Top 10 Regional Bank Companies To Own In Right Now

Top 10 Regional Bank Companies To Own In Right Now: Whitecap Resources Inc (SPGYF.PK)

Whitecap Resources Inc., formerly Spitfire Energy Ltd., is engaged in the exploration, development and production of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids in Western Canada. The Companys activities are concentrated primarily in Northwest Central Alberta and Southwest Saskatchewan. On July 1, 2010, the Company amalgamated with its wholly owned subsidiary Whitecap Resources Inc. During fiscal 2010, the Company produced an average of 355 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boed). On July 12, 2010, the Company entered into an agreement to acquire a private company. The primary assets to be acquired are located in the Pembina region of west central Alberta with production and reserves focused in the Cardium formation. In October 2013, the Company announced that it has completed the acquisition of a Cardium light oil property and a working interest consolidation of its Eagle Lake Viking unit. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Caiman Valores]

  The recent surge in oil prices has renewed investor interest in the small-cap oil and gas E&P sector. One company that stands out for all the right reasons is Canadian domiciled small-cap, Whitecap Resources (SPGYF.PK). Since 2009 the company has unlocked considerable value for investors through a range of acquisitions as well as development and exploration projects. This has seen its share price surge in value to be up by almost 53% over the last year alone. However, it is clear that the market has yet to fully recognize the true value of Whitecap and there is still considerable upside potential of over 30% for investors. This along with Whitecap's dividend growth strategy makes it a particularly appealing deep-value investment in the oil and gas E&P sector.

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/top-10-regional-bank-companies-to-own-in-right-now-2.html!

Top Low Price Stocks To Watch For 2016

Top Low Price Stocks To Watch For 2016: Crestwood Midstream Partners LP (CMLP)

Crestwood Midstream Partners LP engages in gathering, compressing, treating, processing, and transporting natural gas primarily on the Barnett Shale formation of the Fort Worth Basin in north Texas. The company conducts its operations through its Cowtown System, Lake Arlington Dry System, and Alliance Midstream Assets, as well as the Fayetteville Shale and the Granite Wash plays. As of December 31, 2010, it managed approximately 500 miles of natural gas gathering pipelines. Crestwood Gas Services GP LLC serves as the general partner of Crestwood Midstream Partners LP. The company was formerly known as Quicksilver Gas Services LP and changed its name to Crestwood Midstream Partners LP in October 2010. Crestwood Midstream Partners LP was founded in 2004 and is based in Houston, Texas. Crestwood Midstream Partners LP is a subsidiary of Crestwood Gas Services Holdings LLC.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Paul Ausick]

  This deal follows three midstream transactions already this month. Regency Energy Partners LP (NYSE: RGP) will acquire PVR Partners LP (NYSE: PVR) for $5.6 billion, Crestwood Midstream LP (NASDAQ: CMLP) will acquire Arrow Midstream LLC for $750 million, and Buckeye Partners LP (NYSE: BPL) will pay $650 million to Hess Corp. (NYSE: HES) for 20 petroleum products terminals along the East Coast.

• [By Aimee Duffy]

  Crestwood Midstream Partners (NYSE: CMLP  ) was one day shy of completing its merger with Inergy Midstream, when CEO Bob Phillips told Bloomberg the partnership was already looking for more deals. Well, it turns out Crestwood had already found a deal, as we learned Thursday. The master limited partnership plans to acquire Arrow Midstream Holdings for $750 million.

• [By Eric Volkman]

  Crestwood Midstream Partners (NYSE: CMLP  ) is boosting its presence in the West with a new acquisition. The company today! announced it has reached agreement to purchase a 50% stake in Jackalope Gas Gathering Services from privately held RKI Exploration & Production. The price is roughly $108 million.

source from Top Stocks To Buy For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/top-low-price-stocks-to-watch-for-2016.html

Top Food Companies To Own In Right Now

Top Food Companies To Own In Right Now: Sprouts Farmers Market Inc (SFM)

Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. (Sprouts), incorporated on January 27, 2011, is a specialty retailer of natural and organic food focusing on health and wellness. The Company offers fresh produce, bulk foods, vitamins and supplements, grocery, meat and seafood, bakery, dairy, frozen foods, body care and natural household items. The Company's product offerings focus on fresh, natural and organic foods. Natural foods can be defined as foods that are minimally processed and are free of synthetic preservatives, artificial sweeteners, colors, flavors and other additives, growth hormones, antibiotics, hydrogenated oils, stabilizers and emulsifiers. The Company categorize the over 7,000 range of products, it sells as perishable and non-perishable. Perishable product categories include produce, meat, seafood, deli and bakery. Non-perishable product categories include grocery, vitamins and supplements, bulk items, dairy and dairy alternatives, frozen foods, beer and wine, and natural health and body care.

The cornerstones of the Company's business are fresh, natural and organic products. As of July 19, 2013, the Company opened 87 new stores while rebranding 43 Henry's and 39 Sunflower stores to the Sprouts banner. The Company's stores include Produce, Bulk Items, Vitamins and Supplements, Grocery, Meat, Seafood, Deli, Bakery, Dairy and Dairy Alternatives, Frozen Foods, Beer and Wine and Natural Health and Body Care.The Company offer its customers a farmers market open-feel environment consisting of an abundant and affordable offering of fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs, focused on appearance, flavor and value. The Company's stores include a crafted selection of more than 450 ranges of scoopable nuts, fruits, trail mixes, grains, beans, cereals, coffee, tea, spices, candy and snacks featured in the center of the store. T! he Company's stores feature more than 4,200 vitamins, supplements, natural remedies, functional food, lifestyl e support, and herbal supplements. This department includes ! an extensive private label offering.

The Company's grocery offering focuses on healthy options. The Company carries approximately 4,200 natural and organic products in its grocery aisles, including meal components, natural sodas and other beverages, snacks and bars, baking goods, baby, pet and household items such as detergent and paper towels, and earth-friendly mercantile items. The Company's Olde Tyme Butcher Shops combine sourcing through its trusted supplier network, product variety and old-fashioned customer service. The Company offers a range of seafood favorites delivered up to six days a week. The Conpany feature a range of fresh deli specialties, including sliced deli meat, salads, dips, entrees, side dishes, fresh made to order sandwiches at value prices and an abundant selection of over 200 varieties of cheeses from around the world.

The Company' bakery offering includes artisan bread alongside a wide assortment of sandwich breads , rolls, tortillas, pitas, muffins, cookies and pies as well as sugar free, gluten free and low carbohydrate products. The Company's dairy department features a selection of organic, natural and regionally sourced milk, yogurt (including Greek, Australian, organic, and soy-based), butter and eggs, as well as a full selection of vegan and vegetarian alternative dairy products. The Company's freezer cases feature traditional and ethnic natural and organic entrees and side dishes, along with frozen vegetables, desserts and specialty items, such as gluten-free breads and non-dairy ice creams. The Company offers approximately 2,400 natural, cruelty-free health and beauty products, old-fashioned remedies and modern body care innovations, including facial care products and make up, skin, hair, dental, baby care and grooming products.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By smartinvestments]

Sprouts Farmers Market (SFM) is a comparatively new player in this industry. However, it has managed to register great results since it went public in 2013. The retailer specializes in providing natural and healthy food at affordable prices, which attracts most of the customers. It has been beating the analysts' estimates from the last four quarters and continued with this momentum in the third quarter also. Sprouts Farmers' first quarter numbers were ahead of the Street's expectations, sending its share price north.

• [By Brian Stoffel]

  Much has been made recently about new entrants into the organic/natural food space in America. While Sprouts Farmers Market  (NASDAQ: SFM  ) , The Fresh Market (NASDAQ: TFM  ) , and Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage  (NYSE: NGVC  ) attempt to use Whole Foods' blueprint, Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT  ) is teaming up with Wild Oats to offer more organic goods in its discount stores.

• [By kcpl]

  Sprouts Farmers Market (SFM), which is a brand for low cost health foods, went public last year. Moreover, big discount chains like Wal-Mart (WMT) and Target (TGT) have plans to foray into the market for fresh produce and healthy packaged food which further threatens the Whole Foods future prospects.

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-food-companies-to-own-in-right-now.html

Why Cubs, Incapital Chairman Tom Ricketts Really Likes ‘Sustainable Investing’

What's more fun—bonds or professional baseball? When asked about the amount of time spent running the day-to-day operations of his Chicago-based investment firm, Incapital, Tom Ricketts doesn't hesitate.

“I’m actually pretty busy with that baseball team over your shoulder,” Ricketts quips, pointing to a television screen running a highlight reel.

The chairman of both Incapital and the Chicago Cubs (after leading his family’s acquisition in 2009), nonetheless still has a strong hand in the firm, and begins by noting its role as “a pioneer in offering corporate bonds through brokerage firms to investors.”

“We’ve now moved on to distribute additional products such as brokered deposits and UITs,” he adds.

Today, Incapital underwrites and distributes fixed income securities and structured notes through more than 700 broker-dealers, institutions, advisors and wealth managers.

When asked about the firm’s legacy of innovation and how it’s sidestepped the regulatory issues so many other firms have experienced when introducing “great, new products” to the market, only to subsequently go bust, Ricketts simply claims that “Each and every product we’ve offered has been thoroughly thought through from the standpoint of the investor at every level.”

That simplicity translates to everything the firm does.

“We’re very consistent in our messaging; we tell investors not to time the market or put all their eggs in one basket, rather, follow a roadmap and don’t overact to market events.”

Sounds basic enough, but coming from a major league baseball owner seems to give it added heft.

His latest passion are community investment notes, a form of SRI that doesn’t tangle with screens, arguments over sacrificed returns and opportunity costs like equity-based socially responsible investing.

“For everyone looking for SRI, here it is,” he emphatically states (for Ricketts anyway). “It’s like buying a bank CD or as simple as buying any other financial instrument. It’s not luck, but rather by design that they’re safe, have low transaction costs and low friction.”

Arguing that there are no “real, tangible opportunity costs, “it’s a way to do social good and enjoy returns.”

When asked about his “skin in the game” with the product he is promoting, he says his broker calls when the notes mature and he simply rolls them over.

“It’s very direct, and with none of the complaints heard on the equity SRI side. The notes are used for affordable housing, to help start businesses and for micro lending in other countries. They have extremely low default rates.”

As to his other love, the Cubs, and the renovations currently happening at famed Wrigley Field, he mentions the intricacies (delicately put) of dealing with Chicago politics—and waiting for the right opportunities to move the renovation process ahead.

Speaking of waiting, he concludes it’s something fixed income investors can’t afford to do.

“Sure, in the current environment, you might want to shorten your ladder, but the key is to not just do nothing. You can’t park it somewhere and get zero percent.”

Best Net Payout Yield Companies To Buy Right Now

Believing the third time is the charm, grain processor Archer Daniels Midland (NYSE: ADM  ) submitted its third bid for GrainCorp and at least didn't have it rejected like the other two. Now it can go on and start its due diligence process, after which it can formally submit a takeover offer.

The acquisition saga began last October, after ADM took a nearly 15% stake in the Australian grains receiving and storage specialist and then decided it wanted to own the whole thing after all. It bid $12.13 per share cash for it, but it was promptly rejected. ADM then increased its position in GrainCorp to almost 20% and upped the amount it would pay to takeover the company to $12.73 but was again rejected as still undervaluing its operations�despite the premium being offered.

ADM decided to let management and investors stew over the lost opportunity and let the matter lie for a few months until last week, when it announced it was sweetening the pot yet again in what perhaps could be seen as a best and final offer. Although ADM still values GrainCorp at $2.9 billion, it's now putting some gristle on the bone it's throwing investors, adding in $1 per share in dividends, which raises the total bid to $13.56, or $3.5 billion.

Hot Performing Stocks To Invest In Right Now: NiSource Inc (NI)

NiSource Inc. (NiSource), incorporated on March 29, 2000, is an energy holding company whose subsidiaries provide natural gas, electricity and other products and services to approximately 3.8 million customers located within a corridor that runs from the Gulf Coast through the Midwest to New England. NiSource operates in three business segments: Gas Distribution Operations; Gas Transmission and Storage Operations, and Electric Operations. NiSource�� principal subsidiaries include Columbia Energy Group (Columbia), a vertically-integrated natural gas distribution, transmission and storage holding company whose subsidiaries provide service to customers in the Midwest, the Mid-Atlantic and the Northeast; Northern Indiana Public Service Company (Northern Indiana), a vertically-integrated gas and electric company providing service to customers in northern Indiana, and Bay State Gas Company (Columbia of Massachusetts), a natural gas distribution company serving customers in Massachusetts.

NiSource Finance Corporation (NiSource Finance) is a 100% owned, consolidated finance subsidiary of NiSource. NiSource Finance engages in financing activities to raise funds for the business operations of NiSource and its subsidiaries.

Gas Distribution Operations

NiSource�� natural gas distribution operations serve more than 3.3 million customers in seven states and operate approximately 58 thousand miles of pipeline. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Columbia, NiSource owns five distribution subsidiaries that provide natural gas to approximately 2.2 million residential, commercial and industrial customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky, and Maryland. NiSource also distributes natural gas to approximately 795 thousand customers in northern Indiana. Additionally, NiSource�� subsidiary, Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, distributes natural gas to approximately 298 thousand customers in Massachusetts.

Gas Transmission and Storage Operations

NiSou! rce�� Gas Transmission and Storage Operations subsidiaries own and operate approximately 15,000 miles of pipeline and operate a natural gas storage system capable of storing approximately 639 billion cubic feet of natural gas. Through its subsidiaries, Columbia Gas Transmission L.L.C. (Columbia Transmission), Columbia Gulf Transmission Company (Columbia Gulf) and Crossroads Pipeline Company (Crossroads Pipeline), NiSource owns and operates an interstate pipeline network extending from the Gulf of Mexico to New York and the eastern seaboard. Together, these companies serve customers in 16 northeastern, mid-Atlantic, midwestern and southern states and the District of Columbia. NiSource Midstream Services is an unregulated business that is a provider of midstream services, including gathering, treating, conditioning, processing, compression and liquids handling, as well as managing mineral rights positions in the Marcellus and Utica shale areas.

The Gas Transmission and Storage Operations subsidiaries are also engaged in two joint ventures, Millennium Pipeline Company, L.L.C. (Millennium) and Hardy Storage Company, L.L.C. (Hardy Storage). Millennium Pipeline, which includes 252 miles of 30-inch-diameter pipe across New York�� Southern Tier and lower Hudson Valley, has the capability to transport up to 525,400 dekatherm per day of natural gas to markets along its route, as well as to the New York City markets through its pipeline interconnections. Millennium is jointly owned by affiliates of NiSource, DTE Energy and National Grid. Hardy Storage, which consists of underground natural gas storage facilities in West Virginia, has a working storage capacity of 12 billion cubic feet and the ability to deliver 176,000 dekatherm of natural gas per day. Hardy Storage is a joint venture of subsidiaries of Columbia Transmission and Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc. (Piedmont).

Electric Operations

NiSource generates, transmits and distributes electricity through its subsidia! ry Northe! rn Indiana Public Service Company (Northern Indiana) to approximately 458 thousand customers in 20 counties in the northern part of Indiana and engages in electric wholesale and transmission transactions. Northern Indiana operates three coal-fired electric generating stations. The three operating facilities have a net capability of 2,574 megawatts. Northern Indiana also owns and operates Sugar Creek, a Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) plant with a 535 megawatts capacity rating, four gas-fired generating units located at Northern Indiana�� coal-fired electric generating stations with a net capability of 203 megawatts and two hydroelectric generating plants with a net capability of 10 megawatts. These facilities provide for a total system operating net capability of 3,322 megawatts. Northern Indiana�� transmission system, with voltages from 69,000 to 345,000 volts, consists of 2,797 circuit miles. Northern Indiana is interconnected with five neighboring electric utilities.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [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 NiSource (NYSE: NI  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

• [By David Dittman]

  Answer: I like Northeast Utilities (NYSE: NU), Brookfield Renewable Energy Partners LP (TSX: BEP-U, NYSE: BEP), Pembina Pipeline Corp (TSX: PPL, NYSE: PBA), Xcel Energy Inc (NYSE: XEL) and NiSource Inc (NYSE: NI).

Best Net Payout Yield Companies To Buy Right Now: First Horizon National Corp (FHN)

First Horizon National Corporation (FHN), incorporated in 1968, is a bank holding company. The Company provides financial services through its subsidiary, First Tennessee Bank National Association (the Bank), and its subsidiaries. The Company�� two brands First Tennessee and FTN Financial provide customers with a range of products and services. First Tennessee provides retail and commercial banking services throughout Tennessee. FTN Financial (FTNF) is engaged in fixed income sales, trading, and strategies for institutional clients in the United States and abroad. FHN has four operating business segments: regional banking, capital markets, corporate, and non-strategic. As of December 31, 2011, the Bank had $16.4 billion in total deposits and $16 billion in total net loans. As of December 31, 2011, the Company�� subsidiaries had over 200 business locations in 17 the United States states, Hong Kong, and Tokyo, excluding off-premises automated teller machines (ATMs). As of December 31, 2011, the Bank had 183 branch locations in four states, which include 172 branches in metropolitan areas of Tennessee; two branches in northwestern Georgia; seven branches in northwestern Mississippi, and two branches in North Carolina. As of December 31, 2011, FTN Financial products and services were offered through 18 offices in total, including 16 offices in 14 states plus an office in each of Hong Kong and Tokyo.

The regional banking segment offers financial products and services, including traditional lending and deposit taking, to retail and commercial customers in Tennessee and surrounding markets. Regional banking provides investments, financial planning, trust services and asset management, credit card, cash management, and first lien mortgage originations within the Tennessee footprint. In addition, the regional banking segment includes correspondent banking, which provides credit, depository, and other banking related services to other financial institutions.

The capital markets se! gment consists of fixed income sales, trading, and strategies for institutional clients in the United States and abroad, as well as loan sales, portfolio advisory, and derivative sales. The corporate segment consists of gains on the extinguishment of debt, unallocated corporate expenses, expense on subordinated debt issuances and preferred stock, bank-owned life insurance, unallocated interest income associated with excess equity, net impact of raising incremental capital, revenue and expense associated with deferred compensation plans, funds management, low income housing investment activities, and charges related to restructuring, repositioning, and efficiency. The non-strategic segment consists of the wind-down national consumer lending activities, legacy mortgage banking elements, including servicing fees, and the associated ancillary revenues and expenses related to these businesses. Non-strategic also includes the wind-down trust preferred loan portfolio and exited businesses along with the associated restructuring, repositioning, and efficiency charges.

As of December 31, 2011, the Company provided services through its subsidiaries, which include general banking services for consumers, businesses, financial institutions, and governments; through FTN Financial fixed income sales and trading, underwriting of bank, loan sales, advisory services and derivative sales; discount brokerage and full-service brokerage; correspondent banking; transaction processing, such as nationwide check clearing services and remittance processing; trust, fiduciary, and agency services; credit card products; equipment finance; investment and financial advisory services; mutual fund sales as agent; retail insurance sales as agent, and mortgage banking services.

As of December 31, 2011, the commercial, financial, and industrial (C&I) portfolio was eight billion dollars, and is consisted of loans used for general business purposes, and consisted of relationship customers in Tennessee and certain n! eighborin! g states, which are managed within the regional bank. Products include working capital lines of credit, term loan financing of owner-occupied real estate and fixed assets, and trade credit enhancement through letters of credit. As of December 31, 2011, the unpaid principal balance (UPB) of trust preferred loans totaled $447.2 million with the UPB of other bank-related loans totaling approximately $161.8 million. The commercial real estate portfolio includes both financings for commercial construction and non-construction loans. This portfolio is segregated between income commercial real estate (CRE) loans which contain loans, lines, and letters of credit to commercial real estate developers for the construction and mini- permanent financing of income-producing real estate, and residential CRE loans. The residential CRE portfolio includes loans to residential builders and developers for the purpose of constructing single-family detached homes, condominiums, and town homes. As of December 31, 2011, the residential CRE portfolio was $.1 billion. As of December 31, 2011, the consumer real estate portfolio was $5.3 billion, and is composed of home equity lines and installment loans. As of December 31, 2011, the credit card and other portfolios were $.3 billion, and primarily include credit card receivables, automobile loans, and over-the-counter (OTC) construction loans and other consumer related credits.

FHN�� investment portfolio consists of debt securities, including government agency issued mortgage-backed securities (MBS) and government agency issued collateralized mortgage obligations (CMO). During the year ended December 31, 2011, Government agency issued MBS and CMO, and other agencies averaged $2.9 billion. During 2011, the United States treasury securities and municipal bonds averaged $79.5 million. During 2011, investments in equity securities averaged $222.3 million.

During 2011, short-term funds (certificates of deposit greater than $100,000, federal funds purchased (! FFP), sec! urities sold under agreements to repurchase, trading liabilities, and other short-term borrowings) averaged $3.6 billion. During 2011, other borrowings increased to $.3 billion. Term borrowings include senior and subordinated borrowings and advances with original maturities greater than one year. During 2011, average term borrowings averaged $2.6 billion.

The Company competes with Regions Bank, SunTrust Bank, Wells Fargo Bank N.A., Bank of America N.A., and Pinnacle National Bank.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Maxfield]

  Given that you clicked on this article, it seems safe to assume you either own stock in First Horizon National (NYSE: FHN  ) or are considering buying shares in the near future. If so, then you've come to the right place. The table below reveals the nine most critical numbers that investors need to know about First Horizon stock before deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold it.

• [By Sean Williams]

  Finally, regional bank First Horizon National (NYSE: FHN  ) , which has banking branches throughout Tennessee, added 4.2% just a day after paying shareholders a $0.05 quarterly dividend. Like Genuine Parts, there is no company specific news driving First Horizon higher, but the prospect for a higher net interest margin because of higher interest rates is certainly adding a boost to banks like First Horizon that rely on traditional loan and deposit growth. But as my Foolish colleague John Maxfield recently pointed out, you may want to keep your expectations for First Horizon tempered in the interim.

• [By Monica Gerson]

  First Horizon National (NYSE: FHN) is expected to report its Q2 earnings at $0.17 per share on revenue of $286.98 million.

  Synacor (NASDAQ: SYNC) is estimated to post a Q1 loss at $0.05 per share on revenue of $24.53 million.

• [By Eric Volkman]

  After the close of trading Friday, the S&P 500 will include Pfizer spinoff Zoetis (NYSE: ZTS  ) . The stock replaces First Horizon National (NYSE: FHN  ) , which is to find a new home on the S&P MidCap 400.

Best Net Payout Yield Companies To Buy Right Now: BM&F Bovespa SA Bolsa de Valores Mercadorias e Futuros (BVMF3)

BM&F Bovespa SA Bolsa de Valores Mercadorias e Futuros (BM&FBovespa) is a Brazil-based company primarily engaged in the operation of the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange. The Company�� business is divided into three segments: Bovespa, which manages the exchange markets and MBO national for securities trading equities, which include stocks, receipts of shares, depository receipts on shares of Brazilian companies or foreign, equity derivatives, warrants, shares of different types of closed investment funds, non-standard options to purchase and sell securities, among others; BM&F Segment covers the main steps of the cycles of trading and settlement of securities and contracts: trading systems in environments of electronic trading and trading via Internet and systems of registration, and other assets; Corporate and Institutional Products Segment refers to services as depository of securities, loans and securities and listing of securities, information signs and rating services, among others. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Denyse Godoy]

  OGX has the third-highest weight in the Ibovespa at 5.48 percent, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. That compares with 0.92 percent on Aug. 30, the data show. BM&FBovespa SA (BVMF3) is considering excluding stocks trading for less than 1 real, or penny stocks, from the Ibovespa, which is otherwise weighted just by trading volume, according to a statement on the exchange operator�� website.

Best Net Payout Yield Companies To Buy Right Now: Tencent Holdings Ltd (TCTZF)

Tencent Holdings Limited is an investment holding company. The Company and its subsidiaries are principally engaged in the provision of Internet value-added services, mobile and telecommunications value-added services and online advertising services to users in the People�� Republic of China. The Company operates in four segments: Internet value-added services, Mobile and telecommunications value-added services, Online advertising, and Others. As of December 31, 2011, its subsidiaries included Tencent Cyber (Tianjin) Company Limited, Tencent Asset Management Limited, Tencent Technology (Beijing) Company Limited, Tencent Cyber (Shenzhen) Company Limited, Tencent Technology (Shanghai) Company Limited and others. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By MARKETWATCH]

  LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Chinese stocks fell early Wednesday, joining a broadly negative day for regional trade in the wake of overnight losses on Wall Street. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index (HK:HSI) dropped by 0.5% to 23,625.77, with the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index 0.8% lower, while the Shanghai Composite (CN:SHCOMP) fell 0.7%. Top-weighted Hang Seng component HSBC Holdings PLC (HK:5) fell 0.5%, while fellow international lender Standard Chartered PLC (HK:2888) (UK:STAN) lost 1.4%, with some reports linking the losses to the approval of the so-called Volcker rule in the U.S. which prohibits most proprietary trading by banks there. The Financial Times also cited concerns about possible cash-calls as weighing on Standard Chartered. Meanwhile, ratings moves influenced some shares. Jiangxi Copper Co. (HK:358) (JIXAY) retreated 1%, and China Shenhua Energy Co. (HK:1088) (CUAEF) dropped 1.4% after Credit Suisse cut both stocks to neutral, according to Kim Eng Securities. However, Tencent Holdings Ltd. (HK:700) (TCTZF) added 1.5% to its price after Deutsche Bank upped the Internet content provider's rating to buy. Also bucking the downtrend, China Overseas Land & Investment Ltd. (HK:688) (CAOVF) gained

Best Net Payout Yield Companies To Buy Right Now: Restoration Hardware Holdings Inc (RH)

Restoration Hardware Holdings, Inc. (Restoration Hardware Holdings), incorporated on August 18, 2011, is a holding company. The Company is merchants of home furnishings. Restoration Hardware Holdings offers merchandise assortments across a number of categories, including furniture, lighting, textiles, bath ware, decor, outdoor, garden, and baby and child products. The Company�� business is integrated across its multiple channels of distribution, consists of its stores, catalogs and Websites. As of July 28, 2012, the Company�� operated a total of 73 retail stores, consisted of 71 Galleries and two full line Design Galleries, and 10 outlet stores throughout the United States and Canada. RH is a brand in the home furnishings. During the fiscal year ended January 28, 2012 (fiscal 2011), the Company opened five stores and closed 22 stores. In fiscal 2011, the Company distributed approximately 26.1 million catalogs, and its Websites logged over 14.3 million visits.

Restoration Hardware Holdings operates a Website for its Baby & Child brand at www.rhbabyandchild.com. The Company opened its two full line Design Galleries in Los Angeles in, June 2011 and Houston in November 2011. In May 2011, the Company launched catalog applications for Apple�� iPad and iPhone that enable customers to view and purchase its product assortment. Restoration Hardware Holdings operates three store types: the Company's full line Design Gallery format, approximately between 22,000 and 28,000 gross square feet; its Gallery format of approximately 7,000-15,000 gross square feet, and its Baby & Child Gallery format of approximately 2,000-3,000 gross square feet.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jack Kramer and Nick Martell] Trying to figure out which country's World Cup team bandwagon you're going to jump on isn't easy. So take a few minutes and check out what sent the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) down from record highs over the last week.
  
  1. Stock market winners ...
  Just in time for you to clean out your closets and replace the furniture in your living room for some spring cleaning, Restoration Hardware (NYSE: RH  ) has been on quite a roll as well. Restoration Hardware stock popped in after-hours trading Wednesday following an earnings report worth putting on a mantel in your bedroom, as the company announced that revenue for the last quarter came in at $366.3 million.
  
  So what's in the cards for the maker of all the kinds of home furnishings your mom is now into? Expansion. Restoration Hardware has 69 stores on this side of the Atlantic and wants to open another 30 that it expects will lead to $5 billion in annual sales. That kind of strategy got investors excited -- and so did word that profits were up 200% from last year.
  
  CEO Gary Friedman had plenty of other fine goods to share with Wall Street as well. The financial analysts over at Restoration Hardware are quite an optimistic bunch -- as part of the earnings report, the company announced that it expects full-year 2014 revenue to reach $1.8 billion, with the help of $443 million to $453 million in revenue in the second quarter. � 2. ... And stock market losers
  While America seems to have been loading up on Restoration Hardware goods this past spring, they weren't buying Lululemon clothes for their workouts. Shares of lululemon athletica (NASDAQ: LULU  ) plummeted nearly 16% Thursday after a tied-up earnings report. On one hand, revenue beat Wall Street's expectations, rising 11% from last year to $385 million. But same-store sales fell 4% and the company also cut its full-year revenue projections, down to $1.8 billion from $1.82 billion.
• [By Brian Nichols]

  Restoration Hardware (RH) was Barron's latest weekend victim. To me, Barron's bearish take is reminiscent of its Facebook (FB) call, which was also an article I questioned. The similarities and situations surrounding the two calls include both stocks being post-IPO and both articles implying that stock performance indicates value and future trends. Here is why Barron's is wrong, again!

• [By Ben Fox Rubin]

  Restoration Hardware Holdings Inc.'s(RH) Co-Chief Executive Carlos Alberini is resigning from the high-end home-goods retailer as of the end of next month, to become the chairman and chief executive of Lucky Brand. The announcement was made as the company also raised its fiscal-year guidance and reported that its fiscal third-quarter earnings surged as same-store sales climbed 29%. Still, shares were down 7.9% to $60.10 premarket.

• [By Rick Munarriz]

  Briefly in the news
  And now let's take a quick look at some of the other stories that shaped our week.

  Google (NASDAQ: GOOG  ) is walking away with Waze. After other tech titans were rumored suitors, Google announced that it closed on the acquisition of the popular real-time traffic app that uses crowdsourcing to get users around jams and police traps. Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX  ) revealed that it will introduce individual profiles for family accounts this summer. The move will help the leading video website serve up better recommendations. In other words, having your kid watch Dumbo won't stop Reservoir Dogs from coming up for you. You won't find too many retailers doing as well as Restoration Hardware (NYSE: RH  ) these days. The seller of upscale home furnishings reported a 41% increase in same-store sales in its latest quarter. That's not too shabby for a retailer that went public in November at $24 a share. It's safe to say that the IPO wasn't an exit strategy, since it's doing so well several months later.

European Stocks Climb as LVMH, Kering Report Faster Sales

European stocks retreated for a second day as carmakers dropped, outweighing gains by companies from LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA to Kering SA that reported faster quarterly sales growth.

Daimler AG slid 2.3 percent, leading carmakers lower. ThyssenKrupp AG dropped 2.9 percent amid concern it has failed to make progress in talks to sell its plants in the Americas. LVMH, which owns Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior, rallied 3.6 percent. Kering, the owner of Gucci, advanced 3.9 percent.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index dropped 0.2 percent to 298.91 at the close of trading, erasing a gain of as much as 0.7 percent. The equity benchmark has lost 0.3 percent this week. It has rallied 4.9 percent this month as the Federal Reserve said its stimulus program remained flexible.

"I'm not sure markets have more scope to rally on a very short-term basis," said Pierre Mouton, who helps oversee $6 billion as a portfolio manager at Notz, Stucki & Cie. in Geneva. "On earnings, markets seem to appreciate what has been published on average. Not everything is rosy but there's some optimism in Europe."

The Stoxx 600 has still rallied 19 percent since European Central Bank President Mario Draghi pledged on July 26 last year to save the euro. Yields on Spanish 10-year bonds have fallen to 4.62 percent from 7.38 percent on the day before Draghi's speech, and the country's IBEX 35 (IBEX) stock index has surged 39 percent. Italian 10-year bond yields have dropped to 4.40 percent from 6.45 percent, while the benchmark FTSEMIB Index (FTSEMIB) has rallied 31 percent in the past year.

Draghi Rally

"Within our mandate, the ECB is ready to do whatever it takes to preserve the euro," Draghi had said in a speech in London. "And believe me, it will be enough."

National benchmark indexes declined in 11 of the 18 western-European markets. The U.K.'s FTSE 100 retreated 0.5 percent, while Germany's DAX declined 0.7 percent. France's CAC 40 increased 0.3 percent.

A gauge of auto-industry shares fell 1.1 percent for the worst performance among 19 industry groups on the Stoxx 600.

Daimler slid 2.3 percent to 52.30 euros. PSA Peugeot Citroen lost 1.8 percent to 8.42 euros. Continental AG declined 1.4 percent to 116.30 euros after M.M. Warburg & Co. downgraded the shares to hold from buy. The brokerage said the German tiremaker may not meet its target of growing sales by 5 percent because of weaker-than-forecast demand for replacement tires.

ThyssenKrupp lost 2.9 percent to 16.85 euros as spokesman Stefan Ettwig said Germany's largest steelmaker remains in talks with a bidder for its Steel Americas business. ThyssenKrupp has failed to reach a deal with Brazil's Cia Siderurgica Nacional SA, the Wall Street Journal reported yesterday.

Deutsche Boerse

Deutsche Boerse AG lost 3.7 percent to 52.43 euros after the operator of the Frankfurt stock exchange said second-quarter profit fell 8.2 percent to 171 million euros ($227 million).

"For the remainder of the financial year 2013, Deutsche Boerse expects to see a slight deterioration compared with the forecasts for its operating environment made in its 2012 consolidated financial statements," the company said.

Rexel SA (RXL) declined 3.1 percent to 18.22 euros after the French electrical-equipment distributor said second-quarter net income halved. It also raised its estimated restructuring cost for 2013 to 60 million euros and 70 million euros. It had forecast 45 million euros to 50 million euros.

LVMH, Kering

LVMH jumped 3.6 percent to 135.05 euros, its biggest rally since October, after the world's largest maker of luxury goods said organic revenue increased 9 percent in the second quarter, faster than the 7 percent gain in the first quarter.

Kering rose 3.9 percent to 177.50 euros as the company formerly known as PPR said luxury sales climbed 9.4 percent, exceeding the previous quarter's 6.4 percent increase.

Belgacom SA (BELG) rallied 9.1 percent to 18.34 euros, its biggest gain since at least 2004, after reporting second-quarter earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and some items of 430 million euros. Analysts on average had estimated Ebitda of 414.2 million euros.

Pearson Plc (PSON) surged 6.2 percent to 1,329 pence, its highest price since 2001. The publisher of the Financial Times newspaper posted first-half sales of 2.76 billion pounds ($4.2 billion), exceeding the 2.69 billion pounds estimated by analysts in a Bloomberg survey.

10 Best Diversified Bank Stocks To Own Right Now

10 Best Diversified Bank Stocks To Own Right Now: Standard Pacific Corp(SPF)

Standard Pacific Corp. operates as a diversified builder of single-family attached and detached homes in the United States. It constructs homes targeting various homebuyers primarily move-up buyers in metropolitan markets in California, Florida, the Carolinas, Texas, Arizona, Colorado, and Nevada. The company also provides mortgage financing services to its homebuyers; and title examination services to its Texas homebuyers. As of December 31, 2011, it owned or controlled 26,444 homesites and had 166 active selling communities. Standard Pacific Corp. was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in Irvine, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Erika Janowicz]

  Compass Point analyst Wilkes Graham updated his housing forecast:

  Graham increased assumed ROI's to 9% on average from 7%. Reduced targeted sector price/ book from $190% to 170%. Expects 20-30% growth in starts and new home sales in 2012 and 2013 to stabilize in 2014 and on at approximately 10%. For covered builders, the analyst lowered estimates by 8% and lowered price targets by 10%. Compass Point expects 10% annual growth in single family starts and new home sales and 2-5% pricing growth. Downgraded DR Horton Inc. (NYSE: DHI) from Buy to Neutral and KB Home (NYSE: KBH) from Neutral to Sell. DR Horton's and KB Home's PT was lowered from $23.50 to $20.00 and from $17.50 to $14.00, respectively. Graham reiterated a Buy rating on Ryland Group Inc. (NYSE: RYL) and Standard Pacific Corp. (NYSE: SPF). The analyst raised the PT on Ryland from $50.00 to $50.50 and lowered the PT on Standard Pacific from $10.00 to $9.50. Compass Point reiterated a Neutral rating on Beazer Homes USA Inc. (NYSE: BZH), Hovnanian Enterprises Inc. (NYSE: HOV), Lennar Corp. (NYSE: LEN), PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: PHM), and Toll Brothers Inc. (NYSE: TOL). The price target for Beazer and Hovnanian was raised from $15.50 to $24.00 and $5.00 to $5.75, res! pectively. Graham lowered the PT for Lennar, Pulte, and Toll to $34.50, $17.00, and $31.00.

  This Week's Data

• [By Louis Navellier]

  If we look at those stocks trading with single-digit P/E ratios right now, it becomes a very simple task to separate the wheat from the chaff. There are many well-known stocks trading at low P/E ratios that get horrible grades from our system and should be avoided:

  Ryland Homes (RYL) is a name you might hear discussed as a bargain, but the stock to a Sell back in November to a D and is best avoided. Standard Pacific (SPF) is another builder you should probably avoid as In spite of the low P/E ratio ,you probably want to avoid discount retailer Big Lots (BIG), as a Strong Sell this week.

  But fear not — there are some great companies with solid fundamentals that earn a Buy ranking from Portfolio Grader and are better candidates for a low-P/E portfolio.

• [By Sally Jones]

  Standard Pacific Corp. (SPF): Reduced

  Up 19% over 12 months, Standard Pacific Corp., a residential construction company, has a market cap of $2.27 billion. The current share price is around $8.18. Shares trade at a P/E of 5.70. The company does not pay a dividend.

source from Top Stocks To Buy For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/10-best-diversified-bank-stocks-to-own-right-now-3.html

Hot Small Cap Companies To Invest In Right Now

Hot Small Cap Companies To Invest In Right Now: Texas Instruments Incorporated(TXN)

Texas Instruments Incorporated engages in the design and sale of semiconductors to electronics designers and manufacturers worldwide. The company?s Analog segment offers high-performance analog products comprising standard analog semiconductors, such as amplifiers, data converters, and interface semiconductors; high-volume analog and logic products; and power management semiconductors and line-powered systems. Its Embedded Processing segment includes DSPs that perform mathematical computations to process and enhance digital data; and microcontrollers, which are designed to control a set of specific tasks for electronic equipment. The company?s Wireless segment designs, manufactures, and sells application processors and connectivity products. Its Other segment offers smaller semiconductor products, which include DLP products that are primarily used in projectors to create high-definition images; and application-specific integrated circuits. This segment also provides handhe ld graphing and scientific calculators, as well as licenses technologies to other electronic companies. The company serves the communications, computing, industrial, consumer electronics, automotive, and education sectors. Texas Instruments Incorporated sells its products through a direct sales force, distributors, and third-party sales representatives. It has collaboration agreements with PLX Technology Inc.; Neonode, Inc.; and Ubiquisys Ltd. The company was founded in 1938 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Bob Ciura]

  It's been an up-and-down year for semiconductor stock Texas Instruments (NASDAQ: TXN  ) . Its stock price fell significantly in September after a warning from one of its peers in the chip industry. However, Texas Instruments' stock price has recovered from t! hat and then some, because its underlying business has sailed through 2014 unscathed. Texas Instruments is growing -- and rewarding its shareholders with lots of cash flow through billions of dollars in share buybacks and dividend payments

• [By Myra Ramdenbourg]

  Texas Instruments Inc. (TXN): Sr. Vice President and CFO Kevin P. March sold 318,750 shares

  On 11/03/2014, Sr. Vice President and CFO Kevin P. March sold 318,750 shares at an average price of $50.01. The price of the stock has increased by 1.78% since. Texas Instruments Inc. has a market cap of $53.77 billion and its shares were traded at around $50.90. The company has a P/E ratio of 22.30 and P/S ratio of 4.33 with a dividend yield of 2.44%. Over the past 10 years, Texas Instruments Inc had an annual average earnings growth of 4.50%. GuruFocus rated Texas Instruments Inc the business predictability rank of 3-star.

• [By Tom Rojas var popups = dojo.query(".socialByline .popC"); popups.forEach(func]

  Texas Instruments Inc.(TXN) projected a fourth-quarter profit that tops Wall Street’s estimates as the chip maker also reported its third-quarter earnings rose 31% thanks to stronger sales and margins.

• [By ovenerio]

  Those markets are attractive because these are not commodity products. The company faces strong competition because there are thousands of designs and many suppliers, but Texas Instruments (TXN) is still a more diversified rival.

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/hot-small-cap-companies-to-invest-in-right-now-6.html

Microsoft Catches a Wave, and the First Shot in the Software Patent Wars

On this day in economic and business history ...

Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT  ) CEO Bill Gates has a great track record of anticipating computing trends. He founded Microsoft to provide a programming language for the primitive Altair 8800, a direct predecessor to the PC. The launch of the PC put Microsoft and its DOS operating system at the crossroads of the greatest technological proliferation since the 1920s, but it might never have been possible without a combination of great timing and incredible luck. However, by 1995, Gates began to realize that Microsoft would miss the boat on the next major computing revolution, and that possibility might pose the greatest threat to his company's long-term survival.

On May 26, 1995, Gates sent his top lieutenants a long memo that would become known as "The Internet Tidal Wave." In this memo, he laid out what was happening and why it was so important that Microsoft not miss the wave. Here are a few of the more pertinent excerpts:

Our vision for the last 20 years can be summarized in a succinct way. We saw that exponential improvements in computer capabilities would make great software quite valuable. Our response was to build an organization to deliver the best software products. In the next 20 years the improvement in computer power will be outpaced by the exponential improvements in communications networks. ...

Now I assign the Internet the highest level of importance. In this memo I want to make clear that our focus on the Internet is crucial to every part of our business. The Internet is the most important single development to come along since the IBM (NYSE: IBM  ) PC was introduced in 1981. It is even more important than the arrival of the graphical user interface (GUI). ...

Most important is that the Internet has bootstrapped itself as a place to publish content. It has enough users that it is benefiting from the positive feedback loop of the more users it gets, the more content it gets, and the more content it gets, the more users it gets. ...

I think that virtually every PC will be used to connect to the Internet and that the Internet will help keep PC purchasing very healthy for many years to come. ...

The On-line services business and the Internet have merged. What I mean by this is that every On-line service has to simply be a place on the Internet with extra value added. ... The amount of free information available today on the Internet is quite amazing. Although there is room to use brand names and quality to differentiate from free content, this will not be easy and it puts a lot of pressure to figure out how to get advertiser funding. Even the CD-ROM business will be dramatically affected by the Internet. Encyclopedia Brittanica is offering their content on a subscription basis. ...

Once a format gets established it is extremely difficult for another format to come along and even become equally popular. ...

A new competitor "born" on the Internet is Netscape. Their browser is dominant, with 70% usage share, allowing them to determine which network extensions will catch on. They are pursuing a multi-platform strategy where they move the key API into the client to commoditize the underlying operating system. They have attracted a number of public network operators to use their platform to offer information and directory services. We have to match and beat their offerings including working with MCI, newspapers, and others who are considering their products.

This memo reached the public during Microsoft's antitrust case, which had been instigated by (among other Microsoft competitors) Netscape. Though nothing in the memo implies underhanded tactics were to be wielded against the browser upstart, it still cast Gates and Microsoft in a negative light in the press.

Microsoft did manage to gain significant early browser share as a result of its intensified (and occasionally underhanded) Internet focus, and the company now earns roughly a quarter of its revenue from Internet-related products and services (primarily in the server market). However, Microsoft has yet to move beyond Windows and Office, the two key products that Gates feared might become obsolete if they failed to gain a significant role in enabling Internet use. Its direct forays into online dominance -- MSN and the Bing search engine -- have produced disappointing results.

Top 5 Energy Stocks For 2016

Coding new protections
A different sort of tidal wave began rising on May 26, 1981. That day, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office awarded programmer and attorney Satiya Pal Asija the first software patent in the United States. Asija had originally programmed a natural-language interface called Swift-Answer all the way back in 1969, when IBM mainframes were still the norm and the minicomputer era was only starting to gain steam. At the time, software was ruled unpatentable, but Asija took this as a challenge to be overcome, in this case via legal training. He attended law school, specializing in (what else?) patent law, and filed his patent shortly after attaining the bar in 1974.

The reversal of a Supreme Court decision against software patents began a monumental shift in the relationship between software companies and their software just at the moment that consumer computing was about to explode in popularity. By this point, Swift-Answer was essentially obsolete (the computers it was written for were largely obsolete, too), but the floodgates had been opened, and there would be no stopping the software patent flood, nor the later flood of that most reviled of enterprise, the patent troll. The USPTO issued approximately 40,000 software patents two decades after Asija's patent, and many of these patents now represent extremely lucrative sources of revenue for their filers. Unfortunately for innovators, much of that lucrative potential is tapped in the courtroom -- more than 5,000 software-patent infringement lawsuits are now filed in American courts each year.

Today, IBM and Microsoft have the two largest software-heavy patent hoards in the United States. IBM was granted 6,500 patents, and Microsoft 2,600, in 2012. Interestingly, many of the top U.S. patent-holding companies aren't U.S. companies -- only three of the top 10 companies by 2012 patent grants (General Electric is the third) are based in the United States, and the rest are all Asian consumer-electronics companies. However, all four of the Dow Jones Industrial Average's (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) computing-focused companies rank among the top patent holders (if slightly further down on the list). In addition to IBM and Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ  ) and Intel (NASDAQ: INTC  ) are also beneficiaries of software patents, despite their hardware focus. The former company gained 1,400 patents in 2012, and the latter gained 1,300. These computing companies are patent heavyweights compared with the pharmaceutical industry -- the largest patent trove granted in that industry would barely equal half that earned by HP or Intel.

It's been a frustrating path for Microsoft investors, who've watched the company fail to capitalize on the incredible growth in mobile over the past decade. However, with the release of its own tablet, along with the widely anticipated Windows 8 operating system, the company is looking to make a splash in this booming market. In a new premium report on Microsoft, a Motley Fool analyst explains that while the opportunity is huge, so are the challenges. The report includes regular updates as key events occur, so make sure to claim a copy of this report now by clicking here.

3 Reasons for Activision Investors to Worry

Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI  ) is facing three major challenges this year.

First, it has to fend off an attack by Disney (NYSE: DIS  ) on its uber-profitable Skylanders franchise starting in August.

 

Next, Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA  ) is going head-to-head against Activision's Call of Duty franchise in the fall.

 

And third, casual and free-to-play games are finally succeeding in pulling loads of subscribers away from Activision's cash cow, World of Warcraft. 

 

In the video below, Fool contributor Demitrios Kalogeropoulos discusses how the company plans to meet these challenges to its biggest franchises. Activision should see profits dip as the company ramps up marketing and sales spending to support new game launches in this competitive environment, he says. But Activision is still in a strong position as the move to next-generation consoles begins. And that should serve the company well through what's sure to be a difficult year.

10 Best Promising Stocks To Own Right Now

While Activision and Microsoft have been taking most of the headlines lately when it comes to console gaming, investors following the gaming sector would do well to also keep tabs on Electronic Arts. We can help. The Motley Fool's special report breaks down the risks and opportunities facing the company to help you decide if EA is right for your portfolio. Click here to get your copy now.

ACLU Says Wireless Carriers Fail to Protect Consumers' Data

Several large wireless carriers in the U.S., including AT&T (NYSE: T  ) , Verizon (NYSE: VZ  ) , Sprint (NYSE: S  ) and Deutsche Telekom's T-Mobile USA, are targets of a complaint filed by the American Civil Liberties Union with the Federal Trade Commission.

The ACLU claims the wireless carriers, specifically those selling smartphones using Google's (NASDAQ: GOOG  ) Android OS, engaged in "unfair and deceptive business practices" by not alerting customers to "known, unpatched security flaws in the [Android] mobile devices sold by the companies," according to a statement the ACLU posted today.

The complaint acknowledges that Google issues Android OS "patches" to fix security issues with the operating system as they arise. However, according to the FTC filing, the fixes are not packaged and pushed out to consumers as they are with PCs, so many smartphone owners are unaware they have a security issue, leaving personal data at risk.

5 Best India Stocks To Invest In Right Now

The complaint asks that wireless carriers be mandated by the FTC to alert smartphone users of data security updates, and make them readily available and easy to download. Or, at the least, provide customers with device refunds and allow them to terminate existing data plans so they can opt for a carrier that will provide security fixes.

link

Top 5 New Companies To Buy Right Now

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) Until now, there hasn't been a lot of data to help law enforcement and policymakers better understand the economics of the illegal sex trade and trafficking.

But a study released Wednesday by the Urban Institute's Justice Policy Center analyzes the size and structure of the underground commercial sex economies in eight major cities: San Diego, Seattle, Dallas, Denver, Washington, D.C., Miami, Atlanta and Kansas City, Missouri.

The three-year effort, which began in 2010, was funded by a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, which supports research that can aid in the prevention, detection and prosecution of human trafficking.

Researchers interviewed pimps, traffickers, sex workers and child pornography offenders, as well as local and federal law enforcement officers.

Top 5 Restaurant Stocks For 2016: SolarCity Corp (SCTY)

SolarCity Corporation (SolarCity), incorporated on June 21, 2006, is engaged in the design, installation and sale or lease of solar energy systems to residential and commercial customers, or sale of electricity generated by solar energy systems to customers. The Company sells renewable energy to its customers. As of December 12, 2012, the Company served customers in 14 states. The Company�� residential customers are individual homeowners and homeowners. The Company�� commercial customers represent several business sectors, including technology, retail, manufacturing, agriculture, nonprofit and houses of worship. The Company has installed solar energy systems for several government entities, including the the United States Air Force, Army, Marines and Navy, and the Department of Homeland Security. The Company purchases major components, such as solar panels and inverters directly from multiple manufacturers. As of September 30, 2012, its primary solar panel suppliers were Trina Solar Limited, Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited and Kyocera Solar, Inc., among others, and its primary inverter suppliers were Power-One, Inc., SMA Solar Technology, AG, Schneider Electric SA, Fronius International GmbH and SolarEdge Technologies, among others.

Solar Energy Products

The Company�� solar energy products include Solar Energy Systems, and SolarLease and power purchase agreement finance products. The major components of its solar energy systems include solar panels that convert sunlight into electrical current. Most of its solar energy customers choose to purchase energy from the Company pursuant to one of two payment structures: a SolarLease or a power purchase agreement. In both structures, the Company charges customers a monthly fee for the power produced by its solar energy systems. In the lease structure, this monthly payment is pre-determined and includes a production guarantee. In the power purchase agreement structure, the Company charges customers a fee per kilowatt! hour based on the amount of electricity actually produced by the solar energy system.

Energy Efficiency Products and Services

The Company�� energy efficiency products and services include home energy evaluation and energy efficiency upgrades. The Company sells home energy efficiency evaluations to new solar energy system customers and existing customers. The Company�� energy efficiency upgrade products and services address heating and cooling, air sealing, duct sealing, water heating, insulation, furnaces, weatherization, pool pumps and lighting. As of December 12, 2012, the Company had completed over 13,000 home energy evaluations and performed more than 2,000 energy efficiency upgrades.

Other Energy Products and Services

The Company�� other energy products and services include electric vehicle charging and energy storage. The Company installs electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment that it sources from third parties. SolarCity markets EV equipment to residential and commercial customers through retail partnerships with companies, such as The Home Depot, and through EV manufacturers and dealerships, such as its partnership with Tesla Motors, Inc. The Company is developing a battery management system built on its solar energy monitoring communications backbone. As of December 12, 2012, the Company had over 100 energy storage pilot projects under contract. As of December 12, 2012, the Company had sold over 750 charging stations.

Enabling Technologies

The Company�� enabling technologies include SolarBid Sales Management Platform, SolarWorks Customer Management Software, Energy Designer, Home Performance Pro and SolarGuard and PowerGuide Proactive Monitoring Solutions. SolarBid is a sales management platform, which incorporates a database of rate information by utility, sun exposure, roof orientation and a range of other factors to enable a detailed analysis and customized graphical presentation of each customer� �s savin! gs.

SolarWorks is the software platform the Company uses to track and manage project. Energy Designer is a software application its field engineering auditors use to collect pertinent site-specific design details on a tablet computer. Home Performance Pro is its energy efficiency evaluation platform that incorporates the United States Department of Energy�� Energy Plus simulation engine. Home Performance Pro collects and stores details of a building�� construction and energy use. SolarGuard and PowerGuide provide its customers a view of their home�� or business�� energy generation and consumption.

The Company competes with American Solar Electric, Inc., Astrum Solar, Inc., Petersen Dean, Inc., Real Goods Solar, Inc., REC Solar, Inc., Sungevity, Inc., Trinity Solar, Inc., Verengo, Inc., SunRun Inc. and Ameresco, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Travis Hoium]

  Vivint Solar has patiently waited to go public and now that SolarCity (NASDAQ: SCTY  ) has done the dirty work educating the market on solar and the market is near all-time highs, it's time to cash in. Blackstone Group, whose affiliate owns Vivint Solar, recently filed an updated S-1 that proposed raising as much as $426 million in Vivint's IPO, valuing the company at $1.9 billion.

Top 5 New Companies To Buy Right Now: Ameresco Inc (AMRC)

Ameresco, Inc. incorporated in April 2000, is a provider of energy efficiency solutions for facilities throughout North America. The Company�� services include upgrades to a facility's energy infrastructure and the construction and operation of small-scale renewable energy plants. Its principal service is the development, design, engineering and installation of projects that reduce the energy and operations and maintenance (O&M) costs of its customers' facilities. These projects include a variety of measures customized for the facility and designed to improve the efficiency of major building systems, such as heating, ventilation, air conditioning and lighting systems. It also serves certain customers by developing and building small-scale renewable energy plants located at or close to a customer's site. Ameresco, Inc. provides its services primarily to governmental, educational, utility, healthcare and other institutional, commercial and industrial entities. The Company operates in four segments: U.S. federal, central U.S. region, other U.S. regions and Canada. In August 2011, the Company acquired APS Energy Services Company, Inc. from Pinnacle West Capital Corporation. In December 2011, it acquired the xChange Point and energy projects businesses, including automated demand response, of Energy and Power Solutions, Inc. In August 2012, the Company acquired FAME Facility Software Solutions Inc. In February 2013, it purchased all of the assets of Ennovate Corporation. In June 2013, Ameresco Inc acquired ESP, an energy management consulting company consisting of the Energy Services Partnership and ESP Response, located in Castleford, United Kingdom.

Ameresco, Inc. offers a set of services that includes the design and installation of upgrades to a facility�� energy infrastructure, the design and construction of renewable energy plants, the sale of other renewable energy products and the arranging of financing for customer projects. In September 2010, the Company acquired Quantum Engineer! ing and Development, Inc. In July 2011, the Company acquired Applied Energy Group.

Energy Efficiency Services

The Company�� services includes the design, engineering and installation of, and the arranging of financing for, equipment to improve the efficiency, and control the operation, of a building�� heating, ventilation, cooling and lighting systems. In certain projects, it also designs and constructs a central plant or cogeneration system providing power, heat and/or cooling to a building. Its projects generally range in size and scope from a one-month project to design and retrofit a lighting system to a more complex 30-month project to design and install a central plant or cogeneration system.

Renewable Energy Projects and Products

The Company�� services offering includes the development, construction and operation of, and the arrangement of financing for, small-scale renewable energy plants, as well as the sale and integration of solar energy products and systems. It has constructed and is designing and constructing a range of renewable energy plants using landfill gas (LFG), wastewater treatment biogas, solar, wind, biomass, food waste, animal waste and hydro sources of energy. As part of its renewable energy offering, it also distributes and integrates solar energy products manufactured by several vendors. Ameresco, Inc. is a distributor of photovoltaic (PV) panels, solar regulators, solar charge controllers, inverters, solar powered lighting systems, solar powered water pumps, solar panel mounting hardware and other system components. It also integrates its PV products and system components into solar solutions designed specifically for customers. It provides solar energy solutions for both on- grid applications where the solar power is used in a building connected to a utility distribution system, and for off-grid applications where the power is used directly in the device using the electricity, such as traffic signs.

Amere! sco, Inc.! also designs and constructs renewable energy plants based on wind power. In many parts of the country, available wind resources, utility net metering and local incentives can make on-site wind generation a viable solution for meeting a portion of customers' energy needs. As of December 31, 2010, the Company had completed two projects that included a wind turbine. In addition, it has constructed and was constructing, small-scale renewable energy plants based on biomass.

As of December 31, 2010, Ameresco, Inc. had constructed more than 28 renewable energy projects, and owned and operated 22 small-scale renewable energy plants. Of the owned plants, 19 are renewable LFG plants, two are waste water biogas plants and one is a solar PV installation. These 22 small-scale renewable energy plants have the capacity to generate electricity or deliver LFG producing an aggregate of 106 megawatts (MW) or megawatt-equivalents (MWE). As of December 31, 2010, the Company had signed contracts for the construction, operation and ownership of an additional six LFG plants, two biomass power and cogeneration plants and five biomass boiler projects.

The Company competes with Chevron Energy Solutions, Constellation Energy, Honeywell, Johnson Controls, Siemens Building Technologies and TAC Energy Solutions.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Brian Pacampara]

  Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, energy efficiency technologist Ameresco (NYSE: AMRC  ) has earned a coveted five-star ranking.

• [By Sara Murphy]

  Ameresco (NYSE: AMRC  ) is one of the few large, independent energy efficiency service providers. The company's principal service is the development, design, engineering and installation of projects that reduce the energy and operations and maintenance costs of its customers' facilities. Ameresco has seen declining revenues recently because of unusually long lag times in getting its projects funded, but this seems a temporary setback.

Top 5 New Companies To Buy Right Now: HyperSolar Inc (HYSR)

Hypersolar, Inc., incorporated on February 18, 2009, is developing renewable hydrogen using sunlight and any source of water, including seawater and wastewater. Unlike hydrocarbon fuels, such as oil, coal and natural gas, where carbon dioxide and other contaminants are released into the atmosphere when used, hydrogen fuel usage produces pure water as the only byproduct. The Company�� technology includes HyperSolar H2Generator. Its nano-size particle is designed to mimic photosynthesis and contains a solar absorber that generates electrons from sunlight, as well as integrated cathode and anode areas to readily split water and transfer those electrons to the molecular bonds of hydrogen.

The HyperSolar H2Generator consists of the following primary stages: Reactor Vessels, Hydrogen Compressor and Hydrogen Storage. The reactor vessels resemble transparent rectangular boxes containing water and billions of nanoparticles suspended in solution. When exposed to sunlight, hydrogen gas will bubble up into an air gap on top for separation and collection. Produced hydrogen gas will be compressed for space efficient storage. Hydrogen can be stored in compressed gas tanks or chemical canisters depending on the application. The HyperSolar H2Generator will be a self-contained renewable hydrogen production system that requires only sunlight and any source of water.

The Company competes with Air Products and Chemicals Inc. and Air Liquide.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  Small cap hydrogen fuel stocks Hydrogenics Corporation (NASDAQ: HYGS), FuelCell Energy Inc (NASDAQ: FCEL), HyperSolar Inc (OTCMKTS: HYSR) and HydroPhi Technologies Group, Inc (OTCMKTS: HPTG) are some of the lesser known small caps that are�working with hydrogen fuel or hydrogen fuel cell related technology. I should say that small cap hydrogen stocks are not for risk adverse investors as there are considerable unanswered questions about hydrogen fuel related technology and whether it can be a viable green technology given the fueling infrastructure needed along with the�energy and expense involved in creating hydrogen�(Note: None of these small cap�stocks are profitable at ). But any new technology will pose the same types of risks for early stage investors���especially if its so-called green technology.�

Top 5 New Companies To Buy Right Now: Real Goods Solar Inc (RGSE)

Real Goods Solar, Inc., incorporated on January 29, 2008, is a solar energy company. The Company serves commercial, residential, and utility customers. The Company provides a solar solution, from design, financing, permitting and installation to ongoing monitoring, maintenance and support. The Company offers free home solar quotes, as well as solar system financing, design, engineering, permitting, installation, rebate acquisition, maintenance, and monitoring. Effective May 14, 2014, the Company acquired Elemental Energy LLC, doing business as Sunetric.

The Company�� solar power installation services are available in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The Company's customers include homeowners, small to large businesses and corporations, universities and schools, and government agencies, such as Aetna Insurance, Stop & Shop, Timex, St. Louis Housing Authority, and Yale University.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  The Q3 2014 earnings report for mid cap solar stock SolarCity Corp (NASDAQ: SCTY), a potential peer of small caps Vivint Solar Holdings Inc (NYSE: VSLR) and Real Goods Solar, Inc (NASDAQ: RGSE), is scheduled for after the market's close on Wednesday (November 5th). Aside from the SolarCity Corp earnings report, it should be said that Vivint Solar Holdings Inc is scheduled to report Q3 2014 earnings after the market close on Monday (November 10th) while Real Goods Solar, Inc reported delayed Q2 2014 earnings on August 19th (a wider quarterly loss led to the ousting of its CEO with the company saying it will�focus on residential rooftops rather than money-losing commercial installations). SolarCity Corp has gotten extra investor attention as its CEO is Lyndon Rive while�the company���chairman is�his cousin, Tesla billionaire Elon Musk.

• [By Anna Prior]

  Real Goods Solar Inc.(RGSE) said it has agreed to raise about $7 million in a private placement financing transaction. Under the terms of the agreement, RGS will issue units consisting of an aggregate of about 2.9 million shares of its Class A common stock and warrants to purchase up to 1.31 million additional shares, at a price of $2.40 a unit. Shares fell 9.7% to $2.62 premarket.

Hot Oil Companies To Watch In Right Now

In early August SemGroup (SEMG), an owner and operator of oil and gas midstream assets, including pipelines and storage and blending facilities, closed on an opportunistic purchase of assets from Chesapeake Energy. The assets nicely complement SemGroup's existing core assets that stretch from Colorado to Oklahoma. While SemGroup will have to spend money to complete the assets��oney that financially distressed Chesapeake likely could not justify��e view the expenditures favorably given their high return characteristics.From Third Avenue Management's fourth quarter 2013 commentary.

Also check out: Third Avenue Management Undervalued Stocks Third Avenue Management Top Growth Companies Third Avenue Management High Yield stocks, and Stocks that Third Avenue Management keeps buying

Currently 4.00/512345

Rating: 4.0/5 (1 vote)

Top 5 Beverage Companies To Own For 2016: Enbridge Energy Partners LP (EEP)

Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. (the Partnership) owns and operates crude oil and liquid petroleum transportation and storage assets, and natural gas gathering, treating, processing, transportation and marketing assets in the United States. The Company was formed by its Enbridge Energy Company, Inc. (General Partner), to own and operate the Lakehead system, which is the United States portion of a crude oil and liquid petroleum pipeline system extending from western Canada through the upper and lower Great Lakes region of the United States to eastern Canada. A subsidiary of Enbridge Inc. (Enbridge), owns the Canadian portion of the Mainline system. Enbridge, which is based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada is a provider of energy transportation, distribution and related services in North America and internationally. Enbridge is the ultimate parent of its General Partner. As of December 31, 2011, its portfolio of assets included the approximately 6,500 miles of crude oil gathering and transportation lines and 32 million barrels of crude oil storage and terminaling capacity; natural gas gathering and transportation lines totaling approximately 11,500 miles; nine natural gas treating and 25 natural gas processing facilities with an aggregate capacity of approximately 3,255 million cubic feet per day, including plants; trucks, trailers and railcars for transporting natural gas liquids (NGLs), crude oil and carbon dioxide, and marketing assets, which provide natural gas supply, transmission, storage and sales services. The Company conducts its business through three business segments: Liquids, Natural Gas and Marketing.

Liquids Segment

The Company�� Lakehead system consists of crude oil and liquid petroleum common carrier pipelines and terminal assets in the Great Lakes and Midwest regions of the United States. The Mainline system serves refining centers in the Great Lakes and Midwest regions of the United States and the Province of Ontario, Canada. Its Lakehead system spans a distance ! of approximately 1,900 miles, and consists of approximately 5,100 miles of pipe with diameters ranging from 12 inches to 48 inches, and is transporter of crude oil and liquid petroleum from Western Canada to the United States. In addition, the system has 61 pump station locations with a total of approximately 900,000 installed horsepower and 72 crude oil storage tanks with capacity of approximately 13.9 million barrels. The Mainline system operates in a segregation, or batch mode, allowing the transport in excess of 50 crude oil commodities, including light, medium and heavy crude oil, condensate and NGLs.

The Company�� Mid-Continent system is located within PADD II and is consisted of its Ozark pipeline and storage terminals at Cushing and El Dorado, Kansas. Its Mid-Continent system includes over 430 miles of crude oil pipelines and 17.3 million barrels of crude oil storage capacity. Its Ozark pipeline transports crude oil from Cushing to Wood River where it delivers to ConocoPhillips��Wood River refinery and interconnects with the Woodpat Pipeline and the Wood River Pipeline. The storage terminals consist of 91 individual storage tanks ranging in size from 58,000 to 575,000 barrels. Of the 17.3 million barrels of storage capacity on its Mid-Continent system, the Cushing terminal accounts for 16.1 million barrels. A portion of the storage facilities are used for operational purposes, while it contracts the remainder of the facilities with various crude oil market participants for their term storage requirements. Contract fees include fixed monthly capacity fees, as well as utilization fees, which it charges for injecting crude oil into and withdrawing crude oil from the storage facilities.

The Company�� Mid-Continent system operates under month-to-month transportation arrangements and both long-term and short-term storage arrangements with its shippers. Its North Dakota system is a crude oil gathering and interstate transportation system servicing the Williston basin in! North Da! kota and Montana, which includes the Bakken and Three Forks formations. The crude oil gathering pipelines of its North Dakota system collect crude oil from points near producing wells in approximately 22 oil fields in North Dakota and Montana. Its North Dakota system is made at Clearbrook to its Lakehead system and to a third-party pipeline system. As of December 31, 2011, its North Dakota system included approximately 240 miles of crude oil gathering lines connected to a transportation line, which is approximately 730 miles long, with a capacity of approximately 210,000 barrels per day. Its North Dakota system also has 21 pump stations, one delivery station and 11 storage facilities with an aggregate working storage capacity of approximately 870,000 barrels. During the year ended December 31, 2011, it added 25,000 barrels per day of capacity from Berthold, North Dakota to the international border near Lignite, North Dakota.

Natural Gas Segment

The Company owns and operates natural gas gathering, treating, processing and transportation systems, as well as trucking, rail and liquids marketing operations. It purchases and gathers natural gas from the wellhead and delivers it to plants for treating and/or processing and to intrastate or interstate pipelines for transmission to wholesale customers, such as power plants, industrial customers and local distribution companies. As of December 31, 2011, it had nine active treating plants and 25 active processing plants, including two hydrocarbon dewpoint control facilities (HCDP) plants. Its treating facilities have a combined capacity, which approximates 1,240 million cubic feet per day while the combined capacity of its processing facilities approximates 2,015 million cubic feet per day, including 350 million cubic feet per day provided by the HCDP plants.

The Company�� natural gas business consists of East Texas system, Anadarko system and North Texas system. East Texas system includes approximately 3,900 miles of nat! ural gas ! gathering and transportation pipelines, eight natural gas treating plants and five natural gas processing plants, including two HCDP plants. Anadarko system consists of approximately 2,900 miles of natural gas gathering and transportation pipelines in southwest Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle, one natural gas treating plant and 11 natural gas processing plants. North Texas system includes approximately 4,700 miles of natural gas gathering pipelines and nine natural gas processing plants located in the Fort Worth basin. Its East Texas system is located in the East Texas basin. Natural gas on its North Texas system is produced in the Barnett shale area within the Fort Worth basin conglomerate. Its Anadarko system is located within the Anadarko basin.

As of December 31, 2011, the Company�� Elk City system includes one carbon dioxide treating plant and three cryogenic processing plants with a total capacity of 370 million cubic feet per day, and a NGL production capability of 20,000 barrels per day. It also includes its trucking and NGL marketing operations in its Natural Gas segment. These operations include the transportation of NGLs, crude oil and other products by truck and railcar from wellheads and treating, processing and fractionation facilities to wholesale customers, such as distributors, refiners and chemical facilities. In addition, its trucking and NGL marketing operations resells these products. Its services are provided using trucks, trailers and rail cars, pipeline capacity, fractionation agreements, product treating and handling equipment. Its trucking operations transport NGLs, condensate and crude oil from its processing facilities and from third party producers to its United States Gulf Coast customers. As of December 31, 2011, its fleet consisted of approximately 220 trucks and 375 trailers. Its trucking and NGL marketing operations are wholesale customers, such as refineries and propane distributors. Its trucking and NGL marketing operations also market products to whol! esale cus! tomers, such as petrochemical plants.

Marketing Segment

The Company�� Marketing segment transacts with various counterparties to provide natural gas supply, transportation, balancing, storage and sales services. Its Marketing business uses third-party storage capacity to balance supply and demand factors within its portfolio. Its Marketing business pays third-party storage facilities and pipelines for the right to store gas for various periods of time. These contracts may be denoted as firm storage, interruptible storage or parking and lending services. Its Marketing business leases third-party pipeline capacity downstream from its Natural Gas assets under firm transportation contracts. This capacity is leased for various lengths of time and at rates.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Robert Rapier]

  Last week,�TC PipeLines�(NYSE: TCP) outperformed all other MLPs, rising more than 20%. Another partnership sponsored by a Canadian midstream giant,�Enbridge Energy Partners�(NYSE: EEP), rallied 10%.

• [By Robert Rapier]

  The total market cap of the ANGI is $190 billion, and the one-, three- and five-year total returns are 29 percent, 52 percent and 249 percent. The index yield is 6 percent.

  The Alerian Large Cap MLP Index (ALCI)  is another subset of the AMZ. It’s an equal-weighted basket of the 15 largest energy MLPs by market capitalization, all of which are also in the AMZ. The top performer since the most recent quarterly rebalancing has been Magellan Midstream Partners (NYSE: MMP), which comprises 7.4 percent of the index at present. At the bottom since the latest rebalancing is Enbridge Energy Partners (NYSE: EEP), at 6.47 of the overall index.
  

  The total market cap of the ALCI is $232 billion, and the one-, three- and five-year total returns are 20 percent, 39 percent, and 167 percent. The index yield is 5.1 percent.

• [By Elliott Gue]

  Steve Halpern: Now, another company in the sector is Enbridge Energy Partners (EEP), and you specifically recommend that as a value play. Could you tell us a little about that company?

• [By Robert Rapier]

  Next week�� issue will tackle the three remaining questions: one on MLP equivalents in Canada and Australia, one on Enbridge Energy Partners (NYSE: EEP) �and TC Pipelines (NYSE: TCP), and a third query on Access Midstream Partners (NYSE: ACMP), Crestwood Midstream Partners (NYSE: CMLP) and Mid-Con Energy Partners (Nasdaq: MCEP).

Hot Oil Companies To Watch In Right Now: Alston Energy Inc (ALO)

Alston Energy Inc. (Alston) is a Canada-based petroleum and natural gas company. The Company is engaged in the exploration and production of oil and natural gas reserves in Western Canada�� sedimentary basins. The Company�� projects include Alexander, Pembina and Chauvin. Alexander assets include a 14.0% average working interest in 10 proved producing gas/oil wells, three proved development locations, related production facilities and pipelines and 6,560 gross acres of mineral leases. Pembina assets include a 3.5% interest in 19 producing oil wells, one coal bed methane gas well, four standing or suspended wells, two oil batteries, related production facilities and pipelines and 5,690 gross acres of land in the Pembina/Cardium Pool. Alston has oil assets in the emerging Chauvin area resource play. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By victorselva]

  Furthermore, yesterday we found on the news that General Electric will buy Alstom SA (ALO), the French builder of power plants and transmission gear. The deal could consist on the separation of Alstom�� transport business, which manufactures high-speed TGV trains, to make easier the approval of the French government. A potential value for Alstom at about $13 billion would be about 25 percent more than its current market value. As a consequence, stock price surged as much as 18 percent in Paris, the biggest jump in the last nine years. General Electric will gain control of Alstom�� technology for power transmission and power plant maintenance.

• [By Sarah Jones]

  HSBC, Europe�� biggest bank, Societe Generale SA (GLE), France�� second-largest lender, and Germany�� Commerzbank AG each climbed at least 2.6 percent after posting results. Allianz gained 3.6 percent after Europe�� largest insurer reported a jump in profit. Alstom SA (ALO) sank 12 percent after the power-equipment maker cut its profit forecast.

Hot Oil Companies To Watch In Right Now: Cosan Ltd (CZZ)

Cosan Limited (Cosan), incorporated on April 30, 2007, is a holding company. The Company is engaged in the production of ethanol and sugar, the marketing and distribution of fuel and lubricants in Brazil, and logistics services in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The Company imports, exports, produces and sells ethanol, sugar, sugarcane and other sugar by-products. It distributes and sells fuel and other fuel by-products. The Company produces and markets electricity, steam and other co-generation by-products. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011 (fiscal 2011), it operated 24 mills. On February 18, 2011, Cosan, through its subsidiary Cosan S.A. Acucar e Alcool acquired 100% of the voting corporate capital of Cosan Araraquara Acucar e Alcool Ltda., (Usina Zanin).

The Company operates in three in segments: sugar and ethanol (S&E), fuel distribution and lubricants (CCL) and sugar logistics (Rumo Logistica). The sugar and ethanol segment operates and produces a range of sugar products, including raw, organic, crystal and refined sugars and consumer products under the Da Barra and Uniao brands, which are sold to a range of customers in Brazil and abroad, as well as produces and sells hydrous, anhydrous and industrial ethanol, which are sold to the Brazilian market. The sugar and ethanol segment also includes energy co-generation activities and land development businesses. Its fuel distribution and lubricants segment includes the distribution and marketing of fuels, mainly through franchised network of service stations under the brand Esso throughout the national territory, and production, distribution and marketing of lubricants licensed from ExxonMobil International Holdings B.V.. Its sugar logistics segment provides logistics services for the transport, storage and port lifting of sugar.

Sugar and Ethanol segment

As of March 31, 2011 the Company leased 437,698 hectares, through 2,128 land lease contracts with an average term of five years. During fiscal 2011,! it harvested from owned or leased lands 27.4 million tons, of the sugarcane and purchased from third-party growers the 26.8 million tons of sugarcane. During fiscal 2011, its accumulated sugar extraction was 139.0 kilograms of total sugar recovered (TSR) per ton of sugarcane and its agricultural yield was 91.4 tons of sugarcane per hectare. It produces ethanol through a chemical process called yeasting. It produces and sells three types of ethanol: hydrous ethanol and anhydrous ethanol for fuel and industrial ethanol. It sells ethanol through gasoline distributors in Brazil mainly at the mill that sell it to retailers that then sell it at the pump to customers.

During fiscal year 2011, the Company sold 4.3 million tons of sugar. The Company produces a range of standard sugars, including raw sugar, crystal sugar and organic sugar, and refined sugars, including granulated refined white sugar, amorphous refined sugar, refined sucrose liquid sugar and refined inverted liquid sugar. Its Sao Francisco mill and the Da Barra mill produce refined sugar. It also sells industrial alcohol, which is used in the chemical and pharmaceutical sectors. It sells sugar to a range of customers in Brazil and in the international markets. Its customers in Brazil include retail supermarkets, foodservice distributors and food manufacturers, for which it sells refined and liquid sugar.

Fuel distribution and lubricants

The Company�� fuel distribution business is engaged in sourcing, storing, blending and distributing primarily gasoline, ethanol, diesel and fuel oil through its retail network of approximately 4,500 Esso and Shell-branded stations. During fiscal 2011, it sold approximately 1.03 billion liters of fuels, consisting of 96.0% diesel and 4.0% gasoline, ethanol and other fuels to its industrial and wholesale clients. During fiscal 2011, Cosan Combustiveise Lubrificantes S.A. (CCL) sold a total of 166.4 million liters of lubricants. Its lubricant operations consist of a wholly o! wned Lubr! icants Oil Blending Plant (LOBP), located in Rio de Janeiro, with annual production capacity of 1.4 million barrels of lubricants per year, including 48,000 barrels of grease per year.

Sugar Logistics

The Company owns and operates a sugar-loading terminal at the Port of Santos in the State of Sao Paulo through its subsidiary Rumo Logistica. It offers logistics solution to sugar producers located in the Center South of Brazil by transporting sugar from the mill by truck or rail to be loaded at its bulk sugar port terminal in Santos. It also offer sugar storage services.

The Company competes with Copersucar, Sudzucker AG, Petrobras, Ultrapar S.A., Shell Brasil Ltda. and AleSat Combustiveis S.A.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Maxx Chatsko]

  Lesson learned
  The financial situation at Amyris is less than enviable. Whereas fellow industrial biotech company Solazyme has hit every major milestone and had no problem raising funds, Amyris has had to take the more dilutive route for shareholders. Still, large commercial partners Total (NYSE: TOT  ) and Cosan (NYSE: CZZ  ) haven't backed down in their support of the company. Total upped its investment in Amyris during several rough patches in the past year after incurring significant paper losses on the roughly 20% stake in the company. Total even has its own webpage for the partnership, which speaks to its long-term vision for Amyris' platform, especially in renewable diesel.

• [By Maxx Chatsko]

  Partnership outlook
  I am still hoping that Codexis will be tapped by Raizen, a joint venture between Shell and sugar giant Cosan (NYSE: CZZ  ) , as its exclusive cellulase enzyme provider. Raizen has not been shy about its cellulosic ethanol ambitions -- planning a 10 million gallon per year facility -- but has yet to choose an enzyme technology. Investors should be careful not to assume that Codexis is a lock for the partnership (Raizen is the largest investor in Codexis), but with more than 580 million gallons of first-generation ethanol capacity the opportunity is enormous.

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Cosan (NYSE: CZZ) is estimated to post its Q1 earnings at $0.16 per share.

  ViaSat (NASDAQ: VSAT) is projected to post its Q4 earnings at $0.11 per share on revenue of $348.98 million.

Hot Oil Companies To Watch In Right Now: Western Gas Equity Partners LP (WGP)

Western Gas Equity Partners, LP, incorporated on September 11, 2007, was formed to own three types of partnership interests in Western Gas Partners, LP (WES). WES is a limited partnership formed by Anadarko Petroleum Corporation to own, operate, acquire and develop midstream energy assets. As of December 31, 2011, the Company had no independent operations. On January 13, 2012, WES acquired 100% interest of Mountain Gas Resources LLC (MGR). On August 1, 2012, WES acquired 24% interest of Chipeta Processing LLC (Chipeta).

WES is engaged in the business of gathering, processing, compressing, treating and transporting natural gas, condensate, natural gas liquids (NGLs) and crude oil for Anadarko, as well as third-party producers and customers. The assets of WGP, through its partnership interests in WES, include thirteen gathering systems, seven natural gas treating facilities, ten natural gas processing facilities, two NGL pipelines, one interstate gas pipeline, one intrastate gas pipeline, and three separate interests in Fort Union, White Cliffs Pipeline, LLC (White Cliffs) and Rendezvous Gas Services, LLC (Rendezvous). These assets are located in East and West Texas, the Rocky Mountains (Colorado, Utah and Wyoming), and the Mid-Continent (Kansas and Oklahoma). WES also has facilities under construction in South Texas and northeast Colorado. During the year ended December 31, 2011, WES completed the construction of a cryogenic processing train at its Chipeta facility , which had a designed capacity of approximately 300 million cubic feet of natural gas per day and was placed into service in October 2012.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jonas Elmerraji]

  The exact same setup is potentially giving traders a reason to jump into shares of $8.5 billion midstream gas company Western Gas Equity Partners (WGP). Just like Flotek, WGP is forming a textbook channel up. And this week, Western Gas is testing trendline support.

  It's a little too early to call WGP's trendline buyable here. At some point, all trends eventually fail -- and when this one does, you don't want to be left holding the bag. A bounce this week will be a good indication that WGP can still catch a bid at this price level. When and if that happens, I'd recommend keeping a tight protective stop in place just below WGP's most recent swing low at $38.

  While the 50-day moving average has been crossing paths with WGP quite a bit in the last month, I'd recommend ignoring it. The average hasn't acted as a meaningful support or resistance level to date. In the case of this particular name, it's just not technically relevant.