3 Safe Blue-Chip Stocks to Buy

An excellent way to find stocks to buy is by examining the holdings of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that focus on the subject matter you’re interested in. In this case, safe blue-chip stocks.

Investopedia defines blue-chip stocks as follows: “These are typically large, well-established, and financially sound companies that have operated for many years and that have dependable earnings, often paying dividends to investors.”

So, if you want to invest in a blue-chip healthcare company, Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) comes to mind. On the other hand, if you desire an industrial company, Deere & Co. (NYSE:DE) would be good. You get the idea. One more iconic name and I’d have my three safe blue-chip stocks to buy! 

However, I’ve instead chosen to select my three picks from the top holdings of the actively managed Fidelity Blue Chip Growth ETF (BATS:FBCG) and Fidelity Blue Chip Value ETF (BATS:FBCV). These two ETFs invest in well-known, well-established and well-capitalized companies, applying growth screens and value screens, respectively. 

Here are my three picks for safe blue-chip stocks to buy. 

AAPL Apple $158.28
BRK-B Berkshire Hathaway $302.14
CMCSA Comcast $36.40

Apple (AAPL)

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) is the largest holding of FBCG with a nearly 10% weighting. After losing more than a quarter of its value in 2022, the stock has rebounded, up 22% so far in 2023. 

In addition to dominating the U.S. smartphone market, Apple’s iPhone is gaining market share globally. And although the company saw its first year-over-year revenue decline since 2019 in its most recently reported quarter, there’s little concern among the analyst community. 

Of the 39 analysts covering the stock, 30 rate it “buy” or “overweight,” with a median target price of $173. That’s 9% above the current share price.

The company’s revenue and earnings per share (EPS) are forecast to decline slightly this year amid a challenging macroeconomic environment. Yet, analysts are expecting revenue growth of 6.9% in 2024 to $415.6 billion and EPS growth of 10.9% to $6.61.

One bright spot in Apple’s latest quarterly earnings was the company’s Services revenue, which rose 6.4% year over year to $20.8 billion, exceeding expectations. According to data from Finbold, the revenue generated from Apple’s Services sector alone — $79.4 billion in 2022 — was higher than the total revenue of several Fortune 500 companies.

Apple’s Services sector includes Apple TV+, which the company has been working to build out as a competitor to other top streaming services. The company’s hit show, Ted Lasso, is currently in its third and final season.

Last week, Apple announced plans to spend $1 billion annually to release films in movie theaters to continue building awareness for its streaming service. With $51.4 billion in cash on hand, Apple has plenty of money to do so… and to weather an economic downturn.

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-B)

Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK-B) is the second-largest holding of FBCV with a 5.1% weighting. I chose Berkshire over top holding Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM), which has a 5.3% weighting, because Berkshire already has significant energy holdings through its operating subsidiary, Berkshire Hathaway Energy, and its large equity positions in both Chevron (NYSE:CVX) and Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:OXY). 

Berkshire Hathaway remains the cheapest fund you can own with zero fees, above-average long-term capital appreciation, and a newly acquired desire to buy back its stock at reasonable prices. 

“Every small bit helps if repurchases are made at value-accretive prices,” Buffett wrote in the 2022 Berkshire shareholder letter. “Just as surely, when a company overpays for repurchases, the continuing shareholders lose.”

In 2022, Berkshire repurchased 1.2% of its outstanding shares. In 2020 and 2021, it repurchased 9% of its stock. With its Class B shares trading above $300, Buffett could be buying. Berkshire paid an average of $303.83 per Class B share in December. 

I’ve always believed that if Berkshire Hathaway were to carry out a controlled sale over several years, the proceeds would be considerably more than $300 a share. So it is a sum-of-the-parts investment.

Comcast (CMCSA)

Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA) is the third-largest holding in FBCV with a weighting of 3%. Comcast stock has performed poorly over the past five years. It’s up 6.5% compared to a 50.6% gain for the S&P 500. So, it is definitely in the value play camp.

In early March, the giant Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan increased its stake in the cable and media conglomerate by a considerable amount, buying 12.7 million shares of CMCSA in the quarter.

Barron’s recently pointed out that Comcast’s cash-return yield is so high right now it could be worth buying. The cash-return yield is the dollar amount of shares repurchased in a year plus the dividends paid to shareholders. Divide the total by market capitalization, and you get your cash-return yield. 

Comcast is expected to buy back $14 billion of its stock in 2023 while also paying out $4.89 billion. Based on its current market cap of $153.5 billion, it has a cash-return yield of 12.3%. That’s 3.5 times the 10-year Treasury note yield of 3.5%.

Of the 32 analysts that cover CMCSA stock, 17 rate it “overweight” or “buy.” The median target price of $43.50 is 19.5% higher than where shares currently trade.    

On the date of publication, Will Ashworth did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines.

Will Ashworth has written about investments full-time since 2008. Publications where he’s appeared include InvestorPlace, The Motley Fool Canada, Investopedia, Kiplinger, and several others in both the U.S. and Canada. He particularly enjoys creating model portfolios that stand the test of time. He lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

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3 Overvalued Tech Stocks to Sell Before They Crash in 2023

Overvalued tech stocks - 3 Overvalued Tech Stocks to Sell Before They Crash in 2023

Source: shutterstock.com/ZinetroN

With the market just starting to recover, some overvalued tech stocks are starting to trade at a steep valuation.  Moreover, the latest rate hike is already causing some pain in the market, and we might not yet be at the bottom. In my previous columns, I argued that tech stocks were deeply undervalued due to the selloffs that started in late 2021. I still believe that is true for some, but not all.

Additionally, these rate hikes will make borrowing much harder for growth-focused companies. Tech companies aren’t known for generating cash as they continuously reinvest in their growth, often through borrowing. But as growth stalls and margins decline, their stocks will lose the growth premium.

With that in mind, I would consider selling the following three overvalued tech stocks:

Coinbase (COIN)

Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) is a centralized cryptocurrency exchange that rallied over 101.93% year-to-date. However, it also surged on the Federal Reserve’s bank bailouts and is now overvalued.

The current price is far from a good deal, as I doubt the crypto rally will continue in the current environment. Even if it does manage to weather the volatility, the company faces increased scrutiny and competition due to the collapse of FTX.

Recently, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Coinbase a Wells notice because it potentially violated U.S. securities law. It is also heavily reliant on revenue from crypto staking, something that traditional financial institutions and regulators dislike. As a publicly traded crypto exchange company, there’s not much Coinbase can do if the U.S. regulators decide to fine the company or even worse, put an end to its staking business. Its Altman Z-Score is already at the distress level, indicating that the company might go bankrupt.

With all these risks, investing in less speculative names with well-established businesses is a much better move.

MicroStrategy (MSTR)

MicroStrategy (NASDAQ:MSTR) is another crypto-related business with very janky financials. The company took in billions in debt to stock up on Bitcoin (BTC-USD) and had around 132,500 BTC by the end of 2022. The recent crypto market rally renewed excitement about MSTR stock, as the average BTC buy price for the company is around $30,400. However, it is unlikely Bitcoin will break that level in the short term. Even if it does, holding above that level isn’t practical in this environment.

Essentially, by investing in MSTR, investors are investing in BTC but at a steep loss. With fundamentals out the window and so much debt, I would rather buy Bitcoin instead, as MicroStrategy hoards Bitcoin much above its current price. The only sweetener here is its software business generating a small amount of its revenue. Overall, I see no justification as to why one should buy the stock at current levels.

First Solar (FSLR)

First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) is a stock I would have happily cheered on a few months ago, but as SeekingAlpha contributor UFD Capital pointed out, there is too much growth priced in here. I believe the stock is poised for some correction as its current valuation is only due to the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act. The growth will also start to slow down from here, as guided.

However, the most significant problem for First Solar is its profitability. The company expects $1.5 billion in net cash this year, down from $2.4 billion in 2022. Meanwhile, it expects up to $2.1 billion in capital expenditures. This is only possible due to the tax credits the company is subject to, and it will still have to take on more debt to keep its growth story going. That’s wonderful for the short-term growth premium, but this business faces headwinds as competition heats up, and catalysts such as a recession will put this stock in a dangerous position.

Ultimately, it is good for investors to move in and out of positions based on a company’s valuation. I believe the current range is where you should lock in some profits for cheaper shares later.

On the date of publication, Omor Ibne Ehsan did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines.

Omor Ibne Ehsan is a writer at InvestorPlace. He is also an active contributor to a variety of finance and crypto-related websites. He has a strong background in economics and finance and is a self taught investor. You can follow him on LinkedIn.

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7 Monthly Dividend Stocks to Buy During the Market Jitters

With banking sector fears once again dominating headlines, investors should consider the consistent passive income potential of monthly dividend stocks to buy. Typically, companies that provide passive income do so on a quarterly basis. However, the schedule of life (such as rent and utility bills) occurs monthly. Therefore, this distinct segment should be attractive.

Now, with greater conveniences come greater risks. Generally, monthly dividend stocks to buy tend to be riskier than their quarterly paying counterparts. At this juncture, economic vagaries make this category somewhat hazy due to less-robust financial profiles. Still, if you can handle the heat, these monthly dividend stocks to buy deserve consideration.

O Realty Income $60.89
PBT Permian Basin Royalty Trust $23.97
SBR Sabine Royalty Trust $69.76
CRT Cross Timbers Royalty Trust $18.38
PRT PermRock Royalty Trust $6.70
GROW U.S. Global Investors $2.59
BRMK Broadmark Realty Capital $4.62

Realty Income (O)

A photo of a paper with a chart and the word

Source: jittawit21/Shutterstock.com

When it comes to monthly dividend stocks to buy, no discussion may be complete without mentioning Realty Income (NYSE:O). A common staple in this space, Realty represents a real estate investment trust (REIT) that targets free-standing, single-tenant commercial properties in the U.S., Spain, and the U.K. Although it features a massive footprint, O stock has been volatile so far this year, declining more than 4%.

Nevertheless, prospective investors will align themselves with a fairly solid business. For example, Realty’s three-year revenue growth rate pings at 5.1%, above nearly 69% of the REITs industry. Also, its EBITDA growth rate during the same period is 6%, better than 60% of its rivals.

For passive income, the enterprise carries a forward yield of 5.01%. For comparison, the real estate sector’s average yield is 4.46%. Also, the company features 30 years of consecutive dividend increases. Finally, Wall Street analysts peg O as a consensus moderate buy. Their average price target stands at $69.89, implying almost 15% upside potential.

Permian Basin Royalty Trust (PBT)

A photo of a young boy wearing sunglasses, jeans, a blazer, a white shirt and suspenders holding money in various denominations in one hand and sitting in a plush chair.

Source: Dmitry Lobanov/Shutterstock.com

A hydrocarbon specialist, Permian Basin Royalty Trust (NYSE:PBT) focuses on oil and natural gas. Per its public profile, Permain’s revenue stems from oil and gas pumped from the geologic formation for which it is named (the Permian Basin in west Texas) as well as a few locations in other parts of the state. Due to geopolitical relevancies, PBT represents a strong performer.

Since the Jan. opener, PBT gained nearly 5% of its equity value. During the past 365 days, PBT skyrocketed to the tune of 64%. Financially, the underlying enterprise maybe even more attractive. Notably, Permian has no debt, affording it incredible flexibility as it navigates multiple economic variables.

Operationally, the hydrocarbon specialist features a three-year revenue growth rate of 38.5%. As well, its EBITDA growth rate during the same period stands at 40.2%. For profitability, its net margin comes in at a whopping 98.31%. Finally, Permian’s forward yield comes in at 1.2%, which is on the low side of the energy industry. Still, with its frequency and relevant business, PBT may be one of the monthly dividend stocks to buy.

Sabine Royalty Trust (SBR)

stock market ticker screen with the word

Source: iQoncept/shutterstock.com

Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Sabine Royalty Trust (NYSE:SBR) is an express trust formed to receive Sabine Corporation’s royalty and mineral interests in certain producing and proved undeveloped oil and gas properties located in Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. However, unlike Permian Basin Royalty above, SBR has been volatile this year. Since the January opener, shares dropped nearly 14% in equity value.

Still, for risk takers, Sabine justifies at least consideration for monthly dividend stocks to buy. Perhaps most prominently, the company benefits from excellent strengths in the balance sheet. That’s not difficult to say because the trust has no debt. In addition, Sabine is an operational monster. Its three-year revenue growth rate comes in at 39.1%, beating out 90.42% of the industry. As well, its book growth rate during the same period stands at 26.5%, above nearly 91% of its rivals.

Lastly, for passive income, Sabine carries a forward yield of 8.21%. That’s well above the energy sector’s average yield of 4.24%.

Cross Timbers Royalty Trust (CRT)

dividend stocks: A calculator projecting the word

Source: Shutterstock

Also headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Cross Timbers Royalty Trust (NYSE:CRT) features a royalty business associated with oil-producing properties in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. Theoretically, Cross Timbers should benefit cynically from geopolitical flashpoints choking hydrocarbon resources to western countries. Unfortunately for stakeholders, CRT fell more than 32% since the Jan. opener.

Nevertheless, for risk-tolerant contrarians, Cross Timbers may represent one of the monthly dividend stocks to buy. Primarily, the company carries zero debt on its books. Again, without this encumbrance, the enterprise enjoys incredible flexibility to handle various economic headwinds. Also, its Altman Z-Score pings at 36.11, reflecting extremely low bankruptcy risk. Further, Cross Timbers enjoys a consistent track record, posting 10 years of profitability over the past decade. Interestingly, CRT’s Shiller price-earnings ratio sits at 9.41 times, below the sector median of 16.41 times.

Finally, Cross Timbers carries a forward yield of 12.99%. Again, that’s conspicuously above the energy sector’s average yield of 4.24%.

PermRock Royalty Trust (PRT)

sheet of paper marked

Source: Shutterstock

Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, PermRock Royalty Trust (NYSE:PRT) is a Delaware statutory trust formed to own a perpetual interest in oil and natural gas-producing properties, according to its website. Unfortunately, like some of the other monthly dividend stocks to buy, PermRock failed to capture the upside inherent in its underlying narrative. Since the Jan. opener, PRT gave up 10% of its equity value.

For full disclosure, in the past 365 days, PRT gave up more than 34%. However, daring investors may want to consider the positives; namely, the company carries zero debt on its books. Further, its Altman Z-Score pings at 41.56, reflecting an extremely low risk of imminent bankruptcy.

Nevertheless, it’s one of the higher-risk monthly dividend stocks to buy. For instance, the company’s three-year revenue growth rate fell to 20.6% below breakeven. It’s a similar situation for its EBITDA growth rate during the same period. Ultimately, though, investors may be attracted to PermRock’s forward yield of 9.31%. As well, while the payout ratio is high at 86.14%, it’s not ridiculously so.

U.S. Global Investors (GROW)

The word

Source: Shutterstock

For those that want to diversify away from the energy sector, U.S. Global Investors (NASDAQ:GROW) may interest adventurous market participants. Billed as an innovative investment manager with vast experience in global markets and specialized sectors, acquiring shares of GROW in some ways allows you to trade with the pros. Unfortunately, the pros lost 11% of equity value since the Jan. opener.

That’s not all. In the past 365 days, GROW tanked more than 48%. It goes without saying that these shares aren’t for the faint of heart. Still, what might entice speculators is that U.S. Global Investors features a strong balance sheet. Aside from its rich cash position, it features an Altman Z-Score of 9.57, reflecting a very low risk of bankruptcy.

Operationally, the company’s three-year book growth rate pings at 38.1%, beating out nearly 95% of companies in the asset management industry. Also, its operating margin stands at 43.49%, outpacing 74.62% of the competition. For passive income, GROW carries a forward yield of 3.47%. That’s a bit higher than the financial sector’s average yield of 3.18%.

Broadmark Realty Capital (BRMK)

7 Winning High-Yield Dividend Stocks With Payouts Over 5%

Source: Shutterstock

Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Broadmark Realty Capital (NYSE:BRMK) is a specialty real estate finance company investing in opportunities throughout the small to the middle market. On paper, Broadmark sounds incredibly dangerous. With the banking sector flashing red, growth-oriented initiatives don’t seem particularly enticing. However, BRMK gained more than 22% of its equity value since the beginning of this year.

In fairness, Broadmark is in the middle of a recovery trek. During the past 365 days, BRMK hemorrhaged more than 48%. Therefore, those worried about downside risk shouldn’t get involved. On the positive side, the company does feature a relatively decent balance sheet. For instance, its cash-to-debt ratio is 0.52 times, ranking better than 86.55% of the REITs industry.

For passive income, Broadmark carries a forward yield of 9.4%. Moreover, its payout ratio is elevated but manageable at 65.63%. Interestingly, Broadmarket represents one of the few monthly dividend stocks to buy with analyst coverage. In this case, it’s a hold. However, the average price target is $6, implying over 34% upside potential.

On the date of publication, Josh Enomoto did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines.

A former senior business analyst for Sony Electronics, Josh Enomoto has helped broker major contracts with Fortune Global 500 companies. Over the past several years, he has delivered unique, critical insights for the investment markets, as well as various other industries including legal, construction management, and healthcare.

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Tesla racial-discrimination trial begins after record judgment was reduced

A Black elevator operator at Tesla Inc.
TSLA,
+1.02%

who in 2021 was awarded $137 million by a jury that agreed he was subjected to racial harassment at the automaker’s Fremont, Calif. factory, then saw a judge reduce the award to $15 million last year, is back in San Francisco federal court Monday for a new trial. During the original trial, Owen Diaz testified that he was regularly called the N-word and other racial slurs, including by a supervisor, at work. A jury awarded him $130 million in punitive damages and about $7 million in compensatory damages, which the judge reduced to $13.5 million and $1.5 million, respectively. Diaz’s lawyers are hoping to increase the payout to their client as they re-argue the case before the same U.S. District Court judge, William Orrick, in a trial that is reportedly expected to last five days. Tesla had urged the judge to reduce the jury award to $600,000, with the company’s lawyers acknowledging in a filing that the use of racial slurs in a workplace was “deeply offensive” and “utterly unacceptable.”

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Arko reveals it’s a rival bidder for TravelCenters of America

Arko Corp.
ARKO,
+0.60%

on Monday disclosed that it was the company that submitted a rival offer of $92 a share for TravelCenters of America Inc.
TA,
+0.72%
.
TravelCenters of America made the $92 offer public in a proxy filed last week, but didn’t name Arko Corp., an Arko spokesperson told MarketWatch in an email. Arko said it issued a letter urging TravelCenters of America to seriously consider its offer, which is higher than the accepted price of $86 a share from BP Plc
BP,
+2.56%

on Feb. 16 that values the company at $1.3 billion. Arko stock is up 0.7% and TravelCenters stock is up 0.8%. Arko stock has fallen 3.6% in 2023, compared to a rise of 3.7% by the S&P 500
SPX,
+0.16%
,
while the Nasdaq is about flat for the year. TravelCenters stock is up 94% so far in 2023 with a boost from BP’s bid. TravelCenters has said it expects to close the transaction by mid-year 2023, subject to shareholder and regulatory approval.

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Reuters was first to report that Indian refiners pay traders in dirhams for Russian oil

Business & FinanceEconomy

Reuters was first to report that Indian refiners have begun paying for most of their Russian oil purchased via Dubai-based traders in United Arab Emirates dirhams instead of U.S. dollars. While Western sanctions against Moscow are not recognised by India, and purchases of Russian oil may in any case not violate them, banks and financial institutions are cautious about clearing payments so as not to unwittingly fall foul of the many measures imposed against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.

Market Impact

Indian refiners and traders are concerned they may not be able to continue to settle trades in dollars, leading traders to seek alternative methods of payment, which could also aid Russia’s efforts to de-dollarize its economy in response to the Western sanctions.

Article Tags

Topics of Interest: Business & FinanceEconomy

Type: Reuters Best

Sectors: Business & FinanceCommodities & EnergyEconomy & Policy

Regions: AsiaEurope / Middle East / Africa

Countries: IndiaRussiaUAE

Win Types: Exclusivity

Story Types: Exclusive / Scoop

Media Types: Text

Customer Impact: Significant National Story

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Nissan’s electric comeback stalled by Ariya production woes 

Automotive

Reuters exclusively revealed that Nissan Motor Co’s (7201.T) new Ariya electric vehicle has been hampered by problems at its high-tech production line, slowing delivery of a car designed to put the automaker on the road to a comeback.  

Market Impact

The shortfall hinders the automaker’s plans for growth in the electric car market it helped pioneer before ceding dominance to Tesla Inc (TSLA.O). 

Article Tags

Topics of Interest: Automotive

Type: Reuters Best

Sectors: Business & FinanceIndustrial Goods & Manufacturing

Regions: Asia

Countries: Japan

Win Types: Exclusivity

Story Types: Exclusive / Scoop

Media Types: Text

Customer Impact: Significant National Story

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Binance sued by CFTC for allegedly flouting commodity trading laws

Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange, was sued by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission Monday for alleged violations of the federal laws governing commodities markets.

The CFTC alleged that Binance failed to register with the agency as a derivatives intermediary as required by U.S. law, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court in Illinois.

The complaint alleges that Binance “actively facilitated violations of U.S. law” by assisting U.S. clients in evading compliance controls and instructing customers to obscure their location using virtual private networks, or VPNs.

Major cryptocurrencies bitcoin
BTCUSD,
-3.03%

and ether
ETHUSD,
-2.47%

were both trading lower Monday.

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Analysis: Gas shortage exposes fragile South Asian economies to more pain

EconomyEnergy

Reuters proprietarily analyzes the economies of Pakistan and Bangladesh amidst a shortage of imported gas. With just over a month until peak Ramadan shopping season, the head of Pakistan’s retail industry body is pressing officials to relax orders that forced malls to shut by 8.30 p.m. to save energy. More than 40% of annual retail sales occur in the 30 days of the holy month, and malls are packed between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Fear in the retail sector highlights how a shortage of imported gas has cut power output and hit the economy in Pakistan, just as it reels from soaring inflation and a sliding currency.

Market Impact

Pakistan and Bangladesh are heavily dependent on gas for power generation but have had to slash their imports of LNG after prices rocketed on a surge in Europe’s demand to replace Russian supplies following the Ukraine war. Despite LNG prices having fallen from last year’s record highs, the superchilled fuel is still expensive for South Asian buyers as their currencies have weakened sharply, making it hard for them to boost LNG imports this year. 

Article Tags

Topics of Interest: EconomyEnergy

Type: Reuters Best

Sectors: Commodities & EnergyEconomy & Policy

Regions: Asia

Countries: BangladeshPakistan

Win Types: Exclusivity

Story Types: Exclusive / Scoop

Media Types: Text

Customer Impact: Important Regional Story

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