.50 to $13. The firm...

Last week, I was fortunate enough to attend the Bank Director's Acquire or Be Acquired Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. I go to several conferences and investment shows a year and this was one was a completely different duck. This was not the traditional dog and pony "look at me"...

Last week, Japan joined the ranks of countries with negative interest rates, pounding the yen and providing a boost to currency hedged Japan exchange-traded funds in the process. Investors looking for alternatives to U.S. small-caps while continuing to stick with developed markets should look to a...

Some obvious themes are emerging amid a poor start to 2016 for equities. Predictably, investors are favoring conservative, lower beta sectors such as consumer staples and utilities. Second, small-cap stocks and exchange-traded funds are struggling. A combination of those themes via the PowerShares...

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods recently released two reports highlighting Cardinal Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: CFNL) and First Financial Bancorp (NASDAQ: FFBC). Analysts Catherine Mealor and Andrew Taylor upgraded Cardinal Financial to Outperform with a $23 price target. Christopher McGratty and...

Small-cap stocks the world over have recently been struggling, and the U.S. offerings are no exception. Over the past 90 days, the Russell 2000 Index, one of the most widely followed small-cap benchmarks, is lower by nearly 12 percent. Investors looking for alternatives to U.S. small-caps while...

Small-caps disappointed last year and that theme has extended to early stages of 2016, dealing a blow to risk appetite in the process. Rising equity market volatility has also been a drain on small caps and the corresponding ETFs, but investors can cope with lagging smaller stocks by availing...