Best Stocks To Buy For 2020: February 2015

Saturday, February 28, 2015

10 Best Healthcare Technology Stocks To Invest In Right Now

In February, I announced a new "Dual ETF Momentum" spreadsheet. The idea was inspired by a paper written by Gary Antonacci and available on Optimal Momentum.

The spreadsheet is available here. The objective of the spreadsheet is to track four pairs of ETFs and provide an "Invested" signal for the ETF in each pair with the highest relative momentum.

Relative momentum is gauged by the 12 month total returns of each ETF. The 12 month total returns of each ETF is also compared to a short-term Treasury bill ETF (a "cash" filter). In order to have an "Invested" signal the ETF with the highest relative strength must also have 12-month total returns greater than the 12-month total returns of the cash ETF. This is the absolute momentum filter which is detailed in depth by Antonacci, and has historically helped increase risk-adjusted returns.

I have added an "average" return signal for each ETF on the spreadsheet. The concept is the same as the 12-month relative momentum. However, the "average" return signal uses the average of the past 3, 6, and 12 ("3/6/12″) month total returns for each ETF. The "invested" signal is based on the ETF with the highest relative momentum for the past 3, 6 and 12 months. The ETF with the highest average relative strength must also have an average 3/6/12 total returns greater than the 3/6/12 total returns of the cash ETF.

Top 10 Freight Companies To Buy Right Now: Renesola Ltd.(SOL)

ReneSola Ltd, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of solar wafers and solar power products. It offers virgin polysilicons, monocrystalline and multicrystalline solar wafers, and photovoltaic cells and modules. The company also provides cell and module processing services. Its products are used in a range of residential, commercial, industrial, and other solar power generation systems. The company sells its solar wafers primarily to solar cell and module manufacturers. It principally operates in Mainland China, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, India, Australia, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, France, the Czech Republic, and the United States. The company was founded in 2003 and is based in Jiashan, the People?s Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Monica Gerson]
Breaking news
Vitran Corporation (NASDAQ: VTNC) announced today that it has entered into a definitive arrangement agreement with TransForce pursuant to which TransForce has agreed to acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Vitran not already owned by TransForce for US$6.50 in cash per share, in accordance with TransForce's prior proposal. To read the full news, click here. ReneSola (NYSE: SOL) today announced it signed a Memorandum of Intent (MOI) to sell three utility-scale projects in Western China, with a total capacity of 60MW, to Jiangsu Akcome Solar Science & Technology Co on December 30, 2013. To read the full news, click here. Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (NYSE: CTB) today announced it has terminated the merger agreement with Apollo Tyres (NSE:ApolloTYRE). To read the full news, click here. RedHill Biopharma (NASDAQ: RDHL) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with leading healthcare investor OrbiMed Israel Partners Limited Partnership, an affiliate of OrbiMed Advisors LLC, for the sale of RedHill's American Depository Shares and warrants in a private placement transactionor a total sum of $6.0 million. To read the full news, click here.
Posted-In: Guggenheim US Stock FuturesNews Eurozone Futures Global Pre-Market Outlook Markets
[By Gary Bourgeault]
Other companies of note that will be hurt will be LDK Solar (LDK), Suntech Power (STP), JA Solar Holdings Co., Ltd. (JASO) and Renesola (SOL) among others. Some these are already hanging on by a thread because of taking on too much debt and defaulting on bonds.
[By Aaron Levitt]
After years of cheap natural gas eating photovoltaic�� lunch, solar stocks are back with a vengeance. Already, we��e seen better earnings from a host of hot solar stocks like First Solar (FSLR) and Canadian Solar (CSIQ). And now, its smaller solar stock ReneSola�� turn (SOL) … and SOL stock may just surprise investors.

10 Best Healthcare Technology Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Hertz Global Holdings Inc(HTZ)

Hertz Global Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the car and equipment rental businesses worldwide. It operates in two segments, Car Rental and Equipment Rental. The Car Rental segment engages in the ownership and lease of cars. This segment operates car rental locations at or near airports, as well as in central business districts and suburban areas of cities in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Australia, New Zealand, China, and Brazil. It also operates retail used car sales locations in the United States and France. The Equipment Rental segment rents earthmoving equipment, material handling equipment, aerial and electrical equipment, air compressors, generators, pumps, small tools, compaction equipment, and construction-related trucks. In addition, this segment sells new equipment, and consumables, such as gloves and ha rdhats. The company also offers claim administration services, such as investigating, evaluating, negotiating, and disposing of various claims, including third-party, first-party, bodily injury, property damage, general liability, and product liability. Hertz Global serves various industries, such as construction, petrochemical, automobile manufacturing, railroad, power generation, and shipbuilding. The company was founded in 1918 and is headquartered in Park Ridge, New Jersey.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Dan Dzombak]
Icahn's newest position is Hertz Global (NYSE: HTZ ) , which he first bought in the third�quarter and subsequently enhanced so that he now holds a 10.8% stake in the car renter. Icahn purchased 49.3 million shares at an average price of $28.11 per share, making Hertz about a 3% position�in his portfolio. The shares have been beaten down since the company fired its CEO and had to restate its financials dating back to 2011. The restatement is also freezing plans for Hertz to spin off its equipment rental business, which had boosted the stock last year. Like Icahn, Fool Special Situations Analyst Jim Royal sees opportunity in the stock.
[By Brendan Byrnes]
In this video segment, Whitney draws a parallel between auto rentals today and the railroad industry a decade ago. Can consolidation and more rational competition spell good news for investors? Find out what's been going on at Hertz (NYSE: HTZ ) and Avis (NASDAQ: CAR ) and what it means to you. The�full version�of the interview can be found�here.

10 Best Healthcare Technology Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund (ETY)

Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund (the Fund) is a diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund's primary investment objective is to provide current income and gains, with a secondary objective of capital appreciation. The Fund invests primarily in a diversified portfolio of common stocks. The Fund will invest at least 80% of its total assets in a combination of dividend paying common stocks, and common stocks the value of which is subject to covered written index call options. It seeks to generate current earnings in part by writing (selling) stock index call options on the S&P 500 Index and investing in dividend-paying common stock. The Fund invests in sectors, such as financials, energy, information technology, industrials, healthcare, consumer staples, telecommunication services, consumer discretionary, materials and utilities.

The Fund�� investment advisor is Eaton Vance Management (EVM). Its sub-advisor is Rampart Investment Management. The Fund may invest in Cash Management Portfolio, an affiliated investment company managed by Boston Management and Research (BMR), a subsidiary of EVM.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Robert Carlson]
This recommended fund is Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Diversified Equity Income (ETY). The options that the fund writes give buyers the right to buy the stocks from the fund at fixed prices by a certain date.

10 Best Healthcare Technology Stocks To Invest In Right Now: PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust(PMT)

PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust is based in the United States.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Marc Bastow]
PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust (PMT), a REIT involved in mortgages and mortgage-related assets, raised its quarterly dividend 4% to 59 cents per share, payable Jan. 28 to shareholders of record as of Jan. 14. At more than 10%, PMT is the highest yielder of this week’s list of dividend stocks.
PMT Stock Dividend Yield: 10.15%
[By Jon C. Ogg]
Sterne Agee’s team said, “We continue to prefer credit risk oriented Mortgage REITs over their Agency-only focused counterparts. Among the larger cap names in our coverage, our top picks are MFA Financial, Inc. (NYSE: MFA) and PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust (NYSE: PMT).”
[By Sally Jones] ng>Current Shares: 3,570,000
Value: $80,968,000
Weighting: 19.8%
Down 9% over 12 months, PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust, a residential REIT, has a market cap of $1.61 billion; its shares were traded at around $22.94 with a P/E of 7.30. The dividend yield is 10%.
PMT is not ranked for business predictability.
Track historical data:
Guru Action: As of Sept. 30, 2013, Kyle Bass made a new buy of 3,570,000 shares at an average price of $21.84 per share, for a gain of 4.3%.
The GuruFocus analysis of PMT shows five warning signs.
Vodafone Group PLC (VOD)
Current Shares: 1,349,200
Value: $47,465,000
Weighting: 11.6%
Up 55% over 12 months, Vodafone Group PLC has a market cap of $189.2 billion; its shares were traded at around $39.14 with a P/E of 273.80. The dividend yield is 4.00%.
Vodafone Group PLC is a provider of mobile communications services and products in Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, Europe, India and Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific.
GuruFocus ranked VOD with one out of five stars for business predictability.
Track historical data:
Guru Action: As of Sept. 30, 2013, Kyle Bass made a new buy of 1,349,200 shares at an average price of $31.01 per share, for a gain of 25.9%.
The GuruFocus analysis of VOD shows nine warning signs.
Microsoft Corporation (MSFT)
Current Shares: 1,500,000
Value: $49,920,000
Weighting: 12.2%
Up 38% over 12 months, Microsoft Corporation has a market cap of $309.54 billion; its shares were traded at around $37.45 with a P/E of 13.70. The dividend yield is 2.60%.
GuruFocus ranked MSFT with three out of five stars for business predictability.
Track historical data:
Guru Action: As of Sept. 30, 2013, Kyle Bass made a new buy of 1,500,000 shares at an average price of $32.90 per share, for a gain of 12.7%.
The GuruFocus analysis of MSFT shows two go

10 Best Healthcare Technology Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Boise Cascade Co (BCC)

Boise Cascade Company, formerly Boise Cascade, L.L.C., incorporated on July 26, 2004, is a vertically-integrated wood products manufacturer and building materials distributor with operations throughout the United States and Canada. The Company operates in two segments: wood products segment and our building materials distribution segment. The Company manufactures engineered wood products, plywood, lumber, and particleboard and distributes a line of building materials, including wood products manufactured by the Company�� wood products division. The Company�� products are used primarily in new residential construction, residential repair and remodeling projects, light commercial construction and industrial applications. In September 2013, the Company announced that it has completed the acquisition of Wood Resources LLC's Southeast Operations, which include Chester Wood Products LLC and Moncure Plywood LLC.

Wood Products

The Company�� wood products segment is a manufacturer of engineered wood products (EWP) and plywood in North America. It manufactures LVL, I-joists and laminated beams and also produces plywood, studs, particleboard and ponderosa pine lumber, a lumber grade sold primarily to manufacturers of specialty wood windows, moldings and doors. Most of its wood products are sold to wholesalers, including its building materials distribution segment, home improvement centers, retail lumberyards and industrial converters.

Building Materials Distribution

The Company is a wholesale distributor of building materials in the United States. Its nationwide network of 31 strategically-located distribution facilities sells a line of building materials, including EWP, oriented strand board OSB), plywood, lumber and general line items, such as framing accessories, composite decking, roofing, siding and insulation. It also operates a truss manufacturing plant located in Maine. Its products are used in the construction of new residential housing,! including single-family, multi-family and manufactured homes, repair and remodeling projects and the construction of light industrial and commercial buildings.

The Company markets its products primarily to retail lumberyards and home improvement centers that then sell the products to end customers, who are typically professional builders, independent contractors and homeowners engaged in residential construction projects. It also markets its products to industrial converters, which use its products to assemble windows, doors, agricultural bins and other products used in industrial and repair and remodel applications. The Company has more than 4,500 customers, which includes a diverse mix of wholesalers, home improvement centers, retail lumberyards and industrial converters. The Company supplies its customers through 49 located facilities (consisting of 18 manufacturing facilities and 31 distribution facilities).

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Matt Jarzemsky]
Installed Building Products��debut follows mixed performance from shares of some newly public building-products companies. Through Tuesday, siding manufacturer Ply Gem Holdings Inc.(PGEM)�� shares were down 39% from the offer price in its $381 May debut. Wood-products maker Boise Cascade Co.(BCC) was up 46% from its $284 million February IPO.
[By Blake Bos]
Yesterday, Blake Bos answered a few key questions about Boise Cascade (NYSE: BCC ) and determined that it could have the right stuff to qualify as a superior investment for a housing rebound. In today's video segment, Blake breaks down the company further and comes to a conclusion on whether Boise provides investors ample opportunity for capitalizing on a housing rebound.
[By Jon C. Ogg]
Boise Cascade LLC (NYSE: BCC) was raised to Buy from Neutral at D.A. Davidson.

Embraer�S.A. (NYSE: ERJ) was initiated as Outperform at RBC Capital Markets.

10 Best Healthcare Technology Stocks To Invest In Right Now: First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN)

First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge US (ETF) seeks investment results that correspond to the price and yield of an equity index of the NASDAQ Clean Edge U.S. Liquid Series Index. It is a market capitalization weighted index designed to track the performance of clean energy companies that are publicly traded in the United States and includes companies engaged in manufacturing, development, distribution and installation of emerging clean-energy technologies, including solar photovoltaics, biofuels and advanced batteries.

The NASDAQ Clean Edge U.S. Liquid Series Index is a modified market cap weighted index in which larger companies receive a larger index weighting. First Trust Advisors L.P. is the adviser of the fund.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Todd Shriber, ETF Professor]
The news was predictably good for a pair of ETFs that should be known as "Tesla ETFs." The Market Vectors Global Alternatve Energy ETF (NYSE: GEX) and the First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund (NASDAQ: QCLN) both traded higher on a down day for U.S. stocks, rising to within pennies of their previous 52-week highs.

10 Best Healthcare Technology Stocks To Invest In Right Now: First Trust Health Care AlphaDEX Fund (FXH)

First Trust Health Care AlphaDEX Fund (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield of an equity index called the StrataQuant Health Care Index (the Index). The Index is an enhanced index created and administered by the AMEX, which employs the AlphaDEX stock selection methodology to select stocks from the Russell 1000 Index. The AMEX constructs the Index by ranking the stocks, which are members of the Russell 1000 Index on growth factors, including 3, 6 and 12-month price appreciation, sales to price and one-year sales growth, and separately on value factors, including book value to price, cash flow to price and return on assets. The selected stocks are divided into quintiles based on their rankings and the top ranked quintiles receive a higher weight within the Index. The Index is reconstituted and rebalanced quarterly. The Fund�� investment advisor is First Trust Advisors L.P. Advisors' Opinion:

[By David Fabian]
Another interesting ETF that treads the line between passive and active investing in the healthcare field is the First Trust Health Care AlphaDEX Fund (FXH). This ETF is a smart beta strategy that screens healthcare stocks for book value, cash flow, and return on assets.
[By MONEYMORNING.COM]
That's why investors would do well to take a good look at First Trust Health Care AlphaDEX (NYSE: FXH) ("First Trust Healthcare"). This investment gives us access to several sectors within the overall healthcare field. These include pharmaceuticals, life sciences tools, medical equipment and services, as well as biotech and healthcare providers.

Friday, February 27, 2015

Is Bank of America an Attractive Investment?

Top 5 High Dividend Stocks To Buy Right Now

With shares of Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) trading around $14, is BAC an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE, or STAY AWAY? Let's analyze the stock with the relevant sections of our CHEAT SHEET investing framework:

T = Trends for a Stock’s Movement

Bank of America is a financial institution serving individual consumers, small- and middle-market businesses, corporations, and governments with a range of banking, investing, asset management, and other financial and risk management products and services. With its banking and various non-banking subsidiaries throughout the United States and international markets, the company provides a range of banking and non-banking financial services and products through several business segments: consumer and business banking, consumer real estate services, global banking, global markets, global wealth, investment management, and other.

Bank of America's lawyers are due to make closing remarks in court on Monday as to why a $8.5 billion settlement related to the selling of bad mortgages should be approved, according to a report from Bloomberg. In opposition to the settlement is American International Group (NYSE:AIG), which has pointed out that investors lost more than $100 billion on the mortgages. If the settlement is rejected, it would leave Bank of America vulnerable to lawsuits from investors affected by the losses. Bank of America has already paid $50 billion in legal claims related to the bad mortgages.

T = Technicals on the Stock Chart Are Strong

Bank of America stock has been flying higher in recent quarters. The stock is currently trading sideways as it digests gains from a recent run, so it may need time to stabilize. Analyzing the price trend and its strength can be done using key simple moving averages. What are the key moving averages? The 50-day (pink), 100-day (blue), and 200-day (yellow) simple moving averages. As seen in the daily price chart below, Bank of America is trading above its rising key averages, which signal neutral to bullish price action in the near-term.

BAC

(Source: Thinkorswim)

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

	Implied Volatility (IV)	30-Day IV Percentile	90-Day IV Percentile
Bank of America Options	22.07%	30%	28%

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

	Put IV Skew	Call IV Skew
December Options	Flat	Average
January Options	Flat	Average

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

On the next page, let’s take a look at the earnings and revenue growth rates and the conclusion.

E = Earnings Are Mixed Quarter-Over-Quarter

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

	2013 Q3	2013 Q2	2013 Q1	2012 Q4
Earnings Growth (Y-O-Y)	20.00%	68.42%	233.30%	-77.15%
Revenue Growth (Y-O-Y)	-1.52%	3.46%	4.13%	-25.02%
Earnings Reaction	2.24%	2.80%	-4.72%	-4.24%

Bank of America has seen increasing earnings and mixed revenue figures over the last four quarters. From these numbers, the markets have had conflicting feelings about Bank of America’s recent earnings announcements.

P = Excellent Relative Performance Versus Peers and Sector

How has Bank of America stock done relative to its peers, JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM), Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC), Citigroup (NYSE:C), and sector?

	Bank of America	JPMorgan Chase	Wells Fargo	Citigroup	Sector
Year-to-Date Return	30.62%	27.18%	27.56%	29.80%	29.79%

Bank of America has been a relative performance leader, year-to-date.

Conclusion

Bank of America is a bank and financial services giant that operates in a recovering financial industry, the backbone of the United States economy. The company's lawyers are due to make closing remarks in court on Monday as to why a $8.5 billion settlement related to the selling of bad mortgages should be approved. The stock has been exploding to the upside in recent quarters and is now consolidating near highs for the year. Over the last four quarters, earnings have been rising while revenues have been mixed, which have produced conflicting feelings among investors about earnings announcements. Relative to its peers and sector, Bank of America has been a year-to-date performance leader. Look for Bank of America to OUTPERFORM.

Thursday, February 26, 2015

5 Best Dividend Stocks To Buy For 2014

George Soros is a legendary and speculative driven hedge fund manager. He manages around $9.22 billion in his asset vehicle Soros Fund Management LLC. The money is invested in over 200 companies.

George Soros is a very active Trader. He bought 59 new companies, around 30 percent of his total assets. Half of his latest big stock purchases pay a dividend. The most important changes were made within the technology and cyclical consumer goods sector.

He changed assets in this category with impact to his portfolio of around 8.7 percent or net 7.4 percent. Also important areas where he put money in were communication services and defensive consumer stocks. The 20 biggest stock purchases had an impact to his portfolio of around 14 percent.

George Soros is an unpredictable investor. He jumps on everything he believes to make money with. The positive thing is that he is a very diversified guy.

None of his stock assets are too big to be over weighted. The biggest position has a 3.8 percent portfolio share. His 20 top stock positions represent only 31.5% of his portfolio value, including ETFs, the ratio rises to 47.7 percent.

Best Safest Companies To Invest In Right Now: CPFL Energia S.A.(CPL)

CPFL Energia S.A., through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, distribution, and sale of electricity in Brazil. It generates electricity through hydroelectric, thermal, biomass, and wind power plants. The company also involves in the provision of energy commercialization, consultancy, and advisory services to agents in the energy sector; manufacture, commercialization, rental, and maintenance of electromechanical equipment; and provision of administrative services, as well as telephone answering services. It has an installed generating capacity of 2,309 MW. The company was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Lisa Levin]
This industry declined 0.89% by 11:05 am, with CPFL Energia S.A. (NYSE: CPL) moving down 4.1%. CPFL Energia's PEG ratio is 2.53.

Posted-In: Worst Performing IndustriesNews Movers & Shakers Intraday Update Markets
[By Garrett Cook]
Toward the end of trading Friday, the Dow traded down 0.60 percent to 16,947.43 while the NASDAQ declined 0.75 percent to 4,557.59. The S&P also fell, dropping 0.83 percent to 1,980.97.
Leading and Lagging Sectors Cyclical consumer goods & services shares fell by just 0.50 percent in trading on Friday. Top gainers in the sector included ULTA Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance NASDAQ: (ULTA), up 17.5 percent, and 1-800-Flowers.com (NASDAQ: FLWS), up 4.5 percent. In trading on Friday, utilities shares were relative laggards, down on the day by about 1.89 percent. Meanwhile, top decliners in the sector included Companhia Energética de Minas Gerais - CEMIG (NYSE: CIG), down 4.7 percent, and CPFL Energia SA (NYSE: CPL), off 4.3 percent. Top Headline Darden Restaurants (NYSE: DRI) reported better-than-expected fiscal first quarter earnings. The Orlando, Florida-based company reported a quarterly loss of $19.3 million, or $0.14 per share, versus a year-ago profit of $42.2 million, or $0.32 per share. Excluding non-recurring items, the company earned $0.32 per share. Its sales surged to $1.6 billion versus $1.53 billion. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $0.30 per share on revenue of $1.6 billion. Equities Trading UP Conversant (NASDAQ: CNVR) shares shot up 30.25 percent to $34.79 after Alliance Data Systems (NYSE: ADS) announced its plans to buy Conversant for $35 per share. Shares of ULTA Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance (NASDAQ: ULTA) got a boost, shooting up 17.69 percent to $114.72 after the company reported upbeat second-quarter results and raised its outlook. The company also unveiled a five-year plan for impressive growth. Sportsman's Warehouse Holdings (NASDAQ: SPWH) shares were also up, gaining 15.89 percent to $7.00 after the company reported stronger-than-expected fiscal second-quarter results. Equities Trading DOWN Shares of Ruckus Wireless (NASDAQ: RKUS) were down 5.19 percent to $14.35. Buckingham
[By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Leading and Lagging Sectors
Utilities sector surged 0.26%, saw CPFL Energia SA (NYSE: CPL) as the top gainer. Among leading sector stocks, gains came from Consolidated Water Co (NASDAQ: CWCO), Companhia Paranaense de Energia (NYSE: ELP) and Public Service Enterprise Group (NYSE: PEG).
[By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Leading and Lagging Sectors
Utilities sector gained 1.12 percent, with Companhia Paranaense de Energia (NYSE: ELP) moving up 4.3 percent to gain the top spot. Among leading sector stocks, gains came from Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo (NYSE: SBS), CPFL Energia SA (NYSE: CPL) and Companhia Energ茅tica de Minas Gerais SA (NYSE: CIG).

5 Best Dividend Stocks To Buy For 2014: Smith & Nephew SNATS Inc.(SNN)

Smith & Nephew plc develops, manufactures, markets, and sells medical devices in the orthopaedics, endoscopy, and advanced wound management sectors worldwide. The company operates in three segments: Orthopaedics, Endoscopy, and Advanced Wound Management. The Orthopaedics segment offers reconstruction implants, including hip, knee, and shoulder joints, as well as ancillary products, such as bone cement and mixing systems used in cemented reconstruction joint surgery. This segment also provides trauma fixation products consisting of internal and external devices, and other products, including shoulder fixation and orthobiological materials used in the stabilization of fractures and deformity correction procedures; and clinical therapies products comprising bone growth stimulation, joint fluid therapies, and outpatient spine products. The Endoscopy segment develops and commercializes minimally invasive surgery techniques, educational programs, and value-added services for sur geons to treat and repair soft tissue and articulating joints. It offers specialized devices and fixation systems to repair damaged tissues; fluid management equipment for surgical access; digital cameras, digital image capture, scopes, light sources, and monitors to assist with visualisation; radiofrequency wands, electromechanical and mechanical blades, and hand instruments for resecting damaged tissues. The Advanced Wound Management segment provides initial wound bed preparation and full wound closure products. This segment?s products are targeted at chronic wounds associated with the older population, such as pressure sores and venous leg ulcers; and products for the treatment of wounds, including burns and invasive surgery. The company serves medical and surgical service providers. Smith & Nephew plc was founded in 1856 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Ben Levisohn]
St. Jude Medical gained 2.5% to $65.76 after said it would buy the portion of CardioMEMS that it did not already own following the approval of the latter’s heart-failure monitor. Stryker rose 2.8% to $82.64 after the company denied that it was planning a bid for Smith & Nephew (SNN). Smith & Nephew has advanced 3.3% to $83.05.

5 Best Dividend Stocks To Buy For 2014: Pentair Inc.(PNR)

Pentair, Inc. operates as a diversified industrial manufacturing company worldwide. The company?s Water segment offers products and systems for use in the movement, storage, treatment, and enjoyment of water. It offers light duty diaphragm pumps and solid handling pumps for water and wastewater applications and agricultural spraying; and pressure tanks for residential applications. This segment also provides control valves, pressure tanks, membranes, carbon products, point of entry and point of use systems, and other filter cartridges for commercial and residential water filtration applications; and pool equipment and accessories, such as pumps, filters, heaters and heat pumps, lights, automatic controls, automatic pool cleaners, commercial deck equipment, maintenance equipment, and pool accessories for commercial and residential pool maintenance, repair and renovation, and service and construction. In addition, it offers filter systems, filter cartridges, pressure vessels , and dispensing pumps for commercial, foodservice, industrial, marine and aviation markets. This segment distributes its products through wholesale distributors, retail distributors, original equipment manufacturers (OEM), home centers, and home and pool builders. The company?s Technical Products segment provides standard, modified, and custom enclosures that house and protect sensitive electronics and electrical components, as well as protect people that use them. Its products comprise metallic and composite enclosures, cabinets, cases, subracks, backplanes, and associated thermal management systems used in industrial machinery, data communications, networking, telecommunications, test and measurement, automotive, medical, security, defense, and general electronics. This segment distributes its products through electrical and data contractors, electrical and electronic components distributors, and OEMs. Pentair, Inc. was founded in 1966 and is based in Golden Valley, Minne sota.

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 Pentair (NYSE: PNR ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.
[By The Part-time Investor]
The following stocks met the criteria in January of 2008 and were put into the initial portfolio:
Abbot Labs (ABT)Advanced data processing (ADP)Associated Banc-Corp (ASBC)Bank of America (BAC)BB&T Corp. (BBT)Bemis Company (BMS)Anheuser Busch (BUD)The Chubb Corporation (CB)Clorox (CLX)Comerica Inc. (CMA)Diebold Inc. (DBD)Emerson Electronics (EMR)First Dollar Corp. (FDO)First Third BanCorp. (FITB)Gannett Co, Inc. (GCI)General Electric (GE)Hershey (HSY)Illinois Tools Works (ITW)Johnson and Johnson (JNJ)Leggett and Platt (LEG)Eli Lilly (LLY)La-Z-Boy (LZB)McDonald's (MCD)Marsh and Ilsley (MI)M&T Bancorp (MTB)PepsiCo (PEP)Pfizer (PFE)Procter & Gamble (PG)Pentair Ltd. (PNR)Regions Financial Corp. (RF)Rohm and Haas (ROH)RPM International (RPM)Sherwin Williams (SHW)Sysco Corp. (SYY)UDR Inc. (UDR)
Historical quotes were taken from Yahoo Finance. $10,000 was put into each position, to the nearest whole share, so a total of $349,262.89 was invested. From 1/15/08 through 5/16/13 all dividends were reinvested back into the stock that paid them. If a dividend cut was announced, that stock was sold on the ex-div date of the new, lower dividend.

5 Best Dividend Stocks To Buy For 2014: United Parcel Service Inc.(UPS)

United Parcel Service, Inc., a package delivery company, provides transportation, logistics, and financial services in the United States and internationally. It operates in three segments: U.S. Domestic Package, International Package, and Supply Chain & Freight. The U.S. Domestic Package segment engages in the time-definite delivery of letters, documents, and packages in the United States. The International Package segment offers air and ground delivery of small packages and letters to approximately 220 countries and territories, including shipments outside the United States, as well as shipments with either origin or distribution outside the United States; export services; and domestic services move shipments within a country?s borders. The Supply Chain & Freight segment provides forwarding and logistics services, such as supply chain design and management, freight distribution, customs brokerage, mail, and consulting services in approximately 195 countries and territorie s; and less-than-truckload and truckload services to customers in North America. In addition, the company offers various technology solutions for automated shipping, visibility, and billing; information technology systems and distribution facilities to various industries comprising healthcare, technology, and consumer/retail; and a portfolio of financial services that provides customers with short-term working capital, government guaranteed lending, global trade financing, credit cards, and export financing. It operates a fleet of approximately 99,800 package cars, vans, tractors, and motorcycles; an air fleet of 527 aircraft; and 33,800 containers used to transport cargo in its aircraft. The company was founded in 1907 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Reuters]
Wendy Maeda/The Boston Globe via Getty Images NEW YORK -- Walgreen is moving 120,000 employees to a private health insurance exchange from coverage provided directly from carriers, the company will announce Wednesday. The pharmacy chain will join 17 other large employers on the Aon Hewitt Corporate Health Exchange as part of a growing movement to offer employees fixed dollar amounts to purchase their own plans on such exchanges. The end-cost to employees depends on the plan chosen, but they typically get more options than under traditional arrangements. Private exchanges mimic the coverage mandated as part of the Affordable Care Act. Enrollment in the public exchanges starts Oct. 1. "What happens to employer contributions over time? Will they put in as much as they put in the past? These are unanswered questions but potential negatives," says Paul Fronstin, a senior research associate with the Employee Benefit Research Institute. The benefit to Walgreen and other employers is unknown at this point, as their cost-savings aren't clear. Of the 180,000 Walgreen (WAG) employees eligible for health care insurance, 120,000 opted for coverage for themselves and 40,000 family members. Another 60,000 employees, many of them working part-time, weren't eligible for health insurance. Aon Hewitt (AON) says other participants in its program include retailer Sears Holding (SHLD) and Darden Restaurants (DRI). These new additions raise enrollment to 330,000 from 100,000 last year, and Aon Hewitt estimates enrollment will jump to 600,000 next year, a fivefold increase from 2012. By 2017, nearly 20 percent of employees nationwide could get their health insurance through a private exchange, according to Accenture Research (ACN). A recent report by the National Business Group on Health said that 30 percent of large employers are considering moving active employees to exchanges by 2015. Other major providers of private exchanges include Mercer, a division of Marsh & Mc
[By Seth Jayson]
United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS ) is expected to report Q2 earnings on July 23. Here's what Wall Street wants to see:

The 10-second takeaway
Comparing the upcoming quarter to the prior-year quarter, average analyst estimates predict United Parcel Service's revenues will increase 1.8% and EPS will decrease -1.7%.
[By Shauna O'Brien]
United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS) announced that it has named David Abney as the company’s new CEO.

UPS reported that its current COO David Abney will be appointed to�the CEO position and will become a member of the Board of Directors. The company’s current CEO Scott Davis will retire from his position after being in the position since 2008. These changes will be effective on September 1, 2014.

Abney joined the company in 1974 as a part-time package loader. He has held several position leading up to his current position.

Abney commented: “I am deeply honored to be selected by the Board to serve as CEO. The company has provided me tremendous opportunity, amazing career experiences and rewarding professional development. I believe it is my duty to create an environment where talented UPS people can excel by helping our customers to accomplish their goals. Ultimately, I believe that is how, together, we will build on the UPS legacy of success.”
UPS Dividend Snapshot
As of market close on June 5, 2014

Click here to see the complete history of UPS dividends.

UPS shares were mostly flat during pre-market trading Friday. The stock is down 1.39% YTD.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Best Warren Buffett Stocks To Invest In 2015

Best Warren Buffett Stocks To Invest In 2015: Swissquote Group Holding Ltd (SQN)

Swissquote Group Holding Ltd (Swissquote) is a provider of online financial and trading services in Switzerland. It operates an online bank that accepts deposits from its customers mainly in Swiss Francs, United States Dollars and Euros in current account form, as well as offers electronic dealing in shares, funds, options, warrants and bonds worldwide. Swissquote also provides stock brokerage services to self-directed investors and asset managers; custodian services against fees and foreign exchange; margin loans to customers against pledging of assets; fiduciary placements on behalf and at the risks of clients against commission fees and services to corporations for the management of their stock option programs, among others. Its financial portal swissquote.ch is an online platform providing the information that users need to conduct independent research on various investment vehicles. It is active domestically and abroad, including Dubai and Malta. Advisors' Opinion:

[By Tom Stoukas]
Swissquote Group Holding SA (SQN) surged 13 percent after agreeing to buy MIG Bank for an undisclosed price. Clariant AG lost 1.6 percent after UBS AG removed the maker of specialty chemicals from the list of its most preferred shares.

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/best-warren-buffett-stocks-to-invest-in-2015-2.html

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Top Income Companies To Buy For 2015

Top Income Companies To Buy For 2015: Brookfield Residential Properties Inc (BRP)

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

[By Garrett Cook]
Brookfield Residential Properties (NYSE: BRP) shares shot up 21.51 percent to $23.10 after Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE: BAM) proposed to acquire around 30% of the company not currently owned for $23 per share.
[By Ben Levisohn]
In terms of specific company upside/downside payoffs, we believe that [Brookfield Residential Properties (BRP)], [KB Home], and [PulteGroup] offer above-average payoffs. We note that more than half of [Brookfield Residential Properties'] earnings are derived from Canada, dampening EPS sensitivity to our assumptions regarding the pace of the U.S. housing recovery. We believe that [KB Home] will achieve sharply improved operating performance, which should drive robust EPS growth given the company's comparatively high degree of financial leverage. We also have a high degree of confidence that [PulteGroup] wil! l continue to successfully execute against its goal of improving ROIC performance, which should act as a catalyst for share price appreciation.
[By Dimitra DeFotis]
In the homebuidling category:
Weyerhaeuser (WY), the producer of lumber, was up nearly 3%. On Thursday, Citigroup Analyst Anthony Pettinari wrote that Weyerhaeuser could sell its homebuilder unit for between $2.5 billion and $3.5 billion, and interested buyers in the unit, WRECO, could include Lennar (LEN), Toll Brothers (TOL) and Brookfield Residential Properties (BRP). About 67% of the Weyerhaeuser unit’s roughly 27,000 lots are in California. Citi has a Buy rating on Weyerhauser and a $35 price target. Lennar, the home builder, was up 2.6%. Masco (MAS), the building materials maker, was up 2%. PulteGroup (PHM), the home builder, was up 2%. DR Horton (DHI), the home builder, was up 1.9%.
Among real estate trusts:

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-income-companies-to-buy-for-2015-2.html

Monday, February 16, 2015

Hot Construction Stocks To Buy For 2014

Despite a positive start, stocks fell off after opening and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI ) finished down 0.16%, or 26 points. It was the blue chips' fifth straight session with little movement, as investors seem to be unsure if the market deserves to go further into record territory with earnings continuing to roll in. June new home sales topped expectations, coming at 497,000 versus estimates of 483,000, but Wall Street seemed to be unimpressed by President Obama's remarks on the economy. In his address, Obama touted mostly recycled ideas such as investing in infrastructure and raising the minimum wage that have gained little traction in the divided Congress.

Two industrial powerhouses on the Dow delivered earnings today. First, Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT ) shares finished down 2.4% after missing estimates as many had expected. The slowdown in Chinese construction has hurt demand for materials and thus mining equipment, a key component of Caterpillar's business. The world's largest maker of earth-moving equipment said profits fell 43% as EPS came in at $1.45, down from $2.54 a year ago, and worse than estimates at $1.69. Revenue dropped 15.8% to $14.6 billion, below expectations of $15.1 billion. Management promised cost-cutting to cope with the decrease in demand, and cut its full-year EPS outlook from $7 to $6.50.

Top 10 Chemical Stocks To Invest In 2015: Badger Daylighting Ltd (BAD)

Badger Daylighting Ltd. and its subsidiaries (Badger) provide non-destructive excavating services to the utility, transportation, industrial, engineering, construction and petroleum industries in Canada and the United States. Its key technology is the Badger Hydrovac excavator, which is used primarily for digging trenches in congested grounds. The Company�� excavation services include daylighting and potholing, slot trenching, debris removal and cleanups, maintenance and installation service pits, poles and piling holes and trench shoring/shoring. Badger slot trenching provides a non-destructive method of digging trenches for water lines, wiring and pipeline installations or excavations. Its applications include pipeline tie-ins, investigative slot trenching, installation slot trenching, drain tile trenching and line fault repairs. In November 2013, the Company acquired the business and operating assets of Fieldtek Holdings Ltd. Advisors' Opinion:

[By Kim Hjelmgaard]
There have been some good (read: bad) predictions over the years.
Before the 2013 forum, DealBook's Andrew Ross Sorkin recalled that in 2003 the serial Davos attendee, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, said of Google: "These Google guys (co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin), they want to be billionaires and rock stars and go to conferences and all that. Let us see if they still want to run the business in two to three years."

Hot Construction Stocks To Buy For 2014: Griffon Corp (GFF)

Griffon Corporation (Griffon), incorporated on December 29, 1970, is a diversified management and holding company that conducts business through wholly owned subsidiaries. Griffon oversees the operations of its subsidiaries and provides direction and assistance to its subsidiaries in connection with acquisition and growth opportunities as well as in connection with divestitures. Griffon conducts its operations through three businesses: Home and Building Products, consists of two companies, Ames True Temper, Inc and Clopay Building Products; Telephonics Corporation, designs, develops, manufactures, sells, and provides logistical support for aircraft intercommunication systems, radar, air traffic management, identification friend or foe equipment, Integrated Homeland Security Systems and custom, mixed-signal, application-specific, integrated circuits, and Clopay Plastic Products produces, develops specialty plastic films and laminates for a variety of hygienic, health care and industrial applications. Effective December 31, 2013, the Company announced that its subsidiary, Ames True Temper acquired Northcote Pottery.

Home and Building Products

HBP consists of two companies, Ames True Temper, Inc (ATT) and Clopay Building Products (CBP). ATT is a global provider of non-powered landscaping products that make work easier for homeowners and professionals. ATT�� brand portfolio includes Ames, True Temper, Ames True Temper, Garant, Hound Dog, Westmix, Dynamic Design and Southern Patio, as well as contractor-oriented brands, including UnionTools, Razor-Back Professional Tools and Jackson Professional Tools. Some of the products include Long Handle Tools, Wheelbarrows, Snow Tools, Planters and Lawn Accessories, Striking Tools, Pruning and Garden Hose and Storag. CBP is a manufacturer and marketer of residential, commercial and industrial garage doors to professional installing dealers and home center retail chains. CBP offers garage doors made primarily from steel, plastic composite ! and wood, and also sells related products, such as garage door openers, manufactured by third parties. The majority of CBP�� sales are for home remodeling and renovation, with the balance for the new residential housing and commercial building markets.

Telephonics Corporation

Telephonics specializes in advanced electronic information and communication systems for defense, aerospace, civil, industrial, and commercial applications for the United States (U.S.) and international markets. Telephonics designs, develops, manufactures, sells, and provides logistical support for aircraft intercommunication systems, radar, air traffic management, identification friend or foe equipment, Integrated Homeland Security Systems and custom, mixed-signal, application-specific, integrated circuits. Telephonics is also a provider of advanced systems engineering services supporting air and missile defense programs, as well as other threat and situational analysis requirements. Telephonics is a supplier of airborne maritime surveillance radar and aircraft intercommunication management systems, the segment�� two product lines. Telephonics is a first-tier supplier to prime contractors in the defense industry, such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, MacDonald Dettwiler, Sierra Nevada Corporation and Sikorsky Aircraft, and is at times a prime contractor to the United States Department of Defense and the United States Department of Homeland Security (Homeland Security). On April 22, 2013, Telephonics signed a definitive agreement to form a Joint Venture (JV) with Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd to provide the Indian Ministry of Defense and the Indian Civil sector with radar and surveillance systems, identification friend or foe devices and communication systems.

Clopay Plastic Products

lopay Plastic Products produces and develops specialty plastic films and laminates for a variety of hygienic, healthcare and industrial uses in the United States and cert! ain inter! national markets. Products include thin gauge embossed and printed films, elastomeric films, laminates of film and non-woven fabrics, and perforated films and non-wovens. Plastics have two manufacturing facilities in Germany from which it sells plastic films throughout Europe and the Middle East and Africa.

The Company competes with Fiskars Corporation, Truper Herramientas S.A. de C.U., Suncast Corporation, Colorite Waterworks, Swan and Techniplex.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By CRWE]
Griffon Corporation (NYSE:GFF) will present at Deutsche Bank�� 20th Annual Leveraged Finance Conference to be held at The Phoenician Hotel in Scottsdale, AZ at 8:50 a.m. local time on Wednesday, October 10th.
[By Victor Selva]
On March 4, Mario Gabelli (Trades, Portfolio), the chairman and chief executive officer of GAMCO Investors Inc. added Griffon Corporation (GFF) at an average price of $12.61 and currently holds 6,752,733 shares of the stock, worth 0.01% of his portfolio.

Hot Construction Stocks To Buy For 2014: Massive Dynamics Inc (MSSD)

Massive Dynamics, Inc., incorporated on March 15, 2011, is a development-stage company. The Company is providing services to communication tower operators. On August 20, 2012, Kylemore Corp. (Kylemore) approximately 90% of the Company. On April 16, 2013, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with Real-View 3D (RV3D). With the Company's acquisition of the assets of RV3D, the Company is providing engineering and compliance to communications tower operators to three dimension (3D) imaging. RV3D is an image capture product company that has developed and is committed to design, patent, manufacture and market 3D imaging Z-axis capture products for the consumer computer peripherals market.

The Company has developed technology around an imaging technology known as structured light, which allows for the rapid capture and processing of the digital signal capture 3D images of objects or real time 3D video of a desired target. A structured light image is a calibrated grid of lines that is projected on the subject. These projected lines deviate as they fall over the subject. An image of these lines is captured. Real View 3D software can extract Z-axis data from these line deviations and a topographical map is created. To image a complete subject, the subject is rotated 360 degrees for the image and then another 360 degree rotation for capturing the structured light for the Z axis map information. The resulting Z axis map and the image are then fused into a 360 degree renderable image. This image can then be exported into many other formats for viewing. The Company's primary business will be to develop and market 3D scanning, capture, rendering, and printing products to four markets: consumer, commercial, industrial, and medical.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Rich Smith]
The problem with that, of course, is that competition is beginning to emerge in machine selling, as small companies with names such as ExOne (NASDAQ: XONE ) and Massive Dynamics (NASDAQOTH: MSSD ) begin to horn in on the printer biz. Competition will probably arise even faster in the selling of printing composites, as Hewlett-Packard discovered to its detriment, when printer ink cartridge "refillers" began stealing away its lucrative ink business.

Hot Construction Stocks To Buy For 2014: American Woodmark Corp (AMWD)

American Woodmark Corporation, incorporated on April 21, 1980, manufactures and distributes kitchen cabinets and vanities for the remodeling and new home construction markets. The Company offers framed stock cabinets in approximately 550 different cabinet lines, ranging in price from relatively inexpensive to medium-priced styles. Styles vary by design and color from natural wood finishes to low-pressure laminate surfaces. The product offering of stock cabinets includes 86 door designs in 18 colors. Stock cabinets consist of a common box with standard interior components and a maple, oak, cherry, or hickory front frame, door and/or drawer front. The Company�� product is primarily sold under the brand names of American Woodmark, Timberlake, Shenandoah Cabinetry, Potomac, and Waypoint Living Spaces.

The Company�� product is sold on a national basis across the United States to the remodeling and new home construction markets. The Company services these markets through three primary channels, which include home centers, builders, and independent dealers and distributors. The Company provides complete installation services to its direct builder customers through its network of nine service centers that are strategically located throughout the United States. The Company distributes its products to each market channel directly from four assembly plants through a third party logistics network. The primary raw materials used include hard maple, oak, cherry, soft maple, and hickory lumber and plywood.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By John Udovich]
After the bedroom, the kitchen is probably the place where we spend the most time awake in our homes with small cap kitchen stocks Caesarstone Sdot-Yam Ltd (NASDAQ: CSTE) and American Woodmark Corporation (NASDAQ: AMWD) along with diversified midcap Fortune Brands Home & Security Inc (NYSE: FBHS) all putting in a good performance. After all, any sort of housing recovery with more new homes being sold will�help kitchen stocks and so will increased sales of older or foreclosed homes that need to have their kitchens remodeled. But which is the better kitchen stock for investors? Here is�closer look at all three:

Hot Construction Stocks To Buy For 2014: Stock Building Supply Holdings Inc (STCK)

Stock Building Supply Holdings, Inc., incorporated on April 16, 2009, is a diversified lumber and building materials (LBM) distributor and solutions provider that sells to new construction and repair and remodel contractors. The Company�� primary products are lumber & lumber sheet goods, millwork, doors, flooring, windows, structural components, such as engineered wood products (EWP), trusses, wall panels and other exterior products. The Company serves a customer base, including large-scale production homebuilders, custom homebuilders and repair and remodeling contractors. In addition, the Company provides solution-based services to its customers, including design, product specification and installation management services. The Company�� primary operating regions include the South and West regions of the United States.

The Company provides a balanced mix of products and services to the United States production and custom homebuilders and repair and remodel, multi-family and commercial contractors. The Company offer over 39,000 products sourced through its strategic network of suppliers, which together with its various solution-based services; represent approximately 50% of the construction cost of a new home.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Monica Gerson]
Stock Building Supply Holdings (NASDAQ: STCK) dipped 1.53% to $19.95 in the pre-market session after the company prices 5.6 million shares at $19.50 per share by selling shareholders.

Hot Construction Stocks To Buy For 2014: Bouygues SA (BOUYF.PK)

Bouygues SA is a France-based group that operates in two sectors: Telecommunications and Media, and Construction. The Construction division comprises three core subsidiaries: Bouygues Construction, specializing in building and public works activities, notably in the areas of electrical engineering, and facility maintenance; Bouygues Immobilier, a property development company, whose activities include the development of residential, corporate and commercial properties, and the execution of urban development schemes, and Colas, engaged in the construction and maintenance of transport, urban development and leisure infrastructure. The Telecommunications and Media division of the Group comprises two companies: TF1, specializing in audiovisual and cinema production, the acquisition and sale of audiovisual rights, and the publishing and distribution of compact discs, among others, and Bouygues Telecom, which offers mobile telephone and broadband Internet services. Advisors' Opinion:

[By Mike Arnold]
I normally don't look at charts much, but comparing Orange to its competitors in the French telecommunications market is quite fascinating. As one can see, incumbents Bouygues (BOUYF.PK) and Vivendi (VIVHY.PK) (owner of SFR) saw similar price declines. The market, on the other hand, rapidly bid up the price of new entrant Iliad SA (ILIAF.PK), as a result of forecasts for Iliad to capture significant mobile market share (which it did, around 10%). The wide divergence in price relative to changes in underlying value favor going long the incumbents, including Orange. Because this time it's different.

Hot Construction Stocks To Buy For 2014: KBR Inc. (KBR)

KBR, Inc. operates as an engineering, construction, and services company supporting the energy, hydrocarbon, government services, minerals, civil infrastructure, power, and industrial sectors worldwide. Its Downstream business unit provides front end engineering design; detailed engineering; engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC); EPC management; and program management services to petrochemical, refining, coal gasification, and syngas markets. The company?s Government and Infrastructure business unit provides program and project management, contingency logistics, operations and maintenance, construction management, engineering, and other services to military and civilian branches of governments and private clients. Its Services business unit delivers engineering, construction, construction management, fabrication, maintenance, and turnaround services. It also offers maintenance, construction, and drilling support services for offshore oil and gas producing facili ties using semisubmersible vessels. This segment serves oil, gas, petrochemicals, and hydrocarbon processing industries, as well as power, alternate energy, pulp and paper, industrial and manufacturing, and pharmaceutical industries. The company?s Technology business unit offers various process technologies, including value-added technologies in the coal monetization, petrochemical, refining, and syngas markets. Its Upstream business unit constructs liquefied natural gas, gas-to-liquids, onshore oil and gas production facilities, offshore oil and gas production facilities, and onshore and offshore pipelines. The company?s Ventures business unit invests in and manages projects, where the company provides engineering, construction, construction management or operations, and maintenance services. KBR, Inc. was founded in 1901 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Aaron Levitt]
Those hefty contract wins, plus the forward P/E of just 14 — make CBI one of the best stocks to buy.
KBR (KBR)
Spun-off from oil service stock Halliburton (HAL), KBR (KBR) could an interesting ��alue��pick for building outAmerica�� energy boom.

Top 10 Gas Utility Stocks To Buy For 2015

Top 10 Gas Utility Stocks To Buy For 2015: WisdomTree Europe SmallCap Dividend Fund (DFE)

WisdomTree Europe SmallCap Dividend Fund is a non-diversified fund. It seeks investment results that closely correspond to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the WisdomTree Europe SmallCap Dividend Index.

The WisdomTree Europe SmallCap Dividend Index is a fundamentally weighted index that measures the performance of the small-capitalization segment of the European dividend-paying market. The Index is comprised of the companies that compose the bottom 25% of the market capitalization of the WisdomTree Europe Dividend Index.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Matthew McCall]
The European equity rebound continues and within the region the small cap stocks have been quietly performing very well. The WisdomTree Europe Small Cap Dividend ETF (NYSE: DFE) focuses on small cap stocks that pay high dividends.

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/top-10-gas-utility-stocks-to-buy-for-2015-2.html

Saturday, February 14, 2015

PVH Corp. Posts Higher Q2 EPS; Beats Estimates (PVH)

PVH Corp. (PVH) announced its Q2 earnings after the bell on Monday, posting non-GAAP figures that showed an increase from last year’s Q2 EPS and revenues.

The New York, NY-based clothing company announced non-GAAP EPS of $1.39, which was up from last year’s Q2 EPS figure of $1.28, and above the analysts’ estimate of $1.37. GAAP results came in at a 20 cent loss per share due to acquisition, integration and restructuring costs associated with the company’s acquisition of Warnaco Group.

On the revenues front, PVH posted quarterly results of $1.965 billion, a 47% increase from last year’s Q2 figure, and above the analysts’ estimate of $1.89 billion. The uptick in revenues was primarily due to the revenues from the newly acquired Warnaco.

Top 10 Semiconductor Stocks To Invest In Right Now

PVH shares were up $2.14, or 1.62%, at the end of trading on Monday. The company’s stock is up 16.25% YTD.

Friday, February 13, 2015

Google And 5 Other Big Cap Standouts

This month and next you're sure to hear raucous claims regarding how treacherous these months are. Yes, on average September and October are among history's three worst (February being in between). September actually has an overall negative S&P 500 history.

But market averages often mislead. Remove a few superbad outliers like 1929, 1931 and 1937, and September looks pretty normal, with lots of volatility. That's why you should refuse to be sucked in by the deafening screams of fall-ophobes.

There is nothing fundamental about September, October or any time slice that makes it more or less profitable. "Sell in May and go away," for example, is a fallacy. However, you can always find some time slice that will support it.

Let the number crunchers hunt for headline-worthy factoids. Ignore them all because if they were really true they would already be priced into market expectations. Instead of obsessing, seek out great big-cap franchises, as I have directed you since the beginning of the year.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Hot Defense Companies To Invest In Right Now

Hot Defense Companies To Invest In Right Now: Implant Sciences Corp (IMSC.PK)

Implant Sciences Corporation (Implant Sciences), incorporated in August 31,1984, develops, manufactures and sells sensors and systems for the security, safety and defense (SS&D) industries. Its technologies are used worldwide in security and inspection applications. Implant Sciences has developed technologies used in explosives trace detection (ETD), and and narcotics trace detection (NTD) applications and market and sell handheld ETD and benchtop ETD and NTD systems that use its technologies. The systems are used by private companies and Government agencies to screen baggage, cargo, vehicles, other objects and people for the detection of trace amounts of explosives. Implant Sciences have developed explosives detection systems designed for use in aviation and transportation security, high threat facilities and infrastructure, military installations, customs and border protection, and mail and cargo screening. The systems use the Quantum Sniffer technologies, including phot on-based, non-radioactive ion source in combination with ion mobility spectrometry, a detection tool sensitive to the speeds with which ions of various substances move through the air to electronically detect minute quantities of explosives vapor and particles.

Quantum Sniffer QS-H150 Portable Explosives Detector

The Quantum Sniffer QS-H150 Portable Explosives Detector employs a vortex collector for the simultaneous detection of explosives particulates and vapors with or without physical contact and in real-time. The QS-HS150 can detect vapors and nanogram quantities of explosives particulates for explosives substances considered to be threats. The substances include military and commercial explosives, improvised and homemade explosives, and propellants and taggants.

The QS-H150 has automatic and continuous self-calibration. It monitors its environment, senses changes that would affect its accuracy, and r! e-calibrates accordingly. The system requires no user intervention and no calibration consumables. The detection process begins with the collection of a sample with its vortex collector. After collection, the sample is ionized photonically and analyzed using ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) technology. The presence of a threat substance is indicated by a visible and audible alarms. The threat substance is then identified and displayed on the integrated liquid crystal display (LCD) screen. When detecting a threat substance, the QS-H150 rapidly alarms. This real-time detection limits equipment contamination and allows for fast clear-down.

Quantum Sniffer QS-B220 Benchtop Explosives and Narcotics Detector

QS-B220 Benchtop Explosives and Narcotics Detector uses dual IMS with non-radioactive ionization for the detection and identification of a range of military, commercial, and improvised explosives as well as narcotics. The QS-B220 uses a sample trap which is wiped on the surface t o be interrogated for explosives or narcotics particles.

The QS-B220 has automatic and continuous self-calibration. It monitors its environment, senses changes that would affect its accuracy, and re-calibrates accordingly.

Quantum Sniffer TM QS-Hx Portable Explosives Detector

The Company is focusing in developing a next-generation handheld detector that will use dual IMS non-radioactive ionization for the detection and identification of a range of military, commercial and improvised explosives, as well as narcotics. The QS-Hx will have automatic and continuous self-calibration, multi-level password-protected data security and will include a data management interface with data export to a network for recordkeeping, providing a link with the central command centers and logistics systems used by carriers.

Miniature Mass Spectrometer

The Companys acquisition of Ion Metrics enabled it to obtain miniaturized quadrupole m ass spectrometry (QMS) dete! ctor tech! nology. The QMS detector is roughly the size of an AA battery and has low manufacturing costs. When used in conjunction with an IMS, the QMS detector senses the molecular weight of the chemical species resulting in an orthogonal detection method in which a more fundamental characteristic of a substance is measured. It is developing interfaces for integrating the QMS detector into its future products.

Hyphenated Detectors

Depending on the application and the number of interfering background chemicals, it may be necessary to incorporate additional orthogonal detection methods. The combination of multiple sensors in series is known as employing hyphenated methods. By measuring different properties of the same species, interferents are separated from target species for a deterministic detection and identification and have minimum rates of false alarms. It is developing hyphenated systems employing conventional ion mob ility, differential mobility and quadrupole mass spectrometry. As of June 30, 2012, it has one patent issued in real-time trace detection by IMS and QMS and two hyphenated system patents pending.

The Company competes with Morpho Detection, Inc., NucTech Company Limited and Smiths Detection, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Daniel Lauchheimer]
Currently, three main companies supply security equipment to the TSA - Safran (SAFRY.PK), Smiths (SMGKF.PK), and Level-3 Holdings (LLL). All three of these companies sell the whole range of their products to the TSA, with an ETD offering included. Recently, however, a new company, Implant Sciences Corporation (IMSC.PK) received approval from the TSA to begin selling their ETD equipment to airport security professionals. This approval has opened the door for IMSC to begin taking some market share away from the more established players in the US and beyond.

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/hot! -defense-! companies-to-invest-in-right-now-2.html

Monday, February 9, 2015

5 Best India Stocks For 2014

Small cap stocks Drinks Americas Holdings, Ltd (OTCMKTS: DKAM), 7 Star Entertainment Inc (OTCMKTS: SAEE), Rising India Inc (OTCMKTS: RSII) and Big Tree Group Inc (OTCMKTS: BIGG) have all been attracting attention thanks to paid promotions. Of course, there is nothing wrong with properly disclosed and paid for promotions or investor relation activities, but they can backfire on unwary investors and traders alike. So are stock promoters blowing a bunch of hot air regarding these four small cap stocks or are they actually potential winners? Here is a quick reality check to help you decide:

Drinks Americas Holdings, Ltd (OTCMKTS: DKAM) Has One of the Top Beers of 2013

Small cap Drinks Americas Holdings mission is to identify and invest the majority brand-building resources on beers and spirits with the greatest growth potential. Currently, Drinks Americas is the exclusive United States broker for leading premium authentic Mexican beers currently available in over 32 states, hundreds of chain retailers and restaurants and is on target to be the leading broker for this growing category in each of the markets in which it operates. On Friday, Drinks Americas Holdings rose 2.15% to $0.0095 for a market cap of $280,110 plus DKAM is down 89.3% over the past year and down 94.6% over the past five years according to Google Finance.

Hot Semiconductor Stocks To Buy For 2015: Stewart Information Services Corporation(STC)

Stewart Information Services Corporation provides title insurance and related information services required for settlement by the real estate and mortgage industries. It operates in two segments, Title Insurance-Related Services and Real Estate Information. The Title Insurance-Related Services segment offers services that include searching for and examining documents, such as deeds, mortgages, wills, divorce decrees, court judgments, liens, paving assessments, and tax records, as well as provides titles insurance for residential and commercial properties, undeveloped acreage, farms, ranches, and water rights. This segment serves attorneys, builders, developers, home buyers and home sellers, lenders, and real estate brokers. The Real Estate Information segment offers products and services, which primarily include lender services, title technology, foreign and domestic government services, mapping, title information, Internal Revenue Code Section 1031 tax-deferred property e xchanges, pre-employment services, and online filing and transaction management. Its customers include mortgage lenders and servicers, mortgage brokers, mortgage investors, government entities, commercial and residential real estate agents, land developers, builders, title insurance agencies, and others interested in obtaining property information, as well as accountants, attorneys, investors, and employers. The company has operations primarily in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, central Europe, Mexico, central America, and Australia. Stewart Information Services Corporation was founded in 1893 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By James Fink]
My housing pick is Houston-based Stewart Information Services (STC), a 120-year-old real estate business founded in 1893, that is still owned and managed by the founding family.
[By Ben Levisohn]
Tower Group has dropped 12% to $3.88 today at 11:39 a.m., while Stewart Information Services (STC) has dipped 0.1% to $31.16, the�Navigators Group�(NAVG) has fallen 1.4% to $54.78 and HCI Group�(HCI) has gained 1% to $38.16.

5 Best India Stocks For 2014: Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd(RDY)

Dr. Reddy?s Laboratories Limited, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a pharmaceutical company. It produces finished dosage forms, active pharmaceutical ingredients and intermediates, and biotechnology products. The company also conducts research in the areas of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular, inflammation, and bacterial infection. In addition, it involves in the contract manufacture generic prescription and over-the-counter products for branded and generic companies in the United States. The company primarily focuses on therapeutic categories of cardiovascular, diabetes management, gastro-intestinal, and pain management. It markets its products in India, the United States, Europe, and the Russian Federation. The company has a co-development and commercialization agreement with Rheoscience A/S for the development and commercialization of Balaglitazone/DRF 2593, a partial PPAR-gamma agonist for the treatment of type 2 diabetes; an agreement with ClinTec Internatio nal for the development of an anti-cancer compound, DRF 1042; collaboration with the National Cancer Institute in Maryland; and an agreement with Argenta Discovery Limited for the joint development and commercialization of a novel approach to the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It also has an agreement with 7TM Pharma for drug discovery collaboration on selected drug targets; and an agreement with GlaxoSmithKline plc to develop and market pharmaceuticals for the treatment of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, oncology, gastroenterology, and pain management. Dr. Reddy?s Laboratories Limited was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Hyderabad, India.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Dan Carroll]
The company's generic drug segment should also help push emerging market sales. Abbott markets generic pharmaceuticals outside the U.S. only, and while the division isn't growth-oriented -- sales actually fell around 2% for the quarter -- it provides an entry for the company to push into lucrative new markets such as India, where generics make up the large majority of the country's retail market. The company will face tougher competition in this industry, however: Firms such as India-based Dr. Reddy's (NYSE: RDY ) have also pushed hard into emerging markets lately, and Dr. Reddy's in particular should benefit from its being headquartered in one of the industry's top locales.

5 Best India Stocks For 2014: Infosys Technologies Limited(INFY)

Infosys Ltd. provides information technology (IT) and consulting services worldwide. It offers IT services, such as application, architecture, independent validation and testing, information management, infrastructure, packaged application, SOA, systems integration, and knowledge services; product engineering services, manufacturing process and plant solutions, and product lifecycle management services; and consulting services in the areas of information and technology strategies, product innovation, next generation commerce, process excellence, and learning and complex change. The company also provides business process outsourcing solutions in the areas of business platforms, customer service outsourcing, finance and accounting, human resources outsourcing, legal services, sales and fulfillment, and sourcing and procurement outsourcing. In addition, it offers collaborative analytics solutions; digital consumer platform; Finacle universal banking solution; iProwe, a Web ac cessibility assessment product; mConnect, a real-time enterprise middleware; and research and analytical support services. Further, the company offers unified communications and collaboration solution that streamlines business processes between employees, customers, and suppliers; iTransform that helps healthcare organizations accelerate transition to new platforms; and supply chain visibility and collaboration product suite. It serves aerospace and defense, airlines, automotive, banking, capital markets, communication services, consumer packaged goods, manufacturing, education, energy, healthcare, high technology, hospitality and leisure, insurance, life sciences, logistics and distribution, publishing, resources, utilities, and retail industries. Infosys Ltd. has a strategic partnership with Alstom SA. The company was formerly known as Infosys Technologies Limited and changed its name to Infosys Ltd. on June 16, 2011. Infosys Ltd. was founded in 1981 and is headquartered i n Bengaluru, India.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Robert Martin]
Infosys (INFY), Housing Development Finance and Reliance Industries LTD are the top three holdings, with weightings between 8% and 10.5%. Of course, just about any India ETF will have a heavy� allocation to Infosys and Reliance. However, INDA dedicates a lower percentage to energy than some of the alternatives, and instead leans more on IT and consumer spending.
[By Dan Caplinger]
Infosys (NYSE: INFY ) will release its quarterly earnings report next Monday, but investors are already skittish about how well the IT services company will be able to perform. In a sluggish environment for global economic growth generally and for IT spending in particular, the entire outsourcing and consulting industry has felt the pressure, and as a primary beneficiary of more positive trends in the industry over the years, Infosys is potentially vulnerable to a reversal in those trends.
[By Brian Stoffel]
That helps explain why Accenture and IBM,�the industry's two biggest players, have been able to gobble up so much market share. But there's a second tier of technology-consultants -- in terms of sheer size -- as well. That's where Cognizant, as well as its main competition --�Infosys (NYSE: INFY ) and Wipro (NYSE: WIT ) �-- come in to play.
[By Monica Gerson]
Infosys (NASDAQ: INFY) is expected to report its Q2 earnings at $0.70 per share on revenue of $2.01 billion.

Posted-In: Earnings scheduleEarnings News Pre-Market Outlook Markets

5 Best India Stocks For 2014: Sify Technologies Limited(SIFY)

Sify Technologies Limited provides enterprise and consumer Internet services primarily in India. The company offers various corporate network/data services comprising e-commerce and network connectivity solutions, such as end-to-end services network, application, and security services; voice origination and termination services; co-location and managed hosting services; and system integration services for data centre build, hardware distribution, security solutions, and turnkey projects. It also provides application services, including SLEMS and Microsoft Exchange messaging platforms; I-test for online assessment and LiveWire, which enable management of training processes across the organization; document management system for the management of documents electronically; and Forum, a forward supply chain solution. In addition, the company operates e-Ports that offer browsing, chat, email, gaming, utility bill payment, travel ticketing, hotel booking, mobile recharge, Intern et telephony, and online share trading services; and portals, which provide news, views, reviews, interactions, and services in the areas of movies, sports, finance, food, videos, astrology, online games, shopping, and travel, as well as offers content offerings and broadband services. Further, it provides infrastructure management services, such as network management, datacenter and helpdesk outsourcing, desktop and storage outsourcing, IT security outsourcing, LAN and WAN outsourcing, database and telecom outsourcing, and application monitoring and management services to automotive, chemical, media, and financial enterprises; and virtualization design, integration, and deployment services for servers, storage, networks, and end user clients. Sify has approximately 1,278 e-Ports in 200 towns and cities; and serves 1,06,000 broadband subscribers through 1500 cable TV Operators. The company, formerly known as Sify Limited, was founded in 1995 and is based in Chennai, India. Advisors' Opinion:

[By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Leading and Lagging Sectors
Technology stocks gained Tuesday, with Ku6 Media Co (NASDAQ: KUTV) leading advancers. Among leading tech stocks, gains came from Rubicon Technology (NASDAQ: RBCN), Bitauto Holdings (NYSE: BITA) and Sify Technologies (NASDAQ: SIFY). Utilities shares dropped by 0.11 percent in the US market today.

Friday, February 6, 2015

5 Best Net Payout Yield Stocks To Invest In Right Now

If you've bought Whole Foods Market stock anytime in the past two years, you're probably not very happy about what's happened. In a nutshell, one of the great growth stocks of the past 15 years has been an absolute dud, unless you decided to sell out last October.

While the rest of the market was on a tear, Whole Foods' stock has fallen, as much as 41% if you bought at the peak. Instead of telling you why you should hold your shares -- I have no intention to sell mine -- I want to share an investing parallel from almost 40 years ago. A little context about the importance of patience and time will serve us all well in the interim.

Let's talk about The Coca-Cola Company, and 1975.

Selling the world a Coke, but Mr. Market wasn't buying it

Back in the '70s, Coca-Cola was already all over the world, but it was still relatively early in its expansion. Most of the world was much poorer than today, and consumer goods like Coca-Cola weren't either affordable or readily available to the masses.

Top 10 Blue Chip Companies To Invest In 2015: Pazoo Inc (PZOO)

Pazoo, Inc., formerly IUCSS, Inc., incorporated on November 16, 2010, is a development-stage company. The Company is an online retailer and distributer of nutritional foods/supplements, wellness goods, and fitness apparel.

As of December 31, 2011, the Company�� source of revenue was through www.pazoo.com. The Company offers a range of products through various catalogs, such as health and beauty, vitamins and supplements, apparel, accessories, food and beverages, fitness and sports equipments, gifts, videos and books, and pet wellness.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Bryan Murphy]
For those traders who were lucky and smart enough to be in an Arotech Corporation (NASDAQ:ARTX) before today, then congratulations - you're up at least 38% on your position. Now it's time to get out. Conversely, if you're looking for a new name to get into (or perhaps looking for a place to park your ARTX proceeds), then you may want to consider Pazoo Inc. (OTCBB:PZOO)... a tiny online retailer of health and fitness goods. PZOO has dropped several tell-tale hints that more upside is on the way.

5 Best Net Payout Yield Stocks To Invest In Right Now: POSCO(PKX)

POSCO engages in the manufacture and sale of steel products in South Korea and internationally. The company offers hot rolled steel for general structures, gas cylinders, hull structures, automobile structural uses, and machine structures; atmospheric corrosion resistant steel; steel for casting and tubing of oilwell pipes; steel for line pipes; and general machine structural steel, alloy steel, and steel for tools and machine parts, as well as steel for ships. It also provides cold rolled, galvanized, electrical, and stainless steel products, as well as titanium products. In addition, it involves in various activities, including engineering and construction, steel work maintenance and machinery installation, computer hardware and software distribution, economic research and consulting, rare and special metals manufacturing, rental houses construction and management, energy and resource development, architecture and consulting, electronic commerce, refractories manufacturi ng and sales, transporting and warehousing, and electricity generation. Further, the company engages in components manufacturing and sales, ferromanganese manufacturing, financial investment, LED lightning, coal trading, mine development, finance, iron ore mining and trading, harbor loading and unloading, spinning and weaving, and paper and cement manufacturing businesses; operates athletic facilities and a distribution center; and invests in venture companies and biotech ventures. POSCO was founded in 1968 and is based in Seoul, South Korea.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Jeff Reeves]
Other options include Korean steel giant Posco (PKX), though admittedly this is much more of a global player and subject to commodity trends instead of South Korean growth.
[By Jake Maxwell Watts]
Markets in Korea were higher for the seventh straight session, after a break for Christmas. The Kospi (KR:SEU) �was up 0.1%, near its highest levels in over three weeks. Index heavyweights Samsung Electronics Co. (KR:005930) � (SSNLF) �lost 0.1%, while steel producer Posco (KR:005490) � (PKX) �and auto manufacturer Kia Motors Co. (KR:000270) � (KIMTF) �gained 1.1% and lost 0.2%, respectively.

5 Best Net Payout Yield Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Hospira Inc (HSP)

Hospira, Inc. (Hospira), incorporated on September 16, 2003, is a provider of injectable drugs and infusion technologies. Hospira's portfolio includes generic acute-care and oncology injectables, as well as integrated infusion therapy and medication management products. Hospira's portfolio of products is used by hospitals and alternate site providers, such as clinics, home healthcare providers and long-term care facilities. Hospira conducts operations worldwide and is managed in three reportable segments: Americas; Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), and Asia Pacific (APAC). The Americas segment includes the United States, Canada and Latin America; the EMEA segment includes Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and the APAC segment includes Asia, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. In all segments, Hospira sells a line of products, including specialty injectable and other pharmaceuticals and medication management products.

Specialty Injectable Pharmaceuticals

Hospira's specialty injectable pharmaceutical products consist of generic injectable pharmaceuticals. The other drugs' therapeutic areas include analgesia, anesthesia, anti-infectives, cardiovascular, oncology, and other areas. All of Hospira's generic injectable pharmaceuticals in the United States include unit-of-use bar-code labels that can be used to support medication delivery. Hospira primarily procures the active pharmaceutical ingredients in these products from third-party suppliers. During the year ended December 31, 2011, Hospira portfolio included 87 injectable drug launches consisting of 13 compounds. Among these launches included, in the United States, docetaxel (an oncolytic drug used to treat a variety of cancers), topotecan (an oncolytic drug used for the treatment of small cell lung cancer) and imipenem-cilastatin (a beta-lactam antibiotic). Hospira also launched a solution formulation of gemcitabine (an oncolytic drug used to treat a variety of cancers), which augmented Hospira's portfolio of gemcitabin! e products. New-to-country launches in EMEA in 2011, included topotecan, meropenem, gemcitabine, imipenem-cilastatin, remifentanil, docetaxel and levofloxacin. New-to-country launches in APAC in 2011, included docetaxel, piperacillin tazobactam, oxaliplatin, meropenem and gemcitabine. Hospira's specialty injectable pharmaceutical products also include Precedex (dexmedetomidine HCl), a sedative. Precedex is licensed to Hospira by Orion Corporation in the Americas and APAC segments, and in the Middle East and Africa.

Hospira sells and markets Precedex for use in non-intubated patients requiring sedation, as well as intubated and mechanically ventilated patients. Hospira's specialty injectable pharmaceuticals also include biologic products, which are molecules derived from cells that are demonstrated to be similar to an approved originator product. Hospira's biosimilar, Retacrit, was available in 20 EMEA countries during 2011. Its second biosimilar, Nivestim, was launched during the year ended December 31, 2010, and was available in 21 countries, including Australia, where the biosimilar filgrastim product was launched in 2011. Hospira's drug delivery formats include offerings in ampules and flip-top vials, which clinicians can use with standard syringes. Hospira's drug delivery options include Carpuject and iSecure prefilled syringes, AnsyrTM prefilled needleless emergency syringe systems, First Choice ready-to-use premix and the ADD-Vantage system for preparing drug solutions from prepackaged drug powders or concentrates.

Other Pharmaceuticals

Hospira's other pharmaceuticals primarily consist of intravenous (I.V.) solutions, nutritionals and contract manufacturing services. Hospira offers infusion therapy solutions and related supplies that include I.V. solutions for general use, I.V. nutrition products, and solutions for the washing and cleansing of wounds or surgical sites. All of Hospira's injectable I.V. solutions in the United States include unit-of-use bar-c! ode label! s that can be used to support medication management efforts. Hospira also offers infusion therapy solutions in its VisIV non-PVC, non-DEHP I.V. container, an I.V. bag. Hospira's contract manufacturing services are offered through its One2One services group, which provides formulation development, filling and finishing of injectable and oral drugs worldwide. Hospira works with its pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers to develop injectable forms of their drugs, and Hospira fills and finishes those and other drugs into containers and packaging selected by the customer. The customer then sells the finished products under its own label. Hospira's One2One manufacturing services group generally does not manufacture active pharmaceutical ingredients, but offers a range of filling and finishing services in a variety of delivery systems.

Medication Management

Medication management products include electronic drug delivery pumps, safety software and disposable administration sets dedicated to Hospira pumps. These sets are used to deliver I.V. fluids and medications. Hospira also offers software maintenance agreements and other service offerings. Hospira's electronic drug delivery pumps include Hospira's general infusion system, Symbiq; the Plum A+ line of infusion pumps; Hospira's patient-controlled analgesia device, LifeCare PCA; the GemStar ambulatory infusion pump; and the Plum XLD infusion pump. Hospira offers the Hospira MedNet safety software system, which has been designed to enable hospitals to customize intravenous drug dosage limits and track drug delivery to prevent medication errors. The wireless network version of the Hospira MedNet system establishes real-time send-and-receive capability and can interface with select hospital and pharmacy information systems. The Hospira MedNet system is standard in the Symbiq infusion system, and is also available as an additional feature for the Plum A+ line, and LifeCare PCA devices. Hospira also offers safety software with its Ge! mStar pum! p.

Medication management includes TheraDoc, Inc. products, which are module-based clinical surveillance systems that provide patient safety surveillance and clinical decision support. Medication management also includes gravity administration sets and other device products, including needlestick safety products and programs to support Hospira's customers' needlestick prevention initiatives. LifeShield CLAVE and LifeShield MicroCLAVE connectors are one-piece valves that directly connect syringes filled with medications to a patient's I.V. line without the use of needles. ICU Medical's CLAVE connectors are a component of administration sets sold by Hospira to its customers in the United States and select markets outside the United States.

The Company competes with Baxter International Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim, Fresenius Kabi, Pfizer, Sandoz, Sanofi, Teva Pharmaceuticals, B. Braun Melsungen AG, CareFusion, Terumo, Actavis, Intas Pharmaceuticals, Ltd, Medac GmbH, Mylan Inc., Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd. and Aspen.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Sean Williams]
And finally, would you be shocked if I said that medical-device and drug maker Hospira (NYSE: HSP ) ended the week on a high following a positive opinion from the CHMP on its biosimilar drug known as inflectra? The drug, which is targeted at treating rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel diseases, and plaque psoriasis, is a biosimilar of Johnson & Johnson's�blockbuster Remicade, which generates $6 billion in annual sales. Assuming Hospira can gain approval for inflectra (which appears likely, since the EMA often follows the advice of its panel), it could garner a big chunk of J&J's sales in the EU.
[By Holly LaFon]
A few weaker sectors lagged the broad market advance. The energy, telecommunication services, and utilities groups gained ground but at a slower pace than most other S&P 500 sectors. Hess was a welcome exception in energy. Most of our investments in the lagging sectors moved higher but trailed the broad market. Our most disappointing energy holdings shared a common theme: exposure to the mining industry. As concerns about the pace of global economic growth intensified, particularly in emerging markets like China, our positions in Cliffs Natural Resources, Newmont Mining, and Joy Global were negatively affected. Fortunately, these composed relatively small positions in the portfolio. The Major Portfolio Changes table on page 8 shows the stocks in which we were active buyers and sellers during the first half of the year. We initiated positions in Apple (AAPL), Joy Global (JOY), Hospira (HSP), and Western Union (WU), all of which had stumbled in the eyes of investors, resulting in sharply falling share prices before we decided to invest in them. Consequently, the companies' stock valuations became more attractive to us. We normally favor companies whose share prices have declined because of cyclical worries, sector concerns, or company-specific issues. When a stock falls in value, its price/earnings ratio usually declines while its dividend yield increases, characteristics we look for as value investors. The strategy can be rewarding as long as the company's fundamentals are still sound.
[By Holly LaFon] ra is the world�� largest producer of specialty generic injectable pharmaceuticals, and is a leading provider of contract manufacturing services to proprietary pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies for producing injectable pharmaceuticals.
Hospira�� share price had been falling gradually since its high of about $58 in April 2011, and began trading under $30 by mid-October. Owens, who held the stock since before 2008, had been selling shares as the price went up. In the fourth quarter of 2011, when the price fell to an average of $31.50, he bought 1 million shares, increasing his position by more than 91%. He now owns 2,095,070.
The October drop was due in large part to disappointing fourth-quarter earnings reported on October 26. The company�� diluted earnings per share fell to a loss of $(0.54), compared to $0.42 in the fourth quarter of 2010. The results were impacted by ��evelopments related to our quality-improvement initiatives,��according to the company�� CEO, F. Michael Ball. Diluted earnings per share for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2011, were $1.21, down 31% from $1.75 in the first nine months of 2010.
Sales increased 2.9% to $977 million, compared to $949 million in the fourth quarter of 2010, mainly due to continued strong U.S. sales of the company�� oncolytic docetaxel product, but partially offset by the impact of quality actions in response to an FDA 2010 warning letter and subsequent observations related to the company�� manufacturing facility in Rocky Mount, N.C., and device quality and supply-related issues.
The company announced on October 18 that sales and earnings per share would be lower than anticipated due to actions they had to take to improve quality at the plant which caused a slowdown of production.
CVS Caremark (CVS)
CVS/Caremark is the nation's premier integrated pharmacy services provider, combining one of the nation's leading pharmaceutical services companies with the cou
[By Ben Levisohn]
That decision has helped make Allergan the top performing pharmaceutical stock in the S&P 500. Its shares have gained 4.3% to $108.18, today at 2:32 p.m., besting Merck’s (MRK) 1.2% rise to $49.36, Mylan’s (MYL) 1.1% advance to $42.98, Hospira’s (HSP) 0.7% increase to $41.34 and Eli Lily’s (LLY) 0.6% rise to $50.42.

5 Best Net Payout Yield Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Powershares Buyback Achiever Portfolio (PKW)

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

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

Advisors' Opinion:

[By John Waggoner]
The past five years, the PowerShares Buyback Achievers fund (ticker: PKW), has beaten the SPDR S&P 500 ETF trust by 3.91 percentage points a year, according to Morningstar, the Chicago investment trackers. So far this year, however, the fund has lagged behind the index by 2.28 percentage points ��a sign that Wall Street may be getting less impressed by buybacks.
[By Roadmap2Retire] href="http://roadmap2retire.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/buybacks.jpg">

Stock Buybacks

One company that has resorted to financial engineering for quarter after quarter is International Business Machines Corp (IBM) ��nd it's only a matter of time before patience runs out. The company has seen declining revenues and cash holdings, while debt has continued to pile up. The company has been squeaking out quarters resorting to layoffs to keep the shareholders happy - and for the sake of the IBM shareholders, I hope management changes this path that they are heading down on.

On the other hand, General Electric (GE), with all the cash available, has been investing heavily in growing its business. GE is cutting losing business segments that are not lucrative anymore such as the appliance business, which it sold to Electrolux for $3.3B recently, and spun-off Synchrony Financial (SYF) ��its retail finance arm. Instead, GE is now returning to its industrial roots and expanding into new horizons such as oil & gas exploration and pipeline infrastructure tech, green energy investments such as wind, solar and fuel cells etc. These are lucrative businesses and I fully support the management in their decision as a shareholder. Note that GE, like others, has a share repurchase plan ��especially in 2013, GE has bought a lot of its own shares after selling its stake in NBC.

A plethora of companies have a history of buying at highs and selling at lows. This goes against any logic when it comes to good financial sense. When times are good and companies are flush with cash, like the current environment, the management authorizes buying its own shares and during lean times - after market crashes and/or recessions, the companies cut back on share repurchases. So, the question for the retail investors is: Instead of investing or paying down debt, if the company is buying its own shares and the insiders are selling, should you be buying? It comes as no
[By Marvin Appel, CEO and Founder, Appel Asset Management Corporation]
Buyback Achievers ETF (PKW)

The stocks in this ETF are those that have repurchased at least 5% of their shares in the 12 months preceding the reconstitution of the index every January. 200 stocks currently qualify. (They are weighted by market capitalization.)
[By Elliott Gue]
Just check out the PowerShares Buyback Achievers ETF (NYSE: PKW), which invests in companies that have bought back at least 5% of their shares outstanding during the prior 12 months. This ETF has more than doubled the returns of the S&P 500 over the past five years.