Monday, June 30, 2014

Top Healthcare Technology Companies To Watch In Right Now

Although business headlines still tout earnings numbers, many investors have moved past net earnings as a measure of a company's economic output. That's because earnings are very often less trustworthy than cash flow, since earnings are more open to manipulation based on dubious judgment calls.

Earnings' unreliability is one of the reasons Foolish investors often flip straight past the income statement to check the cash flow statement. In general, by taking a close look at the cash moving in and out of the business, you can better understand whether the last batch of earnings brought money into the company, or merely disguised a cash gusher with a pretty headline.

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 Centene (NYSE: CNC  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

5 Best New Stocks To Watch For 2015: BMC Software Inc. (BMC)

BMC Software, Inc. develops software that provides system and service management solutions for enterprises in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Enterprise Service Management and Mainframe Service Management. The Enterprise Service Management segment offers service assurance solutions that manage availability and performance management, event management, service impact management, and capacity management; service automation solutions managing provisioning, configuration change, and compliance automation for servers, networks, applications, and databases; service support solutions, which manages service desk, incident management, service request management, problem management, asset management, service level management, change and release management, and identity management; and BMC Atrium that provides shared technologies that unify information and processes from disparate management tools, and assigns priorities to business servic es. It also offers consulting, implementation, integration, IT process design and re-engineering, and educational services related to its software products. The Mainframe Service Management segment provides mainframe data and performance management solutions that ensure the availability and reliability of the business critical data, applications, and systems; and enterprise workload automation solutions comprising CONTROL-M product line, a set of features enabling data centers to automate their complex workloads and critical business processes. The company serves manufacturers, telecommunication companies, educational institutions, retailers, distributors, hospitals, and other industries, as well as channel partners, including resellers, distributors and systems integrators directly. BMC Software, Inc. was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Tom Taulli]

    As with many other hot cloud companies, NOW stock has been a roller coaster lately. But this isn’t an issue for the company�� CEO, Frank Slootman. I met with Slootman recently, and he told me that ServiceNow could be instantly profitable if he dialed down growth. He said that would be a mistake, though, because the market opportunity is massive. His competition is mostly made up of legacy operators like BMC (BMC) and Hewlett-Packard (HPQ).

Top Healthcare Technology Companies To Watch In Right Now: Bri-Chem Corp (BRY)

Bri-Chem Corp. is a North American distributor, blender, and manufacturer of drilling fluids and steel pipe for the oil and gas industry in North America. The Company operates in three segments: Fluids, Steel Distribution and Steel Manufacturing. Its Fluids segment includes the sale of fluids and chemical additives to the resource and industrial markets. The Steel Distribution segment includes the sale of tubular steel products to the resource, industrial and construction industries. The Steel Manufacturing segment produces seamless steel pipe through a thermal expansion process for sale to steel pipe distributors in North America. On May 31, 2011, it acquired all membership interest in Bri-Chem Supply Corp, LLC (BSU) and Stryker Transportation Ltd. (Stryker). In September 2013, Bri-Chem Corp acquired the cement blending business assets of Sun Coast Materials Co. and certain additional transportation assets from its affiliate Acme Trucking, Inc. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Matt DiLallo]

    The good news here is that the company was able to reduce its lease operating expenses by 26%, to $1.24 per Mcfe, which gave a boost to earnings. Despite the miss, the company still expects that its drilling program will steadily increase its distribution coverage ratio this year. Further, the highly accretive deal to acquire Berry Petroleum (NYSE: BRY  ) remains on track, which should further bolster the company's distribution coverage ratio and put it on much safer ground.�

  • [By Tyler Crowe]

    LINN Energy (NASDAQ: LINE  ) had a "wait and see until we finish our Berry Petroleum (NYSE: BRY  ) acquisition" kind of quarter. While overall production jumped a very healthy 69% over last year, it just didn't quite meet what the company expected. Weather was part of the problem, but much of the company's woes came in one place: Texas. Does LINN have a problem with Texas' tea? Let's take a look at these pieces of bad news and see if the problems lie with LINN or the Lone Star State.�

Top Healthcare Technology Companies To Watch In Right Now: Koninklijke KPN NV (KPN)

Koninklijke KPN NV (KPN) is a Netherlands-based telecommunications and information and communication technology (ICT) service provider. It is divided in two business areas: the Netherlands and Mobile International. The Netherlands includes segments: Mobile Consumer, which offers voice, text and data services, and mobile wholesale; Consumer Residential, providing fixed line services; Business, responsible for wireline and wireless voice and Internet, Cloud and integrated packages for corporate clients; NETCO, which offers wireless, copper and fiber network infrastructure and services for retail and wholesale customers; and Corporate Network, which provides solutions for workspace management, connectivity, information security and data centers, cloud-based and traditional software services and consulting. Mobile International consists of segments such as Germany, Belgium, Rest of the world; and iBasis, providing wholesale voice services and terminating of international calls worldwide. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Corinne Gretler]

    KPN (KPN) surged 16 percent to 2.32 euros as America Movil offered 2.40 euros a share for the company. The price -- a 20 percent premium to KPN�� close yesterday -- would value the stake that America Movil doesn�� already own at 7.2 billion euros ($9.6 billion). The Mexican mobile-phone operator has a 29.8 percent holding in KPN. An agreement between the two companies to limit America Movil�� stake to 30 percent expired after KPN agreed last month to sell its German business E-Plus to Telefonica SA.

Top Healthcare Technology Companies To Watch In Right Now: O'Reilly Automotive Inc.(ORLY)

O?Reilly Automotive, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the retail of automotive aftermarket parts, tools, supplies, equipment, and accessories in the United States. The company?s stores provide new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, including alternators, starters, fuel pumps, water pumps, brake system components, batteries, belts, hoses, chassis parts, and engine parts; maintenance items comprising oil, antifreeze, fluids, filters, wiper blades, lighting, engine additives, and appearance products; and accessories, such as floor mats, seat covers, and truck accessories. Its stores also offer auto body paint and related materials, automotive tools, and professional service provider service equipment. The company?s stores sell its brand name and private label products for domestic and imported automobiles, vans, and trucks to do-it-yourself customers and professional service providers. As of March 31, 2011, it operated 3,613 stores. The company was foun ded in 1957 and is headquartered in Springfield, Missouri.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By John Udovich]

    Auto parts retailers like large cap O'Reilly Automotive Inc (NASDAQ: ORLY) and mid cap Advance Auto Parts, Inc (NYSE: AAP)�along with small cap auto parts stock Federal-Mogul Corp (NASDAQ: FDML) have been a bright spot on the economy as consumers try to stretch the lives of their automobiles or vehicles in the bad or uncertain economy. In fact, Investors Business Daily has recently noted that the�average age of cars on the road is about 11.5 years and that�� of course good news for auto parts retailers while�any uptick in sales or production of auto parts in general�will be good for companies like Federal-Mogul Corp. With that in mind, here�is a look at�how these three auto parts retailers or auto parts stocks are taking investors for a ride in a good way:

  • [By Ben Levisohn]

    Autozone has dropped 0.3% to $413.22 �, while�Pep Boys (PBY) has gained 0.2% to $12.19 , Advanced Auto Parts�(AAP) has risen 0.3% to $80.35, and O’Reilly Automotive (ORLY) has advanced 0.3% to $124.42 .

  • [By P.I.A.]

    AutoZone (AZO) announced earnings on Wednesday, Sept. 25, beating estimates and reporting $10.42 per share. It is clear in listening to the conference call that the auto parts specialty retailer is a competitive operation. However, some are not currently as enthusiastic and O��eilly Automotive Inc. (ORLY) has been outperforming.

Top Healthcare Technology Companies To Watch In Right Now: AstraZeneca PLC (AZN)

AstraZeneca PLC (AstraZeneca), incorporated on June 17, 1992, is a global biopharmaceutical company. AstraZeneca discovers, develops and commercializes prescription medicines for six areas of healthcare: Cardiovascular, Gastrointestinal, Infection, Neuroscience, Oncology, and Respiratory and Inflammation. It has a range of medicines that includes treatments for illnesses, such as its antibiotic, Merrem/Meronem and Losec/Prilosec for acid related diseases. AstraZeneca�� products include Crestor, Atacand,Seloken/Toprol-XL, Plendil, Onglyza, Zestril, Symbicort and Zoladex. The Company owns and operates a range of research and development (R&D), production and marketing facilities worldwide. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries, including China, Mexico, Brazil and Russia. On August 31, 2011, the Company completed the sale of the Astra Tech business to DENTSPLY International Inc. On June 19, 2012, the Company acquired Ardea Biosciences Inc (Ardea), a biotechnology company in San Diego, California. In July 2012, the Company acquired a portfolio of neuroscience assets from Link Medicine Corporation. In August 2012, Alliance Pharma plc�� wholly owned subsidiary, Alliance Pharmaceuticals Limited, acquired the antimalarial brands Paludrine, Avloclor and Savarine from AstraZeneca UK Limited. In August 2012, the Company and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company announced the acquisition of Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. by Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. In June 2013, the Company acquired Pearl Therapeutics.

Cardiovascular

The Company�� marketed products include Crestor (rosuvastatin calcium), Atacand2 (candesartan cilexetil), Seloken/Toprol-XL (metoprolol succinate), Tenormin (atenolol), Plendil (felodipine), Zestril3 (lisinopril dihydrate), Brilinta/Brilique (ticagrelor), and Axanum, (acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). Crestor1 is a statin used for the treatment of dyslipidaemia and hypercholesterolemia. In some markets, it is also indicated to slow the progression of atherosclerosis and to re! duce the risk of first cardiovascular (CV) events. Atacand2 is an angiotensin II antagonist used for the 1st line treatment of hypertension and symptomatic heart failure. Seloken/Toprol-XL is a beta-blocker once-daily tablet used for 24-hour control of hypertension and for use in heart failure and angina.

Tenormin is a cardioselective beta-blocker used for hypertension, angina pectoris and other CV disorders. Plendil is a calcium antagonist used for the treatment of hypertension and angina. Zestril3 is an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor used for the treatment of a wide range of CV diseases, including hypertension. Brilinta/Brilique is an oral antiplatelet for the treatment of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Axanum is a fixed dose combination indicated for prevention of CV events in high-risk CV patients in need of daily low-dose ASA treatment and who are at risk of gastric ulcers.

The Company�� marketed products for diabetes include Komboglyze ((saxagliptin and metformin HCl), Kombiglyze XR (saxagliptin and metformin XR) and Onglyza (saxagliptin). Komboglyze is an immediate release fixed dose combination indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycaemic control in adult patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus inadequately controlled on their maximally tolerated dose of metformin alone or those already being treated with the combination of saxagliptin and metformin as separate tablets. Kombiglyze XR is an extended release fixed dose combination indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycaemic control in adults with Type 2 diabetes mellitus when treatment with both saxagliptin and metformin is appropriate. Onglyza is a DPP-IV inhibitor used for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes.

Gastrointestinal

AstraZeneca�� marketed products include Nexium (esomeprazole), Losec/Prilosec (omeprazole) and Entocort (budesonide). Nexium is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) used for the treatment of acid-related diseases to offer clini! cal impro! vements over other PPIs and other treatments. Losec/Prilosec is used for the short-term and long-term treatment of acid-related diseases. Entocort is a corticosteroid used for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Nexium is marketed in approximately 120 countries and is available in oral (tablet/capsules and oral suspension) and intravenous (i.v.) dosage forms for the treatment of acid-related diseases.

Infection

The Company�� marketed products include Merrem/Meronem (meropenem), Cubicin (daptomycin) and FluMist/Fluenz (influenza vaccine live, intranasal). Merrem/Meronem is a carbapenem anti-bacterial used for the treatment of serious infections in hospitalised patients. Cubicin is a cyclic lipopeptide anti-bacterial used for the treatment of serious infections in hospitalised patients. FluMist/Fluenz is an intranasal live, attenuated, trivalent influenza vaccine.

Neuroscience

AstraZeneca�� marketed products include Seroquel IR (quetiapine fumarate), Seroquel XR (an extended release formulation of quetiapine fumarate), Zomig (zolmitriptan), Diprivan (propofol), Vimovo (naproxen/esomeprazole magnesium), Naropin (ropivacaine), Xylocaine (lidocaine) and EMLA (lidocaine and prilocaine). Seroquel IR is an atypical anti-psychotic drug used for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (mania, depression and maintenance). Seroquel XR is used for the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, MDD and in some territories for generalised anxiety disorder (GAD).

Zomig is used for the treatment of migraines with or without aura and Zomig Nasal Spray is indicated for the acute treatment of cluster. Diprivan is an intravenous general anaesthetic used in the induction and maintenance of general anaesthesia, for use in intensive care sedation and conscious sedation for surgical as well as diagnostic procedures. Vimovo is a fixed-dose combination of enteric-coated naproxen (an NSAID) with the gastroprotection of immediate release ! esomepraz! ole (a proton pump inhibitor) for the relief of signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, and to decrease the developing of gastric ulcers in patients at risk of developing NSAID-associated gastric ulcers. Naropin is used as a long-acting local anaesthetic, for surgical anaesthesia and acute pain management. Xylocaine is a used short-acting local anaesthetic. EMLA is used as a local anaesthetic for topical application.

Oncology

AstraZeneca�� marketed products include Arimidex (anastrozole), Zoladex (goserelin acetate implant), Casodex (bicalutamide), Iressa (gefitinib), Faslodex (fulvestrant), Nolvadex (tamoxifen citrate) and Caprelsa (vandetanib). Arimidex is an aromatase inhibitor used for the treatment of early breast cancer. Zoladex, in one- and three-month depots, is a luteinising hormone-releasing hormone agonist used for the treatment of prostate cancer, breast cancer and certain benign gynaecological disorders. Casodex is an anti-androgen therapy used for the treatment of prostate cancer.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Charles Mizrahi]

    Several stocks in our portfolio will benefit from this trend: Drugstore chain Walgreens (WAG), healthcare products distributor Henry Schein (HSIC), and pharmaceutical maker AstraZeneca (AZN)

Sunday, June 29, 2014

Top 5 Construction Stocks To Invest In Right Now

Top 5 Construction Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc. (ARE)

Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc., a real estate investment trust (REIT), engages in the ownership, operation, management, development, acquisition, and redevelopment of properties for the life sciences industry. Its properties consist of buildings containing scientific research and development laboratories, and other improvements. The company offers its properties for lease primarily to universities and independent not-for-profit institutions; and pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, life science product, service, biodefense, and translational research entities, as well as governmental agencies. As of December 31, 2006, it had 159 properties, including 156 properties located in 9 states in the United States and 3 properties located in Canada. As a REIT, the company is not subject to federal income tax to the extent that it distributes 100% of its taxable income to its stockholders. The company was founded in 1993 and is based in Pasadena, California.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Bill Stoller]

    After a banner 2013, the overall market has had a challenging start to 2014. However, these four companies have been crushing it: Alexander Real Estate (NYSE: ARE  ) , BioMed Realty Trust (NYSE: BMR  ) , CommonWealth REIT (NYSE: CWH  ) , and Sun Communities (NYSE: SUI  ) early on in 2014 vs. the S&P 500. Their relative out-performance can also be seen when compared to the Vanguard REIT Index ETF (NYSEMKT: VNQ  ) a good yardstick to measure sector performance.

  • [By Shauna O'Brien]

    Real estate investment trust Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc (ARE) announced on Tuesday that its board has approved a 4.6% increase to its quarterly dividend.

    The firm has raised its dividend from 65 cents to 68 cents per share, or $2.72 annually. The dividend will be paid on October 15 to sharehol! ders of record on September 30. The stock will go ex-dividend on September 26.

    Alexandria Real Estate Equities shares were mostly flat during pre-market trading Tuesday. The stock is down 9% YTD.

  • [By GuruFocus]

    George Soros (Trades, Portfolio) just reported his first quarter portfolio. He buys Citrix Systems Inc, Baker Hughes Inc, Comcast Corp, Spansion Inc, etc during the 3-months ended 03/31/2014, according to the most recent filings of his investment company, Soros Fund Management LLC. As of 03/31/2014, Soros Fund Management LLC owns 305 stocks with a total value of $10.1 billion. These are the details of the buys and sells.New Purchases: BHI, CODE, CTRP, CLI, AVB, COMM, CNQ, AGO, AUY, ATML, ASH, BXMT, CSTM, AEM, CMA, ARE, CHKP, AUQ, BEAV, CX, ADSK, AALCP, BLK, AIG, BIIB, ADEP, AMRI, ARWR, ATHX, BALT, BCRX, BEAT, CFX, CLFD, CUR, CODE,Added Positions: CTXS, CMCSA, CNP, ALTR, BRCD, CBS, CRM, CHTR, CCJ, CIEN, BIDU, ALLE, ABT, CDNS, ACT,Reduced Positions: AAPL, CCI, AMT, ABBV, AAL, BITA, AL, ANGI, ARIA, CBST, BA, BIRT, EXAR,Sold Out: C, BAC, CRI, AMZN, AGN, CF, BRCM, COTY, BMY, AMCX, CAR, A, ADBE, AFL,For the details of George Soros (Trades, Portfolio)'s stock buys and sells, go to http://www.gurufocus.com/StockBuy.php?GuruName=George+SorosThis is the sector weightings of his portfolio:Technology18.9%Energy14%Healthcare8.3%Consumer Defensive8.2%Communication Services8.1%Consumer Cyclical5.4%Industrials5.1%Basic Materials4.9%Financial Services2.5%Real Estate1.9%Utilities0.5%These are the top 5 holdings of George Soros (Trades, Portfolio)1. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (TEVA) - 10,310,041 shares, 5.4% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 10.67%2. Herbalife Ltd (HLF) - 4,901,337 shares, 2.8% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 52.9%3. EQT Corp (EQT) - 2,573,814 shares, 2.5% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 3.27%4. Adecoagro SA (AGRO) - 25,915,076 shares, 2.1% of the total portfolio.5. Halliburton Co (HAL) - 3,596,353 shares, 2.1% of the total portfolio.! Shares r! educed by 20.73%New Purchase: Baker Hughes Inc (BHI)George Soros (Trades, Portfolio) initiated holdings in Baker Hughes Inc. His purchase prices were between $51.82 and $65.2 7, with an estimated

  • [By Markus Aarnio]

    Owens Realty Mortgage's competitors include American Assets Trust (AAT), Alexandria Real Estate Equities (ARE) and Boston Properties (BXP). American Assets Trust has seen five insider buy transactions and four insider sell transactions this year. American Assets Trust has a dividend yield of 2.78%. Alexandria Real Estate Equities has seen 14 insider sell transactions this year. Alexandria Real Estate Equities has a dividend yield of 4.10%. Boston Properties has seen one insider buy transaction and four insider sell transactions this year. Boston Properties has a dividend yield of 2.43%.

  • source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/top-5-construction-stocks-to-invest-in-right-now.html

Top 10 Diversified Bank Companies To Buy Right Now

JC Penney (JCP) has surged today, despite earnings that were pretty terrible.

Deutsche Bank’s Paul Trussell and Matt Siler explain why investors like JC Penney’s results:

Relative to expectations, JCP reported solid 3Q earnings, in our view. With SSS of -4.8% already known, we see 4 positives and 1 negative in today�� print: (1) 3Q GPM was down 300 bps to 29.5%, above our 29.0% estimate and buy-side expectations of 27%-29%; (2) guidance for 4Q GPM is expected to improve sequentially and YOY (a positive vs. our estimate of 27.5% and Street at 29.6% GPM); (3) core SG&A dollars fell 7.5% YOY, more than the modest 1% reduction we forecasted; and (4) the company paid $200 million down on its revolver, suggesting it is comfortable with its liquidity position. One key item of focus for the Bears will be that inventory is up 11.5% YOY and the guidance is for inventory to be up 22% at year-end ��presenting future GPM risk.

Sterne Agee’s Charles Grom and team believe time will tell for JC Penney:

Top 10 Specialty Retail Companies To Watch For 2015: StemCells Inc (STEM)

StemCells, Inc. (StemCells), incorporated in August 1988, is engaged in the research, development, and commercialization of stem cell therapeutics and related tools and technologies for academia and industry. The Company is focused on developing and commercializing stem and progenitor cells as the basis for therapeutics and therapies, and cells and related tools and technologies to enable stem cell-based research and drug discovery and development. The Company�� primary research and development efforts are focused on identifying and developing stem and progenitor cells as potential therapeutic agents. The Company has two therapeutic product development programs, including its CNS Program, which is developing applications for HuCNS-SC cells, its human neural stem cell product candidate, and its Liver Program, which is characterizing the Company�� human liver cells as a therapeutic product.

CNS Program

The Company in its CNS Program, is in clinical development with its HuCNS-SC cells for a range of disorders of the central nervous system. The CNS includes the brain, spinal cord and eye. In February 2012, the Company had completed a Phase I clinical trial in Pelizeaus-Merzbacher Disease (PMD), a fatal myelination disorder in the brain.

The Company�� CNS Program is focused on developing clinical applications, in which transplanting HuCNS-SC cells protect or restore organ function of the patient before such function is irreversibly damaged or lost due to disease progression. The Company�� initial target indications are PMD, and more generally, diseases in which deficient myelination plays a central role, such as cerebral palsy or multiple sclerosis; spinal cord injury, disorders in which retinal degeneration plays a central role, such as age-related macular degeneration or retinitis pigmentosa. The Company�� product candidate, HuCNS-SC cells, is a purified and expanded composition of normal human neural stem cells. Its HuCNS-SC cells can be directly transp! lanted.

Liver Program

Liver stem or progenitor cells offer an alternative treatment for liver diseases. A liver cellular therapy or cell-based therapeutic provide or support liver function in patients with liver disease. The Company held a portfolio of issued and allowed patents in the liver field, which cover the isolation and use of both hLEC cells and the isolated subset, as well as the composition of the cells themselves.

The Company�� range of cell culture products, which are sold under the SC Proven brand, includes iSTEM, GS1-R, GS2-M, RHB-A, RHB-Basal, NDiff N2, and NDiff N2B27. Its iSTEM is a serum-free, feeder-free medium that maintains mouse embryonic stem cells in their pluripotent ground state by using selective small molecule inhibitors to block the pathways, which induce differentiation. RHB-A is a defined, serum-free culture medium for the selective culture of human and mouse neural stem cells and their maintenance and expansion as adherent cell populations. RHB-Basal is a defined, serum-free basal medium. When supplemented with specific growth factors, this media is formulated for the propagation and differentiation of adherent neural stem cells. RHB-Basal can also be tailored to specific-cell type requirements by the addition of customer preferred supplements.

The Company�� NDiff N2 is a defined serum-free scell culture supplement for the derivation, maintenance, expansion and/or differentiation of human and mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells and tissue-derived neural stem cells supplement. Its NDiff N2-AF is a serum-free and animal component-free version of NDiff N2. Its NDiff N2B27 is a defined, serum-free medium for the differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells to neural cell types. NDiff N27-AF is a serum-free and animal component-free version of NDiff N27. Its GS1-R is a serum-free media formulation shown to enable the derivation and long-term maintenance of true, germline competent rat embryonic stem cells without the add! ition of ! cytokines or growth factors. Its GS2-M is a defined, serum- and feeder-free medium for the derivation and long-term maintenance of true, germline competent mouse iPS cells.

The Company also markets a number of antibody reagents for use in cell detection, isolation and characterization. These reagents are also under the SC Proven brand and it includes STEM24, STEM101, STEM121 and STEM123. Its STEM24 is a human antibody that recognizes human CD24, also known as heat stable antigen (HSA), a glycoprotein expressed on the surface of many human cell types, including immature human hematopoietic cells, peripheral blood lymphocytes, erythrocytes and many human carcinomas. Its CD24 is also a marker of human neural differentiation. Its STEM101 is a human-specific mouse antibody that recognizes the Ku80 protein found in human nuclei. Its STEM121 is a human-specific mouse antibody that recognizes a cytoplasmic protein of human cells. Its STEM123 is a human-specific mouse antibody that recognizes human glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP).

The Company�� Other products marketed under SC Proven include total cell genomic DNA (gDNA), RNA and protein lysate reagents purified from homogenous stem cell populations for intra-comparative studies, such as Epigenetic fingerprinting, Southern, Western and Northern blots, PCR, RT-PCR and microarrays. This range of purified stem cell line lysates includes mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells propagated in SC Proven 2i inhibitor-based GS2-M media and mouse ES cell-derived and fetal tissue-derived neural stem (NS) cells propagated in SC Proven RHB-A media.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By James E. Brumley]

    When an investor thinks of spinal-related stem cell stocks, usually a name like Neuralstem, Inc (NYSEMKT: CUR) or StemCells Inc (NASDAQ: STEM) comes to mind. And well they should. STEM has logged some amazing breakthroughs in the field of spinal cord repair, while CUR has done the same. Not all back problems are spinal cord related though. In fact, most back problems - and therefore the most opportunity - are bone and disc related problems. That's where a young gun like BioRestorative Therapies (OTCBB: BRTX) can step in and make stem cell waves. BRTX has developed an approach to rejuvenate and revive failing spinal discs, potentially ending pain for millions of back-pain sufferers, and circumventing expensive spinal surgeries that are in increasing burden on insurance companies.

Top 10 Diversified Bank Companies To Buy Right Now: Monsanto Co (MON)

Monsanto Company (Monsanto), incorporated on February 9, 2000, along with its subsidiaries, is a provider of agricultural products for farmers. The Company's seeds, biotechnology trait products, and herbicides provide farmers with solutions that improve productivity, reduce the costs of farming, and produce better foods for consumers and better feed for animals. It manages business in two segments: Seeds and Genomics, and Agricultural Productivity. In April 2010, the Company completed the acquisition of a corn and soybean processing plant located in Paine, Chile from Anasac, a company that provides seed processing services. In October 2009, the Company completed the acquisition of Seminium, S.A. (Seminium), a corn seed company. In February 2011, the Company acquired Divergence, Inc. In September 2011, the Company acquired Beeologics. In June 2012, the Company purchased a planting technology developer, Precision Planting, Inc. In January 2013, it purchased select assets of Agradis, Inc. In June 2013, Monsanto Company acquired GrassRoots Biotechnology Inc. In November 2013, the Company announced that it has completed the acquisition of The Climate Corporation.

Seeds and Genomics Segment

Through the Company's Seeds and Genomics segment, it produces seed brands, including DEKALB, Asgrow, Deltapine, Seminis and De Ruiter, and it develops biotechnology traits that assist farmers in controlling insects and weeds. It also provides other seed companies with genetic material and biotechnology traits for their seed brands. It has a global distribution and sales and marketing organization for its seeds and traits. It sells products under Monsanto brands and license technology and genetic material to others for sale under their own brands. Through distributors, independent retailers and dealers, agricultural cooperatives, plant raisers, and agents, it markets DEKALB, Asgrow and Deltapine branded germplasm to farmers globally. In the United States, it markets regional seed brands under it! s American Seeds, LLC and Channel Bio, LLC businesses to farmers directly, as well as through dealers, agricultural cooperatives and agents. It markets and sells trait technologies with branded germplasm, pursuant to license agreements with its farmer customers. In Brazil and Paraguay, its has implemented a point-of-delivery, grain-based payment system. It contracts with grain handlers to collect applicable trait fees when farmers deliver their grain. In addition to selling its products under its own brands, the Company licenses a range of germplasm and trait technologies to large and small seed companies in the United States and certain international markets. Those seed companies in turn market its trait technologies in their branded germplasm; they may also market its germplasm under its own brand name. Its vegetable seeds are marketed in more than 100 countries through distributors, independent retailers and dealers, agricultural cooperatives, plant raisers and agents, as well as directly to farmers.

The Company�� row crop seeds brands include DEKALB, Channel Bio, Asgrow and Deltapine. Its DEKALB and Channel Bio are corn hybrids and foundation seed. Its Asgrow are soybean varieties and foundation seed. Its Deltapine are cotton varieties, hybrids and foundation seed. Canola is its row crop variety and hybrid. Its vegetable seed brands are Seminis and De Ruiter. These are open field and protected-culture seed for tomato, pepper, eggplant, melon, cucumber, pumpkin, squash, beans, broccoli, onions, and lettuce, among others. Its Biotechnology traits include SmartStax, YieldGard, YieldGard VT Triple, VT Triple PRO, VT Double PRO, Roundup Ready and Roundup Ready 2 Yield and Genuity. Its SmartStax, YieldGard, YieldGard VT Triple, VT Triple PRO and VT Double PRO have applications for corn, and Bollgard and Bollgard II have application for cotton. It enables crops to protect themselves from borers and rootworm in corn and leaf- and boll-feeding worms in cotton, reducing the need for application! s of inse! cticides. Its Roundup Ready and Roundup Ready 2 Yield have application for soybeans. The Company�� Genuity is a global umbrella trait brand. It enables crops, such as corn, soybeans, cotton, and canola to be tolerant of Roundup and other glyphosate-based herbicides. Monsanto also offers farmers stacked-trait products, which are single-seed products in which two or more traits are combined.

Agricultural Productivity Segment

Through the Company's Agricultural Productivity segment, it manufactures Roundup brand herbicides and other herbicides and provide lawn-and-garden herbicide products for the residential market. Its products include Glyphosate-based herbicides, Selective herbicides and Lawn-and-garden herbicides. Its Glyphosate-based herbicides have applications in nonselective agricultural, industrial, ornamental and turf applications for weed control. Its Selective herbicides control preemergent annual grass and small seeded broadleaf weeds in corn and other crops. Its residential lawn-and-garden has applications for weed control. It uses the same distribution and sales and marketing organization for its crop protection products as for its seeds and traits. It also has separate distribution and sales and marketing organizations for its crop protection products. It sells crop protection products through distributors, independent retailers and dealers and agricultural cooperatives. In some cases outside the United States, it sells such products directly to farmers. It also sells certain of the chemical intermediates of its crop protection products to other agricultural chemical producers, who then market their own branded products to farmers. The Company markets its lawn-and-garden herbicide products through The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]

    Comcast has a lousy reputation even before this head-turning move.

    The controversial experiment started earlier this month with 50,000 homes in Houston with plans to expand to 150,000 residential routers by the end of the month. It may seem outrageous at first. Why would anyone want to have strangers relying on their connectivity to go online? Comcast is quick to point out that the Wi-Fi hotspot will be separate from a home's network. You won't have outsiders firing off your Wi-Fi printer or diving into your music collection and family photos. Comcast also promises that Xfinity members hosting these routers will be allocated additional bandwidth to make sure that third-party access to the router doesn't slow them down. It's still bound to be a dicey practice. For starters, Xfinity customers don't opt in to participate in the bold experiment to create residential neighborhoods with Wi-Fi accessible to existing subscribers. The onus is on the customer to opt out. It also doesn't help that Comcast, despite being the country's largest cable TV and broadband provider, has a lousy reputation even before this head-turning move. It's Comcastic Consumerist in April published it annual list of the country's worst companies. Readers vote in tournament-style fashion until the initial list of 32 is whittled down to the villainous victor. Comcast won in 2010 and is back as Consumerist's Worst Company in America, just beating out Monsanto (MON) for the dishonorable honor. Yes, Monsanto. The agribusiness giant that never has a problem rounding up vocal protestors picketing the state of chemical supplements that increase crop yields lost out to a company that simply provides cable programming, Internet access and Web-based home phone service. Then again, it's hard to please customers as a pay TV giant. Comcast had working relationships with 26.8 million homes as of the end of March, and more than 21 million depend on Comcast's Xfinity for online access. It's hard to

Top 10 Diversified Bank Companies To Buy Right Now: Hill International Inc. (HIL)

Hill International, Inc. provides project management and construction claims services worldwide. It operates through two segments, Project Management and Construction Claims. The Project Management segment offers construction and project management services, including program management, project management, construction management, project management oversight, troubled project turnaround, staff augmentation, estimating and cost management, project labor agreement consulting, and management consulting, as well as commissioning, labor compliance, and other services. It manages and undertakes construction process, including planning, scheduling, estimating, budgeting, design review, constructability analyses, value engineering, regulatory compliance, development of project procedures, procurement, project reporting, expediting, inspection, quality assurance/quality control, safety oversight, contract administration, change order processing, and claims management on behalf of project owners and developers, as well as on-site management of contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers. The Construction Claims segment provides claims preparation, analysis and review, litigation support, cost/damages assessment, delay/disruption analysis, contract review and adjudication, risk assessment, lender advisory, and expert witness testimony services to clients. It advises clients for preventing or resolving claims and disputes based upon schedule delays, cost overruns, and other problems on construction projects. The company serves the United States and other national governments, state and local governments, and their agencies, as well as clients in the private sector. Hill International, Inc. was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Marlton, New Jersey.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Laura Brodbeck]

    Monday

    Earnings Releases Expected: Black Hills Corporation (NYSE: BKH), CME Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CME), Leapfrog Enterprises (NYSE: LF), Hill International, Inc. (NYSE: HIL) Economic Releases Expected: eurozone manufacturing PMI, British construction PMI, US factory orders, Chinese services PMI, Indian services PMI

    Tuesday

Top 10 Diversified Bank Companies To Buy Right Now: OraSure Technologies Inc.(OSUR)

OraSure Technologies, Inc. develops, manufactures, markets, and sells oral fluid diagnostic products and specimen collection devices in the United States and internationally. It also manufactures and sells medical devices used for the removal of benign skin lesions by cryosurgery or freezing. The company offers OraQuick ADVANCE HIV-1/2, a point-of-care qualitative test for antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and type 2; OraQuick HCV, a point-of-care qualitative test for antibodies to the hepatitis C virus; OraSure QuickFlu Rapid Flu A&B Test, a point-of-care qualitative test for antibodies to influenza Types A and B, including H1N1 infections; OraSure, an oral fluid collection device for the detection of antibodies to HIV-1 in an oral fluid sample in a laboratory setting; and Intercept, an oral fluid collection device for oral fluid drugs of abuse testing in a laboratory setting. In addition, it provides MICRO-PLATE DOA Assays that are used to detect the drugs in an oral fluid sample collected with intercept device; cryosurgical freezing systems for the removal of warts and other benign skin lesions; and cryosurgical systems for the removal of common and plantar warts. Further, OraSure Technologies sells immunoassay tests and reagents for insurance risk assessment, substance abuse testing, and forensic toxicology applications; an oral fluid Western blot HIV-1 confirmatory test for confirming positive HIV-1 test results obtained from the use of OraSure collection device; and Q.E.D., a point-of-care saliva alcohol test. The company sells its products through direct sales, strategic collaborations, and distributors to clinical laboratories, hospitals, clinics, community-based and other public health organizations, distributors, government agencies, physicians? offices, and commercial and industrial entities. It has collaboration agreement with Merck & Co. Inc. OraSure Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1979 and is based in Beth lehem, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Sam Collins]

    OraSure Technologies (OSUR) — This small-cap company develops, manufactures and markets oral fluid diagnostic products and specimen collection devices using its proprietary oral fluid technologies.

  • [By Keith Speights]

    Progress has also been made on the diagnostic front. The FDA approved OraSure Technologies' (NASDAQ: OSUR  ) OraQuick home HIV test in July 2012. OraQuick allows an individual to use a mouth swab and find out the results within 40 minutes. The test hasn't exactly leaped off store shelves as of yet, though. OraSure reported only $1.5 million in gross sales for the OraQuick home test during the most recent quarter.

  • [By Seth Jayson]

    OraSure Technologies (Nasdaq: OSUR  ) reported earnings on May 8. Here are the numbers you need to know.

    The 10-second takeaway
    For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), OraSure Technologies beat slightly on revenues and met expectations on earnings per share.

Top 10 Diversified Bank Companies To Buy Right Now: Graham Holdings Co (GHC)

Graham Holdings Company, formerly The Washington Post Company, incorporated on July 21, 2003, is a diversified education and media company whose principal operations include educational services, television broadcasting, cable television systems, and online, print and local TV news. The Company owns Kaplan, a provider of educational services to individuals, schools and businesses, serving over one million students annually with operations in more than 30 countries. Its programs include higher education, test preparation, language instruction and professional training. Its Post-Newsweek Stations, Inc owns six television stations which include WDIV-Detroit (NBC), KPRC-Houston (NBC),WPLG-Miami (ABC), WKMG-Orlando (CBS), KSAT-San Antonio (ABC) and WJXT-Jacksonville (independent). The stations also broadcast digital channels focusing on classic television and lifestyle programming, in addition to operating websites, mobile sites and mobile apps delivering breaking news, weather and community news. Its Cable ONE, headquartered in Phoenix, AZ, serves small-city subscribers in 19 midwestern, western and southern states. Cable ONE provides digital video, Internet and phone service to homes and businesses. The Company�� Slate Group is a daily online magazine that offers fresh angles on stories in the news and entertainment coverage, all with its signature wit and irreverence, publishing provocative commentary on topics such as politics, culture, business and technology. Slate V is a daily online video magazine offering original video about politics, culture, and business, technology.

The Company divested its interest in Avenue100 Media Solutions Inc., a digital marketing company headquartered in Woburn, Massachusetts, in 2012. The Company sold its interest in the Bowater Mersey Paper Company Limited to the Province of Nova Scotia in 2012. In March 2013, the Company announced it has completed the sale of The Herald, a daily and Sunday newspaper and its other print and online products to Sound Publ! ishing, Inc.

Education

Kaplan, Inc., a subsidiary of the Company, provides a range of education and related services worldwide for students and professionals. Kaplan conducts its operations through three segments: Kaplan Higher Education, Kaplan Test Preparation and Kaplan International. Kaplan Higher Education (KHE) provides a wide array of certificate, diploma and degree programs on campus and online designed to meet the needs of students seeking to advance their education and career goals. During the year ended December 31, 2012, Kaplan�� United States-based KHE division businesses include Kaplan University and KHE Campuses.

Kaplan University specializes in online education, is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and holds other programmatic accreditations. Kaplan University�� programs are offered online, while some are offered in a traditional classroom format at 12 campuses in Iowa, Maine, Maryland and Nebraska, and four Kaplan University Learning Centers in four additional states. Kaplan University also includes Concord Law School, a fully online law school. During 2012, Kaplan University had approximately 38,800 students enrolled in online programs and approximately 5,600 students enrolled in its classroom-based programs.

Also residing within Kaplan University is the School of Professional and Continuing Education (PACE). PACE offers a range of education solutions to assist professionals in advancing their careers by obtaining professional licenses, designations and certifications. This includes solutions for insurance, securities, real estate, mortgage and appraisal licensing exams and for advanced designations, such as CFA and CPA exams. PACE serves more than 2,900 business-to-business clients, including more than 70 Fortune 500 companies. In 2012, approximately 510,000 students used PACE's exam preparation offerings. As of December 31, 2012, the KHE Campuses business consis! ts of 59 ! schools in 17 states, which provides classroom-based instruction to approximately 21,100 students.

Kaplan International operates businesses in Europe and the Asia Pacific region. In Europe, Kaplan operates in the businesses, which are all based in the United Kingdom and Ireland: Kaplan UK, Kaplan International Colleges (KIC) and a set of higher education institutions. The Kaplan United Kingdom business in Europe is a provider of training, test preparation services and degrees for accounting and financial services professionals, including those studying for ACCA, CIMA and ICAEW qualifications. In addition, Kaplan United Kingdom provides legal and professional training, including the operation of a United Kingdom law school in collaboration with Nottingham Trent University�� Nottingham Law School. In 2012, Kaplan United Kingdom provided courses to approximately 66,000 students, of whom 49,000 were dedicated to accounting and financial services coursework.

The KIC business consists of university pathways business and an English-language training business. The university pathways business offers academic preparation programs especially designed for international students who wish to study in English-speaking countries. KIC operates university pathways programs in collaboration with nine U.K. universities. As of December 31, 2012, KIC�� university pathways business was serving approximately 2,700 students. The English-language business (previously operated as Kaplan Aspect) provides English-language training, academic preparation programs and test preparation for English proficiency exams, principally for students wishing to study and travel in English-speaking countries. KIC operates a total of 41 English-language schools, with 19 located in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, and 22 located in the United States, where they operate under the name Kaplan International Centers. During 2012, the English-language business served approximately 65,000 stud! ents.

!

Kaplan also operates three higher education institutions in Europe, located in the United Kingdom and Ireland. These institutions are Dublin Business School, Holborn College and Kaplan Open Learning. As of December 31, 2012, these institutions enrolled an aggregate of approximately 6,500 students. In the Asia Pacific region, Kaplan operates businesses in Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong and China. In Singapore, Kaplan operates three business units, Higher Education, Financial and Professional, which serve more than 16,700 students from various countries throughout Asia.

Kaplan Singapore�� Higher Education business provides students with the opportunity to earn bachelor�� and postgraduate degrees in various fields on either a part-time or full-time basis. Kaplan Singapore�� students receive degrees from affiliated educational institutions in Australia, the U.K. and the U.S. In addition, this division offers pre-university and diploma programs. Kaplan Singapore�� Financial business provides preparatory courses for professional qualifications in accountancy and finance, such as the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).

In Australia, Kaplan delivers a broad range of financial services education and professional development courses. In 2012, this business provided courses to approximately 17,400 students through classroom programs and to more than 44,800 students through distance-learning programs. In 2012, Kaplan Australia underwent operational restructuring and offers its programs through three business units: English Language and Pathways; Vocational Education; and Higher Education.

The Vocational Education business of Kaplan Australia includes Kaplan Professional Education (KPE), Carrick Education Group and Franklyn Scholar. KPE offers financial services education programs and continuing professional development courses primarily to a business-to-business market, including banks and numerous! industry! sectors.. Approximately 43,000 students are taught through KPE each year. Carrick has traditionally offered English-language programs, vocational training and higher education courses in Australia. Kaplan is evaluating various strategic alternatives with respect to the Carrick business lines. As of December 31, 2012, Carrick was providing services to approximately 1,300 students. Franklyn Scholar offers a wide range of custom-developed programs to business clients. More than 16,000 students are taught through Franklyn Scholar each year.

The higher education business of Kaplan Australia comprises Kaplan Online Higher Education (KOHE) and Kaplan Business School (KBS), which offers diploma, bachelor�� and master�� degree programs. As of December 31, 2012, KBS has opened a new school in Brisbane and operates in four states in Australia teaching approximately 700 students each year. KOHE teaches approximately 1,800 students annually in postgraduate courses primarily in the financial services sector.

In Hong Kong, Kaplan offers a comprehensive array of programs, ranging from language education and standardized test preparation to corporate and financial training and higher education degree courses. During 2012, Kaplan�� Hong Kong business provided courses to more than 15,700 students.

In China, Kaplan provides foundation programs to Chinese students through partnerships with prestigious Chinese universities and high schools. Kaplan China offers foundation programs at 11 campuses and had more than 1,100 students enrolled at the end of 2012. Kaplan China also cooperates with several Chinese universities to provide ACCA training programs to the students. Cable ONE offers broadband Internet access service on virtually all of its cable systems and is the sole Internet service provider on those systems.

Kaplan International also includes the Kaplan Global Solutions business unit, which continues to develop partnerships with colleges, universities and non-p! rofit corp! orations and foundations. Kaplan Global Solutions, through its Colloquy business, enables its university partners to develop online educational programs by providing an array of research, marketing and design services. Through its Global Pathways programs, Kaplan Global Solutions enables its partner institutions in the Americas to enhance their brand globally and increase international student enrollments by designing and marketing custom programs aimed at student success.

Cable Television Operations

Through its subsidiary Cable One, Inc. (Cable ONE), the Company owns and operates cable television systems that provide video, Internet and voice service to subscribers in 19 midwestern, western and southern states. At the end of 2012, Cable ONE provided cable service to approximately 593,600 video subscribers, representing about 41% of the 1,439,740 homes passed by the systems, had approximately 459,200 subscriptions to high-speed data (HSD) service and 184,500 subscriptions to VoIP (digital voice) service. The video services offered by Cable ONE include certain premium, cable network and local over-the-air channels in high-definition television (HDTV) format. Cable ONE offers voice over Internet Protocol service, which permits users to make voice calls over broadband communications networks, including the Internet.

Other Activities

WaPo Labs is a digital team focusing on experimenting with emerging technologies. In 2012, WaPo Labs launched several projects in partnership with the Company�� media properties: Personal Post, a feature on washingtonpost.com that delivers personalized article recommendations based on a user�� interests and past reading behavior; The Fold, a video news program available on washingtonpost.com, Google TV and Android tablets, and The Root 100, which comprises 100 Android apps aggregating content about the Root 100 honorees, chosen for their impact and influence within the African-American community. In addition to working clo! sely with! the Company�� news websites, WaPo Labs oversees Washington Post Social Reader (Social Reader) and Trove. Social Reader is a Facebook-connected Website that delivers news articles based on a user�� interests and what their friends are reading. Social Reader aggregates content from the Post, Slate, Foreign Policy, Express, the Root and more than 90 other content partners to create a social stream of articles.

Social Code LLC (Social Code) is a marketing solutions company helping Fortune 500 brands maximize their marketing efforts on social media platforms. Celtic Healthcare, Inc. (Celtic) is a Medicare-certified provider of home health and hospice services headquartered in Mars, PA. Through its subsidiaries, Celtic is licensed to provide home health and hospice services throughout Pennsylvania and Maryland. These services include skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, social work, nutrition, chaplain and aid services. In addition, Celtic provides virtual care services to patients throughout its service territories. Celtic derives 74% of its revenue from Medicare, with the remaining sources of revenue being Medicaid, commercial insurance and private payors.

The Company competes with Edmunds.com, AutoTrader.com, Realtor.com, Zillow.com, Yelp, OpenTable, Google, Monster.com, CareerBuilder.com and Yahoo!.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Paul Ausick]

    Kaplan booked more than $2 billion in revenues in 2013, down slightly from 2012. Kaplan is owned by Graham Holdings Co. (NYSE: GHC), which was spun out of the Washington Post Co. when Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) bought the newspaper last year

Top 10 Diversified Bank Companies To Buy Right Now: Nustar Energy L.P.(NS)

NuStar Energy L.P. engages in the terminalling, storage, and transportation of petroleum products primarily in the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, St. Eustatius in the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, and Mexico. The company operates in three segments: Storage, Transportation, and Asphalt and Fuels Marketing. The Storage segment operates terminal and storage facilities for petroleum products, specialty chemicals, crude oil, and other liquids; and crude oil storage tanks. Its terminals also offer pilotage, tug assistance, line handling, launch, emergency response, and other ship services. The Transportation segment transports refined petroleum products, crude oil, and anhydrous ammonia. This segment operates refined product pipelines in Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Minnesota; and owns anhydrous ammonia pipelines located in Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Nebraska. The Asphalt and Fuels Marketing segment refines crude oil to produce asphalt and other refined products. This segment also purchases gasoline and other refined petroleum products for resale. As of December 31, 2010, the company had 65 terminal and storage facilities providing approximately 80.4 million barrels of storage capacity; 5,605 miles of refined product pipelines with 21 associated terminals that offer storage capacity of 4.6 million barrels, as well as 2 tank farms providing storage capacity of 1.2 million barrels; 2,000 miles of anhydrous ammonia pipelines; 812 miles of crude oil pipelines with 16 associated storage tanks comprising storage capacity of 1.9 million barrels; and 2 asphalt refineries with a combined capacity of 104,000 barrels per day, as well as 2 associated terminal facilities with a combined storage capacity of 5.0 million barrels. Riverwalk Logistics, L.P. serves as the general partner of the company. NuStar Energy L.P. was founded in 1999 and is based in Sa n Antonio, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Aimee Duffy]

    Second-quarter midstream earnings have finally started to trickle in, as energy giants Kinder Morgan Energy Partners (NYSE: KMP  ) and TransCanada (NYSE: TRP  ) have reported, as well as a couple of smaller outfits, EQT Midstream Partners (NYSE: EQT  ) and NuStar Energy (NYSE: NS  ) . The industry is off to a great start, and the week was made even more impressive by a spectacular midstream IPO. More on that later, but first the earnings recap.

  • [By Robert Rapier]

    But it is important to note that ETE also has interests in Sunoco Logistics Partners (NYSE: SXL) and Regency Energy Partners (NYSE: RGP).

    Finally, consider NuStar Energy (NYSE: NS) and its general partner NuStar GP Holdings (NYSE: NSH). Like ETE, NSH went public in 2006 and has also significantly outperformed its limited partner since:


    The vast majority of partnerships don’t have a publicly-traded GP. But in each of these three cases in which the GP is publicly traded, the GP tends to outperform the LP units on long-term gains, an advantage somewhat offset by the typically higher LP yield.

  • [By Rich Smith]

    Only five privately held firms will participate in this two-year contract (extendable up to five years). No publicly traded firms at all were chosen to participate -- but publicly traded firms did still win a few of the day's smaller contracts, among them:

    A $76.1 million contract modification awarded to the Bell-Boeing Joint Project Office, a joint venture between Textron� (NYSE: TXT  ) and Boeing (NYSE: BA  ) , which instructs the JPO to delivery one single additional CV-22 tiltrotor aircraft to the U.S. Air Force by December 2016. A $39.4 million fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract for Sysco (NYSE: SYY  ) to provide "prime vendor food and beverage support" to the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Job Corps in Florida through April 16, 2019. A $32.3 million option exercise for NuStar Energy L.P. (NYSE: NS  ) subsidiary Shore Terminals LLC to provide "petroleum storage services" to the U.S. Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps through Nov. 30, 2016. A $7.7 million undefinitized contract modification compensating Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT  ) for "non-recurring sustainment activities" performed on behalf of the government of the United Kingdom, related to the latter's purchase of F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jets. This contract has a completion date of June 201
  • [By Laura Brodbeck]

    Tuesday

    Earnings Expected From: Five Star Quality Care, Inc. (NYSE: FVE), Maximus, Inc. (NYSE: MMS), Nustar Energy (NYSE: NS), D.R. Horton, Inc. (NYSE: DHI), DISH Network Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) Economic Releases Expected: German CPI, British CPI, British PPI, US Redbook, Indian manufacturing output, Indian industrial production

    Wednesday

Top 10 Diversified Bank Companies To Buy Right Now: Mad Catz Interactive Inc(MCZ)

Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. designs, manufactures, markets, sells, and distributes accessories for videogame platforms and personal computers (PC), as well as for iPod and other audio devices. Its products include videogame, PC, and audio accessories, such as control pads, video cables, steering wheels, joysticks, memory cards, light guns, flight sticks, dance pads, microphones, car adapters, carry cases, mice, keyboards, and headsets. It markets its products primarily under the Mad Catz, Saitek, Cyborg, Eclipse, Joytech, GameShark, Tritton, and AirDrives brands. The company also develops flight simulation software; operates flight simulation centers under its Saitek brand; operates a videogame content Website under its GameShark brand; publishes games under its Mad Catz brand; and distributes games and videogame products for third parties. It distributes its products through retailers in the United States, Europe, and Canada, as well as in Australia, Japan, Korea, New Zeal and, and Singapore. The company was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in San Diego, California

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Bryan Murphy]

    If the name Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. (NYSEMKT:MCZ) rings a bell, it might be because yours truly penned some bullish thoughts on the video-gaming hardware (joysticks, control pads, headsets, etc.) back on August 20th. Neither MCZ nor my write-up were received as anything partially special at the time - it was just another stock dissected by just another guy, and you may or may not have given it a second thought. The 37% rally in the meantime, however, may garner a little more attention.

Saturday, June 28, 2014

Hot High Dividend Stocks To Buy Right Now

The number of companies paying dividends in the S&P 500 is at a 15-year high. According to FactSet, just over 80 companies in the index do not pay dividends. Paying dividends has become more attractive for companies of all sizes.

However, not all dividends are created equal. Of the 500 companies in the index, 99 pay their shareholders a dividend of 3% or more. By comparison, a 10-year Treasury note yields 2.66%. While Treasury securities come with an implied guarantee of a return of principal, share price appreciation of these companies also is expected to provide additional positive returns. Dividends are intended to make those returns even better over time.

BASEBALL: The priciest and cheapest playoff tickets

Dividends are considered among the most straightforward measures of capital returns. After all, they represent cash going back into the hands of investors directly from the company. However, a high dividend yield does not give a complete picture of the value of an investment. The health of the company also has to be considered. Investors need to be able to differentiate a high dividend from a safe dividend.

Hot Industrial Disributor Companies To Own In Right Now: StemCells Inc (STEM)

StemCells, Inc. (StemCells), incorporated in August 1988, is engaged in the research, development, and commercialization of stem cell therapeutics and related tools and technologies for academia and industry. The Company is focused on developing and commercializing stem and progenitor cells as the basis for therapeutics and therapies, and cells and related tools and technologies to enable stem cell-based research and drug discovery and development. The Company�� primary research and development efforts are focused on identifying and developing stem and progenitor cells as potential therapeutic agents. The Company has two therapeutic product development programs, including its CNS Program, which is developing applications for HuCNS-SC cells, its human neural stem cell product candidate, and its Liver Program, which is characterizing the Company�� human liver cells as a therapeutic product.

CNS Program

The Company in its CNS Program, is in clinical development with its HuCNS-SC cells for a range of disorders of the central nervous system. The CNS includes the brain, spinal cord and eye. In February 2012, the Company had completed a Phase I clinical trial in Pelizeaus-Merzbacher Disease (PMD), a fatal myelination disorder in the brain.

The Company�� CNS Program is focused on developing clinical applications, in which transplanting HuCNS-SC cells protect or restore organ function of the patient before such function is irreversibly damaged or lost due to disease progression. The Company�� initial target indications are PMD, and more generally, diseases in which deficient myelination plays a central role, such as cerebral palsy or multiple sclerosis; spinal cord injury, disorders in which retinal degeneration plays a central role, such as age-related macular degeneration or retinitis pigmentosa. The Company�� product candidate, HuCNS-SC cells, is a purified and expanded composition of normal human neural stem cells. Its HuCNS-SC cells can be directly transp! lanted.

Liver Program

Liver stem or progenitor cells offer an alternative treatment for liver diseases. A liver cellular therapy or cell-based therapeutic provide or support liver function in patients with liver disease. The Company held a portfolio of issued and allowed patents in the liver field, which cover the isolation and use of both hLEC cells and the isolated subset, as well as the composition of the cells themselves.

The Company�� range of cell culture products, which are sold under the SC Proven brand, includes iSTEM, GS1-R, GS2-M, RHB-A, RHB-Basal, NDiff N2, and NDiff N2B27. Its iSTEM is a serum-free, feeder-free medium that maintains mouse embryonic stem cells in their pluripotent ground state by using selective small molecule inhibitors to block the pathways, which induce differentiation. RHB-A is a defined, serum-free culture medium for the selective culture of human and mouse neural stem cells and their maintenance and expansion as adherent cell populations. RHB-Basal is a defined, serum-free basal medium. When supplemented with specific growth factors, this media is formulated for the propagation and differentiation of adherent neural stem cells. RHB-Basal can also be tailored to specific-cell type requirements by the addition of customer preferred supplements.

The Company�� NDiff N2 is a defined serum-free scell culture supplement for the derivation, maintenance, expansion and/or differentiation of human and mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells and tissue-derived neural stem cells supplement. Its NDiff N2-AF is a serum-free and animal component-free version of NDiff N2. Its NDiff N2B27 is a defined, serum-free medium for the differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells to neural cell types. NDiff N27-AF is a serum-free and animal component-free version of NDiff N27. Its GS1-R is a serum-free media formulation shown to enable the derivation and long-term maintenance of true, germline competent rat embryonic stem cells without the add! ition of ! cytokines or growth factors. Its GS2-M is a defined, serum- and feeder-free medium for the derivation and long-term maintenance of true, germline competent mouse iPS cells.

The Company also markets a number of antibody reagents for use in cell detection, isolation and characterization. These reagents are also under the SC Proven brand and it includes STEM24, STEM101, STEM121 and STEM123. Its STEM24 is a human antibody that recognizes human CD24, also known as heat stable antigen (HSA), a glycoprotein expressed on the surface of many human cell types, including immature human hematopoietic cells, peripheral blood lymphocytes, erythrocytes and many human carcinomas. Its CD24 is also a marker of human neural differentiation. Its STEM101 is a human-specific mouse antibody that recognizes the Ku80 protein found in human nuclei. Its STEM121 is a human-specific mouse antibody that recognizes a cytoplasmic protein of human cells. Its STEM123 is a human-specific mouse antibody that recognizes human glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP).

The Company�� Other products marketed under SC Proven include total cell genomic DNA (gDNA), RNA and protein lysate reagents purified from homogenous stem cell populations for intra-comparative studies, such as Epigenetic fingerprinting, Southern, Western and Northern blots, PCR, RT-PCR and microarrays. This range of purified stem cell line lysates includes mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells propagated in SC Proven 2i inhibitor-based GS2-M media and mouse ES cell-derived and fetal tissue-derived neural stem (NS) cells propagated in SC Proven RHB-A media.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Garrett Cook]

    Healthcare shares gained 0.81 percent in the US market on Friday. Top gainers in the sector included Shire plc (NASDAQ: SHPG), StemCells (NASDAQ: STEM), and Flamel Technologies SA (NASDAQ: FLML).

  • [By Garrett Cook]

    Healthcare shares gained 0.81 percent in the US market on Friday. Top gainers in the sector included Shire plc (NASDAQ: SHPG), StemCells (NASDAQ: STEM), and Flamel Technologies SA (NASDAQ: FLML).

Hot High Dividend Stocks To Buy Right Now: Response Genetics Inc.(RGDX)

Response Genetics, Inc., a life sciences company, engages in the research, development, marketing, and sale of clinical diagnostic tests and pharmacogenomic tests for use in the treatment of cancer primarily in the United States, Asia, and Europe. The company develops genetic tests that measure predictive factors for tumor response in tumor tissue samples. It offers tests for non-small cell lung cancer under the ResponseDX: Lung trade name; colorectal cancer under the ResponseDX: Colon trade name; and gastric and gastroesophageal cancer under the ResponseDX: Gastric trade name. The company also develops tests for other types of cancer that identify genetic profiles of tumors that recur after surgery. Response Genetics, Inc. offers its products through its sales force to community based oncologists, hospitals, and physician offices. In addition, it provides pharmacogenomic testing services to pharmaceutical companies. The company was formerly known as Bio Type, Inc. and cha nged its name to Response Genetics, Inc. in August 2000. Response Genetics, Inc. was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Monica Gerson]

    Response Genetics (NASDAQ: RGDX) slipped 9.47% to $1.34 after the company reported Q4 results. The company posted a quarterly net loss of $3.2 million, or $0.09 per share, versus a year-ago net loss of $0.5 million, or $0.01 per share.

Hot High Dividend Stocks To Buy Right Now: Pactera Technology International Ltd (PACT)

Pactera Technology International Ltd. (Pactera), formerly HiSoft Technology International Limited, incorporated on May 27, 2004, provides global consulting and technology services. The Company provides business/information technology (IT) consulting, solutions, and outsourcing services to a range of multinational firms through a globally integrated network of onsite and offsite delivery locations in China, the United States, Europe, Australia, Japan, Singapore and Malaysia. In January 2014, Pactera Technology International Ltd announced the acquisition of Innoveo Solutions AG.

The Company�� services include business and technology advisory, enterprise application services, business intelligence, application development and maintenance, mobility, cloud computing, infrastructure management, software product engineering and globalization, and business process outsourcing. The Company�� clients include 3M, ABB, Cathay Pacific, China Merchants Bank, Citibank, EMC, Expedia, GE, HP, IBM, Lenovo, Microsoft, Mitsubishi, NEC and TIBCO.

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 Pactera Technology International (Nasdaq: PACT  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

  • [By Seth Jayson]

    Pactera Technology International (Nasdaq: PACT  ) reported earnings on May 23. Here are the numbers you need to know.

    The 10-second takeaway
    For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), Pactera Technology International missed estimates on revenues and met expectations on earnings per share.

Hot High Dividend Stocks To Buy Right Now: STARWOOD PROPERTY TRUST INC.(STWD)

Starwood Property Trust, Inc., a real estate investment trust, primarily focuses on originating, investing in, financing, and managing commercial mortgage loans and other commercial real estate debt investments, commercial mortgage-backed securities, and other commercial real estate-related debt investments. It also focuses to invest in commercial properties subject to net leases, residential mortgage loans, and residential mortgage-backed securities. SPT Management, LLC serves as the manager of Starwood Property Trust, Inc. The company qualifies as a real estate investment trust for federal income tax purposes and would not be subject to federal corporate income taxes, if it distributes at least 90% of its taxable income to its stockholders. Starwood Property Trust was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Chris Hill]

    In this installment, our analysts discuss some of the day's big movers and shakers.�Shares of Level 3 Communications (NYSE: LVLT  ) rise after Deutsche Bank initiates coverage with a buy rating. Trading in Herbalife (NYSE: HLF  ) is halted after the company's auditor resigns. Cliffs Natural Resources (NYSE: CLF  ) gains ground on the news that inflation in China is slowing. And Starwood Property Trust (NYSE: STWD  ) declines after the real estate company announces a secondary stock offering.�

  • [By Amanda Alix]

    Other companies are currently mulling single-family REIT IPOs, too. Colony recently announced�that it plans to spin off its Colony American Homes, which owns over 9,500 homes with average monthly rents of $1,277. Barry Sternlicht, CEO of commercial mortgage investment REIT Starwood Property Trust (NYSE: STWD  ) has also said that he is seriously considering�spinning off his company's real estate holdings into a single-family REIT within the next few months.

  • [By Doug Fabian]

    This fund is pegged to the FTSE NAREIT All Mortgage Capped Index, a benchmark measure that includes top names in the space such as Annaly Capital (NLY), American Capital Agency Corp. (AGNC), Starwood Property Trust (STWD) and Two Harbors Investment Corp. (TWO).

Hot High Dividend Stocks To Buy Right Now: EastGroup Properties Inc. (EGP)

EastGroup Properties, Inc., a real estate investment trust (REIT), focuses on the development, acquisition, and operation of industrial properties in the United States. As of December 31, 2007, it owned 202 industrial properties and 1 office building, as well as approximately 1.7 million square feet properties in Florida, Texas, Arizona, and California. The company has elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code. As a REIT, it would not be subject to federal income tax purposes, provided it distributes at least 90% of its REIT taxable income to its shareholders. EastGroup Properties, Inc. was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Brad Thomas]

    Other REITs mentioned: (O), (NNN), (STAG), (DCT), (EGP), (PDM), (DRE), (LRY)

    Source: Chambers Street: More Liquidity Magic On The Way In REIT-Dom

    Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. (More...)

  • [By Rich Duprey]

    Sunbelt industrial property investor�EastGroup Properties� (NYSE: EGP  ) �announced yesterday its second-quarter dividend of $0.53�per share, the same rate it paid for the last three quarters after raising the payout 2%, from $0.52 per share. It had previously maintained that same payout rate since 2005.

Hot High Dividend Stocks To Buy Right Now: ING Groep NV (ISP)

ING Groep N.V. (ING) is a global financial institution offering banking, investments, life insurance and retirement services to meet the needs of the customers. The Company�� segments include banking and insurance. Banking segment includes retail Netherlands, retail Belgium, ING direct, retail central Europe (CE), retail Asia, commercial banking (excluding real estate), ING real estate and corporate line banking. Insurance segment includes insurance Benelux, insurance central and rest of Europe (CRE), insurance United States (US), Insurance US closed block VA, insurance Asia/Pacific, ING investment management (IM) and corporate line insurance. In November 2013, the Company completed the sale of ING Hipotecaria to Banco Santander (Mexico), S.A. In December 2013, the Company completed the sale of its 33.3% interest in China Merchants Fund to its joint venture partners China Merchants Bank Co Ltd and China Merchants Securities Co Ltd, and divested ING Life Korea to MBK Partners. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Tom Stoukas]

    UniCredit SpA and Intesa Sanpaolo SpA (ISP), Italy�� biggest banks, dropped more than 1 percent as the nation�� benchmark FTSE MIB Index slid 1.2 percent. Rio Tinto Group led mining companies lower after a measure of Chinese manufacturing missed a preliminary estimate. Aryzta AG rallied the most in six months as the Swiss supplier of bakery products reported results that topped projections.

Hot High Dividend Stocks To Buy Right Now: Vision Industries Corp (VIIC)

Vision Industries Corp. (Vision), incorporated on May 11, 2004, is a manufacturer of zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell electric hybrid powered Class 8 trucks and terminal tractors. Vision operates in the short-haul, drayage trucking category (the movement of containerized cargo over a short distance, typically less than 50 miles, from a port to an intermodal facility, such as a rail yard). The Company�� products include the Tyrano, a short-haul Class 8 tractor, and the Zero-TT, a single axle terminal tractor co-developed with Cargotec USA, the maker of terminal tractors.

The Company markets its vehicles to drayage operators at the twin Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and plans to expand its target market nationally to all fleet operators, owner-operators and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). Vision aims to target drayage trucking fleet operators who operate in the eight deep-water ports (Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle, Houston, Savanah, New York and New Jersey). Fleets which operate at these locations usually have predetermine routes, travel less than 50-mile (from Port to rail yard or distribution center) and have a return to base duty-cycle.

Tyrano

The Vision Tyrano is a lass 8 Zero-Emission Hydrogen Fuel Cell / Electric Hybrid heavy-duty truck designed to move containerized cargo from port to rail yard. With a GCVWR the Tyrano uses Lithium-ion batteries to power an electric motor and Hydrogen fuel cells to extend its range. The Vision Tyrano was designed for short-distance containerized cargo movement with trade corridor communities in mind.

Vision (Zero-TT) Terminal Tractors

The Zero-Emission Terminal Tractor (Zero-TT) is a Class 8 facility-only Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Hybrid vehicle. GCVWR and is designed to move the heavy containerized cargo inside a Port facility or central distribution center. The Zero-TT is designed to operate for two full eight-hour shifts with refillable hydrogen tanks.

Cheetah

The Cheetah Supercar is a zero-emission passenger sports car prototype. This sports car is using Vision�� hybrid hydrogen drive system which can deliver 425 horsepower and 1,350 feet /lbs of torque.

The Company competes with Bosch, Delphi, Siemens, Visteon, Quantum, Dynetek Industries Ltd., Lincoln Composites, Structural Composites Inc, Linde AG, Air Products and Energy Conversion Devices.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Peter Graham]

    Small cap green stocks Vision Industries Corp (OTCMKTS: VIIC), Bravo Enterprises Ltd (OTCMKTS: OGNG) and Kleangas Energy Technologies Inc (OTCMKTS: KGET) have reported recent news and/or they are being promoted. Of course, it goes without saying that small cap green stocks tend to be more volatile that other types of investments. So will investors and traders alike see some greenbacks from these green stocks? Here is a quick reality check:

Friday, June 27, 2014

Top 5 Japanese Stocks To Buy For 2014

WARSAW, Poland (AP) -- Boeing (NYSE: BA  ) will offer compensation to Poland's national airline for the months-long grounding of its 787 planes, a Polish government official said Monday.

The world's fleet of 50 Boeing 787s was grounded in January after batteries smoldered on two planes owned by two Japanese airlines. Two of the grounded planes were owned by Poland's LOT airline. They have all resumed flying since Boeing fitted all 787s with redesigned batteries.

Deputy Treasury Minister Rafal Baniak said that the grounding of LOT's planes, which lasted until June, had cost more than 100 million zlotys ($ 30 million) in lost business alone. Among other costs, LOT had to extend the lease on its 767s to carry out scheduled flights.

Talking to Radio PiN, Baniak would not estimate the total cost of the grounding, but said Boeing promised to make a compensation offer in July.

The manufacturer is still trying to identify the root cause of the battery problem.

Top 10 Services Stocks For 2015: SBT Bancorp Inc (SBTB)

SBT Bancorp, Inc., incorporated on February 17, 2006, is the holding company for The Simsbury Bank & Trust Company, Inc. (the Bank). The Bank provides a variety of banking and investment services. The Bank has branch offices in the towns of Granby, Avon, and Bloomfield, Connecticut. The Bank also maintains a mortgage center in Canton, Connecticut. Services to the Bank�� customers are also provided through SBT Online Internet banking. The Bank's customer base consists primarily of individual consumers and small businesses in north central Connecticut. The Bank has in excess of 21,000 deposit accounts. In January 2011, the Bank formed Simsbury Bank Passive Investment Company, a subsidiary of Passive Investment Company (PIC).

During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Bank had seven automated teller machines (ATMs); two are located at each of its main office and its Bloomfield office, and one at each of the other branch/business offices. The Bank offers a range of commercial banking services to residents and businesses in its primary and secondary markets through a variety of commercial loans and residential mortgage programs, as well as home equity lines and loans, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)-insured checking, savings, and individual retirement accounts (IRA), 401K rollover accounts, as well as safe deposit and other customary non-deposit banking services. The Bank offers investment products to customers through SBT Investment Services, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bank, and through its affiliation with the securities broker/dealer LPL Financial Corporation.

Lending Activities

The Bank�� commercial loans are made for the purpose of providing working capital, financing the purchase of equipment, or for other business purposes. Such loans include loans with maturities ranging from thirty days to two years and term loans, which are loans with maturities normally ranging from 1 to 10 years. Short-term business loans are generally inten! ded to finance current transactions and typically provide for periodic principal payments, with interest payable monthly. Term loans normally provide for fixed or floating interest rates, with monthly payments of both principal and interest. The Bank�� construction loans are primarily interim loans made to finance the construction of commercial and single-family residential property. These loans are typically short-term. The Bank occasionally will make loans for speculative housing construction or for acquisition and development of raw land. Consumer loans are made for the purpose of financing automobiles, various types of consumer goods, and other personal purposes.

Investment Activities

As of December 31, 2011, the Bank�� investment portfolio consisted of the United States Government and agency securities, mortgage-backed securities, corporate bonds, municipal securities, and money market mutual funds. During 2011, proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities amounted to $8,274,474.

Sources of Funds

Deposits are the Bank�� primary source of funds. At December 31, 2011, the Bank had a deposit mix of 43% checking, 34% savings, and 23% certificates of deposit. Thirty percent of the total deposits of $344.8 million were noninterest bearing at December 31, 2011. The Bank had brokered deposits of $9,017,198 as of December 31, 2011.

The Company competes with Bank of America, Webster Bank, People�� Bank, Windsor Federal Savings And Loan Association and Wells Fargo Bank.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By CRWE]

    Today, SBTB remains (0.00%) +0.000 at $28.20 thus far (ref. google finance Delayed: 3:47PM EDT July 30, 2013).

    SBT Bancorp, Inc., previously reported net income of $401,000 or $0.43 per diluted share for the second quarter of 2013, compared to $453,000 or $0.49 per diluted share for the second quarter of 2012.

    For the six months ended June 30, 2013, net income amounted to $918,000, or $0.99 per diluted share. This compares to net income of $934,000 or $0.96 per diluted share for the six months ended June 30, 2012. Total assets on June 30, 2013 were $382 million compared to $340 million on June 30, 2012. 12

Top 5 Japanese Stocks To Buy For 2014: Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited(AEM)

Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited, through its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration, development, and production of mineral properties in Canada, Finland, and Mexico. The company primarily explores for gold, as well as silver, copper, zinc, and lead. Its flagship property includes the LaRonde mine located in the southern portion of the Abitibi volcanic belt, Canada. The company was founded in 1953 and is based in Toronto, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Hebba Investments]

    Even with rising Q2 costs, GG still has lower true all-in costs than many of its larger competitors' Q1FY13 costs. Compared to Q1FY13 numbers of competitors such as Yamana Gold (AUY) (costs just over $1300), Kinross Gold (KGC) (costs above $1350), Silvercrest Mines (SVLC) (costs below $1100), Newmont Gold (NEM) (costs around $1300) Agnico-Eagle (AEM) (costs around $1400) and Barrick Gold (ABX) (costs around $1200).

  • [By vaninaegea]

    In august, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) published the mid-year review for the agricultural sector. Their findings point to a slowdown for the industry, highlighting a 9.5% decline on exports through the first half of 2013. Also, late soybean planting in the USA is expected to compound the industry�� slowdown. So, what are the prospects for AGCO (AGCO), CNH Global (CNH), and Deere & Co. (DE) under such conditions?

  • [By Ben Levisohn]

    As a result, Chidley and team upgraded Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM) and�Yamana Gold (AUY) to Neutral from Underweight, and raised Barrick Gold (ABX), Goldcorp (GG) and Iamgold (IAG) to Overweight from Neutral.�Gold Fields (GFI) was downgraded “due to increased risk and also reduced expectations for the South Deep operation,” Chidley says.

  • [By Ben Levisohn]

    Gold miners are getting a boost today from solid earnings from the likes of Barrick Gold (ABX), Goldcorp (GG) and Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM). The exception: Kinross Gold (KGC), which missed earnings forecasts and cut its reserves.

Top 5 Japanese Stocks To Buy For 2014: Banco Santander-Chile (BSAC)

Banco Santander Chile (the Bank), incorporated on August 1, 2002, provides a range of general banking services to its customers, from individuals to corporations. The Bank operates in two segments: Commercial Banking, and Global Banking and Markets. The Bank provides a range of commercial and retail banking services to its customers, including Chilean peso and foreign currency denominated loans to finance a variety of commercial transactions, trade, foreign currency forward contracts and credit lines and a variety of retail banking services, including mortgage financing. It has 499 total branches, 269 of which are operated under the Santander brand name, with the remaining branches under certain specialty brand names, including 93 under the Santander Banefe brand name, 45 under the SuperCaja brand name, 44 under the BancaPrime brand name and 53 as auxiliary and payment centers. The Bank provides a range of financial services to corporate and individual customers. It offers a variety of financial services, including financial leasing, financial advisory services, mutual fund management, securities brokerage, insurance brokerage and investment management. As of December 31, 2012, it had outstanding loans net of allowances for loan losses of $ 38,271 million, and total deposits of $ 29,408 million.

The Bank�� loan portfolio includes Commercial loans, Residential mortgage loans, Consumer loans and Non-client loans. Commercial loans include commercial loans, foreign trade loans, mortgage loans financed with mortgage bonds, factoring operations, leasing contracts and other outstanding loans. Commercial loans (includes all loans other than consumer loans and residential mortgage loans). Residential mortgage loans include draft loans, residential mortgage loans backed by mortgage bonds and other mortgage mutual loans. Residential mortgage loans, including loans granted to individuals for the acquisition, construction or repair of residential real estate, in which the value of the property cove! rs at least 100% of the amount of the loan. Consumer loans include installment consumer loans, consumer loans through lines of credit, credit card loans and consumer leasing contracts. Consumer loans, including loans granted to individuals for the purpose of financing the acquisition of consumer goods or payment of service.)

Commercial Banking

The Commercial Banking segment is comprised sub-segments, which includes individuals (Santander Banefe), individuals (Commercial Banking), small and mid-sized companies, institutional, companies, real estate and corporations. Individuals (Santander Banefe), consisting of individuals with monthly incomes between $ 313 and $ 835 and served through its Banefe branch network. The segment accounts for 4.2% of its total loans outstanding as of December 31, 2012. The segment offers customers a range of products, including consumer loans, credit cards, auto loans, residential mortgage loans, debit card accounts, savings products, mutual funds and insurance brokerage. Individuals (Commercial Banking), consisting of individuals with a monthly income greater than $ 835. Clients in the segment account for 47.1% of its total loans outstanding as of December 31, 2012, and are offered a range of products, including consumer loans, credit cards, auto loans, commercial loans, foreign trade financing, residential mortgage loans, checking accounts, savings products, mutual funds and insurance brokerage.

Small and mid-sized companies consists of small companies with annual revenue of less than $2.5 million. As of December 31, 2012, the segment represented approximately 15.0% of its total loans outstanding. Customers in the segment are offered a range of products, including commercial loans, leasing, factoring, foreign trade, credit cards, mortgage loans, checking accounts, savings products, mutual funds and insurance brokerage. Institutional, such as universities, government agencies, municipalities and regional governments. As of December 31, 2! 012, thes! e clients represented 1.9% of its total loans outstanding. Customers in this sub-segment are also offered the same products that are offered to the customers in its small businesses segment. The sub-segment is included in the Retail segment because customers in this sub-segment are a source for individual customers. Companies consists of companies with annual revenue over $2.5 million and up to $20.9 million. Customers in this segment are offered a range of products, including commercial loans, leasing, factoring, foreign trade, credit cards, mortgage loans, checking accounts, cash management, treasury services, financial advisory, savings products, mutual funds and insurance brokerage. As of December 31, 2012, these clients represented 8.6% of its total loans outstanding.

Real estate consists of companies in the real estate sector with annual revenue over $1.7 million, including construction companies and real estate companies that execute projects for sale to third parties. As of December 31, 2012, these clients represented 4.1% of its total loans outstanding. To these clients the Bank offers, in addition to traditional banking services, specialized services for financing, primarily residential projects, in order to increase the sale of residential mortgage loans. Large corporations consists of companies with annual revenue over $20.9 million. Customers in this segment are also offered the same products that are offered to the customers in its mid-sized companies segment. As of December 31, 2012, these clients represented 8.8% of its total loans outstanding.

Global Banking and Markets segment

The Global Banking and Markets segment is comprised of the sub-segments, which include corporate and the treasury division. Corporate consists of companies that are foreign multinationals or part of a Chilean economic group with sales of over $20.9 million. As of December 31, 2012, these clients represented 9.8% of its total loans outstanding. Customers in this segment are o! ffered a ! range of products, including commercial loans, leasing, factoring, foreign trade, mortgage loans, checking accounts, cash management, treasury services, financial advisory, savings products, mutual funds and insurance brokerage. The Treasury Division provides financial products to companies in the wholesale banking and the middle-market segments. This includes products, such as short-term financing and funding, securities brokerage, interest rate and foreign currency derivatives, securitization services and other tailor made financial products. The Treasury division also manages its trading positions.

Corporate Activities

The Bank has a Corporate Activities segment comprised of all other operational and administrative activities This segment includes the Financial Management Division, which manages global functions, such as the management of its structural foreign exchange gap position, its structural interest rate risk and its liquidity risk. The Financial Management Division also oversees the use of its resources, the distribution of capital among its different units and the overall financing cost of investments.

The Bank competes with Banco del Estado.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Sean Williams]

    That inflation rate wasn't a big help for Banco Santander Chile (NYSE: BSAC  ) , the fund's third-largest holding, which is a large bank that's inflation-sensitive and saw its net interest margin drop in its most recent quarter. However, many of the more important underlying fundamentals of Banco Santander Chile, such as loan growth and core deposits, increased year over year while net provision expenses for consumer loans dropped 3.8% year over year. �

Top 5 Japanese Stocks To Buy For 2014: Steel Excel Inc (SXCL)

Steel Excel Inc., formerly ADPT Corp., incorporated in 1981, is primarily focused on capital redeployment and identification of new business operations. The identification of new business operations includes, but is not limited to, the oilfield servicing, sports, training, education, entertainment and lifestyle businesses. The Company operates in two segments: oilfield servicing and sports-related segment. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company acquired two sports-related businesses and one oilfield servicing business. On June 27, 2011, the Company acquired Baseball Heaven LLC and Baseball Cafe, Inc. On August 15, 2011, the Company acquired The Show, LLC. On December 7, 2011, the Company acquired Rogue Pressure Services, LLC. On February 9, 2012, the Company acquired Eagle Well Services, Inc. In May 2012, the Company acquired Sun Well Service, Inc. Effective December 16, 2013, Steel Excel Inc acquired Black Hawk Energy Services Inc, a provider of oil and gas field services.

The Company�� oilfield servicing segment provides services in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. Services include snubbing services (controlled installation and removal of all tubulars - drill strings and production strings) in and out of the wellbore with the well under full pressure, flowtesting, and hydraulic work over/simultaneous operations (allows customers to perform multiple tasks on multiple wells on one pad at the same time). The Company�� sports-related services segment provides services related to marketing and providing baseball facility services, including training camps, summer camps, leagues and tournaments, concession and catering events and other events and related Websites. In addition, the Company outfit little league baseball and softball players and coaches in official major league baseball uniforms.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Geoff Gannon]

    1. Steel Excel (SXCL)
    2. FormFactor (FORM)
    3. Imation (IMN)
    4. Tuesday Morning (TUES)
    5. Pacific Biosciences (PACB)
    6. Maxygen (MAXY)
    7. Westell (WSTL)
    8. Volt Information Sciences (VISI)
    9. Yasheng Group (YHGG)