When she walks into a room, it is sometimes necessary to stand up to see Assistant Labor Secretary Phyllis Borzi.
But the regulator knows how to stand tall when facing financial industry opponents.
Ms. Borzi's willingness to engage in a remarkably forthright way with critics of the fiduciary duty rule that she is championing was on display this week in Washington, where she appeared at a Financial Services Roundtable event focused on retirement security.
Top 10 Services Companies To Invest In 2015: Herbalife Ltd (HLF)
Herbalife Ltd., incorporated on April 4, 2002, is a global network marketing company that sells weight management, nutritional supplements, energy, sports and fitness products and personal care products through a network of approximately 2.7 million independent distributors, except in China, where the Company sells its products through retail stores. The Company is a network marketing company that sells a range of weight management products, nutritional supplements and personal care products. As of December 31, 2011, the Company sold products in 79 countries throughout the world. Herbalife�� products are grouped in four principal categories: weight management, targeted nutrition, energy, sports and fitness and Outer Nutrition, along with literature and promotional items. The Company�� generates revenue from its six regions: North America, Mexico, South and Central America; EMEA, which consists of Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific (excluding China), and China. On December 31, 2012, the Company acquired a manufacturing facility in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
The Company�� products are manufactured by third party providers and by the Company in its Suzhou, China facility and in its manufacturing facility located in Lake Forest, California, and then are sold to independent distributors who sell Herbalife products to retail consumers or other distributors. As of December 31, 2011, Herbalife marketed and sold 138 products encompassing over 4,400 stock keeping units (SKUs) through its distributors.
Weight Management
Weight Management is the Company�� largest product category representing 62.5% of its net sales during the year ended December 31, 2011. Formula 1, its product, is a healthy meal with soy protein, essential vitamins, minerals, herbs and nutrients that is available in seven flavors and can help support weight management. Personalized Protein Powder is a soy and whey protein product designed as a boost to Formula 1 to personalize a pe! rson�� daily protein intake to help achieve their desired weight and shape. Weight-loss enhancers, including Herbal Tea Concentrate, Total Control and Prolessa Duo address specific challenges associated with dieting, such as lack of energy, hunger and food craving, fluid retention, decreased metabolism and digestive challenges, by building energy, boosting metabolism, curbing appetite and helping to promote weight loss. Healthy snacks are formulated to provide between-meal nutrition and appetite satisfaction.
Targeted Nutrition
Herbalife markets numerous dietary and nutritional supplements designed to meet its customers��specific nutritional needs. Each of these supplements contains botanicals, vitamins, minerals and other natural ingredients and focuses on specific life stages of its customers, including women, men, children and those with health concerns, including heart health, healthy aging, digestive health, or immune solutions. Niteworks is a product that supports energy, circulatory and vascular health and enhances blood flow to the heart, brain and other vital organs. Garden 7 is designed to provide the phytonutrient benefits of seven servings of fruits and vegetables and has anti-oxidant and health-boosting properties. Best Defense is an effervescent drink that helps boost immunity. In 2011, the Company expanded distribution of its Active Fiber line by introducing its Apple flavored Active Fiber Complex in the South and Central America region.
Energy, Sports and Fitness
Herbalife entered into the energy drink with the introduction of Liftoff, an energy drink containing a blend of B-vitamins, guarana, ginseng, ginkgo and caffeine to increase energy and improve mental clarity for better performance throughout the day. It launched H3Otm Fitness Drink to provide hydration, sustained muscle energy plus antioxidant protection for people living a healthy, active lifestyle. It also introduced H30 Pro in EMEA to provide an isotonic drink to indivi! duals par! ticipating in high activity sports.
Outer Nutrition
The Company�� Outer Nutrition products complement its weight management and targeted nutrition products and aim to improve the appearance of the body, skin and hair. These products include skin cleansers, toners, moisturizers and facial masks, shampoos and conditioners, body-wash items and a selection of fragrances for men and women. Its Herbal Aloe line is its introductory line providing distributors with cleansers, lotions and soaps that help sooth the skin. NouriFusion Multivitamin skin care products are formulated with antioxidant Vitamins A, C and E. It launched a line of anti-aging products as an extension of its Skin Activator product, an advanced face cream that contains a collagen-building Glucosamine Complex to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It also launched a number of regional products including a Soft Green Body Care line in Brazil, the Whitening Serum under the NouriFusion brand in the Asia Pacific region, and the Lively Fragrances perfume line.
Literature, Promotional and Other Products
Herbalife also sells literature and promotional materials, including sales aids, informational audiotapes, videotapes, compact discs (CDs) and digital versatile discs (DVDs) designed to support its distributors��marketing efforts, as well as start-up kits called International Business Packs for new distributors. It introduced BizWorks, a customizable retail Website for its distributors to enhance the on-line experience.
The Company competes with NuSkin Enterprises, Nature�� Sunshine, Alticor/Amway, Melaleuca, Avon Products, Oriflame, Tupperware and Mary Kay, Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, General Nutrition Centers and Wal-Mart.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Hibah Yousuf]
Shares of Herbalife (HLF), a multi-level marketing nutrition company, also fell. Activist investor Bill Ackman has been accusing Herbalife of being a pyramid scheme since December 2012. But the company has defended itself and many investors, including billionaire Carl Icahn, have placed bets on the company, against Ackman.
- [By Hibah Yousuf]
In corporate news, Herbalife (HLF) shares were higher after the company said fourth quarter earnings would top forecasts. The company also raised the amount of its planned share repurchase by $500 million. Hedge fund manager Bill Ackman has accused Herbalife of being a pyramid scheme. But the nutritional supplements marketer has refuted those claims.
- [By Hibah Yousuf]
Loeb also commented on his position in Herbalife (HLF). He bought a stake in the nutritional supplement company even as rival hedge fund manager Bill Ackman was shorting it and saying he thought Herbalife was a pyramid scheme. Loeb's feud with Ackman is highlighted in the December issue of Vanity Fair.
Top 10 Services Companies To Invest In 2015: Arrow Electronics Inc. (ARW)
Arrow Electronics, Inc. provides products, services, and solutions to industrial and commercial users of electronic components and enterprise computing solutions worldwide. It operates in two segments, Global Components and Global Enterprise Computing Solutions. The Global Components segment distributes electronic components and related services to original equipment manufacturers and contract manufacturers. This segment provides online catalogs for electronic components; cloud-based design tools that expedite product development cycles; factory-direct end-of-life product inventory; reverse logistics; and electronics asset disposition solutions to redeploy, remarket, and recycle technology assets. Its products and services include semiconductor products and related services; passive, electro-mechanical, and interconnect products consisting primarily of capacitors, resistors, potentiometers, power supplies, relays, switches, and connectors; computing and memory; and other p roducts and services. The Global Enterprise Computing Solutions segment provides enterprise and midrange computing products, services, and solutions to value-added resellers; and unified communications products and related services, as well as cloud computing, security, and networking services. It also offers a suite of online supply chain tools. The company�s customers include manufacturers of consumer and industrial equipment, telecommunications products, automotive and transportation, aerospace and defense, scientific and medical devices, and computer and office products, as well as value-added resellers of enterprise computing solutions. The company was founded in 1935 and is headquartered in Englewood, Colorado.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Monica Wolfe]
Arrow Electronics Inc (ARW)
FPA Capital's third largest stock holding is in Arrow Electronics. The guru holds on to a total of 1,515,500 shares of Arrow, representing 1.51% of the company�� shares outstanding and 9.2% of his total portfolio.
- [By Seth Jayson]
Calling all cash flows
When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on Arrow Electronics (NYSE: ARW ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.
Top 10 Warren Buffett Companies To Invest In Right Now: Stevia First Corp (STVF)
Stevia First Corp. , formerly Legend Mining Inc., incorporated on June 29, 2007, is a development-stage company. It is an agricultural biotechnology company. The Company is engaged in the cultivation and harvest of stevia leaf and the development of stevia products. As of March 31, 2012, the Company had not generated any revenues.
The Company focuses on the process of stevia production from plant breeding through propagation, planting, cultivation, and harvesting, and developing, marketing, and selling stevia products. It also focuses on developing operations that will include stevia tissue culture, laboratory propagation, farming, and cultivation of stevia leaf. Stevia, is a plant from the chrysanthemum family. Stevia is a sweetener in its raw, unprocessed form. The small green plant�� leaves have a taste that can be 30 times sweeter than sugar.
The Company competes with Cargill, Incorporated, PureCircle, Blue California, Corn Products International, GLG Life Tech Corp., McNeil Nutritionals, LLC, Sunwin USA, L.L.C., Sweet Green Fields L.L.C., Whole Earth Sweetener Co. L.L.C., Wisdom Natural Brands and &W Seed Company.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Glenwoods]
Cargill and Evolva are not the only companies developing stevia via a fermentation-based process. Stevia First Corp. (OTCMKTS:STVF), an early-stage agribusiness based in California's Central Valley, with its sights on being the first vertically integrated stevia company, has been developing its own stevia microbial fermentation-based process (through a license by Vineland Research and Innovation Centre of Canada).� Recently the company announced its "Beyond Reb A" research program, aimed at producing not only Reb A, but also Reb D and Reb X, two glycosides found in small amounts in the stevia leaves that have been identified as the next-generation of stevia sweeteners.� �
Top 10 Services Companies To Invest In 2015: Ruckus Wireless Inc (RKUS)
Ruckus Wireless, Inc (Ruckus), incorporated August 19, 2002, is a provider of Wi-Fi solutions. The Company�� solutions, which it calls Smart Wi-Fi, are used by service providers and enterprises to solve network challenges. The Company�� products include gateways, controllers and access points. These products incorporate its technologies, including Smart Radio, Smart QoS, Smart Mesh, SmartCell and Smart Scaling. The Company sells its products to service providers and enterprises globally, and as of December 31, 2012, had sold its products to over 21,700 end-customers worldwide. During 2012, the Company added over 10,100 new end-customers. The Company�� enterprise end-customers are typically mid-sized organizations in a variety of industries, including hospitality, education, healthcare, warehousing and logistics, corporate enterprise, retail, state and local government and public venues, such as stadiums, convention centers, airports and outdoor public areas. Effective July 23, 2013, Ruckus Wireless Inc acquired YFind Technologies Pte Ltd.
The Company sells directly and indirectly to a range of service providers, including mobile operators, cable companies, wholesale operators and fixed-line carriers. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had over 65 service provider end-customers, including Bright House Networks, The Cloud (a BSkyB Company), KDDI, Tikona Digital Networks, Time Warner Cable and Towerstream. The Company�� Smart Wi-Fi solutions are marketed under the SmartCell, ZoneDirector, ZoneFlex and FlexMaster brands and include a range of indoor and outdoor access points (APs), long range point-to-point and point-to-multipoint bridges, wireless local area network (LAN), controllers, network management software and gateway systems with integrated advanced wireless software.
The Company�� core Smart Wi-Fi technologies include Smart Radio, Smart QoS, Smart Mesh, SmartCell and Smart Scaling. Smart Radio is a set of advanced hardware and software capabilities that auto! matically adjust Wi-Fi signals to changes in environmental conditions. A primary component of Smart Radio technology is BeamFlex, a smart antenna system that makes Wi-Fi signals stronger by focusing them only where they are needed and dynamically steering them in directions that yield the highest throughput for each receiving device. Another component is ChannelFly, a performance optimization capability that automatically determines, which radio frequencies or channels deliver the network throughput based on actual observed capacity, a key benefit for high-density, noisy Wi-Fi environments.
Smart QoS is a software technology that manages traffic load to enhance the user experience. Smart QoS was developed to handle the increasing volumes of voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) and streaming video traffic. Smart QoS offers automatic prioritization of different traffic types through intelligent analytics that classify, prioritize and schedule traffic for transmission. Smart QoS employs advanced queuing techniques and dedicated software queues on a per device basis to ensure fairness and optimize overall system performance. Smart QoS includes its band steering, rate limiting, client load balancing and airtime fairness techniques.
Smart Mesh is software technology that uses advanced self-organizing network principles to create Wi-Fi backbone links between access points. Smart Mesh automatically establishes wireless connections between individual access points using patented smart antenna technology and self-heals in the event of a failed link.
SmartCell is a key technology behind the Company�� SmartCell Gateway platform that integrates software and specialized hardware deployed at the edge of service provider networks to facilitate the integration of Wi-Fi and cellular infrastructures. SmartCell includes a set of modular software components ,as well as standard network interfaces into the mobile core that enable Wi-Fi to become a standard access mechanism for service ! providers! . Management components provide configuration, user management, analytics, accounting and other operational and maintenance functions.
Smart Scaling uses advanced database management techniques to enable the support of hundreds of thousands to millions of client devices across the Wi-Fi network. Smart Scaling employs intelligent data distribution techniques to extend client information, statistics and other vital user information across any number of nodes within the system without a single point of failure and with linear scalability. Smart Scaling is incorporated in its purpose-built hardware and software, making it capable of supporting hundreds of thousands of access points and user session workloads at the scale required by service providers.
SmartCell Gateway is a platform that integrates software and specialized hardware deployed at the edge of service provider networks to facilitate the integration of Wi-Fi and cellular infrastructures. The Company�� SmartCell Gateway is designed to be vendor-agnostic and can control third-party APs. SmartCell Gateway provides standard-based interfaces into existing and future mobile networks to simplify integration.
SmartCell access point addresses the capacity and density needs of service providers deploying networks within urban environments. SmartCell APs employ modular multimode architecture to enable service providers to deploy Wi-Fi, 3G/4G small cell cellular technology and Wi-Fi mesh backhaul within a single device. This provides operators with the ability to enhance and extend their macro networks, injecting much needed capacity into high traffic user environments with the flexibility to deploy Wi-Fi with Smart Mesh backhaul and upgrade to Wi-Fi with 3G/LTE when and where desired without any mounting or backhaul changes.
The Company�� ZoneDirector Smart WLAN controllers use a intuitive Web user interface to make configuration and administration extremely simple. This software includes a variety of ! advanced ! capabilities such as adaptive meshing, integrated client performance tools, authentication support, simplified guest access and user policy, wireless intrusion prevention, automatic traffic redirection, integrated Wi-Fi client performance tools and robust network management. ZoneFlex access points incorporate BeamFlex adaptive antenna array technology to deliver robust Wi-Fi performance, reliability and capacity. These devices support multiple virtual wireless LANs, Wi-Fi encryption and advanced traffic handling. The Company�� ZoneFlex outdoor Smart Wi-Fi access points and point-to-point and multipoint bridges can be deployed as stand-alone APs or be centrally managed.
In addition to the Company�� hardware products, the Company also sells software products. FlexMaster is a Linux-based Wi-Fi management service platform used by enterprises and service providers to monitor and administrate networks. FlexMaster provides configuration, fault detection, audit, performance management and optimization of remote Ruckus access points or wireless LAN controllers. It offers a single point for management and a number of automated and customized facilities such as an intuitive dashboard. FlexMaster is designed to operate with existing operational support system and features tiered administration to provide managed wireless LAN or cloud-based wireless services.
The Company competes with Cisco Systems, Ericsson; Hewlett-Packard, Motorola and Aruba Networks.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Lee Jackson]
Ruckus Wireless Inc. (NYSE: RKUS) is a favorite to maintain a healthy top line growth, with the increased popularity and success of its products and services in the Wi-Fi marketplace. Also, with the sustained shift from the use of PCs to smartphones and tablets, the need for Wi-Fi capacity and coverage solutions will steadily increase. The Deutsche Bank target price for the stock is $14 and should rise, while consensus for this top mid cap name is $23.
- [By gurujx]
Ruckus Wireless (RKUS): CFO Seamus Hennessy Sold 50,000 Shares
CFO Seamus Hennessy sold 50,000 shares of RKUS stock on Sept. 6 at the average price of $15.12. The price of the stock has increased by 1.19% since.
Top 10 Services Companies To Invest In 2015: Science Applications International Corp (SAIC)
Science Applications International Corporation, formerly SAIC Gemini, Inc., incorporated on February 1, 2013, is a scientific, engineering, and technology applications company. The Company uses its domain knowledge to solve problems in national security, energy and the environment, critical infrastructure, and health. The Company serves customers in the United States Department of Defense, the intelligence community, the United States Department of Homeland Security, other United States Government civil agencies and selected commercial markets. The Company provides services in two segments: government segment and commercial segment. Its government segment provides an array of technical services and solutions, primarily to United States federal, state and local government agencies and foreign governments. Its commercial segment provides technology-driven consulting, systems integration and outsourcing services and solutions in selected commercial markets.
Services
The Company provides systems development, technical and consulting services to federal, state, local law enforcement and criminal justice agencies, further promoting efficiency and effectiveness in preventing and controlling crime through systems, such as CODIS and LEO. The Company safeguards business-critical information, systems, and Websites with information security assessments and public key infrastructure solutions. The Company simplifies access to government goods and services through pre-negotiated federal contract vehicles. It provides government, commercial, and international clients with solutions to complex financial and resource problems. The Company provides geospatial products, services, and solutions for several industries, including agriculture, utility and defense. It provides a comprehensive portfolio of technology and domain specific solutions to its federal, state and local government and commercial health customers.
The Company helps companies to y operate, maintain, and manage wid! ely dispersed assets through consulting, enterprise asset management (EAM), help desk services and network services. The Company supports all phases for drug development: discovery, pre-clinical and clinical development and operations and compliance. It develops technologies, engineer solutions and provide analytical systems for maritime markets. It helps organizations improve product quality, more accurately determine product development or production schedule/cost, and increase productivity. The Company helps National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the military, space and intelligence communities transition to faster, better and cheaper business processes through applied research & technology; information systems, and modeling and simulation. The Company offers corporate and individual training services ranging from elearning to training evaluation.
Aviation
The Company supports commercial and government customers with the latest aviation technology products. The Company�� products include Model 3800 Autopilot, FODetect , AeroPlanner, Memory Unit Tactical Air Crew Training System (MUTACTS), and SAIC Mission Planning System (MPS). The Model 3800 Autopilot is designed for installation in high-performance jet and turboprop aircraft but will function well in a range of fixed-wing aircraft. FODetect is an automated system that provides continuous monitoring with high-resolution and high-speed detection of foreign object debris (FOD) on critical aircraft operating areas. AeroPlanner provides a common tactical picture between control and combat systems by accessing parallel data from naval tactical data systems and retransmitting serially into multiple formats. SAIC's MUTACTS provides quick, accurate and post-flight review and analysis of military aircraft training missions. SAIC MPS consists of a line of simple to use computerized aircraft mission planning systems available for aircraft around the world.
Geospatial Products
The Company o! ffers a f! amily of geospatial solutions to support and gather GIS information for defense, intelligence and commercial customers. Its products include AeroPlanner.com, GRGlobe, GeoRover Software Products, ike 504, Percept, and WebCentric Geospatial Collaboration. AeroPlanner.com is a comprehensive flight-planning application for pilots of all levels. The GRGlobe desktop application brings core GIS functionality to a three dimensional (3D) globe environment providing the ability to create, edit, and visualize GIS data natively while supporting multiple formats such, as KML, shapefile and geodatabase. GeoRover geospatial software products are designed and sold as extensions of plug-in to the ArcMap component of Esri ArcGIS software versions 8.x and 9.x. The ike 504 is a handheld, GIS-related device that provides operators with methods to collect geospatial information on a target, including GPS coordinates and a photograph from a position up to 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) away. The SAIC Percept suite connects essential business information with real-world infrastructure and properties data. WebCentric Geospatial Collaboration is a Web-based, commercial-off-the-shelf geospatial presentation tool providing to dimensional (2D), 3D, and four dimensional (4D) views.
Ocean and Marine Systems
The Company develops marine products. These products monitor global climate change and marine meteorology, chart and analyze hydrographic data, and help to manage waste and control pollution. iTs products include COBIA Buoy, SAIC Tsunami Buoy (STB) Systems, ISS-2000, Survey Analysis and area Based EditoR (SABER), Incident Command Tool for Drinking Water Protection (ICWater), Plastics Waste Processor (PWP), Compress Melt Unit (CMU) Mod 0, Compress Melt Unit (CMU) Mod 1: Plastics Waste Processor, Large and Small Pulpers, Large and Small Pulpers, 10 GPM Oily Waste Polishing Unit, Topside and Dockside Chlorinators, and Ship Dechlorinator. COBIA Buoy is designed as a modular and fully reconfigurable buoy platform b! ased on t! echnologically advanced maritime expertise. SAIC Tsunami Buoy (STB) Systems are an enhanced version of the buoy system in use by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's DART detection system. The ISS-2000 Integrated Survey System was designed for professional hydrographers and surveyors and supports a range of high-performance, shallow-water survey operations. SABER is a tool for processing, editing, updating, viewing and analyzing hydrographic survey data. ICWater is designed to model drinking water contamination in real-time for a rapid, effective emergency response.
Rugged Hardware
The Company�� rugged hardware provides a range of commercial off-the-shelf equipment, as well as specialized custom-designed solutions, for installation into harsh tactical and industrial environments. Its products include Quicklock Cargo Restraint System, Passive LINK Tap (PLT), 1RU 8 Circuit Rugged Power Distribution Assembly (PDA), 1RU Fixed Expansion Chassis, 2RU Rugged cPCI Chassis High-Security Firewall System, Rugged Large liquid-crystal display (LCD) Color Flat Panel Displays (FPDs), Rugged Small LCD FPDs, Neptune 2 Rack Unit Workstation Consoles, and Rugged TigerShark Workstation Consoles. PLT provides a common tactical picture between control and combat systems by accessing parallel data from naval tactical data systems and retransmitting serially into multiple formats. The Quicklock Cargo Restraint System allows for secure tie-down of almost any cargo shape and is designed to prevent damage to and loss of equipment while in transit.
Safety and Security
The Company offers a variety of products to enhance safety and security in transportation, military, emergency response and other applications. Its product includes VACIS Cargo and Vehicle Inspection Systems, VACIS IP6500 FullScan Integrated Inspection System, VACIS XPL Passenger Vehicle Scanning System, and All-Terrain VACIS Imaging System. The Company�� VACIS systems scan cargo containers, tru! cks, cars! and other vehicles to help authorities search for weapons, nuclear material, narcotics, undeclared goods and other contraband at cargo terminals, border crossings, military facilities and other checkpoints. The VACIS IP6500 system safely scans occupied trucks and other vehicles of all sizes. The VACIS XPL system safely scans occupied cars and and other light vehicles.
Simulation
The Company provides a range of simulation products using in system engineering, software engineering, component engineering, signal and image processing, and custom system integration. Its products include OLIVE: On-Line Interactive Virtual Environment, RADSIM Radar Simulation 3.0, Reconfigurable Tactical Operations Simulator (RTOS), Non-Rated Crew Member Manned Module (NCM3), RC-12X Cockpit Procedural Trainer (CPT), Common Driver Trainer (CDT) Product Line, Combat Training Center-Instrumentation Systems (CTC-IS), STK/Missile Modeling Tools (STK/MMT), Tactical Engagement Simulation (TES) Systems, Common Vehicle System (CVS) Kit, CVS Abrams Adapter Kit, CVS Bradley Adapter Kit, Wireless Independent Target System (WITS), MK-19 Simulator Player Unit, Wireless Individual Weapon System (W-IWS), Mini MILES, Air Defense Weapons Systems (ADWS) MILES Kits, and Aviation Tactical Engagement Simulation System (AV-TESS). The Aviation Tactical Engagement Simulation System (AV-TESS) provides a flexible, training solution, tracking and weapons simulation system, and supports live force-on-force and force-on-target training and the evaluation and testing of new air vehicles and weapons systems. The Wireless Independent Target System (WITS) provides noncombat vehicles and targets, such as trucks, bridges and buildings, with a high-fidelity detection system for real-time casualty assessment.
Software
The Company is an SEI Partner for the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) project, a collaborative effort to provide models for achieving product and process improvement. Its products inc! lude Voic! e Identity Biometric Services (VIBES), Scale2Insight, Secure Multi-Tenancy, Advanced Analytics Suite, TeraText Database System, SIAM, Antfarm, EMTOOLS, MICHELLE, Enterprise Energy Dashboard, GeoRover Software Products, GeoViz- WebCentric GeoSpatial Collaboration, ISS-2000, Survey Analysis and area Based EditoR (SABER), AIMES, ISRCrossCue, RAVE, Omnifluent Suite of Human Language Technology Products, Flexible Tax Manager, SCOPTIMA Supply Chain Software, and Supply Operations Control System (SOCS). The Supply Operations Control System (SOCS) is a personal computer (PC) based inventory management system, and provides asset visibility, inventory control and supply support. SCOPTIMA Supply Chain Software is a secure, Web-enabled inventory system planner that provides demand forecasting to support efficient management and replenishment of large inventories of spare parts for aircraft and other platforms.
Transportation Products
The Company�� transportation systems helps companies and government agencies around the world improve efficiency, enhance safety and security, reduce errors and cut costs. Its products include Integrated Container Information System (ICIS), Intelligent Intermodal Solutions (IIS), Gatestand Driver Kiosk, CraneView Crane-Mounted OCR System, RailView Digital Video Recording System for Locomotives, and Transportation Visibility and Metrics System (TransVM). The RailView system continuously records digital video and key events as the locomotive travels, providing a reliable record for analysis of rail incidents. The CraneView system automatically identifies containers and records stow positions as the containers are moved by quay cranes in real time.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Reese]
Indeed, in 2013, the Greenblatt-based portfolio has bounced back strong, returning more than 50%. Below is a look at its current holdings.
EBIX, Inc. (EBIX)
Western Refining (WNR)
DirecTV (DTV)
ITT Educational Services (ESI)
Science Applications International (SAIC)
Weight Watchers International (WTW)
ConocoPhillips (COP)
AmSurg Corp. (AMSG)
PDL BioPharma (PDLI)
AFC Enterprises (AFCE)
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- [By John Kell and Lauren Pollock var popups = dojo.query(".socialByline .popC"); ]
Science Applications International Corp.(SAIC) said its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings fell 23%, as the government contractor posted weaker revenue that was partly offset by lower expenses related to its spinoff by the former SAIC Inc. last year and other one-time items.
Top 10 Services Companies To Invest In 2015: PetSmart Inc(PETM)
PetSmart, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a specialty retailer of products, services, and solutions for pets in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada. The company offers consumables, such as pet food, treats, and litter; and hardgoods, which include pet supplies and other goods comprising collars, leashes, health care supplies, grooming and beauty aids, toys, apparel, and pet beds and carriers, as well as aquariums and habitats, accessories, d�or, and filters for fish, birds, reptiles, and small pets. It also provides fresh-water fish, small birds, reptiles, and small pets; and pet services, such as grooming, including precision cuts, baths, nail trimming and grinding, and teeth brushing, as well as training, boarding, and day camp services. In addition, the company operates PetsHotels that offer boarding for dogs and cats; provides personalized pet care, an on-call veterinarian, temperature controlled rooms and suites, daily specialty treats and p lay time, and day camp services for dogs; and operates veterinary hospitals, which offer services comprising routine examinations and vaccinations, dental care, a pharmacy, and surgical procedures. As of January 29, 2012, it operated 1,232 retail stores; 192 PetsHotels; 791 veterinary hospitals under the trade name of Banfield, The Pet Hospital; and 8 hospitals operated through other third parties in Canada. The company also offers its products through an e-commerce and community site, PetSmart.com. PetSmart, Inc. was founded in 1986 and is based in Phoenix, Arizona.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Lauren Pollock]
Pet-products retailer PetSmart Inc.(PETM) boosted its quarterly dividend by 18% while announcing a plan to repurchase $535 million in shares.
RDA Microelectronics Inc.(RDA) has received a takeover proposal from Shanghai Pudong Science & Technology Investment Co. valuing the Chinese semiconductor company at $745 million. PDSTI, a state-owned investment company, offered to buy RDA for $15.50 an American depositary share, a 12% premium to RDA’s closing price Thursday. RDA shares were halted premarket ahead of the news.
- [By Brian Orelli]
Fourth-quarter revenue at�PetSmart� (NASDAQ: PETM ) �was up 15% thanks to the addition of new stores and increasing same-store sales; earnings jumped an impressive 36% year over year. Over the last five years, shares are�up more than 200%, proving that�pets need food and get sick even in bad times, making the industry somewhat recession-proof.
- [By Brian Pacampara]
Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, pet food and products retailer PetSmart (NASDAQ: PETM ) has earned a respected four-star ranking.
- [By Rick Munarriz]
I went out on a limb last week, and now it's time to see how that decision played out.
I predicted that Best Buy (NYSE: BBY ) would close lower on the week. The consumer-electronics retailer had hit a new 52-week high heading into the report, and it didn't seem justifiable given the declining sales and cascading margins. Best Buy's quarterly report on Tuesday was mixed, and while there were a few positives in there, the market ultimately agreed with me. Why is a fading retailer trading at new highs? The stock fell 3.2% on the week. I was right. I predicted that the tech-heavy Nasdaq would outperform the Dow Jones Industrial Average. (DJINDICES: ^DJI ) . This has been a tricky call lately, so how did it play out this time? Well, the market finally took a breather this week, and secondary stocks led the way down, with the Nasdaq shedding 1.1% on the week. The Dow managed to close just 0.3% lower. I was wrong. My final call was for PetSmart (NASDAQ: PETM ) to beat Wall Street's income estimates in its latest quarter. The pet supplies and services provider has been posting blowout quarterly results over the past year, and I was banking on a continuation of the trend. Analysts were looking for a profit of $0.96 a share during the quarter, and it came through with earnings of $0.98. I was right.Two out of three? I'll take it! That makes me 13 out of 15 over the past five weeks.
Top 10 Services Companies To Invest In 2015: Solar Thin Films Inc (SLTZ)
Solar Thin Films, Inc. is engaged in the business of designing, manufacturing and installation of thin-film amorphous silicon (a-Si) photovoltaic manufacturing equipment. The equipment is used in plants that produce photovoltaic thin-film a-Si solar panels or modules. The Company operates through its wholly owned subsidiary, Kraft Elektronikai Zrt (Kraft). Kraft is engaged in the design, development, manufacture, and installation of a-Si photovoltaic manufacturing equipment. The primary buyers of photovoltaic thin-film manufacturing equipment are businesses, as well as investment partnerships, engaged in the production of photovoltaic thin-film modules. In May 2010, the Company acquired Atlantis Solar LLC. In May 2013, Solar Thin Films Inc acquired Quality Resource Technologies Inc. In October 2013, Solar Thin Films Inc announced the sale of all of its ownership stake of Hungarian subsidiary, Kraft, R.t. (Kraft), to GJR Collectibles LLC.
Kraft has been providing equipment that is incorporated into a single manufacturing line capable of manufacturing a-Si solar modules that produce approximately 5megawatt (MW) of solar power annually. The Company focuses, directly and through joint ventures or alliances with other companies or governmental agencies, to sell equipment for and participate financially in solar power facilities using thin film a-Si solar modules or metallurgical and other crystalline solar modules as the power source to provide electricity to municipalities, businesses and consumers.
The Company competes with Applied Materials and Oerlikon.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Peter Graham]
Small cap stocks Alliance Creative Group Inc (OTCMKTS: ACGX), Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure Inc (OTCMKTS: DJRT), Inscor Inc (OTCMKTS: IOGA) and Solar Thin Films Inc (OTCMKTS: SLTZ) have all been getting some attention lately in various investment newsletters and it should come as no surprise that two out of four of these stocks have been the subject of paid promotions ��which tend to benefit traders. However, two out of four of these stocks also have pretty good financials for being small cap OTC stocks and that might make them attractive to investors with a long term time horizon. So which of these stocks might make traders some profits in the short term and investors some profits over the longer term? Here is a closer look to help you decide:
Top 10 Services Companies To Invest In 2015: Star Bulk Carriers Corp.(SBLK)
Star Bulk Carriers Corp. operates as a shipping company providing seaborne transportation solutions in the dry bulk sector worldwide. Its vessels transport major bulks, which include iron ore, coal, and grain; and minor bulks, such as bauxite, fertilizers, and steel products. The company has an operating fleet of 15 dry bulk carriers consisting of 7 Capesize and 8 Supramax dry bulk vessels with a combined cargo carrying capacity of 1,625,945 deadweight tons. The company was incorporated in 2006 and is based in Athens, Greece.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Roberto Pedone]
Star Bulk Carriers (SBLK) provides worldwide transportation of drybulk commodities through its vessel-owning subsidiaries for a range of customers and minor bulk cargoes including iron ore, coal, grain, cement and fertilizer. This stock closed up 7.9% at $10.58 in Monday's trading session.
Monday's Volume: 243,000
Three-Month Average Volume: 64,367
Volume % Change: 228%From a technical perspective, SBLK jumped sharply higher here right above some near-term support at $9.47 with above-average volume. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last two months and change, with shares moving higher from its low of $5.37 to its recent high of $11.53. During that move, shares of SBLK have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of SBLK within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if SBLK manages to take out its 52-week high at $11.53 and then once it clears some past resistance at $11.98 with high volume.
Traders should now look for long-biased trades in SBLK as long as it's trending above near-term support at $9.47 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 64,367 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then SBLK will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are its next major overhead resistance levels at $14 to $15.
- [By James E. Brumley]
It's certainly no Safe Bulkers, Inc. (NYSE:SB) or Star Bulk Carriers Corp. (NASDAQ:SBLK), in terms or market cap or revenue. In fact, even with the drybulk shipping industry it's a somewhat obscure name. Yet, FreeSeas Inc. (NASDAQ:FREE) may well be the stock with the most near-term potential upside, now that it's gotten over a key technical hump.
- [By James E. Brumley]
I'll warn you now that if you're a fan or shareholder of Star Bulk Carriers Corp. (NASDAQ:SBLK), then you're not going to like what you're about to read. Before you fly off into a tirade of "colorful" descriptions of me, however, know that this is neither a judgment call on the company itself, nor a long-term outlook. It's simply a trading-based observation of hints that SBLK has dropped today. Fair enough? OK, let's dig in.
Top 10 Services Companies To Invest In 2015: Fisher Communications Inc.(FSCI)
Fisher Communications, Inc., an integrated media company, through its subsidiaries, engages in television and radio broadcasting businesses. The company owns and operates network-affiliated television stations in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and California, as well as engages in Internet business; and radio stations and managed radio stations in Washington and Montana. It also owns and operates Fisher Plaza, a commercial building that includes a data center designed to enable companies to distribute analog and digital media content through various distribution channels, including broadcast, satellite, cable, Internet, broadband, and other wired and wireless communication systems, as well as houses various companies, including media and communications companies. The company owns and operates 13 full power television stations, 7 low power television stations, and 10 owned and managed radio stations in the Western United States. Its television stations reach 4.2 million househo lds. The company was formerly known as Fisher Companies, Inc. and changed its name in March 2001. Fisher Communications, Inc. was founded in 1910 and is based in Seattle, Washington.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Eric Volkman]
In the latest of a string of acquisitions, Sinclair Broadcast Group (NASDAQ: SBGI ) is to buy Fisher Communications (NASDAQ: FSCI ) . The merger transaction will cost the former roughly $373 million. Fisher stockholders are to receive a cash payout of $41.00 per share, which, according to Sinclair, is a 44% premium to the stock's recent closing price.
Top 10 Services Companies To Invest In 2015: Re/Max Holdings Inc (RMAX)
Re/Max Holdings, Inc., incorporated on June 25, 2013, is a franchisor of real estate brokerage services. Its business is to recruit and retain agents and sell franchises. The Company operates in two business segments: Real Estate Franchise Services, and Brokerage and Other. The Company operates in the real estate brokerage franchise industry in more than 90 countries, including the United States and Canada. Effective December 31, 2012, the Company acquired certain assets of RE/MAX of Texas. Effective November 30, 2012, the Company sold substantially all of the assets of owned and operated regional franchising operations located in Eastern Australia and New Zealand and entered into regional franchising agreements with new independent owners of these regions.
The Real Estate Franchise Services reportable segment comprises the operations of its owned and independent global franchising operations. The Brokerage and Other reportable segment contains the operations of its 21 owned brokerage offices in the U.S. which represent less than 1% of RE/MAX brokerages in the U.S., the results of operations of a mortgage brokerage company in which the Company owns a non-controlling interest, the elimination of intersegment revenue and other consolidation entities, as well as corporate and professional services expenses.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Ben Levisohn]
Shares of Re/Max Holdings (RMAX) have surged out of the gate as investors scoop up shares following the real-estate brokers IPO.
ReutersShares of Re/Max priced at $22, above the range of $19-$21 it had been seeking. The Associated Press has the details:
Re/Max Holdings Inc. has raised $220 million in an initial public offering of its common stock.
Re/Max is giving the underwriters a 30-day option to buy up to an additional 1.5 million shares to cover any excess demand.
The company anticipates about $194.2 million in net proceeds, after underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses. Re/Max plans to use the proceeds to reacquire regional Re/Max franchise rights in some markets, redeem preferred membership interests and buy back ownership stakes from existing shareholders.
�Re/Max shares have jumped 21% to $26.67 at 10:32 a.m. Investors might want to reconsider jumping in, however. Here’s what I wrote about IPOs�back in 2011 and it still stands today.The IPO game is notoriously dicey for retail investors. That’s because most of the shares sold at the low offering price go to institutions; only about 20% go to individuals, according to Jay Ritter, a finance professor at the University of Florida.
That means most people must settle for buying new shares during their first few days of trading��rom the bigger investors who are selling. This scenario proved disastrous for investors who bought hot Internet companies near the end of the dot-com boom, just before they crashed.
Most IPOs, in fact, fail to pan out for small investors. Excluding the first day of trading, the average IPO underperforms similarly sized companies by 3.4 percentage points a year during its first five years of trading, according to Prof. Ritter’s data.
The IPO has a mixed impact on other real-estate related companies.�Realogy (RLGY) has fallen 0.2% to $43.62, while Vector Group (VGR), wh
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