Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Top 10 Japanese Stocks To Watch Right Now

Top 10 Japanese Stocks To Watch Right Now: Coca Cola Femsa S.A.B. de C.V. (KOF)

Coca Cola FEMSA, S.A.B. de C.V. produces, markets, and distributes Coca-Cola trademark beverages and brands. It offers colas under Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Light, and Coca-Cola Zero brands; flavored sparkling beverages under Aquarius Fresh, Chinotto, Crush, Fanta, Fresca, Frescolita, Hit, Kuat, Lift, Mundet, Quatro, Simba, and Sprite brands; water under Alpina, Brisa, Ciel, Crystal, Kin, Manantial, and Nevada brands; Aquarius, a flavored water; Hi-C, a juice-based beverage; and Powerade, an isotonic, as well as ready to drink tea products under Nestea and Matte Leao brands. The company also sells and distributes the Kaiser beer brand. It operates in Mexico, Central America, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, and Argentina. The company was founded in 1979 and is based in Mexico, Mexico. Coca-Cola FEMSA S.A.B de C.V. operates as a subsidiary of Fomento Economico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Eric Volkman]

    Put another tick in the acquisition column for Coca-Cola FEMSA (NYSE: KOF  ) . The Mexico-based company, which says it is the largest bottler of Coca-Cola products on the planet, has signed a deal to acquire Brazilian peer Companhia Fluminense de Refrigerantes. The price is $448 million in cash.

  • source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/top-10-japanese-stocks-to-watch-right-now.html

Monday, March 30, 2015

5 Best Services Stocks To Watch Right Now

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL  ) has been working hard to rid its iOS platform of Google (NASDAQ: GOOG  ) services. The Siri personal assistant wants to replace Google searches in many cases, and then there's the Apple Maps debacle that followed when Google's mapping app was given the boot from your default iPhone and iPad screen.

But Google is not above writing iOS apps like any other third-party developer, and has gained or regained significant footholds in various parts of Apple's world. In the video below, Fool contributor Anders Bylund discusses the current state of Google on iOS hardware in the light of fresh data from mobile security firm Onavo. For example, 32% of iPhone users are back to using Google maps even if they have to find and install it by hand. In some cases, Apple users flock to Google alternatives that can't offer any real benefits due to Apple's rigorous limits on developer choices. Which begs the question: Why won't Apple turn this subtle platform invasion around? Anders has the answer to that mystery, too.

Hot Dow Dividend Stocks To Invest In Right Now: National Asset Recovery Corp (REPO)

National Asset Recovery Corp., formerly Nasus Consulting, Inc., incorporated on August 1, 2000, is a development-stage company. The Company focuses to design, develop and bring to market an immersive three dimensional (3D) virtual world, which provides an online, consumer entertainment experience that combines multiplayer gaming, virtual world and social networking elements.

On May 27, 2009, the Company ceased its information technology business. As of December 31, 2009, the Company had not recorded any revenues from its new business operations.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Chandan Dubey]

    Banks also borrow money from insurance companies and pension funds where the funds are non-depository in nature. These loans are generally collateralized against Treasuries or securities. These are called repurchase agreements (repo) and are mostly overnight. The funds are returned the next day with the interest.

5 Best Services Stocks To Watch Right Now: Gen-Probe Incorporated(GPRO)

Gen-Probe Incorporated engages in the development, manufacture, and marketing of molecular diagnostic products and services that are used primarily to diagnose human diseases and screen donated human blood. Its women?s health product line includes APTIMA Combo 2 assay, APTIMA CT, APTIMA GC assays, and PACE family of assays to detect chlamydia and gonorrhea; APTIMA Trichomonas ASRs to detect trichomonas; APTIMA HPV assay to detect 14 sub-types of high-risk HPV associated with cervical cancer; and AccuProbe Group B Streptococcus (GBS) assay to detect GBS from culture. The company?s infectious diseases product line comprises ProFlu+ to detect influenza A, B, and Respiratory syncytial virus; ProFAST+ to detect and differentiate seasonal H1, seasonal H3, and H1N1pdm09; ProGastro Cd to detect toxigenic strains of clostridium difficile; AMPLIFIED MTD to detect mycobacterium tuberculosis; GAS Direct to detect gas directly from a throat swab; APTIMA HIV-1 and APTIMA HCV assays to detect RNA from HIV-1 and hepatitis C virus; and ASRs for quantitative HCV testing. Its blood screening products include Procleix HIV-1/HCV, Procleix Ultrio, Procleix Ultrio Plus, and Procleix WNV assays to detect HIV-1, HCV, HBV, and west nile virus in donated blood, plasma, organs, and tissues. The company?s transplant diagnostics products comprise LIFECODES HLA DNA typing kits; LIFECODES HLA antibody kits; LIFECODES PF4 assay to detect PF4 heparin-dependent antibodies; and LIFECODES PAK products for platelet antibody screening and detection. It also provides instrumentation and software for performing NAT assays; and genetic testing products, such as PROGENSA PCA3 and PCA3 ASRs to detect the PCA3 genes. The company serves reference laboratories, public health institutions, and hospitals through its direct sales force in United States, Canada, and Europe, as well as through distributors internationally. Gen-Probe Incorporated was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in S an Diego, California.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Garrett Cook]

    GoPro (NASDAQ: GPRO) shares were also up, gaining 12.91 percent to $77.06 after the company reported better-than-expected third-quarter results and issued a strong forecast for the fourth quarter.

  • [By Matt Egan]

    The IPO surge was headlined by companies like GoPro (GPRO) and Weibo (WB), sometimes dubbed China's Twitter. They wanted to take advantage of the rising stock market and investor appetite for the next big thing.

  • [By reports.droy]

    The digital-sports camera maker, GoPro (GPRO), went public this June and in fact this was the first-quarter earnings release after its formal IPO. Last Thursday, after the company disclosed its third-quarter results, analysts cheered and GoPro�� shares which had gone down tumbling in early October surged 19% to a high of $81.13 making investors throw a sigh of relief. So is there a growing demand for GoPro�� product mix? How did it fare in the third quarter ��was it so impressive as indicated through the stock movement. Let�� peek into the quarter highlights to derive the final answer.

  • [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]

    gopro.com If a thrill-seeking mountain biker wants to take on some choppy terrain, it might not be a bad idea to ride GoPro's (GPRO) stock chart. One of the market's most volatile stocks is the maker of wearable cameras that extreme sporting enthusiasts -- like our mountain biker here -- don to record their feats of fancy. It's been a tale of two quarters for GoPro in its first six months as a public company. GoPro went public at $24 in late June, soaring in subsequent weeks. It peaked in early October, more than quadrupling to hit $98.47. It has gone on to shed more than 40 percent of its value. The wild swings aren't a surprise. GoPro went public with plenty of hype this summer, and valuation concerns were bound to come up after it roared out of the gate. Why was GoPro so hot six months ago? Why has it been so cold this quarter? Let's take a look at the two sides of the GoPro mania. Meet the Hot IPO of 2014 It's easy to see why investors gravitated toward GoPro. We've all seen those breathtaking helmet-mounted high-def videos of skateboarders, skiers and hang gliders, and GoPro is the wearable camera of choice for adrenaline junkies like these. GoPro came to market with the speed of some of its action videos. Revenue more than doubled in 2012, and nearly did so again in 2013 when its top line soared 87 percent to hit $985.7 million. Earnings and operating profits were also on a tear. Another thing that helped GoPro was that it more than lived up to the hype. It posted better-than-expected earnings in its first two quarterly reports as a public company, and first impressions for Wall Street debutantes linger. Investors sometimes stay away from hardware plays, especially in a cutthroat market like video cameras. However, GoPro made it clear at the time of its IPO that its grander goal was to become a media company. It wanted to tap into the growing content created by GoPro users to create a social video platform of its own. It went on to hire Guggenheim

5 Best Services Stocks To Watch Right Now: Cenkos Securities PLC (CNKS)

Cenkos Securities plc (Cenkos) is an independent, specialist institutional securities group, focused on growth companies and investment funds. The Company�� principal activities comprise of corporate broking and advisory and institutional equities. Corporate Broking and Advisory segment reflects the corporate finance, corporate broking and market making services provided to growth companies and investment funds. Institutional Equities segment reflects the institutional equities team who provide research-driven investment recommendations and execution capabilities to institutional clients. Cenkos earns fees from primary and secondary equity fund raising, acting as a key intermediary between growth companies or investment funds and institutional providers of capital. Revenue in Corporate Broking and Advisory segment is made up of placing commissions on fund raisings, corporate finance fees and retainer income, market making profits and commissions on secondary market transactions. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Trista Kelley]

    Cenkos Securities Plc (CNKS) is running the spinoff and the share sale. Royal DSM NV (DSM), the world�� largest maker of vitamins, holds about 9 percent of SiS, while U.K. venture-capital trust Downing LLP owns 16.7 percent, Moon said. Provexis stockholders received one share of Science in Sport for every 100 shares of Provexis.

5 Best Services Stocks To Watch Right Now: ExamWorks Group Inc. (EXAM)

ExamWorks Group, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides independent medical examinations (IME), peer and bill reviews, and related services in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Its IME services are used by clients to confirm the veracity of claims by sick or injured individuals for workers� compensation, automotive, personal injury liability, and disability insurance coverage. The company also offers peer review services, including medical record reviews, nurse file reviews, and utilization reviews by members of its medical panel to provide medical opinion of a claimant�s condition and treatment; bill review services, such as physician and hospital bill reviews, and surgical cost estimates; and other IME related services comprising litigation support, medical record retrieval, administrative support services, and managed technology services. ExamWorks Group, Inc. provides its services through its medical panel of independently contract ed physicians and other medical providers. It serves property and casualty insurance carriers, law firms, third-party claim administrators, government agencies, and state funds. The company was incorporated in 2007 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Roberto Pedone]

    Examworks Group (EXAM) is a provider of independent medical examinations, peer and bill reviews and related services. This stock closed up 9.4% at $24.28 in Wednesday's trading session.

    Wednesday's Volume: 1.62 million

    Three-Month Average Volume: 209,788

    Volume % Change: 583%

    From a technical perspective, EXAM exploded higher here right off some near-term support at $21.91 with heavy upside volume. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last six months, with shares soaring higher from its low of $13.79 to its intraday high of $24.40. During that uptrend, shares of EXAM have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. This move also pushed shares of EXAM into breakout territory, since the stock took out its former 52-week high at $23.56.

     

    Traders should now look for long-biased trades in EXAM as long as it's trending above $23 or $22.50 and then once it sustains a move or close above Wednesday's high of $24.40 with volume that hits near or above 209,788 shares. If we get that move soon, then EXAM will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that move are $28 to $30.

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Top Asian Stocks To Watch Right Now

Asian stocks fell, with the benchmark index capping its first weekly retreat since June, as Nikon Corp. (7731)�� reduced profit forecast overshadowed a larger-than-estimated increase in China�� industrial output.

Nikon, a Japanese camera maker, slumped 14 percent, dragging consumer shares lower. BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP), the world�� largest mining company, climbed 1.8 percent in Sydney, leading raw-materials firms to the largest advance among the 10 industry groups of the Asia-Pacific benchmark gauge. DeNA Co., a mobile-game site operator, surged 11 percent in Tokyo after posting a 9.6 percent increase in first-quarter sales.

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index slid 0.2 percent to 133.57 at 5:34 p.m. in Hong Kong. The gauge retreated 1.5 percent since Aug. 2, snapping a six-week rally, the longest stretch of gains since January.

��arnings expectations are high,��Evan Lucas, a Melbourne-based market strategist at IG Markets Ltd., a provider of trading services for equities, currencies and commodities, said by telephone. ��hings had started to get to a top. We need to see if the Chinese government is in control and pulling the right levers for the economy.��

Top Solar Stocks To Own For 2015: Arch Coal Inc. (ACI)

Arch Coal, Inc. produces and sells thermal and metallurgical coal from surface and underground mines located in the United States. As of December 31, 2013, it operated or contracted out the operation of 22 mines, and owned or controlled approximately 5.3 billion tons of proven and probable recoverable reserves. The company also owned or controlled primarily through long-term leases approximately 32,135 acres of coal land in Ohio; 22,417 acres of coal land in Maryland; 46,532 acres of coal land in Virginia; 425,038 acres of coal land in West Virginia; 107,668 acres of coal land in Wyoming; 267,024 acres of coal land in Illinois; 19,428 acres of coal land in Montana; 21,802 acres of coal land in New Mexico; and 20,166 acres of coal land in Colorado, as well as coal land in Kentucky. In addition, it owned or controlled through long-term leases smaller parcels of property in Alabama, Indiana, Washington, Arkansas, California, Utah, and Texas. The company sells coal to power pl ants, steel mills, and industrial facilities. Arch Coal, Inc. was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Travis Hoium]

    Coal stocks have been bludgeoned again this week, after President Obama gave little indication he was going to give the industry leeway in new environmental regulations. Arch Coal (NYSE: ACI  ) , Alpha Natural Resources (NYSE: ANR  ) , and Peabody Energy (NYSE: BTU  ) are all facing long-term challenges finding demand for thermal coal, and they're not dissipating any time soon. In the following video, Fool contributor Travis Hoium covers why he thinks coal stocks are a bad buy.�

  • [By Matt DiLallo]

    Many coal producers have pegged their hopes on coal's international growth. Peabody Energy (NYSE: BTU  ) for example, purchased coal operations in Australia a couple of years ago to better position the company to take advantage of demand growth in the region. Further, the company, along with peers including Arch Coal (NYSE: ACI  ) , have inked coal export agreements with Kinder Morgan Partners (NYSE: KMP  ) to get U.S.-produced coal to the global marketplace.

  • [By Robert Rapier]

    For years the coal industry has suggested that carbon capture and storage technologies would come along to save the day. But this year the Norwegian government abandoned support for a project that was supposed to demonstrate carbon capture and storage on commercial scale. Thus, coal in the US appears to be on the way out.

    US coal producers have been battered as a result. Leading suppliers Peabody Energy (NYSE: BTU) and Arch Coal (NYSE: ACI) saw their share prices decline by another 30 percent and 40 percent, respectively, in 2013. This was on top of steep declines in 2011 and 2012, so that the total market capitalization of BTU and ACI has declined by 71 percent and 87 percent over the last three years.

    No country in the world has decreased coal consumption as much in recent years as has the US. This explains the declining fortunes of coal companies with significant operations in the US. But no country has increased coal consumption as much as China. In fact, were it not for China, global consumption of coal would have decreased over the past five years. Instead, the world continues to set new records for coal consumption.

Top Asian Stocks To Watch Right Now: Itau Unibanco Holding SA (ITUB)

Itau Unibanco Holding S.A., incorporated on September 9, 1943, is a bank in Brazil. The Company has four operational segments: Commercial Banking, Itau BBA, Consumer Credit and Corporate and Treasury. Commercial banking, including insurance, pension plan and capitalization products, credit cards, asset management and a variety of credit products and services for individuals, small and middle-market companies). Itau BBA includes corporate and investment banking. Consumer credit includes financial products and services to its non-accountholders. Corporate and treasury includes the results related to the trading activities in its portfolio, trading related to managing currency, interest rate and other market risk factors, gap management and arbitrage opportunities in domestic and foreign markets. It also includes the results associated with financial income from the investment of its excess capital.

On October 24, 2010, Itau Unibanco completed the integration of customer service locations throughout Brazil. In total, 998 branches and 245 customer site branches (CSB) of Unibanco were redesigned and integrated as Itau Unibanco customer service locations, thus creating a network of approximately 4,700 units in the country under the Itau brand. The Company is a financial holding company controlled by Itau Unibanco Participacoes S.A. (IUPAR). As of December 31, 2010, it had a network of 3,747 service branches throughout Brazil. As of December 31, 2010, it operated 913 CSBs throughout Brazil. As of December 31, 2010, it operated 28,844 automated teller machines (ATMs) throughout Brazil.

Commercial banking

The commercial banking segment offers a range of banking services to a diversified base of individuals and companies. Services offered by the commercial banking segment include insurance, pension plan and capitalization products, credit cards, asset management, credit products and customized products and solutions. The commercial banking segment comprises the specialized! areas and products, such as retail banking (individuals); public sector banking; personnalite (banking for high-income individuals); private banking (banking and financial consulting for wealthy individuals); very small business banking; small business banking; middle-market banking; credit cards; real estate financing; asset management; corporate social responsibility fund; securities services for third parties; brokerage, and insurance, private retirement and capitalization products.

The Company�� credit products include personal loans, overdraft protection, payroll loans, vehicles, credit cards, mortgage and agricultural loans, working capital, trade note discount and export. Its investments products include pension plans, mutual funds, time deposits, demand deposit accounts, savings accounts and capitalization plans. Its services include insurance (life, home, credit/cash cards, vehicles, loan protection, among others), exchange, brokerage and others. Its core business is retail banking, which serves individuals with a monthly income below R$7,000. In October 2010, it completed the conversion of branches under the Unibanco brand to the Itau brand and as of December 31, 2010, it had over 15.2 million customers and 4,660 branches and CSBs. Its public sector business operates in all areas of the public sector, including the federal, state and municipal governments (in the executive, legislative and judicial branches). As of December 31, 2010, it had approximately 2,300 public sector customers. Itau Personnalite�� focus is delivering financial advisory services by its managers, who understand the specific needs of its higher-income customers; a portfolio of exclusive products and services; special benefits based on the type and length of relationship with the customer, including discounts on various products and services. Itau Personnalite�� customer base reached more than 600,000 individuals as of December 31, 2010. Itau Personnalite customers also have access to Itau Unibanco netwo! rk of bra! nches and ATMs throughout the country, as well as Internet banking and phone.

Itau Private Bank is a Brazilian bank in the global private banking industry, providing wealth management services to approximately 17,951 Latin American clients as of December 31, 2010. The Company serves its customers��needs for offshore wealth management solutions in major jurisdictions through independent institutions in the United States through Banco Itau Europa International and Itau Europa Securities , in Luxembourg through Banco Itau Europa Luxembourg S.A. , in Switzerland through Banco Itau Suisse , in the Bahamas through BIE Bank & Trust Bahamas and in Cayman through Unicorp Bank & Trust Cayman. As of December 31, 2010, it had over 565 very small business banking offices located throughout Brazil and approximately 2,500 managers working for over 1,235,000 small business customers. Loans to very small businesses totaled R$5,981 million as of December 31, 2010. As of December 31, 2010, it had 374 small business banking offices located nationwide in Brazil and nearly 2,500 managers who worked for over 525,000 companies. Loans to small businesses totaled R$28,744 million as of December 31, 2010.

As of December 31, 2010, it had approximately 115,000 middle-market corporate customers that represented a range of Brazilian companies located in over 83 cities in Brazil. The Company offers a range of financial products and services to middle-market customers, including deposit accounts, investment options, insurance, private retirement plans and credit products. Credit products include investment capital loans, working capital loans, inventory financing, trade financing, foreign currency services, equipment leasing services, letters of credit and guarantees. The Company also carries out financial transactions on behalf of middle-market customers, including interbank transactions, open market transactions and futures, swaps, hedging and arbitrage transactions. It also offers its middle-market custom! ers colle! ction services and electronic payment services. The Company is able to provide these services for virtually any kind of payment, including Internet office banking. It charges collection fees and fees for making payments, such as payroll, on behalf of its customers.

The Company is engaged in the Brazilian credit card market. Its subsidiaries, Banco Itaucard S.A. (Banco Itaucard) and Hipercard Banco Multiplo S.A. (Hipercard), offers a range of products to 26 million customers as of December 31, 2010, including both accountholders and non-accountholders. As of December 31, 2010, it had approximately R$16,271 million in outstanding real estate loans. As of December 31, 2010, it had total net assets under management of R$291,748 million on behalf of approximately 2.1 million customers. The Company also provides portfolio management services for pension funds, corporations, private bank customers and foreign investors. As of December 31, 2010, it had R$184,496 million of assets under management for pension funds, corporations and private bank customers. As of December 31, 2010, the Company offered and managed about 1,791 mutual funds, which are mostly fixed-income and money market funds. For individual customers, it offered 154 funds to its retail customers and approximately 287 funds to its Itau Personnalite customers. Private banking customers may invest in over 600 funds, including those offered by other institutions. Itau BBA�� capital markets group also provides tailor-made mutual funds to institutional, corporate and private banking customers.

The Company provides securities services in the Brazilian capital markets. Its services also include acting as transfer agent, providing services relating to debentures and promissory notes, custody and control services for mutual funds, pension funds and portfolios, providing trustee services and non-resident investor services, and acting as custodian for depositary receipt programs. The Company also provides brokerage services to inte! rnational! customers through its broker-dealer operations in New York, through its London branch, and through its broker-dealers in Hong Kong and Dubai. Its main lines of insurance are life and casualty (excluding Vida Gerador de Benefucio Livre), extended warranties and property. Its policies are sold through its banking operations, independent local brokers, multinational brokers and other channels. As of December 31, 2010, it had 9.9 million in capitalization products outstanding, representing R$2,620 million in liabilities with assets that function as guarantees of R$2,646 million. The Company distributes these products through its retail network, Itau Personnalite and Itau Uniclass branches, electronic channels and ATMs. These products are sold by its subsidiary, Cia. Itau de Capitalizacao S.A.

Itau BBA

Itau BBA is responsible for its corporate and investment banking activities. As of December 31, 2010, Itau BBA offered a portfolio of products and services to approximately 2,400 companies and conglomerates in Brazil. Itau BBA�� activities range from typical operations of a commercial bank to capital markets operations and advisory services for mergers and acquisitions. As of December 31, 2010, its corporate loan portfolio was R$ 76,584 million. In investment banking, the fixed income department was responsible for the issuance of debentures and promissory notes that totaled R$18,888 million and securitization transactions that amounted to R$4,677 million in Brazil in 2010. In addition, Itau BBA advised 35 merger and acquisition transactions with an aggregate deal volume of R$16,973 million in 2010.

Itau BBA is also active in Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Economico e Social (BNDES) on-lending to finance large-scale projects, aiming at strengthening domestic infrastructure. In consolidated terms, total loans granted by Itau BBA under BNDES on-lending represented more than R$9,010 million in 2010. Itau BBA focuses on the products and initiatives in the international ! business ! unit, such as structuring long-term, bilateral and syndicated financing, and spot foreign exchange. In addition, in 2010 Itau BBA continued to offer a large number of lines of credit for foreign trade.

Consumer Credit

As of December 31, 2010, its portfolio of vehicle financing, leasing and consortium lending consisted of approximately 3.8 million contracts, of which approximately 71.1% were non-accountholder customers. The personal loan portfolio relating to vehicle financing and leasing reached R$60,254 million in 2010. The Company leased and financed vehicles through 13,706 dealers as of December 31, 2010. Sales are made through computer terminals installed in the dealerships that are connected to its computer network. Redecard S.A. (Redecard) is a multibrand credit card provider in Brazil, also responsible for the capturing, transmission, processing and settlement of credit, debit and benefit card transactions. As of December 31, 2010, the Company held approximately 50% interest in Redecard�� capital stock.

The Company competes with Bradesco, Banco do Brasil S.A. (Banco do Brasil), Banco Santander, Caixa Economica Federal (CEF), BNDES, HSBC, Banco Citibank S.A, Banco de Investimentos Credit Suisse (Brasil) S.A., Banco JP Morgan S.A., Banco Morgan Stanley S.A., Banco Merrill Lynch de Investimentos S.A., Banco BTG Pactual S.A., Banco Panamericano S.A, Citibank S.A., Banco GE Capital S.A. and Banco Ibi S.A.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Hilary Kramer]

    Itau Unibanco (ITUB): A lot of investors have never heard of Itau because it’s headquartered in Brazil, but it’s one of the world’s largest financial institutions. With 5,000 branches, 100,000 employees and nearly $500 billion in assets (yes, half a trillion!), ITUB is not just the largest Latin American bank, it is one of the biggest in the world. With proven dominance in Brazil (and Latin America), Itau Unibanco is a go-to financial pick, and it currently yields an attractive 3.5%. I recently recommended that my Inner Circle readers sell ITUB on a nice bounce due to the risk of near-term weakness on economic data out of China, but I�� already looking for an opportunity to get back in.

  • [By Will Ashworth]

    Cencosud is one of the largest retailers in Latin America. It operates grocery stores, home improvement stores and department stores in five countries including Chile, its home base. Its stock is down 51% over the past year for several reasons, including a deal falling through that would have seen it sell 51% of its credit card operations in Chile and Argentina to Itau Unibanco (ITUB) and using the proceeds to reduce its heavy debt load. Add to that a major devaluation of the peso in Argentina, where it generates a quarter of its overall revenue, and you have investors in a full-on panic.

  • [By Charles Sizemore]

    And speaking of top dividend stocks with high capital gains potential, next on the list of are Brazilian banking groups Banco Bradesco (BBD) and Banco Itau (ITUB) — two monthly dividend stocks you must consider.

Top Asian Stocks To Watch Right Now: Zumiez Inc (ZUMZ)

Zumiez Inc. (Zumiez) is a specialty retailer of action sports related apparel, footwear, equipment and accessories operating under the Zumiez brand name. As of January 28, 2012, the Company operated 434 stores in the United States and 10 stores in Canada. In addition, the Company operates a Website that sells merchandise online. At January 28, 2012, its stores averaged approximately 2,900 square feet. Its apparel offerings include tops, bottoms, outerwear and accessories, such as caps, bags and backpacks, belts, jewelry and sunglasses. Zumiez�� footwear offerings primarily consist of action sports related athletic shoes and sandals. Its equipment offerings, or hardgoods, include skateboards, snowboards and ancillary gear, such as boots and bindings. The Company also offers a selection of other items, such as miscellaneous novelties.

The Company supplements its merchandise assortment with a select offering of private label products across many of its apparel product categories. During the fiscal year ended January 28, 2012 (fiscal 2011), its private label merchandise represented 17.7% of the Company�� net sales. The Company sources its private label merchandise from foreign manufacturers worldwide.

The Company competes with Abercrombie & Fitch, Aeropostale, American Apparel, American Eagle Outfitters, Billabong, CCS, Forever 21, Hollister, Hot Topic, Old Navy, Pacific Sunwear of California, The Buckle, Wet Seal, Tilly��, Urban Outfitters, Big 5 Sporting Goods, Dick�� Sporting Goods, Sport Chalet and The Sports Authority.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Reuters]

    Julio Cortez/AP NEW YORK -- Many U.S. retailers had to ramp up promotions last month as shoppers continued to watch their spending during the holiday season, hitting profits at several chains. L Brands (LB) cut its earnings forecast for the holiday quarter Thursday after reporting disappointing December sales at its Victoria Secret and La Senza chains. The company said it had to offer more deals than expected, the second month in a row it has had to do so. Family Dollar Stores (FDO) and teen retailer Zumiez (ZUMZ), which both reported sales declines for December, also slashed their profit forecasts. Even retailers that saw big sales gains, such as Kay Jewelers parent Signet Jewelers (SIG), weren't spared. "Additional discounting was necessary in a highly promotional retail environment," Signet Chief Executive Officer Mike Barnes said in a statement. A group of nine U.S. retailers in the Thomson Reuters same-store sales index are expected Thursday to report a sales rise of 1.9 percent in December at stores open at least a year, well below the 7.2 percent increase of a year earlier. Including drugstore chains Walgreen (WAG) and Rite Aid (RAD), analysts estimate the rise at 2.7 percent. Gap (GPS) will report after the markets close Thursday. Faced with reticent shoppers worried about their job prospects and modest economic growth, retailers offered more discounts during the holiday season than a year earlier. Between Nov. 3 and Jan. 4, eight retailers, including Walmart Stores (WMT), Target (T) and Macy's (M) , increased the number of circulars published by 6 percent and sent 57 percent more promotional emails, according to data prepared for Reuters by MarketTrack. Retailers also had to deal with shoppers who were less willing to go into stores: Data firm ShopperTrak this week said foot traffic had dropped 14.6 percent this holiday season. Walgreen, whose comparable sales of general merchandise rose 2.5 percent in December, said fewer shoppers had com

  • [By Monica Gerson]

    Zumiez (NASDAQ: ZUMZ) is projected to post its Q2 earnings at $0.23 per share on revenue of $176.89 million.

    Methode Electronics (NYSE: MEI) is estimated to report its Q1 earnings at $0.40 per share on revenue of $193.69 million.

  • [By Paul Ausick]

    Big Earnings Movers: Specialty retailer Quiksilver Inc. (NYSE: ZQK) is up 31.7% at $6.85. Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. (NASDAQ: SWHC) is down 10.2% at $10.31 after issuing weak guidance. Mattress Firm Holding Corp. (NASDAQ: MFRM) is down 14.6% at $35.59. Korn/Ferry International (NYSE: KFY) is up 11.2% at $20.81 after posting a new 52-week high of $20.93 earlier. VeriFone Systems Inc. (NYSE: PAY) is up 10.1% at $22.81. Zumiez Inc. (NASDAQ: ZUMZ) is up 11.2% at $28.11.

  • [By Ben Levisohn]

    Importantly, a potentially strong Easter selling season (per our own store checks and lateral reads from the Gap (GPS), Zumiez (ZUMZ), and L Brands (LB)) and momentum into Mother’s Day could give the bulls something to hang their hats on.

Top Asian Stocks To Watch Right Now: Tsakos Energy Navigation Ltd(TNP)

Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited, together with its subsidiaries, provides seaborne crude oil and petroleum product transportation services worldwide. The company offers marine transportation services for national and independent oil companies and refiners under long, medium, and short-term charters. As of August 16, 2011, its fleet consisted of 50 vessels comprising 59 tankers, including 2 dynamic positioning 2 (DP2) shuttle tankers under construction, and 1 liquefied natural gas carrier. The company was formerly known as MIF Limited and changed its name to Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited in July 2001. Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited was founded in 1993 and is based in Athens, Greece.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Laura Brodbeck]

    Friday

    Earnings Expected From: Tsakos Energy Navigation (NYSE: TNP) Economic Releases Expected: Japanese industrial production, French GDP, Italian trade balance, Hong Kong GDP, US building permits, US housing starts

    Posted-In: Federal Reserve UkraineEarnings News Guidance Previews Pre-Market Outlook Markets Trading Ideas Best of Benzinga

Top Asian Stocks To Watch Right Now: AKB Mosoblbank OAO (MOBB)

AKB MOSOBLBANK OAO (AKB MOSOBLBANK OJSC) is a Russia-based commercial bank. The Company focuses on the provision of various types of banking services to both individual and corporate clients. The Bank offers its services through the network of 400 offices and automated teller machines (ATM), located across the Russian Federation. In addition, it has 23 branches in such cities as: Rostov na Donu, Samara, Astrakhan, Arkhangelsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Omsk, Tyumen, Yakutsk, Grozny, Kemerovo and Vladivostok, among others. As of May 25, 2012, the Company�� major shareholder was Respublikanskaya Finansovaya Korporatsiya OAO with a stake of 74.19%. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Corinne Gretler]

    UBS, Switzerland�� largest bank, rallied to a two-year high. Philips, the Dutch maker of light bulbs and electric toothbrushes, gained for an eighth day. Portugal�� PSI-20 Index (PSI20) advanced 2.3 percent as President Anibal Cavaco Silva affirmed that he doesn�� want to call early elections. Mobistar (MOBB) SA slumped the most on record after the Belgian mobile-phone company cut profit forecasts and suspended its dividend.

Top Asian Stocks To Watch Right Now: Waste Management Inc.(WM)

Waste Management, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides waste management services to residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers in North America. It offers collection, transfer, recycling, and disposal services. The company also owns, develops, and operates waste-to-energy and landfill gas-to-energy facilities in the United States. Its collection services involves in picking up and transporting waste and recyclable materials from where it was generated to a transfer station, material recovery facility, or disposal site; and recycling operations include collection and materials processing, plastics materials recycling, and commodities recycling. In addition, it provides recycling brokerage, which includes managing the marketing of recyclable materials for third parties; and electronic recycling services, such as collection, sorting, and disassembling of discarded computers, communications equipment, and other electronic equipment. Further, the company e ngages in renting and servicing portable restroom facilities to municipalities and commercial customers under the Port-o-Let name; and involves in landfill gas-to-energy operations comprising recovering and processing the methane gas produced naturally by landfills into a renewable energy source, as well as provides street and parking lot sweeping services. Additionally, it offers portable self-storage, fluorescent lamp recycling, and medical waste services for healthcare facilities, pharmacies, and individuals, as well as provides services on behalf of third parties to construct waste facilities. The company was formerly known as USA Waste Services, Inc. and changed its name to Waste Management, Inc. in 1998. Waste Management, Inc. was incorporated in 1987 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Sean Williams]

    Show me the money!
    Starting us off this week is refuse and recycling giant Waste Management (NYSE: WM  ) , which on Friday divvied out $0.375 per share to investors, a $0.01 jump from its payout in the previous quarter. Waste Management's business has been hit recently by weaker commodity prices that hurt its recycling margins, along with consolidation in the refuse business which is also pressuring margins. However, as the clear market-share leader in refuse, a necessity-based business, it continues to wield impressive pricing power that can be used to slowly grow its bottom line. Waste Management's 3.6% yield should remain an attractive lure for income-seeking investors.

Saturday, March 28, 2015

Top 10 Integrated Utility Companies To Watch For 2015

Top 10 Integrated Utility Companies To Watch For 2015: Fiesta Restaurant Group Inc (FRGI)

Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc. (Fiesta Restaurant Group), incorporated on April 27, 2011, owns, operates and franchises two fast-casual restaurant brands, Pollo Tropical and Taco Cabana. The Company's Pollo Tropical restaurants offer a range of tropical and Caribbean inspired food, while the Company's Taco Cabana restaurants offers a range of fresh, authentic Mexican food. As of December 30, 2012 , the Company owned and operated a total of 251 restaurants across four states, which included 91 Pollo Tropical and 160 Taco Cabana restaurants. The Company franchises its Pollo Tropical restaurants internationally. As of December 30, 2012 , the Company had 35 franchised Pollo Tropical restaurants located in Puerto Rico, Ecuador, Honduras, Trinidad, the Bahamas, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Panama and on several college campuses in Florida. As of December 30, 2012 , the Company had eight Taco Cabana franchised restaurants located in Georgia, New Mexico and Texas.

Pollo Tro pical

The Company's Pollo Tropical restaurants offer tropical and Caribbean inspired menu items, featuring grilled chicken marinated in the Company's blend of tropical fruit juices and spices. The Company's diverse menu also includes a line of TropiChops (a casserole bowl of grilled chicken, roast pork or grilled vegetables served over white, brown or yellow rice and red or black beans and topped with a range of condiments and sauces), a range of chicken sandwiches, wraps, salads, roast pork, grilled ribs and wings offered with a range of salsas, sauces and Caribbean style made from scratch side dishes, including black beans and rice, Yucatan fries and sweet plantains, as well as menu items, such as french fries, corn and salads. The Company also offers Hispanic desserts, such as flan and tres leches, and at certain locations, the Company offers a range of sangria, wine and beer.

The Company's Pollo Tropic! al restaurants feature signature dining ar eas. In additiona, the Company's Pollo Tropical restaurants provide its guests the option of take-out, as well as the convenience of drive-thru windows. The Company's Pollo Tropical restaurants are open for lunch, dinner and late night orders seven days per week. As of December 30, 2012, its company-owned Pollo Tropical restaurants were freestanding buildings. The Company's typical free-standing Pollo Tropical restaurant ranges from 2,800 to 3,500 square feet and provide interior seating for approximately 70 guests. As of December 30, 2012 , the Company owned and operated a total of 91 Pollo Tropical restaurants, of which 89 were located in Florida and two were located in Georgia. The Company is franchising its Pollo Tropical restaurants internationally. As of December 30, 2012, the Company had 35 franchised Pollo Tropical restaurants located in Puerto Rico, Ecuador, Honduras, Trinidad, the Bahamas, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Panama and on college campuses in Florida. The Compan y also has agreements for the future development of franchised Pollo Tropical restaurants in Tobago, Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, Guatemala and India.

Taco Cabana

The Company's Taco Cabana restaurants serve Mexican food, including flame-grilled beef and chicken fajitas served on sizzling iron skillets, quesadillas, hand-rolled flautas, enchiladas, burritos, tacos, fresh-made flour tortillas, a selection of made from scratch salsas and sauces, customizable salads served in a Cabana bowl, traditional Mexican and American breakfasts and other Mexican dishes. The Company's Taco Cabana restaurants also offer a range of beverage choices, including soft drinks, frozen margaritas and beer.

The Company's Taco Cabana restaurants feature interior dining areas, as well as semi-enclosed and outdoor patio areas. In addition, the Company's Taco Cabana restaurants provide its guests the option of take-out. The Company's freestanding Taco Cabana restaura nts average ! approxima! tely 3,500 square feet (exclusive of the exterior dining area) and provide seating for approximately 80 guests, with additional outside patio seating for approximately 50 guests. As of December 30, 2012, its company-owned Taco Cabana restaurants were freestanding buildings. As of December 30, 2012, the Company owned and operated 160 Taco Cabana restaurants, of which 156 are located in Texas and four in Oklahoma.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By GURUFOCUS]

    Fiesta Restaurant Group (FRGI) was the Fund's best performing position in the fourth quarter and for all of 2013. Over the past year the stock g ained over 240 percent and added 212 basis points of return. The fast-food chain has con tinued to restructure after spinning off Burger King restaurants and is now successfully ach ieving organic growth. We continue to believe the stock is undervalued and expect further growth ahead.

  • [By Seth Jayson]

    Calling all cash flows
    When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on Fiesta Restaurant Group (Nasdaq: FRGI  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

  • [By Roberto Pedone]

    Fiesta Restaurant Group (FRGI) owns, operates and franchises fast-casual restaurants under the Pollo Tropical and Taco Cabana brand names. This stock closed up 10.5% to $34.73 in Friday's trading session.

    Friday's Volume: 552,000

    Three-Month Average Volume: 220,525

    Volume % Change: 140%

    From a technical perspective, FRGI ripped sharply higher here right off some near-term support at $30.89 and back above its 50-day moving average of $34.23 with strong upside volume. This move pushed shares of FRGI into breakout territory, since the stock took out some near-term overhead resistance at $33.14.! Shares o! f FRGI are now starting to move within range of triggering another key breakout trade. That trade will hit if FRGI manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance at $35.73 with high volume.

    Traders should now look for long-biased trades in FRGI as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $34.23 or above $33 and then once it sustains a move or close above $35.75 with volume that hits near or above 220,525 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then FRGI will set up to re-test or possibly take out its all-time high at $38.84. Any high-volume move above that level will then give FRGI a chance to trend north of $40.

  • source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/top-10-integrated-utility-companies-to-watch-for-2015.html

Friday, March 27, 2015

Top 10 China Companies To Own In Right Now

Top 10 China Companies To Own In Right Now: New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc.(EDU)

New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. provides private educational services primarily in the People?s Republic of China. It offers a range of educational programs, services, and products consisting primarily of English and other foreign language training; test preparation courses for admissions and assessment tests; primary and secondary school education; development and distribution of educational content; software and other technology; and online education. The company?s language training courses primarily consist of various types of English language training courses, and other foreign languages, including German, Japanese, French, Korean, and Spanish. It offers test preparation courses for language and entrance exams used by educational institutions in the United States, the People?s Republic of China, and commonwealth countries. The company also operates primary and secondary schools in Yangzhou. In addition, New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. deve lops and edits content for educational materials for language training and test preparation, such as books, software, CD-ROMs, magazines, and other periodicals. It distributes these materials through various distribution channels consisting of own classrooms and bookstores, as well as third-party distributors. Further, the company offers various online education programs on its Web site, koolearn.com. Additionally, it provides consulting services to help students through the application and admission process for overseas educational institutions, as well as post-secondary educational programs to help students seek career opportunities; and operates two pre-schools. The company offers educational services under the ?New Oriental? brand name. As of May 31, 2010, it offered education programs, services, and products through a network of 48 schools, 319 learning centers, and 25 bookstores. The company was founded in 1993 and is! headquartered in Beijing, the People?s Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Belinda Cao]

    New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. (EDU), Chinas largest private educational company, fell 11 percent last week to a one-month low of $16.07. Oppenheimer & Co. analyst Ella Ji said April 2 that students may avoid large gatherings because of the flu, impacting New Oriental.

  • [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

    Equities Trading DOWN
    Shares of New Oriental Education & Technology Group (NYSE: EDU) were 9.62 percent to $23.48 after the company reported FQ3 results. New Oriental's quarterly net income surged 50.2% y/y to US$42.1 million versus US$28.0 million.

  • [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

    Equities Trading DOWN
    Shares of New Oriental Education & Technology Group (NYSE: EDU) were 8.55 percent to $23.76 after the company reported FQ3 results. New Oriental's quarterly net income surged 50.2% y/y to US$42.1 million versus US$28.0 million.

  • source from Top Stocks To Buy For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/top-10-china-companies-to-own-in-right-now-2.html

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Best International Companies To Own For 2014

Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesThe Dow Jones news ticker in Times Square, New York City. NEW YORK -- Investment bank Goldman Sachs Group (GS), credit-card company Visa (V), and footwear Nike (NKE) will join the blue chip Dow Jones industrial average (^DJI) Dow Jones industrial average, the index managers said Tuesday, in the biggest shake-up for the 30-stock average in nearly a decade. The three companies will replace Bank of America (BAC), Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) and Alcoa (AA), all lower-priced stocks that exert a lesser pull on the price-weighted index. The changes will be effective on Sept. 23, S&P Dow Jones Indices said in a statement. The average, first established in 1896, includes 30 stocks, but very little money is indexed to its performance, unlike the broader Standard & Poor's 500 (^GSPC) or other indexes. In addition, because it is weighted by price, companies that are smaller in value with higher prices have more influence on the average. "Wow, those are big changes," said Tim Ghriskey, chief investment officer of Solaris Group in Bedford Hills, N.Y. "The Dow is really an antiquated index. It is price-weighted, which makes no sense. But there are still are some people that pay attention to it, and some technicians, so it has an influence on some people." Google (GOOG) and other names were considered for inclusion but passed over because of high stock prices, David Blitzer, managing director and chairman of the S&P Index Committee, told CNBC. The index manager said the changes were prompted by the low stock price of the three companies slated for removal and a desire to diversify the make-up of the index. Alcoa, in particular, has been seen as a candidate for elimination for some time, as the stock's market value of $8.5 billion is easily the lowest in the average. It is the first three-for-three change to the index since April 8, 2004, when American International Group (AIG), Pfizer (PFE) and Verizon (VZ) replaced AT&T (T), Eastman Kodak and International Paper (IP).

Top 5 Electric Utility Companies To Watch In Right Now: CONSOL Energy Inc (CNX)

CONSOL Energy Inc. (CONSOL Energy), incorporated in 1991, is a producer of coal and natural gas for global energy and raw material markets, which include the electric power generation industry and the steelmaking industry. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company produced 62.6 million tons of high-British thermal unit (Btu) bituminous coal from 12 mining complexes in the United States. In addition, it provides energy services, including river and dock services, terminal services, industrial supply services, coal waste disposal services and land resource management services. The Company operates in two segments: Coal and Gas. In July 2012, Cloud Peak Energy Inc. acquired Youngs Creek Mining Company, LLC (Youngs Creek) joint venture and other related coal and surface assets from Chevron U.S.A. Inc. (Chevron) and the Company.

Coal Operations

The principal activities of the Coal unit are mining, preparation and marketing of thermal coal, sold primarily to power generators, and metallurgical coal, sold to metal and coke producers. The Coal division consists of four reportable segments, which includes Thermal, Low Volatile Metallurgical, High Volatile Metallurgical and Other Coal. Each of these reportable segments includes a number of operating segments (mines or type of coal sold). During 2011, the Thermal aggregated segment included the Bailey, Blacksville #2, Enlow Fork, Fola Complex, Loveridge, McElroy, Miller Creek Complex, Robinson Run and Shoemaker mines. During 2011, the Low Volatile Metallurgical coal aggregated segment included the Buchanan mine. During 2011, the High Volatile Metallurgical coal aggregated segment included Bailey, Blacksville #2, Enlow Fork, Fola Complex, Loveridge, Miller Creek Complex and Robinson Run coal sales.

The Other Coal segment includes its purchased coal activities, idled mine activities, as well as various other activities assigned to the coal division but not allocated to each individual mine. During 2011, the Company! �� reserves were located in northern Appalachia (62%), the mid-western United States (17%), central Appalachia (15%), the western United States (4%), and in western Canada (2%). As of December 31, 2011, the Company had an estimated 4.5 billion tons of proven and probable reserves. During 2011, 94% of its production came from underground mines, 6% from surface mines, and 91% of its production came from mines equipped with longwall mining systems. As of December 31, 2011, CONSOL Energy operated 22 towboats, five harbor boats and a fleet of 625 barges that serve customers along the Ohio, Allegheny, Kanawha and Monongahela Rivers. During 2011, over 84% of all the coal it produced was sold under contracts with terms of one year or more.

Gas Operations

The principal activity of the Gas division is to produce pipeline methane gas for sale primarily to gas wholesalers. The Gas Division consists of four reportable segments, which include Coalbed Methane (CBM), Marcellus, Shallow Oil and Gas and Other Gas. The Other Gas segment includes its purchased gas activities, as well as various other activities assigned to the gas division but not allocated to each individual well type. Its gas division focuses on developing the Marcellus acreage position in southwest Pennsylvania, central Pennsylvania and northwest West Virginia. CONSOL Energy�� all Other segment includes terminal services, river and dock services, industrial supply services and other business activities. Its gas operations primarily produce CBM, which is a gas that resides in coal seams. The Company�� Coalbed Methane operations are located in central Appalachia in Southwest Virginia. Its CBM production also comes from northern Appalachia in northwestern West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania where it drills vertical-to-horizontal CBM wells.

As of December 31, 2011, the Company had rights to extract CBM in Virginia from approximately 359,000 net CBM acres, which cover a portion of its coal reserves in Cen! tral Appa! lachia. CONSOL Energy produces gas primarily from the Pocahontas #3 seam, which is the coal seam mined by its Buchanan Mine. The Company also has right to extract CBM in northwestern West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania from approximately 859,000 net CBM acres, which contains its recoverable coal reserves in Northern Appalachia. CONSOL Energy produces gas primarily from the Pittsburgh #8 coal seam.

In central Pennsylvania, the Company has the right to extract CBM from approximately 263,000 net CBM acres, which contains its recoverable coal reserves, as well as leases from other coal owners. In addition, CONSOL Energy controls 810,000 net CBM acres in Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee. It also has the right to extract CBM on 139,000 net acres in the San Juan Basin, 20,000 net acres in the Powder River Basin and 92,000 net acres in eastern Ohio and central West Virginia. Its Marcellus wells are primarily horizontal wells with 2,500 to 5,000 feet of lateral length. As of December 31, 2011, the Company had the right to extract natural gas in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and New York from approximately 361,000 net acres.

CONSOL Energy controls approximately 346,000 net acres of rights to gas in the New Albany shale in Kentucky, Illinois and Indiana. The New Albany shale is a formation containing gaseous hydrocarbons, and its acreage position has thickness of 50-300 feet at an average depth of 2,500-4,000 feet. CONSOL Energy has 249,000 net acres of Chattanooga Shale. It has 457,000 net acres of Huron shale in Kentucky and Virginia. During 2011, the Company drilled 254.9 net development wells and 47 net developmental wells.

Other Operations

CONSOL Energy provides other services to its own operations and others. These include land services, industrial supply services, terminal services, including break bulk, general cargo and warehouse services, and river and dock services water services. Fairmont Supply Company, which is CONSOL Energy�� subs! idiary, i! s a general-line distributor of mining, drilling, and industrial supplies in the United States. During 2011, approximately 12.6 million tons of coal was shipped through CNX Marine Terminal Inc.�� exporting terminal in the Port of Baltimore. CONSOL Energy�� river operations, located in Monessen, Pennsylvania, transport coal from its mines, coal from other mines and non-coal commodities from river loadout facilities located primarily along the Monongahela and Ohio Rivers in northern West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania.

As of December 31, 2011, it operated 22 towboats, five harbor boats and 625 barges. In 2011, its river vessels transported a total of 19.1 million tons of coal and other commodities, including 6.2 million tons of coal produced by CONSOL Energy mines. CONSOL Energy provides dock services for its mines, as well as for third parties at its Alicia Dock, located on the Monongahela River in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. Its subsidiary CNX Water Assets LLC acquires and develops existing sources of water used to support its coal and gas operations.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Claudia Assis]

    Among the handful of energy companies in the black, coal miner Consol Energy Inc. (CNX) �rose 0.3%. The Williams Cos. Inc. (WMB) �advanced 0.2%.

  • [By Ben Levisohn]

    Consol Energy (CNX) isn’t the only coal miner that can beat earnings, as Alpha Natural Resources (ANR) managed that feat today. Walter Energy (WLT), however has fallen after missing badly.

    Shares of Alpha Natural Resources have gained 4.3% to $4.49 at 11:43 a.m., while Walter Energy has slid 5.1% to $6.83. Consol Energy has risen 2.1% a day after it released its own earnings, while Arch Coal (ACI) has jumped 2.6% to $4.70 and Peabody Energy (BTU) has dipped 0.1% to $18.99.

    Alpha Natural Resources reported a profit of 7 cents a share, beating forecasts for a loss 58 cents. Sterne Agee’s Michael S. Dudas and Satyadeep Jain explain why positives went beyond earnings:

    We are pleased to see more industry met supply rationalization; Alpha lowered 2014 met guidance by 1-2 MT. Management is constructive on thermal markets, expects met markets to tighten 2015. Stockpiles for all regions are below normal now; Alpha getting proposals for term business for Central Appalachian coals (CAPP) as well. We would add to or introduce positions at current levels for risk-tolerant investors.

    Walter Energy reported a loss of $1.50, well below forecasts for a loss of $1.21. Cowen’s Daniel Scott and Bryan Bergin explain why it’s not just Walter Energy’s earnings that disappointed:

    With the Canadian ops shutting down, the outlook for [Walter Energy] comes down to operating performance at Mine No. 4/7 and maintaining liquidity until seaborne met pricing recovers. While the lack of asset sales commentary may disappoint investors, we are not surprised given the current global met environment.

    JPMorgan’s John Bridges and Anant Inani were impressed by Consol Energy’s earnings, which were released yesterday. They explain why:

    Consol reported strong cost performance in Q1 on higher production as well as cost reduction efforts that have now started to pay off. Its cost profile should improve further now tha

  • [By Ben Levisohn]

    The S&P 500 fell , while the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped and the small-cap Russell 2000, which hadn’t been joining the new-high party recently, dipped . Big losers included International Gaming Technology (IGT), which fell 5.6% to $16.84, Pioneer Natural Resources (PXD), which dropped 4.4% to $186.04 as oil fell, Safeway (SWY), which declined 4.3% to $33.04 after it was started at Neutral by Goldman Sachs, and Consol Energy (CNX) which finished off 4% at $34.56 after Citigroup cut it to Neutral from Buy. J.C. Penney (JCP), which reports earnings on Wednesday,� managed to turn a 3% gain into a 3.5% loss.

Best International Companies To Own For 2014: Navigant Consulting Inc (NCI)

Navigant Consulting, Inc., incorporated in 1996, is an independent specialty consulting firm. Professional services include dispute, investigative, economic, operational, risk management technology, financial and regulatory advisory solutions. The Company provides companies, legal counsel and governmental agencies facing the challenges of uncertainty, risk, distress and significant change. It provides a range of offerings to its client base. It operates in four segments: Business Consulting Services, Dispute and Investigative Services, Economic Consulting and International Consulting. On July 15, 2011, the Company acquired assets of Ignited Solutions, LLC. In October 2011, the Company acquired Paragon Health, a national physician practice management and consulting firm specializing in Cardiovascular practices. Effective July 9, 2013, the Company acquired The Anson Group LLC.

The Business Consulting Services reporting segment provides strategic, operational, financial, regulatory and technical management consulting services to clients, principally C suite and corporate management, governmental entities and law firms. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the reporting segment consisted of three operating segments, Energy, Healthcare and Other Business Consulting. The Energy and Healthcare business units are defined as operating segments due to their size, importance and organizational reporting relationships. The Energy and Healthcare operating segments provide services to clients in those respective markets and the Other Business Consulting operating segment provides operations advisory, valuation and restructuring services to clients in the financial services and other industries..

The Dispute and Investigative Services reporting segment provides a range of services to clients facing the challenges of disputes, litigation, forensic investigation, discovery and regulatory compliance. The clients of this segment are principally law firms, corporate general counsel and cor! porate boards and government agencies.

The Economic Consulting reporting segment provides economic and financial analyses of legal and business issues principally for law firms, corporations and governmental agencies. Expertise includes areas, such as antitrust, corporate finance and governance, bankruptcy, intellectual property, investment banking, labor market discrimination and compensation, corporate valuation and securities litigation.

The International Consulting reporting segment provides a mix of dispute and business consulting services to clients predominately outside North America. The clients are principally C suite and corporate management, governmental entities and law firms. The clients are principally C suite executives and corporate management, governmental agencies and law firms.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Seth Jayson]

    Calling all cash flows
    When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on Navigant Consulting (NYSE: NCI  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

  • [By Grant Zeng]

    The tolerability of ADXS-HPV continues to compare favorably with single agent and combination chemotherapies active in this disease setting. 41% (45/110) of patients experienced 104 mild-moderate Grade 1-2 adverse events and 2% (2/110) of patients experienced a Grade 3 serious adverse event. This compares to published treatment-related serious adverse event rates of 100%-400% in studies evaluating a range of chemotherapy regimens for cervical cancer, including the Moore study and studies conducted by the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) of the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

  • [By MONEYMORNING]

    In fact, of the 10 companies examined, Navigant Consulting Inc. (NYSE: NCI) is the only one that has received no new contract awards since the GAO's March 31 study cutoff date. (The firm is tasked with data collection and customer outreach.)

    In late October, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius testified under oath to Congress to address the Obamacare website launch disaster. She began with a prepared statement, with comments like "You deserve better," "I apologize," and "I'm accountable to you."

Best International Companies To Own For 2014: Carnival Corporation(CCL)

Carnival Corporation operates as a cruise and vacation company. It provides cruises to various vacation destinations with a portfolio of cruise brands comprising Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, and Seabourn in North America; and AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Ibero Cruises, and P&O Cruises in Europe, Australia, and Asia. The company also involves in operation of hotels, as well as offers tour and transportation services. It operates approximately 98 ships, as well as owns and operates 15 hotels or lodges that include 3,420 guest rooms; 395 motorcoaches; and 20 domed rail cars. The company sells its cruises through travel agents, including wholesalers and tour operators. Carnival Corporation was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in Miami, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By CNNMoney Staff]

    KB Home (KBH) is also scheduled to report quarterly results before the opening bell Tuesday. Carnival (CCL) is also reporting ahead of the open.

    Investors will also gain insight into the strength of the housing market at 9 a.m. ET, when S&P releases the Case-Shiller 20-city home price index.

  • [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

    Carnival (NYSE: CCL) was down, falling 7.91 percent to $34.44 after the company beat on the top and bottom line for Q3, but issued some disappointing guidance.

  • [By Mike Deane]

    Carnival Corp (CCL) announced its Q4 and full-year earnings before the bell on Thursday, with quarterly earnings coming in much lower than the same period last year.

    CCL Earnings in Brief

    -Carnival Corp reported quarterly revenue of $3.658 billion, up slightly from last year’s Q4 figure of $3.579 billion.
    -The company’s net income came in at $66 million, down substantially from $93 million.
    -On a non-GAAP basis, net income came in at $35 million, or 4 cents per share, down from $111 million, or 14 cents per share.
    -Carnival was able to beat analysts’ estimates of 0 cents EPS on revenues of $3.58 billion.
    -For the full year, CCL reported revenue of $11.648 billion, which is down slightly from $11.658 billion last year. Non-GAAP EPS came in at $1.58, down from $1.94 in 2012.
    -Looking forward to Q1 2014, CCL sees non-GAAP diluted losses in the range of 7 cents to 11 cents.

    CEO Commentary

    Arnold Donald, the CEO of CCL, had the following comments on the company’s earnings:�”Accelerated progress in Carnival Cruise Lines’ brand recovery had a positive impact on fourth quarter results. A steady stream of innovative product initiatives, the launch of a nationwide marketing campaign and travel agent outreach program, as well as an industry-leading vacation guarantee fueled the brand’s improvement.”

    No Dividend Change

    CCL didn’t announce any changes to its quarterly dividend in its quarterly earnings report. The company reinstated its dividend in April 2013, and currently pays 25 cents quarterly. CCL made its last dividend payment December 13. Investors should look for CCL to declare its next dividend in the coming month.

    Stock Performance

    CCL stock was up $1.50, or 4%, in early morning trading. YTD, the company’s stock is down 1.04%.

  • [By Jayson Derrick]

    A Dallas based lab worker has been isolated on a Carnival Cruise (NYSE: CCL) for possible Ebola exposure. The company said that the passenger is in isolation despite the CDC confirming the passenger is at a very low risk of infection. Shares gained 0.66 percent, closing at $34.92.

Best International Companies To Own For 2014: Select Medical Holdings Corporation(SEM)

Select Medical Holdings Corporation, through its subsidiary, Select Medical Corporation, operates specialty hospitals and outpatient rehabilitation clinics in the United States. The company?s Specialty Hospitals segment offers long term acute care hospital services and inpatient acute rehabilitative hospital care. This segment provides services for various medical conditions, such as respiratory failure, neuromuscular disorders, traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, strokes, non-healing wounds, cardiac disorders, renal disorders, and cancer. As of December 31, 2011, it operated 110 long term acute care hospitals and 9 inpatient rehabilitation facilities in 28 states. The Outpatient Rehabilitation segment operates clinics; and provides physical, occupational, and speech rehabilitation services. It offers medical rehabilitation services on a contract basis at nursing homes, hospitals, assisted living and senior care centers, schools, and worksites. This segment also pro vides specialized programs, such as functional programs for work related injuries, hand therapy, and athletic training services. As of December 31, 2011, it operated 954 outpatient rehabilitation clinics in 32 states and the District of Columbia. Select Medical Holdings Corporation was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Sean Williams]

    A simple numbers game
    For hospital operators like Select Medical (NYSE: SEM  ) , the future is just a numbers game as long as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act gets implemented on Jan. 1, 2014.

Best International Companies To Own For 2014: Zions Bancorporation(ZION)

Zions Bancorporation, a multi bank holding company, provides various banking and related products and services in the United States. The company offers community banking services, including small and medium-sized business and corporate banking; commercial and residential development, construction, and term lending; retail banking; treasury cash management and related products and services; residential mortgage; trust and wealth management; and investment activities. It also provides personal banking services to individuals, including home mortgages, bankcard, installment loans, home equity lines of credit, checking accounts, savings accounts, time certificates, safe deposit facilities, direct deposits, and automated teller machine access. In addition, the company offers small business administration lending services; secondary market agricultural real estate mortgage loans; municipal finance advisory and underwriting services; and wealth management and online brokerage ser vices. As of December 31, 2010, Zions Bancorporation offered its banking services through 495 branches in Utah, California, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and New Mexico. The company was founded in 1873 and is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Sean Williams]

    Finally, Zions Bancorp (NASDAQ: ZION  ) , which primarily provides banking and lending services to communities and businesses west of the Rocky Mountains, gained 2%, while the remainder of its peers sank like a stone. It's a bit difficult to decipher why Zions jumped, given that there's no company-specific news out today, but it very well could have to do with the fact that it ignores high-risk, high-reward derivatives and sticks to the "boring" aspects of deposit and loan growth. Although its loan growth could suffer if lending rates rise, it'll receive higher yields on its deposited money, and could see a rapid uptick in deposits.

Best International Companies To Own For 2014: Apricus Biosciences Inc(APRI)

Apricus Biosciences, Inc. engages in the design and development of pharmaceutical products and product candidates based on its patented NexACT drug delivery technology. The NexACT drug delivery technology is designed to enhance the delivery of an active drug to improve therapeutic outcomes and reduce systemic side effects that accompany existing oral and injectable medications. The company?s pipeline includes Vitaros, approved in Canada for the treatment of erectile dysfunction; and Totect approved in the U.S. for the treatment of anthracycline extravasation, as well as compounds in development from pre-clinical through pre-registration, focused on sexual dysfunction, oncology, dermatology, autoimmune, pain, anti-infectives, diabetes, and consumer healthcare. The company was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Jon C. Ogg]

    Apricus Biosciences Inc. (NASDAQ: APRI) was initiated with a Hold rating and a $2 price target at Cantor Fitzgerald. Be advised that $2 is almost 10% under the prior close of $2.18, against a 52-week range of $1.89 to $3.49.

  • [By John Udovich]

    On Friday, small cap pharma stock Apricus Biosciences Inc (NASDAQ: APRI) jumped just over 10% and not only�did the stock hold onto those gains, it made�another 10% jumps on Monday���meaning its time to take a closer look at the stock along with the performance of other potential benchmarks in the sexual health or reproductive health spaces like The Female Health Company (NASDAQ: FHCO) and Repros Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: RPRX).

  • [By Eric Volkman]

    Apricus Biosciences (NASDAQ: APRI  ) is hoping to widen its capital base significantly. The company is floating a mix of common stock and warrants that it hopes will raise net proceeds of nearly $16 million. Six million shares will be sold in an underwritten public offering at $2.85 apiece, and 3 million warrants will be issued separately at an exercise price of $3.40 per share.�

Hot Oil Stocks To Own For 2015

Hot Oil Stocks To Own For 2015: Pacific Rubiales Energy Corp (PEGFF.PK)

Pacific Rubiales Energy Corp. (Pacific Rubiales) is a producerand seller of natural gas and heavy crude oil. The Company also purchases crude oil from third parties to be used as diluents and for trading purposes. The Company owns Meta Petroleum Corp. (Meta), an oil branch which operates the Rubiales/Piriri and Quifa oil fields in the Llanos Basin in association with Ecopetrol; and Pacific Stratus Energy Colombia Corp. (Pacific Stratus), which operates the wholly owned La Creciente gas field in the northern part of Colombia and other light and medium oil fields. In addition to its production assets, it has investment in oil pipelines in Colombia, including the Oleoducto de los Llanos S.A. Pipeline and the new Oleoducto Bicentenario de Colombia pipeline, under construction. In November 2013, Pacific Rubiales Energy Corp acquired Petrominerales Ltd. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Value Digger]

    C&C Energia was acquired by Pacific Rubiales (PEGFF.PK) for $9.5 (including the shares for Platino Energy), three months later. Nobody else had ever written an online article about C&C Energia.

  • source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/hot-oil-stocks-to-own-for-2015-3.html

Monday, March 23, 2015

Top 10 Mid Cap Stocks To Own Right Now

Yesterday, small cap geothermal stock U.S. Geothermal Inc (NYSEMKT: HTM) produced a geyser of a return when it surged 26.79%, meaning its worth taking a closer look at the stock verses the performance of other geothermal stocks like small cap Ormat Technologies, Inc (NYSE: ORA) and mid cap Calpine Corporation (NYSE: CPN).�First of all, I should mention there are some other geothermal stocks out there like Alterra Power Corp (CVE: AXY) and Ram Power Corp (TSE: RPG) who have their primary listing on Canadian exchanges with secondary ones on the OTC���meaning they may not be a good deal for American investors or easy to invest in. Second, U.S. Geothermal Inc itself is a good geothermal proxy as its�focused on developing, owning, and operating clean, sustainable electric power from geothermal energy resources and its�operating geothermal power projects at Neal Hot Springs, Oregon; San Emidio, Nevada; and Raft River, Idaho plus El Ceibillo, an advanced stage, geothermal prospect located within a 24,710 acre energy rights concession area near Guatemala City, the largest city in Central America.

Best Stocks To Buy: Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Limited(AOSL)

Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Limited engages in the design, development, and supply of a range of power semiconductors worldwide. The company offers power discrete product line comprising trench MOSFETs, electrostatic discharge, protected MOSFETs, and SRFETs; and power ICs. Its products are used in notebooks, netbooks, flat panel displays, mobile phone battery packs, set-top boxes, portable media players, and power supplies. The company sells its products to distributors. Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Limited is based in Hamilton, Bermuda.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Tim Melvin]

    This split among industry segments has created some value opportunities as those companies with high exposure to PCs are very cheap. And while the move towards smart phones and tablets may continue, the PC is not dead — demand will pick up along with the economy.

    Alpha and Omega Semiconductor (AOSL)

    Alpha and Omega Semiconductor (AOSL) is a designer, developer and global supplier of a broad portfolio of power semiconductors. The portfolio of power semiconductors includes more than 1,400 products, and has grown rapidly with 195 new products introduced last year alone. Its semiconductors are used in a wide range of products, including things like personal computers, flat panel TVs, LED lighting, smart phones, and telecommunications equipment.

Top 10 Mid Cap Stocks To Own Right Now: CyrusOne Inc (CONE)

CyrusOne Inc., incorporated on July 31, 2012, is a owner, operator and developer of enterprise-class, carrier-neutral data center properties. Enterprise-class, carrier-neutral data centers are purpose-built facilities with redundant power, cooling and telecommunications systems and that are not network-specific, enabling customer interconnectivity to a range of telecommunications carriers. The Company provides mission-critical data center facilities that protect operation of information technology (IT) infrastructure for approximately 500 customers. As of September 30, 2012, its customers included nine of the Fortune 20 and 108 of the Fortune 1000 or private or foreign enterprises of equivalent size. On July 31, 2012, the Company�� operating partnership, CyrusOne LP, was formed. On July 31, 2012, CyrusOne GP, the general partner of the Company�� operating partnership, was formed as a trust.

As of September 30, 2012, the Company�� property portfolio included 23 operating data centers in nine markets: Austin, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, Houston, London, San Antonio, Singapore, and South Bend providing approximately 1,630,000 net rentable square feet (NRSF) and powered by approximately 125 megawatts of utility power. The Company owns nine of the buildings in which its data center facilities are located. It leases the remaining 14 buildings, which account for approximately 600,000 NRSF. The Company also has 379,000 NRSF under development at three data centers in three markets (Dallas, Houston and Phoenix) and 762,000 NRSF of additional powered shell space under roof and available for development. In addition, it has approximately 146 acres of land that are available for future data center facility development. Along with its primary product offering, leasing of colocation space, its customers are interested in its ancillary office and other space.

As of September 2012, the Company added 36,000 Colocation Space (CSF) at its Westover Hills Blvd (San Antonio) facility, 47,0! 00 CSF at its Frankford Road (Carrollton) facility and 15,000 CSF at its Westway Park Blvd (Houston West) facility. The Company�� portfolio of properties consists primarily of data centers geographically concentrated in cities in Ohio and Texas, which comprised 38% and 59%, respectively, of its annualized rent as of September 30, 2012.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Ong Kang Wei]

    For example, Digital Realty (DLR) is the undoubted leader in the data storage industry, with a market cap of $8.3B. Its other three competitors, DuPont Fabros (DFT), CoreSite Realty (COR) and CyrusOne (CONE), have market caps of $1.5B, $930M and $430M respectively. In addition, with the level of complexity involving Digital's business making it immensely difficult for companies to operate data centre facilities, the company is in a good position for future growth. The company also has a wide network of 595 tenants (significantly more than other competitors), including CenturyLink (CTL), AT&T and Morgan Stanley (MS). This further secures its long term business prospects and also its dominance over its competitors.

  • [By Paulo Santos]

    As I started my due diligence on Cyrusone (CONE), I was excited. Here was a stock that had a good story - it rents out space in datacenters, has a dividend yield and trades at a low valuation while showing decent growth.

  • [By Dan Caplinger]

    But IBM has had to deal with increasing competition to its business model. Business software giant Oracle (NYSE: ORCL  ) has finally reached an impressive execution milestone in the strategy it began four years ago with its acquisition of Sun Microsystems: Oracle's new chips and server products managed to best Big Blue's offerings in independent benchmark testing. Smaller companies will increasingly find their own niche roles in the big-data space as well. For instance, CyrusOne (NASDAQ: CONE  ) , which got spun off from Cincinnati Bell recently, is seeking to make a name for itself in the data-storage infrastructure space. Despite its hefty debt load, CyrusOne has huge growth potential to capitalize on the growing need for data-storage centers, and it has the benefits of tax-favored real-estate investment trust status to boot.

Top 10 Mid Cap Stocks To Own Right Now: Commercial Metals Co (CMC)

Commercial Metals Company, incorporated on August 29, 1946, and its subsidiaries manufacture, recycle and market steel and metal products, related materials and services through a network, including steel mini mills, steel fabrication and processing plants, construction-related product warehouses, a copper tube mini mill, metal recycling facilities and marketing and distribution in the United States and in international markets. The Company Americas Division operates utilizing three segments: Americas Recycling, Americas Mills and Americas Fabrication. The Company�� International Division operates utilizing two segments: International Mill and International Marketing and Distribution, which includes all marketing and distribution operations located outside the United States, as well as two United States-based trading and distribution divisions, CMC Cometals, located in Fort Lee, New Jersey and CMC Cometals-Steel, located in Irving, Texas. In October 2013, Commercial Metals Company completed the sale of Howell Metal Company, to Mueller Copper Tube Products, Inc., a subsidiary of Mueller Industries, Inc.

Americas Recycling

The Americas Recycling segment processes scrap metals for use as a raw material by manufacturers of new metal products. This segment operates 33 scrap metal processing facilities with 16 locations in Texas, eight in Florida, two locations in Missouri and one location in each of Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Tennessee. The Company purchases ferrous and nonferrous scrap metals, processed and unprocessed, from a range of sources in a range of forms for its metals recycling plants. Sources of metal for recycling include manufacturing and industrial plants, metal fabrication plants, electric utilities, machine shops, factories, railroads, refineries, shipyards, ordinance depots, demolition businesses, automobile salvage firms and wrecking firms.

The Company's scrap metal recycling plants typically consist of an o! ffice and warehouse building equipped with specialized equipment for processing both ferrous and nonferrous metal located on several acres of land that the Company uses for receiving, sorting, processing and storing metals. Several of the Company's scrap metal recycling plants use a small portion of their site or a nearby location to display and sell metal products that may be reused for their original purpose without further processing. Americas Recycling operates five shredding machines, three in Texas, one in Florida, and one in Oklahoma capable of pulverizing obsolete automobiles or other sources of scrap metal. The Company sells scrap metals to steel mills and foundries , aluminum sheets and ingot manufacturers, brass and bronze ingot makers, copper refineries and mills, secondary lead smelters, specialty steel mills, high temperature alloy manufacturers and other consumers.

Americas Mills

The Americas Mills segment includes the Company's domestic steel mills, including scrap metal shredders and processing facilities that directly support these mills and the domestic copper tube minimill. The Company conducts its Americas Mills operations through a network, which includes five steel mills, commonly referred to as minimills, that produce one or more of reinforcing bar, angles, flats, rounds, small beams, fence-post sections and other shapes; two scrap metal shredders and processing facilities that directly support the steel minimills, and The Company operates five steel minimills, which are located in Texas, Alabama, South Carolina, Arizona and Arkansas.

The Company's Texas minimill manufactures a line of bar size products, including reinforcing bar, angles, rounds, channels, flats, and special sections used primarily in building highways, reinforcing concrete structures and manufacturing. It sells primarily to the construction, service center, energy, petrochemical, and original equipment manufacturing industries. The Company's South Carolina minimill manufac! tures a l! ine of bar size products, which primarily includes steel reinforcing bar. The minimill also manufactures angles, rounds, squares, fence post sections and flats. The South Carolina minimill ships its products to customers located in the Southeast and mid-Atlantic regions, which include the states from Florida through southern New England.

Americas Fabrication

The Americas Fabrication segment consists of the Company's rebar fabrication operations, fence post manufacturing plants and construction-related and other product facilities. The Company conducts its Americas Fabrication operations through a network include steel plants that bend, cut, weld and fabricate steel, primarily reinforcing bar; warehouses that sell or rent products for the installation of concrete; plants that produce steel fence posts, and plants that heat-treat steel to strengthen and provide flexibility. The Company's Americas Fabrication segment operates 49 facilities that the Company considers to be engaged in the various aspects of steel fabrication.

The Company conducts steel fabrication activities in 16 locations in Texas, five each in California and South Carolina, three in Florida, two each in Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Virginia, and one each in Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, New Mexico, Tennessee and Utah. Fabricated steel products are used primarily in the construction of commercial and non-commercial buildings, hospitals, convention centers, industrial plants, power plants, highways, bridges, arenas, stadiums, and dams. Generally, the Company sells fabricated steel in response to a bid solicitation from a construction contractor or the project owner. The Company sells and rent construction related products and equipment to concrete installers and other construction businesses.

The Company has 23 locations in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Oklahoma, where the Company store and sell these products which, with the exception of a s! mall port! ion of steel products, are purchased from third-party suppliers. The Company operates plants in Chicora, Pennsylvania, Struthers, Ohio and Pell City, Alabama which manufactures armor plate for military vehicles, high strength bar for the truck trailer industry and special bar quality steel for the energy market.

International Mill

The Company's International Mill segment includes the Company's minimill and recycling operations in Poland and its fabrication operations. The Company's subsidiary, CMC Zawiercie S.A. (CMCZ), owns a steel minimill and conducts its operations at Zawiercie, Poland. CMCZ, along with the Company's international recycling and fabrication operations, constitute the International Mill segment. CMCZ operates equipment similar to the Company's domestic steel minimills. The Company operates three rolling mills, one wire-rod mill and two bar mills including a specialty rod finishing mill. In addition, the Company operates a fabrication facility in Dabrowa Gornicza, Poland, that produces welded steel mesh, cold rolled wire rod and cold rolled reinforcing bar.

International Marketing and Distribution

International Marketing and Distribution includes international operations for the sales, distribution and processing of steel products, ferrous and nonferrous metals and other industrial products. In addition, the Company's International Marketing and Distribution segment includes the Company's United States based trading and distribution divisions, CMC Cometals and CMC Cometals Steel. The Company's International Marketing and Distribution business buys and sells primary and secondary metals, fabricated metals, semi-finished, long, flat steel products and other industrial products. The Company sells its products to customers, primarily manufacturers, in the steel, nonferrous metals, metal fabrication, chemical, refractory, construction and transportation businesses. This segment also operates a recycling facility in Singapore.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Lauren Pollock]

    Commercial Metals Co.'s(CMC) fiscal first-quarter earnings fell 7.6% as the scrap-metal processor’s revenue in several key segments dropped and the top line missed estimates.

  • [By Garrett Cook]

    Shares of Commercial Metals Company (NYSE: CMC) were 3.81 percent to $17.40 on FQ3 results. Commercial Metals posted a quarterly profit of $23.6 million, or $0.20 per share, versus a year-ago profit of $19 million, or $0.16 per share.

  • [By Monica Gerson]

    Commercial Metals Company (NYSE: CMC) is estimated to report its Q3 earnings at $0.29 per share on revenue of $1.85 billion.

    Finish Line (NASDAQ: FINL) is projected to report its Q1 earnings at $0.21 per share on revenue of $394.47 million.

Top 10 Mid Cap Stocks To Own Right Now: Independent Film Development Corp (IFLM)

Independent Film Development Corporation (IFDC), incorporated on September 14, 2007, is in the development stage. The Company focuses on acquiring and developing independent films for production, sales and distribution, with a goal towards partnerships with mini-major and the major film studios, such as Lionsgate and Sony. IFDC�� focus of operations has three main components of film production and finance; Co-financing, acquiring product in the development stage, and its own film production. Co-financing is where a company such as IFDC goes out looking for films that are already financed at 50% or more. The Company licenses partially or fully completed films made by independent filmmakers to entertainment distributions companies.

The Company produces film on behalf of a studio. The Company identifies, produces, and secures distribution of a film. The Company owns the film in perpetuity and directly participates in all revenue generated by the film. The Company identifies films through its network of independent filmmakers as well as industry festivals and trade shows including Sundance, Tribeca, Cannes, and Toronto. The company will acquire the rights to license (as sales agent) films for a period of 7-25 years in return for a commission ranging from 10-30% of the licensing fees paid by the distributors.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By John Udovich]

    While�most investors probably overlook the theme park sector, theme park stocks like SeaWorld Entertainment Inc (NYSE: SEAS), Six Flags Entertainment Corp (NYSE: SIX), Cedar Fair, L.P. (NYSE: FUN) and Independent Film Development Corporation (OTCMKTS: IFLM) have been producing returns ranging from being down 10.3% to up as much as 207.5% since the start of the year. Moreover, theme park stocks will remain active as consider the following news coming from important theme park stocks:

  • [By James E. Brumley]

    The last few years have been good ones for shareholders of amusement park stocks like The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) and Six Flags Entertainment Corp. (NYSE:SIX). DIS shares are up more than 300% since March of 2009, when the bear market officially ended, while SIX shares are up more than 350% since the company went through a bankruptcy reorganization in the middle of 2010. And why not? "Fun" is always marketable as long as the economy is decent, and Six Flags Entertainment as well as The Walt Disney Company serve up fun as much as anyone can. What constitutes "amusement" at amusement parks, however, is slowly shifting. That shift is playing right into the hands of a small (but budding) company called Independent Film Development Corporation (OTCMKTS:IFLM) - aka IndyFilmCorp. To get a grip on that paradigm shift unfurling in the theme park world, you don't have to go any farther than.... your TV?

Top 10 Mid Cap Stocks To Own Right Now: Internet Initiative Japan Inc.(IIJI)

Internet Initiative Japan Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides Internet connectivity, WAN, outsourcing, and systems integration services to customers primarily in Japan. Its Internet connectivity services include services for corporate use, such as IP services and data center connectivity services, broadband Internet connectivity services, dial-up access services, IIJ mobile services, and IIJ ISDN/F and IIJ line management/F services; and connectivity services for home use consisting of IIJ4U, IIJmio, and hi-ho. The company?s outsourcing services comprise security-related outsourcing services that protect customer network systems from unauthorized access and secure remote connections to internal networks; network-related outsourcing services, such as Internet-virtual private network, and router rental; server-related outsourcing services, including Web hosting, e-mail hosting, document storage, and streaming; data center-related outsourcing services consisting o f data center facility, and management and monitoring; and customer support and help desk solutions, and IP phone services. It also provides systems integration services, which include consulting, project planning, systems design, and development of network systems, primarily focusing on Internet business systems, and Intranet and Extranet corporate information systems; and systems operation and maintenance services. In addition, the company sells network-related equipment, as well as provides automated teller machine (ATM) services. As of June 30, 2011, it operated 9 points of presence (POPs) for dedicated access and 1 POP for nationwide dial-up access. The company also operates approximately 280 ATMs and 16 Internet data centers. Internet Initiative Japan Inc. was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

    Leading and Lagging Sectors
    Thursday morning, the telecommunications services sector proved to be a source of strength for the market. Leading the sector was strength from ARC Group Worldwide (NASDAQ: ARCW) and Internet Initiative Japan (NASDAQ: IIJI). In trading on Thursday, non-cyclical consumer goods & services shares were relative laggards, down on the day by about 0.43 percent.

  • [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

    Leading and Lagging Sectors
    In trading on Thursday, telecommunications services shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 0.83 percent. Top gainers in the sector included Internet Initiative Japan (NASDAQ: IIJI), with shares up 9.5 percent, and RRSat Global Communications Network (NASDAQ: RRST), with shares up 4.9 percent.

  • [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

    Telecommunications services sector was the leading decliner in the US market today. Top decliners in the sector included Internet Initiative Japan (NASDAQ: IIJI), off 3.7 percent, and BT Group plc (NYSE: BT), down around 2.7 percent.

Top 10 Mid Cap Stocks To Own Right Now: IC Companys A/S (IC)

IC Companys A/S is a Denmark-based company engaged in the ownership and development of companies primarily active within the casual clothing and sportswear industries. As of June 30, 2012, the Company�� portfolio included 11 brands divided into three main segments, namely Premium, comprising such brands, as Tiger of Sweden, By Malene Birger, Peak Performance and Designers Remix; Mid Market, comprising such brand names, as InWear, Matinique, Part Two, Jackpot and Cottonfield, and Fast Fashion, comprising such brand names, as Saint Tropez and Soaked in Luxury. The Company operates through more than 500 retail and franchise stores, an e-commerce business and more than 10,000 selling points located in more than 40 countries. As of June 30, 2012, the Company�� three largest shareholders were Friheden Invest A/S (42.4%), Hs 2.G. Aps (10.6%) and Arbejdsmarkedets Tillaegspension (10%). As of June 30, 2012, the Company had 36 subsidiaries, out of which 35 were wholly owned. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Investing Caffeine]

    With the stock market reaching all-time record highs (S&P 500: 1900), you would think there would be a lot of cheers, high-fiving, and back slapping. Instead, investors are ignoring the sunny, blue skies and taking off their rose-colored glasses. Rather than securely sleeping like a baby (or relaxing during a three-day weekend) with their investment accounts, people are biting their fingernails with clenched teeth, while searching for a market boogeyman in their closets or under their beds.If you don�� believe me, all you have to do is pick up the paper, turn on the TV, or walk over to the office water cooler. An avalanche of scary headlines that are spooking investors include geopolitical concerns in Ukraine & Thailand, slowing housing statistics, bearish hedge fund managers (i.e., Tepper Einhorn, Cooperman), declining interest rates, and collapsing internet stocks. In other words, investors are looking for things to worry about, despite record corporate profits and stock prices. Peter Lynch, the manager of the Magellan Fund that posted +2,700% in gains from 1977-1990, put short-term stock price volatility into perspective:��ou shouldn�� worry about it. You should worry what are stocks going to be 10 years from now, 20 years from now, 30 years from now.��ather than focusing on immediate stock market volatility and other factors out of your control, why not prioritize your time on things you can control. What investors can control is their asset allocation and spending levels (budget), subject to their personal time horizons and risk tolerances. Circumstances always change, but if people spent half the time on investing that they devoted to planning holiday vacations, purchasing a car, or choosing a school for their child, then retirement would be a lot less stressful. After realizing 99% of all the short-term news is nonsensical noise, the next important realization is stocks are volatile securities, which frequently go down -10 to -20%. As much

  • [By Investing Caffeine]

    DISCLOSURE: Sidoxia Capital Management (SCM) and some of its clients hold long positions in certain exchange traded funds (ETFs), but at the time of publishing SCM had no direct position in GS, SCHW, ICE, or any other security referenced in this article. No information accessed through the Investing Caffeine (IC) website constitutes investment, financial, legal, tax or other advice nor is to be relied on in making an investment or other decision. Please read disclosure language on IC Contact page.

Top 10 Mid Cap Stocks To Own Right Now: Protalix Biotherapeutics Inc (PLX)

Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of recombinant therapeutic proteins based on its ProCellEx protein expression system, ProCellEx. Using its ProCellEx system, the Company is developing a pipeline of biosimilar or generic versions of recombinant therapeutic proteins based on its plant cell-based expression technology, which focuses pharmaceutical markets and that rely upon known biological mechanisms of action. ProCellEx protein expression system consists of a set of technologies and capabilities for the development of recombinant proteins, including advanced genetic engineering technology and plant cell-based protein expression methods. Its ProCellEx protein expression system is built on flexible custom-designed bioreactors made of polyethylene and optimized for the development of complex proteins in plant cell cultures. In June 2010, it had completed the preliminary phase I clinical trial of PRX-105.

Taliglucerase Alfa

Taliglucerase alfa is a plant cell expressed recombinant glucocerebrosidase enzyme (GCD) for the treatment of Gaucher disease. The Company has commenced pre-clinical studies of an oral form of taliglucerase alfa. Its oral taliglucerase alfa is a plant cell expressed form of GCD that is naturally encapsulated within carrot cells genetically engineered to express the GCD enzyme. Pre-clinical studies of oral taliglucerase alfa demonstrate the stability of the enzyme in the cell and the capacity of the cell�� cellulose wall to protect the enzyme against degradation in the digestive tract in an in-vitro model of the stomach and intestines. Additionally, rats fed with lyophilized carrot cells expressing GCD have accumulated the active enzyme in the target organs; the spleen and liver. As of December 31, 2010, the Company had completed Phase III Clinical Trial.

PRX-102

The Company is developing PRX-102, its plant cell expressed modified version of the recombinant ! alpha-GAL-A protein, a therapeutic enzyme for the treatment of Fabry disease. Fabry disease is a rare, hereditary, genetic lysosomal storage disorder in humans caused by an X-lined deficiency of the alpha-GAL-A enzyme. The Company is in the animal evaluation testing phase of the development of PRX-102, which tests are based on a mouse model for Fabry disease.

Acetylcholinesterase

Protalix Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company is licensed the rights to certain technology under a research and license agreement with Yissum Research and Development Company (Yissum) and the Boyce Thompson Institute, Inc. Pursuant to the agreement, the Company is developing PRX-105, a plant cell-based acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and its molecular variants for the use in several therapeutic and prophylactic indications, as well as in a biodefense program and an organophosphate-based pesticide treatment program.

As of December 31, 2010, its in-vitro experiments of PRX-105 have shown that the acetylcholinesterase enzyme in its ProCellEx protein expression system demonstrates biological activity on biochemical and cellular levels. In addition, early animal studies demonstrated that the acetylcholinesterase expressed in its ProCellEx protein expression system was able to treat animals exposed to the nerve gas agent analogues, both when injected with its acetylcholinesterase product candidate immediately before exposure or when injected after exposure. In March 2010, it initiated a preliminary phase I clinical trial of PRX-105, which the Company completed in June 2010.

pr-antiTNF

pr-antiTNF is a candidate for the treatment of certain autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, ankylosing, spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and plaque psoriasis. The Company has designed the antiTNF as pr-antiTNF. pr-antiTNF is a plant cell-expressed recombinant fusion protein made from the soluble form of the human TNF receptor (TNFR), f! used to t! he Fc component of a human antibody domain. pr-antiTNF has an identical amino acid sequence to Enbrel and its in-vitro and preclinical animal studies have demonstrated that pr-antiTNF exhibits similar activity to Enbrel. Specifically, pr-antiTNF binds TNF thereby inhibiting it from binding to cellular surface TNF receptors and protects L929 cells from TNF-induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner.

The Company competes with Genzyme, Actelion, Crucell N.V., Biolex, Inc., Chlorogen, Inc., Greenovation Biotech GmbH, Symbiosys, Novartis AG/Sandoz Pharmaceuticals, BioGeneriX AG, Stada Arzneimittel AG, BioPartners GmbH and Teva.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Maxx Chatsko]

    Industrial biotech isn't the only industry headed to Brazil. Protalix (NYSEMKT: PLX  ) entered into a technology transfer agreement with Brazil's Ministry of Health last week that will pay the company $280 million. The deal is big news for Protalix's first product, Elelyso/Uplyso, which was developed with partner Pfizer (NYSE: PFE  ) . The treatment is approved as an enzyme replacement therapy, or ERT, for adults with type 1 Gaucher disease, and it marks a huge step forward for the future of biomanufacturing. In the following video, Fool contributor Maxx Chatsko explains what this means for the product's commercialization and the adoption of Protalix's novel plant cell-based expression system for therapeutic proteins.

  • [By Keith Speights]

    Other investors might wish that Pfizer would use some of its cash to acquire a few smaller companies. Protalix BioTherapeutics (NYSEMKT: PLX  ) has been mentioned as one possible candidate. The two companies already partner together on Gaucher disease drug Elelyso. In February, Protalix spurred rumors that Pfizer could be interested in buying the company after it announced that it had engaged Citigroup to pursue a "broad array of strategic alternatives."