Saturday, August 2, 2014

Top Sliver Companies To Invest In 2014

With shares of Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) trading around $403, is AMZN an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE, or STAY AWAY? Let�� analyze the stock with the relevant sections of our CHEAT SHEET investing framework:

T = Trends for a Stock’s Movement

Amazon serves its customers through its retail websites and focus on selection, price, and convenience. The company also manufactures and sells Kindle devices. Amazon offers programs that enable sellers to sell their products on the company�� websites, including the sellers��own branded websites, and fulfill orders through them. Amazon also provides platforms that allow authors, musicians, filmmakers, app developers, and others to publish and sell content. Online commerce has been on the rise because of the convenience, efficiency, and relatively low prices offered.

It was a lucrative holiday shopping season for Amazon.com, but the e-commerce giant still left some shoppers disgruntled after Santa Claus failed to show up on time. According to Bloomberg, despite Amazon�� promise that all of its ordered packages would be delivered by Christmas, some shoppers still suffered empty doorsteps on the eve of the big day, and now the largest online retailer is working to make it up to them.�For those affected by Amazon�� inability to deliver packages the time, the Seattle, Washington-based retailer offered customers $20 gift cards and refunds on shipping charges — along with a promise that it would never happen again. Amazon doesn�� take full responsibility for the shipping shortcomings, as it cites failures in the United Parcel Service�� (NYSE:UPS) transportation network in addition to its onslaught of last-minute orders, but the company issued gift cards to compensate customers nonetheless, and promised to look into UPS difficulties.

Best Prefered Stocks To Own For 2015: Comfort Systems USA Inc. (FIX)

Comfort Systems USA, Inc. provides installation, maintenance, repair, and replacement services for the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in the mechanical services industry in the United States. The company engages in the design, engineering, integration, installation, and start-up of HVAC, building automation controls, and related systems; and maintenance, repair, replacement, reconfiguration, and monitoring of HVAC systems and industrial process piping. It also provides specialized applications, such as building automation control systems, fire protection, process cooling, electronic monitoring, and process piping, as well as electrical and plumbing services. The company offers its services for office buildings, retail centers, apartment complexes, and manufacturing plants, as well as healthcare, education, and government facilities. It serves building owners and developers, general contractors, architects, consulting engineers, and property manag ers in the commercial, industrial and institutional HVAC markets. Comfort Systems USA, Inc. was founded in 1917 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Jeremy Bowman]

    What: Shares of HVAC-service provider Comfort Systems USA (NYSE: FIX  ) were heating up today, gaining as much as 13% on a promising earnings report.

  • [By Seth Jayson]

    Calling all cash flows
    When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on Comfort Systems USA (NYSE: FIX  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

Top Sliver Companies To Invest In 2014: Players Network (PNTV)

Players Network (PNTV), incorporated on March 16, 1993, is a global media and entertainment company engaged in the development of Digital Networks. The Company distributes broadband video and other social media content over a range of Internet enabled devices and cable television channels. The Company�� platform is designed to deliver video content and develop digital social communities, including Vegas On Demand TV. The Company operates a video on demand (VOD) television channel, also named Vegas On Demand, which consists of original programming that is distributed over its own VOD channels to approximately 24,000,000 homes over the Internet with distribution partners, which include, Comcast, Hulu, Blinkx, Google, and YouTube Video, for DVD home video, and various mobile platforms. Vegas On Demand TV offers its audience the ability to connect to Vegas Insiders through programming, which captures sex appeal, entertainment, and the non-stop adrenaline rush of the Las Vegas gaming lifestyle. Players Network�� content goes beyond poker, casino action, sports betting, and racing, to lifestyle programs about entertainment and fine living.

PNTV�� Media Network operates across all distribution platforms from television screens to mobile devices, gaming consoles, computers and tablets. The Company�� platform has two main membership categories: the Consumer/User who visits its digital communities and partakes in viewing ad-supported and pay-per-view premium videos, purchases products and connects with Insiders, who are its Premium Members. Players Network�� Programming Brands include Vegas On Demand focuses on Gaming lifestyle and produces programming about Horse Racing, Sports Betting, Casino Games and Poker; Vegas On Demand, which is about Las Vegas lifestyle and covers celebrity, night clubs, poolside experiences and entertainment, and Sexy Sin City TV covers the adult and sexy side of Las Vegas after dark. The Company�� productions include gaming instruction, gaming news, instruct! ion on sports and racing wagering, gaming entertainment, tournaments, events and travel. The Company has a library of 1,550 gambling and gaming lifestyle videos, including several series of both long and short form content. Some of these series include Players Network originals; Hidden Vegas, Tattoo Tails, which include 30 originally produced hours of programming from the World Series of Poker, which Players Network had the rights to produce and air live. Players Network produced over 50 videos at the Hooters Hotel and Casino, 28 new gaming instructional videos aimed at slots and video poker players, a series of 23 videos on magic entitled Hocus Pocus, The Best of Vegas series and Neon Buzz, an entertainment report which covered red carpet events.

The Company competes with ESPN, the Travel Channel, E! and the Food Network.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Peter Graham]

    Small cap entertainment or gaming stocks Soul and Vibe Interactive Inc (OTCBB: SOUL), Elray Resources Inc (OTCMKTS: ELRA) and Players Network (OTCMKTS: PNTV) focus on entertaining consumers. However, its important to remember that consumers can be very fickle when it comes to entertainment or games. So should you be entertaining any of these small caps? Here is a closer look and a reality check:

Top Sliver Companies To Invest In 2014: Landauer Inc (LDR)

Landauer, Inc. (Landauer) is a provider of technical and analytical services to determine occupational and environmental radiation exposure. The Company is domestic provider of outsourced medical physics services. The Company operates in two segments: Radiation Monitoring and Medical Physics. The Company has provided radiation dosimetry services to hospitals, medical and dental offices, universities, national laboratories, nuclear facilities and other industries. Landauer's services include the manufacture of radiation detection monitors, the distribution and collection of the monitors to and from customers, and the analysis and reporting of exposure findings. In addition to providing analytical services, the Company leases or sells dosimetry detectors and reading equipment to customers. Medical physics services are provided through the Company's Global Physics Solutions, Inc. (GPS) subsidiary. In November 2011, it acquired IZI Medical Products, LLC.

In November 2009, Landauer completed the acquisition of GPS. GPS is a nationwide service provider of clinical physics support, equipment commissioning and accreditation support and imaging equipment testing. In June 2010, Landauer, through its GPS subsidiary, completed the acquisition of Upstate Medical Physics (UMP), a provider of imaging physics services in New York. In November 2009, Landauer completed the acquisition of Gammadata Matteknik AB (GDM), a Swedish provider of radon measurement services. GDM provides measurement services throughout the Scandinavian region and Europe. In October 2009, Landauer completed the acquisition of dosimetry service in Sweden, called Landauer Persondosimetri AB (PDM).

The Radiation Monitoring revenues are realized from radiation monitoring services and other services incidental to radiation dose measurement. The Company enters into agreements with customers to provide them with radiation monitoring services, for a 12 month period. As part of its services, the Company provides to its custome! rs radiation detection badges, which are produced and owned by the Company. The badges are worn for a period selected by the customers (wear period), which is usually one, two, or three months in duration. At the end of the wear period, the badges are returned to the Company for analysis. The Company analyzes the badges that have been worn and provides its customers with a report indicating their radiation exposures. The Company recycles certain badge components for reuse, while also producing replacement badges on a continual basis.

The Company offers its service for measuring the dosages of x-ray, gamma radiation and other penetrating ionizing radiations, to which the wearer has been exposed, through badges, which contain optically stimulated luminescent (OSL) material, which are worn by customer personnel. This technology is marketed under the trade names Luxel+ and InLight. A component of the Company's dosimetry system is OSL crystal material. The Company's base OSL material is manufactured utilizing a process to create aluminum oxide crystals in a structure that is able to retain charged electrons following the crystal's exposure to radiation.

Landauer's InLight dosimetry system provides in-house and commercial laboratories with the ability to provide in-house radiation monitoring services using OSL technology. InLight services involve a customer acquiring or leasing dosimetry devices, as well as analytical reading equipment from the Company. The InLight system allows customers the flexibility to tailor their dosimetry needs. Landauer's operations include services for the measurement and monitoring of radon gas. The Company offers a service, which provides radon monitoring and, when necessary, remediation to purchasers of personal residences. Testing requires the customer to deploy a radon detector and return the detector to the Company's laboratories for dose determination and reporting. The Company assists with remediation services on properties where radon measurements ! exceed a ! specified threshold.

The Company competes with Mirion Technologies.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Seth Jayson]

    Calling all cash flows
    When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on Landauer (NYSE: LDR  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

Top Sliver Companies To Invest In 2014: PulteGroup Inc.(PHM)

PulteGroup, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in homebuilding and financial services businesses primarily in the United States. The company?s homebuilding business includes the acquisition and development of land primarily for residential purposes within the United States; and the construction of housing on such lands. It offers various home designs, including single-family detached, townhouses, condominiums, and duplexes under the Pulte Homes, Del Webb, and Centex brand names. As of December 31, 2011, its homebuilding operations offered homes for sale in approximately 700 communities. The company?s financial services business consists of mortgage banking and title operations. It arranges financing through the origination of mortgage loans for its homebuyers; sells such loans and related servicing rights; and provides title insurance policies as an agent, and examination and closing services to its home buyers. The company was formerly known as Pulte Homes, Inc. an d changed its name to PulteGroup, Inc. in March 2010. PulteGroup, Inc. was founded in 1956 and is headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Jeremy Bowman]

    What: Shares of PulteGroup (NYSE: PHM  ) were looking shabbier today, falling as much as 13% after its earnings report didn't stack up.

  • [By Ben Levisohn]

    Look at this week’s best performing stocks and you might never know that tapering was the big deal. Among the 10 best performing stocks in the S&P 500 were two homebuilders–PulteGroup (PHM) gained 2.3% to $16.28 and Lennar (LEN) rose 1.8% to $33.88 (you can read Barron’s bullish case for homebuilders here)–who benefited from solid housing starts data today, as well as some possible short covering yesterday. Newmont Mining (NEM), meanwhile, gained 9.7% to 32.39. the second largest gain in the S&P 500 this week, especially puzzling because higher U.S. yields are supposed to make gold less attractive.

  • [By Bob Ciura]

    Therefore, it seems as though Americans are returning to the labor force, firming their financial positions, and buying homes. This has been evident in the earnings reports released so far in 2013 from the home building industry leaders, including PulteGroup (NYSE: PHM  ) , Lennar (NYSE: LEN  ) , and Toll Brothers (NYSE: TOL  ) .

  • [By Amanda Alix]

    The housing market has been steadily improving, lifting the stocks of homebuilders like Beazer Homes (NYSE: BZH  ) , Hovnanian (NYSE: HOV  ) , and PulteGroup (NYSE: PHM  ) to heights not seen since the mortgage crisis. Indeed, a recent Federal Reserve survey noted�that housing helped buoy the economy during the first two months of this year, along with auto sales.

Top Sliver Companies To Invest In 2014: Sport Chalet Inc.(SPCHB)

Sport Chalet, Inc. operates specialty sporting goods stores in California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah. Its stores offer traditional sporting goods merchandise, including footwear, apparel, and other general athletic products; and core specialty merchandise, such as snowboarding, skateboarding, mountaineering, and scuba. The company?s stores also offer various services for the sports enthusiast, including backpacking, canyoneering and kayaking instruction, custom golf club fitting, snowboard and ski rental and repair, scuba training and certification, scuba boat charters, team sales, racquet stringing, and bicycle tune-up and repair. As of July 3, 2011, it operated 54 store locations; and an online store at sportchalet.com. The company was founded in 1959 and is based in La Ca�da, California.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Monica Gerson]

    Sport Chalet (NASDAQ: SPCHB) is projected to post its quarterly earnings.

    Investors Real Estate Trust (NYSE: IRET) is estimated to post its Q4 earnings at $0.17 per share on revenue of $67.73 million.

Top Sliver Companies To Invest In 2014: Decision Diagnostics Corp (DECN)

Decision Diagnostics Corp., formerly instaCare Corp., incorporated on March 2, 2001, is a prescription and non-prescription diagnostics and home testing products distributor. The Company distributes brand name prescription and non-prescription diagnostics products, as well as several lines of ostomy, wound cares and post-surgery medical products. The Company through its subsidiaries, PDA Services, Inc. and Decision IT Corp. offers information technology solutions in several medical cares market channels by providing physicians with information at the point of care. The Company's retail prescription business maintains three operating units, which include Licensed wholesale prescription drug distribution business; Licensed distribution of diabetes diagnostics and supplies; and Internet pharmacy/prescription fulfillment.

The Company's software is designed to integrate point of service applications. The Company is also a developer of products that offer solutions in medical care and management by providing physicians with essential information instantaneously as they meet with their patients. In addition, the Company markets its MD@Hand and MD @Work software application, which also leverages the connectivity of smart cell phones devices through the Internet. The Company's applications run on smart phones manufactured by Apple, Palm, Motorola and Samsung.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Bryan Murphy]

    Over the past few weeks, Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:LXRX) and Decision Diagnostics Corp. (OTCBB:DECN) have dominated the diabetes diagnostics and diabetes treatment landscape. Shares of LXRX jumped 20% on Tuesday following news that one of the key drugs in its pipeline showed more than enough efficacy in its clinical trials. DECN shares are up more than 250% on the heels of an almost-assured victory in its patent lawsuit against industry giant Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ). Anyone looking for a new trade in the diabetes diagnostics space, however, may want to look past overbought Lexicon Pharmaceuticals and Decision Diagnostics at this point, and instead turn their attention to newly-budding Neurometrix Inc. (NASDAQ:NURO).

Top Sliver Companies To Invest In 2014: Kirkland's Inc.(KIRK)

Kirkland?s, Inc. operates as a specialty retailer of home decor and gifts in the United States. Its stores offer various merchandise, including framed art, mirrors, wall decor, candles and related items, lamps, decorative accessories, accent furniture, textiles, garden-related accessories, and artificial floral products. The company?s stores also provide an assortment of holiday merchandise during seasonal periods, as well as items suitable for gift-giving. It operates stores under the Kirkland?s, Kirkland?s Home, Kirkland?s Home Outlet, and Kirkland?s Outlet names. The company operates its stores in enclosed malls and various off-mall venues, including lifestyle centers, power strip centers, outlet centers, and freestanding locations. Kirkland?s, Inc. also sells its products through its Web site kirklands.com. As of March 08, 2012, it operated 299 stores in 30 states. The company was founded in 1966 and is based in Nashville, Tennessee.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Teresa Rivas]

    Other home furnishings retailers, including Bed, Bath & Beyond (BBBY), Restoration Hardware (RH) and Kirkland�� (KIRK) were trading down in afternoon trading.

  • [By Seth Jayson]

    Margins matter. The more Kirkland's (Nasdaq: KIRK  ) keeps of each buck it earns in revenue, the more money it has to invest in growth, fund new strategic plans, or (gasp!) distribute to shareholders. Healthy margins often separate pretenders from the best stocks in the market. That's why we check up on margins at least once a quarter in this series. I'm looking for the absolute numbers, so I can compare them to current and potential competitors, and any trend that may tell me how strong Kirkland's competitive position could be.

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