Newsletters Archives

Personal Finance:

One of the country’s most widely read investment newsletters, Personal Finance is an indispensable resource for the individual investor, featuring expert analysis of market activity and economic trends as well as detailed advice on how to profit from these developments. Twice a month, Editor Neil George shares his insights into the world’s markets, while highlighting the best stocks for growth and income and explaining the rationale behind these selections. The performance of our portfolio recommendations are constantly monitored by a team of dedicated analysts who post regular updates on the publication’s website (www.pfnewsletter.com)—whether the outlook for a particular stock is positive or negative, readers know exactly where they stand and how they should act to maximize returns.

In addition to Neil’s recommendations and commentary, Personal Finance subscribers enjoy and profit from wide-ranging coverage of financial markets penned by some of the industry’s most respected analysts. Roger Conrad weighs in with his take on high-yielding Canadian income trusts and utilities stocks; Gue writes about the latest developments and hottest plays in the energy sector, from oil drillers to liquid natural gas companies; Yiannis Mostrous examines exciting investments in emerging markets such as China and India; and executive editor GS Early identifies and analyzes winning companies in the world of nanotech and disruptive technologies.

Recent issues of Personal Finance have included stories on the following topics and opportunities:

• The advantages of purchasing Income Deposits Securities (IDS), Income Participation Securities (IPS), Enhanced Income Securities and other so-called hybrid shares that consist of a common stock component and a debt component;
• Coal producers and shippers that are in the best position to capitalize on rising European demand;
• The most lucrative plays in national and rural telecoms; and
• Stress-tested Canadian income trusts that not only pay high dividends, but will also weather the current economic downturn.

Utility Forecaster:

For over twenty years, Roger Conrad’s Utility Forecaster has provided subscribers with in-depth coverage and expert analysis of investment opportunities in electric, water, natural gas and telecommunication utilities. Each issue examines key macroeconomic and regulatory developments that drive utilities’ performance and share prices, while closely scrutinizing the growth potential of individual companies. In addition to Roger’s valuable commentary, the monthly newsletter features portfolios chockfull of the best plays for both income- and growth-minded investors as well as the rationale behind these selections.

The highlight of Utilities Forecaster is undoubtedly Roger’s proprietary rating system, which gauges the safety of each utility’s dividend as well as each firm’s strengths and weaknesses. Utilities have experienced their fair share of ups and downs over the years, from the current boom to the nadir of five years ago when The Dow Jones Utility Average plummeted 60 percent in just two years. With Roger’s “How They Rate” table, which includes over 200 utilities and related companies (such as crude oil producers), readers can quickly evaluate a particular firm’s prospects and determine whether to buy, sell or hold the stock.

Recent issues of Utility Forecaster have examined the following topics and opportunities:

• Which natural gas producers are best positioned to take advantage of rising demand as utilities companies erect more and more gas-powered electric plants in an effort to curb greenhouse gas emissions;
• Why Arizona and New York State regulators are severely limiting utility rate increases and which companies will be most affected;
• Why the telecommunications industry is in better shape than its share prices indicate and which national and rural telephone companies are poised for profits;
• Investment opportunities arising from the burgeoning “negawatts” movement;
• Choosing the best limited partnerships in the energy infrastructure field; and
• Why US recession worries aren’t necessarily a death knell for renewable energy companies, and which ones are the best bargains.

Not only do utilities and companies in satellite industries tend to weather economic downturns better than firms in other sectors, but with demand for connectivity and energy expected to grow exponentially over the next few decades, the best firms in these sectors will generate huge profits. From nuclear and renewable energy companies, to telecommunications and foreign utilities, Roger Conrad’s Utility Forecaster supplies the sound analysis and market intelligence that forms the basis of all good investment decisions.

Roger Conrad’s Canadian Edge:

Roger Conrad’s Canadian Edge focuses exclusively on the world of high-yielding Canadian income and royalty trusts, a business structure that allows companies to pay the vast majority of their earnings to shareholders in the form of dividends and return on capital—without paying taxes. Although Canada first authorized the trust structure in 1986 to attract investors to energy-exploration firms—a backbone of the country’s economy—businesses in a wide range of sectors, from real estate to telecommunications, now enjoy its considerable benefits.
In each monthly issue of Canadian Edge, Roger provides readers not only with sample portfolios that are tailored to meet the objectives of conservative and aggressive investors, but also a “How They Rate Table” that tracks the performance of the best Canadian income and royalty trusts for American investors. This comprehensive database supplements each company’s vital statistics with Roger’s proprietary safety ratings as well as actionable advice.
But these tables provide investors with only so much of an edge. Every issue also includes Roger’s penetrating analyses of recent regulatory and economic trends that might influence the performance of Canadian trusts in general, those operating within certain sectors or industries, and even individual companies. Regular columns focus specifically on the growth prospects for oil and gas trusts, while another monthly feature addresses key political and regulatory developments. Subscribers are also kept apprised of any breaking news through updates posted on the publication’s website. (Potential subscribers should consult the subscribers’ guide to get a better understanding of the publication’s scope).
With the help of associate editor David Dittman, Roger has established Canadian Edge as the premier source of information on prospective changes to the Canadian tax code (slated for 2011) and their ramifications for investors.
Recent topics and opportunities featured in Roger Conrad’s Canadian Edge include:

• How Canadian income trusts have fared since Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced prospective changes to the tax code, and why investors shouldn’t necessarily panic about their implementation in 2011;
• Which specific income trusts are best positioned to succeed when their tax burden increases in 2011 and which companies have the most exposure;
• The market’s reaction to Trinidad Drilling and TransForce Income Fund’s decision to switch from trusts to corporations and the implications for the likelihood and timing of further conversions;
• Why a slowing US economy no longer translates into sagging crude oil prices, and which oil-producing Canadian trusts are likely to reap the benefits; and
• Why natural gas prices have shrugged off their two-year slump, and the long-term growth prospects for natural gas producers as electric utilities increasingly turn to gas-fired plants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Energy Strategist:

Energy markets are notoriously fickle, subject to geopolitical developments as well as macroeconomic trends, technological advances and the discovery and production of new reserves. Whether at the pump or in the news, the economic and environmental realities of the world’s insatiable demand for energy are never far from our consciousness. But profiting from rising commodities prices requires sound market intelligence as well as a keen understanding of the forces at play in these markets.
Published twice each month, The Energy Strategist features Elliott Gue’s expert take on the latest developments in the world’s energy markets and, more importantly, the opportunities therein for individual investors. From traditional energy sources like coal, crude oil and natural gas to nuclear power and renewable energy, Elliott explains the dynamics of each sector as well as the companies best positioned to take advantage of emerging trends. Each issue also tracks the performance of sample portfolios designed to meet the objectives of both conservative and aggressive investors.
Elliott has addressed the following topics and opportunities at length in recent issues of The Energy Strategist:

• Why the UK’s success in reducing greenhouse gas emissions through natural gas-powered electric plants bodes well for US utilities, which face the prospect of transitioning away from coal-fired plants as a carbon tax or carbon trading scheme become more likely;
• Which companies will benefit from rising US and UK demand for natural gas;
• Why nuclear energy is again emerging as a viable means to meet growing demand for power, and which junior uranium companies may be poised for extraordinary growth in the coming years;
• Why Elliott remains bullish on biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel, and the best plays in this sector for individual investors;
• The prospects for deepwater drilling off the coast of Brazil, why the country will likely eclipse Venezuela in terms of oil production and which companies stand to benefit from the recent discoveries in the Tupi and Carioca fields; and
• Investment opportunities in oil and gas companies that are using unconventional production methods to extract these resources from the Barnett Shale play and the Alberta oil sands.

In addition to in-depth articles and analysis, subscribers to The Energy Strategist

The Yield Letter:

When the market is booming and it seems like everyone is making money, it’s easy to dismiss bonds and bond funds as boring and inefficient investments. This outlook is somewhat naïve and shortsighted. Regardless of market conditions, bonds form the cornerstone of any successful portfolio for one simple reason: When markets and economies enter a prolonged skid, these investments continue to pay a steady, reliable income.
In his first career as an international bond trader and investment banker, Neil George worked bond desks in London, Vienna and the US. As Chief Economist, Neil helped Mark Twain Bank in St. Louis become the most innovative bank in America when he traded international bonds and pioneered bringing overseas investments to American investors. And now he brings his expert recommendations and analysis to the individual investor with The Yield Letter, a semimonthly newsletter dedicated to uncovering the best bonds, bond funds and what Neil calls mini-bonds—Income Deposits Securities (IDS), Income Participation Securities (IPS), Enhanced Income Securities (EIS) and other so-called hybrid shares that consist of a common stock component and a debt component. In short, The Yield Letter focuses on the investment vehicles that will pay you regularly in all economic climates.
Recent subjects and opportunities that Neil has covered include: can also access breaking updates on Elliott’s recommendations through the publication’s website.

• Why mini-bonds, packaged corporate bonds that trade on major exchanges, are an excellent choice for individual investors—not only do these hybrid shares trade at reasonable sums, but the debt component also provide an extra level of dividend protection;
• The factors that drive the value of municipal bonds, and which characteristics should drive investors away;
• Which bond funds feature portfolios that are sufficiently diversified and in the right sectors to warrant investment; and
• Which bonds and related investments will continue to thrive as the US economy slows down and more and more investors turn to bonds.

The Silk Road Investor:

The trade routes that comprised Eurasia's fabled Silk Road served as a point for cultural and economic exchange from the time of the Han Dynasty onward, enriching the merchants and explorers who traveled its paths. Today’s Silk Road offers forward-looking investors the same lucrative opportunities, and pitfalls, as its predecessor. Emerging markets from Eastern Europe to the China Sea are increasingly driving global growth as these nations begin to flex their economic muscles; still, even seasoned investors need a compass to navigate this modern Silk Road—profitable investments abound from Russia to Japan, but so do dead ends.
Every week in his online newsletter The Silk Road Investor, Yiannis Mostrous guides you through the countries and sectors that offer the greatest growth potential, while highlighting the best long-term holdings for your portfolios. In addition to Yiannis’ expert recommendations and commentary, subscribers can also keep apprised of any breaking news through updates on the publication’s website.
Recent topics and opportunities that Yiannis has discussed at length include:

• The challenge of extricating the Japanese economy from its deflation trap and why the longer-term picture for the Japanese markets is much brighter than many pundits suggest;
• Why improved relations between the governments in Taipei and Beijing are essential to Taiwan’s economic growth, and the potential for a thaw now that Ma Ying-jeou, the leader of the pro-China Kuomintang (KMT) party, was elected president of Taiwan;
• Which companies are best positioned to profit from China’s boom in infrastructure spending, for instance the US$170 million that the government plans to invest in extending and upgrading the country’s rail system; and
• Why long-term investors should invest in Russian stocks in every weakness, and which sectors and companies are the best bets for your portfolio.

The Real Nanotech Investor:

The stuff of science fiction is quickly becoming more science than fiction. The Real Nanotech Investor focuses on companies—both large and small—which are making the most out of the scientific breakthroughs that are hurtling nanotechnology and disruptive technologies forward
However, there’s a lot more to investing in these nascent sectors than simply picking the companies with the coolest or most advanced ideas; sound investment decisions rely on an understanding not only of the science itself, but also the feasibility of its commercial applications and a sober appraisal of the company’s business acumen.
Remember, cutting edge technology does not sell itself. Instead of relying on grandiose marketing claims, serious investors search out companies that have a clear strategy for to profit from their technology and the business relationships to make this plan a reality.
Accordingly, the goal of the Real Nanotech Investor is to enable subscribers to separate science from science fiction and actual profits from fictional profits by providing them with timely news and independent analysis. Editor GS Early has over 15 years of experience uncovering lucrative investments in high tech industries, while Time Magazine described coeditor Tim Harper as “the face of European nanotechnology” in recognition of his scientific and entrepreneurial achievements.
The world of nanotechnology and disruptive technologies is constantly evolving, but here are some of the topics that have appeared in The Real Nanotech Investor:

• The feasibility of commercializing recent breakthroughs in thin film solar and printable photovoltaic (PV) cells using nanorods or nanotubes, and the best investments in existing solar companies who already have saleable products and contracts in place;
• Investment opportunities that are emerging from advances modern microscopy, as an increasing number of companies are relying on cutting-edge microscopes to observe and manipulate matter at a smaller and smaller scale;
• The latest developments in electricity-generating insulation, and how various industries are already deploying this technology; and
• How to take advantage of the Defense and Homeland Security Departments’ increasing interest in unmanned vehicles and Intelligence/Surveillance/Reconnaissance (ISR) systems.

Vital Resource Investor:

Vital Resource Investor, an online newsletter edited by Roger Conrad and Yiannis Mostrous, focuses on the complex supply and demand factors driving the bull market in natural resources, with a special emphasis on the influence of emerging markets such as Brazil, Russia, India and China. The extraordinary growth occurring in these countries is an investment opportunity in and of itself, but this feverish expansion requires a great deal of fuel—the same vital resources that have been the lifeblood of developed economies for the past century. That is, crude oil for transporting raw materials, consumer goods and the consumers who purchase these products; foodstuffs, such as corn and rice, to feed the swelling ranks of urban middleclass and clean water to slake their thirst and irrigate the fields; coal, natural gas and other energy commodities to meet rising demand for electricity; fertilizers to maximize agricultural yields, as more and more arable land is slated for development; and copper, aluminum and steel for infrastructure and manufacturing.
With emerging economies increasing global demand for these essential commodities, lucrative opportunities abound for the savvy investor. In each article, Roger and Yionnis survey the best ways to profit from a wide range of companies selling the most important products in the world, while the portfolio tracks the performance of the duo’s recommended stocks.
Here are some of the topics and investments that have appeared in The Vital Resource Investor:

• The global repercussions of the US mandate to boost ethanol production, and the best plays in agrochemicals, crop protection and bioengineered seeds to take advantage of tightening food supplies;
• The reasons behind the world’s rising demand for water, and which water treatment and water recycling companies are poised for long-term growth;
• Which copper producers stand to boost output over the next five years to profit from declining copper inventories and China’s rapid urbanization and infrastructure investment (last year the country accounted for 23 percent of copper demand);
• How the flooding of Queensland’s Bowen Basin in Australia, the world’s largest source of high-quality export coal, substantially raised coal prices and the investment opportunities therein; and
• The industrial applications of the little-known metal Molybdenum, and which producers are best positioned to reap the benefits of rising demand.