| Current share price Hot Safest Stocks To Watch Right Now: Fluor Corporation(FLR) Fluor Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides engineering, procurement, construction, maintenance, and project management services worldwide. Its Oil & Gas segment offers design, engineering, procurement, construction, and project management services to upstream oil and gas production, downstream refining, chemicals, and petrochemicals industries. This segment also provides consulting services comprising feasibility studies, process assessment, and project finance structuring and studies. The company?s Industrial & Infrastructure segment offers design, engineering, procurement, and construction services to the transportation, wind power, mining and metals, life sciences, manufacturing, commercial and institutional, telecommunications, microelectronics, and healthcare sectors. Its Government segment provides engineering, construction, logistics support, contingency response, management, and operations services to the United States government focusing on the Departme nt of Energy, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Defense. The company?s Global Services segment offers operations and maintenance, small capital project engineering and execution, site equipment and tool services, industrial fleet services, plant turnaround services, temporary staffing services, and supply chain solutions. Its Power segment provides engineering, procurement, construction, program management, start-up and commissioning, and operations and maintenance services to the gas fueled, solid fueled, plant betterment, renewables, nuclear, and power services markets. The company also offers unionized management and construction services in the United States and Canada. Fluor Corporation was founded in 1912 and is headquartered in Irving, Texas. Advisors' Opinion: - [By CRWE]
Fluor Corporation�� (NYSE:FLR) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, David Seaton, and Chief Financial Officer, Biggs Porter, will give a presentation to investors at the Credit Suisse 2012 Engineering & Construction Conference in New York on Thursday, June 7 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time.
Hot Safest Stocks To Watch Right Now: Under Armour Inc.(UA) Under Armour, Inc. develops, markets, and distributes performance apparel, footwear, and accessories for men, women, and youth primarily in the United States, Canada, and internationally. It offers products made from moisture-wicking synthetic fabrics designed to regulate body temperature and enhance performance regardless of weather conditions. The company provides its products in three fit types: compression (tight fitting), fitted (athletic cut), and loose (relaxed) extending across the sporting goods, outdoor, and active lifestyle markets. Its footwear offerings comprise football, baseball, lacrosse, softball, and soccer cleats; slides; performance training footwear; and running footwear. The company also provides baseball batting, football, golf, and running gloves, as well as licenses bags, socks, headwear, custom-molded mouth guards, and eyewear that are designed to be used and worn before, during, and after competition. Under Armour sells its products through retai l stores, as well as directly to consumers through its own retail outlets and specialty stores, Website, and catalogs. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Victor Mora]
Under Armour provides athletic apparel, footwear, and accessories to a growing health and wellness, athletic, and fitness enthusiast population around the world. The stock has been on a powerful move towards higher prices that has led to it trading at all-time highs. Earnings and revenue figures have increased over most of the last four quarters which has led to excited investors. Relative to its peers and sector, Under Armour has led in year-to-date performance by a wide margin. Look for Under Armour to OUTPERFORM. - [By Glenn]
Current Price: $27.27 12-month target: $37 I see potential in opportunities for new product adjacencies, and expanding distribution worldwide. Footwear growth will continue to increase. Revenues for these products have increased over 69% in 2009. Adding to this I still see growth in Under Armour’s apparel sales, which are up 8%. Under Armor had yet to even break into the international market, which offers a plethora of new opportunities for this growing brand. I believe sales will rise drastically in 2010 driven by international sales, new women’s clothing line, and expansion within their own footwear line.
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides investment banking, securities, and investment management services to corporations, financial institutions, governments, and high-net-worth individuals worldwide. Its Investment Banking segment offers financial advisory, including advisory assignments with respect to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, corporate defense, risk management, restructurings, and spin-offs; and underwriting securities, loans and other financial instruments, and derivative transactions. The company?s Institutional Client Services segment provides client execution activities, such as fixed income, currency, and commodities client execution related to making markets in interest rate products, credit products, mortgages, currencies, and commodities; and equities related to making markets in equity products, as well as commissions and fees from executing and clearing institutional client transactions on stock, options, and fu tures exchanges. This segment also engages in the securities services business providing financing, securities lending, and other prime brokerage services to institutional clients, including hedge funds, mutual funds, pension funds, and foundations. Its Investing and Lending segment invests in debt securities, loans, public and private equity securities, real estate, consolidated investment entities, and power generation facilities. This segment also involves in the origination of loans to provide financing to clients. The company?s Investment Management segment provides investment management services and investment products to institutional and individual clients. This segment also offers wealth advisory services, including portfolio management and financial counseling, and brokerage and other transaction services to high-net-worth individuals and families. In addition, it provides global investment research services. The company was founded in 1869 and is headquartered in New York, New York. Hot Safest Stocks To Watch Right Now: Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras(PBR) Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. primarily engages in oil and natural gas exploration and production, refining, trade, and transportation businesses. The company?s Exploration and Production segment involves in the exploration, production, development, and production of oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and natural gas in Brazil. This segment supplies its products to the refineries in Brazil, as well as sells surplus petroleum and byproducts in domestic and foreign markets. Its Supply segment engages in the refining, logistics, transportation, and trade of oil and oil products; export of ethanol; and extraction and processing of schist, as well as holds interests in companies of the petrochemical sector in Brazil. The Gas and Energy segment involves in the transportation and trade of natural gas produced in or imported into Brazil; transportation and trade of LNG; and generation and trade of electric power. In addition, the segment has interests in natural gas transportation and d istribution companies; and thermoelectric power stations in Brazil, as well engages in fertilizer business. The Distribution segment distributes oil products, ethanol, and compressed natural gas in Brazil. The International segment involves in the exploration and production of oil and gas, as well as in supplying, gas and energy, and distribution operations in the Americas, Africa, Europe, and Asia. Further, the company involves in biofuel production business. Petroleo Brasileiro was founded in 1953 and is based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Dave Friedman]
Institutional investors bought 78,663,680 shares and sold 101,125,380 shares, for a net of -22,461,700 shares. This net represents 0.23% of common shares outstanding. The number of shares outstanding is 9,872,826,100. The shares recently traded at $27.61 and the company’s market capitalization is $170,178,700,000.00. About the company: Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. – Petrobras explores for and produces oil and natural gas. The Company refines, markets, and supplies oil products. Petrobras operates oil tankers, distribution pipelines, marine, river and lake terminals, thermal power plants, fertilizer plants, and petrochemical units. The Company operates in South America and elsewhere around the world.
In the first tranche, which was launched On January 9 and closed on February 7, the company had raised Rs 2,195 crore. The second tranche would open from today and close on March 15, 2013 . "We are launching the second tranche of our tax-free bonds from tomorrow. The issue size is Rs 500 crore with an option to retain over-subscription up to Rs 2,805 crore," HUDCO Chairman and Managing Director V P Baligar told PTI. HUDCO would utilise the issue proceeds for lending purposes, working capital requirements, augmenting resource base of the company and other operational requirements. It would offer a higher coupon rate of 7.69 percent for 15 years maturity period and 7.53 percent for 10 years to retail investors. An investment up to Rs 10 lakh qualifies under retail category. For others, the coupon rates are 7.19 percent for 15 years and 7.03 percent for 10 years. The coupon rates for retail investors are lower than the first tranche as interest rates have gone down, he added. HUDCO, a mini-ratna firm, is a financial institution that provides long-term finance for housing and urban infrastructure projects. The company had posted net profit of Rs 630.33 crore over a gross income of Rs 2,778.63 crore in the 2011-12 fiscal. The company is expecting to achieve the sanctioning and disbursal targets for this fiscal at Rs 22,000 crore and over Rs 6,000 crore, respectively.
Introduction: Don't Sell the U.S. Economy (or the World's) Short In the past, I've written numerous articles positing a long-term optimistic outlook for both our economy and the attractive future growth prospects of our great American businesses. Even though I hate to forecast the market in general, I have even presented evidence indicating that the general market as represented by the S&P 500 is currently reasonably priced and even slightly undervalued. My most recent contribution can be found here. Unfortunately, optimistic views on our economy and/or our markets are generally met with resistance and even criticism. One of the most common arguments to counter my optimism is the statement by my antagonists that they are realists. Thereby they are implying that my optimism is unrealistic, and moreover, that a pessimistic outlook is more realistic than an optimistic one. Yet, there is a preponderance of supporting evidence for optimism that many ignore or refuse to even consider. In an attempt to clarify my point, I presented the following F.A.S.T. Graphs™ (actually one very close to this one, but with slightly different dates) in my most recent article illustrating that the S&P 500 is modestly undervalued at this time. The orange line on the graph represents a P/E ratio of 15 applied to an earnings growth rate (slope of the line) of 7.7% since the beginning of calendar year 1993. All of the data is historically actual, with the exception of an estimate for 2012 earnings currently at $104.70 per share. Now, what this graph clearly shows is that the actual blended P/E ratio of the S&P 500 of 13.1 based on actual earnings since 1993, is one of the lowest it has been (remember the orange line is a P/E of 15). This is not a statistical reference, but a picture of what has actually occurred and how the market has actually valued the S&P 500 since 1993. Clearly, the market has overvalued the S&P 500 (the black price line above the orange line) for most of this almost 20-year period! , until and since March of 2011. This is important information, with no conjecture or hypothesis involved — just pure, unadulterated facts. Getting back to my optimism versus realism theme, the graphic also shows two time periods where earnings fell. The first time occurred during the recession of 2001, and then once again during the recession of 2008. The realist in me recognizes that these temporary economic interruptions can and do occur. However, the optimist in me recognizes that they are always temporary, where growth will eventually return, as it always has. In other words, it is realistic to acknowledge that business cycles occur, but even more realistic to realize that they do correct themselves. Consequently, I never fear them.  [ Enlarge Image ] But here is where the argument really gets interesting. The naysayers will immediately point out, and almost take great pride and even glee in stating that the good economic times are permanently behind us and that the once-great American economy is now doomed. Therefore, forecasts for future earnings growth are Pollyanna optimistic because our economy is now weak and soon set to implode. The rationale behind their belief that the American economy is weak and collapsing will usually focus on the huge debt load of our government. Next they will further lament on how the same potential bankruptcy exists for all of Europe as well. My biggest problem with this line of reasoning is that I believe they are erroneously equating the health of government with the health of our economy. Contrary to what most people believe, or are willing to accept, government does not run the economy, and government is not the economy. In fact, I believe and I will be discussing in more detail later in this series of articles, that what our economy really needs is a lot less government and our markets a lot more freedom. In short, government is an ex! pense and! not a factor of production. This leads me to perhaps some of the most important statements I will make in this whole series of articles. The true strength of an economy lies within its productivity capabilities. In this context, there is no economy that exists today, nor any economy that has ever existed on the face of this earth that is more productive, and therefore more powerful and healthy than the U.S. economy of today. But even more importantly, our future productivity over the next couple of decades is poised to grow exponentially. As this occurs, future prosperity and the opportunities it brings with it are nothing short of remarkable. Yes, that is an optimistic statement, but also realistic at the same time. Over the course of this series, I intend to provide numerous reasons and evidence for my cheerful view of our country's exciting future economic potential. Building the Case for Optimism Factoid Number One Human beings worldwide seem to have a penchant for pessimism. Surrounded by amazing and exciting reasons to be grateful and to feel good about our futures, we will obsess upon problems perceived and/or imagined and blow them completely out of proportion. However, that is not the worst part, because in so doing we become oblivious to the good and therefore overwhelmed by the less relevant bad that we only acknowledge. I will once again turn to my friend John Bodnar to put what I said thus far into perspective as he so uniquely is capable of doing. The following excerpt from one of his recent writings provides an interesting spin on my thesis for optimism over pessimism: Boring! As the sages in the media fixate on inequality, Occupy encampments and street confrontations, one of the mega-trends of the new millennium continues to steam roll across the planet, and will very soon achieve a historic milestone. Very soon my friends, for the first time in history, a majority of our fellow residents on God's green Earth will live above the global poverty line. More f! olks ABOV! E the poverty line than BELOW it. Hallelujah! Yet no parade. Why? Because the truth flies in the face of the negative narratives of the declinists and their lap dogs in the media. A monster mega-trend ignored by the media? Should that shock us? Only if you were shocked that there was gambling at Rick's in Casablanca. The information that most investors get is terrible. Akin to financial pornography. The latest drumbeat is Europe; avoid Europe at all costs. Here's a memo to all financial journalists: the year is 2012 and the zip code of the home office of the company is now officially irrelevant. As investors we should care only about where the company's customers and earnings are located. The greatest companies in the world know their competitors and are globally diversified. Which company is the bigger USA play? Coke with an Atlanta zip code and only 20% of sales in the USA, or Nestlé domiciled in Switzerland with more sales in the US than Coke? Journalists constantly ask who will be the Nike of China? Answer: Nike. Investors should not confuse companies with countries. What do companies make and where do they sell it? That is what is important. We are witnessing, in real time, a major increase in the buying power of the majority of the people on our planet. Mass affluence, Aging and New technologies (especially in data transmission and storage), all translate into monster opportunities for the greatest companies in the world. Emerging market customers want what we in the West have, and they want it right now! And the great companies of the world are busy providing it to them. Defeat the declinists… buy companies"In order to support my position as a realist, I thought it would be fun to show the three companies that John mentioned in his writings. Like John, I believe that these are all examples of "great companies of the world." However, the realist in me is concerned about valuation. When looked at through the lens of F.A.S.T. Graphs™ we see that Nestle (NSRGY) and Coca-Col! a (KO) ar! e both fully valued to slightly overvalued, and Nike (NKE) is significantly overvalued. Therefore, although I am optimistic about all three, I would wait for a better entry point before I invested in any of them.  [ Enlarge Image ]  [ Enlarge Image ]  [ Enlarge Image ]  [ Enlarge Image ]  [ Enlarge Image ]  [ Enlarge Image ] Summary In part one of this three-part series I have merely introduced the very beginnings of why investors should be realistically optimistic about the long-term future of our great country and its economy. On the other hand, this does not mean that I deny the possibility of temporary interruptions in our growth. On the contrary, one of the unfortunate attributes of the exponential growth of technology is the inevitable creative destruction that comes with it. In her book, "Technological Revolutions and Financial Capital: The Dynamics of Bubbles and Golden Ages," Carlotta Perez explains that before the great profits and benefits can occur from the deployment stage of technological advancements, we must first endure the process of creative destruction. During this phase, old business models must give way to the new and either adapt or die. This requires that people, corporations, and yes, even governments must unlearn the old paradigms before they can benefit from the new ones. My point is that it would be unrealistic to believe that we can expect economic gain without exp! ecting so! me pain. As any respectable bodybuilder would put it "no pain, no gain." On the other hand, much of the pain has already passed us. Furthermore, government interference has greatly contributed to delaying and prolonging the healing process that inevitably occurs with free markets. In my next installment I will introduce and elaborate on the information technology and telecommunications wave of prosperity that started in 1971 in the U.S. According to Trends Magazine, that has written extensively on this subject over the years, this is the fifth wave of five waves that began with the industrial revolution in 1771. Furthermore, Trends Magazine states that all economic revolutions go through three phases: " 1. Installation-when an initial boom expands, inevitably leading to a bursting bubble. 2. Transition- when disappointed investors revalue the assets of the bubble. 3. Deployment-when the dominant technology matures and becomes the foundation for everything else in the economy Trends then goes on to state: "Regardless of how long this third phase lasts, once deployment gets going, it has always ushered in a 'golden age' in which speculation and venture capital give way to an economy driven by real profits… we argue that we are now at, or very near, the end of the turning point and poised to enter the 'Golden age' of deployment for the silicone-based wave." I am confident that we are on the verge of one of the most exciting economic "golden ages" in our economy's grand history. In the next two installments I will cite specific industries and provide several sample companies that stand to greatly benefit from the advances in technology that have already laid the foundation for prosperity beyond what the world has ever witnessed before. This is no time to be pessimists about our future; there's too much opportunity and profit ahead. Industries Benefiting From The Great Inflection Point Ahead The July 2012 issue of Trends Magazine has an artic! le titled! Understanding the Great Inflection Point Ahead. The beginning of this article recaps several of their previous articles dealing with the potential benefits of the information technology and telecommunications age, which they refer to as the fifth revolution that started in 1971 in the U.S. The following excerpts highlight some important messages that this installment offers: "We are four decades into the fifth techno-economic revolution. More importantly, we are now struggling through the current revolutions tumultuous inflection point—a profound transition from the first, investment-intensive phase, in which all of those investments will begin to pay off in wondrous new ways of communicating, innovating, and living, creating a quantum leap in human quality of life." The next excerpt I would like to share looks back to their July 2011 issue where they revisit their article Reengineering the U.S. Economy: "The July 2011 issue, examined how the new technologies and business models of the fifth techno-economic revolution are likely to be applied to solve the debt crisis, redefine the social contract, and boost the economy by reinventing education, healthcare, and other industries." Conclusions Thus far, I've only scratched the surface of introducing what I believe are the many numerous opportunities and advancements that I believe will benefit our long-term economic health. Unfortunately, these stories go almost totally ignored by the mainstream media which instead revels in focusing on our problems. To be sure, we do have problems that need to be solved. But more importantly, the evidence validates my beliefs that we have the wherewithal and the capacity to get the job done. Therefore, I find it more realistic, and yes optimistic, to focus my attention on the solutions. In part two, I will review, but again only scratch the surface of, several opportunities and solutions that I believe suggests a new golden age for our economy. Along with this golden age will c! ome profi! table growth to those companies smart enough to recognize and embrace the technological revolution. But to be clear, I am not just referring to technology companies. Opportunities will abound for virtually every industry. From infrastructure build out, healthcare, education, consumer goods and services to you name it, the techno-economic revolution will help them all become more profitable and grow. And of course, our economy along with it. Disclosure: Long KO at the time of writing. Disclaimer: The opinions in this document are for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell the stocks mentioned or to solicit transactions or clients. Past performance of the companies discussed may not continue and the companies may not achieve the earnings growth as predicted. The information in this document is believed to be accurate, but under no circumstances should a person act upon the information contained within. We do not recommend that anyone act upon any investment information without first consulting an investment adviser as to the suitability of such investments for his specific situation.
U.K. stocks advanced for a second day, paring the benchmark FTSE 100 (UKX) Index's weekly decline, after a report showed China's industrial output rose more than estimated in July. Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS) led commodity producers higher amid signs of growing demand from the world's second-biggest economy. BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP) and Rio Tinto Group, the world's largest mining companies, rallied more than 3 percent. Standard Life Plc (SL/) declined 3.3 percent as analysts raised concern about the insurer's earnings. The FTSE 100 gained 53.71 points, or 0.8 percent, to 6,583.39 at the close in London, paring the retreat this week to 1 percent. The gauge has rallied 9.2 percent from a low on June 24 as the U.S. Federal Reserve said it remains flexible on the pace of bond buying and the European Central Bank and the Bank of England signaled interest rates will remain low for an extended period. The broader FTSE All-Share Index added 0.7 percent today, while Ireland's ISEQ Index (ISEQ) increased 0.9 percent. "If the recent Chinese data can be moved into their GDP, confidence can come back," Justin Harris, head of trading at Guardian Stockbrokers in London, said in a phone interview. "Mining stocks' performance has been very weak this year and we expect them to gather pace into September. We are buying any weakness we get." China's factory production increased 9.7 percent in July from a year earlier, the National Bureau of Statistics said today in Beijing. Retail sales advanced 13.2 percent while fixed-asset investment excluding rural households grew 20.1 percent in the first seven months of the year. Consumer prices rose 2.7 percent last month. 'Data Surprises' "It feels likes it has been a long time since markets have received a boost from Chinese data surprises," Jim Reid, a strategist at Deutsche Bank AG in London, wrote in a note. "The Chinese data flow has shown some tentative signs of stabilizing in the last month or so." China's exports and imports rebounded by more than estimated last month, the General Administration of Customs said yesterday. The Shanghai Composite Index (SHCOMP) dropped 13 percent in the first half of the year on concern the Asian economy was slowing faster than expected. China is the world's largest consumer of metals. The FTSE All-Share Mining Index rose 3 percent. Randgold, a producer of the metal in Africa, advanced 6.8 percent to 4,722 pence. Fresnillo Plc (FRES), which operates silver and gold mines in Mexico, rallied 8.2 percent to 1,035 pence. BHP Billiton climbed 3.4 percent to 1,963.5 pence and Rio Tinto surged 5 percent to 3,167.5 pence. The Standard & Poor's GSCI Index (SPGSCI) of raw materials rose 0.9 percent at 5:07 p.m. in London, after five sessions of losses. European Miners The Stoxx 600 Basic Resource Index, a gauge of mining shares in Europe, has fallen 15 percent this year, the worst performance among 19 industries in the Stoxx Europe 600 Index. Standard Life, Scotland's biggest insurer, dropped 3.3 percent to 365 pence. The shares fell 2.6 percent yesterday after the company reported first-half earnings. "We are encouraged by the fact that management is cutting costs, but we question whether the company can continue to do this faster than the gross revenue margin decline we expect due to increased transparency and competition in the industry," a team of analysts at Societe Generale SA wrote in a report today. The number of shares trading hands on FTSE 100-listed companies was in line with the average of the past 30 days, data compiled by Bloomberg show.
LONDON -- Stock index futures at 7 a.m. EDT indicate that the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI ) may open 0.36% higher this morning, while the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC ) may open up by 0.4%. Both indexes closed sharply lower yesterday after weaker-than-expected economic data dented investor sentiment and led to a big drop for the CNN Fear & Greed Index, which closed down 13 points at 58. This morning's trading is likely to be influenced by the Japanese central bank's surprise decision to accelerate its bond-buying program and double its monetary base in the next two years. The Bank of Japan said it would expand its balance sheet from $1.43 trillion to $2.86 trillion by March 2015 by doubling its asset purchases, the majority of which will be long-term government bonds. The bank is targeting inflation of 2% to kick-start growth after years of deflation. Top Growth Companies To Invest In 2014: Westell Technologies Inc.(WSTL) Westell Technologies, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the design, distribution, marketing, and servicing a range of broadband, digital transmission, remote monitoring, power distribution, and demarcation products used by telephone companies and other telecommunications service providers. It operates in three segments: Customer Networking Systems (CNS) equipment, Outside Plant Systems (OSP) equipment, and ConferencePlus services. The CNS equipment segment provides networking and high-speed transmissions products, such as modems, routers, versatile gateway devices, and wireless broadband home routers that allow service providers to deliver broadband services over existing copper, fiber, coax, or wireless infrastructures. The OSP segment offers next generation outdoor cabinets; enclosures; power distribution; fiber, Ethernet, and coax edge connectors; remote monitoring equipment; and DS1 and DS3 transmission plugs. This segment also markets and sells power distribu tion and remote monitoring solutions. The ConferencePlus services segment provides audio, Web, and video conferencing services to businesses and individuals. This segment sells its services directly to Fortune 1000 companies, and indirectly through its private reseller programs. The company offers its products through field sales organizations and selected distributors in the United States, as well as in Canada and Europe. Westell Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Aurora, Illinois. Top Growth Companies To Invest In 2014: Whitehaven Coal Ltd (WHITF) Whitehaven Coal Limited (Whitehaven) is engaged in the development and operation of coal mines in New South Wales. During the fiscal year ended 30 June 2012 (fiscal 2012), Whitehaven Coal Limited and its controlled entities continued development at the Narrabri underground mine. The Company operates in two segments: Open Cut Operations and Underground Operations. The Company�� Gunnedah operations include the Tarrawonga (70% owned by Whitehaven), Rocglen (100% owned by Whitehaven), and Sunnyside (100% owned by Whitehaven) open cut mines and the Gunnedah coal handling and preparation plant and train load out facility (CHPP��(100% owned by Whitehaven). The Werris Creek mine is 100% owned by Whitehaven. During fiscal 2012, the Company produced 4.28 million tons per annum of saleable coal. On May 1, 2012, the Company acquired Boardwalk Resources Limited. On May 2, 2012, the Company acquired Aston Resources Limited. On June 20, 2012, it acquired Coalworks Limited. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Jim Jubak]
OK, so First Quantum Minerals (FQVLF) is a bit of a gamble. But the company, even without Inmet Mining (IEMMF), is a major miner of copper, gold and nickel, and its shares are up 15.6% in the past 12 months as of Dec. 18. My last three stocks on this list, on the other hand, are hated. Which, of course, means that they've got tremendous upside if the market simply moves from "hated" to "despised." My first pick is Australian coal producer Whitehaven Coal (WHITF). The only thing more hated than a coal stock -- on falling coal prices and falling demand from everywhere, but especially China -- is an Australian coal stock, to which you can add rising production costs to the list of woes. Whitehaven Coal, which owns seven mines (and important railroad infrastructure) in New South Wales, freaked out the market in October, when it said that if coal prices stayed at current low levels, EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) would come in at just $50 millionAustralian (that's about $52.4 million in U.S. dollars) for 2013. That was a shock, since the analyst consensus for 2013 EBITDA was then at A$185 million. Since then, though, prices of Australian thermal coal have shown signs of climbing off the floor with reports of increased growth from China. Coal still sells for 27% less than it did a year ago, but the Nov. 30 price of $83.01 per metric ton is an improvement from $81.85 on Oct. 31. Whitehaven shares posted a 26.6% gain from a Nov. 16 low through Dec. 19, but they are still well below the highest price of the year.
Arrowhead Research Corporation, a clinical stage nanomedicine company, through its subsidiaries, develops therapeutic products at the interface of biology and nanoengineering to cure disease and improve human health. It focuses on the design and development of therapeutic agents for the treatment of cancer and obesity, as well as healing wounded or diseased tissue based on nucleic acid delivery, siRNA chemistry, and tissue targeting intellectual properties. The company?s lead products include CALAA-01, an oncology drug candidate based on the gene silencing RNA interference (RNAi) mechanism; and Adipotide, an anti-obesity peptide that targets and kills the blood vessels that feed white adipose tissue. It also plans to develop its internal preclinical and clinical pipeline, including RONDEL-enabled siRNA drug candidates, Dynamic Polyconjugate (DPC)-enabled drug candidate development, and the non-siRNA-based anti-obesity drug candidate, Adipotide. The company, formerly known as InterActive Group, Inc., was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Pasadena, California. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Roberto Pedone]
Arrowhead Research (ARWR) is a development stage nanotechnology holding company that forms, acquires, and operates subsidiaries commercializing innovative nanotechnologies. This is trading up 12.2% to $2.04 in recent trading. Today’s Range: $1.80-$2.08
52-Week Range: $1.65-$5.79
Volume: 141,000
Three-Month Average Volume: 121,952 Shares of ARWR are soaring higher after the company announced the pricing of a private offering with gross proceeds expected to be $36 million. The offering was priced at $1.83 per share. From a technical perspective, ARWR is soaring here back above some near-term overhead resistance at $1.95 and back above its 50-day moving average at $2.07 with above-average volume. At last check, ARWR has hit an intraday high of $2.09 and volume is just starting to surpass its three-month average action of 121,952 shares. Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ARWR as long as it’s trending above $1.95 and then once it sustains a move or close above its 50-day at $2.07 with volume that hits near or above 121,952 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then ARWR will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $2.25 to its 200-day at $2.41. Any high-volume move above $2.41 will then put $2.55 to $2.70 into range for shares of ARWR.
Ahead of Tim Cook's congressional testimony tomorrow about Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL ) tax policies, the company has released a 17-page statement (link opens PDF) outlining its tax policy. In the statement outlining the testimony it will give, the company points out that it employs tens of thousands of Americans, makes products that benefit tens of millions of Americans, and pays billions of dollars in corporate income and payroll taxes to the Treasury each year. The company also "welcomes an objective examination" of the U.S. corporate tax system, which Apple believes "has not kept pace with" the rapidly evolving technologies and the economy. Apple says it encourages a comprehensive tax reform to promote growth and allow American multinationals to remain competitive. Apple says it has helped create or support approximately 600,000 domestic jobs, of which 50,000 are Apple employees and 550,000 are indirectly related to other fields like manufacturing and logistics, among others. The company believes 290,000 jobs have been created from the "App Economy" from its App Store, and Apple has paid out a cumulative total of $9 billion to developers. Apple also notes that it may be the "largest corporate income tax payer" in the country, paying almost $6 billion in fiscal 2012. It estimates that this represents 2.5% of all corporate income tax collected by the Treasury last year. Apple expects this figure to rise to $7 billion in fiscal 2013. In Apple's view, a comprehensive reform would include a tax system that is revenue neutral, eliminates all corporate tax expenditures, lowers income tax rates, and implements a reasonable tax on foreign earnings that allows capital to move freely. Apple argues that the current tax system was created under an "industrial era" that undermines U.S. competitiveness in a "digital economy." Cook is to testify before the Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations in connection with its inquiry into the tax practices of multinational companies. link
Smart Technologies (Nasdaq: SMT ) is expected to report Q4 earnings on May 16. 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 Smart Technologies's revenues will wither -22.4% and EPS will remain in the red. The average estimate for revenue is $114.8 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.04. Revenue details
Last quarter, Smart Technologies reported revenue of $138.9 million. GAAP reported sales were 25% lower than the prior-year quarter's $185.2 million. Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates. EPS details
Last quarter, non-GAAP EPS came in at -$0.02. GAAP EPS were -$0.42 for Q3 compared to $0.09 per share for the prior-year quarter. Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates. Recent performance
For the preceding quarter, gross margin was 42.4%, 70 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -1.2%, 970 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -36.6%, much worse than the prior-year quarter. Looking ahead The full year's average estimate for revenue is $608.9 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.17. Investor sentiment
The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 59 members out of 68 rating the stock outperform, and nine members rating it underperform. Among 11 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 11 give Smart Technologies a green thumbs-up, and give it a red thumbs-down. Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Smart Technologies is outperform, with an average price target of $2.71. Is Smart Technologies the best tech stock for you? You may be missing something obvious. Check out the semiconductor company that Motley Fool analysts expect to lead "The Next Trillion-dollar Revolution." Click here for instant access to this free report. Add Smart Technologies to My Watchlist.
Google (NASDAQ: GOOG ) is generating too many negative reviews from the first wave of Google Glass adopters, and its best course of action may be to nix the search giant's first foray into wearable computing before it becomes a more expensive and embarrassing flop. It's not this weekend's Saturday Night Live parody. The comedy show also poked fun at Yum! Brands putting out Doritos-dusted tacos last year, and that single introduction was credited with dramatically boosting sales at Taco Bell. It's not that the initial wave of critics are questioning if we really need glasses with computing functionality. When Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL ) introduced the iPad three years ago, it was also originally panned by skeptics wondering if we really needed tablets. Wearable computing is the real deal. It's coming. However, the early successes have been the Pebble smart watch and Nike's (NYSE: NKE ) FuelBand fitness-tracking bracelet. These are devices that are conveniently worn around the wrist, and it's where wearable computing will win its first battle. In this video, longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz suggests that Google may be better off killing Google Glass before it attempts a retail rollout. It's more important than ever to understand each piece of Google's sprawling empire. In The Motley Fool's new premium research report on Google, we break down the risks and potential rewards for Google investors. Simply click here now to unlock your copy of this invaluable resource. #pitch{ display: none; } More Expert Advice from The Motley Fool The Motley Fool's chief investment officer has selected his No. 1 stock for the next year. Find out which stock in our brand-new free report: "The Motley Fool's Top Stock for 2013." I invite you to take a copy, free for a limited time. Just click here to access the report and find out the name of this under-the-radar company.
Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL ) reported its latest quarterly earnings, and the market was ambivalent. In this video, Andrew Tonner makes the case for owning Apple now that its earnings report is in. First, Apple moved to return capital to shareholders. This came in the form of increasing its dividend and initiating a stock buyback. Even better, Apple used low-cost debt to help fund all this, thus avoiding U.S. taxes. Second, Apple does have a product pipeline, and we can anticipate product launches in the summer and fall of this year. A low cost iPhone could be one of the biggest revenue movers released by the company this year. A new variation of the iPad could be launched as well. Lastly, in the next 12-18 months, Apple will be rolling out other products, possibly the iTV, or iWatch, or both. If these are the disruptive technologies they are rumored to be, they will drive Apple revenues for months. The market does not seem to see it that way, but Andrew thinks the market has it wrong and recommends adding Apple to your portfolio. There's no doubt that Apple is at the center of technology's largest revolution ever, and that longtime shareholders have been handsomely rewarded with over 1,000% gains. However, there is a debate raging as to whether Apple remains a buy. The Motley Fool's senior technology analyst and managing bureau chief, Eric Bleeker, is prepared to fill you in on both reasons to buy and reasons to sell Apple, and what opportunities are left for the company (and your portfolio) going forward. To get instant access to his latest thinking on Apple, simply click here now.
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Lincoln Trust on Tuesday launched a free plan comparison tool that allows financial advisors to compare various cost components between different 401(k) plans. Users input data from the plan providers and the tool generates a side-by-side comparison, with a benchmark of other comparable plans.
