Saturday, May 31, 2014

10 Best Media Stocks To Watch For 2015

10 Best Media Stocks To Watch For 2015: DIRECTV(DTV)

DIRECTV provides digital television entertainment in the United States and Latin America. The company provides direct-to-home (DTH) digital television services, as well as multi-channel video programming distribution services in the United States. It offers various channels of digital-quality video entertainment and CD-quality audio programming directly to subscribers' homes or businesses, as well as video-on-demand services; and approximately 160 national high-definition television channels and 4 3D channels. The company also provides premium professional and collegiate sports programming, such as the NFL SUNDAY TICKET package, which allows subscribers to view the NFL games. In addition, it offers DTH digital television services in Latin America and the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico. The company provides its local and international programming under the DIRECTV and SKY brand names. As of December 31, 2010, it served approximately 19.2 million subscribers in the United States; and 8.9 million subscribers in Latin America. The company was founded in 1990 and is based in El Segundo, California.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By , Zacks Investment Research]

    Universal Electronics (UEIC) makes a broad line of pre-programmed universal remote control products, audio-video accessories, and software that are marketed to enhance home entertainment systems. Its customers include subscription broadcasters (i.e., DirecTV (DTV)), original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”), international retailers, private labels, and companies in the computing industry. Approximately 63% of its sales came from outside the U.S. in the first quarter of 2014. It has a market cap of $645 million.

  • source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/10-best-media-stocks-to-watch-for-2015-2.html

Friday, May 30, 2014

Top 10 Dow Dividend Companies To Watch For 2015

Top 10 Dow Dividend Companies To Watch For 2015: Burberry Group PLC (BRBY)

Burberry Group plc (Burberry) is a holding company. The Company designs and sources luxury apparel and accessories, selling through a diversified network of retail (including digital), wholesale and licensing channels worldwide. The Company's Retail/wholesale channel is engaged in the sale of luxury goods through Burberry mainline stores, concessions, outlets and digital commerce, as well as Burberry franchisees, prestige department stores globally and multi-brand specialty accounts. The Company's retail channel includes approximately 206 mainline stores, 214 concessions within department stores, digital commerce and 49 outlets. The Company's wholesale channel includes sales to department stores, multi-brand specialty accounts, Travel Retail and franchisees who operates approximately 65 Burberry stores. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Jonathan Morgan]

    Burberry (BRBY) added 1.8 percent to 1,488 pence. Revenue climbed 17 percent to 1.03 billion pounds, while adjusted pretax profit for the six months ended Sept. 30 rose to 174 million pounds from 173 million pounds a year earlier, the London-based trenchcoat maker said in a statement.

  • [By Alexis Xydias]

    Prudential Plc, Britain's biggest insurer by market value, climbed 1.6 percent after saying nine-month sales rose 6 percent. Burberry (BRBY) Group Plc rose 0.6 percent after reporting first-half earnings.

  • source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-10-dow-dividend-companies-to-watch-for-2015.html

Hot Supermarket Stocks To Buy For 2015

Hot Supermarket Stocks To Buy For 2015: Bravo Enterprises Ltd (OGNG)

Bravo Enterprises Ltd., formerly Organa Gardens International Inc., incorporated on November 29, 1983, is a development-stage company. The Company holds an undivided 85% working interest and an undivided 68% net revenue interest in 13,189 acres located in Wasatch County, Utah, known as the Uinta Basin and a 0.7% gross overriding royalty interest on 6,360 acres of oil and natural gas rights located in the Powder River Basin of eastern Wyoming. The Company has a vertical hydroponics farming system. The Company owns a 2% royalty interest in the Harvester Property. The LAK Ranch field covers approximately 7,500 acres in the Powder River basin. In September 2011, the Company completed its merger agreement with Integrated Green Technologies LLC.

The Organa Garden Systems (OGS) provide a means for food production and consumption change to global and ecological through vertical hydroponics rotary farming. There are two OGS models; the Discovery (OGS-D) and the Enterp rise (OGS-E). Its specially designed waterwheel technology allows the fully automated system to recycle and reuse 95% of the water used while requiring a negligible amount of energy to run.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Peter Graham]

    Small cap green stocks Vision Industries Corp (OTCMKTS: VIIC), Bravo Enterprises Ltd (OTCMKTS: OGNG) and Kleangas Energy Technologies Inc (OTCMKTS: KGET) have reported recent news and/or they are being promoted. Of course, it goes without saying that small cap green stocks tend to be more volatile that other types of investments. So will investors and traders alike see some greenbacks from these green stocks? Here is a quick reality check:

  • source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/hot-supermarket-stocks-to-buy-for-2015.html

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

5 Best Railroad Stocks To Own Right Now

5 Best Railroad Stocks To Own Right Now: Lincoln Electric Holdings Inc (LECO)

Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc., incorporated in 1906, is a manufacturer of welding, cutting and brazing products. Welding products include arc welding power sources, wire feeding systems, robotic welding packages, fume extraction equipment, consumable electrodes and fluxes. The Company's product offering also includes computer numeric controlled (CNC) plasma and oxy-fuel cutting systems and regulators and torches used in oxy-fuel welding, cutting and brazing. The Company operates in five segments: North America Welding, Europe Welding, Asia Pacific Welding, South America Welding and The Harris Products Group. On July 29, 2011, the Company acquired Techalloy Company, Inc. and certain assets of its parent company, Central Wire Industries Ltd. On July 29, 2011, the Company acquired Applied Robotics, Inc. (doing business as Torchmate) (Torchmate). On January 31, 2011, the Company acquired SSCO Manufacturing, Inc. (doing business as Arc Products) (Arc Products). On March 11, 2 011, the Company completed the acquisition of OOO Severstal-metiz: welding consumables (Severstal). In March 2012, the Company acquired Weartech International, Inc. In May 2012, the Company acquired Wayne Trail Technologies, Inc., a manufacturer of automated systems and tooling, serving a range of applications in the metal processing market. In November 2012, ITT Corp sold its shape cutting product lines, including the Burny and Kaliburn brands to the Company. In January 2013, the Company acquired Tennessee Rand, Inc.

The North America Welding segment includes welding operations in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The Europe Welding segment includes welding operations in Europe, Russia and Africa. The other two welding segments include welding operations in Asia Pacific and South America, respectively. The Harris Products Group inclu! des the Company's global cutting, soldering and brazing businesses as well as the retail business in the United States . The arc welding power sources and wire feeding systems man! ufactured by the Company range in technology from basic units used for light manufacturing and maintenance to robotic applications for high volume production welding and fabrication. Three primary types of arc welding electrodes are produced: coated manual or stick electrodes; solid electrodes produced in coil, reel or drum forms for continuous feeding in mechanized welding, and cored electrodes produced in coil form for continuous feeding in mechanized welding.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Seth Jayson]

    Lincoln Electric Holdings (Nasdaq: LECO  ) is expected to report Q1 earnings on April 23. Here's what Wall Street wants to see:

    The 10-second takeaway
    Comparing the upcoming quarter to the prior-year quarter, average analyst estimates predict Lincoln Electric Holdings's revenues will grow 1.1% and EPS will grow 2.6%.

  • [By Seth Jayson]

    Lincoln Electric Holdings (Nasdaq: LECO  ) is expected to report Q2 earnings on July 29. Here's what Wall Street wants to see:

    The 10-second takeaway
    Comparing the upcoming quarter to the prior-year quarter, average analyst estimates predict Lincoln Electric Holdings's revenues will expand 1.8% and EPS will expand 9.9%.

  • source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/5-best-railroad-stocks-to-own-right-now.html

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Hot Healthcare Technology Companies To Invest In 2015

In February, I announced a new "Dual ETF Momentum" spreadsheet. The idea was inspired by a paper written by Gary Antonacci and available on Optimal Momentum.

The spreadsheet is available here. The objective of the spreadsheet is to track four pairs of ETFs and provide an "Invested" signal for the ETF in each pair with the highest relative momentum.

Relative momentum is gauged by the 12 month total returns of each ETF. The 12 month total returns of each ETF is also compared to a short-term Treasury bill ETF (a "cash" filter). In order to have an "Invested" signal the ETF with the highest relative strength must also have 12-month total returns greater than the 12-month total returns of the cash ETF. This is the absolute momentum filter which is detailed in depth by Antonacci, and has historically helped increase risk-adjusted returns.

I have added an "average" return signal for each ETF on the spreadsheet. The concept is the same as the 12-month relative momentum. However, the "average" return signal uses the average of the past 3, 6, and 12 ("3/6/12″) month total returns for each ETF. The "invested" signal is based on the ETF with the highest relative momentum for the past 3, 6 and 12 months. The ETF with the highest average relative strength must also have an average 3/6/12 total returns greater than the 3/6/12 total returns of the cash ETF.

Hot Healthcare Technology Companies To Invest In 2015: Prudential Bancorp Inc. of Pennsylvania(PBIP)

Prudential Bancorp, Inc. of Pennsylvania operates as the holding company for Prudential Savings Bank that provides various financial products and services in Pennsylvania. Its deposit products include interest-bearing and non-interest-bearing checking, money market, savings, and certificate of deposit accounts. The company?s loan portfolio comprises single-family residential mortgage loans, construction and land development loans, non-residential or commercial real estate mortgage loans, home equity loans and lines of credit, commercial business loans, and consumer loans. The company also provides securities and insurance products, as well as automated teller machine and online banking services. As of September 30, 2010, it operated a main office and six branch offices located in Philadelphia and Delaware Counties. The company was founded in 1886 and is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Prudential Bancorp, Inc. of Pennsylvania is a subsidiary of Prudential Mutu al Holding Company.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Jim Royal]

    I really like to invest in bank demutualizations, and my Special Situations portfolio is back to buy another one: Prudential Bancorp (NASDAQ: PBIP  ) . In October, the bank completed its second-step conversion, making it a fully public institution, but it trades at just 73% of tangible book value. That's tremendously cheap for a profitable, albeit slightly, bank. So I'm stepping up to buy the stock.

Hot Healthcare Technology Companies To Invest In 2015: Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.(CHKP)

Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. develops, markets, and supports a range of software, and combined hardware and software products and services for information technology (IT) security applications worldwide. The company offers a range of network and gateway security solutions, data and endpoint security solutions, and management solutions. Its network security gateways enables its customers to implement their security policies on network traffic between internal networks and the Internet, as well as between internal networks and private networks that are shared with partners. The company?s endpoint security solutions provide various software blades that run on individual computers connected to the network, such as desktop computers, laptop computers, and other mobile devices. It also offers technical services consisting of technical customer support programs and plans, such as enterprise based support and collaborative enterprise support; certification and education al training on the checkpoint?s products; and professional services in implementing, upgrading, and optimizing checkpoint?s products, including design planning, security implementation, and project management services. In addition, the company offers ZoneAlarm solutions that protect consumers from hackers, spyware, and identity theft. It sells its products and services through a network of channel partners, including distributors, resellers, value-added resellers, system integrators, and managed services providers to enterprises, service providers, small and medium sized businesses, and consumers. The company was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Eshna Basu]

    Juniper is optimistic about the wide acceptance of the SDN technology. Hence, it is working closely with technology partners such as IBM (IBM), Check Point (CHKP), Red Hat (RHT) and Riverbed (RVBD) to make SDN deployments easy and fast.

Top 5 Companies To Invest In 2015: PIMCO Strategic Income Fund, Inc (RCS)

PIMCO Strategic Global Government Fund, Inc. (the Fund) is a closed-end bond fund. The Fund invests primarily in a portfolio of investment grade fixed-income securities of the United States and other countries. The Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes in government securities, which include bonds issued or guaranteed by the United States or foreign governments, by their agencies, authorities or instrumentalities, or by supranational entities, and synthetic instruments.

Government securities also include mortgage-backed securities issued or guaranteed by certain United States Government agencies and government-sponsored enterprises, including Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), which may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government. The Fund also invests up to 20% of its total assets in non-investment grade securities regardless of the issuer, including corporate, mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities. Pacific Investment Management Company LLC is the Fund's investment adviser.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Keith Fitz-Gerald]

    I like the PIMCO Strategic Global Government Fund. The ticker is (RCS). The reason I like that, is it pays a hefty income; it's a bet on increased stability through further quantitative easing.

Hot Healthcare Technology Companies To Invest In 2015: 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 Rex Crum]

    Pandora Media Inc. rose (P) 3% to close at $32.44 a share; Western Digital Corp. (WDC) ended the day up by 3.3% at $85.65, Micron Technology Inc. (MU) rose 5% to $21.73 a share, and IBM Corp. (IBM) shares added almost 2% to end the day at $189.71.

  • [By Steve Sears]

    New stocks in what Goldman calls the “Hedge Fund VIP list,”�include Actavis (ACT), Baidu (BIDU), Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B), Crown Castle International (CCI), Entergy Louisiana (ELB), �Equinix (EQIX), Facebook (FB), Fleetcor Technologies (FLT), W.R. Grace (GRA), MetLife (MET), Macquarie Infrastructure (MIC), Micron (MU), Time Warner Cable (TWC), and Time Warner (TWX).

  • [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).

Hot Healthcare Technology Companies To Invest In 2015: GT Advanced Technologies Inc (GTAT)

GT Advanced Technologies Inc., incorporated on September 27, 2006, is diversified technology company with crystal growth equipment and solutions for the global solar, light emitting diode (LED) and electronics industries. The Company operates in three segments: its polysilicon business, its photovoltaic (PV), business and its sapphire business. The Company's principal products are Silicon Deposition Reactors (SDR) and related equipment used to produce polysilicon, the key raw material used in silicon-based solar wafers and cells; Advanced sapphire crystallization furnaces (ASF) which are used to crystallize sapphire boules, and Directional solidification (DSS) furnaces and related equipment used to cast multicrystalline and MonoCast crystalline silicon ingots. On January 7, 2013, the Company announced the idling of its HiCz pilot manufacturing facility in Hazelwood, Missouri. On November 8, 2012, the Company acquired certain assets of Twin Creeks Technologies, Inc. (Twin Creeks). In May 2013, the Company acquired the business of Thermal Technology LLC.

PV Business

The focus of the Company's PV business is the development, manufacture and sales of crystallization growth furnaces to produce silicon ingots used in the production of solar wafers. The Company's principal product line has been the DSS family of casting furnaces that are used to produce multicrystalline ingots and MonoCast ingots. As of December 31, 2012, the Company shipped approximately 3,300 DSS crystallization furnaces. The ingots are used to make photovoltaic (PV) solar wafers and cells. HiCz, or continuous Czochralski (Cz) growth process, produces monocrystalline ingots that are designed to produce more efficient wafers. The Company�� DSS furnace is a specialized furnace used to melt polysilicon and cast multicrystalline ingots. Multicrystalline ingots are used to produce solar wafers, which ultimately become solar cells. The Company markets its DSS crystallization furnaces under the names DSS450HP and DSS6! 50. The Company's largest capacity DSS furnace, the DSS650, is capable of producing ingots that weigh up to 650 kilograms using standard silicon feedstock. In January 2012, the Company introduced its MonoCast silicon casting technology that uses the DSS furnace architecture to produce ingots comprised of a high percentage of monocrystalline material. The Company is markets MonoCast technology under the name DSS450 MonoCast.

The Company�� ancillary equipment provides operators with material handling assistance during the preparation of the crucible before it is loaded with silicon and during the loading and unloading of the crucible into the DSS furnace chamber at the start of the growth process and out of the DSS furnace chamber at the conclusion of the ingot growth process. The Company's ancillary equipment includes crucible coating stations, crucible manipulators, loaders/unloaders, extraction tools and other material handling systems required to safely transport material during the ingot growth process. The Company sells replacement parts and consumables used in its DSS furnaces and other PV equipment.

Polysilicon Business

The Company's polysilicon business offers Silicon Deposition Reactors, which utilize the chemical vapor deposition process, and related trichlorosilane (TCS) technology and equipment along with engineering services to existing polysilicon producers and new market entrants. The Company's polysilicon business focuses on product design, quality control, engineering services, project management and process development related to the production of polysilicon. It markets its SDR reactors under the names SDR300, SDR400, SDR 500 and SDR 600. The Company provides equipment, technology and engineering services for the production and purification of TCSand silane. This hydrochlorination technology eliminates the need for silicon tetrachloride converters which are required when using certain other polysilicon production technology. The Company also pr! ovides an! cillary equipment and technologies for producing seed rods used in its SDR reactors and for handling and processing the polysilicon rods into a finished product.

Sapphire Business

The Company's sapphire business markets and sells of the Company's ASF systems to customers to enable them to produce sapphire material. The Company also produces sapphire material, on a limited basis, for the LED and other specialty markets at its sapphire pilot production facility in Massachusetts. Its ASF systems produce monocrystalline sapphire material, referred to as sapphire boules. The sapphire boules are used to make sapphire wafers, a substrate for manufacturing LEDs, as well as sapphire blanks and windows for such applications as medical devices and watch crystals. The Company's ASF technology is based on the heat exchanger method (HEM), which is a directional solidification technique, which crystallizes the sapphire meltstock material during the growth process. The Company also uses the facility as a research and development (R&D) center to test new technology developments prior to commercial release. The Company markets and sells its ASF systems under the name ASF100. The Company also provides engineering and product design, quality control, process engineering, engineering services and field services related to the operation of its ASF furnaces. The Company produces sapphire material on a limited basis at its pilot production facility in Massachusetts. The Company sells this material to customers in the LED and other markets, such as the aerospace, defenses and medical device.

The Company manufactures and sells two principal types of sapphire materials: hems Sapphire Material and Titanium-doped Sapphire (Ti:Sapphire) Material. Using the material derives from the sapphire boule generated with its ASF furnaces, the Company cut the sapphire material in a number of different dimensions and crystal orientations, in form factors such as cores, rods, blanks, windows and tubes. The! Company ! generates sapphire boules that are doped with titanium. The Company provides certain finishing and polishing for its Ti:Sapphire material.

The Company competes with ALD Vacuum Technologies AG, JYT Corporation, Ferrotec Corporation, PVA TePla AG, Centrotherm Elektrische Anlagen GmbH & Co., Jing Gong Technology, Zhejiang Jingsheng Mechanical & Electrical Co., Ltd, MSA Apparatus Construction for Chemical Equipment Ltd, Centrotherm Elektrische Anlagen GmbH & Co., Morimatsu Industry Co. Ltd., Poly Plant Project, Inc., Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation, Wacker Chemie AG, MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc., Renewable Energy Corporation ASA, Thermal Technology LLC, Advanced Renewable Energy Company, LLC, Rubicon Technology, Inc., Sapphire Technology Co. Ltd. (Korea), Kyocera International Inc., Saint-Gobain, Gavish Inc., and Monocrystal.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Paul Ausick]

    We have tracked the short interest in the following North American Solar companies as of September 13: Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ), First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR), GT Advanced Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: GTAT), SunEdison Inc. (NYSE: SUNE) and SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR).

  • [By Travis Hoium]

    The new road map is aggressive, but First Solar has one of the best research and development teams in the industry, and I think it has a good chance of reaching these goals. What may matter more than First Solar's progress in thin film is how quickly crystalline silicon modules are able to increase efficiency over the same time frame. As I said, SunPower is already producing modules at 21.5% efficiency, and this year GT Advanced Technologies (NASDAQ: GTAT  ) is introducing equipment it says will increase crystalline cell efficiencies by 4% or more to more than 22% efficient (about a 20% efficient module). �

Hot Healthcare Technology Companies To Invest In 2015: Electro Rent Corporation(ELRC)

Electro Rent Corporation engages in the rental, lease, and sale of new and used electronic test and measurement equipment. Its equipment portfolio consists of general purpose test and measurement instruments; personal computers, workstations, and servers; and electrical test equipment and inspection equipment. The company rents or leases its equipment primarily to companies operating in the aerospace, defense, telecommunications, electronics, and semiconductor industries. Electro Rent Corporation serves its customers through sales offices, and calibration and service centers in the United States, Canada, China, and Europe. The company was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in Van Nuys, California.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Seth Jayson]

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

  • [By Lisa Levin]

    Electro Rent (NASDAQ: ELRC) shares fell 0.77% to reach a new 52-week low of $15.39. Electro Rent's trailing-twelve-month profit margin is 9.24%.

    Posted-In: 52-Week LowsNews Movers & Shakers Intraday Update Markets

Hot Healthcare Technology Companies To Invest In 2015: Baltic Trading Limited (BALT)

Baltic Trading Limited engages in shipping business in the dry bulk industry spot market worldwide. The company operates a fleet of dry bulk ships that transport iron ore, coal, grain, steel products, and other dry bulk cargoes. Its fleet consists of 2 Capesize vessels, 4 Supramax vessels, and 3 Handysize vessels with an aggregate carrying capacity of approximately 672,000 deadweight tons. The company charters its vessels to trading houses, including commodities traders, as well as producers and government-owned entities. Baltic Trading Limited was founded in 2009 and is based in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By GuruFocus]

    George Soros (Trades, Portfolio) just reported his first quarter portfolio. He buys Citrix Systems Inc, Baker Hughes Inc, Comcast Corp, Spansion Inc, etc during the 3-months ended 03/31/2014, according to the most recent filings of his investment company, Soros Fund Management LLC. As of 03/31/2014, Soros Fund Management LLC owns 305 stocks with a total value of $10.1 billion. These are the details of the buys and sells.New Purchases: BHI, CODE, CTRP, CLI, AVB, COMM, CNQ, AGO, AUY, ATML, ASH, BXMT, CSTM, AEM, CMA, ARE, CHKP, AUQ, BEAV, CX, ADSK, AALCP, BLK, AIG, BIIB, ADEP, AMRI, ARWR, ATHX, BALT, BCRX, BEAT, CFX, CLFD, CUR, CODE,Added Positions: CTXS, CMCSA, CNP, ALTR, BRCD, CBS, CRM, CHTR, CCJ, CIEN, BIDU, ALLE, ABT, CDNS, ACT,Reduced Positions: AAPL, CCI, AMT, ABBV, AAL, BITA, AL, ANGI, ARIA, CBST, BA, BIRT, EXAR,Sold Out: C, BAC, CRI, AMZN, AGN, CF, BRCM, COTY, BMY, AMCX, CAR, A, ADBE, AFL,For the details of George Soros (Trades, Portfolio)'s stock buys and sells, go to http://www.gurufocus.com/StockBuy.php?GuruName=George+SorosThis is the sector weightings of his portfolio:Technology18.9%Energy14%Healthcare8.3%Consumer Defensive8.2%Communication Services8.1%Consumer Cyclical5.4%Industrials5.1%Basic Materials4.9%Financial Services2.5%Real Estate1.9%Utilities0.5%These are the top 5 holdings of George Soros (Trades, Portfolio)1. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (TEVA) - 10,310,041 shares, 5.4% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 10.67%2. Herbalife Ltd (HLF) - 4,901,337 shares, 2.8% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 52.9%3. EQT Corp (EQT) - 2,573,814 shares, 2.5% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 3.27%4. Adecoagro SA (AGRO) - 25,915,076 shares, 2.1% of the total portfolio.5. Halliburton Co (HAL) - 3,596,353 shares, 2.1% of the total portfolio. Shares reduced by 20.73%New Purchase: Baker Hughes Inc (BHI)George Soros (Trades, Portfolio) initiated holdings in Baker Hughes Inc. His purchase prices were between $51.82 and $65.27, with an estimated

  • [By Tim Melvin]

    Baltic Trading (BALT) got slammed by 17% last week as the Baltic Dry Index continued its decline. The global recovery is going to have fits and starts and the sector will be quite volatile. Baltic Trading works in the spot market for cargo like iron ore, coal, grain, and steel products so the stock price will likely jump around with the BDI reading.

Hot Healthcare Technology Companies To Invest In 2015: (CG)

The Carlyle Group is an investment firm specializing in direct and fund of fund investments. Within direct investments, it specializes in management-led buyouts, divestitures, strategic minority equity investments, equity private placements, consolidations and buildups, leveraged finance, and venture and growth capital financings. The firm typically invests in agriculture, aerospace, defense, automotive, consumer, retail, industrial, infrastructure, energy, power, healthcare, software, technology, real estate, financial services, transportation, business services, telecommunications, and media sectors. Within the industrial sector, the firm invests in manufacturing, building products, packaging, chemicals, metals and mining, forestry and paper products, and industrial consumables and services. In consumer and retail sectors, it invests in food and beverage, retail, restaurants, consumer products, consumer services, personal care products, direct marketing, and education. W ithin aerospace, defense, business services, and government services sectors, it seeks to invest in defense electronics, manufacturing and services, government contracting and services, information technology, distribution companies. In telecommunication and media sectors, it invests in cable TV, directories, publishing, entertainment and content delivery services, wireless infrastructure/services, fixed line networks, satellite services, broadband and Internet, and infrastructure. The firm seeks to hold its investments for four to six years. In the healthcare sector, it invests in healthcare services, outsourcing services, companies running clinical trials for pharmaceutical companies , managed care, pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical related services, healthcare IT, medical, products, and devices. It seeks to invest in companies based in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Middle East, North America, and South America. The firm seeks to invest in food, financial, and healthcare industries in Western China. In the real estate! sector, the firm seeks to invest in Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States with a target on Florida and Atlanta. It typically invests between $5 million and $50 million for venture investments and between $50 million and $1 billion for buyouts. It typically holds its investments for three to five years. Within automotive and transportation sectors, the firm seeks to hold its investments in for four to six years. The firm originates, structures, and acts as lead equity investor in the transactions. The Carlyle Group was founded in 1987 and is based in Washington, District of Columbia with additional offices across North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By MONEYMORNING.COM]

    The deal, backed by Kanas and Ross, drew in private equity partners Blackstone Group LP (NYSE: BX), Carlyle Group LP (Nasdaq: CG), and Centerbridge Partners LP, a private investment firm.

  • [By David Smith]

    Jettisoning the non-performers
    Net debt was actually lowered by $4.2 billion during the second quarter through the application of funds received earlier from the sale of the performance coatings group to The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG  ) . The private equity firm forked over $4.9 million for the segment, which has subsequently been renamed Axalta Coating Systems.

  • [By Zachary Tracer]

    NMI Holdings Inc. (NMIHZ), a mortgage insurer backed by funds tied to Carlyle Group LP (CG) and Kyle Bass, filed to sell shares in an initial public offering as investors bet on a housing-market rebound.

  • [By Jon C. Ogg]

    The Carlyle Group LP (NASDAQ: CG) announced this week that its AlpInvest Partners reached $4.2 billion for its secondaries program. The AlpInvest Secondaries Fund V closed at its cap with $750 million raised. In a sense we would consider this regurgitated private equity where one private equity firm acquires stakes of existing companies from other private equity sellers. Generally these are thought of as stakes of a company which were involved in a private equity syndicate that have come for sale by one of the prior buyers, but is also very common is that some of the limited partners of a syndicate (or effectively the private equity clients) are looking to exit certain positions.

Hot Healthcare Technology Companies To Invest In 2015: Vical Incorporated(VICL)

Vical Incorporated engages in the research and development of biopharmaceutical products based on its deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) delivery technologies for the prevention and treatment of serious or life-threatening diseases. Its products include Allovectin, a Phase III clinical trial product to treat metastatic melanoma; CyMVectin prophylactic vaccine for cytomegalovirus, which completed preclinical trial to prevent infection before pregnancy to preclude fetal transmission; and therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines for herpes simplex type 2 virus, which is under preclinical trial to prevent and protect against recurring flare-ups, reduce viral shedding ,and transmission. The company, through corporate collaborations, develops TransVax, which is in Phase III clinical trials to protect against CMV infection after stem cell transplants, as well as in Phase II clinical trial to protect against CMV infection after solid organ transplants; Collategene, an angiogenic therapy enc oding hepatocyte growth factor that is in Phase III clinical trials to induce local growth of blood vessels to restore blood flow to limbs affected by critical limb ischemia; Apex-IHN prophylactic vaccine for infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus for the prevention of infection and disease in farm-raised salmon when exposed to infected wild salmon ; and ONCEPT therapeutic cancer vaccine encoding human tyrosinase for the treatment to increase survival time of dogs with oral melanoma. Vical Incorporated, through government collaboration, develops Prophylactic and/or therapeutic HIV vaccine, a Phase IIb clinical trial product to prevent/treat infection, disease, and/or viral shedding; and Tetravalent dengue vaccine, a Phase I clinical trial product to prevent dengue disease caused by all 4 dengue serotypes. The company was founded in 1987 and is based in San Diego, California.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Roberto Pedone]

    Another stock that's starting to trend within range of triggering a major breakout trade is Vical (VICL), which engages in the research and development of biopharmaceutical products based on its DNA delivery technologies for the prevention and treatment of serious or life-threatening diseases. This stock has been hit hard by the sellers over the last six months, with shares off sharply by 65%.

    If you look at the chart for Vical, you'll notice that this stock has been trending sideways and consolidating over the last two months, with shares moving between $1.01 on the downside and $1.35 on the upside. Shares of VICL have started to uptrend over the last few weeks, with shares moving higher from its low of $1.01 to its recent high of $1.35 a share. During that move, shares of VICL have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now taken shares of VICL back above its 50-day moving average of $1.16 share and it's quickly pushing the stock within range of triggering a major breakout trade.

    Traders should now look for long-biased trades in VICL if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance at $1.35 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above that level with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 1.17 million shares. If that breakout hits soon, then VICL will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance level at $1.53 a share to its gap-down day high of $1.61 a share. Any high-volume move above those levels will then give VICL a chance to re-fill some of its previous gap-down-day zone from last August that started at $3.70 a share.

    Traders can look to buy VICL off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits just below its 50-day moving average at $1.20 a share or near more support at $1.10 a share. One can also buy VICL off strength once it starts to cle

  • [By Rich Bieglmeier]

    [Related -Vical (VICL) Licenses Vaxfectin Adjuvant For Use In Malaria Vaccines To Cyvax]

    Vical researches and develops biopharmaceutical products based on its deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) delivery technologies for the prevention and treatment of serious or life-threatening diseases.

  • [By Brian Pacampara]

    Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, biopharmaceutical company Vical (NASDAQ: VICL  ) has received a distressing two-star ranking.

Hot Healthcare Technology Companies To Invest In 2015: Weatherford International Ltd(WFT)

Weatherford International Ltd. provides equipment and services used in the drilling, evaluation, completion, production, and intervention of oil and natural gas wells worldwide. It offers artificial lift systems, which include reciprocating rod lift systems, progressing cavity pumps, gas lift systems, hydraulic lift systems, plunger lift systems, hybrid lift systems, wellhead systems, and multiphase metering systems. The company also provides drilling services, including directional drilling, ?Secure Drilling? services, well testing, drilling-with-casing and drilling-with-liner systems, and surface logging systems; and well construction services, such as tubular running services, cementing products, liner systems, swellable products, solid tubular expandable technologies, and inflatable products and accessories. In addition, it designs and manufactures drilling jars, underreamers, rotating control devices, and other pressure-control equipment used in drilling oil and nat ural gas wells; and offers a selection of in-house or third-party manufactured equipment for the drilling, completion, and work over of oil and natural gas wells for operators and drilling contractors, as well as a line of completion tools and sand screens. Further, the company provides wireline and evaluation services; and re-entry, fishing, and thru-tubing services, as well as well abandonment and wellbore cleaning services; stimulation and chemicals, including fracturing and coiled tubing technologies, cement services, chemical systems, and drilling fluids; integrated drilling services; and pipeline and specialty services. It serves independent oil and natural gas producing companies. The company was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

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

    Shares of Weatherford International (NYSE: WFT) got a boost, shooting up 9.99 percent to $20.25 after the company reported upbeat quarterly earnings. Weatherford reported its Q1 earnings of $0.13 per share on revenue of $3.60 billion.

  • [By Jeremy Bowman]

    What: The shares of Weatherford International (NYSE: WFT  ) were getting a lift today, climbing as much as 10% after posting first-quarter results last night.

  • [By Dimitra DeFotis]

    Adams’ partial list of potential losers:

    BP (BP) : the highest profile potential loser. It owns 19.75% of Russian energy giant Rosneft, which accounted a third of�BP�� production in the fourth quarter. Sanctions that inhibit oil and gas flows to Europe, or banking/capital flows, would “hit Rosneft and BP early and hard.” An offset: there could be an uptick in demand for a pipeline 30% owned and operated by BP because it transports Azerbaijan oil through Georgia and Turkey to the Mediterranean ��a southern route avoiding Georgia and Ukraine. Chevron (CVX) pipeline investments could be stymied. It also�signed a 50-year agreement to explore for and develop oil and gas in western Ukraine, involving up to $10 billion of investment. “A Russian takeover spikes that deal,” Adams says. Oilfield services companies Halliburton (HAL), Baker Hughes (BHI), and Weatherford International�(WFT) all do business in Russia that could be prohibited if it is labeled a rogue nation.

    The crisis in Ukraine and Russia’s tactics make U.S. assets look more secure and more valuable: some U.S. refiners that could export fuel, utility holding companies that could export liquefied natural gas, and related pipeline companies could see even more benefits, longer-term, �from the North American fracking and horizontal drilling boom. But approval of the TransCanada (TRP) Keystone XL pipeline is a necessary piece of that equation, Adams writes.

  • [By Canadian Value]

    - Weatherford International (WFT) which is a services company and a direct beneficiary of the boom in horizontal drilling and fracturing in the U.S.

Monday, May 26, 2014

Hot Retail Stocks To Buy Right Now

Japanese shares dropped, with the Nikkei 225 (NKY) Stock Average falling from its highest since July 2008, as the yen gained against the dollar and investors await major earnings reports this week.

Sony Corp. (6758), which gets nearly 20 percent of its sales from the U.S., fell 0.6 percent. Yamada Denki Co. dropped 4.8 percent after the electronics retailer missed its profit forecast by 35 percent. Oki Electric Industry Co. surged 21 percent after the Nikkei newspaper said operating profit doubled at the maker of ATMs. Komatsu Ltd., a machinery maker that gets 17 percent of its sales in China, reversed gains after Chinese manufacturing data fell short of estimates.

The Nikkei 225 lost 0.3 percent to 13,529.65 at the close in Tokyo. The Topix Index lost 0.2 percent to 1,143.78, with about three stocks gaining for every two that fell on the 1,698- member index.

��he yen is weakening at a slower pace, and there�� no catalyst for the Bank of Japan to ease further, which is what it would take to send the yen down,��said Ayako Sera, a market strategist in Tokyo at Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank Ltd., which manages about $163 billion. ��nvestors now need to see how the yen�� slide impacts earnings.��

Hot Retail Stocks To Buy Right Now: ALCO Stores Inc (ALCS)

Alco Stores, Inc., incorporated on June 2, 1915, is engaged in the business of retailing general merchandise throughout the central portion of the United States of America through a range of department store outlets. The Company�� ALCO stores offer a range of merchandise consisting of approximately 35,000 items, including automotive, commodities, crafts, domestics, electronics, furniture, hardware, health and beauty aids, housewares, jewelry, ladies�� men�� and children�� apparel and shoes, pre-recorded music and video, sporting goods, seasonal items, stationery and toys.

As of February 3, 2013, the Company operated 217 stores in 23 states located in mostly smaller communities in the central United States. The stores average approximately 21,000 square feet of selling space, with an additional 5,000 square feet utilized for merchandise processing, temporary storage and administration.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Monica Gerson]

    ALCO Stores (NASDAQ: ALCS) is projected to post its Q2 earnings.

    Digital Cinema Destinations (NASDAQ: DCIN) is estimated to post a Q4 loss at $0.11 per share on revenue of $11.17 million.

Hot Retail Stocks To Buy Right Now: Arch Therapeutics Inc (ARTH)

Arch Therapeutics, Inc. (Arch), formerly Almah, Inc., incorporated on September 16, 2009, operates as a life science company developing polymers containing peptides intended to form gel-like barriers over wounds to stop or control bleeding. Arch is a medical device company offering an approach to the rapid cessation of bleeding (hemostasis) and control of fluid leakage (sealant) during surgery and trauma care. Arch�� products are in preclinical development. The first product, AC5, is designed for hemostasis in minimally invasive (laparoscopic) and open surgical procedures.

AC5

AC5 is a synthetic peptide consisting of naturally occurring amino acids. When squirted or sprayed onto a wound, AC5 intercalates into the nooks and crannies of the connective tissue where it builds itself into a physical, mechanical structure. That structure provides a barrier to leaking substances, including blood and other bodily fluids, regardless of type of surgery or, based on early data, clotting ability.

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

    With each passing day, the opportunity Arch Therapeutics Inc. (OTCBB:ARTH) is presenting to investors gets a little bit clearer... as clear as AC5. What's AC5? It's a hemostasis agent. In other words, it stops post-surgical bleeding. It doesn't do the job quite like anything else out there, though, and that's a good thing for current and/or future ARTH shareholders.

Top 5 Growth Companies To Invest In 2015: Family Dollar Stores Inc.(FDO)

Family Dollar Stores, Inc. operates a chain of self-service retail discount stores primarily for low and middle income consumers in the United States. The company offers consumables, including household chemicals, paper products, candy and snack products, health and beauty aids, hardware and automotive supplies, and pet food products and supplies; and home products, which comprise domestics, housewares, giftware products, and home decor products. It also provides apparel products and accessories consisting of men?s and women?s clothing products, boys? and girls? clothing products, infants? clothing products, shoes, and fashion accessories; and seasonal products and electronics, such as toys, stationery and school supplies, seasonal goods, and personal electronics. As of August 11, 2011, the company operated approximately 7,000 stores in rural and urban settings across 44 states. Family Dollar Stores, Inc. was founded in 1959 and is headquartered in Matthews, North Carolina .

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Rick Aristotle Munarriz]

    AFP/Getty Images You can never know in advance all the news that will move the market in a given week, but some things you can see coming. From the year's most important consumer tech exposition to a struggling casual dining chain reporting quarterly results, here are some of the things that will help shape the week ahead on Wall Street. Monday -- Steaks on Skates: When it comes to fast food with throwback charm it's hard to beat the retro ways of Sonic (SONC). There are more than 3,500 "drive-in" locations where guests can pull up to a parking stall and order burgers, shakes, and taters from intercoms. Things haven't been easy for the fast food industry. An improving economy is sending customers to the higher quality fare at fast casual concepts, which combine fresher food with quick service. Sonic has held up better than its more traditional burger-flipping rivals, posting same-restaurant sales growth of nearly 6 percent in its most recent quarter. It will provide financial results for its latest quarter on Monday. Tuesday -- Check In with the Tech Insiders: Consumer tech has never been hotter as consumers snap up smartphones and tablets. CES -- the annual consumer tech powwow -- kicks off on Tuesday for four days of companies showing off their latest gadgets. Wearable computing will naturally be a big part of the event, and we'll see on Tuesday how many companies will be aiming for this market with high-tech bracelets, shoes, glasses, and other accessories. Wednesday -- Ruby Tuesday in the Red: It's not just fast food that's feeling the pain these days. Many of the more ordinary casual dining chains are also struggling to woo the hungry. Ruby Tuesday (RT) is no different. The stock hit new lows three months ago after posting disastrous quarterly results. Comps are plunging, profits have turned to losses, and Ruby Tuesday has missed Wall Street's expectations in back-to-back quarters. Ruby Tuesday's trying. Its latest strategy has been to offer pretzel

  • [By Demitrios Kalogeropoulos]

    The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) has lost a modest 17 points in pre-market trading, suggesting a lower start to the stock market today. Stocks could take a breather after logging their biggest daily gain in over a month yesterday. Still, Rite Aid (NYSE: RAD  ) , Family Dollar (NYSE: FDO  ) , and Pier 1 Imports (NYSE: PIR  ) were all on the move in pre-market trading after posting quarterly earnings results.

  • [By Joseph Hogue]

    Between Sept. 14 and Nov. 15 last year, as investors rushed to companies with solid, government-proof revenue, Family Dollar (NYSE: FDO) gained 2.6%, and Kellogg (NYSE: K) surged 7.4%.

  • [By Lauren Pollock]

    Family Dollar Stores Inc.'s(FDO) fiscal fourth-quarter earnings rose 26% as the discount retailer reported continued strong sales growth for consumable goods such as groceries. However, comparable-store sales were weaker than expected. The company also gave a cautious view for the recently started fiscal year and its fiscal first-quarter estimate also missed expectations, sending shares down.

Hot Retail Stocks To Buy Right Now: PetSmart Inc(PETM)

PetSmart, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a specialty retailer of products, services, and solutions for pets in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada. The company offers consumables, such as pet food, treats, and litter; and hardgoods, which include pet supplies and other goods comprising collars, leashes, health care supplies, grooming and beauty aids, toys, apparel, and pet beds and carriers, as well as aquariums and habitats, accessories, d�or, and filters for fish, birds, reptiles, and small pets. It also provides fresh-water fish, small birds, reptiles, and small pets; and pet services, such as grooming, including precision cuts, baths, nail trimming and grinding, and teeth brushing, as well as training, boarding, and day camp services. In addition, the company operates PetsHotels that offer boarding for dogs and cats; provides personalized pet care, an on-call veterinarian, temperature controlled rooms and suites, daily specialty treats and p lay time, and day camp services for dogs; and operates veterinary hospitals, which offer services comprising routine examinations and vaccinations, dental care, a pharmacy, and surgical procedures. As of January 29, 2012, it operated 1,232 retail stores; 192 PetsHotels; 791 veterinary hospitals under the trade name of Banfield, The Pet Hospital; and 8 hospitals operated through other third parties in Canada. The company also offers its products through an e-commerce and community site, PetSmart.com. PetSmart, Inc. was founded in 1986 and is based in Phoenix, Arizona.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Jayson Derrick]

    Analysts at Bank of America downgraded PetSmart (NASDAQ: PETM) to Underperform from Neutral with a price target lowered to $60 from a previous $77. Shares lost 3.98 percent, closing at $66.61.

  • [By Rick Munarriz]

    I went out on a limb last week, and now it's time to see how that decision played out.

    I predicted that Best Buy (NYSE: BBY  ) would close lower on the week. The consumer-electronics retailer had hit a new 52-week high heading into the report, and it didn't seem justifiable given the declining sales and cascading margins. Best Buy's quarterly report on Tuesday was mixed, and while there were a few positives in there, the market ultimately agreed with me. Why is a fading retailer trading at new highs? The stock fell 3.2% on the week. I was right. I predicted that the tech-heavy Nasdaq would outperform the Dow Jones Industrial Average. (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) . This has been a tricky call lately, so how did it play out this time? Well, the market finally took a breather this week, and secondary stocks led the way down, with the Nasdaq shedding 1.1% on the week. The Dow managed to close just 0.3% lower. I was wrong. My final call was for PetSmart (NASDAQ: PETM  ) to beat Wall Street's income estimates in its latest quarter. The pet supplies and services provider has been posting blowout quarterly results over the past year, and I was banking on a continuation of the trend. Analysts were looking for a profit of $0.96 a share during the quarter, and it came through with earnings of $0.98. I was right.

    Two out of three? I'll take it! That makes me 13 out of 15 over the past five weeks.

  • [By Shauna O'Brien]

    Pet supply retailer PetSmart, Inc. (PETM) reported lower fourth quarter financial results on Wednesday, but beat earnings estimates.

    PETM’s Earnings in Brief

    PETM posted Q4 earnings of $131 million, or $1.28 per share, from $134 million, or $1.24 per share, a year ago. Revenue for the quarter was $1.8 billion, down 2.9% from last year. On average, analysts expected to see earnings of $1.21 per share and revenue of�$1.83 billion. For FY2013, earnings jumped 19% to�$4.02 per share from$3.38 per share in 2012. Net sales rose 4.3% to $6.9�billion. Looking forward, PETM expects to see FY2014 earnings between�$4.42 and $4.54 per share and sales growth in the range of 4%-6%. Analysts expect to see earnings of $4.45 per share.

    CEO Commentary

    David Lenhardt, CEO of PETM commented: ���e are pleased to report our results for fiscal year 2013, marking the fourth consecutive year of double-digit earnings per share growth.�I would like to thank our associates for their hard work and caring for our customers and communities.��/p>

    PETM’s Dividend

    PETM paid its last quarterly dividend of 19.5 cents on February 14. We expect the company to declare its next dividend sometime in March.

    Stock Performance�

    PetSmart shares were up $1.14, or 1.62%, during pre-market trading Wednesday. The stock is down 7% YTD.

Hot Retail Stocks To Buy Right Now: WH Smith PLC (SMWH)

WH Smith PLC is a United Kingdom-based retail company. The Company has two businesses divisions: Travel and High Street. The Company's Travel division sells a range of newspapers, magazines, books and impulse products for people on the move and a broader convenience range in hospitals and workplaces. The Company's High Street sells a wide range of stationery, books, newspapers, magazines and impulse products, as well as a small range of entertainment products.The Company�� subsidiaries include WH Smith PLC, WH Smith Retail Holdings Limited, WH Smith High Street Holdings Limited, WH Smith Travel Holdings Limited, WH Smith High Street Limited, WH Smith Travel Limited and WH Smith Hospitals Holdings Limited. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Sofia Horta e Costa]

    Hays Plc (HAS) climbed 2.2 percent after the recruitment company said quarterly fees increased in its European markets. WH Smith Plc (SMWH) jumped the most in six months after raising its final dividend and saying it plans to repurchase an additional 50 million pounds ($80 million) of shares. Melrose Industries Plc (MRO) added 1.8 percent after KKR & Co. said it will pay about $1 billion for two of its U.S. industrial-products companies.

Hot Retail Stocks To Buy Right Now: Nordstrom Inc.(JWN)

Nordstrom, Inc., a fashion specialty retailer, offers apparel, shoes, cosmetics, and accessories for women, men, and children in the United States. It offers a selection of brand name and private label merchandise. The company sells its products through various channels, including Nordstrom full-line stores, off-price Nordstrom Rack stores, Jeffrey? boutiques, treasure & bond, and Last Chance clearance stores; and its online store, nordstrom.com, as well as through catalog. Nordstrom also provides a private label card, two Nordstrom VISA credit cards, and a debit card for Nordstrom purchases. The company?s credit and debit cards feature a shopping-based loyalty program. As of September 30, 2011, it operated 222 stores, including 117 full-line stores, 101 Nordstrom Racks, 2 Jeffrey boutiques, 1 treasure & bond store, and 1 clearance store in 30 states. The company was founded in 1901 and is based in Seattle, Washington.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Paul Ausick]

    Big Earnings Movers: Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is up 8.7% at $54.94. Applied Materials Inc. (NASDAQ: AMAT) is down 0.3% at $17.51 on a weak forecast. Nordstrom Inc. (NYSE: JWN) is down 1% at $62.81. Youku Tudou Inc. (NYSE: YOKU) is up 11.2% at $29.30. InterCloud Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: ICLD) is up 265.9% at $9.33 on solid results and higher hopes.

  • [By Sue Chang and Saumya Vaishampayan]

    Nordstrom Inc. (JWN) �shares rose 3.2%. The retailer on Wednesday announced plans to close underperforming stores in Portland, Ore. and Vancouver, Wash. The closures will affect about 280 employees.

Hot Retail Stocks To Buy Right Now: Rex Trueform Clothing Company Ltd (RTO)

Rex Trueform Clothing Company Limited is a South Africa-based company engaged in the manufacturing and marketing of clothing. The Company operates under two segments: Retail segment, the Company, through its ownership of Queenspark Limited, which operates a nationwide chain of Queenspark and J CREW stores, has a interest in the retailing of men�� and women�� clothing and related accessories. Through Property segment, Rex Trueform and its subsidiary have a direct investment in a portfolio of properties located in and around Cape Town. These properties are held either for the purpose of operations or for investment purposes. As of June 30, 2012, the Company operated 55 stores. In September 2012, the Company launched its newest brand Cath.Nic, a new fashion label exclusive to Queenspark. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012, the Company opened three new stores. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Corinne Gretler]

    Rentokil Initial Plc (RTO) climbed 3.1 percent to 106 pence as Bank of America Corp. upgraded the U.K. pest-control and hygiene-services company to buy from neutral. The brokerage predicted that cash flow will improve in 2014 and 2015.

  • [By Sofia Horta e Costa]

    Rentokil Initial Plc (RTO) rose the most in almost eight weeks after a report that private-equity investor Clayton Dubilier & Rice LLC is considering combining the company�� office-maintenance unit with that of Balfour Beatty Plc. Cobham Plc dropped 4.6 percent as a shareholder sold a 3.6 percent stake in the maker of defense and aerospace equipment.

Hot Retail Stocks To Buy Right Now: CVS Corporation(CVS)

CVS Caremark Corporation operates as a pharmacy services company in the United States. The company?s Pharmacy Services segment provides a range of pharmacy benefit management services, including mail order pharmacy services, specialty pharmacy services, plan design and administration, formulary management, and claims processing; and drug benefits to eligible beneficiaries under the Federal Government?s Medicare Part D program. This segment primarily serves employers, insurance companies, unions, government employee groups, managed care organizations and other sponsors of health benefit plans, and individuals. As of December 31, 2010, it operated 44 retail specialty pharmacy stores, 18 specialty mail order pharmacies, and 4 mail service pharmacies located in 25 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. This segment operates business under the CVS Caremark Pharmacy Services, Caremark, CVS Caremark, CarePlus CVS/pharmacy, CarePlus, RxAmerica, Accordant, and TheraCom names. The company?s Retail Pharmacy segment sells prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, beauty products and cosmetics, seasonal merchandise, greeting cards, and convenience foods through its pharmacy retail stores and online, as well as offers film and photo finishing, and health care services. This segment operated 7,182 retail drugstores located in 41 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia; and 560 retail health care clinics in 26 states and the District of Columbia under the MinuteClinic name. It has a strategic alliance with Alere, L.L.C. for the management of disease management program offerings that cover chronic diseases, such as asthma, diabetes, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease. CVS Caremark Corporation was founded in 1892 and is based in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Kelley Wright]

    Based on this criteria, here are our current Timely Ten selections:

    Chevron Corp. (CVX)��ielding 3.3%

    CVS Caremark (CVS)��ielding 1.6%

    Coca-Cola (KO)��ielding 2.9%

    Baxter International (BAX)��ielding 3.0%

    Walgreen (WAG)��ielding 2.3%

    McDonalds Corp. (MCD)��ielding 3.3%

    PepsiCo (PEP)��ielding 2.8%

    ExxonMobil (XOM)��ielding 2.9%

    Occidental Petroleum (OXY)��ielding 2.7%

    Wal-Mart Stores (WMT)��ielding 2.5%

    Subscribe to Investment Quality Trends here��/P>

  • [By CRWE]

    CVS Caremark Corporation (NYSE:CVS) reported that Dave Denton, executive vice president and chief financial officer of CVS Caremark Corporation, will be speaking at William Blair & Company’s Growth Stock Conference on Tuesday, June 12, 2012, at approximately 8:50 a.m. CDT (9:50 a.m. EDT).

  • [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]

    Getty ImagesThree of the nations largest banks have hiked their out-of-network ATM fees by 50 cents in the past six months. Rising ATM fees are making it more expensive for consumers who regularly use an out-of-network ATM to withdraw cash. The trend may be the push that some consumers need to find a better checking account or bank. In the past six months, three of the nation's largest banks -- Bank of America (BAC), Citibank (C) and SunTrust Bank (STI) -- have each hiked their out-of-network ATM fee from $2 to $2.50. At the top 10 U.S. banks, the average out-of-network ATM fee is $2.45, up from $2.25 in November. Then, don't forget that ATM operator also has the right to slap on a surcharge, usually around $3 to $5. If ATM fees are becoming a costly expense for you, here are some ways to avoid them: Find your bank's ATMs on your smartphone. The biggest reason we resort to using an out-of-network ATM is because ATM machines from our banks are nowhere to be found when we're in a rush. In many cases, your bank's ATM could just be around the corner, but you're in a hurry, so you don't care to check. Instead, you're willing to get hit with the ATM cash withdrawal fee, plus any ATM surcharge. However, with easy access to the Internet through smartphones, it would be wise to search for nearby ATMs. Many mobile banking applications feature a locator tool that will help you find an ATM based on your GPS location. Remember to use affiliated ATM networks. There are financial institutions -- usually community banks and credit unions -- that partner with other financial companies to expand ATM availability without imposing surcharges. For instance, some smaller banks and online banks work with the Allpoint or STAR ATM networks to provide more surcharge-free access to ATMs. Some credit unions also partner with the CO-OP ATM network, which doesn't impose surcharges for members of partnered credit unions. Additionally, financial institutions may work with retailers to

Hot Retail Stocks To Buy Right Now: DSW Inc (DSW)

DSW Inc. (DSW), incorporated on January 20, 1969, is a United States branded footwear and accessories specialty retailer operating 326 shoe stores in 40 states as of January 28, 2012, and dsw.com. DSW has two segments: the DSW segment, which includes the DSW stores and dsw.com sales channels, and the leased business division segment. As of January 28, 2012, it operated 326 DSW stores, dsw.com and leased departments in 261 Stein Mart stores, 74 Gordmans stores and one Frugal Fannie�� store. During the fiscal year ended January 28, 2012 (fiscal 2011), DSW opened 17DSW stores and closed two DSW stores. On May 26, 2011, Retail Ventures, Inc. (RVI) merged with and into DSW MS LLC (Merger Sub), with Merger Sub surviving the Merger and continuing as a wholly owned subsidiary of DSW. In March 2012, the Company announced the opening of its store on 34th Street in Manhattan. In September 2013, DSW Inc announced the opening of a new store in Eatontown, NJ. In October 2013, DSW Inc announced the opening of two new stores in New York City. In October 2013, DSW Inc announced the opening of a new store in Greenville, SC.

The Company offers an assortment of brand name and designer dress, casual and athletic footwear for women and men, as well as accessories through its DSW stores and dsw.com. It also offers kids' shoes exclusively on dsw.com. The Company leases stores, distribution and fulfillment centers and office facilities under various arrangements with related and unrelated parties. DSW also operates leased departments for three retailers in its leased business division segment. As of January 28, 2012, DSW supplied merchandise to 261 Stein Mart stores, 74 Gordmans stores and one Frugal Fannie�� store. During fiscal 2011, DSW added 20 leased departments and ceased operations in 36 leased departments.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Rich Duprey]

    Management at footwear retailer DSW (NYSE: DSW  ) raised guidance 5.5% for the full year to $3.60 to $3.80 per share, and said it would split its Class A stock 2-for-1.

  • [By Paul Ausick]

    Big earnings movers: Tiffany & Co. (NYSE: TIF) reported better-than-expected earnings and revenues and raised its guidance slightly, but even posting a new 52-week high early could hold the stock from dropping about 1.3% today. Brown Shoe Co. Inc. (NYSE: BWS) also posted good earnings, but followed with slightly lower EPS guidance and the stock lost about 9%, trading around $21.60 in a 52-week range of $13.68 to $24.78. Another footwear maker, DSW Inc. (NYSE: DSW) put up good results and raised its guidance as well, sending shares up more than 9% to a new 52-week high of $88.73 in the mid-morning.

  • [By Teresa Rivas]

    DSW (DSW) was up 2% in after-hours trading, on the company�� increased full year earnings guidance and two-for-one stock split.

    The shoe retailer said that it now expects to earn between $3.60 and $3.80 a share, up from a previous range of $3.40 and $3.60 a share and well ahead of the $3.58 a share analysts were expecting.

    It also announced that it will hold a special shareholder meeting to seek approval for a 2-for-1 stock split of its common shares.

    For the recently ended second quarter, DSW said sales totaled $558 million, below the $568.5 million consensus estimate. Same-store sales rose 4.3%.

Hot Retail Stocks To Buy Right Now: Radioshack Corporation(RSH)

RadioShack Corporation engages in the retail sale of consumer electronic goods and services through its RadioShack store chain and kiosk operations. Its products include postpaid and prepaid wireless handsets and communication devices, such as scanners and global positioning system (GPS) products; home entertainment, wireless, music, computer, video game, and GPS accessories; media storage, power adapters, digital imaging products, and headphones; home audio and video end-products, personal computing products, residential telephones, and voice over Internet protocol products; digital cameras, digital music players, toys, satellite radios, video gaming hardware, camcorders, and general radios; general and special purpose batteries and battery chargers; and wires and cables, connectivity products, components and tools, and hobby products. The company also provides consumers access to third-party services, such as prepaid wireless airtime and extended service plans in its ser vice platform. In addition, it manufactures various products, including telephones, antennas, wires, and cable products, as well as various hard-to-find parts and accessories for consumer electronics products; and provides repair services. As of March 31, 2011, the company operated 4,467 company-operated retail stores under the RadioShack brand name in the United States; and 1,304 kiosks located in Target and Sam?s Club stores. As of December 31, 2010, it operated 211 company-operated stores under the RadioShack brand, 9 dealers, and 1 distribution center in Mexico; a network of 1,207 RadioShack dealer outlets, including 34 located outside of North America; and 4 distribution centers in the United States. Further, the company sells its products through its Website, radioshack.com. RadioShack Corporation was founded in 1899 and is based in Fort Worth, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Jon C. Ogg]

    RadioShack Corp. (NYSE: RSH) is actually ticking up on the admission by the company that it has to shed its very outdated image. The admission was a Super Bowl commercial, and RadioShack�was not even among our own six stocks looking to benefit from the Super Bowl. What investors and outsiders alike really need to consider is what the ultimate cost will be in capital spending to live up to its image rebranding.

  • [By Manoj Madhavan]

    Before joining RadioShack (RSH) as CEO in 2013, Joe Magnacca had never been a CEO before.

    2) Before joining ASDA, Archie had overseen the successful turnaround of KingFisher (then Woolworth Holdings) and had already made a name for himself as a future high potential would-be CEO.

  • [By Chris Hill]

    Shares of Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX  ) soar in the wake of better-than-expected first quarter earnings and the addition of 3 million new subscribers. Coach (NYSE: COH  ) gets a boost from a 6% increase in third-quarter profits. Shares of The Travelers Companies (NYSE: TRV  ) rise on higher-than-expected first-quarter earnings. And RadioShack (NYSE: RSH  ) reports a wider-than-expected first-quarter loss and a decline in same-store sales. In this installment of Investor Beat, our analysts discuss four stocks making moves.

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Hot International Companies To Watch For 2015

While sitting on the couch watching the latest episode of Mad Men or The Walking Dead, have you ever thought, "man, if I could have a dollar for every person watching��" Well, there's really nothing iStock can offer you to help collect those dollar bills from the more than three million watching, but National Alliance Capital says there could be another way for you to make money if either are�among�your favorite TV show.

Analyst Robert G. Routh says to "Buy" AMC Networks Inc (NASDAQ:AMCX). AMC is a holding company and conducts substantially all of its operations through its subsidiaries. AMC Networks owns and operates several of cable television's brands delivering content to audiences. AMC Networks operates in two segments: National Networks, which includes AMC, WE tv, IFC and Sundance Channel, and International and Other, which includes AMC/Sundance Channel Global, its international programming business; IFC Films, its independent film distribution business, and AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology, its network technical services business.

Hot International Companies To Watch For 2015: Leidos Holdings Inc (LDOS)

Leidos Holdings, Inc. (Leidos), incorporated on August 12, 2005, is a science and technology solutions company focused on delivering solutions primarily in the areas of national security, health and engineering. The Company is a holding company whose direct 100%-owned subsidiary is Leidos, Inc., which delivers science and technology solutions in the areas of national security, health and engineering to agencies of the United States Department of Defense (DoD), the intelligence community, the United States Department of Homeland Security, and other United States Government civil agencies, state and local government agencies, foreign governments and customers across a variety of commercial markets. The Company�� segments include Health and Engineering and National Security Solutions. On September 27, 2013, Leidos completed the separation of its technical services and enterprise information technology services business into an independent, publicly traded company named Science Applications International Corporation.

The Company�� National Security Solutions segment provides solutions and systems for air, land, sea, space and cyberspace for the United States intelligence community, the DoD, the military services and the United States Department of Homeland Security. Its solutions deliver technology, intelligence systems, data analytics, cyber solutions, and intelligence analysis and operations support to critical missions around the world. The Company�� Health and Engineering segment provides health systems integration services to implement and optimize the use of electronic health records, apply data analytics and behavioral health research to help enable customers to improve healthcare quality and patient outcomes, detect and prevent diseases, enhance scientific discovery, and reduce costs to the healthcare system. Leidos also provides engineering services and solutions focused on solving energy, environmental and infrastructure challenges. These include solutions in energy generation! , efficiency and management, environmental services, securing critical infrastructure, and designing and building construction projects.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Steve Symington]

    What:�Shares of�Leidos Holdings,� (NYSE: LDOS  ) �or formerly�Science Applications International�-- fell more than 18% Thursday after the national security, health, and engineering solutions company turned in better-than-expected fiscal 2014 fourth-quarter results, but followed with disappointing guidance and announced the departure of its Chief Operating Officer.

  • [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

    Leidos Holdings (NYSE: LDOS) was down as well, falling 18.17 percent to $35.33 after the company announced its COO would leave, while releasing worse than expected guidance.

  • [By Ben Levisohn]

    Shares of Iron Mountain have fallen 2.3% to $25.72 today, while comparable have been mixed. Leidos Holdings (LDOS) has ticked up 0.6% to $46.28 and Amdocs (DOX) has risen 0.8% to $37.20. Maximus (MMS), on the other hand, has fallen 1.2% to $46.22 and Xerox (XRX) is off 0.3% to $10.62.

Hot International Companies To Watch For 2015: iShares MSCI Germany ETF (EWG)

iShares MSCI Germany Index Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of publicly traded securities in the aggregate in the German market, as measured by the MSCI Germany Index (the Index). The Index seeks to measure the performance of the German equity market. The Index is a capitalization-weighted index that aims to capture 85% of the (publicly available) total market capitalization. Component companies are adjusted for available float and must meet objective criteria for inclusion in the Index. The Index is reviewed quarterly.

The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index. The Fund�� investment advisor is Barclays Global Fund Advisors.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Mark Salzinger]

    iShares MSCI Germany (EWG) and iShares MSCI Switzerland (EWL) continue to have relatively attractive valuations.

    EWG recently sported an average price/earnings (P/E) ratio on 2013's projected earnings of 12.6 and a price/book value (P/B) of just 1.4.

  • [By Mary Anne & Pamela Aden]

    If you're a new buyer and concerned that it's too late to buy, consider buying on weakness. If you want to buy, and or, add to your positions, we'd stick with our strongest stocks, which are: the Powershares NASDAQ (QQQ), the MSCI Germany ETF (EWG), Microsoft (MSFT), and Market Vector Retail ETF (RTH).

10 Best Healthcare Equipment Stocks For 2015: Macquarie Group Ltd (MQG)

Macquarie Group Limited acts as a non-operating holding company (NOHC). The Company�� segments include Macquarie Funds Group, Corporate and Asset Finance, Banking and Financial Services Group, Macquarie Securities Group, Macquarie Capital, Fixed Income, and Currencies and Commodities. The Company is a financial services provider of banking, financial, advisory, investment and funds management services. The Company's products and services include Asset and Wealth Management, which is engaged in distribution and manufacture of funds management products; financial markets involves trading in fixed income, equities, currency, commodities and derivative products; capital markets include corporate and structured finance. In February 2014, Endeavour Mining Corporation announced that Macquarie Group Ltd and its controlled bodies corporate ceased to be a shareholder in the capital of the Company. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Adam Haigh]

    Esprit Holdings Ltd. (330), a Hong Kong-based clothier that counts Europe as its biggest market, climbed 2.4 percent. Macquarie (MQG) Group Ltd. surged 11 percent, its biggest gain in four years, as profit at the Australia�� largest investment bank topped estimates. Fletcher Building Ltd., a manufacturer of construction products, sank 6.5 percent in Wellington as Goldman Sachs Group Inc. cut its outlook for building-material shares.

Hot International Companies To Watch For 2015: Apogee Enterprises Inc.(APOG)

Apogee Enterprises, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design and development of glass products, services, and systems. The company operates through two segments, Architectural Products and Services, and Large-Scale Optical Technologies. The Architectural Products and Services segment designs, engineers, fabricates, installs, maintains, and renovates the walls of glass, windows, storefront, and entrances comprising the outside skin of commercial and institutional buildings. This segment involves in the fabrication of coated and high-performance architectural glass; installation and renovation of full-service building glass; manufacture of aluminum window systems and curtain walls; painting and anodizing finishing of architectural aluminum and PVC shutters; and fabrication of aluminum storefront, entrance, and curtain wall products. Its architectural glass products and services are primarily used in commercial buildings, such as office towers, hotels, and retail centers; institutional buildings comprising education facilities and dormitories, health care facilities, and government buildings; and high-end condominiums. This segment markets its products through direct sales, and distribution and independent sales representatives to architects, building owners, general contractors, and glazing subcontractors in the commercial construction market. The Large-Scale Optical Technologies segment manufactures glass and acrylic products for the custom picture framing market. This segment distributes its products through independent distributors and mass merchandisers, as well as directly to museums, and public and private galleries. The company offers its products primarily in North America and Europe. Apogee Enterprises, Inc. was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Rich Smith]

    I won't deny it: I've been a longtime fan of glassmaker Apogee Enterprises (NASDAQ: APOG  ) . Years ago, when the company decided to forgo some revenue by exiting the market for automotive windshields and focus instead on making higher-margin glass for building windows and picture framing, I thought that was the right call.

  • [By Rick Munarriz]

    Apogee Enterprises (NASDAQ: APOG  ) has carved out a cozy living making value-added glass products for the architectural and picture-framing industries. Another thing it does is make analysts look like perpetual underachievers. If analysts say the company posted a profit of $0.17 a share in its latest quarter, I'll whip out a "greater than" sign. History's on my side!

  • [By SA Pro Top Ideas]

    Stock Movers and Great Calls
    Alpha-Rich long and short ideas regularly move stocks and identify stocks that are about to move. Some notable recent calls subscribers had early access to:

    On August 2, Josh Burwick argued that the market was underestimating BroadSoft's (BSFT) 2014 earnings potential, with 50% upside looming for shares. The stock is +10.6% in the three weeks since. Read article » On June 27, Alan Brochstein said Apogee Glass (APOG) offered compelling value as its architectural glass reverted to historic margins. The shares are +20.4% since. Read article »

    To Come Today
    Don't forget to check your SA Pro dashboard during market hours today for the latest Alpha-Rich ideas, including an undervalued asset manager and a short idea in the oil services sector. Have a great weekend.

    SA Pro Editors
    …............

    The SA Pro team is Eli Hoffmann (Editor in Chief), Rachael Granby (Editorial Product Manager), Daniel Shvartsman, Samir Patel, Michael McDonald, and Jeffrey Fischer (Senior Pro Editors). You can reach us at pro-editors@seekingalpha.com.

Hot International Companies To Watch For 2015: Cardinal Financial Corporation(CFNL)

Cardinal Financial Corporation operates as the holding company for Cardinal Bank that provides banking products and services to commercial and retail customers in Virginia and greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. It primarily engages in accepting deposits and originating loans. The company?s deposit products include commercial and retail checking accounts, money market accounts, individual retirement accounts, regular interest-bearing savings accounts, and certificates of deposits. Its lending portfolio comprises commercial and industrial loans, commercial mortgage loans, residential mortgage loans, construction loans, home equity lines of credit, and consumer loans. The company also offers courier, telephone and Internet banking, and automatic teller machine services, as well as traveler?s checks, coin counters, wire services, and safe deposit box services. In addition, Cardinal Financial Corporation, through its other subsidiaries, involves in the origination an d acquisition of residential mortgages for sale into the secondary market in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. region, as well as provides a construction-to-permanent loan program; offers retail securities brokerage and asset management services; and provides trust, estate, custody, investment management, and retirement planning services. It operates 26 banking offices. Cardinal Financial Corporation was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in McLean, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Ben Levisohn]

    Cardinal Financial (CFNL) has gained 5.8% to $17.47 after it was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform by Keefe Bruyette & Woods.

    Weatherford International (WFT) has dropped 6.3% to $14.75 before the open of trading after it announced the departure of its CFO in an 8-K filing. Wells Fargo and Raymond James both cut Weatherford’s shares as a result of the change.

  • [By Marc Bastow]

    Bank holding company Cardinal Financial (CFNL) raised its quarterly dividend 33% to 8 cents per share, payable on Feb. 24 to shareholders of record as of Feb. 6.
    CFNL Dividend Yield: 1.88%

Hot International Companies To Watch For 2015: Santander Mexico Financial Group SAB de CV (BSMX)

Santander Mexico Financial Group SAB de CV, formerly Grupo Financiero Santander SAB de CV, is a Mexico-based financial institution. The Company is primarily engaged, through its subsidiaries, in the provision of multiple banking services, securities brokerage, financial advice services, as well as other related investment activities. The Company offers its services to both, individual and corporate clients. The Company owns such principal subsidiaries as Banco Santander (Mexico) SA, Casa de Bolsa Santander SA de CV and Zurich Santander Seguros Mexico S.A. In December, 2013, the Company concluded the sale of Gestion Santander SA de CV's shares, as a result of the agreement reached with its parent company, Banco Santander SA. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Eric Volkman]

    ING's (NYSE: ING  ) Latin American operations will soon be one division lighter. The company announced it reached an agreement to sell its mortgage business in Mexico to�Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico (NYSE: BSMX  ) , the local presence of Spanish financial group Banco Santander (NYSE: SAN  ) . The price was 643 million pesos ($51 million), according to Mexico City newspaper La Cronica de Hoy.

  • [By Dan Burrows]

    The current economic and political environment makes it hard to see what possible catalyst could pull EBR stock out of negative territory any time soon. EBR’s payouts have been erratic, so the stock’s dividend yield is basically a roll of the dice. Worst of all, EBB still has no profits. For dividend stocks, that’s another dealbreaker.

    Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico (BSMX)

    Market Cap: $14.9 billion
    Dividend Yield: 11.4%
    YTD Price Performance: -20%

Hot International Companies To Watch For 2015: 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 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 Rick Aristotle Munarriz]

    Alamy McDonald's (MCD) has been struggling to heat up its sales for more than a year, but let's not assume that all fast food chains are in the same boat. In fact, as McDonald's tries to upgrade its menu with premium-priced items and update its eateries with fancy decor, free Wi-Fi, and barista-brewed coffee beverages, a much smaller rival is doing just fine with a throwback business model and menu. At a time when many of its more modern peers are struggling to ring up sales, Sonic (SONC) -- the chain of drive-in restaurants where some orders are still delivered to parked cars by carhops on roller skates -- is doing just fine. Retro Chic Sonic reported another solid quarter on Monday. Same-restaurant sales rose 2.2 percent for its fiscal quarter ending in November. Margins improved to the point where adjusted earnings per share climbed 18 percent with the help of an aggressive share buyback plan. McDonald's doesn't operate on the same fiscal calendar, but we know that same-restaurant sales in the U.S. declined 0.8 percent in November and were up a mere 0.2 percent in October. McDonald's is the world's largest burger chain, but it's had several months since Oct. 2012 where it failed to drum up more sales than it did a year earlier. Meanwhile, Sonic is on a roll. This isn't a fluke. Sonic posted a 5.9 percent surge in same-restaurant sales during its summer quarter. Zigging When McDonald's Zags Sonic and McDonald's both serve cheap burgers, but what's more interesting to consider is where the two companies are going in different directions. McDonald's has been on a health kick lately. It's been promoting its grilled chicken salads and recently added breakfast sandwiches made with egg whites. Sonic, on the other hand, is crediting no small part of the success of its most recent quarter to its milkshakes and new Cheesecake Bites. Consumers may talk about eating healthier, but they do something else when they're eating out. We're seeing this in the chain

  • [By Wallace Witkowski]

    Fast-food chain Sonic (SONC) �is forecast to report fiscal first-quarter earnings of 13 cents a share on revenue of $127.4 million, according to analysts polled by FactSet.

Hot International Companies To Watch For 2015: Uomo Media Inc (UOMO)

UOMO Media Inc., incorporated on June 10, 2004, is in the business of producing, managing, and monetizing music-based intellectual property. The Company provides music publishing, digital music and video, recorded music and production, and talent management services. The Company operates in four divisions: music publishing, recorded music, digital distribution and talent management. The Company has two subsidiaries in Canada, UOMO Productions Inc. and UOMO Music Publishing Inc. In addition, The NE Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of UOMO Productions Inc. and UOMO Songs Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of UOMO Music Publishing Inc. As of April 30, 2009, the Company had 22 production customers. The Company�� customers include VideoFact and Universal Music. As of April 30, 2009, the Company was in the development stage.

In the music publishing segment, UOMO Music Publishing Inc. is tasked with creating a catalogue of assets in the form of copyrights. Services include Fund advances, which includes providing advances to individual composers; Administration, which includes registration, tracking, and collection of copyright royalties; Creative, which includes creating copyrights by writing songs, and Licensing, which includes finding opportunities to monetize copyrights by placing songs on recording artists, films, television, video games, commercials.

In the recorded music segment, the Company earns revenue from the ownership of master recordings. UOMO Recorded Music has three functions: catalogue acquisition, talent acquisition for/and production activities and distribution arrangements for projects. UOMO Recorded Music is the record label division of UOMO. Production services also fall under this division.

In the digital distribution segment, the Company has been developing digital music and video Web 2.0 software. In the talent management segment, the Company earns a percentage of gross revenues for all projects it manages. As of April 30, 2009, the Company ! was in the process of developing programming architecture for the new digital music and video portal.

The Company competes with Warner Music Group, EMI, Sony BMG, and Universal Music Group.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Peter Graham]

    Small cap media stocks UOMO Media Inc (OTCMKTS: UOMO), International Display Advertising (OTCMKTS: IDAD) and Media Analytics Corp (OTCBB: MEDA) have been getting some extra media attention lately thanks in part to paid promotions. It should be said that there is nothing wrong with properly disclosed paid promotional or investor relation campaigns for stocks, but they can backfire on unwary investors and traders alike. With that in mind, here is a closer look at along with a reality check for these three small cap media stocks:

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Hot High Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now

As per recent reports from Gartner and IDC, global shipments of personal computers have taken a hit. An 11.0% dip in PC shipments was noticed during the April ��June quarter, as people gradually move away from PCs to handheld tablets and other mobile devices.

The industry research firm, Gartner, is of the opinion that the PC industry is going through the most difficult time as this is the fifth consecutive quarter of decline.

PC makers such as Hewlett-Packard Company (HPQ) and Dell Inc. (DELL) have incurred heavy losses in their PC business. This unprecedented decline resulted in Hewlett-Packard losing ground to Lenovo in the last quarter.

Another major reason for the decline in PC sales is related to the cost of the devices. In the emerging markets, consumers are opting for relatively inexpensive mobile computing devices such as tablets at the entry level.

As per the data provided by Gartner, Lenovo, with a 16.7% share of shipments, took the market-leading position from H-P, although shipment volumes of 12.68 million PCs declined 0.6% year over year.

Hot High Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now: AMN Healthcare Services Inc(AHS)

AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. provides healthcare staffing and clinical workforce management solutions in the United States. The company?s Nurse and Allied Healthcare Staffing segment provides staffing solutions for hospitals and other healthcare facilities, including medical, surgical, specialty, licensed practical or vocational, and advanced practice nurses, as well as surgical technologists and dialysis technicians. This segment also offers allied health professionals under the Med Travelers, Club Staffing, and Rx Pro Health brand names to acute-care hospitals and other healthcare facilities, such as skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation clinics, and retail and mail-order pharmacies. These allied health professionals include physical, surgical, respiratory, and occupational therapists, as well as medical and radiology technologists, speech pathologists, rehabilitation assistants, pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians. Its Locum Tenens Staffing segment places physic ians of various specialties, certified registered nurse anesthetists, nurse practitioners, and dentists on a temporary basis as independent contractors with various healthcare organizations, including hospitals, medical groups, occupational medical clinics, individual practitioners, networks, psychiatric facilities, government institutions, and managed care entities. The company?s Physician Permanent Placement Services segment provides permanent physician placement services to hospitals, healthcare facilities, and physician practice groups under the Merritt Hawkins and Kendall & Davis brand names. This segment also offers specialty offerings, including internal medicines, family practices, and surgeries. Its Home Healthcare Services segment provide home healthcare services to individuals with acute-care illness, long-term chronic health conditions, permanent disabilities, terminal illnesses, and post-procedural needs. The company was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in S an Diego, California.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Sean Williams]

    What: Shares of AMN Healthcare Services (NYSE: AHS  ) , a health care staffing solutions company, jumped as much as 11% after reporting its third-quarter earnings results.

  • [By Seth Jayson]

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

Hot High Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now: Fusion Pharm Inc (FSPM)

Fusion Pharm, Inc., incorporated on January 21, 1998, manufactures and sells a patent pending commercial hydroponic cultivation system capable of growing almost any herb, vegetable, flower, fruit or terrestrial plant better and faster than traditional farming methods. The Company is the creator and manufacturer of the PharmPods hydroponic cultivation container system. The Company sells and licenses its PharmPods containers to agricultural equipment distributers, urban farming companies and other specialty growers. The Company is focused on the development and commercialization of its patent pending PharmPods cultivation container system. In February 2013, the Company completed the sale of 8 PharmPod High Intensity containers under its licensing agreement with Meadpoint Venture Partners (Meadpoint).

The Company's PharmPods are constructed of standard ISO steel shipping containers that are repurposed for use in hydroponic plant cultivation and are equipped with specialty lighting, irrigation systems, climate-control systems and ventilation for a grow-ready, self-contained agricultural solution. PharmPods allow users to precisely control what a plant receives, grow crops densely, avoid using pesticides, increase yields and automatically water plants.

The Company�� PharmPods are used for agricultural cultivation by urban faming companies and other specialty growers The Company does not own any real estate or other physical properties material to its operations. It operates from leased space.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Dan Burrows]

    From questions regarding the accuracy of publicly-available information about these companies��operations to potential illegal activity, these marijuana stocks have incurred the wrath of federal regulators for good reason:

    GrowLife (PHOT) FusionPharm (FSPM) CannaBusiness Group (CBGI) Advanced Cannabis Solutions (CANN) Petrotech Oil and Gas (PTOG) Marijuana Stocks Asking for Trouble

    But it doesn’t end there. Investors should run away from all OTC marijuana stocks, including Medical Marijuana (MJNA), Cannabis Science (CBIS), CannaVest (CANV), MediSwipe (MWIP) and GreenGro Technologies (GRNH). As the SEC warns:

Top 5 Electric Utility Stocks To Own For 2015: National Health Partners Inc (NHPR)

National Health Partners, Inc., incorporated on March 10, 1989, is a national healthcare membership organization that was formed to address the need for affordable healthcare nationwide. The Company creates, markets and sells membership programs targeted toward underserved markets in the healthcare industry through a national healthcare savings network called CARExpress. CARExpress is a network of over 1,000,000 participating hospitals, doctors, dentists, pharmacists and other healthcare providers that have agreed to render their services and products to the Company's members at discounted prices. CARExpress enables the Company's members to engage in point-of-service transactions directly with participating healthcare providers and pay discounted prices.

The Company has designed membership programs that range from its traditional health discount programs that provide access to networks of providers that have agreed to provide its members with a reduced rate for services, to membership programs that include limited liability insurance benefits. The Company offers two families of CARExpress membership programs to its members, its CARExpress health discount programs, and its CARExpress Plus membership programs.

The Company's CARExpress health discount programs consists of healthcare, including physicians, hospitals, ancillary services, dentists, prescription drugs, vision care, hearing aids, chiropractic services, alternative care, 24-hour nurseline, medical supplies and equipment, and long-term care facilities, which include skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, respite care and home health care. The Company provides its members with access to over 1,000,000 healthcare providers through its agreements with CareMark, Aetna, Optum, Outlook Vision, Integrated Health, Three Rivers, International Med-Care and HealthFi International.

The Company's CARExpress Plus programs are membership programs consists of the Company's CARExpress health discount progr! ams and limited liability insurance benefits underwritten by United States.The limited liability insurance benefits included in these programs are accidental death and dismemberment coverage (AD&D), accident medical expense coverage (AME), accident disability coverage, a daily hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) benefit, doctor visit benefits, inpatient/outpatient surgical visit benefits, as well as emergency room and ambulance benefits. With CARExpress Plus, the Company's health discount programs provide its members with a point of service discount on their healthcare expenses at the time of service. The Company offers three standard CARExpress Plus programs, which include CARExpress Plus Platinum Program, CARExpress Plus Gold Program and CARExpress Plus Silver Program.

The Company competes with Alliance HealthCard, Inc., AmeriPlan, Best Benefits, Careington International, Family Care, Full Access Medical, International Association of Businesses, New Benefits, Inc. and People's Benefit Services.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Peter Graham]

    Last Friday, small cap stocks National Health Partners, Inc (OTCMKTS: NHPR) surged 816.7% while Timios National Corp (OTCMKTS: HOMS) and Medical Care Technologies Inc (OTCMKTS: MDCE) sank 32.28% and 25%, respectively. So what will these three small caps do for investors and traders this week? Here is a closer look to help you decide on a trading strategy:

    National Health Partners, Inc (OTCMKTS: NHPR) Surged 816.7% On Friday

    Small cap National Health Partners is a national healthcare savings organization that provides discount healthcare membership programs to uninsured and underinsured people through a national healthcare savings network called "CARExpress." On Friday, National Health Partners surged 816.7% to $0.044 for a market cap of $107,933 plus NHPR is down 78% over the past year and up 923.3% since June 2012 according to Google Finance.

Hot High Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now: Broadwind Energy Inc.(BWEN)

Broadwind Energy, Inc. provides products and services to the energy, mining, and infrastructure sector customers, primarily in the United States. The company?s Towers and Weldments segment manufactures towers designed for two megawatt and larger wind turbines. This segment also manufactures specialty fabrications and weldments for mining and other industrial customers. Its Gearing segment engineers, builds, and remanufactures precision gears and gearing systems for wind, oil and gas, mining, and other industrial applications. The company?s Services segment offers a range of services, including non-routine blade and gearbox maintenance services for both kilowatt and megawatt turbines primarily to wind farm developers and operators. It also provides field services to the wind industry; dedicated drivetrain services; and industrial gearboxes precision repair and testing services. The company provides its products and services to various wind energy customers that include wi nd turbine manufacturers, wind farm developers, and wind farm operators, as well as oil and gas, mining, and other industries. It sells its products through its sales force and manufacturers' representatives. The company was formerly known as Tower Tech Holdings Inc. and changed its name to Broadwind Energy, Inc. in 2008. Broadwind Energy, Inc. is headquartered in Naperville, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Monica Gerson]

    Broadwind Energy (NASDAQ: BWEN) is projected to post a Q4 loss at $0.19 per share on revenue of $56.54 million.

    Orexigen Therapeutics (NASDAQ: OREX) is estimated to post a Q4 loss at $0.19 per share on revenue of $900.00 thousand.

  • [By John Udovich]

    Small cap wind stock Broadwind Energy Inc (NASDAQ: BWEN) is up 203.7% since the start of the year, but investors might want to contain their excitement when they look closer at the�stock and�consider its�long term performance along with the performance of other wind investments like First Trust Global Wind Energy ETF (NYSEARCA: FAN) and wind energy stocks Vestas Wind Systems (OTCMKTS: VWDRY) and China Ming Yang Wind Power Group Ltd (NYSE: MY) to see whether BWEN is just blowing more hot air.

Hot High Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now: Willis Group Holdings Limited(WSH)

Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company provides a range of insurance brokerage, reinsurance, and risk management consulting services to its clients worldwide. The company offers various insurance brokerage services, including property damage, offshore construction, liability, and control of well and pollution insurance to the energy industry; and marine insurance and reinsurance brokerage services consisting of hull, cargo, and general marine liabilities. It also provides its services to aerospace clients, including aircraft manufacturers, air cargo handlers and shippers, airport managers, and other general aviation companies; and advisory services comprising claims recovery, contract and leasing risk management, market information, and safety services. In addition, the company offers risk management advice and brokerage services to the construction industry; brokerage for directors' and officers' insurance, as well as professional indemnity insurance for corporation s and professional firms; and specialist risk management and insurance services to fine art, diamond, and jewelry businesses, and operators of armored cars. Further, it provides special contingencies packages; services for horse racing and breeding industry, and agriculture/crop sector; and advice to companies involved in the insurance and reinsurance industry on capital markets products. Additionally, the company offers health, welfare, and human resources consulting and brokerage services to small, medium, and large corporations, as well as the employee benefits practice. It serves clients located in approximately 190 countries, including multinational and middle-market companies operating in various industries, as well as public institutions and individual clients. The company was formerly known as Willis Group Holdings Limited and changed its name to Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company in January 2010. The company was founded in 1828 and is headquartered in Lond on, the United Kingdom.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Jonas Elmerraji]

    $11 billion UK insurer Willis Group Holdings (WSH) is another uptrending channel. The big difference with Willis is that this name is actually at its trendline support level this week. Better still, shares are bouncing higher -- and it makes sense to buy the bounce here.

    Buying off a support bounce makes sense for two big reasons: It's the spot where shares have the furthest to move up before they hit resistance, and it's the spot where the risk is the least (because shares have the least room to move lower before you know you're wrong). Remember, all trend lines do eventually break, but by actually waiting for the bounce to happen first, you're ensuring WSH can actually still catch a bid along that line.

    The 50-day moving average has been a good proxy for support on the way up, so it's a solid place to put a protective stop if you decide to be a buyer at this point.

  • [By Marc Bastow]

    Insurance brokerage and risk management consultant Willis Group (WSH) raised its quarterly dividend 7.1% to 30 cents per share, payable April 15 to shareholders of record as of March 31.
    WSH Dividend Yield: 2.89%

Hot High Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now: Winthrop Realty Trust (FUR)

Winthrop Realty Trust (WRT) is a diversified real estate investment trust (REIT). WRT conducts its business through its wholly owned operating partnership, WRT Realty L.P., (the Operating Partnership).The Company is engaged in the business of owning real property and real estate related assets. The Company operates in three segments: operating properties; loan assets; and REIT securities. In June 2013, Winthrop Realty Trust sold its medical office building property located in Deer Valley, Arizona. In November 2013, Winthrop Realty Trust closed on its acquisition of four newly constructed class A luxury apartment buildings.

On May 23, 2012, the Company acquired a first mortgage loan secured by a 326,000 square foot commercial building located in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida consisted of approximately 47,000 square feet of retail and 279,000 square feet of office space that was 74.4% leased. In February 2012, Mack-Cali Realty Corporation along with WRT formed a joint venture that acquired a senior mezzanine loan position of a 1.7 million-square-foot class A portfolio in Stamford, Conn. In April 2012, it acquired a 320 unit, class A, multifamily property, situated on 27.9 acres in the Germantown/Collierville submarket of Memphis, Tennessee. On February 3, 2012, the Company acquired through its venture with Elad Canada Inc. the first mortgage loan secured by Sullivan Center, Chicago. During the year ended December 31, 2011, it acquired one investment property located in New York. On November 4, 2011, Socal Office Portfolio Loan LLC acquired first mortgage encumbering a 4,500,000 square foot, 31 property portfolios of office properties situated throughout southern California. On June 3, 2011 LW SOFI LLC acquired from Concord 100% of the economic rights and obligations in mezzanine loan collateralized by an interest in the Sofitel hotel in New York City. On June 1, 2011 it acquired, from Concord Debt Holdings LLC (Concord), senior mezzanine loan totaling 2,106 units located in Orlando, Sarasota, Bra! denton and Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. On March 22, 2011 the Company purchased through a 50/50 joint venture, two non-performing first mortgage loan. On February 23, 2011, it acquired first mortgage secured by a lien on a 26-story, 66 room limited service boutique hotel located in New York, New York through a 50/50 joint venture. On June 1, 2011 the Company sold to its partner, Marc Realty, its interest in three properties in its Marc Realty Portfolio, which included eight South Michigan, 11 East Adams and 29 East Madison.

Loan Assets

Loan assets segments includes the Company�� activities related to the origination and acquisition of senior loans, mezzanine loans and debt securities secured directly or indirectly by commercial and multi-family real property. The Company�� investment in Concord Debt Holdings LLC and CDH CDO LLC, which it refers to as the Company�� Concord investment platform, is held as an interest investment.

Operating Properties

The Company invested in a portfolio transaction, which it refers to as the Vintage portfolio. Vintage portfolio which has 25 multifamily and senior housing properties consist of 4,167 units located primarily in the Pacific Northwest and California. The average occupancy of its consolidated properties was approximately 75.1%, during 2011. As of December 31, 2011 WRT�� consolidated properties were approximately 74.2% leased. Occupancy at its Lisle, Illinois property known as 550-560 Corporetum was 61% occupied, as of December 31, 2011. At WRT�� other Lisle, Illinois property, referred to as 701 Arboretum, its major tenant, which occupied approximately 53% of the building vacated their space at the expiration of their lease term, on May 31, 2011. In addition, another tenant who occupied approximately 15% of the building vacated at the expiration of their lease, in August 2011. As a result, this property is 17% occupied, as of December 31, 2011. The Company�� 82,000 square foot Deer Valley Profes! sional Bu! ilding, located in Phoenix, Arizona was 95.6% leased, as of December 31, 2011. WRT�� Crossroads I and II buildings, which consisted of approximately 236,000 square feet, were 72.4% leased, as of December 31, 2011.

As of December 31, 2011, the Company had two tenants, Spectra Energy and Siemens Real Estate, which represented approximately 21.8% and 9.8%, respectively, of its annualized base rental revenues from consolidated commercial operating properties. As of December 31, 2011 it held interests in three real estate ventures with Sealy & Co. which had an aggregate of approximately 2,097,000 rentable square feet consisted of 18 office flex buildings and 13 light distribution and service center properties. Two of the investment properties are located in Atlanta, Georgia, (Northwest Business Park and Newmarket), which had occupancies of 77% and 52% respectively, as of December 31, 2011. As of December 31, 2011, WRT held interests in nine properties with Marc Realty, which consisted of an aggregate of approximately 1,407,000 rentable square feet of office and retail space, which was 78.5% occupied. Of the properties, in which the Company held an interest, as of December 31, 2011, two downtown Chicago properties consisted of approximately 389,000 rentable square feet of the aggregate Marc Realty portfolio. These two properties had a combined occupancy of 79.1% at December 31, 2011.

REIT Securities

The REIT securities segment includes all of the Company�� activities related the ownership of interest and debt securities in other real estate investment trusts (REITs). During 2011, it began investing again in REIT common shares, particularly in Cedar Realty Trust Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Corinne Gretler]

    Fugro NV (FUR) slumped 5.8 percent to 43.90 euros, the worst performance on the Stoxx 600. The world�� biggest deepwater-oilfield surveyor said first-half earnings before interest and taxes amounted to 133 million euros, compared with 154 million euros a year earlier. Fugro said that