Articles by Thomas Hughes

Thomas got his start with the markets while working as a Chef. In 2005 a chance invitation to attend the seminar “How To Buy And Sell Your Own Stocks” altered his worldview. Soon trading and stocks consumed his every waking moment to the point of excluding all else. Thomas now enjoys a much different lifestyle engaged in his true passion, uncovering great investments. Contact Thomas Hughes via email at tmhughes.writeon@gmail.com.

Home Depot had a good quarter but much of this year's strength was seen in the 2nd quarter and the outlook is tepid but the dividend is still safe and growing

The price action in Walmart popped in premarket trading but there is a risk the market is at its top and won't follow through on the move.

Skyworks Solutions is an often overlooked name in the semiconductor industry but it's one that income investors should have on their watchlist.

A potential contract with FedEx has Ford shares in the spotlight but investors shouldn't count out Workhorse Group in the race for EV delivery.

These are the five hottest analysts' calls of the 2nd quarter earnings reporting season and all stocks are set up for gains in the back half of the year.

Footlocker could be ready to sprint higher but it depends on the earnings and if the analysts and institutions start getting bullish again.

Jack in the Box is springing higher on core strengths and the outlook for growth and margin improvement. The stock also yields 2% and buys back shares.

DraftKings share price is ready to move higher following two positive news catalysts that have already sent shares up by double-digits.

Workhorse Group had a rough 2Q but the company is ready to get back on the horse after hiring a new CEO and regrouping for success.

Cloud stocks got a lift from Cloudflare results but insider selling may be enough to keep the stock from moving much higher.

Ralph Lauren has proven its worth once again by delivering better than expected results and guidance, enough to ensure dividend health and growth this year

Shares of Tyson are down hard in the wake of the Q3 results but may be offering an entry point to value-minded income investors.

DoorDash is still struggling with profitability although revenue growth is still strong. Now investors want to know if profits will materialize or not in 2022

Beyond Meat stock is at a bottom and cheap following the end of years of testing with McDonald's and Yum! Brands, the question now is if it can turn a profit?

Insiders are buying stocks for more reasons than one. In all cases, there are opportunities brewing in these stocks that could pay off in double digits gains

Shake Shack is a growing concern but Chipotle Mexican Grill is outperforming and the results are clear. Chipotle Mexican Grill is on an upswing.

Activision Blizzard is on an upswing that will be compounded by new releases with or without the Microsoft deal going through.

Energy Transfer LP offers a value compared to its peers and the dividend is on track for a robust double-digit growth over the next two years.

Institutional support for Under Armour is on the rise but the headwinds are mounting and Nike, with its dividend, looks like the better buy.

Starbucks interim CEO Howard Shultz has the company on track to reinvent itself and move into the next phase of growth, and it pays over 2.3% in dividend yield

Signs of peaking within the RV industry are bad news for OEMs but Camping World and LCI Industries service the aftermarket, too, and are better positioned

Tesla's results, outlook, and expected stock split are leading the entire EV market into a reversal that could take the market to new all-time highs.

High-quality dividend-grower Caterpillar falls to key support following a mixed earnings report that left investors wanting more.

The Williams Companies is on track to increase its already large dividend and could bring it in line with competitors like Enbridge and Kinder Morgan.

Bloomin' Brands' value is slipping away as the stock climbs higher in the wake of its earnings report and the analysts are in support.

Check Point Software isn't growing as fast as some of its competitors but growth is accelerating versus the slowdown reported by others in the industry.

onsemi is outperforming the semiconductor industry and will continue to do so as its refocusing strategy gains momentum and drives results.

Colgate-Palmolive is a fairly-valued stock in relation to its peers and one that pays a nice 2.4% yield while coming with an outlook for improving margin.

Consumer products company Newell Brands is a value and a yield attractive to investors and it looks like the stock could be ready to bottom.

Weyerhaeuser Company is an attractive investment in the real asset category that can give some protection from inflation and diversification.

Results from Exxon Mobil and its competitors proved the thesis of windfall profits correct, now its time for dividend increases and share repurchases.

These two food stocks are overcoming inflation and delivering results for shareholders. Both stocks are moving higher in the wake of their earnings reports.

Altria is a tough stock to own even though it pays a relatively safe 8% yield that comes with a positive outlook for growth.

Looking for value? Keurig-Dr. Pepper isn't a value but it is an attractive investment for dividend growth investors and portfolios.

The FOMC gave the market what it wanted and hiked rates by only 75 basis points despite indications inflation continues to run rampant.

If you’ve been wondering where this year’s CAPEX spending is going look no further than the automation industry. While tight labor markets are driving up wages and cutting into corporate profits the corporations are fighting back

Blue-chip Owens-Corning is in a turnaround phase and on track to grow its dividend by double-digits on an annual basis over the next few years. That, and the low 7X earnings multiple have the stock moving higher following the Q2 earnings release but there are still hurdles ahead for this market.

Kraft-Heinz (NASDAQ: KHC) has been quietly working on a transformation over the past three years and it is starting to gain momentum. After years of divestiture and portfolio re-shaping, the balance sheet is in the best condition its been in since the merger, and the company is on track for growth.

Dividend King Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) is a highly valued stock and it pays one of the highest dividends as well as 3.4%.Dividend investors

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) has been an attractive investment over the past few years because of its resilience in the face of tough times. The company has been able to maintain and even grow the business while also paying a healthy 2.8% dividend yield and not only that, increasing for the 59th consecutive year despite the pandemic and all the havoc it caused.

Simpson Manufacturing (NYSE: SSD) is a growth story that has legs and one that offers more than just growth for investors. On the one hand, CEO Karen Colonias has been diversifying the company into five distinct end-use markets and that diversification is proving its worth in more ways than one.

RPM International (NYSE: RPM) reported a mixed quarter but gave favorable guidance that should help lift share prices over the next few months. The caveat is that pricing increases can be blamed on most of the success and price increases aren’t ending.

Shares of Whirlpool (NYSE: WHR) are trading under 7X the consensus for earnings and offer a deep value relative to the broader market. The question is, however, is this value a trap that will tie up investor capital with little to no return?

The institutional activity in PPG Industries (NYSE: PPG) has been a little mixed over the past year but the net of activity is bullish and supports the stock. The institutions have been net buyers for 3 of the last 4 quarters and 7 of the last 8 and hold nearly 80% of the stock.

Shares of Alcoa (NYSE: AA) are down nearly 50% from their high and they move lower but we don’t think they will go much lower. While aluminum prices are down sharply from their recent high the outlook for demand is expansionary.

If results from Baker Hughes (NYSE: BKR) and Haliburton (NYSE: HAL) weren’t enough to convince you of a rebound in the oil services sector Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB) has given us some more evidence. The company reported a solid quarter driven by strength in all regions and segments due to an increase in investment in the oil industry.

As good a company as Mattel (NASDAQ: MAT) is, Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS) may be the better buy for today’s times. Both companies outperformed the consensus expectations and provided a positive outlook but one thing stands out between them.

Tractor Supply Company (NASDAQ: TSCO) reported better than expected Q2 results and raised the guidance and yet shares fell because of it. Shares fell because the results and guidance, while favorable, are lackluster in regard to the analyst's estimate.

Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) reported a mixed quarter but the shares are moving higher anyway. The shares are moving higher because, although mixed, the margin came in well above the consensus estimate despite headwinds that cut into both the top line and margins.

After several quarters of uncertainty, Knight-Swift Transportation (NYSE: KNX) delivered what the market was looking for. The company reported top and bottom outperformance and raised the guidance due to strong demand and margin improvements.