The Dividend Daily

We got our first dose of serious earnings numbers this morning, with plenty of financial sector names making headlines. This trend will continue through the end of this week.

Looking at the winners, Goldman Sachs (GS), Comerica (CMA) and to a lesser extent, JP Morgan (JPM) appeared to be the favorites for investors, while names like Northern Trust (NTRS) and Bank of New York (BK) saw some selling on the news. Vail Mountain Resorts (MTN) shares were down following the company’s soft earnings outlook as the mild winter is having a toll on its performance.

Boeing (BA) shares fell on continued troubles with the company’s new 787 “Dreamliner” fleet. Wall Street analyst downgrades pushed some stocks into the red today, including Mead Johnson Nutrition (MJN), Starwood Hotels (HOT), and Wynn Resorts (WYNN). Finally, Apple (AAPL) shares regained the $500 mark following several technical analysts coming out and saying shares may be nearing a bottom.

Staying on Top is Easier Said Than Done

I read a story yesterday about the Senior VP of Retail for Apple (AAPL) resigning to spend more time with his family. This news piece got me thinking about how difficult it is for companies (and people) to remain on top for long periods of time.

You see, many executives that have been with Apple for a while have probably amassed some serious money. Once they hit financial nirvana, many people see their hunger and hustle begin to slow. This development can often coincide with the top for companies whose stock price has been going gangbusters for an extended period of time (see: Apple). Now it doesn’t necessarily mean the stock price will fall into the abyss, but the innovative or competitive drive could simply not be as strong. We are dealing with human nature, and whether we believe it or not, some of us begin to take the foot off the gas once certain goals are achieved.

As investors or those who are involved in growing businesses, you have to recognize these symptoms as potential determining factors of how much more upside there may be in your endeavors. If you take a look back into the past, you’ll probably notice that many of the top companies from 10-20 years ago are no longer the heavyweights they used to be. It is a rare breed of business that can continue to shine year after year, and decade after decade. We need to stay alert to how the ever-changing landscape inevitably affects us and our decisions to invest our money and our time.

Thanks for reading everybody. I’ll see you tomorrow!

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