Top 5 Defense Companies To Own For 2015

Top 5 Defense Companies To Own For 2015: Raytheon Company(RTN)

Raytheon Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides electronics, mission systems integration, and other capabilities in the areas of sensing, effects, and command, control, communications, and intelligence systems, as well as mission support services in the United States and internationally. It operates in six segments: Integrated Defense Systems, Intelligence and Information Systems, Missile Systems, Network Centric Systems, Space and Airborne Systems, and Technical Services. The Integrated Defense Systems segment provides integrated naval, air, and missile defense and civil security response solutions. The Intelligence and Information Systems segment offers intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, advanced cyber solutions, weather and environmental solutions, and information-based solutions for law enforcement and homeland security. The Missile Systems segment develops and produces weapon systems, including missiles, smart munitions, close-in weapon systems, projectiles, kinetic kill vehicles, and directed energy effectors for the armed forces of the U.S. and other allied nations. The Network Centric Systems segment provides net-centric mission solutions, including integrated communications systems, command and control systems, combat systems, and operations and precision components for the U.S. federal, state, and local government customers, as well as civil customers. The Space and Airborne Systems segment designs and develops integrated systems and solutions for missions, including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; precision engagement; unmanned aerial operations; and space. The Technical Services segment provides training, logistics, engineering, product support, and operational support services for the mission support, homeland security, space, civil aviation, counterproliferation, and counterterrorism markets. Raytheon Company was founded in 1922 and is based in Waltham, Massachusetts.

! Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lee Jackson]

  Raytheon Corp. (NYSE: RTN) is also Neutral-rated at UBS. Despite large contract sales to the Saudi’s, the company may very well be another valuation call from the UBS team. Raytheon is also trading right near 52-week highs. Investors are paid a 2.3% dividend. The UBS price target is $90, and the consensus target is $97.28. Raytheon closed Wednesday at $95.16.

• [By Rich Smith]

  Actually, for investors in Raytheon (NYSE: RTN  ) stock, there may be a couple of those, too. If you think back to January's PAC-3 contract announcement, for example, Lockheed's big Patriot win was followed in quick succession by a series of three Patriot contract wins for Raytheon. All three were classified as "foreign military sales," and while the destination of the sales was not stated in any of them, I think we can take a wild guess that sand and sun were involved.

• [By Rich Smith]

  On the other hand, traditional defense contractors are still earning money by working for the Pentagon. On Tuesday, Raytheon (NYSE: RTN  ) was awarded a $35.2 million order for AN/ALE-50 towed decoys, which aircraft can deploy to distract incoming missiles. Raytheon is expected to complete deliveries on this contract by March 31, 2015.

• [By Rich Smith]

  The Department of Defense awarded Raytheon (NYSE: RTN  ) two contractson Monday worth a combined $48.2 million.

  In the larger of the two awards, Raytheon's Company Network Centric Systems unit will receive $34 million as a contract modification funding continued development and testing of engineering development models for air and ground fixed and transportable "command post terminals" for the Presidential and National Voice Conferencing (PNVC) communications system. PNVC is "a satellite-based, worldwide, survivable, secure, and near toll-quality voice conferencing capability for the President, Secretary of Defense, Cha! irman, Jo! int Chiefs of Staff, and other senior national/military leaders." Work on this contract should be completed by October 2013.

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/top-5-defense-companies-to-own-for-2015-3.html

Finra targets complex, interest-rate-sensitive investments in 2014 exams

In examinations of broker-dealers this year, Finra will zero in on the sale of sophisticated investment products whose value can change quickly due to interest rate fluctuations.

Nontraded real estate investment trusts, complex structured products, emerging-markets investment funds, mortgage-backed securities, long-duration bond funds and municipal securities are among Finra's priorities in its monitoring program, according to a letter posted on its website on Thursday.

Finra noted that in the current investment environment, fixed-income products are particularly risky because of potential changes in monetary policy.

“Finra remains concerned about the suitability of recommendations to retail investors for complex products whose risk-return profiles, including their sensitivity to interest rate changes, underlying product or index volatility, fee structures or complexity may be challenging for investors to understand,” the letter from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. states. “In 2014, our examiners will focus on concentrations in longer-duration instruments, including bond funds with longer average durations and high-yield securities recommended to retail investors, especially if those investors have near-term liquidity needs or have a conservative or defensive investment profile.”

Finra also said that it will expand a program implemented last year to target rogue brokers who land at new firms after being disciplined or fired.

“When Finra examines a firm that hires these high-risk brokers, examiners will review the firm's due diligence conducted in the hiring process, review for the adequacy of supervision of higher-risk brokers — including whether the brokers have been placed under heightened supervision — based on the patters of past conduct, and examiners will place particular focus on these brokers' clients' accounts in conducting reviews of sale practices,” the Finra letter states.

The exam priorities are meant to be a “road map” of issues that pose risk to investors, according to Finra chairman and chief executive Richard G. Ketchum.

“By providing clear and detailed guidance to firms, we hope to not only support firms' compliance efforts but also to alert firms to the issues we have identified as the most salient risks to investors and the integrity of our markets,” Mr. Ketchum said in a statement.

Finra said that it will build on its recent effort to assess brokers' conflicts of interest. In 2014, examiners will review how firms identify and manage conflicts before and after launching new products.

“Fi! nra will also assess whether wealth management businesses make independent decisions about the products they offer without pressure to favor proprietary products or products for which the firm has revenue-sharing agreements,” the letter states.

Another focus will be rollovers of assets from 401(k) retirement plans to individual retirement accounts. The regulator will look for instances where the brokerage benefits from the move while investors are harmed.

Other priorities will include protection of senior investors and rooting out fraud in microcap and over-the-counter securities. Finra also said that it will launch a “more structured review” of its member firms' liquidity levels and ask them to perform “stress tests.”

Best Healthcare Technology Stocks To Invest In 2014

IBM (NYSE: IBM  ) has signed a definitive agreement to purchase privately held, virtual management provider CSL International, IBM announced today. The acquisition of Israel-based CSL International comes on the heels of yesterday's announcement that IBM had finalized its purchase of cloud infrastructure company SoftLayer Technologies.

According to IBM, CSL International's solutions will be integrated with its existing zEnterprise System, a mainframe platform to help enterprises "reshape the IT experience for their customers." Dallas-based SoftLayer will become a part of IBM's new cloud services division and be offered in conjunction with IBM's SmartCloud product suite. The SoftLayer deal was announced June 4.

Regarding the CSL International deal, Greg Lotko, IBM business line executive, System z, commented, "As clients create smarter computing environments, they are looking for ways to manage IT costs and complexity without sacrificing security or the ability to scale."

Top Supermarket Stocks To Own Right Now: LipoScience Inc (LPDX)

LipoScience, Inc., incorporated on June 15, 2000, is a vitro diagnostic company. The Company�� diagnostic test, the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) LipoProfile test, directly measures the number of low density lipoprotein (LDL), particles in a blood sample and provides physicians and their patients with actionable information to personalize management of risk for heart disease. As of January 25, 2013, over eight million NMR LipoProfile tests were ordered. The Vantera system is its automated clinical analyzer. In August 2012, the Company received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance to market the Vantera system commercially to laboratories.

The Company's technology platform combines signal processing algorithms and NMR spectroscopic detection into a clinical analyzer to identify and quantify concentrations of lipoproteins and, potentially, small molecule metabolites. The Company�� Vantera system is the Company's automated clinical analyzer. The Company's NMR LipoProfile test has been cleared by the FDA for use in the Company's clinical laboratory and directly measures LDL-P for use in managing cardiovascular risk.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Kell and Lauren Pollock var popups = dojo.query(".socialByline .popC"); ]

  LipoScience Inc.(LPDX) on Friday cut its revenue outlook for the current period after its pact with customer Health Diagnostics Laboratory Inc. was terminated. The medical-test provider said it expects the contract termination to weigh on revenue in the short and medium term.

Best Healthcare Technology Stocks To Invest In 2014: Prosiebensat 1 Media AG (PSM)

ProSiebenSat 1 Media AG is a Germany-based broadcasting company. It owns commercial television stations, pay television (TV) channels and radio networks in numerous European countries. The Company operates in three business segments, including Free TV German-speaking, Free TV International and Diversification. Free TV German-speaking segment includes the stations SAT.1, ProSieben, kabel eins and sixx, as well as the sales companies SevenOneMedia and SevenOne AdFactory. Free TV International constitute of commercial TV stations in the Benelux countries and the CEE (Central and Eastern Europe) region. The Diversification segment includes all activities not directly dependent on the TV advertising market, such as call TV, music, commerce or Pay TV. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jonathan Morgan]

  RWE AG (RWE) jumped 6.4 percent, leading a gauge of utilities higher. Deutz AG (DEZ) plunged the most in more than two years after an investor sold a 8.4 percent stake in the manufacturer of diesel engines. ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG (PSM) dropped 1.1 percent after Telegraaf Media Groep NV sold its stake in the company.

Best Healthcare Technology Stocks To Invest In 2014: Trovagene Inc (TROV)

TrovaGene, Inc. (TrovaGene), incorporated on April 26, 2002, is a development-stage molecular diagnostic company that focuses on the development and marketing of urine-based nucleic acid tests for patient/disease screening and monitoring. The Company's novel tests predominantly use transrenal DNA (Tr-DNA) and transrenal RNA (Tr-RNA). The Company's technology is used to all transrenal nucleic acids (Tr-NA). The Company�� urine-based test addresses market needs, such as women�� healthcare-fetal medicine-down syndrome, infectious diseases, cancer testing, transplantation, drug development and monitoring of therapeutic outcomes, ultra-sensitive analytical and detection system, technologies for the collection, shipment and storage of urine specimens, and transrenal nucleic acid extraction, and instrumentation/system platform.

On January 18, 2011, the Company entered into an asset purchase agreement pursuant to which the Company acquired a hybridoma able to produce a monoclonal antibody targeting the NPM1 biomarker. On February 8, 2011, the Company entered into a sublicense agreement with MLL Munchner Leukamielabor (MLL). In July, 2011, the Company entered into a sublicense agreement with Fairview Health Services (Fairview) for NPM1 patent rights.

In October 2011, the Company entered into a license agreement pursuant to which the Company licensed the patent rights to a specific gene mutation with respect to chronic lymphoblastic leukemia. On December 12, 2011, the Company entered into a license agreement pursuant to which the Company licensed the patent rights to hairy cell leukemia biomarkers. On February 1, 2012, the Company acquired the clinical laboratory improvement amendments (CLIA) laboratory assets of MultiGEN Diagnostics, Inc. (MultiGEN).

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  TrovaGene (TROV) is a development stage molecular diagnostic company focused on the development and marketing of urine-based nucleic acid tests for patient/disease screening and monitoring. This stock closed up 6% to $10.02 in Friday's trading session.

  Friday's Volume: 712,000
  
  Three-Month Average Volume: 183,106
  
  Volume % Change: 294%

  From a technical perspective, TROV ripped higher here into all-time high territory with heavy upside volume. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last month and change, with shares soaring higher from its low of $5.75 to its new all-time high of $10.20. During that move, shares of TROV have been making mostly higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has also been accompanied by bullish upside volume flows.

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in TROV as long as it's trending above its recent breakout level of $8.83, and then once it sustains a move or close above its all-time high of $10.20 with volume that hits near or above 183,106 shares. If we get that move soon, then TROV will set up to enter new all-time high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that move are $13 to $15.

Best Healthcare Technology Stocks To Invest In 2014: Shutterstock Inc (SSTK)

Shutterstock, Inc. (Shutterstock) operates as a marketplace for commercial digital imagery. Commercial digital imagery consists of licensed photographs, illustrations and videos that companies use in their visual communications, such as Websites, digital and print marketing materials, corporate communications, books, publications and video content. As of April 30, 2012, Shutterstock's image library contained more than 19 million images. It operates in North America, Europe and Rest of the world. The Company offers a range of content types, including photography, illustrations, vector art and video footage. Shutterstock�� brands include Shutterstock and Bigstock. Its online marketplace provides a freely searchable library of commercial digital images that its users can pay to license, download and incorporate into their work. Users can search its library and preview watermarked versions of its content. In November 2011, Shutterstock launched Shutterstock for iPad, an application enabling visitors to search, browse and organize images using an iPad.

The Company�� products consist of Photographs, Illustrations and Vector Art, and Video Footage. The Company offers photographs that cover a range of subjects, including animals/wildlife, the arts, backgrounds/textures, beauty/fashion, buildings/landmarks, business/finance, celebrities, education, food and drink, healthcare/medical, holidays, nature, objects, people, religion, science, sports/recreation, technology and transportation. Its photography collection is made up of images that can be used in both commercial and editorial contexts. Images that are marked as editorial-only, such as photographs of celebrities and newsworthy events, which constitute fewer than 5% of its total images, cannot be used to promote a product or service; instead these images are licensed for use in editorial settings, such as newspapers, blogs and magazines. Photographs are available in a range of sizes, including small files that are appropriate for mobile b! rowsing and large files appropriate for large format prints and high-resolution displays. As of December 31, 2011, photographs made up 69% of its library.

In addition to photographic images, the Company also offers images that have been created using illustration tools and software. These images are made up of two types: illustrations (raster graphics) and vector art (vector graphics). Raster graphics are stored as a fixed set of pixels, whereas vector graphics are stored using geometric modeling. As of December 31, 2011, illustrations an vector art made up 28% of its library. For users engaged in producing video advertisements, commercial motion pictures, television programming, video games, interactive applications and other video-based media, it also provides video footage. Footage clips are available in a range of formats and sizes, including high definition (HD). As of December 31, 2011, its video footage library contained more than 400,000 video clips and made up 3% of its library.

The Company competes with iStockphoto, Fotolia, Dreamstime, Getty Images, Corbis Corporation, Reuters Group PLC, the Associated Press, Thought Equity Motion, Facebook and Flickr.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Paul Ausick]

  But the real news is the near vertical trajectory in share prices for the two stocks. This could be another manifestation of the market�� hunger for some momentum plays, as we noted earlier this morning the bump to share prices for both JinkoSolar Holding Co. Ltd. (NYSE: JKS) and Shutterstock Inc. (NASDAQ: SSTK), both of which held secondary share sales this morning.

Best Healthcare Technology Stocks To Invest In 2014: Thales SA (HO)

Thales SA is a France-based provider of integrated solutions and equipment of security systems primarily to the aerospace and defense markets. The Company operates in numerous countries through its divisions, including Aerospace, specialized in onboard equipment, electronics and systems for the civil and military markets; Space, offering solutions combining space and terrestrial technologies; Defence, which designs and delivers systems for all four environments: air, land, sea and space; Security, which offer the emergence of new types of threats from terrorism and organized crime to drug trafficking, mass immigration and cyber attacks; and Transportation, which offers a range of railways signaling solutions and integrated transportation systems, to ensure safe and secure transportation of operators, freight and passengers. In November 2013, it acquired XPI Simulation Ltd. In February 2014, it created a new business line called Critical Information Systems and Cybersecurity. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By USATODAY 8 a.m. EST February 15]

  Alex Pettyfer about to take the wheel of the Maserati Gran Turismo for a joyride with co-star Dayo Okeniyi.(Photo: HO)

  Pettyfer and Okeniyi's character end up joyriding in the car along with Gabriella Wilde, who plays the rich girl falling in love with Pettyfer.

Best Healthcare Technology Stocks To Invest In 2014: China Distance Education Holdings Ltd (DL)

China Distance Education Holdings Limited (CDEL), incorporated on January 11, 2008, offers a range of online education and test preparation courses and other related services and products. The Company operates and manages its business in the provision of online and offline education services and selling of related products. The Company�� online courses are designed to help professionals and other course participants obtain and maintain the skills, licenses and certifications necessary to pursue careers in China in the areas of accounting, law, healthcare, construction engineering and other industries. In addition, the Company also offers online foreign language courses. As of September 30, 2012, the Company operated 17 websites, including its main Website www.cdeledu.com and 16 other websites. The Company�� online courses feature audio-video lectures delivered through the Internet using streaming media and other Internet-based technologies, and are supplemented by textbooks, tutoring, online assignments and exercises, mock examinations, and other forms of learning activities and course-related support.

The Company sell books and reference materials through third-party bookstores and distributors across China, and, to a lesser extent, through its online bookstore and its offices in Beijing. In addition, it also offers offline business start-up training courses and in-person accounting and healthcare professional training to accounting firms and the general public. The Company provides course production services and platform production services for certain customers at their request.

Online Education Services

The Company offers online courses through its websites designed to help course participants obtain and maintain the skills, licenses and certifications necessary to pursue their careers and professions in China. Its online professional education courses cover a range of industries, including accounting, law, healthcare, construction engineering and! others. It also offers online test preparation courses to self-taught learners pursuing higher education diplomas or degrees and to secondary school and college students for various academic and entrance exams. Additionally, the Company offers online foreign language courses.

The Company�� courses feature audio-video lectures by experienced lecturers or practitioners within their respective fields delivered through a multimedia and interactive Web interface using streaming media and other Internet-based technologies. Its online lectures are supplemented by textbooks, tutoring, online assignments, exercises, mock examinations, and other forms of learning activities and course-related support. Course participants using different platforms, including smart phones, tablets or regular computers, are able to access its courses through the Internet at times and places convenient for them.

The Web page also provides hyperlinks allowing course participants to access other useful functions during the lecture. It also provides its course lectures in the form of downloadable media files that allow course participants to save copies of the lectures onto their own personal computers and to play them offline. The Company utilizes digital rights management, or digital rights management (DRM), technology to restrict the transfer and viewing of downloadable media files.

Professional Course Offerings

The Company�� professional course offerings include accounting Courses, legal courses, healthcare courses, construction engineering courses, online information technology courses and other professional education courses. The Company offer courses relating to China�� important nationwide legal examination, the National Judicial Examination. It offers courses relating to three nationwide healthcare exams: the National Practicing Medical Doctor Qualification Examination, the Healthcare Professional Technical Qualification Examination jointly administered by the Ministry! of Healt! h and the MOP and the National Pharmacist Qualification Examination administered by the MOP and the State Administration of Drug Supervision. It offers courses mainly relating to exams: Associate Constructor and Constructor Qualification Examinations, Construction Supervisor Qualification Examination, Construction Pricing Engineer Qualification Examination, Certified Safety Engineer Qualification Examination, Consulting Engineer Qualification Examination and Real Estate Appraiser Qualification Examination. The Company provides professional education courses in the areas of information technology, securities and various civil service positions.

Higher Education for Self-Taught Learners

The Company through its Website www.zikao365.com offers courses targeted at self-taught learners pursuing associate diplomas or bachelor�� degrees in various academic areas. They complete their self study and obtain government accredited diplomas or degrees by passing the Higher Education Examination for Self-Taught Learners administered by the MOE without having to enroll in and physically attend a traditional college or university. It offer test preparatory courses to help self-taught learners pass the requisite exams.

Academic Exam Preparation and Foreign Language Courses Study Courses

The Company through its Website www.cnedu.cn Website, the Company offer test preparation courses targeted at university students intending to take nationwide graduate school entrance exams in various disciplines administered by the MOE. It also operates websites focused on the secondary and college education market, foreign language study and other subjects. Its secondary education courses are designed to provide an online resource for secondary school course participants to prepare for these exams.

Other Products and Services

The Company sells books and reference materials relating to various professional courses and exam s! ubjects. ! To promote the use of its online courses, the Company also sells books and reference materials related to its courses such as the Elementary Level and Intermediate Level Accounting Professional Qualification Examination, the CPA Qualification Examination, the Registered Tax Agent Qualification Examination, the Certified Asset Appraiser Qualification Examination, the Accounting Professional Qualification Examination, accounting continuing education, the National Judicial Examination, the National Practicing Medical Doctor Qualification Examination, the Construction Supervisor Qualification Examination, the Constructor Qualification Examination, the Construction Pricing Engineer Qualification Examination, and the Intermediate Economist Qualification Examination.

The Company provides primary and secondary school supplementary tutoring services to students in a range of subject areas, such as Chinese, math and science. Students may attend offline courses taught by its in-person lecturers or view pre-recorded video courses on its Website at www.g12e.com. Its offline classes are available in Beijing and are subscribed during winter and summer breaks. It also provides course production services to certain customers on a contractual basis.

Regular, Premium and Elite Classes

The Company offer regular, premium and elite classes, which include foundation classes, intensified focus classes, exam Questions analysis classes and crash-course classes. It offers elite classes to legal practitioners, self-taught learners pursuing higher education diplomas or degrees, and professionals in the healthcare, construction engineering and other industries. Its foundation classes contain detailed instructions and content to provide course participants with a broad and comprehensive knowledge base relating to a specific subject area. Its intensified focus classes are designed to provide more intensive instructions focused on important topics in a specific subject area at a more! advanced! pace to course participants who already have basic knowledge of the subject area. Its exam questions analysis classes contain materials and instructions tailored specifically to preparation for the actual exams and the types of questions and topics that come up in each exam. Its crash-course classes are designed to provide a quick review of critical topic areas for specific exam subjects to enable course participants to make final preparations in the weeks prior to an exam. Its exam simulation system offers a wealth of mock test questions developed based on real tests, closely conforms to the syllabus and test requirements, and fully covers various key examination points.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Louis Navellier]

  NDZ returned to profit this year, and huge earnings increases are expected next year. The rapid improvement in fundamentals was noticed by Portfolio Grader back in September and the stock was upgraded to an ��.��NDZ stock is a ��trong buy��at the current price.

  Great International Stocks: China Distance Education (DL)

  China Distance Education (DL) provides education services in the China. Its online courses are designed to help professionals and other course participants to obtain and maintain the skills, licenses, and certifications necessary to pursue careers in fields like accounting, law and engineering.

Best Healthcare Technology Stocks To Invest In 2014: Electro Rent Corporation(ELRC)

Electro Rent Corporation engages in the rental, lease, and sale of new and used electronic test and measurement equipment. Its equipment portfolio consists of general purpose test and measurement instruments; personal computers, workstations, and servers; and electrical test equipment and inspection equipment. The company rents or leases its equipment primarily to companies operating in the aerospace, defense, telecommunications, electronics, and semiconductor industries. Electro Rent Corporation serves its customers through sales offices, and calibration and service centers in the United States, Canada, China, and Europe. The company was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in Van Nuys, California.

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 Electro Rent (Nasdaq: ELRC  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

• [By Lisa Levin]

  Electro Rent (NASDAQ: ELRC) shares fell 0.77% to reach a new 52-week low of $15.39. Electro Rent's trailing-twelve-month profit margin is 9.24%.

  Posted-In: 52-Week LowsNews Movers & Shakers Intraday Update Markets

Top 10 Casino Stocks For 2015

Top 10 Casino Stocks For 2015: Pinnacle Entertainment Inc.(PNK)

Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. owns, develops, and operates casinos, and related hospitality and entertainment facilities in the United States. It operates casinos, such as L'Auberge du Lac in Lake Charles, Louisiana; River City Casino and Lumiere Place in St. Louis, Missouri; Boomtown New Orleans in New Orleans, Louisiana; Belterra Casino Resort in Vevay, Indiana; Boomtown Bossier City in Bossier City, Louisiana; and Boomtown Reno in Reno, Nevada. The company also operates River Downs racetrack in southeast Cincinnati, Ohio. As of May 26, 2011, it operated seven casinos and one racetrack. The company was formerly known as Hollywood Park, Inc. and changed its name to Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. in February 2000. Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. was founded in 1935 and is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Pinnacle Entertainment (PNK) has gained 56% this year; Las Vegas Sands (LVS) has climbed 38%. And Deutsche Bank has nice things to say about both today.

  Bloomberg

  First Pinnacle. Deutsche Bank’s Carlo Santarelli ponders the stock’s big move and comes away still seeing value in its shares. He writes:

  When we upgraded PNK in April, our thesis centered on the FCF strength of the combined entities [Pinnacle completed its acquisition of Ameristar Casinos on Aug. 14], a handful of favorable catalysts, easing regional gaming comps, & an inexpensive relative valuation. Given the shares’ sizeable move since then, we believe it is worth revisiting the investment case. Post the announcement of several asset sales and the closing of the transaction, we are adjusting our estimates, raising our PT to $30 from $24, and maintaining our bullish view at current levels given what we still believe to be an attractive free cash flow valuation, meaningful potential synergy realization beyond the $40 mm of announced benefits, and a free option on a la! gging regional recovery.

  Santarelli also revisited Las Vegas Sands and there too, he likes what he sees. He writes:

  With…LVS at [a share price level] that have been challenging to break from over the last year plus, we believe this time is different and hence we see continued upward momentum…In the case of LVS, we see; 1) meaningful mass market strength continuing through year end, setting the stage for upward company and market estimate revisions for 2014, 2) continued cash flow appreciation and capital returns serving as downside protection and positive catalysts, and 3) continued shared gains, largely driven by table optimization and mass market strength, driving both estimates and sentiment.

  He also likes Wynn Resorts (WYNN), despite its 34% gain.Santarelli writes:

  As for WYNN, we believe near-term estimates continue to take a back seat to capital return

• [By Grace L. Williams]

  First up is Pinnacle Entertainment (PNK). CEO Anthony Michaal Sanfilippo bought 23,000 shares of the Las Vegas-based gaming company for $505,800. InsiderScore notes this is his first purchase in nearly two years and writes, After shares retreated more than 15% from a six-year high and with an activist hedge fund pushing the casino operator to spin off its real estate into a REIT, Sanfilippo stepped up with his first purchase. [He put] a fresh $500,000 into the stock at a price two times his cost basis of previous buys.

• [By Dan Radovsky]

  Pinnacle Entertainment (NYSE: PNK  ) has reached an agreement in principle with the Bureau of Competition of the Federal Trade Commission that would allow the company to complete its proposed acquisition of Ameristar Casinos (NASDAQ: ASCA  ) , Pinnacle announced today.

• [By Travis Hoium]

  What: Shares of Ameristar Casinos (NASDAQ: ASCA  ) and Pinnacle Entertainment (NYSE: PNK  ) fell as much as 11% today after the government brought into que! stion the! merger of the two companies.

source from Top Stocks To Buy For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/top-10-casino-stocks-for-2015-2.html

Hot Prefered Companies To Watch For 2015

Hot Prefered Companies To Watch For 2015: Rare Element Resources Ltd (REE)

Rare Element Resources Ltd. (Rare Element) is engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties. The Company's principal property is the Bear Lodge Property located in northeastern Wyoming, United States of America. The Bear Lodge Property consists of two projects: Bear Lodge Rare Earth Element Project (Bear Lodge REE Project) and the Sundance Gold Project. The Bear Lodge REE Project consists of the Bull Hill mine deposit, the Whitetail Ridge resource area, and the East Taylor and Carbon exploration targets. The Company holds interest in the Bear Lodge Property through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Rare Element Resources, Inc. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Doug Ehrman]

  The broader comments are a boon for the industry, explaining why competitors like Avalon Rare Metals (NYSEMKT: AVL  ) traded up nearly 10% and Rare Earth Elements (NYSEMKT: REE  ) surged over 12% on the news. If industrial demand for rare-earth elements is stabilizing and beginning to build, then all three of these companies will benefit. High inventories in the hands of customers have been a major drag on prices for an extended period, and If this trend is reversing, Molycorp should see continuing strength in the later part of the year.

• [By Travis Hoium]

  Not the time to bet on rare-earth materials
  There's no question that the rare-earth mineral space has peaked, and that it has a lot of questions to surmount. Despite Wall Street's euphoria over the stock, I'd be cautious about Molycorp and would definitely stay away from speculative rare-earth plays Rare Element Resources (NYSEMKT: REE  ) and Avalon Rare Metals (NYSEMKT: AVL  ) , who don't even have the revenue Molycorp is generating.

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/hot-prefered-companies-to-watch-for-2015.html

Top 5 Forestry Stocks To Watch For 2014

If you ask someone what they think about smartwatches, you're likely to get one of two answers: Either they're the next big thing in consumer tech, or they're a ridiculous ploy by big tech companies to "connect" yet another analog holdout.

Smartwatches are exactly what they sound like: wristwatches with enhanced, connected functionality. You can browse notifications, receive e-mails or even talk on the phone. Basically, it's a Dick Tracy watch.

But unlike smartphones or tablets, smartwatches are "wearable tech," meaning they must aspire to a degree of style and comfort not required of other gadgets.

"Smartwatches may even be more fashion than they are technology," says Michael Wolf, chief analyst at NextMarket Insights. His firm predicts the number of smartwatch shipments will skyrocket from 15 million in 2014 to 373 million by 2020.

10 Best Biotech Stocks For 2015: Lender Processing Services Inc (LPS)

Lender Processing Services, Inc. provides integrated technology, data, and services to the mortgage lending industry in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Technology, Data, and Analytics; and Transaction Services. Its Technology, Data, and Analytics segment offers software systems and information solutions that facilitate and automate various business processes across the life cycle of a mortgage. This segment�s primary applications and services include mortgage servicing platform, an application that automates loan servicing, including loan setup and ongoing processing, customer service, accounting and reporting to the secondary mortgage market, and federal regulatory reporting; Desktop, a Web-based workflow information system that can be used for managing and automating various workflow processes; and other software applications and services that automate and facilitate the origination of mortgage loans. It also provides data and analytics services , such as alternative valuation services, and data and information. The company�s Transaction Services segment offers customized outsourced business process and information solutions. Its origination services include settlement and title agency services comprising centralized title agency and closing services; appraisal services; and other origination services, such as federal flood zone certifications and monitoring services. This segment also provides default management services, consisting of foreclosure administrative services, property inspection and preservation; default title and settlement services; and alternative property valuation services. The company serves mortgage originators and servicers, other financial institutions, investors, attorneys, trustees, and real estate professionals. Lender Processing Services, Inc. was incorporated in 2007 and is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Holly LaFon]

  Despite economic and political turmoil, equity markets performed well across the board in September of 2013 and over the trailing twelve months. The September gains reversed losses in August and also resulted in positive overall quarterly performance with a number of major indexes moving further into record territory. After disturbing the markets in May and June with comments that they may taper Quantitative Easing (QE), the Fed surprised investors with an announcement that it would not reduce its asset purchases in the near-term. The announcement removed fears that a continued rise in interest rates may stall the economic recovery, as seen by the market's negative reaction to the sharp rise in the 10-year Treasury rate in August of 2013. Investors were also comforted by improving fundamentals both domestically and abroad. The Eurozone may finally be emerging from its prolonged recession and a number of economic reports in the U.S. continue to show progress. Specifically, initial unemployment claims dropped to a multiyear low early in September and the housing market continued to improve, as evidenced by prices rising 12.4 percent year-over year, which along with the stock market's strength, has created a positive wealth effect for consumers. In response to this general economic improvement, consumer confidence increased at the end of September, and the index of leading economic indicators ticked up as well, suggesting that, absent the effects of politics, the recovery in the real economy was continuing. Our portfolios that focus on corporate restructuring (Keeley Small Cap Value, Keeley Small-Mid Cap Value, Keeley Mid Cap Value, Keeley All Cap Value, and Keeley Alternative Value) have all experienced a productive investment cycle with respect to their opportunity sets, and many of our holdings have posted impressive results in recent quarters. Although we acknowledge an improving economy has boosted the outlook for our more cyclical holdings, our research has gu

Top 5 Forestry Stocks To Watch For 2014: Immunomedics Inc.(IMMU)

Immunomedics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, engages in the research, development, manufacture, and marketing of monoclonal, antibody-based products for the treatment of cancer, autoimmune, and other serious diseases in the United States and Europe. The company?s products include epratuzumab, a Phase III clinical trail product for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus and non-Hodgkin?s lymphoma; Veltuzumab, a Phase I/II clinical study completed product for the treatment of patients with non-Hodgkin?s lymphoma, immune thrombocytopenic purpura, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia; Yttrium Y 90 Clivatuzumab tetraxetan, a humanized monoclonal antibody for pancreatic cancer that is in Phase Ib/II clinical trail; and Yttrium Y 90 epratuzumab tetraxetan, a Phase I/II clinical study product for patients with non-Hodgkin?s lymphoma. Its early phase clinical trial products comprise Milatuzumab, a transmembrane protein product for antibody-drug conjugate therapy. The com pany also develops Dock-and-Lock methodology for making fusion proteins and multifunctional antibodies, as well as a new method of delivering imaging and therapeutic agents selectively to disease, primarily different solid cancers. In addition, it markets and sells a diagnostic product, LeukoScan, which is used to treat infection and inflammation in bones for patients with suspected osteomyelitis, including patients with diabetic foot ulcers. Immunomedics, Inc. has a license and collaboration agreement with Nycomed GmbH to develop, manufacture, and commercialize veltuzumab in the subcutaneous formulation for the treatment of various non-cancer indications; and a partnership and cross-licensing agreement with Alexis Biotech Ltd., to develop vaccines against cancers that include melanoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and infectious diseases, such as AIDS. The company was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Morris Plains, New Jersey.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sean Williams]

  What: Shares of Immunomedics (NASDAQ: IMMU  ) , a biopharmaceutical company researching monoclonal, antibody-based products to treat cancer and other autoimmune disorders, jumped as much as 15% after providing a clinical update on its antibody-drug conjugate programs.

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  Another under-$10 stock that's starting to move within range of triggering a big breakout trade is Immunomedics (IMMU), which is focused on the development of monoclonal antibody-based products for the targeted treatment of cancer, autoimmune and other serious diseases. This stock is off to a very bullish start in 2013, with shares up sharply by 110%.

  If you take a look at the chart for Immunomedics, you'll notice that this stock has been uptrending decent for the last month, with shares moving higher from its low of $4.85 to its recent high of $6.54 a share. During that uptrend, shares of IMMU have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. This uptrend is coming after shares of IMMU downtrended during July from $6.91 to that $4.65 a share low. Shares of IMMU are now starting to push within range of triggering a big breakout trade.

  Market players should now look for long-biased trades in IMMU if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance at $6.54 a share and then once it clears its 52-week high at $6.91 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that registers near or above its three-month average volume of 1.15 million shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then IMMU will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $8 to $10 a share, or possibly even north of $10 a share.

  Traders can look to buy IMMU off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below its 50-day at $5.52 a share or below more support at $5 a share. One can also buy IMMU off strength once it clears those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

Top 5 Forestry Stocks To Watch For 2014: Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd (FRFHF)

Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited (Fairfax) is a financial services holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, is principally engaged in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance and the associated investment management. The Company�� segments consist of Insurance, Reinsurance, Insurance and Reinsurance Other, Runoff, and Corporate and Other. On December 22, 2011, the Company completed the acquisition of 75% interests in Sporting Life Inc. On August 16, 2011, the Company acquired William Ashley China Corporation. On March 24, 2011, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Fairfax completed the acquisition of The Pacific Insurance Berhad. On February 9, 2011, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Fairfax completed the acquisition of First Mercury Financial Corporation. In October 2012, its RiverStone runoff subsidiary acquired all the outstanding shares of Brit Insurance Limited. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Charles Sizemore]

  BlackBerry (BBRY) has been a value trap that has ensnared more than its share of value hunting investors in recent years — yours truly included. Buying BlackBerry stock will also likely go down in history as the single-worst investing mistake in the otherwise illustrious career of Prem Watsa — the chairman of Fairfax Financial (FRFHF) and the man commonly known as the ��arren Buffett of Canada.��/p>

• [By Tim Brugger]

  Citing the letter of intent to be acquired�for $9 a share signed Monday with a consortium led by its largest shareholder, Fairfax Financial (NASDAQOTH: FRFHF  ) , BlackBerry� (NASDAQ: BBRY  ) �has opted to cancel its conference call and webcast following the 7 .a.m EST release of Q2 earnings this Friday, the company announced yesterday.

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  That business model has been so successful that other, smaller insurance companies have emulated it. For instance, Fairfax Financial (NASDAQOTH: FRFHF  ) and Markel (NYSE: MKL  ) have used the same investing model to take advantage of their respective core insurance businesses. Both Fairfax and Markel have had substantial success, showing the power of using temporarily available premium reserves to make higher-return investments.

Top 5 Forestry Stocks To Watch For 2014: Chelsea Therapeutics International Ltd.(CHTP)

Chelsea Therapeutics International, Ltd., a development-stage pharmaceutical company, focuses on the acquisition, development, and commercialization of therapeutic products for the treatment of various human diseases. It is involved in developing Droxidopa, a therapeutic agent for the treatment of symptomatic neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (NOH) associated with primary autonomic failure and falls related to NOH in Parkinson?s Disease (PD), as well as other norepinephrine-related conditions and diseases, including intradialytic hypotension, fibromyalgia, adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, and freezing of gait in PD and down syndrome. The company intends to market its Droxidopa drug under the Northera brand name. It also engages in developing a portfolio of molecules for the treatment of various autoimmune/inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, Crohn?s disease, ankylosing spondylitis, uveitis, psoriatic arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, and other immunological disorders. The company?s molecule products include a portfolio of metabolically inert antifolate molecules consisting of CH-1504 and CH-4051, which are orally available molecules with anti-inflammatory, autoimmune, and anti-tumor properties that inhibit various key enzymes required for cell proliferation; and a portfolio of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, known as the I-3D portfolio, for applications in autoimmune diseases and transplantation. Chelsea Therapeutics International, Ltd. was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  Chelsea Therapeutics (CHTP)
  is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on acquisition, development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products for the treatment of a variety of human diseases. This stock closed up 9% to $2.89 in Thursday's trading session.

  Thursday's Range: $2.55-$2.98
  
  52-Week Range: $0.73-$3.25
  
  Thursday's Volume: 1.74 million
  
  Three-Month Average Volume: 1.14 million

  From a technical perspective, CHTP ripped sharply higher here right off its 50-day moving average of $2.55 with above-average volume. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last two months, with shares moving higher from its low of $1.78 t its recent high of $3.25. During that move, shares of CHTP have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of CHTP within range of triggering a major breakout trade. That trade will hit if CHTP manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $3 to its 52-week high at $3.25 with high volume.

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in CHTP as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $2.55 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 1.14 million shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then CHTP will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory above $3.25, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are its next major overhead resistance levels at $4.21 to $4.40.

• [By MONEYMORNING]

  The FDA is scheduled to make a decision on Chelsea's drug, Northera, on Feb. 14.

  Chelsea's (CHTP) Northera Drug

  Northera is used to treat patients with neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (nOH), a rare, lingering type of low blood pressure. nOH typically occurs upon standing and is commonly experienced by those with certain neurological disorders, including Parkinson's disease. Nearly 300,000 patients presently suffer from nOH in the U.S. and EU combined.

Best Recreation Companies To Buy For 2014

Pot is hot! Colorado, which allowed the legal sales of marijuana for recreational use beginning Jan.1, is facing a severe shortage of cannabis only days after the legalization.

Initially, only licensed medical marijuana dispensaries in good standing (of which there are about 500) are eligible to apply for sales licenses. The state had approved 348 total licenses, including 136 for retail stores, 178 for cultivation facilities, 31 for product manufacturing facilities, and 3 for testing facilities.

Colorado is estimated to have generated in excess of $5 million in total marijuana sales. More than 100,000 people were believed to have bought the drug since legal sales to the general public began in Colorado, which became the first Government in the World to control and regulate marijuana, also known as Cannabis. Cannabis is a preparation of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug and as medicine.

Top Integrated Utility Stocks To Buy For 2015: Smith & Wesson Holding Corp (SWHC)

Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (Smith & Wesson), incorporated on June 17, 1991, is a manufacturer of firearms. The Company manufactures a range of handguns, modern sporting rifles, hunting rifles, black powder firearms, handcuffs, and firearm-related products and accessories for sale to a range of customers, including gun enthusiasts, collectors, hunters, sportsmen, competitive shooters, individuals desiring home and personal protection, law enforcement and security agencies and officers, and military agencies in the United States and globally. It sell its products under the Smith & Wesson brand, the M&P brand, the Thompson/Center brand, and the Walther brand. The Company manufactures its firearm products at its facilities in Springfield, Massachusetts and Houlton, Maine. On July 26, 2012, it sold all of the assets of Smith & Wesson Security Solutions, Inc.

Firearms

During the fiscal year ended April 30, 2012 (fiscal 2012), the Company introduced multiple new handgun and modern sporting rifle models, and one new bolt action rifle platform. The Company's rifle introductions included the addition of the M&P15 300 Whisper to the Company's line of modern sporting rifles. As of April 30, 2012, the Company participated in three categories of the long-gun market and both core categories of the handgun market.

Handguns

The Company manufactures an variety of handgun models that include revolvers and pistols. A revolver is a handgun with a cylinder that holds the ammunition in a series of rotating chambers that are successively aligned with the barrel of the firearm during each firing cycle. There are two general types of revolvers: single-action and double-action. The Company's small-frame revolvers have been carried by law enforcement personnel and personal defense-minded citizens. The Company's revolvers are available in a variety of models and calibers, with applications in virtually all professional and personal markets.

The Company�� M! &P15 Series of modern sporting rifles are designed to satisfy the functionality and reliability needs of global military, law enforcement, and security personnel. These rifles are also popular as sporting target rifles and are sold to consumers through the Company's sporting good distributors, retailers, and dealers. The Company has a range of product portfolio of modern sporting rifles, which includes a lower price-point, sport model, a .22 caliber model, and a fully automatic model designed for the exclusive use of military and law enforcement agencies throughout the world.

Hunting Firearms

The Company manufactures three lines of bolt-action rifles under its Thompson/Center brand consisting of several models in each line. The Company's hunting rifles are offered in 16 different calibers. Bolt-action rifles operate by the cycling of a bolt handle that allows for both the loading and unloading of rounds through a magazine fed system.

During fiscal 2012, the Company introduced the Dimension bolt action rifle platform. Under the Company's Thompson/Center brand, the Company also offers seven models of American-made single shot black powder, or muzzle loader, firearms. The Company offers eight models of interchangeable, single shot firearm systems that deliver numerous gun, barrel, caliber configurations, and finishes. These systems can be configured as a center-fire rifle, rim-fire rifle, shotgun, black powder firearm, or single-shot handgun for use across the entire range of big- and small-game hunting.

Handcuffs

The Company manufactures handcuffs and restraints in the United States. The Company fabricates these products from the carbon or stainless steel.

Smith & Wesson Academy

Through the Smith & Wesson Academy, the Company offers instruction designed to meet the training needs of law enforcement and security customers worldwide. Classes are conducted at the Company's facility in Springfield, Massachusetts or o! n locatio! n around the world.

Specialty Services

The Company's services include forging, heat treating, finishing, and plating. It provides services to third-party customers.

The Company competes with Ruger,Taurus, Beretta, Glock, Heckler & Koch, Sig Sauer, Springfield Armory, Bushmaster, Rock River, Stag Arms, DPMS, Browning, Marlin, Remington, Ruger, Savage, Weatherby, CVA, Traditions, and Winchester.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Steve Symington]

  And Sturm, Ruger certainly isn't alone trying to manage this enviable problem; last month, fellow firearms manufacturer�Smith & Wesson (NASDAQ: SWHC  ) sealed a record year with its solid fiscal fourth-quarter earnings report. In fact, Smith & Wesson's own 38% quarterly sales growth stood nearly identical to Sturm, Ruger's most recent revenue increase, while Smith & Wesson's net income rose an even more impressive 63%.

• [By John Kell and Lauren Pollock var popups = dojo.query(".socialByline .popC"); ]

  Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Wednesday’s session are Navistar International Corp.(NAV), Smith & Wesson Holding Corp.(SWHC) and USEC Inc.(USU)

Best Recreation Companies To Buy For 2014: Digital Cinema Destinations Corp (DCIN)

Digital Cinema Destinations Corp., incorporated on July 29, 2010, operates eight theatres and 73 screens located in Westfield, New Jersey (Rialto), Cranford, New Jersey (Cranford), Bloomfield, Connecticut (the Bloomfield 8) and five theatres located in central Pennsylvania (Cinema Centers). During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012 (fiscal 2012), the Company operates eight theatres, two in New Jersey, with a total of 11 screens, one in Connecticut, with a total of 8 screens and five in central Pennsylvania, with a total of 54 screens. In March 2014, the Company announced that it has completed the acquisition of a seven screen theater in Churchville, MD from Flagship Cinemas.

The Rialto is a six-screen theatre located in downtown Westfield, New Jersey, which has a population of approximately 30,000 people. The Bloomfield 8 is an eight-screen theatre located at the Wintonbury Mall in the town of Bloomfield, Connecticut, which is a New England town of over 20,000 people that is home to many sites that are on the National Register of Historic Places and is approximately 5.5 miles from downtown Hartford, Connecticut. Cinema Centers consists of a chain of five theatres with 54 screens located throughout central Pennsylvania. All of the Cinema Centers theatres are in free zones. The 11-screen Cinema Center of Bloomsburg theatre is located in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. Bloomsburg, a college town of approximately 13,000 people, is located midway between Wilkes Barre and Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The 12-screen Cinema Center of Camp Hill theatre is located in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, just outside of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Harrisburg is the state capital of Pennsylvania with a population of approximately 50,000 people.

The 10-screen Cinema Center at Fairgrounds Square Mall is located in Reading, Pennsylvania. The Company�� Cinema Centers, had one digital projector, RealD 3D enabled. The 12-screen Cinema Center at Selinsgrove is located in Selinsgove, Pennsylvania. Selinsgrove is ! a historic town located on the Susquehanna River with a population of approximately 27,000 people located within five miles of the theatre. The nine-screen Cinema Center of Williamsport is located in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

The Company competes with Regal Entertainment Group, AMC Entertainment Inc., Clearview and Cinemark USA, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Erin McCarthy]

  Carmike Cinemas Inc.(CKEC), the nation’s fourth-largest movie theater chain, said Thursday it is acquiring Digital Cinema Destinations Corp.(DCIN), a smaller rival that does business as Digiplex.

Best Recreation Companies To Buy For 2014: Performance Sports Group Ltd (PSG)

Performance Sports Group Ltd, formerly Bauer Performance Sports Ltd., designs, develops, manufactures and sells performance sports equipment and accessories for ice hockey, roller hockey, lacrosse, baseball and softball, as well as related apparel, including soccer apparel. Its products are marketed under the BAUER, MISSION, MAVERIK, CASCADE, COMBAT and INARIA brand names. The ice hockey products include skates, skate blades, protective gear, sticks, team apparel and accessories. The roller hockey products include skates, protective gear and accessories. Its products are available in over 45 countries through a network of more than 3,700 distributors. The Company has associations with many of the hockey, lacrosse, baseball and softball organizations, including the NHL, CHL, Hockey Canada, USA Hockey, IIHF, NCAA, Ivy League, Big East Conference, US Lacrosse, International Lacrosse Federation, USSSA, ASA, NPF, NSA Canada, Softball USA, Softball Canada, USA Baseball, ISA and ISF. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  The Q3 2014 earnings report for small cap golf stock Callaway Golf Co (NYSE: ELY), a potential peer of sporting goods or sporting equipment stocks like Toronto listed�Performance Sports Group Ltd (NYSE: PSG) and Johnson Outdoors Inc (NASDAQ: JOUT), is scheduled for after the market closes on Thursday (October 23rd). Aside from the Callaway Golf earnings report, it should be said that Performance Sports Group Ltd reported Q1 2015 on October 9th (revenues were up 28% to $197.1 million) while the estimated release date for the Q4 2014 Johnson Outdoors Inc earnings report is�October 31st. However, Callaway Golf is the last publicly traded�pure play golf equipment stock�giving investors direct exposure to the game���especially since Dicks Sporting Goods Inc (NYSE: DKS)�recently took a $20.4 million pretax golf restructuring charge and plans to focus more attention on other sports.

Best Recreation Companies To Buy For 2014: IMAX Corp (IMAX)

IMAX Corporation, incorporated on January 1, 2002, together with its wholly owned subsidiaries, is an entertainment technology companies, specializing in motion picture technologies and presentations. The Company�� customers who purchase lease or otherwise acquire the IMAX theatre systems are theatre exhibitors, which operate commercial theatres, museums, science centers, and destination entertainment sites. IMAX theatre systems combine the Company�� digital re-mastering movie conversion technology (IMAX DMR), projectors with equipment and automated theatre control systems, sound system components, screens, theatre geometry, and theatre acoustics.

The Company�� principal business is the design, manufacture and delivery of theater systems (IMAX theater systems). The Company�� customers who purchase, lease or otherwise acquire the IMAX theater systems through joint revenue sharing arrangements are theater exhibitors that operate commercial theaters (particularly multiplexes), museums, science centers, or destination entertainment sites. The Company does not own IMAX theaters, but licenses the use of its trademarks along with the sale, lease or contribution of the IMAX theater system.

IMAX Systems, Theater System Maintenance and Joint Revenue Sharing Arrangements

The Company provides IMAX theater systems to customers on a sales or long-term lease basis with an initial 10-year term. These agreements consist of initial fees and ongoing fees (which can include a fixed minimum amount per annum and contingent fees in excess of the minimum payments) and maintenance and extended warranty fees. The initial fees vary depending on the system configuration and location of the theater and generally are paid to the Company in installments between the time of system signing and the time of system installation. Ongoing fees are paid over the term of the contract, commencing after the theater system has been installed and are generally equal to the greater of a fixed minimu! m amount per annum or a percentage of boxoffice receipts. The Company also provides IMAX theater systems to customers under joint revenue sharing arrangements, pursuant to which the Company provides the IMAX theater system in return for a portion of the customer�� IMAX box-office receipts, and in some cases concession revenues and/or a small upfront or initial payment. As at December 31, 2012, the Company had 316 theaters in operation under joint revenue sharing arrangements.

Production and Digital Re-Mastering (IMAX DMR)

The Company�� technology digitally re-masters Hollywood films into IMAX digital cinema package format or 15/70-format film. IMAX DMR digitally enhances the image resolution of motion picture films for projection on IMAX screens while maintaining or enhancing the visual clarity and sound quality to levels for which The IMAX Experience is known. This technology enabled the IMAX theater network to release Hollywood films simultaneously with domestic release. In a typical IMAX DMR film arrangement, the Company will receive a percentage of net box-office receipts of any commercial films released in the IMAX network, which is generally 10-15%, from a film studio for the conversion of the film to the IMAX DMR format and access to its distribution platform. During the year ended December 31, 2012, 35 films converted through the IMAX DMR process were released to theaters within the IMAX network. As of December 31, 2012, the Company released 23 IMAX DMR titles to theaters within the IMAX network. During 2012, five local language IMAX DMR films were released, including one French film, Houba! On the Trail of the Marsupilami: The IMAX Experience and four Chinese IMAX DMR titles: Tai Chi 0: An IMAX 3D Experience, Tai Chi Hero: An IMAX 3D Experience, Back to 1942: The IMAX Experience and CZ12: The IMAX Experience.

Film Distribution and Post-Production

The Company is also a distributor of large-format films, primarily catering to its institution! al theate! r partners. The Company generally distributes films, which it produces or for which it has acquired distribution rights from independent producers. The Company generally receives a percentage of the theater box-office receipts as a distribution fee. Films produced by the Company are typically financed through third parties, whereby the Company will generally receive a film production fee in exchange for producing the film and a distribution fee for distributing the film. The Company utilizes third-party funding for the majority of original films it produces and distributes. In 2012, the Company, along with Warner Bros. Pictures (WB) and MacGillivray Freeman Films (MFF) released an original title, To the Artic 3D: An IMAX 3D Experience.

The Company derives a small portion of its revenues from other sources. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had four owned and operated theaters. In addition, the Company has a commercial arrangement with one theater resulting in the sharing of profits and losses and provides management services to two theaters. The Company also rents its two dimensional (2D) and three dimensional (3D) large-format film and digital cameras to third party production companies. The Company maintains cameras and other film equipment and also offers production advice and technical assistance to both documentary and Hollywood filmmakers. Additionally, the Company generates revenues from the sale of after-market parts and 3D glasses. As of December 31, 2012, approximately 54.2% of IMAX systems in operation were located in the United States and Canada. As at December 31, 2012, approximately 45.8% of IMAX systems in operation were located within international markets (other than the United States and Canada).

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Smith]

  This series, brought to you by Yahoo! Finance, looks at which upgrades and downgrades make sense, and which ones investors should act on. Today, our headlines feature a pair of upgrades for AT&T (NYSE: T  ) and IMAX (NYSE: IMAX  ) . But the news isn't all good, so before we get to those, let's find out first why...

Best Recreation Companies To Buy For 2014: Bowl America Inc (BWL.A)

Bowl America Incorporated, incorporated in July 22, 1958, is engaged in the entertainment business. The Company operates in one segment. Its principal source of revenue consists of fees charged for the use of bowling lanes and other facilities and from the sale of food and beverages for consumption on the premises. Merchandise sales, including food and beverages, were approximately 30% of operating revenues. The balance of operating revenues (approximately 70%) represents fees for bowling and related services. During the fiscal year ended July, 1 2012 (fiscal 2012), the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries operated 19 bowling centers. These 19 bowling centers contain a total of 756 lanes. As of September 1, 2012 the Company and its subsidiaries operated 10 bowling centers in the greater metropolitan area of Washington, D.C., one bowling center in the metropolitan area of Baltimore, Maryland, one bowling center in Orlando, Florida, three bowling centers in the metropolitan area of Jacksonville, Florida, and four bowling centers in the metropolitan area of Richmond, Virginia.

These establishments are air-conditioned with facilities for service of food and beverages, game rooms, rental lockers, and meeting room facilities. All centers provide shoes for rental, and bowling balls are provided free. In addition, each center retails bowling accessories. Most locations are equipped for glow-in-the-dark bowling, popular for parties and non-league bowling. The bowling equipment essential for the Company's operation is readily available. Two of the Company's bowling centers are located in leased premises, and the remaining seventeen centers are owned by the Company.

The Company competes with Brunswick Corporation and AMF Bowling Worldwide, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Fredrik Arnold]

  The balance of the top ten included one technology firm, AT&T Inc. (T) in fourth place; one consumer goods, Altria Group Inc. (MO), placed fifth; Bowl America Class A (BWL.A) in seventh place was the lone service dog. Two utilities, Northwest Natural Gas (NWN), and Consolidated Edison (ED), in ninth and tenth places completed the representation of market sectors in the champions index.

Despite Mother Nature, the Bakken Oil Boom Continues

North Dakota's oil and gas production hit a new all-time high this past May according to recently released data from North Dakota's Industrial Commission. Preliminary estimates indicate that oil production reached 810,129 barrels of oil per day, which is up from the previous record of 793,852 set the prior month. Natural gas production in the state also rose from 861.1 MMcf/d in April to 899.9 MMcfe/d in May. This is great news for the region's producers, which have battled through rough weather all year, but were still able to produce record amounts of oil.

Bakken oil well. Source: Newfield Exploration

This news bodes particularly well for Bakken-focused producers like Continental Resources  (NYSE: CLR  )  and Kodiak Oil & Gas  (NYSE: KOG  ) . Continental has one of the largest positions in the play, with 1.2 million net acres as of the end of last quarter. It's also the largest producer and driller, likely making it one of the driving forces behind May's record results. This means that Continental could produce exceptional quarterly results when it reports earnings on Aug 7.

While not as large as Continental, Kodiak has been growing its presence in the Bakken rather aggressively, which makes it a company to watch. The company just closed a $660-million acquisition of Bakken properties, which, when combined with its organic growth, will enable Kodiak to more than double its daily oil production this year. However, the one rub against Kodiak is that its well costs are high relative to its peers. It has been also working hard to get those well costs down, and it has focused on reducing the average drilling days per well to save money.

One of the biggest problems this year in keeping average drilling days at bay has been the weather. There have been load restrictions in place, as May was one of the wettest on record for North Dakota. Further, April was challenged by heavy snow, which blocked more than 80% of the state's highways. Setting new records in spite of these weather challenges is reason for the industry to celebrate. However, the weather could have had an impact on Kodiak's well costs, which is something to watch when it reports on Aug 1.

Oil and gas producers face many risks, with weather being one that could really impact a company's results if it's focused on just one play. This is where a producer like Newfield Exploration  (NYSE: NFX  ) , for example, can have a leg up on more focused producers. Newfield, which operates in four major U.S. basins, including the Bakken, can move its capital around if it runs into issues with the weather or prices. The plan this year is to spend about 16% of its capex budget on the Bakken, which will produce 25% oil production growth year over year. The flexibility of working in multiple basins has enabled Newfield to work around weather and infrastructure challenges in the Bakken to grow its overall oil and natural gas liquids production by 39% this year.

Looking further afield, the rough weather this spring could still signal problems for others in the industry, particularly oil-field service companies. One company to watch here is Nuverra Environmental Solutions  (NYSE: NES  ) , which had its first quarter report affected by the weather. In fact, "unusually harsh" conditions at its Bakken operations cost the company 13 days of work, or about 15% of the quarter, according to CEO Mark Johnsrud. Overall, weather caused the company to miss revenue estimates by 4.4%, which has weighed on it stock ever since that report. Another weather-related miss could really sink this stock. 

The key takeaway, though, is that oil production in the Bakken continues to rise despite issues with the weather. This should drive top-line results at both Kodiak and Continental, especially when considering oil prices are heading higher, while the region's infrastructure issues have been abating. That means both companies could be setting up to beat Wall Street expectations this quarter.

While the Bakken is booming, weather and pipeline issues have made it a tough area to operate. Energy investors instead might want to look for a more-diversified way to play America's energy boom. The good news here is that The Motley Fool's analysts have uncovered  a leading provider of equipment and components used by drilling and production operations, positioning the company to profit from this energy boom in a big way. To get the name and detailed analysis of this company that will prosper for years to come, check out the special free report, "The Only Energy Stock You'll Ever Need." Don't miss out on this limited-time offer and your opportunity to discover this under-the-radar company before the market does. Click here to access your report -- it's totally free.

Top 5 Rising Companies To Own For 2014

Gasoline prices have risen steadily the past six weeks through March 18. There was an uptick in gas prices all but one of the past 38 days, and gas is now more expensive than at any point the past six months.

In a number of states, the price of gas is now more than $3.75 per gallon, vs. $3.52 nationwide, with gas prices in several other states not far behind. In Hawaii, the price of gas is $4.17 per gallon. There, as in a number of other states, the high price of gas reflects the difficulties involved in transporting oil and refined products to the state. Based on data from AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge Report, these are the 10 states with the highest average gasoline prices.

In an interview with 24/7 Wall St., Michael Green, public relations manager at AAA, said that seasonal factors played a major role in the recent runup in gas prices. "Refinery maintenance, the switchover to summer blend gasoline, and more-recently rising demand," have all played a role in the rise of gas prices, Green said.

Top 10 Construction Material Stocks To Invest In Right Now: iShares 1-3 Year Credit Bond ETF (CSJ)

iShares Lehman 1-3 Year Credit Bond Fund (the Fund) seeks investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance of the investment-grade credit sector of the United States bond market as defined by the Lehman Brothers 1-3 Year U.S. Credit Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of investment-grade United States credit securities, corporate debt and sovereign, local authority and non-United States agency bonds that are United States dollar denominated.

The Fund invests in a representative sample of the securities in the Index, which has a similar investment profile as the Index. The Index includes investment grade United States credit securities that have a remaining maturity of greater than or equal to one year and less than three years, and have more than $250 million or more of outstanding face value. Barclays Global Fund Advisors serves as an advisor to the Fund.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By GURUFOCUS]

  In addition to individual stocks several funds pay a monthly dividend. Below is a sampling of these:
  Monthly Bond Funds- iShares Barclays 1-3 Year Credit Bond (CSJ) | Yield: 1.29%
  - Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF (BSV) | Yield: 1.25%
  - Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bond ETF (BIV) | Yield: 2.96%
  - Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF (BLV) | Yield: 4.42%

Top 5 Rising Companies To Own For 2014: Evercore Partners Inc(EVR)

Evercore Partners Inc. operates as an independent investment banking advisory firm. The company operates through two segments, Investment Banking and Investment Management. The Investment Banking segment offers advisory services on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and other strategic corporate transactions primarily for multinational corporations and private equity firms; and restructuring advice to companies in financial transition, as well as to creditors, shareholders, and potential acquirers. This segment also provides capital markets advice; underwrites securities offerings; raises funds for financial sponsors; and offers equity research and agency-only equity securities trading for institutional investors. The Investment Management segment manages financial assets for institutional investors; provides independent fiduciary services to corporate employee benefit plans; provides wealth management services for high net-worth individuals; manages private equity funds ; and offers specialized investment management and trustee services. The company operates primarily in the United States, Europe, and Latin America. Evercore Partners Inc. was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By David Hanson and Matt Koppenheffer]

  In this segment from Thursday's episode of The Motley Fool's everything-financials show,�Where the Money Is, banking analysts Matt Koppenheffer and David Hanson go through a rapid-fire round of three top headlines. The newsmakers included�KKR (NYSE: KKR  ) ,�Bank of America (NYSE: BAC  ) ,�Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS  ) ,�Lazard (NYSE: LAZ  ) , and�Evercore (NYSE: EVR  ) .

• [By Sofia Horta e Costa]

  Evraz (EVR) plunged 11 percent to 185.8 pence, the most since Russia�� biggest steelmaker began trading in London in November 2011. The company�� board of directors refrained from announcing a final dividend, citing deteriorating market environment and a weaker second-half performance.

Top 5 Rising Companies To Own For 2014: UTi Worldwide Inc.(UTIW)

UTi Worldwide Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a supply chain services and solutions company worldwide. Its supply chain planning and optimization services help its clients in designing and implementing solutions for their supply chains. The company operates in two segments, Freight Forwarding, and Contract Logistics and Distribution. The Freight Forwarding segment offers air and ocean freight forwarding, customs brokerage, and other related services. This segment operates as an indirect carrier for its clients or as an authorized agent for airlines and ocean carriers by providing pick-up and delivery service between the carrier and the location of the shipper or recipient. Its customs brokerage services include preparing and filing formal documentation required for clearance through customs agencies, obtaining customs bonds, facilitating payment of import duties on behalf of the importer, arranging for payment of collect freight charges, assisting with determin ing and obtaining the commodity classifications for shipments, and performing other related services. The Contract Logistics and Distribution segment offers various services, which comprise receiving, deconsolidation and decontainerization, sorting, put away, consolidation, assembly, cargo loading and unloading, assembly of freight and protective packaging, warehousing, order management, and customized distribution and inventory management services, as well as outsourced services, such as inspection services, quality centers, and manufacturing support. This segment also provides various distribution, consultation, outsourced management services, planning and optimization services, coordination of purchase orders, and customized management services. The company serves various industries, such as pharmaceutical, retail, apparel, chemical, automotive, high technology, and electronics industries. The company was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Road Town, the British Virg in Islands.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  UTi Worldwide (NASDAQ: UTIW) is expected to report its Q2 earnings at $0.01 per share on revenue of $1.14 billion.

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

• [By Barbara Kollmeyer]

  Earnings are expected from Cal-Maine Foods Inc. (CALM) �and UTI Worldwide Inc. (UTIW) �ahead of the opening bell. See Facebook, Biogen, Cal-Maine are stocks to watch

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Top Headline
  UTi Worldwide (NASDAQ: UTIW) reported a wider-than-expected fourth-quarter loss. UTi Worldwide posted a quarterly net loss of $50.7 million, or $0.48 per share, versus a year-ago loss of $142.8 million, or $1.38 per share.

• [By Monica Gerson]

  UTi Worldwide (NASDAQ: UTIW) is projected to report its Q2 earnings at $0.01 per share on revenue of $1.14 billion. UTi Worldwide shares dropped 0.22% to close at $9.07 yesterday.

Top 5 Rising Companies To Own For 2014: Kansas City Southern (KSU)

Kansas City Southern, through its subsidiaries, engages primarily in the freight rail transportation business. It operates north/south rail between Kansas City, Missouri, and various ports along the Gulf of Mexico in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas in the midwest and southeast regions of the United States. The company also operates direct rail passageway between Mexico City and Laredo in Texas, serving various Mexico?s industrial cities and 3 of its shipping ports; and a 157-mile rail line extending from Laredo, Texas to the port city of Corpus Christi, Texas, as well as owns the northern half of the rail bridge at Laredo, Texas. In addition, Kansas City Southern holds a concession to operate a 47-mile railroad located adjacent to the Panama Canal, as well as operates and promotes commuter and tourist passenger services. Further, the company operates a bulk materials handling facility with deep-water access to the Gulf of Mexico at Port Arthur, Texas that stores and transfers petroleum coke from rail cars to ships primarily for export; and a railroad wood tie treatment facility. It serves customers conducting business in various industries, including electric-generating utilities, chemical and petroleum products, industrial and consumer products, agriculture and mineral products, automotive products, and intermodal freight transportation. The company was formerly known as Kansas City Southern Industries, Inc. and changed its name to Kansas City Southern in 2002. Kansas City Southern was founded in 1962 and is based in Kansas City, Missouri.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  If January’s selloff was all about the emerging markets, February’s is all about the U.S, as fears of a weaker economy have helped drag down 3M (MMM), United Technologies (UTX), General Electric (GE), Whirlpool (WHR) and Kansas City Southern (KSU).

• [By John Kell]

  Kansas City Southern sa(KSU)id its fourth-quarter earnings rose 24% as the regional railroad operator posted revenue growth in its intermodal and agriculture and minerals businesses. However, shares fell 6.2% premarket to $110 as results missed market estimates.

Top 5 Blue Chip Stocks For 2014

What do you get when you combine a strong jobs report plus a promising beginning to earnings season, and soothing words from Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke? A new record closing high for the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) , of course.

The blue chips jumped 169 points today, or 1.1%, to close out at 15,460, topping the previous closing high of 15,409 that it hit on May 28 of this year. The S&P 500 also hit a new closing high. The Dow's intraday high from May 22, of 15,542, still stands. Today's surge came as Ben Bernanke said that the Fed's accommodative monetary policy would stay in place in order to lower the unemployment rate, which currently sits at 7.6%. It should come as no surprise to see the markets respond like this, as investors have been obsessed with monetary policy since Bernanke first seriously floated the idea of tapering the central bank's $85 billion a month bond-buying program on May 22. His recent statement seems to indicate that the Fed will not be hasty in reducing the stimulus.

Best Biotech Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Visa Inc.(V)

Visa Inc., a payments technology company, engages in the operation of retail electronic payments network worldwide. It facilitates commerce through the transfer of value and information among financial institutions, merchants, consumers, businesses, and government entities. The company owns and operates VisaNet, a global processing platform that provides transaction processing services. It also offers a range of payments platforms, which enable credit, charge, deferred debit, debit, and prepaid payments, as well as cash access for consumers, businesses, and government entities. The company provides its payment platforms under the Visa, Visa Electron, PLUS, and Interlink brand names. In addition, it offers value-added services, including risk management, issuer processing, loyalty, dispute management, value-added information, and CyberSource-branded services. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Alex Planes]

  What's in your wallet? The tag line might not be Visa's (NYSE: V  ) , but the answer almost certainly is. At the end of 2011, there were 261 million Visa credit cards and 392 million Visa debit cards circulating in just the United States. People around the world are more likely to have a Visa card than they are to have a cell phone, and are far more likely to have a Visa card than they are to hold any competing card:

• [By MONEYMORNING.COM]

  And now Apple is supposedly in talks with several credit card companies - Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) in particular - about coordinating on a mobile payment platform. A report a few weeks ago on The Information claimed the companies have already reached a deal.

Top 5 Blue Chip Stocks For 2014: Apple Inc.(AAPL)

Apple Inc., together with subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and markets personal computers, mobile communication and media devices, and portable digital music players, as well as sells related software, services, peripherals, networking solutions, and third-party digital content and applications worldwide. The company sells its products worldwide through its online stores, retail stores, direct sales force, third-party wholesalers, resellers, and value-added resellers. In addition, it sells third-party Mac, iPhone, iPad, and iPod compatible products, including application software, printers, storage devices, speakers, headphones, and other accessories and peripherals through its online and retail stores; and digital content and applications through the iTunes Store. The company sells its products to consumer, small and mid-sized business, education, enterprise, government, and creative markets. As of September 25, 2010, it had 317 retail stores, including 233 stores in the United States and 84 stores internationally. The company, formerly known as Apple Computer, Inc., was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Cupertino, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Roger Conrad]

  Steve Halpern: You recently wrote a pretty controversial article that I'd like to go through regarding Apple (AAPL). You say Apple is a company that you like, but you wouldn't necessarily be buying the stock and you don't recommend it, either for growth, or income investors. Could you explain?

• [By Daniel Kline and Jason Hellmann]

  When it comes time for�Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL  ) �to release a new version of its iPhone, speculation about what the device will do and what new features if will offer floods the Internet. Some of the rumors are based on fact -- at some point in the process Apple has to share info with its vendors who make cases and other accessories -- while others are just wild speculation.

• [By Doug Ehrman]

  At this year's Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL  ) announced iWork for iCloud as its full entrance into cloud-based productivity software that is supported across browsers and platforms. While much ink has been spilled regarding Apple as a second competitor to Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT  ) Office -- following in the footsteps of Google (NASDAQ: GOOG  ) Apps -- the general consensus is that Apple will not pose a real threat, particularly in the enterprise space. The iPhone maker is clearly stuck in a game of catch-up, but those who forget history are destined to repeat it -- Apple had no chance of making a dent in BlackBerry's dominance in smartphones, remember?

Top 5 Blue Chip Stocks For 2014: International Business Machines Corporation(IBM)

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) provides information technology (IT) products and services worldwide. Its Global Technology Services segment provides IT infrastructure and business process services, including strategic outsourcing, process, integrated technology, and maintenance services, as well as technology-based support services. The company?s Global Business Services segment offers consulting and systems integration, and application management services. Its Software segment offers middleware and operating systems software, such as WebSphere software to integrate and manage business processes; information management software for database and enterprise content management, information integration, data warehousing, business analytics and intelligence, performance management, and predictive analytics; Tivoli software for identity management, data security, storage management, and datacenter automation; Lotus software for collaboration, messaging, and so cial networking; rational software to support software development for IT and embedded systems; business intelligence software, which provides querying and forecasting tools; SPSS predictive analytics software to predict outcomes and act on that insight; and operating systems software. Its Systems and Technology segment provides computing and storage solutions, including servers, disk and tape storage systems and software, point-of-sale retail systems, and microelectronics. The company?s Global Financing segment provides lease and loan financing to end users and internal clients; commercial financing to dealers and remarketers of IT products; and remanufacturing and remarketing services. It serves financial services, public, industrial, distribution, communications, and general business sectors. The company was formerly known as Computing-Tabulating-Recording Co. and changed its name to International Business Machines Corporation in 1924. IBM was founded in 1910 and is based in Armonk, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Stocks bounced back from yesterday’s losses–and it was blue chips like�International Business Machines (IBM),�Johnson & Jonson (JNJ),�Caterpillar (CAT),�Merck (MRK) and�3M (MMM) that led the market higher.

• [By Vera Yuan]

  Shares of diversified information technology company International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) declined during the quarter as investors continued to worry about the company�� ability to grow revenue, particularly in China and other emerging markets. We continue to have a favorable view of the company�� long-term competitive position.From Diamond Hill Capital (Trades, Portfolio)'s Select Fund Second Quarter 2014 Commentary.Also check out: Diamond Hill Capital Undervalued Stocks Diamond Hill Capital Top Growth Companies Diamond Hill Capital High Yield stocks, and Stocks that Diamond Hill Capital keeps buying Currently 0.00/512345

  Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes)

Top 5 Blue Chip Stocks For 2014: Philip Morris International Inc(PM)

Philip Morris International Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products in markets outside of the United States. Its international product brand line comprises Marlboro, Merit, Parliament, Virginia Slims, L&M, Chesterfield, Bond Street, Lark, Muratti, Next, Philip Morris, and Red & White. The company also offers its products under the A Mild, Dji Sam Soe, and A Hijau in Indonesia; Diana in Italy; Optima and Apollo-Soyuz in the Russian Federation; Morven Gold in Pakistan; Boston in Colombia; Belmont, Canadian Classics, and Number 7 in Canada; Best and Classic in Serbia; f6 in Germany; Delicados in Mexico; Assos in Greece; and Petra in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It operates primarily in the European Union, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Canada, and Latin America. The company is based in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jonas Elmerraji]

   

  As the second-largest tobacco company in the world, $137 billion cigarette company Philip Morris International (PM) has the whole "sin stock" thing down pat. PM owns nearly a third of the ex-China market for cigarettes, with some of the most popular global brands under its corporate umbrella. At the top of the pack is the firm's flagship Marlboro label, which accounts for more than a third of volume. Other brands include L&M, Philip Morris, and Parliament.

   

  But don't mistake PM for the company manufacturing Marlboro cigarettes here in the U.S. -- this firm, which spun out from Altria (MO) in 2008, is 100% ex-U.S. That's actually spectacular positioning, because it means that PM is the part of legacy Altria's tobacco business that's actually still growing. At the same time that cigarette sales here in the U.S. die a slow death, PM's emerging market business is seeing quick growth rates. The combination of a sticky product (consumers don't tend to switch cigarette brands often), and premium positioning with Marlboro means that PM earns thick net profit margins (28% last year) for its trouble.

   

  The strong dollar has been a thorn in PM's side in the last few years -- since the firm earns revenues in local currencies and then reports in dollars, any upside in the greenback presents currency risk. Even so, growth in the firm's core emerging markets has outpaced the dollar's climb in this environment. Another mitigating factor is PM's huge 4.5% dividend yield -- with low interest rates likely to persist for some time, that yield should look increasingly attractive as time wears on.
  
  
  Must Read: 5 Big Stocks to Trade for Gains as QE3 Ends

   

• [By Patricio Kehoe]

  Phillip Morris International Inc. (PM) is the world�� largest tobacco manufacturer in the world, after China National Tobacco, and holds 29% of the entire industry�� market, outside the U.S and China. Most commonly known for its flagship brand, Marlboro (accounts for one-third of total volume), this firm also owns seven of the 15 international leading cigarette brands. Its supporting brands ���&M, Phillip Morris, Bond Street, Parliament, Chesterfield and Lark ���ave allowed the company to attain consistent growth margins over the past decade. Given its addictive product and global manufacturing and distribution system, this comes as little surprise.

• [By Laura Brodbeck]

  Thursday

  Earnings Expected From: Credit Suisse Group (NYSE: CS), Expedia Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE), Kellogg Company (NYSE: K), LinkedIn Corporation (NYSE: LNKD), Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE: PM) Economic Releases Expected: French trade balance, British trade balance, eurozone consumer confidence, German industrial production, Bank of England interest rate decision, European Central Bank interest rate decision, US initial and continuing jobless claims, Chinese trade balance

  Friday