Please Don't Kill My Investing Vibe...

Thanks to Kendrick Lamar for producing one of my favorite tracks out there and describing my approach right now to life and investments.  Plainly said, I don't want anyone messing up my vibe of working hard, making quick and thoughtful decisions and reflecting on it all to ensure that I'm focusing on things that will make me better.  My investing vibe right now is to sit back and ride out this amazing economic and stock market recovery.  I remember how bad both were years back and we must take a moment to give props to resilient people (workers), companies, and yes even 'some' of our politicians that promoted a pro-growth environment.  I firmly believe if we had engaged in less stimulus and more cost cutting we would've been in BIG trouble.  This is what makes the field of economics and behavioral analysis so interesting to me. But before I put you to sleep...follow my vibe:

The Verdict Is In...

I have been stir crazy for the last 24 hours once the verdict was reached in the State of Florida vs George Zimmerman. This is a very sad time because we see what fear continues to do to our country. It allows us to create laws that allow us to take matters into our own hands and not be accountable. I know many people want to debate the merits of "the case" but what about debating the merits of "life". Trayvon Martin, a young boy was shot.  When did we all forget that was the most basic element of this tragedy. A young boy was shot because he was profiled and then pursued. What if this was your young son?? STOP, please fill in your son's name ___________  What if this was your son or daughter... would you be outraged??  And yes, let us be happy for what we have and hug our sons / daughters / cousins / nephew / nieces closer but let's also remember that with senseless laws and acts like this some people won't be able to hug their children anymore. And if that precious right was taken away from you...how would you feel. If you truly are personalizing this case, then push for change at all levels...not for it all to go away.

2nd Quarter 2013: 3 PREMIUM STOCK ALERTS / 1 FREE ALERT

2nd Quarter 2013: 3 PREMIUM STOCK ALERTS

Please contact me directly (email_urbanomics@yahoo.com) to subscribe to this quarter’s premium stock alerts.  Find out what I have my eye on and more importantly when I will be adding these stocks to my portfolio.

2nd Quarter 2013 Premium Stock Alerts

This quarter’s picks are late, but better late than never. I've been researching these stocks over the course of the last 3 months or more and found 3 stocks with margin of safety and the right catalysts.  Please see the following stocks that were recommended to subscribers receiving premium alerts. 

Stock #1: **********

Details

Sector: Basic Materials Industry: Oil and Gas Equipment Services Tip: Pledge of Allegiance to crude.

Stock #2: **********

Details Sector: Basic Materials Industry: Oil and Gas Refining Tip: Check mate.

Stock #3: **********

Details

Sector: Technology
Industry: Application Software
Tip Up for a game of Simon Says?

The market has been on a tear and the last few quarters have seen me doing my version of the twist…or rotation.  I have been selling a few of my winners and rotating into new names. Some names were really beat down like Stock #3. Others are the wrath of the investment community which are pushing for them to do more or else new ownership will have too.  I've given you plenty of hints and I’ll even throw in a free ALERT because it was an absolutely gorgeous July 4^th weekend in Chicago.

FREE ALERT

Stock #4: DEX MEDIA

Details

Sector: SERVICES Industry: MARKETING SERVICES Tip It’s a rolodex and paperweight! Explanation: Dex Media is what we used to know as the Yellow and White Pages. They have re-invented themselves and offer a large slate of products to businesses. Hence the rolodex full of numbers and the size of the old book would be a great paperweight.

Same Companies....New Tricks (McDonald's, Best Buy, Groupon)

McDonald's Late Night Breakfast Cravings

Sometimes I feel like I could be a Fortune 500 CEO, especially when they take an idea right outta my head. Let's take the Golden Arches.  I've had this idea buzzing around in my head for years and they finally took the plunge.  McDonald's is bringing breakfast to a late night menu near you.  Sorry Denny's I think a few people make be making a quick stop at the drive thru.

Read All About It Link

Store-In-A-Store Continues With Best Buy

Best Buy continues the JC Penney concept of stores within a store.  I wonder if this is the concept for companies that have been left for dead.  Ouch...Microsoft has teamed up with Best Buy and there with be a Microsoft store within your local store.  This is such a fabulous concept Samsung has decided it will also place stores within Best Buy.  I guess they will likely win over me...because I love 1 STOP SHOPPING...but does that make this a department store??

Linky

I know I'm not here to make fun of them but rather tell you how stopping in at the drive thru can make you money.  If you think either of these will be a big hit check the stocks out.  Best Buy is finding more reasons for you to stay in the store and McDonald's want your after the bar pit stop to include something you would normally eat in the morning, anyways!

Groupon

Predictions of their demise were off. This company has stabilized since the departure of Andrew Mason, the former CEO. The stock price has rebounded and Groupon "might" be maturing. They are leaving deals open longer which was my biggest complaint (sort of) and a reason why I never signed up for Groupon. This means I can get the deal when I actually need the item and not just serving as impulse purchases.  And you just may start buying things like you do on Amazon at Groupon.  Some of you already know that Groupon sells actual goods and they have been competitive on a number of items and want to be your top destination for shopping. Stay tuned on how this plays out but its has certainly rebounded , albeit there wasn't much lower it could go.

Tell Me What's Happening: Interest Rates Rising / Homebuyers Are Hurrying

There are a few themes going on around me right now.  Is it just me or does everything seem a little 'CHOPPY'!  This seems to apply to the weather, the stock market, jobs, interest rates...and definitely GAS prices.  So I wanted to start a dialogue to help us understand why.  There is no point in me writing (or talking) much I want to post a few videos that may help explain why.

First up is Interest Rates. These rates help determine what our mortgage rates will be.  The Federal Reserve can manipulate interest rates to help speed or slow down our economy when it needs to...think like a treadmill.  They have hinted they may be doing less tinkering with the economy and that is making rates move higher.  Oddly enough, this may be great for homeowners as buyers may race to get in on this historically low rates BEFORE its too late.

Check this video out:

My Predictions On the Upcoming War... (Free Picks Included)

Well I had a very interesting discussion last week on wars...and that was in a bar, so I figured I'd keep going I guess.  I could talk about North Korea but I'd rather talk about a different possible war.  I started off believing that only athletes and musicians "make it rain" and usually in dimly lit places :)

At Urbanomics, we don't leave you out in the cold, here is a quick definition from URBANDICTIONARY.COM:

Make It Rain: When you're in the club with a stack, and you throw the money up in the air... The effect is that it seems to be raining money. 

Then, I learned about Central Bankers around the world and their endless access to cash and they put guys like Lil Wayne, Adam 'Pacman' Jones, and P. Diddy to shame.  Central Bankers (around the world) are the equivalent to the US version of Ben Bernanke, the head of the Federal Reserve.  Earlier this year, I wrote about Ben and how some very smart investors (see David Tepper, Ray Dalio) were telling us that when the Fed 'makes it rain' it's our job to pick up the money and buy stocks.  We did just that and we've rode the stock market ALL THE WAY up to all time highs in the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the SP500.

Here is where the war begins...other countries don't usually like when one country prints money because their goods become cheaper and the people across the world begin buying those cheaper goods and so far this has helped the US economy. So guess what they in turn do...THAT'S RIGHT, they sometimes do the exact same thing.  So who is ready for battle, see JAPAN.  They have an official that has promised to 'make it rain' at levels that only we've seen in here in America.  Here's why I find this interesting...and how we make money:

Chicago Housing Market Is On Fire...

They often say "Real Estate" is local. The Chicago market appears to be showing POSITIVE trends that are similar across the country. I often view the Case-Shiller Report on housing in the 20 largest metro areas...and the one thing that I've been very bullish on is housing.  Numbers don't lie and homebuilders, home repair, carpet companies, and other housing related stocks have all been up.  As a matter of fact, I am so bullish on the sector that one of my premium alert picks has a connection to housing.  If you are a (1) New Homebuyer, (2) Existing Homeowner, or (3) On the sidelines, you want to review this video which show the Chicago market is moving well...and more importantly explains why.

See the video attached here: