Stock Articles

Discover two of the best technical analysis and charting Web sites in this new column.

There is no one magic-bullet variable that is most important in picking winning stocks. Instead, you should focus on eight fundamental variables.

For current investors, the focus now should be on what to do in and after a severe bear market if you are investing your own portfolio of individual stocks.

What is the one thing an investor should monitor in order to gauge the health of the economy and the direction of the stock market? Interest rates. A look at how they affect stock prices.

Stocks go where they want to, despite what investors might wish would happen. How to develop a realistic sales-price target--and when it should be revised.

Do moderately high dividend payments increase or diminish stock values? The studies are mixed, but a look at the recent performance of stocks in the Dow indicates that firms with yields over 2% may indeed provide better capital appreciation.

An investor reference for products that are not your typical offerings.

A critical part of the investment evaluation process is gauging management effectiveness, quality, and character. Surprisingly, this is often disregarded by Wall Street. What to look for to determine whether management can be trusted.

Much attention is given to studying what to buy, but inadequate energy is devoted to the hold/sell decision. This is backward, since dollars already invested are at more risk than cash not yet invested. How you can implement a disciplined approach to your decisions on whether and when to sell.

With current growth rates overseas outpacing U.S. stocks' growth, many investors are casting a longing look at the foreign markets. One approach is to purchase ADRs, certificates that trade on a U.S. exchange but represent foreign firms. And now, several banks have set up direct purchase plans for their ADR firms.

Many investors believe that keeping abreast of the news is one key to investment success. But Dick Davis believes one of the worst things that can happen to long-term investors is to be instantly and totally informed about their stocks. Here's why.

Chart watching can help investors make better decisions. A five-step process can take a stock from an idea to a decision to buy or sell.

The results of more than 1,200 backtests found seven basic favorable factors from which Tortoriello gleaned four quantitative strategies for beating the market.

In the past year or so, bank stock prices have fallen sharply. But declining stock prices yield opportunity. Many good banks have been tarred with the same brush as the troubled banks. How do you analyze a bank? A brief look.