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Stock Sectors: Winners and Losers in the First 8 Months of 2016

The bull market in U.S. stocks that began in March 2009 continues to march higher, supported by low interest rates, low inflation and a moderate growth environment.

However, the market is much more than just the quote you hear on the news about the Dow Jones industrial average or the Standard & Poor’s 500 index. These broad market averages often hide a lot of action within the market.

The S&P 500 shows a moderate 4.1 percent gain through Sept. 9, but digging deeper into specific stock sectors there are dramatic double-digit gains. For example, the energy sector has posted a 14.1 percent gain, telecommunication services are up 12.7 percent and utilities are posting an 11.1 gain, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence data.

Investors can use a rotational strategy to shift assets into stock sectors that are benefiting from the current phase of the business and economic cycle.

The winners. Yield-starved investors have flocked to utilities and telecommunications for their dividends. Their attractiveness has grown as traditional income-producing vehicles, such as bonds and CDs, have little or no yield, says Jim Davis, regional investment manager at U.S. Bank’s private client group in Springfield, Illinois.

[See: 6 Reliable Dividend Stocks Paying Out for 100 Years or More.]

“Approximately 30 percent of the bonds outstanding on a global basis currently have interest rates below zero percent. Here in the United States, the 10-year U.S. Treasury note has hovered near 1.60 percent,” Davis says. “By contrast, the dividend yields provided by the utilities and telecommunications sectors about 3.6 percent and 4.6 percent, respectively, appear very attractive.”

Energy stocks scored a big comeback in 2016 after crude oil prices fell to around $26 per barrel from more than $100 per barrel in August 2013.

“The energy sector’s performance is due to low valuations and the increase in the price of oil through the beginning of June,” says John Conlon, chief equity strategist at People’s United Wealth Management in Bridgeport, Connecticut. “Although oil prices came down from June to August, they have recovered somewhat and are still higher than the start of the year.”

The laggards. There are also definite laggards and even a losing sector in the current environment. For example, the consumer discretionary sector is unchanged, while financials are posting a 0.5 percent gain and health care is down 1.1 percent through Sept. 9.

The consumer discretionary sector includes a broad array of companies, such as retail, movies, restaurants, home furnishing and hotels, and performance in this sector has been a mixed bag.

“While the consumer has shouldered the burden during the economic expansion, not all consumer discretionary industries have benefited,” Davis says. “Consumers have altered their behaviors and habits in recent years. They have preferred to spend dollars on experiences rather than goods. Internet retailers have performed better than multiline retailers as consumers have shunned malls in favor of online shopping.”

Financial stocks, including banks, have suffered in 2016 due to “head fakes” in regard to the Federal Reserve raising rates, Conlon says.

At the start of the year, analysts widely expected the Fed to increase interest rates three or four times in 2016, but it has not pulled the trigger even once. While the Fed meets this week to consider a rate hike, most analysts believe recent economic data will prompt officials to sideline a rate change until December.

[See: 6 Famous Flameouts of Famed Investors.]

The health care sector has suffered due to the negative headlines regarding price increases for certain drugs and political rhetoric regarding price controls, Conlon says.

Here are five money moves investors can consider.

Think strategically. The S&P 500 is trading near all-time highs. While it can be unnerving to buy stocks as the market is falling or during a correction phase, smart investors look to buy low.

“Use dips as buying opportunities,” says Jimmy Lee, CEO of the Wealth Consulting Group in Las Vegas. “Don’t chase returns and be patient.”

Look for companies with revenue growth. “In this slow-growth, low-inflation and subdued interest rate environment, we think sectors and companies that can grow revenues and earnings faster than the overall market and their competitors are attractive,” Davis says. “An extra benefit would be stocks that pay dividends and have the potential to raise their dividends in the future.”

Davis says he is considering companies in the technology, health care and consumer discretionary sectors.

“Likewise, we favor companies that have niches and/or investment themes in cloud computing, e-commerce, connectivity, the global consumer and an aging population,” he says.

Add exposure to energy stocks. “The expectation is that the energy sector will continue to outperform as oil prices climb higher as production and inventories draw closer to demand,” Conlon says.

His favorite companies now: EOG Resources (ticker: EOG), Occidental Petroleum Corp. (OXY), Phillips 66 (PSX), and Schlumberger Limited (SLB).

Financials could benefit if the Fed hikes rates. Conlon’s top picks: JP Morgan Chase & Co. (JPM), Citigroup (C) and Bank of America Corp. (BAC).

Increase allocation to tech sector. Technology is another sector that should also outperform with the growth in cloud computing, cybersecurity and the state-of-the-art work being done in areas like as driverless cars, Conlon says. His top picks within technology include Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) and Facebook (FB).

Looking ahead, Conlon remains upbeat on the prospects for this bull market.

[Read: Why Investors Should Love Monthly Dividend Stocks.]

“I believe the bull market will continue through 2016 and 2017 albeit at a slower rate than investors have grown use to over the past few years,” he says. “I believe returns on the order of 5 percent to 7 percent, including dividends, will be more the norm. Continued economic growth, recovering earnings, and low interest rates will be the factors driving equities.”

More from U.S. News

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Stock Sectors: Winners and Losers in the First 8 Months of 2016 originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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