Getty Images Utilities are a type of investment that I've been putting money into for years. The difference, for the past year or so, is that I've been considering most of them overvalued, and because of that, I have been pushing them out of my portfolio at mostly a tidy profit. These utilities have, for the time being, been rising even more. I have been covering these companies - both EU and NA-b...
Getty Images Utilities are a type of investment that I've been putting money into for years. The difference, for the past year or so, is that I've been considering most of them overvalued, and because of that, I have been pushing them out of my portfolio at mostly a tidy profit. These utilities have, for the time being, been rising even more. I have been covering these companies - both EU and NA-based - for a few years now. It's my general view that the companies in this sector are currently so overvalued due to current trends in IT and AI as to not have market-beating upside. I believe investors should invest intelligently - not emotionally. I further believe it to be an emotional investment when you buy a company at a high premium without a good reason for that premium. The question is therefore whether the company has a justified premium. In this article, I will give Black Hills ( BKH ) a once-over, a review, and initiation of coverage. I sold my position in October 2025 after having bought the company all the way back in 2023. As with many of the utilities bought at cheap valuations, I viewed the likelihood of significant further outperformance as unlikely. I will review operations and show you the reason why the company is unlikely to outperform - and even if it did, that there is very little substance to such an outperformance. The lack of substance, in turn, means that the company is held up by sentiment, not results and facts, which makes the company potentially volatile. If you look at the company's valuation over time, you can see the impact of volatility - and at what valuations the company could be considered "good" and "potentially too high ," respectively. Generally speaking, Black Hills is a decent business - good upside, good fundamentals. But generally speaking, Utilities are more risky these days than previously. I believe, therefore, that there's a good case to be made for not viewing these as good investments unless bought cheap. Let me show you ...
Explore the exciting world of Micron Technology (NASDAQ: MU) with our contributing expert analysts in this Motley Fool Scoreboard episode. Check out the video below to gain valuable insights into market trends and potential investment opportunities! *Stock prices used were the prices of Jan. 28, 2026. The video was published on March 10, 2026. Should you buy stock in Micron Technology right now? B...
Explore the exciting world of Micron Technology (NASDAQ: MU) with our contributing expert analysts in this Motley Fool Scoreboard episode. Check out the video below to gain valuable insights into market trends and potential investment opportunities! *Stock prices used were the prices of Jan. 28, 2026. The video was published on March 10, 2026. Should you buy stock in Micron Technology right now? Before you buy stock in Micron Technology, consider this: Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue » The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Micron Technology wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $530,233!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,119,682!* Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 955% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 191% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of March 10, 2026. Anand Chokkavelu has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Rick Munarriz has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Toby Bordelon has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Micron Technology. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
Hereditary peerages will be abolished before the next king’s speech after a deal was struck granting life peerages to some Conservatives and cross-benchers losing their seats. On Tuesday evening the upper chamber accepted a final draft of the House of Lords (hereditary peers) bill, marking the end of its passage through parliament and clearing the way for it to be added to the statute book. The Lo...
Hereditary peerages will be abolished before the next king’s speech after a deal was struck granting life peerages to some Conservatives and cross-benchers losing their seats. On Tuesday evening the upper chamber accepted a final draft of the House of Lords (hereditary peers) bill, marking the end of its passage through parliament and clearing the way for it to be added to the statute book. The Lords leader, Angela Smith, confirmed the government would offer life peerages to some of those who would otherwise lose their seats. As a result, the Tories withdrew their opposition to the bill. Since 1999, up to 92 hereditary peers have been able to sit in the upper house and cast their votes in the lobbies but the bill effectively reduces this quota to zero. Hereditary peers who have not been made life peers will no longer have a right to sit in the Lords once the current parliamentary session ends, expected later this spring. Lady Smith said: “This has never been about the contribution of individuals but the underlying principle that was agreed by parliament over 25 years ago that no one should sit in our parliament by way of an inherited title. “Over a quarter of a century later, hereditary peers remain while meaningful reform has stagnated. We have a duty to find a way forward.” The lord speaker, Michael Forsyth, offered his thanks to hereditary peers for their service in the upper chamber. Lord Forsyth of Drumlean said: “I would like to thank hereditary peers from all parties and none for their work in the House of Lords over many years. “Whatever views people may have of this constitutional change, it is sad to say goodbye to friends, who in many cases have contributed significantly to debate and scrutiny and to our institutional memory. “Recognising their contribution is not about party politics but acknowledging the value of service and commitment, and I am proud to do so and to thank them.” The king’s speech is expected to take place in the second week of May, day...
Tottenham manager Igor Tudor insists his decision to substitute Antonin Kinsky was done to "protect" the team, after the goalkeeper was replaced by Guglielmo Vicario after just 17 minutes, with Tottenham already 3-0 down to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their last-16 tie in the Champions League. READ MORE: Atletico Madrid 5-2 Tottenham Available to UK users only.
Tottenham manager Igor Tudor insists his decision to substitute Antonin Kinsky was done to "protect" the team, after the goalkeeper was replaced by Guglielmo Vicario after just 17 minutes, with Tottenham already 3-0 down to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their last-16 tie in the Champions League. READ MORE: Atletico Madrid 5-2 Tottenham Available to UK users only.
If you've been keeping tabs on mortgage rates, you may be aware that they're generally down this year compared to last year. And in late February, mortgage rates even dipped below 6%. You may be wondering if you should buy a home as a retiree in light of today's borrowing rates. But here's why it may not quite be the right time. Homes are still expensive While it's true that mortgage rates are low...
If you've been keeping tabs on mortgage rates, you may be aware that they're generally down this year compared to last year. And in late February, mortgage rates even dipped below 6%. You may be wondering if you should buy a home as a retiree in light of today's borrowing rates. But here's why it may not quite be the right time. Homes are still expensive While it's true that mortgage rates are lower these days than in recent years, historically speaking, they're not low. And homes are not necessarily affordable. The National Association of Realtors reports that in January, the median existing-home sale price rose to $396,800. January also marked the 31st month in a row of year-over-year home price increases. In February, Redfin reported that Americans now need to earn $111,252 a year to afford the typical U.S. home that's for sale. But according to recent research from The Motley Fool, the average retirement income for Americans 65 and older today is $83,950, and Americans of retirement age have a median income of $54,710. If we use median income as our benchmark, the typical retiree only earns about half of what's needed to afford a typical home today. Clearly, that's a big mismatch. So unless you have a higher retirement income, now may not be the right time to buy a home. You may instead want to wait for prices to come down and for mortgage rates to slide even more. Don't forget about additional costs When you rent a home, you write your landlord a single check every month that covers your housing costs. When you own one, you have to pay for a lot of extras -- property taxes, maintenance, repairs, and in some cases, HOA fees. Those costs could add up and strain your retirement budget in a serious way. So even though mortgage rates may be a bit lower now, and buying a home may be less expensive than it once was, that doesn't mean you're in a strong position to do so. Before you start looking at homes, calculate your retirement income. Factor in Social Security, re...
What happened According to a SEC filing dated February 17, 2026, BANK Hapoalim BM established a new position in First Trust Capital Strength ETF (FTCS 0.95%), acquiring 159,000 shares. The fund’s quarter-end position in FTCS was valued at $14.71 million, capturing both the trade and stock price changes over the period. What else to know This marks a new entry for FTCS, now representing 1.28% of BA...
What happened According to a SEC filing dated February 17, 2026, BANK Hapoalim BM established a new position in First Trust Capital Strength ETF (FTCS 0.95%), acquiring 159,000 shares. The fund’s quarter-end position in FTCS was valued at $14.71 million, capturing both the trade and stock price changes over the period. What else to know This marks a new entry for FTCS, now representing 1.28% of BANK Hapoalim BM’s 13F reportable AUM Top five holdings after the filing: NASDAQ:TSLA: $306.69 million (26.7% of AUM) NYSEMKT:VOO: $127.13 million (11.1% of AUM) NASDAQ:QQQ: $76.22 million (6.6% of AUM) NYSEMKT:LQD: $59.05 million (5.1% of AUM) NYSEMKT:SPY: $39.40 million (3.4% of AUM) As of February 13, 2026, FTCS shares were priced at $97.69, up 9.2% over the past year, underperforming the S&P 500 by 2.6 percentage points. ETF overview Metric Value AUM $8.45 billion Dividend Yield 0.97% Price (as of market close 2/13/26) $97.69 1-Year Total Return 6.19% ETF snapshot First Trust Capital Strength ETF (FTCS) is a large-scale equity ETF with a market capitalization of $8.28 billion, designed to deliver exposure to financially robust U.S. companies. The fund's disciplined approach emphasizes balance sheet strength and consistent performance, appealing to investors seeking stability within their equity allocation. The ETF’s Investment strategy focuses on tracking an index of well-capitalized companies with strong market positions, aiming to provide stability and performance over time. Its portfolio is primarily composed of U.S. common stocks and REITs selected for capital strength, with at least 90% of assets allocated to index constituents. What this transaction means for investors Equity investors often seek ways to remain invested in the stock market while limiting exposure to companies with weaker balance sheets. The First Trust Capital Strength ETF takes that approach by tracking an index that selects U.S. companies based on measures such as return on equity, return on asset...
Clerc told the BBC: "We have traditional contracting mechanisms that pass on this fuel fluctuation, whether they go up or they go down, onto the customers. So what it means is that ultimately, in this case, these increases will pass to our customers and will pass on to the consumers."
Clerc told the BBC: "We have traditional contracting mechanisms that pass on this fuel fluctuation, whether they go up or they go down, onto the customers. So what it means is that ultimately, in this case, these increases will pass to our customers and will pass on to the consumers."
Setting the right direction has never been more essential as Hong Kong navigates a critical and transformative stage under the country’s new five-year development plan. In this regard, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po delivered a timely and vital reassurance that the city positions itself as a key driver for the country’s development, far more than just a testing ground for experimental initiat...
Setting the right direction has never been more essential as Hong Kong navigates a critical and transformative stage under the country’s new five-year development plan. In this regard, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po delivered a timely and vital reassurance that the city positions itself as a key driver for the country’s development, far more than just a testing ground for experimental initiatives. Hong Kong’s strong economic fundamentals and international connectivity give it an edge in helping the country go global with various initiatives, but Chan stressed that the city was “more than just” the country’s financial sandbox. “We are also a driver for the country’s development,” he said. “A strong country must have a very strong international financial centre, and here, I underscore ‘international’.” The finance chief made the comment as he addressed a wide range of issues pertinent to the city’s future at the South China Morning Post’s “Redefining Hong Kong 2026: Budget Edition” conference on Monday. In the wake of various concerns over his government budget delivered two weeks ago, the bullish reading of the city’s significance and continued relevance to national development is a confidence booster. Advertisement The conference, attended by top business executives and diplomats, moved beyond the debates over tapping into the Exchange Fund to pay for infrastructure development and sweeteners for the public. Instead, it focused on ways to strengthen economic competitiveness and realise Hong Kong’s potential. The assertion of the city as a dynamic driver for China’s next stage of growth reframes its role in the nation’s development. Against persistent economic headwinds and intensifying geopolitics, the government is right in aligning its own development with the state’s 15th five-year plan that emphasises high-quality growth through innovation and finance. There is much to gain by giving full play to the city’s unique advantages. Its role as a “superconnector” ...
(RTTNews) - The Japanese stock market rebounded on Tuesday, one session after ending the two-day winning streak in which it had added more than 370 points or 0.7 percent. The Nikkei 225 now sits just shy of the 54,250-point plateau although it may sputter on Wednesday. The global forecast for the Asian markets is fairly flat as traders await further developments in the Middle East conflict. The Eu...
(RTTNews) - The Japanese stock market rebounded on Tuesday, one session after ending the two-day winning streak in which it had added more than 370 points or 0.7 percent. The Nikkei 225 now sits just shy of the 54,250-point plateau although it may sputter on Wednesday. The global forecast for the Asian markets is fairly flat as traders await further developments in the Middle East conflict. The European markets were up and the U.S. bourses were mixed and flat and the Asian markets are likely to follow the latter lead. The Nikkei finished sharply higher on Tuesday following gains from the financial shares, automobile producers and technology stocks. For the day, the index soared 1,519.67 points or 2.88 percent to finish at 54,248.39 after trading between 53,487.19 and 54,694.89. Among the actives, Nissan Motor accelerated 2.81 percent, while Mazda Motor rallied 2.20 percent, Toyota Motor vaulted 2.36 percent, Honda Motor improved 0.86 percent, Softbank Group jumped 2.57 percent, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial collected 2.12 percent, Mizuho Financial soared 4.45 percent, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial and Panasonic Holdings both expanded 2.80 percent, Mitsubishi Electric strengthened 3.48 percent, Sony Group climbed 1.70 percent and Hitachi surged 4.54 percent. The lead from Wall Street offers little clarity as the major averages opened lower but quickly moved higher and spent most of the day in the green before a late fade saw them end mixed and little changed. The Dow dipped 34.29 points or 0.07 percent to finish at 47,706.51, while the NASDAQ perked 1.16 points or 0.01 percent to close at 22,697.10 and the S&P 500 fell 14.51 points or 0.21 percent to end at 6,781.48. The choppy trading on Wall Street came amid substantial volatility by the price of crude oil, with crude for April delivery plummeting almost 12 percent after soaring to nearly $120 a barrel on Monday. Crude oil prices plunged on Tuesday after Trump said that the ongoing war would end "very soon" but provided no ...