Industry Focus

All things being equal, higher dividend yields are better. However, many dividend stocks’ high yields are signs of trouble. In this episode of Industry Focus: Financials, host Michael Douglass and Fool.com contributor Matt Frankel discuss what a yield trap is, how to detect one, and a few examples of stocks that have characteristics of yield traps.   

Direct download: 20180430_IF_Financials.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:30pm EDT

Facebook shareholders can breath a big sigh of relief! The company posted solid earnings that had the market forgetting all about the company's data issues. And Twitter posted its second GAAP profitable quarter, but Wall Street wasn't as thrilled.

Direct download: 20180427_IF_Tech.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:30pm EDT

This week a Virgin America plane took its last flight under the Virgin umbrella. With the unification of the two brands complete, and a rocky 2017 behind them, can the airline operator start to right the ship in 2018?

Direct download: 20180426_IF_Energy.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:30pm EDT

Promo: GW Pharmaceuticals scores a big thumbs up from a panel of FDA experts for its marijuana-based drug. Plus, Biogen pays a $1 billion dollars for expanded access to Ionis’ novel pipeline.

Direct download: IF_heathlcare_04.25.2018.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:30pm EDT

Whether you’re a first-time stock buyer or seasoned Fool with years of experience in the market, stock screens can be a powerful tool of discovery for any investor. We cover the basics of creating a stock screen, what metrics to employ, where to run them, and how to handle the end results. Free your mind, Fool!

Direct download: 20180424_IF_ConsumerGoods.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:30pm EDT

Here’s a roundup of the past week’s news from Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and SunTrust.

Direct download: 20180423_IF_Financials.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:30pm EDT

Looking for some new stocks for your watch list? We talk about why we're excited about Paylocity, Hubspot, and AppFolio.

Direct download: IF_Tech_04.20.2018.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 11:06am EDT

We tackle a host of news items in Oil and Gas including; British Columbia halts development of the TransMountain pipeline, consumers face high prices at the pumps, and China’s new intelligent highway will be able to charge electric vehicles as they drive. We also pitched two stocks we’re currently working.

Direct download: 20180419_IF_Energy.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:30pm EDT

Alkermes’ ALKS-5461 gets a do-over, Celldex's lead drug is a bust, and the good and bad of Johnson & Johnson's Q1 earnings report. 

Thanks to Blooom for supporting Industry Focus. Get a month free with blooom401k.com/fool and code fool.

Direct download: 20180418_IF_Healthcare.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:30pm EDT

Down about 20% from its all-time highs, Ulta stock has seen dampened investor enthusiasm after an otherwise amazing 10-year run as a public company. Listener Joseph wants to know why Ulta stock has struggled as Estee Lauder, another major name in skincare and cosmetics, soars to new all-time highs.

Direct download: 20180417_IF_ConsumerGoods.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:30pm EDT

Now that the “big four” U.S. banks have reported earnings, let’s take a look to see what investors need to know.

Direct download: 20180416_IF_Financials.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:30pm EDT

There have always been rumors of a paid version of Facebook. Recent comments from Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg prove its something management has been thinking about, but what would it actually look like?

Slack: Where work happens. Go to slack.com to learn more.

Direct download: 20180413_IF_Tech.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 4:04pm EDT

NV5 and Pattern Energy Group have both been previously pitched on the show. And, both stocks have had a tumultuous time over the past few months. We discuss if recent events have changed the fundamental thesis for each.

 

Direct download: 20180412_IF_Energy.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:30pm EDT

Biogen misses out on a huge deal that Novartis completed with AveXis. Plus, Incyte's phase 3 implosion, and what it means for immuno-oncology more broadly.

Direct download: 20180411_IF_Healthcare.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:30pm EDT

The $55 billion skincare and make-up giant has seen its shares gain nearly 80% in the past year as robust top and bottom line growth attract investors to the company. For the first time on Industry Focus, we look at Estee Lauder’s impressive brand portfolio, latest results, and management’s vision for the future.

Direct download: 20180410_IF_ConsumerGoods.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:30pm EDT

We’re often told to focus on one thing and do it well – but in today’s episode, we cover three sectors (banks, REITs, and insurers) where businesses may be going in the opposite direction, preferring to try and own more of the value chain. Understanding the tradeoffs between specialization and diversification is key to investing smart in these sectors.

Direct download: 20180409_IF_Financials.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:30pm EDT

Shares of the music streamer are now on the market! With a ballpark on The Street's view of what the company is worth, we try a few different angles to put its valuation into context.

Direct download: 20180406_IF_Technology.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:30pm EDT

The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia announced last week a plan to partner with Japanese-based SoftBank to fund a $200 billion solar farm in the desert. We discuss the project, the state of the U.S. solar industry, and solar stocks to buy (and avoid).

Direct download: 20180405_IF_Energy.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:30pm EDT

Takeda may buy Shire, but it might prove costly. Also, the FDA slaps Alkermes with a dreaded Refusal to File letter.

Direct download: 20180404_IF_Healthcare.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:30pm EDT

ADT and its private equity backers have built up the leading name in monitored security with $4.3 billion of revenue in 2017. But after pricing an IPO in January, shares of ADT have tumbled nearly 50%. Is this the bargain opportunity investors should be following?

Direct download: 20180403_IF_ConsumerGoods.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:30pm EDT

A lot of investors like big bank stocks for their dividends and perceived safety. We think, though, that some big trends are lining up to make their business models increasingly tough to sustain. In this episode, we lay out five different areas tech is changing the game for banks.

Direct download: 20180402_IF_Financials.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:30pm EDT