Investors have been nervous about the stock market's nearly straight-up movement over the past several months, as stocks have been remarkably resilient even in the face of past bad news. But today's onslaught of troubling items -- ranging from slowing Chinese economic growth and a nearly 10% plunge in gold prices to the deadly explosions at the Boston Marathon -- were enough to provoke a massive sell-off on Wall Street, with the Dow Jones Industrials (DJINDICES: ^DJI ) closing down 266 points. The S&P 500 dropped more than 2%, and the small-cap Russell 2000 Index suffered a nearly 4% decline.
Not a single Dow component managed to post even the tiniest of gains, but a couple of stocks minimized their losses. Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT ) finished down 0.1%, fulfilling its traditional role of holding up well as a defensive stock in light of potential threats to future economic growth. The company announced that it would boost its energy efficiency and commitment to renewable energy in an attempt to cut costs, but the discount retailer's strong performance in past recessionary times is likely the real reason behind its managing to hold up well today.
Best Beverage Stocks To Own Right Now: Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc.(GMCR)
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. engages in the specialty coffee and coffee maker business. The company sources, produces, and sells approximately 200 varieties of coffee, cocoa, teas, and other beverages in K-Cup portion packs and coffee in traditional packaging, including whole bean and ground coffee selections in bags and ground coffee in fractional packs for use in at-home (AH) and away-from-home (AFH). It sells its products primarily in North America through supermarkets, club stores, and convenience stores; in restaurants and hospitality; and to office coffee distributors, as well as directly to consumers through its Website. The company also manufactures gourmet single-cup brewing systems and brewing equipment. In addition, it sells AH single-cup brewers; accessories; and coffee, tea, hot cocoa, and other beverages in K-Cup portion packs, as well as offers other licensed roasters to retailers, department stores, and mass merchandisers. Further, the company sells AFH single-cup brewers to distributors for use in offices. It provides its products under the Van Houtte, Br�erie St. Denis, Br�erie Mont-Royal, and Orient Express brands, as well as licensed Bigelow and Wolfgang Puck brands. The company was founded in 1981 and is based in Waterbury, Vermont.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Lawrence Meyers]
You could also choose Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (GMCR). I think it�� a riskier play than SBUX stock, as it trades at 30x earnings on a 17% growth rate and doesn�� pump out the cash the same way that SBUX does. It�� a growth story, to be sure, but there also a few accounting questions lingering. Personally, I�� go with SBUX stock.
Top 10 Defensive Stocks To Buy Right Now: Oracle Corporation(ORCL)
Oracle Corporation, an enterprise software company, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and services database and middleware software, applications software, and hardware systems worldwide. It licenses of database and middleware software, including database management software, application server software, service-oriented architecture and business process management software, data integration software, business intelligence software, identity and access management software, content management software, portals and user interaction software, development tools, and Java; and applications software comprising enterprise resource planning, customer relationship management, enterprise performance management, supply chain management, business intelligence applications, enterprise portfolio project management, Web commerce, and industry-specific applications software. The company also offers customers with rights to unspecified software product upgrades and maintenance releases; Internet access to technical content; and Internet and telephone access to technical support personnel. In addition, its hardware systems products consist of computer server and hardware-related software, including the Oracle Solaris Operating System; and storage products, such as tape, disk and networking solutions for open systems and mainframe server environments. Its hardware systems support solutions include software updates for the software components. Further, the company offers consulting solutions in business and IT strategy alignment, enterprise architecture planning and design, initial product implementation and integration, and ongoing product enhancements and upgrades; cloud services, including Oracle Cloud Services and Advanced Customer Services; and education solutions comprising instructor-led, media-based, and Internet-based training in the use of its software and hardware products. The company was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Redwood Ci ty, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Christopher Freeburn]
Following Gates is Berkshire Hathaway‘s (BRK.A, BRK.B) iconic investor Warren Buffett, who is worth about $58.5 billion. Coming in third is Oracle (ORCL) CEO Larry Ellison with $41 billion. Charles and David Koch tied for fourth place again, each worth an estimated $36 billion.
- [By Chuck Carnevale]
Oracle (ORCL) offers several lessons on how to calculate the returns from your common stock investments. First of all, we see a strong correlation between earnings and stock price for most of the 15-year time frame. However, we also see the extreme and unwarranted overvaluation that occurred during the irrationally exuberant technology bubble of the late 1990s.
- [By Rich Bieglmeier]
Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) will release its fourth quarter fiscal year 2014 results on Thursday, June 19th, after the close of the market. Oracle will host a conference call and live webcast at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time to discuss the financial results.
- [By Dan Caplinger]
TIBCO Software (NASDAQ: TIBX ) will release its quarterly report on Thursday, and investors have looked increasingly uncertain about whether the enterprise infrastructure and IT integration software maker can continue to produce solid share-price gains. Even though the company has managed to fend off much larger rivals IBM (NYSE: IBM ) and Oracle (NYSE: ORCL ) thus far, TIBCO has a long way to go before it can ultimately declare victory over them and the rest of its competition.
Top 10 Defensive Stocks To Buy Right Now: Spectral Diagnostics Inc (DIAGF)
Spectral Diagnostics Inc. (Spectral), incorporated on July 29, 1991, focuses on the development and commercialization, in North America, treatment for severe sepsis and septic shock. The Company also manufactures and sells certain reagents. Its products include Rapid Diagnostics for Sepsis, Endotoxin Activity Assay (EAA) and Toraymyxin. As of December 31, 2011, Spectral�� EAA endotoxin measurement was the only the United Sates Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared diagnostic on the market. Spectral Diagnostics (US) Inc. and Spectral Diagnostics (New Brunswick) Inc. are its subsidiaries.
The Company has developed a rapid diagnostic test for detection of components of gram negative bacterial cell wall (endotoxin). The EAA instrument is manufactured under contract for use in the hospital setting. The Toraymyxin hemoperfusion device removes endotoxin from the bloodstream and is manufactured by Toray Industries Inc. of Japan. The product is sold in Japan and Europe and has been used over 80,000 patients worldwide. As of December 31, 2011, Spectral was conducting clinical trials for the purpose of seeking regulatory approval in the United States. Spectral develops, produces and markets recombinant proteins, antibodies and calibrators. These materials are sold for use in research and development, as well as in products manufactured by other diagnostic companies. Royalty revenues are earned from these license arrangements based on a percentage of end user sales of Troponin I.
The Company competes with Eli Lilly, Agennix AG, AstraZeneca, Eisai, Gambro, InflammaGen Therapeutics, Fresenius and CytoSorbents.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By maarnio]
Spectral Diagnostics (DIAGF) develops and commercializes theranostic treatment for severe sepsis in North America.
Shares outstanding (March 31, 2014)
Top 10 Defensive Stocks To Buy Right Now: Nuveen Credit Strategies Income Fund (JQC)
Nuveen Multi-Strategy Income & Growth Fund 2 (the Fund), formerly Nuveen Preferred and Convertible Income Fund 2, is a diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund intends to invest in a portfolio of preferred securities, securities and, to a lesser degree, high yield securities. The Fund may also invest in other debt instruments and common stocks acquired upon conversion of a convertible security.
On January 1, 2005, Nuveen Institutional Advisory Corp. (NIAC), the Funds' previous adviser, and its affiliate, Nuveen Advisory Corp. (NAC), were merged into Nuveen Asset Management (NAM), each wholly owned subsidiaries of Nuveen Investments, Inc. (Nuveen). As a result of the merger, NAM is the Adviser to all funds previously advised by either NIAC or NAC. The investment portfolio of the Fund includes JPMorgan Chase & Company, ING Group NV, Union Planters Corporation, HBSC Holdings Public Limited Company, Wachovia Corporation, Omnicare Capital Trust II, Hanover Compressor Capital Trust and CIT Group Incorporated.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Dowdee]
The following 10 funds satisfied all of these conditions:
BlackRock Float Rate Strategies (FRA). This CEF sells at a discount of 3%, which is low compared to an average premium of 2% over the past year. The distribution has been managed at 6.1% and a small amount (less than 10%) has been return of capital (ROC). However, this has not negatively affected net asset value (NAV) so has not been destructive. The fund holds 447 securities, with 90% in floating rate loans. FRA utilizes 27% leverage and has an expense ratio of 1.7%, including interest payments. Eaton Vance Floating Rate (EFR). This CEF sells at a 1% premium, which is low compared to an average premium of 5% over the past year. The distribution is 6.2%, none of which was ROC. The fund holds 800 securities, with 90% in floating rate loans. About 85% of the securities are from U.S. companies. EFR utilizes 35% leverage and has an expense ratio of 1.8% including interest payments. ING Prime Rate Trust (PPR). This CEF sells for a premium of 2%, which is below the average premium of 5%. It has a distribution of 6.8%, none of which was ROC. The fund has 350 holdings, virtually all in senior loans and from US companies. PPR utilizes 29% leverage and has a high expense ratio of 2.1%, including interest payments. Invesco VK Dynamic Credit Opportunities (VTA). This CEF sells for a discount of 5%, which is below the average discount of 1%. It has a distribution of 7.1%, none of which was ROC. The fund has 495 holdings, with 76% in floating rate loans. About 25% of the loans are from non-US companies. VTA utilizes a relatively low 20% leverage but still has a high expense ratio of 2.1%, including interest payments. Invesco VK Senior Income (VVR). This CEF sells for a discount of 1%, which is below the average premium of 3%. It has a distribution of 7.1%, none of which was ROC. The fund has over 500 holdings, with 89% in floating rate loans. Almost all (95%) securities are from US companies. VVR ut
Top 10 Defensive Stocks To Buy Right Now: Sasol Ltd.(SSL)
Sasol Limited operates as an integrated energy and chemicals company worldwide. It mines saleable coal; distributes and markets natural gas and methane-rich gas; owns, operates, and maintains cross-border natural gas pipeline; produces coal-based synfuels; and markets oil products, such as petrol, diesel, jet fuel, illuminating paraffin, naphtha, liquid petroleum gas (LPG), fuel oils, bitumen, motor and industrial lubricants, and sulphur to the industrial and licensed wholesalers customers in South Africa. The company also supplies ethylene, propylene, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, chlor-alkali chemicals, and mining reagents; solvents, co-monomers, acrylates, and associated products; surfactants, linear alkylbenzene, surfactant intermediates, n-paraffins, n-olefins, C6-C22 alcohols, ethylene, oleochemicals, and other organic intermediates, as well as provides specialty aluminas, silica aluminas, and hydrotalcites. In addition, it produces and markets var ious chemical products comprising waxes, fertilizers, and mining explosive products; converts natural gas into synthesis gas for use as petrochemical feedstock; and involves in the research and development, alternative energy, and financial activities. Further, the company produces natural gas and condensate from the onshore Pande and Temane fields in Mozambique; oil in Gabon from the offshore Etame, Avouma, and Ebouri oilfield cluster; and shale gas from the Farrell Creek and Cypress A assets in Canada. It operates in South Africa, the other parts of Africa, Europe, North America, South America, Southeast Asia, Australasia, the Middle East, India, and the Far East. Sasol Limited was founded in 1950 and is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Dan Newman]
Profitable opportunity
Some may guess that doing business with developing countries wouldn't allow for a very profitable business. However, when South African companies like�Sasol� (NYSE: SSL ) �-- which estimated 18% of its workforce carried HIV in 2007�-- must dedicate departmental budgets to HIV/AIDS, there are plenty of opportunities for Female Health to cover costs and earn a return. A healthier workforce for Sasol would simply cost less for the company, and Female Health can help companies like Sasol achieve a healthier workforce. - [By Arjun Sreekumar]
However, interest in GTL continues to grow. In December, South African energy firm Sasol (NYSE: SSL ) said that it would build the first commercial GTL facility in the U.S. The Johannesburg-based company has pinpointed Louisiana as the plant's chosen location due to that state's copious�reserves of natural gas, and said it expects production from the facility to begin in 2018.
- [By Monica Gerson]
Sasol (NYSE: SSL) is projected to report its quarterly earnings.
Nuverra Environmental Solutions (NYSE: NES) is expected to post a Q4 loss at $0.47 per share on revenue of $152.06 million.
Top 10 Defensive Stocks To Buy Right Now: Clean Harbors Inc. (CLH)
Clean Harbors, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides environmental, energy, and industrial services. Its Technical Services segment offers hazardous material management services, including the packaging, collection, transportation, treatment, and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste; and CleanPack services comprising the collection, identification, categorization, specialized packaging, transportation, and disposal of laboratory chemicals and household hazardous wastes. The company?s Field Services segment offers various environmental cleanup services on customer sites or other locations on a scheduled or emergency response basis, including tank cleaning, decontamination, remediation, spill cleanup; used oil and oil products recycling; polychlorinated biphenyls management and disposal; and filtration and water treatment services. The company?s Industrial Services segment offers industrial and specialty services, such as high-pressure and chemical cleaning, cata lyst handling, decoking, material processing, and industrial lodging services to refineries, chemical plants, pulp and paper mills, and other industrial facilities. The company?s Exploration Services segment provides exploration services, such as geospatial data imaging, line clearing, heli-portable and track drilling, seismic surveying, and land development; and directional boring services, including installing pipeline, fiber optic, cable, gas, and water and sewer lines to the oil and gas exploration and production, and power generation companies, as well as municipalities. Clean Harbors, Inc. has approximately 175 locations, including 50 waste management facilities. The company operates in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Bulgaria, China, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand, and the United Kingdom. It serves Fortune 500 companies and private entities, as well as federal, state, provincial, and governmental agencies. The company was founded in 1980 and is based in N orwell, Massachusetts.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Jason Moser]
Clean Harbors (NYSE: CLH )
I love finding companies that fly under the radar, and Clean Harbors is one. It's a smaller company with a market cap of just over $3 billion. But with its founder Alan McKim steering the ship as CEO, I think there is plenty of room for this company to grow. Oh yeah, did I also mention McKim owns almost 8% of shares outstanding? I love founder/leaders like McKim (and Bezos) who eat their own cooking. - [By Marc Courtenay]
ATW, which next reports earnings on May 1st, has a market cap of only $3.32 billion, which is bite-size for a XOM or a GE. Another one-swallow menu item for these behemoth acquirers is a company like Clean Harbors, Inc. (CLH), which steps into the earnings confessional on April 29th.
- [By Damian Illia]
Furthermore, the company has a wide economic moat largely stemming from three factors: its efficient scale, its high switching costs and its intangible assets. Of the 20 commercial hazardous-waste landfills operational in the U.S., the majority are run by US Ecology and its main competitors Waste Management Inc. (WM), and Clean Harbors Inc. (CLH). With barriers to entry stemming from regulatory permits, and a limited market size, ECOL has managed to achieve an efficient scale in the market with five hazardous waste-sides. The company�� intangible assets consist of long-term regulatory permits, which enable US Ecology to posses a ��atekeeper privilege��regarding barriers to new entrants. In addition, customer switching costs are high, thus further adding to the firm�� ability to sustain growth in the long term.
Top 10 Defensive Stocks To Buy Right Now: Fiat SpA (FIATY.PK)
Fiat SpA, incorporated in 1906, is engaged principally in the manufacture and sale of automobiles, agricultural and construction equipment and commercial vehicles. It also manufactures other products and systems, principally engines, transmission systems, automotive-related components, metallurgical products and production systems. In addition, it is involved in certain other sectors, including publishing and communications. The Company and its subsidiaries operates approximately in 50 countries. The Company operates under five segments: automobiles, agricultural and construction equipment (CNH-Case New Holland), trucks and commercial vehicles, components and production systems, and other businesses. On 10 June 2009, the Company acquired 20% interest in Chrysler Group LLC. In January 2014, Fiat SpA announced that through its wholly owned subsidiary Fiat North America LLC (FNA) completed its announced acquisition of all of the VEBA Trust�� membership interests in Chrysler Group LLC.
Automobiles
The Company�� automobiles segment designs, develops and sells automobiles, which include Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Abarth, Fiat Professional, Maserati and Ferrari. During the year ended December 31, 2009, this segment delivered a total of 2,150,700 passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.
Agricultural and Construction Equipment (CNH-Case New Holland)
The Company�� agricultural and construction equipment segment is engaged in the development of the agricultural and construction equipment industries in Europe and the United States. CNH operates through six brands: Case IH, New Holland Agriculture, Steyr, New Holland Construction, Case Construction and Kobelo. Case IH includes a range of tractors, combines and bailers. New Holland Agriculture�� products include tractors, harvesting equipment and telehandlers. Steyr is the producer of tractors in Austria. New Holland Construction is a producer of construction equipment with a network of 800 dealers an! d more than 2,100 points of sale in 100 countries.
Case Construction sells and provides service support for a range of construction machinery: from loader backhoes to crawler and wheel excavators, from wheel loaders to wheel and crawler skid steer loaders, from articulated dumpers to telescopic handlers. Kobelco produces and sells a range of compact, mid-size and full-size excavators ranging from 1.9 to 88 tons. It owns more than 250 sales outlets located throughout North America.
Truck and Commercial Vehicles
Truck and Commercial Vehicles segment develops, produces and sells a range of trucks and buses under the brands, which include Iveco, Iveco Irisbus, Iveco Astra and Iveco Magirus. Iveco produces a range of light, medium and heavy commercial and industrial vehicles for transportation and distribution of goods. Iveco Irisbus offers a range of vehicles, from minibuses to touring coaches, from urban buses to interurban buses designed to provide a solution to a variety of transportation needs, whether intraurban or interurban.
Iveco Astra produces 2, 3 and 4-axle vehicles for mining and offers over 210 Extra Heavy-Duty models for dump bodies, water and fuel tanks, cement mixers and pumps, drills, mobile service. In addition, it provides rigid dumpers of 14, 28, 32 and 40 tons and articulated dumpers of 25, 30, 35 and 40 tons. Iveco Magirus offers s range of vehicles for situations like fire, floods, earthquakes and explosions. It offers them under the Iveco Magirus, Lohr Magirus, Iveco Special Vehicles and Camiva brands.
Components and Production Systems
The Company�� products under the Components and Production Systems include FPT Powertrain Technologies, Magneti Marelli, Teksid and Comau. FPT Powertrain Technologies provides engines and transmissions. Magneti Marelli designs and produces automotive systems and components: from lighting to engine control systems, from suspensions to electronic systems, from exhaust system! s to comp! onents to the aftermarket and motorsport. Teksid is the producer of grey and nodular iron castings. It manufactures approximately 600 thousand tons of engine blocks, cylinder heads, engine components, transmissions parts, gearboxes and suspensions. Comau makes body welding and assembly robots, and machining and assembly for mechanical systems. It delivers turnkey solution, which includes design, production, installation, production startup and maintenance to the customers.
Other Businesses
The Company�� other businesses includes the contribution from the Company�� publishing businesses, service companies and holding companies.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Martin Vlcek]
The company's products are shipped to customer locations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, South America, Korea and China, and Strattec provides full service and aftermarket support. Strattec received the Supplier of the Year award from Chrysler, which is majority owned by Italy's Fiat (FIATY.PK), for 2013 in the Electronics category, and its alliance partners WITTE and ADAC received similar awards from Volkswagen and General Motors (GM), respectively. The company's largest customers are Chrysler, General Motors and Ford (F). Overall sales are highest in lock and key, followed by power access, ignition lock housings, the door handle and trim components and latching mechanisms. Direct sales to OEMs account for approximately 72% of total revenue, with the rest of sales being driven through OEM service channels, the aftermarket and to non-automotive commercial customers. Direct sales to the U.S. OEMs alone account for 66% of total revenue.
No comments:
Post a Comment