Dividend-Paying Stocks May Lead a Trend

Dividend-Paying Stocks May Lead a Trend: "Dividends -- regular payments to shareholders out of a company's retained earnings -- have long provided a boost to total return, and now analysts say they could help drive the stock market higher. Since stocks struck their mid-April lows, the best performers have been in sectors with the fastest dividend-per-share growth in recent years, said Jeff Kleintop, chief investment strategist for PNC Financial Services Group in Philadelphia. Those with weaker dividend-per-share growth have lagged.
'Back in the old days, people bought stock for the dividends,' Kleintop said. 'It's only been in the last couple decades people focused more on stocks going up than what they paid in dividends. And now that may finally be reversing.'"

3 Major U.S. Indexes See Best Week of '05

3 Major U.S. Indexes See Best Week of '05: "NEW YORK (AP) -- Investors taking profits after the week's big advance sent many stocks falling Friday, but the lack of a wholesale selloff left many on Wall Street pleased with the market's resiliency. The Nasdaq composite index managed a small gain, and all three major indexes had their best week of 2005."

Almost Always, Penny Stocks Are Not The Bargain They May Seem

Almost Always, Penny Stocks Are Not The Bargain They May Seem: "Many folks look for deals no matter what they're shopping for -- even when it comes to stocks.
Bargain hunters figure they can make a big profit if a cheap stock they own goes up just a few cents. Why not load up on a variety of penny shares, they say, instead of focusing on one or two pricier stocks?
Sure, that may sound like a good theory. But overall, such stocks carry higher risk. Stocks selling for less than $5 a share often trade at a low price for a reason. The company may have logged a recent string of sales or earnings disappointments or is being targeted in a probe. Its sector could be hitting a rough patch as well."

Gems from the Berkshire Hathaway Meeting

Gems from the Berkshire Hathaway Meeting: "I thought that I would pass along a few of the more insightful--and humorous--gems from Warren and Charlie. Note that this is not a comprehensive list--merely what I found interesting and had time to write down. Also note that I am not a good secretary and may not have recorded things verbatim. If you want the full experience, you'll need to buy a Berkshire share for yourself (we think they're a good deal right now, by the way, and the B shares are affordable) and head to Omaha in May of 2006."

How to Take Control of Your Credit Cards

How to Take Control of Your Credit Cards: "I am all for taking credit where credit is due, but when it comes to credit cards, way too many of you are overdoing it. For Americans who don't pay their entire credit card bill each month, the average balance is close to $4,000. And when we zoom in on higher-income folks those with annual incomes between $75,000 and $100,000 the average balance clocks in at nearly $8,000. If you�re paying, say, 18 percent interest on an $8,000 balance, and you make only the 2 percent minimum payment due each month, you are going to end up paying more than $22,000 in interest over the course of the 54 years it will take to get the balance down to zero. "