2025 has been a tough year for many consumer-facing stocks. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH ) is no exception, with shares of this leading hotel franchisor shedding another 10% since my opening pieceI like to take a long term, buy-and-hold approach to investing, with a bias toward stocks that can sustainably post high quality earnings. Mostly found in the dividend and income section. Blog about various US/Canadian stocks at 'The Compound Investor', and predominantly UK names on 'The UK Income Investor'.A ...

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) (BRK.B) portfolio is one of the most closely watched on Wall Street. The Oracle of Omaha is a master of buy-and-hold investing, and over his 60-year tenure, he transformed the struggling textile company into a powerhouse conglomerate with a market capitalization of more than $1 trillion. Under Buffett’s leadership, Berkshire owns positions in dozens of stocks—and what he invests in matters. When Berkshire Hathaway disclosed taking a new position in UnitedHealth ...

Group 1: Investment Strategies - The article discusses the contrasting views on diversification in investing, highlighting Warren Buffett's support for index funds and diversification as a means to mitigate risk, while Mark Cuban argues against it, stating that diversification is "for idiots" [4][5][23] - A 2017 report from Cambridge Associates emphasizes that diversified portfolios tend to yield better long-term returns compared to concentrated investments, especially during market fluctuations [2] Group 2: Alternative Investment Opportunities - Real estate is presented as a viable alternative asset class for diversification, with platforms enabling easier access to the market without the burdens of property management [9][10] - Homeshares offers accredited investors access to the U.S. home equity market with a minimum investment of $25,000, providing exposure to owner-occupied homes [11] - Crowdfunding platforms like Arrived allow non-accredited investors to enter the real estate market with investments as low as $100 [12] - Commercial real estate is highlighted as a stable investment option, with First National Realty Partners (FNRP) providing access to institutional-quality investments [17][18] Group 3: Art as an Investment - Investing in blue-chip contemporary art is suggested as a unique diversification strategy, with historical performance outpacing the S&P 500 over the past 25 years [20] - Masterworks offers investors the opportunity to invest in art, reporting annualized net returns of +17.6%, +17.8%, and +21.5% from their previous sales [21] Group 4: Financial Advisory Services - The importance of having a team to support investment decisions is emphasized, with both Buffett and Cuban relying on experienced teams for guidance [23] - Advisor.com is mentioned as a platform connecting individuals with vetted financial advisors to help develop investment strategies [24][25]

Group 1 - Concerns regarding the direction of the U.S. economy have negatively impacted consumer discretionary stocks, including InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG) [1] - The investment approach favored by the company is long-term, buy-and-hold, focusing on stocks that can sustainably deliver high-quality earnings [1]

Core Viewpoint - A simple buy-and-hold investing strategy, particularly in growth stocks through ETFs, can yield significant returns over time with minimal effort [1][2]. Group 1: Investment Strategy - Investing $50,000 in an ETF that tracks growth stocks can potentially double the investment in just over seven years, assuming a long-term average return of 10% [2]. - The Vanguard Growth Index Fund ETF (VUG) is highlighted as a strong option for long-term investment, with the potential to turn a $50,000 investment into over $1 million [3][12]. Group 2: Fund Characteristics - Vanguard funds are known for low fees and excellent diversification, with the Vanguard Growth Index Fund having an expense ratio of 0.04% and a yield of around 0.4% [5]. - The ETF focuses on large growth stocks in the U.S., with technology making up nearly 60% of its holdings, which includes major companies like Apple, Nvidia, and Microsoft [6][7]. Group 3: Growth Potential - The fund could take approximately 32 years to grow a $50,000 investment to over $1 million at a 10% average annual return, with the possibility of reaching this milestone faster if returns exceed 10% [11]. - The potential for significant growth exists due to the strong performance of the stocks within the fund and its low fees, positioning it well for long-term market outperformance [12].

Group 1 - The regional bank sector has experienced a strong rally over the past three months, but uncertainty remains for bank stocks, especially for commercial-focused players like Byline Bancorp [1] - A long-term, buy-and-hold investment strategy is favored, particularly for stocks that can consistently deliver high-quality earnings, often found in the dividend and income section [1] Group 2 - The article does not provide any specific financial data or performance metrics related to Byline Bancorp or the regional bank sector [1]

Core Viewpoint - The performance of Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE: TFC) has been relatively muted compared to Wall Street banks, despite potential regulatory-driven advantages [1] Group 1: Company Performance - Truist Financial Corporation's shares have not performed as strongly as expected in the current market environment [1] Group 2: Investment Strategy - The investment approach favored is a long-term, buy-and-hold strategy, focusing on stocks that can consistently deliver high-quality earnings, particularly in the dividend and income sectors [1]

Group 1 - The article emphasizes the importance of simplicity in investment strategies, highlighting the influence of renowned investors like Warren Buffett and Peter Lynch [1] - The author identifies as a buy-and-hold investor focused on quality blue-chip stocks, Business Development Companies (BDCs), and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) [1] - The goal is to assist lower and middle-class workers in building investment portfolios that consist of high-quality, dividend-paying companies [1] Group 2 - The article serves educational purposes and encourages readers to conduct their own due diligence before making investment decisions [1] - There is a clear disclosure that the author has no current positions in any mentioned companies and does not plan to initiate any within the next 72 hours [2] - The article does not provide specific investment recommendations or guarantees regarding future performance [3]

Investment Strategies - Warren Buffett's legacy emphasizes a buy-and-hold investment strategy, focusing on exceptional stocks and minimizing impulsive trading [1] Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) - EPD has a current stock price of $32.01 with a 12-month price forecast of $36.67, indicating a 14.54% upside potential [2] - Despite missing earnings expectations, EPD reported nearly 5% year-over-year revenue growth, showcasing resilience [3] - EPD offers a high dividend yield of 6.70% with a payout ratio of 80.15%, supported by a strong balance sheet and a history of increasing distributions [4] Intuitive Machines (LUNR) - Intuitive Machines has a current stock price of $10.45 and a 12-month price forecast of $16.06, representing a 53.64% upside potential [5] - The company is positioned to become a leading provider of lunar services as NASA plans future missions [6] - Analysts recommend a long-term view, with six out of nine analysts rating LUNR as a Buy, indicating an upside potential of over 47% [7][8] Alaska Air Group (ALK) - Alaska Air Group's current stock price is $47.40, with a 12-month price forecast of $66.83, suggesting a 41.00% upside potential [9] - The company is expanding through its Alaska Accelerate initiative and aims to generate $1 billion in incremental profit by 2027 [10] - Despite a 25% decline in shares over the past year, 11 out of 12 analysts view ALK as a Buy, indicating strong future potential [11] Service Corporation International (SCI) - Service Corporation International has a current stock price of $78.43 and a 12-month price forecast of $89.25, indicating a 13.80% upside potential [13] - The death services market is expected to grow significantly as the Baby Boomer generation ages, creating increased demand for services [14] - SCI is adapting to market changes with an insurance-funded pre-need sales model and has the infrastructure to meet rising demand [15]

Group 1: Shopify - Shopify is a dominant player in the e-commerce sector, providing essential tools for businesses to set up online stores and manage backend operations [4] - The company has shown impressive growth, with a 27% year-over-year revenue increase in the first quarter [5] - Shopify Payments is a key growth driver, recently expanding to 39 markets, which is expected to enhance gross merchandise volume (GMV) [6] - Internationally, Shopify's GMV in Europe grew by 36% year-over-year in Q1, indicating strong global demand [7] - Despite a market cap of $149 billion, Shopify is targeting a $6 trillion global e-commerce market, suggesting significant growth potential [8] Group 2: Sweetgreen - Sweetgreen is experiencing challenges due to disappointing earnings and weak guidance, with same-store sales down 3.1% in Q1 [10] - The company plans to grow its unit base by approximately 16% this year, adding 40 new stores and implementing an automated kitchen system to improve efficiency [11] - Sweetgreen's average unit volume of $2.9 million is competitive with industry leaders, and its current price-to-sales ratio of 2.4 presents a potential bargain for investors [12] - The brand has long-term growth potential, and the current stock price may offer a good entry point for investors [13] Group 3: Dutch Bros - Dutch Bros is rapidly expanding its coffee shop chain, recently surpassing 1,000 stores and aiming for 2,029 by 2029 [15] - The company has a long-term goal of 7,000 stores, reflecting strong brand performance and market resonance [16] - In Q1 2025, Dutch Bros reported a 29% year-over-year revenue increase and a 4.7% rise in comparable sales, indicating strong customer engagement [17] - The company has achieved profitability with net income rising from $16.2 million to $22.5 million in Q1, despite economic challenges [18]