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Hot Off the Grill: 8 Stocks for Tailgating

By U.S. News & World Report

Are these stocks fan favorites?

October signals that special, most rare convergence of sport. NBA basketball and NHL hockey get under way; MLB sprints into the baseball playoffs; NFL and NCAA football inspire unsettling displays of face paint. To be sure, athletic acronyms are running hot and heavy. But for that intrepid breed braving that most tactical game of all — investing — the only initials that matter are ticker symbols. Here we spotlight eight stocks connected to parking lot parties, game-day revelry and yup, vehicles with tailgates — that is, if you’re ready to play ball.

Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F)

This maker of popular flatbed trucks such as the F-150 is thinning its roster, says Christopher Ma, director of the George Investments Institute at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida. “In 2007, Ford had 27 different platforms, 12 in 2015 and will drop to eight by 2019. Today, Ford and Lincoln are the only two remaining significant global Ford brands.” Yet the game plan hasn’t meant victory for Ford stock, down 11.5 percent over 24 months to $12 per share.

Yum Brands (YUM)

With fast-food franchise champs WingStreet and Pizza Hut, Louisville-based YUM dropped close to 27 percent in November. Yet it wasn’t a slump at all, as October saw the completed spinoff of YUM’s China-based business into Yum China Holdings (YUMC). Shareholders got one share of Yum China for every share of YUM they owned. How has it worked out? Yum Brands is up 23 percent with Yum China soaring 60 percent: in a word, tasty.

Walt Disney Co. (DIS)

Disney gets its game face on through ESPN, yet lately that property hasn’t had much in the way of bragging rights. In April, ESPN laid off 100 employees, a move extending all the way up to NFL analyst and Super Bowl-winning Baltimore Ravens quarterback Trent Dilfer. Despite slight gains in ad revenue, ESPN has weathered subscriber declines and falling ratings — enough to exert a drag on DIS stock, down 15 percent since the layoff news to $99 per share.

Domino’s Pizza (DPZ)

Like baseball’s Cardinals vs. Cubs, Pizza Hut and Domino’s represents a heated rivalry. DPZ rose 44 percent from last October to June but has since gone stale. Sluggish overseas sales dished investors a plate of crumbs with July’s quarterly earnings report: DPZ stock sank 15 percent in 72 hours. Since that missed delivery, share prices (now $199) have stayed level. But a new report comes out Oct. 12, leaving investors to bite their nails while awaiting the dough (or lack of it).

Starbucks Corp. (SBUX)

Level this past year, SBUX has more than doubled over the last five. While you take hot mochas to your next tailgate, SBUX is betting on a caffeinated equivalent in Asia. “Coffee consumption in China is growing,” says Robert R. Johnson, president and CEO of The American College of Financial Services in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. In fact, it’s tripled since 2012. “Starbucks realizes this and plans on doubling the number of stores in China from 2015 to 2020.”

Papa John’s International (PZZA)

The underdog Papa John’s has been a winner over the long haul and a weakling in the shorter run. It made big sporting news in 2008, when the NBA’s Washington Wizards unveiled T-shirts mocking Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James. From then until now, the stock has multiplied five times and trades for $73 per share. But for 2017, PZZA is down more than 14 percent — a slide tempered only by an aggressive stock buyback plan announced in August.

Anheuser Busch Inbev (BUD)

When the price of beer goes down, sports fans rejoice; when the price of a beer stock goes down, investors cry in their brew. BUD stock spilled 20 percent between October and November 2016, though it’s since recovered lost ground. Now comes the tailgater’s wager: Three analysts label BUD a “strong buy” but four suggest a “hold.” To borrow from football parlance, should investors call for an all-out blitz or prevent defense? A game-opening coin toss may be in order.

Molson Coors Brewing Co. (TAP)

Talk about naming rights: Milwaukee’s Miller Beer is part of MillerCoors, which is in turn a subsidiary of Molson Coors. It might seem like dopey marketing to leave Miller off your corporate shingle: Miller Lite’s beloved “tastes great, less filling” ads featured famous ex-athletes. Granted, the brewing behemoth still inspires fan loyalty; Canada’s family-run Molson dates to 1786. But over the last 12 months, TAP’s 26 percent share price slide tripped up a previously uninterrupted four-year climb of 149 percent.

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Hot Off the Grill: 8 Stocks for Tailgating originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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