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[ad_1] The post 3 Investments to Crush Inflation appeared first on Millennial Money. Are you ready for inflation? Really ready? You can be forgiven for thinking the recent focus on inflation is overdone. In fact, many financial personalities now warning about inflation have been doing so for more than a decade and the exact opposite has happened.  Despite hyperbolic warnings that often reference Germany’s Weimar Republic and urging for a return to the gold standard, these concerns have never materialized in a meaningful way. In fact, we’ve struggled to maintain the 2% target inflation the Federal Reserve desires. Yes, that’s right—the federal government wants inflation. A moderate amount of inflation is ideal as deflation tends to lead to low economic growth and a postponement of economic activity as consumers wait for continual lower prices. Are these inflation hysterics right this time? Well, even a broken clock is right twice a day. Here’s what we know: prices are starting to rise at a faster pace than in recent years. Even corporate executives are increasingly mentioning inflation as a key concern, mentioning it more than at any time since 2011 during earnings calls this year and 800% more than last year! Critical commodities and semi-finished products have exploded since the onset of the pandemic.  The price of lumber has risen more than 300% in the last 1-year period and has added nearly $40,000 to the cost of a new single-family home. Gasoline prices are up 9% in March over the prior month according to the U.S. government’s CPI index. The price of crude oil has increased 40% since the beginning of the year.  The price of copper has surged to levels not seen in nearly a decade and is up more than 30% year-to-date.  The Main Inflation Question: Is It Temporary? The issue for investors is if this is a temporary concern or whether inflation is here to stay. The Federal Reserve currently feels the former is more likely due to supply disruptions that occurred due to COVID’s effects on production. The U.S. central bank argues that demand came back significantly more rapidly than many businesses expected, and it will take some time to produce the materials needed to balance demand.  Bloomberg reports that forecasting firm IHS Markit estimates these price increases to abate later in the year and Blackrock Investment Institute wrote Monday that they see U.S. consumer-price increases averaging slightly under 3% from 2025-2030.  However, even these firms could be underestimating inflation as governments around the world are planning on huge-scale infrastructure spending, interest rates remain historically low, and the private sector races to capture “forced savings” acquired during the pandemic.  How to Invest in Inflationary Times Ultimately, the reason people invest is to produce real (aka inflation-adjusted) returns. Therefore, higher inflation levels require higher total returns to maintain the same amount of purchasing power.  Some asset classes perform better in inflationary environments. Investments like fixed income bonds tend to underperform as inflation erodes returns. Additionally, higher-coupon bonds must be issued to induce investors to buy, which makes lower-coupon bonds worth less.  Investments that are positively correlated with inflation are real estate, commodities (like those mentioned above), precious metals, and stocks. However, all stocks are not created equal and will react differently to inflation. Many commodity producers like miners and producers directly benefit from higher prices on their products. However, mining companies are generally price takers and lack pricing power.  Another group of stocks that outperform in inflationary environments are companies with large balance sheets. Inflation is an erosion of the dollar, which makes debt more manageable and increases the market value of assets like buildings.  Fixed-rate debt becomes cheaper for these companies with higher levels of inflation. Real estate investment trusts are often mentioned as stocks that benefit from inflation as their primary asset is real estate and these companies tend to hold above-average levels of debt.  However, one of the best ways to invest in inflation is through companies with clear market leadership. With market leadership comes pricing power and these companies are often able to control supplier expenses while being able to pass along any price increases to their customers.  Pick Like A Pro Where to invest $500 right now Are you ready for “maximum upside?” Motley Fool Rule Breakers is led by legendary investor David Gardner and pinpointed Tesla at $6.29, Salesforce at $6.89, and Shopify at $21.02. (It trades for more than $1,000 per share today!) Here’s why you’ll want to get the full details on Rule Breakers today. The service just announced its top 10 “best buys now” across the entire stock market. Whether you’re starting with $100, $500, or more, you’ll want to get the full details! Click here to learn more 3 Investments That Should Crush Inflation Apple is the Market Leader Apple (AAPL)Market Cap: $2.2 trillionForward P/E: 27 times Investors might dismiss Apple as too big to continue to reward investors, but that’s folly. The company recently posted top-line growth of 54% over the prior year with its second quarter results, smashing analyst expectations for revenue and profit. However, those fearing Apple would be impacted by inflation need not worry just based on recent history. In 2007 the company debuted the first iPhone, which was ridiculed by then-Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer for its price tag. Apple’s high-end phone cost $600 that year and was mostly subsidized by carriers.  Currently Apple fans have been willing to pay as much as $1,400 for the top-of-the line version of the phone with far fewer carrier subsidies. That’s pricing power!  Like all companies, commodity costs do impact Apple, but due to its position as a market leader, the company has been able to pass along those costs and continue to source critical components like semiconductors.  Commodity input costs will likely be less of an issue in the future on account of Apple’s plans to double down on revenue from services like Apple Music, Apple TV+, and Apple Pay. The company currently has more than

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[ad_1] You’re all moved into your new home – now what? Unfortunately, there’s still work to be done until you can sit back and relax. And no, we’re not talking about scrolling through Pinterest for decor inspiration. As a new homeowner, there are a few important things you should do now that you’ve moved in to ensure your home is safe and secure. From setting up your utilities to checking your HVAC system, here are six post-move must-dos:  1. Change The Locks Even if you trust the previous owner, you don’t know who they made keys for. For that reason, changing the locks should be one of the first things you do when moving into a new home. And not just to the front door––change the locks on the windows and any door that leads inside your home. You should also consider getting a new garage door opener. While re-keying locks aren’t free, you’ll get peace of mind knowing you’re safe inside your own home. Taking the leap: The benefits of buying vs. renting a home 5 first-time homebuyer mistakes to avoid Here’s what to expect in the mortgage application process Homebuyers put pets first when shopping for homes 2. Set Up Utilities If you’re a planner, this is likely something you did prior to moving into your new home. If you’re all moved in, but without running water, set up your utilities as soon as possible. Depending on where you live, you might just be able to transfer utilities from your old place to your new place. The good news is, companies are usually able to activate your utilities quickly. 3. Test Smoke Detector To keep yourself and your family safe, you should test your smoke detector when you move in. Don’t just assume it’s functional! Light a match near a sensor to see if the detector goes off. If it doesn’t, replace your smoke detector as soon as possible. You should also make sure you have a working fire extinguisher, in the event of an emergency.  4. Understand HOA Rules Did you purchase a home that’s part of a community association, such as a homeowner’s association? Then you’re now a member of the association and have to abide by certain rules and regulations. One of the first things you should do when you move is gain an understanding of HOA rules. For example, parking rules, home occupancy limits, landscaping guidelines, trash rules…etc. Some HOAs require status updates on the property, like when the mortgage is transferred. To avoid any fees, get your hands on those rules! 5. Check Your HVAC System Make sure you inspect your HVAC system to see if anything is broken or looks like it’s on the verge of being broken. If it is, you should have a technician come out as soon as possible. The last thing you want is to be surprised by the unexpected cost of having to replace your HVAC system. 6. Update Your Address Your new home comes with a new address, which you’ll need to register. To make sure you receive your mail, you need to provide your new address to the post office. You should also update your driver’s license with your new address and update your voter registration. While you don’t want to post your information on social media, it’s a good idea to make sure your close friends and family have your updated address. The post 6 things you should do after moving into your new home appeared first on HousingWire. [ad_2] Source link

[ad_1] The post Navitas Semiconductor Is Going Public With a SPAC Merger appeared first on Millennial Money. Navitas Semiconductor said on Friday that it will be merging with special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Live Oak Acquisition Corp II (NYSE: LOKB) to go public. The deal values Navitas at a post-money equity value of $1.4 billion. The company is working on developing a new type of semiconductor technology that it hopes can revolutionize the chip industry. Here’s what SPAC investors need to know. What Navitas does Navitas is working on power integrated circuits (ICs) based on gallium nitride (GaN), which it believes can facilitate massive technological improvements compared to traditional silicon-based chips. GaN technology can run 20 times faster and deliver 3 times more power or 3 times faster charging in half the size and weight, according to Navitas.  GaN is especially promising in industries where power efficiency is of critical importance, such as mobile devices or electric vehicles (EVs), among others. Additionally, GaN ICs can yield cost savings of around 20% on average. Navitas says that it has already overcome many important challenges to commercializing GaN, such as historically low manufacturing yields, poor reliability, overly complex component designs, and high costs. The chip market is approaching an important inflection point where GaN is on the cusp of mass market adoption as costs decline and become competitive with silicon, according to Navitas. The company estimates that its total market opportunity is $13.1 billion when including important end markets like smartphones, EV inverters, 5G base stations, and data center servers. Navitas is optimistic that GaN ICs will eventually displace “a significant portion” of silicon-based ICs that dominate the market today. Revenue in 2020 was $12 million and sales in 2021 are expected to jump to $27 million. Despite recent concerns that the SEC is looking to crack down on overly ambitious forward-looking forecasts, Navitas suggests that revenue could skyrocket to $640 million in 2026. How the deal is structured The merger with Live Oak Acquisition Corp II will raise approximately $400 million in gross proceeds, assuming minimal redemptions by the SPAC’s public shareholders. Live Oak II has around $253 million in cash in its trust account, and the SPAC has lined up $145 million in additional financing from PIPE (private investment in public equity) investors. Live Oak II says that the PIPE was oversubscribed, commanding strong interest from institutional investors. The transaction assigns Navitas with a post-money equity value of $1.4 billion and an enterprise value of just over $1 billion. All existing Navitas shareholders will roll over their equity into the new company. The SPAC shareholders will end up owning 18.1% of the combined company, with the PIPE investors grabbing a 10.4% stake. The SPAC sponsors have secured a 3.5% position, while existing shareholders will represent the remaining 67.9%. The merger is expected to close in the third quarter, and Navitas has not designed a new ticker symbol yet. Pick Like A Pro The next blockbuster IPO? 2021 could be one of the biggest years for IPOs in stock market history. Yet, with just a small fraction of IPOs historically driving nearly all the profits, who will you trust to uncover the most innovative and high-upside IPOs in the coming months? There’s a company that “called” these businesses long before they hit it big. They first recommended Netflix in 2004 at $1.85 per share, Amazon in 2002 at $15.31 per share, and Apple back in the iPod Shuffle era at $4.97 per share. Take a look where they are now. That company: The Motley Fool. For people ready to make investing part of their strategy for financial freedom, take a look at The Motley Fool’s flagship investing service, Stock Advisor. They just announced their top 10 “best buys now” across the entire stock market. Whether you’re starting with $100, $500, or more, you should check out the full details. Click here to learn more The post Navitas Semiconductor Is Going Public With a SPAC Merger appeared first on Millennial Money. [ad_2] Source link

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[ad_1] On Thursday, 6 May, the Indian government announced that since the start of the vaccination drive, the central government has provided over 171 million doses in all to the states and Union territories free of cost. [ad_2] Source link