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In this segment of The Motley Fool's everything-financials show,�Where the Money Is, banking analysts Matt Koppenheffer and David Hanson tell investors what they'll be reading this weekend. David plans to zero in on some recent data from Zillow to see what it means to that business, as well as some regional banks. Matt highlights the importance of digesting some of the under-covered earnings releases. In addition to discussing their weekend reading, Matt and David tell viewers how they feel about the market's lofty levels and how they think investors should be handling it. There's still great opportunity left in 2013!
The Motley Fool's chief investment officer has selected his No. 1 stock for this year. Find out which stock it is in the special free report: "The Motley Fool's Top Stock for 2013." Just click here to access the report and find out the name of this under-the-radar company. Top 10 Regional Bank Companies To Own For 2014: NXP Semiconductors N.V.(NXPI) NXP Semiconductors N.V., through its subsidiary, NXP B.V., provides mixed signal solutions and standard products worldwide. The company provides amplifiers, audio/radio products, bipolar transistors, data converters, diodes, identification and security products, interface and connectivity products, logic devices, media processors, microcontrollers, MOSFETs, power management integrated circuits (IC), radio frequency devices, sensors, thyristors, television and set-top-box front ends, and logic driver and controller ICs, as well as ESD, EMI, and signal conditioning products. Its products are used in automotive, identification, wireless infrastructure, lighting, mobile, consumer, computing, and industrial applications. NXP Semiconductors N.V. markets its products directly and through distribution to various original equipment manufacturers, original design manufacturers, contract manufacturers, and distributors. The company was formerly known as KASLION Acquisition B.V and ch anged its name to NXP Semiconductors NV in May 2010. NXP Semiconductors N.V. was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Traders Reserve]
Chipmaker NXP Semiconductors� (NXPI) makes specialized chips for credit cards. According to analyst Vijay Rakesh, ��ith around 80% share of contact-less EMV cards worldwide, NXP should be a beneficiary of a potential 2014-15 EMV wave in the U.S.��/p> - [By Andy Obermueller]
Instead, the likely winner is a company most people have never heard of -- NXP Semiconductors (Nasdaq: NXPI). It makes the special chips that go in the phone that "talk" to cash registers. The technology is known as near-field communications (NFC), and NXP is the leader, with critical existing supplier relationships with all the major phone manufacturers, including Apple.
Top 10 Regional Bank Companies To Own For 2014: Strategem Capital Corp (SGE) Strategem Capital Corporation (Strategem) is a Canada-based company. It is a publicly-traded merchant bank involved in acquiring interests in and developing companies. The Company takes early debt and/or equity positions in such emerging growth companies. As of December 31, 2009, the Company is focused on companies that explore or develop precious or base metals. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Corinne Gretler]
ThyssenKrupp AG (TKA) slumped 9.3 percent after Germany�� largest steelmaker raised 882.3 million euros ($1.21 billion) through a share sale. Standard Chartered Plc lost 8.1 percent. Sage Group (SGE) Plc, the U.K.�� biggest software maker, rose 6.8 percent after reporting revenue growth that exceeded analysts��estimates. AZ Electronic Materials SA surged 43 percent after Merck KGaA (MRK) agreed to buy it for about 1.6 billion pounds ($2.6 billion).
Radian Group Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a credit enhancement company in the United States. The company offers credit-related insurance coverage, primarily through private mortgage insurance, and risk management services to mortgage lending institutions. Its private mortgage insurance protects the holders of the company?s insurance from default-related losses on residential mortgage loans made generally to home buyers, as well as facilitates the sale of these mortgage loans in the secondary mortgage market. The company primarily serves mortgage originators, such as mortgage bankers, mortgage brokers, commercial banks, savings institutions, credit unions, and community banks. Radian Group Inc. was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Dan Caplinger]
But rising prospects for the housing market have improved so strongly that MGIC and its peers are seeing a brighter future. Rival Radian Group (NYSE: RDN ) has also seen its shares increase as hedge-fund investors like Maverick Capital and John Paulson have bought shares of mortgage-insurance companies, recognizing the impact of rising home prices in reducing the potential liability from mortgage defaults. Both Radian and MGIC have junk bond ratings, reflecting their continued risk, but the companies seem less risky than they did before housing bounced.
Top 10 Regional Bank Companies To Own For 2014: GTSI Corp.(GTSI) GTSI Corp., together with its subsidiaries, provides information technology (IT) hardware and solutions to federal, state, and local government customers, as well as to prime contractors in the United States. It offers IT infrastructure solutions, including data center consolidation and optimization solutions, server and desktop virtualization solutions, cloud computing solutions, network modernization solutions, unified communications and collaboration solutions, database and software development solutions, asset management solutions, and financial services solutions. The company also provides various services comprising software development and maintenance, program and project management, database development and maintenance, and legacy systems modernization services. In addition, it offers computer hardware, software, and peripheral products, as well as provides technical support and assistance services. The company markets and sells its computer hardware and software, and solutions through GTSI.com. It has strategic partner relationships with Cisco, Hewlett Packard, Crossmatch Technologies, Microsoft, Dell, Oracle, Net App, and Hitachi. GTSI Corp. was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Geoff Gannon]
I picked GTSI (GTSI) for the Ben Graham: Net-Net Newsletter. And that is not a good business. It lost money in about half of the last 10 years. It had no history of earning more than about 6% on equity over time. It was a truly terrible business.
Top 10 Regional Bank Companies To Own For 2014: Tesoro Logistics LP(TLLP) Tesoro Logistics LP engages in the ownership, operation, development, and acquisition of crude oil and refined products logistics assets in the United States. The company is involved in the gathering, terminalling, transportation, and storage of crude oil and refined products. Its assets consist of a crude oil gathering system in the Bakken Shale/Williston Basin area of North Dakota and Montana; eight refined products terminals in the midwestern and western United States; a crude oil and refined products storage facility; and five related short-haul pipelines. The company was founded in 2010 and is based in San Antonio, Texas. Tesoro Logistics LP is a subsidiary of Tesoro Corporation. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Robert Rapier]
RRMS didn’t see the same kind of price surge in 2013 as ACMP, so offers a more generous annualized yield of 5.2 percent. RRMS also has a lower total debt/equity (mrq), at 22 percent versus ACMP’s 71 percent. For Q3 2013, RRMS reported $15.4 million in adjusted EBITDA, a year-over-year increase of 65 percent. In comparison, adjusted EBITDA for the 2013 third quarter totaled $227 million for ACMP, an increase of 90 percent year-over-year. Tesoro Logistics (NYSE: TLLP) was spun off by the refiner Tesoro (NYSE: TSO) in 2011 to operate pipelines leading to and from its plants. TLLP’s assets consist of a crude oil gathering system in the Williston Basin area of North Dakota and Montana, 17 refined product and storage terminals, three dedicated storage facilities, four California marine terminals, a rail unloading facility, and a petroleum coke handling facility.
Distributions have grown steadily since the IPO, from $1.35 per unit (annualized) in Q2 2011 to the current annualized level of $2.18/unit. At a current unit price of $53.49, TLLP is well off its 52-week high of $71.92. Distributions have increased each quarter since the IPO, and units currently have a yield of 4.2 percent. But investors should be wary given that TLLP is highly leveraged. Its total debt/equity (mrq) is nearly 400 percent, much higher than most competitors. Of the three MLPs — ACMP, RRMS and TLLP — RRMS looks best at the moment with the least downside risk. It is by far the least-leveraged, didn’t have a huge run-up in 2013 that depressed its yield, and it has managed to steadily grow revenues and distributions since its IPO. - [By Lauren Pollock]
Tesoro Logistics LP(TLLP), a company spun off in 2011 by oil refiner Tesoro Corp.(TSO), agreed to pay its former parent $650 million to acquire Los Angeles assets that include two marine terminals and a pipeline system. - [By Lee Jackson]
Tesoro Logistics L.P. (NYSE: TLLP) is an Oppenheimer favorite, especially after the pullback in the stock price. The company has strong fee-based contracts that increase the likelihood of consistent increases in the distribution. The Oppenheimer price target is posted at $61, while the consensus is at $63. Shareholder are paid a 3.8% distribution.
Top 10 Regional Bank Companies To Own For 2014: Fonar Corporation(FONR) FONAR Corporation engages in the research, development, production, marketing, and service of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners for the detection and diagnosis of human diseases. It provides Upright Multi-positional MRI scanners, which allow patients to be scanned in a weight-bearing condition, such as standing, sitting, or bending in any position that causes symptoms; and FONAR 360 MRI scanner, a diagnostic scanner. The company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Health Management Corporation of America, also offers management services to imaging facilities, including development, administration, and leasing of office space, facilities, and medical equipment; provision of supplies; staffing, training, and supervision of non-medical personnel; legal services; accounting, billing, and collection; and the development and implementation of practice growth and marketing strategies. It serves private diagnostic imaging centers and hospitals. As of June 30, 2011, the c ompany managed 10 diagnostic imaging facilities located in the states of New York and Florida. FONAR Corporation was founded in 1978 and is based in Melville, New York. Advisors' Opinion: Top 10 Regional Bank Companies To Own For 2014: Plum Creek Timber Company Inc.(PCL) Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc. is a publicly owned real estate investment trust (REIT). The trust owns and manages timberlands in the United States. Its products include lumber products, plywood, medium density fiberboard, and related by-products, such as wood chips. The trust also focuses on mineral extraction and natural gas production, communication, and transportation. Plum Creek Timber Company was founded in 1989 and is based in Seattle, Washington. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Dan Caplinger]
Next Monday, Plum Creek Timber (NYSE: PCL ) will release its latest quarterly results. The key to making smart investment decisions on stocks reporting earnings is to anticipate how they'll do before they announce results, leaving you fully prepared to respond quickly to whatever inevitable surprises arise. That way, you'll be less likely to make an uninformed knee-jerk reaction to news that turns out to be exactly the wrong move. - [By Jonas Elmerraji]
Plum Creek Timber (PCL) isn't your typical commercial REIT. Instead, the firm is a niche trust that operates in the timber business, one of the less conventional businesses allowed by the REIT Act signed in 1960. PCL owns 6.6 million acres of timberlands in 19 states. Only the timberland business falls under REIT rules, with logging operations treated as a traditional taxable corporation. For all intents and purposes, though, PCL's bread and butter remains its timberland; the firm earns more money through recreation, development, and conservation efforts than through logging. That could change as the housing market heats up, especially as supply constraints push timber prices higher. Either way, Plum Creek's combination of tax-advantaged REIT income and conventional business makes the firm a unique name to own right now... Financially, PCL is in strong shape, with more than $350 million in cash offsetting a reasonable $3 billion debt load. While PCL resorted to liquidating land to fund its dividend in the wake of the Great Recession, recent acquisitions should help calm investors' concerns. For the moment, this stock pays a 3.5% dividend yield. While Plum Creek isn't a conventional REIT by most measures, it does make a great non-core holding for income-seekers in 2013.
Top 10 Regional Bank Companies To Own For 2014: Radware Ltd.(RDWR) Radware Ltd. provides application delivery solutions and network security solutions to banks, insurance companies, manufacturing and retail, government agencies, media companies, and service providers worldwide. The company offers AppDirector Intelligent Application Delivery Controller for data center optimization and to eliminate traffic surges, server bottlenecks, connectivity disconnects, and downtime for business continuity; and Alteon Application Switch application delivery controller that supports local, global, and transparent load-balance, multi-homing network load-balance, and bandwidth management capabilities. It also provides AppXML, which offers XML and Web services communications for mission-critical applications; AppWall, a Web application firewall (WAF) appliance that secures Web applications; LinkProof that manages wide area networks and Internet traffic for networks; Content Inspection Director, a smart redirection and dynamic policy enforcement device to meet contemporary carrier needs; and Session Initiation Protocol Director, an application delivery controller for application vendors, telecom equipment manufacturers, and system integrators. In addition, the company offers DefensePro Intrusion Prevention and Denial of Service products that protect against worms, bots, viruses, malicious intrusions, and DOS attacks; Inflight, a hardware device that provides online and network-based monitoring solutions; and APSolute Vision, an appliance-based management and monitoring system for information technology staff to centrally manage distributed devices and check the performance and security of enterprise wide application delivery infrastructures. It markets and sells its products primarily through distributors and resellers in North America, Europe, and Asia, as well as directly to select customers in the United States. Radware Ltd. was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel. Advisors' Opinion: Top 10 Regional Bank Companies To Own For 2014: Globecomm Systems Inc. (GCOM) Globecomm Systems Inc. engages in the provision of satellite-based network solutions to government, communications service providers, commercial enterprises, and media and content broadcasters in the United States, Europe, South America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. It offers access products for providing data, voice, and video transport services; hosted application products for back office applications services; and professional services, including advisory and consulting services. The company also provides life cycle support services comprising installation, network monitoring, help desk, maintenance, and professional engineering services that supports access and hosted products; and infrastructure solutions, such as design, engineering, and installation of ground segment systems and networks, which are used in communications and media delivery networks. In addition, it offers fixed satellite terminals under the Summit brand; transportable satellite terminals under the Explorer brand; and network management systems to manage, monitor, and control networks under the AxxSys brand name, as well as systems design and integration products. The company was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Hauppauge, New York. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Rich Smith]
Instead, the winners who will compete among themselves to fulfill the $45 million firm-fixed-price, multiple-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract include privately held Bluewater Communications Group LLC, small-cap Globecomm Systems (NASDAQ: GCOM ) , and TVC Communications LLC, of Annville, Penn., a small subsidiary of larger electronics distributor WESCO International (NYSE: WCC ) . All three will now be competing against each other to win the Pentagon's business on individual task orders for the Cisco and other HD equipment on order.
Top 10 Regional Bank Companies To Own For 2014: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW) Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German holding company and automobile manufacturer that focuses on the automobile and motorcycle markets. It divides its activities into the three main segments: Automobiles, Motorcycles and Financial Services. It owns three brands: BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce. Its BMW automobile range encompasses the 1 Series, including three-door, five-door, coupe and convertible models; the 3 Series, including sedan, touring, coupe and convertible models; the 5 Series, available in sedan and touring models; the 6 Series, available as a coupe or convertible; the 7 Series large sedan; the Z4 roadster and coupe; the sports utility vehicles, X3, X5 and X6 and M models, such as M3, M5 and M6. It also offers cars under the MINI brand and motorcycles under the BMW brand. The Rolls-Royce brand offers three luxury cars, Phantom, Coupe and Ghost. It has producing, assembly, service and sales subsidiaries throughout the world. In January 2013, it sold its Husqvarna brand. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Dorothee Tschampa]
Peugeot dropped as much as 55 cents to 6.83 euros and traded 5.9 percent lower as of 11:20 a.m. in Paris. Renault was down 4.3 percent and VW was 3.5 percent lower. Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW) was down 3.5 percent and Daimler AG (DAI) was 4.7 percent lower. - [By Bryan Murphy]
While Green Automotive Co. (OTCMKTS:GACR) is certainly no Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (OTCMKTS:NSANY) or Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (FRA:BMW) (better known as BMW)� in terms of size or notoriety, the two larger car companies certainly seem to be validating the work that GACR is doing. Both Nissan and BMW are betting big on electric vehicles, partly because they want to, and partly because they have to. Either way, Green Automotive is just as capable of tapping into this EV megatrend as its bigger and more established brothers are. - [By Jonathan Morgan]
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW) and Volkswagen AG (VOW) lost more than 2.5 percent as a gauge of automakers posted the biggest drop on the Stoxx Europe 600 Index. Bayer, Germany�� largest drugmaker, retreated 4.3 percent after a U.S. court ruled that its patent to produce the birth-control pill Yaz was invalid. BASF slid 3.8 percent as a gauge of chemical companies slipped. - [By Inyoung Hwang]
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW) dropped 2.9 percent after the world�� biggest maker of luxury vehicles reported a decrease in third-quarter profit. Siemens AG (SIE) lost 1.3 percent after UBS AG cut its rating on Europe�� largest engineering company. Beiersdorf AG (BEI) rallied 5.3 percent after increasing its full-year sales forecast.
Compared to other gold miners, Barrick Gold (ABX) and Newmont Mining (NEM) haven’t gotten much love from investors this year.  Associated Press Shares of Newmont Mining have gained 3.2% so far this year, while Barrick Gold has risen 4.8%, even as the SPDR Gold ETF (GLD) has gone up 8.6% and the Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX) has advanced 16%. Credit Suisse analysts Anita Soni and Robert Reynolds still rate Newmont Mining and Barrick Gold shares Neutral, but turned more positive on the companies’ share prices today. They explain why they raised their price target on Barrick Gold… Our ]target price] increases to US$21 as we raise our [net-asset value] multiple to 1.60x (from 1.20x) to reflect [Barrick Gold's] relatively conservative $1,100/oz gold price assumption for reserves, exploration upside potential within its asset base (demonstrated by its 15Moz Goldrush discovery) and strong base of low cost assets. Our [Operating Cash Flow] is reduced for FY15 to $1.17/sh (from $1.58/sh) as we model higher sustaining capex and corporate spending than previously. …and on Newmont Mining: Our [Newmont Mining] TP increases to US$26 (from US$21) on higher forecast OpCFa and a higher NAV target multiple. Our OpCFa for FY14/15 on average increased to $1.80 (from $1.40) onhigher production and lower costs in 2015 than our prior forecast, now reflecting guidance. Our NAV declined to $14.83/sh (from $18.92/sh), primarily on Nevada (less reserves and higher CS cost est.) and Ahafo (higher CS cost est.). Our target NAV multiple is raised to 1.50x, at a slight discount to peer [Barrick Gold] (1.60x). A resolution of the ore export ban in Indonesia is necessary to become more constructive on [Newmont Mining], as the strong 2015/2016 FCF would provide [Newmont Mining] with additional balance sheet flexibility to pursue value accretive project development, or external M&A. [Newmont Mining] benefits from a long life asset base in Nevada and Ghana. Gold and gold miners are plunging today, however, so shares of Newmont Mining have fallen 3.1% to $23.79 at 11: 37 a.m. today, while Barrick Gold has fallen 4.9% to $18.45. The Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF has declined 4.4% to $24.40 and the SPDR Gold ETF is off 1.8% to $126.21.
SIGA Technologies, Inc., a pharmaceutical company, engages in the development and commercialization of pharmaceutical solutions for smallpox, Ebola, dengue, Lassa fever, and other dangerous viruses. Its lead product is ST-246, an orally administered antiviral drug that targets orthopoxviruses. The company also has two drug series in the pre-clinical development stage against four serotypes of virus for dengue disease. In addition, it is developing anti-arenavirus drug for hemorrhagic fever arenaviruses and other hemorrhagic fever viruses, including Rift Valley Fever, Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, and Ebola; and a broad spectrum antiviral candidate against viruses in the Poxviridae, Filoviridae, Bunyaviridae, Arenaviridae, Flaviviridae, Togaviridae, Retroviridae, and Picornaviridae families. The company was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in New York, New York. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Monica Gerson]
SIGA Technologies (NASDAQ: SIGA) is expected to post its Q4 earnings at $0.62 per share on revenue of $47.00 million. Posted-In: Earnings scheduleEarnings News Pre-Market Outlook Markets - [By Roberto Pedone]
Another under-$10 name pharmaceutical player that's starting to move within range of triggering a big breakout trade is Siga Technologies (SIGA), which discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes drugs to prevent and treat diseases including smallpox, Ebola, dengue, Lassa fever and other dangerous viruses. This stock is off to a strong start in 2013, with shares up by 35%. If you take a look at the chart for SIGA Technologies, you'll notice that this stock has been trending inside of a consolidation pattern for the last two months, with shares moving between $3.16 on the downside and $3.7! 4 on the upside. Shares of SIGA have just started to spike higher above its 50-day moving average at $3.27 a share and it's now moving within range of triggering a big breakout trade above the upper-end of its recent range. Market players should now look for long-biased trades in SIGA if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $3.70 to $3.74 a share and then once it takes out more resistance at $4 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 263,209 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then SIGA will set up to re-test or possibly take out its 52-week high at $4.60 a share. If that level gets taken out with volume, then SIGA could easily tag its next major overhead resistance levels at $5 to $5.90 a share. Traders can look to buy SIGA off weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below its 200-day moving average of $3.26 a share, or below more key support at $3.16 a share. One can also buy SIGA off strength once it clears those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point. source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-10-low-price-companies-to-own-for-2014.html
The market has been waiting for General Electric (GE) to finally act on its plan to exit consumer lending–and it finally has.  Bloomberg News General Electric filed to IPO its consumer-credit card business, which counts the Gap (GPS) and Wal-Mart (WMT) among its customers–with the company operating under the name Synchrony Financial. Bernstein’s Steven Winoker calls the move “a net positive” for General Electric. He explains why: [We] see the exit from North America Retail Finance as a net positive for GE over time, provided the price is right and capital is deployed wisely. Management has stretched further out to 2015 and beyond to find a story that will show they can offset the dilutive impact of the IPO and tax efficient share exchange. We think that provided management keeps their share buyback promises, investors will favor the higher industrial earnings weighting over time. There may be issues on the industrial side as well but overall, we still believe those earnings deserve a much higher multiple than “banking” earnings given the differences in relative volatility, leverage and ROE. Still, Winoker isn’t a big fan of General Electric’s shares. For starters, its stock looks pricey trading at a 40% premium to tangible book for GE Capital and 17 times 2014/2015 earnings, and leaves little room for shares to rise. GE Capital, meanwhile, won’t start growing until 2016, Winoker says. All told, Winoker rates General Electric as Market-Perform with a $28 price target. Shares of General Electric dropped 1.6% to $25.34 today, while 3M (MMM) fell 1.3% to $130.81 and Danaher (DHR) declined 1.8% to $74.43. Shares of the Gap dipped 0.1% to $41.27, while Wal-Mart finished off 0.8% at $74.93.
Before markets opened on Thursday, Hewlett-Packard (HPQ  ) announced a 10.2% increase to its quarterly dividend, boosting the payout from 14.5 cents to 16 cents.
Hewlett-Packard’s new annualized payout is 64 cents, up from 58 cents. The increase to the dividend will not become effective until around May, when HPQ’s board is expected to declare the company’s next dividend. This will make the fourth year in a row that HPQ declares a dividend raise in May. HPQ’s next dividend, which is payable on April 2, will still be 14.5 cents, and the dividend boost will not go into effect until the following dividend. HPQ stock was up $1.09, or 3.57%, in pre-market trading. YTD, the company’s stock is up 14.32%.
Coupons.Com Inc (NYSE: COUP) is the most recent small cap digital coupon or daily deal stock to emerge in a spectacular IPO to challenge existing players like mid cap Groupon Inc (NASDAQ: GRPN) and small caps LiveDeal Inc (NASDAQ: LIVE) and RetailMeNot Inc (NASDAQ: SALE). However and since the recent IPO, small cap Coupons.Com has been a relatively flat deal for investors. What is Coupons.Com Inc? Small cap Coupons.Com calls itself a leader in digital coupons that operates a promotion platform that connects brands and retailers with consumers through Web, mobile and social channels. Over 2,000 brands from more than 700 consumer packaged goods companies and many grocery, drug and mass merchandise retailers use Coupons.Com's platform to deliver digital coupons to consumers, including printable coupons, save-to-card coupon and coupon codes for e-commerce. Coupons.Com also sells advertising for its online and mobile properties and has built out a large network of retailers and publishers spanning more than 58,000 store locations in North America and approximately 30,000 third-party websites. The Coupons.com's site itself receives more than 17 million unique visitors a month on average. As for potential digital coupon or daily deal peers, mid cap Groupon Inc provides merchants with a suite of products and services, including customizable deal campaigns, credit card payment processing capabilities, and point-of-sale solutions; small cap LiveDeal provides marketing solutions that boost customer awareness and merchant visibility on the Internet by offering a deal engine; and small cap RetailMeNot is the largest digital coupon site in the United States. What You Need to Know or Be Warned About Coupons.Com Inc On March 7th, Coupons.com became the first Silicon Valley tech company to go public for the year when it sold 10.5 million shares at $16 - above its set range of $12 to $14 with shares closing at $30 by the end of the first day of trading. The company raised a total of $168 million with founder/CEO Steven Boal, who founded the company during the dot-com boom of the late 1990s, owing a 9.3% stake while investors Passport Ventures (19.5%) and T. Rowe Price (10.1%) were also left with substantial stakes. However, Coupons.com is still not profitable as its reported revenues of $167.89M (2013), $112.13M (2012), $91.33M (2011) and $61.41M (2010) for the past four years along with net losses of $11.25M (2013), $59.23M (2012), $22.97M (2011) and $11.89M (2010). The company already had $38.97M in cash covering $63.76M in current liabilities and $66.22M in total liabilities. In other words, Coupons.com is not going to run out of cash any time soon, but the company acknowledged in its IPO filing that "costs and expenses will increase in the foreseeable future" as the company continues to invest in sales and marketing; research and development, including new product development; technology infrastructure; general administration, including legal and accounting expenses related to our growth and being a public company; efforts to expand into new markets; and strategic opportunities, including commercial relationships and acquisitions. Among the risk factors cited in the IPO filing, Coupons.com noted that: We expect competition in digital promotions to continue to increase. The market for digital promotions is highly competitive, fragmented and rapidly changing. We compete against a variety of companies with respect to different aspects of our business… We are subject to potential competition from large, well-established companies which have significantly greater financial, marketing and other resources than we do and have current offerings that may compete with our platform or may choose to offer digital promotions as an add-on to their core business on their own or in partnership with one of our competitors that would directly compete with ours. Many of our larger potential competitors may have the resources to significantly change the nature of the digital promotions industry to their advantage, which could materially disadvantage us. For example, Google, Yahoo!, Bing and Facebook and online retailers such as Amazon have highly trafficked industry platforms which they could leverage to distribute digital coupons or other digital promotions that could negatively affect our business. Otherwise and for what his opinion might be worth, CNBC's Mad Money host Jim Cramer recently said that he's a buyer when it comes to Coupons.com and that "I'm interested in this one on the pullback." Share Performance: Coupons.Com Inc vs. GRPN, LIVE & SALE On Thursday, small cap Coupons.Com rose 1.18% to $27.42 (COUP has a 52 week trading range of $25.75 to $33.00 a share) for a market cap of $1.99 billion plus the stock is down 8.6% for retail investors who got in on late the first day of trading. Here is a look at what long term performance data is available for of Coupons.Com verses Groupon, LiveDeal and RetailMeNot: 
As you can see from the above chart, digital coupon or daily deal stocks like Groupon and LiveDeal, which have been around longer, have not exactly been a great deal for investors. Finally, here is a look at the latest technical charts for all four digital coupon or daily deal stocks: 
The Bottom Line. If you must have some kind of digital coupon or daily deal stock in your portfolio, small cap Coupons.Com could be a good deal – when it goes on sale by dropping closer to its IPO price.
iSoftStone Holdings Limited provides various information technology (IT) services and solutions in the Greater China and internationally. It offers an integrated suite of IT services and solutions, including consulting and solution services, IT services, and business process outsourcing (BPO) services. The company provides a range of consulting services for an overall engagement or discrete consulting services in conjunction with other services. It also develops industry-specific solutions, including treasury management, cash management, property and casualty insurance core, financial holding company business analysis, trust company core, and banking risk management solutions for banking, financial services, and insurance industries; supply chain management, enterprise information portals, business intelligence, business process integration, and management and e-commerce solutions for energy, transportation, and public sectors; mobile and embedded technology, next generati on platforms, business intelligence functionality, and network security products for the communications industry. In addition, the company offers various IT services consisting of application development and maintenance, research and development, and infrastructure and software services. Further, it provides a range of BPO services, such as securities trade processing services for the investment banking industry; digitization and archiving of policyholder information, as well as account processing and customer service for insurance industry; and cross-industry BPO services comprising finance and accounting, customer care, and human resources. The company was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Beijing, the People?s Republic of China. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Seth Jayson]
iSoftStone Holdings (NYSE: ISS ) reported ea! rnings on May 17. Here are the numbers you need to know. The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), iSoftStone Holdings beat expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share. source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/best-china-companies-to-watch-for-2014.html
MeadWestvaco Corporation (MWV) provides packaging solutions to the healthcare, personal care and beauty, food, beverage, home and garden, tobacco, and commercial print industries worldwide. The company?s Packaging Resources segment produces bleached paperboard, Coated Natural Kraft paperboard, and linerboard. Its Consumer Solutions segment designs and produces multi-pack cartons and packaging systems primarily for the beverage take-home and tobacco market. In addition, it offers a range of converting and consumer packaging solutions, including printed plastic packaging and injection-molded products used for personal care, beauty, and pharmaceutical products; and dispensing and sprayer systems for personal care, beauty, healthcare, fragrance, and home and garden markets. In addition, this segment has a pharmaceutical packaging contract with a mass-merchant, and manufactures equipment that is leased or sold to its beverage and dairy customers to package their products. The c ompany?s Consumer & Office Products segment manufactures, sources, markets, and distributes school and office products, time-management products, and envelopes in North America and Brazil through both retail and commercial channels. Its Specialty Chemicals segment manufactures, markets, and distributes specialty chemicals derived from sawdust and other byproducts of the papermaking process in North America, South America, and Asia. Its products include activated carbon used in emission control systems for automobiles and trucks, as well as for water and food purification applications, and performance chemicals used in printing inks, asphalt paving, adhesives, and lubricants for the agricultural, paper, and petroleum industries. MWV?s Community Development and Land Management segment involves in real estate development, forestry operations, and leasing activitie! s. MeadWestvaco Corporation was founded in 1888 and is based in Glen Allen, Virginia. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Will Ashworth]
I don't know about you but I definitely use several of its products on a regular basis. In fact, right here on my desk beside my computer is a small, Five Star notebook for jotting down ideas. I grew up on Hilroy notebooks, a brand brought to the table in its 2012 merger with MeadWestvaco's (MWV) Consumer and Office Products division. MWV shareholders received one-third of an ACCO share for every MWV share. Since the deal was completed, ACCO stock has lost 42% of its value. - [By Lauren Pollock]
MeadWestvaco Corp.(MWV) expanded its cost-cutting efforts and said it plans to simplify the structure of its packaging businesses, as it strives to improve its performance. - [By Ben Levisohn]
When you’re stock has been lagging the S&P 500, sometimes drastic action must be followed by even more drastic action. Case in point: MeadWestvaco (MWV), which announced a program of cost cutting on the heels of one announced last year. source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/best-dividend-companies-to-invest-in-2014.html
 Richard Vogel/AP Google (GOOG) and Viacom (VIA) settled Viacom's lawsuit claiming YouTube violated copyrights by letting users post video clips from shows without authorization after a federal judge twice threw out the allegations. Terms of the settlement weren't disclosed, the companies said Tuesday in a joint statement. "This settlement reflects the growing collaborative dialogue between our two companies on important opportunities, and we look forward to working more closely together," the companies said in the statement. Viacom originally sued in 2007, seeking $1 billion in damages and claiming that YouTube users were illegally uploading thousands of videos of Viacom TV shows, such as "South Park" and "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart," and movies from its Paramount Pictures film studio. U.S. District Judge Louis Stanton ruled in 2010 in Mountain View, Calif.-based Google's favor. In April 2012, the U.S. Court of Appeals in New York overturned that ruling and sent the case back to the district court. In April 2013, Google for a second time persuaded Stanton to throw out Viacom's lawsuit, and New York-based Viacom said at the time it would appeal the decision. The case is Viacom v. YouTube, 07-cv-02103, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan). The appeal case is Viacom International v. YouTube, 10-03270, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (Manhattan).
Your smartphone already allows you to do instant price comparisons at the store, usually by scanning a barcode. There are several apps that let you "showroom" in this way. We don't know which, if any, will be available for Glass. But assuming one of these apps gets ported over to the new hardware, you'll be able to get price comparisons just by picking up a product and looking at the barcode.
The�megabillion-dollar buyout�of Life Technologies (NASDAQ: LIFE ) by Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE: TMO ) grabbed a lot of headlines earlier this week. Fool contributor Rich Smith, however, has a different story to tell. It's the story of one overpriced company buying another company that's an even worse bargain, which resulted in a medical equipment behemoth that's even more egregiously overpriced than the two companies were separately. Want a better health-care investing idea? When President Obama was reelected, shares of UnitedHealth and other health insurers fell immediately. Is Obamacare a death knell for health insurers, or is the market missing out on some of the opportunities the law presents? In this brand-new premium report on UnitedHealth, The Motley Fool takes a long-term view, honing in on�prospects for UnitedHealth in a post-Obamacare world. So don't miss out -- simply�click here now�to claim your copy today. Top 5 Media Stocks To Own Right Now: Discovery Communications Inc(DISCA) Discovery Communications, Inc. operates as a non fiction media and entertainment company worldwide. The company provides original and purchased programming across various distribution platforms. Its content covers science, exploration, survival, natural history, sustainability of the environment, technology, docu-series, anthropology, paleontology, history, space, archaeology, health and wellness, engineering, adventure, lifestyles, forensics, civilization, and current events. The company owns and operates nine national television networks in the United States, including Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Investigation Discovery, Military Channel, Planet Green, Discovery Fit & Health, and Velocity. Discovery Communications also has interests in Oprah Winfrey Network, a pay-television network and Web site; The Hub that features original programming, game shows, and live-action series and specials; and 3net, a three-dimensional network. In addition, it o ffers network branded Web sites, and mobile and video-on-demand services; and distributes various national and pan-regional television networks. Further, the company develops and sells curriculum-based products and services to public and private K-12 schools, such as access to an online VOD service that includes curriculum-based tools, professional development services, and student assessment and publication of hardcopy curriculum-based content; and postproduction audio services to motion picture studios, independent producers, broadcast networks, cable channels, advertising agencies, and interactive producers. As of December 31, 2011, it operated approximately 150 distribution feeds in 40 languages. The company is headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Ben Levisohn]
Discovery Communications (DISCA) has gained 4.9% to $88.48 after the company reported a profit of 80 cents a share, beating forecasts for 72 cents. - [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET]
Discover Communications operates as a non-fiction media company worldwide.�The company recently released earning that left investors happy.�The stock has been trending higher over the last couple of years and is currently trading at highs for the year.Earnings and revenue figures have been steadily growing so investors have been very satisfied. Relative to its peers and sector, Discover Communications has been an under-performer leader, year-to-date. Look for Discover Communications to continue to OUTPERFORM. - [By Ben Levisohn]
So yes, Disney is a Buy, and DiClemente’s $90 price target suggests another 19% of upside from yesterday’s close, though it should be noted he also likes CBS (CBS), Twenty-First Century Fox (FOXA) and Discover Communications (DISCA).
Top 5 Media Stocks To Own Right Now: Gannett Co. Inc. (GCI) Gannett Co., Inc. operates as a media and marketing solutions company in the United States and internationally. Its Publishing segment publishes 83 U.S. daily newspapers with affiliated online sites, including USA TODAY, a national, general-interest daily newspaper; USATODAY.com; USA WEEKEND, a magazine supplement for newspapers; Clipper Magazine, a direct mail advertising magazine; bi-weekly Nursing Spectrum and NurseWeek periodicals; and military and defense newspapers. This segment also includes 17 paid-for daily newspapers; approximately 200 weekly newspapers, magazines, and trade publications; and approximately 600 non-daily publications, as well as involves in commercial printing, newswire, marketing, and data services operations. The company?s Digital segment owns and operates CareerBuilder, an employment Web site, which offers online recruitment and career advancement services for employers, employees, recruiters, and job seekers; ShopLocal, which provides multicha nnel shopping and advertising services; Planet Discover, which offers hosted search and advertising services; PointRoll, which provides digital marketing services and technology; and Schedule Star, which offers scheduling solution for high school athletic departments. Its Broadcasting segment operates 23 television stations and affiliated Web sites, which produce local programming, such as news, sports, and entertainment programming. This segment also includes Captivate Network, a national news and entertainment network that delivers programming and full-motion video advertising on video screens located in elevators of office towers and select hotel lobbies in North America. The company has strategic business relationships with online affiliates, including Classified Ventures, ShopLocal.com, Topix, and Metromix LLC, as well as strategic marketing agreement with Microsoft. Gannett Co., Inc. was founded in 1906 and is headquartered in McLean, Virginia. Advisors' Opinion: - [By WilliamBriat]
Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) is the top newspaper publisher in the U.S.; its flagship paper is USA TODAY. The company also owns 23 television stations and more than 200 papers in the U.K. Gannett Co. provides an annual dividend of 3.3%. During the second quarter, it reported solid broadcasting and digital revenue growth and its fourth consecutive quarter of year-over-year circulation revenue growth. - [By Sue Chang]
Gannett Co. (GCI) �is projected to post earnings of 41 cents a share in the third quarter. - [By Jon Friedman]
On June 13, Gannett (NYSE: GCI ) sent Wall Street a clear message: We are much more than the nation's leading newspaper chain. That was the day that Gannett announced plans to acquire television company Belo Corp. for $1.5 billion, transforming Gannett's image overnight�from an old-fashioned newspaper chain (bad, bad image) to a more promising television operation (very good one).
Thomson Reuters Corporation provides intelligent information for businesses and professionals worldwide. The company allows market participants to connect, access content, and trade in a secure environment through Thomson Reuters Eikon desktop, Thomson Reuters Elektron network, content integration and management technology, content feeds and databases, and transactions infrastructure solutions that support buy- and sell-side customers to trade in foreign exchange, fixed income and derivatives, equities, exchange-traded instruments, and commodities and energy markets. It also offers information, analytics, workflow, and technology solutions to buy-side and off-trading floor customers; access to liquidity in over-the-counter markets, trade execution, and connections for market participants and financial professionals? communities; and a suite of solutions offering informed outcomes to regulated industries and law firms. In addition, the company provides critical information , decision support tools, and software and services to legal, investigation, business, and government professionals; integrated tax compliance and accounting software and services for accounting and law firms, corporations, and government professionals; intellectual property and scientific resources that enable its customers to discover, develop, and deliver innovations; and data analytics, and performance benchmarking solutions and services to healthcare sector. Further, it offers coverage of global, regional, and national news in 20 languages covering politics, business, finance, entertainment, lifestyle, technology, health, science, and sports; and engages in advertising-supported direct-to-consumer publishing activities of Reuters.com and its network of Websites, mobile applications, and electronic out-of-home displays. The company was formerly known as The Thomson Corporation and changed its name to Thomson Reuters Corporation in April 2008. The company is headquartered in New York, New York. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Rich Smith]
Thomson Reuters (NYSE: TRI ) has acquired Canadian trademark search, monitoring, and screening firm Onscope, Thomson announced Tuesday. - [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, our headlines feature an upgrade for Thomson Reuters Reuters (NYSE: TRI ) , a new buy rating for Novavax (NASDAQ: NVAX ) -- but for Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP ) , a downgrade. Let's get that bad news out of the way first. - [By Monica Wolfe]
Thomson Reuters (TRI) On Feb. 11, Thomson Reuters declared a dividend of $0.330 per share, representing 3.80% dividend yield for the company. This dividend is payable on March 17 to shareholders of the record at the close of business on Feb. 24, 2014. - [By Jonas Elmerraji]
It's been a solid year for Thompson Reuters (TRI); since the calendar flipped over to January, this $30 billion financial media firm has rallied more than 22%. But don't worry if you've missed out on the move -- TRI looks well-positioned for higher levels thanks to the pattern that's been setting up in shares. Thompson Reuters is currently forming an ascending triangle pattern, a bullish setup that's formed by horizontal resistance above shares at the $35.50 level and uptrending support to the downside. Basically, as TRI bounces in between those two technically-important price levels, it's getting squeezed closer and closer to a confirmed breakout above that $35.50 price level. When the breakout happens, it's time to be a buyer. TRI closed above the $35.50 level in yesterday's session, but it's a little early to call it a breakout just yet. If shares can hold above that breakout level all through today's session, then the buy signal is worth heeding.
Top 5 Media Stocks To Own Right Now: Time Warner Cable Inc(TWC) Time Warner Cable Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a cable operator in the United States. It offers video, high-speed data, and voice services over its broadband cable systems to residential and commercial customers. The company provides a range of video services, including on-demand, high-definition (HD), and digital video recorder (DVR) services; residential high-speed data services with connection to the Internet; wireless mobile broadband Internet services; and digital phone services to residential customers. It offers video programming tiers and music services; high-speed data, networking, and transport services; and commercial digital phone service to small and medium-sized businesses under the Time Warner Cable Business Class brand. Further, Time Warner Cable Inc. sells advertising to various national, regional, and local customers. As of June 30, 2011, the company served approximately 14.5 million residential and commercial customers in the New Yor k State, the Carolinas, Ohio, southern California, and Texas. Time Warner Cable Inc. is based in New York, New York. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Evan Niu, CFA]
Along the way, the industry became segregated into wired and wireless sectors. Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA ) and Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC ) dominated the wired side, while AT&T and Verizon (NYSE: VZ ) primarily call the shots in wireless.
Top 5 Media Stocks To Own Right Now: Comcast Corporation(CMCSA) Comcast Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides entertainment, information, and communications products and services in the United States and internationally. Its Cable Communications segment provides video, high-speed Internet, and phone services to residential and business customers. As of June 30, 2011, its cable systems served approximately 22.5 million video customers, 17.5 million high-speed Internet customers, and 9.1 million phone customers. The company?s Cable Networks segment operates cable entertainment networks, such as USA Network, Syfy, E!, Bravo, Oxygen, Style, G4, Chiller, Sleuth, and Universal HD; news and information networks, including CNBC, MSNBC, and CNBC World; cable sports networks comprising Golf Channel and VERSUS; regional sports and news networks; international entertainment, and news and information networks, such as CNBC Europe, CNBC Asia, and Universal Networks International portfolio of networks; cable television production oper ations; and digital media properties consisting primarily of brand-aligned Websites and other Websites, such as DailyCandy, Fandango, and iVillage. Its Broadcast Television segment operates the U.S. broadcast networks, NBC and Telemundo; 10 NBC and 15 Telemundo owned local television stations; broadcast television productions; and related digital media properties. The company?s Filmed Entertainment segment operates Universal Pictures, which produces, acquires, markets, and distributes filmed entertainment and stage plays worldwide in various media formats for theatrical, home entertainment, television, and other distribution platforms. Its Theme Parks segment operates Universal Studios Hollywood park and Wet ?n Wild water park, as well as licenses intellectual properties and provides services to third parties that own and operate Universal Studios Japan and Universal Studios Singapore. Comcast Corporation was founded in 1963 and is based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Anders Bylund]
Anders explains how Google's final destination will depend on how today's leading Internet service providers -- such as Verizon (NYSE: VZ ) and Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA ) �-- respond to Google's high-quality, low-cost offering. So far, both companies have largely stuck their heads in the sand. They can't afford to ignore the high-speed revolution forever. - [By Dan Radovsky]
The Chernin Group would appear to be good company in such an endeavor. Its head, Peter Chernin, is a founder of Hulu and should be quite familiar with its operations. Chernin is also the former COO of News Corp. (NASDAQ: FOXA ) , one of the three current Hulu owners. The others are Disney (NYSE: DIS ) and Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA ) . - [By Tim Brugger]
Cable companies must be scared, right?
Are cable Internet providers concerned about the threat posed by Google Fiber? If so, they aren't showing it yet. It's probably just a coincidence that my cable provider, Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA ) , recently offered to crank up my Internet connectivity speed at no charge. That's right -- a cable company opted to improve service without charging. Interesting.
W.R. Grace & Co. (Grace), incorporated on August 6, 1997, is engaged in the production and sale of specialty chemicals and specialty materials on a global basis. The Company operates in three segments: Grace Catalysts Technologies; Grace Materials Technologies; and Grace Construction Products. Grace Catalysts Technologies will include catalysts and related technologies used in refining, petrochemical and other chemical manufacturing applications. Grace's Advanced Refining Technologies LLC (ART) joint venture will be managed in this segment. Grace Materials Technologies will include engineered materials, coatings and sealants used in industrial, consumer, pharmaceutical and packaging applications. Grace Construction Products will include specialty construction chemicals and specialty building materials used in commercial, infrastructure and residential construction. The Company conducts business in over 40 countries. In July 2012, the Company acquired Rheoset Industria e Co mercio de Aditivos Ltda. In November 2012, the Company acquired the assets of Noblestar Catalysts Co., Ltd. In April 2013, it acquired Chemind Construction Products. In December 2013, the Company announced that it has completed the acquisition of the assets of the Polypropylene Licensing and Catalysts business of The Dow Chemical Company. Refining Technologies The Company is engaged in developing and manufacturing fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts and additives for petroleum refiners. Grace markets hydroprocessing catalysts primarily through ART, its joint venture with Chevron Products Company (Chevron). The Company established ART to combine its technology with that of Chevron and to develop, market and sell hydroprocessing catalysts to customers in the petroleum refining industry worldwide. Grace is a supplier of hydroprocessing catalysts d! esigned for processing these feedstocks. The Company offers products for fixed-bed resid hydrotreating , on-stream catalyst replacement, ebullating-bed resid hydro! cracking and distillate hydrotreating processes. It also offers a full line of catalysts, customized for individual refiners, used in processing ultra-low sulfur content gasoline and diesel fuel, including its SMART Catalyst System and ApART catalyst system. Grace provides enabling technologies that are silica- and silica-alumina-based functional additives and process aids, such as silica gel, colloidal silica, zeolitic adsorbents, precipitated silica and silica-aluminas, for a range of applications. The Company's product portfolio includes PERKASIL, LUDOX, PHONOSORB, PHONOSORB MTX, SYLOBEAD, SYLOSIV, CRYOSIV, SAFETYSORB, PoliEdge, SYLODENT, SYLOID FP, SYLOBLANC, ELFADENT, SYLOID, DARACLAR, TriSyl, SHIELDEX, SYLOWHITE, SYLOJET, DURAFILL, LUDOX, DAREX, DARAFORM, DARASEAL, DARABLEND, Sincera, Celox, Apperta, Sistiaga, and SAFETYSORB. Specialty Technologies The Company is a provider of catalyst systems and catalyst supports to the polyol efins industry for a variety of polyethylene and polypropylene process technologies. These types of catalysts are used for the manufacture of polyethylene and polypropylene resins used in products such as plastic film, high-performance plastic pipe, automobile parts, household appliances and household containers. Its Magnapore polymerization catalyst is used to produce high performance polyethylene in the slurry loop process for pipe and film applications. Its POLYTRAK polymerization catalyst is used in automobile bumpers and household appliances. The Company's DAVICAT standard and customized catalysts offer a range of chemical and physical properties based on its material science technology for supported catalysts, polystyrene, herbicide, neutriceuticals and on purpose olefins. The Company's RANEY nickel, cobalt and copper hydrogenation and dehydrogenation catalysts ! are used ! for the synthesis of organic compounds for the fibers, polyurethanes, engineered plastics, pharmaceu ticals, sweeteners and petroleum industries. Gr! ace Const! ruction Products Grace Construction Products produces and sells specialty construction chemicals and specialty building materials. It includes construction chemicals including concrete admixtures and fibers used to modify the rheology, improve the durability and enhance various other properties of concrete, mortar, masonry and other cementitious construction materials; and additives used in cement processing to improve energy efficiency in manufacturing, enhance the characteristics of finished cement and improve ease of use, and Building materials used in both new construction and renovation/repair projects. The products protect buildings and civil engineering structures from water, vapor and air penetration. The portfolio includes waterproofing membranes for commercial and residential buildings, specialty grouts for use in waterproofing and soil stabilization applications, air and vapor barriers, and other products to solve the specialized needs of preventative and repair applications. The Company competes with Albemarle, BASF, Criterion, Haldor Topsoe, Axens, PQ/INEOS, Evonik, UOP, Altana, Waters Corporation, Agilent Technologies, Thermo-Fisher and Sika. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Rich Duprey]
Yet the price spike also spurred the development of alternatives to the metals. Toyota (NYSE: TM ) , for example, began manufacturing cars with induction motors rather than with those using rare earth magnets, as did General Motors (NYSE: GM ) , which noted that although they're slightly less efficient, they're also a heckuva lot cheaper to make and buy. General Electric (NYSE: GE ) began developing wind turbine generators that relied less upon permanent-magnet machines and W.R. Grace (NYSE: GRA ) offered fluid catalytic cracking cata! lysts, wh! ich oil refiners use to produce gasoline and diesel, that contained less lanthanum. - [By Johanna Bennett]
Dow Chemical recently agreed to sell its polypropylene licensing and catalysts business to fellow chemicals company W. R. Grace & Co. (GRA) for $500 million. source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/best-high-tech-stocks-to-buy-right-now-2.html
Automatic Data Processing, Inc. provides technology-based outsourcing solutions to employers, and vehicle retailers and manufacturers worldwide. It operates in three segments: Employer Services, Professional Employer Organization Services, and Dealer Services. The Employer Services segment offers a range of human resource (HR)information, payroll processing, and tax and benefits administration solutions and services, including traditional and Web-based outsourcing solutions. Its solutions enable employers to staff, manage, pay, and retain their employees. The Professional Employer Organization Services segment provides employment administration outsourcing solutions, including payroll, payroll tax filing, HR guidance, 401(k) plan administration, benefits administration, compliance services, health and workers? compensation coverage, and other supplemental benefits for employees. The Dealer Services segment offers integrated dealer management systems (DMS) and other busines s management solutions to automotive, truck, motorcycle, marine, recreational vehicle, and heavy machinery retailers. This segment also provides a suite of additional integrated applications to address department and functional area of the dealership, including customer relationship management applications, front-end sales and marketing/advertising solutions, and an IP Telephony phone system integrated into the DMS to help dealerships drive sales processes and business development initiatives, as well as offers computer hardware, hardware maintenance services, software support, system design, and network consulting services. In addition, it designs, establishes, and maintains communications networks for its dealership clients that allow interactive communications among various site locations, as well as links between franchised dealers and their vehicle manufacturer f! ranchisors. The company was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Roseland, New Jersey. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Bloomberg]
Companies added fewer workers than projected in February, a sign that U.S. employers were waiting for a pickup in demand before boosting headcount, a private report based on payrolls showed today. The 139,000 increase in employment followed a revised 127,000 gain in January that was weaker than initially reported, the weakest two months since August-September 2012, according to the ADP Research Institute in Roseland, N.J. The median forecast of 39 economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for a 155,000 advance. Harsh winter weather conditions, which kept some shoppers away from stores and car dealerships, help explain why companies were hesitant to accelerate hiring at a more robust pace. Faster payroll growth that spurs bigger wage gains would help to boost the consumer purchases that make up almost 70 percent of the economy. "Employment was weak across a number of industries," Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics in West Chester, Pa., said in a statement. Moody's produces the figures with ADP (ADP). "Bad winter weather, especially in mid-month, weighed on payrolls. Job growth is expected to improve with warmer temperatures." Estimates in the Bloomberg survey of economists ranged from gains of 100,000 to 180,000 after a previously reported increase of 175,000 in January. Missing Mark ADP's numbers have missed the mark in tracking the government's jobs figures over the past couple of months. The group's initial estimates showed a 238,000 gain in employment for December followed by a 175,000 January increase. That compares with the Labor Department's initial estimate of an 87,000 gain in December private payrolls and a 142,000 increase in January. Stock-index futures were little changed after the report. The contract on the Standard & Poor's 500 index (^GSPC) expiring this month rose less than 0.1 percent to 1,872 at 9:06 ! a.m. in N! ew York. Payrolls at goods-producing industries increased headcount by 19,000. Factories added 1,000 workers, - [By Reuters]
LM Otero/AP U.S. private employers added 175,000 jobs in January, the smallest gain since August as wintry weather kept a lid on hiring, a report by a payrolls processor showed Wednesday. Economists surveyed by Reuters had forecast the ADP National Employment Report would show a gain of 180,000 jobs, with estimates ranging from a low of 125,000 to a high of 210,000. December's increase in jobs was revised down to 227,000 from the initially reported 238,000. The report is jointly developed with Moody's Analytics. Small businesses, defined as having fewer than 50 employees, showed the largest growth by business size, with 75,000 jobs added. Medium businesses, with between 50 and 499 workers, added 66,000, while large companies, with more than 500 staff members, added 34,000 positions, the report showed. By sector, the services sector added 160,000 jobs, down from an upwardly revised 177,000 in December, led by strength in the professional and business services group, which added 49,000. Goods-producing companies added just 16,000 positions after an increase of 50,000 the month before. Manufacturers cut jobs, with a decline of 12,000 after adding 16,000 positions in December. "Cold and stormy winter weather continued to weigh on the job numbers," Moody's Analytics Chief Economist Mark Zandi said in a statement accompanying the report. "Underlying job growth, abstracting from the weather, remains sturdy. Gains are broad based across industries and company sizes, the biggest exception being manufacturing, which shed jobs, but that is not expected to continue." The ADP (ADP) report comes two days ahead of the government's nonfarm payroll report, a measure of the labor market that is more comprehensive and includes both public- and private-sector employment. December's initial reading from ADP failed to foreshadow accurately the Labor Department's report,! which sh! owed that just 74,000 jobs were created in December. That was the lowest job creation total in source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/best-tech-companies-to-buy-for-2014-2.html
 The nation's business owners are an affluent bunch and they require a broad swath of services from a financial adviser — but the potential pay-off to advisers may be many years down the road. About one-third of the nation's wealthy investors, those who have $1.5 million or more to invest, are business owners, and that proportion jumps dramatically as wealth level rises, a new study finds. About 74% of the super-affluent, those with $5 million to $20 million to invest, are business owners, and a whopping 89% with $25 million or more to invest own businesses, according to a report by CEG Worldwide and Wealth Engine. “There's a disproportionate amount of wealth with private business owners versus the rest of the country,” said James Dean of WealthEngine. However, many business owners' wealth initially is tied up in those companies, so there may not be many assets for an adviser to manage at the onset of a relationship. The payoff typically comes when the owner sells or takes the business public. Advisers who target business owners help these clients protect their assets with insurance and buy-sell agreements, make sure they are mitigating taxes, structure retirement vehicles, and create plans for extracting business value to benefit their heirs, said John Bowen, chief executive of CEG Worldwide, a consulting and coaching firm for advisors. The financial planning advisers do for these clients' businesses has to incorporate the personal financial goals of the entrepreneur, too. “In an ideal world, these clients want the independence of having enough capital outside their business so they have some flexibility,” Mr. Bowen said. Lou Stanasolovich, founder of Legend Financial Advisors, which has been serving business owners for 18 years, estimates that 70% to 80% of a business owner's assets are tied up in their business for its first 10 years. “There's no money in the beginning; they're just fighting to survive,” Mr. Stanasolovich said. “They don't even retain us until there's some money available,” and even then some don't think they can afford a financial adviser's services, he said. Legend advisers have learned to charge business clients hourly fees for business financial planning “so that they can cut us off when they want.” The firm's advisers have had to develop a lot of expertise to provide a variety of services to business clients. Helping clients put together a team of lawyers, accountants, insurers and bankers with the expertise needed for their business, as opposed to using professionals whom they may have outgrown, is on! e of their most important goals, Mr. Stanasolovich said. Advisers also help clients set up defined-benefit plans, self-directed retirement plans, and less frequently, a Simplified Employee Pension plan, which he said aren't as good from an asset protection standpoint. Business financial planning also involves reviewing balance sheets and income statements and asking questions about ways to tighten up expenses, or suggesting other ways to add value for the owner, he said. Of course, business owners know they need to do a lot of these things. They often don't follow through, though, because entrepreneurs typically have more to do than time to do it. Advisers help push these decisions to the forefront, he said. “We lose money on most of our business owner clients,” Mr. Stanasolovich said. “The key is to keep them long-term so you're there when they sell off their businesses.”
 Michael Kitces The way that the CFP Board categorizes financial adviser compensation makes it nearly impossible for an adviser to be deemed fee-only, according to a popular blogger who is almost single-handedly stoking the debate. In a 4,360-word post on his blog this week, Nerd's Eye View, Michael Kitces said that the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. defines compensation so expansively that almost every financial planner must be labeled as “commission and fee.” Under CFP Board rules, a planner can be fee-only only if he or she generates revenue through fees and doesn't charge commissions and isn't affiliated with a firm that could charge commissions. The group's compensation categories also include commission-only. (See where the new CFP Board chairman stands on the fee-only definition.) “When nearly all advisers must use the same compensation disclosure label of 'commission and fee' to define a wide range of actual compensation structures from 0% commissions to 100% commissions, the very purpose of compensation disclosure begins to lose its meaning, value and clarity for the public that the CFP Board purports to serve,” wrote Mr. Kitces, director of research at Pinnacle Advisory Group. In an interview, Mr. Kitces said that he is emphasizing the issue because the leading financial planning membership organizations – the Financial Planning Association and the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors -- are standing back. Both have indicated that the CFP Board, as the certifying body, determines compensation rules. “This needs to be fixed,” Mr. Kitces said. “I really don't know why they are silent on this issue. The CFP Board insists there is no problem, and NAPFA and FPA have said they're going to let the CFP Board act first. I can't do this all by myself – nor should I.” In his blog post, he outlined six scenarios in which advisers in disparate business models all would have to label themselves as fee-and-commission. Mr. Kitces' post generated a strong reaction on social media. One of those who tweeted in support was Alan Moore, founder of Serenity Financial Consulting. “Now there's even more confusion because how [advisers] are paid is not relevant,” he said in an interview. “It's how they could get paid. It adds layers of complexity.” The CFP Board has been embroiled in court and disciplinary cases involving compensation definitions for more than a year. The organization didn't respond to a request for comment about Mr. Kitces, but officials addressed the issue in a webinar Thursday. “We have a definition around fee-only, and we believe our definition is very clear,” said Ray Ferrara, chairman ! of the CFP Board and president of ProVise Management Group. “We all here at the CFP Board understand what the word 'only' means, and it's hard to make it any clearer than that.” William Sweet, president of Stevens & Sweet Financial, endorsed Mr. Kitces' point of view, calling the CFP Board's approach to compensation definitions “a little silly.” The group is “enforcing the letter of the law rather than the spirit,” Mr. Sweet said. “I would prefer if the focus of the CFP Board was on ensuring that all financial advisers adequately disclose their source of compensation and all potential conflicts of interest rather than on categorizing the type of compensation offered.” The CFP Board is blurring the lines between fee-only and commission-charging advisers, said Randy Bruns, a private wealth adviser at HighPoint Planning Partners. “We're painted with the same broad brush, and I don't know if that's fair to the client,” he said. “It doesn't create a clear picture for the client of how different the advisers are in this case.” The biggest problem is that the commission-only category could diminish within the CFP Board's framework, Mr. Moore said. “I'm not aware of anybody who could claim commission-only based on how they're defining compensation,” he said. “I don't believe there's going to be a commission-only category at this point.” An adviser who is fee-only — and remains so under the CFP definition because he charges clients a flat fee of $4,500 annually — supports the CFP Board's effort to parse compensation. “It is worthwhile to delineate those who have an opportunity to earn commissions and those who don't,” said James Osborne, president of Bason Asset Management. “If you'd like to be fee-only, it's not difficult to be fee-only,” he said. “It's fairly easy to be in a position not to earn a commission.” There are benefits and drawbacks to e! ach of th! e fee models, advisers said. The bottom line is that investors know what they are paying for and why. “The most important thing is that investors understand the exact cost of the engagement, are getting what they believe to be a fair level of services for that cost and that their financial plan accurately accounts for that cost,” Mr. Bruns said.
First Majestic Silver Corp. engages in the production, development, exploration, and acquisition of mineral properties with a focus on silver in Mexico. The company owns interests in La Encantada Silver Mine comprising 4,076 hectares of mining rights and 1,343 hectares of surface land located in Coahuila; La Parrilla Silver Mine consisting of mining concessions covering an area of 69,867 hectares; and San Martin Silver Mine comprising approximately 7,841 hectares of mineral rights and approximately 1,300 hectares of surface land rights located in Jalisco. It also holds interests in Del Toro Silver Mine consisting of 393 contiguous hectares of mining claims and an additional 129 hectares of surface rights located in Zacatecas; Real de Catorce Silver Project comprising 22 mining concessions covering 6,327 hectares located in San Luis Potosi state; and Jalisco Group of Properties consisting of mining claims totalling 5,240 hectares located in Jalisco. The company was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Doug Ehrman]
While many precious-metals companies have been in a slump of late, there is one that belongs perpetually in your portfolio: Silver Wheaton (NYSE: SLW ) . The company is not like other miners -- including Pan American Silver (NASDAQ: PAAS ) and First Majestic (NYSE: AG ) -- in that it has a unique business plan that insulates it against many of the vagaries of the mining business. Moreover, because silver will always have a significant industrial demand component, even with the heightened volatility you see in the silver market, maintaining exposure to silver is appropriate. - [By Doug Ehrman]
Despite the weakness seen in precious metals a few weeks ago, silver has been relatively stable ever since mid-April,! with the iShares Silver Trust (NYSEMKT: SLV ) trading in a dollar-wide range ever since. With the presidents of the Chicago and Philadelphia Federal Reserve banks releasing conflicting statements, turmoil may be just around the corner. Miners like Pan American (NASDAQ: PAAS ) and First Majestic (NYSE: AG ) are still facing operating challenges, while silver streaming darling Silver Wheaton (NYSE: SLW ) struggles as well. - [By Doug Ehrman]
It is no secret that precious metals companies have been taking a pounding for some time now. The SPDR Gold Trust (NYSEMKT: GLD ) and iShares Silver Trust (NYSEMKT: SLV ) , the gold and silver ETFs, have been hard hit and operating companies like First Majestic (NYSE: AG ) and Barrick Gold (NYSE: ABX ) have been hit even harder. Through all of these struggles, and in some cases because of them, one precious metals company continues to look attractive for the long term: Silver Wheaton (NYSE: SLW ) . - [By Doug Ehrman]
In terms of individual companies, there are several good choices, but these can behave very differently. Pan American Silver (NASDAQ: PAAS ) , for example, missed revenue expectations and beat earnings expectations in its last earnings release. But despite the beat, EPS shrank considerably from a year earlier on a GAAP basis. The stock has been fairly flat ever since. Conversely, First Majestic (NYSE: AG ) reported strong revenue growth and a small bump in profits, sending the stock higher since the announcement. First Majestic reported increased cash costs and tightening margins, largely driven by lower silver prices. Each of these companies faces pressure from increasing production costs and environmental concerns. source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-10-gold-stocks-for-2015.html
Small-cap stocks come with big price tags these days. The Russell 2000 index of small-capitalization stocks has surged 251% off the March 2009 bear-market bottom, far outpacing the Dow, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite. The index, which contains a broad array of small firms generally with market capitalizations below $2 billion, is up 3.4% this year and has risen 27% over the past 12 months. More In Stocks J.P. Morgan: Record Levels of Margin Debt No Cause for Alarm—Yet Who's Afraid of the Big, Bad Bear? How to Know When the Bull Market Peaks Wells Fargo: Financial Stocks Disappoint, Blame the Yield Curve Don't Celebrate This Anniversary But considering the index has risen so far for so long, one market watcher is getting worried about the rally’s sustainability. “We are getting increasingly concerned about the extended nature of small-caps in the short-term,” said Jonathan Krinsky, chief market technician at MKM Partners. “Forward returns for the next few months seem neutral at best, with a fairly significant risk of a 5-10% pullback.” As the chart below shows, the Russell 2000 is trading about 42% above its 200-week moving average, a line that many chart watchers use as a guide to predict long-term trends. That’s the most the Russell has been above this chart line since March 10, 2000, which proved to be the exact day the stock index peaked right before the dot-com bubble burst.  Smaller companies have outpaced their larger brethren mainly because small caps are more isolated to global economic troubles than multinational firms. They tend to be more thinly traded, which can exacerbate their price swings in either direction. A look at previous performances when the Russell has gotten this rich paints a bearish picture. Over the past 30 years, there have been 40 weeks (or 2.5% of the time) in which the Russell has traded at least 40% above its 200-week moving average, Mr. Krinsky says. Six of those weeks have taken place over the past three months. But in 32 of the 34 other occurrences, the Russell traded down over the next three months, averaging a 7% drop. “Those are pretty striking statistics,” Mr. Krinsky says. “While we don’t think the bull market since 2009 is finished, we should certainly be aware of where the market is and what the risk/reward is on any given time frame.” He doesn’t suggest clients should initiate new long positions in small-cap stocks right now.
The breakfast bell is about to ring at a most unlikely place: Taco Bell. The Mexican fast-food chain, best-known for its low-budget tacos and burritos, on Monday announced plans to roll out an unconventional breakfast menu nationally beginning March 27. The chain is champing at the bit for its share of the $50 billion limited-service breakfast business. Taco Bell's share of that breakfast market could be $700 million, estimates restaurant consulting firm Technomic. Taco Bell's plans are to do breakfast with mostly portable items that its Millennial base can hold in one hand and cellphones in the other. Among its outside-the-box breakfast items: • Waffle Taco. A warm waffle wrapped around sausage or bacon, scrambled eggs, cheese and syrup. • A.M Crunchwrap. Scrambled eggs, hash browns, cheese and bacon or sausage in a warm tortilla. • Cinnabon Delights. Poppable pastries filled with Cinnabon frosting and coated with sugar. Clearly, Taco Bell is very late to the fast-food breakfast party. McDonald's, which owns at least a 20% share of breakfast, has been at it for decades. Burger King eventually followed. Wendy's has tried off and on in fits and starts. And Subway entered full-bore several years ago. But will consumers make any logical connection between Taco Bell and breakfast? MCDONALD'S: Eyes longer breakfast hours It's not exactly a disconnect, says Ron Paul, president of Technomic, the restaurant consulting firm, but Taco Bell faces a bigger breakfast problem, he says. "So far, no one has been able to compete with McDonald's for breakfast." How to change that? "We're going to reinvent breakfast," insists Taco Bell President Brian Niccol. 'We don't use buns or burgers or circular things at breakfast — that's not who we are." Not only will consumers totally get it, he says, but it also broadens! Taco Bell's appeal. 'It's a transformational moment for the brand," he says. "It will expand our connection with consumers." For months, the chain has been testing breakfast in about 850 restaurants in Fresno, Omaha and Chattanooga. While Niccol won't be specific about breakfast sales, he says they "exceeded our expectations." Breakfast will be served from about 7 a.m. in most markets, though earlier earlier in some. There are no current plans for all-day breakfast, he says. McDonald's has been studying longer breakfast options for months but has made no decision on extending it. "There are no tests currently in place for extended breakfast hours," spokeswoman Lisa McComb says. Some folks from outside Taco Bell's test market areas have made "pilgrimages," Niccol says, to test the breakfast offerings and have chatted about it on Twitter or Facebook.
RNA interference (RNAi) is a very new life science technology that is largely attributed to Andrew Fire and Craig Mello, the recipients of the 2006 Noble Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Using RNAi, scientists can manipulate the expression of DNA by selectively disabling certain messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules. If DNA can be considered a "book" of information, RNAi is the technology that allows scientists to edit the text before publication. RNAi molecules are unstable, which is why delivery mechanisms for these agents matter – a lot. And since it's a cutting edge field, only a handful of companies and institutions have decent RNAi delivery platforms. Due to the huge commercial potential of RNAi, most biotech investors are (or should be) watching the development quite closely. There are four early-mid stage RNAi companies we are actively following, and we feel that these companies can be considered first "generation" of RNA-focused biotech companies. It's easy to understand why all of these companies have done well in the last 6 months, but it gets more complicated when you try to evaluate the valuations of these companies and their pipelines. We will now provide updated reviews on each of these companies. Alnylam (ALNY) Now trading at a $5.2 B valuation after a 2-year 550% rally, Alnylam is one of the most successful RNAi stories out there. Big pharma has also shown direct interest in Alnylam, evidenced by the $700 M investment made into the company by Sanofi (SNY). The company's pipeline has grown, and there is a lot going on, but we are giving a lot of attention to ALN-TTR02 – an upcoming treatment for TTR-Mediated Amyloidosis. Note that the drug is now called Patisiran. Amyloidosis is a disease where changes in protein structure cause massive buildups of these proteins in the body. These growths are known as amyloids, and can be very dangerous when they interfere with normal body function. It is incurable, and we see huge potential for Patisiran and the subcutaneous version of this drug after potential FDA approval. The company provided a "Key 2014" goals update in January that explains what investors should expect this year, and when. Since our last note on Alnylam, the stock has roughly doubled. The company seems to have decent momentum going into 2014 with a string of catalysts from the 5x15 program, but we see it as an expensive buy at $80+/share. ALNY might be a better bet after a double-digit correction, because we currently see a "neutral" risk/reward profile. Tekmira (TKMR) Tekmira is a modestly-valued RNA company that is most famous for its lipid nanoparticle (LNP) RNAi delivery technology. Investors may remember that this LNP delivery technology was the subject of a heated legal debate between Tekmira and Alnylam, which was settled with a payment of $65 M. Tekmira is also well known for its Marqibo partnership with Spectrum, and its early-stage partnership with Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY). But that's old news. Tekmira is now putting a lot of effort into developing its wholly-owned novel drug candidates. Of the seven programs listed on the site, TKM-PLK1 is the only one currently in clinical development. TKM-PLK1 targets a protein known as PLK1, which has been implicated many times in certain types of cancers. The protein triggers certain cancer-propagating mechanisms that allow tumors to grow. According to the company's trial data, PLK1 inhibition demonstrated objective clinical efficacy in patients with Gastrointestinal Neuroendocrine Tumors (GI-NET) or Adrenocortical Carcinoma (ACC). I don't really care for Phase I efficacy data, but a good sign is a good sign. One of the really cool things about Tekmira is the fact that the company still generates a lot of revenue from the LNP platform. In Q3 2013, the Marqibo deal paid out $1 M due to an accelerated approval received by Spectrum. More recently, Tekmira confirmed the first $14.5 M of a $16.5 M IP licensing deal with Monsanto (MON). As the company morphs into a drug developer, this revenue will be needed to offset higher cashburn. However, this strategy makes it possible for this company to become another Alnylam. To raise additional capital, Tekmira announced the registration of up to $150 M of TKMR common. While this is potentially dilutive, it is a smart move by Tekmira to introduce a flexible financing option that can take advantage of its 140% rally since the
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Robert Shiller on Market Bubbles and Busts
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