Todd Bunton

A U.S. default still seems unthinkable, but it is not impossible. Investors looking for some safety without fleeing the stock market altogether should consider these three ultra safe stocks... just in case.

This earnings season looks fine from a "beat/miss" perspective, but less so when you consider earnings growth. The true winners this earnings season delivered the covered "triple play."

We are just past the halfway mark for first-quarter earnings season, and if you just look at the percentage of positive earnings surprises, things have been pretty decent. However, the true winners are those who can deliver the coveted "Triple Play."

With interest rates stuck near record lows for the foreseeable future, more and more investors are looking at dividend stocks for income. But beware the siren call of high-yielding stocks.

Despite a rising stock market and nearly record low interest rates, investors continue to pull money out of stocks and into bonds. What exactly is the catalyst behind this move?

It goes without saying that the revenue and earnings of a company are very important for investors. But don't overlook a company's profit margins. They can tell an interesting story.

The "sell in May" part may be easy. But the then investors have to wonder, "and go where, exactly?"

For the global investor, this was a rough year for stocks. The U.S., based on returns, actually looked like the nicest house on a bad block.

While most people focus on a company's top and bottom lines, those in the middle - gross and operating profits - are important to keep an eye on too.

As corporate earnings continue to sharply rebound from the depths of the recession, many public companies are deciding to step up their dividend payments. Here are four stocks with great potential for huge dividend increases over the next decade.