Hot Companies To Own In Right Now

Earlier this week, the New York Post reported that high-end retailer Saks (NYSE: SKS  ) had brought in Goldman Sachs to explore a possible sale. The company also reported its first-quarter results, and is looking fairly strong. Comparable sales grew, and earnings per share�hit analyst expectations. The combination of quarterly results and sale rumors conspired to push the stock up 11% yesterday, and overnight it rose another 18%. Is this the right time for Saks to sell, and if so, what should investors be on the lookout for?

Saks on the auction block?
There are a few reasons that a firm would want to go private, but Saks' biggest motivating factor has to be its behind-the-scenes operation. Last quarter, operating margin dropped down to 7% from 8.6% the year before. Almost all of that fall came from an increase in selling, general, and administrative costs.

A prospective sale would likely involve a private equity firm looking to capitalize on Saks' strong name and solid fundamentals. That firm would likely cut back on employees and other costs, generating a quick increase in profit. Studies have shown that when private equity is involved in a public company takeover, employment drops by 10% within two years.

Hot Companies To Own In Right Now: Response Genetics Inc.(RGDX)

Response Genetics, Inc., a life sciences company, engages in the research, development, marketing, and sale of clinical diagnostic tests and pharmacogenomic tests for use in the treatment of cancer primarily in the United States, Asia, and Europe. The company develops genetic tests that measure predictive factors for tumor response in tumor tissue samples. It offers tests for non-small cell lung cancer under the ResponseDX: Lung trade name; colorectal cancer under the ResponseDX: Colon trade name; and gastric and gastroesophageal cancer under the ResponseDX: Gastric trade name. The company also develops tests for other types of cancer that identify genetic profiles of tumors that recur after surgery. Response Genetics, Inc. offers its products through its sales force to community based oncologists, hospitals, and physician offices. In addition, it provides pharmacogenomic testing services to pharmaceutical companies. The company was formerly known as Bio Type, Inc. and cha nged its name to Response Genetics, Inc. in August 2000. Response Genetics, Inc. was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.

Hot Companies To Own In Right Now: Animas Resources Ltd (ANI.V)

Animas Resources Ltd., a mineral resource company, engages in the acquisition and discovery of mineral deposits in Mexico. It primarily focuses on Santa Gertrudis precious metal and related deposits, and prospects. Animas Resources Ltd. was formerly known as Sonora Copper LLC and changed its name to Animas Resources Ltd. in July 2007. The company was incorporated in 2005 and is based in Vancouver, Canada.

Best Financial Companies To Own In Right Now: Iris Biotechnologies(IRSB.OB)

Iris BioTechnologies Inc., a development stage life science company, focuses on developing solutions for the detection and monitoring of monogenic and complex genomic diseases. The company provides a Nano-BioChip gene expression kit using a convergence of scientific disciplines in nanotechnology, semiconductor manufacturing, microfluidics, chemistry, molecular biology, genetics, genomics, and information technology; and BioWindows artificial intelligence system, a database comprising data fields for patient demographics information, personal and family medical history, and gene expression information. Its products assist in establishing the foundation for personalized medicine for the treatment of breast cancer. The company also intends to use its product platform to diagnose and treat patients with neurological disorders, heart disease, diabetes, and other gene-related metabolic problems. In addition, it is working on gene markers for CancerChip and specific markers assoc iated with prostrate, lung, liver, kidney, and ovarian cancers, as well as genes associated with schizophrenia, Alzheimer disease, autoimmune system disorders, and metabolic and drug metabolism disorders. The company was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California.

Hot Companies To Own In Right Now: United Financial Bancorp Inc.(UBNK)

United Financial Bancorp, Inc. operates as a holding company for United Bank that provides various banking products and services in Massachusetts. It provides a range of deposit products, including demand accounts, NOW accounts, money market accounts, savings accounts, retirement accounts, and certificates of deposits. The company?s loan portfolio consists of one- to four-family residential mortgage loans, commercial real estate loans, construction loans, home equity loans and home equity lines of credit, commercial and industrial loans, and automobile loans, as well as consumer loans comprising secured and unsecured personal loans, motorcycle and motor home loans, manufactured housing, boat loans, and pool and spa loans. In addition, it offers non-deposit investment products and financial planning services comprising mutual funds; debt, equity, and government securities; insurance products; fixed and variable annuities; financial planning for individual and commercial cu stomers; and estate planning services. Further, the company engages in buying, selling, and holding investment securities; and holding real estate assets. It operates 22 full-service banking offices and 2 financial services facilities. The company was founded in 1882 and is headquartered in West Springfield, Massachusetts.

Hot Companies To Own In Right Now: Community 1St Bk Ca (CFBN.OB)

Community 1st Bank provides various banking products and services to small and middle-market businesses, professionals, and not for profit organizations in California. The company offers various deposit products comprising checking accounts, savings accounts, health savings accounts, minor savings accounts, certificates of deposits, interest bearing demand accounts, and time deposits. It also provides a range of loan products, including commercial real estate financing, SBA loans, business credit lines, business term loans, construction loans, and business letters of credit, as well as consumer loans. In addition, the company offers personal and business credit cards, deposit courier services, and online banking, as well provides remote deposit capture and cash management accounts. It operates 2 branches in Roseville and Auburn. The company was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Auburn, California.

Hot Companies To Own In Right Now: Web.com Group Inc(WWWW)

Web.com Group, Inc. provides Internet services for small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in North America, South America, and the United Kingdom. It provides .com, .net, .co, .org, and .info domains, as well as domain services, including domain name registration, domain name transfers, domain name renewal, domain expiration protection, and domain privacy services; develops and supports a subscription Web service package that includes the tools and functionality necessary for a business to create and maintain online presence, as well as provide tutorials and tools for customers to edit and manage their sites. The company?s primary Do It For Me subscription offering comprise eWorks! XL, which provides domain name registration, initial site design, technical support, Webmail, online Web tools, and Internet scorecard; custom Website design services comprising map and directions pages, external links pages, Website statistics, database applications, password security, and e mail services; and social media and call center services. It also provides various Do-It-Yourself Website building and marketing solutions for SMBs, such as hosting services, Website design tools, email marketing tools, and LogoYes design and brand building tools. In addition, the company offers online marketing services, including search engine optimization, local and national search engine marketing, subscription-based services, budget-based search engine marketing, and click search engine marketing services; lead generation services consisting of Leads by Web.com to contractors, homebuilders, and remodeling professionals; and eCommerce merchant services. Web.com Group, Inc. markets its products and services through outbound and inbound telesales, online channel, affiliate network and private label partners, distribution partners, resellers, and direct sales. The company was incorporated in 1999 and is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Alex Planes]

  What: Shares of Web.com (NASDAQ: WWWW  ) rose more than 10% this morning -- and are still up around a 9% gain -- after the company surprised the Street with better-than-expected quarterly results and solid guidance for the rest of 2013.

• [By CRWE]

  Web.com Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:WWWW), a leading provider of internet services and online marketing solutions for small- and medium-sized businesses, will report its third quarter results for the fiscal period ended September 30, 2012 after the U.S. financial markets close on October 25, 2012.

Hot Companies To Own In Right Now: AuthenTec Inc.(AUTH)

AuthenTec, Inc. provides mobile and network security solutions for enterprise, government, and consumer markets worldwide. The company operates in two segments, Smart Sensor Solutions and Embedded Security Solutions. The Smart Sensor Solutions segment designs, develops, and sells mixed-signal fingerprint sensor semiconductors primarily used in the personal computer and mobile device markets; touch-based sensors for government and access control applications; sensors that enable users to access and control various functions on an electronic device; fingerprint sensor chipsets and modules; USB fingerprint readers; and identity management software. The Embedded Security Solutions segment provides a range of embedded security solutions, including hardware intellectual property (IP) and software for implementing in Internet protocols, such as IPsec, MACsec, and SSL/TLS for communications protection; digital rights management for multimedia content piracy prevention; and functio ns comprising secure boot and hardware-based key protection for computing platform integrity. The company primarily sells its products through direct sales force, independent sales representatives, and distributors to original equipment manufacturers, original design manufacturers, contract manufacturers, software application vendors, and service providers. AuthenTec, Inc. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Melbourne, Florida.

Hot Companies To Own In Right Now: First Capital Bancorp Inc.(VA)

First Capital Bancorp, Inc. operates as the holding company for First Capital Bank that offers a range of banking and related financial services to small and medium-sized businesses, professionals, and individuals in Richmond, Virginia metropolitan area. The company?s deposit products include checking, individual retirement, negotiable order of withdrawal, and savings accounts, as well as other time deposits of various types, ranging from daily money market accounts to longer-term certificates of deposit. Its loan portfolio comprises short-to-medium term commercial loans, such as secured and unsecured loans for working capital, business expansion, and purchase of equipment and machinery; and consumer loans comprising secured and unsecured loans for financing automobiles, home improvements, education, and personal investments. The company also originates fixed and floating-rate mortgage, and real estate construction and acquisition loans. In addition, it offers safe deposi t boxes, cash management services, traveler?s checks, direct deposit of payroll and social security checks, automatic drafts for various accounts, online banking services, small and medium-sized businesses courier services, and automated teller machine services. As of May 10, 2011, the company operated seven branches. First Capital Bancorp, Inc. is headquartered in Glen Allen, Virginia.