Stay Calm. Higher Mortgage Rates Aren't That Big a Deal

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- The Federal Reserve is out with its latest projections for the U.S. economy, and those estimates lean toward the bullish.

At an Open Markets Committee meeting Wednesday and Thursday, Fed officials released the following benchmark projections:

U.S. Gross Domestic Product in 2013: 2.3% 2014: 3.1% 2015: 3.5%

Unemployment rate in 2013: 7.3% 2014: 6.8% 2015: 6.2% Core inflation in 2013: 1.3% 2014: 1.7% 2015: 2% With those estimates, the Federal Reserve is projecting a strengthening economy but stopping short of easing its monetary stimulus strategy, and it will continue to buy up agency mortgage-backed securities at a rate of $40 billion per month and longer-term U.S. Treasuries at $45 billion per month. [Read: 3 'Inside' Tips for When You Need a Mortgage ] "Taken together, these actions should maintain downward pressure on longer-term interest rates, support mortgage markets and help to make broader financial conditions more accommodative, which in turn should promote a stronger economic recovery and help to ensure that inflation, over time, is at the rate most consistent with the committee's dual mandate," the Fed says in minutes released from the Open Markets Committee meeting. Ostensibly, that should keep interest rates low and mortgage rates from rising too high. But as homebuyers who have done their homework know, rates have risen this year, especially in the all-important summer buying months. According to the BankingMyWay Weekly Mortgage Rate tracker, rates have risen from about 3.9% on June 1 to 4.6% this week. That's a fairly significant rise in a short time, and one that could scare off homebuyers who see higher mortgage payments when they see higher interest rates. But should those rates really scare off potential homeowners? Not really, says Rick Allen, chief operating officer of Mortgage Marvel, an online mortgage services provider. "Since Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke announced that the Federal Reserve might slow the pace of its bond-buying stimulus this year, mortgage rates have jumped dramatically," Allen says. "Potential homebuyers might be discouraged, but they shouldn't be." Allen lays out the following scenario for homebuyers, maintaining that the difference in mortgage payments from a 3.9% mortgage rate to a 4.6% mortgage rate isn't all that dramatic. [Read: With Little Building Going On, Homeowners With Equity Can Sell Fast and High ] Take out a $100,000 loan, for instance, and your total monthly payment at 3.9% will be $471.67, while at 4.6 it's $511.45 -- a difference of $39.78. Take out a $300,000 loan and those payments are $1,415 and $1,534.35 respectively, for a difference of $119.35. While forking over an extra $40 or $120 a month (or somewhere in between) to your bank or lender isn't optimal, it shouldn't be a deal breaker to own your own home, Allen says. Plus, as more buyers step up and buy homes, it drives up the prices of their homes and others, meaning they can make up the lost monthly payments in the value of their own houses -- as long as they keep rising, which Allen expects.

McDonald’s Testing New Way to Pay (MCD)

Fast food bellwether McDonald’s (MCD) announced on Tuesday that it had rolled out a new payment method that it is testing in select cities across the Southwest.Lisa McComb, spokesperson for McDonald’s, commented in an email to Bloomberg that the company has released an application that allows for customers to pay at the register directly from their smartphone. McComb went on to mention that the payment app is currently being tested in restaurant locations across Salt Lake City, Utah and Austin, Texas. McDonald’s also released global monthly sales data on the day; sales in the U.S. improved by 0.2% for the month while Europe saw a 3.3% jump.

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McDonald’s shares traded higher on Tuesday, gaining 0.46% on the day. The stock is up nearly 10% YTD.

10 Best Heal Care Stocks To Own For 2014

Well, that didn't take long. It's only been a few days since Defense Distributed debuted its working 3-D printed, all-plastic gun and, as they suggested was a possibility, the government has swooped in and�seized the company's website.

The U.S. State Department ordered the gun maker to remove the 3-D plans for the Liberator because it violated the International Traffic in Arms Regulation, a law designed to stop the export of weapons. In its letter to Defense Distributed, the government agency said that under ITAR,�"disclosing (including oral or visual disclosure) or transferring technical data to a foreign person, whether in the United States or abroad, is considered an export."

So uploading files to the Internet is now considered "exporting."

10 Best Heal Care Stocks To Own For 2014: ADTRAN Inc.(ADTN)

ADTRAN, Inc. designs, manufactures, markets, and services communications network solutions that enable voice, data, video, and Internet communications across wireline and wireless networks worldwide. Its Carrier Networks division provides fiber and copper-based solutions for service providers to deliver voice, data, and video services to customers? premises and mobile network cell sites. Its products enable services, such as voice, VoIP, IP television, RF video, high speed Internet access, and data services based upon Ethernet, frame relay, TDM, and ATM networks, connecting the network with user components, such as switches, routers, gateways, integrated access devices (IADs), private branch exchanges (PBXs), and telephone key systems. This division serves local exchange carriers, independent operating companies, competitive local exchange carriers, utilities, municipalities, cable MSOs, international carriers, and wireless service providers. The company?s Enterprise Net works division provides Internetworking solutions for enterprise customers to construct voice, data, and video networks within their sites or among distributed sites. It offers Internetworking solutions, including IP business gateways, optical network terminals, virtual wireless LAN products, multi-service routers, managed Ethernet switches, IP PBX products, IP phone products, unified communications and unified threat management solutions, and carrier Ethernet network terminating equipment, as well as provides IADs. This division serves the retail, food service, healthcare, finance, government, education, manufacturing, military, transportation, hospitality, and energy/utility markets. ADTRAN, Inc. also provides digital data service and integrated services digital network products, high bit-rate digital subscriber line products, T1/E1/T3, channel service units/data service units, and fixed wireless products. The company was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lee Jackson]

  ADTRAN Inc. (NASDAQ: ADTN) is a leading global provider of networking and communications equipment. Its products enable voice, data, video and Internet communications across a variety of network infrastructures. ADTRAN solutions are currently in use by service providers, private enterprises, government organizations and millions of individual users worldwide. The Thomson/First Call price target for the stock is $22, and investors receive a 1.4% dividend.

10 Best Heal Care Stocks To Own For 2014: Quad Graphics Inc(QUAD)

Quad/Graphics, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of print and related products and services in North America, Latin America, and Europe. It offers print solutions, including catalogs, consumer magazines, special interest publications, direct mail, packaging and other commercial and specialty printed products, retail inserts, books, and directories. The company also provides media solutions comprising creative, digital imaging, video, photography, workflow solutions, mobile and social media, and response data analytics services. In addition, it offers logistics services, such as mailing, distribution, logistics, and data optimization and hygiene services; and printing-related auxiliary equipment for original equipment manufacturers and printing companies, as well as provides ink. The company markets its products and services to various companies that operate in a range of industries and serve businesses and consumers consisting of retailers, pub lishers, and direct marketers. Quad/Graphics, Inc. was founded in 1971 and is headquartered in Sussex, Wisconsin.

Top Dividend Stocks To Watch For 2014: First Clover Leaf Financial Corp.(FCLF)

First Clover Leaf Financial Corp. operates as the holding company for First Clover Leaf Bank, a federal savings bank that provides various banking products and services in Illinois. It principally offers retail deposit products and lends loans. The company?s deposit products include demand and NOW, money market, savings, and term certificate accounts. Its loan portfolio comprises one-to four-family residential mortgage loans; commercial real estate loans; multifamily mortgage loans; construction and land loans; commercial business loans; and consumer loans, including automobile loans and home equity loans. The company also sells credit life and disability insurance policies. It operates through four branch offices located in Edwardsville and Wood River. First Clover Leaf Financial Corp. was founded in 1921 and is headquartered in Edwardsville, Illinois.

10 Best Heal Care Stocks To Own For 2014: Brookfield Residential Properties Inc (BRP)

Brookfield Residential Properties Inc. (Brookfield Residential) is a land developer and homebuilder.The Company entitles and develops land and builds homes for its own communities, as well as sells lots to third-party builders. It operates in three segments in North America: Canada, California and Central and Eastern U.S. Each of the Company�� segments specializes in lot entitlement and development and the construction of single-family and multi-family homes. As of December 31, 2011, Brookfield Residential controlled 108,197 lots. The Company became a public company on March 31, 2011, by combining the former business of Brookfield Homes Corporation (Brookfield Homes) and the residential land and housing division (BPO Residential) of Brookfield Office Properties Inc. into a single residential land and housing company, achieved through a merger and series of related transactions completed on March 31, 2011. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dimitra DeFotis]

  In the homebuidling category:

  Weyerhaeuser (WY), the producer of lumber, was up nearly 3%. On Thursday, Citigroup Analyst Anthony Pettinari wrote that Weyerhaeuser could sell its homebuilder unit for between $2.5 billion and $3.5 billion, and interested buyers in the unit, WRECO, could include Lennar�(LEN), Toll Brothers (TOL) and Brookfield Residential Properties (BRP). About 67% of the Weyerhaeuser unit’s roughly 27,000 lots are in California. Citi has a Buy rating on Weyerhauser and a $35 price target. Lennar, the home builder, was�up 2.6%. Masco (MAS), the building materials maker, was�up 2%.� PulteGroup (PHM), the home builder, was�up 2%. DR Horton�(DHI), the home builder, was�up 1.9%.

  Among real estate trusts:

10 Best Heal Care Stocks To Own For 2014: Spark Infrastructure Group (SKI.AX)

Spark Infrastructure Group, invests in utility infrastructure in Australia and internationally. It primarily invests in electricity distribution businesses. It has interest in ETSA Utilities, which operates and maintains an electricity distribution network serving approximately 829,674 residential and business customers in the state of South Australia. The company also has interests in Powercor Australia, which owns and manages an electricity distribution network that serves approximately 730,273 customers in Victoria; and CitiPower that supplies electricity to approximately 313,409 customers in Melbourne�s central business district and inner suburbs. Spark Infrastructure Group is based in Sydney, Australia.

10 Best Heal Care Stocks To Own For 2014: Westbond Enterprises Corporatio (WBE.V)

WestBond Enterprises Corporation, together with its subsidiary, WestBond Industries Inc., manufactures and sells disposable paper products for medical, hygienic, and industrial uses primarily in Canada and the United States. Its product lines include clinical products consisting of sheets, drapes, examination table paper, gowns, aprons, chiropractor rolls, pillowcases, dental bibs, and dental head rest covers; personal hygiene products comprising jumbo roll bathroom tissues, conventional bathroom tissues, center pull towels, kraft roll towels, and single fold towels; long-term care products that include fold air laid wipes, roll air laid wipes, waterproof underlays, and mitts; and airline towels and pillowcases. The company markets its products directly to medium-sized janitorial contractors providing public washroom maintenance services, as well as to small and medium-sized distributors who sell to the janitorial market. WestBond Enterprises Corporation is headquartered i n Delta, Canada.

10 Best Heal Care Stocks To Own For 2014: Mission Biofuels Ltd(MBT.AX)

Mission NewEnergy Limited, a renewable energy company, engages in the production and distribution of biodiesel, a clean alternative energy substitute for diesel. It also engages in the cultivation and supply of Jatropha Curcas, an input oil feedstock for the production of biodiesel, bio-jet fuel, or for production of electricity. The company is cultivating approximately 194,000 acres of Jatropha Curcas under contract farming agreements. It has operations in Asia, India, Australia, and Europe. The company, formerly known as Mission Biofuels Limited, was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered Osborne Park, Australia.

10 Best Heal Care Stocks To Own For 2014: National Steel Corporation(SID)

Companhia Siderurgica Nacional primarily operates as an integrated steel producer in Brazil and Latin America. The company principally produces carbon steel and various steel products. Its products include slabs, which are semi-finished products used for processing hot-rolled, cold-rolled, or coated coils and sheet products; hot-rolled products that comprise heavy-gauge hot-rolled coils and sheets, and light-gauge hot-rolled coils and sheets; cold-rolled products, including cold-rolled coils and sheets; and galvanized products consisting of flat-rolled steel coated with zinc or a zinc-based alloy. The company also offers tin mill products, which consist of flat-rolled low-carbon steel coils or sheets, such as tin plate, tin free steel,low tin coated steel, and black plate products. In addition, it engages in mining business by owning iron ore, limestone, dolomite, and tin mines comprising the Namisa property, Casa de Pedra mine, Arcos mine, and Santa Barbara mine; and invo lves in logistics business that includes railway and port facilities. Further, the company produces and sells cement; and engages in the generation of power plants. It sells its steel products as a raw material for various manufacturing industries, including the automotive, home appliance, packaging, construction, and steel processing industries. The company offers its products to customers directly through its sales force, as well as through distributors for subsequent resale. It also exports its products to Europe, Latin America, Asia, and North America. Companhia Siderurgica Nacional was founded in 1941 and is headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

10 Best Heal Care Stocks To Own For 2014: Microgen Hdg(MCGN.L)

Microgen plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides information technology services and solutions to the business community primarily in the financial sector in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and internationally. The company?s Microgen Aptitude Solutions division offers enterprise level application products and solutions to financial and digital media organizations. This division?s products include Microgen Aptitude, an enterprise application platform that is used by enterprises to automate complex business processes, manage dynamic calculations and rules, and integrate data across existing infrastructure; Microgen Accounting Hub, which provides a single point of control for financial and accounting data for wholesale and retail banks, asset and wealth managers, and insurance providers, as well as for the finance function in the telecom, digital media, and commercial sectors; and Microgen DBClarity Developer that offers an approach to graphically design, implement, and control SQL logic. Its Microgen?s Financial Systems provides software products and services for the financial market. It delivers wealth management software and solutions, banking software and solutions, asset management software and solutions, and energy software and application management services. This segment provides solutions for front and back office administration, performance measurement/analytics, and fund and product design to trust administrators, and fund and asset management organizations. The company also offers consultancy, software support, and maintenance services. Microgen plc was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

10 Best Heal Care Stocks To Own For 2014: Michael Page International(MPI.L)

Michael Page International plc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a specialist recruitment consultancy in the United Kingdom, the Asia Pacific, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The company sources permanent, contract, temporary, and interim talent for multi-nationals, and small and medium enterprises. It provides services in the areas of accounting, actuarial, tax, and treasury; agency; buying and merchandising; construction; consultancy, strategy, and change; design and education; engineering and manufacturing; executive search; facilities management; financial services and banking; health and social care; hospitality and leisure; human resources; insurance; legal; life sciences; logistics; marketing; mining and resources; oil and gas; policy; procurement and supply chain; property; public sector; retail operations and retail banking; sales; secretarial; and technology. The company was formerly known as Michael Page Group Plc and changed its na me to Michael Page International plc in February 2001. Michael Page International plc was founded in 1976 and is based in Weybridge, the United Kingdom.

Obama Wants to Halt Soaring Student Loan Default Rates

This past August, President Barack Obama took to the road to speak publicly about the need to control college costs. Embedded in his new plan -- which includes ranking colleges and universities according to their success at launching students into the working world -- is the acknowledgement that student loan defaults are skyrocketing.

Obama, in concert with the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau and the Dept. of Education, want student loan recipients to be aware of their payback options well before default becomes an issue. Beginning in October, the DOE plans to do just that: reach out to troubled college loan borrowers to apprise them of ways they can make their monthly loan payments more affordable.

Defaults rising
The CFPB found that, of students that have subsidized or unsubsidized Direct Loans from the DOE, 5% are currently in default. That doesn't sound too awful, but much of the loan-repayment problem resides in those students that are on the edge of default.

Many find keeping up with payments a hardship. Adding in those that are currently part of a deferment or forbearance program boosts the percentage of borrowers of college loans not currently paying the full amount on their debt to 26%. Deferment and forebearance programs can help borrowers avoid defaulting on their loans, but they are only temporary solutions at best.

The U.S. government is trying to get the word out regarding programs that help loan recipients choose a method of repayment that aligns monthly payment amounts on Direct Loans with the borrower's income. Here are three of the options currently available to those struggling with their student debt.

1. Income-based repayment
Using the standard 10-year repayment plan as a benchmark, IBR considers a borrower's income, family size, and state of domicile to calculate whether payments could be trimmed using this income-based plan. After 20 to 25 years of continuous payments, the balance of the loan, if any is left, will be forgiven.

A nice benefit of this particular plan concerns the accrual of interest. If payments made under this program don't cover the entirety of the interest portion of the payment, the government will pay the difference for the first three years -- which means the balance of the loan itself won't increase due to unpaid interest.

2. Pay as you earn
This plan is targeted to those with more recent federal loans, and caps monthly loan payments at 10% of income. For those who qualify, monthly payments would be one-third smaller than what they would pay under IBR. Loan balance forgiveness kicks in at 20 years of continuous payment.

Those approved for the program must have first taken out a federal loan after October 1, 2007, among other requirements, and applicants must prove financial hardship. Generally, PAYE programs are reserved for those who were in college between the years 2008 and 2012.

3. Income-contingent repayment
For those who can't qualify for either of the above programs, ICR may be able to help. The plan caps payments to 20% of a borrower's monthly income, minus federal poverty guideline amounts for family size.

After 25 years, loan balances are forgiven, but if payments don't cover the entire interest amount, the overage is added to the loan balance. Once the original loan balance becomes 10% higher, however, interest is no longer added to the principal balance.

Not all federal loans qualify for all programs, though many borrowers may be able to consolidate their loans in order to be considered. Overall, these programs can be of great assistance to those mired in student loan debt. Not only is this good for borrowers, but those less constrained by debt and the credit-rating damage done by default will have more freedom to spend on economic boosters like homes and cars -- which will have long-term positive effects for us all.

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Trading With The Jobless Claims Report

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The jobless claims report is issued by the Employment and Training Administration within the U.S. Department of Labor at 8:30 a.m. EST each Thursday. The latest release can be viewed on the Department of Labor website, officially titled the "Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report." Published since 1967, the report highlights the number of first-time claims for jobless insurance benefits nationwide, covering the week ended the prior Saturday.

The initial claims figure is compiled using data collected by local unemployment offices. Local offices pass the information to the state unemployment offices, which in turn report the data to the Department of Labor in Washington. While an applicant for unemployment insurance may not qualify to receive benefits, all applications are filed as a claim regardless of the applicant's eligibility. For this reason the new claims from one week are not always consistent with the following week's change in continuing jobless claims.

The number of jobless claims is limited in representing the number of unemployed people. Like the self-employed and contractors, many workers are not covered by the unemployment insurance system and are therefore not represented by the jobless claims release in the event that they become unemployed.

What Jobless Claims Tell Us About the Economy's Health

The job market's health is directly tied to the overall economy's health. The loss of jobs affects consumer spending, undermining the personal consumption that drives the economy. Jobless claims signal strength or weakness in nationwide job growth. Increases in jobless claims reflect slowing job growth, while decreasing claims signal accelerating job growth. Jobless claims typically rise before the economy enters a recession and fall before economic recovery.

The average number of initial claims for unemployment insurance is included in the "Composite Index of Leading Indicators," an index published monthly by the Conference Board composed of 10 economic components. The index is used to forecast the economic outlook for the near future. The jobless claims report includes the following:

Initial Claims and Volatility: The initial claims figure is often volatile and erratic. Data can become skewed, for instance, when workweeks are shortened by national holidays. A four-week moving average of new claims is published in the report, addressing the problems caused by the volatility of the weekly number. The four-week moving average figure allows analysts to track the underlying trend in claims and provides a smoother, more reliable gauge. Continuing Claims: Continuing claims show the number of unemployed individuals who qualify for and are currently receiving benefits under unemployment insurance. The data used in continuing claims lags initial claims by one week. The Insured Unemployment Rate: The report also covers the insured unemployment rate, which shows the percentage of people who do not have a job, are eligible for unemployment insurance benefits and are actively seeking work. Interpreting the Jobless Claims Report

A sustained move of at least 30,000 in claims is widely viewed as the minimum figure to signal a meaningful change in job growth.

Another benchmark number, 400,000, is used by many economists in the context of the jobless claims report. When claims rise above 400,000 for several weeks, this is seen to reflect economic weakness and signal the potential danger of falling into recession. Conversely, a number moving below 375,000 reflects a possible economic recovery, as fewer workers are being laid off by companies. A continuing claims number of greater than 3 million is considered a negative threshold by some analysts.

Market Reaction to the Jobless Claims Report

Trading opportunities can come into play when the jobless claims report misses or exceeds analyst expectations, causing market volatility. A larger divergence from analyst expectations usually translates into a larger reaction in the markets. Here are the typical, but by no means universal, reactions broken down by market:

Stocks: Jobless claims coming in higher than expected is typically bearish/negative for stocks, while a report coming in lower than expected is bullish/positive. Bonds: Jobless claims coming in higher than expected is typically bullish/positive for bonds, while a report coming in lower than expected is bearish/negative. Currencies: Jobless claims coming in higher than expected is typically bearish/negative for the U.S. dollar, while a report coming in lower than expected is bullish/positive. A Sample Report



The excerpt above is from the report issued Sept. 12, 2013. It contains the most important figures from the report: initial claims, the four-week moving average of claims and continuing claims. Continuing claims is officially listed as "insured unemployment." Bear in mind that the advance figure, in this case covering the week ended Sept. 7, is often subject to revisions.

While both seasonally adjusted (SA) and not seasonally adjusted (NSA) data are shown, markets focus primarily on the seasonally adjusted numbers.

We can see that this was a modestly positive report for the labor market, with seasonally adjusted initial claims falling 31,000 to 292,000, the four-week moving average of seasonally adjusted claims falling 7,500 to 321,250 and seasonally adjusted continuing claims coming in at 2,871,000, a drop of 73,000 from the prior week.

The BLS Employment Situation Report

The jobless claims report is often used to try to gauge the outlook for the monthly Employment Situation Report. The Employment Situation Report, released on the first Friday of each month by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, stands among the most important economic releases. It includes the U.S. unemployment rate, non-farm payroll employment, average workweek and average hourly earnings.

The Bottom Line

While overshadowed in importance by the BLS monthly employment report, the freshness of the data in the jobless claims report makes it a key early indicator of labor market health. Due to the data's volatility, the four-week average is an important figure to track along with the weekly initial claims figure.

Finra warns on private-placement investments

Wall Street's industry-funded regulator issued a new investor alert in the lead up to Monday's lifting of the general-solicitation ban on private-placement investments.

The alert, ( “Private Placements — Evaluate the Risks Before Placing Them in Your Portfolio,” ) cautions that investing in private placements, or an offering of a company's securities that is not registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, is “risky and can tie up your money for a long time.”

The general-solicitation ban for private placements, eradicated by a statute in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act, was part of a regime that kept unregistered equity offerings out of reach of the inexperienced investor, with only “accredited investors” allowed to invest unless a company was granted an exemption.

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“For companies to be eligible for that exemption, they had to limit the type of investors they were soliciting,” said Gerri Walsh, senior vice president for investor education for the

Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. (TTWO): Grand Theft Auto V A Game And Stock Price Changer

Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. (TTWO) is probably going to steal the show on Wall Street today. After Wednesday's close, the Multimedia & Graphics Software maker announced "Grand Theft Auto V" generated $800 million in global sales in the first 24 hours. Humpday – yeah!

Strauss Zelnick, Chairman and CEO of Take-Two said, "Beginning at midnight on Monday, consumers around the world gathered in anticipation to be among the first to experience the evolution of this remarkable series. In North America alone, more than 8,300 stores opened their doors at midnight to welcome fans whose loyalty and enthusiasm were rewarded with what The New York Times called 'the most immersive spectacle in interactive entertainment'. We are incredibly proud of Rockstar Games' creative achievement and could not be more pleased with the success of this launch."

Investors are likely next in line to be "more pleased with the success of this launch." Shares are up more than $1 following the welcome news.

Let's rewind the clock to April 29, 2008 when "Grand Theft Auto IV" was released to see what the future might hold for TTWO share price.

If 2008 is any indication, the stock might not do so well following the initial response. Back when Kung-Fu Panda and Wall-E were movies to see, the game sold more than 3.6 million copies on its first day of availability and six million copies in the first week of availability generating $500 million in sales.

On the day of 2008's release, Take-Two's shares closed at $ 26.63. On June 5, 2008, the stock peaked for the year, closing at $27.65.  TTWO shareholders certainly hope history doesn't repeat.

Fast-forward to today, using 2008 as a guide, first week sales for "Grand Theft Auto V" should tack on another 67% to day one's total. And the calculator says, $1.37 billion.

Wall Street forecast sales of $793.85 million for the current quarter. iStock has this funny feeling that some revisions are coming, probably as early as today. On the current consensus of $793.85M, analysts expect EPS of $1.38, which works out to a net-margin of 15.12%. If we carry the projected profit percent across our sales estimate, EPS could come in closer to $2.38, just from "Grand Theft Auto V."

If we are close, Wall Street could add $1 or more to the current fiscal 2014's full-year estimate of $2.51 or $3.51 per share. At a P/E of 10, well, you can do the math.

Overall: iStock believes "Grand Theft Auto V" could be a game-changer for Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. (TTWO). Early numbers will likely lead to a rash of earnings revisions and upgrades, which usually push stock prices higher.

Apple Can See the Future by Looking at the Past

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- People no longer consider smartphones as anything special, not at least from a historical perspective on technology. Automobiles, Radios, TVs, cellphones, and now smart phones are becoming commodity items. It's absurd and short sighted to think anything has changed in the lifecycle of new products.

What once was for only the rich and privileged are available en masse for everyone. It's one of the hallmarks of a capitalistic society, which goods and services are constantly made better, faster, cheaper.

Sure, occasionally companies forget that in order to serve consumers they need to provide the best value for the dollar. Take BlackBerry (BBRY), for example. BlackBerry misjudged the market and didn't provide color screens reportedly because the leadership didn't think it was needed to read email.

It appears there is much to do about nothing when it comes to Apple (AAPL) selling products at Wal-Mart (WMT), as if the evolutionary product train is about to stop permanently at the smartphone station. Tim Cook is a smart man, a genius, if you ask me. He surely understands not only brand life spans, but product lifespans -- like all of technology, after the honeymoon of shock and awe are over, it's a race to the bottom, albeit with quality and price segregation. Clearly smartphones aren't "special" anymore. Selling to Wal-Mart is hardly new for Apple anyway. The Sam's club near me has sold iPhones in competition with the Apple store for well over a year now. Best Buy (BBY) also has a full range of Apple products. There is zero difference between buying a product at Best Buy and Wal-Mart. With the proliferation of part-time jobs, it wouldn't surprise me in the least that one could buy an iPhone at Best Buy in the morning and another at Wal-Mart later in the day and have the same person working two jobs ringing up the sale. The alternative is to allow Google (GOOG) and Microsoft (MSFT) to divide the sales from the largest retailer in North America (the most profitable market), leaving Apple to risk losing critical mass and sales of Apps.

If Apple allowed that to happen, then investors assuredly would have something to worry about because then Apple would be on the same path as BlackBerry. Phone snobs get to keep their noses in the air even with Wal-Mart dropping the price because what genuinely matters is holding the latest and greatest most expensive model.

The second- and third-generation iPhones and iProducts have always been available to the average Joe through eBay's ( EBAY) and Amazon's (AMZN) used marketplace anyway.

I took a look at eBay and found 4S phones (used) selling for under $200 and brand new for under $250, and with no contracts. Amazon was about the same, if not buying under the Amazon "Prime" 2 day shipping guarantee. This demonstrates the obvious that everyone who can afford a smart phone can afford an iPhone; it's just a matter of what model.

So what does this mean for shareholders? Instead of iPhones and Apple being thrown into the waste bin of obscurity, Apple continues with less margin pressure because they now have a new and voluminous sales channel. Apple is shifting price pressure from Apple to the retailers for a while longer. Apple will need to come up with the next great thing. In the meantime, the profits continue to pour in. At the time of publication the author had no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Follow @RobertWeinstein This article was written by an independent contributor, separate from TheStreet's regular news coverage.

Robert Weinstein is an active trader focusing on the psychological importance of risk mitigation, emotion and financial behavior of market participants. Robert co-founded the investing blog StockSaints, where he writes a journal about his trading activity and experiences. In addition to TheStreet, Robert also contributes to Real Money Pro, providing real-time trading ideas for stocks, options and futures.

Top Energy Companies To Buy For 2014

Oil is everywhere, and for investors who may not own any energy stocks, the constant media coverage can be intriguing. In this video, Fool.com contributor Aimee Duffy tells the story of the Permian Basin, the biggest oil-producing play in Texas. Aimee discusses what issues face producers in the region, how they are being solved, who can profit, and why pipeline projects are important, even if you don't own pipeline stocks.�

The surge in oil and natural gas production from the fracking movement is creating massive bottlenecks in takeaway capacity. However, this problem for producers creates an immensely profitable opportunity for midstream companies. Energy Transfer Partners is a company that helps alleviate the gluts in supply with its 23,500 miles of transformational pipelines. To see whether ETP and its sizable dividend payment could be a good fit for your portfolio, you're invited to check out The Motley Fool's premium research report on the company. Simply click here now for a thorough expert analysis of this midstream company.

Top Energy Companies To Buy For 2014: SunPower Corp (SPWR)

SunPower Corporation, incorporated in April 1985, is a vertically integrated solar products and services company that designs, manufactures and delivers solar electric systems worldwide for residential, commercial, and utility-scale power plant customers. The Company operates in two business segments: the Utility and Power Plants (UPP) Segment and the Residential and Commercial (R&C) Segment. The UPP Segment refers to its solar products and systems business, which includes power plant project development and project sales, turn-key engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services for power plant construction, and power plant operations and maintenance (O&M) services. UPP Segment also sells components, including huge volume of sales of solar panels and mounting systems to third parties, sometimes on a multi-year, firm commitment basis. The R&C Segment focuses on solar equipment sales into the residential and small commercial market through its third-party global dealer network, as well as direct sales and EPC and O&M services in the United States and Europe for rooftop and ground-mounted solar power systems for the new homes, commercial and public sectors. In May 2012, K Road Power Holdings, LLC (K Road) and SunPower Corp announced that K Road acquired the 25-megawatt (AC) McHenry Solar Project, which the Company designed. In January 2013, the Company MidAmerican Solar acquired the 579-megawatt Antelope Valley Solar Projects (AVSP), two co-located projects in Kern and Los Angeles Counties in Calif from SunPower.

In January 2012, the Company completed its acquisition of the wholly owned Total SA subsidiary Tenesol SA, a global solar provider. In September 2011, NRG Energy Inc. acquired 250 megawatt California Valley Solar Ranch (CVSR) project from SunPower. In June 2011, the Company introduced SunPower E20 Series Solar Panel (E20) series. The Company�� customers in its UPP Segment include investors, financial institutions, project developers, electric utilities, and independent po! wer producers in the United States, Europe, and Asia. In its R&C Segment, the Company primarily sells its products to commercial and governmental entities, production home builders, and its third-party global dealer network serving residential owners and small commercial building owners.

Solar Cells

The A-300 solar cell is a silicon solar cell with a specified power value of 3.1 watts and a conversion efficiency averaging between 20.0% and 21.5%. The Company�� A-330 solar cell delivers 3.3 watts with a conversion efficiency of up to 22.7%.

Solar Panels

The Company�� SunPower solar panel series include solutions, such as SunPower E18 Series Solar Panel (E18), SunPower E19 Series Solar Panel (E19), and SunPower E20 Series Solar Panel (E20). Available in a 72-cell configuration, the E18 series panel uses its A300 all back-contact solar cells and delivers a total panel conversion of 18.1% to 18.5%. Available in a 72, 96, and 128-cell configuration, the E19 series panel uses its A300 all back-contact solar cells and delivers total panel conversion of 19.3% to 19.7%. Available in a 96-cell configuration, the E20 series panel uses its A-330 all back-contact solar cells and delivers total panel conversion of up to 20.1%.

Inverters

The Company sells a line of SunPower branded inverters. The inverters are manufactured by third parties.

Roof Mounted Products

The roof mounted products include SunPower T-5 Solar Roof Tile System (T-5), SunPower T-10 Commercial Solar Roof Tiles (T-10), PowerGuard Roof System (PowerGuard) and SunTile Roof Integrated System (SunTile). Tilted at a 5-degree angle, the T-5 roof tile is a non-penetrating photovoltaic rooftop product that combines solar panel, frame, and mounting system. The T-5 solar roof tile systems are primarily sold through its R&C Segment.

Tilted at a 10-degree angle, the T-10 commercial solar roof tiles is a non-penetrating panel interlock system! . Dependi! ng on geographical location and local climate conditions, this can allow for the generation of up to 10% more annual energy output than traditional flat roof-mounted systems. The T-10 commercial solar roof tile is primarily sold through its R&C Segment.

PowerGuard is a non-penetrating roof-mounted solar panel that delivers electricity while insulating and protecting the roof membrane from ultraviolet rays and thermal degradation. The PowerGuard roof system is primarily sold through its R&C Segment. SunTile solar shingles are designed to replace multiple types of roof panels, including the common concrete flat, low and high profile S tile and composition shingles. The SunTile roof system is also sold through its R&C Segment.

Ground Mounted Products

The ground mounted products include SunPower T-0 Tracker (T-0) & SunPower T-20 Tracker (T-20), SunPower Oasis Power Plant (SunPower Oasis), SunPower C-7 Tracker (C-7), and Fixed Tilt and SunPower Tracker Systems for Parking Structures. The T-0 and T-20 trackers are single-axis tracking systems that automatically pivot solar panels to track the sun's movement throughout the day. This tracking feature increases the amount of sunlight that is captured and converted into energy by up to 30% over flat or fixed-tilt systems, depending on geographic location and local climate conditions. A single motor and drive mechanism can control 10 to 20 rows, or more than 200 kilo watts of solar panels. The T-0 and T-20 trackers have been installed in a range of geographical markets principally in the United States, Germany, Italy, Portugal, South Korea, and Spain. The T-0 and T-20 trackers are sold through both its UPP and R&C Segments.

The Oasis is a solar power block that scales from 1 mega watts distributed installations to central station power plants. Oasis provides a way to deploy utility-scale solar power systems, streaming the development and construction process while optimizing the use of available land. The SunPow! er Oasis ! is sold through its UPP Segment. The C-7 combines a horizontal single-axis tracker with rows of parabolic mirrors, reflecting light onto linear arrays of its solar cells. The C-7 tracker is sold through its UPP Segment. SunPower has developed designs for solar power systems for parking structures in multiple configurations. These dual-use systems typically incorporate solar panels into the roof of a carport or similar structure to deliver onsite solar power while providing shade and protection. They are suited for parking lots adjacent to facilities. Fixed Tilt and SunPower Tracker Systems for parking structures are sold through both its UPP and R&C Segments.

Other System Offerings

SunPower�� metal roof system is designed for sloped-metal roof buildings, which are used in some winery and warehouse applications. This solar power system is designed for rapid installation. It also offers other architectural products, such as day lighting with translucent solar panels.

Balance of System Components

Balance of system components are components of a solar power system other than the solar panels. It includes SunPower branded inverters, mounting structures, charge controllers, grid interconnection equipment, and other devices depending on the specific requirements of a particular system and project.

The Company competes with Canadian Solar Inc., JA Solar Holdings Co., Kyocera Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation, Q-Cells AG, Sanyo Corporation, Sharp Corporation, SolarCity Corporation, SolarWorld AG, Sungevity, Inc., SunRun, Inc., Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd., Trina Solar Ltd., Yingli Green Energy Holding Co. Ltd., Abengoa Solar S.A., Acconia Energia S.A., AES Solar Energy Ltd., Chevron Energy Solutions, EDF Energy plc, First Solar Inc., NextEra Energy, Inc., OPDE Group, NRG Energy, Inc., Recurrent Energy, Sempra Energy, Skyline Solar, Inc., Solargen Energy, Inc., Solaria Corporation, SolFocus, Inc., SunEdison and Tenaska, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Victor Mora]

  SunPower is attempting to fuel the world with an alternative energy source through solar technology. The stock has seen a large decline over the last few years but is now attempting to reverse this trend and shoot higher. Over the last four quarters, earnings have improved while revenue figures have been on the rise, but investors have clearly expected more from the company. Relative to its peers and sector, SunPower has been a year-to-date performance leader. Look for SunPower to OUTPERFORM.

• [By Dan Moskowitz]

  SunPower has enormous potential, and it�� always good to be ahead of the curve, but there are substantial risks, especially considering that the stock market is at all-time highs, and the Bernake will eventually have to unwind monetary stimulus and raise in interest rates. When this occurs, there won�� be a flight to solar stocks.

Top Energy Companies To Buy For 2014: Noble Corp (NE)

Noble Corporation is an offshore drilling contractor for the oil and gas industry. The Company performs contract drilling services with its fleet of 79 mobile offshore drilling units and one floating production storage and offloading unit (FPSO) located globally. As of December 31, 2011, its fleet consisted of 14 semisubmersibles, 14 drillships, 49 jackups and two submersibles. Its fleet includes 11 units under construction, which include five ultra-deepwater drillships, and six jackup rigs. As of February 15, 2012, approximately 84% of its fleet was located outside the United States in areas, which included Mexico, Brazil, the North Sea, the Mediterranean, West Africa, the Middle East, India and the Asian Pacific. During the year ended December 31, 2011, it completed construction on the Noble Bully I, a drillship, owned through a joint venture with a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell plc; completed construction on the Noble Bully II, a drillship, and it completed construction of Globetrotter-class drillship. As of February 15, 2012, it had 10 rigs under contract in Mexico with Pemex Exploracion y Produccion (Pemex).

During 2011, the Company conducted offshore contract drilling operations, which accounted for over 98% of its operating revenues. It conducts its contract drilling operations in the United States Gulf of Mexico, Mexico, Brazil, the North Sea, the Mediterranean, West Africa, the Middle East, India and the Asian Pacific. During 2011, revenues from Shell and its affiliates accounted for approximately 24% of its total operating revenues. During 2011, revenues from Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. (Petrobras) accounted for approximately 18% and 19% of its total operating revenues. Revenues from Pemex accounted for approximately 15%, 20% and 23% of its total operating revenues.

Semisubmersibles

Semisubmersibles are floating platforms which, by means of a water ballasting system, can be submerged to a predetermined depth so that a substantial portion of the hull is b! elow the water surface during drilling operations. As of December 31, 2011, the semisubmersible fleet consisted of 14 units, including five Noble EVA-4000 semisubmersibles; three Friede & Goldman 9500 Enhanced Pacesetter semisubmersibles; two Pentagone 85 semisubmersibles; two Bingo 9000 design unit submersibles; one Aker H-3 Twin Hull S1289 Column semisubmersible, and one Offshore Co. SCP III Mark 2 semisubmersible.

Drillships

The Company�� drillships are self-propelled vessels. These units maintain their position over the well through the use of either a fixed mooring system or a computer controlled dynamic positioning system. Its drillships are capable of drilling in water depths from 1,000 to 12,000 feet. The maximum drilling depth of its drillships ranges from 20,000 feet to 40,000 feet. As of December 31, 2011, the drillship fleet consisted of 14 units, including four drillships under construction with Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. (HHI); three Gusto Engineering Pelican Class drillships; two Bully-class drillships to be operated by it through a 50% joint venture with a subsidiary of Shell; one dynamically positioned Globetrotter-class drillship that left the shipyard during the fourth quarter of 2011; one Globetrotter-class drillship under construction; one moored Sonat Discoverer Class drillship capable of drilling in Arctic environments; one NAM Nedlloyd-C drillship, and one moored conversion class drillship.

Jackups

As of December 31, 2011, the Company had 49 jackups in its fleet, including six jackups under construction. The rig hull includes the drilling rig, jacking system, crew quarters, loading and unloading facilities, storage areas for bulk and liquid materials, helicopter landing deck and other related equipment. All of its jackups are independent leg and cantilevered. Its jackups are capable of drilling to a maximum depth of 30,000 feet in water depths up to 400 feet.

Submersibles

The Company has two su! bmersible! s in the fleet, which are cold-stacked. Submersibles are mobile drilling platforms, which are towed to the drill site and submerged to drilling position by flooding the lower hull until it rests on the sea floor, with the upper deck above the water surface. Its submersibles are capable of drilling to a depth of 25,000 feet in water depths up to 70 feet.

Top Stocks To Buy For 2014: Energy XXI(Bermuda)

Energy XXI (Bermuda) Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, production, and operation of oil and natural gas properties onshore in Louisiana and Texas, and offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. The company operates or has interest in 419 gross producing wells in 41 producing fields on 254,891 net developed acres. As of June 30, 2011, its net proved reserves were 116.6 million barrels of oil equivalent. The company was founded in 2005 and is based in Hamilton, Bermuda.

Top Energy Companies To Buy For 2014: Archer Ltd (ARCHER.OL)

Archer Ltd, formerly Seawell Limited is a Bermuda-based global oilfield service company. The Company provides drilling services, such as platform drilling, land drilling, modular rings, directional drilling, drill bits, tubular services, drilling and completion fluids, cementing tools, plugs and packers, underbalanced services, rentals and engineering. It specialises also in well services, such as wireline intervention, specialist intervention, frac valves, wireline logging, integrity diagnostics, imaging, production monitoring, coiled tubing, completion services and fishing. As of January 3, 2012, the Company's organizational structure centered on four geographic and strategic areas: North America (NAM), North Sea (NRS), Latin America (LAM) and Emerging Markets & Technologies (EMT). As of December 31, 2010, it was active through a number of subsidiaries, namely Seawell, Allis-Chalmers Energy, Gray Wireline, Rig Inspection Services and TecWel, among others.

Top Energy Companies To Buy For 2014: Natural Resource Partners LP (NRP)

Natural Resource Partners L.P. is a limited partnership. The Company is engaged principally in the business of owning, managing and leasing mineral properties in the United States. It owns coal reserves in the three United States coal-producing regions: Appalachia, the Illinois Basin and the Western United States, as well as lignite reserves in the Gulf Coast region. The Company is engaged in the ownership and leasing of mineral properties and related transportation and processing infrastructure. As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned or controlled approximately 2.3 billion tons of proven and probable coal reserves and it also owned approximately 380 million tons of aggregate reserves in a number of states across the country. During the year ended December 31, 2011, its lessees produced 49.2 million tons of coal from its properties. In addition, the Company�� lessees produced 49.2 million tons of coal from its properties. The Company�� operations are conducted through, and its operating assets are owned by, its subsidiaries. The Company owns its subsidiaries through a wholly owned operating company, NRP (Operating) LLC. NRP (GP) LP, which is its general partner, which conducts its business and manages its operations. Because its general partner is a limited partnership, its general partner, GP Natural Resource Partners LLC, conducts its business and operations. Robertson Coal Management LLC owns all of the membership interest in GP Natural Resource Partners LLC. In addition to its preparation plants, the Company owns coal handling and transportation infrastructure in West Virginia, Ohio and Illinois. In February 2011, it acquired approximately 500 acres of mineral and surface rights related to limestone reserves on the Tennessee River near Paducah, Kentucky. In March 2011, it acquired approximately 500 acres of mineral and surface rights related to limestone reserves in Cleveland, Tennessee near Chattanooga. In July 2011, it acquired approximately 44,000 acres of coal reserves and coal bed met! hane located in Pennsylvania and Illinois. In February 2012, the Company acquired coal reserves at the Deer Run mine near Hillsboro, Illinois and approximately 9,500 net mineral acres located in the Mississippian Lime oil play in Northern Oklahoma. In March 2012, the Company acquired the rail loadout, associated infrastructure assets and a contractual overriding royalty interest on certain tonnage at the Sugar Camp mine near Benton, Illinois. In May 2012, the Company completed the acquisition of approximately 19,200 net mineral acres in the Mississippian Lime oil play in North Central Oklahoma.

Northern Appalachia

The Beaver Creek property is located in Grant and Tucker Counties, West Virginia. During 2011, 2.4million tons were produced from this property. The Company leases this property to Mettiki Coal, LLC, which is a subsidiary of Alliance Resource Partners L.P. Coal is produced from an underground longwall mine. It is transported by truck to a preparation plant operated by the lessee. Coal is shipped primarily by truck to the Mount Storm power plant of Dominion Power and to various export customers. During 2011, 366,000 tons were produced from Allegany County. The Company leases this property to Vindex Energy, a subsidiary of Arch Coal. Coal from this property is produced from a surface mine. The raw coal is trucked to the Warrior plant of Allegheny Energy. During 2011, 283,000 tons were produced from Area F property. It leases this property to Carter Roag, a subsidiary of Metinvest. Coal from this property is produced from an underground mine. The raw coal is trucked to a preparation plant operated by the lessee. Coal is shipped via rail to domestic metallurgical customers and exported for use by Metinvest.

Central Appalachia

The VICC/Alpha property is located in Wise, Dickenson, Russell and Buchanan Counties, Virginia. During 2011, 4.9 million tons were produced from this property. It primarily leases this property to a subsidiary of Alpha Natu! ral Resou! rces. Production comes from both underground and surface mines and is trucked to one of four preparation plants. Coal is shipped through both the CSX and Norfolk Southern railroads to utility and metallurgical customers. Customers include American Electric Power, Southern Company, Tennessee Valley Authority, VEPCO and the United States Steel and to various export metallurgical customers. The Lynch property is located in Harlan and Letcher Counties, Kentucky. During 2011, 4.8 million tons were produced from this property. The Company primarily leases the property to a subsidiary of Massey Energy. Production comes from both underground and surface mines. Coal is transported by truck to a preparation plant on the property and is shipped primarily on the CSX railroad to utility customers, such as Georgia Power and Orlando Utilities.

The Dingess-Rum property is located in Logan, Clay and Nicholas Counties, West Virginia. This property is leased to subsidiaries of Massey Energy and Patriot Coal. During 2011, 2.8 million tons were produced from the property. Coal is shipped through the CSX railroad to steam customers, such as American Electric Power, Dayton Power and Light, Detroit Edison and to various export metallurgical customers.

The VICC/Kentucky Land property is located primarily in Perry, Leslie and Pike Counties, Kentucky. During 2011, 2.5 million tons were produced from this property. Coal is produced from a number of lessees from both underground and surface mines. Coal is shipped primarily by truck but also on the CSX and Norfolk Southern railroads to customers, such as Southern Company, Tennessee Valley Authority and American Electric Power. The Lone Mountain property is located in Harlan County, Kentucky. During 2011, 2.1 million tons were produced from this property. The Company leases the property to a subsidiary of Arch Coal, Inc. Production comes from underground mines and is transported primarily by beltline to a preparation plant on adjacent property and shipped o! n the Nor! folk Southern or CSX railroads to utility customers, such as Georgia Power and the Tennessee Valley Authority.

The D.D. Shepard property is located in Boone County, West Virginia. This property is primarily leased to a subsidiary of Patriot Coal Corp. During 2011, two million tons were produced from the property. Both steam and metallurgical coal are produced by the lessees from underground and surface mines. Coal is transported from the mines through belt or truck to preparation plants on the property. Coal is shipped through the CSX railroad to various domestic and export metallurgical customers. The Pardee property is located in Letcher County, Kentucky and Wise County Virginia. During 2011, 1.8 million tons were produced from this property. It leases the property to a subsidiary of Arch Coal, Inc. Production comes from underground and surface mines and is transported by truck or beltline to a preparation plant on the property and shipped primarily on the Norfolk Southern railroad to utility customers, such as Georgia Power and the Tennessee Valley Authority and domestic, and export metallurgical customers, such as Algoma Steel and Arcelor.

The Kingston property is located in Fayette and Raleigh Counties, West Virginia. This property is leased to a subsidiary of Alpha Natural Resources. During 2011, 1.5 million tons were produced from the property. Both steam and metallurgical coal are produced from underground and surface mines and has been historically transported by belt or truck to a preparation plant on the property or shipped raw. Coal is shipped via both the CSX railroad and by truck to barges to steam customers and various export metallurgical customers.

Southern Appalachia

The BLC properties are located in Kentucky and Tennessee. During 2011, 1.2 million tons were produced from these properties. The Company leases these properties to a number of operators, including Appolo Fuels Inc., Bell County Coal Corporation and Kopper-Glo Fuels. Prod! uction co! mes from both underground and surface mines and is trucked to preparation plants and loading facilities operated by its lessees. Coal is transported by truck and is shipped through both CSX and Norfolk Southern railroads to utility and industrial customers. Customers include Southern Company, South Carolina Electric & Gas, and numerous medium and small industrial customers. The Oak Grove property is located in Jefferson County, Alabama. During 2011, 470,000 tons were produced from this property. The Company leases the property to a subsidiary of Cliffs Natural Resources, Inc. Production comes from an underground mine and is transported primarily by beltline to a preparation plant. The metallurgical coal is then shipped through railroad and barge to both domestic and export customers.

Illinois Basin

The Williamson property is located in Franklin and Williamson Counties, Illinois. The property is under lease to an affiliate of the Cline Group. During 2011, 6.8 million tons were mined on the property. This production is from a longwall mine. Production is shipped primarily through CN railroad to customers, such as Duke and to various export customers. The Macoupin property is located in Macoupin County, Illinois. The property is under lease to an affiliate of the Cline Group. During 2011, 1.8 tons were shipped from the property. Production is from an underground mine and is shipped through the Norfolk Southern or Union Pacific railroads or by barge to customers, such as Western KY Energy and other midwest utilities or loaded into barges for shipment to export customers. The Sato property is located in Jackson County, Illinois. During 2011, 363,000 tons were produced from the property. The property is under lease to Knight Hawk Coal LLC, an independent coal producer. As of December 31, 2011, production was from a surface mine, and coal was shipped by truck and railroad to various midwest and southeast utilities.

Northern Powder River Basin

The Western Ener! gy proper! ty is located in Rosebud and Treasure Counties, Montana. During 2011, 2.7 million tons were produced from the Company�� property. A subsidiary of Westmoreland Coal Company has two coal leases on the property. Coal is produced by surface dragline mining, and the coal is transported by either truck or beltline to the four-unit 2,200-megawatt Colstrip generation station located at the mine mouth and by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad to Minnesota Power. A small amount of coal is transported by truck to other customers.

BRP Properties

As of December 31, 2011, BRP had acquired, in several stages, approximately 8.8 million mineral acres in 29 states from International Paper. As of December 31, 2011, BRP held 78 revenue generating leases. BRP�� assets include approximately 300,000 gross acres of oil and gas mineral rights in Louisiana, of which over 72,000 acres were under lease, as of December 31, 2011. In addition, BRP holds a gross production royalty interest on approximately 23,000 mineral acres under lease in Louisiana. The remaining oil and gas mineral acreage in Louisiana is not leased. As of December 31, 2011, BRP owned nearly 246,000 gross mineral acres of primarily lignite coal rights in the Gulf Coast region, of which approximately 5,000 acres are leased under three separate leases in Louisiana and Alabama. In addition to the coal rights, BRP held aggregate reserves, including limestone, granite, clay, and sand and gravel reserves, under lease in six states. As of December 31, 2011, other mineral rights held by BRP included coalbed methane rights in four Gulf Coast states, metals rights in three states, approximately 450,000 acres of water rights in East Texas, geothermal rights and royalty interests in the Gulf Coast and Pacific Northwest and carbon sequestration rights primarily in the Gulf Coast region.

Top Energy Companies To Buy For 2014: Gran Tierra Energy Inc (GTE)

Gran Tierra Energy Inc. (Gran Tierra) is an independent international energy company engaged in oil and gas acquisition, exploration, development and production. Gran Tierra owns oil and gas properties in Colombia, Argentina, Peru and Brazil. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company focused on development of producing fields and generation of exploration prospects in Colombia, including the acquisition of three blocks in the Petrolifera acquisition and the acquisition of a working interest in the Llanos 22 Block. It delivers its oil to Ecopetrol S.A. (Ecopetrol) through its transportation facilities, which include pipelines, gathering systems and trucking. On March 18, 2011, the Company acquired of all the issued and outstanding common shares and warrants of Petrolifera Petroleum Limited (Petrolifera).

Top Energy Companies To Buy For 2014: BP p.l.c.(BP)

BP p.l.c. provides fuel for transportation, energy for heat and light, retail services, and petrochemicals products. Its Exploration and Production segment engages in the oil and natural gas exploration, field development, and production; midstream transportation, and storage and processing; and marketing and trading of natural gas, including liquefied natural gas (LNG), and power and natural gas liquids (NGL). This segment has exploration and production activities in Angola, Azerbaijan, Canada, Egypt, Norway, Russia, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as well as in Asia, Australasia, South America, North Africa, and the Middle East. This segment also owns and manages crude oil and natural gas pipelines; processing facilities and export terminals; and LNG processing and transportation, as well as NGL extraction facilities. BP p.l.c. has interests in the Trans-Alaska pipeline system, the Forties pipeline system, the Central Area transmission sys tem pipeline, the South Caucasus Pipeline, and Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, as well as in LNG plants located in Trinidad, Indonesia, and Australia. The company?s Refining and Marketing segment involves in the supply and trading, refining, manufacturing, marketing, and transportation of crude oil, petroleum, and petrochemicals products and related services to wholesale and retail customers primarily under the BP, Castrol, ARCO, and Aral brands. Its Other Businesses and Corporate segment produces and markets rolled aluminum products, as well as generates energy through wind, solar, biofuels, hydrogen, and carbon capture and storage sources; and engages in shipping activities. The company was founded in 1889 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Victor Mora]

  BP provides essential energy products to consumers and a wide array of companies that operate in different industries around the world. The stock has suffered in recent times due to the negative press it has experienced from the oil leak incident. However, it is now trying to establish a value range. The two most recent earnings and revenue figures have pleased investors. Relative to its peers and sector, BP has been an average year-to-date performer. WAIT AND SEE what BP does this coming earnings report.

Top Energy Companies To Buy For 2014: Caiterra International Energy Corp (CTI.V)

CaiTerra International Energy Corporation (Caiterra), formerly Cyterra Capital Corp., is a Canada-based company is engaged in the exploration and development of oil and gas properties. The Company�� project includes Faust, Amadou and Lac La Biche. On March 9, 2012, the Company completed its qualifying transaction with West Pacific Petroleum Inc. (WPP), pursuant to which the Company acquired all of WPP�� working interests in certain petroleum and natural gas leases and an oil sand lease in the Lac La Biche and Amadou Projects located in Alberta, Canada and certain other assets (the QT Oil and Gas Properties) from West Pacific Petroleum Inc. (WPP). On December 17, 2012 the Company acquired the Faust Property located just north of the Swan Hills oil field and south of the Town of Slave Lake.

Top 5 Medical Companies To Buy Right Now

We expect Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) to report in line second-quarter 2013 results before the opening bell on Jul 16, 2013.

Factors at Play for 2Q

We expect the Pharma business to continue performing well. Although some products are facing generic competition, new products like Zytiga, Stelara, Xarelto, Simponi and Invega Sustenna should continue to perform well.

Meanwhile, we expect the Medical Devices & Diagnostics segment to continue facing challenges in the form of European austerity measures, pricing pressure and a slowdown in elective surgeries, which have all contributed to more tempered growth rates The Consumer segment should grow in low single digit rates.

The company has been trying to offset the declining sales of some of its important products by bringing in new products through in-licensing deals and acquisitions. We believe the diversity and strength of the company�� underlying businesses will continue to provide strong growth.

Top 5 Medical Companies To Buy Right Now: RXi Pharmaceuticals Corp (RXII)

RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation (RXi), incorporated on September 8, 2011, is a development-stage company. The Company is a biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing therapies addressing medical needs using RNA interference (RNAi)-targeted technologies. As of July 12, 2012, RXi was focusing on its internal therapeutic development efforts in fibrosis. RXI-109 is its RNAi product candidate, which is a dermal anti-scarring therapy that targets connective tissue growth factor (CTGF). The Company�� therapeutic platform consists of two main components: RNAi Compounds (rxRNA) and Advanced Delivery Technologies. RNAi compounds include rxRNAori, rxRNAsolo and sd-rxRNA, or self-delivering RNA. On April 26, 2012, it completed the spin-off transaction from Galena Biopharma, Inc. (Galena).

In January 2011, the Company announced research results in collaboration with Generex Biotechnology Corporation, and RXi�� wholly owned subsidiary Antigen Express, Inc., in developing vaccine formulations for immunotherapy. In January 2011, it announced initial results as part of its collaboration with miRagen Therapeutics, Inc. in creating microRNA mimics, or artificial copies of microRNAs, using the Company�� sd-rxRNA technology. In February 2011, it announced the initiation of RXi�� development program for RXI-109.

Top 5 Medical Companies To Buy Right Now: Boston Scientific Corp (BSX)

Boston Scientific Corporation is a developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical devices that are used in a range of interventional medical specialties. During the year ended December 31, 2011, its products were offered for sale by seven core businesses: Interventional Cardiology, CRM, Endoscopy, Peripheral Interventions, Urology/Women�� Health, Neuromodulation, and Electrophysiology. In January 2011, it completed the acquisition of Intelect Medical, Inc. In January 2011, it completed the acquisition of Sadra Medical, Inc. In March 2011, the Company completed the acquisition of Atritech, Inc. In February 2011, it announced the acquisitions of S.I. Therapies and ReVascular Therapeutics, Inc. In January 2011, the Company sold its Neurovascular business to Stryker Corporation. In June 2012, the Company acquired Cameron Health, Inc. of San Clemente, California and, as a result, added to its product portfolio subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator, called the S-ICD System.

Interventional Cardiology

The Company offers coronary stent product. Coronary stents are tiny, mesh tubes used in the treatment of coronary artery disease, which are implanted in patients to prop open arteries and facilitate blood flow to and from the heart. The Company offers a two-drug platform strategy with its paclitaxel-eluting and everolimus-eluting stent system offerings, and it offers a range of stent sizes. The Company markets its next-generation internally-developed and self-manufactured PROMUS Element stent system in the United States, its Europe/Middle East/Africa (EMEA) region and certain Inter-Continental countries, including China and India. It markets the PROMUS everolimus-eluting stent system, supplied to the Company by Abbott Laboratories, in Japan. It also markets its TAXUS paclitaxel-eluting stent line, including its third-generation TAXUS Element paclitaxel-eluting stent system in the U.nited States, Japan, EMEA and certain Inter-Continental countries.

The Compa! ny markets a line of products used to treat patients with atherosclerosis, a principal cause of coronary artery obstructive disease. Its product offerings include balloon catheters, rotational atherectomy systems, guide wires, guide catheters, embolic protection devices, and diagnostic catheters used in percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). The Company markets a family of intraluminal catheter-directed ultrasound imaging catheters and systems for use in coronary arteries and heart chambers, as well as certain peripheral vessels. The iLab Ultrasound Imaging System continues as its flagship console and is compatible with its line of imaging catheters. The system is designed to enhance the diagnosis and treatment of blocked vessels and heart disorders. Sadra is developing a repositionable and retrievable device for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) to treat patients with severe aortic stenosis. The Lotus Valve System consists of a stent-mounted tissue valve prosthesis and catheter delivery system for guidance and placement of the valve. Atritech has developed a device designed to close the left atrial appendage in patients with atrial fibrillation who are at risk for ischemic stroke. The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Technology, developed by Atritech, is the first device proven in a randomized clinical trial to offer an alternative to anticoagulant drugs, and is approved for use in CE Mark countries.

Cardiac Rhythm Management

The Company develops, manufactures and markets a variety of implantable devices that monitor the heart and deliver electricity to treat cardiac abnormalities, including Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) systems used to detect and treat abnormally fast heart rhythms (tachycardia) that could result in sudden cardiac death, including implantable cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) systems used to treat heart failure, and implantable pacemaker systems used to manage slow or irregular heart rhyth! ms (brady! cardia), including implantable cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemaker (CRT-P) systems used to treat heart failure. Its product offerings include its COGNIS cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D), its TELIGEN ICD systems and its ALTRUA family of pacemaker systems. During 2011, it began the United States launch of its next-generation line of defibrillators, INCEPTA, ENERGEN and PUNCTUA.

Endoscopy

The Company markets a range of products to diagnose, treat and ease a variety of digestive diseases, including those affecting the esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, duodenum, and colon. Common disease states include esophagitis, portal hypertension, peptic ulcers as well as esophageal, biliary, pancreatic and colonic cancer. The Company offers the Radial Jaw 4 Single-Use Biopsy Forceps, which are designed to enable collection of large high-quality tissue specimens without the need to use large channel therapeutic endoscopes. Its exclusive line of RX Biliary System devices are designed to provide greater access and control for physicians to diagnose and treat challenging conditions of the bile ducts, such as removing gallstones, opening obstructed bile ducts and obtaining biopsies in suspected tumors. The Company also markets the Spyglass Direct Visualization System for direct imaging of the pancreatico-biliary system. The Spyglass System is a single-operator cholangioscopy device that offers clinicians a direct visualization of the pancreatico-biliary system and includes supporting devices for tissue acquisition, stone management and lithotripsy. Its products also include the WallFlex family of stents, in particular, the WallFlex Biliary line and WallFlex Esophageal line; and in 2011, the Company launched its Advanix Biliary Plastic Stent System and the Expect Endoscopic Ultrasound Aspiration Needle in the United States and certain international markets. Its Resolution Clip Device is an endoscopic mechanical clip designed to treat gastrointestinal bleeding.

T! he Company markets devices to diagnose, treat and ease pulmonary disease systems within the airway and lungs. Its products are designed to help perform biopsies, retrieve foreign bodies from the airway, open narrowings of an airway, stop internal bleeding, and ease symptoms of some types of airway cancers. Its product line includes pulmonary biopsy forceps, transbronchial aspiration needles, cytology brushes and tracheobronchial stents used to dilate narrowed airway passages or for tumor management. Asthmatx, Inc. designs, manufactures and markets a less-invasive, catheter-based bronchial thermoplasty procedure for the treatment of severe persistent asthma. The Alair Bronchial Thermoplasty System, developed by Asthmatx, has both CE Mark and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval and is the first device-based asthma treatment approved by the FDA.

Peripheral Interventions

The Company sells various products designed to treat patients with peripheral disease, including a line of medical devices used in percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and peripheral vascular stenting. Its peripheral product offerings include stents, balloon catheters, wires, peripheral embolization devices and vena cava filters. In 2010 and 2011, it launched several of its products internationally, including the EPIC self-expanding nitinol stent system in certain international markets, and the Carotid WALLSTENT stent system in Japan. The Company launched three new peripheral angioplasty balloons in 2011, including its next-generation Mustang percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) balloon, its Coyote balloon catheter, a highly deliverable and ultra-low profile balloon dilatation catheter designed for a range of peripheral angioplasty procedures and its Charger PTA Balloon Catheter, a 0.035 inch percutaneous transluminal angioplasty balloon catheter designed for post-stent dilatation, as well as conventional balloon angioplasty to open blocked peripheral arteries. The Company has commenced a limited ma! rket rele! ase of its OFFROAD re-entry catheter system in certain international markets, and in February 2012, it launched its TRUEPATH intraluminal CTO device in the United States.

The Company sells products designed to treat patients with non-vascular disease. Its non-vascular suite of products include biliary stents, drainage catheters and micro-puncture sets designed to treat, diagnose and ease various forms of benign and malignant tumors. The Company continues to market its extensive line of Interventional Oncology product solutions, including the Renegade HI-FLO Fathom microcatheter and guidewire system and Interlock - 35 Fibered IDC Occlusion System for peripheral embolization. The Company�� FilterWire EZ Embolic Protection System is a filter designed to capture embolic material that may become dislodged during a procedure, which could otherwise travel into the microvasculature where it could cause a heart attack or stroke. It is commercially available in the United States, its EMEA region and certain Inter-Continental countries for multiple indications, including the treatment of disease in peripheral, coronary and carotid vessels. It is also available in the United States for the treatment of saphenous vein grafts and carotid artery stenting procedures.

Urology/Women�� Health

The Company�� Urology/Women�� Health division develops, manufactures and sells devices to treat various urological and gynecological disorders. The Company sells a variety of products designed to treat patients with urinary stone disease, stress urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse and excessive uterine bleeding. The Company offers a line of stone management products, including ureteral stents, wires, lithotripsy devices, stone retrieval devices, sheaths, balloons and catheters.

The Company markets a range of devices for the treatment of conditions, such as female urinary incontinence, pelvic floor reconstruction (rebuilding of the anatomy to its original state), and ! menorrhag! ia (excessive menstrual bleeding). It offers a breadth of mid-urethral sling products, sling materials, graft materials, pelvic floor reconstruction kits, and suturing devices. The Company markets its Genesys Hydro ThermAblator (HTA) system, a next-generation endometrial ablation system designed to ablate the endometrial lining of the uterus in premenopausal women with menorrhagia. The Genesys HTA System features a smaller and lighter console, simplified set-up requirements, and an enhanced graphic user interface and is designed to improve operating performance.

Neuromodulation

The Company within its Neuromodulation business markets the Precision Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) system, used for the management of chronic pain. In 2011, the Company launched its Clik Anchor for its Precision Plus SCS System, a rechargeable SCS device for chronic pain management. During 2011, it received FDA approval for and launched the Infinion 16 Percutaneous Lead, a 16-contact percutaneous lead. The Company also markets the Linear 3-4 and Linear 3-6 Percutaneous Leads for use with its SCS systems, which are designed to provide physicians more treatment options for their chronic pain patients. Intelect Medical, Inc. is a development-stage company developing advanced visualization and programming for the Vercise system.

Electrophysiology

The Company within its Electrophysiology business develops less-invasive medical technologies used in the diagnosis and treatment of rate and rhythm disorders of the heart. Included in its product offerings are radio frequency (RF) generators, steerable RF ablation catheters, intracardiac ultrasound catheters, diagnostic catheters, delivery sheaths, and other accessories. Its products include the Blazer and Blazer Prime line of temperature ablation catheters, designed to deliver enhanced performance, responsiveness, and durability. Its cooled ablation portfolio includes the closed-loop irrigated catheter on the market, the Chilli II cooled! ablation! catheter, and the newly launched Blazer Open-Irrigated ablation catheter with a Total Tip Cooling Design.

The Company competes with Abbott Laboratories, Medtronic, Inc., St. Jude Medical, Inc. and Johnson & Johnson.

Best Heal Care Companies To Own For 2014: Organovo Holdings Inc (ONVO)

Organovo Holdings, Inc. (Organovo), formerly Real Estate Restoration & Rental, Inc., incorporated in 2007, is a development-stage company. The Company has developed and is commercializing a platform technology for the generation of three-dimensional (3D) human tissues that can be employed in drug discovery and development, biological research, and as therapeutic implants for the treatment of damaged or degenerating tissues and organs. On December 28, 2011, Real Estate Restoration and Rental, Inc.�� (RERR) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, pursuant to which RERR merged with its, wholly owned subsidiary, Organovo (Merger Sub). On February 8, 2012, the Company merged with and into Organovo Acquisition Corp. (Acquisition Corp.), a wholly owned subsidiary of Organovo, with the Company surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Organovo Holdings (the Merger). As a result of the Merger, Organovo acquired the business of Organovo, Inc.

The Company has collaborative research agreements with Pfizer, Inc. (Pfizer) and United Therapeutic Corporation (Unither). As of March 31, 2012, it has five federal grants, including Small Business Innovation Research grants and developed the NovoGen MMX Bioprinter (its first-generation 3D bioprinter). The Company is engaged in the development of specific 3D human tissues to aid Pfizer in discovery of therapies in two areas of interest. In addition, in October 2011, it entered into a research agreement with Unither to establish and conduct a research program to discover treatments for pulmonary hypertension using its NovoGen MMX Bioprinter technology. Additionally, under the research agreement with Unither, the Company granted Unither an option to acquire from the Company a worldwide, royalty-bearing license in certain intellectual property created under the research agreement solely for use in the treatment or prevention of pulmonary hypertension and all other lung diseases.

The Company�� NovoGen MMX Bioprinter is an automate! d device that enables the fabrication of three-dimensional (3D) living tissues comprised of mammalian cells. A custom graphic user interface (GUI) facilitates the 3D design and execution of scripts that direct precision movement of the dispensing heads to deposit cellular building blocks (bio-ink) or supporting hydrogel. The Company is using a third party manufacturer, Invetech Pty., of Melbourne, Australia, to manufacture its NovoGen MMX Bioprinter. Its bioprinting technology and surrounding intellectual property and commercial rights serve as a platform for product generation across multiple markets that employ cell- and tissue-based products and services.

The Company competes with Organogenesis, Advanced BioHealing, Tengion, Genzyme, HumaCyte and Cytograft Tissue Engineering.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  Another stock that's starting to move within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade is Organovo (ONVO), a three-dimensional biology company focused on delivering breakthrough bioprinting technology and creating tissue on demand for research and medical applications. This stock has been on fire so far in 2013, with shares up sharply by 133%.

  If you look at the chart for Organovo, you'll notice that this stock recently pulled back sharply from its high of $8.50 to its recent low of $4.43 a share. During that move, shares of ONVO were consistently making lower highs and lower lows, which is bearish technical price action. That said, the downside volatility stopped for ONVO once it hit $4.43 a share, and the stock has now reversed its downtrend and entered an uptrend. That move is quickly pushing ONVO within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade.

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ONVO if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $6.20 to $6.65 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 2 million shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then ONVO will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $7.50 to its 52-week high at $8.50 a share. Any high-volume move above $8.50 will then put its all-time high at $10.90 within range for shares of ONVO.

  Traders can look to buy ONVO off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below its 50-day at $5.07 a share, or just below $5 a share. One can also buy ONVO off strength once it takes out that breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  Organovo (ONVO) is a three-dimensional biology company focused on delivering breakthrough bioprinting technology and creating tissue on demand for research and medical applications. This stock closed up 8.5% to $5.21 in Thursday's trading session.

  52-Week Range: $1.78-$8.50
  
  Thursday's Volume: 2.88 million
  
  Three-Month Average Volume: 1.78 million

  From a technical perspective, ONVO ripped higher here back above its 50-day moving average of $4.88 with heavy upside volume. This stock has been downtrending badly for the last month, with shares plunging lower from its high of $8.50 to its recent low of $4.43. During that downtrend, shares of ONVO have been consistently making lower highs and lower lows, which is bearish technical price action. That said, shares of ONVO might be ready to see its downside volatility stop and reverse its downtrend and enter a new uptrend. The probability for that reverse in trend is supported by the high volume on Thursday.

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ONVO as long as it's trending above its recent low at $4.33 and then once it sustains a move or close above $5.21 to $5.64 with volume that hits near or above 1.78 shares. If we get that move soon, then ONVO will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $6.65 to $7.50.

Top 5 Medical Companies To Buy Right Now: Algeta ASA (ALGETA.OL)

Algeta ASA is a Norway-based biotechnology company engaged in the development of targeted cancer therapies based on its alpha-pharmaceutical platform. The Company�� principal product is Alpharadin for the treatment of bone metastases resulting from castration-resistant prostate cancer. The Company�� pipeline also includes Alpharadin for the treatment of bone metastases resulting from breast cancer, a combination of Alpharadin with Taxotere for the treatment of bone metastases resulting from prostate cancer and Thorium-227 showing various cancer indications. The Company develops Alpharadin in a development and marketing cooperation with Bayer Schering Pharma. Algeta ASA is active through the two wholly owned subsidiaries, Algeta Innovations AS and Algeta UK Limited. On April 12, 2012, the Company announced that it estabilished a subsidiary active in the United States, Algeta US.

Top 5 Medical Companies To Buy Right Now: Organovo Holdings Inc (ONVO.PK)

Organovo Holdings, Inc. (Organovo), formerly Real Estate Restoration & Rental, Inc., incorporated in 2007, is a development-stage company. The Company has developed and is commercializing a platform technology for the generation of three-dimensional (3D) human tissues that can be employed in drug discovery and development, biological research, and as therapeutic implants for the treatment of damaged or degenerating tissues and organs. On December 28, 2011, Real Estate Restoration and Rental, Inc.�� (RERR) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, pursuant to which RERR merged with its, wholly owned subsidiary, Organovo (Merger Sub). On February 8, 2012, the Company merged with and into Organovo Acquisition Corp. (Acquisition Corp.), a wholly owned subsidiary of Organovo, with the Company surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Organovo Holdings (the Merger). As a result of the Merger, Organovo acquired the business of Organovo, Inc.

The C ompany has collaborative research agreements with Pfizer, Inc. (Pfizer) and United Therapeutic Corporation (Unither). As of March 31, 2012, it has five federal grants, including Small Business Innovation Research grants and developed the NovoGen MMX Bioprinter (its first-generation 3D bioprinter). The Company is engaged in the development of specific 3D human tissues to aid Pfizer in discovery of therapies in two areas of interest. In addition, in October 2011, it entered into a research agreement with Unither to establish and conduct a research program to discover treatments for pulmonary hypertension using its NovoGen MMX Bioprinter technology. Additionally, under the research agreement with Unither, the Company granted Unither an option to acquire from the Company a worldwide, royalty-bearing license in certain intellectual property created under the research agreement solely for use in the treatment or prevention of pulmonary hypertension and all other lung diseases.

The Company�� NovoGen MMX Bioprinter is an aut! om! ated device that enables the fabrication of three-dimensional (3D) living tissues comprised of mammalian cells. A custom graphic user interface (GUI) facilitates the 3D design and execution of scripts that direct precision movement of the dispensing heads to deposit cellular building blocks (bio-ink) or supporting hydrogel. The Company is using a third party manufacturer, Invetech Pty., of Melbourne, Australia, to manufacture its NovoGen MMX Bioprinter. Its bioprinting technology and surrounding intellectual property and commercial rights serve as a platform for product generation across multiple markets that employ cell- and tissue-based products and services.

The Company competes with Organogenesis, Advanced BioHealing, Tengion, Genzyme, HumaCyte and Cytograft Tissue Engineering.

Is Novartis a Buy after Earnings?

With shares of Novartis (NYSE:NVS) trading around $73, is NVS an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE, or STAY AWAY? Let's analyze the stock with the relevant sections of our CHEAT SHEET investing framework:

T = Trends for a Stock’s Movement

Novartis engages in the research, development, manufacture, and marketing of a range of healthcare products worldwide. Its portfolio includes medicines, eye care, cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals, preventive vaccines and diagnostic tools, over-the-counter drugs, and animal health products. The company operates in five business segments: Pharmaceuticals, Alcon, Sandoz, Vaccines and Diagnostics, and Consumer Health. Its core products and services include prescription medicines; surgical, ophthalmic pharmaceutical, and vision care products; generic pharmaceuticals,  human vaccines, and blood-testing diagnostics; as well as over-the-counter medicines and animal health. In a growing healthcare field, Novartis provides key products and services.

Recently, Novartis has raised its full-year outlook, after finding out a generic version of its best-selling blood pressure medication Diovan would be delayed. Second-quarter income and revenue for the company beat analyst estimates, but earnings per share fell short. However, Novartis is also being cautious about 2014, as the generic version of Diovan may be available by then.

T = Technicals on the Stock Chart are Strong

Novartis stock has been on a bullish run over the last several months. The stock is now consolidating near all-time high prices, and it may need a little time before its next move. Analyzing the price trend and its strength can be done using key simple moving averages.

What are the key moving averages? They are the 50-day (pink), 100-day (blue), and 200-day (yellow) simple moving averages. As seen in the daily price chart below, Novartis is trading slightly above its rising key averages, which signal neutral to bullish price action in the near-term.

(Source: Thinkorswim)

Taking a look at the implied volatility (red) and implied volatility skew levels of Novartis options may help determine if investors are bullish, neutral, or bearish.

	Implied Volatility (IV)	30-Day IV Percentile	90-Day IV Percentile
Novartis Options	16.76%	0%	0%

What does this mean? This means that investors or traders are buying a very small amount of call and put options contracts, compared to the last 30 and 90 trading days.

	Put IV Skew	Call IV Skew
August Options	Flat	Average
September Options	Flat	Average

As of today, there is average demand from call buyers or sellers, and low demand by put buyers or high demand by put sellers, all neutral to bullish over the next two months. To summarize, investors are buying a very small amount of call and put option contracts, and are leaning neutral to bullish over the next two months.

On the next page, let’s take a look at the earnings and revenue growth rates, and what that means for Novartis’s stock.

E = Earnings Are Mixed Quarter-Over-Quarter

Rising stock prices are often strongly correlated with rising earnings and revenue growth rates. The last four quarterly earnings announcement reactions can also help gauge investor sentiment on Novartis’s stock. What do the last four quarterly earnings and revenue growth (Y-O-Y) figures for Novartis look like, and more importantly, how did the markets like these numbers?

	2013 Q2	2013 Q1	2012 Q4	2012 Q3
Earnings Growth (Y-O-Y)	5.80%	5.43%	73.16%	-0.99%
Revenue Growth (Y-O-Y)	-0.36%	2.11%	0.48%	-6.62%
Earnings Reaction	-0.52%*	-1.02%	3.38%	-0.42%

Novartis has seen improving earnings and mixed revenue figures over the last four quarters. From these numbers, the markets have expected a little more from Novartis’s recent earnings announcements.

* As of this writing

P = Average Relative Performance Versus Peers and Sector

How has Novartis stock done relative to its peers, Pfizer (NYSE:PFE), Merck  (NYSE:MRK), GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE:GSK), and the overall sector?

	Novartis	Pfizer	Merck	GlaxoSmithKline	Sector
Year-to-Date Return	15.45%	14.48%	18.20%	19.58%	16.78%

Novartis has been an average relative performer, year-to-date.

Conclusion

Novartis is a healthcare company that provides a number of healthcare products and services to consumers and companies worldwide. Just recently, the company issued a positive earnings report, and offered good news for the rest of the year. The stock has been on a strong run, and is now consolidating near all-time high prices. Over the last four quarters, earnings have been improving, while revenue figures have been mixed, which has resulted in confused investors. Relative to its peers and sector, Novartis has been an average year-to-date performer. Look for Novartis to OUTPERFORM.