Investing Insights

Sarah Hansen, Morningstar Inc markets reporter, explains the new normal of bond yields and interest rates. Adam Fleck, director of research for ratings and ESG for Morningstar Research Services, discusses how companies with union workers can compete against non-union firms. Topics also include Apple's solid fiscal fourth quarter, McDonald's resilience under inflation pressure, and fixed-income market opportunities for investors.

Megan Pacholok, Morningstar Research Services senior manager research analyst, discusses BlackRock’s iShares target-date ETFs and how they compare to their mutual fund siblings. Amazon Impressed in Q3Google Ad Rebound Lifts Alphabet  Visa Benefits from Travel Bounce BackBlackRock’s Bring Back Target-Date ETFsChanges to the ETF SpaceWhat is BlackRock Offering? ETFs vs. Mutual FundsCan BlackRock’s Targeted ETFs Be a Part of 401(k)s?Is BlackRock Successful?Fed Focused on Higher for Longer, But Rate Cut Talk Likely Coming  Read about topics from this episode.  Amazon Earnings: E-Commerce Improves, AWS Stabilizes, and Margins Surge https://www.morningstar.com/articles/1187599/amazon-earnings-e-commerce-improves-aws-stabilizes-and-margins-surgeAlphabet Earnings: Google Search and YouTube Are Strengthening, and Cloud Is Likely to Accelerate https://www.morningstar.com/articles/1186708/alphabet-earnings-google-search-and-youtube-are-strengthening-and-cloud-is-likely-to-accelerateVisa Earnings: Quarter Largely Maintains Recent Trends https://www.morningstar.com/articles/1186842/visa-earnings-quarter-largely-maintains-recent-trendsA New Era for Retirement Savings https://www.morningstar.com/funds/new-era-retirement-savingsFed Meeting: Rates Held Steady, But Options Open for One More Hike https://www.morningstar.com/economy/fed-meeting-rates-held-steady-options-open-one-more-hike What to watch from Morningstar.Falling Mutual Fund and ETF Fees a ‘Big Win for Investors’ https://youtu.be/gt9PTjD4RLE?si=jUqZZhqJ6BT1MhTXTikTok: Risky Tax Advice and Supersize Valuations https://youtu.be/nkufuIPIW8M?si=6avg_v6D7zLDRGaAPayment Pause Ends: Student Loan Expert Shares Repayment Tips https://youtu.be/wVr-_KOM3Qw?si=GtSJQNVoPsbXDHiaUAW Strike Raises Investor Risks https://youtu.be/D-fkLxPeVVI?si=HxF5jUQPju2AJmDt Read what our team is writing:Ivanna Hampton https://www.morningstar.com/authors/2399/ivanna-hamptonMegan Pacholok https://www.morningstar.com/authors/2320/megan-pacholokPreston Caldwell https://www.morningstar.com/authors/2047/preston-caldwell Follow us on social media.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/Twitter: https://twitter.com/MorningstarIncInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstar... LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/5161/  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In today’s episode, Morningstar Research Services’ equities strategist Eric Compton talks about the U.S. banking sector after earnings, and we talk to Dave Sekera, the chief U.S. market strategist for Morningstar Research Services, about scary stocks.  Tesla’s Q3 Took a HitNetflix’s Strong Subscriber GrowthUnited Airlines Predicts Airline Industry Changes 5 Scary StocksWhat Makes These Stocks So Scary?What If You Own Scary Stocks The Year of Tech  Supply Chain and XPO StockAdvertising and Content TechEducation Sector in ChinaThe Most Overvalued Stock  How Often Investors Should Check on Stocks in Their PortfoliosWhat’s Going on in the Banking Sector?Big and Regional Banks Q3 EarningsWhat is Net Interest Income?Regulatory Risk and Interest Rate RiskBank Stock Picks Read about topics from this episode.  Tesla Earnings: Price Cuts Weigh on Margins While Cybertruck Launch Officially ScheduledNetflix Earnings: Stellar Results Show Durable Strengths but Also Some Tailwinds That Should SubsideUnited Airlines Earnings: Cost Growth Portends Industry Drama as CEO Predicts a Shakeout2 Big Tech Stocks to BuyQ4 Stock Market Outlook: Equities Undervalued After RetreatWhat Rising Bond Yields Mean for Q3 Bank Earnings  What to watch from Morningstar.Falling Mutual Fund and ETF Fees a ‘Big Win for Investors’TikTok: Risky Tax Advice and Supersize ValuationsPayment Pause Ends: Student Loan Expert Shares Repayment TipsUAW Strike Raises Investor Risks Read what our team is writing:Ruth SaldanhaDavid SekeraIvanna HamptonEric Compton Follow us on social media.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/Twitter: https://twitter.com/MorningstarIncInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstar... LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/5161/  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mark Miller, “Retirement Reboot” author, explains the differences between traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage, and why timing is important when signing up for Medigap.Ryan Jackson, Morningstar Research Services manager research analyst, discusses how most actively managed funds outperformed their average passive peer over a 12-month period. itigroup Q3 Earnings Crushed EstimatesStrong Travel Demand Lifted Delta’s Q3 EarningsSocial Security and Medicare in 2024The New Social Security COLA2024 COLA and Retiree’s BudgetsTraditional Medicare vs. Medicare AdvantageWill Medicare Prescription Drug Prices Fall?Actively-Managed Funds vs. Passive Index FundsWhat Drove the Active Fund Rebound?Active Fund Managers’ Outperformance  How to Choose a Winning Active Fund Read about topics from this episode.  Citigroup Earnings: Revenue Growth Is Working, but We Won’t Know About Expenses Until 2024Delta Earnings: Higher Structural Costs Will Lead to New Equilibrium; Fair Value Down $1 to $40I’m 65 and Still Working. Should I Enroll in Medicare?Should You Delay Taking Social Security Benefits?Social Security for Beginners, Part I2024 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and DeductiblesActively Managed Funds Surprise in Market ReboundLarge-Growth Active Fund Managers Have Faced an Uphill BattleWhen It Comes to Passive Bond ETFs, the Devil Is in the Details  What to watch from Morningstar.Falling Mutual Fund and ETF Fees a ‘Big Win for Investors’TikTok: Risky Tax Advice and Supersize ValuationsPayment Pause Ends: Student Loan Expert Shares Repayment TipsUAW Strike Raises Investor Risks Read what our team is writing:Ivanna HamptonRyan JacksonMark Miller Follow us on social media.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/Twitter: https://twitter.com/MorningstarIncInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstar... LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/5161/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Discussion on the trend of falling fund fees and its impact on investors, including insights on decreasing fund fees and the growing gap between cheap and expensive funds. Examining mutual fund and ETF fees, competition among fund issuers, and potential future fee reductions. Mentioning Vanguard as a leader in offering the lowest fees and highlighting top funds and ETFs that have recently experienced fee cuts.

Tax expert Ed Slott explains why following some tax advice on TikTok could lead to an IRS audit. Jack Shannon, Morningstar Research Services’ senior manager research analyst, pits the valuation of privately held ByteDance against publicly traded rivals Meta and Snap.How are Companies like ByteDance Valued?Why Valuations MatterByteDance and Tech’s 2023 RallyTikTok, Meta, and Snap  TikTok’s Business RisksThe “Unicorn of all Unicorns”IRS Releases Memo About TikTok TrendAudit Warning What the TikTok Trust Promoters Are Getting WrongHow to Protect Yourself Read about topics from this episode.  How Mutual Funds Are Valuing TikTok, Twitter, and Other Private Companies https://www.morningstar.com/funds/how-mutual-funds-are-valuing-tiktok-twitter-other-private-companiesThe Best and Worst Mutual Fund Bets of the Past 25 Years https://www.morningstar.com/funds/best-worst-mutual-fund-bets-past-25-yearsIRS Chief Council Memo https://www.irs.gov/pub/lanoa/am-2023-006-508v.pdf  What to watch from Morningstar.Payment Pause Ends: Student Loan Expert Shares Repayment Tipshttps://youtu.be/wVr-_KOM3Qw?si=GtSJQNVoPsbXDHiaUAW Strike Raises Investor Risks https://youtu.be/D-fkLxPeVVI?si=HxF5jUQPju2AJmDt3 of the Best Robo-Advisors, and One of the Worst https://youtu.be/BSoSdJdUFKU?si=4K7BciRIHIq7Run9Stocks to Consider as the U.S. Pushes to Reclassify Cannabis https://youtu.be/fME1Oyit2CY?si=XbvRY1fz-etDjn4o Read what our team is writing:Ivanna Hampton https://www.morningstar.com/authors/2399/ivanna-hamptonJack Shannon https://www.morningstar.com/authors/2372/jack-shannon Follow us on social media.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/Twitter: https://twitter.com/MorningstarIncInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstar... LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/5161/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Betsy Mayotte, founder of The Institute of Student Loan Advisors, explains the benefits of federal student loan repayment plans, and the loophole that makes Parent Plus loans eligible for the SAVE plan. New-Home Sales Have Remained ResilientFedEx Missed Morningstar’s ExpectationsMicrosoft’s Activision Blizzard Buyout  Student Loan Repayments and “The Institute of Student Loan Advisors”How To Prepare for Student Loan Payments  Younger Borrowers vs. Older BorrowersShifting Student DebtRisks of Defaulting on Federal Student Loan Debt in RetirementThe SAVE Repayment PlanWhat Rising Bond Yields Mean for Investors Read about topics from this episode.  Incentives and Speculative Building Have Boosted New-Home Sales; We Now See More Starts in 2023FedEx Earnings: Global Package Demand Still Sluggish, but Ground Margins ImpressActivision Blizzard: Sale to Microsoft Will Likely Close in OctoberStudent Loan Repayments Are Back. What Does That Mean for Your Financial Plan?Information on Limited Forgiveness Opportunities and Repayment Restart What to watch from Morningstar.UAW Strike Raises Investor Risks3 of the Best Robo-Advisors, and One of the WorstStocks to Consider as the U.S. Pushes to Reclassify Cannabis“Ripped Off” to a “Better Deal” – How Investors Fared Since the Market-Timing Scandal Read what our team is writing:Ivanna Hampton  Follow us on social media.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/Twitter: https://twitter.com/MorningstarIncInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstar... LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/5161/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Also, why Morningstar thinks the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates earlier than projected.Dave Whiston, U.S. autos equity analyst for Morningstar Research Services, says the demands from the UAW strike could bankrupt the Big Three automakers.Apple’s Innovation in Q3Smucker’s is Growing Its Snacking PortfolioMorningstar Expects More Deals from Disney  An Unprecedented UAW StrikeWhat are the UAW Strike Counteroffers? Advantages and Disadvantages of a Standup StrikeWould Meeting the Strike’s Demands Make the Big Three Automakers Less Competitive?UAW Strike Risks to Investors15:54 Ford and GM Stocks17:21 We Expect Faster Pace of Interest-Rate Cuts Than the Fed Read about topics from this episode.  Disney and Charter: A New Carriage Agreement Points to Improved Content Strategies https://www.morningstar.com/articles/1180340/disney-and-charter-a-new-carriage-agreement-points-to-improved-content-strategiesQualcomm: Supply Agreement With Apple Doesn’t Alter Our Long-Term Valuation https://www.morningstar.com/articles/1180169/qualcomm-supply-agreement-with-apple-doesnt-alter-our-long-term-valuationSmucker: Price Paid for Hostess Looks Fair, but Past Execution Mistakes Worry Investors https://www.morningstar.com/articles/1180281/smucker-price-paid-for-hostess-looks-fair-but-past-execution-mistakes-worry-investorsWhat the First-Ever UAW Strike at All 3 Detroit Automakers Could Mean https://www.morningstar.com/stocks/what-first-ever-uaw-strike-all-three-detroit-automakers-could-meanWhen Will the Fed Start Cutting Interest Rates? https://www.morningstar.com/markets/when-will-fed-start-cutting-interest-rates  What to watch from Morningstar.3 of the Best Robo-Advisors, and One of the Worst https://youtu.be/BSoSdJdUFKU?si=4K7BciRIHIq7Run9Stocks to Consider as the U.S. Pushes to Reclassify Cannabis https://youtu.be/fME1Oyit2CY?si=XbvRY1fz-etDjn4o“Ripped Off” to a “Better Deal” – How Investors Fared Since the Market-Timing Scandal https://youtu.be/yqmEo6PN7V0?si=hpAqff9EiQ2EEI2-Economy Outshines ‘Uneventful Earnings' https://youtu.be/SCR-epYX0ts?si=MQWffECd7EFSGj1l Read what our team is writing:Ivanna Hampton https://www.morningstar.com/authors/2399/ivanna-hamptonPreston Caldwell https://www.morningstar.com/authors/2047/preston-caldwellDavid Whiston https://www.morningstar.com/authors/766/david-whiston Follow us on social media.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/Twitter: https://twitter.com/MorningstarIncInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstar... LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/5161/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Morningstar portfolio strategist Amy Arnott and senior manager research analyst Gabe Denis discuss the blurring lines between robo-advisors and traditional financial advisors. They cover topics such as the benefits of robo-advisors, limitations of digital investment advice, and the best and worst robo-advisors of 2023.

In today’s episode, Morningstar Inc’s investment specialist Susan Dziubinski highlights three dividend stocks, while Kristoffer Inton, consumer equity strategist at Morningstar Research Services, talks all the latest developments in the cannabis space.Salesforce Soared Among the CloudsUnited Auto Workers Vote to Approve a StrikeBest Buy’s Better Q2Cannabis Stocks Slow Growth  HHS Recommends Rescheduling Cannabis   Canadian Cannabis Companies Cannabis Stocks Look Cheap Cannabis Stock Outlook  Read about topics from this episode.  Salesforce Earnings: Strong Margins, Share Buybacks, CRPO Growth Drive Good QuarterUAW Strike Likely at Stellantis, and Striking All the Detroit Three at Once Is PossibleBest Buy Earnings: Solid Quarter Overshadowed by Weak Industry Environment; Shares Remain CheapCannabis Shares Rally On Recommendation for Less Stringent Prohibition What to watch from Morningstar.Economy Outshines ‘Uneventful Earnings'Microsoft Bets Big on AI: What Investors Should Know, Part TwoMicrosoft Bets Big on AI: What Investors Should Know, Part OneInterest-Rate Forecast: What’s Next? Read what our team is writing:Ruth SaldanhaKristoffer IntonSusan DziubinskiDave Sekera  Follow us on social media.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/Twitter: https://twitter.com/MorningstarIncInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstar... LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/5161/  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.