Ameriprise Wealth Unit Boost Profits 39%: Q1 Earnings

Ameriprise Financial (AMP) beat earnings estimates and reported first-quarter net income of $401 million, or $2.01 per share, up 19% from $336 million, or $1.58, a year ago.

Operating net revenues increased 8% year over year to $2.8 billion, “driven by strong fee-based business growth from client net inflows and increased client activity, as well as market appreciation, which more than offset pressure from continued low interest rates,” according to the company.

“Our advisory and asset management businesses continue to drive our growth,” said Chairman and CEO Jim Cracchiolo, in a press release. “Clients committed record flows to fee-based wrap programs, and we’re steadily driving improvement in advisor productivity.”

The number of advisors in the group totals 9,704 — down 12 from the prior quarter and 73 from a year ago: 2,155 reps are employee advisors, while the remaining 7,549 are independent.

Strong Wealth Results

Pretax operating earnings from the Advice & Wealth Management and Asset Management units grew 36% to $364 million. Wealth management results expanded 39% to $181 million on sales of $1.15 billion, up 13% from a year ago.

Average annualized fees and commissions per advisor stood at $454,000, a jump of 15% from last year’s $395,000. Mutual fund wrap flows for the wealth group were $4.2 billion vs. $4.1 billion a year ago.

5 Best International Stocks For 2015

The unit’s pretax margin rose to 15.8% from 12.8% in the first quarter of 2013.

Asset-based activity jumped 18%, and transactional-based activity ticked up 6% in the period, CFO Walter Berman said on a call with equity analysts on Tuesday.

“Importantly our advisor force remains strong and retention and satisfaction rates remain high,” Berman said. “We continue to recruit, good productivity people and brought in another 76 experienced advisors in the first quarter.

The Asset Management group’s net outflows totaled $3.9 billion in Q1’14, down from outflows of $5.7 billion last year.  

In the quarter, the company returned $457 million to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends. 

Top 10 International Stocks To Watch For 2015

When shares of old Kraft stock broke into two components last fall, most investors expected the higher-growth Mondelez International (NASDAQ: MDLZ  ) global snacks business to be the more attractive segment of the two post-spinoff companies. Yet the North American grocery business that now trades as Kraft Foods Group (NASDAQ: KRFT  ) has shown surprising success as an independent company, and as it's turned out, shares of the new Kraft stock have done a lot better than Mondelez during the first nine months of their separate existence. Let's take a closer look at exactly how the new Kraft has done so well and what's in store for its stock going forward.

The appeal of the food business
The old Kraft was a monster food company, so it's important to know which company got which brands in the spinoff. Mondelez kept its global snack-food business, which include brands like Nabisco, Cadbury, Oreo, and Trident. Meanwhile, Kraft got equally familiar grocery-store brands including Jell-O, Oscar Mayer, Velveeta, and Capri Sun, as well as its namesake Kraft lines of products such as macaroni and cheese.

Top 10 International Stocks To Watch For 2015: Royal Gold Inc.(RGLD)

Royal Gold, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, acquires and operates precious metals royalties. The company owns royalty interests in various production, development, evaluation, and exploration stage projects, which explore for gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc metals. It holds royalty interests in properties located in the United States, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Finland, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, the Russia Federation, Spain, and Tunisia. The company was founded in 1981 and is based in Denver, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Travis Hoium]

  What: Gold and silver miners are taking it on the chin today. Royal Gold (NASDAQ: RGLD  ) fell as much as 10.4%, Allied Nevada Gold (NYSEMKT: ANV  ) fell up to 11.5%, and Silver Wheaton (NYSE: SLW  ) dropped as much as 11.2%.

• [By Itinerant]

  Barrick Gold also has obligations to pay Royal Gold (RGLD) a royalty on some of the precious metal output from the mine once operational; and more importantly, the company has given a completion guarantee to Silver Wheaton (SLW) as part of a deal that saw Silver Wheaton contribute $625M towards capex in 2009 in exchange to buy 25% of the produced silver for a discounted price of $3.90. If the mine is not completed by December 31, 2015, then Silver Wheaton has the right to ask for its money back. Silver Wheaton will be thinking of ways to manage its share of the disaster as confirmation has now been given that Pascua-Lama will not be completed by that dead line. For the moment, Silver Wheaton has extended the deadline by one year to December 31, 2016, and has reduced the guidance for 2017.

Top 10 International Stocks To Watch For 2015: Energy and Minerals Australia Ltd (EMA)

Energy & Minerals Australia Limited is an Australia-based uranium exploration and development company. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012 (fiscal 2012), the Company continued with exploration and development of its tenement package and progression of development studies on the Mulga Rock project. The Company operates one business segment: exploration. The activities undertaken by the exploration segment includes the exploration on tenements in Western Australia and scoping study activities on the Mulga Rock project. The Mulga Rock project is located about 250 Kilometer northeast of Kalgoorlie. The Mulga Rock Deposits (MRD) comprises four separate deposits being: Ambassador, Emperor ,Shogun and the Princess Deposit, The Company holds over 900 square kilometers of land surrounding the MRD. Narnoo Mining Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company , is the registered holder of exploration licenses numbered E39/876 and E39/877. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tom Aspray, Senior Editor, MoneyShow.com]

  To calculate the Mass Index:

  Calculate a nine-day exponential moving average (EMA) of the difference between the high and low prices. Calculate a nine-day exponential moving average of the moving average calculated in Step 1. Divide the moving average calculated in Step 1 by the moving average calculated in Step 2. Total the values in Step 3 for the number of periods in the Mass Index (e.g., 25 days).

Hot Japanese Stocks To Own For 2015: SodaStream International Ltd.(SODA)

SodaStream International Ltd. engages in the development, manufacture, and marketing of home beverage carbonation systems and related products. Its home beverage carbonation systems enable consumers to transform ordinary tap water into carbonated soft drinks and sparkling water. The company offers a range of soda makers; exchangeable carbon-dioxide (CO2) cylinders; beverage-grade CO2 refills; reusable carbonation bottles; and various flavors comprising fruit, carbonated soft drink, and enhanced flavors to add to the carbonated water. It also sells additional accessories for its products, including bottle cleaning materials and ice cube trays manufactured by third parties. The company sells its products under the SodaStream and Soda-Club brand names through approximately 50,000 retail stores in 42 countries, as well as through the Internet; and distributes its products directly in 12 countries and indirectly through local distributors in other markets. It operates in Europe , North and Central America, Israel, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and east Asia. The company was formerly known as Soda-Club Holdings Ltd. and changed its name to SodaStream International Ltd. in March 2010. SodaStream International Ltd. is headquartered in Airport City, Israel.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Which is probably part of the reason Coke feels the need to defend aspartame from attacks. Not that it's not working behind the scenes to try natural flavors as well. A new stevia-flavored drink is being tested in Argentina to see if it performs well enough to expand into other markets, while�SodaStream (NASDAQ: SODA  ) introduced a line of stevia-flavored drinks for its make-it-yourself soda machine�last year.

• [By Rick Aristotle Munarriz]

  AP With the studio behind this weekend's biggest opening reporting quarterly results and an update from the company behind the world's best-selling video game franchise, there will be plenty of news breaking in the coming days. Let's go over some of the items that will help shape the week ahead on Wall Street. 1. Organic Growth: Whole Foods Market (WFM) is the undisputed champ among grocers specializing in whole and organic foods. No, a trip to Whole Foods Market isn't exactly cheap, but customers haven't been flinching at the register. The high-end supermarket chain has been posting positive comps for a couple of years now. Whole Foods Market reports quarterly results on Tuesday, and the market's ready for more growth. Analysts see the retailer earning $0.73 a share, well ahead of the $0.64 a share it rang up a year earlier. The retailer hasn't made any substantial acquisitions lately, so I guess you can call this organic growth in more ways than one. 2. Activision Blizzard Fires Again: The country's largest video game developer has been putting out new "Call of Duty" games every November for years, so it wasn't a surprise when Activision Blizzard (ATVI) announced that its next installment will hit gamers on Nov. 5. However, the leading publisher isn't going to settle for another "Modern Warfare" or "Black Ops" entry this year. "Call of Duty: Ghosts" will be the name of the new combat simulator. Diehard gamers hungry for a glimpse will get a preview on May 21 when the new Xbox is unveiled. Investors hungry for more gaming news will get Activision Blizzard's quarterly report on Wednesday. Analysts see improving profitability and revenue for the quarter, but those same analysts see revenue and earnings declining for all of 2013. Call this quarter a battle that Activision Blizzard is winning -- but it's going to have to do better to win the war. 3. Stark Was the Spark: Everyone knew that "Iron Man 3" would kick off the summer box office season with a punch

• [By Ben Rooney]

  SodaStream (SODA) shares were up 6% to about $38 midday Thursday, after soaring above $40 in early trading.

  The stock plunged in extended trading Wednesday after Coca-Cola (CCE, Fortune 500) disclosed a 10% stake in Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (GMCR), which plans to launch a cold beverage system later this year or early next year.

• [By Jeremy Bowman]

  What: Shares of SodaStream International (NASDAQ: SODA  ) were bubbling higher today, gaining as much as 11% after getting a strong vote of confidence from Barclay's.

Top 10 International Stocks To Watch For 2015: Enphase Energy Inc (ENPH)

Enphase Energy, Inc. (Enphase), incorporated in March 20, 2006, designs, develops and sells microinverter systems for the solar photovoltaic industry. The Company sells its microinverter systems primarily to distributors who resell them to solar installers. It also sells directly to installers, as well as through original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The Company�� microinverter system consists of three components: Enphase microinverter, Envoy communications gateway and Enlighten Web-based software.

Enphase Microinverter

The Company�� Enphase microinverter delivers power conversion at the individual solar module level by introducing a digital architecture that incorporates custom application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) power electronics devices and an embedded software subsystem. A residential solar installation consists of 5 to 50 microinverters; a small commercial solar installation consists of 50 to 500 microinverters, and medium or larger commercial solar installation consists of 500 to 10,000 microinverters, or more.

Envoy Communications Gateway

The Company�� Envoy communications gateway is installed in the system owner�� home or business and serves as a networking hub that collects data from the microinverter array and sends the information to its hosted data center. One Envoy is typically sold with each solar installation and can support up to 500 Enphase microinverters.

Enlighten Software

The Company�� Enlighten Web-based software collects and analyzes this information to enable system owners to monitor and realize the performance of their solar photovoltaics (PV) system and also provides an online portal designed for installers to enable them to track and manage all of their Enphase enabled projects and monitor and analyze the performance of their installed systems.

The Company competes with SMA Solar Technology AG, Fronius International GmbH, Power-One, Inc., SunPower Corp.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Zacks]

  Other stocks from the sector worth considering are Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENPH), First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) and Trina Solar Limited (NYSE: TSL).  All these stocks currently carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). 

Top 10 International Stocks To Watch For 2015: Anheuser-Busch InBev (BUD)

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV, incorporated on August 2, 1977, is a brewing company. The Company produces, markets, distributes and sells a balanced portfolio of approximately 200 beer brands. These include global flagship brands Budweiser, Stella Artois and Beck��; multi-country brands, such as Leffe and Hoegaarden, and many local champions, such as Bud Light, Skol, Brahma, Quilmes, Michelob, Harbin, Sedrin, Klinskoye, Sibirskaya Korona, Chernigivske and Jupiler. The Company also produces and distributes soft drinks, particularly in Latin America. The Company operates in seven segments: North America, Latin America North, Latin America South, Western Europe, Central & Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific and Global Export & Holding Companies. On October 20, 2010, Companhia de Bebidas das Americas-AmBev (AmBev) and Cerveceria Regional S.A. closed a transaction pursuant, to which they combined their businesses in Venezuela, with Regional owning an 85% interest and AmBev owning the remaining 15% in the new company. On February 28, 2011, the Company closed a transaction with Dalian Daxue Group Co., Ltd and Kirin (China) Investment Co., Ltd to acquire a 100% equity interest in Liaoning Dalian Daxue Brewery Co., Ltd. The Company�� beer portfolio is divided into global, multi-country and local brands. Beer can be differentiated into the categories, such as premium brands; mainstream or core brands, and value, discount or sub-premium brands. The Company also has a presence in the soft drink market in Latin America through its subsidiary AmBev and in the United States through Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. (Anheuser-Busch). Soft drinks include both carbonated soft and non-carbonated soft drinks. Its soft drinks business includes both its own production and agreements with PepsiCo related to bottling and distribution. The brands that are distributed under these agreements are Pepsi, 7UP and Gatorade. AmBev has long-term agreements with PepsiCo whereby AmBev has the exclusive right to bottle, sell and distribute certain brands of PepsiCo�� portfolio of carbonated soft drinks in Brazil. In the United States, Anheuser-Busch also produces non-alcoholic malt beverage products, including O��oul�� and O��oul�� Amber, energy drinks and related products. In the United States, its indirect subsidiary, Metal Container Corporation, manufactures beverage cans at eight plants and beverage can lids at three plants for sale to its Anheuser-Busch beer operations and United States soft drink customers. Anheuser-Busch also owns a recycling business, which buys and sells used beverage containers and recycles aluminum and plastic containers; a manufacturer of crown liner materials for sale to its North American beer operations, and a glass manufacturing plant which manufactures glass bottles for use by its North American beer operations. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By The Part-time Investor]

  The following stocks met the criteria in January of 2008 and were put into the initial portfolio:

  Abbot Labs (ABT)Advanced data processing (ADP)Associated Banc-Corp (ASBC)Bank of America (BAC)BB&T Corp. (BBT)Bemis Company (BMS)Anheuser Busch (BUD)The Chubb Corporation (CB)Clorox (CLX)Comerica Inc. (CMA)Diebold Inc. (DBD)Emerson Electronics (EMR)First Dollar Corp. (FDO)First Third BanCorp. (FITB)Gannett Co, Inc. (GCI)General Electric (GE)Hershey (HSY)Illinois Tools Works (ITW)Johnson and Johnson (JNJ)Leggett and Platt (LEG)Eli Lilly (LLY)La-Z-Boy (LZB)McDonald's (MCD)Marsh and Ilsley (MI)M&T Bancorp (MTB)PepsiCo (PEP)Pfizer (PFE)Procter & Gamble (PG)Pentair Ltd. (PNR)Regions Financial Corp. (RF)Rohm and Haas (ROH)RPM International (RPM)Sherwin Williams (SHW)Sysco Corp. (SYY)UDR Inc. (UDR)

  Historical quotes were taken from Yahoo Finance. $10,000 was put into each position, to the nearest whole share, so a total of $349,262.89 was invested. From 1/15/08 through 5/16/13 all dividends were reinvested back into the stock that paid them. If a dividend cut was announced, that stock was sold on the ex-div date of the new, lower dividend.

• [By Taylor Muckerman and Joel South]

  Much like the wine industry in California, Anheuser-Busch InBev (NYSE: BUD  ) has made its opposition to hydraulic fracturing for natural gas in Germany well known. Due to purity laws dating back to the 1500s, German brewers are worried about the contamination of their water sources, which must remain absent of any unnatural additives.�

• [By Rich Duprey]

  The long acquisition is over. Anheuser-Busch InBev (NYSE: BUD  ) announced yesterday it had completed its acquisition of Mexican brewer Grupo Modelo in a deal valued at $20.1 billion that creates a combined company with approximately�400 million hectoliters of beer volume annually.

Top 10 International Stocks To Watch For 2015: Travelzoo Inc(TZOO)

Travelzoo Inc., an Internet media company, together with its subsidiaries, publishes travel and entertainment deals from travel and entertainment companies, and local businesses in North America and Europe. Its publications and products include the Travelzoo Websites, such as travelzoo.com, travelzoo.ca, travelzoo.co.uk, travelzoo.de, www.travelzoo.es, and travelzoo.fr; the Travelzoo Top 20 e-mail newsletter; and the Newsflash e-mail alert service. The company also operates SuperSearch, a pay-per-click travel search tool; Travelzoo Network, a network of third-party Websites that list deals published by Travelzoo; and Fly.com, a travel search engine that allows users to find the best prices on flights from various airlines and online travel agencies. In addition, it provides Local Deals and Getaways services that allow its subscribers to purchase vouchers for deals from local businesses, such as spas, hotels, and restaurants through the Travelzoo Website. As of December 31, 2011, the company?s advertiser base included approximately 2,000 travel companies, entertainment companies, and local businesses, including airlines, hotels, cruise lines, vacations packagers, tour operators, destinations, car rental companies, travel agents, theater and performing arts groups, restaurants, spas, and activity companies. Travelzoo Inc. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tom Taulli]

  Valuation: Even with after the Expedia stock sell-off, shares of EXPE remain far from cheap. EXPE stock is trading for a trailing P/E of 46 vs. 33 for Priceline and 23 for Travelzoo (TZOO).�And considering the recent volatility, investors are certainly jittery about EXPE stock. As a result, another earnings disappointment could have a severe impact.

• [By Rich Smith]

  If you are a Travelzoo (NASDAQ: TZOO  ) shareholder but own fewer than 25 shares, management would really appreciate it if you would just go away.

Top 10 International Stocks To Watch For 2015: 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�� 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�� 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, 2011, 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, promotional entertainment and Internet-based services to the lottery industry. It operates six instant ticket printing facilities across five continents.

!

The Company provides lotteries with access to some entertainment brands on lottery products through its subsidiary MDI Entertainment LLC (MDI). The Company�� 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, equipment 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�� 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, Norway, 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�� 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 Gaming 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 Pollard Banknote Limited, GTECH, BI Worldwide Ltd., Alchemy3, LLC, ePrize, LLC, GTECH, Pollard, Intralot Technologies, 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. �

Top 10 International Stocks To Watch For 2015: Blue Water Global Group Inc (BLUU)

Blue Water Global Group, Inc. (Blue Water), incorporated on March 3, 2011, is a development-stage company. The Company focuses on developing a chain of casual dining restaurants in tourist destinations throughout the Caribbean region. The Company's initial restaurant is going to be called Blue Water Bar & Grill and will be located in St. Maarten, Dutch West Indies.

As of February 7, 2013, the Company did not operate any restaurant properties, and did not have any ownership or leaseholds in any restaurant properties. As of February 7, 2013, the Company did not have any ownership or leaseholds in any restaurant properties.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  Small cap stocks Naturalnano Inc (OTCMKTS: NNAN), Global Payout, Inc (OTCMKTS: GOHE) and Blue Water Global Group Inc (OTCBB: BLUU) were either jumping higher or diving lower yesterday. To complicate matters for investors, two of these small cap stocks have been subjects of disclosures about paid promotion or investor relation campaigns. So what will these three small caps do for the rest of this week? Here is a closer look to help you decide on a trading or investing strategy:

• [By Peter Graham]

  Small cap stocks Caribbean International Holdings (OTCMKTS: CIHN), Blue Water Global Group Inc (OTCBB: BLUU) and Metrospaces Inc (OTCMKTS: MSPC) have been getting some attention lately in various investment newsletters and all three have focused their activities in the Caribbean or South America. However, all three have been the subject of paid promotions which have helped to get them mentions in various investment newsletters. With that in mind, will bets on the Caribbean or South America pay off big for these three small cap stocks and their investors? Here is a quick reality check:

Top 10 International Stocks To Watch For 2015: Beeston Enterprises Ltd (BESE)

Beeston Enterprises Ltd, incorporated on July 12, 1999, is an exploration stage company that engages principally in the acquisition, exploration, and development of resource properties. The Company acquired a 100% interest in 19 mineral claims, comprising over 9,200 hectares, known as the Ruth Lake Property, located 25 kilometers from Lac La Hache, British Columbia, Canada. As of December 31, 2012, the Company owns five mineral claims in this area, all of which are in good standing.

The Company's British Columbia, Canada property is located in the Quesnel Trough. This belt is known for hosting skarn and porphyry copper and copper-gold deposits. The property is being investigated by the Company in Arizona, United States of America is also in a well known gold/silver mining area.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  Small cap stocks Beeston Enterprises Ltd (OTCMKTS: BESE) and HD Retail Solutions Inc (OTCMKTS: HDRE) surged 33.33% and 11.54%, respectively, on Black Friday while Frontier Beverage Company Inc (OTCMKTS: FBEC) sank 18.18%. And while Black Friday might be the most important shopping day of the year for retailers, its probably not a day that sees a lot of action from investors and traders still digesting their Thanksgiving meals (or busy looking for deals at their favorite retailers). So what direction will these three small cap stocks do for investors and traders this week? Here is a closer look to help you decide:

Top 10 International Stocks To Watch For 2015: BT Group plc (BT)

BT Group plc provides communications solutions and services worldwide. It engages in the provision of networked IT services; and local, national, and international telecommunications services for use at home, at work, and on the move. The company also offers broadband and Internet products in the United Kingdom (U.K.), as well as TV and converged fixed/mobile services. It operates in four segments: BT Global Services, BT Retail, BT Wholesale, and Openreach. The BT Global Services segment provides managed networked IT services to multinational corporations, domestic businesses, and national and local government organizations. The BT Retail segment offers broadband, telephony, and TV services, as well IT and telephony for small to medium sized businesses in the United Kingdom. It also provides video and telephone conferencing, CCTV, and alarm systems. This segment serves corporate, small and medium enterprises, consumer, and wholesale markets in the U.K., the Republic of Ire land, and Northern Ireland. The BT Wholesale segment provides voice, broadband, and data communications services, including managed services for fixed and mobile network operators, Internet service providers, and telecoms resellers in the U.K. The Openreach segment connects communications providers? customers to their local telephone exchange, giving them access to the U.K. network. The company was formerly known as Newgate Telecommunications Limited and changed its name to BT Group plc in September 2001. BT Group plc was founded in 1981 and is based in London, the United Kingdom.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Alan Oscroft]

  BT Group (LSE: BT-A  ) (NYSE: BT  )
  Finally, Friday will see the release of results from BT Group, whose shareholders have enjoyed the biggest share-price appreciation of the three we're looking at today -- at 280 pence, the price is up about 35% over the past 12 months.

• [By G. A. Chester]

  LONDON -- There are things to love and loathe about most companies. Today, I'm going to tell you about three things to love about�BT Group� (LSE: BT-A  ) (NYSE: BT  ) .

• [By Mark Rogers]

  Today I'm looking at the EPS forecasts for�BT� (LSE: BT-A  ) (NYSE: BT  ) , the FTSE 100 telecom giant. All my figures are courtesy of S&P Capital IQ.

Why Changyou Shares Got Crushed

Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.

What: Shares of Chinese online gaming operator Changyou.com (NASDAQ: CYOU  ) plummeted 19% today after its quarterly results and outlook disappointed Wall Street.

So what: The stock has soared over the past year on a string of better-than-expected quarters, but today's Q2 revenue miss -- $182.4 million versus the average estimate of $183.4 million -- coupled with downbeat guidance for the Q3 is forcing Mr. Market to quickly sober up. And while Changyou's profit of $75.2 million managed to top estimates, gross margin during the quarter slipped 100 basis points, suggesting that the super-high earnings growth is getting more expensive to sustain.   

Now what: Management now sees third-quarter EPS of $1.33-$1.38 on revenue of $180 million-$186 million, well below the consensus of $1.48 and $191 million. "With an array of new games planned for the PC, Web and mobile and the capabilities we have built over the years in game development, operation, marketing and distribution, we believe we are positioned to succeed over the long-term," CEO Tao Wang reassured investors. More important, with the stock now off about 20% from its 52-week highs and trading at a forward P/E of around 6, Mr. Market might finally be providing a window to buy into that bullishness.

Top Performing Stocks To Buy Right Now

It's incredible to think just how much of our digital and technological lives are almost entirely shaped and molded by just a handful of companies. Find out "Who Will Win the War Between the 5 Biggest Tech Stocks?" in The Motley Fool's latest free report, which details the knock-down, drag-out battle being waged by the five kings of tech. Click here to keep reading.

Dividends make retirement less daunting

Everyone knows the myth of Sisyphus, a Greek king sentenced to an eternity of being a metaphor for endless tasks like doing laundry, filling out insurance forms or saving for retirement. Sisyphus was sentenced to roll a boulder uphill for eternity, only to have it roll back down just before it hit the top.

One reason that saving for retirement seems, well, Sisyphean, is the enormous amounts of money that financial services companies tell us we must save — typically, 10% to 12% of our income, starting with our first job and ending with our perpetually postponed retirement date.

And there's good reason for saving a great deal for retirement, the primary one being that inflation will force you to take ever-larger withdrawals from your account. You can combat that problem with dividend-paying stocks: But here, too, it pays to start early.

Last week, we looked at the plight of Ralph Btzflk, the luckless retiree who started taking withdrawals from stocks just as the second-worst bear market in history began in March 2000. Ralph discovered that taking withdrawals from stocks in a bear market sends your balances tumbling downhill.

But Ralph had an additional problem, aside from timing: inflation.

Ralph had decided to withdraw $50,000 a year — the amount he figured he'd need for a comfortable retirement. But each year, Ralph's $50,000 would have a little less spending power, because of inflation. Even though inflation averaged 2.22% a year for the period, the effects of inflation are cumulative. By last March, Ralph's $50,000 withdrawal would have had the buying power of $31,000. In 2000 dollars.

Sooner or later, Ralph would have to increase his withdrawals to account for inflation, and that would deplete his retirement savings even faster. Because of inflation, financial planners typically recommend that your initial withdrawal be 4% of your retirement savings, assuming you intend to adjust your withdrawals every year for inflation.

Starting with such a low withdrawa! l rate will probably keep your retirement kitty purring through your 90s or longer. The problem, of course, is that it's a low withdrawal rate. To get $50,000 in income, you'll need to start with $1.25 million.

You can offset the effects of inflation in several ways. Several readers suggested cutting your spending, which is far easier to suggest to other people than to do yourself. And you can add some inflation-fighting investments to your portfolio, such as Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities, or TIPS, which rise in value in lockstep with the consumer price index, the government's main gauge of inflation.

But TIPS pay precious little in income, which is what most retirees are seeking. In fact, most things that retirees traditionally relied upon — money funds, bank CDs, Treasury securities, corporate bonds — pay relatively little in interest. (To get $50,000 in income from the average money fund these days, you'd need to start with $500 million.)

And this is why we come to dividend-paying stocks. Dividends are cash payouts from companies to shareholders. Currently, the average dividend yield of the Standard and Poor's 500 -stock index is 2.1%. This may not seem like much, but the S&P 500 without dividends would have turned $10,000 into $42,000 in 20 years. With dividends: $61,700.

The best part about dividends is that companies can — and do — increase them regularly. You may love your corporate bond to death, but you'll never get a boost in interest from it.

Standard and Poor's keeps a list of companies that have increased their dividend yields every year for the past 25 years — the Dividend Aristocrats. Companies that boost dividends consistently tend to have good financial strength. Wall Street likes a dividend cut about as much as it likes a cigar box packed with bees. Companies that increase their dividends, then, are tacitly saying that they don't plan to reduce those dividends.

One problem with the Aristocrats is that their yields aren't neces! sarily th! at high. If you're planning a permanent dividend hike, you want to make sure you won't raise the bar too high. So an Aristocrat such as Walgreen's has a 1.81% yield, and another Aristocrat like Johnson & Johnson has a 2.63% yield.

The ProShares S&P 500 Aristocrats ETF (ticker: NOBL), tracks the S&P Dividend Aristocrats index. It's too new to have a 12-month yield. But Vanguard's Dividend Appreciation Index ETF (VIG) follows the Nasdaq's dividend Achievers index, which requires a 10-year record of raising dividends. Yield: 1.9%.

Using a 10-year dividend record is fine, says Todd Rosenbluth, director of ETF research for S&P Capital IQ. "Anything that covers 2007-2009, when dividend cuts were popular, is good," he says. Companies that could raise their dividends through the worst bear market since the Great Depression are not only financially strong, but shareholder-friendly.

If you want higher yields, you might consider ETFs that follow the High Yield Aristocrats. These are the 50 or so companies in the broad-based S&P 1500 index that have raised their dividends for more than two decades. The SPDR Dividend ETF (SDY) tracks that index. Unlike Vanguard's offering, the SPDR Dividend ETF has a greater number of financial services stocks, particularly real estate investment trusts, Rosenbluth says.

Another favorite: Schwab Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD). While it has little exposure to financial stocks, it does have exposure to sectors that would benefit from a broad-based economic recovery, such as industrials and even technology, where dividends are becoming increasingly popular.

You should avoid companies with excessively high dividend yields. Companies don't offer fat yields because they're swell people who want to spread the wealth around. A dividend yield is the payout divided by the stock price. Most likely, companies with high dividend yields haven't hiked the payout: They have seen their stock price fall. In the most likely scenario, they will cut their di! vidend to! save money.

Dividends are just one part of a retirement investment strategy, but they're a key one. They won't entirely shield you from investing at the wrong time, or from inflation — but they'll help.

Best Recreation Companies To Own In Right Now

Best Recreation Companies To Own In Right Now: TripAdvisor Inc (TRIP)

TripAdvisor, Inc. (TripAdvisor), incorporated on July 20, 2011, is an online travel research company, enabling users to plan and have a trip. TripAdvisor features reviews and advice on hotels, resorts, flights, vacation rentals, vacation packages and travel guides. TripAdvisor's travel research platform features reviews and opinions from its community of travelers about destinations, accommodations (hotels, bed and breakfasts, specialty lodging and vacation rentals), restaurants and activities worldwide, through its TripAdvisor brand. TripAdvisor Websites include tripadvisor.com in the United States and versions of the Website in 30 countries, including in China under the brand daodao.com. TripAdvisor Websites also include links to the Websites of its travel advertisers allowing travelers to directly book their travel arrangements. In addition to the TripAdvisor brand, TripAdvisor, Inc. manages and operates Websites under 18 other travel media brands, providing travel pl anning resources across the travel sector. On December 20, 2011, Expedia, Inc. (Expedia) completed the spin-off of TripAdvisor, Inc. (TripAdvisor) to Expedia stockholders. TripAdvisor consists of the domestic and international operations previously associated with Expedia's TripAdvisor Media Group. In October 2012, it acquired Wanderfly. In March 2013, it acquired Tiny Post (tinypost.co). In April 2013, the Company acquired Jetsetter.com and Gilt Travel Inc. In May 2013, TripAdvisor Inc acquired key technology and talent from CruiseWise Inc. In May 2013, TripAdvisor Inc acquired Guia de Apartamentos Niumba SL. In June 2013, the Company announced that it has acquired GateGuru.

TripAdvisor provides access worldwide to online travel agencies, including Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity, hotels.com, Priceline and Booking.com. TripAdvisor Media Group offer! s travel suppliers graphical advertising and cost-per-click marketing platforms. TripAdvisor operates sites in 30 co untries and in 21 languages, including sites in the United S! tates (http://www.tripadvisor.com), the United Kingdom (http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk), France (http://www.tripadvisor.fr), Ireland (http://www.tripadvisor.ie), Germany (http://www.tripadvisor.de), Italy (http://www.tripadvisor.it), Spain (http://www.tripadvisor.es), India (http://www.tripadvisor.in), Japan (http://www.tripadvisor.jp), Portugal and Brazil (http://www.tripadvisor.com.br), Sweden (http://www.tripadvisor.se), The Netherlands (http://www.tripadvisor.nl), Canada (http://www.tripadvisor.ca), Denmark (http://www.tripadvisor.dk), Turkey (http://www.tripadvisor.com.tr), Mexico (http://www.tripadvisor.com.mx), Norway (http://no.tripadvisor.com), Poland (http://pl.tripadvisor.com), Australia (http://www.tripadvisor.com.au), Singapore (http://www.tripadvisor.com.sg), Thailand (http://th.tripadvisor.com), Russia (http://www.tripadvisor.ru), Greece (http://www.tripadvisor.com.gr), Indonesia(http://www.tripadvisor.co.id), Argentina (www.tripadvisor.co.ar), Taiwan (www.tripa dvisor.tw),Malaysia(http://www.tripadvisor.com.my), and Egypt (http://www.tripadvisor.com.eg). TripAdvisor also operates in China under the brand daodao.com (http://www.daodao.com) and Kuxun.cn (http://www.kuxun.cn).

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  It’s April Fools’ Day, but the joke is on the bears as stocks gained today, led by Intuitive Surgical (ISRG). TripAdvisor (TRIP), Cisco Systems (CSCO), Boeing (BA) and Walt Disney (DIS).

• [By Victor Reklaitis]

  Tech stocks in general were under pressure during the week, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (COMP) falling 2.8% for its worst percentage drop since October 2012. Other big losers among Internet companies were TripAdvisor Inc. (TRIP) ! ! , down 11.3% for the week, and Netflix Inc. (NFLX) , which slid 11.6% for the week.

• [By John Udovich]

  Online review sites have become the first place many consumers turn to before making any type of purchase with online review stocks like Angie's List Inc (NASDAQ: ANGI), OpenTable Inc (NASDAQ: OPEN), Yelp Inc (NYSE: YELP) and Tripadvisor Inc (NASDAQ: TRIP) being some of the publicly traded options for investors. But what is the best performing online review stock? First, here are the options to choose from:

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

Why Omnicom (OMC) Stock Continues to Decline

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Shares of Omnicom Group (OMC) continue to fall this afternoon after it was reported that the advertising agency's proposed $35 billion merger with Publicis Groupe S.A. (PUBGY) was at risk. 

The shares are down -2.24% to $69.89.

Unforeseen tax issues have thrown the $35 billion merger... into jeopardy, threatening to torpedo plans to create the world's largest advertising and communications company by revenues, the Financial Times reports.

The deal, the Times continued, is structured so that neither company nor their shareholders pay any tax related to the merger, but the groups have struggled to get the arrangement signed off by tax authorities in France, the Netherlands and the U.K.

The deal was announced last July

Top 5 Dow Dividend Companies To Buy Right Now

"There is no plan B. Those things are a requirement to get to a closing," said Omnicom CEO John Wren. Must Read: Warren Buffett's 10 Favorite Growth Stocks SELL NOW: If you own any of the 900 stocks that TheStreet Quant Ratings has identified as a 'Sell'...you could potentially lose EVERYTHING in the next 6-12 months. Learn more. TheStreet Ratings team rates OMNICOM GROUP as a Buy with a ratings score of A+. TheStreet Ratings Team has this to say about their recommendation: "We rate OMNICOM GROUP (OMC) a BUY. This is based on the convergence of positive investment measures, which should help this stock outperform the majority of stocks that we rate. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, good cash flow from operations, solid stock price performance, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures and notable return on equity. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income." Highlights from the analysis by TheStreet Ratings Team goes as follows: Despite its growing revenue, the company underperformed as compared with the industry average of 3.9%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues slightly increased by 2.9%. This growth in revenue does not appear to have trickled down to the company's bottom line, displaying stagnant earnings per share. Net operating cash flow has increased to $1,449.10 million or 25.87% when compared to the same quarter last year. The firm also exceeded the industry average cash flow growth rate of -11.98%. OMNICOM GROUP reported flat earnings per share in the most recent quarter. This company has reported somewhat volatile earnings recently. But, we feel it is poised for EPS growth in the coming year. During the past fiscal year, OMNICOM GROUP increased its bottom line by earning $3.72 versus $3.61 in the prior year. This year, the market expects an improvement in earnings ($4.05 versus $3.72). Compared to where it was a year ago today, the stock is now trading at a higher level, regardless of the company's weak earnings results. Turning our attention to the future direction of the stock, it goes without saying that even the best stocks can fall in an overall down market. However, in any other environment, this stock still has good upside potential despite the fact that it has already risen in the past year. Even though the current debt-to-equity ratio is 1.14, it is still below the industry average, suggesting that this level of debt is acceptable within the Media industry. Regardless of the somewhat mixed results with the debt-to-equity ratio, the company's quick ratio of 0.76 is weak. You can view the full analysis from the report here: OMC Ratings Report STOCKS TO BUY: TheStreet's Stocks Under $10 has identified a handful of stocks that can potentially TRIPLE in the next 12-months. Learn more.

Stock quotes in this article: OMC, PUBGY 

Top 5 Warren Buffett Stocks For 2015

Strategy, like the rudder on a ship, steers a company through high seas and calm waters alike. Is the business model profitable and growing? How much risk is the company willing to bear? Does the company have the resources -- financially, human, and otherwise -- to execute the strategy?

For investors, the answers to these questions will lead to a long-term darling in the market or to a likely dud. In the video below, Motley Fool contributor Jay Jenkins discusses the strategy behind risk and reward, and points to some case studies in recent history of winners (Blackstone Group� (NYSE: BX  ) ) and losers (Bank of America (NYSE: BAC  ) ).

Many investors are terrified about investing in big banking stocks after the crash, but the sector has one notable stand-out. In a sea of mismanaged and dangerous peers, it rises above as "The Only Big Bank Built to Last." You can uncover the top pick that Warren Buffett loves in The Motley Fool's�new report. It's free, so click here to access it now.

Top 5 Warren Buffett Stocks For 2015: Quiksilver Inc.(ZQK)

Quiksilver, Inc. designs, develops, produces, and distributes apparel, footwear, accessories, and related products. The company offers shirts, walkshorts, T-shirts, fleece, pants, jackets, snowboard wear, footwear, hats, backpacks, wetsuits, watches, eyewear, and other accessories to men, women, boys, girls, toddlers, and infants under the brand Quiksilver. It also provides sportswear, swimwear, footwear, backpacks, snowboard wear, snowboards, bedroom furnishings, and other accessories for girls, toddlers, and infants under the brand Roxy. In addition, the company offers skateboard shoes, snowboard boots, sandals, and apparel for young men and juniors under the brand DC. Further, it provides skateboard products, and snowboards and accessories under the brands Hawk, Lib Technologies, and Gnu. The company sells its products in approximately 90 countries in the Americas, Europe, and the Asia/Pacific, through surf shops, skateboard shops, snowboard shops, select department sto res, independent specialty or active lifestyle stores, and specialty chains, as well as through its 770 owned or licensed company stores. Quiksilver, Inc. was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Huntington Beach, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Quiksilver (NYSE: ZQK  ) reported earnings on June 6. Here are the numbers you need to know.

  The 10-second takeaway
  For the quarter ended April 30 (Q2), Quiksilver missed estimates on revenues and missed expectations on earnings per share.

• [By John Kell and Lauren Pollock var popups = dojo.query(".socialByline .popC"); ]

  Quiksilver Inc.(ZQK) said its revenue dropped more than expected in its fiscal first quarter, with the declines spanning its geographic markets, partly owing to negative currency impacts.

Top 5 Warren Buffett Stocks For 2015: Beamz Interactive Inc (BZIC)

Beamz Interactive, Inc., incorporated on May 25, 2001, develops an interactive laser controller technology that can be used in a range of music, game, therapy, education, senior care, lighting and consumer applications. The Company�� commercial products include Beamz Player and Beamz Pro. By connecting the Beamz Player to a personal computer (PC) and installing the included software, the user can play a range of digitized musical instruments by simply interrupting one or more laser beams with their hands, thereby creating great music in conjunction with a background rhythm track of original, popular, disc jockey (DJ) and children�� songs across numerous music genres (including Jazz, Blues, Hip Hop, Rock, Classical, Latin). In each song the user can select up to 12 different instruments, music clips and sound effects that are paired with a background rhythm track, amounting to hundreds of instruments to choose from across all songs in the Beamz music library.

BeamzPlayer software makes it easy to make great sounding music in minutes by following the diagram of the Beamz Player on the screen of the attached computer, which allows the user to identify which laser beam controls different instruments. Beamz songs are set up to be regardless of how they are played and the music samples assigned to a laser beam offer more complexity, often with several notes, chords and/or series of music samples controlled by touching one of the laser beams. The Company has commercialized several products that use the Beamz interactive laser controller technology for music making and music-controller related products. These products are interactive music systems that combine laser controller hardware and various versions of interactive music software, including mapping software applications that enable the Beamz laser controller hardware to be used with software applications offered by other companies relating to mixing/DJ, lighting controls and music creation/production applications.

The Com! pany�� hardware product offering consists of three product lines: the Beamz Player consumer product family, the Beamz DJ and Beamz Pro product family, and the Beamz Education, Special Needs, and Physical Rehabilitation product family (Beamz Products). The Beamz Player and Beamz Pro hardware may also be used as a general laser controller for many other purposes, such as lighting, games, music production, and other applications.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  Small cap tech or media stocks Thinspace Technology Inc (OTCMKTS: THNS), Beamz Interactive Inc (OTCBB: BZIC) and Hannover House Inc (OTCMKTS: HHSE) have been getting some extra attention lately, but it appears that only one of these stocks has been the subject of a paid promotion. Nevertheless, all three stocks have been busy with press releases trying to get the attention of investors or traders. So are these three small cap tech or media stocks worth your attention? Here is a closer look along with a reality check:

• [By Peter Graham]

  Small cap stocks Beamz Interactive Inc (OTCBB: BZIC), EHouse Global (OTCBB: EHOS) and Winning Brands Corporation (OTCMKTS: WNBD) were all heading in different directions at the end of last week with the first small cap surging 49.94% while the other two sank 31.28% and 25.32%, respectively, on Friday. Moreover, all three small cap stocks are already heading in different directions again this morning. So where should investors and traders place their bets? Here is a closer look at all three small cap stocks:

Top US Companies To Buy Right Now: Quicksilver Resources Inc. (KWK)

Quicksilver Resources Inc., an independent oil and gas company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of onshore oil and gas in North America. The company focuses primarily on unconventional reservoirs, such as fractured shales, coal beds, and tight sands. It owns producing oil and natural gas properties principally in Texas, Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana, as well as in Alberta and British Columbia. The company primarily holds interests in assets covering an area of approximately 140,000 net acres located in the Barnett Shale, Fort Worth basin, north Texas; exploratory licenses covering an area of approximately 130,000 net acres located in the Horn River basin of northeast British Columbia; and assets covering an area of approximately 36,929 net undeveloped acres located in the Horseshoe Canyon, southern and central Alberta. As of December 31, 2011, it had total proved reserves of approximately 2.8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas equivale nts. The company was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Aaron Levitt]

  Over the long term, analysts speculate that FST will sell off the remaining chunk of its non-core properties in order to focus strictly on the Eagle Ford.�If it�� successful, the current share price of this $3.30 could be more valuable than a winning lotto ticket.

  Energy Stocks Under $10 to Buy Now:�Quicksilver Resources (KWK)

  Quicksilver Resources (KWK) is the last name on our list of cheap energy stocks under $10 … and it could also be one of the best rocket-ship plays for rising natural gas. KWK focuses primarily on unconventional reservoirs, such as shale formations, coal beds and tight sands. As such, about 99% of the company’s production comes from natural gas and NGLs.

Top 5 Warren Buffett Stocks For 2015: American Water Works(AWK)

American Water Works Company, Inc. provides water and wastewater services to residential, commercial, industrial, public, and other customers in the United States and Canada. As of December 31, 2010, the company served approximately 15 million people with drinking water, wastewater, and other water-related services in approximately 30 states and 2 Canadian provinces. It owned approximately 90 surface water treatment plants, 600 groundwater treatment plants, 1,200 groundwater wells, 60 wastewater treatment facilities, 1,300 treated water storage facilities, 1,300 pumping stations and 100 dams, and 49,000 miles of mains and collection pipes. American Water Works Company also enters into public/private partnerships, including operation and maintenance contracts; and design, build, and operate contracts for the provision of services to water and wastewater facilities for municipalities and the United States military. In addition, it enters into contracts to operate and maintai n water and wastewater facilities for the United States military, municipalities, the food and beverage industry, and other customers; and provides services to domestic homeowners to protect against the cost of repairing broken or leaking pipes inside and outside their homes. Further, the company provides biosolids management, transport, and disposal services to municipal and industrial customers. Additionally, it offers granular carbon technologies and products for cleansing water and wastewater, wastewater residuals management services, and water and wastewater facility engineering services. The company was founded in 1886 and is based in Voorhees, New Jersey.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Charles Carlson]

  If you are new to DRIP investing, treat yourself to a few DRIPs this holiday season. Trust me��t'll change your life.

  American Water Works (AWK)��ielding 2.7% with a DRIP minimum of $100
  
  Cincinnati Financial (CINF)��ielding 3.2% with a DRIP minimum of $25
  
  CVS Caremark (CVS)��ielding 1.4% with a DRIP minimum of $100
  
  Dominion Resources (D)��ielding 3.4% with a DRIP minimum of $40
  
  Domino's Pizza (DPZ)��ielding 1.2% with a DRIP minimum of $65
  
  Eaton (ETN)��ielding 2.3% with a DRIP minimum of $100
  
  Flowserve (FLS)��ielding 0.8% with a DRIP minimum of $100
  
  Kellogg (K)��ielding 3.0% with a DRIP minimum of $50
  
  New Jersey Resources (NJR)��ielding 3.7% with a DRIP minimum of $100
  
  Quest Diagnostics (DGX)��ielding 2.0% with a DRIP minimum of $100
  
  Tim Hortons (THI)��ielding 1.7% with a DRIP minimum of $25
  
  

  Subscribe to Dow Theory Forecasts here��/p>

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  American Water Works Company Inc. (NYSE: AWK) is the go-to stock for water investors, which is about as defensive as an investor can get. It is the largest public water utility in America, with around 14 million customers located in 40 states. Yet its market cap is only $8 billion. The water utility giant does not sound cheap at more than 18 times expected earnings, but this stock rarely has looked cheap because of its key market position. Trading at $45.00, it has a 52-week range of $38.70 to $45.48, and its consensus price target is $48.85. Investors also get a 2.5% dividend yield here.

• [By David Dittman]

  Question: I’ve been trying to buy American Water Works Inc (NYSE: AWK) at a level that would provide me a 3 percent dividend yield. Do you think this is possible? I’ve been waiting awhile.

Top 5 Warren Buffett Stocks For 2015: Prumo Logistica SA (LLXL3)

Prumo Logistica SA, formerly LLX Logistica SA (LLX), is a Brazil-based company primarily engaged in the sector of port logistic services. The Company builds and develops the Acu Port, located in Sao Joao da Barra, in the north of the State of Rio de Janeiro. The Industrial Complex Acu Port has two port terminals (T1 and T2) and the capacity to handle various types of cargo, such as petroleum, iron ore, coal, solid and liquid bulk and general cargo. The Company�� subsidiaries include LLX Minas-Rio Logistica Comercial Exportadora SA, LLX Acu Operacoes Portuarias SA and LLX Brasil Operacoes Portuarias SA. In October, 2013, EIG LLX Holdings SARL reached a 52.82% stake in the ordinary share capital of the Company. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Denyse Godoy]

  A committee of exchange executives, banks and brokerages developed the changes to the benchmark index. BM&FBovespa said on its website that it hadn�� made changes to the gauge�� methodology since its inception in 1968. LLX Logistica SA (LLXL3), the shipping unit that Batista founded, is the second-lowest priced stock on the Ibovespa after dropping 36 percent this year to 1.53 reais.

Verizon Wireless Wraps Up Nationwide 4G LTE Rollout

Verizon Wireless, a joint venture between Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ  ) and Vodafone (NASDAQ: VOD  ) , finished a nationwide rollout of its 4G LTE coverage yesterday. 

Verizon finished setting up its network in Parkersburg, W.Va., bringing 4G LTE to 500 markets in the United States. Verizon Wireless said in a press release that its 4G LTE network now covers 99% of its 3G network and includes 298 million people, more than 95% of the U.S. population. 

This week, Verizon celebrated the nationwide network with activities in Parkersburg. The company planned a citywide scavenger hunt and held a special event at the Blennerhassett Hotel, a national landmark in the town. Verizon also said it's donating $50,000 in HopeLine grants to programs that fight domestic violence.

Verizon said the new 4G LTE network is significant to the lives of residents who receive the service. "From providing emergency responders with the ability to share vital electrocardiogram (EKG) results in real-time with hospital personnel, to connecting children unable to attend school with their classroom via telepresence robots and even catching your favorite NFL team in action via NFL Mobile, 4G LTE is transforming lives," the company said in a statement.

Top Heal Care Companies To Own In Right Now

link

GlaxoSmithKline Finally Received Approval from FDA for Its Diabetes Drug Tanzeum (Albiglutide)

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the renowned research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare firm, has finally received the green signal in the US for marketing its once-weekly diabetes drug Tanzeum which the company expects to launch in third quarter 2014.

On April 15, FDA approved GSK's new drug Tanzeum. The drug is a subcutaneous injection that is used to treat Type-2 diabetes. It can be injected once a week when paired with a strict diet regiment and exercise in order to reduce blood glucose levels.

There are several factors that can contribute to the onset of Type-2 diabetes. Obesity, lack of exercise, high blood pressure, genetics and side effects of some other drugs are the most well known causes. Diabetes increases blood sugar level, which may lead to serious health complications such as blindness and cardiac problems including nerve and kidney damage. Approximately 24 million people have been diagnosed with this disease with more than 90 percent of diabetic patients suffering from Type 2 diabetes.

Director of the Office of Drug Evaluation II in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Curtis Rosebraugh, M.D., M.P.H., reportedly said,

"Tanzeum is a new treatment option for the millions of Americans living with type 2 diabetes. It can be used alone or added to existing treatment regimens to control blood sugar levels in the overall management of diabetes."

About The Drug

Tanzeum (Albiglutide) is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1), an incretion hormone that helps to reduce blood glucose levels in patients. FDA has approved the drug on the basis of the results of GSK's comprehensive phase III Harmony Program where the drug's safety and effectiveness were assessed in eight clinical trials involving over 2000 diabetic patients with Type 2 diabetes. The harmony studies evaluated that the administration of Tanzeum has improved patients' hemoglobin A1c (a measure of blood sugar control).

Restriction of application in some cases

Tanzeum should not be used as first-line therapy for the patients whose disease adequately cannot be controlled with diet and exercise. The effect of the drug has been studied separately, as well as, in combination with other Type 2 diabetes therapy, including metmorphin, glimepiride, insulin and pioglitazone. This drug is strictly restricted to treat people who are suffering from Type 1 diabetes with increased ketones in their blood or urine (diabetic Ketoacidosis).

Adverse Effects for Some Patients

Tanzeum comes with a boxed warning which state that tumors of the thyroid gland (thyroid C cell tumors) have been observed in rodent studies with some GLP-1 receptor agonists, but it is not known whether Tanzeum causes the tumors in humans. The FDA also claimed that patients with personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2 (patients having tumors in more than one gland that predisposes one to MTC) should not use the medicine.

The Drug Administration has also insisted on conducting a survey on post marketing studies in children, as well as, cardiovascular outcomes trial along with an MTC case registry of at least last 15 years duration. After several clinical tests common side effects such as diarrhea, nausea and injection site reaction have been observed. Furthermore, Tanzeum should be used cautiously when treating patients with pancreatitis, hypoglycemia or renal impairment. The patients should be kept under supervision as the drug may be fatal to them.

Parting Thoughts

In recent times, diabetes has progressed from being a fairly rare malady to a highly prevalent one. The CDC claims that one of every 3 adults could have diabetes by 2050. It is a permanent fixture, incurable. In such trying circumstances, GlaxoSmithKline provides us a ray of hope. The company has given the assurance to be benefited by using Tanzeum therapy and also committed to improve human life. The drug provides a much needed solution to the diabetes problem and already results are optimistic, so much so that a report by Reuters' expects the drug to hit $430 million in sales by 2018.

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SEC Charges California Wealth Manager With Insider Trading

The Securities and Exchange Commission charged a South Pasadena, Calif.-based wealth-management company and its former fund manager with conducting a three-year-long insider-trading spree in shares of Dell (NASDAQ: DELL  ) , NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA  ) , and Wind River Systems Friday.

According to the SEC, from 2008 to 2010, Whittier Trust Company fund manager Victor Dosti "generated profits and avoided losses for funds he managed at Whittier Trust by trading on confidential information that he obtained from Danny Kuo, a Whittier Trust fund manager who Dosti supervised."

The SEC alleges that Dosti used inside information from Kuo to trade into and out of Dell and NVIDIA stock ahead of quarterly earnings announcements, and also traded Wind River stock ahead of news that Intel (NASDAQ: INTC  ) had agreed to buy it in 2009 -- reaping $475,000 in gains and "avoided losses" from the first scheme, and $247,000 from the second.

"Time and again, Dosti received what he knew was inside information from Kuo and traded on it to generate illicit gains for the funds he managed," said SEC New York Regional Office Senior Associate Director Sanjay Wadhwa.

As is usual in this kind of announcement, revelation of the SEC's charge against the defendant, and conclusion of the matter, were made simultaneously. In this case, Whittier Trust has agreed to:

Disgorge profits of $724,052. Pay interest of $75,296 on the ill-gotten gains. Pay a penalty of $724,052, equal to the amount of the illicit profits.

Similarly, Dosti has agreed to:

Disgorge profits of $77,900.00. Pay interest of $2,951. Pay a penalty of $77,900, equal to the amount of the illicit profits.

In neither case did the defendants either admit or deny wrongdoing.

3 Unexpected Stocks to Buy in a Market Crash

Popular Posts: 3 Cash-Rich Stocks to Buy Now3 Legendary Names to Hold for Retirement3 Unexpected Stocks to Buy in a Market Crash Recent Posts: 3 Unexpected Stocks to Buy in a Market Crash 3 Naked Puts Worth a Cool $1,000 in Income PriceSmart (PSMT): Plenty of Growth … But at What Cost? View All Posts

Everyone seems to be speculating that a major correction is coming to the stock market. We had an outstandingly good year in 2013, industries like tech and biotech are selling off, and we seem due for a significant dip.

That always seems to be the case as the market climbs the wall of worry, and with several indices near all-time highs, the panic is becoming palpable. Whenever I get that vibe, I set up a shopping list of stocks to buy if such a correction or crash comes to pass. After all, the upside of a crash is that it provides a great buying opportunity for many stocks.

Rather than pick the obvious candidates, I also like to look for great stocks to buy that might not be on most investors' radar. Here are three such stocks to buy:

InterActiveCorp (IACI)

InterActiveCorp (IACI) is Barry Diller's conglomerate of internet companies, not terribly different from John Malone's Liberty Interactive (LINTA). The strategy for IACI stock has been to wait for a leader in a given sector to emerge and then buy it up, or at least a portion of it. These businesses either have a history of generating lots of cash flow, or have the potential to do so.

Cash flow is what Malone and Diller have always been about, and they have succeeded mightily at it. Only this past year has the market rewarded them, as analysts and investors had trouble valuing the companies because it trades more on cash flow than earnings. I like IACI stock more as it has more assets, including Ask.com, Match.com, HomeAdvisor, Vimeo, Investopedia and plenty more.

Diller then spins off some of these entities into public companies, as he did with Home Shopping Network (HSNI) and timeshare company Interval Leisure Group (IILG). The company's 52 week high was $80.64, it trades right now at $66. I'd love to make this one of my stocks to buy in the below the $50 mark, but IACI would be a bargain under $55.

Middleby Corporation (MIDD)

Middleby Corporation (MIDD) started as an oven company in 1888. Over its history, it has expanded into a global food service, processing, and residential kitchen equipment manufacturer and distributor.

MIDD stock was a $9 stock in 2005. It peaked just under $300 recently and is finally coming back to earth, presently at $255. You'll be amazed to learn that analysts project 25% annualized earnings growth over the next five years. At FY14 earnings of $9.93, it's essentially fairly valued, even at this price.

MIDD only has some $500 million in debt, and virtually no capex, so it's consistently generating free cash flow in the $120 million to $140 million range annually. I would love to see it at $200, but MIDD would still make the stocks to buy list at $225.

Starbucks (SBUX)

Last on our list of stocks to buy is Starbucks (SBUX).

I don't know why I was so skeptical about SBUX stock for so long. I remember considering it back in 1998 but didn't believe it could grow much further. Wrong!

The truth about SBUX stock is that it just continues to innovate, to leverage its brand, and to expand into areas that at first make me wonder but always manage to deliver. SBUX stock hit a high at $82.50, but now sits at $68. It continues to grow earnings at 20% per year, and on FY14 earnings of $2.66, the fair value is around $53.

But I give Starbucks a bonus for its brand and cash flow, so it may be closer to $58. I'd buy it there.

As of this writing, Lawrence Meyers was long SBUX. He is president of PDL Broker, Inc., which brokers financing, strategic investments and distressed asset purchases between private equity firms and businesses. He also has written two books and blogs about public policy, journalistic integrity, popular culture, and world affairs. Contact him at pdlcapital66@gmail.com and follow his tweets @ichabodscranium.

Tesla Defends Selling Vehicles Directly to Customers

Tesla Motors (NASDAQ: TSLA  ) co-founder and CEO Elon Musk talked tonight about the company's fight to sell cars directly to its customers, and how national auto dealership groups are trying to keep them from doing that.

At Tesla's annual shareholders' meeting tonight, Musk said, "The automobile association is definitely creating some problems for us, making it harder to get things done." He said auto dealers talk about offering Tesla a franchise to sell its vehicles, but that nowhere in the past nine decades has that worked out for a start-up car company. "In the last 90 years, when did it work?" he asked. "There are no good examples."

Tesla wants to sell its vehicles directly to consumers, which goes against some states' legislation. The company has put up a public fight in several states over the issue. Musk said one of the main problems was that large national dealerships make their profits from services and that Tesla wouldn't be doing that. "Our philosophy in respect to service is not to make a profit on service," he said. "It's terrible to make a profit on service."

5 Best Construction Stocks To Own Right Now

Musk said opinion polls overwhelmingly show that customers prefer direct sales, but that large national dealerships were influencing state legislation. The Tesla co-founder said dealership associations were bragging about stopping the company in Texas, North Carolina, and Virginia.

"I think it's outrageous that they would crow about a perversion of democracy," a visibly upset Musk said. "That's just wrong. I think they're making a big mistake."

Musk went on to say that eventually customers will revolt. 

link

Sears Just Doesn't Look Like It Wants Our Business

Annalisa Linder A glorious Saturday afternoon, and Sears is virtually empty. Merchandise is all jumbled; aisles are blocked; it looks dispirited. After a spate of photo stories on the disarray at Sears, I wanted to look for myself. The sadder side of Sears, indeed. J.C. Penney (JCP) and Macy's (M) in the same mall in suburban Maryland were busier, neater and drawing younger customers. Annalisa Linder If you remember the slogan, "the softer side of Sears," then you're the typical Sears age demographic, and if you never heard it, you are the younger shopper it desires but can't attract. Sears Holdings' (SHLD) sales have declined for years as it loses customers to Kohl's (KSS) and J.C. Penney and younger customers throng to Macy's. Most mall anchor stores are struggling. A recent Piper Jaffray survey found that teens aren't hanging out at the mall anymore and prefer a social "experience," preferably at a restaurant. Sears and Sears Holdings' Kmart stores have been hit particularly hard. CEO Eddie Lampert noted on the most recent earnings call that shoppers only visit three stores per mall trip now, compared to five in 2007. The Sadder Side of Sears

Dow Soars On Visa's Jump, But Will MasterCard Win the Card Wars?

The Dow Jones Industrials (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) soared 132 points by 12:30 p.m. EDT, as all but a handful of blue-chip stocks gained on good news from the retail sales front. With the measure of spending activity climbing by the largest amount in a year and a half, the news was definitely positive for Visa (NYSE: V  ) , which led all 30 Dow components with a 2.4% rise. Yet rival MasterCard (NYSE: MA  ) gained an even more impressive 4%, and investors are uncertain over how the companies' battle will play out over the long run.

This morning's jump in Visa and MasterCard came from positive comments from analysts, with MasterCard getting an upgrade while Visa was given an initial rating of outperform. Despite fears about the impact of the weather on spending activity during the first quarter, the combination of this morning's retail sales figures and other data on card spending specifically support the idea that earnings for the two card giants for this period won't be as sluggish as many shareholders had worried. Yet the question many investors still have is whether Visa can keep ahead of MasterCard, given MasterCard's bigger push on the international front recently.

Top Cheapest Stocks To Invest In Right Now

Source: Visa.

Stoking controversy
Both Visa and MasterCard face plenty of common challenges. One of the biggest comes from the retail industry, where several big-box companies chose to back out of the $6 billion settlement that MasterCard and Visa agreed to with most of the retail community. Visa is already facing one big-box retail lawsuit in the aftermath of the settlement, and MasterCard will likely also eventually find itself named as a defendant in litigation. With the companies having roughly the same business model and engaging in many similar practices, they are likely to face corresponding legal arguments in any lawsuits.

Between the two, though, MasterCard has a reputation for having a higher-risk, higher-reward profile. Its valuation is higher, reflecting the greater potential for growth compared to Visa. MasterCard has also arguably worked harder to bolster its reputation worldwide, leaving Visa with at least slightly more exposure to the U.S. market.

At the moment, Visa's domestic focus appears to be the winning strategy. Across the globe, international economies are struggling, with China's growth slowing and policymakers in Europe and Japan considering draconian measures to stimulate economic growth. Meanwhile, in the U.S., the Federal Reserve has been able to pull back on its stimulus measures, with figures such as today's retail sales data showing just how strongly the domestic economy is behaving right now.

The key to the future for the top payment processors is whether Visa follows MasterCard's lead to emphasize international markets more strongly. Visa certainly isn't abandoning the global field, with moves to boost cross-border volume and enhance brand-awareness worldwide. If those forays prove adequate, Visa might well hold on to its advantage without further effort. In all likelihood, though, it'll take a more active response from Visa to ensure that MasterCard doesn't take over its No. 1 spot in the long run.

Your credit card may soon be completely worthless
The plastic in your wallet is about to go the way of the typewriter, the VCR, and the 8-track tape player. When it does, a handful of investors could stand to get very rich. You can join them -- but you must act now. An eye-opening new presentation reveals the full story on why your credit card is about to be worthless -- and highlights one little-known company sitting at the epicenter of an earth-shaking movement that could hand early investors the kind of profits we haven't seen since the dot-com days. Click here to watch this stunning video.

Hot Logistics Stocks For 2015

Investors seeking exposure to master limited partnerships (MLPs) have many options. There are of course conventional energy MLPs, ranging from upstream (oil and gas producers) to midstream (logistics) and downstream (refiners). MLPs also offer niche opportunities in sectors as diverse as marine shipping and propane distribution. Further afield, the MLP structure is popular with private equity shops and also used to invest in forestry, amusement parks and fertilizer production.

There are MLPs that are structured as partnerships, but have chosen to be taxed as corporations. This class will be covered in an upcoming issue. The main advantage for investors is that this structure somewhat simplifies tax reporting, while offering the attractive yields of an MLP.

Mutual funds are another way to play the MLP space in a way that simplifies tax reporting. But because these mutual funds must pay corporate income tax on their earnings, most of the tax advantage of directly investing in MLPs is lost. Many of the funds use leverage to help overcome some of this disadvantage, but this can be a risky strategy and one that adds to costs.

Nevertheless, at times the MLP-focused mutual funds may be attractive. Consider a closed-end fund (CEF). These funds trade on an exchange just like a stock or MLP unit, which means that the underlying value of the securities held by the fund can become disconnected from the price of the fund share. Some days the market capitalization of the fund is valued at more than the underlying securities (i.e., it trades at a premium) and other times the fund is valued at less than the securities it holds (i.e., it trades at a discount).

Hot Logistics Stocks For 2015: New Source Energy Partners LP (NSLP)

New Source Energy Partners L.P., incorporated on October 2, 2012, is engaged in the acquiring oil and natural gas properties in the United States. The Company�� properties consist of non-operated working interests in the Misener-Hunton formation (the Hunton Formation), a conventional resource reservoir located in east-central Oklahoma. As of June 30, 2012, of which approximately 58% were classified as proved developed reserves and of which approximately 76.4% were comprised of oil and natural gas liquids. As of June 30, 2012, the Company had 89,116 gross (31,554 net) acres, of which 6,796 gross (2,323 net) acres were undeveloped. As of June 30, 2012, the Company had 127 gross (28.5 net) proved undeveloped drilling locations, of which 66 gross (20.7 net) were infill drilling locations. In June 2013, New Source Energy Partners LP announced that it has acquired additional oil and natural gas properties from New Source Energy Corporation. In November 2013, New Source Energy Partners LP acquired MCE LP.

The Company�� properties are located in the Golden Lane field within the Hunton Formation of east-central Oklahoma and consist of mature, legacy oil and natural gas reservoirs. The Company�� properties consist of non-operated working interests in producing and undeveloped leasehold acreage, including 215 gross (82.4 net) producing wells with working interests ranging from 21% to 87% (38.3% weighted average); and 127 gross (28.5 net) proved undeveloped drilling locations with working interests ranging from 1% to 84% (22.4% weighted average). As of June 30, 2012, the Company had 89,116 gross (31,554 net) acres in the Golden Lane field.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lee Jackson]

  New Source Energy Partner L.P. (NYSE: NSLP) is definitely a name for investors interested in yield. While the company faced some issues in the second quarter due to flooding in some of its drilling areas, production is back to normal and management is very positive for the remainder of 2013. Oppenheimer has a $23 price objective, while the consensus is at $24. Investors are paid a stellar 11% distribution.

• [By Robert Rapier] There were a half a dozen initial public offerings (IPOs) by master limited partnerships in the first half of the year, and all but one are now in the green while one has nearly doubled in value.
  
  The first MLP IPO of 2013 debuted on Jan. 15. USA Compression Partners (NYSE: USAC), which I mentioned in last week’s issue, provides compression services for the oil and gas industry. Units have advanced 36 percent since the IPO, and at the current price yield 7.3 percent.
  
  The day after the USA Compression Partners IPO, CVR Refining (NYSE: CVRR) made its debut.  CVRR was spun off from CVR Energy (NYSE: CVI), and both companies remain majority-owned by Carl Icahn. CVR Refining’s primary assets are two refineries located in Kansas and Oklahoma with a combined processing capacity of approximately 185,000 barrels per day (bpd). These refineries are strategically located near the major Cushing, Oklahoma shipment and storage hub, with easy access to discounted feedstock from the nearby Permian basin, as well as the Bakken shale and Canadian oil sands.
  
  But refiners have struggled with diminished margins in 2013 because of a much lower Brent-WTI differential. After the recently concluded second quarter, CVRR declared a distribution of $1.35 per unit, bringing its per-unit distributions for the first half of the year to $2.93. At the same time, CVR Refining lowered its annual distribution target to a range of $4.10 to $4.80 per unit. This was lower than the outlook issued in March, when it foresaw annual distributions of $5.50 to $6.50. CVRR units slid on the news, and are presently trading slightly below the $25 IPO price. The lower end of the revised forecast implies distributions of $1.17 per unit in the second half of the year, for a forward annualized yield of 10 percent based on the recent $23.50 unit price.
  
  SunCoke Energy Partners (NYSE: SXCP) was the third IPO to debut during a very busy third week of January. SXCP is the first M
• [By Robert Rapier]

  New Source Energy Partners (NYSE: NSLP) debuted in February 2013 as the year’s first initial public offering of an upstream master limited partnership, with an initial enterprise value (EV) of $186 million. The partnership is engaged in the development and production of liquids-rich conventional resource reservoirs in east-central Oklahoma.

Hot Logistics Stocks For 2015: Nano Labs Corp (CTLE)

Nano Labs Corp., incorporated on March 27, 1995, is a nanotechnology research and development company. The Company is focused on creating a portfolio of advanced products that could provide benefits to a range of industries including consumer products, energy, materials, and healthcare.

As of March 31, 2013, the Company had not generated any revenue. As of March 31, 2013, the Company had not commenced any operation.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By CRWE]

  Last Friday, CTLE remained (0.00%) +0.000 at $.0449 with 960,190 shares in play at the close (ref. google finance September 27, 2013 ��Close).

  Nano Labs Corp. previously reported that the Company has been testing its intumescent, fire resistant coating with Atencio and Atencio, a certified maintenance supplier for Pemex, the Mexican state-owned petroleum company.
  Nano Lab’s intumescent paint was tested at Pemex’s Francisco I. Madero Refinery. Testing of the product followed Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 1709 test protocols for the “Rapid Rise Fire Tests of Protection Materials for Structural Steel”.

10 Best Paper Stocks To Buy Right Now: Buffalo Wild Wings Inc.(BWLD)

Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc. engages in the ownership, operation, and franchise of restaurants in the United States. The company provides quick casual and casual dining services, as well as serves bottled beers, wines, and liquor. As of July 26, 2011, it had 773 Buffalo Wild Wings locations in 45 states in the United States, as well as in Canada. The company was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Nickey Friedman]

  "Customers have been telling us for some time... 'I don't like to wait for the check,'" said Julia Stewart, CEO of�DineEquity� (NYSE: DIN  ) ,�in an interview on CNBC. DineEquity, the parent company of Applebee's,�and other restaurants like Buffalo Wild Wings (NASDAQ: BWLD  ) and Chili's of Brinker International (NYSE: EAT  ) �are in the process of rolling out pay-at-the-table computer tablets across the nation. While giving consumers a more convenient way to order and pay for their meal is a plus, there is an indirect motivator for the tablets that may lead to higher sales and profits.

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Buffalo Wild Wings (NASDAQ: BWLD) shares jumped 8.86% to $140.98 in pre-market trading after the company reported upbeat third-quarter results.

  Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU) shares gained 7.80% to $171.85 in the pre-market session after the company reported higher Q3 profit. Brean Capital upgraded the stock from Hold to Buy.

• [By Laura Brodbeck]

  Tuesday

  Earnings Expected: Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc. (NASDAQ: BWLD), Hillenbrand Inc (NYSE: HI), Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: SIRI) Economic Releases Expected: German retail sales, French consumer confidence, German unemployment rate, eurozone CPI, eurozone PPI, US trade balance, US redbook

  Wednesday

• [By Mick Weinstein]

  ��The bull case for Buffalo Wild Wings (BWLD) .

Hot Logistics Stocks For 2015: Saia Inc.(SAIA)

Saia, Inc., an asset-based trucking company, provides transportation and supply chain solutions primarily to the retail, chemical, and manufacturing industries in the United States. The company, through it subsidiary, Saia Motor Freight Line, LLC, offers regional and interregional less than truckload (LTL) services, selected national LTL, and time-definite services. It was formerly known as SCS Transportation, Inc. Saia, Inc. was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Johns Creek, Georgia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  Despite what can best be described as a�soft economy, small cap trucking stocks YRC Worldwide, Inc (NASDAQ: YRCW), Arkansas Best Corporation (NASDAQ: ABFS), Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc (NASDAQ: FFEX), Saia Inc (NASDAQ: SAIA) and USA Truck, Inc (NASDAQ: USAK) have been trucking some pretty impressive returns since the start of the year. In fact, these small cap trucking stocks are up anywhere from 72% to 150% or so since the start of the year despite the slow economy. Certainly trucking stocks provide a good indicator of how the economy is doing, but might investors be�jumping the gun by pushing up these trucking stocks?

Hot Logistics Stocks For 2015: Fidelity National Information Services Inc (FIS)

Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FIS), incorporated on March 2, 2001, is a global provider of banking and payments technologies. The Company operates in four segments: Financial Solutions Group (FSG), Payment Solutions Group (PSG), International Solutions Group (ISG) and Corporate and Other Segment. The Company is engaged in payment processing and banking solutions, providing software, services and outsourcing of the technology. The Company offers financial institution core processing, card issuer and transaction processing services, including the NYCE Network, a national electronic funds transfer (EFT) network. FIS serves more than 14,000 institutions in over 100 countries. In February 2011, FIS acquired GIFTS Software, Inc., a provider of integrated funds transfer, Web-based cash management systems and anti-money laundering (AML) solutions. In April 2012, it acquired ICS Risk Advisors and Memento, Inc. In August 2012, the Company completed the sale of its Healthcare Solutions business to an investment fund affiliated with Lightyear Capital LLC. In March 2013, it announced the acquisition of mFoundry.

Financial Solutions Group

FSG is to provide the software and services for the core processing, customer channel, treasury, cash management, wealth management and capital market operations of its financial institution customers in North America. The Company services the core and related ancillary processing needs of North American banks, credit unions, automotive financial companies, commercial lenders, and independent community and savings institutions. FIS offers a selection of in-house and outsourced solutions to banking customers that span the range of asset sizes. Its solutions in this segment include Core Processing and Ancillary Applications, Channel Solutions, Decision and Risk Management Solutions, Syndicated Loan Applications, Global Commercial Services and Strategic Consulting Services.

The Company�� processing software applications are de! signed to run banking processes for its financial institution clients, including deposit and lending systems, customer management, and other central management systems. The Company also offers a number of services that are ancillary to the primary applications listed above, including branch automation, back office support systems and compliance support. In addition, its wealth management services offer a set of Internet-enabled services to financial services providers that address the specific needs of markets, as well as commercial clients. These solutions address asset and liability aggregation, trust and investment account management, client and regulatory reporting, and employee retirement benefit services. The Company also offers an application suite that assists automotive finance institutions in evaluating loan applications and credit risk, and allows automotive finance institutions to manage their loan and lease portfolios.

The Company�� suite of retail delivery applications enables financial institutions to integrate customer-facing operations and back-office processes, thereby improving customer interaction across all channels (branch offices, Internet, automated teller machine (ATM), call centers). Its Consumer Electronic Banking and Business Internet Banking both provide a set of cash management capabilities, enabling customers to manage banking and payments through the Internet, mobile devices, accounting software and telephone. Corporate Electronic Banking solutions provide commercial treasury capabilities, including cash management services and multi-bank collection and disbursement services that address the specialized needs of corporate customers. FIS systems provide accounting and reconciliation for such transactions, serving as the system of record and providing regulatory compliance, risk assessment and fraud management tools.

The Company�� decision solutions offers a spectrum of options that cover the account lifecycle from helping to identify qualified! account ! applicants to managing mature customer accounts and fraud. Its applications include know-your-customer, new account decisioning, new account opening, account and transaction management, fraud management and collections. Its risk management services utilize its risk management models and data sources to assist in detecting fraud and assessing the risk of opening a new account or accepting a check at either the point-of-sale, a physical branch location, or through the Internet. Its systems utilize a combination of advanced authentication procedures, predictive analytics, artificial intelligence modeling and shared databases to assess and detect fraud risk for deposit transactions for financial institutions.

The Company�� syndicated loan applications are designed to support wholesale and commercial banking requirements necessary for all aspects of syndicated commercial loan origination and management. Its global commercial services include solutions, both onshore and offshore, designed to meet the technology challenges facing principally Unites States based clients, large or small. Its technology solutions range in scope from consulting engagements to application development projects and from operations support for a single application to management of information technology infrastructures. The Company also provides outsourcing teams todeliver customer service. With the The Capital Markets Company NV (Capco) acquisition, it provides integrated consulting, technology and transformation services. Capco specializes in banking; capital markets; wealth and investment management; finance, risk and compliance, and technology. Capco's North American operations are included in FSG.

Payment Solutions Group

PSG provides a set of software and services for the EFT, card processing, item processing, bill payment, and government and healthcare payments processing needs of its customers in North America. PSG is focused on servicing the payment and electronic funds transfer needs o! f North A! merican headquartered banks and credit unions, commercial lenders, independent community and savings institutions and healthcare and government institutions. Its solutions in this segment include Electronic Funds Transfer, Item Processing and Output Services, Credit Card Solutions, Government and Healthcare Payments Solutions, ePayment Solutions and Check Authorization.

The Company�� electronic funds transfer and debit card processing businesses offer settlement and card management solutions for financial institution card issuers. It provides traditional ATM- and personal identification number (PIN)-based debit network access and emerging real-time payment alternatives through NYCE. It is also a provider of prepaid card services, which include gift cards and reloadable cards, with end-to-end solutions for development, processing and administration of stored-value programs.

The Company�� item processing services furnish financial institutions with the equipment needed to capture data from checks, transaction tickets and other items; image and sort items; process exceptions through keying, and perform balancing, archiving and the production of statements. Its item processing services are utilized by more than 1,500 financial institutions. Its solutions include distributed ( non-centralized) data capture, check and remittance processing, fraud detection, and document and report management. Its Endpoint Exchange Network enables United States financial institutions to clear their check-based transactions by allowing for the exchange of check images between member institutions. The Company offers a number of output services that are ancillary to the primary solutions it provide, including print and mail capabilities and card personalization fulfillment services. Its CSF Designer document composition software is used by many clients in various industries to furnish printed or electronically produced invoices and statements for customized customer communication. Its print and mail! services! offers computer output solutions for the creation, management and delivery of print and fulfillment needs. The Company provides its card personalization fulfillment services for branded credit cards and branded and non-branded debit and prepaid cards. More than 5,200 financial institutions utilize a combination of its technology and/or services to issue VISA, MasterCard or American Express branded credit and debit cards or other electronic payment cards for use by both consumer and business accounts. Its services range from card production and activation to a range of fraud management services to value-added loyalty programs designed to increase card usage and fee-based revenues.

FIS healthcare payments solutions facilitate the exchange of information and funds among patients, payers, providers and financial institutions. With Web-enabled tools, a Health Savings Account (HSA) platform, multi-purse benefit debit cards that cover multiple spending accounts with a single card and combined eligibility/payment cards, FIS enables consumers and third-party benefits administrators to have integrated benefit account management of HSAs, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), Health Reimbursement Agreements (HRA) and dependent care and transportation accounts. It also provides customized electronic service applications for government agencies, including Internal Revenue Service (IRS) payment services. It also facilitates the collection of state income taxes, real estate taxes, utility bills, vehicle registration fees, driver�� license renewal fees, parking tickets, traffic citations, tuition payments, court fees and fines, hunting and fishing license fees, as well as various business licenses.

The Company provides bill publishing and bill consolidation technology for its customers, generating millions of monthly bills and servicing both billers and financial institution customers. Online bill payment functionality includes credit and debit card-based expedited payments. Its end-to-end prese! ntment an! d payment solution provides an all-in-one solution to meet billers��needs for the distribution and collection of bills and other customer documents. FIS also provides automated clearing house (ACH) processing. Its check authorization business provides check risk management and related services to businesses accepting or cashing checks. Its services assess the likelihood (and often provide a guarantee) that a check will clear.

International Solutions Group

The Company provides core banking applications, channel solutions, card and merchant services, item processing and check risk management solutions to financial institutions, card issuers and retailers. Its international operations leverage existing applications and provide services for the specific business needs of its customers in targeted international markets. Services are delivered from 28 operations centers around the world. Its payment solutions services include outsourced card-issuer services and customer support, payment processing and switching services, prepaid and debit card processing, item processing, software licensing and maintenance, outsourced ATM management and retail point-of-sale check warranty services. Its financial solutions services include fully outsourced core bank processing arrangements, application management, software licensing and maintenance, facilities management and consulting services, including Capco's international operations.

Corporate and Other Segment

The Corporate and Other segment consists of the corporate overhead costs that are not allocated to operating segments. These include costs related to human resources, finance, legal, accounting, domestic sales and marketing, merger and acquisition activity and amortization of acquisition-related intangibles and other costs that are not considered when management evaluates operating segment performance.

The Company competes with Fiserv, Inc., Jack Henry and Associates, Inc., Open Solutions, Inc., In! ternation! al Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Accenture Ltd., Alliance Data Systems Corporation, DST Systems, Harland Financial Solutions, Inc., SEI Investments Company, S1Corporation, SunGard Data Systems, Inc., Alnova Technologies Corporation, Oracle Financial Services Software Limited, Misys plc, Infosys Technologies Limited, Temenos Group AG, MasterCard Incorporated, Visa Inc., First Data Corporation, Total System Services, Inc., HP Enterprise Services, Payment Systems for Credit Unions (PSCU), Heartland Payments Systems, Inc. and Global Payments, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Marc Bastow]

  Banking and payments services and support company Fidelity National Information Services (FIS) raised its quarterly dividend 9% to 24 cents per share, payable on Mar. 31 to shareholders of record as of Mar. 17.
  FIS Dividend Yield: 1.90%

Hot Logistics Stocks For 2015: American Express Company(AXP)

American Express Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides charge and credit payment card products, and travel-related services worldwide. The company?s product portfolio consists of charge and credit card products; expense management products and services; consumer and business travel services; stored value cards, including travelers cheques and other prepaid products; network services; merchant acquisition and processing, point-of-sale, servicing and settlement, and marketing and information products and services for merchants; and fee services comprising market and trend analyses and related consulting services, fraud prevention services, and the design of customer loyalty and rewards programs. In addition, it publishes luxury lifestyle magazines; business and travel resources; general interest, cooking, travel, wine, cocktail, financial, and time management books; and international and electronic editions. The company sells its products and services to consumer s, small businesses, mid-sized companies, and large corporations through direct mail, on-line applications, targeted direct and third-party sales forces, and direct response advertising worldwide. American Express Company was founded in 1850 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sital S. Patel]

  ��f you look at Visa, MasterCard Inc. (MA) �and American Express Company (AXP) �, they are basically drive by the transactions and don�� live off the balance sheet,��said Ellison. ��f you look at the (banking) industry it�� kind of stale, the business model is not evolving.��

• [By Dan Carroll]

  American Express (NYSE: AXP  ) shares are also on a downswing after the company's earnings report, with the stock falling 3.2%. Despite growing consumer confidence in the U.S. -- a trend that helped the company's earnings rise 4.9% to beat Wall Street expectations -- American Express' sales growth of 3.5% failed to best analyst projections.

Hot Logistics Stocks For 2015: Alliance Holdings GP L.P.(AHGP)

Alliance Holdings GP, L.P., through its subsidiaries, produces and markets coal primarily to utilities and industrial users in the United States. It produces a range of steam coal with varying sulfur and heat contents. The company operates nine underground mining complexes in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, and West Virginia. As of December 31, 2010, it had approximately 697.4 million tons of proven and probable coal reserves in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. In addition, the company leases land; and operates a coal loading terminal, with a capacity of 8.0 million tons with ground storage of approximately 60,000 to 70,000 tons, on the Ohio River at Mt. Vernon, Indiana. Further, it engages in purchasing and selling coal; and providing services, including ash and scrubber sludge removal, coal yard maintenance, and arranging alternate transportation services. Alliance GP, LLC, serves as the general partner of the company. Allian ce Holdings GP, L.P. is based in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

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

• [By Robert Rapier]

  The National Association of Publicly Traded Partnerships (NAPTP) lists five MLPs in the category ��atural Resources – Coal,��although two of the five are Alliance Holdings (NYSE: AHGP) and its operating affiliate, Alliance Resource Partners (NYSE: ARLP). The other three are Natural Resource Partners (NYSE: NRP), Rhino Resource Partners (NYSE: RNO), and Oxford Resource Partners (NYSE: OXF).