What Bank of America Sellers & Rope-a-Dope have in Common

I still strongly favor Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) shares, but for the last couple weeks, I bet holders are feeling like an opponent of the great Muhammad Ali. The Greatest, God rest his soul, was known for wearing opponents out by making them chase him around the ring and by blocking their early barrages. Then, finally, after tiring them out, he would back up against the ropes for one last bit of exhausting trickery, before unloading on the tired out dope. Holders of Bank of America are probably feeling that same sort of exhaustion these days, especially after the last couple body blows we have taken. So is Bank of America a dope on a rope? Or, are the sellers of BAC shares here the real dopes, tired out by the volatility and now knocked out of the stock just before the big opportunity is realized? See the full story at Bank of America & Rope-a-Dope.

Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only. Editor's Note: Article should interest investors in Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC.OB), Fannie Mae (OTC: FNMA.OB), Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS), Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC), Toronto Dominion (NYSE: TD), BB&T (NYSE: BBT), CIT (NYSE: CIT), Bank United (NYSE: BKU), First Citizens (OTC: FCNCA.PK), Synovus (NYSE: SNV), United Bankshares (Nasdaq: UBSI), Hampton Roads Bankshares (Nasdaq: HMPR), WesBanco (Nasdaq: WSBC), City Holding (Nasdaq: CHCO), Sandy Spring (Nasdaq: SASR), First Citizens (OTC: FCBN.OB), SCBT Financial (Nasdaq: SCBT), Wilmington Trust (NYSE: WL), WSFS Financial (Nasdaq: WSFS), Southside Bancshares (Nasdaq: SBSI), Stellar One (Nasdaq: STEL), Union First Market (Nasdaq: UBSH), Eagle Bancorp (Nasdaq: EGBN), First Bancorp (Nasdaq: FBNC), Ameris (Nasdaq: ABCB), The Bancorp (Nasdaq: TBBK), First Community (Nasdaq: FCBC), Capital City (Nasdaq: CCBG), Financial Institutions (Nasdaq: FISI), National Bankshares (Nasdaq: NKSH), Citizens & Northern (Nasdaq: CZNC), Charter Financial (Nasdaq: CHFN), Seacoast Banking (Nasdaq: SBCF), TIB Financial (Nasdaq: TIBB), American National (Nasdaq: AMNB), United Community (Nasdaq: UCBI), Middleburg Financial (Nasdaq: MBRG), Heritage Financial (Nasdaq: HBOS), Zions Bancorp (Nasdaq: ZION), East West Bancorp (Nasdaq: EWBC), City National (NYSE: CYN), Bank of Hawaii (NYSE: BOH), SVB Financial (Nasdaq: SIVB), Westamerica (Nasdaq: WABC), Cathay General (Nasdaq: CATY), Umpqua (Nasdaq: UMPQ), Glacier Bancorp (Nasdaq: GBCI), Pacific Capital (Nasdaq: PCBC), PacWest (Nasdaq: PACW), Western Alliance (NYSE: WAL), First National Alaska (OTC: FBAK.OB), First Interstate Bancsystem (Nasdaq: FIBK), Nara (Nasdaq: NARA), West Coast (Nasdaq: WCBO), TriCo (Nasdaq: TCBK), Territorial (Nasdaq: TBNK), Washington Banking (Nasdaq: WCBO), Bank of Marin (Nasdaq: BMRC), Hanmi (Nasdaq: HAFC), PNC Bank (NYSE: PNC), J.P. Morgan Chase (NYSE: JPM), United Bankshares (Nasdaq: UBSI), Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE: BK), MB Financial (Nasdaq: MBFI), Astoria Financial (NYSE: AF), New York Community (NYSE: NYB), Hudson City (Nasdaq: HCBK), People’s United (Nasdaq: PBCT), First Niagra (Nasdaq: FNFG), Capitol Federal (Nasdaq: CFFN), Washington Federal (Nasdaq: WFSL), Investor’s Bancorp (Nasdaq: ISBC), Northwest Bankshares (Nasdaq: NWBI), Sterling Financial (Nasdaq: STSA), Ocwen (NYSE: OCN), Flagstar (NYSE: FBC), Provident (NYSE: PFS), Colombia Banking (Nasdaq: COLB), Kearny (Nasdaq: KRNY), Brookline (Nasdaq: BRKL), Dime Community (Nasdaq: DCOM), Flushing Financial (Nasdaq: FFIC), Danvers (Nasdaq: DNBK).

Bank of America – 3 Catalysts for Immediate Upside

This morning, as I contemplated my expectations for improving U.S. economic data, rising oil prices, rising interest rates and a stock market rally, I thought, how can I best leverage this? Well, as a result, I can hardly contain my enthusiasm for an established favorite stock of mine, Bank of America (NYSE: BAC). There are a slew of reasons for the stock to climb higher over the course of the year, many of which I have shared over recent months, but 3 factors are now providing immediate catalyst for gain toward last year’s high ground. See the whole story here: Bank of America - 3 Catalysts for Upside.

DISCLOSURE: Kaminis is long BAC. Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only. Editor's Note: Article should interest investors in Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC.OB), Fannie Mae (OTC: FNMA.OB), Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS), Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC), Toronto Dominion (NYSE: TD), BB&T (NYSE: BBT), CIT (NYSE: CIT), Bank United (NYSE: BKU), First Citizens (OTC: FCNCA.PK), Synovus (NYSE: SNV), United Bankshares (Nasdaq: UBSI), Hampton Roads Bankshares (Nasdaq: HMPR), WesBanco (Nasdaq: WSBC), City Holding (Nasdaq: CHCO), Sandy Spring (Nasdaq: SASR), First Citizens (OTC: FCBN.OB), SCBT Financial (Nasdaq: SCBT), Wilmington Trust (NYSE: WL), WSFS Financial (Nasdaq: WSFS), Southside Bancshares (Nasdaq: SBSI), Stellar One (Nasdaq: STEL), Union First Market (Nasdaq: UBSH), Eagle Bancorp (Nasdaq: EGBN), First Bancorp (Nasdaq: FBNC), Ameris (Nasdaq: ABCB), The Bancorp (Nasdaq: TBBK), First Community (Nasdaq: FCBC), Capital City (Nasdaq: CCBG), Financial Institutions (Nasdaq: FISI), National Bankshares (Nasdaq: NKSH), Citizens & Northern (Nasdaq: CZNC), Charter Financial (Nasdaq: CHFN), Seacoast Banking (Nasdaq: SBCF), TIB Financial (Nasdaq: TIBB), American National (Nasdaq: AMNB), United Community (Nasdaq: UCBI), Middleburg Financial (Nasdaq: MBRG), Heritage Financial (Nasdaq: HBOS), Zions Bancorp (Nasdaq: ZION), East West Bancorp (Nasdaq: EWBC), City National (NYSE: CYN), Bank of Hawaii (NYSE: BOH), SVB Financial (Nasdaq: SIVB), Westamerica (Nasdaq: WABC), Cathay General (Nasdaq: CATY), Umpqua (Nasdaq: UMPQ), Glacier Bancorp (Nasdaq: GBCI), Pacific Capital (Nasdaq: PCBC), PacWest (Nasdaq: PACW), Western Alliance (NYSE: WAL), First National Alaska (OTC: FBAK.OB), First Interstate Bancsystem (Nasdaq: FIBK), Nara (Nasdaq: NARA), West Coast (Nasdaq: WCBO), TriCo (Nasdaq: TCBK), Territorial (Nasdaq: TBNK), Washington Banking (Nasdaq: WCBO), Bank of Marin (Nasdaq: BMRC), Hanmi (Nasdaq: HAFC), PNC Bank (NYSE: PNC), J.P. Morgan Chase (NYSE: JPM), United Bankshares (Nasdaq: UBSI), Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE: BK), MB Financial (Nasdaq: MBFI), Astoria Financial (NYSE: AF), New York Community (NYSE: NYB), Hudson City (Nasdaq: HCBK), People’s United (Nasdaq: PBCT), First Niagra (Nasdaq: FNFG), Capitol Federal (Nasdaq: CFFN), Washington Federal (Nasdaq: WFSL), Investor’s Bancorp (Nasdaq: ISBC), Northwest Bankshares (Nasdaq: NWBI), Sterling Financial (Nasdaq: STSA), Ocwen (NYSE: OCN), Flagstar (NYSE: FBC), Provident (NYSE: PFS), Colombia Banking (Nasdaq: COLB), Kearny (Nasdaq: KRNY), Brookline (Nasdaq: BRKL), Dime Community (Nasdaq: DCOM), Flushing Financial (Nasdaq: FFIC), Danvers (Nasdaq: DNBK).

Bank of America - Ignore the Downgrade Says Former Wall Streeter

Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) shares received a downgrade Monday morning, but I'm advising shareholders not to give the move too much credit. As a former analyst, I know that downgrades to neutral that coincide with changes in the analyst covering the stock can be influenced by factors other than fundamentals. When such a downgrade takes a stock opinion to a "hold" or neutral view with a price target still 15% above market price, that possibility is even more likely. See the whole story at Insider Insight on Why the Downgrade of Bank of America is Unimportant.

DISCLOSURE: Kaminis is long BAC. Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only. Editor's Note: Article should interest investors in Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC.OB), Fannie Mae (OTC: FNMA.OB), Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS), Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC), Toronto Dominion (NYSE: TD), BB&T (NYSE: BBT), CIT (NYSE: CIT), Bank United (NYSE: BKU), First Citizens (OTC: FCNCA.PK), Synovus (NYSE: SNV), United Bankshares (Nasdaq: UBSI), Hampton Roads Bankshares (Nasdaq: HMPR), WesBanco (Nasdaq: WSBC), City Holding (Nasdaq: CHCO), Sandy Spring (Nasdaq: SASR), First Citizens (OTC: FCBN.OB), SCBT Financial (Nasdaq: SCBT), Wilmington Trust (NYSE: WL), WSFS Financial (Nasdaq: WSFS), Southside Bancshares (Nasdaq: SBSI), Stellar One (Nasdaq: STEL), Union First Market (Nasdaq: UBSH), Eagle Bancorp (Nasdaq: EGBN), First Bancorp (Nasdaq: FBNC), Ameris (Nasdaq: ABCB), The Bancorp (Nasdaq: TBBK), First Community (Nasdaq: FCBC), Capital City (Nasdaq: CCBG), Financial Institutions (Nasdaq: FISI), National Bankshares (Nasdaq: NKSH), Citizens & Northern (Nasdaq: CZNC), Charter Financial (Nasdaq: CHFN), Seacoast Banking (Nasdaq: SBCF), TIB Financial (Nasdaq: TIBB), American National (Nasdaq: AMNB), United Community (Nasdaq: UCBI), Middleburg Financial (Nasdaq: MBRG), Heritage Financial (Nasdaq: HBOS), Zions Bancorp (Nasdaq: ZION), East West Bancorp (Nasdaq: EWBC), City National (NYSE: CYN), Bank of Hawaii (NYSE: BOH), SVB Financial (Nasdaq: SIVB), Westamerica (Nasdaq: WABC), Cathay General (Nasdaq: CATY), Umpqua (Nasdaq: UMPQ), Glacier Bancorp (Nasdaq: GBCI), Pacific Capital (Nasdaq: PCBC), PacWest (Nasdaq: PACW), Western Alliance (NYSE: WAL), First National Alaska (OTC: FBAK.OB), First Interstate Bancsystem (Nasdaq: FIBK), Nara (Nasdaq: NARA), West Coast (Nasdaq: WCBO), TriCo (Nasdaq: TCBK), Territorial (Nasdaq: TBNK), Washington Banking (Nasdaq: WCBO), Bank of Marin (Nasdaq: BMRC), Hanmi (Nasdaq: HAFC), PNC Bank (NYSE: PNC), J.P. Morgan Chase (NYSE: JPM), United Bankshares (Nasdaq: UBSI), Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE: BK), MB Financial (Nasdaq: MBFI), Astoria Financial (NYSE: AF), New York Community (NYSE: NYB), Hudson City (Nasdaq: HCBK), People’s United (Nasdaq: PBCT), First Niagra (Nasdaq: FNFG), Capitol Federal (Nasdaq: CFFN), Washington Federal (Nasdaq: WFSL), Investor’s Bancorp (Nasdaq: ISBC), Northwest Bankshares (Nasdaq: NWBI), Sterling Financial (Nasdaq: STSA), Ocwen (NYSE: OCN), Flagstar (NYSE: FBC), Provident (NYSE: PFS), Colombia Banking (Nasdaq: COLB), Kearny (Nasdaq: KRNY), Brookline (Nasdaq: BRKL), Dime Community (Nasdaq: DCOM), Flushing Financial (Nasdaq: FFIC), Danvers (Nasdaq: DNBK).

Bank of America EPS Preview – Don’t Fear the Reaper

Heading into its earnings report, Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) holders and prospectors may fear the reaper so to speak. The bank’s earnings estimates have been cut significantly over the last 90 days, mostly due to altered interest rate expectations. However, I anticipate the Fed’s tightening rate trajectory is still intact, and expanding net interest margins will come. Also, the major consumer lender may be feeling some pressure of late due to February economic data, but I believe there is an anomalous cause for that. The latest GDP estimates are reflecting February’s softness and so are BAC shares apparently, but I believe March will show better. I suggest Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) holders look past the period and sit tight, and those seeking entry find value here. So don’t fear the reaper as the company reports its earnings this week. Better days are ahead. See the full story at Bank of America Q1 Preview - Don't Fear the Reaper.

Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only. Editor's Note: Article should interest investors in Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC.OB), Fannie Mae (OTC: FNMA.OB), Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS), Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC), Toronto Dominion (NYSE: TD), BB&T (NYSE: BBT), CIT (NYSE: CIT), Bank United (NYSE: BKU), First Citizens (OTC: FCNCA.PK), Synovus (NYSE: SNV), United Bankshares (Nasdaq: UBSI), Hampton Roads Bankshares (Nasdaq: HMPR), WesBanco (Nasdaq: WSBC), City Holding (Nasdaq: CHCO), Sandy Spring (Nasdaq: SASR), First Citizens (OTC: FCBN.OB), SCBT Financial (Nasdaq: SCBT), Wilmington Trust (NYSE: WL), WSFS Financial (Nasdaq: WSFS), Southside Bancshares (Nasdaq: SBSI), Stellar One (Nasdaq: STEL), Union First Market (Nasdaq: UBSH), Eagle Bancorp (Nasdaq: EGBN), First Bancorp (Nasdaq: FBNC), Ameris (Nasdaq: ABCB), The Bancorp (Nasdaq: TBBK), First Community (Nasdaq: FCBC), Capital City (Nasdaq: CCBG), Financial Institutions (Nasdaq: FISI), National Bankshares (Nasdaq: NKSH), Citizens & Northern (Nasdaq: CZNC), Charter Financial (Nasdaq: CHFN), Seacoast Banking (Nasdaq: SBCF), TIB Financial (Nasdaq: TIBB), American National (Nasdaq: AMNB), United Community (Nasdaq: UCBI), Middleburg Financial (Nasdaq: MBRG), Heritage Financial (Nasdaq: HBOS), Zions Bancorp (Nasdaq: ZION), East West Bancorp (Nasdaq: EWBC), City National (NYSE: CYN), Bank of Hawaii (NYSE: BOH), SVB Financial (Nasdaq: SIVB), Westamerica (Nasdaq: WABC), Cathay General (Nasdaq: CATY), Umpqua (Nasdaq: UMPQ), Glacier Bancorp (Nasdaq: GBCI), Pacific Capital (Nasdaq: PCBC), PacWest (Nasdaq: PACW), Western Alliance (NYSE: WAL), First National Alaska (OTC: FBAK.OB), First Interstate Bancsystem (Nasdaq: FIBK), Nara (Nasdaq: NARA), West Coast (Nasdaq: WCBO), TriCo (Nasdaq: TCBK), Territorial (Nasdaq: TBNK), Washington Banking (Nasdaq: WCBO), Bank of Marin (Nasdaq: BMRC), Hanmi (Nasdaq: HAFC), PNC Bank (NYSE: PNC), J.P. Morgan Chase (NYSE: JPM), United Bankshares (Nasdaq: UBSI), Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE: BK), MB Financial (Nasdaq: MBFI), Astoria Financial (NYSE: AF), New York Community (NYSE: NYB), Hudson City (Nasdaq: HCBK), People’s United (Nasdaq: PBCT), First Niagra (Nasdaq: FNFG), Capitol Federal (Nasdaq: CFFN), Washington Federal (Nasdaq: WFSL), Investor’s Bancorp (Nasdaq: ISBC), Northwest Bankshares (Nasdaq: NWBI), Sterling Financial (Nasdaq: STSA), Ocwen (NYSE: OCN), Flagstar (NYSE: FBC), Provident (NYSE: PFS), Colombia Banking (Nasdaq: COLB), Kearny (Nasdaq: KRNY), Brookline (Nasdaq: BRKL), Dime Community (Nasdaq: DCOM), Flushing Financial (Nasdaq: FFIC), Danvers (Nasdaq: DNBK).

Bank of America & the Big Bad Fed Fairytale

Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) sold off Tuesday, likely due to the media and market interpretation of Fed Chair Yellen’s speech. It has been portrayed as extremely dovish, which portends a poor interest rate outlook for the bank and its net interest margin. It’s a factor that could weigh against the stock long-term if it were to persist. Luckily, I believe the Fed perspective and the tone of its Fed Chair will turn in BAC’s favor over the next two months as her cause of concern is cleared up. So, I’m suggesting investors buy BAC on any weakness caused by a seemingly softer Fed perspective. It is a fairytale. See more of this report on Bank of America shares here.

Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only. Editor's Note: Article should interest investors in Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC.OB), Fannie Mae (OTC: FNMA.OB), Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS), Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC), Toronto Dominion (NYSE: TD), BB&T (NYSE: BBT), CIT (NYSE: CIT), Bank United (NYSE: BKU), First Citizens (OTC: FCNCA.PK), Synovus (NYSE: SNV), United Bankshares (Nasdaq: UBSI), Hampton Roads Bankshares (Nasdaq: HMPR), WesBanco (Nasdaq: WSBC), City Holding (Nasdaq: CHCO), Sandy Spring (Nasdaq: SASR), First Citizens (OTC: FCBN.OB), SCBT Financial (Nasdaq: SCBT), Wilmington Trust (NYSE: WL), WSFS Financial (Nasdaq: WSFS), Southside Bancshares (Nasdaq: SBSI), Stellar One (Nasdaq: STEL), Union First Market (Nasdaq: UBSH), Eagle Bancorp (Nasdaq: EGBN), First Bancorp (Nasdaq: FBNC), Ameris (Nasdaq: ABCB), The Bancorp (Nasdaq: TBBK), First Community (Nasdaq: FCBC), Capital City (Nasdaq: CCBG), Financial Institutions (Nasdaq: FISI), National Bankshares (Nasdaq: NKSH), Citizens & Northern (Nasdaq: CZNC), Charter Financial (Nasdaq: CHFN), Seacoast Banking (Nasdaq: SBCF), TIB Financial (Nasdaq: TIBB), American National (Nasdaq: AMNB), United Community (Nasdaq: UCBI), Middleburg Financial (Nasdaq: MBRG), Heritage Financial (Nasdaq: HBOS), Zions Bancorp (Nasdaq: ZION), East West Bancorp (Nasdaq: EWBC), City National (NYSE: CYN), Bank of Hawaii (NYSE: BOH), SVB Financial (Nasdaq: SIVB), Westamerica (Nasdaq: WABC), Cathay General (Nasdaq: CATY), Umpqua (Nasdaq: UMPQ), Glacier Bancorp (Nasdaq: GBCI), Pacific Capital (Nasdaq: PCBC), PacWest (Nasdaq: PACW), Western Alliance (NYSE: WAL), First National Alaska (OTC: FBAK.OB), First Interstate Bancsystem (Nasdaq: FIBK), Nara (Nasdaq: NARA), West Coast (Nasdaq: WCBO), TriCo (Nasdaq: TCBK), Territorial (Nasdaq: TBNK), Washington Banking (Nasdaq: WCBO), Bank of Marin (Nasdaq: BMRC), Hanmi (Nasdaq: HAFC), PNC Bank (NYSE: PNC), J.P. Morgan Chase (NYSE: JPM), United Bankshares (Nasdaq: UBSI), Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE: BK), MB Financial (Nasdaq: MBFI), Astoria Financial (NYSE: AF), New York Community (NYSE: NYB), Hudson City (Nasdaq: HCBK), People’s United (Nasdaq: PBCT), First Niagra (Nasdaq: FNFG), Capitol Federal (Nasdaq: CFFN), Washington Federal (Nasdaq: WFSL), Investor’s Bancorp (Nasdaq: ISBC), Northwest Bankshares (Nasdaq: NWBI), Sterling Financial (Nasdaq: STSA), Ocwen (NYSE: OCN), Flagstar (NYSE: FBC), Provident (NYSE: PFS), Colombia Banking (Nasdaq: COLB), Kearny (Nasdaq: KRNY), Brookline (Nasdaq: BRKL), Dime Community (Nasdaq: DCOM), Flushing Financial (Nasdaq: FFIC), Danvers (Nasdaq: DNBK).

Buy AT&T on Any Fed Fairytale

AT&T (NYSE: T) is underperforming the market today, as are utilities more broadly. It’s on a macro issue or beta-driver that I believe will be undone before long. The nascent risk-on race for stocks is being fueled by a favorable media and market interpretation of Fed Chair Yellen’s speech Tuesday. If it continues, it could start to pull capital from safe haven sectors like utilities (and telecom) in order to put it to work in riskier areas. However, this leg of the rally is based on a fairytale, in my opinion, fueled by faulty Fed expectations and economic softness, driven not by substance but by a negative feedback loop (read this). As March data reaches the wire next month, I expect its strength will paint a different picture that will change the Fed Chair’s tune once again, serving AT&T again. So, any weakness we see in AT&T and its telecommunications and utility brethren near-term should be bought in my view, as any lost capital will come back quickly. That should be limited for AT&T anyway, given the stock’s dividend payout and near-term dividend record date, which holders will at least wait for. See more of this report about AT&T shares here.

Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only. Editor’s Note: This article should interest investors in Alaska Communications Systems Group (Nasdaq: ALSK), AT&T (NYSE: T), Atlantic Tele-Network (Nasdaq: ATNI), BCE Inc. (NYSE: BCE), CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL), Chunghwa Telecom (NYSE: CHT), Cincinnati Bell (NYSE: CBB), Consolidated Communications (Nasdaq: CNSL), eOn Communications (Nasdaq: EONC), Equinix (Nasdaq: EQIX), FairPoint Communications (Nasdaq: FRP), Frontier Communications (Nasdaq: FTR), Hickory Tech (Nasdaq: HTCO), IA Global (OTC: IAGI.PK), magicJack VocalTec (Nasdaq: CALL), Shenandoah Telecommunications (Nasdaq: SHEN), SureWest Communications (Nasdaq: SURW), tw telecom (Nasdaq: TWTC), UniTek Global Services (Nasdaq: UNTK), Verizon (NYSE: VZ), Vonage (NYSE: VG), Warwick Valley Telephone (Nasdaq: WWVY) and Windstream Corp. (Nasdaq: WIN).

Bank of America – Prepare to Bear Another Oil Spoil

Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) shares have come a good distance from their mid-February trough, along with the broader market and oil prices. While I continue to favor Bank of America shares for the long-term, holders should prepare to bear another oil price swoon near-term. However, if BAC shares are impacted, it would mark another buying opportunity to participate in the appreciation I see for the financial sector and this stock ahead. See the full warning for Bank of America & oil near-term.

Big Bank	% of Loans to Energy	% of Reserves to Energy Loans
Bank of America (NYSE: BAC)	2.4%	2.3%
Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS)	5.0%	3.0%
Citigroup (NYSE: C)	3.3%	3.0%
J.P. Morgan Chase (NYSE: JPM)	1.6%	4.0%

Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only. Editor's Note: Article should interest investors in Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC.OB), Fannie Mae (OTC: FNMA.OB), Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS), Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC), Toronto Dominion (NYSE: TD), BB&T (NYSE: BBT), CIT (NYSE: CIT), Bank United (NYSE: BKU), First Citizens (OTC: FCNCA.PK), Synovus (NYSE: SNV), United Bankshares (Nasdaq: UBSI), Hampton Roads Bankshares (Nasdaq: HMPR), WesBanco (Nasdaq: WSBC), City Holding (Nasdaq: CHCO), Sandy Spring (Nasdaq: SASR), First Citizens (OTC: FCBN.OB), SCBT Financial (Nasdaq: SCBT), Wilmington Trust (NYSE: WL), WSFS Financial (Nasdaq: WSFS), Southside Bancshares (Nasdaq: SBSI), Stellar One (Nasdaq: STEL), Union First Market (Nasdaq: UBSH), Eagle Bancorp (Nasdaq: EGBN), First Bancorp (Nasdaq: FBNC), Ameris (Nasdaq: ABCB), The Bancorp (Nasdaq: TBBK), First Community (Nasdaq: FCBC), Capital City (Nasdaq: CCBG), Financial Institutions (Nasdaq: FISI), National Bankshares (Nasdaq: NKSH), Citizens & Northern (Nasdaq: CZNC), Charter Financial (Nasdaq: CHFN), Seacoast Banking (Nasdaq: SBCF), TIB Financial (Nasdaq: TIBB), American National (Nasdaq: AMNB), United Community (Nasdaq: UCBI), Middleburg Financial (Nasdaq: MBRG), Heritage Financial (Nasdaq: HBOS), Zions Bancorp (Nasdaq: ZION), East West Bancorp (Nasdaq: EWBC), City National (NYSE: CYN), Bank of Hawaii (NYSE: BOH), SVB Financial (Nasdaq: SIVB), Westamerica (Nasdaq: WABC), Cathay General (Nasdaq: CATY), Umpqua (Nasdaq: UMPQ), Glacier Bancorp (Nasdaq: GBCI), Pacific Capital (Nasdaq: PCBC), PacWest (Nasdaq: PACW), Western Alliance (NYSE: WAL), First National Alaska (OTC: FBAK.OB), First Interstate Bancsystem (Nasdaq: FIBK), Nara (Nasdaq: NARA), West Coast (Nasdaq: WCBO), TriCo (Nasdaq: TCBK), Territorial (Nasdaq: TBNK), Washington Banking (Nasdaq: WCBO), Bank of Marin (Nasdaq: BMRC), Hanmi (Nasdaq: HAFC), PNC Bank (NYSE: PNC), J.P. Morgan Chase (NYSE: JPM), United Bankshares (Nasdaq: UBSI), Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE: BK), MB Financial (Nasdaq: MBFI), Astoria Financial (NYSE: AF), New York Community (NYSE: NYB), Hudson City (Nasdaq: HCBK), People’s United (Nasdaq: PBCT), First Niagra (Nasdaq: FNFG), Capitol Federal (Nasdaq: CFFN), Washington Federal (Nasdaq: WFSL), Investor’s Bancorp (Nasdaq: ISBC), Northwest Bankshares (Nasdaq: NWBI), Sterling Financial (Nasdaq: STSA), Ocwen (NYSE: OCN), Flagstar (NYSE: FBC), Provident (NYSE: PFS), Colombia Banking (Nasdaq: COLB), Kearny (Nasdaq: KRNY), Brookline (Nasdaq: BRKL), Dime Community (Nasdaq: DCOM), Flushing Financial (Nasdaq: FFIC), Danvers (Nasdaq: DNBK).

Sell Stocks Right Now

The shocking terrorist attacks in Brussels are raising concern about Europe, firing up relative dollar strength, and turning back oil prices – that is enough to stop the nascent stock market rally. I’m suggesting investors raise cash, buy volatility hedges and seek safety in utilities. On the day of the events in Brussels, equities in the U.S. seemed to brush it off. However, it has become apparent to me that the courage of U.S. equity holders could be lost if oil declines near-term as I suspect it will. Here’s what I see happening. See the full warning to sell stocks now right here.

Security Sector	03-23-16 Late PM
SPDR S&P 500 (NYSE: SPY)	-0.7%
SPDR Dow Jones (NYSE: DIA)	-0.5%
PowerShares QQQ (Nasdaq: QQQ)	-0.9%
iShares Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM)	-1.5%
Vanguard Total Stock Market (NYSE: VTI)	-0.8%
Financial Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLF)	-0.6%
Technology Select Sector SPDR (Nasdaq: XLK)	-0.6%
Energy Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLE)	-2.3%
Health Care Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLV)	-0.7%
Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR (NYSE:  XLY)	-0.7%
Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLP)	-0.0%
Utilities Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLU)	+0.7%
Materials Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLB)	-1.4%
Industrial Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLI)	-0.7%
iPath S&P 500 VIX ST Futures (NYSE: VXX)	+4.2%
SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE: GLD)	-2.1%
United States Oil (NYSE: USO)	-4.2%

Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only. Article should interest investors in SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average (NYSE: DIA), SPDR S&P 500 (NYSE: SPY), PowerShares QQQ Trust (Nasdaq: QQQ), ProShares Short Dow 30 (NYSE: DOG), ProShares Ultra Short S&P 500 (NYSE: SDS), ProShares Ultra QQQ (NYSE: QLD), NYSE Euronext (NYSE: NYX), The NASDAQ OMX Group (Nasdaq: NDAQ), Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE: ICE), E*Trade Financial (Nasdaq: ETFC), Charles Schwab (Nasdaq: SCHW), Asset Acceptance Capital (Nasdaq: AACC), Affiliated Managers (NYSE: AMG), Ameriprise Financial (NYSE: AMP), TD Ameritrade (Nasdaq: AMTD), BGC Partners (Nasdaq: BGCP), Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE: BK), BlackRock (NYSE: BLK), CIT Group (NYSE: CIT), Calamos Asset Management (Nasdaq: CLMS), CME Group (NYSE: CME), Cohn & Steers (NYSE: CNS), Cowen Group (Nasdaq: COWN), Diamond Hill Investment (Nasdaq: DHIL), Dollar Financial (Nasdaq: DLLR), Duff & Phelps (Nasdaq: DUF), Encore Capital (Nasdaq: ECPG), Edelman Financial (Nasdaq: EF), Equifax (NYSE: EFX), Epoch (Nasdaq: EPHC), Evercore Partners (NYSE: EVR), EXCorp. (Nasdaq: EZPW), FBR Capital Markets (Nasdaq: FBCM), First Cash Financial (Nasdaq: FCFS), Federated Investors (NYSE: FII), First Marblehead (NYSE: FMD), Fidelity National Financial (NYSE: FNF), Financial Engines (Nasdaq: FNGN), FXCM (Nasdaq: FXCM), Gamco Investors (NYSE: GBL), GAIN Capital (Nasdaq: GCAP), Green Dot (Nasdaq: GDOT), GFI Group (Nasdaq: GFIG), Greenhill (NYSE: GHL), Gleacher (Nasdaq: GLCH), Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), Interactive Brokers (Nasdaq: IBKR), INTL FCStone (Nasdaq: INTL), Intersections (Nasdaq: INTX), Investment Technology (NYSE: ITG), Invesco (NYSE: IVZ), Jefferies (NYSE: JEF), JMP Group (NYSE: JMP), Janus Capital (NYSE: JNS), KBW (NYSE: KBW), Knight Capital (NYSE: KCG), Lazard (NYSE: LAZ), Legg Mason (NYSE: LM), LPL Investment (Nasdaq: LPLA), Ladenburg Thalmann (AMEX: LTS), Mastercard (NYSE: MA), Moody’s (NYSE: MCO), MF Global (NYSE: MF), Moneygram (NYSE: MGI), MarketAxess (Nasdaq: MKTX), Marlin Business Services (Nasdaq: MRLN), Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS), MSCI (Nasdaq: MSCI), MGIC Investment (NYSE: MTG), NewStar Financial (Nasdaq: NEWS), National Financial Partners (NYSE: NFP), Nelnet (NYSE: NNI), Northern Trust (Nasdaq: NTRS), NetSpend (Nasdaq: NTSP), Ocwen Financial (NYSE: OCN), Oppenheimer (NYSE: OPY), optionsXpress (Nasdaq: OXPS), PICO (Nasdaq: PICO), Piper Jaffray (NYSE: PJC), PMI Group (NYSE: PMI), Penson Worldwide (Nasdaq: PNSN), Portfolio Recovery (Nasdaq: PRAA), Raymond James (NYSE: RJF), SEI Investments (Nasdaq: SEIC), Stifel Financial (NYSE: SF), Safeguard Scientifics (NYSE: SFE), State Street (NYSE: STT), SWS (NYSE: SWS), T. Rowe Price (Nasdaq: TROW), Visa (NYSE: V) and Virtus Investment Partners (Nasdaq: VRTS).

For Bank of America (BAC), Goldilocks Thinks the Fed was Just Right

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting last week was important for Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) holders, but in a more complex manner than may have been expected. The Fed’s rate policy plans are critically important to the profit margins of the bank. However, the health of the American economy is even more important. That’s why the actions and statements of the Fed really produced the best result for BAC. Call it a Goldilocks type result, because the Fed backed off the brakes enough to ensure the economy continues to grow but at the same time it continues to anticipate two rate hikes this year and four next year. That’s why I say Goldilocks would call the Fed’s actions just right for Bank of America today. See more of this stock report on Bank of America here.

Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only. Editor's Note: Article should interest investors in Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC.OB), Fannie Mae (OTC: FNMA.OB), Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS), Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC), Toronto Dominion (NYSE: TD), BB&T (NYSE: BBT), CIT (NYSE: CIT), Bank United (NYSE: BKU), First Citizens (OTC: FCNCA.PK), Synovus (NYSE: SNV), United Bankshares (Nasdaq: UBSI), Hampton Roads Bankshares (Nasdaq: HMPR), WesBanco (Nasdaq: WSBC), City Holding (Nasdaq: CHCO), Sandy Spring (Nasdaq: SASR), First Citizens (OTC: FCBN.OB), SCBT Financial (Nasdaq: SCBT), Wilmington Trust (NYSE: WL), WSFS Financial (Nasdaq: WSFS), Southside Bancshares (Nasdaq: SBSI), Stellar One (Nasdaq: STEL), Union First Market (Nasdaq: UBSH), Eagle Bancorp (Nasdaq: EGBN), First Bancorp (Nasdaq: FBNC), Ameris (Nasdaq: ABCB), The Bancorp (Nasdaq: TBBK), First Community (Nasdaq: FCBC), Capital City (Nasdaq: CCBG), Financial Institutions (Nasdaq: FISI), National Bankshares (Nasdaq: NKSH), Citizens & Northern (Nasdaq: CZNC), Charter Financial (Nasdaq: CHFN), Seacoast Banking (Nasdaq: SBCF), TIB Financial (Nasdaq: TIBB), American National (Nasdaq: AMNB), United Community (Nasdaq: UCBI), Middleburg Financial (Nasdaq: MBRG), Heritage Financial (Nasdaq: HBOS), Zions Bancorp (Nasdaq: ZION), East West Bancorp (Nasdaq: EWBC), City National (NYSE: CYN), Bank of Hawaii (NYSE: BOH), SVB Financial (Nasdaq: SIVB), Westamerica (Nasdaq: WABC), Cathay General (Nasdaq: CATY), Umpqua (Nasdaq: UMPQ), Glacier Bancorp (Nasdaq: GBCI), Pacific Capital (Nasdaq: PCBC), PacWest (Nasdaq: PACW), Western Alliance (NYSE: WAL), First National Alaska (OTC: FBAK.OB), First Interstate Bancsystem (Nasdaq: FIBK), Nara (Nasdaq: NARA), West Coast (Nasdaq: WCBO), TriCo (Nasdaq: TCBK), Territorial (Nasdaq: TBNK), Washington Banking (Nasdaq: WCBO), Bank of Marin (Nasdaq: BMRC), Hanmi (Nasdaq: HAFC), PNC Bank (NYSE: PNC), J.P. Morgan Chase (NYSE: JPM), United Bankshares (Nasdaq: UBSI), Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE: BK), MB Financial (Nasdaq: MBFI), Astoria Financial (NYSE: AF), New York Community (NYSE: NYB), Hudson City (Nasdaq: HCBK), People’s United (Nasdaq: PBCT), First Niagra (Nasdaq: FNFG), Capitol Federal (Nasdaq: CFFN), Washington Federal (Nasdaq: WFSL), Investor’s Bancorp (Nasdaq: ISBC), Northwest Bankshares (Nasdaq: NWBI), Sterling Financial (Nasdaq: STSA), Ocwen (NYSE: OCN), Flagstar (NYSE: FBC), Provident (NYSE: PFS), Colombia Banking (Nasdaq: COLB), Kearny (Nasdaq: KRNY), Brookline (Nasdaq: BRKL), Dime Community (Nasdaq: DCOM), Flushing Financial (Nasdaq: FFIC), Danvers (Nasdaq: DNBK).

Apple Event – A Surprise in Store?

Just because Apple’s (Nasdaq: AAPL) interim event does not typically involve a major new product announcement does not mean it cannot. Apple shares have been beaten down significantly due to concerns about China and Apple’s business into China. The company is also between major new iPhone refreshment, and its latest endeavors, Apple Pay and the Apple Watch, have not been major game changers thus far. For all these reasons, the already cheap value AAPL presents became cheaper this year. But what if Apple rolls a car out onto the stage today and talks about an auto play. Or what if Apple turns a light on, and talks about its effort into home automation? Yeah, the market is not ready for it, and it would shock the stock significantly to the upside. Investors have to own Apple now, and traders could regret not owning it as well. What's the worst that can happen? The market gets what it expects to get, and you still own a market share leader and mankind driver at a deep discount to growth and paying a dividend better than you'll get at the bank. What's the best case? Apple surprises the market and the stock soars.

DISCLOSURE: Kaminis is long AAPL. Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only. Article interests investors in: Google (Nasdaq: GOOG), Google (Nasdaq: GOOGL), Facebook (Nasdaq: FB), Netflix (Nasdaq: NFLX), Tesla (Nasdaq: TSLA), Amazon (Nasdaq: AMZN), S&P Retail ETF (NYSE: XRT), Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT), Pier 1 Imports (NYSE: PIR), Ethan Allen (NYSE: ETH), Hooker Furniture (Nasdaq: HOFT), Home Depot (NYSE: HD), Lowes (NYSE: LOW), Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL), Best Buy (NYSE: BBY), The Limited (NYSE: LTD), Chicos (NYSE: CHS), Ann Taylor (NYSE: ANN), The Gap (NYSE: GPS), Macy’s (NYSE: M), JC Penney (NYSE: JCP), Nordstrom (NYSE: JWN), TJX Company (NYSE: TJX), Kohls (NYSE: KSS), Costco (Nasdaq: COST), Target (NYSE: TGT), Wet Seal (Nasdaq: WTSLA), Hot Topic (Nasdaq: HOTT), American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE: AEO), Aeropostale (NYSE: ARO), Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE: ANF), Saks (NYSE: SAK), Tiffany (NYSE: TIF), Talbots (NYSE: TLB), Lumber Liquidators (NYSE: LL), Builders Firstsource (Nasdaq: BLDR), Fortune Brands (NYSE: FO), Leggett & Platt (NYSE: LEG), Tempur-Pedic International (NYSE: TPX), Acuity Brands (NYSE: AYI), La-Z-Boy (NYSE: LZB), Select Comfort (Nasdaq: SCSS), Sleepy’s (NYSE: ZZ), Furniture Brands (NYSE: FBN), Natuzzi (NYSE: NTZ), Sears (Nasdaq: SHLD), Dillard’s (NYSE: DDS), Bon-Ton (Nasdaq: BONT), Cost Plus (Nasdaq: CPWM), Baker’s Footwear (Nasdaq: BKRS.OB), Bebe Stores (Nasdaq: BEBE), The Buckle (NYSE: BKE), Cache (Nasdaq: CACH), Casual Male (Nasdaq: CMRG), Cato (Nasdaq: CATO), Christopher & Banks (NYSE: CBK), Citi Trends (Nasdaq: CTRN), Collective Brands (NYSE: PSS), Destination Maternity (Nasdaq: DEST), Dress Barn (Nasdaq: DBRN), DSW (NYSE: DSW), Finish Line (Nasdaq: FINL), Footlocker (NYSE: FL), Gymboree (Nasdaq: GYMB), Guess (NYSE: GES), J. Crew (NYSE: JCG), Jones New York (NYSE: JNY), Jos. A Banks (Nasdaq: JOSB), New York & Co. (NYSE: NWY), Men’s Wearhouse (NYSE: MW), Syms (Nasdaq: SYMS), The Children’s Place (Nasdaq: PLCE).

How the ECB Just Helped Bank of America (BAC)

You would not think the European Central Bank (ECB) could impact the shares of an American bank, but I believe the ECB just did. While most of what the ECB has been up to has recently served as an indirect hindrance to U.S. banks including Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), two things it did this past week helped BAC importantly. See A Positive Change for Bank of America Shares here.

Security	03-11-16
Bank of America (NYSE: BAC)	+3.9%
Financial Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLF)	+2.6%
SPDR S&P 500 (NYSE: SPY)	+1.6%

DISCLOSURE: Kaminis is long BAC. Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only. Editor's Note: Article should interest investors in Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC.OB), Fannie Mae (OTC: FNMA.OB), Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS), Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC), Toronto Dominion (NYSE: TD), BB&T (NYSE: BBT), CIT (NYSE: CIT), Bank United (NYSE: BKU), First Citizens (OTC: FCNCA.PK), Synovus (NYSE: SNV), United Bankshares (Nasdaq: UBSI), Hampton Roads Bankshares (Nasdaq: HMPR), WesBanco (Nasdaq: WSBC), City Holding (Nasdaq: CHCO), Sandy Spring (Nasdaq: SASR), First Citizens (OTC: FCBN.OB), SCBT Financial (Nasdaq: SCBT), Wilmington Trust (NYSE: WL), WSFS Financial (Nasdaq: WSFS), Southside Bancshares (Nasdaq: SBSI), Stellar One (Nasdaq: STEL), Union First Market (Nasdaq: UBSH), Eagle Bancorp (Nasdaq: EGBN), First Bancorp (Nasdaq: FBNC), Ameris (Nasdaq: ABCB), The Bancorp (Nasdaq: TBBK), First Community (Nasdaq: FCBC), Capital City (Nasdaq: CCBG), Financial Institutions (Nasdaq: FISI), National Bankshares (Nasdaq: NKSH), Citizens & Northern (Nasdaq: CZNC), Charter Financial (Nasdaq: CHFN), Seacoast Banking (Nasdaq: SBCF), TIB Financial (Nasdaq: TIBB), American National (Nasdaq: AMNB), United Community (Nasdaq: UCBI), Middleburg Financial (Nasdaq: MBRG), Heritage Financial (Nasdaq: HBOS), Zions Bancorp (Nasdaq: ZION), East West Bancorp (Nasdaq: EWBC), City National (NYSE: CYN), Bank of Hawaii (NYSE: BOH), SVB Financial (Nasdaq: SIVB), Westamerica (Nasdaq: WABC), Cathay General (Nasdaq: CATY), Umpqua (Nasdaq: UMPQ), Glacier Bancorp (Nasdaq: GBCI), Pacific Capital (Nasdaq: PCBC), PacWest (Nasdaq: PACW), Western Alliance (NYSE: WAL), First National Alaska (OTC: FBAK.OB), First Interstate Bancsystem (Nasdaq: FIBK), Nara (Nasdaq: NARA), West Coast (Nasdaq: WCBO), TriCo (Nasdaq: TCBK), Territorial (Nasdaq: TBNK), Washington Banking (Nasdaq: WCBO), Bank of Marin (Nasdaq: BMRC), Hanmi (Nasdaq: HAFC), PNC Bank (NYSE: PNC), J.P. Morgan Chase (NYSE: JPM), United Bankshares (Nasdaq: UBSI), Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE: BK), MB Financial (Nasdaq: MBFI), Astoria Financial (NYSE: AF), New York Community (NYSE: NYB), Hudson City (Nasdaq: HCBK), People’s United (Nasdaq: PBCT), First Niagra (Nasdaq: FNFG), Capitol Federal (Nasdaq: CFFN), Washington Federal (Nasdaq: WFSL), Investor’s Bancorp (Nasdaq: ISBC), Northwest Bankshares (Nasdaq: NWBI), Sterling Financial (Nasdaq: STSA), Ocwen (NYSE: OCN), Flagstar (NYSE: FBC), Provident (NYSE: PFS), Colombia Banking (Nasdaq: COLB), Kearny (Nasdaq: KRNY), Brookline (Nasdaq: BRKL), Dime Community (Nasdaq: DCOM), Flushing Financial (Nasdaq: FFIC), Danvers (Nasdaq: DNBK).

Buy Bank of America on Every Oil Dip

Photo property of WallStreetGreek.com

Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) shares were dipping with oil again as I started this report on Tuesday… and I was salivating. Every time the cyclical big bank is penalized by dips in energy prices it should be bought. It is an egregious exaggeration for BAC shares to be penalized by 3.5% on an oil decline in kind. Yes, the bank bears risk to energy companies and energy relative regions of the country, but that risk is limited and the bank is a national lender with much broader exposure than that. And there is opportunity for it in the growing U.S. national economy, with expanding employment and relatively lower gasoline prices serving consumers. And let’s not forget to mention an interest rate outlook that I believe still favors it, though that fact is still not perfectly understood by markets. Given its deep discount to a growing book value, I find it irresistible. Plus, you’ll get paid a 1.5% dividend yield while you wait for the stock to get its due recognition. See the full report on why Buy Bank of America on Every Oil Induced Dip.

DISCLOSURE: Kaminis is long BAC. Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only. Editor's Note: Article should interest investors in Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC.OB), Fannie Mae (OTC: FNMA.OB), Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS), Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC), Toronto Dominion (NYSE: TD), BB&T (NYSE: BBT), CIT (NYSE: CIT), Bank United (NYSE: BKU), First Citizens (OTC: FCNCA.PK), Synovus (NYSE: SNV), United Bankshares (Nasdaq: UBSI), Hampton Roads Bankshares (Nasdaq: HMPR), WesBanco (Nasdaq: WSBC), City Holding (Nasdaq: CHCO), Sandy Spring (Nasdaq: SASR), First Citizens (OTC: FCBN.OB), SCBT Financial (Nasdaq: SCBT), Wilmington Trust (NYSE: WL), WSFS Financial (Nasdaq: WSFS), Southside Bancshares (Nasdaq: SBSI), Stellar One (Nasdaq: STEL), Union First Market (Nasdaq: UBSH), Eagle Bancorp (Nasdaq: EGBN), First Bancorp (Nasdaq: FBNC), Ameris (Nasdaq: ABCB), The Bancorp (Nasdaq: TBBK), First Community (Nasdaq: FCBC), Capital City (Nasdaq: CCBG), Financial Institutions (Nasdaq: FISI), National Bankshares (Nasdaq: NKSH), Citizens & Northern (Nasdaq: CZNC), Charter Financial (Nasdaq: CHFN), Seacoast Banking (Nasdaq: SBCF), TIB Financial (Nasdaq: TIBB), American National (Nasdaq: AMNB), United Community (Nasdaq: UCBI), Middleburg Financial (Nasdaq: MBRG), Heritage Financial (Nasdaq: HBOS), Zions Bancorp (Nasdaq: ZION), East West Bancorp (Nasdaq: EWBC), City National (NYSE: CYN), Bank of Hawaii (NYSE: BOH), SVB Financial (Nasdaq: SIVB), Westamerica (Nasdaq: WABC), Cathay General (Nasdaq: CATY), Umpqua (Nasdaq: UMPQ), Glacier Bancorp (Nasdaq: GBCI), Pacific Capital (Nasdaq: PCBC), PacWest (Nasdaq: PACW), Western Alliance (NYSE: WAL), First National Alaska (OTC: FBAK.OB), First Interstate Bancsystem (Nasdaq: FIBK), Nara (Nasdaq: NARA), West Coast (Nasdaq: WCBO), TriCo (Nasdaq: TCBK), Territorial (Nasdaq: TBNK), Washington Banking (Nasdaq: WCBO), Bank of Marin (Nasdaq: BMRC), Hanmi (Nasdaq: HAFC), PNC Bank (NYSE: PNC), J.P. Morgan Chase (NYSE: JPM), United Bankshares (Nasdaq: UBSI), Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE: BK), MB Financial (Nasdaq: MBFI), Astoria Financial (NYSE: AF), New York Community (NYSE: NYB), Hudson City (Nasdaq: HCBK), People’s United (Nasdaq: PBCT), First Niagra (Nasdaq: FNFG), Capitol Federal (Nasdaq: CFFN), Washington Federal (Nasdaq: WFSL), Investor’s Bancorp (Nasdaq: ISBC), Northwest Bankshares (Nasdaq: NWBI), Sterling Financial (Nasdaq: STSA), Ocwen (NYSE: OCN), Flagstar (NYSE: FBC), Provident (NYSE: PFS), Colombia Banking (Nasdaq: COLB), Kearny (Nasdaq: KRNY), Brookline (Nasdaq: BRKL), Dime Community (Nasdaq: DCOM), Flushing Financial (Nasdaq: FFIC), Danvers (Nasdaq: DNBK).

Buy BofA - Bank of America (BAC) has Factor Favor Now

If you own or follow Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), I am sure you have noticed a change of late. The stock of this deeply discounted big bank is turning around, and I believe it’s a move with traction finally. However, it has little to do with alpha or company specific factors, but rather is entirely the result of beta or macro-factor change. It should not be surprising, though, given that macro-factors were behind the stock’s tough year-to-date. See the report: The Factors that Sank Bank of America Now Favor it.

DISCLOSURE: Kaminis is long BAC. Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only. Editor's Note: Article should interest investors in Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC.OB), Fannie Mae (OTC: FNMA.OB), Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS), Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC), Toronto Dominion (NYSE: TD), BB&T (NYSE: BBT), CIT (NYSE: CIT), Bank United (NYSE: BKU), First Citizens (OTC: FCNCA.PK), Synovus (NYSE: SNV), United Bankshares (Nasdaq: UBSI), Hampton Roads Bankshares (Nasdaq: HMPR), WesBanco (Nasdaq: WSBC), City Holding (Nasdaq: CHCO), Sandy Spring (Nasdaq: SASR), First Citizens (OTC: FCBN.OB), SCBT Financial (Nasdaq: SCBT), Wilmington Trust (NYSE: WL), WSFS Financial (Nasdaq: WSFS), Southside Bancshares (Nasdaq: SBSI), Stellar One (Nasdaq: STEL), Union First Market (Nasdaq: UBSH), Eagle Bancorp (Nasdaq: EGBN), First Bancorp (Nasdaq: FBNC), Ameris (Nasdaq: ABCB), The Bancorp (Nasdaq: TBBK), First Community (Nasdaq: FCBC), Capital City (Nasdaq: CCBG), Financial Institutions (Nasdaq: FISI), National Bankshares (Nasdaq: NKSH), Citizens & Northern (Nasdaq: CZNC), Charter Financial (Nasdaq: CHFN), Seacoast Banking (Nasdaq: SBCF), TIB Financial (Nasdaq: TIBB), American National (Nasdaq: AMNB), United Community (Nasdaq: UCBI), Middleburg Financial (Nasdaq: MBRG), Heritage Financial (Nasdaq: HBOS), Zions Bancorp (Nasdaq: ZION), East West Bancorp (Nasdaq: EWBC), City National (NYSE: CYN), Bank of Hawaii (NYSE: BOH), SVB Financial (Nasdaq: SIVB), Westamerica (Nasdaq: WABC), Cathay General (Nasdaq: CATY), Umpqua (Nasdaq: UMPQ), Glacier Bancorp (Nasdaq: GBCI), Pacific Capital (Nasdaq: PCBC), PacWest (Nasdaq: PACW), Western Alliance (NYSE: WAL), First National Alaska (OTC: FBAK.OB), First Interstate Bancsystem (Nasdaq: FIBK), Nara (Nasdaq: NARA), West Coast (Nasdaq: WCBO), TriCo (Nasdaq: TCBK), Territorial (Nasdaq: TBNK), Washington Banking (Nasdaq: WCBO), Bank of Marin (Nasdaq: BMRC), Hanmi (Nasdaq: HAFC), PNC Bank (NYSE: PNC), J.P. Morgan Chase (NYSE: JPM), United Bankshares (Nasdaq: UBSI), Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE: BK), MB Financial (Nasdaq: MBFI), Astoria Financial (NYSE: AF), New York Community (NYSE: NYB), Hudson City (Nasdaq: HCBK), People’s United (Nasdaq: PBCT), First Niagra (Nasdaq: FNFG), Capitol Federal (Nasdaq: CFFN), Washington Federal (Nasdaq: WFSL), Investor’s Bancorp (Nasdaq: ISBC), Northwest Bankshares (Nasdaq: NWBI), Sterling Financial (Nasdaq: STSA), Ocwen (NYSE: OCN), Flagstar (NYSE: FBC), Provident (NYSE: PFS), Colombia Banking (Nasdaq: COLB), Kearny (Nasdaq: KRNY), Brookline (Nasdaq: BRKL), Dime Community (Nasdaq: DCOM), Flushing Financial (Nasdaq: FFIC), Danvers (Nasdaq: DNBK).

Fitbit’s (FIT) Stellar Holiday Performance was Tarnished by Missteps – My Thoughts Moving Forward

Fitbit (NYSE: FIT) almost filled in all my checks for a perfect earnings report that could have been a catalyst for a short squeeze and sharp upside rise Tuesday. However, its stellar holiday quarter goes to waste due to surprising quarterly guidance that diverged significantly from analysts’ expectations. While it all works out by year end to conservative full-year figures that meet analysts’ annual estimates, it raises uncertainty and is evidence of an unseasoned management team. Unfortunately, the company misses an opportunity to force a vibrant short squeeze to fuel restoration of shareholder value to stakeholders deserving of it. Still, the deeply discounted on a PEG basis, oversold stock with a heavy short interest could still see a healthy upside rise by week’s end or even day’s end Tuesday, as current market dynamics have been serving deeply oversold stocks. Over the longer term, it’ll take a quarter or two for the company to refashion its image with investors. It’s important to note that there is hope; Facebook (NYSE: FB) also had missteps in its early post IPO days, and it managed to recover nicely. The company has potential but it cannot afford to miss a beat when competing against Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) and Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT). See my full report on Fitbit here.

Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only. Article should interest Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL), Garmin (Nasdaq: GRMN), Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT), Google (Nasdaq: GOOG, Nasdaq: GOOGL), Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN), Best Buy (NYSE: BBY), SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap ETF (NYSE: SLY), Vanguard Small Cap ETF (NYSE: VB), Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF (NYSE: VBK), Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF (NYSE: VBR), Vanguard S&P Small Cap 600 Index ETF (NYSE: VIOO), Russell Small Cap Low P/E ETF (Nasdaq: SCLP), PowerShares Zacks Micro Cap ETF (NYSE: PZI) and Wilshire Micro-Cap ETF (NYSE: WMCR).

Fitbit EPS Pivotal for Battle Ground Stock (NYSE: FIT)

FIT Chart at Fidelity.com

Fitbit (NYSE: FIT) reports earnings for its fourth quarter after the close of trading Monday. The stock has been sold down significantly since topping out at $51.90 intraday on August 5, 2015. Several issues have factored into that, including a change in the overall investment environment working against emerging growth stocks, increasing competition, the expiration of share lockup post IPO, critical reviews of a new product, and a big build of short interest. Nevertheless, signs point to a strong holiday season for the company. Thus, I believe, and the whisper number and history indicate FIT should exceed analysts’ estimates this quarter significantly. Given the stock’s deeply discounted valuation to its growth outlook due to skepticism, and the excessive short interest in the stock, the earnings data could catalyze a strong move to the upside. However, investors will require evidence of good market share defense so far this year, and they will pay close attention to forward guidance and the conference call before they heed any call to buy. If the company is pressed on competition and the limits of its current product profile, it is not well-served. But if it can tangibly speak to expanded health care applications and interest and adoption by health care providers and insurers, the stock could soar. I have taken a modest long interest in the stock, as may aggressive investors understanding the risk, but I cannot yet recommend long-term investment in FIT generally to risk averse investors. See my full report on Fitbit (NYSE: FIT) here.

Security	06-18-15 to 02-19-16
Fitbit (NYSE: FIT)	-47%
Vanguard Total Stock Market (NYSE: VTI)	-11%
iShares Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM)	-21%
SPDR 600 Small Cap Growth (NYSE: SLYG)	-14%
Technology Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLK)	-4.3%
GoPro (Nasdaq: GPRO)	-79%

Disclosure: Kaminis is long FIT. Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only. Article also interests Garmin (Nasdaq: GRMN), Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT), Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL), GoPro (Nasdaq: GPRO), Google (Nasdaq: GOOG), Facebook (NYSE: FB), Best Buy (NYSE: BBY), Amazon (Nasdaq: AMZN). .

Amazon Gains from Wal-Mart’s Shame

Amazon.com is gaining as e-commerce continues to steal share

• Amazon.com shares have led stocks in recovery this fall and for good reason. 
• Consumer sentiment and spending data indicate Americans are still sanguine about shopping.
• Yet, Wal-Mart’s (NYSE: WMT) recent forecast changes show the nation’s leading brick-and-mortar discount retailer is in need of renovation. 
• Amazon looks to be to blame for that, as the most recent quarterly e-commerce data showed internet retailers are still stealing market share from brick and mortar stores.

Our founder earned clients a 23% average annual return over five years as a stock analyst on Wall Street. "The Greek" has written for institutional newsletters, Businessweek, Real Money, Seeking Alpha and others, while also appearing across TV and radio. While writing for Wall Street Greek, Mr. Kaminis presciently warned of the financial crisis.

Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN) reports its earnings after the market close on Thursday October 22nd. Given the volatility of stocks since mid-August, and the market-moving report of one major retailer last week, there might be some trepidation around the stock’s future. But rest assured dear holders of AMZN, as the rise in the shares of the leading e-commerce player to their 52-week high looks warranted.

3-Month Charts of AMZN & QQQ at Seeking Alpha

Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN) shares have marked their 52-week high in recent trading and have led the broader market in its recovery since the mid-August mayhem and September swoon seen in the charts above. You can see that the PowerShares QQQ (Nasdaq: QQQ), which tracks the NASDAQ-100, has yet to fully recover and the SPDR S&P 500 (NYSE: SPY) is lagging even further behind. AMZN’s superior performance is explainable.

First of all, American consumer sentiment rates solidly and consumer spending is growing robustly in the U.S. While Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) just shared disappointing news about its outlook, Amazon is actually partly to blame for that. The latest e-commerce sales data shows that internet retailers continue to steal market share from brick and mortar stores, and Amazon is the dominant player on the internet and generally speaking in retail these days.

Let’s Look at the Consumer
The Reuters/University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index (reported last Friday) improved 4.9 points from the close of September to its mid-October reading at 92.1. The current conditions component, which is the best take of how consumers feel today, jumped over 5.5 points to 106.7. Investors weary due to the latest monthly Employment Situation data should find solace in this news, as it is impacted by short-term changes in the labor market. Thus, it implies the job market data for October may be improved over September. However you look at it, this is good news for Amazon.com. The expectations component of this consumer measure was likewise improved, rising 4.5 points to 82.7.

According to the report and economists, this level of sentiment translates into roughly 4% annualized consumer spending growth. The improvement in sentiment likely reflects the improvement in the stock market, where a great deal of American wealth is stored, and also on low gasoline prices. When last measured, personal spending showed solid 0.4% growth in August, month-to-month, matching the same gain for July. So, thus far, despite the issues overseas and in the U.S. domestic energy sector, Americans are still spending and have an improving appetite for it. It’s all good news for America’s dominant e-commerce discounter.

Wal-Mart’s Woes
Some (especially WMT holders) expressed consternation when America’s largest retailer, Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) reported distressing guidance last week. The company’s shares plummeted when it revised lower its fiscal 2017 (Jan.) operating forecasts due to planned increases in staffing and wages. And it said one more thing: Wal-Mart indicated it would be investing heavily in e-commerce.

5-Day Charts of WMT and AMZN at Seeking Alpha

As you can see via the charts here, the news that Wal-Mart would be beefing up its e-commerce effort hardly frightened AMZN holders. While, AMZN did slide in concert with WMT, it was hardly a meaningful amount and lasted less than a day. That is because Wal-Mart’s news said more about what Amazon is doing right than about what Wal-Mart is hoping will help it compete better.

Ecommerce is Still Stealing Share
E-commerce sales continue to grow at a healthy pace. The good news you already knew about e-commerce was repeated in August by the U.S. Census Bureau, which published its Quarterly E-Commerce Report (pdf format). Amazon.com is the nation’s leading internet e-commerce player by far, and so the data is clearly relevant to it.

The U.S. Census Bureau reported that retail e-commerce sales increased 4.2% in the second quarter of 2015 against the immediately preceding period. That is rapid growth for an entire industry to manage, and it is an industry that has now been around for awhile. Total retail sales only managed 1.6% growth for the same period, and that figure was significantly lifted by the e-commerce portion headed by Amazon. Against the prior year period, e-commerce sales soared 14.1% while total retail sales increased 1.0% for the same period. And more bad news for Wal-Mart and good news for Amazon.com is that e-commerce sales still only account for just 7.2% of total sales. The segment accounted for just 6.3% in last year’s quarter, so it is gaining fast. Yet, the low percentage of total sales still implies that e-commerce growth and market share gains will continue for the foreseeable future.

With room to grow, Amazon, the dominant player in the e-commerce segment, stands to keep stealing share from the likes of Wal-Mart. So, given the good news about the consumer and the good news about e-commerce, we are looking forward to Amazon’s future.

Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only.