Walmart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) must believe that it actually is the dominant force in everyday low prices. It means to prove that point by offering customers the prices that its competitors charge. While the program has its risks, it may also prove the no other retailer can match the bulk of its discounts.
According to a report:
Wal-Mart told The Associated Press that it has rolled out an online tool that compares its prices on 80,000 food and household products — from canned beans to dishwashing soap — with those of its competitors. If a lower price is found elsewhere, the discounter will refund the difference to shoppers in the form a store credit.
The world’s largest retailer began offering the feature, called “Savings Catcher,” on its website late last month in seven big markets that include Dallas, San Diego and Atlanta. The tool compares advertised prices at retailers with physical stores, and not at online rivals like Amazon.com that also offer low prices on staples.
Hot Machinery Companies To Watch For 2015: Ferrellgas Partners L.P. (FGP)
Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. engages in the distribution and sale of propane, and related equipment and supplies primarily in the United States. It transports propane to propane distribution locations, tanks on customers� premises, or to portable propane tanks delivered to retailers. The company conducts its portable tank exchange operations under the Blue Rhino brand name through a network of independent and partnership-owned distribution outlets. The company�s propane is primarily used for space heating, water heating, cooking, outdoor cooking using gas grills, crop drying, irrigation, weed control, and other propane fueled appliances; as an engine fuel for power vehicles and forklifts; and as a heating or energy source in manufacturing and drying processes. It serves approximately 1 million residential, industrial/commercial, portable tank exchange, agricultural, wholesale, and other customers in 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. As of July 31, 2012, it had 924 propane distribution locations. The company also engages in the wholesale marketing of propane appliances; sale of refined fuels; and provision of common carrier services. Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. was founded in 1939 and is headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Dan Caplinger]
On Thursday, Ferrellgas Partners (NYSE: FGP ) will release its latest quarterly results. The master limited partnership might not be in the glamorous part of the energy space, but that hasn't held it back from posting good returns for investors.
- [By Rich Duprey]
Propane gas provider�Ferrellgas Partners� (NYSE: FGP ) �announced yesterday�its third-quarter dividend of $0.50 per share, the same rate it's paid every quarter for the last 75 quarters.
Hot Industrial Disributor Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Kazakhmys PLC (KAZ)
Kazakhmys PLC, along with its subsidiaries, is natural resource company focused on the production of copper. It is engaged in the production of copper and other metals as by-products, including zinc, silver and gold, and power generation. The Company�� segments are Kazakhmys Mining, which is engaged in the exploration, evaluation, development, mining and processing of mineral resources and sale of the metal products; MKM, which operates in Germany, where it manufactures copper and copper alloy semi-finished products; Kazakhmys Power, which operates in Kazakhstan, and consists of its captive power stations, the Ekibastuz GRES-1 coal-fired power station joint venture, and Kazakhmys Petroleum business, which holds a license to conduct oil and gas exploration and development activity in the East Akzhar Exploration Block in western Kazakhstan. In May 2011, the Company completed the disposal of the small Maikuben West coal mine. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Alexis Xydias]
Kazakh miners ENRC (ENRC) and Kazakhmys Plc (KAZ) slid 3.7 percent to 204 pence, and 2.4 percent to 258.7 pence, respectively, as the FTSE 350 Mining Index fell for the third time this week. African Barrick Gold Plc tumbled 7.7 percent to 96 pence, a record low.
- [By Sarah Jones]
Kazakhmys Plc (KAZ) tumbled 13 percent to 233.7 pence after the founders of Eurasian Natural Resources Corp. (ENRC) and the Kazakhstan government offered to buy ENRC with cash and Kazakhmys shares in a bid that values the company at 3.04 billion pounds ($4.7 billion). ENRC slid 1.4 percent to 213.8 pence.
Hot Industrial Disributor Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Great American Group Inc (GAMR)
Great American Group, Inc. (Great American), incorporated on May 7, 2009, is a provider of asset disposition and valuation and appraisal services to a range of retail, wholesale and industrial customers, as well as lenders, capital providers, private equity investors and professional service firms. The Company operates its business in two segments: liquidation and auction solutions and valuation and appraisal services. Its liquidation and auction divisions assist customers in the disposition of assets. Such assets include multi-location retail inventory, wholesale inventory, trade fixtures, machinery and equipment, intellectual property and real property. Great American�� valuation and appraisal services division provides its clients with independent appraisals in connection with asset-based loans, acquisitions, divestitures and other business needs. Its valuation and appraisal services division provides valuation and appraisal services to financial institutions, lenders, private equity investors and other providers of capital. These services primarily include the valuation of assets for purposes of determining and monitoring the value of collateral securing financial transactions and loan arrangements, and in connection with potential business combinations. In October 2009, Great American formed a subsidiary, GA Capital, LLC (GA Capital).
Auction and Liquidation Solutions
The Company enables its clients to dispose of under-performing assets and generate cash from excess inventory by conducting or assisting in store closings, going out of business sales, bankruptcy sales and fixture sales. It also provides merger and acquisition due diligence, through the Company�� auction and liquidation segment and reverse logistics and appraisal services, through its valuation and appraisal services segment. It provides retail auction and liquidation services on a fee and guarantee basis. In guarantee retail liquidation engagements, it takes title to any unsold inventory. The Company ! designs and implements disposition programs for its customers seeking to convert excess wholesale and industrial inventory and operational assets into capital. Assets in an orderly liquidation are available for sale on a privately negotiated basis over a period of months. This sale method is often employed to dispose of furniture, fixtures and equipment in connection with retail liquidations, as well as wholesale inventory or industrial equipment. The Company�� live auctions can cover single sites or multiple locations, and the Company utilizes point-of-sale software to generate customized sales reports and invoices and to track assets. The Company webcasts its live auctions over the Internet. This auction format allows online bidders to compete in real time against bidders at the live auction. Bidders can log onto the auction from personal computers, view and bid on lots as they come up for sale, hear the auctioneers as the sale is being conducted and, in some cases, view live streaming video of the auctioneer calling the bids on-site. In the online auction format, the sale of assets takes place online, without a live auctioneer calling the sale.
The Company provides advisory services relating to the wind down process from beginning to end, including negotiation of early lease terminations, sale of intellectual property and sale of completed inventory through the client�� historical distribution channels. It assists clients with managing the disposition of customer returns, obsolete inventory, extraneous fixtures and dated equipment. The Company serves as a broker, providing assistance in reaching target markets and potential buyers or marketing to its database of buyers and end users. The Company performs sealed bid sales in situations where asset disposition requires anonymity of the buyer or seller or involves other confidentiality concerns. In this process, potential buyers submit bids without knowledge of the amount bid by other participants. It also provides wholesale and industr! ial servi! ces on a fee, guarantee and an outright purchase basis. The Company commenced auctions for foreclosed residential real estate properties, through its joint venture with Kelly Capital during the year ended December 31, 2009. The Company coordinates the auction process, including the venue, personnel and onsite technological requirements. It also arranges for financial institutions, title and escrow companies to be onsite at the auction to provide onsite services to potential buyers. The Company provides its home auction services on a fee basis based on a percentage of sale prices and on an outright purchase basis.
Valuation and Appraisal Services
Great American�� valuation and appraisal teams provide independent appraisals to financial institutions, lenders and other providers of capital and other professional service firms for estimated liquidation values of assets. These teams include experts specializing in particular industry and asset classes. The Company provides valuation and appraisal services across five categories: Consumer and Retail Inventory, representative types of appraisals and valuations include inventory of specialty apparel retailers, department stores, jewelry retailers, sporting goods retailers, mass and discount merchants, home furnishing retailers and footwear retailers; Wholesale and Industrial Inventory, representative types of appraisals and valuations include inventory held by manufacturers or distributors of automotive parts, chemicals, food and beverage products, wine and spirits, building and construction products, industrial products, metals, paper and packaging; Machinery and Equipment, representative types of asset appraisals and valuations include a range of equipment utilized in manufacturing, construction, transportation and healthcare; Intangible Assets, representative types of asset appraisals and valuations include intellectual property, goodwill, brands, logos, trademarks and customer lists, and Real Estate, representative types of ass! et apprai! sals and valuations include owned and leased manufacturing and distribution facilities, retail locations and corporate offices.
The Company competes with overstock.com and eBay.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By CRWE]
Today, GAMR surged (+8.57%) up +0.030 at $.380 with 10,000 shares in play thus far (ref. google finance Delayed: 10:28AM EDT July 12, 2013).
Great American Group, Inc. has been selected to handle store closing sales at eight Orchard Supply Hardware locations, offering significant product discounts in the Citrus Heights, Fairfield, Huntington Beach, Lone Tree, Long Beach, Midtown, Newark and Vacaville stores
Orchard previously reported on June 17, 2013, that it had reached an agreement through which Lowe�� Companies, Inc. will acquire the majority of its assets but will allow Orchard to continue day-to-day operations as a separate, standalone business with its brand, strategy and management team intact. To facilitate the acquisition agreement and restructure its balance sheet, Orchard filed voluntary Chapter 11 petitions in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The agreement with Lowe�� comprises the initial stalking horse bid in the Court-supervised auction process under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code.
- [By CRWE]
Today,�GAMR has shed (-9.46%) down -0.035 at $.335 with 160�shares in play thus far (ref. google finance Delayed: 9:31AM EDT July 8, 2013), but don�� let this get you down.
Great American Group, Inc. has been selected to handle store closing sales at eight Orchard Supply Hardware locations, offering significant product discounts in the Citrus Heights, Fairfield, Huntington Beach, Lone Tree, Long Beach, Midtown, Newark and Vacaville stores
Orchard previously reported on June 17, 2013, that it had reached an agreement through which Lowe�� Companies, Inc. will acquire the majority of its assets but will allow Orchard to continue day-to-day operations as a separate, standalone business with its brand, strategy and management team intact. To facilitate the acquisition agreement and restructure its balance sheet, Orchard filed voluntary Chapter 11 petitions in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The agreement with Lowe�� comprises the initial stalking horse bid in the Court-supervised auction process under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code.
Hot Industrial Disributor Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Monarch Casino & Resort Inc (MCRI)
Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. (Monarch), incorporated in 1993, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Golden Road Motor Inn, Inc. (Golden Road), owns and operates the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa(the Atlantis), a hotel/casino facility in Reno, Nevada. Monarch�� other wholly owned subsidiaries, High Desert Sunshine, Inc. (High Desert) and Golden North, Inc. (Golden North), each own separate parcels of land located adjacent to the Atlantis. The Company owns and operates the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa, which is located approximately three miles south of downtown in the area of Reno, Nevada. The Atlantis features approximately 61,000 square feet of casino space; a hotel with 824 guest rooms and suites; ten food outlets; an enclosed year-round pool with waterfall; an outdoor pool; a health spa; two retail outlets offering clothing and resort gift shop merchandise; a full service salon for men and women; an 8,000 square-foot family entertainment center; and approximately 52,000 square feet of banquet, convention and meeting room space. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company acquired 1.5 acre parcel of developable land contiguous to the Riviera Black Hawk Casino.
In April 2012, it acquired Riviera Black Hawk, Inc.
The Atlantis Casino offers approximately 1,450 slot and video poker machines; approximately 39 table games, including blackjack, craps, roulette and others; a race and sports book; keno and a poker room. The Atlantis includes three contiguous high-rise hotel towers with 824 rooms and suites. The Atlantis includes three contiguous high-rise hotel towers with a total of 824 rooms and suites. The first of the three hotel towers contains 160 rooms and suites in 13 stories. The 19-story second hotel tower contains 278 rooms and suites. The third tower contains 386 rooms and suites in 28 stories.
The Atlantis hotel rooms feature designs and furnishings consistent with the Northern Nevada market, as well as nine-foot ceilings (most standard hotel rooms have eig! ht-foot ceilings), which create an open and spacious feel. The third hotel tower features a four-story waterfall with an adjacent year-round swimming pool in a climate controlled, five-story glass enclosure, which shares an outdoor third floor pool deck with a seasonal outdoor swimming pool and year round whirlpool. A full-service salon (the Salon at Atlantis) overlooks the third floor sundeck and outdoor seasonal swimming pool and offers salon-grade products and treatments for hair, nails, skincare and body services for both men and women. A health spa is located adjacent to the swimming areas, which offers treatments and amenities. The hotel rooms on the spa floor are designated as spa rooms and feature decor that is themed consistent with the spa. Certain spa treatments are also available in spa floor hotel rooms. The hotel also features glass elevators rising the full 19 and 28 stories, of the respective towers providing views of the Reno area and the Sierra Nevada mountain range.
The Atlantis has eight restaurants, two gourmet coffee bars and one snack bar. It includes 160-seat Atlantis Steakhouse gourmet restaurant; the 200-seat upscale Bistro Napa featuring a centrally located wine cellar; the Oyster Bar restaurant in the Sky Terrace offering fresh seafood, soups and bisques made to order; the Sushi Bar, also in the Sky Terrace, offering a variety of fresh raw and cooked sushi specialties, including all-you-can-eat lunch and dinner selections. The Oyster Bar and Sushi Bar can accommodate up to 139 guests; The 178-seat 24-hour Purple Parrot coffee shop; the 122-seat Cafe Alfresco restaurant serving a full menu, pizzas prepared in a wood-fired, brick oven and a variety of gelato deserts; the 170-seat Manhattan Deli restaurant specializing in piled-high sandwiches, soups, salads and desserts; two gourmet coffee bars, offering specialty coffee drinks, pastries and desserts made fresh daily in the Atlantis bakery; a snack bar and soda fountain serving ice cream and arcade-style refreshmen! ts.
The Sky Terrace is a structure with a diamond-shaped, blue glass body suspended approximately 55 feet, and spanning 160 feet across, South Virginia Street. The Sky Terrace connects the Atlantis with additional parking on its 16-acre site across South Virginia Street from the Atlantis. The structure rests at each end on two 100-foot tall Grecian columns with no intermediate support pillars. The interior of the Sky Terrace contains the Oyster Bar, the Sushi Bar, a video poker bar, banks of slot machines and a lounge area with oversized leather sofas and chairs.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Ben Levisohn]
Monarch Casino & Resort (MCRI) fell 15% to $18.71 after revenue missed forecasts today.
Stamps.com (STMP) fell 6.2% today ahead of its earnings results. It beat earnings after the close today.
- [By Vanina Egea] ong>Risks and Valuation
Although the Chinese government will maintain its gambling restrictions in the mainland over the next decade, Sand Corp�� market share and leverage in fixed costs will continue to riel in strong revenue growth from this region. Fiscal 2013 marked a 24.80% revenue increase ($13.8 billion) and operating margins continue to expand at the same pace. Despite the inherent risk of an economic slowdown in Asia or a recession in the U.S., which could put a halt to leisure spending, the company is well prepared to balance out any short-term losses. The casino operator�� EBITDA growth of 65.30%, for example, is an impressive result when compared to the industry�� average of 4.90%.
Looking forward, earnings per share are expected to continue their fast-paced upward trend, having jumped from $1.56 in 2011 to $2.79 at the end of fiscal 2013. The 21.6% return on equity, as well as 1.80% dividend yield should also be attractive to shareholders and future investors. Although Las Vegas Sand Corp is currently trading at a 24% price premium relative to the industry average of 22.60x trailing earnings, I feel very bullish about this firm�� long term profitability, given its strong market position in Asia.
Disclosure: Vanina Egea holds no position in any stocks mentioned.
Also check out: Andreas Halvorsen Undervalued Stocks Andreas Halvorsen Top Growth Companies Andreas Halvorsen High Yield stocks, and Stocks that Andreas Halvorsen keeps buying
About the author:Vanina EgeaA fundamental analyst at Lone Tree AnalyticsVisit Vanina Egea's Website
- [By Jeremy Bowman]
What: Shares of Monarch Casino & Resort (NASDAQ: MCRI ) were cooling off today, falling as much as 20% after the company's earnings report failed to impress.
Hot Industrial Disributor Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Euro FX(P)
Ecopetrol S.A. operates as an integrated oil company in Colombia, Peru, Brazil, and the U.S. Gulf Coast. The company engages in the exploration, development, and production of crude oil and natural gas. As of December 31, 2010, its proved reserves of crude oil and natural gas consisted of 1,714.0 million barrels of oil equivalent. The company also transports crude oil, motor fuels, fuel oil, and other refined products, as well as mixture of diesel and palm oil. It owns transportation network consisting of 3,003 kilometers of crude oil pipeline directly, as well as an additional 2,178 kilometers of crude oil pipeline with its business partners; and 3,017 kilometers of multi-purpose pipelines for transportation of refined products from refinery to wholesale distribution points. As of the above date, Ecopetrol S.A. owned 58 stations with a nominal storage capacity of 19 million barrels of crude oil and 6 million barrels of refined products. In addition, the company owns and o perates refineries that produce a range of refined products, including gasoline, diesel, kerosene, jet fuel, aviation fuel, liquefied petroleum gas, sulfur, heavy fuel oils, motor fuels, and petrochemicals, including paraffin waxes, lube base oils, low-density polyethylene, aromatics, asphalts, alkylates, cyclohexane and aliphatic solvents, and refinery grade propylene, as well as provides industrial services to third parties. Further, it markets various refined and feed stock products, including regular and high octane gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, natural gas, and petrochemical products. The company was formerly known as Empresa Colombiana de Petroleos and changed its name to Ecopetrol S.A. in June 2003. Ecopetrol S.A. was founded in 1948 and is based in Bogota, Colombia.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Doug Ehrman]
The extensive user base that Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL ) has established over the years has the potential to create at least three new sources of revenue for the technology leader. First, as Apple develops its near-field communication capabilities, mobile payments may become more viable. Second, with the release of iTunes Radio, Apple may be able to compete with Pandora (NYSE: P ) and garner more users. Finally, if Apple is able to successfully introduce new advertising capabilities, it may be able to push into Google's (NASDAQ: GOOG ) turf in mobile ads.
- [By Jon C. Ogg]
Pandora Media Inc. (NYSE: P) may have released news that its listening hours rose by 16% in August. It also said that its total U.S. market share of all radio was 7.46%, an increase from 6.30% a year ago. And Pandora even showed that its active listener growth metrics were massive: Active listeners were 72.1 million at the end of August 2013, up 28% from a year ago. What Pandora Media did not include in its press release was that there is a massive wave of selling taking place this week and recently from insiders and management.
- [By Chris Neiger]
Living the stream
64% of teenagers prefer listening to music on Google's (NASDAQ: GOOG ) YouTube than from any other service. 53% of teens prefer Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL ) iTunes to other music destinations. Pandora (NYSE: P ) streamed 13 billion hours of music in 2012. That's right, billions. SiriusXM (NASDAQ: SIRI ) has more than 25 million subscribers. Warner Music Group received 25% of its digital revenue from music streaming last year. According to NPD, online radio services make up 23% of music listening for people ages 13 to 35, compared to 24% for AM/FM radio.
Take a quick look at these stats showing the popularity of digital music and online streaming:But those are a just a few simple statistics -- the overall streaming market is about to get much more complicated.
Hot Industrial Disributor Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Lloyds Banking Group PLC (LLOY)
Lloyds Banking Group plc is a holding company. The Company is a financial services group providing a range of banking and financial services, primarily in the United Kingdom, to personal and corporate customers. It operates in four segments: Retail, Commercial Banking, Wealth, Asset Finance and International, and Insurance. Retail provides banking, mortgages and other financial services to personal customers in the United Kingdom. Commercial Banking provides banking and related services to business clients. Wealth, Asset Finance and International provides private banking and asset management and asset finance. Insurance provides long term savings, protection and investment products and provides general insurance to personal customers. In January 2014, Westpac Banking Corporation completed the acquisition of Lloyds Banking Group Plc�� Australian asset finance business, Capital Finance Australia Limited, and its Australian corporate loan portfolio, BOS International (Australia) Ltd. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Inyoung Hwang]
BP rallied the most since January 2011 after Europe�� third-largest oil company also increased its dividend. Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA), the region�� biggest crude producer, rose 1.5 percent. Lloyds Banking Group Plc (LLOY) lost 2 percent after reporting that its loss widened in the third quarter.
- [By Sofia Horta e Costa]
Lloyds Banking Group Plc (LLOY) fell 1.1 percent to 69.25 pence. Two people familiar with the matter said the U.K. government has considered selling as much as 5 billion pounds ($7.6 billion) of the lender�� shares. The state may sell a 5 to 10 percent stake as soon as September, the people said.
Hot Industrial Disributor Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Golden Minerals Co (AUM)
Golden Minerals Company (Golden Minerals), incorporated March 6, 2009, is a mining company. The Company owns and operates the Velardena and Chicago precious metals mining operations (the Velardena Operations) in the State of Durango, Mexico, the El Quevar advanced exploration property in the province of Salta, Argentina, and a diversified portfolio of precious metals and other mineral exploration properties located in the regions of Mexico and South America.
Velardena Operations
The Velardena Operations consists of two underground mines and two processing plants within the Velardena mining district, which is located in the municipality of Cuencame, in the northeast quadrant of the State of Durango, Mexico, approximately 65 kilometers southwest of the city of Torreon, Coahuila and approximately 140 kilometers northeast of the city of Durango, the capital of the State of Durango. Of the two underground mines consisting the Velardena Operations, the Velardena mine includes three different vein systems, including the Santa Juana, San Juanes and San Mateo systems. The second mine, the Chicago mine, is a producing mine located on the Chicago property approximately two kilometers south of the Velardena property.
The Company owns a 300 ton-per-day flotation sulfide mill situated near the town of Velardena. The mill has fully operational lead, zinc, and pyrite flotation circuits which produce lead, zinc and pyrite concentrates from the sulfide ore. The Company also own a conventional 550 ton-per-day cyanide leach oxide mill with a Merrill Crowe precipitation circuit and new installed flotation circuit, which is located adjacent to its Chicago mine. The mill is used to process oxide and mixed sulfide/oxide material from the Velardena Operations.
El Quevar
The Company's El Quevar silver project is located in the San Antonio de los Cobres municipality, Salta Province, in the altiplano region of northwestern Argentina, approximately 300 kilometers by! road northwest of the city of Salta, the capital city of the province. The El Quevar project is located near Nevado Peak with altitudes at the concessions ranging from 3,800 to 6,130 meters above sea level. The El Quevar project is consists of 32 exploitation concessions. The Company holds 31 of the concessions directly, and the Company controls the Nevado I concession, located approximately four kilometers from the Yaxtche target.
Zacatecas (Mexico)
The Zacatecas Mining District is located in the central part of Mexico, in the Faja de Plata mineral belt. The Company's Zacatecas project surrounds the municipalities of Zacatecas, Veta Grande, Guadalupe, Panuco, and Morelos in the state of Zacatecas, Mexico. The Company owns approximately 195 concessions totaling approximately 8,600 hectares in the Zacatecas project.
San Diego (Mexico)
The San Diego property, located in the State of Durango, Mexico, is situated approximately nine kilometers northeast of the Velardena property and contains the La Cruz-La Rata and El Trovador mines as well as a number of other shallower shafts which were sunk on narrower veins such as the Cantarranas, Montanez and El Jal. During the year ended December 31, 2012, a Phase VI drilling program was completed, which included five drill holes totaling 5,500 meters.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Joshi Madhavi]
The company gets its revenues from two types of fees: management fees which are linked to the assets under management (AUM) and performance fees which can be quite volatile. Over the last five years AUM have increased by around 4% per annum from the low at the end of 2008. However, revenues have decreased by around 7% per annum. Performance fees have held up okay since 2008, but management fees have taken a big hit. Since revenues are dependent on the average AUM over the whole year, let�� look at revenues from 2009 ��they have grown by around 6.5% per annum in this case. Institutional clients are more sticky and stable compared to retail, but the company has not managed to increase AUM from this source substantially over the last five years.
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