Regardless of one�� views on the Fed and Ben Bernanke, investors will have to come to terms with the inevitability of higher rates going forward. Yet, this shouldn�� spook the market, as it�� an indication the global economy is finally pulling itself from the crater created by the implosion of Lehman Brothers and the ensuing financial crisis. Indeed, a host of opportunities are out there to position portfolios to face the coming market phase, from looking at equities and major banks in the U.S., to REITs and increasing exposure to core Europe to take advantage of deals overseas. Investors, though, should be careful of potential shocks including political bickering in Washington and across the Eurozone, and should avoid bonds and defensive stocks.
Bernanke is expected leave the Fed in early 2014, but his policies are set to endure, suggesting the Fed is taking its foot off the gas - Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife
Top Railroad Companies To Own For 2015: Avalon Holdings Corp (AWX)
Avalon Holdings Corporation (Avalon) is a subsidiary of American Waste Services, Inc. (AWS). Avalon operates in two business segments: waste management services and golf and related operations. The waste management services segment includes waste disposal brokerage and management services and captive landfill management operations. The golf and related operations segment includes the operation and management of golf courses, fitness centers, tennis, spa services, dining and banquet facilities and a travel agency. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the net operating revenues of the waste management services segment represented approximately 81% of its total segments��net operating revenues. During 2011, the net operating revenues of the golf and related operations segment represented approximately 19% of its total segments��net operating revenues.
Waste Management Services
Avalon�� waste management subsidiaries provide hazardous and nonhazardous waste brokerage and management services and captive landfill management services. Waste management services are provided to industrial, commercial, municipal and governmental customers primarily in selected north-eastern and mid-western United States markets. American Waste Management Services, Inc. (AWMS) assists customers with managing and disposing of wastes at approved treatment and disposal sites based upon a customer�� needs. American Landfill Management, Inc. (ALMI) is a landfill management company that provides technical and operational services to customers owning captive disposal facilities. A captive disposal facility only disposes of waste generated by the owner of such facility. ALMI provides turnkey services, including daily operations, facilities management and management reporting for its customers. As of December 31, 2011, ALMI manages one captive disposal facility located in Ohio. In addition, American Construction Supply, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of ALMI, sells construction mats.
Gol! f and Related Operations
Avalon�� golf and related operations segment operates golf courses and related facilities and a travel agency. Avalon Lakes Golf, Inc. (ALGI) owns and operates a Pete Dye designed championship golf course located in Warren, Ohio. ALGI generates revenue from membership dues, greens fees, cart rentals, merchandise, and food and beverage sales. TBG, Inc. (TBG), a subsidiary of ALGI, entered into a long-term agreement with Squaw Creek Country Club to lease and operate its golf course and related facilities. In addition to a championship golf course, the Squaw Creek facilities include a swimming pool, tennis courts and a clubhouse that includes a fitness center, dining and banquet facilities. TBG generates its revenue in the same manner as ALGI, but also generates revenues from tennis. Avalon Travel, Inc., a subsidiary of ALGI, owns and operates a travel agency which generates its revenue from booking travel reservations. Avalon�� golf courses are located in Warren, Ohio, Vienna, Ohio and Sharon, Pennsylvania.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Geoff Gannon] company that is in two different businesses.
It has a golf course business that is not profitable but has a lot of assets. And then it has a waste management business that is profitable. But doesn�� have a lot of assets.
This is the sort of situation where I would pay a lot of attention to the balance sheet. You aren�� really double counting in a stock like this. The assets are not producing the earnings. They could be separated from the business.
Unfortunately, this is a controlled company. And not a good activist target.
But you will find situations like Gyrodyne (GYRO) and Syms (SYMSQ) where at some point the company�� entire value really depended on its balance sheet.
Obviously when looking at things like real estate you don�� go by what it says on the balance sheet. You try to find a note on depreciation that breaks out land, buildings, etc. And gives information about how the company depreciates its property.
And ��of course ��you look at the ��roperties��item in the 10-K. In the U.S., you then use the information you��e gathered to check county land records and things like that for more information about the property.
Generally, you want to:
路 Find out when the company bought the property
Top 5 Defensive Stocks To Invest In Right Now: SolarWorld AG (SRWRY)
SolarWorld AG is a Germany-based company, operating in the crystalline solar power sector. The Company's core business activity is the production and distribution of solar power applications and ready-to-assembly solar kits for roof installation and large-scale solar power plants. The Company operates in the area of on-grid and off-grid technology. It also provides recycling services. The Company divides its activities into four operational segments: Production Germany, which deals with wafer production; Production U.S., which deals with mono-crystalline modules production; Trade, which deals with products distribution; as well as Other, which deals with research and development. The Company operates through its subsidiaries in Europe, Asia, Africa and the United States. As of December 31, 2011, the Company's subsidiaries included SolarWorld Innovations GmbH, Sunicon GmbH, Deutsche Solar GmbH, SolarFactory GmbH, SolarWorld Industries America Inc, SolarWorld Americas LLC, among others. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Bruce Kennedy]
On Monday, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced indictments against five officers in China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) for ��erious cybersecurity breaches��against six American firms: Westinghouse Electric, a division of Toshiba (OTC: TOSBF) , Alcoa (NYSE: AA),�Allegheny Technologies (NYSE: ATI), U.S. Steel (NYSE: X), the United Steelworkers Union and SolarWorld (OTC: SRWRY).
Top 5 Defensive Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Capral Ltd (CAA)
Capral Limited is an Australia-based company engaged in the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of semi-fabricated aluminium products. The Company operates in three segments: Residential, Commercial and Industrial. The Residential segment includes the supply of aluminum and other components for windows and doors, showers and wardrobes and security products. The Commercial segment includes the supply of aluminum and other components for windows and doors, internal fit outs and other commercial building related products. The Industrial segment includes the supply of aluminum extrusions and rolled products for industrial uses. The Company produces a range of extruded aluminium products and systems. The Company�� subsidiaries include Aluminium Extrusion & Distribution Pty Limited and Austex Dies Pty Limited. In October 2013, the Company acquired OneSteel Aluminium business from OneSteel Trading Pty Limited. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Live investor]
The company�� entered into an agreement with Competitive Carriers Association (CAA), representing tiny mobile operators, through which smaller mobile providers would be able to utilize Sprint�� nationwide network until they build their own. On the other hand, Sprint customers would be able to use the better network of smaller players. At the trade show in San Antonio Son said that the program�� aimed at providing high-speed internet service to areas which were devoid of it. This would intensify competition in the market.
Top 5 Defensive Stocks To Invest In Right Now: EverBank Financial Corp (EVER)
EverBank Financial Corp, incorporated in 2004, is an unitary savings and loan holding company. The Company provides a range of financial products and services directly to customers through multiple business channels. Its operating subsidiary is EverBank. As of December 31, 2011, EverBank had $ 10.3 billion deposits. EverBank offers a range of banking, lending and investing products to consumers and businesses. EverBank provides services to customers through Websites, over the phone, through the mail and at 14 Florida-based Financial Centers. The Company operates in two operating business segments: Banking and Wealth Management, and Mortgage Banking. Its Banking and Wealth Management segment includes earnings generated by and activities related to deposit and investment products and services and portfolio lending and leasing activities. Its Mortgage Banking segment consists of activities related to the origination and servicing of residential mortgage loans. In April 2012, the Company acquired MetLife Bank�� warehouse finance business. In October 2012, it acquired Business Property Lending, Inc.
Asset Origination and Fee Income Businesses
The Company has a range of asset origination and fee income businesses. The Company generates generate fee income from its mortgage banking activities, which consist of originating and servicing one-to-four family residential mortgage loans. It originates prime residential mortgage loans using a centrally controlled underwriting, processing and fulfillment infrastructure through financial intermediaries (including community banks, credit unions, mortgage bankers and brokers), consumer direct channels and financial centers. Its mortgage origination activities include originating, underwriting, closing, warehousing and selling to investors prime conforming and jumbo residential mortgage loans. From its mortgage origination activities, it earns fee-based income on fees charged to borrowers and other noninterest income from gains on sales from ! mortgage loans and servicing rights. During the year ended December 31, 2011, it originated six billion dollars of residential loans. It generates mortgage servicing business through the retention of servicing from its origination activities, acquisition of bulk mortgage servicing rights (MSR) and related servicing activities.
The Company�� mortgage servicing business includes collecting loan payments, remitting principal and interest payments to investors, managing escrow funds for the payment of mortgage-related expenses, such as taxes and insurance, responding to customer inquiries, counseling delinquent mortgagors, supervising foreclosures and liquidations of foreclosure properties and otherwise administering its mortgage loan servicing portfolio. It earns mortgage servicing fees and other ancillary fee-based income in connection with these activities. It services a portfolio by both product and investor, including agency and private pools of mortgages secured by properties throughout the United States. As of December 31, 2011, its mortgage servicing business, which services mortgage loans for itself and others, managed loan servicing administrative functions for loans with unpaid principal balance (UPB) of $54.8 billion.
The Company originates originate equipment leases nationwide through relationships with approximately 280 equipment vendors with networks of creditworthy borrowers and provide asset-backed loan facilities to other leasing companies. Its equipment leases and loans finance essential-use health care, office product, technology and other equipment. Its commercial financings range from approximately $25,000 to $1.0 million per transaction, with typical lease terms ranging from 36 to 60 months. Its commercial finance activities provide it with access to approximately 25,000 small business customers nationwide, which creates opportunities to cross-sell its deposit, lending and wealth management products. It focuses to offer warehouse loans, which are short-ter! m revolvi! ng facilities, primarily securitized by agency and government collateral. It provides financial advisory, planning, brokerage, trust and other wealth management services to its mass-affluent and high-net-worth customers through its registered broker dealer and recently-formed registered investment advisor subsidiaries.
Interest-Earning Asset Portfolio
As of December 31, 2011, the Company�� interest-earning assets were $11.7 billion. As of December 31, 2011, its loan and lease held for investment portfolio was $6.5 billion. As of December 31, 2011, the carrying values of its interest-earning assets are: residential, government-insured (residential), securities, commercial and commercial real estate, Bank of Florida (covered), lease financing receivables, and other.
Residential includes primarily prime loans originated and retained from its mortgage banking activities, acquired from third parties or held for sale to other investors. government-insured (residential) includes Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA) pool buyouts with government insurance, sourced from its mortgage banking segment and third-party sources. Securities include non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities (MBS) and collateralized mortgage obligation (CMO) purchased at significant discounts. This portfolio includes protection against credit losses from purchase discounts, subordination in the securities structures and borrower equity. Commercial and commercial real estate includes a range of commercial loans, including owner-occupied commercial real estate, commercial investment property and small business commercial loans. As of December 31, 2011, Bank of Florida (Covered) includes commercial, multi-family and commercial real estate loans with $71.3 million of purchase discounts. Lease financing receivables include covered lease financing receivables. As of December 31, 2011, the lease portfolio had $64.7 million of total discounts. Other includes home equity loans and lines ! of credit! , consumer and credit card loans and other investments.
Deposit Generation
As of December 31, 2011, the Company had approximately $10.3 billion in deposits. Its market-based deposit products, consisting of its WorldCurrency, MarketSafe and EverBank Metals Select products, provide investment capabilities for customers seeking portfolio diversification with respect to foreign currencies, commodities and other indices. Its financial portal includes online bill-pay, account aggregation, direct deposit, single sign-on for all customer accounts and other features. Its Website and mobile device applications provide information on its product offerings, financial tools and calculators, newsletters, financial reporting services and other applications for customers to interact with it and manages all of their EverBank accounts on a single integrated platform. Its new mobile applications allow customers using iPhone, iPad, Android and Blackberry devices to view account balances, conduct real time balance transfers between EverBank accounts, administer billpay, review account activity detail and remotely deposit checks.
The Company generates deposit customer relationships through its consumer direct, financial center and financial intermediary distribution channels. Its consumer direct channel includes Internet, e-mail, telephone and mobile device access to product and customer support offerings. Its direct distribution with a network of 14 financial centers in Florida metropolitan areas, include Jacksonville, Naples, Ft. Myers, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa Bay and Clearwater. As of December 31, 2011, its financial centers had average deposits of $130.5 million, which is approximately double the industry average. In addition, it generates noninterest-bearing escrow deposits from its mortgage servicing business.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Nicole Seghetti]
3. Build your savings account
Take this opportunity to bolster your savings such that you have at least three months' worth of living expenses socked away. Money market or savings accounts will provide you with the best rates. For example, American Express' (NYSE: AXP ) high-yield savings account pays 0.85%, and Capital One Financial's (NYSE: COF ) Capital One 360 offers a 0.75% APY. Both accounts boast no minimum balances and no fees. Meanwhile, EverBank Financial (NYSE: EVER ) pays an attractive 1.01% money market rate but requires a $1,500 minimum opening balance. �
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