Sunday, August 31, 2014

Top 10 Net Payout Yield Companies To Buy Right Now

Almost daily, asset managers roll out new mutual funds, ETFs and other products. (The latest funds are highlighted each Monday in ThinkAdvisor’s Portfolio Products Roundup.)

Chicago-based Morningstar provides data and in-depth research on some 433,000 investment offerings worldwide and says it does its best to keep advisors and investors up to speed on each and every product on the market.

“Although we spend most of our time updating the Morningstar Analyst Ratings of funds we've already rated, we continue to add funds to our ratings universe,” said Russel Kinnel in a report last Monday. “Some of these funds are relatively new, while others have been around for a long time.”

Morningstar analysts give funds a rating of gold, silver, bronze, neutral or negative.

Best Wireless Telecom Stocks To Buy Right Now: NeuroMetrix Inc.(NURO)

NeuroMetrix, Inc., a science-based health care company, develops and markets products for the detection, diagnosis, and monitoring of peripheral nerve and spinal cord disorders, such as those associated with diabetes, carpal tunnel syndrome, lumbosacral disc disease, and spinal stenosis. The company focuses on diagnosis and treatment of the neurological complications of diabetes, including diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and median neuropathy. Its marketed products include the ADVANCE NCS/EMG system, a platform for the performance of traditional nerve conduction studies and invasive electromyography procedures for the diagnosis and evaluation of CTS, low back and leg pain, and DPN; and the NC-stat DPNCheck, a device used to evaluate systemic neuropathies, such as DPN at the point-of-care, as well as consumables and accessories for use with its neurodiagnostic equipment. The company is also developing SENSUS pain therapy device, a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimul ator used in the management of chronic pain, such as that caused by DPN; and ADVANCE CTS, a version of the ADVANCE NCS/EMG device for the detection of CTS in people with diabetes. The company distributes its products directly through its direct sales force and independent sales representatives to physicians, clinics, and hospitals consisting of primary care, internal medicine, orthopedic and hand surgeons, pain medicine physicians, neurologists, physical medicine and rehabilitation, physicians, and neurosurgeons, as well as endocrinology/podiatry market in the United States and internationally. NeuroMetrix, Inc. was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Bryan Murphy]

    If you missed the recent surges from Neurometrix Inc. (NASDAQ:NURO) and/or OXiGENE Inc. (NASDAQ:OXGN), and decided to skip an entry on either or both because they were too frothy at the time, then here's some good news.... you're getting a second chance. Both NURO and OXGN are getting their proverbial second wind, and they're doing so at a price much lower than the price you would have had to pay for either just a few days ago. There's just one catch - you may want to hurry of you want in. This second wind is unfurling as rapidly as the first surges did.

  • [By Bryan Murphy]

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

  • [By Bryan Murphy]

    Don't get me wrong - it's fun to be right. There's such a thing as being too right (or at least too right, too fast) though, and when that happens, the smart thing to do is, well do something about it. Case in point? I was right yesterday about Neurometrix Inc. (NASDAQ:NURO). I suggested the stock was already in the midst of a breakout, and NURO was poised to soar. I didn't count on this morning's big jump and subsequent gap, however, so now that my risk of continuing to hold it is as big as my potential reward from here, I and anybody else who followed my lead has a tough decision to make... though I've already made mine.

  • [By Bryan Murphy]

    For the second time in as many days, I find myself supporting the purchase of a suddenly-bullish stock by saying "this time is different". Yesterday I was talking about OXiGENE Inc. (NASDAQ:OXGN), but today I'm using the term to describe the bullishness that's unfurling with Neurometrix Inc. (NASDAQ:NURO). And just for the record, yes, I know the perils of the "this time is different" argument. I tend to cringe when I hear it, as (too much) experience has taught me that things are rarely different - patterns within the market play themselves out over and over again. In the case of NURO as well as OXGN though, I can put my finger on something specific that we've not yet seen.

Top 10 Net Payout Yield Companies To Buy Right Now: iShares MSCI Germany ETF (EWG)

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

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

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Mary Anne & Pamela Aden]

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

  • [By Mark Salzinger]

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

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

  • [By Matthew McCall]

    iShares MSCI Germany ETF (NYSE: EWG)

    The mess in the Ukraine has spread to Western Europe. Germany led the region lower with a three percent loss this morning. The German economy is the largest in Europe and with their trading ties to Eastern Europe, it is not surprising to see the country falling on the news. Many Western Europe ETFs have gotten ahead of themselves in the short-term and the pullback on the conflict could result in a great buying opportunity by the end of the week, depending on how the situation plays out.

  • [By Tom Aspray]

    A few weeks ago, I focused on some of the euro countries' debt levels, as well as the improvement in some of their manufacturing data. Their stock markets have continued to rally sharply as the iShares MSCI France (EWQ) is up over 13% since early July and is doing just slightly better than Germany (EWG).

Top 10 Net Payout Yield Companies To Buy Right Now: FirstService Corporation (FSRV)

FirstService Corporation provides real estate related services to commercial, institutional, and residential customers in North America and internationally. The company operates in three segments: Commercial Real Estate Services, Residential Property Management, and Property Services. The Commercial Real Estate Services segment offers brokerage, property management and maintenance, valuation, project management, and corporate advisory services primarily on office, industrial, retail, and multi-unit residential properties to owners, investors, tenants, corporations, financial institutions, governments, and individuals. The Residential Property Management segment manages private residential communities, including condominiums, cooperatives, homeowner associations, and various other residential developments governed by multi-unit residential community associations. This segment provides a range of property management services comprising facility maintenance, landscaping, swim ming pool management, home service contracts, energy usage benchmarking and retrofit consulting, real estate sales and leasing, heating, air conditioning, and concierge services. The Property Services segment offers various residential and commercial services through delivery channels, such as contractor network, franchise networks, and branchises. It provides property preservation, maintenance, repair, and inspection services to residential mortgage lenders and servicers for properties in the delinquency and foreclosure process; residential and commercial restoration services serving the insurance restoration industry; residential and commercial painting, and decorating services; installed closet and home storage systems; exterior residential painting and window cleaning services; home repair and remodeling service franchise; home inspection; and residential floor coverings design and installation services. FirstService Corporation was founded in 1972 and is headquartered i n Toronto, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By John Udovich]

    Midcaps CBRE Group Inc (NYSE: CBG) and Jones Lang LaSalle Inc (NYSE: JLL) are probably the better known real estate services stocks with the latter surging 12.36% yesterday on impressive earnings, but small cap stocks Kennedy-Wilson Holdings Inc (NYSE: KW) and FirstService Corporation (NASDAQ: FSRV) are also important real estate services providers that you may have overlooked. After all, real estate services stocks like the following would offer exposure to real estate by being invested in property as well as generating revenue from transactions, property management and other services: ��

  • [By Seth Jayson]

    FirstService (Nasdaq: FSRV  ) reported earnings on April 26. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

Top 10 Net Payout Yield Companies To Buy Right Now: Grupo Aeromexico SAB de CV (AEROMEX*)

Grupo Aeromexico SAB de CV is a Mexican holding company primarily engaged in the provision of passenger and cargo air transport services. It offers destinations in Mexico, the United States, Europe, Central and South America, Asia and Canada. It operates a fleet of over 110 aircrafts. The Company is primarily engaged in the passenger transportation segment, comprising regional, domestic and international routes, and package holidays; as well as in cargo transportation segment, handled mainly by its subsidiary Aeromexico Cargo. By its subsidiaries the Company is also engaged in real estate sector and in providing services to the aviation companies, including personnel training, management, and aircraft maintenance and modification. Its subsidiaries include Aerovias de Mexico SA de CV, Premier Loyalty & Marketing SAPI de CV, and Inmobiliaria Avenida Fuerza Aerea Mexicana 416 SA de CV, among others. In addition, it is a member of the SkyTeam airline alliance. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Jonathan Levin]

    Volaris became Mexico�� second publicly traded carrier, after larger competitor Grupo Aeromexico SAB (AEROMEX*) sold stock in 2011. Airlines in Mexico have expanded into a void left when Cia. Mexicana de Aviacion, then largest based on passenger traffic, sought protection from creditors and ceased operations in 2010.

Top 10 Net Payout Yield Companies To Buy Right Now: MCG Capital Corporation(MCGC)

MCG Capital Corporation is a private equity firm specializing in investments in middle market companies. The firm does not prefer investments in highly cyclical and volatile industry sectors and businesses with significant volatility exposure. It seeks to invest in small to mid sized companies. The firm prefers to invest in acquisitions, growth financings, organic growth, recapitalization, and leveraged buyouts. It invests in companies based in the United States. The firm seeks to invest upto $75 million in debt and equity in companies having revenues between $20 million and $200 million and EBITDA between $3 million and $25 million. It seeks to invest in the form of senior debt, including amortizing, bullet maturity, term loans, and revolving credit facilities; institutional sub debt, including junior capital; second lien debt, that includes term loans on sole source and participant basis; secured and unsecured subordinate loans structured as current interest, deferred in terest, and equity linked components; mezzanine debt and equity that includes minority equity investments. The firm may invest in minority or control equity positions. It was formerly known as MCG Credit Corporation. MCG Capital Corporation was founded in 1990 and is based in Arlington, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Equities Lab]

    The stocks that currently pass the stock screen in order of market cap are Frontier Communications Corp , Crown Media Holdings (CRWN), Vonage Holding (VG), MCG Capital Corp (MCGC), 1-800-FLOWERS.COM (FLWS), MTR Gaming Corporation (MNTG), Alaska Communications (ALSK), and Enzon Pharmaceuticals (ENZN).

Top 10 Net Payout Yield Companies To Buy Right Now: Susser Petroleum Partners LP (SUSP)

Susser Petroleum Partners LP is primarily engaged in fee-based wholesale distribution of motor fuels to Susser Holdings Corporation (SHC) and third parties. SHC operates over 540 retail convenience stores under its Stripes convenience store brand. In addition to distributing motor fuel, the Company also distributes other petroleum products, such as propane and lube oil, and it receive rental income from real estate that it lease or sublease. In January 2014, Susser Petroleum Partners LP announced the acquisition of the convenience store assets and fuel distribution contracts of Sac-N-Pac Stores, Inc. and 3W Warren Fuels, Ltd.

During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company distributed 789.6 million gallons of motor fuel to Stripes convenience stores and 522.8 million gallons of motor fuel to other customers. It also distributes Chevron, CITGO, Conoco, Exxon, Mobil, Phillips 66, Shamrock, Shell, Texaco and Valero branded motor fuel, as well as unbranded motor fuel. In addition to distributing motor fuel, it also distributes other petroleum products, such as propane and lube oil.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Robert Rapier]

    Susser Petroleum Partners (NYSE: SUSP) debuted in September 2012, and has appreciated by 50 percent since. Susser engages in fee-based wholesale distribution of motor fuels. The partnership also distributes petroleum products like propane and lube oil, and receives rental income from real estate.

  • [By Robert Rapier]

    Susser Petroleum Partners (NYSE: SUSP) engages in fee-based wholesale distribution of motor fuels. The partnership also distributes petroleum products like propane and lube oil, and receives rental income from real estate.

Top 10 Net Payout Yield Companies To Buy Right Now: Kimberly-Clark Corporation(KMB)

Kimberly-Clark Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and marketing of various health care products worldwide. The company operates in four segments: Personal Care, Consumer Tissue, K-C Professional & Other, and Health Care. The Personal Care segment provides disposable diapers, training and youth pants, and swimpants; baby wipes; and feminine and incontinence care products, and related products. It offers its products primarily for household use under various brand names, including Huggies, Pull-Ups, Little Swimmers, GoodNites, Kotex, Lightdays, Depend, and Poise. The Consumer Tissue segment offers facial and bathroom tissue, paper towels, napkins, and related products for household use under the Kleenex, Scott, Cottonelle, Viva, Andrex, Scottex, Hakle, and Page brands. The K-C Professional & Other segment offers facial and bathroom tissue, paper towels, napkins, wipers, and a range of safety products for the away-from-home marketplace und er Kimberly-Clark, Kleenex, Scott, WypAll, Kimtech, KleenGuard, Kimcare, and Jackson brand names. The Health Care segment offers disposable health care products, such as surgical drapes and gowns, infection control products, face masks, exam gloves, respiratory products, pain management products, and other disposable medical products under the Kimberly-Clark, Ballard, and ON-Q brand names. The company sells its products to supermarkets; mass merchandisers; drugstores; warehouse clubs; variety and department stores; retail outlets; manufacturing, lodging, office building, food service, and health care establishments; and high volume public facilities. It markets its products through wholesalers, distributors, and direct sales. The company was founded in 1872 and is based in Dallas, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Monica Gerson]

    Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) is estimated to report its Q3 earnings at $1.40 per share on revenue of $5.23 billion.

    Cree (NASDAQ: CREE) is projected to post its Q1 earnings at $0.39 per share on revenue of $392.31 million.

  • [By guruek]

    According to GuruFocus Insider Data, these are the largest insider buys during the past week: Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB), Ecolab Inc. (ECL), Delta Air Lines Inc. (DAL), Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. (GMCR), and NiSource Inc. (NI).

  • [By John Kell]

    Kimberly-Clark Corp.(KMB) said its fourth-quarter profit soared on organic sales growth and wider margins. Results beat expectations, and the consumer-products company predicted earnings for the year that bracketed the consensus view. Shares edged up 2% to $107.50 premarket.

Hot Cheap Stocks To Invest In 2014

Two key issues have been in play in the stock market as we head into the long Labor Day weekend. Insider buying has been robust in the past month, yet the market has moved steadily downward. The S&P 500 has slid 5% since Aug. 2.

As a result, many recent insider purchases are now "underwater." That spells opportunity. If these stocks are even cheaper than the levels in which insiders found them to be appealing, then we may witness even deeper insider buying in coming weeks, further validating this "buy" signal. Here's a look at six examples.

1. Aircastle (NYSE: AYR) In early June, this aircraft leasing firm agreed to sell a 15% stake in itself to Japan's Marubeni Corp. The two firms aim to leverage each other's global transport divisions, cross-selling services and equipment to each other's customer base.

Marubeni began buying shares in subsequent weeks, and by early August, already qualified as an insider as its ownership stake moved above 5%. Throughout the past month, Marubeni has kept on buying, even as shares moved past the $17 mark. Yet in recent days, the market turmoil has pushed shares down close to $16. Look for Marubeni to keep buying until it hits the 15% ownership threshold. Meanwhile, analysts have yet to project the benefits of these two firms' partnership, as forward earnings estimates have remained largely static over the past 90 days.

Hot Dividend Stocks For 2015: Cloud Peak Energy Inc(CLD)

Cloud Peak Energy Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in coal mining operations in the Powder River Basin of the United States. It produces sub-bituminous steam coal with low sulfur content for electric utilities and industrial customers. The company owns and operates Antelope surface coal mine located to the south of Gillette, Wyoming; the Cordero Rojo surface coal mine located to the south of Gillette, Wyoming; and the Spring Creek surface coal mine located in Montana. It also owns a 50% interest in the Decker surface coal mine located in Montana. As of December 31, 2010, it had approximately 970 million tons of proven and probable reserves. The company was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Gillette, Wyoming.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Johanna Bennett]

    As for specific stocks, the Goldman analysts issued five ratings changes:

    Upgrade CONSOL Energy to Buy given strong production growth at its E&P segment, improving cash flow from the coal business and potential for asset sales/restructuring to help realize its SOTP value. Downgrade Arch Coal to Sell due to high leverage, peak valuations and low free cash flow levels. Neutral Ratings on Cloud Peal Energy (CLD), Alpha Natural Resources (ANR) and Walt Energy (WLT): Goldman downgrade Cloud to a Neutral given a lower production outlook and a reduced PRB price forecast. The firm upgraded Alpha and Walt to Neutral from Sell, predicting that met coal prices have bottomed.

    Arch Coal has fallen 5.7% to day to $4.26, followed by Cloud Pearl, down 3.4% to $14.68, and a 3% drop by Walt Energy to $14.10. Alpha Natural dropped 2.8% to $6.10. And CONSOL fell 0.9% to $33.46.

  • [By Joshua Bondy]

    Not all coal is the same. Utilities can buy relatively clean, low-sulfur Powder River Basin coal from�Cloud Peak Energy (NYSE: CLD  ) , or stick to more traditional dirty sources. �China and the U.S. are tiring of highly polluting coal, and Cloud Peak Energy is a critical part of the solution.

  • [By Ben Levisohn]

    During the past three months, Consol Energy (CNX) has gained 11%, Peabody Energy (BTU) has risen 3.4% and Cloud Peak Energy (CLD) has dropped just 0.8%. (Arch Coal (ACI), it should be noted, has plunged 11% during that time period.) Is this the start of a good thing?

Hot Cheap Stocks To Invest In 2014: Hewlett-Packard Company(HPQ)

Hewlett-Packard Company and its subsidiaries provide products, technologies, software, solutions, and services to individual consumers and small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), as well as to the government, health, and education sectors worldwide. Its Personal Systems Group segment offers commercial personal computers (PCs), consumer PCs, workstations, calculators and other related accessories, and software and services for the commercial and consumer markets. The company?s Services segment provides consulting, outsourcing, and technology services to infrastructure, applications, and business process domains. Its Imaging and Printing Group segment provides consumer and commercial printer hardware, supplies, media, and scanning devices, such as inkjet and Web solutions, laser jet and enterprise solutions, managed enterprise solutions, graphics solutions, and printer supplies. The company?s Enterprise Servers, Storage, and Networking segment offers industry standard s ervers, business critical systems, storage platforms, and networking products, including switches, routers, wireless LAN, and TippingPoint network security products. Its HP Software segment provides enterprise IT management software, information management solutions, and security intelligence/risk management solutions. The company?s HP Financial Services segment offers leasing, financing, utility programs, and asset recovery services; and financial asset management services for enterprise customers, as well as specialized financial services to SMBs, and educational and governmental entities. Hewlett-Packard Company also provides business intelligence solutions that enable businesses to standardize on consistent data management schemes, connect and share data across the enterprise, and apply analytics, as well as licenses its specific technology to third parties. The company was founded in 1939 and is headquartered in Palo Alto, California.

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

    And finally, there's good ol' Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ). Rumors are flying that the company is going to enter the 3D printing market next year. While this may be great for 3D consumers and print fanatics, I have a hard time envisioning the company making the jump to 4D. Still, the 2.5% dividend may be compelling enough to justify playing around the edges here.

  • [By Jamal Carnette and Nathan Hamilton]

    Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ  ) is a company still searching for a turnaround. After a tumultuous past marked by a revolving door of executives, former eBay head Meg Whitman came in to right the ship. After instituting many changes and marking down past acquisitions, Whitman promised a turnaround for HP -- one that hasn't quite materialized yet.�

  • [By Dan Caplinger]

    Finally, it's hard to predict which individual stocks will follow the rule. For instance, selling in May last year led you to miss out on nearly 30% gains in Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT  ) and a 20% gain in Home Depot (NYSE: HD  ) , and while Home Depot has continued to rise sharply since then, Wal-Mart has trailed the Dow's overall rise since November. Yet Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ  ) and Intel (NASDAQ: INTC  ) have exhibited classic sell-in-May behavior, rebounding in recent months from last summer's swoon.

Hot Cheap Stocks To Invest In 2014: Alliance Holdings GP L.P.(AHGP)

Alliance Holdings GP, L.P., through its subsidiaries, produces and markets coal primarily to utilities and industrial users in the United States. It produces a range of steam coal with varying sulfur and heat contents. The company operates nine underground mining complexes in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, and West Virginia. As of December 31, 2010, it had approximately 697.4 million tons of proven and probable coal reserves in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. In addition, the company leases land; and operates a coal loading terminal, with a capacity of 8.0 million tons with ground storage of approximately 60,000 to 70,000 tons, on the Ohio River at Mt. Vernon, Indiana. Further, it engages in purchasing and selling coal; and providing services, including ash and scrubber sludge removal, coal yard maintenance, and arranging alternate transportation services. Alliance GP, LLC, serves as the general partner of the company. Allian ce Holdings GP, L.P. is based in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Robert Rapier]

    The National Association of Publicly Traded Partnerships (NAPTP) lists five MLPs in the category ��atural Resources – Coal,��although two of the five are Alliance Holdings (NYSE: AHGP) and its operating affiliate, Alliance Resource Partners (NYSE: ARLP). The other three are Natural Resource Partners (NYSE: NRP), Rhino Resource Partners (NYSE: RNO), and Oxford Resource Partners (NYSE: OXF).

  • [By Seth Jayson]

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

Hot Cheap Stocks To Invest In 2014: UnitedHealth Group Incorporated(UNH)

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated provides healthcare services in the United States. Its Health Benefits segment offers consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services to national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses, and individuals; and non-employer based insurance options for purchase by individuals. It also provides health and well-being services for individuals aged 50 and older; and for services dealing with chronic disease and other specialized issues for older individuals, as well as health plans for the beneficiaries of acute and long-term care Medicaid plans. This segment offers its services through a network of 730,000 physicians and other health care professionals, and 5,300 hospitals. Its OptumHealth segment provides health, financial, and ancillary services and products that assist consumers through personalized health management solutions; benefit administration, and clinical and network management; health-based financi al services; behavioral solutions; and specialty benefits, such as dental, vision, life, critical illness, short-term disability, and stop-loss product offerings. The company?s Ingenix segment offers database and data management services, software products, publications, consulting and actuarial services, business process outsourcing services, and pharmaceutical data consulting and research services. Its Prescription Solutions segment provides integrated pharmacy benefit management services comprising retail network pharmacy contracting and management, claims processing, mail order pharmacy services, specialty pharmacy, benefit design consultation, rebate contracting and management, drug utilization review, formulary management programs, disease therapy management, and adherence programs to employer groups, union trusts, managed care organizations, Medicare-contracted plans, Medicaid plans, and third party administrators. The company was founded in 1974 and is based in Minne tonka, Minnesota.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Jeremy Bowman]

    UnitedHealth (NYSE: UNH  ) was the Dow's top dog today, bucking the overall trend and rising 1.5% on an overall strong day for health insurers. Peers Humana and WellPoint were up 1.5% and 1.8%, respectively, as well. There was no specific news on UnitedHealth, but with markets at record highs, investors may be looking to defensive stocks to stretch their gains, and UnitedHealth is one of the cheapest on the Dow based on P/E. With a revenue stream protected from the vicissitudes of the business cycle, and a potential market opportunity with Obamacare set to begin enrollment in two months, it could be a smart bet.

Hot Cheap Stocks To Invest In 2014: S&P Smallcap 600(PH)

Parker Hannifin Corporation manufactures fluid power systems, electromechanical controls, and related components worldwide. Its Industrial segment offers pneumatic and electromechanical components, and systems; filters, systems, and instruments to monitor and remove contaminants from fuel, air, oil, water, and other liquids and gases; connectors that control, transmit, and contain fluid; hydraulic components and systems for builders and users of industrial and mobile machinery and equipment; critical flow components for process instrumentation, healthcare, and ultra-high-purity applications; and static and dynamic sealing devices. This segment sells its products to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and their replacement markets in the manufacturing, transportation, and processing industries. The company?s Aerospace segment provides flight control systems and components, including hydraulic, electrohydraulic, electric backup hydraulic, electrohydrostatic, and electro -mechanical components for precise control of aircraft rudders, elevators, ailerons, and other aerodynamic control surfaces. It also provides electronics thermal management heat rejection systems, and single-phase and two-phase heat collection systems for radar, ISAR, and power electronics. This segment markets its products primarily to OEMs in the commercial, military, and general aviation markets, as well as to end users. Its Climate and Industrial Controls segment offers systems and components primarily for use in the mobile and stationary refrigeration, and air conditioning industry; and in fluid control applications in various industries, such as processing, fuel dispensing, beverage dispensing, and mobile emissions. This segment serves OEMs and their replacement markets. Parker-Hannifin Corporation markets its products through direct-sales employees, independent distributors, wholesalers, and sales representatives. The company was founded in 1918 and is headquartered i n Cleveland, Ohio.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Ben Levisohn]

    The market in aggregate might have gone nowhere, but that wasn’t for lack of big moves from individual stocks. Parker-Hannifin (PH) gained 2.4% to $115.06 after it was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Baird, while Newmont Mining (NEM) gained 2.2% as gold miners headed higher today.

  • [By Monica Gerson]

    Parker-Hannifin (NYSE: PH) is expected to report its Q1 earnings at $1.48 per share on revenue of $3.26 billion.

    Textron (NYSE: TXT) is estimated to report its Q3 earnings at $0.47 per share on revenue of $2.97 billion.

  • [By Lauren Pollock]

    Parker Hannifin Corp.'s(PH) fiscal second-quarter earnings rose 40% as the maker of motion and control equipment’s orders continued to grow and gains from a joint-venture agreement with General Electric Co.(GE) (GE) offset a costly write-down. Adjusted earnings were ahead of expectations, yet the company lowered its per-share earnings estimate for the year. Shares dropped 3.8% to $122 premarket.

  • [By Mani]

    Parker-Hannifin Corporation (NYSE:PH) has significant opportunities to expand its operating margins, especially within the Aerospace segment where significant longer term business has already been won, and aftermarket opportunities should increase.

Friday, August 29, 2014

Top Up And Coming Companies To Watch In Right Now

There’s more to an investor’s total economic worth than stock and bonds, according to a new paper by two Morningstar researchers.

“Other assets, such as human capital, real estate and pensions, often represent a significant portion of an investor’s total wealth, but are not frequently considered when building portfolios despite the fact that they share common risks with financial assets,” David Blanchett, head of retirement research, said in a statement.

Blanchett and Philip Straehl, senior research consultant and portfolio manager, coauthored the study, which shows that industry-specific human capital, region-specific housing wealth and pensions have statistically significant exposures to certain asset classes and risk factors.

Investors should consider these factors when building portfolios, the authors assert. This would, of course, also apply to their financial advisors.

Through a series of optimizations, the researchers compared the asset allocation differences between portfolios that were optimized only for financial assets versus ones that considered total wealth.

Top 5 Regional Bank Stocks To Buy Right Now: Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings Inc (CCO)

Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc., incorporated in August 1995, provides clients with advertising opportunities through billboards, street furniture displays, transit displays and other out-of-home advertising displays, such as wallscapes, spectaculars, neons and mall displays, which it owns or operates in global markets. As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned or operated more than 750,000 advertising displays globally. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company operated in two business segments: Americas outdoor advertising (Americas) and International outdoor advertising (International), which represented 44% and 56% of its revenue, respectively.

Americas Outdoor Advertising

The Company is an outdoor advertising company in the Americas, which includes the United States, Canada and Latin America. As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned or operated approximately 125,000 display structures in its Americas segment with operations in 48 markets in the United States. Its Americas assets consist of billboards, street furniture and transit displays, airport displays, mall displays, and wallscapes and other spectaculars, which it owns or operates under lease management agreements.

Americas revenue is derived from the sale of advertising copy placed on its digital displays and its traditional displays. Its display inventory consists of billboards, street furniture displays and transit displays. During 2011, billboards consisted approximately 66% of its display revenues. Its Americas segment generates revenues from local, regional and national sales. Its billboard inventory includes bulletins and posters. Digital bulletins display static messages, which resemble standard printed bulletins when viewed, but also allow advertisers to change messages throughout the course of a day. Our electronic displays are linked through centralized computer systems to instantaneously and simultaneously change advertising copy as needed.

The Company�� ! street furniture displays include advertising surfaces on bus shelters, information kiosks, freestanding units and other public structures, are available in both traditional and digital formats, and are located in metropolitan areas and along commuting routes. The Company owns the street furniture structures and are responsible for their construction and maintenance. Its transit displays are advertising surfaces on various types of vehicles or within transit systems, including on the interior and exterior sides of buses, trains, trams, and within the common areas of rail stations and airports, and are available in both traditional and digital formats. The balance of its display inventory consists of spectaculars, wallscapes and mall displays. Spectaculars are customized display structures, which often incorporate video, multidimensional lettering and figures, mechanical devices and moving parts and other embellishments to create special effects. Its spectaculars are located in Times Square in New York City, Dundas Square and the Gardiner Expressway in Toronto, Fashion Show Mall in Las Vegas, Miracle Mile Shops in Las Vegas and across from the Target Center in Minneapolis.

As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned or operated approximately 125,000 display structures in its Americas segment with operations in 48 markets in the United States. Its displays are located on owned land, leased land or land, for which it have acquired permanent easements. The Company owns the physical structures on which its clients��advertising copy is displayed.

The Company competes with CBS and Lamar Advertising Company.

International Outdoor Advertising

The Company�� International segment includes its operations in Asia, Australia and Europe. As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned or operated more than 630,000 displays across 30 countries. Its International assets consist of street furniture and transit displays, billboards, mall displays, Smartbike schemes, walls! capes and! other spectaculars, which it owns or operates under lease agreements.

International revenue is derived from the sale of traditional advertising copy placed on its display inventory and electronic displays which are part of its network of digital displays. Its International display inventory consists of street furniture displays, billboards, transit displays and other out-of-home advertising displays, such as neon displays. Its International segment generates revenues globally from local, regional and national sales. Its International street furniture displays, available in traditional and digital formats, include bus shelters, freestanding units, various types of kiosks, benches and other public structures. Its International street furniture is sold to clients as network packages of multiple street furniture displays, with contract terms ranging from one to two weeks. Client contracts are also available with terms of up to one year.

The Company�� International billboards are sold to clients as network packages with contract terms ranging from one to two weeks. Long-term client contracts are also available and typically have terms of up to one year. It leases its billboard sites from private landowners. Billboards include posters and its neon displays, and are available in traditional and digital formats. Defi Group SAS, its International neon subsidiary, is a global provider of neon signs with approximately 296 displays in 16 countries globally.

The Company�� client contracts for transit displays, either traditional or digital, have terms ranging from one week to one year, or longer. The balance of its revenue from its International segment consists of advertising revenue from mall displays, other small displays and non-advertising revenue from sales of street furniture equipment, cleaning and maintenance services and production revenue. Its contracts with mall operators have terms ranging from 5 to 10 years and client contracts for mall displays generally ha! ve terms ! ranging from one to two weeks. Its International inventory includes other small displays, which are counted as separate displays. It also has a Smartbike bicycle rental program, which provides bicycles for rent to the general public in several municipalities. In exchange for providing the bike rental program, it derives revenue from advertising rights to the bikes, bike stations, additional street furniture displays, or fees from the local municipalities. It sells equipment or provides cleaning and maintenance services as part of a billboard or street furniture contract with a municipality. As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned or operated more than 630,000 displays in its International segment, with operations across 30 countries. Its International display count includes display faces, which may include multiple faces on a single structure.

The Company competes with JCDecaux and CBS.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Paul Hodgson]

    Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings (NYSE: CCO  ) has just renewed CEO Robert Pittman's employment agreement. And that in itself is a little odd. The company's share price has shown no real net gain at all since his appointment in October 2011, but perhaps it's early days.

  • [By Seth Jayson]

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

Top Up And Coming Companies To Watch In Right Now: Mobile Mini Inc.(MINI)

Mobile Mini, Inc. provides portable storage solutions in North America, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. It offers a range of portable storage products in varying lengths and widths with various features, such as its patented locking systems, premium doors, and electrical wiring and shelving. The company?s products include remanufactured and modified steel storage containers, steel security office/storage combination and security office units, wood mobile office units, and steel records storage containers, as well as non-core storage units consisting of van trailers and other manufactured storage products. Mobile Mini also provides its products on lease basis to its customers. Its customers use its products for a range of storage applications, including retail and manufacturing supplies, inventory and maintenance supplies, temporary offices, construction materials and equipment, documents and records, and household goods. The company serves large and small retaile rs, construction companies, medical centers, schools, utilities, manufacturers and distributors, the United States and the United Kingdom military, government agencies, hotels, restaurants, entertainment complexes, and households. As of December 31, 2011, it operated a lease fleet of approximately 237,600 portable storage units through 109 branches in the United States, 4 branches in Canada, 19 branches in the United Kingdom, and 1 branch in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Tempe, Arizona.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Brian Pacampara]

    What: Shares of portable storage specialist Mobile Mini (NASDAQ: MINI  ) climbed 10% today after its quarterly results topped Wall Street expectations.

Top Up And Coming Companies To Watch In Right Now: Hanger Orthopedic Group Inc.(HGR)

Hanger Orthopedic Group, Inc. engages in the ownership and operation of orthotic and prosthetic (O&P) patient care centers in the United States. The company provides orthotic and prosthetic patient care services. Its orthotics business include the design, fabrication, fitting, and maintenance of a range of standard and custom-made braces and other devices that provide external support to patients suffering from musculoskeletal disorders, such as ailments of the back, extremities or joints, and injuries from sports or other activities. The company?s prosthetics business comprise designing, fabricating, fitting, and maintaining custom-made artificial limbs for patients, who are without limbs as a result of traumatic injuries, vascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, or congenital disorders. It also distributes branded and private label O&P devices, as well as develops programs to manage various aspects of O&P patient care for insurance companies. In addition, the company manufac tures and distributes therapeutic footwear for diabetic patients in the podiatric market, as well as develops and provides specialized rehabilitation technologies and integrated clinical programs to rehabilitation providers. As of June 30, 2011, it operated approximately 675 patient-care centers in 45 states and the District of Columbia. The company, formerly known as Sequel Corporation, was founded in 1861 and is headquartered in Austin, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]

    Alamy There are plenty of stocks going up -- and down -- in any given week. The gainers inspire us to keep investing. The decliners keep greed in check while reminding us about the risks of the equity markets. Let's go over some of last week's best and worst performers. Pike (PIKE) -- Up 49 percent last week The market's biggest winner of last week was Pike, a specialty construction and engineering firm that received a bid to be taken private. J. Eric Pike -- the firm's chairman and CEO -- is teaming up with private equity firm Court Square Capital Partners to buy out shareholders at $12 a share. It's a fair premium, pricing the buyout at a better than 50 percent premium to where the stock was trading when it was announced. A few attorneys are trying to smoke out investors who feel that the CEO-led privatization push isn't fair, but it's likely to stick at that kind of healthy markup. Pike shares may have traded in the low teens last summer, but that was before revenue and earnings began heading the wrong way. Most shareholders should be more than happy to take the money and run. RadNet (RDNT) -- Up 34 percent last week Operating a network of 251 facilities that perform outpatient diagnostic imaging services is looking good for RadNet. The stock moved sharply higher after a strong quarterly report. Revenue inched slighting higher as MRI and CT scan volume increased modestly during the period. However, the real star in the report was RadNet's bottom line. Its cost-cutting and debt-slashing efforts paid off with net income soaring to $0.12 a share after clocking in at a $0.07 a share a year earlier. Analysts were only holding out for $0.05 a share. RadNet also helped improve its standing by boosting its guidance for all of 2014. You don't need any of RadNet's fancy imaging equipment to see that that's a healthy sign. Trex (TREX) -- Up 25 percent last week It was a good week for a pair of home improvement specialists. Shares of CaesarStone (CSTE) moved 20

Top Up And Coming Companies To Watch In Right Now: Altair Nanotechnologies Inc.(ALTI)

Altair Nanotechnologies Inc. develops, manufactures, and sells nano-structured lithium titanate spinel, battery cells, battery packs, and multi-megawatt battery systems, as well as provides related design, installation, and test services in the United States and internationally. The company also provides contract research services to develop intellectual property and/or new products and technology. It markets its energy storage solutions to power companies and electric grid operators; and batteries to electric and hybrid-electric bus manufacturers, and other industrial markets. The company was formerly known as Altair International Inc. and changed its name to Altair Nanotechnologies Inc. in July 2002. Altair Nanotechnologies Inc. was founded in 1973 and is headquartered in Reno, Nevada. Altair Nanotechnologies, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Canon Investment Holdings Limited.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Bryan Murphy]

    Anybody who was lucky enough to be in an Altair Nanotechnologies Inc. (NASDAQ:ALTI) position anytime before October 11th, then congratulations - you're now up anywhere between 38% and 157%, depending on when you stepped in. Now get out. Instead, use that capital to step into an Amarin Corporation plc (NASDAQ:AMRN) position, which took a 20% hit on Friday. The rally from ALTI looks like it's ready to unravel, while the implosion from AMRN looks ripe for a reversal too.

Top Up And Coming Companies To Watch In Right Now: Weingarten Realty Investors(WRI)

Weingarten Realty Investors operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT). The company engages in the management, acquisition, and development of real estate. It operates in two segments, Shopping Center and Industrial. The Shopping Center segment engages in the acquisition, development, and management of real estate, primarily anchored neighborhood and community shopping centers located in Texas, California, Louisiana, Arizona, Nevada, Arkansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Kansas, Colorado, Missouri, Illinois, Florida, North Carolina, Mississippi, Georgia, Utah, Kentucky, and Maine. Its customer base includes supermarkets, discount retailers, drugstores, and other retailers. The Industrial segment engages in the acquisition, development, and management of bulk warehouses and office/service centers. Its properties are located in Texas, Nevada, Georgia, Florida, California, and Tennessee. As of June 30, 2005, Weingarten Realty Investors owned or operated under long -term leases, directly or through its interest in joint ventures or partnerships, a total of 350 developed properties and 3 properties that are in various stages of development. Its properties include 294 shopping centers and 59 industrial properties. Weingarten Realty Investors qualifies as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. As a REIT, it would not be taxed on the portion of its income, which is distributed to shareholders, provided it distributes at least 90% of its taxable income. The company was founded in 1948 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Marc Bastow]

    Shopping center real estate investment trust (REIT) Weingarten Realty (WRI) raised its quarterly dividend 6.6% to 32.5 cents per share, payable March 14 to shareholders of record as of March 6.
    WGI Dividend Yield: 4.32%

Top Up And Coming Companies To Watch In Right Now: Helvetia Holding AG (HELN)

Helvetia Holding AG is a Switzerland-based holding company of the Helvetia Group, an internationally active, all-lines insurance service group. The Company divides its activities into country markets Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Spain and Other insurance units, which include Austria, France and the global reinsurance business, as well as the Corporate segment, which includes all the Helvetia Group activities, as well as financing companies and the Company. Helvetia Holding AG classifies its activities as life business, non-life business and other activities. The life business offers life insurance, pension plans and annuities, among others. The non-life business includes property, motor vehicle, liability and transport policies, as well as health and accidental insurance coverage. The reinsurance business, among others, is included in Other activities business. The Company operates through its branch offices and subsidiaries. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Tom Stoukas]

    Helvetia Holding AG (HELN) added 3.3 percent to 412 Swiss francs. Switzerland�� fourth-biggest insurer said first-half profit rose because of increased life-insurance sales and an acquisition in France. Net income climbed to 179.5 million Swiss francs ($192 million) in the six months through June, beating the average analyst estimate of 164.4 million francs.

Top Up And Coming Companies To Watch In Right Now: Cabot Corp (CBT)

Cabot Corporation (Cabot), incorporated in 1960, is a global specialty chemicals and performance materials company. The Company�� principal products are rubber and specialty grade carbon blacks, fumed metal oxides, inkjet colorants, aerogels and cesium formate drilling fluids. Cabot and its affiliates have manufacturing facilities and operations in the United States and approximately 20 other countries. The Company operates in four business segments: the Core Segment, the Performance Segment, the New Business Segment and the Specialty Fluids Segment. It is organized into three geographic regions: The Americas; Europe, Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific. On January 23, 2012, the Company sold its Supermetals Business to Global Advanced Metals Pty Ltd. On August 1, 2012, it acquired Norit.

Core Segment

Carbon black is a form of elemental carbon that is manufactured in a highly controlled process to produce particles and aggregates of varied structure and surface chemistry, resulting in many different performance characteristics for a variety of applications. Its rubber blacks products are used in tires and industrial products. The Company owns, or has a controlling interest in, and operates plants that produce rubber blacks in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, the Czech Republic, France, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, The Netherlands and the United States.

Performance Segment

The Performance Segment consists of two product lines: specialty grades of carbon black and thermoplastic concentrates; and fumed silica, fumed alumina and dispersions thereof. In each product line, it designs, manufactures and sells materials that deliver performance in a range of customer applications across the automotive, construction and infrastructure, and electronics and consumer products sectors. In addition, Cabot manufactures and sources thermoplastic concentrates and compounds that are marketed to the plastics industry. The Company owns, or has a ! controlling interest in, and operates plants that produce specialty grades of carbon black in China, The Netherlands and the United States. Its products are produced in facilities that it owns, or has a controlling interest in, located in Belgium, China and the United Arab Emirates. The Company also owns, or has a controlling interest in, manufacturing plants that produce fumed metal oxides in the United States, China, the United Kingdom and Germany. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011 (fiscal 2011), it closed its masterbatch manufacturing facility in Grigno, Italy.

New Business Segment

The Company�� New Business Segment consists of the Inkjet Colorants, Aerogel, Cabot Superior MicroPowders and Cabot Elastomer Composites Businesses. During fiscal 2011, its Cabot Elastomer Composites Business became part of its New Business Segment. The Company produces and sells aqueous inkjet colorants primarily to the inkjet printing market. Its inkjet colorants are produced for various inkjet printing applications, including small office and home office, corporate office, and commercial and industrial printing, as well as for other applications. Its inkjet colorants are manufactured at its facility in Haverhill, Massachusetts.

Cabot�� aerogel is a hydrophobic, silica-based particle with a high surface area that is used in a variety of thermal insulation and specialty chemical applications. In the construction industry, the product is used in insulative composite building products and translucent skylight, window, wall and roof systems for insulating eco-daylighting applications. In the oil and gas industry, aerogel is used to insulate subsea pipelines. In the specialty chemicals industry, the product is used to provide matte finishing, insulating and thickening properties for use in a variety of applications. It manufactures its aerogel products at its facility in Frankfurt, Germany.

The Company manufactures its aerogel products at its facility in F! rankfurt,! Germany. Finished products for use in the oil and gas industry are fabricated at a facility in Billerica, Massachusetts. The principal area of commercial focus for Cabot Superior MicroPowders Business (CSMP) is in developing covert taggants for a range of anti-counterfeiting security applications. Development and manufacturing activities are conducted primarily at its facilities in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Mountain View, California. In addition to the carbon black the Company makes using conventional carbon black manufacturing methods, it has developed elastomer composite products that are compounds of natural latex rubber and carbon black made by a liquid phase process. Its Cabot Elastomer Composites Business (CEC) products are targeted for tire, defense, mining, automotive and aerospace applications. It manufactures CEC products at its facility in Port Dickson, Malaysia.

Specialty Fluids Segment

The Company�� Specialty Fluids Segment produces and markets cesium formate as a drilling and completion fluid for use primarily in high pressure and high temperature oil and gas well construction. It has a mine and a cesium formate manufacturing facility in Manitoba, Canada, as well as fluid blending and reclamation facilities in Aberdeen, Scotland and in Bergen and Kristiansund, Norway.

The Company competes with Aspen Aerogel, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Eric Volkman]

    Cabot (NYSE: CBT  ) has elected not to shift its dividend policy for the time being. The company declared its latest common stock distribution, which is to be $0.20 per share paid on September 13 to shareholders of record as of August 30.�That amount matches each of the firm's previous five distributions, the most recent of which was handed out in the middle of last month. Prior to that, Cabot paid $0.18 per share.

  • [By Victor Selva]

    The company has a current ratio of 17.8% which is higher than the industry mean of 6.55%. Also, it's higher than the one registered by Akzo Nobel NV (AKZOY), Cabot Corporation (CBT) and Olin Corporation (OLN). For investors looking for a higher ROE, PPG Industries Inc. (PPG) could be the option.

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Top 5 Promising Stocks To Invest In 2014

Among electronic components distributors and manufacturers, Corning Inc. (GLW) stands out for having placed a huge bet on liquid crystal display (LCD) production. Although the firm has made an effort to diversify its production over recent years, its net income is still concentrated on their display technology segment (97% in 2010, almost 90% in 2011 and 82.28% on 2012, according to annual reports).

Despite being so dependent on American consumers (in contrast with other electronic components distributors), Corning and Samsung Corning Precision (SCP, a 50% subsidiary) have half the market share in the glass panel industry. So, in order to evaluate whether this company is worth being considered as a profitable long-term alternative or not, we should take a deep look into the LCD market, and characterize it, so as to know what we should expect from it.

LCD Industry Overview

Of course, a great bet also involves many risks. Even though LCD technology became very popular in these last few years, both in TV screens and computer monitors, we should never miss the fact that technological markets are often exposed to products becoming obsolete due to the development of new, more efficient technology. Without going any further, it�� easy to recall the plasma display panel (PDP) fiasco, an apparently promising market in the 1990s and early 2000s but quickly replaced by LCDs (by 2008 LCDs sell 21.1 million units, almost 10 times PDP sales on the same year). Even Panasonic Corporation (PCRFF) announced it will interrupt production of PDP on 2014.

Top 10 Food Stocks To Watch For 2015: American Tower Corp (AMT)

American Tower Corporation is a holding company. The Company conducts its operations through its directly and indirectly owned subsidiaries and joint ventures. It is a wireless and broadcast communications infrastructure company that owns, operates and develops communications sites. Its primary business includes leasing antenna space on multi-tenant communications sites to wireless service providers, radio and television broadcast companies, wireless data providers, government agencies and municipalities and tenants in a number of other industries. This business is its rental and management operations, which accounted for approximately 98% of its total revenues during the year ended December 31, 2011. It also offer tower-related services domestically, including site acquisition, zoning and permitting services and structural analysis services, which primarily support its site leasing business and the addition of new tenants and equipment on its sites. In January 2012, the Company merged with and into American Tower REIT, Inc.

During 2011, the Company acquired additional 125 communications sites from Telefonica Colombia. On February 1, 2011, the Company acquired 140 communications sites from VTR Banda Ancha (Chile) S.A. and its affiliates. On December 30, 2011, the Company purchased 100% interest of a subsidiary of Telefonica Moviles Chile S.A. that owned 558 communications sites. On December 14, 2011, the Company acquired control of an additional 76 existing communications sites from Cell C. On March 1, 2011, the Company acquired 100% interest of a company that owned 627 communications sites in Brazil. During 2011, the Company acquired a total of 179 communications sites and equipment in the United States. In December 2011, it announced the launch of operations in Uganda.

In the United States during 2011, the Company included the acquisition and construction of approximately 430 towers, the acquisition of approximately 2,150 property interests, the installation of approximate! ly 40 in-building and outdoor DAS networks and the installation of approximately 680 shared generators on its sites. During 2011, it expanded its international footprint, as it acquired and constructed approximately 3,230 communications sites in two new countries, Ghana and South Africa. During 2011, it also included the acquisition and construction of approximately 6,770 communications sites in its markets in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, India and Mexico. In addition, during 2011, it also acquired property interests, which it leases to communications service providers and third-party tower operators under approximately 1,810 communications sites.

As of December 31, 2011, there were approximately 21,320 towers domestically and approximately 23,900 towers internationally. The Company�� portfolio also includes approximately 260 DAS networks, which it operates in malls, casinos and other in-building applications, and select outdoor environments. In addition to the communications sites in its portfolio, the Company manages rooftop and tower sites for property owners. It also holds property interests, which is leases to communications service providers and third-party tower operators under approximately 1,810 communications sites. It conducts its international operations through its subsidiary, American Tower International, Inc., which in turn conducts operations through its various international operating subsidiaries and joint ventures. Its international operations consist of its operations in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ghana, India, Mexico, Peru and South Africa. It holds and operates certain of its assets through one or more taxable REIT subsidiaries (TRSs).

Rental and Management Operations

During 2011, the Company�� rental and management operations accounted for approximately 98% of its total revenues. Its tenants lease space on its communications site infrastructure, where they install and maintain their individual communications network equipment. The Company�� r! evenue is! primarily generated from tenant leases, and the annual rental payments. Its tenant leases are non-cancellable and have annual rent escalations. Its domestic rental and management segment consists of its nationwide network of communications sites that enables the Company to address the needs of national, regional, local and emerging communications service providers in the United States. Its domestic rental and management segment also includes property interests, which it leases to communications service providers and third-party tower operators. During 2011, its domestic rental and management segment accounted for approximately 72% of its total revenues.

The Company�� international rental and management segment consists of communications sites in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ghana, India, Mexico, Peru and South Africa. During 2011, its international rental and management segment accounted for approximately 26% of its total revenues. The Company�� rental and management operations include the operation of wireless and broadcast communications towers and DAS networks, rooftop management and the leasing of property interests. It owns and operates communications towers in the United States, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ghana, India, Mexico, Peru and South Africa. During 2011, approximately 98% of revenue in its rental and management segments was attributable to its communications towers.

The Company leases space on its communications towers to tenants providing a diverse range of communications services, including personal communications services, cellular, broadcasting, enhanced specialized mobile radio, worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX), paging and fixed microwave. Its domestic and international tenants include AT&T Mobility, Sprint Nextel, Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile USA, Iusacell (Mexico), Nextel International, Telefonica, MTN Group Limited and Vodafone. In addition to its communications sites, it also owns and operates DAS networks, provide communications s! ite manag! ement services to third parties and manage and/or lease property interests under carrier or other third-party communications sites.

The Company owns and operates approximately 260 DAS networks in malls, casinos and other in-building applications in the United States, Mexico and Brazil. It obtains rights from property owners to install and operate in-building DAS networks, and it grants rights to wireless service providers to attach their equipment to its installations. It also offers outdoor DAS networks as a complementary shared infrastructure solution for its tenants, and operates such networks in the United States. It provides management services to property owners in the United States. It obtains rights to manage a rooftop by entering into contracts with property owners pursuant to which it receives a percentage of occupancy or license fees paid by the wireless carriers and other tenants. It owns a portfolio of property interests in the United States under approximately 1,810 carrier or other third-party communications sites, which provides recurring cash flow under leasing arrangements.

Network Development Services

Through the Company�� network development services segment, it offers tower-related services domestically, including site acquisition, zoning and permitting services and structural analysis services, which primarily support its site leasing business and the addition of new tenants and equipment on its sites. During 2011, this segment accounted for approximately 2% of its total revenues. It engages in site acquisition services on its own behalf in connection with its tower development projects, as well as on behalf of its tenants. The Company offers structural analysis services to wireless carriers in connection with the installation of their communications equipment on its towers.

The Company competes with Crown Castle International Corp., SBA Communications Corporation, Indus Towers, Viom Networks and GTL.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Teresa Rivas]

    As for companies with the most upside, Marathon Petroleum (MPC) tops the list, with 63.6%, followed by Autodesk (ADSK), Ventas (VTR), salesforce.com (CRM) and American Tower (AMT). Outside the top five, the list also includes big names like Schlumberger (SLB), Halliburton (HAL), Expedia (EXPE) and General Motors (GM).

  • [By Natan Hayes]

    American Tower Corp. (AMT) operates the largest portfolio of the wireless communications and broadband towers in the industry. Their primary business is leasing antenna space on multi-tenant communications towers to mobile data service providers such as AT&T (T), Verizon (VZ), T-Mobile (TMUS), Time Warner Cable (TWC), and Vodafone (VOD).

  • [By Dimitra DeFotis]

    Among real estate trusts:

    American Tower��(AMT),�the diversified �REIT, is the best performer in the index.�It was�up 4.6% after saying�Friday it will buy the parent of tower operator Global Tower Partners for $4.8 billion. HCP (HCP), a healthcare REIT, was�up 3.3%. Prologis (PLD) an industrial REIT, was�up 2.8%. Vornado Realty Trust (VNO) was�up 2.7%. Boston Properties (BXP), the office REIT, was�up 2.3%. Equity Residential (EQR), a residential REIT, was�up 2.4%. Ventas (VTR), a healthcare REIT, was�up 2%.

     

  • [By Rich Smith]

    This series, brought to you by Yahoo! Finance, looks at which upgrades and downgrades make sense, and which ones investors should act on. Today, our headlines feature a pair of upgrades for home furnishings store Pier 1 (NYSE: PIR  ) and engine technologist BorgWarner (NYSE: BWA  ) . Let's address those two real quick, before we get to the day's really big news (about American Tower (NYSE: AMT  ) ).

Top 5 Promising Stocks To Invest In 2014: American Science and Engineering Inc.(ASEI)

American Science and Engineering, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells X-ray inspection and other detection products for detection and security screening solutions in the United States and internationally. It offers cargo inspection systems comprising non-intrusive inspection products, which are primarily used for the screening of trucks, cars, cargo containers, pallets, and air cargo at border crossings, seaports, military bases, airports, and cargo and transportation hubs. The cargo inspection systems include OmniView gantry system, a cargo and vehicle inspection system; Z Portal system, a drive-through inspection system for scanning cargo and vehicles; Z Gantry system, a Z Backscatter inspection system for scanning cars, vans, trucks, and their cargo; Sentry Portal system, a drive through transmission X-ray inspection system; and MobileSearch High-Energy, a mobile inspection system for scanning trucks, cargo containers, and ve hicles. The company also provides Z Backscatter systems, including Z Backscatter Van, a mobile X-ray screening system to produce photo-like images of plastic explosives or other anomalies; and ZBV Military Trailer, a rugged X-ray screening system built on military trailer. In addition, it offers parcel and personnel screening inspection system that comprises Gemini system, a parcel and baggage inspection system; and SmartCheck system, a personnel screening system for screening threats hidden under a person?s clothing. Further, the company provides contract research and development programs for agencies of the United States government; and maintenance, warranty, engineering, and training services. It serves authorities responsible for port and border security, customs agencies, military organizations, high threat commercial and government facilities, aviation security agencies, and law enforcement agencies. The company was founded in 1958 and is headquartered in Billerica, M assachusetts.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Bryan Murphy]

    It's tragic that it takes an event like the one earlier this week at a Nevada middle school to put building security stocks in the spotlight. But, reality is reality. The death of one teacher as well as the student/shooter himself has once again underscored the need for names like View Systems Inc. (OTCBB:VSYM), OSI Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:OSIS), and American Science & Engineering, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASEI). These three companies make equipment that may have prevented the shooting at the school. As is so often the case, interest in defense-oriented equipment - and a stronger likelihood of buying them - is eventually going to impact stocks like ASEI, OSIS, and VSYM for the better.

  • [By Seth Jayson]

    American Science & Engineering (Nasdaq: ASEI  ) is expected to report Q4 earnings on May 7. Here's what Wall Street wants to see:

    The 10-second takeaway
    Comparing the upcoming quarter to the prior-year quarter, average analyst estimates predict American Science & Engineering's revenues will grow 27.4% and EPS will expand 280.0%.

  • [By James E. Brumley]

    While it's tragic that it took a string of tragedies to make school safety and security a priority in the United States, it can't be denied that the topic has been put front and center - school systems everywhere are asking themselves tough questions, mainly focusing on what can be done quickly and cost-effectively to secure school buildings. Part of that discussion has put companies like OSI Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:OSIS), American Science & Engineering, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASEI), and View Systems Inc. (OTCBB:VSYM) in the limelight. The three organizations all make security screening and weapons detection systems. If you've flown from anywhere inside the United States anytime since 2003, odds are pretty good you or your luggage passed through equipment made by ASEI or OSIS.

Top 5 Promising Stocks To Invest In 2014: Air Products and Chemicals Inc. (APD)

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. provides atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, performance materials, equipment, and services worldwide. The company?s Merchant Gases segment sells atmospheric gases, such as oxygen, nitrogen, and argon; process gases, including hydrogen and helium; and medical and specialty gases for the metal, glass, chemical processing, food processing, healthcare, steel, general manufacturing, and petroleum and natural gas industries. This segment also offers respiratory therapies, home medical equipment, and infusion services primarily in Europe. Its Tonnage Gases segment provides hydrogen, carbon monoxide, nitrogen, oxygen, and syngas to the energy production and refining, chemical, and metallurgical industries; and produces dinitrotoluene used in the manufacture of a precursor of polyurethane foam. The company?s Electronics and Performance Materials segment offers nitrogen trifluoride, silane, arsine, phosphine, white ammonia, silicon tetra fluoride, carbon tetrafluoride, hexafluoromethane, critical etch gases, and tungsten hexafluoride; and tonnage gases, specialty chemicals, and services and equipment for the manufacture of silicon and compound semiconductors, thin film transistor liquid crystal displays, and photovoltaic devices. This segment also provides performance materials for a range of products, including coatings, inks, adhesives, civil engineering, personal care, institutional and industrial cleaning, mining, oil refining, and polyurethanes. Its Equipment and Energy segment designs and manufactures cryogenic equipment for air separation, hydrocarbon recovery and purification, natural gas liquefaction, and helium distribution; and offers plant design, engineering, procurement, and construction management services for the chemical and petrochemical manufacturing, oil and gas recovery and processing, and steel and primary metals processing industries. The company was founded in 1940 and is based in All entown, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Rich Smith]

    Maybe the world is running out of helium. Maybe it isn't. But global leader in helium production Air Products (NYSE: APD  ) isn't taking any chances.

  • [By GuruFocus] l Gates sold out his holdings in Air Products & Chemicals Inc. His sale prices were between $102.58 and $113.66, with an estimated average price of $108.95.

    Sold Out: Toyota Motor Corp (TM)

    Bill Gates sold out his holdings in Toyota Motor Corp. His sale prices were between $118.61 and $131.65, with an estimated average price of $125.74.

    Sold Out: Diamond Foods, Inc. (DMND)

    Bill Gates sold out his holdings in Diamond Foods, Inc.. His sale prices were between $20.78 and $26.05, with an estimated average price of $23.92.

    Here is the complete portfolio of Bill Gates.�


    Also check out: Bill Gates Undervalued Stocks Bill Gates Top Growth Companies Bill Gates High Yield stocks, and Stocks that Bill Gates keeps buying

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  • [By Ben Levisohn]

    Among the biggest losers in the S&P 500: Air Products and Chemicals (APD), which dropped 3.3% to $103.20 as its Bill Ackman bounce fades, Charles Schwab (SCHW), which fell 2.4% to $21.76 as it became the 165th most popular short in the S&P 500, and Unum Group (UNM), which finished off 2.3% at $29.63 after Barron’s Sandra Ward recommended investors take profits on the insurance company.

  • [By Vanina Egea]

    Some say that specializing in one product is the path to success. Others argue that diversifying is a policy against economic recessions. Time has proved that neither strategy is wrong, and that each one has an expiration date. Here are two chemical companies that started with one product and have eventually diversified: DuPont (DD) and Air Products & Chemicals (APD). Let's take a look into their prospects for the years to come.

Top 5 Promising Stocks To Invest In 2014: Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A.(SQM)

Chemical and Mining Company of Chile Inc. engages in the production and sale of fertilizers and specialty chemicals in Chile and internationally. The company?s specialty plant nutrients include potassium nitrate, sodium nitrate, sodium potassium nitrate, and specialty blends for crops, such as vegetables, fruits, flowers, potatoes, and cotton, as well as Ultrasol for application via fertigation; Qrop for field application; Speedfol for foliar application; Allganic for organic farming; and Nutrilake for aquaculture. It also produces iodine and iodine derivatives, which are used in a range of medical, pharmaceutical, agricultural, and industrial applications, including X-ray contrast media, polarizing films for liquid crystal displays (LCDs), antiseptics, biocides, and disinfectants; and in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, herbicides, electronics, pigments, dye components, and heat stabilizers. In addition, the company provides lithium carbonate for use in various applicat ions comprising batteries, frits for the ceramic and enamel industries, heat-resistant glass, primary aluminum, lithium bromine for use in air conditioner equipment, and continuous casting powder for steel extrusion, pharmaceuticals, and lithium derivatives; and lithium hydroxide, which is used as a raw material in the lubricating grease industry. Further, it offers various industrial chemicals, such as sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate, and boric acid; and potassium chloride and potassium sulfate. The company was founded in 1968 and is based in Santiago, Chile.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Dan Caplinger]

    Amid the boom in Latin America lately, Chile has produced substantial amounts of economic success. But the drop in commodities markets around the world has weighed on resource-reliant industries, and Sociedad Quimica y Minera (NYSE: SQM  ) is one of the companies that has suffered from that trend. On Tuesday, the company will release its latest quarterly results, and investors are nervous about whether SQM will be able to meet the growth expectations they have for the chemical company.

  • [By Chris Damas]

    Other players, such as K+S (KPLUY.PK), Israel Chemicals and APC, Belaruskali and Soquimich (SQM) maintained their world shares at Uralkali's expense.

  • [By Jim Jubak]

    His choice for the 2014 Top Stock Pick to watch out for in the coming year, is the Chemical and Mining Company of Chile (SQM).

    This company's stock plunged 59% in 2013 due to weak fertilizer and phosphate prices. However, both Conrad and Jubak feel it is beginning to bounce back this year, due to a return to normalized pricing and earnings.

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Hot Recreation Stocks To Own For 2015

Hot Recreation Stocks To Own For 2015: Nikon Corp (NINOF)

NIKON CORPORATION is mainly engaged in the manufacture and sale of image and video equipment. The Company operates in four business segments. The Precision Equipment segment offers semiconductor exposure apparatus and liquid crystal (LC) exposure apparatus. The Image segment provides digital single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras, compact digital cameras and interchangeable lens. The Instruments segment offers microscopes, measuring machines and semiconductor inspection equipment. The Others segment provides LC photomask substrates and optical components. As of March 31, 2013, the Company has 87 subsidiaries and 10 associated companies. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By MARKETWATCH]

    LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Japanese stocks opened lower Thursday, as gains for the yen and losses for Wall Street conspired to drive the Nikkei Stock Average (JP:NIK) down 1.2% to 15,333.35, extending Wednesday's 0.6% loss. The Topix fell 0.7%, with the U.S. dollar (USDJPY) slipping to 102.46 yen, down from around ¥102.80 at the start of the previous session, but off its lows in late Wednesday trade. Electronics firms and other techs helped lead the loss, with Sony Corp. (JP:6758) (SNE) falling 1.4%, Nikon Corp. (JP:7731) (NINOF) off 2.4%, and Alps Electric Co. (JP:6770) 1.8% lower. The Nikkei Asian Review reported Thursday that Japan looked set to post its first trade deficit for electronics goods this year. Shares of Yahoo Japan Corp. (JP:4689) ! (YAHOF) lost 1.4%, even as Bloomberg reported the firm was offering its stake in market-research firm Macromill Inc. (JP:3730) to U.S. private-equity firm Bain Capital at a premium to its most recent close. Shares of Macromill were untraded. Among gainers, Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp. (JP:9432) (NTT) rose 2.1%, following a 1.1% gain for its U.S.-listed shares.

  • [By MARKETWATCH]

    LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- With the yen holding on to its gains and investors cautious as earnings season kicks off, Japanese stocks slid lower Friday after closing the previous day with some late-session gains. The Nikkei Stock Average (JP:NIK) fell 0.9% to 14,358.28, with the Topix down 0.8%, as the dollar bought 97.36 yen, little changed from 24 hours earlier. The relatively strong yen weighed on some names with high global exposure, as Sharp Corp. (JP:6753) (SHCAF) lost 1%, Pioneer Corp. (JP:6773) (PNCOF) dropped 1.6%, and Bridgestone Corp. (JP:5108) (BRDCF) fell 1.2%. An outlook cut from Canon Inc. (JP:7751) (CAJ) helped send its shares down 1%, while rival Nikon Corp. (JP:7731) (NINOF) lost 1.8%, t! hough Oly! mpus Corp. (JP:7733) (OCPNF) gained 1%. Telecoms were weak, with Softbank Corp. (JP:9984) (SFTBF) falling 2.5%, KDDI Corp. (JP:9433) (KDDIF) down 1.7%, and NTT DoCoMo Inc. (JP:9437) (NTDMF)

  • source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/hot-recreation-stocks-to-own-for-2015.html

Best Communications Equipment Stocks To Invest In Right Now

In this video, tech and telecom analyst Andrew Tonner discusses three areas Nokia (NYSE: NOK  ) investors need to watch. First, keep an eye on Nokia sales numbers, particularly for its new Lumia smartphones. A lot is riding on the success of this smartphone launched last December. Second, can Nokia keep a robust innovative product pipeline going? Apple and Google are good at this. Nokia will have to be in order to compete long term. Finally, investors must stay tuned to the joint venture with Siemens to build communications equipment. This has struggled in the past and how it pans out in the future will impact Nokia's earnings.

Nokia's been struggling in a world of Apple and Android smartphone dominance. However, the company has banked its future on its next generation of Windows smartphones. Motley Fool analyst Charly Travers has created a new premium report that digs into both the opportunities and risks facing Nokia to help investors decide if the company is a buy or sell. To get started, simply click here now.

Top 10 Low Price Companies To Invest In 2015: Juniper Networks Inc (JNPR)

Juniper Networks, Inc. (Juniper Networks), incorporated on September 10, 1996, designs, develops, and sells products and services that together provide its customers with network infrastructure. It operates in two segments: Infrastructure and Service Layer Technologies (SLT). The Company�� Infrastructure segment primarily offers routing and switching products that are used to control and direct network traffic from the core, through the edge, aggregation, and the customer premise equipment level. Infrastructure products include its Internet protocol (IP) routing, carrier Ethernet routing portfolio, and Ethernet switching portfolio. In addition, the Infrastructure segment offers a complete wireless local area network (WLAN) solution. Its SLT segment offers solutions that meet a range of its customers' priorities, from protecting the users, applications and data on the network itself to providing network services across a distributed infrastructure. Effective September 13, 2013, Juniper Networks, Inc. acquired Contrail Networks Inc.

Brilliant is a supplier of packet-based, network synchronization equipment and monitoring solutions. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company introduced its network architecture and fabric technology for the data center, QFabric. It serves the high-performance networking requirements of global service providers, enterprises, and public sector organizations. The Company�� open cross-network software platform includes the Junos operating system (Junos OS), Junos Space network application platform, and Junos Pulse integrated network client. The Company offers a product portfolio that spans routing, switching, security, application access, and mobility device security.

Infrastructure Products

The Company�� T Series core routers are primarily designed for core IP infrastructures and are also being sold into the multi-service environment. Its PTX Series is a large capacity (8 and 16 tera-bits per second) MPLS-optimized packe! t transport switch for the core networks, of content service providers and Tier 1 service providers, with high throughout of packet traffic. The Company�� E Series products are a full featured platform designed for the network edge with support for carrier-class routing, broadband subscriber management services, and a set of IP services. The MX Series is a product family developed to address emerging Ethernet network architectures and services in service provider and enterprise networks. The Company�� EX Series family extends its product portfolio running its Junos OS to address the Ethernet switch market. Ethernet is a used technology, which is used to transport information in enterprise networks. Infrastructure Products also includes QFabric Products and WLAN product.

SLT Products

SLT Products include Services Gateway, Integrated Firewall, and VPN Solutions, Secure Access Appliances, Secure Access Appliances, IDP Series Appliances and Identity and Policy Control Solutions. The Company�� SRX Series of dynamic services gateways, running its Junos software, provides firewall/VPN and combines routing, switching, and security functionality. The series is designed to meet network and security requirements for data center consolidation, rapid managed services deployments, and aggregation of security services. Its firewall and VPN systems and appliances are designed to provide integrated firewall, VPN, and denial of service protection capabilities for both enterprise environments and service provider network infrastructures. These products range from its SSG product series, which combines LAN/WAN routing capabilities with threat management features, such as antivirus, anti-spam, and Web filtering technologies, to its ISG and NetScreen Series firewall and VPN systems, which are designed to deliver security in medium/large enterprises, carrier networks, and data centers.

The Company�� Junos Pulse, Junos Pulse Mobile Security Suite, and SA Series SSL VPN appliances,! designed! for use in companies of all sizes, are used to provide secure access to corporate resources for remote and mobile users from any Web-enabled device, regardless of location. Its portfolio of identity and policy control solutions integrates subscriber privileges, application requirements, and business policies with the IP network infrastructure.

The Company competes with Cisco Systems, Inc. (Cisco), Alcatel-Lucent, Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. (Brocade), Extreme Networks, Inc., Hewlett Packard Company (HP), Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei), Check Point Software Technologies, F5 Networks, Inc., Palo Alto Networks, Inc., and Riverbed Technology, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Wallace Witkowski]

    Juniper Networks Inc. (JNPR) �is forecast to post adjusted fourth-quarter earnings of 37 cents on revenue of $1.22 billion.

  • [By tyokunbo]

    Cisco faces stiff competition from companies like Alcatel-Lucent (ALU), Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) and Juniper Networks (JNPR). Broadly speaking, Cisco outperformed many of its competitors in terms of a revenue growth prospective. Compared to its peers, Cisco has a crucial advantage. It is able to better navigate dynamic technological environments to uniquely position itself in the industry.

  • [By Eshna Basu]

    Juniper�(JNPR), the�California-based networking giant is preparing to�release its fourth-quarter earnings next week. The company is quite positive about its upcoming earnings release given the amount of effort it is putting in the budding data center space. Now let�� take a look at factors that can help Juniper to meet its expectations and keep investors happy.

  • [By John Divine]

    Shares in Juniper Networks (NYSE: JNPR  ) , which shot up 6.6% and 3.2% in separate days last week, came back down to Earth today, losing 3.8%. Wall Street cheered comments from the networking solutions company's CEO last Wednesday, as he suggested increasing demand from telecom customers. One factor pressuring shares today is the possibility Juniper gets in a bidding war down the line to acquire an IT security company in the wake of public outrage over the U.S. government's pervasive invasion of privacy.

Best Communications Equipment Stocks To Invest In Right Now: ADVA Optical Networking SE (ADV)

ADVA Optical Networking SE is a Germany-based company that develops, manufactures and sells optical and Ethernet-based networking solutions to telecommunications carriers and enterprises to deploy, manage and deliver data storage, voice and video services in metropolitan areas. Its optical transmission solutions are based on wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) technology. Its Ethernet-optimized transmission solutions for fiber- or copper-based lines are used to provide access for enterprises into a carrier's network. Its systems are used by telecommunications services providers, companies, universities and government agencies worldwide. It sells its product portfolio both directly and through an international network of distribution partners. Its optical and Ethernet-based network solutions have been deployed by more than 250 carriers and more than 10,000 enterprises. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had 13 wholly owned subsidiaries across Europe, Asia, North and Latin America. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Holly LaFon]

    We re-established an investment in CME Group, Inc. (CME) during the period. CME is the largest and most diversified derivatives marketplace in the U.S. Its exchanges support trading across a variety of asset classes, including interest rates, equity indexes, energy, agricultural commodities, foreign exchange and metals. We believe CME has the opportunity to significantly accelerate its growth rates due to the eventual normalization of interest rates and the attendant interest rate volatility. CME's interest rate trading volumes (ADV) have been depressed as a result of the Fed's zero interest rate policy and low interest rate volatility. For example, interest rate ADV was 4.8 million in 2012compared to 7.1 million in 2007, before the financial crisis. However, given the Fed's recent policy statements (discussed above), market participants are starting to anticipate an end to quantitative easing (QE). On May 30, CME experienced record volume for interest rate derivatives with ADV of 19.4 million. With the globalization of CME's business, a host of new products, and the regulatory requirement for interest rate swaps to be cleared on an exchange, we believe CME's interest rate volumes can surpass their prior peak, significantly driving earnings growth for the company.

Best Communications Equipment Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Audience Inc (ADNC)

Audience, Inc., incorporated on May 24, 2011, is a provider of voice and audio solutions that improve voice quality and the user experience in mobile devices. The Company�� solutions include hardware-accelerated digital signal processors (DSPs), and audio codecs and associated algorithms for noise suppression in mobile devices. Its computational auditory scene analysis (CASA) maps the sound separation functions in human hearing, into a computational framework. The Company�� platform consists of its DSPs and audio codec, analog and mixed signal circuits and algorithms for voice isolation and noise suppression.

The Company also provides its AuViD graphical design tools to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The Company had sold over 250 million processors to its OEM customers as of December 31, 2012. In addition to the mobile device market, the Company�� voice and audio technology is also applicable to a range of other market segments, including automobile infotainment systems, digital cameras, digital televisions, headsets and set top boxes.

The Company�� product portfolio supports both analog and digital interfaces. As of December 31, 2012, the Company offered eS515, eS325, eS305, eS310, eS110, A1028 and A1026 custom voice and audio processors for device platforms, including smartphones, feature phones and media tablets. eS515 is a third generation voice and audio processor with an integrated audio codec, featuring support of three-microphones; eS325is a third generation voice and audio processor that features simultaneous three microphone processing; eS305 is a second generation voice and audio processor utilizing new hardware acceleration architecture and algorithms for far-field, wideband communications and capable of advanced speech recognition assist, and uses an all digital interface; eS310, provides similar capabilities to the eS305; eS110 is a first generation narrowband voice processor designed for real-time communications and far-field as well as near-field u! se with features such as acoustic echo cancelation, voice equalization and automatic gain control; A1026, is a first generation narrowband voice processor designed for real-time communications and typical near-field use, and A1028, which is a first generation narrowband voice processor designed for real-time communications and far-field, as well as near-field use.

The Company derives its revenue primarily from the sale of voice and audio processors to OEMs, which incorporate them into mobile devices. As of December 31, 2012, OEMs, CMs and distributors worldwide had purchased more than 250 million of its processors and incorporated them in over 140 mobile device models.

The Company competes with Maxim, ON Semiconductor, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments Incorporated, Wolfson Microelectronics plc, DSP Group, Inc. and Yamaha Corporation.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Seth Jayson]

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

Best Communications Equipment Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Envivio Inc (ENVI)

Envivio, Inc., incorporated on January 5, 2000, is a provider of Internet protocol (IP) video processing and distribution solutions, which enable the delivery of video to consumers. The Company�� solution is designed to enable service providers and content providers to offer video anytime, anywhere across a range of video formats, networks, consumer devices and operating systems. Its software-based solution runs on industry-standard hardware and includes encoders, transcoders, network media processors all controlled through its network management system. It enables service providers and content providers to deliver linear broadcast and on-demand video services to their customers through multiple screens, such as tablets, mobile handsets, netbooks, laptops, personal computers (PCs) and televisions. Its customers include mobile and wireline telecommunications service providers, cable multiple system operators (MSOs), direct broadcast satellite service providers (DBSs), and content providers, which includes broadcasters and content publishers, owners, aggregators and licensees.

Core Technologies

The Company�� software platform includes core technologies: modular software architecture and multi-core video compression. The Company�� core competencies are in developing advanced media compression and video over IP technologies, where it delivers a carrier grade, multi-screen solution. Its modular software architecture provides a common platform of capabilities and features, which allows its products to perform critical video processing and distribution functions, including ingestion, processing, packaging, protection and encryption, network optimizations and monitoring. In addition, its software-based architecture allows customers to enable features or add capacity through the input of a simple security or license key.

The Company Multi-core video compression has a set of video processing and compression algorithms designed to optimize performance on industry-stan! dard, multi-core hardware chipsets. These algorithms are central to all of its encoder and transcoder products.

Products

The Company�� unified video headend solution and unified delivery infrastructure for live and on-demand multi-screen video delivery are built on its encoding, transcoding and video distribution products. Its suite of products consists of Envivio 4Caster, Muse, Halo and 4Manager. Its 4Caster product delivers video to mobile, PC and television from a single platform. It has designed 4Caster to optimize live and on-demand workflows for video delivery commensurate with the characteristics of both legacy and current network infrastructures by encoding video input in multiple codecs, resolutions, bit rates and formats. 4Caster utilizes pre-processing techniques to clean and optimize video sources before encoding.

Envivio Muse is its new multi-screen software architecture designed for live or file-based video transcoding and distribution to multiple devices. Muse is available on industry-standard blade servers or its 4Caster appliances and enables service providers running large-scale operations to leverage their existing datacenter infrastructure to deliver enhanced video services. Muse also enables advanced functionality, such as ad-insertion and content protection for mobile devices that facilitates service monetization.

The Company�� Halo Network Media Processor performs final content adaptation for consumer devices, including protected adaptive bitrate streams compatible with Apple iOS, Android 3 and Microsoft Smooth Streaming enabled consumer devices. Its 4Manager network management system is specifically engineered to manage next generation video headends for mobile television, over-the-top (OTT) and Internet protocol television (IPTV), while continuing to support traditional broadcast distribution networks. 4Manager allows service providers to monitor and control all headend appliances. 4Manager is designed to maximize video he! adend ava! ilability and reliability by reporting system malfunctions and can automatically switch away from a defective unit, minimizing service disruption.

Services

The Company offers a range of services in support of its products, including on-site project assessment, systems integration, on-site delivery and operational and customer support. On-site project assessment include complete review of content sources, existing systems and middleware to determine the proper interface and adaptation equipment necessary for its customer to deliver an optimized consumer quality of experience. Systems integration configures all the equipment with its solution according to network design and plan. On-site delivery install all equipment and test the operational environment, including redundancy and system monitoring, as well as administer technical training to validate predefined use cases in an operational environment. Operational and customer support provides different grades of service level agreements and support contracts according to requirements.

The Company competes with Harmonic Inc., Cisco Systems, Inc., Elemental Technologies, RGB Networks, Inc., Google Inc. and Ericsson AB.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By John Udovich]

    Small cap video technology stocks Envivio Inc (NASDAQ: ENVI), Ku6 Media Co Ltd (NASDAQ: KUTV) and Tremor Video Inc (NYSE: TRMR) made some interesting moves today and in recent days or months���meaning its worth taking a closer look at all three to see if there might be opportunities for traders and investors alike:

  • [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

    Leading and Lagging Sectors
    Technology stocks gained Thursday, with Infinera (NASDAQ: INFN) leading advancers. Meanwhile, gainers in the sector included Envivio (NASDAQ: ENVI), with shares up 2.8 percent, and Adept Technology (NASDAQ: ADEP), with shares up 4.3 percent.

Best Communications Equipment Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Fabrinet (FN)

Fabrinet, incorporated on August 12, 1999, provides optical packaging and precision optical, electro-mechanical and electronic manufacturing services to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of complex products, such as optical communication components, modules and sub-systems, industrial lasers and sensors. The Company offers a range of optical and electro-mechanical capabilities across the entire manufacturing processes, including process design and engineering, supply chain management, manufacturing, advanced packaging, final assembly and test.

The products that the Company manufactures for its OEM customers includes optical communications devices, such as selective switching products, such as reconfigurable optical add-drop modules (ROADMs), optical amplifiers, modulators and other optical components and modules that collectively enable network managers to route signals through fiber traffic at various wavelengths and over various distances; tunable transponders and transceivers that eliminate the need to stock individual fixed wavelength transponders and transceivers used in voice and data communications networks; and active optical cables providing high-speed interconnect capabilities for data centers and computing clusters, as well as Infiniband, Ethernet, fiber channel and optical backplane connectivity.

Solid state, diode-pumped, gas and fiber lasers (industrial lasers) used across a array of industries, including semiconductor processing (wafer inspection, wafer dicing, wafer scribing), biotechnology (DNA sequencing, flow cytometry, hematology, antibody detection), metrology (instrumentation, calibration, inspection), and material processing (photo processing, textile cutting, annealing, marking, engraving); and sensors, including differential pressure, micro-gyro, fuel and other sensors that are used in automobiles, and non-contact temperature measurement sensors for the medical industry. The Company also designs and fabricates application-specific crystals, pri! sms, mirrors, laser components and substrates (customized optics) and other custom and standard borosilicate, clear fused quartz, and synthetic fused silica glass products (customized glass).

The Company competes with Sanmina-SCI Corporation, Celestica Inc., Venture Corporation Limited, Benchmark Electronics, Inc, Browave Corporation, Fujian Castech Crystals, Inc., Research Electro-Optic, Inc. and Photop Technologies, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Seth Jayson]

    Fabrinet (NYSE: FN  ) reported earnings on April 29. Here are the numbers you need to know.

    The 10-second takeaway
    For the quarter ended March 29 (Q3), Fabrinet beat expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

Best Communications Equipment Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Nokia Oyj (NOK1V)

Nokia Oyj is a Finland-based company engaged in the manufacture of mobile devices and networks. It operates three business segments. Devices & Services segment is divided into two areas, Smart Devices, focused on Nokia�� advanced products, such as smart phones, product development and marketing; and Mobile Phones, active in the area of mass market entry and feature phones, affordable smart phones, services, and applications. It also includes net sale of spare parts. Location & Commerce (HERE) segment develops location-based products and services for consumers, as well as platform services and local commerce services for the Group. Additionally, it provides content and map data to NAVTEQ�� customers. Nokia Siemens Networks segment provides a portfolio of mobile, fixed and converged network technology, and professional services, such as consultancy, systems integration, deployment and maintenance. In August 2013, it acquired Siemens AG's whole stake in Nokia Siemens Networks. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Adam Ewing]

    A sale would provide the shareholders with cash, while potentially strengthening DNA against larger rivals Elisa Oyj (ELI1V) and TeliaSonera AB. (TLSN) The IPO could be the biggest in Finland, home of Nokia Oyj (NOK1V) and ��ngry Birds��maker Rovio Entertainment Oy, since 2005.

  • [By Sharon Cho]

    BYD Electronic International Co. and Compal Communications Inc. led gains of Nokia Oyj (NOK1V)�� Asian suppliers after Microsoft Corp. offered to pay 5.44 billion euros ($7.2 billion) for the Finnish company�� handset business. Samsung Electronics Co. (005930) declined 1 percent.