In this episode, Tracey is joined by Kevin Matras, Zacks Vice President and portfolio manager of Zacks Options Trader service to talk about stock options: what they are and how you can trade them.

Tracey admits she has never traded an option so Kevin starts off with the basics.

What is an option?

Options provide 3 advantages over regular stock trading:
1. Limited Risk
2. Leverage
3. Flexibility

But there’s a bunch of things that beginners should learn before jumping in.
What’s a call and a put? What’s the easiest of the two to use for beginning traders?

Tracey always hears about being “in the money.” What does that mean?
Kevin takes Tracey through three option examples that beginners would be able to execute, including Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), Simon Property Group (SPG) and Facebook (FB).

With Facebook, he takes it one step further and discusses a bull call spread that can limit the profit potential but is a common strategy when options are expensive.

While the options “lingo” may sound complex, “bull call what ???”, Kevin lays it out so even Tracey can understand it.

If you’ve ever wondered how options work or thought about trying to trade them, then this is a must-listen podcast.

Johnson & Johnson: http://www.zacks.com/stock/quote/JNJ?cid=cs-soundcloud-ft-pod
Simon Property: http://www.zacks.com/stock/quote/SPG?cid=cs-soundcloud-ft-pod
Facebook: http://www.zacks.com/stock/quote/FB?cid=cs-soundcloud-ft-pod

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Growth has outperformed value again in 2017 and now, some big-name hedge fund managers are saying value investing is dead. Please pick a time stamped topic below:

(0:45) - Are Value Investors Getting Nervous?
(4:00) - Growth vs. Value: How Do They Compare?
(9:10) - Value Stock Screener
(10:45) - Tracey's Top Stock Picks
(16:00) - Episode Roundup: Podcast@Zacks.com

Blockchain and cryptocurrencies are the next big “thing” but how can you play it through stocks to cash in on the growth?

(0:25) - Blockchain Tech & Cryptocurrency: How To Invest
(3:00) - What Is a Blockchain and How Can It Be Applied?
(9:30) - What Impact Will Banks Have On Cryptocurrency Moving Forward?
(13:45) - Visa Approves Monaco Cryptocurrency Card
(22:00) - What Happens When You Can Short Bitcoin?
(24:45) - Episode Roundup: Podcast@Zacks.com

Some stocks are stumbling this earnings season which means there are more value buying opportunities for savvy investors.

The Biotech stocks have been on a big run in 2017 but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some healthcare values still out there.

Please pick a time stamped topic below:

(0:45) - Emerging Biotech Market: Is It Time To Invest?
(6:10) - Is Large Cap Biotech a Value Trap: Gilead, Biogen and Bluebird
(12:00) - Generic Drug Companies: Teva, Valeant and AbbVie
(15:50) - Managed Healthcare Sector: The Effects Of Obamacare
(20:40) - Growth Stocks In Healthcare
(23:30) - Healthcare Value Stock Screener
(25:00) - Episode Roundup: Podcast@Zacks.com

Some stock market bears have been waiting for a US recession for four years. Is 2020 the year they will finally be right or will they have to throw in the towel and join the bull’s party? (0:30) - What Can We Expect Heading Into 2020?(4:00) - Are There Any Recession Warnings Investors Should Be Concerned About?(11:05) - What Factor Could Help Continue This Economic Growth?(20:20) - How Should You Be Positioning Your Portfolio?(25:15) - International Stocks, Big Banks, and Energy (35:20) - Episode Roundup: EW, SNE, BABA, CHL, STT, XOM, CVX, ALXN, HMUN, CNC, UNH, CVS Podcast@Zacks.com

Anne Scheiber started with $5,000 and in the end her portfolio was worth $22 million. Here’s how she did it. (1:00) - Great Amateur Investors: The Long Term Winners (8:15) - Tips To Learn From Long Term Holds (17:50) - Where To Find Juicy Dividend Stocks (28:45) - Episode Roundup: MRK, DIS, WSR, GPS, WFC ​​​​​​​            Podcast@Zacks.com

In 1999, Buffett explained the difficulties of investing in revolutionary technologies. Should you still follow his advice today? Please pick a time stamped topic below:

(0:15) - Is Warren Buffett Feeling Pressure To Put The Cash To Work?
(3:15) - Interviews With Warren Buffett
(7:00) - Tech Compared To Two Revolutionary Industries
(10:20) - Advice From Warren Buffett: Economic Moats
(15:00) - Episode Roundup: Podcast@Zacks.com

Here’s where to look if you’re trying to find value stocks in technology. Please pick a time stamped topic below: (0:30) - Tech Industry: Where Is The Value? (1:50) - Stock Screener By Industry Sector (5:00) - Tracey's Top Stock Picks (14:00) - Episode Roundup: Podcast@Zacks.com

These 5 stocks look dirt cheap but is it too good to be true? (0:15) - Drug Stocks: Value Traps or Opportunity? (1:30) - Tracey’s Top Stock Picks (11:45) - Health Service Industry (14:20) - Episode Roundup: Podcast@Zacks.com

Stocks with super low P/Es may seems like values, but investors should be cautious. (0:30) - Extremely Cheap Stocks On Sale: Stock Screener (3:45) - Tracey’s Top Stock Picks: LCI, EMES, RRTS, GME , MU (15:45) - Takeaways On Cheap Stocks: Podcast@Zacks.com

Buffett has investing regrets on stocks that got away. What can you do to avoid the same fate?

(0:35) - Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting: Buying Up More Apple  (4:00) - Warren Buffett’s Take On Amazon and Google (9:20) - What Are The Cheapest Of The FANG? (12:45) - Tracey’s Top Stock Picks (17:25) - Episode Roundup: AAPL, GOOGL, AMZN, LFC, JEC, SLYV

These 4 criteria can guide investors through the investing maze. (0:30) - How Long Should You Own A Stock? (2:40) - General Electric Leaves the Dow and Bad News for Starbucks (6:30) - Criteria For Buy and Hold Stocks (11:35) - Tracey’s Top Stock Picks: PFE, XOM, TR (19:00) - Episode Roundup: Podcast@Zacks.com

Welcome to Episode #66 of the Zacks Market Edge Podcast.

Every week, host and Zacks stock strategist, Tracey Ryniec, will be joined by guests to discuss the hottest investing topics in stocks, bonds and ETFs and how it impacts your life.

In this episode, Tracey is joined by David Bartosiak, the host of Zacks Live Traderand also the Editor of Zacks Momentum Trader and Home Run Investor.

25 states now allow medical marijuana use and 4 states, plus the District of Columbia, allow recreational use.

The market for marijuana and its products is expected to explode to $20 billion a year in the next several years.

Of course, investors are wondering: how can I cash in on the pot craze?
A few years ago, there were a lot of smaller companies that seemed to be promising like Growlife Inc. (PHOT). But most of those early adopters are now trading on the OTC markets for pennies.

Dave and Tracey look at a couple of new ways to play the marijuana trade.
3 Stocks That Are in the Pot Business

1. Innovative Industrial Properties (IIPR) went IPO in late 2016. This REIT buys buildings and leases them to growers of medical marijuana. It’s so new there’s no Zacks Rank and no analyst estimates yet. It has a market cap of just $62 million.
2. GW Pharmaceuticals (GWPH) is everyone’s favorite in these marijuana stock articles. This British-based drug company is developing a cannabis-based drug to treat epilepsy. The good news is that it has passed three Phase 3 trials. The bad news is that it hasn’t yet submitted its NDA.
3. Scotts Miracle Gro (SMG) has spent $500 million in marijuana products and is the furthest along in actually having products to the market. It’s already selling the “Black Magic” potting soil, specifically designed for pot plants, in 141 Home Depots. It also hopes to be first to the market with an acceptable pesticide.

But other than these three companies, Tracey and Dave had a hard time in coming up with other stock picks with decent fundamentals.

Dave extended his search to Canada where he found Canopy Growth (TWJMF) and Aurora Cannabis (ACBFF) on the pink sheets. Canopy also trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange. But there’s little information in the United States about these companies and they aren’t ranked Zacks.com.

What do Tracey and Dave really think about the marijuana stocks?

Are they a fad?

Or is there a real opportunity there?

Tune into this week’s podcast to find out.

With worries mounting that this is the best it can get, find out which sectors still have room for ample earnings and revenue growth.

The Indian stock indexes have been hitting record highs but are they too hot to handle?

Please pick a time stamped topic below:

(0:40) - India ETFs On The Rise
(5:00) - India's Growth: Economic and Political Reform
(10:40) - Financial Institutions In India
(15:00) - Top Banking Stock Picks
(19:50) - Is There An IPO Bubble In India?
(23:00) - Episode Roundup: Podcast@Zacks.com

It’s not just growth stocks that are hitting new highs as the stock markets soar higher. Please pick a time stamped topic below:

(0:20) - Stocks At All Time Highs: Where Is The Value?
(2:10) - Style Score Stock Screener
(4:15) - Tracey's Top Stock Picks
(9:45) - Recognize Real Value: Why Are The Earnings Growing?
(12:15) - Episode Roundup: Podcast@Zacks.com

Chinese stocks have sold off. But are they cheap enough to be values or are they just a trap? (0:45) - Is It Time To Invest In China Or Still Too Risky? (4:00) - The Current State of China Market (10:10) - Tracey’s Top Stock Picks: Value Or Trap? (19:30) - Big Takeaways On China: BIDU, BABA, JD, TCEHY, SINA             Podcast@Zacks.com

Sometimes the best investments are right in front of you. Please pick a time stamped topic below:

(0:30) - Berkshire Hathaway Buys Pilot Flying J
(2:40) - 3 Lessons To Learn From Warren Buffett's Recent Interview
(8:00) - Tracey's Top Stock Picks
(15:45) - Episode Roundup: Podcast@Zacks.com