Hot Asian Companies To Own In Right Now

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) is basically unchanged after China reported a trade surplus in April. Alcoa (NYSE: AA  ) stock is up on the news, as a stronger Chinese economy means more demand and higher prices for aluminum. As of 1:15 p.m. EDT, the Dow was up 11 points to 15,067. The S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC  ) was up four points to 1,630.

There were no U.S. economic releases today. China reported that its exports grew 14.7% in April, above March's 10% rise, which was enough to swing China back to having a trade surplus. In March, China surprised investors after it reported an $884 million trade deficit, increasing investors' fears of a slowdown in China. April's growth in exports led China to report a trade surplus of $18.16 billion. If the numbers are accurate, this is a good sign for China's economy; however, some analysts are questioning whether the numbers are too good to be true. The growth in exports is in contrast to the HSBC purchasing managers index, which showed that new export orders dropped during the month. That said, Asian markets are up nearly 1% on the news.

Hot Asian Companies To Own In Right Now: Coach Inc (COH)

Coach, Inc. (Coach), incorporated in June 2000, is a marketer of fine accessories and gifts for women and men. Coach�� product offerings include women�� and men�� bag, accessories, business cases, footwear, wearables, jewelry, sunwear, travel bags, watches and fragrance. The Company operates in two segments: Direct-to-Consumer and Indirect. Accessories include women�� and men�� small leather goods, novelty accessories and women�� and men�� belts. Women�� small leather goods, which coordinate with its handbags, include money pieces, wristlets, and cosmetic cases. Men�� small leather goods consist primarily of wallets and card cases. Novelty accessories include time management and electronic accessories. Key rings and charms are also included in this category. Men�� handbag collections include business cases, computer bags, messenger-style bags and totes. Footwear is distributed through select Coach retail stores, coach.com and about 1,000 United States department stores. Wearables category is comprised of jackets, sweaters, gloves, hats and scarves, including both cold weather and fashion.

The Company�� Jewelry category is comprised of bangle bracelets, necklaces, rings and earrings offered in both sterling silver and non-precious metals. Marchon Eyewear, Inc. (Marchon) is the Coach�� eyewear licensee. Coach sunglasses are sold in Coach retail stores and coach.com, department stores, select sunglass retailers and optical retailers in major markets. The travel collections are comprised of luggage and related accessories, such as travel kits and valet trays. Movado Group, Inc. (Movado) is the Company�� watch licensee, which develops a collection of watches.

Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (Estee Lauder), through its subsidiary, Aramis Inc., is Coach�� fragrance licensee. Fragrance is distributed through Coach retail stores, coach.com and about 4,000 United States department stores and 500 international locations. Coach offers four women�� fragrance col! lections and one men�� fragrance. The women�� fragrance collections include eau de perfume spray, eau de toilette spray, purse spray, body lotion and body splashes.

Direct-to-Consumer Segment

The Direct-to-Consumer segment consists of channels that provide the Company with immediate, controlled access to consumers: Coach-operated stores in North America; Japan; Hong Kong, Macau, and mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore and the Internet. This segment represented approximately 89% of Coach�� total net sales during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012 (fiscal 2012), with North American stores and the Internet, Coach Japan and Coach China contributing approximately 63%, 18% and 6% of total net sales, respectively. Coach stores are located in regional shopping centers and metropolitan areas throughout the United States and Canada. The retail stores carry an assortment of products. Its stores are located in locations, such as New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Toronto.

Coach�� factory stores serve as a means to sell manufactured-for-factory-store product, including factory exclusives, as well as discontinued and irregular inventory outside the retail channel. These stores operate under the Coach Factory name. Coach�� factory store design, visual presentations and customer service levels support. Coach views its Website as a key communications vehicle for the brand to promote traffic in Coach retail stores and department store locations. Its online store provides a showcase environment where consumers can browse through a selected offering of the latest styles and colors.

Coach Japan operates department store shop-in-shop locations and freestanding flagship, retail and factory stores, as well as an e-commerce Website. Flagship stores offer an assortment of Coach products that are located in select shopping districts throughout Japan. Coach China operates department store shop-in-shop locations, as well as freestanding flagship, retail and factory sto! res. Flag! ship stores, which offer an assortment of Coach products, are located in select shopping districts throughout Hong Kong and mainland China. Coach Singapore and Taiwan operate department store shop-in-shop locations as well as freestanding flagship, retail and factory stores. Flagship stores, which offer a range of assortment of Coach products, are located in select shopping districts in Singapore and Taiwan.

The Reed Krakoff brand represents New American luxury primarily for handbags, accessories and ready-to-wear. Reed Krakoff operates department store shop-in-shop locations, freestanding flagship stores, as well as an e-commerce Website at reedkrakoff.com. Flagship stores, which offer an assortment of Reed Krakoff products, are located in select shopping districts in the United States and Japan.

Indirect Segment

The Indirect segment represented approximately 11% of total net sales in fiscal 2012, with United States Wholesale and Coach International representing approximately 6% and 4% of total net sales, respectively. The Indirect segment also includes royalties earned on licensed product. U.S. Wholesale channel offers access to Coach products to consumers who prefer shopping at department stores. Coach products are also available on macys.com, dillards.com, bloomingdales.com, lordandtaylor.com, belk.com, vonmaur.com and nordstrom.com. Coach�� products are sold in approximately 990 wholesale locations in the United States and Canada. Its U.S. wholesale customers are Macy�� (including Bloomingdale��), Dillard��, Nordstrom, Lord & Taylor, Carson�� and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Coach International channel represents sales to international wholesale distributors and authorized retailers. Coach has developed relationships with a select group of distributors who sell Coach products through department stores and freestanding retail locations in over 20 countries. Coach�� network of international distributors serves various markets: South Korea, US & T! erritorie! s, Taiwan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Japan, Australia, Singapore, UAE, France, China, Macau, Indonesia, Kuwait, Bahamas, Aruba, Vietnam, New Zealand, Bahrain, India and Brazil.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By James K. Glassman]

   Shares of the luxury handbag maker Coach (symbol: COH) fell 7% in 2012, mainly because of sluggish sales in North America. But skittish investors overlooked Coach's overseas business. In the July–September quarter, foreign sales rose 15% from the same period in 2011, driven by nearly 40% growth in China. Coach pulls in average sales of $2,500 per square foot per year from its more than 800 stores worldwide, 25% more than rival Tiffany. Coach has significantly raised its dividends every year since 2009; its stock yields 2.1%.

• [By Kathy Kristof]

  Headquarters: New York 
  
  52-Week High: $78.28
  
  52-Week Low: $49.07
  
  Annual Sales: $4.8 bill.
  
  Projected Earnings Growth: 14% annually over the next five years 
  
  Shares of Coach recently went on sale after investors reacted negatively to quarterly earnings that were "only" 18% higher than the year before. Coach, which makes luxury leather handbags and shoes, as well as watches, jewelry and apparel, has been a stock market darling for decades, able to deliver strong profits even in the midst of a miserable economy. But market expectations were so high for the stock that its share price fell a whopping 18% on July 31, after the company said that it had engaged in some discounting in response to U.S. consumers’ reluctance to spend. 
  
  To be sure, economies around the world look a bit shaky, which could create headwinds for makers of luxury goods. But Coach’s executives have handled tougher challenges and came out smelling like fine Italian leather, says David Brady, president of Brady Investment Counsel, a Chicago money-management firm. Brady thinks the recent retreat in the share price gives investors an attractive entry point to buy stock in a company they’ll want to own for decades.

• [By James K. Glassman]

  Shares of the luxury handbag maker Coach (symbol: COH) fell 7% in 2012, mainly because of sluggish sales in North America. But skittish investors overlooked Coach's overseas business. In the July–September quarter, foreign sales rose 15% from the same period in 2011, driven by nearly 40% growth in China. Coach pulls in average sales of $2,500 per square foot per year from its more than 800 stores worldwide, 25% more than rival Tiffany. Coach has significantly raised its dividends every year since 2009; its stock yields 2.1%.

Hot Asian Companies To Own In Right Now: It Way Spa(ITW.MI)

Itway S.p.A. engages in the distribution and integration of software and hardware products for the logical security of information systems primarily in Italy, France, the Iberian Peninsula, Greece, and Turkey. The company offers consultancy services and system integration services, as well as produces solutions and software technologies for e-businesses. Its services also include training and supporting companies in the areas of e-business, e-security, central access management, internetworking and wireless. In addition, the company offers specialized certification services on software technologies and pre- and post-sale technical assistance services. Itway S.p.A. is headquartered in Ravenna, Italy.

10 Best Safest Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Inc.(RMCF)

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc. operates as a franchiser, confectionery manufacturer, and retail operator. It offers a range of chocolate candies and confectionery products. The company?s products include clusters, caramels, creams, mints, and truffles. As of March 31, 2010 it operated 11 owned, 29 franchised/licensed owned, and 305 franchised Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory stores in 36 states in the United States, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates. The company was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Durango, Colorado.

Hot Asian Companies To Own In Right Now: Ocwen Financial Corporation(OCN)

Ocwen Financial Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides residential and commercial mortgage loan servicing, special servicing, and asset management services in the United States and internationally. The company provides loan servicing, including asset management and resolution services primarily to owners of subprime residential mortgages. It also invests in subprime residential loans held for resale; and is involved in subprime residual mortgage backed trading securities related to subprime loan origination operation and whole loan purchase and securitization activities, as well as engages in the management of residential assets. Ocwen Financial Corporation was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By James K. Glassman]

  Ocwen Financial (symbol: OCN) soared 142% in 2012, but it still has room to grow. Ocwen services mortgages, so it's partly a play on a resurgent housing market. In October, the company announced two deals -- one for the loan-servicing business of Residential Capital and the other for Homeward Residential, a mortgage servicer and originator. Analysts see Ocwen earning $4.50 per share in 2013, but I think profits will be much higher.

Hot Asian Companies To Own In Right Now: Stealth Minerals Limited (SML.V)

Stealth Minerals Limited, a development stage company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Canada. The company principally explores for copper, silver, and gold prospects. It primarily holds interest in the Toodoggone Property covering an area of approximately 22,096 hectares in the Toodoggone River region of north central British Columbia. The company was incorporated in 1993 and is headquartered in North Vancouver, Canada.