Sunday, May 31, 2015

Josh Brown: The 2014 IA 25 Extended Profile

Many enthusiastic bloggers, financial or otherwise, have fallen and will continue to fall by the wayside, but not New York-based financial blogger par excellence, Josh Brown. He launched his blog, TheReformedBroker.com, in 2008 as “a place to vent and give people an idea of what it felt like to be a broker in a financial crisis.”

Brown believes a blog is a beast that must be fed, and today, he is as prolific as ever in the blogosphere. The issues he’s writing (or venting) about might have changed since 2008, but the blog’s readership is as strong as ever, and Brown continues to inform and entertain his readers with his market-related insights and thoughts on various events as they unfold.

“Most of the feedback I get is from other advisors who say ‘thanks for doing what you do,’ or ‘hey, you just said out loud what I’ve been thinking all day,’” Brown said.

He credits the success of his writings to his outspokenness and frank, forthright approach.

“I do all the things you’re not supposed to do: I talk about politics, I curse, you name it,” he said. “I pull no punches, and I don’t care if I offend anyone – they just don’t have to agree with me. But all of that results in an authenticity that I think is unique, and that’s what keeps this going.”

Hot Oil Companies To Buy For 2016

Brown cited a recent post, “The Relentless Bid, Explained,” as one of the best examples of the kind of interactive discussion his blog generates. The post – which, he said, went viral – discussed Brown’s view on the nation’s largest traditional advisory firms having accelerated their push toward fee-based management and away from transactional brokerage, which in turn has a huge impact on how the money itself is managed and also affects the performance of the stock market.

“I spent most of 2009, 2010 and 2011 predicting that Wall Street would end up looking like more investment advisories and less like brokerage firms, and I couldn’t have been more right. I said that firms would have to adapt to the fact that clients want holistic services or leave the business,” he said.

Last September, Brown launched his own fee-based investment advisory firm, Ritholtz Wealth Management in New York. He also serves on the board of BrightScope, a financial information company that aims to bring transparency to opaque markets. Delivered through web-based software, BrightScope data provides decision-making information to individual investors, corporate plan sponsors, asset managers, broker-dealers and financial advisors in the area of retirement planning and wealth management.

Brown also authored “Backstage Wall Street: An Insider’s Guide to Knowing Who to Trust, Who to Run From and How to Maximize your Investments” (Mcgraw-Hill 2012).

(Check out Investment Advisor's full IA 25 for 2014 list on ThinkAdvisor.)

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Read more about Josh Brown:

Saturday, May 30, 2015

Top 5 Tech Stocks To Buy For 2016

Top 5 Tech Stocks To Buy For 2016 : Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (BABA)

Alibaba Group Holding Limited, incorporated on June 28, 1999, is an online and mobile commerce company. The Company operates its ecosystem as a platform for third parties. The Company operates Taobao Marketplace, Chinas online shopping destination, Tmall, Chinas third-party platform for brands and retailers and Juhuasuan, Chinas group buying marketplace. In addition to its three China retail marketplaces, the Company operates Alibaba.com, Chinas global online wholesale marketplace, 1688.com, its China wholesale marketplace, and AliExpress, its global consumer marketplace, as well as provides cloud computing services. As a platform, the Company provides the fundamental technology infrastructure and marketing reach to help businesses leverage the power of the Internet to establish an online presence and conduct commerce with consumers and businesses. Effective August 01, 2014, Alibaba Investment Ltd, a unit of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, acquired a 10.193% interes t n Singapore Post Ltd.

The buyers and sellers discover, select and transact with each other on the Companys platform. Third-party service providers add value to its platform through service offerings that make it easier for buyers and sellers to do business. The third-party participants in its ecosystem include a payment services provider, logistics providers, retail operational partners, marketing affiliates, independent software vendors and various professional service providers. The Company has developed policies and procedures that maintain the health and sustainability of its marketplaces, including consumer protection programs, marketplace rules, qualification standards for merchants and buyer and seller rating systems. As its ecosystem expands, new jobs are created.

Taobao Affiliate Network is powered by Alimama, its online marketing technology platform. Through this platform, sellers place marketing displays on its marketing affi! liates websites and mobile apps, and sellers pay a performance-based marketing fee primarily based on cost-per-click (CPC), and cost-per-sale (CPS), models. Through China Smart Logistics, the Company provides real-time information to its logistics partners, including key operating metrics, such as distribution center utilization rates, route planning data and order volume forecasts. Independent software vendors (ISVs) provide software tools, as well as systems integration services to sellers.

Tmall is an online platform featuring brands and retailers with each seller having an identifiable online storefront. Users may access Tmall anytime, anywhere through the Tmall Website and the mobile apps and mobile-optimized websites provided by Taobao Marketplace and Tmall. The physical product categories on Tmall include apparel and accessories, electronics and appliances, home furnishings, home appliances, maternity and baby products. Juhuasuan is an online group buying ma rketplace in China. Juhuasuan offers quality products at discounted prices by aggregating demand from numerous consumers. Juhuasuan mainly does this through flash sales, which make products available at discounted prices for a limited period of time. Juhuasuan offers group buying channels featuring branded and private label products, products made to custom specifications and local services.

AliExpress is a consumer marketplace enables consumers from around the world to buy directly from wholesalers and manufacturers in China. On AliExpress, consumers have access to a variety of products. In addition to the global English-language site, AliExpress operates two local language sites in Russia and Brazil. The product categories on AliExpress.com include apparel and accessories, phones and communications products, beauty and health, computer networking, jewelry and watches. Alibaba.com is an online commerce platform. Sellers on Alibaba.com may pay for an annual Gold Supplier membership to host a premium storefront ! with prod! uct listings on the marketplace.

The Companys marketing technology platform, Alimama, offers sellers on its marketplaces marketing services for both personal computer and mobile devices, which include P4P marketing service and display marketing. Alimama also offers its sellers these marketing services through third parties through the Taobao Affiliate Network. The Taobao Ad Network and Exchange (TANX) automates the buying and selling of billions of advertising impressions on a daily basis by third parties. The Company also offer a data management platform (DMP), connected to TANX. Its DMP allows participants on TANX to evaluate and select online advertising inventory using both behavioral data they provide, as well as data from browsing behavior and shopping history. Its Cloud Computing supports its commerce ecosystem by providing a distributed computing infrastructure to handle the large volume of tr affic and data generated on its online marketplaces. Its cloud computing platform offers service offerings, including elastic computing, database services and storage and large scale computing services.

The company offer search functions on all of its Web pages, mobile apps and many of its marketing affiliates websites and apps to make it easy for buyers to find products and services within its marketplaces. The Company offers Aliwangwang, a personal computer-based instant messenger that supports text, audio and video communication. The Company developed Aliwangwang to facilitate open communication between buyers and sellers on Taobao Marketplace and Tmall. Buyers and sellers use it as a tool for a range of tasks, including negotiation of prices, customer services and delivery notification, in addition to the basic messaging functions. It offer Qianniu , an integrated platform for communication and productivity tools which allows sellers on Taobao Marketplace and Tmall to manage their operations more efficiently.

Alipay, the Companys related company, provides payme! nt and es! crow services for transactions on Taobao Marketplace, Tmall, 1688.com and certain of its other sites, as well as to third parties in China. The Companys small and medium enterprise (SME) loan business provides micro loans to sellers on its wholesale and retail marketplaces through lending vehicles licensed by the local government.

The company competes with Tencent and Baidu.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By MONEYMORNING.COM]

    Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (NYSE: BABA) stock will be priced on Thursday (Sept. 18) evening, in what could be the largest initial public offering of all time.

  • source from Top Stocks To Buy For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/top-5-tech-stocks-to-buy-for-2016.html

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Top Regional Bank Companies To Watch For 2015

The IPO surge this year is starting to bring back memories of the 2000 dot-com boom, but in a good way.

Already this year, 31 companies have sold their shares to the public for the first time, a 72% increase from this point in 2013, says Kathleen Smith of Renaissance Capital. That's the best start for initial public offerings since at least 2006. If the trends stay in place, 2014 could be the best start to a year since the dot-com boom of 2000.

The IPO surge continued Wednesday after three companies launched their deals, including injectable-drug maker Eagle Pharmaceuticals, pain therapy researcher Flexion Therapeutics and regional bank Talmer Bancorp.

ASK MATT: Why do IPO prices jump so quickly?

Companies are looking to take advantage of the surprisingly strong stock market and investors' willingness to take a risk with newly public companies. Big biotech stocks have been the darlings of this year's IPO market, with the gains being lavished on companies like Revance Therapeutics and Auspex Pharmaceuticals.

Top 5 Chemical Stocks To Watch Right Now: Ormat Technologies Inc.(ORA)

Ormat Technologies, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the geothermal and recovered energy power business in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Electricity and Product. The Electricity segment develops, builds, owns, and operates geothermal and recovered energy-based power plants; and sells the electricity. The Product segment designs, manufactures, and sells power units for geothermal and recovered energy-based electricity generation; fossil fuel powered turbo-generators; and heavy duty direct-current generators. It also provides services relating to the engineering, procurement, construction, operation, and maintenance of geothermal and recovered energy power plants. This segment serves contractors and geothermal power plant owners and operators; and interstate natural gas pipeline owners and operators, gas processing plant owners and operators, cement plant owners and operators, and companies in other energy-intens ive industrial processes. The company was founded in 1965 and is based in Reno, Nevada. Ormat Technologies, Inc. is a subsidiary of Ormat Industries Ltd.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Garrett Cook]

    Utilities shares fell by 0.78 percent in Wednesday’s trading. Meanwhile, top decliners in the sector included Ormat Technologies (NYSE: ORA), down 3.8 percent, and AGL Resources (NYSE: GAS), off 3.1 percent.

  • [By Seth Jayson]

    Ormat Technologies (NYSE: ORA  ) reported earnings on May 7. Here are the numbers you need to know.

    The 10-second takeaway
    For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), Ormat Technologies met expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

  • [By Amy Thomson]

    AT&T has examined takeover candidates including Vodafone�� assets, U.K. mobile carrier EE -- a venture of Deutsche Telekom AG (DTE) and Orange SA (ORA) -- and parts of Spain�� Telefonica SA (TEF), people familiar with the company�� plans said in June. AT&T is attracted to Europe because of its relatively recent introduction of faster, fourth-generation networks, which have been available for years in the U.S.

  • [By John Udovich]

    Yesterday, small cap geothermal stock U.S. Geothermal Inc (NYSEMKT: HTM) produced a geyser of a return when it surged 26.79%, meaning its worth taking a closer look at the stock verses the performance of other geothermal stocks like small cap Ormat Technologies, Inc (NYSE: ORA) and mid cap Calpine Corporation (NYSE: CPN).�First of all, I should mention there are some other geothermal stocks out there like Alterra Power Corp (CVE: AXY) and Ram Power Corp (TSE: RPG) who have their primary listing on Canadian exchanges with secondary ones on the OTC���meaning they may not be a good deal for American investors or easy to invest in. Second, U.S. Geothermal Inc itself is a good geothermal proxy as its�focused on developing, owning, and operating clean, sustainable electric power from geothermal energy resources and its�operating geothermal power projects at Neal Hot Springs, Oregon; San Emidio, Nevada; and Raft River, Idaho plus El Ceibillo, an advanced stage, geothermal prospect located within a 24,710 acre energy rights concession area near Guatemala City, the largest city in Central America.

Top Regional Bank Companies To Watch For 2015: Expeditors International of Washington Inc.(EXPD)

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. provides logistics services in the United States and internationally. The company?s services include consolidation or forwarding air and ocean freight; distribution management; vendor consolidation; cargo insurance; purchase order management; and customized logistics information. Its airfreight services comprise the procurement of shipments from its customers; determination of the routing; consolidation of shipments bound for a particular airport distribution point; and selection of the airline for transportation to the distribution point. The company also offers breakbulk services that include receiving and breaking down consolidated airfreight lots and arranging for distribution of the individual shipments. Its ocean freight and ocean services include ocean freight consolidation; and handling full container loads. In addition, the company acts as a customs broker, who assists importers to clear shipments through customs by pre paring required documentation, calculating and providing for payment of duties on behalf of the importer, arranging for any required inspections by governmental agencies, and arranging for delivery; and provides other value added services at destination, such as warehousing and product distribution, time definite transportation, and inventory management. Further, it offers custom clearances for goods moving by rail and truck between the United States, Canada, and/or Mexico; and customs consulting services The company?s customers primarily include retailers, distributors of consumer electronics, department store chains, clothing and shoe wholesalers, manufacturers, and catalogue stores. Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. was founded in 1979 and is based in Seattle, Washington.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Rich Duprey]

    Global logistics specialist Expeditors International (NASDAQ: EXPD  ) announced yesterday that the company's CEO would retire effective�March 1.�

Top Regional Bank Companies To Watch For 2015: IHS Inc. (IHS)

IHS Inc. (IHS), incorporated on May 5, 1994, is a source of information and insight in areas, such as energy and power; design and supply chain; defense, risk, and security; environment, health and safety (EHS) and sustainability; country and industry forecasting, and commodities, pricing, and cost. The Company is organized by geographies into three business segments: Americas, which includes the United States, Canada, and Latin America; EMEA, which includes Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and APAC (Asia Pacific). IHS sources data and transforms it into information and insight that businesses, Governments, and others use every day to make decisions. Its product development teams have also created Web services and application interfaces. These services allow its customers to integrate the Company�� information with other data, business processes and applications (computer-aided design, enterprise resource planning, supply chain management, and product data/lifecycle management). The Company develops its offerings based on its customers' workflows, and it sells and delivers them into the industries in which IHS�� customers operate. As of November 30, 2011, HIS focused on five customer workflows: strategy, planning, and analysis; energy technical; product engineering; supply chain, and EHS & sustainability. As of November 30, 2011, it was focused on six verticals: energy and natural resources; Government, defense and security; chemicals; transportation; manufacturing, and technology, media, and telecommunications. In March 2012, the Company acquired Displaybank, a global authority in market research and consulting for the display industry; the Computer Assisted Product Selection (CAPSTM) electronic components database and tools business, including CAPS Expert, from PartMiner Worldwide, and the digital oil and gas pipeline and infrastructure information business from Hild Technology Services. In March 2012, the Company acquired IMS Research. In March 2012, the Company acquired BDW Automotive GmbH. I! n May 2012, it acquired Xedar Corporation, a developer and provider of geospatial information products and services. In July 2012, the Company acquired CyberRegs business from Citation Technologies, Inc. In July 2012, the Company acquired GlobalSpec, Inc. On April 16, 2011, IHS acquired ODS-Petrodata (Holdings) Ltd. ODS-Petrodata is a provider of data, information, and market intelligence to the offshore energy industry. On April 26, 2011, it acquired Dyadem International, Ltd. (Dyadem). Dyadem offers operational risk management and quality risk management solutions. On May 2, 2011, the Company acquired Chemical Market Associates, Inc. (CMAI). CMAI is a leading provider of market and business advisory services for the worldwide petrochemical, specialty chemicals, fertilizer, plastics, fibers, and chlor-alkali industries. On August 10, 2011, the Company acquired Seismic Micro-Technology (SMT). SMT offers Windows-based exploration and production software, and its solutions are used by geoscientists worldwide to evaluate potential reservoirs and plan field development. On November 10, 2011, it acquired Purvin & Gertz. Purvin & Gertz is a global advisory and market research firm that provides technical, commercial, and strategic advice to international clients in the petroleum refining, natural gas, natural gas liquids, crude oil and petrochemical industries. Energy and Power IHS covers the technical and economic spectrum of energy and power. Detailed records and forecasts on oil, gas and coal supplies, combined with insights on traditional and emerging energy markets, help enable its customers to make decisions. Its offerings include production information on more than 90 % of the world's oil and gas production in more than 100 countries; oil and gas well data that includes geological information on more than four million current and historic wells worldwide; energy activity data that includes current and future seismic, drilling and development activities in more than 180 countries and 335 hydrocarbon-producing regions worldwide; information and research to develop unconventional hydrocarbon resources-shale gas, coal bed methane and heavy oil; knowledge of energy markets, strategies, industry trends, and companies; information and research summits, such as IHS CERAWeek and the IHS Herold Pacesetters Energy Conference, which offer decision makers the opportunity to interact with its experts, and critical information about analysis of coal, nuclear and renewables, including wind, solar, and hydro power. The Company competes with DrillingInfo, Inc., TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Company, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, Accenture, Deloitte, Wood Mackenzie, Ltd., Schlumberger Limited, Halliburton, LMKR and Paradigm Ltd. Design and Supply Chain IHS Design and Supply Chain solutions provide information for customers that allow them to manage a product from conception to research and development to production, maintenance and disposal. It also provides companies access to specifications and standards. The Company�� offerings include market and technology research and analysis; standards management solutions, including more than 370 commercial and military standards and specification publishing organizations; advanced product design and process engineering; strategic product content and supply chain management; environmentally compliant product design; counterfeit part risk mitigation; product performance and cost optimization, and indirect parts and maintenance, repair, and operations logistics, inventory and cash flow optimization tables, including wind, solar, and hydro power. The Company competes with SAI Global and Thomson Reuters Corporation. Defense, Risk and Security IHS delivers open source intelligence in the areas of global defense, risk, and security, including maritime domain awareness. IHS offers open source intelligence solutions for military planners, national security analysts, and defense and maritime industry strategy and planning professionals. The Company�� offerings include military and national security assessments; defense equipment and technology information; defense budgets and procurement forecasting; defense industry trends and analysis; terrorism and insurgency analysis; global commercial ship identification and specifications; live tracking of commercial ship movements; shipping and shipbuilding markets and forecasts, and ports and port security information. The Company competes with McGraw-Hill, Gannett, Forecast International and Control Risks Group. EHS and Sustainability IHS EHS and Sustainability solutions support critical decisions around environmental, health and safety, operational risk, greenhouse gas and energy, product stewardship and corporate responsibility. The Company�� offerings include global and local software implementations; material compliance and lifecycle information content; strategic planning services in greenhouse gas management and cap-and-trade; compliance and verification expertise for local, regional, national, and international EHS and sustainability management system responsibilities, and risk management assessment across a range of industries. The Company competes with SAP and Verisk. Country and Industry Forecasting IHS delivers detailed forecasts and analysis of economic conditions within political, economic, legal, tax, operational, and security environments worldwide. Additionally, IHS provides forecasts, market-sizing, and risk assessments for a number of industries worldwide, including aerospace and defense, agriculture, automotive, chemicals, construction, consumer and retail, energy, finance, government, healthcare and pharmaceutical, military and security, mining and metals, commerce and transport, and telecommunications. Its offerings include in-depth analysis of the business conditions, economic prospects, and risks in more than 200 countries and more than 170 industries; security risk analysis and daily updates on both Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and sovereign risk ratings in more than 200 countries; event-driven updates of its risk analysis and ratings; short-, medium- and long-term forecasts for business planning and decision making; historical information since 1970; Deep market intelligence for the automotive, agriculture, chemicals, construction, consumer goods, commerce and transport, energy, financial, healthcare and pharmaceutical, telecommunications, and steel industries; and scenario explorations examining alternative outcomes to the questions impacting global business. The Company competes with Economist Intelligence Unit and Moody's Corporation. Commodities, Pricing and Cost IHS offers information, forecasts, and analysis to help its customers understand the how, when, and what of commodity prices and labor costs. IHS analysts monitor and forecast more than 1,300 global price, wage, and manufacturing costs across the regions for sectors, including energy products, chemicals, steel, nonferrous metals, industrial machinery and equipment, electronic components, paper and packaging, transportation, and building materials. Its offerings include analysis and forecasts for more than 1,300 global price, wage, and manufacturing costs; market intelligence of drivers, assumptions, and risks relating to commodity and service prices; cost and price data with actionable insights; forecasts covering global spot market prices, wages, and material costs; advisory forums to assist in monitoring, forecasting, and managing power and energy portfolio project costs, and consulting capabilities that enable clients to source materials. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

    Top Headline
    IHS (NYSE: IHS) reported an upbeat fourth-quarter profit.

    IHS projects FY14 subscription revenue to rise 6% to 7%. The company projects total revenue of $2.17 to $2.23 billion and an adjusted profit of $5.50 to $5.85 per share. However, analysts projected a profit of $5.58 per share on revenue of $2.2 billion.

  • [By Maria Armental var popups = dojo.query(".socialByline .popC"); popups.forEach]

    IHS Inc.(IHS) said its fiscal second-quarter profit jumped 29% as the market research provider continued to enjoy growth driven by acquisitions. The results easily topped analysts’ expectations.

  • [By Laura Brodbeck]

    Next week investors will be waiting for several key earnings reports including Family Dollar Stores�(NYSE: FDO), Micron Technology�(NASDAQ: MU), Constellation Brands�(NYSE: STZ),�IHS (NYSE: IHS), and Sonic (NASDAQ: SONC).

  • [By Aaron Levitt]

    Data provided by IHS (IHS) show that ReneSola merchant shipments more than tripled in the first six months of 2013 when compared to the first half of 2012 — something that should obviously have SOL stock investors smiling. More importantly, that’s something other solar stocks have not yet done.

Top Regional Bank Companies To Watch For 2015: Eagle Materials Inc (EXP)

Eagle Materials Inc., incorporated on January 27, 1994, manufactures and distributes gypsum wallboard and also manufactures and sells cement. Gypsum wallboard is distributed throughout the United States with particular emphasis in the geographic markets nearest to its production facilities. The Company sells cement in six regional markets, including northern Nevada and California, the greater Chicago area, the Rocky Mountain region, the Central Plains region and Texas. Its gypsum wallboard business is supported by its recycled paperboard business, while its cement business is supported by its concrete and aggregates business. The Company operates in Cement and Concrete and Aggregates, and Gypsum Wallboard and Recycled Paperboard segments. As of March 31, 2013, the Company operated six cement plants (one of which belongs to its joint venture company), five gypsum wallboard plants, one recycled paperboard plant, seventeen concrete batching plants and four aggregates facilities. The Company�� products are used in the construction and renovation of houses, roads, bridges, commercial and industrial buildings and other, newer generation structures like wind farms.

Cement, Concrete and Aggregates Operations

The Company�� cement production facilities are located in or near Buda, Texas; LaSalle, Illinois; Laramie, Wyoming; Sugar Creek, Missouri; Tulsa, Oklahoma and Fernley, Nevada. The Company�� cement subsidiaries are wholly-owned except the Buda, Texas plant, which is owned by Texas Lehigh Cement Company LP, a limited partnership joint venture owned 50% by the Company and 50% by Lehigh Cement Company LLC, a subsidiary of Heidelberg Cement AG. Its LaSalle, Illinois plant operates under the name of Illinois Cement Company; the Laramie, Wyoming plant operates under the name of Mountain Cement Company; the Fernley, Nevada plant operates under the name of Nevada Cement Company and its Sugar Creek, Missouri and Tulsa, Oklahoma plants operate under the name Central Plains Cement Com! pany. The Company produces and distributes ready-mix concrete from Company-owned sites north of Sacramento, California; Austin, Texas and the greater Kansas City area. The Company�� activities in its frac sand business are in the Utica, Illinois area and in south Texas. The Company sells aggregates to building contractors and other customers engaged in a variety of construction activities.

Gypsum Wallboard and Recycled Paperboard Operations

The Company owns five gypsum wallboard manufacturing facilities. As of March 31, 2013, the Company�� gypsum wallboard production totaled 1,950 million square feet. Total gypsum wallboard sales were 1,909 million square feet during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013 (fiscal 2013). The Company also manufactures alternative products, including containerboard grades (such as linerboard and medium) and lightweight packaging grades (such as bag liner). In addition, recycled industrial paperboard grades (tube/core stock and protective angle board stock) are produced to maximize manufacturing efficiencies. The Company�� manufactured recycled paperboard products are sold to gypsum wallboard manufacturers and other industrial users.

The Company competes with USG Corporation, National Gypsum Company and Koch Industries.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Rich Duprey]

    Cement and building materials maker�Eagle Materials� (NYSE: EXP  ) �announced yesterday�its second-quarter dividend of $0.10 per share, the same rate it's paid since 2008.

  • [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

    Top decliners in the sector included Newmont Mining (NYSE: NEM), off 6.3 percent, and Eagle Materials (NYSE: EXP), down 4.3 percent.

    Top Headline
    Forest Laboratories (NYSE: FRX) announced its plans to buy Furiex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: FURX) for up to $1.46 billion. Forest will pay around $95 per share, or around $1.1 billion in cash. Forest Labs will also pay up to $30 per share, or around $360 million in a contingent value right. The deal is projected to close in the second or third quarter of 2014.

  • [By Dan Caplinger]

    Tomorrow, Eagle Materials (NYSE: EXP  ) will release its latest quarterly results. The key to making smart investment decisions on stocks reporting earnings is to anticipate how they'll do before they announce results, leaving you fully prepared to respond quickly to whatever inevitable surprises arise. That way, you'll be less likely to make an uninformed knee-jerk reaction to news that turns out to be exactly the wrong move.

  • [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

    Top decliners in the sector included Newmont Mining (NYSE: NEM), off 6.3 percent, and Eagle Materials (NYSE: EXP), down 4.3 percent.

    Top Headline
    Forest Laboratories (NYSE: FRX) announced its plans to buy Furiex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: FURX) for up to $1.46 billion. Forest will pay around $95 per share, or around $1.1 billion in cash. Forest Labs will also pay up to $30 per share, or around $360 million in a contingent value right. The deal is projected to close in the second or third quarter of 2014.

Top Regional Bank Companies To Watch For 2015: iShares North American Tech-Multimedia Networking ETF (IGN)

iShares S&P North American Technology-Multimedia Networking Index Fund (the Fund), formerly iShares S&P GSTI Networking Index Fund, seeks investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, as represented by the S&P North American Technology-Multimedia Networking Index. The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index.

The Index includes companies that are producers of telecom equipment, data networking and wireless equipment. The Index has been developed as an equity benchmark for United States-traded multimedia networking stocks.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By John Udovich]

    Mid cap telco equipment stock Alcatel Lucent SA (NYSE: ALU) is up 205.9% since the start of the year for a much better performance�verses peers or benchmarks like Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) or the iShares North American Tech-Multimedia Networking ETF (NYSEARCA: IGN)���meaning its probably worth taking a closer look at the stock as its been producing plenty of good news for a change.�I should note that we have recently added�Alcatel Lucent SA to our SmallCap Network Elite Opportunity (SCN EO) portfolio as a�technical based trade because we think shares will continue higher on speculation�about an�improved global footprint�for this leading mobile data network provider.

  • [By John Udovich]

    Just before Thanksgiving, small cap networking stock Infoblox Inc (NYSE: BLOX) sank 28.65% on guidance that was below expectations, but the stock has still outperformed the year-to-date�performance of�networking ETF like the PowerShares Dynamic Networking ETF (NYSEARCA: PXQ) and iShares S&P North American Networking ETF (NYSEARCA: IGN). So what went wrong and could investors have just overeacted?

  • [By John Udovich]

    Mid cap networking solutions company Brocade Communications Systems, Inc (NASDAQ: BRCD) has pretty much been a sleeper for investors since the dot.com bust, but that has changed over the past year���meaning its worth revisiting the stock along with potential performance benchmarks�like QLogic Corporation (NASDAQ: QLGC), Emulex Corporation (NYSE: ELX) and iShares North American Tech-Multimedia Networking ETF (NYSEARCA: IGN). I should mention that we have recently Brocade Communications Systems to our SmallCap Network Elite Opportunity (SCN EO) portfolio because the company has successfully transitioned from being a hardware company to supporting virtual networks via software and it continues to offer best-of-breed technology.

Top Regional Bank Companies To Watch For 2015: iShares MSCI Spain Capped ETF (EWP)

iShares MSCI Spain Index Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of publicly traded securities in the aggregate in the Spanish market, as measured by the MSCI Spain Index (the Index). The Index seeks to measure the performance of the Spanish equity market. The Index is a capitalization-weighted index that aims to capture 85% of the (publicly available) total market capitalization. Component companies are adjusted for available float and must meet objective criteria for inclusion in the Index. The Index is reviewed quarterly.

The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index. The Fund�� investment advisor is Barclays Global Fund Advisors.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Tom Aspray]

    Even more surprising is Spain whose unemployment rate is over 26%. The iShares MSCI Spain (EWP) was down 6% for the year in late June, but is now up over 11%. All three look positive technically but are closing the week above their starc+ bands indicating that we should get a better entry point in the next few weeks.

  • [By Tom Aspray]

    One of the more surprising developments of the past month or so has been the strong performance by some of the European country ETFs. Leading the pack is Spain as the iShares MSCI Spain (EWP) is up about 10% since the December 18 taper lows but did give up some ground last week.

  • [By Brian Pacampara]

    Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, the iShares MSCI Spain Capped Index� (NYSEMKT: EWP  ) has received the dreaded one-star ranking.

  • [By Chris Versace]

    As the outlook in the Spanish economy continues to improve, let's be sure to participate by buying shares of iShares MSCI Spain Capped ETF (EWP), which tracks the Spanish equity markets.

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Your Money: Look into tax time strategies now

The idea of myRA, a proposed starter account for retirement savings, received plenty of buzz when it was introduced by President Obama in his State of the Union address.

But the myRA won't be in place until much later this year. And some little-used retirement savings options are good to use now during tax season. Ever think of dedicating part of your tax refund to buy Series I savings bonds? Or taking a look at a saver's credit for IRA contributions?

"People should actually use the IRA," said Alicia H. Munnell, director of the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. If someone doesn't have a 401(k) at their workplace, setting up an IRA is a good option.

MORE: Obama unveils new retirement savings plan

Munnell, who sees the myRA as a good idea, said using a tax refund to buy I Bonds is another way to easily set aside money.

Many people, she said, need to save money for retirement before they see that cash in their checking accounts, especially if they're on a tight budget. "If the money gets into their hands, there are real needs they have to spend it on," she said.

Some options for saving for retirement at tax time:

The Retirement Savings Contribution Credit or the Saver's Credit

Some low- to moderate-income taxpayers who file jointly could obtain an average tax credit of $215 on their federal income tax returns, if they qualify, and set aside money for retirement in IRAs or 401(k)s.

The maximum credit is up to $1,000 or up to $2,000 if filing jointly. Oddly, many taxpayers who could qualify do not even know about this credit, said Catherine Collinson, president for the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies.

Fewer than one in four American workers with annual household incomes of less than $50,000 are aware of the credit, according to a survey from the nonprofit Transamerica Center.

You could take the credit if your adjusted gross income is $29,500 in 2013 or less if single, or $44,250 or less if you are head of a household! .

MORE: No need to be a hater over MyRA savings plans

The adjusted gross income can be as high as $59,000 to qualify for the credit in 2013, if married filing jointly. Income limits rise slightly for 2014.

To get the saver's credit on the 2013 return, eligible workers could still make qualifying retirement contributions until April 15 to set up a new individual retirement account or add money to an existing IRA for 2013.

If you might qualify, you need to realize that you cannot take the credit if you file a Form 1040EZ. So you'd want to file a Form 1040 or 1040A or 1040NR.

The credit is based on filing status, adjusted gross income, tax liability, and the amount contributed to qualifying retirement programs.

Single filers averaged about $128 for the credit in 2011, the most recent figures available, according to the Internal Revenue Service. Saver's credits totaling more than $1.1 billion were claimed on 6.4 million returns in tax-year 2011.

Marshall Hunt, certified public accountant and director of tax services for the Accounting Aid Society in metro Detroit, said some restrictions apply. The retirement savings credit, for example, is not available for taxpayers of any age who are full-time students or married taxpayers filing separately.

MORE: IRS has issued $64.5 billion in refunds so far

Taxpayers also must be 18 years old or older to qualify for the credit and not be claimed as a dependent on another person's return.

The credit is not refundable if you do not have a tax liability. The credit could increase your refund for taxes already paid or reduce the amount you would owe.

Dedicating part of a tax refund to buy Series I Savings Bonds

It is possible to buy Series I U.S. Savings Bonds with a portion or all of your federal tax refund for you — and for someone else, too, such as a child or grandchild.

The rest of your tax refund money could be deposited into another account — or mailed by paper check to you.

Th! e composi! te rate for Series I bonds issued Nov. 1, 2013, through April 30 is 1.38%. The fixed rate is 0.2% and an inflation adjustment is added on top of that. The fixed rate does not change for the life of the bond, but the inflation rate can and usually does change every six months.

You may use all or part of a tax refund to buy up to $5,000 in U.S. Series I Savings Bonds.

Paper savings bonds can be bought through the tax refund process in denominations of $50, $100, $200, $500, $1,000, and $5,000.

Or the taxpayer can set up an electronic TreasuryDirect account where I Bonds can be bought to the penny anywhere from $25 to $5,000 using tax refund money.

More often, of course, big tax refunds are used to buy big TVs or pay off big bills, not save big for retirement.

In 2012, as of mid-December, 36,244 taxpayers requested 174,809 savings bonds from their federal income tax refunds. The total purchase price came to $21.3 million, according to David Starck, a spokesman for the Department of the Treasury, Bureau of the Fiscal Service.

Yet buying even one savings bond, instead of just spending that refund, can build some savings. If we're going to hear more talk about saving for retirement, why not start a little extra savings now?

Contact Tompor at stompor@freepress.com

Monday, May 25, 2015

Is Microsoft Enticing After Recent Headlines?

With shares of Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) trading around $37, is MSFT an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE, or STAY AWAY? Let's analyze the stock with the relevant sections of our CHEAT SHEET investing framework.

T = Trends for a Stock’s Movement

Microsoft is engaged in developing, licensing, and supporting a wide range of software products and services. The company also designs and sells hardware and delivers online advertising to customers. It operates in five segments: Windows and Windows Live, Server and Tools, Online Services Division, Microsoft Business Division, and Entertainment and Devices. As a mature company, Microsoft is also offering a stable dividend, which is currently yielding around 3.32 percent annually.

Microsoft is likely to appoint its cloud-computing head, Satya Nadella, as its next chief executive, a source familiar with the matter said on Thursday as the board concludes a five-month search for a tech-savvy heavy hitter to lead the world’s largest software company. As part of the move, co-founder Bill Gates may step aside as chairman and be replaced by lead independent director John Thompson, said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity because the process is private. Gates would remain a director, the source added. Bloomberg first reported the news on Thursday. Rising star Nadella, a native of Hyderabad, India — where Microsoft has its largest non-U.S. research center — was promoted to run the company’s fast-expanding cloud, or Internet-based, computing initiatives in July last year as part of current CEO Steve Ballmer’s radical reorganization of the company.

T = Technicals on the Stock Chart Are Strong

Microsoft stock has seen its fair share of volatility over the last several years. The stock is currently surging higher and looks poised to continue. Analyzing the price trend and its strength can be done using key simple moving averages. What are the key moving averages? The 50-day (pink), 100-day (blue), and 200-day (yellow) simple moving averages. As seen in the daily price chart below, Microsoft is trading above its rising key averages, which signals neutral to bullish price action in the near-term.

MSFT

Source: Thinkorswim

Taking a look at the implied volatility (red) and implied volatility skew levels of Microsoft options may help determine if investors are bullish, neutral, or bearish.

Implied Volatility (IV)

30-Day IV Percentile

90-Day IV Percentile

Microsoft options

25.28%

13%

11%

What does this mean? This means that investors or traders are buying a minimal amount of call and put options contracts as compared to the last 30 and 90 trading days.

Put IV Skew

Call IV Skew

February Options

Flat

Average

March Options

Flat

Average

As of Friday, there is average demand from call buyers or sellers and low demand by put buyers or high demand by put sellers, all neutral to bullish over the next two months. To summarize, investors are buying a minimal amount of call and put option contracts and are leaning neutral to bullish over the next two months.

On the next page, let’s take a look at the earnings and revenue growth rates and the conclusion.

E = Earnings Are Increasing Quarter-Over-Quarter

Rising stock prices are often strongly correlated with rising earnings and revenue growth rates. Also, the last four quarterly earnings announcement reactions help gauge investor sentiment on Microsoft’s stock. What do the last four quarterly earnings and revenue growth (Y-O-Y) figures for Microsoft look like and more importantly, how did the markets like these numbers?

2013 Q4

2013 Q3

2013 Q2

2013 Q1

Earnings Growth (Y-O-Y)

2.63%

-3.08%

11.94%

20%

Revenue Growth (Y-O-Y)

14.26%

7.36%

10.17%

17.71%

Earnings Reaction

2.05%

5.96%

-10.85%

3.36%

Microsoft has seen increasing earnings and revenue figures over the last four quarters. From these numbers, the markets have been pleased with Microsoft’s recent earnings announcements.

P = Excellent Relative Performance Versus Peers and Sector

How has Microsoft stock done relative to its peers – Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), Oracle (NASDAQ:ORCL), and Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) — and sector?

Microsoft

Apple

Oracle

Google

Sector

Year-to-Date Return

0.11%

-11%

-3.55%

5.06%

1.54%

Microsoft has been a relative performance leader, year to date.

Conclusion

Microsoft is a technology company that provides valuable software products and services to consumers and companies worldwide. The company is likely to appoint Satya Nadella as its next chief executive. The stock has been moving higher in recent years and looks poised to continue. Over the last four quarters, earnings and revenues have been rising, which has pleased investors. Relative to its peers and sector, Microsoft has been a relative year-to-date performance leader. Look for Microsoft to OUTPERFORM.

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Top 5 Shipping Companies To Invest In Right Now

Top 5 Shipping Companies To Invest In Right Now: Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS)

The Bank of Nova Scotia (the Bank) is a diversified financial institution. As of October 31, 2011, the Bank offered a range of products and services, including retail, commercial, corporate and investment banking to more than 18.6 million customers in more than 50 countries around the world. The Bank has four business lines: Canadian Banking, International Banking, Scotia Capital and Global Wealth Management. In January 2012, the Company closed its acquisition of 51% of Banco Colpatria. In April 2012, the Company through Scotia Capital Inc. acquired Howard Weil Incorporated. In April 2013, Bank of Nova Scotia acquired a 50% interest in Administradora de Fondos de Pensiones Horizonte SA. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By MONEYMORNING.COM]

    The London Silver Market Fixing Ltd. currently operates with just three members: Deutsche Bank AG (USA) (NYSE: DB), HSBC Holdings Plc. (NYSE ADR: HSBC), and Bank of Nova Scotia (USA) (NYSE: BNS).

  • [By Laura Brodbeck]

    Friday

    Earnings Expected From: Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE: BIG), Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE: BNS), American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE: AEO) Economic Releases Expected:French trade balance, Swiss CPI, US non-farm payrolls, US unemployment rate

    Posted-In: Bank Of England European Central Bank Mario DraghiEurozone Commodities Previews Economics Federal Reserve Pre-Market Outlook Markets Trading Ideas Best of Benzinga

  • source from Top Stocks To Buy For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/top-5-shipping-companies-to-invest-in-right-now-3.html

Saturday, May 23, 2015

Top 10 Chemical Companies For 2016

Top 10 Chemical Companies For 2016: Cabot Corp (CBT)

Cabot Corporation (Cabot), incorporated in 1960, is a global specialty chemicals and performance materials company. The Company's principal products are rubber and specialty grade carbon blacks, fumed metal oxides, inkjet colorants, aerogels and cesium formate drilling fluids. Cabot and its affiliates have manufacturing facilities and operations in the United States and approximately 20 other countries. The Company operates in four business segments: the Core Segment, the Performance Segment, the New Business Segment and the Specialty Fluids Segment. It is organized into three geographic regions: The Americas; Europe, Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific. On January 23, 2012, the Company sold its Supermetals Business to Global Advanced Metals Pty Ltd. On August 1, 2012, it acquired Norit.

Core Segment

Carbon black is a form of elemental carbon that is manufactured in a highly controlled process to produce particles and aggregates of varied structure and surface chemistry, resulting in many different performance characteristics for a variety of applications. Its rubber blacks products are used in tires and industrial products. The Company owns, or has a controlling interest in, and operates plants that produce rubber blacks in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, the Czech Republic, France, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, The Netherlands and the United States.

Performance Segment

The Performance Segment consists of two product lines: specialty grades of carbon black and thermoplastic concentrates; and fumed silica, fumed alumina and dispersions thereof. In each product line, it designs, manufactures and sells materials that deliver performance in a range of customer applications across the automotive, construction and infrastructure, and electronics and consumer products sectors. In addit! ion, Cabot manufactures and sources thermoplastic concentrates and compounds that are ma rketed to the plastics industry. The Company owns, or has a ! controlling interest in, and operates plants that produce specialty grades of carbon black in China, The Netherlands and the United States. Its products are produced in facilities that it owns, or has a controlling interest in, located in Belgium, China and the United Arab Emirates. The Company also owns, or has a controlling interest in, manufacturing plants that produce fumed metal oxides in the United States, China, the United Kingdom and Germany. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011 (fiscal 2011), it closed its masterbatch manufacturing facility in Grigno, Italy.

New Business Segment

The Company's New Business Segment consists of the Inkjet Colorants, Aerogel, Cabot Superior MicroPowders and Cabot Elastomer Composites Businesses. During fiscal 2011, its Cabot Elastomer Composites Business became part of its New Business Segment. The Company produces and sells aqueous inkjet colorants primarily to the inkjet printing market. Its ink jet colorants are produced for various inkjet printing applications, including small office and home office, corporate office, and commercial and industrial printing, as well as for other applications. Its inkjet colorants are manufactured at its facility in Haverhill, Massachusetts.

Cabot's aerogel is a hydrophobic, silica-based particle with a high surface area that is used in a variety of thermal insulation and specialty chemical applications. In the construction industry, the product is used in insulative composite building products and translucent skylight, window, wall and roof systems for insulating eco-daylighting applications. In the oil and gas industry, aerogel is used to insulate subsea pipelines. In the specialty chemicals industry, the product is used to provide matte finishing, insulating and thickening properties for use in a variety of applications. ! It manufa! ctures its aerogel products at its facility in Frankfurt, Germany.

The Co mpany manufactures its aerogel products at its facility in F! rankfurt,! Germany. Finished products for use in the oil and gas industry are fabricated at a facility in Billerica, Massachusetts. The principal area of commercial focus for Cabot Superior MicroPowders Business (CSMP) is in developing covert taggants for a range of anti-counterfeiting security applications. Development and manufacturing activities are conducted primarily at its facilities in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Mountain View, California. In addition to the carbon black the Company makes using conventional carbon black manufacturing methods, it has developed elastomer composite products that are compounds of natural latex rubber and carbon black made by a liquid phase process. Its Cabot Elastomer Composites Business (CEC) products are targeted for tire, defense, mining, automotive and aerospace applications. It manufactures CEC products at its facility in Port Dickson, Malaysia.

Specialty Fluids Segment

The Company's Specialty Fluids Segment produ ces and markets cesium formate as a drilling and completion fluid for use primarily in high pressure and high temperature oil and gas well construction. It has a mine and a cesium formate manufacturing facility in Manitoba, Canada, as well as fluid blending and reclamation facilities in Aberdeen, Scotland and in Bergen and Kristiansund, Norway.

The Company competes with Aspen Aerogel, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Victor Selva]

    The company has a current ratio of 17.8% which is higher than the industry mean of 6.55%. Also, it's higher than the one registered by Akzo Nobel NV (AKZOY), Cabot Corporation (CBT) and Olin Corporation (OLN). For investors looking for a higher ROE, PPG Industries Inc. (PPG) could be the option.

  • [By Eric Volkman]

    Cabot (NYSE: CBT  ) has elected not to shift its dividend! policy f! or the time being. The company declared its latest common stock distribution, which is to be $0.20 per share paid on September 13 to shareholders of record as of August 30. That amount matches each of the firm's previous five distributions, the most recent of which was handed out in the middle of last month. Prior to that, Cabot paid $0.18 per share.

  • source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-10-chemical-companies-for-2016.html

Thursday, May 21, 2015

This Is How You Win a "Billionaires' Brawl" (True Story)

There's a lucrative new trading "set-up" a lot of investors are using now. But unlike classic approaches, like "don't fight the Fed," and "the trend is your friend," there are no rules on how to play this new game.

So let's change that today.

This is the true story about two billionaires' egos, their trading games, and what happens when they clash over the same stock.

It's a story you can profit from, too...

Herbalife: It's Time to Take Sides

Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE: HLF) is a 33-year-old, New York Stock Exchange-listed nutritional supplements manufacturer and distributor. With a $7 billion capitalization, it's currently trading near $74 a share.

The company distributes and sells its products as a multi-level marketer, or MLM. Other well-known MLM companies are Avon, Amway, and Tupperware.

Multi-level marketing has been very successful for several companies, notwithstanding the many others that have ended up as nothing more than Ponzi schemes. Chances are you know what I'm talking about.

Herbalife is no stranger to controversy. It's been accused of being a Ponzi scheme and saw trouble when its flamboyant founder Mark Hughes died unexpectedly, purportedly from using Herbalife's ephedrine-laced (since banned by the FDA) weight loss products.

Nothing ever came from early short-sellers trying to trounce the stock by claiming the company was a giant scheme... in fact, they got burned. After Mark Hughes died the company fell from grace and suffered from ephedrine-related lawsuits.

A couple of private equity companies took Herbalife private in 2002. They cleaned it up, amped it up, and made a $1.3 billion profit taking it public again in 2004. From 2005 to early 2012 the stock rose 1,000%.

Sometime in early 2012, an investment research boutique firm called The Indago Group, which sells its research for $10,000 a month to a handful of hedge funds, began pushing its latest work-up on Herbalife. The picture they painted wasn't pretty.

The Clash That Created Your Opportunity

Indago said, "Our research has shown that through manipulation and misrepresentation Herbalife conceals its true business model from distributors and the investing public, selling a financial investment in the pyramid scheme."

They pitched their research hard to client David Einhorn, the billionaire founder of hedge fund Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd (Nasdaq: GLRE). Shortly thereafter Einhorn started shorting the stock.

They also pitched billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, founder of Pershing Square Capital Management, a friend of Einhorn's. Ackman passed the idea along to his intern and a young Harvard grad on his team, but didn't act on the trade.

Then on a May 1, 2012, first-quarter earnings call with Herbalife executives, David Einhorn unexpectedly spoke up, asking the CEO what percent of distributors were also the final customers for Herbalife's products. The executive couldn't answer definitively.

Ackman's people were listening in on the call. Now they knew Einhorn was short and questioning the earnings and the company's business model. Ackman began shorting the stock while the call was ongoing. The stock plunged from $70 to $56 before the day was over.

Then things got messy, really messy. Egos and reputations and games came into play.

On May 16, 2012, at the Ira Sohn Conference in New York - a forum for hotshot hedgies and institutional managers to tell the investment community their best ideas - David Einhorn took the stage. Bill Ackman thought he was going to expound on making a fortune on waxing off the tarnished veneer of Herbalife. Einhorn's first slide simply read "MLM."

Everyone, especially Ackman, thought MLM stood for multi-level marketing and that Einhorn was going to bash Herbalife. Funnily enough, the forum, which isn't in any way illegal, is for "talking up your book," as the technique is known. It's a way to tell the world what position you are big into in the hope that your good idea will induce others into your position, which has the direct benefit of pushing your position further down the road of profitability.

Everyone knew Ackman was short, and he had begun his attack on the company. He expected others were following him, and with Einhorn leading the troops at the Sohn Conference, the piling on of more shorts would surely tank the stock.

Too bad Einhorn's next slide was Martin Marietta Materials Inc. (NYSE: MLM), whose stock symbol happens to be MLM...

Oops! The crowd, also expecting the idea to be shorting Herbalife, turned heel and sent out orders from the conference to cover their Herbalife shorts. The stock rose on the day.

Now Ackman was angry. He thought he was made to look like a fool. So what did he do? He added to his short position, eventually making a $1 billion bet with Pershing Square's money and, according to him, also bet his own money on the trade.

Ackman began shouting from any rooftop he was allowed on. He used the media to bash the company, calling it a Ponzi scheme and calling the FDA and SEC and anybody who'd take his calls, demanding they look into the company and shut it down. Of course he wanted the stock to go to zero, which is where he said it was heading and where he said he'd cover his giant short position.

You Can Exploit This Ongoing Conflict

Now, here's the thing about Bill Ackman and shorting. Bill isn't exactly a well-liked guy. He's got a large ego and more than a few people in the business I'm familiar with (I've never met Bill Ackman) say he's arrogant and worse. There's a problem with being disliked and telling the world you're short more than 20 million shares of a thinly traded stock. Your enemies and even your quasi-friends are more interested in making millions than considering your feelings or your pocketbook or the returns your investors expect. They are going to gang up on you, eventually, when the time is right.

Bill Ackman then went about setting himself up perfectly, for the kill that is.

Ackman arranged for a special session of the Sohn Conference on December 20, 2012. While it was extraordinarily odd to ask for a personal forum under the auspices of the Sohn Conference, Ackman drew 500 investors and another 1,300 followed him online.

Ackman produced 330 slides over a 3-hour stand-up, supposedly extemporaneous performance, which he titled Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.

The stock went from $42.50 on Dec. 18 to $26 on Christmas Eve.

A fine rundown indeed...

But, now the stock was at a very attractive level. And another one of Ackman's former friends, who had become disillusioned with him, saw his chance. Besides personality differences, Ackman's former friend was still smarting from a 90% loss he sustained when he gave Ackman $200 million of his fund's capital to invest. Unbeknownst to the friend, Ackman was putting all the money into an ill-timed trade on Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT).

Ackman's former friend, billionaire hedge fund manager Daniel S. Loeb, founder of Third Point LLC, began to acquire Herbalife, quietly at first.

Eventually Loeb let it be known he'd accumulated an 8.9% stake in Herbalife for the bargain basement price of only $300 million, thanks to Ackman's shorting efforts. Loeb said the stock was a value and he expected to see it back up above $70 and that he was counting on a 40% to 70% gain on his position.

As if that wasn't hard enough to swallow, another Bill Ackman basher, multi-multi billionaire investor par excellence Carl Icahn began to buy huge amounts of the stock, taking shares quickly to the $40 level.

Carl Icahn has a lot more money and friends than Bill Ackman, so what happened next shouldn't surprise anybody... though it did surprise Bill Ackman.

Other very well-heeled and legendary investors began buying Herbalife. They now include Stan Druckenmiller, the Soros Family Office, Richard Perry, Kyle Bass, Bill Stiritz, Robert Chapman, John Hampton, and Sahm Adrangi.

Herbalife is now trading just shy of $70 and Bill Ackman is sitting on at least $500 million in losses.

How You Can Gain from the Next Development

What's there to learn from this story - and could you have made money following this saga? What will likely happen next? And are there other trading scenarios like this out there?

The answers will surprise you. Check back later this week for your profit potential...

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Top 10 Energy Companies To Own For 2015

Popular Posts: 9 Oil and Gas Stocks to Buy NowBiggest Movers in Energy Stocks Now – CHK KOG CLD PXDHottest Technology Stocks Now – GTAT N WDAY AMAT Recent Posts: Biggest Movers in Healthcare Stocks Now – LCI STJ CYH SIRO Biggest Movers in Financial Stocks Now – ENV KCG MFC CIM Biggest Movers in Technology Stocks Now – CGNX ADVS SYNA HIMX View All Posts 3 Durable Goods Stocks to Buy Now

The grades of three durable goods stocks are better this week, according to the Portfolio Grader database. Every one of these stocks has an “A” (“strong buy”) or “B” overall (“buy”) rating.

Best Semiconductor Companies For 2016: ConocoPhillips(COP)

ConocoPhillips operates as an integrated energy company worldwide. The company?s Exploration and Production (E&P) segment explores for, produces, transports, and markets crude oil, bitumen, natural gas, liquefied natural gas, and natural gas liquids. Its Midstream segment gathers, processes, and markets natural gas; and fractionates and markets natural gas liquids in the United States and Trinidad. The company?s Refining and Marketing (R&M) segment purchases, refines, markets, and transports crude oil and petroleum products, such as gasolines, distillates, and aviation fuels. Its Chemicals segment manufactures and markets petrochemicals and plastics. This segment offers olefins and polyolefins, including ethylene, propylene, and other olefin products; aromatics products, such as benzene, styrene, paraxylene, and cyclohexane, as well as polystyrene and styrene-butadiene copolymers; and various specialty chemical products comprising organosulfur chemicals, solvents, catalyst s, drilling chemicals, mining chemicals, and engineering plastics and compounds. The company?s Emerging Businesses segment develops new technologies and businesses. It focuses on power generation; and technologies related to conventional and nonconventional hydrocarbon recovery, refining, alternative energy, biofuels, and the environment. This segment also offers E-Gas, a gasification technology producing high-value synthetic gas. ConocoPhillips was founded in 1917 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Joshua Bondy]

    The big dog
    ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP  ) spun off Philips 66, becoming the largest independent E&P. In the long run, its size may hold the company back. Its latest quarterly operating income of $14.78 per Boe is respectable for such a large firm, but it is being�forced into expensive unconventional plays. The company's own rough estimates project that its base production will fall from 1.5 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (Mmboepd) to 1.0 Mmboepd by 2017.

  • [By Ben Levisohn]

    Exxon’s not the only strong energy stock today. Hess (HES) has gained 1.7% to $81.784 after it was upgraded by Credit Suisse, while ConocoPhillips (COP) has risen 1.1% to $74.07 after beating earnings estimates.

  • [By Dan Caplinger]

    Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX  ) will release its quarterly report on Wednesday, and ever since its initial spin-off from ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP  ) , favorable trends in the refining industry have helped to boost the company's profits and send the refiner's stock soaring. But lately, those trends have started to reverse, and the impact on Phillips 66 earnings could be a nasty surprise to those who've gotten used to the shares only moving in one direction.

Top 10 Energy Companies To Own For 2015: Genesis Energy LP (GEL)

Genesis Energy, L.P. (Genesis) is a limited partnership focused on the midstream segment of the oil and gas industry in the Gulf Coast region of the United States, primarily Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and in the Gulf of Mexico. The Company has a portfolio of customers, operations and assets, including pipelines, refinery-related plants, storage tanks and terminals, barges and trucks. Genesis provides an integrated range of services to refineries, oil, natural gas and carbon dioxide (CO2) producers, industrial and commercial enterprises that use sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) and caustic soda, and businesses that use CO2 and other industrial gases. The Company operates in three segments: Pipeline Transportation, Refinery Services, and Supply and Logistics. In August 2011, the Company acquired black oil barge transportation business of Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. In November 2011, it acquired a 90% interest in a 3,500 barrel per day refinery located in Converse County, Wyoming, including 300 miles of abandoned 3- 6 pipeline. On January 3, 2012, it acquired interests in several Gulf of Mexico crude oil pipeline systems, including its 28% interest in the Poseidon pipeline system, its 29% interest in the Odyssey pipeline system, and its 23% interest in the Eugene Island pipeline system. In August 2013, the Company announced that it has completed the acquisition of all the assets of the downstream transportation business of Hornbeck Offshore Transportation, LLC (Hornbeck).

Pipeline Transportation

The Company transports crude oil and carbon dioxide (CO2) for others for a fee in the Gulf Coast region of the United States through approximately 550 miles of pipeline. Its Pipeline Transportation segment owns and operates three crude oil common carrier pipelines and two CO2 pipelines. Its 235-mile Mississippi System provides shippers of crude oil in Mississippi indirect access to refineries, pipelines, storage terminals and other crude oil infrastructure ! located in the Midwest. Its 100-mile Jay System originates in southern Alabama and the panhandle of Florida and provides crude oil shippers access to refineries, pipelines and storage near Mobile, Alabama. The Company�� 90-mile Texas System transports crude oil from West Columbia to several delivery points near Houston. Its crude oil pipeline systems include access to a total of approximately 0.7 million barrels of crude oil storage.

The Company�� Free State Pipeline is an 86-mile, 20 CO2 pipelines that extends from CO2 source fields near Jackson, Mississippi, to oil fields in eastern Mississippi. It has a twenty-year transportation services agreement (through 2028) related to the transportation of CO2 on its Free State Pipeline.

Refinery Services

Genesis provides services to eight refining operations located in Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas, which operates storage and transportation assets in relation to its business and sell NaHS and caustic soda to industrial and commercial companies. The refinery services involve processing refiner�� sulfur (sour) gas streams to remove the sulfur. The refinery services also include terminals and it utilizes railcars, ships, barges and trucks to transport product. Its contracts are long-term in nature and have an average remaining term of four years.

Supply and Logistics

The Company provides services to Gulf Coast oil and gas producers and refineries through a combination of purchasing, transporting, storing, blending and marketing of crude oil and refined products, primarily fuel oil. It has access to a range of more than 250 trucks, 350 trailers and 50 barges with 1.5 million barrels of terminal storage capacity in multiple locations along the Gulf Coast, as well as capacity associated with its three common carrier crude oil pipelines.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Aimee Duffy]

    Distributions are incredibly important to master limited partnerships -- they are the reason many investors buy in, and ultimately what drive the market performance for this asset class. As news of distribution increases trickle in for the third quarter, Fool.com contributor Aimee Duffy takes a look at the payouts from Genesis Energy (NYSE: GEL  ) , Plains All American Pipeline (NYSE: PAA  ) , and Memorial Production Partners (NASDAQ: MEMP  ) , as all three MLPs are leading the way with the biggest distribution increases.

Top 10 Energy Companies To Own For 2015: NK Lukoil OAO (LUKOY)

LUKOIL is a Russia-based integrated oil and gas company. The Company is engaged in the business of oil exploration, production, refining, marketing and distribution. The Company's exploration and production activity is located in Russia, and its main resource base is in Western Siberia. It owns modern refineries, gas processing and petrochemical plants located in Russia, Eastern and Western Europe. The Company�� petroleum products are sold in Russia, Eastern and Western Europe and United States. The Company operates in four business segments: exploration and production, refining, marketing and distribution, and chemicals and other business.

In January 2009, the Company acquired a 100% interest in Energoaktiv ZAO. In March 2009, the Company established a subsidiary, LUKOIL Overseas Holding GmbH. In Addition, in March 2009, LUKoil OAO increased its stake in TGK-8 OAO up to 60.21% from 31.38% previously held. In December 2009, the Company sold its 99.99% stake in Agentstvo LUKOM-A OOO. In February 2010, the Company established a research center, LUKOIL-Engineering OOO, which would be responsible for the research and engineering complex of the exploration and production business segment. The main production region of the Company is Western Siberia. LUKOIL is carrying out international exploration and production projects in Kazakhstan, Egypt, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, Colombia, Venezuela, Cote d��voire, Ghana and Iraq.

LUKOIL owns oil refining capacity both in Russia and abroad. In Russia the Company owns four large refineries at Perm, Volgograd, Ukhta and Nizhny Novgorod. Total capacity of LUKOIL facilities in Russia is 44.7 million tons of oil per year. LUKOIL also has refineries in Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania, and a 49% stake in ISAB refining complex (island of Sicily, Italy), with total capacity of 21.8 million tons per year.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Charles Sizemore]

    Next on the list is French oil major Total SA (TOT). Total raised some eyebrows last month as discussions progressed to develop Russia�� massive shale fields in partnership with Lukoil (LUKOY). It appears that, despite the ongoing threat of sanctions from the United States, business is going on as usual in the real world.

  • [By Dividend Growth Investor]

    ConocoPhillips (COP) explores for, produces, transports, and markets crude oil, bitumen, natural gas, liquefied natural gas, and natural gas liquids on a worldwide basis. I am attracted to the above average yield on ConocoPhillips, in comparison to Exxon and Chevron. Unfortunately Chevron is already one of my highest weighted positions, which is why ConocoPhillips was the second US oil choice. I am building my position in the stock with this purchase. The company is extremely well run, has a history of disposing out of non-core assets such as Lukoil stock (LUKOY) and Kashagan Project, and sending cash to shareholders in the process. The company has increased dividends for 13 years in a row, and has managed to boost them by 15.10%/year over the past decade. Currently, the stock trades at 10.70 times earnings and yields 4.20%. Check my analysis of ConocoPhillips.

  • [By James E. Brumley]

    To be fair, it might be years before PROP really starts to worry the likes of Denbury Resources and Halliburton Company. That doesn't dampen the size of the opportunity for Propell Technologies Group Inc. in the meantime, though. In fact, considering major oil players like Miller Energy Resources Inc. (NYSE:MILL), LUKOIL (OTCMKTS:LUKOY), and ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) have already utilized this plasma-boring service and liked the results, PROP may grow into a real threat to the sol-called "majors" before anyone realizes it's happening, ultimately spurring an acquisition of the company. When the provisionally-patented technology is this good, we can't rule out any rewarding outcome for the stock.

Top 10 Energy Companies To Own For 2015: Husky Energy Inc (HUSKF.PK)

Husky Energy Inc. (Husky), incorporated on June 21, 2000, is an international integrated energy company. The Company operates in two segments: Upstream and Downstream. Upstream includes exploration for, development and production of crude oil, bitumen, natural gas and natural gas liquids and other producers��crude oil, natural gas, natural gas liquids, sulphur and petroleum coke, pipeline transportation and processing of heavy crude oil and natural gas, storage of crude oil, diluents and natural gas and cogeneration of electrical and thermal energy (infrastructure and marketing). Downstream includes upgrading of heavy crude oil feedstock into synthetic crude oil (upgrading), refining in Canada of crude oil and marketing of refined petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel, ethanol blended fuels, asphalt and ancillary products, and production of ethanol (Canadian refined products) and refining in the United States of crude oil to produce and market gasoline, jet fuel and diesel fuels that meet United States clean fuels standards (United States refining and marketing).

During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company had 512 retail locations in its light refined products operations, which consisted of 361 owned or leased locations (husky controlled) and 151 independent retailer locations. The Company is continually monitoring the owned and leased locations for environmental protection or to address regulatory compliance requirements, such as reporting.

Upstream Operations

Husky�� portfolio of Upstream assets includes properties with reserves of light crude oil (30掳 API and lighter), medium crude oil (between 20掳 and 30掳 API), heavy crude oil (liquid between 20掳 API and 10掳 API), bitumen (solid or semi-solid with a viscosity greater than 10,000 centipoise at original temperature in the deposit and atmospheric pressure), NGL, natural gas and sulphur. The Wenchang field is located in the western Pearl River Mouth Basin, approximately 400 kilometers ! south of Hong Kong and 100 kilometers east of Hainan Island. The Wenchang 13-1 and 13-2 oil fields are producing from 32 wells in 100 meters of water into an FPSO vessel stationed between fixed platforms located in each of the two fields. In December 2012, Husky signed a joint venture contract with CPC Corporation, Taiwan for an exploration block in the South China Sea. The exploration block is located 100 kilometers southwest of the island of Taiwan and covers approximately 10,300 square kilometers.

Husky has a 40% interest in approximately 621,700 acres (2,516 square kilometers) of the Madura Strait block, located offshore East Java, south of Madura Island, Indonesia. Husky�� two partners are CNOOC which is the operator and has a 40% working interest, and Samudra Energy Ltd., which holds the remaining 20% interest through its affiliate, SMS Development Ltd. Husky�� offshore East Coast Canada exploration and development program is focused on the Jeanne d��rc Basin on the Grand Banks, which contains the Hibernia and Terra Nova fields, as well as the White Rose field and satellite extensions including the North Amethyst, West White Rose and the South White Rose extensions. The White Rose oil field is located 354 kilometers off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador and approximately 48 kilometers east of the Hibernia oil field on the eastern section of the Jeanne d��rc Basin. Husky is the operator of the White Rose field and satellite tiebacks, including the North Amethyst, West White Rose and South White Rose extensions. The Terra Nova oil field is located approximately 350 kilometers southeast of St. John��, Newfoundland and Labrador. The Terra Nova oil field is divided into three distinct areas, known as the Graben, the East Flank and the Far East. As of January 16, 2013, Husky held a working interest in 17 Exploration Licences (ELs) offshore Newfoundland, Labrador and Greenland. Husky is the operator of 13 of these ELs and has working interests ranging from 35% to 100%.

Hus! ky is the operator of two ELs offshore the west coast of Disko Island, Greenland. Tucker is an in-situ SAGD oil sands project located 30 kilometers northwest of Cold Lake, Alberta. Husky holds in excess of 550,000 acres in undeveloped oil sands leases and has a 100% working interest in all leases except in Athabasca South in which it has a 50% working interest. Husky�� heavy oil assets are primarily concentrated in a large producing region in the Lloydminster, Alberta/Saskatchewan area. The Company maintains a land position of approximately two million gross acres within this area. Over 90% of Husky�� proved reserves in the region are contained in the heavy crude oil producing areas of Pikes Peak, Edam, Tangleflags, Celtic, Bolney, Paradise Hill, Westhazel, Big Gully, Mervin, Marwayne, Lashburn, Gully Lake, Vermilion, Swimming, Morgan, Lindbergh, Aberfeldy, Marsden, Epping, Furness and Rush Lake, and in the medium gravity crude oil producing fields of Wildmere and Wainwright. As of December 31, 2012, the Company produces from oil and gas wells ranging in depth from 450 meters to 650 meters and holds a 100% working interest in the majority of these wells. In the Lloydminster area, the Company owns and operates 21 oil treating facilities which are tied into the Husky heavy oil pipeline systems. Husky operates 67 facilities in the area. Husky is the operator of a number of properties in southern Alberta and southern Saskatchewan. The Foothills Northwest Plains area is located in western and northern Alberta and British Columbia. The area is made up of five distinct districts: Rainbow Lake, Northern Alberta, Northern Alberta & British Columbia Plains, Ansell-Galloway and Foothills.

Husky provides heavy crude oil feedstock to its Upgrader and its asphalt refinery, which are located at Lloydminster, Alberta/Saskatchewan. The combined dry crude feedstock requirements of the Upgrader and asphalt refinery are approximately equal to Husky�� heavy crude oil production from the Lloydminster area.! Husky al! so purchases third party volumes. Husky markets heavy crude oil production directly to refiners located in the mid-west and eastern United States and Canada. Husky markets its light and synthetic crude oil production to third-party refiners in Canada, the United States and Asia in addition to Husky�� Lima Refinery. NGL are sold to local petrochemical end users, retail and wholesale distributors and refiners in North America.

The Company holds a 50% interest in a 90 megawatts natural gas fired cogeneration facility adjacent to Husky�� Rainbow Lake processing plant. The cogeneration facility produces electricity for the Power Pool of Alberta and thermal energy (steam) for the Rainbow Lake processing plant. It provides power directly to the Power Pool of Alberta under an agreement with the Alberta Electric System Operator to provide additional electricity generating capacity and system stability for northwestern Alberta. The Company also operates and has a 50% interest in a natural gas storage facility at East Cantuar near Swift Current, Saskatchewan.

Downstream Operations

The Lima Refinery, located in Ohio between Toledo and Dayton, has an atmospheric crude throughput capacity of 160 thousand of barrels/day. The refinery produces gasoline, gasoline blend stocks, diesel, jet fuel, petrochemical feedstock and other by-products. The feedstock is received via the Mid-Valley and Marathon Pipelines and the refined products are transported via the Buckeye and Inland pipeline systems and by rail car to primary markets in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and southern Michigan. During 2012, crude oil feedstock throughput at the Lima Refinery averaged 150 thousand of barrels/day. Production of gasoline averaged 77 thousand of barrels/day, total distillates averaged 56 thousand of barrels/day and total butanes averaged 17 thousand of barrels/day. The BP-Husky Toledo Refinery, in which Husky holds a 50% interest, has an atmospheric crude throughput capacity of 160 thousand of barrels/day. Pr! oducts in! clude low sulphur gasoline, ultra low sulphur diesel, aviation fuels, propane, kerosene and asphalt. The refinery is located in one of the highest energy consumption regions in the United States. Husky owns and operates the Husky Lloydminster Upgrader, a heavy oil upgrading facility located in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan. The Upgrader is designed to process blended heavy crude oil feedstock into high quality, low sulphur synthetic crude oil. Production at the Upgrader averaged 61 thousand of barrels/day of synthetic crude oil, 13 thousand of barrels/day of diluent and 4 thousand of barrels/day of low sulphur diesel in 2012.

Husky�� Canadian Refined Products operations include refining of light crude oil, manufacturing of fuel and fuel grade ethanol, manufacturing of asphalt products from heavy crude oil and acquisition by purchase and exchange of refined petroleum products. Husky�� retail distribution network includes the wholesale, commercial and retail marketing of refined petroleum products and provides a platform for non-fuel related convenience product businesses. Husky�� Pounder Emulsions division has a market share in Western Canada for road application emulsion products. Additional non-asphalt based road maintenance products are also marketed and distributed through Pounder Emulsions. Husky�� asphalt distribution network consists of emulsion plants and asphalt terminals located at Kamloops, British Columbia, Edmonton and Lethbridge, Alberta, Yorkton, Saskatchewan and Winnipeg, Manitoba and three emulsion plants located at Watson Lake, Yukon and Lloydminster and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Husky�� ethanol production supports its ethanol-blended gasoline marketing program. When added to gasoline, ethanol promotes more complete fuel combustion, prevents fuel line freezing and reduces carbon monoxide emissions, ozone precursors and net emissions of greenhouse gases.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Caiman Valores]

    But as highlighted earlier Whitecap's Canadian light sweet crude is not as heavily discounted as Canadian heavy oil or bitumen. This does not leave it exposed to the same price risks and volatility as those companies that have a significant portion of their production made up by Canadian heavy oil and Bitumen, such as Husky Energy (HUSKF.PK), Suncor (SU), Imperial Oil (IMO) and Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ).

Top 10 Energy Companies To Own For 2015: ATP Oil And Gas Corp (AOB)

ATP Oil & Gas Corporation, incorporated in 1991, is engaged in the acquisition, development and production of oil and natural gas properties. As of December 31, 2011, the Company had estimated net proved reserves of 118.9 Million barrels of crude oil equivalent (MMBoe), of which approximately 75.9 MMboe (64%) were in the Gulf of Mexico and 42.9 MMBoe (36%) were in the North Sea. The reserves consisted of 78.6 Million barrels (MMBbls) of oil (66%) and 241.5 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas (34%). Its proved reserves in the deepwater area of the Gulf of Mexico account for 62% of the Company�� total proved reserves and its proved reserves on the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf account for 2% of its total proved reserves. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company acquired three licenses in the Mediterranean Sea covering potential natural gas resources in the deepwater off the coast of Israel (East Mediterranean). On August 17, 2012, ATP Oil And Gas Corp filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The Company�� natural gas reserves are split between the Gulf of Mexico (57%) and the North Sea (43%). Of its total proved reserves, 8.3 MMBoe (7%) were producing, 19.0 MMBoe (16%) were developed and not producing and 91.6 MMBoe (77%) were undeveloped. The Company�� average working interest in its properties at December 31, 2011, was approximately 81%. The Company operates 92% of its platforms. At December 31, 2011, in the Gulf of Mexico, it owned leasehold and other interests in 38 offshore blocks and 49 wells, including 23 subsea wells. The Company operates 43 (88%) of these wells, including 100% of the subsea wells. In the North Sea, it also had interests in 13 blocks and two Company-operated subsea wells. As of March 15, 2011, the Company owned an interest in 13 platforms, including two floating production facilities in the Gulf of Mexico, the ATP Titan at its Telemark Hub and the ATP Innovator at its Gomez Hub. It operates the ATP Innovator and the ATP Titan.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By John Emerson]

    Most of the Chinese companies that I purchased now reside on the Pink Sheets or have disappeared altogether, but at one time they all traded on major US exchanges. One of them (AOB), even received the honor of ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange in 2007, and people say that crime does not pay.

Top 10 Energy Companies To Own For 2015: Weatherford International Ltd(WFT)

Weatherford International Ltd. provides equipment and services used in the drilling, evaluation, completion, production, and intervention of oil and natural gas wells worldwide. It offers artificial lift systems, which include reciprocating rod lift systems, progressing cavity pumps, gas lift systems, hydraulic lift systems, plunger lift systems, hybrid lift systems, wellhead systems, and multiphase metering systems. The company also provides drilling services, including directional drilling, ?Secure Drilling? services, well testing, drilling-with-casing and drilling-with-liner systems, and surface logging systems; and well construction services, such as tubular running services, cementing products, liner systems, swellable products, solid tubular expandable technologies, and inflatable products and accessories. In addition, it designs and manufactures drilling jars, underreamers, rotating control devices, and other pressure-control equipment used in drilling oil and nat ural gas wells; and offers a selection of in-house or third-party manufactured equipment for the drilling, completion, and work over of oil and natural gas wells for operators and drilling contractors, as well as a line of completion tools and sand screens. Further, the company provides wireline and evaluation services; and re-entry, fishing, and thru-tubing services, as well as well abandonment and wellbore cleaning services; stimulation and chemicals, including fracturing and coiled tubing technologies, cement services, chemical systems, and drilling fluids; integrated drilling services; and pipeline and specialty services. It serves independent oil and natural gas producing companies. The company was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Vanina Egea]

    Baker Hughes has seen greater activity, especially through new partnerships. With CGG (CGG), the company has signed a long-term agreement to provide RoqSCAN technology, a real-time, fully portable, quantitative and automated rock properties and mineralogical analyzer. Also, the firm will acquire Weatherford (WFT)'s pipeline and specialty services business through one of its subsidiaries. Last, the business has signed a letter of intent to develop integrated well completion solutions with TMK.

  • [By Tony Daltorio]

    The biggest oilfield service companies should get a big lift from the boom, Moors said. That includes Schlumberger Ltd. (NYSE: SLB), Halliburton Co. (NYSE: HAL), Weatherford International Ltd. (NYSE: WFT), and Baker Hughes Inc. (NYSE: BHI).

  • [By Holly LaFon]

    Weatherford International Ltd. (0.4%) (WFT)(WFT - $17.36 - NYSE), based in Houston, Texas, finally resolved its tax accounting problems and various government investigations, which had been on-going for several years. It is now focused on growing its core businesses, enhancing profitability, reducing leverage and improving capital efficiency. The company is targeting total segment operating profit margin to reach 20% by 2016 from 11.3% in 2013 and reducing debt to capitalization from 52% to 25%. It aims to realize $500 million in annualized cost savings and sell four non-core businesses. Also, Weatherford plans to spin-off a portion of its international drilling rig business by the end of 2014 or early 2015. All available free cash flow generated and proceeds from asset sales will be used to reduce debt.From Mario Gabelli (Trades, Portfolio)'s Value 25 Fund first quarter 2014 shareholder commentary. Also check out: Mario Gabelli Undervalued Stocks Mario Gabelli Top Growth Companies Mario Gabelli High Yield stocks, and Stocks that Mario Gabelli keeps buying Currently 0.00/512345

    Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes)

Top 10 Energy Companies To Own For 2015: CNOOC Limited(CEO)

CNOOC Limited, through its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration, development, production, and sale of crude oil, natural gas, and other petroleum products. The company?s oil and natural gas properties are located in offshore China, which include Bohai Bay, western south China Sea, eastern south China Sea, and east China Sea, as well as in Indonesia, Iraq, and other regions in Asia; and Oceania, Africa, North America, and South America. As of December 31, 2010, the company had net proved reserves of approximately 2.99 billion barrels-of-oil equivalent, including approximately 1.92 billion barrels of crude oil and 6,458.3 billion cubic feet of natural gas. It also provides bond issuance services; and has a joint venture with Bridas Energy Holdings. CNOOC Limited was founded in 1982. The company is headquartered in Central, Hong Kong, and is considered a Red Chip company due to its listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. CNOOC Limited is a subsidiary of China National Of fshore Oil Corporation.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Arjun Sreekumar]

    Initially, exploration activity in the Arctic was confined primarily to Western oil majors. But recently, the China National Offshore Oil Corporation, better known as CNOOC (NYSE: CEO  ) , became the first Chinese oil company to make a play for Arctic oil. Let's take a closer look at why China has become increasingly interested in the Arctic frontier's vast resource potential.

  • [By Arjun Sreekumar]

    Notable foreign joint ventures
    The practice has been quite common among foreign companies engaging in joint ventures with U.S. firms. For instance, the use of a drilling carry was a feature of Chesapeake Energy's (NYSE: CHK  ) transaction with China's largest energy company, CNOOC (NYSE: CEO  ) , back in 2010, though it was noticeably absent from its most recent joint venture agreement with Sinopec (NYSE: SHI  ) .

  • [By Chris Mydlo]

    CNOOC Ltd. (CEO) is trading at a low P/S ratio of 1.60, near its 10-year low of 1.42. The company explores for, develops, produces, and sells crude oil, natural gas, and other petroleum products. It is held by nine gurus we follow.