New products and changes introduced over the last week include a variable rate preferred ETF from Invesco PowerShares; Advisors Asset Management has launched a unit investment trust; and Emerging Global Advisors has rolled out the EGShares Blue Chip ETF.
Other new products include a small business retirement plan comparison calculator from WMSI, and a tax app for the new year from W&S Financial Group Distributors.
Here are the latest developments of interest to advisors:
1) Invesco Announces Variable Rate Preferred ETF
Invesco PowerShares Capital Management LLC has announced the coming launch of the PowerShares Variable Rate Preferred Portfolio (VRP) on May 1. VRP is based on the Wells Fargo Hybrid and Preferred Securities Floating and Variable Rate Index and will generally invest at least 90% of its total assets in preferred securities that make up the index.
The index is market-capitalization-weighted and is designed to track the performance of preferred stock, as well as certain types of hybrid securities that are functionally equivalent to preferred stock, that are issued by US-based or foreign issuers and that pay a floating or variable rate dividend or coupon. VRP and the index are rebalanced monthly.
Top Canadian Stocks To Watch For 2015: Lorillard Inc(LO)
Lorillard, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes in the United States. The company offers 43 different product offerings under the Newport, Kent, True, Maverick, and Old Gold brand names. Lorillard, Inc. sells its products primarily to wholesale distributors, who in turn service retail outlets, chain store organizations, and government agencies, including the United States? Armed Forces. The company was founded in 1760 and is headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Patricio Kehoe] n to the popularity of its brands, Phillip Morris benefits from scale advantages, combined with the historically strong brand loyalty among smokers, earning the firm strong pricing power. This advantage has allowed revenue to nearly double since 2006, leaving its current level of $77.4 billion.
Regarding Taxes, Regulations and Margins
Despite recent anti-tobacco laws passed by the European Union and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the U.S, the company�� pricing power has helped maintain its margins. In 2012, for example, Phillip Morris hiked prices on its products in Russia, Germany, Belgium, Canada, France, Greece and Spain, among others. Although the necessary measure caused substantial volume declines in these countries, consumers rapidly became accustomed to the increased prices, and returned to their habitual product consumption. Given the success of this strategy, the firm is likely to rely on it in Japan for 2014, where taxes are expected to increase yet again by 8%, after the 40% spike in October 2010.
Another profitable business opportunity may come from the company�� recent cross-licensing agreement with its parent firm Altria, regarding next-generation products. The deal will allow Phillip Morris to market Altria�� eCig products outside the U.S, while the parent firm commercializes the tobacco giant�� two heated tobacco products, Platform 1 and Platform 2, within the U.S. Platform 1 is meant to launch in 2014, and Platform 2 a year later, which should help the company branch out to changing consumer habits among smokers and generate further revenue. On another note, Phillip Morris��shareholder returns should not pass unseen by investors. Since 2008, the company has returned $59.1 billion to its investors via share repurchases ($27.9) and dividends ($24), and currently holds a steady dividend yield of 4.39%.
Bottom Line
With an EPS growth of 16.90%���well above the industry�� average ���nd an i
- [By Jon C. Ogg]
Lorillard, Inc. (NYSE: LO) had an impressive Tuesday trading session on reports that Reynolds American Inc. (NYSE: RAI) was interested in buying the company. The merger would consolidate the pure-play tobacco companies in America from three down to two. While we would consider this a rumor of sorts for now, there are some serious considerations here.
Top 5 Dividend Stocks To Buy Right Now: Windstream Corporation(WIN)
Windstream Corporation provides communications and technology solutions in the United States. The company offers various solutions, including IP-based voice and data services, multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) networking, data center and managed services, hosting services, and communications systems to businesses and government agencies. It also provides high-speed Internet, voice, and digital television services to residential customers primarily located in rural areas. The company?s data services include data center and managed hosting, MPLS networking, and dedicated access, as well as high-speed Internet to business customers; integrated solutions consist of multiple voice and data services delivered over an IP connection; voice services comprise local and long distance, call waiting, caller identification, and voicemail; and special access services include point-to-point switching arrangements for voice and data traffic. In addition, it provides wholesale services, which primarily include voice and data services on a wholesale basis to other carriers; usage sensitive services to long distance companies; and other local exchange carriers for access to the network in connection with the completion of long-distance calls, as well as reciprocal compensation received from wireless and other local connecting carriers for the use of its facilities. As of June 30, 2011, the company served approximately 3.3 million access lines, 1.3 million high-speed Internet customers, and operated approximately 60,000 fiber route miles. Windstream Corporation is based in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Lisa Levin]
Windstream Holdings (NASDAQ: WIN) shares gained 0.43% to touch a new 52-week high of $9.24. Windstream's trailing-twelve-month ROE is 22.79%.
The WhiteWave Foods Company (NYSE: WWAV) surged 1.57% to reach a new 52-week high of $31.07. WhiteWave Foods shares have jumped 61.25% over the past 52 weeks, while the S&P 500 index has gained 14.97% in the same period.
- [By kcpl]
Windstream (WIN) has an eye-propping dividend yield of 11.30% that should attracted many investors looking for high-dividend yield stocks. Windstream pays a higher dividend in comparison to its peers. In addition, stock has appreciated over 10% since the start of the year. Windstream offers voice and data network communications services in the U.S., competing against the likes of CenturyLink and Frontier Communications.
- [By Anders Bylund]
So even after all the hacking and slashing, France Telecom's yield is orders of magnitude richer than American contemporaries AT&T (NYSE: T ) and Verizon (NYSE: VZ ) . It's fully comparable to the high-yield payouts of rural American telecoms such as CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL ) and Windstream (NASDAQ: WIN ) , but with the added bonus of growth plans in emerging markets. The French stock strikes a unique balance between generous yields, large-scale operations, and vibrant growth plans.
- [By Dan Caplinger]
For years, investors turned to lesser-known telecom companies for high dividend yields. Windstream (NASDAQ: WIN ) and Frontier Communications (NASDAQ: FTR ) became especially popular, as they focused on rural areas where consumers have fewer choices on where to get telecom services. Even though those businesses have been in slow decline, both Frontier and Windstream have made efforts to broaden their offerings to keep up with competition in broadband Internet and business services, with varying degrees of success. Windstream has managed to keep its dividend steady, but Frontier had to cut its dividend twice in recent years, sending its shares down substantially.
Top 5 Dividend Stocks To Buy Right Now: Paragon Shipping Inc.(PRGN)
Paragon Shipping Inc. provides shipping transportation services worldwide. The company engages in the ocean transportation of various drybulk cargoes and containers. Its fleet consists of 11 drybulk vessels with a total carrying capacity of 747,994 dwt. The company was founded in 2006 and is based in Voula, Greece.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Roberto Pedone]
Another under-$10 name shipping player that's starting to move within range of triggering a big breakout trade is Paragon Shipping (PRGN), which is engaged in transporting drybulk cargoes, including such commodities as iron ore, coal, grain and other materials along shipping routes worldwide. This stock has been on fire so far in 2013, with shares up sharply by 114%.
If you take a look at the chart for Paragon Shipping, you'll notice that this stock just recently took out its 50-day moving average of $4.19 a share with strong upside volume. Shares of PRGN are showing relative strength today, despite the overall market weakness, which shows this stock is in strong demand at current levels. This move is now starting to push shares of PRGN within range of triggering a big breakout trade
Market players should now look for long-biased trades in PRGN if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance at $4.90 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above that level with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 25,811 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then PRGN will set up to re-test or possibly take out its 52-week high at $5.70 a share. If that level gets taken out with volume, then PRGN could easily tag its next major overhead resistance levels at $7 to $8.35 a share.
Traders can look to buy PRGN off weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below its 50-day moving average of $4.19 a share, or below its 200-day moving average at $3.74 a share. One can also buy PRGN off strength once it clears $4.90 a share with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point. I would add to either position once PRGN takes out its 52-week high at $5.70 a share with strong upside volume flows.
Top 5 Dividend Stocks To Buy Right Now: Merck & Company Inc.(MRK)
Merck & Co., Inc. provides various health solutions through its prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, animal health, and consumer care products. The company?s Pharmaceutical segment provides human health pharmaceutical products, such as therapeutic and preventive agents for the treatment of human disorders in the areas of bone, respiratory, immunology, dermatology, cardiovascular, diabetes and obesity, infectious diseases, neurosciences and ophthalmology, oncology, vaccines, and women's health and endocrine. This segment also offers human health vaccines, such as preventive pediatric, adolescent, and adult vaccines. Its Animal Health segment discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets animal health products. This segment offers antibiotics, anti-inflammatory products, vaccines, products for the treatment of fertility disorders, and parasiticides for cattle, swine, horses, poultry, dogs, cats, salmons, and fish. The Consumer Care segment develops, manufac tures, and markets over-the-counter, foot care, and sun care products. Its over-the-counter product line includes non-drowsy antihistamines; treatment for occasional constipation; decongestant-free cold/flu medicine for people with high blood pressure; nasal decongestant spray; and treatment for frequent heartburn. This segment?s foot care products comprise topical antifungal, and foot and sneaker odor/wetness products; and sun care products include sun care lotions, sprays and dry oils; and sunburn relief products. The company serves drug wholesalers and retailers, hospitals, government agencies, physicians, physician distributors, veterinarians, animal producers, and managed health care providers, as well as food chain and mass merchandiser outlets in the United States and Canada. Merck & Co., Inc. was founded in 1891 and is headquartered in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Dan Burrows]
Another day, another mega-deal in the pharmaceuticals sector, as Merck (MRK) struck an agreement to sell its giant consumer business to Bayer (BAYRY) for $14.2 billion.
- [By Chris Neiger]
2. Merck� (NYSE: MRK ) �-- Diversity score of 100:�Merck tied with Citigroup for the top diversity spot in the study. Like Citigroup, Merck has a full EEO-1 data disclosure policy, publicly supports ENDA, and also has two minorities in the top five paid positions. The company also received part of its high diversity ranking because it has a minority CEO, a trait that only six other S&P 100 companies share.
- [By Alex Planes]
Investors love stocks that consistently beat the Street without getting ahead of their fundamentals and risking a meltdown. The best stocks offer sustainable market-beating gains, with robust and improving financial metrics that support strong price growth. Does Merck (NYSE: MRK ) fit the bill? Let's take a look at what its recent results tell us about its potential for future gains.
- [By Dimitra DeFotis]
Merck�(MRK) stock is up 2% today after�Merck reported second-quarter earnings per share of 85 cents, better than the 81 cents analysts expected, according to Thomson I/B/E/S data.
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