Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Hot Gas Utility Stocks To Watch Right Now

Although Small cap Synacor Inc (NASDAQ: SYNC) calls itself the place "where Tech, Hollywood and Madison Avenue meet in the cloud,��its not exactly been a blockbuster for investors���meanings its worth taking a closer look at the stock along with the performance of potential benchmarks like the First Trust ISE Cloud Computing Index (NASDAQ: SKYY), iShares North American Tech-Software (NYSEARCA: IGV) and Global X Social Media Index ETF (NASDAQ: SOCL).

What is Synacor Inc?

Small cap Synacor Inc calls itself a ��ech company at the intersection of Hollywood and Madison Avenue��or "where Tech, Hollywood and Madison Avenue meet in the cloud." What that means is that the company�� white-label platform enables cable, satellite, telecom and consumer electronics companies to deliver TV Everywhere, digital entertainment, cloud-based services and apps to their end-consumers across multiple devices. Synacor Inc says it�� the�leading provider of next-gen startpages, homescreens, award-winning TV Everywhere solutions and cloud-based Identity Management (IDM) services across multiple devices for cable, satellite, telecom and consumer electronics companies in the�US and abroad.

Best Medical Companies For 2015: Powershares Dynamic Retail Portfolio (PMR)

PowerShares Dynamic Retail Portfolio (the Fund) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield of an equity index called the Dynamic Retail Intellidex Index (the Retail Intellidex). The Retail Intellidex consists of stocks of 30 United States retailers. These are companies that are principally engaged in operating general merchandise stores, such as department stores, discount stores, warehouse clubs and superstores; specialty stores, including apparel, electronics, accessories and footwear stores;, and home improvement and home furnishings stores. Dealers of motor vehicles and parts, auction houses or rental companies may also be included. Stocks are selected principally on the basis of their capital appreciation potential as identified by the AMEX (the Intellidex Provider) pursuant to its Intellidex methodology. The Fund�� investment advisor is PowerShares Capital Management LLC.

The Fund will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in common stocks of retail companies. It will normally invest at least 90% of its total assets in common stocks that comprise the Retail

Intellidex. The Fund, using an indexing investment approach, attempts to replicate the performance of the Retail Intellidex. The Fund generally will invest in all of the stocks comprising the Retail Intellidex in proportion to their weightings in the Retail Intellidex.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By John Udovich]

    TheEconomicCollapseBlog.com has a shocking�post entitled, ��0 Facts About The Great U.S. Retail Apocalypse That Will Blow Your Mind,��which might make you want to consider shorting or reevaluating any investment strategies involving retail or retail ETFs like the SPDR S&P Retail ETF (NYSEARCA: XRT), PowerShares Dynamic Retail ETF (NYSEARCA: PMR), Market Vectors Retail ETF (NYSEARCA: RTH) and Direxion Daily Retail Bull 3X Shares (NYSEARCA: RETL).�Before you dismiss something from a blog with the words ��conomic Collapse��in it (they are, after all, peddling ��oom and gloom�� because the Obama administration plus Joe Biden�and their surrogates in the media keep telling you there is an economic recovery along with growth in jobs, consider just the following retail store closure plans or job cuts mentioned in the post:

Hot Gas Utility Stocks To Watch Right Now: D.R. Horton Inc.(DHI)

D.R. Horton, Inc. operates as a homebuilding company in the United States. The company?s Homebuilding segment engages in the acquisition and development of land, and construction and sale of residential homes on the land in 26 states and 72 markets in the United States primarily under the name of D.R. Horton and America?s Builder. This segment also builds traditional single-family detached homes, as well as attached homes, such as town homes, duplexes, triplexes and condominiums, which share common walls and roofs. Its Financial Services segment involves in originating and selling mortgages, as well as provides title insurance policies, examination, and closing services to homebuyers. The company markets and sells its homes through commissioned employees and independent real estate brokers. The company was founded in 1978 and is based in Fort Worth, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Matt Thalman]

    These comments not only sent Pulte's shares lower by 2.85%, but it also sent DR Horton's (NYSE: DHI  ) stock lower by 2.71% and Lennar's (NYSE: LEN  ) stock down 2.48% today. As housing prices begin to slow, the difference between what a homebuilder can build a home for and sell it for will remain stable or also just slowly grow, making future revenue and profits experience perhaps weaker-than-expected results. Currently both Pulte and Lennar are trading at around 23 and 17 times past earnings and 11 and 13 times future results, but if analysts' expectations for future results are higher than what they actually come in at, the shares of the homebuilders will probably fall lower in the future.

  • [By Jacob Roche]

    As Maxx points out, lumber prices are almost back to their housing-bubble peak, while margins for D.R. Horton (NYSE: DHI  ) and KB Home (NYSE: KBH  ) , two of the largest homebuilders in the U.S., are still dramatically lower. In 2006, both companies had an operating margin around 15%. Today, D.R. Horton is just half that, and KB Home is barely 1%. Even as increased demand gives these companies some of their pricing power back, they will struggle to make a profit with lumber prices continuing to rise.

  • [By John Maxfield]

    It's worth noting that we're starting to see this on the new-home front as well. In its most recent quarterly earnings release, the nation's largest homebuilder, D.R. Horton (NYSE: DHI  ) , reported a 33% year-over-year increase in the number of homes it closed on. PulteGroup's (NYSE: PHM  ) total closings grew by 23%. And deliveries at Lennar (NYSE: LEN  ) were up by 39%.

Hot Gas Utility Stocks To Watch Right Now: Atmos Energy Corporation(ATO)

Atmos Energy Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages primarily in the distribution, transmission, and storage of natural gas in the United States. The company operates in four segments: Natural Gas Distribution; Regulated Transmission and Storage; Natural Gas Marketing; and Pipeline, Storage, and Other. The Natural Gas Distribution segment involves in regulated natural gas distribution business and related sales operations. It distributes natural gas through regulated sales and transportation arrangements to approximately 3 million residential, commercial, public authority, and industrial customers in 12 states located primarily in the southern United States. As of September 30, 2009, this segment owned approximately 70,879 miles of underground distribution and transmission mains. The Regulated Transmission and Storage segment transports natural gas for third parties and manages five underground storage reservoirs in Texas. It owned 5,950 miles of gas transmis sion and gathering lines. The Natural Gas Marketing segment provides various natural gas management and marketing services to municipalities, other local gas distribution companies, and industrial customers. The Pipeline, Storage, and Other segment offers natural gas gathering, transmission, and storage services. It owned 113 miles of gas transmission and gathering lines. Atmos Energy Corporation was founded in 1906 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Garrett Cook]

    Utilities shares fell around 0.23 percent in trading on Wednesday. Top losers in the sector included Vectren (NYSE: VVC), down 1.47 percent, and Atmos Energy (NYSE: ATO), off 0.80 percent.

  • [By Marc Courtenay]

    Another lesser-known possibility is Atmos Energy (ATO), the $3.93 billion (market cap) company that engages in the distribution, transmission, and storage of natural gas in the United States. As of the last quarter of 2012, its year-over-year EPS growth was 17.5%.

  • [By Garrett Cook]

    Utilities shares fell around 0.23 percent in trading on Wednesday. Top losers in the sector included Vectren (NYSE: VVC), down 1.9 percent, and Atmos Energy (NYSE: ATO), off 1 percent.

Hot Gas Utility Stocks To Watch Right Now: Rick's Cabaret International Inc.(RICK)

Rick?s Cabaret International, Inc., through its subsidiaries, owns and operates upscale adult nightclubs serving primarily businessmen and professionals in the United States. The company?s nightclubs offer live adult entertainment, restaurant, and bar operations. It owns and operates, or licenses adult nightclubs in Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, and Fort Worth, Texas; Charlotte, North Carolina; Minneapolis, Minnesota; New York, New York; Miami Gardens, Florida; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Las Vegas, Nevada. The company operates its adult nightclubs under the Rick's Cabaret, Club Onyx, XTC Cabaret, Tootsie?s Cabaret, Cabaret North, Jaguars, and Cabaret East names. It also owns and operates various adult entertainment Internet Web sites, including CouplesTouch.com, a personals site for those in the swinging lifestyle; NaughtyBids.com, an online adult auction site that contains consumer-initiated auctions for items, such as adult videos, apparel, photo sets, a dult paraphernalia, and other erotica; and xxxPassword.com that features adult content. In addition, the company offers trade magazine serving the adult nightclubs industry, as well as owns 2 industry trade shows, 2 other industry trade publications, and approximately 25 industry Websites. As of January 4, 2011, it owned and operated 22 adult nightclubs. The company was founded in 1982 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Lauren Pollock]

    Shares of Rick's Cabaret International Inc.(RICK) jumped after the adult nightclub owner reported improving fiscal fourth-quarter results and projected better profitability in the new fiscal year. The stock jumped 14% to $12.23 premarket.

Hot Gas Utility Stocks To Watch Right Now: Unwired Planet Inc (UPIP)

Unwired Planet, Inc. (Unwired Planet), formerly Openwave Systems Inc., incorporated on December 16, 1994, is an intellectual property and technology licensing company. As of June 30, 2012, the Company had patent portfolio of approximately 200 issued United States and foreign patents and approximately 75 pending applications, many of which is considered foundational to mobile communications. In May 2012, the Company officially changed name to Unwired Planet, Inc.

On February 1, 2012, the Company sold its location business to Persistent Telecom Solutions Inc. On April 30, 2012, the Company completed the sale of its mediation and messaging product businesses to Openwave Mobility, Inc. The Company generates revenue by licensing its patented innovations and technologies to companies that develop mobile communications software infrastructure or hardware and/or develop mobile communications products.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Anora Mahmudova]

    Among individual stocks, Unwired Planet (UPIP) , an intellectual property company focused on the mobile industry, soared 49% after news that Chinese computer-maker Lenovo Group Ltd. (HK:0992) �was buying 21 of its patent families for $100 million.

Hot Gas Utility Stocks To Watch Right Now: Synaptics Inc (SYNA)

Synaptics Incorporated is a developer and supplier of custom-designed human interface solutions that enable people to interact with a range of mobile computing, communications, entertainment, and other electronic devices. The Company focuses on the personal computer ( PC) market, primarily notebook computers, including ultrabooks, the markets for digital lifestyle products, including mobile smartphones and feature phones, the tablet market, and other select electronic device markets with its customized human interface solutions. The Company generally supplies its human interface solutions to its original equipment manufacturer (OEM) customers through their contract manufacturers, which take delivery of its products and pay the Company directly for them.

The Company provides custom human interface solutions for navigation, cursor control, and multimedia controls for many of the world�� premier PC OEMs. In addition to notebook applications, other PC product applications for its technology include peripherals, such as keyboards, mice, and monitors, as well as remote control devices for desktops, PCs, and digital home applications. Its solutions for the PC market include the TouchPad, the ClickPad, the TouchStyk, and dual pointing solutions. The Company�� tablet includes the ClearPad Series 7. In August 2012, it acquired Pacinian and the Video Display Operation of Integrated Device Technology, Inc.

TouchPad

TouchPad provides a method for screen navigation, cursor movement, and gestures and provides a platform for interactive input for both the consumer and corporate markets. TouchPad solutions offer various advanced features, including Scrolling, Customizable tap zones, performance of entertainment, productivity, and media tasks, tapping and dragging of icons, and device Interaction. The Company�� TouchPad solutions are available in a variety of sizes, electrical interfaces, and thicknesses.

ClickPad

The Company�� ClickPad introduces! a clickable mechanical design to the TouchPad application. Its ClickPad is activated by pressing down on the internal tact switch to perform a left- or right-button click and provides feedback similar to pressing a physical button. The latest version of ClickPad features ClickEQ, which is a mechanical solution.

ForcePad

The Company's ForcePad is a thinner version of the Company's ClickPad, which introduces a new dimension in control through the addition of variable force sensitivity. ForcePad is designed to provide consistent performance across OEM models through its design intelligence and self-calibration features.

Dual Pointing Solutions

The dual pointing solutions offer a TouchPad with a pointing stick in a single notebook computer. Its dual pointing solutions also provide the end user the ability to use both interfaces interchangeably. The Company has developed two solutions for use in the dual pointing market. Its first solution integrates all the electronics for controlling a third-party resistive strain gauge pointing stick onto its TouchPad PCB. Its second dual pointing solution uses its TouchStyk and offers the OEM integration. The second solution is a completely modular design, allowing OEMs to offer TouchPad-only, TouchStyk-only, or dual pointing solutions on a build-to-order basis.

TouchStyk

The Company�� TouchStyk is a pointing stick interface solution for PC notebooks. TouchStyk is an integrated module that uses capacitive technology similar to that of its TouchPad. TouchStyk is enabled with press-to-select and tap-to-click capabilities and can be integrated into multiple computing and communications devices.

NavPoint

The Company�� NavPoint solution offers TouchPad functionality for small form factor devices in accessing and managing content in handheld devices through navigation controls. It also includes short- and long-distance scrolling features, tapping, and mouse-like cursor navigation.

ClearPad

The Company�� ClearPad touchscreen solutions consist of a transparent, thin capacitive sensor, which is a discrete sensor, that can be placed over any display, such as an liquid crystal display (LCD) or organic light-emitting diode (OLED). Its ClearPad Series 3 can provide full-time tracking of ten or more fingers simultaneously and features stylus support and support for various sensor configurations, including discrete sensors, sensor-on-lens, which includes sensor electrodes patterned on the bottom of the glass cover lens; on-cell, which includes sensor electrodes patterned on the display glass, and in-cell, which includes sensor electrodes patterned inside the LCD glass.

The Company�� ClearPad Series 4 products combines its capacitive multi-touch technology with a device�� display driver in a single-chip solution delivering advanced display noise management and capacitive sensing performance. Its ClearPad Series 7 products are designed for large touchscreen market for products more closely related to clamshell notebooks, slates, tablets, and similar devices. The Company�� ClearPad Series 7 products include single-chip touchscreen solutions and multi-chip touchscreen solutions designed for devices, such as gaming applications.

FlexPad

This capacitive sensing interface is mounted beneath a mechanical keypad, and allows the keypad surface to be used for advanced scrolling and navigation features, character entry, and advanced gesture input on handheld devices. With navigation functionality similar to a touch pad, FlexPad offers interface and industrial design differentiation.

ClearButtons

The Company�� ClearButtons product is an extension of its core capacitive sensing technology that has been used in TouchPad solutions for notebook PCs, mobile smartphones, and feature phones. ClearButtons is a sensor that can be mounted under plastic, providing OEMs with integration and design options for scrolling and b! uttons.

TouchButtons

The Company�� TouchButtons product provides capacitive button and scrolling controls for an interface solution designed to replace mechanical buttons. Button arrays and ScrollStrips can be programmed to perform various functions, such as controls for multimedia, display and device settings in notebook PCs, multimedia keyboards, MP3 players, digital photo frames, monitors, and other digital lifestyle products. TouchButton interfaces are designed for integration under the plastic face of a device, allowing for a sealed, durable, and thin design, which can be coupled with light emitting diode (LED) animation.

ThinTouchTM

The Company�� ThinTouch, is a design technology that delivers a full keyboard solution that is 40% thinner than traditional keyboard solutions. ThinTouch provides design architecture that facilitates backlighting.

Proximity Sensing

The Company�� proximity sensing technology enables users to interact with consumer electronics without touch. With this technology, sensors in a device, such as a notebook PC, mobile phone, peripheral, or digital photo frame, sense the presence of a user�� hand to activate a function, such as illuminating LEDs for discoverable buttons or waking devices from power-saving mode.

Dual Mode

The Company�� Dual Mode-enabled TouchPad interface allows a user to switch between cursor control and icon-based control on the TouchPad surface. In default mode, a Dual Mode-enabled TouchPad provides the same cursor control for on-screen navigation as a standard TouchPad. When the user taps on a launch icon located on the TouchPad surface, control icons illuminate on the TouchPad surface.

ChiralMotion Gesture

The Company�� ChiralMotion Gesture technology can be applied for continuous circular motion to initiate precise and fine-tuned scrolling on any two-dimensional input surface, such as its TouchPad and ClearPad solutions. ChiralMoti! on Gestur! e technology is suited for small handheld products, such as feature-rich mobile handsets, personal navigation systems, and personal media players that require easy access for entertainment, music, and other digital files.

Synaptics Gesture Suite

The Company�� Synaptics Gesture Suite (SGSTM) provides users with an intuitive way to interact with their notebook computers. SGS was developed by analyzing the most common workflows from entertainment activities, such as viewing photos and listening to music, to productivity activities, such as accessing e-mails and presentations. SGS represents a portfolio of gestures available on its interface solutions. These gestures are compatible with a range of Microsoft Windows and Linux applications. Gestures in the market include Pinch, Rotate, ChiralMotion Scrolling, Two-Finger Scrolling, Three-Finger Flick, Three-Finger Down, and Four-Finger Flick.

Enhanced Gesture Recognition

Synaptics�� Enhanced Gesture Recognition is a suite of ClearPad gestures included in its firmware. Customers can easily enable SingleTouch gestures, such as Tap, Double Tap, Press, and Flick; DualTouch gestures, such as Pinch and Pivot Rotate, and multi-finger gestures for ClearPad directly from its touch module firmware. No additional ssoftware is required on the host processor to implement these gestures.

Dual Mode for TouchPad

The Company's Dual Mode-enabled TouchPad interface allows a user to switch between cursor control and icon-based controls on the TouchPad surface. In default mode, a Dual Mode-enabled TouchPad provides the same cursor control for on-screen navigation as a standard TouchPad.

The Company competes with Alps Electric, Elan Microelectronics, Atmel, Cypress and Melfas.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Srdjan Bejakovic]

    In the first quarter, semiconductor maker Atmel� (NASDAQ: ATML  ) recorded $337 million in revenue, $7 million above the upper end of its own guidance range. Additionally, management claims that 2014 will be a year of growth and increased profitability for the company, driven by continuing demand for microcontrollers and an improving picture in Atmel's touch business. What's lying behind the surprising revenue numbers, and can Atmel prosper in spite of increasing competition from such solid companies as Microchip Technologies� (NASDAQ: MCHP  ) and Synaptics (NASDAQ: SYNA  ) ?

  • [By Evan Niu, CFA]

    You got me there
    In these specific use cases, Apple simply can't compete. Short of calling up Synaptics (NASDAQ: SYNA  ) and incorporating the company's ClearPad technology and its 3D-Touch capabilities, the iPhone will never know when you're about to touch it. Apple used to tap Synaptics for iPod click-wheel sensors, but that was a long time ago. The Samsung design win has given Synaptics a nice pop, since the GS4 is bound to bring in abundant unit volumes.

  • [By Lisa Levin]

    Computer Peripherals: The industry gained 1.72% by 10:45 am. The top performer in this industry was Synaptics (NASDAQ: SYNA), which gained 3.7%. Synaptics' PEG ratio is 0.81.

  • [By Evan Niu, CFA]

    What: Shares of Synaptics (NASDAQ: SYNA  ) have popped by as much as 18% today after the company posted solid quarterly earnings and provided upbeat guidance thanks to design wins at Samsung.

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