Saturday, May 31, 2014

Hot Diversified Bank Companies For 2015

Hot Diversified Bank Companies For 2015: Credit Acceptance Corporation(CACC)

Credit Acceptance Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides auto loans, and related products and services to consumers in the United States. Its loan programs include portfolio program, which advances money to dealer-partners in exchange for the right to service the underlying consumer loans; and purchase program that buys the consumer loans from the dealer-partners and keeps amounts collected from the consumers. The company markets its products through a network of approximately 55,000 independent and franchised automobile dealers. Credit Acceptance Corporation was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in Southfield, Michigan.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Eric Volkman]

    Credit Acceptance (NASDAQ: CACC  ) will see big blocks of its shares change hands over the next few days. The company has specified the pricing of a previously announced underwritten public secondary stock common offering of $105.00 per share. Trusts associated with the firm's founder Donald Foss, in combination with Karol Foss and people and entities connected with Prescott General Partners, aim to sell a combined 1.5 million of their shares. Additionally, the underwriters will have a 30-day option to buy up to an extra 225,000 shares.

  • [By Richard Moroney]

    Credit Acceptance (CACC) provides financing for auto purchases through a national network of nearly 4,500 car dealers. Its programs help dealers sell cars by attracting credit-challenged consumers unable to get conventional loans.

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

Friday, May 30, 2014

YouTube: Well-Positioned for Long-Term Growth

Google's  (NASDAQ: GOOG  )  YouTube platform is by far the biggest and most influential player in the online video advertising market. Consumers are increasingly leaning toward watching videos online, as the rapid growth in mobile devices continues. Estimates from ZenithOptimedia suggest that the online video advertising market will grow to as much as $10 billion annually by 2016. YouTube will likely be the biggest beneficiary of this trend. 

Robust growth
YouTube saw fantastic growth in 2013, as gross revenue surged 51.4%. Google doesn't disclose revenue for YouTube as a separate line item, but according to estimates from eMarketer, YouTube earned gross revenue of $5.6 billion in 2013, up from $3.7 million in 2012. After paying content creators on its platform, YouTube earned net ad revenue worldwide of $1.18 billion and $1.96 billion in 2012 and 2013, respectively. 

YouTube disclosed that 75% of its in-stream ads are now skippable using the TrueView ad format. More than 1 million advertisers use Google's YouTube ad platforms, mostly comprised of small businesses. Google's management has stated that much of the explosive growth in YouTube's ad revenue have been due to the TrueView ad format, in which an advertiser pays only for those ads which a user watches. 

YouTube can get much bigger through better targeting. Marketers heavily favor targeted ads, as evidenced by Google's consistent double-digit growth in revenue from search ads. Higher utilization of targeted ads on various Google and AdSense partner sites should translate into much higher growth in video ad revenue for Google. 

Global reach
YouTube incentivizes users to upload content by sharing a majority of the ad revenue generated from their content. As a result, the amount of content being uploaded has surged to 100 hours of video every minute. The company should continue to see strong growth in user-generated content, or UGC.

Its large audience is viewing in excess of 6 billion hours of video each month. YouTube has tremendous reach worldwide -- more than 80% of its web traffic comes from outside the U.S. And according Nielsen, YouTube reaches more U.S. adults ages 18-34 than any cable network. According to comScore data, YouTube's reach among the U.S. Internet video audience stood at 83.7%, or 156 million users, which shows the company's broad reach in the domestic market. 

Bigger bets on online video
Growth in the online video market is attracting more investment in the space. Yahoo! consistently ranks among the top five video publishers, and now the company is ramping up its video content offerings. Yahoo! will launch two new comedy shows on its Internet portal, and it also struck an agreement with the world's largest live events company, Live Nation, to stream live concerts daily. Yahoo! and Live Nation will split the advertising revenue derived from the online video sales 50/50. 

In addition, Walt Disney  (NYSE: DIS  )  bought a company called Maker Studios for $500 million. Maker produces video series on YouTube. Disney has a significant presence in online video properties due to its ownership of leading content platforms such as ESPN, ABC, etc. and its partial ownership of Hulu. Making such a sizable bet on the prospects of a major producer on YouTube goes to show the value of online video and YouTube, in particular.

The heightened interest in online video by newer players in the market like Disney and Yahoo! can be attributed to the pricing of online video ads. According to Media Dynamics, the average online video ad carried twice the price of a national TV commercial. Cost per thousand impressions, or CPM, ranged on average between $20-$23 for online videos of various lengths. A national TV 30-second commercial had an average CPM of $9-$10.  

In the display advertising market, roughly half of all the ad dollars go to the five leading companies: Facebook, Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, and AOL. YouTube's strong metrics across the board will aid Google in running even farther ahead of the pack. 

Going forward
YouTube has built a gigantic user base and is clearly the 800-pound gorilla in the Internet video space. The company has thousands of content creators who are uploading huge amounts of video every minute, and YouTube is a preferred destination for leading brand marketers trying to reach millennials. The company should continue to earn the lion's share in the online video advertising business.

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Thursday, May 29, 2014

Top Restaurant Companies To Buy For 2015

Top Restaurant Companies To Buy For 2015: Blue Water Global Group Inc (BLUU)

Blue Water Global Group, Inc. (Blue Water), incorporated on March 3, 2011, is a development-stage company. The Company focuses on developing a chain of casual dining restaurants in tourist destinations throughout the Caribbean region. The Company's initial restaurant is going to be called Blue Water Bar & Grill and will be located in St. Maarten, Dutch West Indies.

As of February 7, 2013, the Company did not operate any restaurant properties, and did not have any ownership or leaseholds in any restaurant properties. As of February 7, 2013, the Company did not have any ownership or leaseholds in any restaurant properties.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Peter Graham]

    Last Friday, small cap Digital Brand Media & Marketing Group Inc (OTCMKTS: DBMM) surged 22.22% while Blue Water Global Group Inc (OTCBB: BLUU) sank 18.42% and Medina International Holdings, Inc (OTCMKTS: MIHI) sank 50%. However, one of these small caps (Blue Water Global Group) appears to be reversing course in early morning trading today. So with it and the rest of these small cap stocks either sink or swim in trading this week? Here is a closer look to help you decide on an investing or trading strategy:

  • source from USA Best Stocks:http://www.usabeststocks.com/top-restaurant-companies-to-buy-for-2015.html

Top 10 Oil Stocks For 2015

Top 10 Oil Stocks For 2015: MPLX LP (MPLX)

MPLX LP, incorporated on March 27, 2012, is a fee-based limited partnership formed by Marathon Petroleum Corporation to own, operate, develop and acquire crude oil, refined product and other hydrocarbon-based product pipelines and other midstream assets. The Companys assets consist of a 51% indirect interest in a network of common carrier crude oil and product pipeline systems and associated storage assets in the Midwest and Gulf Coast regions of the United States.

The Company generates revenue by charging tariffs for transporting crude oil, refined products and other hydrocarbon-based products through its pipelines and at its barge dock and fees for storing crude oil and products at its storage facilities. The Company is also the operator of additional crude oil and product pipelines owned by Marathon Petroleum Corporation and its subsidiaries (MPC) and third parties, for which it is paid operating fees.

The Companys assets consist of a 51 % partner interest in Pipe Line Holdings, an entity which owns a 100.0% interest in Marathon Pipe Line LLC (MPL) and Ohio River Pipe Line LLC (ORPL), which in turn own: a network of pipeline systems, which includes approximately 962 miles of common carrier crude oil pipelines and approximately 1,819 miles of common carrier product pipelines extending across nine states. This network includes approximately 153 miles of common carrier crude oil and product pipelines, which it operates under long-term leases with third parties; a barge dock located on the Mississippi River near Wood River, Illinois, and crude oil and product tank farms located in Patoka, Wood River and Martinsville, Illinois and Lebanon, Indiana; and a 100.0% interest in a butane cavern located in Neal, West Virginia, which serves MPCs Catlettsburg, Kentucky refinery.

Crude Oil Pipeline Systems

The Companys crude oil pipeline systems and related assets are positioned to support c rude oil supply! options for MPCs Midwest refineries, whic! h receive imported and domestic crude oil through a range of sources. Imported and domestic crude oil is transported to supply hubs in Wood River and Patoka, Illinois from a range of regions, including Cushing, Oklahoma on the Ozark pipeline system; Western Canada, Wyoming and North Dakota on the Keystone, Platte, Mustang and Enbridge pipeline systems, and the Gulf Coast on the Capline crude oil pipeline system.

The Companys Patoka to Lima crude system is comprised of approximately 76 miles of 20-inch pipeline extending from Patoka, Illinois to Martinsville, Illinois, and approximately 226 miles of 22-inch pipeline extending from Martinsville to Lima, Ohio. This system also includes associated breakout tankage. Crude oil delivered on this system to MPCs tank farm in Lima can then be shipped to MPCs Canton, Ohio refinery through MPCs Lima to Canton pipeline, to MPCs Detroit refinery through MPCs undivided joint interest portion of the Maumee pi peline, and its Samaria to Detroit pipeline, or to other third-party refineries owned by BP, Husky Energy, and PBF Energy in Lima and Toledo, Ohio.

The Companys Catlettsburg and Robinson crude system is consisted of the pipelines: Patoka to Robinson and Patoka to Catlettsburg. Its Patoka to Robinson pipeline consists of approximately 78 miles of 20-inch pipeline, which delivers crude oil from Patoka, Illinois to MPCs Robinson, Illinois refinery. Its Patoka to Catlettsburg pipeline consists of approximately 140 miles of 20-inch pipeline extending from Patoka, Illinois to Owensboro, Kentucky, and approximately 266 miles of 24-inch pipeline extending from Owensboro to MPCs Catlettsburg, Kentucky refinery. Crude oil can enter this pipeline at Patoka, and into the Owensboro to Catlettsburg portion of the pipelines at Lebanon Junction, Kentucky, from the third-party Mid-Valley system.

The Companys Detroit crude system is consisted of Samaria to Detroit and Romulus to Detroit. Its Sa! maria to ! Detroit pi! peline co! nsists of approximately 44 miles of 16-inch pipeline that delivers crude oil from Samaria, Michigan to MPCs Detroit, Michigan refinery. This pipeline includes a tank farm and crude oil truck offloading facility located at Samaria.

The Companys Romulus to Detroit pipeline consists of approximately 17 miles of 16-inch pipeline extending from Romulus, Michigan to MPCs Detroit, Michigan refinery. Its Wood River to Patoka crude system is consisted of two pipelines: Wood River to Patoka and Roxanna to Patoka. Its Wood River to Patoka pipeline consists of approximately 57 miles of 22-inch pipeline, which delivers crude oil received in Wood River, Illinois from the third-party Platte and Ozark pipeline systems to Patoka, Illinois.

The Companys Roxanna to Patoka pipeline consists of approximately 58 miles of 12-inch pipeline, which transports crude oil received in Roxanna, Illinois from the Ozark pipeline system to its tank farm in Patoka, Illi nois.

Product Pipeline Systems

The Companys product pipeline systems are positioned to transport products from five of MPCs refineries to MPCs marketing operations, as well as those of third parties. These pipeline systems also supply feedstocks to MPCs Midwest refineries. These product pipeline systems are integrated with MPCs expansive network of refined product marketing terminals, which support MPCs integrated midstream business.

The Companys Gulf Coast product pipeline systems include Garyville products system and Texas City products system. The Companys Garyville products system is consisted of approximately 70 miles of 20-inch pipeline, which delivers refined products from MPCs Garyville, Louisiana refinery to either the Plantation Pipeline in Baton Rouge, Louisiana or the MPC Zachary breakout tank farm in Zachary, Louisiana, and approximately two miles of 36-inch pipeline that delivers refined product s from the MPC tank farm to Colonial Pipeline in Zachary.

! The! Companys Texas City products system is comprised of approximately 39 miles of 16-inch pipeline that delivers refined products from refineries owned by MPC, BP and Valero in Texas City, Texas to MPCs Pasadena breakout tank farm and third-party terminals in Pasadena, Texas. The system also includes approximately three miles of 30- and 36-inch pipeline that delivers refined products from MPCs Pasadena breakout tank farm to the third-party TEPPCO and Centennial pipeline systems.

The Companys Midwest product pipeline systems include Ohio River Pipe Line (ORPL) products system, Robinson products system and Louisville Airport products system. The Companys ORPL products system is consisted of Kenova to Columbus, Canton to East Sparta, East Sparta to Heath, East Sparta to Midland, Heath to Dayton, and Heath to Findlay.

The Companys Kenova to Columbus pipeline consists of approximately 150 miles of 14-inch pipeline that delivers refi ned products from MPCs Catlettsburg refinery to MPCs Columbus, Ohio area terminals. Its Canton to East Sparta pipeline consists of two parallel pipelines, which connect MPCs Canton, Ohio refinery with its East Sparta, Ohio breakout tankage and station. The first pipeline consists of approximately 8.5 miles of six-inch pipeline that delivers products (distillates) from Canton to East Sparta. The second pipeline consists of approximately 8.5 miles of six-inch bi-directional pipeline, which can deliver products (gasoline) from Canton to East Sparta or light petroleum-based feedstocks from East Sparta to Canton.

The Companys East Sparta to Heath pipeline consists of approximately 81 miles of eight-inch pipeline that delivers products from its East Sparta, Ohio breakout tankage and station to MPCs terminal in Heath, Ohio. The Companys East Sparta to Midland pipeline consists of approximately 62 miles of eight-inch bi-directional pipeline, which can deliver products and light petroleum-based feedstocks betwe! en its br! eak-out tankage and st! ation in ! East Sparta, Ohio and MPCs terminal in Midland, Pennsylvania. MPCs Midland terminal has a marketing load rack and is able to connect to other Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-area terminals through a pipeline owned by Buckeye Pipe Line Company, L.P. and a river loading/unloading dock for products and petroleum feedstocks. This pipeline can also transport products to MPCs terminals in Steubenville and Youngstown, Ohio through a connection at West Point, Ohio with a pipeline owned by MPC.

The Companys Heath to Dayton pipeline consists of approximately 108 miles of six-inch pipeline, which delivers products from MPCs terminals in Heath, Ohio and Columbus, Ohio to terminals owned by CITGO and Sunoco Logistics Partners, L.P. in Dayton, Ohio. This pipeline is bi-directional between Heath and Columbus for product deliveries. Its Heath to Findlay consists of approximately 100 miles of eight- and 10-inch pipeline, which delivers pro ducts from MPCs terminal in Heath, Ohio to MPCs pipeline break-out tankage and terminal in Findlay, Ohio. Robinson products system is consisted of Robinson to Lima, Robinson to Louisville, Robinson to Mt. Vernon, Wood River to Clermont, Dieterich to Martinsville and Wabash Pipeline System.

The Companys Robinson to Lima pipeline consists of approximately 250 miles of 10-inch pipeline, which delivers products from MPCs Robinson, Illinois refinery to MPC terminals in Indianapolis, Indiana, as well as to MPC terminals in Muncie, Indiana and Lima, Ohio. Its Robinson to Louisville pipeline consists of approximately 129 miles of 16-inch pipeline, which delivers products from MPCs Robinson, Illinois refinery to two MPC and multiple third-party terminals in Louisville, Kentucky. In addition, these products can supply MPC and Valero terminals in Lexington, Kentucky through the Louisville to Lexington pipeline system owned by MPC and Valero.

Th e Companys Robinson to Mt. Vernon pipeline consists of ap! proximate! ly 79 miles of 10-inch pipeline that delivers! products! from MPCs Robinson, Illinois refinery to a MPC terminal located on the Ohio River in Mt. Vernon, Indiana. It leases this pipeline from a third party under a long-term lease. The Companys Wood River to Clermont pipeline consists of approximately 153 miles of 10-inch pipeline extending from MPCs terminal in Wood River, Illinois to Martinsville, Illinois, and approximately 156 miles of 10-inch pipeline extending from Martinsville, Illinois to Clermont, Indiana. This pipeline also includes approximately 9.5 miles of pipelines utilized for the local movement of products in and around Wood River, Illinois, and Clermont, Indiana.

The Companys Dieterich to Martinsville pipeline consists of approximately 40 miles of 10-inch pipeline, which delivers products from the termination point of Centennial Pipeline to Martinsville, Illinois. From Martinsville, these products (including refinery feedstocks) can be distributed to MPCs Robinson, Illinois refinery or to other destinations through our other pipeline systems. Its Wabash Pipeline System consists of three interconnected pipeline pipelines: approximately 130 miles of 12-inch pipeline extending from MPCs terminal in Wood River, Illinois to Champaign, Illinois (the West leg); approximately 86 miles of 12-inch pipeline extending from MPCs Robinson, Illinois refinery to Champaign (the East leg), and approximately 140 miles of 12- and 16-inch pipeline extending from the junction with the East and West legs in Champaign to MPCs terminals in Griffith, Indiana and Hammond, Indiana. This pipeline system delivers products to MPCs tanks at Martinsville, Champaign, Griffith and Hammond. This pipeline system also delivers products to tanks owned by Meier Oil Company at Ashkum, Illinois. The Wabash Pipeline System connects to other pipeline systems in the Chicago area through a portion of the system located beyond MPCs G riffith terminal. The Companys Louisville airport product! s system ! consists of approximately 14 miles of eight- and six-inch pipeline, ! which del! ivers jet fuel from MPCs Louisville, Kentucky refined product terminals to customers at the Louisville International Airport.

Other Major Midstream Assets

The Companys butane cavern is located in Neal, West Virginia, across the Big Sandy River from MPCs Catlettsburg, Kentucky refinery. This storage cavern has approximately 1.0 million barrels of storage capacity and is connected to MPCs Catlettsburg refinery. Rail access to the storage cavern is also available through connections with the refinery.

The Companys barge dock is located on the Mississippi River in Wood River, Illinois and is used both for crude oil barge loading and products barge unloading. The barge dock is connected to its Wood River tank farm by approximately two miles of 14-inch pipeline, which transfers crude oil from the tank farm to the dock, and two 10-inch pipelines, which are each approximately two miles long and transfer products and feedstocks from the dock to the tank farm. This dock generates revenue through a FERC tariff, which is collected for the transfer and loading/unloading of crude oil and products. It also owns tank farms located in Patoka, Martinsville and Wood River, Illinois and Lebanon, Indiana, which it uses for storing both crude oil and products. These storage assets are integral to the operation of its pipeline systems in those areas.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Robert Rapier]

    Two things PSXP has going for it are that it has no debt, and is likely to be able to grow future distributions. But there are other midstream MLPs that have little or no debt and are also in position to grow distributions, but with a higher yield than PSXP. Marathon Petroleum’s (NYSE: MPC) midstream affiliate MPLX (NYSE: MPLX) also has essentially no debt, but a slightly higher yield of 2.9 percent.

  • [By Aimee Duffy]

    Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX  ) and its master limited partnership Phillips 66 Partners (NYSE: PSXP  ) have! made the! headlines recently, because of how high PSXP climbed during its first day of trading. It isn't the first refiner to find success with an MLP spinoff -- Marathon Petroleum's (NYSE: MPC  ) spinoffMPLX (NYSE: MPLX  ) is up more than 16% year to date -- and it doesn't look as if it will be the last. In this video, Fool.com contributor Aimee Duffy looks at Valero's (NYSE: VLO  ) recent affirmation of its plan to convert its logistics assets into an MLP.

  • [By Dan Caplinger]

    In Marathon's quarterly report, watch for how the refiner's relationship with spun-off midstream pipeline operator MPLX (NYSE: MPLX  ) is faring. With Marathon holding a majority stake in MPLX, its pipeline assets will play an increasingly important role in bringing midcontinent energy products to its refineries.

  • source from USA Best Stocks:http://www.usabeststocks.com/top-10-oil-stocks-for-2015.html

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

The Auction Method: How NYSE Stock Prices are Set

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), sometimes referred to as "the big board," is the oldest and largest stock exchange in the United States. NYSE is the place investors think of when they picture traders shouting out prices and making wild hand gestures in a visually chaotic live securities auction process known as open outcry. While electronic trading technology is now used to facilitate the majority of trading in a high-speed and high-volume operation, human traders still play a significant role, and the way opening closing prices are set continues to be based on supply and demand in a modern-day auction style format.

The Opening Auction
While the NYSE's official market opening time is 9:30 AM Eastern, orders to buy and sell securities can be entered as early as 7:30 AM. In particular, the two types of orders that are accepted before the market officially opens are Market on Open (MOO) and Limit on Open (LOO). MOO orders seek to purchase shares at the current market price at the time the market opens. LOO orders seek to purchase a specific number of shares at a specific price when the market opens. If the requested price is not met, the trade does not take place.

The first data stream of the new trading day includes a reference price for each security. This price generally matches the previous night's closing price. The data stream also includes data regarding the current imbalance between buy and sell orders and prices. By publishing this data, NYSE gives traders the opportunity to adjust their trades in order to match up buy and sell orders. Data is published every five minutes until 9:00 AM. From 9:00 AM until 9:20 AM, it is published at one-minute intervals. For the final ten minutes prior to the market open, the data is published every 15 seconds. Beginning at 9:28, the likely opening price for each security is added to the published date stream. Orders placed between 9:28am and 9:35am cannot be canceled.

The human element comes into play when events such as late-breaking news are likely to affect the price of a security. For instance, if a company announces devastating losses after the market has closed, the price for the firm's stock is likely to decline sharply when the market opens the following day. Under such circumstances, a decision may be made by NYSE officials to disregard the stock's previous closing price and to use a lower price as the reference point to start trading on the following day.

Such a price adjustment would be made by a Designated Market Maker (DMM). A DMM is assigned to each security trading on the NYSE. The DMM has the authority to make price adjustments in effort to facilitate trading by maintaining liquidity. Similarly, the DMM can delay the start of the trading day for a given security in order to facilitate orderly trading. The DMM is also obligated to step in and purchase securities if needed in order to maintain the smooth functioning of the market.

At 9:30 AM, the DMMs begin to officially open trading for each security under their control. Trading for an individual security can be delayed if necessary without affecting other securities. Once a security has opened for trading, buyers and sellers trade securities with supply, demand and news shaping prices. When the highest bidding price matches the lowest asking price, a trade takes place. DMMs step in when necessary to maintain a functioning auction. DMMs get some help from electronic trading firms known as Supplemental Liquidity Providers (SLPs). The SLPs have a financial incentive to "add liquidity to the market" by maintaining "a bid or offer at the National Best Bid and Offer (NBBO) price in each of their assigned securities at least 10% of the trading day." The NBBO is the highest offer price and the lowest asking price on a given security.

The Closing Auction
At the end of the day, a closing auction takes place. This effort is similar, in many ways, to the opening auction. While the NYSE closes for the day at 4:00 PM Eastern, orders that help to determine the day's closing price start coming in even before the market opens, as the trades can be placed as early as 7:30 AM same as the opening auction. Another similarity is that, just as there are two types of orders that play specific roles in setting the opening prices, there are also two types of orders that play roles in setting the closing prices. Market on Close (MOC) and Limit on Close (LOC). MOC orders seek to purchase shares at the current market price at the time the market closes. LOC orders seek to purchase a specific number of shares at a specific price when the market closes. If the requested price is not met, the trade does not take place.

The regular orders that start to come in when the market officially opens at 9:30 AM are also factored in the closing price, as are a special type of order knows as the Closing Offset Order (CO). CO orders are limit orders that are executed only to offset any buy/sell imbalance. They help to facilitate trades and add liquidity to the market.

Dissemination of trade imbalance information begins at 3:45 PM. Every five seconds from this time until 3:59:55 PM, information about trading volume, matching trades, trade imbalances and pricing is released. The data provides insight into the direction prices are moving and the interest level in various securities. At 3:58 PM, MOC and LOC orders are final and no longer be canceled. At 4:00 PM, the market closes for the day.

The Bottom Line
The process for setting opening and closing prices is more than just an auction. The auction process is an intentional effort to facilitate trading in a highly complex market place. The auction market blends high technology, human interaction and highly specialized language of its own to create an efficient arena in which business is transacted. It blends a high volume of trade requests from a diverse array of investors into a seamless effort that takes place in real time. And best of all from an investor's perspective, the process takes place seamlessly and instantly.

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Top 5 Prefered Companies For 2015

Top 5 Prefered Companies For 2015: Stamps.com Inc.(STMP)

Stamps.com Inc. provides Internet-based postage solutions. The company offers solutions to mail and ship various mail pieces, including postcards, envelopes, flats, and packages. Its products and services include the United States Postal Service (USPS)-approved PC Postage Service that enables users to print electronic stamps directly onto envelopes, plain paper, or labels using personal computer, printer, and Internet connection; and PhotoStamps, a patented form of postage, which allows consumers to turn digital photos, designs, or images into valid United States postage. The company also sells NetStamps labels, shipping labels, other mailing labels, postage printers, scales, and other mailing and shipping-focused office supplies through its mailing and shipping supplies store, as well as offers back-end integration solutions, an electronic postage for transactions to manage the front-end process. In addition, it offers Stamps.com branded insurance enabling users to insure their mail or packages; and official USPS package insurance. Stamps.com Inc. serves individuals, small businesses, home offices, medium-size businesses, and large enterprises. The company was formerly known as StampMaster, Inc. and changed its name to Stamps.com Inc. in December 1998. Stamps.com Inc. was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Jon C. Ogg]

    Then there is that lucky or unlucky outcome of price hikes. The public will pay more for stamps, making you and me the losers in this. The question to ask is whether or not Stamps.com Inc. (NASDAQ: STMP) just get a built-in revenue booster per customer on a static basis?

  • [By Bryan Murphy]

    By almost any measure, Stamps.com Inc. (NASDAQ:STMP) is a solid investment. Revenue and profits are on the rise, and are projected to grow ag! ain in 2014. Stamps.com has also developed a penchant for earnings beats. And, at a trailing P/E of 18.3 and a forward-looking P/E ratio of 15.7, it's not like STMP shares cost a relative fortune. Yet, STMP is starting to look like a major liability where it could hurt shareholders the most... on the chart.

  • source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-5-prefered-companies-for-2015.html

Top 5 Up And Coming Companies To Own In Right Now

Top 5 Up And Coming Companies To Own In Right Now: Homex Development Corp (HOMEX*)

Desarrolladora Homex SAB de CV is a Mexico-based homebuilding company. Together with its subsidiaries, the Company is mainly engaged in the promotion, design, development, construction and sale of affordable entry level and middle income residential housing. The Company has four divisions: the Mexico Division; the International Division; the Infrastructure Division, and the Tourism Division. To carry out its activities, the Company engages in land acquisition, obtaining permits and licenses, designing, constructing, marketing and selling homes, obtaining individual financing for its customers and developing communities to satisfy housing needs in Mexico. The Company participates in housing supply offers from the main housing funds in Mexico. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Julia Leite]

    Industrias CH gained 7.9 percent to 85.55 pesos today. Homex (HOMEX*) climbed 5.4 percent to 8.16 pesos, extending this week's gains to 16 percent. Urbi gained 7.2 percent to 2.37 pesos today, advancing 16 percent in the past five days. Corp. Geo gained 1.5 percent today to 5.55 pesos, climbing 14 percent for the week.

  • source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-5-up-and-coming-companies-to-own-in-right-now.html

Monday, May 26, 2014

Top Healthcare Technology Companies For 2015

Top Healthcare Technology Companies For 2015: Masco Corporation (MAS)

Masco Corporation engages in the manufacture, distribution, and installation of home improvement and building products primarily in North America and Europe. The company operates through five segments: Cabinets and Related Products, Plumbing Products, Installation and Other Services, Decorative Architectural Products, and Other Specialty Products. The Cabinets and Related Products segment manufactures and sells stock and semi-custom assembled, and ready-to-assemble cabinetry for kitchen, bath, storage, home office, and home entertainment applications, as well as kitchen countertops, and integrated bathroom vanity and countertop solutions. The Plumbing Products segment offers single-handle and double-handle faucets, showerheads, handheld showers, valves, and toilets; tub and shower systems, bath and shower enclosure units, shower trays, and laundry tubs, as well as spas; and brass and copper plumbing system components, and other plumbing specialties. The Installation and Ot her Services segment sells installed building products, such as gutters, after-paint products, fireplaces, and garage doors, as well as insulation and insulation accessories, and roofing and other products. The Decorative Architectural Products segment produces architectural coatings, including paints, primers, specialty paint products, stains, and waterproofing products; and cabinet, door, window, and other hardware products. The Other Specialty Products segment manufactures and sells vinyl, fiberglass, and aluminum windows and patio doors; and manual and electric staple gun tackers, staples, and other fastening tools. The company offers its products to the home improvement and new home construction markets through mass merchandisers, hardware stores, home centers, homebuilders, distributors, and other outlets for consumers and contractors, as well as directly ! to the consumers. Masco Corporation was founded in 1929 and is headquartered in Taylor, Michigan.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Ben Eisen]

    Shares of Masco Corp. (MAS)  sank 7.4% after the home-improvement products maker reported its first-quarter earnings.

  • [By Sue Chang , Saumya Vaishampayan]

    Masco Corp. (MAS) shares slid 4.4%. The stock's rating was lowered to underweight from hold at KeyCorp, according to Analyst Ratings Network.

  • source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-healthcare-technology-companies-for-2015.html

Sunday, May 25, 2014

5 Best Shipping Stocks To Buy For 2015

With shares of Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE:RDSA) trading around $68, is RDSA an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE, or STAY AWAY? Let�� analyze the stock with the relevant sections of our CHEAT SHEET investing framework:

T = Trends for a Stock’s Movement

Royal Dutch Shell operates as an independent oil and gas company worldwide. The company explores and extracts crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids. It also converts natural gas to liquids to provide fuel and other products, as well as engages in manufacturing, supplying, and shipping crude oil. The company holds interests in approximately 30 refineries, 1,500 storage tanks, and 150 distribution facilities.

Just recently, Royal Dutch Shell appointed new CEO Ben van Beurden, after Peter Voser decided to leave the company. Ben van Beurden was a surprise choice, since several other executives were said to be in line for the job. Analysts believe that the new CEO choice shows that the company will renew its focus on operations, amid criticism that the company is not generating enough returns. Also, the company recently reported a rise in�production in Brazil.�Royal Dutch Shell said that the firm and its partners are expecting to boost production, with two new deepwater projects in the country.

5 Best Shipping Stocks To Buy For 2015: Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc.(WPI)

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company, engages in the development, manufacture, marketing, sale, and distribution of generic and brand pharmaceutical products in the United States, western Europe, Canada, Australasia, Asia, South America, and South Africa. The company offers its products for therapeutic categories, such as central nervous system, cardiovascular, hormones and synthetic substitutes, anti-infective agents, and urology. It operates in three segments: Global Generics, Global Brands, and Distribution. The Global Generics segment develops, manufactures, and sells generic pharmaceutical products, as well as distributes generic versions of third parties? brand products. This segment offers various dosage forms, such as oral solids, transdermals, injectables, inhalation products, and transmucosals for indications, including pregnancy prevention, pain management, depression, hypertension, and smoking cessation. The Global Brands segment pr omotes and co-promotes Rapaflo, Gelnique, Trelstar, Androderm, Crinone, ella, INFeD, Generess, sodium ferric gluconate, AndroGel, and Femring branded products; and markets its products through sales professionals. It also sells various non-promoted products. The Distribution segment distributes generic and select brand pharmaceutical products, vaccines, injectables, and over-the-counter medicines to independent pharmacies, alternate care providers, pharmacy chains, and physicians? offices. The company sells its generic and brand pharmaceutical products primarily to drug wholesalers, retailers, and distributors, including national retail drug and food store chains, hospitals, clinics, mail order, government agencies, and managed healthcare providers, such as health maintenance organizations and other institutions. Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Louis Navellier]

    Actavis Plc is one of the world’s largest generic drugmakers. For the past three decades, this company was known as Watson Pharmaceuticals (WPI), but the company rebranded itself as Actavis in 2013. With a portfolio of over 190 pharmaceutical product families, Actavis has its name on everything from antibiotics to contraceptives to smoking cessation treatments.

  • [By Holly LaFon] n Pharmaceuticals stock has been on a decidedly upward trajectory in the last five years, increasing 108 percent. It became slightly cheaper in 2011, however. Dalio has been trading the stock for years but most recently he bought 314,360 shares at about $65 per share in the fourth quarter of 2011 after the stock had ventured off of its 52-week high of $73.35 it climbed to in the middle of the year.

    Watson has a long-term record of profitability and growth, with an 11.9% 10-year revenue per share growth rate and 14.2% 10-year free cash flow per share growth rate.

    Though the stock price declined in late 2011, the company in November reported double-digit net revenue and earnings growth. The company also announced that month an exclusive agreement with Pfizer Inc. (PFE) to launch a generic version of Lipitor, the world�� best-selling drug in the history of pharmaceuticals. It also received approval from the FDA to start producing a generic version of the birth control drug Yaz that month, a drug with sales of $173 million in the 12 months ending Sept. 30, 2011.

    In February, Watson announced a full-year 2011 net revenue increase of 29 percent and EPS increase of 39 percent, due in large part to the successful launch of a total of 189 generic products globally for the year. Currently it is using its strong cash position to invest in growth markets, Canada and European operations.

    In spite of the good news and increasing its full-year revenue forecast by $100 million to about $5.4 billion, the stock is up just 0.05 percent year to date.

    Dalio�� next largest purchase was Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK.B), and three new buys: BCE Inc. (BCE), The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS), and Peabody Energy Corp. (BTU).

    Dalio staking over 32 percent of his fund in emerging markets is tantamount to a forecast that emerging markets will outperform from the macro guru. His other top purchases have clear growth prospects. To see more of what Dalio

5 Best Shipping Stocks To Buy For 2015: Silver Spruce Resources Inc (SSE)

Silver Spruce Resources Inc. is a junior exploration company. The Company�� operations consist of the exploration for precious and base minerals with a focus on uranium, mainly in the Central Mineral Belt of Labrador, which include Popes Hill, the Popes Hill JV with Great Western Minerals Group, and the MRT, RWM and Straits properties. The Company�� projects include Double Mer Property, Mount Benedict Property, Big Easy Property, MRT Property, Pope�� Hill area, Red Wine Mountains and Straits Property. The Snegamook Lake property is located just to the southeast of Snegamook Lake in central Labrador, in the western part of the Central Mineral Belt (CMB), consists of 86 claims. The Fishhawk lake is located to the southeast of Snegamook Lake in central Labrador, in the western part of the CMB, consists of 164 claims. On August 22, 2012, the Company purchased a uranium exploration property in the CMB of Labrador from Virginia Energy Resources Inc. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Namitha Jagadeesh]

    SSE Plc (SSE) slid 5.8 percent to 1,489 pence as Citigroup said in a note that the supplier of gas and electricity would suffer the most from price caps or other forms of government intervention because it gets 97 percent of revenue from the U.K.

Hot Valued Companies To Own In Right Now: LM Ericsson Telephone Company(ERIC)

LM Ericsson Telephone Company provides communications equipment, professional services, and multimedia solutions to mobile and fixed networks operators worldwide. The Networks segment delivers radio access solutions that interconnect with devices, such as mobile phones, notebooks, and PCs; fixed access solutions for fiber and copper; and IP core network solutions, including softswitches, IP infrastructure for edge- and core routing, IP multimedia subsystem, and media gateways. This segment also offers transmission/backhaul; and microwave and optical transmission solutions for mobile and fixed networks, as well as offers network management tools for configuration, performance monitoring, security management, inventory management, and software upgrades. The Global Services segment delivers managed services comprising network design and planning, network operations, field operations and site maintenance, and shared solutions, as well as consulting and systems integration, cus tomer support, and network rollout services. The Multimedia segment provides IPTV solutions, video compression, on-demand solutions, content management systems, advertising, and interactive TV applications for operators, service providers, advertisers, and content providers; and business support systems, including revenue management, customer care, provisioning, device management, and analytics. This segment also offers service delivery platforms, communication suite, messaging, social media portal, and location-based services for consumers; and business communication solutions, such as business communication suite and brokering solutions that facilitate payment and distribution of content. The Sony Ericsson segment offers mobile phones, accessories, content, and applications. The ST-Ericsson segment develops and sells semiconductors and wireless platforms to handset manufacturers, mobile operators, and device manufacturers. The company was founded in 1876 and is headquarter ed in Stockholm, Sweden.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Paul Ausick]

    A report today from Bloomberg News cites people familiar with the matter who say that NSN is considering a workforce reduction of 8,500, bringing its total employee count down from around 50,500 to 42,000. NSN already has�chopped 20,000 workers in the past two years as the company faces increased competition from Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) and Chinese firms Huawei Technologies and ZTE.

5 Best Shipping Stocks To Buy For 2015: Kite Realty Group Trust (KRG)

Kite Realty Group Trust is a publicly owned real estate investment trust. The firm invests in real estate markets of the United States. It engages in ownership, operation, management, leasing, acquisition, construction, expansion, and development and redevelopment of operating retail properties, retail properties under development, operating commercial properties, parking garage, commercial property under development, parcels of land, shopping, dining, and entertainment properties. Kite Realty Group was founded in 1968 and is based in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Lauren Pollock]

    Kite Realty Group Trust ag(KRG)reed to merge with fellow real-estate firm Inland Diversified Real Estate Trust in a stock-for-stock deal that will create a company worth $2.1 billion. Kite Realty shares climbed 5.7% to $6.50 premarket.

5 Best Shipping Stocks To Buy For 2015: Analytica Bio - Energy Corp (ABEC)

Analytica Bio-Energy Corp., formerly Uniwell Electronic Corporation, incorporated on January 12, 2004, is a company with water purification system. The Company was a shell company.

The Company focused on acquiring an active business. In September 2013, the Company changed its name to Analytica Bioenergy, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Dan Burrows]

    Most importantly, on days when this penny stock did see heavy volume, it tumbled — a classic red flag for the “dump” part of pump-and-dump schemes, which penny stocks are ripe for.

    Top Penny Stocks: Analytica Bio-Energy Corp. (ABEC)

    YTD Performance: 29,300%
    52-Week Range: $0.0017 – $0.50
    Average Volume (3 months): 9,574
    Market Cap: $10.6 million

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Edward Jones Continues Its March to Train Veterans as Advisors

Just as it celebrates the two-year anniversary of its FORCES program, Edward Jones was also recently named a 2014 Most Valuable Employer (MVE) for Military by CivilianJobs.com, which recognizes the St. Louis-based firm’s deep commitment to recruiting, training and retaining military veterans as financial advisors.

Since launching in May 2012, Edward Jones has hired 931 military veterans as advisors under its FORCES program, which is designed specifically for those veterans who do not have a financial services background “but possess the skills and competencies” that Edward Jones says it seeks.

"We look for people who understand the value of maximizing their efforts in exchange for greater results and rewards," Jim Weddle, managing partner of Edward Jones, said in a statement.

Edward Jones now has 1,500 financial advisors with prior military experience running branches across the country — and is actively seeking new advisors to help as it adds more branches nationwide.

Weddle said the firm was “incredibly humbled by the recognition from CivilianJobs.com, an organization that shares our dedication to connect military veterans with civilian careers.”

Veterans, who are “trained to work collaboratively to find appropriate solutions in difficult situations,” is a “transferable skill [that] is extremely attractive to our firm, as our financial advisors are committed to providing solutions to help individual investors make important decisions about their financial lives,” Weddle said.

In addition to CivilianJobs.com, G.I. Jobs has also recognized Edward Jones and the FORCES program on its 2014 “Military Friendly Employer” list, and Military Times EDGE ranked the firm on its 2013 “Best for Vets” ranking.

---

Check out Honoring Advisors Who Serve(d): Memorial Day, 2014 on ThinkAdvisor.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Why Is Qatar Investing In Deutsche Bank?

The news that Qatar is to be the anchor investor in Deutsche Bank's new €8 billion fundraising increases once again the stake the gas-rich Emirate has in western banks. But why?

Alongside a €6.3 billion rights issue, €1.75 billion will come directly from the Qatari royal family through its Paramount Services Holdings vehicle. While this will not be enough to earn the Qataris a seat on the board, for example, nor even a particularly significant stake, it is an interesting additional move into a sector the country now knows well. In 2008 it put £6.1 billion into Barclays, through a combination of Qatar Holding – the direct investment arm of the Qatar Investment Authority sovereign wealth fund – and Challenger, which was an investment vehicle of the former prime minister of Qatar. The QIA, through Qatar Holding, also holds 6% of Credit Suisse and has stakes in Bank of America and Agricultural Bank of China.

The most obvious reason is the simple one: Qatar believes these are good long-term investments. Most western banks still trade at levels well below their pre-financial crisis highs, and have the potential to grow once they are re-established on firmer footings, which they will be once capital adequacy tests are passed (the reason Deutsche is raising money) and the rafts of litigation for foreign exchange and rate manipulation are eventually digested. Qatar did exceptionally well on its Barclays stake, enabling the bank to avoid a bailout and profiting from the subsequent share price rebound, although the precise circumstances of the capital injection have been heavily scrutinised ever since.

Sweet Sticky Toffee Pudding Ale satisfies

Beer Man is a weekly profile of beers from across the country and around the world.

This week: Sticky Toffee Pudding Ale

Wells and Young's Brewing Co., Bedford, United Kingdom

www.wellsandyoungs.co.uk

The Wells and Young's brewery in England has once again surprised and delighted me with its Sticky Toffee Pudding Ale.

The last of the brewery's beers that I reviewed was its Banana Bread Ale that, without becoming freakish, conveyed the bready and fruity flavor of its namesake.

This time around, the brewery has turned to a classic British after-dinner dish to offer an ale that is marketed as a dessert beer. Don't let the "sticky" part of the name throw you off. It is strictly referring to the name of the dessert; the body of the beer is not thick or syrupy.

The pour produced a thick tan head with an aroma that was mostly toffee with a bit of breadiness. The toffee flavor was the star of this beer, and for a malt lover such as myself, I couldn't ask for more. The burnt aspect of the toffee was intense without spilling over into an actual charred flavor. If you've ever had creme brulee, think of the flavor of the caramelized crust that tops the dessert and that is what you'll taste with this ale.

What is interesting is the hop bitterness. It doesn't make an appearance until a couple of seconds after sipping, then becomes fairly prominent, washing away the sweetness and providing a clean finish without lingering. What is left is the tantalizing aftertaste of the toffeeish malt. The 5% ABV beer is sweet, but not overwhelmingly so.

Did I mention I sampled this beer while celebrating the return of 24 to television, which this season is set in England? I don't know what I enjoyed more — the beer or seeing Jack Bauer running around once again with his legendary Jack Sack while delivering a multitude of "dammits" and kicking bum.

Wells and Young's also produces fine beers such as Courage Best Bitter, Young's Double Chocolate Stout, McEwan's Scottish al! es and Wells Bombardier. Its beers are imported by Belukus Marketing, which has a presence in every state; its list of distributors is online at www.belukus.net/contact.asp.

Top Up And Coming Companies To Watch In Right Now

I do have one request to the brewery and the importer, however — please bring back McEwan's Export to the U.S. market!

Many beers are available only regionally. Check the brewer's website, which often contains information on product availability. Contact Todd Haefer at beerman@postcrescent.com. To read previous Beer Man columns Click here.

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

It's a 401(k), Not a Piggy Bank ... So Don't Treat It Like One

Top 10 Consumer Service Companies To Watch In Right Now

Photographed:  March 17, 2005  42-16786525broken piggy bank pink money penny pennies breaking the bank break brokecheap inexpens Getty Images One of the joys we have as parents is teaching our three kids about money. With the oldest being just 6, a big part of that revolves around her piggy bank. Whenever she gets a small amount of money, it goes in there, and we talk with her about the importance of saving, giving, and having some to spend on things she wants, which is usually along the lines of a gumball. With a piggy bank, you put money in and take it out. It's a fairly simple tool, and it's great for what it's used for. A 401(k), on the other hand, is a great tool to save for retirement. But increasingly, 401(k)s are being used as something they aren't -– piggy banks. Startling Statistics Recent studies show that Americans are increasingly pilfering from their 401(k) accounts. With the economy being the way it has been since the financial crisis, that's understandable on one level, but the choice can put your retirement plans on a slippery slope. According to the IRS, $57 billion was withdrawn prematurely from 401(k) accounts in 2011 -- up 37 percent in inflation-adjusted dollars from 2003. You could argue that if a person needed the money to survive, then an early withdrawal from a 401(k), even with the tax penalty, is better than other options. That would be right -- to a point. The most disconcerting number, in my opinion, is that younger individuals are withdrawing the most. According to a Fidelity (FNF) study, nearly 40 percent of workers between 20 and 39 are cashing out their 401(k) plans when they change jobs. There could be many reasons for this, but the Fidelity study points out that many don't see the need to roll over their old 401(k)s when the amount being considered is "only" several thousand dollars or a little more. Add that to those people who take out 401(k) loans to fund such things as real estate purchases, and it paints a worrisome picture. The Real Purpose of a 401(k) To a degree that it hasn't for decades, the burden of retirement planning now falls on individuals. Only about 30 percent of companies still provide pensions, and even among those, more firms are freezing them. In light of that, your 401(k), with its tax-advantaged status, is likely going to be one of your best options for putting aside money for retirement. While there may be times where you need to take out loans for different purposes, simply cashing out a 401(k) should be avoided at all possible. This is especially the case if you switch jobs: When that happens, you will want to either roll over your 401(k) into your new plan or into a rollover IRA. Not only will this allow you to avoid losing money due to early withdrawal penalties, but it will also keep the power of compound growth on your side as you build up your retirement nest egg. Saving for Retirement Is a Long Game The rise in early 401(k) withdrawals reveals a broad lack of understanding about retirement planning. Saving for your old age is is a marathon, not a sprint -- one that takes decades to complete. By raiding your 401(k), you're only harming your future. Unless you plan on working until you're 80, it behooves you to leave your savings untouched so you can reach retirement relatively close to when you plan to. When we're talking about amounts under $10,000, it can be easy to think that they'll mean nothing in the long run. But if you invest it wisely and let it stay in the market long-term, it can build on itself to and turn into serious money each month for you in retirement. (Don't believe it? Check out the first two slides in this article. The math is clear: Small Money + Time to Compound = Big Money) Part of saving for retirement is making sure we're doing what's best with our 401(k) funds. If you're tempted to withdraw money from it early, ask yourself if raiding your savings now is the best decision for your long-term wealth. In most cases, it's not.

Monday, May 19, 2014

Top Performing Stocks To Watch Right Now

Top Performing Stocks To Watch Right Now: Oracle Corporation(ORCL)

Oracle Corporation, an enterprise software company, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and services database and middleware software, applications software, and hardware systems worldwide. It licenses of database and middleware software, including database management software, application server software, service-oriented architecture and business process management software, data integration software, business intelligence software, identity and access management software, content management software, portals and user interaction software, development tools, and Java; and applications software comprising enterprise resource planning, customer relationship management, enterprise performance management, supply chain management, business intelligence applications, enterprise portfolio project management, Web commerce, and industry-specific applications software. The company also offers customers with rights to unspecified software product upgrades and maintenance releases; Internet access to technical content; and Internet and telephone access to technical support personnel. In addition, its hardware systems products consist of computer server and hardware-related software, including the Oracle Solaris Operating System; and storage products, such as tape, disk and networking solutions for open systems and mainframe server environments. Its hardware systems support solutions include software updates for the software components. Further, the company offers consulting solutions in business and IT strategy alignment, enterprise architecture planning and design, initial product implementation and integration, and ongoing product enhancements and upgrades; cloud services, including Oracle Cloud Services and Advanced Customer Services; and education solutions comprising instructor-led, media-based, and Internet-based training in the us! e of its software and hardware products. The company was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Redwood Ci ty, California.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Dividends4Life]

    Fair Value: In calculating fair value, I consider the NPV MMA Differential Fair Value along with these four calculations of fair value, see page 2 of the linked PDF for a detailed description: 1. Avg. High Yield Price 2. 20-Year DCF Price 3. Avg. P/E Price 4. Graham Number MSFT is trading at a premium to all four valuations above. The stock is trading at a 41.4% discount to its calculated fair value of $68.12. MSFT earned a Star in this section since it is trading at a fair value.Dividend Analytical Data: In this section there are three possible Stars and three key metrics, see page 2 of the linked PDF for a detailed description: 1. Free Cash Flow Payout 2. Debt To Total Capital 3. Key Metrics 4. Dividend Growth Rate 5. Years of Div. Growth 6. Rolling 4-yr Div. > 15% MSFT earned three Stars in this section for 1.), 2.) and 3.) above. A Star was earned since the Free Cash Flow payout ratio was less than 60% and there were no negative Free Cash Flows over the last 10 years. The stock earned a Star as a result of its most recent Debt to Total Capital being less than 45%. MSFT earned a Star for having an acceptable score in at least two of the four Key Metrics measured. The company has paid a cash dividend to shareholders every year since 2003 and has increased its dividend payments for 12 consecutive years.Dividend Income vs. MMA: Why would you assume the equity risk and invest in a dividend stock if you could earn a better return in a much less risky money market account (MMA) or Treasury bond? This section compares the earning ability of this stock with a high yield MMA. Two items are considered in this section, see page 2 of the linked PDF for a detailed description: 1. NPV MMA Diff. 2. Years to > MMA MSFT earned a Star in this section for its NPV MMA Diff. of the $14,663. This amount is in excess of! the $2,3! 00 target I look for in a stock that has increased dividends as long as MSFT has. If MSFT grows its dividend at 17.5% per year, it will take 2 years to

  • [By James Miller Phd]

    Despite being Salesforce.com and Oracle Corporation (ORCL) fierce competitors, they have developed a cloud-partnership to drive growth and project a further integration between both companies, helping customers easily move their data between the two platforms. Salesforce software will run on Oracle's Linux, and use Oracle's cloud-based human resources and financial applications, while Oracle´s Exadata hardware will run on Salesforce's cloud based applications. Their partnership is very promising, and likely to lead market share gains, accompanying the exponential cloud environment growth.

  • [By Jayson Derrick]

    Analysts at JG Capital downgraded Oracle (NYSE: ORCL) to Underweight from Neutral. Shares gained 0.35 percent, closing at $39.71.

    Analysts at Maxim Group upgraded Pandora Media (NYSE: P) to Buy from Hold with a $35 price target. Shares gained 3.68 percent, closing at $26.20.

  • [By Dan Caplinger]

    On Wednesday, IBM (NYSE: IBM  ) will release its quarterly report, and investors will be watching closely to see if the tech giant can finally get its sales moving higher after a long stretch of sluggishness. Although Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO  ) has faced some of the same challenges as IBM, Oracle (NYSE: ORCL  ) has found ways to find growth. IBM needs to work on getting its share of the growing cloud-computing and data-analytics pie in order to keep itself moving in the right direction.

  • source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-performing-stocks-to-watch-right-now-2.html

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Now Is A Good Time to Buy Himax

Himax (HIMX) is a company with a strong product portfolio. Despite the stock being beaten down massively in the recent past, the product portfolio of Himax could lead to growth as they are used in various gadgets like smartphones, LED drivers, lighting, and consumer electronics. The market for these products is rising. This opens up opportunity for Himax to drive revenue growth. Since the revenue of Himax is from diversified areas, it also offsets the decline, if witnessed from any individual segment.

The company was recently downgraded by Bank of America. The LCoS business of the company, which is partially dependent on Google Glass, is partially affected as the Google Glass official launch is delayed. But investors should be optimistic about Himax's growth as its products are used in various devices & gadgets. So investors should really not bother about this update provided by Bank of America relevant to Google Glass.

Revenue growth

The company recently posted its Q4-2013 results. It recorded revenue of $195 million, up by 2.4% as compared to Q4 2012. The revenue of Q4 also surpassed the anticipated guidance of the company. The boost in revenue was primarily due to high sales of IC drivers used in smartphones and tablet. This growth resulted in high demand of its product from the Chinese and Korean markets.

Driver IC from small and medium sized applications contributed roughly 58% of the total revenue in the quarter, and this segment of Himax is recording constant sequential and year over year growth, which again is a good sign for the company. The non-driver business of the company has been growing steadily. It was up by 28.1% same quarter last year and 2.4% sequentially.

Growth markets

Timing controllers, programmable gamma OP, touch panel controllers, CMOS image sensors, power management ICs, LED drivers and ASIC services were the main contributors to the growth of the non-driver product segment. Also adding to this growth were pilot shipments of LCOS micro displays for new and exciting head-mounted display applications.

In 2013, the global display driver IC market skyrocketed by 10.7% to $6.882 billion, and is expected to be worth $7.278 billion in 2014, an increase of 5.6%. The company is focusing to increase its market share of large panel driver IC solutions. Himax's strong presence in the Chinese market, where a display capacity expansion is taking place, should help it benefit from the growing market.

Himax provides cutting-edge technologies in large panel driver IC solutions, and has recently developed a solution that addresses thermal issues in 4K TVs. Driven by such innovation, along with its presence in the mobile market, Himax expects an improvement in sales from both existing and new customers across the world.

The Chinese and Korean markets are witnessing strong growth in smartphones and tablets. This growth is boosting Himax's growth. Looking ahead, Himax expects steady growth across its diversified business segments in the current fiscal year. Growth in smartphones, tablets, automotive displays, and wearable devices are expected to be strong drivers of Himax's business this year.

Google Glass scenario

Also, Himax expects its non-driver products, such as CMOS image sensors, timing controllers, touch panel controllers, power management ICs, WLED drivers, and LCOS micro-display to grow in the current fiscal. These products are seeing strong demand from its local and international clients. Himax's LCOS micro display drivers should certainly boost the company's sales in this segment in the long run, driven by the Google Glass.

While analysts might say that Google Glass is not an imminent driver for Himax, but over the long run, it is one of its most important drivers. Google recently entered into a pact with Luxottica (LUX), the maker of Ray-Ban and Oakley brand of sunglasses. Through this deal, Google will be able to sell its Glass as a fashion accessory to a wide range of consumers around the world with the help of Luxottica's retail network.

Conclusion

Himax might be struggling, but not all is bad for the company. The shares trade at a forward P/E of just 13.5, while also paying a dividend of 2.20%. In addition, looking at the various segments that Himax deals in, analysts anticipate the company's earnings to grow at a CAGR of almost 40% for the next five years. All these brilliant projections, along with Himax's probable gains from mobile devices and the wearables market make the company a solid buy on the pullback.

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Saturday, May 17, 2014

3 Uptrending Telecom Companies That Warren Buffett Didn't Buy

Strength in telecom stocks was apparent during Thursday's trading even before the news that Warren Buffett had established a major position in Verizon.

These 3 telecoms had already made the list of new 52-week highs prior to the disclosure that the Omaha oracle picked up half a billion dollars worth of Verizon:

1. Windstream Windstream Corporation (NYSE:WIN) With a price-earnings ratio of 25, it would be hard to call this a value stock. Part of the attraction of VZ for Buffett is that low p/e of 10. Windstream is paying a 10% dividend while sitting on a great deal of debt. Some analysts have wondered if that level of dividend payment can be sustained. The stock price has galloped from 7 in February to 9.5 in May. That's quite an uptrend in a short period of time.

2. CenturyLink CenturyLink (NYSE:CTL) This is another telecom that's been moving upward a lot lately — from 27 to 37 in the last 4 months. Because the company did not earn money last year, there is no price/earnings ratio. Last I checked, the 5.7% dividend was still being paid.

3. BCE BCE, Inc. (NYSE:BCE) The Canadian company has a p/e of 19 and pays a 4.9% dividend. Since February, BCE has moved from 40 to almost 46 — another telecom with a nice 4-month uptrend.

You want to take notice of stocks that make new highs on days when the market as a whole is selling off — especially when Warren Buffett is making purchases from that sector.

Disclosure: I have a long position in BCE.

 

 

Thursday, May 15, 2014

3 Stocks Rising on Big Volume

DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- Professional traders running mutual funds and hedge funds don't just look at a stock's price moves; they also track big changes in volume activity. Often when above-average volume moves into an equity, it precedes a large spike in volatility.

>>5 Hated Earnings Stocks You Should Love

Major moves in volume can signal unusual activity, such as insider buying or selling -- or buying or selling by "superinvestors."

Unusual volume can also be a major signal that hedge funds and momentum traders are piling into a stock ahead of a catalyst. These types of traders like to get in well before a large spike, so it's always a smart move to monitor unusual volume. That said, remember to combine trend and price action with unusual volume. Put them all together to help you decipher the next big trend for any stock.

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With that in mind, let's take a look at several stocks rising on unusual volume recently.

ChipMOS Technologies

ChipMOS Technologies (IMOS), through its subsidiaries, provides semiconductor testing and assembly services and memory and logic/mixed-signal products. This stock closed up 3% at $22.55 in Wednesday's trading session.

Wednesday's Volume: 517,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 265,734

Volume % Change: 117%

From a technical perspective, IMOS spiked notably higher here right off its 50-day moving average of $22.03 with above-average volume. This stock has been uptrending a bit over the last few weeks, with shares moving higher from its low of $20.08 to its intraday high of $23.20. During that move, shares of IMOS have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. Market players should now look for a continuation move to the upside in the short-term if IMOS manages to take out Wednesday's intraday high of $23.20 to its 52-week high of $24.09 with strong upside volume flows.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in IMOS as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $22.03 or above $21 and then once it sustains a move or close above $23.20 to $24.09 with volume that hits near or above 265,734 shares. If that move gets underway soon, then IMOS will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory above $24.09, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that move are $25 to $30.

Osiris Therapeutics

Osiris Therapeutics (OSIR), a stem cell company, focuses on the development and marketing products to treat medical conditions in wound care, orthopedic and sports medicine markets. This stock closed up 9.1% at $16.37 in Wednesday's trading session.

Wednesday's Volume: 1.06 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 278,990

Volume % Change: 290%

From a technical perspective, OSIR exploded higher here back above its 200-day moving average of $15.63 and into breakout territory above some near-term overhead resistance at $15.76 with heavy upside volume. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last month, with shares moving higher from its low of $11.800 to its intraday high of $16.74. During that uptrend, shares of OSIR have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. Market players should now look for a continuation move to the upside if shares of OSIR manage to take out Wednesday's intraday high of $16.74 with strong volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in OSIR as long as it's trending above its 200-day at $15.63 or above Wednesday's low of $14.62 and then once it sustains a move or close above $16.74 with volume that's near or above 278,990 shares. If that move triggers soon, then OSIR will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $17.50 to $17.60, or even $18.41 to $19.75.

KEYW Holding

KEYW Holding (KEYW), through its subsidiaries, provides mission-critical cybersecurity, cyber superiority and geospatial intelligence solutions to the U.S. Government defense, intelligence and national security agencies, and commercial enterprises. This stock closed up 3% at $10.82 in Wednesday's trading session.

Wednesday's Volume: 1.19 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 578,205

Volume % Change: 145%

From a technical perspective, KEYW spiked higher here right off its 52-week low of $10.08 with above-average volume. This stock has been downtrending badly for the last two months and change, with shares moving lower from its high of $23.09 to its 52-week low of $10.08. During that move, shares of KEYW have been consistently making lower highs and lower lows, which is bearish technical price action. That said, shares of KEYW now look ready to reverse that downtrend and possibly enter a new uptrend since the stock is coming off those levels with volume. Market players should now look for a continuation move to the upside in the short-term if KEYW can manage to clear Wednesday's intraday high of $10.94 to some more near-term overhead resistance at $11.28 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in KEYW as long as it's trending above its 52-week low of $10.08 and then once it sustains a move or close above $10.94 to $11.28 with volume that's near or above 578,205 shares. If that move starts soon, then KEYW will set up to rebound back towards its next major overhead resistance levels at $13.35 to its 200-day moving average of $14.41. Any high-volume move above those levels will then give KEYW a chance to tag its next major overhead resistance levels at $15.20 to its 50-day moving average of $16.26.

To see more stocks rising on unusual volume, check out the Stocks Rising on Unusual Volume portfolio on Stockpickr.

-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis.


RELATED LINKS:



>>Hedge Funds Hate These 5 Stocks -- Should You?



>>5 Rocket Stocks to Beat a Sideways Market



>>5 Big Charts Ready to Break Out in May

Follow Stockpickr on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

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

Roberto Pedone, based out of Delafield, Wis., is an independent trader who focuses on technical analysis for small- and large-cap stocks, options, futures, commodities and currencies. Roberto studied international business at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and he spent a year overseas studying business in Lubeck, Germany. His work has appeared on financial outlets including

CNBC.com and Forbes.com. You can follow Pedone on Twitter at www.twitter.com/zerosum24 or @zerosum24.


Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Chance Rides' Success Built on Dedication to Family Values

#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-617692{display:none}.cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-617692,#postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-617692{width:570px;height:411px;display:block} Chance Rides: Kansas Company Stays in the Family Against All Odds

Ten years ago, Dick Chance and his son, Mike, started meeting every day at 9 a.m. in Dick's office -- a modest windowless room, made cozy by an abundance of family photos. Their company, Chance Rides -- which makes everything from roller coasters to carousels for amusement parks -- was on the verge of bankruptcy. Part pep rally and part crisis control, the meetings helped keep the business from going under. A decade later, the company is in far better shape. But the daily ritual has stuck, keeping the two men in close contact as they run America's largest amusement ride maker just outside Wichita, Kansas. Fly into the city's airport and you can easily spot the Chance manufacturing building from the sky. Situated in the center of a 40-acre facility, the massive white structure is as tall as the Ferris wheels the company makes and large enough to house 50-foot pieces of roller coaster track. Despite how visible it is, few people -- including many locals -- know what Chance is making inside those white walls. But since 1961, when Harold Chance, Dick's locomotive-loving father, started producing the now-iconic C.P. Huntington miniature trains, the company has built the rides that are part of our childhoods: like the Zipper, the Trabant, and the Toboggan. But making huge rides that cost millions of dollars isn't as carefree as it looks. How this company has survived -- and remained in the family -- is a story as complicated as the rides Chance makes. Chapter 1: Never Give Up "Treat people right, be honest, work hard. Things will take care of themselves." Harold Chance lived by those words and his son Dick took to them heart when he bought the business, then called Chance Manufacturing, from his father in 1985. Dick worked hard to grow the company. He renamed it Chance Industries and branched out into a motor coach division and developed new carnival rides, like the 90-foot-tall Giant Wheel and the pendular Pharaoh's Fury. "It was exciting," Dick remembers. "When I bought it we were doing $14 million a year in business, and that grew to $50 million at one time." By the mid-'90s, Chance employed nearly 400 people. Now 149 people work there full time. When he was a teenager, Mike worked summers in the family shop -- until he and his dad had what they jokingly call "the falling out." "My friends had different jobs. They would work in restaurants at night, and I would be like, 'Man, this stinks,'" Mike laughs, retelling the story. "So I went to work at Pizza Hut ... and I was good at it!" Mike moved away to work in Arizona after graduating from Kansas State University. But he had always stayed connected with Chance Industries -- attending trade shows with his father, so in 1997 he came back to Wichita to work with his dad. Traveling carnivals, which had been Chance's main customers for decades, were slowly dying out as more people went to big amusement parks seeking even bigger thrills. "We needed a 'Wow!' product," Mike says. "And in this business, that means roller coasters." Chance built coasters like the Toboggan and the Big Dipper, but those were small in comparison to the gigantic rides at parks like Six Flags and Disney World. But just as Mike was putting his plans into place to get into bigger rides, Chance's business model -- helping carnival owners buy its rides by co-signing their loans -- proved to be problematic. Chance had been growing between 10 to 15 percent a year in the 1990s, helped by the fact that Chance's lender, CIT Corporation, was comfortable with the company backing loans by its customers. "It worked for years and years," Dicks says. "Carnivals were notoriously a little late in paying ... but they always paid. CIT always went along with it, and they always got paid." But in 2001, a much bigger insurance company, Tyco (TYC), bought CIT and that all changed. "Tyco came in and looked at our portfolio of business -- around a $30 million portfolio -- there was about $7 million that was 90 days past due," Dick says. Tyco wasn't willing to wait for that money. So to protect the company, Chance filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Chance wasn't alone in its struggles. Even as he was trying to keep his company afloat, Dick got a call from a longtime competitor, Dana Morgan. He wanted to know if Chance was interested in buying his roller coaster company. Mike had wanted to build coasters before Chance's troubles began. But could they find customers for multimillion dollar roller coasters when Morgan seemingly couldn't? The father and son drove to Oklahoma City to meet with Gary Story, the president of Six Flags amusement parks. Story told them that he needed to buy two new coasters. "So we asked, would you buy them from us if we could make a deal with Dana," Mike remembers. "And Gary said, 'Well, yeah.'" But with Chance in bankruptcy, it was tough getting the deal done with Morgan, a public company. Ironically, the problem that got them into financial trouble ended up helping with the acquisition. Chance had helped Morgan when it was small, financing rides for the company. "So it was our relationship that made it happen," Mike says. "If we hadn't gotten that Six Flags order, or done that deal with Dana ... I don't think we would have made it," Mike says. But there was never a time when the Chances thought about walking away from the family business. "My grandfather always told me, 'You only lose if you give up,'" Mike says. "That actually got us through the bankruptcy," Dick adds. "You never lose unless you quit ... and we're not quitting." Chapter 2: The Weight of a Whistle A few miles southeast of the Chance plant is O.J. Watson Park, a gem of public space, with miniature golf and pony rides. It also has one of Chance's iconic trains, the C.P. Huntington. Terry Giddeon, Chance's service product manager responsible for the train brand, grew up just two miles from the park. He can still remember hearing the whistle blow from his bedroom window. In a strange twist of fate, the first C.P. Huntington that Giddeon ever built for Chance -- almost 30 years ago -- was the replacement locomotive for that childhood train. "Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I'd build the train that Watson Park has now," Giddeon says. "Installing it was the best feeling in the world." The trains needs constant maintenance like any machine, and Giddeon says there were long periods of time when the Watson Park train just wasn't getting it. Last year, the train was shut down more than it was running. But this year, Giddeon is making sure that doesn't happen again. He has made the Watson Park train a personal priority of his, working with the park's manager to keep the train running. Giddeon believes that dedication sets Chance apart from its competitors. "The support is always there," he says. Even if a ride is decades old, Giddeon can get parts for it and even provide a service manual. "The Santa Barbara Zoo just bought another locomotive from us. When they get that level of support, they don't shop around." Giddeon doesn't always see the smiles his work inspires, but just knowing that he's brought joy to children young and old is what keeps him going. "When you see the kids grinning ear to ear, I call it my natural high," he says. "It gives you goose bumps -- makes you feel proud to work for the company." Chapter 3: An Artist in Kansas When Julie Boman was a little girl, she decided to express herself artistically -- by drawing a horse on her parents' marriage certificate. She was in a heap of trouble from the act of childhood mischief, but it proved to be prophetic. Today, Boman is one of three full-time artists in Chance's carousel studio. She paints horses, tigers and dolphins -- even mythical creatures like jackalopes -- for the ride that has been the center of carnivals for more than a century. Boman, who is self-taught, paints gorgeous animals every vibrant hue of the rainbow, then embellishes them with final touches like jewels and lace. Carousels take an average of three months to assemble, with a single animal taking between 80 and 110 hours to build and decorate. She also painstakingly adds detail to the center panels of a carousel, inspired by everything from famous works of art to travel photos she spots in magazines. It's that imagination that landed her a job at Chance 15 years ago. After seeing a mural Boman painted in her church's basement, a fellow parishioner told her boss at a local McDonald's about Boman's artistic skills. He hired Boman to paint murals at a few of his Wichita franchises. "It was my first paying job as an artist," Boman says. A family friend, who worked at Chance, saw her work at McDonalds's and came to pay Boman a visit one Sunday afternoon. He asked her a question that ended up changing her life: "How would you like to paint carousel animals?" Boman knows she's lucky to work as an artist in Kansas. "Everyone told me, you better get a backup, you can't do art for a living," she says. "I never thought this would be reality." But Boman says that Chance being family owned makes all the difference in her work. Both Mike and Dick stop by the studio on a regular basis and Mike often brings his 6-year-old son Carter by on Saturdays to visit the animals. "Oh, he loves carousels," Boman says. "If you had a corporate board running the company, they'd be focused on the profit and having all of this made in Mexico or China," she says. "And they could have all of this done for less [money]. It's nice to have bosses who let you focus on quality." In that tall white building in the heart of Kansas, the Chance family has built a company that manufactures magic for the masses. But perhaps even more importantly, they've led a company that, through every twist and turn, has been a place where employees and quality always come first.

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

7 Media Stocks to Buy Now

RSS Logo Portfolio Grader Popular Posts: Hottest Energy Stocks Now – HK QEP CLMT SDRL13 “Triple A” Stocks to Buy7 Biotechnology Stocks to Buy Now Recent Posts: Hottest Financial Stocks Now – ASPS MBI SF LPLA Biggest Movers in Healthcare Stocks Now – ALXN PODD ISIS REGN Hottest Technology Stocks Now – SATS WDAY P CGNX View All Posts

This week, seven media stocks are improving their overall ratings on Portfolio Grader. Each of these stocks is rated an “A” (“strong buy”) or “B” overall (“buy”).

Knology () is making headway this week, with the company’s rating improving to an A (“strong buy”) from a B (“buy”) last week. Knology is a fully integrated provider of video, voice and advanced communications services to residential customers in the southeastern United States. In Portfolio Grader’s specific subcategories of Equity and Margin Growth, KNOL also gets A’s. .

Dex One () is bettering its rating of C (“hold”) from last week to a B (“buy”) this week. Dex One is a marketing solutions company that offers various solutions to promote businesses on the Internet through its proprietary search engine marketing product, DexNet. .

This week, Liberty Global Plc Class C () pushes up from a C to a B rating. Liberty Global owns interests in broadband, distribution, and content companies operating outside the continental United States, principally in Europe, Asia, and Latin America. The stock price has risen 6.9% over the past month, better than the 1.3% decrease the Nasdaq has seen over the same period of time. .

This is a strong week for MDC Partners Inc. Class A (). The company’s rating climbs to A from the previous week’s B. MDC Partners provides advertising and specialized communication services to brands throughout the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. .

5 Best Asian Stocks To Own For 2015

This week, Outdoor Channel Holdings’ () ratings are up from a C last week to a B. Outdoor Channel Holdings is the principal owner of The Outdoor Channel, a national television network. .

Digital Generation, Inc. () gets a higher grade this week, advancing from a C last week to a B. Digital Generation operates a nationwide network that links advertisers and advertising agencies with radio stations and television stations across the United States and Canada. .

Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. () is seeing ratings go up from a B last week to an A this week. Live Nation Entertainment produces live concerts and sells tickets to those events over the Internet. .

Louis Navellier’s proprietary Portfolio Grader stock ranking system assesses roughly 5,000 companies every week based on a number of fundamental and quantitative measures. Stocks are given a letter grade based on their results — with A being “strong buy,” and F being “strong sell.” Explore the tool here.

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Check under those sheets: Bedbugs may be digging…

Frequent business traveler Neil Kelley says bedbug bites were "all over my legs," and he was awakened in the middle of the night by a cockroach that crawled across his face at a resort two years ago.

"I itched like crazy," recalls Kelley, who was attending a food industry conference and volunteers information as a USA TODAY Road Warrior. "I would never go back to that hotel."

Staff at many hotels have heard guests like Kelley complain about bedbugs.

"Most chains have experienced bedbugs," says John Barcay, a senior scientist at Ecolab,a company with a pest-management division that services hotels. "Bedbugs are more prevalent in hotels with high occupancy rates and in high tourist areas."

Barcay says a hotel's sanitation standards are unrelated to bedbug infestations, and any hotel — whether budget or luxury — can have bedbugs. They are brought into hotels in guests' belongings, he says.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says bedbug infestations usually occur near where people sleep — in hotels, apartments and other dwellings — and America is one of many countries "now experiencing an alarming resurgence" in the bedbug population.

Experts suspect the recent resurgence, the CDC says, is linked to several factors, including bedbugs' increased resistance to pesticides and increased international and domestic travel.

The good news for travelers is that bedbugs — parasites that feed on human blood — are not known to transmit disease. Their bites, which affect each person differently, can cause itching and loss of sleep, the CDC says.

The bites can also cause allergic reactions, including a "whole-body reaction," and lead to skin infections, the agency says, while some people may not show any physical signs of a bite.

Jerry Barnes, the general manager of the Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, Ill., says bedbugs are a problem throughout the hotel industry.

"I have worked for many hotels in the past and dealt with bedbugs for 20! years," Barnes says. "All 14 hotels I have worked for have, at one time or another, incurred bedbugs. Any hotel who says it has never encountered bedbugs is not telling the truth."

Barnes says the Pheasant Run Resort has contracted a pest-control company since 2008 and will institute a program requiring quarterly inspection of each guest room for bedbugs.

A website, The Bedbug Registry, says it has received about 20,000 reports of bedbugs in hotels and apartments since it launched in 2006. The website, which states it hasn't confirmed any reports, shows that bedbugs have been reported in rooms of nearly all hotel chains, including budget and luxury ones.

Though bedbugs are a common problem, many hotels and guests erroneously report bedbug infestations, Barcay says. He estimates that more than half of the times hotels and motels have hired Ecolab to eradicate bedbugs, there were no bedbugs.

A survey last year by the National Pest Management Association and the University of Kentucky found that 75% of the 251 pest-management companies surveyed said they treated at least one hotel or motel for bedbugs in 2012. More than 95% of the companies said they treated bedbug infestations in at least one apartment/condominium and one single-family home.

Kathryn Potter, a spokeswoman for the American Hotel & Lodging Association, says "hoteliers have long been aware and vigilant of this particular pest."

The trade group provides information and resources to help hotel managers identify and treat bedbug problems, she says.

Road Warrior Tim Orris lives in hotels year-round and says he has been bitten by bedbugs in three hotels or motels in the past three years.

Last year, he says he was bitten in the eyelid by a bedbug at a motel in Maryland.

The three incidents, he says, have changed his hotel routine. He now keeps his suitcase in his car and takes into the hotel a change of clothes in a plastic bag. The next day, he puts on the clothes in the plastic bag and se! als the p! revious day's clothes in the bag. The used clothes are then brought to a dry cleaner.

George Banta, the owner of Super 8 in Middletown, N.Y., says bedbugs are a problem for hotels and other businesses.

Banta says his hotel takes "preventative actions" to decrease the chances of bedbug issues, including training housekeeping staff how to detect the pests, installing protective covers on mattresses and regularly using an exterminator to treat guest rooms.

Such measures "do not guarantee that a business will never have to deal with the issue of bedbugs," because they are brought into the hotel from outside, he says.

Despite hotel guests' reports about bedbugs and his company's efforts to eradicate them, Barcay says bedbugs won't spread disease, and traveler shouldn't be overly worried about them.

"Don't change your travel plans," Barcay says. "Bedbugs are only in a very small fraction of hotel rooms."

Bedbugs are showing an increased resistance to pesticides.(Photo11: AP)