If you’re like most income investors, you’re on the hunt for stocks and funds that can stand up to a storm these days. So that’s what I’m going to give you below—in the form of three “all-weather” closed-end funds (CEFs) kicking out an outsized 6.8% average yield. They’ve stood firm through every headwind imaginable—wars, pandemics, inflation, you name it—and have done nothing but profit over the long haul. Through all that, this trio has kicked out annualized total returns (with dividends reinvested) of 15%+ each. “Shock-Proofing” Your Portfolio, Crushing ETFs These funds’ stellar returns come from both the sector they…

Baidu Q4 Earnings Overview Baidu reported Q4 2024 financial results after the close in Hong Kong and before US markets opened this morning. Expectations going into the release were muted, especially following Founder and CEO Robin Li’s absence from President Xi’s historic private economy symposium attended by internet and technology entrepreneurs. In Li’s defense, the event timing could not have been worse with today’s financial release and the preparation around it. People often ask us about Baidu as the stock has struggled lately despite its AI focus. Today’s results provide one indication that financial metrics shrank year-over-year (YoY). The company’s…

T he stock market has never been higher, but that doesn’t mean it’s an easy time to start a fintech aimed at investors. In an industry saturated with legacy players like Vanguard, Fidelity, BlackRock and Charles Schwab that offer easy access to funds for retail investors with minuscule management fees, it’s difficult to scale fast enough to offer a product to retail investors at a competitive price. It wasn’t always so. Forbes put Robinhood on our very first Fintech 50 list in 2015. Back then, the startup was catalyzing the race to the bottom in fees by offering commission-free trading.…

Fraud is running rampant and getting progressively more sophisticated at permeating global financial networks, and businesses have been forced to increase their investments into stopping it and safeguarding their assets. According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers reported losing more than $10 billion to fraud for the first time in 2023, and private data suggests losses continued to grow in 2024. A new survey of 500 banks, credit unions and fintechs by fraud prevention firm Alloy found that around 60% of respondents reported an increase in fraud in 2024, with an additional 20% thinking it stayed around the same. Alloy,…

President Donald Trump’s ambition to finally solve the huge trade imbalance with Europe will condemn its automakers to an extended and debilitating argument over unfair tariffs. Hopes are fading that a quick settlement might be possible as the European Union concedes that yes, its 10% tariff is unfair and offers to change its rate to the U.S.’s 2.5%. The U.S. is complicating the issue with complaints about VAT, the EU’s 20% sales tax. A White House official, Stephen Miller, said the VAT charge makes the EU’s tariff an effective 30%, and this will have to be lowered. According to former…

The stock of Intel has been in freefall for 5 years. The tech sector marks a major turning point today with stories of Intel possibly being sold off with TSMC and Broadcom showing interest in acquiring separate segments. Although some people find this development shocking, it fits an analysis I have conducted over the years that illustrates the vital necessity of strategic change. Intel’s stock price is a sobering reminder that active maintenance of technology superiority is not permanent. The historical falls of titans like Kodak, Nokia, and BlackBerry, each of which misread the direction of their sector and failed…

The direction of President Donald Trump’s tariff strategy is becoming clearer. The idea of universal tariffs, where all imports are taxed at the same punitive rate, has been abandoned. Instead, the administration has opted for reciprocal tariffs, in which the U.S. matches the import duties levied by other countries. For example, if a country taxes cars made in the U.S. at a rate of 10%, the U.S. will impose the same 10% tax on cars imported from that country. This shift is welcome news for investors, U.S. consumers, and trading partners. As with most changes to international trade policy, the…

The health care sector is likely reacting to the uncertainty created by the effect of cuts to the federal budget now being implemented by one of three government branches: the executive aka the White House. The potential loss of Medicaid, for example, would have a huge impact on pharmaceuticals and related industries. And that’s just one example. With the Senate voting to make the anti vaccine proponent Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. as head of the Department of Health and Human Services in President Trump’s cabinet, questions about his guidance in that area trouble analysts who cover stocks affected. Investors in…

By GuruFocus The insurance conglomerate revealed its 4th-quarter portfolio update, revealing that it entered a new position in an alcoholic beverage company. Berkshire also trimmed its holding in Bank of America. Warren Buffett (Trades, Portfolio) recently submitted the 13F filing for the fourth quarter of 2024, providing insights into his investment moves during this period. Buffett is the most respected and successful investor in history, having been called “The Oracle of Omaha” for his impressive investing prowess. Buffett studied under the legendary Benjamin Graham at Columbia University; Graham had a major impact on Buffett’s life and investment strategies. Buffett is…

Consumers have kept the economy humming, but inflation fatigue has taken a toll. The new big idea is austerity, and it’s hitting luxury retail hardest. A sea change in the spending habits of the world’s consumer-driven economies appears to be gathering momentum, presenting an ominous challenge for the retail industry, most recently in the luxury space. The Gen Z “underconsumption” trend we discussed here last summer has expanded into this year’s broader social media meme—“No Buy 2025.” Younger consumers, especially in the U.S., have been embracing this burgeoning movement which encourages people to buy as little new merchandise as possible.…