Schorsch's RCS Capital signs smart-data lead generation deal with Vestorly

Vestorly co-founders Ralph Pahlmeyer (left) and Justin Wisz.

As it pursues a series of broker-dealer acquisitions, RCS Capital Corp. has signed on with smart-data technology startup Vestorly in a digital-marketing deal designed to connect brokers with client prospects.

Vestorly, which announced the deal on Thursday, also is in discussions with other asset management firms and mutual fund companies that want access to the startup's Internet-based platform, said Vestorly chief executive Justin Wisz.

Through its deal with RCS, Vestorly is working on a number of digital marketing projects, including a web application in beta and under compliance review.

“Vestorly is a company that has really brought about a tool to reach the end user that we are looking to reach,” said Brian Spiewak, marketing director for RCS Capital, a company run by real estate investment trust and indie broker-dealer tycoon Nicholas Schorsch.

The startup provides what Mr. Wisz describes as a “custom content discovery experience” that lets consumers find engaging Internet content shared with them by friends, family and colleagues.

Brokers can pick and choose suitable content from well-known publications and share those articles in an e-mailed newsletter that is sent to clients. Vestorly is a white-label platform when used by asset managers, so what the client sees is the broker's logo.

If a client knows that a longtime friend is dealing with an estate planning issue, for example, and he reads a good article about the topic in his broker's newsletter, he can forward the newsletter to the friend with a one-click sign-on via e-mail, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

LinkedIn works especially well for wholesalers because the website shows adviser profiles as well as the content that is being shared with prospects, Mr. Wisz said.

“We use proprietary content and lead gen technology so asset managers can measure all that user data among all consumers and advisers interacting with their brand anywhere online,” he said.

This “network effect” is the future of the advisory industry, Mr. Wisz said.

“We're allowing a brand such as an asset manager or broker-dealer firm to harness the big data in their network of advisers and consumers to make that data smarter for everyone involved. This means we can identify best practices among advisers in the network and recommend them to other advisers,” Mr. Wisz said.

On Monday, RCS Capital and Mr. Schorsch, its executive chairman, announced yet another broker-dealer acquisition with the purchase of Summit Financial Services Group Inc.

In an interview, he said that he wouldn't r! ule out a fourth acquisition of an independent broker-dealer, though he stressed that organic growth at the businesses that he has bought is as important as growth through mergers and acquisitions.

Dendreon Seeks Acquirer: Should Investors Buy?

Late Friday, Bloomberg reported that Dendreon (DNDN) was looking to sell itself–a report that has sent the troubled drug maker’s shares shooting higher this morning. From the report:

Bloomberg News

Dendreon, the maker of Provenge, is working with JPMorgan Chase & Co. to find suitors, said one of the people, who asked not to be named as the process is private. The company, whose market value once topped $7 billion, has generated about $2 billion in losses over the past decade. That market capitalization now hovers at about $400 million.

While some analysts find the news promising–Maxim Group upgraded Dendreon’s shares to Buy from Hold with a $10 price target–Credit Suisse warns investors not to expect too much upside. Analysts Lee Kalowski and team write:

If DNDN can be sold, investors should not expect an outsized premium. The enterprise value of DNDN is around $750M ($385M plus $647M in debt principal minus $280M in cash), which equates to around 2.5x sales. But DNDN is facing notable commercial and financial struggles and we don't foresee a big bidding war. Moreover, a sale would resolve the debt overhang, so it's hard to imagine investors not being satisfied — almost regardless of price — since there are very few clear alternatives. A sale would remove a very real scenario of equity holders being wiped out in a debt restructuring.

They believe potential buyers could include Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), Sanofi (SNY), Astellas (ALPMY) and Bayer (BAYRY). 

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Roth Capital Partners Joseph Pantginis is even less enthusiastic about the possibility of a sale. He writes:

Dendreon remains in trouble, in our belief, and is not an attractive asset to purchase. While a nice headline positive we believe that the sale of Dendreon will still present significant hurdles to a potential acquirer and current Provenge revenue will likely by overshadowed by major hurdles discussed below. Provenge is an effective, FDA approved product, representing the first cancer vaccine approved in the U.S. However, it has been a major commercial failure and the increased level of competition in the prostate cancer space (Zytiga and Xtandi) has made it that much more difficult. This is a snapshot, in our belief, of what a potential buyer will be faced with: 1) still see major education and commercial hurdles and would not expect to see rapid turnaround, 2) manufacturing hurdles and COGS issues still need to be addressed, 3) ~$550 million in convertible debt is due in 2016 and 4) the recent E.U. approval was a headline success but the key hurdles include a very diverse reimbursement landscape from country to country and the need to define the manufacturing strategy.

He recommends staying far, far away for Dendreon’s stock.

Shares of Dendreon have gained 11% to $2.80 today.

Historical Reasons for Caution

Projections by most Wall Street firms are for a continuation of the good times through 2014—a goldilocks market, neither too hot nor too cold, observes Sy Harding, editor of Street Smart Report.

We remain on the intermediate-term buy signal for the stock market. We expect favorable seasonality and continuing Fed support will sustain the bull market into April or May, but at increasing risk.

However, we would remind investors that the cycles between bull and bear markets have not gone away. For 100 years, a bear market has come along on average of every four and a half years.

5 Best Value Stocks To Buy Right Now

We expect a serious market correction, potentially of bear market proportions, in this year's unfavorable summer season.

After two straight summers without a problem, which has pundits and investors ignoring its long time history and writing-off seasonality again as not meaningful, that correction will likely shock the majority.

Problems likely to create that correction are many and are not unknown, but are currently being glossed over. In addition to annual seasonality, they include:

Market Valuation: The Shiller P/E ratio is at a five-year high of 26.11. That's 58% higher than its historical mean of 16.5.

Investor Sentiment: The biggest outlier gain last year for the S&P 500 (SPX) since 1997, and one of the least volatile in history, has investors extremely bullish and confident.

Consensus Inc. Bullish Sentiment Index: This index was recently at 75%. Consensus Inc. considers 75% as the overbought level of potential market reversals. The Investors Intelligence Sentiment Index is at 59.6% bulls, 14.1% bears. The spread, 45.5, is in the 96th percentile of its highest historical readings.

Four-Year Presidential Cycle: Since 1934, the average decline in the second year of the cycle has been 21%.

The Aging Bull: The average lifespan of the 11 bull markets, since 1950, was 53 months. The current bull market is 58 months old.

For the second straight year, there was no intermediate-term correction. The largest 'pullback' was 5.7% from the September peak to the October low.

The result has been the unusual situation that, for the first time in, at least, 15 years, the S&P 500 did not revisit its long-term 200-day moving average even once during the year.

In bull markets, the support at the 200-day moving average is usually retested at least once a year, and it's not unusual for the support to even give way temporarily. So that it was not even tested was unusual. It adds to the risk as 2014 proceeds.

It would be well to realize that just a normal pullback to retest the support at the 200-day moving average would take the S&P 500 down to its level of October 16, wiping out the entire gain from mid-October.

Meanwhile, just the average 21% decline in the second year of the four-year Presidential Cycle would take the S&P back to its level of January 2, 2013, wiping out last year's entire big gain.

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Nomura Securities Raises Price Target on Capital One (COF)

Nomura Securities reported on Friday that it has raised its price target on Capital One Financial Corp. (COF).

Following the company’s Q3 results, analyst Bill Carcache has increased his price target on Neutral-rated COF from $64 to $71. This new price target suggests that the stock will remain flat at its current price of $71.86.

“Excluding the impact of a $0.10 release and a $0.11 litigation charge, Capital One reported “core” 3Q13 EPS of $1.89 versus our estimate of $1.78 and consensus of $1.80,” the analyst said.

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“Capital One is delivering solid earnings results in an environment that still poses significant challenges to asset growth. We look favorably on management’s decision to remain selective, as the company works its way through the runoff headwinds it faces before returning to a path of modest asset growth.”

Carcache added: “We’re raising our 2013 / 14 EPS estimates to reflect this quarter's beat and higher-than-expected revenue margin trajectory, partly offset by higher expenses related to the Beech Street acquisition. We’re also raising our PT to reflect 10x our revised 2014 EPS estimate. We remain Neutral on COF shares based on our view that they're fully valued at current levels. FY13E EPS from $7.32 to $7.39; FY14E EPS from $6.95 to $7.10.”

Capital One Financial shares were up 62 cents, or 0.86% during Friday morning trading. The stock is up 25% YTD.

Ball Corp: Boring Company, Interesting Prospects

Ball Corporation (BLL), founded in 1880 by five brothers, is a metal packaging company that employs more than 14,500 people in over 90 locations worldwide.  At first glance it might seem as though this is a rather boring company. In fact, seeing the company's products touted as “solutions” may even sound a bit odd – for example “beer solutions” or “soft drink solutions.” However, I suppose if you just had the beverage without a can you would truly have a problem. In turn, the aluminum can is quite literally a solution.

And if you're not yet excited about the company, perhaps the opening headline from Morningstar will quickly reinvigorate your enthusiasm:

“Ball provides beverage cans for each of the 10 largest domestic craft breweries.”

From there you might dig a bit into the craft beer market. For instance, the craft brewing market grew by about 15% in each of the last two years, as compared to just 1% for the overall U.S. beer market. Or you could see that there were just 89 breweries around in 1980 while there are more than 2,500 today. Perhaps you would be interested to know that craft brews now represent 30% of Costco's (COST) beer sales. You might have even picked up on the idea that there's a movement in craft beers away from bottles towards cans.

Hot Performing Companies To Own For 2015

Obviously the craft beer market for container makers might be a small portion of the company's prospects, but it's noticeable that markets like these can provide a growth thesis for an otherwise “boring” company. In fact, this type of company fits ideally with Peter Lynch's first criteria for finding the perfect company:

“The perfect company has to be engaged in a perfectly simple business, and the perfectly simple business ought to have a perfectly boring name. The more boring it is, the better.”

Making containers and calling yourself “Ball Corporation” seems to fit the Peter Lynch bill reasonably well. Anyone want to learn how a can is made?  But Ball Corp has some impressive stats behind its name. For example, Ball Corp accounts for about 40% of North-American beverage-can production and nearly a third of the European beverage-can supply – making it the world's largest metal can manufacturer. Ball Corp has an economic moat in that there are relatively few competitors in the long-term contract driven industry with efficient scale.  Much like railroads and utilities, it would be difficult – although certainly not impossible – for a start-up to quickly displace market share.

Some of the risks for the company include a switch to more glass and plastic containers (ironic considering the company began as a glass container maker), a concentrated customer base and the potential for future regulation.

15 Years of Growth

Ball Corp has grown earnings (orange line) at a compound rate of 17.1% since 1999, resulting in a $6.6 billion dollar market cap. In addition, Ball Corp's earnings have risen from $0.42 per share in 1999, to today's forecasted earnings per share of approximately $3.15 for 2013.  Further, Ball has had a steady dividend (pink line) which has been increasing as of late.

For a look at how the market has historically valued Ball Corp, see the relationship between the price (black line) and earnings of the company as seen on the Earnings and Price Correlated F.A.S.T. Graph below.

Here we see that Ball's market price previously began to deviate from its justified earnings growth; starting to become undervalued during the recent recession and coming back slightly in the last couple of years.  Today, Ball Corp appears fairly valued in relation to both its historical earnings and relative valuation.

In tandem with the strong earnings growth, Ball Corp shareholders have enjoyed a compound annual return of 15.6% which correlates closely with the 17.1% growth rate in earnings per share. A hypothetical $10,000 investment in Ball Corp on 12/31/1998 would have grown to a total value of $84,580.70, without reinvesting dividends. Said differently, Ball Corp shareholders have enjoyed total returns that were roughly 5.2 times the value that would have been achieved by investing in the S&P 500 over the same time period. It's also interesting to note that an investor would have received approximately 2.2 times the amount of dividend income as the index as well. 

But of course – as the saying goes – past performance does not guarantee future results. Thus while a strong operating history provides a fundamental platform for evaluating a company, it does not by itself indicate a buy or sell decision. Instead an investor must have an understanding of the past while simultaneously thinking the investment through to its logical, if not understated, conclusion.

In the opening paragraphs potential catalysts, opportunities and risks were described. It follows that the probabilities of these outcomes should be the guide for one's investment focus.  Yet it is still useful to determine whether or not your predictions seem reasonable. 

Fifteen leading analysts reporting to Standard & Poor's Capital IQ come to a consensus 5-year annual estimated return grow rate for Ball Corp of 8.5%. In addition, Ball Corp is currently trading at a P/E of 14.5, which is inside the “value corridor” (defined by the orange lines) of a maximum P/E of 18. If the earnings materialize as forecast, Ball Corp's valuation would be $72.76 at the end of 2018, which would be a 10.4% annualized rate of return including dividends. A graphical representation of this calculation can be seen in the Estimated Earnings and Return Calculator below.

Now, it's paramount to remember that this is simply a calculator. Specifically, the estimated total return is a default based on the consensus of the analysts following the stock. The consensus includes the long-term growth rate along with specific earnings estimates for the next two upcoming years. Further, the dividend payout ratio is presumed to stay the same and grow with earnings. Taken collectively, this graph provides a very strong baseline for how analysts are presently viewing this company. However, a F.A.S.T. Graphs' subscriber is also able to change these estimates to fit their own thesis or scenario analysis.

Since all investments potentially compete with all other investments, it is useful to compare investing in any prospective company to that of a comparable investment in low risk treasury bonds. Comparing an investment in Ball Corp to an equal investment in a 10 year treasury bond, illustrates that Ball Corp's  expected earnings would be 4  times that of the 10 year T-Bond Interest. This comparison can be seen in the 10-year Earnings Yield Estimate table below.

Finally, it's important to underscore the idea that all companies derive their underlying value from the cash flows (earnings) that they are capable of generating for their owners. Therefore, it should be the expectation of a prudent investor that – in the long-run – the likely future earnings of a company justify the price you pay. Fundamentally, this means appropriately addressing these two questions: “in what should I invest?” and “at what time?” In viewing the past history and future prospects of Ball Corp we have learned that it appears to be a strong company with reasonable upcoming opportunities. However, as always, we recommend that the reader conduct his or her own thorough due diligence.

Disclosure:  No positions at the time of writing.

Disclaimer: The opinions in this document are for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell the stocks mentioned or to solicit transactions or clients. Past performance of the companies discussed may not continue and the companies may not achieve the earnings growth as predicted. The information in this document is believed to be accurate, but under no circumstances should a person act upon the information contained within. We do not recommend that anyone act upon any investment information without first consulting an investment advisor as to the suitability of such investments for his specific situation.

The following article is from one of our external contributors. It does not represent the opinion of Benzinga and has not been edited.

Posted-In: Markets Trading Ideas

Originally posted here...

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Jim Cramer's 6 Stocks in 60 Seconds: SSYS HLF RDN APA WFM DAL (Update 1)

Check out Jim Cramer's latest trading recommendations on "Action Alerts Plus". (Updates from 10:35 a.m. ET with closing information.)

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Here's what Jim Cramer had to say on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" Tuesday.

Credit Suisse says to buy Stratasys (SSYS). Cramer said the stock has been on fire since its secondary offering. SSYS rose 3.6% to $96.82.

D.A. Davidson & Co. is looking for Herbalife (HLF) to do a $2 billion tender offer. This would crush the short-sellers, Cramer said. HLF rose 3.8% to $73.29. Radian (RDN) is a buy, according to Cramer, especially with the Federal Housing Administration pulling out of the industry. RDN was 3% higher at $14.05. Everyone loves Apache's (APA) deal with Egypt, Cramer said, which is why the stock will go higher. APA was up 1.4% at $88.25. Cramer was short and sweet on Whole Foods Market (WFM): It will go much higher. WFM rose nearly 1% to $58.14. Delta Air Lines (DAL) and other airlines would go up significantly if the U.S. Airways-American Airlines merger actually went through Cramer said, but doubted that it would. DAL ended the day at $23.32, up nearly 1%. To sign up for Jim Cramer's free Booyah! newsletter, with all of his latest articles and videos, please click here. -- Written by Bret Kenwell in Petoskey, Mich. Follow @BretKenwell

The Smart Savings Strategy That Should Be Hurting Ford and GM, but Isn't

In a world where stars spend millions to keep up appearances, actress Teri Hatcher has said she'd rather drive her car for 10 years than spend on a fancy new sedan. A smart savings strategy, to be sure, and one more Americans are adopting.

938,000 miles! Source: Motor Trend Magazine.

According to Polk Research, the average age of vehicles driving on U.S roads is 11.4 years. I've been driving a Mercury Mountaineer for 13 years. Holding on like this eliminates costly interest payments while creating opportunities for repair shops.

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And what of Ford Motor (NYSE: F  ) and General Motors (NYSE: GM  ) ? Have they been hurt by the trend? Not according to the latest data. U.S. automakers reported a 12% increase in sales in August, with both Ford and GM eclipsing the average.

You would think that would have more Americans taking on debt. And we are, sort of: New auto financings are up 10.9%, according to data compiled by Equifax. The good news? Credit card delinquencies are down 11% and home loan write-offs declined 22% over the past year. As a nation, we're becoming more financially secure.

Perhaps that's why more of us are "trading up" to new vehicles after cutting back in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis? All we know for sure is that Hatcher is right. The best savings strategy is to not spend. Drive your vehicle for the full length of its useful life, and then sock away the cash you'd spend on payments for something fun.

Or maybe you'd rather invest the proceeds? Ford is one of three stocks our analysts see as excellent plays for a global economic recovery. Click here now for access to a free report that reveals the other two names they'd invest in, and why.

Why Motorola Solutions (MSI) is Sinking on Wednesday

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NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Motorola Solutions (MSI) was losing ground on Wednesday after warning of weakening revenue earlier in the day. By midday, shares had taken off 3.7% to $64.63.

The tech company, which develops business-centric and durable hardware, said profit over 2013 had increased slightly thanks to increased government sales. Fourth-quarter net income of $1.67 a share exceeded expectations of $1.62 a share according to analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters. Revenue saw a year-over-year increase of 2.5% to $2.5 billion, broadly in-line with consensus.

However, lower-than-expected guidance for the first quarter ending March rattled Wall Street. The Schaumburg, Ill.-based business forecast a 4% to 6% drop in revenue compared to the year-ago quarter, putting sales in the range of $1.85 billion to $1.89 billion. Net earnings are expected between 46 cents and 52 cents a share.

The first-quarter guidance is significantly lower than analyst consensus of 75 cents a share in net income and $2.01 billion in sales. TheStreet Ratings team rates MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS INC as a Buy with a ratings score of B+. The team has this to say about their recommendation: "We rate MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS INC (MSI) a BUY. This is driven by a few notable strengths, which we believe should have a greater impact than any weaknesses, and should give investors a better performance opportunity than most stocks we cover. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its impressive record of earnings per share growth, compelling growth in net income, notable return on equity, increase in stock price during the past year and largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company shows weak operating cash flow." You can view the full analysis from the report here: MSI Ratings Report

Stock quotes in this article: MSI 

5 Best Undervalued Stocks To Buy Right Now

The following is an Interactive Buyside research thesis summary, published by our independent buyside analyst community. To access the below full research report for free, click here and unlockthe West Marine report.

Thesis Overview:

West Marine (Nasdaq: WMAR) is an undervalued retailer.  The company is going through a change in focus from a bricks and mortar boat product retailer to a fully integrated retail and wholesale business through bricks and clicks, targeting the boating and water enthusiast customer.   Recent results have been affected by a severe rainy and cool spring which hurt boat usage and delayed the start of the season.  The company has accelerated cash investments to build larger more productive stores and expand its ecommerce abilities, consequently affecting free cash flow short term.  The stock lacks sponsorship as there is only one research report written on the company by a small boutique firm.  The stock trades at only book value despite the company being the leading industry player with a solid balance sheet and significant net cash position. 

5 Best Undervalued Stocks 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 Monica Gerson]

  Tupperware Brands (NYSE: TUP) is expected to report its Q3 earnings at $1.03 per share on revenue of $623.34 million.

  Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) is projected to post its Q4 earnings at $1.12 per share on revenue of $779.02 million.

• [By John Udovich]

  Everyone is familiar with�the Tupperware brand from�consumer products stock Tupperware Brands Corporation (NYSE: TUP) and you are probably familiar with the brands�of mid cap stock Jarden Corp (NYSE: JAH) along with small cap stocks Libbey Inc (NYSEMKT: LBY) and Lifetime Brands Inc (NASDAQ: LCUT); but what about the stocks themselves? Chances are, their brands or products are right under your nose at home and you probably don�� know anything about the mid cap or small cap stock behind them.

• [By Oliver Pursche]

  European large-cap pharmaceuticals like Novartis (NVS) �and Bristol Meyers Squibb (BMY) �count amongst some of our favorite stocks right now, as do U.S. multinationals that are growing revenue and margins in Asia ��Tupperware (TUP) �is a shining example. Stay away from utilities and energy stocks, as they are likely to be the laggards over the next year.

5 Best Undervalued Stocks To Buy Right Now: Caterpillar Inc.(CAT)

Caterpillar Inc. manufactures and sells construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives worldwide. It operates through three lines of businesses: Machinery, Engines, and Financial Products. The Machinery business offers construction, mining, and forestry machinery, including track and wheel tractors, track and wheel loaders, pipelayers, motor graders, wheel tractor-scrapers, track and wheel excavators, backhoe loaders, log skidders, log loaders, off-highway trucks, articulated trucks, paving products, skid steer loaders, underground mining equipment, tunnel boring equipment, and related parts. It also manufactures diesel-electric locomotives; and manufactures and services rail-related products and logistics services for other companies. The Engines business provides diesel, heavy fuel, and natural gas reciprocating engines for Caterpillar machinery, electric power generation systems, marine, petrol eum, construction, industrial, agricultural, and other applications. It offers industrial turbines and turbine-related services for oil and gas, and power generation applications. This business also remanufactures Caterpillar engines, machines, and engine components; and offers remanufacturing services for other companies. The Financial Products business provides retail and wholesale financing alternatives for Caterpillar machinery and engines, solar gas turbines, and other equipment and marine vessels, as well as offers loans and various forms of insurance to customers and dealers. It also offers financing for vehicles, power generation facilities, and marine vessels. The company markets its products directly, as well as through its distribution centers, dealers, and distributors. It was formerly known as Caterpillar Tractor Co. and changed its name to Caterpillar Inc. in 1986. Caterpillar Inc. was founded in 1925 and is headquartered in Peoria, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Marshall Hargrave]

  Back in January, we wrote about why we thought Caterpillar (CAT) was a solid investment opportunity. Since then the stock is down 15% and famed short seller Jim Chanos has announced he's short the stock. Chanos thinks the company has too much exposure to the wrong products at the wrong place in the cycle.

• [By Arjun Sreekumar]

  Even some of the largest players in the railroad industry, including Berkshire Hathaway's Burlington Northern Santa Fe, Union Pacific, and Norfolk Southern, are carefully studying the costs and benefits of converting their freight trains' engines to burn natural gas instead of diesel. BNSF, for instance, is using units from General Electric (NYSE: GE  ) and Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT  ) , the biggest manufactures of locomotives in the world, to determine whether it wants to convert some of its trains to run of a mix of natural gas and diesel.

Top Energy Companies To Own In Right Now: Schlumberger N.V.(SLB)

Schlumberger Limited, together with its subsidiaries, supplies technology, integrated project management, and information solutions to the oil and gas exploration and production industries worldwide. The company?s Oilfield Services segment provides exploration and production services; wireline technology that offers open-hole and cased-hole services; supplies engineering support, directional-drilling, measurement-while-drilling, and logging-while-drilling services; and testing services. This segment also offers well services; supplies well completion services and equipment; artificial lift; data and consulting services; geo services; and information solutions, such as consulting, software, information management system, and IT infrastructure services that support oil and gas industry. Its WesternGeco segment provides reservoir imaging, monitoring, and development services; and operates data processing centers and multiclient seismic library. This segment also offers variou s services include 3D and time-lapse (4D) seismic surveys to multi-component surveys for delineating prospects and reservoir management. The company?s M-I SWACO segment supplies drilling fluid systems to improve drilling performance; fluid systems and specialty tools to optimize wellbore productivity; production technology solutions to maximize production rates; and environmental solutions that manages waste volumes generated in drilling and production operations. Its Smith Oilfield segment designs, manufactures, and markets drill bits and borehole enlargement tools; and supplies drilling tools and services, tubular, completion services, and other related downhole solutions. The company?s Distribution segment markets pipes, valves, and fittings, as well as mill, safety, and other maintenance products. This segment also provides warehouse management, vendor integration, and inventory management services. Schlumberger Limited was founded in 1927 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Matt DiLallo]

  In addition, the process could really vault Halliburton past industry peers Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB  ) and Baker Hughes (NYSE: BHI  ) . All three companies have been looking overseas for growth as rig counts in the U.S. have been on the decline. Just last quarter, U.S. rig counts dropped by 3%, which helped cause Halliburton's revenue to dip by 1%. However, if H2O Forward works as planned it could help Halliburton take additional market share from its competitors in the U.S., enabling it to do well even if rig counts continue to drop. Also, the company could begin to offer the solution overseas, which would help maintain its industry-leading growth.�

• [By David Smith]

  Big and not so big at your service
  In the services sector, perhaps the most difficult to comprehend of the sub-sectors, you likely have a good handle on the kingpin, Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB  ) . The company, with a $100 billion market cap, operates in about 85 countries, through the efforts of more than 100,000 employees. Its services include everything from soup to nuts, or seismic to production assistance. So, if you're looking for an ideal company to constitute a single proxy for the services contingent, Schlumberger's a good bet.

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB  ) will release its quarterly report on Friday, capping an up-and-down quarter for the stock. With U.S. natural gas prices having risen somewhat from their lows last year and with oil prices remaining above $100 per barrel, Schlumberger earnings have the fundamental support in place to drive higher.

5 Best Undervalued Stocks To Buy Right Now: 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 Paul Ausick]

  Dollar General�� share price is up less than 6% in the past 12 months, but since the beginning of the year shares have risen more than 22%. And even then, Dollar General�trails Dollar Tree Inc. (NASDAQ: DLTR) in share price growth since January 1. Dollar Tree stock is up 30%.

JPMorgan Profit Beats Estimates, Despite Madoff Penalties

Kathy Willens/AP JPMorgan Chase reported a better-than-expected adjusted quarterly profit as the biggest U.S. bank kept a lid on costs and set aside less money to cover bad loans. The bank, which agreed last week to pay $2.6 billion to settle government and private claims over its handling of accounts of fraudster Bernie Madoff, said fourth-quarter net income fell 7.3 percent to $5.28 billion, or $1.30 a share. Adjusted for special items, the company earned $1.40 a share, beating the average analyst estimate of $1.35, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. The results took into account gains from the sale of Visa (V) shares and One Chase Manhattan Plaza and legal expenses related to the Madoff settlements. JPMorgan (JPM), which agreed to pay nearly $20 billion in 2013 to settle assorted legal claims, had estimated that settlement of the Madoff claims would subtract $850 million from fourth-quarter earnings. "It was in the best interests of our company and shareholders for us to accept responsibility, resolve these issues and move forward," Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon said in a statement Tuesday. JPMorgan shares, which have been trading this month at their highest levels since 2000, were up 0.5 percent at $58 before the opening bell on the New York Stock Exchange. The stock rose 33 percent in 2013, in line with the 35 percent rise in the KBW Bank index and slightly ahead of the 29 percent gain in Standard & Poor's 500 stock index. Special items highlighted by the bank subtracted 10 cents a share from fourth-quarter earnings, compared with a two-cent boost in the same quarter of 2012. The special items included a benefit of 21 cents a share from the sale of Visa shares and 8 cents from the sale of One Chase Manhattan Plaza and an expense of 27 cents a share from legal bills, including the Madoff settlements. Three months ago, JPMorgan reported its first quarterly loss under Dimon after recording after-tax expenses of $7.2 billion to settle government and private investigations. The allegations involved, among other things, shoddy dealing in mortgage instruments before the financial crisis, derivatives trading in London and pricing in electric power markets, as well as failing to report suspicions of wrongdoing by Madoff. Investors have been looking for reassurance from the company that the worst of its legal expenses are behind it. Assets Shrink Noninterest expenses fell 3 percent to $15.55 billion during the quarter, while provisions for bad loans fell 84 percent to $104 million. JPMorgan said its assets shrank to $2.42 trillion at the end of December from $2.46 trillion three months before and $2.36 trillion a year earlier, but it remains the biggest U.S. bank by that measure. Equity underwriting revenue soared 65 percent to $436 million. But investment banking fees were pulled down by lower debt underwriting, where revenue declined 19 percent, and advisory fees, which fell 7 percent. Altogether, investment banking fees declined 3 percent. The bank's market share in equity underwriting rose to 8.3 percent in 2013, moving it to second place in the industry from fourth. Goldman Sachs Group (GS) led with 11.4 percent. Higher interest rates on home mortgage loans weighed on JPMorgan, like the rest of the banking industry. JPMorgan lost $274 million, pre-tax, making mortgage loans, compared with a profit of $789 million a year earlier as margins declined and as the company was unable to reduce expenses as quickly as lending volumes declined. The bank said it expected to lose money making mortgages again in the first quarter of this year. Reflecting a slowdown in loan refinancing, total U.S. home mortgage borrowing was down 50 percent at the end of December compared with a year earlier and down by a quarter from the end of September, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. -.

Swiss bank UBS blames a rogue trader at its London office for a $2.3 billion loss that is Britain's biggest-ever fraud at a bank. Kweku Adoboli, the 32 year old trader, is sentenced to seven years in prison. Britain's financial regulator fines UBS after finding its internal controls were inadequate and allowed Adoboli, a relatively inexperienced trader, to make vast and risky bets.

1 Thing to Look for in Ford's Q2 Earnings

If you follow Ford (NYSE: F  ) , General Motors, or the automotive industry as a whole on a regular basis then you know what to expect during the quarterly reports. The industry is very transparent with monthly sales figures, incentives, and transaction prices – and all those factors have been very positive now that the first half of 2013 is in the record books. That's part of the reason for the optimism in Ford and why its share price is the highest it's been in about two years. There's one number in Ford's second-quarter earnings report that could throw a wrench in its momentum: losses in Europe.

What we know
For the second quarter, Ford saw an uptick in sales volume and market share. Ford basically said that it learned its lesson during the U.S. recession and wouldn't resort to dishing out massive incentives and taking huge losses per vehicle sold to salvage market share. Ford essentially conceded it would lose some share to minimize its profit loss. Instead, year-over-year June market share numbers show that Ford has actually gained a full percentage point, from 7.2% to 8.2%, in the 19 traditional European markets. 

That means that Ford gained in market share every month in the second quarter compared to the previous year. The quarter ended on a solid note as Ford's sales volume increased 6.4% in an industry that did the opposite – it fell 6.5%. The reason for this is Ford's strategy to focus on delivering a vehicle worth buying, rather than pushing unpopular models off the lots with the incentives I mentioned earlier – and it's working.

"With all the new vehicles and technology we are bringing to market, we made a big bet to focus on retail share and very deliberately reduce participation in sales channels that are less healthy for our brand and residual values," said Roelant de Waard, vice president, marketing, sales and service, Ford of Europe in a Ford press release. "This is paying off with the success of new vehicles like the Fiesta, Kuga, B-MAX and Transit Custom."

Caveat
Even with all the good news in the second quarter, we still have to remember that Ford lost $462 million in Europe in Q1 and didn't revise its estimated yearly loss of $2 billion. That likely means Ford is either being cautious to not jump the gun on recovering its profits faster than expected in Europe, or it expects little to no improvement for the rest of the year. As a Ford shareholder I'd love to see a surprise decline in Q2 losses, but even if the losses remain exactly the same as in Q1, everything is OK in the big picture and the plan to break even in Europe in 2015 still remains. It's also a good sign that Ford isn't closing any more plant to cut capacity, which shows that management believes Europe's automotive sales have bottomed out.

Bottom line
It can't be underestimated how much the losses in Europe mean to Ford's share price. If Ford can indeed break even in the region by the end of 2015 it would salvage nearly $2 billion in lost profits per year. If all the positive news from Q2 sales volume and market share translates into a decline of losses reported in Europe, expect the market to react very favorably to the news – much to the delight of Ford investors. 

Salvaging Europe will be a huge boost to Ford profits, but success in China can be just as important. China is already the world's largest auto market – and it's set to grow even bigger in coming years. A recent Motley Fool report, "2 Automakers to Buy for a Surging Chinese Market," names two global giants poised to reap big gains that could drive big rewards for investors. You can read this report right now for free – just click here for instant access.

Wall St. hopes jobs report shows bright side

Ahead of the opening bell Friday markets were displaying some cautious optimism as they looked forward to the key government jobs report that will be released at 8:30 a.m. ET.

Around a third of economists surveyed by USA TODAY now expect that 205,000 jobs were added to the U.S. economy last month. An unchanged unemployment rate of 7% is expected. In recent days, some economists have been raising their forecasts for the pace of jobs growth following a bullish private survey of business hiring.

JOBS REPORT: Many economists foresee more strong job gains

The major U.S. pre-market indexes were on the rise on Friday. Dow Jones industrial average index futures rose 0.3%. Standard & Poor's 500 index futures added 0.3%. Nasdaq index futures advanced 0.5%.

Wall Street closed mostly lower in the prior session. The Dow fell 0.1% to 16,444.76. The Nasdaq composite dropped 0.2% to 4,156.19. The S&P 500 managed a small gain, rising to 1,838.13.

"U.S. economic data has increasingly outperformed relative to expectations in recent months, suggesting analysts continue to underestimate the resilience of the North American giant and opening the door for an upside surprise," said Ilya Spivak, currency strategist at DailyFX, in emailed comments.

THURSDAY: Stocks continue to struggle, close mostly lower

Benchmarks across Asia Friday saw choppy trading following China's release of trade data for December that showed a deceleration in export growth, which suggests demand from Western nations remains tepid. That glum news was partially offset by an increase in import growth that pointed to some resilience in the world's No. 2 economy.

The Shanghai composite index declined 0.7% to 2,013.30 and Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index rose 0.2% to 15, 912.06.

In the energy sector, benchmark crude for February delivery was up 97 cents to around $92.63 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell 67 cents to $91.66 on Thursday.

In Europe, ther! e were broad-based gains for the major benchmarks. Britain's FTSE 100 index was up 0.6% and France's CAC 40 index added 0.5%.

Businesses added 238,000 jobs in December, according to the private payrolls processor ADP. That figure is the most since November 2011.

Contributing: Associated Press

VMware Releases New Dual Persona Solution for Android

Today, VMware (NYSE: VMW  ) launched a new virtual operating system solution that allows customers to use their personal smartphones for work use, without compromising security or business policies. 

The new system, called VMware Horizon Mobile, is available now for Verizon Enterprise customers on the LG Intuition and Motorola's RAZR M. The company said in a press release that more devices will be added throughout the year, but hasn't said which ones will be included.

Bill Versen, director of mobile solutions for Verizon Enterprise Solutions. "With the VMware® Horizon Mobile dual persona solution, Verizon enterprise customers can deliver corporate data and applications to their employees' mobile devices without impacting their personal settings and experience while ensuring that corporate information is under IT's control with a complete audit trail."

VMware Horizon Mobile service starts at $125 per user and can be purchased through VMware and Verizon Wireless.

Delta’s December Revenues Show Big Jump, Outlook Improves for Q4

After reporting a 10% increase in passenger revenues for the month of December on Friday morning, Delta Air Lines Co. (NYSE: DAL) raised its estimate for the company's fourth quarter operating margin from 5.5% to a new range of 8% to 9%. Passenger unit revenue is expected to rise 3% compared with the year-ago fourth quarter while costs are expected to rise about 2%.

Delta had projected a gain of 7% to 9% for the month of December, but the timing of the Thanksgiving holiday probably pushed revenues associated with holiday travel into the first few days of December. Fuel costs were also $0.03 a gallon below the company's expected range of $3.03 to $3.08.

In late October, United Continental Holdings Inc. (NYSE: UAL) projected that its unit revenues would decline by 1.2% to 1.4% for the full 2013 fiscal year and that fourth quarter revenues would rise by 2.5% to 3.5%. United's estimated its fuel costs at $3.10 to $3.15 per gallon.

American Airlines Group Inc. (NYSE: AAL) and Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) have not published revenue data or projections.

While Delta’s news is spreading good cheer and rising share prices today, all the airlines are wary of a coming increase in a federal tax they pay to support the U.S. Transportation Safety Administration (TSA). Congress approved an increase to the fees paid to the TSA as part of the budget deal it reached last month.

What's got the airlines stirred up is that a new tax might be assessed on the baggage and other fees that the airlines now charge passengers. Those fees have generated $31.5 billion in revenues for the airlines over the past seven years according to the Bureau of Transportation statistics, more than half that total from baggage fees.

The airlines argue that a typical $300 round-trip ticket already includes $60 in federal taxes and that will rise unless the airlines' lobbyists can convince Congress to back-off. The budget deal raises the TSA fee from $2.50 per one-way trip segment to a maximum of $5.00 to $5.60. The increase is expected to take effect in July and raise about $12.6 billion over 10 years.

For Delta, though, Friday is seeing the company's share price rise more than 5% in the noon hour, to $29.13 in a 52-week range of $12.55 to $29.44.

United is also getting a boost, up about 4.4% at $39.39 in a 52-week range of $23.62 to $40.19.

American Airlines is up nearly 5% at $26.62 in a range of $12.70 to $27.20, and Southwest Airlines is up about 2% at $19.25 after posting a new 52-week high of $19.31. Southwest's yearly low is $10.73.

Best Clean Energy Companies To Invest In 2014

NV Energy (NYSE: NVE  ) � is a selection for the real-money Inflation-Protected Income Growth portfolio. Like any investment, it needs to be reviewed from time to time to see if it's still worth owning. In the brief video below, portfolio manager Chuck Saletta reviews its valuation, balance sheet, and dividends, and decides whether to hold on to the stock or let it go.

To follow the iPIG portfolio as buy and sell decisions are made, watch Chuck's article feed by clicking here. To join The Motley Fool's free discussion board dedicated to the iPIG portfolio, simply click here.

Will Exelon's troubles soon be over?
As the nation moves increasingly toward clean energy, Exelon is perfectly positioned to capitalize on having the largest nuclear fleet in North America. This strength, combined with an increased focus on balance sheet health and its recent merger with Constellation, places Exelon and its resized dividend on a short list of the top utilities. To determine if Exelon is a good long-term fit for your portfolio, you're invited to check out The Motley Fool's premium research report on the company. Simply click here now for instant access.

Best Clean Energy Companies To Invest In 2014: Riverview Bancorp Inc(RVSB)

Riverview Bancorp, Inc. operates as the holding company for Riverview Community Bank that provides various banking products and services to commercial and retail customers in Washington and Oregon. Its deposit products include demand deposits, negotiable order of withdrawal accounts, money market accounts, regular savings accounts, certificates of deposit, and retirement savings plans. The company also offers commercial loans; real estate mortgage loans; real estate construction loans; and consumer loans, such as one-to-four family mortgage loans, home equity lines of credit, land loans to consumers for the future construction of one-to-four family homes, and other secured and unsecured consumer loans, as well as various installment loans, including loans for debt consolidation and other purposes, automobile loans, boat loans, and savings account loans. In addition, it originates mortgage loans for various mortgage companies; provides automated teller machines, debit cards , and Internet banking services; and asset management services, such as trust, estate planning, and investment management services. As of October 27, 2011, the company had 17 branches, including 12 in the Portland-Vancouver area and 3 lending centers. Riverview Bancorp, Inc. was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Washington.

Best Clean Energy Companies To Invest In 2014: EDAP TMS S.A.(EDAP)

EDAP TMS S.A., through its subsidiaries, engages in the development, manufacture, and marketing of minimally invasive medical devices primarily for urological diseases. The company operates in two divisions, High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU), and Urology Devices and Services (UDS). The HIFU division involves in the development, manufacture, and marketing of medical devices based on HIFU technology for the minimally invasive destruction of various types of localized tumors. This division offers Ablatherm, a HIFU-based ultrasound guided device for the treatment of organ-confined prostate cancer. Its HIFU technology allows the surgeon to destroy a defined area of diseased tissue without damaging surrounding tissue and organs. This division also engages in the leasing of equipment, as well as the sale of disposables, spare parts, and maintenance services. This division markets and sells its products through its direct marketing and sales organization, as well as through third-party distributors and agents. The UDS division engages in the development, manufacture, marketing, and servicing of medical devices for the minimally invasive diagnosis or treatment of urological disorders, primarily urinary stones and other clinical indications. This division provides lithotripters for the treatment of urinary tract stones by means of ESWL technology. This division manufactures three models of lithotripters: the Sonolith Praktis, the Sonolith i-move, and the Sonolith i-sys. This division also involves in the leasing of lithotripters, as well as the sale of disposables, spare parts, and maintenance services. This division markets and sells its products through its direct sales and service platform, as well as through agents and third-party distributors. The company?s customers include public and private hospitals, urology clinics, and research institutions worldwide. EDAP TMS S.A. was founded in 1979 and is based in Vaulx-en-Velin, France.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  Laparoscopic surgery or minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is a type of surgical technique where�operations in the abdomen are performed through small incisions while small cap stocks ArthroCare Corporation (NASDAQ: ARTC), EDAP TMS S.A. (NASDAQ: EDAP), SafeStitch Medical Inc (OTCBB: SFES) and Arch Therapeutics Inc (OTCBB: ARTH) are all in some way focused on aiding minimally invasive procedures. According to a 2012 report produced by MedMarket Diligence, LLC, approximately 114 million surgical and procedure-based wounds occur annually worldwide,�including�36 million in the US, and perhaps�up to a quarter of these procedures can be described as laparoscopic in nature.�Moreover,�use of the technique is bound to increase�as�it reduces�pain and hemorrhaging plus leads to a�shorter recovery time.

Top 5 Value Stocks To Buy For 2014: Marenica Energy Ltd(MEY.AX)

Marenica Energy Limited engages in the exploration and development of uranium deposits in Namibia and Australia. The company also explores for lead, zinc, silver, gold, and copper. Its principal project includes the Marenica Uranium project that covers an area of 527 square kilometers located in the Damara Province, Namibia. The company was formerly known as West Australian Metals Ltd and changed its name to Marenica Energy Limited in November 2009. Marenica Energy Limited was incorporated in 1978 and is based in West Perth, Australia.

Best Clean Energy Companies To Invest In 2014: Diamcor Mining Inc (DMI.V)

Diamcor Mining Inc., a junior mining and exploration company, engages in the identification, acquisition, exploration, evaluation, operation, and development of diamond-based resource properties in South Africa. The company focuses on the acquisition and operation of near-term production based diamond projects; and the supply of rough diamonds to diamond purchasing entities serving the diamond market. It holds interests in the Krone-Endora at Venetia project that consists of Krone 104MS and Endora 66MS farms covering a combined surface area of approximately 5,888 hectares directly adjacent to De Beer�s flagship Venetia Diamond Mine in South Africa; and owns certain land and mining rights in the So Ver mine facility located near Kimberley, South Africa. Diamcor Mining Inc. has a strategic alliance with Tiffany & Co. The company is based in Kelowna, Canada.

Best Clean Energy Companies To Invest In 2014: Nile Therapeutics Inc. (NLTX)

Nile Therapeutics, Inc., a development stage biopharmaceutical company, develops pharmaceutical products for the treatment of cardiovascular and renal diseases. Its lead product candidate include Cenderitide, a chimeric natriuretic peptide that has completed Phase I clinical trial for the treatment of patients following admission for acutely decompensated heart failure. The company also develops CU-NP, a natriuretic peptide, which is in pre-clinical studies for the treatment of cardiovascular and renal diseases. Nile Therapeutics, Inc. was founded in 2005 and is based in San Mateo, California.

Best Clean Energy Companies To Invest In 2014: The Hackett Group Inc.(HCKT)

The Hackett Group, Inc. operates as a strategic advisory and technology consulting firm primarily in the United States and western Europe. The company offers executive advisory programs, benchmarking, business transformation, and technology consulting services, as well as shared services, offshoring, and outsourcing advice. Its executive advisory programs consists of advisor inquiry, an inquiry service used by clients for access to fact-based advice on proven approaches and methods to increase the effectiveness of selling, general, and administrative processes (SG&A); best practice research, a research that provides insights into the proven approaches in use at organizations; peer interaction program comprising member-led Webcasts, annual Best Practice Conferences, annual Member Forums, membership performance surveys, and client-submitted content; and best practice intelligence center, an online, searchable repository of practices, performance metrics, conference presentat ions, and associated research. The company?s bench marking services conduct studies in the areas of SG&A, finance, human resources, information technology, procurement, enterprise performance management, shared service centers, and working capital management. These services are used by clients to establish priorities, generate organizational consensus, align compensation to establish performance goals, and develop the required business case for business and technology investments. Its business transformation programs help clients to develop coordinated strategy for achieving performance improvements across the enterprise; and Hackett Technology Solutions help clients choose and deploy the software applications that meet their needs and objectives. The company was formerly known as Answerthink, Inc. and changed its name to The Hackett Group, Inc. in January 2008. The Hackett Group, Inc. was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Miami, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By ValueArtifex]

  One such situation currently in the process of unfolding this month is a Dutch Tender by The Hackett Group (HCKT). I will briefly discuss the underlying business, what exactly a Dutch Auction (or in this case, a Tender) is, what options investors have when approaching this situation and how it could play out.

Hot Low Price Companies To Buy Right Now

If you plan on flying anywhere over Thanksgiving or Christmas, now might be the best time to buy your tickets. By booking a flight in September, rather than waiting until closer to the holidays, you could potentially save hundreds of dollars, says CheapAir.com CEO Jeff Klee.

SEE ALSO: 26 Secrets to Save on Travel

That�� because the biggest factor influencing airfares is how full a flight is, Klee says. Once a flight is booked beyond a certain level, fares for that flight start increasing. Given that most flights fill up around the holidays, you��e more likely to get a better price the sooner you book.

However, you should be aware that you��e probably not going to find great deals. For example, if you see airlines advertising a fare sale now, don�� assume those low prices will be available for holiday travel. In fact, fares for round-trip flights during the long Thanksgiving weekend are $160 more, on average, than they are for the rest of fall and winter, Klee says. So if you travel a particular route often, don�� expect to see during peak holiday travel times the same standard fare you normally pay, he says. And think hard before holding out in hopes of a price drop because the trend for fares ��ill be up, up, up��between now and November, Klee says.

Hot Low Price Companies To Buy Right Now: Perry Ellis International Inc.(PERY)

Perry Ellis International, Inc. engages in designing, sourcing, marketing, and licensing apparel products for men and women in the United States and internationally. The company?s men?s wear offerings include casual sportswear and bottoms, dress shirts and pants, jeans wear, golf apparel, sweaters, sports apparel, swimwear and swim accessories, active wear, outerwear and leather accessories. Its women?s wear offerings comprise dresses, sportswear, and swimwear and swim accessories. The company offers its products under the brand names of Perry Ellis, Axis, Tricots St. Raphael, Jantzen, John Henry, Cubavera, the Havanera Co., Centro, Solero, Natural Issue, Munsingwear, Grand Slam, Original Penguin, Mondo di Marco, Redsand, Pro Player, Manhattan, Axist, Savane, Farah, Gotcha, Girl Star, MCD, Laundry by Shelli Segal, C&C California, Ben Hogan, and Rafaella. It also licenses the Nike brand for swimwear and swimwear accessories; the JAG brand for men?s and women?s swimwear and cover-ups; the Callaway Golf brand and Top-Flite for golf apparel; the PGA TOUR brand, including Champions Tour for golf apparel; and Pierre Cardin for men?s sportswear. The company distributes its products primarily to wholesale customers, including department stores, national and regional chain stores, mass merchants, specialty stores, sporting goods stores, the corporate wear market, and e-commerce, as well as clubs and independent retailers. As of March 2, 2011, it operated 38 Perry Ellis and 3 Original Penguin retail outlet stores primarily in upscale retail outlet malls across the United States and Puerto Rico; 1 Perry Ellis and 1 Cubavera retail store in Miami, Florida; and 7 Original Penguin retail stores in upscale demographic markets in the United States. The company was formerly known as Supreme International Corporation and changed its name to Perry Ellis International, Inc. in June 1999. Perry Ellis International, Inc. was founded in 1967 and is headquarte red in Miami, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lauren Pollock]

  Perry Ellis International Inc.(PERY) cut its outlook for the fiscal year, citing weakness in its third quarter. The clothing company said revenue was hurt by reduced shipments, primarily due to the reduction of private-label business for the mid-tier channel, as well as reduced sales through its direct retail channel. Shares fell.

Hot Low Price Companies To Buy Right Now: Kian Ho Bearings Ltd (K22.SI)

Kian Ho Bearings Ltd operates as a stockist, distributor, and retailer of bearings, seals, and power transmission belts. It offers approximately 35,000 types of bearings and seals. The company�s bearing products include precision ball bearings, ball and roller bearings, needle roller bearings, miniature bearings, extra thin section bearings, extra thin section flanged bearings, large stainless steel bearings, metal bearings, bearing housings, adapter sleeves, withdrawal sleeves, lock nuts and washers, and industrial and automotive bearings. Its seal products comprise rubber, oil, hydraulic and pneumatic, lip, standard rod, piston, rod/gland, static, and shaft seals, as well as o-rings and dirt excluders. The company also provides linear systems products, including gauges, ball screws, tool holders, press tools, machine tools, ultra-precision measuring systems, and linear motion systems and shafts. Its products are used in various industries and products, such as transport ation, electronics, construction, oil and gas, petrochemical, manufacturing and print publishing, disk drive, and marine. The company offers its products primarily to the bearing wholesalers, replacement markets, and original equipment manufacturers in southeast Asia and the Far East. Kian Ho Bearings Ltd was founded in 1956 and is headquartered in Singapore.

Top 10 Tech Stocks For 2014: Generali(GASI.MI)

Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A. provides various insurance and financial products and services worldwide. The company offers life insurance products that include savings and protection policies, such as automobile third party liability, personal injuries, industrial plants, and family protection, as well as individual and group pension schemes. It also provides unit-linked and supplementary pension policies, and health insurance products. In addition, the company offers assistance services in the areas of motor, travel, health, home, and family businesses. Further, it provides asset management, properties and financial services, and private banking services. The company was formerly known as Assicurazioni Generali Austro-Italiche and changed its name to Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A. in 1848. Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A. was founded in 1831 and is headquartered in Trieste, Italy.

Hot Low Price Companies To Buy Right Now: Mainstreet Equity Com Npv (MEQ.TO)

Mainstreet Equity Corp., a residential real estate company, engages in the acquisition, divestiture, value-enhancement, and management of multi-family residential properties in Canada. The company owns a portfolio of multi-family residential properties in Vancouver lower mainland, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, and the Greater Toronto area. As of September 30, 2012, it had a total portfolio was 7,516 residential units consisting of townhouses, garden-style apartments, and mid-rise and high-rise apartments; and 664 residential units held for sale. The company was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

Hot Low Price Companies To Buy Right Now: Snowfield Dev Corp (SNO.V)

Snowfield Development Corp. engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Canada. It explores for diamond, copper, silver, gold, zinc, molybdenum, tellurium, and iron minerals. The company holds interests in the Nahmint property covering approximately 8,000 hectares; and Snow property consisting of 4 mineral claim tenures, and 41 mineral claim cells totaling 8,406 hectares situated in Vancouver Island, British Columbia. It also has an interest in the Ticho property comprising an area of 16,188 hectares located in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. The company was incorporated in 1987 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.