Best Dividend Stocks For 2016: April 2014

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Investing in J.M. Smucker for Long-Term Growth Is Not a Good Idea

Coffee prices have decreased over the last few months after a large increase in 2011. This benefited coffee sellers, which had been fighting the pressures of rising coffee costs. The price drop has also benefited coffee drinkers since the coffee sellers passed the benefits on to their customers by lowering their coffee prices.

However, the news has not been all happy for J.M. Smucker (SJM), which manufactures branded-food products. Its third-quarter numbers came in below analysts' expectations, which sent its stock price down.

The Problem

J.M. Smucker's revenue for the quarter plunged 6% from the year-ago quarter to $1.47 billion. This decline mainly came as a result of lower selling prices which affected the company's revenue from coffee (8%) as well as its U.S. foods segment (4%). Also, the company's planned exits from some parts of the international, foodservice, and natural foods segment lowered its top line.

Top 5 Up And Coming Companies To Watch For 2015

Although volumes in the Dunkin Donuts coffee business and the Folgers brand surged 8% and 4%, respectively, volumes in other segments declined, such as peanut butter which decreased mainly because of competitive pressures from other players.

Despite the decline in revenue, J.M. Smucker's earnings increased to $1.66 per share from $1.47 per share in the year-ago period. This mainly occurred because of lower commodity costs and efficient cost-management efforts undertaken by the company. Lower input costs also led to a widening of the gross margin to 37.2% from 34.4% in the year-ago period.

Changing Preferences

Consumer tastes and preferences have changed as shoppers shift toward healthier and natural food options. As the popularity of organic and natural food increases, other vendors have also jumped into providing such items. Therefore, J.M. Smucker acquired Enray in August last year. Enray provides premium and organic grain products and Smucker's acquired it in order to strengthen its existing natural-food portfolio. Also, the company expects that the buyout will add $45 million to its revenue every year.

Similarly, peer General Mills (GIS) made a few additions to its business in order to enhance its presence in the growing healthy food market. Its acquisitions included Food Should Taste Good in February 2012, Yoplait in May 2012, and Yoki Alimentos in August 2012. It has also introduced new products such as Old El Paso and Fiber One lemon bars in order to attract more customers. Despite such efforts, General Mills has not been able to increase its top line, as its latest quarterly results could not meet investors' expectations. However, the branded-food company plans to add more products and control its costs so it affirmed its previously given outlook.

On the other hand, food manufacturer TreeHouse Foods (THS) has witnessed higher demand for its products. Its fourth-quarter revenue surged 11.4% over last year as revenue clocked in at $660.3 million. The acquisitions of Cains Foods and Associated Brands last year and an increase in volumes drove this revenue gain. The company also recently acquired Associated Brands, which added to its private-label food product portfolio. Also, TreeHouse's launch of specialty teas enabled it to expand its single-serve coffee business. Hence, this company provides tough competition to other food players.

Points for the Future

Although J.M. Smucker posted disheartening numbers and faces stiff competition from its peers, it has made certain moves which can turn things around. Along with the benefits of its acquisitions, Smucker plans to launch some new products which should attract customers.

The retailer plans to introduce blended fruit pouches in its snacks segment. The company will launch these products under the name of J.M. Smucker's Fruitful and they will enhance its fruit-spreads product category. This shows the company's efforts to cater to the health-conscious needs of consumers.

The company has also developed stronger marketing campaigns with more impact. In order to increase consumer interest, J.M. Smucker has sponsored eight Olympic champions who will be featured in all of its promotions and advertisements. Hence, this should benefit the food retailer.

However, the company did lower its outlook for the current fiscal year. It now expects its annual revenue to decrease by 5% and expects earnings in the range of $5.55 to $5.60 per share. Its guidance provided earlier called for a 2% decline in revenue and earnings between $5.72 to $5.82 per share.

Conclusion

Along with the lower-than-expected numbers, the lowered outlook added to investors' disappointment. It is difficult to say how J.M. Smucker's efforts will result in future benefits. At present, a dull quarter, increased competitive pressure, and a lowered outlook offer reasons enough to stay away from this food company.

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Monday, April 28, 2014

Bank Of England Follows Bernanke And Adopts Explicit ...

Early Wednesday, the Bank of England, led by Governor Mark Carney, formally adopted forward rate guidance. The BoE became just the second major central bank to adopt such policies, following Ben Bernanke of the Federal Reserve in tying rate hikes and other policy initiatives explicitly to economic data.

"Explicit Rate Guidance"

Governor Carney sent the British pound on a whipsaw as he adopted what he termed "explicit rate guidance." The Bank of England has now tied any future rate hikes to the unemployment rate, noting that rates will not rise until at least the unemployment rate reaches 7.0 percent from the current 7.8 percent; the Bank of England does not see this until 2016 in its current forecasts.

"The [Monetary Policy Committee] intends not to raise Bank Rate above its current level of 0.5% at least until the Labour Force Survey headline measure of unemployment has fallen to a threshold of 7%" said Carney in his opening remarks. "While the unemployment rate remains above 7%, the MPC stands ready to undertake further asset purchases if further stimulus is warranted."

Carney also noted that the MPC, the policy making committee of the BoE akin to the FOMC, would not look to sell any of its bond holdings until at least this threshold is reached. "But until the unemployment threshold is reached the MPC intends not to reduce the stock of asset purchases from the current £375 billion."

Carney did note that the BoE would not stick to these thresholds indefinitely if risks to either the bank's inflation forecast or financial stability were to arise. "The Bank of England's unwavering commitment to price stability and financial stability is such that this threshold guidance will cease to apply if material risks to either are judged to have arisen," said Carney. "In that event, the unemployment threshold would be 'knocked out'."

The Anti-Taper

The Bank of England has not increased the size of its asset purchase program since July of last year, when the BoE bo! osted its purchase program by an additional 50 billion pounds to 375 billion pounds. However, the BoE did launch the FLS program since then aimed at lowering market interest rates for borrowers.

The guidance issued by Carney appears to be an anti-taper, as it opens the door to additional purchases in the future. Also, Carney noted that short term market rates appear to be pricing in rate hikes sooner than the third quarter of 2016, when the BoE forecasts the unemployment rate will drop to its 7.0 percent threshold, and thus sees downside for yields in the U.K. bond market.

Real Improvements Across the Nation

Carney noted that the forward guidance thresholds were chosen as the BoE fears taking its foot off of the proverbial pedal too soon. "There is understandable relief that the UK economy has begun growing again," he said. "But there should be little satisfaction. Much is at stake as we seek to secure this recovery and return inflation to the target."

"A fall in unemployment from 7.8% now to the 7% threshold would, given the normal growth of the labour force, mean well over three quarters of a million new jobs over the three-year forecast period. A recovery in productivity driven by a recovery in demand would mean faster growth of real incomes. Such outcomes would represent real improvements in the lives of people across the nation."

Cable Gains Nearly 300 Pips

After dropping initially on the headlines that the BoE will keep easy-money policy for longer to a session low of 1.5204, the pound rallied nearly 300 pips against the dollar to a high of 1.54918 before consolidating gains around 1.5475. Meanwhile, British stocks sold off as the FTSE 100 Index dropped 0.88 percent.

ForexLive's Ryan Littlestone tried to makes sense of the quick and strong reversal in the pound this morning, noting that hopes may have been too high for the forward guidance. "So forward guidance isn't a definitively set path for monetary policy but just an adjustment of previous targ! ets," he ! wrote. "Yes it's narrowed them down somewhat and painted crosshairs on things like unemployment but it's still all 'wait and see' stuff and that's what the market doesn't like."

"Without sounding like I'm beating my own drum, it went pretty much as I expected. Rates stay low, the QE gun is still loaded but it's locked in the draw for now. The recovery is fragile and still faces risks but the emphasis is now on taking up the slack and improving productivity."

"Inflation has become an even bigger part of the equation today and they will need to monitor any home grown inflationary risk as that could affect the threshold that forward guidance is built on."

Sunday, April 27, 2014

And Wall Street's Best Athlete Is ...

Courtesy of the RBC Decathlon RBC Decathlon winner Mark Rubin, flanked by runners-up Jay Li (left) and Collin Zych. The men and women of Wall Street aren't just richer than you are -- some of them are also capable of running circles around you, bench-pressing you, or destroying you in a pick-up football game. The second annual RBC Decathlon took place Sunday, a chance for the traders and executives of Wall Street to test their speed, strength and endurance against one another. The men's winner was Mark Rubin, an assistant vice president of options sales trading at Barclays Capital. As Bloomberg points out, he's also a legitimate athlete: He played safety on Penn State's football team and spent a brief time in the NFL before taking his talents to Wall Street. It's his second straight year winning the title, and at 27 years old, we'd say he's got plenty of good years left in him. The women's winner was Evelyn Konrad of Standard & Poor's. The competition isn't just another excuse for rich kids to one-up each other: It also sends a significant amount to charity, with competitors collecting sponsorships from their employers. This year's event raised $1.3 million for the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Center. Nor is the Decathlon for the faint of heart. Competitors run a gauntlet of physical challenges, including a bench press, an 800-meter run, a 500-meter row and a football-throwing competition. Of course, not everyone on Wall Street is a strapping 20-something a few years removed from a Division I football career. There's also a competition between Wall Street executives, and this year Clinton Biondo of Fir Tree Partners won the "Top Executive" trophy.

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Starbucks Teams Up With Danone

Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX ) has a new dairy offering -- but don't try adding this one to your coffee.

On Tuesday, the Seattle coffee company announced that it's teaming up with France's Danone (NASDAQOTH: DANOY ) to begin marketing a "jointly created and developed" selection of specialty yogurt products.

The new yogurt offerings, branded "Evolution Fresh, Inspired by Dannon," will be sold in Starbucks coffee shops, beginning in spring 2014, and subsequently marketed by Danone to grocery stores in 2015. If successful, the product may be marketed globally thereafter.

The companies further noted that they may be cooperating on other products in the future.

In possibly related news, shares of a Danone sometimes-partner, sometimes-rival in the drinkable yogurt market, kefir-maker Lifeway Foods (NASDAQ: LWAY ) , is seeing its shares come under pressure Tuesday. Specializing in grocery sales, Lifeway also operates a chain of yogurt-inspired restaurants of its own known as "Starfruit Cafe." As Danone shares gain 0.5%, Lifeway is down 4.5%.

Friday, April 25, 2014

Best Logistics Companies To Invest In 2015

On Jul 5, we maintained our Neutral recommendation on United Parcel Service Inc. (UPS). The company�� improved business-to-customer (B2C) services, rate hikes, planned investment program and profitable alliances bear evidence to its strength. However, several headwinds could impede its operating results going forward. This transportation and logistics service provider holds a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Why Maintained?

We believe that United Parcel stands tall with a focused approach towards expansion, various strategic measures, collaborations with other leading firms, a well-defined business model and constant technology upgrades. The company�� policy of increasing freight and general rates on a regular basis remains a key driver for yield expansion in the current market scenario.

United Parcel is targeting to tap the growing opportunities in the health care business sector. With distribution units dedicated to health care in the key markets of North and South America, the company now plans to open health care distribution facilities in the emerging markets of China, India and Japan. To fortify its presence in Europe, United Parcel is set to acquire Hungary-based pharmaceutical logistics company CEMELOG Zrt.

Best Logistics Companies To Invest In 2015: Rockwell Automation Inc.(ROK)

Rockwell Automation, Inc. provides industrial automation power, control, and information solutions. It operates in two segments, Architecture and Software, and Control Products and Solutions. The Architecture and Software segment offers control platforms that perform multiple control disciplines and monitoring of applications, including discrete, batch and continuous process, drives control, motion control, and machine safety control; and products comprising controllers, electronic operator interface devices, electronic input/output devices, communication and networking products, and industrial computers. This segment also offers software products, such as configuration and visualization software used to operate and supervise control platforms, advanced process control software, and manufacturing execution software to enhance manufacturing productivity and meet regulatory requirements; and rotary and linear motion control products, and sensors and machine safety components . The Control Products and Solutions segment provides low and medium voltage electro-mechanical and electronic motor starters, motor and circuit protection devices, AC/DC variable frequency drives, push buttons, signaling devices, termination and protection devices, relays and timers, and condition sensors; and packaged solutions, such as configured drives and motor control centers to automation and information solutions, as well as life-cycle support services. The company sells its products, solutions, and services primarily under the Rockwell Automation, Allen-Bradley, A-B, and Rockwell Software brand names to the food and beverage, transportation, oil and gas, metals, mining, home and personal care, pulp and paper, and life sciences markets through independent distributors and direct sales force in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Latin America. Rockwell Automation, Inc. was founded in 1928 and is headquartered in Milwaukee , Wisconsin.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Rich Duprey]
Industrial automation specialist�Rockwell Automation� (NYSE: ROK ) �announced yesterday�its third-quarter dividend of $0.52 per share, the same rate it paid last quarter after raising the payout almost 11% from $0.47 per share.
[By Ben Levisohn]
Barclays’ Scott Davis and team believe it might be, and for evidence they look at�3M (MMM), Emerson Electric (EMR), Rockwell Automation (ROK), and MSC Industrial Direct (MSM). They write:
[By Ben Levisohn]
That negative sentiment “flashed as a positive indicator,” Inch and Lau say, and some stocks appear to be “‘locked and loaded’ to meaningfully exceed forecast estimates.” Those include Rockwell Automation (ROK), Eaton (ETN) and Emerson Electric (EMR).

Best Logistics Companies To Invest In 2015: Helix Energy Solutions Group Inc (HLX)

Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc.( Helix), incorporated on November 17,1983, is an international offshore energy company that provides specialty services to the offshore energy industry, with a focus on its growing well intervention and robotics operations. The Company had had two business segments: Contracting Services and Production Facilities. Its Contracting Services seek to provide services and methodologies which it believes are critical to developing offshore reservoirs and maximizing production economi regions. Its Production Facilities segment consists of its majority ownership of a dynamically positioned floating production vessel ( Helix Producer I or HP I). In June 2013, Helix Energy Solutions Group Inc closed the previously announced sale of its pipelay vessel, the Caesar, to Trevaskis Ltd.

In January 2012, it sold its oil and gas properties within the Main Pass area of the Gulf of Mexico. On September 26, 2012, the Company sold its pipelay vessel, Intrepid, to Stabbert Maritime Holdings, LLC. On February 6, 2013, it sold Energy Resource Technology GOM, Inc. (ERT), a former wholly-owned United States subsidiary that conducted its oil and gas operations in the Gulf of Mexico.

Contracting Services Operations

The Company provides services and methodologies which it believes are critical to developing offshore reservoirs and maximizing production economics. Its life of field services are segregated into four disciplines: well intervention, robotics, subsea construction and production facilities. It provides a full range of contracting services primarily in the Gulf of Mexico, North Sea, Asia Pacific and West Africa regions primarily in deepwater.

The Company's services include production, which includes inspection, repair and maintenance of production structures, trees, jumpers, risers, pipelines and subsea equipment, well intervention, life of field support and intervention engineering; reclamation and remediation services include pluggin! g and abandonment services, pipeline abandonment services and site inspections; installation of subsea pipelines, flowlines, control umbilicals, manifold assemblies and risers, pipelay and burial, installation and tie-in of riser and manifold assembly, commissioning, testing and inspection, and cable and umbilical lay and connection. It provides oil and natural gas processing services to oil and natural gas companies, primarily those operating in the deepwater of the Gulf of Mexico using its HP I vessel. The HP I is being utilized to process production from the Phoenix.

The Company engineers, manages and conducts well construction, intervention and asset retirement operations in water depths ranging from 200 to 10,000 feet. Three of its vessels serve as work platforms for well intervention services at costs that are typically significantly less than offshore drilling rigs. In the Gulf of Mexico, its multi-service semi-submersible vessel, the Q4000, has set a series of well intervention firsts in increasingly deeper water without the use of a traditional drilling rig. In August 2012, it acquired the Discoverer 534 drillship from a subsidiary of Transocean Ltd.

The Company operates remotely operated vehicles ( ROVs), trenchers and ROVDrills designed for offshore construction and well intervention services. As global marine construction support moves to deeper water. Its chartered vessels add value by supporting deployment of its ROVs. It provides its customers with vessel availability and schedule flexibility to meet the technological challenges of their subsea activities worldwide. Its robotics assets include 49 ROVs, four trencher systems and two ROVDrills. It operate in the Gulf of Mexico, North Sea, Asia Pacific and West Africa regions. It charters four vessels to support its robotics operations and it has engaged additional vessels on short-term (spot) charters as needed. In 2012, its robotics operations had 377 vessel utilization days and 16% of global revenues derived from! alternat! ive energy contracts. Subsea construction services include the use of umbilical lay and pipelay vessels and ROVs to develop fields in the deepwater.

The Company owns interests in two production facilities in hub locations where there is potential for subsea tieback activity. It has invested in two over-sized facilities that allow the operators of these fields to tie back without burdening the operator of the hub reservoir. It owns a 50% interest in Deepwater Gateway, which owns the Marco Polo TLP located in 4,300 feet of water in the Gulf of Mexico. It also owns a 20% interest in Independence Hub which owns the Independence Hub platform, a 105-foot deep draft, semi-submersible platform located in a water depth of 8,000 feet that serves as a regional hub for up to one billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas production per day from multiple ultra-deepwater fields in the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

The Company competes with Oceaneering International, Inc., Saipem S.p.A., Fugro N.V., DOF ASA, Aker Solutions ASA, Subsea 7 S.A., Technip, McDermott International, Inc., Island Offshore and Edison Chouest Offshore Companies.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By David Smith]
Helix Energy Solutions Group (NYSE: HLX )
At $2.70 billion in market capitalization, Helix is equidistant between Flotek and Superior from a size perspective. The company operates through two segments: contracting services and production facilities.
[By GuruFocus]
Helix Energy Solutions Group Inc (HLX): PRESIDENT & CEO Owen E Kratz Bought 50,000 Shares PRESIDENT & CEO of Helix Energy Solutions Group Inc (HLX) Owen E Kratz bought 50,000 shares on 10/24/2013 at an average price of $24.03. Helix Energy Solutions Group Inc has a market cap of $2.54 billion; its shares were traded at around $24.03 with and P/S ratio of 2.96.

Top 5 Logistics Stocks To Watch Right Now: Cash America International Inc.(CSH)

Cash America International, Inc. provides specialty financial services to individuals primarily in the United States and Mexico. The company operates in three segments: Pawn Lending, Cash Advance, and Check Cashing. The Pawn Lending segment offers pawn loans through its pawn lending locations, which operate under the names Cash America Pawn and SuperPawn in the United States, and Prenda Facil in Mexico. This segment also sells previously-owned merchandise acquired from customers who do not redeem their pawned goods, as well as sells items purchased from third-parties or customers. The Cash Advance segment offers unsecured cash advances in selected lending locations that are operated under the names Cash America Payday Advance and Cashland in the United States; and short-term cash advances over the Internet under the names CashNetUSA in the United States, QuickQuid in the United Kingdom, and DollarsDirect in the Canada and Australia. This segment also involves in arranging loans for customers with independent third-party lenders through a credit services organization program; providing marketing and loan processing services for a third-party bank issued line of credit on certain stored-value debit cards that the bank issues; and purchasing a participation interest in certain line of credit receivables originated by the bank. The Check Cashing segment provides check cashing and other financial services, such as stored-value cards, money orders, and money transfers. This segment operates its check cashing locations under the Mr.Payroll name. As of December 31, 2009, it operated 676 pawn lending locations, including 667 company-owned units and 9 unconsolidated franchised units; 246 cash advance locations; and 120 unconsolidated franchised and 6 consolidated company-owned check cashing locations. The company was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By John Udovich]
Despite�a slow global economy and continued high unemployment in many countries, small cap payday or pawn stocks Cash Store Financial Services Inc (NYSE: CSFS), DFC Global Corp (NASDAQ: DLLR) and Cash America International, Inc (NYSE: CSH) have not exactly been performing well since the start of the year. In fact, these three stocks are the worst performers in the payday or pawn loan sector, down 38.5%, down 14.4% and up 4.6%, respectively, since the start of the year.
[By Jon C. Ogg]
Cash America International Inc. (NYSE: CSH) was raised to Neutral from Underperform and its price target was increased to $40 from $38 by Sterne Agee.

Best Logistics Companies To Invest In 2015: M/I Homes Inc. (MHO)

M/I Homes, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, primarily operates as a builder of single-family homes in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Homebuilding and Financial Services. The Homebuilding segment designs, constructs, markets, and sells single-family homes, attached townhomes, and condominiums to first-time, move-up, empty-nester, and luxury buyers in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and southern regions. It markets its finished homes through company-employed sales consultants under the M/I Homes, Showcase Homes, and TriStone Homes trade names. This segment also purchases undeveloped land to develop into finished lots for the construction of single-family homes and for sale to others. As of December 31, 2011, it had 3,041 developed lots and 625 lots under development in inventory, as well as owned raw land expected to be developed into approximately 3,491 lots. The Financial Services segment is involved in originating and selling mortgages, and colle cting fees for title insurance and closing services. This segment serves as a title insurance agent by providing title insurance policies, and examination and closing services to purchasers of its homes. M/I Homes, Inc. was founded in 1973 and is based in Columbus, Ohio.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By The Oxen Group]
According to home construction news site Builderonline.com, MDC ranks 11th in terms of total number of home closings for the year 2012. Out of the top 10 competitors, MDC has the lowest PEG value, followed by Ryland Group (RYL) and Meritage Homes (MTH) with 0.23 and 0.6, respectively. The current pe ratio is lowest for the company followed by Ryland Group with 7.4 and Meritage Homes (MHO) with 11. In terms of forward pe, the top ten competitors have values in the 10-14 range. Putting numbers in perspective, relative to its competitors we believe that MDC presents a better value for investors looking to take advantage of the real estate market rebound.
[By Rich Duprey]
Homebuilder�M/I homes� (NYSE: MHO ) �announced yesterday�it will be paying�a second-quarter cash dividend of�$0.609375�per share on its outstanding depositary shares with each representing 1/1,000th of a Series A preferred share of M/I Homes. The dividend is not changing.

Best Logistics Companies To Invest In 2015: Mechanical Technology Inc (MKTY)

Mechanical Technology, Incorporated (MTI), incorporated on October 4, 1961, operates in two segments: the Test and Measurement Instrumentation segment, which is conducted through MTI Instruments, Inc. (MTI Instruments), a wholly-owned subsidiary, and the New Energy segment, which is conducted through MTI MicroFuel Cells, Inc. (MTI Micro), a variable interest entity (VIE) as of December 31, 2011. MTI Instruments is a worldwide supplier of precision non-contact physical measurement solutions, portable balance equipment and wafer inspection tools. MTI Micro is developing Mobion, a handheld energy-generating device. Mobion handheld generators are based on direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) technology. As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned approximately 47.6% of MTI Micro's interest.

The Test and Measurement Instrumentation Segment

MTI Instruments is a worldwide supplier of precision non-contact physical measurement solutions, portable balance equipment and wafer inspection tools. MTI Instrument's products use a range of technologies to solve applications in numerous industries including manufacturing, semiconductor, solar, commercial and military aviation, automotive and data storage. The Company's test and measurement segment has three product groups: Precision Instruments, Semiconductor and Solar Metrology Systems, and Aviation Balancing Systems. The Company's products consist of electronic, computerized gauging instruments for position, displacement and vibration applications for the design, manufacturing/production and test and research markets; metrology tools for wafer characterization of semiconductor and solar wafers; tensile stage systems for materials testing in research and industrial settings; and engine balancing and vibration analysis systems for both military and commercial aircraft.

The Precision Instruments group employs capacitance, laser and fiber optic technologies to make nano-accurate measurements. These advanced sensing and physical measur! ement technologies are used to produce products that range from basic sensors to complete, fully integrated measurement systems, and are available as single sensors for integration into existing data acquisition systems or as complete system level solutions that can be further integrated into a facility wide communication backbone. MTI Instruments' Precision Instruments product offerings & technologies include Accumeasure Family, Microtrak Family, Microtrak II Series, Microtrak Pro-2D, MTI-2100 Fotonic Sensor Series, MTI Tensile Stages, Semiconductor and Solar Metrology Systems, Aviation Balancing Systems, PBS-4100+ /4100R+ Portable Balancing System, TSC-4800A Tachometer Signal Conditioner, and 1510A Calibrator.

The Accumeasure family of products is designed to address the needs of product developers, process engineers, researchers, designers, and others who need measurements. MTI Instrument's Microtrak family of laser triangulation sensors offers displacement, position and vibration measurements. The Microtrak II comes with an interface controller that provides a digital display of the target position, alarm set points and connections for analog and RS-485 outputs. The Microtrak II Stand-Alone Laser Head also uses complementary metal oxide semiconductors with charged coupled device (CMOS - CCD) detection technology. During the year ended December 31, 2011, MTII launched its Microtrak PRO-2D laser triangulation scanners, which provides profile, displacement and dimensional information in real time.

The MTI-2100 features fiber-optic and electronic technologies for precise measurements of displacement, position and vibration. MTI Instruments' miniature tensile, compression and bend testing machines are designed for use in scanning electron microscopes, atomic force microscopes, and light microscopes. The Company's family of wafer metrology systems includes manual and semi-automated systems. The Semiconductor and Solar Metrology Systems include Proforma 200SA/300SA, Proforma 300 a! nd PV-100! 0. The Proforma 300 is a manual tool. The PV-1000 is incorporated into solar cell production lines to help manufacturers determine quality control issues. The computer-based portable balancing systems (PBS) products collect and record aircraft engine vibration data, identify vibration or balance trouble in an engine, and calculate a solution to the problem.

The portable PBS-4100+ detects if an engine has a vibration problem or a trim balance problem and provides a solution, resulting in reduced engine vibration, longer engine life, and lower fuel costs. The PBS-4100R+ rack mounted system offers the same features and functions as the portable PBS-4100+ with added data channels, speed input channels, direct current (DC) outputs and diagnostic options. TSC-4800A Tachometer Signal Conditioner is targeted for operators of Engine Test cells, where accurate and reliable conditioning of speed signals is essential. The TSC-4800A features multiple output circuits that provide more than 10 different signals types for the monitoring devices. The PBS family of products includes a 1510A calibrator - a product that automatically performs a calibration check of the PBS unit which otherwise would take hours.

The New Energy Segment

MTI Micro has been developing an off-the-grid power solution for various portable electronic devices to address this power gap. The Company's DMFC technology platform, called Mobion, converts methanol fuel to usable electricity. The Company's fuel cell power solution consists of two components integrated into a manufactured device: the direct methanol fuel cell power engine, which the Company refers to as its Mobion Chip, and methanol fuel cartridges. MTI Micro is focusing the development of an external power charger product as a standalone device that uses a universal serial bus (USB) interface as a power output connector that can be used to recharge handheld mobile devices. A fuel cell is an electrochemical energy conversion device, which is similar t! o a batte! ry that produces electricity from a liquid or gaseous fuel, such as methanol, and an oxidant, such as oxygen.

The Company competes with KLA-Tencor, Sigma Tech Corporation, E+H Eichhorn+Hausmann GmbH, Chadwick-Helmuth Company, Inc., ACES Systems, Micro-Epsilon, and Keyence Corporation.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By John Udovich]
Small cap Plug Power Inc was formed in 1997 as a joint venture between Michigan utility owner DTE Energy Co (NYSE: DTE) and Mechanical Technology Inc (OTCMKTS: MKTY) to develop fuel-cell systems to power homes and small businesses. Plug Power Inc says it has�revolutionized the material handling industry with cost-effective power solutions that increase productivity, lower operating costs and reduce carbon footprints as�it manufactures a full suite of products designed to fit seamlessly into the existing battery compartment of all major OEM material handling equipment. In addition, the company says its GenDrive fuel cell is a superior alternative to lead-acid batteries for electric lift trucks in the $20 billion�global material handling market.
[By John Udovich]
Meanwhile, Plug Power Inc was formed in 1997 as a joint venture of Michigan utility owner DTE Energy Co (NYSE: DTE) and Mechanical Technology Inc (OTCMKTS: MKTY) to develop fuel-cell systems to power homes and small businesses. Plug Power Inc says it has�revolutionized the material handling industry with cost-effective power solutions that increase productivity, lower operating costs and reduce carbon footprints as�it manufactures a full suite of products designed to fit seamlessly into the existing battery compartment of all major OEM material handling equipment. The company also says that�its GenDrive fuel cell is a superior alternative to lead-acid batteries for electric lift trucks in the $20 billion�global material handling market.

Best Logistics Companies To Invest In 2015: Invesco Plc(IVZ)

Invesco Ltd. is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm primarily provides its services to individuals, typically high net worth individuals. It also manages accounts for institutions. The firm manages separate client focused equity, fixed income, balanced portfolios. It also launches equity, fixed income, and balanced mutual funds for its clients. The firm invests in the public equity and fixed income markets across the globe. It invests in core, growth, and value stocks of small-cap, mid-cap, and large-cap companies. The firm employs a fundamental and quantitative analysis with a bottom-up stock picking approach to make its investments. It conducts in-house research to make its investments. Invesco Ltd. was founded in December 1935 and is based in Atlanta, Georgia.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Nicole Seghetti]
Gaining ETF exposure...�without breaking the piggybank
So what's the best choice? A traditional ETF or one that's value creating? That depends. First, determine your need for market exposure. For example, if you're lacking international investments, go with an ETF that'll get you that type of exposure. Next, decide whether or not you're willing to pay a higher cost for the chance to outperform. If you're inclined to fork over extra dough for that potential, then consider a value-creating type of ETF. For example, Invesco's (NYSE: IVZ ) PowerShares ETFs seek to beat traditional benchmark indexes while giving investors access to more focused investment opportunities. Instead, if you want to keep costs to a minimum, then look for a traditional ETF with a low expense ratio.
[By Dan Caplinger]
Lately, though, T. Rowe Price hasn't benefited as much from share-price gains. Competitor Invesco (NYSE: IVZ ) has managed to expand its margins and produce growth among its current lineup of funds, with exposure to a big range of markets that leaves it broadly placed to serve its customers' needs. But for T. Rowe Price and peer Federated Investors (NYSE: FII ) , investors haven't been putting as much money to work in their funds as analysts had expected to see, and that has led to some growth shortfalls. Federated in particular missed its earnings estimates in its most recent quarter, and analysts see growth there slowing to just 3%. T. Rowe Price has better prospects, retaining its double-digit revenue growth, but after a substantial move upward at the beginning of the year, its stock has treaded water.
[By M. Joy Hayes]
In early 2012, representatives from Aguilar's former employer, Invesco (NYSE: IVZ ) , met with Aguilar to present its argument� that the proposed regulations were "extreme," that the "current reforms are working," and that the new regulations would "disrupt market functioning and damage a fragile economic recovery."

Best Logistics Companies To Invest In 2015: Ultra Clean Holdings Inc.(UCTT)

Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, development, engineering, manufacture, and sale of critical modules and subsystems primarily to original equipment manufacturers in semiconductor capital equipment, flat panel, medical, energy, and research industries. It offers gas delivery systems that control the flow, pressure, sequencing, and mixing of specialty gases into and out of the reaction chambers of semiconductor manufacturing tools; chemical mechanical planarization modules; chemical delivery modules, which deliver gases and reactive chemicals from a centralized subsystem to the reaction chamber; and top-plate assemblies that form the top portion of the reaction chamber. The company also provides frame assemblies that form the support structure to which other assemblies are attached and include pneumatic harnesses and cables that connect other critical subsystems together; process modules, which are subsystems of semiconductor manufacturing tools that process integrated circuits onto wafers; and other high level assemblies for use in semiconductor manufacturing, research, flat panel, energy, and medical equipment industries. It sells its products through its direct sales force primarily in North America, Asia, and Europe. Ultra Clean Holding, Inc. was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Hayward, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By John Kell]
Ultra Clean Holdings Inc.(UCTT) swung to a fourth-quarter profit as the company recorded a surge in revenue. The company also issued a rosy first-quarter outlook, pushing shares up 17% to $13.94 premarket.

Best Logistics Companies To Invest In 2015: Nevada Gold Corp (NVGC)

Nevada Gold Corp., incorporated on May 31, 2011, is an exploration-stage company. The Company is primarily engaged in the acquisition and exploration of mining properties.

The Company has an option to acquire certain claims located the Long Canyon Gold Trend of Northern Nevada State. As of February 28, 2013, the Company had no revenue.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By John Udovich]
Small cap OTC stocks Sovereign Lithium Inc (OTCMKTS: SLCO), Life Stem Genetics Inc (OTCMKTS: LIFS), Nevada Gold Corp (OTCMKTS: NVGC), Guar Global Ltd (OTCMKTS: GGBL) and Makism 3D Corp (OTCMKTS: MDDD) all saw their trading halted late last year by the SEC, but now all of these stocks are trading again. So what's going on and why the sudden crackdown? First, here is a quick look at what happened to the following five small cap stocks:

Thursday, April 24, 2014

2 Biotech Stocks Under $10 in Breakout Territory

DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- At Stockpickr, we track daily portfolios of stocks that are the biggest percentage gainers and the biggest percentage losers.

>>5 Rocket Stocks to Buy This Week

Stocks that are making large moves like these are favorites among short-term traders because they can jump into these names and try to capture some of that massive volatility. Stocks that are making big-percentage moves either up or down are usually in play because their sector is becoming attractive or they have a major fundamental catalyst such as a recent earnings release. Sometimes stocks making big moves have been hit with an analyst upgrade or an analyst downgrade.

Regardless of the reason behind it, when a stock makes a large-percentage move, it is often just the start of a new major trend -- a trend that can lead to huge profits. If you time your trade correctly, combining technical indicators with fundamental trends, discipline and sound money management, you will be well on your way to investment success.

>>Side-Step the Selling With These 5 Big Trades

With that in mind, let's take a closer look at a several stocks under $10 that are making large moves to the upside.

Onconova Therapeutics

Onconova Therapeutics (ONTX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, focuses on discovering and developing small molecule drug candidates to treat cancer. This stock closed up 2.6% to $6.16 a share in Tuesday's trading session.

Tuesday's Range: $5.95-$6.27

52-Week Range: $5.23-$31.13

Tuesday's Volume: 409,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 374,210

From a technical perspective, ONTX trended modestly higher here right off $6 with slightly above-average volume. This move is quickly pushing shares of ONTX within range of triggering a major breakout trade. That trade will hit if ONTX manages to take out some key near-term overhead resistance levels at $6.25 to Tuesday's intraday high of $6.27 and then once it clears more key resistance at $6.49 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ONTX as long as it's trending above some key near-term support at $5.60 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 374,210 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then ONTX will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels $7 to $8, or even $8.50 to $9.34.

Geron

Geron (GERN), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, develops a telomerase inhibitor, imetelstat, to treat hematologic myeloid malignancies. This stock closed up 14.6% to $2.19 in Tuesday's trading session.

Tuesday's Range: $1.89-$2.29

52-Week Range: $0.41-$2.75

Tuesday's Volume: 9.71 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 6.36 million

From a technical perspective, GERN exploded higher here right above some near-term support at $1.75 with strong upside volume. This move pushed shares of GERN into breakout territory, since the stock took out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $2.06 to $2.18. Market players should now look for a continuation move higher in the short-term if GERN manages to take out Tuesday's high of $2.29 to more near-term overhead resistance at $2.53 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in GERN as long as it's trending above $2 or above Tuesday's low of $1.89 and then once it sustains a move or close above $2.29 to $2.53 volume that hits near or above 6.36 million shares. If that move gets underway soon, then GERN will set up to re-fill some of its previous gap-down-day zone from March that started just above $4.50. Some possible upside targets if GERN gets into that gap with volume are $3 to $3.50.

Top Transportation Stocks To Watch Right Now

To see more stocks that are making notable moves higher, check out the Stocks Under $10 Moving Higher portfolio on Stockpickr.

-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis.

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

4 Specialty Retail Stocks to Buy Now

Popular Posts: 7 Biotechnology Stocks to Buy Now10 Best “Strong Buy” Stocks — UA POWR QIHU and more10 Oil and Gas Stocks to Buy Now Recent Posts: 3 Packaged Foods Stocks to Buy Now 6 Semiconductor Stocks to Buy Now 4 Specialty Retail Stocks to Buy Now View All Posts

Four specialty retail stocks are moving up in their overall rating this week, according to the Portfolio Grader database. Every one of these is graded an “A” (“strong buy”) or “B” overall (“buy”).

This week, Gap, Inc. () is showing significant improvement as the company’s rating hops from a C (“hold”) to a B (“buy”). Gap is an international specialty retailer operating retail and outlet stores. In Portfolio Grader’s specific subcategory of Equity, GPS also gets an A. .

Tractor Supply Company’s () ratings are looking better this week, moving up to a B from last week’s C. Tractor Supply operates retail farm and ranch stores in the United States. .

This week, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. () pushes up from a C to a B rating. Williams-Sonoma is a retailer of home products, mainly culinary and serving equipment. .

Hot High Dividend Companies To Buy Right Now

The rating of Signet Jewelers Limited () moves up this week, rising from a C to a B. Signet Jewelers is engaged in the retailing of jewelry, watches and gifts with branches throughout UK and US. With a price of $99.84, it is above the 50-day moving average of $97.60. .

Louis Navellier’s proprietary Portfolio Grader stock ranking system assesses roughly 5,000 companies every week based on a number of fundamental and quantitative measures. Stocks are given a letter grade based on their results — with A being “strong buy,” and F being “strong sell.” Explore the tool here.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

5 States With the Fewest Home Foreclosures

There are few statistics that better illustrate our economic travails over the last few years than the number of homes that continue to be foreclosed upon on a monthly basis.

The good news is that the number is shrinking. According to a new report from CoreLogic, there were a total of 52,000 completed foreclosures in May. While this was 3.5% higher than the previous month, it was nevertheless 27% below the same month last year.

The bad news is that we still have a long way to go before things normalize. Between 2000 and 2006, CoreLogic estimates that there was an average of only 21,000 completed foreclosures each month. The current rate will need to fall by 60% to get back to that level.

That being said, the state of the foreclosure market is not uniform across the country. What follows are the five states with the fewest foreclosures over the past 12 months. To see a list of the five states with the most foreclosures, click here.

State

Completed Foreclosures Over the Past 12 Months

Foreclosure Inventory as a Percent of Mortgaged Homes

District of Columbia	108	2.1%
Hawaii	453	3.7%
North Dakota	467	0.6%
West Virginia	517	1.1%
Maine	644	4.1%

Source: CoreLogic.

It probably goes without saying that the number of completed foreclosures here has a lot to do with the population of the state in question. Take North Dakota and Maine as examples. These are two of the least populated states in the country. It makes sense, in other words, that they would have among the fewest foreclosures.

More telling, then, is the foreclosure inventory as a percent of mortgaged homes. The tides are reversed in this regard for at least Maine and Hawaii, which sport among the highest percentages of any state. The national average is 2.6%.

Percentages aside, the benefit of the relative health of these housing markets can be seen in the performance of smaller, regional banks like Bank of Hawaii (NYSE: BOH ) , BB&T (NYSE: BBT ) , and TD Bank (NYSE: TD ) which have large presences in Hawaii, West Virginia, and Maine, respectively. Shares of all of these banks have more than recovered since the financial crisis as a testament to this.

It also goes a long way toward explaining why investors like Warren Buffett are so interested in smaller, high-quality lenders that have proven themselves to be bastions of safety and profit.

The cream of the crop in this regard is the bank discussed in our free report on the stock that Buffett wishes he could own but can't because of its size. Since this bank's inception, it's returned more than 5,000% to shareholders in both dividends and share-price appreciation. It's no wonder, in turn, that it's regularly selected as among the top banks in the country time and time again. You can learn the identity of this bank instantly and for free simply by clicking here now.

Top 10 Small Cap Stocks To Watch Right Now

Monday, April 21, 2014

Mid-Day Market Update: AMD Surges After Upbeat Results; Acacia Research Shares Decline

Related BZSUM Mid-Morning Market Update: Markets Rise; Halliburton Posts Q1 Profit #PreMarket Primer: Monday, April 21: Fatal Gun Battle In Ukraine To Test Geneva Accord

Top Heal Care Companies To Own In Right Now

Midway through trading Monday, the Dow traded up 0.17 percent to 16,436.00 while the NASDAQ surged 0.39 percent to 4,111.33. The S&P also rose, gaining 0.24 percent to 1,869.24.

Leading and Lagging Sectors
Monday morning, the healthcare sector proved to be a source of strength for the market. Leading the sector was strength from Sarepta Therapeutics (NASDAQ: SRPT) and STAAR Surgical Company (NASDAQ: STAA). In trading on Monday, basic materials shares were relative laggards, down on the day by about 0.45 percent.

Top losers in the sector included Endeavour Silver (NYSE: EXK), off 4 percent, and Hecla Mining Co (NYSE: HL), down 3.5 percent.

Top Headline
Halliburton (NYSE: HAL) posted a profit in the first quarter. Halliburton swung to a quarterly profit of $622 million, or $0.73 per share, versus a year-ago loss of $18 million, or $0.02 per share. Its income from continuing operations came in at $0.73 per share. Its total revenue climbed to $7.35 billion versus $6.97 billion. However, analysts were estimating earnings of $0.72 per share on revenue of $7.26 billion.

Equities Trading UP
Sarepta Therapeutics (NASDAQ: SRPT) shares shot up 47.95 percent to $36.10 on announcement that it will file NDA for Eteplirsen for the treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy by the year-end.

Shares of Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD) got a boost, shooting up 11.92 percent to $4.13 after the company reported upbeat quarterly earnings and issued a strong Q2 revenue forecast.

AstraZeneca PLC (NYSE: AZN) shares were also up, gaining 5.75 percent to $67.14 on report of potential acquisition by Pfizer (NYSE: PFE).

Equities Trading DOWN
Shares of Moneygram International (NASDAQ: MGI) were 14.99 percent to $12.59. JMP Securities downgraded Moneygram from Market Outperform to Market Perform.

Acacia Research (NASDAQ: ACTG) shares tumbled 6.98 percent to $15.87 after the company reported weaker-than-expected Q1 results.

athenahealth (NASDAQ: ATHN) was down, falling 5.80 percent to $137.14 after the company reported downbeat quarterly results. Morgan Stanley analyst Ricky R. Goldwasser removed the $133.00 price target on athenahealth.

Commodities
In commodity news, oil traded up 0.13 percent to $104.44, while gold traded down 0.53 percent to $1,287.00.

Silver traded down 1.10 percent Monday to $19.38, while copper fell 0.23 percent to $3.03.

Eurozone
Europe's markets were quiet with British, Italian, French and German markets all closed for Easter holidays.

Economics
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index rose to 0.20 in March, versus a prior reading of 0.14. However, economists were expecting a reading of 0.20.

The Conference Board's index of leading indicators rose 0.80% in March, versus economists' expectations for a 0.70% growth.

Posted-In: Earnings News Guidance Eurozone Futures Forex Global Econ #s Economics Intraday Update Markets Movers Tech

Most Popular Earnings Expectations For The Week Of April 21: Apple, Facebook, GM And More Sears And Others Insiders Have Been Buying Sunday Times Reports Pfizer Considering $100B Offer for AstraZeneca Barron's Recap: Sunny Skies For Home Depot Stocks To Watch For April 21, 2014 Is Nike Saying Goodbye To Its FuelBand? Related Articles (ACTG + AMD) Mid-Day Market Update: AMD Surges After Upbeat Results; Acacia Research Shares Decline Technology Stock Roundup: Yahoo and AMD Soar Post Earnings Reports - Analyst Blog Advanced Micro Beats on Q1 Earnings - Analyst Blog Mid-Morning Market Update: Markets Rise; Halliburton Posts Q1 Profit Plexus Corp. (PLXS) Jumps: Stock Rises 8.0% - Tale of the Tape

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Apple's Biggest Challenge May Be Apple

A recent report from Fast Company suggests that Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL ) failed to follow the wants of its user base in developing its most recent series of products. The report details how social media, through sites like Facebook (NASDAQ: FB ) , can provide critical information to companies about what customers want. While that message was delivered to Apple, it was actually reflected in products that run on Google's Android instead.

In the video below, Fool.com contributor Doug Ehrman discusses two paradigms for product development and why Apple may have to shift from one to the other, as well as where the company may be its own worst enemy.

Apple has a history of cranking out revolutionary products... and then creatively destroying them with something better. Read about the future of Apple in the free report, "Apple Will Destroy Its Greatest Product." Can Apple really disrupt its own iPhones and iPads? Find out by clicking here.

Editor's note: The author misspoke; Android devices have switched sooner to LTE, not LTD.

David Rolfe Comments on Varian Medical Systems

Varian Medical Systems (VAR) has been a staple in our portfolio since the fall of 2005. The stock has rebounded smartly, up +31% from its April 2013 lows through the first quarter. Varian continues to be the global market share and technological leader in the radiation oncology business. Unfortunately, the incidence of cancer continues its deadly growth. In the U.S. alone, the American Cancer Society projects that some 1.7 million people will be diagnosed with cancer. Expectations of new cancer cases around the world are approaching 25 million over the next three decades. Of these new cases, approximately two-‐thirds will be treated with some sort of radiation therapy. Varian has been at the forefront of linear particle accelerator since the late 1940's. Today the Company's installed base numbers over 7,300 LINACS across the globe – a 60% market share. As impressive as that may sound, the availability of state-‐of-‐the-‐art radiation therapy (radiosurgery and proton therapy) outside of the U.S. is woefully low. The developed world has access to 35 to 110 LINACS per million people over the age of 65. In the U.S., it's 110 LINACS per million. Western Europe and Japan is 35 to 65 per million. In India, Africa, Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia there are between 1 and 20 machines per million. In China there is less than 10 machines per million. Complementing the Company's long-‐term growth opportunity in radiation therapy is the secular trend in the "digitization of radiology," which is a key driver of their lucrative software and flat-‐panel services business, plus their X-‐ray tube replacement business that sells into the installed base of competing LINACS. The Company's initiatives to drive greater productivity continue to bear fruit. In 2013 sales per employee increased 14% and operating income per employee increased 20% over 2012 levels. Such productivity has helped the Company offset the continuing losses as they rollout their proton therapy machines. Cutting edge tech! nologies such as proton therapy are one of the many reasons why cancer survivorship rates are up to nearly 70% from 50% from just the 1970's. You will be hearing much more about the marvels of proton therapy in the years to come. The key benefit of proton therapy over the latest x-‐ray technology is that proton beams, due to proton's relatively larger sub-‐atomic mass, can be controlled and stopped at the tumor. Conventional X-‐rays particles cannot be 3 stopped and risk damaging surrounding healthy cells. Due to the exceptional accuracy of a proton beam, the oncologist can more safely deliver much higher doses of radiation (hypofraction), which kills cancer faster with fewer treatments. Furthermore, tumors that are close to vital organs are ideal for proton therapy. These include head and neck, breast, lung, gastrointestinal, prostate and spine. Proton therapy is also ideal for children to avoid longer-‐term side effects of traditional radiation therapy. The advantages of this therapy have been known since the 1940's, but the cost of commercialization has been a nearly insurmountable hurdle. The Varian proton therapy equipped facility at the Scripps Proton Therapy center in San Diego just went online in January. This $220 million, 102,000 square-‐foot, facility is only the 15th proton therapy facility in the U.S. At its core sits a 95-‐ton superconducting cyclotron where the proton beam is generated using oxygen and hydrogen to create a plasma stream. Protons are then extracted and accelerated to roughly 100,000 miles per second. Such miracles of science and technology (Cincinnati Children's Hospital just recently placed a proton order) come at considerable costs. The Company needs to get the costs of such systems below $25 million in order to drive any meaningful growth and profitability from proton therapy. Given Varian's long and exceptional history of innovation with LINACS, combined with proton therapy's high barriers to entry, we believe the Company is well-‐positioned! to event! ually reap a substantial proportion of any potential financial rewards generated by this ground-‐breaking technology. Stericycle continued its steady streak of growth. Last quarter earnings per share were up 12%, driven by a 13% increase in revenues, compared to the December 2012 calendar quarter. Stericycle is able to methodically deliver such growth through a unique combination of organic and inorganic means. For instance, during the quarter they closed eight acquisitions that will generate roughly $34 million in incremental annual revenues. As for the Company's competitive positioning, the regulated medical waste industry market opportunity is roughly $10.5 billion spread across a highly fragmented competitive field, consisting of regional or local players, with none generating revenues above $100 million.From David Rolfe (Trades, Portfolio)'s Wedgewood Partners first quarter 2014 commentary.
Also check out: David Rolfe Undervalued Stocks David Rolfe Top Growth Companies David Rolfe High Yield stocks, and Stocks that David Rolfe keeps buying

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Thursday, April 17, 2014

Top Integrated Utility Stocks To Invest In Right Now

The only company to successfully compete with Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL ) iPhone and become the product to beat in the smartphone arena has been Samsung. The iPhone may be beautiful, sleek, and functional, but one thing it is definitely not is durable. We've all known someone -- if you've been lucky enough not to have it happen to you -- who's had a shattered screen or a phone damaged by water. Samsung's Galaxy S4 Active �looks to address the durability issue and may have completely altered the way phones are made.

In the following video, Fool.com contributor Doug Ehrman discusses why this is an important development and how it could affect both Apple and Samsung from here.

As it continues to battle Samsung, it's important to remember that Apple has a history of cranking out revolutionary products -- and then creatively destroying them with something better. Read about the future of Apple in the free report, "Apple Will Destroy Its Greatest Product." Can Apple really disrupt its own iPhones and iPads? Find out by clicking here.

Top Integrated Utility Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Primoris Services Corporation(PRIM)

Primoris Services Corporation, a specialty contractor and infrastructure company, provides a range of construction, fabrication, maintenance, replacement, water and wastewater, and product engineering services in the United States and internationally. It offers construction services, including installation of underground pipeline, cable, and conduits for entities in the petroleum, petrochemical, and water industries; installation and maintenance of industrial facilities for petroleum, petrochemical, and water industries; installation of commercial and industrial cast-in-place structures; and construction of highways, as well as industrial and environmental constructions. The company also engages in designing, supplying, and installing high-performance furnaces, heaters, burner management systems, and related combustion and process technologies for clients in the oil refining, petrochemical, and power generation industries, as well as furnishes turnkey project management se rvices and delivers custom engineering solutions. It serves public utilities, petrochemical companies, energy companies, municipalities, state departments of transportation, and other customers. Primoris Services Corporation is based in Dallas, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Holly LaFon] ris is a contractor and infrastructure company founded in 1946. It provides services related to construction fabrication, maintenance, replacement, water and wastewater and engineering to clients that are typically major public utilities, petrochemical companies, energy companies, municipalities and others. It doubled its size in 2009 and 2010 when it purchased the James Construction Group and Rockford Corporation, respectively. Primoris��predecessor company, Rhapsody acquisition Corp., had its IPO in 2006, and Primoris merged with Rhapsody in 2008.
Joel Greenblatt bought 59,076 shares at an average price of $13.56 in the fourth quarter. After being relatively flat since its IPO, Primoris��stock price began to rise dramatically in 2011, and Greenblatt bought on a dip in the fourth quarter. In the last year it has appreciated 87 percent.
Primoris��free cash flow and revenue in 2010 bounced back from a down year in 2009 and EBITDA grew each year in the same span of time. Return on equity and return on assets have both declined over the three years, but in the third quarter of 2011 came back strongly. ROE increased to 29.3 percent from 16.1 at year-end 2010, and ROA has increased to 11.4 percent from 4.8 percent at year-end 2010.
The third quarter was good in other ways. The company reached its highest revenue and net income in its 60-year history. However, fluctuations in revenue and earnings may occur over the next several quarters as it completes several major projects. On November 30, it announced $181 million in new contracts.
Primoris��P/E, P/S and P/B ratios:
PRIM pe,ps,pb Interactive Chart
Caribou Coffee (CBOU)
Caribou Coffee is a gourmet coffee company that owns the second-largest number of coffeehouses in the U.S. After rising significantly in the second quarter of 2011, its stock price dropped in the fourth quarter, when Joel Greenblatt purchased it. He bought 52,794 shares at an average price of $13.27.

Top Integrated Utility Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Coach Inc (COH)

Coach, Inc. (Coach), incorporated in June 2000, is a marketer of fine accessories and gifts for women and men. Coach�� product offerings include women�� and men�� bag, accessories, business cases, footwear, wearables, jewelry, sunwear, travel bags, watches and fragrance. The Company operates in two segments: Direct-to-Consumer and Indirect. Accessories include women�� and men�� small leather goods, novelty accessories and women�� and men�� belts. Women�� small leather goods, which coordinate with its handbags, include money pieces, wristlets, and cosmetic cases. Men�� small leather goods consist primarily of wallets and card cases. Novelty accessories include time management and electronic accessories. Key rings and charms are also included in this category. Men�� handbag collections include business cases, computer bags, messenger-style bags and totes. Footwear is distributed through select Coach retail stores, coach.com and about 1,000 United States department stores. Wearables category is comprised of jackets, sweaters, gloves, hats and scarves, including both cold weather and fashion.

The Company�� Jewelry category is comprised of bangle bracelets, necklaces, rings and earrings offered in both sterling silver and non-precious metals. Marchon Eyewear, Inc. (Marchon) is the Coach�� eyewear licensee. Coach sunglasses are sold in Coach retail stores and coach.com, department stores, select sunglass retailers and optical retailers in major markets. The travel collections are comprised of luggage and related accessories, such as travel kits and valet trays. Movado Group, Inc. (Movado) is the Company�� watch licensee, which develops a collection of watches.

Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (Estee Lauder), through its subsidiary, Aramis Inc., is Coach�� fragrance licensee. Fragrance is distributed through Coach retail stores, coach.com and about 4,000 United States department stores and 500 international locations. Coach offers four women�� fragrance col! lections and one men�� fragrance. The women�� fragrance collections include eau de perfume spray, eau de toilette spray, purse spray, body lotion and body splashes.

Direct-to-Consumer Segment

The Direct-to-Consumer segment consists of channels that provide the Company with immediate, controlled access to consumers: Coach-operated stores in North America; Japan; Hong Kong, Macau, and mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore and the Internet. This segment represented approximately 89% of Coach�� total net sales during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012 (fiscal 2012), with North American stores and the Internet, Coach Japan and Coach China contributing approximately 63%, 18% and 6% of total net sales, respectively. Coach stores are located in regional shopping centers and metropolitan areas throughout the United States and Canada. The retail stores carry an assortment of products. Its stores are located in locations, such as New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Toronto.

Coach�� factory stores serve as a means to sell manufactured-for-factory-store product, including factory exclusives, as well as discontinued and irregular inventory outside the retail channel. These stores operate under the Coach Factory name. Coach�� factory store design, visual presentations and customer service levels support. Coach views its Website as a key communications vehicle for the brand to promote traffic in Coach retail stores and department store locations. Its online store provides a showcase environment where consumers can browse through a selected offering of the latest styles and colors.

Coach Japan operates department store shop-in-shop locations and freestanding flagship, retail and factory stores, as well as an e-commerce Website. Flagship stores offer an assortment of Coach products that are located in select shopping districts throughout Japan. Coach China operates department store shop-in-shop locations, as well as freestanding flagship, retail and factory sto! res. Flag! ship stores, which offer an assortment of Coach products, are located in select shopping districts throughout Hong Kong and mainland China. Coach Singapore and Taiwan operate department store shop-in-shop locations as well as freestanding flagship, retail and factory stores. Flagship stores, which offer a range of assortment of Coach products, are located in select shopping districts in Singapore and Taiwan.

The Reed Krakoff brand represents New American luxury primarily for handbags, accessories and ready-to-wear. Reed Krakoff operates department store shop-in-shop locations, freestanding flagship stores, as well as an e-commerce Website at reedkrakoff.com. Flagship stores, which offer an assortment of Reed Krakoff products, are located in select shopping districts in the United States and Japan.

Indirect Segment

The Indirect segment represented approximately 11% of total net sales in fiscal 2012, with United States Wholesale and Coach International representing approximately 6% and 4% of total net sales, respectively. The Indirect segment also includes royalties earned on licensed product. U.S. Wholesale channel offers access to Coach products to consumers who prefer shopping at department stores. Coach products are also available on macys.com, dillards.com, bloomingdales.com, lordandtaylor.com, belk.com, vonmaur.com and nordstrom.com. Coach�� products are sold in approximately 990 wholesale locations in the United States and Canada. Its U.S. wholesale customers are Macy�� (including Bloomingdale��), Dillard��, Nordstrom, Lord & Taylor, Carson�� and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Coach International channel represents sales to international wholesale distributors and authorized retailers. Coach has developed relationships with a select group of distributors who sell Coach products through department stores and freestanding retail locations in over 20 countries. Coach�� network of international distributors serves various markets: South Korea, US & T! erritorie! s, Taiwan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Japan, Australia, Singapore, UAE, France, China, Macau, Indonesia, Kuwait, Bahamas, Aruba, Vietnam, New Zealand, Bahrain, India and Brazil.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Ben Levisohn]
Shares of Michael Kors Holdings (KORS) have gained 6.4% to $79.54 today, after reporting better than forecast earnings. That could be good news for�Fossil�(FOSL), but�Coach�(COH) could be in trouble.
[By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Top Headline
Coach (NYSE: COH) reported downbeat fiscal second-quarter profit.
Coach's quarterly net income fell to $297.4 million, or $1.06 per share, versus a year-ago profit of $352.8 million, or $1.23 per share.

Top Companies To Own In Right Now: Ballard Power Systems Inc.(BLDP)

Ballard Power Systems Inc. engages in the design, development, manufacture, sale, and service of fuel cell products for motive and stationary power applications worldwide. It offers clean energy PEM (proton exchange membrane) fuel cell stacks, modules, and complete systems. The company provides fuel cell products and services for material handling and bus, back-up power, and distributed generation applications; and fuel cell engineering solutions for various fuel cell applications. It also offers carbon-based engineered material products in the form of roll goods as woven carbon fiber textile fabrics or carbon fiber papers primarily for automotive transmissions and gas diffusion layers. Ballard Power Systems Inc., through its interests in Dantherm Power A/S develops clean energy backup power through utilization of hydrogen fuel cell technology; and Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation Corp. develops fuel cell products for the automotive fuel cell market. The company was founde d in 1979 and is headquartered in Burnaby, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Paul Ausick]
The most heavily traded Nasdaq stock today is Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG), as it was last Friday. The fuel cell maker to attract investors following its deal with Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT). Peer companies FuelCell Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: FCEL) and Ballard Power Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: BLDP) are also booming again today. Shares of Plug Power are set to close up 23.1% at $10.15 in a 52-week range of $0.15 to $11.41 (a new 52-week high today). Share volume was more than 7-times the daily average of around 28 million shares traded.
[By Paul Ausick]
Peers Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG), Ballard Power Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: BLDP), and Hydrogenics Corp. (NASDAQ: HYGS) have also shared in the stock price run-up. Any investor expecting more from FuelCell�� results was, perhaps, being irrationally exuberant.
[By Ben Levisohn]
Shares of Tesla have gained 0.8% to $232.83 at 12:18 p.m. That’s not bad considering that Plug Power (PLUG) is unchanged at $6.71, Ballard Power Systems (BLDP) has dropped 2.8% to $5.53 and FuelCell Energy (FCEL) has fallen 4.3% to $2.89.

Top Integrated Utility Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Powershares Buyback Achiever Portfolio (PKW)

PowerShares Buyback Achievers Portfolio (Fund) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield of an equity index called the Share BuyBack Achievers Index (the Index). The Index is designed to track the performance of companies that meet the requirements to be classified as BuyBack Achievers. To become eligible for inclusion in the Index, a company must be incorporated in the United States, trade on the NYSE, the AMEX or the NASDAQ, and must have repurchased at least 5% or more of its outstanding shares for the trailing 12 months. The Index consists of stocks of companies selected by Mergent, Inc. (the Index Provider) pursuant to its own selection methodology. The Fund�� investment advisor is PowerShares Capital Management LLC.

The Index is rebalanced on the last trading date of April, July and October based on the constituents��modified market capitalizations as of the last trading day in March, June and September, respectively. The Fund generally will invest in the stocks comprising the Index in proportion to their weightings in the Index. The Fund will normally invest at least 90% of its total assets in common stocks that comprise the Index. The Fund, using an indexing investment approach, attempts to replicate the performance of the Index.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Joon Choi]
Meanwhile, investors have been flocking to buy PowerShares Buyback Achievers (PKW), pushing the price into overbought territory.

Currently, the monthly relative strength indicator (RSI) reading is 83.7. (A reading over 70 is considered to be overbought.) To put this figure in perspective, the monthly RSI of the Nasdaq Composite was 85.9 on March of 2000 (the index peak), and we know what happened afterwards.
[By Elliott Gue]
Just check out the PowerShares Buyback Achievers ETF (NYSE: PKW), which invests in companies that have bought back at least 5% of their shares outstanding during the prior 12 months. This ETF has more than doubled the returns of the S&P 500 over the past five years.

Top Integrated Utility Stocks To Invest In Right Now: MagneGas Corp (MNGA)

MagneGas Corporation, incorporated on December 09, 2005, is an alternative energy company that creates and produces hydrogen based alternative fuel through the gasification of liquid waste. The Company has developed a process which transforms various types of liquid waste through a plasma arc machine. The result of the product is to carbonize the waste for normal disposal. A byproduct of this process is to produce an alternative to natural gas sold in the metalworking market. The Company produces gas bottled in cylinders for the purpose of distribution to the metalworking markets as an alternative to acetylene. In addition, the Company markets, for sale or licensure, its plasma arc technology. Through the course of the Company's business development, the Company has established a retail and wholesale platforms to sell its fuel for use in the metalworking and manufacturing industries. In August 2012, the Company purchased a 3.5 acre site in Tarpon Springs, FL.

The Company focuses on producing and selling fuels and equipment for the metalworking fuel market. The Company has distributors in Pennsylvania, Alabama, Michigan and Florida. The Company also has a retail operation in Florida selling fuel directly to end users. The Company has obtained approval from the Department of Transportation to deliver fuel in Florida and has several customers purchasing fuel directly. The Company has two products: the fuel called MagneGas and the machines that produce that gas known as Plasma Arc Flow refineries. The Company produces MagneGas for the metalworking market from a feedstock of virgin ethylene glycol (automotive anti-freeze) which is purchased in bulk from outside suppliers. The fuel is hydrogen based and can be used to replace natural gas. It is sold as a replacement for acetylene in the metalworking market. The Plasma Arc Flow technology can gasify many forms of liquid waste such as ethylene glycol, sewage and sludge. Plasma Arc Flow refineries are configured in various sizes ranging from 50kil! owatts (KW) to 500KW depending on the application.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By James E. Brumley]
If the names Axxess Unlimited Inc. (OTCMKTS:AXXU) and MagneGas Corporation (NASDAQ:MNGA) ring a bell, it might be because yours truly posted some bullish thoughts on both names earlier this week. Although neither small cap stock had done everything they needed to do in order become a fully bullish trade at the time, both MNGA and AXXU have cleared those hurdles in the meantime. So, in case you forgot (or in case you missed the first look), an updated review of Axxess Unlimited and MagneGas is merited.
[By James E. Brumley]
Truth be told, had MagneGas Corporation (NASDAQ:MNGA) shares not surged 400% - and subsequently tumbled - in early January, it might not even be worth looking at now. MNGA did surge then, however, so what we've seen unfurl over the past few days can't be ignored now... as it suggests this small hydrogen supplier stock is about to take flight in a more controlled and longer-lasting way than it did at the beginning of the year.

Top Integrated Utility Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Iberdrola SA (IBE)

Iberdrola SA is a Spain-based company principally engaged in the energy sector. The Company's business is structured in four segments: Network Business, including all the energy transmission and distribution activities, and any other regulated activity originated in Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States and Brazil; Deregulated Business, including electricity generation and sales businesses as well as gas trading and storage businesses carried on by the Group in Spain, Portugal, the United Kingdom and North America; Renewable: activities relating to renewable energies in Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States and the rest of the world; Other Businesses, comprising the engineering and construction businesses and the non-power businesses; and Corporation which includes the costs of the Group's structure (Single Corporation), of the administration services of the corporate areas that are subsequently invoiced to the other companies through either specific service. Advisors' Opinion:

[By Sarah Jones]
Iberdrola SA (IBE), Spain�� biggest power company, fell 3.4 percent to 3.87 euros. Endesa SA (ELE) slumped 4.6 percent to 16 euros, while Acciona SA (ANA), which owns more than 4 gigawatts of wind farms in the country, tumbled 8.5 percent to 37.95 euros. Red Electrica Corp. slid 7.5 percent to 38.34 euros.