We recently published a list of the 12 Best Investment Websites To Research Stocks. In this article, we will look at where Barron’s stands against other best investment websites to research stocks.
Retail investors put a lot of effort into creating a solid portfolio by researching the economic climate, analyzing the latest stock market trends, learning about investing strategies, and keeping an eye on the most noteworthy moves made by smart investors and elite hedge funds. Retail investors constitute a significant section of the investing community, and they have access to many online resources that can help them navigate the volatile stock market.
According to a study by Gallup, 61% of Americans claim they own stocks as of April 2023, which is the highest percentage since 2008. This is a rebound from post-recession lows, up from 56% in 2021 and 55% in 2020. Between 2001 and 2008, stock ownership averaged 62%; however, after the financial crisis of 2007–2009, it began to drop. Moreover, demographics, education, and income all have a significant impact on ownership. Compared to just 29% of households making less than $40,000, 84% of adults in households making $100,000 or more own stocks. Likewise, over 80% of postgraduates and college graduates own equities, compared to much lower percentages of individuals without a degree. Lastly, another factor is demographics; older, married, and wealthier people tend to have higher ownership levels. Investments in individual stocks, mutual funds, and retirement accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs are included in the measure, which reveals differences in financial engagement between income and academic achievement.
Specifically, according to the 2024 Women & Investing Study by Fidelity, 71% of women own stock market investments, up 18% from 2023. Boomer and Gen X women grew at the fastest rates, at 18% and 23% annually, respectively. In just two years, the percentage of women among Fidelity’s retail clients has increased by more than 20%. By contributing an average of 10.4% of their paychecks, which is greater than the 9.5% average for women overall, 77% of Gen Z women own investments, making them the leaders in early investing. This percentage is up 6% from 2023. Even while 52% of Gen Z women get their financial advice from friends and family, 89% of them seek professional assistance. Nonetheless, there is still a confidence gap, with women almost twice as likely as men to say they know nothing about investing.
Sangeeta Moorjani, Head of Tax Exempt Market and Lifetime Engagement for Fidelity Investments stated:
“It’s encouraging to see the number of women taking control of their finances swell over the past three years,” “We know there is still work to be done – the financial confidence gap continues to persist, and women continue to report higher levels of financial stress than men – but we’ve made considerable strides. Fidelity is committed to continuing that momentum by providing access to tools, support, and education tailored to the unique financial needs of women.”
Most importantly, research is essential before making an individual stock investment, and this is where trustworthy websites for stock research would come in very handy. Determine your level of risk tolerance first. Stocks are riskier than index funds or bonds, which provide diversity. According to experts, you should only own 5%–10% of your portfolio in individual stocks. Next, learn about the business. “Never invest in a business you cannot understand,” as stated by Warren Buffett. Examine the business’s activities, offerings, and sources of income. On their investor relations websites, publicly traded firms post their annual reports, which include financial information and earnings calls. Investors should examine these reports to gain knowledge about growth and profitability.
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Methodology
To compile our list of the top websites for stock research, we based the rankings on a consensus drawn from multiple sources and Reddit discussions on the topic. Each website earned one point for every mention across the sources, and only those featured at least three times were included. Furthermore, we evaluated measurable aspects of these websites that provide significant value to users, awarding extra points for those features.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points. (see more details here)
Barron’s
Founded in 1921, Barron’s is a weekly American magazine published by Dow Jones & Company. Global market movements, financial news, and stock analysis are all covered. The website offers a Financial Advisor Directory, Buy Issues, Business Editorials, and Barron’s 400 List. Companies with notable CEOs, prominent American entrepreneurs, leading market advisors, and the top-performing elite funds are included in Barron’s Lists & Rankings.
Barron’s reported on January 21 that General Motors Company (NYSE:GM) stock increased 5% to $53.50 on Tuesday, after an optimistic research note from Deutsche Bank. General Motors Company (NYSE:GM)’s aggressive share buybacks, reorganization of its Cruise division, and efforts to reduce costs in China were the reasons given by analyst Edison Yu for upgrading the company to “Buy” with a $60 price objective. The company just repurchased $16 billion worth of stock, which is a significant move considering its market value of $55 billion. Investor optimism got a boost from President Trump’s auto industry measures.
Hotchkis & Wiley Large Cap Value Fund stated the following regarding General Motors Company (NYSE:GM) in its Q3 2024 investor letter:
“General Motors Company (NYSE:GM) is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of passenger vehicles. GM reported a strong Q2; however, management provided a cautious outlook for the second half of 2024. Comments from GM mirrored those of other OEMs and auto suppliers, leading investors to believe the automotive cycle has peaked. We believe this is an overreaction, and we continue to view GM as an attractive investment. We like GM for many reasons. First, we believe GM has leading market positions in its main business segments. Second, the valuation is extremely attractive. Finally, it is a strong free cash flow generator, and the management team is committed to repurchasing their undervalued shares.”
Natixis Global Asset Management’s Harris Associates was the largest stakeholder in the company among the funds in Insider Monkey’s database. It owns 32.37 million shares worth $1.45 billion as of Q3.
Overall, Barron’s ranks 5th on our list of the Best Investment Websites To Research Stocks. While we acknowledge the potential for GM to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than GM but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
