Analysts, economists, and investors are starting to get a little "bullish" about the stock market again. After months of stock losses, the New York Stock Exchange, The Dow Jones Industrial Average, and the NASDQ are all beginning to finish the day, week, and month, with profits for investors. In the strictest terms, a bull market means that stock process are rising faster than the historical data indicates, but most analysts use the term to describe the market's upward swing. Many analysts are starting off the new year with a list of stocks to watch (and buy!).
Casual American luxury is a hot commodity in 2013. With Americans coming out of a recession, they have a little more spending money in their pockets, and analysts are expecting them to spend it on clothing. Economists and brokers feel that companies like Target are poised for even bigger growth this spring. American clothing and accessory icon Ralph Lauren strikes the right balance between comfort and elegance, and analysts are speculating consumers will open their (stylish) wallets for these quality goods.
While digital cameras and Instagram may be all the rage, analysts are betting consumers still like good old-fashioned photos. The photo developing, printing, and accessory company Shutterfly had a big holiday season, thanks for the number of holiday cards mailed, and experts believe consumers will continue to create photo books, print pictures, and create fun, photo related accessories. Last quarter shares climbed 17% and analysts expect this growth to continue, even with the holiday demand.
Although ZYNGA reported a quarterly loss, the gaming system software company beat Wall Street expectations, spurring a spike in stock price. Investors and analysts are betting that consumers and gamers will stay addicted to Words With Friends and FarmVille for a while longer. Panera Bread's income rose 34% last quarter, as the Bakery-Café's sales continued to grow. Investors believe consumers will continue to pay for higher quality, more nutritious convenience food and meals.
While the healthcare debate rages on, economists and investors are taking an ounce of prevention and investing in alternative and homeopathic remedies. Alternative medicine (think nutritional supplements and holistic healing initiatives) is a trend that will help drive the stock market this year. Green Mountain Coffee continues to dominate the K-Cup market, and that has investors feeling "perky" about this beverage in particular and the coffee industry in general.
There are a number of online resources that can help investors identify stocks to watch on daily, monthly, or quarterly basis. Google Finance, Yahoo Finance, Bloomberg News, and MSN Money are all excellent aggregate sites to help jump start your research. There are plenty of cable and financial news shows as well that focus on stock trends and identify which stocks to watch over the coming week. Finally, potential investors may want to study their own purchasing patterns. Many analysts believe that the best investing tips come from you own home. If you are buying something, chances are your friends and neighbors are too, and that can lead to big gains on the stock market.
