Industry Focus

It's our favorite show of the quarter! Apple reported earnings last week, we look at the major segments, digest the guidance the company offered up, and discuss some issues analysts raised during the conference call. Thanks to Criquet for supporting the Motley Fool.  For 20% off your first purchase, go to criquetshirts.com/fool and use the promo code “fool”.

Schlumberger and Halliburton are already increasing rates amidst what they say is a recovery in oil, Taylor Muckerman and Sean O’Reilly dive in to learn just what this means for investors. Thanks to Criquet for supporting Motley Fool.  For 20% off your first purchase, go to criquetshirts.com/fool and use the promo code fool.

Why staying the course with Intuitive Surgical and Illumina could be investors most profit-friendly move.

One company boasts millions of wireless, Internet, and pay-TV subscribers – the other a portfolio of leading entertainment properties spanning film, television, video games, and digital mediums. We look at the potential behind this massive acquisition, the steep regulatory hurdles, and major points of consideration for shareholders of each company. Thanks to Criquet for supporting the Motley Fool.  For 20% off your first purchase, go to criquetshirts.com/fool and use the promo code “fool”.

 If you want to improve your performance as an investor, you need to boost your critical thinking skills. Studies have shown that the average investor tends to underperform the market. Why does this happen? It all boils down to the way we make decisions. In this episode of Industry Focus: Financials, The Motley Fool’s Gaby Lapera and John Maxfield dig into how investors, and people more generally, can improve their critical thinking skills and thereby boost the performance of their portfolios.

Answering a listener question, we talk about what the introduction of an activist investor might mean for a company and its shareholders.

After over a year of speculation that the world’s largest tech company was poised to become an auto manufacture, Apple has reportedly backed off – here’s why.

Every diversified portfolio needs global exposure. We dive into some of the benefits and risks involved with international stocks.

For supertrend no. 2, we look at the SKU, or stock keeping unit. Retail and consumer companies must strike the right balance between product breadth and operational complexity to succeed, and SKU rationalization (or reduction) lies at the heart of that challenge. Initiatives at Unilever and Procter & Gamble exemplify the efforts companies are taking in this space.

Business Development Companies (BDCs) are primarily small caps, but their dividends are anything but small. The industry offers investors double-digit dividend yields earned primarily by lending to, and investing in, companies that are too small for Wall Street. High yields come with high risks, however, and there is little public information about the investments that BDCs hold on their balance sheets. In this edition of Industry Focus: Financials, join The Motley Fool’s Gaby Lapera and Jordan Wathen as they discuss the ins and outs of BDCs, the rise of activism in the sector, and why investors may be better off avoiding this industry than investing in it.

The Galaxy Note 7 line has officially been axed. What does it mean for Samsung and who could benefit from the fallout?

Can oil companies use drones to reap bigger profits?

Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton debated Obamacare during the second Presidential debate. Here's what they said, why they said it, and whether their comments during the debate were true of false.

With the recently announced $4.5 billion deal, the combined entity will employ 40,000 employees in 180 stores and feature millions of square footage of hunting, fishing, and camping equipment. The cast also take a look at Costco following its break-up with American Express. Thanks to Tommy John for supporting Motley Fool. Go to tommyjohn.com/fool and use the promo code “fool” to get 20% off your first order!  

Tune in as Joe Magyer and Gaby Lapera talk about leverage, return on assets, and whether or not to buy Australian banks. 

We look at recently public Nutanix, explain what they do and break down their business.

Taser International just lost a big client, but things aren’t always what they seem.

The approval of Medtronic's artificial pancreas system ushers in a new era for type 1 diabetes treatment. Plus, a new study includes some surprising revelations regarding medical marijuana.  

From the shoes on your feet to your daily dose of caffeine, many consumer and retail companies are giving people the opportunity to add a flair of customization to the products they buy, generating growth and brand loyalty in the process.

Index funds are one of the hottest products in the world of investing. Here’s why they’re so popular, and why investors are choosing index funds over traditional mutual funds.