Best Growth Stocks For 2014,Top Growth Stocks For 2014: May 2014

Saturday, May 31, 2014

5 Best Biotech Stocks To Own Right Now

5 Best Biotech Stocks To Own Right Now: Ophthotech Corp (OPHT)

Ophthotech Corporation, incorporated on January 05, 2007, is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of therapeutics to treat diseases of the eye. The Companys advanced product candidate is Fovista, which the Company is developing for use in combination with anti-VEGF drugs that represent the current standard of care for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD). Wet AMD is a serious disease of the central portion of the retina, known as the macula, which is responsible for detailed central vision and color perception. It is characterized by abnormal new blood vessel formation and growth, referred to as neovascularization, which results in blood vessel leakage, retinal distortion and scar formation. If untreated, the progressive retinal damage results in rapid, irreversible and severe vision loss. Wet AMD is the cause of blindness in patients over the age of 55 in the United States and the European Union.

The anti-V EGF market for the treatment of wet AMD consists predominantly of two drugs that are approved for marketing and primarily prescribed for the treatment of wet AMD, Lucentis and Eylea, and off-label use of the cancer therapy Avastin. The use of anti-VEGF drugs has significantly improved visual outcomes for patients with wet AMD who have been treated with these drugs as compared to untreated patients.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By John Udovich]
The biotech sector has been pretty exciting this yearwith small cap biotech stocks Prana Biotechnology Limited (NASDAQ: PRAN) and TNI BioTech (OTCMKTS: TNIB) having recently produced noteworthy news for investorswhile Acceleron Pharma, Inc (NASDAQ: XLRN), Ophthotech (NASDAQ: OPHT) and BIND Therapeutics (NASDAQ: BIND) have justset term sheets for their upcoming IPOs. Just consider all of the following recent news:
[By John Udovich]
Yesterday, small cap biotech Acceleron Pharma I! nc (NASDAQ: XLRN) rose 9.76%plus shares are up 183.6% for retail investors since its September IPO, meaning its worth taking a closer look at the stock along with the performance of other biotech IPOs like BIND Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: BIND), Ophthotech Corp (NASDAQ: OPHT) and Foundation Medicine Inc (NASDAQ: FMI) which also debuted at the same time.
[By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Shares of Ophthotech (NASDAQ: OPHT) got a boost, shooting up 25.78 percent to $39.54 after the company reported that it has entered into an ex-US licensing and commercialization deal with Novartis Pharmaceuticals.
[By John Udovich]
If you have not been watching the biotech sector lately, you should start paying attention as the sector along with small cap biotech stocks like Cell Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: CTIC), BIND Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: BIND) and TNI BioTech (OTCMKTS: TNIB) continue to produce a steady stream of good news for investors thanks to positive industry trends. Moreover, Ophthotech Corp (NASDAQ: OPHT), Foundation Medicine Inc (NASDAQ: FMI), Evoke Pharma and Fate Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: FATE) are this week's biotech IPOs that will no doubt be watched closely by Wall Street and industry observers in general. With that in mind, consider the following biotech news or recent articles about the industry and the small cap players in it:

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/5-best-biotech-stocks-to-own-right-now.html

5 Stocks Ready for Breakouts

DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- Trading stocks that trigger major breakouts can lead to massive profits. Once a stock trends to a new high or takes out a prior overhead resistance point, then it's free to find new buyers and momentum players who can ultimately push the stock significantly higher.

>>5 Stocks Under $10 Set to Soar

One example of a successful breakout trade I flagged recently was business intelligence and information applications software player Actuate (BIRT), which I featured in May 15's "5 Stocks Ready for Breakouts" at $4 a share. I mentioned in that piece that shares of Actuate had recently gapped down sharply from over $5.50 to its 52-week low of $3.41 a share with heavy downside volume. Following that move, shares of BIRT were starting to rebound off its 52-week low and were beginning to move within range of triggering a major breakout trade that had the potential to take the stock back into its gap-down-day zone.

Guess what happened? Shares of BIRT didn't wait long to trigger that breakout, since the stock started to take out those breakout levels the following trading session with strong upside volume flows. Volume the following two trading sessions after my article hit 1.58 and 1.44 million, which is well above its three-month average action of 588,000 shares. This stock continued to uptrend the rest of the month with BIRT tagging an intraday high on May 28 of $4.82 a share. That represents a solid gain of 20% in just a few weeks for anyone who bought the stock ahead of the breakout.

Breakout candidates are something that I tweet about on a daily basis. I frequently tweet out high-probability setups, breakout plays and stocks that are acting technically bullish. These are the stocks that often go on to make monster moves to the upside. What's great about breakout trading is that you focus on trend, price and volume. You don't have to concern yourself with anything else. The charts do all the talking.

>>5 Large-Cap Trades for All-Time Highs

Trading breakouts is not a new game on Wall Street. This strategy has been mastered by legendary traders such as William O'Neal, Stan Weinstein and Nicolas Darvas. These pros know that once a stock starts to break out above past resistance levels and hold above those breakout prices, then it can easily trend significantly higher.

With that in mind, here's a look at five stocks that are setting up to break out and trade higher from current levels.

Tesla Motors

One auto manufacturer that's starting to move within range of triggering a big breakout trade is Tesla Motors (TSLA), which designs, develops, manufactures and sells electric vehicles and electric vehicle powertrain components. This stock is off to a hot start in 2014, with shares up a whopping 40%.

>>3 Big Stocks Getting Big Attention

If you take a look at the chart for Tesla Motors, you'll see that this stock has been uptrending strong for the last month, with shares moving higher off its May low of $177.22 to its intraday high of $214.80 a share. During that uptrend, shares of TSLA have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of TSLA within range of triggering a big breakout trade above some key near-term overhead resistance levels.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in TSLA if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $218.66 to $219.33 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average volume of 7.55 million shares. If that breakout starts soon, then TSLA will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $235.73 to $240, or even $244 a share.

Traders can look to buy TSLA off weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below its 50-day moving average of $206.34 or close to more near-term support at $200 a share. One can also buy TSLA off strength once it starts to take out those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

Inteliquent

A wireless communications player that's starting to trend within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade is Inteliquent (IQNT), which provides voice telecommunications services on a wholesale basis in the U.S. and internationally. This stock has been red hot so far in 2014, with shares up 29%.

>>3 Stocks Spiking on Big Volume

If you take a look at the chart for Inteliquent, you'll notice that this stock has been uptrending strong for the last four months, with shares moving higher from its low of $10.67 to its recent 52-week high of $15.93 a share. During that uptrend, shares of IQNT have been making mostly higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. Shares of IQNT have recently crossed back above its 50-day moving average and it's now quickly moving within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in IQNT if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $15.45 to its 52-week high of $15.93 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that registers near or above its three-month average action of 422,452 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then IQNT will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $20 to $25 a share.

Traders can look to buy IQNT off weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below its 50-day moving average of $14.30 or around some more major support at $13 a share. One could also buy IQNT off strength once it starts to clear those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

Voxeljet AG

Another 3D printing player that's starting to move within range of triggering a big breakout trade is Voxeljet AG (VJET), which provides three-dimensional printers and on-demand parts services to industrial and commercial customers. This stock has been destroyed by the bears so far in 2014, with shares down a whopping 63%.

>>5 Stocks Insiders Love Right Now

If you take a glance at the chart for Voxeljet AG, you'll see that this stock has been consolidating and trending sideways for the last few weeks, with shares moving between its 52-week low of $12.85 on the downside and right around $15 on the upside. Shares of VJET have now started to bounce higher off its 52-week low of $12.85 and it's now quickly moving within range of triggering a breakout trade above the upper-end of its recent sideways trading chart pattern.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in VJET if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $14.77 to $15 a share with high volume. Watch for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that registers near or above its three-month average action of 531,736 shares. If that breakout gets underway soon, then VJET will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $16.28 to $17.74 a share, or even its 50-day moving average of $17.95 a share.

Traders can look to buy VJET off weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right around its 52-week low of $12.85 a share. One can also buy VJET off strength once it starts to take out those breakout levels share with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

American Apparel

Another apparel clothing player that's starting to trend within range of triggering a big breakout trade is American Apparel (APP), which designs, manufactures, distributes, retails and sells branded fashion basic apparel products, and clothing and accessories for women, men, children and babies. This stock has been hammered lower so far in 2014, with shares down sharply by 48%.

>>5 Stocks Set to Soar on Bullish Earnings

If you look at the chart for American Apparel, you'll see that this stock is starting to rip higher today right off its 50-day moving average of 60 cents per share. That strong uptick higher is starting to push shares of APP within range of triggering a big breakout trade above a key downtrend line. That downtrend line has been in place as resistance for shares of APP for the last month, so a break above it could lead to a fast and quick move higher.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in APP if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at 65 to 68 cents per share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 2.62 million shares. If that breakout materializes soon, then APP will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at 75 to 82 cents per share. Any high-volume move above those levels will then give APP a chance to tag 90 cents per share.

Traders can look to buy APP off weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits just below its 50-day moving average of 60 cents per share or near more support at 57 cents per share. One can also buy APP off strength once it starts to bust above those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

21Vianet Group

My final breakout trading prospect is information technology services player 21Vianet Group (VNET), which provides carrier-neutral Internet data center services to Internet companies, government entities, blue-chip enterprises and small to mid-sized enterprises in the People's Republic of China. This stock has been trading red hot over the last six months, with shares up sharply by 51%.

If you look at the chart for 21Vianet Group, you'll see that this stock is spiking sharply higher here right off its 50-day moving average of $25.97 with strong upside volume flows. Volume so far today has already registered over 1.2 million shares, which is eclipsing its three-month average volume of 1.06 million shares. This sharp spike higher today with volume is quickly pushing shares of VNET within range of triggering a major breakout trade above some key near-term overhead resistance levels.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in VNET if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $27.68 to $28.15 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that registers near or above its three-month average action of 1.06 million shares. If that breakout kicks off soon, then VNET will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $30.25 to its 52-week high of $32.19 share. Any high-volume move above $32.19 will then push VNET into new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action.

Traders can look to buy VNET off weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some near-term support at $25 to $24 a share One can also buy VNET off strength once it starts to take out those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a conformable percentage from your entry point.

To see more breakout candidates, check out the Breakout Stocks of the Week portfolio on Stockpickr.

-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis.

Friday, May 30, 2014

Is Scripps Networks Interactive on Your Radar?

Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE: SNI ) looks stronger than ever after a great first quarter.

While most cable networks experienced a dip in viewership largely because of the Olympics, Scripps' popular channels -- including HGTV, Food Network, and Travel Channel -- actually increased viewership numbers, especially in the key 25- to 54-year-old demographic advertisers covet.

This shows management's programming savvy as well as the staying power of its brands, all of which give Scripps tremendous pricing power when it comes to advertising rates and affiliate fees. But lots of sharks swim in the sea of cable television programming.

Stock Advisor analyst Sara Hov and Rule Breakers analyst Simon Erickson talk about what's ahead for Scripps, including the chance that this small-but-mighty company could get swallowed by a bigger fish.

Your cable company is scared, but you can get rich
You know cable's going away. But do you know how to profit? There's $2.2 trillion out there to be had. Currently, cable grabs a big piece of it. That won't last. And when cable falters, three companies are poised to benefit. Click here for their names. Hint: They're not Netflix, Google, and Apple.

Top 10 Chemical Stocks To Buy For 2015

Top 10 Chemical Stocks To Buy For 2015: Koppers Holdings Inc (KOP)

Koppers Holdings Inc. (Koppers), incorporated on November 12, 2004,is a global provider of carbon compounds and commercial wood treatment products and services. The Company's products are used in a variety of niche applications in a diverse range of end-markets, including the aluminum, railroad, specialty chemical, utility, concrete and steel industries. The Company serves its customers through a global manufacturing and distribution networks, with manufacturing facilities located in the United States, Australia, China, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Denmark. The Company operates in two business segments: Carbon Materials & Chemicals and railroads & Utility Products.

The Company's operations are, to a substantial extent, vertically integrated. Through the Company's Carbon Materials & Chemicals business, the Company processes coal tar into a variety of products, including carbon pitch, creosote, naphthalene and phthalic anhydride, which are intermediat e materials necessary in the production of aluminum, the pressure treatment of wood, the production of high-strength concrete, and the production of plasticizers and specialty chemicals, respectively. Through the Company's Railroad & Utility Products business, the Company believes that the Company is thesupplier of railroad crossties to the North American railroads.

Carbon Materials & Chemicals

Carbon pitch, naphthalene, and creosote are produced through the distillation of coal tar, a by-product generated through the processing of coal into coke for use in steel and iron manufacturing. Coal tar distillation involves the conversion of coal tar into a variety of intermediate chemical products in processes beginning with distillation. During the distillation process, heat and vacuum are utilized to separate coal tar into three primary components: carbon pitch (approximately 50%), chemical oils (approximately 20%) and creosote (appro! ximately 30%).

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The Company's Carbon Materials & Chemicals business! (CM&C) manufactures principal products, including carbon pitch, a critical raw material used in the production of aluminum and steel; naphthalene, used for the production of phthalic anhydride and as a surfactant in the production of concrete; phthalic anhydride, used in the production of plasticizers, polyester resins and alkyd paints, and creosote and carbon black feedstock, used in the treatment of wood or as a feedstock in the production of carbon black. The Company also uses naphthalene as a feedstock in the manufacture of phthalic anhydride. The primary markets for phthalic anhydride are in the production of plasticizers, unsaturated polyester resins and alkyd resins. The Company is a producer of carbon pitch for the aluminum industry.

Creosote is used as a commercial wood treatment chemical to preserve railroad crossties and lumber, utility poles and piling. The majority of the Company's domestically produced creosote is sold to its Railroad & Utility Pr oducts business. In Australia, China and Europe, creosote is sold primarily into the carbon black market for use as a feedstock in the production of carbon black. In Europe and China creosote is also sold to wood treaters. The Company's wood treating plants in the United States purchase substantially all of their creosote from the Company's tar distillation plants.

Other products include the sale of refined tars, benzole and specialty chemicals. The Company's CM&C business manufactures its primary products and sells them directly to the Company's global customer base under long-term contracts or through purchase orders negotiated by its regional sales personnel and coordinated through its global marketing group in the United States. The Company's nine coal tar distillation facilities including joint ventures and four carbon materials terminals give the Company the ability to offer customers multiple sourcing and a consistent supply of p! roducts.

Rail road & Utility Products

The Company's Railroad ! & Utility! Products business (R&UP) sells treated and untreated wood products, rail joint bars and services primarily to the railroad and public utility markets in the United States and Australia. The Company also produces concrete crossties, a complementary product to its wood treatment business, through a joint venture in the United States.

Railroad products include procuring and treating items such as crossties, switch ties and various types of lumber used for railroad bridges and crossings. Railroad products also include manufacturing and selling rail joint bars, which are steel bars used to join rails together for railroads. Utility products include transmission and distribution poles for electric and telephone utilities and piling used in industrial foundations, beach housing, docks and piers. The R&UP business operates 13 wood treating plants, one rail joint bar manufacturing facility, one co-generation facility and 13 pole distribution yards located throughout the United States and Australia. The Company's network of plants is strategically located near timber supplies to enable the Company to access raw materials and service customers effectively. In addition, the Company's crosstie treating plants are typically adjacent to its railroad customers' track lines, and its pole distribution yards are typically located near its utility customers.

In the United States, hardwood lumber is procured by the Company from hundreds of small sawmills throughout the northeastern, midwestern and southern areas of the country. The crossties are shipped via rail car or trucked directly to one of the Company's crosstie treating plants, all of which are on line with a railroad. The crossties are either air-stacked for a period of six to twelve months or artificially dried by a process called boultonizing. Once dried, the crossties are pressure treated with creosote, a product of the Company's CM&C busines! s.

The Company's R&UP b usiness' customer base is the North American Class I railroa! d market,! which buys approximately 80% of all crossties produced in the United States and Canada. The Company also has relationships with many of the approximately 550 short-line and regional rail lines. This also forms the customer base for the Company's rail joint bar products. The railroad crosstie market is a mature market with approximately 23 million replacement crossties (both wood and non-wood) purchased during 2012. The Company supplies all seven of the North American Class I railroads and have contracts with six of them. The Company treats poles with a variety of preservatives, including pentachlorophenol, copper chrome arsenates and creosotes .In the United States the market for utility pole products is characterized by a number of small producers selling into a price-sensitive industry. The utility pole market is fragmented domestically, with over 200 investor-owned electric and telephone utilities and 2,900 smaller municipal utilities and rural electric associations.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Jeremy Bowman]
What: Shares of Koppers Holdings (NYSE: KOP ) were looking rusty today, falling as much as 12% after the company cut its outlook for the current quarter.

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

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Best Up And Coming Companies To Watch In Right Now

Best Up And Coming Companies To Watch In Right Now: New Residential Investment Corp (NRZ)

New Residential Investment Corp., incorporated on September 26, 2013, is a real estate investment trust. The Company focuses on investing in, and actively managing, investments related to residential real estate. On May 15, 2013, Newcastle Investment Corp. announced that the spin-off of New Residential Investment Corp.

The Company is managed by an affiliate of Fortress Investment Group LLC, a global investment management. The Company primarily target investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, residential mortgage backed securities, residential mortgage loans and other related investments.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Lauren Pollock]
New Residential Investment Corp.(NRZ) and other investors agreed to buy about $3.2 billion of servicing advances from Nationstar Mortgage Holdings Inc.(NSM), part of Nationstar’s plan to reconfigure its acquisition structure. The advances relate to nonagency residential mortgage loans with an unpaid principal balance of about $58 billion. Nationstar shares rose 4.1% to $42.50 in light premarket trading.

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/best-up-and-coming-companies-to-watch-in-right-now-2.html

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Hot Asian Stocks To Buy Right Now

Hot Asian Stocks To Buy Right Now: China Southern Airlines Company Limited(ZNH)

China Southern Airlines Company Limited provides commercial airline services in the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and internationally. It principally engages in the provision of passenger, air cargo, and mail airline services. The company also offers logistics services; air catering services; property management services; aircraft and engine repair and maintenance services; pilot training services; flight simulation services; and airport ground services. As of December 31, 2010, it had a fleet of 422 aircraft, as well as a network reaching 898 destinations connecting 169 countries and regions, and cities worldwide. The company was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Guangzhou, the People?s Republic of China. China Southern Airlines Company Limited operates as a subsidiary of China Southern Air Holding Company.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Lisa Levin]
China Southern Airlines Co (NYSE: ZNH) shares fell 2.47% to reach a new 52-week low of $15.38. China Southern Airlines' PEG ratio is 3.00.

DARA BioSciences (NASDAQ: DARA) shares fell 15.02% to touch a new 52-week low of $1.81. DARA BioSciences' trailing-twelve-month ROA is -66.74%.

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/hot-asian-stocks-to-buy-right-now.html

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

The Seven Best Paying Jobs With Only High School Diploma

Close to a third of the adult U.S. population has a college degree. While it no longer necessarily guarantees a job, as it once did, graduating from college is a prerequisite for the vast majority of high-paying jobs.

Of the job categories that earned a median of at least $60,000 in 2012, just a handful did not require at least some college education. The top-paying job categories all required a bachelor's degree, and in many cases, a master's or doctoral degree.

But for those who cannot go to college, there are still hundreds of thousands of high-paying jobs that only require a high school diploma. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed 2012 occupational profiles from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to identify the jobs that pay the most money and generally do not require any more formal education than a high school diploma.

Click here to see the best paying jobs

Very few of these positions, however, are instantly accessible to a person fresh out of high school. Some of these positions do not require a bachelor's degree, but do involve a great deal of additional on-the-job training or certification. Most require years of work at lower positions before workers can move up the ranks.

Many of these jobs are compensated well because of the dangerous or unfavorable conditions associated with them. Subway operators, paid a median of nearly $63,000 a year, spend long hours underground. Elevator repairers and nuclear power plant operators work in potentially life-threatening positions and are paid more, accordingly.

Best Forestry Stocks For 2015

In order to identify the high-paying jobs you can get with a high-school degree, 24/7 Wall St. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed wage and employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment Statistics database and job descriptions from the Occupational Outlook Handbook. The jobs that made the list had a median annual salary of at least $60,000 and did not require formal education beyond a high school diploma, according to the BLS.

These are the seven best-paying jobs you can get with a high school diploma.

Monday, May 26, 2014

Mercado Libre: Latin Shopping

Top 5 Machinery Stocks To Watch For 2015

From its home office in Argentina, this company is making e-commerce available to businesses and consumers in South and Central America, reports Rudy Martin, editor of Latin Stock Investing.

The aggressive firm, Mercado Libre Inc. (MELI), has been firming its franchises in the various nations it serves, by customizing its various local services to conform to the prevailing cultures of the countries.

The company operates in Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, Portugal, and Uruguay.

It expedites the sales process using a proprietary MercadoPago online payment capability that resembles the PayPal system available in other parts of the world.

MELI also offers a proprietary MercadoShops software-as-a-service, fully hosted online Web store solution, in addition to making available to vendors its MercadoShops that they can use to set up, manage, and promote their own online Web stores.

This is in addition to a suite of services with names such as its MercadoClics service, which enables retailers and vendors of small and medium brands, and various other consumer brands, to promote their products and services on the Internet.

The firm also allows advertisers to place displays on it's MercadoLibra portal to promote their offerings.

The strength of MELI's interactive commerce capabilities were apparent in an outstanding second quarter earnings report the firm released on August 1.

The firm's merchandise volume, for the three months, ended June 30 totaled $1.73 billion, up 32.8% from a year ago, while payment volume of $577.9 million for the period was 40.4% ahead of a year ago (percentages based on US dollar totals.)

The e-commerce firm's net revenue of $112.2 million for the quarter was 26.3% ahead of the same period in 2012. We have added the stock to our model portfolio.

Subscribe to Latin Stock Investing here…

Ross Stores: Don’t Blame JC Penney

After volatile trading this morning following its earnings release, Ross Stores (ROST) has headed higher this afternoon.

Ross Stores reported a first-quarter profit of $1.15 per share, meeting analyst forecasts, though sales of $2.68 billion missed forecasts for $2.69 billion. Same-store sales rose 1%, which was at the bottom of the range Ross Stores had provided earlier. Ross also raised the low-end of its full year guidance.

MKM Partners‘ Patrick McKeever says don’t blame JC Penney (JCP) for Ross Stores’ less-than-blockbuster results:

Same-store sales increased 1%, which is commendable in the context of all the negative comps across the apparel space, but it was a bit disappointing for Ross, which has shown greater outperformance in recent years. While there’s some concern about JC Penney’s return to sales growth and increased promotional intensity, we do not believe this has been a significant factor for Ross, just as we don’t think Ross saw much benefit during JC Penney’s near implosion. Accordingly, we view this, at most, as a marginal issue.

Cowen’s John Kernan and Jerry Gray think the second half of the year will be better for Ross as it takes advantage of weakness at Sears (SHLD):

We see Ross Stores’ same-store sales potentially accelerating into the 2H of 2014 as the retail traffic environment normalizes and inventory overhangs decline at competitors. Aside from JCPenney’s one quarter of resurgence, the mid-tier department store channel remains a share donator, and we see weakness and store closures at Sears and Kmart as market share and real estate opportunity for Ross Stores. We note Sears and K-Mart have a $9.5B apparel and soft goods business.

Shares of Ross Stores have gained 1% to $68.77 today after dropping as much as 0.4% earlier this morning. Sears has dropped 1.3% to $37.59, while JC Penney has gained 1% to $8.96.

Saturday, May 24, 2014

5 stocks to watch

The market's rollover Tuesday leaves us with more shorts than longs. Here are two stocks with bullish patterns, and four that look poised to continue lower.

On the long side, Alliance Fiber Optic Products Inc. (AFOP) has held support at around 17.00 and bounced, reaching 20.43 intraday on Tuesday, before closing at 20.04. That was a gain of 35 cents, or 1.78%, on 1.1 million shares, an increase in volume. It's near resistance. It did back off 20.64, the high it had about two weeks ago, and if it can get through that, it should test 21.00, and then 24.00, my targets.

Check out Harry's video analysis of this stock on the last page.

Friday, May 23, 2014

3 Chemicals Stocks to Sell Now

Popular Posts: 13 “Triple A” Stocks to BuyHottest Technology Stocks Now – ASX DDD HIMX CDNS9 Oil and Gas Stocks to Buy Now Recent Posts: 3 Chemicals Stocks to Buy Now 7 “Triple F” Stocks to Sell 3 Chemicals Stocks to Sell Now View All Posts

For the current week, the overall ratings of three chemicals stocks are worse, according to the Portfolio Graderdatabase. Each of these rates a “D” (“sell”) or “F” overall (“strong sell”).

Tronox Ltd. () is on the decline this week, earning a D (“sell”) after receiving a C (“hold”) last week. Tronox produces and markets titanium dioxide. The stock also earns F’s in Portfolio Grader’s specific subcategories of Earnings Momentum, Earnings Revisions, Equity and Margin Growth. .

Best Small Cap Companies To Buy Right Now

The rating of Calgon Carbon Corporation () slips from a C to a D. Calgon Carbon is engaged in products and services for purifying water and air. The stock has a trailing PE Ratio of 25.10. .

Rockwood Holdings, Inc. () is having a tough week. The company’s rating falls from a C to a D. Rockwood Holdings is a global developer, manufacturer and marketer of value-added specialty chemicals and advanced materials used for industrial and commercial purposes. The stock gets F’s in Earnings Growth, Earnings Surprise and Margin Growth. .

Louis Navellier’s proprietary Portfolio Grader stock ranking system assesses roughly 5,000 companies every week based on a number of fundamental and quantitative measures. Stocks are given a letter grade based on their results — with A being “strong buy,” and F being “strong sell.” Explore the tool here.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Q&A: AT&T, DirecTV deal marries different tech

AT&T, known more for its wireless network, is going all-in on the TV business by proposing to buy DirecTV for $48.5 billion.

After weeks of negotiation, the companies' executives are now selling it as a tie-up of two companies with complementary lines of products that could be mixed and matched for a wide range of bundled packages.

Like other mergers of this size, the deal poses complex issues to consider for consumers and the regulators who will have to okay or nix the proposal. Here are some questions to ponder.

Q: What will happen to NFL Sunday Ticket?

DirecTV's exclusive contract with the NFL to broadcast all its games live is the company's crown jewel and a big reason why AT&T went hard after it.

The contract expires after the end of the upcoming season. Other content providers, including reportedly Google, are interested in replacing DirecTV. But DirecTV CEO Mike White said Monday he's confident they will have a renewed deal by the end of the year.

AT&T has an option to walk away from the merger if DirecTV can't renew "substantially on the terms discussed between" the two companies, according to a filing AT&T submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission Monday.

AT&T won't say if it'll make NFL Sunday Ticket available to U-Verse customers. But it doesn't seem too far-fetched to speculate that AT&T tries to find a way to deliver NFL games wirelessly -- streaming on Wi-Fi or on the cellular network -- and charge you for the service. Demand for NFL games is no joke.

Q: AT&T and DirecTV seem to be very different from each other. What's the rationale for the merger?

Fast-changing technology and AT&T's need for more customers gained quickly.

AT&T has a lot of good businesses going for it – the nation's second largest wireless carrier and the limited but growing U-Verse unit that offers landline Internet and pay-TV that are delivered mostly through its fiber-optic lines.

U-Verse has about 11 milli! on customers only in 22 states, including 5.7 million who subscribe to pay-TV. Expanding fiber optic lines is expensive, as are all the marketing and sales tactics to woo customers away from competitors.

With this deal, AT&T gains 20 million customers nationwide who pay about $100 a month. With DirecTV's satellites able to reach rural areas, AT&T would no longer face geographical limits in its ability to sell TV.

AT&T is also responding strategically to the new TV revolution, wherein customers are increasingly watching live-TV streamed on their phones and tablets. AT&T is telling Wall Street that it sees DirecTV as the best-in-class TV deliverer with comprehensive programming rights -- especially NFL Sunday Ticket games -- and expertise in licensing and user-experience.

Q: Will my prices rise as cable and satellite TV companies get larger?

The cable (or satellite) bill likely will never drop. So yes, prices will continue to rise. But AT&T -- and Comcast, which is buying Time Warner Cable -- would argue that they will have more negotiation leverage against content providers, ESPN for example, and could help control the rate of increase in programming costs that they say are passed onto consumers.

DirecTV said Sunday the post-merger company will offer DirecTV's TV service on a stand-alone basis at current prices for "at least three years" after closing.

Q: Does this mean AT&T's U-Verse investment will be cut back?

It doesn't look like it. AT&T promises to expand broadband Internet by 15 million homes and offices to reach 70 million within four years of the transaction's closing. It'll use a combination of transmission methods.

In the markets where it's financially viable, AT&T plans to install more fiber optic lines. In more rural areas, it'll use the wireless "local loop" technology, using a direct radio connection between your home and a nearby antenna tower that receives broadband Internet from the local AT&T exchange.

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Baron Funds Comments on Helmerich & Payne

Best Value Stocks To Invest In Right Now

Shares of Helmerich & Payne, Inc. (HP), the leading land drilling contractor in the U.S., rose significantly in the first quarter. Over the past three years, Helmerich's market share has increased to 23% from 16%, while generating higher margins and returns than its main competitors. Its share price benefited from growing optimism that U.S. horizontal drilling activity will increase, spurring customer demand for new rigs. Helmerich also signed its biggest international contract in a decade in the first quarter. Helmerich is a best-in-class operator and remains a core position. (James Stone)

From Baron Funds' first quarter 2014 letter to shareholders.

Also check out: Ron Baron Undervalued Stocks Ron Baron Top Growth Companies Ron Baron High Yield stocks, and Stocks that Ron Baron keeps buying

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Top 5 Income Companies To Buy Right Now

Rising levels of student debt have raised alarm bells in the minds of economists and recent college graduates alike. With a bachelor's degree virtually indispensable in today's workplace ��and a master's necessary in many fields, as well ��many people, be they fresh out of high school or not, have found themselves needing to a seek a higher education in order to pay the bills.

The problem is that these days, college is far from cheap. Tuition for a four-year college can cost easily more than $10,000 per year, ranging all the way up to $50,000 or even more for top-of-the-line institutions. With many inbound college students finding themselves strapped for cash, their only option ��aside from obtaining federal aid ��is to seek loans to cover the difference between the costs of college and living and any income they might obtain in the meantime. This can amount to a crippling debt load by the time students graduate.

Top 5 Income Companies To Buy Right Now: Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc. (HII)

Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. designs, builds, overhauls, and repairs ships primarily for the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard. It offers nuclear-powered ships, such as aircraft carriers and submarines; and non-nuclear ships, including surface combatants, expeditionary warfare/amphibious assault, coastal defense surface ships, and national security cutters, as well as engages in the refueling and overhaul, and inactivation of nuclear-powered ships. The company also operates as a full-service systems provider for the design, engineering, construction, and life cycle support of major programs for surface ships; and a provider of fleet support and maintenance services for the U.S. Navy. In addition, it provides a range of support services, including fabrication, construction, equipment, and technical services, as well as product sales to commercial nuclear power plants, fossil power plants, and other industrial facilities, as well as government customers. The company is based in Newport News, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Roberto Pedone]
Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) is engaged in building, overhauling and repairing ships, mainly for the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard. This stock closed up 1% at $64.11 in Friday's trading session.

Friday's Volume: 297,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 211,441

Volume % Change: 50%

From a technical perspective, HII trended modestly higher here right above some near-term support levels at $62.13 to $61.74 with above-average volume. This move also pushed shares of HII into breakout territory, since the stock took out and closed above its previous 52-week high at $63.99.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in HII as long as it's trending above some key near-term support at $62.13 or above $61.74 and then once it sustains a move or close above Friday's high of $64.14 with volume that hits near or above 211,441 shares. If we get that move soon, then HII will set up to enter new 52-week -igh territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that move are $70 to $72.

Top 5 Income Companies To Buy Right Now: Approach Resources Inc.(AREX)

Approach Resources Inc., an independent energy company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of oil and gas properties in the United States. The company primarily holds interests in properties located in the Permian Basin in West Texas, as well as in the East Texas Basin. As of December 31, 2011, it had estimated proved reserves of approximately 77.0 million barrels of oil equivalent, and owned working interests in 638 producing oil and gas wells. Approach Resources Inc. was incorporated in 2002 and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Travis Hoium]
What: Shares of Approach Resources (NASDAQ: AREX ) dropped 10% today after the company released earnings.

So what: Sales rose 33.8% from a year ago, to $44.2 million, and the company swung to a profit of $495,000, or $0.01 per share. After adjusting for one-time items, the company made a profit of $0.07 per share, in line with estimates.�
[By Ben Levisohn]
Not all stocks are created equal, however, and the analysts expect some stocks to handily outperform others, and their top picks “are poised to deliver long-term, capital-efficient growth…while trading at attractive valuations that currently provide 20%+ upside to our price targets.” Their winners?�Oasis Petroleum (OAS),�Approach Resources (AREX),�Bonanza Creek Energy�(BCEI) and Gulfport Energy�(GPOR), all of which are rated Buy with Oasis also added to Goldman’s conviction list. Investors, however, should avoid �WPX Energy�(WPX), which the analysts rate a Sell. They explain why:

Top 10 Wireless Telecom Stocks To Buy Right Now: Materion Corporation (MTRN)

Materion Corporation, a materials solutions company, engages in the production and supply of high-performance engineered materials in the United States and internationally. The company offers high performance materials solutions for large area coatings, alternative energy, and thin film applications; and specialty inorganic chemicals for semiconductors, LED lighting, and energy storage applications. It also provides precision thin film coatings and optical filters for manufacturers in the defense, commercial, space, science, astronomy, and thermal imaging industries; beryllium-based metals and metal matrix composites for commercial, research, and engineering applications; and copper, copper beryllium, and spinodal alloy products for end-use products in the aerospace, automotive, computers, telecommunications, manufacturing equipment, mobile equipment, medical products, oil and gas, alternative energy, and plastic tooling markets. In addition, the company offers high perfor mance engineered ceramics; beryllium X-ray window and ultra high vacuum products; electron beam welding, vacuum furnace brazing, and waterjet cutting services, as well as engineering support services; and beryllium products, such as speaker domes and microphone transducers. Further, Materion Corporation provides precision-coated materials; thin film deposition materials, electronic packaging products, and specialty materials for the semiconductor, photonics, data storage, wireless, military, and medical markets; and precision parts cleaning, precious metals refining, and recycling services. Additionally, it engages in beryllium mining and milling business; and offers engineered beryllium materials and specialty strip metal products. The company was formerly known as Brush Engineered Materials Inc. and changed its name to Materion Corporation on March 8, 2011. Materion Corporation was founded in 1931 and is headquartered in Mayfield Heights, Ohio.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Leading and Lagging Sectors
In trading on Thursday, basic materials shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 1.20 percent. Among the leading sector stocks, gains came from Axiall (NYSE: AXLL), Materion (NYSE: MTRN), Huntsman (NYSE: HUN) and Joy Global (NYSE: JOY).
[By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Leading and Lagging Sectors
In trading on Thursday, basic materials shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 1.20 percent. Among the leading sector stocks, gains came from Axiall (NYSE: AXLL), Materion (NYSE: MTRN), Huntsman (NYSE: HUN) and Joy Global (NYSE: JOY).
[By Seth Jayson]
Margins matter. The more Materion (NYSE: MTRN ) keeps of each buck it earns in revenue, the more money it has to invest in growth, fund new strategic plans, or (gasp!) distribute to shareholders. Healthy margins often separate pretenders from the best stocks in the market. That's why we check up on margins at least once a quarter in this series. I'm looking for the absolute numbers, so I can compare them to current and potential competitors, and any trend that may tell me how strong Materion's competitive position could be.
[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 Materion (NYSE: MTRN ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

Top 5 Income Companies To Buy Right Now: Urstadt Biddle Properties Inc. (UBP)

Urstadt Biddle Properties, Inc., a real estate investment trust (REIT), engages in the acquisition, ownership, and management of commercial real estate properties in the United States. Its properties primarily consist of neighborhood and community shopping centers, office buildings, and industrial properties in Fairfield County, Connecticut; Westchester and Putnam Counties, New York; and Bergen County, New Jersey. As of October 31, 2007, the company owned or had an equity interest in 39 properties containing approximately 3.7 million square feet of gross leasable area. As a REIT, it is not subject to federal income tax to the extent that it distributes at least 90% of its REIT taxable income to its stockholders. The company was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Fairfield County, Connecticut.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Rich Smith]
Urstadt Biddle Properties (NYSE: UBP ) (NYSE: UBA ) -- the real estate investment trust with two tickers -- now has two separate executives at the top of its corporate structure, as well.

Top 5 Income Companies To Buy Right Now: API Technologies Corp (ATNY)

API Technologies Corp. (API), incorporated on February 2, 1999, designs, develops and manufactures systems, subsystems, radio frequency (RF) and secure communications products, as well as provides electronics manufacturing and engineering services. Its product lines include engineered products (including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), aiming systems and synthesizers), secure communications products (including TEMPEST and emanation security, encryption and secure networking products), subsystems and components (including custom hybrids, terminals, transistors and magnetics), RF and microwave products (including custom filters, amplifiers, connectors and antennas), sensors, and power systems. It operates in two segments: Systems & Subsystems, and Secure Systems & Information Assurance. In June 2013, API sold its Data Bus product line to Data Device Corporation.

The Company offers engineering services (including engineering and design for payloads, ground control systems and commercial product design) and electronics manufacturing services (EMS), such as new product introductions (NPI) and prototypes, turnkey manufacturing and printed circuit board (PCB) assembly. It operates in North America, the United Kingdom, Mexico and China.

Systems & Subsystems

The Systems & Subsystems segment includes the products and services of its operating subsidiaries Spectrum, API Defense Inc., API Defense USA Inc., API Systems Inc., SenDEC, National Hybrid Group, API Electronics, Inc., TM Systems, Keytronics, Filtran Limited and Microwave Technology, Inc. (CMT). Its products and services include RF /microwave solutions, Engineered Systems and Products, Subsystems and Hybrids, Electronics Manufacturing Services, Power Solutions, Sensors and Measurement and Engineering Services. It specializes in the development of custom Integrated Microwave Assemblies (IMAs). It develops and markets engineered systems and products, used for force protection, communication, surveillance and reconnai! ssance. Featured solutions include Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and systems, Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) systems, aiming systems and synthesizers.

The Company�� Custom designed and off-the-shelf subsystems from API support mission critical applications, such as communication equipment, aircraft subsystems systems, computer peripherals, process control equipment, and instrumentation. Featured products include custom hybrids, terminals, transistors and magnetics solutions. It deliver Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS), including: New Product Introductions (NPI) and prototypes, turnkey manufacturing, Printed Circuit Board (PCB) assembly, electro-mechanical assembly, systems integration, test engineering, turnkey box build and supply chain services. Its power products offer commercial and defense customer�� superior power and energy efficiency. Products span power systems management, distribution, and panels, and custom-designed power supplies for defense and aerospace applications.

The Company offers a range of precision sensors and control products, including position sensing solutions for precision guided munitions, gyros, accelerometers, and inertial measurement sensors for defense and aerospace applications, and position and temperature sensors for industrial and commercial applications. It offers a range of design and engineering services for both defense and commercial customers. Featured areas of expertise include payloads, ground control systems, RF, microwave and millimeterwave.

Secure Systems & Information Assurance

The Secure Systems & Information Assurance segment includes the products and services of its subsidiaries Cryptek, Emcon Emanation Control Inc., Secure Systems and Technologies and the Ion Networks division. API offers customers various secure network and hardware solutions, including Emanation Security, Tempest and secures network access, ruggedized systems and secure networking products. Its products are marketed u! nder the ! Cryptek, ION, Emcon, SST and Netgard brand names. These product offerings are sold to governments and other international organizations that require the level of security in the areas of identity validation, network access management, TEMPEST network intrusion prevention, and secure and encrypted fax, computers and telephones.

The Company�� products and services include Emanation Security and TEMPEST Products, Secure Networking Products, Encryption and Professional Services. The Company�� emanation security products include computing systems, network and communications systems and office systems. Its security appliances and software intelligently enables secure information sharing and systems management across organizations and technologies. Service providers, IT and communications equipment manufacturers, enterprises and government agencies rely on its secure networking products for secure systems for remote management, database guards for secure information sharing and secure virtual enclaves.

The Company�� encryption products and services enable Federal, State and Local governments, Department of Defense agencies, the Department of Homeland Security and the Armed Services to interoperate securely across organizational boundaries and untrusted systems. Its professional services include information assurance and secure networking architecture and design solutions, emanation security testing and engineering and security certification and validation.

The Company competes with Aeroflex, Incorporated, Anaren Inc., Data Devices Inc., Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc., DRS.Finmeccanica, Ducommun Incorporated, Cobham plc, Comtech EF Data Corp. and M/A-COM Technology Solutions Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Laura Brodbeck]
Thursday
Earnings Expected From: Lindsay Corporation (NYSE: LNN), Emmis Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: EMMS), API Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ: ATNY) Economic Releases Expected: Australian unemployment rate, Japanese consumer confidence, French industrial output, Italian industrial output, Bank of England interest rate decision, US initial and continuing jobless claims
Friday

Monday, May 19, 2014

Fired NYT editor Abramson breaks silence at…

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.— Days after her controversial ouster as the New York Times' executive editor, Jill Abramson makes her first public comments Monday in a college commencement address at Wake Forest University that's drawing much attention.

Abramson's abrupt dismissal and disappearance from the newsroom last Wednesday raised questions about her management style, her compensation and whether she was treated differently than a man would have been. Managing Editor Dean Baquet was tapped to succeed her, becoming the first African American to run the Times newsroom.

The suddenness of her departure surprised many in the industry, partly because Abramson, 60, had worked at the company for 17 years — the last three as its top editor. She was so dedicated to the Times that she has a tattoo of its letter "T," signifying her ties to the paper. Though respected as a hard-charging veteran journalist, she was known to have a prickly personality that rubbed some the wrong way.

"We had an issue with management in the newsroom. And that's what's at the heart of this issue," Times Publisher Arthur Sulzberger Jr. told staffers, according to a Times report. In subsequent statements, he cited "arbitrary decision-making, a failure to consult and bring colleagues with her, inadequate communication and the public mistreatment of colleagues." He also denied that Abramson, who reportedly had complained about her salary, was being paid less than her male predecessor.

"I've loved my run at the Times," Abramson said in a statement about her ouster, noting her push into digital journalism and new forms of story-telling. She has not spoken publicly about what happened.

So her address to 1,900 graduates of Wake Forest University, on a sunny morning in Winston-Salem, N.C., drew a swam of media in the front row of the 12,000 seats lined up on Hearn Plaza. She had agreed to give the speech prior to her firing.

"I cannot think of a better message for the Class of 2014 than that of resilience," th! e school's president, Nathan Hatch, said in a statement late last week. "I am confident she will have an inspiring and timely message for our graduates."

Times media columnist David Carr, in a column Monday, says Times staffers were stunned by last week's announcement. "We all just looked at one another. How did our workplace suddenly become a particularly bloody episode of Game of Thrones? It is one thing to gossip or complain about your boss, but quite another to watch her head get chopped off in the cold light of day. The lack of decorum was stunning."

Still, Carr says his interviews with senior people in the newsroom, some of them women, back up Sulzberger's conclusion that "she had lost the support of her masthead colleagues and could not win it back."

He recalls how in 2010 — before Abramson became executive editor — she sent him a "handwritten attaboy note about a big story. It still hangs in my cubicle: 'You wrote a story about the trashing of a once great American institution and people never tire of that.'"

Carr added: "Jill loved juicy stories, the ones full of subtext, intrigue and very high stakes. Now she is right in the middle of one."

Skeels and Lamm reported from Winston-Salem, N.C., and Koch from McLean, Va.

USA TODAY Columnist Michael Wolff speaks about Jill Abramson's ouster at "The New York Times." VPC

Sunday, May 18, 2014

FCC sets plan for net neutrality rules

WASHINGTON -- Despite division on the Federal Communications Commission, the agency passed proposed net neutrality rules on Thursday.

The vote played out on political lines with FCC chairman Tom Wheeler, appointed by President Obama last fall, casting the deciding vote after two Democratic commissioners voted in favor and two Republicans dissented.

"If someone acts to divide the Internet between haves and have-nots, we will use every power to stop it," Wheeler said.

Commissioners were met by protesters outside the agency and within the packed hearing room. Several vocal protesters interrupted the proceedings, clamoring support for the FCC to regulate the Internet as a common carrier, as telephone service is.

"I strongly support an open Internet. This agency supports an open Internet although you have seen today that the ability to ensure an open Internet is a matter of dispute," Wheeler said.

New rules are needed because the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in January overturned much of the FCC's current body of rules. A draft of new rules that Wheeler gave to commissioners three weeks ago divided the body — and caused a furor.

The hot button: the allowance for fast lanes to consumers' homes, the so-called "last mile," that content providers such as Netflix can purchase as long as the same opportunities are available to others on "commercially reasonable" terms.

Top Companies To Own For 2015

As proposed, the rules allow for consideration of paid prioritization of data on the Internet. But, Wheeler says, "there is one Internet. Not a fast Internet, not a slow Internet, one Internet."

Democratic commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel voted in support of the proposed rules, while Republicans Ajit Pai and Michael O'Rielly were in opposition.

O'Rielly noted that prioritization "is not a bad word," but a necessary aspect of reasonable net! work management. He opposed the rules because they lead to the "slippery slope of regulation."

Pai recommended that the agency seek out economic studies of the proposed rules but looked at the positive in that the vote resulted in a "bipartisan agreement on net neutrality."

Speaking to concerns of those who have come out in opposition to the FCC's rules because of the potential for "fast lanes," Wheeler said that his vision is that as long as consumers were accessing legal content via broadband, "the speed and quality of the connection the consumer purchases must be unaffected."

Blocking of legal content would not be allowed, he said. Should an Internet service provider block access to content or slow the speed below that a consumer has paid for would be "commercially unreasonable" and prohibited, Wheeler said.

And referencing Netflix – the streaming video provider is paying Comcast and Verizon for improved connections – Wheeler said that under the resulting rules he expects it to also be "unreasonable to charge a content provider to use bandwidth a consumer has already paid for."

Now begins nearly four months of public comment on the rules before the FCC takes final action.

Friday, May 16, 2014

Abbott to buy Chile's CFR Pharma for $2.9B

Abbott Laboratories said Friday it agreed to buy CFR Pharmaceuticals for $2.9 billion to expand its business in the fast-growing Latin American markets.

Abbott will acquire the holding company that indirectly owns about 73% of Santiago, Chile-based CFR and will conduct a public cash offer for all outstanding shares of CFR. Abbott will also assume CFR's debt of about $430 million.

Shares of Abbott fell 0.5% Friday to $39.06.

The transaction, which more than doubles Abbott's Latin American branded generics business, will make the company among the top 10 drug companies in the region. In branded generics manufacturing arrangements, a company makes a drug that is equivalent to the original product but is marketed under another company's brand.

CFR operates in 15 Latin American countries, with more than 1,000 products that match Abbott's current focus areas in women's health, central nervous system, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. With about 7,000 employees, CFR runs R&D and manufacturing facilities in Chile, Colombia, Peru and Argentina.

"This acquisition will significantly enhance and broaden Abbott's Latin American footprint, and is well aligned with our long-term strategy and commitment to fast-growing markets," said Abbott CEO Miles D. White, in a statement.

The deal will add about $900 million to Abbott's sales in 2015, and the company expects "double-digit" sales growth in the next several years.

The pharmaceutical market in Latin America is projected to reach $73 billion in sales this year and grow to $124 billion by 2018, Abbott said.

The deal is expected to be completed by the end of the third quarter.

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

3 Biotech Stocks Under $10 to Watch

DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- At Stockpickr, we track daily portfolios of stocks that are the biggest percentage gainers and the biggest percentage losers.

>>5 Hated Earnings Stocks You Should Love

Stocks that are making large moves like these are favorites among short-term traders because they can jump into these names and try to capture some of that massive volatility. Stocks that are making big-percentage moves either up or down are usually in play because their sector is becoming attractive or they have a major fundamental catalyst such as a recent earnings release. Sometimes stocks making big moves have been hit with an analyst upgrade or an analyst downgrade.

Regardless of the reason behind it, when a stock makes a large-percentage move, it is often just the start of a new major trend -- a trend that can lead to huge profits. If you time your trade correctly, combining technical indicators with fundamental trends, discipline and sound money management, you will be well on your way to investment success.

>>5 Rocket Stocks to Beat a Sideways Market

With that in mind, let's take a closer look at a several stocks under $10 that are making large moves to the upside.

CytRx

CytRx (CYTR) operates as a biopharmaceutical research and development company specializing in oncology. This stock closed up 2.4% to $3.41 in Tuesday's trading session.

Tuesday's Range: $3.27-$3.45

52-Week Range: $1.95-$8.35

Tuesday's Volume: 1.07 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 2.35 million

From a technical perspective, CYTR trended higher here with lower-than-average volume. This stock has been uptrending a bit over the last month, with shares moving higher from its low of $2.78 to its recent high of $3.62. During that uptrend, shares of CYTR have been making mostly higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. This spike higher on Tuesday is starting to push shares of CYTR within range of triggering a major breakout trade. That trade will hit if CYTR manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance at $3.62 and then once it clears both its 50-day moving average of $3.71 to its 200-day moving average of $3.82 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in CYTR as long as it's trending above Tuesday's low of $3.27 or above $3 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels volume that hits near or above 2.35 million shares. If that breakout gets started soon, then CYTR will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance level at $4.64.

Hemispherx Biopharma

Hemispherx Biopharma (HEB), a specialty pharmaceutical company, engages in the clinical development of new drug therapies based on natural immune system enhancing technologies for the treatment of viral and immune based chronic disorders. This stock closed up 11.1% to 37 cents in Tuesday's trading session.

Tuesday's Range: $0.31-$0.37

52-Week Range: $0.19-$0.55

Tuesday's Volume: 1.67 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 1.50 million

From a technical perspective, HEB ripped sharply higher here right above its 200-day moving average of 30 cents per share with above-average volume. This move is quickly pushing shares of HEB within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if HEB manages to take out its 50-day moving average of 37 cents per share to some more near-term overhead resistance levels at 38 to 40 cents per share with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in HEB as long as it's trending above some key near-term support at 30 cents per share and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels volume that hits near or above 1.50 million shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then HEB will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at 50 to its 52-week high at 55 cents per share.

Hot Restaurant Stocks To Own Right Now

Geron

Geron (GERN), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, develops a telomerase inhibitor, imetelstat, to treat hematologic myeloid malignancies. This stock closed up 8.6% to $2.02 in Tuesday's trading session.

Tuesday's Range: $1.92-$2.07

52-Week Range: $1.05-$7.79

Tuesday's Volume: 4.52 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 5.52 million

From a technical perspective, GERN gapped sharply higher here with decent upside volume. This spike higher on Tuesday is quickly pushing shares of GERN within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if GERN manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance at $2.07 with strong upside volume flows.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in GERN as long as it's trending above Tuesday's low of $1.92 or above more near-term support at $1.69 and then once it sustains a move or close above $2.07 with volume that hits near or above 5.52 million shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then GERN will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $2.29 to $2.53. Any high-volume move above $2.53 will then give GERN a chance to re-fill some of its previous gap-down-day zone from March that started near $4.50.

To see more stocks that are making notable moves higher, check out the Stocks Under $10 Moving Higher portfolio on Stockpickr.

-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis.

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

5 Stocks With Ugly Sales Growth â€” HTS MITT LPCN MNKD UEC

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This week, these five stocks have the worst ratings in Sales Growth, one of the eight Fundamental Categories on Portfolio Grader.

Hatteras Financial () is a mortgage real estate investment trust. HTS gets F’s in Earnings Growth, Earnings Momentum, Equity, Cash Flow and Operating Margin Growth as well. .

AG Mortgage Investment Trust, Inc. () focuses on investing, acquiring and managing a portfolio of residential mortgage assets, and other real estate-related securities and financial assets. MITT gets F’s in Earnings Growth, Earnings Momentum, Earnings Surprises, Equity, Cash Flow and Operating Margin Growth as well. .

Lipocine, Inc. () is engaged in the development of pharmaceutical products in the areas of men'’s and women’'s health. .

MannKind Corporation () is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of therapeutic products for diseases such as diabetes, cancer, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. MNKD gets F’s in Analyst Earnings Revisions and Cash Flow as well. .

Uranium Energy () is an exploration-stage company that explores and develops mineral properties in the United States and Paraguay. UEC gets F’s in Analyst Earnings Revisions, Equity and Cash Flow as well. .

Sunday, May 11, 2014

AdviceIQ: Equal treatment in a will?

In estate planning, "equal" isn't necessarily the same as "fair." Sometimes, parents' wills give different amounts to the kids, for very good reasons. The key is that everyone in the family knows about the division ahead of time.

Still, I rarely see an estate plan that does not treat children equally. When I do see inequality, the justification is usually that a parent is estranged from one child and leaves him or her nothing.

Many experts on the psychology of estate planning recommend that parents divide their estates equally among children. The main reason is to help enhance sibling relationships after the parents' deaths. The goal is to eliminate the potential for hurt feelings and perceived injustice if parents favor one sibling over another financially.

Dividing an estate into equal shares for each child might seem to be the obvious way to treat children fairly. However, that usually only works if you've treated them equally during your lifetime. If you have given more to one child during life, it's usually smart to level the playing field at death.

I was reminded of this principle late last year in a post by a blogger who goes by the name Financial Samurai, who tells this story:

He perceived that his parents couldn't afford to send him to a private college. To help them financially, he chose to go to a public university. His younger sister chose a private university costing eight times as much. After graduating, he worked hard to save enough to repay his parents. When he offered them the money, 10 years after graduation, he was shocked when they declined it.

Only then did he learn they had saved equal amounts for his and his sister's educations. When he chose the less expensive school, they transferred what they saved on his tuition to help pay for his sister's more expensive private education.

While he tries his best in the balance of the article to take the high road, assuring readers this injustice really doesn't bother him, it clearly does, a lot.

The amazing thing about the story is that this family never discussed the financial aspects of college. The parents never told their son they were saving for his college education or communicated their intent to pay for it. He never asked, assuming that paying for college was his responsibility. The unspoken no-talk rule around money, which so many families follow, was rigidly in place.

College funding is far from the only way parents treat children differently. Another common one is bailing out one child who has financial struggles, either self-inflicted or caused by outside circumstances. Parents may also lend or give one child the money to start a business. Or they may feel they owe more to a child who is taking care of them in old age.

Many of these inequalities can be compensated for in estate planning. One strategy is to subtract any excess paid to one child from his or her portion of the inheritance. It's important here to provide for inflation, such as adjusting the amount paid to the child upward by the cumulative increase in the Consumer Price Index from the date of the payment to the date of death.

If parents feel it's fair to leave more to a child who has cared for them, they must establish that amount carefully. They should base how they divide the estate on both on tangible factors like the market value of the care and on intangibles like the relationships among the siblings.

No matter what adjustments you make in your estate plan, to equalize what children received during your lifetime, talking about those modifications is crucial. Clear communication about what is "fair" goes a long way to maintain strong sibling relationships long beyond the parents' lives.

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Rick Kahler, CFP, is president of Kahler Financial Group in Rapid City, S.D., and is a member of the AdviceIQ Financial Advisors! Network,! which is a USA TODAY content partner offering financial news and commentary. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Brent Steady On Rare Positive Chinese Data

Related BNO Brent Steady Above $107 With Ukrainian Civil War Looking Likely Brent Steady Despite US Inventory Expectations Related DBE Russia Threatens To Cut Gas Supplies Brent Poised To Post Largest Weekly Loss In Four

Brent crude oil was steady at $108.00 at 6:08 GMT on Thursday morning after better than expected trade data from China, but dissipating geopolitical tension in Ukraine.

Customs data from the world's second largest oil consumer showed that imports were up 22.4 percent from March to April. Exports were also modestly higher and beat expectations of a decline.

Crude oil imports were promising; after falling below 6 million barrels per day in March, China's oil imports rose to 6.78 million bpd in April. The nation's trade surplus came in at $18.5 billion for March, much higher than the forecast surplus of $13.9 billion.

See also: The Futility Of Attempting To Predict The Markets

Also positive for Brent was data from the Energy Information Administration, which confirmed that US stocks dropped last week despite expectations for a 1.4 million barrel rise.

CNBC reported that the EIA's report on Wednesday showed that US crude inventories were down 1.8 million barrels last week, which lifted both Brent and WTI.

Brent prices were under some pressure after Russian President Vladimir Putin took his first major step towards diffusing the tension in Ukraine by asking pro-Russian separatists to hold off on a secession vote less than a week before it was schedule to take place.

Many believe that Putin's appeal may have brought the eastern European nation back from the brink of a civil war. Moving forward, Brent could be under more pressure if Putin proves to be committed to ending the conflict peacefully.

However Brent did have some geopolitical support from problems in Libya, where rebel groups were unwilling to return control of two export terminals to the government.

Despite an earlier agreement, the rebels announced on Wednesday that they would keep the ports closed in boycott of Prime Minister Ahmed Maiteeq.

Posted-In: Ahmed Maiteeq Vladimir PutinNews Commodities Forex Global Pre-Market Outlook Markets Best of Benzinga

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Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Tesla Motors Drops Before Earnings; China in Focus

There’s radio silence from the analyst community today ahead of Tesla Motors’ (TSLA) earnings, which are scheduled for after the close. Investors, however, appear to be getting cold feet.

Shares of Tesla Motors have dropped 3.2% to $200.57 at 1:38 p.m. today, leaving it near its recent lows, as this chart shows (Click for a larger image):

Heading into earnings, Tesla has dropped 21% since peaking in March. Don’t look to the analysts for guidance–nearly half have Tesla rated Hold, while 29% rate the stock a Buy and 23% sell.

One of the big issues on the call will be China, as some analysts expect US demand to plateau this year. In a report released at the end of April, JL Warren Capital’s Junheng Li told investors not to overestimate the power of the consumer in the world’s second largest economy:

While we are hearing whispers on Wall Street about an expectation of 5,000 orders for Tesla Motors in China in 2014, we remain cautious about the near-term uptake…

Only 3.7% of the total visitors came from China, compared with 51% from the U.S, 5.2% from Canada, 4.2% from India — a small figure considering the huge amount of Chinese netizens. While we do not consider the website tracking data indicative of order book strength by real time, they provide directional color of public interest in the brand and products. Especially considering that the addressable market is likely dominated by educated, high income male consumers, we believe those seriously considering such a big ticket purchase as Model S are likely to visit the website before placing an order, since the website by far is the primary source to gather detailed information about the product.

Best Industrial Conglomerate Stocks To Own Right Now

In short, Tesla's white-hot PR is generating a media sensation and long lines outside of the company's only China store in Beijing, but we believe actual purchases could fall short of expectations.

Shares of Tesla have gained 33% so far this year.

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Top Penny Stocks For 2015

In a report published Thursday, Kimberly Watkins, Citigroup analyst reiterates their Buy rating on Riverbed Technologies (NYSE: RVBD) and adjusts price target from $21 to $23.

The bump comes after Riverbed rejects a $3.08 billion cash offer from Elliot Management. Watkins notes in the report, "Riverbed positively preannounced Q413 results AND guided Q114 above our est this morning, while the Board also rejected Elliott's $19/share unsolicited offer, as we expected. We believe the EPS upside supports our thesis, and we continue to expect revenue growth to reaccelerate." Citigroup expects Elliot to raise their offer at some point.

RVBD closed Wednesday at $20.11 and currently trading at $20.31.

Posted-In: News Price Target Reiteration Markets Analyst Ratings

Most Popular 9 One-Time Penny Stocks Didn't Stay That Way

Top Penny Stocks For 2015: Sterlite Industries(India)

Sterlite Industries (India) Limited operates as a non-ferrous metals and mining company in India and internationally. It engages in the smelting and processing of copper and production of copper byproducts. The company?s primary products consist of copper cathode and continuos cast rods, as well as by products comprise sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid, hydrofluoro silicic acid, gypsum, ferro sand, and slime. It also owns the Mt. Lyell copper mine at Tasmania in Australia, as well as owns various zinc assets, including Skorpion Zinc in Namibia; Black Mountain Mines in South Africa; and Lisheen Mines in Ireland. In addition, the company produces aluminum from its bauxite mines. Its aluminum products include aluminum ingots and wire rods; rolled products, such as coils and sheets; and vanadium sludge as a by-product. Further, the company smelts and produces lead and zinc, as well as produces and sells sulphuric acid to fertilizer manufacturers and other industries; and silver ingots primarily to industrial users. It operates three lead-zinc mines in the state of Rajasthan, northwest India. Additionally, it involves in power generations business. As of March 31, 2011, the company had a power generation capacity of 1,041 MW from its thermal power plants and wind power plants. The company was formerly known as Sterlite Cables Limited and changed its name to Sterlite Industries (India) Limited in 1986.The company was incorporated 1975 and is based in Mumbai, India. Sterlite Industries (India) Limited is a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources plc.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Sy Harding]
Those largest holdings include Taiwan Semiconductor, Petroloeo Brasileiro (Brazil), China Mobile, China Construction Bank, CNOOK (China Offshore Drilling), Gazprom OAO (Russia), America Movil (Mexico), Sasol Ltd. (South Africa), Hon Hai Precision (Taiwan), and Infosys (India).
[By Rajhkumar K Shaaw]
BNP Paribas Securities (Asia) Ltd., Macquarie Capital Securities (India) Pvt. and Ambit Capital Pvt. cut their Sensex targets as the Reserve Bank of India unexpectedly increased its benchmark interest rate to stem a record decline in the rupee and curb consumer prices in the world�� second-most populous nation. Strategists reduced their average profit estimate by 4.5 percent as higher borrowing costs threaten to worsen the slowest economic expansion since 2009.

Top Penny Stocks For 2015: Xinyuan Real Estate Co Ltd(XIN)

Xinyuan Real Estate Co. Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, engages in residential real estate development in China. The company?s residential projects comprise various residential buildings that include multi-layer apartment buildings, sub-high-rise apartment buildings, or high-rise apartment buildings; auxiliary services and amenities, such as retail outlets, leisure and health facilities, kindergartens, and schools; and small scale residential properties. It also offers property management and other real estate related services, such as landscaping and installing intercom systems. In addition, the company leases properties, including an elementary school, a basement, three clubhouses, five kindergartens, and parking facilities. As of December 31, 2010, it had 21 completed projects with a total gross floor area (GFA) of approximately 2,049,460 square meters and comprising a total of 23,324 units, as well as 8 projects under construction with a total GFA of 1,804,946 sq uare meters. It primarily operates in seven tier II cities, comprising Hefei, Jinan, Kunshan, Suzhou, Zhengzhou, Xuzhou, and Chengdu. The company was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Beijing, the People?s Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Tim Brugger]
Having completed the repurchase of approximately $12.6 million of the $20 million share buyback program started last year, Xinjuan Real Estate's (NYSE: XIN ) board of directors has authorized the repurchase of an additional $60 million of outstanding stock, the company announced today.

Best New Stocks To Watch Right Now: Integrated Silicon Solution Inc.(ISSI)

Integrated Silicon Solution, Inc., a fabless semiconductor company, designs and markets integrated circuits for digital consumer electronics, networking and telecommunications, mobile communications, automotive electronics, and industrial markets. Its primary products include low and medium density DRAM; and high speed and low power SRAM. The company?s low and medium density DRAM products are used in wireless local area networks (WLANs), base stations, networking switches and routers, fiber to the home (FTTH), DSL and cable modems, set top boxes, digital cameras, MP3, flat panel TVs, LCD TVs, HDTVs, video phones, Voice over Internet Protocol, printers, disk drives, tape drives, audio/video equipment, instrumentation, global positioning systems (GPS), telematics, infotainment, smart meters, and other applications. Its SRAM products are used in WLANs, cell phones, base stations, networking switches and routers, FTTH, DSL modems, LCD TVs, set-top boxes, GPS systems, instrumen tation, engine control systems, medical equipment, telematics, audio and video equipment, satellite radio, POS terminals, fax machines, copiers, tape drives, and other applications. Integrated Silicon Solution, Inc. also designs and markets application specific standard products, including high performance serial EEPROMs for use in TVs, networking systems, modems, telephone sets, security systems, video games, automobiles, and other consumer products; and SmartCards that have applications in transportation passes, payment cards, health care cards, and other cards that store secure data. The company markets and sells its products in Asia, the United States, and Europe through direct sales force, independent sales representatives, and distributors. Integrated Silicon Solution, Inc. was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in San Jose, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Seth Jayson]
Basic guidelines
In this series, I examine inventory using a simple rule of thumb: Inventory increases ought to roughly parallel revenue increases. If inventory bloats more quickly than sales grow, this might be a sign that expected sales haven't materialized. Is the current inventory situation at Integrated Silicon Solution (Nasdaq: ISSI ) out of line? To figure that out, start by comparing the company's inventory growth to sales growth. How is Integrated Silicon Solution doing by this quick checkup? At first glance, not so great. Trailing-12-month revenue increased 7.0%, and inventory increased 43.7%. Comparing the latest quarter to the prior-year quarter, the story looks potentially problematic. Revenue grew 20.0%, and inventory grew 43.7%. Over the sequential quarterly period, the trend looks OK but not great. Revenue dropped 1.8%, and inventory dropped 0.8%.

Top Penny Stocks For 2015: Universal Corporation(UVV)

Universal Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a leaf tobacco merchant and processor worldwide. It engages in selecting, procuring, buying, processing, packing, storing, supplying, shipping, and financing leaf tobacco for sale to, or for the account of, manufacturers of consumer tobacco products. The company processes and/or sells flue-cured and burley tobaccos, dark air-cured tobaccos, and oriental tobaccos; and provides value-added services, including blending, chemical and physical testing of tobacco, just-in-time inventory management, and manufacturing reconstituted sheet tobacco. Its flue-cured, burley, and oriental tobaccos are used principally in the manufacture of cigarettes; and dark air-cured tobaccos are used in the manufacture of cigars, pipe tobacco, and smokeless tobacco products. The company was founded in 1888 and is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Rupert Hargreaves]
Universal Corp (NYSE: UVV ) has paid out and raised its dividend for 41 consecutive years. This puts the company in an elite club of dividend aristocrats.�Aside from Altria (NYSE: MO ) , which has been paying and increasing its payout for 43 years, Universal actually has the longest dividend history of any company within the tobacco sector.
[By Marc Bastow]
Leaf tobacco supplier Universal Corporation (UVV) raised its quarterly dividend 2% to 51 cents per share, payable on Feb. 10 to shareholders of record as of Jan. 13.
UVV Dividend Yield: 4.06%

Top Penny Stocks For 2015: Ruth's Hospitality Group Inc.(RUTH)

Ruth?s Hospitality Group, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates restaurants in the United States and internationally. It operates the Ruth?s Chris Steak House, Mitchell?s Fish Market, Columbus Fish Market, Mitchell?s Steakhouse, and Cameron?s Steakhouse restaurant concepts in the full-service dining industry. The company?s restaurants cater to families, special occasion diners, and business clientele. As of December 27, 2009, it owned or operated 152 restaurants, including 64 company-owned Ruth?s Chris Steak House Company restaurants, 66 Ruth?s Chris Steak House franchise restaurants, 19 company-owned Mitchell?s Fish Markets, and 3 company-owned Mitchell?s Steakhouse restaurants. The company was formerly known as Ruth?s Chris Steak House, Inc. and changed its name to Ruth?s Hospitality Group, Inc. in February 2008. Ruth?s Hospitality Group, Inc. was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in Heathrow, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Sally Jones]
Averaging 228% on shares bought, a high gainer in this portfolio is Ruth�� Hospitality Group Inc. (RUTH), up 81% over 12 months:

Robert Karr, Joho Capital

Top Penny Stocks For 2015: Himax Technologies Inc.(HIMX)

Himax Technologies, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, and markets semiconductors for flat panel displays. Its products include display drivers and timing controllers for various thin film transistor liquid crystal displays (TFT-LCD) panels, which are used in desktop monitors, notebook computers, televisions, and mobile handsets, as well as consumer electronics products comprising netbook computers, digital cameras, mobile gaming devices, portable DVD players, digital photo frame, and car navigation displays; and TFT-LCD television and monitor semiconductor solutions. The company also provides liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) products for palm-size mobile projectors; power management integrated circuits, which include drivers, amplifiers, DC to DC converters and other semiconductors; complementary metal oxide semiconductor image sensors for camera-equipped mobile devices, such as mobile phones and notebook computers with a focus on lowlight image and video quality; and wafer level optics products. It serves TFT-LCD panel manufacturers, mobile device module manufacturers, and television makers. Himax Technologies, Inc. was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Tainan, Taiwan.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Justin Loiseau]
Google (NASDAQ: GOOG ) is taking steps to prove its glasses are more than a gimmick. Taiwanese chip maker Himax Technologies (NASDAQ: HIMX ) announced today that Google has agreed to invest in Himax's display subsidiary to finance production of liquid crystal on silicon chips (LCOS), the same type used in Google Glass.
[By Roberto Pedone]
A technology player that's quickly moving within range of triggering a major breakout trade is Himax Technologies (HIMX), which designs, develops and markets semiconductors that are critical components of flat panel displays. This stock has been on fire so far in 2013, with shares up a whopping 355%.

If you take a look at the chart for Himax Technologies, you'll notice that this stock has been uptrending strong over the last month and change, with shares moving higher from its low of $8.13 to its recent high of $11.45 a share. During that uptrend, shares of HIMX have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of HIMX within range of triggering a major breakout trade.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in HIMX if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $11.45 a share to its 52-week high at $11.49 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 8.63 million shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then HIMX will set up to enter new 52-week high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $14 to $15 a share.

Traders can look to buy HIMX off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below its 50-day moving average of $10.02 a share, or near more support at $9.50 a share. One can also buy HIMX off strength once it starts to take out those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.
[By John Udovich]
On Monday, small cap Taiwanese advanced display maker�Himax Technologies, Inc (NASDAQ: HIMX) announced an agreement with Google�(NASDAQ: GOOG) where the later agreed to invest in the company's subsidiary, Himax Display Inc, fueling ever more speculation about Google Glass��a pair of glasses that will act like a wearable�smartphone. But what do we know about this Taiwanese small cap and is it enough for new investors to jump aboard?
[By Alex Planes]
Investors love stocks that consistently beat the Street without getting ahead of their fundamentals and risking a meltdown. The best stocks offer sustainable market-beating gains, with robust and improving financial metrics that support strong price growth. Does Himax Technologies (NASDAQ: HIMX ) fit the bill? Let's take a look at what its recent results tell us about its potential for future gains.

Top Penny Stocks For 2015: Amsurg Corp.(AMSG)

AmSurg Corp., through its wholly owned subsidiaries, engages in the development, acquisition, and operation of ambulatory surgery centers in partnership with physicians in the United States. The company?s surgery centers perform colonoscopy and other endoscopy procedures in the area of gastroenterology; cataracts and retinal laser surgery in the area of ophthalmology; and knee and shoulder arthroscopy and carpal tunnel repair in the area of orthopedics. As of December 31, 2010, it owned interest in 204 surgery centers in 33 states and the District of Columbia, including 140 centers performed gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures, 37 centers performed ophthalmology surgery procedures, 19 centers were multiple specialties, and 8 centers performed orthopaedic procedures. AmSurg Corp. markets its surgery centers directly to patients; and referring physicians and third-party payors, such as health maintenance organizations, preferred provider organizations, other managed care o rganizations, and employers. The company was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Seth Jayson]
AmSurg (Nasdaq: AMSG ) is expected to report Q1 earnings on April 24. Here's what Wall Street wants to see:

The 10-second takeaway
Comparing the upcoming quarter to the prior-year quarter, average analyst estimates predict AmSurg's revenues will grow 13.6% and EPS will grow 4.0%.
[By John Reese]
Indeed, in 2013, the Greenblatt-based portfolio has bounced back strong, returning more than 50%. Below is a look at its current holdings.
EBIX, Inc. (EBIX)

Western Refining (WNR)

DirecTV (DTV)

ITT Educational Services (ESI)

Science Applications International (SAIC)

Weight Watchers International (WTW)

ConocoPhillips (COP)

AmSurg Corp. (AMSG)

PDL BioPharma (PDLI)

AFC Enterprises (AFCE)

Subscribe to Validea here��/p>
[By Tom Lydon]
Top holdings based on the index include Acadia Healthcare Companies (ACHC), Amsurg Corporation (AMSG), Brookdale Senior Living (BKD), Clarcor (CLC) and Community Health Systems (CYH).

Top Penny Stocks For 2015: Sparton Corporation(SPA)

Sparton Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, offers electronic manufacturing services primarily for medical device, defense and security systems, and electronic manufacturing services industries worldwide. The company?s Medical segment engages in the contract development, design, production, and distribution of medical related electromechanical devices for the medical OEM and ET customers primarily in the vitro diagnostic and therapeutic device areas. Its EMS segment involves in the contract manufacturing, assembly, design, preproduction, prototyping, and/or box building assemblies, such as flight control systems and fuel control systems for the aerospace, medical diagnostics systems, security systems, detection systems, lighting, and defense. The company?s DSS segment engages in the design, development, and production of electromechanical equipment, such as sonobuoys, an anti-submarine warfare device used by the United States Navy and foreign governments; and perf orms an engineering development function for the United States military and prime defense contractors on advanced technologies for defense products, and replacement of current systems. It also offers non-sonobuoy related manufacturing and services. Sparton Corporation was founded in 1900 and is headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Emma O��rien]
Futures (SPA) on the Standard & Poor�� 500 Index fell and the yen climbed against the dollar as U.S. lawmakers continued to scrap over raising the debt limit and the government shutdown. Crude oil declined while gold rallied.
[By Louis Navellier]
Sparton Corporation (SPA) provides electromechanical systems and operates in three segments: medical devices, complex systems and defense and security systems. The medical devices segment makes devices used in diagnostic, therapeutic, surgical, and laboratory applications. Complex devices makes printed circuit assemblies used in military, aerospace, industrial and commercial OEMs, while the defense and security segment designs products for defense applications.
[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 Sparton (NYSE: SPA ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

Top Penny Stocks For 2015: BGC Partners Inc.(BGCP)

BGC Partners, Inc. operates as a financial intermediary to the financial markets specializing in the brokering of various financial products. It provides electronic marketplaces, including government bond markets, spot foreign exchange, foreign exchange options, corporate bonds, and credit default swaps in various financial markets through its eSpeed- and BGC Trader- branded trading platform which can be accessed through its high speed data network, over the Internet, or third party communication networks. The company?s brokerage services include trade execution, broker-dealer services, clearing, processing, information, and other back office services, as well as cover various products, including fixed income securities, interest rate swaps, foreign exchange, equities, equity derivatives, credit derivatives, commodities, futures, and structured products. It also provides financial technology solutions, market data, and analytics related to financial instruments and markets . In addition, the company offers customized screen-based market solutions, which enables its clients to develop a marketplace, trade with their customers, issue debt, trade odd lots, access program trading interfaces, and access its network and intellectual property. Further, it licenses intellectual property portfolio and software solutions to various financial markets participants; and provides software development, software maintenance, customer support, infrastructure, and internal technology services to support electronic trading platforms. The company serves banks, broker-dealers, investment banks, trading firms, hedge funds, governments, investment firms, professional trading firms, futures commission merchants, and other professional market participants and financial institutions in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and other Americas. The company was founded in 1999 and is based in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Selena Maranjian]
Finally, Tudor Investment's biggest closed positions included Apple�and the iShares MSCI Emerging Market Index Fund ETF. Other closed positions of interest include Frontier Communications (NASDAQ: FTR ) and BGC Partners (NASDAQ: BGCP ) . Frontier, recently yielding more than 9%, is a rural telecom specialist. It's weighed down with considerable debt, and is shifting its business focus, favoring business customers more. It's been posting declining revenue lately, though, and its credit rating took a hit in recent months, also. Some worry that its acquisition of landline business from Verizon�may not be as lucrative as expected, and fear a dividend cut.
[By Brian Womack]
��t�� a defensive strategy because R&D costs are going up and the number of customers is going down,��said Amir Anvarzadeh, a manager of Japanese equity sales at BGC Partners Inc. (BGCP) in Singapore. ��his tells you there�� a problem in the industry.��