Investing Insights

Tori Dunlap, the author of Financial Feminist, talks about why women should stop feeling guilty about their spending and why they should keep their finances separate from their partner’s. Her First $100K Loud Budgeting Why We Spend and How to Not Feel Guilty About It Should You Rent or Buy a Home? Women’s Economic Empowerment Financial Education as Protest Making More Women Rich How to Be Fearless...

Mark Miller, author of Retirement Reboot , explains why Social Security benefits are taxable, and how a bill aiming to eliminate taxes on Social Security would pay for the program.   Read more about these topics from this episode. Salesforce Earnings: Firm Declares a Dividend https://www.morningstar.com/stocks/salesforce-earnings-firm-declares-dividend Snowflake Earnings: Revenue Outlook Disappoin...

Walmart shares are overvalued, but Nvidia and Home Depot are fairly valued. Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway released its 13F for Q42023, and only two ETFs were on it – one of them earns the coveted Gold rating.  Walmart’s Q4 Exceeded Expectations Nvidia’s Stellar Quarter and AI Demand Home Depot Felt Macro Pressures in Q4 Berkshire Hathaway Releases Its 13F SPY and VOO People and Process Pillar...

Maciej Kowara, strategist for Morningstar Research Services, and Alec Lucas, director of manager research for Morningstar Research Services, talk about what surprised them about their research about bond investments. Typical Bond Portfolio How to Create Portfolio Optimized for Best Risk-Adjusted Returns Sharpe-Optimized Portfolio   Bank Loans and Corporate Bonds Why Should Investors Trust This Por...

Noah Rohr, equity analyst for Morningstar Research Services, explains how Walmart’s stock split will work, and what he’s looking for in the retailer’s earnings report. Sylvester Flood, senior product manager for Morningstar Inc, tells Ruth Saldanha, editorial manager for Morningstar Research Inc, why the demand for spot bitcoin ETFs is expected to grow.   Disney’s Climbing Margins in Q1 Ford’s Cut...

Dan Wasiolek, a senior equity analyst for Morningstar Research Services, discusses the exciting opportunity to invest in gambling stocks. Larry Swedroe, author and Morningstar contributor, explains why chasing market performance and factoring in political beliefs into investing decisions can cost investors. Meta’s First Dividend Boeing on Pause for Quality Control Novo Nordisk’s Strong Sales in Q4...

Interest rates could likely be coming down, we discuss when, and we also talk about how much an ETF costs. And as the Magnificent Seven results start to roll in, are some of these stocks a buy? 00:33 Tesla’s Slower Growth in 2024 01:37 Verizon’s Strong Q4 02:36 Netflix’s Booming Subscriber Growth 03:31 The Total Cost of Owning an ETF 04:19 Why Do the Costs of ETFs Vary? 04:49 How Should Investors...

John Rekenthaler, vice president of research for Morningstar Research Services, discusses IBM’s 401(k) plan change and why many workers would want something similar. Nic Owens, an industrials equity analyst for Morningstar Research Services, talks about how Boeing’s 737 safety issues affect the company’s outlook and stock. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing’s Improved Outlook Citigroup’s Disappoin...

Sarah Hansen, Morningstar Inc markets reporter, talks about different scenarios that could provide a boost to value investing in 2024. Bryan Armour, director of passive strategies research for North America for Morningstar Research Services, explains why spot bitcoin ETFs are the best option on the fund market for bitcoin investors. 00:45 BlackRock’s Earnings Surpassed Morningstar’s Expectations 0...

Sean Dunlop, an equity analyst for Morningstar Research Services, talks about how some restaurants are using artificial intelligence to tailor their menus to customers’ tastes and whether tip-flation is here to stay.   Tech and the Restaurant Industry   Can AI Speed Up Tech Evolution? How Digital Adoption Can Grow Bottom Lines "Tipflation” Frustration Loyalty Programs Lead to Higher Customer Spend...

Jack Shannon, a senior manager research analyst for Morningstar Research Services, explains why some active fund managers’ bets on their highest conviction stock picks paid off, but their portfolio performance may not have shown it. What is a “Big Bet”? Active Managers Are Increasing Their Big Bets Did Big Bets Help or Hurt Portfolios? Wagering and the Magnificent Seven Can Market Concentration Ex...

Tom Lauricella, Morningstar Inc’s global markets editor and Smart Investor newsletter editor, discusses some of this year’s biggest headlines including the Federal Reserve signaling an end to hiking interest rates, the bond market’s performance, and the AI boom. What to Expect from the Fed in 2024 Inflation and Housing   Dropping Bond Yields  The Magnificent Seven Stocks Nvidia Stock vs Cisco Stoc...

Sarah Hansen, Morningstar Inc markets reporter, discusses why optimism and worry loom over the holiday shopping season. Gregg Warren, strategist for Morningstar Research Services, talks about how Munger’s passing will impact Berkshire and his outlook for the company. He also shares one of his favorite quotes from the sharp-witted investing legend.  Instacart’s Competition Lululemon’s Q3 Beats Morn...

With interest rates likely to stay on the higher side, investors should realize that there is money to be made in rates staying higher for longer, and we have three ETF picks that could help you do just that.     Timestamps: Salesforce’s Strong Quarter Intuit’s Solid Top and Bottom Lines Snowflake’s Mixed Quarter Results What is Driving Interest in Active ETFs? Why Are There Such High ETF Flows? A...

Adam Fleck, director of research for ratings and ESG for Morningstar Research Services, explains why market-timing underperforms a hands-off strategy. Leslie Norton, editorial director for sustainability for Morningstar Inc., discusses what to expect at COP28 and the global push to net zero. NVIDIA’s Outstanding Fiscal Q3 Revenue   Cisco’s Gloomy Full-Year Outlook Shopping Boosted Walmart’s Q3, Bu...

Margaret Giles, Morningstar Inc editor, discusses how to use HSA benefits and the 2024 HSA contribution limits. Greg Carlson, Morningstar Research Services senior manager research analyst, talks about who Morningstar has ranked the top HSA providers for spending and investing.   What is an HSA? HSA vs. FSA HSA Limits Are Increasing in 2024 How To Maximize the Triple tax Benefit How to Switch an HS...

Nic Owens, industrials equity analyst for Morningstar Research Services, discusses how Southwest is preparing to avoid another holiday travel meltdown, the airline industry’s outlook for ticket prices, and what travel stocks to check out. Uber’s Profit and Demand Cruised Ahead Roblox Reported Rise in Global Growth   Kellanova Benefitted From Higher Prices  Holiday Travel Season and North American...

Sarah Hansen, Morningstar Inc markets reporter, explains the new normal of bond yields and interest rates and where investors can find fixed-income opportunities. Adam Fleck, director of research for ratings and ESG for Morningstar Research Services, discusses how companies with union workers can compete against non-union firms. Apple’s Solid Fiscal Fourth Quarter Eli Lilly’s Diabetes Drug Lift in...

Megan Pacholok, Morningstar Research Services senior manager research analyst, discusses BlackRock’s iShares target-date ETFs and how they compare to their mutual fund siblings.   Amazon Impressed in Q3 Google Ad Rebound Lifts Alphabet   Visa Benefits from Travel Bounce Back BlackRock’s Bring Back Target-Date ETFs Changes to the ETF Space What is BlackRock Offering?  ETFs vs. Mutual Funds Can Blac...

In today’s episode, Morningstar Research Services’ equities strategist Eric Compton talks about the U.S. banking sector after earnings, and we talk to Dave Sekera, the chief U.S. market strategist for Morningstar Research Services, about scary stocks.    Tesla’s Q3 Took a Hit Netflix’s Strong Subscriber Growth United Airlines Predicts Airline Industry Changes  5 Scary Stocks What Makes These Stock...

Mark Miller, “Retirement Reboot” author, explains the differences between traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage, and why timing is important when signing up for Medigap. Ryan Jackson, Morningstar Research Services manager research analyst, discusses how most actively managed funds outperformed their average passive peer over a 12-month period.   itigroup Q3 Earnings Crushed Estimates Strong...

Bryan Armour, director of passive strategies research for North America at Morningstar Research Services, discusses how investors and financial advisors are pushing down mutual fund and ETF fees. Fund Fees History   Fund Flow Trends Falling Fund Fees   What is Happening with Retirement Accounts? Is There a Shift in the Financial Advice Industry? Why Investors May Not See Savings   What is a ‘Green...

Tax expert Ed Slott explains why following some tax advice on TikTok could lead to an IRS audit. Jack Shannon, Morningstar Research Services’ senior manager research analyst, pits the valuation of privately held ByteDance against publicly traded rivals Meta and Snap. How are Companies like ByteDance Valued? Why Valuations Matter ByteDance and Tech’s 2023 Rally TikTok, Meta, and Snap   TikTok’s Bus...

Betsy Mayotte, founder of The Institute of Student Loan Advisors, explains the benefits of federal student loan repayment plans, and the loophole that makes Parent Plus loans eligible for the SAVE plan.   New-Home Sales Have Remained Resilient FedEx Missed Morningstar’s Expectations Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard Buyout   Student Loan Repayments and “The Institute of Student Loan Advisors” How To...

Also, why Morningstar thinks the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates earlier than projected. Dave Whiston, U.S. autos equity analyst for Morningstar Research Services, says the demands from the UAW strike could bankrupt the Big Three automakers. Apple’s Innovation in Q3 Smucker’s is Growing Its Snacking Portfolio Morningstar Expects More Deals from Disney   An Unprecedented UAW Strike What are...