Saturday, February 28, 2015

October Retail Sales Beat Forecasts, Point to Firming Growth

10 Best Dividend Stocks For 2015

Retail SalesJohn Minchillo/AP WASHINGTON -- A gauge of U.S. consumer spending rose more than expected in October as households bought a range of goods, suggesting upside momentum in the economy early in the fourth quarter. While demand is picking up, inflation remains muted. Other data Wednesday showed an unexpected fall in consumer prices last month, which should give the Federal Reserve room to maintain its current pace of bond purchases for a while. Retail sales excluding automobiles, gasoline and building materials increased 0.5 percent last month after advancing 0.3 percent in September, the Commerce Department said. Economists polled by Reuters had expected so-called core sales, which correspond most closely with the consumer spending component of gross domestic product, to rise 0.3 percent. The better-than-expected increase in core retail sales suggested consumer spending would likely accelerate from a two-year low touched in the third quarter and probably limit downside risks to economic growth during the fourth quarter. "Overall this suggests the consumers are supporting the current recovery," said Ryan Sweet, a senior economist at Moody's Analytics in West Chester, Pa. Still, that isn't enough to generate some inflation in the economy. In a separate report, the Labor Department said its consumer price index slipped 0.1 percent last month as gasoline prices fell sharply, after rising 0.2 percent in September. In the 12 months through October, the CPI increased 1 percent, the smallest gain since October 2009. It had advanced 1.2 percent in September. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast consumer prices to be unchanged last month. U.S. stock index futures added to gains on the data, while Treasury bond prices extended losses. Prices Held in Check Stripping out the volatile energy and food components, the so-called core CPI edged up 0.1 percent, rising by the same margin for a third consecutive month. That could heighten concerns among some U.S. central bank officials about inflation being too low. During the past 12 months, the core CPI increased 1.7 percent, matching the prior month's rise. The Fed targets 2 percent inflation, although it tracks a gauge that tends to run a bit below the CPI. The absence of inflation in the economy suggests the Fed will probably stick to its monthly $85 billion bond buying program at least through early 2014 as it tries to stimulate demand through low interest rates. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke said Tuesday the U.S. central bank would maintain its ultra-easy monetary policy for as long as needed, adding that policymakers wanted evidence of durable job growth before scaling back bond purchases. "The inflation backdrop continues to be supportive to the Fed's ultra-accommodative policy stance," said Millan Mulraine, senior economist at TD Securities (TD) in New York. "With core inflation momentum continuing to drift lower there is evidence that the disinflationary impulse in core prices that has become a concern at the Fed is lingering." Core retail sales last month were bolstered by sturdy gains in receipts at clothing, furniture, electronics and sporting goods shops, among others. Sales at electronics and appliance stores rose by the most since April, suggesting a residual boost from the introduction of Apple's (AAPL) new iPhone the previous month. The report suggested little impact from a 16-day partial shutdown of the federal government in October, which economists had expected would dampen sales. Sales at auto and parts dealers rebounded 1.3 percent after falling 1.2 percent in September. That helped to offset a drop in sales at gasoline stations and a fall in receipts at building materials and garden equipment shops, lifting overall retail sales 0.4 percent in October. Retail sales were flat in September and economists had expected them to edge up 0.1 percent last month.

Friday, February 27, 2015

Top Construction Material Stocks To Buy For 2015

Top Construction Material Stocks To Buy For 2015: Societe Libanaise des Ciments Blancs SAL (CBN)

Societe Libanaise des Ciments Blancs SAL is a Lebanon-based joint stock company that operates in the construction materials industry sector. The Company is engaged in the production and sale of white cement. The Company is a 65.99% owned by Holcim (Liban) SAL. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By CanadianValue]

    Nigerias reformed banking system has provided many foreigners with an attractive means to invest in the fast-growing domestic economy. The banking industry is important, not only because of the rise of microfinance, but because of the move by banks into consumer banking. Until recently, banks were mainly financing large businesses or the government through bond purchases. Following a banking crisis in 2008, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) conducted an audit of the commercial banking sector. All banks that failed the audit had their CEOs replaced. The state-owned Asset Management Corporation (AMCON) was created to purchase non-performing loans and recapitalize the unhealthy banks. A recent review of the countrys banks by the IMF showed a dramatic increase in profits for the industry in 2012, while the capital adequacy ratio was above the minimum requirement of 10% and non-performing loans were below the mandated threshold of 5%5.

  • source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/top-construction-material-stocks-to-buy-for-2015.html

Thursday, February 26, 2015

10 Best Financial Stocks To Invest In Right Now

10 Best Financial Stocks To Invest In Right Now: THL Credit Inc.(TCRD)

THL Credit, Inc. is a private equity and mezzanine firm specializing in mature, bridge, PIPES, industry consolidation, acquisition, recapitalization, change of control transactions, and growth capital investments in both sponsored and unsponsored middle-market companies. It provides junior debt and equity to both private and public companies. The firm also invests in privately negotiated subordinated debt securities such as warrants. It seeks to invest in outsourced business services, healthcare, financials, retailing, media, and consumer discretionary. The firm prefers to invest between $10 million and $50 million in the form of debt in companies that have annual revenues between $25 million and $500 million and with an EBITA of minimum $5 million. It prefers to be a lead or sole investor in a transaction. The firm also seeks board representation in its portfolio companies. THL Credit, Inc. was founded in 2007 and is based in Boston, Massachusetts with additional offices in Houston, Texas and Los Angeles, California.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Eric Volkman]

    THL Credit (NASDAQ: TCRD  ) stands to gross nearly $100 million in new financing if a fresh stock offering goes as planned. The company announced it's floating 6.6 million shares of its common stock at $14.62 apiece in an underwritten public offering. Additionally, its underwriters have been granted a 30-day purchase option for up to an additional 990,000 shares.

  • source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/10-best-financial-stocks-to-invest-in-right-now.html

Sunday, February 22, 2015

Hot Food Stocks To Buy For 2015

Hot Food Stocks To Buy For 2015: Flowers Foods Inc (FLO)

Flowers Foods, Inc. (Flowers Foods), incorporated in October 2000, is a producer and marketer of bakery products in the United States. The Company is the producer and marketer of packaged bakery foods for retail and foodservice customers in the United States. Flowers Foods operates 44 bakeries that produce a range of bakery products, which include breads, buns, rolls, snack cakes, and pastries. These products are sold through a direct-store-delivery network with access to approximately 70% of the United States population in the East, South, and Southwest, as well as in certain markets in California. Select Flowers products are sold nationwide through customers' delivery systems. Among the Company's top brands are Nature's Own and Tastykake. The Company has two business segments: direct-store-delivery (DSD segment) and warehouse delivery segment (warehouse segment). In May 2011, the Company acquired Tasty Baking Company. In July 2012, it acquired Lepage Bakeries, Inc.

The DSD segments focuses on the production and marketing of bakery products to United States customers in the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, Northeast and Southwest, as well as select markets in California and Nevada primarily through its DSD system. The warehouse segment produces snack cakes and breads and rolls that are shipped both fresh and frozen to national retail, foodservice, vending, and co-pack customers through their warehouse channels. The Company's brands include Whitewheat, Cobblestone Mill, Blue Bird, ButterKrust, Dandee, Mary Jane, and Mary Jane and Friends. During the year ended December 31, 2011, it introduced the new products under this brand, including Nature's Own Whitewheat Sandwich Rounds; Nature's Own Whole Grain Sandwich Rolls and Hot Dog Rolls; Nature's Own Cinnamon Raisin Thin Sliced Bagels; Nature's Own Soft Oatmeal Specialty Bread; Nature's O! wn 100% Whole Grain Specialty Bread, and Nature's Own Honey Wheat Berry Specialty Brea d. In addition to Nature's Own, its DSD segment also marke! ts: a range of specialty breads and rolls under the Company-owned Cobblestone Mill brand; white breads and buns under regional company owned and franchised brands, such as Sunbeam, Bunny, Aunt Hattie's, Holsum, and ButterKrust; Tastykake and Blue Bird branded snack cakes and pastries; flour, white, and corn tortillas under the Mi Casa and Frestillas brands, and fresh packaged bakery products under store brands for retailers.

The Company's warehouse segment markets a range of specialty breads and rolls under the European Bakers brand, breads, buns, and rolls for specific foodservice customers, and tortillas and tortilla chips under Leo's Foods and Juarez. This segment's snack cakes are sold under the Mrs. Freshley's, Broad Street Bakery, and store brands. Its warehouse segment products are distributed nationally through retail, foodservice and vending customer warehouses.

The Company competes with Grupo Bimbo S.A. de C.V./Bimbo Bakeries, Ho stess Brands, Inc., Sara Lee Corporation, Campbell Soup Company, McKee Foods Corporation, Cloverhill Bakery, Hostess Brands, Inc., Alpha Baking Co., Inc., Rotella's Italian Bakery, United States Bakery, Turano Baking Company and All Round Foods, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Laura Brodbeck]

    Thursday

    Earnings Expected From: Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT), Nordstrom (NYSE: JWN), Kohl's (NYSE: KSS), Flowers Foods (NYSE: FLO) Economic Releases Expected:  US industrial production, US CPI, eurozone GDP, eurozone CPI, German GDP, French GDP

    Friday

  • [By Gerrit De Vynck]

    Maple Leaf Foods Inc. (MFI), the Canadian producer of foods from hamburgers to frozen pasta, has drawn bids for its bread unit from Grupo Bimbo SAB, Flowers Foods Inc. (FLO) and several private-equity firms, three people with knowledge of the matter said.

  • !
  • [By Dan Caplinger]

    Tomorrow, Flowers Foods (NYSE: FLO  ) will release its latest quarterly results. The key to making smart investment decisions on stocks reporting earnings is to anticipate how they'll do before they announce results, leaving you fully prepared to respond quickly to whatever inevitable surprises arise. That way, you'll be less likely to make an uninformed, knee-jerk reaction to news that turns out to be exactly the wrong move.

  • [By Caroline Bennett]

    The board of directors for Flowers Foods (NYSE: FLO  ) announced a three-for-two stock split at the annual shareholders meeting this week and increased the total annual cash dividend by $0.035.

  • source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/hot-food-stocks-to-buy-for-2015-4.html

Thursday, February 19, 2015

10 Best Net Payout Yield Stocks To Buy Right Now

10 Best Net Payout Yield Stocks To Buy Right Now: Naturalnano Inc (NNAN)

NaturalNano, Inc. (NaturalNano), incorporated on February 18, 2000, is engaged in the development and commercialization of material science technologies with an emphasis on additives to polymers and other industrial and consumer products by taking advantage of technology advances developed in-house. During the year ended December 31, 2011,the Companys activities are directed toward research, development, production and marketing of its technologies relating to the treatment and separation of nanotubes from halloysite clay and the development of related commercial applications for cosmetics, health and beauty products, and polymers, plastics and composites.

The companys halloysite natural tube (HNT) products involve filling HNTs with active agents for use in the polymer composites, health and beauty, household product, and agrichemical industries. The filled tube product contains a material of interest within the tubes, such as an antimicrobial compound t o provide antimicrobial properties to the resulting polymer composite material. The filled-tube products will focus on the utilization of the tubular nature of the halloysite nanotubes, by filling or adsorbing the tubes with active agents for the polymer nanocomposites, household products, cosmetics, agriculture, and pharmaceutical industries. The Company designs, manufactures and sells custom designed error prevention/safety checklist boards.

The Company competes with Air Products and Chemicals, BASF, Dow, E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Company, Applied Minerals, Davis International and Imagexpress.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Peter Graham]

    Small cap stocks Naturalnano Inc (OTCMKTS: NNAN), Global Payout, Inc (OTCMKTS: GOHE) and Blue Water Global Group Inc (OTCBB: BLUU) were either jumping higher or diving lower yesterday. To complicate matters for investors, two of these small cap stocks have been subjects of disclos! ures about paid promotion or investor relation campaigns. So what will these three small caps do for the rest of this week? Here is a closer look to help you decide on a trading or investing strategy:

  • source from Top Stocks To Buy For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/10-best-net-payout-yield-stocks-to-buy-right-now-3.html

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Top Managed Healthcare Companies To Buy For 2015

Top Managed Healthcare Companies To Buy For 2015: Consolidated Graphics Inc. (CGX)

Consolidated Graphics, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides general commercial printing and print-related services in the United States and internationally. The company's services include traditional print services, such as electronic prepress, digital and offset printing, finishing, and storage and delivery of custom manufactured printed documents; and fulfillment and mailing services for such printed materials. It also offers technology solutions that enable its customers to procure and manage printed materials and/or design, procure, distribute, track, and analyze results of printing-based marketing programs and activities; and multi-media capabilities, which allow customers to supplement the message of their printed materials through other media, such as the Internet, email, or text messaging. The company prints multi-color marketing materials, product and capability brochures, point-of-purchase displays, packaging, direct mail pieces, shareholder communicat ions, trading cards, calendars, and photo books, as well as customized materials for the financial services, insurance, healthcare, and other industries. In addition, it offers e-commerce software solutions and other print-related services. The company's customers include national and local corporations operating in a range of industries, as well as advertising agencies, graphic design firms, catalog retailers, direct mail marketers, state and local governments and quasi-governmental agencies, educational institutions, not-for-profit associations, and political campaign organizations. Consolidated Graphics, Inc. was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Monica Gerson]

    Breaking news

    Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide (NYSE: HOT) reported a gain in its third! -quarter core earnings and lifted its full-year earnings forecast. To read the full news, click here. Procera Networks (NASDAQ: PKT) and Skyfire, a fully-owned subsidiary of Opera Software, today announced a joint solution and partnership to tackle the rapid growth of video traffic on global mobile networks, based on an open, scalable ICAP architecture. To read the full news, click here. R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company (NASDAQ: RRD) and Consolidated Graphics (NYSE: CGX) jointly announced today that they have signed a definitive agreement by which RR Donnelley will acquire Consolidated Graphics, a provider of digital and commercial printing, fulfillment services, print management and proprietary Internet-based technology solutions. To read the full news, click here. Dunkin' Brands Group (NASDAQ: DNKN) reported a 36% rise in its third-quarter income. To read the full news, click here.

    Posted-In: Jobless Claims JP Morgan US Stock FuturesNews Eurozone Futures Global Pre-Market Outlook Markets

  • [By Seth Jayson]

    Consolidated Graphics (NYSE: CGX  ) reported earnings on May 15. Here are the numbers you need to know.

    The 10-second takeaway
    For the quarter ended March 31 (Q4), Consolidated Graphics met expectations on revenues and crushed expectations on earnings per share.

  • source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-managed-healthcare-companies-to-buy-for-2015-3.html

Monday, February 16, 2015

Top Undervalued Companies To Buy For 2014

It’s hard to imagine that renowned money manager Michael F. Price learned the ropes as a $200-a-week research assistant for his mentor Max Heine at Heine Securities, starting in 1974. Price bought the company as sole owner in 1988, according to Forbes. By 1996, Price had increased the value of the funds he managed to over $17 billion before selling the company to Franklin Securities for $670 million.

An expert value investor, Michael Price manages his own personal wealth through his private firm, MFP Investors LLC, a value focused hedge fund that he founded in 1998. MFP Investors has around $1.6 billion under management. On the 2012 Forbes 400 list, Guru Michael F. Price was ranked 328th richest. His net worth is around $1.25 billion, as of September 2013.

Price has a value based approach to investing. He buys stock in undervalued or out-of-favor small cap companies that are a good value. According to Price, a potential investment is best evaluated through a simplified focus on equity and debt. He once told Columbia students that everything else had been invented by Wall Street as a rip off and to generate fees. Price looks at a company’s balance sheet and reads the fine print on the financials. He once commented that he focuses on the steak and not the sizzle, figuring out what is cheap and buying it.

Top 10 Dividend Companies To Invest In Right Now: Schlumberger N.V.(SLB)

Schlumberger Limited, together with its subsidiaries, supplies technology, integrated project management, and information solutions to the oil and gas exploration and production industries worldwide. The company?s Oilfield Services segment provides exploration and production services; wireline technology that offers open-hole and cased-hole services; supplies engineering support, directional-drilling, measurement-while-drilling, and logging-while-drilling services; and testing services. This segment also offers well services; supplies well completion services and equipment; artificial lift; data and consulting services; geo services; and information solutions, such as consulting, software, information management system, and IT infrastructure services that support oil and gas industry. Its WesternGeco segment provides reservoir imaging, monitoring, and development services; and operates data processing centers and multiclient seismic library. This segment also offers variou s services include 3D and time-lapse (4D) seismic surveys to multi-component surveys for delineating prospects and reservoir management. The company?s M-I SWACO segment supplies drilling fluid systems to improve drilling performance; fluid systems and specialty tools to optimize wellbore productivity; production technology solutions to maximize production rates; and environmental solutions that manages waste volumes generated in drilling and production operations. Its Smith Oilfield segment designs, manufactures, and markets drill bits and borehole enlargement tools; and supplies drilling tools and services, tubular, completion services, and other related downhole solutions. The company?s Distribution segment markets pipes, valves, and fittings, as well as mill, safety, and other maintenance products. This segment also provides warehouse management, vendor integration, and inventory management services. Schlumberger Limited was founded in 1927 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Matt DiLallo]

    For example, Halliburton (NYSE: HAL  ) saw record first-quarter revenue of $7 billion. Declining rig counts and pricing pressures in North America were still more than offset by the company's international operations. Meanwhile,�Schlumberger's (NYSE: SLB  ) results seemed to mirror National Oilwell Varco's in that its revenue was up over the year-ago quarter but slipped sequentially. Again, though, the story here was strength internationally with weakness in North America. Further, both companies are very optimistic about the future and neither see any signs of a business slowdown.�

  • [By Teresa Rivas]

    As for companies with the most upside, Marathon Petroleum (MPC) tops the list, with 63.6%, followed by Autodesk (ADSK), Ventas (VTR), salesforce.com (CRM) and American Tower (AMT). Outside the top five, the list also includes big names like Schlumberger (SLB), Halliburton (HAL), Expedia (EXPE) and General Motors (GM).

  • [By Arjun Sreekumar]

    Opportunities for oilfield services firms
    Not surprisingly, Halliburton and other major energy companies view Chinese shale gas development as a significant opportunity for future growth. Many of them, including Baker Hughes (NYSE: BHI  ) , ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP  ) , and Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB  ) , have already developed strategic relationships with Chinese firms to better evaluate the nation's shale gas potential.

Top Undervalued Companies To Buy For 2014: Tupperware Corporation(TUP)

Tupperware Brands Corporation operates as a direct seller of various products across a range of brands and categories through an independent sales force. The company engages in the manufacture and sale of kitchen and home products, and beauty and personal care products. It offers preparation, storage, and serving solutions for the kitchen and home, as well as kitchen cookware and tools, children?s educational toys, microwave products, and gifts under the Tupperware brand name primarily in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Asia Pacific, and North America. The company provides beauty and personal care products, which include skin care products, cosmetics, bath and body care, toiletries, fragrances, nutritional products, apparel, and related products principally in Mexico, South Africa, the Philippines, Australia, and Uruguay. It offers beauty and personal care products under the Armand Dupree, Avroy Shlain, BeautiControl, Fuller, NaturCare, Nutrimetics, Nuvo, and Swissgar de brand names. The company sells its Tupperware products directly to distributors, directors, managers, and dealers; and beauty products primarily through consultants and directors. As of December 26, 2009, the Tupperware distribution system had approximately 1,800 distributors, 61,300 managers, and 1.3 million dealers; and the sales force representing the Beauty businesses approximately 1.1 million. The company was formerly known as Tupperware Corporation and changed its name to Tupperware Brands Corporation in December 2005. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Orlando, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Arie Goren]

    After running this screen on May 21, 2013, before the markets' open, I discovered the following eight stocks: Sunoco Logistics Partners LP (SXL), Leggett & Platt Inc (LEG), Copa Holdings SA (CPA), RPC Inc. (RES), Tupperware Brands Corp. (TUP), Herbalife Ltd. (HLF), John Wiley & Sons Inc. (JW.A) and C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc. (CHRW).

  • [By John Kell]

    Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Wednesday’s session are Dow Chemical Co.(DOW), Tupperware Brands Corp.(TUP) and Yahoo Inc.(YHOO)

  • [By James Brumley]

    CSCO stock might be one of the market’s dark-horse stories of 2014; the dividend yield is the icing on the cake.

    Dividend Stocks to Buy: Tupperware Brands (TUP)

    Dividend Yield: 3.2%

Top Undervalued Companies To Buy For 2014: Caterpillar Inc.(CAT)

Caterpillar Inc. manufactures and sells construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives worldwide. It operates through three lines of businesses: Machinery, Engines, and Financial Products. The Machinery business offers construction, mining, and forestry machinery, including track and wheel tractors, track and wheel loaders, pipelayers, motor graders, wheel tractor-scrapers, track and wheel excavators, backhoe loaders, log skidders, log loaders, off-highway trucks, articulated trucks, paving products, skid steer loaders, underground mining equipment, tunnel boring equipment, and related parts. It also manufactures diesel-electric locomotives; and manufactures and services rail-related products and logistics services for other companies. The Engines business provides diesel, heavy fuel, and natural gas reciprocating engines for Caterpillar machinery, electric power generation systems, marine, petrol eum, construction, industrial, agricultural, and other applications. It offers industrial turbines and turbine-related services for oil and gas, and power generation applications. This business also remanufactures Caterpillar engines, machines, and engine components; and offers remanufacturing services for other companies. The Financial Products business provides retail and wholesale financing alternatives for Caterpillar machinery and engines, solar gas turbines, and other equipment and marine vessels, as well as offers loans and various forms of insurance to customers and dealers. It also offers financing for vehicles, power generation facilities, and marine vessels. The company markets its products directly, as well as through its distribution centers, dealers, and distributors. It was formerly known as Caterpillar Tractor Co. and changed its name to Caterpillar Inc. in 1986. Caterpillar Inc. was founded in 1925 and is headquartered in Peoria, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Johanna Bennett]

    Alcoa (AA) rose 3.8% to $9.59 after Goldman Sachs upgraded the stock to a Buy from a Neutral. Caterpillar (CAT) rose 2.3% to $84.80 after Bank of America Merrill Lynch upgraded the stock to a Buy from a Neutral and�increased its price target to $100 from $87.

  • [By Jon C. Ogg]

    The top exporters could have a great 2014 if the stars align properly. Deutsche Bank pointed out Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) and several other key winners for the theme of exporting from America in 2014. Investors have been disappointed, but its 2.9% dividend may entice holders to remain patient. Caterpillar has been among the worst Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) performers of 2013, and the consensus price target is about 10% higher than the price now.

  • [By Dan Carroll]

    China slows further
    The International Monetary Fund cut its Chinese growth projections for 2013 and 2014 today, now expecting the world's second-largest economy to grow by 7.75% per year after earlier projecting 8% growth this year and 8.2% next year. China's slowdown from its previous double-digit-percentage economic growth has hurt companies counting on the developing economy to fuel sales. Industrials in particular have been hit hard: Major China manufacturing player Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT  ) saw its Asia-Pacific retail sales fall at least 20% in each of the last three months as reduced Chinese infrastructure spending hurts demand. Caterpillar's stock hasn't reacted badly to the news, however, with shares gaining 0.5% so far today to defy the Dow's drop.

  • [By Dan Caplinger]

    Wolverine has made some smart moves to try to boost its sales further. In April, the company won a $15 million contract for safety boots for the U.S. Navy, demonstrating its ability to tap niche opportunities. Moreover, marketing and distribution rights play an important role for Wolverine, with the shoe retailer having deals with Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT  ) and Harley-Davidson (NYSE: HOG  ) to sell footwear bearing the CAT and Harley brands. Those deals help Harley and Caterpillar with their own marketing efforts, boosting awareness in a long-term effort to spur purchases of their own products down the road, but they also give Wolverine an opportunity to broaden its appeal.

Top Undervalued Companies To Buy For 2014: Dollar Tree Inc.(DLTR)

Dollar Tree, Inc. operates discount variety stores in the United States and Canada. Its stores offer merchandise primarily at the fixed price of $1.00. The company operates its stores under the names of Dollar Tree, Deal$, Dollar Tree Deal$, Dollar Giant, and Dollar Bills. Its stores offer consumable merchandise, including candy and food, and health and beauty care, as well as household consumables, such as paper, plastics, household chemicals, in select stores, and frozen and refrigerated food; variety merchandise, which includes toys, durable housewares, gifts, party goods, greeting cards, softlines, and other items; and seasonal goods, such as Easter, Halloween, and Christmas merchandise. As of April 30, 2011, it operated 4,089 stores in 48 states and the District of Columbia, as well as 88 stores in Canada. The company was founded in 1986 and is based in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Paul Ausick]

    The other stock the firm likes is Dollar Tree Inc. (NASDAQ: DLTR). The company�� shares have lost about 4.6% since reporting an earnings per share (EPS) miss for the third quarter and the Sterne Agee analysts see the lower price as a ��reat entry point��for buying the stock. Dollar Tree raised fiscal year 2013 EPS guidance from a range of $2.66 to $2.77 to a new range of $2.72 to $2.78, effectively raising the mid-point by $0.04. Sterne Agee reiterated its Buy rating on the stock with a price target of $63. Dollar Tree�� shares are trading down nearly 0.4% at $55.99 in a 52-week range of $37.47 to $60.19.

Sunday, February 15, 2015

Top 5 Oil Service Stocks To Invest In Right Now

Top 5 Oil Service Stocks To Invest In Right Now: iS hares Russell 2000 Index Fund (IWM)

iShares Russell 2000 Index Fund (the Fund) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 2000 Index (the Index). The Index measures the performances of the small capitalization sector of the United States equity market. The Index includes approximately 8% of the market capitalization of all publicly traded United States equity securities.

The Index is a subset of the Russell 3000 Index, and serves as the underlying index for the Russell 2000 Growth and Value Index series. The Index is a capitalization-weighted index of the approximately 2000 smallest companies in the Russell 3000 Index. The Fund uses a representative sampling strategy in seeking to track the Index. iShares Russell 2000 Index Fund's investment advisor is Barclays Global Fund Advisors.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Avi Gilburt]

    For the last month and a half, I have been referencing two fractals, one in the Russell 2000 (IWM)  and one in the Nasdaq 100 (NQU4) , which have guided us up to this region. As I have noted, this fractal, should the market play out in a similar manner, would suggest that the market could drop with crash-like speed within the next week or two.

  • [By Michael Ashbaugh]

    Meanwhile, the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM)  is retesting the 50-day moving average.

  • source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-5-oil-service-stocks-to-invest-in-right-now.html

Friday, February 13, 2015

Hot Managed Healthcare Companies To Buy For 2015

Hot Managed Healthcare Companies To Buy For 2015: Berkshire Hills Bancorp Inc. (BHLB)

Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides personal and business banking, insurance, and wealth management services. Its primary deposit products include checking, NOW, money market, savings, and time deposit accounts; and primary lending products comprise residential mortgages, commercial mortgages, commercial business loans, and consumer loans. The company also offers electronic banking, cash management, and other transaction and reporting services; and interest rate swap contracts to commercial customers. In addition, it offers wealth management services, including trust, financial planning, and investment services. The company serves individuals, businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and municipalities with 48 branch offices in western Massachusetts, northeastern and central New York, and southern Vermont. It also operates five community banking offices in Rome, Lee; and New Hartford, New York. Further, it operates as an agent for various lin es of property and casualty, life, disability, and health insurance. Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. was founded in 1846 and is headquartered in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Lisa Levin]

    This industry tumbled 3.15% by 11:50 am. The worst stock within the industry was Berkshire Hills Bancorp (NYSE: BHLB), which fell 3.9%. erkshire Hills Bancorp and Hampden Bancorp (NASDAQ: HBNK) have signed a definitive merger agreement under which Berkshire will acquire Hampden and its subsidiary, Hampden Bank, in an all-stock transaction valued at around $109 million.

  • source from Top Stocks To Buy For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/hot-managed-healthcare-companies-to-buy-for-2015.html

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Best Warren Buffett Stocks To Own For 2014

It was a day many big biotechs and pharmas feared but one that consumers should celebrate -- the world's first biosimilar monoclonal antibodies were recommended for approval in Europe. The drug set to face a new cheap generic threat is Remicade, a $6 billion rheumatoid arthritis blockbuster and Johnson & Johnson's biggest seller.

In this video, health-care analyst David Williamson discusses the big picture importance of this EU decision, why J&J investors shouldn't panic, and why the company responsible for the biosimilar may deserve a second look.

Rising health-care costs continue to be a hotly debated topic, and even legendary investor Warren Buffett called this trend "the tapeworm that's eating at American competitiveness." To learn more about what's happening to the health-care system -- and how to potentially profit from this trend --�click here�for free, immediate access.

Best Shipping Stocks To Buy For 2015: E*TRADE Financial Corporation(ETFC)

E*TRADE Financial Corporation, a financial services company, provides online brokerage and related products and services primarily to individual retail investors under the E*TRADE Financial brand in the United States. It offers trading products and services, including automated order placement and execution of the U.S. equities, futures, options, exchange-traded funds, and bond orders; sweep deposit accounts; access to E*TRADE Mobile Pro to trade stocks and transfer funds between accounts, as well as to monitor real-time investment, market, and account information; access to Power E*TRADE Pro, a desktop trading software for active traders; an open applications programming interface for third-party and independent software developers; margin accounts; cross boarder trading; access to international equities; research and trade idea generation tools; and E*TRADE Community that utilizes social media to offer a platform to customers. The company also provides access to the inve stor resource center that provides an aggregated view of its investing tools, market insights, independent research, education, and other investing resources; advisory services through Online Advisor; fixed income tools to identify, evaluate, and implement fixed income investment strategies; access to Retirement QuickPlan calculator that provides action plan on personal retirement savings; one-on-one portfolio recommendations and personalized plans; managed investment portfolio advisory services; unified managed account advisory services; individual retirement accounts; access to non-proprietary exchange-traded funds and mutual funds; investing and trading educational services through online videos, Web seminars, and Web tutorials; and deposit accounts, including checking, savings, and money market accounts. In addition, it provides software and services for managing equity compensation plans for corporate customers. The company was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Ne w York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Rich Bieglmeier]

    [Related -E TRADE Financial Corporation (ETFC): E*TRADE Put Options In Play As Shares Slide]

    Despite E TRADES crazy, home run or strikeout earnings record, the earnings-driven stock performance has a strong history of rewarding investors. In the three days circling the EPS announcement, shares have moved up an average of 8.69% for 10 of the last 16 quarters. The trade turned in as little as a 2.10% return and topped out at 28%.

  • [By Dan Caplinger]

    As a major discount broker, E*TRADE Financial (NASDAQ: ETFC  ) helps investors seek their fortune in the stock market. But for shareholders in E*TRADE stock to benefit, what they need is for investors to feel confident enough about the stock market's prospects that they open new brokerage accounts and make more stock trades. With its stock up of over 50% just since November, E*TRADE is clearly counting on investor optimism to drive its financial results higher. Let's take a look at what's behind E*TRADE's big move.

  • [By Jesse Solomon]

    Traditionally reserved for big time Wall Street players, options are now offered to individual investors by leading online brokers such as Charles Schwab (SCHW, Fortune 500), E*Trade (ETFC), and TD Ameritrade (AMTD).

Best Warren Buffett Stocks To Own For 2014: Zimmer Holdings Inc.(ZMH)

Zimmer Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the design, development, manufacture, and marketing of orthopedic reconstructive devices, spinal and trauma devices, dental implants, and related surgical products in the Americas, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The company offers orthopedic reconstructive devices that restore function lost due to disease or trauma in joints such as knees, hips, shoulders, and elbows; dental reconstructive implants, which restore function and aesthetics in patients who have lost teeth due to trauma or disease; spinal devices that are utilized by orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons in the treatment of degenerative diseases, deformities, and trauma in various regions of the spine; and trauma devices used primarily to reattach or stabilize damaged bone and tissue to support the body?s natural healing process. It also provides surgical products comprising surgical supplies and instruments designed to aid in orthopedic surgical proce dures and post-operation rehabilitation. In addition, the company offers healthcare consulting services. Its customers include orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, oral surgeons, dentists, hospitals, stocking distributors, and healthcare dealers, as well as agents, healthcare purchasing organizations, or buying groups. The company was founded in 1927 and is headquartered in Warsaw, Indiana.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Dan Carroll]

    Despite all this, however, leading orthopedics firms have pushed on. Companies such as Stryker (NYSE: SYK  ) and Zimmer Holdings (NYSE: ZMH  ) have shown signs of hope for investors even while dealing with problems such as device recalls, but is this enough to warrant your investment in the orthopedics industry? Motley Fool contributor Dan Carroll and health care analyst Max Macaluso discuss what you need to know about this industry in the video below.

  • [By Holly LaFon]

    He added no new stocks to the low-turnover fund in the fourth quarter, but he did make several large increases. The stock positions he increased the most are: Hospira Inc. (HSP), CVS Caremark (CVS), Boston Scientific Corp. (BSX) and Zimmer Holdings Inc. (ZMH). Hospira (HSP)

  • [By Ben Levisohn]

    Orthopaedics sales of $2.28B grew by 1.1% (all growth rates are Y/Y unless otherwise specified) constant currency (CC) vs. 3% CC organic growth in 2Q13 and missed consensus of $2.35B. JNJ’s worldwide hip growth was 6% CC vs. 4% CC in 2Q13 and its worldwide knee growth was 3% CC vs. 2% CC in 2Q13. We think JNJ’s results and commentary are positive for [Stryker (SYK) and Zimmer Holdings (ZMH)].

Best Warren Buffett Stocks To Own For 2014: Integrys Energy Group(TEG)

Integrys Energy Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a regulated electric and natural gas utility company in the United States and Canada. It provides natural gas utility services in Chicago, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota. As of December 31, 2009, the company served approximately 1,669,000 residential, commercial and industrial, transportation, and other customers. It had approximately 22,000 miles of natural gas distribution mains; and approximately 1,010 miles of natural gas transmission mains. The company also generates and distributes electric energy form coal, natural gas, fuel oil, hydroelectric, and wind resources in Wisconsin and Michigan. It served approximately 489,000 residential, commercial and industrial, wholesale, and other customers. In addition, Integrys Energy offers nonregulated energy supply and services; and electric transmission services. The company was formerly known as WPS Resources Corporation and changed its name to Integrys En ergy Group, Inc. in February 2007. Integrys Energy Group, Inc. was founded in 1883 and is based in Chicago, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Justin Loiseau]

    Getting more from gas
    Integrys Energy's (NYSE: TEG  ) Michigan Gas Utilities subsidiary has filed a request for a 6% increase in natural gas rates beginning in 2014. The company has recently hit a rough spot because of falling sales, pricey upgrade costs, more expensive customer service functions, and inflation.

  • [By Justin Loiseau]

    "Clean coal" to the rescue?
    Not all utilities are bidding adieu to coal just yet. Integrys' (NYSE: TEG  ) Wisconsin Public Service subsidiary is applying for a rate increase to cover "clean coal" conversion costs. The utility hopes to add a coal dust collection system to one of its coal plants. The 824 MW facility upgrade comes with a $17 million price tag, but the move would put Integrys on a straighter path to environmental compliance. If the company's recent $220 million approval �is any evidence, this latest request might just make it past Wisconsin regulators.

  • [By Justin Loiseau]

    Other utilities are following suit, pushing hard to turn coal into "clean coal." Integrys (NYSE: TEG  ) currently has a $17 million rate request on the table to add coal dust collectors to an 824 MW facility, a move that would put the utility one step closer to covering environmental costs.

Best Warren Buffett Stocks To Own For 2014: Retractable Technologies Inc. (RVP)

Retractable Technologies, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures, and markets safety syringes and other safety medical products for the healthcare industry in the United States and internationally. Its products include VanishPoint 0.5mL insulin syringes; 1mL tuberculin, insulin, and allergy antigen syringes; 0.5mL, 2mL, 3mL, 5mL, and 10mL syringes; small diameter tube adapters; blood collection tube holder; allergy trays; IV safety catheters; Patient Safe syringes; Patient Safe Luer Caps; and VanishPoint blood collection set, as well as autodisable syringes. The company sells its products to healthcare providers, such as acute care hospitals, alternate care facilities, doctors� offices, clinics, emergency centers, surgical centers, convalescent hospitals, veterans administration facilities, military organizations, public health facilities, and prisons. Retractable Technologies, Inc. distributes its products through a direct marketing network; and general line and specialty distributors, as well as through international distributors. The company was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Little Elm, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Holly LaFon]

    Chip Skinner is a portfolio manager and principal of Royce & Associates, LLC, investment adviser to The Royce Funds. He is the portfolio manager of Royce Value Plus Fund (RVP) and an assistant portfolio manager of Royce Low-Priced Stock Fund (RLP). The thoughts and opinions expressed in the interview are solely his own and may differ from those of other Royce investment professionals, or the firm as a whole. There can be no assurance with regard to future market movements.

  • [By Holly LaFon]

    Whitney George is Director of Investments, Managing Director, and a Portfolio Manager of Royce & Associates, LLC, investment advisor to The Royce Funds. He serves as portfolio manager for Royce Premier Fund (RPR), Royce Low-Priced Stock Fund (RLP), Royce Global Value Fund (RGV), Royce SMid-Cap Value Fund (RSV), and Royce Focus Trust (FUND). He also serves as assistant portfolio manager for Royce Micro-Cap Fund (RMC), Royce Value Fund (RVV), Royce Value Plus Fund (RVP), Royce Focus Value Fund (RFV), and Royce Capital Fund ��Micro-Cap Portfolio (RCM). Mr. George's thoughts in this interview concerning the stock market are solely his own and, of course, there can be no assurance with regard to future market movements.

Best Warren Buffett Stocks To Own For 2014: General Finance Corporation (GFN)

General Finance Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in the lease and sale of portable storage containers, portable container buildings, and freight containers. It offers mobile storage containers, including general purpose units, double pallet-wide high cube units, hazardous goods containers, and refrigerated containers; portable building containers, such as site offices and cabins, workforce accommodation units, luxury accommodation units, restroom blocks, blast-resistant units, and specialized office and infrastructure suites; and freight containers consisting of curtain-side containers, hi-cube containers, pallet-wide containers, side-opening door containers, and bulk containers. The company provides its products for various storage applications, including retail and manufacturing inventory, construction materials and equipment, documents and records, and household goods. It also leases and sells storage trailers and other storage structures, container office s, mobile offices, and modular buildings, as well as ancillary products comprising steps, furniture, portable toilets, security systems, and other items for use in connection with its equipment. In addition, the company offers delivery and installation, return and dismantle, and other site services. As of June 30, 2012, it operated a fleet of 23,855 mobile storage containers, 3,294 portable container buildings, and 9,348 freight containers. The company serves various industries, such as mining, road and rail, construction, moving and storage, manufacturing, transportation, defense, retail, utilities, education, and services sectors, as well as small and medium-size entities in New Zealand, North America, and the Asia-Pacific regions of Australia. General Finance Corporation was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Pasadena, California.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Lisa Levin]

    General Finance (NASDAQ: GFN) shares touched a new 52-week high of $8.12 after DA Davidson lifted the price target on the stock from $8 to $11.

    Mattress Firm Holding (NASDAQ: MFRM) shares reached a new 52-week high of $47.03 after the company reported upbeat Q4 earnings and raised its FY14 forecast.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Hot Logistics Stocks To Invest In 2014

The Department of Defense awarded more than $562 million worth of contracts�on Wednesday. Publicly traded companies receiving contracts included:

Eaton Corporation (NYSE: ETN  ) , which was awarded a maximum $12 million firm-fixed-price, sole-source contract to supply various oil nozzles and parts to the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps with a May 22, 2015, performance completion date.
� Elbit Systems (NASDAQ: ESLT  ) subsidiary M7 Aerospace, awarded a $15.2 million option extension on a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract for logistics support for 12 Navy/Marines UC-35 and seven Navy C-26 transport aircraft through May 2014.
� Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC  ) , winner of a $15.3 million modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-award-fee contract funding continued systems development and demonstrations of the MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft System. This is the same�drone that the Royal Australian Air Force recently expressed interest in acquiring.

Curiously, the DOD clarified that the actual purpose of the latter contract is not so much to perform work on the new drone per se but rather to pay for an upgrade of software being used in the project -- from Microsoft's (NASDAQ: MSFT  ) Windows XP operating system to Windows 7.

Top Recreation Companies To Watch In Right Now: Clean Energy Fuels Corp.(CLNE)

Clean Energy Fuels Corp., together with its subsidiaries, provides natural gas as an alternative fuel for vehicle fleets in the United States and Canada. The company designs, builds, operates, and maintains fueling stations, as well as supplies compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel for medium and heavy-duty vehicles. Its CNG is used in automobiles, light to medium-duty vehicles, refuse trucks, and transit buses as an alternative to gasoline and diesel. The company also sells non-lubricated natural gas compressors and related equipment used in CNG and LNG stations; and produces renewable natural gas, which is used as vehicle fuel or sold for power generation. In addition, it offers vehicle finance services for the purchase of natural gas vehicles, as well as for the conversion of gasoline or diesel powered vehicles to operate on natural gas. Further, the company provides natural gas conversions, alternative fuel systems, application engineering, service and warranty support, and research and development services for natural gas vehicles. As of December 31, 2011, it served approximately 530 fleet customers with approximately 25,000 natural gas vehicles; and owned, operated, or supplied 273 natural gas fueling stations in 23 states within the United States, and British Columbia and Ontario within Canada, as well as in Peru. Clean Energy Fuels Corp. was incorporated in 2001 and is headquartered in Seal Beach, California.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Rick Munarriz]

    I went out on a limb last week, and now it's time to see how that decision played out.

    I predicted that Clean Energy Fuels (NASDAQ: CLNE  ) would close higher on the week. The provider of natural gas fueling solutions for transportation has been posting narrowing losses, and Wall Street was eyeing a 35% surge in revenue. The company was a solid report. Revenue came in a little light, but bottom-line results improved nicely. Shares of Clean Energy Fuels moved slightly higher on the week. I was right. I predicted that the tech-heavy Nasdaq would outperform the Dow Jones Industrial Average. (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) . This has been a tricky call lately, so how did it play out this time? Well, the market had a strong run this week, fueled be encouraging economic news. Secondary stocks led the way, with the Nasdaq soaring 1.7% on the week. The Dow managed to close just 1% higher. I was right. My final call was for Compass Diversified Holdings (NYSE: CODI  ) to beat Wall Street's quarterly profit target. The investor in several middle-market companies has been posting blowout quarterly results over the past year, and I was banking on seeing the trend continue. Analysts were looking for a profit of $0.36 a share during the quarter, but Compass Diversified failed to beat the prognosticators. I was wrong.

    Two out of three? I'll take it. That makes me eight of nine over the past three weeks.

  • [By Matthew DiLallo]

    Another major future demand driver will come from transportation, where gas-to-liquids and compressed natural gas, or CNG are expected to sop up another 3.1 Bcf/d of incremental demand. Driving this demand, at least on the CNG side, is Clean Energy Fuels (NASDAQ: CLNE  ) , which is building America's Natural Gas Highway. What should be noted, though, is that Clean Energy has a lot more potential outside the CNG market. While CNG has the potential to displace 5.5 billion gallons of fuel per year in transit buses and garbage trucks, the bigger market is the LNG potential for the long-haul truck market, which is a 25 billion-gallon-a-year market. If Clean Energy can make inroads into that market, it could add significant demand for natural gas in the coming years that's not reflected on the next chart.

  • [By Dan Caplinger]

    More recently, Waste Management has looked for further innovations in its business. Its landfills give it two potential energy sources, one from the gases that landfills produce, and a second from incinerating garbage to produce electricity. Rival Covanta (NYSE: CVA  ) pioneered the waste-to-energy movement and is the leading company in the space, but both Waste Management and No. 2 landfill operator Republic Services (NYSE: RSG  ) have pressed hard at building up their own renewable energy businesses. Moreover, Waste Management's partnership with Clean Energy Fuels (NASDAQ: CLNE  ) to convert its hauling trucks to use natural gas brings the trash giant's renewable energy efforts full-circle.

  • [By Doug Ehrman]

    Natural gas on the rise
    Despite the bad press, the overall position of the natural gas industry has never looked more promising. Companies ranging from Clean Energy Fuels (NASDAQ: CLNE  ) to Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK-A  ) are beginning to initiate programs that rely heavily on natural gas. In the case of Clean Energy, the company is undertaking a major push to create a corridor of liquefied natural gas, or LNG, filling stations across the country to allow trucks to carry freight on LNG power rather than diesel. This type of transition is likely to eventually trickle down to passenger vehicles, which currently are not fully viable as an LNG alternative. While Chesapeake Energy stock once benefited from the company's partial ownership of Clean Energy, that stake is likely to be sold to help meet debt obligations.

Hot Logistics Stocks To Invest In 2014: Dno International ASA (DTNOF.PK)

DNO International ASA is a Norway-based oil and gas exploration and production company. It is engaged in the acquisition, development and operation of oil and gas properties. Its activities are primarily undertaken in the Middle East and the North African (MENA) region. It holds stakes in oil and gas blocks in various stages of exploration, development and production both onshore and offshore in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, the Republic of Yemen, the Sultanate of Oman, the United Arab Emirates, the Tunisian Republic and Somaliland. The Company operates through its head office in Oslo, and a network of offices throughout the MENA region. Its subsidiaries include DNO Yemen AS, DNO UK Ltd, DNO Invest AS, DNO Tunisia AS, DNO Iraq AS and DNO Mena AS. In January 2014, it completed the the farm-in by its subsidiary DNO Tunisia AS to the Sfax Offshore Exploration Permit and the Ras El Besh Concession in Tunisia, in which DNO Tunisia AS now holds 87.5% participating (100% paying) interest. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Street Smart Investor]

    DNO International (DTNOF.PK), an independent exploration and production company, has surged by 43% in 2013. The upside trend is not over for the stock with potential triggers for further upside over the next one year. This research presents the reasons for the bullish outlook and the stock's upside potential considering the best case and worst case scenario for the company. The scenario analysis concludes on a 25-42% upside in the given time horizon.

Hot Logistics Stocks To Invest In 2014: Johnson & Johnson(JNJ)

Johnson & Johnson engages in the research and development, manufacture, and sale of various products in the health care field worldwide. The company operates in three segments: Consumer, Pharmaceutical, and Medical Devices and Diagnostics. The Consumer segment provides products used in baby care, skin care, oral care, wound care, and women?s health care fields, as well as nutritional, over-the-counter pharmaceutical products, and wellness and prevention platforms under the brands of JOHNSON?S, AVEENO, CLEAN & CLEAR, JOHNSON?S Adult, NEUTROGENA, RoC, LUBRIDERM, DABAO, LISTERINE, REACH, BAND-AID, CAREFREE, STAYFREE, SPLENDA, TYLENOL, SUDAFED, ZYRTEC, MOTRIN IB, and PEPCID AC. The Pharmaceutical segment offers products in various therapeutic areas, such as anti-infective, antipsychotic, contraceptive, dermatology, gastrointestinal, hematology, immunology, neurology, oncology, pain management, and virology. Its principal products include REMICADE for the treatment of immune me diated inflammatory diseases; STELARA for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis; SIMPONI, a treatment for adults with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis; VELCADE for the treatment of multiple myeloma; PREZISTA and INTELENCE for treating HIV/AIDS patients; NUCYNTA for moderate to severe acute pain; INVEGA SUSTENNAtm for the acute and maintenance treatment of schizophrenia in adults; RISPERDAL CONSTA for the management of bipolar I disorder and schizophrenia; and PROCRIT to stimulate red blood cell production. The Medical Devices and Diagnostics segment primarily offers circulatory disease management products; orthopaedic joint reconstruction, spinal care, and sports medicine products; surgical care, aesthetics, and women?s health products; blood glucose monitoring and insulin delivery products; professional diagnostic products; and disposable contact lenses. The company was founded in 1886 and is based in Ne w Brunswick, New Jersey.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Ben Levisohn]

    TAF is a more potent pro-drug of Viread and has similar efficacy but less long-term kidney damage and bone mineral density loss (BMD). Also, it’s much smaller size makes it amenable to “co-formulate” with protease inhibitors so Truvada can be combined with Prezista (Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)) and make what is a 2-pill regimen now into a 1-pill simple regimen. We are confident over the long run, most developed nations won’t be “splitting up pills” and ruining compliance so we model a -20% erosion post 2019, versus consensus which is -25% to -50% erosion expectation after Viread generic launches in 2018.

  • [By Eric Volkman]

    Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ  ) has elected to maintain its dividend. The company declared a distribution of $0.66 per share, to be handed out on Sept. 10 to shareholders of record as of Aug. 27. That amount matches the company's previous distribution, which was paid in mid-June. Before that, Johnson & Johnson's disbursement was $0.61 per share.

Hot Logistics Stocks To Invest In 2014: Kandi Technolgies Corp.(KNDI)

Kandi Technologies Corp., through its subsidiaries, engages in the design, development, manufacture, and commercialization of off-road vehicles, motorcycles, mini-cars, and special automobile related products. Its off-road vehicles include all-terrain vehicles, specialized utility vehicles, and go-karts. The company sells its products through third-party and independent distributors in the People?s Republic of China, Asia, North America, Europe, and Australia. Kandi Technologies Corp. is based in Jinhua, the People?s Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Teresa Rivas]

    Kandi Technologies (KNDI) was soaring 17.5% at recent check as the auto maker announced that the Chinese government will offer subsidies for electric cars.

    The long-awaited policy covers not only pure electric vehicles, but also plug-in hybrid electric and fuel cell battery cars, and runs through 2015. According to the report, the government would offer up to RMB 60,000 (approximately USD 9,800) for the purchase of an all-electric passenger vehicle and up to RMB 500,000 (approximately USD 81,700) for the purchase of an electric bus.

    However, the news did little to stop Tesla (TSLA), which was revving toward fresh all-time highs, up more than 5% to $174.78.

    Nor did news Wednesday that Volkswagen plans to have electric vehicles for sale in the U.S. by 2015.

    However, Tesla plans to have its own innovations to offer not long after that year, as CEO Elon Musk said that it is designing a self-driving car that will be available within the next three years. The company is obviously taking aim at Google (GOOG), so far the leader in auto-pilot cars.

    Deutsche Bank boosted its price target for Tesla to $200 yesterday. Also, Northland Securities is making positive comments on the stock today, reports Briefing.com.

  • [By John Udovich]

    A security consultant warns that $100,000 electric cars from Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA) could be unlocked by criminals plus�a quick wrap up of other interesting electric vehicle or stock news from small cap�EV stocks like Kandi Technologies Group Inc (NASDAQ: KNDI) and Green Automotive Company (OTCMKTS: GACR):

  • [By James E. Brumley]

    Almost a month ago, yours truly penned a bullish trading outlook on Kandi Technologies Group Inc. (NASDAQ:KNDI). Not being one to "leave anyone hangin'", here's a follow-up recommendation - take the money and run, because KNDI looks like it's gone about as far a it can realistically go for a while. Better to lock down the profit you can than hold out for more profit that's not apt to be in the cards anytime soon.

Hot Logistics Stocks To Invest In 2014: FirstMerit Corporation(FMER)

FirstMerit Corporation operates as the bank holding company for FirstMerit Bank, N.A. that provides a range of banking, fiduciary, financial, insurance, and investment services to corporate, institutional, and individual customers in northern and central Ohio, and western Pennsylvania. The company?s commercial business offers commercial term loans, revolving credit arrangements, asset-based lending, leasing, commercial mortgages, real estate construction lending, letters of credit, cash management services, and other depository products. Its retail business provides various financial products and services, including consumer direct and indirect installment loans, debit and credit cards, debit gift cards, residential mortgage loans, home equity loans and lines of credit, fixed and variable annuities, and ATM network services, as well as deposit products comprising checking, savings, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit. The company?s wealth business provides a sset management, private banking, financial planning, estate settlement and administration, and credit and deposit products and services. FirstMerit Corporation also offers trust and investment services, including personal trust and planning, and investment management; retirement plan services; retail mutual funds, other securities, variable and fixed annuities, personal disability and life insurance products, and brokerage services; and private banking services, including credit, deposit, and asset management solutions. As of December 31, 2009, it operated a network of 160 full service banking offices and 182 ATMs. The company was founded in 1855 and is headquartered in Akron, Ohio.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Tim Melvin]

    The year ahead should be a great one for the smaller bank stocks. Larger regionals like Huntington Bancorp (HBAN) and Capital Ban Financial (CBF) have made it clear they intend to grow by acquisition in the years ahead. Banks like First Merit (FMER) and First Merchants (FRME) have done deals in the past year and are open to doing more to increase their market share and footprints. This should be the year the floodgates open and we see the first wave of merger activity in small banks.

Hot Logistics Stocks To Invest In 2014: Visteon Corporation(VC)

Visteon Corporation supplies automotive systems, modules, and components to automotive original equipment manufacturers worldwide. The company offers a range of electronics products, including audio/infotainment systems and components, such as base radio/CD head units, infotainment head units, audiophile systems and amplifiers, rear seat family entertainment systems, digital and satellite radios, HD and DAB broadcast tuners, MACH voice link technology, and connectivity solutions for portable devices; driver information systems comprising instrument clusters and displays to assist driving; and powertrain and feature control modules, including controllers for fuel pumps, transfer cases, tuning valves, and security and voltage regulation systems. It also provides electronic climate controls, such as single zone manual electronic and automatic multiple zone modules, as well as integrated audio and climate control assemblies; and lighting products consisting of headlamps, stop lamps, and fog lamps. In addition, the company offers integrated heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, which include evaporators, condensers, heater cores, climate controls, compressors, air handling cases, and fluid transport systems; and components and modules that provide cooling and thermal management for the vehicle?s engine and transmission, as well as for batteries and power electronics on hybrid and electric vehicles. Further, it provides interior products, including cockpit modules, which incorporate structural, electronic, climate control, mechanical, and safety components; door panels/modules and interior trim products; and console modules, which deliver storage options. The company was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Van Buren Township, Michigan.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Seth Jayson]

    Visteon (NYSE: VC  ) reported earnings on May 9. Here are the numbers you need to know.

    The 10-second takeaway
    For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), Visteon beat expectations on revenues and crushed expectations on earnings per share.

  • [By David Sterman]

    Auto parts maker Visteon (NYSE: VC) clearly embodies the new thinking about share buybacks. The company announced plans last month to sell its $1.5 billion stake in a joint venture with a Chinese partner. Visteon could have looked to pay down debt or make an acquisition, or simply keep the ($1.2 billion after-tax) proceeds. Instead, almost all of the money will go toward a share buyback that might reduce shares outstanding by 25%.

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

NYSE Euronext to Take Over LIBOR

United Kingdom regulators announced today that NYSE Euronext (NYSE: NYX  ) will be the new LIBOR administrator. According to a press release from the "independent Hogg Tendering Advisory Committee," the British Bankers' Association, or BBA, has accepted its advice for NYSE Euronext to take over LIBOR management by early 2014.

"At the time of its publication, NYSE Euronext welcomed the findings of the Wheatley Review of LIBOR and today we are delighted to have been selected by the Hogg Tendering Advisory Committee to become the new administrator for LIBOR," said NYSE Liffe CEO Finbarr Hutcheson in a statement. "We look forward to working with BBA LIBOR Ltd in completing the smooth transition to NYSE Euronext Rate Administration Limited, and continuing the process of restoring credibility, trust, and integrity in LIBOR as a key global benchmark."

The Wheatley Review is a set of recommendations put forth by the Financial Conduct Authority, or FCA, following the recent LIBOR manipulation scandal.

"Today marks a significant step in implementing the recommendations in my review of LIBOR," said FCA Chief Executive Martin Wheatley in a statement. "The FCA has already introduced a number of improvements in the way LIBOR is set, and we expect NYSE Euronext Rate Administration Limited to develop further the oversight and governance of LIBOR. Benchmarks are an important tool that enable a wide range of markets to function effectively. The selection of a new administrator, who will need to be authorized and then subject to ongoing scrutiny by the FCA, is an important step in enhancing the integrity of LIBOR."

The final authorization for the transfer will come from the FCA, and LIBOR administration will still ultimately fall under the authority's regulatory oversight.

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Hot Medical Companies To Own In Right Now

Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.

What: Shares of Puerto Rican managed-care company Triple-S Management (NYSE: GTS  ) popped 11% today after its quarterly results topped Wall Street expectations.

So what: The stock has slumped since fall on concerns over weakness in its Medicare Advantage business, but a wide first-quarter profit beat -- adjusted EPS of $0.55 versus the consensus of just $0.35 -- suggests that management's turnaround initiatives are gaining traction. In fact, the company's Managed Care medical loss ratio fell by a significant 480 basis points over the year-ago period, giving investors plenty of good vibes about its profitability going forward.

Now what: Management reaffirmed its full-year adjusted EPS of $1.90-$2.00 on operating revenue of $2.35 billion-$2.45 billion, in line with analyst estimates of $1.99 and $2.39 billion. "While we generated better-than-anticipated earnings in the period, as we are only one quarter into the year, we have elected to maintain our full-year guidance," said CEO Ramon Ruiz-Comas. "We believe that this posture is prudent until we have additional data further into 2013." Of course, when you couple that conservative outlook with the clear operating momentum currently working in Triple-S's favor, a string of upside surprises over the next year seems like a strong possibility. ���

Top 10 High Dividend Companies To Watch In Right Now: Sucampo Pharmaceuticals Inc (SCMP)

Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc., incorporated on December 9, 2008, is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on research, discovery, development and commercialization of drugs based on ion channel activators known as prostones. The Company�� prostone-based compounds target the ClC-2 and big potassium (BK), ion channels. It is focused on developing prostones to treat gastrointestinal, ophthalmic, neurologic, and oncology-based inflammatory disorders, and is also considering other therapeutic applications of its drug technology. The Company�� products include AMITIZA (lubiprostone) and RESCULA (unoprostone isopropyl).

AMITIZA

The Company�� AMITIZA is being marketed in the United States for three gastrointestinal indications under a license agreement, or the Takeda Agreement, with Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, or Takeda. The three gastrointestinal indications include chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC), in adults, irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C), in adult women, and opioid-induced constipation (OIC), in adult patients with chronic, non-cancer pain. AMITIZA for OIC received approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in April 2013. In Japan, AMITIZA is marketed under a license, commercialization and supply agreement, or the Abbott Agreement, with Abbott Japan Co. Ltd. (Abbott), for the gastrointestinal indication of chronic constipation (CC), excluding constipation caused by organic diseases. In Switzerland, the Company is marketing AMITIZA.

RESCULA

The Company holds license agreements for RESCULA in the United States and Canada and the rest of the world, with the exception of Japan, Korea, Taiwan and the People�� Republic of China. The Company is commercializing RESCULA (unoprostone isopropyl ophthalmic solution) 0.15% for the lowering of intraocular pressure (IOP), in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension in the United States. RESCULA may be used as an agent or concomit! antly with other topical ophthalmic drug products to lower intraocular pressure. RESCULA is a BK channel activator and has a different mechanism of action than other IOP lowering agents on the market.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Roberto Pedone]

    Another under-$10 stock that's starting to trend within range of triggering a major breakout trade is Sucampo Pharmaceuticals (SCMP), which is engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of proprietary drugs based on prostones, and other novel drug technologies. This stock is off to a decent start in 2013, with shares up by 26%.

    If you take a look at the chart for Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, you'll notice that this stock has been downtrending badly for the last four months, with shares dumping hard from its high of $10.48 to its recent low of $5.40 a share. During that downtrend, shares of SCMP have been consistently making lower highs and lower lows, which is bearish technical price action. That said, the downside volatility for SCMP looks to be over in the short-term since the stock has started to reverse its downtrend and enter an uptrend. That reverse is quickly pushing shares of SCMP within range of triggering a major breakout trade above a key downtrend line.

    Traders should now look for long-biased trades in SCMP if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $6.33 to $6.66 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 115,383 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then SCMP will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $7.09 to $7.67 a share. Any high-volume move above those levels will then give SCMP a chance to tag $8 to $9 a share.

    Traders can look to buy SCMP off weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some key near-term support levels at $5.58 to $5.40 a share. One can also buy SCMP off strength once it clears those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

  • [By James Brumley]

    Still, for the nimble who know when to get out, OREX is one of the few cheap stocks worth a closer look.

    Sucampo Pharmaceuticals (SCMP)

    Finally, though the price of $7.60 clearly qualifies it as one pf the cheapest of the cheap stocks out there in the pharmaceutical world, that’s not the reason Sucampo Pharmaceuticals (SCMP) may be worth a look here. It’s the 30% slide we’ve seen SCMP stock suffer since peaking in mid-January. It’s not a pullback that’s bound to go unchallenged by the bulls.

Hot Medical Companies To Own In Right Now: Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corp (TKMR)

Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company focused on advancing ribonucleic acid (RNA) interference (RNAi) therapeutics and providing its lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery technology to pharmaceutical partners. On March 1, 2012, it announced that the Company had secured a license from Alnylam to develop TKMALDH2, an RNAi therapeutic that utilizes Tekmira's LNP for the treatment of Alcohol Dependence (AD). Its lead oncology product candidate, TKM-PLK1, targets PLK1, a protein involved in tumor cell proliferation and a validated oncology target. On February 8, 2012, it announced that Phase I clinical trial for TKM-Ebola had been initiated. The Phase 1 TKM-Ebola clinical trial is a placebo-controlled, single-blind, single-ascending dose study with additional multiple-ascending dose cohorts in healthy human volunteers. In the field of RNAi therapeutics, the Company has licensed its LNP delivery technology to Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Merck & Co., Inc. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Ben Rooney]

    Canadian biotech firm Tekmira Pharmaceuticals (TKMR)' stock surged in September after the FDA authorized the company's drug for patients with Ebola in the United States. Shares have since pulled back. The company has started limited production of its drug, TKM-Ebola, which will be available in early December.

  • [By James E. Brumley]

    Did you miss the initial Ebola rally, led by Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NASDAQ:TKMR) and Lakeland Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:LAKE)? Don't sweat it - you're not alone. And if you were thinking about diving into either of those names now, forget about it. Both LAKE and TKMR are overbought, and are guaranteed to be volatile (read "unpredictable") in the future. It's not too late to get in on Ebola-mania, however.

Hot Medical Companies To Own In Right Now: Ophthotech Corp (OPHT)

Ophthotech Corporation, incorporated on January 05, 2007, is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of therapeutics to treat diseases of the eye. The Company�� advanced product candidate is Fovista, which the Company is developing for use in combination with anti-VEGF drugs that represent the current standard of care for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD). Wet AMD is a serious disease of the central portion of the retina, known as the macula, which is responsible for detailed central vision and color perception. It is characterized by abnormal new blood vessel formation and growth, referred to as neovascularization, which results in blood vessel leakage, retinal distortion and scar formation. If untreated, the progressive retinal damage results in rapid, irreversible and severe vision loss. Wet AMD is the cause of blindness in patients over the age of 55 in the United States and the European Union.

The anti-VEGF market for the treatment of wet AMD consists predominantly of two drugs that are approved for marketing and primarily prescribed for the treatment of wet AMD, Lucentis and Eylea, and off-label use of the cancer therapy Avastin. The use of anti-VEGF drugs has significantly improved visual outcomes for patients with wet AMD who have been treated with these drugs as compared to untreated patients.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By John Udovich]

    If you have not been watching the biotech sector lately, you should start paying attention as the sector along with small cap biotech stocks like Cell Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: CTIC), BIND Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: BIND) and TNI BioTech (OTCMKTS: TNIB) continue to produce a steady stream of good news for investors thanks to positive industry trends. Moreover, Ophthotech Corp (NASDAQ: OPHT), Foundation Medicine Inc (NASDAQ: FMI), Evoke Pharma and Fate Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: FATE) are this week's biotech IPOs that will no doubt be watched closely by Wall Street and industry observers in general. With that in mind, consider the following biotech news or recent articles about the industry and the small cap players in it:

  • [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

    Shares of Ophthotech (NASDAQ: OPHT) got a boost, shooting up 25.78 percent to $39.54 after the company reported that it has entered into an ex-US licensing and commercialization deal with Novartis Pharmaceuticals.

  • [By Todd Campbell]

    That leads me to Medivation (NASDAQ: MDVN  ) , Ophthotech (NASDAQ: OPHT  ) , and Portola (NASDAQ: PTLA  ) , three companies with important therapies that may very well be destined to become top sellers.

  • [By John Udovich]

    The biotech sector has been pretty exciting this year�with small cap biotech stocks Prana Biotechnology Limited (NASDAQ: PRAN) and TNI BioTech (OTCMKTS: TNIB) having recently produced noteworthy news for investors�while Acceleron Pharma, Inc (NASDAQ: XLRN), Ophthotech (NASDAQ: OPHT) and BIND Therapeutics (NASDAQ: BIND) have just�set term sheets for their upcoming IPOs. Just consider all of the following recent news:

Hot Medical Companies To Own In Right Now: Analogic Corp (ALOG)

Analogic Corporation (Analogic), incorporated in November 27, 1967, is a technology company that designs and manufactures advanced medical imaging and security systems and subsystems sold to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and end users primarily in the healthcare and airport security markets. Analogic operate primarily three segments: Medical Imaging, Ultrasound, and Security Technology. Medical Imaging, which primarily includes systems and subsystems for computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) medical imaging equipment, Selenium-based detectors for screening and diagnostic applications in mammography. Ultrasound, which designs, manufactures, and distributes ultrasound systems and transducers primarily in the urology, surgery, robotic assisted surgery, anesthesia, and general imaging markets. Security Technology, which includes advanced threat detecting CT systems. In March 2013, it completed the acquisition of Ultrasonix Medical Corporation. In September 2013, the Company announced that it has acquired the remaining ownership stake in PocketSonics, Inc.

Medical Imaging

During the fiscal year ended July 31, 2012 (fiscal 2012), the Company�� medical imaging segment, which accounted for approximately 59% of its net revenue, which consists primarily of electronic systems and subsystems for medical imaging, sold globally to OEM producers of CT, MRI, and digital mammography systems. Products under this consist of: X-Ray Detectors, which converts the x-ray energy in a CT machine to useful analog signals for processing in the DAS.

DAS, which are used to process the signals created by the detectors and feed them as a digital stream to a reconstruction computer to create high resolution images. The DAS is designed with many multi-channel circuit boards that process the analog signals from the detectors and convert them into digital signals through an array of analog to digital.

converters. DMS, which the brains of the CT sys! tem and consists of both the detector array and the DAS in one package. This system provides its OEM customers a level of integration that allows for lower cost and faster time to market. Integrated Gantries, which is a component of the CT system (detectors, DAS, x-ray tube and power supplies), are mounted on a rotating ring assembly called a gantry. It provides integrated gantries to its OEM customers as another level of integration.

For OEM producers of MRI equipment, it also supplies two key components: gradient amplifiers and radio frequency, or RF, amplifiers. It has developed a range of amplifier solutions for its customers ranging from low-magnetic-field systems (< 0.3 Tesla) to ultra high-field systems (> 7.0 Tesla) used in academic research hospitals.

Gradient Amplifier, which is a power systems used to drive a set of coils located inside the MRI system and around the patient. The coils energize the atomic structure of patients��anatomy in order to develop tissue and structure images. Gradient amplifiers must be specifically designed for different MRI field strengths ranging from 0.3 Tesla to >7.0 Tesla. RF Amplifiers, which is a power systems used to control another set of the coils within the MRI system that are used to read-back the signals from the anatomy generated by the gradient coils. These signals are then processed in a reconstruction computer to create images. The RF amplifiers must have a high signal-to-noise ratio to produce the cleanest images.

The Company�� digital mammography products consist primarily of digital mammography selenium-based x-ray detector plates, sold directly to OEM customers for screening and diagnostic applications in mammography. These x-ray detector plates are used by OEMs in mammography systems to convert x-ray signals into high resolution two-dimensional (2-D) and three-dimensional (3-D) images of breast tissue to aid in the detection of breast cancer. Its detector plates for mammography applications are sold to! medical ! OEMs for use in products worldwide. Its mammography product portfolio consists of: LMAM, which is its large area detector plate, based on selenium technology, is used primarily for European markets and was recently introduced in the United States market. This detector plate is also compatible with systems that can perform tomosynthesis, which creates 3-D images through a series of exposures to more accurately detect lesions in the breast. SMAM, which is its small area detector plate uses the same selenium-based technology as the LMAM detector and is manufactured primarily for the Asian markets. Within its medical imaging segment, it also designs and manufactures precision motion control systems, which it supplies to OEM customers for use in computer-controlled automation systems primarily in the semiconductor and medical markets.

Ultrasound

The Company�� ultrasound segment designs and manufactures procedure-driven ultrasound systems and transducers, principally under the B-K Medical brand. These products are primarily for end-user markets in urology and surgery and accounted for approximately 29% of its net revenue in fiscal year 2012. Its ultrasound systems use acoustic waves to generate real-time images of the body�� internal anatomy that are used for interventional and medical diagnostic procedures. These ultrasound systems are also used for guiding robotic assisted surgical procedures and for guiding prostate cancer treatment employing a procedure called brachytherapy. It also manufactures and sells advanced ultrasound probes and transducers to medical OEMs.

Security Technology

Utilizing the Company�� CT technology, its Security Technology segment designs and manufactures airport security systems and subsystems primarily for checked bag applications and accounted for approximately 12% of its net revenue in fiscal year 2012. These systems generate 3-D images of objects contained within baggage and provide threat analysis of materials conta! ined with! in the bags. The Company sells the checked baggage systems through L-3 Communications Corporation (L-3): eXaminer XLB (High Speed), eXaminer 3DX (Medium Speed) and eXaminer SX (Reduced Size).

The Company competes with General Electric Corporation (GE) and Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Philips), Hitachi Medical Corporation, Fujifilm, Morpho Detection and Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC).

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Roland Head]

    General Motors stock is also likely to be in demand when markets open after the company announced last night that it will replace H.J. Heinz in the S&P 500 following Heinz's recent sale to Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, which is expected to close on Friday. General Motors stock is 2.7% higher in premarket trading. (NASDAQ: ALOG  )

  • [By John Udovich]

    Small cap security stocks Analogic Corporation (NASDAQ: ALOG), OSI Systems, Inc (NASDAQ: OSIS) and View Systems Inc (OTCBB: VSYM) all aid Big Brother to keep us safe with security inspection systems intended for airports and other public�places rather than equipment to just spy on us. Moreover, the security inspection systems market is global and massive as its not just about detecting potential hijackers at airports as such systems can be used to fight or prevent crime. With that thought in mind, here is a look at three small cap security inspection system stocks:

  • [By Laura Brodbeck]

    Monday

    Earnings Releases Expected: Analogic Corporation (NASDAQ: ALOG) Economic Releases Expected: U.S. industrial production, U.S. manufacturing production

    Tuesday

  • [By John Udovich]

    Last Friday�� shooting incident at LAX highlighted the need to keep airports and other public places secure���something that small cap airport security stocks like�American Science & Engineering, Inc (NASDAQ: ASEI), Analogic Corporation (NASDAQ: ALOG), OSI Systems, Inc (NASDAQ: OSIS) and View Systems Inc (OTCBB: VSYM) do already. In the LAX shooting incident, its still not clear what the shooter�� motive was beyond signs that he was�suffering from some�kind of mental illness or breakdown. In other words, preventing such attacks in the future (beyond identifying those with mental illness on the verge of snapping) will continue to be difficult as the incident also happened outside of the airport security zone. �

Hot Medical Companies To Own In Right Now: Tauriga Sciences Inc (TAUG)

Tauriga Sciences, Inc., formerly Immunovative, Inc., incorporated on April 18, 2001, is a development-stage company. The Company along with Constellation Diagnostics, Inc. (Constellation) focuses on establishing a joint venture partnership to develop and commercialize a imaging-based diagnostic technology for use in predictive and preventative oncology.

The Company has rights to commercialize AlloStim and AlloVax. As of March 31, 2013 the Company did not have any revenues.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Peter Graham]

    Small cap marijuana stocks IMD Companies Inc (OTCMKTS: ICBU), Tauriga Sciences Inc (OTCMKTS: TAUG), ML Capital Group Inc (OTCBB: MLCG) and Lexaria Corp (OTCMKTS: LXRP) are aiming to give investors a high with their latest news. However, only one of these small cap marijuana stocks appears to be the subject of minor paid promotion or investor relations type of activities. So will investors and traders alike get a high off of these small caps? Here is a quick reality check:

Saturday, February 7, 2015

Coming Soon: CBRE Group Earnings

CBRE Group (NYSE: CBG  ) is expected to report Q1 earnings on April 25. Here's what Wall Street wants to see:

The 10-second takeaway
Comparing the upcoming quarter to the prior-year quarter, average analyst estimates predict CBRE Group's revenues will grow 7.8% and EPS will grow 28.6%.

The average estimate for revenue is $1.46 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.18.

Revenue details
Last quarter, CBRE Group reported revenue of $2.01 billion. GAAP reported sales were 14% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.76 billion.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

EPS details
Last quarter, non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.56. GAAP EPS of $0.53 for Q4 were 112% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.25 per share.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

Recent performance
For the preceding quarter, gross margin was 43.6%, 30 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 11.6%, 130 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 8.6%, 410 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $7.11 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.42.

Investor sentiment

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on CBRE Group is outperform, with an average price target of $22.00.

Looking for alternatives to CBRE Group? It takes more than great companies to build a fortune for the future. Learn the basic financial habits of millionaires next door and get focused stock ideas in our free report, "3 Stocks That Will Help You Retire Rich." Click here for instant access to this free report.

Add CBRE Group to My Watchlist.

Friday, February 6, 2015

Best Electric Utility Companies For 2014

The leading specialty coffee brewer Green Mountain Coffee Roaster Inc. (GMCR) has introduced its newest Keurig BOLT Caf茅 Brewing System that has the ability to brew a 64-ounce pot of coffee in two minutes. With this innovation Keurig brewers go another step forward in its higher volume batch-brewing capacity.

The new Keurig BOLT brewer overcomes the shortcomings of conventional batch brewing systems. The brewer targets medium to large offices, which are potential market for premium brewing systems, where coffee is brewed in large volumes.

Moreover, Keurig BOLT is compatible with food service outlets. In this regard, it is worth mentioning that Green Mountain�� Keurig K150 Series Commercial Brewing System was certified by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) for foodservice use.

The certification ensures that the brewing system meets public health and safety standards intended for commercial foodservice. Products bearing the certification are respected and trusted by the consumers, retailers and regulatory authorities.

Best Transportation Companies For 2015: Commercial Bancshares Inc (CMOH)

Commercial Bancshares, Inc. is a financial holding company. The Company�� banking subsidiary, The Commercial Savings Bank (the Bank), is engaged in the business of commercial and retail banking, with operations conducted through its main office and branches located in Upper Sandusky, Ohio and neighboring communities in Wyandot, Marion and Hancock counties. The Bank provides customary retail and commercial banking services to its customers, including acceptance of deposits for demand, savings and time accounts, individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and servicing of such accounts; commercial, consumer and real estate lending, including installment loans, and safe deposit and night depository facilities. Commercial Financial and Insurance Agency, LTD is its wholly owned subsidiary. The Bank also owns a 49.9% interest in Beck Title Agency, Ltd.

Lending Activities

The Bank grants residential, installment and commercial loans to customers located primarily in the Ohio counties of Wyandot, Marion and Hancock and the surrounding area. Commercial loans are primarily variable rate and include operating lines of credit and term loans made to small businesses primarily based on the ability to repay the loan from the cash flow of the business. Commercial real estate loans are primarily secured by borrower-occupied business real estate, and are dependent on the ability of the related business to generate adequate cash flow to service the debt. Residential real estate loans are made with primarily variable rates and are secured by the borrower�� residence. As of December 31, 2011, approximately 75.5% of the Company�� loan and lease portfolio consisted of commercial, construction and commercial real estate loans.

Investment Activities

Securities are classified as available for sale. Securities available for sale are carried at fair value. The securities available for sale include obligations of the United Sates Government and federal agencies, obligations of ! state and political subdivisions, and mortgage-backed securities. As of December 31, 2011, total securities available for sale were approximately $24.5 million, which included approximately $4.06 million of obligations of the United Sates Government and federal agencies, approximately $14.3 million of obligations of state and political subdivisions, and approximately $6.4 million of mortgage-backed securities.

Sources of Funds

As of December 31, 2011, the Company had approximately $259.1 million of deposits, which included approximately $ 38.1 million of noninterest-bearing demand, approximately $103.7 million of interest-bearing demand, approximately $ 86.9 million of savings and approximately $ 30.2 million of time deposits $100,000 and greater. As of December 31, 2011 the Company had no borrowings with Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLB).

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Doug Hughes]

    Commercial Bancshares (CMOH) operates as the holding company for The Commercial Savings Bank, with just over $300,000 in assets and $259,000 million in loans. This small, but very strong bank had 5% loan growth last year and net charge-offs of just 0.23%.

Best Electric Utility Companies For 2014: Wacker Chemie AG (WCH)

Wacker Chemie AG is a Germany-based company engaged in chemical industry. The Company operates through four business segments: WACKER SILICONES, which produces silicone products, ranging from silanes through silicone fluids, emulsions, elastomers, sealants and resins to pyrogenic silicas; WACKER POLYMERS, which offers a range of polymeric binders and additives; WACKER POLYSILICON, which provides polysilicon, and WACKER BIOSOLUTIONS, which is the life science division of the Company, offers solutions and products for the food, pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries. The Company offers its products for a range of sectors, including consumer goods, food, pharmaceuticals, textiles and the solar, electrical/electronics, basic-chemical industries, medical technology, biotech and mechanical engineering, automotive and construction. The Company also supplies silicon wafers to the semiconductor industry. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Jonathan Morgan]

    Wacker Chemie AG (WCH), the fourth-largest producer of polysilicon, jumped 9 percent to 56.22 euros, its largest increase since December.

    Banks Decline

    Commerzbank slumped 3.7 percent to 8.18 euros, for the biggest loss on the benchmark index.

Best Electric Utility Companies For 2014: Baltic Trading Limited (BALT)

Baltic Trading Limited engages in shipping business in the dry bulk industry spot market worldwide. The company operates a fleet of dry bulk ships that transport iron ore, coal, grain, steel products, and other dry bulk cargoes. Its fleet consists of 2 Capesize vessels, 4 Supramax vessels, and 3 Handysize vessels with an aggregate carrying capacity of approximately 672,000 deadweight tons. The company charters its vessels to trading houses, including commodities traders, as well as producers and government-owned entities. Baltic Trading Limited was founded in 2009 and is based in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Tim Melvin]

    Baltic Trading (BALT) got slammed by 17% last week as the Baltic Dry Index continued its decline. The global recovery is going to have fits and starts and the sector will be quite volatile. Baltic Trading works in the spot market for cargo like iron ore, coal, grain, and steel products so the stock price will likely jump around with the BDI reading.

  • [By GuruFocus]

    George Soros (Trades, Portfolio) just reported his first quarter portfolio. He buys Citrix Systems Inc, Baker Hughes Inc, Comcast Corp, Spansion Inc, etc during the 3-months ended 03/31/2014, according to the most recent filings of his investment company, Soros Fund Management LLC. As of 03/31/2014, Soros Fund Management LLC owns 305 stocks with a total value of $10.1 billion. These are the details of the buys and sells.New Purchases: BHI, CODE, CTRP, CLI, AVB, COMM, CNQ, AGO, AUY, ATML, ASH, BXMT, CSTM, AEM, CMA, ARE, CHKP, AUQ, BEAV, CX, ADSK, AALCP, BLK, AIG, BIIB, ADEP, AMRI, ARWR, ATHX, BALT, BCRX, BEAT, CFX, CLFD, CUR, CODE,Added Positions: CTXS, CMCSA, CNP, ALTR, BRCD, CBS, CRM, CHTR, CCJ, CIEN, BIDU, ALLE, ABT, CDNS, ACT,Reduced Positions: AAPL, CCI, AMT, ABBV, AAL, BITA, AL, ANGI, ARIA, CBST, BA, BIRT, EXAR,Sold Out: C, BAC, CRI, AMZN, AGN, CF, BRCM, COTY, BMY, AMCX, CAR, A, ADBE, AFL,For the details of George Soros (Trades, Portfolio)'s stock buys and sells, go to http://www.gurufocus.com/StockBuy.php?GuruName=George+SorosThis is the sector weightings of his portfolio:Technology18.9%Energy14%Healthcare8.3%Consumer Defensive8.2%Communication Services8.1%Consumer Cyclical5.4%Industrials5.1%Basic Materials4.9%Financial Services2.5%Real Estate1.9%Utilities0.5%These are the top 5 holdings of George Soros (Trades, Portfolio)1. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (TEVA) - 10,310,041 shares, 5.4% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 10.67%2. Herbalife Ltd (HLF) - 4,901,337 shares, 2.8% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 52.9%3. EQT Corp (EQT) - 2,573,814 shares, 2.5% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 3.27%4. Adecoagro SA (AGRO) - 25,915,076 shares, 2.1% of the total portfolio.5. Halliburton Co (HAL) - 3,596,353 shares, 2.1% of the total portfolio. Shares reduced by 20.73%New Purchase: Baker Hughes Inc (BHI)George Soros (Trades, Portfolio) initiated holdings in Baker Hughes Inc. His purchase prices were between $51.82 and $65.27, with an estimated

Best Electric Utility Companies For 2014: Select Medical Holdings Corporation(SEM)

Select Medical Holdings Corporation, through its subsidiary, Select Medical Corporation, operates specialty hospitals and outpatient rehabilitation clinics in the United States. The company?s Specialty Hospitals segment offers long term acute care hospital services and inpatient acute rehabilitative hospital care. This segment provides services for various medical conditions, such as respiratory failure, neuromuscular disorders, traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, strokes, non-healing wounds, cardiac disorders, renal disorders, and cancer. As of December 31, 2011, it operated 110 long term acute care hospitals and 9 inpatient rehabilitation facilities in 28 states. The Outpatient Rehabilitation segment operates clinics; and provides physical, occupational, and speech rehabilitation services. It offers medical rehabilitation services on a contract basis at nursing homes, hospitals, assisted living and senior care centers, schools, and worksites. This segment also pro vides specialized programs, such as functional programs for work related injuries, hand therapy, and athletic training services. As of December 31, 2011, it operated 954 outpatient rehabilitation clinics in 32 states and the District of Columbia. Select Medical Holdings Corporation was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Jonas Elmerraji]

    2013 has been a pretty poor year for shareholders of Select Medical Holdings (SEM). Shares of the billion-dollar health care facilities stock have fallen around 10% since the calendar flipped over to January. That means that SEM is underperforming the S&P 500 by more than 36% year-to-date. But investors could be in store for a reprieve thanks to the bullish setup that's been forming in shares.

    SEM is currently forming an ascending triangle bottom, a bullish setup that's formed by a horizontal resistance level above shares at $9 and uptrending support to the downside. Basically, as shares of Select bounce in between those two technically-important levels, they're getting squeezed closer and closer to a breakout above our $9 price ceiling. When that happens, we've got a buy signal in shares.

    Select Medical broke its downtrend back in the summer, but $9 has held firm as resistance ever since. One potential early indicator of a breakout is going to be momentum: 14-day RSI has hit its head on 70 the last couple times SEM hit its head on $9. A breakout above 70 on the momentum gauge is likely to lead the price breakout.

  • [By Rich Duprey]

    Specialty hospitals and outpatient rehabilitation clinic operator�Select Medical� (NYSE: SEM  ) �announced yesterday that it had successfully completed the�private placement of�$600 million�worth of its 6.375% senior notes due in 2021.

Best Electric Utility Companies For 2014: PACCAR Inc.(PCAR)

PACCAR Inc, together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and distributes light-, medium-, and heavy-duty trucks and related aftermarket parts worldwide. The company offers its trucks for use in the over-the-road and off-highway hauling of freight, petroleum, wood products, construction, and other materials to independent dealers under the Kenworth, Peterbilt, and DAF nameplates. It also provides finance and leasing products and services, such as inventory financing for independent dealers; and retail loan and lease financing for new and used trucks, as well as other transportation equipment; and full service leasing under the PacLease trade name. In addition, it manufactures and sells industrial winches under the Braden, Carco, and Gearmatic nameplates. PACCAR Inc was founded in 1905 and is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By MONEYMORNING.COM]

    In the non-tech part of the portfolio, we're talking about such firms as coffee giant Starbucks Corp. (Nasdaq: SBUX), Baltimore-based mutual fund player T. Rowe Price Group Inc. (Nasdaq: TROW), and Peterbilt truck maker PACCAR Inc (Nasdaq: PCAR).

Best Electric Utility Companies For 2014: First Financial Bancorp.(FFBC)

First Financial Bancorp. operates as the holding company for First Financial Bank, National Association that provides commercial banking, and other banking and banking-related services. The company accepts various deposit products that include interest-bearing and noninterest-bearing deposit accounts, time deposits, and cash management services for commercial customers. It also offers various lending products, including residential real estate loans; commercial real estate loans; commercial loans for various business purposes; home equity lines of credit; and consumer loans, such as vehicle loans, second mortgages on residential real estate, and unsecured loans. In addition, the company provides trust services, brokerage, investment, and other related services. As of June 3, 2011, it operated 102 banking centers in Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. The company was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By , DividendChannel.com]

    Looking at the universe of stocks we cover at Dividend Channel, on May 28, First Financial Bancorp�(FFBC), Goldman Sachs�(GS) and M & T Bank Corp.�(MTB) will all trade ex-dividend for their respective upcoming dividends. First Financial Bancorp will pay its quarterly dividend of $0.15 on July 1, Goldman Sachs will pay its quarterly dividend of $0.55 on June 27 and M & T Bank�will pay its quarterly dividend of $0.70 on June 30.