Best Cheap Stocks For 2020: February 2015

Saturday, February 28, 2015

Top Gas Utility Companies For 2014

Joe Kearney retired from the Army in May after 23 years and has two words of advice for fellow veterans who will be looking for a job in the private sector: "Start early."

Kearney, who now works as a project manager for Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson in Plano, Texas, says jobs are out there for veterans, but finding them takes a lot of planning and hard work.

STORY: Companies want vets for management jobs
STORY: Program puts vets in manufacturing jobs

Sitting by a scenic lake near his Ericsson office, Kearney recalls a brief stint as a government contractor after leaving the military and uses the lake as an analogy for his job-hunting strategy.

"Instead of wading in the shallow end and continuing to work as a contractor, I decided I wanted to jump in the deep end and do a cannonball into the corporate world," he says.

Top Heal Care Stocks For 2015: FedEx Corporation(FDX)

FedEx Corporation provides transportation, e-commerce, and business services in the United States and internationally. It operates in four segments: FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Freight, and FedEx Services. The FedEx Express segment offers various shipping services for the delivery of packages and freight. This segment also provides international trade services specializing in customs brokerage, and ocean and air freight forwarding services; customs clearance services, as well as global trade data, an information tool that allows customers to track and manage imports; and international trade advisory services, including assistance with the customs-trade partnership against terrorism program, as well as publishes customs duty and tax information in various customs areas. In addition, it offers supply chain solutions, including critical inventory logistics, transportation management, fulfillment, and fleet services. The FedEx Ground segment provides business and reside ntial ground package delivery services. It primarily serves customers in the small-package market in North America. The FedEx Freight segment offers less-than-truckload freight services, as well as freight-shipping services. As of May 31, 2010, this segment operated approximately 60,000 vehicles and trailers from a network of 492 service centers. The FedEx Services segment provides sales, marketing, information technology support, and customer service support services; and access to copying and digital printing through retail and Web-based platforms, signs and graphics, professional finishing, computer rentals, and a range of ground shipping and time-definite express shipping services. The company was founded in 1971 and is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Louis Navellier]
Epsilon’s expertise is in direct marketing and advertising solutions, specializing in brand building, customer intelligence and predictive modeling. Finally, the company’s Private Label Services and Credit division offers credit card processing, billing and payment processing as well as collection services for private label retailers. Through these three units, the company serves clients in financial services, specialty retail, petroleum retail, automotive, hospitality, pharmaceuticals and a wide range of other markets. Its top clients include Merck (MRK), Ford (F), L Brands (LTD), FedEx (FDX) and Shell Oil (RDS.A, RDS.B).
[By WALLSTCHEATSHEET]
FedEx provides valuable and efficient transportation services to growing industries around the world. The stock recently broke above a value range and surged higher but is now trading near break-out levels. Over the last four quarters, investors in the company have had mixed feelings as earnings have decreased while revenue have increased. Relative to its peers and sector, FedEx has been a poor year-to-date performer. WAIT AND SEE what FedEx does in coming quarters.
[By Demitrios Kalogeropoulos]
Very patient shippers
UPS is dealing with a major shift in demand for overseas shipping. Customers are fleeing from super-quick international delivery services, making that business a much less-profitable one. FedEx (NYSE: FDX ) , for example, has seen shippers increasingly choose its "economy" international service, which arrives in two to five days, over its "priority" option that's delivered in one to three days. That shift has taken a whack at earnings. FedEx's express segment profits were down 66% last quarter, dragging operating income lower by 28% companywide.

Top Gas Utility Companies For 2014: Aussie/New Zealand (AR)

Antero Resources Corporation operates as an oil and natural gas exploration and production company. The company focuses on the acquisition, development, and production of unconventional oil and liquids-rich natural gas properties primarily in West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. It was formerly known as Antero Resources Appalachian Corporation and changed its name to Antero Resources Corporation in June 2013. The company was founded in 2002 and is based in Denver, Colorado with district offices in Mount Clare, West Virginia; and Marietta, Ohio.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Robert Rapier]
Supply, meanwhile, is constrained by the fact that, even at the current elevated price, few gas projects outside of the bountiful Marcellus shale can compete with the returns available in crude oil. Our favorite Marcellus drillers are Cabot Oil & Gas (COG) and Antero Resources (AR).
[By Robert Rapier]
In February,�Antero Resources�(NYSE: AR) filed an S-1 with the SEC for the initial public offering of an MLP comprised of its midstream assets.�The filing�indicated that Antero Resources Midstream LLC would be converted into a limited partnership named Antero Midstream Partners LP with a valuation of up to $500 million. Assets include a network of natural gas gathering pipelines and compressor stations that collects raw natural gas from Antero’s operations in the Marcellus and Utica shales. Also included: two independent water distribution systems used for well completions in the Marcellus and Utica shales.

Top Gas Utility Companies For 2014: Eagle Materials Inc (EXP)

Eagle Materials Inc., incorporated on January 27, 1994, manufactures and distributes gypsum wallboard and also manufactures and sells cement. Gypsum wallboard is distributed throughout the United States with particular emphasis in the geographic markets nearest to its production facilities. The Company sells cement in six regional markets, including northern Nevada and California, the greater Chicago area, the Rocky Mountain region, the Central Plains region and Texas. Its gypsum wallboard business is supported by its recycled paperboard business, while its cement business is supported by its concrete and aggregates business. The Company operates in Cement and Concrete and Aggregates, and Gypsum Wallboard and Recycled Paperboard segments. As of March 31, 2013, the Company operated six cement plants (one of which belongs to its joint venture company), five gypsum wallboard plants, one recycled paperboard plant, seventeen concrete batching plants and four aggregates facilities. The Company�� products are used in the construction and renovation of houses, roads, bridges, commercial and industrial buildings and other, newer generation structures like wind farms.

Cement, Concrete and Aggregates Operations

The Company�� cement production facilities are located in or near Buda, Texas; LaSalle, Illinois; Laramie, Wyoming; Sugar Creek, Missouri; Tulsa, Oklahoma and Fernley, Nevada. The Company�� cement subsidiaries are wholly-owned except the Buda, Texas plant, which is owned by Texas Lehigh Cement Company LP, a limited partnership joint venture owned 50% by the Company and 50% by Lehigh Cement Company LLC, a subsidiary of Heidelberg Cement AG. Its LaSalle, Illinois plant operates under the name of Illinois Cement Company; the Laramie, Wyoming plant operates under the name of Mountain Cement Company; the Fernley, Nevada plant operates under the name of Nevada Cement Company and its Sugar Creek, Missouri and Tulsa, Oklahoma plants operate under the name Central Plains Cement Com! pany. The Company produces and distributes ready-mix concrete from Company-owned sites north of Sacramento, California; Austin, Texas and the greater Kansas City area. The Company�� activities in its frac sand business are in the Utica, Illinois area and in south Texas. The Company sells aggregates to building contractors and other customers engaged in a variety of construction activities.

Gypsum Wallboard and Recycled Paperboard Operations

The Company owns five gypsum wallboard manufacturing facilities. As of March 31, 2013, the Company�� gypsum wallboard production totaled 1,950 million square feet. Total gypsum wallboard sales were 1,909 million square feet during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013 (fiscal 2013). The Company also manufactures alternative products, including containerboard grades (such as linerboard and medium) and lightweight packaging grades (such as bag liner). In addition, recycled industrial paperboard grades (tube/core stock and protective angle board stock) are produced to maximize manufacturing efficiencies. The Company�� manufactured recycled paperboard products are sold to gypsum wallboard manufacturers and other industrial users.

The Company competes with USG Corporation, National Gypsum Company and Koch Industries.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Top decliners in the sector included Newmont Mining (NYSE: NEM), off 6.3 percent, and Eagle Materials (NYSE: EXP), down 4.3 percent.

Top Headline
Forest Laboratories (NYSE: FRX) announced its plans to buy Furiex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: FURX) for up to $1.46 billion. Forest will pay around $95 per share, or around $1.1 billion in cash. Forest Labs will also pay up to $30 per share, or around $360 million in a contingent value right. The deal is projected to close in the second or third quarter of 2014.
[By Dan Caplinger]
Tomorrow, Eagle Materials (NYSE: EXP ) will release its latest quarterly results. The key to making smart investment decisions on stocks reporting earnings is to anticipate how they'll do before they announce results, leaving you fully prepared to respond quickly to whatever inevitable surprises arise. That way, you'll be less likely to make an uninformed knee-jerk reaction to news that turns out to be exactly the wrong move.

Top Gas Utility Companies For 2014: KongZhong Corp (HOA)

KongZhong Corporation, incorporated on May 6, 2002, is a provider of digital entertainment services for consumers in the People�� Republic of China. The Company operates in three main business units: Wireless Value-Added Services (WVAS), mobile games and Internet games. In addition to developing and operating its self-developed Internet games, such as Loong, Demon Code and Kung Fu Hero, it is an operator of the World of Tanks game for the People�� Republic of China Internet games market. In addition, it is also the licensee in the People�� Republic of China for the Guild Wars 2 game developed by ArenaNet, Offensive Combat game developed by U4iA Games and Hawken game developed by Meteor Entertainment.

The Company conducts substantially all of its business in the People�� Republic of China through its wholly owned subsidiaries KongZhong Beijing, KongZhong China and Simlife Beijing. It operates WVAS, mobile games and Internet games through Beijing AirInbox, Beijing WINT, Beijing Chengxitong, BJXR, Mailifang, Xinreli and Dacheng, all of which are based in the People�� Republic of China.

Wireless Value-Added Services (WVAS) Business

The Company provides interactive entertainment, media and other interactive services to mobile phone users in China through various second generation (2G) standard, technology platforms, including short message services (SMS), Interactive Voice Response services (IVR) and color ring back tone (CRBT), and through various second and a half generation standard (2.5G), technology and operating platforms, including wireless application protocol (WAP) and multimedia messaging services (MMS), which offer graphics, richer content and more interactivity than 2G wireless services. Its WVAS are tailored to the technical or other requirements of its telecommunications operator partners, through whom it deliver most of its WVAS, and to various billing systems for WVAS. Its WVAS are also delivered and marketed through various media partners, i! ncluding handset manufacturers, television stations, radio stations, print media and Internet sites. Its WVAS revenues accounted for 41.7% of its total revenues during the year ended December 31, 2012.

The Company offers a variety of WVAS, such as mobile games, pictures, karaoke, electronic books, mobile phone personalization features, entertainment news, chat and message boards. It provides its services mainly pursuant to its cooperation arrangements with the telecommunications operators and their provincial subsidiaries, the terms of which are generally for one year or less.

Mobile Games Business

The Company is a developer and publisher of mobile games for mobile phone users in the People�� Republic of China (PRC). The mobile games it develops include action, role-playing and leisure games. During 2012, it acquired Noumena, a developer of cross-platform smartphone mobile game engines.

Internet Games Business

The Company develops Internet games internally based mainly on its technologies, which include its game engine (Dazzler three dimension (3D)), game development platforms and online game billing system, all developed by its internal team. In particular, its Dazzler 3D game engine enables the Company to create 3D graphics and visual effects, and provides the technical foundation for creating features in its games. Its game development platforms give the Company the capacity to develop Internet games within approximately six to 24 months and to update Its Internet games frequently in response to players��preferences.

The Company uses an item-based revenue model for its games, whether internally developed or licensed, under which players can play its games on the Internet free of charge, but have to pay for purchases of in-game virtual items, such as in-game currencies, performance-enhancing clothing, weapons, accessories and pets. It distributes its electronic prepaid game cards and game points, which can be used to pur! chase in-! game virtual items, to players through multiple payment channels.

The Company competes with Sina Corporation, Sohu.com Inc., TOM Online Inc., Phoenix New Media Limited, Wireless Arts, Perfect World Co. Ltd, Shanda Interactive Entertainment Limited, Netease.com, Inc., Changyou.com Limited, Giant Interactive Group Inc. and Tencent Holdings Limited.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Konrad Kuhn]
The company also has a minority interest in the privately-held Hooters of America (HOA), the operator and franchisor of over 430 Hooters restaurants; HOTR's CEO Mike Pruitt is a member of the HOA Board of Directors.

Top Gas Utility Companies For 2014: Adecoagro S.A. (AGRO)

Adecoagro S.A., an agricultural company, engages in the agricultural, manufacturing, and land transformation activities in South America. It operates through Crops; Rice; Dairy; Coffee; Cattle; Sugar, Ethanol, and Energy; and Land Transformation segments. The company engages in planting, harvesting, and selling grains, oilseeds, wheat, corn, soybeans, cotton, and sunflowers; and providing grain warehousing/conditioning, and handling and drying services to third parties. It is also involved in planting, harvesting, processing, and marketing rice; producing and selling raw milk; cultivating coffee beans and marketing the company�s and third party�s coffee production. In addition, the company engages in the lease of cattle grazing land to a meat processor; cultivation and processing of sugar and ethanol, as well as cogeneration of electricity from sugarcane bagasse; and identification, acquisition, and disposition of farmlands. As of December 31, 2012, it owned a total of 2 83,942 hectares that consisted of 22 farms in Argentina, 15 farms in Brazil, and 1 farm in Uruguay; and had a cogeneration capacity of 148 MW. The company was founded in 2002 and is based in Luxembourg.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By MONEYMORNING.COM]
And with very quick gains of 9% in BRF SA (NYSE ADR: BRFS), 5.2% in South American agricultural play Adecoagro SA (NYSE: AGRO) and 1.6% in high-tech agribusiness player Neogen Corp. (Nasdaq: NEOG), we're doing well with our plays on (pockets of) accelerating U.S. inflation.
[By GuruFocus]
George Soros (Trades, Portfolio) just reported his first quarter portfolio. He buys Citrix Systems Inc, Baker Hughes Inc, Comcast Corp, Spansion Inc, etc during the 3-months ended 03/31/2014, according to the most recent filings of his investment company, Soros Fund Management LLC. As of 03/31/2014, Soros Fund Management LLC owns 305 stocks with a total value of $10.1 billion. These are the details of the buys and sells.New Purchases: BHI, CODE, CTRP, CLI, AVB, COMM, CNQ, AGO, AUY, ATML, ASH, BXMT, CSTM, AEM, CMA, ARE, CHKP, AUQ, BEAV, CX, ADSK, AALCP, BLK, AIG, BIIB, ADEP, AMRI, ARWR, ATHX, BALT, BCRX, BEAT, CFX, CLFD, CUR, CODE,Added Positions: CTXS, CMCSA, CNP, ALTR, BRCD, CBS, CRM, CHTR, CCJ, CIEN, BIDU, ALLE, ABT, CDNS, ACT,Reduced Positions: AAPL, CCI, AMT, ABBV, AAL, BITA, AL, ANGI, ARIA, CBST, BA, BIRT, EXAR,Sold Out: C, BAC, CRI, AMZN, AGN, CF, BRCM, COTY, BMY, AMCX, CAR, A, ADBE, AFL,For the details of George Soros (Trades, Portfolio)'s stock buys and sells, go to http://www.gurufocus.com/StockBuy.php?GuruName=George+SorosThis is the sector weightings of his portfolio:Technology18.9%Energy14%Healthcare8.3%Consumer Defensive8.2%Communication Services8.1%Consumer Cyclical5.4%Industrials5.1%Basic Materials4.9%Financial Services2.5%Real Estate1.9%Utilities0.5%These are the top 5 holdings of George Soros (Trades, Portfolio)1. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (TEVA) - 10,310,041 shares, 5.4% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 10.67%2. Herbalife Ltd (HLF) - 4,901,337 shares, 2.8% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 52.9%3. EQT Corp (EQT) - 2,573,814 shares, 2.5% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 3.27%4. Adecoagro SA (AGRO) - 25,915,076 shares, 2.1% of the total portfolio.5. Halliburton Co (HAL) - 3,596,353 shares, 2.1% of the total portfolio. Shares reduced by 20.73%New Purchase: Baker Hughes Inc (BHI)George Soros (Trades, Portfolio) initiated holdings in Baker Hughes Inc. His purchase prices were between $51.82 and $65.27, with an estimated

Top Gas Utility Companies For 2014: iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF (IHI)

iShares Dow Jones U.S. Medical Devices Index Fund (the Fund) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Dow Jones U.S. Select Medical Equipment Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of the medical equipment sector of the United States equity market. The Index includes medical equipment companies, such as manufacturers and distributors of medical devices, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners, prosthetics, pacemakers, x-ray machines and other non-disposable medical devices.

The Fund will concentrate its investments in a particular industry or group of industries to approximately the same extent as the Index is so concentrated. Since all of the securities included in the Index are issued by companies in the medical equipment sector, the Fund will be concentrated in the medical equipment industry. The Fund�� investment advisor is Barclays Global Fund Advisors.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By John Udovich]
Overlooked mid cap medical�technology and systems�stock CareFusion Corporation (NYSE: CFN) could offer nice growth in the healthcare space, meaning its worth taking a closer look at the stock along with the performance of potential benchmarks like the iShares Dow Jones US Medical Device ETF (NYSEARCA: IHI) and SPDR S&P Health Care Equipment ETF (NYSEARCA: XHE). I should mention that we have recently added CareFusion Corporation to our SmallCap Network Elite Opportunity (SCN EO) portfolio because the�stock continues to be in a long-term thrusting patter and we believe its also�undervalued based on current valuation.

Top Gas Utility Companies For 2014: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (EW)

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation provides products and technologies to treat structural heart disease and critically ill patients worldwide. The company offers surgical heart valve therapy products, such as tissue heart valves and repair products, which are used to replace or repair a patient�s diseased or defective heart valve; and produces pericardial and porcine valves. Its surgical heart valve therapy products include Carpentier-Edwards PERIMOUNT pericardial valve that comprise PERIMOUNT Magna Ease valves for aortic and mitral replacement; ThruPort systems that enable minimal incision valve surgery; and protection cannulae used during cardiac surgery in venous drainage, aortic perfusion, venting, and cardioplegia delivery. The company also provides transcatheter heart valves portfolio that includes technologies designed to treat heart valve disease using catheter-based approaches, as well as critical care products, such as hemodynamic monitoring systems to measure a p atient�s heart function in surgical and intensive care settings; Swan-Ganz line of pulmonary artery catheters and PreSep continuous venous oximetry catheters for measuring central venous oxygen saturation; VolumeView sensor-catheters; FloTrac continuous cardiac output monitoring system, a minimally invasive cardiac monitoring technology for goal-directed fluid optimization; and EV1000 clinical monitoring platform, which displays a patient's physiologic status. Its critical care products also include disposable pressure monitoring devices and closed blood sampling systems to help protect both patients and clinicians from the risk of infection; and products used to treat endolumenal occlusive disease, including balloon-tipped, catheter-based embolectomy products, surgical clips, and clamps. The company distributes its products through direct sales force and independent distributors. Edwards Lifesciences Corporation was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Irvine, Californi a.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Sue Chang and Ben Eisen]
Edwards Lifesciences Corp. (EW) �declined 5.7%. Medtronic Inc. (MDT) , which recently lost a court fight with Edwards Lifesciences over a patent for a heart valve, said it plans to appeal the jury verdict which awarded Edwards $392.5 million for patent infringement.

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Top 5 Net Payout Yield Companies To Invest In Right Now

Blue-chip stocks are surging today on the heels of a report about the domestic construction industry. With roughly an hour left in the trading session, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI ) is up by 119 points, or 0.77%.

The Commerce Department released data (link opens PDF) this morning showing that construction spending increased by 0.5% last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $874.9 billion. While this soundly outperformed the same statistic for April, when construction spending improved by only 0.1%, as my colleague Justin Loiseau noted, it nevertheless came up slightly short of the 0.6% consensus estimate.

Far and away the best news from the release was what it suggested about the housing sector, which, by almost every indication, is continuing to recover. According to the Commerce Department's estimate, spending on residential construction grew by 0.5% over April and an astounding 5.4% over the same month last year.

This same trend was on display last week with the release of earnings from Lennar (NYSE: LEN ) and KB Homes (NYSE: KBH ) , two of the nation's largest homebuilders. Lennar reported a 36% year-over-year increase in home deliveries and a 55% uptick in its backlog for the three months ended May 31. And KB Homes said that its deliveries and backlog shot up last quarter by 39% and 19%, respectively, over the same time period last year.

Hot Food Companies For 2015: Silver Wheaton Corp(SLW)

Silver Wheaton Corp., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a silver streaming company worldwide. The company has 14 long-term silver purchase agreements and 2 long-term precious metal purchase agreements whereby it acquires silver and gold production from the counterparties located in Mexico, the United States, Canada, Greece, Sweden, Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Portugal. Silver Wheaton Corp. is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Dan Caplinger]
During the past decade, Silver Wheaton (NYSE: SLW ) has taken advantage of soaring silver prices using its unique silver streaming business model. But in the following video, Fool contributor Dan Caplinger says there will be difficult times ahead for Silver Wheaton to navigate. One of the most obvious challenges is the recent decline in silver prices.
[By Travis Hoium]
What: Gold and silver miners are taking it on the chin today. Royal Gold (NASDAQ: RGLD ) fell as much as 10.4%, Allied Nevada Gold (NYSEMKT: ANV ) fell up to 11.5%, and Silver Wheaton (NYSE: SLW ) dropped as much as 11.2%.
[By Doug Ehrman]
While many precious-metals companies have been in a slump of late, there is one that belongs perpetually in your portfolio: Silver Wheaton (NYSE: SLW ) . The company is not like other miners -- including Pan American Silver (NASDAQ: PAAS ) and First Majestic (NYSE: AG ) -- in that it has a unique business plan that insulates it against many of the vagaries of the mining business. Moreover, because silver will always have a significant industrial demand component, even with the heightened volatility you see in the silver market, maintaining exposure to silver is appropriate.
[By Sean Williams]
In August, silver royalty interests company Silver Wheaton (NYSE: SLW ) and HudBay agreed on a long-term contract that will supply Silver Wheaton 100% of HudBay's Constancia and 777 mine silver at a discounted price of $5.90 an ounce, as well as 100% of the gold production at its 777 mine at a discounted price of $400 an ounce until at least 2016. In return, Silver Wheaton injected HudBay with $500 million immediately to complete its Constancia buildout, with two additional $125 million payments to follow if certain measures are met by HudBay. The end result should be a win-win for both companies, with Silver Wheaton securing another long-term royalty stream and HudBay remaining healthfully net cash positive and profitable.

Top 5 Net Payout Yield Companies To Invest In Right Now: RAIT Financial Trust(RAS)

RAIT Financial Trust operates as a self-managed and self-advised real estate investment trust (REIT). The company, through its subsidiaries, invests in, manages, and services real estate-related assets with a focus on commercial real estate. It also offers a set of debt financing options to the commercial real estate industry along with fixed income trading and advisory services. In addition, RAIT Financial Trust owns and manages a portfolio of commercial real estate properties, and manages real estate-related assets for third parties. The company qualifies as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. As a REIT, it would not be subject to federal income tax to the extent that it distributes at least 90% of its taxable income to its shareholders. RAIT Investment Trust was founded in 1997 and is based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Marc Bastow]
Commercial real estate holding real estate investment trust (REIT) RAIT Financial (RAS) raised its quarterly dividend 7% to 16 cents per share, payable on Jan. 31 to share holders of record as of Jan. 7.
RAS Dividend Yield: 7.48%
[By Eric Volkman]
RAIT Financial Trust (NYSE: RAS ) investors will be getting slightly more than they did last quarter, as a reward for putting their faith in the company (NYSE: RAS ) . The real estate investment trust has declared a common stock dividend of $0.13 per share, to be handed out on July 31 to shareholders of record as of July 12.�That amount is $0.01, or 8%, higher than RAIT's previous distribution of $0.12, which was paid in April. Prior to that, the firm dispensed $0.10 per share.
[By Marc Bastow]
Commercial real-estate loan originator and real estate investment trust RAIT Financial Trust (RAS) raised its quarterly dividend 6% to 17 cents per share, payable April 30 to shareholders of record as of April 4. At more than an 8% yield, RAS stock has the highest yield on this week’s list of dividend stocks.
RAS Dividend Yield: 8.14%.
[By Thomas Sobon]
Instead of expressing my thoughts in vague generalities, let me be specific and tell you what I am actually doing on a real time basis to cope with the market dynamics occurring right now: I have a core position in one stock, which is the RAIT Financial Trust (RAS). Its size is about 60% of what I would consider to be a "full" position. I also have a lot of cash that I intend to use for trading purposes. Last Friday I sold shares of RAS at $7.55 which I bought on Monday with a low-ball bid of $7.11, so my gain on the trade was 6.2%. In early trading yesterday (Monday July 1) RAS is priced at $7.67, up from where I sold on Friday. That's great news because I accomplished what I wanted to do with the trade and now paper profit on the core shares in my portfolio is increasing.

Top 5 Net Payout Yield Companies To Invest In Right Now: Mellanox Technologies Ltd.(MLNX)

Mellanox Technologies, Ltd., a fabless semiconductor company, engages in the design, development, marketing, and sale of interconnect products primarily in North America, Israel, Europe, and Asia. It offers semiconductor interconnect products that facilitate data transmission between servers, communications infrastructure equipment, and storage systems in enterprise data centers, high-performance computing, and embedded systems. The company provides solutions based on InfiniBand, including host channel adapter, switch and gateway ICs, adapter cards, switch and gateway systems, cables, and software. Its products also support the Ethernet standard. The company provides adapters to server, storage, communications infrastructure, and embedded systems OEMs as ICs or standard card form factors with PCI-X or PCI express interfaces; support server operating systems, including Linux, Windows, AIX, HPUX, Solaris, and VxWorks; and InfiniBand switch ICs to server, storage, communicati ons infrastructure, and embedded systems OEMs to create switching equipment. The company offers its products under the Mellanox, BridgeX, ConnectX, InfiniBlast, InfiniBridge, InfiniHost, InfiniPCI, InfiniRISC, PhyX, InfiniScale, and Virtual Protocol Interconnect trademarks in the United States. It primarily serves enterprise data center, high-performance computing, and embedded end-user markets, as well as embedded systems OEMs. The company sells its products directly, as well as through a network of domestic and international sales representatives, and independent distributors. Mellanox Technologies, Ltd. was incorporated in 1999 and is headquartered in Yokneam, Israel.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Top losers in the sector included CommVault Systems (NASDAQ: CVLT), off 28 percent, and Mellanox Technologies (NASDAQ: MLNX), down 13 percent.

Top Headline
Ford Motor Co (NYSE: F) reported a drop in its first-quarter profit. Ford's quarterly profit slipped to $989 million, or $0.24 per share, versus a year-ago profit of $1.61 billion, or $0.40 per share. Its revenue rose to $35.9 billion versus $35.6 billion. However, analysts were projecting earnings of $0.31 per share on revenue of $34.54 billion.

Top 5 Net Payout Yield Companies To Invest In Right Now: Micromem Technologies Inc (MMTIF)

Micromem Technologies Inc. (Micromem), incorporated on October 21, 1985, is a development-stage company. The Company is engaged in the development of memory technology that has the characteristics of non-volatility, which is the ability to retain information after power has been shut off. The Company is focused on magnetic sensor applications. The Company is focused on research and development of nano-magnetic random access memory (MRAM). Micromem operates in a single segment as a developer of non-volatile magnetic memory and sensor technology. The Company partners with industry to manufacture.

The Company�� technology is based on the ability to use magnetic materials in combination with a sensor to record the state of magnetization. Each magnetic element stores one bit of data based on its ability to alternate between states of magnetic polarization, which states are determined by a sensor.

The Company competes with IBM.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Peter Graham]
At the end of last week, small cap stocks Senesco Technologies, Inc (OTCBB: SNTI), VolitionRX Ltd (OTCMKTS: VNRX) and Micromem Technologies Inc (OTCBB: MMTIF) were all trending upwards ��ending up 13.65%, 8.73% and 7.61%, respectively, on Friday. However, it�� a new trading week with the last two trading days for the year. So what direction will these three small caps head in for the end of this year and into next year? Here is a quick look to help you decide on a trading or investment strategy:

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Hot Promising Companies For 2015

Hot Promising Companies For 2015: Zix Corporation(ZIXI)

Zix Corporation provides Internet-based applications in software as a service model that enables the use of secure email for sensitive information exchange primarily in the healthcare, financial services, insurance, and government sectors in the United States. It offers email encryption service, a secure messaging service, which allows an enterprise to use policy-driven rules to determine which emails should be sent securely to comply with regulations or policies. The company also provides a solution that analyzes and encrypts email communications. Its services offer users the ability to deliver encrypted email to any email user at any email address by using the ZixCorp Best Method of Delivery protocol that automatically determines the direct and appropriate means of delivery, based on the sender?s and recipient?s communications environment and preferences. Zix Corporation sells its services through a direct sales force, and a network of resellers and other distribution pa rtners. The company was formerly known as ZixIt Corporation and changed its name to Zix Corporation in 2002. Zix Corporation was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Lisa Levin]
Zix (NASDAQ: ZIXI) shares tumbled 10.82% to touch a new 52-week low of $3.46 after the company reported Q1 earnings of $0.03 per share on revenue of $12.20 million.
[By Seth Jayson]
Zix (Nasdaq: ZIXI ) is expected to report Q1 earnings on April 23. 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 Zix's revenues will expand 15.0% and EPS will wither 0.0%.
[By Monica Gerson]
Zix (NASDAQ: ZIXI) shares reached a new 52-week high of $4.82. ZixCorp's trailing-twelve-month profit margin is 18.08%.

Official Payments Holdings (NASDAQ: OPAY) sha! res surged 0.23% to touch a new 52-week high of $8.65. Official Payments shares have jumped 87.61% over the past 52 weeks, while the S&P 500 index has gained 16.68% in the same period.

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/hot-promising-companies-for-2015-2.html

Friday, February 20, 2015

Top 10 Industrial Disributor Companies To Buy Right Now

Top 10 Industrial Disributor Companies To Buy Right Now: MoneyGram International Inc (MGI)

MoneyGram International, Inc. (MoneyGram) incorporated on December 18, 2003, is a global payment services company. The Companys products include global money transfers, bill payment solutions and financial paper products. MoneyGram conducts its business through its wholly owned subsidiary MoneyGram Payment Systems, Inc. (MPSI). The Company operates in two segments: Global Funds Transfer and Financial Paper Products. The Companys global money transfer and bill payment services are its primary revenue drivers. The Company offers its money transfer services on the Internet via its MoneyGram Online service in the United States, United Kingdom and through agent Websites in Italy, Saudi Arabia and Japan. It also offers money transfer services via mobile phone, kiosks, ATM, receive cards and direct-to-bank account products in various markets worldwide. Effective July 8, 2013, MoneyGram International Inc acquired Latino Services, an Atlanta-based provider of money transfer s ervices.

Global Funds Transfer

The Companys Global Funds Transfer segment provides money transfer and bill payment services to consumers, who are often unbanked or underbanked. Unbanked consumers are those consumers who do not have a traditional relationship with a financial institution. Other consumers who use its services are convenience users and emergency users who may have a checking account with a financial institution, but prefer to use the Companys services on the basis of convenience or to make emergency payments. MoneyGram offers services to consumers through third-party agents, including retail chains, independent retailers and financial institutions.

The Company provides Global Funds Transfer products and services utilizing a range of point-of-sale platforms. Its platforms include AgentConnect, which is integrated into an agents point-of-sale system, and DeltaWorks and Delta T3, which ar! e separate software and stan d-alone device platforms. Through its FormFree service, cust! omers may contact its call center and a representative will collect transaction information over the telephone, entering it directly into its central data processing system.

The Company offers money transfers to consumers in a choice of local currency, United States dollars or euros, in certain countries. MoneyGrams bill payment services allow consumers to make urgent bill payments, pay routine bills, or load and reload prepaid debit cards. These industries include the credit card, mortgage, auto finance, telecommunications, corrections, satellite, property management, prepaid card and collections industries.

Financial Paper Products

The Companys Financial Paper Products segment provides money orders to consumers through its retail and financial institution agent locations in the United States and Puerto Rico, and provides official check services for financial institutions in the United States. It sells money orders under the Mo neyGram brand and on a private label or co-branded basis with certain of its retail and financial institution agents in the United States. During the year ended December 31, 2012, MoneyGram issued money orders through its network of 54,000 agent and financial institution locations in the United States and Puerto Rico. The Company generates revenue from its official check outsourcing services by charging per item and other fees, as well as from the investment of funds underlying outstanding official checks As of December 31, 2012, the Company also provided official check outsourcing services at approximately 7,300 branch locations of more than 1,200 financial institutions.

The Company competes with The Western Union Company.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Ben Levisohn]
Shares of World Acceptance Corporation have plunged 19% to $79.19 at 3:43 p.m.–and dragged down anything remotely connected to payday lend! ing. Cash! America International (CSH) has dropped 7.8% to $39.35, pawn-shop operator EZCorp (EZPW) has fallen 3.7% to $12.33, and wire-transfer companies Western Union (WU) and MoneyGram International (MGI) have fallen 2.6% and 5.8%, respectively.
[By Seth Jayson]
Moneygram International (Nasdaq: MGI ) reported earnings on July 25. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended June 30 (Q2), Moneygram International beat expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.
[By Ben Levisohn]
Western Union (WU) has gained 2.4% to $17.10 after it beat earnings forecasts and said its full year profit would come in at the top of its previously announced range.MoneyGram International (MGI), however, has plunged 12% to $11.14 after reporting a 22 cent profit, well below forecasts for 33 cents.

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/top-10-industrial-disributor-companies-to-buy-right-now.html

Monday, February 16, 2015

Hot Specialty Retail Stocks For 2015

Hot Specialty Retail Stocks For 2015: Ulta Salon Cosmetics and Fragrance Inc (ULTA)

Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc. (Ulta), incorporated on January 9, 1990, is a beauty retailer, which provides one-stop shopping for prestige, mass and salon products and salon services in the United States. During the year ended January 28, 2012 (fiscal 2011), the Company opened 61 new stores. It operates full-service salons in all of its stores. Its Ulta store format includes an open and modern salon area with approximately eight to 10 stations. The entire salon area is approximately 950 square feet with a concierge desk, skin treatment room, semi-private shampoo and hair color processing areas. Each salon is a full-service salon offering hair cuts, hair coloring and permanent texture, with salons also providing facials and waxing.

The Company offers products in the categories, such as cosmetics, which includes products for the face, eyes, cheeks, lips and nails; haircare, which includes shampoos, conditioners, styling products, and hair accessories; salon styling tools, which includes hair dryers, curling irons and flat irons; skincare and bath and body, which includes products for the face, hands and body; fragrance for both men and women; private label, consisting of Ulta branded cosmetics, skincare, bath and body products and haircare, and other, including candles, home fragrance products and other miscellaneous health and beauty products. The Company has combined its three operating segments: retail stores, salon services and e-commerce, into one reportable segment.

The Company competes with Macy's, Nordstrom, Sephora, Bath & Body Works, CVS/pharmacy, Walgreens, Target, Wal-Mart, Regis Corp., Sally Beauty and JCPenney salons.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Jonas Elmerraji]

Nearest Resistance: $130 
Nearest Support: $1! 00 
Catalyst: Q2 Earnings

Shares of beauty supply operator Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance (ULTA) moved up approximately 20% in Friday's session, boosted by positive second quarter earnings numbers. Ulta reported profits for 94 cents per share for the quarter, beating out analysts' best guess profits of 83 cents per share. Even better, the firm expects third quarter revenues on the high end of Wall Street's expectations for both revenue and profits.

The technicals look good in ULTA right now. This stock's big gap higher on Friday broke shares above key round-number resistance at $100, clearing the way for a retest of last year's highs up near $130. For traders who aren't risk-averse, ULTA is buyable here.

Read More: 5 Stocks With Big Insider Buying
[By Luke Jacobi]
Shares of ULTA Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance (NASDAQ: ULTA) got a boost, shooting up 17.9 percent to $114.89 after the company reported upbeat second-quarter results and raised its outlook. The company also unveiled a five-year plan for impressive growth.

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/hot-specialty-retail-stocks-for-2015.html

Sunday, February 15, 2015

10 Best Casino Stocks To Invest In 2015

10 Best Casino Stocks To Invest In 2015: Scientific Games Corp (SGMS)

Scientific Games Corporation (Scientific Games), incorporated on July 2, 1984, is a global supplier of solutions to lottery and gaming organizations worldwide. The Companys products and services include instant lottery games, lottery gaming systems, terminals and services, and Internet applications, as well as server-based interactive gaming machines and associated gaming control systems. The Company reports its operations in three segments: Printed Products Group, Lottery Systems Group and Diversified Gaming Group. Printed Products Group is a provider of instant lottery tickets in the world. The Companys Lottery Systems Group is a provider of customized computer software, software support, equipment and data communication services to lotteries. Its Diversified Gaming Group provides services and systems to private and public operators in the wide area gaming industry, including server-based gaming machines and sports betting systems and services. On September 23, 201 1, the Company acquired Barcrest Group Limited. During 2011, the Company launched MDI Interactive, a content services powerhouse dedicated to delivering gaming solutions for the Internet, mobile and all digital things. In October 2013, the Company announced that it has completed the acquisition of WMS Industries Inc.

Printed Products

Printed Products segment is primarily consists of instant ticket lottery business. The Company generates revenue from the manufacturing and sale of instant tickets, as well as the provision of value-added services, such as game design, sales and marketing support, specialty games and promotions, inventory management and warehousing and fulfillment services. It also provides lotteries with cooperative service programs (CSPs), to help them manage and support their operations. The Company also provides licensed games, promotional entertainment and Internet-based services to the lottery industry. It operate! s six instant ti cket printing facilities across five continents.

The Company provides lotteries with access to some entertainment brands on lottery products through its subsidiary MDI Entertainment LLC (MDI). The Companys licensed entertainment brands include Harley-Davidson, Major League Baseball, Monopoly, National Basketball Association, The Price is Right, Wheel-of-Fortune and World Poker Tour. It also provides branded merchandise prizes, advertising, promotional support, turnkey drawing management services and prize fulfillment programs. In addition, it offers lotteries a Web-based platform called Properties Plus, which features players clubs, reward programs, second chance promotional websites, interactive games and, subject to applicable law, a subscription system that enables players to purchase lottery games securely over the Internet. The Company owns 20% interests in LNS ad Northstar, and 49% in CSG.

Lottery Systems

The Company is a pr ovider of customized computer software, software support, equipment and data communication services to lotteries. In the United States, the Company typically provides the necessary equipment, software and maintenance services pursuant to long-term facilities. Internationally, it typically sells terminals and/or computer software to lottery authorities and may provide ongoing fee-based systems and software support services. The Companys lottery systems business includes the supply of transaction-processing software, draw lottery games, keno, point-of-sale terminals, central site computers and communication platforms as well as ongoing operational support and maintenance services. The Company is the instant ticket validation network provider to the China Sports Lottery.

The Company has lottery systems operating in Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Latvia, Mexico, Norway, the Philippines, Spain, Sweden and Switzerlan d. In addition, it provides video lottery ce! ntral mon! itoring, and control systems and networks primarily to lotteries and gaming regulators. It also provides software, hardware and support for sports wagering systems. The Company has 50% interest in Guard Libang, a provider of instant ticket activation and validation and inventory management systems and services.

Gaming

The Company is a provider of server-based gaming machines and systems and other products and services to operators in the gaming industry. The Companys Gaming segment includes The Global Draw Limited (Global Draw), a supplier of server-based gaming machines and systems, and game content primarily to bookmakers that operate licensed betting offices (LBOs) in the United Kingdom, and to gaming operators outside the United Kingdom. The Gaming segment also includes Barcrest Group Limited (Barcrest) and Games Media Limited (Games Media), suppliers of gaming machines, systems and game c ontent to pubs, bingo halls and arcades in the United Kingdom and continental Europe.

The Company provides its Gaming customers with gaming machines, remote management of game content and management information, central computer systems, secure data communication and field support services. It develops its own game content, and supplements its offering with content from third parties. As of December 31, 2011, the Company installed approximately 23,100 LBO gaming machines in the United Kingdom, which included approximately 8,000 LBO gaming. As of December 31, 2011, it had an installed base of approximately 6,100 gaming machines in its United Kingdom pub, bingo hall and arcade business, and installed approximately 6,500 gaming machines outside of the United Kingdom. During 2011, the Company owned a 50% interest in Sciplay, a joint venture with Playtech Services (Cyprus) Limited. It also owns 29.4% interests in RCN, and 20% in Sportech.

The Compnay c ompetes with Pollard Banknote Limited, GTECH, BI Worldwide Ltd., Alchemy3, LLC, ePrize, LLC, GTECH, Pollard, Int! ralot Tec! hnologies, Inc., International Lottery and Totalizator Systems, Inc., Inspired Gaming Group Limited, Danoptra Ltd, Sceptre Leisure plc, Games Warehouse Limited, International Game Technology, Lottomatica, Bally Technologies, Inc., Inspired, Aristocrat Leisure Ltd, Novomatic AG, Multimedia Games, Inc., WMS Industries Inc., Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc., Amaya Gaming Group, Inc., Cryptologic Ltd., IGT, Microgaming Software Systems Ltd., Net Entertainment NE AB, NYX Gaming Group, OpenBet Technology Ltd. and Playtech Limited.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Stock Maelstrom]
We are likely approaching the last time I will be reporting on WMS Industries (WMS), the former Williams Electronics. It has agreed to be acquired by Scientific Games (SGMS) for $26 per share, plus the assumption of WMS' modest debt. The deal is scheduled to close by the end of this year. On its own, WMS is having a dismal fiscal year, which ends June 30. For this year, the company, no doubt with distracted management, earnings are likely to end at about $0.90 per share, compared with fiscal 2012's $1.31 per share. Helping drive earnings lower are additional measures the company is taking to drive up revenues, which remain well below last decade's peak. WMS' stock has flat lined the past few months at within three percent of the $26 price. There is virtually no upside, though there is downside if the deal collapses. I see no reason to get invested in WMS.

source from Top Stocks To Buy For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/10-best-casino-stocks-to-invest-in-2015.html

Friday, February 13, 2015

AT&T Partners Up with America Movil to Expand Latin American Presence (T)

Wireless provider AT&T Inc. (T) announced on Wednesday that it has agreed to collaborate with Mexico-based America Movil in order to expand its Latin American connectivity.

With this partnership, AT&T will be able to provide services in 15 countries in Latin America. Previously, AT&T only had presence in Mexico and Brazil.

AT&T currently holds a 9% stake in America Movil and has executives on its board of directors. The two companies have had a long standing business relationship.

AT&T shares were mostly flat during pre-market trading Wednesday. The stock has been mostly flat YTD.

Top 5 European Stocks To Own Right Now

European stocks closed little changed after fluctuating between gains and losses more than a dozen times as Japan�� economy expanded more than initially estimated while growth in Chinese exports slumped.

Balfour Beatty Plc jumped 4.8 percent after naming a new chief for its U.K. construction business and winning a contract. Severn Trent Plc, the U.K.�� second-largest publicly traded water company, retreated the most in almost a year after rejecting a takeover offer. Anglo American Plc and Rio Tinto Group led mining companies lower as copper slid for a third day in London trading.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index slipped less than 0.1 percent to 295.22 at the close of trading. The benchmark gauge earlier climbed as much as 0.3 percent after Standard & Poor�� upgraded its outlook on the U.S.�� AA+ credit rating to stable from negative, citing receding fiscal risks.

��fter a strong session we see consolidation with volumes below average,��Soeren Steinert, who helps manage about $24 billion as associate director for equities trading at Quoniam Asset Management GmbH in Frankfurt, said in an e-mail. ��here is no company news that could influence individual stock prices and it seems that there is little interest in the extremely strong Japanese session and the macroeconomic figures from the country.��

Best Cheapest Stocks To Buy For 2015: Aercap Holdings N.V. (AER)

AerCap Holdings N.V., through its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated aviation company worldwide. It engages in leasing and trading aircraft and engines; and selling parts. The company also provides aircraft management services, as well as aircraft and limited engine MRO services, and aircraft disassembly services through its repair stations. In addition, it offers aircraft services, including remarketing aircraft; collecting rental and maintenance payments, monitoring aircraft maintenance, monitoring and enforcing contract compliance, and accepting delivery and redelivery of aircraft; conducting ongoing lessee financial performance reviews; inspecting the leased aircraft; coordinating technical modifications to aircraft to meet new lessee requirements; conducting restructurings negotiations in connection with lease defaults; repossessing aircraft; arranging and monitoring insurance coverage; registering and de-registering aircraft; arranging for aircraft and aircraft engine valuations; and providing market research. The company?s management services include leasing and remarketing, cash management and treasury, technical advisory, and accounting and administrative services. As of March 31, 2011, it owned 272 aircraft and 95 engines, which it leased under operating leases to 118 lessees in 53 countries. The company was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Schiphol, the Netherlands.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Tess Stynes]
AIG confirmed it will sell its stake in International Lease Finance Corp to aircraft-leasing company AerCap Holdings N.V(AER). for $5.4 billion in cash and stock.
[By Shahida Humayun]
Air Lease's fleet has a weighted average age of 3.5 years, compared to 10.7 years for Aircastle (NYSE: AYR ) and 5.1 years for AerCap Holdings (NYSE: AER ) . As a result of this advantage, Air Lease is currently trading at a price-to-book value (P/BV) of 1.17, compared to 0.8 and 0.95 for Aircastle and AerCap Holdings, respectively.

Top 5 European Stocks To Own Right Now: Flamel Technologies S.A.(FLML)

Flamel Technologies S.A., a biopharmaceutical company, engages in the development and commercialization of controlled-release therapeutic products based on its proprietary polymer based technology in the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States, France, and Europe. The company develops nanogel Medusa technology, which is intended to provide controlled release following injection of therapeutic proteins, peptides, and other molecules; a microparticle adaptation of the Medusa platform that is intended for use in the delivery of smaller proteins and peptides; and Micropump technology, a microparticle technology for oral administration of small molecule drugs with applications in controlled-release, taste-masking, and bioavailability enhancement; and Trigger-Lock technology, an adaptation based on Micropump technology, which is intended to minimize the misuse and abuse of medications subject to abuse. Its principal product based on Micropump technology is Coreg CR, which is intended for the treatment of moderate to severe heart failure and left ventricular dysfunction following myocardial infarction. The company?s products under development based upon Medusa technology include Interferon-alpha, a naturally occurring protein that the body uses for the treatment of Hepatitis C virus and as a immune response; and FT-105, an injectable insulin formulation for diabetic patients. Its products based on its Micropump technology comprise LiquiTime for the elderly and pediatric patient patients, or others who have difficulty swallowing. The company has strategic alliance with Baxter International, Inc.; GlaxoSmithKline; Merck Serono; and Pfizer Inc, as well as has a joint development agreement with Digna Biotech, S.L. Flamel Technologies S.A. was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Venissieux, France.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Garrett Cook]
Healthcare shares gained 0.81 percent in the US market on Friday. Top gainers in the sector included Shire plc (NASDAQ: SHPG), StemCells (NASDAQ: STEM), and Flamel Technologies SA (NASDAQ: FLML).

Top 5 European Stocks To Own Right Now: Aegon NV(AEG)

AEGON N.V. provides life insurance, pensions, and asset management products and services worldwide. The company?s life insurance products include traditional, term, universal, whole, and other life insurance products sold as part of defined benefit pension plans, endowment policies, post-retirement annuity products, and group risk products; supplemental health insurance products comprise accidental death, other injury, critical illness, hospital indemnity, medicare supplement, and student health; specialty lines consists of travel, membership, and creditor products; and long term care insurance products for policyholders who require care due to a chronic illness or cognitive impairment. It also offers a range of savings and retirement products and services, including mutual funds, and fixed and variable annuities, savings accounts and investment contracts, segregated funds, guaranteed investment accounts, and single premium immediate annuities, as well as investment advice to individuals. In addition, the company offers employer solutions and pensions, such as retirement plans, pension plans, and pension-related products and services; investment products, including onshore and offshore bonds, and trusts; reinsurance products and solutions to life insurance and financial services companies; general insurance products comprising house, car, and fire insurance; and asset management products and services, including general account assets, unit-linked funds, and third party activities. AEGON N.V. markets its products through independent and career agents, financial planners, registered representatives, independent marketing organizations, banks, broker-dealers, benefit consulting firms, wirehouses, affinity groups, institutional partners, independent managing general agencies, and specialized financial advisors, as well as through online, direct, and worksite marketing. The company was founded in 1900 and is headquartered in The Hague, the Netherl ands.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Will Ashworth]
Assuming it delivers on its outlook for 2014, its current free cash flow yield is a very enticing 20%. This isn�� a growth stock, but its brands still possess hidden value. As cheap stocks go, it�� very attractive.
Cheap Stocks to Buy: Aegon (AEG)
It�� not often that you can buy a $19 billion market cap for under 10 bucks. Aegon�� a Dutch insurance company that�� had a rough ride over the past few years, and its stock�� suffered as a result. In the late ’90s AEG stock traded around $60 — it hasn�� been anywhere close since. However, it�� got some good assets that should bear fruit in the years to come. Aegon has 12,000 employees in the Americas doing business primarily under the Transamerica brand, which has been a part of AEG since 1999.

Top 5 European Stocks To Own Right Now: TotalFinaElf S.A.(TOT)

TOTAL S.A., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated oil and gas company worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Upstream, Downstream, and Chemicals. The Upstream segment engages in the exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas. It also involves in the transportation, trade, and marketing of natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG), as well as in LNG re-gasification and natural gas storage operations. In addition, this segment engages in the shipping and trade of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG); power generation from gas-fired power plants, nuclear, or renewable energies; production, trade, and marketing of coal, as well as in solar power systems and technology operations. As of December 31, 2010, it had combined proved reserves of 10,695 Mboe of oil and gas. The Downstream segment involves in refining, marketing, trading, and shipping crude oil and petroleum products. It also produces a range of specialty products, s uch as lubricants, LPG, jet fuel, special fluids, bitumen, marine fuels, and petrochemical feedstock. This segment holds interests in 24 refineries located in Europe, the United States, the French West Indies, Africa, and China, as well as operates a network of 17,490 service stations. The Chemicals segment produces base chemicals, including petrochemicals and fertilizers, as well as engages in rubber processing, resins, adhesives, and electroplating activities. TOTAL S.A. was founded in 1924 and is based in Paris, France.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Tyler Crowe]
But as each process is implemented, so too does the cost to extract oil increase. Today, every country in the Middle East is implementing some form of EOR to their oil fields. For some of the smaller countires, it has been in practice for years. Total (NYSE: TOT ) has been using gas flooding in Abu Dhabi for more than 20 years. This is a telltale sign that the cost of extracting oil is getting more expensive for all players in the region.�
[By Tom Taulli]
Efficient operator:�CVX stock has benefited from huge scale, with operations that span mining, chemicals and power generation. Yet, among its peers, the company is standout in its efforts to find cost savings. Its earnings per barrel come to about $23.33, which is $5 ahead of companies like BP (BP), Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A), Total (TOT) and ExxonMobil (XOM).�But CVX the company is also one of the world�� largest producers of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), which has benefited from strong growth in places like Asia and Europe. Besides, LNG has massive barriers of entry because of the substantial requirements for infrastructure, logistics and technology.
[By Aaron Levitt]
Yet in this suffering, investors can find some pretty tasty long-term bargains.�In this case we��e referring to French major Total (TOT).

Like rivals BP and E, Total didn�� have a great 2013. However, there are plenty of catalysts that should help propel TOT stock into the future. For investors looking for beat-up bargain, TOT stock could be the key to a great total return in the energy sector.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Top 5 Telecom Stocks To Own Right Now

Top 5 Telecom Stocks To Own Right Now: Chorus Ltd (CNU)

Chorus Limited maintains and builds a network made up of local telephone exchanges, cabinets and copper and fiber cables. The Company has approximately 32,000 kilometers of fiber and 130,000 kilometers of copper cabling. These cables connect back to local telephone exchanges. Chorus fiber also connects mobile phone towers owned by mobile service providers. About 7,000 cabinets provide interconnection points for around 50% of the lines in its network. A range of these cabinets are mini telephone exchanges and have electronic broadband equipment installed in them. In some cases, retail service providers have chosen to install their own broadband equipment in an exchange and pay the Company for the rental of the access line. It offers a range of products delivered over its copper network and new products designed to provide access to the ultra-fast broadband (UFB) fiber network. Advisors' Opinion:

[By Holly LaFon]
Watsa sold two stocks in the fourth quarter: Continucare Corp. (CNU) and First Place Financial Corp. (FPFC). He reduced Dell (DELL), one of his largest holdings, but almost 60%.

source from Top Stocks To Buy For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/top-5-telecom-stocks-to-own-right-now-2.html

Top 5 Cheap Companies For 2014

Don�� count on the stock market continuing to soar in 2014. The U.S. economy seems to be picking up steam, but compared with historical averages most large-company stocks are somewhat overpriced relative to earnings and revenues. Most small companies are richly priced; stocks in developed Europe and emerging markets are cheaper, but they face stronger economic and political headwinds.

Top 10 Long Term Companies To Buy Right Now: Alliance Holdings GP L.P.(AHGP)

Alliance Holdings GP, L.P., through its subsidiaries, produces and markets coal primarily to utilities and industrial users in the United States. It produces a range of steam coal with varying sulfur and heat contents. The company operates nine underground mining complexes in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, and West Virginia. As of December 31, 2010, it had approximately 697.4 million tons of proven and probable coal reserves in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. In addition, the company leases land; and operates a coal loading terminal, with a capacity of 8.0 million tons with ground storage of approximately 60,000 to 70,000 tons, on the Ohio River at Mt. Vernon, Indiana. Further, it engages in purchasing and selling coal; and providing services, including ash and scrubber sludge removal, coal yard maintenance, and arranging alternate transportation services. Alliance GP, LLC, serves as the general partner of the company. Allian ce Holdings GP, L.P. is based in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Robert Rapier]
The National Association of Publicly Traded Partnerships (NAPTP) lists five MLPs in the category ��atural Resources – Coal,��although two of the five are Alliance Holdings (NYSE: AHGP) and its operating affiliate, Alliance Resource Partners (NYSE: ARLP). The other three are Natural Resource Partners (NYSE: NRP), Rhino Resource Partners (NYSE: RNO), and Oxford Resource Partners (NYSE: OXF).
[By Seth Jayson]
Calling all cash flows
When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on Alliance Holdings GP (Nasdaq: AHGP ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

Top 5 Cheap Companies For 2014: S&P Smallcap 600(PH)

Parker Hannifin Corporation manufactures fluid power systems, electromechanical controls, and related components worldwide. Its Industrial segment offers pneumatic and electromechanical components, and systems; filters, systems, and instruments to monitor and remove contaminants from fuel, air, oil, water, and other liquids and gases; connectors that control, transmit, and contain fluid; hydraulic components and systems for builders and users of industrial and mobile machinery and equipment; critical flow components for process instrumentation, healthcare, and ultra-high-purity applications; and static and dynamic sealing devices. This segment sells its products to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and their replacement markets in the manufacturing, transportation, and processing industries. The company?s Aerospace segment provides flight control systems and components, including hydraulic, electrohydraulic, electric backup hydraulic, electrohydrostatic, and electro -mechanical components for precise control of aircraft rudders, elevators, ailerons, and other aerodynamic control surfaces. It also provides electronics thermal management heat rejection systems, and single-phase and two-phase heat collection systems for radar, ISAR, and power electronics. This segment markets its products primarily to OEMs in the commercial, military, and general aviation markets, as well as to end users. Its Climate and Industrial Controls segment offers systems and components primarily for use in the mobile and stationary refrigeration, and air conditioning industry; and in fluid control applications in various industries, such as processing, fuel dispensing, beverage dispensing, and mobile emissions. This segment serves OEMs and their replacement markets. Parker-Hannifin Corporation markets its products through direct-sales employees, independent distributors, wholesalers, and sales representatives. The company was founded in 1918 and is headquartered i n Cleveland, Ohio.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Ben Levisohn]
The market in aggregate might have gone nowhere, but that wasn’t for lack of big moves from individual stocks. Parker-Hannifin (PH) gained 2.4% to $115.06 after it was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Baird, while Newmont Mining (NEM) gained 2.2% as gold miners headed higher today.

Top 5 Cheap Companies For 2014: Aegon NV(AEG)

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Will Ashworth]
Assuming it delivers on its outlook for 2014, its current free cash flow yield is a very enticing 20%. This isn�� a growth stock, but its brands still possess hidden value. As cheap stocks go, it�� very attractive.
Cheap Stocks to Buy: Aegon (AEG)
It�� not often that you can buy a $19 billion market cap for under 10 bucks. Aegon�� a Dutch insurance company that�� had a rough ride over the past few years, and its stock�� suffered as a result. In the late ’90s AEG stock traded around $60 — it hasn�� been anywhere close since. However, it�� got some good assets that should bear fruit in the years to come. Aegon has 12,000 employees in the Americas doing business primarily under the Transamerica brand, which has been a part of AEG since 1999.

Top 5 Cheap Companies For 2014: Hewlett-Packard Company(HPQ)

Hewlett-Packard Company and its subsidiaries provide products, technologies, software, solutions, and services to individual consumers and small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), as well as to the government, health, and education sectors worldwide. Its Personal Systems Group segment offers commercial personal computers (PCs), consumer PCs, workstations, calculators and other related accessories, and software and services for the commercial and consumer markets. The company?s Services segment provides consulting, outsourcing, and technology services to infrastructure, applications, and business process domains. Its Imaging and Printing Group segment provides consumer and commercial printer hardware, supplies, media, and scanning devices, such as inkjet and Web solutions, laser jet and enterprise solutions, managed enterprise solutions, graphics solutions, and printer supplies. The company?s Enterprise Servers, Storage, and Networking segment offers industry standard s ervers, business critical systems, storage platforms, and networking products, including switches, routers, wireless LAN, and TippingPoint network security products. Its HP Software segment provides enterprise IT management software, information management solutions, and security intelligence/risk management solutions. The company?s HP Financial Services segment offers leasing, financing, utility programs, and asset recovery services; and financial asset management services for enterprise customers, as well as specialized financial services to SMBs, and educational and governmental entities. Hewlett-Packard Company also provides business intelligence solutions that enable businesses to standardize on consistent data management schemes, connect and share data across the enterprise, and apply analytics, as well as licenses its specific technology to third parties. The company was founded in 1939 and is headquartered in Palo Alto, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Amber Hestla, Michael J. Carr]
Among its suppliers is Flextronics International (Nasdaq: FLEX), which offers a variety of engineering services and provides supply chain management. Other Flextronics customers include Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ), LG and Google's (Nasdaq: GOOG) Motorola Mobility.
[By Jon C. Ogg]
What was very interesting, and very rare, was the ex-DJIA stocks did better than most DJIA stock on average (handily!). The following prices and gains were seen in the final minutes of trading on Tuesday from the ex-DJIA members:
Alcoa Inc. (NYSE: AA) was up 1.99% at $10.30 Bank of America Corporation (NYSE: BAC) was up 1.8% at $16.73 Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ) was up by 2.5% at $28.82
Wednesday will mark another big day for the markets. Key earnings reports will come from Bank of America, CSX Corp., and the Kinder Morgan entities. Also on deck for Wednesday are economic reports are Producer Price index (wholesale inflation), Empire State Manufacturing (New York), EIA Petroleum and Refining data, and the Fed’s Beige Book.

Monday, February 9, 2015

Progress Software Selling Apama Solution

Believing it should have a single, cohesive platform for the development of cloud and mobile application development technologies, Progress Software (NASDAQ: PRGS ) announced this morning it was selling its Apama complex event processing solution to Software AG for an undisclosed sum.

Apama is one of the leading platforms in capital markets for building high-frequency trading applications that allows business events to be correlated and analyzed across multiple data streams in real-time.

Progress said the Apama platform held significant differences from its own application development software, particularly in terms of the target market, deployment, and sales model. By divesting itself of the platform, the investment made by Apama's customers will be protected.

Progress's Chief Technology Officer and Apama Co-Founder Dr. John Bates said: "Progress and Software AG are committed to ensuring a smooth transition for our Apama customers and employees around the world and will provide customers with uninterrupted support and continued platform development."

Hot Machinery Companies To Watch For 2015

Bates is expected to join Software AG to lead the Apama business unit. Progress expects the transaction to be completed in its fiscal 201 third quarter.

Pacific Crest Securities is serving as Progress's financial advisor, and Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr is serving as Progress' legal counsel.

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Top 5 Undervalued Companies To Watch In Right Now

Calbee (TSE:2229) is the dominant snack-food brand in Japan with over 50% market share. The company has stable and cash-generative domestic operations that continue to gain market share. Recent growth has been fueled by the increasing contribution of high-margin international sales. After years of conservative investment in international markets, the company�� positioning has resulted in stronger overseas investments driving sales growth.From Wasatch International Growth (Trades, Portfolio) Fund Q3 2014 Commentary.Also check out: Wasatch International Growth Undervalued Stocks Wasatch International Growth Top Growth Companies Wasatch International Growth High Yield stocks, and Stocks that Wasatch International Growth keeps buying Currently 0.00/512345

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10 Best Computer Hardware Stocks To Watch Right Now: Dollar Tree Inc.(DLTR)

Dollar Tree, Inc. operates discount variety stores in the United States and Canada. Its stores offer merchandise primarily at the fixed price of $1.00. The company operates its stores under the names of Dollar Tree, Deal$, Dollar Tree Deal$, Dollar Giant, and Dollar Bills. Its stores offer consumable merchandise, including candy and food, and health and beauty care, as well as household consumables, such as paper, plastics, household chemicals, in select stores, and frozen and refrigerated food; variety merchandise, which includes toys, durable housewares, gifts, party goods, greeting cards, softlines, and other items; and seasonal goods, such as Easter, Halloween, and Christmas merchandise. As of April 30, 2011, it operated 4,089 stores in 48 states and the District of Columbia, as well as 88 stores in Canada. The company was founded in 1986 and is based in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By John Maxfield]
If you're anything like me, two things went through your head when you saw this. First, you regret that you missed out on the investment opportunity. Since the end of 2009, shares in all three of these companies, led by Dollar Tree (NASDAQ: DLTR ) , have simply trounced the broader market. Even the worst performer of the bunch, Family Dollar (NYSE: FDO ) , beat it by nearly a factor of two.
[By Paul Ausick]
Dollar General�� share price is up less than 6% in the past 12 months, but since the beginning of the year shares have risen more than 22%. And even then, Dollar General�trails Dollar Tree Inc. (NASDAQ: DLTR) in share price growth since January 1. Dollar Tree stock is up 30%.

Top 5 Undervalued Companies To Watch In Right Now: Schlumberger N.V.(SLB)

Schlumberger Limited, together with its subsidiaries, supplies technology, integrated project management, and information solutions to the oil and gas exploration and production industries worldwide. The company?s Oilfield Services segment provides exploration and production services; wireline technology that offers open-hole and cased-hole services; supplies engineering support, directional-drilling, measurement-while-drilling, and logging-while-drilling services; and testing services. This segment also offers well services; supplies well completion services and equipment; artificial lift; data and consulting services; geo services; and information solutions, such as consulting, software, information management system, and IT infrastructure services that support oil and gas industry. Its WesternGeco segment provides reservoir imaging, monitoring, and development services; and operates data processing centers and multiclient seismic library. This segment also offers variou s services include 3D and time-lapse (4D) seismic surveys to multi-component surveys for delineating prospects and reservoir management. The company?s M-I SWACO segment supplies drilling fluid systems to improve drilling performance; fluid systems and specialty tools to optimize wellbore productivity; production technology solutions to maximize production rates; and environmental solutions that manages waste volumes generated in drilling and production operations. Its Smith Oilfield segment designs, manufactures, and markets drill bits and borehole enlargement tools; and supplies drilling tools and services, tubular, completion services, and other related downhole solutions. The company?s Distribution segment markets pipes, valves, and fittings, as well as mill, safety, and other maintenance products. This segment also provides warehouse management, vendor integration, and inventory management services. Schlumberger Limited was founded in 1927 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Matt DiLallo]
Along with announcing earnings, both Halliburton (NYSE: HAL ) and Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB ) announced multi-billion-dollar stock buybacks. With so much money on the line, investors have to ask if this is the right move for these two oil-field service giants. Are these stocks cheap enough to warrant the buybacks or should these companies consider other options for those funds?
[By Dan Caplinger]
Another issue that Varco has to face is the specter of increasing competition. Cameron International (NYSE: CAM ) has arisen as a big player in the drilling and production systems space, with a particular emphasis on subsea applications like blowout preventers. With Cameron sporting a recent partnership with Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB ) , the combination will have both the expertise and the financial resources to challenge Varco in that niche. More broadly, up-and-coming Forum Energy (NYSE: FET ) has sought to emulate Varco's broad-based services menu, offering remotely operated vehicles for deepwater inspection and construction as well as pipe and cementing materials and a range of subsea systems and equipment. Forum has posted solid results in its brief history, taking steps to continue its fast growth trajectory.
[By Claudia Assis]
Oil-field-services company Schlumberger Ltd. (SLB) �added 1.9%. Debt-ratings agency Standard & Poor�� on Friday raised its corporate credit rating on Schlumberger one notch to AA- from A+, saying the company�� competitive advantage and profitability are superior to peers.

Top 5 Undervalued Companies To Watch In Right Now: Caterpillar Inc.(CAT)

Caterpillar Inc. manufactures and sells construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives worldwide. It operates through three lines of businesses: Machinery, Engines, and Financial Products. The Machinery business offers construction, mining, and forestry machinery, including track and wheel tractors, track and wheel loaders, pipelayers, motor graders, wheel tractor-scrapers, track and wheel excavators, backhoe loaders, log skidders, log loaders, off-highway trucks, articulated trucks, paving products, skid steer loaders, underground mining equipment, tunnel boring equipment, and related parts. It also manufactures diesel-electric locomotives; and manufactures and services rail-related products and logistics services for other companies. The Engines business provides diesel, heavy fuel, and natural gas reciprocating engines for Caterpillar machinery, electric power generation systems, marine, petrol eum, construction, industrial, agricultural, and other applications. It offers industrial turbines and turbine-related services for oil and gas, and power generation applications. This business also remanufactures Caterpillar engines, machines, and engine components; and offers remanufacturing services for other companies. The Financial Products business provides retail and wholesale financing alternatives for Caterpillar machinery and engines, solar gas turbines, and other equipment and marine vessels, as well as offers loans and various forms of insurance to customers and dealers. It also offers financing for vehicles, power generation facilities, and marine vessels. The company markets its products directly, as well as through its distribution centers, dealers, and distributors. It was formerly known as Caterpillar Tractor Co. and changed its name to Caterpillar Inc. in 1986. Caterpillar Inc. was founded in 1925 and is headquartered in Peoria, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Rich Duprey]
Just days after announcing cuts of up to 300 employees at its South Milwaukee facility that it acquired from Bucyrus, heavy-equipment manufacturer Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT ) laid off 460 workers at its Decatur, Ill., plant, again citing mining industry weakness.�The Decatur plant is a manufacturing facility that runs a foundry, overhaul, and remanufacturing, and where the South Milwaukee layoffs have been deemed temporary, these are said to be permanent. All told, the company wants to eliminate about 2,000 jobs.
[By Paul Ausick]
Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) traded just a quarter of its daily average volume of 5 million shares. The stock opened up about 0.1%, and its heady share price boosted the price-weighted DJIA by about 7%. The stock closed up 1.07% at $90.92 in a 52-week range of $79.49 to $99.70.
[By Alex Planes]
Founded in 1925, Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT ) is the world's largest manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, and ranked among the top 50 Fortune 500 companies in the U.S. for 2012. Caterpillar is also a component of both the Dow. Headquartered in Peoria, Ill., Caterpillar traces its roots from the merger of the Holt Manufacturing Company and the C.L. Best Tractor Company. The company has grown through a number of acquisitions over the past decade, including Shin Caterpillar Mitsubishi in 2008, Caterpillar Xuzhou and MWM Holding in 2010 and Bucyrus International in 2011. Caterpillar heavy machinery is as common at construction and excavation sites as Boeing's jets are at airports, which makes this a classic battle of land versus air.
[By Rich Duprey]
The dichotomy between the two segments would seem to represent what we've seen in the broader market where agriculture equipment powerhouse Deere (NYSE: DE ) beat analyst expectations in the first quarter as it said it strong, 5% growth throughout the year should be expected, while construction equipment leader Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT ) had to cut jobs�because of waning demand.

Top 5 Undervalued Companies To Watch In Right Now: Tupperware Corporation(TUP)

Tupperware Brands Corporation operates as a direct seller of various products across a range of brands and categories through an independent sales force. The company engages in the manufacture and sale of kitchen and home products, and beauty and personal care products. It offers preparation, storage, and serving solutions for the kitchen and home, as well as kitchen cookware and tools, children?s educational toys, microwave products, and gifts under the Tupperware brand name primarily in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Asia Pacific, and North America. The company provides beauty and personal care products, which include skin care products, cosmetics, bath and body care, toiletries, fragrances, nutritional products, apparel, and related products principally in Mexico, South Africa, the Philippines, Australia, and Uruguay. It offers beauty and personal care products under the Armand Dupree, Avroy Shlain, BeautiControl, Fuller, NaturCare, Nutrimetics, Nuvo, and Swissgar de brand names. The company sells its Tupperware products directly to distributors, directors, managers, and dealers; and beauty products primarily through consultants and directors. As of December 26, 2009, the Tupperware distribution system had approximately 1,800 distributors, 61,300 managers, and 1.3 million dealers; and the sales force representing the Beauty businesses approximately 1.1 million. The company was formerly known as Tupperware Corporation and changed its name to Tupperware Brands Corporation in December 2005. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Orlando, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Monica Gerson]
Tupperware Brands (NYSE: TUP) is expected to report its Q3 earnings at $1.03 per share on revenue of $623.34 million.

Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) is projected to post its Q4 earnings at $1.12 per share on revenue of $779.02 million.
[By Brian Pacampara]
Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, household products company Tupperware Brands (NYSE: TUP ) has earned a coveted five-star ranking.
[By James Brumley]
CSCO stock might be one of the market’s dark-horse stories of 2014; the dividend yield is the icing on the cake.
Dividend Stocks to Buy: Tupperware Brands (TUP)
Dividend Yield: 3.2%
[By Oliver Pursche]
European large-cap pharmaceuticals like Novartis (NVS) �and Bristol Meyers Squibb (BMY) �count amongst some of our favorite stocks right now, as do U.S. multinationals that are growing revenue and margins in Asia ��Tupperware (TUP) �is a shining example. Stay away from utilities and energy stocks, as they are likely to be the laggards over the next year.

Saturday, February 7, 2015

Will the Galaxy S4 Launch Bruise Apple?

The much-hyped Samsung Galaxy S4 smartphone will be available in the U.S. beginning this week. In this multipart series, Fool analysts Rex Moore and Andrew Tonner talk about whether the phone can live up to the hype leading up to the launch. Will the S4 simply annoy Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL), or alter the smartphone competitive landscape?

Meanwhile, 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.

Top Up And Coming Stocks To Watch Right Now

Friday, February 6, 2015

5 Tips to Stop the Family Sparring Over Household Finances

Family using laptop together in living room OJO Images Ltd/Alamy If you're the household money manager, you know how hard it can be to get everyone to stick to the family budget. It's time to stop feeling like you're in this fight all by yourself. Follow these five tips to get everyone in your family on the same financial page, with as little resistance as possible. 1. Create a Budget Together Most people, from young children to grownup spouses, dislike being told what to do. If you're imposing budget rules from on high with no explanation and no opportunity for anyone to weigh in, it's only natural to face some friction. To get everyone to feel an equal ownership of the budget, sit down with your family and go over each budget category together. Listen to any concerns or disagreements and address them, changing a category where there's a good reason for doing so or explaining why you're not changing a category should that be the best route. The key here is transparency. When everyone knows the rulebook they're following, and why they're following it, it will be easier for them to stick to it and will eliminate some resistance. 2. Track Your Spending It's impossible to stay on budget if you don't know how much everyone is spending. Track everything from monthly bills to your children's allowances to make sure you're all staying within the limits you've set. If you notice you're beginning to veer, you can readjust. How you track your spending is up to you. From the old-school envelope system to high-tech budgeting programs, there are plenty of systems. Choose the one that feels the most intuitive to you, and you'll find it easier to keep on top of things. Here's one alternate strategy: Pull your savings off the top, then spend the rest. It's the easiest budget imaginable, since it doesn't involve any tracking. 3. Hold Weekly Family Budget Meetings You can't predict every expense that will pop up, but if you hold weekly budget meetings, it will be easier to anticipate as many as possible. Avoid being seized by last-minute money requests by setting a standing date on the calendar for a time you know all of your family members will be free (like Sunday evenings). Ten to 15 minutes should be enough, and it can save you all sorts of headaches. Ask anyone if they have any new expenses coming up, like your daughter's school field trip or your spouse's lunch with an old friend. Work together to decide how you will fit these things into the budget, then check in with everyone individually to let them know how they're doing with their spending and if they need to make any corrections. Be sure to also praise the heck out of anyone who's done especially well. 4. Don't Be a Dictator Listen to everyone's input, and if someone has a problem with something in the budget, discuss it with them patiently and honestly. You still have infinitely more final say than your children, but by hearing them out and giving them a chance to speak their mind, you let them know you value their opinions and that when you make a decision they don't like, there is good reason behind it. Will this totally eliminate all grumbling? Of course not. But it will help reduce it. 5. Ask for Help Just because you're the budget master doesn't mean all the weight of your household finances should be completely on your shoulders. You and your spouse should discuss big financial decisions together, and if you need help, don't hesitate to recruit the rest of your family. One of the secrets of a good leader is that they know when to delegate.

5 Best Beverage Stocks To Buy Right Now

Managed to get that raise or promotion? Fantastic -- now don't go out there and spend it all immediately. In classic "keeping up with the Joneses" fashion, too many of us see an increase in salary or a sudden windfall (like an inheritance) as an excuse to take our lifestyle up a notch. We buy bigger houses than we need, get the latest gadgets even though ours work just fine,and spring for fancy steak dinners just because we can.