Saturday, February 28, 2015

5 Best US Stocks To Own Right Now

Boeing (NYSE: BA  ) is scheduled to release its quarterly earnings report tomorrow, and after a tumultuous first half of 2013, investors are hoping for good news. The aerospace giant has handled the many distractions relating to the issues with its new 787 Dreamliner aircraft quite well, and Boeing's earnings look poised to post the substantial growth that shareholders have been waiting to see.

Boeing's share-price gains make the stock the second-best performer in the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) this year, and long-term fundamentals support the bullish case for the company for years to come. But will Boeing manage to avoid further obstacles that could put the brakes on its high-growth trajectory? Let's take an early look at what's been happening with Boeing over the past quarter and what we're likely to see in its quarterly report.

Stats on Boeing

Analyst EPS Estimate

Top Companies To Invest In Right Now: LGL Group Inc (LGL)

The LGL Group, Inc., incorporated in 1928, is a producer of industrial and commercial products and services that is focused on the design and manufacture of electronic components and subsystems. The Company operates through its principal subsidiary, M-tron Industries, Inc. (Mtron), which includes the operations of its subsidiary, M-tron Industries, Ltd., as well as the operations of its subsidiary, Piezo Technology, Inc. (PTI) and PTI's subsidiary Piezo Technology India Private Ltd. MtronPTI's frequency control devices consist of packaged quartz crystals, crystal oscillators and electronic filters. MtronPTI markets and sells its products through a variety of channels and agents. MtronPTI�� operations are located in Orlando, Florida, Yankton, South Dakota, and Noida, India. In February 2014, its primary operating subsidiary, MtronPTI, acquired certain filter product line assets from Trilithic, Inc.

MtronPTI designs, manufactures and sells standard and custom-engineered electronic components that are used primarily to control the frequency or timing of signals in electronic circuits. Its devices, which are commonly called frequency control devices, are used in infrastructure equipment for the telecommunications and network equipment industries. Its devices are also used in electronic systems for military applications, avionics, earth-orbiting satellites, medical devices, instrumentation, industrial devices and global positioning systems.

MtronPTI�� products are frequency control devices, including packaged quartz crystals, oscillators incorporating those crystals and electronic filter products. MtronPTI designs and produces a range of packaged quartz crystals, quartz crystal-based oscillators and electronic filter products. The Packaged Crystal is a single crystal in a hermetically sealed package that is used by electronic equipment manufacturers, along with their own electronic circuitry, to build oscillators for frequency control in their electronic devices. Its Clock Osc! illator is a self-contained package with a crystal and electronic circuitry that is used as a subsystem by electronic equipment manufacturers to provide frequency control for their devices. The voltage controlled crystal oscillator (VCXO) is a variable frequency oscillator whose frequency can be changed by varying the control voltage to the oscillator.

The temperature compensated crystal oscillator (TCXO) is a stable oscillator designed for use over a range of temperatures. Oven-controlled crystal oscillators (OCXO) are designed to produce a higher level of stability. The Electronic filters use either crystal technology, precise manufacturing of inductive/capacitive circuits, or low and high-powered cavity. This variety of features in MtronPTI�� product family offers the designers at electronic equipment manufacturers a range of options as they create the needed performance in their products.

MtronPTI�� oscillator products operate at frequencies ranging from 2 kilohertz to over 1.4 gigahertz. It offers crystal and inductive/capacitive filters with central frequencies from a direct current to 15 gigahertz. Majority of MtronPTI�� products are custom-designed for requirements of specific original equipment manufacturer (OEM) systems. MtronPTI�� products are employed in numerous applications within the communications industry, including computer and telephone network switches, high-speed gigabit Ethernet, modems, wireless transmitters/receivers, multiplexers, data recovery/regeneration devices, fiber channel networks, repeaters, data transceivers, line interface devices, communications satellites and base station controllers. Its products are incorporated into end products that serve all elements of the communications industry.

The crystals, oscillators and filters are found in military applications for remote sensing, personnel protection and armaments. Avionics applications include ground and flight control systems. Industrial applications are in security s! ystems, m! etering systems, electronic test instruments and industrial control systems. MtronPTI�� products are also used in medical instrumentation applications, as well as in various computer peripheral equipment, such as storage devices, printers, modems, monitors, video cards and sound cards. MtronPTI�� timing module, an electronic subsystem, is a pre-assembled circuit that integrates several different functions into a small, single, self-contained module for control of timing in a circuit. Timing modules are frequently used for the synchronization of timing signals in digital circuits, particularly in wireless and optical carrier network systems.

The Company competes with Dover Corporation, CTS Corporation and Pericom Semiconductor Corporation.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By ShadowStock]

    LGL: The LGL Group (LGL) was founded in 1917. LGL manufactures electronic components.

    The per-share current book value is $9.65. But within that $9.65 book value per share is cash of $5.15, net PPE of 1.79, inventory of 2.24, and AR of 1.83. Furthermore, current assets less current liabilities is $6.62 per share. LGL�� current price is $6.54.
    Real estate owned: One building in Orlando Florida along with 7 acres of land. Two buildings in Yankton, South Dakota, located on 11 acres of land.
    Market Cap: $17.93M
    Enterprise Value: $7.82M
    Historical low valuations based on EV/Sales at .33 and EV/Book at .45. coupled with strong insider buying.

5 Best US Stocks To Own Right Now: Kabe Exploration Inc (KABX)

Kabe Exploration Inc., incorporated on December 15, 2005, is an exploration stage company. The Company focuses to drill shallow wells 3300-6000 feet. on a turnkey basis.

On February 21, 2013, Kabe purchased 320 Mineral lease acres in Butler County Kansas representing a 81% Net Revenue Interest. As of December 31, 2012, the Company did not generate any revenues.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By CRWE]

    Today, KABX has shed (-5.26%) down -0.0010 at $.0180 with�158,078 shares in movement thus far (ref. google finance Delayed: 12:22PM EDT June 19, 2013), but don�� let this get you down.

    Kabe Exploration Inc. previously reported it has entered into a letter of intent to form a joint venture partnership with Canadian oil and gas holding company International Equity Partners Oil & Gas, Inc. for the exploration and development of 7,300 acres of oil leases in the highly productive Mississippian field of southern Kansas. International Equity Partners Oil & Gas will contribute capital and expertise toward developing the assets for production. KABE�� five year operational plan is expected to bring 24 new oil wells into production.

  • [By CRWE]

    Last Friday, KABX previously surged (+4.93%) up +0.0007 at $.0149 with 220,466 shares in play at the close (ref. google finance July 12, 2013 ��Close).

    Kabe Exploration, Inc. previously reported it has secured a bridge loan with Phoenix Group Capital Markets, a UK holding company, through its wholly owned micro-cap investment fund. The bridge loan was secured with restricted stock for operating capital purposes. The company had previously entered into a $5,000,000 Reserve Equity Financing Agreement with Phoenix Group in a term sheet announced in May. ��his bridge loan affirms the level of investment confidence we are seeing from the professional investment community,��said Erik Ulsteen, the company�� CE

  • [By CRWE]

    Today, KABX surged (+25.00%) up +0.0020 at $.0100 with�309,514 shares in play thus far (ref. google finance Delayed: 12:06PM EDT July 9, 2013).

    Kabe Exploration, Inc. previously reported it has secured a bridge loan with Phoenix Group Capital Markets, a UK holding company, through its wholly owned micro-cap investment fund. The bridge loan was secured with restricted stock for operating capital purposes. The company had previously entered into a $5,000,000 Reserve Equity Financing Agreement with Phoenix Group in a term sheet announced in May. ��his bridge loan affirms the level of investment confidence we are seeing from the professional investment community,��said Erik Ulsteen, the company�� CE

5 Best US Stocks To Own Right Now: Terex Corporation(TEX)

Terex Corporation manufactures capital goods machinery products worldwide. Its Aerial Work Platforms segment offers portable material lifts, portable aerial work platforms, trailer-mounted articulating booms and light towers, self-propelled articulating and telescopic booms, scissor lifts, telehandlers, and bridge inspection and utility equipment under the Terex and Genie brands. The company?s Construction segment provides off-highway trucks and material handlers; loader backhoes, compaction equipment, mini and midi excavators, site dumpers, compact track loaders, skid steer loaders, wheel loaders, and tunneling equipment; and asphalt and concrete equipment, and landfill compactors principally under the Terex name. Its Cranes segment offers mobile telescopic and tower cranes, lattice boom crawler and truck cranes, and truck-mounted cranes; and straddle and sprinter carriers, gantry cranes, ship-to-shore cranes, reach stackers, empty and full container handlers, and genera l cargo lift trucks under the Terex brand. The company?s Material Handling and Port Solutions segment provides standard and process cranes, rope and chain hoists, electric motors, and light crane systems; and crane components and port equipment, such as mobile harbor and automated stacking cranes, and automated guided vehicles, as well as terminal automation technology, including software under the Demag and Gottwald names. Its Materials Processing segment offers crushers, washing systems, screens, apron feeders, chippers, and related components and replacement parts under the Terex and Powerscreen brands. The company provides financing solutions to assist customers in the rental, leasing, and acquisition of its products. It serves construction, infrastructure, quarrying, mining, manufacturing, shipping, transportation, refining, energy, and utility industries through dealers, rental companies, direct sales, and major accounts. The company was founded in 1925 and is based i n Westport, Connecticut.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By DAG1996]

    Opportunity Highlights:

    The market is overreacting to recent company-specific news.Coinciding market weakness is likely to present a buying opportunity.Forward P/E = 11.87Next 5-year annual EPS growth estimate >41%.Manitowoc 24% gross margin [ttm] is the highest in the Heavy Machinery & Vehicles industry and is growing.In Q2, Manitowoc Crane revenue grew 7.6% year over year, while competitor Terex (TEX) crane revenue grew only 3.2% and Caterpillar (CAT) construction business revenue declined 9%.Morgan Stanley notes: "We believe that Manitowoc can add 12% and 31% upside to EPS in the event of a modest and robust non-residential construction recovery, respectively."Stifel Nicolaus rates Manitowoc a "buy" with a $25 price target.

    Why is there an opportunity in Manitowoc shares?

  • [By Ben Levisohn]

    Caterpillar’s shares have gained 6.6% in 2014, double its 2013 gain of 3.3%, and besting the 7.7% drop in Deere (DE), the 0.4% rise in Terex (TEX), the 0.3% dip in Cummins (CMI) and the 4.5% decline in Joy Global (JOY).

  • [By Dan Caplinger]

    Finally, beyond the Dow, construction equipment company Terex (NYSE: TEX  ) put the dampers on the rally with an 11% drop after cutting its forecast for full-year earnings by about $0.50 to $0.60 per share. Facing slowing gains in North America, continued challenges in Europe, and mixed markets around the world, Terex cited weakness in equipment designed for construction, as well as ports. Without a more robust global economic recovery, Terex could be just the first of many companies reporting similar shortfalls as second-quarter earnings season starts in a few weeks.

  • [By Rich Smith]

    This series, brought to you by Yahoo! Finance, looks at which upgrades and downgrades make sense, and which ones investors should act on. Today, our headlines feature a pair of new buy ratings for heavy industrialists Manitowoc (NYSE: MTW  ) and Terex (NYSE: TEX  ) . But the news isn't all good, so before we get to those, let's find out first why one analyst thinks...

5 Best US Stocks To Own Right Now: Dean Foods Company(DF)

Dean Foods Company, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a food and beverage company in the United States. It operates in two segments, Fresh Dairy Direct-Morningstar and WhiteWave-Alpro. The Fresh Dairy Direct-Morningstar segment manufactures, markets, and distributes various branded and private label dairy case products, including cream, ice cream mix, and ice cream novelties; creamers and other extended shelf life fluids; yogurt, cottage cheeses, sour creams, and dairy-based dips; fruit juices, fruit-flavored drinks, iced teas, and water; half-and-half and whipping creams; and items for resale, such as butter, cheese, eggs, and milk shakes. This segment sells its dairy case products to retailers, distributors, foodservice outlets, educational institutions, and governmental entities. The WhiteWave-Alpro segment manufactures, develops, markets, and sells various branded dairy and dairy-related products, such as milk and other dairy products; organic dairy products; plant-based beverages, such as soy, almond, and coconut milks; and soy food products, coffee creamers, and creamers and fluid dairy products. It also provides branded soy-based beverages and food products in Europe under the Alpro and Provamel brands. This segment sells its products to various customers, including grocery stores, club stores, natural foods stores, mass merchandisers, convenience stores, drug stores, and foodservice outlets. The company was formerly known as Suiza Foods Corporation and changed its name to Dean Foods Company on December 21, 2001 as a result of merger between the former Dean Foods Company and Suiza Foods Corporation. Dean Foods Company was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Tim Brugger]

    Deans Foods (NYSE: DF  ) has set a public offering price of $17.75 per share for approximately 29.9 million shares of WhiteWave Foods, a wholly owned subsidiary of Deans Foods, according to a recent press release. The intention to spin-off WhiteWave was first announced May 1, 2013.

  • [By Jacob Roche]

    It's clear that this isn't just a problem with the grocery stores themselves. Dean Foods (NYSE: DF  ) , essentially the Pinnacle Foods of milk products, had flat sales growth from 2007 to 2011, just like conventional grocers. White Wave Foods, Dean's former organic milk subsidiary and recent spinoff, had impressive 64%�growth during that time.

Friday, February 27, 2015

Top 10 Tech Companies To Own For 2014

Today was a bullish day on Wall Street -- 80% of blue chips ended in the black -- and yet the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) added only 10 points, or less than 0.1%, closing at 14,547. The subdued gains were mostly due to the poor performance of just a few companies that really bit the dust. The meager 10-point advance wasn't enough to salvage losses earlier in the week, as the Dow posted its worst week of 2013, slipping 2.1%.�

Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT  ) pleasantly surprised the markets today, adding 3.4% on the heels of a good earnings report. Expectations had been rather low for the tech giant, especially after news broke in recent weeks that PC sales declined to an all-time record in the first quarter. The adoption of Windows 8 wasn't quite as bleak as investors had come to expect. In fact, the Windows division boosted sales 23% from a year ago, pulling in $5.7 billion.

Although there were just a handful of laggards in the index, those laggards sure were steep decliners. Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ  ) , which didn't share the glory with Microsoft, slipped 3.2% after a private equity buyout of rival PC maker Dell fell through. Reading between the lines, HP shareholders sold off today as it looks like confidence in a turnaround for the PC industry is fading.

Top 5 Wireless Telecom Companies To Invest In Right Now: M/A-COM Technology Solutions Holdings Inc (MTSI)

M/A-COM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc. (M/A-COM), incorporated on March 25, 2009, is a provider of high-performance analog semiconductor solutions for uses in wireless and wireline applications across the radio frequency (RF), microwave and millimeter wave spectrum. The Company manages has one segment, which is semiconductors. The Company offers over 2,700 standard and custom devices, which includes integrated circuits (IC), multi-chip modules, power pallets and transistors, diodes, switches and switch limiters, passive and active components and complete subsystems, across 37 product lines serving over 6,000 end customers in four primary markets. The Company's semiconductor products are electronic components that the Company's customers incorporate into their larger electronic systems, such as point-to-point wireless backhaul radios, radar, automobile navigation systems, digital cable television (CATV) set-top boxes, magnetic resonance imaging systems and unmanned aerial vehicles. In February 2014, M/A-COM Technology Solutions Holdings Inc announced that its subsidiary Mindspeed Technologies Inc completed the sale of assets of its wireless infrastructure business unit to Intel Corporation.

The Company's primary markets are Networks, which includes CATV, cellular backhaul, cellular infrastructure and fiber optic applications; Aerospace and Defense (A&D); Automotive, which includes global positioning system (GPS) modules sold to the automotive industry; and Multi-market, which includes industrial, medical, mobile communications and scientific applications. The Company operates a single Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) and silicon semiconductor fab at its Lowell, Massachusetts headquarters, which the Company is in the process of updating to include Gallium Nitride (GaN) fabrication operations as well. The Company also utilizes external semiconductor foundries to supply the Company with additional capacity in periods of high demand and to provide the Company access to additional process technolog! ies. The ability to utilize a broad array of internal process technologies as well as commercially available foundry technologies allows the Company to select the appropriate technology to solve the Company's customers' needs.

The Company offers high-performance analog semiconductor products for both wireless and wireline applications across the frequency spectrum from RF to millimeterwave. The Company regularly develops high-value products to serve its customers in four primary markets: Networks, A&D, Multi-market and Automotives.

Aerospace & Defense

In the A&D market, military applications require more advanced electronic systems, such as radar warning receivers, communications data links and tactical radios, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), RF jammers, electronic countermeasures and smart munitions. Military applications are becoming more sophisticated, favoring higher performance semiconductor ICs based on GaAs and GaN technology due to their high power density, improved power efficiency and broadband capability. Radar systems for mapping and targeting missions are undergoing a transition from existing mechanically-scanned radar products to a new generation of active electronically-scanned array (AESA) based products. Consisting of hundreds or thousands of transmit/receive modules commonly based on GaAs and increasingly on GaN technology, AESAs deliver greater speed, range, resolution and reliability over mechanically-scanned radar products that utilize a single transmitter and receiver with mechanical steering. Military communications employing wireless infrastructure and tactical radios in the field remain critical for allowing geographically dispersed users to exchange information quickly and efficiently. UAVs and their underlying semiconductor content requires designs to meet rigorous specifications for high performance, small size, and low power consumption.

Automotive

The Automotive category includes GPS modules the Company sel! ls to the! automotive industry. Semiconductor content in automobiles is projected to grow in order to offer connectivity, safety, performance and navigation features.

Multi-market

In Multi-market, the Company's products are used in industrial, medical, mobile communications, test and measurement and scientific applications. In the medical industry, the Company's custom designed non-magnetic diode product line is a critical component for certain MRI applications. The Company offers a broad range of standard and custom ICs, modules and complete subsystems across 37 product lines. The Company's product portfolio consists of more than 2,700 products including the key product platforms: power pallets and transistors, ICs, diodes, switches and switch limiters, passive and active components, multi-chip modules, and complete subsystems. Many of the Company's product platforms are leveraged across multiple markets and applications. For example, the Company's applications with regard to power transistor technology is leveraged across both scientific laboratory equipment applications and commercial and defense radar system applications. The Company's diode technology is used in switch filter banks of military tactical radios as well as medical imaging MRI systems.

The Company competes with Hittite Microwave Corporation, Sumitomo Electric Device Innovations, Inc., RF Micro Devices, Inc. (RFMD), Avago, Inc. (Avago), Aeroflex, Inc. (Aeroflex), Microsemi Corporation (Microsemi), TriQuint and Skyworks Solutions, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Seth Jayson]

    M/A-Com Technology Solutions Holdings (Nasdaq: MTSI  ) reported earnings on April 30. Here are the numbers you need to know.

    The 10-second takeaway
    For the quarter ended March 29 (Q2), M/A-Com Technology Solutions Holdings met expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

  • [By Monica Gerson]

    Mindspeed Technologies (NASDAQ: MSPD) surged 69.02% to $5.02 in the pre-market session after M/A-Com Technology Solutions Holdings (NASDAQ: MTSI) announced its plans to acquire Mindspeed Technologies.

  • [By Lauren Pollock]

    M/A-COM Technology Solutions Holdings Inc.(MTSI) agreed to acquire semiconductor manufacturer Mindspeed Technologies Inc.(MSPD) in a deal valued at $272 million, expanding the company’s markets to include enterprise applications. Mindspeed shares surged 70% to $5.04 premarket.

Top 10 Tech Companies To Own For 2014: Shanda Games Ltd (GAME)

Shanda Games Limited (Shanda Games), incorporated on June 12, 2008, is engaged in the development and operation of online games and related businesses in the People�� Republic of China. Some of its online games are also Web games, which the Company categorizes as either massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) or advanced casual games, rather than as a separate category of online games. As of February 29, 2012, Shanda Games operated 35 online games. Its game player base, which consisted of 20.4 million average monthly active users and 4.5 million average monthly paying users for the three-month period ended December 31, 2011. In April 2011, the Company acquired a 51.85% interest in a game operating company, which provides services in East Asia.

As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned 149 software copyrights. As of December 31, 2011, it owned or licensed 53 trademarks. As of December 31, 2011, it owned or licensed 329 registered domain names, including its official Website and domain names registered in connection with each of the games the Company offers. As of December 31, 2011, it had 17 patent applications pending with the State Intellectual Property Office of China. The Company operates MMORPGs, advanced casual games and Web games in China. Its MMORPGs are action adventure-based and draw upon themes, such as martial arts adventure, fantasy, strategy and historical events. The Company develops and sources an array of game content through multiple channels, including in-house development, licensing, investment and acquisition, and joint operation. Through these channels, it has built a diversified game portfolio and a game pipeline.

The Company licenses games from international and domestic developers. As of February 29, 2012, 13 of its 35 online games were licensed from third-party developers, including Mir II. It invests in independent game development and operating studios identified by 18 Capital. The Company acquire intellectual property rights t! o online games; equity rights in online game development and operating studios, or an option to acquire equity interests in online game development and operating studios in the future.

The Company operates its business in People's Republic of China, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, which consist of Shengqu Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (Shengqu), Shengji Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (Shengji), Lansha Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (Lansha) and Kuyin Software (Shanghai) Co., Ltd (Kuyin); its variable interest entities and their subsidiaries (VIEs), which consist of Shanghai Hongli Digital Technology Co., Ltd. (Shanghai Hongli) and Shanghai Shulong Technology Development Co., Ltd. (Shanghai Shulong) and their wholly owned subsidiaries, Shanghai Shulong Computer Technology Co., Ltd. (Shulong Computer), Nanjing Shulong Computer Technology Co., Ltd. (Nanjing Shulong), Chengdu Youji Technology Co., Ltd. (Chengdu Youji), Tianjin Youji Technology Co., Ltd. (Tianjin Youji), Chengdu Aurora Technology Development Co., Ltd. (Chengdu Aurora), and Chengdu Simo Technology Co., Ltd. (Chengdu Simo).

The Company competes with Tencent Holdings Limited, NetEase.com, Changyou.com Limited, Perfect World Co., Ltd., Giant Interactive, Kingsoft Corporation Limited, KongZhong Corporation, NetDragon Websoft Inc., Nineyou International Limited, The9 Limited, Activision Blizzard, Inc., Electronic Arts Inc., Zynga Inc., NCSoft Corporation, and Nexon Corporation.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Travis Hoium]

    What: Shares of Shanda Games� (NASDAQ: GAME  ) fell 20% today after the company announced an acquisition.

    So what: The company will buy affiliates who provide user and payment platform services from Shanda Interactive for $811.5 million. Management says it will lower costs and improve earnings by about 40% to 50% going forward. �

Top 10 Tech Companies To Own For 2014: Nortech Systems Incorporated(NSYS)

Nortech Systems Incorporated operates as a contract manufacturing company. It manufactures wire harness cable and printed circuit board assemblies, electronic sub-assemblies, higher level assemblies, and complete devices. The company also provides value added services and technical support, including design, testing, prototyping, and supply chain management; and repair services on circuit boards used in machines in the medical industry. In addition, it engages in the design, manufacture, and post-production service of electronic and electromechanical medical devices for diagnostic, analytical, and other life-science applications. Nortech Systems Incorporated serves various industries that include aerospace and defense; medical; and the industrial markets, which include industrial equipment, transportation, vision, agriculture, and oil and gas. The company markets its products through sales force and independent manufacturers? representatives. Nortech Systems Incorporated was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Wayzata, Minnesota.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By James E. Brumley]

    In a perfect world stocks would move in predictable, manageable ways. We don't live - nor do we trade in - a perfect world. In the real world we have to adapt to and deal with the curve balls the market throws us, and there are no two stocks that illustrate that point better than Document Security Systems, Inc. (NYSEMKT:DSS) and Nortech Systems Incorporated (NASDAQ:NSYS) to today. While both NSYS and DSS are up today, one's overbought and ripe for a pullback, while the other is likely at the beginning of a trade-worthy rally.

Top 10 Tech Companies To Own For 2014: Cheetah Mobile Inc (CMCM)

Cheetah Mobile Inc., formerly Kingsoft Internet Software Holdings Limited, incorporated in July 2009, is a mobile Internet company. For its users, its diversified suite of mission critical applications optimizes Internet and mobile system performance and provides real time protection against known and unknown security threats. For its business partners, its platform provides them multiple user traffic entry points and global content distribution channels capable of delivering targeted content to hundreds of millions of people. The Company�� applications include Clean Master, CM Security, Battery Doctor, Duba Anti-virus, Cheetah Browser and Photo Grid. The Company's core platform products for business partners, such as Duba.com, Cheetah personalized recommendation engine, Game centers, Game centers and Kingmobi mobile advertising network.

The Company�� cloud-based data analytics engines are the core of its platform. For its users, the data analytics engines perform real time analysis of mobile applications, program files and Websites on their devices for behavior that may impair system performance or impose security risks. For its business partners, the data analytics engines help create user interest graphs according to a number of dimensions, such as online shopping, gaming and frequently used applications, thus facilitating targeted content delivery.

Clean Master is a junk file cleaning, memory boosting and privacy protection application. CM Security is an anti-virus and security application for mobile devices on the Android platform. Battery Doctor is a power optimization application. Duba Anti-virus is an Internet security application. Cheetah Browser is its safe Internet browser. Photo Grid is a photo collage application.

The Company competes with Qihoo 360.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Garrett Cook]

    Cheetah Mobile (NASDAQ: CMCM) rose 11 percent on news the company had its app relisted in the Google App Store ranking system.  The release was published in a Chinese publication.

  • [By Peter Graham]

    Formerly known as Kingsoft Internet Software Holdings Limited, small cap China mobile Internet stock Cheetah Mobile Inc (NYSE: CMCM), a potential peer of other Chinese mobile Internet stocks like NQ Mobile Inc (NYSE: NQ), Qihoo 360 Technology Co Ltd (NYSE: QIHU)�and China Mobile Games and Entertainment Group Limited (NASDAQ: CMGE), is ranked as the ninth most shorted stock on the NYSE with short interest of 38.02% according to Highshortinterest.com.

  • [By Steve Symington]

    What:�Shares of Cheetah Mobile (NYSE: CMCM  ) fell 16% Tuesday after the Chinese Internet security software specialist released unaudited first-quarter results.

Top 10 Tech Companies To Own For 2014: GigaMedia Limited (GIGM)

Gigamedia Limited, through its subsidiaries, primarily engages in the operation of online games for online game players in Asia. The company provides a portfolio of online games, including MahJong, a traditional Chinese tile game; MMORPG, an Internet-based computer game; advanced casual games; and card, chance-based, and simple casual games. It also develops and licenses online poker, casino, and sports betting gaming software solutions, as well as offers application services for the online poker and casino markets primarily in the continental European markets. The company has strategic alliances with SoftStar Entertainment Inc., Neostorm Holdings Limited, XLGames Inc., Access China Holding Limited, Gorilla Banana Entertainment Corp., JC Entertainment Corporation, Possibility Space Incorporated, East Gate Media Contents & Technology Fund, and BetClic. GigaMedia Limited was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Eric Volkman]

    GigaMedia (NASDAQ: GIGM  ) results for the company's fiscal Q4 and 2012 have been released. For the quarter, revenue was $4.8 million, down by 34% from the $7.4 million in the same period the previous year. Attributable net loss, however, narrowed considerably to $15.4 million ($0.30 per diluted share) from Q4 2011's shortfall of $51.3 million ($1.01).

Top 10 Tech Companies To Own For 2014: CafePress Inc (PRSS)

CafePress Inc. (CafePress), incorporated on October 15, 1999, is an e-commerce platform enabling customers globally to create, buy and sell a range of customized and personalized products. It serves its customers, including both consumers and content owners, through its portfolio of e-commerce Websites, including its Website, CafePress.com. Its consumers include individuals, groups, businesses and organizations. These products include clothing and accessories, art and posters, stickers, home accents and stationery. Its content owners include individual designers, as well as artists and branded content licensors. During the year ended December 31, 2011, it shipped over 7.8 million products from a catalog of over 320 million products. It operates a portfolio of branded Websites, including CafePress.com, and enable resellers and co-branded websites to design and customize products, which target specific consumers, products and use cases, or to provide their customers with product customization capabilities. During 2011, it had nearly 130,000 new images uploaded to its retail e-commerce Websites on average per week. In October 2011, the Company acquired L&S Retail Ventures, Inc. In April 2012, it acquired all of the assets of Logo'd Softwear, Inc. On October 25, 2012, the Company acquired EZ Prints, Inc.

The Company generates revenues from sales of customized products through its e-commerce Websites and associated charges. In addition, it generates revenues from fulfillment services, including print and production services provided to third parties. Consumers purchase customized products directly from Website or through storefronts hosted by CafePress. Customized products include user-designed products, as well as products designed by its content owners. The Company�� services evolved into a platform consist of front-end design and sales channels, and back-end services platform. Its e-commerce Websites and sales channels include CafePress.com, CanvasOnDemand.com, Imagekind.com, GreatBigCanv! as.com, InvitationBox.com, CafePress content owners, branded product manufacturers, other retailers and distributed sales. CanvasOnDemand.com takes photographs and transforms them into canvas artwork. Imagekind.com is where consumers can find artwork by independent artists that can be produced on posters, canvases and framed wall art. GreatBigCanvas.com is a provider of canvas wall art and panoramic canvas photographs. InvitationBox.com is an online provider of stationery products, including invitations, announcements and other products and gifts.

Content owners, including designers, artists, small businesses, groups, clubs and organizations, use the Company�� e-commerce platform to design their own products and sell them through their own hosted e-commerce shop. In addition to such individual content owners, entertainment and publishing companies also license to its materials related to their products for creation of their own shops, online store experiences appearing embedded in their Websites but hosted by it, or for sale directly by it in its marketplaces. By supplying custom design tools and manufacturing services, it enables product manufacturers, such as Sigg and TomTom to offer customized designs on their products. It supplies distributors and resellers with short-run and quick-turn custom printed products. Its back-end services form a platform consisting of the components, which can be used to create front-end buyer and seller experiences, which include user-generated content, licensed fan content, design tools, shops, print/production and fulfillment. Content owners sell their own custom merchandise using its turn-key shops platform, which includes hosting, payment processing, marketing services, fulfillment and customer service. The Company offers users printing on over 600 product stock keeping units (SKUs). It processes and ship orders within three business days after a customer places an order and in many instances can ship orders within 24 hours after an order is placed.

!

Merchandise Assortment

Users visiting one of the Company e-commerce Websites can select from over 600 SKUs of merchandise to customize. Its merchandise catalog includes clothing and accessories, which include t-shirts, sweatshirts, baby products, bags and hats; arts, posters and signs, which include posters, framed art, canvas art, wall decals and signs; stickers and flair, which include stickers, buttons and device cases; home ascents, which include mugs, water bottles and clocks, and stationery, such as business cards, invitations, calendars and journals.

Online Designers

The Company�� portfolio of e-commerce Websites are designed to make product customization simple and easy. Once a product has been selected, users can perform a range of design and editing functions, including uploading their own designs and photos; adding text; adding stock art; scaling and rotating images to fit products; repositioning product elements using conventional and intuitive drag-and-drop functionality; changing fonts or font characteristics, and changing color schemes.

Shops

The Company�� shops platform allows users to sell and market their designed merchandise to their own communities. In addition to customizing the products that they sell, content owners may also customize the look and feel of shops, through which they sell their products. It provides a range of tools to help users market and manage their stores, including basic search engine optimization, e-mail list management and real-time sales reports.

Design, sales and customer service support

The Company is providing customer service, including phone, e-mail and chat support. Its support centers also offer design support to members customizing their own items receive finished products.

The Company competes with Amazon.com, eBay, Etsy, CustomInk, Spreadshirt, Threadless, Zazzle, VistaPrint and Shutterfly.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]

    www.fossil.com From the world's largest retailer stepping up with fresh financials to a maker of fashionable timepieces proving that it can still grow in this unwelcome climate for watchmakers, here are some of the things that will help shape the week that lies ahead on Wall Street. Monday -- Sounds Good DTS (DTSI) has carved a cozy living providing sound-enhancing technology in Blu-ray players, video game consoles and other devices. Despite its success, DTS is trading a lot closer to its 52-week low than its 52-week high. One thing holding it back is that it has failed to impress the market with its quarterly financials. It's coming off back-to-back quarters of falling short of Wall Street's profit expectations. It's against this setting that DTS will step up after Monday's market close to deliver its latest results. Will the streak of disappointment stretch to three quarters, or is DTS finally going to put out a report that looks as good as its audio technology sounds? We will know soon. Tuesday -- Fossil Fuel Fossil (FOSL) may seem to be toiling away in an industry worthy of its name. Aren't wristwatches dinosaurs? Who wears watches anymore when we have smartwatches to tell us the time. Folks with active lifestyles are saving their wrists for fitness bracelets. Well, Fossil is growing just nicely in this environment, thank you very much. When the trendy watchmaker reports on Tuesday analysts see revenue climbing 13 percent. They see top-line growth of 10 percent for all of 2014. Fossil's profitability isn't expected to clock in as nicely, but unlike DTS,we've seen Fossil blow Wall Street's profit targets away consistently over the past year. Wednesday -- Press Hard CafePress (PRSS) has been a disappointment for investors since going public at $19 two years ago. The stock opened higher on its first day of trading, but it's been mostly downhill for the shares, which now fetch less than a third of the initial public offering price. CafePress was hoping

  • [By CRWE]

    CafePress Inc. (Nasdaq:PRSS), The World’s Customization EngineTM, reported an expansion of its longstanding partnership with National Geographic, one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations, with the launch of a new art shop, bringing its legendary photography collection to life on canvas and framed art pieces.

Top 10 Tech Companies To Own For 2014: Super Micro Computer Inc.(SMCI)

Super Micro Computer, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, develops and provides high performance server solutions based on modular and open-standard architecture. The company offers a range of rackmount, workstation, storage, graphic processing unit, and blade server systems, as well as subsystems and accessories used by distributors, original equipment manufacturers, and end customers to assemble server systems. It provides server options with single, dual, and quad CPU capability supporting Intel Pentium and Xeon multi-core architectures; and server systems based on AMD dual and quad Opteron. The company also offers server subsystems and accessories, including server boards, and chassis and power supplies. In addition, it sells other system accessories, such as microprocessors, memory, and disc drives. The company sells its server systems, and server subsystems and accessories through distributors, including value added resellers, system integrators, and original equip ment manufacturers, as well as through its direct sales force primarily in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Super Micro Computer, Inc. was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in San Jose, California.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

    Super Micro Computer (NASDAQ: SMCI) shares were also up, gaining 11.50 percent to $21.13 after the company reported upbeat FQ3 results and issued a strong Q4 forecast.

  • [By John Kell var popups = dojo.query(".socialByline .popC"); popups.forEach(func]

    Shares of Super Micro Computer Inc.(SMCI) jumped 17% to $22.09 premarket after the servers maker reported better-than-expected profit and sales growth for the fiscal third-quarter. Super Micro also issued a rosy outlook for the fiscal fourth quarter.

  • [By Seth Jayson]

    Super Micro Computer (Nasdaq: SMCI  ) reported earnings on April 23. Here are the numbers you need to know.

    The 10-second takeaway
    For the quarter ended March 31 (Q3), Super Micro Computer missed estimates on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

  • [By Lauren Pollock]

    Super Micro Computer Inc.'s(SMCI) fiscal second-quarter profit more than doubled as the servers maker reported a double-digit jump in sales and higher gross margins. The latest results topped Super Micro’s expectations and the company issued a rosy outlook for the fiscal third quarter. Shares surged 12% to�$20.79 premarket.

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Hot High Dividend Companies For 2014

Stocks that pay dividends have never been more popular, especially among investors looking for as much income as they can generate from their portfolios. If you're a dividend investor, you need to know that the stocks you choose will give you dependable income not only now but well into the future.

What not to focus on
The mistake that many dividend investors make is to pay too much attention to current yield. Admittedly, if you need income right now, then the temptation to get instant gratification from a high-yielding dividend stock can be overwhelming.

But all too often, stocks that pay high dividends end up having to cut their payouts. By contrast, stocks that have demonstrated their ability provide strong growth in their dividends -- even if their yields aren't as high -- give investors more assurance that those stocks will be able to sustain their payouts going forward.

With that in mind, let's turn to four stocks that have attractive yields of 3% or more yet have been able to produce impressive dividend growth at a 10% or greater annual clip for the past decade.

Top 10 Performing Companies To Own In Right Now: Neurocrine Biosciences Inc.(NBIX)

Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. engages in the discovery, development, and commercialization of drugs for the treatment of neurological and endocrine-related diseases and disorders in the United States. It develops drugs for endometriosis, stress-related disorders, pain, tardive dyskinesia, uterine fibroids, diabetes, insomnia, and other neurological and endocrine-related diseases and disorders. The company?s products in clinical development include Elagolix, a Phase II drug for endometriosis; Vesicular Monoamine Transporter 2 Inhibitor (VMAT2), a Phase II drug for movement disorders; CRF2 Peptide Agonist, a Phase II drug for cardiovascular diseases; CRF1 Antagonist, a Phase II drug for stress-related disorders; and Elagolix, a Phase II drug for uterine fibroids. Its research programs comprise G Protein-Coupled Receptor 119 (GPR119) for type II diabetes; VMAT2 for schizophrenia; GnRH Antagonists for men?s and women?s health, and oncology; Antiepileptic Drugs for epilepsy, essential tremor, and pain; and G Protein-Coupled Receptors for other conditions. The company has collaborations with GlaxoSmithKline to develop and commercialize CRF antagonists for psychiatric, neurological, and gastrointestinal diseases; Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co. Ltd. to develop and commercialize Indiplon in Japan; Abbott International Luxembourg S.�r.l. to develop and commercialize elagolix and GnRH antagonists for women?s and men?s health indications; and Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH to research, develop, and commercialize small molecule GPR119 agonists for the treatment of type II diabetes and other indications. Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Lisa Levin]

    Neurocrine Biosciences (NASDAQ: NBIX) shares moved up 76.95% to $17.27. The volume of Neurocrine Biosciences shares traded was 4406% higher than normal. Neurocrine Biosciences reported positive results of VMAT2 inhibitor NBI-98854 in Kinect 2 study.

  • [By Ben Levisohn]

    Somaiya and team named Gilead and�Neurocrine Biosciences (NBIX) their top picks, hile putting Buy ratings on Celgene, Biogen Idec, Alexion (ALXN), Incyte (INCY), Pharmacyclics (PCYC) and Synageva (GEVA). BioMarin (BMRN), Infinity Pharmaceuticals (INFI) and Amgen (AMGN) earned Neutral ratings.

  • [By John Udovich]

    Yesterday, small cap biopharmaceutical stock Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc (NASDAQ: NBIX) surged 89.69% after announcing positive results for its VMAT2 inhibitor NBI-98854 as a treatment for tardive dyskinesia, meaning investors late to the party or those already in should take a closer look at the stock along with its performance verses that of biotech ETFs like the iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index ETF (NASDAQ: IBB) and SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (NYSEARCA: XBI).

  • [By Roberto Pedone]

    Another stock that's starting to trend within range of triggering a major breakout trade is Neurocrine Biosciences (NBIX), which discovers, develops and commercializes drugs for the treatment of neurological and endocrine-related diseases and disorders. This stock has been a hot name with bulls so far in 2013, with shares up 57%.

    If you look at the chart for Neurocrine Biosciences, you'll notice that this stock recently gapped down sharply from $16.74 to below $11.50 a share with heavy downside volume flows. Following that gap down, shares of NBIX went on to continue its trend lower and the stock hit a new low of $10.42 a share. Shares of NBIX have started to rebound off that $10.42 low and it's now moving within range of triggering a major breakout trade.

    Traders should now look for long-biased trades in NBIX if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at its 200-day moving average of $11.92 a share and above its gap down day high of $12.17 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 894,145 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then NBIX will set up to re-fill some of its previous gap down zone from September that started at $16.74 a share. Some possible upside targets for NBIX if it gets into that gap with volume are $14 to $15 a share.

    Traders can look to buy NBIX off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below support at $11 a share, or below that recent low of $10.42 a share. One can also buy NBIX off strength once it takes out that breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

Hot High Dividend Companies For 2014: Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras SA (ELET6)

Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras SA (Eletrobras) is a Brazil-based holding company engaged in the electric power generation, transmission and distribution. The Company operates and maintains hydroelectric power plants, thermal power plants, nuclear power plants and wind/solar power plants. The Company acts as an agent for managing and investing government funds related to the energy sector, such as the Global Reversion Reserve (RGR), Fuel Consumption Account (CCC) and Energy Development Account (CDE). The Company also manages government programs, such as the National Electric Energy Conservation Program (Procel), the National Program for the Universalization of Access and Use of Electricity (Luz Para Todos) and the Alternative Energy Sources Incentive Program (Proninfa). In October, 2013, the Company acquired a 50% stake in the share capital of Rouar SA, held by Administracion Nacional de Usinas y Transmisiones Electricas UTE. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Patricia Lara]

    Tractebel leapfrogged Cia. Energetica de Minas Gerais, CPFL Energia SA (CPFE3) and Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras SA (ELET6) in the fourth quarter to become the biggest utility after sidestepping pressure to cut rates because its contracts don�� expire for at least 14 years. Florianopolis, Brazil-based Tractebel has gained 11 percent in the past year, less than Sabesp�� 36 percent rally, which is the most of any utility on the Bovespa index.

Hot High Dividend Companies For 2014: Energizer Holdings Inc (ENR)

Energizer Holdings, Inc. (Energizer), incorporated on September 23, 1999, is the manufacturer and marketer of primary batteries, portable lighting and personal care products in the wet shave, skin care, feminine care and infant care categories. The Company manufactures and sells products in five product categories: wet shave, skin care, feminine care, infant care, battery and portable lighting products. On October 23, 2013, it completed the acquisition of the Stayfree pad, Carefree liner and o.b. tampon feminine hygiene brands in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean from McNeil PPC, Inc. and Johnson & Johnson, Inc., members of the Johnson & Johnson Family of Consumer Companies.

Personal Care

The Personal Care division includes wet shave products sold under the Schick, Wilkinson Sword, Edge, Skintimate and Personna brand names, skin care products sold under the Banana Boat, Hawaiian Tropic, Wet Ones and Playtex brand names, and feminine care and infant care products sold under the Playtex and Diaper Genie brand names globally. The Company manufactures and distributes Schick and Wilkinson Sword razor systems, composed of razor handles and refillable blades, and disposable shave products for men and women. The Company markets its wet shave products globally. The Company also manufactures, distributes and sells a complete line of private label and value-priced wet shaving disposable razors, shaving systems and replacement blades. These wet shave products are sold primarily under a retailer's store name or under value brand names such as Personna and GEM.

Household Products

Energizer's Household Products division manufactures and markets product portfolios in household batteries, specialty batteries and lighting products. In household batteries, the Company offers batteries using carbon zinc, alkaline, rechargeable and lithium technologies. The Company distributes its portfolio of household and specialty batteries and portable lighting products th! rough a global distribution network, which also provides a platform for the distribution of its personal care products.

The Company competes with Duracell International, Inc., Panasonic Corporation, Procter & Gamble Company, Bic Group, Kimberly-Clark Corp., Merck & Co., Inc. and Johnson & Johnson.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Ben Levisohn]

    Visa (V) gained 2.8% this week and Walt Disney (DIS) rose 2.7% to $80.31, to lead the Dow higher. Visa managed to gain despite sanctions being imposed on two Russian banks. Pepco Holdings (POM) surged 24% after it agreed to be purchased by Exelon (EXC) for $27.25 a share in an all-cash deal. Exelon dropped 1.2% this week. Energizer (ENR) jumped 17% after it said it would split itself into two companies.

  • [By Dan Caplinger]

    Within the Dow, gains were broad-based with relatively few standouts. Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG  ) gained 1% after competitor Energizer Holdings (NYSE: ENR  ) blamed P&G's promotional practices for the weak performance of Energizer's Schick line of shaving products. Although some investors have been concerned with the extent to which P&G may rely on promotions to try to recover market share, P&G executives have said the company's spending on promotions is in line with the industry and down from last year's levels. Still, P&G needs to keep demonstrating continued strength in order to regain confidence from its shareholders, who have been critical of CEO Robert McDonald and the company's business strategy.

Hot High Dividend Companies For 2014: Macy’s Inc (M)

Macy�s, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates stores and Internet Websites in the United States. Its retail stores and Internet Web sites sell a range of merchandise, including apparel and accessories for men, women, and children; cosmetics; home furnishings; and other consumer goods. The company also operates Bloomingdale�s Outlet stores that offer a range of apparel and accessories, including ready-to-wear, shoes, fashion accessories, jewelry, handbags, and intimate apparel products. As of January 28, 2012, it operated approximately 840 stores under the names of Macy�s and Bloomingdale�s; and 7 Bloomingdale�s Outlet stores, as well as macys.com and bloomingdales.com. The company was formerly known as Federated Department Stores, Inc. and changed its name to Macy�s, Inc. in June 2007. Macy�s, Inc. was founded in 1820 and is based in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]

    www.workingadvantage.com Employees of governments and businesses large and small can often get employee discounts, on purchases as diverse as belly dancing classes and home mortgages. Better yet, their friends and family can frequently enjoy some of those discounts, too. In general, the larger the company, the more likely it offers these deals. For instance, Southwest Airlines (LUV) offers free flights to both workers and their families; friends get discounts. Many of the larger telecom companies, like Verizon (VZ) and AT&T (T), have discounted service plans for employees of the government and large corporations. If you work for an insurance company or a bank, you might get discounts at Macy's (M) or on Apple (AAPL) or Dell computers. So if you have a friend or family member who works for a large entity, you might want to ask them to inquire with their human resources department about what employee discounts they -- and you -- might be entitled to. Join the Club But for variety and breadth of discounts, plus ease of access, the web is the way to go. Sites like corporateperks.com, workingadvantage.com, workplaceperks.com and corporateshopping.com can best be described as mashups of priceline.com (PCLN) and Groupon (GRPN). They offer discounts to some alumni, some students and members of many special interest clubs, societies and groups, such as AAA, Actors Equity and the Zoological Society of San Diego -- and, in some cases, their friends and family members. After finding out if a program is available to you, using it is fairly straightforward. Sign into the site with whatever identification is required, browse the list of merchants and add your purchases to the shopping cart. For example, CorporatePerks offers a Lenovo thinkpad that retails for $700 for $600; the 15 percent discount is roughly the amount of a Lenovo employee discount. WorkingAdvantage has a two-day ticket to Universal Florida for $165.99, a $30 discount from the standard price. Large

  • [By DAILYFINANCE]

    Frank Franklin II/AP NEW YORK -- Macy's reported a disappointing profit for its second quarter and cut its outlook for the year Wednesday, with the department store operator citing shoppers' reluctance to spend for a slip in sales. Its shares fell 3.4 percent to $46.85 in premarket trading. During the past year, its stock is up almost 27 percent. Macy's (M), which operates its namesake stores and Bloomingdales, is grappling with a yo-yo economic recovery that's making people more careful about their purchases heading into the heart of the key back-to-school selling period. Like other retailers, the Cincinnati-based company is grappling with a yo-yo economic recovery that's making people more careful about their purchases heading into the heart of the key back-to-school selling period. "To see Macy's miss by a wide margin is troublesome, speaking volumes about the health, or lack thereof, of middle America," wrote Brian Sozzi, chief equities strategist for Belus Capital Advisors. For the period ended Aug. 3, Macy's says it earned $281 million, or 72 cents a share. That's short of the 78 cents a share analysts expected. A year ago, the company earned $279 million, or 67 cents a share. Revenue slipped to $6.07 billion, also short of the $6.26 billion analysts expected, according to FactSet. Revenue at stores open a year, a key metric because it strips out the impact of newly opened and closed locations, slid 0.8 percent. Macy's now expects sales at stores open at least a year to climb between 2 percent and 2.9 percent, down from its previous guidance of a 3.5 percent increase. While jobs are easier to get and the turnaround in the housing market is showing promise, the improvements haven't been enough to get most Americans to spend more. Most are juggling tepid wage gains with higher costs of living. On Wednesday, Macy's nevertheless said it was encouraged by its early read on the back-to-school season heading into the third quarter. But other retailer

  • [By Teresa Rivas]

    Macy’s (M) a NT positive, LT a potential cannibalization threat against product saturation in mall. The Macy’s partnership continues to perform well. And with the rollout completed, we believe leverage of investments could begin in FY16. That said, cannibalization poses a concern against challenged/promotional mall environment, weaker running trends, and saturated product levels in the mall.

  • [By DAILYFINANCE]

    Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg via Getty Images NEW YORK -- J.C. Penney is opening its doors on Thanksgiving evening to kick off the holiday shopping season, as the beleaguered retailer hopes to get back in the game for the crucial selling period. The Plano, Texas-based chain will be opening most of its 1,100 stores at 8 p.m., the same as rival Macy's (M). The Thanksgiving evening opening is much earlier than last year, when Penney didn't open until 6 a.m. Friday. That made the retailer one of the laggards for the unofficial kickoff to the season. J.C. Penney (JCP) is also bringing back a tradition it ditched last year: it will give away nearly 2 million holiday snow globes starting at 4 a.m. on the Friday after the turkey feast. "Obviously, we were one of the last to open [last year]," said Tony Bartlett, Penney's executive vice president of stores. But he noted this year, "We're all in." He promised that Penney's deals will be at least as good as two years ago and will be much better than last year, when Penney gave away buttons tied to a prize giveaway. Penney is also hiring at least 35,000 seasonal workers for the holidays, nearly 50 percent more than a year ago. The holiday plan is yet another example of how Penney is unraveling the strategies of its former CEO Ron Johnson, who was ousted in April after 17 months on the job amid a botched up plan to reinvent the retailer. Johnson was fired two months after the company announced horrific fourth-quarter results that covered the holiday shopping season. That ended a fiscal year, which finished Feb. 2, in which the Penney amassed almost a billion dollars in losses and a 25 percent drop in sales. Penney brought back Johnson's predecessor, Mike Ullman, as CEO. He is restoring frequent sales and basic merchandise that were eliminated by Johnson who was aiming to attract a more affluent, younger shopper. Shares were down 12 cents to close at $7.35 Thursday and have lost 63 percent of their value since the

Hot High Dividend Companies For 2014: TICC Capital Corp.(TICC)

TICC Capital Corp., a business development company, operates as a closed-end, non-diversified management investment company. The firm invests in both public and private companies. It invests in secured and unsecured senior debt, subordinated debt, junior subordinated debt, preferred stock, and common stock. The firm primarily invests in debt and/or equity securities of technology-related companies that operate in the computer software, Internet, information technology infrastructure and services, media, telecommunications and telecommunications equipment, semiconductors, hardware, technology-enabled services, semiconductor capital equipment, medical device technology, diversified technology, and networking systems sectors. It concentrates its investments in companies having annual revenues of less than $200 million and a market capitalization or enterprise value of less than $300 million. The firm invests between $5 million and $30 million per transaction. It seeks to exit its investments within 7 years. It serves as the investment adviser to TICC. The company was formerly known as Technology Investment Capital Corp. and changed its name to TICC Capital Corp. in December 2007. TICC Capital Corp. was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Brian Pacampara]

    Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, closed-end asset manager TICC Capital Corp. (NASDAQ: TICC  ) has earned a respected four-star ranking.

  • [By Monica Gerson]

    TICC Capital (NASDAQ: TICC) is estimated to report its Q4 earnings at $0.28 per share on revenue of $28.43 million.

    Fuel-Tech (NASDAQ: FTEK) is expected to post its Q4 earnings at $0.06 per share on revenue of $29.00 million.

Hot High Dividend Companies For 2014: First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN)

First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge US (ETF) seeks investment results that correspond to the price and yield of an equity index of the NASDAQ Clean Edge U.S. Liquid Series Index. It is a market capitalization weighted index designed to track the performance of clean energy companies that are publicly traded in the United States and includes companies engaged in manufacturing, development, distribution and installation of emerging clean-energy technologies, including solar photovoltaics, biofuels and advanced batteries.

The NASDAQ Clean Edge U.S. Liquid Series Index is a modified market cap weighted index in which larger companies receive a larger index weighting. First Trust Advisors L.P. is the adviser of the fund.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Todd Shriber, ETF Professor]

    The news was predictably good for a pair of ETFs that should be known as "Tesla ETFs." The Market Vectors Global Alternatve Energy ETF (NYSE: GEX) and the First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund (NASDAQ: QCLN) both traded higher on a down day for U.S. stocks, rising to within pennies of their previous 52-week highs.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Top 5 Financial Companies To Watch In Right Now

Top 5 Financial Companies To Watch In Right Now: Beneficial Mutual Bancorp Inc.(BNCL)

Beneficial Mutual Bancorp, Inc. operates as the holding company for Beneficial Bank that provides financial services to consumers and businesses in the United States. The company accepts a range of deposit products, such as non-interest bearing demand deposits, including individual checking accounts; interest-bearing demand accounts comprising negotiable order of withdrawal and money market accounts; savings accounts; certificates of deposit; and business banking deposit products, such as a commercial checking account and a checking account for small businesses, as well as offers cash management services, which consist of remote deposit, lockbox, and sweep accounts. It originates various loans, including fixed-rate and adjustable-rate one-to-four family residential loans; commercial real estate loans; commercial business loans, such as installment loans for capital improvements, equipment acquisition, and long-term working capital to professionals, sole proprietorships, an d small businesses; consumer loans comprising home equity loans and lines of credit, automobile loans, boat loans, loans for recreational vehicles, guaranteed student loans, and loans secured by passbook accounts and certificates of deposit; and construction loans. In addition, the company provides insurance brokerage and investment advisory services. It operates approximately 65 banking offices located in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties in Pennsylvania; and Burlington and Camden Counties in New Jersey. The company was founded in 1853 and is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Beneficial Mutual Bancorp, Inc. is a subsidiary of Beneficial Savings Bank MHC.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]

    spaxiax/Shutterstock Loans are inevitable for most adults. If you buy a house or car, use a credit card or go to college, you'll likely need to take out a loan. ! U.S. household debt stands at $11.7 trillion, according to a recent Federal Reserve Bank of New York survey that draws on information from 40 million individuals. But taking out a loan doesn't always work out well, as anyone who has dealt with a debt collector can attest. So what mistakes are you most likely to make in the loan process? A good rule of thumb: If there's a chance your loan can destroy your marriage, business or send you into bankruptcy, you're about to make the biggest mistake of all: taking out the loan in the first place. 1. Not Reading the Fine Print There are always important gems of information buried in all that legalese, so you owe it to yourself to take a good look at what you're signing up for, says Leslie Tayne, a financial attorney and debt specialist who runs the Tayne Law Group in New York City. "Many people have a tendency to simply sign the dotted line, listening to the salesperson and not double-checking the agreement," Tayne says. "I see this all the time. A client will come in and tell me that they didn't know about something in the loan, such as a balloon payment or increase in interest rate." But if you sign the contract, you're telling the lender that you do know –- even if you don't -– which, of course, is the problem. 2. Taking Out a Loan for Someone Else Co-signing is a mistake, but some people double that error by taking out a loan and giving the money to someone else. "You'd be surprised at how often this happens," says Michael Poulos, CEO of Michigan First Credit Union in Lathrup Village, Michigan. He says his staff has, on occasion, encountered loan scenarios such as parents coming in to borrow money for their children and customers needing money to bail out family members from jail. One of the more interesting cautionary tales about borr

  • source from Top Stocks To Buy For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/top-5-financial-companies-to-watch-in-right-now-2.html

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Top 10 Insurance Stocks To Own For 2015

Top 10 Insurance Stocks To Own For 2015: RSA Insurance Group PLC (RSA)

RSA Insurance Group plc is the holding company of the RSA group of companies whose principal activity is the transaction of personal and commercial general insurance business. The Company operates in four segments: Scandinavia, Canada, United Kingdom and Western Europe, and Emerging Markets. The Company provides insurance covers for a range of renewable energy technologies, including Wind Energy, which includes onshore and offshore facilities; Solar Energy, which includes photovoltaic, concentrated and thermal installations; Small Hydro, which includes power stations producing an output up to 50 megawatt, and Bio energy, which includes Biomass, Biogas and Waste to Energy plants. The Company works with both large and small brokers. The Company works with partners, such as building societies, banks, retailers, motor manufacturers, charities, utilities and unions to offer their customers appropriate insurance products. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Sofia Horta e Costa]

    RSA Insurance Group Plc (RSA), which insures cars, homes and ships in the U.K., Scandinavia and emerging markets, rose 0.8 percent to 114.1 pence. Morgan Stanley raised its rating on the stock to overweight, the equivalent of a buy recommendation, from underweight.

  • [By Sarah Jones]

    RSA Insurance Group Plc (RSA) gained 0.8 percent to 114.1 pence after Morgan Stanley upgraded the insurer to overweight from underweight, saying the share price will benefit from a stronger prospective U.K. performance. The stock has declined 9.2 percent so far this year, while the FTSE 350 Insurance Index has rallied 10 percent.

  • source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-10-insurance-stocks-to-own-for-2015-2.html

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Best Energy Stocks To Own For 2015

Best Energy Stocks To Own For 2015: Newpark Resources Inc (NR)

Newpark Resources, Inc., incorporated on June 3, 1988, is a diversified oil and gas supplier providing products and services primarily to the oil and gases exploration (E&P) industry. The Company operates in three segments: fluids systems and engineering, mats and integrated services, and environmental services. The Company's Fluids Systems and Engineering segment provides customized drilling fluids solutions to E&P customers globally, operating through four geographic regions: North America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Latin America, and Asia Pacific. The Company's Mats and Integrated Services segment provides composite mat rentals, well site construction and related site services to oil and gas customers at well, production, transportation and refinery locations in the United States. The Company's Environmental Services segment processes and disposes of waste generated by E&P and industrial activity, primarily along the United States Gulf Coast. On Decembe r 31, 2012, it acquired operations of Alliance Drilling Fluids, LLC

Fluids Systems and Engineering

The Company's Fluids Systems and Engineering business offers customized solutions, including technical drilling projects involving complex subsurface conditions, such as horizontal, directional, geologically deep or deep water drilling. These projects require increased monitoring and critical engineering support of the fluids system during the drilling process. The Company provides drilling fluids products and technical services to markets in North America, EMEA, Latin America, and the Asia Pacific region. The Company also provides completion services and equipment rental to customers in Oklahoma and Texas. The Company has industrial mineral grinding operations for barite. The Company grinds barite and other industrial minerals at facilities in Houston and Corpus Christi, Texas, New Iberia, Louisiana and Dyersburg, Tennessee. The Company! uses the resul ting products in its drilling fluids business, and also sells them to third party users, including other drilling fluids companies. The Company also sells a variety of other minerals, principally to third party industrial (non oil and gas) markets, from its main plant in Houston, Texas and from the plant in Dyersburg, Tennessee.

Mats and Integrated Services

The Company provides mat rentals, location construction and related well sites services to E&P customers in the Northeast United States, onshore United States Gulf Coast, and Rocky Mountain regions, and mat rentals to the petrochemical industry in the United States and the utility industry in the United Kingdom. These mats provide environmental protection and ensure all-weather access to sites with unstable soil conditions. The Company manufactures its DuraBase Advanced Composite Mats for sales, as well as for uses in its domestic and international rental operations. The Company's marketing effor ts for this product remain focused in principal oil and gas industry markets which include the Asia Pacific, Latin America, EMEA, as well as markets outside the E&P sector in the United States and Europe.

Environmental Services

The Company processes and disposes of waste generated by its oil and gas customers. Primary revenue sources include onshore and offshore Gulf of Mexico drilling waste management, as well as reclamation services. Additionally, the Company provides disposal services in the West Texas market. The Company operates six receiving and transfers facilities located along the United States Gulf Coast. E&P waste is collected at the transfer facilities from drilling and production operations located offshore, onshore and within inland waters. Waste is accumulated at the transfer facilities and moved by barge through the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway to the Company's processing and transfer facility at Port Arthur, Texas, and, if not recycle d, is trucked to injection disposal fac! ilities. ! Any remaining material is injected, after further processing, into environmentally secure geologic formations. Under permits from Texas state regulatory agencies, the Company operates waste disposal facilities in Jefferson County, Texas (Fannett and Big Hill). The Fannett site is the Company's primary facility for disposing of E&P waste. Utilizing this same technology, the Company also receives and disposes of non-hazardous industrial waste at the Big Hill facility, principally from generators in the United States Gulf Coast market, including refiners, manufacturers, service companies and industrial municipalities that produce waste. These non-hazardous waste streams are injected into a separate well utilizing the same low-pressure injection technology. The Company also disposes of non-hazardous industrial waste.

The Company competes with Schlumberger, Halliburton and Baker Hughes.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Travis Hoium]

    What: Shares of energy service provider Newpark Resources (NYSE: NR  ) jumped 17% today after the company released earnings.

    So what: Revenue was up 7.7%, to $283 million in the first quarter, and net income jumped 11.1%, to $17.4 million, or $0.18 per share. Analysts only expected $278 million in revenue, and earnings of $0.17 per share, and the slight beat was enough to send shares higher. It didn't hurt that the report was accompanied by a $50 million share repurchase plan, which indicates that management is bullish on the company's long-term future.

  • source from Top Stocks To Buy For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/best-energy-stocks-to-own-for-2015.html

Monday, February 16, 2015

10 Best Railroad Stocks To Own Right Now

10 Best Railroad Stocks To Own Right Now: Crown Castle International Corporation (CCI)

Crown Castle International Corp., through its subsidiaries, owns, operates, and leases towers and other wireless infrastructure primarily in the United States and Australia. Its infrastructure includes distributed antenna system (DAS) networks, as well as rooftop installations. The company involves in the rental of antenna space of its towers to wireless communications companies. It also provides network services relating to its towers, which primarily include antenna installations and subsequent augmentations, as well as additional services, such as site acquisition, architectural and engineering, zoning and permitting, other construction, and other services related network development. As of December 31, 2010, it owned, leased, or managed approximately 23,900 towers, including 43 completed DAS networks. The company was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Anders Bylund]

    This international focus sets American Tower apart from rivals Crown Castle (NYSE: CCI  ) and SBA Communications (NASDAQ: SBAC  ) .

  • [By gurujx]

    Crown Castle International Corp (CCI) Reached the 52-Week High of $80.84

    Crown Castle International Corp is incorporated in the State of Delaware. Crown Castle International Corp has a market cap of $26.99 billion; its shares were traded at around $80.84 with a P/E ratio of 206.80 and P/S ratio of 7.74. The dividend yield of Crown Castle International Corp stocks is 1.30%. Crown Castle International Corp had an annual average earnings growth of 24.10% over the past 10 years. GuruFocus rated Crown Castle International Corp the business predictability rank of 3.5-star.

  • [By Anders Bylund]

    Moreover, American Tower faces two massive rivals in Crown Castle Inter! national (NYSE: CCI  ) and SBA Communications (NASDAQ: SBAC  ) , which operate 40,000 and 20,000 American radio towers, respectively. American Tower falls right between them, with more than 21,000 company-owned towers on American soil, and another 7,200 leased tower sites. This is a tight three-horse race, with several smaller competitors trailing far behind.

  • [By Damian Illia]

    Crown Castle International Corp. (CCI) is a second-largest independent operator of wireless communication towers in the United States. It owns 40,000 tower sites in the U.S., more than 1,700 more in Australia, and 200 in Puerto Rico, and its main customers are wireless carriers such as AT&T Inc. (T), Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ), Sprint Corporation (S) and T-Mobile US Inc. (TMUS). The company provides network design, radio frequency engineering and site development services as well. Since the acquisition of Global Signal Inc. in 2007, the company has grown and diversified geographically, and added efficiency and pricing control, allowing Crown Castle to compete with big rivals in the industry.

  • source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/10-best-railroad-stocks-to-own-right-now.html

Friday, February 13, 2015

Hot Forestry Companies To Watch In Right Now

JPMorgan (NYSE: JPM  ) has begun a new initiative, opening its Resource Center for Mindful Spending, where Chase Blueprint customers can share and learn what the company calls "mindful spending practices." Is this something customers will actually use? Could this be counter to the desires of some credit card companies, which want people to borrow more? Fool financial analysts Matt Koppenheffer and David Hanson discuss this new initiative and what it could mean for customers and investors alike.

With big finance firms still trading at deep discounts to their historic norms, investors everywhere are wondering if this is the new normal or whether finance stocks are a screaming buy today. The answer depends on the company, so to help figure out whether JPMorgan is a buy today, I invite you to read our premium research report on the company today. Click here now for instant access.

Top 10 Restaurant Stocks To Buy For 2015: PowerShares DB Agriculture Fund (DBA)

PowerShares DB Agriculture Fund (the Fund) is a separate series of PowerShares DB Multi-Sector Commodity Trust (the Trust). The Fund�� subsidiary is DB Agriculture Master Fund (the Master Fund), a separate series of DB Multi-Sector Commodity Master Trust (the Master Trust). The Fund offers common units of beneficial interest (the Shares) only to certain eligible financial institutions (the Authorized Participants) in one or more blocks of 200,000 Shares, called a Basket. The proceeds from the offering of Shares are invested in the Master Fund. The proceeds from the offering of Shares are invested in the Master Fund.

The Master Fund invests with a view to tracking the changes, whether positive or negative, in the level of the Deutsche Bank Liquid Commodity Index Diversified Agriculture Excess Return (DBLCI Diversified Agriculture ER (the Index)) plus the excess, if any, of the Master Fund�� income from its holdings of United States Treasury Obligations and other short-term fixed income securities over the expenses of the Fund and the Master Fund. The Index is calculated to reflect the change in market value of the agricultural sector. The commodities comprising the Index are corn, soybeans, wheat, kansas city wheat, sugar, cocoa, coffee, cotton, live cattle, feeder cattle and lean hogs (the Index Commodities). The Master Fund also holds United States Treasury Obligations and other short-term fixed income securities for deposit with the Master Fund�� commodity broker as margin. The Index is composed of notional amounts of each of the underlying Index Commodities.

DB Commodity Services LLC serves as the managing owner, commodity pool operator and commodity trading advisor of the Fund and the Master Fund. The Bank of New York Mellon serves as the administrator of the Fund and the Master Fund.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By John Udovich]

    Just when you think the global warming (excuse me, climate change)�warnings could not get anymore hysterical or�goofier (Niagara Falls and the Great Lakes have frozen over after all), Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc (NYSE: CMG) is sounding the alarm (which may rally all of the Sofritas vegan tofu eaters of America)�over�its potential�threat�to�guacamole, but small cap avocado stock Calavo Growers, Inc (NASDAQ: CVGW) continues to grow investor returns no matter what the weather is doing and has outperformed PowerShares DB Agriculture Fund (NYSEARCA: DBA).�First and as noted by ThinkProgress.org, Chipotle Mexican Grill�� latest Annual Form 8-K reported:

  • [By MONEYMORNING.COM]

    One way to participate in rising food prices is through the PowerShares DB Agriculture ETF (NYSE Arca: DBA). Essentially, this ETF is a basket of 17 agricultural commodities futures contracts, which gives investors exposure to sugar, live cattle, corn, soybeans, cocoa, coffee, lean hogs, and wheat, among others.

Hot Forestry Companies To Watch In Right Now: Atech Holdings Ltd (ATH)

ATech Holdings Limited is an Australia-based company. As of June 30, 2010, the Company was engaged in the investment of its cash reserves. The Company�� controlled entities include SEAA (151 Sturt St, South Melbourne) Pty Limited and SEAA (Boronia) Pty Limited. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Eric Lam]

    Athabasca Oil Corp. (ATH), which is seeking a joint-venture partner for its Duvernay holdings, jumped 9.3 percent to C$7.97, the most in seven weeks.

Hot Forestry Companies To Watch In Right Now: Zebra Technologies Corporation(ZBRA)

Zebra Technologies Corporation offers products and solutions that assist in identifying, authenticating, and tracking assets, people, and transactions. The company?s products include direct thermal and thermal transfer label and receipt printers, radio frequency identification printer/encoders, dye sublimation card printers, real-time location solutions, and related accessories and support software. It also designs, manufactures, and sells specialty printing devices that print variable information on demand at the point of issuance. The company offers its printers to print bar code labels, receipts, plastic identification cards, wristbands, and tags, as well as to encode passive RFID smart labels and cards. In addition, it provides printer management, label design, and driver solutions under the ZebraNet brand name. The company?s printer supplies consist of stock and customized thermal labels, wristbands, plastic cards, card laminates, and thermal transfer ribbons. Its p roducts have applications in inventory control, small package delivery, baggage handling, automated warehousing, just-in-time manufacturing, employee time and attendance records, file management systems, patient barcode wrist banding, medical specimen labeling, shop floor control, in-store product labeling, employee ID cards, driver?s licenses, and access control systems. The company sells its products worldwide through distributors, value-added resellers, and original equipment manufacturers. Zebra Technologies Corporation was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Lincolnshire, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Andy Obermueller]

    I first told StreetAuthority readers about this game-changing technology in an article about another stock in this sector I like: payment processing firm Zebra (Nasdaq: ZBRA).

  • [By Vera Yuan]

    The Fund made one new purchase during the quarter, Zebra Technologies Corp (ZBRA), Class A shares (��ebra��. This company has established a leading position in data collection and product identification and announced the acquisition of a unit of Motorola Solutions, Inc. This deal will expand Zebra�� market position into mobile and network solutions while doubling the company�� size and adding significantly to its earnings per share. From Westport Asset Management (Trades, Portfolio)�� Westport Select Cap Fund Second Quarter 2014 Commentary.Also check out: Westport Asset Management Undervalued Stocks Westport Asset Management Top Growth Companies Westport Asset Management High Yield stocks, and Stocks that Westport Asset Management keeps buying Currently 0.00/512345

    Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes)

Hot Forestry Companies To Watch In Right Now: Builders FirstSource Inc.(BLDR)

Builders FirstSource, Inc. engages in the manufacture and supply of structural and related building products for residential new construction primarily in the southern and eastern United States. The company offers prefabricated components, including floor trusses, roof trusses, wall panels, stairs, and engineered wood; and window and door products, such as aluminum and vinyl windows, and pre-hung interior and exterior doors, as well as assembles and distributes interior and exterior door units. It also provides lumber and lumber sheet products comprising dimensional lumber, plywood, and oriented strand board products; millwork products, including interior trim, exterior trim, columns, and posts, as well as custom exterior featured products; and other building products, such as cabinets, gypsum, hardware, composite materials, roofing, and insulation. In addition, the company offers turn-key framing, shell construction, design assistance, and professional installation servic es for products spanning its product categories, as well as provides a range of construction services. It serves customers ranging from production homebuilders to small custom homebuilders. The company was formerly known as BSL Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to Builders FirstSource, Inc. in October 1999. Builders FirstSource, Inc. was founded in 1998 and is based in Dallas, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Rex Moore]

    The annual Value Investor Conference is one of the premier events surrounding Berkshire Hathaway's annual meeting in Omaha. The Motley Fool's Michael Olsen and Rex Moore were in attendance and talked to several value investors.�In today's video, Michael asks Bob Robotti, founder of Robotti & Co., about his investment in Builders FirstSource (NASDAQ: BLDR  ) .

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Best Mid Cap Companies To Watch In Right Now

Barclays’ Venu Krishna and Elias Krauklis have come up with a list of 11 small and mid-sized companies that have improving fundamentals and solid risk/reward characteristics, including Buffalo Wild Wings (BWLD), Terex (TEX) and Eclipse Resources (ECR).

Kirshna and Krauklis explain how they made their selections:

…we continue to see a greater focus on improving fundamentals (top line acceleration and margin/multiple expansion) gained through acquisitions and divestitures. Again, the companies in this edition�� Selections are placing more of an emphasis on redeploying capital via investments in technology instead of share buybacks and dividends…

Our Small & Mid Cap Selections of 11 stocks offer a median upside potential of 35%: The median upside case is 66.4% while the median downside case is -11.2%….

Top Safest Stocks To Watch For 2015: Ferchem Egypt Fertilizers and Chemicals (FERC)

Ferchem Egypt Fertilizers and Chemicals is an Egypt-based company engaged in the establishment and operation of a factory for mixing and packaging of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides and hormones, as well as other agricultural related activities. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Jim Jubak]

    Cheniere also has received other good news on Corpus Christi. To get a permit for the unrestricted export of liquefied natural gas, a facility has to win approval from the US Department of Energy (DOE) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). DOE has accelerated its permit process, but FERC approval has become a major bottleneck, since the commission needs to coordinate studies from several other agencies before it can complete its review. Cheniere has recently received a scheduling notice from FERC, which looks to put that facility on track for a permit ruling by the end of 2014 or early 2015.

Best Mid Cap Companies To Watch In Right Now: ATMI Inc.(ATMI)

ATMI, Inc. supplies high performance materials, materials packaging, and materials delivery systems for use in the manufacture of microelectronics devices worldwide. The company primarily offers front-end semiconductor performance materials; sub-atmospheric pressure gas delivery systems for safe handling and delivery of toxic and hazardous gases to semiconductor process equipment; and high-purity materials packaging and dispensing systems that allow for the reliable introduction of low volatility liquids and solids to microelectronics and biopharmaceutical processes. It also provides containment, mixing, and bioreactor technologies to the biotechnology, laboratory, and cell therapy markets. The company serves semiconductor and flat-panel display manufacturers, as well as the life sciences industry. It has strategic alliances with Enthone, Inc. and Lake LED Materials, Co., Ltd. The company was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Danbury, Connecticut.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Seth Jayson]

    ATMI (Nasdaq: ATMI  ) reported earnings on July 24. Here are the numbers you need to know.

    The 10-second takeaway
    For the quarter ended June 30 (Q2), ATMI missed estimates on revenues and missed estimates on earnings per share.

  • [By Michael Calia]

    Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Tuesday’s session are ATMI Inc.(ATMI), J.C. Penney Co.(JCP) and Michael Kors Holdings Ltd.(KORS)

Best Mid Cap Companies To Watch In Right Now: Compania Cervecerias Unidas S.A. (CCU)

Compa帽ia Cervecerias Unidas S.A., through its subsidiaries, produces, bottles, sells, and distributes beverages primarily in Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay. It offers super-premium, premium, medium-priced, and popular-priced brands of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beer under 12 proprietary brands and 4 licensed brands, such as Royal Guard; Royal Light; Heineken; Budweiser; Paulaner; Austral; Kunstmann; D'olbek; Cristal; Cristal Cero 0掳; Cristal Black Lager; Cristal Light; Escudo; Morenita; Lemon Stones; and Dorada brands. The company also produces and markets ultra-premium, reserve, varietal, and popular-priced wines under the brand families comprising Vi帽a San Pedro Tarapac谩, Vi帽a Santa Helena, Vi帽a Misiones de Rengo, Vi帽a Mar, Vi帽a Alta茂r, Bodega Tamar铆, Finca la Celia, and Vi帽a Leyda. In addition, it offers cider and spirits under the brand names of Real, La Victoria, Saenz Briones 1888, and El Abuelo; pisco, rum, and ready-to-drink cocktails under the Control C , Mistral, Campanario, Sierra Morena, Pisco Bauz谩 and Havana Club, Chivas Regal, and Absolut Vodka brand names; and home-made sweet snacks products under the Calaf, Natur, and Nutrabien brand names. Further, the company produces and sells tea; sports and energy drinks; carbonated beverages, including cola and non-cola, as well as non carbonated beverages; fruit juices; mineral water, sparkling and still water, purified water, and home and office delivery water products; and nectars. It serves small and medium sized retail outlets; retail establishments, such as restaurants, hotels, and bars for on-premise consumption; wholesalers; and supermarket chains. Compa帽ia Cervecerias Unidas S.A. also exports its products to Europe, Latin America, the United States, Canada, and others. The company was founded in 1850 and is based in Santiago, Chile. Compa帽ia Cervecerias Unidas S.A. is a subsidiary of Inversiones y Rentas S.A.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By gurujx]

    United Breweries Co Inc (CCU) Reached $20.91

    The prices of United Breweries Co Inc (CCU) shares have declined to $20.91, which is 41.9% off the 3-year high of $34.91.

  • [By fedezaldua]

    After a couple of capital increases and what looks like a weak strategy for its growth in different South American countries, Chile's beer king Compania Cervecerias Unidas (CCU) – most commonly knows as CCU - is selling at a steep discount to its peers. In other words, being down by 23% year to date, I think it might be the time to start thinking of buying CCU's shares.  

Best Mid Cap Companies To Watch In Right Now: BV Financial Inc (BVFL)

BV Financial, Inc. (BV Financial), is a federally-chartered savings and loan holding company and the holding company for Bay-Vanguard Federal, a federally-chartered savings bank. BV Financial�� business activity is the ownership of the Bay-Vanguard Federal. The Company operates as a community-oriented financial institution offering traditional financial services to consumers and businesses in its market area. It attracts deposits from the general public and uses those funds to originate one- to four-family real estate, mobile home, construction, multi-family, commercial real estate, and consumer loans, which it hold for investment. The Company operates two branch offices in Baltimore City and two branch offices in Anne Arundel County. In June 2013, BV Financial Inc's Bay-Vanguard Federal Savings Bank acquired Vigilant Federal Savings Bank.

Lending Activities

The Company�� loan portfolio consists primarily of one- to four-family residential real estate loans. Its loan portfolio includes mobile home loans, construction loans, multi-family, commercial real estate loans, and consumer loans. As of June 30, 2009, Bay-Vanguard Federal had no loans that were held for sale. Its primary lending activity is the origination of mortgage loans to enable borrowers to purchase or refinance existing homes in its market area. It only offer fixed and adjustable rate mortgage loans and primarily with terms of 15, 20 or 30 years. The Company also offers adjustable-rate mortgage loans with interest rates and payments that adjust annually or every three years.

The Company originates mobile home loans directly and purchase mobile home loans from Forward National and Mainland Financial, which specialize in mobile home lending. As of June 30, 2009, 13.6% of its mobile home portfolio was originated by directly and 70.4% and 16% was purchased from Forward National and Mainland Financial, respectively. As of June 30, 2009, it had 340 mobile home loans, the average size of which was appr! oximately $34,000. Its mobile home loans, which are made primarily to borrowers in Maryland and Pennsylvania, have terms of up to 25 years and fixed interest rates. It originates loans to individuals and, to a lesser extent, builders to finance the construction of residential dwellings. It also make construction loans for commercial development projects, including condominiums, apartment buildings, mixed-use properties with residential units, as well as retail space and owner-occupied properties used for business.

The Company offers fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgage loans secured by multi-family and commercial real estate. Its multi-family and commercial real estate loans are secured by condominiums, apartment buildings and mixed-use properties with residential units, as well as retail space. It originates multi-family and commercial real estate loans for terms up to 25 years. The Company�� other consumer loans are primarily loans secured by passbook or certificate accounts, automobile and boat loans and secured personal loans.

Investment Activities

The Company has legal authority to invest in various types of liquid assets, including the United States Treasury obligations, securities of various federal agencies and municipal governments, deposits at the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta and certificates of deposit of federally insured institutions. As of June 30, 2009, its investment portfolio totaled $13.8 million and consisted primarily of the United States Treasury obligations and federal agency securities, mortgage-backed securities issued primarily by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae, and a mutual fund that invests in adjustable-rate mortgages.

Deposit Activities and Other Sources of Funds

Deposits and loan repayments are the major sources of its funds for lending and other investment purposes. The Company�� deposits are attracted from within its market area through the offering of selection of deposit instruments,! includin! g checking accounts, negotiable order of withdrawal (NOW) and money market accounts, passbook and savings accounts, and certificates of deposit. As of June 30, 2009, its core deposits, which consist of savings, NOW and money market accounts, consists 49% of its deposits.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By CRWE]

    Today, BVFL remains (0.00%) +0.000 at $6.52 thus far (ref. google finance Delayed: 3:05PM EDT September 4, 2013).

    BV Financial, Inc. previously reported net income of $488,000, or $0.20 per diluted share, for the year ended June 30, 2013 compared to $1,073,000, or $0.46 per diluted share, for the year ended June 30, 2012. Results for 2013 were impacted by the acquisition of Vigilant Federal Savings Bank on May 31, 2013. As a result of the acquisition, BV Financial acquired $47.5 million in assets, $44.4 million in liabilities and created $119,000 in goodwill.

Best Mid Cap Companies To Watch In Right Now: ZELTIQ Aesthetics Inc (ZLTQ)

ZELTIQ Aesthetics, Inc. (ZELTIQ), incorporated on March 22, 2005, is a medical technology company. The Company is focused on developing and commercializing products utilizing its controlled-cooling technology platform. Its commercial product is the CoolSculpting System that reduces stubborn fat bulges. The Company generates revenues from capital sales of its CoolSculpting System and from procedure fees its physician customers pay for each CoolSculpting procedure they perform. As of March 31, 2011, it had an installed base of 346 and 475 CoolSculpting Systems worldwide and over 88,000 CoolSculpting procedures had been sold to its physician customers. The Company markets CoolSculpting to the dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and aesthetic specialists. As of March 31, 2011, ZELTIQ�� North American direct sales force consisted of 23 professionals, and over 88,000 CoolSculpting procedures were sold to ZELTIQ�� physician customers.

CoolSculpting System

ZELTIQ generates revenues from capital sales of its CoolSculpting System and from procedure fees its physician customers pay for each CoolSculpting procedure they perform. Capital sales of ZELTIQ�� CoolSculpting System include the CoolSculpting control unit and its CoolSculpting vacuum applicators. ZELTIQ generates procedure fees through sales of CoolSculpting procedure packs, which include its consumable gelpads and liners and a disposable computer cartridge that it markets as the CoolCard. The CoolCard contains enabling software that permits its physician customer to perform a fixed number of CoolSculpting procedures.

The CoolSculpting control unit is the base of the CoolSculpting System. ZELTIQ�� CoolSculpting control unit also contains software that tracks and collects data about each procedure performed and any error messages that may be generated during the procedure. CoolSculpting System includes three CoolSculpting vacuum applicators. ZELTIQ�� CoolSculpting procedure packs facilitate the pay-per-procedu! re feature of its CoolSculpting System. Its CoolSculpting procedure packs include CoolCard and its consumable gelpads and liners.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Garrett Cook]

    Wednesday morning, the healthcare sector proved to be a source of strength for the market. Leading the sector was strength from ZELTIQ Aesthetics (NASDAQ: ZLTQ) and Aegerion Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: AEGR).

  • [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

    ZELTIQ Aesthetics (NASDAQ: ZLTQ) was also up, gaining 6.92 percent to $18.76. Stifel Nicolaus initiated coverage on the stock with a Buy rating and a $28.00 price target.