Saturday, September 20, 2014

Hot Trucking Stocks For 2014

For years, satirical late night TV host Stephen Colbert has been running a series on his show called "Better Know a District," which highlights one of the 435 U.S. congressional districts and its representative. While I am no Stephen Colbert, I�am�brutally inquisitive when it comes to the 5,000-plus listed companies on the U.S. stock exchanges.

That's why I've made it a weekly tradition to examine one seldom-followed company within the�Motley Fool CAPS�database and make a�CAPScall�of outperform or underperform on that company.

For this week's round of "Better Know a Stock," I'm going to take a closer look at Swift Transportation (NYSE: SWFT  ) .

What Swift Transportation does
Swift is a transportation services trucking and intermodal company in North America. The company primarily transports discounted consumer goods, perishable and non-perishable foods, and manufactured goods. As of the end of 2012 Swift operated 15,300 tractors, 52,800 trailers, and had 8,700 intermodal containers.

Top Cheap Stocks For 2015: NEC Corp (NIPNF)

NEC Corporation is a diversified company. The Information Technology (IT) Solution segment provides system integration, supporting, outsourcing and cloud services, servers, mainframes, super computers, wireless access devices and software. Carrier Network segment provides backbone network system, network access and operation support system, among others. Social Infrastructure segment provides broadcasting video system, control system, transportation and public system, fire and disaster prevention system, and others. Personal Solution segment provides smart phones, cellular phones, corporate computers, tablet terminals, mobile and wireless routers, and Internet service and display solution. The Others segment provides smart energy solution, electronic components and lighting fixtures. On October 1, 2013, it transferred 45% stake in NEC TOPPAN CIRCUIT SOLUTIONS, INC. to KYOCERA CORP, and sold all shares in NEC Magnus Communications Ltd. to NEC Networks & System Integration Corporation. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By WWW.MARKETWATCH.COM]

    LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Japan's Nikkei Average (JP:NIK) traded 0.5% higher in the early minutes Tuesday, extending the previous day's 0.9% advance, with the market getting some support from overnight gains for U.S. shares and a slightly weaker yen (dollar at 楼101.56 vs. 楼101.40 at Monday's open). Among the gainers, Toshiba Corp. (JP:6502) (TOSYY) rose 1.7%, Hitachi Ltd. (JP:6501) (HTHIF) gained 1.5%, NEC Corp. (JP:6701) (NIPNF) improved by 2.5%, Bridgestone Corp. (JP:5108) (BRDCF) added 2.7% to extend gains over the past couple weeks following the company's purchase of U.S.-based Masthead Industries, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. (JP:7011) (MHVYF) traded 1.1% higher as a Wall Street Journal report said the industrial major's Mitsubishi Aircraft unit had reached a tentative deal to sell 40 jets for the planned revival of defunct U.S. carrier Eastern Air Lines Group Inc. Auto makers were firmer as well, with Nissan Motor Co. (JP:7201) (NSANY) up 1.3%, Toyota Motor Corp. (JP:7203) (TM) up 0.5%, and Honda Motor Co. (JP:7267)

  • [By MARKETWATCH]

    LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Japanese stocks slipped early Monday, with the Nikkei Stock Average (JP:NIK) down 0.1% at 14,298.17, and the Topix dropping 0.4%. Singapore-traded lead futures for the Nikkei Average had suggested a 0.8% gain for the index, but the indicator fell after the Cabinet Office reported fourth-quarter economic growth of 0.3%, flat from the previous quarter and below expectations in separate Reuters and Wall Street Journal/Nikkei surveys. The disappointing economic data also pushed the yen higher, weighing on some exporters, with Panasonic Corp. (JP:6752) (PCRFF) down 1.8%, NEC Corp. (JP:6701) (NIPNF) off 1.3%, and Sony Corp. (JP:6758) (SNE) down 0.7% after S&P downgraded the firm's credit rating to BBB- from BBB with a negative outlook. Shares of Internet retailer Rakuten Inc. (JP:4755) (RKUNF) dropped 12% after announcing plans to buy online messaging and telecom firm Viber Media Inc. for $900 million as well as posting below-consensus full-year profit. Banks were broadly lower, with Mizuho Financial Group Inc. (JP:8411) (MFG) off 1% and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. (JP:8316) (SMFG) off 1.1%, though Daiwa Securities Group Inc. (JP:8601)

Hot Trucking Stocks For 2014: Lions Gate Entertainment Corp (LGF)

Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. (Lionsgate), incorporated on April 28, 1997, is an entertainment company with a presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home entertainment, family entertainment, digital distribution, new channel platforms and international distribution and sales. During fiscal year ended March 31, 2012 ( fiscal 2012), Lionsgate released 14 motion pictures theatrically, which included films developed and produced in-house, films co-developed and co-produced and films acquired from third parties. In December 2011, the Company formed a partnership with Saban Capital Group, Inc (SCG) and Celestial Pictures to create Celestial Tiger Entertainment Limited (Celestial Tiger Entertainment), a media company dedicated to entertaining audiences in Asia and beyond. In January 2012, the Company acquired 16 % interest in Celestial Tiger Entertainment. On January 13, 2012, the Company acquired Summit Entertainment, LLC (Summit), an independent global theatrical motion picture development, production, and distribution studio. In February 2012, Tele Munchen Group acquired rights to Charlie Sheen Sitcom ANGER MANAGEMENT for Germany, Austria and German speaking Switzerland from the Company�� international television division. Effective March 26, 2013, CBS Corp acquired 50% interest in The TV Guide Network from the Company. In June 2013, CBS Corp acquired TV Guide Digital, which includes the popular TVGuide.com and TV Guide Mobile properties from the Company.

The Company�� television business consists of the development, production, syndication and distribution of television productions. As of March 31, 2012, it produced and syndicated 19 television shows, which air on 14 networks and distribute over 200 series globally. It distributes its library of approximately 13,000 motion picture titles and television episodes and programs directly to retailers, rental kiosks, through various digital media platforms, and pay and free television c! hannels in the United States, the United Kingdom and Ireland, and indirectly to other international markets through its subsidiaries and various third parties. It also distributes product through Celestial Tiger Entertainment, its joint venture with SCG and Celestial Pictures, a company wholly owned by Celestial Pictures; Horror Entertainment, LLC (FEARnet), its joint venture with Sony Pictures Television Inc. (Sony) and Comcast Corporation (Comcast); Studio 3 Partners LLC (EPIX), its joint venture with Viacom Inc. (Viacom), its Paramount Pictures unit (Paramount Pictures) and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM), and TV Guide Network, TV Guide Network On Demand and TV Guide Online (www.tvguide.com) (collectively, TV Guide Network), its joint ventures with One Equity Partners (OEP), the global private equity investment arm of JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Production

The Company takes a disciplined approach to film production with the goal of producing content, which it can distribute to theatrical and ancillary markets, which include home entertainment, pay and free television, on-demand services and digital media platforms, both domestically and internationally. During fiscal 2012, it produced, participated in the production of, completed or substantially completed principal photography of motion pictures, which included Good Deeds, The Hunger Games, What To Expect When You're Expecting, Tyler Perry's Madea's Witness Protection, Step Up Revolution, The Possession, The Perks of Being A Wallflower, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2, The Last Stand, Warm Bodies, Now You See Me, Tyler Perry's The Marriage Counselor, Tyler Perry's We The Peoples and Nurse 3D.

The Company�� television business consists of the development, production, syndication and distribution of television programs. It licenses its television productions to the domestic cable, free and pay television markets, as well as through various digital platforms. During fiscal 2012, it produced 19 televi! sion show! s, aired original programming on 14 networks and distributed over 200 series globally. Domestic television programming includes one-hour and half-hour scripted and reality programming. During fiscal 2012, it produced the episodes of domestic television programming 13 episodes of the fifth season of the series Mad Men,; 13 episodes of the seventh season of Weeds, a half-hour comedy for Showtime; 10 episodes of the fourth season of Nurse Jackie, a half-hour comedy for Showtime; 13 episodes of the third season of Blue Mountain State, a half-hour comedy for Spike TV; and eight episodes of the first season of Boss, a one-hour drama for Starz.

The Company is engaged in the development, acquisition, production and distribution of animation projects for full theatrical release, television and digital versatile disk (DVD) release. Its direct-to-video animated movies with Marvel include Ultimate Avengers, Ultimate Avengers 2, The Invincible Iron Man, Doctor Strange, Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow, Hulk vs. Thor/ Wolverine, Planet Hulk and Thor, Tales of Asgard. Its music department oversees music for its theatrical and television slates, as well as the music needs of other areas within its company. Its publishing revenue derives from performance royalties generated by the theatrical exhibition of its films and the television broadcast of its productions. Music released for its theatrical slate includes overseeing songs, scores and soundtracks for all of its productions, co-productions and acquisitions. During fiscal 2012, through its label partner Universal Republic, it released the soundtrack The Hunger Games Songs from District 12 and Beyond. In addition, it released through Universal Republic the score album, The Hunger Games: Music from the Motion Picture, by composer James Newton Howard. During fiscal 2012, it released Music Videos And Performances From The Twilight Saga Soundtracks: Volume 1, a collection of music videos and live performances from bands featured on the soundtracks from the ! first thr! ee Twilight films. In November 2011, it also released the first single from The Twilight Saga, Breaking Dawn - Part 1, It Will Rain, by Bruno Mars. During fiscal 2012, it also released soundtracks to One For The Money (Lakeshore Records), Abduction (Epic Records), Warrior (Lakeshore Records), Conan The Barbarian 3D (Warner Brothers Records) and The Devil's Double (Lakeshore Records).

Music released for the Company�� television slate includes overseeing songs, scores and soundtracks for all of its television productions. During fiscal 2012, it released Zou Bisou Bisou, a vinyl single and accompanying digital download derived from Jessica Pare's (Megan Draper) on-screen performance in the first episode of season 5 of Mad Men. In addition, in collaboration with FEARnet.com, it released an original soundtrack forFriday the 13th and for Boss, which featured a collaboration of Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down between Robert Plant and Bosscomposer Brian Reitzell, yielding the show's evocative main title theme.

Distribution

The Company distributes motion pictures directly to the United States movie theaters. It constructs release schedules taking into account moviegoer attendance patterns and competition from other studios' scheduled theatrical releases. During fiscal 2012, Lionsgate released 14 motion pictures theatrically, which included films developed and produced in-house, films co-developed and co-produced and films acquired from third parties. During fiscal 2012, Summit released eight motion pictures theatrically, which included films developed and produced in-house, films co-developed and co-produced and films acquired from third parties. Its wholly owned subsidiary, Mandate Pictures LLC (Mandate Pictures), is a full-service production and financing company.

During fiscal 2012, Mandate Pictures' financed and produced pictures released included 50/50, A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas and Young Adult. 50/50 was released by Summit in September 2011! . Young A! dult is written by Diablo Cody and released by Paramount Pictures in December 2011. A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas was released by Warner Bros. Pictures in November 2011. During fiscal 2012, Mandate Pictures also financed and produced the Untitled Diablo Cody project starring Julianne Hough, Russell Brand, Octavia Spencer and Holly Hunter. As of March 31, 2011, Mandate Pictures' production and development slate included a comedy written and directed by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg (working title End Of The World). Mandate Pictures also maintains a partnership with Ghost House Pictures as a production label dedicated to the financing, development and production of films in the horror/thriller genre. Under this partnership, Mandate Pictures has produced 30 Days of Night: Dark Days, Drag Me To Hell, 30 Days of Night, The Grudge I and II, The Messengers and Boogeyman.

The primary components of the Company�� international business are, on a territory by territory basis through third parties or directly through its international divisions: the licensing and sale of rights in all media of its in-house product; the licensing and sale of third party product on an agency basis; the licensing of rights in all media of the in-house Summit product on an output basis; the licensing and sale of in-house catalog product or libraries of acquired titles (such as those of Miramax, Artisan Entertainment and Modern Times Group), and direct distribution. The Company sells or licenses rights in all media on a territory by territory basis (other than the territories where Lionsgate and/or Summit self-distribute) of its in-house Lionsgate and Summit product, as well as titles from Mandate Pictures and Ghost House Pictures; its catalog product or libraries of acquired titles, and product produced by third parties, such as Alcon Entertainment, Vendome Pictures, River Road Entertainment, CBS Films, Relativity Media and other independent producers.

During fiscal 2012, the Company�� output deals f! or Summit! product covered nine territories, including new output deals for Australia/New Zealand, Spain, the Commonwealth of Independent States and Eastern Europe, as well as output deals in Canada, France, Germany/Austria, Scandinavia, and the United Kingdom. It generates revenue through a sales agency business for third party product. Films sold by it include such in-house productions as What to Expect When You're Expecting, Hope Springs and Now You See Me. Third party films sold by includes Beautiful Creatures and The Railway Man. During fiscal 2012, its sales had record-breaking international box office results with releases, including The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1, Immortals, and The Hunger Games.

The Company self-distributes motion pictures (excluding Summit releases) in the United Kingdom and Ireland through its subsidiary, Lions Gate UK Limited (Lionsgate UK). During fiscal 2012, Lionsgate UK's theatrical slate included such titles, such as Warrior, Abduction, 50/50, Ralph Fiennes' British Academy of Film and Television Arts Nominated directorial debut, Coriolanus, David Cronenberg's A Dangerous Method, and The Hunger Games. In May 2011, Lionsgate UK announced that it was co-financing and co-producing a new contemporary sci-fi adventure project The Fallen, and in November 2011, the production of Keith Lemon: The Film, a comedy with Celebrity Juice's host and international ladies' man Keith Lemon. In November 2011, Lionsgate UK also announced a multi-year partnership with Icon Film Distribution for release of theatrical titles moving forward.

Home entertainment distribution includes distribution of product to the home entertainment market, including home video, DVD, Blu-ray, video-on-demand (VOD) and digital/electronic distribution. During fiscal 2011 calendar year, Blu-ray represented 19% of new released packaged media revenue from its theatrical releases. It distributes or sells its titles directly to merchandisers, such as Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Best Buy, Target and Cos! tco, and ! others who buy its DVDs and Blu-ray discs to sell directly to consumers. During 2012, sales to Wal-Mart accounted for approximately 38% of net home entertainment packaged media revenue. It also directly distributes its titles to the rental market through Netflix, Redbox, Blockbuster and Rentrak. In addition to its theatrical releases each year, it also acquires and distributes approximately 70 titles annually that have commercial potential in video and ancillary markets, and approximately 50 digital only titles. It also distributes television product on video, including seasons one through five of Mad Men, seasons one through eight of Weeds, seasons one through four of Nurse Jackie, the first season of Boss, certain Saturday Night Live product in its library, seasons one through three of Blue Mountain State, the entire catalog of the comedy series Moonlighting, the entire catalog of the comedy series Will and Grace, the entire catalog of Little House on the Prairie and certain Disney-ABC Domestic Television series. During fiscal 2012, it also released several direct-to-video titles, including two Tyler Perry titles, Tyler Perry's Laugh to Keep from Crying and A Madea Christmas: The Play, and Set Up. Its fitness lineup includes series, such as Denise Austin, Jillian Michaels, The Biggest Loser and Dancing With The Stars, as well as titles from Billy Blanks Jr., and Jane Fonda. During fiscal 2012, it released on DVD the theatrical release of Madea's Big Happy Family, as well as the direct-to-video releases Tyler Perry's Laugh to Keep from Crying and A Madea Christmas: The Play. Its domestic family entertainment division is a distributor of children's product.

The Company syndicates television programming through its subsidiary, Debmar-Mercury. In fiscal 2012, Debmar-Mercury distributed approximately 1,100 hours and produced approximately 550 episodes of television programming. In fiscal 2013, Debmar-Mercury intends to distribute approximately 1,200 hours and produce approximately 550 episode! s of tele! vision programming. Debmar-Mercury produces and distributes The Wendy Williams Show, distributes the ITV Studios America produced The Jeremy Kyle Show, distributes Tyler Perry's House of Payne and its spinoff, Meet the Browns, and Revolution Studios' produced Are We There Yet, which will air simultaneously in broadcast syndication and on TBS starting in the fall of 2012. Debmar-Mercury also distributes the strips Hell's Kitchen, South Park, True Hollywood Story and Family Feud, which has had first run syndication and has been sold to various television stations through the fall of 2015. Debmar-Mercury continues to distribute a movie library featuring Lionsgate titles, as well as those from Revolution Studios. In July 2011, Debmar-Mercury announced that the first eight seasons of Hell's Kitchen, produced by ITV Studios America, will be exclusively available on the Hulu Plus subscription service beginning immediately, while current episodes from season nine and a rotating selection of library episodes will also be available on the free, ad-supported Hulu service. In April 2011, Debmar-Mercury announced that TBS ordered ten episodes of the new series Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse, a sitcom based on Tyler Perry's hit film Why Did I Get Married?. The series launched in November 2011. In February 2012, Debmar-Mercury received an order from TBS for an additional 35 episodes of the new series. Overall, 439 episodes of Debmar-Mercury's syndicated sitcoms with Tyler Perry have been ordered to-date.

In July 2011, the Company announced that FX had ordered Charlie Sheen's Anger Management. It has more than 1,000 titles in active distribution in the domestic cable, free and pay television markets. Pay television rights include rights granted to cable, direct broadcast satellite and other services paid for by subscribers. It sells its library titles and new product to major cable channels, such as pay networks, including EPIX, HBO, Starz and Showtime, as well as basic cable channels, including USA Net! work, FX,! Turner Networks, BET, ABC Family, SyFy, Lifetime, MTV, Comedy Central, Spike, AMC Networks, OWN, Reelz, Telemundo and Telefutura. It also directly distributes pay-per-view and VOD to cable, satellite and Internet providers, such as Comcast, Time Warner, Cox Communications, through iN Demand, Charter Communications, AT&T Uverse and Verizon FIOS through Avail-TVN, Cablevision, DirecTV and DISH Network. During fiscal 2012, it completed multi-year licensing agreements with Starz (for greater than 500 titles) and Showtime (for greater than 250 titles). In addition, it continues to distribute its library of motion picture titles and television episodes and programs through EPIX, its joint venture with Viacom, Paramount Pictures and MGM.

The Company delivers content through a range of digital media platforms. It distributes first run theatrical films, television series, its movie library, third party product and product not available on DVD to distribution outlets, including iTunes, Amazon, Microsoft's Xbox, Sony's Playstation Network, Netflix, Best Buy/CinemaNow, Hulu, YouTube, and Wal-Mart/Vudu. Through its partnership with EPIX, it offers product through the Internet and to multiple devices for consumption anytime/anywhere by EPIX subscribers. EPIX has subscription pay television rights to new releases and movies from the libraries of its partners and makes these movies available to Netflix 90 days after their premium pay television and subscription on demand debuts. In addition, its licensing relationship with Netflix continues. In April 2011, it announced a multiyear syndication deal with Netflix pursuant to which it licensed the first four seasons of Mad Men to be watched instantly by Netflix members beginning July 2011, with additional seasons being added annually after they air on their respective seasons on the AMC network.

The Company operates FEARnet, a branded multiplatform programming and content service provider of horror genre films, in connection with partners Comca! st and So! ny, and owns an interest in Break Media, a viral marketing company that creates new opportunities for showcasing the feature films and television programming. In addition, it has partnered with YouTube to create branded Lionsgate channels, which enable the Company to post full length films and television episodes and to post promotional scenes from its film and television libraries. In addition to sharing advertising revenue from the channel, a banner on the page leads to its online shop, where the films and shows highlighted in the promotional scenes are available for purchase as DVDs or Blu-ray discs in digital form.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Tim Beyers]

    In Time Warner's (NYSE: TWX  ) pantheon of DC Comics characters, none stand so tall as Superman and Batman. But what about Wonder Woman? The Amazon princess could out-earn Man of Steel if given a real chance by Warner executives, says Fool contributor Tim Beyers in the following video.

    The right story would take advantage of the viewing public's fascination not only with Greek mythology but also powerful women. Look at The Hunger Games. Jennifer Lawrence's appeal as bow-wielding heroine Katniss Everdeen earned nearly $700 million at the worldwide box office for Lions Gate (NYSE: LGF  ) . Three sequels are planned, including November's Catching Fire.

  • [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]

    John Raoux/AP From a questionable Hollywood sequel hitting the silver screen to a controversial theme park operator hoping to prove that it's not all wet, here are some of the things that will help shape the week that lies ahead on Wall Street. Monday -- Seizing Caesars Things are getting tense at Caesars Entertainment (CZR). The casino operator made waves last week as some of its creditors initiated a lawsuit claiming that Caesars is transferring assets out of the company as the first step to defaulting on its gargantuan debt. The corporate soap opera will have to play itself out, but on Monday afternoon we'll hear what Caesars has to say as it reports quarterly results. Given the brow-raising restructuring efforts, it's a safe bet that analysts will be asking more about the asset transfer and the lawsuit than the gaming giant's own operations, including massive renovations of The Quad. Tuesday -- Sweet Tooth for Candy Crush There has never been a mobile app as lucrative as King Digital Entertainment's (KING) Candy Crush Saga, paving the way for the casual gaming darling's initial public offering earlier this year. King went public at $22.50, but fears that the game's popularity had peaked late last year kept gains check. The stock currently trades below its March IPO price. King Digital has also used the game's success to introduce players to some of its other apps, though Candy Crush Saga still accounted for two thirds of King's gross bookings during this year's first quarter. We'll get fresh financials out of King on Tuesday, making this a great time to see if Candy Crush Saga is gaining momentum or if King is doing a better job of diversifying its revenue streams. Wednesday -- Get Whale, Soon SeaWorld Entertainment (SEAS) splashes in with its latest quarterly results on Wednesday. Attendance has been sliding since last year's "Blackfish" documentary made it politically incorrect to visit the marine life theme park. If there's a time for the turns

  • [By Jonas Elmerraji]

    Why bother with introducing a new chart setup when there's another new take on the triangles we've been looking at so far? Lionsgate Entertainment (LGF) is a textbook example of the bearish inverse of the patterns in ACCO and CNO.

    Lionsgate currently looks "toppy" thanks to a descending triangle that's been forming in shares since the beginning of September. The descending triangle is formed by a downtrending resistance level above shares and horizontal support, in this case at $34. The breakdown below the $34 price level is the signal to sell (or short) LGF.

    Lionsgate's outcome is by no means foregone at this point -- buyers are still showing a willingness to step in and pick up shares at $34. But when LGF can print below that $34 price floor, traders should consider the uptrend officially over. If you decide to short the move, I'd recommend keeping a protective stop on the other side of the 50-day moving average.

  • [By Steve Symington]

    In November, for example, Lions Gate (NYSE: LGF  ) will release The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, which has some big shoes to fill after the first film in the franchise achieved more than $691 million in global ticket sales last year.

Hot Trucking Stocks For 2014: Rossi Residencial SA (RSID3)

Rossi Residencial SA is a Brazil-based company involved in the real estate sector. The Company is principally engaged in the development, construction and sale of residential and commercial real estate properties. In addition, it is involved in the subdivision of land and provision of civil engineering services. As of December 31, 2011, the Company had four subsidiaries, including Astir Assessoria Tecnica Imobiliaria e Participacoes Ltda, RCI Consultoria de Imoveis Ltda, Rossi Consultoria de Imoveis Ltda and Rossi Industria de Artefatos de Concreto Ltda, as well as a number of joint ventures, such as Argentea Empreendimentos SA, Damacena Empreendimentos SA, Minulo Empreendimentos SA and Nicandra Empreendimentos SA, among others. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Ney Hayashi]

    Rossi Residencial SA (RSID3) climbed 2.1 percent today to 2.98 reais, leading homebuilders higher, as traders pared bets for higher borrowing costs in Brazil following the inflation report. The BM&FBovespa Real Estate Index added 0.5 percent.

Hot Trucking Stocks For 2014: Mediabistro Inc (MBIS)

Mediabistro Inc, formerly WebMediaBrands Inc., incorporated on April 5, 1999, is an Internet media company. The Company provides content, education, career services to social media, traditional media and creative professionals through a portfolio of vertical online properties, communities and trade shows. On May 11, 2011, the Company acquired Inside Network, Inc.In March 2011, the Company acquired the assets of the blog FacebookMarketing.de. In March 2011, the Company acquired the assets of the Website SemanticOverflow.com. In May 2011, it acquired Inside Network Inc. In August 2012, the Company acquired the assets of Lost Remote the blog covering the field of social television.

The Company�� online business includes mediabistro.com, a blog network providing content, education, community resources and career resources about media industry verticals including new media, social media, Facebook, TV news, advertising, public relations, publishing, design and mobile. Its mediabistro.com business also includes a job board for media and creative professionals focusing on job categories such as social media, new media, publishing, public relations/marketing, advertising, sales, design, Web development, television and more. InsideNetwork.com, a network of online properties dedicated to providing original market research, data services, news, events and job listings on the Facebook platform, on social gaming and on mobile applications ecosystems. SemanticWeb.com, a blog providing content, education, community resources and career resources on the commercialization and application of Semantic Technologies, Linked Data and Big Data. Community, membership and e-commerce offerings including a freelance listing service, a marketplace for designing and purchasing logos (stocklogos.com) and premium membership services.

The Company�� education business features online and in-person courses and online conferences, including its Social Media Marketing Boot Camps, for media and creative prof! essionals. Online education conferences are programs that offer attendees the opportunity to learn in a dynamic online setting with live weekly instruction via webcast, daily forum discussions within an online classroom, homework assignments, and small group interaction where students receive one-on-one guidance and instruction from an advisor. The Company�� trade shows include, among others, the Semantic Tech and Business Conference, Inside Social Apps, Social Gaming Summit and AllFacebook Marketing Expo. Its online business also includes AllCreativeWorld.com, a network of online properties providing content, education, community, career and other resources for creative and design professionals.

The Company competes with Monster.com and LinkedIn.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Paul Ausick]

    Stocks on the Move: Aetrium Inc. (NASDAQ: ATRM) is up 156.2% at $12.40 following a positive report based on a recent management change and new products. Mediabistro Inc. (NASDAQ: MBIS) is down 17.4% at $3.41 as the stock gives back some of the 87% gain it scored yesterday. J.C. Penney Co. Inc. (NYSE: JCP) is up 7.7% at $10.08 on momentum from an insider stock purchase earlier this week.

  • [By Paul Ausick]

    Stocks on the Move: Nuance Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: NUAN) is down 18.1% at $13.10 and Ariad Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: ARIA) is down 9% at $4.67 on huge volume today. Mediabistro Inc. (NASDAQ: MBIS) is up 87.2% at $4.10 after investing in a media and events firm that covers the 3D printing market.

  • [By James E. Brumley]

    Well, I'll be the first to admit it took way longer than I expected, but Mediabistro Inc. (NASDAQ:MBIS) has finally unleashed the strength I saw brewing up four months ago. Now get out. Seriously. Go ahead and take your profits on MBIS and walk away while you still can.

  • [By Paul Ausick]

    One lightly traded stock making a big move today is Mediabistro Inc. (NASDAQ: MBIS), an Internet media company that offers a variety of services in a number of vertical media markets. The company today announced a strategic investment in 3dprintingindustry.com, a media firm that covers the hot 3D printer market. No financial details were provided.

Friday, September 19, 2014

Top 5 High Tech Companies To Buy For 2014

Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over daily movements, we do like to keep an eye on market changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.

Despite some big intraday swings last week for the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) and the rest of the market, Friday came along and saved the week, as the Dow gained back its losses from the day before, adding 168 points and finishing the week up 146 points, or 0.93%. One reason for the great Friday was the October jobs number from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which showed that 204,000 new positions had been created during the month, compared with the 125,000 economists had been expecting. The bureau also revised August and September's numbers higher by a combined 60,000. �

That news also helped the S&P 500 gain 0.5%. But it wasn't enough to save the Nasdaq, which ended the week down 0.07%.

Before we jump into the Dow's big losers, let's review the big winner. Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT  ) stock climbed after news broke that the company had created a short list of possible candidates to take over the CEO role when Steve Ballmer steps down sometime in the coming months. One name mentioned was Ford CEO Alan Mulally. Another was former Nokia COO Stephen Elop, who,�once Microsoft's acquisition of Nokia's handset division closes, will be employed by Microsoft regardless of whether he gets the CEO spot. It's difficult to say who will win the job and whether that person will even want the job, so investors should sit tight for now. �

Best Growth Stocks To Own For 2015: Maximus Inc (MMS)

MAXIMUS, Inc., incorporated on October 18, 2007, provides business process services (BPS) to government health and human services agencies under its mission of Helping Government Serve the People. The Company is primarily focused on operating government-sponsored programs, such as Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), health insurance exchanges and other health care reform initiatives, Medicare, welfare-to-work, child support services and other government programs.

The Company is one of the pure-play health and human services administrative providers to governments in the United States, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia. The Company�� segments include Health Services and Human Services. Effective July 1, 2013, MAXIMUS, Inc. acquired Health Management Ltd.

Health Services Segment

The Company's Health Services segment provides a variety of business process services, as well as related consulting services, for state, provincial and federal government programs, including Medicaid, CHIP, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), Medicare, the Affordable Care Act and Health Insurance BC (British Columbia). In this segment, the Company's BPS and consulting services include government health insurance program administration; Health insurance program eligibility and enrollment services to improve access to health care for citizens and help beneficiaries make the best choice for their health insurance coverage; Eligibility and enrollment modernization for government health benefit programs; Health insurance exchange design and operations; Consumer outreach and education, including multilingual customer contact centers and multi-channel self-service options, such as Web-based portals, for easy enrollment; Application assistance and independent enrollment counseling to beneficiaries; Premium payment processing and administration, such as invoicing and reconciliation; Objective, evidence-based health appeals; Independent medical! reviews; Health plan oversight; eHealth solutions with the Medigent product suite; Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS) planning and oversight, and Specialized program consulting services.

Human Services Segment

The Company's Human Services segment provides federal, national, state and county human services agencies with a variety of business process services, as well as related consulting services for welfare-to-work, child support, higher education and K-12 special education programs. The Company's services include welfare-to-work services, including eligibility determination, case management, job-readiness preparation, job search and employer outreach, job retention and career advancement, and selected educational and training services, to help disadvantaged individuals transition from government assistance programs to sustainable employment and economic independence; Full and specialized child support case management services, customer contact center operations, and program and systems consulting services; Management tools and professional consulting services for higher education institutions; K-12 special education case management solutions; Program consulting services, including independent verification and validation, cost allocation plans, repeatable management services and other specialized consulting offerings, and Tax credit and employer services.

The Company competes with Serco, Atos Origin and Ingeus.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Laura Brodbeck]

    Tuesday

    Earnings Expected From: Five Star Quality Care, Inc. (NYSE: FVE), Maximus, Inc. (NYSE: MMS), Nustar Energy (NYSE: NS), D.R. Horton, Inc. (NYSE: DHI), DISH Network Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) Economic Releases Expected: German CPI, British CPI, British PPI, US Redbook, Indian manufacturing output, Indian industrial production

    Wednesday

  • [By Ben Levisohn]

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

Top 5 High Tech Companies To Buy For 2014: Universal Technical Institute Inc(UTI)

Universal Technical Institute, Inc. engages in the provision of postsecondary education for students seeking careers as professional automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle, and marine technicians in the United States. It offers undergraduate degree, diploma, and certificate programs through its campuses under various brands, including Universal Technical Institute, Motorcycle Mechanics Institute and Marine Mechanics Institute, and NASCAR Technical Institute. The company also provides manufacturer-specific training programs comprising student paid electives at its campuses and manufacturer or dealer sponsored training at certain campuses and dedicated training centers. Universal Technical Institute, Inc. was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona.

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 Universal Technical Institute (NYSE: UTI  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

  • [By Laura Brodbeck]

    Tuesday

    Earnings Expected From: Bank of Montreal (NYSE: BMO), United Natural Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ: UNFI), OmniVision Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: OVTI), Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI) Economic Releases Expected: Chinese HSBC Services PMI, Australian GDP, Brazilian GDP, eurozone PPI, British construction PMI.

    Wednesday

Top 5 High Tech Companies To Buy For 2014: Saks Incorporated(SKS)

Saks Incorporated operates retail stores in the United States. Its stores offer an assortment of fashion apparel, shoes, accessories, jewelry, cosmetics, and gifts. The company operates stores under the brand name of Saks Fifth Avenue (SFA) that are principally free-standing stores in shopping destinations or anchor stores in upscale regional malls. It also operates Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH (OFF 5TH) stores, which are primarily located in upscale mixed-use and off-price centers. As of January 28, 2012, the company operated 46 SFA stores; and 60 OFF 5TH stores. Saks Incorporated also sells its products online at saks.com, as well as through catalogs. The company was founded in 1919 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Andrew Marder]

    Earlier this week, the New York Post reported that high-end retailer Saks (NYSE: SKS  ) had brought in Goldman Sachs to explore a possible sale. The company also reported its first-quarter results, and is looking fairly strong. Comparable sales grew, and earnings per share�hit analyst expectations. The combination of quarterly results and sale rumors conspired to push the stock up 11% yesterday, and overnight it rose another 18%. Is this the right time for Saks to sell, and if so, what should investors be on the lookout for?

Top 5 High Tech Companies To Buy For 2014: Advance Auto Parts Inc(AAP)

Advance Auto Parts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a retailer of automotive aftermarket parts, accessories, batteries, and maintenance items. It operates in two segments, Advance Auto Parts (AAP) and Autopart International (AI). The AAP segment operates stores, which primarily offer auto parts, including alternators, batteries, chassis parts, clutches, engines and engine parts, radiators, starters, transmissions, and water pumps; accessories comprising floor mats, mirrors, vent shades, MP3 and cell phone accessories, and seat and steering wheel covers; chemicals consisting of antifreeze, freon, fuel additives, and car washes and waxes; and oil and other automotive petroleum products. This segment also provides battery and wiper installation, battery charging, check engine light reading, electrical system testing, video clinics and project brochures, loaner tool programs, and oil and battery recycling services; and sells its products through online. The AI segm ent operates stores that offer replacement parts for domestic and imported cars, and light trucks to customers in northeast and mid-Atlantic regions, as well as to warehouse distributors and jobbers in North America. As of January 1, 2011, the company operated 3,369 AAP stores, including 3,343 stores located in the northeastern, southeastern, and Midwestern regions of the United States under the Advance Auto Parts and Advance Discount Auto Parts trade names; 26 stores situated in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands under the Advance Auto Parts and Western Auto trade names; and 194 stores under the Autopart International trade name in the United States. It serves do-it-yourself, do-it-for-me, or commercial customers. The company was founded in 1929 and is based in Roanoke, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Dan Caplinger]

    What's interesting, though, is that historically, auto-parts makers are seen as relying on the lack of success among automakers. After all, new cars don't need parts nearly as often as older cars do, and when Ford and GM perform well, their customers don't have to rely as much on Genuine Parts or competitors AutoZone (NYSE: AZO  ) and Advance Auto Parts (NYSE: AAP  ) for replacements. Yet, even though Advance's 15% gain, and AutoZone's 20% rise year to date, aren't quite as substantial as Genuine Parts, they still signal a paradigm shift in the way investors look at the industry, perhaps recognizing that for every new car sold, there's usually a used car that gets traded in, and so good news for Ford and GM sales might actually translate into more business for the parts industry.

  • [By John Udovich]

    Auto parts retailers like large cap O'Reilly Automotive Inc (NASDAQ: ORLY) and mid cap Advance Auto Parts, Inc (NYSE: AAP)�along with small cap auto parts stock Federal-Mogul Corp (NASDAQ: FDML) have been a bright spot on the economy as consumers try to stretch the lives of their automobiles or vehicles in the bad or uncertain economy. In fact, Investors Business Daily has recently noted that the�average age of cars on the road is about 11.5 years and that�� of course good news for auto parts retailers while�any uptick in sales or production of auto parts in general�will be good for companies like Federal-Mogul Corp. With that in mind, here�is a look at�how these three auto parts retailers or auto parts stocks are taking investors for a ride in a good way:

  • [By Daniel Miller]

    Rather than pull my money out at the wrong time, as so many people did, I invested in specific trend-bucking, low-beta stocks -- O'Reilly (NASDAQ: ORLY  ) , Advance Auto Parts (NYSE: AAP  ) , and AutoZone (NYSE: AZO  ) . I did so while following Lynch's advice to "invest in what you know." To allow me to tell my story, let me briefly explain what the beta number is and how it works. Then I'll tell you why I picked those stocks and explain how you can do it next time.

  • [By Matt Thalman]

    Competitor Advanced Auto Parts (NYSE: AAP  ) also announced earnings this morning, which resulted in shares of the company increasing by 12.74% today. Revenue at Advanced rose 6% year over year to hit $1.41 billion, but that was below the $1.43 billion analysts were expecting. Despite that miss, earnings per share came in at $0.94, which was $0.13 higher than Wall Street had predicted. The company maintained a strong gross margin at 49.8%, but that fell from 49.9% during the same quarter last year, which was explained as a side effect from a higher mix of commercial sales, an area that has lower margins. Lastly, management forecasted that 2014 fiscal year earnings per share will fall within a range from $7.20-$7.40, while analysts had that number pinned at just $7.03 per share.�

Hot Sliver Stocks To Watch Right Now

Ray Dalio is the founder of the world's largest and best-performing hedge fund in 2011, Bridgewater Associates. The letter was created October 31, 2008 and updated March, 2012:

The economy is like a machine. At the most fundamental level it is a relatively simple machine, yet it is not well understood. I wrote this paper to describe how I believe it works. My description is not the same as conventional economists' descriptions so you should decide for yourself whether or not what I'm saying makes sense. I will start with the simple things and build up, so please bear with me. I believe that you will be able to understand and assess my description if we patiently go through it.

How the Economic Machine Works: "A Transactions-Based Approach"

An economy is simply the sum of the transactions made and a transaction is a simple thing. A transaction consists of the buyer giving money (or credit) to a seller and the seller giving a good, a service or a financial asset to the buyer in exchange. A market consists of all the buyers and sellers making exchanges for the same things ��e.g., the wheat market consists of different people making different transactions for different reasons over time. An economy consists of all of the transactions in all of its markets. So, while seemingly complex, an economy is really just a zillion simple things working together, which makes it look more complex than it really is.

Top 10 Restaurant Companies To Buy Right Now: Hillenbrand Inc(HI)

Hillenbrand, Inc. designs, manufactures, distributes, and sells funeral service products to licensed funeral directors operating licensed funeral homes. The company?s products include burial caskets, cremation caskets, containers, vaults, urns, and selection room display fixturing for funeral homes, as well as other personalization and memorialization products and services, including Web-based applications, and the creation and hosting of Websites for licensed funeral homes. It markets its products under the Batesville and Options brand name through direct sales force in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and Australia. The company also designs, produces, markets, sells, and services bulk solids material handling equipment and systems for various industrial markets, including plastics, food, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, power generation, coal mining, pulp and paper, frac sand, industrial minerals, agribusiness, recycling, wood and forest pr oducts, and biomass energy generation. It offers feeders and pneumatic conveying equipment under the K-Tron brand name; and size reduction equipment, such as hammer mills, double-roll crushers, wood and bark hogs, chip sizers, screening equipment, pneumatic and mechanical conveying systems, storage/reclamation systems, and specialty crushers and other equipment under the Pennsylvania Crusher, Gundlach, and Jeffrey Rader brand names. In addition, the company manufactures dry material separation machines that sort dry, granular products based on the particle?s size serving various industries, including frac sand, potash, urea, phosphates, chemical, agricultural, plastics, and food processing. The company sells its material handling equipment and systems worldwide through a combination of a direct sales force, and a network of independent sales representatives and distributors. Hillenbrand, Inc. was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Batesville, Indiana.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By GURUFOCUS]

    Hillenbrand Inc. (HI), a diversified industrial company, makes and sells business-to-business products and services for various industries worldwide. Dec. 4, the company increased is quarterly dividend 1.3% to $0.1975 per share. the dividend is payable Dec. 31, 2013, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Dec. 17, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 2.8%.

Hot Sliver Stocks To Watch Right Now: Norfolk Souther Corporation(NSC)

Norfolk Southern Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in the rail transportation of raw materials, intermediate products, and finished goods primarily in the United States. The company transports coal products, such as coal, coke, and iron ore; automotive products, including finished vehicles and auto parts; chemicals products consisting of sulfur and related chemicals, petroleum products, chlorine and bleaching compounds, plastics, rubber, industrial chemicals, chemical wastes, and municipal wastes; metals and construction products comprising steel, aluminum products, machinery, scrap metals, cement, aggregates, bricks, and minerals; and paper, clay, and forest products, including lumber and wood products, pulp board and paper products, wood fibers, wood pulp, scrap paper, and clay. It also transports agriculture, consumer, and government products, such as soybeans, wheat, corn, fertilizer, animal and poultry feed, food oils, flour, beverages, canned goods, swee teners, consumer products, ethanol, and items for the military. In addition, it engages in the intermodal operations that include moving of shipments in trailers, the United States and international containers, and roadrailer equipment. Further, the company transports overseas freight through various Atlantic and Gulf Coast ports, as well as provides a range of logistics services; and operates passenger and commuter trains. Additionally, it involves in the acquisition, leasing, and management of coal, oil, gas, and minerals; the development of commercial real estate; telecommunications; and the leasing or sale of rail property and equipment. As of December 31, 2010, the company operated approximately 20,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia. The company was founded in 1883 and is based in Norfolk, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Ben Levisohn]

    With the album I Often Dream of Trains, Robyn Hitchcock emerged from what has been described as an artistic slump. Norfolk Southern (NSC) has surged today after handily beating earnings, despite coal’s never-ending slump.

  • [By gurujx]

    Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC): EVP Finance and CFO John Rathbone Sold 116,407 Shares

    EVP Finance and CFO John Rathbone sold 116,407 shares of NSC stock on Oct. 24 at the average price of $84.52. John P Rathbone owns at least 133,787 shares after this. The price of the stock has increased by 2.93% since.

  • [By Dan Caplinger]

    But CSX has responded to the coal crisis in a couple of ways. First, both it and fellow coal-focused railroad Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC  ) have ramped up their efforts to export coal, as countries such as China and India remain hungry for low-cost-energy alternatives. Peabody Energy (NYSE: BTU  ) has a natural advantage in supplying Asia because of its deposits in Australia, allowing it to send coal to India and China more cheaply than its peers, especially those with extensive deposits in the eastern half of the U.S. But even eastern producers have managed to boost their exports considerably, and that's helping the railroads that serve coal companies.

  • [By Dan Caplinger]

    Railroads have done extremely well in recent years by capitalizing on the big boom in commodities demand, especially overseas. For CSX, coal was a big driver of its major efficiency gains, as more than 70% of coal delivered to electricity-generating power plants goes by rail. But when rock-bottom natural-gas prices led electric utilities to shift from coal to gas to fuel their power plants, CSX and many of its rivals took big hits. In particular, Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC  ) , with similar geographic exposure to the Appalachian coal-producing region, shared CSX's declines.

Hot Sliver Stocks To Watch Right Now: Fenner PLC (FENR)

Fenner PLC is a manufacturer and distributor of reinforced polymer products. It operates in two segments: engineered conveyor solutions, which is engaged in the manufacture of rubber, polyvinyl chloride and steel cord conveyor belts, ply, solid woven and steel cord conveyor belting for mining, power generation and industrial applications and advanced engineered products, which is engaged in the manufacture of precision polymer products; problem-solving power transmission and motion transfer components; silicone and complex hoses for heavy duty trucks, buses and off-road vehicles; seals and sealing solutions for the fluid power and oil and gas industries; technical textiles for medical and industrial applications and silicone based products for medical applications; rollers for digital image processing and medical diagnostics, and fluropolymer components for fluid and gas handling. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Inyoung Hwang]

    Fenner Plc (FENR) rallied 5.2 percent to 407.4 pence, its highest price since March 20. UBS AG started coverage of the conveyor-belt maker with a buy rating, saying shares are cheap. The bank predicted the stock will climb to 460 pence in the next 12 months.

Hot Sliver Stocks To Watch Right Now: Hickory Tech Corporation (HTCO)

Hickory Tech Corporation provides integrated communications services to business and residential customers in the Midwest. The company operates in two segments, Business Sector and Telecom Sector. The Business Sector segment offers integrated data services, such as fiber, data and Internet, voice and voice over Internet protocol, managed and hosted, data center, equipment, and total care support services. This segment also distributes telecommunications and data processing equipment, as well as provides network and equipment monitoring, maintenance, and equipment consulting services; and offers fiber-based transport for regional and national telecommunications carriers, wireless carriers, and other providers. It serves businesses primarily in the upper Midwest. The Telecom Sector segment offers network access services; and broadband services, such as residential and business DSL access, high-speed Internet, digital TV, and business Ethernet services. It also provides local telephone, long distance, and calling features services; and directory assistance, operator service, and long distance private lines. In addition, this segment offers directory publishing, customer premise equipment sales, bill processing, and add/move/change services. It owns and operates approximately 900 mile fiber optic network and facilities in Minnesota. Hickory Tech Corporation was founded in 1898 and is headquartered in Mankato, Minnesota.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Marc Bastow]

    Hickory Tech (HTCO), a communications provider in several Midwest states, announced a 3% dividend increase to 15 cents per share, payable Dec. 5 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 15.
    HTCO Dividend Yield: 5.5%

Hot Sliver Stocks To Watch Right Now: CBOE Holdings Inc.(CBOE)

CBOE Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates markets for the execution of transactions in exchange-traded options. The company offers marketplaces for trading of options on individual equities, various market indexes, exchange-traded notes, and exchange-traded funds, as well as futures contracts and cash equities. It has strategic relationships with Standard & Poor's Corporation; Dow Jones & Co.; NASDAQ; and Frank Russell Co. The company was founded in 1973 and is based in Chicago, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Rich Duprey]

    It's not optional: Shareholders of record on May 31 will receive a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share on June 21 from futures and options exchange operator�CBOE Holdings� (NASDAQ: CBOE  ) , the company announced this week.

Hot Sliver Stocks To Watch Right Now: INTL FCStone Inc.(INTL)

INTL FCStone Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides foreign exchange and treasury, securities execution, physical commodities trading and execution, and structured over-the-counter commodity services worldwide. It offers commodity and risk management services; treasury, global payment, and foreign exchange services; and wholesale market making services in select foreign securities, as well as involved in the origination, structuring, and placement of an array of emerging market debt instruments in the international and domestic capital markets, and trades in various international debt instruments. The company also provides clearing and execution services related to exchange-traded futures and options for the institutional and professional trader market segments; asset management, and commodity financing and facilitation services; and investment banking advisory services. Its customers comprise the producers, consumers, recyclers, and investors in precious metals an d certain base metals; financial institutions, multi-national corporations, and governmental and charitable organizations; and broker-dealers, regional broker-dealers, commercial banks, institutional investors, and investment banks. The company was formerly known as International Assets Holding Corporation and changed its name to INTL FCStone Inc. in March 2011. INTL FCStone Inc. was founded in 1924 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By RichardCox]

    Most of the evidence supporting positions in SPY over QQQ can be seen in the earnings performance so far this season. In the S&P as a whole, roughly 3/4 of the reporting companies have posted results that are better than analyst estimates. When looking at revenues in isolation, slightly more than half of those companies have passed market projections. But these numbers would be much improved without the major earnings misses that have been seen in the large-cap tech space. Examples seen so far include Intel Corp.(INTL), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), and, more recently, Google(GOOG), and Microsoft (MSFT).

Thursday, September 18, 2014

10 Best Paper Stocks To Watch Right Now

Dividend stocks are everywhere, but many just downright stink. In some cases, the business model is in serious jeopardy, or the dividend itself isn't sustainable. In others, the dividend is so low, it's not even worth the paper your dividend check is printed on. A�solid dividend�strikes the right balance of growth, value, and sustainability.

Today, and one day each week for the rest of the year, we're going to look at one dividend-paying company that you can put in your portfolio for the long term without too much concern. This isn't to say that these stocks don't share the same macro risks that other companies have, but they are a step above your common grade of dividend stock. Check out�last week's selection.

This week, we'll turn our attention back to the energy sector and focus on a company that's set to benefit in a big way from the upcoming energy boom, Boardwalk Pipeline Partners (NYSE: BWP  ) .

Up from the ground came quite a bubble
Natural gas might seem like the future of American energy consumption -- and considering its natural abundance in the shale regions of the continental U.S. and the fact that it burns cleaner, it rightfully deserves to be so -- but investors did everything in their power recently to try and wreck that future last year. Between a milder-than-normal winter in the U.S. on the East Coast and an overabundance of natural gas being drilled in shale regions of the domestic continent, natural gas prices plummeted under $2 per thousand cubic feet.

Top 5 Tech Companies To Own In Right Now: Iberpapel Gestion SA (IBG)

Iberpapel Gestion SA is a Spain-based holding company engaged in the paper industry. The Company operates through three divisions: Forestry, involved in the acquisition and cultivation of eucalyptus plantations in Argentina, Uruguay and Spain; Industrial, focused on the production of bleached pulp and paper products, and Commercial, specialized on the distribution of products such as printing and photocopy paper, offset paper, light-coated paper, laser printing paper, paper bags and envelopes. The Company�� subsidiaries include Distribuidora Papelera SA, Moliner Dominguez y Cia SA, Ibereucaliptos SA, Papelera Guipuzcoana de Zicunaga SA, Central de Suministros de Artes Graficas Papel SA and Copaimex SA, among others. The Company�� major shareholders include ONCHENA, SL and BESTINVER GESTION, SA. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By GURUFOCUS]

    The top contributing stock for the quarter was Saft Groupe (XPAR:SAFT).� The company has two main divisions: the Specialty Battery Group (SBG), which makes lithium batteries for various end markets including satellites, utility meters and military applications; and the Industrial Battery Group (IBG), which produces rechargeable nickel and lithium-ion batteries for industrial back-up power, aviation, rail, telecom and energy storage industries.�

  • [By Holly LaFon]

    The top contributing stock for the quarter was Saft Groupe (XPAR:SAFT).� The company has two main divisions: the Specialty Battery Group (SBG), which makes lithium batteries for various end markets including satellites, utility meters and military applications; and the Industrial Battery Group (IBG), which produces rechargeable nickel and lithium-ion batteries for industrial back-up power, aviation, rail, telecom and energy storage industries.�

10 Best Paper Stocks To Watch Right Now: International Paper Co (IP)

International Paper Company (International Paper), incorporated on June 23, 1941, is a global paper and packaging company, with primary markets and manufacturing operations in North America, Europe, Latin America, Russia, Asia and North Africa. The Company operates in four segments: Industrial Packaging, Printing Papers, Consumer Packaging and Distribution. As of December 31, 2012, in the United States, the Company operated 28 pulp, paper and packaging mills, 187 converting and packaging plants, 18 recycling plants and three bag facilities. Production facilities as of December 31, 2012 in Europe, Asia, Latin America and South America included 11 pulp, paper and packaging mills, 65 converting and packaging plants, and two recycling plants. It distribute printing, packaging, graphic arts, maintenance and industrial products principally through over 88 distribution branches in the United States and 32 distribution branches located in Canada, Mexico and Asia. As of December 31, 2012, it owned or managed approximately 327,000 acres of forestland in Brazil and had, through licenses and forest management agreements, harvesting rights on government-owned forestlands in Russia. On July 2, 2012, it sold Ontario and Oxnard (Hueneme), California containerboard mills to New-Indy Containerboard LLC, and its New Johnsonville, Tennessee containerboard mill to Hood Container Corporation. On January 3, 2013, it acquired joint venture partner, Sabanci Holding.

Industrial Packaging

International Paper is a manufacturer of containerboard in the United States. Its production capacity is about 14 million tons annually. The Company�� products include linerboard, medium, whitetop, recycled linerboard, recycled medium and saturating kraft. About 80% of its production is converted domestically into corrugated boxes and other packaging by its 178 United States container plants. In addition, it recycles approximately one million tons of old corrugated containers (OCC) and mixed and white paper through ! our 20 recycling plants. In Europe, our operations include one recycled fiber containerboard mill in Morocco and 20 container plants in France, Italy, Spain, and Morocco. In Asia, its operations include 19 container plants in China and additional container plants in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. Its container plants are supported by regional design centers, which offer total packaging solutions and supply chain initiatives.

Printing Papers

International Paper is a producer of printing and writing papers. Products in this segment include uncoated and coated papers, uncoated bristols and pulp. This business produces papers for use in copiers, desktop and laser printers and digital imaging. End use applications include advertising and promotional materials, such as brochures, pamphlets, greeting cards, books, annual reports and direct mail. Uncoated papers also produce a variety of grades that are converted by its customers into envelopes, tablets, business forms and file folders. Uncoated papers are sold under private label and International Paper brand names that include Hammermill, Springhill, Williamsburg, Postmark, Accent, Great White, Chamex, Ballet, Rey, Pol and Svetocopy. The mills producing uncoated papers are located in the United States, France, Poland, Russia, Brazil and India. The mills have uncoated paper production capacity of approximately five million tons annually.

Pulp products include fluff, and southern softwood pulp, as well as southern and birch hardwood paper pulps. These products are produced in the United States, France, Poland, Russia, and Brazil and are sold around the world. International Paper facilities have annual dried pulp capacity of about 1.7 million tons.

Consumer Packaging

International Paper is a producer of solid bleached sulfate board with annual United States production capacity of about 1.7 million tons. Its coated paperboard business produces coated paperboard for a variety of packag! ing and c! ommercial printing end uses. Its Everest, Fortress, and Starcote brands are used in packaging applications for everyday products, such as food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, computer software and tobacco products. Its Carolina brand is used in commercial printing end uses, such as greeting cards, paperback book covers, lottery tickets, direct mail and point-of-purchase advertising. Its United States capacity is supplemented by about 365,000 tons of capacity at its mills producing coated board in Poland and Russia and by its International Paper & Sun Cartonboard Co., Ltd. joint venture in China, which has annual capacity of 1.0 million tons. Its Foodservice business produces cups, lids, food containers and plates through three domestic plants and four international facilities.

Distribution

xpedx, the Company�� North American merchant distribution business, distributes products and services to a number of customer markets, including commercial printers with printing papers and graphic pre-press, printing presses and post-press equipment; building services and away-from-home markets with facility supplies; manufacturers with packaging supplies and equipment, and to a number of customers, it provides distribution capabilities, including warehousing and delivery services. xpedx is the wholesale distribution marketer in these customer and product segments in North America, operating 108 warehouse locations in the United States and Mexico.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Ray Merola]

    In 2006, International Paper Co. (IP) CEO John Faraci embarked upon a vision to transform the company. He sought a larger, leaner and more competitive enterprise operating in one of the most commoditized of industries: paper and containerboard products.

  • [By Andy Batts]

    Forestar is a real estate and natural resources company headquartered in Austin, Texas. The company was originally founded in 1955 as Lumberman's Land Corp., which was eventually acquired by Temple-Inland, currently owned by International Paper (IP), and was spun off in late 2007 at $24 a share.

  • [By James Oberweis]

    First, call centers are moving en masse from traditional PBX-based systems to cutting edge Internet-based (IP) systems.

    Second, communications systems are shifting to the cloud, with market growth of 18% for hosted systems, versus 2% for on-premise systems.

10 Best Paper Stocks To Watch Right Now: Resolute Forest Products Inc (RFP)

Resolute Forest Products Inc., AbitibiBowater Inc., is a global forest products company. The Company�� products include newsprint, commercial printing papers, market pulp and wood products. The Company owns or operates pulp and paper mills and wood products facilities in the United States, Canada and South Korea. On November 7, 2011, it began doing business as Resolute Forest Products. As of December 31, 2011, it owned or operated 18 pulp and paper mills and 23 wood products facilities in the United States, Canada and South Korea. The Company�� segments include newsprint, coated papers, specialty papers, market pulp and wood products. On January 14, 2011, it acquired the noncontrolling interest in Augusta Newsprint Company (ANC). In April 2012, the Company held approximately 48.8% of the outstanding shares of Fibrek Inc. In December 2012, the Company purchased Bowater Mersey Paper Company Limited. oklyn Power Corporation. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Saibus Research]

    Consolidation has been incremental in the paper and forest products industry. In May 2012, Resolute Forest Products (RFP) (formerly AbitibiBowater) announced that it had acquired 50.1% of Fibrek and acquired the remaining 49.9% in August. 2011 saw International Paper (IP) announce a hostile takeover of Temple-Inland and after offering $32/share in cash as well as the assumption of $600M of TIN's debt, IP was able to close the deal in February 2012. 2011 also saw Rock-Tenn (RKT) acquire Smurfit-Stone to create the number two player in the linerboard segment with 20% market share, trailing only International Paper's 40%. We see these moves as a prudent step to consolidation in the industry as certain types of paper such as newsprint and uncoated free sheet (office paper) are seeing falling demand due to increased use of digital resources.

  • [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 Resolute Forest Products (NYSE: RFP  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

  • [By George Putnam]

    Resolute Forest Products (RFP), formerly known as AbitibiBowater, entered into bankruptcy in early 2009, weighed down by roughly $6 billion in debt.

  • [By Seth Jayson]

    There's no foolproof way to know the future for Resolute Forest Products (NYSE: RFP  ) or any other company. However, certain clues may help you see potential stumbles before they happen -- and before your stock craters as a result.

10 Best Paper Stocks To Watch Right Now: Weyerhaeuser Company(WY)

Weyerhaeuser Company, a forest products company, grows and harvests trees, builds homes, and manufactures forest products worldwide. It grows and harvests trees for use as lumber, other wood and building products, and pulp and paper. The company manages 6.4 million acres of private commercial forestland; and has long-term licenses on 13.9 million acres of forestland. It also offers timber; minerals, such as rock, sand, and gravel, as well as oil and gas to construction and energy markets; logs; timberland tracts; and seed and seedlings, poles, plywood, and hardwood lumber products. In addition, the company provides structural lumber products for structural framing; engineered lumber products for floor and roof joists, and headers and beams; structural panels for structural sheathing, subflooring, and stair treading for wood products dealers, do-it-yourself retailers, builders, and industrial users. Further, it offers building products comprising cedar, decking, siding, ins ulation, rebar, and engineered lumber connectors. Additionally, the company offers fluff pulp for use in sanitary disposable products; papergrade pulp for printing and writing papers, and tissues; specialty chemical cellulose pulp for use in textiles, absorbent products, specialty packaging, and high-bulking fibers; liquid packaging board converted into containers; and slush and wet lap pulp for manufacturing paper products. It also constructs single-family houses, as well as develops residential lots and land for construction and sale; and master-planned communities with mixed-use property. The company sells its cellulose fibers products through direct sales network, and liquid packaging products directly to carton and food product packaging converters; and wood products through sales organizations and distribution facilities. Weyerhaeuser Company has been elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust. The company was founded in 1900 and is headquartered in Federal Way, Washington.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Sara Murphy]

    Getting it right
    C2ES outlines how Weyerhaeuser (NYSE: WY  ) , one of the world's largest forest products companies, is setting a strong example in responding to this pressing challenge. Changes in climate influence the structure and function of forests, and projections show that effects going forward will be more severe and damaging than in the past. Weyerhaeuser's risk analysis relies on close monitoring of its timberlands using geographic- and species-specific forecasting models and sensing technologies. The company has regional research partnerships to study and protect its vulnerable water resources, and is developing tree varieties that can withstand drier summers.

  • [By Holly LaFon]

    Pimco managing director Mark Kiesel mentions Whirlpool (WHR), Weyerhaeuser (WY), USG (USG), Toll Brothers (TOLL) and KB Home (KBH) as good plays on housing:�

  • [By Blake Bos]

    Additionally, Blake shares some key factors to be managed that will impact earnings for lumber suppliers such as Weyerhaeuser (NYSE: WY  ) moving forward.

  • [By John Divine]

    Weyerhaeuser (NYSE: WY  ) , which also earned a spot on this ignominious list yesterday, fell 2.9% today. Shares in the company -- which grows and harvests trees, as well as provides end-products such as beams, framing products, decking, insulation, rebar, and plywood -- have fallen four of the past five days. As you can imagine, the company is sensitive to changes in the housing market, and with April's pending home sales growth trailing estimates by 1.2%, investors may be concerned with growth expectations.�

10 Best Paper Stocks To Watch Right Now: Crown Holdings Inc (CCK)

Crown Holdings, Inc., incorporated on February 7, 2003, is engaged in designing, manufacturing and sale of packaging products for consumer goods. Its business is organized within three divisions: Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific. Its segments within the Americas Division are Americas Beverage and North America Food. Its segments within the European Division are European Beverage and European Food. Americas Beverage includes beverage can operations in the United States, Brazil, Canada, Colombia and Mexico. North America Food includes food can and metal vacuum closure operations in the United States and Canada. European Beverage includes beverage can operations in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. European Food includes food can and metal vacuum closure operations in Europe and Africa. Its Asia Pacific Division consists of beverage and non-beverage can operations, primarily food cans and specialty packaging. As of December 31, 2012, it acquired Superior Multi-Packaging Ltd.

The Company supplies beverage cans and ends and other packaging products to a range of beverage and beer companies, including Anheuser-Busch InBev, Carlsberg, Coca-Cola, Cott Beverages, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Heineken, National Beverage and Pepsi-Cola, among others. The Company manufactures a range of food cans and ends, including two-and three-piece cans in numerous shapes and sizes, and sells food cans to food marketers, such as Bonduelle, Cecab, ConAgra, Continentale, Mars, Simmons Foods, Nestle, Princes Group and Stockmeyer, among others.

The Company offers a range of metal vacuum closures and sealing equipment. The Company�� customers for aerosol cans and ends include manufacturers of personal care, food, household and industrial products, including Colgate Palmolive, Procter & Gamble, SC Johnson and Unilever, among others. The Company�� customers for aerosol cans and ends include manufacturers of personal care, food, household and industrial products, including Colgate Palmolive, Procte! r & Gamble, SC Johnson and Unilever, among others.

Americas Division

The Americas Division includes operations in the United States, Brazil, Canada, the Caribbean, Colombia and Mexico. These operations manufacture beverage, food and aerosol cans and ends, specialty packaging and metal vacuum closures and caps. The Americas Beverage segment manufactures aluminum beverage cans and ends and steel crowns, referred to as bottle caps. The North America Food segment manufactures steel and aluminum food cans and ends and metal vacuum closures.

European Division

The European Division includes operations in Eastern and Western Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. These operations manufacture beverage, food and aerosol cans and ends, specialty packaging and metal vacuum closures and caps. The European Beverage segment manufactures steel and aluminum beverage cans and ends. The European Food segment manufactures steel and aluminum food cans and ends, and metal vacuum closures.

Asia Pacific division

The Company's Asia Pacific Division consists of beverage can operations in Cambodia, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam and non-beverage can operations, primarily including food cans and specialty packaging in China, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. As of December 31, 2012, the division operated 32 plants in six countries.

The Company competes with Ardagh Group, Ball Corporation, BWAY Corporation, Can-Pack S.A., Metal Container Corporation, Mivisa Envases S.A.U., Rexam PLC and Silgan Holdings Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Lauren Pollock]

    Crown Holdings Inc.(CCK) cut its third-quarter earnings guidance on lower end-user demand in some of the food-and-beverage packaging company’s markets, including European food cans and North American beverage cans.

10 Best Paper Stocks To Watch Right Now: Greif Inc (GEF)

Greif, Inc., incorporated on January 25, 1926, is a producer of industrial packaging products and services with manufacturing facilities located in over 50 countries. The Company offers a line of industrial packaging products, such as steel, fiber and plastic drums, rigid intermediate bulk containers, closure systems for industrial packaging products, transit protection products, water bottles and reconditioned containers, and services such as container lifecycle management, blending, filling and other packaging services, logistics and warehousing. It also produces containerboard and corrugated products for niche markets in North America. It sells timber to third parties from its timberland in the south-eastern United States. It has four segments: Rigid Industrial Packaging & Services, Flexible Products & Services, Paper Packaging and Land Management.

Rigid Industrial Packaging and Services

In the Rigid Industrial Packaging and Services, the Company is a provider of rigid industrial packaging products, including steel, fiber and plastic drums, rigid intermediate bulk containers, closure systems for industrial packaging products, transit protection products, water bottles and reconditioned containers, and services, such as container lifecycle management, blending, filling and other packaging services, logistics and warehousing. It sells industrial packaging products to customers in industries, such as chemicals, paints and pigments, food and beverage, petroleum, industrial coatings, agricultural, pharmaceutical and mineral, among others.

Flexible Products and Services segment

In the Flexible Products and Services segment, the Company is a producer of flexible intermediate bulk containers and a North American provider of industrial and consumer multiwall bag products. Its flexible intermediate bulk containers consist of a polypropylene-based woven fabric that is partly produced at its production sites, as well as sourced from strategic regional sup! pliers. Its industrial and consumer multiwall bag products are used to ship a range of industrial and consumer products, such as seed, fertilizers, chemicals, concrete, flour, sugar, feed, pet foods, popcorn, charcoal and salt, primarily for the agricultural, chemical, building products and food industries.

Paper Packaging segment

In the Paper Packaging segment, the Company sells containerboard, corrugated sheets and other corrugated products to customers in North America in industries such as packaging, automotive, food and building products. Its corrugated container products are used to ship such products as home appliances, small machinery, grocery products, building products, automotive components, books and furniture, as well as numerous other applications. Operations related to industrial and consumer multiwall bag products have been reclassified to Flexible Products and Services segment.

Land Management segment

In the Land Management segment, the Company is focused on the active harvesting and regeneration of the United States timber properties to achieve long-term yields. It also sells, from time to time, timberland and special use land, which consists of surplus land, HBU land and development land. As of October 31, 2013, it owned approximately 252,475 acres of timber property in the southeastern United States and approximately 10,300 acres of timber property in Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Geoff Gannon]

    For those of you wondering if Greif Brothers Cooperage has any relation to Greif (GEF) ��yes. It has every relation. It�� the same exact company. And it�� still in pretty much the same business. They used to just make barrels. Now they make all kinds of different drums, containers, etc. That�� not a very big change for a company to make over 60 years or so.

10 Best Paper Stocks To Watch Right Now: CenturyLink Inc.(CTL)

CenturyLink, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated communications company. The company provides a range of communications services, including voice, Internet, data, and video services in the continental United States. Its services include local exchange and long distance voice telephone services, as well as enhanced voice services, such as call forwarding, caller identification, conference calling, voicemail, selective call ringing, and call waiting; wholesale local network access services; and data services, including high-speed Internet access services, data transmission services over special circuits and private lines, and switched digital television services, as well as special access and private line services. The company also offers fiber transport, competitive local exchange carrier, security monitoring, and other communications, as well as professional and business information services. In addition, it provides other related services, such as leasing, selling, installing, and maintaining customer premise telecommunications equipment and wiring; payphone services; and network database services, as well as participates in the publication of local telephone directories. Further, the company offers printing, direct mail services, and cable television services; and wireless broadband Internet access services and satellite television services. As of December 31, 2010, it operated approximately 6.5 million telephone access lines. CenturyLink, Inc was founded in 1968 and is based in Monroe, Louisiana.

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

    CenturyLink Inc. (NYSE: CTL) is losing one less adversarial call in a controversial stock. Nomura has raised its rating up to Neutral from Reduce now that shares have come down to within about 1.5% of a 52-week low.

  • [By Selena Maranjian]

    Douglas C. Lane reduced its stake in lots of companies, including telecom company CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL  ) . The company sports a tempting 6% dividend yield, and that's after it cut its payout by about 25%, in part to focus more on share buybacks. The company landed a hefty Pentagon contract in April, with a possible 10-year value of $750 million and has been moving into promising arenas such as cloud computing (via its purchase of SAVVIS). CenturyLink carries more than $19 billion in debt, but it's also generating significant free cash flow, near $3 billion annually. Its revenue growth has been accelerating in recent years and has long been in double digits annually.

  • [By Selena Maranjian]

    Telecom company CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL  ) shed 4%, and recently yielded 6.1% (which reflects a dividend cut of about 25% as the company focuses more on share buybacks). The company landed a hefty Pentagon contract in April, with a possible 10-year value of $750 million, and has been moving into promising arenas such as cloud computing (via its purchase of SAVVIS). The company has substantial debt, though, topping $19 billion, but also significant free cash flow, near $3 billion�annually. Its EPS has been rising �in the past few years, but revenue growth is mixed.

Top 10 Trucking Stocks To Invest In Right Now

JB Hunt (NASDAQ: JBHT  ) will release its quarterly report next Monday, and the trucking and logistics company has performed impressively in recent months as economic activity within the U.S. has picked up. Even though its competitors tend to draw more attention, JB Hunt's stock has climbed to all-time record highs as investors see the long-term importance of transport to the health of the overall economy and believe that JB Hunt earnings will rise in tandem with economic growth.

But JB Hunt faces plenty of challenges in its quest to dominate its industry. Will the company be able to produce the earnings growth necessary to justify its current valuation? Let's take an early look at what's been happening with JB Hunt over the past quarter and what we're likely to see in its quarterly report.

Stats on JB Hunt

Analyst EPS Estimate

$0.74

Hot Sliver Stocks To Buy For 2015: Acorda Therapeutics Inc.(ACOR)

Acorda Therapeutics, Inc., a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company, engages in the identification, development, and commercialization of novel therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS), spinal cord injury (SCI), and other central nervous system disorders primarily in the United States. Its marketed products include Ampyra (dalfampridine), a potassium channel blocker for improving walking in patients with MS; and Zanaflex Capsules and Zanaflex tablets (tizanidine hydrochloride), a short-acting drug for the management of spasticity. The company also markets products for the improvement of walking in adult patients with MS with walking disability under the Fampyra name internationally. Its lead research and development programs include three biologic therapeutic approaches for restoring neurologic and cardiac function, which comprise Neuregulin Program for developing Glial Growth Factor 2, a molecule in the Phase I clinical trial for the treatment of heart failure; Remyelina ting Antibodies Program for developing rHIgM22, an antibody in the preclinical stage for treating MS; and Chondroitinase Program, a research stage program focused on developing chontroitinase as a therapeutic to break down inhibitory factors in the scar tissue that develops as a result of an injury to the CNS. In addition, the company has in-licensed a clinical-stage program, AC105, to develop an acute treatment for neurological trauma. It has collaboration agreement with Biogen Idec International GmbH to develop and commercialize products containing aminopyridines to the treatment of MS. Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. was incorporated in 1995 and is headquartered in Hawthorne, New York.

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

    Investors who were hoping things would work out for epilepsy treatment company Cyberonics, Inc. (NASDAQ:CYBX) can cross CYBX off their list of epilepsy-oriented stocks to buy, as they did with Acorda Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:ACOR) about a month ago. ACOR saw its epilepsy drug Plumiaz rejected by the FDA in early May, while CYBX announced this morning that the coming fiscal year's (beginning in April) revenue would be weaker than first expected as sales of its epileptic control implant device didn't look quite as promising as hoped.

  • [By Sean Williams]

    What: Shares of Acorda Therapeutics (NASDAQ: ACOR  ) , a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company with a focus on central nervous system disorders, jumped as much as 13% after the company reported positive phase 2 trial data for experimental drug Ampyra for the treatment of post-stroke deficits.

  • [By Eric Volkman]

    Acorda Therapeutics (NASDAQ: ACOR  ) today announced its selection of a new�CFO. Michael Rogers replaces David Lawrence, who has been named chief of business operations. �

Top 10 Trucking Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Electronics for Imaging Inc.(EFII)

Electronics For Imaging, Inc. provides color digital print controllers, digital inkjet printers, and business process automation solutions. The company?s Fiery products consist of stand-alone print controllers and servers connected to digital copiers and other peripheral devices; embedded and design-licensed solutions used in digital copiers and multi-functional devices; optional software integrated into controller solutions that include Fiery Central and MicroPress; Entrac, a self-service and payment solution; PrintMe, a mobile printing application; and stand-alone software-based solutions, such as proofing and scanning solutions, including ColorProof XF, Fiery XF, ColorProof eXpress, and Xflow. It also offers industrial inkjet products, including VUTEk super-wide format digital industrial inkjet printers and inks used by billboard graphics printers, commercial photo labs, sign shops, graphic screen printers, specialty commercial printers, and digital graphics providers; Rastek hybrid and flatbed entry level production UV wide format inkjet printers; and Jetrion label and packaging digital inkjet printers, integration solutions, and specialty digital UV inks for primary and secondary label applications, and industrial label or flexible packaging markets. In addition, the company provides advanced professional print software products consisting of print production workflow and management information software, including Monarch, PSI, Logic, PrintSmith, and PrintFlow; Pace, a cloud-based business process automation software; and cloud-based order entry and order management systems, which comprise Digital StoreFront, PrinterSite, and PrintSmith Site. Electronics For Imaging, Inc. offers its products through sales force and distribution arrangements primarily in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Japan. The company was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Foster City, California.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Seth Jayson]

    Electronics for Imaging (Nasdaq: EFII  ) reported earnings on April 18. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

  • [By Brian Pacampara]

    What: Shares of digital printing technologist Electronics for Imaging (NASDAQ: EFII  ) popped 12% today after its quarterly results topped�Wall Street expectations.

  • [By shash63]

    Electronic For Imaging�� (EFII) second biggest segment, Fiery Controllers, contributed 35% of total revenue. This segment provides controllers for digital printers. The company�� big clients in this segment are Xerox, Ricoh, Konica Minolta, and Canon, contributing 80% of this segment�� revenue. These clients are expected to launch new products in future, thus creating further potential for revenue growth.

Top 10 Trucking Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Amanasu Techno Holdings Corp (ANSU)

Amanasu Techno Holdings Corporation, incorporated on December 1, 1997, is a development-stage company. The Company focuses on acquiring the technologies, constructing four proto-type motor scooters and various testing of the technologies and the motor scooter.

As of December 31, 2012, the Company had not conducted any operations. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had not generated any revenues.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Peter Graham]

    Last Friday, small cap biotech or tech stocks Amanasu Techno Holdings Corp (OTCMKTS: ANSU), Bio Matrix Scientific Group Inc (OTCMKTS: BMSN) and Thinspace Technology Inc (OTCBB: THNS) surged 44.74%, 42.31% and 14%, respectively, with only one of these small caps appearing to be the subject of some sort of small paid promotions or investor relations campaign. Given the lack of a big pump from promoters or IR people, will these three small caps keep surging or will the tide go out again this week? Here is a quick reality check to help you decide on a trading or investing strategy:

Top 10 Trucking Stocks To Invest In Right Now: ASB Bancorp Inc (ASBB)

ASB Bancorp, Inc. (ASB Bancorp), incorporated in May 2011, focuses to become the holding company for Asheville Savings Bank, S.S.B. (Asheville Savings Bank). ASB Bancorp, Inc.�� business activity will be the ownership of the Asheville Savings Bank. Asheville Savings Bank is a chartered savings bank. It operates as a community-oriented financial institution offering traditional financial services to consumers and businesses in its market area. It attracts deposits from the general public and use those funds to originate one-to four-family residential mortgage loans and commercial real estate loans, and home equity loans and lines of credit, consumer loans, construction and land development loans, and commercial and industrial loans. It conducts its lending and deposit activities with individuals and small businesses in its primary market area. Its market area is Asheville, North Carolina and the rest of Buncombe County where it has eight branch offices, as well as Henderson, Madison, McDowell and Transylvania Counties where it has five branch offices.

Lending Activities

Asheville Savings Bank loan portfolio include real estate mortgage loans, including one- to four-family residential mortgage loans and commercial mortgage loans, and revolving mortgage loans, which consist of home equity loans and lines of credit, consumer loans, construction and land development loans, and commercial and industrial loans. As of March 31, 2011, it had $177.8 million in one- to four-family residential loans, which represented 36.7% of its total loan portfolio. Its origination of residential mortgage loans enables borrowers to purchase or refinance existing homes located in its primary market area. It offers a mix of adjustable rate mortgage loans and fixed-rate mortgage loans with terms of up to 30 years.

Asheville Savings Bank offers fixed- and adjustable-rate mortgage loans secured by non-residential real estate and multi-family properties. As of March 31, 2011, commercial mort! gage loans totaled $162.7 million, or 33.5% of its total loan portfolio. Its commercial mortgage loans are secured by commercial, industrial and manufacturing, small to moderately-sized office and retail properties, hotels, multi-family properties and hospitals and churches located in its primary market area. As of March 31, 2011, $35.6 million or 21.9% of its commercial real estate loans were secured by owner-occupied properties. It originates fixed-rate and adjustable-rate commercial mortgage loans, generally with terms of three to five years and payments based on an amortization schedule of up to 25 years. It has originated construction and land development loans for commercial properties, such as retail shops and office units, and multi-family properties, and construction and land development loans for one-to four-family homes. As of March 31, 2011, commercial construction and land development loans totaled $27.8 million, which represented 5.7% of its total loan portfolio, and residential construction and land development loans totaled $7.9 million, which represented 1.6% of its total loan portfolio. As of March 31, 2011, it had speculative residential construction loans of $3.1 million and speculative commercial construction loans of $9.6 million.

Asheville Savings Bank offers revolving mortgage loans, which consist of home equity loans and lines of credit, and various consumer loans, including automobile loans and loans secured by deposits. As of March 31, 2011, revolving mortgage loans totaled $52 million, or 10.7% of its total loan portfolio, and consumer loans totaled $41.1 million, or 8.5% of its total loan portfolio. Its revolving mortgage loans consist of both home equity loans with fixed-rate amortizing term loans with terms of up to 15 years and adjustable rate lines of credit with interest rates indexed to the prime rate.

Asheville Savings Bank offers commercial and industrial loans to small businesses located in its primary market area. As of March 31, 2011, co! mmercial ! and industrial loans totaled $15.8 million, which represented 3.2% of its total loan portfolio. Its commercial and industrial loan portfolio consists of loans, which are secured by equipment, accounts receivable and inventory, but also includes a smaller amount of unsecured loans for purposes of financing expansion or providing working capital for general business purposes.

Investment Activities

As of March 31, 2011, Asheville Savings Bank�� investment portfolio consisted of the United States government and agency securities, mortgage-backed securities and securities issued by government sponsored enterprises, and municipal securities. As of March 31, 2011, its securities portfolio represented 27.2% of total assets. As of March 31, 2011, $198.6 million of its securities portfolio was classified as available for sale and $5.7 million of its securities portfolio was classified as held to maturity. Securities classified as held to maturity are United States government sponsored securities, mortgage-backed securities and state and local government securities. As of March 31, 2011, it had four million dollars of other investments, at cost, which consisted of Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta.

Sources of Funds

Deposits, borrowings and loan repayments are the sources of Asheville Savings Bank funds for lending and other investment purposes. It uses advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta to supplement its investable funds. The Federal Home Loan Bank functions as a central reserve bank providing credit for member financial institutions. Advances are made under several different programs, each having its own interest rate and range of maturities. It also utilizes securities sold under agreements to repurchase and overnight repurchase agreements to supplement its supply of investable funds and to meet deposit withdrawal requirements.

Subsidiaries

Asheville Savings Bank has two subsidiaries, Appalachian Financial Services,! Inc., wh! ich was formed to engage in investment activities, and Wenoca, Inc., which serves as Asheville Savings Bank�� trustee regarding deeds of trust. Both subsidiaries are organized as North Carolina corporations.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Tim Melvin]

    ASB Bancorp (ASBB) is the holding company for Ashville in western North Carolina. The bank has 13 branches and total assets of around $733 million. Nonperforming assets are just 2.1% of total assets and the bank is massively over-reserved for future losses, with loan reserves at 6 times nonperforming loans. The bank bought back 544,494 shares of common stock at an average price of $16.79 per share in 2013. The board just authorized a new 5% buyback in January 2014. The stock is trading around 80% of book value, so management is buying the shares on the cheap — and that should bode well for shareholders in the future.

Top 10 Trucking Stocks To Invest In Right Now: RetailMeNot Inc (SALE)

RetailMeNot Inc., incorporated on September 17, 2007, operates digital coupon marketplace, connecting consumers with retailers and brands. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had contracts with more than 10,000 paid retailers. The Company owns and operates digital coupon Websites in the United States (RetailMeNot.com) and the United Kingdom (VoucherCodes.co.uk). The Company�� Websites, mobile applications, e-mail newsletters and alerts and social media presence enable consumers to search for, discover and redeem digital coupons from retailers and brands. Its marketplace features digital coupons across multiple product categories, including clothing; electronics; health and beauty; home and office; travel, food and entertainment; personal and business services; and shoes. It aggregates digital coupons from retailers, performance marketing networks, its user community, its employees and outsourced providers.

Products and Services for Consumers

The Company�� product development approach is centered on building products that enable consumers to discover quality digital coupons, virtually anytime and anywhere, and redeem them online or in-store. The Company�� products and services for consumers are available through its Websites and mobile applications. The Company offers its consumers digital coupons from retailers and brands across multiple product categories. Consumers visiting its marketplace search for and discover digital coupons based on retailer name, product, category, digital coupon type, popularity, success rate and other characteristics. Once a consumer discovers a relevant digital coupon, the consumer clicks on that digital coupon and is directed to the Website of the respective retailer, where the consumer is able to purchase products and redeem the digital coupon.

The Company�� mobile applications allow consumers to shop when they want, where they want. Consumers use its mobile applications to discover, store for use later and access the digit! al coupons they want and to redeem them both online and in-store. They can browse top digital coupons, stores and product category listings. Its mobile applications allow users to share digital coupons with others through e-mail, text message or through social media channels. In addition, utilizing location-based technology, the RetailMeNot iPhone application notifies consumers of savings opportunities when they are shopping near one of 575 geo-fenced shopping malls by sending consumers alerts for digital coupons that can be used in these malls. Consumers can redeem these digital coupons by scanning the barcode at the retailer�� register or by having the sales associate enter the promotional code shown on the consumer�� mobile screen into their point-of-sale system.

Using the Company�� geo-location technology, users that opt in receive an alert when they are near a shopping mall. The alert lists digital coupons that can be redeemed at certain stores within that mall. The mobile application also allows consumers to discover and redeem digital coupons online and to find nearby stores where the digital coupon can be utilized. Consumers can subscribe to receive its periodic e-mail newsletter and alerts. Its e-mail newsletter allows consumers to stay informed about featured digital coupons, while its alerts notify consumers when digital coupons from their preferred retailers become available. As of March 31, 2013, it had over nine million subscribers to its free e-mail newsletters and alerts.

Consumers can engage with the Company on social media channels, such as Facebook, Google+, Pinterest and Twitter, to receive promotional messages from retailers and brands. In addition, it engages consumers through social and gamification features in the Community section of RetailMeNot.com, including the ability to earn points, track dollars users have helped others save, view rankings, earn badges and win prizes.

Products and Services for Retailers

The Company ! provides ! retailers and brands with access to new customers through multiple channels online on its Websites and mobile applications, by e-mail newsletters and alerts and its social media presence, and in-store by displaying a digital coupon on a mobile device or presenting a printed coupon. It allows retailers to provide digital coupons across these multiple channels. It provides its paid retailers with a range of paid placement opportunities. Its placement opportunities include placement within the top coupon carousel of its homepage, the side rail of its category pages, its weekly e-mail newsletter, solo retailer newsletter campaigns and on the landing screen of its mobile applications. It charges a fee for these advertising tools on a campaign basis for a given period of time.

The Company competes with dealspl.us, bradsdeals, dealnews, savings.com, Tech Bargains and Coupon Cabin.

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

    Records fell on Wall Street Friday as another solid report on housing lifted the market for the second day in a row. There's a three-day weekend coming up -- something that often prompts investor caution -- but the gains were broad-based even though volume was fairly light. The VIX, which measures volatility, fell to its lowest level this year. The Dow Jones industrial average (^DJI) gained 63 points, the Nasdaq composite (^IXIC) rose 31, and the Standard & Poor's 500 index (^GPSC) added 8, topping the record high set last week. The Dow Transportation average also raced to an all-time high, lifted by airline stocks. United (UAL) soared more than 4 percent; Delta (DAL) gained more than 1 percent and Southwest (LUV) gained 2 percent. Southwest is at an all-time high, up 79 percent from a year ago. New home sales bounced back with a better than expected 6.4 percent increase last month. Lennar (LEN) and D.R. Horton (DHI) both rose 4 percent. Pulte (PHM), Beazer (BZH) and Hovnanian (HOV) also solid posted gains. Earnings continue to drive retail stocks. Gap (GPS) edged higher even though net fell. Foot Locker (FL) gained 1½ percent after topping expectations. GameStop (GME) rose 4 percent. Its net rose, helped by the rollout last year of new Xbox and PlayStation consoles. Zumiez (ZUMZ) rose 5½ percent on an earnings beat. But Aeropostale (ARO) tumbled 24 percent. Its loss widened and sales declined. The retailer continues to struggle with teen fashion trends. Also on the earnings front, TiVo (TIVO) rose 2 percent as it swung to a profit from a year ago loss. It also reported an increase in the number of subscribers. Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) rose 6 percent on news the company plans to eliminate up to 16,000 additional workers in an effort to cut costs. And several stocks extended big moves from yesterday. Best Buy (BBY) rose more than 3 percent for the second straight day after earnings beat expectations. Isis Pharmaceuticals (ISIS) jumped
  • [By gurujx]

    RetailMeNot Inc (SALE) Reached the 3-year Low of $25.91

    The prices of RetailMeNot Inc (SALE) shares have declined to close to the 3-year low of $25.91, which is 35.4% off the 3-year high of $39.50.

Top 10 Trucking Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Western Refining Logistics LP (WNRL)

Western Refining Logistics, LP, incorporated on July 17, 2013, owns, operates, develops, and acquires terminals, storage tanks, pipelines, and other logistics assets. As of December 31, 2012, the Company�� assets includes pipeline and gathering assets and terminalling, transportation, and storage assets in the Southwestern portion of the United States, which included approximately 300 miles of pipelines and approximately 7.9 million barrels of active storage capacity, as well as other assets. The Company's assets are integral to the operations of Western�� refineries located in El Paso, Texas, and near Gallup, New Mexico.

As of December 31, 2012, the Company owns and operates two refineries, in El Paso, Texas and Gallup, New Mexico, with a total crude oil throughput capacity of 153,000 barrels per day (bpd). The Company does not take ownership of the hydrocarbons or products (other than certain additives) that it handles or engages in the trading of any commodities.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Aimee Duffy]

    It;s been a very robust year for master limited partnership IPOs to say the least. On Thursday, Western Refining (NYSE: WNR  ) successfully spun off its midstream logistics MLP, Western Refining Logistics (NYSE: WNRL  ) . The partnership became the 14th MLP to make its debut this year.

  • [By Robert Rapier]

    Western Refining Logistics (NYSE: WNRL) debuted on Oct. 10. The partnership was formed by Western Refining (NYSE: WNR) to own, operate, develop and acquire terminals, storage tanks, pipelines, and other logistics assets. WNRL’s assets include 300 miles of crude oil pipelines, gathering systems, and 566,000 barrels of crude oil storage located primarily in the Permian Basin. Most of its revenue is expected to be derived from two 10-year, fee-based agreements with Western Refining.

Top 10 Trucking Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Deutsche Bank AG (SBND)

Deutsche Bank AG is a global investment bank. The Company offers a variety of investment, financial and related products and services to private individuals, corporate entities and institutional clients around the world. The Company operates through such divisions as: Private and Business Clients, Asset and Wealth Management, Corporate Banking and Securities, Global Transaction Banking and Non-Core Operations Unit. Deutsche Bank AG is active domestically and in various countries, through the network of numerous branches. In February 2014, the Company and its related bodies corporate ceases to a share holder in the capital of the Company. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Donald van Deventer]

    Long-duration Treasury Exchange-Traded Funds: (TLH), , (IEF), (DTYL), (DLBL), (ILTB), (TENZ), (ITE), (TLO), (EDV), (VGIT), (VGLT), (TMF), (TYD), (LBND), (UBT), (UST), (TMV), (TYO), (DSTJ), (DSXJ), (SBND), (PST), (DTYS), (DLBS), (TBF), (TTT), (TYNS), (TYBS), (TBX).

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