HE Auto Car: February 2014

Friday, February 21, 2014

Microsoft Corporation (MSFT): Good Buy or Good-Bye?

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is getting some much needed love today. Barclays upgraded their opinion on the NASDAQ 100 company to an "Overweight" from an "Equalweight" rating.

Raimo Lenschow puts a price target of $42 on the monster-sized software company. He says MSFT is likely to choose a CEO internally and that the decision to stay in-house allows investors to focus on the company's improving fundamentals.

Like you don't know, but just in case, Microsoft Corporation is engaged in developing, licensing and supporting a range of software products and services. The Company operates in five segments: Windows & Windows Live Division (Windows Division), Server and Tools, Online Services Division (OSD), Microsoft Business Division (MBD), and Entertainment and Devices Division (EDD).

[Related -VMware, Inc. (NYSE:VMW): Set To Become The Biggest Beneficiary Of Hybrid Cloud]

Lenschow says, "In our opinion, the market is now pricing in a lower probability that an outsider will be named as CEO, especially with this week's confirmation that Alan Mulally is no longer in the running. While a further negative reaction is possible if an internal candidate is selected, we would see such a scenario as a buying opportunity, as the underlying fundamentals, discussed above, continue to improve. We think this will already be evident in the upcoming quarterly results (published January 23)."

To justify his new opinion, the analyst wrote change, "Gartner estimates cloud services to be a ~$200bn market by 2016. Microsoft has now fully embraced this trend and is already seeing credible success in cloud services with Azure (~$500m revenue in 2014 at +100% growth) and Office 365 ($1.5bn run rate). We estimate that cloud services could generate close to 10% of total revenue by 2017 and represent an ongoing significant growth driver for the company."

[Related -Sony Corporation: Top Black Friday Deals For PS3, Xbox 360]

Lenschow believes some expectations could be too low and prove to be a catalyst, "The main challenge for MSFT remains consumer Windows, where the move to mobile is quickly eroding growth. However, expectations around devices (i.e., Surface and Lumia) are now so low that upside could start to show in the coming quarters, while Windows comps are also getting easier."

It could be a whole lot better for Microsoft if they could cut back on the cost of revenue. Last quarter, the income statement line item increased at 22.70% while revenue climbed 15.75%.

However, management was able to offset the increase by reducing general and administrative expenses. As it was, cost of revenue plus operating expenses grew at a slower rate than sales, which means higher margins.

The balance sheet has a major plus and a major minus, in our view. As they say, the bad news first; inventory jumped 34.83%. Rising inventory doesn't necessarily translate into problems right away, but could turn into big-time trouble if the trend continues.

Now the good balance sheet news. Accounts receivables dropped a dramatic 37.05%, which means Microsoft's customers are paying up – a healthy sign.

Fundamentals will have to improve, or the company's multiples will have to expand for MSFT to hit Lenschow's $42. As we type, Mr. Softy's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is 13.34, which is running slightly warmer than the five-year average of 13.01.

We find a similar scenario on a price-to-sales (P/S) basis. Wall Street has been willing to pay an average P/S ratio of 3.56 for the Window's company during the last half-decade. Today, MSFT is trading at 3.76 times.

Overall: Microsoft Corporation's (NASDAQ:MSFT) stock is valued in the middle of the road. If Lenschow is correct that fundamentals are one the verge of improving and if margins can continue to climb, then it could be a one-two punch that helps accelerate profits faster than the street anticipates. Multiples tend to expand when profits outpace expectations.

The only worry in our view is bloating inventory. If that issues goes away, then MSFT shares could blow past $42.

Stocks move higher on strong bank earnings

Stocks were higher in morning trading Wednesday as investors were encouraged by banking industry earnings that support a broadly positive view of the economy.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.2% to 16,404 and the Standard & Poor's 500 index gained 0.2% to 1,843. The Nasdaq composite index jumped 0.4% to 4,200.

Bank of America, the nation's second-largest bank, reported Wednesday that its profit surged in the fourth quarter and loans on its balance sheet continue to improve. Shares climbed 3.5% to $17.35 in early trading.

That follows results from JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo that topped earnings forecasts on Tuesday.

Technology stocks were also among the early gainers: Apple rose more than 2% to $558.95; Microsoft was up 1.7% to $36.40; Intel gained 0.8% to $26.73.

Bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 2.91% from 2.87% on Tuesday.

Stocks ended higher during the previous session, giving Wall Street its best day of the year. The Dow closed up 0.7%, a gain of 115.92 points, to 16,373.86; the S&P 500 index gained 1.1% to 1,838.88. The Nasdaq composite index jumped 1.7%, ending at 4,183.02.

WALL STREET: Stocks end higher as tech shares jump

Markets overseas were moving higher after the World Bank reported that advanced economies appeared to have turned the corner after five years of financial crises and recession. It forecast global growth will firm to 3.2% this year from 2.4% in 2013.

"Equity markets welcomed the international financial organization's outlook for 2014, in which it raised its global growth forecasts for the year," said David Madden, market analyst at IG.

In Asia, Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index saw strong gains, up 2.5% to 15,808.73 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index gained 0.5% to 22,902.00.

Markets in Europe rose as Britain's FTSE 100 rose 0.8% to 6,820 and Germany's DAX gained 1.9% to 9,720.

Benchmark U.S. crude for February delivery was up 78 cents to $93.37 a barrel in electronic ! trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose 79 cents to close at $92.59 on Tuesday.

Contributing: Associated Press

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Abercrombie & Fitch: Turning Over a New Leaf?

This post is about Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) but first, a true story: In college, I tried to date a woman, but let’s just say she wasn’t interested. At least that is, until summer break rolled around, I cut my hair (it had been down my back, making me look like Dave Grohl from Nirvana if you’re feeling charitable, Chewbacca if you’re not), and came back to school a new man. Nothing had really changed, but she was finally interested.

Bloomberg News

Why do I bring this up? Because of Abercrombie & Fitch, which, until yesterday, wasn’t feeling much love. Its shares had dropped 28% during the past 12 months, while just a third of analysts rated it a buy. Activist investors were calling for the head of CEO Mike Jeffries.

How much perceptions change in a day. Last night after the close, Abercrombie & Fitch said that same-store sales fell less than forecast, while the teen retailer boosted its full-year guidance to a range of $1.55 to $1.65 a share, up from $1.40 to $1.50. Shares, needless to say, popped.

Shares of Abercrombie & Fitch have gained 11% to $36.78 today, even as Aeropostale (ARO) has dropped 5.2% to $8.50, and Zumiez (ZUMZ) has fallen 5.6% to $22.85. Wet Seal (WTSL), meanwhile, has gained 0.8% to $2.60 and American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) has advanced 0.9% to %15.46.

The question now: Has Abercrombie really turned it around? Stifel’s Richard Jaffe and team aren’t so sure. They write:

Management is playing good defense: significantly trimming a bloated expense structure, closing underperforming stores, focusing growth on accretive channels (international and e-commerce) and increasing speed to market. However we believe management remains focused on its "clearly defined aesthetic" of an aspirational, New England prep-inspired teenager which we believe is no longer relevant today. Additionally, management is reducing SKU counts and increasing depth of merchandise in an era where successful retailers are doing the opposite as consumers demand numerous choices and increased newness. This supports our belief that [Abercrombie & Fitch] will likely continue to struggle to gain relevancy in today's saturated retail market.

William Blair’s Amy Noblin and Jared Lubel are feeling more positive about Abercrombie & Fitch’s future:

We believe the company is in the early stages of implementing a sound turnaround plan that can drive meaningful profit recovery over the long term. We still see value in the brands and their global potential; thus, while we expect the turnaround to take time, particularly given the muted environment for teen spending, we see value for long-term investors with the stock at 14 times fiscal 2014 (ending January 2015) earnings and significant opportunity for profit improvement.

Janney’s Adrienne Tennant and Gabriella Carbone believe that Abercrombie’s stronger sales are a sign that the “brand still resonates,” and upgrade its shares to Buy. They explain why:

Despite the highly promotional retail environment the company was able to exceed their expectations quarter-to-date. The company noted that fall season carryover inventory levels are well controlled as they move into the new season. We are seeking ways to play a downtrodden Softlines space for 2H14, when we believe sectorwide inventory will be cleaner on a year-over-year basis, allowing for margin expansion. We believe the teen names have been the most beaten up and look for evidence of improving comp performance and ability to meet and possibly beat estimates in 2014, with the most opportunity in the back half of 2014. We believe [Abercrombie & Fitch] and [American Eagle Outfitters] are both names that fit the profile of attractive risk/reward names for 2014.

So what do you think? Is this a new Abercrombie & Fitch or has it just cut its hair?

Monday, February 17, 2014

Focus Financial adds to 'hefty' acquisition war chest

Rudy Adolf

Focus Financial Partners, one of the largest buyers of financial advisers' businesses, is getting deeper pockets in the New Year.

The partnership last month gained access to up to $550 million in credit from 10 financiers, led by Bank of America Corp., Focus chief executive Ruediger "Rudy" Adolf said in an interview Tuesday.

The loan facility allows Focus' 27 partner-advisers to open up their wallets and finance a host of acquisitions in the coming months and might spur an increasingly active mergers-and-acquisitions market this year for the businesses of registered investment advisers.

"We are very optimistic about the coming years because we believe 2014 will be, again, a very good year," Mr. Adolf said.

"We believe, ultimately, we can deploy this capital over time, and we have a very strong pipeline," he said, referring to a landscape of potential acquisitions.

“This gives them a huge war chest,” said M&A consultant David DeVoe.

“Having a large credit facility is a great asset for an organization," he said. "It's critically important that the management team be intelligent in how they implement it."

Mr. DeVoe, whose firm, DeVoe & Co., hasn't worked with Focus, said that the management team at Focus has "demonstrated a steady hand on the wheel."

Focus provides financing for its partners to acquire firms, largely in deals that combine cash payouts to advisers with an equity stake in the firm. It also purchases firms itself and finances internal succession plans.

Last year, the firm and its partners closed 10 transactions and increased Focus' assets under management by about $10 billion, to $70 billion. Eight of 10 of those deals were financed by Focus for its partners.

The new loan facility is nearly double the firm's last, which was negotiated in 2012, and adds leverage to the millions generated each month by business operations. Other investors in this funding include Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi-UFJ, Comerica Inc., Fifth Third Bank, Huntington Bank, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., SunTrust Robinson Humphrey Inc., TriState Capital Bank and U.S. Bank.

In July, Focus also said that it took in a $216 million investment from private-equity firm Centerbridge Partners.

Focus competes with other active firms in luring promising advisers and so-called breakaway brokers, i

Monday, February 10, 2014

10 Best Recreation Stocks To Watch For 2015

Propelled by stronger consumer spending, the U.S. economy grew in the third quarter at its fastest rate in nearly two years, the Commerce Department said Friday.

The economy expanded at an annual rate of 4.1% over the summer, the government said in a sharply increased final estimate of third quarter gross domestic product. GDP is the value of all goods and services produced in the U.S.

That's the highest since 2011's fourth-quarter estimate of 4.9%.

The Commerce Department previously pegged last quarter's expansion at an annual rate of 3.6%. The economy grew 2.5% in the second quarter of 2013.

Last quarter's better than expected performance was spurred by consumers spending more over the summer on health care, recreation and other services. Consumers also increased spending on non-durable goods, mainly gasoline and energy.

10 Best Recreation Stocks To Watch For 2015: Accell Group NV (ACCEL)

Accell Group NV is a Netherlands-based holding company. The Company and its subsidiaries divides its business into two segments: Bicycle & Bicycle Parts, active in the design, development, production, marketing and sales of bicycles, bicycle parts and accessories; and Fitness, providing fitness equipment. It sells bicycles under the Batavus, Bremshey, Ghost, Haibike, Hercules, Koga, Lapierre, Loekie, Redline, Sparta, Staiger, Tunturi, Winora, XLC and Raleigh brands via specialist bicycle retailers as well as bicycle parts under the Juncker Bike Parts and Wiener Bike Parts brands and fitness equipment under the Bremshey Sport brand. The Company�� main markets are the Netherlands, Germany, France, and European countries. The Company has production facilities in the Netherlands, Germany, France, Hungary and Belgium. As of December 31, 2011, it operated through 21 wholly owned subsidiaries. On May 22, 2012, the Company acquired Raleigh Cycle Limited.

10 Best Recreation Stocks To Watch For 2015: Smith & Wesson Holding Corp (SWHC)

Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (Smith & Wesson), incorporated on June 17, 1991, is a manufacturer of firearms. The Company manufactures a range of handguns, modern sporting rifles, hunting rifles, black powder firearms, handcuffs, and firearm-related products and accessories for sale to a range of customers, including gun enthusiasts, collectors, hunters, sportsmen, competitive shooters, individuals desiring home and personal protection, law enforcement and security agencies and officers, and military agencies in the United States and globally. It sell its products under the Smith & Wesson brand, the M&P brand, the Thompson/Center brand, and the Walther brand. The Company manufactures its firearm products at its facilities in Springfield, Massachusetts and Houlton, Maine. On July 26, 2012, it sold all of the assets of Smith & Wesson Security Solutions, Inc.

Firearms

During the fiscal year ended April 30, 2012 (fiscal 2012), the Company introduced multiple new handgun and modern sporting rifle models, and one new bolt action rifle platform. The Company's rifle introductions included the addition of the M&P15 300 Whisper to the Company's line of modern sporting rifles. As of April 30, 2012, the Company participated in three categories of the long-gun market and both core categories of the handgun market.

Handguns

The Company manufactures an variety of handgun models that include revolvers and pistols. A revolver is a handgun with a cylinder that holds the ammunition in a series of rotating chambers that are successively aligned with the barrel of the firearm during each firing cycle. There are two general types of revolvers: single-action and double-action. The Company's small-frame revolvers have been carried by law enforcement personnel and personal defense-minded citizens. The Company's revolvers are available in a variety of models and calibers, with applications in virtually all professional and personal markets.

The Company�� M! &P15 Series of modern sporting rifles are designed to satisfy the functionality and reliability needs of global military, law enforcement, and security personnel. These rifles are also popular as sporting target rifles and are sold to consumers through the Company's sporting good distributors, retailers, and dealers. The Company has a range of product portfolio of modern sporting rifles, which includes a lower price-point, sport model, a .22 caliber model, and a fully automatic model designed for the exclusive use of military and law enforcement agencies throughout the world.

Hunting Firearms

The Company manufactures three lines of bolt-action rifles under its Thompson/Center brand consisting of several models in each line. The Company's hunting rifles are offered in 16 different calibers. Bolt-action rifles operate by the cycling of a bolt handle that allows for both the loading and unloading of rounds through a magazine fed system.

During fiscal 2012, the Company introduced the Dimension bolt action rifle platform. Under the Company's Thompson/Center brand, the Company also offers seven models of American-made single shot black powder, or muzzle loader, firearms. The Company offers eight models of interchangeable, single shot firearm systems that deliver numerous gun, barrel, caliber configurations, and finishes. These systems can be configured as a center-fire rifle, rim-fire rifle, shotgun, black powder firearm, or single-shot handgun for use across the entire range of big- and small-game hunting.

Handcuffs

The Company manufactures handcuffs and restraints in the United States. The Company fabricates these products from the carbon or stainless steel.

Smith & Wesson Academy

Through the Smith & Wesson Academy, the Company offers instruction designed to meet the training needs of law enforcement and security customers worldwide. Classes are conducted at the Company's facility in Springfield, Massachusetts or o! n locatio! n around the world.

Specialty Services

The Company's services include forging, heat treating, finishing, and plating. It provides services to third-party customers.

The Company competes with Ruger,Taurus, Beretta, Glock, Heckler & Koch, Sig Sauer, Springfield Armory, Bushmaster, Rock River, Stag Arms, DPMS, Browning, Marlin, Remington, Ruger, Savage, Weatherby, CVA, Traditions, and Winchester.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Jim Woods]
An expression of such confidence was seen today when gun-maker Smith & Wesson Holding (SWHC) announced plans to buy back up to $15 million of its stock.

Top 10 Undervalued Companies To Invest In 2015: In Ovations Holdings Inc (INOH)

In Ovations Holdings Inc, formerly Marine Exploration, Inc., incorporated on June 27, 1996, is engaged in marine treasure hunting expeditions. Its operations are limited to providing funding to, and making approved capital expenditures for its joint venture partner, Hispaniola Ventures, LLC (Hispaniola). Hispaniola is engaged in the actual search for, diving to, and recovery of, the cargo and artifacts. In May 2012, the Company acquired Atmospheric Water Solutions, Inc. (AWS). The acquisition includes water making technology, inventory, and a distribution center. In January 2014, the Company announced the incorporation of of its Energy Services Company (ESCO), Electro Verde, Inc.

The Company is focused on the recovery of two vessels, named as Operation Mystery Galleon and Operation Abrojos which includes, without limitation, an operation to the Serranilla and Bajo Nuevo Banks in the Caribbean Sea. It is undergoing preliminary operations off the coast of the Dominican Republic. On December 11, 2008, Marine Exploration Inc's 128 ft operations vessel, the M/V Hispaniola, was launched for its primary missions, Operation Mystery Galleon and Operation Abrojos.

The Company competes with Odyssey Marine Exploration, Subsea Resources Ltd., Sovereign Exploration Associates International Inc. and Admiralty Holding Company.

10 Best Recreation Stocks To Watch For 2015: Smith & Wesson Holding Corp (SWHC.O)

Firearms

During the fiscal year ended April 30, 2012 (fiscal 2012), the Company intr oduced multiple new handgun and modern sporting rifle models, and one new bolt action rifle platform. The Company's rifle introductions included the addition of the M&P15 300 Whisper to the Company's line of modern sporting rifles. As of April 30, 2012, the Company participated in three categories of the long-gun market and both core categories of the handgun market.

Handguns

The Company� �! s M&P15 Series of modern sporting rifles are designed to satisfy the functionality and reliability needs of global military, law enforcement, and security personnel. These rifles are also popular as sporting target rifles and are sold to consumers through the Company's sporting good distributors, retailers, and dealers. The Company has a range of product portfolio of modern sporting rifles, which includes a lower price-point, sport model, a .22 caliber model, and a fully automatic model designed for the exclusive use of military and law enforcement agencies throughout the world.

Hunting Firearms

< p>During fiscal 2012, the Company introduced the Dimension bolt action rifle platform. Under the Company's Thompson/Center brand, the Company also offers seven models of American-made single shot black powder, or muzzle loader, firearms. The Company offers eight models of interchangeable, single shot firearm systems that deliver numerous gun, barrel, caliber configurations, and finishes. These systems can be configured as a center-fire rifle, rim-fire rifle, shotgun, black powder firearm, or single-shot handgun for use across the entire range of big- and small-game hunting.

Handcuffs

The Company manufactures handcuffs and restraints in the United States. The Company fabricates these products from the carbon or stainless steel.

Smith & Wesson Academy

Through the Smith & Wesson Academy, the Company offers instruction designed to meet the training needs of law enforcement and security customers worldwide. Classes are conduct ed at the Company's facility in Springfield, Massachus! etts o! r! on loca! tion around the world.

Specialty Services

The Company's services include forging, heat treating, finishing, and plating. It provides services to third-party customers.

10 Best Recreation Stocks To Watch For 2015: Accell Group NV (ACCG.AS)

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Air Cargo Weakness Threatens Airline Revenues

According to some estimates, up to 40% of the value of world trade travels by air. Thinking about that, the factoid has the ring of truth. You don't need a container ship or a VLCC to carry a haul of diamonds and gold or computer chips. And while 2013 air cargo traffic improved a bit, 2014 is expected to be another challenging year.

In remarks made Sunday ahead of the Singapore Airshow, International Air Transport Association (IATA) director general Tony Tyler cautioned that weakness in cargo markets is the airlines' biggest worry for the new year. Based on the most recent numbers from the carriers, there is reason to be at least a little bit worried.

In the fourth quarter, United Continental Holdings Inc. (NYSE: UAL) cargo revenue dropped 9.5% to $220 million. For the year, United's cargo revenue dropped 13.4% to $882 million. Cargo represents just 2.3% of the company's revenue, but, given the thin profits that airlines are running, losing cargo revenues makes it just that much harder to post profits.

American Airlines Group Inc. (Nasdaq: AAL) depends somewhat more on cargo revenues. Fourth quarter cargo revenue rose 13.9% to $196 million and full-year revenues rose 1.4% to $685 million. The company was created by the merger of AMR Corp. and US Airways. Due to the merger, the full-year results include only about three weeks of December and primarily reflect cargo revenues at the old AMR.

Delta Air Lines Inc. (NYSE: DAL) did not break out cargo revenues, but the number of cargo ton miles flown by the airline fell by 3.7% in the quarter and year-over-year. Delta estimates that its cargo operations will generate $1 billion in revenue in 2014, about half what its baggage fees and other service charges generate.

In its fiscal-second quarter, which ended in November, FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) reported a slight revenue decline due to lower express freight revenue. The company was able to show a profit primarily because it raised its package shipping rates.,

United Parcel Service Inc. (NYSE: UPS) said fourth quarter revenue per package declined by 1.3%. The company also said revenues in its supply chain and freight segment fell 5.8% to $2.3 billion due primarily to reduced tonnage and lower revenue per kilogram in the company's international air freight group.

The issue is essentially one of speed vs. cost. Here's how IATA's Tyler puts it:

Customers still need speed, quality, reliability and efficiency. And we need to get better at delivering it through improved technology and modern processes. This will be a year of change for air cargo.

The total air cargo market grew by just 1.4% in 2013. The industry needs to do better this year.

Friday, February 7, 2014

IIHS names 22 cars to Top Safety Pick Plus

Just when it looked like every new car on the road would earn the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Pick Plus designation, the rules get changed and the winners are winnowed down considerably.

Only 22 models now earn the IIHS' top award, coveted enough that it shows up endlessly in car advertising. To have won it, cars not only had to ace front, side, head restraint and roof crash tests, but the "small overlap crash test," which simulates crashing into a pole on the driver's side of the car.

That last test has been bedeviling automakers since it was introduced. Cars that had been on recommended lists for years suddenly found themselves failing. Automakers scrambled and make sure they could pass. Hence, Consumer Reports magazine today restores Toyota Camry to its recommended list now that it passes the IIHS tests.

"We've made it more difficult for manufacturers this year," says IIHS President Adrian Lund in a statement. "Following a gradual

phase-in, the small overlap crash is now part of our basic battery of tests, and good or acceptable performance should

be part of every vehicle's safety credentials."

Those passing all the test include:

Honda Civic hybrid

Mazda3 built after October 2013

Toyota Prius built after November 2013

Ford Fusion

Chrysler 200

Honda Accord 2-door

Honda Accord 4-door

Mazda6

Subaru Legacy

Subaru Outback

Infiniti Q50

Lincoln MKZ

Volvo S60

Volvo S80

Mazda CX-5 built after October 2013

Mitsubishi Outlander

Subaru Forester

Toyota Highlander

Acura MDX

Mercedes-Benz M-Class built after August 2013

Volvo XC60

Honda Odyssey

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Top 5 Energy Stocks For 2015

After selling about $10.8 billion in assets throughout 2012, it looks as though Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK ) is on track for more big sales in 2013. The company just announced this week that it plans to sell 98,000 acres in the Utica shale region of Ohio. Once the sale is completed, it will be the third large influx of capital this year, after the company inked $3.2 billion in joint ventures with Sinopec (NYSE: SHI ) and Total (NYSE: TOT ) this year.�

While the assets for sale are a more speculative play that has yet to be fully assessed, assets in the Utica could be a hot commodity. With a stronger liquids profile than its neighbor the Marcellus, midstream companies are investing big money to bring pipeline online in the region to increase takeaway capacity. In this video, Fool.com contributor Tyler Crowe looks at what this asset sale means to Chesapeake's presence in the Utica and who could be some potential buyers for this stake.

With each new sale and joint-venture deal, Chesapeake is slowly digging itself out of its massive debt hole and resembling a powerhouse in the energy space. With huge land holdings in some of the most promising shale plays in the United States, Chesapeake still has enormous potential. Let us help you better understand this U.S. energy giant by�checking out The Motley Fool's brand-new premium report on the company. Simply�click here now�to access your copy.

Top 5 Energy Stocks For 2015: Eagle Rock Energy Partners LP (EROC)

Eagle Rock Energy Partners, L.P. (Eagle Rock) is a limited partnership engaged in the business of gathering, compressing, treating, processing and transporting natural gas; fractionating and transporting natural gas liquids (NGLs); crude oil logistics and marketing; natural gas marketing and trading, known as Midstream Business, and developing and producing interests in oil and natural gas properties, known as Upstream Business. On May 3, 2011, the Company acquired CC Energy II, L.L.C and outstanding membership interests of Crow Creek Energy. On May 20, 2011, it sold the Wildhorse Gathering System in its East Texas and Other Midstream Segment.

Midstream Business

The Company�� Midstream Business is located in four natural gas producing regions: the Texas Panhandle; East Texas/Louisiana; South Texas, and the Gulf of Mexico. As of December 31, 2011, these working interest properties included 591 gross operated productive wells and 1,197 gross non-operated wells with net production to the Company of approximately 87.7 million cubic feet of natural gas per day and proved reserves of approximately 234.0 Bcf of natural gas, 11.5 million barrels of crude oil or other liquid hydrocarbons of crude oil, and 11.3 million barrels of crude oil or other liquid hydrocarbons of natural gas liquids, of which 76% are proved developed. As of December 31, 2011, its Midstream Business consisted of Panhandle Segment and East Texas and Other Midstream Segment.

The Company�� Texas Panhandle Segment covers 10 counties in Texas and two counties in Oklahoma. Through the systems within this segment, the Company offers midstream wellhead-to-market services, including gathering, compressing, treating, processing and selling of natural gas, and fractionating and selling of NGLs. As of December 31, 2011, approximately 213 producers and 2,072 wells and central delivery points were connected to the systems in its Texas Panhandle Segment. The Texas Panhandle Segment averaged gathered volumes fo! r 2011 of approximately 155.1 million cubic feet of natural gas per day. As of December 2011, Chesapeake Energy and BP America Production represented 14% and 11%, respectively, of the total volumes of its Texas Panhandle Segment. The Texas Panhandle Segment consists of approximately 3,963 miles of natural gas gathering pipelines, ranging from two inches to 24 inches in diameter; seven natural gas processing plants with an aggregate capacity of 210 million cubic feet of natural gas per day; a propane fractionation facility with capacity of 1.0 million cubic feet of natural gas per day, and two condensate collection and stabilization facilities.

Eagle Rock�� systems in the East Panhandle (northern Wheeler, Hemphill and Roberts Counties, Texas) gather and process natural gas produced in the Morrow and Granite Wash reservoirs of the Anadarko basin. In the Panhandle Segment, natural gas is contracted at the wellhead primarily under percent-of proceeds (which includes percent-of-liquids) fixed recovery, percent-of-index and fee-based arrangements that range from one to five years in term. During the year endede December 31, 2011, it produced over 2,600 equity barrels per day of condensate in the Texas Panhandle Segment. During 2011, it stabilizes approximately 2,000 barrels per day combined at its Superdrip and Cargray Stabilizers.

The Company�� East Texas and Other Midstream Segment operates within the natural gas producing regions, such as East Texas/Louisiana, South Texas and the Gulf of Mexico. Through its Texas/Louisiana region, it offers producers natural gas gathering, treating, processing and transportation and NGL transportation across 21 counties in East Texas and seven parishes in West Louisiana. Its operations in the South Texas region primarily gather natural gas and recover NGLs and condensate from natural gas produced in the Frio, Vicksburg, Miocene, Canyon Sands and Wilcox formations in South Texas. Its operations in the Gulf of Mexico region are non-operated owne! rship int! erests in pipelines and onshore plants which are all located in southern Louisiana. The Gulf of Mexico region also provides producer services by arranging for the processing of producers��natural gas into third-party processing plants, known as Mezzanine Processing Services.

As of December 31, 2011, approximately 705 wells and central delivery points were connected to its systems in the East Texas and Other Midstream Segment. As of December 31, 2011, the East Texas and Other Midstream Segment provides gathering and/or marketing services to approximately 140 producers. During 2011, the East Texas and Other Midstream Segment averaged gathered volumes of approximately 319.9 million cubic feet of natural gas per day. As of December 31, 2011, Stone Energy Corporation and Anadarko Petroleum Company represented 18% and 9%, respectively, of the total volumes of its East Texas and Other Midstream Segment. Residue gas pipelines include Houston Pipeline Company, Natural Gas Pipeline Company, Tennessee Gas Pipeline, Crosstex Energy L.P. and Southern Natural Pipeline.

Upstream Business

The Company�� Upstream Business located in four regions within the United States, such as Southern Alabama, which includes the associated gathering, processing and treating assets; Mid-Continent, which includes areas in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas Panhandle and North Texas; Permian, which includes areas in West Texas, and East/South Texas/Mississippi assets. As of December 31, 2011, these working interest properties included 591 gross operated productive wells and 1,197 gross non-operated wells with net production of approximately 87.7 million cubic feet of natural gas per day and proved reserves of approximately 234.0 Bcf of natural gas, 11.5 million barrels of crude oil or other liquid hydrocarbons of crude oil, and 11.3 million barrels of crude oil or other liquid hydrocarbons of natural gas liquids, of which 76% are proved developed.

The Southern Alabama region includes the! Big Esca! mbia Creek, Flomaton and Fanny Church fields located in Escambia County, Alabama. These fields produce from either the Smackover or Norphlet formations at depths ranging from approximately 15,000 to 16,000 feet. The Big Escambia Creek field encompasses approximately 11,568 gross and 7,334 net Eagle Rock operated acres. It operates 18 productive wells with an average ownership of 60% working interest and 51% net revenue interest in the Big Escambia Creek field. The Fanny Church field is located two miles east of Big Escambia Creek. Its ownership includes approximately 1,284 gross and 999 net operated acres that include three productive operated wells with an average ownership of 86% working interest and 66% net revenue interest. The Flomaton field is adjacent to and partially underlies the Big Escambia Creek field. The field encompasses approximately 1,280 gross and 1,256 net Eagle Rock operated acres and produces from the Norphlet formation at depths from approximately 15,000 to 16,000 feet. It operates three productive wells with an approximate average 91% working interest and 78% net revenue interest. The Smackover and Norphlet reservoirs are sour, gas condensate reservoirs which produce gas and fluids containing a high percentage of hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide.

The Mid-Continent region consists of operated and non-operated properties across the Golden Trend Field, Cana Shale play, Verden Field, and other western Oklahoma fields located in the Anadarko Basin in Oklahoma, the Mansfield Field and other various fields in the Arkoma Basin in Arkansas and Oklahoma, various fields in the Texas Panhandle, and the Barnett Shale in north Texas. Productive depths range from approximately 2,500 feet in the Arkoma fields of western Arkansas to greater than 18,000 feet in the Springer formation in certain western Oklahoma fields. Its producing field is the Golden Trend field that extends across Grady, McClain and Garvin counties in Oklahoma. It has 14,621 net acres in the Cana Shale play exte! nding acr! oss Canadian, Blaine and Dewey counties, Oklahoma. The Cana Shale produces from horizontal wells drilled to vertical depths of 11,000 - 13,000 feet and extended with horizontal lateral lengths of approximately 5,000 feet. In the total Mid-Continent region, it operate 316 productive wells and own a working interest in an additional 1,054 non-operated productive wells. The average working interest in these productive operated and non-operated wells is 83% and 9%, respectively. The net production averaged approximately 53.2 million cubic feet of natural gas per day during 2011, of which approximately 77% was produced from wells it operated.

The Permian region contains numerous fields, including Block 27, Estes Block 34, H.S.A., Heiner, Monahans N., Payton, Running W., Ward S, and Ward-Estes N. located mainly in Ward, Pecos, and Crane Counties, Texas. These fields are located in the Central Basin Platform which extends from central Lea County in New Mexico to central Pecos County in Texas and encompasses hundreds of individual fields with multiple productive intervals from the Yates-Seven Rivers-Queen through the Ellenburger formations. The Ward County fields contains two major properties, the Louis Richter and the American National Life Ins. Co. leases, and encompasses approximately 10,285 gross and 10,215 net Eagle Rock acres. It operate multiple fields consisting of stacked multi-pay horizons that produce from depths of 2,300 feet (Yates) to 9,100 feet (Pennsylvanian). The Southern Unit is located in the Running W Waddell field and produces predominantly oil at depths from approximately 5,750 to 5,900 feet. It operates approximately 5,875 net acres in this area.

The East/South Texas/Mississippi region includes the Aker, Birch, Edgewood, Eustace, Fruitvale, Ginger and Wesson fields in East Texas, the Jourdanton field in South Texas, and the Chicora W, High Road, and Stafford Springs fields in Mississippi. The East Texas fields produce primarily from the Smackover Trend at depth! s from 12! ,000 to 12,700 feet and encompass approximately 18,991 gross and 15,872 net Eagle Rock acres. It operates 32 productive wells, which produce gas that contains between approximately 30% to 69% of impurities (hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide). The Edgewood field also contains two productive gas wells in the Cotton Valley at depths of 11,500 to 11,600 feet which produce sweet natural gas. The East Texas production, with the exception of a single well, is delivered to the third party owned Eustace Plant for separation of condensate, removal of impurities, and extraction of natural gas liquids and sulfur for a combination of fees and percentage of proceeds.

In South Texas, it operates wells in the Jourdanton field in Atascosa County, Texas. It operates nine productive wells with 100% working interest and 88% net revenue interest. Its production from the field is primarily from the Edwards carbonates (7,300 to 7,400 feet). On December 31, 2011, the Company had under operation 290 gross (261 net) productive oil wells and 301 gross (251 net) productive natural gas wells. On December 31, 2011, Eagle Rock owned non-operated working interests in an additional 148 gross (18 net) productive oil wells and 1049 gross (72 net) productive natural gas wells.

The Company competes with DCP Midstream, LLC and Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P., Crosstex Energy, L.P., Energy Transfer Partners, LP and Enterprise Products Partners, L.P.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Robert Rapier] Most MLP investors have two main concerns: the preservation of capital and reliable income — in that order. These two objectives are, of course, closely linked. An MLP that treats its investors to negative distribution surprises is likely to be an MLP that does a poor job of preserving capital. For example, Eagle Rock Energy Partners (Nasdaq: EROC) has lost 25 percent of its value since announcing a distribution cut in late October.

But how does an investor judge whether an MLP is at risk of a surprising distribution cut? As we discussed recently in The Unkindest Cut for MLPs, some classes of MLP are more susceptible to cuts than others. For variable distribution MLPs, it’s par for the course. Distributions go up, and they go down — depending on market conditions. MLPs focused on upstream oil and gas operations are also at greater risk of a distribution cut during periods of softening oil and gas prices.
[By Seth Jayson]
Eagle Rock Energy Partners (Nasdaq: EROC ) reported earnings on May 1. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), Eagle Rock Energy Partners whiffed on revenues and missed expectations on earnings per share.
[By Matt DiLallo]
Investors face quite the dilemma when choosing which way to play the explosive growth of oil and gas production. Some choose to invest in the upside of the commodities by investing directly in an oil and gas producer. Others want the security of midstream cash flows and instead choose to invest in the MLP sector. That means that investors seeking a little bit of exposure to both plays need to invest in two separate companies. Unless, of course, they've invested in�Eagle Rock Energy Partners� (NASDAQ: EROC ) .
[By Matt DiLallo]
I recently took a brief look at one of the more unique MLPs, Eagle Rock Energy Partners (NASDAQ: EROC ) . What makes this company unique is that it's a blend of both traditional midstream MLP assets and oil and gas production assets. Today, I want to take a closer look at those oil and gas production assets, which I think provide investors with a lot of upside potential.

Top 5 Energy Stocks For 2015: Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation(COG)

Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation operates as an independent oil and gas company in the United States. The company engages in the development, exploitation, exploration, production, and marketing of natural gas, crude oil, and natural gas liquids. It holds reserves in north region comprising Appalachian and Rocky Mountains areas; and south region consisting of Anadarko basin with Texas and Louisiana areas. The company also transports, stores, gathers, and purchases natural gas for resale. As of December 31, 2010, it had proved reserves of approximately 2,761 billion cubic feet of natural gas equivalents. The company was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Jayson Derrick]
Cabot Oil & Gas (NYSE: COG) revealed that it has achieved a gross production record in the Marcellus shale of 1.5 billion cubic feet a day. The company, appropriately, raised its 2013 production growth guidance range to a 50 percent to 55 percent rage, from a previous 44 percent to 54 percent range. 2014 production growth is seen unchanged in a 30 percent to 50 percent range. Shares gained 5.25 percent, closing at $38.32.
[By Tony Daltorio]
They constitute some of the best investments in energy now. Notice how they dominate a list of the leading producers in the three most prolific oil basins over the last year:
Bakken: Continental Resources Inc. (NYSE: CLR), Whiting Petroleum Corp. (NYSE: WLL), and Hess Corp. (NYSE: HES). Permian Basin: Occidental Petroleum Corp. (NYSE: OXY), Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE: PXD), and Apache Corp. (NYSE: APA). Eagle Ford: EOG Resources Inc. (NYSE: EOG), ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP), Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. (NYSE: COG), and Chesapeake Energy Corp. (NYSE: CHK).
Two stocks from this list that investors should focus on are EOG Resources and Cabot Oil & Gas.
[By Matt DiLallo]
The other concern is that methane gas from a well could end up in drinking water. A few years ago, a well drilled by�Cabot Oil & Gas� (NYSE: COG ) �in Dimock, Pa., had been linked to being the root cause of methane gas found in water wells in that town. However, the industry has gone to great lengths to ensure the safety of the drilling of wells in an effort to completely mitigate these concerns. The industry continues to improve the well completion process, with safety being a very high priority for the industry.�

Top Cheap Companies For 2015: Hoku Corporation(HOKU)

Hoku Corporation operates as a solar energy products and services company primarily in the United States. It focuses on manufacturing polysilicon, a primary material used in the manufacture of photovoltaic (PV) modules; and designing, engineering, and installing turnkey PV systems and related services in Hawaii using solar modules purchased from third-party suppliers. The company was formerly known as Hoku Scientific, Inc. and changed its name to Hoku Corporation in March 2010. Hoku Corporation was incorporated in 2001 and is headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Top 5 Energy Stocks For 2015: Linn Energy LLC (LINE)

Linn Energy, LLC (LINN Energy) is an independent oil and natural gas company. The Company�� properties are located in the United States, primarily in the Mid-Continent, the Permian Basin, Michigan, California and the Williston Basin. Mid-Continent Deep includes the Texas Panhandle Deep Granite Wash formation and deep formations in Oklahoma and Kansas. Mid-Continent Shallow includes the Texas Panhandle Brown Dolomite formation and shallow formations in Oklahoma, Louisiana and Illinois. Permian Basin includes areas in West Texas and Southeast New Mexico. Michigan includes the Antrim Shale formation in the northern part of the state. California includes the Brea Olinda Field of the Los Angeles Basin. Williston Basin includes the Bakken formation in North Dakota. On December 15, 2011, the Company acquired certain oil and natural gas properties located primarily in the Granite Wash of Texas and Oklahoma from Plains Exploration & Production Company (Plains).

On November 1, 2011, and November 18, 2011, it completed two acquisitions of certain oil and natural gas properties located in the Permian Basin. On June 1, 2011, it acquired certain oil and natural gas properties in the Cleveland play, located in the Texas Panhandle, from Panther Energy Company, LLC and Red Willow Mid-Continent, LLC (collectively Panther). On May 2, 2011, and May 11, 2011, it completed two acquisitions of certain oil and natural gas properties located in the Williston Basin. On April 1, 2011, and April 5, 2011, the Company completed two acquisitions of certain oil and natural gas properties located in the Permian Basin. On March 31, 2011, it acquired certain oil and natural gas properties located in the Williston Basin from an affiliate of Concho Resources Inc. (Concho). During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company completed other smaller acquisitions of oil and natural gas properties located in its various operating regions. As of December 31, 2011, the Company operated 7,759 or 69% of its 11,230 gross productiv! e wells.

Mid-Continent Deep

The Mid-Continent Deep region includes properties in the Deep Granite Wash formation in the Texas Panhandle, which produces at depths ranging from 10,000 feet to 16,000 feet, as well as properties in Oklahoma and Kansas, which produce at depths of more than 8,000 feet. Mid-Continent Deep proved reserves represented approximately 47% of total proved reserves, as of December 31, 2011, of which 49% were classified as proved developed reserves. The Company owns and operates a network of natural gas gathering systems consisting of approximately 285 miles of pipeline and associated compression and metering facilities that connect to numerous sales outlets in the Texas Panhandle.

Mid-Continent Shallow

The Mid-Continent Shallow region includes properties producing from the Brown Dolomite formation in the Texas Panhandle, which produces at depths of approximately 3,200 feet, as well as properties in Oklahoma, Louisiana and Illinois, which produce at depths of less than 8,000 feet. Mid-Continent Shallow proved reserves represented approximately 20% of total proved reserves, as of December 31, 2011, of which 70% were classified as proved developed reserves. The Company owns and operates a network of natural gas gathering systems consisting of approximately 665 miles of pipeline and associated compression and metering facilities that connect to numerous sales outlets in the Texas Panhandle.

Permian Basin

The Permian Basin is an oil and natural gas basins in the United States. The Company�� properties are located in West Texas and Southeast New Mexico and produce at depths ranging from 2,000 feet to 12,000 feet. Permian Basin proved reserves represented approximately 16% of total proved reserves, as of December 31, 2011, of which 56% were classified as proved developed reserves.

Michigan

The Michigan region includes properties producing from the Antrim Shale formation in the northern ! part of t! he state, which produces at depths ranging from 600 feet to 2,200 feet. Michigan proved reserves represented approximately 9% of total proved reserves, as of December 31, 2011, of which 90% were classified as proved developed reserves.

California

The California region consists of the Brea Olinda Field of the Los Angeles Basin. California proved reserves represented approximately 6% of total proved reserves, as of December 31, 2011, of which 93% were classified as proved developed reserves.

Williston Basin

The Williston Basin is one of the premier oil basins in the United States. The Company�� properties are located in North Dakota and produce at depths ranging from 9,000 feet to 12,000 feet. Williston Basin proved reserves represented approximately 2% of total proved reserves, as of December 31, 2011, of which 48% were classified as proved developed reserves.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Ben Levisohn]
It’s the moment investors in Linn Energy (LINE) have been waiting for–the SEC’s decision to approve or block it merger with Berry Petroleum (BRY).
REUTERS
From Linn Energy’s press release:

LINN Energy, LLC, LinnCo, LLC (LNCO) and Berry Petroleum Company (the “Companies”) announced today that the final Registration Statement on Form S-4 has been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and the Companies have also filed definitive proxy materials with the SEC.

Raymond James analyst Pavel Molchanov explains the significance:

LINN Energy and Berry Petroleum announced that the SEC has declared their S-4 effective. At this point the companies are in the process of mailing out the proxy materials. LINN Energy and Berry Petroleum have scheduled a shareholder vote date of December 16, and the record date for the company�� shareholders is November 14….This is clearly positive news for both LINE and BRY shareholders. The SEC approval helps remove the cloud of doubt that has been hanging over the upstream MLP business model. Look for both stocks to rally on today�� news.

And indeed it has been. Linn Energy has gained 1.7% to $30.17, Linn Co. has edged up 0.5% to $31.85 and Berry Petroleum has risen 1.1% to $51.49.
[By Robert Rapier]
For the full year, Memorial expects DCF of $129 to $133 million, which would provide distribution coverage of 110 to 120 percent. Because I believe natural gas prices will steadily creep higher over the next three to five years, MEMP could make an excellent portfolio addition with some upside appreciation potential. The one caveat is that it trades at a premium to competitors like BreitBurn and Linn Energy (Nasdaq: LINE). This is understandable in the case of Linn, which is dealing with an SEC issue, but I would take a good look at BreitBurn as a lower-cost alternative.
[By Travis Hoium]
What: Both LinnCo (NASDAQ: LNCO ) and LINN Energy (NASDAQ: LINE ) jumped 10% today on a positive analyst report.

So what: Analysts at Bank of America Merrill Lynch released a report that said they don't think LINN Energy has inflated or distorted cash flow because of accounting practices. The company has been under pressure after Barron's and research firm Hedgeye Risk Management questioned the practice of capitalizing put contracts, which affect non-GAAP metrics and potentially the dividends the company pays. �

Top 5 Energy Stocks For 2015: National-Oilwell Inc.(NOV)

National Oilwell Varco, Inc. designs, constructs, manufactures, and sells systems, components, and products used in oil and gas drilling and production; provides oilfield services and supplies; and distributes products, and provides supply chain integration services to the upstream oil and gas industry worldwide. Its Rig Technology segment offers offshore and onshore drilling rigs; derricks; pipe lifting, racking, rotating, and assembly systems; rig instrumentation systems; coiled tubing equipment and pressure pumping units; well workover rigs; wireline winches; wireline trucks; cranes; and turret mooring systems and other products for floating production, storage and offloading vessels, and other offshore vessels and terminals. The company?s Petroleum Services & Supplies segment provides various consumable goods and services to drill, complete, remediate, and workover oil and gas wells and service pipelines, flowlines, and other oilfield tubular goods. It also manufacture s, rents, and sells products and equipment for drilling operations, including drill pipe, wired drill pipe, transfer pumps, solids control systems, drilling motors, drilling fluids, drill bits, reamers and other downhole tools, and mud pump consumables. In addition, this segment provides oilfield tubular services comprising the provision of inspection and internal coating services; equipment for drill pipe, line pipe, tubing, casing, and pipelines; and coiled tubing pipes and composite pipes. Its Distribution Services segment sells maintenance, repair and operating supplies, and spare parts to drill site and production locations. The company primarily serves drilling contractors, shipyards and other rig fabricators, well servicing companies, pressure pumping companies, oil and gas companies, supply stores, and pipe-running service providers. National Oilwell Varco, Inc. was founded in 1862 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By David Kerr]
As odd as it is to see an article pertaining to quarterly earnings on our site, I just couldn�� resist. National Oilwell Varco (NOV) has officially put up some pretty impressive numbers. On Oct. 25, 2013, the company reported that for the third quarter ending on Sept. 30, 2013, it earned a net income of $636 million ($1.49 per share). If we compare this to last quarter, which earned a net income of $531 million, we can see that in just one quarter NOV experienced almost a 20% increase in revenue. Even if we take away the $10 million in pre-tax transaction charges and the $102 million in pre-tax gains that are results from the settlement of an outstanding legal claim, net income has still increased almost 8%. Part of this is due to operating profit increasing 3% (to 15% of sales) for the quarter.
[By Rick Munarriz]
National Oilwell Varco (NYSE: NOV ) , a maker of oil and gas drilling and oilfield services equipment, doubled its quarterly dividend to $0.26 a share.
[By Shauna O'Brien]
Jefferies reported on Monday that it has lifted its price target on National-Oilwell Varco, Inc. (NOV).

The firm has reaffirmed a “Buy” rating on NOV, and has raised the company’s price target from $84 to $91. This price target suggests a 14% increase from the stock’s current price of $78.24.

Analyst Brad Handler noted that NOV’s weak margin will likely rebound in 2014 and the chances of a dividend increase are high.

Looking forward, the firm has lifted its order estimates for FY2013 from $10.8 billion to $11.3 billion. FY2014 earnings estimates have been raised from $6.40 to $6.50 per share and FY2015 estimates have been increased from $7.65 to $7.95 per share.

National-Oilwell Varco shares were up 76 cents, or 0.97% during pre-market trading Monday. The stock is up 14% YTD.
[By Arjun Sreekumar]
National Oilwell Varco
Another potential winner is National Oilwell Varco (NYSE: NOV ) , the single largest supplier of rig equipment to the oil and gas industry. Through decades of smart acquisitions, it has grown to become the most dominant, low-cost provider of rig equipment for the world's largest drillers, commanding a whopping 60% market share. �

Top 5 Energy Stocks For 2015: El Paso Corporation(EP)

El Paso Corporation operates in the natural gas transmission, and exploration and production sectors of the energy industry primarily in the United States. It offers natural gas transmission services to a range of customers, including natural gas producers, marketers, and end-users, as well as other natural gas transmission, distribution, and electric generation companies through its interests in approximately 43,100 miles of interstate pipeline system. The company also operates approximately 240 billion cubic feet of storage capacity, and an LNG receiving terminal in Elba Island, Georgia. In addition, El Paso Corporation focuses on the exploration, acquisition, development, and production of natural gas, oil, and natural gas liquids in the United States, Brazil, and Egypt, as well as engages in midstream business. The company primarily sells its domestic natural gas and oil to third parties. As of December 31, 2010, it had proved natural gas and oil reserves of approximat ely 3.4 trillion cubic feet of natural gas equivalents. The company was founded in 1928 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Top 5 Energy Stocks For 2015: Transportadora de Gas del Sur SA (TGS)

Transportadora de Gas del Sur S.A. (TGS) is engaged in the transportation of natural gas and production and commercialization of natural gas liquids (NGL). TGS�� pipeline system connects major gas fields in southern and western Argentina with gas distributors and industries in those areas and in the greater Buenos Aires area. The Company also renders midstream services, which consist of gas treatment, removal of impurities from the natural gas stream, gas compression, wellhead gas gathering and pipeline construction, operation, and maintenance services. The Company operates in three segments: natural gas transportation services through its pipeline system; NGL production and commercialization, and other services, which include midstream and telecommunication services.

During the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company�� gas transportation represented approximately 42% of total net revenues. During 2009, its NGL production and commercialization segment accounted for 50% of the total revenues of the Company. During 2009, its other services segment accounted for 8% of total revenues of the Company. Its other services segment consists of midstream and telecommunications services. Through midstream services, TGS provides integral solutions related to natural gas from wellhead up to the transportation systems. The services consists of gas gathering, compression and treatment, as well as construction, operation and maintenance of pipelines, which are generally rendered to natural gas and oil producers at wellhead. The customers��portfolio also includes distribution companies, industrial users, power plants and refineries.

During 2009, the Company provided a range of technical services to different customers. The services consisted of connections to the transportation system, engineering inspections, project management and professional technical counseling. Telecommunication services are provided through Telcosur S.A. (Telcosur), who renders services both as an independent c! arrier of carriers and to corporate clients within its area. Telcosur has a digital land radio connection system.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Dividend]
Transportadora de Gas Del Sur S.A. (TGS) has a market capitalization of $308.26 million. The company employs 829 people, generates revenue of $466.44 million and has a net income of $43.33 million. Transportadora de Gas Del Sur�� earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $170.33 million. The EBITDA margin is 36.52 percent (the operating margin is 27.41 percent and the net profit margin 9.29 percent).
[By Sofia Horta e Costa]
Telecom Italia SpA (TIT) lost 1.8 percent as Standard & Poor�� said it may downgrade the phone company�� debt to non-investment grade. TGS Nopec Geophysical Co. (TGS) tumbled the most in two years after reducing its revenue forecast. Celesio AG jumped to a three-year high on a report that McKesson Corp. may buy the German drug distributor.
[By Corinne Gretler]
TGS (TGS) slumped 7.4 percent to 176.90 kroner as Norway�� largest surveyor of underwater oil-and-gas fields lowered its forecast for full-year revenue to $920 million to $1 billion because of lower-than-expected demand from industry. It had projected sales of $970 million to $1.05 billion.

Top 5 Energy Stocks For 2015: CVR Refining LP (CVRR)

CVR Refining, LP, incorporated on September 17, 2012, is an energy limited partnership with refining and related logistics assets that operates in the mid-continent region. As of January 8, 2013, the Company owned two of only seven refineries in the underserved Group 3 of the PADD II region of the United States. It owns and operates a 115,000 barrels per day (bpd) coking medium-sour crude oil refinery in Coffeyville, Kansas and a 70,000 bpd medium complexity crude oil refinery in Wynnewood, Oklahoma capable of processing 20,000 bpd of light sour crude oils (within its 70,000 bpd capacity). In addition, it also controls and operates supporting logistics assets, including approximately 350 miles of owned pipelines, over 125 owned crude oil transports, a network of strategically located crude oil gathering tank farms, and over six million barrels of owned and leased crude oil storage capacity. On December 15, 2011, the Company�� subsidiary Coffeyville Resources, LLC (Coffeyville Resources) acquired Wynnewood Energy Company, LLC, formerly Gary-Williams Energy Corporation.

The Company�� Coffeyville and Wynnewood refineries are located approximately 100 miles and 130 miles from the crude oil hub at Cushing, Oklahoma. As of January 8, 2013, the Company gathered approximately 50,000 bpd of price-advantaged crudes from its gathering area, which includes Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas. The Company also has 35,000 bpd of contracted capacity on the Keystone and Spearhead pipelines that allows it to supply price-advantaged Canadian and Bakken crudes to its refineries. As of January 8, 2013, the Company had 145,000 bpd pipeline system that transports crude oil from its Broome Station tank farm to its Coffeyville refinery, as well as a total of 6 million barrels of owned and leased crude oil storage capacity, including approximately 6% of the total crude oil storage capacity at Cushing.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Tyler Crowe]
For refiners, though, that spread in price led to very lucrative refining margins. As that spread has narrowed, so too has margins for refiners.
Refining Margins Q4 2012� Q2 2013 Valero (NYSE: VLO ) $12.27 $9.26 Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX ) � $13.67 $9.88 HollyFrontier (NYSE: HFC ) $24.00 $20.28 CVR Refining (NYSE: CVRR ) $28.08 $20.30
Source: Company Earnings releases

Top 5 Energy Stocks For 2015: Petrotech Oil & Gas Inc (PTOG.PK)

PetroTech Oil and Gas, Inc., formerly Unity Management Group, Inc., incorporated on April 10, 1998, operates and develops Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) opportunities within qualifying oil reservoirs in the United States using its Enhanced Oil Recovery method and technique. The company is also a construction and heavy equipment company. The Company is focussing on developing and acquisitions of technology in secondary oil recovery, oil and gas reporting software, trading software and Nitrogen and CO2 injection equipment. Enhanced oil recovery is also called improved oil recovery or tertiary recovery. The Company�� services include Work over and Installation Services, Heavy Equipment Services, Nitrogen, CO2 and Gas Mixture Treatments, Exhaust Gas Unit, Gas Assisted Gravity Drainage and Reservoir Development. During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company acquired On Track Technology, Inc. On June 30, 2012, the Company acquired Metropolitan Computing Corp.

Work over and Installation Services

Drilling Vertical or Horizontal Well Supervision, Traditional Work over, Oilfield Work Over Rigs and Roustabout Services to be on location while recompletion, plugging or equipping of wells for in house leases and third party jobs as well. Where applicable Petrotech will utilize flexible Poly Urethane tubing for testing of wells and permanent installs for some shallow depths. The flexible tubing has a Paraffin�� and Asphalt Ines don�� stick to flexible tubing (as it does to steel tubing); and flexible tubing has an estimated 10 times longer life dependent upon the corrosiveness of production and by products, such as the water produced with hydrocarbons.

Heavy Equipment Services

Heavy Equipment Services includes heavy equipment, oilfield roustabout, crane work, water hauling, setting pumping units, separators, tanks, digging pitts and locations roads and heavy equipment services also includes h ighways for in house leases, third party oil companies and! l! ocal and government agencies.

Nitrogen, CO2 and Gas Mixture Treatments

The Company focuses in treating with Nitrogen, CO2 or a combination of the two; through two applications where applicable-Huff and Puff and Steady flooding. In cases, HoCyclic gas injection processes has been primarily restricted to the use of pure CO2 or CO2 that has been slightly contaminated.

Exhaust Gas Unit

The CO2/N2 gas mixture focuses to generated from a patented one-of-a-kind portable exhaust unit capable of producing 2.5 millions of cubic feet equivalent at 2000 psi. The exhaust unit manufacturing facility is capable of building over 100 million of daily of deliverability or 180,000 horse power of equipment per year.

Gas Assisted Gravity Drainage

Natural segregation of its gas mixture at miscibility pressure is a component in recreating a gas cap. Doubling of the primary oil recovery from a reservoir is expected with this EOR method and gas mixture. SPE paper #89357 documents GAGD recoveries averaging 63% of the OOIP.

Reservoir Development

Petrotech Oil and Gas Inc. focuses to use the technology in third dimension geophysics available, drilling and compositional reservoir modeling to devise the reservoir�� development plan. In some reservoirs has two horizontal wellbores; one each for the injection of gas and production of oil.

Top 5 Energy Stocks For 2015: Solar Power Inc (SOPW.PK)

Solar Power, Inc., incorporated on May 22, 2006, is a global solar energy facility (SEF) developer offering SEF development services. The Company offers an approach to design, engineer and construct photovoltaic (PV) solar systems for commercial and utility applications. In addition to developing SEFs using products manufactured by LDK Solar Co., Ltd. (LDK), its parent company, the Company also sells solar modules and balance of system components manufactured by third party vendors to other integrators in the United States, Asian, and European markets. In June 2012, the Company acquired 100% interest in Italy-based Solar Green Technologies (SGT) from LDK Solar Europe Holdings S.A., a wholly owned subsidiary of LDK Solar Co., Ltd.

In addition to designing, engineering and constructing SEFs, the Company also provides long-term operations and maintenance (O&M) services through its O&M program SPIGuardianTM. This service program provides a suite of services tha t commence upon a facility�� commissioning to provide performance monitoring, system reporting, preventative maintenance and full warranty support over the anticipated life of the SEF.

The Company competes with Sun Power Corporation, First Solar, SPG Solar, Sun Edison, Kyocera Corporation, Mitsubishi, Solar World AG, Sharp Corporation, Yiugli, Solar Fun and Suntech and Canadian Solar.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Institutions get itchy fingers

The focus shifted Monday from emerging markets to stateside economic growth, as a large downside surprise in the monthly purchasing managers' survey saddled the Nasdaq Composite with its worst loss in 20 months.

For a larger chart, please click here .

Of note was the increased range in the major averages and the heaviest volume on a down day in the Nasdaq in over seven months. The index has booked five major distribution days in the past eight sessions, a high number.

As noted here Thursday, in a bull market, as an average begins to decline, it is normally preferable for volume to recede. This is an indication that profit-taking is not serious. However, once a pullback is of 5% depth, it is better to see volume become heavy on down days, and the more of it, the better. A series of drops on heavy volume can increase the chance of a selling climax and an end to the decline.

Along these lines, in order for a durable low to have some sustainability, market participants should be at, or near, a throw-in-the-towel level of sentiment. The level of fear increases until everyone who cannot stand the heat in the kitchen decides to sell and get out. Good lows are not made by buyers, they are made by sellers. That throw-in-the-towel mind set is what creates a durable low.

As the Nasdaq has corrected as much as 6% from its intraday high, Monday, then, was a step in the right direction due to the increased range and the extraordinary volume.

Apart from the technical, the action was particularly disconcerting, as the latest ISM survey of purchasing managers showed a sizable downside surprise. Unlike the monthly nonfarm payrolls report, the ISM number is viewed as one of the best forward-looking indicators of economic growth extant.

This now sets the table for the January employment report this Friday, one of the more pivotal releases in some time in light of December's soft number of 74,000 vs. the consensus forecast of 196,000.

Retail spending comprises about one-third of economic activity. Retail shares are considered early cycle issues, and tend to perform better during the first half of a bull market. Since '09, the performance of the retail sector has been key to this column's ability to look past market participants' concerns over the wherewithal of the economy to grow.

But while retail stocks cannot be expected to outperform late in a bull market, the sharp underperformance vs. the S&P 500 since Jan. 1 is cause for concern. The message appears to be a consumer spending slowdown isin our midst.

For a larger chart, please click here .

For a larger chart, please click here .

The above notwithstanding, this column's general market analysis takes its cues from the price/volume behavior of the major averages and the action of the leading stocks. Sector performance, such as that of the retailers above, is considered secondary. It is used more as a gauge of overall health and as a long-term signpost for the averages than anything else.

At the same time, the market's reaction to economic reports like the ISM survey discussed above is used as a sentiment gauge.

Monday, February 3, 2014

Best Clean Energy Stocks To Watch Right Now

It's been a long time coming for both natural gas and solar as viable sources of energy in the United States. Both have been struggling with a lack of consumer and industrial buy-in, but both could be right around the corner. Is either one standing out at the moment?

The debate is on
In the following video, Motley Fool analysts Joel South and Taylor Muckerman each weigh in on how natural gas and solar have been performing lately and which companies are taking the lead. Both options have made progress recently, with Clean Energy Fuels (NASDAQ: CLNE ) building out its "America's Natural Gas Highway" initiative and SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWR ) producing more efficient solar panels.

Has Clean Energy Fuels solved the "chicken-or-the-egg" debate?
The movement toward alternative energy is gaining momentum. One potential opportunity in this field is Clean Energy Fuels, which focuses its natural gas efforts primarily on trucking and fleets. It's poised to make a big impact on an essential industry. Learn everything you need to know about Clean Energy Fuels in The Motley Fool's premium research report on the company. Just click here now to claim your copy today.

Best Clean Energy Stocks To Watch Right Now: Pixelworks Inc.(PXLW)

Pixelworks, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, development, and marketing of video and pixel processing semiconductors and software for digital video applications. Its products include ImageProcessor integrated circuits (ICs), which comprise embedded microprocessors, digital signal processing technology, and software that control the operations and signal processing within high-end display systems, such as projectors and high-resolution flat panels; Video Co-Processor ICs that work in conjunction with an image processor to post-process video signals to enhance the performance or feature set of the overall video solution; and Networked Display ICs, which allow the same video stream to be networked across multiple displays. The company serves the manufacturers of digital display and projection devices, such as liquid crystal display (LCD) large-screen televisions and 3LCD, and digital light processing digital front projectors, as well as the flat pa nel display market, including digital signage. Pixelworks, Inc. sells its products through its direct sales force, distributors, and manufacturers? representatives in Japan, Taiwan, China, Korea, the United States, Europe, and southeast Asia. The company was founded in 1997 and is based in San Jose, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Roberto Pedone]
A semiconductor stock that looks poised for higher prices is Pixelworks (PXLW), which designs, develops and markets video and pixel processing semiconductors and software for high-end digital video applications. This stock has been in play with the bulls so far in 2013, with shares up by 104%.

If you take a look at the chart for Pixelworks, you'll notice that this stock has been uptrending for the last month and change, with shares moving higher from its low of $3.63 to its intraday high of $4.74 a share. During that uptrend, shares of PXLW have been making mostly higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now started to push shares of PXLW into breakout territory above $4.58 a share with strong upside volume flows. Volume so far today has already surpassed 1 million shares, which is well above its three-month average action of 334,348 shares.

Market players should now look for long-biased trades in PXLW if it manages to break out above Thursday's intraday high of $4.74 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above that level with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 334,348 shares. If we get that move soon, then PXLW will set up to re-test or possibly take out its 52-week high at $5.30 a share. Any high-volume move above $5.30 will then give PXLW a chance to tag $6 a share.

Traders can look to buy PXLW off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below its 50-day moving average of $3.92 a share, or below some more support at $3.80 a share. One can also buy PXLW off strength once it clears $4.74 a share with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.
[By Jon C. Ogg]
Pixelworks Inc. (NASDAQ: PXLW) showed that its second-quarter revenue rose by 15.5% due to increased sales of chips for both projectors and TVs. Shares were up 26% at $4.50 in the Tuesday after-hours session, but we would warn that volume is not as active and a wide spread may have amped the gain. Now we have shares up a whopping 44% at $5.15, and volume has become active as a result.
[By John Udovich]
We have recently added small cap video chip stock Pixelworks, Inc (NASDAQ: PXLW) to our SmallCap Network Elite Opportunity (SCN EO)�as it stands to benefit from the growth in connecting HD quality video across all mobile device platforms, as well as Smart TVs; but Silicon Image, Inc (NASDAQ: SIMG) and Sigma Designs, Inc (NASDAQ: SIGM) are also providing chips for the video or entertainment markets. Moreover, all three of these small cap stocks have recently reported earnings that might leave you feeling even more bullish.

Best Clean Energy Stocks To Watch Right Now: Centaur Holdings(CAU.L)

Centaur Media plc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the creation and dissemination of business and professional information through publications, exhibitions, conferences, and electronic services in the United Kingdom. Its products include various print and online products, and events. Its print product line primarily includes various weekly titles comprising Marketing Week, Money Marketing, The Lawyer, Design Week, and New Media Age; fortnightlies, such as The Engineer and Recruiter; and monthly magazines, including Creative Review, Employee Benefits, Homebuilding & Renovating, Period Living, and ABC&D, as well as books and directories related to the creative, marketing, and building and home communities. It also operates Web-based community sites, such as mad.co.uk for the marketing, media, advertising, and design community; The Lawyer.com for the legal community; The Engineer Online for the engineering community; Money Marketing Online for the financial community; a nd NMA Online for the new media community. In addition, it produces a range of Web sites for journalists in specialist sectors, principally financial and automotive; provides financial information services; and owns Pro-Talk, a collection of 13 Web sites covering various markets. Further, the company conducts a series of annual exhibitions, conferences, award shows, and summits. Additionally, its other products include Centaur Direct Marketing that provides resource of business data in the United Kingdom; and YouGovCentaur, which offers insights and customized research projects to marketers and researchers. The company also operates fundweb.co.uk, a news service for investment professionals; and Pitch, an online publication, which provides news and views on marketing communications. Centaur Media plc was founded in 1982 and is based in London, the United Kingdom.

5 Best Dow Dividend Stocks For 2015: Scancell Holdings PLC (SCLP)

Scancell Holdings PLC is a United Kingdom-based company. The Company�� principal activity of the consists of the discovery and development of monoclonal antibodies and vaccines for the treatment of cancer. In April 2012, the Company completed recruitment to the Phase 1 clinical trial of SCIBI. In May 2012, the Company commenced recruitment and treatment of the first patient in the second part of it Phase 1/2 clinical trial of SCIBI. The Phase 2 part of the trial is conducted in five United Kingdom centers in Nottingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Leeds, and Southampton. On August 15, 2012, the Company announced the development of a platform technology, Moditope.

Best Clean Energy Stocks To Watch Right Now: Passport Metals Inc (PPI.V)

Passport Potash Inc., an early stage natural resource company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in the United States. The company focuses on the exploration of potash. It primarily holds 100% interest in the Holbrook basin property that covers an area of 81,000 acres in the Holbrook basin located in Navajo county, Arizona. The company was formerly known as Passport Metals Inc. and changed its name to Passport Potash Inc. in November 2009. Passport Potash Inc was incorporated in 1987 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Best Clean Energy Stocks To Watch Right Now: Celgene Corp (CELG.O)

Celgene Corporation is a global biopharmaceutical company primarily engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of therapies designed to treat cancer and immune-inflammatory related diseases. The Company is engaged in the research and development, which is designed to bring new therapies to market, and is engaged in research in several scientific areas that may deliver therapies, focusing areas, such as intracellular signaling pathways in cancer and immune cells, immunomodulation in cancer and autoimmune diseases, and therapeutic application of cell therapies. The Company�� primary commercial stage products include REVLIMID, VIDAZA, THALOMID, ABRAXANE and ISTODAX. Additional sources of revenue include a licensing agreement with Novartis, which entitles it to royalties on FOCALIN XR and the entire RITALIN family of drugs, the sale of services through its Cellular Therapeutics subsidiary and other miscellaneous licensing agreements. In March 2012, it acq uired Avila Therapeutics.

The Company invests in research and development, and the drug candidates in its pipeline at various stages of preclinical and clinical development. These candidates include pomalidomide and apremilast, its oral anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory agents, PDA-001, its cellular therapy, oral azacitidine, CC-223 and CC-115 for hematological and solid tumor malignancies, CC-122, its anti-cancer pleiotropic pathway modifier, and ACE-011 and ACE-536 biological products for anemia in several clinical settings of unmet need. Celgene product candidates include Pomalidomide (CC-4047), Oral Anti-Inflammatory: Apremilast (CC-10004), CC-11050, Kinase Inhibitors:Tanzisertib (CC-930), Cellular Therapies: PDA-001, Activin Biology: Sotatercept (ACE-011) ACE-536, and Anti-tumor Agents: CC-22, CC-115, CC-122 and Oral Azacitidine. It owns and operates a manufacturing facility in Zofingen, Switzerland. The Company also owns and operates a drug product manufac turing facility in Boudry, Switzerland.

Comme! rc! ial Stage Products

REVLIMID (lenalidomide) is an oral immunomodulatory drug marketed in the United States and many international markets, in combination with dexamethasone, for treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy. It is also marketed in the United States and certain international markets for the treatment of transfusion-dependent anemia due to low- or intermediate-1-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) associated with a deletion 5q cytogenetic abnormality with or without additional cytogenetic abnormalities. REVLIMID is distributed in the United States through contracted pharmacies under the RevAssist program, which is a risk-management distribution program. Internationally, REVLIMID is distributed under mandatory risk-management distribution programs.

REVLIMID continues to be evaluated in numerous clinical trials worldwide either alone or in combination with one or more other therapies in the tre atment of a range of hematological malignancies, including multiple myeloma (MDS) various lymphomas, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) other cancers and other diseases. VIDAZA (azacitidine for injection) is a pyrimidine nucleoside. VIDAZA is a Category 1 recommended treatment for patients with intermediate-2 and high-risk MDS and is marketed in the United States for the treatment of all subtypes of MDS. In Europe, VIDAZA is marketed for the treatment of intermediate-2 and high-risk MDS, as well as acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with 30% blasts and has been granted orphan drug designation for the treatment of MDS and AML.

THALOMID (thalidomide) is marketed for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma and for the acute treatment of the cutaneous manifestations of moderate to severe erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) an inflammatory complication of leprosy and as maintenance therapy for prevention and suppression of the cutaneous manifestation of ENL recurrence. THALOMID is distributed in the United States under its ! Syste! m ! for Tha! lidomide Education and Prescribing Safety (S.T.E.P.S.) program. Internationally, THALOMID is also distributed under mandatory risk-management distribution programs. ABRAXANE (paclitaxel albumin-bound particles for injectable suspension) is a solvent-free chemotherapy treatment option for metastatic breast cancer, which was developed using its nab technology platform. This protein-bound chemotherapy agent combines paclitaxel with albumin. As of December 31, 2011, ABRAXANE was in various stages of investigation for the treatment of expanded applications for metastatic breast; non-small cell lung; malignant melanoma; pancreatic; bladder and ovarian.

ISTODAX (romidepsin) has received orphan drug designation for the treatment of non-Hodgkin's T-cell lymphomas, which includes CTCL and PTCL. The Company has licensed the worldwide rights (excluding Canada) regarding certain chirally pure forms of methylphenidate for FOCALIN and FOCALIN XR to Novartis. It also licensed t o Novartis the rights related to long-acting formulations of methylphenidate and dex-methylphenidate products which are used in FOCALIN XR and RITALIN LA.

Preclinical and Clinical-Stage Pipeline

The product candidates in the Company�� pipeline are at various stages of preclinical and clinical development. Pomalidomide is a small molecule that is orally available and modulates the immune system and other biologically important targets. Pomalidomide is being evaluated in a phase III clinical trial for the treatment of myelofibrosis and a phase III clinical trial evaluating pomalidomide as a treatment for patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma is accruing patients.

The Company is developing a product, ORAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AGENTS, which is orally available small molecules that target PDE4, an intracellular enzyme that modulates the production of multiple pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators, including interleukin -2 (IL-2), IL-10, IL-12, IL-23, INF-gamma, TNF-a,! leukotri! en! es, and n! itric oxide synthase. Its investigational drug, apremilast (CC-10004), is used for the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis and active psoriatic arthritis and is being evaluated in a phase II trial for rheumatoid arthritis and six phase III multi-center international clinical trials. In addition, it is investigating its oral PDE4 inhibitor, CC-11050, which is an anti-inflammatory compound that treat a variety of chronic inflammatory conditions, such as Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus (CLE).

The Company�� oral kinase inhibitor platform includes inhibitors of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) mTOR kinase, spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) c-fms tyrosine kinase (c-FMS) and DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNAPK). Its oral Syk, c-FMS and DNAPK kinase inhibitors are being investigated in pre-clinical studies. The Company�� new second generation JNK inhibitor, tanzisertib (CC-930), is being evaluated in a phase II trial for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosi s and a phase II trial for the treatment of discoid lupus is accruing patients. Amrubicin is a third-generation fully synthetic anthracycline molecule with potent topoisomerase II inhibition.

At Celgene Cellular Therapeutics (CCT), it is researching stem cells derived from the human placenta, as well as from the umbilical cord. CCT is the Company�� research and development division. Stem cell based therapies provide disease-modifying outcomes for serious diseases, which lack adequate therapy. It has developed technology for collecting, processing and storing placental stem cells with broad therapeutic applications in cancer, auto-immune diseases, including Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, neurological disorders, including stroke and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), graft-versus-host disease, and other immunological / anti-inflammatory, rheumatologic and bone disorders.

The Company has collaborated with Acceleron Pharma, Inc. (Acceleron) to develop sotatercept. Two phase I clinical s! tudies ha! ve been! complete! d. An additional phase II clinical study has been initiated and is ongoing related to treatments for end-stage renal anemia and to evaluate effects on red blood cell mass and plasma volume.

The Company competes with Abbott Laboratories, Amgen Inc. (Amgen), AstraZeneca PLC., Biogen Idec Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Eisai Co., Ltd., F. Hoffmann-LaRoche Ltd., Johnson and Johnson, Merck and Co., Inc., Novartis AG, Pfizer, Sanofi and Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (Takeda).

Best Clean Energy Stocks To Watch Right Now: Gibraltar Industries Inc.(ROCK)

Gibraltar Industries, Inc. manufactures and distributes building products for the home improvement, highway construction, building materials, architectural industries, and construction industries. The company?s products include a line of bar grating and safety plank grating for use in walkways, platforms, safety barriers, drainage covers, and ventilation grates; expanded and perforated metal used in walkways, catwalks, shelving, fencing, barriers, patio furniture, and other applications; metal lath products for use in exterior stucco, stone, and tile projects; fiberglass grating; and expansion joint systems, bearing assemblies, and pavement sealing systems used in bridge and highway infrastructure construction. Its products also consist of roof and foundation ventilation products and accessories; mail storage solutions comprising single mailboxes and cluster boxes for multi-unit housing; roof edging, underlayment, and flashing; soffits and trim; drywall corner bead; coate d coil stock; metal roofing and accessories; steel framing; rain dispersion products, such as gutters and accessories; and lawn and garden products. The company sells its products through its sales personnel and outside sales representatives to home improvement retailers and building product distributors, as well as to commercial, residential, and transportation contractors. It operates primarily in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe. The company was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Buffalo, New York.

Best Clean Energy Stocks To Watch Right Now: Accuride Corporation New (ACW)

Accuride Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in designing, manufacturing, marketing, and supplying commercial vehicle components in North America. The company offers heavy- and medium-duty steel and aluminum wheels, light truck steel wheels, and military wheels; and wheel-end components and assemblies, such as brake drums, disc wheel hubs, spoke wheels, disc brake rotors, and automatic slack adjusters. It also provides truck body and chassis parts comprising bumpers, fuel tanks, battery boxes and toolboxes, front-end cross members, muffler assemblies, and crown assemblies and components, as well as fenders, exhaust components, sun visors, windshield masks, step assemblies, brackets, fuel tank supports, inner-hood panels, door assemblies, dash panel assemblies, and various other components. In addition, the company offers ductile and gray iron casting of transmission and engine-related components, which comprise flywheels, and transmission and engine-relate d housings and brackets; and ductile and gray iron casting of industrial components, such as flywheels, pump housings, small engine components, and other industrial components. Accuride Corporation markets its products under Accuride, Gunite, Imperial, and Brillion brand names. It serves heavy- and medium-duty truck, and commercial trailer original equipment manufacturers (OEM); and aftermarket suppliers, including OEM dealer networks, wholesale distributors, and aftermarket buying groups. The company was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Evansville, Indiana.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Seth Jayson]
Basic guidelines
In this series, I examine inventory using a simple rule of thumb: Inventory increases ought to roughly parallel revenue increases. If inventory bloats more quickly than sales grow, this might be a sign that expected sales haven't materialized. Is the current inventory situation at Accuride (NYSE: ACW ) out of line? To figure that out, start by comparing the company's inventory growth to sales growth. How is Accuride doing by this quick checkup? At first glance, pretty well. Trailing-12-month revenue decreased 14.3%, and inventory decreased 30.5%. Comparing the latest quarter to the prior-year quarter, the story looks decent. Revenue dropped 28.6%, and inventory dropped 30.5%. Over the sequential quarterly period, the trend looks healthy. Revenue grew 9.2%, and inventory dropped 6.1%.
[By George Putnam]
Because of a very leveraged balance sheet, the company—Accuride Corp. (ACW)—could not survive the 2008-09 recession, and it filed for bankruptcy in October 2009.

Best Clean Energy Stocks To Watch Right Now: Comstock Mining Inc (LODE)

Comstock Mining Inc. (Comstock), incorporated on October 19, 1999, is a gold and silver mining company with contiguous property in the Comstock and Silver City mining districts (collectively, the Comstock District). The Company owns or controls approximately 6,315 acres in the Comstock District comprising 1,455 acres of patented mining claims and surface parcels, and 4,860 acres of unpatented claims. As of December 31, 2011, the Company had drilled 646 reverse circulation (RC) and core holes, representing over 242,000 feet of drill data in the Lucerne Resource Area. As of December 31, 2011, the Company also had 432 RC and core holes from the Lucerne Resource Area. Its Lucerne Resource Area is located in Storey County, Nevada, approximately three miles south of Virginia City, Nevada. The Dayton Resource Area its commercial mining activities, is located in Lyon County Nevada, approximately six miles south of Virginia City. The Company operates in two segments: mining and hospitality.

The Company's mining segment consists of exploration and developmental drilling, mine planning, permitting, mineral claims, plus all other activities and expenditures associated with bringing the mine into production. Its hospitality segment consists of hotel rooms, cottages, restaurant, bar and other services provided by Gold Hill Hotel Inc. The Company�� property rights to the mineral estate of the Comstock Mine Project consist of five mineral leases, one joint venture (providing exclusive rights to exploration, development, mining and production), fee ownership of real property and mining claims. This project has 92 patented and 325 unpatented mineral lode claims, as well as 25 unpatented placer claims. The Comstock Mine Project holdings consist of approximately 6,315 acres of active mining claims and surface parcels (private lands) in the Comstock District. The acreage is consisted of 1,455 acres of patented mining claims and surface parcels and 4,860 acres of unpatented mining claims. The Company also o! wns a heap leach processing facility. It owns and operates the Gold Hill Hotel, three related cottages. The Hotel is located in Gold Hill, Nevada between Virginia City and the Comstock mine project.

The Company focuses on the Lucerne Resource Area (including the East-side target within this Area), the Dayton Resource Area and the Spring Valley exploration target. The Lucerne Resource Area includes the Billie the Kid, Hartford and Lucerne mining claims, and extends northeasterly to the area of the Woodville bonanza, and north to the Justice and Keystone mines, plus the extension of these areas down-dip to the east. The Lucerne Resource Area is approximately 5,000 feet long, with an average width of 600 feet, representing less than 3% of the land holdings controlled by the Company. The Dayton Resource Area lies southwest of Silver City, from the Dayton, Kossuth and Alhambra claims, including the old Dayton mine workings, south to where the Kossuth claim crosses State Route 341. The Spring Valley exploration target lies at the southern end of the Comstock District. The area includes the Kossuth claim south of State Route 341, the Dondero property, the New Daney lode mining claims, and the Company�� placer mining claims in Spring Valley and Gold Canyon. The Northern Extension, Northern Targets and Occidental Areas represent exploration target areas, which contain mining operations, including the Overman, Con Imperial, Caledonia, and Yellow Jacket mines.

Best Clean Energy Stocks To Watch Right Now: Blyth Inc. (BTH)

Blyth, Inc. operates as a direct to consumer marketing company in North America, Europe, and Australia. The company operates in three segments: Health & Wellness, Candles & Home D茅cor, and Catalog & Internet. The Health & Wellness segment offers a suite of weight-management products, nutritional supplements, and energy drinks under the ViSalus Sciences, ViSalus, and Body by Vi Challenge brands primarily through its independent promoters. The Candles & Home D茅cor segment sells food and recipe products, candles, reed diffusers, and other home fragrance products and related decorative accessories under the PartyLite, GloLite by PartyLite, and Two Sisters Gourmet by PartyLite names through independent sales consultants. The Catalog & Internet segment develops and markets an array of decorative and functional household products, personalized cards, gifts, food products, and health and wellness products under the Miles Kimball, Walter Drake, As We Change, Easy Comforts, and Ex posures brands through its Websites, catalogs, and direct mail campaigns. Blyth, Inc. was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By John Udovich]
Small cap NYSE stocks Blyth, Inc (NYSE: BTH), ITT Educational Services, Inc (NYSE: ESI) and U.S. Silica Holdings Inc (NYSE: SLCA) had the highest short interest as of late September according to HighShortInterest.com with short interest of 56.80%, 55.73% and 40.22%, respectively. However, shorting a stock can be a dangerous business as the bears can and do sometimes get mauled by the bulls. With that in mind, let�� take a look at why the bulls or the bears may be right or wrong about these three shorted small cap NYSE stocks:�

Best Clean Energy Stocks To Watch Right Now: Valley National Bancorp(VLY)

Valley National Bancorp operates as the bank holding company for Valley National Bank that provides various commercial, retail, trust, and investment services. The company?s deposit products include savings accounts, negotiable order of withdrawal accounts, money market accounts, time deposits, certificates of deposit, and non-interest-bearing accounts. Its loan portfolio comprises floating and adjustable rate commercial and industrial loans, as well as fixed rate owner occupied and commercial real estate loans; and consumer loans, such as residential mortgage, automobile, home equity, and credit card loans, as well as lines of credit. The company also provides fixed rate investments, trading securities, and federal funds; and international banking services, such as standby letters of credit, documentary letters of credit, and related products, as well as ancillary services. In addition, it offers asset management advisory services that comprise investment services to ind ividuals and small to medium sized businesses; trust services, such as living and testamentary trusts, investment management, custodial and escrow services, and estate administration primarily to individuals; brokerage services; and title insurance agency and asset-based lending support services. Further, the company provides property and casualty, life, and health insurance; financing for general aviation aircraft, and servicing for existing commercial equipment leases; health care equipment and other commercial equipment leases; and owns real estate related investments. Valley National Bancorp also offers automated teller machines, telephone and Internet banking, overdraft facilities, drive-in and night deposit services, and safe deposit facilities. As of December 30, 2011, it operated 211 branches in 147 communities serving 16 counties throughout northern and central New Jersey, Manhattan, and Long Island. The company was founded in 1927 and is headquartered in Wayne, New Jersey.

Best Clean Energy Stocks To Watch Right Now: Thomson Reuters Corp (TRI.TO)

Thomson Reuters Corporation provides intelligent information for businesses and professionals worldwide. The company allows market participants to connect, access content, and trade in a secure environment through Thomson Reuters Eikon desktop, Thomson Reuters Elektron network, content integration and management technology, content feeds and databases, and transactions infrastructure solutions that support buy- and sell-side customers to trade in foreign exchange, fixed income and derivatives, equities, exchange-traded instruments, and commodities and energy markets. It also offers information, analytics, workflow, and technology solutions to buy-side and off-trading floor customers; access to liquidity in over-the-counter markets, trade execution, and connections for market participants and financial professionals� communities; and a suite of solutions offering informed outcomes to regulated industries and law firms. In addition, the company provides critical information , decision support tools, and software and services to legal, investigation, business, and government professionals; integrated tax compliance and accounting software and services for accounting and law firms, corporations, and government professionals; and intellectual property and scientific resources that enable its customers to discover, develop, and deliver innovations. Further, it offers coverage of global, regional, and national news in 20 languages covering politics, business, finance, entertainment, lifestyle, technology, health, science, and sports; provides governance, risk, and compliance e-learning programs; and engages in advertising-supported direct-to-consumer publishing activities of Reuters.com and its network of Websites, mobile applications, and electronic out-of-home displays. The company was formerly known as The Thomson Corporation and changed its name to Thomson Reuters Corporation in April 2008. The company is headquartered in New York, New York.