Archives for March 31, 2019

Credit Monitoring Vs. Identity Theft Protection

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You know you need to protect your accounts and personal information – but what is the best method? Should you use a credit monitoring service or subscribe to identity theft protection instead? What’s the difference between the two methods?

Credit monitoring services do exactly what they say they do – monitor activity on your accounts with the major credit reporting agencies (TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax). Creditors report all activities related to borrowing money, including your payment history, to credit reporting agencies. Monitoring services may monitor your history with all three agencies or be exclusive to a certain agency.

With credit monitoring, you’re alerted to various changes in your credit report – for example, when a potential creditor asks for your credit history or when new credit card accounts or loans are opened in your name. Any activity that is reported to the credit reporting agency is monitored.

However, identity theft can involve more than fraudulent loans or credit accounts in your name. Thieves can use your Social Security number and other personal information to open bank accounts, get jobs, receive government benefits – even commit crimes in your name. None of these activities will show up on your credit report because borrowing is not involved.

Identity theft protection services incorporate credit monitoring and go beyond to check for non-credit related abuses of your information – or let you know that your compromised information is out there, available to thieves for future abuse. Monitoring may include dark web scans, arrest records, court filings, changes of address, and social media accounts.

Identity theft protection services may also include help to restore your identity and resolve fraudulent uses and claims, as well as identity theft insurance. Services and fees vary by vendor. Check the details of any program before signing up.

Victims of security breaches often receive free credit monitoring or identity protection services for a limited period of time – but the protections from these programs may not be sufficient. You need long-term protection, especially once your personal data has been compromised. You can always cancel accounts and change passwords, but once your Social Security number is compromised, you are in for a lifelong battle with identity thieves.

If identity theft protection generally includes credit monitoring, why would you opt for credit monitoring alone? Cost could be a factor, along with any extra services that the credit monitoring service provides that an identity theft service does not. Evaluate your options as a full package to get the best comparison.

Note that most credit monitoring and identity theft protection services are reactive, not proactive. They let you know when suspicious activity has occurred, but they can’t prevent it from happening. You can supplement either service by using common-sense proactive tactics.

Use strong passwords on all your accounts and change them often. Shred any sensitive information before discarding it. Protect all electronic devices with up-to-date anti-virus software. Avoid e-mail scams and suspicious requests for information. Store your personal information in as few places as possible. Check your credit frequently, and consider a credit freeze on your accounts to prevent thieves from opening fraudulent accounts in your name.

Help either service by making it more difficult for identity thieves to get your information, or to use your information if they do get it.

Review the details of each type of service and find the best fit for your comprehensive protection strategy. Just make sure that you follow through with whatever protection you choose. Identity thieves look for the easiest unprotected targets. Don’t be one of them.

How to Use an HSA to Save for Retirement

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MILLIONS OF AMERICANS either have or are eligible for health savings accounts, but many fail to understand their benefits. Only a quarter of workers say funding their account is a financial priority, according to the 2018 Health Accounts Employee Attitudes Survey from Willis Towers Watson, a global advisory and solutions firm. By not contributing to their accounts, employees are missing out on immediate tax benefits as well as the opportunity to build additional savings for retirement.

“The HSA was created when high-deductible (insurance) plans came about,” explains Joseph Conroy, author of “Decades & Decisions: Financial Planning at Any Age,” and a financial advisor with advisory firm Synergy Financial Group in Towson, Maryland.

For 2019, individuals who have single health plans with a minimum deductible of $1,350 and a maximum out-of-pocket cost of $6,750 are eligible for an HSA. For those with family health plans, the minimum deductible for eligible policies is $2,700 and the maximum out-of-pocket costs are $13,500.

“The idea is it’s a way to pay for health care and not be taxed on it,” says Davey Quinn, senior vice president of investment management for United Income, an online financial planning firm.

Money deposited into an HSA is tax deductible. It then grows tax-free and can be withdrawn tax-free to pay for qualified medical expenses. “It’s basically what I consider the holy grail of savings accounts,” says Dan Mathews, a certified financial planner, CFP Board Ambassador and wealth manager with advisory firm Creative Planning Inc. in Kansas City, Missouri.

To use your health savings investment account as a valuable retirement planning tool, follow these four steps:

  • Open an HSA investment account.
  • Contribute the maximum allowed.
  • Save your receipts and let your balance grow.
  • Use your HSA like an IRA in retirement.

Keep reading to see how to put each of these strategies into action.

Open a health savings investment account. Health savings accounts can be opened at many banks and credit unions, but these institutions may offer little to no interest. For instance, Bank of America currently pays between 0.10 to 0.45 percent interest on HSA accounts, depending on their balance. At Lake Michigan Credit Union in Michigan, HSAs earn 0.5 percent for balances lower than $5,000 and 1 percent for those at or above that amount.

Bank and credit union HSAs can be convenient for those who plan to spend their money right away on health care expenses. However, if you want to use your HSA for retirement planning, look for a provider who will allow you to invest your money for a greater return. Fidelity and Optum Bank are two such providers. But Quinn cautions that fees for some investment accounts can be high, so it’s best to read all the fine print and shop around.

If you have a health savings account through your employer, payroll contributions may need to be made to the provider they select. However, there is nothing stopping you from later transferring balances to a different HSA.

Contribute the maximum allowed. In 2019, people will be able to contribute up to $3,500 to an HSA if they have a single health insurance policy or $7,000 if they have a family policy. Those who are age 55 or older are entitled to make an additional $1,000 in catch-up contributions.

“You don’t have any of the limits you have with an IRA,” Quinn says. While those with a workplace retirement plan such as a 401(k) can contribute to a traditional IRA, tax deductions may be limited for single taxpayers earning more than $64,000 per year or married couples filing jointly who earn more than $103,000. However, there are no such restrictions on HSA deductions. The entire contribution is deductible regardless of your income.

Save your receipts and let your balance grow. While HSAs are intended to provide a tax-free way to pay for health care costs, “you don’t have to use it when you have medical expenses,” Conroy says. Instead, you could pay bills out-of-pocket and let the balance in your HSA grow.

“You could reimburse yourself years later,” Mathews says, though he cautions “you have to keep good records.” He recommends keeping a file of paid medical bills that can be used for reimbursement in the future. For instance, this strategy could be used by those who want to retire early and need to supplement their income before Social Security payments begins. They can boost their bank account by reimbursing themselves for several years’ worth of previous medical expenses so long as they have documentation to back up the claim should they be audited.

If you later change insurance and no longer have a qualified high-deductible plan, you can still pay for medical expenses out of your HSA. You just can’t make any new contributions until you have a qualified plan again.

Use your HSA like an IRA in retirement. Workers who use money from an HSA for anything other than qualified health expenses will incur a 20 percent tax penalty. That’s in addition to regular income tax that must be paid on the withdrawn amount.

There is no penalty for non-health care withdraws in retirement though. “It works just like an IRA once you hit (age) 65,” Conroy says. At that point, money can be taken from an HSA for any purpose with only income tax due on that amount. That’s the same as how withdrawals from traditional IRAs are handled after age 59 1/2.

In this way, contributing to an HSA essentially allows workers with IRAs to double their annual retirement savings. However, HSAs have one advantage. While traditional IRA holders are required to begin taking minimum distributions at age 70 1/2, there is no such requirement with an HSA.

Heat Up Your Income With This Stock: KB Home (KBH)

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Wall Street analysts will be watching closely when KB Home (NYSE:KBH) reports its quarterly earnings next, which is scheduled for Thu 27 Jun (In 91 Days). Looking at the latest analyst forecasts, the current earnings-per-share (EPS) consensus estimate is sitting at $0.26 per share. In the preceding quarter, the company reportedly generated EPS of $0.31 per share of its common stock. Looking at profitability indicators, this organization has an operating margin of 7.80%, a profit margin of 3.70%17.70%.

Speaking of Wall Street analysts, a number of market experts at top investment banks have recently posted their updated ratings on shares of KB Home (NYSE:KBH). Most recently, on February 28th, 2019, Evercore ISI Downgrade a In-line rating. Before that, on February 25th, 2019, Raymond James Downgrade to Mkt Perform. Buckingham Research Initiated a Neutral rating on January 11th, 2019, BofA/Merrill Downgrade an Neutral rating on November 15th, 2018, and Credit Suisse Downgrade a Underperform rating on October 17th, 2018.

At its current price point, combined with the fact that this company has 87.03M shares outstanding, the current market capitalization sits at 2.15B. In the last trading day, 3,314,236 shares of KB Home were traded, which compares to its usual volume of about 1.86M shares per day of trading.

If we compare this company’s current price to its recent pricing activity, we can see that the price has changed by $1.99 in the past five trading days, resulting in a percentage change of +8.75% and a moving average of 24.03. In the past 20 days, its price changed by $1.93 (which is +8.46%) and the stock’s moving average was 23.35. Looking back a full 50 days, shares of KBH changed by $4.00 (which is +19.29%) and demonstrated a moving average of 22.39.

Staying in the same analytical area, this company’s stock has demonstrated a 9-day Stochastic %K score of 86.56%, a 14-day Stochastic %K score of 84.52% and a 20-day Stochastic %K score of 84.52%. Using a similar metric, KB Home (KBH) shares showed a Stochastic %D of 82.17% over the past 9 days, a Stochastic %D score of 79.78% over the last 14 days, and a 20-day Stochastic %D of 79.78%. Meanwhile, this stock’s MACD Oscillator was 1.12 over the past 9 days, 0.98 over the past two weeks, and 1.17 in the last 20 days.

As recent trading data suggests, this company’s shares have been hovering close to the $24.74 level. Over the past 12 months, this stock has experienced a high price of $30.15 and a low of $16.82. Top market experts pay heightened attention to a stock as it is getting closer to a notable historic high price or low price.

BlackRock Fund Advisors purchased more shares of this company during the last fiscal quarter, as we can observe in the latest corresponding filing from KB Home (NYSE:KBH) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This specific major shareholder, at the end of the quarter, held 9,635,661 shares of the company’s stock following the addition of 48,520 to this investor’s holdings during the three-month period. This share count represents that BlackRock Fund Advisors now held 11.09% stake in KB Home (KBH)’s shares.

Just in the most recent trading day, KB Home (NYSE:KBH) experienced a high price of $24.96 and low point of $24.25. At the end of the last trading session, this stock was at 24.74 per share, following a gain of $0.06, or 0.04% during the full day.

Aceto Corporation (ACET) Growth: It’s Not All About Earnings

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Wall Street analysts will be watching closely when Aceto Corporation (NASDAQ:ACET) reports its quarterly earnings next, which is scheduled for Today ). In the preceding quarter, the company reportedly generated EPS of $185.26 per share of its common stock. Looking at profitability indicators, this organization has an operating margin of -46.00%, a profit margin of -61.10%12.80%.

Speaking of Wall Street analysts, a number of market experts at top investment banks have recently posted their updated ratings on shares of Aceto Corporation (NASDAQ:ACET). Most recently, on July 31st, 2017, Canaccord Genuity Initiated a Buy rating. Before that, on November 14th, 2016, First Analysis Sec Downgrade to Equal-Weight. First Analysis Sec Initiated a Overweight rating on March 31st, 2016, Craig Hallum Initiated an Buy rating on July 16th, 2015, and Singular Research Reiterated a Buy rating on December 29th, 2014.

At its current price point, combined with the fact that this company has 30.81M shares outstanding, the current market capitalization sits at 5.86M. In the last trading day, 5,522,757 shares of Aceto Corporation were traded, which compares to its usual volume of about 3.33M shares per day of trading.

If we compare this company’s current price to its recent pricing activity, we can see that the price has changed by $0.02 in the past five trading days, resulting in a percentage change of +9.88% and a moving average of 0.17. In the past 20 days, its price changed by -$0.04 (which is -19.06%) and the stock’s moving average was 0.19. Looking back a full 50 days, shares of ACET changed by -$1.37 (which is -87.81%) and demonstrated a moving average of 0.71.

Staying in the same analytical area, this company’s stock has demonstrated a 9-day Stochastic %K score of 31.48%, a 14-day Stochastic %K score of 16.01% and a 20-day Stochastic %K score of 13.98%. Using a similar metric, Aceto Corporation (ACET) shares showed a Stochastic %D of 14.77% over the past 9 days, a Stochastic %D score of 13.50% over the last 14 days, and a 20-day Stochastic %D of 9.83%. Meanwhile, this stock’s MACD Oscillator was 0.00 over the past 9 days, -0.02 over the past two weeks, and -0.02 in the last 20 days.

As recent trading data suggests, this company’s shares have been hovering close to the $0.19 level. Over the past 12 months, this stock has experienced a high price of $7.64 and a low of $0.14. Top market experts pay heightened attention to a stock as it is getting closer to a notable historic high price or low price.

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP sold more shares of this company during the last fiscal quarter, as we can observe in the latest corresponding filing from Aceto Corporation (NASDAQ:ACET) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This specific major shareholder, at the end of the quarter, held 2,278,537 shares of the company’s stock following the subtraction of -161,507 to this investor’s holdings during the three-month period. This share count represents that Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now held 7.39% stake in Aceto Corporation (ACET)’s shares.

Just in the most recent trading day, Aceto Corporation (NASDAQ:ACET) experienced a high price of $0.2048 and low point of $0.15. At the end of the last trading session, this stock was at 0.1902 per share, following a loss of 16.76% during the full day.

Tricida, Inc. (TCDA) Is On Its Way To Spectacular Revenue Growth

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Wall Street analysts will be watching closely when Tricida, Inc. (NASDAQ:TCDA) reports its quarterly earnings next, which is scheduled for Today Before Market Open (Confirmed). Looking at the latest analyst forecasts, the current earnings-per-share (EPS) consensus estimate is sitting at -$0.85 per share. In the preceding quarter, the company reportedly generated EPS of -$0.65 per share of its common stock. Looking at profitability indicators, this organization has an operating margin of.

Speaking of Wall Street analysts, a number of market experts at top investment banks have recently posted their updated ratings on shares of Tricida, Inc. (NASDAQ:TCDA). Most recently, on July 23rd, 2018, JP Morgan Initiated a Neutral rating. Before that, on July 23rd, 2018, Goldman Initiated to Neutral.

At its current price point, combined with the fact that this company has 44.62M shares outstanding, the current market capitalization sits at 1.69B. In the last trading day, 3,239,288 shares of Tricida, Inc. were traded, which compares to its usual volume of about 186.38K shares per day of trading.

If we compare this company’s current price to its recent pricing activity, we can see that the price has changed by $12.41 in the past five trading days, resulting in a percentage change of +48.88% and a moving average of 26.64. In the past 20 days, its price changed by $14.67 (which is +63.42%) and the stock’s moving average was 25.00. Looking back a full 50 days, shares of TCDA changed by $15.21 (which is +67.33%) and demonstrated a moving average of 23.11.

Staying in the same analytical area, this company’s stock has demonstrated a 9-day Stochastic %K score of 58.49%, a 14-day Stochastic %K score of 64.61% and a 20-day Stochastic %K score of 64.64%. Using a similar metric, Tricida, Inc. (TCDA) shares showed a Stochastic %D of 35.22% over the past 9 days, a Stochastic %D score of 48.30% over the last 14 days, and a 20-day Stochastic %D of 48.31%. Meanwhile, this stock’s MACD Oscillator was 2.53 over the past 9 days, 3.12 over the past two weeks, and 3.70 in the last 20 days.

As recent trading data suggests, this company’s shares have been hovering close to the $37.80 level. Over the past 12 months, this stock has experienced a high price of $40.10 and a low of $19.43. Top market experts pay heightened attention to a stock as it is getting closer to a notable historic high price or low price.

OrbiMed Advisors LLC Held shares of this company during the last fiscal quarter, as we can observe in the latest corresponding filing from Tricida, Inc. (NASDAQ:TCDA) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This specific major shareholder, at the end of the quarter, held 10,889,280 shares of the company’s stock. This share count represents that OrbiMed Advisors LLC now held 25.86% stake in Tricida, Inc. (TCDA)’s shares.

Just in the most recent trading day, Tricida, Inc. (NASDAQ:TCDA) experienced a high price of $38.23 and low point of $25.83. At the end of the last trading session, this stock was at 37.8 per share, following a gain of $1.93, or 57.04% during the full day.

A Closer Look At Fundamentals: Pareteum Corporation (TEUM)

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Wall Street analysts will be watching closely when Pareteum Corporation (NASDAQ:TEUM) reports its quarterly earnings next, which is scheduled for Mon 6 May (In 39 Days). Looking at the latest analyst forecasts, the current earnings-per-share (EPS) consensus estimate is sitting at -$0.03 per share. In the preceding quarter, the company reportedly generated EPS of $4.11 per share of its common stock. Looking at profitability indicators, this organization has an operating margin of -45.30%, a profit margin of -40.00%68.20%.

Speaking of Wall Street analysts, a number of market experts at top investment banks have recently posted their updated ratings on shares of Pareteum Corporation (NASDAQ:TEUM). Most recently, on January 11th, 2019, Maxim Group Initiated a Buy rating. Before that, on December 20th, 2018, Northland Capital Initiated to Outperform. Lake Street Initiated a Buy rating on September 24th, 2018.

At its current price point, combined with the fact that this company has 99.76M shares outstanding, the current market capitalization sits at 444.93M. In the last trading day, 5,809,062 shares of Pareteum Corporation were traded, which compares to its usual volume of about 2.82M shares per day of trading.

If we compare this company’s current price to its recent pricing activity, we can see that the price has changed by -$0.24 in the past five trading days, resulting in a percentage change of -5.11% and a moving average of 4.50. In the past 20 days, its price changed by $0.44 (which is +10.95%) and the stock’s moving average was 4.45. Looking back a full 50 days, shares of TEUM changed by $2.21 (which is +98.22%) and demonstrated a moving average of 3.56.

Staying in the same analytical area, this company’s stock has demonstrated a 9-day Stochastic %K score of 11.66%, a 14-day Stochastic %K score of 33.34% and a 20-day Stochastic %K score of 40.00%. Using a similar metric, Pareteum Corporation (TEUM) shares showed a Stochastic %D of 13.06% over the past 9 days, a Stochastic %D score of 37.26% over the last 14 days, and a 20-day Stochastic %D of 40.95%. Meanwhile, this stock’s MACD Oscillator was -0.30 over the past 9 days, -0.22 over the past two weeks, and 0.04 in the last 20 days.

As recent trading data suggests, this company’s shares have been hovering close to the $4.46 level. Over the past 12 months, this stock has experienced a high price of $5.93 and a low of $1.45. Top market experts pay heightened attention to a stock as it is getting closer to a notable historic high price or low price.

Hoving Partners SA Held shares of this company during the last fiscal quarter, as we can observe in the latest corresponding filing from Pareteum Corporation (NASDAQ:TEUM) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This specific major shareholder, at the end of the quarter, held 12,079,547 shares of the company’s stock. This share count represents that Hoving Partners SA now held 11.21% stake in Pareteum Corporation (TEUM)’s shares.

Just in the most recent trading day, Pareteum Corporation (NASDAQ:TEUM) experienced a high price of $4.97 and low point of $4.37. At the end of the last trading session, this stock was at 4.46 per share, following a gain of $0.46, or 0.22% during the full day.