Investing News

What Is Contribution Margin? The contribution margin can be stated on a gross or per-unit basis. It represents the incremental money generated for each product/unit sold after deducting the variable portion of the firm’s costs. The contribution margin is computed as the selling price per unit, minus the variable cost per unit. Also known as

What’s wrong with the American tax system? Depending on their perspectives, taxpayers complain about a wide range of features. However, a recent study by the Pew Research Center reveals that a majority express a concern that the system is unfair. They believe that it often requires low- and middle-income individuals to pay taxes on a

Identifying as nonbinary, genderqueer, agender, or bigender doesn’t disqualify a person from getting life insurance. Still, one must apply as either male or female because despite widening awareness that not everyone identifies as one gender or the other, the underwriting process hasn’t changed to keep pace. Key Takeaways Being nonbinary doesn’t disqualify an applicant from

Semiconductor firms Nvidia (NVDA) and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) reported new U.S. export restrictions would limit sales to China, sending shares of both companies and other semiconductor stocks tumbling on Thursday. While AMD claimed the new rules would not have a material impact on its business, Nvidia expects the change could mean a loss of

If you’re one of the millions of Americans who’ve been laid off or furloughed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, your cash flow may have slowed to a trickle or stopped altogether. But the bills, of course, just keep on coming. It helps to have a plan to manage your finances until the crisis

The Biden administration nominated a team of “liberal and centrist economic advisers” to help him steer America’s recovery. Here are the administration’s top picks. Key Takeaways President Biden won the 2020 election and nominated former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen to be his treasury secretary. Shalanda Young, current OMB acting director, has been nominated as

Dividends vs. Buybacks: An Overview Many companies reward their shareholders in two ways—by paying dividends or buying back shares. An increasing number of blue chips, or well-established companies, are doing both. Paying dividends and stock buybacks make a potent combination that can significantly boost shareholder returns. But which is better—stock buybacks or dividends? A dividend payment

Space exploration has long been an endeavor many argue should be public sector domain. Not only is space exploration expensive, the uncertain economic returns are anathema to profit-seeking companies. In addition, critics worry that private sector involvement in space will sully pure science and lead to unrestrained land-grabs that will be difficult to adjudicate in

As of late 2021, American students are on the hook for approximately $1.75 trillion in student loans, according to data compiled by the Education Data Initiative. 43.2 million student borrowers owe an average of $39,351, up significantly from past decades. With that much money on the line, it’s reasonable to be curious about who might

Labor unions are associations of workers formed to protect workers’ rights and advance their interests. Unions negotiate with employers through a process known as collective bargaining. The resulting union contract specifies workers’ pay, hours, benefits, and job health and safety policies. Thanks to the efforts of labor unions, workers have achieved higher wages, more reasonable

The Department of Energy, the 12th Cabinet-level department, was established in 1977 during the Carter administration. The department’s mission was to oversee the development and testing of the country’s nuclear weapons and coordinate the various, loosely organized energy programs established by the federal government. Today, the position also manages the nation’s energy infrastructure and funds scientific

Amazon (AMZN) is one of the most valuable companies in the world, with a market capitalization exceeding one trillion dollars. One-way AMZN has continued to grow is by introducing new products and acquiring complementary businesses. One such product is Amazon Prime. This membership service gives subscribers certain perks like free two-day shipping of products, access

We all know health insurance is something you shouldn’t live without, but what about vision insurance? You can purchase vision insurance as a group benefit through your employer or as an individual policy. But how does the cost compare to the coverage you’ll receive? Key Takeaway Most vision care plans provide discounts on laser eye-correction surgery. Vision

When real estate agents talk about staging your home, they’re referring to a method of preparing a property for sale on the real estate marketplace. Staging is designed to showcase a home’s best assets, impress buyers, and sell it quickly for the highest possible price. Because not all sellers stage their homes–especially homes in lower

Student loan debt may be the biggest financial issue facing young adults today. Research shows that 55% of the class of 2020 who earned a bachelor’s degree also have student debt, owing an average of $28,400. As tuition and other costs continue to rise, having to borrow money to earn a degree is often unavoidable.

Last week, President Biden announced that he will be forgiving up to $20,000 in federal student loans, no doubt providing some much needed relief for millions of eligible borrowers. Adding to the good news, the White House confirmed in a press release that this relief won’t be subject to the federal income tax. That said,

In a speech on Aug. 26, 2022, Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell stated: “The Federal Open Market Committee’s (FOMC) overarching focus right now is to bring inflation back down to our 2% goal.” He added: “Price stability … serves as the bedrock of our economy. Without price stability, the economy does not work for

Penny stocks have a well-deserved reputation for low quality, high risk, and intense volatility. However, by practicing due diligence, you can discover some hidden treasures in the most unexpected places. Below, you’ll find updates on previously discussed penny stocks from this column, followed by a few new intriguing and inexpensive trade ideas that are still

Buying back or repurchasing shares can be a sensible way for companies to use their extra cash on hand to reward shareholders and earn a better return than bank interest on those funds. However, in many cases, share buybacks are seen as just a ploy to boost reported earnings—since there are fewer shares outstanding for

At the height of the COVID-19 crisis, the U.S. labor market’s employment losses topped 14% below pre-recession totals—more than eight points higher than the worst month of the Great Recession. Yet despite the unprecedented spike in unemployment, it would only take 29 months to recover the jobs lost, beating the recoveries of both the dot-com