Investing Insights

Morningstar Research Services’ Amy Arnott, portfolio strategist, and Gabe Denis, senior manager research analyst, discuss how the lines are blurring between robo-advisors and traditional financial advisors.   Timestamps: What's a Robo-Advisor? Investor Benefits From Robo-Advisors Did 2022 Stand Up Against 2023? Tax Loss Harvesting Limitations of Digital Investment Advice Robo-Advice vs. Human Advi...

In today’s episode, Morningstar Inc’s investment specialist Susan Dziubinski highlights three dividend stocks, while Kristoffer Inton, consumer equity strategist at Morningstar Research Services, talks all the latest developments in the cannabis space. Salesforce Soared Among the Clouds United Auto Workers Vote to Approve a Strike Best Buy’s Better Q2 Cannabis Stocks Slow Growth   HHS Recommends R...

In today’s episode, Russ Kinnel, director of manager research for Morningstar Research Services, talks about the 2003 mutual fund scandal that resulted in allegations of market-timing and late trading. He also discusses increased transparency and lessons for investors.   Timestamps: 00:44 Will Investors Try Birkenstock on For Size? 02:04 NVIDIA’s Sky-High Performance 03:32 Mutual Fund Scandal’s 20...

Episode notes: In today’s episode, Tom Lauricella, Morningstar Inc’s chief markets editor, talks about the strong economy and where investors can find some opportunities. Timestamps: Earnings Season Trends Apple and Amazon Earnings What Did We See from the Banks in Q2? Key Trends and the U.S. Economy  Will There Be a Recession?  Inflation Trends Fed and Interest Rates Outlook Stock Market Outlook...

In this two-part episode, Dan Romanoff, a senior equity analyst for Morningstar Research Services, talks about Microsoft’s AI advantage and its closest competition.   Timestamps: Big Tech and AI What Gives the More Established Companies an Edge? Small Companies and AI What’s Next for Microsoft and AI? How to Integrate AI Will People Have to Pay to Interact With for Artificial Intelligence? AI Hype...

: In this two-part episode, Dan Romanoff, a senior equity analyst for Morningstar Research Services, talks about Microsoft’s AI advantage and its closest competition.   Timestamps: OpenAI’s Origin Story  OpenAI Dropped ChatGPT-4 Microsoft and Open AI Partnership What is AI’s Market Size? NVIDIA’s Role in Microsoft's AI   Read about topics from this episode.  After Earnings, Is Microsoft Stock a Bu...

In today’s episode, Preston Caldwell, senior U.S. economist for Morningstar Research Services, explains why he thinks the Federal Reserve is done raising interest rates and when he expects the cuts to start.   Meta’s “App-y” Family Microsoft’s Strong Q4 Barbie Boost Could Fall  Interest Rates Outlook Will There Be Future Interest Rate Hikes? Inflation Is Falling The Economy is Strong How Long Will...

In today’s episode, Madeline Hume, a NEXT senior research analyst for Morningstar Research Services, talks about how high cash rates will affect bonds.   Netflix Surpassed Expectations United Airlines Q2 Results Soared PNC Projected Slower Growth  Inflation, Cash, and Bonds Bond Outlook 2023 Why Should Investors Consider Bonds? Opportunity Costs of Holding Money in Bond Funds Income In Investor’s...

In today’s episode, Ryan Jackson, a manager research analyst for Morningstar Research Services, talks about how the Nasdaq 100 rebalancing will affect Invesco QQQ Trust and other funds tracking the growth-focused index. Timestamps JPMorgan Starts Strong in Q3  Threads Breaks Records, but Will It Produce Profits?  Uber and Dominos Deliver a New Deal The Nasdaq 100 Needs Changing  What is the Nasdaq...

In today’s episode, Morningstar Inc’s Dr. Danielle Labotka, behavioral scientist, and Sam Lamas, senior behavioral researcher, explore the emotions around asking for help with money.   How Many People in the U.S. Work with Financial Advisors? Financial Need and Financial Advisors Most Common Reasons for Hiring a Financial Advisor Behavioral Coaching What If It’s Not a Match? What Should You Ask Yo...

In today’s episode, Morningstar Inc’s Sam Lamas, senior behavioral researcher, and Dr. Danielle Labotka, behavioral scientist, discuss the importance of setting expectations on both sides.   Why Do Investors Stop Working with Financial Advisors? 6 Most Common Reasons to Fire an Advisor What Are Investors Actually Looking For? Quality, Cost, and Performance Factor Money Conversations with Your Advi...

In today’s episode, Manan Agarwal, quantitative analyst for Morningstar Research Services, explains why cryptocurrencies aren’t hedges against stocks or inflation.   What Makes Digital Assets Different from Traditional Assets? Unintended Cryptocurrency Exposures Companies With Crypto Exposure Bitcoin’s Extreme Volatility How Do Funds Invest in Cryptocurrency? Bank Collapse Ripple Effects Bitcoin a...

In today’s episode, Tom Lauricella, Morningstar Inc’s chief markets editor and Smart Investor newsletter editor, talks about the hype versus reality in the AI boom and the optimism about a soft landing.    Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 00:31 The Fed Holds Rates Steady 01:39 Bank Failures 02:31 Jerome Powell’s Thoughts On Inflation 03:26 Outlook For Interest Rate Cuts 04:25 Are We in a Bull Market?...

In today’s episode, Kiersten and Julien Saunders, rich & REGULAR podcast hosts and authors of “Cashing Out,” discuss how they made FIRE work for their lifestyle, the weight of building generational wealth, and why “elevating the everyday” is important. rich & REGULAR hosts at the Morningstar Investment Conference Are You Comfortable Talking About Money? Joining the FIRE Movement Building Generatio...

Everyone’s been talking about the drug semaglutide, used to treat Type 2 diabetes. It’s marketed under the brand names Ozempic, Wegovy, and now, Mounjaro. Are any of the drugmakers a buy?   Salesforce’s Successful Quarter HP is Having Problems Macy’s Misses the Mark   Diabetes Drugs Take Over Biotech Frontrunners Why is Pfizer Underperforming? Semaglutide Risks Biotech Stock Picks What Higher Yiel...

In today’s episode, Jack Shannon, equities strategies senior analyst for Morningstar Research Services, talks about why active fund managers seemed to repeat the same mistakes. Why did you decide to analyze these two investing periods? Examples of the market chasing companies pursuing growth at any cost  What do you think drove active fund managers to snap up growth stocks as valuations skyrockete...

In today’s episode, Mark Miller, a Morningstar contributor, and author of “Retirement Reboot,” discusses the debate over whether HSAs are the right path to expand affordable healthcare. Home Depot Gets Hit Investors Should Wait on Target Walmart Wows in Economic Environment   Shopping for a 529 Plan? HSA Boost in 2024 New HSA Contributions HSAs May Work Best as Tax Shelters Using HSAs in New Ways...

In today’s episode, Preston Caldwell, senior U.S. economist for Morningstar Research Services, discusses the U.S. debt ceiling, banking sector crisis, and strong jobs market. Introduction Disney’s Disappointing Fiscal Q2  PayPal Strong Start to 2023 Shopify’s Stellar Quarter  Talk about where it looks like inflation is headed.  - What are your thoughts on whether we're headed toward an 11th intere...

In today’s episode, Bryan Armour, director of passive strategies research for North America for Morningstar Research Services, discusses what costs can tell investors about a fund’s success. Introduction Apple outperforms in iPhone and services SoFi Technolgies benefit from more deposits and rising interest rates Ford's first-quarter earnings beat estimates Coinbase’s losses narrow The Active ETF...

In today’s episode, Gregg Warren, a senior stock analyst for Morningstar Research Services, talks about Berkshire’s excess cash and whether the firm’s class B stock is a buy.   Timestamps: Facebook and Instagram parent Meta has reported first-quarter growth. Microsoft reported a strong fiscal third quarter E-commerce and advertising growth drove Amazon's first-quarter results. Southwest Airlines’...

In today’s episode, Russ Kinnel, director of manager research for Morningstar Research Services, and Tom Lauricella, chief markets editor for Morningstar Inc., discuss several conference themes, including the banking crisis, bonds, and growth stocks. What was the overall sentiment about the markets and risks of a recession?  Highlights from PIMCO’s Dan Ivascyn’s viewpoint on bonds  Growth stocks o...

In today’s episode, Leslie Norton, Morningstar Inc’s editorial director for sustainability, talks about Earth Day 2023 and sustainable investing.   JPMorgan Chase’s Profits Look Strong Delta’s Soaring Operating Costs Warner Bros. Releasing “Max” Investment in Climate Tech The Inflation Reduction Act and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Carbon Tech’s Record-Breaking Year Tough Market Climate for Climate Te...

In this two-part episode, Dave Whiston, U.S. autos equity analyst for Morningstar Research Services, discusses the industry’s outlook and two cheap stocks.   Reasons to be optimistic about U.S. auto demand How are automakers going to convince people to buy or lease a new car? Will the trend of new car loan terms stretching out continue? Why drivers are now favoring crossovers and SUVs over sedans...

In this two-part episode, Dave Whiston, U.S. autos equity analyst for Morningstar Research Services, discusses the industry’s outlook and two cheap stocks.   00:11 Introduction 00:42 Themes in the auto industry for 2023 01:28 Where does auto inventory stand now? 03:21 Which automakers took the brunt of this inventory drop? 05:37 When are used car prices expected to come down? 09:06 Recommendations...

In today’s episode, Seth Goldstein, equities strategist for Morningstar Research Services, discusses the global forecast for electric vehicle expansion. 00:06 Introduction 00:35 Cash App owner pushes back against fraud claims 01:57 T. Rowe Price faces headwinds  02:56 Vanguard Dividend Growth’s manager to step down 04:05 Investing in the battery electric vehicle supply chain 08:00 Has Vanguard’s t...