Throughout most of 2013, you could count on the Dow Jones Industrials (DJINDICES: ^DJI ) to recover from early losses to post impressive gains by the market's close. Yet lately, the stock market has been reversing that trend, with today marking a perfect example. After climbing to a gain of more than 75 points, the Dow steadily worked its way lower throughout the day, and by the close, the Dow finished down almost 43 points. The broader stock market was closer to unchanged, with drops in bond yields and gold prices offset by oil prices that came closer to the $100 per barrel level on fears about unrest in Egypt and the potential impact on oil flows through the Suez Canal.
Yet a couple of important stocks posted significant declines in response to news events. General Electric (NYSE: GE ) fell 1.9% as it decided not to challenge a regulatory finding by the Financial Stability Oversight Council that the company's GE Capital arm is a systemically important financial institution, a term of art that imposes more regulations on the conglomerate's financial services segment. The move seems somewhat surprising in light of the company's numerous efforts to deemphasize its formerly dominant GE Capital division to favor other businesses like energy, but the division still represents a substantial part of GE's overall business, and a future financial crisis could do its share of damage to the stock.
Top New Stocks To Watch Right Now: Darden Restaurants Inc (DRI)
Darden Restaurants, Inc. (Darden), incorporated in March 1995, is a company owned and full-service restaurant company. As of May 27, 2012, the Company operated through subsidiaries 1,994 restaurants in the United States and Canada. In the United States, it operated 1,961 restaurants in all 50 states, including 677 Red Lobster, 786 Olive Garden, 386 LongHorn Steakhouse, 46 The Capital Grille, 30 Bahama Breeze, 23 Seasons 52, eight Eddie V's Prime Seafood and three Wildfish Seafood Grille restaurants, and two test synergy restaurants, which house both a Red Lobster and Olive Garden restaurant in the same building. In Canada, the Company operated 33 restaurants, including 27 Red Lobster and six Olive Garden restaurants. Through subsidiaries, it owns and operates all of its restaurants in the United States and Canada, except for three restaurants located in Central Florida that is owned by joint ventures it manages. On November 14, 2011, it acquired eight Eddie V's Prime Seafood restaurants and three Wildfish Seafood Grille restaurants.
As of May 27, 2012, the Company had 28 restaurants outside the United States and Canada operated by independent third parties pursuant to area development and franchise agreements, including five LongHorn Steakhouse restaurants in Puerto Rico, 22 Red Lobster restaurants in Japan, and one Red Lobster restaurant in Dubai. During fiscal year ended May 27, 2012, it opened 89 net new restaurants in the United States and Canada.
Red Lobster
Red Lobster is a full-service dining seafood specialty restaurant operator in the United States. It offers a menu featuring fresh fish, shrimp, crab, lobster, scallops and other seafood. The menu includes a variety of specialty seafood and non-seafood entrees, appetizers and desserts. Red Lobster maintains different lunch and dinner menus and different menus across its trade areas.
Olive Garden
Olive Garden is a full service dining Italian restaurant operator in the United Stat! es. Olive Garden�� menu includes a range of authentic Italian foods featuring fresh ingredients and a wine list that includes a selection of wines imported from Italy. The menu includes flatbreads and other appetizers, soups, salad and garlic bread sticks, baked pastas, sauted specialties with chicken, seafood and fresh vegetables, grilled meats, and a variety of desserts. Olive Garden also uses coffee imported from Italy for its espresso and cappuccino.
LongHorn Steakhouse
LongHorn Steakhouse restaurants are full-service establishments serving both lunch and dinner. With locations in 35 states, primarily in the Eastern half of the United States, LongHorn Steakhouse restaurants feature a range of menu items, including signature fresh steaks, as well as salmon, shrimp, chicken, ribs, pork chops, burgers and prime rib.
The Capital Grille
The Capital Grille has locations in metropolitan cities in the United States. The Capital Grille offers seafood flown in daily and culinary specials created by its chefs. The restaurants feature a wine list offering over 350 selections, personalized service, and private dining rooms.
Bahama Breeze
Bahama Breeze restaurants bring guests the feeling of a Caribbean escape, offering the food, drinks and atmosphere found in the islands. The menu features Caribbean-inspired seafood, chicken and steaks, as well as signature specialty drinks. During fiscal 2012, it opened four Bahama Breeze restaurant.
Seasons 52
Seasons 52 is a grill and wine bar with seasonally inspired menus offering ingredients to meals that are lower in calories than comparable restaurant meals. It offers a wine list of more than 90 wines with approximately 60 available by the glass. As of May 27, 2012, there were 23 Seasons 52 restaurants in the United States.
Synergy restaurant
Synergy restaurant houses both a Red Lobster and Olive Garden restaurant in the same building, but ! with sepa! rate front doors, dining rooms and brand-specific menus. It opened a second synergy test location during fiscal 2012.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Kell var popups = dojo.query(".socialByline .popC"); popups.forEach(func]
Activist investor Barington Capital Group LP on Wednesday called for the Darden Restaurants Inc.(DRI) to consider seeking out a new chief executive, saying it has “lost confidence” in current chief Clarence Otis’ ability to run the company.
Top 10 High Tech Stocks To Watch Right Now: Fastenal Company(FAST)
The Company Is Engaged As A Wholesaler And Retailer Of Industrial And Construction Supplies. The Industrial And Construction Supplies Were Grouped Into Ten Product Lines: Fasteners, Tools And EquipmeNt, Cutting Tools And Abrasives, Hydraulics, Pneumatics, Plumbing And Hvac, Material Handling, Storage And Packaging, Janitorial Supplies, Chemicals And Paints, Electrical Supplies, Welding Supplies, Safety Supplies And Metals, Alloys And Materials.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Shauna O'Brien]
Fastenal Company (FAST) reported higher first quarter earnings on Friday, which came in above analysts’ estimates.
FAST’s Earnings in Brief
FAST reported Q1 earnings of�$111.93 million, or 38 cents per share, up�from $109.05 million, or 37 cents per share, a year ago. Revenues rose to�$876.50 million from $806.33 million last year. On average, analysts expected to see 37 cents in earnings and revenue of �$869.99 million. The company noted that the growth in revenue was primarily due to higher unit sales. FAST also reported that although sales were negatively affected by the harsh winter in January and February, the timing of Easter should help March sales.FAST Announces Dividend
FAST will pay its next quarterly dividend of 25 cents on May 23 to shareholders of record on April 25.
Stock Performance
Fastenal Company shares were up $1.42, or 2.80% during premarket trading Friday. The stock is up 6.78% YTD.
FAST Dividend SnapshotAs of Market Close on April 10, 2014
Click here to see the complete history of FAST dividends.
- [By Dan Caplinger]
Fastenal (NASDAQ: FAST ) is slated to release its quarterly report on Wednesday. Yet although investors expect Fastenal earnings to improve slightly, the big question is whether any growth will be enough to support the stock's rich valuation. Unless Fastenal can provide a nice surprise on the earnings front, the answer to that question is likely to be no.
- [By Ben Levisohn]
The early read is mixed. Shareholders have seemed to lose patience with companies whose investment cycle seems overly extended, aggressive, or risky. For example, many shareholders have exited MSM as its investment strategy became clearer and more dilutive all the while that growth was slowing. On the other hand, investors in both 3M and EMR have taken things in more balanced stride, willing to take higher growth levels as a payback for bigger spend. It�� a tricky situation because statistically companies who are able to raise margins and ROIC the most are more likely to have stocks that outperform peers. But there are examples of companies that have invested heavily, driven to higher growth levels, and been able to more than offset the higher spend with operating leverage from the higher volume growth. Distributors�W.W. Grainger (GWW) and�Fastenal (FAST) are two notable examples.
- [By Seth Jayson]
Fastenal (Nasdaq: FAST ) is expected to report Q2 earnings around July 10. Here's what Wall Street wants to see:
The 10-second takeaway
Comparing the upcoming quarter to the prior-year quarter, average analyst estimates predict Fastenal's revenues will increase 6.5% and EPS will grow 7.9%.
Top 10 High Tech Stocks To Watch Right Now: Two Harbors Investment Corp (TWO)
Two Harbors Investment Corp. (Two Harbors), incorporated on May 21, 2009, operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT). The Company is focused on investing in, financing and managing residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS), residential mortgage loans, residential real properties, and other financial assets. The Company focuses on security selection and implements a relative value investment approach across various sectors within the residential mortgage market. Its target assets include Agency RMBS, Non-Agency RMBS, residential mortgage loans, residential real properties and other financial assets comprising approximately 5% to 10% of the portfolio. The Company has designated certain of its subsidiaries as taxable REIT subsidiaries (TRSs). Capitol Acquisition Corp. (Capitol) is a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Two Harbors. The Company is externally managed and advised by PRCM Advisers LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pine River Capital Management L.P. (Pine River).
The Company invests primarily in mortgage pass-through certificates, collateralized mortgage obligations and other residential mortgage-backed securities representing interests in or obligations backed by pools of mortgage loans issued by Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), and Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA) (collectively GSEs). The Company also invests in residential mortgage-backed securities that are not issued by the GSEs (non-Agency RMBS) and United States Treasuries. At December 31, 2011, the Company had total assets of approximately $8.1 billion, of which $6.2 billion, or 77.1%, represented its RMBS portfolio. At December 31, 2011, $5.1 billion, or 80.9%, of its RMBS portfolio was comprised of Agency RMBS, $0.9 billion, or 14.9%, of its RMBS portfolio was comprised of senior non-Agency RMBS, and the remaining $0.2 billion, or 4.2%, was comprised of other non-Agency RMBS. The remaining $1.9 billion of assets consisted p! rimarily of United States Treasuries classified as trading instruments, cash, restricted cash, mortgage loans held-for-sale, receivables, derivative assets and prepaid assets.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Amanda Alix]
All mREITs are taking it on the chin
The agency crew, led by heavy hitters Annaly Capital (NYSE: NLY ) , American Capital Agency (NASDAQ: AGNC ) , and Armour Residential (NYSE: ARR ) , have all been close to hitting 52-week lows, but the blood-letting hasn't stopped there. Even hybrid mortgage REITs, which also buy some non-agency paper, have plunged, as well. Two Harbors (NYSE: TWO ) , which enjoyed such a nice lift post-earnings about a month ago, recently sunk to new lows, and Invesco Mortgage Capital (NYSE: IVR ) has also slipped, even after its CIO's recent show of faith, making a sizable insider purchase�of stock less than two weeks ago. - [By Amanda Alix]
It didn't take hybrid mortgage REIT Two Harbors Investment (NYSE: TWO ) long to spring back -- with vigor -- after the spectacularly lousy earnings reports from agency-only player American Capital Agency (NASDAQ: AGNC ) and its hybrid buddy American Capital Mortgage. Its own first-quarter report�was to die for, and the stock has risen over 6% on the day following that announcement.
Top 10 High Tech Stocks To Watch Right Now: Henry Schein Inc. (HSIC)
Henry Schein, Inc. distributes healthcare products and services primarily to office-based healthcare practitioners. It operates in two segments, Healthcare Distribution and Technology. The Healthcare Distribution segment offers consumable dental products, dental laboratory products, and small equipment, including X-ray products, infection-control products, handpieces, preventatives, impression materials, composites, anesthetics, teeth, dental implants, gypsum, acrylics, articulators, and abrasives; and large dental equipment comprising dental chairs, delivery units and lights, X-ray equipment, equipment repair, and high-tech equipment. It also provides medical products, including branded and generic pharmaceuticals, vaccines, surgical products, diagnostic tests, infection-control products, and vitamins; and animal health products, such as branded and generic pharmaceuticals, surgical and consumable products and services, and equipment. The Technology segment offers softwar e and related products, and value-added products that primarily include practice management software systems for dental and medical practitioners, and animal health clinics. Its services also consist of financial services and continuing education services for practitioners. Henry Schein, Inc. primarily serves dental practitioners and laboratories, physician practices, and animal health clinics, as well as government and other institutions. It operates in the United States, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The company was founded in 1932 and is headquartered in Melville, New York.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Bonnanzio]
The fund�� top holdings are Telsa, Henry Schein (HSIC), United Rentals (URI), Gartner (IT) and Kansas City Southern (KSU).
The fund also has some exposure to pricey biotech. Even so, this is hardly a shoot-the-lights-out growth fund as volatility is below all his mid-cap peers. To that end, this trade actually tempers risk while increasing growth exposure.
- [By Charles Mizrahi]
Several stocks in our portfolio will benefit from this trend: Drugstore chain Walgreens (WAG), healthcare products distributor Henry Schein (HSIC), and pharmaceutical maker AstraZeneca (AZN)
Top 10 High Tech Stocks To Watch Right Now: Chimera Investment Corporation (CIM)
Chimera Investment Corporation operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT) in the United States. The company, through its subsidiaries, invests in residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS), residential mortgage loans, commercial mortgage loans, real estate-related securities, and other asset classes. Its targeted asset classes include agency or non-agency RMBS; prime, jumbo prime, and Alt-A mortgage loans; first or second lien loans secured by multifamily properties, mixed residential or other commercial properties, retail properties, office properties, or industrial properties; and asset-based securities (ABS), including commercial mortgage-backed securities, debt and equity tranches of collateralized debt obligations, and consumer and non-consumer ABS. The company has elected to be treated as a REIT for federal income tax purposes and would not be subject to income tax, if it distributes at least 90% of its REIT taxable income to its share holders. Chimera Inve stment Corporation was founded in 2007 and is based in New York, New York.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Dan Caplinger]
Because of the requirement to pay out the vast majority of their income, REITs often have extremely high dividend payouts. Mortgage REITs ARMOUR Residential (NYSE: ARR ) and Chimera Investment (NYSE: CIM ) use leveraged strategies to produce yields well in excess of 10%, while Omega Healthcare (NYSE: OHI ) and Senior Housing Properties Trust (NYSE: SNH ) , which specialize in long-term care facilities and other properties catering to older residents, both have yields between 5% and 6%.
- [By John Maxfield]
"Nepotism has never been unknown in American banking," Martin Mayer wrote in The Greatest-Ever Bank Robbery, his 1990 book about the savings-and-loan crisis. While Mayer was referring to American Continental, the notoriously corrupt holding company run into the ground by the infamous Charles Keating in the 1980s, his point rings true today in the case of Annaly Capital Management (NYSE: NLY ) and its publicly traded portfolio company Chimera Investment (NYSE: CIM ) .
Top 10 High Tech Stocks To Watch Right Now: UTStarcom Inc.(UTSI)
UTStarcom Holdings Corp. designs and sells Internet protocol (IP)-based telecommunications infrastructure products to telecommunications service providers and operators worldwide. It provides solutions in IPTV, interactive (iD) TV, Internet TV, and broadband, as well as related installation and maintenance services. It offers multimedia communications products, including RollingStream, an IPTV solution that enables a service provider to deliver broadcast television and on-demand video services to residential and commercial premises over a switched network architecture; mSwitch, a next generation network solution that enables service providers to migrate from existing circuit platforms to a next generation IP-based switch architecture, or to launch new applications in new deployment environments that have no legacy infrastructure; and a personal access system, as well as provides related consulting, technical, project, quality, and maintenance support-level services. The co mpany also provides broadband infrastructure products comprising broadband access products consisting of multi-service access node products; digital subscriber line (DSL) products, such as DSL modems, set-top boxes, and voice over the internet devices for residential and business customers; and gigabit Ethernet passive optical network products, as well as optical transport products, including packet optical transport network products, multi-service transport platform, and resilient packet ring. It sells its products through direct sales, original equipment manufacturers, distributors, resellers, agents, and licensees primarily in China, Japan, India, and other Asian markets; the United States; Latin America; and Europe. The company was formerly known as UTStarcom, Inc. and changed its name to UTStarcom Holdings Corp. in June 2011. UTStarcom Holdings Corp. was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Beijing, China.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Dan Radovsky]
DISH's reply
As expected, DISH was ready with a response, but it wasn't one that defended its numbers. Instead, DISH filed a letter with the Federal Communications Commission repeating media accounts regarding a Department of Justice investigation of bribery charges against telecommunications equipment provider UTStarcom (NASDAQ: UTSI ) . The DISH filing says Masayoshi Son was chairman of the board of UTStarcom during part of the time in which the bribery was said to occur. - [By Dan Radovsky]
Today the satellite pay-TV provider filed a letter with the Federal Communications Commission pointing to media reports about a Department of Justice investigation into charges of bribery by telecommunications equipment provider UTStarcom (NASDAQ: UTSI ) , also known as UTSI. The DOJ says the company gave $7 million to Chinese government officials in return for telecommunications sales contracts. In 2009 UTStarcom admitted to bribery and agreed to pay $1.5 million.
Top 10 High Tech Stocks To Watch Right Now: Jamba Inc.(JMBA)
Jamba, Inc., through its subsidiary, Jamba Juice Company, owns and franchises Jamba Juice stores. It operates as a restaurant retailer of specialty beverages and food products, which include fruit smoothies, squeezed juices, hot teas, hot oatmeal made with organic steel cut oats, fruit and veggie smoothies, Fit?n Fruitful smoothies with Weight Burner Boost, Whirl?ns frozen yogurt, breakfast wraps, side salads, sandwiches, California Flatbreads, and various baked goods and snacks. The company also licenses its Jamba brand name to sell consumer packaged goods through retail channels, such as grocery, mass, club, and convenience. As of January 3, 2012, it had 769 Jamba Juice stores, including 307 company-owned and operated stores; 443 franchise-operated stores in the United States; and 19 international franchise stores. The company was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Emeryville, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rick Munarriz]
It's going to be more rewarding to frequent your local Jamba (NASDAQ: JMBA ) smoothie shop.
The Jamba Juice parent announced this morning that it has chosen Spendgo to fuel the chain's new My Fruitful Rewards program after testing it out at 30 stores. When the program rolls out nationally during the first quarter of next year, guests will be able to just enter their phone number at a point-of-sale touchscreen to register and subsequently score reward points.
- [By Brian Pacampara]
What: Shares of Jamba Juice (NASDAQ: JMBA ) plummeted 19% today after the fruit smoothie chain slashed its outlook for 2013.
So what: Jamba shares have rallied nicely over the past year on steadily improving same-store sales, but yesterday's downbeat guidance reignites serious concerns over its ability to grow profitably. While the news wasn't all bad (Jamba also announced that retail giant Target�will be rolling out 1,000 JambaGo locations), management's disappointing outlook for sales, four-wall profit margins, and operating earnings suggests that Jamba's competitive position is rapidly weakening.
- [By Sean Williams]
Anything but smoothie
Fruit smoothie and juice maker Jamba (NASDAQ: JMBA ) recently completed a 1-for-5 reverse split to make its share price more attractive to more risk-averse investors and Wall Street institutions. However, no amount of cosmetic changes is enough to hide the lack of progress at Jamba over the past six years.
No comments:
Post a Comment