House price affordability improves, but average first-time buyer still paying five times salary

Investors often focus on the technology sector for high returns, but other areas like retail can also yield significant gains. Since mid-July 1995, one retail stock has achieved a remarkable total return of over 16,000%, demonstrating the benefits of patience and compounding, making a $1,000 investment worth $163,000 today. Explain It To Me Like I'm 5: Some smart investors found a really good store to put their money in a long time ago, and now...

Investors looking for potential "monster stocks" should consider the biotech sector, which offers promising early-stage companies. Three Motley Fool contributors highlight CRISPR Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CRSP), Summit Therapeutics (NASDAQ: SMMT), and Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX) as stocks with significant growth potential. Explain It To Me Like I'm 5: Some smart people think there are special companies that make medicine, called biotech stocks, and they believe that CRISPR Therapeutics, Summit Therapeutics, and Viking Therapeutics could become really...

In 2024, major companies Nvidia and Broadcom completed stock splits to make their shares more accessible after significant price increases of over 200% and 100%, respectively. Stock splits, like a 10-for-1 ratio, do not change a company's market value but increase the number of shares held by investors, facilitating broader participation. Explain It To Me Like I'm 5: Last year, big companies like Nvidia and Broadcom made their stocks easier to buy by splitting them...

Economists often worry about bear markets as they are a common part of the economic cycle, occurring when a market drops by 20% or more from its recent high, while a bull market is defined by a 20% increase. Investors can expect to experience around 14 bear markets over a 50-year period, and while retiring during one can be daunting, it is not the end of your financial future. Explain It To Me Like I'm...

Energy Transfer (NYSE: ET) presents an attractive risk-reward profile and high yield, making it a significant holding in my portfolio. After a period of restructuring that included cutting its distribution in 2020 to reduce leverage, the midstream energy company has successfully improved its balance sheet by paying down debt and funding growth through free cash flow. Explain It To Me Like I'm 5: Energy Transfer is a big company that helps move energy and is...

United Airlines Q2 2025 ResultsOn July 16, 2025, United Airlines (NASDAQ: UAL) reported Q2 2025 earnings, revealing adjusted diluted earnings per share of $3.87, exceeding analyst estimates by 1.57%, while total revenue of $15.2 billion fell slightly short of forecasts. Despite challenges in domestic passenger revenue, management raised full-year earnings guidance, indicating optimism for the rest of 2025. Explain It To Me Like I'm 5: United Airlines made a lot of money in the second...