We all love to find a nice reliable company to sink some hard-earned cash into, but sometimes the cards don't fall in our favor. Every now and then, I come across a great company only to discover that I simply can't invest, as the company is privately held. Think of this as window-shopping: You know you can't buy any, but you might get some good ideas. Here are three companies that I'd happily invest in -- if only I could.
The higher end of fashion
Yesterday, a neighbor of mine and I were talking fashion, and he mentioned that the shirt he was wearing was from J. Crew. I couldn't remember who mine was made by, but he nailed it without hesitation. "Banana Republic," he said. "You can tell because the stitching on the sleeves is a bit off." First of all -- ouch. Second, he was right. I was wearing a shirt from the Gap (NYSE: GPS ) brand.
Banana Republic is Gap's current problem child. The company had flat comparable sales last quarter, and net sales were up just 4%. Out on the hard streets of The Mall, Banana's biggest competition comes from J. Crew, which has experienced a resurgence in the last few years. While the company is privately held, it still reports some financial information each quarter.
Best Financial Stocks To Buy Right Now: Augusta Capital Ltd (AUG.NZ)
Augusta Capital Limited, formerly Kermadec Property Fund Limited is engaged in the commercial and industrial property investment. Te Company operates in two segments: funds management and cleaning. The Company operates two divisions, including direct property investment and funds management. The Company in its direct property investment division holds and manages a portfolio of office and car parking properties in central Auckland. The Company�� funds management division is engaged in commercial property syndication. The Company, through Augusta Funds Management Limited, over 16 commercial property syndicates has been established. As of March 31, 2011, the Company had 100% interest in the shareholding in Metroclean Limited, a cleaning services Company.
Best Financial Stocks To Buy Right Now: Pacific Continental Corporation(Ore)
Pacific Continental Corporation operates as the bank holding company for Pacific Continental Bank that provides commercial banking services primarily in Oregon and Washington. The company offers a range of banking and related services to community-based business, not-for-profits, professional service providers, business owners, and executives. It accepts a range of deposit products, including demand, checking, savings, money market, and time deposits. The company?s loan portfolio comprises secured and unsecured commercial loans for general operating purposes, acquisition of fixed assets, purchases of equipment and machinery, financing of inventory and accounts receivable, and other business purposes; small business administration loans; and permanent and construction loan finance products for commercial facilities and for pre-sold, custom, and speculative home construction. Its loan portfolio also comprises residential mortgage loans; and secured and unsecured loans to in dividuals for various purposes, such as purchases of automobiles, mobile homes, boats, and other recreational vehicles, as well as for home improvements, education, and personal investment. In addition, the company offers credit card services, merchant card payment services, and cash management products to its business customers; and online banking, safe deposit, debit and ATM cards, ACH transactions, savings bonds, cashier?s checks, travelers? checks, and notary services. As of March 30, 2010, it operated 14 banking offices in Oregon and Washington. The company was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in Eugene, Oregon.
Top Penny Companies To Own For 2014: STARWOOD PROPERTY TRUST INC.(STWD)
Starwood Property Trust, Inc., a real estate investment trust, primarily focuses on originating, investing in, financing, and managing commercial mortgage loans and other commercial real estate debt investments, commercial mortgage-backed securities, and other commercial real estate-related debt investments. It also focuses to invest in commercial properties subject to net leases, residential mortgage loans, and residential mortgage-backed securities. SPT Management, LLC serves as the manager of Starwood Property Trust, Inc. The company qualifies as a real estate investment trust for federal income tax purposes and would not be subject to federal corporate income taxes, if it distributes at least 90% of its taxable income to its stockholders. Starwood Property Trust was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Chris Hill]
In this installment, our analysts discuss some of the day's big movers and shakers.�Shares of Level 3 Communications (NYSE: LVLT ) rise after Deutsche Bank initiates coverage with a buy rating. Trading in Herbalife (NYSE: HLF ) is halted after the company's auditor resigns. Cliffs Natural Resources (NYSE: CLF ) gains ground on the news that inflation in China is slowing. And Starwood Property Trust (NYSE: STWD ) declines after the real estate company announces a secondary stock offering.�
Best Financial Stocks To Buy Right Now: Duke Realty Corporation (DRE)
Duke Realty Corporation operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT) in the United States. It offers leasing, property and asset management, development, construction, build-to-suit, and other tenant-related services. As of December 31, 2006, Duke Realty owned approximately 721 industrial, office, and retail properties comprising 113.8 million rentable square feet, as well as owned 6,400 acres of unencumbered land for development. The company has elected to be taxed as REIT under the Internal Revenue Code. As a REIT, it would not be subject to federal income tax purposes, provided that it distributes at least 90% of its REIT taxable income to its shareholders. The company was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana with regional offices in Alexandria, Virginia; Atlanta, Georgia; Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland, Ohio; Chicago, Illinois; Dallas and Houston, Texas; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Nashville, Tennessee; Orlando, Florida; Phoenix, Arizona; Raleigh, North Carolina; St. Louis, Missouri; and Tampa and Weston, Florida.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Brad Thomas]
Other REITs mentioned: (O), (NNN), (STAG), (DCT), (EGP), (PDM), (DRE), (LRY)
Source: Chambers Street: More Liquidity Magic On The Way In REIT-DomDisclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. (More...)
Best Financial Stocks To Buy Right Now: 1st Century Bancshares Inc(FCTY)
1st Century Bancshares, Inc. operates as the holding company for 1st Century Bank, National Association that provides commercial banking services to family and closely held middle market businesses, professional service firms, high net worth individuals, real estate investors, entrepreneurs, and local residential community in Los Angeles area, California. The company accepts various deposit products, including business and personal checking accounts, money market accounts, certificates of deposits, attorney-client trust accounts, and trust accounts. Its loan portfolio comprises business and personal lines of credit and term loans; tenant improvement and equipment financing; bridge and/or specific purpose loans; commercial, industrial, and multi-family real estate lending; personal home equity loans and lines of credit; and credit cards for business and personal use. The company also offers cash management and on-line banking services, as well as debit cards. It operates th rough a branch office and private banking center at Los Angeles. The company was founded in 2003 and is based in Los Angeles, California.
Best Financial Stocks To Buy Right Now: Columbia Banking System Inc.(COLB)
Columbia Banking System, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Columbia State Bank, which provides a range of banking products and services to small and medium-sized businesses, professionals, and individuals in the states of Washington and Oregon. Its products and services include checking and saving accounts, online banking, electronic bill pay, consumer and residential lending, remote deposit capture, cash management, VISA card services, commercial and industrial lending, investment services through CB financial services, real estate and real estate construction lending, private banking, equipment finance, trust services, small business services, international banking, merchant card services, and professional banking. As of December 31, 2010, Columbia Banking System had 84 branch offices. The company was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Tacoma, Washington.
Best Financial Stocks To Buy Right Now: E-House(China)
E-House (China) Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, operates as a real estate services company in China. It provides primary real estate agency services, secondary real estate brokerage services, real estate information and consulting services, real estate advertising services, real estate online services, and real estate investment fund management services. The company offers primary real estate agency services to real estate developers of residential properties. Its secondary real estate brokerage services include offering advisory services on choices of properties; accompanying potential buyers on house viewing trips; drafting purchase contracts; negotiating price and other terms; and providing preliminary proof of title, as well as coordinating with the notary, the bank, and the title transfer agency. The company also provides market information to buyers and sellers based on its research, as well as listing and brokerage services comprising sales and rentals. Its real estate consulting services include land acquisition consulting and land development consulting. The company?s real estate information services comprise the sale of online subscriptions to its proprietary CRIC system to support its primary and secondary real estate agency services. Its real estate advertising services comprise advertising design and sales in print and other media. The company?s real estate online services include real estate news, information, property data, and access to online communities to real estate consumers and participants through local Web sites. Its real estate investment fund management activities consist of investments in China?s real estate sector. E-House (China) Holdings Limited was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Shanghai, the People?s Republic of China.
Best Financial Stocks To Buy Right Now: Allied World Assurance Company Holdings AG (AWH)
Allied World Assurance Company Holdings, AG operates as a specialty insurance and reinsurance company in Bermuda, Hong Kong, Ireland, Singapore, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It offers casualty insurance products that provide coverage for specialty type risks, such as professional liability, environmental liability, product liability, inland marine liability, healthcare liability risks, and commercial general liability products, as well as professional liability products, including policies covering directors and officers, employment practices, and fiduciary liability insurance. The company also provides a mix of errors and omissions liability coverages for various service providers comprising law firms, technology companies, insurance companies, insurance agents and brokers, and municipalities; primary and excess liability, and other casualty coverages to the healthcare industry, including hospitals and hospital systems, managed care organization s, and medical facilities, such as home care providers, specialized surgery and rehabilitation centers, and outpatient clinics; and general casualty products for a range of industries consisting of construction, real estate, public entities, retailers, manufacturing, transportation, and finance and insurance services, as well as workers compensation insurance products. In addition, it offers property insurance products covering physical property and business interruption for commercial property risks; and general property products covering risks for retail chains, real estate, manufacturers, hotels and casinos, and municipalities. Further, the company provides the reinsurance of property, general casualty, professional liability, specialty lines, property catastrophe, accident and health, and marine and aviation coverages. Allied World Assurance Company Holdings, AG was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Baar, Switzerland.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rich Duprey]
Specialty insurance provider�Allied World Assurance (NYSE: AWH ) announced yesterday its second-quarter dividend of $0.50 per share, a 33% increase from the payout it made last quarter of $0.375 per share, as approved by shareholders at the annual meeting last month.
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