Author: therawinformant

Theoretically, because JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM) is the most powerful among the big four bank stocks – the others being Citigroup (NYSE:C), Bank of America (NYSE:BAC), and Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC) – it should provide a measure of confidence through this unprecedented storm. After all, the entire banking sector learned harsh lessons from the 2008 financial crash. Once society normalizes from the novel coronavirus pandemic, JPM stock should be back, rocking and rolling.Source: Bjorn Bakstad / Shutterstock.com However, shares have traded pensively relative to the strong bounce back seen in other investment sectors. Unprecedented government action designed to address the pandemic's devastating effects have failed to inspire much momentum in JPM stock. Some might point to the disconnect between benchmark indices and the fundamentals becoming a little bit more connected.For instance, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell gave a stark warning about the current malaise. To paraphrase his sentiments, Powell believes that additional government support is necessary to overcome this crisis. Still, he's under no illusions – this will blow a huge hole in our already massive deficit. But the cost will be worth it, in part because the alternative may be even more disastrous.InvestorPlace – Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading TipsNot surprisingly, this shift toward a darker tone has capped upside for JPM stock and other big banks. But according to CNBC, senior administrative officials indicated that the White House would likely support a second round of stimulus checks. * 20 Stocks to Buy If You're Still Betting on America to Thrive Officially, the Trump administration is keeping tight-lipped about this proposal. Nevertheless, I don't think they have much of a choice. With the President being in a pivotal election year, he must do everything in his power to not only stabilize the economy but to spark tangible momentum.But will it work? JPM Stock Caught in a Fiscal ExperimentOn the surface, stimulus 2.0 may be just the catalyst JPM stock needs. Yes, the underlying company has bolstered its balance sheet, as has everyone else. Combined with the industry ridding itself of toxic assets, the big banks should be better prepared to handle this crisis.Unfortunately, I'm skeptical. While I'm not worried about the financial sector sinking itself due to their decision to overleverage themselves, I am worried that the rest of the country will finish the job. As you know, the banks can't exist for existence' sake. In order to recover the economy, you must first have economic stability.That was the well-meaning thesis driving the first coronavirus relief bill. Instead of bailing out just the big institutions, it was time Uncle Sam stepped up and extended a lifeline to the American people. In hindsight, it was probably better for the government to directly support payrolls, incentivizing corporations to keep their employees, similar to what Germany did to handle the Great Recession.What we're discovering – perhaps to no one's surprise – is that American households have consistently socked away their stimulus checks (if they were lucky enough to receive them). That's great for personal stability. Also, it's just common sense considering that we don't know what lies ahead.But from a broader perspective, it's absolutely terrible. As you know, consumption drives the U.S. economy. So, what happens when people stop consuming? For the most part, you get a deflationary environment. And that's exactly what we're seeing.Several commodities (gold being a notable exception) are deflated. Retailers have filed for bankruptcy. Outside of essential purchases and tasks, many consumers are choosing to stay home.In this situation, JPM stock doesn't have many growth opportunities because very few exist. Selective InflationWhile the hoarding of cash naturally imposes deflationary pressures, there is one sector that is experiencing mass inflation: groceries.According to recent data, grocery costs have jumped the most in this country in 46 years. Although some factors, such as the meat shortage, have exacerbated the supply chain, let's face it – most of this cost spike is due to demand. With spiking levels of hunger across America, people are simply scared out of their minds.Whatever funds they have, consumers will use toward food and other essentials. Should we have another round of stimulus, you can be almost sure that the funds will go toward two areas: groceries and savings accounts. Thus, whatever bump JPM stock would receive from the headlines, it wouldn't align with the fundamentals.Ultimately, even if JPMorgan is the most resilient of the bunch, I believe the skeptical position is the smart one. Unless the bank wants to enter the agriculture business, there are very few credible growth channels, even with extra stimulus.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. As of this writing, he did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. More From InvestorPlace * Top Stock Picker Reveals His Next 1,000% Winner * America's Richest ZIP Code Holds Shocking Secret * 1 Under-the-Radar 5G Stock to Buy Now * The 1 Stock All Retirees Must Own The post Why JPMorgan Chase Isna€™t Safe From the Onslaught appeared first on InvestorPlace.

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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Saturday he would look at possible ways to help airlines further, but laid out no new measures after the country’s biggest airline announced mass layoffs due to the coronavirus pandemic. Air Canada said on Friday it would cut its workforce by up to 60% as the airline tries to save cash amid the COVID-19 pandemic and adjust to a lower level of traffic. “This pandemic has hit extremely hard on travel industries and on the airlines particularly,” Trudeau said in a briefing in Ottawa.

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Royal Caribbean (NYSE:RCL) shares have shed 70% of their value since last year. With no-sail orders in place throughout the United States and Europe through July, cruise lines are finding ways to preserve their liquidity so that they are in good shape to potentially return this summer. Uncertainty looms over the resumption of business for RCL stock, but executives are hoping the company can restart operations before 2021.Source: Laszlo Halasi / Shutterstock.com With virtually no revenue since mid-March, RCL is burning between $250 million and $275 million a month while its operations are suspended. To mitigate costs, the company has cut more than 5,000 of its employees, a number which is expected to grow under a prolonged recession scenario.According to Zack's Investment Research, earnings estimate for the upcoming quarter is a loss of 58 cents, which is a 145% decrease from the year-ago quarter. Let's dive a little deeper as to why I believe that RCL stock will struggle for the foreseeable future.InvestorPlace – Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips Stabilization PeriodInitially, analysts believed the ban on cruises was a temporary reaction to the coronavirus — one that would be lifted soon. With countries such as China, Taiwan, and South Korea controlling the virus within a couple of months, it seemed plausible Western countries would also come out of the pandemic within a few months. However, now it seems that the timeline is likely to lengthen moving forward. Unfortunately for RCL, the U.S. and European markets are the bulwarks of its revenues. * 7 Stocks to Buy That Have Nothing But Upside In Their Future Most Western countries have not recommended wearing masks in public. The fixation with social distancing and the medical, rather than the sociological, benefits of wearing masks is likely to continue in these countries, making it extremely difficult for cruise companies to return this summer.Furthermore, a typical cruise itinerary covers a variety of destinations, which further complicates matters. Most of those destinations are likely to implement mandatory quarantine for foreign arrivals. Therefore, it seems that cruise lines cannot return to normalcy until the virus is near eradication. That can only happen if a vaccine is widely available for the disease.Though details about the resumption of business are unclear, booking volumes for the next season are looking good. RCL's management states that "Although still early in the booking cycle, the booked position for 2021 is within historical ranges when compared to the same time last year." Additionally, 55% of customers have chosen to go with a cruise credit instead of a cash refund. Worrying Liquidity PositionBefore the pandemic, RCL was considered to be somewhat of a growth company. Revenues were increasing at a healthy rate each year, and gross margins averaged 42.6% over a five-year horizon. It was the best performing cruise company, with a higher average return on equity than its main competitors Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NYSE:NCLH) and Carnival Corporation (NYSE:CCL). With a substantial increase in net income each year, the company adequately plowed back a significant portion of its earnings to expand and upgrade its fleet.However, on the liquidity front, it is an entirely different story. Financial leverage has averaged 2.42 for the past five years, which is significantly higher than the industry average. In addition, the company has struggled with its short-term liquidity, as its current liabilities have outpaced current assets for the past five years. With everyone rechecking their books for any excess debt these days, the numbers don't instill confidence.RCL closed April with $2.3 billion in cash and cash equivalents and has added a $150 million senior secured credit facility in May. RCL and other cruise companies have been unsuccessful in getting any relief from the U.S. government, and have turned to countries such as Germany, who are offering debt holidays for a year. With roughly $2.45 billion in cash equivalents and the monthly cash burn at $250 million, the company can survive approximately ten months without revenue. RCL Stock ValuationCruise line companies have witnessed a massive decrease in their stock price since last year. RCL stock is down 70% from the previous year, while Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival are down 79% and 72%, respectively. It currently has an earnings rating of 4, which is 10% lower than the industry average and 62% lower than the S&P 500 index average.According to Refinitiv, in the past 90 days, the consensus price target for RCL has decreased from $143 to $79.10, a loss of -44.7%. However, this price is roughly 107% higher than the current price at $38.Stock valuation using the P/E ratio suggests that the current price is in line with the earnings multiple. Therefore, the significantly high price estimates are surprising. Perhaps the feeling is that RCL will be able to fend off the crisis and return to safer waters in September. However, even if the company manages to mount a comeback in the summer, demand is not likely to return to the pre-pandemic levels until a vaccine is made widely available. Final WordCovid-19 has turned the tables on an otherwise profitable business in the Royal Caribbean Cruises. RCL has a couple of billion dollars to help keep it afloat until demand returns to the pre-pandemic levels. However, it seems that the company's primary target markets are in for the long haul with the pandemic.Executives are positive about returning to the seas this summer, but at the current rate, it seems unlikely. Nonetheless, with its current valuation and a proven track record of generating higher returns than the industry, it could be an excellent time to grab the stock at a bargain. However, with the uncertainty surrounding the crisis, I would probably play the waiting game until things become clearer.As of this writing, Muslim Farooque did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. More From InvestorPlace * Top Stock Picker Reveals His Next 1,000% Winner * America's Richest ZIP Code Holds Shocking Secret * 1 Under-the-Radar 5G Stock to Buy Now * The 1 Stock All Retirees Must Own The post RCL Stock Is Swimming in Troubled Waters appeared first on InvestorPlace.

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I wanted to find five foreign, profitable companies that investors would find worthwhile. They would have to be cheap stocks with low price-earnings ratios and high dividend yields. The idea is that by diversifying a portion of your portfolio in non-U.S. stocks, you will enhance your overall returns.Often, foreign equities provide a return that is not correlated with U.S. stocks. At least, that is the theory. There are some significant drawbacks. I have managed non-U.S. equity portfolios on the institutional side for a good number of years and am well familiar with these issues.For one, non-U.S. stocks are subject to currency fluctuations. When the dollar rises, the U.S. dollar return on non-U.S. equities tends to lag. However, I have learned that this effect tends to recycle over a number of years and sort of washes out.InvestorPlace – Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading TipsA second issue is that often, non-U.S. stocks pay dividends just twice a year. This is because the vast majority of foreign companies only report their earnings semi-annually. However, the larger U.S. listed American Depository Receipts (ADR) or American Depository Shares (ADS) tend to report quarterly and pay their dividends that way. This occurs either because U.S. holders are a big percentage of the share base, or the company perceives that its stock price is "made" in the U.S.Moreover, another issue is that many non-U.S. companies will pay their dividends out as a percentage of their semi-annual earnings. In other words, the dividends paid each year can fluctuate, based on profits. U.S. companies tend to pay out a steady dividend that increases over time. I have learned again that the larger non-U.S. stocks have started following the steady dividend approach.The following five cheap stocks are worthwhile investments. They all have higher-than-normal dividend yields that tend to be paid quarterly. They also have low price-earnings ratios.Here are five cheap stocks — that pay nice dividends — to buy now: * BP Midstream Partners (NYSE:BPMP) * Publicis Groupe (OTCMKTS:PUBGY) * Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO) * Vodafone Group (NASDAQ:VOD) * Total (NYSE:TOT)Let's dive in and look at these foreign, cheap stocks more closely. Foreign Cheap Stocks: BP Midstream Partners (BPMP)Source: Pavel Kapysh / Shutterstock.com Dividend Yield: 12.5%BP (NYSE:BP) is a profitable foreign stock with a nice 10.9% dividend yield. But I thought I would focus on one of its spinoff companies, BP Midstream Partners. BPMP has a higher dividend yield than BP.BPMP is a U.S.-listed master limited partnership (MLP) that is focused solely on the midstream portion of the oil and gas life cycle. That involves running oil and gas onshore and offshore pipelines and terminals.Source: Mark R. Hake, CFA Now that more companies are looking to store oil and gas, its assets are close to fully occupied.BPMP declared a quarterly dividend on April 15 for 34.75 cents per share. That works out to an annualized dividend of $1.39. At today's price of $11, the stock yields 12.5%. This is higher than BP's distribution yield of just under 11%.The company reported excellent results for Q1 on May 8. It says that the quarterly distribution is covered 1.17 times by its earnings. Moreover, BPMP says it is targeting a 5% increase in its distributions to shareholders in 2020 over 2019. * 7 Stocks to Buy That Have Nothing But Upside In Their Future At 7.3 times earnings, with a 16.8% free cash flow yield and a 12.5% dividend yield, BPMP is very profitable and cheap. Investors should take a close look at the company. Publicis Groupe (PUBGY)Source: shutterstock.com Dividend Yield: 4.9%Next on my list of cheap stocks is Publicis Groupe. This is a French advertising, communications and digital marketing company. Publicis has its tentacles in a lot of related areas like media, technology, healthcare communications and consulting services. It owns famed companies Saatchi & Saatchi and Leo Burnett.Publicis Groupe trades on the over-the-counter market. Its dividend yield has been about 9%, and the forward price-earnings ratio is about 7. So it is a profitable company, but a cheap stock.Source: Mark R. Hake, CFA On April 13, Publicis reported its revenue, which was up 17%, although it included the effects of the acquisition of Epsilon. Its organic growth was down by 2.9% over last year. The company did not report its earnings, which apparently are done on a semi-annual basis.In addition, Publicis Groupe decided to cut its dividend by 50% to 1.15 euros. This works out to about 31.12 cents per ADR.There are four PUBGY ADRs per French ordinary share. As a result, PUBGY has a dividend yield of 4.9%. The company said it will pay the dividend in September.So Publicis Groupe is a cheap and profitable foreign stock with an above-average dividend yield. Rio Tinto Group (RIO)Source: BalkansCat / Shutterstock.com Dividend Yield: 8.4%Rio Tinto is a $74 billion mining company based in London. It produces iron ore, bauxite, copper, gold, silver, aluminum and a host of other commodities.Last year, Rio Tinto started paying dividends four times a year. It is still not clear that it will continue with this practice. I suspect it will, as there does not seem to be an announcement to the contrary. Based on last year's dividend of $3.82 per share, RIO stock yields 8.4%.Source: Mark R. Hake, CFA Moreover, the company has a website section showing consensus financial information, including production, revenue and earnings estimates by all its sell-side analysts. This is not allowed by U.S. regulators for U.S. stocks, for no good reason. But it is fairly common for foreign stocks under looser financial information regulations.Based on this I estimate that earnings will be $5.04 per ADR this year. The company just needs global lockdowns to relax, or at least ease up.This will increase the demand for global committees, especially iron and copper. As demand rises, the price of these commodities will increase and the company will make more money.This puts the stock at a very cheap multiple of just 9 times earnings. So, combined with the 8.4% dividend, RIO stock offers very good value for investors. Vodafone Group (VOD)Source: Photos by D / Shutterstock.com Dividend Yield: 6.6%Vodafone is a telecom and cable TV company based in the United Kingdom. The company has a $43.8 billion market value and its ADR is listed on the Nasdaq Exchange.VOD stock has a very high dividend yield at 6.6% and is quite attractive to investors at this level. It pays the dividend twice a year. Vodafone kept its final dividend level with last year in its earnings announcement on May 12.Source: Mark R. Hake, CFA This requires a little explanation. First of all, Vodafone is like most other UK stocks that report their earnings and dividends twice a year. But for some reason, even though VOD's earnings are in pounds, it pays out the dividend in eurocents.So for this fiscal year ending March 31, the Vodafone annual dividend was kept stable at 9 eurocents per share. Now since there are 10 ordinary shares for every one VOD ADR, and since the exchange rate is $1.0823 per euro, the U.S. dividend per VOD ADR is about 97 cents. That makes the annualized yield about 6.6%.To make things more complicated, the upcoming final dividend (half of the total dividend, since an interim dividend was already paid) is set at 4.5 eurocents per ordinary share. This will be paid on Aug. 7, 2020. This effectively makes the upcoming payment a dividend yield of about 3.3%. This depends on the exchange rate when the ADR payment is set.Vodafone's earnings for the year ending March were reasonably good. The bottom line is that the company expects its FY 2021 free cash flow to decline slightly from 5.7 billion pounds to 5.4 billion pounds. As a result, I expect the dividend will be kept level.This makes VOD stock very attractive as a stable, well-covered and high-dividend play for income investors. Total (TOT)Source: MDOGAN / Shutterstock.com Dividend Yield: 8.8%Total is a French oil and gas company. Last year the company paid four dividends to its shareholders, although it calls three of them "interim" dividends and the last one a "final" dividend.This past year, the company increased its dividend 5% to 2.68 euros per share. This works out to $2.92 per ADR.Source: Mark R. Hake, CFA As a result, the stock has a very attractive dividend yield of 8.8% for investors.I estimate that the stock is also cheap at just 7.4 times earnings. In its most recent Q1 earnings presentation, Total said its break-even level is at $25 per barrel of oil.So I expect the company will be able to stay profitable this quarter. As economic activity picks up, the company will be able to make more money once the price of oil rises.This is an attractively priced stock at below 8 times this year's earnings, based on the company's recent earnings results.As of this writing, Mark Hake, CFA does not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. Mark Hake runs the Total Yield Value Guide, which you can review here. More From InvestorPlace * Top Stock Picker Reveals His Next 1,000% Winner * America's Richest ZIP Code Holds Shocking Secret * 1 Under-the-Radar 5G Stock to Buy Now * The 1 Stock All Retirees Must Own The post 5 Cheap Foreign Stocks That Are Perfect for Dividend Investors appeared first on InvestorPlace.

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The travel and tourism industry was heavily impacted by the coronavirus, but it may begin to see a turnaround as consumers look to travel in the coming summer months. Michael Brown, CEO of Wyndham Destinations, joins Yahoo Finance to discuss.

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