Brett Horn

These wide-moat companies offer very stable business models and sticky customer bases, but investors should wait for a better opportunity to buy shares.

The near term's not so bright, but we still like the long-term picture.

Now that profitability is back on track, management's focus can shift.

This wide-moat company benefits from its bank customers' improving health.

Cautious investors could see a lot to like in the bank technology industry.

But investors should consider what could happen when that wave recedes.

Scale is the star, with brand and the network playing supporting roles.

Our analysis says no, and market fears on this front create an opportunity.

Western Union finished 2011 on a somewhat mixed note, although it did make strides in returning to a more normalized growth rate this year.

Investors can potentially achieve an attractive short- or long-term return.

Profitability is what really matters, and the forward outlook on this front is balanced.

Unfortunately, market valuations reflect this, and we see little opportunity.

We're adding insurance companies to our credit rating universe.

Morningstar's Bill Bergman comments on Berkshire's current penchant for capital-intensive businesses and the outlook for its operating companies.

Berkshire's resolute actions in the downturn both exhibited its internal financial strength and also bore fruit for shareholders, says Morningstar's Bill Bergman. Plus our take on Berkshire and derivatives legislation.

The public policy response to the financial crisis may have muted Berkshire's long-term return potential, says Morningstar senior analyst Bill Bergman.

Core processors are insulated from banks' woes.

The macroeconomy will dictate when a hardening insurance market will occur.

Instructive examples from managers presenting at our annual Stocks Forum.

Don't paint all insurance companies with the same brush.

The companies in this sector are a diverse lot, but they are worth watching.

The business and financial services sector contains both stalwarts and the highly exposed.

Morningstar employment sector analyst Vishnu Lekraj forecasts unemployment ticking higher still but sees an inflection point in the pace of job losses.

Is Buffett's foray into muni bond insurance a source of concern for Berkshire?

Declining stock prices dented Berkshire's reported capital position last year, but we're bullish about the long-term prospects of the conglomerate's stock holdings.

Morningstar analyst Vishnu Lekraj reports on the signals in employment data and employment services firms.

Dozens of subsidiaries give Berkshire a great read on the economy, but is this sensitivity a concern?

This year's Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting will come on the heels of a tough year for the conglomerate.

How we're digging through the recent actions of top investment managers to uncover high-conviction ideas.

Companies with moats and strong balance sheets should outperform.

Core processors will feel only limited pain from the financial crisis.

The effects of the credit crisis on the financial services sector vary widely by industry segment.