Popular story links this month

5 current Magic Formula stocks that look like excellent long-term dividend plays.

Several companies announced their intent to increase distributions to shareholders. I have separated the dividend raisers of the past week in three groups: dividend achievers, champions and aristocrats; master limited partnerships; and potential dividend achievers

Mariusz Skonieczny's Why Are We So Clueless about the Stock Market? is a quick read that is an excellent primer for new investors and a good refresher for experienced ones.

Detailed merger arbitrage investing analysis of COMS and HPQ complete with odds, asset allocation, stock valuation and company analysis overview.

Having now taken a peek at what Rick's has to offer the average investor, we think it best that our money is not the only thing we keep in our pants.

"In the old days any well-trained security analyst could do a good professional job of selecting undervalued issues through detailed studies; but in the light of the enormous amount of research now being carried on, I doubt whether in most cases such extensive efforts will generate sufficiently superior selections to justify their cost" (Ben Graham)

McDonald's Corp. (NYSE: MCD) is scheduled to release its fourth quarter earnings for 2009 before the market open on Friday, January 22, 2010. Analysts, on average, expect the company to report earnings of $1.02 per share on revenue of $5.93 billion.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE: GS), the fifth-biggest U.S. bank by assets, is scheduled to release its fourth quarter earnings for 2009 before the opening bell on Thursday, January 21, 2010. Analysts, on average, expect the company to report earnings of $5.19 per share on revenue of $9.75 billion.

Of the free stock spreadsheets that I offer, the net net spreadsheet has been downloaded hundreds of times and is a favorite among many people because of its ease of use. All you have to do is enter a single ticker and that’s it. Just make sure the numbers are up to date by verifying with the latest filings from the SEC.

Simply put, we have about as much interest in this stock as hog has in the hereafter.

Weekly roundup of stocks moving in and out of the Magic Formula Investing screen.

There are winners and there are champions in every walk of life. The difference is subtle, but very real. A champion is driven for success and will not let anything stand in its way. Some dividend stocks can be classified as champions.

Jeff Matthews shares his observations on the atmosphere at the recent Berkshire Hathaway special meeting.

Becton, Dickinson and Co. provides a wide range of medical devices and diagnostic products used in hospitals, doctors' offices, research labs, and other settings. Linked here is a detailed analysis and commentary.

Most casual income investors focus on current yield, which is important. However, if your objective is to build a portfolio of securities with increasing income, then Yield on Cost is an excellent metric to measure your progress.