We Are/DigitalVision via Getty Images The AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund ( AWF ) is a closed-end fund, or CEF, that aims to provide its investors with a very high level of current income by investing in a portfolio of government and corporate bonds issued by entities that are located in countries all over the world. Regular readers will likely be among the first to recall that I have be...
We Are/DigitalVision via Getty Images The AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund ( AWF ) is a closed-end fund, or CEF, that aims to provide its investors with a very high level of current income by investing in a portfolio of government and corporate bonds issued by entities that are located in countries all over the world. Regular readers will likely be among the first to recall that I have been reluctant to invest in any bond fund, which is mostly due to the fact that both the United States and most other developed countries are entering into an era of high fiscal deficits and fiscal dominance that could force central banks to keep interest rates suppressed and bond returns negative in real terms. The exception to this might be some global bond funds, particularly those that invest in emerging markets or one of the handful of developed markets that still have sound fiscal outlooks. The AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund bills itself as a global bond fund, so there might be a reason for us to watch it for that reason. This fund also has a 7.47% yield at the current share price, which is much better than any of the domestic or global bond indices and therefore might be attractive to those investors who want to earn a high level of income from their assets. About The AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund The website for the AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund offers the following description of the fund: A globally diversified portfolio that takes full advantage of our best research ideas by pursuing high-income opportunities across all fixed-income sectors. The website also states: [The Fund] invests primarily (and without limit) in corporate debt securities from US and non-US issuers, as well as government bonds from both developing and developed countries, including the US. These two descriptions together suggest that this fund’s portfolio can be invested in just about any type of debt security that the fund’s management believes offers the bes...
JHVEPhoto/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Sometimes one of your stocks that you have been investing in, it finally gets a break , and does that feel good when it does. I've been writing on Chemours Company ( CC ) for years, and I've been investing in it for quite some time - mostly when it has been what I view as undeniably cheap , even accounting for all of the risks inherent to the company. We...
JHVEPhoto/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Sometimes one of your stocks that you have been investing in, it finally gets a break , and does that feel good when it does. I've been writing on Chemours Company ( CC ) for years, and I've been investing in it for quite some time - mostly when it has been what I view as undeniably cheap , even accounting for all of the risks inherent to the company. Well, Chemours has finally seen a bit of a turnaround. Initially, I thought the Feb-March climb and the disruption to that climb that came would be "it", only for the company to climb and keep climbing. Since my last piece, which by the way you can find here, you'll see that the company has outperformed the market by a factor of over 20x. An 82%+ RoR marks a period of what I would consider full reversal. Seeking Alpha Chemours RoR You can find my previous article on the company here. Chemours has not been easy to invest in at every juncture of my coverage. Combined risks from legacy and residual historical impacts, with headwinds in the market derived from both labor, feedstock, and other products, have kept this company "down", and have kept it volatile for some time. Throughout it all, I've focused on what I view(ed) as the likely value of its operations, and the appeal of its refrigerant segment, which I viewed as the difference-maker for the company. While it's still too early to discuss the eventual turnout of everything, my position at this point, inclusive of the dividends paid, is close to 100% RoR, and this goes into my "books" as a clear success of valuation-guided investing - which is what I focus on almost exclusively. In this article, I'll provide you with an update and see where things could go from here. Is Chemours still attractive, and can it be profitably invested in here, or has "the worm turned", and investors need to look elsewhere? It should be noted that the company for parts of its coverage, has been more of a speculative stock. I'm not at all averse t...
The Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) is leaning on its biggest tech names this morning to absorb a fresh oil shock, with index futures hovering near flat after climbing well off their overnight lows. A 3% spike in crude on renewed Iran tensions is the main drag, but blowout earnings from Alphabet and Amazon late last week ... Tech Giants Prop Up Nasdaq Composite as Oil Shock Tests Market Resilience
The Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) is leaning on its biggest tech names this morning to absorb a fresh oil shock, with index futures hovering near flat after climbing well off their overnight lows. A 3% spike in crude on renewed Iran tensions is the main drag, but blowout earnings from Alphabet and Amazon late last week ... Tech Giants Prop Up Nasdaq Composite as Oil Shock Tests Market Resilience
April was an impressive month for the major stock market averages — and while May is usually the beginning of a seasonally weak period for stocks, recent momentum might just continue in the month ahead. Last month, the S & P 500 soared more than 10%, its best month since November 2020. The Nasdaq Composite , which climbed more than 15%, saw its strongest monthly performance since April 2020, and t...
April was an impressive month for the major stock market averages — and while May is usually the beginning of a seasonally weak period for stocks, recent momentum might just continue in the month ahead. Last month, the S & P 500 soared more than 10%, its best month since November 2020. The Nasdaq Composite , which climbed more than 15%, saw its strongest monthly performance since April 2020, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped roughly 7% — its largest monthly gain since November 2024. .SPX mountain 2026-04-01 S & P 500, performance since April "Surprisingly strong earnings growth seems to be the driver of recent market action, as investors have placed the oil supply issue on the back burner," Sam Stovall, CFRA Research's chief investment strategist, wrote in a Monday note. The S & P 500's April performance was the index's second-best performance for that month since 1945, according to Stovall. That could herald more gains to come. When looking at the top 25 April results since World War II, the strategist found that in those instances the broad market index increased an average 2% in May, rising 88% of the time that month. But higher oil prices this time around may throw a wrench into that scenario as the vital Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of the Persian Gulf remains blockaded. Oil prices were higher on Monday as tensions between the U.S. and Iran were heightened in the key passageway. Notably, the S & P 500 energy sector underperformed the wider market in April, dropping more than 3%.
The quality of Big Tech earnings may not matter much right now as everyone gets swept up into the AI boom. But at some point, investors will be questioning how strong they really are.
The quality of Big Tech earnings may not matter much right now as everyone gets swept up into the AI boom. But at some point, investors will be questioning how strong they really are.
Europe will consider all retaliatory options should US President Donald Trump follow through on his threat to raise tariffs on cars and trucks from the European Union to 25%, the bloc’s finance ministers said. But, if possible, it would like to stick with an existing US-EU trade deal. “Our path is clear, we don’t want an escalation, we want a joint solution with the Americans,” said German Finance...
Europe will consider all retaliatory options should US President Donald Trump follow through on his threat to raise tariffs on cars and trucks from the European Union to 25%, the bloc’s finance ministers said. But, if possible, it would like to stick with an existing US-EU trade deal. “Our path is clear, we don’t want an escalation, we want a joint solution with the Americans,” said German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil , who is also vice-chancellor. However, he added, “we would be prepared if an escalation were to occur.” The spat has added to tensions over a much-delayed transatlantic trade pact. The two sides initially reached an agreement last July, but EU lawmakers have yet to ratify the pact as they seek further amendments. Trump claimed on Friday that the EU had failed to fully comply with a trade pact. Read More: Trump Vows 25% Tariff on European Autos in Escalating Trade Rift Officials — commenting ahead of a meeting of euro-area finance chiefs in Brussels — refuted that on Monday, arguing the bloc was simply going through its legislative process and still wanted to adopt the deal. “Any other option is on the table if need be,” said French Finance Minister Roland Lescure . “But we want to focus on the deal we signed and to make sure that deal and only that deal is implemented.” Several ministers stressed the need to not overreact to any individual Trump threat, arguing it would only put further strain on the transatlantic trade relationship. “It’s very important to keep a cool head,” said Dutch Finance Minister Eelco Heinen . He emphasized that the US-EU trade agreement is vital for the bloc, a sentiment echoed by his Belgian counterpart, Vincent Van Peteghem . Still, Lithuanian Finance Minister Kristupas Vaitiekunas cautioned that Europe must be prepared, given Trump has years left in office. “Pressure from both sides will be constant during this administration,” he said. “We will be in this game for the whole term of President Trump and we have to find c...
Earnings season gathered pace this week, with a busy stretch that saw 32 companies out of 79 in the S&P 500’s industrials sector ( XLI ) report quarterly results, with the majority delivering earnings beats driven by strength in infrastructure, aerospace, and electrification demand. Year to date, XLI has gained just 12.42%, outperforming the broader S&P 500 index's 5.31% gains over the same period...
Earnings season gathered pace this week, with a busy stretch that saw 32 companies out of 79 in the S&P 500’s industrials sector ( XLI ) report quarterly results, with the majority delivering earnings beats driven by strength in infrastructure, aerospace, and electrification demand. Year to date, XLI has gained just 12.42%, outperforming the broader S&P 500 index's 5.31% gains over the same period. The Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund has pulled back roughly 9–10% from its recent highs, as investor sentiment toward the industrials sector weakened amid rising concerns over trade policy uncertainty, elevated valuations, and broader macroeconomic risks. Out of 32 industrial companies analyzed, 26 beat both earnings and revenue estimates, underscoring solid demand across key segments. Only one missed on both metrics, while a few delivered mixed results, including three that missed earnings but beat revenue. Just one company reported in-line earnings, reflecting limited neutral outcomes in an otherwise strong quarter. 24 of the 32 S&P 500 industrial companies reported both year-over-year earnings per share and revenue growth. Below are the latest quarterly reports from five key companies in the industrials sector this week: United Parcel Service ( UPS ) reported mixed but better-than-expected first-quarter results, with EPS of $1.07, beating estimates by $0.05. Revenue came in at $21.55B, ahead of expectations by about $228M, though earnings declined from $1.49 a year ago. The performance reflects resilient shipping demand and pricing discipline, even as margins remained under pressure. Caterpillar ( CAT ) posted standout results, reporting EPS of $5.54, beating estimates by $0.90 and up from $4.25 last year. Revenue climbed to $17.42B, compared with $14.25B a year ago, exceeding expectations by $977M. The upside was fueled by strength across construction industries and energy & transportation segments. Waste Management ( WM ) reported mixed first-quarter results, with...
‘The man is the establishment, I suppose, the military industrial complex. A few year later, when we played it live, we added a loop of Bill Hicks saying: “All governments are liars and murderers”’ Gruff was the first person I ever met who could just churn out songs – good, catchy ones. I joined his band Ffa Coffi Pawb, but by 1992 they’d split and Gruff and I were living in Cardiff, as were Bunf,...
‘The man is the establishment, I suppose, the military industrial complex. A few year later, when we played it live, we added a loop of Bill Hicks saying: “All governments are liars and murderers”’ Gruff was the first person I ever met who could just churn out songs – good, catchy ones. I joined his band Ffa Coffi Pawb, but by 1992 they’d split and Gruff and I were living in Cardiff, as were Bunf, Guto and my brother Cian, the other future Furries. We started out doing techno sets, and I had a little home studio where we demoed ideas for songs. Our first singer, the actor Rhys Ifans, slept on a mattress in the corner. Continue reading...
Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) shares have ripped roughly 398.6% over the past year, climbing from $19.98 on May 1, 2025, to $99.62 on May 1, 2026, with the move only accelerating. The stock is up 107.4% in the past month alone and trades within pennies of its 52-week high of $100.45. For a retirement-focused investor who ... Intel Stock Has Quintupled From Lows: Is the Easy Money Already Gone?
Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) shares have ripped roughly 398.6% over the past year, climbing from $19.98 on May 1, 2025, to $99.62 on May 1, 2026, with the move only accelerating. The stock is up 107.4% in the past month alone and trades within pennies of its 52-week high of $100.45. For a retirement-focused investor who ... Intel Stock Has Quintupled From Lows: Is the Easy Money Already Gone?
Based on the average brokerage recommendation (ABR), Micron (MU) should be added to one's portfolio. Wall Street analysts' overly optimistic recommendations cast doubt on the effectiveness of this highly sought-after metric. So, is the stock worth buying?
Based on the average brokerage recommendation (ABR), Micron (MU) should be added to one's portfolio. Wall Street analysts' overly optimistic recommendations cast doubt on the effectiveness of this highly sought-after metric. So, is the stock worth buying?
Based on the average brokerage recommendation (ABR), Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) should be added to one's portfolio. Wall Street analysts' overly optimistic recommendations cast doubt on the effectiveness of this highly sought-after metric. So, is the stock worth buying?
Based on the average brokerage recommendation (ABR), Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) should be added to one's portfolio. Wall Street analysts' overly optimistic recommendations cast doubt on the effectiveness of this highly sought-after metric. So, is the stock worth buying?
The average brokerage recommendation (ABR) for JD.com (JD) is equivalent to a Buy. The overly optimistic recommendations of Wall Street analysts make the effectiveness of this highly sought-after metric questionable. So, is it worth buying the stock?
The average brokerage recommendation (ABR) for JD.com (JD) is equivalent to a Buy. The overly optimistic recommendations of Wall Street analysts make the effectiveness of this highly sought-after metric questionable. So, is it worth buying the stock?
Finding strong, market-beating stocks with a positive earnings outlook becomes easier with the Focus List, a top feature of the Zacks Premium portfolio service.
Finding strong, market-beating stocks with a positive earnings outlook becomes easier with the Focus List, a top feature of the Zacks Premium portfolio service.
Joao Luiz Vieira/iStock via Getty Images Introduction As it has been more than six months since I last discussed Bank of Hawaii ( BOH ) and considering the bank has released financial results for three additional quarters now, this would be a good time to revisit my original investment thesis . Back in September, I argued the high-yield preferred stock was attractive. Meanwhile, the common share p...
Joao Luiz Vieira/iStock via Getty Images Introduction As it has been more than six months since I last discussed Bank of Hawaii ( BOH ) and considering the bank has released financial results for three additional quarters now, this would be a good time to revisit my original investment thesis . Back in September, I argued the high-yield preferred stock was attractive. Meanwhile, the common share price has increased by approximately a quarter so I need to check if my ‘buy’ rating from September is still valid. Data by YCharts A robust set of results in the first quarter The bank reported a total interest income of approximately $222.2M in the first quarter of the current financial year, which represents an increase of just under 4% compared to Q1 2025. And as the income statement below shows, the total amount of interest expenses decreased by almost 20%. Combined, this resulted in a 20% net interest income increase . BOH Investor Relations And although the bank could not avoid seeing higher non-interest expenses and a slightly lower non-interest income, the pre-tax income before taking loan loss provisions into account came in at roughly $76M. And that is of course a very substantial increase from the less than $60 million recorded in the first quarter of last year. And there was more good news as the total amount of loan loss provisions decreased by in excess of 40% to just under $1.8M (a surprisingly low amount given the size of the loan book, which currently exceeds $14B). This resulted in a quarterly net income of $57.4M and after deducting the $5.3M in preferred dividends, the net income attributable to the common shareholders of Bank of Hawaii was $52.5M. This represents an EPS of $1.32. And that of course is more than sufficient to cover the quarterly dividend of $0.70 (that quarterly dividend has remained unchanged since 2021 ). And from the perspective of a preferred shareholder it is of course excellent to see that the bank needed just about 10% of its net ...
HJBC/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Accenture PLC ( ACN ) is an Irish-American global IT services and consulting firm. Founded in 1951, Accenture is now a $109 billion (by market cap) consulting giant employing nearly 800,000 people. The company reports results across five operating groups: Products, 30% of FY 2025 revenue; Health & Public Service, 21%; Financial Services, 18%; Communications, ...
HJBC/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Accenture PLC ( ACN ) is an Irish-American global IT services and consulting firm. Founded in 1951, Accenture is now a $109 billion (by market cap) consulting giant employing nearly 800,000 people. The company reports results across five operating groups: Products, 30% of FY 2025 revenue; Health & Public Service, 21%; Financial Services, 18%; Communications, Media & Technology, 16%; and Resources, 14%. Accenture can also be thought of as two separate types of work, which both comprise about half of the company’s revenue base: Consulting (short-duration contracts regarding strategies) and Managed Services (long-duration contracts regarding ongoing operations). Sales are roughly split 50/50 between the Americas and the remainder of global markets. As one of the largest IT services companies in the world, Accenture provides a range of consulting, strategy, technology, operational, and outsourcing services to its thousands of clients across 40+ different industries located in 120+ different countries. With enterprise problems being more complex than ever, Accenture’s expertise and services become more valuable than ever. That complexity is no better illustrated than through the development of AI, which has opened up all kinds of new opportunities and challenges for companies and workforces globally. While AI could be seen as a huge hindrance to Accenture’s ability to gain clients, grow, and register billable hours (due to AI’s growing capabilities), it could also be seen as a chance for Accenture to provide even more value by expanding AI-enhanced offerings (which the company is doing through AI-native acquisitions and by pivoting toward agentic services). Additionally, with almost 800,000 employees on payroll (that’s an army’s worth of people), Accenture could likely implement AI internally to run much leaner. With a viable path for more revenue and less expenses opening up, that positions Accenture to quite possibly accelerate it...
Dmitry Vinogradov/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Oppenheimer Holdings ( OPY ) is more or less split right now in terms of income between capital markets and wealth management (WM). Things were pointing in the right direction in our last coverage . With the Iran War's reinflation risks and higher capital costs, also with a March dealmaking slump and bad visibility on capital market activity in e...
Dmitry Vinogradov/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Oppenheimer Holdings ( OPY ) is more or less split right now in terms of income between capital markets and wealth management (WM). Things were pointing in the right direction in our last coverage . With the Iran War's reinflation risks and higher capital costs, also with a March dealmaking slump and bad visibility on capital market activity in equity and debt underwriting—and also bad market performance for a while—we thought we'd have to discuss a poorer quarter, perhaps with some idiosyncratic growth thanks to mid-market exposure and scale. However, despite the March-ended quarter, things were still looking good, and all forward indicators seem to be pointing to continued momentum into Q2. It remains an attractively valued and well-positioned non-bank financial services pick. Developments The quarter was March-ended. Things were not going well in that period. Markets were broadly down, so we would have expected issues in AUM for any manager, including from panic outflows. Perhaps volatility-based transaction volumes would be doing well, though. Less ambiguous would be the hit to the capital markets businesses. When equity markets take a turn for the worse, IPOs get instantly shelved because of how opportunistic and tactical they need to be to be valuable to issuers. Additionally, M&A wouldn't have been doing great from sponsors or strategics given the uncertainties and supply chain risks. But instead there was constructive performance across the board. Signaling indeed some share wins, and the less volatile nature of mid-market, which is more idiosyncratic, more driven by customer-specific needs, and less beholden to broad macro and the vicissitudes of capital costs, and the need for entirely optimal financial optimisation typical in large tickets. WM Segment (8-K) WM was up on higher commission revenue and more advisory fees on a 10% or so increase in AUM. So they benefited from pro-volatility income as well as...