Monday, January 12, 2015

10 Best Healthcare Equipment Stocks To Invest In Right Now

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Jabil Circuit (JBL), which will report fiscal fourth-quarter results on Wednesday, still seems misunderstood.

Jabil, which has (among others) Apple (AAPL) and Cisco (CSCO) as very important customers, is without a doubt one of the best brands in the electronics manufacturing service (EMS) business. But the company has been working over the past couple of years to branch out of that business and into what it calls diversified manufacturing service, or DMS.

On many levels, the fact the company wants to build its capabilities in this new area makes plenty of sense, especially considering Jabil can then become an even more important supplier to Apple. The thing is, however, this transition has gone on much longer than investors expected. Therefore, with seemingly very little progress in the company's changeover, the stock had not gone anywhere for almost a year.

Top New Companies To Invest In 2015: China Ming Yang Wind Power Group Ltd (MY)

China Ming Yang Wind Power Group Limited incorporated on February 26, 2009, is a wind turbine manufacturer in China, focusing on designing, manufacturing, selling and servicing megawatt-class wind turbines. The Company�� products consist of basic models of wind turbines, each with a rated power capacity of 1.5 megawatt (MW); wind turbines with a rated power capacity of 2.0MW, and 2.5/3.0MW SCD wind turbines. Each product type may be installed with one of three rotor blade models depending on the location and wind conditions. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had entered into sales contracts with 37 end customers to deliver 3,730 units of its wind turbines.

It cooperates with aerodyn Energiesysteme to develop its 1.5 megawatt wind turbines and share intellectual property rights. It also has obtained licenses from aerodyn Asia Co., Ltd. (aerodyn Asia) to manufacture and distribute wind turbines utilizing its super-compact drive (SCD) technology, with a rated power capacity of 6.0MW.

The Company�� customers are the Chinese state-owned power producers which include Huaneng, China Datang, Huadian, China Guodian Corporation, and China Power Investment Corporation (CPIC) or their alternative energy subsidiaries, such as China Longyuan Power Group Corporation Limited (Longyuan), a subsidiary of Guodian, and China Datang Corporation Renewable Power Co., Limited (Datang Renewable), a subsidiary of China Datang. It also sells wind turbines to regional alternative energy investment companies, regional power producers and wind farm operators in the private sector. Its facilities are located in Zhongshan, Tianjin, Jilin, Rudong, Dali and Inner Mongolia in China.

The Company produces megawatt-class, grid-connected, horizontal-axis wind turbines, equipped with a double-fed constant frequency induction generator, which is a design of the generator that enables the generator to produce electric current of a constant frequency as the shaft rotates at varying speeds causing! the generator rotor to rotate at varying speed. It offers 1.5 megawatt turbines specially designed and developed for the wind and weather conditions and power grids in China. Its 1.5 megawatt wind turbines are equipped with rotor blades with a post-installation diameter of 77.1 meters, 82.6 meters or 89.0 meters.

The Company has license rights under a license agreement from aerodyn Asia to manufacture and distribute 2.5/3.0MW SCD wind turbines and 6.0MW SCD wind turbines in China. The Company is focused on developing 3.8MW wind turbine model for larger multi-megawatt wind turbines.

The Company competes with Sinovel, Goldwind, Dongfang Electric, United Power, Vestas, Gamesa Corporacion Tecnologica S.A. and GE Energy.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Garrett Cook]

    In trading on Tuesday, industrials shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 0.26 percent. Top gainers in the sector included Perceptron (NASDAQ: PRCP), up 10.9 percent, China Ming Yang Wind Power Group (NYSE: MY), up 4.8 percent.

  • [By John Udovich]

    Small cap wind stock Broadwind Energy Inc (NASDAQ: BWEN) is up 203.7% since the start of the year, but investors might want to contain their excitement when they look closer at the�stock and�consider its�long term performance along with the performance of other wind investments like First Trust Global Wind Energy ETF (NYSEARCA: FAN) and wind energy stocks Vestas Wind Systems (OTCMKTS: VWDRY) and China Ming Yang Wind Power Group Ltd (NYSE: MY) to see whether BWEN is just blowing more hot air.

10 Best Healthcare Equipment Stocks To Invest In Right Now: OBA Financial Services Inc.(OBAF)

OBA Financial Services, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for OBA Bank that provides financial services to individuals, families, and businesses in the United States. The company offers various deposit accounts, including statement savings accounts, certificates of deposit, money market accounts, commercial and regular checking accounts, and individual retirement accounts. Its loan portfolio comprises one- to four-family residential mortgage loans, commercial real estate loans, home equity loans and lines of credit, commercial business loans, construction loans, and consumer loans. The company provides its services through a main office and four full-service branches located in Montgomery County and Howard County, Maryland; and Washington, D.C. OBA Financial Services, Inc. was founded in 1861 and is headquartered in Germantown, Maryland.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Tim Melvin]

    Mr. Seidman also announced an increased stake in OBA Financial (OBAF) in Germantown, Md. He now owns a little over 8% of the six-branch bank and has publicly called for the sale OBAF. He was pretty blunt about his assessment of the bank in a letter to the board, which read:

  • [By Tim Melvin]

    NWBI stock trades at 1.12 times book value and serves a very attractive market. It would be a great acquisition for a bank looking to expand into the region, which includes part of the Marcellus Shale fields. Investors get paid to wait for good things to happen, as the dividend yield is currently 3.65%.

    OmniAmerican Bancorp�(OBAF)

    It is very surprising to me that OmniAmerican Bancorp�(OBAF) hasn’t yet been bought out by another bank in the red-hot Texas banking market. The bank has 15 branches located in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex region and total assets of about$385 million of assets. It has held onto its capital, and the equity-to-asset ratio is more than 16. Non-performing assets are just 0.18% of total assets, so this is another financially solid bank.

10 Best Healthcare Equipment Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Magellan Health Services Inc.(MGLN)

Magellan Health Services, Inc. engages in the specialty managed healthcare business in the United States. The company, through its contracted network of third-party treatment providers, offers managed behavioral healthcare services, including outpatient programs, such as counseling or therapy; intermediate care programs comprising intensive outpatient programs and partial hospitalization services; and inpatient treatment and crisis intervention services. It also provides radiology benefits management services, such as the delivery of diagnostic imaging and other therapeutic services through contracts with health plans and insurance companies, and governmental agencies. In addition, the company offers specialty pharmaceutical management services, including contracting and formulary optimization programs; specialty pharmaceutical dispensing operations; and medical pharmacy management programs. Its specialty pharmaceutical management services are provided under contracts with health plans, insurance companies, employers, and governmental agencies to manage specialty drugs used in the treatment of conditions, such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, hemophilia, infertility, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic forms of hepatitis, and other diseases. Further, the company provides Medicaid administration services comprising pharmacy point-of-sale claims processing systems and administration, drug utilization review, clinical prior authorization, utilization and formulary management services, preferred drug list programs, maximum allowable cost programs, and drug rebate program services under contracts with health plans and public sector healthcare clients for Medicaid and other program recipients. It serves health plans, insurance companies, employers, labor unions, and various governmental agencies. Magellan Health Services, Inc. was founded in 1969 and is based in Avon, Connecticut.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Susan J. Aluise]

    Although Medicaid has far slimmer margins than other business lines, MOH has the expertise to gain volume as enrollees grow. It also has a strong Medicaid franchise in two key states: California and Washington. MOH has a price to earnings growth (PEG) ratio of only 0.8, suggesting that the stock could be undervalued. It also has a forward P/E of 14, lower than many other healthcare stocks.

    Healthcare Stocks: Magellan Health Services (MGLN)

    Magellan Health Services (MGLN) recently rebranded its business lines into three distinct units. The company’s behavior health affiliates, along with integrated health business Magellan Complete Care, are branded under the Magellan Healthcare business. Magellan Rx Management focuses on Magellan’s pharmacy business. And the specialty solutions business is now branded under NIA Magellan.

10 Best Healthcare Equipment Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Fidelity National Financial Inc. (FNF)

Fidelity National Financial, Inc. provides title insurance, mortgage services, and diversified services in the United States. The company provides title insurance, escrow, and other title related services, including collection and trust activities, trustee’s sales guarantees, recordings, and reconveyances, as well as home warranty insurance to various customers in the residential and commercial market sectors of the real estate industry. It is also involved in the design, manufacture, remanufacture, market, and distribution of aftermarket and original equipment electrical components for automobiles, light trucks, heavy-duty trucks, and other vehicles worldwide. In addition, the company owns and operates restaurants comprising the O'Charley's, Ninety Nine Restaurants, Max & Erma's, Village Inn, Bakers Square, and Stoney River Legendary Steaks concepts in the United States. Fidelity National Financial, Inc. is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Adam J. Wiederman]

    Getty Images Bitcoin made headlines last year when the value of all outstanding pieces of the electronic currency reached nearly $10 billion. It's not just speculators drawn to the new currency. Many businesses are also attempting to cash in on this growth: Several public companies, including Zynga (ZNGA) and Overstock.com (OSTK), accept Bitcoins as a form of payment. Venture capitalist Marc Andreessen's firm has invested nearly $50 million in Bitcoin-related ventures, and it is looking to invest even more. And the Winklevoss twins -- who notoriously accused Facebook's (FB) Mark Zuckerberg of stealing their idea -- have been "in dialogue" with the SEC about opening the first Bitcoin exchange-traded fund, according to Bloomberg. Yet a new survey from TheStreet.com (TST) reveals that 76 percent of consumers are not familiar with Bitcoin -- and 79 percent would never consider owning a currency like it. Does this signal opportunity for savvy investors? Or is this a fad you'd be wise to avoid? The Basics of Bitcoin Bitcoin is a completely unregulated form of currency developed by an anonymous Japanese programmer (according to some apocryphal claims) as a completely digital, peer-to-peer payment system that is independent of national currencies (which, Bitcoin users argue, are all subject to the riskiness of the underlying country). Bitcoins are rewarded throughout the day to a "Bitcoin miner" whose computer solves a series of algorithms quicker than other miners. The puzzles become more difficult over time, so the calculations take longer and the computations require more computing power. There will eventually be a total of 21 million Bitcoins (12.4 million are in circulation today) and we won't reach the point that they are effectively "mined out" until 2040. The value of a Bitcoin is supposed to be market-driven, meaning they're worth whatever the two parties in a transaction value them as. For example, in one of the original Bitcoin transactions, a "mi

  • [By Heather Long]

    Four of his picks -- LinkedIn (LNKD, Tech30), 3D Systems (DDD), Fidelity National (FNF) and Valeant Pharmaceuticals (VRX) -- did extremely well. Then there was Lululemon (LULU) -- the yoga apparel retailer whose shares sank more than 20%.

  • [By Rich Duprey]

    Title insurance company�Fidelity National Financial (NYSE: FNF  ) announced yesterday its third-quarter dividend of $0.16 per share, the same rate it's paid for the past three quarters after raising the payout 14% from $0.14 per share.

10 Best Healthcare Equipment Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Comcast Corp (CCV)

Comcast Corporation (Comcast), incorporated on December 12, 2001, is a provider of entertainment, information and communications products and services. The Company has developed, managed and operated cable systems. The Company operates in five segments: Cable Communications, Cable Networks, Broadcast Television, Filmed Entertainment and Theme Parks. Cable Communications provides video, high-speed Internet and voice services (cable services) to residential and business customers in 39 states and the District of Columbia. Cable Networks consists primarily of its national cable television networks, its regional sports and news networks, its international cable networks, its cable television production studio, and its related digital media properties. Broadcast Television consists primarily of its NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, its NBC and Telemundo owned local television stations, its broadcast television production operations, and its related digital media properties. Filmed Entertainment consists of the operations of Universal Pictures, which produces, acquires, markets and distributes filmed entertainment and stage plays worldwide. Theme Parks consists primarily of its Universal theme parks in Orlando and Hollywood. Its other business interests are included in Corporate and Other and primarily include Comcast Spectacor, which owns the Philadelphia Flyers and the Wells Fargo Center, a multipurpose arena in Philadelphia. Comcast Spectacor also owns Global Spectrum, which provides facilities management, and Ovations Food Services, which provides food services, for sporting events, concerts and other events. In July 2012, Comcast acquired Microsoft Corporation's 50% stake in MSNBC.com. Effective March 19, 2013, it acquired a 49% interest in NBCUniversal Media LLC.

On January 28, 2011, the Company closed its transaction with General Electric Company (GE) to form a new company named NBCUniversal, LLC (NBCUniversal Holdings). The Company controls and owns 51% of NBCUniversal Holdings, and! GE owns the remaining 49%.As part of the NBCUniversal transaction, GE contributed the businesses of NBCUniversal, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of NBCUniversal Holdings. The NBCUniversal businesses that were contributed included its national cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks and its NBC and Telemundo owned local television stations, Universal Pictures, the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park, and other related assets. The Company contributed its national cable networks, its regional sports and news networks, certain of its Internet businesses, including DailyCandy and Fandango, and other related assets (the Comcast Content Business), all of which are part of its Cable Networks segment.

Cable Services

The Company offers a variety of cable services over its cable distribution system to residential and business customers. Subscription rates and related charges vary according to the services and features the customer receives and the type of equipment they use, and customers typically pay the Company on a monthly basis. Residential customers may generally discontinue service at any time, while business customers may only discontinue service in accordance with the terms of their contracts, which typically have 1 to 3 year terms. As of December 31, 2011, its cable systems served 22.3 million video customers, 18.1 million high-speed Internet customers and 9.3 million voice customers and passed more than 52 million homes and businesses in 39 states and the District of Columbia.

The Company offers a variety of video services with access to hundreds of channels depending on the level of service selected. Its levels of service typically range from a limited basic service with access to between 20 and 40 channels of video programming to a digital service with access to over 300 channels. Its video services generally include programming provided by national and local broadcast networks and by national and regional cable networks, as well as gov! ernmental! and public access programming. Its digital video services generally include access to over 40 music channels, its On Demand service and an interactive, on-screen program guide. The Company also offers packages that include extensive amounts of foreign-language programming, and it offers other specialty tiers of programming with sports, family and international themes. Its video customers may also subscribe to premium network programming. Premium networks include cable networks, such as HBO, Showtime, Starz and Cinemax, which generally offer, without commercial interruption, movies, original programming, live and taped sporting events, concerts and other special features.

The Company�� On Demand service provides its digital video customers with more than 30,000 standard-definition and high-definition programming choices. A substantial portion of its On Demand content is available to its digital video customers at no additional charge. Digital video customers subscribing to a premium network have access to the premium network�� On Demand content without additional fees. Its On Demand service includes fee-based selections that allow its video customers to order individual new release and library movies and special-event programs, such as professional boxing, mixed martial arts, wrestling and concerts.

The Company�� high-definition television (HDTV) service includes a selection of high-definition programming choices, including broadcast networks, national cable networks, premium networks and regional sports networks. In addition, its On Demand service provides HDTV video customers with a selection of up to 6,000 high-definition programming choices in select markets over the course of a month. Its digital video recorder (DVR) service allow digital video customers to select, record and store programs on their set-top box and play them at whatever time is convenient. Its DVR service also provides the ability to pause and rewind live television. The Company also offers select ! programmi! ng in three dimensional (3D) format on the channels it distributes and On Demand to its HDTV customers who have 3D capable television (TV) sets. In 2012, it began streaming certain live television programming online and through its mobile applications in some of its markets.

The Company offers a variety of high-speed Internet services with downstream speeds of up to 105 Mbps. These services also include its Internet portal, XFINITY.com, which provides access to email, voice mail, an address book, online storage, and online security features. Its customers also have the ability to access these services, including managing their e-mail accounts, through its mobile applications using smartphones and tablets. It offers voice service plans, using an interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology, that provide either usage-based or unlimited local and domestic long-distance calling, include the option for a variety of international calling plans, voice mail, caller identification (ID), call waiting and other features, including the ability to access and manage voice mail and other account information online and through its mobile applications using smartphones and tablets.

The Company offers its cable services to small and medium-sized businesses (business services). In addition to the features provided to its residential customers, its services for business customers also include a Website hosting service, an interactive tool that allows customers to share, coordinate and store documents online, a business directory listing and the option to add up to 24 phone lines. Medium-sized business customers are also offered its Metro-Ethernet data service capable of connecting multiple locations at speeds of up to 10 gigabit per second. It also provides cell backhaul services to cellular network operators. To offer its video services, it licenses a substantial portion of its programming from cable and broadcast networks.

Cable Networks

The Company�! � Cable ! Networks segment operates a diversified portfolio of 15 national cable networks, 13 regional sports and news networks, more than 60 international channels, and digital media properties consisting primarily of brand-aligned and other websites, including DailyCandy, Fandango and iVillage. Its 13 regional sports and news networks are Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic (Baltimore/Washington), Cable Sports Southeast, Comcast SportsNet Chicago, MountainWest Sports Network, Comcast SportsNet California (Sacramento), Comcast SportsNet New England (Boston), Comcast SportsNet Northwest (Portland), Comcast Sports Southwest (Houston), Comcast SportsNet Bay Area (San Francisco), New England Cable News (Boston), Comcast Network Philadelphia and Comcast Network Mid-Atlantic (Baltimore/Washington). The Company markets and distributes its cable network programming in the United States and internationally to multichannel video providers, as well as to Internet and wireless distributors.

The Company�� cable networks develop their own programs or acquire programming rights from third parties. Its Cable Networks segment includes its production studio, Universal Cable Production that identifies, develops and produces original content for cable television and other distribution platforms both for its cable networks and for those of third parties. It licenses the content to all forms of television, including broadcast and cable networks, and through home video and various digital media platforms, both in the United States and internationally. Its Cable Networks segment primarily generates revenue from the distribution of its cable network programming and from the sale of advertising. Distribution revenue is generated from distribution agreements with multichannel video providers. Advertising revenue is generated from the sale of advertising time on its cable networks and related digital media properties. It also generates content licensing and other revenue from the licensing and sale! of its o! wned programming in the United States and internationally, including revenue from the sale of its owned programming on standard-definition digital video discs and Blu-ray discs (together, DVDs) and through digital media platforms, and from the licensing of its brands for consumer products.

Broadcast Television

The Company�� Broadcast Television segment operates the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, which together serve audiences and advertisers in all 50 states, including the United States metropolitan areas. Its Broadcast Television segment also includes its owned and operated NBC and Telemundo local television stations, its broadcast television production operations and its related digital media properties. Its Broadcast Television segment primarily generates revenue from the sale of advertising and from content licensing. Advertising revenue is generated from the sale of advertising time on its broadcast networks, owned local television stations and related digital media properties. Content licensing revenue is generated from the licensing of its owned programming in the United States and internationally. The Company also generates revenue from the sale of its owned programming on DVDs, through digital media platforms and from the licensing of its brands and characters for consumer products. In addition, its owned local television stations are beginning to receive retransmission fees from multichannel video providers in exchange for consent that allows carriage of the stations��signal. It also receives a portion of the retransmission fees received by its NBC affiliated stations.

The NBC network distributes more than 5,000 hours of entertainment, news and sports programming annually, and its programs reach viewers in virtually all United States television households through more than 200 affiliated stations across the United States, including its10 NBC owned local television stations. The NBC network develops a range of content through its entertainment, news ! and sport! s divisions and also airs a variety of special-events programming. The NBC network�� television library consists of rights of varying nature to more than 100,000 episodes of television content, including current and classic titles, unscripted programming, sports, news, long-form and short-form programming and locally produced programming from around the world. In addition, the NBC network operates various Websites that extend its brands and content online. The NBC network produces its own programs or acquires the rights to programming from third parties. NBCUniversal has various contractual commitments for the licensing of rights to multiyear programming, including sports programming.

The Company�� broadcast television production operations create and produce original content, including scripted and unscripted series, talk shows, and digital media projects that are sold to broadcast networks, cable networks, local television stations and other media platforms owned by the Company and third parties, as well as through home video, both in the United States and internationally. It also produces first-run syndicated shows, which are programs for initial exhibition on local television stations in the United States, on a market-by-market basis, without prior exhibition on a network. It distributes some of its programs after their exhibition on a broadcast network, as well as older television programs from its library, to local television stations and cable networks in the off-network syndication market in the United States.

The Company owns and operates 10 NBC affiliated local television stations that collectively reached approximately 31 million United States television households, which represents approximately 27% of all United States television households, as of December 31, 2011. In addition to airing NBC�� national programming, its stations produce news, sports, public affairs and other programming that addresses local needs and acquire syndicated programming from other ! sources. ! Telemundo is a Hispanic media company that produces, acquires and distributes Spanish-language content in the United States and internationally. Telemundo�� operations include the Telemundo network; its owned local television stations; mun2, a cable network featuring diverse, youth-oriented entertainment for bicultural Latinos, and Telemundo-related digital media properties consisting primarily of brand-aligned websites, such as Telemundo.com.

The Telemundo network is a Spanish-language broadcast network featuring original telenovelas, theatrical films, news, specials and sporting events. The Company develops its own programming primarily through Telemundo�� production studio and also acquire the rights to content from third parties. During the year ended December 31, 2011, it entered into an agreement with Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to license the Spanish-language United States broadcast rights to FIFA World Cup soccer from 2015 through 2022 and also acquired the Spanish-language United States broadcast rights for the National Football League (NFL) games that the NBC network will broadcast as part of its agreement with the NFL that runs through the 2022-23 season. As of December 31, 2011, Telemundo owned 15 local television stations, including 14 local television stations affiliated with the Telemundo network and an independent television station in Puerto Rico.

Filmed Entertainment

The Company�� Filmed Entertainment segment consists of the operations of Universal Pictures, which produces, acquires, markets and distributes filmed entertainment worldwide in various media formats for theatrical, home entertainment, television and increasingly through other distribution platforms. It also develops, produces and licenses stage plays. Its content consists of theatrical films, direct-to-video titles and its film library, which is comprised of approximately 4,500 titles in a variety of genres. It produces films both on its own and jo! intly wit! h other studios or production companies, as well as with other entities. Its films are produced under both the Universal Pictures and Focus Features names. Its films are marketed and distributed worldwide primarily through its own marketing and distribution companies. The Company also acquires distribution rights to films produced by others, which may be limited to particular geographic regions, specific forms of media or certain periods of time. After their theatrical release, it distributes its films globally for home entertainment use on digital versatile disc (DVD) and in various digital formats, which includes the licensing of its films to third parties for electronic sell-through over the Internet. The Company also licenses its films, including selections from its film library, to all forms of television, including broadcast, cable and premium networks, and pay-per-view and video on demand services.

The Company�� Filmed Entertainment segment primarily generates revenue from the worldwide theatrical release of its owned and acquired films, content licensing and home entertainment. Content licensing revenue is generated from the licensing of its owned and acquired films to broadcast, cable and premium networks, as well as other distribution platforms. Home entertainment revenue is generated from the licensing and sale of its owned and acquired films through DVD sales to retail stores, rental kiosks and subscription by mail, as well as through digital media platforms, including electronic sell through. It also generates revenue from distributing third parties��filmed entertainment, producing stage plays, publishing music and licensing consumer products.

Theme Parks

The Company�� Theme Parks segment consists primarily of its Universal theme parks in Orlando and Hollywood. Universal Orlando includes two theme parks, Universal Studios Florida and Universal�� Islands of Adventure, as well as CityWalk, a dining, retail and entertainment complex. Universal Or! lando als! o features three on-site themed hotels, in which it owns a non-controlling interest. Its Universal theme park in Hollywood consists primarily of Universal Studios Hollywood. In addition, it licenses the right to use the Universal Studios brand name, certain characters and other intellectual property to third parties that own and operate the Universal Studios Japan theme park in Osaka, Japan and the Universal Studios Singapore theme park on Sentosa Island, Singapore. It also owns a water park, Wet �� Wild, located in Orlando.

The Company�� Theme Parks segment licenses the right to use a substantial amount of intellectual property from third parties for its themed elements in rides, attractions, retail outlets and merchandising. ItsTheme Parks segment generates revenue primarily from theme park attendance and per capita spending, as well as from management, licensing and other fees. Per capita spending includes ticket price and in-park spending on food, beverage and merchandise.

The Company competes with DIRECTV, DISH Network, AT&T, CenturyLink and Verizon.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Mark Thompson]

    The European Union's antitrust watchdog said Monday it had begun formal proceedings to examine the licensing agreements between studios including Twentieth Century Fox, owned by 21st Century Fox (FOXA); Warner Bros, part of Time Warner Inc (TWX, Fortune 500) (CNNMoney's parent); Sony (SNE) Pictures; Comcast Corp (CCV)'s NBCUniversal and Viacom (VIA)'s Paramount Pictures.

10 Best Healthcare Equipment Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Forestar Group Inc (FOR)

Forestar Group Inc. (Forestar) is a real estate and natural resources company. The Company owns directly or through ventures almost 147,000 acres of real estate located in nine states and 12 markets and about 595,000 net acres of mineral interests. As of December 31, 2011, the Company had approximately 131,000 acres of timber on its 147,000 real estate acres and about 17,000 acres of timber under lease. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company generated revenues of $136 million. It operates in three segments: Real estate, Mineral resources and Fiber resources. Its real estate segment generated 78% of its 2011 consolidated revenues. The Company sells wood fiber from portions of its land, primarily in Georgia, and lease land for recreational uses. It leases its mineral interests to third parties for the exploration and production of oil and natural gas, principally in Texas and Louisiana. On January 20, 2012, it sold its 25% interest in Palisades West LLC to Dimensional Fund Advisors L.P. In September 2012, the Company acquired CREDO Petroleum Corp.

Real estate

In the Company�� real estate segment, it conducts an array of project planning and management activities related to the acquisition, entitlement, development and sale of real estate, primarily residential and mixed-use communities. It owns and manages its projects either directly or through ventures. Its development projects are principally located in the markets of Texas. The Company has over 16,000 acres entitled, developed and under development, consisted of land planned for over 27,000 residential lots and about 2,500 commercial acres. In 2011, it sold over 17,000 acres of undeveloped land through its retail land sales program. In addition, it sold 112 entitled acres from two residential projects. The majority of its projects are single-family residential and mixed-use communities. During 2011, the Company acquired 180 substantially completed residential lots in Houston, Texas; three multifamily develo! pment sites located in Austin, Denver, and Dallas.

The Company develops lots for single-family homes and develops multifamily properties on its commercial tracts or other developed sites it may purchase. In addition, the Company sells commercial tracts that are ready for construction of buildings for retail, office, industrial or other commercial uses. It sells residential lots primarily to national and regional homebuilders and, to a lesser extent, local homebuilders. The Company has 75 entitled, developed or under development projects in seven states and 11 markets, principally in the markets of Texas, encompassing over 16,000 remaining acres, consisted of land planned for over 27,000 residential lots and about 2,500 commercial acres. It also markets and sells undeveloped land through its retail sales program.

Commercial tracts are developed internally or sold to or ventured with commercial developers that specialize in the construction and operation of income producing properties, such as apartments, retail centers, or office buildings. The Company also sells land designated for commercial use to regional and local commercial developers. It has about 2,500 acres of entitled land designated for commercial use. Cibolo Canyons is a mixed-use project in the San Antonio market area.

Mineral Resources

The Company owns mineral interests beneath approximately 595,000 net acres located in the United States, principally in Texas, Louisiana, Georgia and Alabama. It is engaged in leasing certain portions of these mineral interests to third parties for the exploration and production of oil and natural gas. Of the Company�� 595,000 net acres of mineral interests, about 515,000 net acres are available for lease. It has about 80,000 net acres leased for oil and natural gas exploration activities, of which about 32,000 net acres are held by production from over 530 oil and natural gas wells that are operated by others. During 2011, the Company acquired unproved le! asehold p! roperties associated with 13,000 net mineral acres in Alabama and Georgia.

The Company has about 251,000 net mineral acres in East Texas and about 144,000 net mineral acres in Louisiana located within the East Texas and Gulf Coast Basins. It has mineral interests in and around production trends in the Wilcox, Frio, Cockfield, James Lime, Pettet, Travis Peak, Cotton Valley, Austin Chalk, Haynesville Shale and Bossier formations. The Company has about 1,000 net mineral acres in the Fort Worth Basin. It also has mineral interests in and around the Barnett Shale. The Company has about 40,000 net mineral acres in Alabama and about 157,000 net mineral acres in Georgia. The Company did not drill any wells in 2011.

Fiber Resources

The Company has about 131,000 acres of timber it owns directly or through ventures and about 17,000 acres of timber under lease. In 2011, it sold to Temple-Inland, over 323,000 tons of timber from its lands. During 2011, about 131,000 acres of its land, primarily in Georgia, were leased for recreational purposes. During 2011, the Company sold 57,000 acres of timberland in Georgia, Alabama, and Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Seth Jayson]

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

  • [By Andy Batts]

    The shares of Forestar Group (FOR) are trading at ~30% discount to the company's NAV. The company operates in three business segments: real estate, oil and gas, and other natural resources. Forestar has a rich portfolio of assets and businesses, including 133,000 acres of real estate; 752,000 acres of oil and gas properties; 1.5 million acres of water rights; and 275,000 acres of timberland.

10 Best Healthcare Equipment Stocks To Invest In Right Now: HSBC Holdings PLC (HSBC)

HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC), incorporated on January 1, 1959, is a global banking and financial services organizations. As of December 31, 2012, it provided a range of financial services to around 58 million customers through four global businesses: Retail Banking and Wealth Management, Commercial Banking, Global Banking and Markets, and Global Private Banking. Its international network covers 81 countries and territories in six geographical regions; Europe, Hong Kong, Rest of Asia-Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, North America and Latin America. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had an international network of some 6,600 offices in 81 countries and territories in six geographical regions; Europe, Hong Kong, Rest of Asia-Pacific, Middle East and North Africa (��ENA��, North America and Latin America. On May 20, 2012, HSBC Holdings PLC's wholly owned subsidiary HSBC Bank USA, N.A. and other wholly owned subsidiaries, sold 195 retail branches to First Niagara Bank, N.A. (First Niagara). In May 2012, the Company�� 70.03% owned subsidiary, HSBC Bank Malta plc, sold its card acquiring business to HSBC Merchant Services Ltd. In June 2012, the Company�� indirect wholly owned subsidiary, HSBC Iris Investments (Mauritius) Ltd, sold its 4.73% interest in Axis Bank Limited and 4.74% interest in Yes Bank Limited. In July 2012, its subsidiary, HSBC Europe (Netherlands B.V.), sold its 100% interest in HSBC Credit Zrt, to CentralFund Kockazati Tokealap. On March 31, 2013, Enstar Group Ltd�� subsidiary completed the acquisition from Household Insurance Group Holding Company of HSBC Insurance Company of Delaware and Household Life Insurance Company of Delaware, as well as its three subsidiary insurers.

The Company�� principal banking operations in Europe are HSBC Bank plc in the UK, HSBC France, HSBC Bank A.S. in Turkey, HSBC Bank Malta p.l.c., HSBC Private Bank (Suisse) SA and HSBC Trinkaus & Burkhardt AG. Through these subsidiaries it provides a range of banking, treasury and financia! l services to personal, commercial and corporate customers across Europe. HSBC�� banking subsidiaries in Hong Kong are The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited and Hang Seng Bank Limited.

The Company offers a range of banking and financial services in the People�� Republic of China, mainly through its local subsidiary, HSBC Bank (China) Company Limited. It also participates indirectly in mainland China through its primary associate, Bank of Communications. Outside mainland China, it conducts business in 21 countries and territories in the Rest of Asia-Pacific region, primarily through branches and subsidiaries of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation.

In the Middle East, the Company has network of branches of HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, together with HSBC�� subsidiaries and associates. Its North American businesses are located in the United States, Canada and Bermuda. Operations in the United States are conducted through HSBC Bank USA, N.A., and HSBC Finance, a national consumer finance company based near Chicago. HSBC Markets (USA) Inc. is the intermediate holding company of, inter alia, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. HSBC Bank Canada and HSBC Bank Bermuda operate in their respective countries.

The Company�� operations in Latin America consists of HSBC Bank Brasil S.A.-Banco Multiplo, HSBC Mexico, S.A., HSBC Bank Argentina S.A. and HSBC Bank (Panama) S.A. In addition to banking services, it operates insurance businesses in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Panama and a range of smaller markets.

Retail Banking and Wealth Management

Retail Banking and Wealth Management (RBWM) take deposits and provide transactional banking services to enable customers to manage their day-to-day finances and save for the future. It offers credit facilities to assist customers in their short or longer-term borrowing requirements; and we provide financial advisory, broking, insurance and investment services to help them to manage and pro! tect thei! r financial futures. It develops products designed to meet the needs of specific customer segments, which may include a range of different services and delivery channels. Its customer offerings include deposits and account services; credit and lending, both secured and unsecured, and financial advisory, broking, life insurance manufacturing and asset management.

The Company offers services through four principal channels: branches, self-service terminals, telephone service centres and digital (Internet and mobile). Customers can transact with the bank through a combination of these channels. Its offers include HSBC Premier, HSBC Advance, Wealth Solutions & Financial Planning and Basic Banking. HSBC Premier provide preferential banking services and global recognition to its mass affluent customers and their immediate families. Customers can access emergency travel assistance, priority telephone banking and an online global view of their Premier accounts around the world. HSBC Advance provides a range of preferential products and services to simplify the banking needs of customers and to help them manage and plan their money to achieve their financial goals and ambitions. Wealth Solutions & Financial Planningis a financial planning process designed around individual customer needs to help its clients to protect, grow and manage their wealth through investment and wealth insurance products manufactured by Global Asset Management, Global Markets and HSBC Insurance and by selected third-party providers. Basic Banking provides banking products and services using global product platforms and globally set service standards.

Commercial Banking

The Company segment�� its Commercial Banking Business (CMB) into Corporate, to serve both Corporate and Mid-Market companies, and Business Banking, to serve the small and medium-sized enterprises (SME��) sector. It provides support to companies as they expand both domestically and internationally, and ensures a focus on the busine! ss bankin! g segments. It offers a range of financing, both domestic and cross-border, including overdrafts, receivables finance, term loans and syndicated, leveraged, acquisition and project finance. Asset finance is offered in selected sites. The Company provides the services and finance its clients need throughout the trade cycle including; letters of credit, collections, guarantees; receivables finance; supply chain solutions; commodity and structured finance; and risk distribution. HSBC is supporting the development of renminbi as a trade currency, with renminbi capabilities in more than 50 markets. It is a provider of domestic and cross-border payments, collections, liquidity management and account services offering local, regional and global solutions delivered through e-enabled platforms designed to address the current and future needs of its clients. The Company offers business and financial protection, trade insurance, employee benefits, corporate wealth management and a variety of other commercial risk insurance products in selected countries.

Global Banking and Markets

Global Banking and Markets (GB&M) provides tailored financial solutions to government, corporate and institutional clients and private investors globally. Managed as a global business, GB&M operates a long-term relationship management approach to build a understanding of clients��financial requirements. Sector-focused client service teams consisting of relationship managers and product specialists develop financial solutions to meet individual client needs. GB&M is managed as two principal business lines: Global Markets, and Global Banking.

Global Markets operations consist of treasury and capital markets services. Products include foreign exchange; currency, interest rate, bond, credit, equity and other derivatives; government and non-government fixed income and money market instruments; precious metals and exchange-traded futures; equity services; distribution of capital markets instruments, a! nd securi! ties services, including custody and clearing services and funds administration to both domestic and cross-border investors. Global Banking offers financing, advisory and transaction services. Its products include capital raising, advisory services, bilateral and syndicated lending, leveraged and acquisition finance, structured and project finance, lease finance and non-retail deposit taking; international, regional and domestic payments and cash management services; and trade services for corporate clients.

Global Private Banking

Global Private Banking (GPB) provides investment management and trustee solutions to high net worth individuals and their families globally. Private Banking services consists of multicurrency and fiduciary deposits, account services, and credit and specialist lending. GPB also accesses HSBC�� universal banking capabilities to offer products and services such as credit cards, Internet banking, and corporate and investment banking solutions. Investment Management comprises advisory and discretionary investment services, as well as brokerage across asset classes. This includes a range of investment vehicles, portfolio management, security services and alternatives. Private Trust Solutions comprise trusts and estate planning, designed to protect wealth and preserve it for future generations through structures tailored to meet the individual needs of each client.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Laura Brodbeck]

    Wednesday

    Earnings Expected: HSBC Holdings plc (NYSE: HSBC), Anheuser- Busch Inbev SA (NYSE: BUD), Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE: DUK) Economic Releases Expected: �Chinese trade balance, Australian unemployment rate, US crude inventory data, Chinese unemployment rate, French industrial production

    Thursday

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