Look beyond the battle to succeed Ben Bernanke as chairman of the Federal Reserve. Front-runner Janet Yellen, vice chairman for the past three years, comes well qualified, but she faces challenges no chairman has ever faced.
Just ahead is a rare wave of new faces joining the policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee, which consists of the seven governors and the presidents of the 12 regional Federal Reserve banks. The voting members of the FOMC include, in addition to the chairman and vice chairman, the five other governors and five of the regional bank presidents ��the president of the New York Fed and four others who rotate into voting positions each year.
See Also: Kiplinger's Economic Outlook
Top Consumer Companies To Invest In Right Now: KeyCorp (KEY)
KeyCorp is a bank holding company for KeyBank National Association (KeyBank). Through KeyBank and certain other subsidiaries, the Company provides a range of retail and commercial banking, commercial leasing, investment management, consumer finance and investment banking products and services to individual, corporate and institutional clients through two business segments: Key Community Bank and Key Corporate Bank. As of December 31, 2011, these services were provided through KeyBank�� 1,058 full-service retail banking branches in 14 states, additional offices, a telephone banking call center services group and a network of 1,579 automated teller machines (ATMs) in 15 states. On January 17, 2012, the Company opened another national bank subsidiary.
In addition to the banking services of accepting deposits and making loans, the Bank and trust company subsidiaries offer personal and corporate trust services, personal financial services, access to mutual funds, cash management services, investment banking and capital markets products, and international banking services. Through its bank, trust company and investment adviser subsidiaries, the Company provides investment management services to clients that include corporate and public retirement plans, foundations and endowments, individuals and trust funds. The Company provides other financial services - both within and outside of its primary banking markets - through various nonbank subsidiaries. These services include community development financing, securities underwriting and brokerage. It is also an equity participant in a joint venture that provides merchant services to businesses.
Lending Activities
As of December 31, 2011, the Company�� Commercial, Financial and Agricultural loans, also referred to as Commercial and Industrial, represented 39% of its total loan portfolio. As of December 31, 2011, commercial real estate loans represented approximately 19% of its total loan portfolio. These loans include bo! th owner and nonowner-occupied properties and constitute approximately 27% of its commercial loan portfolio. Its commercial real estate lending business is conducted through two primary sources: its 14-state banking franchise, and Real Estate Capital and Corporate Banking Services. The Company conducts financing arrangements through its equipment finance line of business. Commercial lease financing receivables represented 17% of commercial loans at December 31, 2011. The home equity portfolio is the largest segment of its consumer loan portfolio.
Investment Activities
The Company�� securities portfolio totaled $18 billion at December 31, 2011. Available-for-sale securities were $16 billion at December 31, 2011. Held-to-maturity securities were $2.1 billion at December 31, 2011. At December 31, 2011, it had $2.1 billion in collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs) in its held-to-maturity securities portfolio. At December 31, 2011, the Company had $15.9 billion invested in CMOs and other mortgage-backed securities in the available-for-sale portfolio. Federal Agency CMOs constitute most of its held-to-maturity securities along with foreign bonds and preferred equity securities. The investments in equity and mezzanine instruments made by its principal investing unit represented 61% of other investments at December 31, 2011. They include direct investments (investments made in a particular company), as well as indirect investments (investments made through funds that include other investors).
Sources of Funds
Domestic deposits are the Company�� primary source of funding. During the year ended December 31, 2011, these deposits averaged $58.5 billion and represented 80% of the funds it used to support loans and other earning assets. Wholesale funds, consisting of deposits in its foreign office and short-term borrowings, averaged $3.4 billion during 2011. At December 31, 2011, the Company had $4.7 billion in time deposits of $100,000 or more.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Jon C. Ogg]
KeyCorp (NYSE: KEY) was raised to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse.
Oasis Petroleum Inc. (NYSE: OAS) was raised to Buy from Hold with a $55 price target at Deutsche Bank and was raised to Buy from Neutral with a $53 price target at SunTrust.
Hot Regional Bank Stocks To Watch For 2014: FactSet Research Systems Inc. (FDS)
FactSet Research Systems Inc. provides financial and economic information to investment community worldwide. FactSet offers fundamental financial data on various companies, analytical applications, and client services to the portfolio managers, research and performance analysts, risk managers, marketing professionals, sell-side equity research professionals, investment bankers, and fixed income professionals. The company?s applications provide users access to company analysis, multicompany comparisons, industry analysis, company screening, portfolio analysis, predictive risk measurements, alphatesting, portfolio optimization and simulation, news and quotes, and tools to value and analyze fixed income securities and portfolios. FactSet combines commercial databases, including content regarding companies and securities from various markets into a single online platform of information and analytics. The company?s solutions for investment management professionals include analy zing market, sector, and fundamental series; offering applications for portfolio attribution, risk management, and quantitative analysis; building quant models and calculating risk; analyzing the nuances of the debt-driven market; viewing event transcripts and corporate event calendars; researching and analyzing companies, benchmarks, debt instruments, and economic series; integrating the client?s own data, such as portfolio holdings and research notes; and creating reports and presentations. FactSet?s solutions for investment banking professionals comprise creating models and presentations; tracking market performance and headlines; providing deal analytic and corporate governance servies; researching on public and private companies; auditing financials underlying SEC filings and annual reports; and providing access to reports via wireless handheld device. The company was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Monica Gerson]
FactSet Research Systems (NYSE: FDS) is expected to report its Q4 earnings at $1.21 per share on revenue of $218.93 million.
Tower Group International (NASDAQ: TWGP) is projected to post a Q2 loss at $0.52 per share on revenue of $421.10 million.
- [By Monica Gerson]
Wall Street expects FactSet Research Systems (NYSE: FDS) to report its Q4 earnings at $1.21 per share on revenue of $218.93 million. FactSet Research shares rose 0.49% to $112.80 in after-hours trading.
- [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Top Headline
FactSet Research Systems (NYSE: FDS) reported a 4.8% rise in its fiscal first-quarter profit and issued a weak earnings guidance for the current quarter. - [By Garrett Cook]
FactSet Research Systems (NYSE: FDS) reported a rise in its fiscal third-quarter revenue.
FactSet’s quarterly profit fell to $51.5 million, or $1.21 per share, versus a year-ago profit of $53.4 million, or $1.20 per share. Its adjusted earnings gained 11% to $1.25 per share, from $1.13 per share. Its operating income climbed to $73.0 million from $71.6 million.
Hot Regional Bank Stocks To Watch For 2014: Data Call Technologies Inc (DCLT)
Data Call Technologies, Inc. (Data Call), incorporated on April 4, 2002, focuses is to integrate cutting-edge information/content delivery solutions deployed by the media. The Company's software and services put its clients in control of real-time, news, and other content, including emergency alerts, displayed within one building as well as to thousands of local, regional and national clients, through Digital Signage and Kiosk networks. The Company offers its Direct Lynk Messenger service to customers through the Internet. The Direct Lynk Messenger Service is a Digital Signage product and real-time information service, which provides a range of up-to-date information for display.
Digital Signage is a method advertisers can use to promote, inform, educate, and entertain clients and customers about their businesses and products. Through Digital Signage, companies and businesses can use a single television or a series of networked flat liquid crystal display (LCD) or Plasma screens to market their services and products on site to their clients and customers in real time. Data Call specializes in allows its clients to create their own Digital Signage dynamic content feeds delivered, through Internet, to digital display devices (plasma, LCD, Jumbotron, Kiosks) at their establishments.
The Direct Lynk System allows customers to select from the pre-determined data and information services. The client may choose which individual locations and which displays they would like to receive the Company's feeds based on how their digital signage network is configured.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Peter Graham]
Small cap small cap Internet, app or digital signage stocks Blast Applications, Inc (OTCMKTS: BLAP), TGFIN Holdings Inc (OTCMKTS: TGFN) and Data Call Technologies, Inc (OTCMKTS: DCLT) were getting some extra attention last week. Specifically, two of these stocks have been the subject of paid promotions while the third surged 114.29% on Friday. With that in mind, here is a closer look along with a reality check on all three small cap stocks:
Hot Regional Bank Stocks To Watch For 2014: Global Mediacom Tbk PT (BMTR)
PT Global Mediacom Tbk is an Indonesia-based integrated media company. The Company has three business segments: content and advertising-based media, subscribers-based media, and media support and infrastructure. Its operations include content production, content distribution, television and radio broadcasting, newspaper, magazine, tabloids, telecommunication operator, mobile content aggregator, value added services provider and information technology system integrator. The Company has six direct subsidiaries, namely PT. Media Nusantara Citra Tbk, PT. MNC Sky Vision, PT. Sky Vision Networks, PT. Infokom Elektrindo, PT. Citra Kalimantan Energi and Global Mediacom International Ltd. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Weiyi Lim]
The Jakarta Composite Index surged 2.2 percent as Global Mediacom (BMTR) climbed the most since October 2010. The rupiah slumped 5.9 percent in August, the biggest drop since November 2008. Malaysia�� ringgit posted its fourth monthly drop. South Korea�� Kospi Index posted the best week in a year as Samsung rallied a sixth day. The Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.1 percent, adding to a 2 percent gain this week.
Hot Regional Bank Stocks To Watch For 2014: Star Scientific Inc (STSI)
Star Scientific, Inc. (Star Scientific), incorporated on June 24, 1985, is engaged in the manufacturing and production of dietary supplements. The Company�� operating subsidiaries manufacture, distribute and sell consumer products and dietary supplements. Its segment includes dietary supplements. Through its Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Rock Creek) subsidiary, the Company is engaged in the manufacture, sale, marketing and development of non-nicotine nutraceutical, dietary supplements: Anatabloc, for anti-inflammatory support; the manufacture, sale and marketing of a cosmetic facial cream, and the development of other nutraceuticals, dietary supplements and pharmaceutical products. On December 14, 2012, the Company voted to discontinue the manufacturing, distribution and sale of its dissolvable smokeless tobacco products, Ariva and Stonewall Hard Snuff, as of December 31, 2012. With this change it will no longer be manufacturing or selling any tobacco products.
Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals has been engaged in the development of other dietary supplements and pharmaceutical products, particularly products that have a botanical- based component and that are designed to provide nutritional support in a range of neurological conditions, including Alzheimer�� disease, Parkinson�� disease, schizophrenia, depression, and Hashimoto�� thyroiditis. Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals also has been involved in the development of a cosmetic line of products that utilizes its anatabine compound to improve the appearance of the skin. On September 10, 2012, the Company introduced Anatabloc Facial Creme into the market. As of November 9, 2012, Anatabloc was being sold through its interactive Website, a customer service center and on a consignment basis through GNC, which is a retailer of dietary supplements. The Company uses its anatabine citrate compound in its dietary supplements Anatabloc and Anatabloc Unflavored and its anatabine-based cosmetic product, Anatabloc Facial Creme.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Bryan Murphy]
There's little doubt that merely suggesting it will enflame some traders, but truth is truth - Ku6 Media Co Ltd (NASDAQ:KUTV) is overbought and ripe for a pullback, soon. Anyone worried about not having a place to park those proceeds, however, need not fret. There's a brand new breakout finally underway that still has plenty of proverbial meat on the bone... Star Scientific, Inc. (NASDAQ:STSI), which just blasted past a key resistance line around $2.11 today. In so doing, it became free to rally without restraint.
- [By Lisa Levin]
Star Scientific (NASDAQ: STSI) shares reached a new 52-week low of $1.02 after the company received a warning letter from the FDA regarding consumer products.
- [By Bryan Murphy]
A week and a half ago I posted a bullish - though condition - commentary on Star Scientific, Inc. (NASDAQ:STSI). Truth be told, I expected that potential bullishness to be unleashed a few days later. When it didn't unfurl, frankly, I started to forget about STSI. Fortunately I didn't completely put the stock on the shelf, because it finally formed that technical catalyst yesterday, and followed-through today.
For those who caught my first look at STSI, you may recall that the big catalyst was the horizontal ceiling at $2.11. That was where the stock peaked in mid-July, and that's also where it was peaking on the same day I penned my prior bullish comments. Sure enough, Star Scientific shares peeled back from there later in the same day. The stock tested $2.11 again on the 9th, and once again peeled back. By the time we got that third test/failure cycle logged, however, it was clear something was changing... for the better.
Hot Regional Bank Stocks To Watch For 2014: Equifax Inc. (EFX)
Equifax Inc. collects, organizes, and manages various financial, demographic, employment, and marketing information solutions for businesses and consumers. The company�s U.S. Consumer Information Solutions segment provides consumer information services, such as credit information, credit scoring, credit modeling, locate, fraud detection and prevention, identity verification, and other consulting services; mortgage loan origination information, appraisal, title, and closing services; consumer financial marketing services; and identity management services. Its International segment provides information services products, which include consumer and commercial services, such as credit and financial information, and credit scoring and modeling services; and credit and other marketing products and services. The company�s Workforce Solutions segment offers employment, income, and social security number verification services, as well as employment tax and talent management servi ces. Its North America Personal Solutions segment sells credit information, credit monitoring, and identity theft protection products directly to consumers through the Internet and hard-copy formats. The company�s North America Commercial Solutions segment offers commercial products and services comprising business credit and demographic information, credit scores, and portfolio analytics, which are derived from its databases of business credit, financial, and demographic information. It serves customers in financial services, mortgage, human resources, consumer, commercial, telecommunications, retail, automotive, utilities, brokerage, healthcare, and insurance industries; and state and federal governments. The company has operations in Argentina, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom, Uruguay, the United States, and the Republic of Ireland. Equifax Inc. was founded in 1899 and is headquartered in Atla nta, Georgia.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By U.S. News]
Alamy Everyone makes mistakes and credit bureaus are no exception. In fact, a Federal Trade Commission study last year found that one in four consumer credit reports contain errors -- these include everything from minor mistakes to outrageous oversights. It's important to know what to look for when you're checking for mistakes in your credit reports. There are three types: identity errors, incorrect account details and fraudulent accounts. 1. Identity errors. The three major credit bureaus are Equifax (EFX), Experian and TransUnion. Each bureau maintains its own database of consumer data, including personal information, account information and payment history. This information is included in your credit reports. From time to time, a credit bureau -- or all three -- will get some information wrong. Some of these errors are minor. For instance, one bureau might have your street address incorrect. It's annoying, but it won't hurt your credit. Other times, it's a more serious error: Your name could become mixed up with someone else's, and you could begin seeing some of his accounts on your credit report. This will affect your credit either positively or negatively, depending on his payment history. 2. Incorrect account details. Sometimes the bank or lender providing information about your accounts to the credit bureaus gets things wrong. On the other hand, the credit bureau could incorrectly process the information provided. For instance, your credit card could be displaying the wrong credit limit, your mortgage might have the incorrect origination date or your auto loan could show as "open" when it's clearly been closed. 3. Fraudulent accounts. This is the most serious error out there, since it means someone has used your identity -- including your name, Social Security number and other personal data -- to open and begin using an account. If there's a line of credit on your credit report that you didn't open, you'll want to move quickly to ensure that th
Hot Regional Bank Stocks To Watch For 2014: Vanguard Growth Index Fund (VUG)
Vanguard Growth ETF (the Fund), formerly known as Vanguard Growth VIPERs, is an exchange-traded share class of Vanguard Growth Index Fund. The Fund seeks to track the investment performance of the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) US Prime Market Growth Index (the Index). The Index is designed to represent the large-cap growth segment of the United States equity market.
The Index represents the growth companies of the MSCI US Prime Market 750 Index. The MSCI US Prime Market 750 Index represents the universe of predominantly large-capitalization companies in the United States equity market. The Fund employs a passively managed, full-replication strategy in seeking to track the Index. The Fund invests in all of the Index stocks, holding each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Mark Salzinger]
Our preferred large-cap growth ETF is Vanguard Growth (VUG), which we feature in all four of our core Best Buys model portfolios. It has fairly broad coverage of growth stocks, with more than 350 holdings. Its expense ratio is a miniscule 0.10%.
- [By Selena Maranjian]
Exchange-traded funds offer a convenient way to invest in sectors or niches that interest you. If you'd like to add some growth stocks to your portfolio but don't have the time or expertise to hand-pick a few, the Vanguard Growth ETF (NYSEMKT: VUG ) could save you a lot of trouble. Instead of trying to figure out which companies will perform best, you can use this ETF to invest in lots of them simultaneously.
The basics
ETFs often sport lower expense ratios than their mutual fund cousins. The Vanguard ETF's expense ratio -- its annual fee -- is a very low 0.10%.
This ETF aspires to beat the S&P 500 soundly, but over the past three and five years, it has slightly underperformed and outperformed it, respectively. As with most investments, of course, we can't expect outstanding performances in every quarter or year. Investors with conviction need to wait for their holdings to deliver.
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