We recently published a list of the 12 Best Investment Websites To Research Stocks. In this article, we will look at where The Wall Street Journal stands against other best investment websites to research stocks.
Retail investors put a lot of effort into creating a solid portfolio by researching the economic climate, analyzing the latest stock market trends, learning about investing strategies, and keeping an eye on the most noteworthy moves made by smart investors and elite hedge funds. Retail investors constitute a significant section of the investing community, and they have access to many online resources that can help them navigate the volatile stock market.
According to a study by Gallup, 61% of Americans claim they own stocks as of April 2023, which is the highest percentage since 2008. This is a rebound from post-recession lows, up from 56% in 2021 and 55% in 2020. Between 2001 and 2008, stock ownership averaged 62%; however, after the financial crisis of 2007–2009, it began to drop. Moreover, demographics, education, and income all have a significant impact on ownership. Compared to just 29% of households making less than $40,000, 84% of adults in households making $100,000 or more own stocks. Likewise, over 80% of postgraduates and college graduates own equities, compared to much lower percentages of individuals without a degree. Lastly, another factor is demographics; older, married, and wealthier people tend to have higher ownership levels. Investments in individual stocks, mutual funds, and retirement accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs are included in the measure, which reveals differences in financial engagement between income and academic achievement.
Specifically, according to the 2024 Women & Investing Study by Fidelity, 71% of women own stock market investments, up 18% from 2023. Boomer and Gen X women grew at the fastest rates, at 18% and 23% annually, respectively. In just two years, the percentage of women among Fidelity’s retail clients has increased by more than 20%. By contributing an average of 10.4% of their paychecks, which is greater than the 9.5% average for women overall, 77% of Gen Z women own investments, making them the leaders in early investing. This percentage is up 6% from 2023. Even while 52% of Gen Z women get their financial advice from friends and family, 89% of them seek professional assistance. Nonetheless, there is still a confidence gap, with women almost twice as likely as men to say they know nothing about investing.
Sangeeta Moorjani, Head of Tax Exempt Market and Lifetime Engagement for Fidelity Investments stated:
“It’s encouraging to see the number of women taking control of their finances swell over the past three years,” “We know there is still work to be done – the financial confidence gap continues to persist, and women continue to report higher levels of financial stress than men – but we’ve made considerable strides. Fidelity is committed to continuing that momentum by providing access to tools, support, and education tailored to the unique financial needs of women.”
Most importantly, research is essential before making an individual stock investment, and this is where trustworthy websites for stock research would come in very handy. Determine your level of risk tolerance first. Stocks are riskier than index funds or bonds, which provide diversity. According to experts, you should only own 5%–10% of your portfolio in individual stocks. Next, learn about the business. “Never invest in a business you cannot understand,” as stated by Warren Buffett. Examine the business’s activities, offerings, and sources of income. On their investor relations websites, publicly traded firms post their annual reports, which include financial information and earnings calls. Investors should examine these reports to gain knowledge about growth and profitability.
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Methodology
To compile our list of the top websites for stock research, we based the rankings on a consensus drawn from multiple sources and Reddit discussions on the topic. Each website earned one point for every mention across the sources, and only those featured at least three times were included. Furthermore, we evaluated measurable aspects of these websites that provide significant value to users, awarding extra points for those features.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points. (see more details here)
The Wall Street Journal
One of the Best websites to research Stocks, The Wall Street Journal, a global daily business newspaper published in the United States, is based in New York City. In its Markets section, the Wall Street Journal reports on bonds, stocks, commodities and futures, commercial real estate, and personal finance. The WSJ website also has sections for WSJ Money, Streetwise, and Intelligent Investor. WSJ Pro provides information on bankruptcy, central banking, private equity, and venture capital.
The Wall Street Journal revealed on January 16 that Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC)’s fourth-quarter earnings of $6.67 billion ($0.82 per share) exceeded analyst projections and more than doubled YoY. The 11th consecutive quarter of trading revenue growth, especially in fixed income, currencies, and commodities, and a 44% increase in investment banking fees drove an 11% YoY rise in revenue to $25.35 billion. Credit card fee revenue boosted consumer banking earnings by 2%. The lack of a $2.1 billion FDIC charge from the previous year contributed to the increase in profits. Strong consumer spending and optimism among business clients going into 2025 were emphasized by Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC)’s CFO Alastair Borthwick.
Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway was the largest stakeholder in the Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC) among the funds in Insider Monkey’s database. It owns 797.68 million shares worth $31.65 billion as of Q3.
Overall, The Wall Street Journal ranks 6th on our list of the Best Investment Websites To Research Stocks. While we acknowledge the potential for BAC to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than BAC but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.