Friday, July 31, 2015

Top 10 Safest Companies To Invest In 2016

Top 10 Safest Companies To Invest In 2016: Flow International Corporation(FLOW)

Flow International Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a technology-based company providing waterjet cutting, surface preparation, and cleaning solutions in the United States, Europe, Asia, and internationally. The company?s products include ultrahigh-pressure water pumps and power waterjet systems used to cut and clean materials. It also offers ultrahigh-pressure surface preparation and industrial cleaning systems used in waterjet cleaning for coating removal; and consumable parts used by the pump and cutting heads during operations, such as seals and orifices, as well as provides related services. The company sells its consumable parts online through flowparts.com in the United States and floweuropeparts.com in Europe. It offers its products to various end-user applications and industries, including automotive, aerospace, paper, job shop, and stone and tile industries. The company was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in Kent, Washington.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Ben Levisohn]

    Flow International (FLOW) has gained 9.6% to $3.99 after it reported a loss of 2 cents a share, below forecasts for a 1 cent profit. Profits were hit by currency fluctuations and a $1.6 million charge.

  • source from Top Stocks To Buy For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/top-10-safest-companies-to-invest-in-2016.html

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Best Defense Stocks To Own Right Now

Best Defense Stocks To Own Right Now: Lockheed Martin Corporation(LMT)

Lockheed Martin Corporation engages in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration, operation, and sustainment of advanced technology systems and products in the areas of defense, space, intelligence, homeland security, and government information technology in the United States and internationally. It also provides management, engineering, technical, scientific, logistic, and information services. The company operates in four segments: Aeronautics, Electronic Systems, Information Systems & Global Services (IS&GS), and Space Systems. The Aeronautics segment offers military aircraft, including combat and air mobility aircraft, unmanned air vehicles, and related technologies. Its products and programs comprise the F-35 multi-role, stealth fighter; the F-22 air dominance and multi-mission stealth fighter; the F-16 multi-role fighter; the C-130J tactical transport aircraft; and the C-5M strategic airlifter modernization program; and support for the P-3 maritime patrol aircraft, and the U-2 high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft. The Electronic Systems segment provides air and missile defense; tactical missiles; weapon fire control systems; surface ship and submarine combat systems; anti-submarine and undersea warfare systems; land, sea-based, and airborne radars; surveillance and reconnaissance systems; simulation and training systems; and integrated logistics and sustainment services. The IS&GS segment offers information technology solutions and advanced technology primarily in the areas of software and systems integration for space, air, and ground systems to various defense and civil government agencies. The Space Systems segment provides government and commercial satellites; strategic and defensive missile systems, including missile defense technologies and systems, and fleet ballistic missiles; and space transportation sys! tems. Lockheed Martin Corporation was founded in 1909 and is based in Bethesda, Maryland.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Jonas Elmerraji]

     

    By chance, our next Rocket Stock also happens to have "sin stock" status. That's because we're taking a look at defense contracting giant Lockheed Martin (LMT). Lockheed Martin happens to be the only name on our Rocket Stocks list that actually manufactures rockets; the firm is one of the biggest defense contractors on earth, building everything from fighter jets to surveillance equipment to armored vehicles.

     

    In the last decade, Lockheed has worked on securing government contracts outside of the DoD, using its expertise to provide IT services to the Department of Energy, and the FAA with flight service staffing, for example. Iraq and Afghanistan have been major drivers of government demand for LMT's products and services -- and despite the occasional congressional budget scare, those needs are likely to persist for some time. Likewise, Lockheed has historically been able to secure permission to sell military equipment to our allies, diversifying the firm's fortunes away from Uncle Sam's pocketbook.

     

    That said, don't expect DoD spending to diminish in importance for Lockheed Martin's overall business. The firm's bread and butter will continue to come from defense sales. Like other sin stocks, Lockheed sports a hefty dividend payout -- the firm currently pays a 3.2% yield at current levels. With rising analyst sentiment in Lockheed Martin, we're betting on shares this week.


    Must Read: 5 Breakout Stocks Under $10 Set to Soar

     

  • [By Steven Russolillo]

    WATCH FOR: September Existing Home Sales (10:00 a.m. Eastern Time): seen +1.0% at 5.1 million; previously -1.8% at 5.05 million. ACE, Apollo Education, Brinker, Broadcom (BRCM), Coca-Cola (KO), Discover, E*Trade, Harley-Davidson (HOG), Illinois Tool Works (ITW), Interactive Brokers, Intuitive! Surgical! , Kimberly-Clark (KMB), Lexmark (LXK), Lockheed Martin (LMT), Manpower (MAN), McDonald's (MCD), Omnicom (OMC), Regions Financial (RF), Reynolds American (RAI), Six Flags Entertainment, Travelers, United Technologies Verizon Communications (VZ), VMware, Whirlpool (WHR) and Yahoo (YHOO) are among companies scheduled to report quarterly results.

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

    Lockheed Martin Corp.(LMT) on Tuesday reported a forecast-beating 1.7% rise in third-quarter profit and raised its 2014 earnings outlook for the third time this year, but said sales and margins will drop sequentially in 2015. Shares lost 2.7% to $170.80 premarket.

  • [By Alanna Petroff]

    1. Expecting earnings: McDonald's (MCD), Coca-Cola (KO), Verizon (VZ, Tech30) and Lockheed Martin (LMT) are the big companies reporting quarterly results before the start of trading.

  • source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/best-defense-stocks-to-own-right-now-2.html

Saturday, July 25, 2015

Top 10 Telecom Companies To Buy For 2016

Top 10 Telecom Companies To Buy For 2016: Verizon Communications Inc.(VZ)

Verizon Communications Inc. provides communication services. The company operates through two segments, Domestic Wireless and Wireline. The Domestic Wireless segment offers wireless voice and data services; and sells equipment in the United States. The Wireline segment provides voice, Internet access, broadband video and data, Internet protocol network, network access, long distance, and other services in the United States and internationally. The company serves consumer, business, and government customers, as well as carriers. As of December 31, 2010, its network covered a population of approximately 292 million and provided service to a customer base of approximately 94.1 million. The company was formerly known as Bell Atlantic Corporation and changed its name to Verizon Communications Inc. in June 2000. Verizon Communications Inc. was founded in 1983 and is based in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Laura Brodbeck]

    However, large telecom companies are already making plans to fight the new legislation. Carriers like Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) and Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCSA) are wary of new rules, saying they hinder their growth as a business. Having the ability to develop new services that give preference to certain groups of industries is something service providers can use to improve their profit margins.

  • [By Mike Deane]

    On Monday evening, Bloomberg reported that Verizon (VZ) approached AOL about a possible joint venture or acquisition related to Verizon trying to increase offerings for mobile video.

    In the article, Bloomberg cites “people with knowledge of the matter,” stating that no Verizon has not made a formal proposal to AOL. Verizon is said to be interested in this deal based on AOL’s programmatic ad! vertising technology, which is the automatic online buying and selling of ads. No agreement has been made.

    VZ Dividend Snapshot

    As of Market Close on January 5, 2015

    Click here to see the complete history of VZ dividends.

    Verizon stock was up 13 cents, or 0.28%, in pre-market trading.

  • [By Monica Gerson]

    AOL Inc.(NYSE: AOL) shares jumped 6.50% to $47.65 in pre-market trading following Monday Bloomberg report on rumored approach by Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ).

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

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Go Yield Hunting in These 3 Preferred Stocks

Money Dividends 185I had some idle cash sitting around, and I decided I wanted to deploy it into an investment that would be relatively stable yet throw off a nice dividend.

These days, though, that eliminates just about everything … except preferred stocks.

Preferred stocks are an often overlooked asset, but these “bond-stock” hybrids are beloved by those in the know because of their high yields and relative stability.

While many investors can easily access these through exchange-traded funds and mutual funds, I also prefer to dabble in a few individual preferred stocks:

Bank of America

Bank of AmericaFirst, let’s look at the Bank of America Depositary Shares, Each Representing a 1/1,000th Interest in a Share of 6.625% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series I.

Yes, that is the security's official name.

It means that one share of this "depository share,” issued at $25, is equal to 1/1000th a share of the actual preferred stock, which costs $25,000 each. Don't get confused, though. It's really just a share of stock that happens to represent a fraction of a larger share of stock.

This particular security is non-cumulative, however. That means that if Bank of America (BAC), for whatever reason, decides it can't or won't pay a dividend on this series of preferred stock, then you won't accrue those unpaid dividends as often is the case with other preferred series. It is also callable in October 2017, meaning the company can buy back the shares after that date. The security trades at $25.62, so the effective yield is 6.46%.

I've watched Bank of America for some time, hold the common, and think it's on very solid ground. Investors may be interested to know that BofA offers many different types of preferred stock, as well — some of which are carryovers from other firms that BofA purchased, such as Merrill Lynch.

Campus Crest Communities

CampusCrest185If you went to college, you might have been subjected (as I was) to a highly fragmented off-campus residence market. Times are changing, though, and someone finally got the idea to establish a housing brand that served college communities.

If retirement homes and hotels can have brands, why not student housing?

Campus Crest Communities (CCG) operates 33 student housing properties comprising 6,324 apartment units under its "Grove" brand name. It's a REIT, so it distributes a minimum of 90% of taxable income as a common dividend of roughly 6%, which may even attract other investors. Campus Crest carries $225 million in debt and services it at a rate of about 5%. The company came into its own in 2012, as it reported solid EBITDA of $16.5 million and a profit after debt service and preferred stock payments, which it just started that year.

Its 8% Preferred Series A shares were issued at $25, and are now trading above par at $26.19. That tells us that investors have a lot of confidence in the company and its ability to make the preferred stock payments. By trading above par, the effective yield is 7.61%.

EPR Properties

EPRProperties185I also jumped on the 9% Preferred Series E of an interesting REIT called EPR Properties (EPR), a $2.38 billion trust that owns 114 megaplex movie theaters; nine entertainment retail centers; seven family entertainment centers where one can bowl, enjoy nightlife, or sit atop observational towers; 13 metro ski parks; three water parks; four golf complexes, and 48 public charter schools.

So I guess the kids can break out of a school owned by EPR, then enjoy all the entertainment the company offers.

This is a very interesting entertainment infrastructure play, in that the company doesn't operate any of these locations. It leases them out, so it removes a degree of risk from being directly dependent on the revenue generated at each location. As long as EPR leases to credit-worthy tenants, it will be relatively insulated.

EPR sits on almost $1.5 billion in debt, but it's only costing them about 5% in interest. The company turns a very handsome bottom-line profit of $93 million after preferred dividend payments. Once again, we have a preferred stock that investors are confident in, as it trades well above its $25 par, at almost $29.

I'm usually not comfortable paying this far above par for an issuance, but I'm in it for the dividend, which effectively yields 7.77%.

As of this writing, Lawrence Meyers was long all the aforementioned preferred securities mentioned, as well as BAC common shares. did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. He is president of PDL Broker, Inc., which brokers financing, strategic investments and distressed asset purchases between private equity firms and businesses. He also has written two books and blogs about public policy, journalistic integrity, popular culture, and world affairs. Contact him at pdlcapital66@gmail.com and follow his tweets @ichabodscranium.

Saturday, July 11, 2015

Top 5 Gold Companies For 2016

Top 5 Gold Companies For 2016: Australian Dollar(AU)

AngloGold Ashanti Limited primarily engages in the exploration and production of gold. It also produces silver, uranium oxide, and sulfuric acid. The company conducts gold-mining operations in South Africa; continental Africa, including Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Namibia, and Tanzania; Australia; and the Americas, which include Argentina, Brazil, and the United States. It also has mining or exploration operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, and Colombia. As of December 31, 2010, the company had proved and probable gold reserves of 71.2 million ounces. The company has a strategic alliance with Thani Dubai Mining Limited to explore, develop, and operate mines across the Middle East and parts of North Africa. AngloGold Ashanti Limited, formerly known as Vaal Reefs Exploration and Mining Company Limited, was founded in 1944 and is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Mark Hulbert]

    If you prefer the shares of individual gold-mining companies, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold (FCX)  is currently the one most recommended by the Hulbert Financial Digest-monitored advisers who have beaten the S&P 500 over the past 15 years. Also popular are Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM) , Barrick Gold (ABX) , AngloGold Ashanti (AU)  and Newmont Mining (NEM) .

  • [By Brianna Valleskey]

    The result is that gold producers are not a particularly exciting part of markets in South Africa anymore, Theron said. Most of the large gold companies, like AngloGold Ashan! ti Limited (NYSE: AU) and Gold Fields Limited (NYSE: GFI), have internationalized their operations, he said, but still have a footprint in South Africa.

  • [By Jim Powell]

    In addition to holding Goldcorp and Barrick Gold, the fund tracks the performance of Newmont Mining (NEM), Newcrest Mining (NCMGY), AngloGold Ashanti (AU), and several other industry leaders.

  • [By Patricio Kehoe] stion arises: Why is First Eagle bullish regarding such a company? The answer might lie in the huge discount at which the third-largest gold producer by output is trading, along with a certain degree of long-term optimism.

    Huge Holdings Point to Long-Term Commitment

    Since First Eagle recently increased its stake in Anglogold by more than 20%, bringing his total holding to over 32.5 million shares, I believe we are looking at a long-term investment. I am keen on pointing this out, since the stock is currently performing very poorly, and has already lost around 275% of its value year to date. Above average production costs and plummeting gold prices have put a huge deal of pressure on the gold miner, leading to very poor results. In addition, since many of its operations are in geopolitically risky countries such as Mali and the Democratic Republic of Congo, shareholders have been shedding this stock in large volumes.

    Although Anglogold had a very rough year, and will continue to face elevated cash costs and reduced margins going into 2014, there are some positive signals looking forward. One of the most promising features, are the firm's operations in South America and Australia, which are enjoying solid organic growth. Although investors will have to wait some years for assets in these regions to reach full production, large profits should be achieved in the long-term. In other words, First Eagle surely has its eyes set on the company's new projects, and their future growth potential.

    Projected Growth and Low Price

    Another attractive feature inves! tors must! keep in mind is a stock's growth potential. When looking at Anglogold, this becomes especially relevant, as a comparison to Barrick Gold Corp (ABX) will demonstrate. Anglogold currently offers 13.6% returns on invested capital, compared to Barrick's -2.8%, and has an EBITDA growth rate of 465.7%, the highest in the industry. Thus, whereas the Canadian mine r has a negative EPS

  • source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-5-gold-companies-for-2016.html