Top Clean Energy Stocks To Buy Right Now

We retain our Neutral recommendation on Pinnacle West Capital Corp. (PNW). The Arizona based utility play presently holds a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Why the Reiteration?

Pinnacle West posted inspiring earnings results in the first quarter of 2013, widely surpassing our expectation. The company outperformed on the back of positive non-fuel rate changes and favorable retail sales.

Nevertheless, our reiteration takes into consideration the impact of the Obama climate plan which calls for reduction in coal-fired operations in the future. This will inevitably take a toll on Pinnacle West�� coal-generation business, which forms a major part of its operational mix.

Also, the lingering weak economic fundamentals in the U.S. will continue to prevent electric prices from gaining momentum thereby deterring Pinnacle West�� opportunities.

Yet, the company�� gradual shift to renewable energy sources will bode well for its future broad growth objectives. Pinnacle West has a series of solar investments in the pipeline in Arizona which will elevate its clean energy generation share to 15% by 2025. This will be further supported by consistent customer additions expected in the next 3 years.

Top Clean Energy Stocks To Buy Right Now: Touchdown Capital Inc(TDW.V)

Touchdown Resources Inc., an exploration stage company, engages in acquiring, exploring, and developing mineral prospects in Canada. It primarily explores for molybdenum, gold, and base metals. The company holds interests in the Sphinx and Jodi properties consisting of 15,400 hectares located west of Kimberly, British Columbia; McFarlane Lake Property comprising 3 mineral claims that consist of 22 units covering 352 hectares located in Broder Township, Ontario; and the Caribou property comprising 15 mineral claims located in the Caribou Mining Division of British Columbia. It also holds options to acquire a 80% interest in the Argyle gold project located west of Kirkland Lake, northern Ontario; a 100% in the Whitney property located in the central portion of Whitney township; and a 100% interests in 4 mineral claims located in Porcupine Mining Division, Ontario. The company was formerly known as Touchdown Capital Inc. and changed its name to Touchdown Resources Inc. in Mar ch 2010. Touchdown Resources Inc. was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Top Clean Energy Stocks To Buy Right Now: Joyas International Hldgs Ltd (E9L.SI)

Joyas International Holdings Limited, an investment holding company, engages in the design, manufacture, trading, packaging, and sale of metal gift, jewelry, and packaging products. It operates in three segments: Metal Gift Products, Jewelry Products, and Packaging and Other Items. The Metal Gift Products segment provides fashion accessories, including lipstick holders, compact mirrors, perfume atomizers, cufflinks, tie pins, and smoking accessories; desk top accessories, such as writing instruments, writing pad holders, calculators, and photo frames; computer accessories comprising keyboards, mice, and mouse pads; table top accessories, including candle stands, serving items, and bar ware; and time items, such as desk, travelling, carriage, functional, and pocket clocks. It designs and manufactures these products for international brands and designer labels, and other corporations to be used as corporate gifts. This segment sells its metal gift products under the Argent b rand name through its franchisees. It exports its products to Europe, the United States, and Asia, as well as sells through its franchisees� retail outlets in the People�s Republic of China and Hong Kong. The Jewelry Products segment involves in the design of jewelry products and subcontracts the manufacture of these products to independent third party subcontractors. It serves jewelry agents and retailers in Hong Kong and internationally. The Packaging and Other Items segment engages in designing, manufacturing, and selling packaging products. This segment also manufactures and sells print items, such as designed boxes for gift packaging, coasters, cloth bags, and board games. Joyas International Holdings Limited was incorporated in 2006 and is based in Kowloon, Hong Kong.

Top 10 China Stocks To Buy For 2014: GSV Capital Corp (GSVC)

GSV Capital Corp. (GSV Capital), formerly NeXt Innovation Corp., is a development-stage company. The Company is an externally managed, non-diversified closed-end management investment company. The Company�� investment objective is to maximize capital appreciation. The Company will seek to achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in privately held high growth venture backed companies and select mid cap and large cap publicly traded companies.

The Company may also invest in select publicly-traded equity securities of companies that otherwise meet its investment criteria. It seeks to acquire its investments primarily through private secondary market transactions and, to a lesser extent, through transactions executed on public securities exchanges and direct investments in its portfolio companies. The Company�� investment activities will be managed by GSV Asset Management. GSV Capital Service Company will provide the administrative services.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  Chegg, Inc. (NYSE: CHGG) was the IPO disappointment of the week. Sure it has a lot of competition, but IPOs are supposed to be on fire now. Chegg managed to gain almost 3% on Friday to close at $9.13, but one must remember that the IPO price at $12.50 never saw the $12.50 open. The stock opened at $9.80 and closed at $8.88 on the first day, a move which will baffle IPO investors of growth companies who are buying an IPO at a time when major indexes are hitting new all-time highs. By the way, GSV Capital Corp. (NASDAQ: GSVC) was a runner-up�loser along with Chegg, as this fund owned shares of Twitter and Chegg pre-IPO. The stock price was above $16 before the Twitter IPO and is now down to $12.03 after another 8.8% drop on Friday. Bye-bye.

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  A third angle to consider is the business development company GSV Capital Corp. (NASDAQ: GSVC). This is public and it owns a slug of Twitter shares. Its recent peak was $16.90 and the shares were recently down at $15.60. This stock rose into the Facebook, Inc. (NASDAQ: FB) IPO as well, only to roll over as Facebook’s shares did. The portfolio update from GSV on October 3 showed the following: Twitter, Inc. was shown to have a fair value of GSV Capital investment of $37.6 million, or about 15.1% of net assets at the time. If the IPO price has risen, so has that value. Another hot upcoming IPO of Chegg, Inc. was shown to have a fair value of GSV investment of $14.0 million, worth some 5.6% of net assets. Be advised that this stock has doubled since mid-summer, and shares fell rapidly from $18 down to $10 after the Facebook IPO.

• [By Helix Investment Research]

  Keating Capital is far from the only publicly traded pre-IPO investment company. There are several others, including GSV Capital (GSVC) and Firsthand Technology Value Fund (SVVC). Hercules Technology Growth Capital (HTGC) is also a pre-IPO fund, but with the bulk of its assets (over 92%) invested into loans to and debt of private companies, as opposed to their equity, the company's investment philosophy is different than that of these other pre-IPO funds. Unlike GSV Capital and Firsthand, Keating Capital, as a matter of policy, always purchases equity directly from portfolio companies, never from secondary markets such as SharesPost or SecondMarket. Mr. Keating outlined that this is due to the company's requirement that it be given access to all relevant financial data and managerial projections of its portfolio companies at all times, something that Mr. Keating believes is essential to being able to make informed investor decisions. We note that shares of Facebook (FB) and Twitter are conspicuously absent from Keating Capital's portfolio; the company declined to purchase shares of either company due to an inability to acquire direct financial information regarding these companies. In addition, Keating Capital has a stated goal of investing in the most senior equity securities available at each portfolio company.

• [By Chris Versace, Editor, PowerTrend Brief and PowerTrend Profits]

  I tend to avoid IPOs, per se, but every so often there's an opportunity to climb into a position before the company goes public, and in this case, that's GSV Capital, which is a venture portfolio company, publicly-traded, ticker symbol (GSVC) and they have about 15% of their holdings in Twitter.

Top Clean Energy Stocks To Buy Right Now: King Solomon Mines Ltd (KSO.AX)

King Solomon Mines Limited, through its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral resource properties in China. It primarily explores for gold, copper, and other metallic deposits. The company�s properties located in the Sonid Zuoqi county, Inner Mongolia include the Marmot copper�molybdenum�gold project that covers an area of 39.7 square kilometers; Sonid North gold project covering an area of 24.8 square kilometers; and Naogaoshandu gold project, which covers an area of 47.2 square kilometers. It also holds interest in Bu Dun Hua porphyry copper�molybdenum project covering an area of 25.1 square kilometers in the Wengniute County, Inner Mongolia. The company was founded in 2003 and is based in Auckland, New Zealand.

Top Clean Energy Stocks To Buy Right Now: Delta Natural Gas Company Inc. (DGAS)

Delta Natural Gas Company, Inc. distributes or transports natural gas in central and southeastern Kentucky. It operates through two segments, Regulated and Non-Regulated. The Regulated segment sells and distributes natural gas to its retail customers primarily in 23 rural counties. This segment also transports gas to industrial customers on its system who purchase gas in the open market, as well as transports gas on behalf of local producers and other customers not on its distribution system. The Non-Regulated segment purchases natural gas in the open market, primarily from Kentucky producers, and resells this gas to industrial customers on its distribution system and to others not on its system. This segment also produces natural gas that is sold to Delgasco for resale in the open market. The company owns approximately 2,500 miles of natural gas gathering, transmission, distribution, storage, and service lines; and holds leases for the storage of natural gas under 8,000 a cres located in Bell County, Kentucky. It serves approximately 37,000 customers. The company was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Winchester, Kentucky.

Top Clean Energy Stocks To Buy Right Now: Central European Distribution Corp (CEDCQ)

Central European Distribution Corporation (CEDC), incorporated on September 4, 1997, operates primarily in the alcohol beverage industry. CEDC is a producer of vodka and is Central and Eastern Europe�� integrated spirit beverages business. During the year ended December 31, 2011, as measured by total volume, the Company produced and distributed approximately 33.2 million nine-liter cases . The Company�� business primarily involves the production and sale of its own spirit brands (principally vodka), and the importation on a basis of a range of spirits, wines and beers. Its primary operations are conducted in Poland and Russia. In addition the Company also has operations in Hungary and Ukraine. CEDC has six manufacturing facilities located in Poland and Russia. On February 7, 2011, the Company completed purchasing of the remaining stake of the Whitehall Group.

CEDC is an importer of spirits, wines and beers in Poland, Russia and Hungary. The Company maintains import contracts for a number of internationally recognized brands, including Jim Beam Bourbon, Campari, Jagermeister, Remy Martin Cognac, Corona, Budweiser (Budvar), E&J Gallo wines, Carlo Rossi wines, Sutter Home wines, Metaxa Brandy, Sierra Tequila, Teacher�� Whisky, Cinzano, Old Smuggler, Grant�� Whisky and Concha y Toro wines. In addition to its operations in Poland, Russia, and Hungary the Company has Ukraine and distribution agreements for its vodka brands in a number of key export markets including the United Kingdom, Ukraine, the Baltics and the CIS for Green Mark, Zhuravli, Parliament and Zubrowka, the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, France for Zubrowka and many other Western European countries. In 2011, exports represented 11% of its sales by value.

Poland

In Poland, CEDC is the vodka producers with a brand portfolio that includes Absolwent, Zubrowka, Zubrowka Biala, Bols, Palace and Soplica brands, each of which it produces at its Polish distilleries. It produces and sells vodka! s primarily in three vodka sectors: premium, mainstream, and economy. The Company owns two production sites in Poland: one in Oborniki and one in Bialystok. In the Oborniki distillery, it produces the Bols and Soplica vodka brands, among other spirit brands. In Bialystok it produces Absolwent and Zubrowka. Zubrowka is also exported out of Poland to many markets around the world, including the United States, England, Japan and also France. In addition to the Absolwent and Zubrowka brands, in Bialystok it produces the Zubrowka Biala brand. The Company has rights to import and distribute approximately 70 brands of spirits, wine and beer into Poland. It also provides marketing support to the suppliers. During 2011, the Company sold approximately 10.7 million nine-liter cases of vodka, wine and spirits through its Polish business during 2011 including both its own produced vodka brands as well as its exclusive agency import brands. During 2011, the Company sold approximately 191 thousand nine-liter cases of Zubrowka outside of Poland. During 2011, the Company�� Polish operations accounted for 26.3% of its revenue.

Russia

CEDC produces Green Mark in Russia and the sub-premium vodkas in Russia, Parliament and Zhuravli. During 2011 the Company introduced new brands to the Russian market Talka, Sotka and Silver Blend. The Company also produces Yamskaya, the economy vodka in Russia, and premixed alcohol drinks, or long drinks. The Company also owns Whitehall, which holds the exclusive rights to the import of such leading premium wine and spirit brands as Concha y Toro, Paul Masson, Robert Mondavi, DeKuyper, Jose Cuervo and Label 5. In addition to these import activities, Whitehall has distribution centers in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and Rostov as well as a wine and spirits retail network located in Moscow. During 2011, the Company�� Russian operations accounted for 70.2% of its revenue. During 2011,the Company produced and sold approximately 16.6 million nine-liter cases of vodka th! rough its! Russian business in the main vodka segments in Russia: premium, sub-premium, mainstream, economy and cheap. In addition it produced and sold approximately 2.8 million nine-liter cases of long drinks.

Hungary

The Company sells Royal Vodka in Hungary through its Bols Hungary subsidiary. The imported brands to Hungary include Bols Vodka, Zubrowka, Royal Vodka, Campari, Cinzano, Jaegermeister, Bols Liqueurs, Cointreau, Carolans, Galliano, Irish Mist, Jose Cuervo, Calvados Boulard, Remy Martin, Metaxa, St Remy, Grant��, Glenfiddich, Tullamore Dew and Old Smuggler.

Top Clean Energy Stocks To Buy Right Now: NetSpend Holdings Inc.(NTSP)

Netspend Holdings, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides general purpose reloadable (GPR) prepaid debit and payroll cards, and alternative financial service solutions to underbanked and other consumers in the United States. Its GPR cards offer access to FDIC-insured depository accounts with a menu of pricing and features tailored to underbanked consumers needs; and serves as access devices to an FDIC-insured depository account with a bank. The company also provides various products and services to its cardholders, such as direct deposit, interest-bearing savings accounts, bill pay functionality, card-to-card transfer capability, personal financial management tools, and online and mobile phone card account access, as well as overdraft protection through its issuing Banks, and complimentary insurance coverage services. Netspend Holdings, Inc. markets its cards through various distribution channels, including retail distributors, direct-to-consumer and online marketi ng programs, and contractual relationships with corporate employers. As of December 31, 2011, it offered approximately 2.1 million active cards through approximately 600 retail distributors at approximately 40,000 locations; and reload services through approximately 450 retailers at approximately 130,000 locations. The company was founded in 1999 and is based in Austin, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jane Edmondson]

  One additional item of note: the stock has been a rumored take-out candidate since another large competitor, NetSpend (NTSP), received an offer to be acquired in February by global payment solutions provider TSYS (TSS).

Top Clean Energy Stocks To Buy Right Now: Astrotech Corporation(ASTC)

Astrotech Corporation operates as a commercial aerospace company in the United States. The company provides spacecraft payload processing and related services; designs and manufactures space hardware; and commercializes space technologies for use on the earth. It also offers satellite launch processing support to government and commercial customers for their communication, earth observation, and deep space satellites. The company?s processing activities consist of satellite ground transportation; pre-launch hardware integration and testing; satellite encapsulation, fueling, launch pad delivery; and communication linked launch control, as well as engineering services. In addition, it develops Miniature Chemical Detector, a chemical analyzer for use on international space station, as well as detects residues and vapors from a range of chemicals, including explosives, chemical warfare agents, toxic chemicals, and volatile organic compounds. The company serves the United Stat es Government and commercial satellite and spacecraft customers. Astrotech Corporation was founded in 1984 is headquartered in Austin, Texas.

Schaeffer's Contrarian Trio

A number of equities have seen significant spikes in short interest during the most recent reporting period; here we look at three outperformers, all of which could benefit from this increase in skepticism, says technician Terri Stridsberg, in Schaeffer Investment Research.

Dollar Tree (DLTR), has had a banner 2013, gaining 45.3% year-to-date, and tagging a new record high of $59.68. Nevertheless, short interest skyrocketed by close to 398% over the most recent reporting period, and now accounts for a healthy 6.7% of the equity's available float.

It would take more than seven days to cover these shorted shares, at the stock's average pace of trading—more than enough sideline cash to fuel a short-covering rally.

Meanwhile, data shows a 10-day put/call volume ratio of 1.46 for Dollar Tree, Inc., confirming puts bought to open have outstripped calls during the last two weeks.

This ratio ranks higher than 96% of similar readings taken within the past year, meaning traders have been picking up puts over calls at a near-annual-high clip. An unwinding of these bearish bets could help propel the shares even higher from their current perch.

HCA Holdings Inc. (HCA) has also been a standout on the charts this year, boasting a 2013 advance of nearly 55%—and besting the broader S&P 500 Index (SPX) by roughly 17 percentage points during the most recent three-month time frame—to trade at $46.67.

However, skeptics remain undaunted, as short interest surged by 30% over the course of the last two weeks. With a respectable 3.5% of the security's float now sold short—the equivalent of 9.5 million shares—an exodus by the bears could trigger a short-squeeze situation.

Also of note, Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio for HCA sits at 1.61, indicating puts outnumber calls among options scheduled to expire in the next three months.

This ratio registers in the 94th percentile of its annual range, signaling near-term traders have rarely been more put-focused toward the stock during the past 52 weeks.

If these bearish traders capitulate to HCA's positive price action, the unwinding of these near-term puts could provide an options-related boost.

Not to be outdone, Diana Shipping (DSX) has trekked 67.5% higher so far this year, and sports a 52-week gain of more than 72% to wink at the $12.20 level. Even so, the equity saw a 28.2% rise in short interest during the second half of September, and a 35.1% surge during the past two reporting periods.

Since these pessimistic bets now make up 4.8% of the stock's available float, a wave of future short-covering activity could serve as a tailwind for DSX down the road.

Further evidence of the doubt surrounding Diana Shipping Inc. lies in the fact that only three analysts have deemed the equity worthy of a strong buy endorsement, compared to five holds and two strong sell recommendations.

Adding insult to injury, Thomson Reuters shows an average 12-month price target of $11.48 for the shipping firm, denoting a discount to the stock's current price.

In other words, a round of upgrades and/or price-target hikes could be on the horizon for the security, which could add more fuel to DSX's contrarian tank.

Subscribe to Schaeffer's Investment Research here…

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Best Stocks to Buy Now: A Money Morning Weekly Roundup

A possible military attack on Syria and the August jobs report - the last major read on the economy before September's Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting - kept investors pegged to the sidelines last week - but we still delivered a handful of new stocks to buy for Money Morning readers...

Indeed, for the first time in three months, investors pulled some $226 million from U.S. equity funds, a reversal from inflows of $1 billion in the prior week.

And after a three-decade bull market run, bond holders were reminded that even these "less risky" investment vehicles aren't immune to a bear market. The 10-year Treasury note hit 3% intraday Thursday for the first time since 2011. Money is seeping from bond mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) ($45.7 billion through the end of August), with the bulk sitting in near-zero interest-baring money market instruments.

Money Morning knows that savvy investors make money in all market scenarios. With that in mind, following is a recap of some of the best stocks to buy now that Money Morning featured last week.

Best Stocks to Buy Now The political unrest in Syria has caused an oil-price spike. Fears are growing that a prolonged conflict could spread to neighboring oil-rich countries, disrupt supplies, and send oil prices soaring some $10 to $20 a barrel. Money Morning Global Energy Strategist Dr. Kent Moors details how investors can play oil's "Syrian Premium."
September is historically the worst month for stocks, and this September could be especially rocky as we approach the U.S. Federal Reserve's crucial Sept. 17-18 FOMC meeting. Money Morning Global Investing and Income Strategist Robert Hsu says he expects stocks to remain range bound heading into the central bank gathering. But, he tells readers how to make money from this tight trading range with one simple trade that lasts 10 days and gives investors the perfect blend of low risk and high probability. The key to a successful business can be summed up simply as having high profit margins. While revenue growth for U.S. businesses has been strong so far in 2013, with steady growth expected going forward, profit margins have only showed slight improvement. In How Investors Can Unlock the Power of Profit Margins, we explain how readers can find companies with the best sustainable profit margins and share three fantastic finds. Investors on the prowl for the best stocks to buy now frequently hunt among those involved in the shale oil boom. North America is undergoing an energy revolution. One formation in the western United States was certified by the United States Geological Service (USGS) as having 3 trillion barrels of oil. New supplies of oil and gas are being discovered daily away from historical suppliers, with North Dakota now the third-largest oil-producing state and bigger than some OPEC nations. Money Morning highlighted how investors can benefit from this boom that shows no signs of slowing down and featured some of the best industry plays to buy now. Read more here. This next tech stock to buy now saw its outlook brighten this summer - Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL). The iPhone maker is set to debut two new models this week: an updated iPhone 5S and a budget model. Expectations are running high that the low-cost device will be a big hit in emerging markets like China. In Giving China What It Wants Will Spice Up Apple Stock, Money Morning enlightens readers on why the low-priced device presents a huge opportunity for Apple. Additionally, we highlight a few likely new launches that are apt to put the shine back in Apple's shares.
For stocks to buy in a fascinating niche market, we featured a piece on tidal energy - one of the oldest forms of energy. It involves using the sun and moon's gravitational forces on tides to produce electricity and other forms of power by harnessing these forces through the use of water. Money Morning Global Energy Strategist Dr. Kent Moors says several recent tidal pilot projects indicate significant potential for this kind of power generation. To be sure, the U.S. Department of Energy is providing $16 million in new funding for tidal power. Moors also shared a micro-cap stock in this niche market that has huge prospects. Get the full story. Finally, here's one of the most important outlooks on Syria that you'll read today: There's Only One Thing About Syria That Matters to Americans

Best Companies To Buy For 2014

Speculative Stocks: `Buy the rumour, sell the fact`

It is difficult to identify a speculative stock as we get trapped in calculative trading or circular trading under-taken by a group of persons. Here are a few characteristics that can help an investor identify speculative stocks or stay away from such traps.

Size of the company

Speculations can happen irrespective of the size of the company. However in most cases, it is the small or mid-cap companies that attract the attention of traders. This is possible given the low liquidity, which allows traders to corner certain shares and rig prices.

In case of small-cap companies too traders can corner the shares and keep the supply under control, as there are few shares and less investor. It is difficult to do the same in case of large companies as they have large floating stocks in the market and huge number of investors. Investors should, therefore, be wary of small and mid-cap stocks.

Trading volumes

Pattern of volumes is important because it gives an idea as to why more people have suddenly developed interest in a particular stock. There are cases where daily volumes have gone up to 10,000 shares from 1,000 shares and further to 5,00,000 shares in a very short period. Here one can look at the delivery volumes taking place in that particular stock to understand if they are just hollow trades. It is almost certain that speculative stocks come along with the sudden spurt in volumes, which bring higher prices to attract more and more investors, particularly retail investors.

News flow

When volumes and prices gain momentum, a stock comes into the limelight and news or rumours about possible acquisition, land bank, merger, takeover, open offer, listing of a subsidiary company, restructuring, new orders, etc begin circulating. In many cases it is possible that not only traders but also insiders or the company staff or the management is involved in such calculated trades. Such news and rumours are spread to take the stock higher and higher. In most cases, the management is candid about its plans initially.

But when share prices reach their desired levels, the management appears on TV, newspapers and sometimes they even start advertising about the company and their plans, only to attract more investors. Remember news always comes in the end when the original traders who bought the stock at peanuts want to exit with hefty returns at the cost of others who now invest. A saying in the market goes thus: "Buy the rumour, sell the fact." The run up in share prices ends as soon as the company makes the official announcement.

Source: http://www.nirmalbang.com/Research/BeyondMarket.aspx?id=31&type

To read the full report click here

Will Royal Dutch Shell Stock See a Recovery?

With shares of Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE:RDSA) trading around $64, is RDSA an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE, or STAY AWAY? Let's analyze the stock with the relevant sections of our CHEAT SHEET investing framework:

T = Trends for a Stock’s Movement

Royal Dutch Shell operates as an independent oil and gas company worldwide. The company explores and extracts crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids. It also converts natural gas to liquids to provide fuel and other products, as well as engages in manufacturing, supplying, and shipping crude oil. The company holds interests in approximately 30 refineries, 1,500 storage tanks, and 150 distribution facilities.

Royal Dutch Shell reported earnings yesterday, posting a 60 percent drop in profit for the quarter. The company faced a $2 billion write-down on shale oil drilling ventures in North America, showing that Shell's drilling efforts have come up much shorter than expected. The company's earnings were also negatively affected by expensive exploration efforts, and disruptions to oil production in Nigeria. In addition, the company also recently appointed a new CEO, Ben van Beurden, after Peter Voser decided to leave the company.

T = Technicals on the Stock Chart are Weak

Royal Dutch Shell stock has not done very well in the last several years. The stock is now trading near lows for the year, and may need some time to recover. Analyzing the price trend and its strength can be done using key simple moving averages.

What are the key moving averages? They are the 50-day (pink), 100-day (blue), and 200-day (yellow) simple moving averages. As seen in the daily price chart below, Royal Dutch Shell is trading below its key averages, which signals neutral to bearish price action in the near-term.

(Source: Thinkorswim)

Taking a look at the implied volatility (red) and implied volatility skew levels of Royal Dutch Shell options may help determine if investors are bullish, neutral, or bearish.

	Implied Volatility (IV)	30-Day IV Percentile	90-Day IV Percentile
Royal Dutch Shell Options	Top 10 Casino Companies To Invest In Right Now 18.26%	73%	70%

What does this mean? This means that investors or traders are buying a very significant amount of call and put options contracts, compared to the last 30 and 90 trading days.

	Put IV Skew	Call IV Skew
August Options	Steep	Average
September Options	Steep	Average

As of today, there is average demand from call buyers or sellers, and high demand by put buyers or low demand by put sellers, all neutral to bearish over the next two months. To summarize, investors are buying a very significant amount of call and put option contracts, and are leaning neutral to bearish over the next two months.

On the next page, let’s take a look at the earnings and revenue growth rates, and what that means for Royal Dutch Shell’s stock.

E = Earnings Are Increasing Quarter-Over-Quarter

Rising stock prices are often strongly correlated with rising earnings and revenue growth rates. In addition, the last four quarterly earnings announcement reactions can help gauge investor sentiment on Royal Dutch Shell’s stock. What do the last four quarterly earnings and revenue growth (Y-O-Y) figures for Royal Dutch Shell look like, and more importantly, how did the markets like these numbers?

	2013 Q2	2013 Q1	2012 Q4	2012 Q3
Earnings Growth (Y-O-Y)	-43.85%	-7.86%	1.82%	1.79%
Revenue Growth (Y-O-Y)	-4.00%	-6.67%	2.92%	-8.36%
Earnings Reaction	-5.75%*	N/A	N/A	N/A

Royal Dutch Shell has seen mixed earnings and mostly declining revenue figures over the last four quarters. From these numbers, the markets are not pleased with Royal Dutch Shell’s recent earnings announcement.

* As of this writing

P = Weak Relative Performance Versus Peers and Sector

How has Royal Dutch Shell stock done relative to its peers, Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM), Chevron (NYSE:CVX), BP (NYSE:BP), and the overall sector?

	Royal Dutch Shell	Exxon Mobil	Chevron	BP	Sector
Year-to-Date Return	-6.29%	6.74%	16.64%	0.43%	4.81%

Royal Dutch Shell has been a poor relative performer, year-to-date.

Conclusion

Royal Dutch Shell is focused on oil and gas exploration and distribution, with operations all around the world. The company recently reported earnings that are not sitting well with investors. The stock is now trading near lows for the year, and it may need some time to recover. Over the last four quarters, earnings have been mixed, while revenue figures have been declining. Relative to its peers and sector, Royal Dutch Shell has been a poor year-to-date performer. WAIT AND SEE what Royal Dutch Shell does this coming quarter.

Merck Cuts 8,500 Jobs, Amazon Hires 70,000 For Holiday Season

The government standoff between President Obama and Speaker Boehner has resulted in over 800,000 federal workers being furloughed and the closing of national parks and attractions.  Among those forced to suspend operations is the Bureau of Labor Statistics, responsible for the all-important jobs report that won't be released Friday, as originally scheduled.  While Ben Bernanke and the rest of the market won't have that key data point, news from private companies continues to send mixed messages, with Merck Merck looking to lay off 8,500 employees in order cut costs, and Amazon announcing plans to bring on more than 70,000 seasonal workers ahead of the holiday season.

Merck is looking to save $2.5 billion, in part by laying off 8,500 employees - Image credit: AFP/Getty Images via @daylife

It's been difficult to ascertain how strong the labor market has been recently, as substantial declines in the unemployment rate have been partially offset by discouraged workers falling off the market.  With Ben Bernanke and the Fed looking to decide whether to taper quantitative easing, the government shutdown couldn't come at a more crucial time.

While investors will be looking to Wednesday's ADP report, they may get a glimpse of what's going on from a few major corporations.  Merck, for example, announced cost-cutting plans that will affect 20% of their global workforce.  The large pharma company is looking to save $2.5 billion by the end of 2015, and will shed 8,500 jobs, as well as relocate its global headquarters to Kenilworth, New Jersey.  Analysts at Citi aren't impressed with Merck, noting rivals Bristol Myers and Pfizer Pfizer provide a better value proposition.

Hot Cheap Companies To Invest In 2014

On the flip side is Amazon, the large e-retailer that continues to see its stock price race higher.  In a press release, the company run by Jeff Bezos explained increased customer demand means they will have to bring in more than 70,000 seasonal workers across their U.S. fulfillment centers this holiday season, a 40% increase over 2012.

Citi's equity analysts called this a positive sign of management's expectations for the holiday season.  Amazon's hiring growth, which accelerated over the 32% increase it experienced last year, contrasts with other retailers, with Walmart adding just 10% more seasonal jobs, Macy's 4%, and Target Target actually increasing its workforce 20% less than last year.  Amazon's North American sales should grow 20% in their fiscal second quarter, compared with 27% last year and 21% in fiscal 2012.

Merck and Amazon's plans reflect opposing realities, as the tech firm's stellar growth contrasts with the pharma's attempts to appease investors and cut costs.  Economic indicators have been sending mixed messages to Bernanke and the Federal Reserve for some time now, as the U.S. economic recovery struggles to solidify.  What ultimately is unquestionable, though, is that political bickering in Washington has the potential to erode confidence and weaken the economy's prospects.

Millennials spur flood of fancy fast-food breads

Fast food's oldest calling card — the boring bun — is getting turned on its head by Millennials.

Raised on breads often several culinary notches up from the familiar Wonder Bread of their Boomer parents, the target generation of the $200 billion fast-food industry is demanding — and receiving — unconventional bread options at even the biggest fast-food chains.

That may reach a new level of one-upsmanship on Monday, when Wendy's rolls out a new burger served on a brioche bun. For those who can't pronounce the word, it's BREE-osh, a light, slightly sweet French bread that's made with milk, eggs and a rich yeast dough. The fast-food joints are going bread crazy, just as casual dining did before them.

Carl's Jr. this week announced plans to start freshly baking its buns in-store. Culver's recently rolled out a burger with a "Pub Bun" sprinkled with onions, poppy seeds and sesame seeds. Earlier this spring, Arby's introduced a sweet, Hawaiian bread bun.

Smashburger offers four artisan buns, including multigrain and spicy chipotle. Wendy's and Sonic both rolled-out pretzel buns this summer, and flatbreads have shown-up in several fast-food and fast-casual chains, including Wendy's.

SmashBurger has 13 different artisan buns. Here is the chipotle bun.(Photo: Jeff Padrick, SmashBurger)

"For Millennials, your bread is your signature," says trend-spotter Marian Salzman. "Millennials need to have something that says who they are — uniquely them. The more unique the better — hold the raisins."

The group's food choices, which can hinge on who's got the tastiest bread, are typically based on social-media and word-of-mouth recommendations.

Subway is watching all this. It recently rotated muffins out a! t breakfast and replaced them with flatbread offerings, since consumers found flatbread to be "more exciting," says Tricia Hetherington, director of research and product development at Subway. The chain also recently rolled out a garlic bread option.

Millennials strongly influenced the decision by the Carl's Jr. and Hardee's chains to begin freshly baking its buns in the stores, says Chief Marketing Officer Brad Haley. "They're the first generation to grow up with a pervasive foodie culture that has, in turn, sort of democratized high-quality food for everyone."

But Wendy's has been the fast-food kingpin of wacky bread. "Millennials won't accept the Wendy's of 30 years ago," explains Craig Bahner, chief marketing officer. "They're influencing restaurants the way Boomers did in the past."

Wendy's has rolled out three premium breads this year. It was among the first to sell a flatbread sandwich. Its two pretzel bread sandwiches were both bit hits. But the pretzel buns, which were limited-time offerings, will be pulled to make room for the new Bacon Portabella Melt served on a brioche bun.

Top 5 Energy Stocks To Invest In 2014

Will the pretzel bun return?

"We can't talk about things we might — or might not — do," says Bahner.

In other words, of course it will.

Bristow Group Beats on Revenue, Matches Expectations on EPS

Bristow Group (NYSE: BRS  ) reported earnings on May 22. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended March 31 (Q4), Bristow Group beat expectations on revenues and met expectations on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue grew. Non-GAAP earnings per share shrank significantly. GAAP earnings per share grew significantly.

Gross margins shrank, operating margins contracted, net margins grew.

Revenue details
Bristow Group chalked up revenue of $391.6 million. The six analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ wanted to see revenue of $380.7 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 23% higher than the prior-year quarter's $318.7 million.

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

EPS details
EPS came in at $1.01. The seven earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $1.02 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $1.01 for Q4 were 17% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.22 per share. GAAP EPS of $1.11 for Q4 were 185% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.39 per share.

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

Margin details
For the quarter, gross margin was 31.7%, 300 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 12.3%, 510 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 10.3%, 580 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $393.8 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.00.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.64 billion. The average EPS estimate is $4.58.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 226 members out of 236 rating the stock outperform, and 10 members rating it underperform. Among 66 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 63 give Bristow Group a green thumbs-up, and three give it a red thumbs-down.

Best Heal Care Companies To Watch For 2014

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Bristow Group is hold, with an average price target of $70.00.

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Add Bristow Group to My Watchlist.

Top Insurance Companies To Watch For 2014

WASHINGTON ��An engineer from technology giant Google has been recruited to help fix HealthCare.gov, the new federal insurance exchange website.

Software companies Red Hat and Oracle will also assist, according to Julie Bataille, spokeswoman for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which has coordinated the development of the site that has experienced numerous problems in its first month of operations.

"As part of the 'Tech Surge,' we've added key personnel from the government and private sector, including expert engineers and technology managers," Bataille wrote in a blog item posted Thursday. "These dozens of people are strengthening and reinforcing the team we have working 24/7 to address the problems around HealthCare.gov."

During a question-and-answer session at Oracle's shareholders' meeting today, CEO Larry Ellison said the database giant "thinks it is our responsibility as a technology provider in the technology industry to serve all of our customers, and the federal government is one of our customers, so we are helping them in every way we can."

Top Insurance Companies To Watch For 2014: Iamgold Corporation(IAG)

IAMGOLD Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration, development, and production of mineral resource properties worldwide. It primarily explores for gold, silver, zinc, copper, niobium, diamonds, and other metals. The company holds interests in eight operating gold mines, a niobium producer, a diamond royalty, and exploration and development projects located in Africa and the Americas. Its advanced exploration and development projects include the Westwood project in Canada; and the Quimsacocha project, which consists of 3 mining concessions covering an aggregate area of approximately 8,030 hectares in Ecuador. The company was formerly known as IAMGOLD International African Mining Gold Corporation and changed its name to IAMGOLD Corporation in June 1997. IAMGOLD Corporation was founded in 1990 and is based in Toronto, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Michael Blair]

  IAMGOLD (IAG) is one of my favorite gold stocks principally because it is a relatively high cost producer with long lived mines. That paradox arises since high cost producers have the most volatility when gold prices change. If they are operating close to break even, a relatively small rise in gold prices makes them quite profitable. Conversely, when prices fall they bleed all over the floor.

• [By Inyoung Hwang]

  Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc sank 3.3 percent after reporting results and naming the head of its U.K. consumer unit as chief executive officer. William Hill Plc (WMH) dropped the most in four years after the bookmaker posted earnings that missed analysts��projections. International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (IAG) rose to a five-year high as the parent of British Airways reported an operating profit in the second quarter.

Top Insurance Companies To Watch For 2014: W.R. Berkley Corporation(WRB)

W. R. Berkley Corporation, an insurance holding company, operates as commercial lines writers in the property casualty insurance business primarily in the United States. The company operates in five segments: Specialty, Regional, Alternative Markets, Reinsurance, and International. The Specialty segment underwrites third-party liability risks, primarily excess, and surplus lines, including premises operations, professional liability, commercial automobile, products liability, and property lines. The Regional segments provide commercial insurance products to small-to-mid-sized businesses, and state and local governmental entities primarily in the 45 states of the United States. The Alternative Markets segment develops, insures, reinsures, and administers self-insurance programs and other alternative risk transfer mechanisms. This segment offers its services to employers, employer groups, insurers, and alternative market funds, as well as provides a range of fee-based servic es, including consulting and administrative services. The Reinsurance segment engages in the underwriting property casualty reinsurance on a treaty and a facultative basis, including individual certificates and program facultative business; and specialty and standard reinsurance lines, and property and casualty reinsurance. The International segment offers personal and commercial property casualty insurance in South America; commercial property casualty insurance in the United Kingdom and continental Europe; and reinsurance in Australia, Southeast Asia, and Canada. The company was founded in 1967 and is based in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Insurance holding company�W.R. Berkley� (NYSE: WRB  ) �announced yesterday�its second-quarter dividend of $0.10 per share, an 11% increase over the $0.09 per share it paid last quarter.

• [By Laura Brodbeck]

  Earnings reports expected on Monday include:

  Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) is expected to report third quarter EPS of $0.48 on revenue of $1.10 billion, compared to last year�� EPS of $0.13 on revenue of $905.09 million. Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is expected to report third quarter EPS of $1.19 on revenue of $2.07 billion, compared to last year�� EPS of $1.21. W.R. Berkley Corporation (NYSE: WRB) is expected to report third quarter EPS of $0.71 on revenue of $1.57 billion, compared to last year�� EPS of $0.61 on revenue of $1.42 billion. Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) is expected to report third quarter EPS of $0.44 on revenue of $1.27 billion, compared to last year�� EPS of $0.56 on revenue of $1.31 billion.

  Economics

• [By Monica Gerson]

  W.R. Berkley (NYSE: WRB)is estimated to report its Q3 earnings at $0.74 per share on revenue of $1.57 billion.

  V.F. Corp (NYSE: VFC) is projected to report its Q3 earnings at $3.78 per share on revenue of $3.34 billion.

Top Growth Companies To Watch In Right Now: Aflac Incorporated(AFL)

Aflac Incorporated, through its subsidiary, American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus (Aflac), provides supplemental health and life insurance. The company offers various voluntary supplemental insurance products, including cancer plans, general medical indemnity plans, medical/sickness riders, care plans, living benefit life plans, ordinary life insurance plans, and annuities in Japan. It also provides loss-of-income products, such as life and short-term disability plans; and products designed to protect individuals from depletion of assets, which comprise hospital indemnity, fixed-benefit dental, vision care, accident, cancer, critical illness/critical care, and hospital intensive care plans in the United States. The company sells its products through sales associates and brokers, affiliated corporate agencies, independent corporate agencies, and individual agencies. Aflac Incorporated was founded in 1955 and is headquartered in Columbus, Georgia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  AFLAC (NYSE: AFL  ) reported earnings on April 24. Here are the numbers you need to know.

  The 10-second takeaway
  For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), AFLAC beat slightly on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

• [By Matt Koppenheffer and David Hanson]

  In this segment of The Motley Fool's financials-focused show, Where the Money Is, banking analysts David Hanson and Matt Koppenheffer rank insurance stocks. The stocks ranked include: Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK-A  ) (NYSE: BRK-B  ) , Markel (NYSE: MKL  ) , AIG (NYSE: AIG  ) , and Aflac (NYSE: AFL  ) . Berkshire Hathaway may be No.1 in the guy's hearts, but it is it also the top pick in their rankings?

• [By Chuck Saletta]

  Who showed us the money?
  On Monday, supplemental insurance giant AFLAC (NYSE: AFL  ) paid $9.45 in dividends to the IPIG portfolio. This was the company's third consecutive dividend at $0.35 per share. If it follows its previous trends, we can expect another payment at that level before it gets reviewed for potential increase.

Top Insurance Companies To Watch For 2014: Old Republic International Corporation(ORI)

Old Republic International Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides various insurance and mortgage guaranty products in North America. The company operates in three segments: General Insurance, Mortgage Guaranty, and Title Insurance. The General Insurance segment provides liability insurance coverages to businesses, government, and other institutions in commercial construction, forest products, energy, general manufacturing, and financial services industries; and transportation, including trucking and general aviation industries. It provides various insurance products, such as automobile extended warranty, aviation, commercial automobile insurance, general liability, home warranty, inland marine, travel accident, and workers? compensation, as well as liability coverage for claims arising from the acts of owners or employees, and protection for the physical assets of businesses. This segment also offers financial indemnity products, such as consumer credit indemnity , errors and omissions/directors and officers, guaranteed asset protection, and surety, as well as bonds that cover the exposures for losses of monies, or debt and equity securities due to acts of employee dishonesty. The Mortgage Guaranty segment insures first mortgage loans, primarily on residential properties incorporating one-to-four family dwelling units to mortgage bankers, brokers, commercial banks, and savings institutions. The Title Insurance segment provides lenders' and owners' title insurance policies to real estate purchasers and investors based upon searches of the public records. It also provides escrow closing and construction disbursement services; and real estate information products, national default management services, and services related to real estate transfers and loan transactions. Old Republic International Corporation markets its products directly, as well as through insurance agents and brokers. The company was founded in 1887 and is based in Chi cago, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Holly LaFon]

  Prem Watsa is renowned for his long track record of outstanding returns using Buffett-style value investing through his worldwide insurance and reinsurance company, Toronto-based Fairfax Financial Holdings. His five-year cumulative is 176.4%, compared to 12.2% for the S&P 500. Most recently, he made headlines for making a large contrarian bet on Research In Motion (RIMM) and joining its board in his first activist investing foray. In the fourth quarter, he added to this position. He also added to his positions in Citigroup Inc. (C), Old Republic Corp. (ORI) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and dramatically reduced one of his largest holdings, Dell (DELL). As a Ben Graham devotee, Watsa looks past short-term fluctuations in price to the underlying strength of a business. His stance on the economy, as of September and October 2011, was that he believed the U.S. was showing Depression-level interest rates and deficits, but he still liked some stocks and would hedge his exposure, he told CFA Institute Magazine.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Its big day has also boosted other insurers. Radian Group (RDN) has risen 7.2% to $14.39, while Old Republic International (ORI) has advanced 2.1% to $15.24, Genworth Financial (GNW) is up 3.6% at $13.41 and MBIA Inc. (MBI) has jumped 4.3% to $10.76.

• [By Marc Bastow]

  Insurance underwriting company Old Republic (ORI) raised its quarterly dividend 5.8% to 18 cents per share, payable on Dec. 16 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 4.
  ORI Dividend Yield: 4.28%

Top Insurance Companies To Watch For 2014: Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd (FRFHF)

Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited (Fairfax) is a financial services holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, is principally engaged in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance and the associated investment management. The Company�� segments consist of Insurance, Reinsurance, Insurance and Reinsurance Other, Runoff, and Corporate and Other. On December 22, 2011, the Company completed the acquisition of 75% interests in Sporting Life Inc. On August 16, 2011, the Company acquired William Ashley China Corporation. On March 24, 2011, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Fairfax completed the acquisition of The Pacific Insurance Berhad. On February 9, 2011, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Fairfax completed the acquisition of First Mercury Financial Corporation. In October 2012, its RiverStone runoff subsidiary acquired all the outstanding shares of Brit Insurance Limited. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tim Brugger]

  Citing the letter of intent to be acquired�for $9 a share signed Monday with a consortium led by its largest shareholder, Fairfax Financial (NASDAQOTH: FRFHF  ) , BlackBerry� (NASDAQ: BBRY  ) �has opted to cancel its conference call and webcast following the 7 .a.m EST release of Q2 earnings this Friday, the company announced yesterday.

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  That business model has been so successful that other, smaller insurance companies have emulated it. For instance, Fairfax Financial (NASDAQOTH: FRFHF  ) and Markel (NYSE: MKL  ) have used the same investing model to take advantage of their respective core insurance businesses. Both Fairfax and Markel have had substantial success, showing the power of using temporarily available premium reserves to make higher-return investments.

Top Insurance Companies To Watch For 2014: Aon Corporation(AON)

Aon Corporation provides risk management services, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, and human resource consulting and outsourcing services primarily in the United States, the Americas, the United Kingdom, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The company?s Risk Solutions segment offers retail brokerage products and services, including affinity products, general underwriting management services, placement services, and captive management services; and advisory services to technology, financial services, agribusiness, aviation, construction, health care, and energy industries, as well as facilitates various risk management solutions for property liability, general liability, professional liability, directors' and officers' liability, workers' compensation, and various healthcare products. This segment also provides risk consulting services comprising captive management; eSolutions products that enable clients to manage risks, policies, claims, and safet y concerns through an integrated technology platform; reinsurance brokerage services, such as actuarial, enterprise risk management, catastrophe management, and rating agency advisory services; property and casualty reinsurance; and specialty lines, which include professional liability, medical malpractice, accident, life, and health, as well as capital management transaction and advisory services. Its HR Solutions segment offers human capital services in the areas of health and benefits, retirement, compensation, and strategic human capital; and benefits administration and human resource business process outsourcing services. The company was founded in 1919 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Risk manager�Aon� (NYSE: AON  ) announced yesterday its third-quarter dividend of $0.175 per share, the same rate it paid last quarter after raising the payout 11%, from $0.1575 per share.

Top Insurance Companies To Watch For 2014: Citizens Inc (CIA)

Citizens, Inc. (Citizens), incorporated on November 8, 1977, is an insurance holding company serving the life insurance needs of individuals in the United States. The Company operates in three segments: Life Insurance, Home Service and Other Non-insurance Enterprises. Its core insurance operations include issuing and servicing the United States Dollar-denominated ordinary whole life insurance and endowment policies predominantly to high net worth, high income foreign residents, principally in Latin America and the Pacific Rim, through independent marketing consultants; ordinary whole life insurance policies to middle income households concentrated in the midwest and southern United States through independent marketing consultants, and final expense and limited liability property policies to middle and lower income households in Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi through employee and independent agents in its home service distribution channel.

Life Insurance

The Company�� Life Insurance segment issues ordinary whole life insurance domestically and in United States Dollar-denominated amounts to foreign residents. These contracts are designed to provide a fixed amount of insurance coverage over the life of the insured. Additionally, endowment contracts are issued by the Company, which are principally accumulation contracts that incorporate an element of life insurance protection. The Company operates the segment through its subsidiaries: CICA Life Insurance Company of America (CICA) and Citizens National Life Insurance Company (CNLIC).

The Company offers several ordinary whole life insurance and endowment products designed to meet the needs of its non-United States policy owners. Its domestic life insurance products focus primarily on living needs and provide benefits focused toward accumulating money for the policyowner. The Company�� life insurance products are principally designed to address the insured�� concern about outliving his or her monthly income,! while at the same time providing death benefits. The primary purpose of its product portfolio is to help the insured create capital for needs, such as retirement income, children's higher education funds, business opportunities, emergencies and health care needs.

Home Service Insurance

The Company operates in the Home Service market through its subsidiaries Security Plan Life Insurance Company (SPLIC) and Security Plan Fire Insurance Company (SPFIC), and focus on the life insurance needs of the middle and lower income markets, primarily in Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas. Its home service insurance products consist primarily of small face amount ordinary whole life and pre-need policies, which are designed to fund final expenses for the insured, primarily consisting of funeral and burial costs.

Other Non-Insurance Enterprises

Other Non-insurance Enterprises includes Computing Technology, Inc., which provides data processing services to the Company, and Insurance Investors, Inc., which provides aviation transportation to the Company. This segment also includes the results of Citizens, Inc., the parent Company.

Top Insurance Companies To Watch For 2014: Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRKB)

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Berkshire), incorporated on June 16, 1998, is a holding company owning subsidiaries engaged in a number of diverse business activities. The Company is engaged in the insurance businesses conducted on both a primary basis and a reinsurance basis, a freight rail transportation business and a group of utility, and energy generation and distribution businesses. Berkshire also owns and operates a number of other businesses engaged in a variety of activities. In October 2012, HomeServices acquired a 66.7% interest in the residential real estate brokerage franchise network in the United States. In May 2013, Berkshire acquired the remaining 20% stake in IMC International Metalworking Companies BV.

Insurance and Reinsurance Businesses

Berkshire�� insurance and reinsurance business activities are conducted through numerous domestic and foreign-based insurance entities. Berkshire�� insurance businesses provide insurance and reinsurance of property and casualty risks worldwide and also reinsure life, accident and health risks worldwide. The Company�� insurance underwriting operations are consisted of the sub-groups, including GEICO and its subsidiaries, General Re and its subsidiaries, Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group and Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group. GEICO insurance subsidiaries include Government Employees Insurance Company, GEICO General Insurance Company, GEICO Indemnity Company, GEICO Casualty Company, GEICO Advantage Insurance Company, GEICO Choice Insurance Company and GEICO Secure Insurance Company. These companies primarily offers private passenger automobile insurance to individuals in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. In addition, GEICO insures motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, recreational vehicles and small commercial fleets and acts as an agent for other insurers who offer homeowners, boat and life insurance to individuals. GEICO markets its policies primarily through direct response methods in which applications for insura! nce are submitted directly to the companies via the Internet or by telephone.

General Re Corporation (General Re) is the holding company of General Reinsurance Corporation (GRC) and its subsidiaries and affiliates. GRC�� subsidiaries include General Reinsurance AG, an international reinsurer based in Germany. General Re subsidiaries conduct business activities globally in 51 cities and provide insurance and reinsurance coverages throughout the world. General Re provides property/casualty insurance and reinsurance, life/health reinsurance and other reinsurance intermediary and risk management, underwriting management and investment management services.

Property/Casualty Reinsurance

General Re�� property/casualty reinsurance business in North America is conducted through GRC. Property/casualty operations in North America are also conducted through 16 branch offices in the United States and Canada. Reinsurance activities are marketed directly to clients without involving a broker or intermediary. General Re�� property/casualty business in North America also includes specialty insurers (primarily the General Star and Genesis companies). These specialty insurers underwrite primarily liability and workers��compensation coverages on an excess and surplus basis and excess insurance for self-insured programs. General Re�� international property/casualty reinsurance business operations are conducted through internationally-based subsidiaries on a direct basis (through General Reinsurance AG, as well as several other General Re subsidiaries in 23 countries) and through brokers (primarily through Faraday, which owns the managing agent of Syndicate 435 at Lloyd�� of London and provides capacity and participates in 100% of the results of Syndicate 435).

Life/Health Reinsurance

General Re�� North American and international life, health, long-term care and disability reinsurance coverages are written on an individual and group basis. Most! of this ! business is written on a proportional treaty basis, with the exception of the United States group health and disability business, which is predominately written on an excess treaty basis. Lesser amounts of life and disability business are written on a facultative basis. The life/health business is marketed on a direct basis.

The Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group (BHRG) operates from offices located in Stamford, Connecticut. Business activities are conducted through a group of subsidiary companies, led by National Indemnity Company (NICO) and Columbia Insurance Company (Columbia). BHRG provides principally excess and quota-share reinsurance to other property and casualty insurers and reinsurers. BHRG�� underwriting activities also include life reinsurance and life annuity business written through Berkshire Hathaway Life Insurance Company of Nebraska and financial guaranty insurance written through Berkshire Hathaway Assurance Corporation.

BHRG writes catastrophe excess-of-loss treaty reinsurance contracts. BHRG also writes individual policies for primarily large or otherwise unusual discrete risks on both an excess direct and facultative reinsurance basis, referred to as individual risk, which includes policies covering terrorism, natural catastrophe and aviation risks. A catastrophe excess policy provides protection to the counterparty from the accumulation of primarily property losses arising from a single loss event or series of related events. Catastrophe and individual risk policies may provide amounts of indemnification per contract and a single loss event may produce losses under a number of contracts. BHRG also underwrites traditional non-catastrophe insurance and reinsurance coverages, referred to as multi-line property/casualty business.

The Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group is a collection of primary insurance operations that provide a range of insurance coverages to insureds located principally in the United States. NICO and certain affiliates underw! rite moto! r vehicle and general liability insurance to commercial enterprises on both an admitted and excess and surplus basis. This business is written nationwide primarily through insurance agents and brokers and is based in Omaha, Nebraska. U.S. Investment Corporation (USIC), through its four subsidiaries led by United States Liability Insurance Company, is a specialty insurer that underwrites commercial, professional and personal lines of insurance on an admitted and excess and surplus basis. Policies are marketed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia through wholesale and retail insurance agents. USIC companies underwrite and market 110 distinct specialty property and casualty insurance products. Medical Protective Corporation (MedPro) is based in Fort Wayne, Indiana. MedPro offers products and solutions through its subsidiaries, The Medical Protective Company and Princeton Insurance Company and is a primary healthcare malpractice insurance coverage and patient safety solutions to physicians, dentists, other healthcare providers and healthcare facilities. Other insurance operations include the Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies (BHHC), a group of six insurance companies that primarily offers standalone workers��compensation, commercial auto and commercial property coverages.

Railroad Business

Through Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC (BNSF) Railway, BNSF operates a railroad network in North America with approximately BNSF operates a railroad network in North America with approximately 32,500 route miles of track (excluding multiple main tracks, yard tracks and sidings) in 28 states and two Canadian provinces as of December 31, 2012. BNSF owns approximately 23,000 route miles, including easements, and operates on approximately 9,500 route miles of trackage rights that permit BNSF to operate its trains with its crews over other railroads��tracks. As of December 31, 2012, the total BNSF Railway system, including single and multiple main tracks, yard tracks and sidings,! consiste! d of approximately 50,500 operated miles of track, all of which are owned by or held under easement by BNSF except for approximately 10,500 miles operated under trackage rights.

BNSF is based in Fort Worth, Texas, and through BNSF Railway Company operates railroad systems in North America. In serving the Midwest, Pacific Northwest, Western, Southwestern and Southeastern regions and ports of the country, BNSF transports a range of products and commodities derived from manufacturing, agricultural and natural resource industries. Over half of the freight revenues of BNSF are covered by contractual agreements of varying durations. BNSF�� primary routes, including trackage rights, allow it to access major cities and ports in the western and southern United States, as well as parts of Canada and Mexico.

Utilities and Energy Businesses

MidAmerican�� businesses are managed as separate operating units. MidAmerican�� domestic regulated energy interests are consisted of two regulated utility companies serving more than three million retail customers, two interstate natural gas pipeline companies with approximately 16,600 miles of pipeline and a design capacity of approximately 7.7 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day and a 50% interest in electric transmission businesses. Its Great Britain electricity distribution subsidiaries serve about 3.9 million electricity end-users. In addition, MidAmerican�� interests include a diversified portfolio of domestic independent power projects, a hydroelectric facility in the Philippines, the residential real estate brokerage firm in the United States and the residential real estate brokerage franchise network in the United States.

PacifiCorp is a regulated electric utility company, serving regulated retail electric customers in portions of Utah, Oregon, Wyoming, Washington, Idaho and California. The combined service territory�� diverse regional economy ranges from rural, agricultural and mining areas to urban,! manufact! uring and government service centers. As a vertically integrated electric utility, PacifiCorp owns approximately 10,600 net megawatts (MW) of generation capacity.

MidAmerican Energy Company (MEC) is a regulated electric and natural gas utility company, serving regulated retail electric and natural gas customers primarily in Iowa and also in portions of Illinois, South Dakota and Nebraska. MEC has a diverse customer base consisting of urban and rural residential customers and a range of commercial and industrial customers. In addition to retail sales and natural gas transportation, MEC sells regulated electricity principally to markets operated by regional transmission organizations and regulated natural gas to other utilities and market participants on a wholesale basis and sells non-regulated electricity and natural gas services in deregulated markets. As a vertically integrated electric and gas utility, MEC owns approximately 7,400 net megawatts of generation capacity.

The natural gas pipelines consist of Northern Natural Gas Company (Northern Natural) and Kern River Gas Transmission Company (Kern River). Northern Natural is based in Nebraska and owns interstate natural gas pipeline system in the United States reaching from southern Texas to Michigan�� Upper Peninsula. Northern Natural�� pipeline system consists of approximately 14,900 miles of natural gas pipelines. Northern Natural also operates three underground natural gas storage facilities and two liquefied natural gas storage peaking units.

Kern River is based in Utah and owns an interstate natural gas pipeline system that consists of approximately 1,700 miles and extends from supply areas in the Rocky Mountains to consuming markets in Utah, Nevada and California. Kern River transports natural gas for electric utilities and natural gas distribution utilities, major oil and natural gas companies or affiliates of such companies, electricity generating companies, energy marketing and trading companies, a! nd financ! ial institutions. The Great Britain utilities consist of Northern Powergrid (Northeast) Limited (Northern Powergrid (Northeast)) and Northern Powergrid (Yorkshire) plc (Northern Powergrid (Yorkshire)), which own a substantial Great Britain electricity distribution network that delivers electricity to end-users in northeast England in an area covering approximately 10,000 square miles. The distribution companies primarily charge supply companies regulated tariffs for the use of electrical infrastructure. MidAmerican also owns HomeServices of America, Inc. (HomeServices), a full-service residential real estate brokerage firm in the United States. HomeServices offers integrated real estate services, including mortgage originations and mortgage banking primarily through joint ventures, title and closing services, property and casualty insurance, home warranties, relocation services and other home-related services. It operates under 27 residential real estate brand names with over 16,000 sales agents and in nearly 375 brokerage offices in 21 states.

Manufacturing, Service and Retailing Businesses

Berkshire�� numerous and diverse manufacturing, service and retailing businesses. Marmon Holdings, Inc. (Marmon) consists of approximately 140 manufacturing and service businesses that operate independently within 11 diverse business sectors. These sectors are distribution services, electrical and plumbing products, industrial products, crane services, engineered wire and cable, transportation services and engineered products, food service equipment, highway technologies, retail home improvement products, retail store fixtures, and water treatment.

Distribution Services supplies specialty metal pipe and tubing, bar and sheet products to markets, including construction, industrial, aerospace and many others. Electrical and Plumbing Products is engaged in the distribution, supplying electrical building wire primarily for residential and commercial construction, and copper tube for th! e plumbin! g, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), refrigeration and industrial markets, through the wholesale channel. Industrial Products consists of metal fasteners and fastener coatings for the construction, industrial and other markets, gloves for industrial markets, portable lighting equipment for mining and safety markets, overhead electrification equipment for mass transit systems, custom-machined aluminum and brass forgings for the construction, energy, recreation and other industries, brass fittings and valves for commercial and industrial applications, and drawn aluminum tubing and extruded aluminum shapes for the construction, automotive, appliance, medical and other markets.

Crane Services is engaged in providing the leasing and operation of mobile cranes primarily to the energy, mining and petrochemical markets. Engineered Wire and Cable is engaged in supplying electrical and electronic wire and cable for energy related markets and other industries. Transportation Services and Engineered Products includes manufacturing, leasing and maintenance of railroad tank cars, leasing of intermodal tank containers, in-plant rail services, manufacturing of bi-modal railcar movers, wheel, axle and gear sets for light rail transit and gear products for locomotives, manufacturing of steel tank heads, and services, equipment and technology for processing and distributing sulfur.

Food Service Equipment is engaged in supplying commercial food preparation equipment for restaurants and shopping carts for retail stores. Highway Technologies primarily serve the heavy-duty highway transportation industry with trailers, fifth wheel coupling devices and undercarriage products, such as brake parts and suspension systems, and also serving the light vehicle aftermarket with clutches and related products. Retail Home Improvement Products is engaged in supplying electrical and plumbing products through the home center channel. Retail Store Fixtures provides shelving systems, other merchandising di! splays an! d related services for retail stores, as well as work and garden gloves sold at retail. Water Treatment includes residential water softening, purification and refrigeration filtration systems, treatment systems for industrial markets including power generation, oil and gas, chemical, and pulp and paper, gear drives for irrigation systems and cooling towers, and air-cooled heat exchangers.

McLane Company, Inc. (McLane) provides wholesale distribution and logistics services in all 50 states and internationally in Brazil to customers that include convenience stores, discount retailers, wholesale clubs, drug stores, military bases, quick service restaurants and casual dining restaurants. Operations include grocery distribution, foodservice distribution, beverage distribution, international logistics and software development. McLane�� foodservice distribution unit, based in Carrollton, Texas, focuses on serving the quick service restaurant industry. Operations are conducted through 18 facilities in 16 states. The foodservice distribution unit services more than 19,000 chain restaurants nationwide.

Other Manufacturing, Other Service and Retailing Businesses

Berkshire�� apparel manufacturing businesses include manufacturers of a range of clothing and footwear. Businesses engaged in the manufacture and distribution of clothing products include Fruit of the Loom, Inc. (Fruit), Russell Brands, LLC (Russell), Vanity Fair Brands, LP (VFB), Garan and Fechheimer Brothers. Berkshire�� footwear businesses include H.H. Brown Shoe Group, Justin Brands and Brooks Sports. Fruit, Russell and VFB (together FOL) is primarily a vertically integrated manufacturer and distributor of basic apparel, underwear and athletic apparel and products. Products, under the Fruit of the Loom and JERZEES labels are primarily sold in the mass merchandise and wholesale markets. In the VFB product line, Vassarette, Bestform and Curvation are sold in the mass merchandise market, while Vanity Fair and! Lily of ! France products are sold in the mid-tier chains and department stores. FOL also markets and sells athletic uniforms, apparel, sports equipment and balls to team dealers; college licensed tee shirts and fleecewear to college bookstores and mid-tier merchants; and athletic apparel, sports equipment and balls to sporting goods retailers under the Russell Athletic and Spalding brands. Additionally, Spalding markets and sells balls in the mass merchandise market and dollar store channels.

Garan designs, manufactures, imports and sells apparel primarily for children, including boys, girls, toddlers and infants. Products are sold under its own trademark Garanimals and private labels of its customers. Garan also licenses its registered trademark Garanimals to independent third parties. Garan conducts its business through operating subsidiaries located in the United States, Central America and Asia. Fechheimer Brothers manufactures, distributes and sells uniforms, principally for the public service and safety markets, including police, fire, postal and military markets. Fechheimer Brothers is based in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Justin Brands and H.H. Brown Shoe Group manufacture and distribute work, rugged outdoor and casual shoes and western-style footwear under a number of brand names, including Justin, Tony Lama, Nocona, Chippewa, Carolina, Sofft, Double-H Boots, Eurosoft, and Softspots. Acme Building Brands (Acme) manufactures and distributes clay bricks (Acme Brick and Jenkins Brick), concrete block (Featherlite) and cut limestone (Texas Quarries). In addition, Acme distributes a range of other building products of other manufacturers, including glass block, floor and wall tile, wood flooring and other masonry products. Acme also sells ceramic floor and wall tile, as well as marble, granite and other stones through its subsidiary, American Tile and Stone. Benjamin Moore & Co. (Benjamin Moore) is a formulator, manufacturer and retailer of a range of architectural coatings, available principa! lly in th! e United States and Canada. Products include water-thinnable and solvent-thinnable general purpose coatings (paints, stains and clear finishes) for use by the general public, contractors and industrial and commercial users. Products are marketed under various registered brand names, including Regal, Super Spec, MoorGard, Aura, Nattura, ben, Coronado, Insl-x and Lenmar.

Johns Manville (JM) is a manufacturer and marketer of products for building insulation, mechanical insulation, commercial roofing and roof insulation, as well as fibers and nonwovens for commercial, industrial and residential applications. JM serves markets that include aerospace, automotive and transportation, air handling, appliance, HVAC, pipe insulation, filtration, waterproofing, building, flooring, interiors and wind energy. The Shaw Industries Group, Inc. (Shaw) is a carpet manufacturer based on both revenue and volume of production. Shaw designs and manufactures over 3,000 styles of tufted carpet, tufted and woven rugs, laminate and wood flooring for residential and commercial use under about 30 brand and trade names and under certain private labels. Shaw also provides installation services and sells ceramic and vinyl tile along with sheet vinyl. Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is a manufacturer of recreational vehicles, utility, cargo and office trailers, buses and pontoon boats. Albecca Inc. (Albecca) does business primarily under the Larson-Juhl name. Albecca designs, manufactures and distributes a range of products, including wood and metal molding, matboard, foamboard, glass, equipment and other framing supplies in the United States, Canada and 15 countries outside of North America.

FlightSafety International Inc. (FSI) is engaged in professional aviation training services to individuals, businesses (including certain commercial aviation companies) and the United States. Government. FSI primarily provides training to pilots, aircraft maintenance technicians, flight attendants and dispatchers who op! erate and! support a range of business, commercial and military aircraft. NetJets Inc. (NJ) is a provider of fractional ownership programs for general aviation aircraft. TTI, Inc. (TTI) is a specialty distributor of passive, interconnect, electromechanical and discrete components used by customers in the manufacturing and assembling of electronic products. TTI�� customer base includes original equipment manufacturers, electronic manufacturing services, original design manufacturers, military and commercial customers, as well as design and system engineers. TTI services a range of industries, including telecommunications, medical devices, computers and office equipment, aerospace, automotive and consumer electronics.

Finance and Financial Products

The Company�� finance and financial products businesses include manufactured housing and finance (Clayton Homes), transportation equipment leasing (XTRA), furniture leasing (CORT), as well as various miscellaneous financing activities. Clayton Homes, Inc. (Clayton) is a vertically integrated manufactured housing company. As of December 31, 2012, Clayton operated 34 manufacturing plants in 12 states. Clayton�� homes are marketed in 48 states through a network of 1,441 retailers, including 323 company-owned home centers. XTRA is a transportation equipment lessor operating under the XTRA Lease brand name. XTRA manages a diverse fleet of approximately 82,000 units located at 58 facilities throughout the United States and two facilities in Canada. The fleet includes over-the-road and storage trailers, chassis, temperature controlled vans and flatbed trailers. CORT Business Services Corporation is a provider of rental relocation services, including rental furniture, accessories and related services in the rent-to-rent segment of the furniture rental industry.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET.COM]

  Berkshire Hathaway is an investment manager with a variety of investments in a number of industries. It is being reported that the company made significant gains from investments during the Financial Crisis. The stock has been flying higher in recent years and is now consolidating near all time high prices. Over the last four quarters, earnings and revenues have been rising. Relative to its peers and sector, Berkshire Hathaway �has been an average year-to-date performer. Look for Berkshire Hathaway to OUTPERFORM.

• [By Tiernan Ray]

  Berkshire Hathaway�(BRKB) this afternoon reported Q2 operating earnings per Class-A share of $2,384, up 6% from the year-earlier period, and topping a consensus for $2,163 according to FactSet.

  The company’s book value per share rose 7.6% from the beginning of the year to $122,900.

  The company saw a $322 million gain on investments, better than the prior-year’s $81 million gain, and a $300 million gain on derivatives, versus a year-earlier $693 million loss.

  Total revenue for the company from all its holdings was up 16% at $44.69 billion.

  Total assets rose to $446.56 billion from $427.45 billion a year earlier.

  The full federal filing for the quarter is available on the company’s Web site.

  In the filing,�Warren Buffett and his team outlined gains in the underwriting business, railroads, and energy, with a “mixed” bag of results for manufacturing, services and retail:

  Our insurance businesses generated significant underwriting gains in the first six months of 2013 and 2012. Our railroad and utilities and energy businesses continued to generate significant earnings in 2013. Earnings from our manufacturing, service and retailing businesses in 2013 were mixed, but as indicated in the table above earnings from these businesses increased about 4.8% during the second quarter and 7.4% during the first six months [...] Premiums written [by Geico] in the second quarter and first six months of 2013 were $4,548 million and $9,389 million, respectively, representing increases of 11.7% and 11.5%, respectively, compared to the corresponding 2012 periods. Premiums earned in the second quarter and first six months of 2013 increased $465 million (11.3%) and $848 million (10.4%), respectively, compared to premiums earned in the corresponding 2012 periods. The growth in premiums earned for voluntary auto was 10.4%, reflecting an increase in policies-in-force of 8.2% over the past year, and to a lesser d

2014 Resolution: This Year, I Will Blog

As the years advance, some things change and some things never change.

The need for advisors to connect with prospective clients remains a business imperative from year to year. But the ability to do so has increased exponentially in today’s digital reality.

Rather than confine oneself to whoever shows up at a Kiwanis Club meeting, with all the difficulties inherent in generating quality discussions, an advisor today can develop his thoughts privately and reach a potentially unlimited audience through blogging.

“A blog lets you communicate some of your knowledge and passion; in the pre-blog days, this was impossible to create,” says Susan Weiner, an independent financial writing consultant and author of the new book Financial Blogging: How to Write Powerful Posts That Attract Clients.

“Now, [with the advent of blogs],” she tells ThinkAdvisor in a phone interview, “by the time an advisor connects with a prospect, they already know the advisor is a good fit for them.”

Incidentally, while an advisor might not necessarily know who’s reading (or passing on links to) their blog posts, there are nevertheless successful strategies for getting in touch.

“Offer some kind of incentive or special report to get readers onto your e-mail list,” says Weiner, who offers a mini e-book with investment writing tips to those who subscribe to her free e-newsletter.

Top 10 Penny Companies To Watch For 2014

While the advantages of blogging are available to advisors today, the challenges of blogging may well remain.

“Everybody wants to do it, but these people are not professional writers. That’s not what their training prepared them to do,” Weiner says. “Advisors can feel overwhelmed sitting at the computer typing a blog post.”

That’s where her book comes in, with its practical step-by-step guidance, including worksheets and checklists.

“Starting a blog can seem overwhelming," she says. "I try to take that feeling away from folks.”

Weiner, a CFA with a professional background in financial services, initially faced her own struggles with effective communication.

“I didn’t start as a good writer, so what I share in this book are some of the techniques that helped me along the way,” she says.

What’s more, before publishing her 107-page book, she tested its ideas with “real, live advisors” through a private online community “where I posted lessons and advisors posted their homework.”

Among her key findings are that, just as defining a niche is critical to building an advisory practice, so too is a niche mentality important in financial blogging.

“The most important thing is to identify who your target audience is and to write for them,” she says. “Don’t try and write for the whole world of prospects out there.”

Rather, if advisors “speak” to a narrow enough audience, your audience is “going to feel understood. You have to carry that understanding into the way that you write,” Weiner says.

Another blogging imperative missing from many blogs is a sense (on the part of the author) of “why should readers care?”

“What problem does the blog post solve for the reader? If you can identify some nagging problem and you can address it, you can [connect with] the reader,” Weiner says.

The financial writing consultant also offers ideas for those who are not strong writers:

“You can…get away with short posts by commenting on somebody else’s work," she says. "For example, if there’s an article in the newspaper that’s getting attention, you can link to it but give your spin on it. ‘Here’s what this person said in the Wall Street Journal, and here’s my take.’ It’s not as powerful as [a more developed] blog, but gives you a chance to express an opinion.”

There’s canned content — but that makes it harder for an advisor to stand out, she says. And standing out is the whole purpose of maintaining a blog — addressing the problem of differentiating the advisor from a vast army of professionals who are offering quite similar products and services.

Another approach for writing-challenged advisors:

“For folks who don’t like to write but are very articulate, they can embed a podcast on their blog or [produce] a slideshow using Slide Share, or video.” There’s also ghost-blogging, a service she herself provides.

Whatever the problem, there are solutions. One that comes up often is compliance, but Weiner says that’s not as big a deal as many imagine it to be.

“It just takes sitting down with your compliance officer and getting a sense of what’s acceptable and what’ not," she says. "If you’re going to stay away from discussing specific investments and guaranteeing returns, you have a fair amount of leeway.”

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