April 19, 2021 6 min read

This story originally appeared on StockMarket

Do You Have These Top Renewable Energy Stocks On Your Watchlist?

Some would say that 2020 was a banner year for renewable energy stocks. Even now, you could argue that they are among the most active stocks on the stock market. Take Sunrun (NASDAQ: RUN) and SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWR) for example. Both companies’ shares are looking at massive gains of over 280% in the past year and continue to ride overall positive trends. Namely, the largest tailwind for the industry came as Joe Biden was elected as the new U.S. president. Given Biden’s emphasis on dealing with climate change, I can understand the hype. Since November, the U.S. has rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement and continues to make massive investments towards the clean energy industry.

In fact, just last week, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen met with environmental groups to discuss net-zero emission initiatives. Primarily, Yellen cited the proposed corporate tax hike as a means of supporting said initiatives. This would be the case as the proposal suggests redirecting fossil fuel subsidies towards the clean energy sector. To this end, it makes sense that investors would consider renewables as top picks on the stock market today. Here are four renewable energy stocks that could be worth watching now.

Best Renewable Stocks To Watch This Week

Clean Energy Fuels Corp.

Clean Energy is a leading provider of clean fuel for the transportation market. Through the sales of renewable natural gas (RNG), which is derived from biogenic methane produced by the breakdown of organic waste, Clean Energy allows thousands of vehicles to reduce their greenhouse gas. The company can also deliver RNG through compressed natural gas or liquefied natural gas to its network of fueling stations across the U.S. CLNE stock shot up by over 14% on today’s opening bell and currently trades up over 9% at $12.15 as of 3:25 p.m. ET. Investors seem to be responding to the company’s press release today.

In it, Clean Energy signed an agreement with Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) to provide low and negative carbon RNG. The fuel will be provided at 27 existing Clean Energy fueling stations and another 19 non-exclusive new or upgraded Clean Energy-owned stations. These 19 stations will be constructed by Clean Energy by the end of the year. Ultimately, these new and existing stations will provide RNG in 15 different states across the U.S. Given this exciting piece of news, will you consider watching CLNE stock?

First Solar Inc.

First Solar is a manufacturer of solar panels and a provider of utility-scale PV power plants. It also provides support services that include finance, construction, maintenance, and end-of-life panel recycling. The company’s integrated power plant solutions deliver an economically attractive alternative to fossil-fuel electricity generation today. FSLR stock currently trades at $80.39 as of 3:26 p.m. ET and has almost doubled in the last year. Today, Citigroup analyst J.B. Lowe upgraded First Solar to a buy rating with a price-target hike to $100 from $88. In detail, Lowe sees multiple positives ahead for the company, which includes the potential inclusion of a 10-year solar tax credit extension.  

Last week, the company announced that its next-generation photovoltaic (PV) technology, Series 6 CuRe (Copper Replacement) has the industry’s lowest warranted degradation rate at 0.2% per year. This unprecedented degradation rate is up to 60% lower than conventional crystalline silicon products and ensures that the module will retain at least 92% of its original performance at the end of its 30-year warranty. This could potentially fuel demand for First Solar’s products given its durability.

“This truly is a product that delivers more in every respect,” said Georges Antoun, First Solar’s chief commercial officer. “Series 6 CuRe is built with our customers’ needs in mind. It delivers not just more performance, but fast installation with lower structural costs, industry-leading quality, reliability, and durability, and unparalleled levels of traceability and transparency.” With that in mind, will you consider FSLR stock as a top renewable energy stock to watch?

NextEra Energy Inc.

NextEra is a leading clean energy company headquartered in Florida. The company owns Florida Power & Light Company, which is the largest rate-regulated electric utility in the U.S. Furthermore, Florida Power & Light serves more than 5.6 million customer accounts and supports more than 11 million residents across Florida. NEE stock currently trades at $79.68 as of 3:26 p.m. ET. Today, the company announced that it will be buying wind assets from Brookfield Renewable (NYSE: BEP).

In particular, the company will be acquiring a 391-megawatt (MW) portfolio of four operating wind assets from Brookfield Renewable for $733 million. Also, this is in line with NextEra’s strategy of investing more in renewable power generation. The share of renewables in energy generation worldwide now stands at nearly 30% and NextEra is well-positioned to take on the renewable energy industry.

Ultimately, along with the Biden administration’s plans to get all of the nation’s electricity from clean energy sources by 2035, companies like NextEra will play a crucial role in making this plan a reality. Will you consider adding NEE stock to your watchlist for these reasons?

Enphase Energy Inc.

Last but definitely not least, we have Enphase Energy Inc. In brief, the company is a leading player in the solar energy tech business. Enphase designs and manufactures software-driven home energy solutions. The likes of which help homeowners to monitor and control their solar energy generating systems. With the U.S’s move towards net-zero emissions, Enphase’s services could grow more viable over time. As a result, ENPH stock could be on investors’ radars now. Likewise, the company’s shares have already more than tripled in value over the past year. Given its current position in the renewable energy market, could ENPH stock have more room to grow this year?

For one thing, Enphase has been keeping busy on the international front. Earlier today, news broke of the company’s latest collaboration with Transdev, a multinational transit operator, in Australia. In detail, the duo are working towards powering Australia’s first electric bus, and Enphase will be providing the necessary tech.

Furthermore, Transdev is looking to electrify the public transport network in Australia entirely. No doubt this is a fantastic play by Enphase, given the scale of the current project. Could this make ENPH stock worth watching now?

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/369778

April 18, 2021 11 min read

This story originally appeared on StockMarket

A Beginners Guide To The Most Common FAQs About The Stock Market Today

If the thought of investing in the stock market frightens you, you are not alone. It’s natural to be cautious as you take your first steps into investing. This is especially true if you’re not too well-versed in the basics of the stock market. It may be tough to start as the stock market jargon can almost sound like a foreign language.  

The key to building wealth is developing good habits. We’re here to tell you that you don’t need to be the Wolf of Wall Street to start trading stocks. It’s okay even if you think you fall short in terms of financial knowledge. Everybody was once a beginner. Start by understanding some of the basic mechanisms of the stock market today. Learn the forces that influence stock prices, pay attention to how macroeconomic issues affect stock price direction, and most importantly learn about how to actually buy and sell stocks. After all, it’s about developing a feel of how to invest. 

What Is The Stock Market?

Investing to reach financial freedom is a dream many people share but few ever achieve. To many, one of the best ways to achieve that is to get started in the stock market. So, here begs the question, what is the stock market? The term “stock market” often refers to the collection of markets and exchanges where regular activities of buying, selling, and issuance of shares take place. Simply put, the stock market enables buyers and sellers to make a trade of shares of publicly-listed companies.

Getting into the stock market for the first time can be intimidating for beginners, especially if you don’t know how the stock market works. Before you start your investing journey, you also need to know where to buy stocks. While today it is possible to purchase almost everything online, there is usually a designated market for every commodity. Such dedicated markets serve as a platform where numerous buyers meet, interact, and transact. For instance, when you need groceries, you go to the supermarket. When you’re looking for stocks to buy today, you go to the stock market.

Assuming you’re based in the U.S., you most probably have heard of global stock exchanges like the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq. Or if you plan to start your investing journey straight to other asset classes such as options and futures (which is normally not recommended), you might have heard of the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE). These leading exchanges, along with several other exchanges operating in the country, form the U.S stock market.

How Does The Stock Market Work?

It is also worth mentioning that the stock market isn’t exactly like a grocery store. To buy and sell stocks, you need to go through an intermediary known as a licensed brokerage. That’s because the stock market is a secured and regulated environment where market participants can trade shares with low, if not zero operational risk. 

The stock market also acts as primary markets and secondary markets. Now, what do I mean by that? For starters, the primary market is where shares are issued and sold to investors for the first time through the process of an initial public offering (IPO). If you’re passionate about getting into the investment world, you may have heard about the most recent popular IPOs like Airbnb (NASDAQ: ABNB) or Roblox (NYSE: RBLX). Above all, this process allows companies to raise capital from investors.

Following the IPO process, the stock exchange serves as a trading platform that facilitates regular buying and selling of the listed stocks. This constitutes the secondary market. The stock market exchange earns a fee for every transaction that occurs on its platform during the secondary market activity. When buying stocks on the primary market, investors are purchasing stocks directly from the issuer. The secondary market is where existing stocks are traded between investors or traders.

[Read More] Best Stocks To Buy Now? 4 Cyclical Stocks To Consider

What Time Does The Stock Market Open?

When does the stock market open? This may seem like a simple question, but the answer isn’t as straightforward as you’d think. The regular trading hours for the U.S. stock market, including the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq are from 9.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern time on weekdays (apart from stock market holidays).

But what if I told you trading can also occur outside normal stock market hours? For instance, on regular market days, there is ‘pre-market trading. While the hours may vary, they can start as early as 4 a.m. while most pre-market trading takes place between 8 a.m up until regular trading hours begin at 9.30 a.m.

What Time Does The Stock Market Close?

As mentioned above, the regular trading days closes at 4 p.m. Eastern time. However, on early-closure days, which are typically right before or right after a market holiday, the markets will close early, usually at 1 p.m. EST.

There are also ‘after-hours sessions’, which typically span from 4 p.m to 8 p.m Eastern time. It’s worth mentioning that these trades taking place outside regular hours are made over electronic communication networks (ECNs), which allow buyers and sellers to connect directly rather than via a middle person. While this type of trading was previously only accessible by large institutional players, there are increasingly more brokers such as Interactive Brokers and Fidelity which can facilitate this type of trading today.

Read More

Is The Stock Market Open On Weekends?

Considering the advancement of technology today, it’s natural for some investors to ask – why don’t stocks trade over weekends? Especially when cryptocurrencies are trading 24/7. As you probably know, there are no regular trading hours for stocks on Saturdays or Sundays. However, if you see a headline on Sunday night saying that stock futures are up, that’s because the futures market begins trading at 6 p.m. Eastern time on Sundays. 

Stock Market Holiday Calendar 2021

• New Year’s Day: Friday, Jan. 1
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Monday, Jan. 18
• Washington’s Birthday/Presidents Day: Monday, Feb. 15
• Good Friday: Friday, April 2
• Memorial Day: Monday, May 31
• Independence Day: Monday, July 5 (observed, because July 4 falls on a Sunday)
• Labor Day: Monday, Sept. 6
• Thanksgiving: Thursday, Nov. 25
• Christmas:  Friday, Dec. 24 (observed, because Christmas Day falls on a Saturday)

How To Invest In The Stock Market

You are now ready to put your money into the best wealth generator: the stock market. The question here is how to invest in the stock market for beginners? How to invest money in the stock market for beginners can be confusing at best. Investing requires you to set aside money while you are busy with life and have that money work for you so you can reap the rewards of your labor in the future. 

Let’s assume you have set aside $10,000, and you’re ready to enter the investment world. So, what happens next? The decision to hire a financial advisor or to simply do the research on your own to pick the best stocks to buy is entirely up to your own free will. Investing in the stock market might be easier than many would’ve thought as all you need is an online brokerage account to get started. There are, however, a set of questions you need to ask yourself before embarking on the investing journey.

• What kind of Investor are you?
• Which online brokerage account would be best for your goals?
• How much money are you setting aside for stock investing?
• Are you planning to invest in stocks, mutual funds, or ETFs?
• Short-term or long-term investing?
• How are you planning to manage your portfolio?

What Are U.S. Stock Futures?

Before knowing what U.S. stock futures are, it is important to understand the definition of futures. Futures generally refer to a contract that stipulates the buying or selling of a specified commodity for a certain price at a specific point in time in the future. So, what does it mean when the futures trade higher ahead of the opening bell? It simply means these indices will trade higher following the opening bell. Simply put, it is an indication of how the market sentiment will be when the market opens.

You can trade stock futures on major U.S. stock exchanges just like you would do with traditional stocks. These major futures contracts are traded on the CME Globex system and are called E-mini contracts. The most common U.S. stock futures are the following:

• Dow Futures- a contract based on the widely followed Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), an index of 30 major U.S. companies. The value of one Dow Future contract is 10 times the value of the DJIA. For example, if the DJIA is trading at 33,000, the price of one Dow Future is $330,000. 
• S&P 500 Futures- S&P 500 futures contracts are agreements to buy or sell stocks listed on the S&P 500. As its name suggests, it’s an index made up of stocks of the 500 largest US companies. Unlike the stock exchange, S&P 500 futures traders are active five days a week, for 23.5 hours per day, plus Sunday evening.
• Nasdaq 100 Futures- Nasdaq 100 contracts track the stock prices of the 100 largest companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange.

What Caused The Stock Market Crash Of 1929?

During the 1920s, the U.S. stock market underwent rapid expansion, reaching its peak in August 1929 after a period of wild speculation during the roaring twenties. It was called the “Roaring Twenties” as it was a period of economic prosperity with a distinctive cultural edge in the U.S. and Europe. However, that era came to an abrupt end on October 29, 1929, when the stock market crashed. Billions of dollars were lost, wiping out thousands of investors. The crash began on October 24, 1929, known as “Black Thursday”, when the market opened 11% lower.

In the aftermath of Black Thursday, the U.S. and the rest of the industrialized world spiraled downward for an extended period, known as the Great Depression. It was the deepest and longest-lasting economic downturn in the history of the Western Industrialized world up to that time.

[Read More] Best Stocks To Buy Now? 4 Online Gambling Stocks For Your List

How Is The Stock Market Doing Today?

When it comes to this question, the answer really depends on who you ask. If we are only looking at the broader indices, you would without hesitation say it has been great to be an investor in the stock market today. With the broader indices continuing to make new all-time highs, many investors may be seeing strong gains in their portfolio this year. After all, the S&P 500 is up by over 11% this year alone. Taking a step back, the unprecedented recovery we saw in March 2020 had caught a lot of investors’ attention. 2020 was certainly the year many new investors came to the stock market for the first time. And for good reasons.

One of the most concentrated investments has been on stay-at-home stocks. This came after many investors were quick to jump into some of the top growth stocks in the stock market. For example, stay-at-home plays such as Zoom (NASDAQ: ZM), Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX), and Peleton (NASDAQ: PTON) are those that benefit from the stay-at-home measures in place during the lockdowns. If you got in shortly after the stock market crash in March 2020 brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, you would have reaped significant profits. You would still be sitting on nice gains despite the correction in growth stocks in the past few weeks. 

But in the stock market today, tech and electric vehicles may no longer be the only sectors you need to go for growth. With Biden’s infrastructure bill, industrial stocks have also been in the limelight. Given the strong uptick in vaccination rates in the U.S., there has also been an ongoing rotation from hyper-growth stocks like tech stocks to reopening stocks. The latter include the likes of stocks in the tourism and airline sectors. Nevertheless, many parts of the world are not exactly out of the woods yet with regards to the pandemic. Therefore, one should tread cautiously even with reopening stocks. These are interesting times in the stock market, and we hope you have a fruitful journey.

If you have any questions that come up after reading this article, please feel free to leave some comments below. 

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/369669

April 17, 2021 7 min read

This story originally appeared on StockMarket

Are These The Best Cyclical Stocks To Buy This Upcoming Week?

While investors think about what stocks to invest in right now, cyclical stocks could come to mind. After all, as most seasoned investors would know, cyclicals often follow the flow of the economy. By extension, while the economy recovers amidst accelerating vaccination efforts and stimulus aid, cyclical stocks could follow suit. While we’re on the topic of stimulus aid, CNBC reported on news regarding potential additional stimulus coming down the pipeline. Namely, 21 Democratic senators recently sent a letter to President Joe Biden, urging him to include recurring direct payments and automatic unemployment insurance extensions to his current economic plans. No doubt, all this would have investors looking towards the top cyclical stocks on the stock market now.

Nevertheless, top names in the industry such as Disney (NYSE: DIS) and Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) would be in the spotlight now. Sure, both of their core businesses may have been hit hard at the onslaught of the pandemic. However, the duo is likely to see a surge in business in a post-pandemic world, given their tourism operations. In fact, both companies’ shares continue rising towards new heights right now. Having read this far, you might be interested to add a few cyclical stocks to your portfolio this week. If you are, here are four names to pay attention to in the stock market today.

Top Cyclical Stocks To Watch In April 2021

General Electric

Starting us off is General Electric (GE). For starters, the company’s core operations firmly position GE stock as a cyclical economic reopening play. This would likely be the case seeing as GE has divisions in the aviation, energy, and manufacturing markets among others. For the most part, all these divisions would benefit from the economy rebounding. Not to mention, President Joe Biden’s recent $2 trillion infrastructure plan could also give GE’s businesses a boost across the board. All this would help explain why GE stock is currently looking at gains of over 110% in the past year. Could this uptrend continue?

Well, if anything, the company has been hard at work innovating and streamlining operations. Just last month, GE closed a deal with the world’s largest aircraft leasing company AerCap (NYSE: AER). Through this massive deal, GE combined its GE Capital Aviation Services financing arm with AerCap. As a result, GE gained $24 billion in cash which would help reduce its current debt.

On top of that, GE’s healthcare research arm is currently developing COVID-19 detecting tech for mobile devices. Through the April 8 announcement, it was revealed that GE Research was awarded a 24-month National Institute of Health grant. All things considered, GE appears to be kicking into high gear now. Would you consider GE stock worth watching because of this?

[Read More] Good Stocks To Invest In Right Now? 4 IPO Stocks To Watch

Boeing

Another top cyclical stock to watch now would be that of the Boeing Company. For the uninitiated, Boeing is the world’s largest aerospace company and is also a leading manufacturer of commercial jetliners. Through its operations, Boeing supports commercial and government customers across 150 countries. For investors looking to bet on the post-pandemic tourism boom, BA stock would make for a solid pick-and-shovel play.  As it stands, the company’s shares are still trading below pre-pandemic levels. Could now be the time to invest in it? Investors may be leaning towards a yes given Boeing’s latest announcements.

Earlier this week, the company announced its aircraft sales figures. From the looks of things, demand for Boeing’s flagship aircraft seems to be flying high. Particularly, the company’s March aircraft sales outpaced cancellations for the second month in a row. In terms of gross orders for the quarter, Boeing is on track to deliver almost 200 of its top-of-the-line 737 Max aircraft to clients. Notably, 100 of those plane sales are to Southwest Airlines.

Moreover, Boeing recently projected that global and diversified funding will provide sufficient capital for the aviation finance sector moving forward. While the company appears to be gearing up for post-pandemic operations, will you be adding BA stock to your watchlist?

Read More

Carnival Cruise Line

Following that, another group of cyclicals to watch now would be cruise line stocks. Among the top names in the cruise line industry would be the Carnival Cruise Line. In short, it is one of the largest cruise line operators across the globe. Like most of its peers in the cruise business, Carnival is eagerly awaiting the time when cruises can set sail again. Admittedly, it would not surprise me to see consumers and investors alike sharing the same sentiment. On one hand, there has been pent-up demand for Carnival’s services. This is evident as the company’s cumulative advanced 2022 bookings have already exceeded pre-pandemic levels. On the other hand, investors continue to snap up CCL stock which is up by over 30% year-to-date.

Furthermore, Carnival continues to bolster its offerings in anticipation of waves of tourists. Just this week, the company announced new traveler package upgrades and additional cruises in Greece. Firstly, Carnival’s Holland America Line unveiled a new ‘Have It All’ premium package for customers. The lucrative package includes shore excursions, specialty dining, and other premium bonuses under one base cruise fare.

Secondly, the company’s AIDA Cruises division is now offering new cruises in Greece from May to October. Not only is Carnival improving its operations, but it is also in discussions with the White House’s COVID-19 response team on resuming sails. Given all of this, will you be watching CCL stock?

[Read More] Best Dividend Stocks To Buy Right Now? 4 To Watch

Uber Technologies Inc.

Topping off our list today is Uber Technologies Inc. While many companies were impacted by the pandemic, few were hit as hard as Uber. Indeed, the biggest ride-hailing company in the world was placed in a bad position when consumers stopped going out. However, over a year later, general investor sentiment regarding Uber has improved dramatically. Accordingly, this would be the case as consumers feel more comfortable leaving their homes, thanks to widespread vaccine rollout. If that wasn’t enough, the company would also be able to leverage its major investments in food delivery moving forward. The likes of which have helped Uber stay afloat throughout the current pandemic. Could UBER stock have more room to run because of all this?

Well, we might get a clearer picture from its recent announcements. To begin with, Uber’s mobility unit appears to be gaining momentum. On Monday, the company’s ride-hailing business posted its best month since March 2020 in terms of gross bookings. At the same time, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi also mentioned that Uber is keen to get into the cannabis delivery market. In a CNBC interview on Monday, Khosrowshahi said “When the road is clear for cannabis when federal laws come into play, we’re absolutely going to take a look at it.” To this end, could we be looking at the beginning of exciting times for UBER stock? You tell me.

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/369660

April 16, 2021 6 min read

This story originally appeared on StockMarket

4 Top IPO Stocks To Watch In April 2021

As tech stocks have boomed, so have initial public offerings (IPOs). 2020 was a record year with 480 companies going public on U.S. stock exchanges. And more stocks doubled in their first day of trading than ever before. It would seem as though 2021 is on a similar track. With all the attention that IPO stocks are getting, it’s no wonder investors are looking for the next top IPO stock to buy that could deliver tremendous returns.

IPOs can be exciting for investors, as it often offers them the chance to get in on the ground floor of a stock. For example, consider how much early investors made on stocks like Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) and Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL). These tech stocks have turned $1,000 into $1 million. Having said that, not every IPO is a good investment. Not every IPO is going to be Amazon or Apple, and we have to be very clear on that.

For those who are new to the stock market, you may be asking what an IPO really is. An IPO is when a privately-held company makes its shares available for trading on public exchanges such as the New York Stock Exchange. An IPO may provide an opportunity for existing shareholders to cash out and take profits. But the goal of going public is usually for companies to have easier access to funding, which may be used to fund business expansion. Companies like Robinhood, Stripe, and Nextdoor are all mulling for big IPOs. With all the buzz surrounding IPO stocks, do you have these IPO stocks on your watchlist in the stock market today?

Top IPO Stocks To Buy [Or Avoid] In April

Coinbase

First up the list, Coinbase made a rousing public debut on Wall Street Wednesday, with COIN stock rising as high as $429, briefly giving it a market value over $100 billion. The Coinbase IPO is certainly a momentous occasion for crypto investors as it is the first company specializing in cryptocurrencies to go public.

For those unfamiliar with Coinbase, the company is a cryptocurrency exchange and plans to focus on investments to help digital assets scale and succeed. So, if Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies achieve widespread adoption, the user base would likely multiply. When that happens, you could be looking at a multi-bagger in the making. There is no denying that Coinbase rests on interests in cryptocurrencies, which have seen wild price swings.

With millions of verified users and currently profitable, Coinbase is looking at significant growth ahead. The company said it anticipates meaningful revenue, user, and net income growth through the rest of 2021. If you are bullish about the crypto space but are not interested in buying any coins at all, would COIN stock be an attractive investment option to ride on the increasing interest in cryptocurrencies?

[Read More] Most Active Stocks To Buy Today? 4 Renewable Energy Stocks To Consider

Roblox Corp.

Coming up next, Roblox is a video game platform that has grown spectacularly since it started in 2004. The game currently has on average over 30 million daily active users. RBLX stock surged to an all-time high of $82 on Tuesday after it announced a partnership. But the stock gave back its gains on Wednesday as the broader market was under pressure.

In detail, Roblox announced that it will enter into a partnership with popular toymaker Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS). The partnership will introduce a range of Roblox-inspired NERF blasters and a Roblox version of Hasbro’s iconic Monopoly board game. What makes it exciting for players is that the NERF and Monopoly come with a code for users to redeem virtual items.

The blasters will hit US shelves this fall while the Roblox Monopoly is already available for pre-order on Hasbro Pulse. This could potentially generate a lot of revenue for Roblox when the toys launch. It will also be able to attract new users and retain current ones. Given the exciting development, will you be adding RBLX stock to your list?

Read More

Coursera Inc.

Coursera is a leading online learning platform for higher education. Started in 2012, Coursera has grown rapidly to become a common name for online learning. The platform currently has over 77 million registered users. Impressively, it has already partnered with over 200 universities and industry educators to provide courses to the public. Since the company’s shares debuted at the end of March, COUR is already up over 10%. The pandemic certainly benefited Coursera as registered users were up over 60% throughout 2020. Revenues also grew above 50%.

What makes Coursera attractive and practical is its comprehensive, flexible, and cost-effective learning solution. The flexibility is certainly important for users who have a full-time job. For students who need a cheaper alternative to college, Coursera has that covered too. In recent years, Coursera has upped its game by now offering bachelor’s and master’s degrees priced between $9,000 to $45,000. Both students and working adults can now get their degrees all through the convenience of their computers.

Coursera also currently has over 380 enterprise customers which are up over 50% compared to 2019. It does seem that Coursera is on a path that can potentially address the global market. While traditional brick and mortar education may not fade away, it does come with a higher cost. As the education space advances, could COUR stock be a good buy now?

[Read More] Best Dividend Stocks To Buy Right Now? 4 To Watch

Airbnb Inc.

Last on the list, home rental start-up company Airbnb could arguably be a good IPO stock to watch as the economy reopens. The company has already been disrupting the hotel and short-term property rental markets for years.

That said, it is no surprise that Airbnb’s business was affected in 2020 with strict travel restrictions. However, the company has proven to be quite resilient. The company reported 2020 revenues of $3.4 billion which is only down 30% compared to 2019.

Pent-up demand for travel is clearly there and the ongoing vaccinations provide hopes of a speedy reopening. However, some could still be cautious about going to more densely populated areas. This is where Airbnb has an advantage over hotels. Adding to that, Airbnb also offers a more affordable vacation experience which only encourages travelers to use its platform. Airbnb is certainly poised for strong growth when the economy reopens. With that in mind, would you be adding ABNB stock to your portfolio today?

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/369635

April 15, 2021 6 min read

This story originally appeared on PennyStocks

3 Penny Stocks to Watch That Are Trading Higher Today

Many penny stocks have shown bullish action in April. While there are bad days in the market, investors seem hopeful about the future. Some of this can be attributed to recent positive updates about the pandemic. In the U.S., COVID cases have rapidly declined in the past month alone. This is in part due to the millions of vaccine doses that have been distributed.

According to the most recent data, 36% of the population has received at least one dose of a vaccine. Because of this, many believe that economic recovery could occur in the coming months. Additionally, factors like solid retail numbers and low unemployment, show that the future could be bright. As a result, many penny stocks are increasing in value.

If you are looking to invest in penny stocks, there are a few options. While you can buy stocks under $5 through many brokers, traders have recently turned to newer platforms. This includes those like Robinhood and WeBull. In the past, buying and selling stocks was a rather tedious process for non-institutional investors. However, the rise of easy-to-use brokers and social platforms like Reddit has increased the number of retail traders out there.

And while these platforms are easy to use, they often won’t allow access to OTC or over-the-counter markets. This is where a large portion of penny stocks reside. While finding stocks under $1 can be challenging on Robinhood, there are plenty of them out there to take a closer look at.

[Read More] 4 Reddit Penny Stocks to Watch Before the End of the Month

Before you dive headfirst into penny stocks, it’s worth noting that they can be more volatile than blue chips. While it depends on the sector, in general, stocks under $5 and especially those under $1 can carry a high-risk profile. That being said, there are lots of penny stocks to watch in April 2021. With this in mind, here are three that posted large movements on April 15th. 

Penny Stocks To Buy For Under $1

ToughBuilt Industries Inc.

ToughBuilt Industries is a company that has been trading heavily off of speculation in the past few days. Before we get into why; let’s talk about what the company does. ToughBuilt is a manufacturer of home improvement items and construction-related products. It offers everything from tool belts and tool bags to storage solutions, saws, and more. On March 26th, the company released an update that most likely affected its intraday trading volume.

This update came as ToughBuilt released its fiscal 2020 results. In the results, TBLT announced revenue growth of 106% to $39.4 million. Additionally, its gross profit shot up by 162% to $14.7 million. This is compared to $5.6 million in the previous year. Both of these numbers represent sizable gains and show that fundamentals might actually be driving its recent price action. 

“ToughBuilt has demonstrated strong fundamentals based on execution team, customer relationships, balance sheet, commitment to research and development and continued customer service.” 

CEO of ToughBuilt, Michael Panosian

This year, Toughbuilt is focusing on building out its product lines as well as its global distribution. It aims to offer a wider range of products as well as new and innovative equipment.

Despite TBLT falling in value on April 15th, this balance sheet could have larger implications for the long term. It’s common to see a stock either move up or down very quickly on the day of a balance sheet release. Because its numbers are quite good, TBLT stock could be worth watching in the coming days.

Great Panther Mining Ltd.

If you’ve invested in the market in 2021, you’ve probably seen the solid performance of the mining industry. During that time, many mining penny stocks like GPL, have jumped up in value.

One of the driving factors of this is the increasing prices of gold and silver. Because of fears of long-term inflation, investors have turned to safe-haven assets like precious metals. This includes gold and silver. As we turn the corner in April, many mining stocks are continuing to carry this momentum. 

Great Panther Mining is a perfect example of the solid momentum with mining stocks right now. GPL operates as a mining and exploration company based out of Canada. It explores and mines gold, silver, lead, copper, and zinc ores at its facilities. While it does mine non-precious metals, its main focus is on gold and silver. Because of this, it’s no surprise that shares of GPL have increased alongside the precious metals industry.

[Read More] Penny Stocks and the Coinbase IPO: What Cryptocurrency Has to Do With Small-Cap Stocks 

On April 13th, Great Panther reported its first-quarter 2021 production results. In the report, GPL showed solid growth in its mining operations. It also engaged in several big advancements which allowed it to mostly avoid pandemic-related losses. With these results, Great Panther is on track to meet its proposed guidance for 2021.

While production numbers were low in the first quarter of the year, this was all a part of its roadmap. The company states that “The first quarter was planned to be a low production quarter due to heavy stripping. Production is expected to ramp up quarter-over-quarter for the remainder of the year as mining progresses into sectors with lower strip ratios.”

When this was announced, shares of GPL spiked higher during intraday trading. While it did pull back slightly, this seems to be the result of a natural correction. On April 15th, GPL began to see positive momentum once again. During the trading day, GPL shot up by almost 3% to $0.79 per share. With this exciting news in mind, is GPL stock worth watching?

Castor Maritime Inc.

Castor Maritime is a shipping company that works with dry bulk cargoes. This includes everything from flour to building materials and more. During the pandemic, companies like Castor have increased greatly in popularity. However, its recent momentum can be attributed to three factors in particular.

First, on April 5th, it announced the pricing of a $125 million registered direct offering. It will be issuing 192.3 million common shares at $0.65 per share. This is always exciting as it helps to bring in new capital for potential business expansion. Additionally, it can help to make investors feel more comfortable with a company’s balance sheet.

Second, on April 9th, Castor announced that it had acquired a 2011 Japanese-built Panamax dry bulk carrier vessel from a third party for $18.48 million. This is big news for the company as it shows it is expanding its fleet. The company is currently focused on bringing in as much business as possible. This is where the ship acquisition comes in.

Lastly, on April 14th, Castor announced deliveries of the M/V Magic Twilight and M/V Magic Thunder. These are two Korean and Japanese-built dry bulk carriers. Again, this will help to boost its fleet count as well as its carrying capacity. While these updates may seem small, they provide solid insight into what Castor is doing right now. Considering this, is CTRM worth watching?

[Read More] 4 Penny Stocks On Robinhood To Buy Under $1; 50%-270% Price Targets https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/369549

April 15, 2021 6 min read

This story originally appeared on PennyStocks

Some Penny Stocks Are Down Today, Is This A Buying Opportunity or Not?

Penny stocks have had a great 2021 so far. Throughout the year, we’ve witnessed numerous trends continue to popularize stocks under $5. This includes the influx of Reddit penny stocks, IPOs like COIN stock, and plenty of others. 

Before we go any further, let’s give a quick overview of penny stocks and how they work. This could be considered, a brief “Penny Stocks for Dummies” if you will. 

For starters, the term itself means any stocks trading under $5 per share. Within this, there are thousands of companies to choose from. While some investors like to stick to blue chips, others prefer cheap stocks. And there are some good reasons for this. 

First, it’s much more likely to see a stock go from $0.10 to $0.20 in a day than it is to see one go from $100 to $200. This means that the chances to find a big winner can be much larger than with big-name companies. While volatility can be high, investors understand this and trade accordingly. 

[Read More] Tech Penny Stocks To Buy Now? New Progress Is Worth Considering

So as we hit the halfway point in April, penny stocks are down. And while this may seem disheartening, this is the natural ebb and flow of the stock market; and can be viewed as a small correction. Additionally, any time a stock or area of the market is down, it presents a potential buying opportunity. Considering this, are these some of the best penny stocks to watch in 2021?

3 Penny Stocks to Watch in 2021

1. Waitr Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: WTRH) 
2. LAIX Inc. (NYSE: LAIX) 
3. Ballantyne Strong Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN: BTN)

1. Waitr Holdings Inc. 

Waitr Holdings is a penny stock that we’ve been covering for several months now. Why have we written about it so many times? Well, besides shares of WTRH jumping up by over 140% in the past twelve months, the company has a lot of interesting business propositions. For some context, Waitr operates a food ordering and delivery platform. 

Based in Louisiana, Waitr Holdings competes with other big-name ordering applications like Doordash Inc. (NYSE: DASH) and Ubereats among others. Waitr and its subsidiary, Bite Squad (acquired for $321 million in 2019), offer food ordering in over 700 cities in the U.S. This includes both small and medium-sized markets. While larger food delivery services focus on big markets, Waitr capitalizes on smaller, underserved areas of the U.S. This allows it to differentiate itself from others.

Last week, the company announced that it added several more Marco’s Pizza locations. This brings the total of Marco’s Pizza restaurants to over 100 locations in 92 cities around the country. Regarding this announcement, CEO Carl Grimstad stated that “Marco’s Pizza is dedicated to producing the best-delivered pizza for its customers, and we’re dedicated to make the best delivery experience, which makes it an ideal brand for the Waitr platform.” 

This announcement is only one of several similar restaurant additions it has made in the past few months. This includes adding Chuck E. Cheese restaurants, as well as joining forces with PDQ Restaurants at the end of March. Because of the pandemic, customers have increasingly turned to online food ordering in higher numbers than ever. Considering this, is WTRH a penny stock to watch?

2. LAIX Inc. 

LAIX is an AI-tech company based in China. It works on the creation of products and services used to make English learning more accessible in China. This includes the utilization of its Liulishuo platform, which offers learning services to consumers. The company aims to keep its platform low in cost, which helps to make it more popular than the competitors. 

This is done through the use of its AI teacher, and the various self-running capabilities on the app. Within it, users can hear, understand, interact and evaluate the performance of others users. Because of this, it acts as a social media platform. A few months ago, LAIX released its Q3 2020 financial results. 

In the report, it posted net revenue north of $35.3 million. While this is a decrease of around 11% over the previous quarter, this makes sense given the effects of Covid on all businesses including LAIX. Despite this, it managed to grow its gross margins by a few points to 72.9%. While it did bring in a net loss of $10.4 million, it posted an operating cash flow of $7.8 million. 

“Total net revenues in the quarter were…in line with our guidance. Our primary focus area remains on the optimization of our product mix and improving the learning experience. By continually upgrading our content offering, we hope to drive further improvement in conversion and retention rates.”

The CEO of LAIX, Dr. Yi Wang

These results show that LAIX could be growing as more users wish to use its services. Investors should wait to see its next quarterly results to see what type of progress it makes. Considering this, LAIX could be worth keeping an eye on moving forward.

3. Ballantyne Strong Inc. 

When we first discussed Ballantyne Strong earlier in the week, shares were trading well under the $3 mark. On April 15th, BTN stock shot up once again by more than 14% to over $4.61 per share. This is a great example of how speculation and fundamentals can work in tandem to support a price increase. Because we’ve talked about BTN stock twice this week, we’ll keep it simple for today. 

One of the main reasons that Ballantyne is seeing so much momentum is a deal it announced only a few days ago. As a holdings company, Ballantyne invests in companies that it sees potential value in. Primarily, this is entertainment and media. However, it recently signed into an agreement to acquire the assets of Forest and Paper Products for $214 million from Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. This acquisition offers Ballantyne exposure to the paper and building materials sector. 

[Read More] 3 Penny Stocks To Watch In April That Top Analysts Are Bullish On

During the pandemic, the cost of both of these assets has driven up substantially. This is due to the return of commerce and the heightened industrialization occurring in the past few months. With this order, Ballantyne will have a strong position as a top ten lumber producer in all of Canada. While no one knows if BTN stock will continue to rise, it remains very popular right now. Whether it should be on your watchlist is up to you. 

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/369547

The company’s core market is L.A., but it has been branching out into other areas and on the brink of a major growth accelerating.

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/367040

March 12, 2021 7 min read

This story originally appeared on StockNews

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, investors have been closely watching healthcare stocks and are tracking regulatory approvals for vaccine candidates developed by the pharmaceutical companies.  Johnson & Johnson (JNJ – Get Rating) and Moderna, Inc. (MRNA – Get Rating), two leading pharma players, have emerged as two of the winners in the race to develop effective coronavirus vaccines.

While neither of these companies had a first-mover advantage in receiving Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for their vaccines from the U.S. FDA, and people nationwide are primarily being inoculated with a vaccine developed jointly by Pfizer (PFE) and BioNTech (BNTX), the late-stage clinical trial results of both JNJ and MRNA vaccines are highly efficacious.

Both the stocks generated decent returns over the past year. While JNJ returned 15.4% over this period, MRNA has surged 480.8%. However, in terms of their past month’s performance, JNJ is down 4% compared to MRNA’s 27.7% loss. But which of these stocks is a better pick now? Let’s find out.

Vaccine efficacy

J&J’s jab, the world’s first single-shot Covid-19 vaccine, developed by its Janssen division, uses adenovirus-26, a rare variant of the cold virus. Last month,  the FDA issued the EUA based on the Phase 3 ENSEMBLE study that demonstrated the vaccine was 85% effective in preventing severe disease across all regions studied, and showed protection against COVID-19 related hospitalization and death, beginning 28 days after vaccination. JNJ has also submitted a European Conditional Marketing Authorization Application to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) as well as its filing for an Emergency Use Listing (EUL) with the World Health Organization.

The FDA authorized the emergency use of mRNA-1273, MRNA’s vaccine candidate, on December 18, 2020, based on a pivotal Phase 3 clinical study that indicated  an efficacy rate of 94.1% on the original variant. MRNA initially said that the vaccine produced neutralizing titers against all key variants. However, on February 24, the company manufactured variant-specific vaccine candidates that are under Phase 1 clinical trials. In addition, MRNA is testing using a third dose of its existing vaccine in addition to using a booster shot that targets the South African variant.

While both the JNJ and MRNA vaccines use messenger RNA technology, there are certain key characteristics, apart from the efficiency, that makes the JNJ candidate superior to the latter. The MRNA vaccine needs to be administered twice, while J&J’s candidate requires only one dose. Also, MRNA requires extremely cold temperatures, which complicates storage and delivery.  In comparison, J&J’s vaccine can be stored at normal refrigerated temperatures, which opens possibilities for delivery to  remote areas and to developing countries.

Recent financial results

In the fourth quarter (ended December 31, 2020), JNJ recorded a top-line of $22.5 billion, increasing 8.3% year-over-year. Its adjusted operational sales growth was  7.3%. The pharmaceutical segment has been witnessing a solid recovery in revenue over the trailing two quarters and, consequently, worldwide sales improved 16.3% year-over-year in the last reported quarter. The company delivered adjusted EPS of $1.86, which was relatively stable compared to the year-ago value of $1.88.

MRNA’s total revenue in the fourth quarter (ended December 31, 2020) came in at $571 million compared to the year-ago value of $14 million. This was driven primarily by an increase in grant revenue and product sales. In fact, grant sales surged 9,648% year-over-year to $341.37 million due to the BARDA award to accelerate development of its COVID-19 vaccine. The company began to recognize revenue from its vaccine in December 2020 after the EUA by the FDA. However, MRNA reported a loss of $0.69 per share, compared to the prior-year loss of $0.37 per share.

Past and Expected Financial Performance

JNJ’s revenues and EPS grew at CAGRs of 2.6% and 127.2%, respectively, over the past three years.

Analysts expect JNJ’s revenue to increase 6.3% in the current quarter (ending March 31, 2021), 11.4% in the current year and 4.7% next year. The company’s EPS is expected to improve 0.9% in the current quarter, 18.4% in the current year and 8% next year. Moreover, its EPS is expected to grow at a rate of 5.6% per annum over the next five years.

In comparison, MRNA’s revenue grew at a CAGR of 57.5%, over the past three years.

Analysts expect MRNA’s revenue to surge 26,790.9% in the current quarter (ending March 31, 2021) and 1,893.3% in the current year but decline 20.2% next year. The company’s EPS is expected to grow 960% in the current quarter and 1,183.7% in the current year but decline l 30.5% next year. However, MRNA’s EPS is expected to grow at an average rate of 16.8% per annum over the next five years.

Profitability

JNJ’s trailing-12-month’s revenue is nearly 103 times MRNA’s. In addition, JNJ is more profitable with a gross profit margin of 65.7% versus MRNA’s negative value.

Moreover, JNJ’s ROE and ROA of 24% and 7.5%, respectively, compare favorably with MRNA’s negative values.

Valuation

In terms of forward p/e, JNJ is currently trading at 19.33x, which is 212.8% more expensive than MRNA, which is currently trading at 6.18x. However, JNJ is significantly less expensive compared to MRNA in terms of trailing-12-month’s p/s (5.07x versus 61.59x).

In terms of trailing-12-month’s price/cash flow, MRNA’s 25.59x is 43.9% higher than JNJ’s 17.78x.

JNJ looks much more affordable here.

POWR Ratings

JNJ has an overall rating of B, which equates to a Buy in our proprietary POWR Ratings system. However, MRNA has an overall rating of C, which translates to Neutral. The POWR Ratings are calculated by considering 118 different factors with each factor weighted to an optimal degree.

Our proprietary rating system also evaluates each stock based on eight different categories. Among these categories, JNJ has a Quality Grade of B, which is consistent with its strong fundamentals. Here, the bleak prospect of MRNA is evident in its grade of C for Quality.

In terms of Stability Grade, JNJ has an A grade, reflecting that the stock is less volatile compared to its industry peers. In contrast, MRNA has been graded F.

Out of 240 stocks in the Medical – Pharmaceuticals industry, JNJ is ranked #10. In comparison,  MRNA is ranked #41 in the 487-stock Biotech industry.

Beyond what’s stated above, our POWR Ratings system has also rated both JNJ and MRNA for Growth, Value, Momentum and Sentiment. Get all the JNJ ratings here. Also, Click here to see the additional POWR Ratings for MRNA.

The winner

Both JNJ and MRNA have emerged as winners in the race to produce an effective coronavirus vaccine and have been receiving commercial authorization from multiple regulatory approval bodies throughout the world. With the vaccine acting as the most significant near-term catalyst, both the companies have been riding high on the back of multiple agreements with the governments of various countries. However, JNJ appears to be a better buy based on the factors discussed here.

JNJ expects to meet its commitment to deliver 100 million doses to the United States government by the end of June and is set to boost its top line for the next couple of years. In fact, the company plans to file for a Biologics License Application (BLA) with the FDA later in 2021. Even though JNJ does not expect to profit from this vaccination venture, it does not lack core business strength. There are approximately 50 therapeutic candidates in JNJ’s pipeline, ranging from neuroscience to oncology. The company has five phase 3 clinical data readouts this year along with nine potential drug approvals in 2021. In fact, JNJ expects to launch more than 14 new drugs by the end of 2023.

Hence, we view JNJ as a relatively cheaper option to bet on its advancing operating model, diversified product portfolio, and focus on global growth. The company is strategically investing into research and development and is innovating fast to ramp up manufacturing. Thus, we believe JNJ is a viable option to bet on as the world gets inoculated and the pandemic finally abates this year.

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/367037

The year 2021 has seen a resurgence of legacy momentum stocks and former high fliers rise from the ashes fueled by social media-driven short-squeezes.

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/364865

Melvin Capital, the hedge fund that was wrongfooted by retail traders who drove up shares in GameStop and other companies it had bet against, lost 53 percent in January, according to people familiar with the firm’s results.

The New York-based hedge fund sustained a $4.5 billion fall in its assets from the end of last year to $8 billion, even after a $2.75 billion cash injection from Steve Cohen’s Point72 Asset Management and Ken Griffin’s Citadel.

Melvin became the target of retail traders who coordinated to drive up the share price of GameStop on online message boards such as Reddit, after the firm disclosed its bet against the company in regulatory filings.

The short squeeze on Melvin has been taken by some as a victory over a broken system they see as benefiting the country’s elite, and the trading strategies used to pressure hedge funds have shot from the fringes of the internet to the heart of the zeitgeist.

On Wednesday Melvin said it had exited its bet against GameStop and repositioned its portfolio. The firm moved to reduce risk in its investments following a turbulent start to January when it lost 30 percent in the first three weeks. Melvin’s leverage ratio is at the lowest it has been since the firm’s founding in 2014, said a source familiar with the firm. The news of Melvin’s January performance was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

The GameStop saga marks a fall from grace for Melvin, which gained 52 percent last year, ranking it among the best performing hedge funds. Founder Gabe Plotkin was one of Mr Cohen’s most prominent traders at SAC Capital, until it shut down amid an insider trading scandal.

A Melvin spokesperson declined to comment on the firm’s January performance.

The rally in GameStop shares has captivated Wall Street and forced many hedge funds to rethink risk management practices. On Monday and Tuesday last week, other long-short hedge funds cut their exposure to the market by covering short bets and selling out of stocks.

“The market action has been a wake-up call and retail traders are likely to continue to be a force to be reckoned with, which will probably permanently affect the business models of institutional investors,” said Maneesh Deshpande, a strategist at Barclays.

US securities regulators said last week they would review trading for signs of manipulation, as well as restrictions put in place by brokerages such as Robinhood and Charles Schwab to see if they disadvantaged investors.

Shares of GameStop have climbed more than 1,625 percent this year, and last week both shares and options on the company whipsawed in value as retail investors piled in.

While members of the popular Reddit community WallStreetBets had focused their attention on GameStop, they have broadened their gaze to other down-on-their-luck companies, with shares of apparel retailer Express and cinema owner AMC both more than tripling in value last week.

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https://arstechnica.com/?p=1738588