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Don't Fall In to the Leverage Trap!
Friday, October 15, 2010 - 8:35am | 1814The leverage options provide can be tremendously appealing to investors, both professional and retail. Potential returns can be exponentially large on a relatively small investment but this can lead to a myopic view of the entire risk landscape. The idea of controlling 1,000 shares of Google (...
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Top 4 Mid-Cap Stocks In The Surety & Title Insurance Industry With The Highest Dividend Yield (ORI, FNF, CLGX, AGO)
Friday, October 15, 2010 - 4:36am | 123Below are the top mid-cap surety & title insurance stocks on the NYSE and the NASDAQ in terms of dividend yield. Old Republic International Corp (NYSE: ORI) has a dividend yield of 5.00%. ORI's shares closed at $13.85 yesterday. Fidelity National Financial Inc (NYSE: FNF) has a dividend yield...
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Short-Term & Longer-Term Bonds Starting to Decouple 10-14-2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010 - 4:15pm | 836Cusick's Corner The data out this morning was definitely at levels not expected and short-term and longer-term bonds have started to decouple, leaving investors scratching their heads about how much easing the Fed will do. Watch the Retailers come under some potential pressure. Gold may also have...
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Progressive Reports September Results; EPS down 17%
Thursday, October 14, 2010 - 8:34am | 34The Progressive Corporation (NYSE: PGR) today reported the following results for September: Net premiums written $ 1,147.8 Change 11 % Net premiums earned $ 1,114.2 Change 5 % Net income $ 81.9 Change (18 )% Per share $ .12 Change (17 )%
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AGO: High Debt And Job Loss
Thursday, October 14, 2010 - 7:40am | 134Piper Jaffray has published a research report on Assured Guaranty (NYSE: AGO) following the company's high level of debt and loss of 76,000 government jobs in September. In the report, Piper Jaffray writes "We continue to believe municipal default concerns are overblown and ultimate impact of...
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Lots of Ways to Invest Like Warren Buffett
Wednesday, October 13, 2010 - 3:44pm | 726Billionaire Warren Buffett is the second richest American. As most investors know, he is the head of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A), the highest priced stock and one of the most successful companies during the last half-century. The company also has Class B shares (BRK-B), currently trading around 83....
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News Summary
Wednesday, October 13, 2010 - 9:41am | 190According to the Labor Department, the prices of goods imported into the US dropped 0.3% in September, due to fall in fuel-import prices. Fuel-import prices have dropped 3.1% in September. However, prices for non-fuel imports moved up 0.3%. The export prices increased 0.6% in September. The prices...
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Outperform Rating Initiated On PGR, ALL
Wednesday, October 13, 2010 - 9:40am | 38RBC Capital markets has initiated an Outperform rating on the following companies: Progressive (NYSE: PGR) $24 price target Allstate (NYSE: ALL) $38 price target
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Guy Spier Likes Markel Partnership (MKL)
Tuesday, October 12, 2010 - 4:08pm | 58Guy Spier of Aquamarine Capital Management spoke at the Value Investing Congress and spoke about value investing for those of us who are not Bill Ackman or David Einhorn, but more Homer Simpson. Spier discussed parternships, and mentioned Markel Corporation (NYSE: MKL) as a specific example of a...
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Highlights From Zeke Ashton At The Value Investing Congress
Tuesday, October 12, 2010 - 3:30pm | 245Zeke Ashton spoke at the Value Investing Congress and discussed some out of favor sectors to the value investors in the audience. Ashton mentioned property and casualty insurance, asset managers, and retailers as being particularly out of favor right now. Ashton said that on a screen he ran, that...
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Centaur Capital Partners Zeke Ashton Likes Fairfax Financial And Aspen Insurance Holdings
Tuesday, October 12, 2010 - 2:13pm | 83At the Value Investing Congress, Centaur Capital Partners Zeke Ashton likes Fairfax Financial (FRFHF) and Aspen Insurance Holdings (NYSE: AHL). Zeke Ashton sees Aspen Insurance hitting $40. Aspen Insurance continues to buy back its stock at a significant discount. Ashton thinks Aspen Insurance...
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Zeke Ashton Recommends Aspen Insurance (AHL)
Tuesday, October 12, 2010 - 2:09pm | 58Zeke Ashton spoke at the Value Investing Congress and recommended shares of Aspen Insurance (NYSE: AHL). He expects the company to have 0.15% market share. The company is trading at a diluted book value of $37, and the stock is trading around $30. Ashton sees book value of around 1.15, implying a...
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Protection Purchased on Progressive Corp. (PGR)
Friday, October 8, 2010 - 11:13am | 146Shares of The Progressive Corporation (NYSE: PGR) are lower on the session by 0.48%, currently trading at $20.93. The stock has been moving largely higher over the past six months, moreover the past year; PGR recently broke above $21.00, which would be very bullish if it can remain above that level...
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Protection Purchased on Fidelity National (FNF)
Friday, October 8, 2010 - 10:12am | 157Shares of Fidelity National Financial, Inc. (NYSE: FNF) are lower on the session by 1.18%, currently trading at $14.18. The stock has been moving largely lower over the past two weeks, falling from a recent high near $15.87. Support exists at $14.00. Options traders are buying some protection on...
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Many Retailers Post Strong Sept. Sales
Thursday, October 7, 2010 - 7:12pm | 873Cusick's Corner Many large retailers reported strong September sales this week and the consensus was that most consumers did their back-to-school shopping rather late this year, waiting for the promotions and discounts in September. Even with a general increase in September sales, overall...