Saturday, January 31, 2015

Top 5 Medical Stocks To Watch Right Now

Top 5 Medical Stocks To Watch Right Now: ZELTIQ Aesthetics Inc (ZLTQ)

ZELTIQ Aesthetics, Inc. (ZELTIQ), incorporated on March 22, 2005, is a medical technology company. The Company is focused on developing and commercializing products utilizing its controlled-cooling technology platform. Its commercial product is the CoolSculpting System that reduces stubborn fat bulges. The Company generates revenues from capital sales of its CoolSculpting System and from procedure fees its physician customers pay for each CoolSculpting procedure they perform. As of March 31, 2011, it had an installed base of 346 and 475 CoolSculpting Systems worldwide and over 88,000 CoolSculpting procedures had been sold to its physician customers. The Company markets CoolSculpting to the dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and aesthetic specialists. As of March 31, 2011, ZELTIQ's North American direct sales force consisted of 23 professionals, and over 88,000 CoolSculpting procedures were sold to ZELTIQ's physician customers.

CoolSculpting System

ZELTIQ generates revenues from capital sales of its CoolSculpting System and from procedure fees its physician customers pay for each CoolSculpting procedure they perform. Capital sales of ZELTIQ's CoolSculpting System include the CoolSculpting control unit and its CoolSculpting vacuum applicators. ZELTIQ generates procedure fees through sales of CoolSculpting procedure packs, which include its consumable gelpads and liners and a disposable computer cartridge that it markets as the CoolCard. The CoolCard contains enabling software that permits its physician customer to perform a fixed number of CoolSculpting procedures.

The CoolSculpting control unit is the base of the CoolSculpting System. ZELTIQ's CoolSculpting control unit also contains software that tracks and collects data about each procedure performed and any error messages that may be generated during the procedure. CoolSculpting System includes three CoolSculpting vacuum app! licators. ZELTIQ's CoolSculpting procedure packs facilitate the pay-per-procedu! re feature of its CoolSculpting System. Its CoolSculpting procedure packs include CoolCard and its consumable gelpads and liners.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Garrett Cook]

    Wednesday morning, the healthcare sector proved to be a source of strength for the market. Leading the sector was strength from ZELTIQ Aesthetics (NASDAQ: ZLTQ) and Aegerion Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: AEGR).

  • [By Garrett Cook]

    Wednesday morning, the healthcare sector proved to be a source of strength for the market. Leading the sector was strength from ZELTIQ Aesthetics (NASDAQ: ZLTQ) and Aegerion Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: AEGR).

  • source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-5-medical-stocks-to-watch-right-now-2.html

10 Best Financial Stocks To Watch Right Now

Dunkin' Brands Group (DNKN) is a franchiser of quick service restaurants serving hot and cold coffee and baked goods, as well as hard serve ice cream in the form of Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, respectively. On July 25, 2013, the company reported second quarter earnings of $0.41 per share, which beat the consensus of analysts' estimates by $0.01. In the past year the company stock is up 41.71% excluding dividends (up 43.6% including dividends), and is beating the S&P 500, which has gained 15.92% in the same time frame. With all this in mind I'd like to take a moment to evaluate the stock on a fundamental, financial, and technical basis to see if it's worth buying more shares of the company right now for the services sector of my dividend growth portfolio.

Fundamentals

The company currently trades at a trailing 12-month P/E ratio of 37.32, which is expensively priced, but I mainly like to purchase a stock based on where the company is going in the future as opposed to what it has done in the past. On that note, the 1-year forward-looking P/E ratio of 23.99 is currently fairly priced for the future in terms of the right here, right now. The 1-year PEG ratio (1.99), which measures the ratio of the price you're currently paying for the trailing 12-month earnings on the stock while dividing it by the earnings growth of the company for a specified amount of time (I like looking at a 1-year horizon), tells me that the company is fairly priced based on a 1-year EPS growth rate of 18.72%.

Top 10 Construction Companies For 2015: SEI Investments Co (SEIC)

SEI Investments Company (SEI), incorporated on November 18, 1968, is a global provider of investment processing, investment management, and investment operations solutions. The Company helps corporations, financial institutions, financial advisors, and ultra-high-net-worth families create and manage wealth by providing comprehensive, investment and investment-business solutions. The Company�� business segments include Private Banks , Investment Advisors , Institutional Investors, Investment Managers and Investments in New Businesses.

The Company�� wealth management business solutions include investment processing outsourcing solutions for banks, trust companies, independent wealth advisers, and investment managers; investment management programs for affluent individual investors and for institutional investors, including retirement plan sponsors, and not-for-profit organizations; and investment operations outsourcing solutions for investment management firms, banks and investment companies that sponsor and distribute mutual funds, hedge funds, and alternative investments.

The Company�� Investment processing solutions consist of application and business process outsourcing services, professional services, and transaction-based services. It delivers these solutions to providers of institutional and private client wealth management services, including banks, trust companies, independent wealth advisers, and other financial services firms. It also delivers these solutions, combined with its investment management programs, to investment advisory firms and other financial services firms that provide wealth management services to their advisory clients. The Company�� investment processing solutions are enabled through two platforms, TRUST 3000 and the Global Wealth Platform (GWP).

Investment management programs consists of money market, fixed-income and equity mutual funds and other collective investment products, alternative investment portfolios, and separate! ly managed accounts. The Company serves as the sponsor, administrator and investment advisor for many of these products. It distributes these programs primarily through investment advisory firms, including investment advisors and banks, and directly to institutional or individual investors. Investment operations outsourcing solutions consist of accounting and administration services, and distribution support services. It delivers these solutions to investment management firms that offer traditional and alternative products.

Private Banks

The Private Banks segment delivers a comprehensive outsourcing solution integrating investment processing services, investment management and distribution programs, and business to banks and trust institutions worldwide, independent wealth advisers and other wealth managers located in the United Kingdom, and financial advisors in Canada. The Company owns, maintains and operates the software applications and information processing facilities for all of its investment processing solutions.

Private banks and other trust organizations who utilizes its TRUST 3000 application solution outsource investment processing technology software and computer processing, but retain responsibility for investment operations, client administration, and investment management. These clients operate its TRUST 3000 application remotely while fully supported by its data center using dedicated telecommunications networks.

Investment Advisors

The Investment Advisors segment offers wealth management solutions to registered investment advisors, many of whom are affiliated with or are registered as independent broker-dealers, financial planners, and life insurance agents located throughout the United States. These wealth management solutions include the Company�� investment management programs and back-office investment processing outsourcing services and are usually offered on a bundled basis. Its solutions helps investment ! advisors ! reduce risk, improve quality, and gain operational efficiency to devote more of their resources to servicing their clients and acquiring new clients. Advisors are responsible for the investor relationship which includes creating financial plans, implementing investment strategies and educating and servicing their customers. Advisors may customize portfolios to include separate account managers provided through its programs as well as SEI-sponsored mutual funds.

Institutional Investors

The Institutional Investors segment offers investment management programs and administrative outsourcing solutions for retirement plan sponsors, hospitals, and not-for-profit organizations globally. Clients can outsource their investment management needs and the administration for defined benefit plans, defined contribution plans, endowments, foundations, and other balance sheet assets. The fiduciary management outsourcing program provides a strategic platform integrating the Manager-of-Managers investment process, plan administration services, and consulting services. Plan administration services include trustee, custodial, benefit payment services, record-keeping services, and donor administration. Consulting services include actuarial services, asset liability modeling, and the customization of an asset allocation.

Investment Managers

The Investment Managers segment provides a platform of comprehensive investment operations outsourcing solutions to investment managers globally. This array of front-, middle- and back-office investment processing services integrates industry tools and technology to support a manager's diverse business needs across multiple product types and structures, investment strategies and asset classes. The Company provides outsourcing services including fund and investment accounting, administration, reconciliation, investor servicing and client reporting. It also provides comprehensive solutions to managers focused on alternative investments who ! manage he! dge funds, funds of hedge funds, private equity funds, real estate and infrastructure funds, across registered, partnership and separate account structures domiciled in the United States and overseas.

Investments in New Businesses

The Investments in New Businesses segment represents other business ventures or research and development activities intended to expand its solutions to new or existing markets including ultra-high-net-worth families who reside in the United States. This segment includes the costs associated with business development in the Middle East through its Dubai office and the development of a Internet-based investment management application. The family wealth management solution offers flexible family-office type services through a personalized solution while utilizing the Manager-of-Managers investment process.

The Company competes with Fidelity National Information Services, Inc., SunGard Data Systems Inc., State Street Corporation, Fi-Tek LLC, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.,Fidelity Investments,Pershing LLC, FNZ UK Ltd., Temenos Group AG, Avaloq, TD Direct Investing (Europe) Ltd.,Russell Investment Group,Franklin Templeton Investments,AssetMark Investment Services Inc., Brinker Capital, EnvestNet Asset Management, Inc., Lockwood Advisors, Inc., Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., Northern Trust Corporation, State Street and BNY Mellon.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Marc Bastow]

    Investment and fund processing and management company SEI Investments (SEIC) raised its semi-annual dividend 10% 22 cents per share, payable on Jan. 10 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 23.
    SEIC Dividend Yield: 1.33%

10 Best Financial Stocks To Watch Right Now: National Health Investors Inc. (NHI)

National Health Investors, Inc., a real estate investment trust (REIT), invests in health care properties, primarily in the long-term care industry in the United States. As of December 31, 2008, it had investments in real estate assets and mortgage notes receivable investments in 123 health care facilities consisting of 83 long-term care facilities, 1 acute care hospital, 4 medical office buildings, 14 assisted living facilities, 4 retirement centers, and 17 residential projects for the developmentally disabled in 17 states. The company has elected to be treated as a REIT for federal income tax purposes and would not be subject to federal income tax, if it distributes at least 90% of its REIT taxable income to its shareholders. National Health Investors, Inc. was founded in 1991 and is based in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Marc Bastow]

    Long-term care and senior housing real estate investment trust National Health Investors (NHI) raised its quarterly dividend 6.2% to 77 cents per share, payable on May 9 to shareholders of record as of Mar. 31. NHI stock has the second-highest yield on this week’s list of dividend stocks increasing payouts.
    NHI Dividend Yield: 4.88%

  • [By Lauren Pollock]

    National Health Investors Inc.(NHI) signed an agreement to acquire 25 independent-living facilities from Holiday Retirement Corp. affiliates for $491 million. The health-care focused real-estate investment trust also unveiled plans to offer 4.5 million shares of its stock to help fund the pending deal.

10 Best Financial Stocks To Watch Right Now: BlackRock Inc (BLK)

BlackRock, Inc. (BlackRock) is an independent investment management firm. The Company provides a range of investment and risk management services. The Company serves its clients as a fiduciary, and derives all of its revenues from client business. It invests in capital markets globally. Its clients include taxable, tax-exempt and official institutions (including pension funds, endowments, insurance companies, corporations, financial institutions, central banks and sovereign wealth funds) as well as retail investors and high net worth individuals. Its product range includes single- and multi-asset class portfolios investing in equities, fixed income, alternatives and/or money market instruments. It offer its products directly and through intermediaries in a range of vehicles, including open-end and closed-end mutual funds, iShares exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and other exchange-traded products ( ETPs), collective investment funds and separate accounts. The Company also offers its BlackRock Solutions (BRS) investment systems, risk management and advisory services to institutional investors. In March 2012, it acquired Claymore Investments, Inc. from Guggenheim Partners, LLC.

Equity and Fixed Income

Equity and fixed income assets under management (AUM) include a range of active and passive strategies. Merger-related outflows in equities and fixed income, respectively, due to manager concentration.

Multi-Asset Class

BlackRock�� multi-asset class team manages a range of bespoke mandates. Investment solutions include a combination of long-only portfolios and alternative investments, as well as tactical asset allocation overlays. As of December 31, 2011, institutional investors represented 63% of multi-asset class AUM, while retail and high net worth investors accounted for 37%. Flows were almost evenly split as well. During the year ended December 31, 2011, with 55% of multi-asset class AUM managed for clients based in the Americas, 38% in Europe, the Mi! ddle East and Africa (EMEA) and 7% in Asia-Pacific. As of December 31, 2011, asset allocation and balanced products represented 56% of multi-asset class AUM. As of December 31, 2011, fiduciary management services accounted for 22% of multi-asset class AUM. As of December 31, 2011, target date and target risk funds is 22% of multi-asset class AUM.

Alternative Investments

As of December 31, 2011, the alternative investment client base was predominantly institutional, representing 73% of alternatives AUM with retail and high net worth investors comprising an additional 9% of AUM. As of December31, 2011, iShares consisted 18% of ending AUM. The geographic mix was well diversified, with 56% of AUM managed for clients in the Americas, 22% for clients in EMEA and 22% for clients in Asia-Pacific. The BlackRock Alternative Investors (BAI) group coordinates its alternative investment efforts, including product management, business development and client service. The products offered under the BAI umbrella are: core, which includes hedge funds, funds of funds and real estate offerings, and currency and commodities. Offerings include high yield debt and core, value-added and opportunistic equity portfolios. It also offers open-end hedge funds and similar products and closed-end funds. These products include a range of active and passive products managed through institutional separate accounts.

Cash Management and Securities Lending

Cash management products include taxable and tax-exempt money market funds and customized separate accounts. Portfolios may be denominated in the United States dollar, euro or pound sterling. As of December 31, 20110, its cash management clientele is institutional, with 84% of cash AUM managed for institutions and 16% for retail and high net worth investors. The investor base was also domestic, with 70% managed for investors in the Americas and 30% for clients in other regions, almost all EMEA-based.

Active Strategies

! The Company offers two types of active strategies: those that rely primarily on fundamental research and those that utilize primarily quantitative models to drive security selection and portfolio construction. As of December 31, 2011, active long-term AUM consisted of 23% equities, 52% fixed income, 18% multi-asset and 7% alternatives.

Active Equity

A range of products are offered, including global and regional portfolios; value, growth and core products; large, mid and small cap strategies, and selected sector funds. BlackRock manages active equity portfolios for a range of institutional and retail and high net worth investors globally. Approximately 48% of its active equity AUM was managed for investors based in the Americas, 38% in EMEA and 14% in Asia-Pacific.

Active Fixed Income

Fixed income mandates are tailored to client-specified liabilities, accounting, regulatory or rating agency requirements, or other investment policies. As of December 31, 2011, of BlackRock�� total active fixed income AUM, 81% was managed on behalf of institutional investors and 19% for retail and high net worth investors. The client base reflects 70% of active fixed income AUM managed for investors in the Americas, 21% for EMEA domiciled clients, and 9% for investors in the Asia-Pacific region.

Multi-Asset and Alternatives

During 2011, 97% of AUM in multi-asset class mandates, and 76% of AUM in alternative investments are managed in active strategies. As of December 31, 2011, equity products consisted 64% of institutional index AUM. Fixed income products represented 35% of institutional index AUM. Less than 1% of institutional index AUM is in alternatives or multi-asset class products.

iShares / ETPs

During 2011, the Company introduced 45 new ETPs, maintaining dual commitment innovation and responsible product structuring. Its product range offers investors the building blocks required to assemble diversified portfolio! s. As of ! December 31, 2011, its iShares product mix included 71%, in equity offerings, and 26%, in fixed income ETPs and 3%, in multi-asset class and alternative investments. In addition, the Company is an ETF manager in Mexico and has products in Chile, Peru, Brazil, Australia, Hong Kong and Japan. In addition, the Company is the ETP manager in Latin America.

BlackRock Solutions

BlackRock offers investment systems, risk management, outsourcing and advisory services under the BlackRock Solutions brand name. Its Aladdin operating platform serves as the investment system for BlackRock and institutional investors globally. BRS also offers comprehensive risk reporting through the Green Package and risk management advisory services, interactive fixed income analytics through its Web-based calculator, AnSer, middle and back office outsourcing services and investment accounting. Clients have also retained BRS��Financial Markets Advisory (FMA) group for a range of engagements, such as valuation and risk assessment of illiquid assets, portfolio restructuring, workouts and dispositions of distressed assets and financial and balance sheet strategies.

Transition Management Services

BlackRock also offers transition management services, involving the temporary oversight of a client�� assets as they transition from one manager to another or from one strategy to another. It provides service that includes project management and implementation based on achieving execution consistent with the client�� risk management tolerances. The average transition assignment is executed within three weeks. These portfolios are not included in AUM unless BlackRock has been retained to manage the assets after the transition phase.

Risk & Quantitative Analysis

Across all asset classes, the Risk & Quantitative Analysis (RQA) group at BlackRock provides risk management advice and independent risk oversight of the investment management processes, identifies and hel! ps manage! counterparty and operational risks, coordinates standards for firm wide investment performance measurement and determines risk management-related analytical and information requirements.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Fede Zaldua]

    I am inclined to think that current relevant bondholders such as BlackRock (BLK) will not ask for a full liquidation of the company. Mainly because they could recover a higher percentage of their investment through agreeing to fair re-structuring terms. Here are the two re-structuring options that are currently being contemplated by most analysts.

  • [By Dan Caplinger]

    The ETF threat
    Part of what has tempered T. Rowe Price's success has been the rise of exchange-traded funds. Mutual-fund rivals Fidelity and Vanguard have embraced ETFs, with Vanguard steadily growing its own line of index ETFs to go alongside its index mutual fund offerings, while Fidelity entered into a partnership with BlackRock (NYSE: BLK  ) to offer its iShares line of ETFs at no commission to Fidelity customers. BlackRock in particular has vaulted to top status in the ETF industry, and although the fees that it collects from ETF assets are less on a percentage basis than what T. Rowe Price earns from active management, BlackRock's asset advantage makes it hugely profitable.

10 Best Financial Stocks To Watch Right Now: Huntington Bancshares Incorporated(HBAN)

Huntington Bancshares Incorporated operates as the holding company for The Huntington National Bank that provides commercial, small business, and consumer banking services. The company?s Retail and Business Banking segment offers various financial products and services, including checking, savings, and money market accounts, certificates of deposit, consumer loans, and small business loans and leases; and investments, insurance, interest rate risk protection, foreign exchange hedging, and treasury management services to consumer and small business customers. Its Regional and Commercial Banking segment provides commercial lending; depository and liquidity management products; treasury management solutions; equipment and technology leasing; international services; and capital markets services, such as interest rate risk protection, foreign exchange hedging and sales, trading of securities, mezzanine investment capabilities, and employee benefit programs to government, not-f or-profit, health-care, and publicly traded entities. The company?s Automobile Finance and Commercial Real Estate segment offers financing for the purchase of automobiles, and new and used vehicle inventory by automotive dealerships; and financing for land, buildings, and other commercial real estate owned or constructed by real estate developers, automobile dealerships, or other customers. Its Wealth Advisors, Government Finance, and Home Lending segment provides investment management; investment servicing; custody, and corporate trust and retirement plan services; and administrative and operational support to fund to high net worth customers. It also offers online, mobile, and telephone banking services; and operates approximately 1,300 automated teller machines. As of December 31, 2011, the company had 652 branches located in Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Indiana, West Virginia, and Kentucky. Huntington Bancshares Incorporated was founded in 1866 and is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Jay Jenkins]

    Free checking? A 24-hour grace period on overdraft fees? Products actually designed to help the consumer better manage their finances? It seems like this sort of customer-centric banking would only exist in a dream world, but at Huntington Bancshares (NASDAQ: HBAN  ) , it's reality.

10 Best Financial 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 Dan Caplinger]

    CBOE Holdings (NASDAQ: CBOE  ) offers micro-options on the Dow for which the price is based on a figure equal to 1% of the Dow's value. So for instance, at the close last Friday, you would have spent about $100 per contract to buy a put option with a strike price of 142 -- corresponding to a Dow value of 14,200 -- that expires in the middle of next month.

  • [By Roberto Pedone]

    Another stock that looks ready to trigger a near-term trade is CBOE Holdings (CBOE), which is engaged in the trading of options on individual equities, market indexes and exchange-traded funds. This stock has been on fire so far in 2013, with shares up sharply by 56%.

    If you take a look at the chart for CBOE Holdings, you'll notice that this stock recently formed a triple bottom chart pattern at $44.44, $44.58 and $44.86 a share. Following that bottom, shares of CBOE have started to uptrend modestly and move within range of taking out some key near-term overhead resistance levels.

    Traders should now look for long-biased trades in CBOE if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance at $46.98 a share and then once it takes out its 50-day moving average of $46.98 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 612,798 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then CBOE will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $49.59 a share to its 52-week high at $51.12 a share. Any high-volume move above $51.12 will then give CBOE a chance to tag $60 to $65 a share.

    Traders can look to buy CBOE off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below $44 a share. One could also buy CBOE off strength once it takes out those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

  • [By Kaitlyn Kiernan]

    The Chicago Board Options Exchange(CBOE)�� Short-Term Volatility Index, which measures expectations for volatility over the next nine days, rose nearly twice as much Monday as the regular Volatility Index, the CBOE�� widely watched 30-day anxiety gauge. That divergence comes as investors prepare for additional fallout in U.S. stocks should military action in Ukraine escalate in the days ahead, but shows that they are less concerned about the longer-term consequences of the crisis.

10 Best Financial Stocks To Watch Right Now: Cornerstone Total Return Fund Inc (CRF)

Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc. (the Fund) is a closed-end, diversified management investment company. Its investment objective is to seek capital appreciation with current income as a secondary objective. The Fund may invest without limitation in other closed-end investment companies and ETFs, provided that the Fund limits its investment in securities issued by other investment companies so that not more than 3% of the outstanding voting stock of any one investment company will be owned by the Fund. It invests in sectors, such as information technology, industrial, financials, healthcare, energy, consumer discretionary and consumer staples. The Fund is managed by Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Dividends4Life]

    According to a Gabelli Funds report, managed distribution policies offer several advantages, including:1. Lower difference between the fund�� market price and its NAV per share.2. Provides support during periods when the stock market is in a decline.3. Provides a measurable performance target for the investment adviser.Below are several high-yield funds from CEFA that have a managed distribution policy (yields as of December 16):Aberdeen Australia Eqty (IAF)- Distribution Yield: 10.4%- Income Yield: 3.46%Bexil Advisers LLC� (DNI)- Distribution Yield: 11.1%- Income Yield: 3.56%BlackRock En Capital&Inc (CII)- Distribution Yield: 8.78%- Income Yield: 2.34%Cornerstone Strat Value (CLM)- Distribution Yield: 18.77%- Income Yield: 1.83%Cornerstone Total Return (CRF)- Distribution Yield: 19.10%- Income Yield: 0.85%Delaware Inv Div & Inc (DDF)- Distribution Yield: 6.70%- Income Yield: 5.26%Gabelli Equity Trust (GAB)- Distribution Yield: 7.58%- Income Yield: 1.54%Gabelli Utility Trust (GUT)- Distribution Yield: 9.45%- Income Yield: 2.84%MFS Special Value Trust (MFV)- Distribution Yield: 9.60%- Income Yield: 5.73%Nuveen Tx-Adv TR Strat (JTA)- Distribution Yield: 6.70%- Income Yield: 3.12%TCW Strategic Income (TSI)- Distribution Yield: 10.54%- Income Yield: 7.88%Zweig Total Return (ZTR)- Distribution Yield: 7.27%- Income Yield: 1.95%As noted in the Gabelli report, a managed distribution policy may create confusion regarding the true current yield since the reported yield includes the return of capital portion. You can see the disparity above between the income yield and the distribution (reported) yield.If you are looking for a sustainable and growing dividend, you may want to consider some blue-chip dividend stocks such as these with a Free Cash Flow Payout less than 50%, 50+ years of consecutive dividend increases and a 2%+ yield:3M Co. (MMM) is a diversified global company provides enhanced product functionality in electronics, health care, industrial, consumer

10 Best Financial Stocks To Watch Right Now: DDR Corp (DDR)

DDR Corp.(DDR), incorporated on November 20, 1992, is a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust. The Company is engaged in the business of acquiring, owning, developing, redeveloping, expanding, leasing and managing shopping centers. In addition, the Company engages in the origination and acquisition of loans and debt securities, which are generally collateralized directly or indirectly by shopping centers. As of December 31, 2012, the Company�� portfolio consisted of 452 shopping centers , including 206 shopping centers owned through unconsolidated joint ventures and three shopping centers that are otherwise consolidated by the Company in which the Company had an economic interest. These properties consist of shopping centers, lifestyle centers and enclosed malls owned in the United States, Puerto Rico and Brazil. As of December 31, 2012, the Company owned more than 115 million total square feet of gross leasable area (GLA), which includes all of its aforementioned properties. In October 2013, the Company acquired a portfolio of 30 prime power centers from its existing joint venture with Blackstone Real Estate Partners VII L.P. (Blackstone).

The Company owns more than 1,500 acres of undeveloped land, including an interest in land in Canada and Russia. As December 31, 2012, the Company had 14 assets under development and/or redevelopment (consisting of 11 wholly-owned shopping centers and three joint venture shopping centers). As of December 31, 2012, the aggregate occupancy of the Company�� operating shopping center portfolio in which the Company has an economic interest was 91.5%. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had 14 assets under development and/or redevelopment consisting of 11 wholly-owned shopping centers and three joint venture shopping centers.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Maria Armental and Anna Prior]

    American Realty Capital Properties Inc.(ARCP) said it had finalized a deal to sell its multitenant shopping center portfolio for $1.975 billion in cash to a joint venture including a Blackstone affiliate and DDR Corp.(DDR)

  • [By Rich Duprey]

    Shopping mall operator DDR� (NYSE: DDR  ) announced today its regular second-quarter dividend for three series of preferred shares:

    7.375%�Class H stock dividend of�$0.460938�per depositary share. 6.50%�Class J stock dividend of�$0.406250�per depositary share. 6.25%�Class K stock dividend of�$0.41667�per depositary share.

    The board of directors said the quarterly dividend for all three series of preferreds is payable on July 15 to the holders of record at the close of business on July 1 and�covers the period beginning�April 15�and ending�July 14.

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Top India Stocks To Watch For 2014

With shares of Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT) trading around $73, is WMT an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE or STAY AWAY? Let�� analyze the stock with the relevant sections of our CHEAT SHEET investing framework:

T = Trends for a Stock’s Movement

Wal-Mart operates retail stores in various formats around the world. The company aims to price items at the lowest price every day. Wal-Mart operates in three business segments: the Walmart U.S. segment, the Walmart International segment, and the Sam�� Club segment. It operates retail stores, restaurants, discount stores, supermarkets, supercenters, hypermarkets, warehouse clubs, apparel stores, Sam��� Clubs, neighborhood markets, and other small formats, as well as Walmart.com and Samsclub.com. Through its retail channels, Wal-Mart is able to provide a variety of products and services at very affordable prices to consumers and companies worldwide.

Wal-Mart has stopped expansion in India while the company is under two different investigations there and the government has tightened regulations on foreign-owned retail businesses. The Indian government is investigating Wal-Mart for a loan the company took out that would become equity once the government changed regulations to allow foreign ownership of front-end grocery stores. Wal-Mart is also investigating whether some of its employees in the country broke the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act by bribing officials to open stores.

Hot Prefered Companies To Buy Right Now: Infosys Technologies Limited(INFY)

Infosys Ltd. provides information technology (IT) and consulting services worldwide. It offers IT services, such as application, architecture, independent validation and testing, information management, infrastructure, packaged application, SOA, systems integration, and knowledge services; product engineering services, manufacturing process and plant solutions, and product lifecycle management services; and consulting services in the areas of information and technology strategies, product innovation, next generation commerce, process excellence, and learning and complex change. The company also provides business process outsourcing solutions in the areas of business platforms, customer service outsourcing, finance and accounting, human resources outsourcing, legal services, sales and fulfillment, and sourcing and procurement outsourcing. In addition, it offers collaborative analytics solutions; digital consumer platform; Finacle universal banking solution; iProwe, a Web ac cessibility assessment product; mConnect, a real-time enterprise middleware; and research and analytical support services. Further, the company offers unified communications and collaboration solution that streamlines business processes between employees, customers, and suppliers; iTransform that helps healthcare organizations accelerate transition to new platforms; and supply chain visibility and collaboration product suite. It serves aerospace and defense, airlines, automotive, banking, capital markets, communication services, consumer packaged goods, manufacturing, education, energy, healthcare, high technology, hospitality and leisure, insurance, life sciences, logistics and distribution, publishing, resources, utilities, and retail industries. Infosys Ltd. has a strategic partnership with Alstom SA. The company was formerly known as Infosys Technologies Limited and changed its name to Infosys Ltd. on June 16, 2011. Infosys Ltd. was founded in 1981 and is headquartered i n Bengaluru, India.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Monica Gerson]

    Infosys (NASDAQ: INFY) is expected to report its Q2 earnings at $0.70 per share on revenue of $2.01 billion.

    Posted-In: Earnings scheduleEarnings News Pre-Market Outlook Markets

  • [By Robert Martin]

    Infosys (INFY), Housing Development Finance and Reliance Industries LTD are the top three holdings, with weightings between 8% and 10.5%. Of course, just about any India ETF will have a heavy� allocation to Infosys and Reliance. However, INDA dedicates a lower percentage to energy than some of the alternatives, and instead leans more on IT and consumer spending.

  • [By Brian Stoffel]

    That helps explain why Accenture and IBM,�the industry's two biggest players, have been able to gobble up so much market share. But there's a second tier of technology-consultants -- in terms of sheer size -- as well. That's where Cognizant, as well as its main competition --�Infosys (NYSE: INFY  ) and Wipro (NYSE: WIT  ) �-- come in to play.

Top India Stocks To Watch For 2014: Tata Motors Ltd(TTM)

Tata Motors Limited, an automobile company, engages in the manufacture and sale of commercial and passenger vehicles primarily in India. The company offers cars, utility vehicles, trucks, buses and coaches, and defense vehicles, as well as develops electric and hybrid vehicles for personal and public transportation. It also involves in distributing and marketing cars; and financing the vehicles sold by the company. In addition, the company engages in the provision of engineering and automotive solutions, as well as machine tools and factory automation solutions; construction equipment manufacturing; automotive vehicle components manufacturing and supply chain activities; tooling and plastic and electronic components for automotive and computer applications; and automotive retailing and service operations. It offers its products and services through its dealership, sales, services, and spare parts network. The company also markets its commercial and passenger vehicles in Eu rope, Africa, the Middle East, South East Asia, South Asia, and South America. The company was formerly known as Tata Engineering and Locomotive Company Limited and changed its name to Tata Motors Limited in July 2003. Tata Motors Limited was founded in 1945 and is based in Mumbai, India.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By James Well]

    Pfizer�� Net Income Growth Is Increasing Leading to Increase in Its Operating Margins

    Net incomes and operating margins of a company give some insights into its financial health. Pfizer�� net income growth has accelerated this year. In fact, when compared with its direct competitors like Merck, Novartis, and Sanofi, the rate of increase of net income growth trailing twelve months (TTM) is greatest at Pfizer with $10.68 billion followed by Novartis with $9.37 billion while Merck and Sanofi lagged behind with $4.53 billion and $4.05 billion respectively. Really, rather than increasing, there has been a decrease in Merck�� and Sanofi�� net incomes this year which should be a source of concern for investors. A healthy operating margin shows that a company is earning more per dollar of sales and, hence, able to pay for its fixed costs including interest on debt.

  • [By Sophia Yan]

    Shares of Tata Motors (TTM) tumbled almost 5% in morning trading in Mumbai as investors reacted to news of Slym's death. Tata Motors also owns Jaguar and Land Rover brands.

  • [By Elliott Gue]

    This so-called One Ford initiative involved the US$2.3 billion sale of Jaguar and Land Rover to Tata Motors (TTM) and the US$1.6 billion divestment of Volvo to Geely Automobile Holdings (GELYF.PK). After selling the majority of its stake in Mazda Motor Corp (MZDAY.PK) and discontinuing Mercury, Ford Motor Company's portfolio consists of its eponymous mass-market brand and the higher-end Lincoln.

  • [By Trey Thoelcke]

    The rise of VW could hit GM particularly hard, both in terms of reputation and in earnings. GM said it was looking to introduce four new Chevrolet models in China next year, as well as to expand its low-cost Baojun brand. Chinese buyers could already be looking elsewhere though, given the rise of VW and of Tata Motors Ltd. (NYSE: TTM), which sells cars under the Jaguar and Range Rover brands. Sales of Tata vehicles have risen sharply in the past year, and the company is set to begin producing cars in China.

Top India Stocks To Watch For 2014: Stewart Information Services Corporation(STC)

Stewart Information Services Corporation provides title insurance and related information services required for settlement by the real estate and mortgage industries. It operates in two segments, Title Insurance-Related Services and Real Estate Information. The Title Insurance-Related Services segment offers services that include searching for and examining documents, such as deeds, mortgages, wills, divorce decrees, court judgments, liens, paving assessments, and tax records, as well as provides titles insurance for residential and commercial properties, undeveloped acreage, farms, ranches, and water rights. This segment serves attorneys, builders, developers, home buyers and home sellers, lenders, and real estate brokers. The Real Estate Information segment offers products and services, which primarily include lender services, title technology, foreign and domestic government services, mapping, title information, Internal Revenue Code Section 1031 tax-deferred property e xchanges, pre-employment services, and online filing and transaction management. Its customers include mortgage lenders and servicers, mortgage brokers, mortgage investors, government entities, commercial and residential real estate agents, land developers, builders, title insurance agencies, and others interested in obtaining property information, as well as accountants, attorneys, investors, and employers. The company has operations primarily in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, central Europe, Mexico, central America, and Australia. Stewart Information Services Corporation was founded in 1893 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Ben Levisohn]

    Tower Group has dropped 12% to $3.88 today at 11:39 a.m., while Stewart Information Services (STC) has dipped 0.1% to $31.16, the�Navigators Group�(NAVG) has fallen 1.4% to $54.78 and HCI Group�(HCI) has gained 1% to $38.16.

  • [By James Fink]

    My housing pick is Houston-based Stewart Information Services (STC), a 120-year-old real estate business founded in 1893, that is still owned and managed by the founding family.

Top India Stocks To Watch For 2014: Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd(RDY)

Dr. Reddy?s Laboratories Limited, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a pharmaceutical company. It produces finished dosage forms, active pharmaceutical ingredients and intermediates, and biotechnology products. The company also conducts research in the areas of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular, inflammation, and bacterial infection. In addition, it involves in the contract manufacture generic prescription and over-the-counter products for branded and generic companies in the United States. The company primarily focuses on therapeutic categories of cardiovascular, diabetes management, gastro-intestinal, and pain management. It markets its products in India, the United States, Europe, and the Russian Federation. The company has a co-development and commercialization agreement with Rheoscience A/S for the development and commercialization of Balaglitazone/DRF 2593, a partial PPAR-gamma agonist for the treatment of type 2 diabetes; an agreement with ClinTec Internatio nal for the development of an anti-cancer compound, DRF 1042; collaboration with the National Cancer Institute in Maryland; and an agreement with Argenta Discovery Limited for the joint development and commercialization of a novel approach to the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It also has an agreement with 7TM Pharma for drug discovery collaboration on selected drug targets; and an agreement with GlaxoSmithKline plc to develop and market pharmaceuticals for the treatment of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, oncology, gastroenterology, and pain management. Dr. Reddy?s Laboratories Limited was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Hyderabad, India.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Ben Levisohn]

    Teva has dropped 7.7% to $37.85 today at 3:23 p.m. but doesn’t seem to be spreading though the generic drug space. Taro Pharmaceuticals (TARO) ha gained 1.1% to $79, while Actavis (ACT) has gained 1.2% to $156.25 and Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories (RDY) has advanced 1% to $40.24. Mylan (MYL) has dropped 0.7% to $38.40.

  • [By Benjamin Shepherd] We’re now into day 15 of the US government shutdown, as House Republicans stubbornly try to defund Obamacare. No matter what sort of deal is eventually struck, health care costs aren’t likely to come down any time soon. And that’s good news for generic drug makers.

    Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories (NYSE: RDY) is one of the biggest players in generic drugs, offering more than 200 off-brand medications in the areas of cardiovascular disease, pain management and oncology, among others. In fact, this India-based company has become one of the largest makers of generics in the world, helping to drive more than 20 percent annual compounded earnings growth at the company over the past decade.
  • [By Dan Carroll]

    The company's generic drug segment should also help push emerging market sales. Abbott markets generic pharmaceuticals outside the U.S. only, and while the division isn't growth-oriented -- sales actually fell around 2% for the quarter -- it provides an entry for the company to push into lucrative new markets such as India, where generics make up the large majority of the country's retail market. The company will face tougher competition in this industry, however: Firms such as India-based Dr. Reddy's (NYSE: RDY  ) have also pushed hard into emerging markets lately, and Dr. Reddy's in particular should benefit from its being headquartered in one of the industry's top locales.

  • [By Monica Gerson]

    Dr. Reddy's Laboratories (NYSE: RDY) is expected to report its Q4 earnings at $0.52 per share.

    YuMe (NYSE: YUME) is estimated to post a Q1 loss at $0.15 per share on revenue of $35.36 million.

Top India Stocks To Watch For 2014: Sify Technologies Limited(SIFY)

Sify Technologies Limited provides enterprise and consumer Internet services primarily in India. The company offers various corporate network/data services comprising e-commerce and network connectivity solutions, such as end-to-end services network, application, and security services; voice origination and termination services; co-location and managed hosting services; and system integration services for data centre build, hardware distribution, security solutions, and turnkey projects. It also provides application services, including SLEMS and Microsoft Exchange messaging platforms; I-test for online assessment and LiveWire, which enable management of training processes across the organization; document management system for the management of documents electronically; and Forum, a forward supply chain solution. In addition, the company operates e-Ports that offer browsing, chat, email, gaming, utility bill payment, travel ticketing, hotel booking, mobile recharge, Intern et telephony, and online share trading services; and portals, which provide news, views, reviews, interactions, and services in the areas of movies, sports, finance, food, videos, astrology, online games, shopping, and travel, as well as offers content offerings and broadband services. Further, it provides infrastructure management services, such as network management, datacenter and helpdesk outsourcing, desktop and storage outsourcing, IT security outsourcing, LAN and WAN outsourcing, database and telecom outsourcing, and application monitoring and management services to automotive, chemical, media, and financial enterprises; and virtualization design, integration, and deployment services for servers, storage, networks, and end user clients. Sify has approximately 1,278 e-Ports in 200 towns and cities; and serves 1,06,000 broadband subscribers through 1500 cable TV Operators. The company, formerly known as Sify Limited, was founded in 1995 and is based in Chennai, India. Advisors' Opinion:

  • [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

    Leading and Lagging Sectors
    Technology stocks gained Tuesday, with Ku6 Media Co (NASDAQ: KUTV) leading advancers. Among leading tech stocks, gains came from Rubicon Technology (NASDAQ: RBCN), Bitauto Holdings (NYSE: BITA) and Sify Technologies (NASDAQ: SIFY).

  • [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

    Leading and Lagging Sectors
    Technology stocks gained Tuesday, with Ku6 Media Co (NASDAQ: KUTV) leading advancers. Among leading tech stocks, gains came from Rubicon Technology (NASDAQ: RBCN), Bitauto Holdings (NYSE: BITA) and Sify Technologies (NASDAQ: SIFY). Utilities shares dropped by 0.11 percent in the US market today.

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Top Income Companies To Watch In Right Now

Top Income Companies To Watch In Right Now: Air Industries Group Inc (AIRI)

Air Industries Group, Inc. (AIRI), incorporated on January 13, 2006, is an aerospace and defense company. The Company designs and manufactures structural parts and assemblies that focus on flight safety, including landing gear, arresting gear, engine mounts, flight controls, throttle quadrants and other components. It also provides sheet metal fabrication of aerostructures, tube bending and welding services. AIRIs products are deployed on a range of military and commercial aircraft, including Sikorsky's UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter, Lockheed Martin's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, Northrop Grumman's E2D Hawkeye, Boeing's 777, Airbus' 380 commercial airliners, and the US Navy F-18 and USAF F-16 fighter aircraft. On July 1, 2013, Air Industries Group Inc announced that it has acquired certain assets and the business of Decimal Industries (Decimal) of Copiague, Long Island, New York. On June 20, 2012, the Company, through a newly created subsidiary, Nassau Tool Works, Inc. (NTW) , acquired from an unrelated company formerly known as Nassau Tool Works, Inc. (Old Nassau Tool) and its shareholders (the NTW Sellers) all of the assets of Old Nassau Tool. In November 2013, the Company announced that it has acquired Miller Stuart Inc of Hauppauge, Long Island, New York.

Air Industries Machining Corp.

AIM manufactures aircraft structural parts and assemblies principally for prime defense contractors in the defense/aerospace industry, including, Boeing, Goodrich Landing Gear, Sikorsky, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman. During the year ended December 31, 2012, approximately 90% of AIM's revenues were derived from sales of parts and assemblies for military applications. AIM's parts are installed onboard Sikorsky's U/MH - 60M/S Helicopters, known as The BlackHawk, Lockheeds F35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), Northrop Grummans E2-C/D Hawkeye, the Airbus A-380 Super Jumbo airliner, and the C-17 Globemaster.

AIM is a lso a manufacturer of mechanical and electro-mechanical suba! ssemblies and an engineering integrator. As of December 31, 2012, AIM produced over 2,400 individual products (SKU's) that are assembled into electromechanical devices, mixer (primary flight control) assemblies, rotor-hub components for Blackhawk helicopters, arresting gear for the E2C/D Hawkeye, C2A Greyhound and United States Navy Fighters, vibration absorbing assemblies for Sikorsky helicopters, landing gear components for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), and many other subassembly packages.

Welding Metallurgy, Inc.

Welding Metallurgy, Inc. (WMI) provides specialty welding services and metal fabrications to the defense and commercial aerospace industry. Its customers include GKN Corporation, Sikorsky, Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Northrop Grumman. WMIs product and service offerings include tube bending and metal fabrications of aircraft structures. WMIs services and products are principally provided to prime contractors, aerospace engine manufacturers and to other subcontractors to aerospace manufacturers throughout the United States. Welding Metallurgy is a primary supplier on the Northrop Grumman E-2 C/D Hawkeye Program producing approximately 300 different parts annually. During 2012, nearly 100% of WMIs revenues were derived from sales of parts and assemblies for military applications. WMI produces the inlet housing and the auxiliary long and short beams for the Sikorsky BlackHawk helicopter and various welded door and panel assemblies for the Boeing CH-47 Chinook Helicopter. WMI also provides environmental tubing to Lockheed for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Nassau Tool Works, Inc.

NTWs principal business is the fabrication and assembly of landing gear components and complete landing gear for fighter aircraft for the United States and foreign governments. NTW also performs sub-contract machining for other aerospace manufacturers, including Air Industries. ! NTW is a ! manuf acturer of complete landing gear and landing gear components! for the ! F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-18 Hornet aircraft of the United States Air Force and Navy. In addition NTW specializes in deep hole gun-drilling and trepanning and performs sub-contract machining services for prime contractors in the defense and aerospace industries.

The Company competes with Sterling Machine, Stellex Aerospace, Triumph Aerospace Group, Heroux Aerospace and Magellan Corporation.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Dividends4Life]

    Air Industries Group Inc. (AIRI), an aerospace and defense company, designs and manufactures structural parts and assemblies that focus on flight safety. Sept. 17, the company increased its quarterly dividend 100% to $0.125 per share. The dividend is is payable Oct. 15, 2013 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on Sept. 30, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 6.9%.

  • [By Diane Alter]

    Dividend Stocks That Increased Payout in September

    Accenture plc (NYSE: ACN) announced a 14.8%, or $0.12 per share, increase to its semiannual dividend. The management consulting firm will now pay a semiannual dividend of $0.93. Shares yield 2.53%. Agruim Inc. (NYSE: AGU) boosted its dividend by $1.00 per share to a total dividend of $3.00 on an annualized basis. Shares of the global retailer of agricultural products now sprout a 3.54% yield. Air Industries Group Inc. (NYSE: AIRI) doubled its dividend to $0.125 per share. The maker of airplane and helicopter parts now floats a lofty yield of 6.6%. Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc. (NYSE: ARE) upped its dividend 4.6% to $0.68 per quarter for a yield of 4.21%. Banner Corp. (Nasdaq: BANR) boosted its quarterly dividend 25% to $0.15 per share. The parent company of Banner and Islander Bank serves the Pacific Northwest region. Brady Corp. (NYSE: BRC) lifted its quarterly dividend 2.6% to $0.78 per share. It was the 28th straight dividend increase ! from the ! identification solutions company. Shares yield 2.57%. Campbell Soup Co. (NSE: CPB) raised its quarterly dividend to $0.31 per share, up from $0.29. The company last raised its dividend in November 2010. Shares yield a hearty 3.06%. CLARCOR Inc. (NYSE: CLC) raised its quarterly dividend 26% to $0.17 per share. It's the largest percentage increase from the Tennessee-based diversified marketer of mobile filtration and packaging products in the last 20 years, and it continues the company's consecutive streak of increasing dividends for the last 30 years. Franklin Resources Inc. (NYSE: BEN) boosted its quarterly dividend 2.6% to $0.10 per share. Frisch's Restaurants Inc. (NYSE: FRS) increased its quarterly dividend 12.5% to $0.18. Shares yield 3.10% The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NYSE: GT), in a move that suggests good times are ahead, reinstated its dividend at $0.05 per share. Good
  • source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/top-income-companies-to-watch-in-right-now.html

Hot Companies To Buy For 2015

Hot Companies To Buy For 2015: Guggenheim S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF (RSP)

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

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

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Thomas Sobon]

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

  • [By John Waggoner]

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

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

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

5 Best Value Stocks To Own For 2014

NEW YORK (The Deal) -- Facebook's  (FB) blockbuster, $19 billion purchase of WhatsApp has focused attention on the increased value of mobile messaging.

Buying WhatsApp has both offensive and defensive elements, as UBS  (UBS) analyst Eric Sheridan noted. Facebook gains a popular messaging platform with more than 450 million users per month, which Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg said he expects to eventually hit 1 billion.

Zuckerberg also keeps WhatsApp's horde of subscribers out of the hands of competitors such as Yahoo! (YHOO) or Google (GOOG).

A range of global upstarts provide variations of mobile messaging over the Internet. Hong Kong-based Tencent operates messaging apps WeChat and Weixin, the latter focused on the Chinese market. Subscribers can make audio and video calls, and exchange photos. Combined, WeChat and Weixin had more than 270 million users at the close of the third quarter, growing nearly 125% from the same period a year earlier. Tencent, which trades on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, reports fourth-quarter numbers on March 19. Dutch messaging company Nimbuzz has 120 million users and gains 4.5 million per month, according to its website. The company has backing from Mangrove Capital Partners and South African media group Naspers. The company offers free voice and video calls over its broadband app, but charges for calls to phones. Line Corp. of Tokyo has 340 million users for its free call and messaging app and said it expects to reach 500 million users this year. "Line has really been pushing games," SNL Kagan analyst Seth Shafer said. Within the games, users can purchase extra lives, or turns. Line also sells stickers that subscribers use to adorn messages. Some have featured star soccer players in Mexico.

Hot Food Companies To Watch For 2015: Caterpillar Inc.(CAT)

Caterpillar Inc. manufactures and sells construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives worldwide. It operates through three lines of businesses: Machinery, Engines, and Financial Products. The Machinery business offers construction, mining, and forestry machinery, including track and wheel tractors, track and wheel loaders, pipelayers, motor graders, wheel tractor-scrapers, track and wheel excavators, backhoe loaders, log skidders, log loaders, off-highway trucks, articulated trucks, paving products, skid steer loaders, underground mining equipment, tunnel boring equipment, and related parts. It also manufactures diesel-electric locomotives; and manufactures and services rail-related products and logistics services for other companies. The Engines business provides diesel, heavy fuel, and natural gas reciprocating engines for Caterpillar machinery, electric power generation systems, marine, petrol eum, construction, industrial, agricultural, and other applications. It offers industrial turbines and turbine-related services for oil and gas, and power generation applications. This business also remanufactures Caterpillar engines, machines, and engine components; and offers remanufacturing services for other companies. The Financial Products business provides retail and wholesale financing alternatives for Caterpillar machinery and engines, solar gas turbines, and other equipment and marine vessels, as well as offers loans and various forms of insurance to customers and dealers. It also offers financing for vehicles, power generation facilities, and marine vessels. The company markets its products directly, as well as through its distribution centers, dealers, and distributors. It was formerly known as Caterpillar Tractor Co. and changed its name to Caterpillar Inc. in 1986. Caterpillar Inc. was founded in 1925 and is headquartered in Peoria, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Rich Duprey]

    Is this the big correction? Although the Dow Jones Industrial Average has ignored my warnings that the index has come too far, too fast and was due for a fall, yesterday's 266-point reversal -- its largest single-day loss this year -- could be the watershed event I've expected. The biggest loser on the day, however, was heavy-equipment maker Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT  ) , whose stock fell more than 3% as depressing economic news out of China weighed on its performance.

  • [By E. Michael Greenberg]

    Blue Sphere has other major partners on these projects as well.� They have brought in a hedge fund that specializes in Cleantech investing as an equity partner.� This equity partner has committed to up to $7.5 million for the Charlotte project and $5 million for the smaller Johnson plant.� Caterpillar Financial Services, a division of Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) is providing almost $18 million in debt for the construction of the Charlotte project.� Both groups are expected to fund upon their respective commitments to the Charlotte project by the end of August, which will allow Blue Sphere and Biogas Nord to begin construction of the facility in September of this year.� Blue Sphere�� management has stated that they expect the Charlotte project to be complete and producing with in 12 months of the beginning of construction.�

  • [By Jayson Derrick]

    Analysts at Credit Suisse maintained an Outperform rating on Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT) with a price target raised to $109 from a previous $110. Analysts at Citigroup maintained a Neutral rating with a price target lowered to $110 from a previous $115. Shares gained 0.17 percent, closing at $99.44.

5 Best Value Stocks To Own For 2014: Tupperware Corporation(TUP)

Tupperware Brands Corporation operates as a direct seller of various products across a range of brands and categories through an independent sales force. The company engages in the manufacture and sale of kitchen and home products, and beauty and personal care products. It offers preparation, storage, and serving solutions for the kitchen and home, as well as kitchen cookware and tools, children?s educational toys, microwave products, and gifts under the Tupperware brand name primarily in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Asia Pacific, and North America. The company provides beauty and personal care products, which include skin care products, cosmetics, bath and body care, toiletries, fragrances, nutritional products, apparel, and related products principally in Mexico, South Africa, the Philippines, Australia, and Uruguay. It offers beauty and personal care products under the Armand Dupree, Avroy Shlain, BeautiControl, Fuller, NaturCare, Nutrimetics, Nuvo, and Swissgar de brand names. The company sells its Tupperware products directly to distributors, directors, managers, and dealers; and beauty products primarily through consultants and directors. As of December 26, 2009, the Tupperware distribution system had approximately 1,800 distributors, 61,300 managers, and 1.3 million dealers; and the sales force representing the Beauty businesses approximately 1.1 million. The company was formerly known as Tupperware Corporation and changed its name to Tupperware Brands Corporation in December 2005. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Orlando, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Monica Gerson]

    Tupperware Brands (NYSE: TUP) is expected to report its Q3 earnings at $1.03 per share on revenue of $623.34 million.

    Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) is projected to post its Q4 earnings at $1.12 per share on revenue of $779.02 million.

  • [By Arie Goren]

    After running this screen on May 21, 2013, before the markets' open, I discovered the following eight stocks: Sunoco Logistics Partners LP (SXL), Leggett & Platt Inc (LEG), Copa Holdings SA (CPA), RPC Inc. (RES), Tupperware Brands Corp. (TUP), Herbalife Ltd. (HLF), John Wiley & Sons Inc. (JW.A) and C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc. (CHRW).

  • [By Brian Pacampara]

    Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, household products company Tupperware Brands (NYSE: TUP  ) has earned a coveted five-star ranking.

  • [By Oliver Pursche]

    European large-cap pharmaceuticals like Novartis (NVS) �and Bristol Meyers Squibb (BMY) �count amongst some of our favorite stocks right now, as do U.S. multinationals that are growing revenue and margins in Asia ��Tupperware (TUP) �is a shining example. Stay away from utilities and energy stocks, as they are likely to be the laggards over the next year.

5 Best Value Stocks To Own For 2014: Schlumberger N.V.(SLB)

Schlumberger Limited, together with its subsidiaries, supplies technology, integrated project management, and information solutions to the oil and gas exploration and production industries worldwide. The company?s Oilfield Services segment provides exploration and production services; wireline technology that offers open-hole and cased-hole services; supplies engineering support, directional-drilling, measurement-while-drilling, and logging-while-drilling services; and testing services. This segment also offers well services; supplies well completion services and equipment; artificial lift; data and consulting services; geo services; and information solutions, such as consulting, software, information management system, and IT infrastructure services that support oil and gas industry. Its WesternGeco segment provides reservoir imaging, monitoring, and development services; and operates data processing centers and multiclient seismic library. This segment also offers variou s services include 3D and time-lapse (4D) seismic surveys to multi-component surveys for delineating prospects and reservoir management. The company?s M-I SWACO segment supplies drilling fluid systems to improve drilling performance; fluid systems and specialty tools to optimize wellbore productivity; production technology solutions to maximize production rates; and environmental solutions that manages waste volumes generated in drilling and production operations. Its Smith Oilfield segment designs, manufactures, and markets drill bits and borehole enlargement tools; and supplies drilling tools and services, tubular, completion services, and other related downhole solutions. The company?s Distribution segment markets pipes, valves, and fittings, as well as mill, safety, and other maintenance products. This segment also provides warehouse management, vendor integration, and inventory management services. Schlumberger Limited was founded in 1927 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Laura Brodbeck]

    Thursday

    Earnings Expected From: SAP AG (NYSE: SAP), Novartis AG (NYSE: NVS), UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE: UNH), Mattel, Inc, (NASDAQ: MAT), Key Corp (NYSE: KEY), Philip Morris International (NYSE: PM), Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS), PPG Industries, Inc (NYSE: PPG), The Blackstone Group L.P. (NYSE: BX), Schlumberger N.V. (NYSE: SLB), International Business Machines (NYSE: IBM), Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) Economic Releases Expected:  Chinese house prices, US housing starts, eurozone CPI, Hong Kong’s unemployment rate

    Friday

  • [By David Smith]

    Another angle
    Without taking hindsight issue with that statement, I'm forced to compare it to the assessment of the same subject on the same day by Schlumberger's (NYSE: SLB  ) CEO Paal Kibsgaard, who observed during his company's call that "... the main concern in North America land remains the pricing, where the downwards trend in drilling, wireline, and coiled tubing seen in the fourth quarter continued in Q1. In addition, we also saw further downward pricing pressure on a number of hydraulic fracturing bids during the quarter, adding further uncertainty to the North America land market outlook."�

  • [By Matt DiLallo]

    In addition, the process could really vault Halliburton past industry peers Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB  ) and Baker Hughes (NYSE: BHI  ) . All three companies have been looking overseas for growth as rig counts in the U.S. have been on the decline. Just last quarter, U.S. rig counts dropped by 3%, which helped cause Halliburton's revenue to dip by 1%. However, if H2O Forward works as planned it could help Halliburton take additional market share from its competitors in the U.S., enabling it to do well even if rig counts continue to drop. Also, the company could begin to offer the solution overseas, which would help maintain its industry-leading growth.�

5 Best Value Stocks To Own For 2014: Dollar Tree Inc.(DLTR)

Dollar Tree, Inc. operates discount variety stores in the United States and Canada. Its stores offer merchandise primarily at the fixed price of $1.00. The company operates its stores under the names of Dollar Tree, Deal$, Dollar Tree Deal$, Dollar Giant, and Dollar Bills. Its stores offer consumable merchandise, including candy and food, and health and beauty care, as well as household consumables, such as paper, plastics, household chemicals, in select stores, and frozen and refrigerated food; variety merchandise, which includes toys, durable housewares, gifts, party goods, greeting cards, softlines, and other items; and seasonal goods, such as Easter, Halloween, and Christmas merchandise. As of April 30, 2011, it operated 4,089 stores in 48 states and the District of Columbia, as well as 88 stores in Canada. The company was founded in 1986 and is based in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Demitrios Kalogeropoulos]

    Costly market share gains
    The problem is that Family Dollar has had to pay up for its increasing market share and sales levels. The company's gross profit margin fell by more than a full percentage point, to 34.7% last quarter. In contrast, Dollar Tree (NASDAQ: DLTR  ) booked an expansion of profits, to 35.2%, continuing a trend that's seen it pull away from Family Dollar.

  • [By Jayson Derrick]

    Analysts at BMO Capital downgraded Dollar Tree (NASDAQ: DLTR) to Market Perform from Outperform with a price target lowered to $59 from a previous $69. Also, analysts at Jefferies maintained a Hold rating on Dollar Tree with a price target raised to $56 from a previous $51. Shares lost 0.78 percent, closing at $54.44.

  • [By Rising Dividend Investing]

    Falling Stock Correlation: What It Says About Consumer Spending

    As we mentioned in the Take Aways from the August 26th Investment Policy Committee meeting, the correlation index has been steadily declining. In 2008-09, macroeconomic events drove nearly every stock downwards. Specific sectors and stocks moved in tandem with one another. Today, stocks and sub-industries within each sector are performing very differently – which indicates a return to a more normal stock market environment.
    The Consumer Discretionary (also known as Consumer Cyclicals) sector is an example of an industry that has been rewarded for its fundamental success over the past 12 months. As a whole, the sector grew sales 6.1% and earnings 9.2% in the second quarter - much better than the 1.4% sales and 3.3% earnings growth of the S&P 500. While the overall sector did well in the second quarter, the table below shows how differently the 5 sub-categories of Consumer Discretionary performed:

    (click to enlarge)
    As we drill down even further, sub-categories of sub-sectors differ even more dramatically. Below is a snapshot of the Retailing sub-sector and its notable components:

    (click to enlarge)
    Specific stocks within each sub-category are varying in performance as well. General Merchandise retailers were significantly differentiated in the second quarter. Target’s (TGT) adjusted EPS were up 6.1% from 2012, while Dollar General (DG) and Dollar Tree’s (DLTR) earnings were up nearly 12% and 9%, respectively.
    The differences in sales and earnings growth amongst these different industries tell a story. The economy is not improving enough that people feel like they can let go and spend money on pure pleasures, but it is improving enough that they can afford to replace their cars and fix the doors on their houses. As these items wear out and need to be replaced, we expect the pent up demand will drive increased economic activity from cons
  • [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]

    #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-305703{display:none}.cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-305703,#postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-305703{width:570px;height:411px;display:block} NEW YORK -- The fight for penny pinchers is intensifying. Dollar Tree (DLTR) said Monday it is buying rival discounter Family Dollar (FDO) for $8.5 billion, significantly broadening its reach as it looks to fend off Walmart, which has been stepping up its courtship of lower-income customers The deal makes Dollar Tree the biggest player in the dollar store segment, with its more than 13,000 combined locations eclipsing current leader Dollar General (DG), which has about 11,300. Dollar stores grew during the recession as people across income groups searched for cheaper options. To attract a broader array of customers, they also expanded their offerings to include more groceries and brand-name products, instead of just the party favors and other knickknacks people often associated with them. More recently, however, sales at dollar stores have been suffering because the lower-income customers who go to them are facing persistent job instability and slow wage growth in the aftermath of the recession. Walmart Stores (WMT) and Kroger (KR) also have been opening smaller store formats to directly compete with dollar stores. During its current fiscal year, Walmart plans to open 270 to 300 smaller outlets designed to cater to shoppers looking for more convenience. Brian Sozzi, CEO and chief equities strategist at Belus Capital Advisors, said because the Dollar Tree deal will allow the company to lower expenses by merging its operations, it will ultimately be able to lower prices to better compete with Walmart. "Now they're going to take the fight back to Walmart," Sozzi said. The deal also gives Dollar Tree more flexibility. Dollar Tree is true to its name, with everything in its stores costing just a buck. The fixed pricing has helped attract more customer

Monday, January 26, 2015

Top Stocks For 2015

Top Stocks For 2015: Australian Dollar(AU)

AngloGold Ashanti Limited primarily engages in the exploration and production of gold. It also produces silver, uranium oxide, and sulfuric acid. The company conducts gold-mining operations in South Africa; continental Africa, including Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Namibia, and Tanzania; Australia; and the Americas, which include Argentina, Brazil, and the United States. It also has mining or exploration operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, and Colombia. As of December 31, 2010, the company had proved and probable gold reserves of 71.2 million ounces. The company has a strategic alliance with Thani Dubai Mining Limited to explore, develop, and operate mines across the Middle East and parts of North Africa. AngloGold Ashanti Limited, formerly known as Vaal Reefs Exploration and Mining Company Limited, was founded in 1944 and is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Mark Hulbert]

    If you prefer the shares of individual gold-mining companies, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold (FCX)  is currently the one most recommended by the Hulbert Financial Digest-monitored advisers who have beaten the S&P 500 over the past 15 years. Also popular are Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM) , Barrick Gold (ABX) , AngloGold Ashanti (AU)  and Newmont Mining (NEM) .

  • [By Brianna Valleskey]

    The result is that gold producers are not a particularly exciting part of markets in South Africa anymore, Theron said. Most of the large gold companies, like AngloGold Ashanti Limited (NYSE: AU! ) and Gold Fields Limited (NYSE: GFI), have internationalized their operations, he said, but still have a footprint in South Africa.

  • [By Jim Powell]

    In addition to holding Goldcorp and Barrick Gold, the fund tracks the performance of Newmont Mining (NEM), Newcrest Mining (NCMGY), AngloGold Ashanti (AU), and several other industry leaders.

  • [By Patricio Kehoe] stion arises: Why is First Eagle bullish regarding such a company? The answer might lie in the huge discount at which the third-largest gold producer by output is trading, along with a certain degree of long-term optimism.

    Huge Holdings Point to Long-Term Commitment

    Since First Eagle recently increased its stake in Anglogold by more than 20%, bringing his total holding to over 32.5 million shares, I believe we are looking at a long-term investment. I am keen on pointing this out, since the stock is currently performing very poorly, and has already lost around 275% of its value year to date. Above average production costs and plummeting gold prices have put a huge deal of pressure on the gold miner, leading to very poor results. In addition, since many of its operations are in geopolitically risky countries such as Mali and the Democratic Republic of Congo, shareholders have been shedding this stock in large volumes.

    Although Anglogold had a very rough year, and will continue to face elevated cash costs and reduced margins going into 2014, there are some positive signals looking forward. One of the most promising features, are the firm's operations in South America and Australia, which are enjoying solid organic growth. Although investors will have to wait some years for assets in these regions to reach full production, large profits should be achieved in the long-term. In other words, First Eagle surely has its eyes set on the company's new projects, and their future growth potential.

    Projected Growth and Low Price

    Another attractive feature investors must keep in mi! nd is a s! tock's growth potential. When looking at Anglogold, this becomes especially relevant, as a comparison to Barrick Gold Corp (ABX) will demonstrate. Anglogold currently offers 13.6% returns on invested capital, compared to Barrick's -2.8%, and has an EBITDA growth rate of 465.7%, the highest in the industry. Thus, whereas the Canadian mine r has a negative EPS

  • source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-stocks-for-2015-3.html

Best Financial Stocks To Invest In 2014

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

What: Shares of financial holding company Washington Federal (NASDAQ: WAFD  ) climbed as high as 10% today after its quarterly results topped Wall Street expectations.�

So what: The stock has spiked recently on strong earnings momentum, and today's third-quarter beat -- EPS of $0.36 versus the consensus of $0.33 -- only reinforces that trend. While net-interest income slipped 1.9% over the year-ago period, to $94.7 million, net interest margin increased 10 basis points, to 3.15%, giving analysts plenty of good vibes over its profitability going forward.

Now what: When you couple the company's trend of improving asset quality with the still-favorable interest rate environment, I'd expect the operating momentum to continue. "Loan demand has strengthened and if current conditions persist, the prospect of improved loan growth will become more likely," said Chairman and CEO Roy Whitehead. Of course, with the stock now up about 35% over the past three months alone, and trading at a not-so-cheapish P/E of 16, much of that bullishness might already be baked into the stock. ���

Top 10 Mid Cap Companies To Own For 2015: RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.(RNR)

RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, provides reinsurance and insurance products in the United States and internationally. The company offers property catastrophe reinsurance products, including catastrophe excess of loss reinsurance, excess of loss retrocessional reinsurance, and insurance-linked securities; and specialty reinsurance products, such as catastrophe exposed workers? compensation, surety, terrorism, energy, aviation, crop, political risk, trade credit, financial, mortgage guarantee, catastrophe-exposed personal lines property, casualty clash, other casualty lines, and other specialty lines of reinsurance. It also provides various insurance products consisting of commercial property, including catastrophe-exposed commercial property products; commercial multi-line comprising commercial property and liability coverage, such as general liability, automobile liability and physical damage, building and contents, and professional liability; and personal lines property, including homeowners personal lines property coverage and catastrophe exposed personal lines property coverage. The company offers its products and services primarily through intermediaries. RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Pembroke, Bermuda.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By David Sterman]

    Lastly, conservative investors may want to check out Renaissance Reinsurance (NYSE: RNR) which has been buying back shares for seven straight years, reducing the share count by 30% in that time. The newly announced buyback plan, which could absorb up to 13% of the additional share count, is a primary focus now. But when share buybacks are no longer the focus, then robust dividend growth will likely be the norm as this company can afford to support a $4.50 a share dividend (equating to a 5% yield) while still keeping the payout ratio below 50%.

Best Financial Stocks To Invest In 2014: Republic Bancorp Inc.(RBCAA)

Republic Bancorp, Inc. operates as the holding company for Republic Bank & Trust Company and Republic Bank, which provides banking, tax refund solutions, and mortgage banking services to individuals and businesses in the United States. The company offers a range of deposit products, including demand deposits, money market accounts, brokered and Internet money market accounts, savings deposits, individual retirement accounts, time deposits, and certificates of deposit. It also provides single family residential real estate loans; commercial loans; residential construction real estate loans; and consumer loans, which consists of home improvement and home equity loans, as well as secured and unsecured personal loans. In addition, the company offers private banking services; treasury management services, such as lockbox processing, remote deposit capture, business online banking, account reconciliation, and automated clearing house processing services; Internet banking service s and products through its Website, republicbank.com; and trust, title insurance, and other financial institution related products and services. Further, it provides tax refund solutions that include the payment of federal and state tax refunds through third party tax preparers. The company facilitates the payment of these tax refunds through refund anticipation loans, electronic refund checks, and electronic refund deposits. Its mortgage banking activities comprise origination and sale of loans in the secondary market, and the servicing of loans for others. As of December 31, 2009, the company had 44 banking centers, including 35 located in Kentucky; 5 located in metropolitan Tampa, Florida; 3 located in southern Indiana; and 1 located in metropolitan Cincinnati, Ohio. Republic Bancorp, Inc. was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Holly LaFon]

    In the fourth quarter, he bought 32 new stocks. The largest new buys are: Air Lease (AL), Colfax (CFX) and Republic Bancorp Inc. (RBCAA).

    Air Lease (AL)

Best Financial Stocks To Invest In 2014: IFM Investments Ltd (CTC)

IFM Investments Limited, incorporated on November 30, 2005, is a real estate services provider with the network of real estate sales offices in People�� Republic of China. The Company is the exclusive franchisor in People�� Republic of China for the CENTURY 21 brand As of December 31, 2012, its CENTURY 21 China network covered 27 cities. The Company operates under four business lines: Company-owned brokerage services, Primary and commercial services, mortgage management services and franchise services. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had approximately 321 Company-owned sales offices, representing approximately 34.7% of its CENTURY 21 China network. Its Company-owned brokerage services business owns and operates regional sub-franchisors and sales offices in the CENTURY 21 China network. The Company�� mortgage management services business provides mortgage advisory services to home buyers and home owners and interim guarantee services to commercial banks.

Company-owned Brokerage Services

As of December 31, 2012, the Company directly owns 318 CENTURY 21 sales offices located in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, cities in People�� Republic of China with a number of secondary market real estate transactions per year. Through its Company-owned brokerage services business, the Company participates in sales and leasing transactions primarily with respect to middle to high grade residential properties in the secondary real estate market. Its services include property listing, advisory services and transaction negotiation and documentation. The Company also promotes its mortgage management services to its customers to provide real estate brokerage services. It also participates in real estate sales and leasing transactions with respect to properties in the primary and commercial real estate markets. The Company operates its Company-owned brokerage services business under the CENTURY 21franchise network.

The Company competes with Centaline (China) Property Cons! ultants Limited Shanghai, Shenzhen and Chengdu.

Primary and commercial services

The Company�� primary and commercial services business consists of two business units, one that provides agency services to primary residential real estate developers and one that provides planning, consulting and brokerage services to commercial property developers. The Company generates revenues from its primary services by earning sales commissions from primary residential property developer clients, and it generate revenues from its commercial services by collecting service fees for consultancy services provided to commercial property developers.

The Company competes with World Union Properties Consulting Co., Limited and Syswin Inc., E-House (China) Holdings Limited, CB Richard Ellis and Jones Lang Lasalle.

Mortgage Management Services

The Company operates its mortgage management services as a separate segment under the brand of Kaisheng. Its mortgage management services include advisory services in connection with the selection and procurement of mortgage products offered by commercial banks. Its mortgage consultants promote and introduce various mortgage products, and advise home buyers or home owners in the selection of the appropriate mortgage product based on each mortgagor�� individual needs. The Company also has a call center in Shanghai to promote its mortgage management services business directly to its customers. The Company also provides mortgage management services to customers outside of its CENTURY 21 China network.

The Company competes with Beijing Houze Investment, Guarantee Company Limited and Shanghai Haoyonghang Investment Management Company Limited.

Franchise Services

The Company�� franchise network consists of three levels of franchise rights. First, through IFM Company Limited (IFM Co.), its wholly owned subsidiary, the Company is the exclusive franchisor for the CENTURY 21 brand in China. ! IFM Co. i! n-turn grants the right to franchise the CENTURY 21 brand within specific geographical regions to sub-franchisors whom the Company refers to as regional sub-franchisors. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had 25 regional sub-franchisors with franchise networks in 27 cities in People�� Republic of China with a total of 924 franchised sales offices. Second, each regional sub-franchisor pays the Company ongoing service fees based on its revenue from the sales offices within its respective region, subject to minimum service fee requirements. In addition to generating revenue from its regional sub-franchisors, the Company leverages the geographic breadth and local market expertise of its CENTURY 21 franchise network.

The Company competes with Coldwell Banker.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Eric Lam]

    With 12 REIT IPOs in Canada since the beginning of 2012 and at least another coming from retailer Canadian Tire Corp. (CTC) in the near future, Taylor said the market has become saturated.

Best Financial Stocks To Invest In 2014: LendingClub Corp (LC)

LendingClub Corporation, incorporated on October 2, 2006, provides online marketplace connecting borrowers and investors. The Company operates an online market that connects borrowers looking for loans with individuals with the money to fund them. It lends money to help consumers pay off credit-card bills, consolidate debt and take vacations. Its platform enables customers in investing in and obtaining personal loans by providing financial data and credit information.

The Company provides search algorithm, credit decisioning, a secondary market, and a choice of loan durations. The Company serves the professional fixed income investors, such as family offices and insurance companies.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Rana Pritanjali]

    Lending Club's (NYSE: LC  ) stock is up a stellar 66% since the company went public in December. The peer-to-peer lending specialist offers an alternative to the traditional banking system with an online platform for borrowers and lenders. It has a leading 40% share of the�peer-to-peer lending market, far outstripping No. 2 player�Prosper.com and its 8% market share.�

Best Financial Stocks To Invest In 2014: United Fire & Casualty Company(UFCS)

United Fire Group, Inc. engages in the writing of property, casualty, and life insurances. It sells annuities through a network of independent agencies. The company?s property and casualty insurance segment comprises commercial lines insurance products, including surety bonds, personal lines insurance, and assumed insurance. Its life insurance segment consists of deferred and immediate annuities, universal life insurance products, and traditional life insurance products. The company was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

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

    Meanwhile, top decliners in the sector included United Fire Group (NASDAQ: UFCS), down 4.9 percent, and Hilltop Holdings (NYSE: HTH), off 3.7 percent.

Best Financial Stocks To Invest In 2014: Equity Lifestyle Properties Inc. (ELS)

Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. is a publicly owned real estate investment trust (REIT). The firm engages in the ownership and operation of lifestyle oriented properties. Its portfolio of properties include various amenities and common facilities, such as a clubhouse, a swimming pool, laundry facilities, and cable television service, sauna/whirlpool spas, golf courses, tennis, shuffleboard and basketball courts, and exercise rooms. The firm leases developed sites to owners of manufactured homes referred to as resort homes, park models referred to as resort cottages, and recreational vehicles. It primarily invests in the markets of the United States. The firm primarily invests in land with lower maintenance costs and customer turnover costs, high quality real estate in and around major metropolitan areas, high barriers to entry, retirement and vacation destinations, growth markets, and appreciating component of real estate2. It was formerly known as Home Communities, Inc. The firm was founded in 1992 and is based in Chicago, Illinois with additional offices in Clearwater, Florida, Phoenix, Arizona, and Aurora, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By John Udovich]

    Trailer parks may have a bad reputation, but Yahoo! Finance�� Breakout segment was recently touting trailer parks as a hot new investment area���meaning its time for retail investors who don�� want to invest in physical parks to start taking a closer look at trailer park stocks Equity Lifestyle Properties, Inc (NYSE: ELS), Sun Communities Inc (NYSE: SUI) and UMH Properties, Inc (NYSE: UMH). According to the segment, roughly 6% of Americans lived in trailer homes as of 2012 with the�supply of designated trailer parks being quite low because no one wants one in their backyard. Anthony Effinger, the author of another article about trailer parks for Bloomberg, was quoted as saying:

  • [By Rich Duprey]

    Real estate investment trust Equity Lifestyle Properties (NYSE: ELS  ) announced yesterday�that it's splitting its stock 2-for-1 on July 15 for holders of record on July 5.�

  • [By Lawrence Meyers]

    I�� talking about manufactured home communities. In the case of Equity LifeStyle Properties (ELS), 70% are communities for those 55 years of age or older. It�� a great niche, and this REIT has grown into 370 communities and resorts in 32 states and British Columbia, which contain 140,000 actual sites. The properties certainly look nice on the company�� home page, and community living for seniors has taken on increased popularity over the past twenty years.

Best Financial Stocks To Invest In 2014: Powershares Buyback Achiever Portfolio (PKW)

PowerShares Buyback Achievers Portfolio (Fund) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield of an equity index called the Share BuyBack Achievers Index (the Index). The Index is designed to track the performance of companies that meet the requirements to be classified as BuyBack Achievers. To become eligible for inclusion in the Index, a company must be incorporated in the United States, trade on the NYSE, the AMEX or the NASDAQ, and must have repurchased at least 5% or more of its outstanding shares for the trailing 12 months. The Index consists of stocks of companies selected by Mergent, Inc. (the Index Provider) pursuant to its own selection methodology. The Fund�� investment advisor is PowerShares Capital Management LLC.

The Index is rebalanced on the last trading date of April, July and October based on the constituents��modified market capitalizations as of the last trading day in March, June and September, respectively. The Fund generally will invest in the stocks comprising the Index in proportion to their weightings in the Index. The Fund will normally invest at least 90% of its total assets in common stocks that comprise the Index. The Fund, using an indexing investment approach, attempts to replicate the performance of the Index.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Joon Choi]

    Meanwhile, investors have been flocking to buy PowerShares Buyback Achievers (PKW), pushing the price into overbought territory.

    Currently, the monthly relative strength indicator (RSI) reading is 83.7. (A reading over 70 is considered to be overbought.) To put this figure in perspective, the monthly RSI of the Nasdaq Composite was 85.9 on March of 2000 (the index peak), and we know what happened afterwards.

  • [By Elliott Gue]

    Just check out the PowerShares Buyback Achievers ETF (NYSE: PKW), which invests in companies that have bought back at least 5% of their shares outstanding during the prior 12 months. This ETF has more than doubled the returns of the S&P 500 over the past five years.

  • [By Jon C. Ogg]

    5. Dividends, stock buy-backs, capex, and M&A all increase at a double-digit rate – This is led by a lot of cash flow, underleveraged balance sheets, and possible great places to use cash. The argument for higher cap-ex is as follows: “Pent-up demand and aging of plant, equipment and technology argue for increases in those key areas.”

    ETF Recommendation: Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (NYSEArca: VIG) for dividend growers, and PowerShares Buyback Achievers (NYSEArca: PKW) for buyback stocks. Hint: the buyback ETF rose by 45.5% in 2013 after dividend adjustments versus 28.8% for the dividend growth ETF.

    6. The U.S. dollar appreciates as U.S. energy and manufacturing trends continue to improve.

  • [By Marvin Appel, CEO and Founder, Appel Asset Management Corporation]

    Buyback Achievers ETF (PKW)

    The stocks in this ETF are those that have repurchased at least 5% of their shares in the 12 months preceding the reconstitution of the index every January. 200 stocks currently qualify. (They are weighted by market capitalization.)

.