Weekly Wrap: Bond-Fund Picks, Reducing Portfolio Risk, and a Rate Cut

Editor's Picks
Fed Lowers Rates While Stressing Economic Stability
We are incorporating three rate cuts (including this one) through 2020 into our bank forecasts.

9 Exceptional--and Plucky--Core Bond Funds
These Gold-rated funds all hail from the new intermediate core-plus bond Morningstar Category.

Starbucks Is Set for Growth
We're more optimistic about its medium-term potential and have raised our fair value estimate.

Vanguard Dividend Growth Reopens
Investors can now buy into one of the large-cap blend category's most reliable--and exceptional--funds.

Portfolio Planning and Personal Finance With Christine Benz
2 Items for Your Portfolio-Review Checklist
Getting these elections right can reduce the taxes you owe and ensure that your assets pass to the right people.

Should Working Longer Be a Part of Your Retirement Plan?
Benz and guest Mark Miller discuss how working longer can help you save more for retirement, but it isn't always possible.

A 'Chicken' Way to Lighten Up on Lofty Positions
Deploying mutual fund and capital gains distributions can be a risk-reduction tool for your portfolio.

Josh Charlson: 5 Portfolio Lessons From Target-Date Funds
Target-date funds have been one of the fund industry's biggest winners over the past decade.

Mutual Funds and Exchange-Traded Funds
Boost Your Equity Yield Without Reaching for It
Here are some quality funds for income-seeking investors.

Investors Still Pouring Money Into Passive Funds
Senior analyst Kevin McDevitt talks with Christine Benz about the fund flows data and discusses what's driving assets into passive products.

A Solid Approach to Value
Putnam Equity Income (PEYAX) earns a Morningstar Analyst Rating of Bronze.

Capital Group's Superlatives and Challenges
One challenge largely met, the other not so much.

Should You Bother Investing Abroad?
How much foreign exposure you need and where to find it.

Few Good Alternatives
Liquid alternatives can diversify risk, but most do little to improve traditional portfolios.

Long-Term Outperformance Is the Norm at This Large-Cap Fund
Gold-rated Primecap Odyssey Stock (POSKX) is a compelling actively managed choice in the large-cap space.

Defensive Exposure to High-Yield Bonds
This high-yield bond ETF uses forward-looking market information to keep risk in check.

Rekenthaler Report
Confronting Retirement Planning
When it comes to envisioning their retirement futures, most Americans would rather not.

Should Social Security Be Group Insurance, or Individual?
The question that awaits Washington.

Stocks
A New High-Quality Stock for Your Watchlist
There's a lot to like about narrow-moat Coupa (COUP), but shares are fairly valued today.

Our Picks in the Data Center Industry
The firms that hold network-dense properties are best positioned.

Long-Term Opportunities in Agriculture Stocks
Fewer acres planted will likely result in lower crop input volumes, but we expect profit impacts to be short-lived.

Capital One Hit by Data Breach
While this is a setback for Capital One (COF), investors should view it as an opportunity to purchase the shares at a discount.

Dividend Seekers: Put This Stock on Your Shopping List
We think narrow-moat Kroger (KR) is well positioned to compete.

Our Take on Earnings
Apple Delivers on Services, Wearable Growth Strategy
We're maintaining our $200 fair value estimate.

GE's Turnaround Continues With Improved Outlook
Despite the risks posed by the 737 Max groundings, General Electric (GE) maintained its long-term industrial free cash flow outlook in the quarter.

Pfizer Reports Steady Results
The divestment of the generics business should strengthen Pfizer's (PFE) competitive positioning.

Can Under Armour Compete?
We do not expect to change our fair value estimate for the no-moat firm. 

P&G Looks Expensive
We like what we're seeing from the wide-moat firm but think it's overvalued.

Mylan: Merger Creates Significant Generic Scale
We maintain our no-moat rating and await additional details on the Pfizer transaction.

An Array of Uncertainties for Qualcomm
We recommend prospective investors steer clear of shares at current levels.

Asset Managers: Our Take on Earnings
Wide-moat BlackRock (BLK) and T. Rowe Price (TROW) may not be the cheapest, but they're the best.

Kellogg Sales Improve, Shares a Bargain
We view shares of the wide-moat firm as attractive.

The Long View Podcast
'It's in Wall Street's Interest to Make Everyday Investors Think That They Are Stupid'
The influential financial writer Jonathan Clements on what's driving higher market valuations, the challenges of retirement drawdown, and the myth of the "dumb" investor.

Policy Matters With Aron Szapiro
Still Living Dangerously With a Debt Ceiling
Congress really needs to do away with an arcane tripwire that might one day blow up the economy.

Most Requested Stock Quotes
Apple
Amazon.com
Pfizer
Microsoft
AT&T

Most Requested Fund Quotes
Vanguard Dividend Growth
Vanguard 500 Index
Vanguard Total Stock Market Index
T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth
Dodge & Cox Income

Most Requested ETF Quotes 
SPDR S&P 500 ETF
Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF
Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF