5 Best Casino Stocks To Own For 2014

5 Best Casino Stocks To Own For 2014: Scientific Games Corp (SGMS)

Scientific Games Corporation (Scientific Games), incorporated on July 2, 1984, is a global supplier of solutions to lottery and gaming organizations worldwide. The Company's products and services include instant lottery games, lottery gaming systems, terminals and services, and Internet applications, as well as server-based interactive gaming machines and associated gaming control systems. The Company reports its operations in three segments: Printed Products Group, Lottery Systems Group and Diversified Gaming Group. Printed Products Group is a provider of instant lottery tickets in the world. The Company's Lottery Systems Group is a provider of customized computer software, software support, equipment and data communication services to lotteries. Its Diversified Gaming Group provides services and systems to private and public operators in the wide area gaming industry, including server-based gaming machines and sports betting systems and services. On September 23, 201 1, the Company acquired Barcrest Group Limited. During 2011, the Company launched MDI Interactive, a content services powerhouse dedicated to delivering gaming solutions for the Internet, mobile and all digital things. In October 2013, the Company announced that it has completed the acquisition of WMS Industries Inc.

Printed Products

Printed Products segment is primarily consists of instant ticket lottery business. The Company generates revenue from the manufacturing and sale of instant tickets, as well as the provision of value-added services, such as game design, sales and marketing support, specialty games and promotions, inventory management and warehousing and fulfillment services. It also provides lotteries with cooperative service programs (CSPs), to help them manage and support their operations. The Company also provides licensed games, p! romotional entertainment and Internet-based services to the lottery industry. It operates six instant ti cket printing facilities across five continents.

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The Company provides lotteries with access to some entertainment brands on lottery products through its subsidiary MDI Entertainment LLC (MDI). The Company's licensed entertainment brands include Harley-Davidson, Major League Baseball, Monopoly, National Basketball Association, The Price is Right, Wheel-of-Fortune and World Poker Tour. It also provides branded merchandise prizes, advertising, promotional support, turnkey drawing management services and prize fulfillment programs. In addition, it offers lotteries a Web-based platform called Properties Plus, which features players clubs, reward programs, second chance promotional websites, interactive games and, subject to applicable law, a subscription system that enables players to purchase lottery games securely over the Internet. The Company owns 20% interests in LNS ad Northstar, and 49% in CSG.

Lottery Systems

The Company is a provider of customized computer software, software support, eq uipment and data communication services to lotteries. In the United States, the Company typically provides the necessary equipment, software and maintenance services pursuant to long-term facilities. Internationally, it typically sells terminals and/or computer software to lottery authorities and may provide ongoing fee-based systems and software support services. The Company's lottery systems business includes the supply of transaction-processing software, draw lottery games, keno, point-of-sale terminals, central site computers and communication platforms as well as ongoing operational support and maintenance services. The Company is the instant ticket validation network provider to the China Sports Lottery.

The Company has lottery systems operating in Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Latvia, Mexico, No! rway, the! Philippines, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. In addition, it provides video lottery central monitoring , and control systems and networks primarily to lotteries an! d gaming ! regulators. It also provides software, hardware and support for sports wagering systems. The Company has 50% interest in Guard Libang, a provider of instant ticket activation and validation and inventory management systems and services.

Gaming

The Company is a provider of server-based gaming machines and systems and other products and services to operators in the gaming industry. The Company's Gaming segment includes The Global Draw Limited (Global Draw), a supplier of server-based gaming machines and systems, and game content primarily to bookmakers that operate licensed betting offices (LBOs) in the United Kingdom, and to gaming operators outside the United Kingdom. The Gaming segment also includes Barcrest Group Limited (Barcrest) and Games Media Limited (Games Media), suppliers of gaming machines, systems and game content to pubs, bingo halls and arcades in the United Kingdom and continental Europe.

The Company provides its Gami ng customers with gaming machines, remote management of game content and management information, central computer systems, secure data communication and field support services. It develops its own game content, and supplements its offering with content from third parties. As of December 31, 2011, the Company installed approximately 23,100 LBO gaming machines in the United Kingdom, which included approximately 8,000 LBO gaming. As of December 31, 2011, it had an installed base of approximately 6,100 gaming machines in its United Kingdom pub, bingo hall and arcade business, and installed approximately 6,500 gaming machines outside of the United Kingdom. During 2011, the Company owned a 50% interest in Sciplay, a joint venture with Playtech Services (Cyprus) Limited. It also owns 29.4% interests in RCN, and 20% in Sportech.

The Compnay competes ! with Poll! ard Banknote Limited, GTECH, BI Worldwide Ltd., Alchemy3, LLC, ePrize, LLC, GTECH, Pollard, Intralot Technologie s, Inc., International Lottery and Totalizator Systems, Inc.! , Inspire! d Gaming Group Limited, Danoptra Ltd, Sceptre Leisure plc, Games Warehouse Limited, International Game Technology, Lottomatica, Bally Technologies, Inc., Inspired, Aristocrat Leisure Ltd, Novomatic AG, Multimedia Games, Inc., WMS Industries Inc., Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc., Amaya Gaming Group, Inc., Cryptologic Ltd., IGT, Microgaming Software Systems Ltd., Net Entertainment NE AB, NYX Gaming Group, OpenBet Technology Ltd. and Playtech Limited.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Travis Hoium]

  What: Shares of Scientific Games (NASDAQ: SGMS  ) jumped 10% in late trading today after signing an important customer.

  So what: The company announced that it has signed a contract extension to provide lottery gaming and instant ticket services for the Oklahoma Lottery. This was actually disclosed earlier this year, but investors bid up shares leading up to the announcement and nearly five times the three-month average volume of shares traded hands today.  

• [By Stock Maelstrom]

  We are likely approaching the last time I will be reporting on WMS Industries (WMS), the former Williams Electronics. It has agreed to be acquired by Scientific Games (SGMS) for $26 per share, plus the assumption of WMS' modest debt. The deal is scheduled to close by the end of this year. On its own, WMS is having a dismal fiscal year, which ends June 30. For this year, the company, no doubt with distracted management, earnings are likely to end at about $0.90 per share, compared with fiscal 2012's $1.31 per share. Helping drive earnings lower are additional measures the company is taking to drive up revenues, which remain well below last decade's peak. WMS' stock has flat lined the past few months at within three percent of the $26 price. There is virtually no upside, though there is ! downside ! if the deal collapses. I see no reason to get invested in WMS.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/5-best-casino-stocks-to-own-for-2014.html

The Top Breweries in America

The Brewers Association today released its annual lists of the top 50 craft and overall brewing companies in the U.S. (based on 2012 sales volume), and the top of the rankings holds little surprise. Led by its Budweiser and Bud Light brands, Anheuser-Busch (Anheuser-Busch InBev (NYSE: BUD  ) ) is No.1. MillerCoors (Molson Coors (NYSE: TAP  ) ), Pabst Brewing, D.G. Yuengling, and Boston Beer (NYSE: SAM  ) round out the top five. (The complete lists are below this video.)

No. 8 on the overall list -- and third in the craft beer rankings -- is New Belgium Brewing, from Fort Collins, Colo. CEO Kim Jordan was the keynote speaker at the recent Craft Brewers Conference, and our Rex Moore asked her about the overall craft growth picture in the beer industry.

  

Tops in Craft
Boston Beer's Samuel Adams brand helped to redefine beer and kick off the craft beer revolution in the United States. Success breeds competition, though, and while just a few years ago Boston Beer had claim over most of the craft beer shelf, today the field is crowded. Can Boston Beer rise above the rest, or will it be squeezed between small local breweries on one side and global beer giants on the other? To help you decide, we've compiled a premium research report filled with everything you need to know about Boston Beer's risks and opportunities. Just click here now to find out whether Boston Beer is a buy today.

Top 5 Clean Energy Stocks To Watch For 2014

Top 5 Clean Energy Stocks To Watch For 2014: Pilgrim's Pride Corporation (PPC)

Pilgrim's Corp. produces, processes, markets, and distributes fresh and frozen chicken products to retailers, distributors, and foodservice operators primarily in the United States. Its fresh chicken products consist of refrigerated (non-frozen) whole or cut-up chicken; and pre-marinated or non-marinated, as well as prepackaged case-ready chicken, which includes various combinations of freshly refrigerated, whole chickens, and chicken parts. The company also offers a range of prepared chicken products, including portion-controlled breast fillets, tenderloins and strips, delicatessen products, salads, formed nuggets and patties, and bone-in chicken parts. In addition, it exports whole chickens and chicken parts to approximately 95 countries, including Mexico, Russia, Puerto Rico, and China. The company was formerly known as Pilgrim's Pride Corporation. Pilgrim's Corp. was founded in 1945 and is headquartered in Greeley, Colorado. Pilgrim's Corp. operates as a subsidiary of JBS USA Holdings, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Arturo Cuevas]

  It looks like you and I will be eating more chicken this 2014. Retail beef prices remain at record highs, and we consumers will likely be driven more toward comparatively cheaper chicken meat in 2014. Given this trend, loading up on shares of Sanderson Farms (NASDAQ: SAFM  ) , Pilgrim's Pride (NASDAQ: PPC  ) , and Tyson Foods (NYSE: TSN  )  should be worth considering.

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Finally, beyond the Dow, Pilgrim's Pride (NASDAQ: PPC  ) soared 22% on apparent speculation that the poultry giant might be next on the chopping block as a target for a big acquisition. The proposed buyout of pork producer Smithfield Foods (NYSE: SFD  ) by a Chinese company was controversial i! n large part because of the geopolitical implications of international buyers purchasing U.S. food-industry assets, but business analysts have rightly looked instead at the implications for further consolidation in the industry. With no formal announcement from Pilgrim's Pride, today's move could invite scrutiny from the SEC and other regulators should any sort of definitive buyout bid materialize in the days to come.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-5-clean-energy-stocks-to-watch-for-2014.html

Securities Class-Action Awards Jumped 46% in 2013

Total settlement dollars from securities class actions jumped by 46% in 2013, largely driven by six mega-settlements (those at or above $100 million), which accounted for 84% of total settlement dollars, according to Securities Class Action Settlements — 2013 Review and Analysis, a report issued Thursday by Cornerstone Research.

There were 67 settlements in 2013, up from 57 in 2012 — the first year-over-year increase since 2009, the report found.

“In 2013, total settlement dollars, at $4.8 billion, reached the highest level since 2007, driven by both the increase in the number of settlements overall, as well as the increase in extremely large settlements,” said report co-author Laura Simmons, a senior advisor in Cornerstone Research’s Washington office.

Simmons said the largest settlements in 2013 were associated either with pharmaceutical firms or financial institutions involved with subprime credit crisis allegations.

In contrast, median “estimated damages,” a key measure of investor losses, declined 48% from 2012. Since “estimated damages” are the most important factor in determining settlement amounts, this decline was likely a major factor contributing to the substantially lower median settlement amount of $6.5 million in 2013, the report states.

The report also notes that the landscape for securities class actions and their settlements may "shift dramatically" depending on the outcome of Halliburton Co. v. Erica P. John Fund, a case pending in the U.S. Supreme Court that could make it much more difficult for shareholders to band together and sue companies for fraud.

“If the ruling in Halliburton severely limits investors’ ability to get large-scale class actions certified, the future of such cases is up in the air,” added Joseph Grundfest, director of the Stanford Law School Securities Class Action Clearinghouse. “This past year’s data also represent the fading echoes of the financial crisis, as some of the largest settlements resolve claims of fraud surrounding transactions in mortgage-backed securities. These lawsuits won’t be around in the coming years to drive aggregate settlement values.”

Other highlights from the report include:

Total settlement dollars in 2013 were 60% above the average for the prior five years.

The proportion of settled cases in 2013 involving accounting allegations dipped to a 10-year low, but the settlement as a percentage of “estimated damages” for these cases was much higher than for cases not involving such allegations.

The median settlement in 2013 for cases with a public pension as a lead plaintiff was $23 million, compared with $3 million for cases without a public pension as a lead plaintiff.

Cases reaching more advanced stages of litigation were associated with median “estimated damages” of more than three and a half times the median for cases settling in an early stage.

Settlements of $50 million or lower were far less likely to involve accompanying SEC actions or public pensions as lead plaintiffs.

In 2013, 32% of settlements less than $10 million were for cases involving Chinese reverse mergers.

---

Check out Securities Class Actions Hit 14-Year Low on ThinkAdvisor.

Digital Becoming ‘New Normal’ in Serving HNW Investors: SEI

When it comes to serving wealthy clients, digital solutions are playing a growing role, says a study released today by SEI, Scorpio Partnership and NPG Wealth Management. This means financial advisors need to get their websites and other online tools to match their levels of quality, expertise and responsiveness, experts say.

The study, which highlights the views of 3,025 investors worldwide with an average net worth of about $2.9 million, finds that 92% use digital tools to support their wealth management transactions.

More than two-thirds of HNW investors under 40 assess the market through their online accounts at least once a month, according to the research, which is part of the groups’ Futurewealth Project.

“Across the board and especially among those under 40, digital plays a valuable role in their experience when you consider the amount of time they spend online and their reliance on digital for a variety of information,” said Ryan Hicke, senior vice president of SEI Wealth Platform, an outsourcing group, in a press release.

“The sticking point for this segment, though, is that many of the digital tools are not engaging," Hicke said. "Wealth managers may need to consider upgrading their technology to ensure customers are fully engaged.” 

When asked to rate the importance of different factors on their satisfaction with wealth management transactions (on a scale of 1 to 100), HNW investors cite the advisor’s level of experience (65), market knowledge (65) and understanding of individual needs (65). They place less emphasis on the ability of a wealth manager to simulate portfolio strategies online (39), ability to customize online reporting (38) and having an easily navigable website (37).

Still, wealth managers can’t be complacent, given the increasing use of online tools. More than half of those HNW investors surveyed say they use online accounts with their primary wealth advisor each month or more frequently to see reviews of the market (55%), review performance analyses (55%), check information about securities (51%) and track portfolio evaluations (51%).

Plus, close to one in five log into their accounts each day to get reviews of the market (17%). This use, experts say, suggests that HNW investors crave access to “a holistic view of their wealth online.”

Best Small Cap Stocks To Buy Right Now

Striking the Right Balance

“The advisor is clearly the linchpin of the service delivery experience, but that doesn’t mean they should discount the value of digital tools in supporting their clients’ needs,” said Kevin Crowe, head of Solutions for SEI Advisor Network, in a statement. “The survey results clearly demonstrate that the Futurewealthy go online to see an array of information, including the state of their wealth.”

Without a doubt, digital tools are going to play “an increasingly important role in the way these up-and-coming wealthy individuals interact with their advisors,” Crowe said. “We’re quickly moving to a world where digital interaction is the new normal, and advisors need to make sure they have the technology solutions to compete.”

Fed Official: Jobless Rate Seen Falling Below 6% This Year

Hot Value Stocks To Buy Right Now

Brennan Linsley/APJob seekers at a job fair in Denver. HONG KONG -- The U.S. unemployment rate will fall below 6 percent by the end of this year, a Federal Reserve official said Wednesday, offering a bullish view on the country's economy after central bank comments sent shock waves through financial markets last week. James Bullard, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, said that the outlook for the U.S. economy is "quite good," despite data from early in the year. "The biggest thing is that unemployment has come down more quickly than expected," said Bullard, speaking on a panel at the annual Credit Suisse (CS) investor conference in Hong Kong. He added later during a question and answer session that more progress is needed in the labor market before U.S. policymakers can consider raising interest rates. Bullard is known to be one of the Fed's more hawkish policymakers. He previously advocated for a rate hike as early as 2014, a stance he appears to have backed away from. U.S. monetary policy tightening took center stage last week after a two-day policy meeting, when the Fed said it expected to keep benchmark interest rates near zero for a "considerable time" after it wrapped up a bond-buying stimulus program, which it is widely expected to do toward the end of the year. Pressed on the statement at a news conference afterward, Fed Chairman Janet Yellen said the phrase "probably means something on the order of around six months or that type of thing." Stocks and bonds immediately tumbled as traders took the statement to suggest rate hikes could come sooner than they had anticipated. Bullard has joined other Fed officials in playing down the "six months" comment from Yellen, saying it was in line with what the private sector was anticipating. He repeated that view Wednesday. The unemployment rate for February rose to 6.7 percent from a five-year low of 6.6 percent as Americans flooded into the labor market to search for work. But the rate hovering around the Fed's previous 6.5 percent benchmark has raised the prospect of the central bank moving to push up rates more quickly than some in the market previously expected. Fed officials appear increasingly worried that keeping policy so easy for so long could encourage investors to take too many risks, building bubbles that may eventually pop and roil financial markets. The U.S. economy is "set for a pretty good year," Bullard said Wednesday. "Despite the spate of weaker data in the January, February time frame." The Fed has held rates near zero since late 2008 to help the economy recover from the 2007-2009 recession. Bullard was asked about where he saw interest rates in 2016, at which point he referred to his "dot." The Fed introduced a "dot chart" in its January 2012 economic projections. Each dot represents the view of an individual policymaker on how they see the appropriate level of interest rates for the coming few years. "I'm here to tell you that my dot has not changed," Bullard said. Data on Tuesday showed U.S. consumer confidence surged to a six-year high in March and house prices increased solidly in January, positioning the economy for stronger growth after a weather-induced soft spot. -.

Hot Dividend Companies To Own In Right Now

Hot Dividend Companies To Own In Right Now: Leggett & Platt Incorporated(LEG)

Leggett & Platt, Incorporated designs and produces various engineered components and products worldwide. Its Residential Furnishings segment offers bedding components, such as innersprings and wire forms; furniture components, including steel mechanisms, springs, seat suspensions, steel tubular seat frames, bed frames, ornamental beds, and power foundations; and structural fabrics, carpet underlay materials, and geo components. This segment serves manufacturers of finished bedding products or upholstered furniture. The company?s Commercial Fixturing & Components segment provides shelving, counters, showcases, and garment racks; standardized shelvings; point-of-purchase displays; and bases, columns, back rests, casters, and frames. This segment offers its products to retail chains and specialty shops; brand name marketers; distributors of consumer products; and office, institutional, and commercial furniture manufacturers. Its Industrial Materials segment provides steel rod s, drawn wires, steel billets, fabricated wire products, welded steel tubing, and fabricated tube components to bedding and furniture, and mechanical spring makers; automotive seating, and lawn and garden equipment manufacturers; and waste recyclers, waste removal businesses, and medical supply businesses. The company?s Specialized Products segment offers manual and power lumbar support and massage systems; seat suspension systems; automotive control cables; low voltage motors; actuation assemblies; formed metal and wire components; quilting machines; machines for shaping wire into springs; industrial sewing/finishing machines; van interiors; and docking stations, as well as specialty trailers for telephone, cable, and utility companies. It serves bedding and automobile seating manufacturers. The company sells its products through its sales representat! ives and distributors. Leggett & Platt, Incorporated was founded in 1883 and is based in Carthage, Missouri.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dividends4Life]

  Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Leggett & Platt Inc. (LEG). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

  Company Description: Leggett & Platt Inc. makes a broad line of bedding and furniture components and other home, office and commercial furnishings, as well as products for non-furnishings markets.

• [By Reuben Brewer]

  Leggett & Platt (NYSE: LEG  ) , best known for making bed springs, is another company making a strategic shift. Over the last few years, the company has been selling off smaller and less desirable operations to focus on growth businesses. That's led to what should be a temporary slowdown on the top and bottom lines and a relatively depressed stock price.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/hot-dividend-companies-to-own-in-right-now.html

Box Files For $250M IPO

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- The hotly anticipated initial public offering of cloud storage startup Box has finally become real for investors as the company officially filed for its debut on the New York Stock Exchange with the preliminary goal of raising $250 million in proceeds. The lead underwriters for the transaction are Morgan Stanley (MS), Credit Suisse (CS), and J.P. Morgan (JPM).

The Class A common stock will be listed as "BOX" on the Big Board.

The S-1 filing revealed Monday that the company has experienced significant growth since its incorporation in 2005. The company noted it has intense competition in the same, listing Citrix (CTXS), Dropbox, EMC (EMC), Google (GOOG), and Microsoft (MSFT) as its closest competitors." With the introduction of new technologies and market entrants, we expect competition to continue to intensify in the future," the company noted in the filing. 

For the 12 months ended Jan. 31, 2014, Jan. 31, 2013, and Dec. 31, 2011, the Aaron Levie-led company company's revenue was $124.2 million, $58.8 million and $21.1 million, respectively, representing year-over-year growth of 111% and 179%. However, the company losses grew during the same time as well, as the company continues to invest heavily in its business. "We have invested and continue to invest heavily in our business to capitalize on our large market opportunity," the company added. As a result, Box incurred net losses of $50.3 million, $112.6 million and $168.6 million for the 12 months ended Dec. 31, 2011, Jan. 31, 2013 and Jan. 31, 2014, respectively. What's driving those operating losses is the company's heavy spending on sales and marketing. For the year ending Jan. 31, 2013, Box spent $99.2 million on sales and marketing, only to see that increase to $171 million for the year ending Jan. 31, 2014. The company continues to hire at a frenetic pace, noting it had 972 employees at the end of fiscal 2014. Billings increased 103% in the year ended Jan. 31, 2014 over the year ended Jan. 31, 2013, and 182% in the year ended Jan. 31, 2013 over the year ended Dec. 31, 2011. The increase in billings was primarily driven by the addition of new customers with larger initial deployments and expansion with respect to the number of users within existing customer base. Box's top investors currently include Draper Fisher Jurvetson (25.5%), U.S. Venture Partners (13%), General Atlantic (8.4 %) and Scale Venture Partners (7.4%) and Bessemer Venture Partners (5.6%). -- Written by Andrea Tse in New York Follow @atwtse >Contact by Email

Stock quotes in this article: CTXS, EMC 

Cincinnati Financial Corp. Dividend Stock Analysis

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Cincinnati Financial Corp. (CINF). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis: Company Description: Cincinnati Financial Corp. is an insurance holding company that primarily markets property and casualty coverage. It also conducts life insurance and asset management operations.

Fair Value: In calculating fair value, I consider the NPV MMA Differential Fair Value along with these four calculations of fair value, see page 2 of the linked PDF for a detailed description: 1. Avg. High Yield Price 2. 20-Year DCF Price 3. Avg. P/E Price 4. Graham Number CINF is trading at a discount to only 3.) above. The stock is trading at a 36.8% premium to its calculated fair value of $34.96. CINF did not earn any Stars in this section. Dividend Analytical Data: In this section there are three possible Stars and three key metrics, see page 2 of the linked PDF for a detailed description: 1. Free Cash Flow Payout 2. Debt To Total Capital 3. Key Metrics 4. Dividend Growth Rate 5. Years of Div. Growth 6. Rolling 4-yr Div. > 15% CINF earned two Stars in this section for 1.) and 2.) above. A Star was earned since the Free Cash Flow payout ratio was less than 60% and there were no negative Free Cash Flows over the last 10 years. The stock earned a Star as a result of its most recent Debt to Total Capital being less than 45%. The company has paid a cash dividend to shareholders every year since 1954 and has increased its dividend payments for 54 consecutive years. Dividend Income vs. MMA: Why would you assume the equity risk and invest in a dividend stock if you could earn a better return in a much less risky money market account (MMA) or Treasury bond? This section compares the earning ability of this stock with a high yield MMA. Two items are considered in this section, see page 2 of the linked PDF for a detailed description: 1. NPV MMA Diff. 2. Years to > MMA The NPV MMA Diff. of the $62 is below the $500 target I look for in a stock that has increased dividends as long as CINF has. If CINF grows its dividend at 1.2% per year, it will take 5 years to equal a MMA yielding an estimated 20-year average rate of 3.68%. Memberships and Peers: CINF is a member of the S&P 500, a Dividend Aristocrat, a member of the Broad Dividend Achievers™ Index and a Dividend Champion. The company's peer group includes: Axis Capital Holdings Ltd. (AXS) with a 2.3% yield, The Allstate Corporation (ALL) with a 2.0% yield, and The Travelers Companies Inc. (TRV) with a 2.4% yield. Conclusion: CINF did not earn any Stars in the Fair Value section, earned two Stars in the Dividend Analytical Data section and did not earn any Stars in the Dividend Income vs. MMA section for a total of two Stars. This quantitatively ranks CINF as a 2-Star Weak stock. Using my D4L-PreScreen.xls model, I determined the share price would need to decrease to $35.00 before CINF's NPV MMA Differential increased to the $500 minimum that I look for in a stock with 54 years of consecutive dividend increases. At that price the stock would yield 4.8%. Resetting the D4L-PreScreen.xls model and solving for the dividend growth rate needed to generate the target $500 NPV MMA Differential, the calculated rate is 1.2%. This dividend growth rate is equal to the 1.2% used in this analysis, thus providing no margin of safety. CINF has a risk rating of 1.5 which classifies it as a Low risk stock. CINF was founded by independent insurance agents in order to better service their needs by providing them preferential treatment when picking an underwriter. The company primarily sells commercial property-casualty insurance with a smaller personal lines exposure marketed through a select group of independent insurance agencies. CINF is more heavily exposed to equity risk than its peers; however management is taking steps to re-balance its investments. The company should benefit from an improving pricing environment and steps management has taken to expand its operations. Weather losses from the Two winter storms in the first week of January 2014 willlikely adversely affect CINF's by an estimated $65 million to $85 million. Low interest rates could adversely affect investment income, which is an important component of the company's revenues and net income. The company's financial results have always been volatile due to weather events. However, its strategic initiatives will continue to generate returns over time. The company enjoys a low debt to total capital of 13% and currently has a FCF Payout of 35%, down from 44% in my last analysis. However, the stock is trading at a significant premium to my calculated fair value of $34.96. However, based on dividend fundamentals, I am will continue to look for opportunities to buy. Disclaimer: Material presented here is for informational purposes only. The above quantitative stock analysis, including the Star rating, is mechanically calculated and is based on historical information. The analysis assumes the stock will perform in the future as it has in the past. This is generally never true. Before buying or selling any stock you should do your own research and reach your own conclusion. See my Disclaimer for more information. Full Disclosure: At the time of this writing, I was long in CINF (3.5% of my Dividend Growth Portfolio). See a list of all my dividend growth holdings here. Related Articles: - Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) Dividend Stock Analysis - McDonald's Corporation (MCD) Dividend Stock Analysis - Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT) Dividend Stock Analysis - ConocoPhillips Co. (COP) Dividend Stock Analysis - More Stock Analysis

About the author:Dividends4LifeVisit Dividends4Life at: http://www.dividend-growth-stocks.com/

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Microsoft says it snooped on Hotmail to track leak

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Microsoft Corp., which has skewered rival Google Inc. for going through customer e-mails to deliver ads, acknowledged it had searched e-mails in a blogger's Hotmail account to track down who was leaking company secrets.

John Frank, deputy general counsel for Microsoft, which owns Hotmail, said in a statement Thursday that the software company "took extraordinary actions in this case." In the future, he said, Microsoft would consult an outside attorney who is a former judge to determine if a court order would have allowed such a search.

The case involves former employee Alex Kibkalo, a Russian native who worked for Microsoft as a software architect in Lebanon.

According to an FBI complaint alleging theft of trade secrets, Microsoft found Kibkalo in September 2012 after examining the Hotmail account of the blogger with whom Kibkalo allegedly shared proprietary Microsoft code. The complaint filed Monday in federal court in Seattle did not identify the blogger.

"After confirmation that the data was Microsoft's proprietary trade secret, on September 7, 2012, Microsoft's Office of Legal Compliance (OLC) approved content pulls of the blogger's Hotmail account," says the complaint by FBI agent Armando Ramirez.

The search of the e-mail account occurred months before Microsoft provided Ramirez with the results of its internal investigation in July 2013.

The e-mail search uncovered messages from Kibkalo to the blogger containing fixes for the Windows 8 RT operating system before they were released publicly. The complaint alleges Kibkalo also shared a software development kit that could be used by hackers to understand more about how Microsoft uses product keys to activate software.

Besides the e-mail search, Microsoft also combed through instant messages the two exchanged that September. Microsoft also examined files in Kibkalo's cloud storage account, which until last month was called SkyDrive. Kibkalo is accused of using SkyDrive to share files with t! he blogger.

Kibkalo has since relocated to Russia, the FBI complaint says.

Frank said in his statement that no court order was needed to conduct the searches.

"Courts do not issue orders authorizing someone to search themselves," he said. "Even when we have probable cause, it's not feasible to ask a court to order us to search ourselves."

Hotmail's terms of service includes a section that says, "We may access or disclose information about you, including the content of your communications, in order to ... protect the rights or property of Microsoft or our customers."

Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft has taken a defiant stand against intrusions of customer privacy, in the wake of National Security Agency systems analyst Edward Snowden's revelations of government snooping into online activities.

General counsel Brad Smith said in a blog post in December that Microsoft was "especially alarmed" at news reports of widespread government cyber-spying.

Microsoft also has a long-running negative ad campaign called "Scroogled," in which it slams Google for scanning "every word in every e-mail" to sell ads, saying that "Google crosses the line."

401(k) fiduciary lawsuit raises questions on record keeping

An appellate court's decision this week in a 401(k) fiduciary duty lawsuit is raising questions among legal experts in the retirement plan industry about float income and who it belongs to.

On Wednesday, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals backed a lower court's decision that found that ABB Inc. had breached its fiduciary duty to its workers when it failed to monitor its plan record-keeping costs, failed to calculate the amount the plan paid through revenue sharing and failed to determine whether the pricing was competitive.

The court also upheld the lower court's judgment for an award of $13.4 million against ABB with respect to the record keeping.

“This decision is a victory not just for ABB employees, but for all 401(k) employees and retirees,” said Jerome Schlichter, the attorney representing the plan participants in the suit. “That's because it states that plan sponsors have a strict duty to monitor record-keeping costs and make sure they're reasonable.”

The court, however, also reversed the lower court's ruling on other issues, clearing plan record keepers Fidelity Management Trust Co. and Fidelity Management and Research Co. of a breach of fiduciary duty.

The case, Ronald C. Tussey v. ABB Inc., is a landmark suit for the retirement plan industry.

In their initial suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri in Jefferson City in 2006, the participants claimed that the retirement plan was entitled to float income that was generated when plan contributions were made and held briefly in a depository account before being invested. The lower court sided with the participants, but the appellate court subsequently reversed the decision.

Though the appellate court took a strong stance this week confirming the duty of the plan sponsor and fiduciaries to track their record-keeping fees and ensure they are reasonable, it left some ambiguity with respect to how it views float income.

“They said the float belongs to the investment options [in the plan],” said Marcia Wagner, managing director of The Wagner Law Group. “If the plan invests in the investment option, then it is a plan asset.”

“This has created more uncertainty,” she added.

Circuit Court Judge Kermit Edward Bye dissented.

“Unlike the majority, I would conclude that float is a plan asset under these circumstances and Fidelity therefore breached its fiduciary duty of loyalty by transferring float to the depository account for the benefit of investment options and by using float income to pay for bank expenses,” he wrote.

The case raises another interesting issue with respe! ct to float: Whose dollars are generating float income?

In the decision, the judges agreed with Fidelity that when an exiting participant chooses to accept a check, the “funder of the check owns the funds in the checking account until the check is presented and this is entitled to any interest earned on the float.” However, the participants contest the ownership of the funds, claiming that the owner is the plan — and making float income a plan asset.

Expect to see this issue get more attention with respect to participants leaving plans, noted C. Frederick Reish, a partner in the employee benefits and executive compensation practice group at Drinker Biddle Reath.

Record keepers will say that if a participant leaves the plan, then his or her investment is liquidated and turned into cash. That cash is then held into an account, from which the record keeper will write the check.

“The issue with float is: Where did the money that earned the float come from?” said Mr. Reish. “I can see where the dissenting judge may have an argument in the sense that if the money is in the plan, then the plan owns the asset.”

“But is it proper for the record keeper to move the money out of the plan and into a checking account?” he asked. “This is a common practice by record keepers, and that's the remaining issue.”

Vincent Loporchio, a spokesman for Fidelity, said the firm was “pleased” with the appellate court's decision.

Calls to ABB spokesman Barry Dillon were not returned.

Yellen earns mixed to poor grades from Wall St.

Wall Street gave new Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen mixed grades in her first-ever face-off with financial journalists, a performance highlighted by a market-moving -- and market-spooking -- comment that suggested the Fed will start hiking short-term interest rates sooner than expected.

The highlight of Yellen's Q&A session with reporters was her response to a question related to the timing of the Fed's first rate hike. The central bank currently has its key short-term rate pegged at roughly 0%, a historically low rate that has been credited for the stock market's massive advance in recent years.

Yellen said the first rate hike could come as early as "six months" after the end of the Fed's bond-buying program, potentially pushing forward the first rate hike to April or June of next year, as opposed to the late-year 2015 start point investors were expecting.

FED MEETING: Central Bank changes guidance on raising rates

FIRST TAKE: Fed will still keep rates low a long time

Whether it was a gaffe on Yellen's part or simply a translation problem on Wall Street's behalf, the comment caused a spasm of confusion on Wall Street and sent

stock and bond prices spiraling lower

late yesterday afternoon.

It also knocked Yellen's performance grade down.

Edward Yardeni, chief investment strategist at Yardeni Research, who has dubbed Yellen the "Fairy Godmother of the Bull Market," said the new Fed chief "didn't sprinkle any fairy dust on the bond and stock markets yesterday."

Instead, the new "fuzzier" guidelines and Yellen's answer to the question on the timing of rate hikes caused confusion, he says.

"In my opinion, Yellen confused herself and all of us too," says Yardeni.

That, he says, caused him to give Yellen a below-average, but not failing grade.

"All in all, my evaluation is that Janet Yellen's first shot at communicating Yellenomics rates a grade of D," Yardeni said.

While the first-ever female Fed chair did "reasonably! well" in her first give-and-take with financial journalists, and was in a "difficult position" to clearly articulate the central banks's new forward "guidance" related to coming rate hikes, Yellen's performance was not error-free, says David Kelly, chief global strategist at JPMorgan Funds.

"She probably did err by mentioning the six months (time frame)," says Kelly, which he noted was not specifically cited in the Fed's post-meeting statement. "She muddied the timing of the first hike. If you want to say six months, put it in the statement. Say what you want to say in the statement. And stick to your guns."

Transparency and openness is good but opens the door to differing interpretations of what message the Fed is trying to communicate.

"Stocks hate uncertainty and there's now more uncertainty as it pertains to the path of interest rates," says Kelly.

Not everyone on Wall Street gave Yellen a below-average grade, however.

Yellen didn't "slip up at all," says Mike Materasso, senior vice president and co-chair of Franklin Templeton's Fixed Income Policy Committee.

He stresses that while Yellen's overall message was dovish (or favoring rates staying lower for longer to support the economy and job market), the market got spooked by higher projections from individual members of the Fed as to where rates will be a year or two from now, says Materasso.

The median Fed forecast for the central bank's target interest rate, for example, rose to 1% by the end of 2015, up from December's projection of 0.75%. Similarly, Fed members see short-term rates at 2.25% by the end of of 2015, up from 1.75% prior.

In short, the volatile market reaction Wednesday occurred for a simple reason, Materasso says: "What happened was the Fed thinks the economy is doing well and will continue to do well, and that means higher rates. It's pretty simple."

What's clear is that future Yellen comments will be scrutinized even more closely, experts say.

Top 5 Companies For 2014

Top 5 Companies For 2014: Matthews International Corporation(MATW)

Matthews International Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets memorialization products and brand solutions for the cemetery and funeral home industries in the United States, Mexico, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Asia. The company's Bronze segment offers cast bronze memorials and other memorialization products; and cast and etched architectural products, as well as builds mausoleums. Its Casket segment provides wood and metal caskets; and casket components, such as stamped metal parts, metal locking mechanisms for gasketed metal caskets, adjustable beds, interior panels, and plastic ornamental hardware, as well as provides assortment planning and merchandising, and display products to funeral service businesses. The company's Cremation segment offers cremation equipment; cremation caskets; equipment service and supplies; and cremation urns and memorial products, as well as offers environmental systems; crematory operations and management services; and cremation col umbarium and niche units. Its Graphics Imaging segment provides brand management, pre-press services, printing plates, gravure cylinders, steel bases, embossing tools, special purpose machinery, engineering and print process assistance, print production management, digital asset management, content management, and package design services. The company's Marking Products segment offers a range of marking and coding products and related consumables, and industrial automation products for identifying, tracking, and conveying consumer and industrial products, components, and packaging containers. Its Merchandising Solutions segment provides merchandising displays and systems, such as permanent and temporary displays, custom store fixtures, brand concept shops, interactive kiosks, custom packaging, and screen and digitally printed promotional signage; and offers design and engineering serv! ices. The company was founded in 1850 and is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  The first thing to realize about StoneMor is that arcane and flexible accounting rules make it important to dig beneath its GAAP earnings. Growth throughout the industry has been substantial, as up-and-coming Carriage Services (NYSE: CSV  ) continued to stay on pace for double-digit sales growth as it rapidly expands its reach. Even well-established player Matthews International (NASDAQ: MATW  ) managed to grow revenue by nearly 14% in the quarter that ended in March, although its earnings fell slightly from the year-ago quarter. Still, StoneMor's sales haven't been able to rise as quickly as its peers, with its previous report including just a 6% gain in revenue.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-5-companies-for-2014.html

Top Insurance Companies To Watch For 2014

Top Insurance Companies To Watch For 2014: Old Republic International Corporation(ORI)

Old Republic International Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides various insurance and mortgage guaranty products in North America. The company operates in three segments: General Insurance, Mortgage Guaranty, and Title Insurance. The General Insurance segment provides liability insurance coverages to businesses, government, and other institutions in commercial construction, forest products, energy, general manufacturing, and financial services industries; and transportation, including trucking and general aviation industries. It provides various insurance products, such as automobile extended warranty, aviation, commercial automobile insurance, general liability, home warranty, inland marine, travel accident, and workers? compensation, as well as liability coverage for claims arising from the acts of owners or employees, and protection for the physical assets of businesses. This segment also offers financial indemnity products, such as consumer credit indemnity , errors and omissions/directors and officers, guaranteed asset protection, and surety, as well as bonds that cover the exposures for losses of monies, or debt and equity securities due to acts of employee dishonesty. The Mortgage Guaranty segment insures first mortgage loans, primarily on residential properties incorporating one-to-four family dwelling units to mortgage bankers, brokers, commercial banks, and savings institutions. The Title Insurance segment provides lenders' and owners' title insurance policies to real estate purchasers and investors based upon searches of the public records. It also provides escrow closing and construction disbursement services; and real estate information products, national default management services, and services related to real estate transfers and loan transactions. Old Republic International Corporation m! arkets its products directly, as well as through insurance agents and brokers. The company was founded in 1887 and is based in Chi cago, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lawrence Meyers]

  The part I like the most is that WGL sells energy credits and carbon offsets to retail customers. The company makes good money on these elements, selling to customers who just like to feel good about how they are "helping the environment". WGL has a long history as an energy company and has paid a dividend for 37 years. It currently pays 4.3% annually.

  Old Republic International (ORI)

  The next of our dividend stocks is one you may have heard of: Old Republic International (ORI). Old Republic started back in 1887 and is an insurance company that offers a huge array of products. A lot of insurance products are very high margin, and Old Republic has mastered the art of selling these. Extended Automobile Warranty, Home Warranty an Travel Accident Insurance are great segments to be playing in.

• [By Marc Bastow]

  Insurance underwriting company Old Republic (ORI) raised its quarterly dividend 5.8% to 18 cents per share, payable on Dec. 16 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 4.
  ORI Dividend Yield: 4.28%

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Its big day has also boosted other insurers. Radian Group (RDN) has risen 7.2% to $14.39, while Old Republic International (ORI) has advanced 2.1% to $15.24, Genworth Financial (GNW) is up 3.6% at $13.41 and MBIA Inc. (MBI) has jumped 4.3% to $10.76.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-insurance-companies-to-watch-for-2014.html

Best Cheapest Stocks For 2014

Best Cheapest Stocks For 2014: Hardinge Inc.(HDNG)

Hardinge Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and distributes machine tools in North America, Europe, Asia, internationally. It offers high-precision computer-numerically controlled cutting lathes, machining centers, grinding machines, collets, chucks, index fixtures, and other industrial products, as well as related accessories, including work holding, tool holding, and other industrial support products for companies making parts from hard to machine materials, and small and medium-sized independent job shops. The company also offers post-sale support services, including operation and maintenance training, in-field maintenance, and in-field repair. Its metal-cutting turning machines or lathes are used to remove materials from bar stock or a rough-formed part by moving multiple cutting tools against the surface of a part rotating at high speeds in a spindle mechanism; grinding machines are used to finish parts of various shapes and sizes; and machin ing centers are used to remove materials from stationary, prismatic, or box-like parts of various shapes. Hardinge Inc. serves aerospace, automotive, communications, computer, construction equipment, defense, energy, farm equipment, medical equipment, recreational equipment, and transportation industries. It sells its products through distributors, agents, and manufacturers? representatives. The company was founded in 1890 and is headquartered in Elmira, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Emerson]

  Hardinge (HDNG) the Perfect Fit to the Investment Puzzle
  
  Several years earlier I had started following the machine tool sector and I became quite familiar with Hardinge. Although I never invested in the stock (I had opted for Hurco), I had noted that Jeffrey Gendell had been purchasing shares the company. Hurco (HURC) had much higher margins and it was my b! elief that the superior quality of their computerized machine tools and their accompanying software were reflected in their earnings. Hurco also held a vastly superior balance sheet at the time I made my investment.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/best-cheapest-stocks-for-2014.html

Top Growth Stocks To Own For 2014

Top Growth Stocks To Own For 2014: MEDIFAST INC(MED)

Medifast, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the production, distribution, and sale of weight management and disease management products, and other consumable health and diet products in the United States. The company?s product lines include weight and disease management, meal replacement, and vitamins. It also operates weight control centers that offer Medifast programs for weight loss and maintenance, customized patient counseling, and inbody composition analysis. The company markets its products under the Medifast and Essential brand names, including shakes, appetite suppression shakes, women?s health shakes, diabetics shakes, joint health shakes, coronary health shakes, calorie burn drinks, calorie burn flavor infusers, antioxidant shakes, antioxidant flavor infusers, bars, crunch bars, soups, chili, oatmeal, pudding, scrambled eggs, hot cocoa, cappuccino, chai latte, iced teas, fruit drinks, pretzels, puffs, brownie, pancakes, soy crisps, crackers, and omega 3 and digestive health products. Medifast Inc. sells its products through various channels of distribution comprising Web, call center, independent health advisors, medical professionals, weight loss clinics, and direct consumer marketing supported via the phone and the Web; Take Shape for Life, a physician led network of independent health coaches; and weight control centers. The company was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Owings Mills, Maryland.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Medifast (NYSE: MED) is expected to post its Q4 earnings at $0.36 per share on revenue of $80.83 million.

  Full House Resorts (NASDAQ: FLL) is estimated to post a Q4 loss at $0.06 per share on revenue of $33.24 million.

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Analysts expect Medifast (NYSE: MED) to post its Q4 earnings at $0.36 per share on revenue of $80.8! 3 million. Medifast shares surged 2.19% to close at $26.08 on Friday.

• [By John Udovich]

  Last Friday, small cap dieting stock Weight Watchers International, Inc (NYSE: WTW) lost weight for investors when shares tumbled 27.73% to $22.10, meaning its probabaly a good idea to take a closer look at the stock along with other small cap weight loss or dieting stocks like NutriSystem Inc (NASDAQ: NTRI), Medifast Inc (NYSE: MED) and Reliv International, Inc (NASDAQ: RELV). Why did Weight Watchers International loose weight last Friday? The company reported its fourth straight quarterly sales decline as fewer people attended meetings and bought its products and also projected earnings that trailed analysts' estimates with the blame being placed on new mobile applications and bracelets that track calories – thus hurting traditional diet companies.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-growth-stocks-to-own-for-2014.html

Top Stocks To Watch Right Now

Top Sto cks To Watch Right Now: Corewafer Industries Inc (WAFR)

COREwafer Industries, Inc., formerly Action Products International, incorporated on January 7, 1981, is a holding company that acquires or merges with companies with growth opportunity. The company's business model is to bring together companies that deliver complimentary technology and services. The Company's products and services include Logistics & Transportation and Software & Technology.

Logistics & Transportation

Northeast Expedite Logistics, LLC (NEEL) is a provider of global logistics services, which includes a domestic service center and exclusive and non-exclusive agents. The Company's customers include retail and wholesale, electronics, and manufacturing companies around the world. With industrial production increasing year-over-year, the shortage of qualified drivers and trusted shipping partners is apparent in mid-markets for local deliveries. As the economy improves, orders for delivery and logistics. The Company provide founda tional shipping and coordination services between suppliers and destination businesses and warehouses, and the Company operate efficiently through cloud based tracking.

Software & Technology

The Company has a particular focus within technology on semiconductor testing. To enable success of its software and technology vertical, the Company acquired Core Wafer Systems, Inc. Core Wafer Systems, Inc., a Nevada corporation, creates software, software algorithms, and hardware that are used in the testing and data mining of the commonly used semiconductor components. Core Wafer ensures these components, created by semiconductor manufacturers, leave the factory in a working state after having been tested. Core Wafer helps ensure that products are manufactured within specification and won't suddenly fail for the end consumer. The Company is working to integrate the! operations and financial records of Core Wafer with those of the Company.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  Small cap stocks COREwafer Industries Inc (OTCMKTS: WAFR), DC Brands International, Inc (OTCMKTS: HRDN) and PV Enterprises International (OTCMKTS: PVEC) surged 82.86%, 33.33% and 25%, respectively, last Friday – meaning investors or traders got a nice Christmas present. Moreover, these small cap stocks have been the subject of minimal paid stock promotions. But will these three small cap stocks continue to deliver a good performance into and after the holidays? Here is a quick reality check before you get overly excited:

• [By Peter Graham]

  Nyxio Technologies Corp (OTCMKTS: NYXO), COREwafer Industries Inc (OTCMKTS: WAFR) and NanoTech Entertainment, Inc (OTCMKTS: NTEK) are three small cap stocks in some very diverse industries. In fact, one of these stocks just bought a 3D ice sculpture business. So will investors see their investment melt with that small cap stock along with the other two? Here is a closer look to help you decide for yourself:  

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-stocks-to-watch-right-now-3.html

Top Clean Energy Stocks To Watch For 2014

Top Clean Energy Stocks To Watch For 2014: Stamps.com Inc.(STMP)

Stamps.com Inc. provides Internet-based postage solutions. The company offers solutions to mail and ship various mail pieces, including postcards, envelopes, flats, and packages. Its products and services include the United States Postal Service (USPS)-approved PC Postage Service that enables users to print electronic stamps directly onto envelopes, plain paper, or labels using personal computer, printer, and Internet connection; and PhotoStamps, a patented form of postage, which allows consumers to turn digital photos, designs, or images into valid United States postage. The company also sells NetStamps labels, shipping labels, other mailing labels, postage printers, scales, and other mailing and shipping-focused office supplies through its mailing and shipping supplies store, as well as offers back-end integration solutions, an electronic postage for transactions to manage the front-end process. In addition, it offers Stamps.com branded insurance enabling users to insure their mail or packages; and official USPS package insurance. Stamps.com Inc. serves individuals, small businesses, home offices, medium-size businesses, and large enterprises. The company was formerly known as StampMaster, Inc. and changed its name to Stamps.com Inc. in December 1998. Stamps.com Inc. was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  Then there is that lucky or unlucky outcome of price hikes. The public will pay more for stamps, making you and me the losers in this. The question to ask is whether or not Stamps.com Inc. (NASDAQ: STMP) just get a built-in revenue booster per customer on a static basis?

• [By Bryan Murphy]

  By almost any measure, Stamps.com Inc. (NASDAQ:STMP) is a solid investment. Revenue and profits are on the rise, and are proj! ected to grow again in 2014. Stamps.com has also developed a penchant for earnings beats. And, at a trailing P/E of 18.3 and a forward-looking P/E ratio of 15.7, it's not like STMP shares cost a relative fortune. Yet, STMP is starting to look like a major liability where it could hurt shareholders the most... on the chart.

• [By Brian Pacampara]

  What: Shares of online postage provider Stamps.com (NASDAQ: STMP  ) surged 24% today after its quarterly results and guidance.

  So what: The stock has slumped a bit in 2013 on concerns over slowing growth, but today's first-quarter results -- adjusted EPS spiked 38% on a 13.5% revenue increase -- and upbeat full-year guidance naturally eases some of those worries. In fact, Stamps.com hit its highest level of total paid customers -- and added its largest number of new paid customers -- during the quarter, giving investors plenty of good vibes about the company's prospects going forward.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-clean-energy-stocks-to-watch-for-2014.html

Hot Low Price Stocks To Buy For 2014

Hot Low Price Stocks To Buy For 2014: Winmark Corporation(WINA)

Winmark Corporation operates as a franchisor of four retail store concepts that buy, sell, trade, and consign merchandise. The company franchises retail stores under the ?Plato?s Closet? name that sell and buy used clothing and accessories geared toward the teenage and young adult market; and under the ?Play It Again Sports? name, which sell, buy, trade, and consign used and new sporting goods, equipment, and accessories for various athletic activities, including hockey, wheeled sports, fitness, ski/snowboard, golf, and baseball/softball. It engages in franchising ?Once Upon A Child? branded retail stores that sell and buy used and new children?s clothing, toys, furniture, equipment, and accessories; and ?Music Go Round? branded retail stores that sell, buy, trade, and consign used and new musical instruments, speakers, amplifiers, music-related electronics, and related accessories for parents of children who play musical instruments, as well as for professional and amateu r musicians. In addition, the company operates a middle-market equipment leasing business focusing on technology-based assets to serve large and medium-sized businesses; and a small-ticket financing business to serve small businesses. Further, it offers management services to Tomsten, Inc. As of September 24, 2011, the company had 923 franchises in operation. Winmark Corporation was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Michael Lewis]

  One of my favorite businesses, Winmark (NASDAQ: WINA  ) , reported earnings this week. Earnings boosted 14% compared to the prior year's first quarter. Though the company continues to franchise its range of secondhand stores, the most compelling growth comes from the leasing division, which saw revenues jump by 30%. The company is underfollowed yet has! been paying attractive special dividends while giving investors two-year capital appreciation of roughly 50%. As the company moves forward and pushes its leasing business to new heights, should you get in now?

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Calling all cash flows
  When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on Winmark (Nasdaq: WINA  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

• [By Michael Lewis]

  Getty Images Depending on your personal investing philosophy, risk profile, strategy, and a host of external factors, there's a long list of traits you could put on your checklist for what makes a stock right for your portfolio. And then there are the exceptions -- companies that, for good reason, fall outside of the parameters you've set, but that you can't help thinking are a "good investment" But picking a good investment doesn't always have to be so complex. You can use simpler screen -- a checklist of just a few traits that are universally good markers of an appealing long-term holding. Here are three key traits that will key you in to a good investment, regardless of the company's sector, whether it's considered a growth or value stock, or even whether it's a market favorite or a pariah. 1. A brand that's synonymous with the product Technology companies largely rely on human capital for their ongoing competitiveness. Needless to say, people are highly unpredictable assets that can, and do, change quickly. So, products with an Apple logo will only stay popular so long as the mechanics and technology created by its people are cutting-edge. In other words, it's the talent that made Apple (AAPL) what it is today. And in order to remain great, Apple needs to retain its best people and be better than its competitors in acqu! iring the! top minds in its industry. That's why, despite the company's incredible growth and ability to shape the future of multiple industries, Apple will never be as sound an investment as, say, Coca-Cola (KO). Sure, Coca-Cola has an amazing manufacturing and distribution system, along with a super-secret formula to make its signature soft drink. But its true beauty as a company, a brand, and an investment, is that it has taken the simplest of ingredients and through brilliant branding turned its core product into one of the biggest, most recognizable brand names in the world (actually, the third biggest, according to Interbrand's 2013

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Winmark (Nasdaq: WINA  ) reported earnings on July 17. Here are the numbers you need to know.

  The 10-second takeaway
  For the quarter ended June 29 (Q2), Winmark beat slightly on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/hot-low-price-stocks-to-buy-for-2014.html

Nine retailers closing the most stores

Brick-and-mortar retailers have been suffering from slow economic activity for years, as well as from increased competition from online retailers. The rise in store closings is a prominent sign of their struggles. Weakened companies cannot afford the real estate and personnel costs that go along with supporting hundreds of unprofitable locations. The clearest proof of the problem was RadioShack's recent decision to close more than 1,000 stores.

RadioShack is hardly alone. During that last several years Gap has closed 20% of its locations. Even Macy's, which has forecast strong earnings and is considered the most successful of the mid-market retailers, closed stores recently.

A number of factors can lead companies to close stores. One is mergers and acquisitions activity. As organizations join forces under a single umbrella, locations that once competed for sales can become redundant, leading to store closings. The most recent example of this is the marriage of Office Depot and OfficeMax, completed late last year. Management has made it plain that the merger would produce cost savings by consolidating jobs and closing stores.

The pressures businesses face from the growth of online retail is another factor that can contribute to store closings. In particular, the rise of Amazon.com, America's largest e-commerce operation, has turned the entire retail industry on its head.

Bookseller Barnes & Noble was one of the first companies to be threatened by Amazon.com, which originally began its operations as an online bookstore. Online retailers, Amazon.com cheif among them, accounted for 44% of book sales in 2012 according to Bowker, a bookseller consultancy. Many of these sales came at Barnes & Noble's expense, as the company's own e-book business has languished.

Staples is a more recent example of a company pressured by Amazon.com. Following two years of sales declines, the office supply retailer announced that it will close 225 stores by 2015, 12% of it's total store count.!

Outside of those retailers undergoing mergers, or shrinking to limit costs and preserve their bottom lines, a number of retailers have had to shrink their store count in order to shift into new markets. Companies such as Abercrombie & Fitch and Aeropostale have are now competing with fast-fashion competitors such as H&M and Forever 21, which specialize in getting the latest trends from the runway to stores quickly and at low prices.

Companies close stores for different reasons. In the case of Sears Holdings, is likely to shutter a number of locations as part of a larger strategic overhaul to fund its transformation and make operations more efficient. Closing stores "frees up capital, reduces losses and de-risks our model," the company said in an earnings presentation.

In contrast, J.C. Penney is only closing stores that noticeably underperformed. The company's sales have fallen sharply since Ron Johnson, previously Apple's retail chief, took over as CEO nearly three years ago, and continue to have fallen since he was ousted by the board last year. But the company continues to make major investments in its conventional brick-and-mortar operations, and has only announced the closing of 33 out of more than 1,000 stores.

To determine the retailers closing the most stores, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed large retailers that have publicly announced store closings for 2014, or are in the middle of a multi-year plan to trim locations. In addition, we also reviewed company earnings and SEC filings.

These are the retailers closing the most stores.

1. Abercrombie & Fitch

Abercrombie & Fitch first announced its plans to close 180 stores by 2015 more than two years ago. In its most recent quarterly report, the company said it had closed 10 stores by November of last year and would close another 40 stores by the end of its fiscal year. This total does not include the 20 stand-alone Gilly Hicks brand stores, which the company also plans to shutter this year. Abercromb! ie & ! Fitch's stock has struggled, posting one of the largest declines in the S&P 500 during 2013. To improve performance, the retailer is planning to shift marketing for its Abercrombie & Fitch to older shoppers while transforming its Hollister stores to a fast-fashion approach in line with H&M and Zara. A succession plan for CEO Mike Jeffries is also in the works. Last year, shareholders from Engaged Capital publicly campaigned for Jefferies' dismissal, citing the retailer's failure to adapt to fast-fashion, and Jeffries' statements about excluding customers that he thought were too heavy for the brand.

2. Barnes & Noble

Early last year, Barnes & Noble announced plans to shut a third of its stores over the next 10 years. As of this January, the company had already closed some 14 retail locations, dropping its store count to 663 from the 677 it had when the announcement was first made. Particularly painful for many book-lovers, the retailer chose to close its one-time flagship store in New York City this January. While cost-cutting has helped the company post profits, by some measures the company's prognosis remains bleak. Book retail has increasingly shifted to online and e-books, dominated by Amazon.com. But while Amazon.com has noted strong sales of its Kindle e-reader, Barnes & Noble's own e-reader, the Nook, has struggled. Revenue of the bookstore's Nook division, which include hardware and digital sales, fell by more than 50% year-over-year, and the segment remains unprofitable.

3. Aeropostale

Aeropostale is the in the midst of closing 40 to 50 stores in 2014, and plans to shutter some 175 stores in total over the next few years. The teen clothing retailer's net income dropped to $34.92 million in 2013 from $229.5 million in 2010, and its EBITDA fell to $157.89 million last year from $435.45 million in 2010. Pressure from competitors such as Gap and Abercrombie & Fitch, as well as declining mall sales, has driven the company's share price from $32.08 ! in 2010 t! o $7 as of March 2014. Private equity firm Hirzel acquired 6% of Aeropostale in November 2013. Currently, the company is rumored to be in talks with Barclays Plc. because it is seeking either additional financing or to be acquired. Aeropostale's fast-fashion shipment model, which it took up last year, has largely been unsuccessful.

4. J.C. Penney

After J.C. Penney's sales began to steadily decline, the company tasked Ron Johnson, formerly retail head at Apple, with reinventing the retailer's pricing strategy, only to see sales, earnings, and cash flow fall off a cliff. After years of avoiding closing stores, the company has recently said it would be shuttering several locations. At the start of 2014, J.C. Penney announced 33 store closings, to be completed by May, leading to the loss of about 2,000 jobs. Some investors and pundits believe the company has not been aggressive enough in cutting stores. As of November, the company had 1,095 department stores, down only slightly from past years. Not all news has been bad for the retailer, which reported surprisingly strong earnings in February. Additionally, Standard & Poor's recently upgraded the retailer's credit outlook, although it noted changes will still be necessary to improve its credit long-term.

5. Office Depot

Office Depot merged with rival OfficeMax in November. Since the merger, the company has been cutting jobs at its Boca Raton, Fla., headquarters. The next stage in integrating the two retailers, the company has stated, will be to cut store count. CEO Roland Smith admitted the company's merger was difficult for many workers, telling the Orlando Sun-Sentinel that "it is difficult to focus on business when your personal future is uncertain." The company had 1,912 retail stores at the end of its latest fiscal year, including 823 OfficeMax stores. Since the merger, the company has closed 15 of its Office Depot stores and seven OfficeMax locations.

6. RadioShack

During the Super Bowl, RadioShack attempted to ! poke fun ! at itself, running an ad touting its store remodelling that playfully referenced the store's reputation as a throwback to the 1980s. But a reinvention alone may not save the electronics retailer — its previous attempt at rebranding itself as "The Shack" never caught on. The retailer recently announced it would close 1,100 out of its more-than 5,000 stores. The company has deemed these closings as critical to its cash-management and turnaround plans, which it hopes would help reverse recent poor results. Both the company's top and bottom lines have declined considerably in recent years, and its operating cash flow is also down from years past. The fourth quarter of last year, which coincides with the holiday season, was especially troubling. Sales declined 19% at stores open at least a year because of lower foot traffic and weak performance in mobile sales.

7. Sears Holdings

Sears has been heading downhill since 2005, when Wall Street billionaire Edward Lampert merged Sears Roebuck & Co. with Kmart in a deal worth $11 billion. Since 2010, the company has closed roughly 300 stores. One of the few surges in the company's share price came at the end of January, after it announced the closing of its flagship store in Chicago in April. Shedding its assets has been a major part of the company's business for years. The company has not only dumped stores, but entire businesses, including Orchard Supplies Hardware Stores, Sears Hometown & Outlet Stores, Lands End, and a part of its stake in Sears Canada. Cowen analyst John Kernan recently noted that he expected Sears Holdings to close an additional 500 stores going-forward.

8. Staples

Staples recently announced plans to close 225 stores, or roughly 12% of its total count, by the end of 2015. The closures reflect both the company's struggling sales totals, as well as its shift away from brick-and-mortar business to online retail. In its recent earnings release, the company said almost half of its sales come from online orders, and! store cl! osures reflect an opportunity to save money while improving the company's bottom line. This is not the first time headwinds have lead the company to close stores. In 2012, Staples shut 60 stores, mostly in Europe, as part of its plans to cut costs. The company referred to its shift to online sales.

9. Toys "R" Us

A Toys "R" Us was taken private by a consortium of companies in 2005. Nearly a decade later, disagreements among the company's ownership and a high debt burden have weighed down the retailer. In all, Toys "R" Us spent nearly three years trying to time an IPO, before backtracking last May. In early March of this year, industry sources told The Record's NorthJersey.com that the company would soon close some 100 stores. Whether or not the company decides to close stores, major changes may be needed. Real estate giant Vornado, one of the three co-owners of Toys "R" Us, recently announced a more than $240 million writedown on its investment in the company. Among the reasons it gave were the company's 2013 holiday sales results, "and our inability to forecast a recovery in the near term." Toys "R" Us has struggled to keep up with online competition as well. A December report from Bloomberg indicated it was easier to find the holidays' hottest toys on Amazon.com than through Toys "R" Us' website.

24/7 Wall St. is a USA TODAY content partner offering financial news and commentary. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

Top Casino Stocks To Own Right Now

Top Casino Stocks To Own Right Now: Pinnacle Entertainment Inc.(PNK)

Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. owns, develops, and operates casinos, and related hospitality and entertainment facilities in the United States. It operates casinos, such as L'Auberge du Lac in Lake Charles, Louisiana; River City Casino and Lumiere Place in St. Louis, Missouri; Boomtown New Orleans in New Orleans, Louisiana; Belterra Casino Resort in Vevay, Indiana; Boomtown Bossier City in Bossier City, Louisiana; and Boomtown Reno in Reno, Nevada. The company also operates River Downs racetrack in southeast Cincinnati, Ohio. As of May 26, 2011, it operated seven casinos and one racetrack. The company was formerly known as Hollywood Park, Inc. and changed its name to Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. in February 2000. Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. was founded in 1935 and is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sean Williams]

  Time to make the switch
  If I could name a sector that I'd certainly tread lightly around considering that consumers are tightening their wallets, it would be the casino sector. Casino companies rely on loose wallets and vacations to drive profits. This is why I feel it could be the time to say goodbye to casino and race track operator Pinnacle Entertainment (NYSE: PNK  ) near its 52-week high.

• [By Travis Hoium]

  What: Shares of Ameristar Casinos (NASDAQ: ASCA  ) and Pinnacle Entertainment (NYSE: PNK  ) fell as much as 11% today after the government brought into question the merger of the two companies.

• [By Dan Radovsky]

  Pinnacle Entertainment (NYSE: PNK  ) has reached an agreement in principle with the Bureau of Competition of the Federal Trade Commission that would allow the company to complete its proposed acquisition of Ameristar Casinos (NASDAQ: ASCA  ) , Pinnacle a! nnounced today.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-casino-stocks-to-own-right-now-2.html

NPR's Carl Kasell to retire

Carl Kasell has worked at NPR in various capacities since 1975.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) Carl Kasell, the beloved voice of NPR's weekly game show "Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!," is calling it quits. He announced on Tuesday that he will record his last edition of the program sometime this spring.

Kasell, 79, will still appear on "Wait Wait" occasionally, and will continue to record one of his trademarks: custom voice mail greetings for the game show winners.

"It's a real sad day for all of us at 'Wait Wait' and for me," tweeted Peter Sagal, the show's host, on Tuesday afternoon. "But Carl deserves a chance to lay down the mic and enjoy himself."

Kasell has worked at NPR in various capacities since 1975. He was the newscaster for one of NPR's flagships, "Morning Edition," from 1979 until 2009.

He has been with "Wait Wait" since its inception in 1998, playing the "straight man" of sorts while Sagal asks questions of panelists.

"My favorite time at NPR has been 'Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!,'" Kasell said in a statement. "It was loads of fun and gave me a chance to meet and talk in person to the audiences that I felt I had known for so many years on the air."

He added, "I can honestly say I am the luckiest man around to be able to have worked at a job I love for so many years. It's truly been a joy for me."

NPR didn't specify an end date for Kasell, but the public radio organization said that "celebration shows" are being planned in Chicago and Washington. NPR invited Kasell's fans to call 1-888-WAIT-WAIT and leave a voice mail for Kasell, in a nod to his highly coveted voice mail prizes.

NPR said Kasell's title would become "Scorekeeper Emeritus."

"We haven't decided on a replacement, yet," Sagal tweeted. "Hardly thought about it. Want to take our tim! e, not go for a rebound host."

Correction: An earlier version of this article misspelled Carl Kasell's last name.

Dow Theory's Top Five Stock Ideas

Since its inception in 1994, our Focus List has delivered a price return of 462.1% on a fully invested basis, well ahead of the S&P 500's 296.2% gain, explains Richard Moroney in Dow Theory Forecasts, a newsletter focused on quality and value.

Our Focus List generally contains our 12 to 17 best ideas for the next 12 months. But we don't always love all members of the Focus List equally. For those looking to fill out an existing portfolio, start with these five stocks, our favorite picks.

Google (GOOG)

Unlike the other four stocks featured below, Google is not cheap, trading at 27 times trailing earnings and earning a Quadrix Value score of 31. However, it looks more reasonable based on the long-term outlook, with a PEG ratio (P/E divided by estimated five-year profit growth) of 1.2, cheaper than about 68% of US stocks.

Google is forging a lot of projects in the fire—if just one of them comes to fruition, it could open up a big new source of growth. Meanwhile, the core advertising business still has plenty of potential.

Helmerich & Payne (HP)

Helmerich & Payne is expanding its fleet of high-end rigs and taking market share. The company is now projected to earn $6.07 per share in fiscal 2014 ending September, implying 8% growth, on 7% higher sales. The stock yields 2.8%.

The stock has surged 50% since joining the Focus List in January 2013, but the shares still look reasonably attractive at 15 times trailing earnings, a 10% discount to the median for S&P 1500 energy stocks. A perennial standout in Quadrix, H&P's Overall score has exceeded 95 for, at least, 13 straight months.

Skyworks Solutions (SWKS)

Skyworks builds radio-frequency semiconductors to transmit that data between smartphones and other mobile devices. While demand ramps for traditional wireless gadgets, Skyworks aggressively expands into such new areas as wired homes, cars, and healthcare equipment.

The stock earns the maximum rank of 100 for Quadrix Overall and both sector-specific scores. All six Quadrix category scores exceed 80. The stock trades at 12 times estimated earnings for the current fiscal year, 25% below the average forward P/E for S&P 500 technology stocks.

United Rentals (URI)

Equipment-rental leader United Rentals is leveraged to the US economy, which we see improving this year. The firm seems capable of generating excess cash to reduce balance sheet leverage and also fund its plans to repurchase $450 million in shares, or about 6% of the total outstanding.

The improving outlook doesn't seem fully reflected in its stock price. Shares trade at 11 times estimated 2014 earnings, a 30% discount to the median for S&P 1500 industrial stocks. United Rentals scores above 95 for Quadrix Overall and both sector-specific ranks.

Wells Fargo (WFC)

Wells Fargo has slogged through a couple quarters of sluggish growth. But its shares look cheap, and long-term prospects remain intact. Management sees 2014 as a year of modest improvement, a trend reflected in consensus estimates, with per-share profits projected to rise 4%.

At 12 times trailing earnings, the stock trades 31% below its sector median. The stock yields 2.6%. It expects to boost the quarterly dividend and stock buybacks this year, with an announcement likely in March.

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Netflix Is More Than a House of Cards, Mr. President

Friday's debut of the second season of House of Cards went off without a hitch. All 13 episodes became available on Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX  ) on Valentine's Day, but the leading video streaming service isn't resting on Francis Underwood's laurels.

Netflix announced over the weekend that the second season of Orange Is the New Black will be available on June 6. The show -- the handiwork of Weeds creators Jenji Kohan -- was another big winner introduced by the streaming platform with more than 44 million accounts worldwide last year. It didn't generate the award nominations that House of Cards rang up or create the buzz that surrounded the return of cult fave Arrested Development, but it's easily Netflix's second most magnetic show when it comes to original programming.

That isn't meant to shortchange Lilyhammer, which was Netflix's first foray into original programming and also its first to have a sophomore season. It's just an observation of the buzz that Netflix's first-run content has been generating since making this a key component of its strategy two years ago this month.

For now, the buzz rightfully belongs to House of Cards.

We're not all on the same page. Everyone who's streaming the politico-skewering serialized drama is watching at his or her own pace, and that limits the kind of shared excitement that viewers typically experience with shows that favor the traditional model of offering up weekly installments.

Even the president knows that he has to be careful, judging by a nod to Netflix on Thursday. 

Tomorrow: @HouseOfCards. No spoilers, please.

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) February 13, 2014

Netflix can't buy this kind of publicity, and even while its "binge viewing" strategy has its shortcomings by posing promotional challenges, it's clearly not going to change anytime soon. Every single episode of the second season of Orange Is the New Black will be available on its June 6 debut. Obama's unlikely to throw Netflix another bone when that happens, but it's a safe bet that a lot of other people will. Rival streaming services haven't embraced Netflix's distribution strategy that favors instant gratification, but that doesn't mean it's wrong. 

Netflix's growing subscriber base and its status as the S&P 500's biggest gainer in 2013 both serve as strong proof that the company is on to something.

It's not just House of Cards that Obama's promoting these days
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