Thursday, February 5, 2015

Best Shipping Companies To Invest In 2014

Next Tuesday, Navios Maritime Holdings (NYSE: NM  ) will release its latest quarterly results. The key to making smart investment decisions on stocks reporting earnings is to anticipate how they'll do before they announce results, leaving you fully prepared to respond quickly to whatever inevitable surprises arise. That way, you'll be less likely to make an uninformed knee-jerk reaction to news that turns out to be exactly the wrong move.

Navios is far from the only company to suffer greatly from weak conditions in dry-bulk shipping lately, as low rates and a glut of capacity have put extreme financial pressure on the entire industry. With stubbornly persistent economic trends continuing to work against the company, can Navios pull itself out of a potential downward spiral of losses? Let's take an early look at what's been happening with Navios Maritime over the past quarter and what we're likely to see in its quarterly report.

Top 5 Cheap Companies To Invest In 2015: Medical Action Industries Inc.(MDCI)

Medical Action Industries Inc. develops, manufactures, markets, and supplies various disposable medical products primarily in the United States. It offers custom procedure trays that include orthopedic, cath lab/radiology, labor and delivery, cardiac, ophthalmology, tissue procurement, neurology, robotic, gynecological, vascular, urology, cosmetic/plastic surgery, anesthesia/pain, bariatric, and general/other trays; minor procedure kits and trays, such as central line dressing, suture removal, laceration, incision and drainage, general purpose instrument, wound dressing change, sharp debridement, venipuncture, ear and ulcer syringes, trach care, and irrigation trays, as well as razor and shave prep kits, piston syringes, and I.V. start kits; and operating room disposables and sterilization products comprising surgical marking pens, needle counters, light shields, convenience kits, surgical headwear and shoe covers, isolation gowns, instrument protection, eye-shields, sutur e boots, basin separators, reel cutters, patient aids, crutches, walkers, canes, patient slippers, O.R. basins, magnetic drapes, guide wire bowls, bowie dick test packs, vessel loops, anti-fog solutions, heat sealers, and tray liners. The company also provides patient bedside products consisting of wash basins, bedpans, pitchers and carafes, urinals, emesis basins, soap dishes, medicine and denture cups, tumblers, sitz baths, service trays, and perineal bottles; dressings and surgical sponges, which include burn dressings, sponge counting systems, elastic nets, and bandage rolls; containment systems for medical waste, such as waste solidifier and spill cleanup kits, and equipment dust and sterility maintenance covers; and laboratory products comprising petri dishes, containers, collectors, calculi strainers, and vials. It sells its products primarily to acute care facilities through a network of direct sales personnel. The company was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Brentwood, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Roberto Pedone]

    Another under-$10 health care player that's starting to move within range of triggering a major breakout trade is Medical Action Industries (MDCI), which develops, manufactures, markets and supplies a variety of disposable medical products. This stock has been on fire so far in 2013, with shares up sharply by 129%.

    If you take a look at the chart for Medical Action Industries, you'll notice that this stock has been trending sideways and consolidating for the last month and change, with shares moving between $5.84 on the downside and $6.76 on the upside. Shares of MDCI are now starting to spike higher right off its 50-day moving average of $6.09 a share, and it's quickly moving within range of triggering a major breakout trade above the upper-end of its sideways trading chart pattern.

    Market players should now look for long-biased trades in MDCI if it manages to break out above its 200-day moving average at $6.67 a share and then once it takes out some more key overhead resistance levels at $6.76 to $7.13 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 98,989 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then MDCI will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $9.50 to $10 a share.

    Traders can look to buy MDCI off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some key near-term support levels a $5.84 to $5.50 a share. One can also buy MDCI off strength once it clears those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

  • [By Thomas Scarlett]

    The medical device market keeps expanding, as new technologies are constantly introduced and the need for health care by the U.S. population keeps growing. One of the most dynamic companies in this sector is Medical Action Industries Inc.�(NASDAQ: MDCI).

    Medical Action is a manufacturer and distributor of disposable medical devices, and a leader in many of the markets where it competes. Its products are marketed primarily to acute care facilities in domestic and certain international markets. The company has recently expanded its target market to include physician, dental and veterinary offices, out-patient surgery centers, long-term care facilities and laboratories.

    Medical Action’s products are marketed nationally by its direct sales personnel and extensive network of health care distributors. The firm has preferred vendor agreements with several national and regional distributors, as well as sole and multi-source agreements with group purchasing organizations.

    Concerns about contamination, infection, or imperfection in medical supplies have never been higher. Medical Action has earned a solid reputation for producing reliable, well-crafted medical tools.

    The company has moved to a dominant position in the operating room supplies market in just a few years. Among the company�� products are sutures, laparotomy sponges, operating room basins and various sterility monitoring products. It also offers clinical care market products, which include custom procedure trays and minor procedure kits. Medical Action has a strong record of developing new products and getting them approved by the Food and Drug Administration in a timely manner.

    As the population ages and more Americans are covered by Medicare, while younger Americans have more access under the Affordable Care Act, the earnings potential of well-managed health care providers and the companies that supply them with tools will only grow.

    The company�� first-qu

Best Shipping Companies To Invest In 2014: Universal Forest Products Inc (UFPI)

Universal Forest Products, Inc., incorporated on February 9, 1955, is a holding company that provides capital, management and administrative resources to c and market wood and wood-alternative products for retail building home centers and other retailers, structural lumber and other products for the manufactured housing industry, engineered wood components for the residential construction market, and specialty wood packaging and components and packing materials for various industries. Its operating segments consist of the Eastern, Western, Site-Built, Consumer Products and Distribution divisions. The Company�� subsidiaries also provide framing services for the residential market and forming products for concrete construction. The Company's consumer products operations offer a portfolio of outdoor living products, including wood composite decking, decorative balusters, post caps and plastic lattice. Its lawn and garden group offers an array of products, such as trellises and arches, to retailers nationwide. In January 2013, the Company�� subsidiary acquired Custom Caseworks, Inc.

In Retail Building Materials Market the Company offers composite wood and plastic products. The Company also sells engineered wood products to this market, which include roof trusses, wall panels and engineered floor systems. In Residential and Commercial Construction Markets, the Company supplies builders engaged in multi-family and commercial construction. It supplies wood forms and related products to set or form concrete for various structures, including garages, stadiums and bridges. The Company also provides framing services. In Manufactured Housing Market the Company distributes certain products, such as siding, electrical and plumbing to manufactured housing and RV customers. The Company define its industrial market as industrial manufacturers and agricultural customers who use pallets, specialty crates and wooden boxes for packaging, shipping and material handling purposes.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Marc Bastow]

    Universal Forest Products (UFPI), which provides capital and resources to the wood product industry, raised its semiannual dividend 5% to 21 cents per share, payable Dec. 15 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 1.
    UFPI Dividend Yield: 0.89%

  • [By Victor Selva]

    Universal Forest Products Inc. (UFPI) is a holding company that provides capital, management and administrative resources to subsidiaries that design, manufacture and market wood and wood-alternative products. It currently consumes about 7 percent of North American softwood lumber production per year.

  • [By Monica Gerson]

    Universal Forest Products (NASDAQ: UFPI) is projected to post its Q3 earnings at $0.54 per share on revenue of $625.77 million.

    Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE: SWK) is estimated to report its Q3 earnings at $1.38 per share on revenue of $2.82 billion.

Best Shipping Companies To Invest In 2014: Western Alliance Bancorporation (WAL)

Western Alliance Bancorporation (WAL) is a bank holding company. The Company provides full-service banking and lending to locally owned businesses, professional firms, real estate developers and investors, local non-profit organizations, high net worth individuals and other consumers through its three wholly owned subsidiary banks (the Banks): Bank of Nevada (BON), operating in Southern Nevada; Western Alliance Bank (WAB), operating in Arizona and Northern Nevada, and Torrey Pines Bank (TPB), operating in California. In addition, the Company�� non-bank subsidiaries, Shine Investment Advisory Services, Inc. (Shine) and Western Alliance Equipment Finance (WAEF), offer an array of financial products and services to small to mid-sized businesses and their proprietors, including financial planning, custody and investments, and equipment leasing nationwide. It operates in four segments: Bank of Nevada, Western Alliance Bank, Torrey Pines Bank and Other.

The Company provides a range of banking services, as well as investment advisory services, through its consolidated subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2011, WAL owned an 80% interest in Shine. As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned a 24.9% interest in Miller/Russell & Associates, Inc. (MRA), an investment advisor. MRA provides investment advisory services to individuals, foundations, retirement plans and corporations.

Lending Activities

Through the Company�� banking segments, the Company provides a variety of financial services to customers, including commercial real estate loans, construction and land development loans, commercial loans, and consumer loans. Loans to businesses consisted 89.2% of the total loan portfolio at December 31, 2011. Loans to finance the purchase or refinancing of commercial real estate (CRE) and loans to finance inventory and working capital that are additionally secured by CRE make up the majority of its loan portfolio. These CRE loans are secured by apartment buildings, professional of! fices, industrial facilities, retail centers and other commercial properties. As of December 31, 2011, 49% of its CRE loans were owner-occupied. Owner-occupied commercial real estate loans are loans secured by owner-occupied nonfarm nonresidential properties for which the primary source of repayment (more than 50%) is the cash flow from the ongoing operations and activities conducted by the borrower who owns the property. Non-owner-occupied commercial real estate loans are commercial real estate loans for which the primary source of repayment is nonaffiliated rental income associated with the collateral property.

Construction and land development loans include multi-family apartment projects, industrial/warehouse properties, office buildings, retail centers and medical facilities. Commercial and industrial loans include working capital lines of credit, inventory and accounts receivable lines, mortgage warehouse lines, equipment loans and leases, and other commercial loans. Commercial loans are primarily originated to small and medium-sized businesses in a variety of industries. Consumer loans are generally offered at a higher rate and shorter term than residential mortgages. Its consumer loans include home equity loans and lines of credit, home improvement loans, credit card loans, and personal lines of credit. As of December 31, 2011, its loan portfolio totaled $4.68 billion, or approximately 68.4% of its total assets.

Investment Activities

All of the Company�� investment securities are classified as available-for-sale (AFS) or held-to-maturity (HTM). As of December 31, 2011, the Company had an investment securities portfolio of $1.48 billion, representing approximately 21.7% of its total assets. As of December 31, 2011, its investment securities portfolio consisted of the United States Government sponsored agency securities, Municipal obligations, Adjustable-rate preferred stock, Mutual funds, Corporate bonds, Direct the United States obligation and government-! sponsored! enterprise (GSE) residential mortgage-backed securities, private label residential mortgage-backed securities, Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) investments, Trust preferred securities, Private label commercial mortgage-backed securities, and Collateralized debt obligations.

Sources of Funds

The Company offers a variety of deposit products, including checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts and other types of deposit accounts, including fixed-rate, fixed maturity retail certificates of deposit. As of December 31, 2011, the deposit portfolio consisted of 27.5% non-interest bearing deposits and 72.5% interest-bearing deposits. Non-interest bearing deposits consist of non-interest bearing checking account balances. In addition to its deposit base, it has access to other sources of funding, including Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) and Federal Reserve Bank (FRB) advances, repurchase agreements and unsecured lines of credit with other financial institutions.

Financial Products and Services

In addition to traditional commercial banking activities, the Company offers other financial services to customers, including Internet banking, wire transfers, electronic bill payment, lock box services, courier, and cash management services. Through Shine, a full-service financial advisory firm, the Company offers financial planning and investment management.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Investment Biker]

    Investment Summary: This article is on Western Alliance Bancorporation (WAL), a growth-oriented commercial lender in the Southwest. The banks looks set to improve profitability supported by economic recovery in Last Vegas, industry-leading revenue performance and operating leverage supported by expense control. The credit profile of the bank looks excellent with limited exposure to residential mortgage and well poised to grow its loan portfolio by 20% annually over the next 3 years. It is also well set on a path to credit recovery with improving fundamentals that justifies premium valuation going forward.

Best Shipping Companies To Invest In 2014: Pan American Silver Corp.(PAAS)

Pan American Silver Corp. engages in the exploration, development, extraction, processing, production, refining, reclamation, and operation of silver properties. The company also produces and sells gold, zinc, lead, and copper. As of April 27, 2011, it had seven silver mining operations in Mexico, Peru, Argentina, and Bolivia. The company was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By James Mecir]

    Pan American Silver Corp. (NASDAQ: PAAS)
    Pan American Silver has been trading as part of the short-metals trade for months now. It is in the same broken technical condition as the futures and the other metals stocks. However, they too are oversold and may be ready for a modest bounce in the very short-term. Support for PAAS comes in at $9.10 and the first two resistance levels on any bounce come in at $9.63 and $9.95. Buying near $9.10 offers traders an interesting risk/reward play for the very short-term.

Best Shipping Companies To Invest In 2014: Cutwater Select Income Fund (CSI)

Rivus Bond Fund (the Fund), formerly known as 1838 Bond-Debenture Trading Fund, is a diversified closed-end management investment company. The primary objective of the Fund is to maintain high level of income. Its portfolio includes long-term debt securities, including mortgage-backed securities and asset-backed securities. Effective July 7, 2006, the 1838 Bond-Debenture Trading Fund merged with and into the Rivus Bond Fund.

The Fund invests in various sectors, including automotive, chemicals, diversified financial services, energy, insurance, media, mining, real estate investment trusts, telecommunications, utilities and transportation. MBIA Capital Management Corp. serves as the investment advisor of the Fund.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Sold At The Top]

    Today's release of the S&P/Case-Shiller (CSI) home price indices for August reported that the non-seasonally adjusted Composite-10 price index rose a notable 1.33% since July while the Composite-20 index also increased 1.32% over the same period.

Best Shipping Companies To Invest In 2014: Ventas Inc. (VTR)

Ventas, Inc. is a publicly owned real estate investment trust. The firm engages in investment, management, financing, and leasing of properties in the healthcare industry. It invests in the real estate markets of the United States and Canada. The firm primarily invests in healthcare-related facilities including hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, senior housing facilities, medical office buildings, and other healthcare related facilities. Ventas, Inc. was founded in 1983 and is based in Chicago, Illinois with additional offices in Louisville, Kentucky and Dallas, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Monica Wolfe]

    Ventas Inc (VTR)

    On Feb. 14, Ventas declared a dividend of $0.725 per share, representing 4.50% dividend yield for the company. This dividend is payable on March 28 to shareholders of the record at the close of business on March 7, 2014.

  • [By Dividends4Life]

    Ventas, Inc. (VTR) is a publicly owned real estate investment trust that engages in investment, management, financing, and leasing of properties in the healthcare industry. December 9th the company increased its quarterly dividend 8.25 to $0.725 per share. The dividend is payable December 31, 2013, to stockholders of record on December 16, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 5.0%.

Best Shipping Companies To Invest In 2014: Suburban Propane Partners L.P.(SPH)

Suburban Propane Partners, L.P., through its subsidiaries, engages in the retail marketing and distribution of propane, fuel oil, and refined fuels. Its Propane segment is involved in the distribution of propane to residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural customers, as well as in the wholesale distribution to industrial end users. This segment offers propane primarily for space heating, water heating, cooking, and clothes drying in the residential and commercial markets; for use as a motor fuel in internal combustion engines to power over-the-road vehicles, forklifts, and stationary engines, as well as to fire furnaces and as a cutting gas to the industrial customers; and for tobacco curing, crop drying, poultry brooding, and weed control in the agricultural markets. The company?s Fuel Oil and Refined Fuels segment engages in the retail distribution of fuel oil, diesel, kerosene, and gasoline to residential and commercial customers primarily for use as a sourc e of heat in homes and buildings. Its Natural Gas and Electricity segment markets natural gas and electricity to residential and small commercial customers in the deregulated energy markets of New York and Pennsylvania. The company also sells, installs, and services of a range of home comfort equipment, including whole-house heating products, air cleaners, humidifiers, hearth products, and space heaters; and sells and installs natural gas and propane gas grills, fireplaces, and related accessories and supplies through retail stores. As of September 24, 2011, it served approximately 750,000 residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural customers primarily in the east and west coast regions of the United States, including Alaska, as well as operated 2 retail stores in the northwest and northeast regions in the United States. Suburban Energy Services Group LLC serves as a general partner of Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. The company was founded in 1945 and is based in Whippany, New Jersey.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Traders Reserve]

    Suburban Propane (SPH) does one thing ��it distributes propane ��and while the stock is down because sales are booming and profits are not. Revenue in 2012 was up almost 65% I 2012 (in part due to an acquisition), and will be up another 10% or more in 2013 despite the fall in most prices. I expect this to turn around this year, in part because of increased supplies of propane from shale fields.

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