Top Logistics Stocks To Buy Right Now

Top Logistics Stocks To Buy Right Now: Koninklijke KPN NV (KPN)

Koninklijke KPN NV (KPN) is a Netherlands-based telecommunications and information and communication technology (ICT) service provider. It is divided in two business areas: the Netherlands and Mobile International. The Netherlands includes segments: Mobile Consumer, which offers voice, text and data services, and mobile wholesale; Consumer Residential, providing fixed line services; Business, responsible for wireline and wireless voice and Internet, Cloud and integrated packages for corporate clients; NETCO, which offers wireless, copper and fiber network infrastructure and services for retail and wholesale customers; and Corporate Network, which provides solutions for workspace management, connectivity, information security and data centers, cloud-based and traditional software services and consulting. Mobile International consists of segments such as Germany, Belgium, Rest of the world; and iBasis, providing wholesale voice services and terminating of international calls wo rldwide. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Corinne Gretler]

  KPN (KPN) surged 16 percent to 2.32 euros as America Movil offered 2.40 euros a share for the company. The price -- a 20 percent premium to KPNs close yesterday -- would value the stake that America Movil doesnt already own at 7.2 billion euros ($9.6 billion). The Mexican mobile-phone operator has a 29.8 percent holding in KPN. An agreement between the two companies to limit America Movils stake to 30 percent expired after KPN agreed last month to sell its German business E-Plus to Telefonica SA.

• [By Namitha Jagadeesh]

  BP Plc and Royal Dutch Shell Plc each slipped at least 1 percent as crude declined after the U.K. parliament rejected a motion for military action against Syria. Royal KPN (KPN) NV slid 3.4 percent after America Movil SAB said it may withdraw its takeover bid if opposed by the companys independent foundation. Hermes International SCA climbed 2.! 1 percent after reporting operating profit that surpassed analysts estimates.

• [By Corinne Gretler]

  Royal KPN NV (KPN), the former Dutch phone monopoly, surged 13 percent to 1.80 euros as three people familiar with the matter said Telefonica SA is in advanced talks to take over its German mobile-phone business.

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/top-logistics-stocks-to-buy-right-now.html

Top 5 Dividend Companies To Invest In 2016

Top 5 Dividend Companies To Invest In 2016: Reynolds American Inc(RAI)

Reynolds American Inc. (RAI), through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells cigarette and other tobacco products in the United States. It offers cigarettes under the brand names of CAMEL, PALL MALL, WINSTON, KOOL, DORAL, SALEM, MISTY, and CAPRI; and cigarettes and other tobacco products under the NATURAL AMERICAN SPIRIT brand name, as well as manages various licensed brands, including DUNHILL and STATE EXPRESS 555. The company also provides smokeless tobacco products, including moist snuff under GRIZZLY and KODIAK brand names; pasteurized tobacco under CAMEL Snus brand name; milled tobacco under the brand name of CAMEL Dissolvables; other tobacco products, such as little cigars under WINCHESTER and CAPTAIN BLACK brand names; and roll-your-own tobacco under the brand name of BUGLER. RAI sells its products primarily through distributors, wholesalers, and other direct customers, including retail chains, as well as distributes its cigarettes to public warehouses. The compan y was founded in 1875 and is headquartered in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Reynolds American (NYSE: RAI) is estimated to report its Q3 earnings at $0.86 per share on revenue of $2.14 billion.

  Polaris Industries (NYSE: PII) is expected to report its Q3 earnings at $1.61 per share on revenue of $1.05 billion.

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/top-5-dividend-companies-to-invest-in-2016.html

DeLegge on ETFs’ Future, Spat With Bogle, as ETF Conference Nears

The growth in usage and assets of exchange traded funds has been both steady and spectacular. While ETFs can be used by active traders and buy-and-hold investors alike, advisors are increasingly using ETFs in client portfolios.

In its June 27 monthly report, the ICI counted $1.48 trillion in ETF assets in May, up from $1.1 trillion in May 2012, a rise of 37%, invested in 1,200 different ETFs (the first ETF, the SPDR, was introduced in January 1993).

While the cost- and trading efficiency of ETFs, and the ability to expose clients to broad or narrow swaths of the markets is well known, what’s less widely understood is how advisors can build efficient portfolios that meet client needs. According to a Cerulli survey released in May, advisors expect to increase their average allocation to ETFs this year. The survey found that of those advisors using ETFs, most use only a couple of ETFs at most for their clients, and the survey authors warn that even for those advisors who do adopt ETFs, it’s “highly unlikely that they will move to solely using” ETFs and abandon other investing vehicles totally in their client portfolios. 

That’s why the editors of AdvisorOne and Investment Advisor and Research magazines are presenting our first ETF virtual conference on Tuesday, July 23. This free event (advisors must register to attend) has already attracted nearly a thousand registrants, with featured speakers like Gary Gastineau, Rick Ferri, Skip Schweiss and keynote speaker Ron DeLegge (left), along with ETF experts from Morningstar, New York Investing and AdvisorShares.

Moderating each of the six sessions (attendees can attend one or all of the sessions, as they wish) throughout the day will be editors from AdvisorOne, Investment Advisor and Research. Moreover, since this is an advisor event programmed by editors, we’re also including a number of your advisor peers who will share with the audience how, when and for which clients they use ETFs (CFPs can also earn up to five hours of CE from the conference, preapproved by the CFP Board of Standards). 

So what is the state of the ETF industry, and what is its future? What are advisors doing right, and wrong, when it comes to using ETFs for their clients’ portfolios? Is it a question of either/or when it comes to ETFs or index mutual funds?

We asked keynoter Ron DeLegge, editor of ETFGuide.com who has written about ETFs for Research magazine for nearly a decade, to set the stage for the conference and to describe the environment in which advisors are using ETFs for clients.

Q. Could you give us a sneak preview of your keynote speech? What will you focus on?

A. What I want to focus on is the dynamics of how ETFs have revolutionized the way we manage investment portfolios, but also how advisors can manage their businesses for the next phase of asset growth by building a consistent approach to portfolio building—like Starbucks has done for coffee and McDonald’s for hamburgers.

There’s no reason for advisors to be inconsistent, while being efficient cuts operational risks, creates business efficiency and allows advisors to grow their practices by being in front of prospects instead of being in front of a computer screen, hand-constructing portfolios.

Q. What is the current state of the ETF industry? What can we expect in terms of new products? Will iShares, SSgA, Vanguard remain the dominant players?

A. There are almost 1,300 listed ETPs, managing $1.5 trillion across 18 different managers. Yes, there's been an increase in ETF upstarts, but 83% of ETF assets are controlled by the big three. That means 35 sponsors are competing for the remaining 17%, including most active [ETF] managers. The ETF marketplace has been focused too much on the next great vehicle; it’s good to be an innovator, but the real money is in distribution.

ETFs are a microcosm of what’s occurred in the mutual fund business where, driven by marketing, there are too many mutual funds. The number [of ETFs] is too many, but that won’t stop product developers.

For advisors, we’ve seen asset growth in ETFs for nine out of the past 10 years. So ETFs are now a mainstream movement, and clients are much less likely to look at them oddly when the advisor talks about ETFs, but there’s also more confusion today than there was a few years ago. 

Q. How are advisors using ETFs, and how are they misusing them, in client portfolios?

A. I think advisors are successfully using ETFs as individual stock and active mutual funds replacements. They're also [using ETFs] to capitalize on major investment themes, such as faltering performance from [emerging-market] stocks; we’ve seen that play out this year.

Some advisors are using ETFs effectively, but not enough advisors are using index-based ETFs as core positions, rather than satellite. It’s befuddling to me; look at performance in the last five tumultous years. Look at core mutual funds, which have been devastated by ETFs; over 75% of large-cap actively managed mutual funds have underperformed the S&P over the past five [years]. Mid-cap funds? 80%. Small-cap mutual funds performed even worse; 90% have underperformed. The last five years have totally debunked the claim that active managers outperform the markets, especially in smaller-cap funds. Advisor have to align portfolios with the facts, rather than fairy tales and myths perpretrated by fund marketers.

Q. Is that behind your dispute with John Bogle? 

A. No, that's a separate issue. He’s blaming ETFs for behavioral reasons, [saying] the problem with knives is that they cut too many people, or water is dangerous because people drown, or let’s eliminate cars because of car crashes. His argument is that because of the massive trading volume of ETFs, it hurts buy-and-holders. He has since admitted that there are ways to use ETFs in portfolios. And by the way, you can’t buy and hold forever; we don’t live forever. ETFs give you intraday liquidity, a flexible option — we shouldn’t demonize the feature of that product. Bogle and I still disagree, but our philosophies about indexing — we’re 100% on the same page on that. Our disagreements are completely respectful.

Q. Finally, when will we see adoption of ETFs in defined contribution plans like 401(k)s? What will be the catalyst?

A. The catalyst will be similar to the development of the e-reader and the e-book. We’ve had tablets since the 1980s, but it was only recently that breakthroughs with ipads and Kindles upended the publishing business. So who are the biggest beneficiaries of this movement? The ones who are early to the curve.

The lesson for ETF-focused advisors is be five minutes early rather than 10 minutes late; now is the time to prepare your businesses for this trend, to team up with technology providers and forward-thinking TPAs who are embracing this movement, rather than defending this dying legacy; align your businesses with ennablers who embrace this movement.

The catalyst is to educate yourself as an advisor as to who these technology providers are, how to plug your businesses into theirs and vice versa. Advisors can’t do this alone; you'll need to plug into partners, a team of enablers, like technology and fund companies.

Q. Will advisor custodians have a role to play?

A. Custodians are important to the mix. Schwab has been planning it for the last couple of years—an ETF(k) platform, which might force other custodians to come up with a solution. Schwab could be like Apple with the iPhone and iPad. They’ve got their own branded ETFs, so it's a natural fit. I’d like to see Schwab take their time and get it right, rather than rush and get it wrong, but they’ll be a force to be reckoned with. It could be the same thing they did with the [OneSource] mutual fund marketplace by applying the same methodology to the ETF market.

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To register for this event, we invite you to visit the virtual conference home page, ETFs: What Advisors Need to Know for Successful Portfolio Building, or go directly to the registration page.

5 Best Building Product Stocks To Own For 2016

5 Best Building Product Stocks To Own For 2016: Deckers Outdoor Corporation(DECK)

Deckers Outdoor Corporation engages in the design, manufacture, and marketing of footwear and accessories for outdoor activities and casual lifestyle use to men, women, and children. The company offers luxury footwear and accessories under the UGG brand name; high performance multi-sport shoes, rugged outdoor footwear, and sport sandals under the Teva brand name; casual and sustainable-lifestyle sneakers and accessories under the Simple brand name; casual footwear under the TSUBO brand name; and outdoor performance and lifestyle footwear under the Ahnu brand name. Its accessories include handbags and cold weather outerwear. The company sells its products primarily to specialty retailers, department stores, outdoor retailers, sporting goods retailers, shoe stores, and online retailers. Deckers Outdoor Corporation also sells its products directly to end-user consumers through its Web sites, call centers, retail concept stores, and retail outlet stores, as well as through ret ailers in the United States. In addition, the company distributes its products through independent distributors and retailers in Europe, Canada, Australia, Asia, and Latin America. It has a joint venture with Stella International Holdings Limited for the opening of retail stores and wholesale distribution for the UGG brand in China. Deckers Outdoor Corporation was founded in 1973 and is headquartered in Goleta, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  The Q3 2014 earnings report for small cap Crocs, Inc (NASDAQ: CROX), a potential peer of Deckers Outdoor Corp (NYSE: DECK) and Nike Inc (NYSE: NKE), is scheduled for after the market closes on Monday (October 27th). Aside from the Crocs, Inc earnings report, it should be said that Deckers Outdoor Corp will report Q2 2015 earnings when the market closes to! day while Nike Inc reported Q1 2015 on September 25th (revenue and earnings were both above expectations). The last time Crocs, Inc reported earnings, shares rose over 12% on an announcement of a restructuring plan.

• [By Suravi Thacker]

  Some of the prominent players in the industry are Crocs (CROX), Deckers Outdoor Corporation (DECK) and Wolverine World Wide (WWW). Each of the players has adopted a variety of ways to attract customers and boost its revenue.

• [By Eric Volkman]

  Getty Images/Scott Olson The demise of Crocs (CROX), it seems, may have been greatly exaggerated. Remember the company's signature product? Close to a decade ago, those colorful, clunky resin clogs were all the rage. The company that made them couldn't sell the things fast enough, at one point reaching sales of 50 million pairs in 2007. Then fashion moved on, as it always does, and the economic slowdown started to bite into sales. Crocs plunged from a $168 million net profit in 2007 to a $185 million loss in 2008. In 2009, the company nearly ran out of cash and had a hard time making payroll. But Crocs' fortunes have improved. In its most recent quarter, the firm posted a loss, but it was narrower than the market was expecting. And it's found an investor that believes in its future -- private equity giant Blackstone Group (BX), which recently provided a $200 million cash investment in return for a block of preferred shares eventually convertible into a stake of around 13 percent of the company. Perhaps the time has come to take those old clogs out of the closet, dust them off, and slip them on for a stroll. Stepping It Up Fashion is highly susceptible to consumer whim. The hot item is never hot for very long, and once consumers move on, it can be hard for the company to recover. In Crocs' case, this was exacerbated by its limited product line -- almost exclusively the clogs. The company learned from its mistakes. Since consumer tastes moved out of clog-land, Crocs has signific! antly bro! adened its product line to 300 styles. It now offers boots, flip-flops, deck shoes and slip-ons akin to the casuals from VF Corp.'s (VFC) Vans subsidiary. In terms of profitability, Crocs recovered quickly from its time in the fashion wilderness. From that 2008 bottom-line deficit of $185 million, the company sliced its loss to $42 million the following year, then stepped back into the black in 2010 (to the tune of $68 million). After two straight years of declines, revenue

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/5-best-building-product-stocks-to-own-for-2016.html

Hot Computer Hardware Stocks To Buy For 2016

Hot Computer Hardware Stocks To Buy For 2016: Timios National Corp (HOMS)

Timios National Corporation, formerly Homeland Security Capital Corporation, incorporated on August 12, 1997, provides radiological, nuclear, environmental, disaster relief and electronic security solutions to government and commercial customers. The Company is engaged in the strategic acquisition, operation, development and consolidation of companies operating in the chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive, (CBRNE), incident response and security marketplaces within the homeland security industry. It is building consolidated enterprises (platform companies) through the acquisition and integration of businesses in the homeland security industry, particularly businesses focused on CBRNE incident response. In August 2011, the Company sold its Nexus Technologies Group. In October 2011, the Company sold its Safety and Ecology Holding Corporation subsidiary to Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. In May 2012, the Company announced the acquisition by its subs idiary Timios, Inc. of Glenn County Title Company. In June 2013, Timios National Corp announced that it has completed the purchase of Glenn County Title Company (GCTC). In September 2013, Timios National Corp announced that it had executed a purchase agreement for the assets of Adobe Title, LLC.

The Company offers a range of management and operational services to each of its subsidiaries through a team of dedicated professionals. Its subsidiaries compensate its holding company for such services. Its core services include environmental remediation and restoration, regulatory compliance, facilities management, facility deactivation, decommissioning and demolition, emergency response, design and construction services and security integration to the United States government agencies, such as the Department of Energy (DOE), the Department of Defense ! (DoD), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the United states Arm y Corps of Engineers and the National Aeronautics and Space ! Administration (NASA). It conducts its operations through Safety & Ecology Holdings Corporation (Safety), its wholly owned subsidiary; Nexus Technologies Group, Inc. (Nexus), its 93% owned subsidiary, and Polimatrix, Inc. (PMX), its joint venture. Safety is an international provider of environmental, nuclear and radiological infrastructure remediation, disaster relief solutions and advanced construction services. Nexus designs, develops and installs integrated security systems for government and commercial clients. PMX markets, sells and distributes radiological detection equipment.

Safety & Ecology Holdings Corporation

Safety is a provider of global environmental, hazardous and radiological infrastructure remediation, upgrades and nuclear services in the United States and the United Kingdom. Safety's main business areas and service offerings include decommissioning and remediation environmental and remedial consultancy services; environmental an d consultancy services; nuclear energy design, build, refurbishment and operational support services, and instrumentation and measurement technologies. Safety offers a range of services that include characterization, decontamination, decommissioning of facilities, soil and groundwater remediation, infrastructure reduction and demolition, site preparation, excavation, and remedial system construction; underground and overhead utility installation; electrical and mechanical installation; security fencing and device installation and upgrades; building renovation; piping; roadways, parking lots, and drainage system construction/repair, and landfill remediation and capping.

Safety engages in facility deactivation, demolition and closure solutions, including project investigation; radiological pre-engineering; demolition planning; removing abo! ve ground! structures and structural components; storing, testing, certifying, processing and shipping nuclear waste, and abate ment of hazardous materials. Safety focuses its service offe! ring on t! he application and integration of health physics, industrial hygiene, hazardous material consultancy and safety and health. In addition, Safety couples its technology with its instrumentation offering, on-site radiological laboratory capabilities and mobile radiological materials license to provide radiological services and consultation. Safety provides integrated services to the nuclear energy industry. Safety provides specialized services to a customer base, including government agencies, commercial customers and major engineering and construction companies around the world that are focused in the nuclear new plant deployment initiative, facility operation, decommissioning and refurbishment. The elements of Safety's technology offering are instrumentation services and instrumentation technology, both of which are targeted to field investigations, characterizations of contaminants and clean-up and material management and disposal solutions.

The Company compe tes with Stoller, Cabrera, Portage, LATA Northwind, Demco, Eagle, Pro2Serv, PMTech, Navarro, Energy Solutions, the Washington Group, Tetra Tech, Shaw Environmental and C2HM Hill.

Nexus Technologies Group, Inc.

Nexus is a mid-Atlantic security integrator for the corporate and governmental security markets that specializes in the engineering and installation of custom designed integrated electronic security solutions, including access control, alarm, closed circuit television (CCTV), video, communication, perimeter protection and bomb and metal detection security systems. Nexus provides solutions to protect people, property and assets. As a systems integrator, Nexus designs, customizes, installs, integrates and maintains closed CCTV, access control, video and communication systems for its customers. Nexus has underta! ken proje! cts in a range of markets, including financial services, corporate and commercial, healthcare, government, nuclear utility serv ices, public transportation, airports, industrial complexes,! museums,! prisons, higher education and data centers. As a provider of custom engineered integrated security solutions, including access control, alarm/intrusion, CCTV, communication, perimeter protection and bomb and metal detection security systems, Nexus is aligned with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Nexus has focused on five sectors in which it intends to expand, both vertically and horizontally. These sectors are Financial Institutions, Infrastructure Security, Government Facilities, Education Facilities and Corporate Markets.

Financial Institutions include banks, brokerage facilities, trading facilities and foreign currency exchange centers. Infrastructure Security include nuclear power generating facilities, water processing facilities, electricity generating facilities, power transfer stations and transportation centers, which include highway, bridge, tunnel, airport, rail and port security. Government Facilities include federal, state and local governm ent buildings and offices, domestic and foreign embassies, military installations and police and fire department operations centers. Education Facilities include grammar, high school and college buildings, dorms and campuses, satellite learning centers and daycare centers. Corporate Markets include office buildings and grounds, parking lots, garages, retail locations, warehouses and apartment and condominium complexes.

The Company competes with Henry Brothers Electronics, Inc., Diebold, Inc. and ADT.

POLIMATRIX, INC.

PMX is a total solutions provider delivering radiation and nuclear protection and detection services through several engineered portable and stationary devices. PMX's business plan is the development and marketing of radiological detection products and services. PMX has develop! ed a rang! e of domestic and international marketing initiative in Washington, DC, Virginia and Illinois. These states have used the PMX detection d evices for a range of detection, prevention and first respon! der activ! ities. PMX's product line of portable detection devices are designed to detect potential threats and can be positioned along transportation routes or carried by nuclear power generating facility security personnel. It operates PMX with the assistance of Safety's personal.

The Company competes with Thermo Scientific and Canberra.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  However, there have been no further updates since then. A quick look on both Google Finance and Yahoo! Finance reveals the latest financials date from the end of September 2012 – meaning its investor beware.

  Timios National Corp (OTCMKTS: HOMS) Has No News Beyond Filings

  Small cap Timios National Corp is involved in the strategic acquisition, development and consolidation of real estate service businesses. Former Maryland Congressman C. Thomas McMillen, who served three consecutive terms in the U.S. House of Representatives from the 4th Congressional District of Maryland, heads the company. On Friday, Timios National Corp sank 32.28% to $1.28 for a market cap of $3.01 million plus HOMS is up 54.2% over the past year and up 1,013% over the past five years according to Google Finance.

• [By Peter Graham]

  Small cap stocks Timios National Corp (OTCMKTS: HOMS) and Lattice Inc (OTCMKTS: LTTC) surged 54.29% and 20.83%, respectively, while Unique Pizza & Subs Corp (OTCMKTS: UPZS) sank 27.27% last Friday. But today is a new trading week with the last two trading days for the year. So what will these three small caps do today, tomorrow and after New Years'? Here is a closer look:

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/hot-computer-hardware-stocks-to! -buy-for-! 2016.html

The Massive Market Sell-Off in 3 Charts

"In the next few months, we could take a step down in our pace of purchase," Ben Bernanke told a congressional committee at the end of last month. Sounds innocuous enough, but with those 16 words, the Federal Reserve chairman ignited a global repricing of assets.

First and foremost, stocks have been, and continue to be, hammered. After hitting an all-time intraday high of 15,542 on May 22, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) has fallen more than 800 points as of 3:20 p.m. EDT today. Following an overnight sell-off in Asia, the blue-chip index is down 89 points, or 0.6%, having bounced back from losses of more than 200 points earlier in the day.

^DJI data by YCharts.

Furthermore, with reduced inflation expectations come lower gold prices. Since last October, the precious metal and inflation hedge has lost nearly a third of its value, dropping from about $1,800 an ounce down to about $1,300 an ounce today. Unsurprisingly, the world's largest gold exchange-traded fund, SPDR Gold Shares (NYSEMKT: GLD  ) , has followed suit, declining by 22% over the past six months alone.

Gold Price in US Dollars data by YCharts.

And finally, the yield on the 10-year Treasury has shot up -- meaning that the underlying bond prices have declined. Nearly a year ago, the benchmark security yielded less than 1.5%. Today, it's yielding more than 2.6%. It follows, then, that the prices of ETFs holding longer-duration Treasuries have responded in kind. Among others, the iShares Barclays 7-10 Year Treasury (NYSEMKT: IEF  ) is off by 6.9% since the beginning of May. And on the other side of the equation, funds that are short government bonds like the ProShares UltraShort 20+ Year Treasury (NYSEMKT: TBT  ) are in the midst of an impressive rally.

TBT data by YCharts.

What does this mean for the individual investor? I think it's safe to say that there will be increased volatility in all asset classes over the foreseeable future as speculators continue to, well, speculate abuot the likely direction of monetary policy going forward. So if the volatility bothers you, then stop checking your brokerage account for a while. But if it doesn't, then watching how everything plays out could serve as a valuable and entertaining opportunity to learn. As Warren Buffett has said in the past, "QE is like watching a good movie, because I don't know how it will end."

10 Best Railroad Stocks To Buy Right Now

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Hot Integrated Utility Stocks To Own Right Now

Hot Integrated Utility Stocks To Own Right Now: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.(REGN)

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, discovers, develops, and commercializes pharmaceutical products for the treatment of serious medical conditions in the United States. The company?s commercial product includes ARCALYST (rilonacept) injection for subcutaneous use for the treatment of cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes, including familial cold auto-inflammatory syndrome and muckle-wells syndrome in adults and children. Its products under Phase III clinical development stage consist of VEGF Trap-Eye, an aflibercept ophthalmic solution developed using intraocular delivery for the treatment of serious eye diseases; ARCALYST for the prevention of gout flares in patients initiating uric acid-lowering treatment; and Aflibercept (VEGF Trap), which is developed in oncology. The company?s earlier stage clinical programs include various human antibodies, such as REGN727 for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol reduction, REGN88 for rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis; REGN668 for atopic dermatitis and asthma; REGN421 and REGN910 for oncology; REGN475 for the treatment of pain; and REGN728 and REGN846. It also conducts preclinical research programs in the areas of oncology and angiogenesis, ophthalmology, metabolic and related diseases, muscle diseases and disorders, inflammation and immune diseases, bone and cartilage, pain, cardiovascular diseases, and infectious diseases. The company distributes its products through third party service providers. It has strategic collaboration with sanofi-aventis Group to discover, develop, and commercialize human monoclonal antibodies; and Bayer HealthCare LLC to develop and commercialize VEGF Trap. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was founded in 1988 and is based in Tarrytown, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  RegeneronPharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) was started with an Outperform rating a! nd a $300 price target at Oppenheimer.

  SempraEnergy (NYSE: SRE) was started as Buy at KeyBanc Capital Markets.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Earlier today, the S&P 500 looked like it would close at an all-time high. Then the bears roared, and S&P 500 gave back about half its gains despite big moves in United Health (UNH), Humana (HUM), Pioneer Natural Resources (PXD),ExxonMobil (XOM) and Regeneron (REGN).

• [By Brian Orelli]

  Of course, shorting every FDA approval won't work and could be very costly. Check out Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: REGN  ) after the November 2011 approval of its macular degeneration drug, Eylea. Once prescription and sales data started rolling in -- smashing investors' expectations -- shares zoomed higher.

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/hot-integrated-utility-stocks-to-own-right-now-3.html

Best Cheap Companies To Invest In 2015

Yesterday, I wrote a piece where I listed the three categories that my investments typically fall into: Franchises, Cheap and Good Stocks, and Cheap Asset Stocks. I also described a 4th category called Special Situations that I occasionally participate in when I find an interesting idea. The vast majority of my investments fall into the first three categories, but recently, I've looked at two interesting special situations that have a few similarities.

Dell (DELL) and Ebix (EBIX) are two stocks that I've been following for some time. Both have shown up in Joel Greenblatt's screen for months, and I've considered both to be potential investment candidates. Both have CEO's with large ownership stakes, both have negative sentiment surrounding the stock (for different reasons), both look cheap using basic value metrics, and both have traded above their deal price, signaling the market might expect a higher bid.

I own Dell, but unfortunately let Ebix pass by after not being comfortable with their accounting. (This is a lesson in and of itself: when bad news causes a stock to drop dramatically, the market often over discounts the news. The market has a hard time efficiently pricing these types of scenarios, and in my experience, the initial reaction is often the worst (BP during the oil spill, HLF after the Ackman short announcement, etc...). The market tends to price things toward the worst case scenario end of the spectrum, but the worst case often does not materialize.

10 Best Low Price Stocks To Invest In 2016: USG Corporation(USG)

USG Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and distribution of building materials worldwide. The company offers gypsum and related products, including gypsum wallboard, joint compounds used for finishing wallboard joints, cement boards, glass mat sheathing, gypsum fiber panels, poured gypsum underlayments, ultra light panels, and various construction plaster products. Its gypsum products are used in various building applications to finish the interior walls, ceilings, and floors in residential, commercial, and institutional constructions, and repair and remodel constructions. The company also produces gypsum-based products for agricultural and industrial customers to use in various applications, including soil conditioning, road repair, fireproofing, and ceramics. In addition, it manufactures ceiling grid and acoustical ceiling tile for electrical and mechanical systems, and air distribution and maintenance applications. USG Corporation distribut es its gypsum products through specialty wallboard distributors, building materials dealers, home improvement centers and other retailers, contractors, and a network of distributors. Further, it distributes other manufacturers? gypsum wallboard, joint compound and other gypsum products, as well as drywall metal, insulation, and roofing products and accessories. The company sells its products under SHEETROCK, DUROCK, FIBEROCK, SECUROCK, LEVELROCK, RED TOP, IMPERIAL, DIAMOND, SUPREMO, AURATONE, ACOUSTONE, DONN, DX, FINELINE, CENTRICITEE, CURVATURA, and COMPASSO brands. The company was founded in 1901 and is based in Chicago, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Eric Volkman]

  She also serves as chairman of the United States Steel and Carnegie Pension Fund, and on that organization's investment committee. Outside of U.S. Steel, she sits on the board of directors of USG (NYSE: USG  ) and the Pennsylvania Business Council, among other entities.

• [By Holly LaFon]

  Pimco managing director Mark Kiesel mentions Whirlpool (WHR), Weyerhaeuser (WY), USG (USG), Toll Brothers (TOLL) and KB Home (KBH) as good plays on housing:�

Best Cheap Companies To Invest In 2015: Whole Foods Market Inc.(WFM)

Whole Foods Market, Inc. engages in the ownership and operation of natural and organic food supermarkets. The company offers produce, seafood, grocery, meat and poultry, bakery, prepared foods and catering, coffee and tea, nutritional supplements, and vitamins. It also provides specialty products, such as beer, wine, and cheese; body care and educational products, such as books; and floral, pet, and household products. As of February 9, 2011, the company operated 302 stores in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Whole Foods Market, Inc. was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in Austin, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Alanna Petroff]

  3. Earnings focus: Sprint (S) is among the big name companies posting results before the opening bell. Kraft Foods (KRFT) and Whole Foods (WFM) will report after the close.

• [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]

  Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg/Getty Images Plenty of stocks go up and down in any given week. The gainers inspire us to keep investing. The decliners keep greed in check while reminding us about the risks of the equity markets. Let's go over some of last week's best and worst performers. King Digital Entertainment (KING) -- Up 20 percent last week We're not playing "Candy Crush Saga" the way we used to, but some of King Digital's other mobile games are starting to show signs of life. Shares of the casual-gaming leader moved higher after it posted quarterly results. King Digital is no longer a one-trick pony. Gross bookings for non-"Candy Crush" games have soared 167 percent over the past year and now make up nearly half of King Digital's total gross bookings. The diversification is paying off. King Digital referred to App Annie data showing that its market share of worldwide revenue generated from casual games in the top 100 titles is 49 percent on iOS and 44 percent on Android. Whole Foods Market (WFM) -- Up 19 percent last week The country's leading organic grocer moved higher after posting better-than-expected quarterly results. Sales climbed 9 percent to $3.3 billion, fueled by expansion and a 3.1 percent uptick in comparable sales. Whole Foods Market's profit of 35 cents a share exceeded analyst estimates for the second quarter in a row. Things aren't perfect. Margins contracted once again with net income failing to grow as quickly as sales. Whole Foods is facing competition as mainstream grocers and discount department store chains stock up on cheaper organic food. However, with shares trading 19 percent lower so far this year -- even after last week's pop -- it's easy to see Whole Foods come through with a big move up on a refreshing earnings beat. Kate Spade (KATE) -- Up 12 percent last week The market for premium handbags has proven challenging for Coach (COH) over the past two years, but the same can't be said about smaller rival Kate Spade.

• [By Maxx Chatsko]

  Peach-mango salsa contains 0% of your recommended daily iron content, but if you purchase it from Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ: WFM  ) you'll get a full dose of irony. The fast-growing organic grocery chain -- a champion of the "Right to Know" movement attempting to pressure biotech food ingredients to come with labels -- has found itself in the midst of a massive food recall that has also affected Wal-Mart Stores (NYSE: WMT  ) , Wegmans, and Trader Joe's. Wawona Packing Company in California has issued a recall on fruits sold to hundreds of stores nationwide from June 1 to July 21 after the food tested positive for Listeria contamination. If investors aren't aware already, food recalls can have severe detrimental consequences for a company's bottom line.

Best Cheap Companies To Invest In 2015: Hewlett-Packard Company(HPQ)

Hewlett-Packard Company and its subsidiaries provide products, technologies, software, solutions, and services to individual consumers and small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), as well as to the government, health, and education sectors worldwide. Its Personal Systems Group segment offers commercial personal computers (PCs), consumer PCs, workstations, calculators and other related accessories, and software and services for the commercial and consumer markets. The company?s Services segment provides consulting, outsourcing, and technology services to infrastructure, applications, and business process domains. Its Imaging and Printing Group segment provides consumer and commercial printer hardware, supplies, media, and scanning devices, such as inkjet and Web solutions, laser jet and enterprise solutions, managed enterprise solutions, graphics solutions, and printer supplies. The company?s Enterprise Servers, Storage, and Networking segment offers industry standard s ervers, business critical systems, storage platforms, and networking products, including switches, routers, wireless LAN, and TippingPoint network security products. Its HP Software segment provides enterprise IT management software, information management solutions, and security intelligence/risk management solutions. The company?s HP Financial Services segment offers leasing, financing, utility programs, and asset recovery services; and financial asset management services for enterprise customers, as well as specialized financial services to SMBs, and educational and governmental entities. Hewlett-Packard Company also provides business intelligence solutions that enable businesses to standardize on consistent data management schemes, connect and share data across the enterprise, and apply analytics, as well as licenses its specific technology to third parties. The company was founded in 1939 and is headquartered in Palo Alto, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By vinaysingh]

  I have come across a sea of analyses discussing the turnaround story of Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) since the time this behemoth came under the control of CEO Meg Whitman. Meg took over the rein of a struggling HP after the Autonomy deal debacle and resolved to turnaround HP in a period of approximately 5 years. It has almost been more than 2 years and positive numbers around y-o-y growth, dividend etc. and strengthening presence of the company in core business areas already indicate a strong comeback.

• [By rsconsultant]

  As the personal machine business is shrinking, fittings giants like International Business Machines (IBM) and Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) are diversifying into fresher areas to accomplish development. Among the most talked-about markets in IT solutions are digital security and distributed computing. Both these segments have been developing at a brisk pace. IBM and HP, as well as other huge companies such as Oracle and Microsoft are also moving into these markets.

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Bucking the downward trend is Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ  ) , which soared 13% after CEO Meg Whitman said last night in the tech giant's quarterly report that her turnaround plan remains on track. The company posted impressive gains in cash flow from operations, and even though overall profit has not yet fully recovered, investors appear to be giving Whitman more latitude to see her long-range strategy play itself out. With initiatives in cloud computing, big data, and the mobile industry, HP is doing its best to move beyond its PC roots and create better growth opportunities for the future.

Best Cheap Companies To Invest In 2015: Bank of America Corporation(BAC)

Bank of America Corporation, a financial holding company, provides banking and nonbanking financial services and products to individuals, small- and middle-market businesses, large corporations, and governments in the United States and internationally. The company?s Deposits segment generates savings accounts, money market savings accounts, certificate of deposits, and checking accounts; and Global Card Services segment provides the U.S. consumer and business card, consumer lending, international card and debit card services. Its Home Loans & Insurance segment offers consumer real estate products and services, including mortgage loans, reverse mortgages, home equity lines of credit, and home equity loans. It also provides property, disability, and credit insurance. The company?s Global Commercial Banking segment offers lending products, including commercial loans and commitment facilities, real estate lending, leasing, trade finance, short-term credit, asset-based lending, and indirect consumer loans; and capital management and treasury solutions, such as treasury management, foreign exchange, and short-term investing options. Its Global Banking & Markets segment provides financial products, advisory services, settlement, and custody services; debt and equity underwriting and distribution, merger-related advisory services, and risk management products; and integrated working capital management and treasury solutions. The company?s Global Wealth & Investment Management segment offers investment and brokerage services, estate management, financial planning services, fiduciary management, credit and banking expertise, and asset management products. Bank of America Corporation serves customers through a network of approximately 5,900 banking centers and 18,000 automated teller machines. It was formerly known as NationsBank Corporation and changed its name on October 1, 1998. Bank of America Corporation was founded in 1874 and is based in Charlott e, North Carolina.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By David Hanson and Matt Koppenheffer]

  Recently, Bruce Berkowitz of the Fairholme Fund got bullish on financial stocks right around the same time that John Paulson got bearish and sold positions in Citigroup (NYSE: C  ) , Bank of America (NYSE: BAC  ) and JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM  ) .

• [By Rich Smith]

  AFP/Getty Images/Frederic J. Brown Over the past decade or so, waves of computer-aided identity theft have washed over the U.S. Since the first big hack attack on ChoicePoint in 2005, through more recent data breaches at Evernote, LivingSocial, and now the massive Target (TGT) breach involving 110 million pieces of data (just the third-largest data breach in U.S. history, by the way), companies have more or less figured out a routine for dealing with data breaches. You notify the FBI. You (eventually) notify your customers. And you replace everybody's credit cards. With the latest breach at Target, that process is already well under way. Megabanks like JP Morgan Chase (JPM), Bank of America (BAC), Wells Fargo (WFC), and Citigroup (C) have collectively handed out millions of new cards, with new card numbers, to customers whose data may have been compromised by the Target data breach. Last week, the Independent Community Bankers of America issued a release confirming its members -- small banks around the country -- have "reissued more than 4 million credit and debit cards." To ensure that credit and debit card numbers that hacker stole from Target and Neiman Marcus will soon be useless, ICBA member bankers absorbed costs in excess of $40 million. And as a result of their quick action, says the group, "community banks' initial fraud costs were relatively low, with less than 1 percent of community bank customers reporting fraud." So, while the Target breach and the "110 million pieces of data lost" sounds bad, the damage probably won't be as bad as you think. In fact, you can use this epic data fail to your advantage. You Have to Set up New Auto-Payments When your bank sends you a new credit or debit card, it will come with a new number to replace the one that Target lost. Your old number has been canceled. This means any automatic payment plans you've set up -- your subscriptions and the card numbers that you have preselected for payments on Amazon (AMZN), P

• [By Amanda Alix]

  Mortgage-related muddles have been taking up a lot of headline space recently as banks take it on the chin about their laxity in upholding a $25 billion foreclosure settlement, and mortgage-mess maker Bank of America (NYSE: BAC  ) faces two active lawsuits concerning its treatment of homeowners and investors.

• [By Matt Thalman]

  The Dow's financial stocks are also taking a hit today. Shares of Bank of America (NYSE: BAC  ) are down 0.8%, JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM  ) has lost 1% and American Express (NYSE: AXP  ) is 1.1% lower. One reason the banks may be slipping is a report from Oppenheimer analyst Chris Kotowski stating that mortgage-banking revenues declined 12.5% year over year during the second quarter, while investment-banking revenues rose 33% and trust, brokerage, and asset-management fees climbed 12.8%. The problem with these numbers is that the mortgage side of banks' businesses fell this year before rates rose for the full quarter, as they really only increased during part of May and June. This may lead investors to believe that in the third quarter the banks' mortgage businesses will again decline -- and perhaps by much more than just 12.5%.�

Best Cheap Companies To Invest In 2015: Capstone Turbine Corporation(CPST)

Capstone Turbine Corporation develops, manufactures, markets, and services turbine generator sets and related parts for use in stationary distributed power generation applications. Its stationary distributed power generation applications include cogeneration combined heat and power (CHP), integrated (CHP), resource recovery, and secure power, as well as combined cooling, heat, and power; and its products are used as battery charging generators for hybrid electric vehicle applications. The company primarily offers microturbine units, subassemblies, and components. It also provides various accessories, including rotary gas compressors with digital controls, heat recovery modules for CHP applications, dual mode controllers that allow automatic transition between grid connect and stand-alone modes, batteries with digital controls for stand-alone/dual-mode operations, power servers for multipacked installations, and protocol converters for Internet access, as well as frames, ex haust ducting, and installation hardware. Further, it remanufactures microturbine engines; and provides after-market parts and services, scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, and factory and on-site training services. The company?s microturbines can be fueled by various sources, including natural gas, propane, sour gas, landfill or digester gas, kerosene, diesel, and biodiesel. It primarily sells its products directly to end users, as well as through distributors in North America, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Russian Federation, and South America. Capstone Turbine Corporation was founded in 1988 and is based in Chatsworth, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  Capstone Turbine (CPST) develops, manufactures, markets, and services microturbine technology solutions for use in stationary distributed power generation applications worldwide. This stock closed up 2.5% to $1.22 in Tuesday's trading session.

  Tuesday's Range: $1.19-$1.23
  52-Week Range: $1.07-$2.60
  Tuesday's Volume: 6.73 million
  Three-Month Average Volume: 3.66 million

  From a technical perspective, CPST bounced notably higher here right off some near-term support at $1.20 with strong upside volume flows. This stock has been uptrending marginally over the last week or so with heavy upside volume flows. This move has now pushed shares of CPST within range of triggering near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if CPST manages to take out Tuesday's intraday high of $1.23 to its recent gap-down-day high of $1.30 with high volume.

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in CPST as long as it's trending above its recent low of $1.11 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 3.66 million shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then CPST will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $1.42 to $1.45, or even $1.55 to $1.60.

• [By Rick Munarriz]

  Capstone Turbine (NASDAQ: CPST  ) -- $1.30
  Things are finally starting to happen for the microturbine maker. Revenue is growing at a healthy clip, and analysts see Capstone finally turning a quarterly profit later this year.

• [By Tyler Crowe and Aimee Duffy]

  Over the past couple weeks Capstone Turbine (NASDAQ: CPST  ) shares have launched into orbit on the news that the company had secured several orders for its microturbines. But 40% in a month? On the surface, it seems a bit silly that a company could gain that much on a couple news stories about sales. For a company like Capstone, which has struggled with sales, this kind of news is exactly what shareholders were looking for.

Best Cheap Companies To Invest In 2015: LifePoint Hospitals Inc.(LPNT)

LifePoint Hospitals Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates general acute care hospitals in non-urban communities in the United States. The company?s hospitals provide a range of medical and surgical services comprising general surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics, emergency room care, radiology, oncology, diagnostic care, coronary care, rehabilitation services, and pediatric services, as well as specialized services, such as open-heart surgery, skilled nursing, psychiatric care, and neuro-surgery. Its hospitals also offer outpatient services, including one-day surgery, laboratory, x-ray, respiratory therapy, imaging, sports medicine, and lithotripsy. As of December 31, 2009, LifePoint Hospitals owned or leased 47 hospitals with a total of 5,552 licensed beds in 17 states. The company was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee. Lifepoint Hospitals Inc. (NasdaqNM:LPNT) operates independently of HCA Inc. as of May 11, 1999.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Yesterday afternoon, Pennsylvania announced that it would use federal dollars to pay private insurers to cover eligible Pennsylvanians. UBS analysts A.J. Rice and Jailendra Singh think Community Health Systems (CYH), Tenet Healthcare (THC) and LifePoint Hospitals (LPNT) stand to benefit the most from the deal:

• [By Keith Speights]

  The fun wasn't just limited to the big three hospital operators. Lifepoint Hospitals (NASDAQ: LPNT  ) stock jumped 5% on the CMS news, reflecting a $109 million market cap expansion. Likewise, Vanguard Health Systems (NYSE: VHS  ) shares climbed 5%, bumping its market cap up by�$55 million.

Best Forestry Companies To Buy For 2015

With earnings season now in full swing, let's look at which of the Dow Jones Industrial Average's (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) components are set to report earnings this week and what investors will probably be focusing on in those reports.

We'll hear from a number of the Dow's components this week. First up is McDonald's (NYSE: MCD  ) , which is scheduled to release results on Monday before the opening bell rings. Wall Street's estimate for earnings per share is $1.40, which will be important for the company to beat, though perhaps it's not the most important detail of the report. This has been a rough year for the fast-food restaurant, which has struggled with beating same-store sales figures. For most investors, that will be what they want to see in the report.

DuPont is on tap before the opening bell on Tuesday, with AT&T (NYSE: T  ) is set to report after the closing bell and post EPS of $0.68. We've seen a number of changes within the telecom industry over the past few months, and it should be interesting to see whether any of the smaller players have taken market share away from AT&T or Verizon, the top two players.

Top 5 Electric Utility Stocks To Buy For 2016: GulfMark Offshore Inc.(GLF)

GulfMark Offshore, Inc. provides offshore marine services primarily to companies involved in the offshore exploration and production of oil and natural gas. The company?s vessels provide various services supporting the construction, positioning, and ongoing operation of offshore oil and natural gas drilling rigs and platforms, and related infrastructure. Its vessels transport drilling materials, supplies, and personnel to offshore facilities, as well as move and position drilling structures, and provide anchor handling and towing services. The company?s fleet includes anchor handling, towing, and supply vessels; fast supply vessels; platform supply vessels; specialty vessels, including towing and oil response; and small anchor handling, towing, and supply vessels. GulfMark also offers management services to other vessel owners. As of April 27, 2011, its active fleet included 74 owned vessels and 15 managed vessels. It primarily serves integrated oil and natural gas compani es, large independent oil and natural gas exploration and production companies working in international markets, and foreign government-owned or controlled oil and natural gas companies, as well as companies that provide logistics, construction, and other services to such oil and natural gas companies and foreign government organizations. The company primarily operates in the North Sea, Southeast Asia, and the Americas. GulfMark Offshore, Inc. was founded in 1996 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dimitra DeFotis]

  The market seems to be showing fatigue particularly with positive onshore oil service data points that may no�longer seem incremental. Investors have become especially focused on potential issues and macro concerns. We believe this phase�of enhanced risk perceptions will pass and still recommend owning selective stocks based on attractive valuations and healthy�fundamentals. Of the 16 oilfield services companies having reported their quarters to date, the share price changes have at times�been difficult to tie to specific results. �… Five of the 12 companies who have beaten earnings expectations have seen their share prices drop on the day, including Basic Energy Services (BAS) (-9.0%), Baker Hughes (BHI) (-2.5%), National Oilwell Varco (NOV) (-1.5%), Oceaneering (OII) (-4.2%), and Schlumberger (SLB) (-2.0%). Other stocks beating expectations have traded higher as expected, including Cameron International (CAM) (+4.1%), FMC Technologies (FTI) (+3.1%), Mitcham Industries (MIND) (+3.8%), Nabors Industries (NBR) (+1.2%), Patterson-UTI Energy (PTEN) (+1.8%), RPC (RES) (+8.4%), and Weatherford International (WFT) (+2.3%). Companies which have missed have universally seen their share prices decline, including Diamond Offshore Drilling (DO) (-4.3%), Gulfmark Offshore (GLF) (-0.1%), and Hercules Offshore (HERO) (-6.9%). Halliburton (HAL) was in line and flat on the day.

• [By Traders Reserve]

  For investors who want a piece of this developing trend, Transocean and Seadrill are two of the bigger players in this arena. Other offshore drillers/rig operators are Noble (NE) and Ensco (ESV). Companies that provide services to offshore drillers and benefit from increases in exploration and drilling activity are Gulfmark Offshore (GLF), Hornbeck (HOS), Seacor (CKH) and Tidewater (TDW).

• [By Rich Smith]

  Houston-based GulfMark Offshore (NYSE: GLF  ) has a new CFO.

  On Monday, the marine transport company announced that when current Chief Financial Officer Quintin Kneen takes office as president and CEO on Tuesday, James (Jay) M. Mitchell will become the company's new executive vice president and CFO.

Best Forestry Companies To Buy For 2015: Cousins Properties Inc (CUZ)

Cousins Properties Incorporated (Cousins) is a real estate investment trust (REIT). Cousins Real Estate Corporation and its subsidiaries (CERC) is wholly owned by the Company. CERC owns, develops, and manages its own real estate portfolio and performs certain real estate related services for other parties. The Company operates in five segments: Office, Retail, Land, CPS Third-Party Management and Leasing and Other. The Office and Retail segments show the results for that product type. The Land segment includes results of operations for certain land holdings and single-family residential communities that are sold as developed lots to homebuilders. Fee income and related expenses for the third party-owned properties which are managed or leased by the Company�� CPS subsidiary are included in the CPS Third Party Management and Leasing segment. The Company also owns interests in residential development projects, undeveloped land tracts held for investment, and manages properties for third party owners. In August 2012, the Company acquired 2100 Ross Avenue, an 844,000-square-foot, Class-A office building located in the Arts District submarket of Dallas, Texas. In April 2013, Cousins Properties Inc (Cousins) acquired 816 Congress.

Office

As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned directly or through joint ventures 21 operating office properties totaling 7.8 million square feet. The Company developed most of the office properties it owns. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company�� activity in its office property portfolio was Execution of new or renewed existing leases consisting of approximately 1.0 million square feet, acquition of Promenade, a 775,000-square-foot office building in the midtown submarket of Atlanta, Georgia, and sale of one Georgia Center, a 376,000-square-foot office building in Atlanta, Georgia.

Retail

As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned directly or through joint ventures 17 operating retail centers totaling 4.8 million s! quare feet.

The Company developed most of the retail properties it owns. During 2011, the Company�� activities in its retail property portfolio included execution of new or renewed leases covering approximately 856,000 square feet; construction of Mahan Village, a 147,000 square foot shopping center, anchored by Publix and Academy Sports, in Tallahassee, Florida; construction of the first phase of Emory Point, a mixed-use project in Atlanta, Georgia, expected to consist of 443 apartment units and 80,000 square foot of retail space, in a joint venture with Gables Residential.

Third Party Management and Other Fee Income

As of December 31, 2011, the Company managed and/or leased 12.7 million square feet of office and retail properties for third party owners. In addition, the Company has contracts to provide development and construction management services for third party owners.

Other Investments

As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned directly or through joint ventures, 22 residential development projects and residential and commercial undeveloped land, the Company�� share of which was approximately 5,000 acres. During 2011, the Company sold the remaining five multi-family units available for sale at the 10 Terminus Place condominium project; sold the Jefferson Mill Business Park Building A industrial building in suburban Atlanta, Georgia; sold the King Mill Distribution Park Building 3 industrial building in suburban Atlanta, Georgia; sold the Lakeside Ranch Business Park Building 20 industrial building and related undeveloped land in Dallas, Texas; sold approximately 43 acres of land and sold 482 residential lots.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dividends4Life]

  This week a few companies answered the call and rewarded their shareholders with higher cash dividends:
  
  Consolidated Edison Inc. (ED) engages in regulated electric, gas, and steam delivery businesses. January 16th the company increased its quarterly dividend 2.4% to $0.63 per share. The dividend is payable March 15, 2014, to stockholders of record on February 12, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 4.7%.
  
  Cousins Properties Incorporated (CUZ), a real estate investment trust (REIT), owns, develops, and manages real estate portfolio, as well as performs certain real estate-related services. January 16th the company increased its quarterly dividend 66.7% to $0.075 per share. The dividend is payable February 24, 2014, to stockholders of record on February 10, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 2.8%.
  
  Wisconsin Energy Corporation (WEC) generates and distributes electric energy, as well as distributes natural gas. The company operates in two segments, Utility Energy and Non-Utility Energy. January 16th the company increased its quarterly dividend 2% to $0.3900 per share. The dividend is payable March 1, 2014, to stockholders of record on February 14, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 3.8%.
  
  BlackRock Inc. (BLK) is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm primarily provides its services to institutional, intermediary, and individual investors. January 16th the company increased its quarterly dividend 14.9% to $1.93 per share. The dividend is payable March 24, 2014, to stockholders of record on March 7, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 2.4%.
  
  ONEOK Inc. (OKE) operates as a diversified energy company in the United States. January 15th the company increased its quarterly dividend 5.3% to $0.40 per share. The dividend is payable February 18, 2014, to stockholders of record on February 10, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 2.5%.
  
  Omega Healthcare Investors Inc. (OHI) is a real es

Best Forestry Companies To Buy For 2015: World Acceptance Corp (WRLD)

World Acceptance Corporation operates a small-loan consumer finance business in 12 states and Mexico. The Company is engaged in the small-loan consumer finance business, offering short-term small loans, medium-term larger loans, related credit insurance and ancillary products and services to individuals. As of March 31, 2012, the Company offered standardized installment loans through 1,137 offices in South Carolina, Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Tennessee, Illinois, Missouri, New Mexico, Kentucky, Alabama, Wisconsin, and Mexico. The Company serves individuals with limited access to consumer credit from banks, credit unions, other consumer finance businesses and credit card lenders. In the United States offices, the Company also offers income tax return preparation services to its customers and others.

During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012 (fiscal 2012), the Company opened 69 new offices. In each state in which it operates and in Mexico, the Company offers consumer installment loans, which are standardized by amount and maturity. The Company's loans are consumer installment loans, which are payable in fully amortizing monthly installments with terms generally of 4 to 36 months, and all loans are pre-payable at any time without penalty. During fiscal 2012, the Company's average originated gross loan term was approximately 12 months. As of March 31, 2012, the annual percentage rates on loans offered by the Company, which include interest, fees and other charges as calculated for the purposes of the requirements of the federal Truth in Lending Act, ranged from 24% to 204% depending on the loan size, maturity and the state, in which the loan is made. In addition, in certain states, the Company, as agent for an unaffiliated insurance company, sells credit insurance in connection with its loan transactions.

Specific allowable charges vary by state and, consistent with industry practice, the Company generally charges at or close to the maximum rates allowable under app! licable state law in those states that limit loan rates. Statutes in Texas and Oklahoma allow for indexing the maximum loan amounts to the Consumer Price Index. The Company�� loan products are pre-computed loans in which the finance charge is a combination of origination or acquisition fees, account maintenance fees, monthly account handling fee and other charges permitted by the relevant state laws.

The Company, as an agent for an unaffiliated insurance company, markets and sells credit life, credit accident and health, credit property, and unemployment insurance in connection with its loans in selected states where the sale of such insurance is permitted by law. Credit life insurance provides for the payment in full of the borrower's credit obligation to the lender in the event of death. Credit accident and health insurance provides for repayment of loan installments to the lender, which come due during the insured's period of income interruption resulting from disability from illness or injury. Credit property insurance insures payment of the borrower's credit obligation to the lender in the event, which the personal property pledged as security by the borrower is damaged or destroyed by a covered event. Unemployment insurance provides for repayment of loan installments to the lender, which come due during the insured�� period of involuntary unemployment. The Company requires each customer to obtain specific credit insurance in the amount of the loan for all loans originated in Georgia under the Georgia Industrial Loan Act, and encourages customers to obtain credit insurance for all loans originated in South Carolina, Louisiana, Alabama and Kentucky and on a limited basis in Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Texas. Customers in those states obtain such credit insurance through the Company.

In South Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana, Kentucky and Alabama, the Company charges its borrowers for its non-file premiums in connection with certain loans in lieu of recording and perfecting the! Company� �s security interest in the loan collateral. The premiums are remitted to a third party insurance company for non-file insurance coverage. The Company also markets automobile club memberships to its borrowers in Georgia, Tennessee, New Mexico, Louisiana, Alabama, Texas, and Kentucky as an agent for an unaffiliated automobile club. Club memberships entitle members to automobile breakdown and towing reimbursement and related services. The Company is paid a commission on each membership sold.

The Company offers income tax return preparation and electronic filing. This program is provided in all but a few of the Company�� the United States offices. During fiscal 2012, the Company prepared 44,000 returns. During fiscal 2012, 93.4% of the Company�� revenues were attributable to the United States customers and 6.6% were attributable to customers in Mexico. During fiscal 2012, approximately 84.7% of the Company's loans were generated through refinancings of outstanding loans and the origination of new loans to previous customers.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Geoff Gannon]

  1. World Acceptance (WRLD)
  2. Express Scripts (ESRX)
  3. Walgreen (WAG)
  4. Humana (HUM)
  5. McDonald's (MCD)

  Those are the kinds of companies a younger ��and poorer ��Warren Buffett might buy. Actually, a few of those companies are big enough for Warren Buffett to buy today.

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  One credit services player that insiders are jumping into big here is World Acceptance (WRLD), which is engaged in small-loan consumer finance business in the U.S. and Mexico. Insiders are buying this stock into notable weakness, since shares have dropped lower by 14.8% so far in 2014.

  World Acceptance has a market cap of $734 million and an enterprise value of $1.2 billion. This stock trades at a cheap valuation, with a trailing price-to-earnings of 7.5 and a forward price-to-earnings of 6.4. Its estimated growth rate for this year is 16.1%, and for next year it's pegged at 9.5%. This is not a cash-rich company, since the total cash position on its balance sheet is $14.63 million and its total debt is $559.70 million.

  A director just bought 129,580 shares, or about $9.27 million worth of stock, at $71.44 to $72.08 per share.

  From a technical perspective, WRLD is currently trending above its 50-day moving average and below its 200-day moving average, which is neutral trendwise. This stock has been uptrending strong over the last few weeks, with shares moving higher from its low of $63.25 to its recent high of $75.20 a share. During that uptrend, shares of WRLD have been making mostly higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of WRLD within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade.

  If you're bullish on WRLD, then I would look for long-biased trades as long as this stock is trending above its 50-day moving average of $70.85 a share and then once it breaks out above some near-term overhead resistance at $75.20 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above that level with volume that registers near or above its three-month average volume of 169,386 shares. If that breakout materializes soon, then WRLD will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at its 200-day moving average of $79.54 to $84 a share.
  
  Mu

• [By Canadian Value]

  So I�� going to stick my next out and share my views on four battleground stocks that are among my favorite shorts: World Acceptance (WRLD), Green Mountain (GMCR), Herbalife (HLF), and InterOil (IOC). And next week at the Value Investing Congress I will present another short, my largest.

• [By Ong Kang Wei]

  Besides this, I would also avoid companies which had previously fooled investors by using things such as "creative accounting" or "aggressive accounting" (Remember Enron); had been involved in a scandal which required it to restate past financials or go to court with shareholders (Remember the Diamond Foods (DMND) scam); was unable to produce financial statements on time [One recent case being World Acceptance (WRLD)]; or was being investigated by the SEC. These are all some signs of management being dishonest, and I would rather avoid companies with such a history, unless there is a change in the company's management team.

Best Forestry Companies To Buy For 2015: In-Touch Survey Systems Ltd (INX)

In-Touch Survey Systems Ltd. is engaged in designing, developing and implementing of data capture technologies and services for business to consumer (B2C) companies. The Company does business as Service Intelligence, In-Touch Insight Systems and IMS division. In-Touch Insight Systems (EDC) develops managed mobile software technology and services for business to consumer (B2C), business to business (B2B), governments and regulators. In-Touch has developed a software platform, In- Touch Apps that provides for the development of data collection programs, mobile forms creations and real-time online reporting for its customers. Service Intelligence (MDC) provides onsite audit and Mystery Shopping services to B2C companies in Canada and the United States. The IMS division, which provides enterprise software engineering services to the Canadian Federal Government. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Henry Lee]

  After hitting a fresh high of nearly 1900 on April 4, the S&P 500 (INX) closed last Friday at 1816 ��a 4.3% drop in just one week. We��e seen a bit of a rebound, but the worst week in two years rattled investors. Nasdaq (IXIC) got close to a 10% drop from its March high, which would make it an official ��orrection����a nice word that masks the pain many investors are feeling.

Best Forestry Companies To Buy For 2015: ARIAD Pharmaceuticals Inc.(ARIA)

ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialization of small-molecule drugs for the treatment of cancer. The company?s lead cancer product, ridaforolimus is being studied in multiple clinical trials in patients with various types of cancers, including metastatic sarcomas, breast cancer, endometrial cancer, prostate cancer, and non-small cell lung cancer. Its product pipeline also includes ponatinib, a pan BCR-ABL inhibitor in phase 2 clinical trial for applications in various hematological cancers and solid tumors; and AP26113, an anaplastic lymphoma kinase inhibitor in preclinical studies for the treatment of various cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer, lymphoma, and neuroblastoma. In addition, the company focuses on a drug discovery program centered on small-molecule therapies that are molecularly targeted to cell-signaling pathways implicated in cancer. Further, it licenses its ARGENT cell-sign aling regulation technologies to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to develop and commercialize therapeutic products, and to conduct drug discovery research. The company has collaboration and license agreements with Merck & Co., Inc. for the development, manufacture, and commercialization of ridaforolimus; and license agreements with Medinol Ltd. and ICON Medical Corp. to develop and commercialize stents and other medical devices to deliver ridaforolimus to prevent restenosis of injured vessels. ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was founded in 1991 and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Brian Orelli]

  The other downside of this investment strategy is that it's not always clear when a decision will happen. Recently, the FDA has been making decisions well ahead of the goal set by the Pharmaceutical Drug User Fee Act, commonly referred to as the PDUFA date. ARIAD Pharmaceuticals� (NASDAQ: ARIA  ) , for instance, gained early approval for its leukemia drug Iclusig last year, and shares traded down by double digits after the widely expected announcement.

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  One under-$10 biopharmaceutical player that's just starting to enter breakout territory is Ariad Pharmaceuticals (ARIA), which is engaged in the discovery and development of breakthrough medicines to treat cancers by regulating cell signaling with small molecules. This stock has been crushed by the sellers so far in 2013, with shares down huge by 82%.

  If you take a look at the chart for Ariad Pharmaceuticals, you'll notice that this stock has gapped down big over the last month, with the first gap sending the stock from around $19 to $4 a share with massive downside volume. The second gap sent ARIA from $4.50 to its recent low of $2.62 a share with big downside volume. Since hitting that $2.62 low, shares of ARIA have now started to rebound off oversold territory, since its current relative strength index reading is 17.92. That move is starting to push shares of ARIA into breakout territory, since the stock is flirting with some near-term overhead resistance at $3.27 today.

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ARIA if it manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance at $3.27 and once it clears Thursday's intraday high of $3.38 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 8.03 million shares. If we get that move soon, then ARIA will set up to re-fill some of that second gap down zone that started at $4.53 a share. Shares of ARIA could easily tag its next major overhead resistance level at $5.98 a share if that gap gets filled with strong upside volume flows.

  Traders can look to buy ARIA off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some key near-term support at $3.01 a share. One can also buy ARIA off strength once it clears those resistance levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

Best Forestry Companies To Buy For 2015: Hampden Bancorp Inc.(HBNK)

Hampden Bancorp, Inc. operates as the holding company for Hampden Bank that provides banking products and services to individuals, families, and businesses in Hampden county, Massachusetts. The company?s deposit products include checking, regular savings, and money market deposits, as well as time deposits, including certificate of deposit accounts and individual retirement accounts. Its lending portfolio comprises commercial real estate loans, residential real estate loans secured by one-to-four-family residences, residential and commercial construction loans, commercial and industrial loans, home equity lines-of-credit, fixed rate home equity loans, and other personal consumer loans. The company also engages in buying, selling, holding, and dealing in securities. It offers its services through nine offices located in Hampden county, Massachusetts, as well as through Internet. Hampden Bancorp, Inc. was founded in 1852 and is headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lisa Levin]

  This industry tumbled 3.15% by 11:50 am. The worst stock within the industry was Berkshire Hills Bancorp (NYSE: BHLB), which fell 3.9%. erkshire Hills Bancorp and Hampden Bancorp (NASDAQ: HBNK) have signed a definitive merger agreement under which Berkshire will acquire Hampden and its subsidiary, Hampden Bank, in an all-stock transaction valued at around $109 million.

Today's 3 Best Stocks

Investors are clearly eager and optimistic for the second-quarter earnings season to kick off. This was partly why the broad-based S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC  ) reversed its early losses and powered higher as soon as midday hit.

I believe "merger Monday" also played a big part in exciting investors and pushing the markets higher. Earlier this morning, Dow Jones component General Electric (NYSE: GE  ) agreed to purchase Lufkin Industries, an oil-field and power transmission products provider, for $3.3 billion -- or $88.50/share -- which was a 38% premium to its Friday close. A surge in M&A activity will often be looked upon by Wall Street as an encouraging sign that businesses are more willing to take on risk.

All told, the S&P 500 ended the day higher by 9.79 points (0.63%) to close at 1,563.07. This was definitely a nice move to start the week, but three components within the index soared well beyond the 0.63% gain the index turned in.

Today's surprising winner was the downtrodden Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD  ) , which jumped a whopping 13.1% after Microsoft announced that it would be using AMD chips in its next-generation Xbox gaming consoles. With product design wins being so few and far between lately for AMD given the company's pretty hefty job and expense cutbacks, this is pretty big news -- even if the video game industry has been suffering. AMD still needs to do a lot more than just penetrate the video game industry if it hopes to right the ship, but today's news is definitely positive for shareholders.

Oil and gas exploration and production company WPX Energy (NYSE: WPX  ) is becoming a familiar visitor to this list, up another 5.3% after announcing that its Niobrara Shale discovery well in the Piceance Basin had eclipsed 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas production in a little more than 100 days of production. A combination of higher natural gas prices in recent weeks coupled with the strong possibility that demand will increase as President Obama pushes for cleaner-burning energy usage could make WPX one of the steals of the sector.

Finally, energy-drink maker Monster Beverage (NASDAQ: MNST  ) charged 4.7% higher after its board of directors approved a $200 million share repurchase program. The previous share repurchase program of $250 million had been used in its entirety. This move should somewhat help bolster shares that have suffered due to an FDA probe into the safety of its energy drinks and the threat of increased government regulation looming over the entire sector. As for me, I still see multiple reasons to avoid Monster altogether. 

Will today's announced share repurchase program change the tide for Monster?
The stakes are high for Monster Beverage these days. The stock had been nothing short of a rocket, but recent developments have sent shares spiraling downward. Health scares sparked a number of investigations at the state and federal level into the energy drink's role in several fatalities. With the company's value slashed in half, investors are wondering whether Monster Beverage is a value or a bust in the fast-growing energy drink category. Find out now in our brand-new premium research report, which details all the ins and outs you need to know about Monster Beverage. Click here now to claim your copy and start reading today.

Top 10 Insurance Stocks To Invest In 2016

Hot Oil Companies For 2015

As emerging market nations have seen their economies explode over the last few decades, the idea of a commodity super cycle was born. The basic premise was that as these nations grew the need to fuel that growth with all mater of natural resources would spur higher and higher long term prices for such raw materials. Investors dove headfirst into steel, oil and other commodities in order to take advantage of the trend.

Yet, recent slowing growth in the emerging world has caused some analysts to question whether or not the super-cycle was in fact, dead.

However, despite the recent slowing, the trend of higher natural resource demand- along with higher prices- could still be at hand. For investors, the super cycle may still be the key for future portfolio gains. According to consultants McKinsey & Co, the commodities super cycle may only be in its seventh inning

Slowing Down, But Growth Still There

The consultant predicts that prices for commodities will continue to rise in the next few years due to various cost floors. McKinsey cites that many resources have unavoidable costs that are now in place. For example, while tapping shale via fracking has unearthed abundant supplies, using that technology is incredibly expensive. The inflation-adjusted average cost of starting a new oil well has more than doubled over the past decade. Likewise, arable land in China and Brazil is disappearing as the two nations urbanize, while the time it takes to launch a new mine is now hitting 20 years to develop. That�� up from just six in the 1980s and ten years in the 1990s. All in all, these factors will help push up prices of the commodities produced.

Top 10 Blue Chip Stocks To Watch Right Now: Callon Petroleum Co (CPE)

Callon Petroleum Company (Callon), incorporated on March 29, 1994, is an independent oil and natural gas company. It is focused on growing production and reserves from its oil-weighted multi-play assets in the Permian Basin. In 2013, the Company shifted its operations from the offshore waters in the Gulf of Mexico to the onshore, Permian Basin region in Texas.

The Company operates 100% of its Permian acreage. As of December 31, 2013, the Company�� proved reserves were 14.9 million barrels of oil equivalent (80% oil and 50% proved developed).

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Garrett Cook]

  In trading on Friday, energy shares were relative laggards, down on the day by about 0.40 percent. Top losers in the sector included Callon Petroleum Company (NYSE: CPE), down 5.67 percent, and Tesco (NASDAQ: TESO), off 3.99 percent.

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Callon Petroleum Company (NYSE: CPE) is estimated to post its Q4 earnings at $0.00 per share on revenue of $26.83 million.

  Supernus Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SUPN) is expected to post a Q4 loss at $0.55 per share on revenue of $7.78 million.

Hot Oil Companies For 2015: FMC Technologies Inc. (FTI)

FMC Technologies, Inc. provides technology solutions for the energy industry worldwide. Its Subsea Technologies segment designs and manufactures subsea systems used in the offshore production of crude oil and natural gas; and multiphase meters used in production and surface well testing, reservoir monitoring, remote operation, fiscal allocation, process monitoring and control, and artificial lift optimization, as well as provides installation and workover tools, installation assistance, and field support for commissioning, intervention, and maintenance of subsea systems. This segment also provides remotely operated vehicle systems and remote manipulator systems, as well as offers support services for subsea control systems and other high-technology equipment for subsea exploration and production. This segment markets its products primarily through its own technical sales organization. The company�s Surface Technologies segment offers surface wellheads for standard and cri tical service applications; fluid control products for use in well completion and stimulation activities; and fracturing flowback and wireline services for exploration companies in the oil and gas industry. Its Energy Infrastructure segment offers measurement systems for the custody transfer of crude oil, natural gas, and refined products; fluid loading and transfer systems to the oil and gas, petrochemical, and chemical industries; material handling solutions, such as bulk conveying systems to the power generation and mining industries; systems that separate production flows from wells into oil, gas, sand, and water; and direct drive systems for various energy-related applications. This segment also offers design, engineering, project management, maintenance, and aftermarket services for blending and transfer systems; and automation, control, and information technology for the oil and gas, and other industries. FMC Technologies, Inc. was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Smith]

  Following up on its March order with Cameron International�for $600 million worth of subsea "trees" -- equipment affixed to an oil wellhead to regulate the flow of gas and fluids injected into a well to help force oil out -- Brazilian oil major Petroleo Brasileiro (NYSE: PBR  ) (NYSE: PBR-A  ) announced Wednesday that it is ordering another 49 subsea trees, tooling, and associated subsea controls from FMC Technologies (NYSE: FTI  ) in a contract worth $500 million.

Hot Oil Companies For 2015: Northern Tier Energy LP (NTI)

Northern Tier Energy LP, formerly Northern Tier Energy, Inc., incorporated in October 21, 2011, is an independent downstream energy company with refining, retail, and pipeline operations that serves the PADD II region of the United States. The Company operates its assets in two business segments: the refining business and the retail business. The Company owns three pipelines. The Company's operations will be conducted through, and its operating assets will be owned by, its wholly owned subsidiary, Northern Tier Energy LLC, and its subsidiaries. Effective November 12, 2013, Western Refining Inc acquired a 38.681% interest in Northern Tier Energy LP.

Refining Business

The Company�� refining business primarily consists of a 74,000 barrels per calendar day (84,500 barrels per stream day) refinery located in St. Paul Park, Minnesota. Its location allows it to distribute its refined products throughout the midwestern United States. The Company�� refinery produces a slate of refined products, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and asphalt, which are then marketed to resellers and consumers primarily in the PADD II region. It also owns various storage and transportation assets, including a light products terminal, a heavy products terminal, storage tanks, rail loading/unloading facilities and a Mississippi river dock. The Company�� refining business also includes its 17% interest in the Minnesota Pipe Line Company, which owns and operates the Minnesota Pipeline, a 455,000 barrels per calendar day crude oil pipeline system that transports crude oil (primarily from Western Canada and North Dakota) for approximately 300 miles from the Enbridge pipeline hub at Clearbrook, Minnesota to its refinery.

As of March 31, 2012, the Company's storage assets included 84 hydrocarbon storage tanks with a total capacity of 3.7 million barrels (156 million gallons), 0.8 million barrels of crude oil storage and 2.9 million barrels of feedstock and product storage. The Company�� r! efinery supplies all of the gasoline and diesel sold in its company-operated and franchised convenience stores, as well as all of the gasoline and diesel sold in 90 independently owned and operated Marathon branded stores in its marketing area. The Minnesota Pipe Line Company owns the Minnesota Pipeline, a crude oil pipeline system in Minnesota that transports crude oil to the St. Paul area. The Minnesota Pipeline system has multiple lines that run approximately 300 miles from Clearbrook in Clearwater County, Minnesota to Dakota County, Minnesota, transporting crude oil received through the Enbridge pipeline connections at Clearbrook from Western Canada and North Dakota to our refinery and Koch Industries�� Flint Hills Resources refinery in Minnesota.

Retail Business

As of March 31, 2012, the Company�� retail business operated 166 convenience stores under the SuperAmerica brand and also supported 67 franchised convenience stores, which are also operated under the SuperAmerica brand. These convenience stores are located primarily in Minnesota and Wisconsin and sell various grades of gasoline and diesel, tobacco products and immediately consumable items, such as non-alcoholic beverages, beer, prepared food and a range of snacks and prepackaged items. It also owns and operates SuperMom�� Bakery, which prepares and distributes baked goods and other prepared food items for sale in its company-operated and franchised convenience stores and other third party locations.

The Company has a retail-marketing network of 233 convenience stores, as of March 31, 2012, located throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin and South Dakota, of which it operates 166 stores and support 67 franchised stores. All of its company-operated and franchised convenience stores are operated under the SuperAmerica brand. It also owns and operates SuperMom�� Bakery, which prepares and distributes baked goods and other prepared items for sale in its retail outlets and for other third parties. Its refine! ry suppli! es all of the gasoline and diesel sold in its company-operated and franchised convenience stores. The Company has retail customers, which primarily include retail end-users, motorists and commercial drivers. It had a retail-marketing network of 233 convenience stores, as of March 31, 2012, located throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin and South Dakota, of which it operated 166 stores and support 67 franchised stores.

The Company competes with Koch Industries��Flint Hills Resources Refinery, Holiday, Kwik Trip and Wal-Mart.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Mick Weinstein]

  ��Northern Tier Energy (NTI) �as a Bakken Shale proxy.

Hot Oil Companies For 2015: VAALCO Energy Inc (EGY)

VAALCO Energy, Inc. (VAALCO), incorporated in 1985, is an independent energy company principally engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and production of crude oil and natural gas. VAALCO owns producing properties and conducts exploration activities as operator in Gabon, West Africa, conducts exploration activities as an operator in Angola, West Africa, and has conducted exploration activities as a non-operator in the British North Sea. The Company owns minor interests in production activities as a non-operator in the United States. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Etame, Avouma, South Tchibala and Ebouri fields produced approximately 8.1 million barrels of oil (2.3 million barrels of oil net to the Company).

Offshore Gabon

The Company�� primary source of revenue is from the Etame Production Sharing Contract related to the Etame Marin block located offshore the Republic of Gabon. VAALCO operates the Etame Marin block on behalf of a consortium of companies. As of December 31, 2010, VAALCO owned a 30.35% interest in the exploration acreage within the Etame Marin block. The Company owns a 28.1% interest in the development areas surrounding the Etame, Avouma, South Tchibala and Ebouri fields, each of which is located on the Etame Marin block. The Company produces from the Etame, Avouma, South Tchibala and Ebouri fields on the block.

Onshore Gabon

The Mutamba Iroru block is ocated onshore near the coast in central Gabon. The Mutamba Iroru block contains an exploration area of approximately 270,000 acres.

Offshore Angola

The Company has 40% working interest in Offshore Angola. The four year primary term with an optional three year extension awards the Company exploration rights to 1.4 million acres offshore central Angola.

Onshore Domestic-Texas

In July 2011, the Company acquired a 480 acre lease in the Granite Wash formation in North Texas. In November 2011, the Company commen! ced drilling a second well on the initial Granite Wash formation lease.

Onshore DomesticMontana

In May 2011, the Company acquired a 70% working interest in approximately 5,200 acres (3,640 net acres) in Sheridan County, Montana in the Middle Bakken formation. In September 2011, it acquired a 65% working interest in approximately 22,000 gross acres covering the Middle Bakken and deeper formations in the East Poplar unit and the Northwest Poplar field in Roosevelt County, Montana.

DomesticOutside Operated

The Company has minor interests in Brazos County, Texas producing from the Buda/Georgetown formations. The Company also owns certain minor non-operated interests in the Ship Shoal area of the Gulf of Mexico and in Pickens County, Alabama.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Eric Volkman]

  Vaalco Energy (NYSE: EGY  ) hopes to put some power into its common stock by repurchasing a chunk of outstanding shares. The company's board has authorized a repurchase program for up to $25 million worth of stock. The initiative will be in force for one year.

• [By Laura Brodbeck]

  Thursday

  Earnings Expected From: AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVEO), Kirkland��, Inc (NASDAQ: KIRK), Dollar General Corporation (NYSE: DG), Stein Mart, Inc. (SMRT: NASDAQ), Mattress Firm Holding Corp. (NASDAQ: MRFM), SeaWorld Entertainment (NYSE: SEAS), Vaalco Energy Inc (NYSE: EGY) Economic Releases Expected: Chinese retail sales, French CPI, Brazilian retail sales, US retail sales, Japanese industrial production

  Friday

Hot Oil Companies For 2015: Alon USA Partners LP (ALDW)

Alon USA Partners, LP (Alon USA), incorporated on August 17, 2012, owns and operates refining and petroleum products marketing business. Its integrated downstream business operates primarily in the South Central and Southwestern regions of the United States. It owns and operates a crude oil refinery in Big Spring, Texas with total throughput capacity of approximately 70,000 barrels per day (bpd). The crude oil pipelines the Company utilizes consist of the Amdel, White Oil, Mesa Interconnect, Centurion and Centurion Interconnect. Its Big Spring refinery produces ultra-low sulfur gasoline, ultra-low sulfur diesel, jet fuel, petrochemicals, petrochemical feedstocks, asphalt and other petroleum products.

During the year ended December 31, 2011 and the six months ended June 30, 2012, sour crude, such as West Texas Sour (WTS), represented approximately 80.4% and 80.4% of its throughput, respectively, and sweet crude, such as West Texas Intermediate (WTI), represented approximately 15.8% and 17.1% of its throughput, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2011 and the six months ended June 30, 2012, the Company produced approximately 49.1% and 49.2% gasoline, 32.3% and 32.5% diesel/jet fuel, 7.1% and 6.4% asphalt, 6.0% and 6.0% petrochemicals and 5.5% and 5.9% other refined products, in each case, respectively. The Company distributes fuel products through a product pipeline and terminal network of seven pipelines totaling approximately 840 miles and six terminals that it owns or access.

The Company competes with Chevron, ExxonMobil and Shell.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Robert Rapier]

  I warned last week that refiners would report relatively poor earnings for Q3, and refinery MLPs could take a hit, presenting a buying opportunity. On Nov. 6 Alon USA Partners (NYSE: ALDW) reported a loss for the third quarter of $16.1 million, or ($0.26) per unit, compared with net income of $120.4 million for the same period last year. Paul Eisman, CEO and president, cited the deteriorating margins that I discussed in last week’s issue: “Our third quarter results were impacted by a volatile and deteriorating margin environment resulting primarily from decreasing discounts for West Texas crude oil.”

Hot Oil Companies For 2015: Laredo Petroleum Inc (LPI)

Laredo Petroleum, Inc., formerly Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc., incorporated in August 12, 2011, is an independent energy company focused on the exploration, development and acquisition of oil and natural gas in the Permian and Mid-Continent regions of the United States. The Company�� activities are primarily focused in the Wolfberry and deeper horizons of the Permian Basin in West Texas and the Anadarko Granite Wash in the Texas Panhandle and Western Oklahoma, where it has assembled 134,680 net acres and 37,850 net acres, respectively, as of December 31, 2011.

Permian Basin

The Permian Basin, located in west Texas and southeastern New Mexico, is an onshore oil and natural gas producing regions in the United States. The Company�� Permian activities are centered on the eastern side of the basin approximately 35 miles east of Midland, Texas in Glasscock, Howard, Reagan and Sterling Counties. As of December 31, 2011, it held 134,680 net acres in over 300 sections with an average working interest of 96% in wells drilled as of that date. The overall Wolfberry interval, the principal focus of its drilling activities, is an oil play that also includes a liquids-rich natural gas component. Its production/exploration fairway extends approximately 20 miles wide and 80 miles long. While exploration and drilling efforts in the southern half of its acreage block has been centered on the shallower portion of the Wolfberry (Spraberry, Dean and Wolfcamp formations) the emphasis in the northern half has been on the deeper intervals, including the Wolfcamp, Cline Shale, Strawn and Atoka formations.

As of December 31, 2011, the Company had drilled and completed approximately 600 gross vertical wells and had defined the productive limits on its acreage throughout the trend. It has expanded its drilling program to include a horizontal component targeting the Cline and Wolfcamp Shales. The Company has drilled four gross horizontal Wolfcamp Shale wells as of December 31, 2011. A! s of December 31, 2011, it had drilled a total of 27 gross horizontal wells in the Wolfcamp and Cline formations, of which 23 are in the Cline Shale and four in the Wolfcamp Shale. It had over 5,600 total gross identified drilling locations (both vertical and horizontal) in the Permian, all of which are within the Wolfberry and Cline Shale interval during the year ended December 31, 2011.

Anadarko Granite Wash

Straddling the Texas/Oklahoma state line, its Granite Wash play extends over a large area in the western part of the Anadarko Basin. As of December 31, 2011, it held 37,850 net acres in Hemphill County, Texas and Roger Mills County, Oklahoma. The Company�� play consists of vertical and horizontal drilling opportunities targeting the liquids-rich Granite Wash formation. As of December 31, 2011, it had drilled and completed over 150 gross vertical wells. During 2011, its horizontal Granite Wash program was in the development phase. As of December 31, 2011, it had approximately 100 gross identified potential drilling locations for the horizontal Granite Wash, which included both its Texas and Oklahoma acreage.

Other areas

The Company, in addition to its Permian Wolfberry and Anadarko Granite Wash plays, evaluated opportunities in three other areas within its core operating regions during 2011. The Dalhart Basin is located on the western side of the Texas Panhandle. As of December 31, 2011, the Company held 83,295 net acres in the Dalhart Basin. As of December 31, 2011, it had drilled two gross vertical wells in the Dalhart Basin. The second area is centrally located in the Central Texas Panhandle, where its operations were conducted through its joint venture with ExxonMobil as of December 31, 2011. As of December 31, 2011, it held 46,915 net acres in the Central Texas Panhandle. The third area is located in the eastern end of the Anadarko Basin, in Caddo County, Oklahoma. As of December 31, 2011, the Company held 33,306 net acres in the Eastern An! adarko. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Robert Rapier]

  Laredo Petroleum (NYSE: LPI) is a smallish (~$4 billion market capitalization) oil and natural gas producer in the booming Permian Basin, where it holds leases on ~144,000 net acres.

• [By Tony Daltorio]

  Other companies already drilling in the Cline include Apache Corp. (NYSE: APA), Gulfport Energy Corp. (Nasdaq: GPOR), and another pioneer in the region, Laredo Petroleum Holdings Inc. (NYSE: LPI).

Hot Oil Companies For 2015: World Point Terminals LP (WPT)

World Point Terminals, LP, incorporated on April 19, 2013, is a fee-based Delaware limited partnership formed to own, operate, develop and acquire terminals and other assets relating to the storage of light refined products, heavy refined products and crude oil. WPT GP, LLC is the general partner of the Company. It operates in a single reportable segment consists primarily of the fee-based storage and terminaling services it performs under contracts with its customers. The Company�� storage terminals are located in the East Coast, Gulf Coast and Midwest regions of the United States and, as of May 31, 2013, had a combined available storage capacity of 12.4 million barrels. The Company provides terminaling and storage of light refined products, such as gasoline, distillates and jet fuels; heavy refined products, such as residual fuel oils and liquid asphalt, and crude oil. Most of its terminal facilities are located on waterways, and have truck racks. Several of its terminal facilities also have rail or pipeline access. As of May 31, 2013, approximately 93% of its available storage capacity was under contract.

The Company generates revenue from Storage Services Fees, Ancillary Services Fees and Additive Services Fees. Storage Services Fees are its customers pay base storage services fees, which are fixed monthly fees paid at the beginning of each month to reserve storage capacity in its tanks and to compensate it for receiving up to a base product volume on their behalf. The Company charges ancillary services fees to its customers for providing services, such as heating, mixing and blending its customers��products that are stored in its tanks; transferring its customers��products between its tanks; at its Granite City terminal, adding polymer to liquid asphalt, and rail car loading and dock operations. The Company generates revenue from fees for injecting generic gasoline, gasoline, lubricity, red dye and cold flow additives to its customers��products.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Emerson]

  Berman pioneered the idea of the World Poker Tour (WPT) and sold the concept to the Travel Channel. Watching poker on television had always been boring since the viewing audience could not see the down cards which the players held. Berman remedied that problem by allowing a camera to expose the down cards to the TV audience. That idea suddenly transformed Texas Holdem into a fascinating spectator�� sport. By the end of 2003 the stock had reached its book value of 15 dollars a share and I decided to take my profits, perhaps a bit prematurely. The stock quickly climbed to about 30 dollars a share on sheer momentum.

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  World Point Terminals L.P. (NYSE: WPT) was initiated as Outperform with a $23 price target at Credit Suisse.

  See also more analyst upgrades and downgrades for Tuesday.

• [By Robert Rapier]

  World Point Terminals (NYSE: WPT) owns and operates terminals and other assets for the storage of light refined products, heavy refined products and crude oil. World Point’s storage terminals are located in the East Coast, Gulf Coast and Midwest regions of the US. The partnership debuted on Aug. 9, and units have gained 2 percent since. The partnership agreement provides for a minimum quarterly distribution of $1.20 per unit on an annualized basis. At the recent closing price of $19.64/unit, this equates to a minimum annualized yield of 6.1 percent.