investment
An investment is an asset or property acquired to generate income or gain appreciation. Appreciation is the increase in the value of an asset over time. It requires the outlay of a resource today, like time, effort, and money, for a greater payoff in the future or for generating a profit.
An investment involves using capital in the present to increase an asset’s value over time.
Investments may include bonds, stocks, real estate, or alternative investments.
Investments can be diversified to reduce risk, though this may reduce the amount of earning potential.
In business contexts, investments are financial; however, consider how some people spend time to make higher incomes in the future (i.e. invest in a college education).
Read More
Close
John Templeton, one of history’s most successful investors, played a big role in my investment education. One of Templeton’s most valuable investing guidelines is, “Invest at the point of maximum pessimism”. It’s also among the easiest Templeton quotes to misunderstand, and one that’s often misapplied. Note that Templeton didn’t say, “Invest only at the point of maximum pessimism”. Yet many investors take this quote to mean that you should hold your funds in T-bills or a bank account until you see “blood running in the streets” (a quote from another famed investor). That would be problematic to say the least. Pessimism is an open-ended condition. Pessimism never gets so bad that it can’t get worse. Maximum pessimism is easiest to spot in retrospect, since you can then measure it against subsequent events. One good example occurred in February 2009. A prominent Toronto investment figure, known for strong long-time views on stocks (bearish) and gold (bullish), convened a meeting in a downtown Toronto theatre. Some of the most prominent economic pessimists on the continent came to deliver bad news on the outlook....
Mosaic Capital Corp., $6.99, symbol M on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 8.5 million; Market cap: $59.3 million; www.mosaicfund.com), acquires majority stakes in small industrial companies in what it sees as mature market niches. Right now, it controls 11 firms, including one commercial real estate investment company, all in Western Canada. These holdings are: Printing Unlimited (100% interest), First West Properties (100%), Remote Waste (98%), Kendall’s Supply (90%), Polar Geomatic (90%), Allied Cathodic (80%), Ambassador Mechanical (75%), Place-Crete Systems (75%), South East Construction (75%), Streamline Mechanical (70%) and Industrial Scaffold Services (67.5%). In the three months ended June 30, 2015, Mosaic’s revenue jumped 42.0%, to $50.1 million from $35.2 million a year earlier. That’s mostly due to contributions from Place-Crete (acquired in September 2014) and South East Construction (November 2014). Mosaic lost $0.32 a share, compared to a $0.14-a-share profit a year ago, but cash flow per share fell only slightly, to $0.62 from $0.63....
Learn how to buy gold as an investment in your RRSP
Today we look at one of Canada’s most intriguing penny stocks. Mountain Province Diamonds holds 49% of the Gahcho Kue diamond mine, which is currently being built in the Northwest Territories. The partnership of DeBeers Canada with this junior Canadian diamond stock gives the project special interest. It also raises the possibility of a takeover. A member of Pat McKeough’s Inner Circle who owns Mountain Province wished to know whether to continue to hold the stock or sell it. In response, Pat McKeough examines the ownership structure of the companies behind the project, the mine’s production prospects and how they affect the speculative appeal of Mountain Province. ...
Almost a century of uninterrupted dividends and a forceful growth strategy make 3M Company one of our Best Buys in U.S. stocks.
You may have heard of blue chip stocks, but what are blue chip companies, and why are they a good investment?
The price-sales ratio is one of many tools to help you with investing
Is using the p/e ratio the first or last measure to analyze when picking stocks?
MACY’S INC., $58.19, New York symbol M, operates 885 Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s department stores. It also sells goods online. This week, the company said it would close 35 to 40 of its less profitable Macy’s stores over the next few months. In all, these outlets supply 1% of the company’s sales. It didn’t say how much it expects to pay in severance and other costs. Like most traditional retailers, Macy’s is facing intense competition from online sellers like Amazon.com, which are expanding beyond books and movies to other merchandise such as clothing, shoes and cosmetics. Specialty chains and discount retailers, like Wal-Mart and Target, are also drawing shoppers away from department stores....
The best savings plan for retirement saves you money on taxes now, and offers peace of mind for later.