Hey McDonald's Corporation (NYSE:MCD) and Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM), the reason you're struggling isn't likely the reason you think. Yes, McDonald's, you have logistics problems, and Yum! Brands [purveyor of Pizza Hut, KFC, and Taco Bell], offering an alternative to burgers to a burger-lovin' world doesn't always make life easy. That's not your biggest hurdle, however. You're biggest hurdle is much more nuanced, admittedly a little obscure, and multiple in number. Winning and keeping market share can be done though. As proof that it can be done, one only has to look at Giggles N Hugs Inc. (OTCMKTS:GIGL), which is actually growing by giving kids AND parents what both of them REALLY want.
In an informal survey performed by parenting-trials website www.dad-camp.com in September of this year, parents opined about what they wanted/needed from a kid-friendly restaurant. Price and speed didn't make the list, even though the entire fast-food industry was and still is built for the primary purpose of serving up cheap food in a hurry... a mindset put into motion by McDonald's years ago. The biggest concerns of parents who dared to drag their kids to an eatery were (1) a patient, understanding staff, (2) a menu with a choice, (3) kid-sized accoutrements, and (4) entertainment.
Top 5 Regional Bank Stocks To Invest In 2015: Nuvilex Inc (NVLX.PK)
Nuvilex, Inc., incorporated on October 28, 1996, operates independently and through wholly owned subsidiaries. The Company is a biotechnology and life technology company with a specialty in living-cell encapsulation. It is focused on preparations for a new pancreatic cancer clinical trial through live-cell encapsulation of chemotherapeutic-converting cells. It has created the hardware and operating platform to envelop or encapsulate its own or other company's software products, or cells. These cells are then packaged in its live cell encapsulation operating system. Its products include Cinnechol, Cinnergen, Cinnsational, Citroxin, Cyclosurface, Cosmetics, Infinitink, Talsyn, Oraphyte and PurEffect. On July 10, 2013, the Company acquired Bio Blue Bird AG. In November 2013, the Company announced that it has acquired the exclusive worldwide rights to use the cellulose-based live-cell encapsulation technology for the development of treatments for diabetes from SG Austria Pt e. Ltd.
Cinnechol
Cinnechol is a gluten free/wheat free all-natural supplement designed to help maintain normal cholesterol levels and support normal cardiovascular function through a healthy diet and regular exercise and to help individuals manage cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. Cinnechol may provide a natural alternative for those with high cholesterol and intolerant of, or elect not to take statins.
Cinnergen
Cinnergen is a gluten free/wheat free all-natural liquid whole food nutritional supplement that provides nutrients to help the body efficiently process glucose, is made from natural ingredients. Clinical studies using Cinnergen, as well as peer reviewed research suggest constituents of Cinnergen may help to reduce glucose absorption in the small intestine, limit glucose synthesis and increase its metabolism and prevent conditions associated with pre-diabetes or diabetes types one and two by delivering amin o acids, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, antioxidants, and pl! an! t based extracts to the body thus helping control glucose levels.
Cinnsational
Cinnsational is a gluten free/wheat free all-natural calorie-free, liquid nutritional supplement contains concentrated blend vitamins, essential amino acids, and other beneficial ingredients to help the body combat symptoms associated with alcohol sensitivity, including nausea, fatigue and headaches.
Citroxin
Citroxin is an all-natural, eco-friendly surface cleaner. Citroxin is protected by patents in the United States and Thailand.
Cyclosurface Cosmetics
Nuvilex�� Cyclosurface color enhancement technology provides formulators and manufacturers of cosmetics and other consumer products the ability to use less wax and other potentially detrimental additives in their products through a lipophilic surface treatment. It improves pigment dispersion enabling products that feel lighter on the skin and make the skin look radia nt while maintaining or enhancing the color and durability of the cosmetic product.
I-Boost Immune Bar
I-Boost Immune Bar is a gluten free/wheat free all-natural nutritional bar designed to protect, stimulate, and boost the immune system. It was reformulated and contains a blend of vitamins, minerals, and other ingredients designed to enhance the body's natural ability to defend itself.
Infinitink
Infinitink is a permanent, yet removable tattoo ink, was engineered specifically for removal in fewer laser treatments than standard tattoo ink. Typically, lasers used for removal of tattoos use 532 and 1064 nanometer wavelengths which closely match the Infinitink tattoo pigments, enabling more easily removed tattoos.
Oraphyte
Oraphyte is the Company�� all-natural nematocide, is a non-toxic, biodegradable formulation that damages a nematode's skin surface, compromising its immune system, enabling it to be killed by the environment. In field tests, Oraphyte! redu! ce! d probl! ematic nematodes, parasitic plant worms found in soil, compared to non-treated controls.
purEffect
PurEffect is a three part, all-in-one acne treatment designed to cleanse, tone, and heal skin combining ingredients to help maintain a radiant, blemish-free complexion. Benzoyl peroxide, the active ingredient in purEffect is the safest, recommended ingredient used to treat acne. This line of products completed pre-marketing testing by CK41.
Specialty, Private Label Inks
The Company has the potential to manufacture specialty inks for private label customers derived from the Company's Virgin and Infinitink product lines and are formulated to specific customer needs. The Company's specialty inks are formulated to be all natural, heavy metal and toxin-free.
Talsyn Scar Cream
Talsyn Scar Cream is a cream that delivers lipids, peptides, and botanical extracts to the skin. It was clinically proven to impro ve appearance of keloids, surgical incisions, and scars through decreasing their width, length, depth, and redness for both old and new scars. Talsyn Scar Cream has been endorsed and used by plastic and reconstructive surgeons.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Alan Brochstein]
I actually spoke with Mr. Tim Matula, who is a former director and also handled investor relations for Diamond Ranch Foods (the predecessor company). Mr. Matula is also a long-time director at Nuvilex (NVLX.PK), which I recently suggested is an overly promoted stock exhibiting several of the signs about which FINRA has been warning investors (more on this later). Matula answered the phone number included on recent press releases by PLPL - I was expecting to hear an answering machine, as my call was in the late evening. He explained that he was no longer involved with the company due to having too many time-constraints. He also explained his sale of 4.9mm shares back to the company at $0.025 on February 7th, suggesting an open market sale would have been impossible. Note that PLPL has never traded below $0.04, so I found this curious. It was Matula who passed me along to Shane Traveller. He also told me that he is the brother of Tom Matula, the Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board (more later).
5 Best Logistics Stocks To Own For 2014: Blucora Inc (BCOR)
Blucora, Inc., formerly InfoSpace, Inc., is a provider of online solutions for consumers and business partners. The Company owns and operates two Internet businesses. Through its InfoSpace business, the Company provides online search and monetization solutions to a network of more than 100 global partners. Through TaxACT, The Company provides online tax preparation solutions to consumers and professional preparers. The Company's search business consists primarily of a business to business offering that provides its search technology, aggregated content and services to its distribution partners. The search business also offers search services directly to consumers through its own Internet search properties. On June 22, 2011, InfoSpace sold its Mercantila e-commerce business to Zoo Stores, Inc. On January 31, 2012, InfoSpace acquired TaxACT Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiary, 2nd Story Software, Inc. In August 2013, the Company announced that it has completed the acquisition of Monoprice.
InfoSpace primarily offers search services through the Web properties of its distribution partners, which are generally private-labeled and customized to address the requirements of each distribution partner. The search business also distributes aggregated search content through its own Websites, such as Dogpile.com and WebCrawler.com. The Search segment consists of the Company�� search services operations and the Tax Preparation segment is the TaxACT business. The Company�� revenues are generated primarily from its Web search services. The Company�� metasearch technology offers users a search experience, which combines the results of several search engine content providers, including Google, Yahoo!, and Bing, among others, and aggregates, filters, and prioritizes the results. This combination provides a more relevant search results page and leverages the investments made by its Search Customers to continually improve the user experience. Partner versions of its Web offerings are private-labeled and d! elivered with each distribution partner�� requirements.
The Tax Preparation segment generates its revenue through three primary methods: the sale of state and upgraded federal income tax preparation software and online services to consumers, the sale of ancillary services to any user, paid or not, and the sale of its professional edition income tax preparation software to professional tax preparers. The ancillary services include, among other things, additional support, data archiving, a deferred payment option, and a bank card product.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Michael Lewis]
Sea change
As with many industries, tax prep is witnessing a period of technological disruption in the form of Web-based software. Intuit (NASDAQ: INTU ) is the leader in the space with its Turbo Tax product. Lesser-known Blucora (NASDAQ: BCOR ) has its hand in the game as well with TaxACT. The latter is a small but healthy business. TaxACT maintains strong margins and grows at roughly 8% to 10% annually. Currently, the company maintains around 12% of online tax-prep market share. - [By Dan Caplinger]
But then, H&R Block ran into trouble with its software. The IRS said that a limited number of software company products failed to provide for the correct treatment of the American Opportunity educational tax credit, forcing an estimated 660,000 taxpayers to have to wait an additional six weeks for their refunds, and H&R Block had been informing its customers about the problems. Intuit (NASDAQ: INTU ) already has a commanding lead over H&R Block with Intuit's TurboTax software, so H&R Block's slip-up likely didn't add much to Intuit's dominance. But even Blucora's (NASDAQ: BCOR ) TaxAct software might well benefit from the issue, forcing H&R Block to rely even more on its bricks-and-mortar stores in order to keep its sales up.
- [By Canadian Value]
Position % of Fund Assets 1) First American Financial Corp. (FAF) 7.0% 2) Apple, Inc. (AAPL) 6.5% 3) Coinstar, Inc. (CSTR) 4.8% 4) EMC Corp. (EMC) 4.4% 5) Coach, Inc. (COH) 4.4% 6) Kohl's Corp. (KSS) 4.1% 7) Blucora, Inc. (BCOR) 4.0% 8) Tetra Tech, Inc. (TTEK) 3.1% 9) OM Group, Inc. (OMG) 3.0% 10) American International Group, Inc. (AIG) 2.8% TOTAL 44.1% One area that we believe still offers some value in the market is in high quality, large��ap technology stocks that may be momentarily out��f��avor as they transition from rapid growth to slower growth. In particular, we become interested when that transition is also accompanied by a change in capital allocation policies designed to return more cash to shareholders in the form of dividends and share repurchases. We believe that Apple and EMC are two of the absolute highest quality technology businesses in the world and both have recently announced very material, shareholder��friendly changes to how they will allocate capital.
- [By Igor Novgorodtsev]
Combining Perion's and Conduit's number allows us to compare a "new Perion" to its peer group: AVG, IACI, AOL (AOL), and Blucora (BCOR). The numbers are nothing short of incredible demonstrating how grossly the new company is underpriced.
5 Best Logistics Stocks To Own For 2014: SkyWest Inc (SKYW)
SkyWest, Inc. (SkyWest), incorporated in 1972, through subsidiaries, SkyWest Airlines, Inc. (SkyWest Airlines) and ExpressJet Airlines, Inc. (ExpressJet) operates the regional airline in the United States. In addition, the Company provides ground handling services for other airlines throughout its system. The Company operates in two segments: SkyWest Airlines and ExpressJet. On December 31, 2011, its subsidiary, ExpressJet Airlines, Inc. (ExpressJet Delaware) was merged into its subsidiary, Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Inc. (Atlantic Southeast), with the surviving company named ExpressJet Airlines, Inc. (the ExpressJet Combination). ExpressJet includes the operations of Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Inc. (Atlantic Southeast) and ExpressJet Airlines, Inc. (ExpressJet Delaware), which is prior to the ExpressJet Combination.
As of December 31, 2011, SkyWest and ExpressJet offered scheduled passenger and air freight service with approximately 4,000 total daily departures to different destinations in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. All of its flights are operated as Delta Connection, United Express, Continental Express, US Airways Express or Alaska under code-share arrangements with Delta, United Air Lines, Inc. (United), Continental Airlines, Inc. (Continental), US Airways Group, Inc. (US Airways) and Alaska Airlines (Alaska). As of December 31, 2011, its consolidated fleet consisted of a total of 732 aircraft, of which 443 were assigned to United and Continental, 268 were assigned to Delta, eight were in preparation for new code-share assignments, five were assigned to Alaska, four were subleased to affiliated entities, two were assigned to US Airways and two were subleased to unaffiliated entities. In addition, it provides electronic or paper copies of its filings free of charge upon request.
As of December 31, 2011, it operated two types of regional jet aircraft: the Bombardier Aerospace (Bombardier) regional jet, which include the 50-seat Bombardier CRJ20! 0 Regional Jet (the CRJ200), the 70-seat Bombardier CRJ700 Regional Jet (the CRJ700) and the 70-90-seat Bombardier CRJ900 Regional Jet (the CRJ900), and the 50-seat Embraer ERJ-145 regional jet (ERJ145). As of December 31, 2011, it also operated the 30-seat Embraer Brasilia EMB-120 turboprop (the Brasilia turboprop). During the year ended December 31, 2011, approximately 65.2% of the Company's aggregate capacity was operated under the United Express Agreements and Continental Express Agreement, approximately 33.6% was operated under the Delta Connection Agreements, approximately 0.9% was operated under the Alaska Capacity Purchase Agreement, approximately 0.1% was operated under the US Airways Express Agreement and approximately 0.2% was operated under a code-share agreement with AirTran Airways, Inc.
On November 17, 2011, SkyWest Airlines and US Airways entered into the SkyWest Airlines US Airways Express Agreement. As of December 31, 2011, SkyWest Airlines operated two CRJ200s under the SkyWest Airlines US Airways Express Agreement, flying a total of approximately ten US Airways Express flights per day between Phoenix and designated outlying destinations. On April 13, 2011, SkyWest Airlines and Alaska entered into the SkyWest Airlines Alaska Capacity Purchase Agreement. As of December 31, 2011, SkyWest Airlines operated five CRJ700s under the SkyWest Airlines Alaska Capacity Purchase Agreement, flying a total of approximately 30 Alaska flights per day between Seattle, Portland and designated outlying destinations.
As of December 31, 2011, SkyWest Airlines and ExpressJet scheduled the daily flights as Delta Connection carriers: 530 flights to or from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, 316 flights to or from Salt Lake City International Airport, 132 flights to or from Minneapolis International Airport, 94 flights to or from Memphis International Airport, 94 flights to or from Detroit International Airport and 8 flights to or from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Inte! rnational! Airport.. As of December 31, 2011, SkyWest Airlines scheduled 15 daily flights as an Alaska carrier to or from Portland International Airport and 15 daily flights as an Alaska carrier to or from Seattle International Airport. As of December 31, 2011, SkyWest Airlines scheduled ten daily flights as an US Airways Express carrier to or from Phoenix International Airport.
As of December 31, 2011, SkyWest Airlines and ExpressJet scheduled the daily flights as a United or Continental Express carrier: 572 flights to or from Houston International Airport, 486 flights to or from Chicago O'Hare International Airport, 412 flights to or from Denver International Airport, 306 flights to or from San Francisco International Airport, 284 flights to or from Los Angeles International Airport, 214 flights to or from Newark International Airport, 148 flights to or from Washington Dulles International Airport, 128 flights to or from Cleveland International Airport and 64 flights to or from other airports. As of December 31, 2011, it operated 17 CRJ200s for United under a pro-rate agreement. The Company also operated one CRJ200 under a pro-rate agreement with Delta, as of December 31, 2011.
SkyWest Airlines
SkyWest Airlines provides regional jet and turboprop service primarily located in the midwestern and western United States. SkyWest Airlines offered approximately 1,650 daily scheduled departures as of December 31, 2011, of which approximately 1,110 were United Express flights, 500 were Delta Connection flights, 30 were Alaksa-coded flights and 10 were US Airways Express flights. SkyWest Airlines' operations are conducted from hubs located in Chicago (O'Hare), Denver, Los Angeles, Houston, Portland, Seattle, Phoenix, San Francisco and Salt Lake City. SkyWest Airlines' fleet as of December 31, 2011 consisted of 21 CRJ900s, all of which were flown for Delta; 96 CRJ700s, of which 70 were flown for United, 21 were flown for Delta and five were flown for Alaska; 153 CRJ200s, of which 82 ! were flown! for United, 61 were flown for Delta, eight were in preparation for service under a code-share agreement with US Airways and two were flown for US Airways; and 45 Brasilia turboprops, of which 35 were flown for United and 10 were flown for Delta.
As of December 31, 2011, SkyWest Airlines was conducting its Delta Connection operations pursuant to the terms of an Amended and Restated Delta Connection Agreement, which obligates Delta to compensate SkyWest Airlines for its direct costs associated with operating Delta Connection flights, plus a payment based on block hours flown (the SkyWest Airlines Delta Connection Agreement). SkyWest Airlines' United code-share operations are conducted under a United Express Agreement, pursuant to which SkyWest Airlines is paid primarily on a fee-per-completed block hour and departure basis, plus a margin based on performance incentives (the SkyWest Airlines United Express Agreement). During December 31, 2011, SkyWest Airlines entered into code-share agreements with Alaska and US Airways, pursuant to which SkyWest Airlines is paid primarily on a fee-per-completed block hour and departure basis, plus a fixed margin per aircraft each month.
ExpressJet
ExpressJet provides regional jet service principally in the United States, primarily from hubs located in Atlanta, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago (O'Hare), Denver, Houston, Newark and Washington Dulles. ExpressJet offered more than 2,100 daily scheduled departures as of December 31, 2011, of which approximately 650 were Delta Connection flights and 1,450 were Continental Express or United Express flights. As of December 31, 2011, the combined fleet of ExpressJet consisted of 10 CRJ900s, which were flown for Delta, 46 CRJ700s,which were flown for Delta, 113 CRJ200s, 99 of, which were flown for Delta and 14 of, which were flown for United and 242 ERJ145s, which were flown for United or Continental.
Under the terms of a Second Amended and Restated Delta Connection Agreement exec! uted betw! een Delta and Atlantic Southeast and to, which ExpressJet is a party (the ExpressJet Delta Connection Agreement), Delta has agreed to compensate ExpressJet for its direct costs associated with operating Delta Connection flights, plus, if ExpressJet completes a certain minimum percentage of its Delta Connection flights, a specified margin on such costs. Under the ExpressJet Delta Connection Agreement, excess margins over certain percentages must be returned to or shared with Delta, depending on various conditions. ExpressJet's Continental and United code-share operations are conducted under a Capacity Purchase Agreement between ExpressJet and Continental (the Continental CPA) and two United Express Agreements between ExpressJet and United (collectively, the ExpressJet United Express Agreements), pursuant to, which ExpressJet is paid by Continental or United, as applicable, primarily on a fee-per-completed block hour and departure basis, plus a margin based on performance incentives.
The Company competes with Air Wisconsin Airlines Corporation, American Airlines, Inc. Delta Air Lines, Inc. Compass Airlines, Alaska Air Group, Inc. Mesa Air Group, Inc., Pinnacle Airlines Corp., Republic Airways Holdings Inc. and Trans State Airlines, Inc.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Alex Planes]
This year has been one of big deals and big rumors for Embraer. Just a few days ago, the company announced a deal with American International Group's (NYSE: AIG ) airplane leasing subsidiary for at least 50 jets and potentially up to 100, beginning in 2018. It's a multibillion-dollar deal that could be worth more than Embraer's entire trailing-12-month revenue stream. Embraer also has a deal with Republic Airways (NASDAQ: RJET ) for at least 47 E-175 jets -- the first of which should be delivered around this time of year -- and potentially 47 more if the airline likes what it sees. Several major carriers are also looking to expand their fleet of regional jets, which is Embraer's specialty and thus also its great opportunity. SkyWest (NASDAQ: SKYW ) is also committed to buying 40 of the E-175s�and could buy up to 140. Between these three deals, Embraer's backlog should swell considerably.
- [By Rich Duprey]
Passenger airline operator�SkyWest (NASDAQ: SKYW ) announced today its third-quarter dividend of $0.04 per share, the same rate it's paid since 2008.
5 Best Logistics Stocks To Own For 2014: China Sunergy Co. Ltd.(CSUN)
China Sunergy Co., Ltd. designs, develops, manufactures, and sells solar cells and solar modules. It offers monocrystalline and multicrystalline silicon solar cells; and standard P-type solar cells and HP solar cells, as well as emitter cells. The company sells its products to module manufacturers, system integrators, and distributors. It sells solar cells and modules under CSUN and CEEG brand names primarily in Europe, the People?s Republic of China, India, South Korea, Australia, and the Untied States. The company was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in Nanjing, the People?s Republic of China.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Eric Volkman]
China Sunergy (NASDAQ: CSUN ) results for the company's fiscal Q4 and 2012 have been released. For the quarter, total sales were $54.4 million, less than half the $110.8 million the firm posted in the same period the previous year. Net loss, meanwhile, was steeper at $70.5 million ($5.27 per diluted American Depositary Share), compared to Q4 2011's red figure of $49.6 million ($3.71).
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