Top Stocks Spot: January 2015

Thursday, January 29, 2015

10 Best Quality Stocks For 2014

Nathaniel E. Bell/APA scene from Netflix's "House of Cards," starring Kevin Spacey and Jackie Sharp. NEW YORK -- Americans are turning away from live TV on the tube and tuning in to streaming services, a Nielsen report says. That's bad news for cable and satellite TV providers. Americans are increasingly watching TV shows and movies on Netflix (NFLX), Hulu, Amazon.com (AMZN) streaming and other services. CBS (CBS) and HBO (TWX) have announced standalone streaming services as well. About 45 percent of Americans stream television shows at least once a month, according to research firm eMarketer. That number is expected to increase to 53 percent or 175 million people by 2018, it says. According to the Nielsen report, which came out Wednesday, the average daily time spent watching live TV fell 12 minutes in the third quarter to four hours and 32 minutes. That means it dropped nearly 4 percent to 141 hours a month. Meanwhile, time spent watching streaming services jumped 60 percent to nearly 11 hours each month. That's still a small amount compared with live TV, but it is growing quickly. "Content is still king, but consumers are shaping their own content-discovery experience, and the evolving media landscape has not lessened consumer demand for quality, professionally produced content," Dounia Turrill, senior vice president of insights at Nielsen, said in a statement. "What has changed is the number and reliability of new media available to viewers." Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. More from The Associated Press
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5 Best Energy Stocks To Own Right Now: Westell Technologies Inc.(WSTL)

Westell Technologies, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the design, distribution, marketing, and servicing a range of broadband, digital transmission, remote monitoring, power distribution, and demarcation products used by telephone companies and other telecommunications service providers. It operates in three segments: Customer Networking Systems (CNS) equipment, Outside Plant Systems (OSP) equipment, and ConferencePlus services. The CNS equipment segment provides networking and high-speed transmissions products, such as modems, routers, versatile gateway devices, and wireless broadband home routers that allow service providers to deliver broadband services over existing copper, fiber, coax, or wireless infrastructures. The OSP segment offers next generation outdoor cabinets; enclosures; power distribution; fiber, Ethernet, and coax edge connectors; remote monitoring equipment; and DS1 and DS3 transmission plugs. This segment also markets and sells power distribu tion and remote monitoring solutions. The ConferencePlus services segment provides audio, Web, and video conferencing services to businesses and individuals. This segment sells its services directly to Fortune 1000 companies, and indirectly through its private reseller programs. The company offers its products through field sales organizations and selected distributors in the United States, as well as in Canada and Europe. Westell Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Aurora, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Rich Smith]
Late last month, the networking equipment maker had to scramble when its acting chief financial officer, Tom Minichiello, announced plans to retire on July 12 to become the new CFO at Westell Technologies (NASDAQ: WSTL ) . On Friday, though, just as the deadline was happening, Tellabs announced that it has found a replacement.
[By Geoff Gannon]
1. Steel Excel (SXCL)
2. FormFactor (FORM)
3. Imation (IMN)
4. Tuesday Morning (TUES)
5. Pacific Biosciences (PACB)
6. Maxygen (MAXY)
7. Westell (WSTL)
8. Volt Information Sciences (VISI)
9. Yasheng Group (YHGG)

10 Best Quality Stocks For 2014: Volvo AB (VOLVY)

AB Volvo is a supplier of commercial transport solutions providing products, such as trucks, buses, construction equipment, engines and drive systems for boats and industrial applications, as well as aircraft engine components. The Company also offers its customers financial solutions. The Company operates in six segments: Trucks, Buses, Construction Equipment, Volvo Penta, Volvo Aero and Financial Services. The business units include Volvo 3P, Volvo Powertrain, Volvo Parts, Volvo Logistics, Volvo Business Services, Volvo Information Technology (IT), Volvo Real Estate and Volvo Technology. During the year ended December 31, 2009, AB Volvo acquired all shares in Volvo Logistics AB from Fortos Ventures AB. In April 2014, the Company announced that it has completed the sale of commercial real estate. In June 2014, the Company acquired Terex's hauler business.

The Company�� truck operations consist of Volvo Trucks, Renault Trucks, UD Trucks, Mack Trucks and VE Commercial Vehicles (50%) in India. The product offer stretches from heavy-duty trucks for long-haulage and construction work to light-duty trucks for distribution. Volvo Trucks, Renault Trucks, UD Trucks, Mack Trucks and Eicher offer customers a range of products and services for transports.

The Buses has a product range consisting of city and intercity buses, coaches and chassis. Volvo Buses��product line includes complete buses and bus chassis for city, intercity and coach traffic. The Company has a total offering that, in addition to buses, includes a service network, spare parts handling, service and repair contracts, financial services and traffic information systems.

The Company�� construction equipment manufactures equipment for construction applications and related industries. Volvo Construction Equipment develops, manufactures and markets equipment for construction and related industries. Its products include a range of wheel loaders, hydraulic wheeled and crawler excavators, articulated haule! rs, road machinery and a range of compact equipment.

The Company�� Volvo Penta offers engines and drives systems for leisure and commercial boats and for industrial applications, such as gensets and materials handling. Volvo Penta manufactures engines and drive systems for marine applications, for both leisure and commercial craft, with an engine range of 10 to 1,200 horse power and has a global service network with approximately 5,000 dealers. Volvo Penta also supplies industrial engines ranging from 75 kilowatts to 600 kilowatts for irrigation pumps, generator units and other application areas.

The Company�� Volvo aero offers advanced components for aircraft engines and space applications with a focus on lightweight technology for reduced fuel consumption. Volvo Aero specializes in a number of highly advanced components for aircraft engines and space rockets.

The Company�� financial services segment conducts operations in customer and dealer financing. It offers financial services, such as customer and dealer financing and other Services, such as insurance contribute to create customer value. It provides financing solutions and other services in retaining customers and attracting new ones to the Company.

The Company competes with Daimler, Paccar, Navistar, MAN, Scania, Caterpillar, Komatsu, Cummins and Brunswick.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Jason Hall]
However, there are a couple of bright spots out there. First, sales of Westport's 12 liter ISX12 G, being co-built with�Cummins� (NYSE: CMI ) , are on track to meet targets for 2014 according to a number of industry experts. Sales of natural gas trucks in 2014 are expected to have grown 27% this year versus 2013. Also, part of the delay in bringing HPDI to market is Westport's shift to HPDI 2.0, and the adoption of HPDI 2.0 by development partners like�AB Volvo� (NASDAQOTH: VOLVY ) . The injector components are expected to be manufactured in Westport's venture with�Delphi Automotive� (NYSE: DLPH ) , and the costs will be less than earlier versions, helping natural gas engines be more cost-competitive with diesel.�

10 Best Quality Stocks For 2014: Pactera Technology International Ltd (PACT)

Pactera Technology International Ltd. (Pactera), formerly HiSoft Technology International Limited, incorporated on May 27, 2004, provides global consulting and technology services. The Company provides business/information technology (IT) consulting, solutions, and outsourcing services to a range of multinational firms through a globally integrated network of onsite and offsite delivery locations in China, the United States, Europe, Australia, Japan, Singapore and Malaysia. In January 2014, Pactera Technology International Ltd announced the acquisition of Innoveo Solutions AG.

The Company�� services include business and technology advisory, enterprise application services, business intelligence, application development and maintenance, mobility, cloud computing, infrastructure management, software product engineering and globalization, and business process outsourcing. The Company�� clients include 3M, ABB, Cathay Pacific, China Merchants Bank, Citibank, EMC, Expedia, GE, HP, IBM, Lenovo, Microsoft, Mitsubishi, NEC and TIBCO.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Seth Jayson]
Pactera Technology International (Nasdaq: PACT ) reported earnings on May 23. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), Pactera Technology International missed estimates on revenues and met expectations on earnings per share.
[By Seth Jayson]
Calling all cash flows
When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on Pactera Technology International (Nasdaq: PACT ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

10 Best Quality Stocks For 2014: Dollar General Corporation(DG)

Dollar General Corporation operates as a discount retailer of general merchandise in the southern, southwestern, midwestern, and eastern United States. The company offers consumables, including paper towels, bath tissue, paper dinnerware, trash and storage bags, laundry, and other home cleaning supplies; packaged food and perishables; beverages and snacks, such as candies, cookies, crackers, salty snacks, and carbonated beverages; over-the-counter medicines and personal care products; and pet supplies and pet food products. It also provides seasonal products consisting of decorations, toys, batteries, small electronics, greeting cards, stationery, prepaid cell phones and accessories, gardening supplies, hardware, and automotive and home office supplies; home products comprising kitchen supplies, cookware, small appliances, light bulbs, storage containers, frames, candles, craft supplies, and bed and bath soft goods; and apparel products, such as casual everyday apparel for infants, toddlers, girls, boys, women and men, as well as offers socks, underwear, disposable diapers, shoes, and accessories. In addition, the company holds a license to Bobbie Brooks clothing, as well as the Fisher Price brand for various items of children's clothing. As of May 25, 2011, it operates approximately 9,500 stores in 35 states. The company was formerly known as J.L. Turner & Son, Inc. and changed its name to Dollar General Corporation in 1968. Dollar General Corporation was founded in 1939 and is based in Goodlettsville, Tennessee.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By J. Royden Ward]
Dollar General (DG) is the largest discount retailer in the US, with 11,000 neighborhood stores in 40 states. Because of its large size, Dollar General is able to offer an ample array of products from America's largest manufacturers, including Procter & Gamble, Kimberly Clark, Kellogg's, PepsiCo, and Coca-Cola.
[By Dan Caplinger]
Finally, outside the Dow, Dollar General (NYSE: DG ) plunged 9% after a poor earnings report. Citing the payroll tax increase and weaker margins due to greater markdowns and a lower-margin mix of products, the deep-discount retailer narrowed its earnings and revenue guidance to the lower half of its previously projected range. If the Fed's moves put further pressure on consumers, then Dollar General could keep seeing pressure even as it expands ambitiously to add to its store count nationwide.

10 Best Quality Stocks For 2014: Fastenal Company(FAST)

The Company Is Engaged As A Wholesaler And Retailer Of Industrial And Construction Supplies. The Industrial And Construction Supplies Were Grouped Into Ten Product Lines: Fasteners, Tools And EquipmeNt, Cutting Tools And Abrasives, Hydraulics, Pneumatics, Plumbing And Hvac, Material Handling, Storage And Packaging, Janitorial Supplies, Chemicals And Paints, Electrical Supplies, Welding Supplies, Safety Supplies And Metals, Alloys And Materials.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Dividends4Life]
Fair Value: In calculating fair value, I consider the NPV MMA Differential Fair Value along with these four calculations of fair value, see page 2 of the linked PDF for a detailed description:

1. Avg. High Yield Price
2. 20-Year DCF Price
3. Avg. P/E Price
4. Graham Number

GWW is trading at a premium to all four valuations above. The stock is trading at a 10.0% premium to its calculated fair value of $219.95. GWW did not earn any Stars in this section.

Dividend Analytical Data: In this section there are three possible Stars and three key metrics, see page 2 of the linked PDF for a detailed description:

1. Free Cash Flow Payout
2. Debt To Total Capital
3. Key Metrics
4. Dividend Growth Rate
5. Years of Div. Growth
6. Rolling 4-yr Div. > 15%

GWW earned three Stars in this section for 1.), 2.) and 3.) above. A Star was earned since the Free Cash Flow payout ratio was less than 60% and there were no negative Free Cash Flows over the last 10 years. The stock earned a Star as a result of its most recent Debt to Total Capital being less than 45%. GWW earned a Star for having an acceptable score in at least two of the four Key Metrics measured.

Rolling 4-yr Div. > 15% means that dividends grew on average in excess of 15% for each consecutive 4 year period over the last 10 years (2003-2006, 2004-2007, 2005-2008, etc.) I consider this a key metric since dividends will double every 5 years if they grow by 15%. The company has paid a cash dividend to shareholders every year since 1965 and has increased its dividend payments for 42 consecutive years.

Dividend Income vs. MMA: Why would you assume the equity risk and invest in a dividend stock if you could earn a better return in a much less risky money market account (MMA) or Treasury bond? This section compares the earning ability of this stock with a high yield MMA. Two items are considered in this section, see page 2 of the linked
[By Chris Hill]
In this installment, our analysts discuss four stocks making big moves.�CarMax (NYSE: KMX ) hits an all-time high after fourth-quarter profits rise. PriceSmart (NASDAQ: PSMT ) jumps after the retailer reports better-than-expected results. Fastenal (NASDAQ: FAST ) falls after it reports weaker-than-expected revenues. And 3D Systems (NYSE: DDD ) racks up big gains after one of its competitors gets an upgrade.�
[By Ben Levisohn]
In fact, some of the biggest movers this week were earnings related. Alcoa (AA) got things kicked off on Tuesday–despite its exclusion from the Dow–when it beat earnings handily. It gained 4.5% to $8.32 this week. Safeway (SWY), meanwhile, gained 6.7% to $33.75 after terrible earnings were trumped by asset sales. No such luck for Fastenal (FAST), which plunged 6.3% this week after it missed earnings by a penny.

10 Best Quality Stocks For 2014: Cedar Shopping Centers Inc (CDR)

Cedar Shopping Centers, Inc., real estate investment trust, engages in the ownership, operation, development and redevelopment of supermarket-anchored community shopping centers and drug store-anchored convenience centers in the United States. As of December 31, 2007, it owned 118 properties, aggregating approximately 12.0 million square feet of gross leasable area primarily in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Virginia, Ohio, Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland, Michigan, and New York. Cedar Shopping has elected to be treated as a REIT for federal income tax purposes and would not be subject to federal income tax, if it distributes at least 90% of its REIT taxable income to its stockholders. The company was founded in 1984 and is based in Port Washington, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Bill Smith]
Valuation
Lastly, because of the negative perception the entire industry has received, prices in this sector have been absolutely pummeled. ESI now trades at the lower end of all of its historical valuation bands: P/E, P/B, and P/S.

Bullish Points
Guru ownership and avg price: ESI owned by Hussman ($76.15), Weitz ($75.32), and Greenblatt ($73.29)Over 35% of shares are short, potential short squeezeStock buyback plan: ESI reduced outstanding shares by 19% yoy at the end of the 4th quarter. They repurchased 370K shares in 3Q11.The business model is scalable; the incremental cost to educate each additional student is low, leading to high marginsESI acquired Daniel Webster College, giving them a regional accreditation which they can use to broaden their reach in online classes
Bearish Points
High costs of education, in general, rightly or wrongly attract government intervention and could squeeze margins over time. Total student debt surpassed credit card balances, and sits at $1 Trillion as of the end of 2011.Subject to compliance with Dept of Education's 90/10 rules, which states a college can't collect more than 90% of revenue from students participating in federal loan programs.Cohort Default Rate (CDR): for-profit colleges must monitor the federal loan default rates of students who graduate or leave the school. If a school's CDR exceeds 25% for 3 consecutive years, or 40% in any one year, its students won't be eligible for federal financial aid.ESI competes on quality of product which is measured by graduation rates and ability to secure employment. For 2010, 70% of ESI graduates got employment in positions using skills taught in their program of study within 1 year. As of Oct 2011, this rate was 600 bp higher. The average annual salary reported by employed 2011 grads was $32K, compared to $32.4K for 2010 grads.With an improving economy, there's a potential ESI would see declining new student enrollmentsOver 35% of shares are short
Summary

10 Best Quality Stocks For 2014: Network Exploration Ltd (NET)

Network Exploration Ltd. is an exploration and development-stage company. The Company�� principal business activities include the exploration of minerals in its mineral properties. It focuses on base and precious metal properties in North and South America. Its activities include the process of exploring its mineral properties, reviewing and subsequently acquiring mineral properties and conducting exploration programs to determine whether these properties contain ore reserves that are recoverable. The Picha copper-silver project is located within the Tertiary Volcanic Arc of Southern Peru. The Pistala project is located east of the NW-SE trending Incapquio fault system in the Department of Tacna, Southern Peru. The Company is in the business of mineral exploration in Canada, Chile and Peru. Network Exploration Chile Limitada is its wholly owned subsidiary. Advisors' Opinion:

[By Holly LaFon]
The IVA International Fund (Trades, Portfolio) Class A, at net asset value, returned 7.05% over the one year period ending September 30, 2014 compared to the MSCI All Country World (ex-U.S.) Index (Net)* (the ��ndex�� return of 4.77% over the same period.
[By Holly LaFon]
MSCI All Country World Index (Net) is an unmanaged index comprised of 44 country indices comprising 23 developed and 21 emerging market country indices and is calculated with dividends reinvested after de duction of withholding tax. The Index is a trademark of Morgan Stanley Capital International and is not available for direct investment.
[By Holly LaFon]
The MSCI World ex U.S. Small Cap Index (Net) is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure global developed market equity performance, excluding the U.S. The MSCI Small Cap Indices target 40% of the eligible Small Cap universe within each industry group, within each country. MSCI defines the Small Cap universe as all listed securities that have a market capitalization in the range of USD200-1,500 million. This benchmark calculates reinvested dividends net of withholding taxes using Luxembourg tax rates. This index is unmanaged and investors cannot invest directly in this index.

Hot Mid Cap Stocks To Own For 2014

Small cap construction software stock Textura Corp (NYSE: TXTR) has been all over the place lately, meaning it might be time to take a look at it along with other small cap or mid cap construction, design or real estate software stocks like RealPage, Inc (NASDAQ: RP) and more well known Autodesk, Inc (NASDAQ: ADSK). After all, enterprise software stocks like these would offer a more indirect way to bet on a housing or construction ��ecovery,��ust like building materials stocks; plus earlier this summer,�a benchmark global study (sponsored by Textura Corp) called Global Construction 2025 predicted that the global construction market will grow by more than 70% to reach $15 trillion by 2025.�

With that in mind, here is a look at three�important software�players in the construction or real estate market: �

Top 10 Diversified Bank Stocks For 2015: The Andersons Inc.(ANDE)

The Andersons, Inc. engages in the grain, ethanol, plant nutrient, railcar leasing and repair, turf products production, and general merchandise retailing businesses. It operates in six segments: Grain, Ethanol, Rail, Plant Nutrient, Turf & Specialty, and Retail. The Grain segment operates grain elevators; and is involved in the storage, merchandising, and trading of grains, as well as offers marketing, risk management, and corn origination services to its customers. The Ethanol segment operates three ethanol production facilities; and provides facility operations, risk management, and ethanol and distillers dried grains marketing to the ethanol plants. The Rail segment buys, sells, leases, rebuilds, and repairs a fleet of approximately 23,000 railcars and locomotives; offers fleet management services to private railcar owners; engages in metal fabrication business; and invests in short-line railroad. The Plant Nutrient segment manufactures, distributes, and retails dry an d liquid agricultural nutrients, and pelleted lime and gypsum products to agricultural farm supply dealers; and essential crop nutrients, crop protection chemicals, and seed products, as well as provides application and agronomic services to commercial and family farmers. This segment also offers warehousing, packaging, and manufacturing services to manufacturers and other distributors; and various industrial products, including nitrogen reagents for air pollution control systems. The Turf & Specialty segment produces granular fertilizer and control products for the turf and ornamental markets; and fertilizer and control products, and corncob-based animal bedding and cat litter for the consumer markets. The Retail segment operates The Andersons retail stores; The Andersons Market, a specialty food market; a distribution center; and a lawn and garden equipment sales and service shop. The Andersons, Inc. was founded in 1947 and is headquartered in Maumee, Ohio.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Paul Ausick]
Ethanol producers like Pacific Ethanol Inc. (NASDAQ: PEIX), The Andersons Inc. (NASDAQ: ANDE) and Archer Daniels Midland Co. (NYSE: ADM), as well as other members of the trade group Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), are mightily displeased by this EPA proposal. Refiner and ethanol producer Valero Corp. (NYSE: VLO), which is not a member of the trade group, has been among the loudest critics of the higher blending requirements.
[By Ben Levisohn]
Archer isn’t the only stock being hit today. Bunge (BG) has dropped 0.3% to $81.91, while Andersons (ANDE) has fallen 2.2% to $81.55.

Archer was already weak after reports that Australia would block its takeover of GrainCorp.
[By Michael Vodicka]
The Anderson's, Inc. (ANDE) is an agriculture conglomerate, operating in 5 divisions that includes a rail shipping and nutrient business. But its Grain division is its biggest, accounting for more than 60% of revenue, where the company is a wholesaler of grain and grain storage services. The company's share price has been hot in 2013, posting a market and industry crushing return of 58%. Take a look below.

Hot Mid Cap Stocks To Own For 2014: Deutsche Bank AG (LBND)

Deutsche Bank AG is a global investment bank. The Company offers a variety of investment, financial and related products and services to private individuals, corporate entities and institutional clients around the world. The Company operates through such divisions as: Private and Business Clients, Asset and Wealth Management, Corporate Banking and Securities, Global Transaction Banking and Non-Core Operations Unit. Deutsche Bank AG is active domestically and in various countries, through the network of numerous branches. In February 2014, the Company and its related bodies corporate ceases to a share holder in the capital of the Company. Advisors' Opinion:

[By Donald van Deventer]
Long-duration Treasury Exchange-Traded Funds: (TLH), , (IEF), (DTYL), (DLBL), (ILTB), (TENZ), (ITE), (TLO), (EDV), (VGIT), (VGLT), (TMF), (TYD), (LBND), (UBT), (UST), (TMV), (TYO), (DSTJ), (DSXJ), (SBND), (PST), (DTYS), (DLBS), (TBF), (TTT), (TYNS), (TYBS), (TBX).

Hot Mid Cap Stocks To Own For 2014: Kingdee International Software Group Co Ltd (KGDEF)

Kingdee International Software Group Company Limited is an investment holding company. The principal activities of the Company and its subsidiaries are developing, manufacturing and selling of enterprise management software products and provision of software-related technical services in the People's Republic of China. The Company operates in two segments: enterprise management software business, which is engaged in the sales and implementation of enterprise management software, provision of other related services and sales of hardware related to enterprise management software arrangements, and others, which is engaged in the sales of middleware software business and provision online management services. Its subsidiaries include Beijng Kingdee System Technology Co., Ltd., Kingdee E-commerce Service (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. and others. Advisors' Opinion:

[By WWW.MARKETWATCH.COM]
HONG KONG (MarketWatch) -- Hong Kong stocks trimmed their gains but held to positive territory Wednesday after data showing China's economic growth accelerated to 7.5% in the second quarter, ticking up from a 7.4% gain in the first quarter. The Hang Seng Index (HK:HSI) inched up 0.2%, off slightly from a 0.3% advance ahead of the data, while the Shanghai Composite Index (CN:SHCOMP) dipped 0.1%. Mainland Chinese power companies posted broad gains, with Huadian Power International Corp. (HK:1071) rallying 4.2% after the company forecast its profit for the first six months of the year would jump 55% to 65% from a year earlier. Other stocks in the sector also attracted investors' interest, with Datang International Power Generation Co. (HK:0991) (DIPGF) (CN:601991) and Huaneng Power International Inc. (HK:0902) (HUNGF) (CN:600011) gaining 2.3% and 1.6%, respectively. Menswear maker China Fordoo Holdings Ltd. (HK:2399) rose 1% on its first day of trading. However, most software and gaming companies declined, with Kingdee International Software Group (HK:0268) (KGDEF) losing 1.4%, bigger rival Kingsoft Corp. (HK:3888) (KSFTF) falling 0.9%, and Forgame Holdings L

Hot Mid Cap Stocks To Own For 2014: Western Refining Logistics LP (WNRL)

Western Refining Logistics, LP, incorporated on July 17, 2013, owns, operates, develops, and acquires terminals, storage tanks, pipelines, and other logistics assets. As of December 31, 2012, the Company�� assets includes pipeline and gathering assets and terminalling, transportation, and storage assets in the Southwestern portion of the United States, which included approximately 300 miles of pipelines and approximately 7.9 million barrels of active storage capacity, as well as other assets. The Company's assets are integral to the operations of Western�� refineries located in El Paso, Texas, and near Gallup, New Mexico.

As of December 31, 2012, the Company owns and operates two refineries, in El Paso, Texas and Gallup, New Mexico, with a total crude oil throughput capacity of 153,000 barrels per day (bpd). The Company does not take ownership of the hydrocarbons or products (other than certain additives) that it handles or engages in the trading of any commodities.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Ben Levisohn]
The full list: Buffalo Wild Wings, Cavium, CaesarStone (CSTE), Eclipse Resources, MobileIron (MOBL), Nextera Energy, Portland General Electric (POR), Rexnord Corp, Terex Corp, Western Refining Logistics (WNRL), and The Advisory Board.
[By Robert Rapier]
Western Refining Logistics (NYSE: WNRL) debuted on Oct. 10. The partnership was formed by Western Refining (NYSE: WNR) to own, operate, develop and acquire terminals, storage tanks, pipelines, and other logistics assets. WNRL’s assets include 300 miles of crude oil pipelines, gathering systems, and 566,000 barrels of crude oil storage located primarily in the Permian Basin. Most of its revenue is expected to be derived from two 10-year, fee-based agreements with Western Refining.
[By Aimee Duffy]
It;s been a very robust year for master limited partnership IPOs to say the least. On Thursday, Western Refining (NYSE: WNR ) successfully spun off its midstream logistics MLP, Western Refining Logistics (NYSE: WNRL ) . The partnership became the 14th MLP to make its debut this year.

Hot Mid Cap Stocks To Own For 2014: Gordmans Stores Inc.(GMAN)

Gordmans Stores, Inc. operates department stores under the Gordmans name in the United States. Its merchandise selection includes a range of apparel, footwear, home fashions products, and accessories, including fragrances. The company offers apparels, including young men?s, men?s, juniors?, women?s, team, plus sizes, maternity, and children?s clothing comprising offerings for infants, toddlers, boys, and girls; and accessories consisting of designer fragrances, intimate apparel, handbags, sunglasses, fashion jewelry, legwear, and sleepwear. Its home fashions products consist of wall art, photo frames, accent furniture, accent lighting, candles, ceramics, vases, seasonal d�or, floral and garden, gourmet food and candy, toys, luggage, pet accessories, housewares, decorative pillows, fashion rugs, and bedding and bath products. As of January 28, 2012, the company operated 74 stores located in various shopping center developments, including regional enclosed shopping ma lls, lifestyle centers, and power centers in 16 Midwestern states. Gordmans Stores, Inc. was founded in 1915 and is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By GuruFocus]
George Soros bought 745,000 shares in the quarter that ended on 09/30/2013, which is 0.072% of the $9.14 billion portfolio of Soros Fund Management LLC. Mario Gabelli owns 15,000 shares as of 09/30/2013, which accounts for 0.0008% of the $17.03 billion portfolio of GAMCO Investors.
Gordman's Stores, Inc. (GMAN): Dir, Pres, CEO & Secretary Jeffrey J Gordman Bought 15,000 Shares
Dir, Pres, CEO & Secretary of Gordman's Stores, Inc. (GMAN) Jeffrey J Gordman bought 15,000 shares on 12/20/2013 at an average price of $7.59. Gordmans Stores, Inc., was formed in Delaware in 2008. Gordman's Stores, Inc. has a market cap of $147.595 million; its shares were traded at around $7.59 with a P/E ratio of 11.00 and P/S ratio of 0.23.
[By Seth Jayson]
Calling all cash flows
When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on Gordmans Stores (Nasdaq: GMAN ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.
[By gurujx]
Gordman's Stores Inc. (GMAN) Reached the Three-Year Low of $6.39

The prices of Gordman's Stores Inc. (GMAN) shares have declined to close to the three-year low of $6.39, which is 73.8% off the three-year high of $23.24.

Hot Mid Cap Stocks To Own For 2014: Elizabeth Arden Inc.(RDEN)

Elizabeth Arden, Inc., a beauty products company, engages in the manufacture, distribution, marketing, and sale of fragrances, skin care, and cosmetic products to retailers and other outlets worldwide. It offers various fragrance products for men and women, including perfume, colognes, eau de toilettes, eau de parfums, body sprays, and gift sets, as well as bath and body products, such as soaps, deodorants, body lotions, gels, creams, and dusting powders. The company sells its fragrance products under the Red Door, Elizabeth Arden 5th Avenue, Elizabeth Arden green tea, Pretty Elizabeth Arden, Curve, Giorgio Beverly Hills, PS Fine Cologne, White Shoulders, Juicy Couture, Kate Spade New York, John Varvatos, Rocawear, Alberta Ferretti, Halston, Geoffrey Beene, Alfred Sung, Bob Mackie, and Lucky. Its skin care products comprise moisturizers, creams, lotions, and cleansers under the Ceramide, Prevage, Eight Hour Cream, and Visible Difference. The company?s cosmetic products co nsist of foundations, lipsticks, mascaras, eye shadows, and powders in various shades and colors under the Elizabeth Arden brand name. Elizabeth Arden, Inc. sells its products primarily to department and specialty stores, mass retailers, perfumeries, boutiques, distributors, and travel retail outlets, as well as to independent fragrance, cosmetic, gift, and other stores. It also markets and sells its products through its e-commerce site at elizabetharden.com. The company was founded in 1960 and is headquartered in Miramar, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Vinay Singh]
Heavy promotions are key for retailers during the holiday season. This is especially true when people are less willing to open their wallets. Moreover, when all of the other industry players promote their products and provide deep discounts to attract customers, the ones who don't will face the consequences. Elizabeth Arden (RDEN), a provider of beauty products, is an apt example.
[By Roberto Pedone]
One beauty products player that insiders are snapping up a large amount of stock in here is Elizabeth Arden (RDEN), which is engaged in the manufacture, distribution, marketing and sale of fragrances, skin care and cosmetic products worldwide. Insiders are buying this stock into massive weakness, since shares have plunged sharply in 2014 by 51%.

Elizabeth Arden has a market cap of $511 million and an enterprise value of $893 million. This stock trades at a cheap valuation, with a forward price-to-earnings of 29. Its estimated growth rate for this year is 25.5%, and for next year it's pegged at 243.9%. This is not a cash-rich company, since the total cash position on its balance sheet is $56.31 million and its total debt is $436.85 million.

A beneficial owner just bought 100,019 shares, or about $1.58 million worth of stock, at $15.83 per share. That same beneficial owner also just bought 559,684 shares, or about $9.50 million worth of stock, at $16.90 per share.

From a technical perspective, RDEN is currently trending below both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, which is bearish. This stock recently formed a double bottom chart pattern, since shares found buying interest over the last two months at $14.65 to $15.63 a share. Following that bottom, shares of RDEN have started to bounce higher and it's now quickly moving within range of triggering a major breakout trade.

If you're bullish on RDEN, then I would look for long-biased trades as long as this stock is trending above some near-term support at $15.63 a share and then once it breaks out above some key near-term overhead resistance levels at $17.89 to $18.60 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that registers near or above its three-month average action of 582,318 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then RDEN will set up to re-fill some of its previous gap-down-day zone from August that started near $21 a share.

M

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Top 5 Asian Stocks For 2014

Asian market were mostly lower Thursday after the Federal Reserve left monetary policy unchanged, while China was weighed down by declines in banking stocks.

The Fed met expectations by leaving its stimulus program unchanged at its policy meeting, though it did surprise with its upbeat assessment of the economy. Some investors were looking for the central bank to downgrade its economic outlook after the government shutdown and budget impasse earlier this month.

Reuters Enlarge Image

In fact, the government shutdown was a major focus for global markets in the first half of October. Asian stocks proved resilient through the drama, and most markets in the region look set to post respectable gains for the month.

5 Best Cheap Stocks To Buy For 2015: Pembina Pipeline Corp (PBA)

Pembina Pipeline Corporation (Pembina) is a Calgary-based company, engaged in providing transportation and midstream services. It owns and operates: pipelines that transport conventional and synthetic crude oil and natural gas liquids produced in western Canada; oil sands, heavy oil and diluent pipelines; gas gathering and processing facilities; and, an oil and natural gas liquids infrastructure and logistics business. It has facilities located in western Canada and in natural gas liquids markets in eastern Canada and the United States. Pembina also offers a spectrum of midstream and marketing services. Pembina�� Midstream business is organized into two segments: crude oil and NGL. The crude oil segment represents the Company�� midstream operations. The NGL segment includes two operating systems: Redwater West and Empress East. Pembina's Conventional Pipelines business consists of a pipeline network, located 7,850 kilometers, that extends across much of Alberta and British Columbia. Advisors' Opinion:

[By Vanin Aegea]
Two companies that have been around for some time now are Imperial Oil (IMO) and Pembina Pipeline (PBA). Political instability in the Middle East has also given an extra relevance to the reserves found at this region, so let us see what the future holds and what gurus think of them.
[By Rich Duprey]
Midstream operator Pembina Pipeline (NYSE: PBA ) announced yesterday its monthly dividend for July, of $0.135 per share, which is designated an "eligible dividend" for Canadian income tax purposes. For non-resident shareholders, Pembina's dividends are considered "qualified dividends," subject to Canada's withholding tax.
[By Rich Duprey]
Midstream operator�Pembina Pipeline� (NYSE: PBA ) �announced yesterday its monthly dividend for May of $0.135 per share,�which is designated an "eligible dividend" for Canadian income tax purposes. For non-resident shareholders, Pembina's dividends are considered "qualified dividends" and are subject to Canadian withholding tax.

Top 5 Asian Stocks For 2014: Honeywell International Inc.(HON)

Honeywell International Inc. operates as a diversified technology and manufacturing company worldwide. Its Aerospace segment provides turbine propulsion engines, auxiliary power units, environmental control and electric power systems, engine systems and accessories, avionic systems, aircraft lighting, inertial sensors, control products, space products and subsystems, and landing products for aircraft manufacturers, airlines, business and general aviation, military, space, and airport operations, as well as offers management and technical, logistics, aircraft wheels and brakes and repair, and overhaul services. The company?s Automation and Control Solutions segment provides environmental and combustion controls, and sensing controls; security and life safety products and services; scanning and mobility products; process automation products and solutions; and building solutions and services for homes, buildings, and industrial facilities. Its Specialty Materials segment prov ides resins and chemicals; hydrofluoric acid; fluorocarbons; fluorine specialties; nuclear services; performance chemicals; chemical processing sealants; fibers and composites; specialty films and additives; imaging and electronic chemicals; semiconductor materials and services; catalysts, adsorbents, and specialties; and renewable fuels and chemicals. It offers these products for refining, petrochemical, automotive, healthcare, agricultural, packaging, refrigeration, appliance, housing, semiconductor, wax, and adhesives segments. This segment also provides process technology and equipment for the petroleum refining, and petrochemical and gas processing industries. The company?s Transportation Systems segment provides charge-air systems; thermal systems; filters, spark plugs, electronic components, and car care products; and brake hard parts and other friction materials for passenger cars and commercial vehicles. The company was founded in 1920 and is headquartered in Morris Township, New Jersey.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Rich Duprey]
When China developed its so-called Golden Shield project that used technology to monitor, censor, and otherwise contain its citizens, U.S. companies that helped the government develop the program rightly came in for criticism.�Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO ) �provided the networking equipment critical to operating the vast, complicated surveillance system that was installed. Honeywell (NYSE: HON ) , United Technologies (NYSE: UTX ) , General Electric (NYSE: GE ) , and IBM were all there providing the repressive regime with the technology and know-how to keep its citizens in check.
[By MONEYMORNING.COM]
I'm talking about Honeywell International Inc. (NYSE: HON). This is one of those rare big-cap tech leaders that manages to be both widely diversified and highly focused.

Top 5 Asian Stocks For 2014: Pacific Rubiales Energy Corp (PEGFF.PK)

Pacific Rubiales Energy Corp. (Pacific Rubiales) is a producerand seller of natural gas and heavy crude oil. The Company also purchases crude oil from third parties to be used as diluents and for trading purposes. The Company owns Meta Petroleum Corp. (Meta), an oil branch which operates the Rubiales/Piriri and Quifa oil fields in the Llanos Basin in association with Ecopetrol; and Pacific Stratus Energy Colombia Corp. (Pacific Stratus), which operates the wholly owned La Creciente gas field in the northern part of Colombia and other light and medium oil fields. In addition to its production assets, it has investment in oil pipelines in Colombia, including the Oleoducto de los Llanos S.A. Pipeline and the new Oleoducto Bicentenario de Colombia pipeline, under construction. In November 2013, Pacific Rubiales Energy Corp acquired Petrominerales Ltd. Advisors' Opinion:

[By Value Digger]
Apart from the momentum traders, the growth seekers have to check it out too. Manitok Energy is another growth company with a non-existent coverage from the online publications, although it has been growing by leaps and bounds during the last couple of years. I really enjoy uncovering such companies. In fact, by discovering under-followed growth companies with very attractive valuations is how I started my articles with SeekingAlpha one year ago. It was when I uncovered C&C Energia. I recommended this debt-free South American producer at ~$5.7 in August 2012. C&C Energia was bought out by Pacific Rubiales (PEGFF.PK) a couple of months later at $9.81. My article is here.
[By Value Digger]
C&C Energia was acquired by Pacific Rubiales (PEGFF.PK) for $9.5 (including the shares for Platino Energy), three months later. Nobody else had ever written an online article about C&C Energia.

Top 5 Asian Stocks For 2014: Flowserve Corp (FLS)

Flowserve Corporation, incorporated on May 1, 1912, is a manufacturer and aftermarket service provider of flow control systems. The Company develops and manufacture precision-engineered flows control equipment integral to the movement, control and protection of the flow of materials in its customers' critical processes. The Company operates in three segments: Engineered Product Division (EPD), which includes long leads time, custom and other engineered pumps and pump systems, mechanical seals, auxiliary systems and replacement parts and related services, Industrial Product Division (IPD), which includes pre-configured engineered pumps and pump systems and related products and services, and Flow Control Division (FCD), which includes engineered and industrial valves, control valves, actuators and controls and related services. Effective December 10, 2013, Flowserve Corp acquired Innovative Mag-Drive LLC.

Through the Company's manufacturing platform and global network of Quick Response Centers (QRCs), the Company offers an array of aftermarket equipment services, such as installation, advanced diagnostics, repair and retrofitting. The Company's product portfolio of pumps, valves, seals, automation and aftermarket services supports global infrastructure industries, including oil and gas, chemical, power generation and water management, as well as certain general industrial markets where the Company's products and services add value. The Company sells its products and services to more than 10,000 companies, including some of the engineering, procurement and construction firms (EPC), original equipment manufacturers, distributors and end users.

Engineered Product Division

The Company designs, manufactures, distributes and services engineered pumps and pumps systems, mechanical seals, auxiliary systems, replacement parts and related equipment. The business primarily consists of long lead time, engineered, configured products, which require extensive test requirements a! nd project management skills. EPD products and services are primarily used by companies that operate in the oil and gas, power generation, chemical, water management and general industries. The Company markets its pump and mechanical seals products through its global sales force and its regional QRCs and service and repair centers or through independent distributors and sales representatives. A portion of the Company's mechanical seal products are sold directly to original equipment manufacturers for incorporation into rotating equipment requiring mechanical seals. The Company's pump products are manufactured in a range of metal alloys and with a variety of configurations to meet the critical operating demands of the Company's customers.

The Company also manufactures a gas-lubricated mechanical seal that is used in high-speed compressors for gases pipelines and in the oil and gas production and process markets. The Company's products are manufactured at 29 plants worldwide, nine of which are located in Europe, 11 in North America, four in Asia Pacific and five in Latin America. The Company also conducts business through strategic foreign joint ventures. The Company has six unconsolidated joint ventures that are located in China, India, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates, where a portion of its products are manufactured, assembled or serviced in these territories. The Company manufactures more than 40 different active types of pumps and approximately 185 different models of mechanical seals and sealing systems.

The Company's EPD products include between bearings pumps, which include single case- axially split, single case- radially split, double case; overhung pumps, which includes api process; positive displacement pumps, which includes multiphase, reciprocating and screw; mechanical seals and seal support systems, which includes gas barrier seals and dry-running seals, and specialty products, which includes nuclear pumps, nuclear seals, cryogenic p! umps, cry! ogenic liquid expander, hydraulic decoking systems, and API slurry pumps. The Company�� EPD Brand Names include BW Seals, Byron Jackson, Calder Energy Recovery Devices, Cameron, Durametallic, Five Star Seal, Jeumont-Schneider, and Interseal. EPD Services includes provision of engineered aftermarket services through its global network of 128 QRCs, some of which are co-located in manufacturing facilities, in 41 countries. Its EPD service personnel provide a comprehensive set of equipment services for flow management control systems, including installation, commissioning, repair, advanced diagnostics, re-rate and retrofit programs, machining and comprehensive asset management solutions. The Company provides asset management services and condition monitoring for rotating equipment through special contracts with many of its customers that reduce maintenance costs.

Industrial Product Division

The Company designs , manufactures, distributes and services pre-configured engineered pumps and pumps systems, including submersible motors, for industrial markets. IPD's standardized, general purpose pump products are primarily utilized by the oil and gas, chemical, water management, power generation and general industries. The Company's products are manufactured in 12 manufacturing facilities, three of which are located in the United States and six in Europe. IPD operates 20 QRCs worldwide, including 11 sites in Europe, three in the United States , five in Asia Pacific and one in Latin America. The Company manufactures approximately 40 different active types of pumps available in a wide range of metal alloys and non-metallics with a variety of configurations. The products includes Overhung, which includes Chemical Process ANSI and ISO, Industrial Process , and Slurry and Solids Handling ; Specialty Products, which includes Molten Salt VTP Pump, Submersible Pump, Thruster, Geothermal Deepwell, and Barge Pump; Between Bearings, which includes Single Case- Axially Split and Single Case- Radia! lly Split! ; Vertical, which includes Wet Pit, Deep Well Submersible Motor, Slurry and Solids Handling, and Sump; Positive Displacement, which includes Gear. The Company�� brands include Aldrich, Durco, IDP, Pacific, Pleuger, Scienco, Sier Bath, Western Land Roller, TKL, Worthington, and Worthington-Simpson. The Company markets its pump products through its worldwide sales force and its regional service and repair centers or through independent distributors and sales representatives. The Company provide an array of aftermarket services including product installation and commissioning services, spare parts, repairs, re-rate and upgrade solutions, advanced diagnostics and maintenance solutions through its global network of QRCs.

Flow Control Division

The Company�� FCD designs, manufactures, distributes and services a portfolio of industrial valve and automation solutions, including isolation and control valves, actuation, controls and related equipment. In addition, FCD offers energy management products, such as steam traps, boiler controls and condensate and energy recovery systems. FCD products are used to control, direct and manage the flow of liquids and gases and are an integral part of any flow control system. The Company's valve products are often customized and engineered to perform specific functions within each customer's unique flow control environment. The Company's flow control products are primarily used by companies operating in the chemical (including pharmaceutical), power generation (nuclear, fossil and renewable), oil and gas, water management and general industries (including aerospace, pulp and paper and mining). FCD has 58 sites worldwide, including 25 principal manufacturing facilities ( five of which are located in the United States and 13 of which are located in Europe) and 33 QRCs, including three consolidated joint ventures. A small portion of the Company's valves are also produced through an unconsolidated joint venture in India.

The Company's pr! oducts ar! e used in a variety of applications, from general service to the severe and demanding services, including those involving high levels of corrosion, extreme temperatures and/or pressures, zero fugitive emissions and emergency shutdown. The Company's smart valve and diagnostic technologies integrate sensors, microprocessor controls and software into high performance integrated control valves, digital positioners and switchboxes for automated on/off valve assemblies and electric actuators. These technologies permit real-time system analysis, system warnings and remote indication of asset health. These technologies have been developed in response to the growing demand for reduced maintenance, improved process control efficiency and digital communications at the plant level. The Company's valve automation products encompass a range of pneumatic, electric, hydraulic and stored energy actuation designs to take advantage of whatever power source the customer has available.

The Company�� products includes valve automation systems, control valves, ball valves, gate valves, globe valves, check valves, lined plug valves, lubricated plug valves, diagnostic software, digital positioners, pneumatic positioners, intelligent positioners, pneumatic actuators, hydraulic actuators, diaphragm actuators, direct gas and gas-over-oil actuators. steam traps, boiler controls, digital communications, and valve and automation repair services. The Company�� brands include Accord, Anchor/Darling, Argus, Atomac, Durco, Edward, Flowserve, Gestra, Kammer, Limitorque, McCANNA/MARPAC, NAF, NAVAL, Noble Alloy, Norbro, Nordstrom, PMV, Serck Audco, Schmidt Armaturen, Valbart, Valtek, Vogt, and Worcester Controls. The Company provides equipment maintenance services for flow control systems, including advanced diagnostics, repair, installation, commissioning, retrofit programs and field machining capabilities.

The Company competes with Sulzer Pumps, Ebara Corp., SPX Corp., Eagle Burgmann, A. W. Chesterton Co. an! d AES Cor! p, John Crane Inc., and Weir Group Plc, ITT Industries, KSB Inc., Sulzer Pumps, Pentair Ltd., Cameron International Corp., Emerson Electric Co., General Electric Co. and Crane Co.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Holly LaFon]
Flowserve Corp. (1.1%) (FLS)($70.52 - NYSE) is one of the largest global pump companies, serving the petroleum, chemical, and power industries. The company�� products include engineered and industrial pumps, automated and control valves, actuators, and seals. About 40% of FLS revenues are derived from the oil and gas industry, and should benefit from the refurbishment of the aging refineries in developed countries and the first time build out of the infrastructure in developing nations around the world. Further, oil companies are bringing up dirtier, heavier, and harder to access crude from thousands of feet below ground, as the cleaner, lighter, and easier to obtain crude that is closer to the surface is depleted. This demands more highly engineered pumps, valves, and seals that can work under very high pressure, high temperature, or underwater, boding well for FLS products.
[By Jim Jubak]
So, why did shares of Flowserve (FLS) soar 5.7%, yesterday?

Sure, the maker of all things that move water and other fluids beat Wall Street earnings projections for the fourth quarter by 6 cents a share (after excluding one-time charges) and revenue climbed 4.6% year over year, matching analyst estimates.
[By Ben Levisohn]
Xylem’s big day has also boosted other water-infrastructure stocks. Flowserve (FLS) has gained 1.2% to $70.59, Idex Corp. (IEX) has risen 0.5% to $68.69 and Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) has advanced 0.4% t0 $98.22.
[By Damon Churchwell]
Increasing sales and margins
A second, even larger, flow technology company to consider is Flowserve (NYSE: FLS ) . The company's flow control systems are utilized by a wide range of industries, led by oil & gas, chemicals, and power generation.

Monday, January 26, 2015

Top 10 International Companies To Buy For 2014

Victor Mora

With shares of Dunkin��Brands (NASDAQ:DNKN) trading around $47, is DNKN an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE, or STAY AWAY? Let�� analyze the stock with the relevant sections of our CHEAT SHEET investing framework:

T = Trends for a Stock’s Movement

Dunkin��Brands owns, operates, and franchises quick service restaurants under the Dunkin��Donuts and Baskin-Robbins brands worldwide. The company operates in four segments, including Dunkin��Donuts U.S., Dunkin��Donuts International, Baskin-Robbins International, and Baskin-Robbins U.S. Its restaurants offer coffee, donuts, bagels, ice cream, frozen beverages, baked goods, and related products. The increasing popularity of the product offerings by Dunkin��Brands is fueling excellent growth for the company.

Top 5 Information Technology Companies To Invest In Right Now: GrubHub Inc (GRUB)

GrubHub, Inc., incorporated on May 10, 2013, is an online and mobile platform for restaurant pick-up and delivery orders. As of December 31, 2013, the Company processed more than 135,000 combined daily average grubs. The Company�� target market is primarily independent restaurants. The Company connects local restaurants with diners in more than 600 cities across the United States. It generates revenue primarily when diners place an order on its platform through the Company�� Websites, its mobile applications, third-party Websites or one of its listed phone numbers. On August 8, 2013, GrubHub Inc. acquired Seamless North America, LLC, Seamless Holdings Corporation (Seamless Holdings) and GrubHub Holdings Inc., pursuant to that certain Reorganization and Contribution Agreement, dated as of May 19, 2013, by and among GrubHub Inc., Seamless North America, LLC, Seamless Holdings, GrubHub Holdings Inc. and the other parties thereto (the Reorganization Agreement). The acquisition of GrubHub Holdings Inc. has been accounted for as a business combination.

GrubHub and Seamless Websites

The primary way diners access the Company�� platform is through www.grubhub.com and www.seamless.com. To use the Company�� Websites, diners enter their delivery address and are presented with local restaurants that provide takeout. Diners can further refine their search results using its search capability, enabling them to filter results across cuisine types, restaurant names, menu items, proximity, ratings and other criteria. Once diners have found what they are looking for, they place their orders using its menus, enabling them to discover food choices, select options and provide specific instructions on a dish-by-dish basis. Once an order is received, the Company transmits it to the restaurant, while saving the diners��preferences for future orders.

GrubHub and Seamless Mobile Apps

The Company offer diner�� access to its network through the Company�� mobile applicati! ons designed for iPhone, iPad and Android devices. Its mobile applications provide diners with the same functionality as its Websites, including restaurant discovery, search and ordering. For restaurants, mobile orders are received in the same way as its Website-based orders, and it charge the same commission for both.

GrubHub and Seamless Mobile Apps

The Company offers diner�� access to its network through its mobile applications designed for iPhone, iPad and Android devices. Its mobile applications provide diners with the same functionality as its Websites, including restaurant discovery, search and ordering. For restaurants, mobile orders are received in the same way as the Company�� Website-based orders.

Seamless Corporate Program

On the Seamless Platform, the Company provides a corporate program. Its corporate program offers employees a variety of food and ordering options, including options for individual meals, group ordering and catering, as well as tools that consolidate all food ordering into a single online account that enables companies to manage food spend. Its corporate tools provide consolidated ordering and invoicing.

Allmenus and MenuPages

Allmenus.com and MenuPages provide an aggregated database of approximately 275,000 menus from restaurants across all 50 states. The Websites are searchable by cuisine type, restaurant name, menu items and other criteria. For those restaurants whose menus are posted on allmenus.com or MenuPages and who are also part of its restaurant network, the Company provides a link from their menus to its Websites, through which diners can then place their orders.

OrderHub and Boost

The Company�� tablet solutions, OrderHub and Boost can electronically receive and display orders at the restaurant, providing operators with the capability to acknowledge receipt of the order and update the estimated completion time and status. OrderHub and Boost enables! the Comp! any to monitor orders through the takeout process (receipt, ready for pickup, on the way).

Restaurant Websites

The Company offers the restaurants in its network a Website design and hosting service. The Company processes the orders placed through these Websites through its platforms.

APIs

The Company has developed an application programming interface for third-party Websites to incorporate its order delivery platform, driving additional orders for the restaurants in the Company�� network.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Johanna Bennett]
Is GrubHub (GRUB) a takeout target?

According to Barrington Research analyst Jeff Houston, it could be. In a note published today in which he upgraded the online food ordering company to Outperform from Market Perform with a $43 price target, Houston wrote that GrubHub�� wide competitive moat and a large and underpenetrated target market makes it an attractive acquisition target.

Earlier this month, Amazon.com (AMZN) rolled out an online food takeout service, which it is test marketing in Seattle. Beyond Amazon, Houston thinks that potential buyers are Uber with its $41 billion private-market valuation, Google (GOOGL), TripAdvisor (TRIP), and Priceline (PCLN).

Shares of GrubHub rose 1.36% to $36.36 in recent trading.

As Houston writes:

GrubHub enjoys a meaningful first advantage, a tailwind from mobile adoption, a highly profitable business model, pricing power, an innovative management team and board, and significant operating-metric momentum. Plus, given how convenient and compelling its services are to hungry diners, we believe that it will continue to create incremental demand that was non-existent through the traditional alternative, i.e., takeout menus in kitchen drawers.

The company processes about 200,000 restaurant orders a day from about 4.6 million active customers using 300,000 restaurants. Diners search and order for free and the restaurants prepare and deliver the food. GrubHub’s get paid by the restaurant, but only after an order is processed.

GrubHub went public at $26 in April, and it was an initial success, soaring 31% on its debut. Yet since hitting a high of almost $46 in August, the stock has drifted down.

Top 10 International Companies To Buy For 2014: Idera Pharmaceuticals Inc.(IDRA)

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biotechnology company, discovers and develops DNA- and RNA-based drug candidates for the treatment of infectious diseases, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, cancer, and asthma and allergies, and for use as vaccine adjuvants. The company designs and creates proprietary Toll-Like Receptors (TLR) to modulate immune responses, including TLR agonist, a compound that stimulates an immune response through the targeted TLR; and TLR antagonist, a compound that blocks activation of an immune response through the targeted TLR. Its drug candidates include IMO-2125, a TLR9 agonist, which is in Phase 1 clinical trial for hepatitis C virus infection; and TLR7, 8, and 9 agonists that are in research stage for viral diseases. The company also develops IMO-3100, a dual TLR7/TLR9 antagonist, which is in preclinical development stage for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, and colitis. In addition, its drug candidates also comprise TLR7 and TLR8 agonists that are in research stage for solid tumor cancers. The company has a licensing and collaboration agreement with Merck KGaA to research, develop, and commercialize TLR9 agonists for the treatment of cancer, excluding cancer vaccines; a license and research collaboration agreement with Merck & Co., Inc. to research, develop, and commercialize therapeutic and prophylactic vaccine products containing its TLR7, 8, and 9 agonists in the fields of cancer, infectious diseases, and Alzheimer?s disease; and a research collaboration and option agreement, and a license, development, and commercialization agreement with Novartis International Pharmaceutical, Ltd. to discover, develop, and commercialize TLR9 agonists for the treatment of asthma and allergies. The company was founded in 1989 and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Dan Caplinger]
Lately, the stock market has turned on every word from the Federal Reserve, and so this morning's comments from Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen received a huge amount of attention from investors Monday. With Yellen offering a much more encouraging assessment of how long interest rates might remain low in order to stimulate and sustain economic growth, stocks climbed sharply, with the Dow posting triple-digit gains. Yet for MannKind (NASDAQ: MNKD ) , Momenta Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: MNTA ) , and Idera Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: IDRA ) , the news today was far from good, as all three stocks suffered declines of 10% or more.
[By John Kell and Lauren Pollock var popups = dojo.query(".socialByline .popC"); ]
Idera Pharmaceuticals Inc.(IDRA) said a recent clinical study of its plaque psoriasis treatment met its objectives, allowing the company to push forward with the treatment’s development. The company’s shares jumped 32% to $5.14 premarket.
[By John Udovich]
Yesterday, small cap�biotech Idera Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: IDRA) surged 21.89% apparently on news about open enrollment for a clinical trial in what amounts to an orphan drug treatment, meaning its probably worth taking a closer look at the stock as well as consider its performance verses that of biotech ETFs like the iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index ETF (NASDAQ: IBB) and SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (NYSEARCA: XBI).

Top 10 International Companies To Buy For 2014: Nielsen Holdings NV (NLSN)

Nielsen Holdings N.V., incorporated on May 17, 2006, is a global information and measurement company. The Company delivers media and marketing information, and analytics on a global and local basis. It operates in three segments: Buy segment, Watch segment and Expositions segment. The Company�� Buy segment provides retail transactional measurement data, consumer behavior information and analytics primarily to businesses in the consumer packaged goods industry. Its Watch segment provides viewership data and analytics primarily to the media and advertising industries across television, online and mobile screens. The Company�� Expositions segment operates business-to-business trade shows and conference events in the United States. The Company�� clients include The Coca-Cola Company, NBC Universal, Nestle S.A., News Corp., The Procter & Gamble Company and the Unilever Group. In May 2011, it acquired NeuroFocus Inc. In August 2011, the Company acquired Marketing Analytics, Inc. In June 2013, Onex Corp announced that it has completed the acquisition of Nielsen Expositions from its parent, an affiliate of Nielsen Holdings NV (Nielsen).

What Consumers Buy

The Company�� Buy segment provides retail transactional measurement data, consumer behavior information and analytics primarily to businesses in the consumer packaged goods industry. This segment is organized into two areas: Information, which provides retail scanner and consumer panel-based measurement, and Insights, which provides a range of analytics. The Company�� consumer panels collect data from approximately 240,000 household panelists across 26 countries that use in-home scanners to record purchases from each shopping trip. Its analytical services are organized into seven primary categories: growth and demand strategy, market structure and segmentation, brand and portfolio management, product innovation services, pricing and sales modeling, retail marketing strategies and marketing return-on-investment (ROI) strate! gies.

What Consumers Watch

The Company�� Watch segment provides viewership data and analytics primarily to the media and advertising industries across television, online and mobile devices. It is engaged in the television audience measurement. The Company provides two principal television ratings services in the United States: measurement of national television audiences and measurement of local television audiences in all 210 designated local television markets. It measures television viewing in 28 countries outside the United States, including Australia, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico and South Korea. The Company is a global provider of Internet media and market research, audience analytics and social media measurement. Its online measurement service has a presence in 46 countries, including the United States, France, South Korea and Brazil. The Company provides critical advertising metrics, such as audience demographics, page and ad views, and time spent.

The Company provides independent measurement and consumer research for telecom and media companies in the mobile telecommunications industry. The Company offers mobile measurement services in 10 countries worldwide, including the United States. The Company develops advanced measurement techniques of the three principal screens: television, online and mobile devices. Its cross-platform measurement solution provides information about simultaneous usage of more than one screen, unduplicated reach, cause and effect analysis and program viewing behavior. It also provides advertising effectiveness research across multiple platforms. It also integrates data from its Buy segment with these measurement platforms.

The Company competes with GfK, Ipsos, Canoe Ventures, Dish Networks, WPP, Rentrak, TiVo, Mediametrie, Coremetrics, Google, Omniture, WebTrends, BuzzLogic, Cymfony and Umbria.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Tom Taulli]
Marketing. PEP remains on the cutting edge for marketing as well. Just recall the company�� “Crash the Super Bowl” campaign, which allowed fans to develop their own ads. For the 2013 game, the winning ad was ranked No. 1 for “most liked” and “most memorable” according to Nielsen (NLSN) ratings.�PEP is also aggressive with celebrity and athlete endorsements, as well as deals with organizations like the National Football League, Major League Baseball and National Hockey League. Beyonce at the Super Bowl, anyone? Retailers are more likely to carry PEP products because of these brand associations.

Top 10 International Companies To Buy For 2014: LiveDeal Inc.(LIVE)

LiveDeal, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, delivers local customer acquisition services for small and medium-sized businesses. It provides online marketing Internet directory services. The company offers InstantProfile, which distributes small businesses? key contact and service information to Internet destinations, including the search engines, Internet directories, and social media networks that enable advertisers to manage their business information in one location and enhance their reach to various destinations a consumer may search for local business services. It also provides online listing services. The company was formerly known as YP Corp. and changed its name to LiveDeal, Inc. in August 2007. LiveDeal, Inc. was founded in 1968 and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By John Udovich]
Coupons.Com Inc (NYSE: COUP) is the most recent small cap digital coupon or daily deal stock to emerge in a spectacular IPO to challenge existing players like mid cap Groupon Inc (NASDAQ: GRPN) and small caps LiveDeal Inc (NASDAQ: LIVE) and RetailMeNot Inc (NASDAQ: SALE). However and since the recent IPO, small cap Coupons.Com has been a relatively flat deal for investors.
[By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Leading and Lagging Sectors
Technology stocks gained Thursday, with Infinera (NASDAQ: INFN) leading advancers. Meanwhile, gainers in the sector included LiveDeal (NASDAQ: LIVE), with shares up 5.5 percent, and PFSweb (NASDAQ: PFSW), with shares up 5.4 percent.

Top 10 International Companies To Buy For 2014: Mears Group PLC (MER)

Mears Group PLC (Mears Group) is a holding company. The principal activities of the Company are the provision of a range of outsourced services to the public and private sectors. The Company operated in three business segments: social housing, which provides a full repair and maintenance service to local authorities and other registered social housing landlords in the United Kingdom; domiciliary care, which provides personal care services to people in their own homes and mechanical and electrical (M&E), which consists of provision of design and build M&E services. The Company�� subsidiaries include Mears Limited, Haydon Mechanical & Electrical Limited, Scion Technical Services Limited, Scion Estates Limited, Jackson Lloyd Limited, Morrison Facilities Services Limited, Morrison Facilities Services Limited, Manchester Working Limited and Mears Home Improvements Limited. Effective August 13, 2013, Mears Group PLC acquired a 50% interest in Just Call 24/7 (UK) Ltd. Advisors' Opinion:

[By John Heinzl]
If you're uncomfortable picking individual preferred shares, a diversified exchange-traded fund, such as CPD can be a good option. The fund, which has about $1.4-billion under management, holds more than 200 preferred shares, with banks and insurance companies accounting for more than half of the assets. The fund has a management expense ratio (MER) of 0.5%.

Top 10 International Companies To Buy For 2014: SandRidge Permian Trust (PER)

SandRidge Permian Trust (the Trust) is a trust formed by SandRidge Energy, Inc. (SandRidge) to own royalty interests in 509 developed oil and natural gas wells located in Andrews County, Texas (the Producing Wells), and 888 oil and natural gas development wells to be drilled (the Development Wells) within an Area of Mutual Interest (AMI). The AMI consists of the Grayburg/San Andres formation in the Permian Basin in Andrews County, Texas. As of December 31, 2010, SandRidge held approximately 16,700 gross acres (15,900 net acres) in the AMI.The Underlying Properties consist of the working interest owned by SandRidge in the Permian Basin in Andrews County, Texas arising under leases and farmout agreements related to properties from which the PDP Royalty Interest and the Development Royalty Interest will be conveyed.

The royalty interest in the Producing Wells (PDP Royalty Interest) entitles the trust to receive 80% of the proceeds from the sale of production of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids attributable to SandRidge's net revenue interest in the Producing Wells. The royalty interest in the Development Wells the (Development Royalty Interest) entitles the trust to receive 70% of the proceeds from the sale of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids production attributable to SandRidge's net revenue interest in the Development Wells. As of March 31, 2011, after giving effect to the conveyance of the PDP Royalty Interest and the Development Royalty Interest to the trus, the total reserves estimated to be attributable to the trust were 21.8 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMBoe). This amount includes 5.8 MMBoe attributable to the PDP Royalty Interest and 16.0 MMBoe attributable to the Development Royalty Interest. The reserves consist of 96% liquids (87% oil and 9% natural gas liquids) and 4% natural gas.

SandRidge is an independent oil and natural gas company concentrating on development and production activities related to the exploitation of its significant holdings! in West Texas and the Mid-Continent area of Oklahoma and Kansas. SandRidge operates all of the Producing Wells. SandRidge owns a majority working interest in substantially all of the locations, on which it focuses to drill the Development Wells, and focuses to operate such wells. SandRidge Exploration and Production, LLC (SandRidge E&P) is a wholly owned subsidiary of SandRidge.

The Underlying Properties are located in the greater Fuhrman-Mascho field area, a region in Andrews County, Texas that primarily produces oil from the Grayburg/San Andres formation within the Permian Basin. SandRidge operates three drilling rigs within the AMI and, as of March 31, 2011, had drilled 101 wells. Within the AMI, SandRidge operates 509 wells and has 888 proven undeveloped locations as of March 31, 2011. These 888 proven locations are a combination of 5-acre, 10-acre and 20-acre infill spacing locations. As of March 31, 2011, average daily production from the Underlying Properties was approximately 3,400 barrel of oil equivalent per day (Boe/d).

Permian Basin

The Permian Basin extends throughout southwest Texas and southeast New Mexico over an area approximately 250 miles wide and 300 miles long. It is an oil producing basin in the United States. As of December 31, 2010, SandRidge operated approximately 2,600 gross producing wells in the Permian Basin, with an average working interest of 94%. In March 2011, SandRidge's average daily net production in the Permian Basin was approximately 29,600 Boe/d. SandRidge was operating 16 rigs in the basin as of March 31, 2011. SandRidge drilled 484 wells in this area during the year ended December 31, 2010.

Fuhrman-Mascho Field

The Fuhrman-Mascho field is located near the center of the Central Basin Platform in the Permian Basin. The field produces from the Grayburg/San Andres formation from average depths of approximately 4,000 to 5,000 feet. The Fuhrman-Mascho field is a producing field in the Permian Basin and! it has p! roduced approximately 142 MMBoe as of December 31, 2010. During 2010, SandRidge operated eight drilling rigs in the area and has drilled 307 wells as of March 31, 2011.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Matt DiLallo]
The problem here is that SandRidge has been�dependent�on asset sales and its running out of assets to sell. In addition to the Permian sale, SandRidge has now taken three royalty trusts public. One consisting of Permian Basin assets, SandRidge Permian Trust (NYSE: PER ) and two consisting of Mississippian assets, SandRidge Mississippian Trust I (NYSE: SDT ) and SandRidge Mississippian Trust II (NYSE: SDR ) . While SandRidge still owns a portion of each trust, it likely will continue to sell off its ownership stake in each trust as well as other assets it still owns. At some point SandRidge will need to live within its oil and gas cash flows, otherwise, its not worth owning.�

Top 10 International Companies To Buy For 2014: Copart Inc. (CPRT)

Copart, Inc. provides online auctions and vehicle remarketing services in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The company offers a range of services for processing and selling vehicles over the Internet through its Virtual Bidding Second Generation Internet auction-style sales technology, to vehicle sellers, primarily insurance companies, banks and financial institutions, charities, car dealerships, fleet operators, and vehicle rental companies. Its services include online seller access, salvage estimation services, estimating services, end-of-life vehicle processing, virtual insured exchange, transportation services, vehicle inspection stations, on-demand reporting, DMV processing, flexible vehicle processing programs, member network, sales process, dealer services, direct services, and u-pull-it services, as well as CoPartfinder, an Internet-based used vehicle parts locator that provides vehicle dismantlers with resale opportunities for their purchases. Th e company sells its products to licensed vehicle dismantlers, rebuilders, repair licensees, used vehicle dealers, and exporters, as well as the general public. Copart, Inc. was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Fairfield, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Geoff Gannon] t business. If you haven�� read about it, you should look into it. It�� a good name to know in the event stocks fall at some point in the future and offer you a chance to buy at a good P/E.
Anyway, Copart sells cars. That�� all it does. It has a tiny bit of the business in the UK that involves buying and selling cars. But normally it�� not a principal. It�� just an agent. A broker. It doesn�� ship cars. It doesn�� buy cars. It just stores and sells cars. Copart is a great business. This is especially true because they achieve very high returns on their net tangible investment even though they choose to own rather than leases most of their locations. They own acres and acres and acres of land on which they store cars. You can find the addresses for their locations on their website (each car has a location associated with it that will pop up if you click on the car). Copy and paste that location into Google Earth. You��l be amazed at what you see. Anyway, they carry all this land which they then cover in cars and still they earn good returns on their tangible investment in the business without relying on the use of a lot of leases. So, it�� a very good and very interesting business.
Now, if I said Copart sold cars, you�� probably think that their revenues and earnings and free cash flow should rise and fall with U.S. car sales.
If you look at the past 10 years for Copart and for U.S. auto sales you��l see this is not true. Not even a little bit.
Why is this?
Well, there�� this one tiny little detail I hid from you about Copart. Copart doesn�� sell new cars. Copart doesn�� sell used cars. Copart sells wrecked cars. They sell salvage.
So, if you think of Copart as being in the auto retail business ��which they obviously are ��you��l have an entirely incorrect understanding of the company. That�� true even if you understand the wider industry of car dealers pretty well. Copart sells cars. But they
[By Geoff Gannon] wo companies in its industry that are public. The other company is part of a kind of conglomerate car sales company. That other company, KAR Auction Services (KAR), was much more explicit in detailing the competitive position of Copart and Insurance Auto Auctions. It even gave market share data.
This is common. Often one company will choose not to give names or put percentages on certain competitive facts. The other company will do so. And even when that is not the case, the two companies will often make statements that ��when taking together ��can give you rough indications of certain realities that neither company entirely intended to provide.
The same is true for certain suppliers and customers. Although this is complicated by size. Very large customers of small companies are not good sources of information. But smaller companies often provide better insights into the larger suppliers, customers, etc., they deal with. That's because ��due to their small size ��more information is material and is explained in detail.
I have found situations where one company simply says who the customer is that they are supplying. While the other company explains what product that supply goes into, the purchase amount, whether it is an exclusive arrangement, etc.
So it is always important to ��at a minimum ��read the 10-Ks, 14As, and (where available) S-1s of every public company in the industry. This will give you a lot of insight into the competitive situation. Sometimes it is helpful to also look at customers and suppliers. However, this is not true of very large customers and suppliers because they will not discuss the specific area you are interested in.
For example, Honeywell is a large customer of George Risk. It would do me no good to study Honeywell to learn about George Risk. Honeywell is a huge company. What they buy from George Risk is irrelevant to their shareholders. So they do not discuss it.
An exception to this is
[By Geoff Gannon] facility. They have to either buy somebody out (in which case you might not penalize them in free cash flow) or buy and develop a new salvage yard from scratch (in which case, almost all FCF calculations will punish them for this cap-ex).
But, if you really believe that Copart can achieve anything like a 27% return on net tangible assets (my estimate of what they��e done in the past) ��should you be penalizing them at all?
Isn�� a $1 increase in inventory, receivables, and/or land that is going to earn 27 cents a year worth every bit as much as if it was paid out to you (or was sitting in cash at a bank)?
So, aren�� earnings for a company that earns a 20%+ return on tangible investment clearly worth every bit as much as free cash flow?
I would say yes. If and only if you believe the future return on the earnings retained by the business today (the marginal return) is in a sense comparable to the average return in the past.
Don�� confuse how fast a car is moving at this instant with how much distance it�� covered in the past hour.
The past average is just the past average. It is not the same as what the company will earn on the next dollar of capital it puts into the business.
But it can be used as a guide. Especially for wide moat businesses.
Like any rough guide ��you want to leave a big margin of safety. So, if you think you can make 10% on the money in your brokerage account and the company you are investing in has an average unleveraged return on tangible net assets of 12% - that�� pretty much a wash. I can�� say that money is better off with the company than it is with you. And I think ��absent tax concerns ��it would make perfect sense to hope the company paid that cash out to you.
At a 20% unleveraged return on tangible net assets I�� feel differently. The evidence points to the company having a better chance to earn more on the capital inside the business than you�� be able to ea
[By Lauren Pollock]
Car auctioneer Copart Inc.'s(CPRT) reported a weaker-than-expected fiscal fourth-quarter profit because of higher expenses. While revenue growth topped analysts’ expectations, the bottom line surprisingly fell 8% from a year ago as Copart’s expenses–including yard operation and vehicle sale costs–jumped from the prior year.

Top Biotech Stocks To Buy For 2014

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- The broader market was essentially unchanged on a slow Monday of trading.

Regarding the market entering "bubble territory," Tim Seymour, managing partner of Triogem Asset Management, said on CNBC's "Fast Money," that the market isn't necessarily in a "bubble" yet, but that it is starting to become a bit worrisome.

He added that the amount of IPOs flooding the market could be a cause for concern.

Josh Brown, a financial adviser at Ritholtz Wealth Management, reminded investors that the retail "mom and pop" players haven't been in the market for a while, so the rush to get in isn't that surprising.

Guy Adami, managing director of stockmonster.com, said there are still a few solid secular trends playing out and he liked Visa (V) and Mastercard (MA). He warned investors to be careful with biotech stocks. Seymour said the valuation for consumer staples is getting stretched, especially compared to their growth rates. He likes companies with exposure to emerging markets, like Pepsico (PEP) and Mondelez (MDLZ), and would be a seller of Doctor Pepper Snapple (DPS) and General Mills (GIS). Brown called consumer staples the "ultimate irony" because it is considered the "safe-haven" of equities, but will likely feel a lot of pain when interest rates rise and money starts to flow out the stocks. Liz Dunn, associate director of Macquarie Capital, was a guest on the show who said J.C. Penney (JCP) has enough liquidity to make it though most of 2014 and needs to maintain positive comp-sales. She added that she's cautious on Kohl's (KSS) and preferred more luxurious brands like Polo Ralph Lauren (RL), Coach (COH), and Nordstrom (JWN).

Top 10 Freight Companies To Own In Right Now: ViroPharma Incorporated(VPHM)

ViroPharma Incorporated, a biotechnology company, develops and commercializes therapeutic products that address serious diseases in the United States and internationally. It focuses on developing products used by physician specialists or in hospital settings. The company markets and sells Cinryze, a C1 esterase inhibitor therapy for the routine prophylaxis against angioedema attacks in adolescent and adult patients with hereditary angioedema, a life-threatening genetic disorder; and Vancocin HCl capsule, an oral capsule formulation for the treatment of C. difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) and to treat enterocolitis caused by staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin-resistant strains. It also offers Plenadren, an orphan drug for treatment of adrenal insufficiency in adults; Buccolam, a oromucosal solution for treatment of prolonged, acute, and convulsive seizures in infants, toddlers, children, and adolescents; and maribavir, an antiviral compound for the treatment o f CMV disease through a license agreement with GlaxoSmithKline. The company?s primary development programs include Cinryze, a C1 esterase inhibitor for management of hereditary angioedema; and VP 20621, a non-toxigenic strain of C. difficile. Its clinical stage drug candidate comprises VP-20629 for the treatment of Friedreich?s Ataxia. The company sells its products directly to wholesale drug distributors and specialty pharmacies/distributors. ViroPharma Incorporated was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Exton, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Max Macaluso and David Williamson]
At the end of last week, a Bloomberg article revealed that Shire (NASDAQ: SHPG ) and pharmaceutical giant Sanofi� (NYSE: SNY ) may be circling ViroPharma� (NASDAQ: VPHM ) . The the following video, from The Motley Fool's health care show Market Checkup, analysts David Williamson and Max Macaluso take a close look at ViroPharma and discuss the recent interest in this small biotech company.
[By David Williamson and Alison Southwick]
In this segment from Monday's episode, health-care analyst David Williamson discusses Shire (NASDAQ: SHPG ) , a biopharmaceutical company focusing on rare diseases, that just beat out several rivals with its bid of $4.2 billion to acquire ViroPharma (NASDAQ: VPHM ) . ViroPharma sells the successful hereditary angioedema drug Cinryze, which is used in prophylactic treatment of the disease. Shire sees this as an immediately complementary fit with its drug Firazyr, which is for patients already suffering from the active disease.
[By Sara Sjolin]
Shares of Shire (UK:SHP) �climbed 0.9% after the drug maker said it is buying rare-disease company ViroPharma Inc. (VPHM) �for $4.2 billion, or $50 a share. ViroPharma jumped 25% in the U.S.
[By Sean Williams]
What: Shares of ViroPharma (NASDAQ: VPHM ) , a biotechnology company specializing in treating rare diseases, rose as much as 14% after a report from Reuters noted preliminary buyout interest in the company.

Top Biotech Stocks To Buy For 2014: Biota Pharmaceuticals Inc (BOTA)

Biota Pharmaceuticals, Inc., formerly Nabi Biopharmaceuticals, incorporated on March 14, 1969, is an anti-infective drug development company, with key expertise in respiratory diseases, particularly influenza. Biota developed the neuraminidase inhibitor, zanamivir, subsequently marketed by GlaxoSmithKline as Relenza. The Company�� researches include a series of candidate drugs aimed at treatment of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease and Hepatitis C (HCV) virus infections. In addition, Biota and Daiichi Sankyo co-own a range of second generation influenza anti-virals, of which the lead product lnavir, is approved for marketing in Japan.

The Company�� products include Zanamivir, Inavi, Phoslyra, BioStar OIA FLU and BioStar OIA FLU A/B. Zanamivir is a neuraminidase inhibitor for the treatment and prophylaxis of influenza marketed as Relenza by GlaxoSmithKline. Inavi (laninamivir) is a neuraminidase inhibitor marketed by Daiichi Sankyo in Japan. Phoslyra is a phosphate binder indicated to reduce serum phosphorus in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD). BioStar OIA FLU and BioStar OIA FLU A/B are influenza diagnostic tests, which are marketed by Inverness Medical as part of their BioStar product range.

Relenza is delivered directly to the primary site of infection on the lungs, using a Disk Inhaler device. Relenza is approved in over 50 countries for the treatment of influenza, including in the United States, the European Union, Japan and Australia. Relenza is also approved for use as a preventative (prophylactic) treatment against influenza. Inavir is approved for sale in Japan for the treatment of influenza in adults and children. Daiichi Sankyo has applied to sell Inavir in Japan for the prevention of influenza.

PhosLo and Phoslyra are different dose forms of calcium acetate; a phosphate binder approved in multiple countries for the control of hyperphosphatemia (high serum phosphate) in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD). PhosLo and Pho! slyra were sold to Fresnius Medical Care. Biota, together with its Japanese based partner, Daiichi Sankyo, have developed an inhaled antiviral compounds for influenza, called long acting inhaled neuraminidase inhibitors (LANI). Biota's human rhinovirus (HRV) drug for the prevention and treatment of the causes of the common cold, BTA798, has completed Phase I, Phase IIa and Phase IIb clinical trials.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By gurujx]
Biota Pharmaceuticals Inc (BOTA) Reached the 3-year Low of $2.42

The prices of Biota Pharmaceuticals Inc (BOTA) shares have declined to close to the 3-year low of $2.42, which is 93.3% off the 3-year high of $34.92.

Top Biotech Stocks To Buy For 2014: Alcobra Ltd (ADHD)

Alcobra Ltd is an Israel-based Biopharmaceutical company. It focuses on the development and commercialization of a proprietary drug, MG01CI, to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a common and morbid neuropsychiatric condition in children and adults. Adult ADHD is associated with increased health risks and healthcare costs, higher divorce rates, lower levels of socioeconomic attainment, lower academic achievement, unemployment and work place deficits, increased risks for motor vehicle accidents, greater likelihood of additional psychiatric disorders, increased criminal activity and incarceration, and higher rates of substance use and abuse. MG01CI product has completed phase two studies. Advisors' Opinion:

[By MONEYMORNING.COM]
For example, a phase 3 clinical trial on metadoxine extended release as a treatment for adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) will be finishing up at the end of this year. Positive data could give the stock a huge boost.
[By Roberto Pedone]
A biopharmaceutical stock that's starting to trend within range of triggering a big breakout trade is Alcobra (ADHD), which is engaged in the development and commercialization of its proprietary drug, MG01CI, to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. This stock has been on fire so far in 2013, with shares up huge by 126%.

If you take a look at the chart for Alcobra, you'll notice that this stock has been trending sideways and consolidating over the last month and change, with shares moving between $14.78 on the downside and $18.75 on the upside. Shares of ADHD have now started to uptrend a bit over the last few weeks, with shares moving higher from its low of $15.05 to its recent high of $18.45 share. That move has started to push shares of ADHD within range of triggering a big breakout trade above the upper-end of its recent sideways trading chart pattern.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ADHD if it manages to break out above its 50-day moving average of $17.79 a share, and then once it takes out some more key overhead resistance levels at $18.45 to $18.75 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 74,869 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then ADHD will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $22 to $24 a share. Any high-volume move above those levels will then give ADHD a chance to re-test or possibly take out its all-time high at $26.96 a share.

Traders can look to buy ADHD off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some near-term support levels at $16.17 to $15.05 a share, or around $14.78 a share. One could also buy ADHD off strength once it starts to clear those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

Top Biotech Stocks To Buy For 2014: Gentium SpA(GENT)

Gentium S.p.A., a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the development and manufacture of its primary product candidate, defibrotide, an investigational drug based on a mixture of single-stranded and double-stranded DNA extracted from pig intestines. It develops defibrotide for the treatment and prevention of hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD), a condition that occurs when veins in the liver are blocked as a result of cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation, that are administered prior to stem cell transplantation. The company has completed a Phase III clinical trial of defibrotide for the treatment of severe VOD in the United States, Canada, and Israel; and a Phase II/III pediatric trial in Europe for the prevention of VOD. It also offers sulglicotide that is developed from swine duodenum, and has ulcer healing and gastrointestinal protective properties in South Korea; and urokinase, which is made from human urine to treat various vascular disorders, such as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolisms. The company was formerly known as Pharma Research S.r.L. and changed its name to Gentium S.p.A. in July 2001. Gentium S.p.A. was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Villa Guardia, Italy.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By James Oberweis]
Gentium Spa (GENT) is focused on the development and commercialization of its leading product, defibrotide, to treat certain complications arising from chemotherapy, and bone marrow and stem cell transplantation therapy.
[By Sean Williams]
A parabolic problem
It has also been a year to remember for shareholders of biopharmaceutical company Gentium (NASDAQ: GENT ) whose share price has catapulted approximately 600% off its lows thanks to growth in its lead drug Defibrotide (known as Defitelio in the European Union).

Top Biotech Stocks To Buy For 2014: Juno Therapeutics Inc (JUNO)

Juno Therapeutics, Inc. (Juno) is a United States-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company. The Company is engaged in developing cell-based cancer immunotherapies based on its chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), and high-affinity T cell receptor (TCR), technologies to genetically engineer T cells to recognize and kill cancer cells. Through genetic engineering, the Company inserts a gene for a particular CAR or TCR construct into the T cell that enables it to better recognize cancer cells. Its CAR technology directs T cells to recognize cancer cells based on the expression of specific proteins located on the cell surface, whereas its TCR technology provides the T cells with a specific T cell receptor to recognize protein fragments derived from either the surface or inside the cell.

To provide treatment, the Company harvests blood cells from a cancer patient, separate the appropriate T cells, activate the cells, insert the gene sequence for the CAR or TCR construct into the cells��Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA), and grow these modified T cells to the desired dose level. The modified T cells can then be infused into the patient or frozen and stored for later infusion. Once infused, the T cells are designed to multiply, through a process known as cell expansion, when they encounter the targeted proteins and to kill the targeted cancer cells.

CD19-Directed Product Candidates

The Company�� product candidates, such as JCAR015, JCAR017, and JCAR014, which use CAR technology to target CD19, a protein expressed on the surface of almost all B cell leukemias and lymphomas. The Company has rights to commercialize each of these product candidates across the world. The Company�� JCAR015 is an advanced development product candidate, and it has demonstrated clinically meaningful complete remission rates in adult patients with r/r ALL. JCAR015 uses the CD28 costimulatory domain and CD3 enriched peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), which requires fewer process steps for! manufacture than its defined cell composition product candidates. JCAR015 is being tested in a Phase I open label clinical trial of patients with r/r ALL for the treatment of refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

JCAR017 also targets CD19, but differs from JCAR015 in several important respects. JCAR017 uses the 4-1BB costimulatory domain and a defined cell composition of CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells. JCAR017 is in development for pediatric patients with r/r ALL. JCAR017 is being evaluated in a Phase I/II clinical trial in pediatric r/r ALL.

JCAR014 also targets CD19. JCAR014 uses the 4-1BB costimulatory domain and is composed of CD8+ central memory T cells and CD4+ T cells in a defined ratio. JCAR014 is being evaluated in a Phase I/II trial as a treatment for a number of B cell malignancies in patients relapsed or refractory to standard therapies.

Additional Product Candidates

The Company is exploring the potential of its CAR and TCR technologies against targets that have the potential to treat cancers not targeted by CD19-directed products, in particular, difficult-to-treat solid organ tumors, such as certain breast, lung, and pancreatic cancers, as well as B cell malignancies that do not express CD19. The Company�� CD22 is a cell surface protein widely expressed on B lymphocytes. It is expressed by B cell malignancies, including non-Hodgkin�� lymphoma (NHL), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The Company�� L1CAM, also known as CD171, is a cell-surface adhesion molecule that plays an important role in the development of a normal nervous system. It is overexpressed in neuroblastoma, and there is increasing evidence of aberrant expression in a variety of solid organ tumors, including glioblastoma and lung, pancreatic, and ovarian cancers.

The Company�� MUC-16 is a protein overexpressed in the ovarian cancers, but not on the surface of normal ovary cells. CA-125 is a protein found in the ! blood of ! ovarian cancer patients that results from the cleavage of MUC-16. CA-125 levels in the blood are a common test for ovarian cancer progression because they correlate with cancer progression. Its MUC-16/IL-12 product candidate uses its armored CAR technology. IL-12 is a cytokine that can help overcome the inhibitory effects that the tumor micro-environment can have on T cell activity.

The Company�� ROR-1 is a protein expressed in the formation of embryos, but in normal adult cells its surface expression is predominantly found at low levels on adipocytes, or fat cells, and briefly on precursors to B cells, or pre-B cells, during normal B cell maturation. ROR-1 is overexpressed on a variety of cancers including a subset of non-small cell lung cancer, triple negative breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, and prostate cancer. It is expressed on B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia and mantle cell lymphoma. The Company�� high-affinity TCR T cell product candidate targets WT-1, an intracellular protein that is overexpressed in a number of cancers, including adult myeloid leukemia, or AML, and non-small cell lung, breast, pancreatic, ovarian, and colorectal cancers.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By John Udovich]
Small cap cancer drug stock Kite Pharma Inc (NASDAQ: KITE) has surged after announcing a�strategic research collaboration and license agreement with Amgen, Inc (NASDAQ: AMGN)�involving Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CAR) ��meaning its worth taking a closer look at the stock, which had an IPO last June,�along with potential peers�Bellicum Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: BLCM) and Juno Therapeutics (NASDAQ: JUNO) which are players in the CAR therapies space and had more recent IPOs.

Top Biotech Stocks To Buy For 2014: Galectin Therapeutics Inc (GALT)

Galectin Therapeutics Inc., formerly Pro-Pharmaceuticals, Inc., incorporated on January 26, 2001, is a development-stage company. The Company is engaged in drug development to create therapies for cancer and fibrotic disease. As of December 31, 2011, the Company has two compounds in development, one is to be used in cancer therapy and the other intended to be used in the treatment of liver fibrosis and fatty liver disease. These two compounds are produced from different natural starting materials, both possessing the property, which lends itself to binding to and inhibiting galectin proteins. GM-CT-01, the Company's product candidate for cancer therapy, is a linear polysaccharide polymer consisted of mannose and galactose that has a defined chemical structure and is derived from a plant source. GR-MD-02, the Company's product for treatment of liver fibrosis and fatty liver disease with inflammation and fibrosis, is a polysaccharide polymer possessing both linear and globular structures, which also is derived from a plant source.

GM-CT-01 has in development for the therapy of colorectal cancer and is in a Phase I/II clinical trial as a combination therapy with a tumor vaccine in patients with advanced melanoma. Based on the completed Phase I and partially completed Phase II clinical trials, the Company is exploring two additional potential indicia for the use of GM-CT-01 in combination with cancer chemotherapy. There are two additional pathways for the development of GM-CT-01 for use in treatment of cancer. GM-CT-01 was found to be generally safe when studied in a Phase I clinical trial in end-stage cancer patients with multiple tumor types alone and in combination with 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), which is an Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved chemotherapy used for treatment of various types of cancer.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Roberto Pedone]

Galectin Therapeutics (GALT) offers drug research and development to create new therapies for fibrotic disease and cancer. This stock closed up 9.6% to $12.06 in Monday's trading session.

Monday's Volume: 674,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 222,171

Volume % Change: 149%

Shares of GALT jumped higher on Monday after Ascendiant initiated coverage on the stock with a buy recommendation.

From a technical perspective, GALT spiked sharply higher here with strong upside volume. This stock has been uptrending for the last three months, with shares ripping higher from its low of $3.95 to its recent high of $13.21. During that move, shares of GALT have been making mostly higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of GALT within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if GALT manages to take out Monday's high of $12.44 and then once it clears its 52-week high at $13.21 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in GALT as long as it's trending above some near-term support levels at $11 or at $10 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 222,171 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then GALT will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory above $13.21, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $15 to $16.

Top Biotech Stocks To Buy For 2014: Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc (INO)

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc., incorporated on June 29, 1983, is engaged in the development of a new generation of vaccines, called synthetic vaccines, focused on cancers and infectious diseases. The Company's SynCon technology enables the design of universal vaccines capable of providing cross-protection against existing or changing strains of pathogens, such as influenza and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The Company's electroporation delivery technology uses brief, controlled electrical pulses to increase cellular uptake of the vaccine. Its clinical programs include cervical dysplasia (therapeutic), avian influenza (preventive), prostate cancer (therapeutic), leukemia (therapeutic), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV vaccines. It is advancing preclinical research and clinical development for a universal seasonal/pandemic influenza vaccine, as well as preclinical work for other products, including malaria and prostate cancer vaccines. Its partners and collaborators include University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, National Microbiology Laboratory of the Public Health Agency of Canada, Program for Appropriate Technology in Health/Malaria Vaccine Initiative (PATH/MVI), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Merck, ChronTech, University of Southampton, United States Military HIV Research Program (USMHRP), the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) and HIV Vaccines Trial Network (HVTN). As of December 31, 2011 it owned 16.1% interest in VGX Int��.

Inovio�� Solution

The Company�� synthetic vaccine platform consists of its SynCon vaccine design process and electroporation delivery technology. It has developed a preclinical and clinical stage pipeline of vaccines. The Company�� synthetic vaccines are designed to prevent a disease (prophylactic vaccines) or treat an existing disease (therapeutic vaccines). Its synthetic vaccine consists of a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) plasmid encoding a selected antigen! (s), which is introduced into cells of humans or animals with the purpose of evoking an immune response to the encoded antigen. The Company�� synthetic vaccines are designed to generate specific antibody and/or T-cell responses.

The Company�� SynCon technology provides processes that employ bioinformatics, which combine extensive genetic data and sophisticated algorithms. Its design process uses the genetic make-up of a common antigen(s) from multiple strains of a virus within a viral sub-type or taxonomic group (family) of pathogens, such as HIV, hepatitis C virus (HCV), human papillomavirus (HPV), influenza and other diseases to synthetically create a new antigen for the desired pathogen target that does not exist in nature. Its synthetic vaccine candidates are being delivered into cells of the body using its electroporation (EP) DNA delivery technology.

Cancer Synthetic Vaccines

The Company has two broad types of cancer vaccines: preventive (or prophylactic) vaccines, which are intended to prevent cancer from developing in healthy people, and treatment (or therapeutic) vaccines, which are intended to treat an existing cancer by strengthening the body�� natural defenses against the cancer. Two types of cancer preventive vaccines are available in the United States. The United States Food and Drug Administration (the FDA) has approved two vaccines, Gardasil and Cervarix that protect against infection by the two types of HPV-types 16 and 18-that cause approximately 70% of all cases of cervical cancer worldwide. In addition, Gardasil protects against infection by two additional HPV types, 6 and 11, which are responsible for about 90% of all cases of genital warts in males and females but do not cause cervical cancer.

Cervarix manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, is composed of virus-like particles (VLPs) made with proteins from HPV types 16 and 18. Cervarix is approved for use in females��ages 10 to 25 for the prevention of cervical cancer caused by! HPV type! s 16 and 18. Gardasil manufactured by Merck, is approved for use in females for the prevention of cervical cancer, and some vulvar and vaginal cancers, caused by HPV types 16 and 18 and for use in males and females for the prevention of genital warts caused by HPV types 6 and 11. The vaccine is approved for these uses in females and males ages 9 to 26. The FDA has also approved a cancer preventive vaccine that protects against hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

Inovio�� VGX-3100 is designed to raise immune responses against the E6 and E7 genes of HPV types 16 and 18 that are present in both pre-cancerous and cancerous cells transformed by these HPV types. E6 and E7 are oncogenes that play an integral role in transforming HPV-infected cells into cancerous cells. In March 2011, it initiated a randomized, double-blind Phase II study of VGX-3100 delivered using the CELLECTRA intramuscular electroporation device in women with HPV Type 16 or 18 and diagnosed with, but not yet treated for, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2/3. The study is designed to enroll 148 subjects. In January 2011, it announced the publication of a scientific paper in the journal Human Vaccines detailing potent immune responses in a preclinical study of its SynCon vaccine for prostate cancer targeting two antigens, prostate specific antigen (PSA) and prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA).

In January 2011, the Company announced the regulatory approval of a Phase II clinical trial (WIN Trial) to treat leukemia utilizing its new ELGEN 1000 automated vaccine delivery device. The single dose level, Phase II study, called WT1 immunity via DNA fusion gene vaccination in haematological malignancies by intramuscular injection followed by intramuscular electroporation. Cancer Vaccines encodes for hTERT, an antigen related to non-small cell lung, breast and prostate cancers. The vaccine is delivered using its electroporation delivery technology.

Infectious Disease Synthetic Vaccines

In Marc! h 2011, the Company announced the initiation of a follow-on open label, single dose Phase II clinical study in collaboration with ChronTech of the ChronVac-C HCV DNA vaccine delivered using its electroporation technology in treatment naive HCV infected individuals. Its HIV vaccines consist of candidates for HIV prevention, as well as therapy or treatment. PENNVAX-B is designed to target HIV clade B (most commonly found in the United States, North America, Australia and the European Union (EU). PENNVAX-G is designed to target HIV clades A, C and D, which are more commonly found in Asia, Africa, Russia and South America. This Phase I clinical study of PENNVAX-B (HVTN-080) vaccinated 48 healthy, HIV-negative volunteers to assess safety and levels of immune responses generated by Inovio�� PENNVAX-B vaccine delivered with its CELLECTRA electroporation device. PENNVAX-B is a SynCon vaccine that targets HIV gag, pol, and env proteins.

The Company�� VGX-3400X targets H5N1. The vaccine consists of three distinct DNA plasmids coded for a consensus hemagglutinin (HA) antigen derived from different H5N1 virus strains; a consensus neuraminidase (NA) antigen derived from different N1 sequences; and a consensus nucleoprotein (NP) fused to a small portion of the m2 protein (m2E) based on a broader cross-section of influenza viruses in addition to H5N1 and H1N1. Conventional vaccines are strain-specific and have limited ability to protect against genetic shifts in the influenza strains they target. They are therefore modified annually in anticipation of the next flu season�� new strain(s). It is focused on developing DNA-based influenza vaccines able to provide broad protection against known as well as newly emerging, unknown seasonal and pandemic influenza strains.

Animal Health/Veterinary

VGX Animal Health, Inc. (VGX AH), a majority-owned subsidiary, has licensed LifeTide, a plasmid-based growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) technology for swine. LifeTide is one of onl! y four DN! A-based treatments approved for use in animals and is the only DNA-based agent delivered using electroporation that has been granted marketing approval (Australia). VGX AH is also developing a GHRH-based treatment for cancer and anemia in dogs and cats. It is developing a synthetic vaccine for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) administered by its vaccine delivery technology. The FMD virus is one of the most infectious diseases affecting farm animals, including cattle, swine, sheep and goats, and is a serious threat to global food safety.

The Company competes with Crucell N.V, Sanofi-Aventis, Novartis, Inc., GlaxoSmithKline plc, Merck, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Inc., Novartis, Inc., MedImmune and CSL.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By George Budwell]
Inovio Pharmaceuticals (NYSEMKT: INO ) develops DNA-based vaccines and delivers them using a proprietary electroporation technique. Shares of Inovio have been a roller coaster all year long, and have certainly been the playground of day traders. Last week, Inovio shares lost more than 10% of their value on heavy volume, suggesting the stock may continue to experience downward pressure. This rapid move downward is surprising because the company recently signed a licensing deal with Roche (NASDAQOTH: RHHBY ) to commercialize Inovio's multi-antigen DNA immunotherapies for prostate cancer and hepatitis B. As part of the deal, Inovio received $10 million upfront, and milestone payments could go as high as $412 million.
[By Matt Egan]
Other drug makers rallying on the Ebola headlines include BioCryst Pharmaceuticals (BCRX), Inovio Pharmaceuticals (INO) and Sarepta Therapeutics (SRPT).
[By Roberto Pedone]
Another biotechnology player that insiders are jumping into here is Inovio Pharmaceuticals (INO), which discovers, develops, and develops synthetic vaccines and immune therapies focusing on cancers and infectious diseases. Insiders are buying this stock into notable weakness, since shares are off by 17.4% so far in 2014.

Inovio Pharmaceuticals has a market cap of $578 million and an enterprise value of $415 million. This stock trades at a premium valuation, with a price-to-sales of 30.15 and a price-to-book of 4.30. Its estimated growth rate for this year is 56.9%, and for next year it's pegged at -43.5%. This is a cash-rich company, since the total cash position on its balance sheet is $108.86 million and its total debt is zero.

The CEO just bought 250,000 shares, or about $2.26 million worth of stock, at $9.05 per share.

From a technical perspective, INO is currently trending below both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, which is bearish. This stock has been downtrending badly for the last few weeks, with shares moving lower from its high of $14.20 to its recent low of $8.60 a share. During that downtrend, shares of INO have been consistently making lower highs and lower lows, which is bearish technical price action. Shares of INO have now started to explode higher off that $8.60 low and it's quickly approaching a big breakout trade.

If you're in the bull camp on INO, then I would look for long-biased trades as long as this stock is trending above Wednesday's intraday low of $8.92 or above that recent low of $8.60 and then once it breaks out above both its 50-day at $10.11 and its 200-day at $10.24 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 1.87 million shares. If that breakout hits soon, then INO will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $11 to $11.50, or even $12 to $12.5
[By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Inovio Pharmaceuticals (NYSE: INO) was also up, gaining 10.53 percent to $3.57 after the company received the ��est Theraputic Vaccine��award at the World Vaccine Congress after the close Wednesday.