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We’ve seen a big improvement in the way many growth and early-stage stocks are acting over the last two weeks. Many of our stocks that sold off in March have been gaining some altitude back, and many of those that were acting well continue to do so.

Last year, there were at least 7.9 billion records—including credit card numbers, home addresses, phone numbers and other highly sensitive information—that were compromised by computer hacks, mainly through invasions of business networks.

Applied Materials (AMAT) moves from the Growth & Income Portfolio to the Growth Portfolio, and I suggest three semiconductor stocks for your consideration.

Value is back.
After nearly a decade of extreme underperformance versus growth stocks, overdue value stocks are flipping the script.


The dominance of growth stocks over the last eight years has been about as lopsided as the relative performance has been over the last 100 years.


But things are changing. Inflation is back. And rising interest rates are sure to follow. This economic recovery is shaping up to a lot different that the last one. This recovery is shaping up to be much better for value stocks. In fact, the role reversal is already underway. Value stocks are already outperforming growth stocks by about 15% so far this year. And it is likely just the beginning.


In this issue, I highlight one of the most dominant technology companies in the world. It is one that has stumbled lately and given way to the competition. But the stock is cheap, wallowing near the four-year low, with limited downside. It is also poised ahead of a likely renewed growth phase. The timing could be just right.

The market’s big-picture outlook remains excellent, and we’re keeping most of our focus on that. However, there’s no doubt that we’re starting to see some growth stock wobbles, as today was the 3rd day of distribution in the group while money rotates into the broader market. That’s no reason to be defensive, but we are selling one name tonight that flashed abnormal action and holding a bit more than 30% cash on the sideline for now. Our goal is to ditch any laggards or names that crack and eventually replace them with big leaders, some of which are in a rest phase that should result in higher-odds entries.

The market remains in good shape, generally shrugging off a stream of bad news by marching higher. Pullbacks are certainly possible, but most investors are positioned cautiously, which is another arrow in the bulls’ quiver when looking down the road.
In tonight’s issue, we’re putting another chunk of money to work by adding two half-sized positions (one in a stock we already own). That will leave us with 25% in cash.
Elsewhere in the issue, we write about a couple of additional positive longer-term signs for the market (one based on money flows, one based on the market itself), look at some new ideas and review all of our Model Portfolio holdings.

The market’s evidence remains mostly bullish, so we do, too, but it’s a selective advance—most indexes are doing just OK, but growth-oriented stocks and sectors have put on a great show. In the near-term, there are signs of exuberance, and while that doesn’t mean you should sell your strong stocks, it is a sign to keep your feet on the ground.

In the Model Portfolio, most of our stocks are performing well, but we’re standing pat for the moment, holding about 20% in cash as we look for solid entry points in fresh leading stocks.

In tonight’s issue, we review the market, all of our stocks and even write about one growth sector that’s showing extreme power of late—we already own two of the leaders in the group, but many look great. We also touch on the sentiment backdrop, while highlighting a few potential new buys if things settle down a bit.

By Roger Conrad in Canadian Edge: “Extendicare Real Estate Investment Trust (EXE.UN on the Toronto stock exchange or OTC in the U.S. as EXETF) has long caught my eye in the health care space as an owner and operator of long-term care facilities in the U.S....

Microsoft wants to pay $44 billion - perhaps the largest technology purchase ever - to buy Yahoo! Why? To compete with Google! But does it make sense? Well, from a big-picture point of view, anything that can thwart Google’s dominance of Internet search and advertising probably makes sense for Microsoft, and if they’ve got the cash, there are worse places to spend it. But does this make for an attractive investment opportunity? Do you want to own a piece of Microsoft/Yahoo!, recognizing that the Microsoft part is eight times the size of the Yahoo! part?

For almost everything we buy in life, price matters. From gasoline to automobiles, cheeseburgers to chateaubriand, we’ve learned that the lower the price, the better the deal.