5 Gold Stocks With Significant Upside From Here Seeking Alpha - 5 hours ago
While the price of gold reaches all-time highs as concerns over currency
debasement rise and fears over another recession reignite, mining companies
offer a more reasonably priced alternative to ...
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Top 10 Most Profitable Micro Cap Stocks: PW, WRLS, VALU, TRMS, AI, TCRD, EFC, VALV, TBOW, BSTC (Sep 01, 2011)
Below are the top 10 most profitable Micro Cap stocks for the last 12 months.
Two Chinese companies (VALV, TBOW) are on the list. Pittsburgh & West Virginia
Railroad (AMEX:PW) is the 1st most profitable stock in this segment of the
market. Its net profit margin was 84.70% for the last 12 months. Its operating
profit margin was 84.70% for the same period. Telular Corporation (NASDAQ:WRLS)
is the 2nd most profitable stock in this segment of the market. Its net profit
margin was 77.77% for the last 12 months. Its operating profit margin was 11.26%
for the same period. Value Line, Inc. (NASDAQ:VALU) is the 3rd most profitable
stock in this segment of the market. Its net profit margin was 77.63% for the
last 12 months. Its operating profit margin was 17.53% for the same period.
Trimeris, Inc. (NASDAQ:TRMS) is the 4th most profitable stock in this segment of
the market. Its net profit margin was 75.04% for the last 12 months. Its
operating profit margin was 75.95% for the same period. Arlington Asset
Investment Corp. (NYSE:AI) is the 5th most profitable stock in this segment of
the market. Its net profit margin was 71.76% for the last 12 months. Its
operating profit margin was 66.64% for the same period. THL Credit, Inc.
(NASDAQ:TCRD) is the 6th most profitable stock in this segment of the market.
Its net profit margin was 70.63% for the last 12 months. Its operating profit
margin was 55.37% for the same period. Ellington Financial LLC (NYSE:EFC) is the
7th most profitable stock in this segment of the market. Its net profit margin
was 70.43% for the last 12 months. Its operating profit margin was 60.13% for
the same period. Shengkai Innovations, Inc. (NASDAQ:VALV) is the 8th most
profitable stock in this segment of the market. Its net profit margin was 69.42%
for the last 12 months. Its operating profit margin was 15.37% for the same
period. Trunkbow International Holdings Ltd (NASDAQ:TBOW) is the 9th most
profitable stock in this segment of the market. Its net profit margin was 65.72%
for the last 12 months. Its operating profit margin was 49.19% for the same
period. BioSpecifics Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:BSTC) is the 10th most
profitable stock in this segment of the market. Its net profit margin was 65.64%
for the last 12 months. Its operating profit margin was 29.18% for the same
period.
Two Chinese companies (VALV, TBOW) are on the list. Pittsburgh & West Virginia
Railroad (AMEX:PW) is the 1st most profitable stock in this segment of the
market. Its net profit margin was 84.70% for the last 12 months. Its operating
profit margin was 84.70% for the same period. Telular Corporation (NASDAQ:WRLS)
is the 2nd most profitable stock in this segment of the market. Its net profit
margin was 77.77% for the last 12 months. Its operating profit margin was 11.26%
for the same period. Value Line, Inc. (NASDAQ:VALU) is the 3rd most profitable
stock in this segment of the market. Its net profit margin was 77.63% for the
last 12 months. Its operating profit margin was 17.53% for the same period.
Trimeris, Inc. (NASDAQ:TRMS) is the 4th most profitable stock in this segment of
the market. Its net profit margin was 75.04% for the last 12 months. Its
operating profit margin was 75.95% for the same period. Arlington Asset
Investment Corp. (NYSE:AI) is the 5th most profitable stock in this segment of
the market. Its net profit margin was 71.76% for the last 12 months. Its
operating profit margin was 66.64% for the same period. THL Credit, Inc.
(NASDAQ:TCRD) is the 6th most profitable stock in this segment of the market.
Its net profit margin was 70.63% for the last 12 months. Its operating profit
margin was 55.37% for the same period. Ellington Financial LLC (NYSE:EFC) is the
7th most profitable stock in this segment of the market. Its net profit margin
was 70.43% for the last 12 months. Its operating profit margin was 60.13% for
the same period. Shengkai Innovations, Inc. (NASDAQ:VALV) is the 8th most
profitable stock in this segment of the market. Its net profit margin was 69.42%
for the last 12 months. Its operating profit margin was 15.37% for the same
period. Trunkbow International Holdings Ltd (NASDAQ:TBOW) is the 9th most
profitable stock in this segment of the market. Its net profit margin was 65.72%
for the last 12 months. Its operating profit margin was 49.19% for the same
period. BioSpecifics Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:BSTC) is the 10th most
profitable stock in this segment of the market. Its net profit margin was 65.64%
for the last 12 months. Its operating profit margin was 29.18% for the same
period.
Bank of America BAC Google Stock Quote; Stock Market Close Review DJIA Index DJX DJI Economic News Review Today
Stock trends were choppy during the last trading session which was the opening
day for the month of September. Many were hoping for something a bit better than
what was observed as August was quite volatile for stocks, and the new month
presented an opportunity for optimism. Stock futures began the day in the red
and continued to trend in negative territory for the majority of the trading
session however. The Nasdaq ended the day lower by 1.30 percent at 2564.04. The
S&P 500 closed out lower by 1.19 percent at 1,204.42 and the Dow Jones
Industrial Average finished lower by 1.03 percent at 11,493.57. Several major
banks performed poorly during the opening session of September and ultimately
applied negative pressure to the stock indices overall. The poorly performing
components applied just enough negative pressure to push stock indices lower
into the red for the day. Earlier economic data, such as the initial
unemployment claims and the ISM report were better than expected. According to
google stock quotes, Bank of America closed out the day in the red. BAC ended
the last trading session lower by 3.18 percent or .26 at 7.91. Previous close
for Bank of America was 8.17. Frank Matto
day for the month of September. Many were hoping for something a bit better than
what was observed as August was quite volatile for stocks, and the new month
presented an opportunity for optimism. Stock futures began the day in the red
and continued to trend in negative territory for the majority of the trading
session however. The Nasdaq ended the day lower by 1.30 percent at 2564.04. The
S&P 500 closed out lower by 1.19 percent at 1,204.42 and the Dow Jones
Industrial Average finished lower by 1.03 percent at 11,493.57. Several major
banks performed poorly during the opening session of September and ultimately
applied negative pressure to the stock indices overall. The poorly performing
components applied just enough negative pressure to push stock indices lower
into the red for the day. Earlier economic data, such as the initial
unemployment claims and the ISM report were better than expected. According to
google stock quotes, Bank of America closed out the day in the red. BAC ended
the last trading session lower by 3.18 percent or .26 at 7.91. Previous close
for Bank of America was 8.17. Frank Matto
In Event of Bird Flu Pandemic, Vaccine Producers Likeliest to Prosper
Given this week's news that bird flu is showing signs of returning and a
mutant strain of the deadly H5N1 virus could be spreading in Asia, investors
might want to keep their eyes some of the heavyweights of vaccine manufacturing.
They include Sanofi-Aventis (NYSE: SNY ), Novartis (NYSE: NVS ), GlaxoSmithKline
(NYSE: GSK ), AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN ), Baxter (NYSE: BAX ), Novavax (NASDAQ:
NVAX ) and China-based Sinovac Biotech (NASDAQ: SVA ). The mutant strain could
be spreading to previously virus-free countries by wild bird migrations,
according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. It appears existing
avian influenza vaccines aren't effective against the new strain. Of course,
there's no guessing how long it would take to develop a preparation that would
give people immunity to the new strain or if one could even be produced but if
it's possible, the vaccine companies listed are the likeliest candidates to
succeed. That could mean huge sales and profits for the first to market. Bird
flu is endemic in most of north and central Vietnam, Bangladesh, China, Egypt,
India and Indonesia but was eliminated from most of the 63 countries infected at
its peak in 2006, according to CBS News. The FAO says wild bird migrations
during the past two years have brought the H5N1 avian influenza to countries
that previously were virus-free, including Israel, the Palestinian territories,
Bulgaria, Romania, Nepal and Mongolia. The WHO says bird flu has killed 331
people globally since 2003 when it was first detected. Bird flu is found in both
wild birds and domestic birds such as chickens and ducks, and it can spread to
people who have close contact with infected birds, although not by eating
poultry or eggs that have been properly cooked. The big risk is a pandemic. That
could occur if the new strain of the H5N1 virus makes the jump from birds to
humans. If that happens, "watch out," cautioned economist Donald Luskin in
an article in StreetTalk several years ago. "People can stay away from birds.
But they can't stay away from each other. And because H5N1 is so biologically
unusual, the human race has no natural immunity to it, he said. Luskin estimated
such a pandemic could take the lives of 16 million Americans the equivalent of
World War III. In the same article, A.G. Edwards analyst Al Goldman cautioned
investors to consider all the unknowns and the hype. "The avian flu potential
is something that you can't get your arms around because no one knows if or
when a pandemic is going to happen, he said. It might be in poor taste to talk
about stock market winners in the case of an influenza pandemic, but in addition
to the vaccine manufacturers there are likely to be other industries that would
prosper. They likely would include drug companies that make antiviral
medications, hospital health care, telecommunications, Internet technology
companies and cleansing product manufacturers. The big losers probably would be
hotels and airlines, as well as companies involved in luxury goods, insurers and
shopping malls . Barry Cohen is long NVS and AZN.
mutant strain of the deadly H5N1 virus could be spreading in Asia, investors
might want to keep their eyes some of the heavyweights of vaccine manufacturing.
They include Sanofi-Aventis (NYSE: SNY ), Novartis (NYSE: NVS ), GlaxoSmithKline
(NYSE: GSK ), AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN ), Baxter (NYSE: BAX ), Novavax (NASDAQ:
NVAX ) and China-based Sinovac Biotech (NASDAQ: SVA ). The mutant strain could
be spreading to previously virus-free countries by wild bird migrations,
according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. It appears existing
avian influenza vaccines aren't effective against the new strain. Of course,
there's no guessing how long it would take to develop a preparation that would
give people immunity to the new strain or if one could even be produced but if
it's possible, the vaccine companies listed are the likeliest candidates to
succeed. That could mean huge sales and profits for the first to market. Bird
flu is endemic in most of north and central Vietnam, Bangladesh, China, Egypt,
India and Indonesia but was eliminated from most of the 63 countries infected at
its peak in 2006, according to CBS News. The FAO says wild bird migrations
during the past two years have brought the H5N1 avian influenza to countries
that previously were virus-free, including Israel, the Palestinian territories,
Bulgaria, Romania, Nepal and Mongolia. The WHO says bird flu has killed 331
people globally since 2003 when it was first detected. Bird flu is found in both
wild birds and domestic birds such as chickens and ducks, and it can spread to
people who have close contact with infected birds, although not by eating
poultry or eggs that have been properly cooked. The big risk is a pandemic. That
could occur if the new strain of the H5N1 virus makes the jump from birds to
humans. If that happens, "watch out," cautioned economist Donald Luskin in
an article in StreetTalk several years ago. "People can stay away from birds.
But they can't stay away from each other. And because H5N1 is so biologically
unusual, the human race has no natural immunity to it, he said. Luskin estimated
such a pandemic could take the lives of 16 million Americans the equivalent of
World War III. In the same article, A.G. Edwards analyst Al Goldman cautioned
investors to consider all the unknowns and the hype. "The avian flu potential
is something that you can't get your arms around because no one knows if or
when a pandemic is going to happen, he said. It might be in poor taste to talk
about stock market winners in the case of an influenza pandemic, but in addition
to the vaccine manufacturers there are likely to be other industries that would
prosper. They likely would include drug companies that make antiviral
medications, hospital health care, telecommunications, Internet technology
companies and cleansing product manufacturers. The big losers probably would be
hotels and airlines, as well as companies involved in luxury goods, insurers and
shopping malls . Barry Cohen is long NVS and AZN.
AOL Might Be Coming to Its Senses
AOL (NYSE: AOL ) actually might be following my advice and going private. At
least that's the gist of a piece in The New York Post that says AOL "has
huddled with bankers in recent days to discuss options, including the
possibility of taking the company private. CEO Tim Armstrong would be an idiot
not to be considering such a move and doing so hardly would be a shock
considering it recently retained mergers and acquisition law firm Wachtell,
Lipton, Rosen & Katz and investment bankers Allen & Company. Shares of the New
York-based media company have tumbled more than 30% percent this year as
Armstrong failed to wow Wall Street with his $315 million acquisition of
Huffington Post or his hyper-local Patch sites, whose annual price tag tops $160
million. The stock is trading at a rock-bottom multiple of 10, below the average
P/E of 16 of the S&P 500. As it stands now, AOL is a disparate grouping of
services that make no sense in their current configuration. For instance, what
possible connection does Huffington Post have to MapQuest? Maybe one can argue
that a reader of the website would cut and paste links to stories to their
friends over an AIM instant message, but that probably happens less than it used
to because of the surging popularity of Twitter and Facebook. The AOL "Extreme
Makeover" will be much easier to do away from the prying eyes of shareholders.
It will be messy and take time. Indeed, Armstrong has admitted as much, telling
The New York Times that it might take until 2013 to fix AOL. That's mostly
because the fading dial-up Internet access business remains crucial to AOL's
bottom line, accounting for 37% of second-quarter revenue. Its latest 10Q says ,
We believe that our subscription access service will continue to provide us with
an important source of revenue and cash flow for the foreseeable future." AOL
has been a disappointment to investors ever since its disastrous merger with
Time Warner (NYSE: TWX ) more than a decade ago. The heartache for shareholders
continued as AOL shed about $1 billion in market capitalization since it was
jettisoned from Time Warner in December 2009. A recently announced $250 million
stock buyback has done little to address lingering questions about whether AOL
will ever turn around. According to the Post, "KKR has been floated as a
prospective partner for AOL." That would make as much sense as any other
private equity player. One problem with taking AOL private is that free cash
flow a key metric for private equity investors fell 43% to $77.2 million in
the latest quarter. Yahoo (NASDAQ: YHOO ) is another possibility, but it's
difficult to see how combining two weak companies would create one strong one.
AOL might consider acquiring smaller niche media companies, but it seems
doubtful that would add enough readers to please Wall Street. As Felix Salmon of
Reuters points out, developing original Web content is not cheap , and
profitable websites tend to be "run on the cheap." An exception to this
premise is Bloomberg L.P., the media empire founded by New York City Mayor Mike
Bloomberg. The media and data company has thrived for years outside the scrutiny
of shareholders. That is a business model AOL can hope to emulate. Jonathan Berr
is a former AOL freelancer who worked for Bloomberg News for seven years. He
owns no shares of the companies listed.
least that's the gist of a piece in The New York Post that says AOL "has
huddled with bankers in recent days to discuss options, including the
possibility of taking the company private. CEO Tim Armstrong would be an idiot
not to be considering such a move and doing so hardly would be a shock
considering it recently retained mergers and acquisition law firm Wachtell,
Lipton, Rosen & Katz and investment bankers Allen & Company. Shares of the New
York-based media company have tumbled more than 30% percent this year as
Armstrong failed to wow Wall Street with his $315 million acquisition of
Huffington Post or his hyper-local Patch sites, whose annual price tag tops $160
million. The stock is trading at a rock-bottom multiple of 10, below the average
P/E of 16 of the S&P 500. As it stands now, AOL is a disparate grouping of
services that make no sense in their current configuration. For instance, what
possible connection does Huffington Post have to MapQuest? Maybe one can argue
that a reader of the website would cut and paste links to stories to their
friends over an AIM instant message, but that probably happens less than it used
to because of the surging popularity of Twitter and Facebook. The AOL "Extreme
Makeover" will be much easier to do away from the prying eyes of shareholders.
It will be messy and take time. Indeed, Armstrong has admitted as much, telling
The New York Times that it might take until 2013 to fix AOL. That's mostly
because the fading dial-up Internet access business remains crucial to AOL's
bottom line, accounting for 37% of second-quarter revenue. Its latest 10Q says ,
We believe that our subscription access service will continue to provide us with
an important source of revenue and cash flow for the foreseeable future." AOL
has been a disappointment to investors ever since its disastrous merger with
Time Warner (NYSE: TWX ) more than a decade ago. The heartache for shareholders
continued as AOL shed about $1 billion in market capitalization since it was
jettisoned from Time Warner in December 2009. A recently announced $250 million
stock buyback has done little to address lingering questions about whether AOL
will ever turn around. According to the Post, "KKR has been floated as a
prospective partner for AOL." That would make as much sense as any other
private equity player. One problem with taking AOL private is that free cash
flow a key metric for private equity investors fell 43% to $77.2 million in
the latest quarter. Yahoo (NASDAQ: YHOO ) is another possibility, but it's
difficult to see how combining two weak companies would create one strong one.
AOL might consider acquiring smaller niche media companies, but it seems
doubtful that would add enough readers to please Wall Street. As Felix Salmon of
Reuters points out, developing original Web content is not cheap , and
profitable websites tend to be "run on the cheap." An exception to this
premise is Bloomberg L.P., the media empire founded by New York City Mayor Mike
Bloomberg. The media and data company has thrived for years outside the scrutiny
of shareholders. That is a business model AOL can hope to emulate. Jonathan Berr
is a former AOL freelancer who worked for Bloomberg News for seven years. He
owns no shares of the companies listed.
Top 10 Most Profitable Large Cap Stocks: BVN, NLY, SLW, PSA, SDRL, BIDU, GLW, WBK, CHKP, VALE (Sep 01, 2011)
Below are the top 10 most profitable Large Cap stocks for the last 12 months.
One Chinese company (BIDU) is on the list. Compania de Minas Buenaventura SA
(ADR) (NYSE:BVN) is the 1st most profitable stock in this segment of the market.
Its net profit margin was 67.04% for the last 12 months. Its operating profit
margin was 45.83% for the same period. Annaly Capital Management, Inc.
(NYSE:NLY) is the 2nd most profitable stock in this segment of the market. Its
net profit margin was 63.47% for the last 12 months. Its operating profit margin
was 64.90% for the same period. Silver Wheaton Corp. (USA) (NYSE:SLW) is the 3rd
most profitable stock in this segment of the market. Its net profit margin was
60.10% for the last 12 months. Its operating profit margin was 58.20% for the
same period. Public Storage (NYSE:PSA) is the 4th most profitable stock in this
segment of the market. Its net profit margin was 50.37% for the last 12 months.
Its operating profit margin was 42.72% for the same period. SeaDrill Limited
(NYSE:SDRL) is the 5th most profitable stock in this segment of the market. Its
net profit margin was 48.00% for the last 12 months. Its operating profit margin
was 37.28% for the same period. Baidu.com, Inc. (ADR) (NASDAQ:BIDU) is the 6th
most profitable stock in this segment of the market. Its net profit margin was
46.51% for the last 12 months. Its operating profit margin was 52.18% for the
same period. Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW) is the 7th most profitable stock in
this segment of the market. Its net profit margin was 45.65% for the last 12
months. Its operating profit margin was 24.96% for the same period. Westpac
Banking Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:WBK) is the 8th most profitable stock in this
segment of the market. Its net profit margin was 42.94% for the last 12 months.
Its operating profit margin was 47.48% for the same period. Check Point Software
Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ:CHKP) is the 9th most profitable stock in this segment
of the market. Its net profit margin was 42.77% for the last 12 months. Its
operating profit margin was 50.14% for the same period. Vale (ADR) (NYSE:VALE)
is the 10th most profitable stock in this segment of the market. Its net profit
margin was 41.91% for the last 12 months. Its operating profit margin was 53.67%
for the same period.
One Chinese company (BIDU) is on the list. Compania de Minas Buenaventura SA
(ADR) (NYSE:BVN) is the 1st most profitable stock in this segment of the market.
Its net profit margin was 67.04% for the last 12 months. Its operating profit
margin was 45.83% for the same period. Annaly Capital Management, Inc.
(NYSE:NLY) is the 2nd most profitable stock in this segment of the market. Its
net profit margin was 63.47% for the last 12 months. Its operating profit margin
was 64.90% for the same period. Silver Wheaton Corp. (USA) (NYSE:SLW) is the 3rd
most profitable stock in this segment of the market. Its net profit margin was
60.10% for the last 12 months. Its operating profit margin was 58.20% for the
same period. Public Storage (NYSE:PSA) is the 4th most profitable stock in this
segment of the market. Its net profit margin was 50.37% for the last 12 months.
Its operating profit margin was 42.72% for the same period. SeaDrill Limited
(NYSE:SDRL) is the 5th most profitable stock in this segment of the market. Its
net profit margin was 48.00% for the last 12 months. Its operating profit margin
was 37.28% for the same period. Baidu.com, Inc. (ADR) (NASDAQ:BIDU) is the 6th
most profitable stock in this segment of the market. Its net profit margin was
46.51% for the last 12 months. Its operating profit margin was 52.18% for the
same period. Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW) is the 7th most profitable stock in
this segment of the market. Its net profit margin was 45.65% for the last 12
months. Its operating profit margin was 24.96% for the same period. Westpac
Banking Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:WBK) is the 8th most profitable stock in this
segment of the market. Its net profit margin was 42.94% for the last 12 months.
Its operating profit margin was 47.48% for the same period. Check Point Software
Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ:CHKP) is the 9th most profitable stock in this segment
of the market. Its net profit margin was 42.77% for the last 12 months. Its
operating profit margin was 50.14% for the same period. Vale (ADR) (NYSE:VALE)
is the 10th most profitable stock in this segment of the market. Its net profit
margin was 41.91% for the last 12 months. Its operating profit margin was 53.67%
for the same period.
Top 10 Focus Stocks of The Day: RAM, VTG, VRA, MITK, BTUI, SUTR, CLWR, RNIN, TFM, DVOX (Sep 01, 2011)
Below are todays top 10 focus stocks. These momentum stocks are attracting a
lot of interest from traders. One Chinese company (SUTR) is on the list. RAM
Energy Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ:RAM) is todays 1st best focus stock. Its daily
price change was 24.4% in the previous trading session. Its upside potential is
96% based on brokerage analysts average target price of $2 on the stock. It is
rated positively by 67% of the 3 analyst(s) covering it. Its long-term annual
earnings growth is 0% based on analysts average estimate. Vantage Drilling
Company (AMEX:VTG) is todays 2nd best focus stock. Its daily price change was
15.9% in the previous trading session. Its upside potential is 57% based on
brokerage analysts average target price of $2 on the stock. It is rated
positively by 83% of the 12 analyst(s) covering it. Its long-term annual
earnings growth is 0% based on analysts average estimate. Vera Bradley, Inc.
(NASDAQ:VRA) is todays 3rd best focus stock. Its daily price change was 15.0% in
the previous trading session. Its upside potential is 43% based on brokerage
analysts average target price of $50 on the stock. It is rated positively by 83%
of the 6 analyst(s) covering it. Its long-term annual earnings growth is 22%
based on analysts average estimate. Mitek Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MITK) is todays
4th best focus stock. Its daily price change was 13.5% in the previous trading
session. Its upside potential is -54% based on brokerage analysts average target
price of $5 on the stock. It is rated positively by 100% of the 3 analyst(s)
covering it. Its long-term annual earnings growth is 25% based on analysts
average estimate. BTU International, Inc. (NASDAQ:BTUI) is todays 5th best focus
stock. Its daily price change was 12.3% in the previous trading session. Its
upside potential is 13% based on brokerage analysts average target price of $7
on the stock. It is rated positively by 0% of the 3 analyst(s) covering it. Its
long-term annual earnings growth is 25% based on analysts average estimate.
Sutor Technology Group Ltd. (NASDAQ:SUTR) is todays 6th best focus stock. Its
daily price change was 11.9% in the previous trading session. Its upside
potential is 195% based on brokerage analysts average target price of $4 on the
stock. It is rated positively by 50% of the 2 analyst(s) covering it. Its
long-term annual earnings growth is 13% based on analysts average estimate.
Clearwire Corporation (NASDAQ:CLWR) is todays 7th best focus stock. Its daily
price change was 11.5% in the previous trading session. Its upside potential is
135% based on brokerage analysts average target price of $8 on the stock. It is
rated positively by 44% of the 18 analyst(s) covering it. Its long-term annual
earnings growth is -159% based on analysts average estimate. Wireless Ronin
Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:RNIN) is todays 8th best focus stock. Its daily price
change was 11.4% in the previous trading session. Its upside potential is 40%
based on brokerage analysts average target price of $2 on the stock. It is rated
positively by 50% of the 4 analyst(s) covering it. Its long-term annual earnings
growth is 50% based on analysts average estimate. The Fresh Market Inc
(NASDAQ:TFM) is todays 9th best focus stock. Its daily price change was 10.8% in
the previous trading session. Its upside potential is 6% based on brokerage
analysts average target price of $41 on the stock. It is rated positively by 63%
of the 8 analyst(s) covering it. Its long-term annual earnings growth is 21%
based on analysts average estimate. DynaVox, Inc. (NASDAQ:DVOX) is todays 10th
best focus stock. Its daily price change was 9.4% in the previous trading
session. Its upside potential is -1% based on brokerage analysts average target
price of $7 on the stock. It is rated positively by 60% of the 5 analyst(s)
covering it. Its long-term annual earnings growth is 21% based on analysts
average estimate.
lot of interest from traders. One Chinese company (SUTR) is on the list. RAM
Energy Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ:RAM) is todays 1st best focus stock. Its daily
price change was 24.4% in the previous trading session. Its upside potential is
96% based on brokerage analysts average target price of $2 on the stock. It is
rated positively by 67% of the 3 analyst(s) covering it. Its long-term annual
earnings growth is 0% based on analysts average estimate. Vantage Drilling
Company (AMEX:VTG) is todays 2nd best focus stock. Its daily price change was
15.9% in the previous trading session. Its upside potential is 57% based on
brokerage analysts average target price of $2 on the stock. It is rated
positively by 83% of the 12 analyst(s) covering it. Its long-term annual
earnings growth is 0% based on analysts average estimate. Vera Bradley, Inc.
(NASDAQ:VRA) is todays 3rd best focus stock. Its daily price change was 15.0% in
the previous trading session. Its upside potential is 43% based on brokerage
analysts average target price of $50 on the stock. It is rated positively by 83%
of the 6 analyst(s) covering it. Its long-term annual earnings growth is 22%
based on analysts average estimate. Mitek Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MITK) is todays
4th best focus stock. Its daily price change was 13.5% in the previous trading
session. Its upside potential is -54% based on brokerage analysts average target
price of $5 on the stock. It is rated positively by 100% of the 3 analyst(s)
covering it. Its long-term annual earnings growth is 25% based on analysts
average estimate. BTU International, Inc. (NASDAQ:BTUI) is todays 5th best focus
stock. Its daily price change was 12.3% in the previous trading session. Its
upside potential is 13% based on brokerage analysts average target price of $7
on the stock. It is rated positively by 0% of the 3 analyst(s) covering it. Its
long-term annual earnings growth is 25% based on analysts average estimate.
Sutor Technology Group Ltd. (NASDAQ:SUTR) is todays 6th best focus stock. Its
daily price change was 11.9% in the previous trading session. Its upside
potential is 195% based on brokerage analysts average target price of $4 on the
stock. It is rated positively by 50% of the 2 analyst(s) covering it. Its
long-term annual earnings growth is 13% based on analysts average estimate.
Clearwire Corporation (NASDAQ:CLWR) is todays 7th best focus stock. Its daily
price change was 11.5% in the previous trading session. Its upside potential is
135% based on brokerage analysts average target price of $8 on the stock. It is
rated positively by 44% of the 18 analyst(s) covering it. Its long-term annual
earnings growth is -159% based on analysts average estimate. Wireless Ronin
Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:RNIN) is todays 8th best focus stock. Its daily price
change was 11.4% in the previous trading session. Its upside potential is 40%
based on brokerage analysts average target price of $2 on the stock. It is rated
positively by 50% of the 4 analyst(s) covering it. Its long-term annual earnings
growth is 50% based on analysts average estimate. The Fresh Market Inc
(NASDAQ:TFM) is todays 9th best focus stock. Its daily price change was 10.8% in
the previous trading session. Its upside potential is 6% based on brokerage
analysts average target price of $41 on the stock. It is rated positively by 63%
of the 8 analyst(s) covering it. Its long-term annual earnings growth is 21%
based on analysts average estimate. DynaVox, Inc. (NASDAQ:DVOX) is todays 10th
best focus stock. Its daily price change was 9.4% in the previous trading
session. Its upside potential is -1% based on brokerage analysts average target
price of $7 on the stock. It is rated positively by 60% of the 5 analyst(s)
covering it. Its long-term annual earnings growth is 21% based on analysts
average estimate.
The Fresh Market Could Use a Markdown
Shares of North Carolina-based upscale grocery chain The Fresh Market (NASDAQ:
TFM ) popped almost 11% Wednesday after a strong earnings report and a positive
profit outlook . Should you add it to your portfolio? Results for The Fresh
Markets second quarter were ahead of expectations. Its net income of $10.5
million was 52% above the same quarter in 2010 and its EPS of $0.22 beat
expectations by a penny. Meanwhile, its revenues were up 13.6% to $259.5 million
. Is this quarterly performance enough to get you to invest? No. But here is one
reason to consider it: Consistently good earnings reports. The Fresh Market has
been able beat analysts' expectations in each of its past three quarters .
Three reasons to hesitate: Expensive stock. The Fresh Market 's
price/earnings-to-growth ratio of 4.32 (where a PEG of 1.0 is considered fairly
priced) means its stock price is very expensive. It currently has a P/E of 80.4,
and its earnings per share are expected to grow 18.6% to $1.24 in 2012 .
Increasing sales and profits but cash-poor balance sheet. The Fresh Market has
been increasing sales and profits. Its revenue has grown at a 20.6% annual rate,
from $460 million (2006) to $974 million (2010), while its net income has
increased at a 4.7% annual rate, from $20 million (2006) to $24 million (2010)
yielding a slim 2% net profit margin. Its debt has fallen from $130 million
(2008) to $82 million (2010), while its cash declined from $6 million (2008) to
$4 million (2010). Out-earning its cost of capital but getting worse. The Fresh
Market is earning
TFM ) popped almost 11% Wednesday after a strong earnings report and a positive
profit outlook . Should you add it to your portfolio? Results for The Fresh
Markets second quarter were ahead of expectations. Its net income of $10.5
million was 52% above the same quarter in 2010 and its EPS of $0.22 beat
expectations by a penny. Meanwhile, its revenues were up 13.6% to $259.5 million
. Is this quarterly performance enough to get you to invest? No. But here is one
reason to consider it: Consistently good earnings reports. The Fresh Market has
been able beat analysts' expectations in each of its past three quarters .
Three reasons to hesitate: Expensive stock. The Fresh Market 's
price/earnings-to-growth ratio of 4.32 (where a PEG of 1.0 is considered fairly
priced) means its stock price is very expensive. It currently has a P/E of 80.4,
and its earnings per share are expected to grow 18.6% to $1.24 in 2012 .
Increasing sales and profits but cash-poor balance sheet. The Fresh Market has
been increasing sales and profits. Its revenue has grown at a 20.6% annual rate,
from $460 million (2006) to $974 million (2010), while its net income has
increased at a 4.7% annual rate, from $20 million (2006) to $24 million (2010)
yielding a slim 2% net profit margin. Its debt has fallen from $130 million
(2008) to $82 million (2010), while its cash declined from $6 million (2008) to
$4 million (2010). Out-earning its cost of capital but getting worse. The Fresh
Market is earning
Gold and Silver Prices Will Reach New Highs in September
Gold Price Close Today : 1,826.00 Gold Price Close 26-Aug : 1,794.10 Change :
31.90 or 1.8% Silver Price Close Today : 4148.2 Silver Price Close 26-Aug :
4095.2 Change : 53.00 or 1.3% Gold Silver Ratio Today : 44.019 Gold Silver Ratio
26-Aug : 43.810 Change : 0.21 or 0.5% Silver Gold Ratio : 0.02272 Silver Gold
Ratio 26-Aug : 0.02283 Change : -0.00011 or -0.5% Dow in Gold Dollars : $ 130.12
Dow in Gold Dollars 26-Aug : $ 130.02 Change : $ 0.09 or 0.1% Dow in Gold Ounces
: 6.294 Dow in Gold Ounces 26-Aug : 6.290 Change : 0.00 or 0.1% Dow in Silver
Ounces : 277.07 Dow in Silver Ounces 26-Aug : 275.56 Change : 1.52 or 0.6% Dow
Industrial : 11,493.57 Dow Industrial 26-Aug : 11,284.54 Change : 209.03 or 1.9%
S&P 500 : 1,204.42 S&P 500 26-Aug : 1,176.80 Change : 27.62 or 2.3% US Dollar
Index : 74.541 US Dollar Index 26-Aug : 73.710 Change : 0.831 or 1.1% Platinum
Price Close Today : 1,854.00 Platinum Price Close 26-Aug : 1,832.70 Change :
21.30 or 1.2% Palladium Price Close Today : 784.35 Palladium Price Close 26-Aug
: 762.00 Change : 22.35 or 2.9% Tomorrow afternoon I've got to help with Hoedown
preparations, so I am sending out this weekly summary today. By the way, I will
also be vacationing from 9 September through 18 September, and won't be sending
commentaries then, either. I'll miss y'all, but I've earned a vacation and can't
take y'all with me. goldprice.org will be providing daily price summaries like
the above table during this time. Y'all, the GOLD PRICE closed down today $2.50
on Comex at $1,826, but with a $15 range that sayeth not a word. It has held
above $1,810, hugging onto $1,825 like it was a free teddy bear and gold was
three years old. Everybody's loathe to take a position before the weekend. As my
old friend Tyrone Pulley used to say, "You put enough of that fertilizer out
there and hit'll SOMETHIN' come up." I fell that way about next week. The
fertilizer's all been spread through August, now September is about to break and
all the Euro-crats will come back from their August vacation and "hit'll
somethin' come up." You watch. Wouldn't surprise me if part of that something
wasn't much higher gold, through $1,840 and $1,850 and knocking on $1,900 again.
That SILVER PRICE was as sleepy as gold today, trading in a tight band from
4180c to 4113c, practically dead in the water. Comex lost 21.7c to close
4148.2c. To confirm that it is rallying, silver needs to close through 4200c
first, then 4400c. I remind y'all that silver remains in an uptrend since
mid-May. Proverb says, "A trend in force remains in force until violated."
'Tain't been violated yet. Save they close below $1,800 and 3900c, gold and
silver will reach new highs in September. Get out of their way. I reckon nobody
much came to work today, or they left their ambition at home. Except for stocks
falling out of bed and the dollar jumping, things were flat. Nobody wants to
carry a position over the weekend. 'Tis instructive that the current Great
Prevaricator has to scratch and bite with the Speaker of the House to be allowed
to speak to congress. Instructive, too, that he will be the warm-up act for the
first NFL game. I don't know what it will take, but I for one will be glad when
the adults are in charge once again. But ponder! What exactly could or might
Bernard O'Bama say that would make a difference? That he will patty-pat at the
problem with another stimulus that sends $1000 checks to everybody to buy big
screen TVs with? That he has no clue what time zone he is in, let alone what
hemisphere or what the US economy needs? Neither he nor the Bernancubus know as
much about the economy or statecraft as a hog knows about a sidesaddle. You have
to say one thing for tyrants like Franklin Roosevelt: at least they don't
dither. They walk right in the front door and stole the family silver, and dare
you to say nay. This lot today, American and European, don't even rank as high
as midgets. Mercy, they don't rank as high as WARTS. Let us think about
currencies -- fiat currencies. Let's not think about them too long, however,
lest the resulting nausea mess up our wastebaskets. The US dollar today ALMOST
broke out of the very tight range that has imprisoned it, 73.50 - 74.50. I say
"almost" because it is now trading at 74.541, up 42.4 basis points (0.55%), but
that's not quite a break out, now is it? Needs to close above the 50 dma (74.55
) tomorrow at least, and push on toward the top of the larger range, 75.452. The
Bundestag, the German parliament, is balking about picking up the tab for these
Euro sovereign debt bailouts. They'd better straighten up or their banker bosses
will show them who they really work for. Also the catchily named
Bundesverfassungsgeright, the German high court charged with protecting the
German constitution, is hearing arguments that German participation in the
European bail out fund is unconstitutional. Let us say that this uncertainty
casts a dark pall over the face of the euro's future, and that showed in the
market today. The Franken-currency gapped down again, twinning with two days
ago, but worse today. It gapped down plumb past its 20 dma (1.4360) and its 50
dma (1.4315) to close at 1.4260, down 0.83%. Owch. Were it a natural and not a
manipulated market, it would sink like a lag bolt in a rain barrel all the way
to the bottom. I hope those Nice Government are adept at catching falling
knives. Japanese Yen looked a mite peakéd today. Dropped to 130.0c/Y100
(Y76.92/$), down 0.4% and right on its 20 dma (129.97). Look for another samurai
stroke from the NGM at the Bank of Japan. After rising four days running the Dow
today fell 119.96 points (1.03%) to 11,493.57. S&P lost 14.47 (1.19%) to
1,204.42. Mercy, mercy! I'm just a natural born fool from Tennessee and I don't
know nothing 'bout reading these charts, but looks like the Dow is having
trouble piercing 11,700. And although I know nothing and claim to know nothing,
that Dow chart looks like a completed A-B-C correction somebody told me about
once. If it is, Dow will plunge through 11,236 (20dma) soon and then keep on
falling so as to make your stomach flip. You will know that is NOT the case if
the Dow can overcome 11,700. BWDIK? STOCKS -- the greased rails on the slide to
perdition. WARNING AND DISCLAIMER. Be advised and warned: Do NOT use these
commentaries to trade futures contracts. I don't intend them for that or write
them with that short term trading outlook. I write them for long-term investors
in physical metals. Take them as entertainment, but not as a timing service for
futures. NOR do I recommend investing in gold or silver Exchange Trade Funds
(ETFs). Those are NOT physical metal and I fear one day one or another may go up
in smoke. Unless you can breathe smoke, stay away. Call me paranoid, but the
surviving rabbit is wary of traps. NOR do I recommend trading futures options or
other leveraged paper gold and silver products. These are not for the
inexperienced. NOR do I recommend buying gold and silver on margin or with debt.
What DO I recommend? Physical gold and silver coins and bars in your own hands.
One final warning: NEVER insert a 747 Jumbo Jet up your nose. Y'all enjoy your
holiday! Argentum et aurum comparenda sunt -- -- Gold and silver must be bought.
- Franklin Sanders, The Moneychanger The-MoneyChanger.com © 2011, The
Moneychanger. May not be republished in any form, including electronically,
without our express permission. To avoid confusion, please remember that the
comments above have a very short time horizon. Always invest with the primary
trend. Gold's primary trend is up, targeting at least $3,130.00; silver's
primary is up targeting 16:1 gold/silver ratio or $195.66; stocks' primary trend
is down, targeting Dow under 2,900 and worth only one ounce of gold; US$ or
US$-denominated assets, primary trend down; real estate in a bubble, primary
trend way down. Whenever I write "Stay out of stocks" readers inevitably ask,
"Do you mean precious metals mining stocks, too?" No, I don't.
31.90 or 1.8% Silver Price Close Today : 4148.2 Silver Price Close 26-Aug :
4095.2 Change : 53.00 or 1.3% Gold Silver Ratio Today : 44.019 Gold Silver Ratio
26-Aug : 43.810 Change : 0.21 or 0.5% Silver Gold Ratio : 0.02272 Silver Gold
Ratio 26-Aug : 0.02283 Change : -0.00011 or -0.5% Dow in Gold Dollars : $ 130.12
Dow in Gold Dollars 26-Aug : $ 130.02 Change : $ 0.09 or 0.1% Dow in Gold Ounces
: 6.294 Dow in Gold Ounces 26-Aug : 6.290 Change : 0.00 or 0.1% Dow in Silver
Ounces : 277.07 Dow in Silver Ounces 26-Aug : 275.56 Change : 1.52 or 0.6% Dow
Industrial : 11,493.57 Dow Industrial 26-Aug : 11,284.54 Change : 209.03 or 1.9%
S&P 500 : 1,204.42 S&P 500 26-Aug : 1,176.80 Change : 27.62 or 2.3% US Dollar
Index : 74.541 US Dollar Index 26-Aug : 73.710 Change : 0.831 or 1.1% Platinum
Price Close Today : 1,854.00 Platinum Price Close 26-Aug : 1,832.70 Change :
21.30 or 1.2% Palladium Price Close Today : 784.35 Palladium Price Close 26-Aug
: 762.00 Change : 22.35 or 2.9% Tomorrow afternoon I've got to help with Hoedown
preparations, so I am sending out this weekly summary today. By the way, I will
also be vacationing from 9 September through 18 September, and won't be sending
commentaries then, either. I'll miss y'all, but I've earned a vacation and can't
take y'all with me. goldprice.org will be providing daily price summaries like
the above table during this time. Y'all, the GOLD PRICE closed down today $2.50
on Comex at $1,826, but with a $15 range that sayeth not a word. It has held
above $1,810, hugging onto $1,825 like it was a free teddy bear and gold was
three years old. Everybody's loathe to take a position before the weekend. As my
old friend Tyrone Pulley used to say, "You put enough of that fertilizer out
there and hit'll SOMETHIN' come up." I fell that way about next week. The
fertilizer's all been spread through August, now September is about to break and
all the Euro-crats will come back from their August vacation and "hit'll
somethin' come up." You watch. Wouldn't surprise me if part of that something
wasn't much higher gold, through $1,840 and $1,850 and knocking on $1,900 again.
That SILVER PRICE was as sleepy as gold today, trading in a tight band from
4180c to 4113c, practically dead in the water. Comex lost 21.7c to close
4148.2c. To confirm that it is rallying, silver needs to close through 4200c
first, then 4400c. I remind y'all that silver remains in an uptrend since
mid-May. Proverb says, "A trend in force remains in force until violated."
'Tain't been violated yet. Save they close below $1,800 and 3900c, gold and
silver will reach new highs in September. Get out of their way. I reckon nobody
much came to work today, or they left their ambition at home. Except for stocks
falling out of bed and the dollar jumping, things were flat. Nobody wants to
carry a position over the weekend. 'Tis instructive that the current Great
Prevaricator has to scratch and bite with the Speaker of the House to be allowed
to speak to congress. Instructive, too, that he will be the warm-up act for the
first NFL game. I don't know what it will take, but I for one will be glad when
the adults are in charge once again. But ponder! What exactly could or might
Bernard O'Bama say that would make a difference? That he will patty-pat at the
problem with another stimulus that sends $1000 checks to everybody to buy big
screen TVs with? That he has no clue what time zone he is in, let alone what
hemisphere or what the US economy needs? Neither he nor the Bernancubus know as
much about the economy or statecraft as a hog knows about a sidesaddle. You have
to say one thing for tyrants like Franklin Roosevelt: at least they don't
dither. They walk right in the front door and stole the family silver, and dare
you to say nay. This lot today, American and European, don't even rank as high
as midgets. Mercy, they don't rank as high as WARTS. Let us think about
currencies -- fiat currencies. Let's not think about them too long, however,
lest the resulting nausea mess up our wastebaskets. The US dollar today ALMOST
broke out of the very tight range that has imprisoned it, 73.50 - 74.50. I say
"almost" because it is now trading at 74.541, up 42.4 basis points (0.55%), but
that's not quite a break out, now is it? Needs to close above the 50 dma (74.55
) tomorrow at least, and push on toward the top of the larger range, 75.452. The
Bundestag, the German parliament, is balking about picking up the tab for these
Euro sovereign debt bailouts. They'd better straighten up or their banker bosses
will show them who they really work for. Also the catchily named
Bundesverfassungsgeright, the German high court charged with protecting the
German constitution, is hearing arguments that German participation in the
European bail out fund is unconstitutional. Let us say that this uncertainty
casts a dark pall over the face of the euro's future, and that showed in the
market today. The Franken-currency gapped down again, twinning with two days
ago, but worse today. It gapped down plumb past its 20 dma (1.4360) and its 50
dma (1.4315) to close at 1.4260, down 0.83%. Owch. Were it a natural and not a
manipulated market, it would sink like a lag bolt in a rain barrel all the way
to the bottom. I hope those Nice Government are adept at catching falling
knives. Japanese Yen looked a mite peakéd today. Dropped to 130.0c/Y100
(Y76.92/$), down 0.4% and right on its 20 dma (129.97). Look for another samurai
stroke from the NGM at the Bank of Japan. After rising four days running the Dow
today fell 119.96 points (1.03%) to 11,493.57. S&P lost 14.47 (1.19%) to
1,204.42. Mercy, mercy! I'm just a natural born fool from Tennessee and I don't
know nothing 'bout reading these charts, but looks like the Dow is having
trouble piercing 11,700. And although I know nothing and claim to know nothing,
that Dow chart looks like a completed A-B-C correction somebody told me about
once. If it is, Dow will plunge through 11,236 (20dma) soon and then keep on
falling so as to make your stomach flip. You will know that is NOT the case if
the Dow can overcome 11,700. BWDIK? STOCKS -- the greased rails on the slide to
perdition. WARNING AND DISCLAIMER. Be advised and warned: Do NOT use these
commentaries to trade futures contracts. I don't intend them for that or write
them with that short term trading outlook. I write them for long-term investors
in physical metals. Take them as entertainment, but not as a timing service for
futures. NOR do I recommend investing in gold or silver Exchange Trade Funds
(ETFs). Those are NOT physical metal and I fear one day one or another may go up
in smoke. Unless you can breathe smoke, stay away. Call me paranoid, but the
surviving rabbit is wary of traps. NOR do I recommend trading futures options or
other leveraged paper gold and silver products. These are not for the
inexperienced. NOR do I recommend buying gold and silver on margin or with debt.
What DO I recommend? Physical gold and silver coins and bars in your own hands.
One final warning: NEVER insert a 747 Jumbo Jet up your nose. Y'all enjoy your
holiday! Argentum et aurum comparenda sunt -- -- Gold and silver must be bought.
- Franklin Sanders, The Moneychanger The-MoneyChanger.com © 2011, The
Moneychanger. May not be republished in any form, including electronically,
without our express permission. To avoid confusion, please remember that the
comments above have a very short time horizon. Always invest with the primary
trend. Gold's primary trend is up, targeting at least $3,130.00; silver's
primary is up targeting 16:1 gold/silver ratio or $195.66; stocks' primary trend
is down, targeting Dow under 2,900 and worth only one ounce of gold; US$ or
US$-denominated assets, primary trend down; real estate in a bubble, primary
trend way down. Whenever I write "Stay out of stocks" readers inevitably ask,
"Do you mean precious metals mining stocks, too?" No, I don't.
Royal Gold Shines as a Covered-Call Play
Now that the market has recouped some of its losses over the last couple of
months, it might be easier to find potential covered-call candidates. The
strategy is to buy a stock (or already own the stock) and sell a call option
against the stock position. A covered call is generally used to generate
additional income for a stock position. Another benefit of a covered call is
that it's like buying the stock at a discount because of the credit received
from the short call. Royal Gold (NASDAQ: RGLD ) looks like a splendid candidate.
The company owns and manages interests in precious metals in 14 countries. The
company just had its best quarter since the beginning of 2008 and looks to
hopefully improve on that next quarter. RGLD has been a steady performer over
the last several months with gold prices rising. Over the last week and a half,
the stock has risen about $10. With the market attempting to rally, gold prices
might just take a breather from going higher, which, in turn, might cause gold
companies like RGLD to take a breather or go sideways as well. If that's the
case, selling the call will generate some income if the stock doesn't rise.
The Trade: Buy 100 shares of RGLD at $75.70 and sell October 80 call at $2.75
Cost of the stock: 100 x $76.70 = $7,670 debit Premium received: 100 x $2.75 =
$275 credit Maximum profit: $605 that's $330 ($80 – $76.70 x 100) from the
stock and $275 from the premium received if RGLD finishes at or above $80 at
October expiration. Break-even: If RGLD finishes at $73.95 ($76.70 – $2.75) at
October expiration. Maximum loss: $7,395 if RGLD goes to $0 @ expiration. The
main objective for a covered-call strategy is for the stock to rise up to the
sold call's strike price, which in this case, is $80. The stock moves up the
maximum amount with being called away, and the sold call expires worthless. If
RGLD just zooms past $80 and looks like it's not going to slow down, then the
call that was previously sold (October 80) can be bought back and a higher
strike can be sold to start the covered-call strategy again. This will allow the
stock to remain in the portfolio and also give the position a chance to increase
its return. Remember: no matter how much the stock goes above $80 at expiration,
the maximum profit is capped because of the call that was sold at the 80 strike.
If RGLD does go sideways or drops in price from where the trade was entered,
selling the call option in essence lowered the cost of the stock by $2.75 a
share. The trade now has a lower break-even point. Every trade should have
defined risk and loss parameters in place even if the trader or investor is just
"paper trading."
months, it might be easier to find potential covered-call candidates. The
strategy is to buy a stock (or already own the stock) and sell a call option
against the stock position. A covered call is generally used to generate
additional income for a stock position. Another benefit of a covered call is
that it's like buying the stock at a discount because of the credit received
from the short call. Royal Gold (NASDAQ: RGLD ) looks like a splendid candidate.
The company owns and manages interests in precious metals in 14 countries. The
company just had its best quarter since the beginning of 2008 and looks to
hopefully improve on that next quarter. RGLD has been a steady performer over
the last several months with gold prices rising. Over the last week and a half,
the stock has risen about $10. With the market attempting to rally, gold prices
might just take a breather from going higher, which, in turn, might cause gold
companies like RGLD to take a breather or go sideways as well. If that's the
case, selling the call will generate some income if the stock doesn't rise.
The Trade: Buy 100 shares of RGLD at $75.70 and sell October 80 call at $2.75
Cost of the stock: 100 x $76.70 = $7,670 debit Premium received: 100 x $2.75 =
$275 credit Maximum profit: $605 that's $330 ($80 – $76.70 x 100) from the
stock and $275 from the premium received if RGLD finishes at or above $80 at
October expiration. Break-even: If RGLD finishes at $73.95 ($76.70 – $2.75) at
October expiration. Maximum loss: $7,395 if RGLD goes to $0 @ expiration. The
main objective for a covered-call strategy is for the stock to rise up to the
sold call's strike price, which in this case, is $80. The stock moves up the
maximum amount with being called away, and the sold call expires worthless. If
RGLD just zooms past $80 and looks like it's not going to slow down, then the
call that was previously sold (October 80) can be bought back and a higher
strike can be sold to start the covered-call strategy again. This will allow the
stock to remain in the portfolio and also give the position a chance to increase
its return. Remember: no matter how much the stock goes above $80 at expiration,
the maximum profit is capped because of the call that was sold at the 80 strike.
If RGLD does go sideways or drops in price from where the trade was entered,
selling the call option in essence lowered the cost of the stock by $2.75 a
share. The trade now has a lower break-even point. Every trade should have
defined risk and loss parameters in place even if the trader or investor is just
"paper trading."
Top 10 Fastest-Growing Real Estate Stocks: EJ, CRIC, MOVE, SYSW, CBG, LOOP, JLL, FSRV, HPP, WD (Sep 01, 2011)
Below are the top 10 fastest-growing Real Estate stocks, based on the average
long-term earnings growth rate estimated by Wall Street analysts. Three Chinese
companies (EJ, CRIC, SYSW) are on the list. E-House (China) Holdings Limited
(ADR) (NYSE:EJ) is the 1st fastest-growing stock in this segment of the market.
Its long-term annual EPS growth is expected to be 30.5%. This number is based on
the average estimate of 3 brokerage analyst(s). China Real Estate Information
Corp (NASDAQ:CRIC) is the 2nd fastest-growing stock in this segment of the
market. Its long-term annual EPS growth is expected to be 25.7%. This number is
based on the average estimate of 3 brokerage analyst(s). Move Inc. (NASDAQ:MOVE)
is the 3rd fastest-growing stock in this segment of the market. Its long-term
annual EPS growth is expected to be 25.0%. This number is based on the average
estimate of 3 brokerage analyst(s). Syswin Inc (ADR) (NYSE:SYSW) is the 4th
fastest-growing stock in this segment of the market. Its long-term annual EPS
growth is expected to be 18.7%. This number is based on the average estimate of
3 brokerage analyst(s). CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBG) is the 5th
fastest-growing stock in this segment of the market. Its long-term annual EPS
growth is expected to be 16.9%. This number is based on the average estimate of
6 brokerage analyst(s). LoopNet, Inc. (NASDAQ:LOOP) is the 6th fastest-growing
stock in this segment of the market. Its long-term annual EPS growth is expected
to be 16.8%. This number is based on the average estimate of 4 brokerage
analyst(s). Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated (NYSE:JLL) is the 7th
fastest-growing stock in this segment of the market. Its long-term annual EPS
growth is expected to be 16.0%. This number is based on the average estimate of
4 brokerage analyst(s). FirstService Corporation (USA) (NASDAQ:FSRV) is the 8th
fastest-growing stock in this segment of the market. Its long-term annual EPS
growth is expected to be 14.0%. This number is based on the average estimate of
3 brokerage analyst(s). Hudson Pacific Properties Inc (NYSE:HPP) is the 9th
fastest-growing stock in this segment of the market. Its long-term annual EPS
growth is expected to be 13.9%. This number is based on the average estimate of
3 brokerage analyst(s). Walker & Dunlop, Inc. (NYSE:WD) is the 10th
fastest-growing stock in this segment of the market. Its long-term annual EPS
growth is expected to be 11.0%. This number is based on the average estimate of
3 brokerage analyst(s).
long-term earnings growth rate estimated by Wall Street analysts. Three Chinese
companies (EJ, CRIC, SYSW) are on the list. E-House (China) Holdings Limited
(ADR) (NYSE:EJ) is the 1st fastest-growing stock in this segment of the market.
Its long-term annual EPS growth is expected to be 30.5%. This number is based on
the average estimate of 3 brokerage analyst(s). China Real Estate Information
Corp (NASDAQ:CRIC) is the 2nd fastest-growing stock in this segment of the
market. Its long-term annual EPS growth is expected to be 25.7%. This number is
based on the average estimate of 3 brokerage analyst(s). Move Inc. (NASDAQ:MOVE)
is the 3rd fastest-growing stock in this segment of the market. Its long-term
annual EPS growth is expected to be 25.0%. This number is based on the average
estimate of 3 brokerage analyst(s). Syswin Inc (ADR) (NYSE:SYSW) is the 4th
fastest-growing stock in this segment of the market. Its long-term annual EPS
growth is expected to be 18.7%. This number is based on the average estimate of
3 brokerage analyst(s). CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBG) is the 5th
fastest-growing stock in this segment of the market. Its long-term annual EPS
growth is expected to be 16.9%. This number is based on the average estimate of
6 brokerage analyst(s). LoopNet, Inc. (NASDAQ:LOOP) is the 6th fastest-growing
stock in this segment of the market. Its long-term annual EPS growth is expected
to be 16.8%. This number is based on the average estimate of 4 brokerage
analyst(s). Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated (NYSE:JLL) is the 7th
fastest-growing stock in this segment of the market. Its long-term annual EPS
growth is expected to be 16.0%. This number is based on the average estimate of
4 brokerage analyst(s). FirstService Corporation (USA) (NASDAQ:FSRV) is the 8th
fastest-growing stock in this segment of the market. Its long-term annual EPS
growth is expected to be 14.0%. This number is based on the average estimate of
3 brokerage analyst(s). Hudson Pacific Properties Inc (NYSE:HPP) is the 9th
fastest-growing stock in this segment of the market. Its long-term annual EPS
growth is expected to be 13.9%. This number is based on the average estimate of
3 brokerage analyst(s). Walker & Dunlop, Inc. (NYSE:WD) is the 10th
fastest-growing stock in this segment of the market. Its long-term annual EPS
growth is expected to be 11.0%. This number is based on the average estimate of
3 brokerage analyst(s).
Enjoy the Calm Before the Storm
The last week of August is typically quiet, enlivened this year by fears or
hope of a repeat of the turmoil we saw in the first weeks of the month. That
turmoil has abated and everyone is asking the same questions: What happens with
higher volumes after Labor Day? What will the Fed discuss and decide in
mid-September? What will Obama say or not say in his Labor Day speech? What will
the German Parliament do when it reconvenes in mid-September. Each question
reflects on aspect of uncertainty in the market today – and all are tradable.
The Market: The volatility we saw in August should consistently repeat itself in
the next few weeks, but the CBOE Market Volatility Index (VIX) going above 40
and staying there is not something I think will happen. A great many positions
were unwound in August and new ones are being built at a measured pace. The
trade here? Consider buying puts on the iPath S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN
(NYSE: VXX ), the ETF for the VIX. The Fed: There is not much more the Fed can
do in the real world, but traders are relying on every word that even hints of
the potential to change policies with minimal impact on the economy. Many
analysts reading out-of-date textbooks most were physics majors anyway, they
know nothing of economics except what they hear from their equally ill-educated
peers on CNBC believe Fed policies will cause inflation. Given that home prices
are down 33% and China has more than enough unused capacity to manufacture
everything, including new economic textbooks so desperately needed, I find these
fears laughable. That being said, these people trade fear and they do that with
gold – buying it that is. The trade here are calls on the SPDR Gold Shares
(NYSE: GLD ) exchange-traded fund – which, for a moment a week or two ago, was
the most traded ETF in the world. Obama: He is in a jam created by a) a
willfully incompetent administration, in a fiscal sense, preceding him and b)
misunderstanding or ignoring the depth of the nation's economic ills and
having body language and words that is less than warm toward the business
community. Not to mention most people making a quarter of a million a year feel
anything but rich – they are not to be pitied, but their fear of tax hikes is
hurtful to the economy. He may offer big words on Monday but he will get nothing
past the House of Representatives that is aggressive or creative enough to make
a dent in the coming recession. The trade here? Short the banks. They are
flailing in the real world and falling in the stock market, and they have no
power to grow earnings. In addition, as the economy slips their balance sheets
will take more hits. And remember those toxic assets? They have not exactly
moved to Oz – plenty of writedowns to come from old assets that are bad, not
to mention the newer ones that will turn bad. You can buy puts on the Financial
Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLF ) exchange-traded fund or Citigroup (NYSE: C ), a
real mess of a company. Look at nothing past earnings announcements in October.
Europe: We are in great shape compared to Europe – we can always pay our bills
by printing money, and they will have to do the same. That means Germany either
a) ignores its own voters misplaced fears of inflation or b) modifies or breaks
up the eurozone. Do I exaggerate? The problem is not that Greek one-year bonds
yield near 60% (I did not add a zero by accident), the problem (and the French
head of the IMF agrees with me), is that European banks are woefully
undercapitalized, leveraged 40- or 50-to-1 in some cases, and they hold lots of
lousy sovereign as well as private debt. They need to be recapitalized, and this
can only happen with taxpayer money that is collected through taxes or by
printing money, something the European Central Bank can't do right now. Given
that headlines move things one way or another very quickly, look at longer term
puts on the big banking names – Deutsche Bank (NYSE: DB ) and Banco Santander
(NYSE: STD ), the biggest bank in Spain, which are staring at a real storm
headed their way.
hope of a repeat of the turmoil we saw in the first weeks of the month. That
turmoil has abated and everyone is asking the same questions: What happens with
higher volumes after Labor Day? What will the Fed discuss and decide in
mid-September? What will Obama say or not say in his Labor Day speech? What will
the German Parliament do when it reconvenes in mid-September. Each question
reflects on aspect of uncertainty in the market today – and all are tradable.
The Market: The volatility we saw in August should consistently repeat itself in
the next few weeks, but the CBOE Market Volatility Index (VIX) going above 40
and staying there is not something I think will happen. A great many positions
were unwound in August and new ones are being built at a measured pace. The
trade here? Consider buying puts on the iPath S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN
(NYSE: VXX ), the ETF for the VIX. The Fed: There is not much more the Fed can
do in the real world, but traders are relying on every word that even hints of
the potential to change policies with minimal impact on the economy. Many
analysts reading out-of-date textbooks most were physics majors anyway, they
know nothing of economics except what they hear from their equally ill-educated
peers on CNBC believe Fed policies will cause inflation. Given that home prices
are down 33% and China has more than enough unused capacity to manufacture
everything, including new economic textbooks so desperately needed, I find these
fears laughable. That being said, these people trade fear and they do that with
gold – buying it that is. The trade here are calls on the SPDR Gold Shares
(NYSE: GLD ) exchange-traded fund – which, for a moment a week or two ago, was
the most traded ETF in the world. Obama: He is in a jam created by a) a
willfully incompetent administration, in a fiscal sense, preceding him and b)
misunderstanding or ignoring the depth of the nation's economic ills and
having body language and words that is less than warm toward the business
community. Not to mention most people making a quarter of a million a year feel
anything but rich – they are not to be pitied, but their fear of tax hikes is
hurtful to the economy. He may offer big words on Monday but he will get nothing
past the House of Representatives that is aggressive or creative enough to make
a dent in the coming recession. The trade here? Short the banks. They are
flailing in the real world and falling in the stock market, and they have no
power to grow earnings. In addition, as the economy slips their balance sheets
will take more hits. And remember those toxic assets? They have not exactly
moved to Oz – plenty of writedowns to come from old assets that are bad, not
to mention the newer ones that will turn bad. You can buy puts on the Financial
Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLF ) exchange-traded fund or Citigroup (NYSE: C ), a
real mess of a company. Look at nothing past earnings announcements in October.
Europe: We are in great shape compared to Europe – we can always pay our bills
by printing money, and they will have to do the same. That means Germany either
a) ignores its own voters misplaced fears of inflation or b) modifies or breaks
up the eurozone. Do I exaggerate? The problem is not that Greek one-year bonds
yield near 60% (I did not add a zero by accident), the problem (and the French
head of the IMF agrees with me), is that European banks are woefully
undercapitalized, leveraged 40- or 50-to-1 in some cases, and they hold lots of
lousy sovereign as well as private debt. They need to be recapitalized, and this
can only happen with taxpayer money that is collected through taxes or by
printing money, something the European Central Bank can't do right now. Given
that headlines move things one way or another very quickly, look at longer term
puts on the big banking names – Deutsche Bank (NYSE: DB ) and Banco Santander
(NYSE: STD ), the biggest bank in Spain, which are staring at a real storm
headed their way.
Gold Futures Dip, Profit-Taking Ahead of the Weekend?
XCSFDHG46767FHJHJF
DG365FD46564GFH654FU898 Gold futures dipped on Thursday amid strength in the U.S. dollar following a better than expected ISM Manufacturing report. COMEX gold futures, per the December 2011 contract, settled slightly lower by $1.60, or 0.1%, at $1,829.10 per ounce. The yellow metal
Unemployment Benefits Claims; Data File Fewer Benefit Checks; DJIA Index DJX DJI Close Review Stock Market Today
XCSFDHG46767FHJHJF
dow2664 Some economic reports skewed positive today, but the primary stock indices were red overall for the session. Investors are still broadly worried about the health of the global economy as well as the state of the U.S. economy at home. The big jobs report is due out tomorrow as well and this is giving many pause. Investors are sidelined as they anticipate how the report tomorrow will play out and in the mean time, the DJIA , Nasdaq and S&P 500 all traveled the red road towards a negative close as the session approached final close this afternoon. Some good news posted today relating to initial jobless claims. According to the Labor Department, unemployment benefit claims dropped lower by 12,000 to 409,000 last week. This was a good sign and invoked optimism heading into tomorrow’s report on jobs. The positively skewed data has allowed many to believe that the economic data scheduled to post tomorrow might be better than expected. As the session wraps up today, the Dow Jones is still negative by more than 115 points at 11,497.77. Hopefully, the data tomorrow will be better and less Americans will be in need of unemployment benefits. Frank Matto
5 Stocks Under $5 That Insiders Love
XCSFDHG46767FHJHJF
tdp2664 InvestorPlace Penny stocks have a solid reputation for being a risky investment; however, if the potential rewards excite you, then the list below might provide an interesting starting point for your search. To create the following list, we took a universe of penny stocks (priced under $5 per share) and searched for names with a market cap over $300 million experiencing significant levels of insider buying over the past six months. Here are some of the things we looked at when compiling the list of penny stocks: Market Capitalization (Market Cap) : Market capitalization, commonly referred to as market cap, is the total market value of a company's outstanding shares. It can be thought of as a measure of a company's size. Market cap can be calculated by multiplying the number of shares by the current price of the shares. Companies with higher market cap are considered to have more trustworthy information because they have greater histories of profitability and data. Insider Trading: Many analysts follow insider buying trends because, after all, insiders know more about their companies than anyone else. Their investment activity is closely monitored and can tell us a lot about where they feel the business is heading. Insider buying is represented as a percentage of the share float. Companies experiencing insider buying over the past six months provide an indicator that insiders think the stock is undervalued at current levels. Inversely, insider selling serves as a negative indicator. Now that you're armed with information, take a look at the following list of penny stocks that insiders seem to think
Gold Price Per Ounce Today Silver PRice Per Ounce Spot gold per gram spot silver per ounce; DJIA Index DJX DJI Close
XCSFDHG46767FHJHJF
dow2664 Gold price per ounce rates closed out yesterday in the red and spent a majority of this day’s session trending on similar ground. The primary stock indices were red as well through the first half of the trading session today but a couple key economic reports skewed positive as the day progressed. Investors are still hesitant to position with riskier stocks at this point and are sitting on the fence ahead of tomorrow’s jobs report. As the session approached close, the primary stock indices in the U.S. were still moving in negative territory and gold prices were traveling lower as well. Specifically, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was lower by .82 percent at 11,518. Both gold and silver contracts were posting floor prices in the red at this point. Gold contract for December delivery was lower by .14 percent at 1829.10 per troy ounce. Silver contract for December delivery was lower by .57 percent at 41.53 per troy ounce. Spot gold and spot silver were also red at this point in the session. Spot gold price per gram was red by .17 at 58.62 and spot silver price per ounce was red by .23 at 41.46. Camillo Zucari
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) Gets Best Employer Honour
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has been rated as best employer for 2011.
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) Gets Best Employer Honour Microsoft
Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has again hit the headlines in South Africa, with the
Software giant being rated as the Best Employer in South Africa for 2011/12 by
the CRF Institute in its annual Best Employers Certification Index. Jabulani
Ndhlovu, HR Director of Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) SA (Pty) Ltd, said
that, "Consistent with the ideals of our founders, we aim to bring technology
to as many people as possible. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) South Africas
focus is that of enabling businesses and South Africa to realize its full
potential through innovative technologies. Our people and their potential are
key to our vision. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) looks for people who are
extremely passionate about technology and its ability to change the way the
world lives and works. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has been incredibly
successful in keeping our people vigorously engaged in this purpose. Microsoft
Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has big goals, dreams and aspirations for the future.
We have great products and services, but our great people are what make it all
come together so successfully". Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) stocks are
currently standing at 26.6. Price History Last Price: 26.6 52 Week Low / High:
23.54 / 29.46 50 Day Moving Average: 25.99 6 Month Price Change %: 2.0% 12 Month
Price Change %: 13.4%
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) Gets Best Employer Honour Microsoft
Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has again hit the headlines in South Africa, with the
Software giant being rated as the Best Employer in South Africa for 2011/12 by
the CRF Institute in its annual Best Employers Certification Index. Jabulani
Ndhlovu, HR Director of Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) SA (Pty) Ltd, said
that, "Consistent with the ideals of our founders, we aim to bring technology
to as many people as possible. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) South Africas
focus is that of enabling businesses and South Africa to realize its full
potential through innovative technologies. Our people and their potential are
key to our vision. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) looks for people who are
extremely passionate about technology and its ability to change the way the
world lives and works. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has been incredibly
successful in keeping our people vigorously engaged in this purpose. Microsoft
Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has big goals, dreams and aspirations for the future.
We have great products and services, but our great people are what make it all
come together so successfully". Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) stocks are
currently standing at 26.6. Price History Last Price: 26.6 52 Week Low / High:
23.54 / 29.46 50 Day Moving Average: 25.99 6 Month Price Change %: 2.0% 12 Month
Price Change %: 13.4%
Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) Shows Off Google Offers
Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) has upped its promotion of Google Offers on its home
page. Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) Shows Off Google Offers The online service
provider Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) is advertising its daily deal Google Offers
on its home page. The company first promoted $25 tickets to New York's
American Museum of Natural History for only $5. Google started the daily deal
business early this year. A Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) spokesman said, "We
occasionally include a link on the Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) homepage that
points users to important information, whether it be about a relevant cause, a
new product or an offer. Users can benefit from learning about great deals from
local organizations". Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) shares were at 540.96 at the
end of the last days trading. Theres been a 2.9% change in the stock price over
the past 3 months. Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) Analyst Advice Consensus Opinion:
Moderate Buy Mean recommendation: 1.24 (1=Strong Buy, 5=Strong Sell) 3 Months
Ago: 1.27 Zacks Rank: 5 out of 31 in the industry
page. Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) Shows Off Google Offers The online service
provider Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) is advertising its daily deal Google Offers
on its home page. The company first promoted $25 tickets to New York's
American Museum of Natural History for only $5. Google started the daily deal
business early this year. A Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) spokesman said, "We
occasionally include a link on the Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) homepage that
points users to important information, whether it be about a relevant cause, a
new product or an offer. Users can benefit from learning about great deals from
local organizations". Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) shares were at 540.96 at the
end of the last days trading. Theres been a 2.9% change in the stock price over
the past 3 months. Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) Analyst Advice Consensus Opinion:
Moderate Buy Mean recommendation: 1.24 (1=Strong Buy, 5=Strong Sell) 3 Months
Ago: 1.27 Zacks Rank: 5 out of 31 in the industry
Use Options to Play Gold’s Sideways Drift
In my recent article, The Next Step for Gold I laid out a thesis for rangebound
action coming home to roost in SPDR Gold Shares (NYSE: GLD ).
action coming home to roost in SPDR Gold Shares (NYSE: GLD ).
Top 10 Fastest-Growing Specialty Finance Stocks: CISG, TGH, BRO, TAL, WSH, FRF, AER, TCAP, MMC, AJG (Sep 01, 2011)
Below are the top 10 fastest-growing Specialty Finance stocks, based on the
average long-term earnings growth rate estimated by Wall Street analysts. One
Chinese company (CISG) is on the list. CNinsure Inc. (ADR) (NASDAQ:CISG) is the
1st fastest-growing stock in this segment of the market. Its long-term annual
EPS growth is expected to be 27.0%. This number is based on the average estimate
of 2 brokerage analyst(s). Textainer Group Holdings Limited (NYSE:TGH) is the
2nd fastest-growing stock in this segment of the market. Its long-term annual
EPS growth is expected to be 12.0%. This number is based on the average estimate
of 4 brokerage analyst(s). Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) is the 3rd
fastest-growing stock in this segment of the market. Its long-term annual EPS
growth is expected to be 11.7%. This number is based on the average estimate of
6 brokerage analyst(s). TAL International Group, Inc. (NYSE:TAL) is the 4th
fastest-growing stock in this segment of the market. Its long-term annual EPS
growth is expected to be 11.4%. This number is based on the average estimate of
5 brokerage analyst(s). Willis Group Holdings PLC (NYSE:WSH) is the 5th
fastest-growing stock in this segment of the market. Its long-term annual EPS
growth is expected to be 11.2%. This number is based on the average estimate of
7 brokerage analyst(s). Fortegra Financial Corp (NYSE:FRF) is the 6th
fastest-growing stock in this segment of the market. Its long-term annual EPS
growth is expected to be 11.0%. This number is based on the average estimate of
5 brokerage analyst(s). AerCap Holdings N.V. (NYSE:AER) is the 7th
fastest-growing stock in this segment of the market. Its long-term annual EPS
growth is expected to be 11.0%. This number is based on the average estimate of
2 brokerage analyst(s). Triangle Capital Corporation (NYSE:TCAP) is the 8th
fastest-growing stock in this segment of the market. Its long-term annual EPS
growth is expected to be 10.0%. This number is based on the average estimate of
2 brokerage analyst(s). Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC) is the 9th
fastest-growing stock in this segment of the market. Its long-term annual EPS
growth is expected to be 9.6%. This number is based on the average estimate of 6
brokerage analyst(s). Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG) is the 10th
fastest-growing stock in this segment of the market. Its long-term annual EPS
growth is expected to be 9.3%. This number is based on the average estimate of 7
brokerage analyst(s).
average long-term earnings growth rate estimated by Wall Street analysts. One
Chinese company (CISG) is on the list. CNinsure Inc. (ADR) (NASDAQ:CISG) is the
1st fastest-growing stock in this segment of the market. Its long-term annual
EPS growth is expected to be 27.0%. This number is based on the average estimate
of 2 brokerage analyst(s). Textainer Group Holdings Limited (NYSE:TGH) is the
2nd fastest-growing stock in this segment of the market. Its long-term annual
EPS growth is expected to be 12.0%. This number is based on the average estimate
of 4 brokerage analyst(s). Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) is the 3rd
fastest-growing stock in this segment of the market. Its long-term annual EPS
growth is expected to be 11.7%. This number is based on the average estimate of
6 brokerage analyst(s). TAL International Group, Inc. (NYSE:TAL) is the 4th
fastest-growing stock in this segment of the market. Its long-term annual EPS
growth is expected to be 11.4%. This number is based on the average estimate of
5 brokerage analyst(s). Willis Group Holdings PLC (NYSE:WSH) is the 5th
fastest-growing stock in this segment of the market. Its long-term annual EPS
growth is expected to be 11.2%. This number is based on the average estimate of
7 brokerage analyst(s). Fortegra Financial Corp (NYSE:FRF) is the 6th
fastest-growing stock in this segment of the market. Its long-term annual EPS
growth is expected to be 11.0%. This number is based on the average estimate of
5 brokerage analyst(s). AerCap Holdings N.V. (NYSE:AER) is the 7th
fastest-growing stock in this segment of the market. Its long-term annual EPS
growth is expected to be 11.0%. This number is based on the average estimate of
2 brokerage analyst(s). Triangle Capital Corporation (NYSE:TCAP) is the 8th
fastest-growing stock in this segment of the market. Its long-term annual EPS
growth is expected to be 10.0%. This number is based on the average estimate of
2 brokerage analyst(s). Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC) is the 9th
fastest-growing stock in this segment of the market. Its long-term annual EPS
growth is expected to be 9.6%. This number is based on the average estimate of 6
brokerage analyst(s). Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG) is the 10th
fastest-growing stock in this segment of the market. Its long-term annual EPS
growth is expected to be 9.3%. This number is based on the average estimate of 7
brokerage analyst(s).
The TouchPad Lives: What Does HP Do Next?
Apple s (NASDAQ: AAPL ) iPad has so far beaten all entrants into the tablet PC
race to such an extent that Apple has literally started preventing the sale of
competing tablets in countries around the world. But that isnt stopping hopeful
companies from throwing their own products out there hoping to find success. On
Sunday, HTC will release the HTC Jetstream, a 10-inch tablet. Sony (NYSE: SNE )
released not one but two tablets the familiar S1 and the odd clamshell-shaped
S2 on Wednesday in Tokyo and Berlin, with plans to release them around the
world through September. All of these devices fall in the $499-to-$599 price
window established by Apple. They likely will be outsold by the iPad by a wide
enough margin to kill them. Or maybe not. If Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ ) has
proven anything in the past month, its that a tablet doesnt have to die, even
when it fails. As of Thursday, the TouchPad is back in production. The storys
been told often over the past two weeks: The TouchPad tablet, developed by 2010
acquisition Palm and running the proprietary webOS operating system, sold so
poorly after releasing in July that HP announced it would exit the tablet and
smartphone markets entirely. The company set aside $100 million to compensate
miffed retailers like Best Buy (NYSE: BBY ) for stocking the device, and said
retailers began liquidating existing TouchPad stock at prices less than
one-fifth of what it released at. Then something unexpected happened: The
TouchPad sold out. Now hints made by the head of HPs PC division Todd Bradley
that his company was perhaps hasty in announcing its full departure from the
tablet business have turned out to be true. HP released a statement that it will
be manufacturing a limited quantity of TouchPads with webOS during our fourth
fiscal quarter, which ends October 31. Sterne Agee analyst Shaw Wu told All
Things Digital on Thursday that his sources within HPs supply chain indicate the
new TouchPad push is less an attempt to seize on consumer interest and more an
effort to appease production partners that were expecting to make a whole lot
more TouchPads before it crashed and burned at market. "This makes sense as it
is not in HP's interest to alienate the supply chain base and the company may
not lose as much money as it is bringing in some revenue as opposed to taking a
full write-down on commitments with no revenue," Wu said. A cautious business
maneuver or not, HP now has momentum with consumers on its side. What should it
do now? Fortunately for HP and its shareholders, its already made the necessary
first step: keeping the TouchPad brand present. Consumers love an underdog and
that identity, plus the $99 price point, have helped make HPs tablet a quiet hit
at the end of the summer. All HP has to do between now and 2012 is keep
extending slight production runs not flooding the market, just keeping the
devices following alive into 2012. By early next year, HP needs to find a way to
reconfigure its tablet so that it costs much less to produce. If it means taking
a hit on the tablets specifications a bit less memory, a slightly slower
processor it will be worth it to keep the list price below $200. HP then needs
to show this reconfigured TouchPad off at the Consumer Electronics Show in
January and release it by February, just ahead of the time frame Apple is
expected to deliver the iPad 3. Its rare to get a second lease on life in the
technology space. HP would be foolish to waste its opportunity. As of this
writing, Anthony John Agnello did not own a position in any of the stocks named
here. Follow him on Twitter at
race to such an extent that Apple has literally started preventing the sale of
competing tablets in countries around the world. But that isnt stopping hopeful
companies from throwing their own products out there hoping to find success. On
Sunday, HTC will release the HTC Jetstream, a 10-inch tablet. Sony (NYSE: SNE )
released not one but two tablets the familiar S1 and the odd clamshell-shaped
S2 on Wednesday in Tokyo and Berlin, with plans to release them around the
world through September. All of these devices fall in the $499-to-$599 price
window established by Apple. They likely will be outsold by the iPad by a wide
enough margin to kill them. Or maybe not. If Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ ) has
proven anything in the past month, its that a tablet doesnt have to die, even
when it fails. As of Thursday, the TouchPad is back in production. The storys
been told often over the past two weeks: The TouchPad tablet, developed by 2010
acquisition Palm and running the proprietary webOS operating system, sold so
poorly after releasing in July that HP announced it would exit the tablet and
smartphone markets entirely. The company set aside $100 million to compensate
miffed retailers like Best Buy (NYSE: BBY ) for stocking the device, and said
retailers began liquidating existing TouchPad stock at prices less than
one-fifth of what it released at. Then something unexpected happened: The
TouchPad sold out. Now hints made by the head of HPs PC division Todd Bradley
that his company was perhaps hasty in announcing its full departure from the
tablet business have turned out to be true. HP released a statement that it will
be manufacturing a limited quantity of TouchPads with webOS during our fourth
fiscal quarter, which ends October 31. Sterne Agee analyst Shaw Wu told All
Things Digital on Thursday that his sources within HPs supply chain indicate the
new TouchPad push is less an attempt to seize on consumer interest and more an
effort to appease production partners that were expecting to make a whole lot
more TouchPads before it crashed and burned at market. "This makes sense as it
is not in HP's interest to alienate the supply chain base and the company may
not lose as much money as it is bringing in some revenue as opposed to taking a
full write-down on commitments with no revenue," Wu said. A cautious business
maneuver or not, HP now has momentum with consumers on its side. What should it
do now? Fortunately for HP and its shareholders, its already made the necessary
first step: keeping the TouchPad brand present. Consumers love an underdog and
that identity, plus the $99 price point, have helped make HPs tablet a quiet hit
at the end of the summer. All HP has to do between now and 2012 is keep
extending slight production runs not flooding the market, just keeping the
devices following alive into 2012. By early next year, HP needs to find a way to
reconfigure its tablet so that it costs much less to produce. If it means taking
a hit on the tablets specifications a bit less memory, a slightly slower
processor it will be worth it to keep the list price below $200. HP then needs
to show this reconfigured TouchPad off at the Consumer Electronics Show in
January and release it by February, just ahead of the time frame Apple is
expected to deliver the iPad 3. Its rare to get a second lease on life in the
technology space. HP would be foolish to waste its opportunity. As of this
writing, Anthony John Agnello did not own a position in any of the stocks named
here. Follow him on Twitter at
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) Suffers Newspaper Blow
The Financial Times has removed its apps from Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)'s App
Store. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) Suffers Newspaper Blow The Financial Times
newspaper has removed its apps for iPhone and iPad from Apple Inc.
(NASDAQ:AAPL)'s App store after the companies failed to reach a compromise on
new subscription terms. The FT apps now directs readers to its own web app which
allows them to work according to Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)'s new terms. Apple
Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) recently put forward some new terms including the requirement
that digital contents must be sold through its iTune stores, which allows the
company to collect customers' valuable data. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) shares
were at 384.83 at the end of the last days trading. Theres been a 11.4% movement
in the stock price over the past 3 months. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) Analyst
Advice Consensus Opinion: Moderate Buy Mean recommendation: 1.23 (1=Strong Buy,
5=Strong Sell) 3 Months Ago: 1.22 Zacks Rank: 1 out of 2 in the industry
Store. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) Suffers Newspaper Blow The Financial Times
newspaper has removed its apps for iPhone and iPad from Apple Inc.
(NASDAQ:AAPL)'s App store after the companies failed to reach a compromise on
new subscription terms. The FT apps now directs readers to its own web app which
allows them to work according to Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)'s new terms. Apple
Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) recently put forward some new terms including the requirement
that digital contents must be sold through its iTune stores, which allows the
company to collect customers' valuable data. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) shares
were at 384.83 at the end of the last days trading. Theres been a 11.4% movement
in the stock price over the past 3 months. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) Analyst
Advice Consensus Opinion: Moderate Buy Mean recommendation: 1.23 (1=Strong Buy,
5=Strong Sell) 3 Months Ago: 1.22 Zacks Rank: 1 out of 2 in the industry
Gold Futures Dip, Profit-Taking Ahead of the Weekend?
Gold futures dipped on Thursday amid strength in the U.S. dollar following a
better than expected ISM Manufacturing report. COMEX gold futures, per the
December 2011 contract, settled slightly lower by $1.60, or 0.1%, at $1,829.10
per ounce. The yellow metal
better than expected ISM Manufacturing report. COMEX gold futures, per the
December 2011 contract, settled slightly lower by $1.60, or 0.1%, at $1,829.10
per ounce. The yellow metal
Can Motion Control Get Consumers Interested in TV Again?
In 2005, video game maker Nintendo (PINK: NTDOY ) revealed the controller to
its Wii game machine, a wand-like device with just a few simple buttons on it.
The real hooks of the controller were that it could sense peoples movements, and
also work essentially as a mouse for a television screen, letting users point
and click. It was simple and meant to be held vertically, designed to be
inviting and familiar to audiences used to holding a simple remote after decades
of watching television. Six years later, televisions are mimicking the Wii
living room audiences will be pointing at their televisions to pick options and
gesturing to navigate menus from here on out. Hillcrest Labs, a developer of
motion-control technologies, announced a whole new line of products on Wednesday
that herald how televisions will change in the coming years. The Scoop Pointer
remote control is itself not unlike a Wii controller an in-air mouse that lets
you point at options on television or a PC and connects through a USB dongle.
The controller, of course, also would be coupled with the Freespace MotionEngine
and Fresspace Sensor Modules, the technology that set-top box manufacturers that
work closely with cable companies will incorporate into their devices to provide
motion control. For example, Motorola (NYSE: MMI ) could license the Freespace
technology for its cable set-top, boxes meaning Time Warner (NYSE: TWX ) and
Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA ) could then offer motion-controlled video games as part
of a cable service package. Rokus digital video set-top box, which offers
streaming services like Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX ), already use Hillcrests
motion-control technology for both its TV interface and games like Rovios Angry
Birds . Internet television hasnt gone mainstream just yet, but that stands to
change in the next 12 months . Logitech (NASDAQ: LOGI ), another Hillcrest
partner, and Google (NASDAQ: GOOG ) tried and failed in 2010 to bring television
that uses a web browser style of accessing content to the masses. How people
interact with that sort of interface, using a more intuitive and natural feeling
device, will go a long way toward easing the adoption of Internet television.
Whats standing in the way right now? For one, television sales are in the
gutter. According to Nielsen, just 66% of U.S. homes have bothered to upgrade to
an HD TV . Television manufacturers like Sony (NYSE: SNE ) and Panasonic (NYSE:
PC ), meanwhile, are pushing hard to sell not just HD TVs but 3D TVs, which
consumers are disinterested in. If new motion-control technology from Hillcrest
(which already works with Sonys video game division) or another company adds an
extra cost to actual television sets, it will be as ignored as any other new
feature. If motion control is just an added bonus, consumers should respond. The
other difficulty is the conflict between cable providers and web-based streaming
alternatives like Netflix. Cable companies, streaming television companies and
television content providers are in the midst of a nasty power battle. Cable
companies are losing subscribers 32% of cable subscribers that responded to a
Diffusion Group Survey said they plan to cut down cable service because of
services like Netflix. Companies like Time Warner, in turn, are rushing to offer
their own streaming options beyond the living room but, as a result, content
providers like Viacom (NYSE: VIA ) are miffed about their wares being spread
over disparate services (though Viacom is adapting fast ). Until this conflict
smooths out and it becomes clear what customers are watching what television on
what platform, new technologies like motion-control interfaces are going to take
a back seat to control of content. But for investors curious about the future of
living room entertainment, Hillcrests new toys offer more than a sneak peak. As
of this writing, Anthony John Agnello did not own a position in any of the
stocks named here. Follow him on Twitter at
its Wii game machine, a wand-like device with just a few simple buttons on it.
The real hooks of the controller were that it could sense peoples movements, and
also work essentially as a mouse for a television screen, letting users point
and click. It was simple and meant to be held vertically, designed to be
inviting and familiar to audiences used to holding a simple remote after decades
of watching television. Six years later, televisions are mimicking the Wii
living room audiences will be pointing at their televisions to pick options and
gesturing to navigate menus from here on out. Hillcrest Labs, a developer of
motion-control technologies, announced a whole new line of products on Wednesday
that herald how televisions will change in the coming years. The Scoop Pointer
remote control is itself not unlike a Wii controller an in-air mouse that lets
you point at options on television or a PC and connects through a USB dongle.
The controller, of course, also would be coupled with the Freespace MotionEngine
and Fresspace Sensor Modules, the technology that set-top box manufacturers that
work closely with cable companies will incorporate into their devices to provide
motion control. For example, Motorola (NYSE: MMI ) could license the Freespace
technology for its cable set-top, boxes meaning Time Warner (NYSE: TWX ) and
Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA ) could then offer motion-controlled video games as part
of a cable service package. Rokus digital video set-top box, which offers
streaming services like Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX ), already use Hillcrests
motion-control technology for both its TV interface and games like Rovios Angry
Birds . Internet television hasnt gone mainstream just yet, but that stands to
change in the next 12 months . Logitech (NASDAQ: LOGI ), another Hillcrest
partner, and Google (NASDAQ: GOOG ) tried and failed in 2010 to bring television
that uses a web browser style of accessing content to the masses. How people
interact with that sort of interface, using a more intuitive and natural feeling
device, will go a long way toward easing the adoption of Internet television.
Whats standing in the way right now? For one, television sales are in the
gutter. According to Nielsen, just 66% of U.S. homes have bothered to upgrade to
an HD TV . Television manufacturers like Sony (NYSE: SNE ) and Panasonic (NYSE:
PC ), meanwhile, are pushing hard to sell not just HD TVs but 3D TVs, which
consumers are disinterested in. If new motion-control technology from Hillcrest
(which already works with Sonys video game division) or another company adds an
extra cost to actual television sets, it will be as ignored as any other new
feature. If motion control is just an added bonus, consumers should respond. The
other difficulty is the conflict between cable providers and web-based streaming
alternatives like Netflix. Cable companies, streaming television companies and
television content providers are in the midst of a nasty power battle. Cable
companies are losing subscribers 32% of cable subscribers that responded to a
Diffusion Group Survey said they plan to cut down cable service because of
services like Netflix. Companies like Time Warner, in turn, are rushing to offer
their own streaming options beyond the living room but, as a result, content
providers like Viacom (NYSE: VIA ) are miffed about their wares being spread
over disparate services (though Viacom is adapting fast ). Until this conflict
smooths out and it becomes clear what customers are watching what television on
what platform, new technologies like motion-control interfaces are going to take
a back seat to control of content. But for investors curious about the future of
living room entertainment, Hillcrests new toys offer more than a sneak peak. As
of this writing, Anthony John Agnello did not own a position in any of the
stocks named here. Follow him on Twitter at
Unemployment Benefits Claims; Data File Fewer Benefit Checks; DJIA Index DJX DJI Close Review Stock Market Today
Some economic reports skewed positive today, but the primary stock indices were
red overall for the session. Investors are still broadly worried about the
health of the global economy as well as the state of the U.S. economy at home.
The big jobs report is due out tomorrow as well and this is giving many pause.
Investors are sidelined as they anticipate how the report tomorrow will play out
and in the mean time, the DJIA, Nasdaq and S&P 500 all traveled the red road
towards a negative close as the session approached final close this afternoon.
Some good news posted today relating to initial jobless claims. According to the
Labor Department, unemployment benefit claims dropped lower by 12,000 to 409,000
last week. This was a good sign and invoked optimism heading into tomorrows
report on jobs. The positively skewed data has allowed many to believe that the
economic data scheduled to post tomorrow might be better than expected. As the
session wraps up today, the Dow Jones is still negative by more than 115 points
at 11,497.77. Hopefully, the data tomorrow will be better and less Americans
will be in need of unemployment benefits. Frank Matto
red overall for the session. Investors are still broadly worried about the
health of the global economy as well as the state of the U.S. economy at home.
The big jobs report is due out tomorrow as well and this is giving many pause.
Investors are sidelined as they anticipate how the report tomorrow will play out
and in the mean time, the DJIA, Nasdaq and S&P 500 all traveled the red road
towards a negative close as the session approached final close this afternoon.
Some good news posted today relating to initial jobless claims. According to the
Labor Department, unemployment benefit claims dropped lower by 12,000 to 409,000
last week. This was a good sign and invoked optimism heading into tomorrows
report on jobs. The positively skewed data has allowed many to believe that the
economic data scheduled to post tomorrow might be better than expected. As the
session wraps up today, the Dow Jones is still negative by more than 115 points
at 11,497.77. Hopefully, the data tomorrow will be better and less Americans
will be in need of unemployment benefits. Frank Matto
Gold Price Per Ounce Today Silver PRice Per Ounce Spot gold per gram spot silver per ounce; DJIA Index DJX DJI Close
Gold price per ounce rates closed out yesterday in the red and spent a majority
of this days session trending on similar ground. The primary stock indices were
red as well through the first half of the trading session today but a couple key
economic reports skewed positive as the day progressed. Investors are still
hesitant to position with riskier stocks at this point and are sitting on the
fence ahead of tomorrows jobs report. As the session approached close, the
primary stock indices in the U.S. were still moving in negative territory and
gold prices were traveling lower as well. Specifically, the Dow Jones Industrial
Average was lower by .82 percent at 11,518. Both gold and silver contracts were
posting floor prices in the red at this point. Gold contract for December
delivery was lower by .14 percent at 1829.10 per troy ounce. Silver contract for
December delivery was lower by .57 percent at 41.53 per troy ounce. Spot gold
and spot silver were also red at this point in the session. Spot gold price per
gram was red by .17 at 58.62 and spot silver price per ounce was red by .23 at
41.46. Camillo Zucari
of this days session trending on similar ground. The primary stock indices were
red as well through the first half of the trading session today but a couple key
economic reports skewed positive as the day progressed. Investors are still
hesitant to position with riskier stocks at this point and are sitting on the
fence ahead of tomorrows jobs report. As the session approached close, the
primary stock indices in the U.S. were still moving in negative territory and
gold prices were traveling lower as well. Specifically, the Dow Jones Industrial
Average was lower by .82 percent at 11,518. Both gold and silver contracts were
posting floor prices in the red at this point. Gold contract for December
delivery was lower by .14 percent at 1829.10 per troy ounce. Silver contract for
December delivery was lower by .57 percent at 41.53 per troy ounce. Spot gold
and spot silver were also red at this point in the session. Spot gold price per
gram was red by .17 at 58.62 and spot silver price per ounce was red by .23 at
41.46. Camillo Zucari
Fortuna Silver Emerges as Multi-Mine Operator
Fortuna Silver Mines (FVI.TSX) announced the start of commercial production at
its San Jose silver-gold mine in Oaxaca, Mexico today. Construction of the
wholly-owned mine began in March 2010 and was concluded on-time and on-budget,
with total construction capital investment of approximately $55 million. San
Jose is expected to produce 520,000 ounces of silver and 4,600 ounces of gold in
2011, and 1.7 million ounces of silver and 15,000 ounces of gold in 2012 at an
estimated cash cost per silver ounce of $5.04, net of by-products. Highlights: *
Fortuna Silver expects that recoveries will continue to improve over the coming
weeks to the targeted 88% recovery for silver and 90% for gold, as the process
continues to be fine tuned and the plant is sourced with production ore. * For
2011, Fortunas consolidated production guidance is 2.4 million ounces of silver,
7,530 ounces of gold plus approximately 38.4 million pounds of combined lead and
zinc production. * For 2012, the Company anticipates an increase in production
to 3.7 million ounces of silver, 18,041 ounces of gold and approximately 39.8
million pounds of combined lead and zinc production. Jorge A. Ganoza, Fortuna
President, CEO and Director: This is a milestone for Fortuna…We now look
forward to continue delivering production growth through the expansion of San
Jose to 1,500 tonnes per day by third quarter of 2013.
its San Jose silver-gold mine in Oaxaca, Mexico today. Construction of the
wholly-owned mine began in March 2010 and was concluded on-time and on-budget,
with total construction capital investment of approximately $55 million. San
Jose is expected to produce 520,000 ounces of silver and 4,600 ounces of gold in
2011, and 1.7 million ounces of silver and 15,000 ounces of gold in 2012 at an
estimated cash cost per silver ounce of $5.04, net of by-products. Highlights: *
Fortuna Silver expects that recoveries will continue to improve over the coming
weeks to the targeted 88% recovery for silver and 90% for gold, as the process
continues to be fine tuned and the plant is sourced with production ore. * For
2011, Fortunas consolidated production guidance is 2.4 million ounces of silver,
7,530 ounces of gold plus approximately 38.4 million pounds of combined lead and
zinc production. * For 2012, the Company anticipates an increase in production
to 3.7 million ounces of silver, 18,041 ounces of gold and approximately 39.8
million pounds of combined lead and zinc production. Jorge A. Ganoza, Fortuna
President, CEO and Director: This is a milestone for Fortuna…We now look
forward to continue delivering production growth through the expansion of San
Jose to 1,500 tonnes per day by third quarter of 2013.
Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) Makes Blogger Improvements
Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) has completed the modification of its Blogger
interface. Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) Makes Blogger Improvements The online
search engine Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) has announced that it has completed its
previously announced changes for the Blogger interface for an easier and faster
experience. The company will roll out the redesigned Blogger site shortly. The
company has added a rich text editor and also made improvements in the template
designer. The dashboard now has an "Overview" section and has replaced the
'monetization' tab with an 'Earnings' tab. Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG)'s
Blogger products manager Chang Kim said, Weve rewritten the entire editing and
management experience from scratch so it's faster and more efficient for
you—and easier for us to update and improve over time". Google Inc.
(NASDAQ:GOOG) stocks are currently standing at 540.96. Price History Last Price:
540.96 52 Week Low / High: 452.5 / 642.96 50 Day Moving Average: 549.64 6 Month
Price Change %: -10.0% 12 Month Price Change %: 20.2%
interface. Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) Makes Blogger Improvements The online
search engine Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) has announced that it has completed its
previously announced changes for the Blogger interface for an easier and faster
experience. The company will roll out the redesigned Blogger site shortly. The
company has added a rich text editor and also made improvements in the template
designer. The dashboard now has an "Overview" section and has replaced the
'monetization' tab with an 'Earnings' tab. Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG)'s
Blogger products manager Chang Kim said, Weve rewritten the entire editing and
management experience from scratch so it's faster and more efficient for
you—and easier for us to update and improve over time". Google Inc.
(NASDAQ:GOOG) stocks are currently standing at 540.96. Price History Last Price:
540.96 52 Week Low / High: 452.5 / 642.96 50 Day Moving Average: 549.64 6 Month
Price Change %: -10.0% 12 Month Price Change %: 20.2%
Thursday Apple Rumors: Man Walks Into Bar, Finds iPhone 5?
Here are your Apple news items and rumors for Thursday: iPhone 5 Gets Legs:
Apple cant seem to stop its employees from wandering off with precious prototype
technology, heading to a local pub and forgetting the proprietary wares after
enjoying a nice whiskey sour. According to a report at CNET , one of Apples
employees lost a prototype iPhone at a bar in San Francisco. Rather than selling
for a high price after a bidding war as a prototype iPhone 4 was in 2010, this
mislaid development iPhone sold for a measly $200 on Craigslist and still hasnt
been located by Apple. The company has not confirmed whether the lost model is
an early version of an already-released iPhone or a prototype version of the
upcoming iPhone 5 or iPhone 4S . Given the companys interest in tracking it
down, though, it seems likely it isnt the type of iPhone that can be bought at
Target. Smartphone Tide Rising: Given the fervor with which technology is
covered in the press (not to mention the investor lust after stocks for
businesses making the devices), its surprising to hear that not every man, woman
and child in the United States doesnt own an iPhone. To the delight of hipsters
and disaffected wealthy college kids everywhere, a Thursday report at GigaOM
confirms that smartphones arent quite mainstream yet. The report details a new
study by Nielsen that found that, as of July, 40% of all mobile phones used in
the U.S. are smartphones. Nielsen previously had predicted smartphones would
overtake feature phones by the end of 2012. They likely will come close. Feature
phones accounted for 62% of phones at the end of the first quarter but fell to
60% by the end of the second. A 2% attrition rate should place the two mobile
phone segments neck and neck by the end of the year. Of those smartphones out
there, Nielsen found that 28% are iPhones. That pesky Google (NASDAQ: GOOG )
Android took the lions share with 40% of smartphones in the second quarter. Halo
Makers Come to iPad: Bungie Studios , the creators behind Microsoft s (NASDAQ:
MSFT ) massively successful Halo video game franchise, released its first iOS
game Wednesday night. Crimson: Steam Pirates is a self-published title that
sells for $1.99 in Apples App Store. Long before the company and its Halo series
were household names, Bungie actually was developing Halo as a Mac-exclusive
came then Microsoft bought the company and transformed Halo into its flagship
Xbox series. As of this writing, Anthony John Agnello did not own a position in
any of the stocks named here. Follow him on Twitter at
Apple cant seem to stop its employees from wandering off with precious prototype
technology, heading to a local pub and forgetting the proprietary wares after
enjoying a nice whiskey sour. According to a report at CNET , one of Apples
employees lost a prototype iPhone at a bar in San Francisco. Rather than selling
for a high price after a bidding war as a prototype iPhone 4 was in 2010, this
mislaid development iPhone sold for a measly $200 on Craigslist and still hasnt
been located by Apple. The company has not confirmed whether the lost model is
an early version of an already-released iPhone or a prototype version of the
upcoming iPhone 5 or iPhone 4S . Given the companys interest in tracking it
down, though, it seems likely it isnt the type of iPhone that can be bought at
Target. Smartphone Tide Rising: Given the fervor with which technology is
covered in the press (not to mention the investor lust after stocks for
businesses making the devices), its surprising to hear that not every man, woman
and child in the United States doesnt own an iPhone. To the delight of hipsters
and disaffected wealthy college kids everywhere, a Thursday report at GigaOM
confirms that smartphones arent quite mainstream yet. The report details a new
study by Nielsen that found that, as of July, 40% of all mobile phones used in
the U.S. are smartphones. Nielsen previously had predicted smartphones would
overtake feature phones by the end of 2012. They likely will come close. Feature
phones accounted for 62% of phones at the end of the first quarter but fell to
60% by the end of the second. A 2% attrition rate should place the two mobile
phone segments neck and neck by the end of the year. Of those smartphones out
there, Nielsen found that 28% are iPhones. That pesky Google (NASDAQ: GOOG )
Android took the lions share with 40% of smartphones in the second quarter. Halo
Makers Come to iPad: Bungie Studios , the creators behind Microsoft s (NASDAQ:
MSFT ) massively successful Halo video game franchise, released its first iOS
game Wednesday night. Crimson: Steam Pirates is a self-published title that
sells for $1.99 in Apples App Store. Long before the company and its Halo series
were household names, Bungie actually was developing Halo as a Mac-exclusive
came then Microsoft bought the company and transformed Halo into its flagship
Xbox series. As of this writing, Anthony John Agnello did not own a position in
any of the stocks named here. Follow him on Twitter at
Gold Price Per Ounce, Todays Spot gold Price Per Gram Spot Silver Price Per Ounce Today Mid-Day
Gold and silver contract finished off the last trading session in August Green.
Both precious metals attracted attention even though the primary indices in the
U.S., as well as in the Eurozone and Asian markets, were positive. The dollar
gained strength on the euro yesterday as well and this made precious metal gold
and silver a bit more expensive for some. Today, the primary stock indices spent
the majority of the first half of the days trading session in the red. Investors
are still apprehensive about the upcoming jobs report. Economic reports have
skewed positive this day though. The ISM report was better than expected and the
initial claims for unemployment report posted better than expected as well. Both
could be viewed as signs that the economy is not weakening as much as some
portray. Precious metal gold prices dropped lower into the red as well during
the opening half of the trading session today. As the mid-day mark approached,
precious metal gold for December delivery was trending red by .44 percent at
1823.60 per troy ounce. Spot gold and spot silver prices were mixed. Spot gold
price per gram was red by .16 at 58.63 and spot silver price per ounce was green
by .08 at 41.78. Camillo Zucari
Both precious metals attracted attention even though the primary indices in the
U.S., as well as in the Eurozone and Asian markets, were positive. The dollar
gained strength on the euro yesterday as well and this made precious metal gold
and silver a bit more expensive for some. Today, the primary stock indices spent
the majority of the first half of the days trading session in the red. Investors
are still apprehensive about the upcoming jobs report. Economic reports have
skewed positive this day though. The ISM report was better than expected and the
initial claims for unemployment report posted better than expected as well. Both
could be viewed as signs that the economy is not weakening as much as some
portray. Precious metal gold prices dropped lower into the red as well during
the opening half of the trading session today. As the mid-day mark approached,
precious metal gold for December delivery was trending red by .44 percent at
1823.60 per troy ounce. Spot gold and spot silver prices were mixed. Spot gold
price per gram was red by .16 at 58.63 and spot silver price per ounce was green
by .08 at 41.78. Camillo Zucari
THQ Inc. (NASDAQ:THQI) Expands WWE Roster
THQ Inc. (NASDAQ:THQI) has added four new wrestlers to the WWE 12 roster. THQ
Inc. (NASDAQ:THQI) Expands WWE Roster THQ Inc. (NASDAQ:THQI) has announced that
it has added a total of four new WWE Superstar to the WWE 12 roster.
Inc. (NASDAQ:THQI) Expands WWE Roster THQ Inc. (NASDAQ:THQI) has announced that
it has added a total of four new WWE Superstar to the WWE 12 roster.
Top 10 Best-Rated U.S.-Listed Chinese Stocks: KH, BONA, CCIH, CRIC, XRS, XUE, CCM, CHOP, SNP, WX (Sep 01, 2011)
Below are the top 10 best-rated U.S.-listed Chinese stocks, based on the number
of positive ratings by brokerage analysts. China Kanghui Holdings (ADR)
(NYSE:KH) is the 1st best-rated stock in this segment of the market. It is rated
positively by 100% of the 6 brokerage analysts covering it. Bona Film Group Ltd
(ADR) (NASDAQ:BONA) is the 2nd best-rated stock in this segment of the market.
It is rated positively by 100% of the 5 brokerage analysts covering it.
ChinaCache Internatnl Hldgs Ltd (ADR) (NASDAQ:CCIH) is the 3rd best-rated stock
in this segment of the market. It is rated positively by 100% of the 5 brokerage
analysts covering it. China Real Estate Information Corp (NASDAQ:CRIC) is the
4th best-rated stock in this segment of the market. It is rated positively by
100% of the 5 brokerage analysts covering it. TAL Education Group (ADR)
(NYSE:XRS) is the 5th best-rated stock in this segment of the market. It is
rated positively by 100% of the 5 brokerage analysts covering it. Xueda
Education Group (ADR) (NYSE:XUE) is the 6th best-rated stock in this segment of
the market. It is rated positively by 100% of the 5 brokerage analysts covering
it. Concord Medical Services Hldg Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:CCM) is the 7th best-rated
stock in this segment of the market. It is rated positively by 100% of the 4
brokerage analysts covering it. China Gerui Adv Mtals Grp Ltd (NASDAQ:CHOP) is
the 8th best-rated stock in this segment of the market. It is rated positively
by 100% of the 4 brokerage analysts covering it. China Petroleum & Chemical
Corp. (ADR) (NYSE:SNP) is the 9th best-rated stock in this segment of the
market. It is rated positively by 100% of the 4 brokerage analysts covering it.
WuXi PharmaTech (Cayman) Inc. (ADR) (NYSE:WX) is the 10th best-rated stock in
this segment of the market. It is rated positively by 92% of the 13 brokerage
analysts covering it.
of positive ratings by brokerage analysts. China Kanghui Holdings (ADR)
(NYSE:KH) is the 1st best-rated stock in this segment of the market. It is rated
positively by 100% of the 6 brokerage analysts covering it. Bona Film Group Ltd
(ADR) (NASDAQ:BONA) is the 2nd best-rated stock in this segment of the market.
It is rated positively by 100% of the 5 brokerage analysts covering it.
ChinaCache Internatnl Hldgs Ltd (ADR) (NASDAQ:CCIH) is the 3rd best-rated stock
in this segment of the market. It is rated positively by 100% of the 5 brokerage
analysts covering it. China Real Estate Information Corp (NASDAQ:CRIC) is the
4th best-rated stock in this segment of the market. It is rated positively by
100% of the 5 brokerage analysts covering it. TAL Education Group (ADR)
(NYSE:XRS) is the 5th best-rated stock in this segment of the market. It is
rated positively by 100% of the 5 brokerage analysts covering it. Xueda
Education Group (ADR) (NYSE:XUE) is the 6th best-rated stock in this segment of
the market. It is rated positively by 100% of the 5 brokerage analysts covering
it. Concord Medical Services Hldg Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:CCM) is the 7th best-rated
stock in this segment of the market. It is rated positively by 100% of the 4
brokerage analysts covering it. China Gerui Adv Mtals Grp Ltd (NASDAQ:CHOP) is
the 8th best-rated stock in this segment of the market. It is rated positively
by 100% of the 4 brokerage analysts covering it. China Petroleum & Chemical
Corp. (ADR) (NYSE:SNP) is the 9th best-rated stock in this segment of the
market. It is rated positively by 100% of the 4 brokerage analysts covering it.
WuXi PharmaTech (Cayman) Inc. (ADR) (NYSE:WX) is the 10th best-rated stock in
this segment of the market. It is rated positively by 92% of the 13 brokerage
analysts covering it.
The Big Losers: 3 Stocks in the Dumps Poised to Rally
When it comes to finding stocks to buy, I find myself strangely attracted to
the markets' losers. Stocks that have been absolutely hammered can present
phenomenal buying opportunities for patient investors. If you are willing to
think about the long term, the ability of these losers to recover usually
results in big gains for portfolios. The recent stock market correction
accelerated the selling in many names that already were headed lower. Some
already are in recovery mode, but it is not too late to get in on the action.
The headlines might be scary and frightening, but that is the whole point of
buying the losers. If things were rosy, you wouldn't have the opportunity to
buy in at a discount. The proverbial blood is in the water on these losers, and
you should be licking your chops. For sure, some of these stocks have major
problems, but think about how likely it is for these stocks to continue to fall.
Yes, companies and businesses in decline do fail. I don't want to own those
stocks for obvious reasons. That said, it is very difficult to kill a company in
this country. The stakes are high for management teams to fix the problems. When
they do, you win. Here are three stocks in the dumps to consider for your
portfolio: Research In Motion The poster boy for the beat up stock category,
Research In Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM ) is in complete free fall. The company missed
the mark terribly with respect to the smartphone craze. They made a common
mistake in resting on the BlackBerry brand and believing core customers would
not abandon ship. They were wrong. When bears realized the company was
vulnerable, they attacked. Shares of RIM are down 54% since earlier in the year.
That includes an impressive rally 49% rally off the lows reached in early
August. There clearly is more room to run as short sellers move on to the next
victim. With all those problems, RIM still is a valuable brand with impressive
profits, albeit smaller profits. RIM is down but not out. With guidance for the
future tempered, RIM managed to beat Wall Street guidance for the quarter ending
May 31. For the full year, the average Wall Street estimate is for the company
to make $5.14 per share. At current prices, you can buy the stock for six times
current-year estimates. That is incredibly cheap. If the company finds the right
formula for future profit growth, this stock could take off again. Cooper Tire &
Rubber One look at the chart of Cooper Tire and Rubber (NYSE: CTB ), and one
can't but help get the feeling of falling over a cliff. Since May, this
industrial company has lost more than 50% of its value! The company was hit by a
double whammy of higher commodity prices and a reduction in economic activity in
the second quarter. Now, with fears of a double-dip recession, the stock is in a
free fall. A late summer reprieve has helped things stabilize a bit, but the
stock has a long way to go before reaching previous levels. Of course, previous
levels might be unrealistic given the economic headwinds. That said, the stock
easily could move $5 higher from here. Despite an earnings miss in the quarter
ending June 30, the outlook for Cooper Tire is solid. The average Wall Street
estimate calls for a profit of $1.30 per share this year, and improving by 42%
next year to $1.85 per share. At current prices, shares trade for less than 10
times current-year estimated earnings. That is a screaming buy in my opinion.
Expect this one to bounce back quickly. Pilgrim's Pride With so many Chicken
Littles out there, one might think the poultry business was booming.
Unfortunately, it is not. With higher feed costs eating margins, the entire
industry is reeling. Stocks across the board have been falling. For Pilgrim's
Pride (NYSE: PPC ), the timing could not be worse. The company is struggling to
regain profitability. Results for the quarter ending June 30 do not bode well.
Pilgrim's reported a loss of 60 cents per share in the period. Analysts were
looking for a much smaller loss of 23 cents per share. The disappointing results
likely will result in the company losing nearly $2 per share for the current
year. No wonder the stock is in the dumps. Since April, shares of Pilgrim's
Pride have fallen by more than 50%. Now trading for $3.50, the market is
skeptical of the company's prospects. The dim outlook is a good time to buy
this beaten-down stock. Wall Street currently is expecting the company to make a
small profit in 2012. If so, the stock potentially could double in value within
the next 12 months. Jamie Dlugosch does not own shares in the aforementioned
stocks.
the markets' losers. Stocks that have been absolutely hammered can present
phenomenal buying opportunities for patient investors. If you are willing to
think about the long term, the ability of these losers to recover usually
results in big gains for portfolios. The recent stock market correction
accelerated the selling in many names that already were headed lower. Some
already are in recovery mode, but it is not too late to get in on the action.
The headlines might be scary and frightening, but that is the whole point of
buying the losers. If things were rosy, you wouldn't have the opportunity to
buy in at a discount. The proverbial blood is in the water on these losers, and
you should be licking your chops. For sure, some of these stocks have major
problems, but think about how likely it is for these stocks to continue to fall.
Yes, companies and businesses in decline do fail. I don't want to own those
stocks for obvious reasons. That said, it is very difficult to kill a company in
this country. The stakes are high for management teams to fix the problems. When
they do, you win. Here are three stocks in the dumps to consider for your
portfolio: Research In Motion The poster boy for the beat up stock category,
Research In Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM ) is in complete free fall. The company missed
the mark terribly with respect to the smartphone craze. They made a common
mistake in resting on the BlackBerry brand and believing core customers would
not abandon ship. They were wrong. When bears realized the company was
vulnerable, they attacked. Shares of RIM are down 54% since earlier in the year.
That includes an impressive rally 49% rally off the lows reached in early
August. There clearly is more room to run as short sellers move on to the next
victim. With all those problems, RIM still is a valuable brand with impressive
profits, albeit smaller profits. RIM is down but not out. With guidance for the
future tempered, RIM managed to beat Wall Street guidance for the quarter ending
May 31. For the full year, the average Wall Street estimate is for the company
to make $5.14 per share. At current prices, you can buy the stock for six times
current-year estimates. That is incredibly cheap. If the company finds the right
formula for future profit growth, this stock could take off again. Cooper Tire &
Rubber One look at the chart of Cooper Tire and Rubber (NYSE: CTB ), and one
can't but help get the feeling of falling over a cliff. Since May, this
industrial company has lost more than 50% of its value! The company was hit by a
double whammy of higher commodity prices and a reduction in economic activity in
the second quarter. Now, with fears of a double-dip recession, the stock is in a
free fall. A late summer reprieve has helped things stabilize a bit, but the
stock has a long way to go before reaching previous levels. Of course, previous
levels might be unrealistic given the economic headwinds. That said, the stock
easily could move $5 higher from here. Despite an earnings miss in the quarter
ending June 30, the outlook for Cooper Tire is solid. The average Wall Street
estimate calls for a profit of $1.30 per share this year, and improving by 42%
next year to $1.85 per share. At current prices, shares trade for less than 10
times current-year estimated earnings. That is a screaming buy in my opinion.
Expect this one to bounce back quickly. Pilgrim's Pride With so many Chicken
Littles out there, one might think the poultry business was booming.
Unfortunately, it is not. With higher feed costs eating margins, the entire
industry is reeling. Stocks across the board have been falling. For Pilgrim's
Pride (NYSE: PPC ), the timing could not be worse. The company is struggling to
regain profitability. Results for the quarter ending June 30 do not bode well.
Pilgrim's reported a loss of 60 cents per share in the period. Analysts were
looking for a much smaller loss of 23 cents per share. The disappointing results
likely will result in the company losing nearly $2 per share for the current
year. No wonder the stock is in the dumps. Since April, shares of Pilgrim's
Pride have fallen by more than 50%. Now trading for $3.50, the market is
skeptical of the company's prospects. The dim outlook is a good time to buy
this beaten-down stock. Wall Street currently is expecting the company to make a
small profit in 2012. If so, the stock potentially could double in value within
the next 12 months. Jamie Dlugosch does not own shares in the aforementioned
stocks.
Sunridge Gold Hits High Grade at Adi Nefas
Sunridge Gold (SGC.TSXV) reported assay results from the recent drill program
at the Adi Nefas zinc-gold-copper deposit.
at the Adi Nefas zinc-gold-copper deposit.
3 Winning Hospital Information Systems Stocks
After the White House and House Republican leaders cut that historic debt
ceiling deal earlier this month, health care stocks ran for cover on fears of
deep Medicare cuts. But while hospitals, nursing care companies and health
insurers had a pretty rough few weeks, hospital information systems stocks like
Cerner (NASDAQ: CERN ), McKesson (NYSE: MCK ) and Quality Systems (NASDAQ: QSII
) took smaller hits and are back above their 50-day moving averages. Why the
disparity? To quote Ben Kingsley's character "Cosmo" in the 1990s movie
"Sneakers, "It's all about the information. Hospital IT initiatives like
electronic medical records and nursing or physician information systems that are
integrated into other medication, nutrition and hospital finance systems can
save a lot more money, time and resources than they cost. Crunching the numbers,
the market research firm Technavio last week projected the global HIS market to
grow by 13% per year largely driven by government financial incentives and
regulations to ensure more efficient patient care and fewer errors. For example,
most companies in this sector will benefit from federal incentives for hospitals
and doctors to implement electronic health records. The incentives will run
through 2014. But if they don't take the carrot, there are plenty of big
sticks in the health care reform regulations to drive HIS adoption down the road
to deployment. Here are three winning HIS stocks that warrant a closer look:
Cerner This company has managed to reap incentives of a different kind it will
receive $147 million in Kansas' sales tax money as part of a $414 million
development deal. The project will include two office towers to house 4,000 new
employees, as well as a new professional soccer stadium. CERN set a new 52-week
high of $68.12 on July 29 and, at $67.33, is trading more than 85% above its
52-week low of $36.33 last August. With a market cap of $11.43 billion, the
stock has a price/earnings-to-growth ratio of 1.93, indicating it might be
overvalued. The company's debt position looks good: CERN has total cash of
$682.02 million compared to total debt of $114.69 million. McKesson In June,
MCK's iKnowMed electronic medical records solution was certified by the
Surescripts health information network to exchange prescriptions electronically
and gain real-time access to cancer patients' insurance information, plan
formulary and medication history. MCK set a new 52-week high of $87.32 on May 19
and, at $78.20, is trading more than 35% above its 52-week low last August. With
a market cap of $19.26 billion, McKesson's PEG ratio is 1.06, meaning the
stock is close to fairly valued. Debt position is okay, with total cash of $3.12
billion compared to total debt of $3.99 billion. Quality Systems In mid-August,
QSII acquired CQI Solutions a provider of practice management software to
doctors and dentists. The acquisition, which will be part of Quality's NextGen
Information Systems operation, will help the company rapidly grow its health
care IT business. QSII set a new 52-week high of $93.64 on Aug. 1 and, at
$92.62, is trading more than 65% above its 52-week low of $55.93 last August.
With a market cap of $2.73 billion, Quality has a PEG ratio of 1.6, indicating
the stock could be overvalued. The company has total cash of $125.16 million and
no debt. Bottom Line Cerner, McKesson and Quality are all well-entrenched
competitors with solid fundamentals in a growing segment of the health care
market. CERN and QSII are posting impressive year-over-year quarterly earnings
growth nearly 30% and 57%, respectively. McKesson's -4% year-over-year
quarterly earnings growth is offset by its stake in the increasingly lucrative
specialty drug market, which will hit $100 billion in the next two years. MCK
also went ex-dividend on Tuesday at 20 cents per share a yield of 1.1%. As of
this writing, Susan J. Aluise did not hold a position in any of the stocks named
here.
ceiling deal earlier this month, health care stocks ran for cover on fears of
deep Medicare cuts. But while hospitals, nursing care companies and health
insurers had a pretty rough few weeks, hospital information systems stocks like
Cerner (NASDAQ: CERN ), McKesson (NYSE: MCK ) and Quality Systems (NASDAQ: QSII
) took smaller hits and are back above their 50-day moving averages. Why the
disparity? To quote Ben Kingsley's character "Cosmo" in the 1990s movie
"Sneakers, "It's all about the information. Hospital IT initiatives like
electronic medical records and nursing or physician information systems that are
integrated into other medication, nutrition and hospital finance systems can
save a lot more money, time and resources than they cost. Crunching the numbers,
the market research firm Technavio last week projected the global HIS market to
grow by 13% per year largely driven by government financial incentives and
regulations to ensure more efficient patient care and fewer errors. For example,
most companies in this sector will benefit from federal incentives for hospitals
and doctors to implement electronic health records. The incentives will run
through 2014. But if they don't take the carrot, there are plenty of big
sticks in the health care reform regulations to drive HIS adoption down the road
to deployment. Here are three winning HIS stocks that warrant a closer look:
Cerner This company has managed to reap incentives of a different kind it will
receive $147 million in Kansas' sales tax money as part of a $414 million
development deal. The project will include two office towers to house 4,000 new
employees, as well as a new professional soccer stadium. CERN set a new 52-week
high of $68.12 on July 29 and, at $67.33, is trading more than 85% above its
52-week low of $36.33 last August. With a market cap of $11.43 billion, the
stock has a price/earnings-to-growth ratio of 1.93, indicating it might be
overvalued. The company's debt position looks good: CERN has total cash of
$682.02 million compared to total debt of $114.69 million. McKesson In June,
MCK's iKnowMed electronic medical records solution was certified by the
Surescripts health information network to exchange prescriptions electronically
and gain real-time access to cancer patients' insurance information, plan
formulary and medication history. MCK set a new 52-week high of $87.32 on May 19
and, at $78.20, is trading more than 35% above its 52-week low last August. With
a market cap of $19.26 billion, McKesson's PEG ratio is 1.06, meaning the
stock is close to fairly valued. Debt position is okay, with total cash of $3.12
billion compared to total debt of $3.99 billion. Quality Systems In mid-August,
QSII acquired CQI Solutions a provider of practice management software to
doctors and dentists. The acquisition, which will be part of Quality's NextGen
Information Systems operation, will help the company rapidly grow its health
care IT business. QSII set a new 52-week high of $93.64 on Aug. 1 and, at
$92.62, is trading more than 65% above its 52-week low of $55.93 last August.
With a market cap of $2.73 billion, Quality has a PEG ratio of 1.6, indicating
the stock could be overvalued. The company has total cash of $125.16 million and
no debt. Bottom Line Cerner, McKesson and Quality are all well-entrenched
competitors with solid fundamentals in a growing segment of the health care
market. CERN and QSII are posting impressive year-over-year quarterly earnings
growth nearly 30% and 57%, respectively. McKesson's -4% year-over-year
quarterly earnings growth is offset by its stake in the increasingly lucrative
specialty drug market, which will hit $100 billion in the next two years. MCK
also went ex-dividend on Tuesday at 20 cents per share a yield of 1.1%. As of
this writing, Susan J. Aluise did not hold a position in any of the stocks named
here.
Icahn: From Hollywood to … Bleach
When it comes to becoming an investor-billionaire, there are myriad approaches.
Berkshire Hathaway's (NYSE: BRK.A ) Warren Buffett has relied on rigorous
analysis as well as holding onto positions for decades. Or take George Soros. He
prefers to make big bets on just about anything, be it interest rates or
currencies. Then there is Carl Icahn, who is one of the pioneers of activist
investing. That is, he buys large chunks of a company's stock and then
agitates management to boost the price whether through spinoffs, large
dividends or a sellout. The strategy takes a lot of work but has produced
tremendous results. Icahn is worth about $12.5 billion. So what is he up to now?
Well, Icahn has had a busy August (at 75 years old, he makes us wonder if he
ever takes a vacation). For example, he scored a $435 million profit when Google
(NASDAQ: GOOG ) agreed to purchase Motorola Mobility Holdings (NYSE: MMI ). At
the same time, Icahn has been pursuing Clorox (NYSE: CLX ). Actually, he has
been buying up the stock since February (the stake is at about 9.4% of the
outstanding shares). Clorox has a great portfolio of brands such as Armor All,
Kingsford, Hidden Valley and Glad which are either No. 1 or No. 2 in their
categories. The company also has used acquisitions to boost a product line, such
as with its deal for Burt's Bees, a provider of natural skin care and beauty
products. Yet the real reason for Icahn's interest in Clorox is that it could
be an attractive asset for a global consumer products company such as Procter &
Gamble (NYSE: PG ), Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE: CL ), SC Johnson, Unilever (NYSE:
UL ) or Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB ). These potential suitors are flush with cash
and are trying to find ways to boost the top line. If Icahn's history is a
guide, he will put lots of pressure on getting Clorox to do a deal. To that end,
he promises to sell the company if he gains control of the board. And if he
cannot find a buyer for at least $78 per share, he'll buy the company for
himself. Consider that Icahn made an $80 offer back in July. Of course, Clorox
rejected the offer and then there was the plunge in the equities market. True, a
good outcome is far from guaranteed. Keep in mind that only this week Icahn
also dropped his bid for Lions Gate Entertainment (NYSE: LGF ). It was a
grueling three-year battle that resulted in no gains. So yes, even billionaires
make mistakes. But when it comes to Icahn, he has a batting average that is
above most others. In other words, it's probably a good bet that Clorox will
somehow be yet another winner. Tom Taulli is the author of various books,
including "All About Commodities." He does not own a position in any of the
stocks named here.
Berkshire Hathaway's (NYSE: BRK.A ) Warren Buffett has relied on rigorous
analysis as well as holding onto positions for decades. Or take George Soros. He
prefers to make big bets on just about anything, be it interest rates or
currencies. Then there is Carl Icahn, who is one of the pioneers of activist
investing. That is, he buys large chunks of a company's stock and then
agitates management to boost the price whether through spinoffs, large
dividends or a sellout. The strategy takes a lot of work but has produced
tremendous results. Icahn is worth about $12.5 billion. So what is he up to now?
Well, Icahn has had a busy August (at 75 years old, he makes us wonder if he
ever takes a vacation). For example, he scored a $435 million profit when Google
(NASDAQ: GOOG ) agreed to purchase Motorola Mobility Holdings (NYSE: MMI ). At
the same time, Icahn has been pursuing Clorox (NYSE: CLX ). Actually, he has
been buying up the stock since February (the stake is at about 9.4% of the
outstanding shares). Clorox has a great portfolio of brands such as Armor All,
Kingsford, Hidden Valley and Glad which are either No. 1 or No. 2 in their
categories. The company also has used acquisitions to boost a product line, such
as with its deal for Burt's Bees, a provider of natural skin care and beauty
products. Yet the real reason for Icahn's interest in Clorox is that it could
be an attractive asset for a global consumer products company such as Procter &
Gamble (NYSE: PG ), Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE: CL ), SC Johnson, Unilever (NYSE:
UL ) or Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB ). These potential suitors are flush with cash
and are trying to find ways to boost the top line. If Icahn's history is a
guide, he will put lots of pressure on getting Clorox to do a deal. To that end,
he promises to sell the company if he gains control of the board. And if he
cannot find a buyer for at least $78 per share, he'll buy the company for
himself. Consider that Icahn made an $80 offer back in July. Of course, Clorox
rejected the offer and then there was the plunge in the equities market. True, a
good outcome is far from guaranteed. Keep in mind that only this week Icahn
also dropped his bid for Lions Gate Entertainment (NYSE: LGF ). It was a
grueling three-year battle that resulted in no gains. So yes, even billionaires
make mistakes. But when it comes to Icahn, he has a batting average that is
above most others. In other words, it's probably a good bet that Clorox will
somehow be yet another winner. Tom Taulli is the author of various books,
including "All About Commodities." He does not own a position in any of the
stocks named here.
Gold & Silver Prices – Daily Outlook September 1
Gold and silver prices ended with light gains on the last day of August, but
they are currently traded down.
they are currently traded down.
Why Yahoo May Buy the New York Times Company
Is Yahoo (NASDAQ: YHOO ) looking for a buyout or merger with the New York Times
Company (NYSE: NYT )? We've all known about (or been part of) a rumor that has
caused serious damage. So I'll put the disclaimer up front that this New York
Times-Yahoo deal is just wild conjecture as of this moment. I stumbled across it
via a Techland blog post
Company (NYSE: NYT )? We've all known about (or been part of) a rumor that has
caused serious damage. So I'll put the disclaimer up front that this New York
Times-Yahoo deal is just wild conjecture as of this moment. I stumbled across it
via a Techland blog post
Top Golfing Stocks
XCSFDHG46767FHJHJF
dow2664 Tiger Woods was recently named as a captain’s pick for the Presidents Cup after suffering from injuries to his left knee and Achilles tendon, and going four months without completing a tournament. Woods is still going strong, and so are several of the companies that support the sport of golf. There are a few pure plays and semi pure plays in the golfing industry? WallStreetNewsNetwork.com has come up with over ten companies involved in golf courses, golf clubs, and golf equipment on its Golf Stocks list which is available for free. There is the noted Callaway Golf Co. (ELY), which makes and sells golf clubs and and golf balls, including the Big Bertha line, the RAZR, and the Diablo Octane golf clubs. The stock trades at 21.6 times forward earnings and sports a small yield of 0.7%. Golfsmith International Holdings (GOLF) is a retailer of golf and tennis equipment and trades at 7.4 times forward earnings, and currently doesn’t pay a dividend. Here’s an obscure golf connection. Fortune Brands (FO) the liquor company which offers such brands as Jim Beam, Canadian Club, and Harveys, also has a division that makes and market golf balls, golf clubs, golf shoes & golf gloves. The stock has a current price to earnings ratio of 14.9, a forward PE of 16.5, and sports a yield of 1.3%. For a free list of golf stocks , which can be downloaded, sorted, and updated, go to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com. Disclosure: Author owns ELY. By Stockerblog.com
Todays Gold Price per ounce, Silver price per ounce; Spot gold per gram spot silver per ounce; Stock Market Gold Silver Prices
XCSFDHG46767FHJHJF
dow2664 Gold futures were on the rise during the last trading session and ultimately finished the day on positive ground. Economic data in the U.S. was mixed but stock indices held. Indices remained solid in the Eurozone and Asian markets as well. The dollar notched higher versus the euro and the British pound but gold and silver contracts still held positive territory to close. Both gold and silver price per ounce rates finished the day in the green. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed out the session higher by .46 percent or 53.58 points at 11,613.53. The primary stock indices in the U.S. finished the month of August off decisively lower though. The Dow Jones was red for the month by over 4 percent. The tone of the marketplace this month has been temped pessimism and this has fueled safe haven interest. Gold prices soared earlier this month only to meet with corrections as the latter half of the month progressed. Economic concerns are taking center stage again and precious metal gold is benefiting. Gold contract for December delivery finished off the last trading session higher by .10 percent to close out at 1831.70 per troy ounce. Silver contract for September delivery moved higher by .73 percent to close out at 41.70 per troy ounce. Spot gold and spot silver prices were mixed after session close however. Prior to opening bell today, spot gold price per gram was red by .13 at 58.60 and spot silver price per ounce was green by .24 at 41.64. Camillo Zucari
What Stands in the Bulls’ Way Now
XCSFDHG46767FHJHJF
tdp2664 InvestorPlace Those investors who made money in August should be pleased since the month turned in the worst performance since May 2010. And the results would have been much worse for the Dow industrials had the index not had a 7.4% rally with the Dow advancing in seven of the last eight sessions of the month. But despite the late-month rally, longer-term studies like the monthly chart of the S&P 500 with a 17-month moving average show that a sell signal was still issued at month end. On Aug. 18, the Daily Market Outlook warned of tough times ahead saying, "The long-term trends have been broken. Markets do change, and perhaps the fall will bring a new beginning, but currently the trend is bearish and stockholders should not grab for straws that they hope will bail them out of a bear market."
Gold & silver ended the month with light gains – August 31
XCSFDHG46767FHJHJF
DG365FD46564GFH654FU898 Gold and silver prices ended August on a positive note as they have both moderately inclined; on the other hand, crude oil prices changed direction again and ended the month with moderate falls; natural gas spot price (Henry Hub) also changed direction and bounced back yesterday with very sharp rises. Here is a summary of the price movements of precious metals and energy commodities for August 31st: Precious Metals prices: Gold price slightly inclined yesterday by 0.1% to $1,831; Silver price also rose by 0.73% to $41.77. During August, gold prices increased by 12.3%, and silver price by only 4.1%. The EURO to US Dollar exchange rate decreased by 0.51% – i.e. the USD appreciated against the EURO. During August, the EURO to US Dollar slightly slipped by 0.13%. Oil and Gas prices: WTI Spot oil price moderately declined by 0.1%; it settled at $88.81 per barrel; Brent spot price also fell by 0.32% to $115.22 per barrel; during August the WTI spot oil price declined by 7.2% and Brent oil by only 1.4%. Due to these changes, the difference between Brent and WTI inclined to $26.41/bbl. Natural gas Henry Hub future price (September delivery) sharply inclined by 3.58% to
RIMM’s Rally is Just About Finished
XCSFDHG46767FHJHJF
tdp2664 InvestorPlace Research In Motion ( NASDAQ : RIMM ) — This designer and manufacturer of wireless equipment is best known for its line of BlackBerry smartphones. But lately, each new product offering seems to be upstaged by its rival, Apple ( NASDAQ : AAPL ). RIMM broke its 20-day and 50-day moving averages in August, but unless a buyer surfaces that can acquire the company, it is likely that the recent rally will falter around the current level. Note the gap at $30 to $35 and major resistance at its bearish resistance line at $35. Holders should sell into this rally. See Sam Collins' Daily Market Outlook: What Stands in the Bulls' Way Now See Serge Berger's Daily Market Outlook: Why Traders May Want to Take an Early Vacation
What Stands in the Bulls’ Way Now
Those investors who made money in August should be pleased since the month
turned in the worst performance since May 2010. And the results would have been
much worse for the Dow industrials had the index not had a 7.4% rally with the
Dow advancing in seven of the last eight sessions of the month. But despite the
late-month rally, longer-term studies like the monthly chart of the S&P 500 with
a 17-month moving average show that a sell signal was still issued at month end.
On Aug. 18, the Daily Market Outlook warned of tough times ahead saying, "The
long-term trends have been broken. Markets do change, and perhaps the fall will
bring a new beginning, but currently the trend is bearish and stockholders
should not grab for straws that they hope will bail them out of a bear
market."
turned in the worst performance since May 2010. And the results would have been
much worse for the Dow industrials had the index not had a 7.4% rally with the
Dow advancing in seven of the last eight sessions of the month. But despite the
late-month rally, longer-term studies like the monthly chart of the S&P 500 with
a 17-month moving average show that a sell signal was still issued at month end.
On Aug. 18, the Daily Market Outlook warned of tough times ahead saying, "The
long-term trends have been broken. Markets do change, and perhaps the fall will
bring a new beginning, but currently the trend is bearish and stockholders
should not grab for straws that they hope will bail them out of a bear
market."
Todays Gold Price per ounce, Silver price per ounce; Spot gold per gram spot silver per ounce; Stock Market Gold Silver Prices
Gold futures were on the rise during the last trading session and ultimately
finished the day on positive ground. Economic data in the U.S. was mixed but
stock indices held. Indices remained solid in the Eurozone and Asian markets as
well. The dollar notched higher versus the euro and the British pound but gold
and silver contracts still held positive territory to close. Both gold and
silver price per ounce rates finished the day in the green. The Dow Jones
Industrial Average closed out the session higher by .46 percent or 53.58 points
at 11,613.53. The primary stock indices in the U.S. finished the month of August
off decisively lower though. The Dow Jones was red for the month by over 4
percent. The tone of the marketplace this month has been temped pessimism and
this has fueled safe haven interest. Gold prices soared earlier this month only
to meet with corrections as the latter half of the month progressed. Economic
concerns are taking center stage again and precious metal gold is benefiting.
Gold contract for December delivery finished off the last trading session higher
by .10 percent to close out at 1831.70 per troy ounce. Silver contract for
September delivery moved higher by .73 percent to close out at 41.70 per troy
ounce. Spot gold and spot silver prices were mixed after session close however.
Prior to opening bell today, spot gold price per gram was red by .13 at 58.60
and spot silver price per ounce was green by .24 at 41.64. Camillo Zucari
finished the day on positive ground. Economic data in the U.S. was mixed but
stock indices held. Indices remained solid in the Eurozone and Asian markets as
well. The dollar notched higher versus the euro and the British pound but gold
and silver contracts still held positive territory to close. Both gold and
silver price per ounce rates finished the day in the green. The Dow Jones
Industrial Average closed out the session higher by .46 percent or 53.58 points
at 11,613.53. The primary stock indices in the U.S. finished the month of August
off decisively lower though. The Dow Jones was red for the month by over 4
percent. The tone of the marketplace this month has been temped pessimism and
this has fueled safe haven interest. Gold prices soared earlier this month only
to meet with corrections as the latter half of the month progressed. Economic
concerns are taking center stage again and precious metal gold is benefiting.
Gold contract for December delivery finished off the last trading session higher
by .10 percent to close out at 1831.70 per troy ounce. Silver contract for
September delivery moved higher by .73 percent to close out at 41.70 per troy
ounce. Spot gold and spot silver prices were mixed after session close however.
Prior to opening bell today, spot gold price per gram was red by .13 at 58.60
and spot silver price per ounce was green by .24 at 41.64. Camillo Zucari
Gold & silver ended the month with light gains – August 31
Gold and silver prices ended August on a positive note as they have both
moderately inclined; on the other hand, crude oil prices changed direction again
and ended the month with moderate falls; natural gas spot price (Henry Hub) also
changed direction and bounced back yesterday with very sharp rises. Here is a
summary of the price movements of precious metals and energy commodities for
August 31st: Precious Metals prices: Gold price slightly inclined yesterday by
0.1% to $1,831; Silver price also rose by 0.73% to $41.77. During August, gold
prices increased by 12.3%, and silver price by only 4.1%. The EURO to US Dollar
exchange rate decreased by 0.51% i.e. the USD appreciated against the EURO.
During August, the EURO to US Dollar slightly slipped by 0.13%. Oil and Gas
prices: WTI Spot oil price moderately declined by 0.1%; it settled at $88.81 per
barrel; Brent spot price also fell by 0.32% to $115.22 per barrel; during August
the WTI spot oil price declined by 7.2% and Brent oil by only 1.4%. Due to these
changes, the difference between Brent and WTI inclined to $26.41/bbl. Natural
gas Henry Hub future price (September delivery) sharply inclined by 3.58% to
moderately inclined; on the other hand, crude oil prices changed direction again
and ended the month with moderate falls; natural gas spot price (Henry Hub) also
changed direction and bounced back yesterday with very sharp rises. Here is a
summary of the price movements of precious metals and energy commodities for
August 31st: Precious Metals prices: Gold price slightly inclined yesterday by
0.1% to $1,831; Silver price also rose by 0.73% to $41.77. During August, gold
prices increased by 12.3%, and silver price by only 4.1%. The EURO to US Dollar
exchange rate decreased by 0.51% i.e. the USD appreciated against the EURO.
During August, the EURO to US Dollar slightly slipped by 0.13%. Oil and Gas
prices: WTI Spot oil price moderately declined by 0.1%; it settled at $88.81 per
barrel; Brent spot price also fell by 0.32% to $115.22 per barrel; during August
the WTI spot oil price declined by 7.2% and Brent oil by only 1.4%. Due to these
changes, the difference between Brent and WTI inclined to $26.41/bbl. Natural
gas Henry Hub future price (September delivery) sharply inclined by 3.58% to
RIMM’s Rally is Just About Finished
Research In Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM ) This designer and manufacturer of wireless
equipment is best known for its line of BlackBerry smartphones. But lately, each
new product offering seems to be upstaged by its rival, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL ).
RIMM broke its 20-day and 50-day moving averages in August, but unless a buyer
surfaces that can acquire the company, it is likely that the recent rally will
falter around the current level. Note the gap at $30 to $35 and major resistance
at its bearish resistance line at $35. Holders should sell into this rally. See
Sam Collins' Daily Market Outlook: What Stands in the Bulls' Way Now See
Serge Berger's Daily Market Outlook: Why Traders May Want to Take an Early
Vacation
equipment is best known for its line of BlackBerry smartphones. But lately, each
new product offering seems to be upstaged by its rival, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL ).
RIMM broke its 20-day and 50-day moving averages in August, but unless a buyer
surfaces that can acquire the company, it is likely that the recent rally will
falter around the current level. Note the gap at $30 to $35 and major resistance
at its bearish resistance line at $35. Holders should sell into this rally. See
Sam Collins' Daily Market Outlook: What Stands in the Bulls' Way Now See
Serge Berger's Daily Market Outlook: Why Traders May Want to Take an Early
Vacation
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