Below is the verbatim transcript of Rustagi's interview with CNBC-TV18.
Q: What are the parameters via which an investor can assess the performance of an asset class?
A: As an investor everyone wants good performance from a portfolio, but to figure out whether it is happening or not, can be tricky, for example many investors get disillusioned by looking at negative return in their equity portfolio and often equate it with poor performance. However, the fact is that negative performance in equity portfolio does not necessarily mean poor performance even the best of the fund manager will give negative return during significant downturn in the market.
Similarly even a mediocre fund manager will give fantastic return when the market is doing well. So, it is very important for investor to realise that he need to look at long-term performance and not to base investment decision on short-term performance. The right way to assess a performance is to compare it with the benchmark. However, we know that investor has different asset classes in portfolio like gold, equity and debt.
Mutual funds have different options to allow investors to invest in these asset classes and the fact is that each of the mutual fund scheme has a benchmark, for example for equity fund the benchmark could be an index like CNX 50, 100 or 500, for debt funds there are indices like Crisil Composite Bond Index or Crisil Composite Short-Term Bond Index or Isec, Si-Bex. These are the indices which are there for debt funds, in fact for a common investor the benchmark could be the return that they get from fixed deposit, bonds and debentures and for gold savings scheme the benchmark is the price of physical gold.
Apart from comparing the performance with the benchmark it is equally important to compare performance with the peer group, which is funds in the same group, of course one has to be little careful about selecting the funds in the peer group and it is important because many a times as a category, as a group these funds can tend to outperform or underperform a particular benchmark, for example if the benchmark has risen by 6-7 percent and the category average is 10 percent, any fund which has given a return of 6-7 percent has underperformed the peer group. Therefore, it is important to compare the performance with the benchmark as well as the peer group.
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Tags: Hemant Rustagi, Wiseinvest Advisors, portfolio, fund, Crisil Composite Bond Index, Crisil Composite Short-Term Bond Index, CAGR, home loan
Buy NIIT; target Rs 31: Ventura
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A Series of Forbes Insights Profiles of Thought Leaders Changing the Business Landscape: Bill Nussey, CEO Silverpop��/p> Bill Nussey started his first software company at age 15. Now, he�� CEO of Silverpop, an Atlanta-based digital marketing company that was just acquired by IBM IBM. Silverpop�� cloud-based platform gives marketers insights into their customers and provides them with an automated system for tailoring their messages to individuals. The company started in 1999 as an automated email marketing company, which Nussey freely admits was popular with businesses but not consumers. ��he acid test was when you went to a cocktail party and someone says ��hat do you do?,��� Nussey recalled recently. ��ou probably didn�� want to describe in great specificity the job. And that�� when we knew that there was really a gap between what business wanted and what their customers would ultimately demand.��/p> Bill Nussey, CEO, Silverpop California Republic Bank (the Bank) provides an integrated banking solution to its customers. The Company provides a range of products and services, such as deposit and cash management, loans and private banking. The deposit and cash management include real time, online Internet banking, business analyzed checking, IOLTA accounts, NOW Accounts, nationwide network of cash vault centers, remote Deposit capture, fully automated domestic and international wire transfers, lockbox processing services, free worldwide automated teller machines (ATM) and debit cards, credit cards and purchase card services, customized merchant banking services, fraud prevention products including positive-pay, secure online applications, including token device with internal control access, and contractor Retention Escrow Accounts. The loan services include unsecured lines of credit, secured revolving lines of credit, working capital loans, equipment financing, asset based credit lines, commercial owner occupied real estate loans, investor real estate loans and construction loans. Its private banking includes full array of private banking loans and lines of credit, Bill pay services, and stock secured credit lines and loans. The Bank provides banking services to commercial entities, their owners, high net-worth individuals and active investors. It provides commercial banking, lending services, deposit services, contractor retention escrow accounts, cash management, remote deposit capture, private banking, online banking and auto finance. The commercial banking includes online banking services, cash management products and services, remote deposit capture, contractor retention escrow accounts, domestic and international wire transfers, checking accounts, NOW accounts, money market accounts (MMA), savings accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs), corporate credit card, analyzed accounts and IOLTA accounts. The Bank offer lines of credit to provide working capital for day-to-day operations, term loan! s for equipment, and commercial real estate loans for facilities and for investment portfolio. The cash management includes Account Analysis, Master Agreement Accounts, Account Reconciliation, Remote Deposit Capture (RDC), Online Cash Management, Automated Clearing House (ACH) Services, Bill Pay, Lockbox Services, Positive Pay, Zero Balancing Accounts, Merchant Card, Reverse Wires, Statements on CD Rom, Corporate Credit Card, Courier Service and Bank by Mail. Advisors' Opinion: - [By CRWE]
Today, CRPB remains (0.00%) +0.000 at $19.00 thus far (ref. google finance Delayed:�� 11:35AM EDT July 29, 2013). California Republic Bancorp previously reported its results for the second-quarter 2013, reporting quarterly net income of $2.8 million, record net interest margin of 6.41%, record assets of $737.1 million and record deposits of $669.7 million. CEO Jon Wilcox stated, ��n the second-quarter we not only experienced strong deposit and loan growth, but also continued to invest in our people and infrastructure both in California as well as nationally, while increasing our bottom line and maintaining solid credit quality.��/p>
Top Healthcare Equipment Stocks To Watch For 2014: Archer-Daniels-Midland Company(ADM) Archer Daniels Midland Company procures, transports, stores, processes, and merchandises agricultural commodities and products in the United States and internationally. It operates in three segments: Oilseeds Processing, Corn Processing, and Agricultural Services. The Oilseeds Processing segment engages in originating, merchandising, crushing, and processing oilseeds, such as soybeans, cottonseed, sunflower seeds, canola, rapeseed, peanuts, flaxseed, and palm into vegetable oils and protein meals. This segment also produces edible soy protein products, including soy flour, soy grits, soy protein concentrates, soy isoflavones, and soy isolates that are used in processed meats, baked foods, nutritional products, snacks, and dairy and meat analogs. The Corn Processing segment involves in corn wet milling and dry milling activities; and produces alcohol, amino acids, and other specialty food and animal feed ingredients, as well as ethyl alcohol. This segment also produces citr ic and lactic acids, lactates, sorbitol, xanthan gum, and glycols that are used in various food and industrial products, as well as astaxanthin, a product used in aquaculture to enhance flesh coloration. The Agricultural Services segment buys, stores, cleans, and transports agricultural commodities, such as oilseeds, corn, wheat, milo, oats, rice, and barley, as well as resells these commodities as food and feed ingredients for the agricultural processing industry. This segment also processes and distributes edible beans, formula feeds, and animal health and nutrition products. In addition, the company engages in milling wheat, corn, and milo into flour, as well as produces bakery products and mixes, wheat starch, gluten, and cocoa products that are sold to the baking industry; and involves in financial activities related to private equity fund investments, and futures commission merchant activities. Archer Daniels Midland Company was founded in 1898 and is based in Decatur, Illinois. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Dividends4Life]
Fair Value: In calculating fair value, I consider the NPV MMA Differential Fair Value along with these four calculations of fair value, see page 2 of the linked PDF for a detailed description: 1. Avg. High Yield Price 2. 20-Year DCF Price 3. Avg. P/E Price 4. Graham Number CINF is trading at a discount to only 3.) above. The stock is trading at a 36.8% premium to its calculated fair value of $34.96. CINF did not earn any Stars in this section. Dividend Analytical Data: In this section there are three possible Stars and three key metrics, see page 2 of the linked PDF for a detailed description: 1. Free Cash Flow Payout 2. Debt To Total Capital 3. Key Metrics 4. Dividend Growth Rate 5. Years of Div. Growth 6. Rolling 4-yr Div. > 15% CINF earned two Stars in this section for 1.) and 2.) above. A Star was earned since the Free Cash Flow payout ratio was less than 60% and there were no negative Free Cash Flows over the last 10 years. The stock earned a Star as a result of its most recent Debt to Total Capital being less than 45%. The company has paid a cash dividend to shareholders every year since 1954 and has increased its dividend payments for 54 consecutive years. Dividend Income vs. MMA: Why would you assume the equity risk and invest in a dividend stock if you could earn a better return in a much less risky money market account (MMA) or Treasury bond? This section compares the earning ability of this stock with a high yield MMA. Two items are considered in this section, see page 2 of the linked PDF for a detailed description: 1. NPV MMA Diff. 2. Years to > MMA The NPV MMA Diff. of the $62 is below the $500 target I look for in a stock that has increased dividends as long as CINF has. If CINF grows its dividend at 1.2% per year, it will take 5 years to equal a MMA yielding an estimated 20-year average rate of 3.68%. Memberships and Peers: CINF is a member of the S&P 500, a Dividend Aristocrat, a member of the Broad Dividend Achievers��Index and a Divid - [By Ben Levisohn]
Last quarter, Buffett sold his stakes in�Archer Daniels Midland�(ADM) and�General Dynamics�(GD), and added to a position�in�International Business Machines�(IBM). He also bought shares of�Chicago Bridge & Iron�(CBI), an old favorite of mine from my trading days.�
Top Healthcare Equipment Stocks To Watch For 2014: BR Properties SA (BRPR3) BR Properties SA is a Brazil-based company engaged in the real estate sector. The Company operates, along with its subsidiaries, in the acquisition, management, leasing and sale of commercial properties in Brazil, mainly office buildings, retail stores and warehouses. The Company also develops and contracts from third parties and the construction of new properties. The Company�� subsidiaries include BRPR I Empreendimentos e Participacoes Ltda, BRPR II Empreendimentos e Participacoes Ltda, BRPR III Empreendimentos e Participacoes Ltda, BRPR IV Empreendimentos e Participacoes Ltda, BRPR V Empreendimentos e Participacoes Ltda, BRPR VII Empreendimentos e Participacoes Ltda and BRPR VIII Empreendimentos e Participacoes Ltda, among others. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Ney Hayashi]
The Ibovespa rose for the first time in five sessions, with developer BR Properties SA (BRPR3) leading gains, amid speculation the Brazilian benchmark�� longest losing streak in six weeks may have been excessive.
Top Healthcare Equipment Stocks To Watch For 2014: Willamette Valley Vineyards Inc. (WVVI) Willamette Valley Vineyards, Inc. engages in the production and sale of wines in the United States. It offers wines under the Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Oregon Blossom, Oregon's Nog, Edelweiss, Semi-Sparkling Muscat, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, The Griffin, and Viognier brand names. The company markets and sells its wines directly at its winery; directly and indirectly through its shareholders; through self-distribution to local restaurants and retail outlets in Oregon; directly through mailing lists; and through distributors and wine brokers outside Oregon. Willamette Valley Vineyards, Inc. was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Turner, Oregon. Advisors' Opinion: - [By CRWE]
Willamette Valley Vineyards (NASDAQ:WVVI), a leading Oregon producer of Pinot Noir, generated a net profit of $219,912, or $0.05 cents per share for the second quarter of 2012, an increase of 27.6% from the comparable prior year period.
Top Healthcare Equipment Stocks To Watch For 2014: Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion SAB de CV (VLRS) Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion SAB de CV (Volaris Aviation Holding Company) is a Mexico-based company principally engaged in the airline passenger transportation industry. The Company is a law-cost carrier airline. Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion SAB de CV offers direct, point-to-point flights. The Company serves through secondary, lower cost airports and provides a single class of service. The Company utilizes such aircraft as the Airbus A319 and A320 families, among others. The Company has such subsidiaries as Comercializadora Volaris SA de CV, Servicios Corporativos Volaris SA de CV, Concesionaria Vuela Compania de Aviacion SAPI de CV, Deutsche Bank Mexico SA Trust 1484, among others. Advisors' Opinion: - [By John Udovich]
When most American investors think of discount airline stocks, they probably think of relatively large capped Southwest Airlines Co (NYSE: LUV)�or sort of small cap�JetBlue Airways Corporation (NASDAQ: JBLU) rather than�small cap Controladora Vuela Co Avcn SA CV (NYSE: VLRS) which owns Volaris���a discount airline serving the�Mexican market. However, any investor who has read Benjamin Graham�� Intelligent Investor might want to remember his sage advice about avoiding airline stocks���mainly because airlines were such a new and unproven sector that had yet to make money. But could Controladora Vuela Co Avcn SA CV actually be an airline stock worth owning?
Hot Casino Stocks To Watch Right Now: Penn National Gaming Inc.(PENN) Penn National Gaming, Inc. and its subsidiaries own and manage gaming and pari-mutuel properties in the United States. It operates approximately 27,000 gaming machines; 500 table games; and 2,000 hotel rooms in 23 facilities in 16 jurisdictions, including Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ontario. The company was formerly known as PNRC Corp. and changed its name to Penn National Gaming, Inc. in 1994. Penn National Gaming, Inc. was founded in 1982 and is based in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Paul Ausick]
Penn National Gaming Inc. (NASDAQ: PENN) completed on Monday the spin-off of its real-estate holdings into a new REIT, Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc. (G&LP) (NASDAQ: GLPI). The spin-off was first announced a year ago. Shares in GLPI are trading at around $46.51 after opening at $45.76 this morning. - [By Will Ashworth]
Famed investor Leon Cooperman sold his position in Penn National Gaming (PENN) in the fourth quarter of 2013, replacing it with a 2.2 million shares of GLPI, the real estate spinoff the casino operator took public through a 1-for-1 share distribution last November. Its first acquisition came one month later when it paid $140 million for a casino in East St. Louis. Pure-play REITs come in all shapes and sizes, but never before has there been one in the casino business. source from Top Stocks To Buy For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/hot-casino-stocks-to-watch-right-now-2.html
Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company, develops, sources, and markets pharmaceutical products, principally injectable-based generic equivalents to branded products in the United States. It offers a range of products across anti-infective, oncolytic, and critical care indications in various presentations, including single-and multi-dose vials, pre-filled ready-to-use syringes, and premix bags. The company?s anti-infective products include Levofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone antibacterial for the treatment of various infections caused by susceptible bacteria in adults of age 18 years or older; and Cefepime, an antibiotic used to treat infections of the urinary tract, and skin and skin structure, as well as moderate to severe pneumonia, intra-abdominal infections, and as empiric therapy for febrile neutropenic patients. Its oncology products comprise Gemcitabine, a nucleoside metabolic inhibitor used for the treatment of ovarian, breast, lung, and panc reatic cancers; and Topotecan, a topoisomerase inhibitor for small cell lung cancer sensitive disease. The company also offers critical care products consisting of Adenosine, an antiarrhythmic used for the treatment of cardiac rhythm disturbances; and Heparin, an anticoagulant used to prevent and treat blood clotting during and after surgery and dialysis. As of December 31, 2011, it marketed 33 generic injectable products; and had a new product pipeline that included 36 products represented by 63 Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDAs). The company sells its products to pharmaceutical wholesale companies, which then distribute the products to end-user hospitals, long-term care facilities, alternate care sites, and clinics. The company was formerly known as Sagent Holding Co. and changed its name to Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in April 2011. Sagent Pharmaceuticals, I! nc. was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois. Advisors' Opinion: - [By John Seward]
Among the changes announced Tuesday, Affiliated Managers Group (NYSE AMG) will replace Forest Laboratories Inc. (NYSE: FRX) in the S&P 500 after the close of trading on Monday, June 30. LaSalle Hotel Properties (NYSE: LHO) will replace Affiliated Managers in the S&P MidCap 400 and Sagent Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: SGNT) will replace LaSalle in the S&P SmallCap 600. - [By James Brumley]
In no particular order… Sagent Pharmaceuticals (SGNT) Though Sagent Pharmaceuticals (SGNT) makes a few dozen generic drugs and has a similar number in the works, odds are good most investors couldn’t name a single one of them… and that’s a good thing for anyone on the hunt for cheap stocks from the pharma world. source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/hot-sliver-companies-to-own-for-2015-2.html
Top 5 Mid Cap Companies For 2015: Fiat SpA (FIATY) Fiat SpA, incorporated in 1906, is engaged principally in the manufacture and sale of automobiles, agricultural and construction equipment and commercial vehicles. It also manufactures other products and systems, principally engines, transmission systems, automotive-related components, metallurgical products and production systems. In addition, it is involved in certain other sectors, including publishing and communications. The Company and its subsidiaries operates approximately in 50 countries. The Company operates under five segments: automobiles, agricultural and construction equipment (CNH-Case New Holland), trucks and commercial vehicles, components and production systems, and other businesses. On 10 June 2009, the Company acquired 20% interest in Chrysler Group LLC. In January 2014, Fiat SpA announced that through its wholly owned subsidiary Fiat North America LLC (FNA) completed its announced acquisition of all of the VEBA Trusts membership interests in Chrysler Group LLC. Automobiles The Companys automobiles segment designs, develops and sells automobiles, which include Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Abarth, Fiat Professional, Maserati and Ferrari. During the year ended December 31, 2009, this segment delivered a total of 2,150,700 passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. Agricultural and Construction Equipment (CNH-Case New Holland) The Companys agricultural and construction equipment segment is engaged in the development of the agricultural and construction equipment industries in Europe and the United States. CNH operates through six brands: Case IH, New Holland Agriculture, Steyr, New Holland Construction, Case Construction and Kobelo. Case IH includes a range of tractors, combines and bailers. New Holland Agricultures products include tractors, harvesting equipment and telehandlers. Steyr is the producer of tractors in Austria. New Holland Construction is a produce r of co! nstruction equipment with a network of 800 dealers an! d more than 2,100 points of sale in 100 countries. Case Construction sells and provides service support for a range of construction machinery: from loader backhoes to crawler and wheel excavators, from wheel loaders to wheel and crawler skid steer loaders, from articulated dumpers to telescopic handlers. Kobelco produces and sells a range of compact, mid-size and full-size excavators ranging from 1.9 to 88 tons. It owns more than 250 sales outlets located throughout North America. Truck and Commercial Vehicles Truck and Commercial Vehicles segment develops, produces and sells a range of trucks and buses under the brands, which include Iveco, Iveco Irisbus, Iveco Astra and Iveco Magirus. Iveco produces a range of light, medium and heavy commercial and industrial vehicles for transportation and distribution of goods. Iveco Irisbus offers a range of vehicles, from minibuses to touring coaches, from urban buses to interurban buses designed to provide a solution to a variety of transportation needs, whether intraurban or interurban. Iveco Astra produces 2, 3 and 4-axle vehicles for mining and offers over 210 Extra Heavy-Duty models for dump bodies, water and fuel tanks, cement mixers and pumps, drills, mobile service. In addition, it provides rigid dumpers of 14, 28, 32 and 40 tons and articulated dumpers of 25, 30, 35 and 40 tons. Iveco Magirus offers s range of vehicles for situations like fire, floods, earthquakes and explosions. It offers them under the Iveco Magirus, Lohr Magirus, Iveco Special Vehicles and Camiva brands. Components and Production Systems The Companys products under the Components and Production Systems include FPT Powertrain Technologies, Magneti Marelli, Teksid and Comau. FPT Powertrain Technologies provides engines and transmissions. Magneti Marelli designs and produces automotive systems and components: from lighting to engine control systems, fr! om suspen! sions to electronic systems, from exhaust system! s to comp! onents to the aftermarket and motorsport. Teksid is the producer of grey and nodular iron castings. It manufactures approximately 600 thousand tons of engine blocks, cylinder heads, engine components, transmissions parts, gearboxes and suspensions. Comau makes body welding and assembly robots, and machining and assembly for mechanical systems. It delivers turnkey solution, which includes design, production, installation, production startup and maintenance to the customers. Other Businesses The Companys other businesses includes the contribution from the Companys publishing businesses, service companies and holding companies. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Rick Munarriz]
Ford (NYSE: F ) and Fiat's (NASDAQOTH: FIATY ) Chrysler were the biggest winners among automakers, with March sales up 5.7% and 5%, respectively. You have to go all the way back to 2007 here as well to find the last time either company fared this well. source from Top Stocks To Buy For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/top-5-mid-cap-companies-for-2015-2.html
Hot Services Companies To Invest In Right Now: CDI Corporation(CDI) CDI Corp. provides engineering and information technology project outsourcing solutions and professional staffing services primarily in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. It operates in four segments: ES, MRI, Anders, and ITS. The ES segment provides engineering, design, project management, staffing, and outsourcing solutions to oil, gas, refining, alternative energy, power generation and energy transmission, chemicals, and heavy manufacturing industries; engineering, design, logistics, and staffing services to the defense industry, primarily in marine design, systems development, and military aviation support; engineering, design, project management, staffing, and facility start-up services to pharmaceutical, bio-pharmaceutical, and regulated medical services industries; and architecture, civil and environmental engineering, communication technology, and consulting services to governmental, educational, and private industry customers. The MRI segment opera tes as a global franchisor that does business as MRINetwork and provides the use of its trademarks, business systems, and training and support services to its franchisees who engage in the search and recruitment of executive, technical, professional, and managerial personnel for employment by their customers. It also provides training, implementation services, and back-office services to enable franchisees to pursue staffing opportunities. The Anders segment provides contract and permanent placement candidates to customers in the areas of architecture, building services, rail, commercial and industrial construction, consulting engineering, facilities management, interior design, surveying, and town planning. The ITS segment offers various information technology related services, which include staffing augmentation, permanent placement, outsourcing, and consulting. The company was founded in 1950 and is based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Advi! sors' Opinion: - [By Seth Jayson]
Calling all cash flows
When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on CDI (NYSE: CDI ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below. - [By Rich Smith]
Philadelphia-based CDI Corp. (NYSE: CDI ) has won a $36 million contract to provide watercraft engineering and marine services to the U.S. Navy. source from Top Stocks To Buy For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/hot-services-companies-to-invest-in-right-now-2.html
The biggest risk in investing is that the business goes bankrupt. This is a 100% loss of your investment; the ��orst case scenario.��Progress inevitably leads toward changes in the market. Old business models fail, and new models will succeed. The biggest disruptions of the past several decades have been the personal computer and internet revolution. We now live in a time where the cost of storing and transmitting information has dropped to virtually zero. It is interesting to see what businesses have not been disrupted from the rapid changes the world has seen over the last several decades. People Still Need Food No matter how much information we have, people will always need to eat. One way to look at if an industry has managed to grow over decades is to see how many Dividend Aristocrats the industry claims. Dividend Aristocrats are businesses that have increased their dividend payments for 25 or more consecutive years, and meet certain size and liquidity requirements. These are businesses that have withstood all of the changes of the last 25 or more years, and managed to grow consistently and profitably. There are 54 Dividend Aristocrats. The list below shows the Dividend Aristocrats whose primary business relates to food and/or beverages: IAC/InterActiveCorp engages in the Internet business in the United States and internationally. The company�s Search segment develops, markets, and distributes various downloadable toolbars; provides search, reference, and content services through its destination search and other Websites, including Ask.com and Dictionary.com; and aggregates and integrates local advertising and content for distribution to publishers on Web and mobile platforms, as well as markets and distributes mobile applications through which it provides search and additional services. Its Match segment offers subscription-based and advertiser-supported online personals services through its Websites comprising Match.com, Chemistry.com, OurTime.com, BlackPeopleMeet.com, and OkCupid.com, as well as through mobile applications and Meetic-branded Websites. The company�s ServiceMagic segment offers Market Match service that matches consumers with service professionals; Exact Match service, which enables con sumers to review service professional profiles and select the service professional that meets their specific needs; and 1800Contractor.com, an online directory of service professionals. This segment also offers Website design and hosting services. Its Media and Other segment operates CollegeHumor.com, an online entertainment Website that targets young males; Vimeo, a Website on which users can upload, share, and view video; and Pronto.com, a comparison search engine. This segment also engages in the creation of video content for various distribution platforms; and operates as an Internet retailer of footwear and related apparel and accessories, as well as focuses on multimedia business. The company was formerly known as InterActiveCorp and changed its name to IAC/InterActiveCorp in July 2004. IAC/InterActiveCorp was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in New York, New York. Advisors' Opinion: - [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET]
IAC isn�� the most loved company on the street, which is evidenced by that 8.80 percent short position. However, IAC continues to deliver on the top and bottom lines. As long as that remains to be the case, IAC is an OUTPERFORM. - [By Brian Stelter]
I hesitated, but she insisted that I come to the headquarters of Barry Diller's IAC (IACI) for an in-person demonstration of the product, which she called an "online TV platform." Once I was there, I understood. "Surprisingly high-quality signal," I scribbled in my notebook. "Place- and time-shifting!" - [By Jayson Derrick]
InterActiveCorp (NASDAQ: IACI) announced that its CEO is stepping down from his current position to become chairman of a new operating unit. Investors cheered the management shakeup which is potentially hinting at a spinoff. Shares hit new 52 week highs of $70.44 before closing at $68.49, up 13.98 percent.
Top 5 Internet Stocks To Watch Right Now: eBay Inc.(EBAY) eBay Inc. provides online platforms, services, and tools to help individuals and merchants in online and mobile commerce and payments in the United States and internationally. Its Marketplaces segment operates ecommerce platform eBay.com; vertical shopping sites, such as StubHub, Fashion, Motors, and Half.com; and classifieds Websites, including Den Bl�Avis, BilBasen, Gumtree, Kijiji, LoQUo, Marktplaats.nl, mobile.de, Alamaula, Rent.com, eBay Anuncios, eBay Kleinanzeigen, and eBay Annunci, as well as provides advertising services. The company?s Payments segment offers payment and settlement services for consumers and merchants on and off eBay Websites and other merchant Websites. This segment operates PayPal, which enables individuals and businesses to send and receive payments online and through mobile devices; Bill Me Later that enables the United States merchants to offer, the United States consumers to obtain, credit at the point of sale for ecommerce and mobile tra nsactions; Zong, which allows users with mobile phones to purchase digital goods and have the transactions charged to their phone bill; and BillSAFE that enables customers pay for purchases upon receipt of an invoice. Its GSI segment offers an ecommerce services suite for enterprise clients that operate in general merchandise categories, including apparel, sporting goods, toys and baby, health and beauty, and home; and marketing services comprising full-service digital agency, enterprise email marketing, mobile advertising, affiliate marketing, advertisement retargeting, and in-depth analytics services. The company also offers X.commerce platform that provides software developers access to the company?s applications programming interfaces to develop functionality for various merchants; and Magento Connect, which allows developers to market and sell add-on functionality and solutions to merchants that use a Magento storefront. eBay Inc. was founded in 1995 and is headquarter ed in San Jose, California. Advisors' Opinion: - [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]
Michal Cizek/AFP/Getty Images Everything is not awesome in Legoland. Thieves around the country are capitalizing on the popularity of the plastic toy sets, whose enduring success was accelerated by the success of "The Lego Movie" this year. Police in Arizona last week reported making arrests connected to an alleged Lego theft ring. Police said they discovered $200,000 worth of Lego sets in the home of suspect Troy Koehler, 40, as well as in storage units he had rented. "His garage was filled from floor to ceiling, front to back," Phoenix police officer James Holmes said at a news conference. Other grown-ups charged in the Arizona Lego thefts allegedly were responsible for walking out of Toys R Us stores in the Phoenix area with $40,000 in Lego sets. Police said they would remove theft-deterrent devices and then either hide the sets under other merchandise or in gift bags. Their alleged thievery was captured on store surveillance video, police said. Police said Koehler had the equivalent of three truckloads of Lego sets after buying them from the theft ring for about one-quarter of their actual prices. He was selling sets online for up to $500 apiece. Sets Stolen on Long Island, Australia In New York last week, a 53-year-old woman was charged with stealing about 800 Lego sets worth nearly $60,000 from a storage facility on Long Island. Nassau County Police said Gloria Haas tried to sell the Lego sets on eBay (EBAY). Most of them were recovered. Lego thievery isn't a U.S.-only problem. Australian authorities this spring were investigating multiple Lego thefts involving more than $30,000 worth of the toys. - [By Tamara Rutter]
One of Musk's earlier achievements came in 2002 when eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY ) coughed up a cool $1.5 billion to buy PayPal, an online payments system co-founded by Musk. In many ways, PayPal has saved the online auction giant. In fact, PayPal now boasts 128 million active registered accounts and has grown to span 193 markets. - [By Ishfaque Faruk]
Third-party business
Amazon continues to gain market share in its relatively high-margin third-party business driven by Fulfillment by Amazon and Prime. Amazon is signing up more merchants and reducing time to ship the products by placing more fulfillment centers near�major U.S. cities. Amazon's Marketplace business is doing well, in spite of competition from rival�eBay� (NASDAQ: EBAY ) .�
Top 5 Internet Stocks To Watch Right Now: Symantec Corporation(SYMC) Symantec Corporation provides security, storage, and systems management solutions internationally. The company?s Consumer segment delivers Internet security, PC tune-up, and online backup solutions and services to individual users and home offices. Its Security and Compliance segment provides solutions for endpoint security and management, compliance, messaging management, data loss prevention, encryption, and authentication services to large, medium, and small-sized businesses, as well as offers solutions through its software-as-a-service (SaaS) security offerings. This segment?s products enable customers to secure, provision, and remotely manage their laptops, PCs, mobile devices, and servers. The company?s Storage and Server Management segment provides storage and server management, backup, archiving, and data protection solutions across heterogeneous storage and server platforms, as well as solutions delivered through its SaaS offerings to large, medium, and small-s ized businesses. Symantec?s Services segment offers implementation services and solutions, including consulting, business critical services, education, and managed security services. The company also provides various enterprise support offerings, such as annual maintenance support contracts, including content, upgrades, and technical support. It sells its products through its eCommerce platform, as well as through distributors, direct marketers, Internet-based resellers, system builders, ISPs, and retail locations worldwide. Symantec markets and sells its products through distributors, retailers, direct marketers, Internet-based resellers, original equipment manufacturers, system builders, and Internet service providers; and its e-commerce channels, as well as direct sales force, value-added and large account resellers, and system integrators. The company was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Mountain View, California. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Traders Reserve]
For some reason, certain companies can attract buyers no matter the circumstance. I would put Symantec (SYMC) in that category. Shares have gained nearly 20% this year even as Symantec�� prospects deteriorated. - [By Vanina Egea] and earnings growth (which came in better than expected on the last reported quarter), profit margins and other profitability ratios.
Additionally, I will evaluate which institutional investors bought the stock in the recent quarters (institutional backup can tell a lot about a stock), and the initiatives that the company is putting in motion in order to ameliorate its sales and margins. Earnings The first step is analyzing Symantec Corp�� earnings growth. I am looking for companies that are able to expand both their quarterly and annual earnings by more than 15% a year. Last quarter the company generated 13% quarterly EPS growth when compared to the same quarter last year. Thus, I am not encouraged by SYMC�� numbers. Past growth winners (Apple, Baidu, etc.) generated consistent quarterly EPS growth above 15% and I am certainly looking for that level before investing. In addition, SYMC generated three-year average annual EPS growth of 10%. This is an important metric to follow in growth stocks because it highlights how well the stock grew in the past years. I like to invest in companies that are growing consistently. Revenue Let's take a look at SYMC麓s revenue growth. This is a key metric that needs to be analyzed before investing in a company, as it is one of the scarce figures that cannot be modified through accounting tricks and similar dodges. The company reported a 5% quarterly revenue drop year over year. On the contrary, I look for companies that generate more than 15% in quarterly growth. When betting on a company, an investor wants to see sales grow or improve over time ���nd not just in the last reported quarter. Looking at the company�� financials in comparison to previous years will give participants a much better idea of how well a company is doing. Symantec Corp generated a three-year average annual sales growth rate of 4%. A New Strategic Plan Accepting the problems in its - [By Damian Illia]
California-based Symantec Corporation (SYMC) is a company that provides Internet security technology, with a wide range of application and software products of content security solutions and information back-up solutions such as firewall, virtual private network (VPN), virus protection, vulnerability management, intrusion detection and other services, offered to individuals and enterprises. Best known for Norton products which provide antivirus protection, identity protection and online backup, Symantec operates in more than 50 countries, and has recently realigned its business into three divisions: User Productivity & Protection, Information Security and Information Management.
Top 5 Internet Stocks To Watch Right Now: Yahoo! Inc.(YHOO) Yahoo! Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a digital media company that delivers personalized digital content and experiences through various devices worldwide. It offers online properties and services to users; and a range of marketing services to businesses. The company?s communications and communities offerings include Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! Messenger, Yahoo! Groups, Yahoo! Answers, Flickr, and Connected TV, which provide a range of communication and social services to users and small businesses enabling users to organize into groups and share knowledge, common interests, and photos. Its search products comprise Yahoo! Search and Yahoo! Local, available free to users to navigate the Internet and discover content. The company?s marketplaces offerings and services include Yahoo! Shopping, Yahoo! Travel, Yahoo! Real Estate, Yahoo! Autos, and Yahoo! Small Business, which allow users to research specific topics, products, services, or areas of interest by review ing and exchanging information, obtaining contact details, or considering offers from providers of goods, services, or parties with similar interests. Its media offerings comprise Yahoo! Homepage, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Sports, Yahoo! Finance, My Yahoo!, Yahoo! Toolbar, Yahoo! Entertainment & Lifestyles, Yahoo! Contributor Network, and Yahoo! Pulse, which are designed to engage users with online content and services on the Web. The company also offers marketing services, such as display and search advertising, listing-based services, and commerce-based transactions to advertisers. In addition, it provides software and platform offerings for third-party developers, advertisers, and publishers, such as Yahoo! Developer Network, Yahoo! Open Strategy, Yahoo! Application Platform, Yahoo! Updates, Yahoo! Query Language, and Yahoo! Search BOSS. The company has strategic alliances with Nokia and ABC News, Inc. Yahoo! Inc. was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Californi a. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Garrett Cook]
Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO) shares tumbled 3.03 percent to $40.81 following the open of Alibaba. Oracle (NYSE: ORCL) was down, falling 3.73 percent to $40.00 after the company reported downbeat fiscal first-quarter results and unexpectedly shuffled its top management. Analysts at Deutsche Bank downgraded Oracle from Buy to Hold and lowered the target price from $48 to $42. - [By Daniel Kline]
That's not stopping another potentially large player -- Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO ) �-- from jumping into the crowded space and planning to acquire, "the kind of original programming that typically winds up on high-end cable-TV networks and streaming services like Netflix,"�The Wall Street Journal�reported.� - [By Reuters]
David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesYahoo CEO Marissa Mayer NEW YORK and SAN FRANCISCO -- Three weeks ago, Yahoo chief executive Marissa Mayer strode into a Manhattan hotel and was greeted like a rock star by hundreds of advertising executives who snapped pictures as she sat down for an interview with journalist Charlie Rose. That same audience a year ago would have been grousing that Mayer hadn't done enough to engage Madison Avenue, which is arguably Yahoo's most important constituent since the Internet company derives more than 75 percent of its revenue from ad sales. "I think that Marissa has gotten a bit of a bad rap," said David Cohen, the chief media officer at UM, the global media arm of Interpublic Group. The industry perceived Mayer as not caring about advertising, choosing instead to focus solely on products, Cohen said. Ad agency executives say that over the past six months Mayer and her team have been working hard to change that perception, courting advertisers at key industry events, hosting lunches and attending meetings with agency representatives that include Yahoo executives like Chief Operating Officer Henrique de Castro, Senior Vice President and head of Americas Ned Brody and Chief Marketing Officer Kathy Savitt. The charm offensive has impressed many on Madison Avenue, but getting advertisers to actually spend more on Yahoo's Web properties won't happen overnight, industry experts said. The shift to advertising exchanges, which allow marketers to instantly buy placement for their ads across a broad constellation of websites, has pushed down the prices that online publishers such as Yahoo can charge. That was painfully apparent in the second quarter of this year, when Yahoo's display advertising revenue slid 11 percent due in part to a double-digit decline in ad prices. "Advertisers will become more excited if there's clear evidence that Yahoo is growing again in terms of its users and its engagement," said Mark Mahaney, an - [By Dan Newman]
Of course, other sites gained and fell in popularity. Twitter's popularity increased from 12% of social teens to 26%. MySpace fell from 24% to 7%. While Yahoo!� (NASDAQ: YHOO ) fell from 7% to 2%, its new acquisition, Tumblr, increased from 2% to 5%. And, despite�Google's (NASDAQ: GOOG ) attempts with Google Plus, only 3% of social media-using teens reported having a profile on the service.
Best Prefered Companies To Watch For 2015: Mazda Motor Corp (MZDAY.PK) Mazda Motor Corporation is a Japan-based company engaged in the manufacture and distribution of automobiles and automobile parts. The Company provides mini vans, compact vehicles, sports cars, sport-utility vehicles, station wagons, sedans, light cars, commercial vehicles, welfare vehicles and special edition automobiles, as well as automobile accessories, including car navigation systems, automobile audio systems, side monitors, rear seat monitors, electronic toll collection (ETC) in-vehicle equipment, security products, driving support products, bulbs, pet carriers and child seats, among others. As of March 31, 2013, the Company had 56 consolidated subsidiaries and 15 associated companies. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Elliott Gue]
This so-called One Ford initiative involved the US$2.3 billion sale of Jaguar and Land Rover to Tata Motors (TTM) and the US$1.6 billion divestment of Volvo to Geely Automobile Holdings (GELYF.PK). After selling the majority of its stake in Mazda Motor Corp (MZDAY.PK) and discontinuing Mercury, Ford Motor Company's portfolio consists of its eponymous mass-market brand and the higher-end Lincoln. source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/best-prefered-companies-to-watch-for-2015.html
The residents of Switzerland are the most satisfied with their lives, according to the latest Better Life Index report, released this week by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Switzerland has moved up to the top spot, bumping Denmark to fifth. For the third year, the United States failed to make the top 10, while countries like Canada, Mexico and all the Scandinavian nations did. The Better Life Index rates the 36 OECD countries in 11 areas that aim to cover every aspect of life, including income, education, health, work-life balance and life satisfaction. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the Better Life Index and ranked the countries based on the life satisfaction measure alone. Click here to see The Happiest Countries In The World While each of the other 10 categories of quality of life measured in the study is related to life satisfaction, there are several that clearly play a much bigger role, Conal Smith, section head within the statistics directorate at the OECD, explained in an interview with 24/7 Wall St. NeoGenomics, Inc. (NeoGenomics) operates a network of cancer-focused testing laboratories. The Company offers testing services, including Cytogenetics testing, which is the study of normal and abnormal chromosomes and their relationship to disease; fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) testing, which is a branch of cancer genetics that focuses on detecting and locating the presence or absence of specific deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequences and genes on chromosomes; flow cytometry testing, which is a way to measure the characteristics of cell populations; immunohistochemistry (IHC) testing, this is the process of identifying cell proteins in a tissue section utilizing the principle of antibodies binding specifically to antigens, and molecular testing, which is a cancer diagnostic tool focusing on the analysis of DNA and ribonucleic acid (RNA), as well as the structure and function of genes at a molecular level. The cancer testing services, that the Company offers to community-based pathologists are designed to be a natural extension of, and complementary to, the services that they perform within their own practices. In areas where the Company does not provide services to community-based pathology practices, it may directly serve oncology, dermatology, urology and other clinician practices that prefer to have a direct relationship with a laboratory for cancer-related genetic and molecular testing services. NeoGenomics services these types of clients with a global service offering where it performs both the technical and professional components of the tests ordered. The Company offers tech-only flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry testing services. These types of testing services generally allow the professional interpretation component of a test to be billed separately from the technical component. Its NeoFISH, NeoFLOW and other tech-only service offerings allow properly trained and credentialed community-based pathologists to extend their own practices by performing ! professional interpretations services. The Company's tech-only services are designed to give pathologists the option to choose, on a case by case basis, whether they want to order just the technical information and images relating to a specific test so they can perform the professional interpretation, or order global services and receive a test report, which includes a NeoGenomics Pathologist�� interpretation of the test results. The Company also offers a set of global services to meet the needs of those clients who are not credentialed and trained in interpreting genetic tests and who are looking for specialists to interpret the testing results for them. In its global service offerings, its lab performs the technical component of the tests and its doctor of medicine (M.D.s) and doctor of philosophy (Ph.D) s to provide the interpretation services. Its genetic pathology solutions (GPS) report summarizes all relevant case data from its global services on one summary report. The Company competes with General Electric Healthcare Services and Novartis, A.G. Advisors' Opinion: - [By John Udovich]
One way or the other, Merrimack Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: MACK), Covidien plc (NYSE: COV), NeoGenomics, Inc (NASDAQ: NEO) and�CollabRx Inc (NASDAQ: CLRX) are targeting Barrett's Esophagus�or�esophageal cancer�(the former often leads to the latter) ��a form of cancer that may not be on the top of your list of cancers but is nevertheless on the rise. Approximately 3 million Americans suffer from Barrett's Esophagus, �a condition that�develops as a result of chronic injury from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) where the�normal esophageal lining is replaced with abnormal cells (known as Barrett�� tissue), putting patients at greater risk of developing cancer of the esophagus. And although less than 1% of these patients develop cancer each year, esophageal carcinoma is frequently not detected until later stages, at which point therapy options are limited, extremely invasive, and often ineffective.�This means that�early detection is important�along with�regular surveillance is recommended.�
Top Heal Care Companies For 2014: Frontier Communications Company(FTR) Frontier Communications Corporation, a communications company, provides regulated and unregulated voice, data, and video services to residential, business, and wholesale customers in the United States. It offers local and long distance voice services, including basic telephone wireline services to residential and business customers; switched access services that allow other carriers to use the facilities to originate and terminate their long distance voice and data traffic; and directory services that provide white and yellow page directories for residential and business listings. The company also provides data and Internet services, which include residential services comprising high-speed Internet, dial up Internet, portal and e-mail products, and hard drive back-up services; and commercial and carriers services, such as metro Ethernet; dedicated Internet; Internet protocol, optical, multiprotocol label switching, and TDM data transport services. In addition, it offers di rect broadcast satellite services and fiber optic video services, as well as provides online access to video content, entertainment, and news available on the worldwide Web through its Web site myfitv.com. The company was formerly known as Citizens Communications Company and changed its name to Frontier Communications Corporation in July 2008. Frontier Communications Corporation was founded in 1927 and is based in Stamford, Connecticut. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Equities Lab]
Frontier Communications Corporation (FTR), at its current price, is one of the best buying opportunities the market has to offer. This stock is such a good buying opportunity for a number of reasons including: - [By WilliamBriat]
Frontier Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: FTR) provides phone, Internet, and satellite TV (through a partnership with DISH Network) services to more than 25 states. The company provides an annual dividend of 9.3% and reaffirmed its full-year guidance. - [By Sue Chang and Saumya Vaishampayan]
Frontier Communications Corp. (FTR) �shares fell 5.3%. The stock is up roughly 20% so far in 2014. - [By Ben Levisohn]
Consider: The S&P 500 telecom sector has dropped 0.3% at 12:53 p.m., even as the S&P 500 has gained 0.1% and the S&P 500 utilities sector has advanced 0.1%. But telecom is a weird grouping. For starters, there are just five telecom stocks in the S&P 500: Verizon (VZ), AT&T (T), CenturyLink (CTL), Frontier Communications (FTR) and�Windstream Holdings (WIN).
Top Heal Care Companies For 2014: International Rectifier Corporation (IRF) International Rectifier Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets power management semiconductors worldwide. The company operates through six segments: Power Management Devices, Energy Saving Products, Automotive Products, Enterprise Power, HiRel, and Intellectual Property. The Power Management Devices segment provides power metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs), FETKYs, and DirectFETs for power supply, data processing, telecommunications, industrial, and commercial battery-powered systems. The Energy Saving Products segment provides analog high voltage integrated circuits (HVICs), insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) platforms, digital control ICs, and IRAM integrated power modules for motor control appliances, industrial automation, lighting and display, audio, and video applications. The Automotive Products segment offers HVICs, intelligent power switch ICs, power MOSFETs, IGBTs, diodes, and advanced power modules for various automotive applications. The Enterprise Power segment offers DirectFET discrete products, digital PWM controllers, power monitoring products, voltage regulators, low voltage ICs, and PowIRstages primarily for applications in servers, storage, routers, switches, infrastructure equipment, notebooks, graphic cards, and gaming consoles. The HiRel segment provides RAD-hard discretes, RAD-hard ICs, power management modules, DC-DC converters, and high temperature converters for satellites and space exploration vehicles, military hardware, and other high reliability applications. The Intellectual Property segment sells and licenses technologies and manufacturing process know-how. The company was founded in 1947 and is headquartered in El Segundo, California. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Seth Jayson]
Calling all cash flows
When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on International Rectifier (NYSE: IRF ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.
Top Heal Care Companies For 2014: UIL Holdings Corp (UIL) UIL Holdings Corporation, incorporated on March 22, 1999, is engaged in the ownership of its operating regulated utility businesses. The utility businesses consist of the electric distribution and transmission operations of The United Illuminating Company (UI) and the natural gas transportation, distribution and sales operations of The Southern Connecticut Gas Company (SCG), Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation (CNG), and The Berkshire Gas Company (Berkshire, and together with SCG and CNG, the Gas Companies). The Company operates in Electric Distribution, Electric Transmission and Gas Distribution segments. UI is an electric distribution and transmission utility. UI is also a party to a joint venture with certain affiliates of NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG affiliates) pursuant to which UI holds 50% of interests in GCE Holding LLC, whose wholly owned subsidiary, GenConn Energy LLC operates generation plants in Devon, Connecticut (GenConn Devon) and Middletown, Connecticut (GenConn Middletown). Advisors' Opinion: - [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Utilities sector was the only decliner in the US market today. Top losers in the sector included UIL Holdings (NYSE: UIL), off 2.1 percent, and Crosstex Energy (NASDAQ: XTXI), down 2.2 percent. - [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Utilities sector was the only decliner in the US market today. Top losers in the sector included UIL Holdings (NYSE: UIL), off 2.1 percent, and Crosstex Energy (NASDAQ: XTXI), down 2.2 percent.
Top Heal Care Companies For 2014: Wolverine World Wide Inc.(WWW) Wolverine World Wide, Inc. designs, manufactures, sources, markets, licenses, and distributes branded footwear, apparel, and accessories. It offers industrial work shoes, boots, uniform shoes, outdoor sports footwear, rugged casual footwear, lifestyle footwear, sandals, and closed-toe products. It also provides outdoor apparel, and work and rugged casual apparel; and accessories, such as packs, bags, and luggage, as well as eyewear, gloves, handbags, socks, watches, and plush toys. The company offers its products under various brand names, including Bates, Cat Footwear, Chaco, Cushe, Harley-Davidson Footwear, Hush Puppies, HyTest, Merrell, Patagonia Footwear, Sebago, Soft Style, and Wolverine. It sells its products to a range of retail customers, which comprise department stores, national chains, catalogs, specialty retailers, mass merchants, Internet retailers, governments, and municipalities in the United States, Canada, and Europe. The company also markets its products in approximately 190 countries and territories through company-owned wholesale operations, licensees, and distributors. It also licenses its brands for use on non-footwear products. As of December 31, 2011, the company operated 101 retail stores in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom; and operated 42 consumer-direct Websites. Further, it markets pigskin leather, and purchases raw pigskins from other source. Wolverine World Wide, Inc. was founded in 1883 and is based in Rockford, Michigan. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Dividends4Life]
Memberships and Peers: NKE is a member of the S&P 500 and a member of the Broad Dividend Achievers��Index. The company's peer group includes: Crocs Inc. (CROX) with a 0.0% yield, Deckers Outdoor Corporation (DECK) with a 0.0% yield and Wolverine World Wide Inc. (WWW) with a 0.4% yield. - [By Suravi Thacker]
Skechers has also been able to outpace its peers such as Wolverine World Wide (WWW) and Crocs (CROX). Skechers has provided a return of 88.8%, in terms of stock price appreciation, in the last year. On the other hand, Wolverine World Wide�� stock price dropped by 1.1% and Crocs��price declined 15.1%. This highlights Skechers��attractiveness and its outperformance against its peers.
Top Heal Care Companies For 2014: Vishay Precision Group Inc.(VPG) Vishay Precision Group, Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets components based on resistive foil technology, sensors, and sensor-based systems in the United States, Europe, and Asia. The company?s products include precision foil resistors, foil strain gages, transducers and load cells, modules, instruments, weighing and control systems, and PhotoStress coatings and instruments; and sensors that convert mechanical inputs into an electronic signal for display, processing, interpretation, or control by the company?s instrumentation and systems products. Its products are used in waste management, bulk hauling, logging, scales manufacturing, engineering systems, pharmaceutical, oil, chemical, steel, paper, and food industries, as well as in military/aerospace, medical, agriculture, and construction markets. The company sells its products through original equipment manufacturers, electronic manufacturing services companies, and independent distributors, as well as directly t o end-use customers. Vishay Precision Group, Inc. was founded in 1962 and is headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Seth Jayson]
Calling all cash flows
When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on Vishay Precision Group (NYSE: VPG ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below. - [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 Vishay Precision Group (NYSE: VPG ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.
Last November, I announced my intention to create a portfolio of 10 companies that investors had effectively thrown away and given up on, in the hope of showing that deep-value investing, and contrarian thinking, can actually be a very successful investing method. I dubbed this the "One Person's Trash Is Another Person's Treasure" portfolio and, over a 10-week span, I highlighted companies that I thought fit this bill, and would expect to drastically outperform the benchmark S&P 500 over the coming 12 months. If you're interested in the reasoning behind why I chose these companies, then I encourage you to review my synopsis of each portfolio selection: Exelon QLogic Dendreon Dell Staples Arkansas Best Arch Coal Skullcandy Orange Xerox Now, let's get to the portfolio and see how it fared this week: Company Cost Basis Shares Total Value Return | Exelon | $31.25 | 31.68 | $968.46 | (2.2%) | | QLogic | $11.46 | 86.39 | $924.37 | (6.6%) | | Dendreon | $5.97 | 165.82 | $742.87 | (25%) | | Dell | $13.37 | 74.05 | $987.09 | (0.3%) | | Staples | $13.48 | 73.44 | $1,201.48 | 21.4% | | Arkansas Best | $10.83 | 91.41 | $2,134.42 | 115.6% | | Arch Coal | $7.03 | 140.83 | $556.28 | (43.8%) | | Skullcandy | $6.71 | 147.54 | $815.90 | (17.6%) | | Orange | $11.64 | 85.05 | $803.72 | (18.8%) | | Xerox | $8.16 | 121.32 | $1,164.67 | 17.6% | | Cash | | | $0.06 | | | Dividends receivable | | | $84.53 | | | Total commission | | | ($100.00) | | | Original investment | | | $10,000.00 | | | Total portfolio value | | | $10,383.85 | 3.8% | | S&P 500 performance | | | | 10% | | Performance relative to S&P 500 | | | | (6.2%) | Source: Yahoo! Finance. This week's winner
Topping the list this week was the portfolios worst performer up until now, Arch Coal (NYSE: ACI ) , which logged a 6.2% gain despite continued negativity surrounding coal. One factor still working in coal's favor is that it still accounts for better than 40% of all electricity generation in the U.S. It isn't a fuel source that's going to disappear overnight no matter how popular alternative energy is becoming. As long as Arch continues to focus on improving its exports business, I feel it has the tools necessary to cut costs and wait for prices to improve. This week's loser
You know it's been a good week when the worst performing stock was Dell (NASDAQ: DELL ) ... and it rose by 0.2% on the week! That's right; all 10 stocks were up this past week. The reason Dell didn't join in on the fun nearly as much as the other companies here is that ISS Group backed Michael Dell and Silver Lake Partners $13.65/share bid. Carl Icahn has proposed numerous methods of increasing value for Dell shareholders, but it appears he is going to be blocked, yet again. The July 18 vote on the Silver Lake buyout is going to be crucial, so keep your eyes peeled. Also in the news...
Electric utility Exelon (NYSE: EXC ) received a bit of good news yesterday after Reuters reported that nuclear outages had hit a nearly two-year low. Exelon is the largest operator of nuclear power plants in the U.S., so this is positive news, and could signal that its pricing power (at least with regard to nuclear) is improving. Exelon still has plenty of challenges ahead, including the assimilation of diverse alternative energies like wind and solar into its energy portfolio, but it also looks brutally undervalued at these levels. Office supply superstore Staples (NASDAQ: SPLS ) should be licking its chops with excitement as OfficeMax shareholders approved the pending merger with purchasing company Office Depot. Some may see this new company as fierce competition. As for me, I see it as a two-year opportunity for Staples to pick up displaced customers from store closures caused by this merger, and as a way of solidifying its brand name. Staples has a shot at really surprising Wall Street over the coming year or two. To add to last week's "by the way" moment, have you been noticing the steady rally in QLogic (NASDAQ: QLGC ) shares over the past week? Shares of peer Emulex soared on takeover chatter, but the true takeover attention may turn to QLogic, which offers more cash per share and, frankly, has better long-term growth potential -- although, keep in mind that I own shares and am thus biased. With wireless service providers spending like there's no tomorrow, we're beginning to see cash trickle down to fiber-optic products suppliers. It's only a matter of time before equipment makers like QLogic get their turn. I really like this space to surprise to the upside over the next four-to-six quarters. We can do better
It was another solid week of gains for this contrarian and deeply discounted portfolio, which ever-so-slightly outperformed the S&P 500. Still, we have a long way to go to catch the broad-based index. Luckily, this isn't a sprint, it's a marathon; and these businesses are set up to succeed over the long run. I suspect this portfolio will gain significant momentum before the year is out. Check back next week for the latest update on this portfolio and its 10 components. Millions of Americans have waited on the sidelines since the market meltdown in 2008 and 2009, too scared to invest and put their money at further risk. Yet, those who've stayed out of the market have missed out on huge gains, such as Arkansas Best's 115% move higher since January, and put their financial futures in jeopardy. In our brand-new special report, "Your Essential Guide to Start Investing Today," the Motley Fool's personal finance experts show you why investing for the future is so important, and what you need to do to get started. Click here to get your copy today -- it's absolutely free.
Getty Images NEW YORK -- Applications for U.S. home mortgages rose in the latest week, an industry group said Wednesday. The Mortgage Bankers Association said its seasonally adjusted index of mortgage application activity, which includes both refinancing and home purchase demand, rose 4.7 percent to 404.1 in the week ended Jan. 17. The index hit its lowest level since December 2000 at the end of last year, soon after the U.S. Federal Reserve announced it would start pulling back on its $85 billion per month bond-buying program as the economy grows strong enough to stand on its own. The interest rate on fixed 30-year mortgages averaged 4.57 percent last week, the lowest level since November 2013 and down 9 basis points from the previous week. The MBA's seasonally adjusted index of refinancing applications rose 9.9 percent. The gauge of loan requests for home purchases, a leading indicator of home sales, slipped 3.6 percent. The survey covers over 75 percent of U.S. retail residential mortgage applications, according to MBA. PUGET TECHNOLOGIES, INC., incorporated on March 17, 2010, is a development-stage company. The Company is engaged in the distribution of luxury wool bedding sets produced in Germany. The Company�� product includes Lama Wool, Camel Wool, Cashmere Wool and Merino Wool. The Company�� Lama Wool is consists of 50% Lama Wool hair, and 50% Merino wool hair. The Camel wool is consists of 50% Camel wool hair, and 50% Merino wool hair. The Cashmere wool is blended with Merino wool. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Peter Graham]
Small cap stocks Inscor, Inc (OTCMKTS: IOGA), Puget Technologies Inc (OTCBB: PUGE) and PTA Holdings Inc (OTCMKTS: PTAH) have all been getting some attention lately in various investment newsletters or investor alerts. However, two of these small caps have been the subject of paid promotions while the third is getting attention largely because its in the growing marijuana or cannabis business. With that in mind, are these stocks really all that hot or not? Here is a quick reality check:
Top Retail Companies To Buy For 2014: Kate Spade & Co (KATE) Kate Spade & Co, formerly Fifth & Pacific Companies Inc, incorporated in January 1976, designs and markets a portfolio of retail-based, premium brands, including JUICY COUTURE, KATE SPADE and LUCKY BRAND. The Company also has a private brand jewelry design and development division, which markets brands through department stores and serves J.C. Penney Corporation, Inc. (JCPenney), through exclusive supplier agreements for the LIZ CLAIBORNE and MONET jewelry lines and Kohl's Corporation (Kohl's) through an exclusive supplier agreement for DANA BUCHMAN jewelry. It also has licenses for the LIZ CLAIBORNE NEW YORK brand, available at QVC and LIZWEAR, which is distributed through the club store channel. It maintains an 18.75% stake in MEXX, a European and Canadian apparel and accessories retail-based brand. As of December 31, 2011, the Company operated a total of 307 specialty retail stores under various Company trademarks, consisting of 285 retail stores within the United States and 22 retail stores outside of the United States (primarily in Europe and Canada). The Company operates in four segments: JUICY COUTURE segment, KATE SPADE segment, LUCKY BRAND segment, and Adelington Design Group & Other segment. In August 2013, Granite Real Estate Investment Trust closed its acquisition of a 600,000 square foot logistics-distribution facility in West Chester (Cincinnati), Ohio from the Company. In February 2014, the Company completed the sale of Lucky Brand Dungarees Inc. JUICY COUTURE segment consists of the specialty retail, outlet, concession, wholesale apparel, wholesale non-apparel (including accessories, jewelry and handbags), e-commerce and licensing operations of its JUICY COUTURE brand. KATE SPADE segment consists of the specialty retail, outlet, wholesale apparel, wholesale non-apparel, e-commerce and licensing operations of its KATE SPADE and JACK SPADE brands. LUCKY BRAND segment consists of the specialty retail, outlet, wholesale apparel, wholesale non-apparel, e-commerce and licensing ! operations of its LUCKY BRAND. Adelington Design Group & Other segment consists of exclusive arrangements to supply jewelry for the DANA BUCHMAN, LIZ CLAIBORNE and MONET brands; the wholesale non-apparel operations of the TRIFARI brand and licensed KENSIE brand; the wholesale apparel and wholesale non-apparel operations of the licensed LIZWEAR brand and other brands, and the licensed LIZ CLAIBORNE NEW YORK brand. JUICY COUTURE The Company�� JUICY COUTURE brand offers luxurious, casual and fun women's and girl's apparel, as well as accessories and jewelry under various JUICY COUTURE trademarks. JUICY COUTURE products are sold through wholly owned specialty retail and outlet stores, select upscale specialty retail stores and department stores throughout the United States, through a network of distributors and owned and licensed retail stores in Asia, Canada, Europe, South America and the Middle East, as well as through its JUICY COUTURE e-commerce Website. In addition, JUICY COUTURE has existing licensing agreements for fragrances, footwear, optics, watches, swimwear, electronics cases and baby products. KATE SPADE The Company�� KATE SPADE brand offers fashion products (accessories, apparel and jewelry) for women and men under the KATE SPADE and JACK SPADE respectively. These products are sold primarily in the United States through wholly owned specialty retail and outlet stores, select specialty retail and upscale department stores, its operations in Brazil and the United Kingdom and through its KATE SPADE e-commerce Website, as well as through joint ventures in Japan and China and through a network of distributors in Asia. KATE SPADE's product line includes handbags, small leather goods, fashion accessories, jewelry and apparel. In addition, KATE SPADE has licensing agreements for footwear, optics, fragrances, tabletop products, legwear, electronics cases, bedding and stationery. JACK SPADE products include briefcases, travel bags, small leather go! ods and a! pparel. LUCKY BRAND The Company�� LUCKY BRAND offers an expanded assortment of men's and women's denim, woven and knit tops, dresses and sweaters, graphic tees, as well as accessories and jewelry, under various LUCKY BRAND. LUCKY BRAND products are available for sale at wholly owned specialty retail and outlet stores in the United States and Canada, select department and specialty stores and through the LUCKY BRAND e-commerce Website. LUCKY BRAND also has licensing agreements for fragrances, footwear, swimwear, eyewear and electronic cases. Adelington Design Group & Other The operations within the Company Adelington Design Group & Other segment consist of exclusive supplier arrangements to provide JCPenney with LIZ CLAIBORNE and MONET branded jewelry and Kohl's with DANA BUCHMAN-branded jewelry for two years; a license to produce and sell jewelry under the KENSIE brand name; a royalty free license for the LIZ CLAIBORNE NEW YORK brand; LIZWEAR, women's apparel available through the club store channel, and TRIFARI, a signature jewelry brand for women sold in mid-tier department stores. The Company competes with Marc by Marc Jacobs, JCrew, Michael Kors, Pink, Coach, Diane von Furstenberg, Diesel, Guess, True Religion, 7 for all Mankind, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Tory Burch. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Sue Chang]
Kate Spade & Co. (KATE) �is expected to post a loss of 4 cents a share in the first quarter. - [By Ben Levisohn]
We still believe that Coach�� disadvantage brand equity position relative to peers (Kors, Kate Spade (KATE), Tory Burch, Marc Jacobs) supports further market share erosion, with stabilization at perhaps a 10% share.
Top Retail Companies To Buy For 2014: Shoe Carnival Inc (SCVL) Shoe Carnival, Inc. is a family footwear retailer. The Company offers customers an assortment of dress, casual and athletic footwear for men, women and children with emphasis on national and regional name brands. The Company�� stores averaged approximately 10,800 square feet, ranging in size from 6,000 to 26,500 square feet. As of January 28, 2012, the Company operated 327 stores located across 32 states and offered online shopping at www.shoecarnival.com. Its average store carries approximately 28,500 pairs of shoes in four general categories, such as men��, women��, children�� and athletics. In addition to footwear, its stores carry selected accessory items complementary to the sale of footwear. The Company operates a single 410,000 square foot distribution center located in Evansville, Indiana. Women��, men�� and children�� non-athletic footwear categories are further divided into dress, casual, sport, sandals and boots. It classifies athletic shoes by functionality, such as running, basketball or fitness shoes. During the fiscal year ended January 28, 2012 (fiscal 2011), athletic styles, including children�� sizes, have represented approximately 50% of its footwear sales. Advisors' Opinion: Top Retail Companies To Buy For 2014: WH Smith PLC (SMWH) WH Smith PLC is a United Kingdom-based retail company. The Company has two businesses divisions: Travel and High Street. The Company's Travel division sells a range of newspapers, magazines, books and impulse products for people on the move and a broader convenience range in hospitals and workplaces. The Company's High Street sells a wide range of stationery, books, newspapers, magazines and impulse products, as well as a small range of entertainment products.The Company�� subsidiaries include WH Smith PLC, WH Smith Retail Holdings Limited, WH Smith High Street Holdings Limited, WH Smith Travel Holdings Limited, WH Smith High Street Limited, WH Smith Travel Limited and WH Smith Hospitals Holdings Limited. Advisors' Opinion: Top Retail Companies To Buy For 2014: Coach Inc (COH) Coach, Inc. (Coach), incorporated in June 2000, is a marketer of fine accessories and gifts for women and men. Coach�� product offerings include women�� and men�� bag, accessories, business cases, footwear, wearables, jewelry, sunwear, travel bags, watches and fragrance. The Company operates in two segments: Direct-to-Consumer and Indirect. Accessories include women�� and men�� small leather goods, novelty accessories and women�� and men�� belts. Women�� small leather goods, which coordinate with its handbags, include money pieces, wristlets, and cosmetic cases. Men�� small leather goods consist primarily of wallets and card cases. Novelty accessories include time management and electronic accessories. Key rings and charms are also included in this category. Men�� handbag collections include business cases, computer bags, messenger-style bags and totes. Footwear is distributed through select Coach retail stores, coach.com and about 1,000 United States department stores. Wearables category is comprised of jackets, sweaters, gloves, hats and scarves, including both cold weather and fashion. The Company�� Jewelry category is comprised of bangle bracelets, necklaces, rings and earrings offered in both sterling silver and non-precious metals. Marchon Eyewear, Inc. (Marchon) is the Coach�� eyewear licensee. Coach sunglasses are sold in Coach retail stores and coach.com, department stores, select sunglass retailers and optical retailers in major markets. The travel collections are comprised of luggage and related accessories, such as travel kits and valet trays. Movado Group, Inc. (Movado) is the Company�� watch licensee, which develops a collection of watches. Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (Estee Lauder), through its subsidiary, Aramis Inc., is Coach�� fragrance licensee. Fragrance is distributed through Coach retail stores, coach.com and about 4,000 United States department stores and 500 international locations. Coach offers four women�� fragrance col! lections and one men�� fragrance. The women�� fragrance collections include eau de perfume spray, eau de toilette spray, purse spray, body lotion and body splashes. Direct-to-Consumer Segment The Direct-to-Consumer segment consists of channels that provide the Company with immediate, controlled access to consumers: Coach-operated stores in North America; Japan; Hong Kong, Macau, and mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore and the Internet. This segment represented approximately 89% of Coach�� total net sales during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012 (fiscal 2012), with North American stores and the Internet, Coach Japan and Coach China contributing approximately 63%, 18% and 6% of total net sales, respectively. Coach stores are located in regional shopping centers and metropolitan areas throughout the United States and Canada. The retail stores carry an assortment of products. Its stores are located in locations, such as New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Toronto. Coach�� factory stores serve as a means to sell manufactured-for-factory-store product, including factory exclusives, as well as discontinued and irregular inventory outside the retail channel. These stores operate under the Coach Factory name. Coach�� factory store design, visual presentations and customer service levels support. Coach views its Website as a key communications vehicle for the brand to promote traffic in Coach retail stores and department store locations. Its online store provides a showcase environment where consumers can browse through a selected offering of the latest styles and colors. Coach Japan operates department store shop-in-shop locations and freestanding flagship, retail and factory stores, as well as an e-commerce Website. Flagship stores offer an assortment of Coach products that are located in select shopping districts throughout Japan. Coach China operates department store shop-in-shop locations, as well as freestanding flagship, retail and factory sto! res. Flag! ship stores, which offer an assortment of Coach products, are located in select shopping districts throughout Hong Kong and mainland China. Coach Singapore and Taiwan operate department store shop-in-shop locations as well as freestanding flagship, retail and factory stores. Flagship stores, which offer a range of assortment of Coach products, are located in select shopping districts in Singapore and Taiwan. The Reed Krakoff brand represents New American luxury primarily for handbags, accessories and ready-to-wear. Reed Krakoff operates department store shop-in-shop locations, freestanding flagship stores, as well as an e-commerce Website at reedkrakoff.com. Flagship stores, which offer an assortment of Reed Krakoff products, are located in select shopping districts in the United States and Japan. Indirect Segment The Indirect segment represented approximately 11% of total net sales in fiscal 2012, with United States Wholesale and Coach International representing approximately 6% and 4% of total net sales, respectively. The Indirect segment also includes royalties earned on licensed product. U.S. Wholesale channel offers access to Coach products to consumers who prefer shopping at department stores. Coach products are also available on macys.com, dillards.com, bloomingdales.com, lordandtaylor.com, belk.com, vonmaur.com and nordstrom.com. Coach�� products are sold in approximately 990 wholesale locations in the United States and Canada. Its U.S. wholesale customers are Macy�� (including Bloomingdale��), Dillard��, Nordstrom, Lord & Taylor, Carson�� and Saks Fifth Avenue. Coach International channel represents sales to international wholesale distributors and authorized retailers. Coach has developed relationships with a select group of distributors who sell Coach products through department stores and freestanding retail locations in over 20 countries. Coach�� network of international distributors serves various markets: South Korea, US & T! erritorie! s, Taiwan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Japan, Australia, Singapore, UAE, France, China, Macau, Indonesia, Kuwait, Bahamas, Aruba, Vietnam, New Zealand, Bahrain, India and Brazil. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Ted Cooper]
Coach (NYSE: COH ) earns a pretty penny for each handbag it sells, but its shareholders haven't shared in the profits as of late. The luxury handbag maker's stock price has declined 33% since the start of the year. Things obviously haven't been going the company's way lately, but that likely won't stop investors from making money buying its stock. In fact, this out-of-fashion stock could be a terrific investment for investors willing to buck the trend. Let's investigate further to find out whether it's time to buy Coach's stock. - [By Ben Levisohn]
Shares of Michael Kors Holdings (KORS) have gained 6.4% to $79.54 today, after reporting better than forecast earnings. That could be good news for�Fossil�(FOSL), but�Coach�(COH) could be in trouble. - [By Seth Jayson]
Coach (NYSE: COH ) reported earnings on April 23. Here are the numbers you need to know. The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended March 30 (Q3), Coach met expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.
Top Retail Companies To Buy For 2014: Express Scripts Holding Co (ESRX) Express Scripts Holding Company, incorporated in 2011, provides healthcare management and administration services on behalf of its clients, which include health maintenance organizations (HMOs), health insurers, third-party administrators, employers, union-sponsored benefit plans, workers compensation plans, and government health programs. The Company operates in two segments: Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM) and Emerging Markets (EM). PBM services include network claims processing, home delivery services, patient care and direct specialty and fertility home delivery to patients, benefit plan design consultation, drug utilization review, formulary management, drug data analysis services, distribution of injectable drugs to patients homes and physicians offices, bio-pharma services, and fulfillment of prescriptions to low-income patients through manufacturer-sponsored patient assistance programs. EM segment provides distribution of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies to providers and clinics, healthcare account administration and implementation of consumer-directed healthcare solutions. In September 2013, it announced the acquisition of the SmartD Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (PDP). On July 20, 2011, Express Scripts, Inc. (ESI) entered into a merger agreement (the Merger Agreement) with Medco Health Solutions, Inc. (Medco). During the year ended December 31, 2011, it reorganized its FreedomFP line of business from its EM segment into its PBM segment. On April 2, 2012, the Company completed the Merger Agreement, and after which ESI and Medco became the wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company. The Company�� customers include HMOs, health insurers, third-party administrators, employers, union-sponsored benefit plans, government health programs, office-based oncologists, renal dialysis clinics, ambulatory surgery centers, primary care physicians, retina specialists and others. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Chris Isidore]
But there are also many growing employers nearby due to the close proximity to the airport. Drug benefits provider Express Scripts' (ESRX) headquarters and fulfillment center are just outside of town, and the company is adding another building to its complex. Boeing (BA) also does some manufacturing near the airport. - [By Lu Wang]
Express Scripts Holding Co. (ESRX) declined 4.5 percent to $60.88, the lowest since May. The largest U.S. processor of prescription drug claims reduced its 2013 cash flow forecast, citing delays in some non-client integration activities. - [By Holly LaFon] ss Scripts is a pharmacy benefit manager that generates revenue through delivering prescription drugs through its network of contracted retail pharmacies, specialty pharmacy services, home delivery and EM services.
Express Scripts��stock tumbled to a 52-week low of $34.37 at the end of the third quarter, from a high of $60.89. Cooperman bought 719,000 shares of the company at an average of $43 per share. He previously owned shares of Express Scripts in 2007 when the price was about $23 per share, and sold over the next several quarters as the stock climbed to $34 in the second quarter of 2008, when he closed his position. Express Scripts Inc. has a market cap of $24.76 billion; its shares were traded at around $50.17 with a P/E ratio of 17.8 and P/S ratio of 0.5. Express Scripts Inc. had an annual average earnings growth of 28.6% over the past 10 years. GuruFocus rated Express Scripts Inc. the business predictability rank of 5-star. Over the past decade, Express Scripts has generated strong and growing free cash flow, which grew from $1.6 billion in 2009 to a record of almost $2 billion in 2010. In October, the company had to lower its earnings per share guidance from the previously expected $3.15 to $3.25, to a range of $2.95 to $3.05. The decrease was due to multiple factors: a greater shortfall in claims versus expectations, a stagnant economy impacting claims volumes, additional expenses, including accelerating spending on projects in preparation for the integration of Medco Health Solutions Inc., expenses to support clients and members as they transfer from Walgreen�� pharmacies and to comply with new regulations. The company is also facing heightened competition. Later, on October 25, the company announced that it expects 95% of its clients��prescription volume to continue after it loses Walgreens as a network supplier in 2012. It also expects that the merger with Medco, another PBM, will be slightly accretive to EPS in - [By Mani]
Express Scripts Holding Company (NASDAQ:ESRX) could deliver relative outperformance in 2014 as the upcoming generic wave should offer a two-fold opportunity for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).
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