3 Small-Cap Growth Alternatives In The Auto Space

In my latest article for The Motley Fool, I discuss three alternate plays an investor can make when considering the automotive industry. These three companies, one primarily a car dealership, another a vehicle auctioneer and the last a maintenance/repair shop, offer high growth, stable dividends and fair valuation. The best part is that the companies operate outside of most investors' peripheries and carry significantly less headline risk than the major car manufacturers. Click here to read and enjoy!

Phil

Under Armour: The Athletic Brand Of The Future

In my latest article for The Motley Fool, I write about my best investment ever, Under Armour (UA). I initially purchased shares of UA in 2010 and they have appreciated over 450% since then. It remains far and away the most lucrative investment of my life and the best part is that I see no reason to sell shares even now!

The once niche sports apparel retailer has grown into the dominant athletic apparel brand of current generations in America. Management is now cleverly leveraging the brand's popularity to capture new product categories and geographic markets. With immense brand strength and customer loyalty, Under Armour is positioning to be the only true global competitor to Nike in the long-term! Click here to read and enjoy!

Phil

My Reason For Writing Finance Articles

Believe it or not, the main reason I write finance articles for Seeking Alpha and The Motley Fool is to help formulate my own investing ideas. I find that some of my best ideas with regard to finance come from doing the research that is required to write an article designed to help other investors!

Of course, this is a mutually beneficial exercise as I only research stocks that I feel are worthy of extra consideration from investors in general. As I, hopefully, teach readers about a stock I am also very much teaching myself about the same stock. Some of my best investing ideas have come from writing articles, including Discovery Communications Inc. (DISCA) at ~$60 and Boston Beer Co. Inc. (SAM) at ~$150.

My main goal with investing is to make money, and avoid losing it, in the long-term. So, for as long as I write finance articles, be assured that I always have readers' best interests at heart, because often times the readers' interests are the very same as my own!

Phil

Update To 'Current Holdings'

Since I have neglected to update the 'Current Holdings' page of my blog for over a month, I have made a point to do so today! I made some small position changes, namely selling all of the WETF, PRLB and TSLA positions for profit to go into CREE, FLT and SAM. Also, my UA position has become my largest position by dollar amount, overtaking MA in recent months due to signifiant outperformance.

Stocks of interest to me now are Noodles & Company (NDLS) and Potbelly Corporation (PBPB), both of which operate in the fast/casual dining segment and only recently IPO'd. The segment is seeing increasing interest from investors in recent months and this bodes well for most of the names in the space, in my opinion. I will look to initiate a position in one or both of these names going forward.

Phil

Noodles & Co: The Next Big Thing In Casual Dining?

In my latest article for The Motley Fool, I research Noodles & Co, a rising star in America's very popular fast-casual dining segment. Drawing comparisons to already immensely successful chains like Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (CMG) and Panera Bread Company (PNRA), my analysis indicates that Noodles & Co has what it takes to expand across The United States at a blistering pace, namely a simple yet novel menu and an already proven management team. Click here to read and enjoy!

Phil

eBay: A Viable Competitor To MasterCard And Visa?

In my latest article for The Motley Fool, I discuss a stock that has intrigued me in recent months, eBay Inc (EBAY). As much as the company is known for its namesake auction site, eBay has become a dominant player in payments solutions with its 'Payments' division, which includes PayPal and related services. On the heels of rapid growth in the segment and with over 132 million active accounts, the question investors must ask is, "Can PayPal challenge credit card giants MasterCard Incorporated (MA) and Visa Inc. (V) on a global scale going forward?" Click here to read and find out! Enjoy!

Phil