i Life Insurance 2013: February 2014

Friday, February 21, 2014

Bill Gross' love affair with Brazil ending after 10 years as bond bets sour

pimco, bill gross, mohammed el-erian, brazil, bonds

Bloomberg News

Bill Gross is souring on Brazil.

After the country's real-denominated debt plunged 13.6% last year, more than the 9% average decline for developing nations, Pacific Investment Management Co.'s chief investment officer said this week that Brazil was no longer a preferred market. His $237 billion Total Return Fund cut Brazilian assets to 3.27% in December from 4.18% three months earlier, its most recent investment report showed.

Pimco is turning away from Latin America's biggest economy more than a decade after the firm bought Brazilian bonds as they plunged before presidential elections in 2002, a bet that proved prescient and burnished the reputation of Chief Executive Officer Mohamed El-Erian. Mr. Gross's comment, coming a year after he said the real was a better use of cash than buying junk bonds, shows how investors are losing confidence in President Dilma Rousseff as economic growth slows and Brazil lifts its interest rate above 10% to contain inflation.

“It emanates from bad economic policies of the current administration,” Peter Lannigan, a managing director at CRT Capital Group in Stamford, Conn., said in an interview. “Rates this high in that kind of growth environment — it's a challenging macro backdrop.”

Pimco still holds Brazilian debt but is not overweight on the country, Mark Porterfield, a spokesman for the firm, said in a response to questions. Brazil's Finance Ministry didn't respond to telephone and e-mailed requests seeking comment after market hours.

FUND LOSSES

Pimco's investments in Brazil backfired last year after the nation's local-currency bonds posted their second annual loss since 2003. The dollar-denominated notes lost 11.2%, the most since 1998, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co.

The real, which has strengthened 0.6% in January, fell 13% against the dollar last year, while global speculative-grade bonds climbed 6.4%, based on index data compiled by Bank of America Corp. Mr. Gross, the 69-year-old co-founder of Pimco, touted the real over junk bonds in a Twitter message on Jan. 16, 2013.

“Modest exposure to Brazilian local interest rates as yields rose on inflation concerns” resulted in negative or neutral returns for the Total Return Fund (PTTRX) in 2013, according to Pimco's Dec. 31 quarterly investment report.

The fund has lost 1.57% in the past year, trailing 75% of like funds over the period.

Brazil's central bank this week lifted its benchmark rate to 10.5%, marking the sixth straight half-percentage point increase as the country's policy makers seek to contain inflation that's forecast to accelerate to 6% in 2014. Last year's rate increases were the most aggressive of any nation tracked by Bloomberg.

While the cost of living accelerates, Latin America's largest economy will expand just 1.99% this year, a central bank survey of about 100 economists published this week showed, from an estimated 2.3% for 2013.

Brazil had the outlook on its BBB credit rating from Sta! ndard & Poor's and Baa2 from Moody's Investors Service cut last year as the bond raters cited a surge in state-bank lending and sluggish growth. Thirty-nine percent of analysts, investors and traders surveyed in a Nov. 21 Bloomberg Global poll said the country's rating will probably or certainly be cut, versus 10% who said the nation will avoid a downgrade.

'DIFFICULT PATH'

“They're walking a very difficult path of trying to engender growth and also contain inflation,” said Michael Roche, an emerging-market strategist at Seaport Group. “The model they're using, state-directed growth and state involvement in the economy, is really starting to stumble.”

Pimco also suffered losses on its investment in OGX Petroleo & Gas Participacoes SA bonds. The oil company, now known as Oleo & Gas, missed payments on $3.6 billion of dollar debt last year in Latin America's biggest corporate default.

As the largest holder of the company's dollar-denominated securities according to third-quarter filings, Pimco is helping to lead reorganization discussions with the company.

OGX's 2018 bonds currently trade at about 6 cents on the dollar, versus 98.1 cents a year ago.

In 2002, Pimco boosted its holdings in Brazil as its dollar-denominated bonds due in 2040 traded as low as 42.7 cents on concern Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva would default on the nation's obligations after assuming the presidency.

Within two years after the firm increased its stake to about $1 billion by mid-2002, the bonds traded as high as 119.5 cents on the dollar as Lula, who took office in January 2003, cut state spending. Brazil's dollar bonds returned 70% that year, more than double the average 26% gain for emerging-market debt, data compiled by JPMorgan show.

Mr. El-Erian managed the emerging-market funds during the 2002 elections, and his strategy that year put him at odds with investors including billionaire George Soros and Templeton Asset Management Ltd.'s Mark Mobius.

Mr. Soros, chairman o

Best Defensive Stocks To Buy Right Now

Retirees' portfolios need to be defensive, meaning they minimize risk but still have the potential for growth and income. Historically, this meant including a few widow-and-orphan stocks in your retirement portfolio��ublic utilities with nice dividends.

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So, we at Miller's Money Forever wondered, is it time to add one or two utilities to our own portfolio? As I talked through the idea with our chief analyst, I could hear him clicking away on his keyboard in the background. A little research on a couple of utilities quickly put things in perspective. Had we bought in to Exelon (EXC) in early May at the wrong time, we almost would have been stopped out by a 20% trailing stop, since the stock fell as far as 19%. We were both shocked.

Best Defensive Stocks To Buy Right Now: Dreamworks Animation SKG Inc. (DWA)

DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. engages in the development, production, and exploitation of animated feature films and characters worldwide. It provides animated feature films and characters for the theatrical, home entertainment, television, and merchandising and licensing markets. The company also offers television specials and series, live entertainment properties, online virtual worlds, and related consumer products. It has approximately 21 animated feature films, including Shrek the Third, Shrek 2, and Madagascar. The company has strategic alliances with McDonald?s, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, and Samsung. DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Glendale, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Charley Blaine]
Among the week's winners: Dreamworks Animation (NASDAQ: DWA), up 20.39 percent; Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (NYSE: MSO), up 15.9 percent; and United Airlines parent United Continental Holdings (NYSE: UAL) up 14.02 percent. AMR (OTC: AAMRQ) added 27.01 percent.
[By Rick Munarriz]
Less than a month after showing Viacom's (NASDAQ: VIA ) Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. content the exit door of its virtual vault, the world's leading video-streaming service is expanding its partnership with DreamWorks Animation (NASDAQ: DWA ) .

Best Defensive Stocks To Buy Right Now: Orbitz Worldwide Inc.(OWW)

Orbitz Worldwide, Inc. operates as an online travel company worldwide. It enables leisure and business travelers to search for and book a range of travel products and services. The company offers various products and services comprising air travel, hotels, vacation packages, car rentals, cruises, travel insurance, as well as destination services, such as ground transportation, event tickets, and tours. Its brand portfolio includes Orbitz, CheapTickets, The Away Network, and Orbitz for Business in the United States; ebookers in Europe; and HotelClub and RatesToGo internationally. Orbitz Worldwide, Inc. also licenses its technology and business services to third parties, such as airlines and hotel partners and provides them various private label solutions, including building and hosting of custom Websites and supplying content feeds to partners' Websites. The company was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Orbitz Worldwide, Inc. is a subsidiary of Trav elport Limited.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Rick Aristotle Munarriz]
Shutterstock/Andrey Burmakin Folks are turning to the Internet more and more in planning business trips and personal getaways -- and investors are cashing in on the trend. Shares of Orbitz Worldwide (OWW) soared 18 percent last week after posting better than expected quarterly results. Revenue climbing 4 percent and profitability clocking in at 5 cents a share may not seem very impressive, but analysts were settling for the volatile travel portal to merely break even on flattish revenue growth. Strength in its hotel bookings were more than enough to offset weakness in airline reservations. Orbitz Worldwide's larger and faster-growing peers priceline.com (PCLN) and Expedia (EXPE) went along for the ride, climbing 7 percent and 4 percent respectively. They both went on to hit new all-time highs. Seeing an industry laggard start to grow profitably again -- and Orbitz Worldwide is calling for modest continued growth into 2014 -- was enough to get the market behind the popular providers of lodging, air travel, car rental, cruise and vacation package reservations. This isn't just a one-week phenomenon. Priceline and Expedia shares have soared 174 percent and 171 percent since the end of 2011. Orbitz Worldwide has also more than doubled in that time, and it's up a whopping 223 percent since the start of 2013. The Ins and Outs of Inn Outings Orbitz Worldwide's report would have been better if it wasn't held back by an 11 percent decline in airline ticket sales. Priceline and Expedia are growing their airfare sales, but modestly, compared to their hotel reservations. This isn't a surprise. Airlines have done a good job of marketing directly to passengers. There are a lot of people on frequent flyer programs, so they often head directly to an air carrier's website when it's time to book a trip. Pricing is also pretty competitive between airlines. There may not be a lot of carriers offering the desired route, but they are quick to respond to what rivals are doing. Th
[By Dan Caplinger]
What has set Priceline apart is its global business. The company did a much better job than Expedia and its other competitors of setting up an international network of travel destinations, and its booking.com business has been immensely profitable in offering worldwide accommodations. That's a big reason why Orbitz (NYSE: OWW ) has only recently managed to return to profitability, as despite its substantial revenue gains, Orbitz has almost no business outside North America.
[By Roberto Pedone]
One under-$10 name that's starting to trend within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade is Orbitz Worldwide (OWW), an online travel company that uses innovative technology to enable leisure and business travelers to search for and book a range of travel products. This stock has been on fire so far in 2013, with shares up sharply by 263%.

If you take a look at the chart for Orbitz Worldwide, you'll notice that this stock recently gapped down and pulled back sharply from its high of $13.26 to its recent low of $9.41 a share. Shares of OWW have been finding support off that pullback and some buying interest right near its 50-day moving average of $9.57 a share. In fact, shares of OWW are spiking higher today right off that key technical level, and that spike is starting to push OWW within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in OWW if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $10.15 to $10.50 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 1.33 million shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then OWW will set up to re-fill its previous gap down zone from earlier this month that started near $12 a share.

Traders can look to buy OWW off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some key near-term support levels at $9.42 to $9.04 a share. One can also buy OWW off strength once it takes out those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

Top 10 Cheap Stocks For 2014: Golden Queen Mng Com Npv (GQM.TO)

Golden Queen Mining Co. Ltd., an exploration stage company, engages in acquiring and maintaining gold and silver mining properties for exploration, future development, and production. It has interests in the Soledad Mountain project in the south of Mojave in Kern County in southern California. Golden Queen Mining Co. Ltd. was founded in 1985 and is based in West Vancouver, Canada.

Best Defensive Stocks To Buy Right Now: BGC Partners Inc.(BGCP)

BGC Partners, Inc. operates as a financial intermediary to the financial markets specializing in the brokering of various financial products. It provides electronic marketplaces, including government bond markets, spot foreign exchange, foreign exchange options, corporate bonds, and credit default swaps in various financial markets through its eSpeed- and BGC Trader- branded trading platform which can be accessed through its high speed data network, over the Internet, or third party communication networks. The company?s brokerage services include trade execution, broker-dealer services, clearing, processing, information, and other back office services, as well as cover various products, including fixed income securities, interest rate swaps, foreign exchange, equities, equity derivatives, credit derivatives, commodities, futures, and structured products. It also provides financial technology solutions, market data, and analytics related to financial instruments and markets . In addition, the company offers customized screen-based market solutions, which enables its clients to develop a marketplace, trade with their customers, issue debt, trade odd lots, access program trading interfaces, and access its network and intellectual property. Further, it licenses intellectual property portfolio and software solutions to various financial markets participants; and provides software development, software maintenance, customer support, infrastructure, and internal technology services to support electronic trading platforms. The company serves banks, broker-dealers, investment banks, trading firms, hedge funds, governments, investment firms, professional trading firms, futures commission merchants, and other professional market participants and financial institutions in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and other Americas. The company was founded in 1999 and is based in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Brian Womack]
��t�� a defensive strategy because R&D costs are going up and the number of customers is going down,��said Amir Anvarzadeh, a manager of Japanese equity sales at BGC Partners Inc. (BGCP) in Singapore. ��his tells you there�� a problem in the industry.��
[By Eric Volkman]
BGC Partners (NASDAQ: BGCP ) is waxing optimistic about its current quarter. The company updated its previously issued guidance, indicating that its nearly complete Q2 will come in at the higher end of the range for revenues and EPS. The former was for distributable earnings revenue of $435 million-$465 million, while the latter anticipated pre-tax distributable earnings of $42 million-$53 million.
[By Selena Maranjian]
Finally, Tudor Investment's biggest closed positions included Apple�and the iShares MSCI Emerging Market Index Fund ETF. Other closed positions of interest include Frontier Communications (NASDAQ: FTR ) and BGC Partners (NASDAQ: BGCP ) . Frontier, recently yielding more than 9%, is a rural telecom specialist. It's weighed down with considerable debt, and is shifting its business focus, favoring business customers more. It's been posting declining revenue lately, though, and its credit rating took a hit in recent months, also. Some worry that its acquisition of landline business from Verizon�may not be as lucrative as expected, and fear a dividend cut.

Best Defensive Stocks To Buy Right Now: DCP Midstream Partners LP (DPM)

DCP Midstream Partners, LP, together with its subsidiaries, engages in gathering, compressing, treating, processing, transporting, storing, and selling natural gas in the United States. It also transports, stores, and sells propane in wholesale markets; and produces, fractionates, transports, stores, and sells natural gas liquids (NGLs) and condensate. The company operates in three segments: Natural Gas Services, Wholesale Propane Logistics, and NGL Logistics. The Natural Gas Services segment operates Northern Louisiana system that gathers, process, and transports natural gas; Southern Oklahoma system; Colorado system; Wyoming system that covers 1,300 miles of natural gas gathering pipelines that cover approximately 4,000 square miles in the Powder River Basin in Wyoming; and Michigan system. It also operates Discovery system, East Texas system, and Southeast Texas system. The Wholesale Propane Logistics segment owns and operates a propane marine import terminal; a leased propane marine terminal; a propane pipeline terminal; and six propane rail terminals, as well as access to several open access pipeline terminals. This segment sells its propane to retail propane distributors. The NGL Logistics segment operates Seabreeze and Wilbreeze NGL transportation pipelines, the Wattenberg NGL transportation pipeline, the Black Lake interstate NGL pipeline, and the NGL storage facility in Marysville, Michigan. DCP Midstream Partners, LP was founded in 2005 and is based in Denver, Colorado.

Best Defensive Stocks To Buy Right Now: Marani Brands Inc (MRIB.PK)

Marani Brands, Inc. (Marani), incorporated on May 30, 2001, is engaged in the importation and sale of alcoholic beverage products, primarily Marani Vodka, its flagship product. The Company�� primary business is the business of Margrit Enterprises International, Inc. (MEI), which is in the distribution of wine and spirit products manufactured in Armenia. Marani Vodka is made from winter wheat harvested in Armenia, distilled three times, aged in oak barrels lined with honey and skimmed dried milk, then filtered 25 times. Bottling of the product occurs at the Eraskh distillery in Armenia. On April 4, 2008, the Company, FFBI Merger Sub Corp. and MEI executed, and on April 7, 2008, the parties closed, a three party Merger Agreement.

The Company purchases all of its products from a single supplier, Eraskh Winery, Ltd., under an exclusive distribution agreement with Eraskh, an Armenian manufacturer of wine and other spirits. The new bottles for Marani Vodka are being manufactured in France by Saver Glass Company and China by Universal Group Co., Ltd. and shipped to Armenia to be filled at Eraskh. The Company�� product is being distributed by Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc. (SWS), in Southern California, in conjuction with PLCB Pennsylvania and Nevada. SWS is an alcoholic beverage distributor in the United States. The Company has established additional distributors, such as QV Distributors in Arizona and Wein-Baur in Illinois.

The Company competes with Diageo, Pernod Ricard, Bacardi and Brown-Forman.

Best Defensive Stocks To Buy Right Now: Lennar Corp.(LEN)

The third largest U.S. homebuilder by revenue reported exceptional Q3 results, as its earnings more than quadrupled, primarily as a result of an increase in new-home demand. The reported net income of 40c was well ahead of last year's 11c, and the forecasted 28c.

According to the company's CEO, Stuart Miller, "The homebuilding business is beginning to revert to normal, and that's a positive for the U.S. economy in general, which is in turn good for sustained recovery in the housing market. Overall demand has been improving and we've seen a consistent sales pace at improving prices."

LEN's contract backlog, which is an indicator of future sales, rose by a whopping 79% on a YoY basis. Its average selling price of delivered homes also increased to $258,000 from last year's $247,000.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By WALLSTCHEATSHEET.COM]
Lennar is a homebuilder that is experiencing consistent growth after the 2008 housing bubble burst. The stock has been on a powerful run higher but is now pulling back and digesting gains from its recent move. In the past four quarters, investors have been pleased; earnings have been improving and revenue figures have been rising. Relative to its peers and sector, Lennar has been a poor year-to-date performer. WAIT AND SEE what Lennar does this coming quarter.

Best Defensive Stocks To Buy Right Now: Far Vista Petroleum Corp (FVSTA)

Far Vista Petroleum Corp, formerly Far Vista Interactive Corp, incorporated on January 14, 1988, is a development-stage company. The Company focuses to reflect its business ventures in the oil and gas business. In July 2013, the Company acquired CJSC Chedty Neft.

As of May 29, 2013, the Company had not commenced its principal operations. The Company was engaged in the business of the development, distribution, marketing and sale of video game software products and online video games.

Best Defensive Stocks To Buy Right Now: Myriad Genetics Inc (MYGN.O)

Myriad Genetics, Inc. (Myriad) is a molecular diagnostic company. The Company is focused on developing and marketing predictive medicine, personalized medicine and prognostic medicine tests. It performs all of its molecular diagnostic testing and analysis in its own reference laboratories. These technologies include the cornerstone technologies of biomarker discovery, high-throughput deoxyribo nucleuc acid (DNA) sequencing, ribo nucleic acid (RNA) expression and multiplex protein analysis. The Company uses this information to guide the development of new molecular diagnostic tests that are designed to assess an individual's risk for developing disease later in life (predictive medicine), identify a patient's likelihood of responding to drug therapy and guide a patient's dosing to ensure optimal treatment (personalized medicine), or assess a patient's risk of disease progression and disease recurrence (prognostic medicine).

As of June 30, 2012, the Company h ad launched nine commercial molecular diagnostic tests. The Company markets these tests through its own approximate 385-person sales force in the United States. The Company also markets its BRACAnalysis, COLARIS, and COLARIS AP tests through its own European sales force and have entered into marketing collaborations with other organizations in selected Latin American, European and Asian countries. The Company also generates revenue by providing companion diagnostic services to the pharmaceutical, and biotechnology industries and medical research institutions utilizing its multiplexed immunoassay technology.

Molecular Diagnostic Tests

The Company's molecular diagnostic tests are designed to analyze genes, their mutations, expression levels and proteins to assess an individual's risk for developing disease later in life, determine a patient's likelihood of responding to a particular drug, assess a patient's risk of disease progression and disease recu rrence and measure a patient's exposure to drug therapy to! e! nsure optimal dosing and reduced drug toxicity. The Company's BRACAnalysis test is a analysis of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes for assessing a woman's risk of developing hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. BRACAnalysis accounted for 81.7% of the Company's total revenue during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012. Its The Company's COLARIS test is an analysis of the MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and PMS2 genes for assessing a person's risk of developing colorectal cancer or uterine cancer.

The Company's COLARIS AP test detects mutations in the APC and MYH genes, which cause a colon polyp-forming syndrome known as Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP), a more common variation of the syndrome known as attenuated FAP, and the MYH-associated polyposis signature (MAP). The Company's MELARIS test analyzes mutations in the p16 gene to determine genetic susceptibility to malignant melanoma. The Company's OnDose test is a nanoparticle immunoassay that is designed to assist oncologists in optimizing 5-FU (fluorouracil) anti-cancer drug therapy in colon cancer patients on an individualized basis. The Company's PANEXIA test is a comprehensive analysis of the PALB2 and BRCA2 genes for assessing a person's risk of developing pancreatic cancer later in life. The Company's PREZEON test is an immunohistochemistry test that analyzes the PTEN gene and assesses loss of PTEN function in many cancer types.

The Company's Prolaris test is a 46-gene molecular diagnostic assay that assesses whether a patient is likely to have a slow growing, indolent form of prostate cancer that can be safely monitored through active surveillance, or a more aggressive form of the disease that would warrant aggressive intervention, such as a radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy. The Company's TheraGuide 5-FU test analyzes mutations in the DPYD gene and variations in the TYMS gene to assess patient risk of toxicity to 5-FU (fluorouracil) anti-cancer drug therapy.

< p>Companion Diagnostic Services and Other Revenue

! Throug! h Myriad RBM Inc., the Company provides biomarker discovery and companion diagnostic services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical researches industries utilizing its multiplexed immunoassay technology. The Company's technology enables the Company to screen large sets of clinical samples from both diseased and non-diseased populations against the Company's menu of biomarkers. The Company's companion diagnostic services consist of Multi-Analyte Profile (MAP), Multiplexed Immunoassay Kits and TruCulture.

The Company has compiled a library of over 550 individual human and rodent immunoassays for use in its multi-analyte profile (MAP) testing services. The Company has also developed RodentMAP, a panel for use in pre-clinical animal studies and OncologyMAP, which measures cancer-related proteins to assists researchers accelerate the pace of discovery, validation and translation of cancer biomarkers for early detection, patient stratification and therapeu tic monitoring. The Company has developed multiplexed immunoassay kits that enable its customers to leverage its technology services with their in-house capabilities. The Company's internally developed multiplexed immunoassay kits include all of the components necessary for a customer to perform a test on their own Luminex instrument. TruCulture is a simple, self-contained whole blood culture that can be deployed to clinical sites around the world for acquiring cell culture data without specialized facilities or training.

Best Defensive Stocks To Buy Right Now: Universal Corporation(UVV)

Universal Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a leaf tobacco merchant and processor worldwide. It engages in selecting, procuring, buying, processing, packing, storing, supplying, shipping, and financing leaf tobacco for sale to, or for the account of, manufacturers of consumer tobacco products. The company processes and/or sells flue-cured and burley tobaccos, dark air-cured tobaccos, and oriental tobaccos; and provides value-added services, including blending, chemical and physical testing of tobacco, just-in-time inventory management, and manufacturing reconstituted sheet tobacco. Its flue-cured, burley, and oriental tobaccos are used principally in the manufacture of cigarettes; and dark air-cured tobaccos are used in the manufacture of cigars, pipe tobacco, and smokeless tobacco products. The company was founded in 1888 and is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Rupert Hargreaves]
Universal Corp (NYSE: UVV ) has paid out and raised its dividend for 41 consecutive years. This puts the company in an elite club of dividend aristocrats.�Aside from Altria (NYSE: MO ) , which has been paying and increasing its payout for 43 years, Universal actually has the longest dividend history of any company within the tobacco sector.

Best Defensive Stocks To Buy Right Now: Pan-united Corporation Ltd (P52.SI)

Pan-United Corporation Ltd operates as an integrated logistics and infrastructure company primarily in Singapore and China. It supplies basic building materials, such as cement, granite aggregates and related products, ready-mixed concrete, and refined petroleum products to the construction and marine industries. The company also provides shipping services, including bulk/coastal shipping/affreightment services, ship management and ship agency services, and trading services; and operates a fleet of tugboats and barges primarily on charter of affreightment basis. In addition, it operates a port and regional hub for steel, pulp and paper, and logs, as well as containerized general bulk, general cargoes in break bulk, and project cargoes; and provides warehousing and bonded warehousing, processing, steverdoring, transshipment, and third party logistic services. Pan-United Corporation Ltd was founded in 1958 and is based in Singapore.

Best Defensive Stocks To Buy Right Now: Shire plc (SHPGY)

Shire plc, a specialty biopharmaceutical company, engages in the research and development, manufacture, sale, and distribution of pharmaceutical products. It operates in two segments, Specialty Pharmaceuticals and Human Genetic Therapies. The Specialty Pharmaceuticals segment offers products for the treatment of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, including VYVANSE, a pro-drug stimulant; INTUNIV, an alpha-2A receptor; EQUASYM; and ADDERALL XR. It also produces PENTASA and LIALDA/MEZAVANT for the treatment of active ulcerative colitis; and RESOLOR, which is 5-HT4 receptor agonist that stimulates gastrointestinal motility. In addition, this segment provides FOSRENOL for use in end-stage renal failure patients receiving dialysis; CALCICHEW, a range of calcium and calcium/vitamin D3 supplements; CARBATROL, an anti-convulsant for individuals with epilepsy; REMINYL/REMINYL XL for the symptomatic treatment of dementia of the Alzheimer type; and XAGRID for the reduction of elevated platelet counts, as well as for the treatment of thrombocythemia. The Human Genetic Therapies segment offers REPLAGAL for Fabry disease; ELAPRASE for the treatment of hunter syndrome; FIRAZYR for hereditary angioedema; and VPRIV for the treatment of type 1 Gaucher disease. The company also licenses its patented antiviral products for human immunodeficiency virus and Hepatitis B. In addition, it is developing various products in the areas of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, human genetic therapies, and gastrointestinal diseases, as well as in other therapeutic areas. The company markets its products through distributors in North America, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, and internationally. It has collaboration agreements with Santaris Pharma A/S, Renovo Limited, and Acceleron Pharma, Inc. Shire plc was founded in 1986 and is based in Dublin, Ireland.

Best Defensive Stocks To Buy Right Now: Pulse Electronics Corporation(PULS)

Pulse Electronics Corporation produces precision-engineered electronic components and modules that are used to manage, transmit, and regulate electronic signals and power in various types of electronic products. The company operates in three segments: Network, Power, and Wireless. The Network segment produces various passive components, including connectors, filters, filtered connectors, transformers, inductors, splitters and diplexers, micro-filters, baluns, and chokes that manage and regulate electronic signals for use in various devices used in local area and wide area networks. The Power segment primarily manufactures products that adjust and ensure current and voltage, limit distortion of voltage, sense and report current and voltage, and cause mechanical movement or actuation. This segment?s products include power and signal transformers, chokes, current and voltage sensors, ignition coils, automotive ignition coils, military and aerospace products, and other power m agnetic products. The Wireless segment produces antennas, antenna modules, and antenna mounting components and cables that capture and transmit communication signals in handsets, other terminal and portable devices, automobiles, and wireless-to-wireline access points. The company sells its products and services to original equipment manufacturers, original design manufacturers, and contract equipment manufacturers who design, build, and market end-user products. Pulse Electronics Corporation markets its products primarily through direct sales forces worldwide. The company was formerly known as Technitrol, Inc. and changed its name to Pulse Electronics Corporation in November 2010. Pulse Electronics Corporation was founded in 1947 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.

Best Defensive Stocks To Buy Right Now: Heartland Payment Systems Inc. (HPY)

Heartland Payment Systems, Inc. provides bankcard payment processing services in the United States and Canada. It facilitates the exchange of information and funds between merchants and cardholder�s financial institutions; and offers end-to-end electronic payment processing services, including merchant set-up and training, transaction authorization and electronic draft capture, clearing and settlement, merchant accounting, merchant assistance and support, and risk management to merchants. The company also provides other merchant services comprising payroll processing, gift and loyalty programs, and prepaid and stored-value solutions; paper check processing; payroll and related tax filing services; and secure point-of-sale solutions, as well as sells and rents point-of-sale devices and supplies. In addition, it develops, manufactures, sells, services, and maintains computer software to facilitate accounting and management functions of food service operations of K to 12 sch ools. The company markets its bankcard payment processing services directly to small and mid-sized merchants, and national and mid-tier merchants. Heartland Payment Systems, Inc. was incorporated in 2000 and is headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Eric Volkman]
Heartland Payment Systems (NYSE: HPY ) is set to be an enthusiastic buyer of its own shares. The company's board has authorized a fresh stock repurchase program to the tune of $75 million. The move is effective immediately, and its term is open-ended.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Credit Suisse under scrutiny for aiding tax evasion

WASHINGTON (CNNMoney) Bankers helping customers buy gold bars to store in Swiss bank safes. A wealthy customer who traveled on flights hiding $250,000 in pantyhose to stash in Swiss accounts.

U.S. prosecutors say they have evidence like this to support their case that bankers at Credit Suisse Group helped U.S. customers evade taxes on at least $4 billion in hidden assets.

Investigations are heating up for Credit Suisse, the Swiss banking giant.

The Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations scheduled a hearing for next Wednesday that would focus on the alleged practices. It didn't name the bank that would be in focus, but sources familiar with the matter identified it as Credit Suisse.

The hearing is designed in part to help invigorate slow-moving settlement talks. People familiar with the talks say Credit Suisse has discussed a settlement of about $800 million.

But some U.S. officials are pushing for a tougher line. U.S. guidelines for failing to report foreign bank accounts call for penalties of 50% of the account values. In the Credit Suisse case, that would mean $2 billion.

In 2009, UBS, another Swiss bank, paid $780 million to settle similar charges. But that came at the time of the global financial crisis -- UBS was struggling and U.S. and Swiss banking regulators asked for a lighter penalty to avoid unsettling markets.

Credit Suisse is now in far healthier shape than UBS was and could absorb a bigger penalty, some U.S. officials believe.

Credit Suisse and the Justice Department declined to comment. Credit Suisse has previously said it is cooperating with the investigation.

The landmark UBS case helped crack vaunted Swiss bank secrecy, prompting some customers to move accounts and others to reach settlements with the IRS.

Documents filed by prosecutors allege that even as the Justice Department's probe of UBS was ongoing, Credit Suisse bankers were helping customers move their money from UBS into other b! anks to escape the reach of U.S. authorities. Eight Credit Suisse bankers have been charged, and all remain at large, believed to be in Switzerland.

In all, 14 Swiss banks are under criminal investigation.

The U.S. has also said about 100 Swiss banks have signaled their intent to come clean about accounts they were hiding for U.S. customers under a program that promises leniency in exchange for cooperation.

"The Department of Justice has put more pressure on the Swiss banks in the past six years than they have for the previous six decades," says Nathan Hochman, former assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's tax division.

Still, the long-running investigations have been dragging, causing frustration for some lawmakers and investigators. The clock is ticking more loudly now, because U.S. authorities have six years after a tax violation to bring charges.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

John Buckingham - 'Equities Look Like a Very Attractive Place to Be'

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Monday, February 17, 2014

Top 10 Services Stocks To Buy Right Now

Maybe you're still working off last night's eggnog binge, but hopefully you weren't the recipient of what the MarketSnacks team considers to be the year's worst gift -- naming a star after someone (brutal). The New York Stock Exchange was shut Wednesday for Christmas and closed early at 1 p.m. ET on Tuesday, but the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI ) still popped 63 points going into the holiday. Econ data's been driving this week's climb, and Thursday is all about weekly jobless claims.
1. Facebook & T-Mobile teamed up for free services
Facebook (NASDAQ: FB ) is free (if you have Internet access), but now for T-Mobile's (NYSE: TMUS ) prepaid wireless subsidiary GoSmart, Facebook mobile access will be provided free even if you don't have a data plan. The news, announced Tuesday by both Facebook and T-Mobile, means free Facebook for all -- even smartphone users who can't afford data.

T-Mobile wins (and climbed 1%) since it can attract low-income, Facebook-addicted people to buy phones with their GoSmart plans. At the risk of sounding like an infomercial, for just $25 a month, users will get unlimited calling and Facebook. Talk about enabling -- read about how T-Mobile's using a drug dealer's ploy by giving kids a try of the Internet for free (they'll be ready to pay once they've got a taste).

Facebook nudged up 0.3% on the news. Mark Zuckerberg's company will actually pay for the access, instead of the plan holders. How's that good for business? It's unclear, but with "Internet.org" and other campaigns to bring Internet to the masses, Zuckerberg is putting on his finest hoodie and definitely experimenting with this new strategy to increase Facebook mobile access. �

Top 10 Services Stocks To Buy Right Now: KIT digital Inc.(KITD)

KIT digital, Inc. provides end-to-end video asset management software and related services. It offers KIT platform for managing Internet protocol (IP)-based video assets across the browser, mobile device, and IPTV set-top box enabled television sets. The KIT platform?s solutions include KIT Media for content creators and media distributors to leverage IP video platforms and devices to reach new audiences; and KIT Enterprise for companies, non-profit organizations, and government agencies to harness the power of video to improve their external or internal communications. Its solutions also comprise KIT Operator to telecommunications companies, cable networks, Internet service providers, and connected device manufacturers as a multi-screen video asset management system allowing for organization of inbound content from outside providers, integration with internal customer identity and billing systems, programming and content packaging, and end-user experiences to their subsc ribers. In addition, the company provides professional services, such as systems integration for the capture, transcoding, storage, editing and play-out of video in film, television, and other broadcasting environments; content services; and digital marketing services. Further, it offers solutions that enable to create and manage video-based Web experiences; and professional IP-based, multi-screen video asset management solutions for managing, broadcasting, and monetizing videos on IP connected devices; and develops multi-channel solutions for the acquisition, management, and re-purposing of on-line digital IP-based content and video. KIT digital sells its products directly; and through resellers and affiliate partners in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, and the Asia Pacific. The company was formerly known as ROO Group, Inc. and changed its name to KIT digital, Inc. in May 2008. KIT digital, Inc. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Prague, the Czech Rep ublic.

Top 10 Services Stocks To Buy Right Now: Dice Holdings Inc. (DHX)

Dice Holdings, Inc. provides specialized career Websites and career fairs for professional communities. Its career Websites serve as online marketplaces where employers and recruiters find and recruit prospective employees, and where professionals find relevant job opportunities and information. The company's Tech and Clearance segment operates Dice.com, a recruiting and career development Website for technology and engineering professionals in the United States; and ClearanceJobs.com, an Internet-based career network to matching security-cleared professionals with hiring companies searching for employees. This segment also includes Slashdot Media, which comprises Websites, such as Slashdot, a user-generated news, analysis, peer question, and professional insight community; SourceForge, an online destination for technology professionals and enthusiasts to develop, download, review, and publish Open Source software; and Freecode that indexes downloadable Linux, Unix, and cr oss-platform software for a worldwide technology audience. Its Finance segment operates eFinancialCareers.com, a recruiting and career development Website for financial market professionals and financial services industry worldwide. The company's Energy segment operates Rigzone.com, a career Website that delivers online content, data, advertising, and career services for the oil and gas industry. Its Other segment includes Targeted Job Fairs, which produce and host career fairs and open houses focused primarily on technology, energy, and security-cleared candidates; Health Callings, a recruiting and career development Website for healthcare professionals; and WorkDigital, a technology company focused on the recruitment industry. The company serves staffing companies, recruiting agencies, consulting firms, and marketing departments of companies, as well as small, mid-sized, and large direct employers. Dice Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in New York, N ew York.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By gurujx]
Dice Holdings Incorporated (DHX) Reached the 3-year Low of $7.16
The prices of Dice Holdings Incorporated (DHX) shares have declined to close to the 3-year low of $7.16, which is 62.9% off the 3-year high of $18.75.
[By Jeff Reeves]
Dice Holdings (DHX) is a $500 million company that provides job-seekers with employment opportunities within their industry.

Unlike blanket sites like HotJobs from Yahoo (YHOO) or Monster Worldwide (MWW), Dice is compartmentalized with properties that includes tech portal Slashdot, oil and gas site Rigzone and finance site eFinancial Careers and medical career site Health Callings.
[By Rick Aristotle Munarriz]
Alamy The market may have rallied remarkably this year, but there are plenty of stocks that never got the memo. Dozens of stocks are hitting fresh 52-week lows these days, and some of them aren't as bad as their low stock prices would seem to suggest. Last week, I took a look at five stocks that didn't deserve to be hitting new 52-week highs. Now it's time to flip things around and look at five stocks that hit new 52-week lows last week that are prime candidates to bounce back. Dice Holdings (DHX) 52-Week Range: $6.83-$10.43 Dice operates several industry-specific career and employment websites, including the namesake Dice.com for tech jobs, ClearanceJobs.com for jobs that require security clearance, and Rigzone.com for jobs in the oil industry. It's a novel approach to helping folks in specific sectors network, and naturally this is magnetic to potential employers. The success of LinkedIn (LNKD) may have taken some of the shine off Dice, but the company's still finding ways to grow. Analysts see revenue climbing at a slightly better than 6 percent clip this year and again in 2014. Kinder Morgan (KMI) 52-Week Range: $32.30-$41.49 Kinder Morgan watches over the country's largest network of natural gas pipelines. Thanks to its reputation as a cleaner energy source than coal or petroleum (and the massive upsurge in U.S. production thanks to the fracking boom), natural gas is a growing source of domestic energy. Even commercial vehicles are starting to be powered by liquefied natural gas. Kinder Morgan is growing, but it has missed Wall Street's profit targets in each of the three past quarters. That's been enough to scare off some investors. However, the falling share price has also made Kinder Morgan's healthy dividend that much more compelling. The stock's yield of 4.6 percent is too rich to ignore here. Liquidity Services (LQDT) 52-Week Range: $20.37-$44.40 Liquidity Services prides itself as a problem solver. It runs a marketplace for items that need to b

Top 10 Forestry Companies To Buy For 2015: PriceSmart Inc.(PSMT)

PriceSmart, Inc. owns and operates membership shopping warehouse clubs in the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Its warehouse clubs sell perishable foods and consumer goods at low prices to individuals and businesses, as well as offers ancillary services, which include food courts, tire centers, and photo centers. The company operates its warehouse clubs under the brand name of PriceSmart. As of August 31, 2011, it operated 29 warehouse clubs in 12 countries and 1 U.S. territory, including 5 in Costa Rica, 4 each in Panama and Trinidad, 3 each in Guatemala and in the Dominican Republic, 2 each in El Salvador and Honduras, and 1 each in Colombia, Aruba, Barbados, Jamaica, Nicaragua, and the United States Virgin Islands. PriceSmart, Inc. was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Seth Jayson]
PriceSmart (Nasdaq: PSMT ) is expected to report Q3 earnings on July 10. 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 PriceSmart's revenues will grow 13.1% and EPS will grow 25.0%.
[By Brian Stoffel]
Today, I'm going to tell you why Latin American wholesaler PriceSmart (NASDAQ: PSMT ) will remain in "The World's Greatest Retirement Portfolio" for at least the next year.
[By Dan Caplinger]
PriceSmart (NASDAQ: PSMT ) will release its latest quarterly report on Wednesday, and investors are already optimistic about the company's prospects, having bid shares up to all-time highs. But for the stock to climb from here, PriceSmart earnings need to keep giving shareholders the growth they crave.

Top 10 Services Stocks To Buy Right Now: Mecox Lane Limited(MCOX)

Mecox Lane Limited, through its subsidiaries, engages in the design and sale of apparel, accessories, and home and healthcare products through its online platform and stores in the People?s Republic of China. Its apparel and accessories include women?s T-shirts, sweaters, jeans, dresses, outerwear, purses, and shoes, as well as offers kids? apparels and men?s apparels. The company also provides home furnishings and other small household appliances; a large-rim cup to cook instant noodles; beauty and healthcare products, such as skin care, fragrance, cosmetics, and other personal care products; and pet-related and other products. It sells its products under Euromoda and Rampage brands, as well as under third-party brands. In addition, the company involves in the telephonic sale of garments, accessories, and other products; and wholesale and retail of garments. Further, it offers software development and information technology support services. As of December 31, 2010, t he company operated 451 stores, including 327 franchised stores and 124 directly operated stores in 172 cities. Mecox Lane Limited distributes its products through company-owned and franchised stores, as well as through its M18.com e-commerce Website. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Shanghai, the People?s Republic of China. Mecox Lane Limited is a subsidiary of Mecox Lane.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Roberto Pedone]
Mecox Lane (MCOX) offers a selection of products apparel, accessories and home and health care products through its online platform and third party e-commerce websites. This stock closed up 13.5% to $4.10 in Tuesday's trading session.

Tuesday's Range: $3.62-$4.18

52-Week Range: $1.67-$7.88

Tuesday's Volume: 274,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 238,211

From a technical perspective, MCOX exploded higher here right above some near-term support at $3.42 and back above its 50-day moving average of $4 with above-average volume. This stock has been trending sideways and consolidating over the last two months, with shares moving between $3.23 on the downside and $4.58 on the upside. This spike on Tuesday is quickly pushing shares of MCOX within range of breaking out above the upper-end of its recent range. That trade will hit if MCOX manages to clear Tuesday's high of $4.18 and then above more resistance at $4.58 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in MCOX as long as it's trending above its 200-day at $3.24 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 238,211 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then MCOX will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $6 to its 52-week high at $7.88.

Top 10 Services Stocks To Buy Right Now: Conn's Inc.(CONN)

Conn?s, Inc. operates as a specialty retailer of home appliances, consumer electronics, home office equipment, lawn and garden products, mattresses, and furniture in the United States. Its home appliances products include refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, dishwashers, ranges, and room air conditioners; consumer electronics products consist of LED, LCD, plasma, DLP and 3-D televisions, camcorders, digital cameras, Blu-ray and DVD players, video game equipment, portable audio, MP3 players, GPS devices, and home theater products; and furniture and mattresses include living room, bedroom, and dining room furniture. The company's products also comprise lawn and garden equipment, which includes lawn mowers, lawn tractors, and handheld equipment; and home office equipment, including computers, notebooks, and computer accessories. It also offers repair service agreements and customer credit programs, including installment and revolving credit account programs, and various credit insurance products. In addition, the company sells its products online. As of January 20, 2012, it operated 70 retail locations in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. The company was founded in 1890 and is headquartered in Beaumont, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By DailyFinance Staff]
Job creation last month was shockingly weak, but analysts couldn't really explain why –- other than to blame the weather -- which left investors unsure how to react Friday. Many analysts say the numbers are likely to be revised higher next month, and in the end, market reaction was muted. The Dow Jones industrial average (^DJI) lost ground for a third straight day, declining nearly 8 points, but the Standard & Poor's 500 index (^GPSC) added 4, and the Nasdaq composite index (^IXIC) rose 18 points. Target (TGT) lost more than a point after saying the data breach that began on Black Friday was much worse than previously thought. The company now says as many as 70 million customers had personal information stolen. Target also lowered its fourth quarter outlook, partly because sales slumped after the data breach was first revealed. Sears (SHLD) tumbled by around 13.5 percent. It expects a big quarterly loss as sales fell during the holiday shopping season. Several smaller, specialty retailers also fell: Pacific Sunwear (PSUN) slid 16 percent, Five Below (FIVE) fell 7 percent, Shoe Carnival (SCVL) lost 5 percent, and Conn's (CONN) lost 2 percent. But Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) jumped 12 percent. It raised its earnings forecast as sales were not as bad as expected. Elsewhere, Alcoa (AA) fell about 5.5 percent. It's not quite the economic bellwether it used to be, but the aluminum giant still matters, and its net came in a bit shy of expectations. YRC Worldwide (YRCW) tumbled 13 percent after workers rejected a contract offer. That has raised fears the trucking company could be forced into bankruptcy. On the upside, the weak jobs report could keep mortgage rates from rising, and that boosted housing stocks. KB Homes (KBH) rose 3 percent, William Lyons up 4 percent, and Lennar (LEN) was up 2 percent. And on Thursday we reported that shares of Intercept Pharmaceuticals nearly quadrupled in price on news of a positive clinical study for its liver dr
[By Seth Jayson]
Conns (Nasdaq: CONN ) reported earnings on June 6. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended April 30 (Q1), Conns beat expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

Top 10 Services Stocks To Buy Right Now: Pan-united Corporation Ltd (P52.SI)

Top 10 Services Stocks To Buy Right Now: PCCW Ltd (0008.HK)

PCCW Limited is a Hong Kong-based holding company. Through its subsidiaries, the Company operates in five segments: HKT, which provides telecommunications services, including local telephony, local data and broadband, international telecommunications, mobile and other telecommunications businesses, such as customer premises equipment sales, outsourcing, consulting and contact centers; Media Business, including interactive pay-TV service, Internet portal multimedia entertainment platform and the Company's directories operations in Hong Kong and mainland China; Solutions Business, which offers IT services and solutions in Hong Kong and mainland China; Pacific Century Premium Developments Limited (PCPD), which covers the Company's property portfolio in Hong Kong and mainland China, and Other Businesses, which includes the Company's wireless broadband business in the United Kingdom and all corporate support functions.

Top 10 Services Stocks To Buy Right Now: Nordstrom Inc.(JWN)

Nordstrom, Inc., a fashion specialty retailer, offers apparel, shoes, cosmetics, and accessories for women, men, and children in the United States. It offers a selection of brand name and private label merchandise. The company sells its products through various channels, including Nordstrom full-line stores, off-price Nordstrom Rack stores, Jeffrey? boutiques, treasure & bond, and Last Chance clearance stores; and its online store, nordstrom.com, as well as through catalog. Nordstrom also provides a private label card, two Nordstrom VISA credit cards, and a debit card for Nordstrom purchases. The company?s credit and debit cards feature a shopping-based loyalty program. As of September 30, 2011, it operated 222 stores, including 117 full-line stores, 101 Nordstrom Racks, 2 Jeffrey boutiques, 1 treasure & bond store, and 1 clearance store in 30 states. The company was founded in 1901 and is based in Seattle, Washington.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Paul Ausick]
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT), Macy�� Inc. (NYSE: M), Kohl�� Corp. (NYSE: KSS), and Nordstrom Inc. (NYSE: JWN) have all already reported poor quarterly results that barely met expectations in most cases. There�� no reason to expect anything substantially different this week, except perhaps from Home Depot, which has history of being cautious with its estimates.
[By Ben Levisohn]
Shares of J.C. Penney have dropped 4.4% to $8.65 today at 9:33 a.m., while Macy’s (M) has fallen 1.2% to $42.99, Kohl’s (KSS) has dipped 0.9% to $51.56, Nordstrom (JWN) is off 0.8% to $55.99 and Dillard’s (DDS) has dropped 0.8% to $78.50.

Top 10 Services Stocks To Buy Right Now: Danier Leather Inc(DL.TO)

Danier Leather Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, manufacture, distribution, and retail of fashion leather and suede apparel, and accessories for men and women in Canada. It offers a line of clothing items, including sportswear, wool sweaters, casual cotton or nylon shirts, jackets, blazers, coats, winter lined, sheepskins, skirts, dresses, tops and vests, and pants under the Danier brand name. The company also offers accessories, such as hand bags, brief cases, laptop bags, casual bags, wallets, gloves, hats and scarves, belts, leather purses, portfolios, and travel and business accessories, as well as gift cards. As of June 25, 2011, it operated 89 retail locations comprising 57 shopping mall stores, 2 street-front stores, and 30 power centre stores in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Labrador. Danier Leather Inc. was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

Top 10 Services Stocks To Buy Right Now: Baltic Trading Limited (BALT)

Baltic Trading Limited engages in shipping business in the dry bulk industry spot market worldwide. The company operates a fleet of dry bulk ships that transport iron ore, coal, grain, steel products, and other dry bulk cargoes. Its fleet consists of 2 Capesize vessels, 4 Supramax vessels, and 3 Handysize vessels with an aggregate carrying capacity of approximately 672,000 deadweight tons. The company charters its vessels to trading houses, including commodities traders, as well as producers and government-owned entities. Baltic Trading Limited was founded in 2009 and is based in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Tim Melvin]
Baltic Trading (BALT) got slammed by 17% last week as the Baltic Dry Index continued its decline. The global recovery is going to have fits and starts and the sector will be quite volatile. Baltic Trading works in the spot market for cargo like iron ore, coal, grain, and steel products so the stock price will likely jump around with the BDI reading.

Top 10 Services Stocks To Buy Right Now: Tomra Systems ASA (TOM.OL)

Tomra Systems ASA (TOMRA) is a Norway-based company that produces sensor-based solutions for optimal resource productivity. The Company operates within two business segments: Collection Solutions, which offers reverse vending solutions, pick-up, transportation and processing of empty beverage containers, and Sorting Solutions, which provides optical sorting systems. The Company�� principal product groups include reverse vending systems, sensor-based sorting solutions, compaction and baling solutions, ore and mineral sorting solutions, as well as processing solutions for the food industry. As of December 31, 2011, the Company was active in over 50 countries around the world thorugh such subsidiaries, as Tomra Europe AS, Tomra Butikksystemer AS, Retail Services GmbH, Tomra Sorting Solutions Sro and Odenberg Engineering Ltd, among others. As of May 21, 2012, the Company's largest shareholder was Investment AB Latour, which held 15.5% shares.

Top 10 Services Stocks To Buy Right Now: ABM Industries Incorporated (ABM)

ABM Industries Incorporated provides integrated facility solutions services in the United States and internationally. It offers floor cleaning and finishing, window washing, furniture polishing, carpet cleaning and dusting, and other building cleaning services for commercial office and industrial buildings, retail stores, shopping centers, warehouses, airport terminals, health facilities, educational institutions, stadiums and arenas, and government buildings. The company also provides mobile and onsite services comprising mechanical engineering and technical services and solutions for infrastructure systems, including maintenance, retro-commissioning, mechanical retrofits and upgrades, electric vehicle charging stations, electrical service, systems start-ups, performance testing, and energy audits to government facilities, military installations, commercial infrastructure, airports/transportation centers, healthcare centers and hospitals, data centers, manufacturing facil ities, educational campuses, corporate office buildings, resorts, shopping malls, museums, and residences. In addition, it offers support programs to government, such as leadership development, education and training, language support, medical support, and construction management services; and food and facility solutions services to hospitals, healthcare systems, long-term care facilities, and retirement communities. Further, the company operates parking lots and garages at office buildings, hotels, medical centers, retail centers, sports and entertainment arenas, educational institutions, municipalities, and airports; and provides transportation services. Additionally, it offers security services comprising staffing of security officers, mobile patrol services, investigative services, electronic monitoring of fire, life safety systems, access control devices, and security consulting services to various facilities. The company was founded in 1909 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Dan Caplinger]
Next Monday, ABM Industries (NYSE: ABM ) will release its latest quarterly results. With the stock having recently hit 52-week highs, can the company keep delivering the growth that investors want to see?
[By Dividends4Life]
ABM Industries Incorporated (ABM) offers floor cleaning and finishing, window washing, furniture polishing, carpet cleaning and dusting, and other building cleaning services. December 9th the company increased its quarterly dividend 3.3% to $0.155 per share. The dividend is payable February 3, 2014, to stockholders of record on January 2, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 2.3%.

Top 10 Services Stocks To Buy Right Now: Brown Shoe Company Inc. (BWS)

Brown Shoe Company, Inc., a footwear company, engages in the retail and wholesale of footwear. It operates through Famous Footwear, Wholesale Operations, and Specialty Retail segments. The company provides licensed, branded, and private-label casual, dress, and athletic footwear products to women, men, and children. It operates retail shoe stores under the Famous Footwear name that offer shoes of various brands, including Nike, Skechers, New Balance, Converse, adidas, DC, LifeStride, Reebok, Sperry, Asics, Puma, Dr. Scholl�s Shoes, Vans, BOC by Born, Sof Sole, Fergalicious, and Bearpaw. The company also operates shoe stores under the Naturalizer name, which provide women�s footwear, including casual, dress, sandals, and boots under the Naturalizer brand; operates retail stores under Dr. Scholl�s Shoes and Sam Edelman names; and sells its products through Internet retail that include Shoes.com, Famous.com, Naturalizer.com, Naturalizer.ca, and DrSchollsShoes.com, as well as ViaSpiga.com, LifeStride.com, and Ryka.com. As of February 2, 2013, it operated 1,277 retail shoe stores in the United States, Canada, China, and Guam. In addition, the company designs, sources, and markets footwear to retail stores, such as national chains, department stores, independent retailers, mass merchandisers, online retailers, and catalogs. Brown Shoe Company, Inc. was founded in 1878 and is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Paul Ausick]
Big earnings movers: Tiffany & Co. (NYSE: TIF) reported better-than-expected earnings and revenues and raised its guidance slightly, but even posting a new 52-week high early could hold the stock from dropping about 1.3% today. Brown Shoe Co. Inc. (NYSE: BWS) also posted good earnings, but followed with slightly lower EPS guidance and the stock lost about 9%, trading around $21.60 in a 52-week range of $13.68 to $24.78. Another footwear maker, DSW Inc. (NYSE: DSW) put up good results and raised its guidance as well, sending shares up more than 9% to a new 52-week high of $88.73 in the mid-morning.
[By Dan Moskowitz]
Skechers (NYSE: SKX ) has is up 65% year-to-date, outperforming Brown Shoe (NYSE: BWS ) , Wolverine World Wide (NYSE: WWW ) , Deckers Outdoor (NASDAQ: DECK ) , and Nike (NYSE: NKE ) , which have appreciated 26%, 39%, 62%, and 43%, respectively. Skechers' upside move is justifiable based on the company's recent performance. At the same time, this doesn't mean Skechers will offer the best long-term investment opportunity in this group.
[By Rich Duprey]
Global footwear maker�Brown Shoe� (NYSE: BWS ) �announced yesterday�its second-quarter dividend of $0.07 per share, the same rate it's paid since 2007.

Saturday, February 15, 2014

For marijuana magazine, high and heady times

When staffers at the marijuana fan magazine High Times participated in an "Ask Me Anything" online forum at the website Reddit, they answered plenty of questions. But they danced around one that was the most frequently asked: Ever run into legal trouble?

Founded in 1974 by renegade journalist and pot trafficker Tom Forcade, New York-based High Times is a cult publication with a loyal following and a steady base of advertisers who have always tinkered with the boundaries of legality and legitimacy.

But with recreational marijuana now legalized in two states, the cannabis movement is picking up steam – both as a political issue and a commercial enterprise for those involved in growing and promoting the plant.

High Times is no exception. The monthly magazine – whose staffers frequent grow houses and "dispensaries" that are still illegal in most states – has always operated with one eye toward law enforcement. But it's becoming more comfortable with its place in conventional publishing as the legalization movement spurs reader interest and emboldened cannabis fans pack its events. An outdoor expo High Times held this past weekend near Los Angeles drew 13,000. Many in attendance were openly puffing pot.

Legalization of recreational marijuana in Colorado and Washington "is only going to make things better for High Times," says Dan Skye, the pen name of the magazine's editorial director. Skye refused to give is real name and wouldn't explain, saying only that the decision was "personal." Several other staffers use pseudonyms, perhaps fearful of legal jeopardy. "When a state legalizes, more people become aware of cannabis. People say 'What are you going to do when it's legalized?' But we're actually doing better."

The bulk of its revenue still comes from the magazine, which is owned by Trans-High Corporation. While the company has suffered along with the rest of the magazine industry as the print ad market shrinks, its page count has rebounded to about 150 in recent months, t! opping the levels seen before the 2008 financial crisis.

The magazine declined to provide circulation data and is not a member of any independent agency that collects subscription information. It it has told advertisers that it has a circulation of 235,000, according to Samir Husni, director of the Magazine Innovation Center at the University of Mississippi.

The desktop traffic of unique visitors at HighTimes.com in December totaled 534,000 hits, a modest figure but up 254% from a year ago, according to Comscore.

Skye declined to disclose Trans-High's financial information. Its major shareholder, Michael Kennedy, who started working for the company at its inception as chief counsel, couldn't be reached for comment.

High Times is seeking to seize the cannabis momentum in other areas beyond publishing. Cannabis Cup, the magazine's two-day trade show complete with a contest for the best marijuana strain, has expanded; it's now held in six cities a year. A Denver show, its largest event, drew 18,000 last year.

The shows feature open booths and outdoor activities. Smoking is allowed in certain areas. The judges who select the best marijuana smoke in an undisclosed dislocation.

With marijuana-related start-ups often unable to secure funding, High Times also launched last month a private investment firm – run by Kennedy - to encourage more entrepreneurs in what it hopes is an emerging niche.

"High Times was the one publication to take marijuana seriously when nobody else did," says Dale Sky Jones, executive chancellor at Oaksterdam University, a school for marijuana growers. It "was the safe place to go, where like-minded people could find other folks that shared that passion. And I daresay, personally, it ranks up there with Playboy as kind of the forbidden fruit growing up. You always wanted to look at it, but you never wanted to get caught with it."

A COLORFUL HISTORY

Befitting its outlaw image that the magazine is trying hard to shed, High Times' colo! rful hist! ory doesn't disappoint.

Forcade, the magazine's founder, killed himself in 1978 following a series of run-ins with law enforcement officials. In 1976, his attempt to hide a nine-ton load of marijuana in his Winnebago from police went awry when he accidentally drove it into a Florida swamp, according to a 2012 article on The Daily Beast. The article relied on a retrospective published on the magazine's 20th anniversary by former High Times editor Albert Goldman

In its early days, High Times reveled in and actively promoted its renegade reputation. The magazine often published stories about other topics – cocaine use, UFOs, guerrilla fighters in Mexico. One 1978 issue featuring President Carter on the cover – with an article insinuating that a White House doctor may have prescribed cocaine for medicinal purposes to the president – "sold off the hook," Skye says.

In 2005, the magazine's editors adopted a more laser-like focus on marijuana, with articles about grow houses, politics of legalization, popular dispensaries and product reviews. "Before we were just a stoners' magazine," Skye says. "We narrowed our focus to make sure we are addressing the audience all the time. We're now going on all fronts – hemp, industrial, medical, (political) issues. We don't cover whack job stories anymore."

With about 20 staffers in the newsroom and advertising, it's a lean operation that relies heavily on freelancers.

"The work they've done is extensive and far-ranging," says Al Byrne, co-founder of Patients Out of Time, a non-profit organization that advocates legalization of cannabis for medical purposes. "They've helped educate the public on what hemp is. But commingling of medical marijuana with the stoner image has been negative. They don't do that as often now."

EARLY TRADITIONS

But some of the early traditions endure. Borrowing from Playboy, High Times runs a centerfold marijuana photo each month. It also seeks to run frequent interviews with celebrities, though t! hey can b! e hard to come by, given the nature of the conversations the magazine seeks to hold.

Its relationship with law enforcement also remains tricky. While Skye says no editorial employees have been arrested for doing their jobs, an advertising executive, Matthew Woodstock Stang, was one of 40 individuals arrested and charged in New York in 2010 for distributing marijuana in the area in "a massive marijuana trafficking ring." He was convicted and sentenced to time served, ordered to forfeit $250,000 in proceeds from his criminal activities and fined $3,000, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in New York.

"I've shot hundreds of grow rooms and seen pounds and pounds of cannabis," Skye says, perhaps explaining why he and others at High Times use pseudonym. "But (a police crackdown) is always a concern. There's always an amount of care."

Contributing: Gabrielle Kratsas

Friday, February 14, 2014

Market Hustle: Stocks Gain as Consumer Sentiment, Earnings Beat Expectations

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Stocks moved higher Friday, reversing earlier declines after consumer sentiment beat expectations and companies from Cliffs Natural Resources (CLF) to Campbell Soup (CPB) topped earnings estimates.

The S&P 500 is now up 5.1% from a three-month low on Feb. 3, and is poised for a second week of gains after Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen indicated the central bank's stimulus tapering plans will stay the course. The S&P 500 was up 0.43% to 1,837.65 while the Dow Jones Industrial Average was 0.67% higher at 16,135.35. The Nasdaq was up 0.08% to 4,243.79. The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan preliminary index of U.S. consumer sentiment was unchanged in February from a month earlier at 81.2. Expectations were for a decline to 80.2. "The truth is that confidence has not been a reliable predictor of consumption for some years now, so this really doesn't offer much comfort. We would place more weight on the trends in job and income growth," Capital Economics senior U.S. economist Paul Dales told clients. January industrial production fell 0.3% after rising 0.3% in December. The result was below expectations, with manufacturing output falling 0.8%, partly due to severe weather. Top gainers included Cliffs Natural Resources and Campbell Soup after both beat earnings estimates. Their shares were gaining 5.57% and 4.69%, respectively. Defensive play Exxon Mobil (XOM) was another top gainer in the Dow, rising 2.55% amid the cold weather while Murphy Oil (MUR) was up 3.34%. Reuters reported Friday that Murphy is considering selling some of its Asian oil and gas assets in a deal that could fetch up to $3 billion. Import prices rose by a slightly more-than-expected 0.1% in January after an upwardly revised 0.2% in December, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The European Union's gross domestic product rose 1.1% at an annualized rate during the fourth quarter, the third-straight quarter of growth. For 2013 as a whole, GDP fell 0.4%. Italy's sacked prime minister Enrico Letta has submitted his resignation, with Matteo Renzi, a centre-left Democratic party leader, expected to form a new government next week. Jos. A. Bank Clothiers (JOSB) was up 0.42% after its announcement that the company is acquiring Eddie Bauer for $825 million. Weight Watchers International (WTW) was diving 26% after its quarterly earnings missed projections. Germany's DAX closed ahead by 0.68% while the FTSE finished up 0.06%. Japan's Nikkei closed down 1.53% while the Hang Seng was 0.60% higher.

--- By Jane Searle and Andrea Tse in New York

Stock quotes in this article: DJI, ^GSPC, ^IXIC, JOSB, WTW, XOM, CLF, CPB, MUR

Thursday, February 13, 2014

5 Smartwatches You Can Buy Right Now

The rumors are growing that Apple is on the cusp of releasing its iWatch, but while investors are impatiently waiting for the company to enter the wearables market, Samsung (NASDAQOTH: SSNLF ) , Sony (NYSE: SNE ) , Qualcomm (NASDAQ: QCOM ) and others are already firmly in the smartwatch space.

Flip through the slideshow below to check out some of the latest smartwatches on the market and the key features that make them stand out from the rest of the pack. The devices run the gamut from the top tech companies to crowd-sourced start-ups, and each have their own merits. Whether you prefer high-end cameras, special apps, or a budget conscious option, the following smartwatches are some of the best on the market.

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Wednesday, February 12, 2014

The 4 Stocks That Dominated the Market on Wednesday

February 12, 2014: Markets opened higher on Wednesday, but not by much. A report on a big jump in China's trade balance from earlier in the day may or may not have been accurate, but there was little other economic data out today. In the final minutes of trading the DJIA was down 0.21%, the S&P 500 was down 0.4%, and the Nasdaq Composite was up 0.19%.

Today's big gainer among the Dow 30 stocks was Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT). Shares were trading up 1.29% at $96.19 in a 52-week range of $79.49 to $97.50 shortly before the closing bell. Smaller rival Deere & Co. (NYSE: DE) posted better than expected results this morning and that is likely the cause for Cat's rising stock price. Volume today was about equal to the daily average of around 5.8 million shares.

Consumer products giant The Procter & Gamble Co. (NYSE: PG) said this morning that said it would take a one-time charge of $230 to $280 million related to devaluation of Venezuela's currency. Shares traded down 1.76% at $77.45 in a 52-week range of $73.61 to $85.82. Trading volume was about 6% higher than the daily average of nearly 9 million shares traded.

S&P 500 stock Lorillard Inc. (NYSE: LO) had dropped 4.84% shortly before today's close at $47.51, in a 52-week range of $37.95 to $53.27. The tobacco company missed estimates for the fourth quarter and the full year this morning. Share volume was more than triple the daily average of around 3 million shares traded.

Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) traded down 3.62% at $348.69 today after losing its Buy rating at UBS. A threatened increase to the cost of Amazon Prime could significantly reduce the number of subscribers to the service. UBS lowered its price target on the stock from $450 to $375. Amazon's 52-week range is $245.75 to $408.06. Volume was about 67% above the daily average of around 3.3 million shares.

Of the Dow 30 stocks 14 closed lower today while 16 closed higher.

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Dividends in Focus: McDonald’s Corporation (MCD)

Shares of fast food giant McDonald’s Corporation (MCD) peaked in mid-April 2013 and have been on a steady decline since then. Let’s explore what’s in store for the company over the next 12 months, with a focus on dividends.

McDonald’s's Current Dividend Policy

MCD currently pays a quarterly dividend of 84 cents per share, or $3.24 on an annualized basis. Its dividend yield sits around 3.4%, which is toward the top of its historic range. Analysts expect 7% earnings growth for the company in 2014. Based on those projections, the company’s 2014 payout ratio is a healthy 54%. Thus, we see no stumbling blocks for McDonald’s to raise its dividend once again next year, likely beginning with its Q4 2014 payout.

Dividend.com DARS Ratings for McDonald’s Overall Rating:Neutral (3.4/5)

Metric Rating Explanation

Relative Strength		Stock is performing in-line with the market or better.
Overall Yield Attractiveness		Stock’s dividend yield is adequate.
Dividend Reliability		This rating is related to the length and consistency of a company’s dividend payouts, as well as our opinion on how likely the company is to continue payouts in the future.
Dividend Uptrend		Dividend payouts are consistent, but increases small.
Earnings Growth		Earnings estimates are uptrending.

Friday, February 7, 2014

We'll Have Flying Cars in 3 Years, but Not Like 'The Jetsons'

TerrafugiaTerrafugia's first flying car model, the Transition. The term "flying car" brings to mind images from "The Jetsons" and "Blade Runner," where the skies are crowded with vehicles and the average driver spends more time aloft than on the ground. That reality remains in the distant future, but it's hardly unimaginable. Real flying cars should be on the market in the next few years, but the first wave will be designed for pilots who sometimes want to drive -- not ordinary drivers who want to fly above traffic. The Driving Plane

Leading the way is Terrafugia, founded in 2006 by five MIT-trained engineers, all of them pilots. In an interview, co-founder and CEO Carl Dietrich said they started off by identifying the biggest problems with flying as a hobby. They came up with four, he said:

Small aircraft can't fly in bad weather. For multi-day trips, that means taking the risk that you may not be able to get home if a storm crops up. It takes a lot of money to own a plane. Beyond the purchase price, there's jet fuel and the cost of safely storing the plane at an airport. It can take awhile to travel from one's home to the airport. That's time when you can't be in the air. Options for ground transportation tend to be limited or non-existent at the small airports used by private aircraft, so once you land somewhere, it's hard to keep going on the ground.

These are all serious limits to the practicality and enjoyment of flying as a hobby. And they're solved by Terrafugia's first model, the Transition. The Transition is a small aircraft whose wings can fold up so it can drive on the road. Its price is comparable to that of other small planes, but Dietrich says the cost of ownership will be significantly reduced. It uses automotive gasoline, so more expensive aviation fuel isn't necessary. It's efficient: Flying at 100 mph, it gets an outstanding 20 miles per gallon. Plenty of cars get the same rate at significantly lower speeds. Terrafugia says that on the ground, the Transition gets 35 mpg, also impressive. With the wings folded, it can fit in the average garage, so there's no more need to pay to keep it at an airport. The ground transportation problem is solved, since you just drive it home after landing. If the weather's bad, you don't have to fly. Just drive instead. Terrafugia isn't the only company in this market, and there's more than one way to get a car in the air. The Flying Motorcycle

PAL-V ONE flying car helicopter motorcycle

PAL-VThe PAL-V ONE in driving mode.

Dutch company PAL-V was founded in 2001. Unlike the Transition, the three-wheeled PAL-V ONE is more motorcycle than car, and more helicopter than plane. But it still drives and flies. It's actually a gyrocopter (also called an autogyro), which uses an engine-powered propeller to create thrust and an unpowered rotor to create lift. Slower than a helicopter, it's also simpler to fly. PAL-V CEO Robert Dingemanse said it's easy to learn to use, and there's no real risk of stalling. Unlike the Transition, the PAL-V ONE can avoid airports altogether, thanks to short takeoff and landing capability. It flies at a max speed of 112 mph and stays below 4,000 feet, out of commercial airspace. Common Ground Despite their different designs, the Transition and the PAL-V ONE have a lot in common in how they will be used. The PAL-V One started "more as a driving airplane than flying car," Dingemanse said, and the key customer is the person who already knows how to fly. The vehicle will remain a "very small part of the car market for a long time," Dingemanse said. Terrafugia's Dietrich agreed that the Transition will be used more as a driving plane than a flying car, but said he sees a market beyond existing pilots. It is "mostly for pilots today," he said, but it's an obvious way to bring more people into aviation. The company has taken over 100 deposits for the Transition, each for $10,000. Of those customers, a quarter are not pilots. Serious Hurdles

TerrafugiaWith its wings folded, the Transition can fit in the average garage.

Both Terrafugia and PAL-V ONE have solved the basic technological challenges of building a vehicle that drives and flies capably, as their testing proves. But there's a large gap between developing that technology and bringing it to market, especially in the U.S. and Europe, where the auto and aviation industries are carefully and heavily regulated.

Although both vehicles can fly, each has several more years of testing and development before any customers can take them for a spin.

The current transition is a second generation prototype, and is being used for flight testing. The third generation will be used for crash testing, and misuse testing (like driving on cobblestones). The Terrafugia will make tweaks based on the results, build a conforming prototype, and repeat the initial flight testing. That should all be done in two and a half to three years, Dietrich said. All told, the process will have taken a decade. PAL-V is on a similar schedule. The company has a proof of concept, and now there's a "lot of engineering work" to do, Dingemanse said. He expects deliveries to begin in late 2015 or early 2016. Both are serious projects that have already well on their way to certification. Terrafugia has received a key weight exemption from the FAA, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration allowed it to bypass a few regulations that would delay development but not impact safety. The PAL-V, which is backed partly by the Dutch government, is classified as a motorbike, not a car. That gives the company "much more freedom in design," Dingemanse said, partly because European auto safety standards are especially strict. Filling The Skies

PAL-V The PAL-V ONE in flight.

If these vehicles are really designed to make pilots' lives easier, when will we get to a point where the average driver gets to fly? We're nowhere near life in "The Jetsons" or "Blade Runner," but we're headed in the right direction. Terrafugia and PAL-V ONE are serious companies with products we expect to see make it to market, if in limited numbers. From there, it's a question of improving the technology (largely to make flying easier than it is now), ramping up production, getting people interested, updating regulations, and building infrastructure. That's a lot of work, but it's been done before. The auto and aviation industries were both in their infancy a century ago. Now we have millions of cars on the road and 30,000 daily flights in the U.S. Terrafugia is already working on a second model, the TF-X, which will take off and land vertically, and fly at 200 mph. Dietrich says customers could learn to operate it in just five hours, though regulatory changes will be needed to make it available. Some technologies and capabilities that autonomous flying cars will depend on are included in the Next Generation Air Transportation System, which is being slowly implemented by the FAA, Dingemanse explained.