Thursday, October 31, 2013
Modern Day Horror Stories: 'And Then My Money ... Vanished'
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Today’s After Hours Earnings: Metlife Inc, The Allstate Corporation, Hanesbrands Inc., More (ALL, MET, MAR, More)
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After the closing bell on Wednesday, many big name dividend-paying companies announced their quarterly earnings. Below, we break down all of the earnings information that dividend investors need to know.
Allstate Insurance Beats EPS Views, Misses on Revenue
Allstate (ALL
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
International Business Machines Corp. Beefs Up Buybacks, Declares Dividend (IBM)
The New York-based information technology juggernaut, IBM Corp. (IBM
First, the company’s board of directors approved an additional $15 billion to be used for stock repurchases. This brings the total amount designated for share buybacks to over $20 billion, seeing as how there were approximately $5.6 billion left at the end of September 2013 from the prior repurchase authorization. According to company officials, IBM expects to request another repurchase authorization at the October board meeting in 2014.
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The second piece of good news on the day was a declared dividend, adding to the company’s flawless quarterly payout record since 1916. IBM announced a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.95 per share, payable on December 10, 2013 to shareholders on record as of November 8, 2013.
IBM shares rallied on Tuesday, gaining a solid 2.69% as the trading session drew to a close. The stock is down nearly 5% YTD.
Monday, October 28, 2013
What Disappointment? S&P 500 Hits New High Despite Tepid Data, Upcoming Fed Meeting
Stocks didn’t move much today, but the little they did gain was enough for the S&P 500 to hit a new all-time high.
Reuters The S&P 500 rose 0.1% to 1,762.11 today–another record–while the Dow Jones Industrials was little changed at 15,568.93.
The gains came despite disappointing factory, manufacturing and pending home-sales data, continuing a stretch of disappointing data ahead of tomorrow’s Fed meeting. BlackRock’s Russ Koesterich considers what it means for monetary policy:
Interestingly, the trend of weak economic data does not appear to be bothering investors, who are continuing to bid stock prices higher. Flows into stock funds jumped last week, with significant inflows moving into U.S. funds.
As we alluded to earlier, much of this optimism can be attributed to the fact that investors are expecting the Federal Reserve to hold off on tightening monetary policy. Specifically, investors and economists are pushing back expectations for when the Fed will begin to taper (i.e., when the central bank will begin to reduce its asset purchases), as well as the likely date when the Fed will begin to increase short-term rates. This has also had the effect of reducing longer-term expectations for interest rates. As recently as a few months ago, many were expecting rates to rise dramatically late this year and early next year, but those expectations have since been softened.
Still, it’s not all about the Federal Reserve. JPMorgan’s Joseph Tanious notes that not only is the S&P 500 hitting a new high, but so are corporate profits. He writes:
After record-setting earnings in the first two quarters of 2013, the S&P 500 is on track to hit another historic high in profits for 3Q13. If this occurs, the first three quarters of this year will have been the most profitable ever in the 56-year history of the S&P 500.
Future earnings growth through margin expansion seems unlikely, as an improving labor market and higher interest rates will most likely squeeze margins. However, stable revenue growth, share buybacks and the additional use of debt financing should support modest earnings gains in the year ahead.
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Given average valuations, return expectations in U.S. equities should be tempered. However, strong corporate fundamentals, and stock prices that are not yet overly expensive, signal that U.S. equities still have room to run.
Speaking of earnings (I use that transition too much, don’t I?), shares of Herbalife (HLF) is little changed at $67.90 in after-hours trading, after the direct marketer said it earned $1.32 a share, beating analyst forecasts for $1.15. It also raised full year guidance, but filed to delay it 10-Q. Linn Energy (LINE), meanwhile, has gained 2% to $26.95 after reporting a loss of 13 cents a unit, which includes a 42 cent loss from derivative contracts.
Saturday, October 26, 2013
5 Best Heal Care Stocks To Invest In Right Now
Investors in Bank of America (NYSE: BAC ) are getting a welcome reprieve today after better-than-expected data emerged from the housing sector. Shares of the nation's second largest bank by assets have fallen by nearly 10% since the beginning of June, but are rebounding today by more than 2%.
The primary catalysts for today's climb are three reports concerning the housing sector. First, the Federal Housing Finance Agency released its estimate of April home prices (link opens PDF). According to its House Price Index, the price of homes across the country increased by 0.7% in April compared to March. On a year-over-year basis, the growth rate surged to 7.4%. It was the 15th�consecutive monthly price increase in the purchase-only, seasonally adjusted index.
Second, a separate report from Standard & Poor's confirmed these results. Its Case-Shiller Home Price Index (link opens PDF) shot up on a sequential basis by 2.52% in April and on an annual basis by 12.05%. Moreover, all 20 cities covered by the index showed positive year-over-year returns for the fourth consecutive month, and a handful of them posted their highest annual gains since the start of their respective indices.
5 Best Heal Care Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Stryker Corporation(SYK)
Stryker Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a medical technology company worldwide. The company operates in three segments: Reconstructive, MedSurg, and Neurotechnology and Spine. The Reconstructive segment offers orthopaedic reconstructive (hip and knee) and trauma implant systems, as well as other related products. The MedSurg segment provides surgical equipment and surgical navigation systems; endoscopic and communications systems; patient handling and emergency medical equipment; and other related products. The Neurotechnology and Spine segment offers neurovascular products, spinal implant systems, and other related products. The company sells its products through local dealers and direct sales force to doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities, as well as through third-party dealers and distributors in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Japan, Canada, the Pacific region, and the Latin America region. Stryker Corporat ion was founded in 1941 and is headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Equities Trading UP
MAKO Surgical (NASDAQ: MAKO) shot up 82.38 percent to $29.49 after the company agreed to be acquired by Stryker (NYSE: SYK) for $30 per share in cash. Shares of Ascena Retail Group (NASDAQ: ASNA) got a boost, shooting up 16.34 percent to $20.17 after the company reported upbeat fiscal fourth-quarter results. - [By Keith Speights]
Stryker (NYSE: SYK ) executives placed blame squarely on the 2.3% medical device tax included in Obamacare as the reason for eliminating 5% of its workforce -- 1,170 jobs. Most of Stryker's cuts were implemented by the end of 2012 before the new taxes went into effect.
- [By Dan Carroll]
One look around the industry this quarter tells the story. Zimmer Holdings (NYSE: ZMH ) reported its own third-quarter results today. Zimmer's hip sales grew by only 2%, and while growing knee product sales managed to lift the company's quarterly revenue above expectations, the business hasn't been enough to save Zimmer's earnings from falling due to legal fees and other expenses. It's a similar story at Stryker (NYSE: SYK ) , another major rival in the orthopedics space. Stryker made a big move recently to purchase robotic orthopedic surgical firm MAKO Surgical to jump-start sales growth, and it'll need the jolt. Stryker's knee business grew revenue by only 2.1% in the third quarter, and while its hip sales managed strong growth, the firm will need its smaller, faster-growing businesses to continue to come through.
- [By Dan Carroll]
The industry's way of the future
Emerging market trauma buys isn't a new trend. Smith & Nephew follows in the footsteps of Stryker (NYSE: SYK ) , its fellow orthopedics player that spent $764 million on purchasing China's largest trauma business, Trauson Holdings, back in January. Zimmer Holdings (NYSE: ZMH ) also took a step into China's orthopedics market, purchasing Chinese�firm Montagne back in 2010 to push its own emerging market expansion.
5 Best Heal Care Stocks To Invest In Right Now: China Auto Logistics Inc.(CALI)
China Auto Logistics Inc. primarily engages in the sale and trading of imported automobiles in the People?s Republic of China. It also offers financing services, including letter of credit issuance, purchase deposit financing, and import duty advances, as well as automobile value-added services, including customs clearance, storage, and nationwide delivery services to automobile dealers and agents. In addition, the company operates Websites that provide subscribers with sales and trading information for imported and domestically manufactured automobiles. Its Websites include cali.com.cn, which provides auto living public with information about auto and auto-related products and services; at188.com that provides sales and trading information about imported automobiles, as well as parts and components information; at160.com, which provides sales and trading information about domestically manufactured automobiles; and goodcar.cn that provides information relating to automoti ve products and services, including discounted gas, car washes, emergency roadside assistance, body-shop repairs, and car maintenance. The company sells automobiles to authorized dealers, free traders or wholesalers, government agencies, and individual customers. China Auto Logistics Inc. is based in Tianjin, the People?s Republic of China.
Best China Companies To Buy For 2014: Iamgold Corp Com Npv (IMG.TO)
IAMGOLD Corporation, a mid-tier gold mining company, engages in the exploration, development, and production of mineral resource properties. It primarily explores for gold, silver, zinc, copper, niobium, diamonds, and other metals. The company holds interests in five operating gold mines, a niobium mine, a diamond royalty, and exploration and development projects located in Africa and the Americas. Its development projects include the Westwood project located in the Abitibi region, Qu茅bec, Canada; and the Camp Caiman project located in northeastern French Guiana, South America. 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 headquartered in Toronto, Canada.
5 Best Heal Care Stocks To Invest In Right Now: LogMein Inc.(LOGM)
LogMeIn, Inc. provides on-demand, remote-connectivity, collaboration, and support solutions to small and medium-sized businesses, information technology (IT) service providers, mobile carriers, and consumers in the United States and internationally. Its services include remote user access services, which allow users to access computers and other Internet-enabled devices to continue working while away from the office or to access personal systems while away from home; remote support and management services to deliver support and management of IT resources remotely; and remote collaboration to conduct online meetings and share documents, images, and their desktop with other users. The company?s remote user access services comprise LogMeIn Free, a free remote access service, which provides secure access to a remote computer or other Internet-enabled device; LogMeIn Pro, a remote access service; LogMeIn Hamachi, a hosted virtual private network service; and LogMeIn Ignition, a service that delivers access to remote computers that subscribe to LogMeIn Free or LogMeIn Pro. Its remote support and management services consist of LogMeIn Rescue, a Web-based remote support service to support remote computers and applications, and assist computer users via the Internet; LogMeIn Rescue+Mobile, an add-on of LogMeIn Rescue?s Web-based remote support service to remotely access and support smartphones and tablet computers; LogMeIn Central, a Web-based management console; and LogMeIn Backup, a service that subscribers install on two or more computers to create a backup network. The company?s remote collaboration services include join.me and join.me pro, which are browser-based online meetings and screen sharing services. LogMeIn, Inc. has a strategic agreement with Intel Corporation. The company was formerly known as 3am Labs, Inc. and changed its name to LogMeIn, Inc. in March 2006. LogMeIn, Inc. was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Woburn, Massachu setts.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Brian Pacampara]
What: Shares of software company LogMeIn (NASDAQ: LOGM ) soared 21% today after its quarterly results and outlook topped Wall Street expectations.
- [By Rich Smith]
Remote-access software maker LogMeIn (NASDAQ: LOGM ) reported strong Q1 earnings Thursday evening, beating analyst estimates on both profits and revenues, and guiding investors to expect higher-than-consensus earnings for both Q2 and the full year. LogMeIn said it earned $0.12 per share in the fiscal first quarter, will earn $0.11 to $0.12 in Q2, and keep on that track, with about $0.48 per share at the midpoint of guidance for the year.
- [By Rich Smith]
This series, brought to you by Yahoo! Finance, looks at which upgrades and downgrades make sense, and which ones investors should act on. Today, we're focusing on tech stocks, as analysts pull back on Facebook (NASDAQ: FB ) and Dolby Labs (NYSE: DLB ) , but become more bullish on LogMeIn (NASDAQ: LOGM ) . Let's start with that last one.
5 Best Heal Care Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Creso Exploration Inc. (CXT.V)
Creso Exploration Inc., an exploration stage company, engages in the exploration and development of mineral properties in Canada and Guatemala. It primarily explores for gold and silver, as well as for copper and zinc. The company�s principal mining exploration holdings include the Tyranite, Minto, and Duggan properties located in the Shining Tree mining camp of northern Ontario. Creso Exploration Inc. is headquartered in Montreal, Canada.
Friday, October 25, 2013
Stocks to Watch: UPS, Newell Rubbermaid, National Oilwell
Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Friday’s session are United Parcel Service Inc.(UPS), Newell Rubbermaid Inc.(NWL) and National Oilwell Varco Inc.(NOV)
UPS’ third-quarter revenue rose on increased domestic and international shipments. Core earnings also climbed and just topped Street estimates, helping send shares up.
Newell Rubbermaid’s third-quarter earnings rose 78% after the consumer-products maker booked a gain on the sale of its hardware business. Shares climbed as the bottom line beat expectations.
National Oilwell’s third-quarter earnings rose 3.9%, buoyed by top-line growth throughout the oilfield-services equipment manufacturer’s operations. Results beat views and all three of its segments posted revenue gains. Shares rose.
Microsoft Corp.(MSFT) bucked a recent trend among major sellers of technology to corporations, posting double-digit percentage increases in both revenue and profit for the fiscal first quarter. The results easily topped Wall Street’s expectations, sending shares up.
Amazon.com Inc.(AMZN) reported its third quarterly loss in the past year after a more than nine-year run of profitable quarters. The online retailer, as expected, reported a big jump in revenue heading into the holiday season, its biggest quarter of the year. Shares rose.
Zynga Inc.'s(ZNGA) third-quarter loss narrowed as the social-game maker continued to slash expenses, though daily average users continued to decline. The stock, which has fallen sharply from its initial public offering price of $10 a share in late 2011, rose as the adjusted loss and bookings topped the company’s own forecast.
Career Education Corp.(CECO) agreed to sell its European education properties to private equity firm Apax Partners for a total of $305 million. Shares of Career Education rose.
Qlik Technologies Inc.'s(QLIK) third-quarter earnings soared due to a tax benefit, but higher costs more than offset revenue growth. Shares dropped as revenue missed expectations and the company’s outlook for the current quarter was short of analysts’ estimates.
Outerwall Inc.'s(OUTR) third-quarter profit more than doubled on a gain tied to the company’s equity interest in ecoATM, which the kiosk operator fully acquired this summer. Shares jumped, as Outerwall’s results were mostly strong compared to the weak guidance it issued last month.
Healthways Inc.'s(HWAY) profit fell 64%, hurt by shrinking margins and flat revenue. Shares of Healthways fell as the company lowered its guidance for the year, while issuing downbeat estimates for the fourth quarter and 2014.
Deckers Outdoor Corp.'s(DECK) third-quarter profit slid 23% as the footwear maker reported sharply higher overhead expenses, masking higher sales of brands like Ugg and Teva. But the company’s shares jumped, as results exceeded Deckers’ July targets and the company issued rosy outlook commentary for the year.
DuPont Co.(DD) intends to spin off its performance chemicals segment to existing shareholders, a move that comes as some investors called on management to improve the company’s financial results. Shares rose.
Callaway Golf Co.'s(ELY) third-quarter loss narrowed significantly as the golf equipment maker reported a jump in sales and sharp increase in gross margins. Results for the period easily topped Wall Street’s expectations, sending shares up.
ResMed Inc.’s profit rose 9% in its fiscal first quarter, buoyed by revenue growth and widening margins. However, shares dropped as results came in below expectations.
Lear Corp.'s(LEA) third-quarter profit fell 7.1% due to higher expenses that masked revenue and margin growth at the automotive-seating and electric-systems company. But results easily beat estimates, and the company raised its full-year revenue guidance, sending shares up.
AbbVie Inc.'s(ABBV) third-quarter earnings fell 39% due to higher costs and expenses, offsetting strong revenue growth from key drug Humira. Results topped expectations, and the company raised the low end of its full-year adjusted earnings estimate. Shares rose.
Eastman Chemical Co.'s(EMN) third-quarter earnings surged as the diversified chemical and materials producer reported sales growth as well as fewer charges related to its acquisition of Solutia Inc. last year. But it lowered its earnings estimate for the year on expectations it will continue to face challenges in its adhesives and plasticizers business, as well as higher raw-materials and energy costs. Shares dropped.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
The Ongoing Conflict Between Money and Emotions
For the last few years, we've heard that we need to have more grown-up conversations about the country's financial situation. But these adult conversations often fail to acknowledge how we actually feel about money. In theory, making sacrifices and lowering government debt seems logical until it comes to a program that affects us directly. Then we feel conflicted. Logically, we know what should happen, but emotionally we're torn.
We often do the same thing when it comes to personal finance.
We may know that it's time to get serious about money, but nobody accounts for our emotions when trying to whip us into shape. Part of how we feel about money is the sense of security that can come with it. Our personal sense of security has a lot to do with trust, and trust is often a function of reliability. Recent events, however, are forcing us to ask questions about whom we can trust and what we can rely on in a way that we may not be fully prepared for.
"The heart of the problem," said one retiree in a New York Times story that ran in 2011, "is the rapid change that has left Americans confused, disoriented and struggling to adapt." Institutions we believed were worth trusting, like our employers, banks, and states, have made changes that undermine that trust.
That emotions don't fit on a spreadsheet is one of the great paradoxes of personal finance. We often have an expectation that making good money decisions is a function of opening up Excel and making a formula or model. But good financial decisions require more than a spreadsheet. They also require that we understand our own behaviors and our emotional response to money.
We may want financial decisions to be a function of a mathematical equation, but the reality we face is less straightforward. Often we have two potential answers to the financial decision we're trying to make: the spreadsheet answer and the "allow me to sleep at night" answer.
So we are not cold and removed from emotion. If that were the case, we wouldn't feel a twinge when we have to tell a child that we can no longer afford a special treat. And if we were that removed, we'd avoid heated arguments with spouses about shrinking family budgets. It would be easy, since it's only money, right?
There will be times when you may have to make financial decisions that don't make sense on a spreadsheet, but they may allow you to sleep at night. How much is a good night of sleep worth to you?
That said, we can't always make every decision that lets us sleep better. That could be a quick way to undermine financial security, which would only lead to more sleepless nights. In the conversations I've heard of on the topic, however, there's more acknowledgment that both kinds of answers exist. Knowing this fact can help us adapt as we engage in the give and take between our spreadsheets and our hearts.
5 Best Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now
A version of this post appeared previously at The New York Times.
Carl Richards is a financial planner and the director of investor education for the BAM ALLIANCE, a community of more than 130 independent wealth management firms throughout the United States. Visit Behavior Gap for more of Carl's sketches and writings.
The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Millennials might not be so bad with money afte…
Instead, he sees the money trickling back into his pocket as he covers the usual post-graduate expenses of rent and graduate school, among daily costs.
"When I was an undergrad, the last thing I thought about was saving money," the Northeastern University graduate student says. "I knew after graduation that I wanted to make money but still wasn't concerned with conserving it."
Frias' financial woes are not uncommon among Generation Yers—those born in the early 80s to early 2000s—but a recent study shows broke Millennials may not be deserving of the infamous reputations they've earned when it comes to financial decisions.
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A recent Pew Research Center study indicates that while student debt is greater than before, Millennials are shedding more debt than their predecessors, Generation X.
Further, experts say Millennials aren't "entitled" or "lazy" as some say be quick to say, but just unlucky.
"Every generation is impacted by their environment, and Millennials are no different," says Doug Spencer, a certified financial planner and a resident financial planner with Financial Finesse.
While data show Millennials are making better cash flow decisions than their older predecessors, the vague distant issue of retirement remains.
When it comes to feeling on track for retirement, only 17% of Millennials felt confident in their future after employment, according to a recent study by Financial Finesse. Just 29% said they had ever used a retirement calculator.
But are they the worst generation when it comes to saving?
Spencer says it is too early to tell, but that his generation certainly has been hit harder than generations that came before.
In their lifetime! , credit use has exploded, personal savings rates have declined and social security pensions will likely be substantially less than their parents or grandparents received, he says.
"I thought about saving money all the time [in college]," says Kelly Ward, a recent graduate from Northeastern University. "I could never save from semester to semester because I'd have to pay whatever I could at the beginning of each semester and pay the rest in loans."
The pattern continues after college as her savings continue to go straight to loans.
Jake Fuentes, 27, faced a similar challenge after he graduated college with a combined debt of almost $50,000 in loans and credit cards.
"We have to face some really unique challenges. ... We need to save more than really any other generation, and student loans have hit our group harder," says Fuentes, a former chief of staff for emerging products at Visa.
Additionally, the digital age that so surrounds Millennials might be the very reason they aren't likely to prioritize saving, Fuentes found.
With the days of balancing checkbooks and carrying cash replaced with a quick debit card swipe, and easy transactions from savings to checking accounts, budgeting isn't practical or known of in the millennial world.
Fuentes is now the CEO of Level, a recently-released app to aid in tracking money, targeted at the 18 to 35 age group.
"There's an entire industry to make it easier to spend money, ever since the dawn of the credit card, but there's no mechanism that helps us make responsible decisions," he says.
Level is just one way that Generation Y can break the mold of the reputation that follows them.
"In many ways they almost have the most information and opportunities," Spencer says. "If they start now...they have a chance to be the "greatest generation" when it comes to financial readiness."
What Can Be Done:
1. Have an emergency fund of about $1,000 to $2,000. That's the first priority, Spencer says.
! 2. Now, h! e says, you can focus on eliminating debt.
3. Stick to whatever budget you decide to use and leave a little money to have fun or you won't stick to it, he advises.
4. Finally, Spencer says, it's full steam ahead to your long term goals of maximizing your 401(k) and saving for a home. Consider increasing what you set aside each year, he adds.
Melanie Dostis is a senior at Northeastern University.
Saturday, October 19, 2013
On the Job: Don’t take blame for others’ mistakes
We may fear getting in trouble with the boss, or we may worry that confessing will hurt our reputation or career permanently.
COLUMN: Make mistake? You can repair reputation
COLUMN: Learn from mistake, then get back to work
When people make mistakes, the biggest problem is often fear that causes them to try to cover it up, says Daryl Pigat, a branch manager with Robert Half International in New York.
"You have to own it. If you don't admit it, it's going to come back to haunt you," he says. "Take responsibility, say what you've learned from it, be willing to move on and don't harp on it for six months."
What if the mistake wasn't really your fault, but you get the blame?
According to a recent OfficeTeam survey, managers can get caught in this situation.
Thirty percent senior managers say they've accepted blame at work for something that wasn't their fault, according to the survey, based on telephone interviews with more than 1,000 senior managers at companies with 20 or more employees. Why? Some 34% report they felt indirectly responsible for the problem; 28% said they didn't want to get someone else in trouble.
Don't let a boss or co-worker blame you when you didn't make the mistake.(Photo: Photos.com, Getty Images)
While the attitude of taking one for the team may be admirable, Pigat says such a strategy can undermine your career if you're constantly shouldering the blame for mistakes.
"You don't want to become the scapegoat," he says. "You have to walk a fine line because you do need to worry about yourself. While it may be easier to diffuse a situation by accepting blame and moving on, you don't want to be a ! lackey."
For some workers, it's not easy to avoid becoming scapegoats when the boss constantly blames errors on them.
In that case, document what's really happening and show how you were not responsible for the error, Pigat says. If the situation doesn't improve, it may mean you have to talk to the boss privately about his penchant for heaping unwarranted blame on your shoulders.
When confronting a boss on difficult issues, some basic rules apply, says Renee Evenson, author of "Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Difficult People." She has this advice:
• Stay calm. Focus on the facts and offer a positive solution.
Don't approach your boss unless you believe you can maintain your confidence and stay assertive. No matter the situation or what the boss says, you must remain respectful. Never badmouth the boss or the organization.
• Offer examples. This is where documentation can come in handy because it will help you stick to the facts.
• Use "I" statements. When talking to the boss, use phrases such as "the situation makes me uncomfortable" or "this issue matters to me."
• Define the problem. State clearly what you see as the issue.
• Offer a solution. Say it something like, "I'd prefer that if you believe I made a mistake that you ask me about it before blaming me in front of others."
• Agree on a resolution. Thank the boss for her attention to the matter and offer reconciliation by noting you'll focus more on key issues that seem to concern her.
Dealing with a colleague who likes to blame others may be easier, Pigat says, since it can be done over a friendly get-together after work. This can be especially effective if this co-worker also has blamed others unfairly.
"You can use documentation in these cases to also back up your point, but you can often just let the person know that you're aware of what he's doing and so are others," Pigat says. "Often these people think they're being really crafty, and you just need to let ! them know! you're onto them."
Anita Bruzzese is author of 45 Things You Do That Drive Your Boss Crazy ... and How to Avoid Them, www.45things.com. Twitter: @AnitaBruzzese.
Friday, October 18, 2013
Top 10 Tech Companies To Own For 2014
I recently met up with Doreen Mogavero, a longtime New York Stock Exchange trader, on the floor of the NYSE.
I asked Doreen how the world's most famous stock exchange has changed during her three-decade career. Here's what she had to say (transcript follows):
Doreen Mogavero: I've been a trader on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange since 1979.
Morgan Housel: How has the New York Stock Exchange changed during the time you've been here?
Mogavero: That's a very broad question. We've changed in a number of ways, and I think one of our very best points is that we always do change, right? I think obviously technology would be the biggest change that we've seen, and the effect that technology has had on the trading floor in terms of the amount of people that are here.
Housel: So when we look right behind you, there are shockingly few people down there, and it seems like a large portion of who is down there is the media. So what happened to all the people? Where did they go?
Top 10 Tech Companies To Own For 2014: Hemispherx Biopharma Inc (HEB)
Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc. (Hemispherx) is a specialty pharmaceutical company engaged in the clinical development of new drugs therapies based on natural immune system enhancing technologies for the treatment of viral and immune based chronic disorders. Hemispherx focuses on two core pharmaceutical technology platforms Ampligen and Alferon N Injection.The commercial focus for Ampligen includes application as a treatment for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and as an influenza vaccine enhancer (adjuvant) for both therapeutic and preventative vaccine development. Alferon N Injection is a United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved product with an indication for refractory or recurring genital warts. Alferon LDO (Low Dose Oral) is a formulation under development targeting influenza. It has three subsidiaries BioPro Corp., BioAegean Corp., and Core BioTech Corp. The Company's foreign subsidiary is Hemispherx Biopharma Europe N.V./S.A.
Ampligen
Ampligen is an experimental drug, which is undergoing clinical development for the treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). Over 1,000 patients have participated in the Ampligen clinical trials representing the administration of more than 90,000 doses of this drug. The Company is also engaged in ongoing, experimental studies assessing the efficacy of Ampligen against influenza viruses.
Alferon N Injection
Alferon N Injection is the registered trademark for the Company's injectable formulation of natural alpha interferon. Interferons are a group of proteins produced and secreted by cells to combat diseases. The Company's natural alpha interferon is produced from human white blood cells. Alferon N Injection [Interferon alfa-n3 (human leukocyte derived)] is a highly purified, natural-source, glycosylated, multi-species alpha interferon product.
Alferon LDO (Low Dose Oral)
Alferon LDO [Low Dose Oral Interferon Alfa-n3 (Human Leukocyte Derived)]! is an experimental low-dose, oral liquid formulation of Natural Alpha Interferon and like Alferon N Injection should not cause antibody formation, which is a problem with recombinant interferon. It is an experimental immunotherapeutic that works by stimulating an immune cascade response in the cells of the mouth and throat, enabling it to bolster systemic immune response through the entire body by absorption through the oral mucosa.
The Company competes with Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, AstraZeneca, Baxter International, Fletcher/CSI, AVANT Immunotherapeutics, AVI BioPharma and Genta.
Top 10 Tech Companies To Own For 2014: Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited(YGE)
Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, development, manufacture, marketing, sale, and installation of photovoltaic (PV) products in the People?s Republic of China and internationally. The company offers PV cells, PV modules, and integrated PV systems, as well as polysilicon ingots, blocks, and wafers. It sells its PV modules to distributors, wholesalers, power plant developers and operators, and PV system integrators in Germany, the United States, Italy, China, Spain, the Netherlands, Greece, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, South Korea, and Japan under the Yingli and Yingli Solar brand names. The company also offers its integrated PV systems directly to end-users or to contractors for use in the electricity projects, as well as to mobile communications companies in the People's Republic of China. Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Baoding, the People? s Republic of China.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Paul Ausick]
Canadian Solar has been on a tear, and the company�� market value is a fairly modest $587 million. But that�� most of the Chinese solar players. Only Trina Solar Ltd. (NYSE: TSL) and Yingli Green Energy Holding Co. Ltd. (NYSE: YGE) have higher market caps.
- [By Joshua Bondy]
The Chinese firm�Yingli Green Energy (NYSE: YGE ) is stuck playing catch up. Its most advanced residential panel offers 16.5% efficiency, while SunPower's X-Series is 21.5% efficient.�
- [By Travis Hoium]
Shipment and margin trends aren't usually isolated to one Chinese solar manufacturer so it's easy to assume that other companies will see disappointing numbers in the first quarter. The first two to watch are Yingli Green Energy (NYSE: YGE ) and Canadian Solar� (NASDAQ: CSIQ ) , who round out the top three Chinese solar module suppliers with Trina. All three have high debt, low margins, and massive losses. �
Top Heal Care Companies To Invest In Right Now: SDL PLC(SDL.L)
SDL plc provides global information management software and services to multinational businesses. Its Web content management, ecommerce, structured content and language technologies, and language services are used for content creation, management, translation, and publishing. The company operates through three segments: Language Services, Language Technologies, and Content Management Technologies. The Language Services segment provides translation services to customer?s multilingual content in multiple languages. The Language Technologies segment engages in the sale of enterprise, desktop, and statistical machine translation technology developed to help automate and manage multilingual assets, as well as provides associated consultancy and other services. The Content Management Technologies segment involves in the sale of content management technologies developed to help automate and manage content to deliver an interactive and personalized customer experience in multiple languages across Websites, documentation, and channels. The company serves aerospace, automotive, chemicals, oil and gas, electronics and high technology, fast moving consumer goods, finance, industrial goods, IT consulting, life science, media and publishing, public sector, services, software, telecoms, travel and tourism, and translation industries. SDL plc has a strategic partnership with Sapient. The company was founded in 1992 and is based in Maidenhead, the United Kingdom.
Top 10 Tech Companies To Own For 2014: Agilysys Inc.(AGYS)
Agilysys, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides information technology (IT) solutions to corporate and public-sector customers primarily in North America. It operates in three segments: Hospitality Solutions Group (HSG), Retail Solutions Group (RSG), and Technology Solutions Group (TSG). The HSG segment offers application software and services that streamline management of operations, property, and inventory for customers in the gaming, hotel and resort, cruise lines, food management services, and sports and entertainment markets. The RSG segment provides solutions for retailers to enhance productivity, operational efficiency, technology utilization, customer satisfaction, and in-store profitability that comprise customized pricing, inventory, and customer relationship management systems. This segment also offers implementation plans and supplies the hardware package required to operate the systems, including servers, receipt printers, point-of-sale terminals, and wireless devices for in-store use by retail store associates. The TSG segment provides various solutions that comprise enterprise architecture, infrastructure optimization, storage and resource management, identity management, and business continuity for the finance, government, healthcare, telecommunications, education, and other industries. The company was founded in 1963 and is headquartered in Solon, Ohio.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Evan Niu, CFA]
What: Shares of Agilysys (NASDAQ: AGYS ) have soared today by as much as 11% after the company reported earnings.
So what: Revenue in the fiscal fourth quarter rose 21% to $63 million, with the company's retail segment driving nearly all of those gains. Non-GAAP net income per share came in at $0.15, swinging into the black relative to the $0.16 per share adjusted loss a year ago. CEO James Dennedy said the company outperformed its expectations for the year.
- [By Seth Jayson]
Calling all cash flows
When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on Agilysys (Nasdaq: AGYS ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.
Top 10 Tech Companies To Own For 2014: Perceptron Inc.(PRCP)
Perceptron, Inc. develops, produces, and sells non-contact measurement and inspection solutions in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. It offers AutoGauge systems that are used in the assembly and fabrication plants of automotive manufacturers; AutoGauge Plus, which offers freeform surface scanning and discrete feature measurement in one solution; AutoFit systems that are used in automotive manufacturing plants to contain, correct, and control the fit of exterior body panels; AutoScan systems, which provide a non-contact method of gathering data for the analysis of the surface contour of a part or product; and AutoGuide systems to calculate the difference between theoretical and actual relationships of a robot and the part being assembled, and send compensation data in six degrees of freedom to the robot. The company also offers ScanWorks, a hardware/software component set that allows customers to add digitizing capabilities to their machines or systems; ScanWorks xyz, a 3D sc anning solution designed for retrofitting 3-axis machines; ToolKit, a software solution for CMM manufacturers, system integrators, and application software developers; WheelWorks software and sensors that offer a non-contact method of measuring wheel position for use in automated or manual wheel alignment machines in automotive assembly plants; and Multi-line Sensors for use in automotive assembly plant wheel alignment systems. In addition, it manufactures visual inspection devices and accessories for the mechanical market; plumbing diagnostic equipment, meter imager systems, line detector accessories, and handheld inspection devices for the plumbing market; optical inspection devices for the construction and DIY market; and imaging solutions for the electrical market, as well as offers value-added services, including training, field services, launch support, consulting, maintenance agreements, repairs, and software tools. The company was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Plymouth, Michigan.
Top 10 Tech Companies To Own For 2014: Morningstar Inc.(MORN)
Morningstar, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides independent investment research to investors worldwide. The company operates in two segments, Investment Information and Investment Management. The Investment Information segment offers data, software, and research products and services for individual investors, financial advisors, and institutional clients. It provides Licensed Data, a set of investment data spanning various investment databases, including real-time pricing data available through electronic data feeds; Morningstar Advisor Workstation, a Web-based investment planning system; Morningstar.com, a membership service and Internet advertising space; Morningstar Direct, a Web-based institutional research platform; integrated Web tools to build customized Websites or enhance existing sites; Morningstar Principia, a CD-ROM-based investment research and planning software; Morningstar commodity data that provides data and analytics for the energy, financial, and agriculture sectors; equity and corporate credit research; and Morningstar structured credit ratings and research services. This segment also offers various financial communications materials, real-time data and desktop software, investment software, and investment indexes, as well as various print and online publications. The Investment Management segment offers various products and services, such as Investment Consulting that focuses on investment monitoring and asset allocation for funds of funds, including mutual funds and variable annuities; Retirement Solutions comprising the Morningstar Retirement Manager and Advice by Ibbotson platforms; and Morningstar Managed Portfolios, a asset management service includes series of mutual fund, exchange-traded fund, and stock portfolios. This segment serves banks, brokerage firms, insurance companies, mutual fund companies, and retirement plan sponsors and providers. Morningstar, Inc. was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rich Duprey]
Financial information provider Morningstar (NASDAQ: MORN ) announced yesterday its second-quarter dividend of $0.125 per share, the same rate it's paid the last two quarters after it increased it 25% from $0.10 per share.
- [By Seth Jayson]
Calling all cash flows
When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on Morningstar (Nasdaq: MORN ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below. - [By Bill Smith]
FDS operates in a highly competitive industry, some with more resources. Their competitors include:
Thomson Reuters Corp. (TRI)BloombergInteractive (IDC)MSCI Inc. (MXB)Morningstar Inc. (MORN)Track Data Corp. (TRAC)Edgar Online (EDGR)McGraw-Hill (MHP ) - [By Reuters]
Simon Dawson/Bloomberg via Getty Images TORONTO -- BlackBerry reported a quarterly loss of nearly $1 billion Friday, in line with last week's warning, days after accepting its largest shareholder's tentative $4.7 billion bid to take it out of the public eye. BlackBerry (BBRY), which had warned of poor results on Sept. 20, said its net loss for the second quarter ended on Aug. 31 was $965 million, or $1.84 a share. Revenue fell 45 percent to $1.6 billion from a year earlier. The loss included a writedown of about $934 million for unsold Z10 phones, a touchscreen model that the company had hoped would reverse its fading fortunes. The phone has sold badly with business and consumer customers alike. "This write-off is very real," said Morningstar (MORN) analyst Brian Colello. "They bought a lot of inventory hoping to sell it. The auditors were not convinced that BlackBerry can sell it or sell it at prices that the company was hoping for. We see no reason to be more optimistic than them." Excluding the Z10 writedown and restructuring costs, BlackBerry reported a loss of $248 million, or 47 cents a share. The company plans to shed 4,500 jobs, or more than one-third of its workforce, as it shrinks to focus on corporate and government customers. It will not host the typical post-results call for investors after signing a tentative $9-a-share agreement to be acquired by a consortium led by Fairfax Financial, its largest shareholder, Monday. The Waterloo, Ontario-based company's steep revenue decline and mounting losses have revived fears that BlackBerry, a pioneer in the smartphone sector, faces an ignominious death. "We are very disappointed with our operational and financial results this quarter and have announced a series of major changes to address the competitive hardware environment and our cost structure," Chief Executive Officer Thorsten Heins said in the earnings statement. BlackBerry said Heins wasn't available for an interview. The company said it
Top 10 Tech Companies To Own For 2014: TransAct Technologies Incorporated(TACT)
TransAct Technologies Incorporated designs, develops, assembles, markets, and services transaction and specialty printers. It offers thermal, inkjet, and impact printers to print various transaction records, such as receipts, tickets, coupons, register journals, and other documents. The company also provides various printing supplies and consumables, including inkjet cartridges, ribbons, receipt papers, and other transaction supplies, as well as replacement parts; maintenance, repair, and testing services; and refurbished printers. TransAct Technologies Incorporated sells its printers under the Epic, Ithaca, and Printrex brand names for applications primarily in the banking, POS, casino and gaming, lottery, oil and gas, and medical and mobile markets. The company sells its products to original equipment manufacturers, value-added resellers, and selected distributors, as well as directly and online to end-users in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Austral ia, the Caribbean Islands, and the south Pacific. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Hamden, Connecticut.
Top 10 Tech Companies To Own For 2014: Jadason Enterprises Ltd (J03.SI)
Jadason Enterprises Ltd, an investment holding company, primarily distributes equipment and supplies to the printed circuit board (PCB) industry in Asia. The company operates a distribution network in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Taiwan. It also provides PCB drilling services to its customers in China and Malaysia, as well as mass lamination services to PCB manufacturers operating in China. The company also engages in the provision of testing services for PCBs; manufacture and trading of PCB and semi-conductor machineries; production and distribution of wet process equipment; provision of machinery installation and maintenance services; sales support and procurement services; and in-circuit testing services, as well as provides testing services for PCBs. Further, it provides printing services, as well as provides assembly of laser photoplotters, exposure machines, and other PCB equipment for the PCB industry. Jadason Enterprises Ltd was found ed in 1980 and is based in Singapore.
Top 10 Tech Companies To Own For 2014: Cad It(CAD.MI)
CAD IT S.p.A. offers software solutions, as well as provides maintenance, personalization, integration, and other correlated services to banking, insurance, and private and public administration markets primarily in Italy. The company�?s Finance division provides Financial Area, an application that manages various functions connected to the negotiation, settlement, accounting, and administration of domestic and foreign financial operations. It also offers various solutions for fund allocation, tangible asset management, private banking, link-up to international markets, derivate management, general group data, credit, and forex. The company's Public Administration division provides planning and control systems, and a range of instruments and services, including local taxation, a package for the management of revenue, and voluntary/forced tax collection activities; B-Eval, a tool to monitor, measure, and evaluate the objectives and activities of a public body; and Babel e, a business intelligence platform to support public administration in activities, such as cost analysis, planning and programming, PEG/detailed plan of objectives, strategic control, staff cost control, and aim assessment. Its Industry division offers solutions for the management of various activities, such as accounting, production, management control, workflow management, quality system, designing, and supply chain management; and an ERP solution that covers various areas of company management. The company also offers outsourcing services in the areas of technical infrastructure, data protection, hardware and software maintenance, applicative software maintenance, technical and applicative monitoring, and disaster recovery. CAD IT S.p.A. was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Verona, Italy.
Top 10 Tech Companies To Own For 2014: TriQuint Semiconductor Inc.(TQNT)
TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc. provides radio frequency (RF) solutions and technology for communications, defense, and aerospace companies worldwide. The company designs, develops, and manufactures RF solutions with gallium arsenide (GaAs), gallium nitride, bipolar high electron mobility transistor, surface acoustic wave (SAW), temperature compensated surface acoustic wave, bulk acoustic wave (BAW), copper flip, and wafer level packaging technologies. The company offers an array of filtering, switching, and amplification products for RF, microwave, and millimeter-wave applications. It sells electronic components for mobile phones, including transmit modules, RF filters, power amplifiers and power amplifier modules, duplexers, switches, other RF devices, and integrated products to mobile device manufacturers. The company also offers signal amplification and filtering products, including a portfolio of GaAs microwave monolithic integrated circuits and transistors, and SAW and BAW filter components that support the transfer of voice, data, and video across wireless or wired infrastructure. Its network products comprise millimeter wave power amplifiers, frequency converters, and voltage controlled oscillators. In addition, the company provides defense and aerospace devices, including packaged products, die-level integrated circuits (ICs), microwave monolithic ICs, and multi-chip modules to military contractors serving the U.S. government for use in various communications and phased array radar programs, such as ship-based, airborne, and battlefield systems, as well as sat-com, electronic warfare, and guidance applications. Further, TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc. offers foundry services. The company sells its products through independent manufacturers? representatives, independent distributors, and direct sales staff. TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc. was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Hillsboro, Oregon.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Seth Jayson]
TriQuint Semiconductor (Nasdaq: TQNT ) reported earnings on April 24. Here are the numbers you need to know.
The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended March 30 (Q1), TriQuint Semiconductor met expectations on revenues and missed expectations on earnings per share. - [By Nate Pile]
Steve Halpern: So, for your specific recommendations in the semiconductor sector, you've initially taken positions in TriQuint Semiconductor (TQNT), Cirrus Logic (CRUS), and NVIDIA (NVDA). Could you tell us about those positions and the strategy that you're using with them?
- [By Selena Maranjian]
Among holdings in which Graham Capital Management increased its stake was TriQuint Semiconductor (NASDAQ: TQNT ) . The stock recently received an upgrade to "buy" from analysts at Charter Equity, but my colleague Rich Smith thinks the stock is still overvalued. Anyone thinking the stock is on the rich side won't be happy about the company's stock-buyback plans. Its last earnings report was disappointing, but management sees better days ahead due to the introduction of many new products, along with a growing market.
- [By Eric Volkman]
TriQuint Semiconductor (NASDAQ: TQNT ) is aiming to boost the value of its shares with a fresh repurchase scheme. The firm announced it has authorized the buyback of up to $75 million worth of its common stock. This will be bought "from time to time in the open market at prevailing market prices or through privately negotiated transactions at the discretion of Company management."
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Hot Performing Stocks To Invest In 2014
In the following video, Fool contributor Matt Thalman discusses the benefits of investing your money in easily understandable and well-followed ideas. An investor who gets into confusing and complicated strategies will not only have a lot less control but also a higher level of risk involved in the investment, because you won't be able to foresee any possible risks or even fully understand how the investment is performing at any given time.
But following the Dow Jones (DJINDICES: ^DJI ) or any of its 30 components makes things much easier for the average market participant. Stocks such as Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO ) or Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG ) are both very stable companies and have easy-to-understand business models in terms of how they make money.
To learn more, check out the video.
The best investing approach is to choose great companies and stick with them for the long term. The Motley Fool's free report "3 Stocks That Will Help You Retire Rich" names stocks that could help you build long-term wealth and retire well, along with some winning wealth-building strategies that every investor should be aware of.�Click here now�to keep reading.
Hot Performing Stocks To Invest In 2014: Activision Blizzard Inc(ATVI)
Activision Blizzard, Inc., through its subsidiaries, publishes online, personal computer (PC), console, and handheld games worldwide. The company develops and publishes PC-based computer games and maintains its proprietary online-game related service, Battle.net. It publishes interactive software products and peripherals. Its products cover various game categories, such as action/adventure, action sports, racing, role-playing, simulation, first-person action, music, and strategy. Activision?s products comprise Monsters vs. Aliens, Guitar Hero, X-Men Origins, PROTOTYPE, Transformers, Ice Age, Wolfenstein, Marvel Ultimate Alliance, Bakugan Battle Brawlers, DJ Hero, Band Hero, Call of Duty, Tony Hawk, Guitar Hero, Three map packs for Call of Duty, True Crime, Spider-Man, Bakugan, Blur, and Singularity. Its customers include retail outlets and distributors, including mass-market retailers, consumer electronics stores, discount warehouses, and game specialty stores. Activision Blizzard, Inc. is based in Santa Monica, California. Activision Blizzard, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Vivendi.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Timothy Boyle]
My video game addiction began with an elegantly wrapped box 16 years ago on Christmas morning of 1997. Little did I know that this�box�would have such a profound impact on my life (and social skills, or lack thereof). Beginning with Nintendo 64, and later Dreamcast, PlayStation 2, Nintendo Wii and currently PlayStation 3, it's safe to say that video games have been a big part of my life. And this doesn't solely pertain to consoles --�Warcraft III and World of Warcraft, both played on PC, once dominated my life as well. It's clear the company that has had the most significant presence in my life is undoubtedly�Activision Blizzard� (NASDAQ: ATVI ) .
- [By Demitrios Kalogeropoulos]
In the video below, Fool contributor Demitrios Kalogeropoulos discusses Disney's best shot at turning its struggling interactive division around -- by directly challenging one of�Activision Blizzard's (NASDAQ: ATVI ) most profitable franchises.
- [By Dividend]
Activision Blizzard (ATVI) has a market capitalization of $18.65 billion. The company employs 6,700 people, generates revenue of $4.856 billion and has a net income of $1.149 billion. Activision Blizzard�� earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $1.779 billion. The EBITDA margin is 36.64 percent (the operating margin is 29.88 percent and the net profit margin 23.66 percent).
- [By Rick Munarriz]
Aug. 18
Let's call this the day that Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI ) has been worrying about for months.Disney will introduce Disney Infinity, a new console gaming experience that borrows liberally from the concept of Activision's Skylanders:�Players explore virtual worlds based on the actual figures that they place on connected docks.
Hot Performing Stocks To Invest In 2014: Intrepid Mines Ltd (IAU.AX)
Intrepid Mines Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration and development of precious metal properties in Indonesia. The company primarily explores for gold, silver, and copper. It principally holds 80% interest in the Tujuh Bukit project that consists of 2 tenements covering a total area of 11,621.45 hectares located in southeast Java, Indonesia. The company was formerly known as NuStar Mining Corporation Limited and changed its name to Intrepid Mines Limited as result of its merger with Intrepid Minerals Corporation in July 2006. Intrepid Minerals Limited was incorporated in 1993 and is based in Spring Hill, Australia.
Hot Growth Companies To Watch For 2014: China HGS Real Estate Inc.(HGSH)
China HGS Real Estate Inc., through its subsidiary, Shaanxi Guangsha Investment and Development Group Co., Ltd., engages in the real estate development in the People?s Republic of China. It is involved in the construction and sale of residential apartments, parking lots, and commercial properties. The company develops multi-layer, sub-high-rise, and high-rise apartment buildings, as well as office buildings. China HGS Real Estate Inc. was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Hanzhong City, the People?s Republic of China.
Hot Performing Stocks To Invest In 2014: Pizza Inn Inc.(PZZI)
Pizza Inn, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates and franchises pizza buffet, delivery/carry-out, and express restaurants in the United States and internationally. Its buffet restaurants offer dine-in, carryout, and catering services, as well as delivery services. The company?s delivery/carryout restaurants provide delivery and carryout services and are located in shopping centers or other in-line retail developments. Its express restaurants serve its customers through various non-traditional points of sale and are located in convenience stores, food courts, college campuses, airport terminals, athletic facilities, or other commercial facilities. The company operates restaurants under Pizza Inn trademark. As of July 1, 2011, it owned and operated 5 restaurants; and franchised approximately 300 restaurants. Pizza Inn, Inc. was founded in 1958 and is based in The Colony, Texas.
Hot Performing Stocks To Invest In 2014: ProShares UltraShort S&P500 (SDS)
ProShares UltraShort S&P500 (the Fund), formerly UltraShort S&P500 ProShares, seeks daily investment results that correspond to twice the inverse daily performance of the S&P 500 Index. The S&P 500 Index is a measure of large-cap United States stock market performance. The S&P 500 Index is a capitalization-weighted index of 500 United States operating companies and real estate investment trusts (REITs) selected by an S&P committee through a non-mechanical process that factors criteria, such as liquidity, price, market capitalization, financial viability and public float.
The S&P 500 Index is a price return index. Reconstitution of the Index occurs both on a quarterly and on an ongoing basis. The Fund takes positions in securities and/or financial instruments that, in combination, should have similar daily return characteristics as 200% of the daily return of the index. The Fund�� investment advisor is ProShare Advisors LLC.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Udovich]
The so-called Hindenburg Omen predicting a major market crash is increasingly popping into the headlines; but regardless of whether or not you believe in the prophecy,�short ETFs like ProShares UltraShort S&P500 ETF (NYSEARCA: SDS), ProShares Short Dow30 ETF (NYSEARCA: DOG) and�ProShares UltraShort QQQ ETF (NYSEARCA: QID) can off you some protection or insurance. We have also periodically added short ETFs to our�SmallCap Network Elite Opportunity (SCN EO) portfolio as a�hedge against short-term�market downturns or�short-term trend reversals and right now, we have the ProShares UltraShort S&P500 ETF in our portfolio.
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
The Tech You Put on Is About to Take Off
A recent report by Juniper Research has added more fuel to the wearable technology fire, noting that the next few years could bring lots of growth to the new industry. Google (NASDAQ: GOOG ) has essentially already entered the market with Glass, as has Samsung with the Galaxy Gear, and many expect Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL ) to enter the space next year. With big players already entering the market, the question isn't whether tech companies will pursue wearables, but rather which ones are in the best position to benefit.
The next four years could be huge
The report from Juniper says that by 2018 the smart wearable device industry will have retail revenues of $19 billion -- compared to just $1.4 billion this year. That massive growth is expected to come from the high price points of wearable devices and strong demand from users.
As far as pricing goes, Samsung is selling its Galaxy Gear smart watch starting at $299. Back in August, an analyst at CIMB Securities said that he expects Apple to launch its rumored iWatch in the second half of 2014, and ship as many as 63.4 million in the first year at the price of $199. Google is currently selling its Glass device mainly to developers for $1,500, but that price will likely be significantly lower when it hits the mass market. An analyst at IHS recently told The New York Times that the price will be around the same as a tablet or smartphone.
Right now, Samsung's Galaxy Gear is the one of the only real measuring sticks we have for what a smart wearable device should be priced at. If Apple releases a smart watch next year, investors and consumers will have a better idea of how the pricing structure will be set up. But for now, Samsung has set the pace.
Betting on the biggest payoff
Though Google and Samsung may be the first movers in wearable, the more important question for investors is who is going to make the biggest gains in this new industry.
Google Glass has received a lot of attention, but I have my doubts the device will be received warmly by the consumer market. Aside from breaking many social norms -- for example, the feeling that you're being constantly recorded by Glass -- glasses are much more intrusive into everyday life than a wristwatch, and some people simply don't like wearing glasses. Because of these social and practical hurdles, I think Apple has an advantage in the space. Samsung can't be counted out, but reviews of the product have been less than stellar.
Over the past three months, Apple has hired two fashion CEOs: The first was Paul Deneve from Yves-Saint Laurent, and just this week Angela Ahrendts from Burberry. Deneve became a vice president in charge of "special projects" at Apple while Ahrendts will take over the company's retail and online stores. Hiring the two doesn't necessarily prove Apple is working on a smart watch, but if Apple were making a watch it would make sense to hire people familiar with fashion retail. Apple isn't quick to jump into new device segments, but when it does, it seeks to dominate them. Hiring Deneve and Ahrendts could easily be a part of that domination strategy. If the company brings a smart watch to market, it's likely to follow the same path other Apple devices take and be marketed to everyone, not just a niche group. This would entail making a device that feels like a fashion accessory and not just a computer on a wrist. Apple's latest hires may prove to be just more speculation for a possible iWatch, but I think it's more likely they hint at a whole new industry -- and a new mobile future for Apple.
Top 5 Companies To Buy For 2014
Peeking through Apple's looking glass
Apple doesn't like to give away its secrets, but peeking into the mind of companies is exactly what investors need to do in order to make the right decisions. That's why The Motley Fool created "5 Secrets to Apple's Future," a free report to help you understand what Apple's doing. This 100% free guide includes actionable advice that you can put to use right now. Just click here now for instant access.
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
S&P to Lose Nearly 16% by Year End: Wells Fargo Analyst
The S&P may be trading above 1,700, but a Wells Fargo analyst says it’s not likely to stay there, as corporate earnings get squeezed—especially in the consumer-staples sector.
Wells Fargo (WFC) senior analyst Gina Martin Adams, who spoke with CNBC over the weekend, sees the major index at 1,440 by year end, or down nearly 16%. She also moved consumer staples to underweight.
Earnings revisions have been hurting the sector, which has been “leading the S&P on the downside,” Martin Adams said.
The reason? “Disposable income growth, at 2.4% year over year, is growing at its slowest pace in nearly 50 years, outside of the 2008-'09 recession,” she said.
The bearish analyst and institutional equity strategist also points out that the consumer-staples sector is down about 2.5% in the past three months.
“The bear case for staples and the [S&P] index at large is the earnings environment,” she said; earnings growth is at a 5%-6% pace for the third quarter but could slow down in the fourth.
Hot Heal Care Stocks To Own Right Now
“We are still pretty cautious, because we think ultimately stocks follow earnings growth, though they’ve decoupled a bit recently,” Martin Adams said.
Consumer-Focused ETFs
The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR (XLP) and the iShares S&P Global Staples ETF (KXI) both trail the S&P 500 year to date. They are up about 16% and 12.5%, respectively, while the index has jumped about 19% so far in 2013.
For the past three months, the S&P has improved 1%, while XLP is down about 2%; the KZI has fallen about 0.3%. Both ETFs are trailing the S&P for the past month of trading.
The First Trust Consumer Staples AlphaDEX Fund (FXG), however, is bucking these trends. It’s ticked up a whopping 32% this year, 4% in the past three months and is ahead of the S&P for the last 30 days of trading (1.3% vs. 0.8%).
While FXG has large holdings of Herbalife (HLF), Safeway (SWY), Kroger (KR) and Constellation Brands (STZ), XLP and KXI have Procter & Gamble (PG) and Coca-Cola (KO) as top holdings, along with Philip Morris (PM).
The divergence in performance shows just how selective investors need to be in their sector picks given the current market and economic volatility.
Moreover, both in the short and longer term, Martin Adams’ concerns reflect growing economic and wealth inequality and the factors weighing on wages in Middle America that will impact the consumer-staples sector (and others) in the future. “It looks like pressure is on the consumer through the end of the year,” the Wells Fargo analyst said, “so we are moving away from staples.”
---
Check out International Stocks Win, Munis Lose in September: Morningstar on ThinkAdvisor.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Chrysler inability to get new products out is a…
"Everyone else is launching numerous new vehicles," said Michelle Krebs, senior analyst with Edmunds.com.
Where's the flood of fuel-efficient new cars and crossovers that made Chrysler's alliance with Fiat look so promising? Four years into the companies' cooperation, as Fiat says it wants 100% ownership of Chrysler, it's a two-vehicle trickle. The 2013 Dodge Dart compact sedan got off to a slow start thanks to a partial model line. A string of delays have plagued the 2014 Jeep Cherokee. It was supposed to be on sale by now, but more than a year after shutting down a Toledo assembly plant to build the new SUV, Chrysler has yet to ship a single Cherokee to a dealer.
LATEST DELAY: Dealers worry as Jeep Cherokee due in July still not on sale
Despite that, Chrysler has logged 42 consecutive months of sales growth thanks to a few new vehicles and well-executed upgrades to others.
"Chrysler has come a long way," since it nearly collapsed during the Great Recession, said Karl Brauer, senior analyst with KBB.com. "How much better could it have done if the launches had gone right? This is really limiting Chrysler's success. Sales and profits have been compromised."
Make no mistake: Chrysler would not exist today without its partnership with Fiat. The two automakers have done an exceptional job improving Chrysler's existing models, breathing life into the leftovers Daimler and Cerberus discarded. The all-new, all-Chrysler vehicles that have debuted in the last three years — Chrysler 300; Dodge Charger, Durango and Viper; Jeep Grand Cherokee, and Ram pickups — have mostly been excellent.
That's not enough, though. None of those vehicles addresses the heart of the market: the mill! ions of people who buy family sedans and crossovers.
"Every delay becomes more obvious and critical," Krebs said. "Chrysler is starting from behind because it was so badly neglected" when Daimler and Cerberus owned it.
Four years into the five-year Chrysler-Fiat recovery plan announced in November 2009, most of the promised new models based on Fiat architectures have been delayed or canceled, including replacements for the 200 and Avenger midsize sedans, new compact and subcompact Jeeps, a midsize crossover from Chrysler and a Dodge subcompact car.
Chrysler remains overly dependent on pickups, minivans, SUVs and big sedans, just like it was before Fiat's driven and charismatic chief Sergio Marchionne took charge.
"It's a growing problem," said Stephanie Brinley, senior analyst with IHS Automotive. "There's a lot of uncertainty about Chrysler's new model plan, what's been delayed and for how long."
Chrysler achieved a lot in the first two years of Marchionne's leadership. The design and engineering teams breathed new life into weak vehicles like the Chrysler Sebring/200 and Dodge Journey. The marketing group created brilliant ads that inspired employees and convinced customers to take another look at Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep.
Company insiders also point out that they added some vehicles to the five-year model plan, including the hot-selling and profitable Ram pickup and Jeep Grand Cherokee.
But progress has ground nearly to a halt since work turned to developing new models that tap into Fiat's expertise with small, fuel-efficient vehicles.
That makes flawless quality even more important when the 2014 Cherokee finally does go on sale.
"It's good to be cautious and get things right. Having to fix a car three months after you sold it is worse than launching it three months late," Brinley said.
The preferred situation, of course, is to launch a vehicle on time and with high quality.
Chrysler's next opportunity to do that comes next year with t! he eagerl! y awaited, badly needed and Fiat-based replacement for the 200 midsize sedan.
Saturday, October 12, 2013
ICF International: An Opportunity Created By Concerns Over Lower Government Spending
Key takeaways
ICF International (ICFI) trades at an attractive multiple due to concerns that lower government spending (~three quarters of its business) will negatively affect results.However recent contract wins and an expected strong 2H mitigate these concerns.Moreover, a successful acquisition strategy reduced its dependence on government spending and resulted in significant EBITDA growth, high free cash flow and an almost 50% debt reduction.Company overview
ICFI provides consulting services and technology solutions to U.S. and non-U.S. based government and commercial clients. Its government clients include federal, state, local and non-U.S. governments. Its commercial clients include airlines, airports, utilities, financial institutions, healthcare organizations, law firms, non-profit organizations, oil companies and retail firms.
The key markets are:
Energy, environment and infrastructure.Health, social programs and consumer/financial.Public safety and defense.
Why does this opportunity exist?
ICFI is caught in the perfect storm of the effects of sequestration, the continuing government shutdown and the increasing possibility of the U.S. defaulting on its debt. In the mrq, revenue only rose 0.8% to $241.6 million as strong commercial and non-U.S. government business offset weaker state and local government business. EBITDA declined 8.2% to $22.4 million and the margin declined 90 basis points to 9.3% due to increased subcontract activity.
As a result, ICFI trades at a low EBITDA multiple (especially relative to its closest peers) despite the positive fundamentals mentioned below.
However this creates an asymmetric opportunity as ICFI is effectively responding to the first fear and the second and third fears should eventually recede.*
For example, management said on the most recent conference call that federal government revenue remained stable due to its strong reputation and long-term client relationships in fast-growing niche markets such as healthcare, energy and infrastructure. ICFI won almost 100 new federal government contracts and awards as well as hundreds of awards from state/local and non-U.S. governments.
Management even reported strong proposal activity in the federal market, which is evident by the recent $189 million contract win from the U.S. Agency for International Development's Bureau for Global Health. This superior company-specific performance despite challenging overall industry conditions should be rewarded with a higher multiple.
Management expects 2H sales to be significantly ahead of 1H13 and raised the revenue guidance midpoint (to $955-975 million from $935-975 million) due to continued growth in the commercial business and an expected ramp-up in government contracts.
The book-to-bill ratio rose to 1.0 from 0.85 in the year ago period due to broad-based strength while the total pipeline rose $600 million sequentially to $3.6 billion with almost half of the increase from the commercial business. Moreover the dollar value of proposals submitted rose by more than 70% at the end of July 2013. Some of these contracts are 2-3 years in duration with the possibility of an extension. If awarded these contracts would provide a steady revenue stream.
*If the government remains shut indefinitely and the U.S. defaults on its debt later this month, no stock will be spared.
ICFI has domain expertise in fast-growing niche markets
ICFI can effectively compete against much larger peers ! such as B! ooz Allen due to its focus on a small number of markets and its proprietary analytics/methods. The latter provides a key competitive advantage (e.g. the ability to deliver a cost-competitive and customized solution). Moreover these intangible assets are not property valued on the balance sheet however they should eventually be reflected in the income and cash flow statements.
Moreover, ICFI should benefit from the increasing secular and global demand for its services that address critical issues such as energy efficiency, clean energy, health care cost containment and homeland security.
The ability to leverage its strong reputation as a prime contractor for advisory work into full lifecycle solutions (e.g. implementation, evaluation and improvement) and larger and longer contracts is a significant growth opportunity. Being the prime contractor is becoming increasingly important for federal clients and ICFI is positioned to take advantage of this as ~87% of 2012 revenue was from prime contracts.
Another growth driver is helping state and local governments adapt to the reality of lower budgets. ICFI should be able to capture this "low hanging fruit" by selling more services such as cybersecurity, program management and strategic communications to existing clients.
Moreover, its performance measurement and program evaluation services help these governments increase efficiency and save money. In this instance, lower government spending should be viewed as a blessing in disguise as any near-term weakness can be more than offset by increased sales to new and existing clients.
Growth through acquisitions strategy results in a more diverse revenue stream and growing cash flow
At first glance, ICFI does not appear to be diversified given that 68% of revenue is from the U.S. government.
H! owever, t! here are two significant mitigating factors.
First, ICFI is diversified within these markets as the chart below shows. Moreover, in 2012 no single contract accounted for more than 4% of revenue and the top 10 contracts only accounted for ~16%.
Second, ICFI has successfully implemented a growth through acquisitions strategy over the past eight years. This reduced its dependence on U.S. government spending and significantly diversified the revenue stream (e.g. by client, business and geography).
Source: Company presentation
However all growth through acquisitions strategies are not the same, nor should the companies that employ them receive the same multiple. For example, debt-fueled growth should not be given a higher multiple as there is little management skill required (especially if overpaying) and more importantly the risk is significantly increased.
However as the charts below show, EBITDA rose (as expected from acquisitions) yet management used the growing free cash flow to pay down debt. In addition to its much lower debt load, ICFI has access to $290.6 million under its credit facility.
Moreover, this is a margin expansion story as the growing commercial business has higher margins than the government business. For example, the energy segment should experience secular growth and higher margins due to the increasing need to control rising energy costs and reduce the environmental impact through the use of cleaner energy sources. In the mrq, revenue from commercial energy efficiency programs rose 21.3% and accounted for 37.5% of total commercial revenue. ICFI believes it is the market leader in residential energy efficiency programs and reported increased market share in the commercial industrial sector.
Risks
Dependent on government spending. ICFI still receives a majority of its revenue from various U.S. governments and is dependent on congressional appropriations/agency allocations. This risk is mitigated by the continued expansion of its commercial client base however this presents new challenges as many of these clients operate in cyclical industries.
Total backlog may not be realized. ICFI may not receive revenue for the total amount of its backlog (especially if a client does not renew a contract or an award is protested) or may receive the money later than expected.
Contract cost overruns. ICFI is exposed to the risk of underestimating the cost of fulfilling contracts. This risk is mitigated by employing three types of contracts (time-and-materials, cost-based and fixed-price).
Conclusion
The target price of $42.38 is based on a 10x EBITDA multiple, which is conservative given the discount to the peer group average multiple and the fact that it is based on the low end of management guidance."
The pullback to the 50! DMA prov! ides a perfect place for a tight 5% stop loss. The time frame is 12-24 months given the current uncertainty surrounding government spending and ongoing expansion of the commercial business.
*2013 revenue guidance of $955-975 million and EBITDA margin of 9.5-10%
Source: ICF International: An Opportunity Created By Concerns Over Lower Government SpendingDisclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. (More...)
Friday, October 11, 2013
JPMorgan Chase Posts Unexpected Loss, $7.2B in Legal Expenses
Updated from 9:14 a.m. ET with additional detail throughout, comments from conference call. JPMorgan Chase (JPM) reports third-quarter loss of $380 million or 17 cents per share. Revenue came in at $23.9 billion. Analysts expected the bank to report an earnings per share of $1.17 on revenues of $23.94 billion, according to Thomson Reuters. Losses include $7.2 billion in legal expenses, including reserves for litigation.
NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- JPMorgan Chase reported an unexpected loss in the third quarter on the back of higher-than-expected legal expenses as the bank faced "escalating demands and charges from multiple government agencies."
This is the first loss the bank has ever reported since Jamie Dimon took over as CEO in 2006, a loss that is all the more painful considering the bank managed to stay profitable throughout the financial crisis. It is also the first time it has missed estimates since December 2011.
Still, shares were trading in the green early Friday. The bank's underlying businesses performed mostly in line with expectations. Investors also appear to be optimistic that the bank is well reserved for future legal losses, with the bank disclosing for the first time that it had $23 billion in reserves for litigation. The New York-based bank reported net loss for the third quarter of $380 million or 17 cents a share, compared to $6.5 billion or $1.60 a share in the second quarter and $5.7 billion or $1.40 a share during the third quarter or 2012. Revenue on a managed basis for the third quarter was $23.9 billion, down 8% from the previous quarter and down 8% year-over-year. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected earnings of $1.17 a share on revenue of $23.94 billion. The third-quarter results included $7.20 billion in after-tax legal expenses ($1.85 per share after-tax decrease in earnings), including reserves for litigation and regulatory proceedings. It also included a $1.6 billion pretax benefit ($992 million after tax or 26 cents per share) from reduced reserves in consumer and community banking, in line with its guidance and expectations. Excluding these items, the bank pointed out that it earned a "core" profit of $5.8 billion or $1.42 per share. "While we had strong underlying performance across the businesses, unfortunately, the quarter was marred by large legal expense. We continuously evaluate our legal reserves, but in this highly charged and unpredictable environment, with escalating demands and penalties from multiple government agencies, we thought it was prudent to significantly strengthen them. While we expect our litigation costs should abate and normalize over time, they may continue to be volatile over the next several quarters," JPMorgan Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon said in a statement. He added that the bank continues to seek "fair and reasonable" settlement with the government on mortgage-related issues, "one that recognizes the extraordinary circumstances of the Bear Stearns and Washington Mutual transactions, which were undertaken at the request or encouragement of the U.S. Government." JPMorgan entered into three major settlements in the third quarter. These included an agreement to pay $410 million "in penalties and disgorgement to ratepayers," to settle Federal Energy Trading Commission charges of market manipulation, $920 million in fines to settle multiple probes of the 2012 "London Whale" trading fiasco and another $369 million in fines and customer refunds to settle regulatory charges of "illegal credit card practices." JPMorgan has been negotiating with the Department of Justice, bank regulators and states' attorneys general to settle numerous criminal and civil investigations of its mortgage lending and sales activities. The settlement could end up as high as $11 billion, according to media reports, and the negotiations may have been held back by the ongoing partial shutdown of the federal government.
The Wall Street Journal reported late Thursday that the bank and the Department of Justice were still far from reaching an agreement.
In a presentation to investors, the bank said that in its estimate, 80% of the mortgage-backed securities losses relate to those securities sold by Washington Mutual and Bear Stearns, before they were acquired by JPMorgan in 2008.
Dimon told analysts during the conference call that the acquisitions were causing the bank pain. He said the management in 2008 had asked the SEC to not take enforcement actions against them over Bear Stearn's mistakes and the agency said it would take it into consideration. "We weren't completely stupid" about the acquisition, he said.
He added that he did not believe the bank was responsible for Washington Mutual�s losses, by contract. That, however, "does not mean people won't come after you. So that was a bit of a lesson learned too," he said. Still, Dimon's comments Friday suggest that the bank will not settle charges without a fight. "We're going to do what's in the best interest of our shareholders all things considered, it's a board level decision and it needs to be fair, reasonable, taking consideration all of the facts." Management however warned that the legal expenses could be volatile. Even though it has set aside $23 billion toward litigation reserves, including the latest addition of $9.15 billion to reserves, the bank's estimate of reasonably possible legal losses in excess of reserves dropped only slightly to $5.7 billion, from $6.8 billion in the previous quarter
CFO Marianne Lake said in a media conference call that the legal expenses were much higher than the bank had anticipated but reflected "today's reality for us." She said legal expenses would be lumpy quarter to quarter but will normalize over time. Dimon said the bank was getting closer to putting its legal problems behind it, but said that the environment remained unpredictable. "We wish we could reduce the uncertainty for investors but we can't." He added that while the legal issues were painful, the bank's underlying performance was still strong. JPMorgan saw revenue from consumer and community banking business decline 8% from the previous quarter and 13% from a year earlier. Lower credit losses however boosted profits by 15% year-over-year. Net interest income was down 2% at $7.1 billion, driven by lower deposit margins and spread compression in credit card and auto loans. The bank said net interest income would be flat in the near term. Expectedly, the bank took a hit in its mortgage production business, with refinancing volumes plunging on higher interest rates. Mortgage production revenue, excluding repurchase losses plummeted 67% from the previous year. Mortgage originations declined 14% year-over-year and 17% quarter-over-quarter to $40.5 billion. The bank posted a mortgage pretax income of $90 million. But excluding repurchases, it posted a loss of $85 million. The bank had already warned that it was likely to see negative mortgage production pre-tax margins in the second half of the year. JPMorgan expects to have cut 11,000 jobs by the end of the year. The bank's fixed income trading revenue declined 8% from a year ago. September was marked with higher volatility and lower volumes as the Federal Reserve decided not to go ahead with its plan to taper bond purchases. Equity trading revenue was however up by 20%, while investment banking fees was up 6%.
Underlying credit trends continue to improve. The bank said it expects to release $150 million in reserves in its card and auto loan division in the fourth quarter. It also expects to release more mortgage reserves if charge offs continue to trend down.
The bank reported a Basel III Tier I Common Capital of 9.3% at the end of the third quarter. Management said during the media call that it still plans to finish the year with a target of 9.5%.
It also said that the bank's legal issues would not interfere with its plans to buy back shares or pay dividend.
Buybacks would still be largely dependent on the stock price and the bank's internal capital targets, Dimon said in the media call. -- Written by Shanthi Bharatwaj in New York. >Contact by Email. Follow @shavenk
Disclosure: TheStreet's editorial policy prohibits staff editors and reporters from holding positions in any individual stocks.