Friday, February 21, 2014

Citrix Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CTXS): A Look At Opportunities And Threats

Citrix Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CTXS) is one of the best-positioned companies to take advantage of the growing mobile trend, web collaboration, data sharing, and datacenter transformation. However, execution has been inconsistent as the company is in the midst of transitioning into a broader enterprises mobility, collaboration, and infrastructure provider.

Citrix is a cloud computing company that enables people to work and collaborate from anywhere, accessing enterprise apps and data on any of the latest devices, Citrix cloud computing solutions help IT and service providers build both private and public clouds, leveraging virtualization and networking technologies to deliver high-performance, elastic, and cost-effective services for mobile work styles.

[Related -Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO): What Cisco May Add To Next-Gen UCS?]

Citrix Desktop Solutions include XenDesktop, XenApp, App-DNA, VDI-in-a-Box, and XenClient. Citrix's Datacenter and Cloud Solutions include Cloud Networking and Cloud Platform products including NetScaler and CloudStack.

While the desktop pipeline remains at record levels (some of the deals showing up in backlog), deal slippage and end market confusion has caused a bit more uncertainty, according to BMO Capital Markets analyst Joel Fishbein, Jr.

In addition, the transitioning desktop business to more solutions-based sales around broader mobility (desktop/apps/mobile) could continue to hamper overall license growth near term.

[Related -Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) Dividend Stock Analysis]

Fishbein is concerned that changes to the sales organization will take time to re-accelerate billings, which could pressure margins and cash flow as the company continues to invest.

Citrix is redefining its strategy around mobile as it has become a more significant "pain point" for customers versus desktops over the past few years. XenMobile comes in three editions covering devices, apps, and an umbrella edition that includes data sharing via SharePoint. 

Citrix has invested for the long term. It acquired Zenprise in December 2012, and this has created a significant opportunity to expand just within its existing customer base. It recently bought Framehawk. The Framehawk solution, which optimizes the delivery of virtual desktops and applications to mobile devices, will be combined with HDX technology in the Citrix XenApp and XenDesktop products.

On the flip side, the recently announced Amazon WorkSpaces and the rise of desktops as a service (DaaS) could be a longer-term threat. Amazon Web Services began limited previews of Amazon WorkSpaces, which offers fully managed desktop services billed monthly, a challenge to traditional on-premises virtual desktop.

Amazon WorkSpaces is a cloud-based service, claiming to deliver desktops, applications, and data to multiple types of devices including Windows, Mac OS desktops, iPad, and Android, etc.

On the DaaS front, Citrix's Cloud Provider Pack 2 enables a simple approach to providing differentiated and vertical-specific Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS) offerings delivered with Citrix XenApp and Citrix XenDesktop.

Meanwhile, new opportunities help underpin confidence in Citrix' longer-term growth. The Networking segment is being aided by continued desktop cross-sell, NetScaler SDX and increased total available market (TAM) opportunity in ByteMobile. Citrix has a new ADC partnership with Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO), where NetScaler will be the preferred reference sell.

Fishbein noted that enterprise mobility management expands more aggressively into mobile, and the release of Project Avalon should help speed desktop deployments by enabling customers to deliver Windows as a cloud service. ShareFile is gaining traction and seeing growth north of 75 percent.

In addition, growth in long-term deferred revenue underlines Citrix's position within the enterprise. In the past quarter, deferred revenue grew 20 percent, significantly outpacing the growth in revenue. This was in large part driven by a 41 percent increase in long-term deferred revenue as more and more customers begin to realize the value of Citrix as a strategic vendor thus opting for longer-term contracts.

As pipelines remain strong, Fishbein expects this trend to continue for the foreseeable future. This should help drive free cash flow growth and increase visibility into future revenue.

As of the third quarter 2013, the company had $683.0 million in cash and current investments and $1.4 billion including long-term investments. Citrix is in the midst of a $500-million share repurchase program instituted in October of this year.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Top Gold Stocks To Buy For 2015

Rising U.S. interest rates and a stronger dollar led to record outflows of commodity exchange-traded products (ETPs) in the second quarter as investors made a swift exit from gold, ETF Securities reported on July 4.

Commodity ETPs saw record outflows as expectations for an early end to Federal Reserve bond buying and a strengthening of the U.S. dollar hit investor sentiment, according to London-based ETF Securities, an ETP provider that specializes in exchange-traded commodities and also has offices in New York, Hong Kong and Sydney.

A sharp decline in the price of gold and large outflows from gold ETPs caused commodity ETP assets to fall to $127 billion, the lowest level since Q2 2010. However, gold ETP outflows peaked this April, and then moderated in both May and June.

“The moderation may indicate that the worst of the gold ETP selling is now behind us,” said Nicholas Brooks, head of research and investment strategy at ETF Securities, in a statement. “Gold and silver will likely remain beholden to views on the Fed’s intentions and the direction of real interest rates. On both counts, we believe investor reactions have been overdone.”

Top Gold Stocks To Buy For 2015: First Majestic Silver Corp.(AG)

First Majestic Silver Corp. engages in the production, development, exploration, and acquisition of mineral properties with a focus on silver in Mexico. The company owns interests in La Encantada Silver Mine comprising 4,076 hectares of mining rights and 1,343 hectares of surface land located in Coahuila; La Parrilla Silver Mine consisting of mining concessions covering an area of 69,867 hectares; and San Martin Silver Mine comprising approximately 7,841 hectares of mineral rights and approximately 1,300 hectares of surface land rights located in Jalisco. It also holds interests in Del Toro Silver Mine consisting of 393 contiguous hectares of mining claims and an additional 129 hectares of surface rights located in Zacatecas; Real de Catorce Silver Project comprising 22 mining concessions covering 6,327 hectares located in San Luis Potosi state; and Jalisco Group of Properties consisting of mining claims totalling 5,240 hectares located in Jalisco. The company was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Doug Ehrman]

    In terms of individual companies, there are several good choices, but these can behave very differently. Pan American Silver (NASDAQ: PAAS  ) , for example, missed revenue expectations and beat earnings expectations in its last earnings release. But despite the beat, EPS shrank considerably from a year earlier on a GAAP basis. The stock has been fairly flat ever since. Conversely, First Majestic (NYSE: AG  ) reported strong revenue growth and a small bump in profits, sending the stock higher since the announcement. First Majestic reported increased cash costs and tightening margins, largely driven by lower silver prices. Each of these companies faces pressure from increasing production costs and environmental concerns.

Top Gold Stocks To Buy For 2015: Claude Resources Inc.(CGR)

Claude Resources Inc. engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of precious metal properties, as well as production and marketing of minerals in Canada. It primarily explores for gold in northern Saskatchewan and northwestern Ontario. The company holds interests in the Seabee gold mine located at Laonil Lake, northern Saskatchewan; and the Madsen property that consists of 6 contiguous claim blocks totaling approximately 10,000 acres, located in the Red Lake Mining District of northwestern Ontario. It also holds interest in the Amisk Gold project, which covers an area of 13,800 hectares in the province of Saskatchewan. The company was founded in 1980 and is based in Saskatoon, Canada.

Hot Heal Care Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Goldcorp Incorporated(GG)

Goldcorp Inc. engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and operation of precious metal properties in Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Central and South America. It produces and sells gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc. The company was founded in 1954 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Ben Levisohn]

    Gold miners are getting a boost today from solid earnings from the likes of Barrick Gold (ABX), Goldcorp (GG) and Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM). The exception: Kinross Gold (KGC), which missed earnings forecasts and cut its reserves.

Top Gold Stocks To Buy 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 Dan Caplinger]

    One way Yamana has kept its competitive cost advantage is through extensive sales of base-metal byproducts like copper and zinc, as both it and fellow low-cost rival Goldcorp (NYSE: GG  ) benefit from utilizing those secondary metals to offset the cost of their gold production. Peers Gold Fields (NYSE: GFI  ) and AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE: AU  ) , on the other hand, face much higher costs in part because of their exposure to South Africa and its unstable labor market.

  • [By Daniel Putnam]

    First, and most important, earnings estimates are stabilizing. In the past sixty days, 2013 estimates for the major gold miners have begun to tick up. In most cases, the increase is very modest. For instance, Goldcorp‘s (GG) EPS estimates have climbed from $0.91 to $0.95, while Barrick Gold‘s (ABX) have inched up from $2.57 to $2.64. Newmont Mining (NEM), Anglogold Ashanti (AU), and Gold Fields Ltd. (GFI) have shown similar gains. This positive rate of change marks a significant departure from the steady stream of bad news investors have had to endure in recent years.

  • [By Jim Woods]

    A day earlier, Kinross Gold (KGC) suspended its semiannual dividend, and it also announced a delay in its decision on future expansion of the mill at the Tasiast mine in Africa. Finally, about a week later, AngloGold Ashanti (AU) — the third-largest producer of the yellow metal — suspended its dividend on poor earnings due to declining gold prices.

Top Gold Stocks To Buy For 2015: Golden Star Resources Ltd(GSS)

Golden Star Resources Ltd., a gold mining and exploration company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of gold properties. It owns and operates the Bogoso/Prestea gold mining and processing operation that covers approximately 40 kilometers of strike along the southwest-trending Ashanti gold district in western Ghana; and the Wassa open-pit gold mine located to the east of Bogoso/Prestea in southwest Ghana. The company also has an 81% interest in the Prestea underground gold mine located in Ghana. In addition, it holds interests in various gold exploration projects in Ghana, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Cote d?Ivoire, as well as holds and manages exploration properties in Brazil in South America. The company was founded in 1984 and is based in Littleton, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Patricio Kehoe] ating price of the commodity, along with the geopolitical risks involved in mining in African nations such as Ghana, are just two of the obstacles the firm is facing. In addition, as one of the smallest gold mining firms in the industry, with a market cap of just $122 million, Golden Star has had a very difficult time financing its latest expansion projects. With share prices tumbling towards all-time lows, gurus such as Steven Cohen, Chuck Royce and Arnold Schneider have already sold out their positions in the troubled firm.

    Why Have Gurus Lost Faith in Golden Star?

    Despite aggressive expansion over the past decade, the Toronto-based gold mining firm has not been able to take advantage of its increased production output. Gold prices might have exploded over a ten-year period, yet the recent six-month decline has put a huge strain on Golden Star. The expedited maturation of its mines is particularly troubling, since the accelerated extraction rates, which allowed for short-term profits, are now falling considerably. The impact of the company�� excessive overproduction on profits and growth is clear: decreasing gold reserves mean less production, and thus reduced revenue for the gold miner. When the decline in metal prices are taken into account, the outlook is even more grim.

    In addition to overexpansion at the wrong time, Golden Star�� position has weakened due to its comparably less efficient operations. Unlike industry peers, such as IamGold Corp. (IAG) or Gold Fields Ltd. (GFI), the majority of the Toronto-based miner�� assets contain refractory ore, which is far more expensive to extract than non refractory ore. And, in an attempt to switch production to the lower cost gold ore, and thus increase margins, Golden Star has depleted its mines��non refractory ore. With low reserves and mounting cash costs, the firm inevitably turned to new acquisitions.

    Overpriced Acquisitions and Geopolitical Risk

    The purchase

  • [By Sean Williams]

    Golden Star Resources (NYSEMKT: GSS  )
    It's simple physics: The bigger they are, the harder they fall. When gold prices nosedived earlier this week, gold miners with historically higher operating costs took the brunt of the hit. For the most part, that meant that development-stage miners, and those operating in Africa, where labor and political costs make cost-effective mining a challenge, took it on the chin. Possibly no stock was hammered more than Golden Star Resources, a gold miner in Ghana, which lost about one-quarter of its value on Monday alone.

  • [By Rich Duprey]

    Clash of the titans
    When bears are raging on the gold bullion market, it's not surprising to see gold stocks getting mauled as well. Golden Star Resources (NYSEMKT: GSS  ) was the biggest loser in the sector, losing a quarter of its market cap on no company-specific news, though a report last Friday indicated that a large number of hedge funds had recently dumped their positions in the mid-tier miner. Yet it wasn't all that much better among the majors, either, as Barrick Gold (NYSE: ABX  ) fell almost 13% and Kinross Gold (NYSE: KGC  ) was down 14%.

Top Gold Stocks To Buy For 2015: Iamgold Corporation(IAG)

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

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Holly LaFon]

    He increased his holdings in gold companies in the fourth quarter accordingly. Gold stocks he found attractive in the fourth quarter are: Novagold Resources (NG), Randgold Resources (GOLD), Iamgold Corp. (IAG), Barrick Gold Corp. (ABX), Agnico Eagle (AEM) and International Tower Hill (THM).

  • [By Ben Levisohn]

    As a result, Chidley and team upgraded Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM) and�Yamana Gold (AUY) to Neutral from Underweight, and raised Barrick Gold (ABX), Goldcorp (GG) and Iamgold (IAG) to Overweight from Neutral.�Gold Fields (GFI) was downgraded “due to increased risk and also reduced expectations for the South Deep operation,” Chidley says.

Top Gold Stocks To Buy For 2015: Goldman Sachs Group Inc.(The)

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides investment banking, securities, and investment management services to corporations, financial institutions, governments, and high-net-worth individuals worldwide. Its Investment Banking segment offers financial advisory, including advisory assignments with respect to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, corporate defense, risk management, restructurings, and spin-offs; and underwriting securities, loans and other financial instruments, and derivative transactions. The company?s Institutional Client Services segment provides client execution activities, such as fixed income, currency, and commodities client execution related to making markets in interest rate products, credit products, mortgages, currencies, and commodities; and equities related to making markets in equity products, as well as commissions and fees from executing and clearing institutional client transactions on stock, options, and fu tures exchanges. This segment also engages in the securities services business providing financing, securities lending, and other prime brokerage services to institutional clients, including hedge funds, mutual funds, pension funds, and foundations. Its Investing and Lending segment invests in debt securities, loans, public and private equity securities, real estate, consolidated investment entities, and power generation facilities. This segment also involves in the origination of loans to provide financing to clients. The company?s Investment Management segment provides investment management services and investment products to institutional and individual clients. This segment also offers wealth advisory services, including portfolio management and financial counseling, and brokerage and other transaction services to high-net-worth individuals and families. In addition, it provides global investment research services. The company was founded in 1869 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Top Gold Stocks To Buy For 2015: Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc.(TC)

Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in mining, milling, processing, and marketing molybdenum products in the United States and Canada. The company?s principal properties include the Thompson Creek Mine and mill in Idaho; a metallurgical roasting facility in Langeloth, Pennsylvania; and a joint venture interest in the Endako Mine, mill, and roasting facility in British Columbia. It also holds interests in development projects comprising the Davidson molybdenum property and the Berg copper-molybdenum-silver property located in northern British Columbia; the Howard?s Pass property, a lead and zinc project situated in the Yukon territory-northwest territories border; and the Maze Lake property, a gold project located in the Kivalliq district of Nunavut. The company produces molybdenum products, primarily molybdic oxide and ferromolybdenum, as well as soluble technical oxide, pure molybdenum tri-oxide, and high purity molybdenum disulfide. As o f December 31, 2010, its consolidated recoverable proven and probable ore reserves totaled 462.2 million pounds of contained molybdenum in the Thompson Creek Mine and the Endako Mine. The company was formerly known as Blue Pearl Mining Ltd. and changed its name to Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc. in May 2007. Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc. is based in Denver, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Selena Maranjian]

    The biggest new holdings are Chesapeake Energy�puts, and shares of Discovery Communications. Other new holdings of interest include Halcon Resources (NYSE: HK  ) , and Thompson Creek Metals (NYSE: TC  ) . Oil and gas company Halcon, operating in the promising Bakken region, as well as Texas's productive Eagle Ford shale region, among others, is expected to grow by 30% annually over the coming years. It recently reported 2012 net daily production 128% higher than year-ago levels, and proven reserves up 417%. Halcon was recently one of my colleague Joel South's top two energy holdings, and analysts at Stifel recently upped its rating�from Hold to Buy.

  • [By Selena Maranjian]

    Beaten-down companies that you think are likely to recover strongly are also good candidates. Molybdenum miner Thompson Creek Metals (NYSE: TC  ) , for example, sports average annual losses of 35% over the past five years, and carries substantial debt, but molybdenum's long-term outlook is promising, with price increases likely, and the company has a promising gold and copper mine on track to start producing by the end of the year. Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold (NYSE: FCX  ) is another major molybdenum player, with considerable operations in other metals, as well -- along with new investments in oil and gas production.

  • [By Jon C. Ogg]

    Thompson Creek Metals Co. Inc. (NYSE: TC) was at 54% discount to its book value of $8.30 per share at the time, and the stock price of $3.90 is up from $3.03 Deutsche Bank’s team nailed upside of more than 28% here. Its price target was $4 at the time versus a consensus target of $4.50 at the time. The 52-week range here is $2.42 to $4.55, but we would point out that the consensus price target is $3.93.

Top Gold Stocks To Buy For 2015: CME Group Inc.(CME)

CME Group Inc. operates the CME, CBOT, NYMEX, and COMEX regulatory exchanges worldwide. The company provides a range of products available across various asset classes, including futures and options on interest rates, equity indexes, energy, agricultural commodities, metals, foreign exchange, weather, and real estate. It offers various products that provide a means of hedging, speculation, and asset allocation relating to the risks associated with interest rate sensitive instruments, equity ownership, changes in the value of foreign currency, credit risk, and changes in the prices of commodities. CME Group owns and operates clearing house, CME Clearing, which provides clearing and settlement services for exchange-traded contracts and counter derivatives transactions; and also engages in real estate operations. Its primary trade execution facilities consist of its CME Globex electronic trading platform and open outcry trading floors, as well as privately negotiated transact ions that are cleared and settled through its clearing house. In addition, the company offers market data services comprising live quotes, delayed quotes, market reports, and historical data services, as well as involves in index services business. CME Group?s customer base includes professional traders, financial institutions, institutional and individual investors, corporations, manufacturers, producers, and governments. It has strategic partnerships with BM&FBOVESPA S.A., Bursa Malaysia Derivatives, Singapore Exchange Limited, Green Exchange, Dubai Mercantile Exchange, Johannesburg Stock Exchange, and Bolsa Mexicana de Valores, S.A.B. de C.V., as well as joint venture agreement with Dow Jones & Company. The company was formerly known as Chicago Mercantile Exchange Holdings Inc. and changed its name to CME Group Inc. in July 2007. CME Group was founded in 1898 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Shauna O'Brien]

    CME Group Inc (CME) reported on Wednesday that September volume average increased 10% from September 2012, while its third quarter volume average grew 11% from last year.

    For September, volume averaged 13.1 million contracts per day, totaling 261 million for the month. Equity index volume in September averaged 2.9 million contracts per day, a 4% increase from last year. Equity index options volume was up 52% in September.

    Third quarter volume average was 12 million per day, up 11% from a year ago.

    CME Group shares were mostly flat during pre-market trading Wednesday. The stock is up 48% YTD.

Top Gold Stocks To Buy For 2015: Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited(AEM)

Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited, through its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration, development, and production of mineral properties in Canada, Finland, and Mexico. The company primarily explores for gold, as well as silver, copper, zinc, and lead. Its flagship property includes the LaRonde mine located in the southern portion of the Abitibi volcanic belt, Canada. The company was founded in 1953 and is based in Toronto, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Markus Aarnio]

    Other gold miners that have seen intensive insider buying during the past four months include St. Andrew Goldfields (STADF.PK), Continental Gold (CGOOF.PK), Kinross (KGC) and Agnico-Eagle Mines (AEM).

  • [By Hebba Investments]

    Even with rising Q2 costs, GG still has lower true all-in costs than many of its larger competitors' Q1FY13 costs. Compared to Q1FY13 numbers of competitors such as Yamana Gold (AUY) (costs just over $1300), Kinross Gold (KGC) (costs above $1350), Silvercrest Mines (SVLC) (costs below $1100), Newmont Gold (NEM) (costs around $1300) Agnico-Eagle (AEM) (costs around $1400) and Barrick Gold (ABX) (costs around $1200).

  • [By Dan Caplinger]

    In the longer term, IAMGOLD could potential challenges from higher taxes on some of its holdings. The Canadian province of Quebec is considering changing the current 16% profit tax either to what amounts to a gross revenue tax or to a more progressive profit tax with higher rates on high-margin mining operations. Under current conditions, those taxes might not have much effect either on IAMGOLD or rivals Agnico-Eagle (NYSE: AEM  ) and Goldcorp (NYSE: GG  ) , both of which also have projects in the province, but it's hard to predict how a changes might affect future results if they take effect.

  • [By Patricio Kehoe] e, has cash costs of $912 per ounce, and Agnico Eagle�� costs do not even reach the $700 per ounce mark. Hence, it comes as little surprise that revenue has been decreasing steadily, since gold prices are hovering around the $1300 mark at best. As the company is hemorrhaging money, investment gurus the like of John Burbank and Seth Klarman have decided to sell their entire stake in the firm. I agree with this bearish stance, and recommend investors stay away from Kinross Gold.

    Any Long Term Investment?

    If you were to follow Jean-Marie Eveillard�� purchases, one would be inclined to see good growth prospects for Agnico Eagle, and thus believe in this stock�� potential. And, you wouldn�� be wrong, as the firm has been growing at a steady pace, with no end in sight to its expansion possibilities. However, with a 171% price premium, investors might be better off waiting until a more favorable entry-point is available. Nevertheless, as a long-term investment, I feel highly optimistic and would thus even consider paying the additional cost.

    Disclosure: Patricio Kehoe holds no position in any stocks mentioned.

    Also check out: Jean-Marie Eveillard Undervalued Stocks Jean-Marie Eveillard Top Growth Companies Jean-Marie Eveillard High Yield stocks, and Stocks that Jean-Marie Eveillard keeps buying John Burbank Undervalued Stocks John Burbank Top Growth Companies John Burbank High Yield stocks, and Stocks that John Burbank keeps buying
    The Strategy of Ben Graham ��Warren Buffett�� Mentor From 1923 to 1957 Warren Buffett�� mentor, Ben Graham, followed a strategy of investing in net-nets. He said: ��t always seemed, and still seems ridiculously simple to say that if one can acquire a diversified group of common stocks at a price less than the...net current assets alone��he results should be quite satisfactory. They were so in our experience, for more than 30 years.��br> Today net-nets are rare. They are collected under Gu

Top Gold Stocks To Buy For 2015: Northgate Minerals Corporation(NXG)

Northgate Minerals Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in exploring, developing, processing, and mining gold and copper deposits in Canada and Australia. Its principal producing assets include 100% interests in the Fosterville and Stawell Gold mines in Victoria, Australia; and the Kemess South mine located in north-central British Columbia, Canada. The company was formerly known as Northgate Exploration Limited and changed its name to Northgate Minerals Corporation in May 2004. Northgate Minerals Corporation was founded in 1919 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

Top Gold Stocks To Buy For 2015: Newmont Mining Corporation(Holding Company)

Newmont Mining Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and production of gold and copper properties. The company?s assets or operations are located in the United States, Australia, Peru, Indonesia, Ghana, Canada, New Zealand, and Mexico. As of December 31, 2009, it had proven and probable gold reserves of approximately 93.5 million equity ounces and an aggregate land position of approximately 27,500 square miles. The company was founded in 1916 and is headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado.

Top Gold Stocks To Buy For 2015: NEW GOLD INC.(NGD)

New Gold Inc. engages in the acquisition, exploration, extraction, processing, and reclamation of mineral properties. The company primarily explore for gold, silver, and copper deposits. Its operating properties include the Mesquite gold mine in the United States; the Cerro San Pedro gold-silver mine in Mexico; and the Peak gold-copper mine in Australia. The company also has development projects, including the New Afton gold, silver, and copper project in Canada; and a 30% interest in the El Morro copper-gold project in Chile. The company was formerly known as DRC Resources Corporation and changed its name to New Gold Inc. in June 2005. New Gold Inc. was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Ben Levisohn]

    January is nearing an end, and that means one thing: Gold miners will start announcing earnings. New Gold (NGD) will get things started on Feb 6, followed by Kinross Gold (KGC) on Feb. 12 and Goldcorp (GG) and Barrick Gold (ABX) on Feb. 13.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Chicago workers to protest as pension crisis brews

chicago pensions

Chicago teachers, shown during a 2012 protest, are among thousands of city workers expected to rally at the state capitol Wednesday against possible pension cuts.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) More than 1,000 current and retired Chicago teachers, police officers and other city workers are expected to rally at the state capitol Wednesday to fight possible cuts to their retirement benefits amid the city's brewing pension crisis.

After years of avoiding the issue, the city of Chicago is facing a massive spike in its annual bill for the pensions it promised current and retired workers. Next year, the city's required contribution will more than double to $1.07 billion.

Ultimate Guide to Retirement Getting started401(k)s & company plansInvestingAnnuitiesIRAsSelf-employment plansPensions and benefit plansSocial SecurityInsuranceEstate planningLiving in retirementGetting help

City Hall says the nearly $600 million increase translates to the city's annual cost for 4,300 police officers or more than 3,750 firefighters or the resurfacing of nearly 16,000 city blocks.

At the same time, Chicago Public Schools, which have a separate budgeting process, have their own pension fight. The district will pay $613 million towards its teachers' pensions this year-- a big increase from prior years and more than 10% of the agency's total budget.

While the city and school district have to pay the pension bills, only state lawmakers have the authority to change pension benefits.

Lawmakers have already pared back the benefits given to newly-hired workers. Now Democratic Mayor Rahm Emanuel and state legislators say more needs to be done to address "the biggest financial threat our city and school system have ever seen." Here's what's at stake:

Retired and current city workers, who typically don't receive Social Security benefits, could face pension cuts. Residents could receive higher tax bills. City services, already hit by the recession, could be cut even further. Teachers could be laid off and class sizes could increase.

A newly formed coalition of city unions called We Are One Chicago is arguing that retirees rely on their pensions, noting that they don't qualify for Social Security benefits. They argue that workers earn their benefits through significant contributions out of each paycheck and shouldn't pay the price for years of neglect by politicians.

Instead, the coalition proposes eliminating corporate tax subsidies, increasing income taxes for higher earners and raising the city's property tax rate, among other fixes.

"The fiscal problems Chicago faces cannot be solved solely by slashing modest pensions," the group said in a statement. "It will take a serious commitment of new revenue."

Why pension bills are spiking: Chicago is home to one of the most troubled pension systems in ! the country. In total, the city's four pension funds, for firefighters, police officers, and two for other city workers face funding holes of nearly $20 billion. Meanwhile, the teacher's pension fund has its own $8 billion shortfall.

In other terms, city pension funds have set side only 36% of the money they need to pay future obligations. The teachers' fund has just over half. In contrast, a healthy pension fund should have a so-called funding ratio of at least 80%.

It wasn't always like this. The dot com bust and 2008 financial crisis hit the pension funds with significant investment losses, while lawmakers have approved benefit increases that added to the bill.

At the same time, the city and school district have been underpaying into the funds for years. Now, the agencies are required by state law to make the larger pension payments in an effort to return the various pension funds to solvency.

What's at stake for workers: Lawmakers have already approved pension cuts for state workers. Now Chicago employee unions are launching a preemptive against similar cuts being applied to city workers.

As part of a landmark pension overhaul for state workers, Illinois lawmakers in December voted to reduce annual cost-of-living increases for retirees, raise the retirement age for workers 45 and under and cap pensions for the highest-paid workers. The cuts are currently being challenged in court.

One of the law's biggest changes would reduce the annual cost of living increases received by retirees, significantly slowing the growth of pension checks each year. If the same change was applied to Chicago teachers' pensions, for example, retirees could see their retirement income cut by at least 10% over two decades, according to We Are One Chicago.

According to the coalition, the average retiree currently receives just over $40,000 in annual pension benefits.

Still, many retirees receive healthier checks. Retired firefighters, for example! , receive! d average benefits of more than $60,000 in 2012.

Yet other retirees already live on minimal benefits. "It is extremely difficult on the little I get now," said 81-year-old retired Chicago Department of Health worker Louise Bates-Spencer, who retired more than a decade ago and received around $18,000 in pension benefits last year.

What's at stake for residents: Without a pension overhaul, city and state leaders say residents could face tax hikes, gutted city services and larger class sizes in city schools.

Without service cuts, the city would have to bring in close to double the roughly $800 million it currently receives in property taxes, according to city documents.

"The resolution to this crisis must provide a secure retirement for them and retirees, while also looking out for taxpayers and homeowners who are working to make ends meet," Emanuel said in a statement. "We need a balanced approach."

Program note: Follow the real-life drama as Chicago looks to unite at a critical moment in the city's history. CNN Original Series "Chicagoland" airs Thursday nights, starting March 6 at 10/9c. To top of page

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Hong Kong stocks rise, properties advance

HONG KONG (MarketWatch) -- Hong Kong stocks rose early Wednesday, with the Hang Seng Index (HK:HSI) up 0.2% at 22,587.72. Hong Kong properties advanced, as the city's major developer Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd. (HK:16) (SUHJY) rose 0.7%, after the company launched new luxury Riva project and saw the first batch of 64 flats sold out on the first day of sale. Sino Land Co. (HK:83) (SNLAF) rose 1.1%, Cheung Kong (Holdings) Ltd. gained 0.9%, and Henderson Land Development Co. (HK:12) (BACHY) edged up 0.2%. Chinese auto maker Dongfeng Motor Group Co. (HK:489) resumed trading and fell 0.9%, after the company said it signed an agreement with French joint-venture partner PSA Peugeot Citroen to invest 800 million euros ($1.1 billion) for a stake in the company. Most Casino stocks were lower, after reports said Macau planned to cut the duration of operators' licenses to 5 years. Shares of MGM China Holdings Ltd. (HK:2282) (MCHVF) declined 1.6%, SJM Holdings Ltd. (HK:880) lost 1%, and Sands China Ltds. (HK:1928) (SCHYF) dropped 0.8%. On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite Index (CN:SHCOMP) traded flat at 2,119.77.

Monday, February 17, 2014

3 International Stocks Poised to Soar in 2014

Facebook Logo Twitter Logo RSS Logo Louis Navellier Popular Posts: 3 Under-the-Radar Triple-A Stocks to BuySIRI: Sirius XM’s Signal is Fading Fast4 Reasons Markets May Be Even Better in 2014 Recent Posts: 3 International Stocks Poised to Soar in 2014 No Reason for Fear! A Quick Guide to Earnings Season Jargon Why Homebuyers Have Become Speculative Bond Traders View All Posts

As I mentioned earlier this week, many analysts and observers think that international stocks will outperform U.S. stocks this year after the domestic market's impressive move last year. Many other regions of the world such as Europe and Asia are thought to be a year or two behind us in the economic recovery plans and are still ramping up stimulus and monetary policies to accelerate growth.

international-stocksEasing measures have worked very well to get US stock prices moving, and analysts expect to see the same result in international stocks. I have no clue which market will be the best, but I do think we are seeing a strengthening global recovery that should be good for both domestic and international stocks this year.

The trick to profiting in international markets is the same as it is here at home: Use Portfolio Grader to focus on the international stocks with the very best fundamentals that are attracting buying pressure from institutions.

Great International Stocks: Nordion (NDZ)

international-stocks-NDZNordion (NDZ) is a Canadian health sciences company whose products are used to diagnose, prevent and treat diseases around the world. The company's primary products are isotopes used in nuclear medicine such as Molybdenum-99, which decays into Technetium-99, utilized in nuclear medical procedures.

NDZ also processes and sells other reactor isotopes, including Xe-133 used in lung scans and I-125 used to treat prostate cancer, as well as I-131 used to treat hyperthyroidism, thyroid cancer, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

NDZ returned to profit this year, and huge earnings increases are expected next year. The rapid improvement in fundamentals was noticed by Portfolio Grader back in September and the stock was upgraded to an "A." NDZ stock is a "strong buy" at the current price.

Great International Stocks: China Distance Education (DL)

international-stocks-DLChina Distance Education (DL) provides education services in the China. Its online courses are designed to help professionals and other course participants to obtain and maintain the skills, licenses, and certifications necessary to pursue careers in fields like accounting, law and engineering.

DL also offers online test preparation courses to students pursuing higher education diplomas or degrees, and to secondary school and college students preparing for various academic and entrance exams.

DL has seen solid sales and profit growth and was upgraded to an "A" by Portfolio Grader back in April of last year. DL stock remains a "strong buy" today.

Great International Stocks: Elbit Systems (ESLT)

international-stocks-ESLTElbit Systems (ESLT) is an Israeli company that sells its products and services to the defense and aerospace industries.

ESLT operates across a wide swath of the defense industry, including areas like command and control communications systems, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems as well as unmanned aircraft systems. ESLT products are used in military aircraft and helicopter systems, helmet-mounted systems as well commercial aviation systems and aero structures.

ESLT has posted three consecutive earnings surprises and analysts have been raising their estimates for 2014 during the last two months. Portfolio Grader upgraded ESLT stock to an "A" in December, and the stock is a "strong buy" at the current price.

Louis Navellier is the editor of Blue Chip Growth.

Smoking Out Smog-Fighting Stocks in China

BEIJING (TheStreet) -- Paralleling China's rising anxiety over urban smog and undrinkable water, investors have embraced stocks poised to benefit from what's billed as an all-out government effort to clean up the country's environmental mess.

Chinese makers of smokestack scrubbers, wastewater filtering systems, trash-burning furnaces and electric vehicles have been pegged by stock analysts as "buys" in recent weeks, following recent government announcements of pollution-fighting projects. [Read: Suttmeier: Earnings Report Preview for Duke Energy, Coca-Cola, More]

Other favorites on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges include energy management and research firms, as well as the builders, operators and suppliers of coal-to-gas energy plants.

Chinese stocks in the environmental protection category outperformed the country's market in the first two weeks of February, collectively gaining 4% in value, a Citic Securities report said Monday. "Market enthusiasm for the environmental protection sector is rising," it said. Wind and solar power companies, however, have received little attention from stock analysts lately. Neither have analysts reacted to the possible earnings impact on companies such as cement and steel makers that have been ordered to reduce emissions. China's central, provincial and city governments are expected to shoulder much of the cost, either through direct spending or corporate tax breaks, to clean up the country's air, soil and water over the next decade. Governments also bear financial responsibility as majority stakeholders in the big, state-run companies that will have to spend more to cut pollution. A central government plan to funnel 10 billion yuan into regional, air pollution-fighting projects was unveiled Feb. 12 at a meeting of China's cabinet, the State Council. The meeting's chairman, Premier Li Keqiang, pledged tax incentives and subsidies to companies that cut emissions. Local governments have promised to do their part. Auto-use restrictions have been imposed in Beijing, Guangzhou and other cities, for example. And Shanghai plans to force 70,000 older vehicles off the road this year. [Read: How to Invest for the Milestones in Your Life] Beijing Mayor Wang Anshun announced an "all-out effort" to battle air pollution by restricting coal-powered heating plants. And the city of Shijiazhuang, where daily smog levels are typically labeled "hazardous," said steel and chemical manufacturers will have to slash coal emissions or move their plants elsewhere. Meanwhile, the central government's environment ministry in January ordered cement companies, livestock and poultry farmers, battery manufacturers, makers of leather goods and zinc processors to drastically curtail the wastes discharged by their facilities.

Pressure on the cement industry has been especially strong.

China is the planet's largest cement maker, producing half of the world's output. China National Building Materials and Anhui Conch are the country's largest cement makers. Foreign companies with plants in China include Switzerland's Holcim, France's Lafarge and Taiwan's Asia Cement. [Read: How Should Banks Deal With Marijuana Money?]

The environment ministry gave cement companies until March 2015 to reduce kiln emissions by installing smokestack scrubbers, upgrading furnaces or switching to cleaner-burning fuels such as natural gas. Cement plants account for up to 4% of the sulfur dioxide, 10% of the nitrous oxide and 20% of the particulates floating around in the nation's smog, the ministry said.

The latest campaign is far from the government's first crack at tackling China's widespread environmental problems. But this time, according to an Orient Securities report, the effort appears to have teeth big enough to benefit environment-related companies and their investors. "We believe that along with increased supervision" of pollution-fighting projects "sustained and high growth lies ahead for the environmental protection sector and related market segments," the report said. The most popular environment-focused stocks of late are listed on the Shenzhen exchange. These include Sound Environmental Resources, a maker of garbage, sludge and water treatment equipment, whose stock value rose 16% over the past year; liquids-filter manufacturer Motimo Membrane, whose stock climbed 27% in the past 12 months; and Top Resource Conservation, a manager of energy cogeneration projects whose stock price jumped 10% last week. At the time of publication, the author held no positions in any of the stocks mentioned. Follow @laowiseass This article represents the opinion of a contributor and not necessarily that of TheStreet or its editorial staff.

Monday, February 10, 2014

ON THE MARKET - Key neck-line is at (SPX) 1739

Pre-market – Monday 2-10-2014

"The just price is the price established by the 'common estimation' [17] of buyers and sellers."

Saint Thomas Aquinas

1225 -1274

Dr. John L. Faessel

ON THE MARKET

Commentary and Insights

Quote of the day

"Government spending cannot create additional jobs. If the government provides the funds required by taxing the citizens or by borrowing from the public, it abolishes on the one hand as many jobs as it creates on the other."

~ Ludwig von Mises ~

* **

Resistance at the 50-day moving averages loom large

Support at last Wednesday's neck-line low of (SPX) 1739 is crucial

MARKET

Last week stocks, as best seen by the S&P 500 (SPX) advanced off their Monday's low on above average and increasing volume- albeit slightly increasing volume. Friday's move of 1.7% in the Nasdaq was the first time since mid-January that the index advanced on rising volume. Generally speaking it was a positive week coming off an oversold McClellan Oscillator where 'price' reached depths not seen since last October of minus 200. The McClellan closed on Friday at a neutral minus 41.

While major indexes, sans Nasdaq, have that broken chart look, the important channel off the November 2012 low remains intact. Major technical damage has been done. The 50-day moving average resistance is now in decline at 1809. However, so far anyway, 'it' all could be a healthy 'buy 'em cheap at the Channel low kind of scenario.

All eyes will be at Wednesday's neck-line low of (SPX) 1739.9. If that goes the long party with that solid trend goes blewie and the outlook, from a technical perspective, really gets dicey.

Graph of the week:

The value of an education is now more important than ever.

S&P 500

The S&P 500 (SPX) closed Friday at 1797.02 - off from the prior Friday's 1782.59 – 4-weeks ago it was 1838.70.

Watch (SPX) 1772…

Key 'price' support is at (SPX) 1738

Channel and trend line support off the November 2012 lows is 1760.

The 200-day moving average support is at 1711.

Fibonacci 50% support is at 1749.

Fibonacci 61.8% support is at 1725.

Then deep channel and trend line support of (October 2011) is at 1643.

Price resistance is at the 'previous' breakout point of 1798. Importantly,1798 repelled the market on Thursday.

The 50-day moving average resistance is now in decline at 1809.

Significant price resistance is at the top tick of 1850.84 was registered on Wednesday 1/15/2013.

Filed under: What a screwed up country

Read - Beyond shocking & brilliant > 70 million Americans are taking mind-altering drugs – by David Kupelian - link here

PIGS bond yield update

EuroLand Heals: Portuguese, Italian, Greek and Spanish and short- and long-term bond yields are hugely lower from where they were in 2012.

·Portugal 10-year bond yield 4.90% down from high of 18.29%

·Italy 10-year (gross) bond yield – 3.68% off cycle highs of 7.29%

·Greek 10-year yields are at 7.59% down from a high of 24.41%

·Spanish 10-year (generic) bond yield – 3.58%. cycle highs of 7.41%

This Week's Investor Sentiment

The Bullishness / Bearishness complex overview is now well-off its recent extreme highs of Bullishness. The 'sky high' bullish sentiment had numerous models posting near decade highs that gave us ample warning to prepare for a stock market pullback.

(High BULLISH readings in the Investor Sentiment Readings usually are signs of Market tops; low ones, market bottoms.)

The Citigroup "Panic / Euphoria" Model fell to a plus 0.49% from the prior weeks plus 0.55.5-weeks ago it reached decade new highs of a plus 0.66 in the Euphoria Zone.In early 2000 it ticked its all-time high at plus 0.72. At the end of June, 2011 it ticked cycle lows of minus0.31 in the Panic mode.

The American Association of Individual Investors [AAII]Investor Sentiment Survey of BULLISHNESS slid to 27.9% from the 32.2%. 7-weeks ago it ticked a 55.1% the highest posting in the prior11-months. It posted cycle lows of 22.2% on 7/23/2012 the lowest percentile since August 2010. Long-Term Average: Bullish: 39.0%.

The American Association of Individual Investors [AAII] Investor Survey of BEARISHNESS rose to 36.4% from 32.8% the prior week. 4-weeks ago it was 21.5 %. 4-months ago it registered the lowest read since 1/12/2012 at 17.6%. Cycle highs of Bearishness of 54.5% were posted about 5-months ago. Long-Term Average: Bearish: 30.5%.

Consensus Index of BULLISH sentiment is at 59% that's down from last week's 68% and from the cycle and multi-year highs of 78% established 10-weeks ago. The new cycle highs in Bullishness of 78% topped the top of 77% Bullish posted on 10/11/2007.

The Market Vane (Market Letter Survey) fell a couple of ticks to 59% from the prior last week's posting of 61%. In October 2007 it topped at 70% bullish.

The Investor's Intelligence Index six weeks ago Monday was at 81%. That's the highest level since January of 1987. The Investor's Intelligence Index is a combination/comparison of that survey's bullish and bearish percentage scores. The bullish percentage is at 59%, which is the highest level since September of 2008. The bearish percentage now stands at 14%, which is the lowest reading since early 1987.

The Hulbert Financial Newsletter Sentiment Index for all stocks six weeks ago Monday was at 82%... the highest reading in at least 15 years.

Friday's key indicators and metrics

Cycle highs or lows are in red

·McClellan Oscillator is in Neutral at plus 45

·(The prior Monday the McClellan was an oversold minus 200)

·3-month $USD LIBOR – 0.2385 link here

·CBOE Put / Call Volume Ratio – 0.82

·VIX – 15.29

·Natural Gas (Globex) – 4.775 - last Wednesday it posted 5-year highs of 5.73

·Swiss Franc – 1.1144

·US Dollar Index – 80.76

·Euro – 1.3628

·Japanese Yen – 0.9777

·Canadian Dollar – 0.9056-The prior week it ticked 4½ year lows at 0.8899

·Aussie Dollar –0.8938

·Crude oil (NYMEX) 99.88

·Brent crude 109.57

·Copper (Globex) – 3.2360

·Gold (Globex) – 1262.9

·The Treasury 5-year yield – 1.47%

·The Treasury 10-year yield – 2.69 - cycle highs were 3-weeks ago at 3.01%

·The 30-year Treasury – 3.68% - the cycle highs of 3.93% were 3-weeks ago

·Silver (COMEX) – 19.936

·Platinum 1379.2

·Palladium (Globex) 708.80

·Lumber (CME) – 354.20

.

Nike vs. Under Armour - Which is the Better Bet?

Not too long ago we did a "Which Would You Rather" about two of the biggest names in the sports apparel business, Nike and Adidas. Since that particular industry is as globally massive as it is, it stands to reason that there are more than just two major players therein.

But Nike is unquestionably the worldwide leader on many levels when it comes to sporting goods and apparel, so much so that it has become more or less a household name. Others like Reebok and the aforementioned Adidas have achieved similar acclaim in the market but they, like Nike, have been around for decades.

Reebok and Adidas have been around for the better part of the last century, with the former having been founded in 1895.

Nike may be the youngest of the three, but it is also the most successful. So rather than compare apples with apples, we decided to compare one of the oldest with one of the youngest, the latter being Under Armour.

So which stock would you rather add to your portfolio, Nike (NYSE: NKE) or Under Armour (NYSE: UA)?

Related: Hasbro vs. Mattel: Which is the Better Bet?

Under Armour was founded in 1996 and has quickly built itself up into quite the contender in the athletic apparel game. The founders have admitted that when they started the company they had its sights set on its primary competitor, Nike. Under Armor's goal was not to become a clone or copycat of the long-reigning industry leader and not to achieve its level of success -- but to surpass it.

Fast forward to 2013 where both Nike and Under Armour are blowing the rest of the industry competitors out of the water. Its respective stocks have exceeded the 17 percent return that the S&P 500 offered, while the near and distant future looks bright for both companies.

Under Armour has been the underdog since its inception, but it almost seems as though they have relished that distinction, or at least they haven't let it bother them. Over the last five years Under Armour has seen its stock nearly quadruple, which has put its market cap in the $9 billion range and brought the company into much more competitive market territory.

One of Under Armour’s initial goals was to establish and maintain 20= percent growth over the long-term. Over the last three years, the company’s year-over-year revenue has grown by no less than 20 percent every quarter. Its revenue generated from footwear sales rose more than 40 percent in the first quarter of 2013 from the previous year and hasn’t slowed down.

Nike, on the other hand, remains the juggernaut it has always been, enjoying a market cap of nearly $70 billion and an enviable net-profit margin of just over 10 percent; Under Armour’s NPM is just over 6 percent. Nike also has cash and assets in excess of $4 billion with shareholders happily collecting a dividend yield of 1.3 percent.

Ultimately, it might be easy to want to choose the proven leader as your preferred stock pick and no one would blame you for doing so. But considering Under Armour’s meteoric rise to near the top of the athletic apparel charts and its long-term outlook, choosing between the two may come down to deciding if you want your cake now (with Nike) or later (with Under Armour).

Loading...

Posted-In: Adidas ReebokNews Psychology Retail Sales Markets Trading Ideas General Best of Benzinga

(c) 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

  Most Popular Solar Sector On Fire as Traders Getting More Optimistic Benzinga's Top #PreMarket Gainers Citi Upgrades Bank of America Benzinga's Top #PreMarket Losers Plug Power Meets Projected Order Targets for Fourth Quarter of 2013; Reports Orders of $32M Wells Fargo Shares Retreat From All-Time High Related Articles (NKE + UA) Nike vs. Under Armour - Which Is The Better Bet? UPDATE: Bank of America Raises PO on Under Armour on Near-Term Momentum Nike Q2 Earnings Conference Call Highlights UPDATE: Morgan Stanley Reiterates on Nike Following Solid Beat and Raise Quarter #PreMarket Primer: Friday, December 20: Housing And Jobs Data Create A Small Wrinkle In US Outlook Stocks To Watch For December 20, 2013 Around the Web, We're Loving... Lightspeed Trading Presents: Thunder and Tubleweeds: Trading Techniques for the New Market Enviroment Pope Francis Rips 'Trickle-Down' Economics Come See How the Pro's Trade in this Exclusive Webinar Wynn, MGM, Other Casino Giants Vying For U.S. Turf

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Top Building Product Companies To Buy Right Now

The rally in stocks is continuing today after a government report estimated that jobless figures were better than expected last week. With roughly an hour left in the trading session, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) is higher by 62 points, or 0.42%.

According to the Department of Labor -- click here for the official press release -- the number of people filing for unemployment benefits for the seven days ended April 6 dropped by 42,000 from the previous week to 346,000. Economists had expected the number of applications to come in at 360,000. This was a huge relief after last Friday's dismal report on March unemployment.

Alternatively, a report issued last night by market research firm IDC estimated that personal-computer shipments posted the "steepest decline ever in a single quarter." The company said worldwide PC shipments totaled 76.3 million units for the first three months of the year. That's down 13.9% from the same time period last year and much worse than the estimated decline of 7.7%.

Top Building Product Companies To Buy Right Now: Rada Electronics Industries Limited(RADA)

Rada Electronic Industries Ltd. engages in the development, manufacture, and sale of defense electronics to government agencies and authorities, government-owned companies, and integrators in Israel, Asia, North America, South America, Latin America, and Europe. Its products include data/video recording and management systems, such as mission data and digital video recorders, airborne data servers, post-mission debriefing solutions, and head-up display video cameras for aerial and land platforms; inertial navigation systems for aerial and land platforms; avionics solutions, including avionics for unmanned aerial vehicles; and radar sensors for anti-terrorism/force protection systems. The company also sells and supports legacy commercial aviation test stations, as well as offers test and repair services. It has strategic relationships with Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, GE Aviation, Israel Military Industries, Israel Aerospace Industries, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd., and Embra er and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. Rada Electronic Industries Ltd. was founded in 1970 and is based in Netanya, Israel.

Top Building Product Companies To Buy Right Now: Redwood Trust Inc.(RWT)

Redwood Trust, Inc., a real estate investment trust, together with its subsidiaries, engages in investing, financing, and managing real estate assets. The company?s investments include residential and commercial real estate loans; and securities backed by residential and commercial loans, including senior and subordinate securities. The senior securities are those interests in a securitization that have the first right to cash flows and are last to absorb losses; and subordinate securities are those interests in a securitization that have the last right to cash flows and are first in line to absorb losses. As of March 31, 2011, it had 77 real estate owned properties primarily in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, and Georgia. It would elect to be taxed as a real estate investment trust (REIT) for federal income tax purposes. As a REIT, the company would not be subject to federal income tax, if it distributes at least 90% of net taxable income to its stockholders. Red wood Trust, Inc. was founded in 1994 and is based in Mill Valley, California.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Rich Duprey]

    Real estate investment trust��Redwood Trust� (NYSE: RWT  ) announced today its third-quarter dividend of $0.28 per share, the same rate it's paid for the past two quarters after raising the payout 12% from $0.25 per share.

  • [By Amanda Alix]

    On the mortgage front, Two Harbors notes that it has acquired a passel of prime jumbo home loans, which it likely plans to securitize. The company's CEO, Tom Siering, also addresses this issue on the earnings call, where he states that the trust was involved in a $400 million securitization of prime jumbo loans. This puts Two Harbors in the company of mREIT Redwood Trust (NYSE: RWT  ) , which has nearly single-handedly brought back the jumbo-loan securitization market over the past two years. If Redwood's success is any indication -- it recently reported first-quarter net income�of $61 million, compared to the year-ago figure of $30 million -- Two Harbors is on the right track.

  • [By Amanda Alix]

    Luxury market is doing just fine
    Jumbo loans are back, and these mortgages -- which start at $625,000 in some affluent areas -- are being given out like candy�to those with the wealth to back them up. Once considered risky because they are not backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, lenders are falling over themselves to make these loans, driven by a securitization market dominated by entities like Redwood Trust (NYSE: RWT  ) and JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM  ) . Earlier this month, Redwood offered its seventh securitization backed by jumbos, and JPMorgan just recently announced�its second offering of the year, as well.

Best Undervalued Companies To Own In Right Now: LaPorte Bancorp Inc.(LPSB)

LaPorte Bancorp, Inc. operates as the holding company for the The LaPorte Savings Bank, which provides commercial banking services to individuals and small businesses. The company?s deposits include savings accounts, health savings accounts, NOW accounts, checking accounts, money market accounts, certificates of deposit, and IRAs, as well as commercial checking accounts for businesses. Its lending portfolio includes one to four family residential loans, mortgage warehouse loans, commercial real estate loans, construction and land loans, commercial loans, home equity loans and lines of credit, and consumer and other loans. The company also offers trust services. It operates through eight branches in LaPorte and Porter Counties, Indiana. The company is based in LaPorte, Indiana. LaPorte Bancorp, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of LaPorte Savings Bank, MHC.

Top Building Product Companies To Buy Right Now: Pacific American Income Shares Inc.(PAI)

Western Asset Income Fund is a close ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC. It is co-managed by Western Asset Management Company. It invests in the fixed income markets of the United States. The fund benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against the Lehman High Yield Index and Lehman US Credit Index. Western Asset Income Fund was formed on March 22, 1973 and is domiciled in the United States.

Top Building Product Companies To Buy Right Now: America Movil S.A.B. de C.V. (AMOV)

Am茅rica M贸vil, S.A.B. de C.V. provides telecommunications services in the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean. It offers mobile and fixed voice services, including airtime, local, long-distance services, public telephony services, and network interconnection services. The company also provides value added services comprising short message services, multimedia messaging services, and mobile entertainment services; and data services, such as data transmission, e-mail services, Web browsing, instant messaging, content streaming, and interactive applications, as well as corporate network services. In addition, it offers handsets, smartphones, broadband cards, and tablets; accessories consisting of chargers, headsets, belt clips, and batteries; push-to-talk services; and other wireless services that include two wave, PC and wireless security, and machine-to-machine services, as well as Oficina M贸vil Telcel, a services suite to enhance applications, video calls, a nd mobile banking. Further, the company provides video, music, radio, online gaming, and applications; advertising, e-commerce, and digital marketing services; application development services for mobile devices; digital discount coupons; and social media solutions, as well as publishes and distributes yellow-pages and white-pages directories. Additionally, it sells computers, telecommunications equipment and accessories, public phone services, and billing and collection services; rents high-speed data lines to businesses and other telecommunications providers; offers satellite data and packet-switched data transmission services, frame relay, and message-handling systems; satellite solutions; and cable pay television services, as well as pay per view and additional programming, and advertising services. The company markets its products and services through distributors and company-owned retail stores. Am茅rica M贸vil, S.A.B. de C.V. was founded in 2000 and is based in Mexico City, Mexico.

Top Building Product Companies To Buy Right Now: Morgan Sindall(MGNS.L)

Morgan Sindall Group plc engages in the construction and regeneration businesses primarily in the United Kingdom. The company offers design, construction, and infrastructure services to public and private sector clients. It also develops, constructs, refurbishes, and maintains affordable houses, as well as creates homes for rent, shared ownership, and sale. In addition, the company involves in refurbishment and fit out projects for the office, education, retail, hotel, and leisure sectors. Further, it engages in the urban renewal activities through mixed use projects, such as creating commercial, leisure, residential, and community facilities in partnership with landowners, local authorities, and investors. The company provides various services, including construction plant hiring, and office design and build services, and as well as involves in project investments and insurance activities. Morgan Sindall Group plc is based in London, the United Kingdom.

Top Building Product Companies To Buy Right Now: SolarCity Corp (SCTY.W)

SolarCity Corporation (SolarCity), incorporated on June 21, 2006, is engaged in the design, installation and sale or lease of solar energy systems to residential and commercial customers, or sale of electricity generated by solar energy systems to customers. The Company sells renewable energy to its customers. As of December 12, 2012, the Company served customers in 14 states. The Company�� residential customers are individual homeowners and homeowners. The Company�� commercial customers represent several business sectors, including technology, retail, manufacturing, agriculture, nonprofit and houses of worship. The Company has installed solar energy systems for several government entities, including the the United States Air Force, Army, Marines and Navy, and the Department of Homeland Security. The Company purchases major components, such as solar panels and inverters directly from multiple manufacturers. As of September 30, 2012, its primary solar panel suppliers were Trina Solar Limited, Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited and Kyocera Solar, Inc., among others, and its primary inverter suppliers were Power-One, Inc., SMA Solar Technology, AG, Schneider Electric SA, Fronius International GmbH and SolarEdge Technologies, among others.

Solar Energy Products

The Company�� solar energy products include Solar Energy Systems, and SolarLease and power purchase agreement finance products. The major components of its solar energy systems include solar panels that convert sunlight into electrical current. Most of its solar energy customers choose to purchase energy from the Company pursuant to one of two payment structures: a SolarLease or a power purchase agreement. In both structures, the Company charges customers a monthly fee for the power produced by its solar energy systems. In the lease structure, this monthly payment is pre-determined and includes a production guarantee. In the power purchase agreem ent structure, the Company charges customers a fee per kilo! w! att hour based on the amount of electricity actually produced by the solar energy system.

Energy Efficiency Products and Services

The Company�� energy efficiency products and services include home energy evaluation and energy efficiency upgrades. The Company sells home energy efficiency evaluations to new solar energy system customers and existing customers. The Company�� energy efficiency upgrade products and services address heating and cooling, air sealing, duct sealing, water heating, insulation, furnaces, weatherization, pool pumps and lighting. As of December 12, 2012, the Company had completed over 13,000 home energy evaluations and performed more than 2,000 energy efficiency upgrades.

Other Energy Products and Services

The Company�� other energy products and services include electric vehicle charging and energy storage. The Company installs electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment that it sources from t hird parties. SolarCity markets EV equipment to residential and commercial customers through retail partnerships with companies, such as The Home Depot, and through EV manufacturers and dealerships, such as its partnership with Tesla Motors, Inc. The Company is developing a battery management system built on its solar energy monitoring communications backbone. As of December 12, 2012, the Company had over 100 energy storage pilot projects under contract. As of December 12, 2012, the Company had sold over 750 charging stations.

Enabling Technologies

The Company�� enabling technologies include SolarBid Sales Management Platform, SolarWorks Customer Management Software, Energy Designer, Home Performance Pro and SolarGuard and PowerGuide Proactive Monitoring Solutions. SolarBid is a sales management platform, which incorporates a database of rate information by utility, sun exposure, roof orientation and a range of other factors to enable a detailed a nalysis and customized graphical presentation of each c! ustom! er! �� sa! vings.

SolarWorks is the software platform the Company uses to track and manage project. Energy Designer is a software application its field engineering auditors use to collect pertinent site-specific design details on a tablet computer. Home Performance Pro is its energy efficiency evaluation platform that incorporates the United States Department of Energy�� Energy Plus simulation engine. Home Performance Pro collects and stores details of a building�� construction and energy use. SolarGuard and PowerGuide provide its customers a view of their home�� or business�� energy generation and consumption.

The Company competes with American Solar Electric, Inc., Astrum Solar, Inc., Petersen Dean, Inc., Real Goods Solar, Inc., REC Solar, Inc., Sungevity, Inc., Trinity Solar, Inc., Verengo, Inc., SunRun Inc. and Ameresco, Inc.

Top Building Product Companies To Buy Right Now: Investview Inc (INVU.PK)

InvestView, Inc. (InvestView), incorporated on April 20, 2005, is an investor technology and education company. The Company provides a broad suite of products that allow the individual investor to find, analyze, track and manage his or her portfolio. The Company's educational services focus on empowering investors with the skills that allow them to rely on their own investing knowledge to make intelligent and sound investment decisions. The Company's flagship product is InvestView, an on-line education, analysis and application platform. InvestView is equipped with in-house, qualified professionals who have collectively taught over a quarter of a million students in the past decade on how to trade in the stock market. The Company specializes in assisting common investors through this process by offering them the tools, training and confidence that is required to successfully navigate the market in these trying times.

The Company helps the everyday investor turn market uncertainty into opportunity. The Company does this by providing investment tools and training , coupled with a rules-based system that allows individuals to makes more intelligent and disciplined investment decisions. The Company�� offerings include a comprehensive program of successively more complex financial educational courses that are sold to customers on a subscription basis and are delivered on line through the Company�� Website; Inhouse developed trading tools with actionable trading indicators; Blogs, newsletters and other reference materials that describe investment strategies, and Mentoring, coaching and advisory services that are available on a subscription basis.

The principal tool the Company offers is Market Point. It consists of five categories for both fundamental and technical analysis for proper stock evaluation: Charts, Stock Watch, Markets, Calendars and Campus.

The Company's 7-Minute Trader is the first of the 7-Minut e products. The 7-Minute Trader was developed for everyone ! w! ho is frustrated with the returns inside of their retirement accounts and personal investment portfolios, but just do not have the time to do all of the necessary research themselves. The Company created a program that literally takes just seven minutes per week. The Company accomplishes this through a newsletter that is sent out every week with just a single trade idea in it.

The Company�� 7-Minute Stocks product was introduced to address those subscribers who have expressed an interest in adding an equity strategy. Similar to the 7-Minute Trader, the 7-Minute Stocks product is scalable since it provides only on-demand education and one new trade idea per week via its newsletter service. Contrary to the 7-Miinute Trader, the 7-Minute Stocks is a more conservative, longer time horizon product. Most 7-Minute Stocks trades are expected to be held for multiple weeks or even months in duration compared to just 2-3 days for the 7-Minute Trader.

The Com pany�� 7-Minute Options product was introduced to address those subscribers who wanted a less aggressive option trading strategy than the one provided with the 7-Minute Trader. Similar to the 7-Minute Trader, the 7-Minute Options product is scalable since it provides only on-demand education and one new trade idea per week via its newsletter service. Contrary to the 7-Minute Trader, the 7-Minute Options is a more conservative, slightly longer time horizon product. Most 7-Minute Options trades are expected to be held for 2-8 weeks in duration compared to 2-3 days for the 7-Minute Trader.

The Company competes with Edgar Online, BankRate.com, TheStreet.com and Morningstar.

Friday, February 7, 2014

4 Big Stocks on Traders' Radars

BALTIMORE (Stockpickr) -- Put down the 10-K filings and the stock screeners. It's time to take a break from the traditional methods of generating investment ideas. Instead, let the crowd do it for you.

>>5 Stocks Under $10 Set to Soar

From hedge funds to individual investors, scores of market participants are turning to social media to figure out which stocks are worth watching. It's a concept that's known as "crowdsourcing," and it uses the masses to identify emerging trends in the market.

Crowdsourcing has long been a popular tool for the advertising industry, but it also makes a lot of sense as an investment tool. After all, the market is completely driven by the supply and demand, so it can be valuable to see what names are trending among the crowd.

While some fund managers are already trying to leverage social media resources like Twitter to find algorithmic trading opportunities, for most investors, crowdsourcing works best as a starting point for investors who want a starting point in their analysis. Today, we'll leverage the power of the crowd to take a look at some of the most active stocks on the market today.

>>5 Big Trades for Post-Taper Gains

These "most active" names are the most heavily-traded names on the market -- and often, uber-active names have some sort of a technical or fundamental catalyst driving investors' attention on shares. That's especially true now that earnings season is officially underway. And when there's a big catalyst, there's often a trading opportunity.

Without further ado, here's a look at today's stocks.

Rite Aid

Nearest Resistance: $5.50

Nearest Support: $5

Catalyst: Q3 Earnings

>>5 Stocks With Big Insider Buying

Shares of retail drugstore chain Rite Aid (RAD) are off more than 9% this afternoon, following the firm's third-quarter earnings release this morning. RAD earned 4 cents a share for the quarter, but it estimated that the best-case scenario for next quarter's earnings would be the bottom of analysts' forecasts. That's what spurred the selloff.

From a technical standpoint, today's big gap down is a big problem for shareholders. The move pushed shares through previous support at $5.50, bringing RAD down for a test of a much more significant level at $5. If this drugstore can't catch a bid at $5, look out below.

Oracle

Nearest Resistance: N/A

Nearest Support: $35.50

Catalyst: Q2 Earnings Beat

>>2 Tech Stocks Rising on Unusual Volume

Meanwhile, Oracle (ORCL), earnings are an upside catalyst today. The enterprise software maker is up 5.4% as I write, after posting quarterly earnings of 69 cents per share after yesterday's closing bell. The numbers came in 2 cents higher than analysts had predicted. Better, the firm guided above the range analysts were expecting for next quarter. The news is pushing shares to new 52-week highs in today's session.

Making new highs is significant from an investor psychology standpoint because it means that everyone who has bought shares in the last year is sitting on gains. As a result, the "back to even" mentality is less of a concern than it would be for a name with a higher proportion of shareholders sitting on losses. If you decide to take the trade, I'd recommend keeping a tight stop in place.

Groupon

Nearest Resistance: $12.50

Nearest Support: $11

Catalyst: Analyst Outperform Rating

>>4 Tech Stocks Under $10 to Watch

Groupon (GRPN) is up 2.5% this afternoon, following a new analyst outperform rating from Northland Capital Markets earlier this week. Groupon has been an anxiety-inducing stock since its IPO, swinging wildly as investors questioned the premium price tag on shares. The $13 price target added to GRPN should help quell some of those fundamental business fears.

The technicals look pretty strong in GRPN now too. Shares broke their three-month downtrend last week, pushing above resistance at $11. While the new uptrend in Groupon isn't exactly established yet, shares have a shot at testing highs at $12.50 this month. A move about $12.50 is a pretty strong buy signal for the daily deal site.

J.C. Penney

Nearest Resistance: $10

Nearest Support: $8

Catalyst: Technical Setup

>>5 Hated Earnings Stocks You Should Love

You don't need much of a reason to sell J.C. Penney (JCP) -- at least that's been the common wisdom this year. JCP is down 3.4% on high volume this afternoon, a move that's being triggered more by the big technical setup in shares than any fundamental news. Shares of JCP are testing key support at $8, a level that's the last line of defense between current levels and the year's lows $6.25.

For now, $8 looks like it's holding -- but if shares close materially below that price this afternoon, considerable selling could be on the way.

To see these stocks in action, check out the at Most-Active Stocks portfolio on Stockpickr.



-- Written by Jonas Elmerraji in Baltimore.


RELATED LINKS:



>>4 Stocks Triggering Breakouts on Unusual Volume



>>5 Commodity Stocks to Trade for Gains



>>3 Stocks Under $10 in Breakout Territory

Follow Stockpickr on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

At the time of publication, author had no positions in stocks mentioned.

Jonas Elmerraji, CMT, is a senior market analyst at Agora Financial in Baltimore and a contributor to

TheStreet. Before that, he managed a portfolio of stocks for an investment advisory returned 15% in 2008. He has been featured in Forbes , Investor's Business Daily, and on CNBC.com. Jonas holds a degree in financial economics from UMBC and the Chartered Market Technician designation.

Follow Jonas on Twitter @JonasElmerraji


All I Want for Christmas Is a Bigger Cellphone Battery

A recent poll on tech enthusiast website Slashdot shows what tech-savvy consumers really want out of their smartphones nowadays. The poll may not be very scientific, but the voice of 32,000 tech enthusiasts should still count for something.

Apple can stop making thinner iPhones and squeeze a bigger battery into that extra space instead. Microsoft might be able to snag some mobile market share by lowering prices on its Lumia phones. There will always be a niche market for high-end models where price is no object, but high performance and the correct handset size don't seem to matter outside that specialized market.

Huge volume will come from making these two changes above all else. The only handset designer that seems to get it right now is Google (NASDAQ: GOOG  ) , as shown in the low-cost but very capable Moto G by Big G's Motorola division.

In the video below, Erin Miller asks Fool contributor Anders Bylund what this smartphone poll means and what it can teach investors in the mobile industry.

You can win in the smartphone wars
Want to get in on the smartphone phenomenon? Truth be told, one company sits at the crossroads of smartphone technology as we know it. It's not your typical household name, either. In fact, you've probably never even heard of it! But it stands to reap massive profits NO MATTER WHO ultimately wins the smartphone war. To find out what it is, click here to access The Motley Fool's latest free report: "One Stock You Must Buy Before the iPhone-Android War Escalates Any Further..."

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Top Dividend Stocks For 2015

LONDON -- The FTSE 100 (FTSEINDICES: ^FTSE  ) doesn't look like it's going to reclaim its five-year high of 6,534 set on March 12 anytime soon after fresh Chinese fears sent it down 0.64% to 6,344 points today. Not that China is in any real trouble, mind -- its economy just grew a little slower than expected in the first quarter.

But even if the FTSE is off its highs, there are plenty of shares that are reaching new levels. Here are three achieving that feat today.

Centrica
After Centrica reported the acquisition of some Canadian natural-gas fields today, its shares rose to hit a 52-week high of 385 pence during the morning before dropping back to close at 382. That puts the price up about 18% over the past 12 months, which is pretty good for an investment that is also forecast to deliver a dividend yield of 4.6% for the year to December. Like its competitors in the utilities business, Centrica has been rewarding investors with regular dividends for years, and its predictable business enables it to pay out a high proportion of its earnings.

Top Dividend Stocks For 2015: YPF Sociedad Anonima(YPF)

YPF SOCIEDAD ANONIMA, an energy company, engages in the exploration, development, and production of crude oil, natural gas, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in Argentina. The company also involves in refining, marketing, transportation, and distribution of oil and a range of petroleum products, petroleum derivatives, petrochemicals, LPG, and bio-fuels; and gas separation and natural gas distribution operations. As of December 31, 2010, it had proved reserves of approximately 531 million barrels of oil and 2,533 billion cubic feet of gas; and retail distribution network of 1,622 YPF-branded service stations for automotive petroleum products. The company?s crude oil transportation network includes approximately 2,700 kilometers of crude oil pipelines with approximately 640,000 barrels of aggregate daily transportation capacity of refined products; crude oil tankage of approximately 7 million barrels; and terminal facilities at 5 Argentine ports. In addition, it participates in 3 power stations with an aggregate installed capacity of 1,622 megawatts. The company was founded in 1977 and is based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. YPF SOCIEDAD ANONIMA is a subsidiary of Repsol YPF, S.A.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By fedezaldua]

    Last year, the Argentinean government nationalized 51% of YPF (YPF) from Madrid based Repsol (REPYY), which still holds a 12.4% stake in Argentina's biggest oil and gas company. When the nationalization happened, Argentina's government argued that the Spanish group had not been investing enough in the country. Hence, the lack of investments had left Argentina without its very much appreciated external surplus in oil and gas. Even when its true that YPF's Capex investments were kept at a minimum level from 2003 to 2011, its also true that low Capex was a direct result of Argentina's (very) poor and unsustainable energy policies.

  • [By Matt DiLallo]

    After lots of speculation, oil and gas giant Chevron (NYSE: CVX  ) has finally come to terms on a joint development agreement with Argentine national oil company YPF (NYSE: YPF  ) . The $1.24 billion deal will help further the development of oil and gas at Argentina's Vaca Muerta formation. Vaca Muerta, which in Spanish means "dead cow," holds more hope for both Chevron and Argentina than that name might imply, as it's estimated to hold 27 billion barrels of technically recoverable oil.

  • [By Jonathan Yates]

    That is very easy to fix, however. Investors should look at the recent example of YPF SA (NYSE: YPF), the Argentine oil giant. Actions by the government of Argentina drove down the share price. Since then, the country has worked to make YPF SA, and Argentia, more attractive to investors. As a result, YPF SA is up more than 90 percent for 2013. Much of the economic health of Brazil rests on the performance of Petrobras, so more beneficial actions from the Government of Brazil should be expected.

Top Dividend Stocks For 2015: Alliance Resource Partners L.P.(ARLP)

Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. engages in the production and marketing of coal for utilities and industrial users in the United States. It operates nine underground mining complexes, which offer low, medium, and high-sulfur coal. The company also leases land and operates a coal loading terminal on the Ohio River at Mt. Vernon, Indiana; and purchases and resells coal. In addition, the company provides mine products and services comprising design and installation of underground mine hoists for transporting employees and materials in and out of mines; design of systems for automating and controlling various aspects of industrial and mining environments; and design and sale of mine safety equipment, such as its miner and equipment tracking, and proximity detection systems. Further, it offers ash and scrubber sludge removal, coal yard maintenance, and arranging alternate transportation services. As of December 31, 2010, the company had approximately 697.4 million tons of coal reserves in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Alliance Resource Management GP, LLC serves as the general partner of Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. The company was founded in 1971 and is based in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Holly LaFon] nce Resources Partners is a coal producer and marketer primarily in the eastern U.S. Its ROA has been increasing since 2008 and increased to 22.5% in 2011 from 21.4% in 2010. The average return on assets for the oil, gas & consumable fuels industry in the trailing 12 months is 24.47%.

    In 2011, its total assets increased to $1.7 billion from $1.1 billion in 2010. Its net income increased to $389 million from $321 million.

    Factset Research Systems Inc. (FDS)

    Factset researches global market trends and develops analytical tools for investors. Of all of GuruFocus��5-star predictable companies, it has the highest return on assets at 27%. ROA has been increasing over the past several years. The average return on assets for the software industry for the trailing 12 months is 13.07%.

    In 2011, the company�� total assets increased to $657 million from $645 the prior year. Its net income increased to $171 million from $150.

    The All-in-One Screener is a fully customizable stock-searching tool just introduced by GuruFocus. Search for stocks according to your own set of requirements here.

  • [By Eric Volkman]

    Alliance Resource Partners (NASDAQ: ARLP  ) has bumped its quarterly dividend slightly higher. For its Q1, the company will distribute $1.13 per unit on May 15 to shareholders of record as of May 8.�That amount is 2% more than Alliance Resource's preceding distribution, which was handed out in early February, and totaled $1.1075. Prior to that, the partnership paid $1.085 per unit.

  • [By Tyler Crowe]

    Coal will still be a top energy source
    It's easy to be down on coal. Ever since shale gas started flowing in the U.S., many have speculated that it would replace coal because it was a more�emissions-friendly fuel source and it was less expensive. While that may look to be the case (and several trends in the U.S. back it up), the truth is that coal will remain a dominant force in the energy game. To take it even further, the EIA estimates that coal will surpass oil as the premier energy source by 2017. This is in large part because of two factors: natural gas requires a robust�infrastructure to transport, an�infrastructure�many developing nations do not have, and several countries have natural gas prices indexed to oil, so its price is kept artificially high. This is mostly how American coal company�Alliance Natural Resources� (NASDAQ: ARLP  ) was able to�post a record 2012 in both sales and production.

Top 5 Oil Stocks To Invest In Right Now: P.T. Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk.(TLK)

Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk provides telecommunication and network services worldwide. The company?s Fixed Wireline segment offers local, domestic long-distance, international telephone services, and other telecommunications services, including leased lines, telex, transponder, satellite, and very small aperture terminal (VSAT), as well as ancillary services. Its Fixed Wireless segment provides local and domestic long-distance code division multiple access-based telephone services, as well as other telecommunication services within a local area code. Perusahaan Perseroan?s Cellular segment offers mobile cellular telecommunication services. Its network services comprise satellite transponder leasing, satellite broadcasting, VSAT, audio distribution, and terrestrial and satellite-based leased lines. The company?s data and Internet services include short messaging service for fixed wire line, fixed wireless, and cellular phones, dial-up and broadband Internet access, virtual private network (VPN) frame relay, Internet protocol (IP) VPN, voice over IP for international calls, integrated services digital network connections, and other multimedia services. The company also provides information services, such as billing, directory assistance, and content services; and wireless application protocol, Web portal, ring back tones, voicemail, and building management services. In addition, it offers consultancy services, as well as constructs and maintains telecommunications facilities; interconnection services; telephone directory production services; and cable and pay television services. As of December 31, 2010, the company served 120.5 million customers, including 8.3 million fixed wireline telephone subscribers, 18.2 million fixed wireless telephone subscribers, and 94.0 million cellular telephone subscribers. Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk was founded in 1884 and is headquartered in Bandung, Indonesia.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By GuruFocus]

    Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (TLK) Reached the 52-Week Low of $34.63

    The prices of Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (TLK) shares have declined to close to the 52-week low of $34.63, which is 33.3% off the 52-week high of $50.61. Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Persero) Tbk is owned by five Gurus we are tracking. Among them, two have added to their positions during the past quarter. Two reduced their positions.

Top Dividend Stocks For 2015: Integrys Energy Group(TEG)

Integrys Energy Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a regulated electric and natural gas utility company in the United States and Canada. It provides natural gas utility services in Chicago, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota. As of December 31, 2009, the company served approximately 1,669,000 residential, commercial and industrial, transportation, and other customers. It had approximately 22,000 miles of natural gas distribution mains; and approximately 1,010 miles of natural gas transmission mains. The company also generates and distributes electric energy form coal, natural gas, fuel oil, hydroelectric, and wind resources in Wisconsin and Michigan. It served approximately 489,000 residential, commercial and industrial, wholesale, and other customers. In addition, Integrys Energy offers nonregulated energy supply and services; and electric transmission services. The company was formerly known as WPS Resources Corporation and changed its name to Integrys En ergy Group, Inc. in February 2007. Integrys Energy Group, Inc. was founded in 1883 and is based in Chicago, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Jonas Elmerraji]

    Last up is Integrys Energy Group (TEG), the sole downside name we're looking at this week. Even though December is historically a great month to own stocks, that doesn't mean that it's universally a great month to own all stocks. And TEG looks "toppy" at this point.

    Integrys is currently forming a head and shoulders top, a bearish setup that indicates exhaustion among buyers. The pattern is formed by two swing highs that hit their head around the same level (the shoulders), separated by a higher high (the head). The sell signal comes on a move through the neckline, which is currently sloping through $52. TEG is actually a "nested" pattern, which means that the right shoulder is a complete head and shoudlers pattern itself on a shorter-timeframe. Since the downside has already triggered on the right shoulder, we should expect a test of the longer-term neckline soon.

    Lest you think that the head and shoulders is too well known to be worth trading, the research suggests otherwise: a recent academic study conducted by the Federal Reserve Board of New York found that the results of 10,000 computer-simulated head-and-shoulders trades resulted in "profits [that] would have been both statistically and economically significant."

    That's good reason to keep this stock in your crosshairs in the days ahead; a break below the neckline is a short signal.

    To see this week's trades in action, check out the Technical Setups for the Week portfolio on Stockpickr.

    -- Written by Jonas Elmerraji in Baltimore.

  • [By Justin Loiseau]

    Subsidiary switch-up
    AGL Resources�announced Thursday that it has officially handed off subsidiary Compass Energy Services to Integrys Energy (NYSE: TEG  ) for an initial cash consideration of $12 million, with an additional $3 million to $8 million cash consideration. If the unregulated natural gas subsidiary fares well over the next five years, Integrys will fork over more finances for its purchase. If not, AGL could be left with $15 million total for the sale. For now, AGL will record a $9 million to $11 million pre-tax gain for Q2 2013.

  • [By Justin Loiseau]

    Integrys Energy (NYSE: TEG  ) has officially received regulatory approval for a $220 million modernization project for its Wisconsin Public Service subsidiary. After completing a pilot project in 2012, the utility developed plans for a five-year large scale project to start in 2014.

  • [By Justin Loiseau]

    Other utilities are following suit, pushing hard to turn coal into "clean coal." Integrys (NYSE: TEG  ) currently has a $17 million rate request on the table to add coal dust collectors to an 824 MW facility, a move that would put the utility one step closer to covering environmental costs.

Top Dividend Stocks For 2015: Windstream Corporation(WIN)

Windstream Corporation provides communications and technology solutions in the United States. The company offers various solutions, including IP-based voice and data services, multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) networking, data center and managed services, hosting services, and communications systems to businesses and government agencies. It also provides high-speed Internet, voice, and digital television services to residential customers primarily located in rural areas. The company?s data services include data center and managed hosting, MPLS networking, and dedicated access, as well as high-speed Internet to business customers; integrated solutions consist of multiple voice and data services delivered over an IP connection; voice services comprise local and long distance, call waiting, caller identification, and voicemail; and special access services include point-to-point switching arrangements for voice and data traffic. In addition, it provides wholesale services, which primarily include voice and data services on a wholesale basis to other carriers; usage sensitive services to long distance companies; and other local exchange carriers for access to the network in connection with the completion of long-distance calls, as well as reciprocal compensation received from wireless and other local connecting carriers for the use of its facilities. As of June 30, 2011, the company served approximately 3.3 million access lines, 1.3 million high-speed Internet customers, and operated approximately 60,000 fiber route miles. Windstream Corporation is based in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Selena Maranjian]

    The biggest new holdings are Seagate Technology�and Warner Chilcott. Other new holdings of interest include Tellabs (NASDAQ: TLAB  ) and Windstream (NASDAQ: WIN  ) . Tellabs offers a satisfying dividend yield of 3.7%, but the networking equipment maker has been facing some headwinds, such as the death of its CEO and the recent departure of its CFO. Its performance has been spotty, besting estimates in its fourth quarter but disappointing them in the recent first quarter.

  • [By Muhammad Bazil]

    Windstream (WIN) is a leading provider of cutting-edge telecom services and infrastructure, including data and voice services, cloud computing, managed IP networking and network security to U.S. businesses (B2B) as well as broadband, home phone, digital TV and security pack services to residential consumers (B2C). On September 3, 2013, Windstream acquired a holding company and has been renamed into Windstream Holdings. According to the company's announcement:

Top Dividend Stocks For 2015: CenturyLink Inc.(CTL)

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

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Selena Maranjian]

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

  • [By Selena Maranjian]

    Finally, Citadel's biggest closed positions included NetApp�and Newell Rubbermaid. Other closed positions of interest include CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL  ) and Corning (NYSE: GLW  ) . Telecom company CenturyLink has recently been yielding 6.1%, but that reflects a recent dividend cut of about 25% as the company focuses more on share buybacks. It landed a hefty Pentagon contract in April, with a possible 10-year value of $750 million, and has been moving into promising arenas such as cloud computing. The company has substantial debt, topping $19 billion, but also significant free cash flow, near $3 billion annually. Its debt load is lower than some peers, too.

Top Dividend Stocks For 2015: Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated(PEG)

Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated, through its subsidiaries, operates in the energy industry primarily in the northeastern and mid Atlantic United States. The company primarily operates as a wholesale energy supply company that integrates its generating asset operations through its wholesale energy, fuel supply, energy trading, and marketing and risk management activities. It operates nuclear, coal, gas, and oil-fired generation facilities. The company also involves in the transmission of electricity and distribution of electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers, as well as invests in the development of solar generation projects and energy efficiency programs. In addition, it owns and operates domestic projects engaged in the generation of energy; and offers appliance services and repairs to customers. As of December 31, 2010, it owned approximately 13,538 megawatts of generation capacity. The company also owned and operated approximately 17,608 miles of gas mains, 12 gas distribution headquarters, and 2 subheadquarters, as well as 62 natural gas metering and regulating stations. Public Service Enterprise Group was founded in 1985 and is based in Newark, New Jersey.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Mark Skousen]

    And the builder's valuation is still relatively cheap, selling for only 12 times earnings. Toll Brothers has a price/earnings to growth (PEG) ratio of 0.76 (anything less than 1 is considered excellent).

Top Dividend Stocks For 2015: United Bancshares Inc.(UBOH)

United Bancshares, Inc. operates as a bank holding company for The Union Bank Company that engages in the provision of commercial banking services to small and middle-market businesses and individuals. It accepts various deposit products, including checking accounts, savings and money market accounts, time certificates of deposit, time deposits, and demand deposits. The company also offers various loan products that consist of commercial, consumer, agricultural, residential mortgage, and home equity loans. In addition, it provides automatic teller machine services, safe deposit box rentals, and other personalized banking services. The company serves primarily in the Ohio counties of Allen, Hancock, Putnam, Sandusky, Van Wert, and Wood, as well as with office locations in Bowling Green, Columbus Grove, Delphos, Findlay, Gibsonburg, Kalida, Leipsic, Lima, Ottawa, and Pemberville, Ohio. United Bancshares, Inc. was founded in 1904 and is headquartered in Columbus Grove, Ohio.< /p>

Top Dividend Stocks For 2015: CCA Industries Inc.(CAW)

CCA Industries, Inc. engages in manufacturing and selling health and beauty aid products primarily in the United States and Canada. The company primarily offers toothpastes and teeth whiteners under the Plus+White brand; anti-aging skin care products under the Sudden Change brand; nail care treatments under the Nutra Nail and Power Gel brands; medicated topical and shave gels under the Bikini Zone brand; diet supplements under the Mega-T Green Tea brand; and gums and mint products under the Mega?T Green Tea brand. It also provides hair removal and depilatory products under the Hair Off brand; foot-care products under the IPR brand; sun-care products under the Solar Sense brand; shampoos and conditioners under the Wash ?N Curl brand; vanilla fragrances, including perfumes under the Parfume de Vanille brand; ear-care products under the Lobe Wonder brand; topical analgesic products under the Pain Bust*R II brand; and scar diminishing cream under the Scar Zone brand. CCA Indus tries, Inc. markets and sells its products through its sales force, independent sales representatives, and distributors to drug, food, and mass-merchandise retail chains, as well as to warehouse clubs and wholesalers. The company was founded in 1983 and is based in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Top Dividend Stocks For 2015: Hudson City Bancorp Inc.(HCBK)

Hudson City Bancorp, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Hudson City Savings Bank that provides a range of retail banking services. It offers a range of deposit accounts, including passbook and statement savings accounts, interest-bearing transaction accounts, checking accounts, money market accounts, and time deposits, as well as IRA accounts and qualified retirement plans. The company?s loan portfolio primarily comprises one-to four-family first mortgage loans for residential properties; multi-family and commercial mortgage loans; construction loans; and consumer loans, such as fixed-rate second mortgage loans and home equity credit line loans, as well as collateralized passbook loans, overdraft protection loans, automobile loans, and secured and unsecured commercial lines of credit. As of December 31, 2009, it operated 95 branches located in 17 counties throughout the State of New Jersey; 10 branch offices in Westchester County, 9 branch offices in Suffolk Cou nty, 1 branch office each in Putnam and Rockland Counties, and 6 branch offices in Richmond County; and 9 branch offices in Fairfield County, Connecticut. The company was founded in 1868 and is based in Paramus, New Jersey.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Geoff Gannon]

    For example, a bank might explain why they choose to focus on a certain area ��as Hudson City (HCBK) does here:

    ��hrough our branch offices, we have operations in 10 of the top 50 counties in the United States ranked by median household income. Operating in high median household income counties fits well with our jumbo mortgage loan and consumer deposit business model��he northern New Jersey market represents the greatest concentration of population, deposits and income in New Jersey. The combination of these counties represents more than half of the entire New Jersey population and more than half of New Jersey households. The northern New Jersey market also represents the greatest concentration of Hudson City Savings retail operations ��both lending and deposit gathering ��and based on its high level of economic activity, we believe that the northern New Jersey market provides significant opportunities for future growth.��/p>

  • [By Lauren Pollock]

    M&T Bank Corp.(MTB) and Hudson City Bancorp Inc.(HCBK) said they expect additional delays in completing their merger deal, and any action isn’t expected to occur until the latter half of 2014. “While all parties are disappointed that the transaction is delayed further, we are gratified that M&T continues to see the value in the Hudson City franchise,” said Hudson City CEO Ronald E. Hermance Jr.

Top Dividend Stocks For 2015: Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc.(SBGI)

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., a television broadcasting company, owns or provides certain programming, operating, or sales services to television stations in the United States. The company broadcasts free over-the-air programming, such as network provided programs, news produced locally, local sporting events, programming from program service arrangements, and syndicated entertainment programs. It owns or provides programming and operating services pursuant to local marketing agreements, or provides sales services pursuant to outsourcing agreements to 58 television stations in 35 markets. The company was founded in 1952 and is based in Hunt Valley, Maryland.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Dan Radovsky]

    Sinclair Broadcast Group (NASDAQ: SBGI  ) says it is on its way to becoming the nation's largest television broadcasting company if a� definitive agreement it signed with the Allbritton family comes to fruition, according to an announcement today by Sinclair.

  • [By John Udovich]

    Small cap media stock�LIN Media LLC (NYSE: LIN) might not be a household name, but there is a good chance you might be watching the company�� programs because like the Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc (NASDAQ: SBGI) and Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc (NASDAQ: NXST), its helping to consolidate the media industry plus its making investment in other forms of media like social media. The stock has also outperformed those two peers along with the�PowerShares Dynamic Media Portfolio ETF (NYSEARCA: PBS).

Top Dividend Stocks For 2015: Lorillard Inc(LO)

Lorillard, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes in the United States. The company offers 43 different product offerings under the Newport, Kent, True, Maverick, and Old Gold brand names. Lorillard, Inc. sells its products primarily to wholesale distributors, who in turn service retail outlets, chain store organizations, and government agencies, including the United States? Armed Forces. The company was founded in 1760 and is headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Sean Williams]

    This week, I'm going to dip into a sector I normally scream avoidance over and rile a few socially responsible investors in the process by recommending investors embrace U.S. tobacco producer Lorillard (NYSE: LO  ) .

  • [By Alex Planes]

    At the time of the breakup, the American Tobacco Trust controlled or held significant interests in 65 subsidiary companies in the United States, as well as two British companies. These interests were eventually separated into 14 different tobacco companies, of which four became an American tobacco oligopoly to replace the monopoly: R. J. Reynolds (now Reynolds American), Liggett and Myers (now Vector Group (NYSE: VGR  ) ), Lorillard (NYSE: LO  ) , and a diminished American Tobacco.

  • [By gurujx]

    Lorillard (LO): Executive VP and CFO David Taylor Sold 250,069 Shares

    Executive VP and CFO David Taylor sold 250,069 shares of LO stock on Oct. 25 at the average price of $49.44. David H. Taylor owns at least 97,296 shares after this. The price of the stock has increased by 3.94% since.

Top Dividend Stocks For 2015: Lockheed Martin Corporation(LMT)

Lockheed Martin Corporation engages in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration, operation, and sustainment of advanced technology systems and products in the areas of defense, space, intelligence, homeland security, and government information technology in the United States and internationally. It also provides management, engineering, technical, scientific, logistic, and information services. The company operates in four segments: Aeronautics, Electronic Systems, Information Systems & Global Services (IS&GS), and Space Systems. The Aeronautics segment offers military aircraft, including combat and air mobility aircraft, unmanned air vehicles, and related technologies. Its products and programs comprise the F-35 multi-role, stealth fighter; the F-22 air dominance and multi-mission stealth fighter; the F-16 multi-role fighter; the C-130J tactical transport aircraft; and the C-5M strategic airlifter modernization program; and support for the P-3 maritime patrol aircraft, and the U-2 high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft. The Electronic Systems segment provides air and missile defense; tactical missiles; weapon fire control systems; surface ship and submarine combat systems; anti-submarine and undersea warfare systems; land, sea-based, and airborne radars; surveillance and reconnaissance systems; simulation and training systems; and integrated logistics and sustainment services. The IS&GS segment offers information technology solutions and advanced technology primarily in the areas of software and systems integration for space, air, and ground systems to various defense and civil government agencies. The Space Systems segment provides government and commercial satellites; strategic and defensive missile systems, including missile defense technologies and systems, and fleet ballistic missiles; and space transportation systems. Lockheed Martin Corporation was founded in 1909 and is based in Bethesda, Maryland.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Katie Spence]

    The money is running dry
    Defense spending is being slashed left and right, which means the Pentagon is making hard decisions when it comes to military needs. Currently, there are a number of programs that the Pentagon is unwilling to sacrifice, such as Lockheed Martin's (NYSE: LMT  ) F-35 fighter, Huntington Ingalls Industries' (NYSE: HII  ) CVN-78 aircraft carrier, and Northrop Grumman's (NYSE: NOC  ) RQ-4 Global Hawk drones -- good news for these guys. Then, there are other programs that the Pentagon has deemed less critical. That includes Boeing's C-17 contract.

  • [By Blake Bos]

    In the following video, Fool consumer-goods/industrials analyst Blake Bos breaks down Aviation Week's top aerospace and defense picks by annual revenue. His discussion includes Cubic (NYSE: CUB  ) , Rockwell Automation (NYSE: ROK  ) , Exelis (NYSE: XLS  ) , Boeing (NYSE: BA  ) , and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT  ) .

  • [By Stoyan Bojinov]

    The Maryland-based aerospace and defense manufacturer, Lockheed Martin (LMT), announced on Monday that it may have to revise its outlook for the year ahead depending on whether or not Congress passes the proposed two-year budget deal.
    Marillyn Hewson, the company’s CEO, is hopeful that the U.S. Senate will approve the proposed agreement that passed through the House of Representatives last week. The proposed budget deal would call for roughly half of the $52 billion in automatic spending cuts facing the Pentagon in 2014. Hewson went on to state�”We had factored sequestration in, so now that we have more input … assuming that the budget gets approved, we’ll have an opportunity to revisit what our outlook is.”

    Shareholders can expect for any revisions in the company’s guidance to be issued during the next earnings call on January 23rd, 2014.

    If the budget deal passes, Lockheed Martin will most likely revise upwards its outlook to reflect the higher defense budget that the U.S. government will have to spare. Lockheed Martin shares inched higher to kick off the week, gaining 0.73% as the closing bell rang. The stock is up nearly 52% year-to-date.

  • [By Rich Smith]

    On Monday, the Department of Defense awarded 19 contracts, which added up to just under $1.5 billion in total value. The largest award actually went to a private company to pay for "full line food distribution" in Okinawa. But the second-largest contract went to Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT  ) .

Top Dividend Stocks For 2015: Sempra Energy(SRE)

Sempra Energy, together with its subsidiaries, develops new energy infrastructure, operates utilities, and provides energy-related products and services worldwide. It operates in six segments: SDG&E, SoCalGas, Sempra Generation, Sempra Pipelines & Storage, Sempra LNG (liquefied natural gas), and Sempra Commodities. The SDG&E segment has electric and natural gas franchises that locate, operate, and maintain facilities for the transmission and distribution of electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial, street and highway lighting, and direct access customers. The SoCalGas segment has natural gas franchises that locate, operate, and maintain facilities for the transmission and distribution of natural gas to electric generation, wholesale, large commercial, industrial, and enhanced oil recovery customers. The Sempra Generation segment involves in the generation and wholesale distribution of electricity through a fleet of natural gas-fired power generati on facilities in Arizona, Nevada, and Indiana, as well as Mexico with a total capacity of 2,513 megawatts. The Sempra Pipelines & Storage segment operates 1,883 miles of distribution pipelines, 224 miles of transmission pipelines, and 3 compressor stations in Mexico; operates Mobile Gas, a natural gas distribution utility located in Mobile and Baldwin counties in Alabama; and operates natural gas storage facilities in Washington County of Alabama and Simpson County of Mississippi. The Sempra LNG segment involves in the receipt, storage, and vaporization of LNG, as well as the purchase and sale of natural gas. It operates Energia Costa Azul LNG receipt terminal in Baja California, Mexico, as well as Cameron LNG receipt terminal in Hackberry, Louisiana. The Sempra Commodities segment engages in the commodities-marketing business. Sempra Energy has operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, and Peru. The company was founded in 1998 and is headquartered i n San Diego, California.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Richard Stavros]

    The Top Low-Carbon Utilities

    PG&E Corp (NYSE: PCG) Exelon Corp (NYSE: EXC) Entergy Corp (NYSE: ETR) Public Service Enterprise Group Inc (NYSE: PEG) NextEra Energy Inc (NYSE: NEE) Dominion Resources Inc (NYSE: D) Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE)

    But that is not to say that, over the long term, high-carbon utilities might not be able to crack the technology and cost issues that would make “clean coal” competitive with other low-carbon energy sources. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz has said, “No discussion of US energy security and reducing global CO2 emissions is complete without talking about coal and the technologies that will allow us to use this resource more efficiently and with fewer greenhouse gas emissions.”

  • [By Richard Stavros]

    There are also thermal energy storage systems that turn rooftop air conditioners and campus-wide cogeneration plants into virtual-grid, energy-shifting arrays, and PG&E Corp (NYSE: PCG) is developing a compressed-air energy storage (CAES) system. Meanwhile, Southern California Edison, a subsidiary of Edison International (NYSE: EIX), is looking into using plug-in electrical vehicles as storage, and Sempra Energy’s (NYSE: SRE) San Diego Gas and Electric has focused on microgrid projects.

  • [By Justin Loiseau]

    According to the press release, Southern's newest solar farm will be built, operated, and maintained by First Solar. Generated electricity is slotted for Sempra Energy's (NYSE: SRE  ) San Diego Gas & Electric Company through a 20-year power purchase agreement.

  • [By Rich Duprey]

    Utility operator�Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE  ) announced yesterday its second-quarter dividend of $0.63 per share, the same rate it paid last quarter after raising the payout 5% from $0.60 per share.

Top Dividend Stocks For 2015: Genuine Parts Company (GPC)

Genuine Parts Company distributes automotive replacement parts, industrial replacement parts, office products, and electrical/electronic materials in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Mexico. The company operates in four segments: Automotive Parts Group, Industrial Parts Group, Office Products Group, and Electrical/Electronic Materials Group. The Automotive Parts Group segment distributes automotive replacement parts for imported vehicles, trucks, SUVs, buses, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, farm vehicles, small engines, farm equipment, and heavy duty equipment. This segment also distributes accessory items used in the automotive aftermarket, such as repair shops, service stations, fleet operators, automobile and truck dealers, leasing companies, bus and truck lines, mass merchandisers, farms, industrial concerns, and individuals. It owns and operates automotive parts distribution centers and automotive parts stores under the NAPA name. The Industrial Parts G roup segment distributes industrial replacement parts and related supplies, such as bearings, mechanical power transmission, industrial automation, hose, hydraulic and pneumatic components, industrial supplies, and material handling products. This segment serves various industries, including the food, forest products, primary metal, paper, mining, automotive, petrochemical, and pharmaceutical industries. The Office Products Group segment involves in the wholesale distribution of a line of office and other business related products that are used in the daily operation of businesses, schools, offices, and institutions. The Electrical/Electronic Materials Group segment distributes insulating and conductive materials, assembly tools, test equipment, and custom fabricated parts. This segment provides distribution services to original equipment manufacturers, motor repair shops, and assembly markets. The company was founded in 1928 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

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

  • [By Ben Levisohn]

    Heading into last night’s earnings report, O’Reilly had returned 50% this year including reinvested dividends, easily besting peers Autozone (AZO), which had returned 22%, Genuine Parts (GPC), which has returned 26%, and Advance Auto Parts (AAP), which had returned 38%,� thanks in large part to a 25% gain in the last month due to its purchase of General Parts International. Clearly, investors thought O’Reilly had something going for it its competitors did not.