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INVESTING PRESCRIPTION FOR 2022 AS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC recedes, routine doctor and hospital visits, along with deferred medical procedures such as cataract surgery and heart valve replacements, are returning to normal. With innovation and some of these secular trends in mind, we identified six intriguing health care stocks that literally span the alphabet, from letter A to letter Z. We particularly like companies that address large and growing end markets, especially global ones. Eaton Vance's Kritzer calls Optum, an industry leader in the digitization of services, "a very large health IT company inside an insurance giant.". [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses criteria used by billionaire Warren Buffett when selecting stocks and discusses six securities that appear desirable by these standards, among them the shares of metal can manufacturer Crown Holdings, jelly maker J. M. Smucker, consumer products firm Unilever, refuse disposal company Waste Management, industrial gas firm Praxair, and dental supply manufacturer Dentsply International. INSET: Great Funds That Pay Homage to the Master.

The article discusses several stocks in several nations that the publication deems to be of top quality and reasonably priced. Among companies discussed are Danish health-care company Novo Nordisk, German industrial conglomerate Siemens, Japanese printer manufacturer Canon, and U.S. consumer-electronics producer Apple. INSETS: By the Numbers;Around the World With 3 Great Funds.

The article discusses seven different stocks favored by seven different money managers. David Winters of Wintergreen Funds thinks the stock of food company Nestlé is a good buy. David Marcus of the Evermore Global Value Fund likes the stock of satellite-television company DirecTV. Charles de Vaulx of IVA Worldwide is partial to retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc. INSET: THE CHEAPSKATES' FAVORITES.

The article names funds, stocks and gold plays where one can invest amid the declining U.S. dollar. The author recommends investing in emerging-market bonds through Pimco Emerging Local Bond, run by Mike Gomez. For a lower-cost alternative, one may turn to WisdomTree Dreyfus Emerging Currency Fund (CEW) which uses futures contracts to provide exposure to money-market rates of 11 emerging-markets currencies. It states two options when it comes to hedging a shrinking dollar with stocks such as buying shares of foreign companies. INSETS: THE DOLLAR'S ROCKY ROAD SINCE WORLD WAR II;HOW A SINKING DOLLAR AFFECTS YOU.

This article examines prospects for investing in the U.S. market amid the current recession. A 37% increase was posted by Standard & Poor's 500-stock index from its March 9 close through May 8, 2009. The U.S. government played a role in the made-in-America financial crisis. It expects stocks to continue rising if the economy starts to recover later this year. Another positive indicator is the low interest rates which makes cash and Treasury bonds less competitive for stocks. INSET: China: A Bright Spot Overseas.

The article looks at attractive stocks during the U.S. economic recession. Cuts in short-term interest rates engineered by the Federal Reserve Board, the enactment of an economic-stimulus package and the robust health of non-financial businesses may make this recession a mild one. David Rosenberg, senior economist at Merrill Lynch, thinks the economy will struggle to grow 1% in both 2008 and 2009. When selecting stocks and sectors, look for areas of strength. The declining dollar is boosting the export competitiveness and profitability of companies. INSETS: 5 RISKS THAT WEIGH ON THE MARKETS;HOW I SEE THE MARKET: JEAN-MARIE EVEILLARD, MANAGER FIRST...;HOW I SEE THE MARKET: JIM BARROW, CO-MANAGER VANGUARD SELECTED...;HOW I SEE THE MARKET: BOB RODRIGUEZ, MANAGER FPA CAPITAL AND...

The article recommends seven attractive stocks with little or no following on the U.S. stock exchange market. George Putnam, publisher of "The Turnaround Letter," picks Sun-Times Media Group. Investors are avoiding Sun-Times because its controlling shareholder is still Hollinger Inc., former company of Conrad Black, who is on trial for looting Hollinger International. Broker Sam Dedio favors Schweitzer-Mauduit International, a supplier of fine papers to the tobacco industry INSET: An ETF for STEALTHY stocks.

The article presents information on excellent mutual funds in the U.S. FBR Small Cap has generated an annualized gain of 18 percent over the past decade under Chuck Akre. On the other hand, Julius Baer International has compiled 17 percent small-company stocks. Younes is also upbeat about the prospects for luxury-goods makers, which serve the rising nouveaux riches in emerging markets such as Russia, China and the Middle East. INSET: DOUBLE DIGIT gains.

This article focuses on some of the best broker-sold mutual funds in the U.S. They include Quaker Strategic Growth, Ivy Asset Strategy, Keeley Small Cap Value, Legg Mason Partners Aggressive Growth, Calvert Large Cap Growth, Pioneer Cullen Value, Thornburg Value and Thornburg International Value. It explains the reasons for the attractiveness of these types of mutual funds. It presents information on the performance of these funds and the people who manage them.

The article presents an analysis of the U.S. stock market's prospects in 2007. Standard & Poor's 500-stock index should return 7 percent to 12 percent in 2007. Businesses will spend briskly. Robust capital expenditures will offset weaker consumer spending and help prevent the economy from sinking into recession. Long-term bonds seem stuck in the 4.5 percent to 5 percent range, making them unattractive relative to stocks. Sectors where one should make an investment are suggested. INSETS: The WORLD'S three best funds;WILD CARDS;Can REITs keep going and going?.

This article suggests that investors should focus on quality to cope with the current risk-averse environment of 2006. It makes senses to shift some money from small-company funds to large-company funds, especially those rich in dividend-payers. Robert Millen, co-manager of Jensen Portfolio, claims one way to discern quality is to study a company's return on equity. Although foreign stocks took the brunt of the recent correction, one can still make a case for them. INSETS: HEDGE funds that work;Preparing for ROCKY times.

The article focuses on several successful investors. Brett Platt is a computer engineer whose investing focus is on undervalued small-company stocks. To avoid overload, he limits his portfolio to nine to 11 stocks. He realized annualized gains of 30% plus since 1999. Deirdre Brazil, an employee at Prudential Financial, has started investing in 2003. She chose Vanguard 500 Index fund which tracks Standard & Poor's 500 stock index.

This article explains the economic expansion of emerging Asian countries. The expansion has helped increase prices of most commodities, from edible oils to petroleum. Considering the strengths of China, the stock performance of India is far better. A closer look at the dynamics of China's growth and its stock markets explains much of the divergence. Although the contrasts between China and India are apparent now, they will likely blur after some time.

Focuses on the shortage of electronic parts that is affecting production of videogame consoles, cell phones and servers as of November, 2000. How the launch of Sony Playstation 2 has been scaled down due to parts shortages; Advice to purchase electronics partsmakers' stock; Mention of electronics partsmakers Vishay Intertechnology, AVX and others.

Focuses on Jardine Fleming Asset Management senior fund manager Richard Whittall and his investments in Japan's stock market. Whittall's management of 1999's best-performing offshore Japan funds; His preference for high-growth Japanese companies over old-money sectors; Valuation of companies in the service and technology sectors recommended by Whittall.

This article presents information on announcement made by an upstart Los Angeles, California investment firm, Trafalgar Holdings regarding its purchase of an option to buy 23% of Minebea Co. Ltd.'s outstanding equity. Its chairman is Charles Knapp, who was thrown out as chairman of Financial Corp. of America after he pushed it to the brink with extravagant expansion. Knapp's spokesman says he is keeping all options open. But chances are that he would happily settle for a quick return on his option before it expires. Knapp isn't buying into a cheap stock. Even before his takeover intention was announced, the Tokyo market valued Minebea at $600 million, almost 50 times last year's earnings.

The article reports on the drop in the stock value of integrated circuit ceramic packaging company Kyocera Corp. founded by Kazuo Inamori. Topics discussed include history of Kyocera, financial performance of the company for the fiscal period ended March 31, 1985 and factors that contributed to the drop in the company's American depositary receipt (ADR) value. Also discussed are the reasons behind the Japanese press' negative portrayal of Inamori and his strategies for growing the business.

The article offers information on companies which regularly boost their dividend payouts. Tobacco firm Philip Morris International which is based in New York City, believes that it can boost earnings per share 10% to 12% a year over the long term and has committed to paying out at least 65% of its earnings in dividends. Sysco Corp., a distributor of food to hospitals, hotels, campuses, restaurants and company cafeterias across the U.S., has a sterling dividend record and at 4% yield, the shares can be considered cheap.

The article offers tips to investors on avoiding or postponing taxation on capital gains in the U.S. Lipper estimates that in 2007, funds distributed a record $150 billion in capital gains, on which investors paid a record $34 billion in taxes. If an investor reinvests his distribution, he increases his tax basis which determine gains or losses when shares are sold later. By buying and holding funds that never pay out capital gains, one avoids paying capital-gains taxes. INSET: THE SCOOP ON FUND DISTRIBUTIONS.

The article assesses several funds for investments. It states that John Hussman is handling Strategic Growth (HSGFX), which lost 14% by October 13, like a poor man's hedge fund, owning stocks the traditional way but also short selling stocks and indexes to reduce exposure to risk. Permanent Portfolio (PRPFX) places investors in a position to profit from a variety of economic scenarios and outcomes. Steve Romick of FPA Crescent (FPACX) sells stocks short, and he does so when he spots significant balance sheet and financial-leverage risks.

The article discusses a way to receive dividends for no more than $20 price of a publicly traded stock. Business development companies (BDCs) are listed investment companies that provide debt and equity capital to small, privately owned enterprises. BDC raises money by issuing stock, then makes long-term loans at interest rates of 12% to 13% to a group of privately held companies. INSET: Companies they FINANCE.

The article offers advice for people looking to invest on stocks of business enterprises that are under the industry of producing biofuel and ethanol from crops such as corn and soy beans. It offers information on the main impetus behind the surging demand for ethanol in the U.S. Federal government mandate on the oil industry regarding the use of biofuel is discussed.

The article discusses the Meridian Growth mutual fund, which the publication has added to its "Kiplinger 25" list of mutual funds. Managed since 1984 by Rick Aster, Meridian has outperformed both the Standards & Poor's (S&P) 500 stock index and the S&P MidCap 400 index for the past ten years. In selecting stocks Aster looks for healthy balance sheets and a return on equity of 15% or more.

The article describes the economic status of emerging nations. Investors are expected to prefer emerging markets as safer than countries that are developed but debt-ridden. With this, they are encouraged to purchase diversified fund that invests in developing markets, such as T. Rowe Price Emerging Markets Stock (PRMSX) or Matthews Pacific Tiger (MPTX).

This article looks at the performance of suggested stocks in 2008. All the recommended stocks dropped an average of 27% through May 8, 2009 compared with a 33% drop for Standard & Poor's 500-stock index. Mohawk Industries was the only one of the five stocks to trail the index with a 40% loss. Retailer Bed Bath & Beyond led the pack with only a 12% loss and better earnings in each of the past four quarters than estimated. Also included are information on some closed-end funds selling at discount prices.

The article features the strategies of Curtis Jansen, manager of Third Avenue Small-Cap Value, on different low-risk bargain stocks. Jensen believes that a cheap stock is one that sells for at least a 30% to 40% discount from a company's intrinsic value. Jensen commends the way Imation (IMN), considered the world's leading supplier of removable data-storage products, remakes and expands its business, with its redeployment of robust cash flows from its mature enterprise business.

The article reports on the reopening of Dodge & Cox's funds Dodge & Cox Stock and Dodge & Cox Balanced. Like their sister funds, Dodge & Cox International and Dodge & Cox Income, Stock and Balanced are managed by investment committees at Dodge & Cox. All four funds are strict in buying securities at the right price and tend to hold them for long periods.

The article offers tips on exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Begin with iShares MSCI EAFE Index fund, which tracks the results of the largest stocks on the exchanges of Australia and developed nations in Europe and the Far East, the author says. Consider buying ETFs that follow emerging markets because they are more volatile, but the growth is even greater. It is also advised to think of ETFs as buy-and-hold index funds that could help form the core of your portfolio.

The article offers information on the stock-picking strategy of Tilson Focus for mutual funds. Hedge funds cater to the wealthy, luxuriate in secrecy and relish risky tactics. Hedge-fund managers Whitney Tilson and Glenn Tongue use the same stock-picking strategy for the mutual fund that they use for their three hedge funds. For them, growth is but a component of value and cash flow is king. INSET: High-quality BARGAINS.