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Who Pays U.S. Income Taxes (and Who Doesn't)
The federal individual income tax has been all over the news since President Donald Trump presented Congress with an outline for sweeping tax reform. It remains to be seen whether Congress will....
12 Facts About Social Security You Didn't Know
Social Security is the major source of income for many elderly Americans, as well as for millions of dependents, disabled workers, and survivors. Despite the enormity of the program, there is a....
Want to Retire in Comfort? You'll Need to Take Some Risks
When you're investing your hard-earned money for retirement, the last thing you want is to lose the money intended to provide for your future. Fear of investment losses may prompt you to consider....
Fraud Alert vs. Credit Freeze: Which is Best?
Victims of identity theft have two primary options to protect themselves from further fraud: a credit freeze or a fraud alert. Both options make it harder for someone else to open a new account in....
3 Stocks at 52-Week Highs Still Worth Buying
Investors are often wary of stocks trading at or near new highs. That's understandable: If a stock has recently had a big run-up in price, it's easy for investors to feel that they've missed the....
3 Healthcare Dividend Stocks Ideal for Retirees
What does an ideal investment portfolio look like for retirees? The answer to that question varies based on each individual's financial position and goals. However, nearly every retiree wants to....
3 Monster Stocks in the Making
Halloween is right around the corner, which makes it the perfect time to look for monster stocks in the making. What are some characteristics these stocks might have? Leading market positions,....
Medicare Is Changing. Here Are 3 Things Investors Need to Know
I recently attended a conference at the prestigious Brookings Institute that was all about Medicare payment reform. The event drew an older crowd, with suit-and-tie attire and coffee that was....
Can Altria Actually Win by Attacking Cigarettes?
For decades, Altria Group (NYSE: MO) has relied on the success of its Marlboro brand and other lines of cigarettes to power the bulk of its sales and profits. Yet the company has faced litigation,....
$50,000 Per Year in Prescription Drugs? You Likely Know Someone Who Used at Least That Much
For most Americans, $50,000 is a lot of money. Six out of 10 households in the U.S. have make less than that amount per year (based on adjusted gross income). But, for a growing number of....
These Are the Biggest Winners When Netflix, Inc. Raises Subscription Prices
Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) is rasing its subscription prices for American customers. Two of the three available plans have already seen their monthly fees increased by a buck or two for new....
Caterpillar: Buy at the High?
With Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT) shares jumping 45% over the past year, and being up 55% from their 52-week low, investors are right to wonder whether buying the heavy equipment maker's stock is a....
Coca-Cola Flexes Its Venture Capital Muscle With Purchase of Topo Chico
Global beverage titan Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) recently announced the $220 million purchase of Monterrey, Mexico-based Topo Chico, the leading sparkling water label in Northern Mexico, which has also....
CenturyLink and Level 3 Move 1 Step Closer to Final Approval
Last week, CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL) and Level 3 Communications (NYSE: LVLT) inched closer to sealing their merger, nearly one year after the deal was announced. The Department of Justice approved....
Why General Motors Is Suddenly a Wall Street Darling
Suddenly, investors are super-interested in General Motors (NYSE: GM). Shares of the Detroit auto giant were up over 11% last week; over the last three months, they've jumped 29%.In fact, GM....
Will Subscribers Balk at Netflix's Latest Price Increase?
Video-streaming pioneer Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) has been one of the hottest stocks on the market, notching a 200% gain over the past three years. The number of subscribers has more than....
3 Companies That Are Changing How Business Gets Done
Tectonic shifts in how business is done can happen seemingly overnight, driven by companies willing to bet that the status quo isn't good enough. The companies responsible for these changes don't....
Will Ambarella's Latest Chip Be Enough?
Ambarella (NASDAQ: AMBA) is desperately hunting for new growth avenues as its prospects in the drone and the action camera market appear to be diminishing. Customers such as GoPro and DJI are....
Google Desperately Tries to Counter Snapchat
Alphabet's (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL) Google could soon launch "Stamp", a platform that clones the popular "Discover" media tab on Snap's (NYSE: SNAP) Snapchat. A recent Recode report claims....
How Tiffany & Co. Is Adapting to a Shifting Luxury Market
After two years of lackluster sales, Tiffany (NYSE: TIF) installed new CEO Alessandro Bogliolo in early October to revitalize its top line.The Industry Focus: Consumer Goods cast continues its....
Amazon Is Bringing the Echo to India and Japan. Here's Why It Matters
Just after announcing a slew of new Echo devices, Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) said last week that the new Echo, Echo Plus, and Echo Dot are now available in India by invitation-only, and that the....
Why IMAX Corporation Jumped 25% in September
Shares of IMAX (NYSE: IMAX) surged more than 25% last month, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence. The entertainment technology company received a boost from a....
The Best Growth Stock in Gaming
Most of the major gaming companies trading in the U.S. have been in expansion mode for most of the last two decades. MGM Resorts (NYSE: MGM), Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS), and Caesars Entertainment....
Your 5-Step Guide to Handling the Equifax Breach
Identity theft has become a huge problem in recent years, and it's only likely to get bigger in the immediate future. The data breach that credit reporting bureau Equifax (NYSE: EFX) suffered from....
In Your 70s? 3 Stocks You Might Want to Buy
Even in your 70s, you'll probably want some of your portfolio invested in stocks, or stock-based funds. After all, a typical 70-year-old male can expect over 14 years of life ahead, and a typical....