Tuesday, March 31, 2015

This Is One Incredible CEO

The Motley Fool's readers have spoken, and I have heeded your cries. After months of pointing out CEO gaffes and faux pas, I've decided to make it a weekly tradition to also point out corporate leaders who are putting the interests of shareholders and the public first and are generally deserving of praise from investors. For reference, here's my previous selection.

This week, I'd like to highlight the mother of all private-equity firms, Blackstone Group (NYSE: BX  ) and its CEO, Steve Schwarzman.

Kudos to you, Mr. Schwarzman
As you might imagine, companies like Blackstone Group that invest in and buy out businesses, as well as run hedge funds and invest in commercial real estate markets, require a stable economy and interest rate environment in order to be successful. The recession in 2009 practically turned this sector on its head. Commercial real estate markets are only now beginning to recover with wealthier investors only recently began returning their money back into the hands of asset managers like Blackstone.

This isn't to say, even with the economy on the mend, that the asset management sector hasn't struggled mightily. In order to attract new money, KKR (NYSE: KKR  )  and Blackstone -- both companies known to attract the upper echelon of wage-earners, have lowered their minimum buy-in requirements for their hedge funds down to just $2,500. Even Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG  ) , which had previously restricted access to the top 1% of all income earners, is lowering its minimum investing requirements a bit to attract new investors as my Foolish colleague Amanda Alix reported in March. 

However, Blackstone, which has an astounding $218.2 billion in assets under management, has been able to exploit numerous opportunities, as well as throw its weight around, to turn profits for its company and investors and stand out among its peers. Over the past 12 months, the company has boosted its gross inflows by $34 billion, of which $31 billion was organic. Furthermore, its distributable earnings -- which can vary from quarter to quarter with P/E firms -- jumped 134% to $0.33 per unit.

One of the biggest boosts in its most recent quarter came from Blackstone's private-equity portfolio which saw economic income rise 15% from the previous year. More importantly, it saw the IPO of theme park owner SeaWorld Entertainment (NYSE: SEAS  ) , allowing Blackstone to sell 16 million shares and generate another "whale" of a return for investors.

But, just as Blackstone's Steve Schwarzman has been heralded for finding great deals and delivering big returns to shareholders, he should be praised for knowing when to walk away as well. Earlier this year, for instance, Blackstone made a $15 per share bid to acquire a majority stake in Dell (NASDAQ: DELL  ) as a competing bid to Silver Lake Partners and CEO Michael Dell's $13.65 per share cash bid. Blackstone wisely walked away from its bid after an IDC report noted that PC sales fell 14% in the first quarter and the PC business was deteriorating faster than anyone had first imagined because of smartphones and tablets.

Knowing when to hold 'em, and when to fold 'em, has made Schwarzman a fantastic businessman.

A step above his peers
I could probably end right there and it would be more than sufficient as to describe why Steve Schwarzman is an incredible leader, but there's actually so much more!

Obviously, shareholders are going to benefit in a big way from the high profit margins associated with Blackstone's operations. With few staff and overhead needed to run hedge funds and orchestrate buyouts, much of what Blackstone generates is almost pure profit. That means it doesn't take a home run every time to yield a solid dividend. Over just the past four quarters, shareholders in Blackstone have received $0.92 in payouts. That's good enough for a 4% yield based on yesterday's close and would be just about double what you'd be earning on a 10-year Treasury note.

Blackstone's employees also benefit in a big way as well. In terms of compensation -- because Blackstone is so picky in its hiring process to gain employees who'll stay with the company over the long term -- it's the cream of the crop. In 2010, for instance, Blackstone set aside about $811,000 per employee for compensation. Furthermore, Blackstone has increased its headcount by about 25% since the recession, proving high-level jobs do still exist. 

But, my personal favorite aspect of Blackstone Group and its CEO Steve Schwarzman is that he hasn't allowed some $212 billion in assets under management to go to his head. In April, Schwarzman donated $100 million (not a typo!) to the Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. The reasoning behind Schwarzman's donation was to create an elite level Master's program for 200 Chinese students as well as others around the world. Schwarzman's goal, with China playing such a large role in the world's global evolution, is to ensure that China and its top minds don't get left behind.

Two thumbs up
Private equity firms like Blackstone are certainly known for their ruthless cunning when it comes to investing and are often associated with posh lifestyles and spending. Contrary to this belief is Blackstone's Steve Schwarzman, who has done a good job of creating wealth for shareholders, makes sure his employees are fully qualified and compensated well for their hard work, and is a huge philanthropist in the educational field. It's not easy to trust a private-equity firm that offers no guarantee of future income, but as long as Schwarzman is at the helm of Blackstone, it will always have my vote of confidence.

With so much of the financial industry getting bad press these days, it may be a greedy when others are fearful moment. Not surprisingly, some of Warren Buffett's biggest investments are in the space. In the Motley Fool's free report, "The Stocks Only the Smartest Investors Are Buying," you can learn about a small, under-the-radar bank that's too tiny for Buffett's billions. Too bad, because it has better operating metrics than his favorites. Just click here to keep reading.

Hot Promising Companies To Invest In Right Now

It's a tough call for investors.

With the clinical trial failure rate for Alzheimer's drugs an astounding 99.6%, �major drugmakers have seen one promising Alzheimer's treatment after another fail. The list include Bapineuzumab (Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson), Flurizan (Myriad Genetics), and Elan's vaccine--all once seen as promising approaches to treating the disease.

Still, those who have close family members with Alzheimer's, as I do, are acutely aware of the disease's devastation. A new slate of drugs is badly needed, but it won't happen unless drugmakers keep paying the tab for research.

Right now, there is no drug which can halt or even slow the progression of any form of dementia. That's a huge tragedy because Alzheimer's (and other forms of dementia) have been accurately described as a "global disaster waiting to happen." According to the World Health Organization, there are almost 8 �million new cases of dementia a year. This is a staggering growth rate, and is�the same size as the populations of Switzerland and Israel.

Best Supermarket Companies To Watch For 2015: Multi-Corp International Inc (MULI)

Multi-Corp International Inc., incorporated on December 10, 2006, is a energy company. The Company is engaged in the exploration, development, production and acquisition of oil and gas properties. The Company intends to focus its operations in Eddy County, New Mexico.

As of December 31, 2012, the Company had 100% working interest in the 2,800 acre Cave Pool Property in Eddy County, New Mexico. As of December 31, 2012, it owned 14 shut-in oil wells that had produced from the Grayburg sands and it had an estimated 51 identified drilling and recompletion locations, of which 14 were proved undeveloped.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Peter Graham]

    One way or the other, small cap stocks mLight Tech, Inc (OTCMKTS: MLGT), Multi-Corp International Inc (OTCMKTS: MULI) and Brownie's Marine Group Inc (OTCMKTS: BWMG) have been getting some attention lately. For starters, one of these stocks has been the subject of paid promotions, another might be getting dragged into a controversy involving yet another small cap and the last stock sank 18.34% on Friday. So what�� going on with these three small cap stocks and what should be your trading or investing strategy? Here is a close look:

Hot Promising Companies To Invest In Right Now: TherapeuticsMD Inc (TXMD)

TherapeuticsMD, Inc., incorporated in 1907, promotes, distributes and sells certain products developed and sold by Spectrum Health Network, Inc. (Spectrum) relative to its digital media network. Through the license agreement, the Company focuses on multispecialty group practices and independent physician associations (IPAs) to sell them subscriptions for software, hardware and content developed for and distributed by Spectrum. Spectrum sells its network to IPAs for equipment and installation. On October 4, 2011, the Company acquired VitaMedMD, LLC (VitaMedMD). As a result of the acquisition, VitaMedMD became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.

VitaMedMD is a specialty pharmaceutical company, VitaMed is focused on providing products to the women�� health market. The Company focuses on market both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription nutritional supplements, drugs, medical foods and other medical products through pharmacies and its Web-site. Its brand includes a range of products for women�� health and associated with pregnancy, child birth, nursing, post birth and menopause. Its OTC product line available through its Website includes prenatal vitamins, DHA, iron supplements, calcium supplements, Vitamin D supplements, women�� multivitamins, natural (non-hormonal) menopause relief, and scar reduction creams. In March 2012, the Company launched its first prescription-only prenatal vitamin, vitaMedMD Plus Rx.

vitaMedMD Plus Prenatal Multi-Vitamin + DHA is a two pill combo pack that contains 18 essential vitamins and minerals and 300 milligrams (mg) of life�� DHA. vitaMedMD is a single dose daily multivitamin that provides 14 vitamins, minerals and 200 mg of vegetarian, plant-pure life�� DHA. vitaMedMD Plus Rx is a product with a single-dose combo-pack containing one prenatal vitamin tablet with Quatrefolic Acid. vitaMedMD Plus Rx is a product with a single-dose daily multivitamin containing Quatrefolic Acid. vitaMedMD Iron-150 is a iron replacement supplement. ! vitaMedMD Menopause Relief with Lifenol Plus Bone Support offers a natural solution for hot flashes, night sweats and mood disturbances. vitaMedMD Calcium + Vitamin D is a dietary supplements that help replenish and maintain beneficial levels of Vitamin D. vitaMedMD Stretch Mark Body Cream contains naturally-derived ingredients, including Peptides, Shea Butter, Sweet Almond Oil and Fruit Extracts, that hydrate, soothe and pamper skin to make it softer, smoother and younger-looking.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Roberto Pedone]

    One under-$10 specialty pharmaceutical player that's starting to trend within range of triggering a big breakout trade is TherapeuticsMD (TXMD), which is focused on the sales, marketing and development of branded and generic pharmaceutical and OTC products primarily for the women's health care market. This stock has been in play with the bulls so far in 2013, with shares up 56%.

    If you take a look at the chart for TherapeuticsMD, you'll notice that this stock has been uptrending strong over the last three months, with shares soaring higher from its low of $2.03 to its recent high of $5.27 a share. During that uptrend, shares of TXMD have been making mostly higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of TXMD within range of triggering a big breakout trade.

    Traders should now look for long-biased trades in TXMD if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $4.93 a share to its 52-week high at $5.27 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 volume of 450,661 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then TXMD will set up to enter new 52-week high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $6 to $7 a share.

    Traders can look to buy TXMD off weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some key near-term support levels at 4.30 a share, or near its 50-day moving average of $4.15 a share. One can also buy TXMD off strength once it starts to clear those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

  • [By John Udovich]

    Yesterday, mid cap women�� health stock Hologic, Inc (NASDAQ: HOLX) fell more than 10% after disappointing Wall Street on earnings,�meaning it might be time to take a look at it and�small cap women�� health stocks�The Female Health Company (NASDAQ: FHCO) and TherapeuticsMD Inc (NYSEMKT: TXMD) because after all, women account for half the population and these three small caps are all focused on the women�� health:

Hot Promising Companies To Invest In Right Now: Cellcom Israel Ltd.(CEL)

Cellcom Israel Ltd. provides cellular communications services in Israel. It offers basic and advanced cellular telephone services, text and multimedia messaging services, and advanced cellular content and data services. The company?s basic cellular telephony services include voice mail, cellular fax, call waiting, call forwarding, caller identification, collect call, conference calling, ?Talk 2?, additional number services, and collect call services; and outbound and inbound roaming services. It also provides value-added services comprising Cellcom volume that includes downloadable content, such as music, games, on-net-reality programs, drama series, and video games; SMS and MMS services to send and receive text, photos, multimedia, and animation messages; access to third party application providers for notification of roadway speed detectors, mange vehicle fleets, and enable subscribers to manage and operate time clocks and various controllers for industrial, agricultural , and commercial purposes; video calls to communicate with each other through video applications; zone services for calls initiated from a specific location; location-based services; voice-based information services; text-based information services and interactive information services, including news headlines, sports results, and traffic and weather reports; and data services to access handsets, cellular modems, laptops, tablets, and cellular routers, as well as Internet based payment services. In addition, the company sells handsets, modems, routers, tablets, and laptops, as well as provides repair and replacement services; and offers landline telephony, transmission, and data services through its approximately 1,500 kilometers of inland fiber-optic infrastructure and complementary microwave links to selected business customers. As of March 31, 2011, it provided its services to approximately 3.395 million subscribers. The company was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Netanya, Israel.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Garrett Cook]

    In trading on Monday, telecommunications services shares were relative laggards, down on the day by about 0.35 percent. Meanwhile, top decliners in the sector included Cellcom Israel Ltd. (NYSE: CEL), down 5 percent, and Partner Communications Company Ltd. (NASDAQ: PTNR), off 3.9 percent.

Hot Promising Companies To Invest In Right Now: Micron Technology Inc.(MU)

Micron Technology, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and marketing of semiconductor devices worldwide. Its products include dynamic random access memory (DRAM) products that provide data storage and retrieval, which include DDR2 and DDR3; and other specialty DRAM memory products, including DDR, SDRAM, DDR and DDR2 mobile low power DRAM, pseudo-static RAM, and reduced latency DRAM. The company also offers NAND flash memory products, which are electrically re-writeable and non-volatile semiconductor devices that retain content when power is turned off. In addition, it provides NOR flash memory products that are electrically re-writeable and non-volatile semiconductor memory devices; phase change memory products; and image sensor products. Micron Technology?s products are used in a range of electronic applications, including personal computers, workstations, network servers, mobile phones, flash memory cards, USB storage devices, digital still c ameras, MP3/4 players, and in automotive applications. It sells its products to original equipment manufacturers and retailers through internal sales force, independent sales representatives, and distributors, as well as through a Web-based customer direct sales channel. The company was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in Boise, Idaho.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Jonas Elmerraji]

    All eyes have been on Micron Technology (MU) in recent months -- after all, this stock has been one of the biggest momentum names of the last couple years, rallying nonstop since the start of last year. After consolidating sideways since July, Micron's chart is starting to give traders some clues for what's in store ahead. And we're coming up on a good time to be a buyer in MU again...

    That's because Micron is in the early stages of forming an inverse head and shoulders setup, a bullish reversal pattern that indicates exhaustion among sellers. You can spot the inverse head and shoulders by looking for two swing lows that bottom out around the same level (the shoulders), separated by a bigger trough called the head; the buy signal comes on the breakout above the pattern's "neckline" level (that's the $34 price level in MU).

    Even though the right shoulder hasn't formed yet, any close above $34 from here is a buy signal in Micron. That's because $34 has been the level that's swatted shares lower since the start of July -- if MU can suddenly catch a bid above $34, we've got our signal that buyers have taken control of this stock. Don't be early on this trade; Micron has been a volatile name this year, and that means that a failure at $34 could come with quick downside.

    Must Read: 10 Stocks Billionaire John Paulson Loves in 2014

  • [By Magic Diligence]

    Flash - A Commodity with Volatile Supply/Demand DynamicsFlash memory is a commodity. SanDisk has a lot of big, established competition, including Hynix, Intel (INTC), Micron (MU), Samsung, Toshiba, and other smaller, generic producers. There is nothing special or rare about it - the only limit to supply are what semiconductor fabs can produce.

Monday, March 30, 2015

Global Cash Access Holdings Misses on the Top and Bottom Lines

Global Cash Access Holdings (NYSE: GCA  ) reported earnings on May 7. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), Global Cash Access Holdings missed slightly on revenues and missed estimates on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue dropped slightly. Non-GAAP earnings per share dropped. GAAP earnings per share contracted significantly.

Margins shrank across the board.

Revenue details
Global Cash Access Holdings notched revenue of $146.8 million. The five analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted sales of $149.2 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were the same as the prior-year quarter's.

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

EPS details
EPS came in at $0.19. The four earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.20 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.19 for Q1 were 9.5% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.21 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.09 for Q1 were 18% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.11 per share.

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

Margin details
For the quarter, gross margin was 24.3%, 40 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 8.8%, 160 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 4.2%, 50 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $148.0 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.20.

10 Best Safest Stocks To Invest In 2015

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $584.8 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.78.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 145 members out of 169 rating the stock outperform, and 24 members rating it underperform. Among 46 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 34 give Global Cash Access Holdings a green thumbs-up, and 12 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Global Cash Access Holdings is buy, with an average price target of $9.50.

Is Global Cash Access Holdings playing the right part in the new technology revolution? Computers, mobile devices, and related services are creating huge amounts of valuable data, but only for companies that can crunch the numbers and make sense of it. Meet the leader in this field in "The Only Stock You Need To Profit From the NEW Technology Revolution." Click here for instant access to this free report.

Add Global Cash Access Holdings to My Watchlist.

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Markets in limbo as debt deadline nears

NEW YORK — There's some signs of distress in financial markets — but no panic — as political gridlock grinds on and at least one ratings agency warned of a U.S. credit downgrade.

Still, investors are nervous, and financial markets are in limbo as they wait to see if Congressional Democrats and Republicans can strike a budget deal in time to avoid a debt crisis that could cause the U.S. to default on its debts for the first time.

The clock is ticking closer to the key Oct. 17 deadline that will either return sanity to Wall Street or cause potential chaos. On Thursday, the U.S. won't be able to borrow any more unless lawmakers act to extend the debt ceiling. Barring an agreement, the U.S. won't be able to pay all its bills.

WARNING: Fitch issues warning on U.S. credit rating

The biggest risk is if sometime after Oct. 17, the U.S. misses interest or principal payments on government debt it has already issued. Such a default could undermine the world's confidence in a financial asset that's long been viewed as the safest investment on Earth. Due to political brinkmanship, Fitch Ratings cited the potential hit to confidence as a reason it placed the USA's AAA rating on "rating watch negative." Standard & Poor's, of course, downgraded U.S.debt to AA+ in the summer of 2011 after the last debt-ceiling fight.

"The problem with the U.S. not paying investors on time is that it can destroy the very special status of Treasuries as a super-safe, liquid investment," says Boris Rjavinski, an interest rate analyst at UBS. "Treasuries are like an invisible glue that binds all of the world's financial markets. We can have a pretty bad chain reaction if there's a default."

The fallout of a U.S. default would be so unpredictable and potentially damaging to the financial system that few people on Wall Street think Congress would let such a self-inflicted wound occur.

"We have to assume that it is in no one's interest for the government to default," says Rob McIver, co-portf! olio manager at Jensen Quality Growth Fund.

That's why the stock market has navigated Washington gridlock nicely so far. Despite a 133-point drop for the Dow Jones industrials on Tuesday after Congress failed to sign a deal, the Dow is still up 0.25% during the 15-day government shutdown. If the deadline passes without a deal, however, stocks would likely suffer a "strong negative reaction," says McIver. If a deal gets done, the market will refocus its attention on corporate earnings and economic growth, he adds.

But there have been more concrete signs of worry in the U.S. government bond market, especially one-month Treasury bills that will come due between Oct. 17 and early November, when the nation is expected to run short of cash.

Many banks and big investors have been selling these short-term instruments that could be hit by a potential default, says Bill Hornbarger, chief investment strategist at Moneta Group.

"Everyone is selling stuff that matures in October," he says.

A Treasury bill that matures on Oct. 24, seven days after the nation's ability to borrow ends, has seen its yield jump from roughly 0% in mid-September to more than 0.40% in recent days, according to a Bloomberg chart supplied by Rjavinski.

The issue isn't that investors don't think they will get paid back eventually, says Rjavinski; it is that they won't get paid on time.

"It's telling us investors are getting nervous," says Rjavinski.

Saturday, March 28, 2015

Best Cheapest Companies To Buy For 2015

Best Cheapest Companies To Buy For 2015: Euro FX(P)

Ecopetrol S.A. operates as an integrated oil company in Colombia, Peru, Brazil, and the U.S. Gulf Coast. The company engages in the exploration, development, and production of crude oil and natural gas. As of December 31, 2010, its proved reserves of crude oil and natural gas consisted of 1,714.0 million barrels of oil equivalent. The company also transports crude oil, motor fuels, fuel oil, and other refined products, as well as mixture of diesel and palm oil. It owns transportation network consisting of 3,003 kilometers of crude oil pipeline directly, as well as an additional 2,178 kilometers of crude oil pipeline with its business partners; and 3,017 kilometers of multi-purpose pipelines for transportation of refined products from refinery to wholesale distribution points. As of the above date, Ecopetrol S.A. owned 58 stations with a nominal storage capacity of 19 million barrels of crude oil and 6 million barrels of refined products. In addition, the company owns and o perates refineries that produce a range of refined products, including gasoline, diesel, kerosene, jet fuel, aviation fuel, liquefied petroleum gas, sulfur, heavy fuel oils, motor fuels, and petrochemicals, including paraffin waxes, lube base oils, low-density polyethylene, aromatics, asphalts, alkylates, cyclohexane and aliphatic solvents, and refinery grade propylene, as well as provides industrial services to third parties. Further, it markets various refined and feed stock products, including regular and high octane gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, natural gas, and petrochemical products. The company was formerly known as Empresa Colombiana de Petroleos and changed its name to Ecopetrol S.A. in June 2003. Ecopetrol S.A. was founded in 1948 and is based in Bogota, Colombia.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Mike Butler]

    © 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga do! es not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

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  • [By Gregory Wallace]

    Music Key is a new subscription service from YouTube and its parent Google (GOOG) to compete with the likes of Spotify and Pandora (P).

    --CNNMoney's Samuel Burke contributed to this report

  • source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/best-cheapest-companies-to-buy-for-2015-2.html

Best Industrial Disributor Companies To Buy For 2014

General Motors Company (NYSE:GM) will host a conference call for financial analysts on Thursday, February 6, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. ET to review the company's 2013 4th quarter business results.

Wall Street anticipates that the world's #2 car maker will earn $0.87 per share for the quarter, which is $0.39 better than last year's $0.48 per share. iStock expects GM �to beat Wall Street's consensus number. The iEstimate is $0.91; four cents above the street's outlook.

Like you don't know, but anyway, General Motors designs, manufactures, and markets cars, crossovers, trucks, and automobile parts worldwide. The company markets its vehicles primarily under the Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Opel, Holden, and Vauxhall brand names, as well as under the Alpheon, Jiefang, Baojun, and Wuling brand names. We'll, maybe you we unfamiliar with the last four, possibly six, brand names.

5 Best Heal Care Stocks To Buy Right Now: Plantronics Inc.(PLT)

Plantronics, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, manufacture, and marketing of lightweight communications headsets, telephone headset systems, and accessories for the business and consumer markets under the Plantronics name worldwide. It also offers specialty telephone products, such as telephones for the hearing impaired and other related products for people with special communication needs under the Clarity brand name. The company?s products are designed for specific markets and applications, such as offices; contact centers; mobile devices comprising mobile phones and smart phones; computer and gaming; and residential applications, as well as for other specialty applications. It sells its products through a network of distributors, retailers, wireless carriers, original equipment manufacturers, and telephony service providers. The company was founded in 1961 and is headquartered in Santa Cruz, California.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Sean Williams]

    Can you hear me now?
    Unlike YRC, which I consider to be in awful shape, audio communication solutions maker Plantronics (NYSE: PLT  ) is merely a sell in my book based on its recent share price appreciation.

  • [By Lee Jackson]

    Plantronics Inc. (NYSE: PLT) is a global leader in audio communications for businesses and consumers. It has pioneered new trends in audio technology, creating innovative products that allow people to simply communicate. From unified communication to Bluetooth headsets to gaming solutions, it delivers uncompromising quality, an ideal experience and extraordinary service. Plantronics is used by every company in the Fortune 100, as well as 911 dispatch, air traffic control and various mission critical applications for those on the frontline. Investors are paid a small 0.9% dividend. The J.P. Morgan target price is $49, and the consensus is set higher at $54.14. Plantronics closed Tuesday at $45.79.

Best Industrial Disributor Companies To Buy For 2014: Guggenheim S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF (RSP)

Rydex S&P Equal Weight ETF (the Fund) seeks to replicate as closely as possible the performance of the S&P Equal Weight Index (the Index). The Index is the equal-weighted version of the S&P 500, which is a measure of the large-capitalization stocks of 500 major corporations selected by Standard & Poor��, a division of The McGraw Hill Company, Inc., for their market size, liquidity and industry group representation. The Index is developed by Standard & Poor's in collaboration with Rydex Investments. The Index utilizes quarterly rebalancing to maintain its equal-weight stance.

The Fund uses a passive management strategy to track the performance of the Index. The Fund invests in substantially all of the securities in the Index in approximately the same proportions as in the Index. The Fund's investment advisor is Rydex Investments.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Dan Caplinger]

    Guggenheim S&P 500 Equal-Weight (NYSEMKT: RSP  )
    Equal-weight ETFs own the same stocks as regular S&P 500-tracking funds, but with a catch: rather than weighting the amount it invests in each stock by market capitalization, the Guggenheim ETF has roughly equal dollar amounts invested in all 500 of its holdings. Lately, that has produced better returns than the overall S&P, because of weak performance from the S&P's largest companies. With an expense ratio of 0.40%, the Guggenheim offering isn't the cheapest ETF available, but if you like simplicity and think that smaller companies are poised to outperform their larger counterparts, then the equal-weight ETF may be the right pick for you.

  • [By Thomas Sobon]

    (3) From the menu on top, compare your stock with the S&P Equal Weight Index (RSP) or the S&P Industrial index (SPY). That will show you how your stock has been performing in comparison to the overall market. You want your stock to be a leader in the market and not a laggard.

  • [By John Waggoner]

    A fund that's weighted by market cap tends to do best in a concentrated market ��that is, when one stock or group of stocks excels. The Guggenheim Investments S&P 500 Equal Weighted ETF (ticker: RSP) has gained 24.3% this year, outpacing the cap-weighted S&P 500. The main reason could well be Apple, which has lost 6.8% this year, including reinvested dividends.

Best Industrial Disributor Companies To Buy For 2014: Revett Mining Company Inc (RVM)

Revett Mining Co Inc, formerly Revett Minerals Inc., is a silver-copper producer. The Company owns and operates the producing Troy Mine and the development-stage Rock Creek project; both properties are located in northwestern Montana. Troy is an underground copper and silver mine. Rock Creek is a development-stage underground copper and silver project. Revett Silver owns all of Troy and Rock Creek through two wholly owned Montana subsidiaries, Troy Mine Inc. and RC Resources Inc., respectively. Rock Creek is located in Sanders County, Montana, approximately 5 miles northeast of the town of Noxon. The Troy Mine is located in Lincoln County, Montana. During the year ended December 31, 2011, RC Resources Inc. acquired eight claims (the JE claims) and staked an additional 200 claims (the Lost Girl claims) northwest of Rock Creek increasing the property position at Rock Creek by approximately 4,000 acres. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By James E. Brumley]

    If you've never heard of Revett Minerals Inc. (NYSEMKT:RVM) before right now, don't worry about it - you're not alone. The $25 million silver and copper miner doesn't have enough size to merit much media attention, and to make things more difficult, silver and miner has spent the better part of 2013 being out of favor. Yet, things are slowing changing for RVM and its shareholders.... for the better. Though a little more work needs to be done, this stock's knocking on the door of a monster breakout.

Best Industrial Disributor Companies To Buy For 2014: The Finish Line Inc.(FINL)

The Finish Line, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a mall-based specialty retailer in the United States. It operates Finish Line stores that offer performance and athletic casual footwear, apparel, and accessories for men, women, and kids. The company also sells merchandise through its Web site, finishline.com. As of September 22, 2011, it operated 646 stores in the United States. The company was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Mike Deane]

    Before the opening bell on Friday morning, Finish Line Inc. (FINL)�reported its second quarter earnings, posting higher revenues and flat�earnings compared to last year’s Q2 results.

    FINL’s�Earnings in Brief

    Finish Line�reported second quarter revenues of $466.88 million, up from last year’s Q2 revenues of $436.03 million. Net income�for the quarter came in at $26.16 million, or 54 cents per diluted share, which is essentially flat with last year’s Q2 figures of $26.5 million, or 54 cents per share. FINL’s Q2 results missed analysts’ estimates of 60 cents EPS on revenues of $477.61 million. For FY2015, Finish Line expects comparable store sales to be up mid single digits and earnings per share to increase in the high single to low double digit range.

    CEO Commentary

    FINL chairman and CEO�Glenn Lyon�had the following comments:���ur second quarter results fell short of our expectations due to softness within elements of our basketball offering while our running business was up mid single digits driven by casual and performance styles. We are confident that we can reaccelerate sales trends in basketball by working closely with our brand partners to improve our assortments. In combination with our market leadership position in running, advanced omnichannel capabilities and growing business relationship with Macy��, this will fuel sustainable sales and earnings growth over the long-term.��/p>

    FINL’s�Dividend

    Finish Line most recently paid a dividend on September 15. We expect the company to declare its next quarterly dividend of 8 cents in the coming month.

    Stock Performance

    FINL stock was down $2.41, or 8.19%, in pre-market trading. YTD, the stock is up 4.48%.

    FINL�Dividend Snapshot

    As of Market Close on September 25, 2014

    Click here to see the complete history of FINL dividends.

Best Industrial Disributor Companies To Buy For 2014: Mining Minerals of Mexico Corp (WIIM)

Mining Minerals of Mexico, Corp., formerly Cal Alta Auto Glass, Inc., incorporated on October 14, 1999, specializes in the repair and replacement of damaged glass windows on automobiles, including recreational vehicles (RVs) and Motorhomes. The Company uses only factory-authorized glass. It specializes in all foreign and domestic makes and models.

The Company uses other equipment manufacturer (O.E.M.)-rated adhesives and rust inhibiting primer's (manufactured by Dow Automotive). Based in Canada, it has two Auto Glass facilities servicing its customers. The Company stocks its own windshields at each of its locations throughout Calgary.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Peter Graham]

    Small cap mining stocks International Star Inc (OTCMKTS: ILST) and Mining Minerals of Mexico Corp (OTCMKTS: WIIM) sank 13.33% and 24.9%, respectively, today, with at least one of these small cap stocks being the subject of paid promotions or investor relations type of activities while the other has had no news since last summer. So should you dig into these small cap mining stocks which just dug a hole for investors and traders alike? Here is a closer look to help you decide:

Best Industrial Disributor Companies To Buy For 2014: Brookfield Asset Management Inc (BAM)

Brookfield Asset Management Inc. is a publicly owned asset management holding company. Through its subsidiaries the firm invests in the property, power, and infrastructure sectors. Its property business include owning and managing office properties, developing master planned residential communities, and offering clients bridge and mezzanine lending; alternative assets funds; and financial and advisory services. Through its power generation business the firm operates hydroelectric power facilities, interconnections and transmission facilities in Northeast North America, and development of wind power in Canada. Through its funds and private capital business the firm invests in specialty funds including private equity and makes direct investments in real estate, energy, and resource assets. It also makes investments in privately held investment management and equity and fixed income mutual funds. The firm was formerly known as Brascan Corp. Brookfield Asset Management is base d in Toronto, Canada with additional offices across North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Garrett Cook]

    Brookfield Residential Properties (NYSE: BRP) shares shot up 21.51 percent to $23.10 after Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE: BAM) proposed to acquire around 30% of the company not currently owned for $23 per share.

Best Industrial Disributor Companies To Buy For 2014: Flextronics International Ltd.(FLEX)

Flextronics International Ltd. provides design and electronics manufacturing services to original equipment manufacturers. The company offers its services to a range of products in the infrastructure, mobile communication devices, computing, consumer digital devices, industrial, semiconductor capital equipment, clean technology, aerospace and defense, white goods, automotive and marine, and medical devices markets. Its services include design and engineering services, such as contract design, joint development manufacturing, and original design and manufacturing services in a range of technical competencies that include system architecture, user interface and industrial design, mechanical engineering, enclosure systems, thermal and tooling design, electronic system design, reliability and failure analysis, and component level development engineering; and systems assembly and manufacturing services, including enclosures, testing, and materials procurement and inventory mana gement services. The company also offers various component product solutions comprising rigid and flexible printed circuit board fabrication, display and touch solutions, optomechatronics, and power supplies; after market supply chain logistics services; and reverse logistics and repair services, such as returns management, exchange programs, complex repair, asset recovery, recycling, and e-waste management services for consumer and midrange products, printers, PDA's, mobile phones, consumer medical devices, notebooks, PC's, set-top boxes, game consoles, and infrastructure products. It has operations in Asia, the Americas, and Europe. Flextronics International Ltd. was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Singapore.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Dan Caplinger]

    As a result, the big threat that Jabil constantly faces is the potential loss of its customers. Rival Flextronics (NASDAQ: FLEX  ) suffered a huge hit last summer when major customer BlackBerry (NASDAQ: BBRY  ) chose to stop using the company to help it make its namesake smartphones, citing cost-cutting efforts in its decision to make changes to its supply chain arrangements. Flextronics has seen substantial revenue declines as a result, even despite BlackBerry's relative weakness in the smartphone space in recent years. More importantly, the move came at the worst possible time, as BlackBerry has subsequently revived in the face of its latest product launch. Jabil counts BlackBerry as a customer as well, so it should be interesting to see how that relationship has developed in the wake of the Z10 and Q10 smartphone releases.

  • [By Evan Niu, CFA]

    Which contract manufacturer will benefit? China's Economic Daily News pegs Flextronics (NASDAQ: FLEX  ) as a winner. Foxconn will no longer manufacture the Mac Pro, with Flextronics picking up the win, according to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Friday, March 27, 2015

Top 10 Construction Material Companies To Own For 2015

Top 10 Construction Material Companies To Own For 2015: Amcol International Corp (ACO)

AMCOL International Corporation (AMCOL), incorporated on December 3, 1959, is focused on the development and application of minerals and technology products and services to various industrial and consumer markets. It operates in five segments: performance materials, construction technologies, energy services, transportation and corporate. Its performance materials segment previously referred to as its minerals and materials segment is a supplier of bentonite related products. Its construction technologies segment previously referred to as its environmental segment provides products for non-residential construction, environmental and infrastructure projects worldwide. Its energy services segment previously referred to as its oilfield services segment offers a range of patented technologies, products and services for both upstream and downstream oil and gas production. Its transportation segment serves domestic subsidiaries, as well as third parties, is a dry van and flatbed carrier and freight brokerage service provider.

Performance Materials Segment

The Company supplies chromite and leonardite, and operates more than 25 mining or production facilities worldwide. It mines chromite, an iron chromium oxide, from open cast mines in South Africa and transport it to our nearby processing facility. Its primary uses include metalcasting, drilling fluid additive, and agricultural applications. Its performance materials segment conducts its business through wholly owned subsidiaries and investments in affiliates and joint ventures throughout the world. It consists of four product lines: metalcasting; specialty materials; basic minerals, and pet products. Its principal products are marketed under various registered trade names, including VOLCLAY, PANTHER CREEK, PREMIUM GEL, ADDITROL, ENERSOL, and Hevi-Sand.

The Companys metalcasting products include blended mineral binders c! ontaining sodium and calcium bentonite and organic additives sold under the trade name ADDITROL. In the ferrous casting market, the Company specializes in blending bentonite of various grades by themselves or with mineral binders containing sodium bentonite, calcium bentonite, seacoal and other ingredients. It also has a line of formulated additives that introduce silicon and carbon in the melt phase of the casting process. In the steel alloy casting market, it sells a chromite product with a particle size distribution specific to a customers needs.

The Companys specialty materials products contain bentonite and synthetic additives offering solutions for consumer and industrial applications. It also offers products for bio-agricultural applications. The markets and applications of its specialty materials products include fabric care, personal care, basic materials and pet products. It supply high-grade, agglomerated bentonite and other mineral additives used in fabric care products. It manufac tures adsorbent polymers and purified grades of bentonite for sale to manufacturers of personal skin care products. The adsorbent polymers are used to deliver high-value actives in skin-care products. Microsponge and Poly-Pore are the principal trade names under which these products are sold. Its basic minerals product line supplies minerals to a variety of markets and industrial applications, including drilling fluid additives, ferro alloys and other industrial.

The Companys pet products include sodium bentonite-based scoopable (clumping), traditional and alternative cat litters, as well as specialty pet products sold to grocery and drug stores, mass merchandisers, wholesale clubs and pet specialty stores throughout the United States. It is primarily a private-label producer of cat litter, and its products are marketed under various trade names. These products are sold solely in the United States from three principal sites from which it package and distribut e finished goods. Its tra! nsportati! on segment provides logistics services and is a component of its capability in supplying customers on a national basis.

Construction Technologies Segment

The Companys construction technologies segment serves customers engaged in a range of construction projects, including site remediation, concrete waterproofing for underground structures, liquid containment on projects ranging from landfills to flood control, and drilling applications including foundation, slurry wall, tunneling, water well and horizontal drilling. Its construction technologies segment conducts its business through wholly owned subsidiaries and joint ventures throughout the world. This segment consists of four product lines: building materials; contracting services; drilling products, and lining technologies.

The Company sells lining and other products for a variety of applications, most of which are directed to preserving or remedi ating environmental issues. It helps customers protect ground water and soil through the sale of geosynthetic clay liner products containing bentonite. It market these products under the BENTOMAT and CLAYMAX trade names principally for lining and capping landfills, mine waste disposal sites, water and wastewater lagoons, secondary containments in tank farms, and other contaminated sites. It also provides associated geosynthetic materials for these applications, including geotextiles and drainage geocomposites.

The Companys lining technologies product line also includes specialized technologies to mitigate vapor intrusion in new building construction. It also provides reactive capping technologies and solutions to contain residual contamination, reduce costs associated with ex-situ remedies, and aid in environmental protection. Products offered include Liquid Boot, a liquid applied vapor barrier system; REACTIVE CORE-MAT, an in-situ sediment capping material; ORGANOCLAY, which absorbs organic containments, and QUIK-SOLID, a super absorbent media.

The! Company offer a variety of active and passive waterproofing and greenroof technologies for use in protecting the building envelope of non-residential constructions, including buildings, subways, and parkway systems. Its products include VOLTEX, a waterproofing composite comprised of two polypropylene geotextiles filled with sodium bentonite; ULTRASEAL, an advanced membrane using a active polymer core, and COREFLEX, featuring heat-welded seams for protection of critical infrastructure. In addition to these membrane materials, it also provides roofing products and a variety of sealants and other accessories required to create a functional waterproofing system.

The Company drilling products are used in environmental and geotechnical drilling applications, horizontal directional drilling, mineral exploration and foundation construction. The products are used to install monitoring wells, facilitate horizontal and water well drilling, and seal abandoned exploration drill holes. VOLCLAY GROUT, HYDRAUL-EZ, BENTOGROUT and VOLCLAY TABLETS are among the trade names for products used in these applications. It also offer a range of drilling products used in the excavation of foundations for large buildings, bridges and dams; these products include SHORE PAC and PREMIUM GEL. Contracting services, which involve installation of products, are occasionally offered to customers for select projects.

Energy Services Segment

The Companys energy services segment provides services to improve the production, costs, compliance, and environmental impact of activities performed in the oil and gas industry. Operating as CETCO Energy Services, it offer a range of patented technologies, products and services for all phases of oil and gas production, transportation, refining, and storage throughout the world. It provide both land- based and offshore water treatment, well testing, pipeline separation, nitrogen, coil tubing and other services to the oil and gas industry. The Company provides it! s service! s through subsidiaries located in Australia, Brazil, Malaysia, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and the United States, principally in the Gulf of Mexico and the surrounding on-shore area. Its principal services include water treatment, coil tubing, well testing, nitrogen services and pipeline. The Company helps customers comply with regulatory requirements by providing equipment, technologies, personnel and filtration media to treat waste water generated during oil production.

The Company's coil tubing services utilize metal piping, which comes spooled on a large reel. It provide both equipment and operating personnel to perform services ranging from acid stimulation, reverse circulation, cementing, pressure control, nitrogen injection, and other operations that involve pumping fluids into a wel l. Horizontal wells and shale completions are a large component of its operations. It provide equipment and personnel to help customers control well production, as well as to clean up, unload, separate, measure component flow, and dispose of fluids from oil and gas wells. Nitrogen services are provided in jetting wells that are loaded with fluid; stimulating wells, including fracturizing and acidizing; displacing completion fluids prior to perforating; inflating flotation devices for offshore installations, and pressure testing and other maintenance activities.

Transportation Segment

The Company operates a long-haul trucking business through Ameri-Co Carriers, Inc., and a freight brokerage business through Ameri-Co Logistics, Inc. primarily for delivery of finished products throughout the continental United States. These services are provided to its subsidiaries, as well as third-party customers.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Seth Jayson]

    AMCOL International (NYSE: ACO  ) is expected to report Q2 earnings on July 26. Here's what Wall Street wants to see:

    The 10-second takeaway
    Comparing the upcoming quarter to the prior-year quar! ter, aver! age analyst estimates predict AMCOL International's revenues will grow 1.6% and EPS will wither -16.9%.

  • [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

    Leading and Lagging Sectors
    In trading on Friday, Basic Materials shares were relative leaders, up on the day by 0.78 percent. Top gainer in the sector was AMCOL International (NYSE: ACO), up 9 percent.

  • source from Top Stocks To Buy For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/top-10-construction-material-companies-to-own-for-2015.html

Thursday, March 26, 2015

10 Best High Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now

SIRIUS XM Radio Inc. (NASDAQ: SIRI) is selling off for a second day after earnings. 24/7 Wall St. has spent less effort covering Sirius of late because its valuations were becoming stretched. We have seen a downgrade by Goldman Sachs and by Evercore earlier on Friday after the company gave guidance for 2014 and said that it would begin to raise prices. Sirius XM shares may recover from a lower base, but it sure seems that the bull run in Sirius XM shares is no longer just going to a straight gradual climb as investors may be used to.

When Sirius raised prices before it did not cause major defections. Most subscribers will not even notice the same cost as two or three coffee drinks per year. Sirius added 513,000 net subscribers in the third quarter to end with 25.6 million subscribers. Earnings of $0.01 per share or $62.9 million were also a bit under expectations. The company’s forecast of $4 billion in 2014 revenue was a bit light compared to the consensus estimates. Perhaps management is just merely setting a low bar.

5 Best Biotech Stocks To Buy Right Now: Mead Johnson Nutrition Company (MJN)

Mead Johnson Nutrition Company manufactures, distributes, and sells infant formulas, children?s nutritional products, and other nutritional products in Asia, Europe, Latin America, and North America. Its infant formula products include formulas for routine feeding; solutions formulas for mild intolerance and specialty formula products, including formulas for severe intolerance; formulas for premature and low birth weight infants; and medical nutrition products. The company also offers products for infants with milk protein allergy, gas/fussiness, lactose intolerance, anti-regurgitation, severe protein sensitivity, multiple food allergies, fat malabsorption, and premature infants, as well as soy formula. Its children?s nutrition products comprise nutritious powdered milk for picky eaters, nutritious powdered milk, and nutritious milk modifier. The company also offers a range of other products, including pre-natal and post-natal nutritional supplements for expectant and nurs ing mothers. Mead Johnson Nutrition Company markets its products under the Enfamil, Enfalac, Enfapro, Nutramigen, Pregestimil, Enfacare, Enfagrow, EnfaSchool, Enfakid, Sustagen KID, Lactum, Alacta, ChocoMilk, Cal-C-Tose, Expecta LIPIL, and EnfaMama names. It sells its products to retail channels, including mass merchandisers, club stores, grocery stores, drug stores, and convenience stores. The company was founded in 1905 and is headquartered in Glenview, Illinois. Mead Johnson Nutrition Company (NYSE: MJN), formerly a subsidiary of Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., completed its initial public offering in February 2009.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Jayson Derrick]

    According to Reuters, Danone has decided it wants to consider an acquisition of Mead Johnson Nutrition (NYSE: MJN). Shares of Mead Johnson hit new 52-week highs of $104.89 before closing the day at $100.23, up 9.89 percent.

10 Best High Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now: Pacific Rubiales Energy Corp (PEGFF.PK)

Pacific Rubiales Energy Corp. (Pacific Rubiales) is a producerand seller of natural gas and heavy crude oil. The Company also purchases crude oil from third parties to be used as diluents and for trading purposes. The Company owns Meta Petroleum Corp. (Meta), an oil branch which operates the Rubiales/Piriri and Quifa oil fields in the Llanos Basin in association with Ecopetrol; and Pacific Stratus Energy Colombia Corp. (Pacific Stratus), which operates the wholly owned La Creciente gas field in the northern part of Colombia and other light and medium oil fields. In addition to its production assets, it has investment in oil pipelines in Colombia, including the Oleoducto de los Llanos S.A. Pipeline and the new Oleoducto Bicentenario de Colombia pipeline, under construction. In November 2013, Pacific Rubiales Energy Corp acquired Petrominerales Ltd. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Value Digger]

    Apart from the momentum traders, the growth seekers have to check it out too. Manitok Energy is another growth company with a non-existent coverage from the online publications, although it has been growing by leaps and bounds during the last couple of years. I really enjoy uncovering such companies. In fact, by discovering under-followed growth companies with very attractive valuations is how I started my articles with SeekingAlpha one year ago. It was when I uncovered C&C Energia. I recommended this debt-free South American producer at ~$5.7 in August 2012. C&C Energia was bought out by Pacific Rubiales (PEGFF.PK) a couple of months later at $9.81. My article is here.

  • [By Value Digger]

    C&C Energia was acquired by Pacific Rubiales (PEGFF.PK) for $9.5 (including the shares for Platino Energy), three months later. Nobody else had ever written an online article about C&C Energia.

10 Best High Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now: StanCorp Financial Group Inc.(SFG)

StanCorp Financial Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides insurance products and asset management solutions in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Insurance Services and Asset Management. The Insurance Services segment offers group and individual disability, group life, group accidental death and dismemberment, group dental, and group vision insurance products, as well as absence management services to individuals and employers. This segment sells its group insurance products through sales representatives, as well as through independent employee benefit brokers and consultants; and individual disability insurance products through brokers and master general agents primarily to physicians, lawyers, executives, other professionals, and small business owners. As of December 31, 2010, it had approximately 31,000 group insurance policies in force covering approximately 6.8 million employees. The Asset Management segment provides 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, 457 plans, defined benefit plans, money purchase pension plans, profit sharing plans, and non-qualified deferred compensation products and services through an affiliated broker-dealer. This segment also offers investment advisory and management, commercial mortgage loan origination and servicing, and financial planning services, as well as individual fixed-rate annuity, group annuity, and retirement plan trust products. In addition, the company owns and manages real estate properties for sale; and operates an online financial life planning and management service. StanCorp Financial Group, Inc. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Portland, Oregon.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By David Merkel]

    The two stocks in question are Stancorp Financial (SFG) and National Western Life Insurance (NWLI). The short cases for both are based on a naive view of how insurance companies work.

  • [By Eric Volkman]

    StanCorp Financial Group (NYSE: SFG  )
    Insurance and financial services company StanCorp Financial Group hands out its distribution once per year. It's that time of year for StanCorp, and this year's payout represents a substantial raise: The firm declared a $1.30 per-share dividend -- a meaty 18% higher than the 2013 payout of $1.10.

10 Best High Tech Stocks To Buy 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 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

  • [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

10 Best High Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now: Phillips 66 Partners LP (PSXP)

Phillips 66 Partners LP, incorporated on February 20, 2013, owns, operates, develops and acquires primarily fee-based crude oil, refined petroleum product and natural gas liquids (NGL) pipelines and terminals and other transportation and midstream assets. The Company�� initial assets consist of the three systems, which include Clifton Ridge crude system, Sweeny to Pasadena products system and Hartford Connector products system. A refined petroleum product pipeline, terminal and storage system extending from Phillips 66�� Sweeny refinery in Old Ocean, Texas, to its refined petroleum product terminal in Pasadena, Texas, and ultimately connecting to the Explorer and Colonial refined petroleum product pipeline systems and other third-party pipeline and terminal systems.

A crude oil pipeline, terminal and storage system located in Sulphur, Louisiana, that is the primary source for delivery of crude oil to Phillips 66�� Lake Charles refinery. A refined petroleum product pipeline, terminal and storage system located in Hartford, Illinois, that distributes diesel and gasoline produced at the Wood River refinery (a refinery owned by a joint venture between Phillips 66 and Cenovus Energy Inc.) to third-party pipeline and terminal systems, including the Explorer refined petroleum product pipeline system.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Robert Rapier]

    One of the most anticipated IPOs this year was that of Phillips 66 Partners (NYSE: PSXP). PSXP owns some of the midstream logistics assets of its sponsor, the refiner Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX), and the IPO was initially intended to be 15 million shares at an indicated range of $19 to $21. But demand proved to be so strong that the offering was seriously oversubscribed, so the deal was upsized to 16.4 million shares and the price increased to $23 a unit.

  • [By Robert Rapier]

    Performance so far has been consistent with the advances enjoyed by most of the MLP IPOs over the past year. In fact a few of them made major advances. As discussed in last week�� article No Letup for Last Year�� Top IPO, the best performing MLP of the year so far is Phillips 66 Partners (NYSE: PSXP), which came public last summer and is up 48 percent year-to-date. Of course, there are some exceptions. Marlin Midstream Partners (Nasdaq: FISH) conducted its IPO three days after Phillips 66 Partners last year, and it has traded below its IPO price since. �

10 Best High Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now: Sonic Corp.(SONC)

Sonic Corp. operates and franchises a chain of quick-service drive-in restaurants in the United States. As of October 03, 2011, the company operated and franchised approximately 3,500 drive-ins. It also leases signs and real estate. The company was founded in 1953 and is headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Monica Gerson]

    Sonic Corp. (NASDAQ: SONC) shares surged 7.53% to $29.13 in pre-market trading after the company announced upbeat results for its first fiscal quarter.

  • [By John Udovich]

    On Tuesday, small cap casual dining stock Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc (NASDAQ: RRGB) was bucking the Dow to head higher after earnings, meaning its worth looking more closely at the stock to see what its doing right in the fickle restaurant space�plus take a look at the�performance of potential (non-fast food) peers like Frisch's Restaurants, Inc (NYSEMKT: FRS) and Sonic Corporation (NASDAQ: SONC).

  • [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]

    Wall Street had another rising day, with the Dow Industrials and the S&P 500 reaching new record highs. But one tech stock tanked and the momentum took a bunch of others in the sector down with it. The Dow Jones industrial average (^DJI) closed 25 points higher, the Nasdaq composite (^IXIC) added 8 points, and the Standard & Poor's 500 index (^GPSC) was up 3 points. One of the top gainers on the S&P 500 was used car giant CarMax (KMX). Its share price zoomed higher by 16.5 percent with revenue and profits hitting record levels. The still lackluster economic recovery is causing many to drive off lots in used cars instead of new vehicles. And the hottest model over the past two years? The Nissan Altima. Automotive retailer AutoNation (AN), which runs new and used dealerships, also got a boost, rising more than 5 percent. It was a different story for software giant Oracle (ORCL), which was one of the S&P 500's biggest losers. Its stock fell 4 percent on sagging earnings. Social media stocks fell too. Pandora (P) was down 1.5 percent as was Groupon (GRPN), LinkedIn (LNKD) lost almost 1 percent and Amazon (AMZN) fell less than 1 percent two days after unveiling its first smartphone. But poor Radioshack (RSH). Its stock hit a new low, trading below a dollar a share for the first time after falling almost 10 percent. Since the beginning of the year the stock is down 64 percent. One analyst has a price target of zero on the stock. Ouch. (We hope you don't have that one in your portfolio.) And Darden's (DRI) earnings weren't very appetizing. Profits came in much lower than expected and guidance was weak. The stock fell 4 percent. It is selling its Red Lobster chain and trying to focus on revamping Olive Garden. Solar stocks had a bright day, though. Shares of SunEdison (SUNE) shone brightly rising 1.5 percent on news it was acquiring some solar farms in Massachusetts. Other solar stocks also basked on the day. Canadian Solar gained 6 percent, and

  • [By Laura Brodbeck]

    Next week investors will be waiting for several key earnings reports including Family Dollar Stores�(NYSE: FDO), Micron Technology�(NASDAQ: MU), Constellation Brands�(NYSE: STZ),�IHS (NYSE: IHS), and Sonic (NASDAQ: SONC).

10 Best High Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now: Eaton Vance Senior Floating-Rate Trust (EFR)

Eaton Vance Senior Floating-Rate Trust (the Fund) is a closed-end management investment company. The Fund�� investment objective is to provide a high level of current income and preservation of capital by investing primarily in senior, secured floating rate loans (Senior Loans). Eaton Vance Senior Floating-Rate Trust invests in various industries, including healthcare, publishing, cable and satellite television, chemicals and plastics, and business equipment and services.

The Fund invests at least 80% of its total assets in Senior Loans. The Fund may also invest in second lien loans and high yield bonds. Eaton Vance Management serves as the investment advisor of the Fund.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By John Dowdee]

    The following 10 funds satisfied all of these conditions:

    BlackRock Float Rate Strategies (FRA). This CEF sells at a discount of 3%, which is low compared to an average premium of 2% over the past year. The distribution has been managed at 6.1% and a small amount (less than 10%) has been return of capital (ROC). However, this has not negatively affected net asset value (NAV) so has not been destructive. The fund holds 447 securities, with 90% in floating rate loans. FRA utilizes 27% leverage and has an expense ratio of 1.7%, including interest payments. Eaton Vance Floating Rate (EFR). This CEF sells at a 1% premium, which is low compared to an average premium of 5% over the past year. The distribution is 6.2%, none of which was ROC. The fund holds 800 securities, with 90% in floating rate loans. About 85% of the securities are from U.S. companies. EFR utilizes 35% leverage and has an expense ratio of 1.8% including interest payments. ING Prime Rate Trust (PPR). This CEF sells for a premium of 2%, which is below the average premium of 5%. It has a distribution of 6.8%, none of which was ROC. The fund has 350 holdings, virtually all in senior loans and from US companies. PPR utilizes 29% leverage and has a high expense ratio of 2.1%, including interest payments. Invesco VK Dynamic Credit Opportunities (VTA). This CEF sells for a discount of 5%, which is below the average discount of 1%. It has a distribution of 7.1%, none of which was ROC. The fund has 495 holdings, with 76% in floating rate loans. About 25% of the loans are from non-US companies. VTA utilizes a relatively low 20% leverage but still has a high expense ratio of 2.1%, including interest payments. Invesco VK Senior Income (VVR). This CEF sells for a discount of 1%, which is below the average premium of 3%. It has a distribution of 7.1%, none of which was ROC. The fund has over 500 holdings, with 89% in floating rate loans. Almost all (95%) securities are from US companies. VVR ut

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Top 10 Oil Service Stocks To Watch Right Now

Top 10 Oil Service Stocks To Watch Right Now: Annaly Capital Management Inc (NLY)

Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (Annaly), incorporated on November 25, 1996, owns, manage, and finance a portfolio of real estate related investments, including mortgage pass-through certificates, collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs), Agency callable debentures, and other securities representing interests in or obligations backed by pools of mortgage loans. The Company's wholly owned subsidiaries offer diversified real estate, asset management and other financial services. The Company's subsidiary, RCap Securities, Inc. (RCap), operates as a broker-dealer. In August 2012, the Company liquidated FIDAC FSI LLC. In December 2012, the Company sold FIDAC Europe Limited.

The Companys subsidiary Fixed Income Discount Advisory Company (FIDAC) is an investment advisor registered with the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), is a fixed-income investment management company specializing in managing fixed income investments in residential mortgage-backed securi ties, commercial mortgage-backed securities and collateralized debt obligations for various investment vehicles and separate accounts. FIDAC is engaged in managing and structuring debt financing associated with various asset classes and as a liquidation agent of collateralized debt obligations. As of December 31, 2012, FIDAC was the adviser or sub-adviser for real estate investment trust (REITs )and other investment vehicles. Merganser Capital Management, Inc. (Merganser) is an investment advisor, registered with the SEC, engaged in a range of fixed income strategies and focuses on managing each portfolio based on each clients specific investment principles. Merganser serves a group of clients in a range of disciplines globally, including pension, public, operating, Taft-Hartley and endowment funds, as well contribution plans. RCap Securities, Inc. (RCap) operates as a broker-dealer and is a member in the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority! (FINRA).

Throu gh the Companys subsidiary Shannon Funding LLC (Shannon),! it provides warehouse financing to residential mortgage originators in the United States. It also owns an additional subsidiary, which owns trading securities. Under the Companys investment policy, at least 75% of its total assets consisted of mortgage-backed securities and short-term investments. The remainder of its assets, consisting not more than 25% of its total assets, may consist of other qualified REIT real estate assets. As of December 31, 2012, all of the mortgage-backed securities, which it has acquired, have been backed by single-family residential mortgage loans. The Company also invests in Agency debentures, which consist of debentures issued by the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB), Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Amanda Alix]

    Blood immediately began to flow in the mREIT sector, with Annaly Capital (NYSE: NLY  ) dropping by 2.77%, while fellow agency player Armour Residential (NYSE: ARR  ) fell by 3.30%. Despite staying high on the day it announced a dividend cut, American Capital Agency (NASDAQ: AGNC  ) took a plunge, too, registering a share price loss of 3.55% by the close of trading. Even hybrid Two Harbors (NYSE: TWO  ) suffered a sizable dent in its share price, experiencing a plunge of 3.23%.

  • source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/top-10-oil-service-stocks-to-watch-right-now-2.html

Monday, March 23, 2015

Top 5 Rising Companies To Watch In Right Now

Carlos Slim Helú is once again the world�� richest person, thanks in large part to a sharp increase in telecom giant América Móvil�� share price both in U.S. and Mexican markets. Slim bumped Microsoft (NYSE:MSFT) cofounder Bill Gates from his perch as the world�� richest, a post Gates has held since May 2013.

The move happened on Tuesday when the value of Slim�� phone company América Móvil�� (NYSE:AMX), his largest holding, rose 1% or $805.6 million, pushing his net worth to Forbes estimate of $79.6 billion, against Gates�� estimated $79.1 billion net worth.

América Móvil�� stock has been rising since the company  announced plans last week to divest some assets to comply with Mexico�� new antitrust telecom regulations. América Móvil�� shares were sharply higher last Wednesday, 24 hours after the news of the breakup. The company�� shares, which have languished the past year as a result of regulatory pressures in Mexico, jumped 10% on the NYSE the day following the breakup announcement.

Top Services Companies To Watch In Right Now: Omnicare Inc (OCR)

Omnicare, Inc. (Omnicare) is a healthcare services company. The Company operates in two primary businesses: Long-Term Care Group (LTC) and Specialty Care Group (SCG). Through LTC, Omnicare provides pharmaceuticals and related pharmacy and ancillary services to long-term care facilities, as well as chronic care facilities and other settings. SCG provides commercialization services for the biopharmaceutical industry in addition to end-of-life pharmaceutical care management for hospice care agencies. At December 31, 2011, LTC provided its pharmacy services in 47 states in the United States, the District of Columbia and in Canada. In September 2012, Five Star Quality Care, Inc. sold its pharmacy business to Omnicare.

Long-Term Care Group

Omnicare operates the institutional pharmacy business in North America. LTC's customers consist of skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), assisted living facilities (ALFs), independent living communities, hospitals, correctional facilities, and other healthcare service providers. LTC consisted of approximately 83% of the Company�� total net sales during the year ended December 31, 2011 and dispensed approximately 115.1 million prescriptions. The Company provides pharmacy consulting, including monthly patient drug therapy evaluations, assist in compliance with state and federal regulations and provide clinical and health management programs (utilizing outcomes-based algorithm technology). LTC also provides a range of technology solutions based on its Omniview Web-based platform.

LTC also provides a range of other products and services, including intravenous medications and nutrition products (infusion therapy products and services), respiratory therapy services, medical supplies and equipment (including billing the Medicare Part B program for eligible patients) and clinical care planning. It also provides pharmaceutical case management services for retirees, employees and dependents. The Company purchases, repackages and dispenses presc! ription and non-prescription medication in accordance with physician orders and deliver such prescriptions to long-term care facilities for administration to individual residents (by the facilities��nursing staff for SNFs).

The Company services long-term care facilities typically within a radius of approximately 150 miles of its pharmacy locations and maintain an around-the-clock, seven-day per week, on-call pharmacist service for emergency dispensing and delivery, and for consultation with the facility's staff or attending physician. The Company utilizes a unit-of-use drug distribution system. This means that its prescriptions are packaged for dispensing in individual doses. The Company�� range of technologies allow Web-based access to electronic medical records, automated pharmacy billing, online medication refills and returns processing, census tracking, pre-admission medication assessment and access to the Omnicare Guidelines.

Specialty Care Group

SCG serves the needs of biopharmaceutical manufacturers, physicians, nurses, caregivers and patients. Its services are based on five platforms: brand support services, third party logistics, patient assistance programs, specialty pharmacy and disease management for end-of-life care. In the Company�� specialty pharmacy platform, it provides dispensing of specialized pharmaceuticals. These specialized drugs deal primarily with specific categories of drugs and disease states, such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, oncology and growth hormones. In its end-of-life care platform, Omnicare provides hospice care pharmaceutical management. SCG accounted for approximately 17% of the Company�� total net sales during 2011.

Omnicare competes with PharMerica Corporation.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Anna Prior]

    Omnicare Inc.(OCR) raised its quarterly dividend by 43% and boosted its stock buyback program by $500 million in a bid to increase shareholder value.

  • [By John Kell]

    Omnicare Inc.(OCR) swung to an unexpected fourth-quarter loss on write-downs related to its hospice pharmacy business and certain certain retail operations that have been classified as discontinued operations. Results missed expectations, sending shares down 5.5% to $61 premarket.

Top 5 Rising Companies To Watch In Right Now: Gogo Inc (GOGO)

Gogo Inc incorporated on December 14, 2009, is a holding company. The Company operates through its two operating subsidiaries, Gogo LLC and Aircell Business Aviation Services LLC. The Company provides in-flight connectivity and wireless in-cabin digital entertainment solutions. It provide turnkey solutions for passengers to extend their connected lifestyles to the aircraft cabin. It operates in two segments: commercial aviation (CA) and business aviation (BA). Its CA business provides in-flight connectivity and digital entertainment solutions to commercial airline passengers through their personal Wi-Fi enabled devices.

The Company provides Gogo Connectivity to passengers to nine North American airlines that provide Internet connectivity to their passengers. It provide Gogo Connectivity to passengers on Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, Virgin America, Alaska Airlines, US Airways, Frontier Airlines and Air Tran Airways. It also provide Gogo Connectivity to passengers on a small number of aircraft operated by United Airlines and Air Canada. As of September 30, 2011, the Company had equipped 1,177 commercial aircraft, representing approximately 85% of Internet-enabled North American commercial aircraft, which were operated on more than 4,200 daily flights.

The Company�� BA segment sells equipment and provides services for in-flight Internet connectivity and other voice and data communications under its Gogo Biz and Aircell branded products and services. BA�� customers include original equipment manufacturers of private jet aircraft such as Gulfstream, Cessna, Hawker Beechcraft, Bombardier, Dassault, Embraer, NetJets, Flexjets, Flight Options and CitationAir. It sells equipment for three of the primary connectivity network options in the business aviation market: Gogo Biz, through which it delivers broadband Internet connectivity over its (air-to-ground )ATG network, and the Iridium and Inmarsat SwiftBroadband satellite networks. As of September 30, 2011, the Company had m! ore than 700 Gogo Biz systems in operation and more than 4,600 aircraft with Iridium satellite communications systems in operation, and it has sold more than 100 Inmarsat SwiftBroadband systems. It provides in-flight broadband connectivity across the contiguous United States and portions of Alaska through 3 MHz of FCC-licensed ATG spectrum and its network of cell sites.

Through its Gogo platform, the Company provides passengers with a convenient and easy way to access the Internet, view video content, send and receive email and instant messages, and access corporate VPNs on Gogo-equipped commercial aircraft. It provides Internet access through Gogo Connectivity, on-demand streaming video offerings through Gogo Vision and access to a variety of free entertainment and service offerings, customized for each airline, through Gogo Signature Services.

The Company competes with Panasonic Avionics, Row 44, OnAir, LiveTV and Thales.

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

    Gogo (NASDAQ: GOGO) shares were also up, gaining 8.89 percent to $12.99 after the company reported upbeat Q1 results. Gogo posted a quarterly loss of $16.9 million, or $0.20 per share, versus a year-ago loss of $32.5 million, or $4.77 per share.

  • [By John Udovich]

    The Iridium Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: IRDM) fiasco about a decade ago might offer investors a cautionary tale about getting into small cap in-flight wifi stock Gogo, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOGO) too soon. Moreover, Gogo, Inc. just had an IPO, but Mad Money’s Cramer recently described that IPO as “horrible” and that "it's still bad” plus there are some issues with the company's in-flight wifi service itself.

  • [By Paul Ausick]

    Big Earnings Movers: Gogo Inc. (NASDAQ: GOGO) is up 28.3% at $24.05. Gulf Resources Inc. (NASDAQ: GURE) is up 15.8% at $2.46.

    Stocks on the Move: ViroPharma Inc. (NASDAQ: VPHM) is up 25.4% at $49.38 on a $4.2 billion buyout offer from London-listed Shire. Zalicus Inc. (NASDAQ: ZLCS) is down 72.3% at $1.30 on a failed drug trial.

  • [By Anna Prior]

    Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Monday’s session are ViroPharma Inc.(VPHM), Transocean Ltd.(RIGN.VX) and Gogo Inc.(GOGO)

Top 5 Rising Companies To Watch In Right Now: VocalTec Communications Ltd.(CALL)

magicJack VocalTec Ltd. provides voice over Internet protocol services over various platforms. It also offers magicJack, a competitive local exchange carrier. The company was formerly known as VocalTec Communications Ltd. and changed its name to magicJack VocalTec Ltd. on May 20, 2011. magicJack VocalTec Ltd. is based in Netanya, Israel.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Monica Gerson]

    magicJack VocalTec (NASDAQ: CALL) is expected to post its Q4 earnings at $0.41 per share on revenue of $35.93 million.

    Abraxas Petroleum (NASDAQ: AXAS) is estimated to post its Q4 earnings at $0.04 per share on revenue of $23.05 million.

  • [By John Udovich]

    Many investors or consumers alike are probably familiar with VoIP stocks magicJack VocalTec Ltd (NASDAQ: CALL) and Vonage Holdings Corp (NYSE: VG), but small cap VoIP stock Deltathree, Inc (OTCMKTS: DDDC) has surged more than 700% over the past two trading days. That�� pretty extraordinary, but what is the whole story about Deltathree and could it be more compelling than other VoIP stocks like�magicJack VocalTec Ltd and Vonage Holdings Corp?

  • [By Bryan Murphy]

    To give credit where it's due, magicJack VocalTec Ltd (NASDAQ:CALL) was once one of the market's hottest stocks, and rightfully so. The company made a unique and highly marketable product, and consumers embraced the living daylights out of it. That's what caused shares of CALL to soar - and this isn't a misprint - more than 5000% between late-2008 and late-2012. It was even one of the SmallCap Network's featured stocks for a while back in 2012; the growth story was just that compelling.

  • [By Lauren Pollock]

    MagicJack VocalTec Ltd.(CALL) has repurchased $13 million in shares held by founder Daniel Borislow, who in turn agreed to end any further involvement with the beleaguered Internet-phone company’s operations. Investors cheered the news, sending shares up.

Top 5 Rising Companies To Watch In Right Now: State Bank Financial Corporation.(STBZ)

State Bank Financial Corporation operates as the holding company for State Bank and Trust Company that provides community banking services to individuals and businesses in the middle Georgia and metropolitan Atlanta areas. It offers deposit products, such as checking accounts, commercial accounts, savings accounts, commercial and consumer demand products, and other time deposits, including daily money market accounts and longer-term certificates of deposit, as well as retirement account services. The company also provides loans to small and medium-sized businesses, residential and commercial construction and development loans, commercial real estate loans, farmland and agricultural production loans, residential mortgage loans, home equity loans, and consumer loans. In addition, it offers online banking and bill payment, online cash management, safe deposit box rental, and debit card and ATM card services. State Bank Financial Corporation operates through 22 branch offices. The company was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Vera Yuan]

    We initiated a new position in Aircastle Ltd. (AYR), an aircraft leasing company with a flexible business model and a rational capital allocation philosophy. We took advantage of an opportunity to purchase shares in the heavily capitalized Georgia bank State Bank Financial Corp. (STBZ) as the depressed stock price reflected investors��lack of patience with a slower than expected pace of capital deployment. We like State Bank�� management team led by Georgia banker Joe Evans. This management team has experience successfully building and selling other Georgia banks. We also received shares of transportation infrastructure company XPO Logistics, Inc. (XPO) as a result of its acquisition of holding Pacer International, Inc.

Saturday, March 21, 2015

Top Logistics Stocks To Watch Right Now

Top Logistics Stocks To Watch Right Now: Ascena Retail Group Inc.(ASNA)

Ascena Retail Group, Inc. operates as a specialty retailer of apparel for women and tween girls in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada. The company operates its stores under the dressbarn, maurices, and Justice brand names. Its dressbarn and maurices stores offer casual and career fashion apparel and accessories; and Justice stores provide apparel, accessories, footwear, and intimates, as well as lifestyle products, such as bedroom furnishings and electronics primarily for tween girls. As of March 01, 2012, Ascena Retail Group operated approximately 2,500 stores. The company was formerly known as Dress Barn, Inc. and changed its name to Ascena Retail Group, Inc. in January 2011. Ascena Retail Group, Inc. was founded in 1962 and is based in Suffern, New York.

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

    Ascena Retail Group (NASDAQ: ASNA) shares tumbled 4.29 percent to $18.06 after the company reported Q2 results. Ascena Retail expected FY14 earnings of $1.00 to 1.05 per share.

  • [By Jeremy Bowman]

    What: Shares of Ascena Retail Group (NASDAQ: ASNA  ) were down as much as 11% today after the clothing retailer posted disappointing results in its third-quarter earnings report.

  • [By Lauren Pollock]

    Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Wednesday’s session are Mako Surgical Corp.(MAKO), Ascena Retail Group Inc.(ASNA) and Oncothyreon Inc.(ONTY)

  • [By Maria Armental var popups = dojo.query(".socialByline .popC"); popups.forEach]

    Ascena Retail Group Inc.(ASNA) is planning promotions to adjust its inventories ahead of the fall season, amid challenging sales trends that have continued into the apparel retailer’s current quarter. Shares dropped 5.2% to $15.55 premarket.

  • source from Top Penny Stocks For! 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/top-logistics-stocks-to-watch-right-now-2.html

Friday, March 20, 2015

Top Low Price Companies To Watch For 2014

Almost two months ago, I singled out�Tile Shop Holdings� (NASDAQ: TTS  ) as one of�three great small-cap stocks�with which many investors might not be familiar. After all, the high-end stone and tile specialist still had a market capitalization under $800 million at the time, and only just went public late last year.

Even so, the underlying business had grown from a single store in Minnesota nearly 30 years ago to 68 locations in 22 states. Better yet, the company was generating enough cash at the time to fund its accelerating expansion with free cash flow to spare.

In addition, Tile Shop's business is able to offer consumers low prices without sacrificing margin thanks to its ability to source products directly from quarries around the world, thus eliminating the middleman. Tile Shop also benefits from manufacturing its own line of adhesives, grouts, and other products required for the installation of its wares.

If that sounds familiar, it's because Tile Shop's hardwood counterpart in�Lumber Liquidators (NYSE: LL  ) follows nearly the exact same business model by negotiating directly with the lumber mills which produce its products. Of course, this is also the same Lumber Liquidators that recently taught me a humbling lesson�after I doubted its seemingly rich valuation.

10 Best Safest Stocks To Invest In 2015: Centor Energy Inc (CNTO)

Centor Energy Inc, formerly Centor, Inc., incorporated on February 16, 2011, is an exploration-stage company. The Company is engaged in the business of mineral exploration.

On November 26, 2012, the Company entered into a purchase agreement with Bullnet Gold Resources Limited. As of May 31, 2013, the Company had not generated revenues. As of May 31, 2013, the Company had no mining operations.

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

    Well, that answers that question. Questerre Energy Corp. (TSE:QEC) and Crescent Point Energy Corp. (TSE:CPG) likely knew they had some shale-oil mining neighbors in the Bakken Shale neighborhood in Saskatchewan, Canada, but they hadn't seen much of that competition. That's about to change soon. Adequately funded and eager to begin laying its final mining plans, Centor Energy Inc. (OTCBB:CNTO) is going to officially own 55% of a 21,000 acre shale oil property that's anywhere from just a few miles away to just a few meters away from and Crescent Point Energy's and Questerre Energy's operations in one of the oil-richest known areas in the Bakken formation. And to be clear, it's not like Centor Energy is just getting the ball rolling; the planning for this project has been underway for months. Once the property-acquisition deal is inked in mid-February, CNTO will likely finish up its feasibility study and begin the approval process for its facility later in the year. That's pretty quick, but as was noted, a great deal of the legwork has already been done.

  • [By John Udovich]

    While Bakken formation oil and gas stocks have grabbed the attention of�American investors, small cap Alberta or Saskatchewan oil and gas stocks Advantage Oil & Gas Ltd (NYSE: AAV), Sonde Resources Corp (NYSEMKT: SOQ) and up and coming Centor Energy Inc (OTCBB: CNTO) have been largely overlooked as they seek to exploit oil and gas (including oil sands) in the resource rich Canadian provinces of Alberta or Saskatchewan or seek strategic alternatives for their assets in these areas or themselves. It should be mentioned that Canada�� oil reserves are third only to Venezuela and Saudi Arabia with over 95% of these reserves being the oil sands of Alberta plus that province contains much of the country�� conventional oil reserves as well. In addition, the province of Saskatchewan along with offshore areas of Newfoundland contain substantial production and reserves. Excluding oil sands, Alberta would have 39% of Canada�� remaining conventional oil reserves,�followed by�offshore Newfoundland with�28% and Saskatchewan with 27%.

  • [By James E. Brumley]

    Quick, what do Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NYSE:CHK), Centor Energy Inc. (OTCBB:CNTO), and Total SA (NYSE:TOT) have in common? If you said "they're all energy companies" then technically you're right. It's not necessarily the meaningful answer that we were looking for, however. No, the more significant commonalty between TOT, CHK, and CNTO right now could be that (1) 20 years ago, nobody thought they'd be having any real success doing something they're all three now involved in.... shale mining. Yet, reality is reality. While Chesapeake Energy is best known as a natural gas play, its heavy fiscal lifting is actually being done by its oil shale mining efforts in Eagle Ford, Texas. Total SA is more of a tradition integrated oil and gas company, but it too has found success - and profits - in the shale business. What's that got to do with Centor Energy? Centor is simply following a well-proven oil shale lead. It's just doing so in a newly-proven region of the world that's rich in the resource.

Top Low Price Companies To Watch For 2014: Spdr Dj Wilshire Small Cap Etf (SLY)

SPDR DJ Wilshire Small Cap ETF (the Fund), formerly streetTRACKS DJ Wilshire Small Cap ETF, seeks to replicate as closely as possible the total return of the Dow Jones Wilshire Small Cap Index (the Index). The Index is a float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index that reflects the shares of securities of the small-cap portion of the Dow Jones Wilshire 5000 Composite Index actually available to investors in the marketplace. The Index includes the components ranked 751 to 2,500 by full market capitalization. The Index consists of common stocks selected for their capitalization. The composition of the Index is reviewed semiannually in March and December. Shares and float factors of the Index are updated on a quarterly basis.

The Fund utilizes a passive or indexing approach and attempts to approximate the investment performance of its Index, by investing in a portfolio of stocks intended to replicate the Index. The Fund�� investment manager is SSgA Funds Management, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Will Ashworth]

    By the time the dust settled in 2013, small caps won the day (well, year) — the SPDR S&P SmallCap 600 (SLY) had outperformed the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) by almost 9 percentage points.

  • [By Dan Caplinger]

    Where the best gains are
    In fact, when you compare returns across stocks of various sizes, you'll get some surprising results:

    The SPDR S&P 500 ETF (NYSEMKT: SPY  ) weighs in with 20% gains with its exposure to 500 of the largest companies in the U.S. market. When you step down to mid-cap stocks, though, you'll get even better returns, with the SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF (NYSEMKT: MDY  ) posting returns of 21% so far in 2013, based on the performance of 400 mid-sized companies domestically. The smallest companies in the market have done better still, as the SPDR S&P SmallCap 600 ETF (NYSEMKT: SLY  ) has given investors impressive 24% returns since Jan. 1.

    Why are smaller companies outperforming the largest stocks in the market? Historically, smaller stocks have posted better long-term returns than their larger counterparts, with theoreticians pointing to the greater risk involved in small-cap stocks as justifying the higher risk premium that investors should demand in order to hold them over the long run.

Top Low Price Companies To Watch For 2014: National CineMedia Inc.(NCMI)

National CineMedia, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates a digital in-theatre network in North America. It develops, produces, sells, and distributes various versions of a branded, pre-feature entertainment, and advertising program called ?FirstLook? on theatre screens and advertising programming on its lobby entertainment network; and sells various forms of advertising and promotions in theatre lobbies. The company distributes Fathom business and consumer entertainment events through digital content network and live digital broadcast network utilizing its proprietary digital content software. It also facilitates business meetings, church services, and corporate marketing/communication events in the movie theatres throughout its theatre network; and distributes entertainment programming products, which include live and pre-recorded concerts, opera, symphony, concert and DVD product releases, theatrical premieres, Broadway plays, and other music events, as well as live sports and other special events. In addition, the company provides its services to third-party theatre circuits through network affiliate agreements. As of August 4, 2011, its advertising network had approximately 18,100 digital screens. The company was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Centennial, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Lisa Levin]

    National CineMedia (NASDAQ: NCMI) shares climbed 7.15% to $13.33. The volume of National CineMedia shares traded was 1705% higher than normal. National CineMedia reported Q3 net income of $4.8 million on revenue of $100.8 million. MKM Partners downgraded National CineMedia from Buy to Neutral and lowered the price target from $20.00 to $13.00.

Top Low Price Companies To Watch For 2014: Compania de Transporte de Energia Electrica en Alta Tension Transener Sa (TRAN)

Compania de Transporte de Energia Electrica en Alta Tension Transener SA (Transener) is an Argentina-based company primarily engaged in the provision and distribution of high-voltage electric power, through its own transmission network of approximately 8,800 kilometers of transmission lines. The Company also offers such professional services as lines and substations maintenance, lines and substations operation, supervision and inspection of transmission works, as well as engineering and consulting services, among others. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had majority owned subsidaries Empresa de Transporte de Energia Electrica por Distribucion Troncal de la Provincia de Buenos Aires SA (Transba SA) and Transener Internacional Ltda. In addition, Compania Inversora en Transmision Electrica Citelec SA was its majority shareholder. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Nikolaj Gammeltoft]

    U.S. stocks climbed, extending the longest winning streak for the Standard & Poor�� 500 Index (TRAN) since July, as data showed China�� economy is improving amid signs of easing tensions over Syria.

Top Low Price Companies To Watch For 2014: Digital Ally Inc.(DGLY)

Digital Ally, Inc. engages in the production and sale of digital video imaging, audio/video recording, storage, and other products for use in law enforcement and security applications. Its digital audio/video recording and storage product line comprises an in-car digital audio/video system that is integrated into a rear view mirror; an all-weather mobile digital audio/video system designed for motorcycle, ATV, and boat uses; a miniature body-worn digital audio/video camera; a hand-held speed detection system based on light detection and ranging (LIDAR); a hand-held thermal imaging camera used for improved night vision; and a digital audio/video system, which is integrated into a law-enforcement style flashlight. The company?s products make self-contained video and audio recordings onto flash memory cards that are incorporated in the body of the digital video rear view mirror, officer-worn video, and audio system and flashlight. Digital Ally, Inc. sells its products to law enforcement agencies and other security organizations, as well as for consumer and commercial applications through direct sales and third-party distributors. The company is based in Overland Park, Kansas.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Jayson Derrick]

    Digital Ally (NASDAQ: DGLY) said that a police department in Tennessee placed an order for the company's wearable cameras, in-car systems, motorcycle video systems and VuLink connectivity devices. Shares gained 8.79 percent, closing at $12.50.

  • [By Bryan Murphy]

    Back on August 29th, I had the unfortunate job of explaining that the Digital Ally, Inc. (NASDAQ:DGLY) rally had likely run most - if not all - of its course, and DGLY shares were poised to move lower..... soon, and a lot. It wasn't a particularly popular idea to float to the investing public, many of whom had just purchased Digital Ally on the way up, in the wake of the St. Louis riots. That social unrest put the spotlight on the need for security tools like the ones supplied by DGLY, and once thrust into the limelight, the sky was the limit with new-found notoriety. Anyone who even suggested the stock could do anything but go up from there was clearly a lunatic.

Top Low Price Companies To Watch For 2014: EDGAR Online Inc.(EDGR)

EDGAR Online, Inc. creates and distributes financial data and public filings for equities, mutual funds, and other publicly traded assets worldwide. The company?s data products include access to SEC filings in various formats, standardized and as-reported fundamental financial data, annual and quarterly financial statements, insider trades, institutional holdings, initial and secondary public offerings, Form 8-K disclosures, electronic prospectuses, and other investment instrument disclosure information. Its data solutions comprise the configuration of its data products; conversion of data from unstructured content into XML, extensible business reporting language (XBRL), and PDF formats; and storage and delivery of data and custom feeds, and tools to access information. The company delivers its data and analysis products through online subscriptions, embedded in other Web sites, and through redistributors. It also provides various end-user subscription services, including I-Metrix, which delivers a Web only service; I-Metrix Professional that allows a user to do in-depth analysis through the Web and a Microsoft Excel add-in; EDGAR Pro, which offers financial data, stock ownership, public offering data sets, and advanced search tools; and EDGAR Access, a retail product, which is available through single-seat credit card purchase. In addition, the company provides a mechanism that helps customers in converting financial statements into XBRL for filing with the SEC and other regulators. It serves generally financial, corporate, and advisory professionals who work in investment funds, asset management firms, insurance companies and banks, stock exchanges, and government agencies; and accounting firms, law firms, corporations, or individual investors. The company was formerly known as Cybernet Data Systems, Inc. and changed its name to EDGAR Online, Inc. in January 1999. EDGAR Online, Inc. was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Rockville, Ma ryland.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Bill Smith]

    FDS operates in a highly competitive industry, some with more resources. Their competitors include:
    Thomson Reuters Corp. (TRI)BloombergInteractive (IDC)MSCI Inc. (MXB)Morningstar Inc. (MORN)Track Data Corp. (TRAC)Edgar Online (EDGR)McGraw-Hill (MHP )