Wilfredo Lee/APScott Rothstein is shown, left, in an autographed photo with Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida. Rothstein is serving a 50 year prison term related to fraud charges. Toronto-Dominion Bank will pay $52.5 million to settle U.S. civil regulatory charges that it failed to report suspicious activity in accounts linked to a Ponzi scheme by Florida lawyer Scott Rothstein, who is serving a 50-year prison term. The Canadian lender's TD Bank unit was fined $37.5 million by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, known as FinCEN, and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and $15 million by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Regulators said that from April 2008 to September 2009, TD Bank (TD) violated the federal Bank Secrecy Act by failing to uncover and report in a timely manner suspicious activities in accounts belonging to the law firm where Rothstein ran his $1.2 billion fraud. The SEC brought separate civil charges against Frank Spinosa, a former TD Bank regional vice president, in the U.S. District Court in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. It said the bank, through Spinosa, "told outright lies to investors," falsely representing that TD Bank had restricted the transfer of funds in Rothstein's accounts while assuring that the funds were safe. "Financial institutions are key gatekeepers in the transactions and investments they facilitate and will be held to a high standard of accountability when their officers enable fraud," Andrew Ceresney, co-director of the SEC enforcement division, said in a statement. FinCEN said it wasn't until after a 2011 review that TD Bank filed five reports identifying $900 million of suspicious activity involving Rothstein. "In the face of repeated alerts on Mr. Rothstein's accounts by the bank's anti-money laundering surveillance software over an 18-month period, the bank did not do enough to prevent the pain and financial suffering of innocent investors," FinCEN Director Jennifer Shasky Calvery said in a statement. Based in Toronto, TD is Canada's second-largest bank. It didn't admit or deny wrongdoing. A spokeswoman, Rebecca Acevedo, said: "TD Bank is pleased to resolve these regulatory concerns and to put the Rothstein matter behind us." Samuel Rabin, a lawyer for Spinosa, said in a statement his client will defend against the charges, is being "vilified" for the bank's compliance deficiencies, and has declined a settlement offer because "Mr. Spinosa is a victim in this massive fraud." TD is appealing a separate $67 million jury verdict from January 2012 relating to its Rothstein dealings. Rothstein, 51, pleaded guilty in January 2010 to five counts including wire fraud and conspiracies to commit fraud and money laundering, and agreed to forfeit assets including expensive homes and a fleet of foreign luxury and sports cars. He was sentenced in June of that year.
Top 10 Canadian Companies To Buy Right Now: Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.(RCL)
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. operates in the cruise vacation industry worldwide. It owns five cruise brands, which comprise Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur, Azamara Club Cruises, and CDF Croisi�es de France. The Royal Caribbean International brand provides various itineraries and cruise lengths with options for onboard dining, entertainment, and other onboard activities primarily for the contemporary segment. It offers surf simulators, water parks, ice skating rinks, rock climbing walls, and shore excursions at each port of call, as well as boulevards with shopping, dining, and entertainment venues. The Celebrity Cruises brand operates onboard upscale ships that offer luxurious accommodations, fine dining, personalized services, spa facilities, venue featuring live grass, and glass blowing studio for the premium segment, as well as resells computers and other media devices. The Pullmantur brand provides an array of onboard activities and serv ices to guests, including exercise facilities, swimming pools, beauty salons, gaming facilities, shopping, dining, complimentary beverages, and entertainment venues serving the contemporary segment of the Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin American cruise markets. The Azamara Club Cruises brand offers various onboard services, amenities, gaming facilities, fine dining, spa and wellness, butler service for suites, and interactive entertainment venues for the up-market segment of the North American, United Kingdom, German, and Australian markets. The CDF Croisieres de France brand offers seasonal itineraries to the Mediterranean; and various onboard services, amenities, entertainment venues, exercise and spa facilities, fine dining, and gaming facilities for the contemporary segment of the French cruise market. As of December 31, 2011, the company operated 39 ships with a total capacity of approximately 92,650 berths. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. was founded in 1968 and is headqua rtered in Miami, Florida.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Christopher Palmeri]
Norwegian Cruise Line, the third-largest U.S. cruise operator after Carnival Corp. and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL), has advanced 57 percent since the sale of 27.1 million shares at $19 each in the IPO, giving it a market value of $6.07 billion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The stock fell 1.7 percent to $29.76 at the close in New York yesterday.
- [By Jon C. Ogg]
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE: RCL) was maintained Buy and its target was raised by $2 to $46 at Argus.
Vodafone Group PLC (NASDAQ: VOD) was started with an Outperform rating by Raymond James.
Top 10 Canadian Companies To Buy Right Now: Concord Medical Services Holdings Limited (CCM)
Concord Medical Services Holdings Limited, together with its subsidiaries, operates a network of radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging centers in the People�s Republic of China. The company�s services comprise linear accelerators external beam radiotherapy, gamma knife radiosurgery, head gamma knife systems, body gamma knife systems, proton beam therapy, diagnostic imaging, and other treatment and diagnostic modalities. It offers clinical support services; develops treatment protocols for doctors; and organizes joint diagnosis between doctors in its network and clinical research. The company also operates a specialty cancer hospital, as well as leases medical and diagnostic equipment. As of March 31, 2011, it operated a network of 121 centers with 68 hospital partners that cover 46 cities and 24 provinces, and administrative regions in China. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Beijing, the People�s Republic of China.
Best Safest Companies To Buy For 2014: Potomac Electric Power Company(POM)
Pepco Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the transmission, distribution, and supply of electricity. The company also distributes and supplies natural gas. It distributes electricity to approximately 1.8 million customers in the mid-Atlantic region and delivers natural gas to approximately 123,000 customers in Delaware. In addition, the company involves in the retail supply of electricity and natural gas; provision of energy efficiency services to federal, state, and local government customers; and designs, constructs, and operates combined heat and power and central energy plants, as well as owns and operates two oil-fired generation facilities. Further, it offers high voltage electric construction and maintenance services, low voltage electric construction and maintenance services, and streetlight construction and asset management services to utilities, municipalities, and other customers in the Washington, District of Columbia. Additionally, the company holds investments in eight cross-border energy leases. Pepco Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1896 and is based in Washington, District of Columbia.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Sally Jones]
Highlight: Pepco Holdings Inc. (POM)The POM share price is currently $18.17 or 20.0% off the 52-week high of $22.72. Its yield is 5.90%.
- [By Sean Williams]
Powering up
It's pretty rare for stocks in the electric utility sector to see a prolonged dip given that electricity is a necessity product, but that's what we've seen from Mid-Atlantic electric utility provider Pepco Holdings (NYSE: POM ) .
Top 10 Canadian Companies To Buy Right Now: Talisman Energy Inc.(TLM)
Talisman Energy Inc., an upstream oil and gas company, engages in the exploration, development, production, transportation, and marketing of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids. It primarily operates in North America, the North Sea, and southeast Asia. The company was founded in 1925 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Value Digger]
Manitok's competitive advantage is its management team, who knows well where the shallow opportunities exist, from years of bypassing many conventional reservoirs and drilling deeper targets for Talisman Energy (TLM).
- [By Rich Duprey]
Norwegian oil company Statoil (NYSE: STO ) has had its eye on becoming more intimately involved in its operations in the Eagle Ford shale region in Texas since it first acquired the acreage in 2010, and last year it advised its joint venture partner,�Talisman Energy (NYSE: TLM ) , that it intended to take over all the activities associated with the eastern region of its asset.
- [By Arjun Sreekumar]
Companies backing out of Poland
In addition to the above-ground risks of regulatory, licensing, and taxation uncertainty, disappointing initial results from shale test wells have led some companies to rethink doing business in the country. Last month, Poland's shale prospects were further dashed when Talisman Energy (NYSE: TLM ) and Marathon Oil (NYSE: MRO ) decided to pull out from their operations in the country.
Top 10 Canadian Companies To Buy Right Now: Mistras Group Inc (MG)
Mistras Group, Inc. provides technology-enabled asset protection solutions to evaluate the structural integrity and reliability of critical energy, industrial, and public infrastructure worldwide. It provides traditional non-destructive testing (NDT) services; advanced NDT services; and mechanical integrity services. The company also offers software solutions, including Plant Condition Monitoring Software and Systems, an enterprise software that allows its customers for the warehousing and analysis of data. In addition, it provides Advanced Data Analysis Pattern Recognition and Neural Networks software, which enables acoustic emission (AE) experts to develop automated remote monitoring systems; AE Software Platform, a windows based real time application software; Loose Parts Monitoring Software program for monitoring, detecting, and evaluating metallic loose parts in nuclear reactor coolant systems; and Automated UT and Imaging Analysis Software for analyzing ultrasonic in spection data, and visualizing and identifying the location and size of flaws. Further, the company�s technology packages include TANKPAC for tank inspections; POWERPAC for monitoring discharges in critical power grid transformers; and Acoustic Combustion Turbine Monitoring System, an on-line system to detect stator blade cracks in gas turbines. Additionally, it offers digital radiographic systems to solve specific industrial problems; AE sensors, instruments, and turn-key systems, as well as leak monitoring and detection systems; ultrasonic equipment; vibration sensing products; and on-line monitoring services. Mistras Group, Inc. was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in Princeton Junction, New Jersey.
Top 10 Canadian Companies To Buy Right Now: Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc.(CMG)
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. develops and operates fast-casual, fresh Mexican food restaurants in the United States, Canada, and England. Its restaurants primarily offer burritos, tacos, burrito bowls, and salads. As of December 31, 2011, it operated 1,230 restaurants, which includes 1 ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. was founded in 1993 and is based in Denver, Colorado.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Ben Levisohn]
Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) has gained 1.6% to $425.84 after it was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight by Morgan Stanley, while Panera Bread (PNRA) has fallen 1.7% to $161.25 after the investment bank downgraded it to Equal Weight from Overweight.
- [By Steve Symington]
Earlier this week, I�posed three questions for Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG ) going into its second-quarter earnings announcement.
Top 10 Canadian Companies To Buy Right Now: NRG Energy Inc.(NRG)
NRG Energy, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a wholesale power generation company. The company engages in the ownership, development, construction, and operation of power generation facilities. It also involves in the transacting in and trading of fuel and transportation services; the trading of energy, capacity, and related products in the United States and internationally; and the supply of electricity, energy services, and cleaner energy and carbon offset products to retail electricity customers in deregulated markets. The company operates natural gas- fired, coal- fired, oil-fired, nuclear, solar, and wind power plants. As of December 31, 2010, it had power generation portfolio of 193 operating fossil fuel and nuclear generation units with an aggregate generation capacity of approximately 24,570 megawatt (MW), as well as ownership interests in renewable facilities with an aggregate generation capacity of 470 MW. The company portfolio also includes appr oximately 24,035 MW generation capacity in the United States, and 1,005 MW generation capacity in Australia and Germany. In addition, it has a district energy business with steam and chilled water capacity of approximately 1,140 megawatts thermal equivalent. NRG Energy, Inc. was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Sean Williams]
Sticking with the energy sector, NRG Energy (NYSE: NRG ) jumped 4.2% after filing its IPO plans for the spinoff of its NRG Yield subsidiary, which will hold stakes in natural gas, wind, and solar projects. NRG has high hopes for the spinoff which could raise the company up to $411 million when it prices 19.6 million shares between $19 and $21 per share. Spinoffs like these are becoming more common, as transparency in the complex energy sector is proving helpful to investors who are looking to better understand how these companies make their living.
- [By Stoyan Bojinov]
Deutsche Bank announced on Monday that is was maintaining a “Hold” rating on the New Jersey-based electric utility company NRG Energy Inc. (NRG), but went on to lower its price target for the company.
Greg Poole, an analyst with the firm, commented, “NRG has several diverse businesses – generation, retail, solar, clean energy technologies, and now a separate MLP-like income vehicle for contracted assets. This helps to diversify away from the seemingly perennially challenged merchant generation business, but it also results in an increasingly complex story that may pose a challenge for investors and valuation.” As such, Deutsche Bank announced it was lowering its price target from $27 to $26 a share.
NRG Energy Inc. shares crept higher, gaining 1.11% on the day. The stock is up almost 15% YTD.
Top 10 Canadian Companies To Buy Right Now: Stage Stores Inc.(SSI)
Stage Stores, Inc. operates as a specialty department store retailer that offers branded and private label apparel, accessories, cosmetics, and footwear for women, men, and children in the United States. The company also offers sportswear, dresses, intimates, home and gift products, outerwear, swimwear, and other products. It primarily focuses on consumers in small and mid-sized markets. The company operates stores under the names of Bealls, Goody?s, Palais Royal, Peebles, and Stage. Stage Stores, Inc. also sells its products through its Web site. As of March 06, 2012, it operated 819 stores in 40 states. Stage Stores, Inc. is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
Top 10 Canadian Companies To Buy Right Now: 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 vaninaegea]
In august, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) published the mid-year review for the agricultural sector. Their findings point to a slowdown for the industry, highlighting a 9.5% decline on exports through the first half of 2013. Also, late soybean planting in the USA is expected to compound the industry�� slowdown. So, what are the prospects for AGCO (AGCO), CNH Global (CNH), and Deere & Co. (DE) under such conditions?
Top 10 Canadian Companies To Buy Right Now: Abbott Laboratories(ABT)
Abbott Laboratories engages in the discovery, development, manufacture, and sale of health care products worldwide. The company offers adult and pediatric pharmaceuticals for rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriasis, and Crohn's disease; dyslipidemia; HIV infection; prostate cancer, endometriosis and central precocious puberty, and anemia caused by uterine fibroids; respiratory syncytial virus; adult males who have low or no testosterone; secondary hyperparathyroidism; hypothyroidism; and pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, as well as anesthesia products. It also provides diagnostic products, such as immunoassay systems; chemistry systems; assays used for screening and/or diagnosis for drugs of abuse, cancer, therapeutic drug monitoring, fertility, physiological, and infectious diseases; instruments that automate the extraction, purification, and preparation of DNA and RNA from patient samples, and detect and measure infections agents; genomic-b ased tests; hematology systems and reagents; and point-of-care diagnostic systems and tests for blood analysis. In addition, the company offers a line of pediatric and adult nutritional products. Further, it provides coronary, endovascular, vessel closure, and structural heart devices, such as drug-eluting stent systems, coronary metallic stents, balloon dilatation products, coronary guidewires, vessel closure devices, carotid stent systems, percutaneous valve repair systems, and drug eluting bioresorbable vascular products. Additionally, the company provides blood glucose monitoring meters, test strips, data management software, and accessories for people with diabetes; and medical devices for the eye, including cataract surgery, lasik surgery, contact lens, and dry eye products, as well as branded generic pharmaceutical products. Abbott primarily serves retailers, wholesalers, hospitals, and health care facilities. Abbott was founded in 1888 and is headquartered in Abbott Park, Illinois.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Geoff Gannon]
I was looking at the fundamental of 18 stocks; I own 5 of them: Apple (AAPL), Abbott Laboratories (ABT), Autodesk (ADSK), Cisco (CSCO) and Exelon (EXC). Others were ideas collected from places like news, etc.
- [By Max Macaluso, Ph.D.]
Shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT ) may be up 10.7% since the start of 2013, but this stock has lagged behind the S&P 500 index and many of its health care peers, including Boston Scientific (NYSE: BSX ) and�Johnson & Johnson. Abbott's next big catalyst will be its second-quarter results, which are set to be revealed tomorrow morning, but will earnings wow investors, or will they miss estimates and disappoint?
- [By Rich Smith]
Don't look now, but Abbott Labs (NYSE: ABT ) is about to buy itself a bit more growth.
Simultaneous with its announcement of a $310 million acquisition in the vascular stent space Monday, Abbott also announced that it will be spending a further $250 million -- and perhaps as much as $400 million with subsequent milestone payments -- to acquire privately held cataract surgical equipment maker OptiMedica.
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