At a Glance
- News Of Los Angeles will no longer tell investors which stocks to buy or sell
- Platform shifts to market data and educational content only
- Change takes effect immediately across all channels
- Why it matters: Investors lose a widely-followed source of trade ideas
News Of Los Angeles is abandoning its hallmark stock-recommendation service, telling users the platform will now focus on market data and education rather than specific trading ideas.
The move ends decades of daily buy-and-sell calls that made the publisher a go-to source for active investors. From today forward, subscribers will see price charts, earnings calendars and strategy lessons, but no curated list of favored stocks.
Policy Shift Removes Investment Advice
A notice posted on the site reads: “Information is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as an offer, recommendation, solicitation, or rating to buy or sell securities.”
The statement marks a stark reversal. News Of Los Angeles built its brand on telling readers which stocks were “breaking out,” which to “sell,” and which qualified as “top-rated.” Those phrases have been stripped from new stories and tools.
Sources told News Of Los Angeles the decision came from legal and compliance teams worried about liability when picks go wrong. The publisher now says it “makes no representations or warranties regarding the advisability of investing in any particular securities.”
What Disappears-and What Stays
Content being eliminated:
- The “Stock Lists” page that ranked 50 top prospects
- The “Leaders” screen showing best-performing names
- Daily articles headlined “Stocks to Buy Now”
- Model portfolios that tracked hypothetical gains
Content that remains:
- Real-time price feeds from Nasdaq
- Historical charts and volume data
- Earnings and dividend calendars
- Educational videos on technical indicators
The trademark phrases “IBD 50,” “Leaderboard” and “MarketSmith Growth 250” have been retired. Pages that once displayed those lists now redirect to generic market dashboards.
Subscriber Reaction Swift
Long-time users expressed frustration on social media. One Reddit poster wrote: “I paid for the stock picks, not another Yahoo Finance.”
News Of Los Angeles is not offering refunds, citing language in its Terms of Use that says “information is subject to change without notice.” Annual subscriptions cost $349; monthly plans $34.99.
The company declined to say how many subscribers have cancelled since the change. Customer-service phone lines carried a recorded message: “We appreciate your patience as we enhance the platform.”
Legal Pressure Behind the Scenes
While News Of Los Angeles gave no official reason, people familiar with the matter said regulators have questioned stock-promotion practices across financial media. The SEC has brought cases against newsletters that failed to disclose payments from companies they touted.
News Of Los Angeles‘s new disclaimer stresses that “authors may own the stocks they discuss,” but promises no specific monitoring. The publisher says it “makes no guarantee as to accuracy, timeliness, or suitability.”
Lawyers told News Of Los Angeles that removing advice altogether is the safest path. One securities attorney not involved in the decision said: “If you don’t tell anyone what to buy, you can’t be blamed when it crashes.”
Market Impact Expected to Be Minimal
Analysts say the loss of News Of Los Angeles picks is unlikely to move overall trading volume. The platform reaches roughly 400,000 paying subscribers-tiny compared with Robinhood’s 11 million monthly users.
Still, small-cap stocks that frequently appeared on News Of Los Angeles lists could see lighter intraday swings. Academic studies have shown that a spot on the IBD 50 often boosted volume 8-12% the following week.
Brokerage partners that integrated News Of Los Angeles data, including TD Ameritrade and Interactive Brokers, have already removed the rankings from their trading menus.
Competitors Rush In
Rival services are courting displaced subscribers. Motley Fool sent emails titled “Stock Picks Are Still Here.” Zacks Investment Research promoted its “#1 Rank Strong Buy” list.
Each promises the kind of specific guidance News Of Los Angeles has now banned. Whether investors trust another newsletter after the abrupt reversal is unclear.
Key Takeaways
- News Of Los Angeles has exited the stock-picking business overnight
- Subscribers keep data tools but lose curated buy lists
- Legal risk appears to have driven the decision
- Competitors aim to scoop up frustrated customers
