Summary Points: - Will Warren Buffet save the day, again? - I will highlight three things that investors should be closely monitoring in 2018 - The Good, The Bad, The Ugly. - I plan to stay long General Electric. General Electric ($GE) is a beaten-up industrial conglomerate that cannot seem to find its footing (and this is putting it lightly), but GE shares jump by over 4% on rumors that Warren Buffett may be interested in initiating a stake in the company. It is hard to cheer for a 4% bump when the company's stock is trailing the performance of the S&P 500 by a wide margin over the last year but anything counts at this point in time. In my opinion, a Buffett investment would go a long way w

Summary Points: - Accenture recently reported better-than-expected Q2 2018 operating results (top- and bottom-line beats). - However, the market is concerned about the company's operating margins and the potential for additional margin pressure over the next few quarters. In my opinion, these concerns are overblown. - Accenture is a long-term buy at today's price. Accenture ($ACN) has been a top-performer for the R.I.P. portfolio for several years now but the company's most recent operating results (and forward guidance) caused a major selloff for the stock. The market is concerned about Accenture's operating margins, in addition to the company's "lackluster" outlook, but, in my opinion, the

Summary Points: - Under Armour reported strong operating results to end 2017, and I believe that 2018 could be a game-changing year for the company. - Even after considering the uncertainties, I plan to stay long Under Armour. - Under Armour is a long-term buy at today's price. I have held an Under Armour ($UAA) ($UA) position (the C shares to be specific) in the R.I.P. portfolio for well-over a year, and it would be an understatement to say that I have been disappointed in my selection of this once market darling. Under Armour's stock has underperformed the broader market by a wide margin over the last year, and it is the same story if you widen the lens and look back over the last five yea

Summary Points: - KeyCorp's Q4 2017 results were nothing to brag about, but the bank has great, long-term business prospects and several catalysts in place. - This regional bank has a great, long-term story to tell, and the thesis is already playing out. - KeyCorp is a long-term buy at today's price. KeyCorp ($KEY) rarely ever gets mentioned when analysts talk about regional banks that have promising, long-term business prospects but, in my opinion, there is a lot to like about this Cleveland, Ohio-based company. Let's also not forget that KeyCorp's stock has performed well over the last year, as KEY's shares are up ~14% while the SPDR Regional Bank ETF ($KRE) is up only ~13% over the same p

Summary Points: - Synchrony Financial's stock has been under-pressure over the last year due to asset quality concerns but SYF shares are now trading at an attractive valuation. - Based on estimated 2018 and 2019 earnings, SYF shares are trading at a steep discount to its 'peer' group. - Synchrony Financial is a long-term buy. Synchrony Financial ($SYF) is a private-label credit card company that has largely flown under the radar since going public in mid-2014 but, more recently, this company has been getting a lot of attention in large part due to the fact that Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway ($BRK.A) ($BRK.B) initiated a small (but growing) position. Looking back, SYF shares have perfo

Summary Points: - KMG Chemicals' stock has outperformed the broader market over the last 1, 2 and 5 year time periods. However, this company is still not widely followed by the Street. - The company recently reported better-than-expected Q2 2018 financial results, and raised its full-year 2018 guidance. - KMG Chemicals is a long-term buy at today's price. KMG Chemicals ($KMG) is a small-cap speciality chemicals manufacturer that not many people have heard of, but the company's stock has significantly outperformed the broader market over the last year. As described in "KMG: An Unknown Specialty Chemical Company, But Not For Long", I believe that KMG Chemicals has extremely bullish long-term b

Summary Points: - Four companies are showing General Electric's management team what they need to do to create value in 2018/2019. - After considering the risks, I believe General Electric is still worth a look. - I'm staying long General Electric. General Electric ($GE) is a company in turmoil, as this once great industrial conglomerate has had to fend off the bears while at the same time try to reassure investors that the boat is not sinking. To say that the bears have been winning the fight over the last few years would be the understatement of the year because GE shares have underperformed the S&P 500 by a wide margin over this period of time. Consider this - GE shares have underperforme

Summary Points: - Xinyuan reported strong top- and bottom-line results for Q4 and Full-year 2017. - The company has significantly grown its revenue over the last five years, and I see no signs of a slow down. - Xinyuan is a long-term buy at today's price. Xinyuan Real Estate's ($XIN) stock has taken shareholders on a roller coaster ride over the last 12 months, but let's not forget that XIN shares are still outperforming the broader market by a wide margin over this period of time. I have had a Xinyuan position in my R.I.P. portfolio for years now and the XIN shares have been a top performer, at least lately, but I believe that there is still room for the stock to run. To be clear, while the