From Kiplinger:
Picking stocks is always a tricky prospect, has gotten a lot tougher lately. A prolonged bull market has brought U.S. stocks near record highs, stretching price-earnings ratios and depressing dividend yields, which makes it harder to find a bargain. At the same time, economic uncertainties abound, with overseas markets in turmoil, the Federal Reserve waffling on the direction of U.S. interest rates low oil prices hobbling the energy industry and the strong dollar wreaking havoc with earnings at big multinational concerns.