The market wasn't impressed by Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL ) WWDC powwow with developers this week. Investors wanted more than a predictable iOS update, a Pandora knockoff, and a toilet paper roll-shaped Mac Pro.
Apple stock closed lower on the week in response, but then things got interesting. Reports surfaced later in the week that Apple was working on the kind of the stuff that could eventually move Apple stock higher. We're talking about bigger, cheaper, and more colorful iPhones.
If that's true, Apple, you have my attention.
After more than five years of iPhone loyalty, I switched last month. I bought the Samsung Galaxy S4. I wanted the bigger screen that would make my smartphone more functional. I wanted the features that Apple was complacent enough to let someone else introduce first. Just the sheer joy of not having to toggle between two different keyboards to peck out text with letters and numbers made it an easy decision.
However, buyer's remorse has started to creep in over the past five weeks. Google's (NASDAQ: GOOG ) Android has taken global market share at everyone's expense, but it's not perfect. I do miss iOS, and while at first it seemed like I was merely facing an awkward learning curve -- like getting to know the nuances of a new lover after growing comfortable in a five-year relationship -- I would have no problem returning to my old flame if I could get an iOS brain in the body of an S4.
Top 5 Tech Stocks To Own For 2015: Soul And Vibe Interactive Inc (SOUL)
Soul and Vibe Interactive, Inc., incorporated on 5, 2011, is a video and computer games company. The Company develops, publishes and digitally distributes interactive entertainment for video game consoles, mobile devices, and personal computers. It focuses on the development of its products for a variety of hardware platforms: video game consoles (for example: Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3), mobile (for example: Apple iOS and Android devices, and Windows Phones), and personal computers (for example: PC and Mac). The Company has five games, which consists of The Wheaties Challenge, Bugaboo, Grimwhiskers, a virtual-pet game that may bear a licensed-brand, and The Dragon Wars.
The Wheaties Challenge is an adrenaline-charged arcade sports compilation for console, mobile, and personal computer (PC)/Mac. The game promotes family health and wellness, is sponsored by General Mills, and features Wheaties as its signature brand. Bugaboo is an action-puzzle game for consoles, mobile devices and PCs. The core play mechanic is Shadow Weaving. Grimwhiskers is a side scrolling action game for consoles, mobile devices and PCs.
The Company competes with Zynga, Electronic Arts, Activision, Playdom, Ubisoft and Majesco.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Peter Graham]
Small cap stocks Soul and Vibe Interactive Inc (OTCBB: SOUL), Globalstar, Inc (OTCMKTS: GSAT) and Poly Shield Technologies Inc (OTCBB: SHPR) have been getting some attention lately in various investment newsletters or investor alerts with at least two of these stocks being the subject of some sort of paid stock promotional or investor relations type of activities. With that in mind, just how hot are these three small cap stocks for investors or traders? Here is a quick reality check:
- [By Peter Graham]
Small cap entertainment or gaming stocks Soul and Vibe Interactive Inc (OTCBB: SOUL), Elray Resources Inc (OTCMKTS: ELRA) and Players Network (OTCMKTS: PNTV) focus on entertaining consumers. However, its important to remember that consumers can be very fickle when it comes to entertainment or games. So should you be entertaining any of these small caps? Here is a closer look and a reality check:
10 Best Diversified Bank Stocks To Invest In Right Now: ZAGG Incorporated(ZAGG)
ZAGG Incorporated, together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and distributes protective coverings, audio accessories, and power solutions for consumer electronics and hand-held devices under the invisibleSHIELD, ZAGGskins, ZAGGbuds, ZAGGsparq, and ZAGGmate brand names, primarily in the United States and Europe. Its invisibleSHIELD is a protective film covering designed for iPods, iPads, laptops, cell phones, digital cameras, watch faces, global positioning systems, personal digital assistants, MP3 players, watch faces, global positioning systems, gaming devices, and rotary blades of military helicopters. The company?s ZAGGaudio brand of electronics accessories and products primarily comprise ZAGGsmartbuds, a water resistant ear bud; ZAGGskins brand consists of high-resolution images with the scratch protection of ZAGG?s invisibleSHIELD; ZAGGsparq is a portable battery that recharges various USB-charged devices, including the Apple iPads and iPhones, cell phone s, handheld gaming systems, and digital cameras; ZAGG LEATHERskins are thin, pliable cases for personal electronics; and ZAGGmate products are protective cases for the Apple iPad. ZAGG Incorporated offers approximately 5,000 precision pre-cut designs of its products through online channels, big-box retailers, electronics specialty stores, resellers, college bookstores, Mac stores, and mall kiosks. The company is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Alex Planes]
Investors love stocks that consistently beat the Street without getting ahead of their fundamentals and risking a meltdown. The best stocks offer sustainable market-beating gains, with robust and improving financial metrics that support strong price growth. Does ZAGG (NASDAQ: ZAGG ) fit the bill? Let's look at what its recent results tell us about its potential for future gains.
10 Best Diversified Bank Stocks To Invest In Right Now: American Assets Trust Inc (AAT)
American Assets Trust, Inc. is a full-service vertically integrated and self-administered real estate investment trust (REIT). The Company owns, operates, acquires and develops retail, office, multi-family and mixed-use properties primarily in Southern California, Northern California, Oregon and Hawaii. The Company operates in four business segments: retail, office, multi-family and mixed-use. As of December 31, 2011, its portfolio consisted of 10 retail shopping centers; six office properties; a mixed-use property consisting of a 369-room all-suite hotel and a retail shopping center, and four multi-family properties. As of December 31, 2011, it owned land at five of its properties that the Company classified as held for development. On January 24, 2012, it acquired One Beach Street, consisting of approximately 97,000 rentable square feet in a renovated office building located along the Embarcadero in San Francisco�� North Waterfront District. On August 30, 2011, it sold Valencia Corporate Center.
On March 11, 2011, the Company acquired First & Main, an approximately 361,000 square foot, 16-story, office building located at 100 SW Main Street, in Portland, Oregon. On July 1, 2011, it acquired the Lloyd District Portfolio, consisting of approximately 610,000 rentable square feet on more than 16 acres located in the Lloyd District of Portland, Oregon. On September 20, 2011, it acquired the Solana Beach-Highway 101 property, consisting of approximately 1.7 acres located in Solana Beach, California. On December 14, 2011, it acquired an additional 0.2 acres adjacent to such location.
The Company is the sole general partner of American Assets Trust, L.P., a Maryland limited partnership (the Operating Partnership). The Company, as the sole general partner has control of its Operating Partnership and owned 67.8% of its Operating Partnership as of December 31, 2011. At December 31, 2011, its operating portfolio had approximately 705 leases with office and retail tenants, of which s! even expired on December 31, 2011 and 15 had not yet commenced. Its residential properties had approximately 753 leases with residential tenants at December 31, 2011, excluding Santa Fe Park RV Resort. The retail portion of its mixed-use property had approximately 64 leases with retailers.
Retail
The products for its retail segment primarily include rental of retail space and other tenant services, including tenant reimbursements, parking and storage space rental. The Company�� retail properties include Carmel Country Plaza, South Bay Marketplace, Rancho Carmel Plaza, Lomas Santa Fe Plaza, Solana Beach Towne Centre, The Shops at Kalakaua, Waikele Center and Alamo Quarry Market. Its retail portfolio included 10 properties with a total of approximately three million rentable square feet available for lease as of December 31, 2011. As of December 31, 2011, these properties were 95% leased. During the year ended December 31, 2011, it signed 69 retail leases for 247,560 square feet. During 2011, the retail segment contributed 41.2%, of its total revenue.
Office
The products for its office segment primarily include rental of office space and other tenant services, including tenant reimbursements, parking and storage space rental. The Company�� office properties include Torrey Reserve, Solana Beach Corporate Centre, 160 King Street and The Landmark at One Market. Its office portfolio included six properties with a total of approximately 2.2 million rentable square feet available for lease as of December 31, 2011. As of December 31, 2011, these properties were 94.4% leased. During 2011, it signed 56 office leases for 233,213 square feet. During 2011, the office segment contributed 30.7% of its total revenue.
Multi-family
The products for its multi-family segment include rental of apartments and other tenant services. Its multi-family portfolio included three apartment properties, as well as an RV resort, with a total of 922 units! (includi! ng 122 RV spaces) available for lease as of December 31, 2011. As of December 31, 2011, these properties were 91.8% leased. Its multi-family leases, other than at its RV Resort, generally have lease terms ranging from 7 to 15 months, with a majority having 12-month lease terms. The Company�� multi-family properties include Loma Palisades, Imperial Beach Gardens, Mariner�� Point and Santa Fe Park RV Resort.
Mixed-Use Property
The products of its mixed-use segment include rental of retail space and other tenant services, including tenant reimbursements, parking and storage space rental and operation of a 369-room all-suite hotel. Waikiki Beach Walk Retail and Hotel is a mixed-use property. Its mixed-use property consists of 97,000 rentable square feet of retail space and a 369-room all-suite hotel. Revenue from the mixed-use property consists of revenue earned from retail leases, and revenue earned from the hotel, which consists of room revenue, food and beverage services, parking and other guest services. As of December 31, 2011, the retail portion of the property was 99.2% leased, and during 2011, the hotel had an average occupancy of 88.4%.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Markus Aarnio]
Owens Realty Mortgage's competitors include American Assets Trust (AAT), Alexandria Real Estate Equities (ARE) and Boston Properties (BXP). American Assets Trust has seen five insider buy transactions and four insider sell transactions this year. American Assets Trust has a dividend yield of 2.78%. Alexandria Real Estate Equities has seen 14 insider sell transactions this year. Alexandria Real Estate Equities has a dividend yield of 4.10%. Boston Properties has seen one insider buy transaction and four insider sell transactions this year. Boston Properties has a dividend yield of 2.43%.
10 Best Diversified Bank Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Avery Dennison Corp (AVY)
Avery Dennison Corporation (Avery Dennison), incorporated on February 23, 1977, is engaged in the production of pressure-sensitive materials, and a variety of tickets, tags, labels other converted products, and office and consumer products through embossing, printing, stamping and die-cutting. The Company operates in two segments: Pressure-sensitive Materials and Retail Branding and Information Solutions. In addition to its reportable segments, the Company has other specialty converting businesses comprised of Vancive Medical Technologies (Vancive) and Designed and Engineered Solutions (DES). Some are sold by the Company in converted form as printable media, tapes and reflective sheeting. The Company also manufacture and sells office and consumer products, other converted products and items not involving pressure-sensitive components, such as binders, organizing systems, markers, fasteners and business forms, as well as tickets, tags, radio-frequency identification (RFID) inlays and tags, and imprinting equipment and related services for retailers and apparel manufacturers. In 2012, the PSM and RBIS segments contributed approximately 71% and 25%, of its total sales, respectively. In 2012, international operations constituted a substantial majority of its business, representing approximately 72% of its sales. As of December 29, 2012, the Company operated approximately 200 manufacturing and distribution facilities worldwide, employed approximately 30,000 persons, and had operations in over 50 countries. In July 2013, Avery Dennison Corp completed the sale of its Office and Consumer Products and Designed and Engineered Solutions businesses to CCL Industries Inc.
Pressure-sensitive Materials Segment
Pressure-sensitive Materials segment manufactures and sells Fasson-,JAC -, and Avery Dennison-brand pressure-sensitive label and packaging materials, Avery- and Avery Dennison-brand graphics and graphic films, Avery Dennison-brand reflective products, and performance polymers (largel! y used to manufacture pressure-sensitive materials). The business of this segment tends not to be seasonal, except for certain outdoor graphics and reflective products and operations in Europe. Pressure-sensitive materials consist primarily of papers, plastic films, metal foils and fabrics, which are coated with company-developed and purchased adhesives, and then laminated with specially coated backing papers and films. They are sold in roll or sheet form with either solid or patterned adhesive coatings, and are available in a wide range of face materials, sizes, thicknesses and adhesive properties. These label and packaging materials are sold worldwide to label printers and converters for labeling, decorating, fastening, electronic data processing and special applications in the home and personal care, beer and beverage, durables, pharmaceutical, wine and spirits, and food market segments. A pressure-sensitive, or self-adhesive, material is one that adheres to a surface by press-on contact.
The Company�� graphics and reflective businesses sell a variety of films and other products to the architectural, commercial sign, digital printing, and other related market segments. The Company also sells durable cast and reflective films to the construction, automotive and fleet transportation market segments; and reflective films for traffic and safety applications. The Company provides sign shops, commercial printers and designers a range of pressure-sensitive materials to enable the creation of impactful and informative, brand and decorative graphics. The Company has an array of pressure-sensitive vinyl and specialty materials designed for digital imaging, screen printing and sign cutting applications.
The Company�� performance tapes business manufactures and sells coated tapes and adhesive transfer tapes for use in non-mechanical fastening, bonding and sealing systems in various industries. These tapes are sold to industrial original equipment manufacturers, converters, and dispo! sable dia! per producers worldwide in roll form and are available in a range of face materials, sizes, thicknesses and adhesive properties. Performance polymer products include a range of solvent- and emulsion-based acrylic polymer adhesives, protective coatings and other polymer additives for internal use, as well as for sale to other companies.
The Company competes with Raflatac, MacTac, Ritrama, Inc., Flexcon Corporation, Inc., Orafol Group, Inc., 3M, Tesa-SE, and Nitto Denko Corporation.
Retail Branding and Information Solutions Segment
The Company�� Retail Branding and Information Solutions segment (RBIS) designs, manufactures and sell a wide variety of branding and information solutions to retailers, brand owners, apparel manufacturers, distributors and industrial customers on a worldwide basis. RBIS branding solutions include creative services, brand embellishments, graphic tickets, tags, and labels, and sustainable packaging. RBIS information solutions include RFID-enabled inventory accuracy, visibility and loss prevention solutions, price ticketing and marking, care and content or origin compliance solutions, and brand protection and security solutions.
The Company competes with SML Group, R-pac Internation Corporation, and Checkpoint Systems.
Other specialty converting businesses
The Company�� specialty converting businesses include its designed and engineered solutions and Vancive businesses. These businesses manufacture and sell specialty tapes, engineered films, pressure-sensitive postage stamps and other converted products. These businesses are generally not seasonal, except for certain automotive products due to plant shutdowns by automotive manufacturers. It�� designed and engineered solutions business manufactures custom pressure-sensitive labels and multi-layer film constructions for durable goods, electronics and consumer packaged goods. These products are sold primarily to original equipment manufacturers, tie! r supplie! rs and packaging converters. For the automotive market segment, the businesses manufactures custom pressure-sensitive and heat-seal labels, and pressure-sensitive films, which are sold primarily to original equipment manufacturers and their suppliers. Its Vancive business manufactures an array of pressure-sensitive adhesive products for surgical, wound care, ostomy, and electromedical applications. These products are sold primarily to medical supply and device manufacturers and healthcare providers.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Marc Bastow]
Pressure-sensitive materials producer Avery Dennison (AVY) raised its quarterly dividend 21% to 35 cents per share payable June 18 to shareholders of record June 4.
AVY Dividend Yield: 2.88% - [By Dan Caplinger]
3M has also done a good job of defending its intellectual property. Late last month, the company announced that it had won a lawsuit against Avery Dennison (NYSE: AVY ) for patent infringement, and the court dismissed counterclaims that Avery had filed against 3M.
10 Best Diversified Bank Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Acadia Realty Trust (AKR)
Acadia Realty Trust (the Trust), incorporated on March 04, 1993, is a real estate investment trust (REIT). The Trust is focused on the ownership, acquisition, redevelopment, and management of retail properties and urban/infill mixed-use properties with a retail component located primarily in barrier-to-entry, supply constrained, densely-populated metropolitan areas in the United States along the East Coast and in Chicago. Its primary objective is to acquire and manage commercial retail properties. It operates in four segments: Core Portfolio, Opportunity Funds, Notes Receivable and Other. The Trust also has private equity investments in other retail real estate related opportunities, in which it has a minority interest. As of December 31, 2012, the Trust controlled 99% of the Operating Partnership as the sole general partner. During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company sold 12 of the 14 self-storage properties with two properties remaining under contract.
The Company owns a 22.2% interest in an approximately one million square foot retail portfolio (the Brandywine Portfolio) located in Wilmington, Delaware, a 49% interest in a 311,000 square foot shopping center located in White Plains, New York (Crossroads) and a 50% interest in an approximately 28,000 square foot retail portfolio located in Georgetown, Washington D.C. (the Georgetown Portfolio). These investments are accounted for under the equity method. Through Mervyns I and Mervyns II, the Company invested in a consortium to acquire Mervyns, consisting of 262 stores (REALCO) and its retail operations (OPCO), from Target Corporation.
As of December 31, 2012, the Company operated 100 properties, which the Company owns or has an ownership interest in, within its Core Portfolio or within its Opportunity Funds. Its Core Portfolio consists of those properties either 100% owned by, or partially owned through joint venture interests by the Operating Partnership, or subsidiaries thereof, not including those properties ow! ned through its Opportunity Funds. These 100 properties primarily consist of urban/street retail, dense suburban neighborhood and community shopping centers and mixed-use properties with a retail component. The properties the Company operates are located primarily in barrier-to-entry, densely-populated metropolitan areas in the United States along the East Coast and in Chicago. There are 72 properties in its Core Portfolio totaling approximately 5.3 million square feet. Fund I has three remaining properties comprising approximately 0.1 million square feet. Fund II has six properties, four of which (representing 0.6 million square feet) are operating, one is under construction, and one is in the design phase. Fund III has 14 properties, nine of which (representing 1.7 million square feet) are operating and five of which are in the design phase. Fund IV has five properties, four of which are operating with one under design. The majority of its operating income is derived from rental revenues from these 100 properties, including recoveries from tenants, offset by operating and overhead expenses.
The Company�� Core Portfolio consists primarily of urban/street retail properties and neighborhood and community shopping centers located in barrier-to-entry supply constrained markets. As of December 31, 2012, there are 72 operating properties in Its Core Portfolio totaling approximately 5.3 million square feet of gross leasable area (GLA). The Core Portfolio properties are located in 12 states and the District of Columbia and primarily consist of urban/street retail, dense suburban neighborhood and community shopping centers and mixed-use properties with a retail component. Its shopping centers are predominately anchored by supermarkets or value-oriented retail. The properties are diverse in size, ranging from approximately 3,000 to 875,000 square feet and as of December 31, 2012, were, in total, 94% occupied. As of December 31, 2012, the Company owned and operated 20 properties totaling approximat! ely 2.5 m! illion square feet of GLA in its Opportunity Funds, excluding eight properties under redevelopment. In addition to shopping centers, the Opportunity Funds have invested in mixed-use properties, which generally include retail activities. The Opportunity Fund properties are located in eight states and the District of Columbia and as of December 31, 2012, were, in total, 88% occupied.
As of December 31, 2012, within its Core Portfolio and Opportunity Funds, the Company had approximately 650 leases. A majority of its rental revenues were from national retailers and consist of rents received under long-term leases. These leases generally provide for the monthly payment of fixed minimum rent and the tenants' pro-rata share of the real estate taxes, insurance, utilities and common area maintenance of the shopping centers. During the year ended December 31, 2012, certain of its leases also provide for the payment of rent based on a percentage of a tenant's gross sales in excess of a stipulated annual amount, either in addition to, or in place of, minimum rents. Minimum rents, percentage rents and expense reimbursements accounted for approximately 92% of its total revenues.
Three of its Core Portfolio properties and five of its Opportunity Fund properties are subject to long-term ground leases in which a third party owns and has leased the underlying land to the Company. The Company pays rent for the use of the land and is responsible for all costs and expenses associated with the building and improvements at all eight locations. During 2012, no individual property contributed in excess of 10% of its total revenues.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Marc Bastow]
Retail properties real estate investment trust Acadia (AKR) raised its quarterly dividend 9.5% to 23 cents per share, payable on Jan. 15 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 15.
AKR Dividend Yield: 3.51%
10 Best Diversified Bank Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Zalicus Inc.(ZLCS)
Zalicus Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, engages in the discovery and development of drug candidates focusing on the treatment of pain and inflammation. The company?s clinical and preclinical product candidates for pain and inflammatory diseases include Synavive, a glucocorticoid product candidate, which is in Phase 2b clinical development for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis; Z160, an N-type calcium channel blocker for chronic pain; Z944, a T-type calcium channel blocker to treat acute or chronic inflammatory pain; and N-type and T-type calcium and sodium channel blockers for the treatment of chronic pain. It has a research collaboration and license agreement with the Novartis Institutes of Biomedical Research; collaboration agreement with Mallinckrodt Inc., Fovea Pharmaceuticals SA, and Amgen Inc; and a cooperative research and development agreement with the United States Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases. The company was formerly known as C ombinatoRx, Incorporated and changed its name to Zalicus Inc. in September 2010. Zalicus Inc. was founded in 2000 and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Udovich]
Yesterday, shares of small cap pain stock�Zalicus Inc (NASDAQ: ZLCS) caused�recent investors some extreme plain�when shares plunged 72.28% (but�are still up 100% since the start of the year) after drug candidate Z160 failed two mid-stage clinical trials���meaning�its probably time to take an objective look at what to do with this stock (as it intends to�focus on its pain treatment Z944) plus take a look at the performance of biotech industry benchmarks like the iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index ETF (NASDAQ: IBB) and SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (NYSEARCA: XBI).
- [By Bryan Murphy]
The hot and cold cycle for Zalicus Inc. (NASDAQ:ZLCS) continues to repeat itself. The fourth such turn of that wheel looks like it's getting ready to begin, and if this is one anything like the last three, ZLCS is due for a rally of anywhere between 25% to 50%. Traders who hop on that wave shouldn't tarry, however, because if the budding rally is anything like the last three, it's still only going to lead to a pullback about half the size of the gain. Still, a sizeable double-digit gain isn't bad for a few days' worth of work.
10 Best Diversified Bank Stocks To Invest In Right Now: PowerShares DWA Momentum Portfolio (PDP)
PowerShares DWA Technical Leaders Portfolio (Fund) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and of an equity index called the Dorsey Wright Technical Leaders Index (the Index). The Index consists of stocks of approximately 100 United States companies that are selected pursuant to a selection methodology of Dorsey Wright & Associates (the Index Provider). The Index is designed to identify companies that demonstrate powerful relative strength characteristics. Relative strength characteristics are based upon each security�� market performance. The companies are selected from a broad mid-cap and large-cap universe.
The Fund will normally invest at least 90% of its total assets in common stocks that comprise the Index. The Index is adjusted quarterly, and the Fund, using an indexing investment approach, attempts to replicate the performance of the Index. The Fund generally will invest in the stocks comprising the Index in proportion to their weightings in the Index. The Fund�� investment advisor is PowerShares Capital Management LLC.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Victor Selva]
Of course, a great bet also involves many risks. Even though LCD technology became very popular in these last few years, both in TV screens and computer monitors, we should never miss the fact that technological markets are often exposed to products becoming obsolete due to the development of new, more efficient technology. Without going any further, it�� easy to recall the plasma display panel (PDP) fiasco, an apparently promising market in the 1990s and early 2000s but quickly replaced by LCDs (by 2008 LCDs sell 21.1 million units, almost 10 times PDP sales on the same year). Even Panasonic Corporation (PCRFF) announced it will interrupt production of PDP on 2014.
No comments:
Post a Comment