Michael L Abramson/Getty Images For the next week, Ron Shaich will live well below his means: The Panera Bread (PNRA) CEO embarked on a quest Saturday to spend a week living on food stamps. "As part of Hunger Action Month, I decided to take the SNAP Challenge," Shaich announced on LinkedIn last week. "For one week, beginning Saturday, September 14, 2013, I will live on just $4.50 a day, the average daily benefit per person provided by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP; formerly known as Food Stamps)." A number of liberal politicians, including Newark Mayor Cory Booker have taken the SNAP Challenge, publicly documenting their quest to eat on less than $5 a day (the weekly allowance is $31.50). The challenge has become a popular way to see how the other half lives, call attention to hunger issues and protest budget cuts.
Hot Industrial Conglomerate Companies To Own For 2015: Carpenter Technology Corp (CRS)
Carpenter Technology Corporation (Carpenter), incorporated in 1904, is engaged in the manufacturing, fabrication and distribution of specialty metals. The Company has three reportable segments: Advanced Metals Operations, Premium Alloys Operations, and Emerging Ventures., The Company develops, manufactures and distributes cast/wrought and powder metal stainless steels and special alloys, including high-temperature alloys, controlled expansion alloys, ultra high-strength alloys, implantable alloys, tool and die steels and other specialty metals, as well as cast/wrought titanium alloys. Carpenter provides material solutions to the aerospace, industrial, energy, medical, consumer products and automotive industries. In June 2011, Carpenter acquired Oilfield Alloys Pte. Ltd. In February 2012, the Company acquired Latrobe Specialty Metals, Inc.
Carpenter�� Advanced Metals Operations (AMO) segment includes the manufacturing and distribution of high-temperature and high-strength metal alloys, stainless steels, and titanium in the form of small bars and rods, wire, narrow strip and powder. Products in this segment go through more finishing operations, such as rolling, turning, grinding, drawing, and atomization, than products in its PAO segment. Also, sales in the AMO segment are spread across many end-use markets, including the aerospace, industrial, consumer, automotive, and medical industries. AMO products are sold under the Carpenter, Dynamet, Talley, Carpenter Powder Products and Aceros Fortuna brand names.
Its Premium Alloys Operations (PAO) segment includes the manufacturing and distribution of high temperature and high strength metal alloys and stainless steels in the form of ingots, billets, large bars and hollows. Also, the PAO segment includes conversion processing of metal for other specialty metals companies. A significant portion of PAO sales are to customers in the aerospace and energy industries. The Emerging Ventures segment includes the operations of the recently ! completed acquisitions of Amega West and Oilfield Alloys. The sales of Amega West are to customers in the energy end use market.
The Company��s major classes of products include special alloys, stainless steels and titanium products. special alloys are used in critical components such as rings, discs and fasteners and include heat resistant alloys that range from slight modifications of stainless steels to complex nickel and cobalt base alloys as well as alloys for electronic, magnetic and electrical applications with controlled thermal expansion characteristics, or high electrical resistivity or special magnetic characteristics. Its stainless products include a range of corrositon resistant alloys including conventional stainless steels and many proprietary grades for special applications. Titanium products include corrosion resistant, specialized metal with a combination of high strength and low density.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Lee Jackson]
Industrials: Carpenter Technology Corp. (NYSE: CRS) manufactures, fabricates�and distributes specialty metals worldwide. It operates in three segments: Specialty Alloys Operations, Latrobe and Performance Engineered Products. Credit Suisse expects earnings per share growth to average 32% in fiscal years 2014 to 2016. This should be driven by double-digit growth in commercial aerospace and energy, coupled with higher incremental margins as a result of improving mix, asset utilization�and Latrobe synergies. The price target for the stock is $72, though the consensus target is lower at $65. Investors are paid a 1.2% dividend. A move to the target price would represent a gain of 20%
- [By Monica Gerson]
Carpenter Technology (NYSE: CRS) shares slipped 3.34% to $64.22 after the company reported preliminary Q3 GAAP earnings of $0.54 to $0.58 per share, versus analysts' estimates of $0.72 per share.
- [By Jon C. Ogg]
Carpenter Technology Corp. (NYSE: CRS) is one that remains well positioned within Aerospace materials sector, despite industry inventory adjustments still lingering. The firm believes that the value of the Athens facility is underappreciated and is likely to open sooner than the official April date. Sterne Agee also believes that 2014 will be the beginning of a multi-year growth cycle with a significant opportunity to improve cash generation. It even sees 20%+ upside to current levels as 2014 will be a transformational year.
- [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Carpenter Technology (NYSE: CRS) was down, falling 2.71 percent to $64.64 after the company reported preliminary Q3 GAAP earnings of $0.54 to $0.58 per share, versus analysts' estimates of $0.72 per share.
Top Electric Utility Companies To Own For 2014: Snam SpA (SRG)
Snam SpA is an Italy-based company engaged in the management of natural gas services. The Company is diversified into four operating segments. The Transportation segment covers transportation-related gas services, including capacity management and transportation of the gas at the entry points of the gas network to the redelivery points. It owns transportation infrastructures of gas pipelines. The Regasification segment is focused on extraction activities of natural gas, its liquefaction for transport by ship and subsequent regasification. The Storage segment covers deposits, gas treatment plants, compression plants and the operational dispatching system. The Distribution segment engages gas distribution through local transportation networks from delivery points at the metering and reduction stations to the gas distribution network redelivery points at the end customers. Additionally, Snam SpA as the parent company, focuses on planning, management, coordination and control of the group. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Tom Stoukas]
Snam SpA (SRG) dropped the most in almost a year as Eni SpA sold an 11.7 percent stake in the owner of Italy�� biggest natural-gas network. Wm Morrison Supermarkets Plc tumbled the most in more than 14 months. Experian Plc jumped to a record after the world�� largest credit-checking company raised its dividend and announced a share buyback.
- [By Victor Selva]
The Specialty Restaurant Group (SRG), which includes Bahama Breeze and The Capital Grille, has grown over the last couple of quarters. Eddie V's Restaurants and Yard House might be meaningful long-term drivers, as we think most of the growth in the next years will come from the acquisition of those restaurants.
Top Electric Utility Companies To Own For 2014: Symantec Corporation(SYMC)
Symantec Corporation provides security, storage, and systems management solutions internationally. The company?s Consumer segment delivers Internet security, PC tune-up, and online backup solutions and services to individual users and home offices. Its Security and Compliance segment provides solutions for endpoint security and management, compliance, messaging management, data loss prevention, encryption, and authentication services to large, medium, and small-sized businesses, as well as offers solutions through its software-as-a-service (SaaS) security offerings. This segment?s products enable customers to secure, provision, and remotely manage their laptops, PCs, mobile devices, and servers. The company?s Storage and Server Management segment provides storage and server management, backup, archiving, and data protection solutions across heterogeneous storage and server platforms, as well as solutions delivered through its SaaS offerings to large, medium, and small-s ized businesses. Symantec?s Services segment offers implementation services and solutions, including consulting, business critical services, education, and managed security services. The company also provides various enterprise support offerings, such as annual maintenance support contracts, including content, upgrades, and technical support. It sells its products through its eCommerce platform, as well as through distributors, direct marketers, Internet-based resellers, system builders, ISPs, and retail locations worldwide. Symantec markets and sells its products through distributors, retailers, direct marketers, Internet-based resellers, original equipment manufacturers, system builders, and Internet service providers; and its e-commerce channels, as well as direct sales force, value-added and large account resellers, and system integrators. The company was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Mountain View, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Sue Chang]
Symantec Corp. (SYMC) said its fiscal first-quarter profit jumped 50% on the back of a growth in revenue and cost cutting measures. The security software company reported a profit of $236 million, or 34 cents a share, versus $157 million, or 22 cents a share, a year earlier. Excluding items, earnings rose to 45 cents a share. Revenue rose nearly 2% to $1.74 billion. Shares of Symantec were unchanged in late trade.
- [By Traders Reserve]
For some reason, certain companies can attract buyers no matter the circumstance. I would put Symantec (SYMC) in that category. Shares have gained nearly 20% this year even as Symantec�� prospects deteriorated.
Top Electric Utility Companies To Own For 2014: California Water Service Group (CWT)
California Water Service Group, incorporated on August 2, 1999, is a holding company. The Company operates California Water Service Company (Cal Water), New Mexico Water Service Company (New Mexico Water), Washington Water Service Company (Washington Water), Hawaii Water Service Company, Inc. (Hawaii Water), and CWS Utility Services and HWS Utility Services LLC are collectively called Utility Services. Cal Water, New Mexico Water, Washington Water, and Hawaii Water are regulated public utilities. Utility Services provides non-regulated services to private companies and municipalities. The Company�� business is conducted through its operating subsidiaries. Its bulk business consists of the production, purchase, storage, treatment, testing, distribution and sale of water for domestic, industrial, public and irrigation uses, and for fire protection. It also provides non-regulated water-related services under agreements with municipalities and other private companies. The non-regulated services include full water system operation, billing and meter reading services. Non-regulated operations also include the lease of communication antenna sites, lab services, and promotion of other non-regulated services.
Regulated Business
California water operations are conducted by the Cal Water and CWS Utility Services entities, which provide service to approximately 473,100 customers in 83 California communities through 25 separate districts. Of these 25 districts, 23 districts are regulated water systems, which are subject to regulation by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Cal Water operates two leased water systems, the City of Hawthorne and the City of Commerce, which are governed through their respective city councils and are outside of the CPUC's jurisdiction. California water operations account for approximately 94% of its total customers and approximately 94% of its total consolidated operating revenue.
Hawaii Water provides service to approximately 4,2! 00 water and wastewater customers on the islands of Maui and Hawaii, including several resorts and condominium complexes. Hawaii's regulated operations are subject to the jurisdiction of the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission. Hawaii Water accounts for less than 1% of its total customers and approximately 3% of its total operating revenue.
Washington Water provides domestic water service to approximately 15,800 customers in the Tacoma and Olympia areas. Washington Water's utility operations are regulated by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission. Washington Water accounts for approximately 3% of its total customers and approximately 2% of its total consolidated operating revenue.
New Mexico Water provides service to approximately 7,600 water and wastewater customers in the Belen, Los Lunas and Elephant Butte areas in New Mexico. New Mexico's regulated operations are subject to the jurisdiction of the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission. New Mexico Water accounts for approximately 2% of its total customers and approximately 1% of its total consolidated operating revenue.
Non-Regulated Businesses
Non-regulated activities consist primarily of operating water and waste water systems, which are owned by other entities; providing meter reading and billing services; leasing communication antenna sites on its properties; operating recycled water systems; providing lab services for water quality testing; billing of optional third-party insurance program to its residential customers; selling surplus property, and other services as requested by the client. The Company provides operating and maintenance, meter reading and customer billing services for several municipalities in California. It also provides sewer and refuse billing services to several municipalities. The Company leases antenna sites to telecommunication companies, which place equipment at various Company-owned sites. The antennas are used in cellular phone and personal communic! ation app! lications.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Marc Bastow]
Utility holding company California Water (CWT) raised its quarterly dividend 1.5% to 16.25 cents per share, payable on Feb. 21 to shareholders of record as of Feb. 10.
CWT Dividend Yield: 2.78%
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