Here at The Motley Fool, I've long cautioned investors to keep a close eye on inventory levels. It's a part of my standard diligence when searching for the market's best stocks. I think a quarterly checkup can help you spot potential problems. For many companies, products that sit on the shelves too long can become big trouble. Stale inventory may be sold for lower prices, hurting profitability. In extreme cases, it may be written off completely and sent to the shredder.
Basic guidelines
In this series, I examine inventory using a simple rule of thumb: Inventory increases ought to roughly parallel revenue increases. If inventory bloats more quickly than sales grow, this might be a sign that expected sales haven't materialized. Is the current inventory situation at SurModics (Nasdaq: SRDX ) out of line? To figure that out, start by comparing the company's inventory growth to sales growth. How is SurModics doing by this quick checkup? At first glance, pretty well. Trailing-12-month revenue increased 8.5%, and inventory decreased 8.2%. Comparing the latest quarter to the prior-year quarter, the story looks decent. Revenue increased 12.2%, and inventory shrank 8.2%. Over the sequential quarterly period, the trend looks OK but not great. Revenue dropped 1.1%, and inventory grew 4.4%.
Top 10 Healthcare Equipment Stocks To Watch Right Now: Global Digital Creations Holdings Ltd (GDC)
Global Digital Creations Holdings Limited is an investment holding company. Through its subsidiaries, the Company operates in three segments: computer graphics (CG) and production segment, which includes CG creation, production and exhibition of motion pictures and production of television series and movies, as well as property rental income; CG training courses segment, engaged in the provision of CG and animation training, and cultural park segment, engaged in the media entertainment and related commercial property development. The Company�� subsidiaries include GDC Holdings Limited, GDC Asset Management Limited, GDC China Limited, GDC Digital Cinema Network Limited, GDC Digital Cinema Network Limited, GDC International Limited and GDC Management Services Limited, among others. On September 6, 2011, it completed the disposal of interests in GDC Technology Limited and GDC Digital Cinema Network Limited. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Barel Karsan]
If you follow Genesis Land (GDC), your head may be spinning by now. It's almost every day now that the current board and the activists trying to take it over are claiming some sort of injustice permeated by the other side. (To watch this battle in real-time, sign up for filing notifications for GDC here.) But surely, behind all the "Our directors are superior to yours" puffery, there are some differences in how each group would run the company differently.
Best Industrial Disributor Stocks For 2014: Prometheus RxDx Corp (RXDX)
Prometheus RxDx Corp., incorporated in June 2009, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Prometheus Laboratories Inc. The Company is engaged in the development and commercialization of pharmaceutical and diagnostic products that enable physicians to provide individualized patient care. It focuses on the detection, diagnosis and treatment of disorders within the fields of gastroenterology and oncology. It operates in two segments: the pharmaceutical products segment that markets and sells prescription drugs, and the diagnostic testing services segment, which includes specific immunoassays to detect and differentiate diseases, pharmacogenetic testing and drug metabolite monitoring. The pharmaceutical products for gastrointestinal diseases and disorders includes ENTOCORT EC (budesonide) Capsules, which is indicated for the treatment of mild to moderate active Crohn�� disease involving the ileum and/or the ascending colon, and LOTRONEX (alosetron hydrochloride) Tablets, for use in female patients with severe diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Gastroenterology Pharmaceutical Products
The pharmaceutical products for gastrointestinal diseases and disorders include Entocort EC for the treatment of mild to moderate active Crohn�� disease involving the ileum and/or ascending colon and Lotronex for treatment of a subset of women with severe diarrhea-predominant IBS. The Company sells but does not market, several other pharmaceuticals, including Imuran, Helidac Therapy, and Ridaura, in addition to a number of other diagnostic tests. It also manufactures a generic mercaptopurine product, which is sold through a third-party distributor. It only offers pharmaceutical products in the United States. It began selling Proleukin in February 2010 under an exclusive distribution and promotion agreement with Novartis. Proleukin is a recombinant human interleukin-2 for treatment in adults with metastatic renal cell carcinoma and metastatic melanoma. Proleukin therapy is a form of im! munotherapy that uses the body�� natural immune system to fight cancer. In December 2010, it signed an agreement with ThePharmaNetwork, LLC, to sell Trandate and Zyloprim.
Entocort EC is the Food and Drug Association- approved drug indicated for the induction and maintenance of clinical remission in mild to moderate active Crohn�� disease involving the ileum and/or the ascending colon. Entocort EC consists of an encapsulated formulation of budesonide granules, a glucocorticosteroid. Entocort EC is designed to release primarily in the ileum and/or the ascending colon, so that as little as 10% of the drug enters systemic circulation. Entocort EC may benefit patients by reducing glucocorticosteroid-related side effects. Lotronex is indicated for use only in women with severe diarrhea-predominant IBS who have not responded adequately to conventional therapy, whose IBS symptoms are chronic, and who have had other gastrointestinal medical conditions ruled out.
Imuran is indicated for adjunctive use in the prevention of rejection in kidney transplants and in the management of active rheumatoid arthritis. Although Imuran is not indicated for the treatment of IBD and the Company does not promote it for that indication, physicians often prescribe it for various forms of IBD, including Crohn�� disease and ulcerative colitis, as well as other autoimmune disorders. Imuran is prescribed primarily by gastroenterologists, transplant surgeons, nephrologists, rheumatologists and internal medicine specialists. Helidac Therapy (Hediac), when taken with a hydrogen (H2 ) antagonist, is indicated for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori, or H. pylori, bacteria, which causes peptic ulcers, and for patients with duodenal ulcer disease. Ridaura is approved for the treatment of active classical or definite rheumatoid arthritis in adults. Ridaura is the oral formulation of a gold salt available for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis for patients who have not responded adequately to one or mor! e non-ste! roidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Mercaptopurine is approved for maintenance for acute lymphatic leukemia as part of a combination regimen and, although it is not indicated for the treatment of certain gastrointestinal diseases and it does not promote it for those indications, physicians often prescribe it for various forms of IBD, including Crohn�� disease and ulcerative colitis.
Trandate is approved for the management of high blood pressure, or hypertension. Trandate can be used alone or in combination with other anti-hypertensive agents, particularly thiazide and loop diuretics. Trandate is typically prescribed by cardiologists, family practitioners and internists. Trandate competes both with generics and many other drugs used to treat hypertension. In December 2010, the Company signed an agreement with ThePharmaNetwork, LLC, to sell Trandate. Zyloprim reduces serum and uric acid levels and is approved for the management of patients with gout, patients receiving certain types of chemotherapy to leukemia, lymphoma and other cancers, and patients with kidney or urinary stones. Zyloprim is prescribed by orthopedic specialists, rheumatologists, podiatrists, nephrologists and family practitioners.
Gastroenterology Diagnostic Testing Services
The diagnostic testing services are designed to aid physicians in making diagnoses with non-invasive testing and to assist them in determining therapy treatment and management, thereby helping a physician customize treatment to an individual patient. The Company performs all its diagnostic testing services in its laboratory located in San Diego, California. During the year ended December 31, 2010, it launched PROMETHEUS Crohn�� Prognostic, the serogenetic prognostic test for Crohn�� disease. The Company offers three celiac tests to physicians, including antibody tests, a genetics test and a panel that combines both the antibody and genetics tests.
The Company competes with Quest Diagnostics Incorporated and La! boratory ! Corporation of America Holdings
Advisors' Opinion:- [By James E. Brumley]
Quick - what do CytRx Corporation (NASDAQ:CYTR) and Ignyta Inc. (NASDAQ:RXDX) have in common? Yes, they're both biotech stocks, but that's not the absolute best answer right now. The most meaningful common element between RXDX and CYTR right now is, each is on the verge of a big technical breakout and deserves a spot on your watchlist. Here's a closer look at each.�
Best Industrial Disributor Stocks For 2014: National Bank Holdings Corp (NBHC)
National Bank Holdings Corporation (NBH), incorporated in June 2009, is a bank holding company. Through Bank Midwest, N.A. (Bank Midwest), NBH�� primary business is to offer a range of traditional banking products and financial services to both its commercial and consumer customers, located in Kansas, Missouri and Colorado. The Company offers an array of lending products to cater to the customers��needs, including, but not limited to, small business loans, equipment loans, term loans, asset-backed loans, letters of credit, commercial lines of credit, residential mortgage loans, home equity and consumer loans. It also offers traditional depository products, including commercial and consumer checking accounts, non-interest-bearing demand accounts, money market deposit accounts, savings accounts and time deposit accounts and cash management services. As of December 31, 2011, it operated a network of 103 full-service banking centers, with the majority of those banking centers located in the Kansas City region and Colorado. On October 21, 2011, the Company acquired selected assets and assumed selected liabilities of Community Banks of Colorado, a state chartered bank based in Greenwood Village, Colorado, from the FDIC, which included 36 full-service banking centers in Colorado and four in California.
Lending Activities
NBH�� loan portfolio includes commercial and industrial loans, consumer loans, commercial real estate loans, residential real estate loans and agricultural loans. As of December 31, 2011, approximately 61.5% of the Company�� total portfolio was variable rate loans, approximately 38.5% of the total loan portfolio was fixed rate loans and less than 1.6% of its total loan portfolio was unsecured. As of December 31, 2011, of the loans it had originated, approximately 35.1% were variable rate loans and approximately 64.9% were fixed rate loans.
The Company originates commercial and industrial loans and leases, including working capital loans, equi! pment loans and other commercial loans and leases. As of December 31, 2011, approximately 98.2% of its commercial and industrial loans were secured. As of December 31, 2011, it had $372.0 million in commercial and industrial loans and leases outstanding, comprising approximately 16.3% of its total loan portfolio. During the year ended December 31, 2011, it originated and closed $26.7 million of commercial and industrial loans, which was approximately 18.8% of total loans originated for portfolio investment during that period.
The Company offers a range of consumer loans, including loans to banking center customers for consumer and business purposes, to meet customer demand and to increase the yield on its loan portfolio. As of December 31, 2011, it had $74.3 million in consumer loans outstanding, comprising 3.3% of its total loan portfolio. Its real estate loans consist of commercial real estate loans and residential real estate loans. Commercial real estate loans (CRE) loans, consist of loans to finance the purchase of commercial real estate, loans to finance inventory and working capital that are secured by commercial real estate and construction and development loans. Its CRE loans include loans on 1-4 family construction properties, commercial properties such as office buildings, strip malls, or free standing commercial properties, multi-family and investor properties and raw land development loans.
Residential real estate loans consist of loans secured by the primary or secondary residence of the borrower. These loans consist of closed loans, which are typically amortizing over a 10 to 30 year term. It also offers open-ended home equity loans, which loans are secured by secondary financing on residential real estate. As of December 31, 2011, it had a total of $522.4 million in outstanding residential real estate loans, comprising 22.9% of its total loan portfolio. Agricultural loans consist of loans to farmers and other agricultural businesses to finance agricultural produ! ction.
Source of Fund
NBH�� offers a range of deposit products to the customers, including checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts and other deposit accounts, including fixed-rate, fixed maturity retail time deposits ranging in terms from 30 days to five years, individual retirement accounts, and non-retail time deposits consisting of jumbo certificates greater than or equal to $100,000. As of December 31, 2011, the Company�� deposit portfolio was comprised of 13.4% non-interest bearing deposits and 55.0% time deposits. Its deposits are primarily obtained from areas surrounding its banking centers.
Financial Products and Services
In addition to traditional banking activities, the Company provides other financial services to the customers. It includes Internet banking, wire transfers, automated clearing house services, electronic bill payment, lock box services, remote deposit capture services, courier services, merchant processing services, cash vault, controlled disbursements, positive pay and cash management services (including account reconciliation, collections and sweep accounts).
The Company competes with UMB, Commerce, US Bank, Bank of America, Valley View, Capitol Federal, Central Bancompany, CCB Financial Corp, Enterprise Financial Services Corp, Wells Fargo, FirstBank, JPMorgan Chase, U.S. Bank, Bank of the West, KeyBank, Alpine Bank, Compass Bank, Vectra Bank, First National Bank of Colorado and Zions Bank.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Shauna O'Brien]
On Tuesday, Goldman Sachs reported that it has downgraded National Bank Holdings Corp (NBHC) to “Sell.”
The firm has cut its rating on NBHC from “Neutral” to “Sell,” and has given the company a $21 price target. This price target suggests that the stock will remain flat at its current price of $20.94.
An analyst from the firm commented: “While we believe that NBHC can grow EPS longer term as it leverages its $400mn of excess capital (above 10% tier 1 leverage), with shares trading at 1.1x TBV, we see limited upside in the near-term without any strategic M&A.”
Looking ahead, the firm has maintained its FY2013 EPS estimate of 26 cents. For FY2014 and FY2015, estimates have been maintained at 57 cents and $1.88.
National Bank Holdings shares were mostly flat during pre-market trading Tuesday. The stock is up 10% YTD.
Best Industrial Disributor Stocks For 2014: Sotherly Hotels Inc (SOHO)
SoTHERLY Hotels Inc., formerly MHI Hospitality Corporation, incorporated on August 2004, is a self-managed and self-administered real estate investment trust (REIT) that was formed to own, acquire, renovate and reposition primary full-service upper upscale and upscale hotel properties located in primary markets in the Mid-Atlantic and Southern United States. The Company conducts its business through MHI Hospitality, L.P., its operating partnership, of which the Company is the general partner. As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned approximately 77% of the partnership units in its operating partnership. In November 2013, SoTHERLY Hotels Inc announced that it has acquired the entity which owns the Crowne Plaza Houston Downtown Hotel, a 259-room, upscale, full-service hotel located in downtown Houston, Texas.
As of March 1, 2012, the Company�� portfolio consisted of 10 primarily full-service up-scale and upper up-scale hotels located in seven states with an aggregate of 2,424 rooms and approximately 120,200 square feet of meeting space. Nine of these hotels are wholly owned by subsidiaries of its operating partnership and operate under the Hilton Worldwide, InterContinental Hotels Group and Starwood Hotels and Resorts brands and are managed on a day to day basis by MHI Hotels Services, LLC (MHI Hotels Services). It also owns a 25% indirect non-controlling interest in the Crowne Plaza Hollywood Beach Resort through a joint venture with Carlyle.
The Company leases its hotel properties to MHI Hospitality TRS, LLC (its TRS Lessee), which in turn has engaged MHI Hotels Services, an independent management company, to manage its hotels. Its TRS Lessee is a wholly owned subsidiary of MHI Hospitality TRS Holding, Inc. (MHI Holding, and collectively, MHI TRS). As of March 1, 2012, the Company�� portfolio consisted of the properties, including Crowne Plaza Hampton Marina, Crowne Plaza Tampa Westshore , Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Riverfront , Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Riverfront , ! DoubleTree by Hilton Brownstone - University and Holiday Inn Laurel West. As of December 31, 2011, the Company owns two leasehold interests in the Shell Island Resort, a 160-unit condominium resort property in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Marc Bastow]
Upscale hotel property real estate investment trust Sotherby (SOHO) raised its quarterly dividend 12.5% to 4.5 cents per share, payable on Jan. 1, 2014 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 13.
SOHO Dividend Yield:�3.87% - [By George Putnam]
Steve Halpern: Now, another pick that you have is Sotherly Hotels (SOHO). Could you tell us about that company?
George Putnam: Sure. This is a small-cap name. Like many others in the industry, it had to struggle a bit from 2008 and has devoted most of its attention to getting its balance sheet back in order, and some of its existing hotels fixed-up and repositioned.
Best Industrial Disributor Stocks For 2014: NETGEAR Inc.(NTGR)
NETGEAR, Inc. engages in the design, development, marketing, and sale of networking products. The company offers home networking, storage, and digital media products to connect users with the Internet and their content and devices; networking, storage, and security solutions to commercial businesses; and whole home networking solutions to service providers for sale to their customers. Its products include commercial business networking products consisting of Ethernet switches, wireless controllers, Internet security appliances, and network attached storage devices; broadband access products, such as routers, gateways, IP telephony products, and media servers; and network connectivity products comprising wireless access points, wireless network interface cards and adapters, Ethernet network interface cards and adapters, media adapters, powerline adapters and bridges, and multimedia over coax alliance standard adapters and bridges. The company produces its products through t hird-party manufacturers. NETGEAR, Inc. markets its products primarily through retailers, online retailers, wholesale distributors, direct market resellers, value added resellers, and broadband service providers worldwide. NETGEAR, Inc. was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in San Jose, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Seth Jayson]
Netgear (Nasdaq: NTGR ) is expected to report Q2 earnings on July 25. Here's what Wall Street wants to see:
The 10-second takeaway
Comparing the upcoming quarter to the prior-year quarter, average analyst estimates predict Netgear's revenues will grow 10.2% and EPS will contract -12.5%.
Best Industrial Disributor Stocks For 2014: Dreyfus Strategic Municipal Bond Fund Inc (DSM)
Dreyfus Strategic Municipal Bond Fund, Inc. (the fund) is a diversified closed-end management investment company. The fund�� investment objective is to maximize current income exempt from federal income tax to the extent consistent with the preservation of capital. The Dreyfus Corporation serves as the fund�� investment adviser.
The fund invests at least 80% of its assets in municipal bonds. The fund also issues auction rate preferred stock and invests the proceeds in a manner consistent with its investment objective.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Sherine El Madany]
Dubai�� DFM General Index (DSM) posted the biggest drop in the Middle East, losing 2.3 percent, the most since June 10, to 2,345.47 at the 2 p.m. close in the emirate. Emaar Properties PJSC (EMAAR), developer of the world�� tallest tower in Dubai, registered its biggest decrease since April. The ADX General Index (MSM30) fell 0.9 percent, while the Bloomberg GCC200 Index (BGCC200) was down 0.2 percent.
- [By Trista Kelley]
Cenkos Securities Plc (CNKS) is running the spinoff and the share sale. Royal DSM NV (DSM), the world�� largest maker of vitamins, holds about 9 percent of SiS, while U.K. venture-capital trust Downing LLP owns 16.7 percent, Moon said. Provexis stockholders received one share of Science in Sport for every 100 shares of Provexis.
- [By Jonathan Morgan]
Royal DSM NV (DSM) gained 6.4 percent to 56.02 euros. The Dutch chemical company posted second-quarter profit that beat analyst estimates after a $3.1 billion-acquisition spree and as it cut costs. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization jumped 19 percent to 345 million euros. That exceeded the 333 million-euro average estimate of 11 analysts.
- [By Tom Stoukas]
Royal DSM NV (DSM) slid 5.4 percent to 55.13 euros. The company that spent $3.2 billion on nutrition-ingredient acquisitions said profit this year may fall short of an initial target because of stagnant markets in Europe and lower chemical prices.
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