Learning From the Beer Pioneers

When Boston Beer (NYSE: SAM  ) founder Jim Koch decided to start up a brewery in 1984, his inspiration came from his family -- in a reverse sort of way. As the well-told tale goes, Jim's dad -- a fifth-generation brewer -- tried to steer him away from a business he saw as too tough because of the ongoing wave of consolidation.

But today Jim's company is the largest craft brewer in the nation, with almost 1% of total beer sales. Many at the recent Craft Brewers Conference count Boston Beer among their most-admired companies. Our Rex Moore took on the tough assignment of covering the conference, and asked about other companies these brewers learned from. Today, Port City Brewing founder Bill Butcher talks about fellow craft beer maker Sierra Nevada.

A Boston buy?
Boston Beer's Samuel Adams brand helped to redefine beer and kick off the craft beer revolution in the United States. Success breeds competition, though, and while just a few years ago Boston Beer had claim over most of the craft beer shelf, today the field is crowded. Can Boston Beer rise above the rest, or will it be squeezed between small local breweries on one side and global beer giants on the other? To help you decide, we've compiled a premium research report filled with everything you need to know about Boston Beer's risks and opportunities. Just click here now to find out whether Boston Beer is a buy today.

SEC money fund reform won't placate everyone

Kam Tai

Players in the $2.7 trillion money market fund industry are cautioning that even if the SEC moves ahead on its money market reform plan, not everyone will be satisfied. One big sticking point is a proposal that could leave in limbo the opaque accounts used by brokerage firms and retirement plans with retail clients.

“The devil's in the details on that issue,” said David T. Bellaire, executive vice president and general counsel for the Financial Services Institute Inc., a lobbying group for independent broker-dealers.

The Securities and Exchange Commission this year is expected to act on reforms of money market mutual funds, with the possibility of imposing a proposal that requires fluctuating share prices, or net asset values, for institutional share classes. Industry representatives, however, expect the regulator to leave largely intact a legal regime that allows retail customers to rely on the consistent pricing of the products at $1 per share — a hallmark of money market funds.

At stake is the definition of what exactly qualifies as an institutional fund, including the status of an unknown number of accounts processed internally by firms such as broker-dealers, rather than fund companies, according to several observers of fund industry regulation.

Many funds have a half dozen share classes in the gray area between institutional and retail, according to Peter G. Crane, founder of research firm Crane Data.

“Everything in between possibly could come under an intermediary that may be eligible for look-through treatment,” Mr. Crane said. “The real question is going to be: How are those details written, and how liberal are they, and how easily could brokerages or intermediaries take advantage of those loopholes?”

(See also: SEC's Piwowar talks fiduciary, money fund reform.)

RETAIL VS. INSTITUTIONAL

The retail-fund industry has argued that retail investors have been less likely than their institutional counterparts to withdraw assets quickly when markets are stressed, as was the case in 2008 when there was a run on money market funds. And in its latest reform effort, the SEC has suggested leaving retail accounts largely untouched by a potential “floating-NAV proposal.”

The structure of that proposal, which would require funds to impose a $1 million daily redemption limit to qualify as retail, drew criticism from large fund companies that administer retail money market funds. In letters to the agency, fund companies argued the redemption limit was either too low or presented practical challenges to operating the funds, in part because of the difficulty of closely scrutinizing trading activity in “omnibus” accounts.

Precise data are impossible to obtain about the so-called omnibus accounts, even for the fund sponsors that supply them. But a 2008 survey by financial services consultancy KDS Partners found that about half of U.S. investor acc

Best Penny Companies To Own For 2014

Best Penny Companies To Own For 2014: Full House Resorts Inc.(FLL)

Full House Resorts, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, develops, manages, invests in, and owns gaming-related enterprises. The company holds interest in Gaming Entertainment (Delaware), LLC, a joint venture with Harrington Raceway, Inc., which has a management contract with Harrington Raceway and Casino that has approximately 1,800 slot machines and 40 table games, a 450-seat buffet, a dining restaurant, a 50-seat diner, and an entertainment lounge area located in Harrington, Delaware. It also owns and operates Stockman?s Casino, which has approximately 264 slot machines, 4 table games, and keno, as well as a bar, a dining restaurant, and a coffee shop situated in Fallon, Nevada. In addition, the company holds interests in Gaming Entertainment Michigan, LLC that has a joint venture with RAM Entertainment, LLC, which has a management agreement with the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi Indians for the development and management of the FireKeepers Casino in Battle Cre ek, Michigan. Full House Resorts, Inc. was founded in 1987 and is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Full House Resorts (NASDAQ: FLL) is estimated to post a Q4 loss at $0.06 per share on revenue of $33.24 million.

  Urban Outfitters (NASDAQ: URBN) is expected to post its Q4 earnings at $0.55 per share on revenue of $927.86 million.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/best-penny-companies-to-own-for-2014.html

Best Buy: On the Right Track?

Best Safest Stocks To Watch For 2014

The big picture investment thesis for this recommendation hinges on our belief that there is room in the market for a big box type brick-and-mortar consumer electronics store, says Tyler Laundon, editor of 100% Letter.

Best Buy (BBY) is the world's largest electronics chain. It's trying to compete on price, among other attributes. And its turnaround comes at a time when consumer electronics in the US had a tough year. But I think management is on the right track and is well positioned to grow the business over the coming year.

The company has cut more costs than expected. Its Renew Blue program called for $725 million in cuts. But, as of the end of the fiscal year, BBY delivered cuts of $765 million. Now, CEO Hubert Joly sees $1 billion as the next target.

Another bright spot was that comparable online sales were up by 25.8% to $1.57 billion in Q4. If we step back and look at the full year, online sales growth of 19.8% in 2013 is a big step in the right direction. And this comes on top of 11.4% online sales growth in 2012, with a really bad Web site.

While BBY's online sales are still well behind those of many competitors, it's important to realize the company has achieved this growth despite a still-antiquated Web site and fulfillment strategy.

Late in 2013, many improvements were in place, but rolling out an integrated online and in-store sales strategy isn't an overnight project and I expect we'll see continued improvement in the year ahead.

Is BBY's turnaround a sure thing? No, of course not. But it still appears to me to be intact, despite the rough comparable holiday sales and the subsequent stock crash.

Yes, the company has a lot of room to improve, both in store and online. But that's why this is a turnaround story, and not a growth story. The turnaround isn't yet complete. I see the next 12 months as a make-or-break period for the company.

As BBY rolls into 2014 with these improvements largely in place, their focus will be on getting customers to open their wallets.

At the current share price, investors should decide now if they believe BBY will be successful over the coming one-to-three years. I do, and I've opened my wallet and added more shares to my personal account. My advice is that you do the same.

Subscribe to 100% Letter here…

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Boeckl's Bets: The Long-Cycle for Tech

Apple Unveils CarPlay

10 Best Stocks To Own For 2014

10 Best Stocks To Own For 2014: Alamos Gold Inc (AGI)

Alamos Gold Inc. is engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and extraction of precious metals in Mexico and Turkey. It owns and operates the Mulatos mine (Mulatos or the Mine) and holds the mineral rights to the Salamandra group of concessions in the State of Sonora, Mexico. The Mulatos mine is approximately 220 kilometers by air east of the City of Hermosillo. In addition, the Company owns the Agi Dagi and Kirazli advanced-stage gold development projects located in the Biga Peninsula of northwestern Turkey. Agi Dagi is located about 50 kilometers southeast of Canakkale, and Kirazli is located approximately 25 kilometers northwest of Agi Dagi. In January 2013, it acquired 14.3% interest of Aurizon Mines Ltd. (Aurizon). In August 2013, the Company acquired Esperanza Resources Corp. In September 2013, the Company announced that it has completed the acquisition of Orsa Ventures Corp. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  Alamos Gold Inc. (NYSE: AGI) was reinstated as Buy with a target price of $21 in Canada, which would translate to closer to $20 in U.S. share prices (versus $16.33 current), at BofA/Merrill Lynch.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/10-best-stocks-to-own-for-2014.html

5 Best Retail Stocks To Invest In Right Now

With shares of Nike (NYSE:NKE) trading around $73, is NKE an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE, or STAY AWAY? Let�� analyze the stock with the relevant sections of our CHEAT SHEET investing framework:

T = Trends for a Stock’s Movement

Nike is engaged in the design, development, and worldwide marketing and selling of footwear, apparel, equipment, accessories, and services. The company sells its products to retail accounts through retail stores and Internet sales, and through a mix of independent distributors and licensees around the world. Nike focuses its product offerings in seven key categories: Running, Basketball, Soccer, Men�� Training, Women�� Training, Nike Sportswear, and Action Sports. It also markets products designed for kids, as well as for other athletic and recreational uses.

Nike shares are up this morning as Nike�� fiscal first-quarter earnings topped expectations, posting a 34.4 percent growth to 86 cents a share. Analysts had estimated that figure would be 78 cents. Revenue grew 4.5 percent to $6.97 billion. Nike reported strong sales in the U.S. and internationally, but sales in China slipped. Basketball, running, soccer, and men�� training equipment sold particularly well during the quarter.

5 Best Retail Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Burlington Stores Inc (BURL)

Burlington Stores, Inc., incorporated on February 13, 2013, is a national off-price retailer of branded apparel, operating 503 stores, inclusive of an Internet store, in 44 states and Puerto Rico. The Company offers its merchandise using an Every Day Low Price (EDLP) model with savings up to 60-70% off department and specialty store regular prices. It provides its customers with a selection of fashionable branded product in women�� ready-to-wear apparel, menswear, youth apparel, baby products, footwear, accessories, home goods and coats. The Company merchandise from over 3,500 vendors, with a focus on nationally-recognized brands. This vendor breadth provides its customers with a treasure hunt experience of searching for great brands at great value.

The Company�� average store size is approximately 80,000 square feet, which is two to three times the size of its off-price competitors��stores. Its larger store size has allowed the Company to offer more categories and substantially more breadth in each product category than its off-price competitors and to establish ourselves as a destination for select categories, including coats, youth and baby, special-occasion dresses and men�� tailored apparel.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Equities Trading UP
  Burlington Stores (NYSE: BURL) shares shot up 11.91 percent to $28.99 on Q4 results. Burlington Stores reported its Q4 earnings of $1.07 per share, versus analysts' estimates of $1.03 per share.

• [By Sue Chang]

  Burlington Stores Inc. (BURL) �is likely to post fourth-quarter earnings of $1.03 a share.

• [By John Kell and Tess Stynes var popups = dojo.query(".socialByline .popC"); p]

  Among the companies expected to actively trade in Thursday’s session are Burlington Stores Inc.(BURL), ConAgra Foods Inc.(CAG) and Guess Inc.(GES)

5 Best Retail Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Tim Hortons Inc.(THI)

Tim Hortons Inc. develops, franchises, and operates quick service restaurants primarily in Canada and the United States. Its restaurants serve coffee and other hot and cold beverages, baked goods, sandwiches, soups, and other food products. As of April 03, 2011, the company and its restaurant owners operated 3,169 restaurants in Canada and 613 restaurants in the United States under the Tim Hortons name; and had 274 primarily self-serve licensed locations in the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom Tim Hortons Inc. was founded in 1964 and is based in Oakville, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Charles Carlson]

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

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

  Subscribe to Dow Theory Forecasts here��/p>

• [By Chad Fraser]

  Tim Hortons (NYSE: THI) is Canada’s leading coffee chain, with 3,468 outlets in the country, as well as 807 in the U.S. and 29 in the Middle East.

Top 5 Sliver Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Dollar General Corporation(DG)

Dollar General Corporation operates as a discount retailer of general merchandise in the southern, southwestern, midwestern, and eastern United States. The company offers consumables, including paper towels, bath tissue, paper dinnerware, trash and storage bags, laundry, and other home cleaning supplies; packaged food and perishables; beverages and snacks, such as candies, cookies, crackers, salty snacks, and carbonated beverages; over-the-counter medicines and personal care products; and pet supplies and pet food products. It also provides seasonal products consisting of decorations, toys, batteries, small electronics, greeting cards, stationery, prepaid cell phones and accessories, gardening supplies, hardware, and automotive and home office supplies; home products comprising kitchen supplies, cookware, small appliances, light bulbs, storage containers, frames, candles, craft supplies, and bed and bath soft goods; and apparel products, such as casual everyday apparel for infants, toddlers, girls, boys, women and men, as well as offers socks, underwear, disposable diapers, shoes, and accessories. In addition, the company holds a license to Bobbie Brooks clothing, as well as the Fisher Price brand for various items of children's clothing. As of May 25, 2011, it operates approximately 9,500 stores in 35 states. The company was formerly known as J.L. Turner & Son, Inc. and changed its name to Dollar General Corporation in 1968. Dollar General Corporation was founded in 1939 and is based in Goodlettsville, Tennessee.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sue Chang]

  Dollar General (DG) �is forecast to post fourth-quarter earnings of $1.01 a share, according to a consensus survey by FactSet.

5 Best Retail Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Kohl's Corporation(KSS)

Kohl?s Corporation operates department stores in the United States. The company?s stores offer private and exclusive, as well as national branded apparel, footwear, and accessories for women, men, and children; soft home products, such as sheets and pillows; and housewares primarily to middle-income customers. As of January 29, 2011, it operated 1,089 stores in 49 states. The company also offers on-line shopping on its Web site at Kohls.com. Kohl?s Corporation was founded in 1962 and is headquartered in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Barbara Kollmeyer]

  Among stocks in focus, shares of retailers such as Amazon Inc. (AMZN) � Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) �and Kohl�� Corp. (KSS) �could grab attention as retailers try to compete in post-Christmas sales efforts. Some retailers, such as Amazon, may also be in focus due to a delay in the delivery of Christmas packages by United Parcel Service Inc. (UPS) �and FedEx Corp. (FDX) .

• [By Tom Taulli]

  Valuation. JCP is trading at only 0.16 times overall sales — a bargain if you believe in the store’s recovery. This compares to Macy�� (M) and Kohl’s (KSS) at multiples of 0.6.�Something else: JCP still has some heavy-hitters that are long the stock, including George Soros, Richard Perry of Perry Capital and Kyle Bass of Hayman Capital as of the most recent SEC filings.

• [By Tom Taulli]

  Competition: While TJX attempts to undercut more traditional retailers, it has plenty of competition in the deep-discount game, Ross Stores (ROST), Kohl’s (KSS) and Burlington Stores (BURL). TJX also must contend with big-box operators like Target (TGT). So far, TJX has been able to dig itself a niche and remain fairly differentiated, but it’s fair to point out the danger in slipping — in retail, customers always have plenty of alternatives.

• [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET]

  Kohl�� is a department store retailer that operates locations across the United States. The company reported third-quarter earnings, and, like Wal-Mart, the company�� results showed that the retail landscape is still challenging leading up to the holiday shopping season. The stock has not made significant progress in recent years and is now pulling back from highs for the year. Over the last four quarters, earnings and revenues have been rising. However, investors have had mixed feelings about recent earnings announcements. Relative to its peers and sector, Kohl�� has been a relative performance leader year-to-date. Look for Kohl’s to OUTPERFORM.

5 Best Retail Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Gamestop Corporation (GME)

GameStop Corp. operates as a retailer of video game products and personal computer (PC) entertainment software. It sells new and used video game hardware; video game software; used video game products; and video game accessories, which primarily consist of controllers, memory cards, and other add-ons, as well as strategy guides and trading cards. The company also offers PC entertainment and other software across various genres, including sports, action, strategy, adventure/role playing, and simulation, as well as products that relate to the digital category comprising network point cards, prepaid digital and online timecards, and digitally downloadable software. GameStop Corp. sells its products through stores, as well as through its electronic commerce Web sites, including gamestop.com, ebgames.com.au, gamestop.ca, gamestop.it, gamestop.es, gamestop.ie, gamestop.de, and micromania.fr. As of July 12, 2011, its retail network and family of brands included 6,573 company-oper ated stores in 17 countries worldwide. The company also publishes Game Informer, a video game magazine in the United States; and operates the online video gaming Web sites kongregate.com and joltonline.com. GameStop Corp. was founded in 1994 and is based in Grapevine, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Demitrios Kalogeropoulos]

  GameStop (NYSE: GME  ) wants your old smartphone -- really.

  The company just expanded the list of devices that it accepts for trade-in cash or store credit. New names from Samsung, BlackBerry, and Motorola have all been added to the list, which already includes the Apple iPhone 5, and tablets like the Galaxy Tab. And to add icing to the cake, GameStop is even offering a bonus for shoppers who give up their old devices within the next few weeks.

4 Big Stocks to Trade (or Not)

BALTIMORE (Stockpickr) -- Put down the 10-K filings and the stock screeners. It's time to take a break from the traditional methods of generating investment ideas. Instead, let the crowd do it for you.

>>5 Rocket Stocks Worth Buying This Week

From hedge funds to individual investors, scores of market participants are turning to social media to figure out which stocks are worth watching. It's a concept that's known as "crowdsourcing," and it uses the masses to identify emerging trends in the market.

Crowdsourcing has long been a popular tool for the advertising industry, but it also makes a lot of sense as an investment tool. After all, the market is completely driven by the supply and demand, so it can be valuable to see what names are trending among the crowd.

While some fund managers are already trying to leverage social media resources like Twitter to find algorithmic trading opportunities, for most investors, crowdsourcing works best as a starting point for investors who want a starting point in their analysis. Today, we'll leverage the power of the crowd to take a look at some of the most active stocks on the market today.

>>5 Stocks Poised for Breakouts

These "most active" names are the most heavily-traded names on the market -- and often, uber-active names have some sort of a technical or fundamental catalyst driving investors' attention on shares. That's especially true now that earnings season is officially underway. And when there's a big catalyst, there's often a trading opportunity.

Without further ado, here's a look at today's stocks.

Cisco Systems

Nearest Resistance: $22.75

Nearest Support: $21.50

Catalyst: Technical Setup

Cisco Systems (CSCO) is bouncing this afternoon, following Friday's breakdown through an important technical level at $21.50. Today's rebound is giving buyers a second chance to assert themselves before shares move lower. From here, the downside target comes in at $20.25.

Keep a close eye on where CSCO closes this afternoon.

Synovus Financial

Nearest Resistance: $3.55

Nearest Support: $3.20

Catalyst: Technical Setup

Shares of mid-cap financial firm Synovus Financial (SNV) are trading on big volume this afternoon as buyers and sellers battle it out over where this stock should sit following tomorrow's ex-dividend date.

Despite the fight buyers are putting up, sellers have been on the right side of SNV's price action more recently. This stock has putting in a textbook rounding top pattern, and support at $3.20 looks like a solid downside target at this point. Unless buyers can assert themselves into catching a bid above $3.55 resistance, it doesn't make sense to go jump in here.

EMC

Nearest Resistance: N/A

Nearest Support: $26.50

Catalyst: Technical Setup

Computer storage stock EMC (EMC) has been turning out some solid performance in 2014, up more than 9% since the calendar flipped over to January. Now, with a bullish technical setup pushing EMC to new highs on big volume this afternoon, buyers are getting another high-probability opportunity to harness the momentum in this stock.

Making new highs is significant from an investor psychology standpoint because it means that everyone who has bought shares in the last year is sitting on gains. As a result, the "back to even" mentality is less of a concern than it would be for a name with a higher proportion of shareholders sitting on losses. If you decide to be a buyer here, I'd recommend keeping a stop under support at $26.50.

Kandi Technologies Group

Nearest Resistance: N/A

Nearest Support: $17

Catalyst: Earnings

Chinese electric car company Kandi Technologies Group (KNDI) is breaking out to new highs today, after posting better-than-expected earnings. Kandi's sales doubled last quarter, buoyed by increasing demand for low-cost electric vehicles in China. The market reaction shoved KNDI to new highs, following this stock's fourth bounce off of trendline support since December.

KNDI's trading within a well-formed uptrend gives traders a high-probability range for shares to remain within. And despite the 22.75% rally in today's session, shares are only midway through the channel as I write. That leaves a lot of upside room before buyers get fatigued.

Traders who aren't risk-averse should consider jumping in here, just keep a tight stop in place.

To see these stocks in action, check out the at Most-Active Stocks portfolio on Stockpickr.



-- Written by Jonas Elmerraji in Baltimore.

RELATED LINKS:

>>3 Stocks Spiking on Big Volume

>>5 Toxic Stocks to Watch Out For

>>5 Stocks Charts Screaming "Buy" in March

Follow Stockpickr on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

At the time of publication, author had no positions in stocks mentioned.

Jonas Elmerraji, CMT, is a senior market analyst at Agora Financial in Baltimore and a contributor to

TheStreet. Before that, he managed a portfolio of stocks for an investment advisory returned 15% in 2008. He has been featured in Forbes , Investor's Business Daily, and on CNBC.com. Jonas holds a degree in financial economics from UMBC and the Chartered Market Technician designation.

Follow Jonas on Twitter @JonasElmerraji

Best Value Companies To Buy Right Now

Best Value Companies To Buy Right Now: Tupperware Corporation(TUP)

Tupperware Brands Corporation operates as a direct seller of various products across a range of brands and categories through an independent sales force. The company engages in the manufacture and sale of kitchen and home products, and beauty and personal care products. It offers preparation, storage, and serving solutions for the kitchen and home, as well as kitchen cookware and tools, children?s educational toys, microwave products, and gifts under the Tupperware brand name primarily in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Asia Pacific, and North America. The company provides beauty and personal care products, which include skin care products, cosmetics, bath and body care, toiletries, fragrances, nutritional products, apparel, and related products principally in Mexico, South Africa, the Philippines, Australia, and Uruguay. It offers beauty and personal care products under the Armand Dupree, Avroy Shlain, BeautiControl, Fuller, NaturCare, Nutrimetics, Nuvo, and Swissgar de brand names. The company sells its Tupperware products directly to distributors, directors, managers, and dealers; and beauty products primarily through consultants and directors. As of December 26, 2009, the Tupperware distribution system had approximately 1,800 distributors, 61,300 managers, and 1.3 million dealers; and the sales force representing the Beauty businesses approximately 1.1 million. The company was formerly known as Tupperware Corporation and changed its name to Tupperware Brands Corporation in December 2005. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Orlando, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jonathan Berr]

  Multilevel marketing (MLM) groups such as Herbalife operate through independent sales representatives, who earn money both through the sales of product and by recruiting other people to join their team.! This business model — which is used by scores of companies, including Pampered Chef, which is owned by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B), Tupperware (TUP) and Mary Kay Cosmetics — is legal provided that actual products are sold.

• [By Johanna Bennett]

  Corporate earnings took a back seat today to the Fed's latest policy decision. Still, quarterly financial results, and other news sent shares of McCormick & Co. (MKC) and Tupperware (TUP), falling during regular market hours Here's a rundown of several of today's moves:

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/best-value-companies-to-buy-right-now.html

Russia's U.S. debt not a threat

  Billions at stake in Russia standoff NEW YORK (CNNMoney) Russia and the United States have levers to pull in their diplomatic showdown over Ukraine, but the amount of U.S. debt held by Russia won't be one of them.

For one, Russia owns a fairly modest amount of U.S. Treasuries -- and that figure is shrinking. So even if Russia dumped its holdings, it wouldn't have much of an impact.

Figures released Tuesday by the U.S. Treasury Department show Russia owned $132 billion worth of Treasuries at the end of January, down 5% from December.

That might seem like a lot, but it's just a little more than 10% of what China or Japan hold -- more than $1 trillion each. And it places it just behind tiny Luxembourg, which owns $135 billion.

Furthermore, even if the U.S. imposes further sanctions on Russia, it might have trouble freezing its Treasury holdings. That's because Russia might have just moved a large chunk out of an account at the U.S. Federal Reserve.

A report released by the Fed last week showed that the total amount of Treasuries held by the U.S. central bank for foreign governments fell by more than $100 billion, marking the biggest weekly decline on record.

The Fed does not break out who it's holding the Treasuries for, but the amount of the decline, combined with earlier data on Russia's holdings, led bond traders and experts to assume Russia had decided to move its holdings instead of selling.

"It's speculation but it appears that the Russians decided to move some Treasuries to some place a little farther removed from Treasury's reach," said Lou Crandall at Wrightson ICAP. "If that much had been dumped in outright sales, it would have been noticed by the market. So the odds are that they were changing custody of! the holdings."

  Can the U.S. really squeeze Putin?

But Crandall said that even if Russia did decide to liquidate, rather than simply move, its Treasuries, it wouldn't be enough to rattle a market that includes foreign holdings of $5.8 trillion, and the Fed's $2.3 trillion.

"There would be an initial impact while people try to figure out what was happening," said Crandall. "But once it became clear, given that the limited magnitude of the Russian holdings, even concentrated selling would have only transitory impact."

Top Value Companies For 2014

Top Value Companies For 2014: Dollar Tree Inc.(DLTR)

Dollar Tree, Inc. operates discount variety stores in the United States and Canada. Its stores offer merchandise primarily at the fixed price of $1.00. The company operates its stores under the names of Dollar Tree, Deal$, Dollar Tree Deal$, Dollar Giant, and Dollar Bills. Its stores offer consumable merchandise, including candy and food, and health and beauty care, as well as household consumables, such as paper, plastics, household chemicals, in select stores, and frozen and refrigerated food; variety merchandise, which includes toys, durable housewares, gifts, party goods, greeting cards, softlines, and other items; and seasonal goods, such as Easter, Halloween, and Christmas merchandise. As of April 30, 2011, it operated 4,089 stores in 48 states and the District of Columbia, as well as 88 stores in Canada. The company was founded in 1986 and is based in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lawrence Meyers]

  This isn't some growing new industry set to take the world further into the 21st century. It's an old concept that hasn't innovated, won't innovate, and will slowly but surely die out over this century. When I walk into a Walgreens, I see a miniature Target (TGT), a more expensive Dollar Tree (DLTR), and a provider of prescriptions in a world where everything is becoming mail order.

• [By Paul Ausick]

  The other stock the firm likes is Dollar Tree Inc. (NASDAQ: DLTR). The company's shares have lost about 4.6% since reporting an earnings per share (EPS) miss for the third quarter and the Sterne Agee analysts see the lower price as a "great entry point" for buying the stock. Dollar Tree raised fiscal year 2013 EPS guidance from a range of $2.66 to $2.77 to a new range of $2.72 to $2.78, effectively raising the mid-point by $0.04. Sterne Agee reiterated its Buy rating on the stock ! with a price target of $63. Dollar Tree's shares are trading down nearly 0.4% at $55.99 in a 52-week range of $37.47 to $60.19.

• [By Ben Eisen]

  Perpetually struggling department store J.C. Penney Co. (JCP)  said it expects a sales boost this holiday season as it returns to a promotional strategy. But for the most part, retailers including Dollar Tree Inc. (DLTR)  , GameStop Corp. (GME)   and Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (ANF)   gave dour outlooks in their earnings reports.

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Big Earnings Movers: Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT) is down 3.5% at $64.19. Sears Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: SHLD) is down 2.9% at $59.93 on a wider loss and tepid outlook. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. (NASDAQ: GMCR) is up 14.1% at $70.57 indicating that investors liked the results posted after markets closed on Wednesday. Dollar Tree Inc. (NASDAQ: DLTR) is down 4.5% at $56.28. Abercrombie & Fitch Inc. (NYSE: ANF) is down 0.1% at $34.97.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-value-companies-for-2014.html

5 Best Medical Stocks To Own For 2014

5 Best Medical Stocks To Own For 2014: HeartWare International Inc (HTWR)

Heartware International, Inc. (HeartWare), incorporated on June 25, 2010, develops and manufactures small implantable heart pumps, or ventricular assist devices, for the treatment of advanced heart failure. The HeartWare Ventricular Assist System (the HeartWare System), which includes a ventricular assist device (VAD), or blood pump, patient accessories and surgical tools, is designed to provide circulatory support for patients in the advanced stage of heart failure. The core of the HeartWare System is a continuous flow blood pump, the HVAD Pump, which is a full-output device capable of pumping up to 10 liters of blood per minute. The HeartWare System is designed to be implanted adjacent to the heart, avoiding the abdominal surgery generally required to implant similar devices. In August 2012, it acquired World Heart Corporation. As of December 31, 2012, the HeartWare System has been implanted outside of the United States at approximately 168 health care sites in 28 countr ies. In December 2013, HeartWare International Inc acquired CircuLite, Inc.

Proprietary Pump Technology

The HeartWare System is full-output centrifugal pump designed to be implanted in the chest, directly adjacent to the heart. At the core of the Company's technology platform is its hybrid system for suspending the impeller, which is the only moving part within the pump. The impeller is suspended within the pump housing by the opposing forces of passive magnets and hydrodynamic thrust generated by the pump impeller, which circulates a cushion of

blood. Once power is applied to the device and the impeller begins to rotate, there are no points of mechanical contact within the pump, thus providing a completely wearless pumping system.

The HeartWare System

The HeartWare System consists of the HVAD Pump, a sma! ll, permanently implantable VAD, patient accessories and surgical tools. The HVAD Pump is capable of generating up to 10 liters of blood flow per minute. With a displaced v! olume of only 50 cubic centimeters and a mass of 140 grams, the HVAD Pump is the only full-output pump implantable in the pericardial space, directly adjacent to the heart. It is also the only pump designed to be implanted above the diaphragm in all eligible patients.

The HeartWare MVAD

The miniaturized ventricular assist device (MVAD) is a miniaturized blood pump intended for chronic heart failure patients. The device is a full-output axial flow pump with a fully suspended rotor and a displacement volume approximately one-third that of the HVAD Pump.

The Company competes with Thoratec Corporation, Jarvik Heart, MicroMed Technology, Inc, Berlin Heart AG, Terumo Heart, Inc., Sunshine Heart, Inc and CircuLite, Inc., Evaheart Medical USA, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lauren Pollock]

  Medical device company HeartWare International Inc.(HTWR) issued a revenue forecast that fell short of market expectations.

  Intrepid Potash Inc.(IPI), the largest potash producer in the U.S., plans to cut its workforce by 7% and cut executive compensation as part of a plan to trim costs in reaction to weaker prices for the fertilizer ingredient.

• [By Todd Campbell]

  Competing for heart pump market share
  Abiomed's products provide circulatory support for up to six hours and are designed for use in cardiac cath labs or during heart surgery, but competitors Thoratec (NASDAQ: THOR  ) and Heartware (NASDAQ: HTWR  ) target the intermediate- and long-term-use market instead.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/5-best-medical-stocks-to-own-for-2014.html

Borrowers paying mortgages over credit cards again

In September, borrowers started making their mortgage payments a priority again.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) As the housing market and hiring continue to recover, consumers are making their mortgage payments a priority again.

A growing number of borrowers are paying off their home loans before their credit card debts, reversing a trend first seen in September 2008, according to a TransUnion study that examined the delinquency rates of borrowers with mortgages, auto loans and credit card debt.

The delinquency rate for mortgages fell to 1.71% in December, down from 3.32% in September 2008. Meanwhile, the rate of credit card delinquencies was 1.83% in December, down from 3.29% in 2008.

After the housing bubble burst, many borrowers owed more on their homes than they were worth and stopped making mortgage payments a priority.

"As unemployment rose and home prices cratered, many borrowers chose to value their credit card relationships above their mortgages," said Ezra Becker, vice president of research and consulting for TransUnion. "When people lose jobs they need credit cards as a source of liquidity."

  3 reasons to ignore the bad housing news

Yet, last September the delinquency rates began to shift to pre-recession norms: Mortgage delinquencies fell to 1.79%, while credit card delinquencies came in at 1.86%, TransUnion found.

One debt borrowers continue to prioritize over everything else is auto loans, mainly because they rely on their cars to get to work.

In December, the delinquency rate on auto loans was 0.87%, compared with 1.65% in September 2008.

The economic recovery, has eased loan payment problems of all kinds. Unemployment, at a February rate of 6.7%, is more than three percentage points lower than it was in September 2009 when mortgage delinquencies reached a peak of 4.92%, according to TransUnion's data.

Top Gas Stocks To Own Right Now

Top Gas Stocks To Own Right Now: Athabasca Oil Corp (ATHOF.PK)

Athabasca Oil Corporation, formerly Athabasca Oil Sands Corp., is focused on the exploration and development of unconventional oil resource plays in Alberta, Canada. The Company is organized into two divisions: thermal oil and light oil. Thermal oil includes the Company's assets, liabilities and operating results for the exploration, development and production of bitumen from sand and carbonate rock formations located in the Athabasca region of Northern Alberta. Light oil includes the Company's assets, liabilities and operating results for the exploration, development and production of unconventional oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids located in various regions in the province of Alberta. Athabasca has accumulated more than 1.5 million (net) acres of oil sands leases in the Athabasca area of northern Alberta. The Company's oil sands projects are Hangingstone (100%), Dover West Sands (100%), Dover West Carbonates (100%), Dover (40%), Birch (100%) and Grosmont (50%) . Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Stephan Dube]

  Athabasca's most notable producers:

  Suncor Energy (SU) (Part 1), see article here.Suncor Energy (Part 2), see article here.Athabasca Oil (ATHOF.PK), see article here.Canadian Natural Resources, see article here.Imperial Oil, see article here.Cenovus Energy (CVE), see article here.MEG Energy (MEGEF.PK), see article here.Devon Energy, see article here.Royal Dutch Shell, see article here.Ivanhoe Energy (IVAN), see article here.Nexen (CNOOC) (CEO), see article here.

  An analysis of the current operations of the company will be examined with the objective to provide the most complete information available to potential investors before deciding to seize the opportunity that the 54,132 square miles of the Carbonate Triangle has to offer. Let's start by introducing Athabasca, a famous and most prolific region in the Cana! dian oil sands as well as one of the largest reserve in the world.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-gas-stocks-to-own-right-now-2.html

The Maxims of Wall Street

Wall Street legend Mark Skousen, shares several investment sayings, made famous by experts like Warren Buffett, which appear in the third edition of his book, Maxims of Wall Street.

TERRY SAVAGE:  I am Terry Savage from Money Show.com talking with one of the living legends.

MARK SKOUSEN:  THE!

TERRY SAVAGE:  The living legend on Wall Street, Mark Skousen, but before you change the camera angle, let me show you this.  This is the third edition, leather bound, little book of the Maxims of Wall Street.  You must get this for a gift for, I do not know, a high school graduate, college graduate or just anybody who cares about the markets.  Mark Skousen, tell me about the Maxims of Wall Street.

MARK SKOUSEN:  Well the third edition is the first edition that has you quoted in it, yes.

TERRY SAVAGE:  Oh my gosh, you just handed this to me.  I am really in here?  It cannot be all smart people in there then.

MARK SKOUSEN:  Yes, exactly.  Look in the back, see where it is and while I am speaking about…

TERRY SAVAGE:  All right, I am going to look.  Tell me what is in here.

MARK SKOUSEN:  Well we have over 800 quotes.  Since 1992, I have been compiling all the Wall Street sayings like “sell in May and go away” and stuff like that.  Warren Buffett, he is quoted and in fact endorsed the book largely because he is quoted more than anybody else.  I have Jesse Livermore and Joe Kennedy.

TERRY SAVAGE:  I found where you put, quick move the camera. 

MARK SKOUSEN:  Pretty good about the women and divorce or what was it. 

TERRY SAVAGE:  All right, here is mine.  If you marry a rich man beware, either they do not stay rich or they do not married.

MARK SKOUSEN:  Yes, isn’t that a great quote.

TERRY SAVAGE:  Well okay, I said that before.  I have tried that before actually. 

MARK SKOUSEN:  I should have put the Savage number in there or something like that.

TERRY SAVAGE:  The Savage truth, all right, but that is terrific.

MARK SKOUSEN:  That is actually a very profound statement, if you think about it.

TERRY SAVAGE:  Oh it is.  Believe me, I know it for sure.  The Maxims of Wall Street available on Amazon.com and Mark Skousen.com. 

MARK SKOUSEN:  Right, right, of course.

TERRY SAVAGE:  Some of these maxims contradict, Mark.

MARK SKOUSEN:  Yes they do. 

TERRY SAVAGE:  Buy low and sell high or let your profits.

MARK SKOUSEN:  One of them is really good.  One fellow, I cannot remember his name, he says, “The most important thing about a stock is that the price goes up.”  Warren Buffett quotes just the opposite, “The worse thing that you can invest in is just because a stock goes up.  You need to go much deeper than that.” 

TERRY SAVAGE:  So how do you know who to believe?

MARK SKOUSEN:  You know I leave that up to the reader.  Most of them do and they are consistent with that, for example money managers.  I have Woody Allen saying, “I am a money manager.  I invest your money until it is all gone.”  You know very funny Bernie Madoff kind of statements, but I have others who talk about the profoundness of managing money, doing well and so forth.  You do have these contradictions and I leave it up to the reader, I do not try to judge each quote.

TERRY SAVAGE:  What is your favorite maxim of Wall Street?  What is the one you find yourself saying most frequently?

MARK SKOUSEN:  Well, my favorite one is found on page 34 there.  I do not know if I can have it done by memory, but it basically says that when you are crying, you should be buying and when you are yelling, you should be selling.  Now actually, I spell yelling y-e-l-l-e-n and notice that the market has struggled ever since it was announced that she would be the new Fed Chairman.  I do not know if that has anything to do with it, but it is kind of a fun saying. 

TERRY SAVAGE:  The Maxims of Wall Street with Mark Skousen.  I am Terry Savage from Money Show.com. 

IRS red flags: How to avoid a tax audit

There's a general conception that the Internal Revenue Services is too understaffed at tax time to go after anyone but high rollers and blatant cheats.

Don't believe it.

While it's true that the IRS only audits a small percentage of returns, government officials are getting smarter about which taxpayers are the likeliest to be overstating deductions or underreporting income.

It starts with a high-tech analysis of all U.S. tax returns, calculating average deductions and calling out filings outside the norm.

TAX QUESTIONS? Send 'em to us; tax experts will provide answers

"The IRS gets literally mountains of tax returns," says Andrew Porter, a certified public accountant and partner with California firm Comyns, Smith, McCleary & Deaver LLP. Officials "feed the tax returns into a piece of software and call out the juiciest ones. It's a first cut that allows them to focus their examination attention on things that are most likely to yield additional tax for the government."

So how can you avoid being part of that first cut?

According to tax experts, here are a few things that will make you stand out in the eyes of IRS auditors and their high-tech screening tools:

Typos and omissions

Computers don't make adding errors. Humans, however, do.

One of the most easily prevented errors is simply not properly copying over the numbers on your tax forms. Any difference between what your employer reported you earned in their filings and what you personally reported earned will raise a red flag, even if it's an honest mistake.

Even if you have your taxes professionally prepared, Porter said, "you don't want to just blindly sign and drop it in the mail. You have to look at it and know that your W-2 amount actually shows up correctly."

An unprofitable home business

Stan Veliotis, associate professor at the Fordham University Schools of Business, said that the Schedule C tax forms for self-employed Americans have been improved recently to hel! p filers.. However, while the forms have gotten easier to manage that doesn't mean anything goes.

"If you have someone reporting $100,000 in revenue but $99,000 in expense, what kind of business person would have such an expense-to-revenue ratio?'" Veliotis said.

$250,000 or more in income

An unfortunate reality of IRS audits is that they are "a profit making venture for the government," says Porter. That means the tax man doesn't have time to waste on folks who won't yield a big payday.

High earners may not have done anything wrong, but simply being a bigger target is enough to draw attention because of the potential in lost tax revenue.

Hot Bank Stocks To Buy For 2014

No income

The flip side is that a person with insignificant income could sometimes be flagged by the IRS – particularly if they are associated with other people or businesses that are known tax avoiders.

Some of those reporting low income are actually hiding how they make their money, Veliotis said. That means the IRS can win a big payday by proving how much real income exists – and more importantly, the unpaid taxes (and penalties) on that income.

Big charitable contributions

If a taxpayer claims a massive charitable contribution on their 2013 returns, there's a good chance that will raise a red flag with the IRS. Charitable deductions are frequently reported without proper documentation or occasionally made fraudulently.

"That doesn't make (a big donation) illegitimate," Porter said, "but you more likely than not will stand out and be audited. It's all about documentation."

Don't be intimidated

It is hard to know for sure exactly what will spark an IRS audit given the sheer volume of tax filings, the secretive nature of how the IRS flags returns and the complexity of the ever-changing tax code.

But the experts agree that no matter what the auditors may think, you hav! e every ri! ght to claim the deductions that are entitled to you and should never leave money on the table.

"Not wanting to take a legitimate deduction is just stupid," Porter said. "And audit is not something to be afraid of if you have all the right documentation."

Jeff Reeves is the editor of InvestorPlace.com and the author of The Frugal Investor's Guide to Finding Great Stocks.

Is JCPenney This Year’s Best Buy?

Popular Posts: The Top 10 S&P 500 Dividend Stocks for MarchMarijuana Stocks: A Case of Too Far, Too Fast5 Reasons You Shouldn’t Worry About a Market Crash Recent Posts: Is JCPenney This Year’s Best Buy? The Top 10 S&P 500 Dividend Stocks for March Bank of America – Should I Buy BAC Stock? 3 Pros, 3 Cons View All Posts

Here’s something few would have predicted a month ago: The market is busting down the doors for JCPenney (JCP).

Against all odds, JCP stock has become one of the hottest trades so far this year, rallying once again Tuesday following an analyst upgrade of the deeply distressed retailer.

Of course, it’s one thing to get out of intensive care and quite another to be hale and hearty. As much as the sentiment has turned on JCP stock, this company still is plenty ill — and that makes these red-hot gains precarious at best.

JCPenney Cruising While Barely Getting By

JCPenney, still trying to right itself after the disaster that was former CEO Ron Johnson, does indeed appear to making some progress, and that has the market tripping over itself with excitement.

A little more than a month ago, JCPenney shares fell below $5 intraday trading to all-time lows. Since then, JCP stock is up 80%.

It looks like the Street is betting that JCPenney stock will be this year’s Best Buy (BBY). Remember that the troubled electronic retailers was one of last year’s best stocks — gaining 236% — after being priced for death in 2012.

And that’s why anyone not willing to be active and keep a close eye on JCP stock should probably stay away. If you have neither the time, talent nor inclination to treat this one like a trader, it could come back to blow up in your face.

Just look at BBY stock this year. The stock went bonkers in 2013 on just the whiff of success in some of its turnaround plans — then started crashing again when those same plans went awry.

JCP stock could easily trace the same trajectory. After all, most turnarounds don’t turn.

Best Buy was purring along until it blew estimates over the holidays. Now BBY stock is off 35% so far this year. It’s still up 119% since the start of 2013, sure … but four months ago, its trajectory was closing in on a 300 gain%.

You don’t think anyone errantly bought in then?

Tuesday’s action was set up after a Citigroup (C) analyst upgraded JCP stock to “buy” from “neutral.” After delivering same-store sales growth in the final quarter of the year, Citi analysts thinks JCPenney has enough sales momentum to continue to post positive same-store sales.

True, JCP is in the very early stages of a recovery, the analysts say, but if the retailer can just meet first-quarter and full-year forecasts, that would ease fears over its dwindling cash position — and that would drive the stock even higher.

Sure, if the company does meet or beat Street estimates, you can indeed expect more upside for JCP stock.

But if it misses? Look out below.

JCP Stock: A Disaster Waiting to Happen

Easy come, easy go. That’s the risk in betting on big-name turnarounds like JCPenney. True, the early returns indicate that the retailer will survive. Same-store sales turned positive for the first time in two years, traffic is picking up and its corporate credit outlook recently received an upgrade.

Too bad there’s a huge difference between surviving and thriving … and there are always more things that can go wrong than can go right.

If same-store sales remain soft as inventories pile up — as at least one analyst frets about — JCP could find itself in promotional margin-crushing hell for back-to-school shopping.

The truly heroic returns are made by gambling early on these high-risk plays and JCP stock has sure delivered over the last month or so. But it won’t take much bad news for the bottom to fall out on JCP stock.

And after a 80% rally, you have to be concerned about how much more upside is left in JCPenney stock getting up of the mat.

At some point, JCPenney has to turn around to the extent that it’s a relevant retail chain again. But in today’s weak environment where so much mass and middle-market retailing is struggling, that’s going to be tough to pull off.

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

Top 5 Communications Equipment Stocks To Invest In Right Now

Popular Posts: 9 Biotechnology Stocks to Buy Now3 Communications Equipment Stocks to Buy Now4 Pharmaceutical Stocks to Buy Now Recent Posts: 17 “Triple A” Stocks to Buy 17 “Triple A” Stocks to Buy 17 “Triple A” Stocks to Buy View All Posts

This week, 17 stocks get A’s (“strong buy”) in Portfolio Grader‘s three main grading categories, Total Grade, Overall Fundamental Grade and Quantitative Grade.

These are the best of the best in the entire Portfolio Grader database. This week, there are 4,307 stocks and only these 17 get top marks in all categories to make the elite “Triple A” stocks list. Here they are:

Top 5 Communications Equipment Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Alcatel Lucent SA (ALU)

Alcatel Lucent, incorporated on June 18, 1898, is engaged in mobile, fixed, Internet Protocol (IP) and Optics technologies, applications and services. The Company is a partner of service providers, enterprises, industries and governments worldwide. Alcatel-Lucent includes Bell Labs centres of research in communications technology. Its operations are in more than 130 countries. The Company operates in three business segments: networks, applications, and services. On December 31, 2010, the Company completed the sale of its Vacuum pump solutions and instruments business to Pfeiffer Vacuum Technology AG. In September 2010, the Company acquired OpenPlug, a mobile software and applications development tools vendor. In June 29, 2010, the Company acquired ProgrammableWeb.

During 2010, the Company launched the Digital Media Store, a multicontent digital storefront that allows service providers to deliver content to end-users. Launched during 2010, Optism is a permission-based mobile marketing solution. During 2010, it launched Alcatel-Lucent�� Mobile Wallet Service (MWS), which allows the mobile operator to leverage its secure network to deliver a mobile payment capability through a mobile handset. During 2010, it also launched Alcatel-Lucent�� Application Exposure Suite to facilitate the development of new services by third-party application developers and content providers.

Networks Segment

The Networks segment supplies a portfolio of products and offerings used by fixed, wireless and converged service providers, as well as enterprises and governments for their business communications. The Company�� IP portfolio consists of four product families that deliver multiple services, including broadband triple play for residential customers; Ethernet and IP Virtual Private Network (VPN) services for Enterprise customers, and wireless second-generation (2G), third-generation (3G) and long term evolution (LTE) broadband services for mobile operators. The main product fami! lies include Internet Protocol/Multiprotocol Label Switching (IP/MPLS) service routers, Carrier Ethernet service switche, Multi-service wide-area-network (or MS WAN) switches and Content Delivery Network (CDN) appliances.

Internet Protocol/Multiprotocol Label Switching (IP/MPLS) service routers direct traffic within and between carriers��national and international networks to enable delivery of a range of IP-based services (including Internet access, Internet Protocol TV (IPTV), Voice over IP (VoIP), mobile phone and data, and managed Enterprise VPN services) on a single common network infrastructure with superior performance, with application intelligence, and with scalability (such as the simultaneous support of many diverse types of traffic and customers); Carrier Ethernet service switches. Carrier Ethernet service switches enable carriers to deliver residential, business and wireless services, and these products are mainly used in metropolitan area networks; Multi-service wide-area-network (MS WAN) switches. Multi-service wide-area-network (MS WAN) switches enable fixed line and wireless carriers to transition their existing networks to support newer technologies and services, and Content Delivery Network (CDN) appliances. Content Delivery Network (CDN) appliances distribute and cache (store) Web and video content.

The Company�� Internet Protocol/Multiprotocol Label Switching (IP/MPLS) and Carrier Ethernet products are designed to facilitate the development and availability of applications for the more participatory and interactive Web 2.0 business and consumer services. Its service routers are particularly well suited to deliver complex services to business, residential and mobile end-users. Its IP/MPLS service routers and Carrier Ethernet service switches are often used in conjunction with its DSL and Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) access products to deliver these newer triple-play services, or with its wireless access products to deliver LTE solutions, or w! ith its D! ense Wave Division Multiplexing (DWDM) and optical switching products to deliver converged backbone transformation solutions for optimizing IP transport. Its Optics division designs and markets equipment for the long distance transportation of data over fiber optic connections via land (terrestrial) and under sea (submarine), as well as for short distances in metropolitan and regional areas.

The Company�� transport portfolio also includes the microwave wireless transmission equipment. Its terrestrial optical products offer a portfolio designed to seamlessly support service growth from the metro to the network core. With its products, carriers manage voice, data and video traffic patterns based on different applications or platforms and can introduce a range of managed data services, including multiple service quality capabilities, variable service rates and traffic congestion management. These products allow carriers to leverage their existing network infrastructure to offer these new services. Its submarine cable networks can connect continents (using optical amplification required over long distances), a mainland and an island, several islands together, or many points along a coast. It offers a portfolio of point-to-point microwave radio products meeting both European telecommunications standards (ETSI) and American standards-based (ANSI) requirements.

The Company�� Wireless All Around message developed during 2010 is a combination of wireless and IP products. The version of CDMA technology, known as 1X EV-DO Revision A, enables operators to offer two-way, real-time, high-speed data applications, such as VoIP, mobile video, push-to-talk and push-to-multimedia. The introduction of High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) and HSPA+ (the latest evolutions of W-CDMA technology) on networks and devices has led to increases in data speeds available to broadband devices. The Company develops mobile radio products for the second generation (2G) Global System for Mobile communications (GS! M) standa! rd, including General Packet Radio Service / Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (GPRS/EDGE) technology upgrades to that standard.

LTE offers service providers a compelling evolution path from all existing networks (GSM, W-CDMA, CDMA or WiMAX) by simplifying the radio access network and converging on a common IP base. RFS designs and sells cable, antenna, tower systems and their related electronic components, providing an end-to-end suite of radio frequency products. RFS serves original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), distributors, system integrators, network operators and installers in the broadcast, wireless communications, microwave and defense sectors. Specific applications for RFS products include cellular sites, in-tunnel and in-building radio coverage, microwave links, television and radio. The Company offers products that extend from legacy switching systems to IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) solutions for fixed, mobile, and converged operators. It has deployed its next-generation network (NGN) products in more than 170 fixed NGN networks, and it has provided the core network for more than 66 full IMS fixed and mobile networks. Its fixed access solutions allow carriers to offer triple-play services over a single access line. Its carrier customers are offering both residential and business customers multiple services, such as a number of broadcast channels, video on demand, high definition television (HDTV), VoIP, high speed Internet, and business access services.

Applications Segment

The Applications segment develops software-based applications and solutions that contribute to the personal communications for users. The Applications group is divided into two businesses: Enterprise Applications and Network Applications. The Enterprise Applications business includes its IP-based communications and collaboration applications for enterprises, including the Genesys contact center business. The Network Applications business develops applications used by service pr! oviders t! o deliver a range of services to their customers, and also includes Motive, which provides software for service providers to remotely manage their customers��at-home networks, networked devices and broadband and mobile data services. During the year ended December 31, 2010, its Applications segment accounted 12% of its total revenue.

The Applications segment is investing resources in next generation collaboration and communications systems offered by its Enterprise Applications division; customer contact, customer engagement and service management areas addressed by its Genesys and Motive businesses; carrier applications, such as communication and messaging, next-generation telephony, digital media and multi-screen delivery of content and personalized advertising, device agnostic location based address book services, and technologies, such as Long Term Evolution (LTE), IP multimedia subsystem (IMS), and Application Enablement.

Services Segment

The Services segment is focused in helping the service provider and customers realize the potential of media, information technology (IT) and telecommunications services and technologies. These services address the lifecycle of its customers��networks and operations, and encompass business consulting, systems design and integration, maintenance and managed services. The service offerings are organized around four areas: network and system integration, managed and outsourcing solutions, multi-vendor maintenance, and product-attached services.

The Company competes with Avaya, Cisco Systems, Ericsson, Fujitsu, Huawei, ZTE and Nokia Siemens Networks.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Inyoung Hwang]

  EDF, Europe�� biggest power generator, and Alcatel-Lucent (ALU) SA, a French maker of phone equipment, jumped more than 7 percent as profit beat analysts��estimates. Barclays sank the most in 13 months after announcing a rights offering and saying income fell. K+S AG, Europe�� largest potash producer, plunged 24 percent as OAO Uralkali ended a deal that controlled supplies of the fertilizer ingredient from the former Soviet Union.

• [By Rick Munarriz]

  Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU  ) -- $1.84
  Despite its tiny share price, Alcatel-Lucent did close at a 52-week high on Friday.

  The global provider of products and services for the networking and communications industries may be losing money on flat revenue growth, but losses are narrowing. There's also more to the flat top-line performance than meets the eye as reasonable growth in its networks and platforms businesses is offsetting double-digit declines in its optical networking operations. Alcatel-Lucent is also taking better bets, exiting or restructuring contracts where the cost structures aren't fiscally prudent.

• [By Abu Bakr Hussain]

  NSN is a joint venture with Siemens (SI) in the field of telecoms infrastructure. Its chief competitors are the likes of Alcatel-Lucent (ALU), Ericsson (ERIC) and yes, Huawei. As the latter is a rather opaquely-owned Chinese company, we cannot use it to help create a valuation for NSN. However, I believe using the first two companies mentioned is sufficient to give us a decent indication of NSN's true value.

Top 5 Communications Equipment Stocks To Invest In Right Now: FLIR Systems Inc (FLIR)

FLIR Systems, Inc. (FLIR), incorporated on March 8, 1978, is a designer, manufacturer, and marketer of thermal imaging systems. The Company�� advanced sensors and integrated sensor systems enable the gathering and analysis of critical information through a range of applications in commercial, industrial, and government markets worldwide. Its business is organized into two divisions: Commercial Systems and Government Systems. Commercial Systems division includes Thermal Vision & Measurement and Raymarine. Government Systems division include Surveillance, Detection, and Integrated Systems. It offers a range of sensor products, including infrared imaging cameras and systems, detector cores, CBRNE threat detectors, test and measurement instruments, radars, maritime electronics, and related products and solutions. On December 20, 2012, the Company acquired Lorex Technology Inc. In December 2012, the Company acquired Traficon International NV. In August 2013, Tessera Technologies Inc announced that FLIR Systems, Inc. acquired a portion of the assets of Tessera's Micro-Optics business based in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Thermal Vision & Measurement

Thermal Vision & Measurement (TVM) products are generally sold for applications where the customer need is to see at night or in adverse conditions or to image a scene while gathering valuable situational and temperature information. The Company�� infrared sensors business, which sells focal plane arrays and camera cores internally, as well as to third parties on an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) basis, is also part of TVM. Its thermal and visible light security products are used to protect critical infrastructure, ports, borders, commercial sites, and residential homes. The Company offers a night vision system for passenger automobiles that provides drivers with the ability to see at night and through obscurants, such as fog, at distances much further and wider than can be seen with traditional headlights. As of December 31, ! 2012, provide camera cores for certain Audi, BMW, and Rolls Royce models through its partnership with Autoliv Electronics, a supplier of automotive safety equipment. The Company offers an integrated suite of maritime electronics that utilizes multifunction displays, infrared cameras, depth sounders, GPS, auto pilots, and advanced command and control software.

The Company is engaged in providing advanced thermal imaging technology for consumer applications. It�� easy to use, affordable, and lightweight personal vision thermal cameras give people the ability to see at night. In the home, its cameras can be used for numerous household and security applications, such as locating heat leaks, evaluating insulation coverage, detecting water damage, identifying intruders, and locating pests. The Company supplies hand-held systems to the law enforcement market. The Company supplies cooled and uncooled camera cores, sensors, and readout integrated circuits on an OEM basis for a range of applications where customers require a product at a lower level of integration than a fully developed thermal imaging system.

In Thermal Measurement Markets thermal imaging systems are used for monitoring the condition of mechanical and electrical equipment. The company�� systems provide the ability to view thermal distribution in real time for products ranging in size from small hybrid integrated circuits to jet engines. Common applications include product development of microelectronics, cell phones, laptop computers, telecommunications equipment, consumer appliances, automotive components, and aircraft engines. Systems used in research and development applications require high imaging performance and measurement precision, coupled with extensive analysis and reporting software. Thermal imaging applications for manufacturing process control include applications where temperature consistency is critical, including monitoring the quality of metal, plastic and glass cast parts, which are highly depend! ent upon ! the temperature distribution in the mold; monitoring the quality of paper, which is dependent upon proper and even moisture distribution during the drying process; and monitoring the quality of products such as rubber gloves, which can be thermally examined to locate abnormally warm or cool spots, indicating non-uniform thickness that may result in a quality defect.

Infrared imagers can detect missing insulation, electrical faults, water intrusion and pest infiltration, can gauge energy efficiency, and can help detect the presence of moisture. Market segments include building diagnostics, energy auditing and home inspection, property and facility management, HVAC and plumbing, and moisture detection and restoration. Specially designed infrared systems can detect and image hydrocarbon gas emissions or leaks. It supplies trade professionals a range of test equipment to deliver high accuracy readings for the measurement of electricity, light, sound, temperature, humidity, airflow, revolutions per minute, and water quality. The Company offers fee-based training on the principles of thermography and the use of its products through ITC, its Infrared Training Center, which provides instruction, training, certification and applications engineering from several FLIR locations or at the customer�� site. It also licenses Infrared Training Centers to third parties in certain countries.

The Company competes with Danaher (Fluke), General Dynamics (Axsys), L-3 Communications, Sofradir (ULIS), Axis Communications, NEC and Testo.

Raymarine

Raymarine is a provider of marine electronics, and continues as a pioneer in the technologies that give boaters confidence on the water. The products that Raymarine develops and markets is intended to fulfill all of the marine electronic needs of recreational boaters and offer best-in-class integrated control solutions for all of their on-board instrumentation. Raymarine designs, develops, and markets electronics for the maritime market a! nd is a p! rovider of fully integrated stem to stern networked electronic systems for boats of many sizes. The business distributes its products through a network of independent distributors and retailers, as well as through its relationships with boat builders, providing both first fitment and aftermarket solutions.

The Company competes with Furuno, Garmin and Navico.

Surveillance

Surveillance focuses on providing enhanced vision and detection capabilities to a range of military, paramilitary, law enforcement, public safety, and other government customers. Its systems typically provide the capability to see over long distances, day or night, through adverse weather conditions, and from a range of vehicle, man portable, and fixed installation platforms. Typical applications include intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), force protection, drug interdiction, search and rescue, special operations, and target designation. Surveillance products are sold off-the-shelf or can be customized for specific applications and frequently incorporate additional sensors, including visible light cameras, radars, low light cameras, laser rangefinders, laser illuminators, and laser designators.

Surveillance offers a range of products across multiple applications. For airborne applications, it has developed highly stabilized platforms, known as gimbals, which typically contain multiple payloads in addition to the infrared imaging system, as well as sophisticated software and analytic capabilities. For land applications, it manufactures three types of products: hand-held products, platform mounted products, and targeting products. Platform mounted surveillance systems include imaging and radar solutions, which are typically housed in a weather-tight enclosure and feature remote control capabilities and multi-sensor integration capability. Hand-held products are ruggedized and have optional lenses and target location capabilities. Ground-based targeting products are designed t! o attach ! to existing daylight sights to provide bore-sighted, nighttime capabilities. For maritime applications, it manufacture shipborne products which are similar to its airborne gimbals, but are inverted and customized for the marine environment.

In Search and Rescue market thermal imaging systems are used in airborne nd shipborne search and rescue missions to rescue individuals in danger or distress on boats or vehicles, or wounded or lost in adverse conditions. Such systems are in use by organizations such as the United States Army, United States Coast Guard, the United States Marine Corps, the United States Air National Guard, and the United Kingdom Ministry of Defense. In Border and Maritime Patrol market thermal imaging systems are used in airborne, shipborne, hand-held and fixed installation applications for border and maritime surveillance, particularly at night, to enforce borders and coastal waters, to monitor national fishing boundaries and to prevent smuggling. Its cameras are deployed along numerous borders worldwide, including in the United States, Europe and the Middle East. In Surveillance and Reconnaissance market Thermal imaging systems are used in surveillance and reconnaissance applications for the precise positioning of objects or people from substantial distances and for enhanced situational awareness, particularly at night or in conditions of reduced or obscured visibility. It also offers high-resolution frequency-modulated continuous wave radars that enable wide-area surveillance capable of detecting potential threats before they cross a perimeter. These systems can be installed on fixed platforms, manned mobile platforms, and unmanned aerial vehicles.

The Company supplies airborne thermal imaging systems for federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Agencies with this type of equipment have the ability to track suspects, locate lost persons, and provide situational awareness to officers on the ground. It offers several products that provide precise t! arget loc! ation and designation capabilities in applications ranging from clip-on rifle scope devices to high-precision, stabilized, airborne laser designator systems. Thermal imaging systems enable government agencies to expand their drug interdiction and support activities by allowing greater surveillance and detection capabilities. The Company�� systems are in use by the United States Customs Service, the United States Drug Enforcement Agency and the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation, as well as by foreign government agencies.

The Company competes with BAE Systems, DRS (a Finmeccanica company), Elbit Systems, General Dynamics, L-3 Communications, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Sagem, Sofradir, and Thales.

Detection

The Company�� Detection segment provides capabilities in the development of advanced sensor technologies used to detect and identify CBRNE threats. The Detection segment is focused on developing technologies and products to penetrate a global market for advanced threat detection capabilities. Detection manufactures and markets the portable explosive detector, the smallest spectroscopic radiation detector, and the smallest hand-held Raman sensor.

The Company offer both indoor and outdoor biological air monitors that are used by various governmental agencies, including the United States Department of Defense, airport authorities, and the National Park Service, for layered security at facilities and events. Its explosives detection products are used to identify military-grade explosives and homemade explosive devices in a range of military and public safety applications, such as screening high-risk individuals at checkpoints, identifying improvised explosive device (IED) makers, and screening air passengers and baggage. Its radiation products protect the public by warning of radionuclide exposure and have been or are being used by the U.S. Department of Energy�� Nuclear Emergency Search Team, the New York Police Department, the Internat! ional Ato! mic Energy Agency, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the United Kingdom�� Home Office Border and Immigration Agency.

The Company competes with Agilent Technologies, Canberra Industries, Idaho Technologies, NUCSAFE, SAIC, Smiths Detection, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and United Technologies.

Integrated Systems

Integrated Systems develops platform solutions for combating sophisticated security threats and incorporates multiple sensor systems in order to deliver actionable intelligence for wide area surveillance, intrusion detection, border security, and facility security. Integrated Systems incorporates advanced sensors from both the FLIR product suite and external vendors in order to design and manufacture adaptive and effective force protection, homeland security, and commercial solutions that are designed to save lives and protect critical assets. Integrated Systems utilizes an array of sensor technologies, such as radars, thermal imaging and visible light cameras, chemical detectors, radiation detectors, and command and control systems, provided by its other segments as well as from external parties, to create high value solutions for customers across the world.

Integrated Systems manufactures and markets several accurate mobile and fixed solutions for perimeter surveillance. The Cerberus mobile unmanned towers and manned SkyWatch towers are utilized for protecting borders, securing facilities, protecting forces, and safeguarding the public. These tower systems can be deployed in almost any environment and are fully networkable platform solutions that integrate various sensor suites, including infrared thermal or visible light cameras, ground surveillance radar, video motion detection, and unattended ground sensors. In addition, Integrated Systems offers open-source software that enables customers to command, control, and monitor their sensor networks. Cohesion is a flexible integration software enabling CBRNE sensors to be incorporated into standard command! and cont! rol software systems and is specifically designed to support or integrate with its or third-party advanced sensors and devices. Cameleon video integration software allows for advanced monitoring and control of video surveillance camera networks.

The Company competes with Boeing, Cobham, Honeywell, L-3 Communications, Lockheed Martin, Northrup Grumman, Raytheon, SAIC, Telephonics, and Thales.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Smith]

  The Department of Defense issued $312.5 million worth of new contract awards Monday. Notable winners included subsidiaries of two major defense contractors, FLIR Systems (NASDAQ: FLIR  ) and General Dynamics (NYSE: GD  ) .

• [By Rich Smith]

  The Department of Defense issued 14 separate contract awards Tuesday, totaling just over $880 million in combined value. Among publicly traded U.S. defense contractors, a few of the notable winners were:

Best Consumer Service Stocks For 2015: Revolution Lighting Technologies Inc (RVLT)

Revolution Lighting Technologies Inc., incorporated on December 16, 1993, designs, manufacture, market and sells commercial grade, light emitting diode (LED) replacement light bulbs and LED-based signage, channel letter and contour lighting products. The Company sells these products under the Seesmart, Array Lighting and Lumificient brand names. The Company operates in two segments: LED replacement lamps and fixtures and LED signage and lighting strips. On December 20, 2012, the Company acquired Seesmart Technologies, Inc., headquartered in Simi Valley, California. In August 2013, the Company announced that it has completed the acquisition of Relume Technologies (Relume). In October 2013, the Company announced that it has acquired a portfolio of general illumination LED lighting products, including several product lines from CMG Energy Solutions (CMG). In November 2013, the Company acquired Tri-State LED.

The Company�� LED replacement lamps and fixtures segment include the Seesmart business and the Array business, which has been integrated with the Seesmart business. The LED signage and lighting strips segment is comprised of the Lumificient business.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Smith]

  As you've probably heard by now, shares of LED lighting specialist Revolution Lighting� (NASDAQ: RVLT  ) popped by nearly 18% in Monday trading. But why?

Top 5 Communications Equipment Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Location Based Technologies Inc (LBAS)

Location Based Technologies, Inc. (LBT), incorporated on April 20, 2006, designs, develops, and sells personal, pet, and vehicle locator devices and services including PocketFinder People, PocketFinder Pets and PocketFinder Vehicles. The Company markets and sells consumer and commercial location devices and services. Its devices utilize Assisted Global Positioning System (A-GPS) and General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) technologies in conjunction with its technologies designed to enhance the families to interact and stay connected around the world. The Company is a developer of the PocketFinder family of products and the PocketFinder Network. The PocketFinder family of products includes the PocketFinder People, PocketFinder Vehicle, PocketFinder Pets, PocketFinder Luggage, PocketFinder Mobile and PocketFinder Fleet. The PocketFinder is a small location device that enables a user to locate a device, person, or pet, at anytime from almost anywhere. PocketFinder personal locator devices are wireless.

The Company generate revenue by selling its products and charging customers an ongoing service fee, for which it offers monthly and annual subscription plans. The Company�� product, PocketFinder, is a small, waterproof and wireless location device that enables users to locate anyone or anything they care about, from a computer or Web-enabled device. Its products deliver critical information to users, such as: device location, longitude, latitude, heading speed and 60 days of location history. This information can be viewed passively through a user�� account or can be sent to a user via email or push notification if the user sets an alert. The target markets for the PocketFinder include: young children, seniors, people with special needs and people who need to track valuable assets such as luggage or sporting equipment. In addition to the PocketFinder, it also sell the PocketFinder Pet and the PocketFinder Vehicle products. The PocketFinder Pet is designed for pets weighing 15 pounds or more,! and it markets the PocketFinder Vehicle to families with new drivers, car enthusiasts, motorcycle owners, watercraft owners and business fleets. The PocketFinder Vehicle attaches directly to a battery or fuse box, so it has a constant supply of power. All PocketFinder products operate on the same user interface, which enables its customers receive the same features, functionality and user-experience, regardless of which product they own. To access their account or locate their devices, users can logon to the Company�� Website at www.pocketfinder.com or use its native iPhone, iPad or Android Apps.

The Company�� products are sold through various brick-and-mortar and online retailers and through its Website. It provides customer service and support in the United States through existing call centers owned by Affinitas. It provides wireless location based solutions for global positioning products along with its friendly user interface software system. PocketFinder and PocketFinder Vehicle devices are being sold in the United States and in Canada through the Apple Online Store and Apple Retail Stores. PocketFinder devices for Pets are available for purchase on its Website.

The Company competes with Geospatial Platform Providers, Application Developers, Garmin�� GTU-10, Qualcomm�� Tagg, Lo-Jack, SpotLight, Fleetmatics, NetworkFleet, and Qualcomm.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By CRWE]

  Today, LBAS has shed (-7.69%) -0.010 at $.120 with 95,100 shares in play thus far (ref. google finance Delayed: 12:21PM EDT August 15, 2013).

  Location Based Technologies, Inc. previously reported it has signed a distribution agreement with Beijing Lava Technology Co. Ltd., an Apple approved distributor for its online, brick and mortar stores, and authorized distributors in Asia. The agreement is one of the final steps preceding the launch of LBT�� GPS products into the Asian markets. Beijing Lava Technology Co. Ltd. serves China, Singapore, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

  LBT estimates that it will begin selling its PocketFinder devices in Singapore through Apple�� online store and authorized distributors in the near future with other Asian countries to follow thereafter.

• [By CRWE]

  Today, LBAS surged (+10.27%) up +0.015 at $.160 with�39,780 shares in play thus far (ref. google finance Delayed: 11:41AM EDT July 5, 2013).

  Location Based Technologies, Inc. and EE, Ltd., the U.K.�� most advanced communications company, have previously entered into a purchase agreement which will allow LBT to embed EE SIM technology into LBT�� world�� best GPS products for immediate purchase throughout Europe and in additional areas around the world.

  EE�� relationship with LBT continues to grow. The companies began their relationship earlier this year when EE launched PocketFinder Personal GPS Locators in their London flagship stores (https://explore.ee.co.uk/pocket-finder). With this latest agreement, LBT now has the capability to sell devices into Europe using a local SIM, thereby greatly reducing the monthly service fee charged to customers.

Top 5 Communications Equipment Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Belden Inc (BDC)

Belden Inc. (Belden), incorporated on May 18, 1988, designs, manufactures and markets cable, connectivity, and networking products in markets including industrial, enterprise, and broadcast. The Company operates in three segments: the Americas segment, the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) segment and the Asia Pacific segment. The Company�� offers cable, connectivity and networking products, including power generation and distribution, data centers, oil and gas, broadcast, transportation, healthcare and industrial automation. In December 2012, Carlisle Companies Inc acquired Thermax-Raydex business from the Company. In December 2012, the Company sold Consumer Electronics Assets in China to Shenzhen Woer Heat-Shrinkable Material Co Ltd. During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company acquired Miranda Technologies Inc. (Miranda).

The categories of cable products are copper cables, including shielded and unshielded twisted pair cables, coaxial cables, and stranded cables, fiber optic cables, which transmit light signals through glass or plastic fibers and composite cables, which are combinations of multiconductor, coaxial, and fiber optic cables jacketed together or otherwise joined together to serve complex applications and provide ease of installation. Connectivity products include fiber and copper connectors for the enterprise, broadcast, broadband, and industrial markets. Networking products include Industrial Ethernet switches and related equipment and security features, fiber optic interfaces and media converters used to bridge fieldbus networks over long distances, networking infrastructure for the television broadcast, cable, satellite and IPTV industry, and load-moment indicators for mobile cranes and other load-bearing equipment.

For industrial end markets, the Company supplies cable, connectivity, and networking products for applications ranging from advanced industrial networking and robotics to traditional instrumentation and control systems. The Compa! ny�� cable products are used in discrete manufacturing and process operations involving the connection of computers, programmable controllers, robots, operator interfaces, motor drives, sensors, printers and other devices. The Company sells its industrial products primarily through value-added resellers, industrial distributors, and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). It designs, manufactures and markets Industrial Ethernet switches and related equipment, both rail-mounted and rack-mounted, for factory automation, power generation and distribution, process automation, and infrastructure projects, such as bridges, wind farms and airport runways. It also designs, manufactures and markets fiber optic interfaces and media converters. In addition, it designs, manufactures, and markets a range of industrial connectors for sensors and actuators, cord-sets, distribution boxes, and fieldbus communications. These products are used both as components of manufacturing equipment and in the installation and networking of such equipment. The Company also designs, manufactures and markets load-moment indicators. Its switches, communications equipment, connectors, and load-moment indicators are sold directly to industrial equipment OEMs and through a network of distributors and system integrators.

For enterprise end markets, the Company supplies structured cabling solutions, connectors, and networking products for the electronic and optical transmission of data, sound, and video over local- and wide- area networks. Products for this market include copper cables including 10-gigabit Ethernet technologies, fiber optic cables, connectors, wiring racks, panels, interconnecting hardware, intelligent patching devices, and cable management solutions for complete end-to-end network structured wiring systems. End-use customers include hospitals, financial institutions, governments, service providers, and data centers. Its systems are installed through a network of trained system integrators and are supplied t! hrough au! thorized distributors.

For broadcast end markets, the Company is a provider of hardware and software solutions for the television broadcast, cable, satellite and IPTV industry. Its solutions also span the full breadth of television operations, including production, playout and delivery. The Company also manufactures a variety of multiconductor and coaxial cable and connector products, which distributes audio and video signals for use in broadcast television including digital television and high definition television, broadcast radio, pre- and post-production facilities, recording studios, and public facilities such as casinos, arenas, and stadiums. Its audio/video cables are also used in connection with microphones, musical instruments, audio mixing consoles, effects equipment, speakers, paging systems, and consumer audio products.

The Company manufactures networking infrastructure products for the television broadcast, cable, satellite and IPTV industry. Its primary market channels for this broadcast, music, and entertainment products are broadcast specialty distributors and audio systems installers. It also sells directly to music OEMs and the television networks including ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC. The Company also provides specialized cables for security applications such as video surveillance systems, airport baggage screening, building access control, motion detection, public address systems, and advanced fire alarm systems. It manufactures flexible, copper-clad coaxial cable and associated connector products for the high-speed transmission of data, sound, and video (broadband) that are used for the drop section of cable television (CATV) systems and satellite direct broadcast systems.

For the broadband end market, Belden manufactures and develops connectivity solutions in several product categories: coax connector products that allow for connections from the provider network to the subscribers��devices, hardline connectors that allow service providers to dist! ribute th! eir services within a city, a town or a neighborhood and entry devices that serves to manage and remove network signal noise that could impair performance for the subscriber, and traps and filtering devices that allow service providers to control the signals that are transmitted to the subscriber.

During 2012, the Americas segment contributed approximately 64% of its consolidated revenues. This segment sells the full array of its products for the industrial, enterprise,and broadcast markets. The EMEA segment contributed approximately 19% of its consolidated revenues. This segment sells the full array of its products for the industrial, enterprise,and broadcast markets. The Asia Pacific segment contributed approximately 17% its consolidated revenues. This segment sells the full array of its products for the industrial, enterprise,and broadcast markets.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Signal transmission specialist�Belden� (NYSE: BDC  ) �announced yesterday�its second-quarter dividend of $0.05 per share, the same rate it has paid since 2004 when it first began making a payout.