Best Growth Companies To Invest In Right Now

Best Growth Companies To Invest In Right Now: TrueBlue Inc.(TBI)

TrueBlue, Inc. provides temporary blue-collar staffing services in the United States. It supplies on demand general labor to various industries under the Labor Ready brand; skilled labor to manufacturing and logistics industries under the Spartan Staffing brand; and trades people for commercial, industrial, and residential construction, and building and plant maintenance industries under the CLP Resources brand. The company also provides mechanics and technicians to the aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul, aerospace manufacturing, and assembly industries, as well as to other transportation industries under the Plane Techs brand; and temporary drivers to the transportation and distribution industries under the Centerline brand. It primarily serves small and medium-size businesses. The company was formerly known as Labor Ready, Inc. and changed its name to TrueBlue, Inc. in December 2007. TrueBlue, Inc. was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Tacoma, Washington.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Travis Hoium]

  What: Shares of staffing agency TrueBlue (NYSE: TBI  ) jumped 10% today after the company reported earnings.

  So what: Revenue jumped 19%, to $422.3 million, and beat estimates of $420.2 million from Wall Street. Adjusted earnings per share were also up 19%, to $0.31, outpacing estimates by $0.05. 

• [By Jonathan Yates]

  For those looking to invest in real estate stocks, highly recommended is the Dr. Housing Bubble blog. In a recent posting, the "Dr." pointed out that there was a "Lost Generation" when it came to household income. That has not happened for those investing in staffing industry stocks such as Paychex (NASDAQ: PAYX), Robert Half International (NYSE: RHI), TrueBlue, Inc. (NYSE: TBI), and Labor SMART (OTCBB: LTNC).

• [By Jonathan! Yates]

  When looking at small cap stocks, it is useful to compare the company with others that have expanded in both share price and size. For those considering investing in the $100 billion staffing industry, the growth of TrueBlue (NYSE: TBI) shows what could be the potential path for Labor SMART (OTCBB: LTNC), as both operate in the $29 billion demand labor sector. Other firms have done well in the staffing industry include Paychex (NASDAQ: PAYX) and ManPower Group (NYSE: MAN).

• [By Jonathan Yates]

  Even though the stock market rallied on Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's remarks with the Dow Jones Industrial Average (NYSE: DIA) and Standard & Poor's 500 Index (NYSE: SPY) surging, the long term winners will be stocks in the staffing industry such as Paychex(NASDAQ: PAYX), TrueBlue (NYSE: TBI), Robert Half (NYSE: RHI), and Labor SMART (OTCBB: LTNC).

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/best-growth-companies-to-invest-in-right-now.html

With Hippocratic Oath, Doctors Pledge Allegiance to Patients, Not Profits

The Maine Medical Association recently updated a 2008 poll of their members that asked the question, �When considering the topic of health care reform, would you prefer to make improvements in the current public/private system (or) a single-payer system, such as a �Medicare-for-all� approach?� In 2008, 52.3 percent favored the Medicare-for-all approach. In the updated poll, released last week, that number had risen to 64.3 percent.

It�s pretty unusual for two-thirds of a group of doctors to agree on something as controversial as a single-payer health care system. Until recently, doctors formed the core resistance to �government-run� health insurance in the U.S.

A number of factors account for this impressive change, but the huge administrative burden on practicing physicians created by our plethora of private insurance schemes is certainly near the top of the list.

The other day, I spoke with a Maine physician nearing retirement and looking forward to it. She was recently returning home after a long day in her practice, carrying her �homework,� a pile of administrative paperwork several inches high. Her husband asked her how she got so far behind in her paperwork. �I wasn�t behind at all,� she replied. She did this much paperwork, mostly insurance forms, at least twice a week.

American physicians spend at least three times as much time, money and effort on administrative work related to payment and insurance coverage as our Canadian brethren, with their single-payer system. Administrative hassle is a major factor driving more and more American doctors to sell our practices to large corporations that take care of the back-office work. The Affordable Care Act has only added to that burden. Sixty percent of doctors now work for corporations, and that number is growing.

Working for a corporate provider of health care services is a mixed bag. He who pays the piper calls the tune. As both for-profit and nonprofit health care corporations have become increasingly focused on the bottom line, doctors working for them have come under increasingly subtle and not-so-subtle pressures to generate revenue for their employers.

Some tests and procedures are more profitable than others. Increasingly, doctors� �productivity� is measured by the amount of profitable revenue we produce rather than by the results we get for our patients. But in health care, profitability is a very unreliable measure of value because doctors� fees and other health care prices are often set arbitrarily.

When we graduate from medical school, most of us take the Hippocratic Oath, swearing our primary allegiance to our patients. Young doctors tend to take their oath very seriously. Most doctors truly want to do what�s best for patients, not their insurance company or our employers� bottom line.

But in today�s corporatized and increasingly monetized health care environment, the demands for generation of profit often directly conflict with our clinical judgment. The belief that doctors and other healers act as stewards for our patients� welfare has long earned us a special place in society and the trust of our patients. That position and that trust, so critical to healing, is now threatened.

This conflict has made many doctors very angry. Practicing a profession that has traditionally been a calling has become a business. Doctors today are caught in a system corrupted by an excessive focus on money that is forcing us to behave in ways that conflict with our professional ethics. We are growing very tired of being told how to practice medicine by insurance company bureaucrats and corporate MBAs.

This is another major cause of the burnout experienced by increasing numbers of doctors. Many older doctors are now simply looking for a way out. Others are calling for systemwide reforms that will allow them to return to focusing on the welfare of their patients. Hence the results of the recent MMA poll.

In an excellent new book called �What Matters In Medicine�, longtime Maine family doctor David Loxterkamp points out that medical care, while often using scientific jargon, methods and tools, is at its core a profession about relationships, not profits. That�s something the bean-counters and policy wonks who have become increasingly influential in determining the nature of our corporatized health care system seem unable to understand.

It�s time to remove corporate profit from the financing of health care, and perverse financial incentives from the direct provision of services. It�s time for improved Medicare-for-all.

Physician Philip Caper of Brooklin is a founding board member of Maine AllCare, a nonpartisan, nonprofit group committed to making health care in Maine universal, accessible and affordable for all. He can be reached at pcpcaper21@gmail.com.

5 Best Low Price Stocks To Buy For 2014

5 Best Low Price Stocks To Buy For 2014: Methode Electronics Inc (MEI)

Methode Electronics, Inc., incorporated on April 27, 1966, is a manufacturer of component and subsystem devices with manufacturing, designs and testing facilities in China, Egypt, Germany, India, Lebanon, Malta, Mexico, the Philippines, Singapore, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. The Company operates in four segments: automotive, interconnect, power products, and other. The Company designs, manufactures and markets devices employing electrical, radio remote controls, electronic, wireless and sensing technologies. The Company's components are found in the primary end markets of the aerospace, appliance, automotive, construction, consumer and industrial equipment, communications, including information processing and storage, networking equipment, wireless and terrestrial voice/data systems, rail and other transportation industries.

Automotive

The Company's automotive segment supplies electronic and electro-mechanical device s and related products to automobile original equipment manufacturers, (OEMs), either directly or through their tiered suppliers. The Company's products include control switches for electrical power and signals, connectors for electrical devices, integrated control components, switches and sensors that monitor the operation or status of a component or system, and packaging of electrical components.

Interconnect

The interconnect segment provides a variety of copper and fiber-optic interconnect and interface solutions for the aerospace, appliance, commercial, computer, construction, consumer, material handling, medical, military, mining, networking, storage, and telecommunications markets. Solutions include conductive polymers, connectors, custom cable assemblies, industrial safety radio remote controls, optical and copper transceivers, pers! onal computer and express card packaging and terminators, solid-state field effect interface panels, and thick film inks. Services include the design and installation of f! iber optic and copper infrastructure systems, and manufacturing active and passive optical components.

Power products

The power products segment manufactures braided flexible cables, current-carrying laminated bus devices, custom power-product assemblies, high-current low voltage flexible power cabling systems and powder coated bus bars that are used in various markets and applications, including aerospace, computers, industrial and power conversion, inverters and battery systems, insulated gate bipolar transistor solutions, military, telecommunications, and transportation.

Other

The other segment includes a designer and manufacturer of magnetic torque sensing products, and independent laboratories that provide services for qualification testing and certification, and analysis of electronic and optical components.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By gurujx]

  Methode Electronics Inc. (MEI): CFO Douglas A. Koman Sold 60,000 Shares

  CFO Douglas A. Koman sold 60,000 shares of MEI stock on 12/31/2013 at the average price of $34.13. Douglas A. Koman owns at least 203,418 shares after this. The price of the stock has increased by 3.34% since.

• [By John Udovich]

  On Thursday, small cap electronics stock Methode Electronics Inc (NYSE: MEI) soared 43.07% after beating earnings expectations and boasting its guidance. However, the stock sank around 10.5% the day before the Thursday morning earnings report came out. So was the earnings report and guidance the start of a rally or just a dead cat bounce for investors?

• [By Holly LaFon]

  Can you discuss three stocks that have been successful this year? What did you initially like about them and what helped them turn around?Methode Electronics (MEI) is an automotive component ! supplier,! with automotive customers accounting for about 60% of its revenues. The company classifies the other 40% of its revenues as non-auto, which includes home appliance touch screens and sensors.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Methode Electronics (MEI) has gained 33% to 23.43 today after the company reported better revenue and profit numbers than even the most positive analyst had expected. It also raised its guidance well above previously announced levels.

  AFP/Getty Images

  The component maker reported a profit of 36 cents a share, above forecasts for 21 cents, and sales of $167.3  million dollars, beating forecasts for $148.5 million. It also said that it expected full-year earnings to fall in a range of $1.40 to $1.60, well above analyst forecasts for $1.05.

  Baird’s David Leiker and Joseph Vruwink call it a “breakout quarter.” They write:

  Upside across all segments and all line items with 41% revenue surge coming in 10% above expectations. One-half of the beat from revenue with balance split among gross margin, SGA and lower tax rate. Launches going very well, continuing the performance seen in April quarter.

  Automotive results accounted for two-thirds of the upside at the pre-tax line. The upside was spread between stronger revenues ($0.03), gross profits ($0.03) and expense control ($0.02). While North American sales improved 86% on the K2XX launch (we assumed 56% growth), international revenues also contributed favorably with 26% growth in Europe (new business and Ford's (F) recovery) and 22% growth in Asia.

  Competitor AVX Corp. (AVX) has gained 1.1% to $12.96, while Molex (MOLX) has dropped 0.2% to $29.28 and Amphenol (APH) has ticked up 0.3% to $76.32.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/5-best-low-price-stocks-to-buy-for-2014.html

Top 10 Stock Investments For 2014

Top 10 Stock Investments For 2014: California Grapes International Inc (CAGR)

California Grapes International, Inc., formerly China Food Services, Corp., incorporated in 1992, conducts its primary business operations as an importer, exporter and distributor of staple, organic, specialty, and gourmet foods and beverages, catering to the Asian Pacific Rim. The Company owns and operates Golden Dragon Food & Beverage Import & Export Company of Hong Kong, Ltd. (GDHK) in central Hong Kong and Beijing Flying Golden Dragon International Trading Co., Ltd. in China (BFGD). Golden Dragon Holdings, Inc. has agreements with the United State food manufacturers. It acts as a buying agent for GDHK, negotiating vendor contracts and services with the United States food and beverage industry partners.

The Company focuses to offer wholesale food distribution to grocery chains and independent food stores throughout China. The Company focuses on purchasing goods directly from manufactures in the United States, Latin America and Europe, and distributes these products to distributors, grocery stores, supermarkets and hypermarkets throughout China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Damian Illia]

  Expanding its channels, improving sales force effectiveness and strengthening its strategic marketing are strategies being considered to grow in actual markets. With respect to new markets or the ones that are not penetrated so much, ADT plans to invest in growth platforms, with focus on market for small businesses and penetration of residential markets. The company´s estimations about those markets indicate that was about $13 billion in 2012, and had grown at a compound annual rate (CAGR) of about 1% to 2% over the past five years.

• [By Sam Stovall]

  1) He could have owned the S&P 500 all year long from April 30, 1990 through October 25, 2013. He would have earned a compound annua! l growth rate (CAGR) of 8.0%, excluding dividends reinvested.

• [By John Emerson]

  Open any Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A)(BRK.B) annual letter and the first thing you see will be a listing of the yearly gains in the book value per share of BRK.A from 1965 to the present year. At the bottom of the year-by-year synopsis lies the compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of those gains in equity. Later in the article I will show the mathematical formula for calculating those compound gains.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-10-stock-investments-for-2014.html

Best Warren Buffett Stocks To Watch Right Now

Best Warren Buffett Stocks To Watch Right Now: ENI S.p.A. (E)

Eni SpA, an integrated energy company, engages in the exploration, production, transportation, transformation, and marketing of oil and natural gas. The company also involves in the production and sale of electricity; refining and marketing of petroleum products; and production and sale of petrochemical products and hydrocarbons. In addition, it engages in the offshore and onshore hydrocarbon field construction. Further, the company offers offshore and onshore drilling, and offshore design and engineering services for oil and gas companies. It has a strategic partnership with Gazprom for the joint development of projects in the upstream oil and gas markets. Eni SpA operates in Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania, and the Americas. The company was founded in 1953 and is headquartered in Rome, Italy with an additional office in San Donato Milanese, Italy.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jim Jubak]

  I'm going to sell ENI S.p.A. (E) out of my Dividend Income portfolio today. The dividend portfolio is too energy-heavy for my liking at the moment, given that I think oil prices are likely to be flat to lower in 2014, and given the likelihood of major supply and delivery disruptions this year. ENI—with its exposure to supply problems in Libya, Nigeria, Mozambique, and former (so far at least) Soviet republics such as Kazakhstan, and its exposure on the demand side to the less-than-robustly growing Italian economy—currently offers an unattractive mixture of risk and reward.

• [By Fede Zaldua]

  Eni (E) is an authentic cash cow for its shareholders. I believe the company will be able to sustain a greater than 6% cash dividend yield in 2014 even when the company's estimated 2015 free cash flow (FCF) yield is at just 4%. Asset sales as well as high oil prices should help the company ! meet its capex requirements and to continue giving back cash to shareholders through dividends. The recent sale of its stake in Sever Energia to the Novatek-GazpromNeft Joint Venture represents a clear hint into the company's strategy. After all, Eni's portfolio has several high quality disposal candidates which could attract the industry's interest – the first disposal candidate that comes to my mind is the remaining 8% stake Eni owns in Galp. The Italian oil and gas leader, which is held by Tom Gayner, sells for 12.5 times 2014 earnings and 5.5 times EV/EBITDAX.  

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/best-warren-buffett-stocks-to-watch-right-now.html

Top 10 Growth Companies To Watch For 2014

Top 10 Growth Companies To Watch For 2014: MEDIFAST INC(MED)

Medifast, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the production, distribution, and sale of weight management and disease management products, and other consumable health and diet products in the United States. The company?s product lines include weight and disease management, meal replacement, and vitamins. It also operates weight control centers that offer Medifast programs for weight loss and maintenance, customized patient counseling, and inbody composition analysis. The company markets its products under the Medifast and Essential brand names, including shakes, appetite suppression shakes, women?s health shakes, diabetics shakes, joint health shakes, coronary health shakes, calorie burn drinks, calorie burn flavor infusers, antioxidant shakes, antioxidant flavor infusers, bars, crunch bars, soups, chili, oatmeal, pudding, scrambled eggs, hot cocoa, cappuccino, chai latte, iced teas, fruit drinks, pretzels, puffs, brownie, pancakes, soy crisps, crackers, and omega 3 and digestive health products. Medifast Inc. sells its products through various channels of distribution comprising Web, call center, independent health advisors, medical professionals, weight loss clinics, and direct consumer marketing supported via the phone and the Web; Take Shape for Life, a physician led network of independent health coaches; and weight control centers. The company was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Owings Mills, Maryland.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Medifast (NYSE: MED) is expected to post its Q4 earnings at $0.36 per share on revenue of $80.83 million.

  Full House Resorts (NASDAQ: FLL) is estimated to post a Q4 loss at $0.06 per share on revenue of $33.24 million.

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Analysts expect Medifast (NYSE: MED) to post its Q4 earnings at $0.36 per share on ! revenue of $80.83 million. Medifast shares surged 2.19% to close at $26.08 on Friday.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-10-growth-companies-to-watch-for-2014.html

5 Best Performing Stocks To Invest In Right Now

5 Best Performing Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Santa Fe Gold Corp (SFEG)

Santa Fe Gold Corporation (Santa Fe), incorporated in August 1991, is a mining company. As of June 30, 2012, the Company had four projects: its Summit silver-gold and Ortiz gold projects located in New Mexico, and its Black Canyon mica and Planet micaceous iron oxide projects located in Arizona. The Company has constructed a mill and are developing an underground mine at its Summit silver-gold project. Santa Fe's Summit operations in southwestern New Mexico are conducted through its wholly owned subsidiary, The Lordsburg Mining Company. Its mica operations in Arizona are conducted through its wholly owned subsidiary, Azco Mica Inc. Santa Fe's activity in Mexico is conducted through its wholly owned subsidiary, Minera Sandia, S.A. de C.V.

Summit Silver-Gold Project

The Summit silver-gold project includes the underground Summit silver-gold mine and related property consisting of 117 acres of patented mining claims and 740 acres of unpatented min ing claims in Grant County, southwestern New Mexico, and the Banner mill, including mineral processing equipment consisting of a crushing and screening plant, a ball mill and a 400 ton-per-day flotation plant, and related property consisting of approximately 1,500 acres of wholly owned and leased patented and unpatented mining claims, located approximately 57 miles south of the Summit mine near Lordsburg, Hidalgo County, New Mexico. It owns and operates the Summit project under the Lordsburg Mining Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary. The Summit silver-gold property is located in Grant County, southwestern New Mexico, near the Arizona state line. The Banner mill site lies 57 miles to the south of the Summit property near the town of Lordsburg, Hidalgo County, New Mexico.

Santa Fe's holdings at the Summit silver-gold property in Grant County! , New Mexico consist of 10 patented federal mining claims totaling approximately 117 acres and 62 unpatented federal mining claims totaling approximately 740 acres. Its holdings at an! d adjacent to the Banner mill site in Hidalgo County, New Mexico consists of 86 wholly owned patented federal mining claims, 16 wholly owned unpatented mining claims, 17 leased patented mining claims and 6 leased unpatented mining claims, aggregating approximately 1,500 acres. All wholly owned claims are held in the name of Lordsburg Mining.

Ortiz Gold Project

The Ortiz Mine Grant, over which the Company holds a lease on the mineral estate underlying 42,297 acres (66 square miles) of segregated surface estate, is located 30 miles by road northeast of Albuquerque, Santa Fe County, New Mexico.

The Ortiz Mine Grant is underlain by mid-Tertiary monzonite and latite porphyry stocks, plugs, dikes and sills that have intruded Paleozoic to early-Tertiary sedimentary rocks. The intrusive rocks are part of the Ortiz Porphyry Belt, which comprises from north to south, the Cerrillos Hills, the Ortiz Mountains, the San Pedro Mountains, and South Mou ntain.

Black Canyon Mica Project

The Black Canyon mine is located 30 miles north of Phoenix, Arizona, and 3.5 miles west-southwest of Black Canyon City. The Glendale processing plant was located in an industrial area on the west side of Phoenix, Arizona, 47 miles to the south of the mine site. Its property holdings at and around the Black Canyon mine consists of 67 federal unpatented mining claims in Yavapai County, Arizona and nine federal unpatented mill site claims in Maricopa County, Arizona, which in total cover approximately 1,385 acres.

Planet Micaceous Iron Oxide (MIO) Project

The Planet property consists of thirty-one patented mining claims totaling 523 acres located in western Arizona. The Planet property is located in the northwest corner of La Paz County, west central Arizona. The pro! perty con! sists of thirty-one patented mining claims totaling 523 acres, consisting of an area of 3,600 feet wide by 8,000 feet lon g.

Lordsburg Exploration Project

T! he Compan! y in the the Lordsburg (Virginia) Mining District controls approximately 1,500 acres of prospective ground, the majority of which is comprised of patented mining claims that it owns, and the remainder patented and unpatented mining claims that it leases. As of June 30, 2012, the Company had completed an aerial mapping survey covering 30 square miles, carried out data compilation, conducted detailed geologic mapping and sampling, and conducted a geophysical survey.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By CRWE]

  Last Friday, SFEG had shed (-2.31%) down -0.003 at $.127 with 166,050 shares in play at the close (ref. google finance July 19, 2013 – Close), but don't let this get you down.

  Santa Fe Gold Corporation previously reported it has amended the Mogollon option agreement with Columbus Exploration Corporation (CLX-TSX-V) (formerly Columbus Silver Corporation) under which Santa Fe may earn 100% interest in the Mogollon Project, Catron County, New Mexico. The Mogollon Project encompasses most of the Mogollon district in southwest New Mexico, which has substantial recorded historical production of silver and gold. The project fits Santa Fe's strategic objective of developing new ore sources to augment ore currently processed though its Lordsburg flotation mill.

• [By CRWE]

  Today, SFEG has shed (-11.76%) down -0.016 at $.123 with 30,280 shares in play thus far (ref. google finance Delayed: 10:48AM EDT July 16, 2013), but don't let this get you down.

  Santa Fe Gold Corporation previously reported it has amended the Mogollon option agreement with Columbus Exploration Corporation (CLX-TSX-V) (formerly Columbus Silver Corporation) under which Santa Fe may earn 100% interest in the Mogollon Project, Catron County, New Mexico. The Mogollon Project encompasses mos! t of the ! Mogollon district in southwest New Mexico, which has substantial recorded historical production of silver and gold. The project fits Santa Fe's strategic objective of developing new ore sources to augment ore currently processed though its Lordsburg flotation mill.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/5-best-performing-stocks-to-invest-in-right-now.html

Top Cheap Companies For 2014

Top Cheap Companies For 2014: Ford Motor Credit Company(F)

Ford Motor Company primarily develops, manufactures, distributes, and services vehicles and parts worldwide. It operates in two sectors, Automotive and Financial Services. The Automotive sector offers vehicles primarily under the Ford and Lincoln brand names. This sector markets cars, trucks, and parts through retail dealers in North America, and through distributors and dealers outside of North America. It also sells cars and trucks to dealers for sale to fleet customers, including daily rental car companies, commercial fleet customers, leasing companies, and governments. In addition, this sector provides retail customers with a range of after-sale vehicle services and products in the areas, such as maintenance and light repair, heavy repair, collision repair, vehicle accessories, and extended service contracts under the Ford Service, Lincoln Service, Ford Custom Accessories, Ford Extended Service Plan, and Motorcraft brand names. The Financial Services sector offers vari ous automotive financing products to and through automotive dealers. It offers retail financing, which includes retail installment contracts for new and used vehicles; direct financing leases; wholesale financing products that comprise loans to dealers to finance the purchase of vehicle inventory; loans to dealers to finance working capital, purchase real estate dealership, and/or make improvements to dealership facilities; and other financing products, as well as provides insurance services. Ford Motor Company was founded in 1903 and is based in Dearborn, Michigan.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sean Williams]

  Sanctions hit home?
  Following through on their threats, the United States and the EU imposed additional sanctions on Russia last week after it officially annexed Crimea from Ukraine. As part of those economic penalties, automaker Ford (NYSE: F !  ) is considering whether to reduce or halt production at a plant near St. Petersburg that makes the Focus and the Mondeo. Russia has been a hotbed growth opportunity for Ford, but with China outperforming and the European market finally rebounding, I don't see these sanctions against Russia affecting the automaker's bottom line in a significant way. It's certainly a situation to watch, but I wouldn't lose sleep over it.

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  This may not be stock-moving news for Citigroup or Toyota, but this could mark the start of a new trend. As newcomers like Tesla Motors Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA) begin to take increasingly more share from the likes of Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) and General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM), you could start to see more green asset-backed securities issued by the auto finance industry.

• [By Daniel Miller]

  America's two largest automakers have come a long way since the depths of the great recession. While Ford (NYSE: F  ) and General Motors (NYSE: GM  ) initially took different routes in their business turnarounds, with the former taking out loans to survive and the latter filing for bankruptcy, both claim surging sales in segments they once left for dead in. In fact, Ford gained more market share last year in the U.S. than any other major automaker. One reason behind Ford's gains is the company's effective consumer marketing of its fuel-efficient engines. Here's an example of how GM has fallen short, why it matters, and what GM is doing to solve the problem.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-cheap-companies-for-2014.html

Top 10 Safest Companies To Watch In Right Now

Top 10 Safest Companies To Watch In Right Now: Bellway PLC (BWY)

Bellway p.l.c. is a United Kingdom-based holding company, owning subsidiary undertakings, which is engaged principally in housebuilding in the United Kingdom. The Company's subsidiaries include Bellway Homes Limited, Bellway Properties Limited, Bellway (Services) Limited, Litrose Investments Limited, Bellway Financial Services Limited, Bellway Housing Trust Limited and The Victoria Dock Company Limited. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sofia Horta e Costa]

  Bellway Plc (BWY) added 1.4 percent after the homebuilder said reservations in the past four months rose 31 percent as buyers had greater access to mortgages. Elan (ELN) Corp. jumped to a 10-month high in Dublin after Royalty Pharma increased its offer for the Irish drugmaker to as much as $6.7 billion. BT Group increased 3.7 percent as Barclays Plc recommended investors buy shares of the U.K.'s largest fixed-line company.

• [By Sofia Horta e Costa]

  Persimmon dropped 4.3 percent to 1,061 pence, while Bellway Plc (BWY) declined 3.1 percent to 1,262 pence. Bovis Homes Group Plc slipped 2.7 percent to 712 pence. Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne and the Bank of England will reassess the Help-to-Buy program, which allows the purchase of homes with a deposit as small as 5 percent, every September from 2014, the Treasury said.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-10-safest-companies-to-watch-in-right-now.html

Top 5 Clean Energy Companies To Watch For 2014

Top 5 Clean Energy Companies To Watch For 2014: bebe stores inc.(BEBE)

bebe stores, inc. engages in the design, development, and production of women?s apparel and accessories. Its products include a range of separates, tops, dresses, active wear, and accessories in career, evening, casual, and active lifestyle categories. The company markets its products under the bebe, BEBE SPORT, bbsp, and 2b bebe brand names targeting 21 to 34-year-old woman. As of July 2, 2011, it operated 252 retail stores, and an online store at bebe.com in the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Japan, and Canada, as well as 60 international licensee operated stores in south east Asia, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Russia, Mexico, and Turkey. The company was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Brisbane, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Smith]

  This series, brought to you by Yahoo! Finance, looks at which upgrades and downgrades make sense and which ones investors should act on. Today, our headlines include upgrades for both industrialist Aixtron (NASDAQ: AIXG  ) and fashionista bebe stores (NASDAQ: BEBE  ) . But the news isn't all good, so let's start off with a few words on...

• [By Jeremy Bowman]

  What: Shares of Bebe Stores (NASDAQ: BEBE  ) were back in style today, gaining as much as 11% after receiving an upgrade from Janney Capital from Neutral to Buy.

• [By Eric Volkman]

  bebe stores (NASDAQ: BEBE  ) continues to outfit its shareholders in cash by maintaining its dividend policy. The company has declared a fresh quarterly distribution of $0.025 per share of its stock, payable on June 20 to shareholders of record as of June 6. That amount matches the company's preceding disbursement, which was handed out in mid-March.

source! from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-5-clean-energy-companies-to-watch-for-2014.html

Top 10 China Companies To Own In Right Now

Top 10 China Companies To Own In Right Now: Home Inns & Hotels Management Inc.(HMIN)

Home Inns & Hotels Management Inc. develops, leases, operates, franchises, and manages a chain of economy hotels in the People?s Republic of China. The company operates its hotels under the Home Inn brand name. As of April 28, 2011, it had approximately 800 Home Inns in operation and 1,000 Home Inns sealed in franchise agreements. The company was incorporated in 2001 and is headquartered in Shanghai, the People?s Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jim Jubak]

  We've been down this road with Home Inns and Hotels Management (HMIN) before. Which doesn't make it any less scary.

  The stock is down 22.2% in the last ten days—despite solid—but certainly not spectacular—results for the fourth quarter, reported on March 12.

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Home Inns & Hotels Management (NASDAQ: HMIN) is estimated to post its Q4 earnings at $2.18 per share on revenue of $1.54 billion.

  Qiwi plc (NASDAQ: QIWI) is expected to report its Q4 earnings at $0.28 per share on revenue of $50.00 million.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-10-china-companies-to-own-in-right-now.html

Hot Casino Companies To Buy Right Now

Hot Casino Companies To Buy Right Now: PhilWeb Corp (WEB)

PhilWeb Corporation is a Philippines-based Internet gaming company. The Company focused its activities on building its Internet-based products and services. The Company is engaged in providing products and services within a particular economic environment. It operates in two geographical segments: domestic operations and foreign operations. Its subsidiaries include BigGame, Inc., operates Internet casino station operations; Premayo sa Resibo, Inc., develops and markets computer systems, applications, programs and operates gaming platforms; PhilWeb Casino Corporation, develops, engages and maintains gaming systems and applications for all types of casino operations; e-Magine Gaming Corporation, develops technology, and PhilWeb Leisure & Tourism Corporation, establishes, operates and maintains leisure and tourism-oriented activities. Effective December 13, 2013, ePLDT Inc, a wholly owned unit of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co acquired a 27.283% interest in Philweb Corp. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Geoff Gannon]

  Always touchable money is cash. For individuals, there's little reason for it not to be a simple bank account, money market fund, etc. For most investors, you can just let this stock sit in your brokerage account. Many brokers will sweep unused cash into a money market account — or other form of savings — where it can earn a tiny amount of interest for you while staying totally liquid. One advantage of keeping cash in this form is that you can look at your cash and stock positions on the same (web)page any time you want. So, for example, if you know you want to keep 10% of your portfolio in cash — you can see that you have $12,000 in cash as part of your $120,000 brokerage account and that means you are right on target with your liquidity goal.

source from To! p Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/hot-casino-companies-to-buy-right-now.html

Best Cheap Companies To Invest In Right Now

Best Cheap Companies To Invest In Right Now: Compass Minerals Intl Inc(CMP)

Compass Minerals International, Inc., through its subsidiaries, produces and markets inorganic mineral products primarily in North America and the United Kingdom. The company operates in two segments, Salt and Specialty Fertilizer. The Salt segment produces salt and magnesium chloride for use in road deicing and dust control, food processing, water softeners, pool salt, and agricultural and industrial applications. This segment also purchases potassium chloride and sells as a finished product. The Specialty Fertilizer segment produces and markets sulphate of potash crop nutrients and industrial grade sulfate of potash for use in the production of specialty fertilizers for vegetables, fruits, potatoes, nuts, tobacco, and turf grass. The company also produces and markets consumer deicing and water conditioning products, ingredients used in consumer and commercial food preparation, and other mineral-based products for consumer, agricultural, and industrial applications. In ad dition, Compass Minerals provides records management services to businesses located in the U.K. The company operates rock salt mines in Goderich, Ontario, Canada; and Winsford, Chesire, the United Kingdom. It primarily serves producers of intermediate chemical products used in the production of vinyls and other chemicals, and pulp and paper, as well as water treatment and other industrial uses. The company markets its products through direct sales personnel, contract personnel, and a network of brokers or manufacturers? representatives. Compass Minerals International, Inc., formerly known as Salt Holdings Corporation, was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Brendan Mathews]

  Compass Minerals (NYSE: CMP  ) is a sleepy producer of a boring product: rock salt. But ! it has a strong competitive advantage. It owns the world's largest rock salt mine, which luckily is conveniently located near the major deicing markets of the Great Lakes region. This combination of a great mining resource and ideal location provide the company with a wide, crocodile-filled competitive moat.

• [By Alex Planes]

  PotashCorp's difficulty sustaining its pricing power is underscored by recent reports from sulfate of potash (SOP) producer Compass Minerals (NYSE: CMP  ) , which charged a hefty premium of almost $300 per ton against Potash Corp's prices for muriate of potash. Efforts to move away from SOP sales seem to be the right choice -- PotashCorp peer Intrepid Potash's SOP sales fell by 37%, while the average price received has slumped nearly 14% in the last quarter. Even ore miner BHP Billiton has recently jumped into the fertilizer industry with a $2.6 billion build-out of a potash mine in Canada, which is all but certain to produce further downward pressure on potash prices.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/best-cheap-companies-to-invest-in-right-now.html

Top Stocks In March 2014

Top Stocks In March 2014: Invesco Plc(IVZ)

Invesco Ltd. is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm primarily provides its services to individuals, typically high net worth individuals. It also manages accounts for institutions. The firm manages separate client focused equity, fixed income, balanced portfolios. It also launches equity, fixed income, and balanced mutual funds for its clients. The firm invests in the public equity and fixed income markets across the globe. It invests in core, growth, and value stocks of small-cap, mid-cap, and large-cap companies. The firm employs a fundamental and quantitative analysis with a bottom-up stock picking approach to make its investments. It conducts in-house research to make its investments. Invesco Ltd. was founded in December 1935 and is based in Atlanta, Georgia. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Zacks]Currently, shares of T. Rowe Price carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Among other investment managers, Invesco Ltd. (NYSE: IVZ) is scheduled to report December quarter end results on Jan 30, Legg Mason Inc. (NYSE: LM) on Jan 31 and Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (NYSE: AMP) on Feb 4.
• [By Sally Jones]This month, Invesco Ltd. (IVZ) reported that foreign exchange increased its assets under management by $1.1 billion. Invesco’s preliminary average total AUM for the quarter (through November 30) was reported at $757.2 billion. The preliminary month-end AUM of $767.3 billion, reflected an increase of 0.4%, month-over-month, according to the company website.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-stocks-in-march-2014.html

Best Warren Buffett Companies For 2014

Best Warren Buffett Companies For 2014: Applied Industrial Technologies Inc. (AIT)

Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. distributes industrial products for maintenance, repair, and operational needs, as well as original equipment manufacturing applications primarily in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. The company offers bearings, power transmission components, fluid power components and systems, industrial rubber products, linear motion components, tools, safety products, and other industrial supplies; and fluid power products, such as hydraulic, pneumatic, lubrication, and filtration components and systems. It also operates regional fabricated rubber shops, which modify and repair conveyor belts and make hose assemblies; and rubber service field crews to install and repair belts and rubber linings at customer locations. In addition, the company assembles fluid power systems and components; performs equipment repair; offers technical advice to customers; and provides maintenance training, and inventory and stor eroom management solutions. It serves various industries, such as agriculture and food processing, automotive, chemical processing, forest products, industrial machinery and equipment, mining, primary metals, transportation, and utilities, as well as to government entities. The company offers industrial products through a network of service centers; and fluid power products directly to customers. Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1923 and is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio.

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 Numbe! r
  
  GWW is trading at a premium to all four valuations above. The stock is trading at a 10.0% premium to its calculated fair value of $219.95. GWW 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%
  
  GWW earned three Stars in this section for 1.), 2.) and 3.) 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%. GWW earned a Star for having an acceptable score in at least two of the four Key Metrics measured.
  
  Rolling 4-yr Div. > 15% means that dividends grew on average in excess of 15% for each consecutive 4 year period over the last 10 years (2003-2006, 2004-2007, 2005-2008, etc.) I consider this a key metric since dividends will double every 5 years if they grow by 15%. The company has paid a cash dividend to shareholders every year since 1965 and has increased its dividend payments for 42 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

• [By Marc Bastow]

  Industrial components distributor Applied Industrial Technologies (AIT) raised its quarterly dividend 8.7% to 25 cents per share, payable on Feb. 28 to shareholders of record as of Feb. 14.
  AIT Dividend Yield: 1.98%

source from Top Stoc! ks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/best-warren-buffett-companies-for-2014.html

Top Penny Stocks To Own Right Now

Top Penny Stocks To Own Right Now: Jinpan International Limited(JST)

Jinpan International Limited engages in the design and manufacture of cast resin transformers for voltage distribution equipment. Its cast resin transformers allow high voltage transmissions of electricity to be distributed to various locations in lower, more usable voltages. The company provides medium voltage cast resin transformers for various end uses and applications, including industrial, infrastructure, and municipal projects, such as factories, real estate developments, airports, and subway systems. It also offers switchgears, which enable operators of a power distribution network to switch equipment in and out of the network; line reactors that limit current, filter waveforms, and attenuate electrical noise and harmonics associated with the inverter and driver output of wind powered turbines; and unit substations, which are integrated assemblies comprising high voltage switchgear, a transformer, a low voltage switchgear, a power meter, and a power factor compensat ion device interconnected with cables or buss bars. The company?s unit substations function as miniature power distribution stations and are used in applications related to the construction and maintenance of city power networks. Jinpan International sells its products in the People?s Republic of China, the United States, and Europe. The company was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Haikou, the People's Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By CRWE]

  Jinpan International Ltd (Nasdaq:JST), a leading designer, manufacturer, and distributor of cast resin dry type transformers, recently reported that its subsidiary Hainan Jinpan Electric Co. Ltd. successfully developed a 40,000KVA / 35KV cast resin dry type power transformer. The Company has shipped the transformer to the customer’s site in China’s Anhui province for install! ation in a transformer substation that will deliver power to gas liquification systems.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-penny-stocks-to-own-right-now-2.html

Top 5 Gas Stocks For 2014

Top 5 Gas Stocks For 2014: MEG Energy Corp (MEGEF.PK)

MEG Energy Corp. is a Canada-based oil sands company focused on in situ development and production in the southern Athabasca oil sands region of Alberta. The Company has identified two steam assisted gravity drainage projects, the Christina Lake project and the Surmont project. The Company owns a 100% interest in over 900 sections of oil sands leases in the Athabasca region of northern Alberta and is primarily engaged in a steam assisted gravity drainage oil sands development at its 80 section Christina Lake Regional Project (Christina Lake Project). The development includes co-ownership of Access Pipeline, a dual pipeline to transport diluent north from the Edmonton area to the Athabasca oil sands area and a blend of bitumen and diluent south from the Christina Lake Project into the Edmonton area. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Stephan Dube]

  Athabasca's most notable producers:

  Suncor Energy (SU) (Part 1), see article here.Suncor Energy (Part 2), see article here.Athabasca Oil (ATHOF.PK), see article here.Canadian Natural Resources, see article here.Imperial Oil, see article here.Cenovus Energy (CVE), see article here.MEG Energy (MEGEF.PK), see article here.Devon Energy, see article here.Royal Dutch Shell, see article here.Ivanhoe Energy (IVAN), see article here.Nexen (CNOOC) (CEO), see article here.

  An analysis of the current operations of the company will be examined with the objective to provide the most complete information available to potential investors before deciding to seize the opportunity that the 54,132 square miles of the Carbonate Triangle has to offer. Let's start by introducing Athabasca, a famous and most prolific region in the Canadian oil sands as well as one of the largest reserve in the world.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-5-gas-st! ocks-for-2014.html

Best Penny Stocks To Watch For 2014

Best Penny Stocks To Watch For 2014: Universal Corporation(UVV)

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

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rupert Hargreaves]

  Universal Corp (NYSE: UVV  ) has paid out and raised its dividend for 41 consecutive years. This puts the company in an elite club of dividend aristocrats. Aside from Altria (NYSE: MO  ) , which has been paying and increasing its payout for 43 years, Universal actually has the longest dividend history of any company within the tobacco sector.

• [By Marc Bastow]

  Leaf tobacco supplier Universal Corporation (UVV) raised its quarterly dividend 2% to 51 cents per share, payable on Feb. 10 to shareholders of record as of Jan. 13.
  UVV Dividend Yield: 4.06%
  

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/best-penny-stocks-to-watch-for-2014.html

Top Safest Stocks To Buy For 2014

Top Safest Stocks To Buy For 2014: Westpac Banking Corp (WBK)

Westpac Banking Corporation (Westpac), incorporated on August 23, 2002, is a banking organization. Westpac provides a range of banking and financial services, including retail, business and institutional banking, and wealth management services. It operates through three divisions: Australian Financial Services (AFS), Westpac Institutional Bank (WIB) and Westpac New Zealand. AFS encompasses Westpac's retail and business banking operations in Australia, and includes the businesses of Westpac Retail & Business Banking, St.George Banking Group and BT Financial Group Australia (BFTG). Westpac RBB is responsible for sales and service for Westpac's consumer, small-to-medium enterprise customers and commercial customers in Australia under the Westpac brands. St.George is responsible for sales, and service for its consumer, business and corporate customers in Australia under the St.George, BankSA, Bank of Melbourne and RAMS brands. BTFG is Westpac's Australian wealth manageme nt division. WIB delivers a range of financial services to commercial, corporate, institutional and government customers with connections to Australia and New Zealand. Westpac New Zealand is responsible for the sales and service of banking, wealth and insurance products for consumers, business and institutional customers in New Zealand. In January 2014, the Company completed the acquisition of Lloyds Banking Group Plc's Australian asset finance business, Capital Finance Australia Limited, and its Australian corporate loan portfolio, BOS International (Australia) Ltd.

Westpac RBB

Westpac RBB's activities are conducted through its network of branches and business banking centers, home finance managers (HFMs) and specialized consumer and business relationship managers, with the support of cash flow, financial markets and wealth specialists, customer serv! ice centers, automated teller machines (ATMs) and Internet channels.

St.George

Consumer activities are conducted through a networ! k of branches, third party distributors, call centers, automated teller machines (ATMs), electronic funds transfer point-of-sale (EFTPOS) terminals and Internet banking services. Business and corporate customers are provided with a range of banking and financial products and services, including specialist advice for cash flow finance, trade finance, automotive and equipment finance, property finance, transaction banking and treasury services. Sales and service activities for business and corporate customers are conducted by relationship managers through business banking centers, Internet and customer service centre channels.

BTFG

BTFG's funds management operations include the manufacturing and distribution of investment, superannuation and retirement products; investment platforms, such as Wrap and Master Trusts, and private banking and financial planning. Its Insurance solutions cover the manufacturing and distribution of life, general and lender s mortgage insurance. BTFG's brands include Advance Asset Management, Ascalon, Asgard, BT, BT Investment Management (64.5% owned by Westpac), BT Select, Licensee Select, Magnitude, Securitor and the advice, private banking and insurance operations of Bank of Melbourne, BankSA, St.George and Westpac.

Westpac Institutional Bank (WIB)

WIB operates through industry relationship and specialist product teams, with knowledge in transactional banking, financial and debt capital markets, specialised capital, margin lending, broking and alternative investment solutions. Customers are supported through branches and subsidiaries located in Australia, New Zealand, the United States, United Kingdom and Asia.

Westpac New Zealand

Westpac conducts its New Zealand banking business through two banks in New Zealand; Westpac New Zealand

!

Limite! d, and Westpac Banking Corporation. Westpac New Zealand operates through network of branches a nd ATMs across both the North and South Islands. Business an! d institu! tional customers are served through relationship and specialist products teams. Banking products are provided under the Westpac and WIB brands, while insurance and wealth products are provided under Westpac Life and BT brands.

Westpac's other business divisions includes Pacific Banking, which provides banking services for retail and business customers in seven Pacific countries. Branches, ATMs, telephone banking and Internet banking channels are used to deliver its business activities in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Cook Islands, Tonga, Solomon Islands and Samoa. Pacific Banking's financial products include personal savings accounts, business transactional accounts, personal and business lending products, business services and a range of international products; Group Services which include technology, banking operations, legal and property services; Treasury which focuses on management of the Group's interest rate risk and funding requirements, and Cor e Support which include functions performed centrally including finance, risk and human resources.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Fede Zaldua]

  Most Australian banks seem to comply with (1) and (2). On the other hand, Australian banks have a loan to deposit ratio of 120% and around 9% of their funding is short term foreign funding. This means that their results shall be severely damaged by a steep depreciation of the local currency. A good example of a bank that is easy to short from the US (since it trades in the New York Stock Exchange) is the Westpac Banking Corporation (WBK). Westpac generates 90% of its revenues domestically and sells for 2014 13.1 times earnings and 2.1 times its 2014 expected book value. That said, there is one problem that you will find when you short Westpac's shares: The bank pays a +5% cash dividend yield.

!
• ! [By Selena Maranjian]

  More than a handful of international companies had strong performances over the past year. Australia-based Westpac Banking (NYSE: WBK  ) , for example, soared 54% -- and still yields a fat 5.4%. It's been hampered, though, by the slowdown in China, as China uses many commodities produced by Australia. Some worry about a housing slowdown hurting the company, too.

• [By Bryan Perry]

  Lloyds has several catalysts working in its favor. The bank has been busily disposing of assets that it views as non-core — the latest being a $1.45 billion ($1.37 billion U.S.) disposition of Australian operations to Aussie banking giant Westpac (WBK). In addition, Lloyds said it hopes to pay out as much as 70% of earnings as a dividend by 2016, which as a high-yield editor, has my full attention. This puts shares on a prospective yield for 2016 of more than 7% if earnings come in as projected.

• [By Dividend]

  Westpac Banking (WBK) has a market capitalization of $444.52 billion. The company employs 36,000 people, generates revenue of $33.259 billion and has a net income of $5.444 billion. Westpac Banking's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $17.537 billion. The EBITDA margin is 52.73 percent (the operating margin is 49.28 percent and the net profit margin 33.57 percent).

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-safest-stocks-to-buy-for-2014.html

Hot Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now

Hot Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now: RDA Microelectronics Inc.(RDA)

RDA Microelectronics, Inc., a fabless semiconductor company, designs, develops, and markets radio-frequency and mixed-signal semiconductors for cellular, broadcast, and connectivity applications. Its products include power amplifiers, transceivers and front-end modules, FM radio receivers and transmitters, set-top box tuners, analog mobile television receivers, walkie-talkie transceivers, LNB satellite downconverters, and Bluetooth system-on-chips for mobile handsets. The company?s products also comprise GSM/EDGE power amplifier modules, GSM transceivers, TD-SCDMA transceivers, SCDMA transceivers, 3G switch modules, GSM power amplifier and switch modules, PHS transceivers, TD-SCDMA/GSM dual-mode transceivers, and radio frequency switches; DVB-T tuners, DVB-S and DVB-S2 satellite tuners, analog mobile television receiver system-on-chips, and FM radio receivers with radio data system; and Bluetooth + FM system-on-chips for mobile handsets and walkie-talkie transceivers for p rofessional applications. Its products are incorporated into mobile handsets, set-top boxes, MP3 players, and other wireless and consumer electronic devices. RDA Microelectronics sells its products through distributors in the People?s Republic of China, southeast Asia, India, the Middle East, Africa, the Russian Federation, and Latin America. The company was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in Shanghai, the People?s Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Anna Prior]

  RDA Microelectronics Inc.(RDA) agreed to be acquired by a unit of Chinese state owned Tsinghua Holdings Co. in a deal estimated at $910 million. RDA Microelectronics shareholders will receive $18.50 per American depositary share, a 5.5% premium to Friday’s close.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  RDA Microelectronics (NASDAQ: RDA) was also up, gaining 11.12 pe! rcent to $17.28 after the company announced the receipt of $18.00/ADS acquisition proposal from Tsinghua Unigroup.

• [By Luke Jacobi]

  RDA Microelectronics (NASDAQ: RDA) shot up 11.96 percent to $15.54 after the company received a non-binding acquisition proposal.

  Finish Line (NASDAQ: FINL) got a boost, shooting up 9.02 percent to $24.41 after the company reported a 6.1 percent rise in its fiscal second-quarter earnings.

• [By Lauren Pollock]

  RDA Microelectronics Inc.(RDA) has received a takeover proposal from Shanghai Pudong Science & Technology Investment Co. valuing the Chinese semiconductor company at $745 million. PDSTI, a state-owned investment company, offered to buy RDA for $15.50 an American depositary share, a 12% premium to RDA’s closing price Thursday. RDA shares were halted premarket ahead of the news.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/hot-tech-stocks-to-buy-right-now.html

Top Bank Stocks For 2014

Top Bank Stocks For 2014: M&T Bank Corporation (MTB)

M&T Bank Corporation operates as the holding company for M&T Bank and M&T Bank, National Association that provide commercial and retail banking services to individuals, corporations and other businesses, and institutions. It offers business loans and leases; business credit cards; deposit products, such as demand, savings, and time accounts; and financial services, including cash management, payroll and direct deposit, merchant credit card, and letters of credit. The company also provides residential real estate loans; multifamily commercial real estate loans; commercial real estate loans; one-to-four family residential mortgage loans; investment and trading securities; short-term and long-term borrowed funds; brokered certificates of deposit and interest rate swap agreements related thereto; and branch deposits. In addition, it offers foreign exchange, as well as asset management services. Further, the company provides consumer loans, and commercial loans and leases; cred it life, and accident and health reinsurance; and securities brokerage, investment advisory, and insurance agency services. As of December 31, 2009, it had 738 banking offices in New York State, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia; a commercial banking office in Ontario, Canada; and an office in George Town, Cayman Islands. The company was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Buffalo, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Mike Deane]

  M&T Bank (MTB) announced its fourth quarter and full year earnings before the bell on Friday, with quarterly GAAP earnings falling from last year’s Q4 while full year earnings rose 11%.

  MTB Earnings in Brief

  M&T Bank reported quarterly net income of $245.72 million, which was down from last year’s Q4 net income of $296.19 million. The co! mpany’s diluted EPS came in at $1.79 for the quarter, down from the $2.23 per diluted common share reported in last year’s Q4 results. MTB missed analysts’ estimates of $1.92 EPS. For the full year, MTB reported EPS of $8.38, marking an 11% increase from last year’s EPS of $7.54

  CFO Commentary

  Rene F. Jones, CFO and executive VP, had the following comments about the company’s earnings: “While expenses were elevated by investments in our infrastructure during 2013, M&T achieved a net operating return on average tangible common shareholders’ equity of 18.17% for the full year.  Our core capital position strengthened, as the Tier 1 common ratio grew to 9.25% at the 2013 year-end, up 17 basis points from September 30 and 168 basis points higher than at December 31, 2012.  We are also pleased with the continued improvement in credit quality.  M&T’s liquidity and risk profile was enhanced during the year through several actions, including replacing less liquid investment securities with Ginnie Mae securities and the securitization of loans held in the loan portfolio.  During the final two quarters of 2013 we invested heavily in several key areas, including risk management, capital planning and stress testing, regulatory compliance, and other operational and technology initiatives.  Those investments will better position M&T for the future.”

  No Dividend Change

  MTB did not announce a change to its quarterly dividend, and has not raised its dividend since 2007. It should be noted that MTB did not cut its dividend

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Sterne Agee's top pick among regional banks is M&T Bank Corp. (NYSE: MTB). Sterne Agee cut its 2014 earnings per share (EPS) estimate on the Buy-rated bank from $8.20 to $7.90 and the 2015 estimate has been cut from $9.50 to $9.00. The bank's fundamentals are strong and it continues to experience good organic lending growth. The consensus estimate on M&T sh! ares from! Thomson Reuters is around $121.20 yielding an implied gain of 6% based on Friday's closing price of $114.34. The forward multiple is 13.86 based on the consensus estimate for 2014 EPS of $8.25. Based on the Sterne Agee estimate of $7.90, the forward P/E ratio is around 15.4. M&T's 52-week range is $95.68 to $119.54.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-bank-stocks-for-2014-2.html

Best Media Stocks To Buy For 2014

Best Media Stocks To Buy For 2014: Gannett Co. Inc. (GCI)

Gannett Co., Inc. operates as a media and marketing solutions company in the United States and internationally. Its Publishing segment publishes 83 U.S. daily newspapers with affiliated online sites, including USA TODAY, a national, general-interest daily newspaper; USATODAY.com; USA WEEKEND, a magazine supplement for newspapers; Clipper Magazine, a direct mail advertising magazine; bi-weekly Nursing Spectrum and NurseWeek periodicals; and military and defense newspapers. This segment also includes 17 paid-for daily newspapers; approximately 200 weekly newspapers, magazines, and trade publications; and approximately 600 non-daily publications, as well as involves in commercial printing, newswire, marketing, and data services operations. The company?s Digital segment owns and operates CareerBuilder, an employment Web site, which offers online recruitment and career advancement services for employers, employees, recruiters, and job seekers; ShopLocal, which provides multicha nnel shopping and advertising services; Planet Discover, which offers hosted search and advertising services; PointRoll, which provides digital marketing services and technology; and Schedule Star, which offers scheduling solution for high school athletic departments. Its Broadcasting segment operates 23 television stations and affiliated Web sites, which produce local programming, such as news, sports, and entertainment programming. This segment also includes Captivate Network, a national news and entertainment network that delivers programming and full-motion video advertising on video screens located in elevators of office towers and select hotel lobbies in North America. The company has strategic business relationships with online affiliates, including Classified Ventures, ShopLocal.com, Topix, and Metromix LLC, as well as strategic marketing agreement with Microsoft. Gannett Co.,! Inc. was founded in 1906 and is headquartered in McLean, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Mike Deane]

  Early on Monday morning, Gannett (GCI) had its price target raised to $35 from $34 at FBR Capital. The ratings company also affirmed that Gannett is a “Top Pick.” 

  Gannett, a publishing and broadcasting company that operates in the U.S. and the U.K., currently has a price of $29.76, and FBR’s new target suggests an 18% upside.

  FBR analyst William Bird had the following comments about GCI’s PT raise: “Based on our analysis, we estimate that Gannett’s spectrum is worth approximately $2.2 billion, or $9 per share, roughly doubling in value from the acquisition of BLC (i.e., pre-deal valuation of ~$1.1 billion). Separately, we are lowering our 2014 EPS estimate by $0.07 to reflect the previously announced sale of three stations to MDP (note: an expected midyear close means that the stations will not be in operating results from January 1, but the proceeds will not be received until midyear). We are increasing our price target to $35 from $34 to reflect shareholder accretion from the sale. We like Gannett’s improving business mix, growth profile, and ability to drive growth with its own propeller through higher retrans, synergies, and potential TV acquisitions.”

  Gannett stock was inactive in pre-market trading. So far this year, the company’s stock is up 0.61%.

• [By Douglas A. McIntyre]

  Traditional media sites did unusually well, given that they are not the core products of their parent companies. Broadcaster CBS (NYSE: CBS) was in 9th place at 80.9 million unique visitors in November. Comcast NBCUniversal was 14th place with 64.4 million. Gannett (NASDAQ: GCI) sites were 16th at 57 million. Viacom had 54.3 million, and ESPN 38.7 million.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/best-media-stoc! ks-to-buy! -for-2014.html

Best Oil Stocks For 2014

Best Oil Stocks For 2014: Linn Energy LLC (LINE)

Linn Energy, LLC (LINN Energy) is an independent oil and natural gas company. The Company's properties are located in the United States, primarily in the Mid-Continent, the Permian Basin, Michigan, California and the Williston Basin. Mid-Continent Deep includes the Texas Panhandle Deep Granite Wash formation and deep formations in Oklahoma and Kansas. Mid-Continent Shallow includes the Texas Panhandle Brown Dolomite formation and shallow formations in Oklahoma, Louisiana and Illinois. Permian Basin includes areas in West Texas and Southeast New Mexico. Michigan includes the Antrim Shale formation in the northern part of the state. California includes the Brea Olinda Field of the Los Angeles Basin. Williston Basin includes the Bakken formation in North Dakota. On December 15, 2011, the Company acquired certain oil and natural gas properties located primarily in the Granite Wash of Texas and Oklahoma from Plains Exploration & Production Company (Plains).

On No vember 1, 2011, and November 18, 2011, it completed two acquisitions of certain oil and natural gas properties located in the Permian Basin. On June 1, 2011, it acquired certain oil and natural gas properties in the Cleveland play, located in the Texas Panhandle, from Panther Energy Company, LLC and Red Willow Mid-Continent, LLC (collectively Panther). On May 2, 2011, and May 11, 2011, it completed two acquisitions of certain oil and natural gas properties located in the Williston Basin. On April 1, 2011, and April 5, 2011, the Company completed two acquisitions of certain oil and natural gas properties located in the Permian Basin. On March 31, 2011, it acquired certain oil and natural gas properties located in the Williston Basin from an affiliate of Concho Resources Inc. (Concho). During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company completed other smaller acquisitions of oil and natural gas propert! ies located in its various operating regions. As of December 31, 2011, the Company operated 7,759 or 69% of its 11,230 gross productiv! e wells.

Mid-Continent Deep

The Mid-Continent Deep region includes properties in the Deep Granite Wash formation in the Texas Panhandle, which produces at depths ranging from 10,000 feet to 16,000 feet, as well as properties in Oklahoma and Kansas, which produce at depths of more than 8,000 feet. Mid-Continent Deep proved reserves represented approximately 47% of total proved reserves, as of December 31, 2011, of which 49% were classified as proved developed reserves. The Company owns and operates a network of natural gas gathering systems consisting of approximately 285 miles of pipeline and associated compression and metering facilities that connect to numerous sales outlets in the Texas Panhandle.

Mid-Continent Shallow

The Mid-Continent Shallow region includes properties producing from the Brown Dolomite formation in the Texas Panhandle, which produces at depths of approximately 3,200 feet, as well as properties in Oklah oma, Louisiana and Illinois, which produce at depths of less than 8,000 feet. Mid-Continent Shallow proved reserves represented approximately 20% of total proved reserves, as of December 31, 2011, of which 70% were classified as proved developed reserves. The Company owns and operates a network of natural gas gathering systems consisting of approximately 665 miles of pipeline and associated compression and metering facilities that connect to numerous sales outlets in the Texas Panhandle.

Permian Basin

The Permian Basin is an oil and natural gas basins in the United States. The Company's properties are located in West Texas and Southeast New Mexico and produce at depths ranging from 2,000 feet to 12,000 feet. Permian Basin proved reserves represented approximately 16% of total proved reserves, as of December 31, 2011, of which 56% were classified as proved developed re! serves.

Michigan

The Michigan region includes propertie s producing from the Antrim Shale formation in the northern ! part of t! he state, which produces at depths ranging from 600 feet to 2,200 feet. Michigan proved reserves represented approximately 9% of total proved reserves, as of December 31, 2011, of which 90% were classified as proved developed reserves.

California

The California region consists of the Brea Olinda Field of the Los Angeles Basin. California proved reserves represented approximately 6% of total proved reserves, as of December 31, 2011, of which 93% were classified as proved developed reserves.

Williston Basin

The Williston Basin is one of the premier oil basins in the United States. The Company's properties are located in North Dakota and produce at depths ranging from 9,000 feet to 12,000 feet. Williston Basin proved reserves represented approximately 2% of total proved reserves, as of December 31, 2011, of which 48% were classified as proved developed reserves.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Yesterday, Linn Energy (LINE) reported earnings and promptly fell 4.6%. After a day to consider the numbers, where does Linn Energy stand?

  Dan Strumpf/The Wall Street Jour

  Raymond James’ Kevin Smith thinks Linn Energy look’s OK despite yesterday’s disappointment:

  As the clouds start to clear in the wake of the [Linn Energy] / Berry merger, the partnership has evolved into a dynamic company with lots of options at its disposal. In addition to a best-in-class hedging program and a well-oiled acquisition machine, LINN Energy is now in possession of a large amount of horizontal Wolfcamp acreage and is evaluating a number of options to monetize this acreage. Given the stability in the distribution, the upside from the horizontal Wolfcamp acreage position, and the sheer breadth of growth outlets available to the partnership, we reiterate our Outperform! rating.

  UBS analyst Shneur Gershuni and team maintained their Buy rating but lowered their price target to $33 from $34. They explain:

  Combing through the updated guidance for 2014, the most surprising result was the surge in LOE, followed by lean distribution coverage in 2014 assuming no growth in distribution. The troubling implication of today's guidance is that either BRY is not as accretive as first thought or the legacy biz is declining faster than modelled. While guidance was clearly disappointing, the proved reserve update was encouraging in our opinion as [Linn Energy] was able to replace 123% of reserves with the drillbit (excluding acquisitions) at a cost of $2.21.

  Mgmt carefully laid out strategic options for its Midland Basin acreage by evaluating asset swaps or a JV (as a reminder [Linn Energy] has net acreage 55k in the Wolfcamp). Firstly we would prefer an asset swap into a longer lived slow decline reserve productive asset as it is presents an asset profile more consistent with how we think about Upstream MLPs. We are encouraged by mgnt strongly

• [By David Dittman]

  Question: Do you have any comments on Linn Energy LLC (NSDQ: LINE)?

  Answer: The merger with Berry Petroleum is complete, and now it’s on to executing plan to get production growing again. The SE’’s informal inquiry is still in process, and I won’t hazard a guess as to what if anything will come of it.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/best-oil-stocks-for-2014.html

Best Undervalued Companies To Buy For 2014

Best Undervalued Companies To Buy For 2014: Dollar Tree Inc.(DLTR)

Dollar Tree, Inc. operates discount variety stores in the United States and Canada. Its stores offer merchandise primarily at the fixed price of $1.00. The company operates its stores under the names of Dollar Tree, Deal$, Dollar Tree Deal$, Dollar Giant, and Dollar Bills. Its stores offer consumable merchandise, including candy and food, and health and beauty care, as well as household consumables, such as paper, plastics, household chemicals, in select stores, and frozen and refrigerated food; variety merchandise, which includes toys, durable housewares, gifts, party goods, greeting cards, softlines, and other items; and seasonal goods, such as Easter, Halloween, and Christmas merchandise. As of April 30, 2011, it operated 4,089 stores in 48 states and the District of Columbia, as well as 88 stores in Canada. The company was founded in 1986 and is based in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lawrence Meyers]

  This isn't some growing new industry set to take the world further into the 21st century. It's an old concept that hasn't innovated, won't innovate, and will slowly but surely die out over this century. When I walk into a Walgreens, I see a miniature Target (TGT), a more expensive Dollar Tree (DLTR), and a provider of prescriptions in a world where everything is becoming mail order.

• [By Paul Ausick]

  The other stock the firm likes is Dollar Tree Inc. (NASDAQ: DLTR). The company's shares have lost about 4.6% since reporting an earnings per share (EPS) miss for the third quarter and the Sterne Agee analysts see the lower price as a "great entry point" for buying the stock. Dollar Tree raised fiscal year 2013 EPS guidance from a range of $2.66 to $2.77 to a new range of $2.72 to $2.78, effectively raising the mid-point by $0.04. Sterne Agee reiterated ! its Buy rating on the stock with a price target of $63. Dollar Tree's shares are trading down nearly 0.4% at $55.99 in a 52-week range of $37.47 to $60.19.

• [By Ben Eisen]

  Perpetually struggling department store J.C. Penney Co. (JCP)  said it expects a sales boost this holiday season as it returns to a promotional strategy. But for the most part, retailers including Dollar Tree Inc. (DLTR)  , GameStop Corp. (GME)   and Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (ANF)   gave dour outlooks in their earnings reports.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/best-undervalued-companies-to-buy-for-2014.html

Best Stocks To Invest In Right Now

Best Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Ancestry.com Inc.(ACOM)

Ancestry.com Inc. operates as an online family history resource for subscribers worldwide. The company?s subscribers use Web-based services and content collection to research their family histories, build their family trees, collaborate with other subscribers, upload their own records, and publish and share their stories. Its subscribers can search through its collection of various records that cover birth records, marriage and death records, census records, immigration documents, photographs, maps, military records, personal narratives, and newspapers. As of December 31, 2011, the company had 1.7 million paying subscribers. Ancestry.com Inc. was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Provo, Utah.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By CRWE]

  Ancestry.com Inc. (Nasdaq:ACOM) will release financial results for its third quarter 2012 on Wednesday, October 24, 2012 at approximately 2:00 p.m. MT (4:00 p.m. ET). Following the release, the Company will host a conference call with analysts and investors at 3:00 p.m. MT (5:00 p.m. ET).

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/best-stocks-to-invest-in-right-now-2.html

Best Rising Stocks To Buy For 2015

Best Rising Stocks To Bu y For 2015: Forestar Group Inc (FOR)

Forestar Group Inc. (Forestar) is a real estate and natural resources company. The Company owns directly or through ventures almost 147,000 acres of real estate located in nine states and 12 markets and about 595,000 net acres of mineral interests. As of December 31, 2011, the Company had approximately 131,000 acres of timber on its 147,000 real estate acres and about 17,000 acres of timber under lease. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company generated revenues of $136 million. It operates in three segments: Real estate, Mineral resources and Fiber resources. Its real estate segment generated 78% of its 2011 consolidated revenues. The Company sells wood fiber from portions of its land, primarily in Georgia, and lease land for recreational uses. It leases its mineral interests to third parties for the exploration and production of oil and natural gas, principally in Texas and Louisiana. On January 20, 2012, it sold its 25% interest in Palisades West LLC to Dime nsional Fund Advisors L.P. In September 2012, the Company acquired CREDO Petroleum Corp.

Real estate

In the Company's real estate segment, it conducts an array of project planning and management activities related to the acquisition, entitlement, development and sale of real estate, primarily residential and mixed-use communities. It owns and manages its projects either directly or through ventures. Its development projects are principally located in the markets of Texas. The Company has over 16,000 acres entitled, developed and under development, consisted of land planned for over 27,000 residential lots and about 2,500 commercial acres. In 2011, it sold over 17,000 acres of undeveloped land through its retail land sales program. In addition, it sold 112 entitled acres from two residential projects. The majority of its projects are single-family res! idential and mixed-use communities. During 2011, the Company acquired 180 substantially completed residential lots in Houston, Texas; three multifamily develo! pment sites located in Austin, Denver, and Dallas.

The Company develops lots for single-family homes and develops multifamily properties on its commercial tracts or other developed sites it may purchase. In addition, the Company sells commercial tracts that are ready for construction of buildings for retail, office, industrial or other commercial uses. It sells residential lots primarily to national and regional homebuilders and, to a lesser extent, local homebuilders. The Company has 75 entitled, developed or under development projects in seven states and 11 markets, principally in the markets of Texas, encompassing over 16,000 remaining acres, consisted of land planned for over 27,000 residential lots and about 2,500 commercial acres. It also markets and sells undeveloped land through its retail sales program.

Commercial tracts are developed internally or sold to or ventured with commercial developers that specialize in the construction and operat ion of income producing properties, such as apartments, retail centers, or office buildings. The Company also sells land designated for commercial use to regional and local commercial developers. It has about 2,500 acres of entitled land designated for commercial use. Cibolo Canyons is a mixed-use project in the San Antonio market area.

Mineral Resources

The Company owns mineral interests beneath approximately 595,000 net acres located in the United States, principally in Texas, Louisiana, Georgia and Alabama. It is engaged in leasing certain portions of these mineral interests to third parties for the exploration and production of oil and natural gas. Of the Company's 595,000 net acres of mineral interests, about 515,000 net acres are available for lease. It has about 80,000 net acres leased for oil and natural gas exploration activities, of w! hich abou! t 32,000 net acres are held by production from over 530 oil and natural gas wells that are opera ted by others. During 2011, the Company acquired unproved le! asehold p! roperties associated with 13,000 net mineral acres in Alabama and Georgia.

The Company has about 251,000 net mineral acres in East Texas and about 144,000 net mineral acres in Louisiana located within the East Texas and Gulf Coast Basins. It has mineral interests in and around production trends in the Wilcox, Frio, Cockfield, James Lime, Pettet, Travis Peak, Cotton Valley, Austin Chalk, Haynesville Shale and Bossier formations. The Company has about 1,000 net mineral acres in the Fort Worth Basin. It also has mineral interests in and around the Barnett Shale. The Company has about 40,000 net mineral acres in Alabama and about 157,000 net mineral acres in Georgia. The Company did not drill any wells in 2011.

Fiber Resources

The Company has about 131,000 acres of timber it owns directly or through ventures and about 17,000 acres of timber under lease. In 2011, it sold to Temple-Inland, over 323,000 tons of timber from its lands. During 2 011, about 131,000 acres of its land, primarily in Georgia, were leased for recreational purposes. During 2011, the Company sold 57,000 acres of timberland in Georgia, Alabama, and Texas.

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 Forestar Group (NYSE: FOR  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

• [By Andy Batts]

  The shares of Forestar Group (FOR) are trading at ~30% discount to the company's NAV. The company operates in three business segments: real estate, oil and gas, and other natural reso! urces. Fo! restar has a rich portfolio of assets and businesses, including 133,000 acres of real estate; 752,000 acres of oil and gas properties; 1.5 million acres of water rights; and 275,000 acres of timberland.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/best-rising-stocks-to-buy-for-2015-2.html

Hillary Clinton Likes Obamacare, Opposes Single-Payer

From the Huffington Post –

Hillary Clinton has confirmed, to a paying audience of 20,000 sellers of electronic health records systems, that she supports Obamacare, and opposes single-payer health insurance.

Speaking to a closed-to-the-press meeting of the “HIMSS14″ (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Conference 2014) in Orlando Florida on February 26th, she condemned the Canadian and other nations’ single-payer healthcare systems by saying, “We don’t have one size fits all; our country is quite diverse. What works in New York City won’t work in Albuquerque.” The presumption is that what works in Canada cannot work here, that local control must trump everything in order to fix what’s wrong with American health care.

The data prove her statement to be false, if not irrelevant. America’s healthcare problems are deeper than that. The latest OECD data on healthcare costs show that the U.S. spends by far the world’s highest percentage of GDP on healthcare, 17.7 percent; and also show that the average U.S. life expectancy is 78.7 years; by contrast, Canada spends 11.2 percent, and their life expectancy is 81.0 years. The OECD average expenditure is 9.3 percent , and life expectancy is 80.0 years. So: the U.S. spends twice as high a percentage of GDP as every other OECD nation, and gets markedly inferior results. This makes the U.S. far less economically competitive than it otherwise would be; but, the healthcare industries finance conservative politicians such as Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and all Republicans; so, those politicians don’t like single-payer — it would take much of the excess profits out of exploiting the sick, and those excess profits help to fund their campaigns.

The American people’s financial losses produce exceptional financial gains for the investors in healthcare-related stocks, and also inflate the pay for executives in those firms. This helps to fund lots of what conservatives such as Antonin Scalia lovingly call “free speech” — campaign commercials.

A physician in Canada headlined in the Los Angeles Times on 3 August 2009, “A Canadian doctor diagnoses U.S. healthcare,” and he wrote: “Until 50 years ago, we had similar health systems, healthcare costs and vital statistics.” But this situation ended with Canada’s single-payer system, where, “all Canadians have insurance for hospital and physician services. There are no deductibles or co-pays. Most provinces also provide coverage for programs for home care, long-term care, pharmaceuticals and durable medical equipment, although there are co-pays. On the U.S. side, 46 million people have no insurance, millions are underinsured and healthcare bills bankrupt more than 1 million Americans every year.” Nobody goes bankrupt in Canada to pay for needed care. Their system is shared sacrifice, not all of the downsides dumped onto the poorest and the sickest, who can’t pay their bills and end up in emergency rooms until they die of needless ailments.

The Canadian doctor explained that, in that year: “Canada spends 10% of its economy on healthcare; the U.S. spends 16%. The extra 6% of GDP amounts to more than $800 billion per year. The spending gap between the two nations is almost entirely because of higher overhead. Canadians don’t need thousands of actuaries to set premiums or thousands of lawyers to deny care. Even the U.S. Medicare program has 80% to 90% lower administrative costs than private Medicare Advantage policies. And providers and suppliers can’t charge as much when they have to deal with a single payer.”

So, Hillary received many bursts of applause from her audience of people who profit from other Americans’ being vastly overcharged for inferior healthcare. In fact, the transcriber of her speech headlined “Hillary Clinton wows the HIMSS14 crowd.”

Continue reading…

Hillary Clinton Likes Obamacare, Opposes Single-Payer

From the Huffington Post –

Hillary Clinton has confirmed, to a paying audience of 20,000 sellers of electronic health records systems, that she supports Obamacare, and opposes single-payer health insurance.

Speaking to a closed-to-the-press meeting of the “HIMSS14″ (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Conference 2014) in Orlando Florida on February 26th, she condemned the Canadian and other nations’ single-payer healthcare systems by saying, “We don’t have one size fits all; our country is quite diverse. What works in New York City won’t work in Albuquerque.” The presumption is that what works in Canada cannot work here, that local control must trump everything in order to fix what’s wrong with American health care.

The data prove her statement to be false, if not irrelevant. America’s healthcare problems are deeper than that. The latest OECD data on healthcare costs show that the U.S. spends by far the world’s highest percentage of GDP on healthcare, 17.7 percent; and also show that the average U.S. life expectancy is 78.7 years; by contrast, Canada spends 11.2 percent, and their life expectancy is 81.0 years. The OECD average expenditure is 9.3 percent , and life expectancy is 80.0 years. So: the U.S. spends twice as high a percentage of GDP as every other OECD nation, and gets markedly inferior results. This makes the U.S. far less economically competitive than it otherwise would be; but, the healthcare industries finance conservative politicians such as Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and all Republicans; so, those politicians don’t like single-payer — it would take much of the excess profits out of exploiting the sick, and those excess profits help to fund their campaigns.

The American people’s financial losses produce exceptional financial gains for the investors in healthcare-related stocks, and also inflate the pay for executives in those firms. This helps to fund lots of what conservatives such as Antonin Scalia lovingly call “free speech” — campaign commercials.

A physician in Canada headlined in the Los Angeles Times on 3 August 2009, “A Canadian doctor diagnoses U.S. healthcare,” and he wrote: “Until 50 years ago, we had similar health systems, healthcare costs and vital statistics.” But this situation ended with Canada’s single-payer system, where, “all Canadians have insurance for hospital and physician services. There are no deductibles or co-pays. Most provinces also provide coverage for programs for home care, long-term care, pharmaceuticals and durable medical equipment, although there are co-pays. On the U.S. side, 46 million people have no insurance, millions are underinsured and healthcare bills bankrupt more than 1 million Americans every year.” Nobody goes bankrupt in Canada to pay for needed care. Their system is shared sacrifice, not all of the downsides dumped onto the poorest and the sickest, who can’t pay their bills and end up in emergency rooms until they die of needless ailments.

The Canadian doctor explained that, in that year: “Canada spends 10% of its economy on healthcare; the U.S. spends 16%. The extra 6% of GDP amounts to more than $800 billion per year. The spending gap between the two nations is almost entirely because of higher overhead. Canadians don’t need thousands of actuaries to set premiums or thousands of lawyers to deny care. Even the U.S. Medicare program has 80% to 90% lower administrative costs than private Medicare Advantage policies. And providers and suppliers can’t charge as much when they have to deal with a single payer.”

So, Hillary received many bursts of applause from her audience of people who profit from other Americans’ being vastly overcharged for inferior healthcare. In fact, the transcriber of her speech headlined “Hillary Clinton wows the HIMSS14 crowd.”

Continue reading…