Pacific Gas & Electric Co. says it expects to face federal criminal charges stemming from a 2010 gas pipeline explosion in San Bruno, Calif. The blast killed eight people and devastated a residential neighborhood.
In a regulatory filing Thursday with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the utility company said federal prosecutors likely will charge it violated safety, management and record-keeping provisions of the federal Pipeline Safety Act.
The company said in a prepared statement that it did not believe it had violated the law and that charges were not merited.
"We've learned the tragic lesson of San Bruno that safety must always come first,'' 'PG&E Chairman and CEO Tony Earley said.
The Sept. 9, 2010 blast, attributed to a failed underground pipeline, killed eight people, injured dozens of others and ignited a fireball that consumed 38 homes in the bedroom community south of San Francisco and just two miles from San Francisco International Airport.
CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. (CEMEX), incorporated on January 20, 1931, is a global cement manufacturer with operations in North America, Europe, South America, Central America, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. The Company is a holding company engaged through the operating subsidiaries in the production, distribution, marketing and sale of cement, ready-mix concrete, aggregates and clinker. As of December 31, 2009, the Company�� cement production facilities were located in Mexico, the United States, Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, Croatia, Latvia, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Egypt, the Philippines and Thailand.
The Company manufactures cement through a closely controlled chemical process, which begins with the mining and crushing of limestone and clay, and, in some instances, other raw materials. The clay and limestone are then pre-homogenized, a process which consists of combining different types of clay and limestone. The mix is typically dried, then fed into a grinder, which grinds the various materials in preparation for the kiln. The raw materials are calcined, or processed, at a very high temperature in a kiln, to produce clinker. Clinker is the intermediate product used in the manufacture of cement.
Ready-mix concrete is a combination of cement, fine and coarse aggregates, admixtures (which control properties of the concrete including plasticity, pumpability, freeze-thaw resistance, strength and setting time), and water. The Company is a supplier of aggregates primarily the crushed stone, sand and gravel, used in virtually all forms of construction.
Mexican Operations
During the year ended December 31, 2009, the Mexican operations represented approximately 21% of the Company�� net sales. CEMEX Mexico is a direct subsidiary of CEMEX and is both a holding company for some of the operating companies in Mexico and an operating company involved in the manufacturing and ma! rketing of cement, plaster, gypsum, groundstone and other construction materials and cement by-products in Mexico. CEMEX Mexico, indirectly, is also the holding company for the international operations. The Company owns Tolteca, Monterrey, Maya, Anahuac, Campana, Gallo, and Centenario brands in Mexico. As of December 31, 2009, the Company owned 100% of CEMEX Mexico.
The Company competes with Holcim Ltd., Sociedad Cooperativa Cruz Azul, Cementos Moctezuma, Grupo Cementos Chihuahua and Lafarge Cementos in Mexico.
U.S. Operations
As of December 31, 2009, the Company�� operations in the United States represented approximately 19% of the Company�� net sales. As of December 31, 2009, the Company held 100% of CEMEX, Inc. As of December 31, 2009, CEMEX had a cement manufacturing capacity of approximately 17.9 million tons per year in the United States operations. As of December 31, 2009, the Company operated 14 cement plants located in Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Texas. As of December 31, 2009, it also had 48 rails or water served active cement distribution terminals in the United States. As of December 31, 2009, the Company had 336 ready-mix concrete plants located in the Carolinas, Florida, Georgia, Texas, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, California, Oregon and Washington and aggregates facilities in North Carolina, South Carolina, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, and Washington.
Spanish Operations
As of December 31, 2009, the operations in Spain represented approximately 5% of the Company�� net sales. As of December 31, 2009, the Company held approximately 99.8% of CEMEX Espana, the main operating subsidiary in Spain. The cement activities in Spain are conducted by CEMEX Espana. The ready-mix concrete activities in Spain are conducted by Hormicemex, S.A., a subsidiary of CEMEX Espana, and the aggregates activities in Spain ar! e conduct! ed by Aricemex S.A., also a subsidiary of CEMEX Espana.
U.K. Operations
As of December 31, 2009, the Company�� operations in the United Kingdom represented approximately 8% of the Company�� net sales. As of December 31, 2009, it held 100% of CEMEX Investments Limited, the holding subsidiary in the United Kingdom. The Company is a provider of building materials in the United Kingdom with vertically integrated cement, ready-mix concrete, aggregates and asphalt operations. It is also a provider of concrete and precast materials solutions, such as concrete blocks, concrete block paving, roof tiles, flooring systems and sleepers for rail infrastructure.
The Company competes with Lafarge, Heidelberg, Tarmac, and Aggregate Industries in the United Kingdom.
German Operations
As of December 31, 2009, the operations in the Rest of Europe consisted of the operations in Germany, France, Ireland, Poland, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Austria and Hungary, as well as the other European assets. The Company is a provider of building materials in Germany, with vertically integrated cement, ready-mix concrete, aggregates and concrete products operations (consisting mainly of prefabricated concrete ceilings and walls). It maintains a network for ready-mix concrete and aggregates in Germany. As of December 31, 2009, the Company held 100% of CEMEX Deutschland AG, the holding subsidiary in Germany.
The Company competes with Heidelberg, Dyckerhoff, Lafarge, Holcim and Schwenk in Germany.
French Operations
As of December 31, 2009, the Company held 100% of CEMEX France Gestion (S.A.S.), the holding subsidiary in France. It is a ready-mix concrete producer and aggregate producer in France. As of December 31, 2009, the Company operated 239 ready-mix concrete plants in France, one maritime cement terminal located in LeHavre, on the northern coast of France, 20 land distribution centers and 42 aggregates quarries.
The Company competes with Lafarge, Holcim, Italcementi, Vicat, Lafarge, Italcementi, Colas (Bouygues) and Eurovia (Vinci) in France.
Irish Operations
As of December 31, 2009, the Company held approximately 61.2% of Readymix Plc, the operating subsidiary in the Republic of Ireland. The operations in Ireland produce and supply sand, stone and gravel, as well as ready-mix concrete, mortar and concrete blocks. As of December 31, 2009, we operated 43 ready-mix concrete plants, 27 aggregates quarries and 15 block plants located in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man. The Company imports and distributes cement in the Isle of Man.
The Company competes with CRH, the Lagan Group and Kilsaran in the Republic of Ireland.
Polish Operations
As of December 31, 2009, the Company held 100% of CEMEX Polska Sp. z.o.o. (CEMEX Polska), the holding subsidiary in Poland. It is a provider of building materials in Poland serving the cement, ready-mix concrete and aggregates markets. As of December 31, 2009, CEMEX operated two cement plants and one grinding mill in Poland, with a total installed cement capacity of three million tons per year. As of December 31, 2009, the Company also operated 39 ready-mix concrete plants and nine aggregates quarries in Poland. As of December 31, 2009, the Company also operated 10 land distribution centers and two maritime terminals in Poland.
The Company competes with Heidelberg, Lafarge, CRH and Dyckerhoff in Poland.
Southeast European Operations
As of December 31, 2009, the Company held 100% of CEMEX Hrvatska d.d. (Hrvatska), the operating subsidiary in Croatia. As of December 31, 2009, it operated three cement plants in Croatia, with an installed capacity of 2.4 million tons per year. As of December 31, 2009, the Company also operated ten land distribution centers, three maritime cement terminals, eight ready-mix concrete facilities and one aggregates quarry! in Croat! ia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Serbia and Montenegro.
Advisors' Opinion: - [By GuruFocus]
George Soros (Trades, Portfolio) just reported his first quarter portfolio. He buys Citrix Systems Inc, Baker Hughes Inc, Comcast Corp, Spansion Inc, etc during the 3-months ended 03/31/2014, according to the most recent filings of his investment company, Soros Fund Management LLC. As of 03/31/2014, Soros Fund Management LLC owns 305 stocks with a total value of $10.1 billion. These are the details of the buys and sells.New Purchases: BHI, CODE, CTRP, CLI, AVB, COMM, CNQ, AGO, AUY, ATML, ASH, BXMT, CSTM, AEM, CMA, ARE, CHKP, AUQ, BEAV, CX, ADSK, AALCP, BLK, AIG, BIIB, ADEP, AMRI, ARWR, ATHX, BALT, BCRX, BEAT, CFX, CLFD, CUR, CODE,Added Positions: CTXS, CMCSA, CNP, ALTR, BRCD, CBS, CRM, CHTR, CCJ, CIEN, BIDU, ALLE, ABT, CDNS, ACT,Reduced Positions: AAPL, CCI, AMT, ABBV, AAL, BITA, AL, ANGI, ARIA, CBST, BA, BIRT, EXAR,Sold Out: C, BAC, CRI, AMZN, AGN, CF, BRCM, COTY, BMY, AMCX, CAR, A, ADBE, AFL,For the details of George Soros (Trades, Portfolio)'s stock buys and sells, go to http://www.gurufocus.com/StockBuy.php?GuruName=George+SorosThis is the sector weightings of his portfolio:Technology18.9%Energy14%Healthcare8.3%Consumer Defensive8.2%Communication Services8.1%Consumer Cyclical5.4%Industrials5.1%Basic Materials4.9%Financial Services2.5%Real Estate1.9%Utilities0.5%These are the top 5 holdings of George Soros (Trades, Portfolio)1. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (TEVA) - 10,310,041 shares, 5.4% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 10.67%2. Herbalife Ltd (HLF) - 4,901,337 shares, 2.8% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 52.9%3. EQT Corp (EQT) - 2,573,814 shares, 2.5% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 3.27%4. Adecoagro SA (AGRO) - 25,915,076 shares, 2.1% of the total portfolio.5. Halliburton Co (HAL) - 3,596,353 shares, 2.1% of the total portfolio. Shares reduced by 20.73%New Purchase: Baker Hughes Inc (BHI)George Soros (Trades, Portfolio) initiated holdings in Baker Hughes Inc. His purchase prices were between $51.82 and $65.27, with an estimated
- [By Dan Caplinger]
Even now, though, it's far from clear whether the recent rebound has staying power. Earlier this month, peer Vulcan Materials (NYSE: VMC ) reported 5% lower shipments of aggregates, although rising prices helped offset the impact, and the company noted double-digit-percentage increases in shipments to hot housing areas including Arizona, California, and Florida. Similarly, Cemex (NYSE: CX ) posted a substantial loss for its March quarter on with 5% lower revenue, but the Mexican company pointed to strength in the U.S. and Asian markets as offsetting weakness in Mexico, Europe, and Latin America.
- [By Monica Wolfe]
Cemex SAB de CV (CX)
As of the close of the third quarter there were nine guru owners of Cemex. These gurus held a combined weighting of 5.30%. During the third quarter, there were three gurus making buys and nine making sells of their stake in CX.
- [By Ben Levisohn]
Shares of Vulcan have gained 7.6%, and given a lift to other cement makers today, including Martin Marietta Materials (MLM), which has risen 4.9% and reports earnings on Thursday, Cemex (CX), which has advanced 1.5%, and Texas Industries (TXI), which is up 4.9%.
Top 10 Heal Care Stocks To Watch For 2015: H&Q Life Sciences Investors (HQL)
H&Q Life Sciences Investors (the Fund) is a diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund's investment objective is long-term capital appreciation through investment in life science companies (including biotechnology, pharmaceutical, diagnostics, managed healthcare and medical equipment, hospitals, healthcare information technology and services, devices and supplies) agriculture and environmental management. The Fund invests primarily in securities of public and private companies.
The Fund may invest in venture capital and other restricted securities if these securities would comprise 40% or less of net assets. The Fund may purchase and sell (or write) put or call options on any security in which it is permitted to invest. It may purchase and sell (write) options on stock indices (index options). H&Q Life Sciences Investors��investment advisor is Hambrecht & Quist Capital Management, LLC.
Advisors' Opinion: - [By Nate Pile]
This recommended fund��ambrecht & Quist Life Sciences Fund (HQL)��as also our top pick last year, and the fund rose 44% in 2013.
In addition to rising in value, the fund has a dividend policy of paying out 2% of its net asset value of each quarter.
Top 10 Heal Care Stocks To Watch For 2015: Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P.(PSE)
Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P. engages in the ownership and acquisition of oil and natural gas properties in the United States. As of December 31, 2009, it had non-operated working interests in approximately 1,155 producing wells located in the Spraberry field in the Permian Basin of west Texas. Pioneer Natural Resources GP LLC serves as the general partner of the company. The company was founded in 2007 and is based in Irving, Texas. Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P. is a subsidiary of Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc.
Advisors' Opinion: - [By Robert Rapier]
Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners (NYSE: PSE) closes out the top five MLP performers for the year with a gain of 87 percent. However, units of this Texas-based upstream MLP that owned more than 1,100 wells in the Permian Basin area are no longer available, as the partnership merged with sponsor Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE: PXD) on Dec. 17.
Top 10 Heal Care Stocks To Watch For 2015: Summer Infant Inc.(SUMR)
Summer Infant, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the design, marketing, and distribution of branded juvenile health, safety, and wellness products primarily in North America and the United Kingdom. It offers products in various product categories, including nursery audio/video monitors, safety gates, durable bath products, bed rails, nursery products, booster and potty seats, bouncers, travel accessories, high chairs, swings, feeding products, car seats, and nursery furniture, as well as infant thermometers, related health and safety products, cribs, baby gear, swaddling blankets, and bottles. The company sells its products principally under the Summer Infant, Carter?s, and Disney brand names through mass merchant retailers and specialty retailers, as well as directly to consumers. Summer Infant, Inc. is headquartered in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.
Advisors' Opinion: - [By Lisa Levin]
Summer Infant (NASDAQ: SUMR) shares dropped 3.69% to $3.65 after the company reported Q2 results.
Nordstrom (NYSE: JWN) tumbled 3.86% to $66.04 after the company reported Q2 results. The company reported earnings of $183 million, or $0.95 per share.
Top 10 Heal Care Stocks To Watch For 2015: CenturyLink Inc.(CTL)
CenturyLink, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated communications company. The company provides a range of communications services, including voice, Internet, data, and video services in the continental United States. Its services include local exchange and long distance voice telephone services, as well as enhanced voice services, such as call forwarding, caller identification, conference calling, voicemail, selective call ringing, and call waiting; wholesale local network access services; and data services, including high-speed Internet access services, data transmission services over special circuits and private lines, and switched digital television services, as well as special access and private line services. The company also offers fiber transport, competitive local exchange carrier, security monitoring, and other communications, as well as professional and business information services. In addition, it provides other related services, such as leasing, selling, installing, and maintaining customer premise telecommunications equipment and wiring; payphone services; and network database services, as well as participates in the publication of local telephone directories. Further, the company offers printing, direct mail services, and cable television services; and wireless broadband Internet access services and satellite television services. As of December 31, 2010, it operated approximately 6.5 million telephone access lines. CenturyLink, Inc was founded in 1968 and is based in Monroe, Louisiana.
Advisors' Opinion: - [By Mike Deane]
CenturyLink, Inc. (CTL) announced its third quarter earnings after the bell on Wednesday, with core revenues tumbling 1% from last year’s Q3 figure.
CTL Earnings In Brief
-The company announced operating revenues of $4.52 billion, which was slightly above the analyst consensus of $4.51 billion.
-The company’s adjusted earnings came in at $375 million, or 63 cents per share; this is in line with analysts’ EPS estimates.
-CTL gave EPS guidance for the fourth quarter of 55 cents to 60 cents, which is below the 63 cents that analysts are expecting.
-Q4 guidance for revenue is in the range of $4.5 billion to $4.55 billion, which is in line with analysts’ views.
CEO Commentary
Glen F. Post III, the CEO and president of CenturyLink, had the following to say about the company’s quarterly results:
“Overall, we continue to perform well with particular strength in our Business segment where sustained demand for high-bandwidth services and solid sales momentum continue to drive strong results.�Despite this overall solid operating performance in the third quarter, there was a special item which significantly impacted our�financial results�for the quarter. We were required, under GAAP, to recognize a non-cash $1.1 billion impairment to the goodwill assigned to our Data Hosting segment. While we continue to be optimistic and encouraged about the future growth potential and value of our Data Hosting business, we are not currently achieving the forecasted growth and cash flows we originally projected.�As part of our accounting valuation process, past performance was a factor in the development of growth projections for our Data Hosting business in future periods.”
No Mention of Dividend�
CTL did not mention its dividend in the quarterly report, and last paid a dividend on September 19. Look for CTL to declare a dividend in mid-November. The company’s last dividend mov
- [By Dan Caplinger]
You can find many examples of this phenomenon recently:
Late last month, Pitney Bowes (NYSE: PBI ) cut its dividend in half after announcing worse-than-expected sales and income. The stock had suffered from weakness in Pitney Bowes' core mailing and enterprise business solutions segments, and the company chose to sacrifice its former double-digit yield in order to shore up its financial condition. Even after the cut, the stock still yields a fairly high 5%. In February, CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL ) cut its dividend by about 25%, again after reporting weak guidance for its earnings for the remainder of 2013. Even though the rural telecom company chose simply to put cash previously earmarked to pay its former yield of 7% toward share buybacks instead, the stock plunged more than 20% in response to the move, although it has rebounded significantly since then as investors recognized the fundamental benefits to the company from the capital reallocation. Until three months ago, Cliffs Natural Resources (NYSE: CLF ) had a high dividend yield approaching 7% despite terrible conditions in its iron-ore and metallurgical-coal businesses. After announcing earnings in mid-February, the company cut its dividend by more than three-quarters in a move that will conserve cash for the ailing producer of raw materials for steel production. Now, the stock yields just 2.6%. That's not to say that all of the highest dividend paying stocks are doomed to reduce their payouts. Businesses that are designed to focus on maximizing cash flow rather than seeking growth can often sustain very high yields for years. Vanguard High Dividend Yield (NYSEMKT: VYM ) and other dividend ETFs use a combination of factors beyond simple yield to choose stocks with sustainable high payouts.
- [By Sue Chang and Polya Lesova]
CenturyLink Inc. (CTL) �shares rose 3%. The stock is one of the top net payout yield stocks so far in October, according to Seeking Alpha.
Top 10 Heal Care Stocks To Watch For 2015: Magellan Health Services Inc.(MGLN)
Magellan Health Services, Inc. engages in the specialty managed healthcare business in the United States. The company, through its contracted network of third-party treatment providers, offers managed behavioral healthcare services, including outpatient programs, such as counseling or therapy; intermediate care programs comprising intensive outpatient programs and partial hospitalization services; and inpatient treatment and crisis intervention services. It also provides radiology benefits management services, such as the delivery of diagnostic imaging and other therapeutic services through contracts with health plans and insurance companies, and governmental agencies. In addition, the company offers specialty pharmaceutical management services, including contracting and formulary optimization programs; specialty pharmaceutical dispensing operations; and medical pharmacy management programs. Its specialty pharmaceutical management services are provided under contracts with health plans, insurance companies, employers, and governmental agencies to manage specialty drugs used in the treatment of conditions, such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, hemophilia, infertility, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic forms of hepatitis, and other diseases. Further, the company provides Medicaid administration services comprising pharmacy point-of-sale claims processing systems and administration, drug utilization review, clinical prior authorization, utilization and formulary management services, preferred drug list programs, maximum allowable cost programs, and drug rebate program services under contracts with health plans and public sector healthcare clients for Medicaid and other program recipients. It serves health plans, insurance companies, employers, labor unions, and various governmental agencies. Magellan Health Services, Inc. was founded in 1969 and is based in Avon, Connecticut.
Advisors' Opinion: - [By Seth Jayson]
Calling all cash flows
When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on Magellan Health Services (Nasdaq: MGLN ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.
- [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Magellan Health Services (NASDAQ: MGLN) shares tumbled 3.53 percent to $58.98 after the company reported a 50% drop in its fourth-quarter earnings.
- [By Lauren Pollock]
Magellan Health Services(MGLN), which manages public-sector pharmacy benefits programs and other health-care services, offered a preliminary earnings forecast for next year that badly missed Wall Street expectations as share repurchases and the effect of the Affordable Care Act tax are seen hurting the bottom line, while its revenue estimate was stronger than expected.
- [By Susan J. Aluise]
Although Medicaid has far slimmer margins than other business lines, MOH has the expertise to gain volume as enrollees grow. It also has a strong Medicaid franchise in two key states: California and Washington. MOH has a price to earnings growth (PEG) ratio of only 0.8, suggesting that the stock could be undervalued. It also has a forward P/E of 14, lower than many other healthcare stocks.
Healthcare Stocks: Magellan Health Services (MGLN) Magellan Health Services (MGLN) recently rebranded its business lines into three distinct units. The company’s behavior health affiliates, along with integrated health business Magellan Complete Care, are branded under the Magellan Healthcare business. Magellan Rx Management focuses on Magellan’s pharmacy business. And the specialty solutions business is now branded under NIA Magellan.
Top 10 Heal Care Stocks To Watch For 2015: CafePress Inc (PRSS)
CafePress Inc. (CafePress), incorporated on October 15, 1999, is an e-commerce platform enabling customers globally to create, buy and sell a range of customized and personalized products. It serves its customers, including both consumers and content owners, through its portfolio of e-commerce Websites, including its Website, CafePress.com. Its consumers include individuals, groups, businesses and organizations. These products include clothing and accessories, art and posters, stickers, home accents and stationery. Its content owners include individual designers, as well as artists and branded content licensors. During the year ended December 31, 2011, it shipped over 7.8 million products from a catalog of over 320 million products. It operates a portfolio of branded Websites, including CafePress.com, and enable resellers and co-branded websites to design and customize products, which target specific consumers, products and use cases, or to provide their customers with product customization capabilities. During 2011, it had nearly 130,000 new images uploaded to its retail e-commerce Websites on average per week. In October 2011, the Company acquired L&S Retail Ventures, Inc. In April 2012, it acquired all of the assets of Logo'd Softwear, Inc. On October 25, 2012, the Company acquired EZ Prints, Inc.
The Company generates revenues from sales of customized products through its e-commerce Websites and associated charges. In addition, it generates revenues from fulfillment services, including print and production services provided to third parties. Consumers purchase customized products directly from Website or through storefronts hosted by CafePress. Customized products include user-designed products, as well as products designed by its content owners. The Company�� services evolved into a platform consist of front-end design and sales channels, and back-end services platform. Its e-commerce Websites and sales channels include CafePress.com, CanvasOnDemand.com, Imagekind.com, GreatBigCanv! as.com, InvitationBox.com, CafePress content owners, branded product manufacturers, other retailers and distributed sales. CanvasOnDemand.com takes photographs and transforms them into canvas artwork. Imagekind.com is where consumers can find artwork by independent artists that can be produced on posters, canvases and framed wall art. GreatBigCanvas.com is a provider of canvas wall art and panoramic canvas photographs. InvitationBox.com is an online provider of stationery products, including invitations, announcements and other products and gifts.
Content owners, including designers, artists, small businesses, groups, clubs and organizations, use the Company�� e-commerce platform to design their own products and sell them through their own hosted e-commerce shop. In addition to such individual content owners, entertainment and publishing companies also license to its materials related to their products for creation of their own shops, online store experiences appearing embedded in their Websites but hosted by it, or for sale directly by it in its marketplaces. By supplying custom design tools and manufacturing services, it enables product manufacturers, such as Sigg and TomTom to offer customized designs on their products. It supplies distributors and resellers with short-run and quick-turn custom printed products. Its back-end services form a platform consisting of the components, which can be used to create front-end buyer and seller experiences, which include user-generated content, licensed fan content, design tools, shops, print/production and fulfillment. Content owners sell their own custom merchandise using its turn-key shops platform, which includes hosting, payment processing, marketing services, fulfillment and customer service. The Company offers users printing on over 600 product stock keeping units (SKUs). It processes and ship orders within three business days after a customer places an order and in many instances can ship orders within 24 hours after an order is placed.! p>
!
Merchandise Assortment
Users visiting one of the Company e-commerce Websites can select from over 600 SKUs of merchandise to customize. Its merchandise catalog includes clothing and accessories, which include t-shirts, sweatshirts, baby products, bags and hats; arts, posters and signs, which include posters, framed art, canvas art, wall decals and signs; stickers and flair, which include stickers, buttons and device cases; home ascents, which include mugs, water bottles and clocks, and stationery, such as business cards, invitations, calendars and journals.
Online Designers
The Company�� portfolio of e-commerce Websites are designed to make product customization simple and easy. Once a product has been selected, users can perform a range of design and editing functions, including uploading their own designs and photos; adding text; adding stock art; scaling and rotating images to fit products; repositioning product elements using conventional and intuitive drag-and-drop functionality; changing fonts or font characteristics, and changing color schemes.
Shops
The Company�� shops platform allows users to sell and market their designed merchandise to their own communities. In addition to customizing the products that they sell, content owners may also customize the look and feel of shops, through which they sell their products. It provides a range of tools to help users market and manage their stores, including basic search engine optimization, e-mail list management and real-time sales reports.
Design, sales and customer service support
The Company is providing customer service, including phone, e-mail and chat support. Its support centers also offer design support to members customizing their own items receive finished products.
The Company competes with Amazon.com, eBay, Etsy, CustomInk, Spreadshirt, Threadless, Zazzle, VistaPrint and Shutterfly.
Advisors' Opinion: - [By CRWE]
CafePress Inc. (Nasdaq:PRSS), The World’s Customization EngineTM, reported an expansion of its longstanding partnership with National Geographic, one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations, with the launch of a new art shop, bringing its legendary photography collection to life on canvas and framed art pieces.
- [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]
www.fossil.com From the world's largest retailer stepping up with fresh financials to a maker of fashionable timepieces proving that it can still grow in this unwelcome climate for watchmakers, here are some of the things that will help shape the week that lies ahead on Wall Street. Monday -- Sounds Good DTS (DTSI) has carved a cozy living providing sound-enhancing technology in Blu-ray players, video game consoles and other devices. Despite its success, DTS is trading a lot closer to its 52-week low than its 52-week high. One thing holding it back is that it has failed to impress the market with its quarterly financials. It's coming off back-to-back quarters of falling short of Wall Street's profit expectations. It's against this setting that DTS will step up after Monday's market close to deliver its latest results. Will the streak of disappointment stretch to three quarters, or is DTS finally going to put out a report that looks as good as its audio technology sounds? We will know soon. Tuesday -- Fossil Fuel Fossil (FOSL) may seem to be toiling away in an industry worthy of its name. Aren't wristwatches dinosaurs? Who wears watches anymore when we have smartwatches to tell us the time. Folks with active lifestyles are saving their wrists for fitness bracelets. Well, Fossil is growing just nicely in this environment, thank you very much. When the trendy watchmaker reports on Tuesday analysts see revenue climbing 13 percent. They see top-line growth of 10 percent for all of 2014. Fossil's profitability isn't expected to clock in as nicely, but unlike DTS,we've seen Fossil blow Wall Street's profit targets away consistently over the past year. Wednesday -- Press Hard CafePress (PRSS) has been a disappointment for investors since going public at $19 two years ago. The stock opened higher on its first day of trading, but it's been mostly downhill for the shares, which now fetch less than a third of the initial public offering price. CafePress was hoping