Friday, September 5, 2014

Best Defensive Stocks To Watch Right Now

I have added some defensive ETFs to my model value portfolio; my objective is to increase the defensive holdings when the stock market rises. believe this strategy will reduce your risk and increase your profits.

Here's a look at the iShares MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Index ETF (USMV) and the SPDR S&P Dividend ETF (SDY).

USA Minimum Volatility Index ETF seeks investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance of the MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Index.

USMVis currently selling at a very small 0.09% premium to its net asset value. The price to earnings ratio (P/E) of the stocks contained in the ETF is 24.9, and the price-to-book-value ratio (P/BV) is 5.49. Both ratios are a little high, but the beta, which measure volatility, is a low 0.69. Management fees total 0.15%.


USMV is very well diversified with risk spread out over 132 holdings. The largest position consumes only 1.65% of the total portfolio. The 10 largest holdings in order of size are Bristol-Myers, PepsiCo, Wal-Mart, TJX, Abbott, Chubb, ADP, Paychex, General Mills and AT&T.

Best European Companies To Own In Right Now: iShares MSCI Russia Capped ETF (ERUS)

iShares MSCI Russia Capped ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI Russia Capped Index Fund,, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the MSCI Russia 25/50 Index (the Underlying Index). The Underlying Index is a free-float adjusted market capitalization weighted index designed to measure the performance of equity securities in the top 85% by market capitalization of equity securities listed on stock exchanges in Russia. The Underlying Index is a customized variation of the MSCI Russia Index, designed to cap certain weightings to take into account the investment diversification requirement applicable to regulated investment companies. The Fund�� investment advisor is BlackRock Fund Advisor. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Charles Sizemore]

    But what exactly are you buying when you buy Russian stocks? Let�� take a look under the hood at the ETFs that track the Russian market: the Market Vectors Russia ETF (RSX), the iShares MSCI Russia Capped Index (ERUS) and the SPDR S&P Russia (RBL).

  • [By Barbara Kollmeyer]

    As for U.S. investor exposure, the pain was there for all to see as the week wound down. Among exchange-traded funds, the iShares MSCI Russia ETF (ERUS) �and the SPDR S&P Russia ETF (RBL) �each fell more than 6% for the week, contrasting with a 0.1% gain for the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM) .

Best Defensive Stocks To Watch Right Now: Document Security Systems Inc (DSS)

Document Security Systems, Inc. (DSS), incorporated on May 30, 1984, develops, markets, secure technologies. The Company specializes in fraud and counterfeit protection for all forms of printed documents and digital information. The Company holds numerous patents for optical deterrent technologies that provide protection of printed information from unauthorized scanning and copying. The Company operates three production facilities, a security and commercial printing facility, a packaging facility and a plastic cards facility, where the Company produces secure and non-secure documents for its customers. The Company licenses its anti-counterfeiting technologies to printers and brand-owners. In addition, the Company has a digital division which provides cloud computing services for its customers, including disaster recovery, back-up and data security services. The Company operates in four segments: DSS Printing Group, DSS Plastics Group, DSS Packaging Group and DSS Digital Group. In June 2013, Document Security Systems Inc announced the closing of its previously announced merger with Lexington Technology Group, Inc. In October 2013, the Company announced that it has acquired two portfolios that will enable DSS to develop protected hardware and peripherals that incorporate core DSS security technologies.

The Company provides document security technology to security printers, corporations, consumer product companies and governments worldwide and for currency, identifications, certifications, travel documents, prescription and medical forms, consumer product and pharmaceutical packaging, and school transcripts. Its products are delivered on paper, plastic, or digitally via its AuthentiGuard DX product suite.

DSS Printing Group

The DSS Printing Group provides secure and commercial printing services for end-user customers along with technical support for the Company�� technology licensees. The division produces a wide array of printed materials such as security paper,! vital records, prescription paper, birth certificates, receipts, manuals, identification materials, entertainment tickets, secure coupons, parts tracking forms, brochures, direct mailing pieces, catalogs, business cards, etc. The division also provides the basis of research and development for its security printing technologies.

DSS Plastics Group

The DSS Plastics Group manufactures laminated and surface printed cards which can include magnetic stripes, bar codes, holograms, signature panels, invisible ink, micro fine printing, guilloche patterns, biometric, radio frequency identification (RFID) and watermarks for printed plastic documents such as identity cards, event badges, and driver�� licenses.

DSS Packaging Group

The DSS Packaging Group produces custom paperboard packaging serving clients in the pharmaceutical, beverage, photo packaging, toy, specialty foods and direct marketing industries, among others. The division incorporates the Company's security technologies into printed packaging to help companies prevent or deter brand and product counterfeiting.

DSS Digital Group

The DSS Digital Group provides data center centric solutions to businesses and governments delivered via the cloud. This division is also develops digital data security technologies based on the Company�� optical deterrent technologies.

The Company competes with Standard Register Company, De La Rue Plc, Sharp, Xerox Canon, Ricoh, Hewlett Packard, Eastman Kodak, NoCopi Technologies, Graphic Security Systems Corporation, RR Donnelley, Canadian printer Quebecor World, Bristol ID, AbNote, LaserCard Corporation and L-1 Identity Solutions, Rock-Tenn Company, Caraustar Industries, Inc., Graphic Packaging Holding Company and Mead Westvaco.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By James E. Brumley]

    In a perfect world stocks would move in predictable, manageable ways. We don't live - nor do we trade in - a perfect world. In the real world we have to adapt to and deal with the curve balls the market throws us, and there are no two stocks that illustrate that point better than Document Security Systems, Inc. (NYSEMKT:DSS) and Nortech Systems Incorporated (NASDAQ:NSYS) to today. While both NSYS and DSS are up today, one's overbought and ripe for a pullback, while the other is likely at the beginning of a trade-worthy rally.

Best Defensive Stocks To Watch Right Now: iShares MSCI Mexico Investable Market Index Fund (EWW)

iShares MSCI Mexico Index Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of publicly traded securities in the aggregate in the Mexican market, as measured by the MSCI Mexico Index (the Index). The Index seeks to measure the performance of the Mexican equity market. The Index is a capitalization-weighted index that aims to capture 85% of the (publicly available) total market capitalization. Component companies are adjusted for available float and must meet objective criteria for inclusion in the Index. The Index is reviewed quarterly.

The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index. The Fund�� investment advisor is Barclays Global Fund Advisors.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Jim Powell]

    Jim Powell: I like the exchange-traded funds. I really think the iShares Mexico Fund (EWW)—EWW is a way for most Americans to go. If you have specialized knowledge of Mexico, and you know companies that you wish to invest in, you certainly can. There are plenty of them, but I recommend a fund.

  • [By Jim Powell]

    Some developing countries are poor bets right now, but others are very attractive. Shorter-term, The Mexico Fund (EWW) is my number one choice as the most promising country ETF for this year.

Best Defensive Stocks To Watch Right Now: Mindspeed Technologies Inc.(MSPD)

Mindspeed Technologies, Inc. designs, develops, and sells semiconductor networking solutions for communications applications in enterprise, fixed and mobile broadband access, metropolitan, and wide-area networks (WAN). The company offers communications convergence processing products that serve as bridges for transporting video, voice, fax, and modem transmissions between circuit-switched and packet-based fixed and mobile networks, and across network boundaries; and offer video and voice over Internet protocol, voice-over-asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), and voice-over-digital subscriber line services, as well as wireline-to-wireless connectivity. These products include the eighth-generation Comcerto family for fiber-access service delivery; and Transcede family of 3G/4G base station baseband processors. It also provides analog transmission devices and switching products, which comprise laser drivers, transimpedance amplifiers, post amplifiers, clock and data recovery cir cuits, signal conditioners, serializers/deserializers, video reclockers, cable drivers, and line equalizers that support storage area network, fiber-to-the-premise, optical transport networks, and broadcast video. In addition, the company offers WAN communications products comprising transmission solutions and ATM/multi-protocol label switching network processors that facilitate the aggregation, processing, and transport of voice and data traffic over copper wire or fiber optic cable to access metropolitan and long-haul networks. It sells its products directly to network infrastructure original equipment manufacturers; and indirectly through electronic component distributors and third-party electronic manufacturing service providers in the Americas, the Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The company was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Newport Beach, California.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Monica Gerson]

    Mindspeed Technologies (NASDAQ: MSPD) surged 69.02% to $5.02 in the pre-market session after M/A-Com Technology Solutions Holdings (NASDAQ: MTSI) announced its plans to acquire Mindspeed Technologies.

Best Defensive Stocks To Watch Right Now: Snap-On Incorporated(SNA)

Snap-on Incorporated provides tools, equipment, diagnostics, repair information, and systems solutions for professional users. Its products include hand tools, such as wrenches, screwdrivers, sockets, pliers, ratchets, saws and cutting tools, pruning tools, and torque measuring instruments; power tools, including pneumatic, hydraulic, cordless, and corded tools; and tool storage products comprising tool chests, roll cabinets, and tool control systems. The company?s diagnostics and repair information products include handheld and PC-based diagnostics products, service and repair information products, diagnostic software solutions, electronic parts catalogs, business management systems, business services, point-of-sale systems, integrated systems for vehicle service shops, original equipment manufacturer purchasing facilitation services, and warranty management systems and analytics to manage and track performance. Snap-on Incorporated?s equipment products comprise solutions for the diagnosis and service of automotive and industrial equipment, such as wheel alignment, collision repair, air conditioning service, brake service, fluid exchange, transmission troubleshooting, and safety testing equipment, as well as wheel balancers, tire changers, vehicle lifts, test lane systems, battery chargers, and hoists. The company also provides financial services, including business loans and vehicle leases to franchisees; loans to the franchisees? customers; and loans to its industrial and other customers for the purchase of tools, equipment, and diagnostics products. Snap-on Incorporated sells its products and services through mobile vans, franchisees, company-direct sales, distributors, and the Internet in approximately 130 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Australia, France, Japan, Spain, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, Argentina, China, and Brazil. Snap-on Incorporated was founded in 1920 and is based in Kenosh a, Wisconsin.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Shauna O'Brien]

    Snap-on Incorporated (SNA) announced on Friday that it has agreed to acquire all of the assets of Pro-Cut International for $45 million.

    Snap-on will acquire Pro-Cut for $45 million in cash. Pro-Cut is a manufacturer and designed of on-car brake equipment. The company’s sales were approximately $25 million in 2013.

    Snap-On’s CEO and Chairman Nick Pinchuk commented: “Pro-Cut’s advanced brake servicing product line enhances and increases Snap-on’s offering of productivity solutions for vehicle repair facilities, including independent shops, national service chains and OEM dealerships.”

    “We believe Pro-Cut will be an important addition to our Repair Systems & Information Group and will help us move further along our coherent growth runway of expanding with repair shop owners and managers. We look forward to welcoming Pro-Cut associates to the Snap-on family,” Pinchuk added.

    SNA Dividend Snapshot

    As of Market Close on May 29, 2014

    Click here to see the complete history of SNA dividends.

    Snap-on shares were mostly flat during pre-market trading Friday. The stock is up 6.83% YTD.

  • [By Matt Thalman]

    Another player that operates heavily within this industry, but in a slightly different fashion, announced earnings today. Shares of tool company�Snap-On (NYSE: SNA  ) �rose 7.76% today after beating estimates on both the top and bottom lines. Revenue came in at $797.5 million for the quarter, a 5.9% increase from last year and higher than the $779.5 million analysts were looking for. Earnings per share hit $1.60, again higher than the $1.56 that was expected. One of the areas that management would like to focus on moving forward is expanding its vehicle repair garage, which again would make sense given the average age of vehicles on the road today.�

  • [By Lisa Levin]

    Snap-on (NYSE: SNA) shares gained 0.60% to create a new 52-week high of $106.62. Snap-on's PEG ratio is 1.78.

    Posted-In: 52-Week HighsNews Intraday Update Markets Movers

Best Defensive Stocks To Watch Right Now: Nestle SA (NSRGY)

Nestle SA is a company engaged in the nutrition, health and wellness sectors. It is the holding company of the Nestle Group, which comprises subsidiaries, associated companies and joint ventures throughout the world. The Company has such business units as Food and Beverage, Nestle Waters and Nestle Nutrition. Nestle is also active in the pharmaceutical sector. It divides its products into nine categories: Prepared dishes and cooking aids, Beverages, Confectionery, Ice cream, Water, PetCare, Milk products, Nutrition and Pharma. It has numerous subsidiaries engaged in various areas of activity, including Alcon Ophthalmika GmbH (Austria), Alcon Bulgaria EOOD (Bulgaria) and Galderma Laboratorium GmbH (Germany) for pharmaceuticals; Novartis Nutrition GmbH (Austria) and Hjem-IS A/S (Denmark) for food and beverages, and Galderma International SAS (France) and Galderma Laboratorium GmbH (Germany) for health and beauty activities. The Company is headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland. In July 2008, Novartis AG acquired a 25% stake in Alcon, Inc. from Nestle SA. In March 2010, the Company acquired Kraft Foods Inc' frozen pizza business.

In April 2008, L'Oreal and Nestle SA's joint venture, Galderma Pharma S.A., announced that its United States holding company, Galderma Laboratories, Inc., had acquired approximately 97% interest in CollaGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. During the year ended December 31, 2004, Nestle had 500 factories in 83 countries around the world. In 2004, 15 factories were acquired or opened and 29 closed or divested.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Jeff Reeves]

    The largest dedicated Europe ETF by assets is the Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (VGK), with about $13 billion under management. Top holdings include U.K.-based Royal Dutch Shell (RDSA), Swiss consumer products maker Nestle (NSRGY) and HSBC.

  • [By Jim Jubak]

    We're talking about big dollars. Fonterra, for example, collects 89% of all milk produced in New Zealand and dairy sales account for 25% of all of New Zealand's exports. And China is a huge and fast-growing market for baby formula for companies that include Abbott and Danone, Nestle (NSRGY), and Mead Johnson.

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