In his first letter to shareholders, Alibaba’s (BABA) CEO Daniel Zhang has set out a series of ambitious goals for the Chinese e-commerce giant.BABA’s goal is to serve more than 1 billion consumers in China and facilitate more than RMB10 trillion of consumption on the company’s platforms in the next five years as ‘we continue on the path of globalization’.Longer-term, Zhang wants BABA to serve 2 billion consumers globally, create 100 million jobs and provide the necessary infrastructure to support 10 million small businesses to become profitable on the company’s platforms by 2036.“We will continue to pursue our three strategic pillars of globalization, China domestic consumption and big data powered by cloud computing” the CEO said.“Globalization is our long-term battle; Chinese domestic consumption is our cornerstone battle and big data powered by cloud computing is our battle for the future” he wrote.Zhang also pointed out that this year the company has migrated its core system onto the public cloud, paving the way to build a cloud-native infrastructure for the future, and held a secondary listing in Hong Kong.“During this past fiscal year, despite the impact of the pandemic, Alibaba still delivered on a strategic goal that we had established five years ago, which was to surpass US$1 trillion in GMV. This was an important milestone for Alibaba, especially in the context of US$6 trillion in total annual retail sales of consumer goods in China today” Zhang wrote.The SEC filing also showed that BABA revenue soared 35% over the last fiscal year, with net income up 75%. Meanwhile annual active customers surged to 140 million from 120 million previously.On July 9, RBC Capital analyst Mark Mahaney reiterated his buy rating on the stock and $235 price target. “While management continues to emphasize strategic investments to sustain long-term growth, we look to narrowing losses on this line as a signal of improved cost management and path to profitability, which we believe would be a material positive for the stock” commented Mahaney.For the June quarter, the analyst is forecasting 124.6B RMB in Core Commerce Revenue, implying 25% Y/Y growth, and 101.0B RMB in China Commerce (28% Y/Y growth), largely in line with the Street.Turning to other Wall Street analysts, the bulls have it. The Strong Buy consensus boasts 20 Buy ratings versus 1 Hold rating. The $267 average price target implies 2% upside potential in the shares in the coming 12 months. (See Alibaba stock analysis on TipRanks). Shares in Alibaba are now trading up 23% year-to-date.Related News: Amazon Delays Prime Day- This Time Until October Has Apple Surged Too Far, Too Fast? Analyst Weighs In Lookout Walmart, Amazon Is Coming for Your Grocery Customers, Says Analyst More recent articles from Smarter Analyst: * Amazon Is Said To Offer $100M In Stock Awards To Keep Zoox Talent * Walgreens Reports $1.7B Quarterly Loss, Cuts 4,000 Jobs Due To Covid-19 Impact * Moderna Inks Deal With Rovi To Supply Potential Covid-19 Vaccine Outside U.S. * Sony Invests $250M For Minority Stake In Fortnite Maker Epic Games

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Thursday was a wild day on Wall Street, with some stocks flying and others dying. And with so much variation between sector performance, it's increasingly becoming a market of haves and have-nots. So, whether you're happy with your portfolio this week very much depends on where you have exposure. Therefore, let's take a look at three of my favorite top stock trades.The hottest sector by a long shot remains technology. However, many leaders are skirting the stratosphere and thus, offer poor entries. I'm talking Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) and the like. What's more attractive than chasing the big boys, though, is finding stocks to buy that are just now emerging from well-established bases. The risk is lower, and they arguably have more gas in the tank than the tech giants that have already run for so many consecutive sessions. * The 7 Best Stocks to Invest in Right Now In addition to their more tempting entries, all of these selections went absolutely bananas on Thursday. That said, I love the relative strength and think it suggests more gains to come in the following names:InvestorPlace – Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips * Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) * Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) * Roku (NASDAQ:ROKU)As usual, we'll take a closer look at their charts and offer the technical reasons why they're such compelling plays. So, let's dive in. Monster Rally Stocks to Buy: Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) Click to EnlargeSource: The thinkorswim® platform from TD Ameritrade You might think our first pick is obvious because it hales from the tech sector. But before Thursday, Advanced Micro Devices hadn't participated in the tech boom virtually at all. Not since mid-April, at least. Bears might spin its relative weakness as a negative, but I think all it's done is made the eventual breakout all the more compelling.I see a beautiful cup-and-handle pattern on the weekly time frame that is now on the cusp of completion. AMD is on every momentum traders' radar, and I guarantee they're all perking up after this week's ramp back up to resistance.If you want more confirmation, you can wait for a push above $58 to signal the resistance breach is here. Given the volume behind Thursday's rally, however, I think an upside break is inevitable.The Trade: Buy the Aug. $57.50/$62.50 bull call for around $1.75. Costco Wholesale (COST) Click to EnlargeSource: The thinkorswim® platform from TD Ameritrade The hubbub surrounding Costco's unique positioning to profit from the novel coronavirus has died down considerably in recent months. And in that time, its stock price hasn't budged. Like AMD, the silver lining of an asset treading water for months is it creates a clear trading range to build bets around.One of my favorite technical analysis phrases is "the bigger the base, the higher in space." COST stock has been hugging $305 since last September, effectively creating a year-long base that we're now breaking out of. Thursday's nearly 3% jump saw a large influx of volume, and increase the likelihood that the resistance breach could have staying power.The implied volatility rank is low, and at $326, Costco is too expensive for long calls. Thus, I think bull call spreads are the way to go here. * 7 Earnings Reports to Watch Next Week The Trade: Buy the Oct. $330/$345 call spread for around $5.60. Roku (ROKU) Click to EnlargeSource: The thinkorswim® platform from TD Ameritrade Roku rounds out our trio of stocks to buy with an epic 12% jump on Thursday. More than 25 million shares traded throughout the day, marking its highest volume day since mid-April. That said, many of the biggest gainers on Thursday were those benefiting from the global pandemic. Coronavirus cases are on the rise, and investors seem to be warming up once more to companies like Roku.Remember, more people at home means more consumers streaming shows via Roku's media devices.Additionally, what else excites me about the ROKU stock chart is that it's just now breaking out of its three-month base. Unlike Apple or Amazon, which have already rocketed into orbit, Roku shares are just now blasting off. And I think it brings the stock's all-time high of $176.55 as a realistic upside target over the coming weeks.The Trade: Buy the Sep. $150/$160 bull call spread for around $3.90.For a free trial to the best trading community on the planet and Tyler's current home, click here! At the time of this writing, Tyler held bullish positions in AMD. More From InvestorPlace * Why Everyone Is Investing in 5G All WRONG * America's 1 Stock Picker Reveals His Next 1,000% Winner * Revolutionary Tech Behind 5G Rollout Is Being Pioneered By This 1 Company * Radical New Battery Could Dismantle Oil Markets The post 3 Stocks to Buy That Could Continue Their Monster Rallies appeared first on InvestorPlace.

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The events of 2020 have provided many buying opportunities for savvy investors. I've put together a number of lists chocked with stocks that my Portfolio Grader says are positioned for post-pandemic gains. Here are seven pharmaceutical stocks, for example. Or how about seven manufacturing stocks to snap up before they recover?What about the oil industry? It's been hammered in 2020. A brutal price war combined with the novel coronavirus pandemic has resulted in historic low oil prices, bargain basement stock prices and a growing list of bankruptcies. Natural gas companies are struggling too. * The 7 Best Stocks to Invest in Right Now But it's possible the situation for this sector may not be as dire as oil's in the long term. There are a handful of stocks worth keeping an eye on, just in case the situation begins to improve. These 9 natural gas stocks should be on your watchlist:InvestorPlace – Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips * Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG) * Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P. (NYSE:MMP) * EQT Corporation (NYSE:EQT) * Phillips 66 Partners LP (NYSE:PSXP) * Pembina Pipeline Corp (NYSE:PBA) * Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE:EPD) * Apache Corporation (NASDAQ:APA) * Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation (NYSE:COG) * Royal Dutch Shell plc ADR Class A (NYSE:RDS.A)To be clear, natural gas stocks are full of risk. Despite their high fundamental and quantitative ratings on my Portfolio Grader, these are all D-rated stocks, and the sector as a whole is still in a very tough spot. Less than two weeks ago, Chesapeake Energy (OTCMKTS:CHKAQ) — one of the biggest U.S. shale gas producers — filed for bankruptcy. And if the country's sixth largest gas producer is on the ropes, that's a terrible omen.However, the decline in production may correct the chronic over-supply that's plagued the industry, while there's still hope that liquid natural gas (LNG) exports could eventually open up additional markets.If you're looking for energy stocks that are positioned to be big winners going forward, check out my list of "7 Environmental Energy Stocks to Watch." But if you feel there's still a play to made in natural gas stocks and have a stomach for risk, these nine are worth keeping an eye on. Cheniere Energy (LNG)Source: IgorGolovniov / Shutterstock.com Cheniere Energy earns the sole A-rating among gas stocks on this list, and it scores that A for its fundamental grade. A pioneer in the export of liquid natural gas (thus the ticker), Cheniere Energy is betting big on the demand for American LNG exports in the European and Asian markets. With coal use on the decline, that's not an unreasonable bet.In its first quarter earnings, LNG stock reported revenue up 22% year-over-year, with export volume up 46%. Despite the circumstances, Cheniere Energy maintained its full-year 2020 guidance and even spent $155 million to repurchase 2.9 million shares of common stock. LNG stock had been on the path to recovery from a massive crash in 2015 before stalling last summer. Currently trading at $50.51, Cheniere is crawling its way back to its 2020 high of $66.00 from January. Magellan Midstream Partners (MMP)Source: Shutterstock Magellan Midstream Partners scores a B fundamental grade from my Portfolio Grader. In its first-quarter earnings report, MMP beat Wall Street expectations with EPS of $1.28 (24% higher than the $1.03 consensus). The company's primary business is the storage, transportation and distribution of petroleum products and ammonia. All told, Magellan Midstream Partners owns and operates nearly 11,000 miles of pipelines in the U.S. And Warren Buffet loves pipelines now, so maybe some of that optimism will rub off on MMP. * The 7 Best Stocks to Invest in Right Now MMP stock peaked in 2014 when it passed the $86 level, and it's been in slow decline since. Its 2020 high close of $65.08 dates back to January. After bottoming out in March, MMP's recovery has all but stalled since May. EQT Corporation (EQT)Source: Shutterstock This Pittsburgh-based company is an interesting case, maintaining a quantitative B grade. The natural gas producer and pipeline operator is focused on the Appalachian region. In fact, EQT is the largest producer of natural gas in America.EQT stock had been in free-fall since topping $58 in 2014. Even a spike in natural gas prices to close out 2018 couldn't halt the slide. That continued into early 2020, when it suddenly began showing signs of life. Natural gas prices began to creep up slightly in March. In May, EQT announced it was curtailing production and selling off non-strategic assets. The movement in gas prices combined with the company's strategic moves seemed to re-invigorate EQT. Shares in the company have gained 168% since its mid-March low, and posted 28% growth to date in 2020. Phillips 66 Partners LP (PSXP)Source: Gergely Zsolnai/Shutterstock.com PSXP stock scores a fundamental C rating in my Portfolio Grader. Since 2016, shares in the company had been unable to break the $60 ceiling, until last winter. In January, growth in the stock peaked, with PSXP closing at $64.73 on January 16. From there, it was a swift fall to below $25 by mid-March.Houston-based Phillips 66 Partners is focused on pipelines, terminals, and transportation. That makes the company less sensitive to the price of natural gas, but conversely more reliant on demand. The coronavirus pandemic cut demand, with many factories offline, but any return to normalcy would help to raise the stock again, as would a cold winter, if that's in the cards. * The 7 Best Stocks to Invest in Right Now At this point, PSXP stock is down 42% so far in 2020. However, based on its stable performance over the past five years, there is potential for this stock to recover back to the $45 to $60 groove. Pembina Pipeline Corp (PBA)Source: Shutterstock Another gas company with a fundamental C rating, Canada's Pembina Pipeline is focused on the transportation and storage of natural gas and oil from Western Canada. The company also operates a large natural gas processing complex.PBA stock had been putting together a decent year-long run before 2020's challenges put an end to it. From the start of 2019 to mid-February, PBA was up 36%. Pretty impressive for a natural gas stock. Then came a punishing drop, with BPA losing 60% of its value in just three weeks.Trading as low as $16.09 in mid-March, Pembina Pipeline stock is now nearing $24. Investment analysts are convinced that PBA's recovery will continue, although not even the most optimistic are calling for a return to those February values any time soon. Still, a predicted 20% upside over the next 12 months makes this one of those natural gas stocks at least worth keeping an eye on. Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (EPD)Source: Shutterstock Shares in Enterprise Products Partners earn a respectable B-rating for fundamentals in my Portfolio Grader.This is a company that's stuck in the middle of the oil price war and coronavirus pandemic. Enterprise's involvement in the industry is on the distribution and transportation end, so low prices don't directly impact it the way they have devastated oil and gas producers. That being said, low pricing in the sector still rocked EPD stock in the spring. Enterprise Products stock has been in recovery mode since March, but remains down 39% at this point in 2020.The company's stock hadn't been doing much over the past five years, bouncing between $25 and $30. Given the huge surplus of natural gas, and expected slump in demand for oil, that's hardly surprising. * The 7 Best Stocks to Invest in Right Now There's nothing in future trends to suggest EPD stock will suddenly going to kick into growth mode, but as conditions normalize, an eventual return to that $25 to $30 level is possible. In that case, the current pricing around $17.50 has solid upside potential. Apache Corporation (APA)Source: JHVEPhoto / Shutterstock.com Oil and gas exploration isn't a great space to be in right now. Demand for both has dropped as a result of the pandemic. And natural gas has been in oversupply for years.Apache — which manages a quantitative C rating — has felt the full effect of being a producer. In the first quarter, the company reported an adjusted loss of 13 cents per share. Reacting to the current market for oil and natural gas, Apache reduced its dividend and announced it will be focusing on debt reduction. In addition, Apache has been shutting down much of its U.S. drilling operations, shifting resources to higher margin operations in the North Sea and Egypt. Despite the maneuvering, APA stock has not been able to outrun the effects of the pandemic and the oil price war: it's down 50% so far in 2020. Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation (COG)Source: Shutterstock Cabot Oil & Gas is one of the rare natural gas stocks that's actually in positive territory for 2020, albeit just barely. After spending most of 2019 on a downhill slide (it lost 24% that year), COG stock started 2020 at $17.23 and closed as high as $22.37 in June. It's now in 2% growth territory for 2020. It earns a C fundamental rating in my Portfolio Grader.Why would an oil and gas exploration company with much of its production tied to fracking in Pennsylvania be in such a strong position? Why isn't COD stock underwater like so many other petroleum companies?As Investorplace's Vince Martin explains, COG is really a pure natural gas play. With oil producers shutting down, the production of natural gas as a by-product slows. * The 7 Best Stocks to Invest in Right Now Add in increased demand for natural gas and LNG as coal plants shut down, and the future looks brighter for natural gas producers like Cabot Oil & Gas. Royal Dutch Shell plc ADR Class A (RDS.A)Source: JuliusKielaitis / Shutterstock.com Royal Dutch Shell is one of the world's largest companies. There have been some ups and downs, but over the past five years, RDS.A stock (which earns a C fundamental rating in my Portfolio Grader) has been relatively stable. The company has been generous with dividends, especially when compared to other petroleum giants.However, even its size couldn't protect this oil and gas giant from the events of 2020. After hitting its 2020 high close of $60.96 on January 6, RDS.A rapidly dropped to $20.62 by March 18 — losing nearly two thirds of its value. The dividend was cut for the first time since World War II, and its share buyback program was suspended. Shares have bounced around between $30 and $40 since.If you're willing to bet that oil and natural gas prices are going to recover to 2019 levels, then Royal Dutch Shell stock has upside. But that's far from a sure bet at his point, and any recovery is likely to be a long one. Still, it's worth watching this natural gas stock in case the global economy recovers more quickly than expected and drives up demand.Louis Navellier had an unconventional start, as a grad student who accidentally built a market-beating stock system — with returns rivaling even Warren Buffett. In his latest feat, Louis discovered the "Master Key" to profiting from the biggest tech revolution of this (or any) generation. Louis Navellier may hold some of the aforementioned securities in one or more of his newsletters. More From InvestorPlace * Why Everyone Is Investing in 5G All WRONG * America's 1 Stock Picker Reveals His Next 1,000% Winner * Revolutionary Tech Behind 5G Rollout Is Being Pioneered By This 1 Company * Radical New Battery Could Dismantle Oil Markets The post 9 Ugly Natural Gas Stocks to Keep on Your Watchlist appeared first on InvestorPlace.

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ETF.com Managing Editor Cinthia Murphy joins Yahoo Finance’s Kristin Myers to break down her outlook on gold ETFs, as the precious metal jumps above $1,800.

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Equity markets continue to bounce around, unnerving many investors as they wonder whether a new wave of COVID-19 cases can trigger another stock market crash. In such volatile times, market participants may want to consider buying solid dividend stocks which typically are more resilient during market downturns. Today I'll discuss seven of the best dividend-paying stocks for cautious investors.In recent weeks, a wide range of companies have reduced or completely axed their dividend payments. They have had to strengthen their capital resources due to economic uncertainty posed by the novel coronavirus.For example, many energy stocks were badly hit by the decline in oil prices, especially in March and April, as well as the collapse in the demand for oil. Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE:RDS.A) was one of the first major energy companies to cut dividends. The oil giant had paid dividends even during World War II.InvestorPlace – Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading TipsOn June 25, the Federal Reserve announced the results of its annual stress tests and additional sensitivity analyses for banks, such as Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC). Following speculation about the bank's dividends, on June 29, the California-based bank also cut its dividend for the third quarter.Most dividend stocks listed on U.S. exchanges have quarterly payouts. Thus, shareholders can build an annuity-like cash stream. For many established corporations annual dividend yields tend to be around 2%-4%. And the top ones typically increase their dividend amounts over time. When a firm increases payouts, it usually is a signal to shareholders that future earnings and cash flows are expected to be robust.However, the dividend yield is only one metric to consider when doing due diligence on a company. It's important to also research the underlying health of the company as would be revealed by a wide range of fundamental metrics. Sometimes a large yield may indeed signal a company that is in distress.The recent market decline offers investors a wide range of dividend-paying stocks whose share prices are lower than they were in January. In addition, quantitative easing's effect on interest rates is likely to keep many investors focused on dividend stocks in the foreseeable future.As another busy earnings season starts, you may want to consider buying the dips in a number of them. Let's get right to it and look at seven of the best dividend-paying stocks for the second half of the year. * The 7 Best Stocks to Invest in Right Now * Archer-Daniels-Midland (NYSE:ADM) * Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) * Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) * Home Depot (NYSE:HD) * Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) * Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) * Walmart (NYSE:WMT) Best Dividend-Paying Stocks: Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM)Source: Katherine Welles / Shutterstock.com 52-week Price Range: $28.92-$47.20 Current Dividend Yield: 3.7%Chicago, Illinois-based Archer-Daniels-Midland is one of the firms that feeds the world. It is a leading producer of ingredients for human and animal nutrition, including proteins, flavors, colors, flours and fibers. It operates a global grain transportation network to purchase, store and transport agricultural raw materials, such as oilseeds, corn, wheat, milo, oats and barley.In late April, the group released Q1 earnings that beat estimates. The group reported revenue in three main segments: * Ag Services & Oilseeds (delivered results that were in line with the year-ago period); * Carbohydrate Solutions (results were lower than the first quarter of 2019); * Nutrition (results were substantially higher YoY).When it announces financial results next in late July, analysts would like to see the effect of the COVID-19 outbreak, especially during the second quarter when many countries went into lockdown. Nonetheless, the Street expects the group to weather any further storms that may come about as a result of a potential second COVID-19 outbreak. Whatever the health and economic effects of the pandemic, we all have to eat.Earlier in the year, management announced that the group's In February 2020, Netherlands-based facility would start producing non-GMO concentrates of soy protein. The Street welcomed the news as there is growing global appetite for high quality plant-based proteins.I regard Archer-Daniels-Midland as a defensive consumer staples in the lead. Its strong balance sheet, diverse portfolio and global outreach with a respectable dividend yield makes ADM stock one of the best dividend-paying stocks to consider in a long-term portfolio. Cisco Systems (CSCO)Source: Ken Wolter / Shutterstock.com 52-week Price Range: $32.40-$58.26 Current Dividend Yield: 3.11%Are you looking for tech company that is also a blue-chip business with a strong balance sheet, steady cash flows, and proactive management? Then California-based Cisco Systems should be on your radar. The leading tech company develops, manufactures, and sells networking hardware, software, telecommunications equipment and other high-technology services and products.In May, the group released Q3 results that beat expectations. It reported non-GAAP earnings of 79 cents per share on revenue of $12 billion, a decline of 8% year-over-year (YoY).The group divides revenue into two main segments, i.e. Products and Services. The Products segment is divided further into three divisions: * Infrastructure Platforms (most important), includes sales of core networking technologies of switching, routing, data center products, and wireless; * Applications, includes sales of software-oriented offerings that sit on top of Infrastructure Platforms; and * Security, includes sales of threat detection, management and security products and cloud and system management tools.Overall, the results confirmed that the business is stable and diversified. In fact, CEO Chuck Robbins highlighted the potential for further growth opportunities for Cisco due to increased levels of working from home.Analysts are expecting 5G internet to be another major growth opportunity for the global technology leader, especially in terms of its infrastructure business. The company is providing operators with a full platform to build 5G capabilities.Furthermore, Cisco is hoping to become a major player in Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) by offering solutions to firms wanting to connect industrial systems to the internet. And management is pushing the company toward a mostly subscription-based software business. Finally, the company is not shy to acquire new firms, which may help increase its product offerings as well as its competitive advantage. * 7 Environmental Energy Stocks to Watch as Summer Sets In Year-to-date (YTD), CSCO stock is down about 3.5%, hovering at $45. The group is next expected to report earnings in August. The stock will likely be volatile around that date. A potential drop below $45 and especially toward $42.50 would make Cisco Systems one of the best dividend-paying stocks to buy in the long run. Coca-Cola (KO)Source: Fotazdymak / Shutterstock.com 52-week Price Range: $36.27-$60.13 Current Dividend Yield: 3.7%Coca-Cola is the world's largest nonalcoholic beverage company. It offers over 500 brands in more than 200 countries. Its top five soft drink brands, i.e., Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Fanta, and Sprite, are recognizable globally. Put another way, it is a juggernaut worldwide.In late April, the group released Q1 results. Revenue of $8.6 billion meant an adjusted EPS of 51 cents per share. Organic revenue, which takes out the impact of foreign currency, acquisitions and divestitures, was flat. Management said global volumes have plunged 25% in April. The decline mainly came from the closure of restaurants, movie theaters and sports arenas.Nonetheless, gross margin still stands around 60%. The company also has cash and cash equivalents of $15 billion, which puts in a strong positions to weather any further economic effects of the pandemic.Q2 results that are due in July are likely to represent a continuation of the trend seen in Q1. Coca Cola had already withdrawn its 2020 outlook in March. KO stock is down around 20% YTD. The robust dividend yield and the globally recognized brands, I believe, make KO stock one of the best dividend-paying stocks for weathering the volatility in the markets.Management has raised dividend every year for over half a century. I'd look to buy the dips in Coca Cola, especially if the stock price goes below $45. Home Depot (HD)Source: Jonathan Weiss / Shutterstock.com 52-week Price Range: $140.63-$259.29 Current Dividend Yield: 2.42%Atlanta-based Home Depot is the world's largest home improvement retailer. The group operates close to 2,300 retail stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, 10 Canadian provinces, and Mexico.Earlier in May, it released first-quarter results. HD reported revenue of $28.3 billion for the first quarter of fiscal 2020, a 7.1% increase from the first quarter of fiscal 2019. Amid the lockdown, its stores have remained open, albeit with decreased business hours. So sales have benefited from the lockdown during the novel coronavirus.However, net income fell 10.7% to $2.25 billion, or $2.08 per share, compared with $2.51 billion, or $2.27 per share, a year earlier. Management attributed the decline in net income to extra costs incurred due to extra measures, especially regarding store safety and increased wages.In recent years, the group has been spending heavily to integrate its stores and online business. I expect the business to benefit increasingly from "order online, pick up at a local Home Depot store" trend. * 8 Social Media Stocks to Buy or Sell So far in the year, HD stock is up over 13%. The shares may come under further pressure in the near term, especially around the next earnings date. Yet such a decline would give long-term investors a better entry point, especially if it goes toward $240. You may consider HD stock as one of the best dividend-paying stocks to buy. Pfizer (PFE)Source: Manuel Esteban / Shutterstock.com 52-week Price Range: $27.88-$44.11 Current Dividend Yield: 4.5%New York City-headquartered Pfizer is one of the world's largest prescription drug companies. Its portfolio includes medicines, vaccines, and consumer healthcare products. Over the past several quarters, Pfizer's robust clinical pipeline has provided the company with impressive returns. The group owns two of the world's best-selling drugs: the breast cancer treatment Ibrance and the blood thinner Eliquis (co-owned by Bristol-Meyers Squibb (NYSE:BMY). Its branded drugs provide the company with reliable earnings and cash flow.In late April, the group released stronger-than-expected first-quarter earnings. Adjusted earnings were 80 cents per share, down 5 cents from the same period last year but 7 cents ahead of the consensus estimate. The company confirmed its 2020 financial guidance. It now sees revenues in the region of $40.7 billion to $42.3 billion, and adjusted earnings in the range of $2.25 to $2.35 per share.In recent weeks, the healthcare giant has been in the news as one of the companies working on a vaccine against the Covid-19 pandemic. Management is hopeful that Pfizer will be able to expand human trials of the experimental coronavirus vaccine to test patients in early fall.YTD, PFE stock is down about 13%. If you are an investor who is interested in passive income from a leader in a defensive sector, then Pfizer should be on your watch list of best dividend-paying stocks to buy. Starbucks (SBUX)Source: Natee Meepian / Shutterstock.com 52-week Price Range: $50.02-$99.72 Current Dividend Yield: 2.23%On April 28, the coffee chain released Q2 Fiscal 2020 results that said its quarterly global same-store sales fell 10%. Americas and U.S. comparable store sales declined 3%. For the quarter, adjusted earnings per share came at 32 cents. Revenue was $6 billion, a decline of 5% from the prior year due to lost sales related to the viral pandemic.Management also warned that third-quarter results would take a larger hit from the COVID-19 outbreak, even though sales in China were recovering. In early April, the group had already withdrawn guidance for fiscal 2020.Starbucks opened 255 net new stores in the quarter, which means a 6% YoY unit growth. At the end of the period, it had 32,050 stores globally, of which 51% and 49% were company-operated and licensed, respectively. * 10 Best ETFs for 2020: The Race Tightens With 'New Normal' Looming Ahead YTD, SBUX stock is down about 17%. Long-term investors may consider buying dips on SBUX stock, especially if it goes toward $70 or lower. I regard it as one of the best dividend-paying stocks to buy, especially in a long-term portfolio. Walmart (WMT)Source: Jonathan Weiss / Shutterstock.com 52-week Price Range: $102-$133.38 Current Dividend Yield: 1.70%Arkansas-headquartered Walmart is the largest retailer in the world. Each week, over 260 million customers shop at 11,500 stores in 27 countries as well as on e-commerce websites. Despite the group's all-American reputation, over half the stores are located outside the U.S. Walmart is also the largest employer in the Fortune 500.In mid-May, Walmart released robust Q1 FY21 results. Quarterly earnings came at $1.18 per share on revenue of $134.62 billion. The group has kept its doors open for business throughout the coronavirus outbreak. E-commerce sales in the U.S. grew by 74% and its same-store sales jumped by 10% in the first quarter as shoppers stocked up during lockdown. If the current economic contraction were to continue, then investors can potentially expect consumers to minimize expenses by shopping at discount retailers such as Walmart.In recent days, the company announced a partnership with Shopify (NYSE:SHOP), whereby the latter's merchant clients will be able to sell their products directly on Walmart's third-party marketplace.The group is expected to release earnings next on Aug. 18. WMT stock is up 8% YTD. I regard it as a stable company for both conservative income and total return investors. If you are looking for one of the best dividend-paying stocks to buy, then the retailing giant deserves your due diligence.Tezcan Gecgil has worked in investment management for over two decades in the U.S. and U.K. In addition to formal higher education, including a Ph.D. in the field, she has also completed all 3 levels of the Chartered Market Technician (CMT) examination. Her passion is for options trading based on technical analysis of fundamentally strong companies. She especially enjoys setting up weekly covered calls for income generation. As of this writing, Tezcan Gecgil holds covered calls on ADM and PFE (July 10-expiry). More From InvestorPlace * Why Everyone Is Investing in 5G All WRONG * America's 1 Stock Picker Reveals His Next 1,000% Winner * Revolutionary Tech Behind 5G Rollout Is Being Pioneered By This 1 Company * Radical New Battery Could Dismantle Oil Markets The post The 7 Best Dividend-Paying Stocks for Cautious Investors appeared first on InvestorPlace.

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Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of Limelight Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:LLNW) by…

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(Bloomberg) — Saudi Oil Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman likes the idea of OPEC+ acting as the central bank of oil. And he expresses admiration for Alan Greenspan, former chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve.The challenge now confronting the oil producers’ club is one that’s all too familiar to the Fed: how to avoid a “taper tantrum,” the market panic that ensued when the institution proposed tightening monetary policy in 2013.Having successfully doubled crude prices over the past few months through unprecedented output cuts, the OPEC+ alliance led by the Saudis and Russia is poised to begin unwinding these stimulus measures. As fuel demand recovers with the lifting of coronavirus lockdowns, the producers are about to open the taps a little.But as Greenspan’s successors discovered seven years ago, taking away the punch bowl carries its own risks.A second wave of the pandemic threatens another slump in oil consumption, while the billion-barrel mountain of inventories that piled up during the first outbreak still looms. If OPEC+ increases supply just as the market falters then prices could crash once again.“When they look at prices over the quarter, when they look at green shoots of demand pick-up, I think they feel good,” said Helima Croft, head of commodity strategy at RBC Capital Markets LLC. “I do think they are cognizant though of some of the potential clouds on the horizon.”It’s a balancing act that Prince Abdulaziz and his counterparts must weigh on July 15, when they hold an online meeting of the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee, the panel that reviews OPEC+’s progress.Easing the CutsThe JMMC will consider whether the 23-nation alliance should keep 9.6 million barrels of daily output off the market for another month, or restore some supplies as originally planned, tapering the cutback to 7.7 million barrels.As the demand recovery gains traction, members are leaning toward the latter option, according to several national delegates who asked not to be identified. Shipping schedules for August are already being set, so the course is more or less locked in, one said.In Russia, the most influential non-OPEC member of the alliance, major oil companies are preparing to increase production next month in the absence of other guidance from the Energy Ministry, according to two people from the industry who spoke on condition of anonymity.Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on July 2 that no position on an extension had been taken yet, but stressed that it’s better if OPEC+ sticks to its previous decisions.OPEC+ can go ahead with the designated increase without inundating the market, said Bob McNally, founder of consultant Rapidan Energy Group and a former White House official. Global demand will rebound by 18% this quarter to 95.7 million barrels a day as economic activity resumes, he predicts. That will whittle away inventories at a brisk clip of 5.6 million barrels a day.“Our balances show hefty deficits in the third and fourth quarters, even with a tapering,” McNally said. “I think the market will handle it pretty well.”Fragile MarketYet the strategy is not without risks.While oil prices have recovered to $43 a barrel in London, from a two-decade low of $15.98 in late April, sentiment in the market remains fragile.The acceleration of the pandemic in the U.S., where infections hit a record last week, and its re-emergence in Asia is “casting a shadow over the outlook,” the International Energy Agency warned in a report on Friday. The Paris-based agency advises major economies on energy policy.There’s also still a price discount on prompt crude futures — known as a contango — in the U.S. and Europe, suggesting the wider market hasn’t yet tightened. Crude inventories in the U.S. and China are near record levels, government and satellite data show.“The kind of recovery that people would have expected maybe by now has not materialized,” said Mohammad Darwazah, an analyst at Medley Global Advisors. “There’s no doubt the consensus is we will get a tightening of the market, we’re just not quite there yet.”As a result, Riyadh is expected to insist that if output is restored, countries abide by their mandated limits — and that exporters who haven’t yet made their share of the cutbacks atone for it.Falling in LineIraq, Nigeria, Kazakhstan and Angola are among laggards who have promised “compensation cuts” over the next few months to make up for cheating in May, which equate to about 420,000 barrels a day each month. That should offset some of the group’s scheduled 2 million-barrel surge, and the JMMC could impose further reparations for overproduction in June.How far the likes of Baghdad and Lagos, which have a poor track record of adhering to OPEC+ agreements, go in their atonement is debatable, but Prince Abdulaziz has scored a victory in pressing them to deliver a surprisingly strong performance last month. He is unlikely to relax his vigilance when the producers gather on Wednesday.“While relieved and satisfied so far, ministers realize they are not out of the woods yet,” Rapidan’s McNally said. “Compliance is the No. 1 priority.”For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2020 Bloomberg L.P.

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At the end of February we announced the arrival of the first US recession since 2009 and we predicted that the market will decline by at least 20% in (see why hell is coming). In these volatile markets we scrutinize hedge fund filings to get a reading on which direction each stock might be going. […]

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