Hot Financial Stocks To Watch Right Now

LONDON -- I'm looking at some of your favorite FTSE 100 companies and examining how each will deliver their dividends.

Today, I'm putting iconic high street retailer�Marks and Spencer�Group� (LSE: MKS  ) under the microscope.

Dividend history: cut No. 1
All was rosy with M&S in the mid-1990s. Within its final results for the year ended March 1998, the company was able to toast five-year earnings-per-share growth of 62% and dividend growth of 77%. The 1997-1998 dividend was covered around twice by both adjusted and statutory EPS -- a healthy level of cover, you might think, with little imminent risk to shareholders' income.

However, M&S suffered a terrible second half the following financial year. Profits collapsed, the final dividend was held flat, and the total dividend for the year (14.4 pence) was barely covered by adjusted EPS and uncovered by statutory EPS.

The next year -- 1999-2000 -- profits fell again as a result of restructuring charges. M&S slashed the dividend by 37.5%, the payout representing the entirety of the company's profits for the year.

Hot Media Companies To Buy For 2015: Annaly Capital Management Inc (NLY)

Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (Annaly), incorporated on November 25, 1996, owns, manage, and finance a portfolio of real estate related investments, including mortgage pass-through certificates, collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs), Agency callable debentures, and other securities representing interests in or obligations backed by pools of mortgage loans. The Company's wholly owned subsidiaries offer diversified real estate, asset management and other financial services. The Company's subsidiary, RCap Securities, Inc. (RCap), operates as a broker-dealer. In August 2012, the Company liquidated FIDAC FSI LLC. In December 2012, the Company sold FIDAC Europe Limited.

The Company�� subsidiary Fixed Income Discount Advisory Company (FIDAC) is an investment advisor registered with the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), is a fixed-income investment management company specializing in managing fixed income investments in residential mortgage-backed securities, commercial mortgage-backed securities and collateralized debt obligations for various investment vehicles and separate accounts. FIDAC is engaged in managing and structuring debt financing associated with various asset classes and as a liquidation agent of collateralized debt obligations. As of December 31, 2012, FIDAC was the adviser or sub-adviser for real estate investment trust (REITs )and other investment vehicles. Merganser Capital Management, Inc. (Merganser) is an investment advisor, registered with the SEC, engaged in a range of fixed income strategies and focuses on managing each portfolio based on each client�� specific investment principles. Merganser serves a group of clients in a range of disciplines globally, including pension, public, operating, Taft-Hartley and endowment funds, as well contribution plans. RCap Securities, Inc. (RCap) operates as a broker-dealer and is a member in the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).

Through the Company�� subsidiary Shannon Funding LLC (Shannon),! it provides warehouse financing to residential mortgage originators in the United States. It also owns an additional subsidiary, which owns trading securities. Under the Company�� investment policy, at least 75% of its total assets consisted of mortgage-backed securities and short-term investments. The remainder of its assets, consisting not more than 25% of its total assets, may consist of other qualified REIT real estate assets. As of December 31, 2012, all of the mortgage-backed securities, which it has acquired, have been backed by single-family residential mortgage loans. The Company also invests in Agency debentures, which consist of debentures issued by the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB), Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Amanda Alix]

  Everyone got stung
  The huge drop in share price, along with the unusually heavy trading volume, smacked of investor panic. Adjustable-rate mortgage investors like Capstead (NYSE: CMO  ) , which reported earnings on Thursday, also took a dive. Even players in the 30-year mortgage market, such as American Capital Agency (NASDAQ: AGNC  ) and Annaly (NYSE: NLY  ) got dinged, right along with the ARM crowd.

Hot Financial Stocks To Watch Right Now: Timbercreek Mortgage Investment Corp (TMC)

Timbercreek Mortgage Investment Corporation (the Fund) provides investors with the opportunity to invest indirectly in a diversified portfolio of high quality conventional mortgage loans secured primarily by income-producing real estate located in large urban markets (offices, commercial real estate, multi-residential, retirement communities). The investment objective of the Fund is, with a primary focus on capital preservation, to acquire and maintain a diversified portfolio of mortgage loan investments that generate income allowing the Fund to pay monthly distributions to shareholders. Timbercreek Asset Management Ltd., is the manager of the Fund (the Fund Manager). Advisors' Opinion:

• [By GuruFocus]

  As pointed out by Warren Buffett, the percentage of total market cap (TMC) relative to the U.S. GNP is ��robably the best single measure of where valuations stand at any given moment.��

• [By Vera Yuan]

  As pointed out by Warren Buffett, the percentage of total market cap (TMC) relative to the U.S. GNP is ��robably the best single measure of where valuations stand at any given moment.��

• [By Lawrence Meyers]

  Cars come to mind, and you could probably get away with owning a common car dealer like Toyota (TMC). The problem with this approach, though, is that auto manufacturers are economically sensitive and can have really bad years. That�� why I go one level deeper to what I call ��nfrastructure��plays, which in this case means auto parts.

Hot Financial Stocks To Watch Right Now: First Advantage Bancorp(FABK)

First Advantage Bancorp operates as the holding company for First Federal Savings Bank that provides various financial services to individuals and businesses in Tennessee. The company offers various deposit products comprising non-interest-bearing demand deposits, such as checking accounts; interest-bearing demand accounts, including NOW and money market accounts; regular savings accounts; and certificates of deposit. Its loan portfolio include real estate mortgage loans, including one-to-four family residential loans and nonresidential real estate loans; construction loans for one-to-four family homes, commercial, multi-family, and other nonresidential purposes; land loans for developing vacant land; consumer loans consisting primarily of home equity loans; and commercial business loans secured by equipment, inventory, or accounts receivable to small businesses. As of June 10, 2010, the company operated five full-service offices in Montgomery County. First Advantage Banco rp was founded in 1953 and is headquartered in Clarksville, Tennessee.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tim Melvin]

  PL Capital has not filed any 13Ds in a couple of months, but earlier this year it disclosed a 5.99% position in shares of First Advantage Bancorp (FABK). The Clarksville, Tenn.-based bank has seven branches and trades at about 75% of book value. PL Capital also filed a 13D announcing 8% ownership of Mutual First Financial (MFSF) over the summer. The bank has 31 branches and is based in Muncie, Ind. — an area that has seen substantial consolidation in the past few years.

Hot Financial Stocks To Watch Right Now: Global Links Corp (GLCO)

Global Links Corp. (Global Links) is engaged in real estate acquisitions and development, real estate information services and international housing projects. The Company owns approximately 996 undeveloped residential lots in the Valle Vista Subdivision. This land consists of residential lots that have not yet been developed. The Company's office building comprises 9,300 square feet, which is acquired as an empty shell, in June 2004, and completed tenant improvements in October 2004. As at December 31, 2005, the Sunset Office Building is wholly occupied. The Company occupies 15% of the building; the remaining 85% is occupied by Southwest Title Company. In August 2013, Global Links Corp. announced that the formation of a wholly owned subsidiary named Domain Micro Homes.

During the year ended December 31, 2002, the Company decided to pursue the business of marketing electronic transactions by offering a suite of electronic products and proceeded to establish relationships with various companies that provide such products and others that specialize in the marketing of these products. During the year ended December 31, 2003, Global Links transferred all of the assets and liabilities relating to the business of marketing electronic transactions to its wholly owned subsidiary, Global Links Card Services, Inc. (GLCS). In December 2004, the Company sold all of its interests in GLCS to an unrelated corporation. Also during the year ended December 31, 2003, the Company merged with Capitol Group Holding Corporation and in addition to the marketing of electronic transactions products, the Company entered the business of real estate acquisitions and development, real estate information services and international housing projects.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  Small cap stocks Green Endeavors Inc (OTCMKTS: GRNE), Global Links Corporation (OTCMKTS: GLCO) and Vitamin Blue Inc (OTCBB: VTMB) were all making noticeable moves at the end of last week. On Friday, Green Endeavors Inc rose 8.11% and Global Links Corporation rose 13.96% while Vitamin Blue Inc fell 10%. Of course, small cap OTC stocks making large single digit or double digit moves in either direction aren�� all that unusual. Moreover, all of these small caps have been the subject of paid promotions. With that in mind, here is a closer look at all three to help you decide on an investing or trading strategy: