The Oakmark Global Select Fund returned 7.7% for the quarter ended December 31, 2013, slightly underperforming the MSCI World Index�� 8% return.� For the calendar year, the Fund was up 34%, while the MSCI World Index returned 27%.� The Fund has returned an average of 9% per year since its inception in October 2006, outperforming the MSCI World Index�� annualized gain of 5% over the same period.�
FedEx (FDX) was the top contributor for the quarter, returning 26%.� FedEx reported solid second quarter results; its express division alone generated 140 basis points of year-over-year margin improvement.� These results show that their cost-savings plans are continuing to gain traction.� The ground division also performed well, producing 8% year-over-year volume growth.� This marked the 55th consecutive quarter that the ground division has gained market share ��a trend that should continue for many more years.� Management also improved profitability and deployed the company�� excess capital into what we believe are value-creating activities.� When we initially invested in FedEx, we believed that the company could substantially improve its margins and capital allocation, and we are pleased that management executed on ��and the market appropriately recognized ��such opportunities for sustained value growth.�
5 Best Paper Stocks To Own For 2015: Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc.(SCHN)
Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. engages in recycling ferrous and nonferrous scrap metals, and used and salvaged vehicles; and manufacturing finished steel products. The company operates through three segments: Metals Recycling Business (MRB), Auto Parts Business (APB), and Steel Manufacturing Business (SMB). The MRB segment involves in the purchase, collection, processing, recycling, sale, and broking of ferrous scrap metals. It processes mixed and large pieces of scrap metal into smaller pieces by sorting, shearing, shredding, and torching. This segment?s products include ferrous products, including ferrous scrap metal, a feedstock used in the production of finished steel products; and nonferrous scrap metals, including aluminum, copper, stainless steel, nickel, brass, titanium, lead, high temperature alloys, and joint products, such as zorba (mixed nonferrous material) and zurik (stainless steel). The MRB segment sells its products to steel mills and smelters. The APB segment purchases used and salvaged vehicles and sells serviceable used auto parts from these vehicles through its 45 self-service auto parts stores, which are located across the United States and western Canada. It also sells other vehicles, including auto bodies; cores, such as engines, transmissions, alternators, and catalytic converters; and nonferrous materials to metal recyclers. The SMB segment engages in the purchase of recycled metal, and processing of the recycled metal and other raw materials into finished steel products. Its product portfolio comprises semi-finished goods and finished goods consisting of rebar, coiled rebar, wire rod, merchant bar, and other specialty products. This segment serves steel service centers, construction industry subcontractors, steel fabricators, wire drawers, and farm and wood product suppliers. The company exports its products worldwide. Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. was founded in 1946 and is based in Portland, Oregon.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rich Smith]
If you want to know what the future holds for global steel giants like Arcelor Mittal (NYSE: MT ) , U.S. Steel (NYSE: X ) , and Nucor (NYSE: NUE ) , one of the best ways you can spend your time, I suspect, is by reviewing the earnings reports of another company entirely -- Schnitzer Steel (NASDAQ: SCHN ) .
Top Performing Companies To Own In Right Now: Humana Inc.(HUM)
Humana Inc. offers various health and supplemental benefit plans in the United States. Its Government segment consists of beneficiaries of government benefit programs; and operates in three lines of businesses, including Medicare, Military, and Medicaid. The Medicare program provides hospital and medical insurance benefits to persons of age 65 and over and some disabled persons under the age of 65. The Military program offers health insurance coverage to the dependents of duty military personnel, and to retired military personnel and their dependents. The Medicaid program is a federal program that is state-operated to facilitate the delivery of health care services primarily to low-income residents. The Commercial segment consists of members enrolled in its medical and specialty products marketed to employer groups and individuals. This segment provides health maintenance organization products that offer prepaid health insurance coverage to its members through a network of independent primary care physicians, specialty physicians, and other health care providers; preferred provider organization products, which are offered primarily to employer groups and individuals; and administrative services only products that are provided to employers who self-insure their employee health plans. It also offers various specialty products, including dental, vision, and other supplemental products, as well as disease management services. As of December 31, 2010, Humana Inc. had approximately 10.2 million members enrolled in medical benefit plans; and approximately 7.1 million members enrolled in specialty products programs. The company markets its products through various channels comprising television, radio, the Internet, telemarketing, and direct mailings. In addition, it has strategic alliances with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.; State Farm; and United Services Automobile Association to market its products. The company was founded in 1961 and is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Matt Thalman]
Dow losers
Shares of UnitedHealth (NYSE: UNH ) are down slightly, probably because of a report that the FBI and SEC have subpoenaed a number of individuals who are believed to have been involved in an April 1 leak indicating that Medicare Advantage reimbursement rates would actually increase after previously announcing a proposed 2.3% cut to rates. UnitedHealth and competitors Humana (NYSE: HUM ) and Aetna saw share prices surge after the news broke. Nothing indicates that any of these companies were involved in any wrongdoing. - [By Sean Williams]
In February, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, proposed a 2.2% reimbursement rate decrease to Medicare Advantage health-benefit providers. Though a bit steeper than many had expected, the reduction proposal followed the basic expectation that the government was going to reduce its cash disbursements to for-profit health-care business. However, following two months of some 160 lawmakers and insurers lobbying the CMS, it decided in April to reverse its decision and propose a 3.3% increase to Medicare Advantage reimbursement rates! At the time, it was great news for Humana (NYSE: HUM ) and Universal American, which derive about two-thirds and three-quarters of their revenue from Medicare Advantage plans. But, it set an even greater precedence in the sector that health insurers weren't going to cede their pricing power to the government.�
Top Performing Companies To Own In Right Now: Emulex Corp (ELX)
Emulex Corporation (Emulex) is a provider of a range of network convergence solutions that connect servers, storage, and networks within the data center. The Company�� product portfolio includes Host Bus Adapters (HBAs), Converged Network Adapters (CNAs), Network Interface Cards (NICs), mezzanine cards for blade servers, Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), embedded storage bridges, routers, and switches, Input/Output Controllers (IOCs), and connectivity management solutions. The Company is a designer, developer and supplier of HBAs, CNAs, NICs, mezzanine cards, Pass-Through Modules (PTM), embedded storage switches, embedded bridges, embedded routers, I/O ASICs, switch-on-a-chip (SOC) ASICs, Internet Baseboard management controllers (iBMC��) and connectivity management solutions. On August 25, 2010, Emulex acquired ServerEngines Corporation. In February 2013, Emulex acquired 89% ownership of Endace Ltd. In April 2013, Emulex Corp announced the completion of acquisition of Endace Limited.
Host Server Products
The Company�� Host Server Products include the development of chip level and board level server-based I/O adapters, including HBAs, Universal Converged Network Adapters (UCNAs), and mezzanine cards that connect servers and storage to networks using a range of products. Its products support Internet protocol (IP) and storage networking, including transmission control protocol (TCP)/IP, Internet small computer system interface (iSCSI), network attached storage (NAS), Fibre Channel, and Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE). Host Server Products (HSP) include LightPulse HBAs, OneConnecttm UCNAs, custom form factor solutions for original equipment manufacturer (OEM) blade servers, and ASICs. These products enable servers to connect to local area networks (LANs), storage area networks (SANs), and NAS by offloading data communication processing tasks from the server as information is delivered and sent to the network.
Its Fibre Channel H! BAs connect host computers to a Fibre Channel network. The Company�� adapters support a range of operating systems and host computer system interfaces, including Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) and PCI Express-based platforms. Its Fibre Channel HBA offerings include single, dual, and quad port adapters at throughput speeds of two gigabyte per second, four gigabyte per second, and eight gigabyte per second for use in enterprise, large, medium, and small-sized organizations. The Emulex OneConnect UCNA is a single chip 10 gigabyte per second Ethernet platform designed to address the challenges of data center networks. The Emulex UCNA platform enables data center managers to consolidate multiple one gigabyte per second Ethernet links on to a single 10 gigabyte per second Ethernet link. Emulex HBAs and UCNAs are based upon its internally developed Fibre Channel and Ethernet IOCs. In addition, these IOCs can be used in embedded I/O environments, such as disk and tape storage arrays and storage appliances. Revenues from these applications are included in the Company�� Embedded Storage Products.
Embedded Storage Products
The Company�� Embedded Storage Products include the development of chip level, board level, and box level array based products that are deployed inside storage arrays, tape libraries, and other storage products to provide connectivity and protocol emulation functions. These products include embedded IOCs, I/O Processors (IOPs), SOCs, embedded bridges (FC/SATA/SAS), and embedded routers (FC/SATA/SAS). Emulex offers a range of integrated, embedded storage networking products for enterprise storage systems that deliver improved performance, reliability and storage connectivity. InSpeed is an advanced switching architecture that results in a single chip capable of handling multiple Fibre Channel devices operating at two, four, or eight gigabyte per second speeds. Its embedded router and bridge products consist of chip and firmware solutions.
! The Compa! ny competes with QLogic Corporation, Brocade Communications Systems, Inc., Broadcom Corporation, Intel Corporation, Chelsio Communications, Inc., Mellanox Technologies, Ltd., LSI, Marvell Technology Group Ltd., Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. and PMC-Sierra, Inc.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Roberto Pedone]
Emulex (ELX) is a provider of a range of network convergence solutions that intelligently connect servers, storage and networks within the data center. This stock closed up 1.6% to $8.14 in Thursday's trading session.
Thursday's Range: $8.05-$8.22
52-Week Range: $5.72-$8.99
Thursday's Volume: 727,000
Three-Month Average Volume: 786,981From a technical perspective, ELX bounced modestly higher here right above some near-term support at $7.95 with decent upside volume. This stock has been trending sideways inside of a consolidation chart pattern over the last month, with shares moving between 7.50 on the downside and $8.46 on the upside. This modest spike is now starting to push shares of ELX within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade above the upper-end of its recent sideways trading chart pattern. That trade will hit if ELX manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $8.34 to $8.46 with high volume.
Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ELX as long as it's trending above some key near-term support levels at $7.95 or $7.50 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 786,981 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then ELX will set up to re-test or possibly take out its 52-week high at $8.99. Any high-volume move above $8.99 will then give ELX a chance to tag its next major overhead resistance levels at $10 to $11.19.
- [By John Udovich]
Mid cap networking solutions company Brocade Communications Systems, Inc (NASDAQ: BRCD) has pretty much been a sleeper for investors since the dot.com bust, but that has changed over the past year���meaning its worth revisiting the stock along with potential performance benchmarks�like QLogic Corporation (NASDAQ: QLGC), Emulex Corporation (NYSE: ELX) and iShares North American Tech-Multimedia Networking ETF (NYSEARCA: IGN). I should mention that we have recently Brocade Communications Systems to our SmallCap Network Elite Opportunity (SCN EO) portfolio because the company has successfully transitioned from being a hardware company to supporting virtual networks via software and it continues to offer best-of-breed technology.
- [By Eric Volkman]
A top-level promotion has taken place at Emulex (NYSE: ELX ) . The company announced that it has appointed Jeffrey Benck to be its CEO, effective immediately. He replaces James McCluney, who was named executive chairman of the board. In turn, McCluney displaces ex-chairman Paul Folino, who is to continue to serve as a director.
Top Performing Companies To Own In Right Now: Fifth Street Senior Floating Rate Corp (FSFR)
Fifth Street Senior Floating Rate Corp., incorporated on May 22, 2013, is a closed-end, non-diversified management investment company. The Company investment objective is to maximize the Company�� portfolio�� total return by generating income from its debt investments while seeking to preserve its capital. The Company intends to achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in senior secured loans, including first lien, unitranche and second lien debt instruments, that pay interest at rates, which are determined periodically on the basis of a floating base lending rate, made to private middle market companies whose debt is rated below investment grade, which the Company refer to collectively as senior loans. The Company�� investment adviser is Fifth Street Management.
The Company may also invest in senior unsecured loans issued by private middle market companies and, to a lesser extent, subordinated loans issued by private middle market companies and senior and subordinated loans issued by public companies. Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the value of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes will be invested in floating rate senior loans. Senior loans pay interest at rates, which are determined periodically on the basis of the London-Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus a premium. Senior loans in which the Company expects to invest are made to United States and, to a limited extent, non- United States corporations, partnerships and other business entities which operate in various industries and geographical regions.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Marc Bastow]
Management investment company Fifth Street Senior Floating Rate Corp. (FSFR) raised its quarterly dividend 15% to 23 cents per share, payable April 15 to shareholders of record as of March 31.
FSFR Stock�Dividend Yield: 6.88%
Top Performing Companies To Own In Right Now: CBS Corp (CBS.A)
CBS Corporation is a mass media company. The Company has operations in segments, which include Entertainment, Cable Networks, Publishing, Local Broadcasting and Outdoor. During the year ended December 31, 2011, contributions to the Company's consolidated revenues from its segments were Entertainment 52%, Cable Networks 11%, Publishing 6%, Local Broadcasting 19% and Outdoor 13%. During 2011, it generated approximately 15% of its total revenues from international regions. During 2011, approximately 59% and 17% of total international revenues were generated in Europe and Canada, respectively. Effective March 26, 2013, the Company acquired 50% interest in The TV Guide Network from Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. In June 2013, the Company acquired TV Guide Digital, which includes the popular TVGuide.com and TV Guide Mobile properties. In October 2013, Platinum Equity and CBS Corporation announced that an affiliate of Platinum Equity acquired the assets of CBS Outdoor International (CBSO International).
Entertainment
The Entertainment segment consists of the CBS Television Network; CBS Television Studios, CBS Studios International and CBS Television Distribution, the Company's television production and syndication operations; CBS Films, the Company's producer and distributor of theatrical motion pictures, and CBS Interactive, the Company's online content networks for information and entertainment. The CBS Television Network through CBS Entertainment, CBS News and CBS Sports distributes a schedule of news and public affairs broadcasts, sports and entertainment programming to more than 200 domestic affiliates reaching throughout the United States, including 16 of the Company's owned and operated television stations, and to affiliated stations in certain United States territories. The CBS Television Network primarily derives revenues from the sales of advertising time for its network broadcasts. CBS Entertainment is responsible for acquiring or developing and scheduling the entertainme! nt programming presented on the CBS Television Network, which includes primetime comedy and drama series, reality-based programming, specials, children's programs, daytime dramas, game shows and late-night programs. CBS News operates a worldwide news organization, providing the CBS Television Network and the CBS Radio Network with scheduled news and public affairs broadcasts, including 60 Minutes, 48 Hours Mystery, CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley, CBS This Morning, CBS Sunday Morning and Face the Nation, as well as special reports.
CBS News off-network production units produce programming for domestic and international outlets, including the CBS Television Network, cable television, home video, audio-book and in-flight markets, as well as schools and libraries. CBS News also provides CBS Newspath, a television news syndication service that offers daily news coverage, sports highlights and news features to the CBS Television Network affiliates and other subscribers worldwide. CBS Sports broadcasts include The NFL Today, certain games from the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament (including the NCAA Men's Final Four), the PGA Golf Tour, Masters Tournament and PGA Championship, the United States Open Tennis Championships, regular-season college football and basketball games on network television, in addition to the NFL's American Football Conference (AFC) regular-season, post-season divisional playoff and championship games. The Company, through CBS Television Studios, CBS Studios International and CBS Television Distribution, produces, acquires and/or distributes programming worldwide, including series, specials, news and public affairs. Such programming is produced primarily for broadcast on network television, exhibition on basic cable and premium subscription services or distribution via first-run syndication. First-run syndication is programming exhibited on television stations without prior exhibition on a network or cable service. The Company also distributes off-network synd! icated pr! ogramming, which is programming exhibited on television stations, cable networks or video-on-demand services following its exhibition on a network, basic cable network or premium subscription service.
Programming that was produced or co-produced by the Company's production group and is broadcast on network television includes, among others, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS), NCIS (CBS), The Good Wife (CBS) and 90210 (The CW). In off-network syndication, the Company distributes series such as CSI:, CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, Criminal Minds, NCIS and NCIS: Los Angeles, as well as a library of older television programs. The Company also produces and/or distributes first-run syndicated series such as Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy!, Entertainment Tonight, Inside Edition, The Insider, Dr. Phil, Rachael Ray and Judge Judy. The Company also distributes syndicated and other programming internationally. The Company has entered into agreements for digital streaming of its programming in the United States. and certain other countries. The Company entered into non-exclusive licensing agreements with Netflix, Inc., for streaming various programming from the Company's library on Netflix's subscription video-on-demand services in July 2011 for Canada and Latin America and, in October 2011, for the United Kingdom. In September 2011, the Company entered into a non-exclusive licensing agreement with Hulu Japan LLC for streaming various programs from the Company's library on Hulu's subscription video-on-demand service in Japan. In February 2011 and July 2011, the Company entered into non-exclusive licensing agreements with each of Netflix, Inc. and Amazon Digital Services, Inc., respectively, to stream various programs from the Company's library on each of Netflix's and Amazon's subscription video-on-demand services in the United States.
The Company owns a 50% interest in a joint venture with Reliance Broadcast Network Limited, which operates three English language and one Punjabi language general ent! ertainmen! t television channels for the Indian market and surrounding territory. Also, the Company owns an approximately 33% interest in a joint venture with a subsidiary of Ten Network Holdings Limited to provide content to ELEVEN, a digital multichannel service, which launched in Australia in January 2011. In addition, the Company owns a 50% interest in a joint venture with Chellozone (UK) Limited, a subsidiary of Liberty Global, Inc., which owns and operates six television channels in the United Kingdom and Ireland, including CBS Action, CBS Drama and CBS Reality, and an approximately 33% interest in a joint venture, which owns two pay television channels in Australia called TV1 and Sci Fi. CBS Films produces, acquires and distributes theatrical motion pictures across all genres. CBS Films' theatrical releases during the year ended December 31, 2011, were The Mechanic and Beastly. In general, motion pictures produced or acquired by CBS Films are exhibited theatrically in the United States and internationally. CBS Interactive operates one of the global publishers of content on the Internet.
CBS Interactive's brands include CNET, CBS.com, CBSSports.com, GameSpot, TV.com, CBSNews.com, ZDNet, Last.fm, and MetroLyrics.com, among others, serve targeted audiences with text, video, audio, and mobile content spanning technology, entertainment, sports, news, business, gaming and music categories. In addition to its United States-based business, CBS Interactive operates in Asia and Europe. CBS Interactive generates revenue principally from the sale of advertising and sponsorships, in addition to fees derived from search and commerce partners, licensing fees, subscriptions, e-commerce activities, and other paid services. CNET.com is the Website for technology and consumer electronics information and features news, reviews, downloads and instructional and entertaining video and audio shows about technology. GameSpot is a gaming information Website providing video game reviews and previews, news, Webcasts, vid! eos, and ! game downloads. CBSSports.com provides sports content, fantasy sports, community and e-commerce features. CBSSports.com owns and operates CBSCollegeSports.com College Network and MaxPreps.com. TV.com is a destination for entertainment and community around television where visitors can watch videos and discuss and obtain information about television shows across all networks. CBS Interactive also operates CBS.com, the online destination for CBS Television Network programming. Through the CBS Audience Network, the Company delivers content from its Websites and television, radio and affiliated stations.
The Company competes with ABC, FOX, NBC, The CW, MyNetworkTV, Disney, NBCUniversal, Sony, Paramount Pictures Corporation, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., Lions Gate Entertainment, The Weinstein Company, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., Lakeshore Entertainment Group LLC, AOL, MSN, Yahoo!, Google, eBay, Shopping.com and Amazon.com.
Cable Networks
The Cable Networks segment consists of Showtime Networks, the Company's subscription program services; CBS Sports Network, the Company's cable network for college athletics, and Smithsonian Networks, a venture with Smithsonian Institution, which operates Smithsonian Channel. Showtime Networks owns and operates three subscription program services in the United States: Showtime, offering recently released theatrical feature films, original series, documentaries, boxing, mixed martial arts and other sports-related programming, and special events; The Movie Channel, offering recently released theatrical feature films and related programming; and Flix, offering theatrical feature films primarily from the last several decades, as well as selected other titles. At December 31, 2011, Showtime, The Movie Channel and Flix, in the aggregate, had approximately 73 million subscriptions in the United States, certain United States territories and Bermuda. Showtime Networks also owns and operates multiple! xed chann! els of Showtime and The Movie Channel in the United States, which offer additional and varied programming choices. In addition, Showtime Networks transmits high definition feeds of Showtime, The Movie Channel and a number of of their multiplexed channels, and also makes versions of Showtime, The Movie Channel and Flix available on demand, enabling subscribers to watch selected individual programs (in both standard and high definition in the case of Showtime and The Movie Channel, and standard definition in the case of Flix). Showtime Networks also makes available Showtime Anytime, a streaming on-demand authenticated version of Showtime, which can be accessed on computers via showtimeanytime.com or through an iPad application free of charge to Showtime subscribers as part of their Showtime subscription through participating Showtime Networks' distributors.
Showtime Networks operates the Website SHO.com and various mobile applications, which promote Showtime, The Movie Channel and Flix programming, and provide information and entertainment and other services. Showtime Networks derives revenue principally from the license of its program services to cable, direct broadcast satellite (DBS), telephone company, and other distributors. Showtime Networks also owns and manages Smithsonian Networks, a venture with Smithsonian Institution, which operates Smithsonian Channel, a cable service in the United States, featuring programs of a cultural, historical, scientific and educational nature. CBS Sports Network is a 24-hour cable program service that provides sports and related content, with a focus on college sports. The network features events from approximately 20 men's and women's sports and provides coverage of over 300 live events each year in addition to live studio shows and original programming. CBS Sports Network had approximately 44 million subscribers as of December 31, 2011. The network derives its revenues from subscription fees and the sale of advertising on its cable program service. CB! S Sports ! Network and Comcast Corporation each owns a 50% interest in the mtn: MountainWest Sports Network, which exhibits Mountain West Conference athletics and is available to United States cable and satellite providers.
The Company competes with Home Box Office, Inc., Starz Entertainment, LLC and Netflix, Inc.
Publishing
The Publishing segment consists of Simon & Schuster, which publishes and distributes consumer books in the United States and internationally. Simon & Schuster publishes and distributes adult and children's consumer books in printed, digital and audio formats in the United States and internationally. Digital formats include audio downloads for the Apple iPod and other companies' MP3 players, electronic books for devices, such as Amazon's Kindle, the Apple iPad and Barnes & Noble's NOOK, stand-alone applications for the Apple iPod and iPhone, and new hybrid text and video combinations. Simon & Schuster's major adult imprints include Simon & Schuster, Pocket Books, Scribner, Atria Books, Gallery Books, Touchstone and Free Press. Simon & Schuster's children's imprints include Simon Pulse, Aladdin and Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers. Simon & Schuster also develops special imprints and publishes titles based on the products of certain CBS businesses, as well as that of third parties and distributes products for other publishers.
Simon & Schuster distributes its products directly and through third parties. Simon & Schuster also delivers content and promotes its products on general Internet sites, as well as those linked to individual titles; its created assets include online videos showcasing Simon & Schuster authors and new releases on YouTube, Facebook, MSN.com, SimonandSchuster.com and other sites. International publishing includes the international distribution of English-language titles through Simon & Schuster UK, Simon & Schuster Canada, Simon & Schuster Australia, Simon & Schuster India and other distributors, as well as the publi! cation of! local titles by Simon & Schuster UK and Simon & Schuster Australia.
The Company competes with Random House, Penguin Group, Hachette and Harper Collins.
Local Broadcasting
The Company�� Local Broadcasting segment consists of CBS Television Stations, the Company's 29-owned broadcast television stations, and CBS Radio, through which the Company owns and operates 130 radio stations in 28 United States markets and related online properties. The Company operates local Websites in United States markets, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco and Dallas, which combine the Company's television and radio local media brands online to provide the news, traffic, weather, and sports information, as well as local discounts, directories and reviews. The Company owns 29 broadcast television stations through its CBS Television Stations group. It owns multiple television stations within the same designated market area (DMA) in nine markets, which include Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Boston, Detroit, Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto and Pittsburgh. The stations produce news and broadcast public affairs, sports and other programming to serve their local markets and offer CBS, The CW or MyNetworkTV programming and syndicated programming. The CBS Television Stations group principally derives its revenues from the sale of advertising time on its television stations. Substantially all of the Company's television stations operate Websites, which promote the stations' programming, and provide news, information and entertainment, as well as other services. These Websites principally derive revenues from the sale of advertising. The Company's radio broadcasting business operates through CBS Radio. The majority of CBS Radio's revenues are generated from the sale of local and national advertising.
The Company competes with Clear Channel Communications, Inc., Cumulus Media Inc., Emmis Communication! s Corpora! tion, Entercom Communications Corp., Radio One, Inc., Pandora, Spotify, Rhapsody and XM Radio Inc.
Outdoor
The Company sells, through its outdoor businesses, advertising space on various media, including billboards, transit shelters and other street furniture, buses, rail systems (in-car, station platform and terminal), mall kiosks and stadium signage and in retail stores. It has outdoor advertising operations in more than 100 markets in North America, including all 50 in the United States, 19 in Canada and all 45 in Mexico. The Company has a variety of outdoor advertising displays in the Netherlands, France, Italy, Puerto Rico, the Republic of Ireland, Spain, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Chile and China. The Company operates its outdoor businesses through CBS Outdoor in the United States, Canada, South America and Europe, CBS Outernet in the United States, and Vendor in Mexico. Outdoor operates in the billboard, transit, street furniture and retail store advertising markets. Outdoor primarily operates two types of billboard advertising displays, commonly referred to as bulletins and posters. Billboard space is sold for periods ranging from 4 weeks to 12 months. Transit advertising includes advertising on or in transit systems, including the interiors and exteriors of buses, trains and trams and at rail stations. Street furniture displays bus shelters, which reach both vehicular and pedestrian audiences. Bus shelters are constructed, installed and maintained by Outdoor. CBS Outernet, a distributor of video programming and advertising content to retail stores, enables customized messaging by region and retail environment.
The Company competes with Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc., JCDecaux S.A., Cemusa Inc., Titan Outdoor Holdings, Inc. and Lamar Advertising Company.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By WWW.MARKETWATCH.COM]
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- CBS Corp. (CBS.A) reported late Thursday a first-quarter net profit of $468 million, or 78 cents a diluted share, compared with $463 million, or 73 cents a diluted share, for the same prior-year period. Analysts polled by FactSet had expected first-quarter earnings of 75 cents a share on net income of $446 million. Revenues were $3.86 billion, compared with $4.04 billion in the first quarter of 2013 and expectations of $3.92 billion. Content licensing and distribution revenues grew 6%, thanks to higher international licensing of television programming, the company said. Affiliate and subscription fee revenues rose 9%, led by higher cable affiliate fees, retransmission revenues, and fees from CBS Television Network-affiliated television stations, it added. Shares of CBS were down 2.6% to $56.51 in after-hours trading.
Top Performing Companies To Own In Right Now: Makism 3D Corp (MDDD)
Makism 3D Corp., incorporated on May 4 2010, is a three dimensional (3D) printer manufacturing company. The Company produces consumer and professional grade 3D printers. The Company�� flagship product, branded as the Wideboy family of printers, offers packaging designed to fit any office or professional space.
Its 3D printers utilize British and German engineered components. Its printers are assembled in Cambridge (United Kingdom).
Advisors' Opinion:- [By James E. Brumley]
In retrospect, their pullbacks come as no real surprise. Neither Voxeljet AG (NYSE:VJET) nor Camtek LTD. (NASDAQ:CAMT) saw their shares soar on any news that was meaningfully sustainable, and after the "shoot first, ask questions later" market had a chance to start asking questions, it became clear that - even with the largest of glimmers of corporate progress unveiled a few weeks ago - CAMT and VJET both had been bid up more on hype and less on substance. Meanwhile (and this could be bitterly ironic to some), a small cap play in the same 3D printing space that (1) didn't beat the daylights out of its hype-drum, and (2) is actually much closer to bringing a revenue-bearing product to the market [per today's news - more on that below] isn't getting anywhere near the same attention. That company? Makism 3D Corp. (OTCBB:MDDD). The good news is, MDDD finally looks like it's revving its engine, while Camtek and Voxeljet AG shares continue to deteriorate.
- [By John Udovich]
Although the subject of a recent market correction,�3D printing and 3D printer stocks like�3D Systems Corporation (NYSE: DDD), Stratasys, Ltd. (NASDAQ: SSYS), ExOne Co (NASDAQ: XONE)�and Makism 3D Corp. (OTCBB: MDDD) largely remain hot, but what strategy should investors and/or traders alike take moving forward? Just consider the following latest news about the 3D printing industry or�3D printer stocks:
Top Performing Companies To Own In Right Now: iShares Short Treasury Bond ETF (SHV)
iShares Lehman Short Treasury Bond Fund (the Fund) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the short-term sector of the United States Treasury market as defined by the Lehman Brothers Short U.S. Treasury Index (the Index). The Index includes all publicly issued United States Treasury securities that have a remaining maturity of between 1 and 12 months, and have more than $250 million or more of outstanding face value. In addition, the securities must be denominated in United States dollars, and must be fixed-rate and non-convertible securities. Excluded from the Index are certain special issues, such as flower bonds, targeted investor notes, and state and local government series bonds (SLG5), and coupon issues that have been stripped from assets that are already included in the Index.
The Index is a market capitalization-weighted index. The Fund generally will invest at least 95% of its assets in the United States Government bonds. The Fund invests in a representative sample of the securities in the Index, which has a similar investment profile as the Index. The Fund�� investment advisor is Barclays Global Fund Advisor.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Donald van Deventer]
Shorter-duration Treasury Exchange-Traded Funds: (SHY), (SHV), (IEI), (BIL), (TUZ), (FIVZ), (DTUL), (VGSH), (DTUS), (DFVS), (DFVL), (SST), (ISTB), (TBZ).
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