The Motley Fool

JANUARY 27, 2025

That's double the average annual return of the stock market. 2 is building up a healthy emergency fund in a savings account -- and not just any savings account. If you don't yet have an emergency fund, then open a high-yield savings account and set up automatic deposits. stock market all at once.

Exchange-Traded Funds 230

Exchange-Traded Funds Debt Accounting Banks 230

The Motley Fool

MARCH 19, 2025

stock market has had a rough start to 2025, with all three major indexes ( S&P 500 , Nasdaq Composite, and Dow Jones) down through March 17. Learn More Needless to say, the stock market has seen better days. Although seeing your portfolio drop is never ideal, now isn't the time to hit the panic button.

Stock Market 237

Stock Market Stock Market Investors Exchange-Traded Funds 237

The Motley Fool

AUGUST 22, 2024

For long-term investors, stock market dips can be a great time to accumulate shares. So, let's examine three Vanguard exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that are worth picking up on the next stock market dip. As an index fund, its costs are low, with an expense ratio of 0.10%. Image source: Getty Images.

Stock Market 246

Stock Market Stock Market Exchange-Traded Funds Banks 246

The Motley Fool

AUGUST 11, 2024

The stock market has been causing quite the panic lately, as prices have fallen sharply in recent weeks. To be clear, there's no way of knowing exactly what the market will do in the short term. Stocks could fall further, or this may end up being a short-lived slump with the worst already behind us.

Stock Market 246

Stock Market Stock Market Exchange-Traded Funds Stakes 246

The Motley Fool

MARCH 26, 2025

Large Cap Growth Index delivered an even better gain of 32% last year, thanks to its much larger holdings in soaring stocks like Nvidia , Meta Platforms , and Amazon. Wake up with Breakfast news in your inbox every market day. Here's why it might be a great long-term addition to any balanced portfolio. Apple 13.09% 7.24% 2.

Stock Market 230

Stock Market Stock Market Exchange-Traded Funds Funds 230

The Motley Fool

MARCH 19, 2025

The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEMKT: VOO) is one of the largest and most popular exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on the stock market. It tracks the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) market index with minimal fees and laser-like precision. What makes the Vanguard Developed Markets fund tick? First things first.

Funds 130

Funds Exchange-Traded Funds Returns Assets 130

The Motley Fool

FEBRUARY 12, 2025

The stock market continues to soar, with the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) reaching a new peak in late January and surging by more than 20% over the past year, as of this writing. Buffett explained that despite all of the volatility, he was continuing to invest in stocks. Image source: The Motley Fool.

Stock Market 236

Stock Market Stock Market Portfolios Investors 236

The Motley Fool

AUGUST 18, 2024

Stock market sell-offs can be challenging times for investors. It's never fun to see your portfolio's value plunge suddenly. A silver lining of stock market sell-offs is that dividend yields move in the opposite direction as stock prices. However, with challenges can come opportunities.

Stock Market 244

Stock Market Stock Market Capital Returns 244

The Motley Fool

SEPTEMBER 20, 2024

Rate cuts have usually been a positive catalyst for the stock market, though there have been exceptions to that rule. How the Federal Reserve influences interest rates The federal funds rate is a benchmark that influences other interest rates throughout the economy. In that sense, rate cuts can be good news for the stock market.

Stock Market 246

Stock Market Stock Market Banks Funds 246

The Motley Fool

OCTOBER 5, 2024

Warren Buffett has never claimed to be able to predict what the stock market would do over the near term. In a 2008 op-ed for The New York Times , he wrote, "I can't predict the short-term movements of the stock market. I haven't the faintest idea as to whether stocks will be higher or lower a month, or a year, from now."

Stock Market 246

Stock Market Stock Market Conglomerates Exchange-Traded Funds 246

The Motley Fool

OCTOBER 3, 2024

However, it's a good idea for investors to be aware of big events that could move the market -- and potentially their portfolio -- in a big way. Here's why tomorrow could be a big day for the stock market. Traders expect the federal funds rate to fall to a target range of 2.75% to 3% by December 2025.

Stock Market 246

Stock Market Stock Market Portfolios Investors 246

The Motley Fool

SEPTEMBER 23, 2024

The stock market has always been known for its volatility, but the past few months have been particularly rough for investors. When is the right time to invest in the stock market? Despite the roller coaster of ups and downs, there's never necessarily a bad time to invest in stocks.

Stock Market 237

Stock Market Stock Market Investing Funds 237

The Motley Fool

AUGUST 24, 2024

He manages most of Berkshire's equity investment portfolio, so record levels of relatively liquid capital imply he's struggling to find stocks worth buying in the current environment. One logical conclusion is that Buffett believes the stock market could decline sharply in the not-too-distant future.

Stock Market 246

Stock Market Stock Market Conglomerates Investors 246

The Motley Fool

SEPTEMBER 1, 2024

companies, has produced a total return of just 33% since the start of the bull market. But the stock market just did something that suggests the tide may be turning. The dominance of large-cap stocks in the current rally could shift to small-cap stocks, and we saw an early glimpse of it in July. in December 2000.

Stock Market 246

Stock Market Stock Market Debt Portfolios 246

The Motley Fool

AUGUST 29, 2024

The stock market is having a good year despite headwinds from sticky inflation and high interest rates. Stocks could move higher. However, the stock market could be headed for trouble, at least temporarily, because the S&P 500 usually declines in September. stock market. Embrace the rally."

Stock Market 246

Stock Market Stock Market Investment Banking Investment Banks 246

The Motley Fool

AUGUST 13, 2024

It's been a rough couple of weeks for the stock market, as major indexes began plummeting in early August. If you're feeling pessimistic about the market right now, you're not alone. That's not exactly reassuring for most investors, but there's good news, too: The market's long-term potential is outstanding.

Stock Market 246

Stock Market Stock Market Portfolios Returns 246

The Motley Fool

NOVEMBER 17, 2024

In September, the Federal Reserve started a new rate-cutting cycle, something the stock market has seen only five other times in the last three decades. Specifically, after raising the federal funds rate to a two-decade high to fight severe post-pandemic inflation, policymakers finally pivoted to interest rate cuts on Sept.

Stock Market 246

Stock Market Stock Market Education Returns 246

The Motley Fool

SEPTEMBER 29, 2024

Unlike most of the time prior to 2000, now you need 20-year holding periods to ensure you're achieving the sorts of reliable returns you'd expect -- and need -- from the stock market. After all, when those dividends are reinvested, the net returns on the right dividend stocks can rival those of some popular growth stocks.

Stock Market 246

Stock Market Stock Market Mutual Funds Prospects 246

The Motley Fool

SEPTEMBER 30, 2024

Macroeconomic fundamentals and corporate earnings drive the stock market over long periods of time, but momentum plays an important role over shorter periods. companies that cover approximately 80% of domestic equities by market capitalization. stock market. History says the U.S.

Stock Market 244

Stock Market Stock Market Education Returns 244

The Motley Fool

SEPTEMBER 29, 2024

Despite a few hiccups, the S&P 500 bull market isn't slowing down. The stock index most often used to reference the U.S. large-cap stock market has climbed over 20% through 2024 as of this writing. But not every company has participated equally in the current market rally. According to data gathered by J.P.

Stock Market 246

Stock Market Stock Market Accounting Capital 246

The Motley Fool

OCTOBER 28, 2024

Professional fund managers are extremely smart, highly educated, hard-working, and ultra-competitive. If you can perform in the top 2% of all professional fund managers on Wall Street, you're sure to find yourself with a very handsome payday at some point. All you have to do is buy a broad-based index fund and hold it for years.

Mutual Funds 246

Mutual Funds Funds Taxes Investing 246

The Motley Fool

AUGUST 17, 2024

Volatility briefly returned to the stock market earlier this month. The speed of the most recent market sell-off and subsequent recovery also showed that it's good to have ready a list of stocks you'd buy during a sell-off so that you can pounce when the opportunity arises. Brookfield Infrastructure sold assets worth $1.4

Stock Market 246

Stock Market Stock Market Enterprise Values Assets 246

The Motley Fool

MARCH 26, 2025

Buffett oversees the vast majority of Berkshire's stock portfolio, and he recently made an interesting capital allocation decision. In fact, Berkshire sold the only two index funds in its portfolio, both of which tracked the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC). stock market. equities by market value.

Funds 246

Funds Conglomerates Shareholders Stakes 246

The Motley Fool

FEBRUARY 27, 2025

The index fund is most heavily weighted toward electric utilities (61%) and multi-utility companies (25%), but also provides exposure to independent power producers (6%), gas utilities (5%), and water utilities (3%). Should you invest $1,000 in Vanguard World Fund - Vanguard Utilities ETF right now? Here are the important details.

Funds 147

Funds Investing Legal Shareholders 147

The Motley Fool

SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

Don't try to time the S&P One smart lesson to learn is that timing the market is a losing battle. Just because a stock or index looks "expensive" doesn't mean it can't go up any further, or that a crash or pullback is imminent. Dollar-cost averaging sets you up for long-term success regardless of what the stock market is doing.

Stock Market 246

Stock Market Stock Market Investing Returns 246

The Motley Fool

SEPTEMBER 6, 2024

Between March 2022 and July 2023, policymakers raised the federal funds rate to its highest level since 2001. The federal funds rate is a benchmark that impacts other interest rates across the economy, like credit card and loan rates. In other words, this particular stock market forecasting tool has been 82% accurate since 1984.

Stock Market 245

Stock Market Stock Market Prospects Returns 245

The Motley Fool

AUGUST 22, 2024

Federal Reserve has held interest rates steady since August 2023, when it last raised the federal funds rate to a 23-year high of 5.33%. Therefore, this group of tech companies could influence the direction of the overall stock market going forward, which is why I think so much is hinging on Nvidia's Aug. Image source: Nvidia.

Stock Market 246

Stock Market Stock Market Assets Accounting 246

The Motley Fool

SEPTEMBER 14, 2024

The market expects the committee to cut the benchmark federal funds rate for the first time since 2020, setting in motion a sequence of events that will lower other interest rates and encourage economic growth. stock market. First, no stock market indicator is perfect. 17 and Sept.

Stock Market 246

Stock Market Stock Market Returns Investors 246

The Motley Fool

SEPTEMBER 12, 2024

When the rate deviates too far from that target, the Fed adjusts the federal funds rate (overnight interest rates) to influence economic activity. If history is any guide, such a cut could foreshadow a big move in the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) stock market index, but maybe not in the direction one would expect.

Stock Market 242

Stock Market Stock Market Banks Assets 242

The Motley Fool

DECEMBER 14, 2024

The last couple of years have been strong for the stock market, with the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) surging by just over 70% since late 2022, as of this writing. However, no bull market can last forever, and the market will inevitably take a turn for the worse. Just over 30% of U.S.

Stock Market 245

Stock Market Stock Market Banks Investors 245

The Motley Fool

SEPTEMBER 17, 2024

In fact, you might be surprised at what you can potentially achieve with some basic index funds, steady contributions, and a few decades to let your investments grow. And in full disclosure, in addition to a portfolio of individual stocks, I own five different index funds, including all three I'm about to discuss here.

Funds 244

Funds Stock Market Stock Market Assets 244

The Motley Fool

AUGUST 22, 2024

A fine place to park that moola, if you want it to grow significantly over many years, is the stock market. Asset Class Annualized Nominal Return, 1802 to 2021 Stocks 8.4% Data source: Stocks for the Long Run , Jeremy Siegel. The lesson here is that stocks outperform bonds over most long periods. Why index funds?

Mutual Funds 246

Mutual Funds Funds Investing Exchange-Traded Funds 246

The Motley Fool

OCTOBER 21, 2024

This boring index fund has beaten the S&P 500 over its lifetime! Read on to discover how this simple index fund can be the simple millionaire-making investment you'll want in your portfolio. This index fund has outperformed the S&P 500, and it's no fluke. And sometimes, simplicity is better. What's its secret?

Funds 246

Funds Exchange-Traded Funds Stock Market Stock Market 246

The Motley Fool

NOVEMBER 3, 2024

But one indicator suggests the recent trend of the biggest companies getting bigger at a pace that far exceeds the rest of the market could be coming to an end soon. And there's a great way you can invest to take advantage of the next leg up in the stock market. Image source: Getty Images. That should be a big warning sign.

Stock Market 246

Stock Market Stock Market Exchange-Traded Funds Bidding 246

The Motley Fool

AUGUST 26, 2024

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are one of the best ways investors can build wealth. These funds are a lot like mutual funds with a key difference: You can trade them on the open market just like a stock. One of the most successful and largest fund managers is Vanguard, which offers 86 ETFs that hold $2.8

Exchange-Traded Funds 246

Exchange-Traded Funds Funds Mutual Funds Stock Market 246

The Motley Fool

JANUARY 15, 2025

Buying an exchange-traded fund (ETF) with a high level of exposure to the Magnificent Seven could be a simpler option for investors compared to buying each stock individually. The Magnificent Seven stocks alone account for 58.2% Portfolio weightings are accurate as of Nov. Apple 13.21% 2. Nvidia 12.28% 3. Amazon 7.16% 5.

Portfolios 239

Portfolios Exchange-Traded Funds Investing Consultants 239

The Motley Fool

JUNE 29, 2024

Professional fund managers are in charge of investing billions of dollars for investors. It doesn't take an advanced degree or special insider knowledge to do better than the vast majority of actively-managed mutual funds. There are a couple of factors that lead to such dismal results for active funds as a group.

Mutual Funds 264

Mutual Funds Funds Investing Hedge Funds 264