What we got right and what we got incredibly wrong in our predictions for the energy sector two years ago.

Some things never change – and in healthcare, we sometimes feel like we’re talking about the same stuff year in and year out. Join us as we cover some stories that were a big deal in 2014, check in on how they’re going now, and predict some major trends in 2018.

We welcome fellow Fool Mark Reeth this week to look back at some of the top consumer and retail investing stories from his time covering the industry.

Industry Focus: Financials gets in its time machine to check in with David Hanson, one of the former hosts of the show. Gaby Lapera and David chat about his investing hypotheses for mega banks from two years ago and whether or not they still hold up. Is everything different? Have things changed at all? Tune in to find out.

As companies start to report earnings, we take a look at some of the big themes from the energy, industrial manufacturing, and airlines sector. Plus, investors fight back against excessive CEO pay and whether you should be excited about the Saudi Aramco IPO on the New York Stock exchange

Marc Andreessen and Peter Thiel are two of the most successful tech investors around; tune in to learn their secrets.

Make more profit-friendly decisions by developing a specific and repeatable process for evaluating stocks.

The sporting goods industry has become the latest example of how competition and disruption are forcing everyone from big box chains to mom and pop stores to adapt to the new world order in retail.

Bank stocks are up, but only because the largest U.S. banks did less bad than Wall Street expected.

On this financials edition of the Motley Fool’s Industry Focus podcast, host Gaby Lapera and analyst Jay Jenkins try to make sense of the good, the bad, and the downright ugly first quarter numbers at the nation’s largest banks.

We swear capital allocation is sexy! On this episode we explain what it is, the different strategies businesses use for maximizing shareholder value, and profile two companies – one that has done a great job... and one that hasn’t.

Peabody Energy's Chapter 11 filing this week has led to many saying "it's the brutal coal market", but we take a look at why there is much more to the story. Plus: dividend cuts at National Oilwell Varco, Alcoa's earnings, and what's on our radar.

Intuitive Surgical's robotic surgery and Illumina's DNA sequencers are reshaping healthcare.

The state of Macau in 2016: a look at how bad the regulations have hurt, and how a few companies are working to recover.

Can improving your writing skills boost your investing returns?

On this episode we recap everything we know about Google’s self-driving car project.

 It is becoming more and more apparent that solar and wind energy is not only changing the way in which we produce power, it's completely upending the whole electricity industry. We take a deeper look at the nuances of investing in the renewable energy field. Plus, Halliburton's deal faces another hurdle and we celebrate national beer day.

The ins-and-outs of Pfizer and Allergan's failed $160 billion merger.

Thomas Staggs joined Disney 25 years ago and has left an impressive mark on the company in his various roles, including CFO and chairman of the Parks and Resorts segment. Just last year, he seemed to be a shoo-in for future CEO, but with his sudden resignation, the company and its investors must now grapple with renewed uncertainty as Bob Iger approaches his 2018 retirement.

Insurance companies can be tremendous investments, if you know what to look for. Here’s the simple breakdown of a very complicated industry.

We unveil our newest product, Motley Fools Rush In and talk with the product manager Ilan Moscovitz. To show off the exciting new investment opportunities available to everyday individuals, we shine a spotlight on one of the platform’s first investment opportunities, Park Slope Pizza Society and chat with the owner Buddy Swole.

We dig into why oil companies haven't been able to replace their production with new reserves lately and the ripple effects it will have a cross the industry. Plus, Sean tests his knowledge of the American power industry with an energy quiz.

Here's how cable companies are thriving when customers are cutting their cords, and what you need to know about spectrum auctions.

Merck, Gilead Sciences, and Ionis get a verdict in their patent suit, and Congressmen call for a patent review of Medivation's Xtandi.

It is no exaggeration to say that banks, and the credit they provide, grease the wheels of the American economy. But a look back at the last 150 years of banking reveals that the path hasn’t always been smooth for the nation’s leading lenders, including JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM), Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), and Citigroup (NYSE: C).

In this episode of Industry Focus: Financials, Gaby Lapera and John Maxfield trace this past back to the 1860s, when the modern American banking system was established to help the Union Army finance the Civil War.

On this episode we reflect on the tough market conditions from earlier this year and some lessons we learned along the way.

After a recent court decision that puts once sacred pipeline contracts, some contractors are looking to renegotiate more lenient terms. Plus, the trouble with LNG, another bump in the Halliburton-Baker Hughes merger, and answering mailbag questions. 

The Motley Fool discusses how investors might want to think about Valeant Pharmaceuticals' share price tailspin and marijuana drugmaker GW Pharmaceuticals' skyrocketing valuation.

In a surprising move to investors and customers alike, the “Amazon Cable Store” is officially here, offering television, Internet, and phone bundles from Comcast that feature the e-commerce leader’s simple ordering process and a dedicated customer service team.

Meanwhile, Under Armour finalizes its long-delayed stock split as we consider the implications for both current and future shareholders.

 Deciding what age to start getting benefits is a key decision in retirement, and finances are only part of the issue. Find out how to make the right decision for you.

Three interviews from our time on the ground in Austin at SXSW exploring how different businesses are thinking about virtual reality.

Steve Levine, author of The Powerhouse: Inside the Invention of a Battery to Save the World, joins us in studio to discuss the current status of batteries and the impact they could have on the energy market over the next 10-20 years.

MuleSoft founder Ross Mason talks security, wearables, and electronic health records and lays out an optimistic prediction about the future of healthcare.

We welcome special guest Brian Dodge from the Retail Industry Leaders Association to share with us his view of some of the trends, challenges, and innovative opportunities that retail management teams are focused on in 2016 and beyond.

Small bank investing requires a little extra work, but the benefits can pay off mightily.

Host Gaby Lapera and special guest Tim Hanson think that small banks are not only an interesting niche in the investing markets, but one very much worth your time. What makes these banks “small”? Why should an investor even bother with the effort of researching and investing in them? What are the advantageous, disadvantages, and common mistakes investors make when wading into these waters? What are the key checkboxes you must check off before clicking “buy”? The answers to these questions – and more – are right here in today’s financials edition of the Motley Fool’s Industry Focus podcast.

Listen in to hear about the two new products Apple has announced, one nifty way the company is returning value to shareholders, and how Apple is performing in the detachables space.

Then, on the Tesla side of things: what we know about Tesla’s Model 3, how it’ll make electric cars far more accessible to the public than they have been, and what might come of a significantly increased number of EVs on the road.

The Motley Fool’s Tayor Muckerman and Sean O’Reilly weigh in on recent production moves by oil giant Chevron and analyze the repercussions of a new partnership between SolarCity and Whole Foods.

The Motley Fool's Kristine Harjes and Todd Campbell discuss what trial failure, commercial failure, and patent expiration at Celldex, MannKind, and PDL BioPharma, respectively, teaches investors about managing risk in the industry.

Extending a wave of industry consolidation, the No. 2 and 4 theater operators in the U.S. will combine to create the largest theater chain in the country. The combined entity will have over 8,000 screens and 600 locations in 45 states. And in other news, stellar revenue growth may soon be a source of nostalgia for Shake Shack investors.

Around the world, savers are grappling with negative interest rates. Here’s why negative interest rates are unlikely to hit American shores.

Years after the Great Financial Crisis, interest rates are heading even lower. From Japan to Germany, interest rates are so low that they’re negative -- that’s right, negative! Some investors are actually choosing to lose money by investing in government bonds.

But this week’s episode of Industry Focus: Financials has it all. Join us as The Motley Fool’s Gaby Lapera and Jordan Wathen discuss accounting ratios, negative interest rate policy, and why it’s so darn hard to make accurate predictions about the future.

Next week Fools will be on the ground in Austin for SXSW -- we run through three speakers we're excited to see and why.

We say goodbye to one of the nations pioneers and most controversial figures in America's shale revolution: Aubrey McClendon. Plus, a look at what Warren Buffet had to say about energy in his annual letter, ExxonMobil's big upcoming decisions, and we answer listener questions. 

The Zika Virus is a top healthcare concern globally, but investors might want to approach companies working on a Zika cure cautiously.

Hilton announced last week that it will be restructuring into three publicly traded entities, including one of the last REITs after Congress passed legislation in December barring the tax-free REIT spin-offs that had become popular with hotels, restaurants, and casinos. Meanwhile, Lego gets one step closer to the title of world’s largest toy company.

Starting from the observation that the payments industry is dominated by the oligopoly of Visa, MasterCard and American Express, Gaby Lapera and John Maxfield talk about why it seems to be so prone to disruption.

Down over 35% since reporting earnings earlier this month, LinkedIn has some investors thinking about jumping ship. On this episode we break down the reasons for the dip and some growth drivers investors should keep an eye on.

To celebrate the energy sector’s 18th month of endemic misery, this week’s episode is all about the most ominous shadows looming on energy’s horizon.

Listen in to hear which three oil companies have done the worst in the last fiscal year; how a new court ruling in Nevada has put a serious wrench in SolarCity’s business model; how an upcoming filing by two defunct companies could set a seriously nasty precedent for the pipeline space; and, what may be oil’s biggest upcoming threat – electric cars.

Presidential candidates from both sides of the aisles have views on how they'll improve the healthcare system. In this episode of Industry Focus: Healthcare, Motley Fool's Kristine Harjes and Todd Campbell discuss the proposals and their potential impact on the sector.

We field listener questions this week. First, we learn about what $500 million of Deadpool box office receipts mean for Walt Disney. Then, we get into some gray area as we discuss the moral challenges governments and companies face as they try to put autonomous cars on the road.

In this episode of the Motley Fool’s Industry Focus: Financials podcast, host Gaby Lapera and analyst Jay Jenkins break down the forces driving big bank valuations today and try to read the tea leaves on where the market will push this industry next.

Facebook announced plans to monetize its Messenger property beginning Q2 2016. We dig into the announcement, why investors should be happy, and why users shouldn’t be too worried about being overloaded by ads.

The band is back together after a week off! This week, the energy team dives into the details of Berkshire Hathaway's purchase of Kinder Morgan and answer some listener questions about the move. Plus, dissecting the rumor mill about Saudi Arabia's production freeze and the woes of mining giants.

Motley Fool analysts discuss the challenges biotech companies face when they walk the fine line between patient centered medicine and profit.

Over the long weekend, Deadpool set multiple box office records for Twenty-First Century Fox with over $280 million in global ticket sales. And after the movie, we treat listeners to dinner as we revisit 3G Capital and the latest results from Burger King and Tim Hortons.

Listen in to hear more about which two players are dominating the healthcare IT industry, how feasible it is to invest in the little guys, and what areas look most promising for data management companies.

As society eagerly awaits the coming era of autonomous vehicles, automakers are working with regulators and technology companies to change how the consumers think about their commute. Meanwhile, the struggling 3D printing sector turns to new opportunities in the industrial sector.

Fitbit might be able to give insurance providers a treasure trove of data, and cybersecurity firms like FireEye will help them protect it.

On this special episode of Industry Refocus, we welcome Gaby from the Financials team to break down credit cards and the billions of dollars retailers are generating from their brand-specific credit offerings. She also has an update for the housing market and mortgages.

We're mixing things up this week on Industry Focus with some cross sector topics.

To kick it off, Tyler Crowe of the Energy & Industrials team joins Gaby for the Finance show to talk about how captive finance companies fit into the role of a industrial manufacturer and the challenges they can present for a company. 

ADR’s, goodwill and fiscal years are explained as we run through some listener questions.

We take a look at the less than impressive earnings from the integrated majors and ConocoPhillips' decision to cut its "sacred" dividend. Plus, what can an NBA finals game teach you about investing? 

Do Gilead Sciences financials deserve high honors? Motley Fool analysts review Gilead Sciences' earnings report to find out.

The CDC has cleared Chipotle just as it prepares to announce full-year 2015 results and new food safety initiatives at a company-wide meeting in Denver. Meanwhile, Coach and Michael Kors bucked the negative trends ailing much of the retail sector during the crucial holiday shopping season.

 From a discussion of peer-to-peer lending to a deep dive into why companies are added to and removed from the S&P 500, as well as many things in between.

Two tech giants announced earnings this week. We run through the numbers and conference calls for Apple and Amazon and explain what investors need to know.

Earnings are starting to trickle in for energy industrial stocks, so we discuss the three stocks that interest us the most and the themes we're focused on this quarter. Plus, we dip into the mailbag for a reader question.

Motley Fool's Kristine Harjes and Todd Campbell distill J&J's financials and discover that there's more to the story than the headline numbers suggest.

From empty grocery store shelves to cold weather apparel sales, we take a Foolish look at the impact of winter storm Jonas on retailers. Also, Coach shares soar after breaking out of a multi-year streak of declining sales.

India is viewed as one of the most appealing markets for big tech firms, but it doesn’t come without challenges. On today's episode we run through some of the issues and how tech companies have found creative solutions around them.

The oil market has been on a wild ride lately, and all of these stock movements can make us forget that we're investing in companies. So today we're getting up close and personal with Distribution NOW CEO Robert Workman.

Highlighting the major investing take-away's from this years J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference.

Three Fools sit down to discuss their latest views on Chipotle, Take-Two Interactive, Taser, and more.

A deep dive into business development companies

We dig into declining growth rates in smartphone and PC shipments and try to identify the culprits.

The Motley Fool’s Tyler Crowe, Taylor Muckerman, and Sean O’Reilly discuss oil’s fall to $30 and its ramifications for the rest of the economy – particularly car sales. 

Special guest David Kretzman talks CES highlights and fitting healthcare into a portfolio. See supernovaradio.fool.com for more!

Macy’s is off to a strong start in 2016 as investors applaud its efforts to close underperforming stores and reduce expenses, while Under Armour continues its months-long slide, shedding 6.7% on Monday following the release of a bearish research report. And Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz reaffirms his excitement around opportunities in China.

What investing in real estate can teach you about investing in stocks

A shakeup in the wearables space and big news from Netflix are two stories making headlines so far this year at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas – we explain what’s up and what each item means for investors.

The oil market has started off 2016 on a wild ride. So we do a quick rundown of the reasons why investors are in such a panic about oil prices this time. Plus, we look at surging SUV sales and Carl Icahn's Christmas gifts.

On this episode, Motley Fool analysts explain how to break down biotech mergers and acquisitions.

While global economic and political uncertainty rattles markets in the New Year, gun makers see their shares surge on executive orders from President Obama.

Let's kick off 2016 with a very special interview! The CEO of Electronic Transactions Association – Jason Oxman – joins us to talk about the history, the inner workings, and the future of the payment industry.

2015 was a rough year for energy, filled with drama, uncertainty, and rough, rough performances across the board.

In this episode of Industry Focus: Energy, Sean O’Reilly, Taylor Muckerman, and Tyler Crowe throw around their ideas about how the sector looks in for 2016. Can oil bounce back? Can coal? Natural gas? What companies need to get their act together, and who’s been on their game throughout last year? How much should we worry about OPEC cornering the market, and what other factors might affect the price of oil?

Listen in to hear their takes on these issues and more.

Tune in for a fun episode, where we adapt the popular game to the healthcare industry.

How it happens, how to prevent it, and what to do if it's already happened.

It's a good time to think back on this year’s highs and lows in the energy sector – or, the lows and lowers.

On this very special episode, our energy team compare their fantasy-energy-draft portfolios, some of the most dramatic and unexpected news stories that played out this year from Kinder Morgan’s soap opera to the U.S. export sanction shift, just how accurate predictions from earlier this year turned out to be, and what everyone’s learned from investing in and following this troubled sector this year.

We're talking about stocks that investors might like to wake up owning on Christmas morning.

What Walt Disney, Netflix, and Boston Beer investors can learn from young generation's spending habits.

Well-meaning family and friends might tell one of these very nuggets over the holidays – do you know which ones to seriously consider?

Updates on Google’s EC issues and the CRB’s Web IV ruling and its impact on Pandora for the final tech show of 2015.

After securing an extension of the investment tax credit, things are looking awfully bright for the solar industry. Plus, Federal Reserve Interest Rate hikes, lifting oil export ban, and more troubled oil producers, oh my!

There were a record number of healthcare deals in 2015. Here are some of our favorites.

M&A activity continues to pick up in the consumer goods sector with this $15 billion deal.

Knowledge is a gift that will last forever. Here are four of our favorite investing books for you to read or give to a loved one.

GoPro jumped this week after one analyst suggested Apple scoop it up with some of the cash it has sitting around. What should investors make of this news and M&A chatter in general?

This week’s OPEC meetings ended with shockingly few changes or agreements, Kinder Morgan dramatically cut its dividend, and two of the world’s biggest chemical companies are merging in a way that may or may not set off regulatory alarm bells.

Digging into the balance sheet of two drugmaking powerhouses to see which may be a better investment.

An international coffee conglomerate adds Keurig to its portfolio for $13.9 billion. And at Amazon, its Prime TV service just got even better.

In a rapidly changing environment, here's how a company's adaptability affects their survival. 

Breaking down IDC wearables shipment data – a look at the winners, losers, and trends in the space. Also, an explanation on how Apple and Samsung decided to bury the patent hatchet just in time for the holidays.