Good Stocks To Invest In 2014: February 2014

Monday, February 17, 2014

Biotech Buyout Bolsters Novartis Cancer Portfolio

Pharmaceutical giant Novartis A.G. (NYSE: NVS) announced Monday morning that it will acquire startup biotech CoStim Pharmaceuticals. Terms of the deal were not revealed, but it will bolster Novartis’s cancer immunotherapy portfolio and could provide an entry into the race for PD-1 targeting therapies.

CoStim Pharmaceuticals is a Cambridge, Mass.-based, privately held biotechnology company that is focused on harnessing the immune system to eliminate immune-blocking signals from cancer. Novartis has been focused on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR-T) technology, so the expanded pipeline will allow a combined approach.

Mark Fishman, president of the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, said in a statement:

Therapy for many types of cancers are expected to increasingly rely upon rational combinations of agents. Immunotherapy agents provide additional arrows in our quiver for such combinations.

Novartis earnings and revenue fell short of consensus expectations in the fourth quarter. The company continues to struggle to rein in costs, and it announced in early February that it would cut up to 4,000 jobs, or about 6% of its workforce. Expiring patents continue to sink sales of the best-selling drugs at many pharmaceutical companies. Patent expirations for blockbuster drugs Diovan and Zometa reduced Novartis’s top line by more than $2 billion in 2013.

There has been some recent speculation about a possible break up of Novartis. Both Merck & Co. (NYSE: MRK) and Eli Lilly & Co. (NYSE: LLY) reportedly may be interested in its animal health business.

Shares of Novartis were inactive in premarket trading Monday, after ending last week at multiyear high of $82.94. That is well above the mean price target posted by Thomson/First Call.

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Top 10 Airline Companies To Own In Right Now

Shares of Spirit Airlines (SAVE) have soared today after the discount airline reported much stronger-than-forecast traffic.

Chip Litherland for The Wall Street Journal

Spirit’s traffic rose 28.8% in September from a year ago, while load factor rose to 84.7%, up 2.5 points from 2012.

Citigroup’s Stephen Trent and�Juliano Navarro call it a “blowout” number and upgrade the stock:

We are upgrading Spirit Airlines from Neutral to Buy, on the back of very strong September traffic stats, including 3Q13 RASM growth guidance of 8% to 9% y-o-y. Plugging this stronger guidance into our model boosts our estimates. This, along with the shares��ca. 1% decline since late July as the group has rallied, present a compelling backdrop for a Buy rating on the shares.

Cowen’s Helane Becker and Conor Cunningham dig into the numbers:

Top 10 Airline Companies To Own In Right Now: AMR Corp (AAMRQ)

AMR Corporation (AMR), incorporated in October 1982, operates in the airline industry. The Company�� principal subsidiary is American Airlines, Inc. (American). As of December 31, 2011, American provided scheduled jet service to approximately 160 destinations throughout North America, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe and Asia. AMR Eagle Holding Corporation (AMR Eagle), a wholly owned subsidiary of AMR, owns two regional airlines, which do business as American Eagle - American Eagle Airlines, Inc. and Executive Airlines, Inc. (collectively, the American Eagle carriers). American also contracts with an independently owned regional airline, which does business as AmericanConnection (the AmericanConnection carrier). As of December 31, 2011, AMR Eagle operated approximately 1,500 daily departures, offering scheduled passenger service to over 175 destinations in North America, Mexico and the Caribbean.

American, AMR Eagle and the AmericanConnection airline served more than 250 cities in approximately 50 countries with, on average, 3,400 daily flights and the combined network fleet numbered approximately 900 aircraft as of December 31, 2011. American Airlines is also a founding member of the oneworld alliance, which includes British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, LAN Airlines, Iberia, Qantas, JAL, Malev Hungarian, Mexicana, Royal Jordanian and S7 Airlines. Together, oneworld members serve 750 destinations in approximately 150 countries, with about 8,500 daily departures. American is also one of the scheduled air freight carriers in the world, providing a range of freight and mail services to shippers throughout its system onboard American�� passenger fleet.

To improve access to each other�� markets, American has established marketing relationships with other airlines and rail companies. As of December 31, 2011, American had marketing relationships with Air Berlin, Air Pacific, Air Tahiti Nui, Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Cape Air, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern Airl! ines, Dragonair, Deutsche Bahn German Rail, EL AL, Etihad Airways, EVA Air, Finnair, GOL, Gulf Air, Hawaiian Airlines, Iberia, Japan Airlines (JAL), Jet Airways, JetStar Airways, LAN (includes LAN Airlines, LAN Argentina, LAN Ecuador and LAN Peru), Niki Airlines, Qantas Airways, Royal Jordanian, S7 Airlines, and Vietnam Airlines.

American has established the AAdvantage frequent flyer program (AAdvantage). AAdvantage members earn mileage credits by flying on American, American Eagle and the AmericanConnection carrier or by using services of other participants in the AAdvantage program. Mileage credits can be redeemed for free, discounted or upgraded travel on American, American Eagle or other participating airlines, or for other awards. American sells mileage credits and related services to other participants in the AAdvantage program. There are over 1,000 program participants, including a credit card issuer, hotels, car rental companies, and other products and services companies in the AAdvantage program. As of December 31, 2011, AAdvantage had approximately 69 million total members.

The Company competes with Alaska Airlines (Alaska), Delta Air Lines (Delta), Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways (JetBlue), Hawaiian Airlines, Southwest Airlines (Southwest) and AirTran Airways (Air Tran), Spirit Airlines, United Airlines (United) and Continental Airlines (Continental), US Airways and Virgin America Airlines.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Sam Mamudi]
The company created when American Airlines (AAMRQ) and US Airways Group Inc. (LCC) merge will list its shares on the Nasdaq Stock Market, a victory for the exchange operator after losing Twitter Inc. (TWTR)�� initial public offering.

Top 10 Airline Companies To Own In Right Now: AMR Corp (AAMRQ.PK)

To improve access to each other�� markets, American has established marketing relationships with other airlines and rail companies. As of December 31, 2011, American had marketing relationships with Air Berlin, Air Pacific, Air Tahiti Nui, Alaska Airlines , British Airways, Cape Air, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern ! A! irlines, Dragonair, Deutsche Bahn German Rail, EL AL, Etihad Airways, EVA Air, Finnair, GOL, Gulf Air, Hawaiian Airlines, Iberia, Japan Airlines (JAL), Jet Airways, JetStar Airways, LAN (includes LAN Airlines, LAN Argentina, LAN Ecuador and LAN Peru), Niki Airlines, Qantas Airways, Royal Jordanian, S7 Airlines, and Vietnam Airlines.

American has established the AAdvantage frequent flyer program (AAdvantage). AAdvantage members earn mileage credits by flying on American, American Eagle and the AmericanConnection carrier or by using services of other participants in the AAdvantage program. Mileage credits can be redeemed for free, discounted or upgraded travel on American, American Eagle or other participating airlines, or for other awards. American sells mileage credits and related services to other participants in the AAdvantage program. There are over 1,000 program participants, including a credit card issuer, hotels, car rental companies, and other products an d services companies in the AAdvantage program. As of December 31, 2011, AAdvantage had approximately 69 million total members.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Insider Monkey]
Last but not the least is US Airways Group (LCC), in which Y/Cap slightly increased its position, now owning around $7.9 million. U.S. Airways is currently on the minds of many investors, mainly due to its plans to merge with American Airlines parent AMR Corp (AAMRQ.PK). While European regulators approved the merger, the U.S. Department of Justice put a spoke in the wheel, and is trying to block the move. The companies filed a motion to the court to set the trial date for November 12. Amid these actions, U.S. Airways and American Airlines prolonged the outside date at which one of the companies can terminate the proposed merger.
[By Tom Sandlow]
Synopsis: As a result of the terms of its bankruptcy and the proposed merger with U.S. Airways (LCC), an equity investment in AMR Corp (AAMRQ.PK) is equivalent to a series of derivatives on LCC. At current market values, AAMRQ is undervalued by approximately 40%. It is possible to create an arbitrage position that should capture this pricing differential over the next 6 months.

Top Asian Companies To Watch For 2015: PAWS Pet Company Inc (PAWS.PK)

The PAWS Pet Company, Inc., formerly Pet Airways, Inc., incorporated on June 6, 2005, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Pet Airways, Inc., (Pet Airways) operates an airline designed specifically for transportation of pets. Pet owners can book their pets on flights online at the Company's Website or can book with its agents by phone. Flights can be booked up to three months before the scheduled departure date. Payment for the flights is made with credit card. On the day of the scheduled flight, pet owners drop off their pets at one of the Company's airport facilities located at the departure airport. The Company places the pet passengers into a pet-friendly carrier and then boards the carrier into the main cabin of the aircraft. In February 2012, the Company announced that it had purchased the technology assets of Impact Social Networking, Inc.

The Company's pet passengers fly in the specially equipped main cabin of the Company's aircraft, which is climat e-controlled, and supplied with an ample amount of fresh circulating air. Also, the pet attendant constantly monitors the Company's pet passengers for the duration of each flight. The Company offers dedicated routes within the United States with airport facilities that are located away from the main passenger terminals of the aircraft. The Company's airport facilities tend to be located either in or close to the cargo terminals of the airport. The Company carries mainly dogs and cats. The Company can carry pets of all sizes from small dogs and cats weighing less than 15 pounds to dogs that weigh 180 pounds and have maximum height from the ground to shoulder of 34 inches.

Top 10 Airline Companies To Own In Right Now: United Continental Holdings Inc.(UAL)

United Continental Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of passenger and cargo air transportation services. As of February 24, 2011, it operated a total of approximately 5,675 flights a day to 372 airports on 6 continents from their hubs in Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Guam, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Tokyo, as well as in Washington, D.C. The company was formerly known as UAL Corporation and changed its name to United Continental Holdings, Inc. on October 1, 2010. United Continental Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1934 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Patricio Kehoe]
Airlines have always had a hard time staying in business, be it due to rising costs, strong competition, or economic cycles. Yet United Continental Holdings Inc. (UAL) and Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV) are two companies that have been in the air for decades. As of late, rising fuel costs, salary increases and recession-weary passengers have presented themselves as challenges that both airlines seem to be overcoming.
[By Rich Smith]
Side note: A second company counting its lucky stars today is Facebook (NASDAQ: FB ) . USA Today is reporting that the social networking site's chief operating officer, Sheryl Sandberg, narrowly avoided being on Flight 214 herself. Flying home over the weekend from Seoul, Sandberg apparently switched to a United Continental (NYSE: UAL ) flight at the last minute, aiming to cash in frequent flyer miles on the latter airline. In so doing, she saved more than a few dollars -- she may have saved her own life.

Top 10 Airline Companies To Own In Right Now: Gogo Inc (GOGO)

Gogo Inc incorporated on December 14, 2009, is a holding company. The Company operates through its two operating subsidiaries, Gogo LLC and Aircell Business Aviation Services LLC. The Company provides in-flight connectivity and wireless in-cabin digital entertainment solutions. It provide turnkey solutions for passengers to extend their connected lifestyles to the aircraft cabin. It operates in two segments: commercial aviation (CA) and business aviation (BA). Its CA business provides in-flight connectivity and digital entertainment solutions to commercial airline passengers through their personal Wi-Fi enabled devices.

The Company provides Gogo Connectivity to passengers to nine North American airlines that provide Internet connectivity to their passengers. It provide Gogo Connectivity to passengers on Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, Virgin America, Alaska Airlines, US Airways, Frontier Airlines and Air Tran Airways. It also provide Gogo Connectivity to passengers on a small number of aircraft operated by United Airlines and Air Canada. As of September 30, 2011, the Company had equipped 1,177 commercial aircraft, representing approximately 85% of Internet-enabled North American commercial aircraft, which were operated on more than 4,200 daily flights.

The Company�� BA segment sells equipment and provides services for in-flight Internet connectivity and other voice and data communications under its Gogo Biz and Aircell branded products and services. BA�� customers include original equipment manufacturers of private jet aircraft such as Gulfstream, Cessna, Hawker Beechcraft, Bombardier, Dassault, Embraer, NetJets, Flexjets, Flight Options and CitationAir. It sells equipment for three of the primary connectivity network options in the business aviation market: Gogo Biz, through which it delivers broadband Internet connectivity over its (air-to-ground )ATG network, and the Iridium and Inmarsat SwiftBroadband satellite networks. As of September 30, 2011, the Company had m! ore than 700 Gogo Biz systems in operation and more than 4,600 aircraft with Iridium satellite communications systems in operation, and it has sold more than 100 Inmarsat SwiftBroadband systems. It provides in-flight broadband connectivity across the contiguous United States and portions of Alaska through 3 MHz of FCC-licensed ATG spectrum and its network of cell sites.

Through its Gogo platform, the Company provides passengers with a convenient and easy way to access the Internet, view video content, send and receive email and instant messages, and access corporate VPNs on Gogo-equipped commercial aircraft. It provides Internet access through Gogo Connectivity, on-demand streaming video offerings through Gogo Vision and access to a variety of free entertainment and service offerings, customized for each airline, through Gogo Signature Services.

The Company competes with Panasonic Avionics, Row 44, OnAir, LiveTV and Thales.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Lisa Levin]
Gogo (NASDAQ: GOGO) shares gained 9.19% to touch a new 52-week high of $30.90 on Jim Cramer/Mad Money mention.

Western Digital (NASDAQ: WDC) shares rose 2.75% to reach a new 52-week high of $74.43 after the company's board declared a cash dividend of $0.30 per share for the quarter ending Dec. 27, 2013.
[By Anna Prior]
Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Monday’s session are ViroPharma Inc.(VPHM), Transocean Ltd.(RIGN.VX) and Gogo Inc.(GOGO)
[By Lauren Pollock]
Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Wednesday’s session are Valassis Communications Inc.(VCI) and Gogo Inc.(GOGO)

Valassis agreed to be acquired by Harland Clarke Holdings Corp. in a deal valuing the coupon publisher at roughly $1.31 billion that the companies expect will create a leading diversified payment and marketing-services company. Shares surged 21% to $34.29 premarket.

Top 10 Airline Companies To Own In Right Now: US Airways Group Inc (LCC)

US Airways Group, Inc. (US Airways Group) is a holding company whose primary business activity is the operation of a network air carrier through its wholly owned subsidiaries, US Airways, Piedmont Airlines, Inc. (Piedmont), PSA Airlines, Inc. (PSA), Material Services Company, Inc. (MSC) and Airways Assurance Limited (AAL). MSC and AAL operate in support of the Company�� airline subsidiaries in areas, such as the procurement of aviation fuel and insurance. It has hubs in Charlotte, Philadelphia and Phoenix and a focus city in Washington, D.C. at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (Washington National). During the year ended December 31, 2011, it offered scheduled passenger service on more than 3,100 flights daily to more than 200 communities in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. It also has an East Coast route network, including the US Airways Shuttle service.

The Company had approximately 53 million passengers boarding its mainline flights in 2011. During 2011, the Company�� mainline operation provided scheduled service or seasonal service at 133 airports, while the US Airways Express network served 156 airports in the United States, Canada and Mexico, including 78 airports also served by its mainline operation. US Airways Express air carriers had approximately 28 million passengers boarding their planes in 2011. As of December 31, 2011, the Company operated 340 mainline jets and was supported by its regional airline subsidiaries and affiliates operating as US Airways Express under capacity purchase agreements, which operated 233 regional jets and 50 turboprops. The Company�� prorate carriers operated seven turboprops and seven regional jets at December 31, 2011.

In May 2011, US Airways Group and US Airways entered into an Amended and Restated Mutual Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement (the Mutual APA) with Delta Air Lines, Inc. (Delta). Pursuant to the Mutual APA, Delta agreed to acquire 132 slot pa! irs at LaGuardia from US Airways and US Airways agreed to acquire from Delta 42 slot pairs at Washington National and the rights to operate additional daily service to Sao Paulo, Brazil. On December 13, 2011, the transaction contemplated by the Mutual APA closed and ownership of the respective slots was transferred between the airlines. During 2011, the US Airways Express network served 156 airports in the continental United States, Canada and Mexico, including 78 airports also served by its mainline operation. During 2011, approximately 28 million passengers boarded US Airways Express air carriers��planes, approximately 44% of whom connected to or from its mainline flights.

The Company competes with Southwest, JetBlue, Allegiant, Frontier, Virgin America and Spirit.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Alexander MacLennan]
Unnecessary discount
The news surrounding US Airways (NYSE: LCC ) recently has almost entirely centered on the airline's proposed merger with American Airlines parent company AMR (NASDAQOTH: AAMRQ ) . While this merger would play a major role in shaping the future of US Airways (which would become American Airlines Group upon the merger), the results of the trial determining whether the airlines can merge are not do-or-die.
[By Alexander MacLennan]
But the expected merger between AMR and US Airways (NYSE: LCC ) gives US Airways shareholders a chance to benefit from these routes as well. The new American Airlines Group would not only be able to codeshare these routes but would also take the crown of world's largest airline.
[By Blake Bos]
In the following video, Motley Fool industrials analyst Blake Bos takes a question from a Motley Fool reader on Facebook, who asks, "What's your Foolish take on US Airways Group, (NYSE: LCC ) and the airlines in general ... buy, sell, hold?" Blake references an article by Fool.com contributor Adam Levine-Weinberg on US Airways' spiraling labor costs in connection with its proposed merger with American Airlines.
[By Adam Levine-Weinberg]
US Airways (NYSE: LCC ) has lagged the industry a bit in unit revenue performance during 2013, because its capacity has been growing due to the addition of larger Airbus A321 aircraft to its fleet. However, management expects June unit revenue to increase by around 4%, followed by 2%-4% gains in August and September. This implies that US Airways will keep pace with the rest of the industry on the unit revenue front, which should lead to strong profitability due to good cost control.

Top 10 Airline Companies To Own In Right Now: Southwest Airlines Co (LUV)

Southwest Airlines Co., incorporated on March 9, 1967, operates Southwest Airlines, a passenger airline, which provides scheduled air transportation in the United States. As of December 31, 2011, the Company was serving 72 cities in 37 states throughout the United States. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company added addition services in two new states and three new cities: Charleston, South Carolina; Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina; and Newark, New Jersey. Southwest provides point-to-point. On May 2, 2011, the Company acquired AirTran Holdings, Inc. (AirTran).

AirTran�� route system provides hub-and-spoke, rather than point-to-point, service, with approximately half of AirTran�� flights originating or terminating at its hub in Atlanta, Georgia. AirTran also serves a range of markets with non-stop service from bases of operation in Baltimore, Maryland; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Orlando, Florida. As of December 31, 2011, AirTran was serving 68 United States and near-international destinations, including San Juan, Puerto Rico; Cancun, Mexico; Montego Bay, Jamaica; Nassau, The Bahamas; Oranjestad, Aruba; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, and Bermuda. As of January 31, 2012, AirTran served 65 destinations. During 2011, approximately 71% of Southwest�� customers flew non-stop, and Southwest�� average aircraft trip stage length was 664 miles with an average duration of approximately 1.8 hours.

As of December 31, 2011, Southwest offered 25 weekday roundtrips from Dallas Love Field to Houston Hobby, 13 weekday roundtrips from Phoenix to Las Vegas, 13 weekday roundtrips from Burbank to Oakland, and 12 weekday roundtrips from Los Angeles International to Oakland. Southwest offers connecting service opportunities from over 60 Southwest cities to different Volaris airports in Mexico including Aguascalientes, Guadalajara, Mexico City (MEX), Mexico City-Toluca (TLC), Morelia, and Zacatecas. The Company�� International Connect portal conducts two separate transac! tions: one with Southwest�� reservation system and one with Volaris�� reservation system.

Southwest bundles fares into three categories: Wanna Get Away, Anytime, and Business Select. Wanna Get Away fares are lowest fares. Business Select fares are refundable and changeable, and funds may be applied toward future travel on Southwest. Business Select fares also include additional perks, such as priority boarding, a frequent flyer point multiplier, priority security and ticket counter access in select airports, and one complimentary adult beverage coupon for the day of travel. The Company�� Internet Website, southwest.com, is the avenue for Southwest Customers to purchase tickets online. During 2011, southwest.com accounted for approximately 78% of all Southwest bookings. During 2011, approximately 84% of Southwest�� Passenger revenues came through its Website, including revenues from SWABIZ, the Company�� business travel reservation Web page.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Jon C. Ogg]
Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) has also been on fire. Its stock just hit a multi-year high of $18.80. At $18.65, its 52-week range is $9.16 to $18.80. Thomson Reuters has a consensus price target of almost $18.60. Southwest is now worth $13 billion in its market cap. The median price target is barely higher at $19.00, and the street high analyst target price is $22.00 for the stock.
[By Ben Levisohn]
Shares of AMR Corp. have gained 9.7% to $6.91–just 3.4% from its 52-week high–while US Airways has risen 5.5% to $22.57. Southwest Airlines (LUV) has advanced 3.4% to $16.96, Delta Air Lines (DAL) has jumped 2.6% to $26.27 and JetBlue Airways (JBLU) is up 2.9% at $12.31.

Top 10 Airline Companies To Own In Right Now: Baltia Air Lines Inc (BLTA.PK)

Baltia Air Lines, Inc. (Baltia) focuses on providing scheduled air transportation from the United States to Russia and former Soviet Union countries. As of December 31, 2010, the Company�� principal activities included raising capital, obtaining route authority and approval from the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), training crews, and conducting market research to develop the Company's marketing strategy. Baltia operate as a Part 121 carrier, a heavy jet operator airline in the United States. As of December 31, 2010, Baltia conducted the FAA Air Carrier Certification process under Part 121. Baltia has identified the market segments in the United States and Russia market, which include Business Travelers, General Tourism, Ethnic Travelers, Special Interest Groups, Professional Exchanges, and Government and Diplomatic Travel.

Baltia has two registered trademarks, BALTIA and VOYAGER CLASS, and five trademarks are subject to registration. Baltia focuses on providing customer service and reservations centers in New York and in St. Petersburg, to list Baltia's schedules and tariffs in the Official Airline Guide, and provide worldwide access to reservations on Baltia's flights through a major Computer Reservations and Ticketing System (CRS). With the Boeing 747 true wide-body aircraft Baltia focuses on providing cargo service from JFK to St. Petersburg, offering containers, pallets, and block space arrangements. Baltia has passenger service and ground service arrangements at JFK and at Pulkovo II Airport in St. Petersburg.

The Company competes with Finnair, Lufthansa, SAS, KLM, British Airways, Air France, Austrian Airlines and Swissair.

Top 10 Airline Companies To Own In Right Now: PAWS Pet Company Inc (PAWS)

The Company's pet passengers fly in the specially equipped main cabin of the Company's aircraft, which is climate-controlled, and supplied with an ample amount of fresh circulating air. Also, the pet attendant constantly monitors the Company's pet passengers for the duration of each flight. The Company offers dedicated routes within the United States with airport facilities that are located away from the main passenger terminals of the aircraft. The Company's airport facilities tend to be located either in or close to the cargo terminals of the airport. The Company carries mainly dogs and cats. The Company can carry pets of all sizes from small dogs and cats weighing less than 15 pounds to dogs that weigh 180 pounds and have maximum height from the ground to shoulder of 34 inches.

Top 10 Airline Companies To Own In Right Now: Baltia Air Lines Inc (BLTA)

The Company competes with Finnair, Lufthansa, SAS, KLM, British Airways, Air France, Austrian Airlines and Swissair.

Saturday, February 15, 2014

A Look at InterContinentalâ€™s Post-Crisis Growth Strategy

Recessions are difficult for any consumer-related industry to overcome, but the travel and hotel segment is always particularly affected by budget cuts. Nevertheless, with a 20% boost of the domestic revenue per available room, the lodging industry is well on the recovery road, with several large companies leading the way. Investment guru Pioneer Investments (Trades, Portfolio) recently bought almost 80,000 shares of InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG), the world's largest hotel owner, franchiser and manager, with over 4,500 hotels in 100 countries. But let's see what really makes this company a solid long-term investment.

A Majority Franchised System

This company is known for its famous midscale brands Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express, as well as the upscale hotels InterContinental and Crowne Plaza. The interesting factor, however, is the high rate of franchised and managed hotels among these brands, compared to industry rivals Hyatt Hotels Corporation (H) or Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. (HOT). With more than 99% franchised or managed hotels in the InterContinental system, this company profits from excessive operating margins of 33.2% (the industry average is 8.70%) and minimal capital expenditures.

Additionally, the typical 10 to 30-year contracts for hotel franchises create high switching costs for property owners, while simultaneously generating high returns on invested capital. Since 2010, for example, InterContinental has averaged a 29% return on capital, and currently reports a 57.8% return, all due to the firm's asset-light strategy of selling owned hotels and converting them to management or franchising contracts. The latest transaction of the InterContinental New York Barclay, for example, sold at $300 million, was a well strung deal for the company, which will maintain a 20% ownership in the property, as well as manage the hotel for the next 30 years. This transaction is bound to boost free cash flow, as well as revenue growth, which has been somewhat stagnant throughout fiscal 2013 (4.0%).

International Advantage

One of InterContinental's key growth segments is its international business. Since 1984, this company has been taking advantage of the underpenetrated Chinese market, and today this hotel operator holds the best infrastructure to grow and expand its brand presence in the country. With an estimated 50,000 rooms in its new Chinese hotel pipeline, representing 90% of the firm's total existing rooms in Asia, the company will enjoy a solid 15% annual unit growth in China over the next several years. Also, the current 10% revenue income generated by this nation will reach 25% by 2021 making InterContinental the best represented U.S. lodging company in Asia.

Fiscal 2014 is looking promising for this hotel operator, with a forecasted increase of room numbers by 3.1% annually until 2022, in addition to boosts in revenue per room over several continents. America is expected to deliver 5.3% annual growth, Europe 4.4% and China 8.4%, as the economy in these regions recover and travel spending continues to surge. Although this lodging firm remains vulnerable to the risks of a recession, which led to revenue declines of 14% from 2007 to 2009, I believe the almost integrally franchised business model will be able to sustain profits in the long term. Furthermore, with the stock currently trading at a 35% price discount relative to the industry average of 22.60x, and the 2.04% dividend yield should be appealing to investors.

Disclosure: Patricio Kehoe holds no position in any stocks mentioned.

About the author:Patricio KehoeA fundamental analyst at Lone Tree Analytics

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Wednesday, February 12, 2014

NASAAâ€™s Fleming Named SECâ€™s First Investor Advocate

Rick Fleming, deputy general counsel for the North American Securities Administrators Association, was named Wednesday as the Securities and Exchange Commission’s new investor advocate.

Fleming, who will assume his new role on Feb. 24, becomes the first person to lead the SEC’s Office of the Investor Advocate, which was created by Dodd-Frank and requires that the Investor Advocate report to the chairwoman.

While Dodd-Frank required appointment of an investor advocate, an SEC spokesman declined to comment on the length of time it took the agency to appoint one, stating that "the functions" of an investor advocate over the past three years "have been carried out in the interim by our Office of Investor Education and Advocacy."

Fleming will also serve as a member of the SEC’s Investor Advisory Committee.

“I am very pleased that Rick will be joining the commission as its inaugural director of our Office of the Investor Advocate,” said Mary Jo White, SEC chairwoman, in a statement. “Rick brings a depth of experience advocating for the interests of investors, a keen understanding of the markets, and a true passion for investor protection.”

Andrea Seidt, NASAA president and Ohio securities commissioner, added in a separate statement that the advocate office “will serve a critical role in ensuring that the SEC focuses on the needs of ordinary investors." For nearly two decades, she said, "Rick has fought directly on the front lines for investors at the state and national level. Through his work with the Office of the Kansas Securities Commissioner and more recently at NASAA, Rick has demonstrated an unparalleled passion for investor advocacy and commitment to investor protection.”

As mandated by Section 915 of Dodd-Frank, the investor advocate helps retail investors resolve significant problems with the SEC or with self-regulatory organizations; identifies areas in which investors would benefit from changes in the SEC regulations or the rules of SROs; analyzes the potential impact on investors of proposed SEC and SRO rules and regulations; and to the extent practicable, propose changes in the regulations or orders of the commission and to congress any legislative, administrative or personnel changes that may be appropriate to mitigate problems and to promote the interests of investors.

Prior to joining NASAA in 2011, Fleming was general counsel for the Office of the Kansas Securities Commissioner. A native of Kansas, Fleming graduated summa cum laude from Washburn University with a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics, and is a graduate of Wake Forest School of Law in Winston-Salem, N.C.

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Check out More Advisor Exams? Not Under This SEC Budget, Advocates Say on ThinkAdvisor.

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Fox Will Follow Disney and Universal Into the World of Theme Parks

Twenty-First Century Fox (NASDAQ: FOX ) is the next entertainment company looking to diversify revenues and take a stake in the large market of film-inspired theme parks around the world. Twenty-First Century Fox World is planned to open in Malaysia in 2016.

The park will be built in partnership with the Genting Group, a Malaysian entertainment company that owns and operates casinos and other entertainment services around the world. Genting is the same company that owns Resorts World Sentosa, one of only two casinos in neighboring Singapore. Genting is not new to these kinds of partnerships, either, as it is the Resorts World in Singapore that houses Universal Studios Singapore. Universal Studios is owned by NBC Universal and parent company Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA ) . Theme park operations have been a lucrative segment for Comcast. The company made $270 million in total theme park income during Q3 2013 alone, up 7% from the same quarter last year.

Twenty-First Century Fox World will actually be built on the skeleton of an existing theme park, decreasing the costs of construction and time to operation considerably. The renovated and expanded Fox World will span 25 acres and will house more than 25 rides and attractions based on Twenty-First Century Fox films such as Ice Age, Alien vs. Predator, Planet of the Apes, and others. The total cost to Genting for all of this is only $300 million.

Greg Lombardo, vice president of location-based entertainment for Fox Consumer Products, said in an interview to CNN that "We are creating a unique and exciting destination brand with a true global appeal... In the coming months you will be hearing much more." Speaking about the choice of building in Malaysia, he said that based on the growth for this kind of excitement demanded in the region "It was a natural place to for Fox to create our first theme park and marks an important milestone in our global location-based entertainment strategy."

Other than the Universal Studios in Singapore, there are few competitors in the nearby area. Legoland Malaysia, which opened in 2012, offers rides and a waterpark for families. Legoland parks around the world, including two in the United States, are owned by the European entertainment company called Merlin Entertainment Group, which is not listed on the United States exchanges.

Cartoon Network, a subsidiary of Time Warner, is expected to open its Amazone Water Park later in Thailand later this year. The theme parks website tells soon to be visitors to get ready for "Cartoonival, the world's largest aqua playground with over 150 water attractions." The next closest attractions of the kind would be for travels to Hong Kong or Tokyo for Disneyland in either locations.

Disney (NYSE: DIS ) is another company that has seen terrific revenue from their theme park operations. The company has seen 9% revenue increases for its parks and resorts segment, beating the company's overall revenue growth of 7%.

Foolish bottom line
Twenty First Century Fox is certainly not the first to the market of building movies-inspired theme parks. Disney and Comcast have already seen huge revenues from their parks and resorts operations. Parks and resorts were 31% of Disney's revenue in 2013, and 16% of that of Comcast for Q3 2013, the last quarter reported.

What makes this an exciting next step for Twenty-First Century Fox is that with the small price tag and a partnership with the lucrative and savvy Genting Group, the company should see a much shorter time from market entry to large profits. This will allow it to reward shareholders much faster than if the company were to start from scratch with a theme park in the United States like its competitors did years ago.

Crush the market with picks like these
Twenty-First Century Fox, Comcast, and Disney are all likely to continue crushing their international theme park strategy. As an investor, you should be looking for companies like these to help you crush the market. Check out this report where you can uncover the scientific approach to crushing the market and these carefully chosen six picks for ultimate growth instantly, free for you today. Click here now for access.

Monday, February 10, 2014

Top International Companies To Own For 2015

On July 5, we maintained our Neutral recommendation on Silgan Holdings Inc. (SLGN) based on expected benefits from its successful acquisitions, increasing productivity and cost reduction initiatives as well as decline in resin prices. However, soft demand in Europe, a high debt-to-capitalization ratio and lower volume expectation remain concerns for this manufacturer of metal and plastic consumer goods packaging products.

Why Reiterated?

Silgan Holdings��first-quarter 2013 earnings declined 10% year over year to 46 cents per share, due to higher resin costs and macroeconomic conditions in Europe. Total revenue increased 4% year over year to $796 million.

Resin costs were a headwind to both the Plastics and Closures segments in the first quarter. However, in the second half of fiscal 2013, resin headwinds will turn into tailwinds due to the recent decline in polypropylene prices.

The company�� recent acquisition of Rexam�� high-barrier food business will not only add to its growth platform through an adjacent product/technology, but also augment its scope for international expansion. The acquisition is expected to be accretive to 2013 earnings.

Top International Companies To Own For 2015: WaterFurnace Renewable Energy Inc (WFIFF.PK)

WaterFurnace Renewable Energy, Inc. specializes in the design, manufacture and distribution of geothermal and water-source systems. It�� the United States subsidiary companies are WaterFurnace International, Inc. (WaterFurnace) and LoopMaster International, Inc. (LoopMaster). In December 2010, it incorporated two Australian subsidiaries: WaterFurnace International Asia Pacific Pty. Ltd. (WaterFurnace Asia Pacific) and Hyper WFI Pty. Ltd. (Hyper WFI). WaterFurnace designs, manufactures and distributes geothermal water source heating and cooling systems for residential, commercial and institutional buildings. LoopMaster installs geothermal loops for residential applications, does commercial conductivity testing and provides design and installation assistance. Hyper WFI designs, develops and builds devices that limit the inrush current, which electric motors draw upon start up. On January 21, 2011, the Company acquired inventory and fixed assets from Binary Engineering Pty. Ltd.

Top International Companies To Own For 2015: Canlan Ice Sports Corp (ICE.TO)

Canlan Ice Sports Corp. engages in the acquisition, development, and operation of recreational ice facilities in North America. It engages in the ice sales and internal programming, which include contract rental of ice-time; restaurants and concession outlets operations in its ice rink facilities; the operation of sports stores that sell hockey, skating, and soccer equipment and apparel; advertising, vending, and space rental in its ice rink facilities; and the provision of management and consulting services. The company also offers hockey, skating, soccer, and ringette programs; organizes youth and adult tournaments; and operates hockey leagues. As of June 25, 2012, it owned and managed 19 facilities in Canada and the United States containing 60 surfaces including ice rinks and indoor soccer fields, as well as ball diamonds, beach volleyball courts, outdoor soccer, curling, and pool. The company was formerly known as Canlan Investment Corporation and changed its name to C anlan Ice Sports Corp. in 1999. Canlan Ice Sports Corp. was founded in 1956 and is headquartered in Burnaby, Canada. Canlan Ice Sports Corp. is a subsidiary of Bartrac Investments Ltd.

Best Financial Companies To Buy For 2015: Nevada Geothermal Power Inc. (NGP.V)

Nevada Geothermal Power Inc. operates as a renewable energy producer focusing on the development of CLEAN electrical power from high temperature geothermal resources. It holds leasehold interests in eight geothermal projects, including Blue Mountain, Pumpernickel, North Valley, and Edna Mountain in Nevada; New Truckhaven, East Brawley, and South Brawley in California; and Crump Geyser in Oregon. The company was formerly known as Continental Ridge Resources Inc. and changed its name to Nevada Geothermal Power Inc. in May 2003. Nevada Geothermal Power Inc. was founded in 1995 and is based in Vancouver, Canada.

Top International Companies To Own For 2015: Computer Programs and Systems Inc.(CPSI)

Computer Programs and Systems, Inc., a healthcare information technology company, designs, develops, markets, installs, and supports computerized information technology systems to small and midsize hospitals in the United States. Its enterprise-wide system automates the management of clinical and financial data across the primary functional areas of a hospital. The company offers services that enable customers to outsource certain data-related business processes in the areas of clinical care, revenue cycle management, cost control, and regulatory compliance. Its software products include Patient Management, which enables a hospital to identify a patient at any point in the healthcare delivery system, and to collect and maintain patient information through the process of patient care; Financial Accounting that provides various business office applications to track and coordinate information needed for managerial decision-making; and Clinical, which automates record keeping and reporting for a range of clinical functions, such as laboratory, radiology, physical therapy, respiratory care, and pharmacy. The company?s software products also comprise Patient Care that allows hospitals to create computerized patient files; and Enterprise Applications, which provide software applications that support its products for use in various areas of the hospital. In addition, it offers support and maintenance services; business management services, including electronic billing, statement processing, accounts receivable management, payroll processing, contract management, and insurance services; and system implementation and training services, such as conversion and training. Further, the company sells computer hardware, peripherals, forms, and office supplies. It serves acute care community hospitals; and small specialty hospitals that focus on medical areas, such as surgery, rehabilitation, and psychiatry. The company was founded in 1979 and is headquartere d in Mobile, Alabama.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Sally Jones]
Both CSP Inc. (CPSI) and ITT Educational Services Inc. (ESI) have struggled in the last year. Their revenues are way down as of the second quarter, year over year. Richard Blum�� Blum Capital Partners LP continues to trim sinking education companies where the company is 10% owner, and John Rogers of Ariel Capital Management cuts a long-held defense company that delivered high gains over five years.

Top International Companies To Own For 2015: Global Industries Ltd. (GLBL)

Global Industries, Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, provides construction and subsea services to the offshore oil and gas industry in the North America, Latin America, and the Asia Pacific/the Middle East regions. The company?s services include pipeline construction, platform installation and removal, construction support, diving services, diverless intervention, and marine support services. As of December 31, 2010, its fleet included four derrick lay barges, one pipelay/derrick vessel, one heavy lift ship, one pipelay barge, four multi-service vessels, one dive support vessel, and one offshore supply vessel. The company serves oil and gas producers and pipeline companies. The company was founded in 1973 and is headquartered in Carlyss, Louisiana.

Top International Companies To Own For 2015: National American University Holdings Inc.(NAUH)

National American University Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiary, Dlorah, Inc., engages in the ownership and operation of National American University that provides post-secondary education services primarily to working adults and other non-traditional students in the United States. It provides associate?s, bachelor?s, and master?s degrees programs in business-related disciplines, such as accounting, applied management, and business administration, as well as information technology; and healthcare-related disciplines, such as nursing and healthcare management. The company also offers diploma programs consisting of a series of courses focused on a particular area of study, for students who seek to enhance their skills and knowledge in the areas of healthcare coding, practical nursing, therapeutic massage, and veterinary assisting. National American University Holdings offers its courses through educational sites, as well as online. As of May 31, 2010, the company had enr olled approximately 3,565 students in online programs, 3,742 students on-campus, and 1,451 students in hybrid learning centers. In addition, it manages apartment units, as well as develops and sells multi family residential real estate in the Rapid City, South Dakota area. The company was founded in 1941 and is headquartered in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Top International Companies To Own For 2015: Macdonald Mines Exploration Ltd (BMK.V)

Macdonald Mines Exploration Ltd. engages in the in the identification, acquisition, and exploration of mineral properties with a focus on the Ring of Fire area of the James Bay Lowlands in northern Ontario, Canada. The company primarily explores for nickel, chromium, copper, zinc, vanadium, titanium, volcanic massive sulphides, magmatic massive sulphides, and platinum group elements. It holds interests in 73 contiguous mining claims in the Butler property covering an area of approximately 176.9 square kilometers; 14 contiguous mining claims in the Semple-Hulbert property covering an area of approximately 31.4 square kilometers; and 65 contiguous mining claims in the Sanderson property covering an area of approximately 148.0 square kilometers located in Ontario. The company also holds interests in 5 contiguous mineral dispositions in the Bob Lake property covering an area of approximately 230.0 square kilometers situated in Saskatchewan. Macdonald Mines Exploration Ltd. is based in Toronto, Canada.

Top International Companies To Own For 2015: Lookers(LOOK.L)

Lookers plc engages in the sale, hire, and maintenance of motor vehicles and motorcycles in the United Kingdom. The company sells new and used cars, tires, oil, franchise parts, and accessories, as well as offers vehicle servicing and repair. It also engages in arranging vehicle financing and related insurance products. The company offers various brands, such as Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Citroen, Dodge, Ferrari, Fiat, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar, Jeep, Kia, Land Rover, Lexus, Maserati, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault, Saab, Seat, Skoda, Smart, Toyota, Vauxhall, Volkswagen, and Volvo, as well as BMW and Yamaha. It operates 119 motor franchise dealerships representing 33 marques in 71 sites. Lookers plc was founded in 1908 and is headquartered in Manchester, the United Kingdom.

Top International Companies To Own For 2015: Methanex Corp Com Npv (MX.TO)

Methanex Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the production, marketing, and sale of methanol. The company also purchases and re-sells methanol produced by others. Its methanol is a clear liquid commodity chemical that is used to produce traditional chemical derivatives, including formaldehyde, acetic acid, and various other chemicals. The company�s methanol is also used in energy-related applications; for blending into gasoline, as a feedstock in the production of dimethyl ether, which can be blended with liquefied petroleum gas for use in household cooking and heating, and in the production of biodiesel; and used to produce methyl tertiary-butyl ether, a gasoline component, as well as used into olefins applications. The company supplies its methanol to petrochemical producers and distributors in North America, the Asia Pacific, Europe, and Latin America. Methanex Corporation was founded in 1968 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Top International Companies To Own For 2015: NeoStem Inc (NBS)

NeoStem, Inc., incorporated on September 18, 1980, operates in cellular therapy industry. Cellular therapy addresses the process by which new cells are introduced into a tissue to prevent or treat disease, or regenerate damaged or aged tissue, and consists of a separate therapeutic technology platform in addition to pharmaceuticals, biologics and medical devices. The Company�� business model includes the development of novel cell therapy products, as well as operating a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) providing services to others in the regenerative medicine industry. Progenitor Cell Therapy, LLC, the Company�� wholly owned subsidiary (PCT), is a CDMO in the cellular therapy industry. PCT has provided pre-clinical and clinical current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) development and manufacturing services to over 100 clients advancing regenerative medicine product candidates through rigorous quality standards all the way through to human testing.

PCT has two cGMP, cell therapy research, development, and manufacturing facilities in New Jersey and California, serving the cell therapy community with integrated and regulatory compliant distribution capabilities. Its core competencies in the cellular therapy industry include manufacturing of cell therapy-based products, product and process development, cell and tissue processing, regulatory support, storage, distribution and delivery and consulting services. The Company�� wholly-owned subsidiary, Amorcyte, LLC (Amorcyte) is developing its own cell therapy, AMR-001, for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. AMR-001 represents its clinically advanced therapeutic product candidate and enrollment for its Phase II PreSERVE clinical trial to investigate AMR-001's safety and efficacy in preserving heart function after a heart attack in a particular type of post Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) patients.

Through the Company�� subsidiary, Athelos Corporation (Athelos), the Company is collaborating w! ith Becton-Dickinson in early stage clinical development of a therapy utilizing T-cells, collaborating for autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, including but not limited to, graft vs. host disease, type 1 diabetes, steroid resistant asthma, lupus, multiple sclerosis and solid organ transplant rejection. The Company�� pre-clinical assets include its Very Small Embryonic Like (VSEL) Technology platform. The Company has basic research and development capabilities, manufacturing facilities on both the east and west coast of the United States.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By John Udovich]
The results of a recent Pew Center Poll regarding attitudes towards abortion and various forms of stem cell research could be a good sign for the stem cell industry along with small cap stem cell stocks like StemCells Inc (NASDAQ: STEM), NeoStem Inc (NASDAQ: NBS), Neuralstem, Inc (NYSEMKT: CUR),�International Stem Cell Corp (OTCMKTS: ISCO) and BioRestorative Therapies (OTCBB: BRTX). Basically, Americans think that having an abortion is a moral issue with 49% of American adults believing abortion is morally wrong, 23%�view it not as a moral issue and and 15% view it as morally acceptable. However and when Americans were asked about issues surrounding�human embryos, such as stem cell research or in vitro fertilization, as a matter of morality, their views were different.

Top International Companies To Own For 2015: Farm Pride Foods Ltd(FRM.AX)

Farm Pride Foods Ltd engages in producing, processing, manufacturing, and selling egg and egg products primarily in Australia. Its product range includes chilled and frozen whole egg products, chilled and frozen egg whites and egg yolk products, egg powders, hard boiled eggs, scrambled egg mix, fried eggs, poached eggs, crepes, and egg and mayonnaise fillings. The company offers its products primarily under Free Range, Omega 3 Free Range, Cage Free Barn Laid, Omega 3 Cage, and Cage Laid brands. It serves primarily to food manufacturers, caterers, and food service industries, as well as other institutions. The company is based in Keysborough, Australia.

Top International Companies To Own For 2015: SORL Auto Parts Inc.(SORL)

SORL Auto Parts, Inc., through its principal operating subsidiary, Ruili Group Ruian Auto Parts Co., Ltd., engages in the development, manufacture, and distribution of automotive brake systems and other safety related auto parts for commercial vehicles, such as trucks and buses. The company, through its 90% ownership in Ruili Group Ruian Auto Parts Co., Ltd., a Sino-foreign joint venture, offers various products, including spring brake chamber, clutch servos, air dryers, relay valves, and hand brake valves. It also provides auto metering products, auto electric products, anti-lock brake systems, retarders, hydraulic brakes, and power steering products. SORL Auto Parts, Inc. markets its products under the SORL brand to automotive original equipment manufacturers and the related aftermarket customers in the People?s Republic of China and internationally. The company was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Ruian City, the People?s Republic of China.

Top International Companies To Own For 2015: Dividend 15 Split Corp (DFN)

Dividend 15 Split Corp is a mutual fund company. The Company�� investment objectives are to provide holders of Preferred Shares with fixed cumulative preferential monthly cash dividends; to provide holders of Class A Shares with regular monthly cash distributions, and to return the original issue price to holders of Preferred Shares and Class A Shares, respectively. The assets of the Company are invested in a managed portfolio of common shares (the Portfolio), which primarily includes securities of the publicly traded Canadian companies or income trusts (the Portfolio Companies). Its portfolio includes Bank of Montreal, The Bank of Nova Scotia, BCE Inc., Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, CI Financial Corp., Enbridge Inc. and Manulife Financial Corporation, amongst others. It may also invest up to 15% of the net asset value in equity securities of issuers other than the Portfolio Companies. Quadravest Capital Management Inc. is the manager and investment manager for the Company.

Saturday, February 8, 2014

4 Stocks Under $10 to Trade for Breakouts

DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- At Stockpickr, we track daily portfolios of stocks that are the biggest percentage gainers and the biggest percentage losers.

Stocks that are making large moves like these are favorites among short-term traders because they can jump into these names and try to capture some of that massive volatility. Stocks that are making big-percentage moves either up or down are usually in play because their sector is becoming attractive or they have a major fundamental catalyst such as a recent earnings release. Sometimes stocks making big moves have been hit with an analyst upgrade or an analyst downgrade.

Regardless of the reason behind it, when a stock makes a large-percentage move, it is often just the start of a new major trend -- a trend that can lead to huge profits. If you time your trade correctly, combining technical indicators with fundamental trends, discipline and sound money management, you will be well on your way to investment success.

With that in mind, let's take a closer look at a several stocks under $10 that are making large moves to the upside.

US Energy

US Energy (USEG), an independent energy company, focuses on the acquisition and development of oil and gas producing properties in the continental U.S. This stock closed up 6.9% to $3.53 in Thursday's trading session.

Thursday's Range: $3.29-$3.53

52-Week Range: $1.45-$4.06

Thursday's Volume: 116,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 219,710

From a technical perspective, USEG bounced sharply higher here right off some near-term support at $3.27 and back above its 50-day moving average of $3.45 with lighter-than-average volume. This stock recently formed a triple bottom chart pattern at $3.32, $3.21 and $3.27. Since finding buying interest at those levels, shares of USEG are now spiking higher and moving within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if USEG manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $3.65 to $3.80 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in USEG as long as it's trending above some key near-term support levels at $3.27 or at $3.21 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 219,710 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then USEG will set up to re-test or possibly take out its 52-week high at $4.06. Any high-volume move above that level will then give USEG a chance to tag its next major overhead resistance levels at $4.60 to $5.

ENGlobal

ENGlobal (ENG) provides engineering and professional services principally to the energy sector in the U.S. and internationally. This stock closed up 9% to $1.60 in Thursday's trading session.

Thursday's Range: $1.48-$1.63

52-Week Range: $0.30-$1.88

Thursday's Volume: 245,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 59,090

From a technical perspective, ENG spiked sharply higher here back above its 50-day moving average of $1.50 with above-average volume. This move pushed shares of ENG into breakout territory, since the stock took out some near-term overhead resistance at $1.59. Shares of ENG are now starting to move within range of triggering another near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if ENG manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $1.66 to $1.71 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ENG as long as it's trending above Thursday's low of $1.48 or above more support at $1.40 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 59,090 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then ENG will set up to re-test or possibly take out its 52-week high at $1.88. Any high-volume move above that level will then give ENG a chance to tag $2 to $2.20.

Astrotech

Astrotech (ASTC) operates as a commercial aerospace company in the U.S. This stock closed up 7.2% to $3.26 a share in Thursday's trading session.

Thursday's Range: $3.02-$3.31

52-Week Range: $0.61-$4.05

Thursday's Volume: 295,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 570,805

From a technical perspective, ASTC spiked sharply higher here right above some near-term support at $2.96 with lighter-than-average volume. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last four months, with shares moving higher from its low of 63 cents per share to its recent high of $4.05. During that uptrend, shares of ASTC have been making mostly higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. This spike on Thursday is now starting to push shares of ASTC within range of triggering a major breakout trade. That trade will hit if ASTC manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $3.50 to $3.75 and then once it takes out its 52-week high at $4.05 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ASTC as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $2.66 or above more near-term support at $2.62 and then once it sustain a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 570,805 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then ASTC will set up to enter new 52-week high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets of that breakout are $5 to $5.50.

Entr

Entr (EGI), an exploration stage company, engages in the development and exploration of mineral resource properties in Mongolia, the U.S., Peru, and Australia. This stock closed up 7.1% to 37 cents per share in Thursday's trading session.

Thursday's Range: $0.34-$0.37

52-Week Range: $0.22-$0.62

Thursday's Volume: 61,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 73,948

From a technical perspective, EGI spiked sharply higher here right above its 200-day moving average of 33 cents per share with decent upside volume. This move is quickly pushing shares of EGI within range of triggering a major breakout trade. That trade will hit if EGI manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at 38 to 40 cents per share with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in EGI as long as it's trending above its 200-day at 33 cents per share and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 73,948 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then EGI will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at 43 to 51 cents per share. Any high-volume move above those levels will then give EGI a chance to tag 60 cents per share to its 52-week high at 62 cents per share.

To see more stocks that are making notable moves higher, check out the Stocks Under $10 Moving Higher portfolio on Stockpickr.

-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis.

Friday, February 7, 2014

T-Mobile's Consumer-Friendly Policies Putting Pressure On Rivals

By Jeff Bailey

If T-Mobile (TMUS) is half as disruptive to Verizon (VZ) and AT&T (T) in the mobile phone business as recent articles in the New York Times and Bloomberg Businessweek suggest, those larger carriers could be in trouble.

T-Mobile's self-promoting CEO John Legere is delighting in introducing consumer-friendly policies that could gain his company considerable market share, or at least force his larger rivals to match his terms to keep their customers.

VZ Market Cap Chart

VZ Market Cap data by YCharts

Remember, however, trashing the other guy's profits doesn't assure you of any profits. Sometimes, the price cutter in an industry simply screws it up for everyone, himself included. Ask Jeff Bezos at Amazon (AMZN), a company we refer to at YCharts as the Suicide Bomber of Retail. Yes, Amazon ran Borders out of business and is trashing the results of Barnes & Noble (BKS) and Best Buy (BBY), but the online retailer has little in the way of profits to show for its accomplishments.

AMZN Revenue (TTM) Chart

AMZN Revenue (TTM) data by YCharts

Investors don't seem to mind. They either think Amazon will find a way to turn huge profits, or they're so dazzled by its fabulous and disruptive service they aren't thinking at all.

AMZN Chart

AMZN data by YCharts

Legere could become the guy who changed the mobile telecom industry but didn't build a fabulous fortune doing so. But there's no doubt consumers could benefit hugely. Everyone, it seems, hates their mobile provider.

Special Offer: YCharts Pro's Peter Lynch Universe Model Portfolio has logged a 27% average annual return over the last 20 years compared to 7% of the S&P 500. Click here to discover the stocks in its current portfolio and get access to institutional level analytical tools and charts.

—

Jeff Bailey, The editor of YCharts, is a former reporter, editor and columnist at the Wall Street Journal and New York Times. He can be reached at editor@ycharts.com. Read the RIABiz profile of YCharts. You can also request a demonstration of YCharts Platinum.

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Low Chesapeake Production Growth Trumps Capital Spending Cuts – Maybe

Shares of Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK) were trading down handily after the company announced a 20% cut in capital spending for 2014. But the company still expects production overall to grow 2% to 4%.

The company under CEO Doug Lawler has been focusing on boosting output from its most profitable oil and natural gas assets as it continues to cuts costs such as the Eagle Ford shale play in Texas and Utica shale region of Ohio. Chesapeake is the bigger operator in that area.

Chesapeake expects to spend $5.2 billion to $5.6 billion on new wells and related facilities, down from roughly $7 billion in 2013. Net of 2013 asset sales, Chesapeake sees overall oil production growing 8% to 10%, with 44% to 49% output gains in natural gas liquids and 4% to 6% growth in natural gas.

It sees production costs falling 10% to $4.25 to $4.75 per barrel of oil equivalent while general and administrative costs will fall 25%.

Chesapeake’s operations have been hit by the winter’s cold temperatures, Lawler said on a conference call Thursday. Its average daily oil and natural-gas output in December was well below expectations because of “weather challenges,” he said. The problems have extended into January.

Chesapeake is the second-largest natural gas producer in the United States. It got into trouble during the 2008 financial crisis after then-CEO Aubrey McClendon expanded the company too fast and gas prices collapsed. The stock fell as much as 78%, and shareholders revolted against McClendon’s management style and extravagance. McClendon left the company in 2013.

Since McClendon left, Chesapeake has been pruning assets and cutting staff and costs to improve results. The company will report fourth-quarter results on February 26.

The news sounded good just looking at the raw data. Nonetheless, the shares were down $1.81, or 6.9%, to $24.40. The shares were up 63% in 2013 and are off nearly 10% this year. They’re still down 64% from their 2008 peak. Thursday’s reaction is one that looks to be an instance where investors think that companies have to spend more money to make more money.

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

How good was the Super Bowl for Twitter?

SAN FRANCISCO — As investors get ready for a look at Twitter's first quarterly financial report as a public company after the close of markets Wednesday, there's some mixed data out on how good the Super Bowl was for its business.

The number of Top 100 brand advertisers buying sponsored posts on the social media site during the big game rose to 29, from eight last year, according to the research firm Mass Relevance.

Yet the number of tweets during the Super Bowl rose a tiny 3%, to 25 million, after surging 76% last year, according to ow.ly, a website that tracks Twitter activity.

The starkly different views of its performance during the world's most-popular media event reflect just how nascent Twitter's business model is, as many in the tech industry are still trying to figure out the best way to measure it.

Likewise for Twitter stock analysts on Wall Street, who still haven't reached a consensus on the company's near-term growth trajectory.

The average fourth-quarter revenue estimate from the 27 stock analysts who cover the company is $218 million.

John Shinal, technology columnist for USA TODAY.(Photo: USA TODAY)

That figure translates into revenue growth of 94% from the same period a year earlier.

But analysts' individual estimates are all over the map, varying widely from a low of $195 million, or 74% annual growth, to a high of $238 million, or 112%.

The bullish expectations are in line with Twitter's recent revenue trajectory, as it posted year-over-year growth of 110%, 105% and 105% (again), respectively, during the first three quarters of last year.

The bearish analysts, on the other hand, see the company's growth rate decelerating.

Wall Street had the same p! roblem getting an accurate read on Facebook's early growth, after struggling to figure out whether the shift from PCs to mobile devices was good or bad for the social network.

Initially, investors thought it was bearish, as Facebook shares plunged 40% during their first year of public trading -- and were chopped in half during their first three months.

The stock fell 16% the day after its first public earnings report in July 2012, even though Facebook results were in line with expectations.

Twitter shares, by contrast, have surged nearly 50% in their first three months of public trading, even though no one on Wall Street expects the company to make a profit this year.

That bull run out of the gate has given Twitter a market valuation that sounds crazy -- even by the standards of the ongoing Internet stock bubble.

At $36 billion in market value, Twitter has a price-to-sales ratio of 32, based on Wall Street's 2014 revenue expectations.

That's more than double Facebook's ratio of 14 times this year's sales, and LinkedIn's, at 12 times.

Those ratios have held within a tight range over the past six months, suggesting Wall Street traders are confident of their ability to value those two companies.

But while Wall Street has been consistent of late in trading shares of LinkedIn and Facebook, Twitter is still more of a mystery.

Since the company was built from day one for mobile traffic, which is where digital advertising growth is headed, Twitter may yet sustain its lofty valuation.

But with a price-to-sales ratio twice as high as Facebook -- whose own shares have doubled since July as mobile ad growth has turbo-charged revenue growth -- Twitter shares look priced for a bullish report.

Anything less than that will likely put some near-term selling pressure on the stock, while analysts take another shot at forecasting the company's growth.

John Shinal has covered tech and financial markets for 15 years at Bloomberg, BusinessWeek, the San Fr! ancisco C! hronicle, Dow Jones MarketWatch, Wall Street Journal Digital Network and others. Follow him on Twitter: @johnshinal.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

What Facebook knows about you

Insider recalls Facebook's early years NEW YORK (CNNMoney) Facebook has spent the past 10 years building a business upon your personal information.

The social network knows a lot about you. Clearly, it knows what you've told it -- your age, location, martial status, job, etc.

But it also knows what you like. This is based partly on obvious things -- you clicking the like button -- but also on less obvious ones. What you talk about in your postings, what content you share, even how long your cursor hovers over a particular image.

"They know more about your tastes and preferences than any company ever has," said Nate Elliott, a social media analyst at the research firm Forrester.

The trick for Facebook -- which makes 90% of its money by selling ads -- is figuring out how to use this information to capture more of the $500 billion-plus spent on advertising each year, and to do it without alienating its user base.

In San Mateo, Calif., just 11 miles north of Facebook's Bay Area headquarters, Molly McCarty uses Facebook to post ads for clients. Working for a company called 3Q Digital, McCarty's clients include the the eyewear startup Warby Parker, the e-reader app Scribd and the American Red Cross.

Some of the features Facebook (FB, Fortune 500) has recently introduced that McCarty is most excited about include the ability to target ads to people based on their activity outside of Facebook and even offline. She also enjoys the ability to upload a list of customer profiles from her clients and have Facebook generate a new list of potential customers with similar profiles.

To get a record of off-Facebook activity, Facebook partners with data collection firms to generate profiles. This can include data on Internet sear! ches as well as recent credit or debit card purchases. For the profiles of similar people, Facebook mines its databases to come up with people that match certain demographic parameters -- like age, sex or marital status.

Facebook is pretty transparent about this, and explains it in a special ads section on its web site.

To the relief of privacy advocates and probably regular Facebook users everywhere, McCarty doesn't get a list of actual people's names or contact info. Facebook is not compiling files on individual users. Instead, it collects all the data, divides it into categories, makes it anonymous, and sells it to advertisers in "buckets" of metadata, said Elliott.

For someone like McCarty, those targeted lists are gold. The number of people that click on the ads is high, and cost per sale for her customers is low.

"It's one if the strongest tools we have," said the 24-year old McCarty. "We know those people are going to perform very, very well."

Having users interact more with the ads on the site is clearly one of Facebook's main objectives.

"Our goal is to have ads that are as relevant and timely as the content your friends share with you," the company's founder, Mark Zuckerberg, said last week on a call with analysts and reporters.

Already, the company sees itself as a competitor to Google (GOOG, Fortune 500) -- a place where advertisers will go to appeal to people right before they buy a product.

"We offer the opportunity to get to people before they even search," said CEO Sheryl Sandberg on the same call.

By this, Sandberg meant the company had predictive technology what can tell you're about to search for an item, even before you search for it, said Bob Pearson, president of the technology consultancy W20 Group.

Pearson explained it as such: Your mouse hovers over an image of a pickup truck a little longer than usual one day. A few days later, you post something about pickups or 'like' someone's! photo of! their truck. The next thing you know, there's an ad from Chevy in your feed.

"They are ahead of what the consumer is actually thinking," he said.

Facebook will have to be careful to avoid two things -- saturating the consumer with too many ads, and collecting and sharing too much data from its users.

By most accounts it seems to be doing a good job on both. But the pressure to continue growing ad revenue will only mount. Facebook recently started including ads in users' news feeds -- a move the company said is paying off financially but some analysts think may be driving away users.

Soon the company will begin putting video ads in those feeds. The video will play automatically, but the sound will be muted and users will have the ability to scroll past it. It's unclear if users will view those ads in the same vein as content from friends, or as more of an annoyance.

Monday, February 3, 2014

10 Best Tech Stocks To Invest In Right Now

Google's new prepaid card will be funded by Google Wallet accounts.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) Google has entered the prepaid debit card fray.

The tech giant announced the launch of a physical prepaid card on Wednesday. The new Google Wallet Card will be tied to a customer's Google Wallet account and can be used to make purchases and withdraw money from ATMs.

Google Wallet, which has been around since 2011, is a virtual wallet that is funded by transfers from other Google Wallet users or money transferred from other bank and credit card accounts. You can then use that balance to pay with a mobile phone at certain retailers.

The venture hasn't really taken off, however -- iPhones haven't adopted the technology necessary to use the in-store payment feature, and many retailers don't have the appropriate point-of-sale equipment to process the transactions.

10 Best Tech Stocks To Invest In Right Now: support.com Inc.(SPRT)

Support.com, Inc. provides online care services for the digital home and small business primarily in North America. Its services and software products install, set up, connect, repair, and protect personal computers (PCs) and related devices that are essential to its customers; and it offers it as one-time services and subscriptions, and as software products to consumers who prefer do-it-yourself solutions. The company?s online care services include installation and setup services; connect and secure services that configure, connect, and establish secure connections between the computer, the wireless network, and supported devices; diagnose and repair services to identify, diagnose, and repair technical problems comprising the removal of viruses, spyware, and other forms of malware; and mobile device services. Its online care services also consist of tune-up services, which optimizes key systems settings for faster start-up and shut-down, loading of programs, and Internet browsing; online data backup; and server and network monitoring and management, hosted email and virtual desktops, and disaster recovery services. In addition, the company offers various software products, such as Advanced Registry Optimizer to identify and repair errors in the registry database on PCs; Cosmos software to maintain and optimize the performance of PCs; Hard Disk Tune-Up that improves the performance of a computer by defragmenting programs and data stored on the hard drive; MemTurbo, which increases available memory and improves PC performance; RapidStart software for removing or delaying unnecessary startup programs, processes, and services; and SUPERAntiSpyware software, an anti-malware technology. It provides its products and services through its channel partners and directly to consumers. The company was formerly known as SupportSoft, Inc. and changed its name to Support.com, Inc. in June 2009. Support.com, Inc. was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Redwood City, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Steve Symington]
What:�Shares of Support.com (NASDAQ: SPRT ) plunged 26% during intraday trading Thursday after the company beat expectations with its third-quarter results, but outlined disappointing support program changes which will negatively affect its business at Comcast in 2014.
[By Roberto Pedone]
Support.com (SPRT) is a provider of online care for the digital home and small business. This stock closed up 2.7% to $5.89 in Tuesday's trading session.

Tuesday's Range: $5.67-$5.92

52-Week Range: $3.67-$6.28

Thursday's Volume: 304,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 377,189

From a technical perspective, SPRT spiked higher here right above its 50-day moving average of $5.51 with decent upside volume. This move also pushed shares of SPRT into breakout territory, since the stock took out some near-term overhead resistance at $5.80. Shares of SPRT have been uptrending for the last month, with the stock moving higher from its low of $5.01 to its intraday high of $5.92. During that uptrend, shares of SPRT have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in SPRT as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $5.51 or above more near-term support at $5.43 and then once it sustains a move or close above Tuesday's high of $5.92 to its 52-week high at $6.28 with volume that hits near or above 377,189 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then SPRT will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory above $6.28, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that move are $7 to $8.

10 Best Tech Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Texada Software Inc(TXS.V)

Texada Software Inc. provides enterprise asset management and rental management software for equipment rental companies and other organizations primarily in North America, Australia, and New Zealand. It offers Systematic Rental Management System, a software package that manages rental operations from counter to customer with Web integration, complete financials and back-office, and fleet management from purchasing through maintenance to disposal; Systematic Dashboard, a business intelligence tool that delivers data on rental-specific metrics; Systematic Portal, a customer relationship management tool that allows Internet interactivity between a company and its customers; and Dynamic Reports, a tool to retrieve data, access existing reports, customize standard reports, and create new reports. The company also provides its Systematic Rental Management System in software-as-a-service model; and implementation, support, and training services for its software. Texada Software h as a strategic partnership with PROIV Technology, LLC to provide software development tools to the company. The company is headquartered in Guelph, Canada.

Hot Value Stocks To Invest In 2015: Internap Network Services Corporation(INAP)

Internap Network Services Corporation provides information technology (IT) infrastructure services. The company operates through two segments, Data Center Services and IP Services. The Data Center Services segment provides colocation services, which include physical space for hosting customers? IT infrastructure network and other equipment, as well as offers associated services, such as redundant power and network connectivity, environmental controls, and security. This segment also offers managed hosting services that enable its customers to own and manage the software applications and content, as well as provides and maintains the hardware, operating system, collocation, and bandwidth. The IP services segment provides patented performance Internet protocol (IP) service; XIP acceleration-as-a-service solution; and flow control platform, a premise-based intelligent routing hardware product for customers, who run their own multiple network architectures, known as multi-homi ng. In addition, this segment offers content delivery network services that enable its customers to stream and distribute media and content, such as video, audio software, and applications to audiences through points of presence, as well as offers capacity-on-demand services to handle events and unanticipated traffic spikes. Internap Network Services Corporation provides its services and products through 76 IP service points, which include 20 CDN POPs and 1 standalone CDN POP, as well as through 37 data centers across North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. It serves the entertainment and media, financial services, business services, software, hosting and information technology infrastructure, and telecommunications industries. The company was founded in 1996 and is based in Atlanta, Georgia.

10 Best Tech Stocks To Invest In Right Now: inmarsat ord eur0.0005(ISAT.L)

Inmarsat plc provides mobile satellite communications services for use on land, at sea, and in the air worldwide. The company offers fixed, portable, and vehicular voice and broadband data services, which enable access to office-based applications, such as email, Internet, or VPN access, as well as other applications, including videoconferencing, telemedicine, or live broadcasting. It also provides low data rate messaging, tracking, and monitoring for fixed or mobile assets; and mobile voice communications or fixed-line solutions offering connectivity for areas outside of cellular coverage. In addition, the company offers maritime broadband data and voice services; voice, fax, and data communications for both ocean-going and coastal vessels; maritime satellite phone services for use on smaller vessels; satellite communications services for global maritime distress and safety system; and crew calling services for vessel operators and shipowners. Further, it provides voice a nd data communications services for cockpit, cabin, operational, and in-flight data applications, such as voice, email, Internet and intranet access, large file transfer, and videoconferencing; and aeronautical services that support voice, data, and safety communications used by airlines and corporate jet operators. Additionally, the company offers mobile and fixed-site remote telecommunications services; turnkey remote telecommunications solutions; value-added services; and equipment and engineering services, as well as provides technical support to other operators, conference facilities, and office space leasing. It owns and operates a fleet of 11 geostationary satellites. The company provides its services through third party distribution partners and service providers. It serves the oil and gas, construction, media, aviation, maritime, utilities, mining, aid, and transportation sectors. Inmarsat plc was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

10 Best Tech Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Synchronoss Technologies Inc.(SNCR)

Synchronoss Technologies, Inc. provides on-demand transaction management solutions primarily in North America. It offers solutions to manage transactions, including device and service procurement, provisioning, activation, intelligent connectivity management, and content synchronization for communications service providers, cable operators/multi-services operators, original equipment manufacturers with embedded connectivity, and e-Tailers/retailers. The company provides ConvergenceNow, ConvergenceNow Plus+, and InterconnectNow platforms that provide on-demand order processing, transaction management, service provisioning, device activation, intelligent connectivity, and content transfer and synchronization through e-commerce, telesales, enterprise, indirect, and other retail outlet channels. It also offers PerformancePartner Portal, a graphical user interface that allows the entry of transaction data into the gateway; Gateway Manager, which offers the capability to fulfill multiple types of transactions; WorkFlow Manager that provides interaction with third-party relationships, as well as enables customers to have a single transaction view, including data from third-party systems; and Visibility Manager, which offers a centralized reporting platform for intelligent analytics around the workflow, transaction management information, historical trending, and mobile reporting for users to receive critical transaction data on mobile devices. In addition, the company provides Content Synchronization Portal that facilitates content migration across devices from different platforms; Device Client, which offers connectivity for activation, connection management, and content migration and synchronization for feature phones, smartphones, computers, and tablets. It sells its products and services through direct sales force and strategic partners. Synchronoss Technologies, Inc. was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Bridgewater, New Jersey.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Lee Jackson]
Synchronoss Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: SNCR) was added to the Credit Suisse U.S. focus list on Monday. The company trounced earnings expectations and even topped its own sales estimates for the quarter. Cloud services grew 30% from a year ago and now comprise nearly a third of total revenue. Deutsche Bank has a $40 price target, and the consensus number is at $38.
[By Roberto Pedone]
Synchronoss Technologies (SNCR) is a provider of on-demand transaction management solutions. This stock closed up 1% at $35.38 in Monday's trading session.

Monday's Volume: 508,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 284,678

Volume % Change: 80%

From a technical perspective, SNCR trended up modestly higher here right above some near-term support at $34.27 with above-average volume. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last month and change, with shares moving higher from its low of $26.60 to its recent high of $36.49. During that move, shares of SNCR have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of SNCR within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if SNCR manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $36 to its 52-week high at $36.49 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in SNCR as long as it's trending above some support at $34 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that this near or above 284,678 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then SNCR will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $40 to $43.
[By Lee Jackson]
Synchronoss Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: SNCR) may not only beat earnings, but CNBC�� Jim Cramer is touting it as a breakout stock that may be ready to explode for investors. The company provides software-based activation and personal cloud solutions for connected devices. The consensus price target for the stock is $38.

10 Best Tech Stocks To Invest In Right Now: EMC Corporation(EMC)

EMC Corporation develops, delivers, and supports the information and virtual infrastructure technologies and solutions. The company offers enterprise storage systems and software, which are deployed in storage area networks (SAN), networked attached storage (NAS), unified storage combining NAS and SAN, object storage, and/or direct attached storage environments, as well as provides backup and recovery, and disaster recovery and archiving solutions. It also offers information security solutions in various areas, such as enterprise governance, risk and compliance, data loss prevention, security information management, continuous network monitoring, fraud protection, identity assurance and access control, and encryption and key management. In addition, the company provides information intelligence software, solutions, and services, including EMC Captiva for intelligent enterprise capture; EMC Document Sciences for customer communications management; EMC Kazeon for e-discovery ; EMC Documentum xCP for building business solutions and an action engine for big data; and the EMC Documentum platform for managing and delivering enterprise information. Further, it offers virtual and cloud infrastructure products, such as virtualization and virtualization-based cloud infrastructure solutions that address a range of IT problems, as well as facilitate access to cloud computing capacity, business continuity, software lifecycle management, and corporate end-user computing device management In addition, the company provides consulting, technology deployment, managed, customer support, and training and certification services. EMC Corporation markets its products through direct sales and through multiple distribution channels in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, South Africa, and the Asia Pacific region. The company was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Hopkinton, Massachusetts.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Selena Maranjian]
Finally, Eminence Capital's biggest closed positions included EMC (NYSE: EMC ) and NetApp (NASDAQ: NTAP ) . Storage giant EMC has been tapping the bond market, borrowing $5.5 billion to help it repurchase close to 10% of its shares. It has also initiated a dividend, recently yielding 1.6%. Many see it poised to gain from the rapidly growing cloud-computing and "Big Data" arenas, and it holds an 80% ownership stake in virtualization specialist VMware, too. EMC has been posting strong numbers and, in many ways, outpacing its smaller rival NetApp.

10 Best Tech Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Mimvi Inc (MIMV)

Mimvi, Inc., formerly Fashion Net, Inc., incorporated on August 7, 2007, is a development-stage Company. The Company is a technology company that develops advanced mobile apps, algorithms and technology for personalized search, recommendation and discovery services for the mobile application and social networking industry. Its personalization technology automates the organization of content connected to mobile applications and social networking applications. The Company has developed cognitive computing technology, which is the basis for its personalized search and recommendation platform. Mobile applications are the new Websites and mobile devices are the new browsers. In April 2013, Mimvi Inc acquired FanAppic. In May 2013, Mimvi Inc acquired AndroidRays. Effective July 2, 2013, Mimvi Inc acquired Adaptive Media Inc.

Specialized Web and Mobile Content Crawling and Aggregation Systems

The Company has developed technology that algorithmically targets, aggregates and monitors mobile application marketplaces from Apple, Google, Facebook and many other mobile and social platform providers. Its technology talks to sites like these to determine what content is available to better organize for the consumer. The technology does not store content but rather data related to the content that can be used to provide search, recommendation and discovery into these content storage sites. The specialized content aggregation systems target, aggregates and monitors social networking applications, iPhone an iPad apps, Android apps and other mobile application sites and marketplaces such as those provided by Facebook, Apple, Google and other mobile carriers and platforms. The Company technology generates data that enables advanced search, recommendation and discovery of all mobile apps found on the Web and on mobile operating systems.

Advanced Personalization, Recommendation, Automated Discovery and Matching Platforms

The Company�� personalization platforms consis! t of algorithms that contextually match content to consumer demand. These algorithms gather and generate context surround this content to provide advanced search, recommendation and discovery. Mimvi algorithms are based on vector space methods. Combining these methods results in the Mimvi personalized search, recommendation, discovery and matching platforms.

Vector Space Search Indexing Technology

The individual algorithmic component of vector space indexing enables the Company to generate context vectors of context for content such as mobile apps and websites. These vectors can be compared with other vectors for advanced contextual matching of mobile applications.

Vertical & Specialized Search Engines for Mobile and Social Networking Apps

Using the above mentioned methods and platforms, its technology includes vertical search and specialized search interfaces that focus on specific content providing a more targeted search result set.

Algorithm Development Services

The Company offers vector space algorithm development for customized solutions applied to mobile platforms, social networks, consumer websites and enterprise partners.

Powerful Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) for Partners & Third Parities

All of the Company�� technology platforms come enabled with APIs for efficient access and development of third party applications. This results in a broad ecosystem of close partners that benefit from its technology.

Simplified Scalable Consumer Mobile, Social and Web Offerings

The Company�� technology�� core is its ability to offer search and recommendation technology to mobile app stores and social networks in a scalable manor to maintain user retention while increasing user adoption. These abilities enable the consumer with simple and transparent access to personalized search, recommendation and discovery interfaces.

MimviLink

MimviL! ink enables mobile application developers and advertisers to match Web and Mobile Content to relevant mobile apps. MimviLink provides a way for consumers to access mobile applications related to the content they are viewing on the Web. MimviLink enables any company or individual with a mobile application to gain greater exposure for their mobile app by having it matched and displayed next to relevant Web and mobile content.

Algorithms, Technology & IP

Personalized Search & Recommendation Platforms that Index Mobile Applications and Social Networking Applications

The Company competes with Google, Apple, Baidu, Amazon, Yandex and NetFlix.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By CRWE]
Today, MIMV has shed (-0.36%) down -0.00 at $.11 with 78,697 shares in play thus far (ref. google finance Delayed: 1:19PM EDT October 3, 2013).

Multi-channel audience and content monetization company Adaptive Media, a subsidiary of Mimvi, Inc., previously reported it has signed a Letter of Intent to acquire Ember, Inc. A Definitive Agreement in the all-stock transaction is expected to be signed in the fourth quarter of this year.

10 Best Tech Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Biogen Idec Inc(BIIB)

Biogen Idec Inc. discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets therapies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, hemophilia, and autoimmune disorders in the United States and internationally. Its marketed products include the AVONEX for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS); RITUXAN for treating relapsed or refractory, CD20-positive, and B-cell Non-Hodgkin?s lymphoma (NHL); TYSABRI to treat relapsing MS; FUMADERM for the treatment of severe plaque psoriasis in adult patients; and FAMPYRA, an oral compound for the improvement of walking in adult patients with MS with walking disability. Biogen Idec Inc.?s products under Phase III consist of PEGylated interferon beta-1a designed to prolong the effects and reduce the dosing frequency of interferon beta-1a; BG-12 for the treatment of MS; Daclizumab, a monoclonal antibody in relapsing MS; Long-lasting factor IX and VIII fusion protein for the treatment of hemophilia B; GA101, a monoclonal antibody for t he treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and NHL; and Dexpramipexole, an orally administered small molecule for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The company?s Phase I clinical trial products include Anti-LINGO for use in multiple sclerosis, Neublastin for use in neuropathic pain, CD40L for use in systemic lupus erythematosus, ANTI-TWAEK humanized monoclonal antibody for TWEAK, and BIIB037 for use in Alzheimer's disease; and Phase II clinical trial product comprises OCRELIZUMAB, a humanized monoclonal antibody for treating CD20. It has collaboration agreements with Genentech, Inc.; Elan Pharma International, Ltd; Acorda Therapeutics, Inc.; Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB; Abbott Biotherapeutics Corp; and Vernalis plc. The company was formerly known as IDEC Pharmaceuticals Corporation and changed its name to Biogen Idec Inc. in November 2003. Biogen Idec Inc. was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Weston, Massachusetts.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Wallace Witkowski]
Plus, more than 120 companies on the S&P 500 report next week with notable releases from Apple Inc. (AAPL) and Biogen Idec Inc. (BIIB) �on Monday; Gilead Sciences Inc. (GILD) �and Allergan Inc. (AGN) �on Tuesday; Starbucks Corp. (SBUX) �, General Motors Co. (GM) , and Comcast Corp. (CMCSA) �on Wednesday; along with MasterCard Inc. (MA) �and ConocoPhillips (COP) �on Thursday.
[By Ben Levisohn]
They did, however, show passion for Autonation (AN), which gained 3.1% to $46.76, benefiting, I suppose, from demand for Ford’s (F) Fusion. Biotech stocks continued their strong run today. Biogen (BIIB) gained 2.1% to $214.13, while Celgene (CELG) rose 2.5% to $142.58.

10 Best Tech Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Smartcool Systems Inc. (SSC.V)

Smartcool Systems Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in acquiring, commercializing, and marketing energy saving technologies for commercial and retail businesses worldwide. The company offers ECO3, a retrofit device that saves energy on compressor operation in air conditioning, refrigeration and heat pump systems; and energy saving modules, which are retrofit products that can save usage on compressor operation in air conditioning and refrigeration systems. Its products are used in various applications, including packaged air conditioning systems, refrigeration units, combined heat pump systems, systems with various load profiles, systems with a night set-back routine, systems with non-demand related interruptions, systems with demand limiting and demand response functionality, refrigeration racks or packs, complex process cooling systems, and single and multi-compressor air conditioning systems. Smartcool Systems Inc. distributes its products directly and throu gh distributors to customers in the food retail, telecommunications, commercial real estate, hospitality sectors, climate controlled storage, and residential sectors. The company was formerly known as Citotech Systems Inc. and changed its name to Smartcool Systems Inc. in July 2004. Smartcool Systems Inc. was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

10 Best Tech Stocks To Invest In Right Now: SDL PLC(SDL.L)

SDL plc provides global information management software and services to multinational businesses. Its Web content management, ecommerce, structured content and language technologies, and language services are used for content creation, management, translation, and publishing. The company operates through three segments: Language Services, Language Technologies, and Content Management Technologies. The Language Services segment provides translation services to customer?s multilingual content in multiple languages. The Language Technologies segment engages in the sale of enterprise, desktop, and statistical machine translation technology developed to help automate and manage multilingual assets, as well as provides associated consultancy and other services. The Content Management Technologies segment involves in the sale of content management technologies developed to help automate and manage content to deliver an interactive and personalized customer experience in multiple languages across Websites, documentation, and channels. The company serves aerospace, automotive, chemicals, oil and gas, electronics and high technology, fast moving consumer goods, finance, industrial goods, IT consulting, life science, media and publishing, public sector, services, software, telecoms, travel and tourism, and translation industries. SDL plc has a strategic partnership with Sapient. The company was founded in 1992 and is based in Maidenhead, the United Kingdom.

10 Best Tech Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Vislink(VLK.L)

Vislink plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides secure communications for the news and entertainment; law enforcement and public safety; marine and energy; and related technical services markets. It engages in the design and manufacture of microwave radio transmission equipment; satellite uplink and downlink equipment; and wireless cameras. The company also offers broadcast transmission systems integration and project management services; and technical installation services. Its CCTV systems product range includes man/machine control interfaces, unique flash lights, and thermal camera stations for ice-detection and crane and submersible applications. The company serves its customers through direct sales, value added resellers, distributors, and agents. It operates primarily in the United Kingdom, the Unites States, Norway, Dubai, Singapore, and South Africa. Vislink plc is based in Hungerford, the United Kingdom.

10 Best Tech Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Natcore Technology Inc (NXT.V)

Natcore Technology Inc. engages in the research of a thin-film growth technology enabling room-temperature growth of various silicon oxides on silicon wafers in a liquid phase deposition (LPD) process. Its LPD technology enables a range of commercial applications in the fields of solar energy, optics, green technology and energy, medical, electronics, science and research, and hardware/utility. Natcore Technology Inc. is headquartered in Red Bank, New Jersey.

10 Best Tech Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Insight Enterprises Inc.(NSIT)

Insight Enterprises, Inc. provides information technology (IT) hardware, software, and service solutions to businesses and public sector clients. Its solutions help companies enable, manage, and secure their IT environments. The company offers solutions for data center, network and security, unified communications and collaboration, office productivity, virtualization, mobility, cloud, and data protection domains. Its hardware offering categories include desktop, notebook and tablet, network and power, server and storage, and print and consumables. The company provides software and licensing technology products for office productivity, virtualization, creativity, and data protection categories. It also offers a suite of consulting, technical, and managed services for planning, deployment, operations, warranty, and maintenance. In addition, the company offers a portfolio of software asset management (SAM) services, including SAM consultation, assessment of ISO standard atta inment, and license reconciliations. It operates in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific. The company was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Tempe, Arizona.