Best Stocks For 2014: February 2014

Friday, February 21, 2014

Stocks to Watch: General Electric, Intel, Morgan Stanley

Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Friday’s session are General Electric Co.(GE), Intel Corp.(INTC) and Morgan Stanley(MS).

General Electric said its fourth-quarter income improved 4.8% as the conglomerate’s industrial revenue rose. “GE ended the year with strong fourth-quarter earnings and margin growth in an improving but mixed environment,” Chief Executive Jeff Immelt said. “We saw good conditions in growth markets, strength in the U.S. and a mixed environment in Europe.” Shares declined 1.5% to $26.80 premarket as earnings merely matched estimates after a series of small beats.

Intel said sales of chips for the ailing personal computer market improved in the fourth quarter, but demand for larger systems was weaker than expected. The Silicon Valley giant’s guidance for the current quarter and for all of 2014 also concerned analysts, sending its shares down 4% to $25.47 premarket.

Morgan Stanley’s fourth-quarter profit plunged 70% as strong performance in the firm’s wealth management business was offset by weak fixed income trading results, substantial legal costs and higher expenses. But shares climbed 0.9% to $32.30 in recent premarket trading as results topped Wall Street estimates.

American Express Co.'s(AXP) fourth-quarter profit more than doubled, as customers spent more in the U.S. and abroad, though the company’s results still came in shy of Wall Street expectations. SunTrust said the earnings miss was due to a higher tax rate and noted the company’s results show evidence of “strong and accelerating billed-business growth, moderate loan growth, cost control and sustained high capital return.” Shares climbed 1.4% to $89 premarket.

BJ's Restaurants Inc.(BJRI) issued muted preliminary fourth-quarter results, as the company said it was hurt by weaker traffic and higher promotions. Shares dropped 12% to $26.75 premarket.

Capital One Financial Corp.(COF) said fourth-quarter earnings rose 2.1% as lower loan-loss provisions offset a slight revenue decline. The bottom line missed expectations, and its shares edged down 1.9% to $75 premarket.

Con-way Inc.(CNW) issued a weaker-than-expected profit outlook for the fourth quarter after the trucking company encountered challenges at its Con-way Freight and Menlo Worldwide Logistics operations. The company’s shares declined 6.1% to $38.89 premarket.

Elizabeth Arden Inc.(RDEN) tempered its expectations for the fiscal year and then said it would withdraw those targets, as the beauty-products company warned of lower sales and a weaker-than-expected holiday season. Shares dropped 21% to $27.18 premarket.

Sallie Mae sa(SLM)id its fourth-quarter profit slid 22% on bigger losses on derivative and hedging actions, masking lower loan-loss provisions and an increase in loan originations. Core earnings for the latest period missed Wall Street’s expectations, sending shares down 4.2% to $26 premarket.

Schlumberger Ltd.(SLB) reported its fourth-quarter income rose a bigger-than-expected 22% as oil-field services revenue jumped in the Middle East and Asia. Shares edged up 1.3% to $89.79 premarket.

Skyworks Solutions Inc.(SWKS) said its fiscal first-quarter earnings rose 42%, as the wireless-chip supplier continued to benefit from strong demand across its wide range of markets. Adjusted earnings and revenue exceeded expectations and the company’s fiscal second-quarter guidance beat analysts’ estimates. Shares climbed 10% to $31.53 premarket.

SunTrust Banks Inc.(STI) said its fourth-quarter earnings rose 20% as a drop in the regional bank’s expenses masked a decrease in revenue. Results beat expectations, sending shares up 2.3% to $38.90 premarket.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Mid-Day Market Update: Tesla Surges On Upbeat Results; Conns Shares Drop

Related BZSUM Mid-Morning Market Update: Markets Edge Lower; Facebook To Buy WhatsApp For $16B #PreMarket Primer: Thursday, February 20: Facebook Makes Big Purchase With WhatsApp

Midway through trading Thursday, the Dow traded up 0.29 percent to 16,087.25 while the NASDAQ surged 0.34 percent to 4,252.19. The S&P also rose, gaining 0.32 percent to 1,834.61.

Leading and Lagging Sectors
Utilities sector surged 0.26%, saw CPFL Energia SA (NYSE: CPL) as the top gainer. Among leading sector stocks, gains came from Consolidated Water Co (NASDAQ: CWCO), Companhia Paranaense de Energia (NYSE: ELP) and Public Service Enterprise Group (NYSE: PEG).

In trading on Thursday, technology shares were relative laggards, down on the day by about 0.08%. Top decliners in the sector included KVH Industries (NASDAQ: KVHI), off 8.6%, and Yandex NV (NASDAQ: YNDX), down 7.3%.

Top Headline
After the closing bell Wednesday, Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) announced its plans to buy popular messaging service WhatsApp for $16 billion in cash and stock. Facebook will pay $12 billion in stock and $4 billion in cash, plus $3 billion in restricted stock units, to buy WhatsApp.

Equities Trading UP
Raptor Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: RPTP) shot up 16.62 percent to $17.40 after the company announced positive clinical results with RP103 in Huntington's disease Phase 2/3 trial.

Shares of Portfolio Recovery Associates (NASDAQ: PRAA) got a boost, shooting up 13.47 percent to $57.28 after the company reported Q4 results and agreed to acquire Aktiv Kapital for $880 million.

Tesla Motors (NASDAQ: TSLA) was also up, gaining 8.11 percent to $209.34 after the company reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter results.

Equities Trading DOWN
Shares of Conns (NASDAQ: CONN) were down 32.47 percent to $37.68 after the company issued a weak Q4 profit forecast. Oppenheimer downgraded the stock from Outperform to Market Perform and cut the price target from $92.00 to $44.00.

Millennial Media (NYSE: MM) shares tumbled 13.75 percent to $6.21 after the company reported downbeat Q4 revenue and issued a weak Q1 revenue guidance. The company also appointed Ross Levinsohn and Tom Evans to its Board of Directors.

BJ's Restaurants (NASDAQ: BJRI) was down, falling 8.21 percent to $26.61 on Q4 results.

Commodities
In commodity news, oil traded down 0.15 percent to $103.15, while gold traded down 0.36 percent to $1,315.60.

Silver traded down 0.62 percent Thursday to $21.72, while copper fell 0.50 percent to $3.26.

Eurozone
European shares were lower today.

The Spanish Ibex Index fell 0.35 percent, while Italy's FTSE MIB Index declined 0.50 percent.

Meanwhile, the German DAX tumbled 1 percent and the French CAC 40 slipped 0.11 percent while U.K. shares declined 0.16 percent.

Economics
US jobless claims fell by 3,000 to 336,000 in the week ended February 15. However, economists were estimating claims to decline to 335,000 in the week.

US consumur prices climbed 0.1% in January, while the core CPI increased 0.1%. However, economists were projecting the overall CPI to gain 0.1% and core index to gain 0.1%.

The Markit PMI manufacturing index (flash) for February rose to 56.70, versus a prior reading of 53.70. However, economists were expecting a reading of 53.60.

Top 5 Rising Stocks To Watch For 2015

The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index rose to -30.60 in the latest week, versus a prior reading of-30.70.

US Philadelphia Fed manufacturing index fell to -6.30 in February, versus a prior reading of 9.40. However, economists were expecting a reading of 8.00.

The Conference Board's index of leading indicators increased 0.3% in January.

Data on money supply will be released at 4:30 p.m. ET.

Posted-In: Earnings News Guidance Eurozone Futures Forex Global Econ #s Economics Intraday Update Markets Movers Tech

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Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Trish Regan: Pot industry 'Dazed and Confused'

This column marks the USA TODAY debut of Trish Regan, anchor and editor-at-large for Bloomberg TV. Trish was named one of the most popular business news anchors last year by BusinessInsider.com and has worked at CNBC, CBS and CBS MarketWatch.

OK. So, maybe Dazed and Confused isn't the pot classic that Up in Smoke is, but the cult coming-of-age film set in the '70s featured enough grass to rank as Rolling Stone's No. 2 "Stoner Movie of All Time." More important, Dazed and Confused seems to perfectly capture the reaction to Friday's announcement from the Justice and Treasury Departments aimed at addressing the biggest challenge facing the almost-legal marijuana industry today — lack of access to banks.

Banks have refused to do business with marijuana dispensaries operating within the bounds of state laws for fear of being prosecuted themselves. Federal law classifies marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug on par with heroin, which means a bank doing business with a marijuana shop can be accused of money laundering and racketeering. This has left dispensaries in the 20 states and Washington, D.C., that allow marijuana distribution in a challenging position; they can't let their bankers know how they make money.

At Denver Relief, a dispensary in Denver where the smell of cannabis permeates the room, workers undertake elaborate measures to ensure that the money they collect from pot sales doesn't smell. "There's no reason to rub somebody's nose in it," explains Ean Seeb, who runs the facility. Seeb places his cash in a sealed bag, in a separate safe, in a separate room — all in an attempt to keep it "clean." If a bank gets one whiff of his so-called dirty money (and yes, money smells when surrounded by pot), his account will be shut down. Seeb is on his second account, while many of his pot colleagues have churned through as many as five banks in the last year.

Friday's moves by the Justice and Treasury Departments gave many hope that the Feds were making significant changes to add! ress this banking problem. Instead, the memos show that the industry is still dealing with a basic issue: Despite all the changes to state laws, popular support and President Obama's recent remark that he considers marijuana no more dangerous than alcohol, marijuana is still 100% illegal under federal law. So, it's no wonder you might be dazed and confused listening to the reactions that followed the release of the memos.

Aaron Smith of the NCIA (that's the National Cannabis Industry Association for those who aren't in the know) seemed quite pleased, telling local media he was "grateful" for the announcements. Ethan Nadelmann of the Drug Policy Alliance was also optimistic telling me, "Banks will be able to make money."

But, the Colorado Bankers Association calls this guidance a red light for banks, stating, "At best, this amounts to 'serve these customers at your own risk,' and it emphasizes all of the risks."

"Dazed and Confused" seems to perfectly capture the reaction to the announcement from the Justice and Treasury Departments aimed at addressing the biggest challenge facing the almost-legal marijuana industry today -- lack of access to banks.(Photo: Thinkstock)

Where does this leave the fledgling multi-billion dollar industry? Very much where it's been.

Although marijuana entrepreneurs are increasingly comfortable starting businesses under permissive state laws and a federal "look the other way" policy, the federally regulated banking system needs certainty.

Banks are supposed to be conservative. Between the additional red tape associated with servicing a pot shop and the threat of a new administration reversing policy, the downside risks are too significant. Despite the industry's hopeful reaction, the vie! w of the ! Colorado Banker's Association is likely far closer to that of your average bank president.

If the Obama administration can't truly effect change, why is it warming to the idea of marijuana legalization? Cynics might argue the president is trying to establish the Democratic Party at the forefront of the marijuana movement ahead of this year's elections. With an increasing number of states looking to legalize marijuana, this could be the issue that brings younger, liberal Americans to the voting booths in swing states this November.

In the meantime, I'd recommend dispensaries continue working hard to keep their money smelling clean.

Monday, February 17, 2014

The first thing you should do in 2014

With 2013 come and gone, millions of people will resolve to make the most of their money in the coming year. Yet with the stock market moving sharply lower to begin the new year, many investors might well miss out on taking a vital step toward ensuring their long-term financial security by opening an IRA for 2014 as soon as possible.

One of the most important things you can do to start 2014 off on the right foot is to start thinking about saving for retirement. That's a tall order for many people, especially those with decades to go before they can even start dreaming of retiring. But if you want to retire rich, you have to look ahead, and having an IRA is a vital tool you can use to bring that goal closer to reality.

Why it's important to act now

Those who've followed this column know that I traditionally beat on the IRA soapbox at the beginning of most years. Last year, uncertainty about recently enacted tax rates gave some investors good reasons to wait on funding their IRA. But now that the tax-law picture has firmed up, IRAs look more attractive than ever in many ways.

In particular, the fiscal-cliff compromise that took effect at the beginning of 2013 raised tax rates on high-income taxpayers, reestablishing the 39.6% tax bracket and adding new taxes of 3.8% on investment income and 0.9% on wage income above certain high-income thresholds. Even preferential rates on capital gains rose from 15% to 20% for top-bracket taxpayers. As a result, the tax deferral benefits from IRAs are more valuable than ever for many.

Now it's true that you have plenty of time to make an IRA contribution for 2014. Indeed, you can still make a contribution to an IRA for 2013 until April 15. But the bull market of the past five years has emphasized just how important it is to put time on your side by getting money into an IRA sooner rather than later. At the same time, IRAs also make it easier for you to manage your risk than taxable accounts.

The value of high-growth stocks in IRAs

Investing in high-growth stocks within an IRA highlights the full potential that tax-deferred retirement accounts provide. For instance, Max Levchin, a well-known entrepreneur in the technology industry who was the co-founder of eBay's PayPal division, demonstrated the value of a Roth IRA a couple years ago when the social-network company Yelp came public. SEC filings showed that Levchin's Roth IRA owned more than 13.25 million shares of Yelp, and based on valuations at the time, the Roth IRA likely earned a gain of about $100 million when Yelp went public. Since then, Yelp has tripled in price, meaning potentially greater gains for any shares that Levchin has kept in his Roth.

Yet the other side of the coin gives another advantage of IRAs: You can sell your shares of high-flying growth stocks at any time without tax consequences. That can help IRA investors avoid traps that others traditionally fall into after long bull markets.

For instance, during the 1990s tech boom, millions of investors rode tech stocks to riches. Yet for those who held those stocks in taxable accounts, the prospect of losing a huge chunk of their capital gains to taxes led many to avoid selling shares. As a result, many investors ended up riding tech stocks all the way back down, never reaping any profit from the boom at all. By contrast, investors in an IRA were free to sell whenever they decided the tech boom was over, with no immediate tax consequences.

Some investors see similar signs of overpricing in today's market. In particular, tech and social-media stocks have become a target of those arguing that a new bubble has formed. In particular, Twitter (ticker: TWTR) has enjoyed phenomenal gains in the couple of months since it went public, more than doubling from its IPO price and climbing substantially higher from where it traded on its first day as a public company. Similarly, Facebook (FB) and LinkedIn (LNKD ) have produced stellar growth in boosting advertising revenue, especially with Facebook having ! demonstra! ted its success in the mobile ad space. Yet with these stocks carrying pricey valuations that reflect investors' high expectations for their future, anything short of perfection going forward could cause dramatic corrections -- corrections that those investing in taxable accounts will fear protecting themselves from because of the tax liability involved.

Don't wait

Obviously, if you don't yet have an IRA with winning stocks in it, then you can't take full advantage of every opportunity that IRAs give you. But the sooner you establish an IRA, the sooner you'll be able to consider all of these winning strategies while leaving yourself able to take action if downturns change your investing mindset.

The Motley Fool is a USA TODAY content partner offering financial news, analysis and commentary designed to help people take control of their financial lives. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

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Saturday, February 15, 2014

CLF Stock — Cliffs Natural Resources Wins a Round vs. Activists

Popular Posts: 3 Dependable Dividend Stocks That Are Crushing the MarketThe Top 10 S&P 500 Dividend Stocks for February3 Gold Medal Stocks to Buy Now Recent Posts: CLF Stock — Cliffs Natural Resources Wins a Round vs. Activists DE Stock, CAT Stock — Deere, Caterpillar Are Going Nowhere 3 Dependable Dividend Stocks That Are Crushing the Market View All Posts

Beleaguered mining company Cliffs Natural Resources (CLF) reported a surprisingly strong profit late Thursday, sending CLF stock up sharply to end the week. That should help Cliffs fend off an activist investor for the time being, even as the outlook for mining stocks remains bleak.

cliffs CLF Stock Cliffs Natural Resources Wins a Round vs. Activists Mining stocks and other industries that depend on high commodity prices have been struggling for a couple of years now, and CLF stock has been no exception. Even with the current rally, at $23 and change, CLF stock is still well below the $100 per share it hit in 2011.

As we noted recently with Caterpillar (CAT), declining metals prices have been weighing on sector shares for years. A wide range of hard commodities are near or below prices that were last seen at the end of 2010.

Part of that is due to China, where the economy is slowing down dramatically. China isn't constructing things like highways and bridges and skyscrapers at the same feverish pace. That's one thing that has been weighing on metals prices.

At the same time, the global economy has been sluggish, with giant areas of demand like the U.K. and eurozone struggling to stay out of recession. Additionally, metals prices are under pressure in some cases by too much production, as mining companies raced to produce more hard commodities when prices were rising years ago.

CLF Stock Rallies on Quarterly Results

Investors in CLF stock received a reprieve from the misery of mining stocks — at least for one quarter. Cliffs swung to an adjusted profit of $1.22 per share in the most recent quarter, beating analysts’s estimates by a wide margin.

Cliffs, which mines iron ore and metallurgical coal, was helped by rising prices for iron ore in the latest quarter — but most of the earnings beat came from cost cuts. That has been the playbook for mining stocks like CLF stock. Revenue actually slipped to $1.52 billion from $1.54 billion, so Cliffs had to make up the difference by slashing expenses.

Best Blue Chip Stocks To Buy Right Now

Although prices for seaborne iron ore were up 10% in the last quarter, the global macroeconomic forces weighing on commodity prices are still in place. CLF stock is still in a deep hole, having lost 80% since 2011, and calls to break up the company aren’t going away.

New York hedge fund Casablanca — with a 5.2% stake in CLF stock — wants Cliffs to spin off its international businesses and double its dividend. (Cliffs stock has a current dividend yield of 2.8%.) But Cliffs is balking at the proposals even as it takes some drastic steps to shut up Casablanca.

Indeed, earlier this week, Cliffs said it would slash capital expenditures this year by more than half. It will also idle production at its Wabush mine in the first quarter. In addition to those cost cuts, Cliffs shook up its board of directors last summer and on Friday named Gary Halverson as CEO. Casablanca pushed its own candidate for the CEO job earlier in the week.

Given the action in CLF stock after earnings, the company looks to have bought itself some time in its fight with Casablanca. If Cliffs can continue in this vein until metals prices turn up decisively, it might even fend off the hedge fund for good.

As of this writing, Dan Burrows did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Could AOL Sell Another Digital Media Arm

AOL may sell Huffington Post if it does not turn a profit this year, like it sold off controlling interest in Patch local-news business.

AOL's Brand Group competitively positioned itself among digital media powerhouses Google (NASDAQ: GOOG ) , Yahoo!, and privately held MSN, a part of Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT ) , when it purchased Huffington Post for $315 million in February 2011.

However, Huffington Post has fallen short of AOL Chief Executive Tim Armstrong's projections, in spite of its growth since the merger. Despite its audience growing to 85 million in October, up from 25 million at the time of acquisition, Armstrong reported Huffington Post netted $66 million in operating profit on $165 million in revenue, according to Rueters' Jennifer Saba.

AOL, however, expects Huffington Post to turn a profit in 2014. Armstrong said Huffington Post's losses are lessening, and he expects the digital media arm to turn a profit in 2014, according to Saba. "Huffington Post has come to the point where it's a non-replicable asset. It would take a lot of effort, a lot of money, and lot of years to repeat what we have been able to build with them," Armstrong concluded.

AOL vs. the digital media industry

The Brand Group (AOL's digital media arm, which includes TechCrunch, MapQuest, and the Huffington Post) are clear underdogs in the digital media industry. However, the digital media arm is holding its own in an industry that features the second (MSN's parent company, Microsoft) and fifth (Google) most valuable brands in the world, according to Forbes Magazine.

The numbers tell a similar story:

AOL's current ratio (which measures a company's assets versus its liabilities) suggests it is just meeting its operational needs. Furthermore, AOL is lagging behind Google, Yahoo!, and MSN. It needs Huffington Post to turn a profit. AOL's high P/E ratio may be due to high expectations for future growth in earnings after turning a profit for the first time in five years. AOL's stock is a tick overvalued, according to its price/earnings/growth ratio. However, it is not as overvalued as Yahoo!'s PEG. But, its PEG is higher than both Google's and the industry average.

A stock's PEG ratio gives an investor an apples-to-apples comparison of two companies that would be a ludicrous assessment (like AOL and Google). However, PEG ratio gives a more clear understanding of a stock's value in conjunction with the competition's P/E ratio. A stock with PEG ratio above one suggests the market expects the stock to grow higher than expected, or share demand overvalues the stock, while a PEG ratio below one suggests the market underestimates its growth and is undervalued, or analysts' consensus estimates are set low.

AOL: by the numbers

Consumer confidence in Huffington Post contributed to AOL's positive revenue growth four of the last five quarters through Q4, at 3.75%. This trend bodes well for AOL, considering its subscription revenue, which was the backbone of its revenue for years, has been in decline in recent years.

AOL should have cash on hand to reinvest in its business, considering its free cash flow grew 10.7% through Q3, and its FCF has been growing at a 16.6% rate over the past four years.

Analysis of AOL's profit margin suggests it should continue to grow at its five-year average of 17.8%. Its decision to cut ties with unprofitable commodities like Patch.com are positive signs that the company is streamlining operations.

AOL's low debt-to-equity ratio could scare off investors at first glance, but, its low ratio is not as scary considering the aggressiveness with which AOL has paid its debts (a $37.36 million average over the past five years).

Furthermore, AOL took on more debt through the three reported quarters in FY 2013 than the previous three fiscal years combined. Expect AOL's debt-to-equity ratio to land somewhere in the ballpark of its 0.15 five-year average when it files its 2013 10-K report.

AOL's 1.33% return on equity implies that it may be a bad long-term investment. You can get better returns from a run of the mill savings account or certificate of deposit from your local bank.

Conclusion
AOL reinvented its brand with its Huffington Post acquisition. As a result, AOL appears to be coming out the other end of a long and arduous transition, with revenue growth for the first time in five years. In addition, AOL is on track to have double-digit growth in FCF and profit margins.

Reasons to consider investing in AOL are its low debt-to-equity ratio and ROE. Therefore, I recommend holding AOL until it show signs of improving in those areas.

It is always advisable to do your own research prior to making any investment decisions.

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Sunday, February 9, 2014

5 Best Chemical Stocks To Watch Right Now

The debate over natural gas exportation has created some unfamiliar enemies and even more unfamiliar friends. While it's pretty obvious who the supporters are, some of the largest opponents are not who you would expect: manufacturers. Leading the charge is a group known as America's Energy Advantage, and they have a wide range of supporters including stalwarts of�manufacturing.�The largest and most vocal opponent being�Dow Chemical (NYSE: DOW ) .

Let's look at why Dow Chemical wants to keep natural gas on U.S. shores and what it's doing to keep it here:

Keep the gas, keep the profits
The one simple reason that Dow and its partners in America's Energy Advantage are advocating for not exporting LNG is to keep the gas here to power energy-intensive manufacturing. Industries like steel and chemicals demand large amounts of energy, and cheap gas in the U.S. gives these companies incentive to produce here.

Steel giant Nucor (NYSE: NUE ) will be opening a direct-reduced iron (DRI) plant in Louisiana. This plant was built in large part because of favorable energy prices due to cheap natural gas and will be the only one of its kind in the U.S.�Alcoa (NYSE: AA ) �is another proponent of keeping the energy source within our borders. The aluminum giant has joined up with America's Energy Advantage group to protect a cheap source of energy. �In the case of Dow, though, there is so much more than energy behind this move.

5 Best Chemical Stocks To Watch Right Now: Agrium Inc.(AGU)

Agrium Inc., together with its subsidiaries, produces and markets agricultural nutrients, industrial products, and specialty products worldwide, as well as involves in the retail supply of agricultural products and services in North and South Americas. The company?s Retail segment markets crop nutrient products, including nitrogen, phosphate, potash, sulphur, and micronutrients; crop protection products, such as herbicides, fungicides, adjuvants, and insecticides; and seeds. This segment also offers agronomic services, as well as product application, soil and leaf tissue testing and analysis, and crop scouting services. This segment operates 1,192 outlets in the United States, Canada, Australia, Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay. The company?s Wholesale segment produces, markets, and distributes nitrogen, phosphate, potash, sulphate, and other crop nutrient products for agricultural and industrial customers. This segment also owns and operates facilities that upgrade ammonia t o other nitrogen products, such as urea, nitric acid, and ammonium nitrate, as well as provides Rainbow plant food products. Agrium?s Advanced Technologies segment produces and markets controlled-release crop nutrients and micronutrients for the agriculture, specialty agriculture, professional turf, horticulture, and consumer lawn and garden markets. The company was formerly known as Cominco Fertilizers Ltd. and changed its name to Agrium Inc. in 1995. Agrium Inc. was founded in 1931 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Ben Levisohn]
Stemming from the recent BPC fall-out, POT�� revised guidance reflects the acute market uncertainty and lingering turmoil battering global potash markets. Specifically, with potash prices moving sharply lower across most export regions, buyers seem intent on deferring purchases with the hope of securing lower prices and improved macro visibility in the future. Consistent with this view, we note that competing potash bellwethers�Mosaic (MOS) and�Agrium (AGU) both recently lowered their 2013 global shipment forecasts.
[By Chris Damas]
Uralkali is special in that it is a pure potash mining and selling company unlike competitors, who often sell other fertilizers or chemicals. Uralkali's results are instructive, and the numbers released this morning were particularly so. They were ugly. And they could be a glimpse of what kind of potash numbers members of the Canadian potash marketing agency Canpotex could be facing in the future, the members other than Potash Corp being Mosaic and Agrium Inc. (AGU).
[By Neha Chamaria]
Investors in the fertilizer industry have something serious to think about. One of the leading nutrient producers, Agrium (NYSE: AGU ) , is hanging up on two expansion projects -- It has suspended development work on a greenfield project in the U.S. Midwest area, while dropping plans�to expand an existing plant in Alberta.

5 Best Chemical Stocks To Watch Right Now: Linde AG (LNAGF)

Linde AG is a German company engaged in the gases and engineering sector. It operates two divisions: Gases and Engineering, as core divisions, as well as Gist. The Gases Division includes Healthcare, producing medical gases; and Tonnage, as its two global business units; as well as the two business areas Merchant and Packaged Gases, offering liquefied and cylinder gases, and Electronics. The Company�� products are used in the energy sector, for steel production, chemical processing, environmental protection and welding, as well as in food processing, glass production and electronics. The Engineering division offers planning, project development and construction of turnkey industrial plants used in fields, such as petrochemical and chemical industries, in refineries and fertilizer plants, to recover air gases, to produce hydrogen and synthesis gases, to treat natural gas, and in the pharmaceutical industry. As of August 13, 2012, the Company acquired Lincare Holdings Inc.

Top 10 Penny Companies For 2015: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company(DD)

E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company operates as a science and technology company worldwide. It operates in seven segments: Agriculture & Nutrition, Electronics & Communications, Performance Chemicals, Performance Coatings, Performance Materials, Safety & Protection, and Pharmaceuticals. The Agriculture & Nutrition segment provides hybrid seed corn and soybean seed, herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, value enhanced grains, and soy protein under the Pioneer brand name. The Electronics & Communications segment supplies materials and systems for photovoltaic products, consumer electronics, displays, and advanced printing. The Performance Chemicals segment offers fluorochemicals, fluoropolymers, specialty and industrial chemicals, and white pigments for various markets, such as plastics and coatings, textiles, mining, pulp and paper, water treatment, and healthcare. The Performance Coatings segment supplies high performance liquid and powder coatings for motor vehicle origi nal equipment manufacturers (OEM); the motor vehicle after-market; and general industrial applications, such as such as coatings for heavy equipment, pipes and appliances, and electrical insulation. The Performance Materials segment provides polymers, elastomers, films, parts, and systems and solutions for the automotive OEM and associated after-market industries, as well as electrical, electronics, packaging, construction, oil, photovoltaics, aerospace, chemical processing, and consumer durable goods. The Safety & Protection segment primarily offers nonwovens, aramids, and solid surfaces for the construction, transportation, communications, industrial chemicals, oil and gas, electric utilities, automotive, manufacturing, defense, homeland security, and safety consulting industries. The Pharmaceuticals segment represents its interest in the collaboration relating to Cozaar/Hyzaar antihypertensive drugs. The company was founded in 1802 and is headquartered in Wilmington, Dela ware.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Rich Duprey]
All told, Monsanto,�DuPont� (NYSE: DD ) ,�and�Syngenta� (NYSE: SYT ) control 53% of the world's seed production, yet their control of our food supply is almost all-encompassing, because they�cross-license�their technology between themselves and with other companies.

5 Best Chemical Stocks To Watch Right Now: LyondellBasell Industries NV(LYB)

LyondellBasell Industries N.V. manufacturers and sells chemicals and polymers, refines crude oil, produces gasoline blending components, and develops and licenses technologies for production of polymers. The company?s Olefins and Polyolefins segment offers olefins, including ethylene, propylene, and butadiene; aromatics, such as benzene and toluene; polyolefins, which comprise polypropylene (PP), high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, and linear low-density polyethylene; specialty polyolefins, including catalloy process resins, PP compounds, and polybutene-1 resins; and ethylene derivatives, which comprise ethanol. Its Intermediates and Derivatives segment provides propylene oxide (PO); PO co-products, including styrene monomers and TBA derivative isobutylene; PO derivatives, such as propylene glycol, propylene glycol ethers, and butanediol; acetyls, such as methanol, acetic acid, and vinyl acetate monomers; ethylene derivatives, which comprise ethylene oxide , ethylene glycol, and ethylene glycol ethers; and flavor and fragrance chemicals. The company?s Refining and Oxyfuels segment offers gasoline and components, ultra low sulfur diesel, jet fuel, and lube oils; diesel, feedstock, fuel oil, gasoline, and bitumen; and gasoline blending components, including methyl tertiary butyl ether, ethyl tertiary butyl ether, and alkylate. Its Technology segment develops and licenses polyolefin and other process technologies. This segment also develops, manufactures, and sells polyolefin catalysts, as well as provides technology services, which comprise safety reviews, training and start-up assistance, engineering services for process and product improvements, and manufacturing troubleshooting. LyondellBasell Industries N.V. has operations in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and internationally. The company was founded in 2005 and is based in Rotterdam, Netherlands. LyondellBasell Industries N.V. is a subsidiary of Prochemie GmbH.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Peter Staas]
Holland-based petrochemical outfit LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) remains the best bet for income-seeking investors to profit from persistently weak ethane prices in North America.

5 Best Chemical Stocks To Watch Right Now: Airgas Inc.(ARG)

Airgas, Inc., through its subsidiaries, distributes industrial, medical, and specialty gases, as well as hardgoods in the United States. The company offers various gases, including nitrogen, oxygen, argon, helium, and hydrogen; welding and fuel gases, such as acetylene, propylene, and propane; and carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, ultra high purity grades, special application blends, and process chemicals. Its hardgoods products comprise welding consumables and equipment, safety products, and construction supplies, as well as maintenance, repair, and operating supplies. The company also engages in the rental of gas cylinders, cryogenic liquid containers, bulk storage tanks, tube trailers, and welding and welding related equipment. In addition, the company manufactures and distributes liquid carbon dioxide, dry ice, nitrous oxide, ammonia, refrigerant gases, and atmospheric merchant gases. It serves repair and maintenance, industrial manufacturing, energy and infrastructure co nstruction, medical, petrochemical, food and beverage, retail and wholesale, analytical, utilities, and transportation industries. The company operates an integrated network of approximately 1100 locations, including branches, retail stores, packaged gas fill plants, specialty gas labs, production facilities, and distribution centers. Additionally, it provides retail solutions to retail customers, such as florists, grocers, restaurants and bars, tire and automotive service centers, and others. The company markets its products through multiple sales channels, including branch-based sales representatives, retail stores, strategic customer account programs, telesales, catalogs, e-business, and independent distributors. Airgas, Inc. was founded in 1982 and is based in Radnor, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Monica Gerson]
Airgas (NYSE: ARG) is expected to report its Q2 earnings at $1.22 per share on revenue of $1.28 billion.

The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) is estimated to report its Q3 earnings at $1.55 per share on revenue of $21.68 billion.

5 Best Chemical Stocks To Watch Right Now: Ferchem Egypt Fertilizers and Chemicals (FERC)

Ferchem Egypt Fertilizers and Chemicals is an Egypt-based company engaged in the establishment and operation of a factory for mixing and packaging of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides and hormones, as well as other agricultural related activities.

5 Best Chemical Stocks To Watch Right Now: Celanese Corporation (CE)

Celanese Corporation, a technology and specialty materials company, engages in manufacture and sale of value-added chemicals, thermoplastic polymers, and other chemical-based products. It operates through four business segments: Advanced Engineered Materials, Consumer Specialties, Industrial Specialties, and Acetyl Intermediates. The Advanced Engineered Materials segment offers specialty polymers for application in automotive, medical, and electronics products, as well as other consumer and industrial applications. The Consumer Specialties segment provides cellulose acetate flake, film, and tow that are primarily used in filter products applications; Sunett, a sweetener; and food protection ingredients, such as sorbates and sorbic acid for the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries. The Industrial Specialties segment produces emulsions and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) performance polymers. Its emulsions products are used in applications, such as paints and coatings, adhesives, construction, glass fiber, textiles, and paper; and EVA performance polymers are used in flexible packaging films, lamination film products, hot melt adhesives, medical products, automotive, carpeting and photovoltaic cells. The Acetyl Intermediates segment offers acetyl products, including acetic acid, vinyl acetate monomer, acetic anhydride, and acetate esters for use as starting materials for colorants, paints, adhesives, coatings, and medicines. It also provides organic solvents and intermediates for pharmaceutical, agricultural, and chemical products. The company offers its products directly, as well as through distributors and electronic marketplaces in North America, Europe, Africa, the Asia-Pacific, and South America. Celanese Corporation was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Monica Gerson]
Celanese (NYSE: CE) is estimated to report its Q3 earnings at $1.04 per share on revenue of $1.59 billion.

Posted-In: Earnings scheduleEarnings News Pre-Market Outlook Markets
[By Travis Hoium]
What: Shares of chemical maker Celanese (NYSE: CE ) jumped as much as 16% today after the company released earnings.

So what: Revenue fell slightly in the first quarter, to $1.61 billion, but adjusted earnings per share jumped 44%, to $1.14. Revenue was in line with expectations, and earnings crushed the $0.79 that analysts expected.�

5 Best Chemical Stocks To Watch Right Now: OCI Partners LP (OCIP)

OCI Partners LP, incorporated on February 07, 2013, owns and operates an integrated methanol and ammonia production facility that is strategically located on the Texas Gulf Coast near Beaumont. The Company is a methanol producer in the United States with an annual methanol production capacity of approximately 730,000 metric tons and an annual ammonia production capacity of approximately 265,000 metric tons, and it is in the early stages of a debottlenecking project that increases its annual methanol production capacity by 25% to approximately 912,500 metric tons and its annual ammonia production capacity by 15% to approximately 305,000 metric tons.

Both methanol and ammonia are global commodities that are essential building blocks for numerous end-use products. Methanol is a liquid petrochemical that is used in a variety of industrial and energy-related applications. Methanol is used in industrial applications to produce adhesives used in manufacturing wood products, such as plywood, particle board and laminates, resins to treat paper and plastic products, paint and varnish removers, solvents for the textile industry and polyester fibers for clothing and carpeting. Methanol is also used outside of the United States as a direct fuel for automobile engines, as a fuel blended with gasoline and as an octane booster in reformulated gasoline. In the United States, ammonia is primarily used as a feedstock to produce nitrogen fertilizers, such as urea and ammonium sulfate, and is also directly applied to soil as a fertilizer. In addition, ammonia is widely used in industrial applications, particularly in the Texas Gulf Coast market, including in the production of plastics, synthetic fibers, resins and numerous other chemical compounds.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Robert Rapier]
OCI Partners (Nasdaq: OCIP) owns and operates OCI Beaumont, an integrated methanol and ammonia production facility on the Texas Gulf Coast. OCI Beaumont has a methanol production capacity of 730,000 metric tons (MT) per year and an ammonia production capacity of 265,000 MT per year. The facility is in the middle of a debottlenecking project that will increase its annual methanol production capacity by 25 percent and its annual ammonia production capacity by 15 percent.

5 Best Chemical Stocks To Watch Right Now: Gulf Resources Inc (GURE.O)

Gulf Resources, Inc. (Gulf Resources), incorporated on February 28, 1989, is engaged in manufacturing and trading of bromine and crude salt, and manufacturing and selling of chemical products used in oil and gas field exploration, oil and gas distribution, oil field drilling, wastewater processing, papermaking chemical agents and inorganic chemicals. As of December 31, 2011, its products have been sold only within the People�� Republic of China. The Company operates in three segments: bromine, crude salt and chemical products. It manufactures and trades bromine and crude salt through Shouguang City Haoyuan Chemical Company Limited (SCHC), and manufactures chemical products for use in the oil industry and paper manufacturing industry through Shouguang Yuxin Chemical Industry Co., Limited (SYCI). On December 22, 2011, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets owned by Liangcai Zhang in the Shouguang City Yangkou Township Area.

Bromine and Crude S alt

The Company manufactures and distributes bromine through its wholly owned subsidiary, SCHC. Bromine (Br2) is a halogen element and it is a red volatile liquid at standard room temperature, which has reactivity between chlorine and iodine. Elemental bromine is used to manufacture a variety of bromine compounds used in industry and agriculture. Bromine is also used to form intermediates in organic synthesis. Its bromine is used in brominated flame retardants, fumigants, water purification compounds, dyes, medicines and disinfectants. Its production sites are located in the Shandong Province in northeastern China. Its production feeds include natural brine, vitriol, chlorine, sulfur and coal.

Crude Salt

The Company also produces crude salt, which is produced from the evaporation of the wastewater after its bromine production process. Once the brine is returned to the surface and the bromine is removed, the remaining brine is pumped to onsite containing pools and then exposed to natural sunshin! e! . This causes the water to evaporate from the brine, resulting in salt being left over afterwards. Crude salt is the principal material in alkali production, as well as chlorine alkali production and is used in the chemical, food and beverage, and other industries.

Chemical Products

The Company produces chemical products through its wholly owned subsidiary, SYCI. The products it produces include hydroxyl guar gum, demulsified agent, corrosion inhibitor for acidizing, bactericide, chelant, iron ion stabilizer, clay stabilizing agent, flocculants agent, remaining agent, expanding agent, bromopropane, environmental friendly additive products, solid lubricant and polyether lubricant.

Gulf Resources competes with Shandong Yuyuan Group Company Limited, Shandong Haihua Group Company Limited, Shandong Dadi Salt Chemical Group Company Limited, Shandong Haiwang Chemical Company Limited, Shandong Weifang Longwei Industrial Company Limited, Shando ng Caiyangzi Saltworks, Beijing Tianqing Chemical Company Limited, Shandong Weifang Shuangxing Pesticides Company Limited, Zibo Dacheng Pesticides Company Limited, Befar Group Company Limited, China Eastar (Group) Chemical Industry Company Limited and Pecome Technologies Limited.

5 Best Chemical Stocks To Watch Right Now: OM Group Inc.(OMG)

OM Group, Inc. develops, produces, and markets specialty chemicals, advanced materials, and electrochemical energy storage products worldwide. The company operates in three segments: Advanced Materials, Specialty Chemicals, and Battery Technologies. The Advanced Materials segment manufactures inorganic products using unrefined cobalt and other metals and serves the battery materials, powder metallurgy, ceramics, and chemical end markets. It offers cobalt powders, precursors, chemicals, pigments and ceramics, and various raw materials. These products enhance the electrical conduction of rechargeable batteries, as well as strengthen and add durability to diamond and machine cutting tools and drilling equipment. The Specialty Chemicals segment offers electronic chemicals for the printed circuit board, memory disk, general metal finishing, electronic packaging and finishing, and photovoltaic markets. This segment also provides advanced organics comprising additives and driers for paints, and printing inks; rubber adhesion promoters for tires; composite and other catalysts for chemicals; and fuel oil additives, lubricants, and grease additives. In addition, it offers ultra pure chemicals used in the manufacture of electronic and computer components, such as semiconductors, wafers, and liquid crystal displays; and photo-imaging masks, including high-purity quartz or glass plates containing precision, microscopic images of integrated circuits; and reticles for the semiconductor, optoelectronics, and microelectronics industries under the Compugraphics brand name. The Battery Technologies segment provides battery products, primary and secondary batteries, battery management systems, battery chargers, and energetic devices for defense applications; primary and secondary batteries for satellites, aircraft, and the packaging of cells; and miniature batteries to power implantable medical devices. The company was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Cle veland, Ohio.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Seth Jayson]
There's no foolproof way to know the future for OM Group (NYSE: OMG ) or any other company. However, certain clues may help you see potential stumbles before they happen -- and before your stock craters as a result.

5 Best Chemical Stocks To Watch Right Now: Zoltek Companies Inc (ZOLT)

Zoltek Companies, Inc. is a holding company, which operates through wholly owned subsidiaries, Zoltek Corporation, Zoltek Zrt., Zoltek de Mexico SA de CV, Zoltek de Occidente SA de CV, Engineering Technology Corporation (Entec Composite Machines), Zoltek Properties, Inc., and Zoltek Automotive, LLC. Zoltek Corporation (Zoltek) develops, manufactures and markets carbon fibers and technical fibers in the United States. The Company is an applied technology and advanced materials company. It commercialization of carbon fiber through composites used in a range of commercial products, which it sells under the Panex trade name. In addition to manufacturing carbon fiber, it produces an intermediate product, a stabilized and oxidized acrylic fiber used in flame- and heat-resistant applications, which it sells under the Pyron trade name. During fiscal year ended September 30, 2011 (fiscal 2011), its net sales to Vestas Wind Systems, a wind turbine manufacturer represented % of its net sales. In October 2011, Zoltek purchased a building in St. Peters, Missouri to house its prepreg operations.

Zoltek Zrt. is a Hungarian subsidiary that manufactures and markets carbon fibers and technical fibers and manufactures acrylic fiber precursor raw material used in production of carbon fibers and technical fibers. Zoltek de Mexico SA de CV and Zoltek de Occidente SA de CV are Mexican subsidiaries that manufacture carbon fiber and precursor raw material. Entec Composite Machines manufactures and markets filament winding and pultrusion equipment used in the production composite parts. The Company�� sales markets are in Europe and the United States. The Company has manufacturing plants in Nyergesujfalu, Hungary, Guadalajara, Mexico, Abilene, Texas and St. Charles, Missouri. Its Texas plant houses carbon fiber manufacturing lines and value-added processing capabilities. Its Missouri plant is engaged in the production of technical fibers for aircraft brake and other friction applications and also produces limited! amounts of carbon fibers. In addition, it has facilities in Salt Lake City, Utah where it designs and builds composite manufacturing equipment and produce resin pre-impregnated carbon fibers, called prepregs. It performs certain downstream processing, such as weaving, knitting, blending with other fibers, chopping and milling and preparation of pre-form, pre-cut stacks of fabric. In addition, its Salt Lake City-based Entec Composite Machines subsidiary designs and builds composite manufacturing equipment and markets the equipment along with manufacturing technology and materials. It also provides composite design and engineering for development of applications for carbon fiber reinforced composites.

The Company competes with Hexcel Corporation, Cytec Industries, Toray Group, Toho Tenax, Mitsubishi Chemical and SGL Carbon.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Lauren Pollock]
Toray Industries Inc.(3402.TO), the global market leader in carbon fiber, agreed to buy smaller rival Zoltek Cos.(ZOLT) in a deal valued at $584 million. The Japanese synthetic-fiber maker offered $16.75 a share, a 9.5% discount to Thurday’s close. Zoltek has struggled amid what it has called a cyclical downturn in the wind energy market. Zoltek shares dropped 10% to $16.58 in light premarket trading.
[By Maxx Chatsko]
Shares of world-leading carbon fiber manufacturer�Zoltek� (NASDAQ: ZOLT ) �have been pushed to new highs after a frantic attempt by Quinpario Partners to acquire a large position in the company. Despite being turned away by management, the fund does make valid points about the company's general lack of progress given its global scope and potential. Investors in this business built around a game-changing material may be worrying whether shares are about to fall back to earth. In the following video, Fool.com contributor Maxx Chatsko gives at least one reason for investors to think that shares can hold their current levels -- or even trek higher.

5 Best Chemical Stocks To Watch Right Now: PFB Corporation (PFBOF.PK)

PFB Corporation (PFB) is a Canada-based company. The Company, together with its subsidiaries, is engaged in the manufacturing of insulating building products made from expanded polystyrene (EPS) materials and marketing these products in North America. Its main brands include PlastiSpan EPS Product Solutions; Advantage ICFS, Insulspan SIPS, Riverbend Timber Framing and Precision Craft. Expandable polystyrene resin is manufactured at PFB�� polymer plant located in Crossfield, Alberta, for use in downstream EPS manufacturing operations. Plasti-Fab EPS Product Solutions supply the EPS foam core material used to manufacture Insulspan SIPS. Riverbend Timber Framing structures are typically sold with an accompanying Insulspan SIPS enclosure package. Advantage ICF Systems are insulating concrete forming systems that are employed to build insulated foundations and walls from concrete in both residential and commercial markets. On February 1, 2011, the Company acquired Precision C raft Group.

5 Best Chemical Stocks To Watch Right Now: Calgon Carbon Corp (CCC)

Calgon Carbon Corporation is a provider of products, services, and solutions for purifying water and air. The Company operates in three reportable segments: Activated Carbon and Service, Equipment, and Consumer. The Activated Carbon and Service segment manufactures granular and powdered activated carbon for use in applications to primarily remove organic compounds from water, air and other liquids and gases. The service aspect of the segment consists of reactivation and the leasing, monitoring and maintenance of carbon adsorption equipment. The Equipment segment provides solutions to customers��air and water purification problems through the design, fabrication, installation, and sale of equipment systems that utilize a combination of the Company�� enabling technologies: carbon adsorption, ultraviolet light (UV), Ballast Water Treatment (BWT), and advanced ion exchange separation (ISEP). The Consumer segment primarily consists of the manufacture and sale of carbon cloth. On March 31, 2011 the Company completed the acquisition of Calgon Carbon Japan KK (CCJ).

Activated Carbon and Service

The sale of activated carbon is the principle component of the Activated Carbon and Service business segment. Activated carbon is a porous material that removes organic compounds from liquids and gases by a process known as adsorption. In adsorption, unwanted organic molecules contained in a liquid or gas are attracted and bound to the surface of the pores of the activated carbon as the liquid or gas is passed through. The primary raw material used in the production of the Company�� activated carbons is bituminous coal which is crushed, sized and then processed in low temperature kilns followed by high temperature furnaces. The Company also markets activated carbons from other raw materials, including coconut shell and wood. The Company produces and sells a range of activated, impregnated or acid washed carbons in granular, powdered or pellet form. Granular activated carbon (GAC) particl! es are irregular in shape and generally used in fixed filter beds for continuous flow purification processes.

Another component of the Activated Carbon and Service business segment are the optional services associated with supplying the Company�� products and systems required for purification, separation, concentration, taste and odor control. The Company offers a variety of treatment services at customer facilities, including carbon supply, equipment leasing, installation and demobilization, transportation and spent carbon reactivation. Other services include feasibility testing, process design, performance monitoring and maintenance of Company-owned equipment. The central component of the Company�� service business is reactivation of spent carbon and re-supply. The Company provides reactivation/recycling services in packages ranging from a 55 gallon drum to truckload quantities.

Equipment

Along with providing activated carbon products, the Company has developed a portfolio of standardized, pre-engineered, adsorption systems capable of treating liquid flows from 1 gallons per minute to 1,400 gallons per minute, which can be delivered and installed at treatment sites. These self-contained adsorption systems are used for vapor phase applications, such as volatile organic compound (VOC) control, air stripper off-gases, and landfill gas emissions. Liquid phase equipment systems are used for applications of potable water, process purification, wastewater treatment, groundwater remediation and de-chlorination. The Company produces a range of odor control equipment, which typically utilizes catalytic activated carbon to control odors at municipal wastewater treatment facilities and pumping stations. The Company�� variety of equipment systems treats the odors that emanate from municipal wastewater treatment facilities and the sewage collection systems that bring the waste to the treatment plant.

The ISEP (Ionic Separator) continuous ion exchange units ! are used ! for the purification and recovery of many products in the food, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology industries. The ISEP Continuous Separator units perform ion exchange separations using countercurrent processing. The ISEP and CSEP (chromatographic separator) systems are used at over 300 installations worldwide in more than 40 applications in industrial settings, as well as in environmental applications, including perchlorate and nitrate removal from drinking water. The Hyde GUARDIAN System was developed as a chemical-free, International Maritime Organization (IMO) type approved, ballast water management solution. The system is designed to meet the needs of ship owners to install treatment system.

Consumer

The primary product offered in the Consumer segment is carbon cloth. Carbon cloth, which is activated carbon in cloth form, is manufactured in the United Kingdom and sold to the medical, military, and specialty markets. Zorflex Activated Carbon Cloth can be used in numerous additional applications, including sensor protection; filters for ostomy bags; wound dressings; conservation of artifacts, and respiratory masks.

The Company competes with Norit, N.V., Mead/Westvaco Corporation, Siemens Water Technologies, Trojan Technologies, Inc., Xylem, Wedeco Ideal Horizons, Panasia, Alfa Lavel Tumba AB, Hyde Marine, Inc. and Wartsila.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Inyoung Hwang]
Computacenter Plc (CCC) slipped 4.5 percent to 543 pence, its biggest drop since June. UBS AG lowered the technology-services provider to neutral from buy, citing its valuation. The shares have climbed to 13.18 times estimated earnings from 11.81 times at the end of last year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

5 Best Chemical Stocks To Watch Right Now: OCI Partners LP (OCIP.N)

5 Best Chemical Stocks To Watch Right Now: PFB Corporation (PFBOF)

5 Best Chemical Stocks To Watch Right Now: Olin Corp (OLN)

Olin Corporation, incorporated on August 13, 1892, is a manufacturer focused in three business segments: Chlor Alkali Products, Chemical Distribution and Winchester. Chlor Alkali Products manufactures and sells chlorine and caustic soda, hydrochloric acid, hydrogen, bleach products and potassium hydroxide. Chemical Distribution manufactures bleach products and distributes caustic soda, bleach products, potassium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid. Winchester products include sporting ammunition, reloading components, small caliber military ammunition and components, and industrial cartridges. On August 22, 2012, the Company acquired K. A. Steel Chemicals Inc. (KA Steel). KA Steel is a distributor of caustic soda in North America and manufactures and sells bleach in the Midwest.

The Company's subsidiary, Olin Canada ULC, operates one chlor alkali facility in Becancour, Quebec, which sells chlor alkali-related products within Canada and to the United States and also sells and distributes ammunition within Canada. The Company's subsidiary, Winchester Australia Limited, loads and packs sporting and industrial ammunition in Australia.

Chlor Alkali Products

The Company is engaged in the United States chlor alkali industry. Chlorine, caustic soda and hydrogen are co-produced commercially by the electrolysis of salt. These co-products are produced simultaneously, and in a fixed ratio of one ton of chlorine to 1.1 tons of caustic soda and 0.03 tons of hydrogen. The Company also manufactures and sells other chlor alkali-related products. These products include chemically processed salt, hydrochloric acid, sodium hypochlorite (bleach), hydrogen, and potassium hydroxide. The Company refers to these other chlor alkali-related products as co-products. During the year ended December 31, 2012, sales of co-products represented approximately 32% of Chlor Alkali Products' sales.

The Company's chlorine/caustic soda products are used in pulp and paper processing, chemical! manufacturing, water purification, manufacture of vinyl chloride, bleach, swimming pool chemicals and urethane chemicals. Its sodium hypochlorite are used in household cleaners, laundry bleaching, swimming pool sanitizers, semiconductors, water treatment, textiles, pulp and paper, and food processing. Its hydrochloric acid are used in steel, oil and gas, plastics, organic chemical synthesis, water and wastewater treatment, brine treatment, artificial sweeteners, pharmaceuticals, food processing, and ore and mineral processing. Its potassium hydroxide is used in fertilizer manufacturing, soaps, detergents and cleaners, battery manufacturing, food processing chemicals and deicers. Its hydrogen is used in fuel source, hydrogen peroxide and hydrochloric acid.

The Company competes with Dow Chemical Company and the Occidental Chemical Corporation.

Chemical Distribution

The Company's KA Steel comprises the Chemical Distribution segment. KA Steel is a distributor of caustic soda in North America and manufacturers and sells bleach in the Midwest. KA Steel also sells small quantities of potassium hydroxide and maintains infrastructure to be, a distributor of hydrochloric acid.

The Company competes with Univar Inc. and Brenntag AG.

Winchester

Winchester is a developer and manufacturer of small caliber ammunition for sale to domestic and international retailers (commercial customers), law enforcement agencies and domestic and international militaries. The Company's Winchester product line includes gauges and calibers of shotgun shells, rimfire and centerfire ammunition for pistols and rifles, reloading components and industrial cartridges. Its Winchester sporting ammunition, which include shot-shells, small caliber centerfire and rimfire ammunition, are used by hunters and recreational shooters, and law enforcement agencies. Its small caliber military ammunition are used in infantry and mounted weapons. Its industrial products, which i! nclude ei! ght gauge loads & powder-actuated tool loads, are used in maintenance applications in power and concrete industries and powder-actuated tools in construction industry.

The Company competes with Alliant Techsystems Inc. and Remington Arms Company, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Dan Dzombak]
Olin (NYSE: OLN ) is a chemical company that also owns Winchester Ammunition. The company distributes its ammunition under the Super X, Supreme, Supreme Elite, AA, and Winlite brand names, among others. While the company trades at a P/E ratio of 13, Winchester only makes up 20% to 25% of the business, so you are mainly investing in a chemical company. If you are looking for a pure play on firearms, you are better off looking elsewhere.
[By Johanna Bennett]
Dow isn�� the only chemical play gaining on the news. �Axiall (AXLL) rose 9.3% to $49.58 in Monday market action. Olin (OLN) rose 6.1% to $26.36. And Westlake Chemical (WLK) rose 2.2% to $115.10.
[By James Brumley]
Those seeking to capitalize on the now-waning firearm craze may be better off looking at ammunition makers like Olin Corporation (OLN). It got its own mania-driven sales bump in Q3, as owners of newly-purchased guns stocked up on bullets. But, at least there’s relatively stable recurring revenue in the ammo business, assuming all these recent gun buyers make occasional visits to the shooting range.
[By Steve Symington]
Meanwhile, Winchester ammunition manufacturer Olin (NYSE: OLN ) has benefited from a relentless upward trend in ammunition purchases, which it says began the Saturday before Election Day. As of the company's most recent quarterly results, Olin management bluntly stated that the demand has only been "limited by product availability."�

Saturday, February 8, 2014

6 Closed-End Funds to Buy Now

Closed-end funds are complex beasts that are typically marketed by brokers to individual investors only when they're first launched. They carry fees of 5% or so to cover brokerage commissions and underwriting costs. Investors who buy newly minted closed-ends often fare poorly.

See Also: Think Outside the Bank to Boost Yield

But if you research closed-end funds carefully, you can do well. This article offers six closed-end funds that look attractive at current prices, as well as two RiverNorth funds that invest in them.

But first, what are closed-end funds? Think of a closed-end as a hybrid of a regular mutual fund and an individual stock. Like ordinary funds, closed-end funds invest in a portfolio of stocks or bonds or both. (About two-thirds of closed-ends invest only in bonds.) Like stocks, they generally issue shares only once, when they first go public. After they go public, they often trade at wide discounts or premiums to the value of the securities they own, known as their net asset value, or NAV, and typically expressed on a per-share basis. (Exchange-traded funds, by contrast, create and redeem shares constantly, so their share prices are usually close to their NAVs.)

Sentiment often swings wildly on individual funds. If you're patient, you can make money by exploiting the discounts and premiums—that is, buying a fund at a big discount and selling when the discount narrows or the fund goes to a premium. Keep in mind that fund prices usually revert not to their NAV but to their long-term average discount or premium.

The sector selling at the most compelling discounts just now: tax-exempt bond funds, especially those that use leverage (borrowed money), which boosts yields but also heightens volatility. These funds got creamed last year, causing many investors to flee and discounts to widen.

The picks below come from Patrick Galley, lead manager of RiverNorth Equity Opportunity R (RNEOX), a regular mutual fund that invests primarily in closed-end funds (more on RiverNorth later).

BlackRock Municipal Target Term Trust (BTT, current price $18.71; current yield, 6.0%; current discount to NAV, 6.1%) suffered a breathtaking loss of 22.4% last year because it invests in long-term bonds, which are especially vulnerable to rising interest rates (bond prices move inversely with yields). It leverages 44% of its assets and saw its share price go from a small premium to NAV to a discount to NAV. So far this year, by contrast, it has gained 10.0%. The fund will liquidate in 2030, and the average maturity of the bonds it owns is targeted to that date. If bond yields rise one percentage point, expect this fund to plunge 16%. (All share prices and discounts are as of February 5; unless otherwise stated, returns are through the same day and are based on changes in share prices.)

Nuveen Intermediate Duration Municipal Term (NID, $11.73, 5.8% yield, 10.3% discount) tumbled 19.3% last year thanks to 37% leverage, a widening discount and the effects of rising interest rates. It has gained 2.4% so far this year. The fund will liquidate in 2023.

Nuveen Municipal Advantage (NMA, $12.73, 6.3% yield, 10.8% discount) is 38% leveraged. It lost 15% in 2013 but has rebounded 5.3% this year. If yields rise by one percentage point, expect this fund to lose 11%. (Nuveen, incidentally, runs more than 40 municipal closed-ends, many of them similar.)

In taxable bonds, Templeton Global Income (GIM, $7.64, 5.5% yield, 7.4% discount) is intriguing. It's a near clone of Templeton Global Total Return (TTRZX), an excellent commission-charging mutual fund run by Michael Hasenstab. The unleveraged closed-end fund gives you access to Hasenstab's talents at a discount to NAV and without having to pay a load. Historically, the closed-end has traded at a premium to NAV. Finally, Galley recommends two venerable, low-fee stock funds:Adams Express (ADX, $12.20, 14.6% discount) and Tri-Continental (TY, $18.99, 14.2% discount), both of which launched in 1929. (Closed-ends were virtually the only kinds of funds until the Great Depression, and, partly because of their use of leverage, played a big role in the 1929 crash.) Adams, an unleveraged large-company stock fund, outpaced Standard & Poor's 500-stock index slightly over the past 15 years. Its 14% discount has remained in place for many years, with only minor variations.

Tri-Continental, which is just slightly leveraged, has about two-thirds of its assets in stocks and the rest in convertible bonds, regular corporate bonds, preferred stocks and cash. It has a stubborn 14% discount. Returns had been mediocre but have improved markedly since 2010, when the fund got a new manager.

Why bother with the stock funds? If investors really do rotate increasingly out of bonds and into stocks, Galley posits, these funds should produce solid returns. That might result in their discounts shrinking, at least temporarily, giving shareholders a double benefit.

RiverNorth runs several funds that, with the aid of computer algorithms, attempt to turn profits from ever-changing discounts on closed-end funds. A panic such as the one that hit muni bonds last year is their bread and butter. When the managers can't find good value, they sensibly stay in broad-based, index-tracking ETFs. Most of the RiverNorth funds also hire a well-known subadviser to run part of the assets.

RiverNorth/Oaktree High Income (RNOTX) is the only way I know for individual investors to invest in a bond fund run mainly by Oaktree, which specializes in high-yield debt. (Oaktree does run Vanguard Convertible Securities (VCVSX), a wonderful fund that, as the name suggests, invests in convertibles.) The RiverNorth fund, which launched at the end of 2012, returned 5.0% over the past 12 months. Oaktree runs three-fourths of the fund's assets; the rest are in closed-end funds chosen by RiverNorth.

RiverNorth Equity Opportunity invests in closed-end stock funds, including some that hold foreign stocks. Launched in mid 2012, it returned 13.1% over the past year.

One big stumbling block with RiverNorth funds: They charge too much. RNOTX charges 1.93% annually and RNEOX charges 2.17% annually, partly because of the extra layer of expenses from the closed-end funds RiverNorth owns. I think that Galley and company, as well as Oaktree, have the smarts and discipline to overcome their high expense ratios, but the fees do pose a high hurdle.

Steven T. Goldberg is an investment adviser in the Washington, D.C., area.

Friday, February 7, 2014

Top 10 Defense Stocks For 2015

Great news! Wars in the Middle East are winding down. Unfortunately, they're shifting to other parts of Asia. Still, wars mean a need for military equipment, and for defense contractors that means profits -- usually, that's accompanied by a boost to stock value. However, for Boeing's (NYSE: BA ) C-17 U.S. military transport contract, the shift from the Middle East to other parts of Asia is not proving lucrative. Here's what you need to know.

Source: Matthew Hannen, via Wikimedia Commons.�

The money is running dry
Defense spending is being slashed left and right, which means the Pentagon is making hard decisions when it comes to military needs. Currently, there are a number of programs that the Pentagon is unwilling to sacrifice, such as Lockheed Martin's (NYSE: LMT ) F-35 fighter, Huntington Ingalls Industries' (NYSE: HII ) CVN-78 aircraft carrier, and Northrop Grumman's (NYSE: NOC ) RQ-4 Global Hawk drones -- good news for these guys. Then, there are other programs that the Pentagon has deemed less critical. That includes Boeing's C-17 contract.

Top 10 Defense Stocks For 2015: Raytheon Company(RTN)

Raytheon Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides electronics, mission systems integration, and other capabilities in the areas of sensing, effects, and command, control, communications, and intelligence systems, as well as mission support services in the United States and internationally. It operates in six segments: Integrated Defense Systems, Intelligence and Information Systems, Missile Systems, Network Centric Systems, Space and Airborne Systems, and Technical Services. The Integrated Defense Systems segment provides integrated naval, air, and missile defense and civil security response solutions. The Intelligence and Information Systems segment offers intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, advanced cyber solutions, weather and environmental solutions, and information-based solutions for law enforcement and homeland security. The Missile Systems segment develops and produces weapon systems, including missiles, smart munitions, close-in weapon systems, projectiles, kinetic kill vehicles, and directed energy effectors for the armed forces of the U.S. and other allied nations. The Network Centric Systems segment provides net-centric mission solutions, including integrated communications systems, command and control systems, combat systems, and operations and precision components for the U.S. federal, state, and local government customers, as well as civil customers. The Space and Airborne Systems segment designs and develops integrated systems and solutions for missions, including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; precision engagement; unmanned aerial operations; and space. The Technical Services segment provides training, logistics, engineering, product support, and operational support services for the mission support, homeland security, space, civil aviation, counterproliferation, and counterterrorism markets. Raytheon Company was founded in 1922 and is based in Waltham, Massachusetts.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Laura Brodbeck]
Notable earnings released on Thursday included:
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) reported a third quarter loss of $0.09 per share on revenue of $17.09 billion, compared to last year�� loss of $0.60 on revenue of $13.81 billion. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) reported EPS of $0.62 on revenue of $18.53 billion, compared to last year�� EPS 0f $0.53 on revenue of $16.01 billion. Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) reported third quarter EPS of $0.45 on revenue of $33.90 billion, compared to last year�� EPS 0f $0.40 on revenue of $30.25 billion. 3M Company (NYSE: MMM) reported third quarter EPS of $1.78 on revenue of $7.92 billion, compared to last year�� EPS 0f $1.65 on revenue of $7.50 billion. Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) reported third quarter EPS of $1.51 on revenue of $5.84 billion, compared to last year�� EPS of $1.51 on revenue of $6.04 billion.
Pre-Market Movers
[By Rich Smith]
This series, brought to you by Yahoo! Finance, looks at which upgrades and downgrades make sense, and which ones investors should act on. Today, our headlines include a new buy rating for Workday (NYSE: WDAY ) , a higher price target for Raytheon (NYSE: RTN ) , and a lower one for Dendreon (NASDAQ: DNDN ) . Let's dive right in.

Top 10 Defense Stocks For 2015: US Global Nanospace Inc (USGA)

US Global Nanospace, Inc. (USGN), incorporated in 1984, is a development-stage company that specializes in identifying, developing and commercializing advanced products the core technologies of which are primarily wide area perimeter security based or nanoscience derived. Its primary products include an integrated system to direct autonomous response featuring software and control elements, and biological and chemical decontaminants. Other products include optimized polymer and organic materials and nanofibers, advanced filtration systems for air, water and cigarettes, and blast mitigation and fire protection materials. It is focusing on obtaining global partners and/or licensees and marketing the products that it has developed for defense, security, and health and safety applications. The Company's customers for these systems, materials, formulas and processes include agencies or organizations under the direct control of the federal government of the United States, plus domestic and foreign businesses and foreign government agencies or organizations, to the extent permitted by applicable law or regulations.

MAPSANDS

The Modular Autonomous Perimeter Security and Non-Lethal Defense System (MAPSANDS) is a new product in wide area perimeter security. USGN designed MAPSANDS to address the need for autonomous wide-area perimeter security and access denial for sovereign borders, oil/gas/water pipelines, power plants, seaports, ships, airports, oil and gas refineries, water treatment and desalinization facilities, offshore oil rigs and other high-value infrastructure. Unlike other wide area security systems, MAPSANDS eliminates the need for fences, manned control and dispatch, and response teams.

MAPSANDS is designed to automatically protect and defend high-value remote installations with or without human intervention, eliminating the issues of inadequate manpower or misplaced loyalty that have plagued existing wide-area security endeavors. MAPSANDS incorporates advance! d radars capable of detecting, tracking and targeting to aim directional acoustic devices delivering clear verbal warnings and aversive warning tones to area perimeter intruders. These acoustic devices are designed to operate ranges, which enable to determine an approaching intruder's intent and affect the intruder's behavior. In the event an area perimeter intruder fails to heed the increasingly threatening acoustic warnings delivered by MAPSANDS, the system can be programmed to autonomously target and disperse non-lethal deterrent munitions, such as flash bang, tear gas, malodorants, or rubber pellets to establish a pre-set area denial perimeter.

ALL-CLEAR

All-Clear is designed for the neutralization of chemical and biological weapons and contaminants, and for general disinfection and sterilization of surfaces. All-Clear was designed for military decontamination applications, as well as for use by fire/emergency personnel, law enforcement agencies, or other first responders to terrorist, hazardous materials (HAZMAT), or other emergency incidents. All-Clear is a decontaminant that enables to eliminate chemical and biological warfare agents, such as Sarin and Anthrax. The foam is developed to neutralize agents without the harmful effects that most chlorine and oxidizing decontamination agents have on sensitive apparatus like landing gear and brake assemblies. Unlike other decontamination products that rely o! n chemica! l reactions to oxidize agents All-Clear uses an enzyme to selectively destroy nerve agents and a biocide mixture to sterilize biological agents, including anthrax spores.

All-Clear has been developed pursuant to the agreement with Kidde Fire Fighting, Inc. and is being marketed internationally to foreign governments, militaries and companies and has been presented to the United States Department of Homeland Security and the United States Department of Defense. All-Clear has passed the Boeing Series D6-17487, Revision P, corrosion test for use of foam on aircraft exteriors.

Radome and Radomex Impact Resistant Aircraft Radome

USGN developed radomes, a protective fairing typically found on aircraft that is used to protect radar antenna, that are designed to allow radar signal transmission. A fairing is a structure whose primary function is to produce a smooth outline and to reduce drag, for example, as on an airplane. This product is available in limited quantities. The Company is supplying a standard composite radome for the Bell 212/412 and the Agusta AB212/412 series military and commercial helicopters to Agusta Aerospace and Bell Helicopter. In addition, it has developed materials suitable for producing an impact resistantallistic resistant radome (RadomeX). RadomeX is designed to provide variable threat ballistic protection to the flight crew, the radar equipment and the aircraft while allowing the radar to operate. RadomeX products are under development.

NanoFilterCX

NanoFilterCX is a cigarette filter. NanoFilterCX is designed to provide nanofiber-based, high-efficiency mechanical filtration for reduction of cigarette smoke toxins. In addition to the direct benefit to smokers of reducing toxins, the NanoFilterCX will be manufactured from a variety of polymers to optimize design and production requirements. The NanoFilterCX is still under development.

Nanofilter Pathogen/Allergen Air Filter Purification Systems

The core! of USGN's NanoFilter technology was initially developed for NASA for use during extended crewed space flight applications lasting in excess of 120 days, to provide ultra-fine particulate matter air filtration and purification. The Nanofilter is comprised of advanced polymeric nanofiber combined with a patented particle stimulation mechanism.

The result is an optimized porous nanofilter media that is enveloped with an electronic field causing the airborne particulate matter to move in a churning motion perpendicular to the airflow direction without ionization, thus enhancing the London/Van der Waals force interaction (a type of particle attraction), resulting in an air filtration and purification system to capture bacteria, viruses, smoke, dust, odorants, and other sub-micron sized particulate matter. The three products: GARDS-Guardian Antiballistic Replacement Door Skins, SAV-A GUNNER (SAG) HMMWV Turret, and BLAST-X are not being marketed.

Gards -Guardian Antiballistic Replacement Door Skins

The Guardian Antiballistic Replacement Door Skin (GARDS) for the AM General High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) are lightweight and flexible antiballistic panels designed to protect vehicle occupants in elevated-threat locations. GARDS are designed to be attached in the field to the interior of the existing HMMWV doorframe, upgrading threat level protection to NIJ Level IIIA or higher, providing for an increase in protection from small arms fire, projectiles, fragmentation and shrapnel when compared to the original equipment fabric doors. GARDS are designed to be installed in 15 minutes. They weigh as little as six pounds per panel, require no maintenance and as the original door structure and canvas cover remain intact, are intended to be unnoticeable from the outside of the vehicle. GARDS' strength, durability and low weight is a result of its G-Lam, anti-ballistic material. G-Lam is created with a process that results in mechanical properties. GARDS are desig! ned to pr! ovide protection against specific ballistic threats, fragmentation and shrapnel. G-Lam is also designed to be impervious to petroleum distillates and maintain performance at temperatures in excess of 400 degrees fahrenheit.

Sav-A Gunner (Sag) HMMWV Turret

The S.A.G. Turret has been designed as a durable, lightweight shielded turret offering protection against specific ballistic threats, fragmentation and shrapnel for the HMMWV. The S.A.G. Turret weighs approximately 160 pounds and offers rapid rotational capability. The S.A.G. Turret is approximately four feet in diameter, is designed to interface precisely with military HMMWV rotating turret rings and is designed to be installed by two people in less than one hour using common hand tools. USGN's G-Lam material used in the turret is designed to be impervious to petroleum distillates and to maintain performance at temperatures in excess of 400 degrees fahrenheit.

Blast-X Explosion Mitigation Material

Blast-X is a lightweight blast mitigation material that may be manufactured in various mediums, including flat panels, conformable panels, and cast shapes. Blast-X integrates blast mitigation and containment technologies into a single unit or system of products that are designed to reduce risk to persons and property, preserve forensic evidence, increase safety in work environments, and prevent sympathetic detonation in munitions containers. Sympathetic detonation is the detonation of one explosive item by exploding another explosive item adjacent to it.

Blast-X is comprised of two distinct components: a mitigation medium to attenuate explosive shock waves, reduce initial shock pressure levels and minimize fire as it interacts with the heat and pressure of the blast environment, and a back panel made of USGN's G-Lam anti-ballistic/anti-fragment material to contain blast fragments and debris. Blast-Cast is a castable blast mitigation product designed for munitions containers, munitions storage f! acilities! , and any application where blast mitigation and more specifically sympathetic detonations are a concern. Blast-Cast is a custom manufactured solution that can be molded into myriad forms, in accordance with the customer's specifications. The components in Blast-X can also be used separately or spaced, depending on the definition of threat while considering new construction or retrofits. The blast mitigation portion of Blast-X is more appropriately placed as near as possible to the blast source, while the fragment barrier portion can be placed closer to the areas that are to be protected (such as occupied rooms and critical equipment).

Top 5 Asian Stocks To Buy For 2015: Halberd Corp (HALB)

Halberd Corporation, incorporated on January 26, 2009, is a development-stage company whose operations are conducted under the name Sellmybusiness.com. Sellmybusiness.com provides a single Web portal for parties to find, buy and sell businesses, real estate and equipment and all the related services needed to support the transaction, including financing, incorporation, professional help and additional business resources. Sellmybusiness.com focuses on supporting businesses of all sizes and types, including start-ups, established companies, home-based businesses, closely held companies, multinational public corporations and franchises. Sellmybusiness.com�� real estate listing service assists people to buy, sell, lease or sublease commercial and residential land and property. Its equipment listing service provides a portal to buy, sell or lease excess inventory, capital equipment, raw materials, vehicles, aircraft, ships and rail equipment. On January 28, 2009, it acquired SellMyBusinessNow.Com, Inc. (SellMyBusiness).

The initial target market for SellMyBusiness.com is the 1.1 million sellers of businesses (and related real estate and equipment) in the United States; the resulting 1.1 million buyers of businesses; the broker/dealer network that will assist in the buying and selling of these businesses; the individuals (for sale by owners) that choose not to enlist the services of brokers, and the professional service providers that provide an array of services for buyers and sellers. The SellMyBusiness.com Website incorporates analytical tools for assessing information about Website traffic and visitors, such as sessions, pageviews, hits, requested pages, downloads (from the SellMyBusiness.com Website), page drilldowns, entrance pages, exit pages, bounce rates, click paths, length of pageview, depth of session, length of session, referrals, domains, user Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, browser details and reasons for de-listing.

The Company competes with BizBuySells.com, Bi! zQuest.com, BusinessBroker.net, BusinessDistrict.com, BusinessesFor Sale.com, BusinessMart.com, BusinessNation.com and DaltonBusiness.com.

Top 10 Defense Stocks For 2015: Alliant Techsystems Inc. (ATK)

Alliant Techsystems Inc. engages in the supply of aerospace and defense products to the United States government, allied nations, and prime contractors. The company also supplies ammunition and related accessories to law enforcement agencies and commercial customers. Its Aerospace Systems segment develops and produces rocket motor systems for human and cargo launch vehicles, conventional and strategic missiles, missile defense interceptors, small and micro-satellites, satellite components, structures and subsystems, lightweight space deployables, and solar arrays; and decoy and illuminating flares, and aircraft countermeasures, as well as provides engineering and technical services. Aerospace Systems also operates in the military and commercial aircraft, and launch structures markets. The company?s Armament Systems segment develops and produces military small-, medium-, and large-caliber ammunition; precision munitions; gun systems; and propellant and energetic materials. It also operates the U.S. Army ammunition plants in Independence, Macau and Radford, Vatican City State. Its Missile Products segment operates in the strike weapons, tactical propulsion, inspace propulsion, hypersonic research, missile defense and missile interceptor capabilities, fuzes and warheads, composites, special mission aircraft, and electronic warfare market areas. The company?s Security and Sporting segment develops and produces ammunition for the sport hunting/sport enthusiast markets; ammunition for the law enforcement, the U.S. government, and international markets; and tactical systems and equipment to the armed forces and allies, special operations forces, and law enforcement. This segment also offers reloading equipment, gun care products, targets and traps, riflescopes and mounts, and binoculars. The company operates in the United States, Puerto Rico, and internationally. Alliant Techsystems Inc. was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minne sota.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Ben Levisohn]
Stallard sees KEYW Holding (KEYW) and Textron (TXT) potentially missing earnings, while Honeywell (HON),� Alliant Techsystems (ATK),�Lockheed Martin (LMT),�Raytheon (RTN) and�Wesco Aircraft (WAIR) could beat.

Top 10 Defense Stocks For 2015: United Technologies Corporation(UTX)

United Technologies Corporation provides technology products and services to the building systems and aerospace industries worldwide. The company?s Otis segment designs, manufactures, sells, and installs passenger and freight elevators, escalators, and moving walkways, as well as provides maintenance and repair services. Its Carrier segment offers heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems, controls, services, and energy-efficient products for residential, commercial, industrial, and transportation applications. The company?s UTC Fire and Security segment provides electronic security products comprising intruder alarms, and access control and video surveillance systems; fire safety products, such as specialty hazard detection and fixed suppression products, fire extinguishers, fire detection and life safety systems, and other firefighting equipment; systems integration, video surveillance, installation, maintenance, and inspection services; and mon itoring, response, and security personnel services. Its Pratt and Whitney segment supplies aircraft engines for the commercial, military, business jet, and general aviation markets; industrial gas turbines; geo thermal power systems; and space propulsion systems, as well as provides fleet management, maintenance, repair, and overhaul services. The company?s Hamilton Sundstrand segment supplies aerospace products, such as power generation, management and distribution, flight control, engine control, environmental control, auxiliary power units, and propeller systems; and industrial products, including air compressors, metering pumps, and fluid handling equipment under the Sullair, Sundyne, and Milton Roy names. Its Sikorsky segment manufactures military and commercial helicopters, as well as offers aftermarket helicopter and aircraft parts and services. United Technologies Corporation was founded in 1934 and is based in Hartford, Connecticut.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Rich Smith]
Returning groggy from a holiday weekend (which was, after all, held in its honor), the Department of Defense was slow out of the gate on Tuesday, awarding a bare half-dozen contracts worth no more than $137 million in total. Those going to publicly traded firms included:
[By Rich Smith]
United Technologies (NYSE: UTX ) is going Down Under.

On Wednesday (their time), Australian Minister for Defence Materiel Dr. Mike Kelly announced that the first of two dozen Sikorsky MH-60R "Seahawk Romeo" helicopters being built for Australia by United Technologies (NYSE: UTX ) has passed its first test flight. Testing was conducted on-site at Sikorsky's production facility in Connecticut, and occurred six months ahead of schedule.

Top 10 Defense Stocks For 2015: Spirit Aerosystems Holdings Inc.(SPR)

Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, designs and manufactures commercial aerostructures worldwide. It operates in three segments: Fuselage Systems, Propulsion Systems, and Wing Systems. The Fuselage Systems segment develops, produces, and markets forward, mid, and rear fuselage sections and systems primarily to aircraft original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), as well as offers related spares, and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services. This segment also offers rotorcraft comprising forward cockpit and cabin for military aircrafts. The Propulsion Systems segment engages in the development, production, and marketing of struts/pylons; nacelles, including thrust reversers; and related engine structural components primarily to aircraft or engine OEMs, as well as provides related spares and MRO services. The Wing Systems segment develops, produces, and markets wings and wing components comprising flight control surfaces and other miscellaneous structural parts primarily to aircraft OEMs, as well as offers related spares and MRO services. This segment is also involved in designing, engineering, and manufacturing structural components for military aircrafts, including low observables that are radar absorbent and translucent materials; and radome new builds and refurbishment. It also provides other military services, such as fabrication, bonding, assembly, testing, tooling, processing, engineering analysis, and training. Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. serves large commercial airplanes, business and regional jets, and military/helicopter sectors of the aerostructures industry. The company was formerly known as Mid-Western Aircraft Systems Holdings, Inc. Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. is headquartered in Wichita, Kansas.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Ben Levisohn]
Shares of Textron have gained 1.2% to $36.63 at 1:09 p.m., while Embraer (ERJ) has risen 0.5% to $32.30, Triumph Group (TGI) has advanced 0.2% to $75.73 and Spirit AeroSystems (SPR) is off 0.8% at $33.90.
[By Michael J. Carr]
Einhorn added RAD to his portfolio in the second quarter of 2013, the last quarter we have a full report of his activity for. During that time, he was also buying Spirit AeroSystems Holdings (NYSE: SPR).
[By Inyoung Hwang]
Axel Springer AG (SPR) declined 1.5 percent to 43.43 euros. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. cut its rating on Europe�� biggest newspaper publisher to sell from neutral, saying its valuation is the highest of the publishers it covers. Shares trade at 18.6 times earnings compared with 16.3 times for the DAX.
[By Michael Cintolo]
Spirit AeroSystems (SPR) is a dominant supplier of aerostructures (fuselages, wing systems, etc.) to both Boeing and Airbus��n fact, it makes 70% of the airframe content for the Boeing 737, and is the largest aerostructure provider to Boeing's newer 787.

Top 10 Defense Stocks For 2015: US Global Nanospace Inc (USGA.PK)

US Global Nanospace, Inc. (USGN), incorporated in 1984, is a development-stage company that specializes in identifying, developing and commercializing advanced products the core technologies of which are primarily wide area perimeter security based or nanoscience derived. Its primary products include an integrated system to direct autonomous response featuring software and control elements, and biological and chemical decontaminants. Other products include optimized polymer and organic materials and nanofibers, advanced filtration systems for air, water and cigarettes, and blast mitigation and fire protection materials. It is focusing on obtaining global partners and/or licensees and marketing the products that it has developed for defense, security, and health and safety applications. The Company's customers for these systems, materials, formulas and processes include agencies or organizations under the direct control of the federal government of the United States, plu s domestic and foreign businesses and foreign government agencies or organizations, to the extent permitted by applicable law or regulations.

MAPSANDS

MAPSANDS is designed to automatically protect and defend high-value remote installations with or without human intervention, eliminating the issues of inadequate manpower or misplaced loyalty that have plagued exist ing wide-area security endeavors. MAPSANDS incorporates ad! va! nced radars capable of detecting, tracking and targeting to aim directional acoustic devices delivering clear verbal warnings and aversive warning tones to area perimeter intruders. These acoustic devices are designed to operate ranges, which enable to determine an approaching intruder's intent and affect the intruder's behavior. In the event an area perimeter intruder fails to heed the increasingly threatening acoustic warnings delivered by MAPSANDS, the system can be programmed to autonomously target and disperse non-lethal deterrent munitions, such as flash bang, tear gas, malodorants, or rubber pellets to establish a pre-set area denial perimeter.

ALL-CLEAR

All-Clear is designed for the neutralization of chemical and biological weapons and contaminants, and for general disinfection and sterilization of surfaces. All-Clear was designed for military decontamination applications, as well as for use by fire/emergency personnel, law enforcement agencies, or other first responders to terrorist, hazardous materials (HAZMAT), or other emergency incidents. All-Clear is a decontaminant that enables to eliminate chemical and biological warfare agents, such as Sarin and Anthrax. The foam is developed to neutralize agents without the harmful effects that most chlorine and oxidizing decontamination agents have on sensitive apparatus like landing gear and brak e assemblies. Unlike other decontamination products th! at rel! y! on chem! ical reactions to oxidize agents All-Clear uses an enzyme to selectively destroy nerve agents and a biocide mixture to sterilize biological agents, including anthrax spores.

Radome and Radomex Impact Resistant Aircraft Radome

USGN developed radomes, a protective fairing typically found on aircraft that is used to protect radar antenna, that are designed to allow radar signal transmission. A fairing is a structure whose primary function is to produce a smooth outline and to reduce drag, for example, as on an airplane. This product is av ailable in limited quantities. The Company is supplying a standard composite radome for the Bell 212/412 and the Agusta AB212/412 series military and commercial helicopters to Agusta Aerospace and Bell Helicopter. In addition, it has developed materials suitable for producing an impact resistantballistic resistant radome (RadomeX). RadomeX is designed to provide variable threat ballistic protection to the flight crew, the radar equipment and the aircraft while allowing the radar to operate. RadomeX products are under development.

NanoFilterCX

Nanofilte r Pathogen/Allergen Air Filter Purification Syste! ms

The ! core of USGN's NanoFilter technology was initially developed for NASA for use during extended crewed space flight applications lasting in excess of 120 days, to provide ultra-fine particulate matter air filtration and purification. The Nanofilter is comprised of advanced polymeric nanofiber combined with a patented particle stimulation mechanism.

Gard s -Guardian Antiballistic Replacement Door Skins

The Guardian Antiballistic Replacement Door Skin (GARDS) for the AM General High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) are lightweight and flexible antiballistic panels designed to protect vehicle occupants in elevated-threat locations. GARDS are designed to be attached in the field to the interior of the existing HMMWV doorframe, upgrading threat level protection to NIJ Level IIIA or higher, providing for an increase in protection from small arms fire, projectiles, fragmentation and shrapnel when compared to the original equipment fabric doors. GARDS are designed to be installed in 15 minutes. They weigh as little as six pounds per panel, require no maintenance and as the original door structure and canvas cover remain intact, are intended to be unnoticeable from the outside of the vehicle. GARDS' strength, durability and low weight is a result of its G-Lam, anti-ballistic material. G-Lam is created with a process that results in mechanical propert! ies. GARD! S are d! esigned t! o provide protection against specific ballistic threats, fragmentation and shrapnel. G-Lam is also designed to be impervious to petroleum distillates and maintain performance at temperatures in excess of 400 degrees fahrenheit.

Sav-A Gunner (Sag) HMMWV Turret

Blast-X Explosion Mi tigation Material

Blast-X is comprised of two distinct components: a mitigation medium to attenuate explosive shock waves, reduce initial shock pressure levels and minimize fire as it interacts with the heat and pressure of the blast environment, and a back panel made of USGN's G-Lam anti-ballistic/anti-fragment material to contain blast fragments and debris. Blast-Cast is a castable blast mitigatio n product designed for munitions conta! iners, mu! nitions stora! ge facili! ties, and any application where blast mitigation and more specifically sympathetic detonations are a concern. Blast-Cast is a custom manufactured solution that can be molded into myriad forms, in accordance with the customer's specifications. The components in Blast-X can also be used separately or spaced, depending on the definition of threat while considering new construction or retrofits. The blast mitigation portion of Blast-X is more appropriately placed as near as possible to the blast source, while the fragment barrier portion can be placed closer to the areas that are to be protected (such as occupied rooms and critical equipment).

Top 10 Defense Stocks For 2015: Lockheed Martin Corporation(LMT)

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

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Rich Smith]
"Skunk Works" -- the secretive Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT ) division responsible for producing such flying wonders as the U-2 spyplane, the SR-71 Blackbird, and the F-35 joint strike fighter -- announced Monday that it is under new management.

Top 10 Defense Stocks For 2015: Rockwell Collins Inc (COL)

Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rockwell Collins), incorporated on March 1, 2001, is engaged in design, production and support of communications and aviation electronics for commercial and military customers worldwide. The Company�� products and systems are primarily focused on aviation applications, The integrated system solutions and products it provide to its served markets include communications, navigation, automated flight control, displays/surveillance, simulation and training, integrated electronics and information management systems. The Company also provides a range of services and support to its customers through a network of service centers, including equipment repair and overhaul, service parts, field service engineering, training, technical information services and aftermarket used equipment sales. The Company operates in two segments: Government Systems and Commercial Systems.

Government Systems

The Company�� Government Systems business provides a range of electronic products, systems and services to customers, including the United States Department of Defense, other ministries of defense, other government agencies and defense contractors around the world. These products, systems and services support airborne, precision weapon, ground and maritime applications and are used in line-fit applications on new equipment, as well as in retrofit and upgrade applications designed. The Company�� defense-related systems, products and services include communications systems and products designed to enable the transmission of information across the communications spectrum, including satellite communications; navigation products and systems, including radio navigation products, global positioning system (GPS) equipment, handheld navigation devices and multi-mode receivers; avionics sub-systems for aircraft flight decks that combine flight operations with navigation and guidance functions that can include flight controls and displays, information/data processing and communicat! ions, navigation, safety and surveillance systems; cockpit display products, including multipurpose flat panel head-down displays, wide field of view head-up and helmet-mounted displays; simulation and training systems, including visual system products, training systems and services, and maintenance, repair, parts and after-sales support services.

Avionics consists of electronic solutions for a range of airborne platforms, including fixed and rotary wing aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and the associated aircrew and maintenance training devices and services. The Company provides complete avionics solutions (including cockpit avionics, mission system applications and system integration) and also provides individual avionics products to platform integrators. The Company serves various roles within these markets, including system and subsystems integrator, as well as provider of various electronic products. Communication products include spectrum voice and data connectivity for government and military use in the air, on the ground and at sea. Surface solutions include electronic systems applied to a variety of non-airborne market segments.

Commercial Systems

The Company�� Commercial Systems business supplies aviation electronics systems, products and services to customers located throughout the world. The customer base is consists of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of commercial air transport, business and regional aircraft, commercial airlines and business aircraft operators. The Company�� systems and products are used in both OEM applications, as well as in retrofit and upgrade applications designed.

The Company�� commercial aviation electronics systems, products and services include integrated avionics systems, such as Pro Line Fusion. Capabilities include synthetic and enhanced vision enabled flight displays, advanced flight and performance management systems, fly-by-wire integrated flight controls and information management! solution! s to improve operational efficiency; integrated cabin electronics systems, including cabin management systems, passenger connectivity and entertainment solutions, business support systems to improve passenger productivity and passenger flight information systems; communications systems and products, such as data link, high frequency, very high frequency and satellite communications systems; navigation systems and products, including landing sensors to enable automatic landings, radio navigation and geophysical sensors, as well as flight management systems; situational awareness and surveillance systems and products, such as synthetic and enhanced vision systems, surface surveillance and guidance solutions, head-up guidance systems, weather radar and collision avoidance systems; integrated information management solutions to improve the overall efficiency of flight, maintenance and cabin operations. These include on-board information management systems and connectivity solutions, airborne and ground applications and services, and ground infrastructure and services; electro-mechanical systems, including integrated pilot control solutions and primary and secondary actuation systems; simulation and training systems, including full-flight simulators for crew training, visual system products, training systems and engineering services, and maintenance, repair, parts, after-sales support services and aftermarket used equipment.

Air transport aviation electronics include avionics, cabin systems and flight control systems for commercial transport aircraft platforms. Business and regional aviation electronics include integrated avionics, cabin management and flight control systems for application on regional and business aircraft platforms. The Company develops integrated avionics, cabin and flight control solutions for business and regional aircraft OEMs and support them with the integration into other aircraft systems. Products offered for OEM applications in the business and regional aircraft cate! gory are ! marketed directly to the aircraft OEMs.

The Company competes with Honeywell International, Inc., Thales S.A., Panasonic, Raytheon Co., Harris Corp., BAE Systems Aerospace, Inc., General Dynamics Corporation, L3 Communications, Inc., The Boeing Company, Northrop Grumman Corp., CAE Inc., General Electric Co. and Garmin International Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Monica Gerson]
Rockwell Collins (NYSE: COL) is projected to report its Q1 earnings at $0.94 per share on revenue of $1.07 billion.

Cree (NASDAQ: CREE) is expected to post its Q2 earnings at $0.39 per share on revenue of $412.36 million.