SKARBECK: A rational approach works, but investing whims lurk
Investing is simple, but it’s not easy.
Ken Skarbeck
Articles
SKARBECK: To become sharp investor, learn from the masters
A great way to improve your skills in any craft is to analyze the methods of other successful people in the field.
SKARBECK: Vectren deal is a huge winner for its shareholders
A tip of the cap to the board and management of Evansville-based Vectren on the sale of the company to Houston-based CenterPoint Energy.
SKARBECK: Stock-market volatility actually can be good for investors
Just because volatility increases in the stock market doesn’t mean you will lose money or that your investments are riskier.
SKARBECK: Beware of companies using non-GAAP reporting
It has become common practice for U.S companies to thumb their nose at accounting standards in their earnings reports.
SKARBECK: Forum covered broad terrain, from ‘second-level thinking’ to fraud
The CFA Society of Indianapolis held its 2018 Annual Investment Forum this month, and a variety of invited speakers provided for an interesting day of discussion.
SKARBECK: Investors finally realizing hedge funds are shaky bet
When you consider that hedge-fund fees are often spread around among a host of “placement agents, you begin to understand why the hedge-fund industry has grown to near $3 trillion.
SKARBECK: Volatility gives investors reality check on expectations
In the 15 months after the presidential election, the stock market rose as if it were on rails. As the calendar turned to February, market volatility returned with a vengeance.
SKARBECK: Stock markets overseas may have more upside
With the United States perhaps in the later stages of an extended bull market, many pundits expect international and emerging stocks to outperform domestic stocks going forward.
SKARBECK: Don’t let fear of missing out drive investment decisions
As stocks close in on completing the ninth year of the bull market, the recently enacted tax reform plan has acted as an accelerant. The reduction in the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent will add significantly to company profits. A key question is whether the lower tax rate will translate to […]
SKARBECK: Rebalancing portfolio not always best option
In the current market environment, the enterprising investor would say year-end auto rebalancers are making the mistake of selling highly valued stocks, only to buy even more overpriced bonds.
SKARBECK: Some new ETF products are downright wacky
ETFs can be designed to track any index or concept you can dream up. Today, a degree of silliness is showing up in many of the new ETF product offerings.
SKARBECK: Patrick Industries soars after surviving recession
A great example of a management team that skillfully navigated the brutal economy of 2008-2009 and, over the ensuing nine years, grew a spectacular business is Elkhart’s Patrick Industries.
SKARBECK: Identify good management for successful investing
While financial statements provide the numbers used to value a business, management policies are more subjective, and it takes time to determine whether their strategies were effective.
SKARBECK: Constant buying, selling of stocks makes no sense
If you owned a small manufacturing business here in town, would you be looking to sell it in a few months to buy a restaurant, only to tire of that soon and sell to purchase a software company?
SKARBECK: Obsession with short term is hurting our economy
Large investors and academics believe companies are not investing enough into their businesses, partly because of pressure on management to hit quarterly numbers.
SKARBECK: Amazon has escaped tough antitrust scrutiny
Today, with the rapid technological change taking place in many industries, some observers are beginning to ask if we have entered a new age for antitrust. The company that is regularly targeted for this discussion is Amazon.
SKARBECK: HSAs are powerful way to save for retirement
Health savings accounts are one of the most attractive investment vehicles available in the marketplace.
SKARBECK: Is future really so dire for traditional retailers?
Are brand-name retailers doomed to long-term decline due to competition from Amazon? Or will there be a “reversion to the mean?
SKARBECK: After scandal, LIBOR begins five-year phaseout
Small changes in the level of LIBOR had significant effects on the profitability of large banks’ loan portfolios. This sowed the seeds of the LIBOR scandal.