Undervalued Stocks To Buy For 2015: February 2014

Friday, February 21, 2014

Appeals court to hear Detroit bankruptcy…

DETROIT — The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has agreed to hear an appeal to Detroit's eligibility for Chapter 9 bankruptcy.

The Cincinnati-based court Friday agreed to accept a direct appeal, which means the case will bypass the U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan. The move could mark the case's first step on the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

STORY: What to expect from bankruptcy exit plan
STORY: Detroit now largest city to enter bankruptcy

Several major creditors, including the city's largest union — Michigan Council 25 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees — and the city's two pension funds, filed appeals challenging Judge Steven Rhodes' December order allowing the case to proceed.

Detroit's bankruptcy will proceed while the appeal, which will not take place on an expedited basis, is being heard.

One of the most contentious issues in the case is whether the city should have promised not to cut pensions as a condition of filing for bankruptcy. The state's Constitution bars public pension cuts, but Rhodes ruled that pensions are contracts that can be severed under federal bankruptcy law.

To be eligible for bankruptcy, Detroit must prove it is insolvent, obtain the state's authority and show it has negotiated in good faith with creditors or that it's not longer possible to do so.

The 6th Circuit's decision comes as the city Friday is expected to file its proposed bankruptcy restructuring plan, which is likely to included proposed cuts for pensioners.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Top 5 Wireless Telecom Companies For 2014

Most Americans—even those reading business papers such as The Wall Street Journal—probably have never heard of a Treasury regulation called FATCA, but the obscure acronym has become a commonly read epithet in the foreign press.

While Americans are absorbed by an IRS scandal involving harassment of taxpayers politically opposed to the administration, foreigners are scandalized by a sweeping U.S. law requiring foreign financial institutions to collect data on U.S. citizens or clients with foreign bank accounts worth $50,000 or more, or send the IRS a 30% withholding tax on securities transactions originating in the U.S.

Foreign banks, overwhelmed by the difficulty of locating customers whom the U.S. regards as citizens and reluctant to divert their revenue to the IRS, won a brief respite Friday when the IRS announced a six-month extension of the compliance deadline to July 1, 2014. Implementation of the law has been extended many times since its 2010 approval.

Top 5 Wireless Telecom Companies For 2014: Vodafone Group PLC (VOD.O)

Vodafone Group Plc (Vodafone), incorporated in 1984, is a mobile communications company operating across the globe providing a range of communications services. The Company offers a range of products and services, including voice, messaging, data and fixed-line solutions and devices to assist customers in meeting their total communications needs. Vodafone has a global presence, with equity interests in over 30 countries and over 40 partner markets worldwide. It operates in three geographic regions: Europe, Africa and Central Europe; Asia Pacific, and the Middle East, and has an investment in Verizon Wireless in the United States. In October 2010, Vodafone Global Enterprise, the business within Vodafone, announced the acquisition of two telecom expense management (TEM) companies, Quickcomm and TnT Expense Management. In November 2011, the Company sold 24.4% interest in Polkomtel in Poland. In March 2012, Verizon Wireless, which is a joint venture of Verizon Communication s Inc. and Vodafone, purchased the operating assets of Cellular One of Northeast Pennsylvania from the Company. In April 2012, its Netherlands-based division, Vodafone Libertel BV, acquired Telespectrum-DJ. On October 31, 2012, the Company acquired TelstraClear Limited. In May 2013, Vodafone Group Plc announced launch of its carrier services business unit.

In Europe, the Company�� mobile subsidiaries and joint venture operate under the brand name Vodafone. Its associate in France operates as SFR and Neuf Cegetel, and its fixed-line communication businesses operate as Vodafone, Arcor, Tele2 and TeleTu. Vodafone�� subsidiaries in Africa and Central Europe operate under the Vodafone brand, or in the case of Vodacom and its mobile subsidiaries, the Vodacom and Gateway brands. Its joint venture in Poland operates as Polkomtel and its associate in Kenya operates as Safaricom. The Company�� subsidiaries and joint venture in Fiji operate under the Vodafone brand, and its joint venture in Australia operates under the bran! d! s Vodafone and 3. The Company�� associate in the United States operates under the brand Verizon Wireless.

Vodafone has an international customer base with 370 million mobile customers across the world as of March 31, 2011. Vodafone also caters to all business segments ranging from small-office-home-office (SoHo) and small-medium enterprises (SMEs) to corporates and multinational corporations. Through its subsidiaries, Vodafone directly owns and manages approximately 2,200 stores around the world. The Company also has around 10,300 Vodafone-branded stores run through franchise and exclusive dealer arrangements.

The Company�� range of handsets covers all its customer segments and price points, and is available in a variety of designs. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011 (fiscal 2011), 14 new handsets were released under its own brand and it shipped 5.8 million. In addition to handsets, it supplies a range of connected smart devices. It su pplies the iPhone in 19 markets. During fiscal 2011, the Company launched its USB stick based on 4G/LTE technology in Germany and Verizon Wireless launched in the United States.; Vodafone WebBox; a smartphone roaming data plan that allows the European customers to use their home data plan abroad for only 2 a day to access the Internet, emails and applications; the Android-powered Vodafone 845 and 945 devices; Vodafone TV services; Vodafone 252, which comes pre-loaded with Vodafone M-Pesa for mobile payment services and a prepaid balance indicator that helps customers to keep track of their phone credit to avoid overspending; Vodafone M-Pesa in South Africa, Qatar and Fiji; 3G services in India, and LTE services by acquiring LTE spectrum in Germany.

The Company is a carrier of mobile voice traffic in the world providing domestic, international and roaming voice services to more than 370 million customers. Its networks sent and received over 292 billion text, pic ture, music and video messages during fiscal 2011. The ! Compa! ny! serves! more than 75 million customers with data services, which allow access to the Internet, email and applications on their phones, tablets, laptops and netbooks. The Company provides a range of data products, including Machine-to-machine (��2M�� connections, which allow devices to communicate with one another via built-in mobile SIM cards; Third party billing; Financial services; Near field communication (��FC��, and Mobile advertising. The Company, as of March 31, 2011, served 5.3 million M2M connections around the world. NFC allows communication between devices when they are touched together or brought within a few centimetres of each other. The Company has mobile advertising business in 18 countries with a range of capabilities. Over six million customers use its fixed broadband services in 13 markets to meet their total communications needs. In addition, through Gateway, it provides wholesale carrier services to more than 40 African countries. Other service revenue includes business managed services, such as secure remote network access, and revenue from mobile virtual network operators generated from selling access to its network at the wholesale level. The Company�� enterprise customers range from small-office-home-office (��oHo�� businesses and small to medium-sized enterprises (��MEs��, through to domestic and multinational companies. The Company has 34 million enterprise customers accounting for around 9% of all customers and around 23% of service revenue. The Company focuses on SoHos and SMEs to provide customers with integrated fixed and mobile communications solutions. Vodafone Global Enterprise manages the communication needs of over 560 of the multinational corporate customers. It provides a range of managed services, such as Central Ordering, Device Manager, Spend Manager Solutions, Invoice Manager, Vodafone Neverfail and Telecoms management. The Company offers a range of total communications applications, as well as services for enterprise and consumer customers. V! odafone !! Always Be! st Connected software enables customers to stay connected to the Internet on the available connection wherever they are by automatically managing the switching between connection types including mobile broadband, Wi-Fi and LAN. Vodafone PC Backup is an online back-up and restores service that enables users to remotely store data securely and automatically via their Internet connection.

Top 5 Wireless Telecom Companies For 2014: Sprint Nextel Corp (S.C)

Sprint Nextel Corporation (Sprint), incorporated on November 15, 1938, is a holding company, with its operations primarily conducted by its subsidiaries. The Company operates in two segments: Wireless and Wireline. Sprint is a communications company offering a range of wireless and wireline communications products and services that are designed to meet the needs of individual consumers, businesses, government subscribers and resellers. Its operations are organized to meet the needs of its targeted subscriber groups through focused communications solutions that incorporate the capabilities of its wireless and wireline services. Its services are provided through its ownership of extensive wireless networks, an all-digital global long distance network. The Company offers wireless and wireline voice and data transmission services to subscribers in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands under the Sprint corporate brand, which includes its retail brands of Sprint, Nextel, Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile, and Assurance Wireless on networks that utilize third generation (3G) code division multiple access (CDMA), integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN), or Internet protocol (IP) technologies. The Company also offers fourth generation (4G) services utilizing Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) technology through its mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) wholesale relationship with Clearwire Corporation and its subsidiary Clearwire Communications LLC (together Clearwire) and, in October 2011, it announced its focus to deploy Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology as part of its network modernization plan, Network Vision. As of October 19, 2012, the Company controls 50.8% interest in Clearwire Corp.

Wireless

The Company offers wireless services on a postpaid and prepaid payment basis to retail subscribers and also on a wholesale and affiliate basis, which includes the sale of wireless services that utilize the Sprint network but are sold under! the wholesaler's brand. The Company supports the open development of applications, content, and devices on its network platforms through products and services, such as Google Voice, which allows for functionality, such as one phone number for all devices (home, wireless and office), routing calls between devices, and in-call options to switch between devices during a call and Google Wallet, which provides the ability to store loyalty, gift and credit cards, and to tap and pay while the customer shop using their wireless device. The Company has also launched multiple Sprint ID packs that download applications, widgets and other content related to a person's interest at the push of a button. In addition, it enables a variety of business and consumer third-party relationships, through its portfolio of machine-to-machine solutions, which it offers on a retail postpaid and wholesale basis. Its machine-to-machine solutions portfolio provides a secure, real-time and reliable wireless two-way data connection across a range of connected devices, including original equipment manufacturer (OEM) devices and after-market in-vehicle connectivity and electric vehicle charging stations, point-of-sale systems, kiosks and vending machines, asset tracking, digital signage, security, smartgrid utilities, medical equipment and a variety of other consumer electronics and appliances.

The Company offers price plans tailored to business subscribers, such as Business Advantage, which allows for the mix and match plans that include voice, voice and messaging, or voice, messaging and data to meet individual business needs and which also includes its Any Mobile Anytime feature with certain plans. Its prepaid portfolio includes multiple brands, each designed to appeal to specific subscriber segments. Virgin Mobile serves subscribers who are device and data-oriented with Beyond Talk plans and its broadband plan, Broadband2Go, that offer subscribers control and connectivity through various communication vehicles. Assuran! ce Wirele! ss provides eligible subscribers, who meet income requirements or are receiving government assistance, with a free wireless phone and 250 free minutes of local and long distance monthly service. Wireless data communications services include mobile productivity applications, such as Internet access, messaging and email services; wireless photo and video offerings; location-based capabilities, including asset and fleet management, dispatch services and navigation tools, and mobile entertainment applications, including the ability to view live television, listen to satellite radio, download and listen to music, and game play with full-color graphics and polyphonic and real-music sounds from a wireless handset.

Wireless voice communications services include basic local and long distance wireless voice services throughout the United States, as well as voicemail, call waiting, three-way calling, caller identification, directory assistance and call forwarding. It also provides voice and data services to areas in numerous countries outside of the United States through roaming arrangements. It offers customized design, development, implementation and support for wireless services provided to companies and government agencies. Its services are provided using a variety of multi-functional devices, including smartphones, mobile broadband devices, such as air cards and hotspots, and embedded tablets and laptops manufactured by various suppliers for use with its voice and data services. It sells accessories, such as carrying cases, hands-free devices, batteries, battery chargers and other items to subscribers, and it sells devices and accessories to agents and other third-party distributors for resale.

The Company delivers wireless services to subscribers primarily through its existing networks or as a reseller of 4G services through its MVNO wholesale relationship with Clearwire. Its Sprint platform, an all-digital wireless network with spectrum licenses that allows the Company to provide! service ! in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands, uses a single frequency band and a digital spread-spectrum wireless technology, code division multiple access (CDMA), that allows a number of users to access the band by assigning a code to all voice and data bits, sending a scrambled transmission of the encoded bits over the air and reassembling the voice and data into its original format. It provides nationwide service through a combination of operating its own digital network in United States metropolitan areas and rural connecting routes, affiliations under commercial arrangements with third-party affiliates (Affiliates) and roaming on other providers' networks.

The Company markets its postpaid services under the Sprint and Nextel brands. It offers these services on a contract basis typically for one or two-year periods, with services billed on a monthly basis according to the applicable pricing plan. As it deploy Network Vision, it will continue to focus on the Sprint platform postpaid subscriber base, including the migration of existing Nextel platform subscribers to other offerings on its Sprint platform, which includes future offerings on its multi-mode network, such as Sprint Direct Connect. It markets its prepaid services under the Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile, and Assurance Wireless brands as a means to provide value-driven prepaid service plans to particular markets. Its wholesale customers are resellers of its wireless services rather than end-use subscribers and market their products and services using their brands.

The Company competes with AT&T, Verizon Wireless (Verizon), T-Mobile, Metro PCS Communications, Inc., Leap Wireless International, Inc. and TracFone Wireless.

Wireline

The Company provides a suite of wireline voice and data communications services to other communications companies and targeted business and consumer subscribers. In addition, it provides voice, data and IP communication services to its Wireles! s segment! , and IP and other services to cable Multiple System Operators (MSOs). Cable MSOs resell its local and long distance services and use its back office systems and network assets in support of their telephone service provided over cable facilities primarily to residential end-user subscribers. The Company is a provider of long distance services and operate all-digital global long distance and Tier 1 IP networks.

The Company�� services and products include domestic and international data communications using various protocols such as multiprotocol label switching technologies (MPLS), IP, managed network services, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Session Initiated Protocol (SIP) and traditional voice services. Its IP services can also be combined with wireless services. Such services include its Sprint Mobile Integration service, which enables a wireless handset to operate as part of a subscriber's wireline voice network, and its DataLinkSM service, which uses its wireless networks to connect a subscriber location into their primarily wireline wide-area IP/MPLS data network.

The Company also provides wholesale voice local and long distance services to cable MSOs, which they offer as part of their bundled service offerings, as well as traditional voice and data services for their enterprise use. The Company also continues to provide voice services to residential consumers. Its Wireline segment markets and sells its services primarily through direct sales representatives. It offers VoIP-based services to business subscribers and transport VoIP-originated traffic for various cable companies.

The Company competes with AT&T, Verizon Communications, CenturyLink and Level 3 Communications, Inc.

5 Best Biotech Stocks For 2015: Intelsat SA (I)

Intelsat S.A., incorporated on July 18, 2011, is a satellite services business, providing a layer in the global communications infrastructure. The Company operates satellite capacity, holds orbital location rights, contract backlog, serve commercial customers and deliver services. It provides diversified communications services to the world�� media companies, fixed and wireless telecommunications operators, data networking service providers for enterprise and mobile applications, multinational corporations and Internet service providers (ISPs). It is also the provider of commercial satellite capacity to the United States government and other select military organizations and their contractors.

The Company has a satellite fleet comprised of more than 50 satellites, covering 99% of the Earth�� populated regions. Its fleet, combined with the IntelsatOne terrestrial fiber network and a collection of teleports, form a singular unmatched global infrastructure to meet any communications requirement. As the provider of satellite services, the Company provides mission critical communication services.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Rich Duprey]
Satellite services provider Intelsat (NYSE: I ) announced yesterday its third-quarter dividend of $0.71875 per share on its 5.75% Series A mandatory convertible junior non-voting preferred stock, which trades on the NYSE under the symbol I.PRA.

Top 5 Wireless Telecom Companies For 2014: Moko Social Media Ltd (MKB)

Moko Social Media Ltd , formerly MOKO.mobi Limited, is an Australia-based integrated global social media company. The Company was engaged in delivering mobile social networking services to global consumers within the youth and young adult demographic. The Company operates in four segments: mobile social networks, mobile advertising, mobile content & gaming, and mobile commerce. The Company operates in five geographical segments: Australia, Europe, Asia, United States and Africa. On July 26, 2011, the Company acquired the mBuzzy assets from SendMe Inc (mBuzzy). On December 16, 2011, the Company acquired 100% interest in the Paper Tree Limited group of entities (PTL Group). The Company�� subsidiaries include MOKO.mobi Inc, Paper Tree Limited and Southern Breeze Trading 3 Pty Ltd.

Top 5 Wireless Telecom Companies For 2014: CalAmp Corp (CAMP)

CalAmp Corp. (CalAmp) develops and markets wireless technology solutions that deliver data, voice and video for critical networked communications and other applications. The Company has two business segments: Wireless DataCom, which serves commercial, industrial and government customers, and Satellite, which focuses on the North American Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) market. In May 2012, CalAmp Corp announced that it has entered into a five-year supply agreement to provide fleet tracking products to Navman Wireless. As part of the transaction, CalAmp has acquired certain products and technologies from Navman Wireless and established a research and development center in Auckland, New Zealand. The assets acquired by CalAmp include technology for Mobile Display Terminals (MDT) and an MDT product line marketed to telematics original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) globally. In March 2013, it completed the acquisition of the operations of Wireless Matrix Corporation.

Wireless DataCom

The Wireless DataCom segment provides wireless technology, products and services for industrial Machine-to-Machine (M2M) and Mobile Resource Management (MRM) market segments for a range of applications, including optimizing and automating electricity distribution and ancillary utility functions; facilitating communication and coordination among emergency first-responders; increasing productivity and optimizing activities of mobile workforces; improving management control over valuable remote and mobile assets, and enabling emerging applications in a wirelessly connected world.

The Company's Wireless DataCom segment is comprised of a Wireless Networks business and an MRM business. CalAmp's Wireless Networks business provides products, systems and services to industrial, utility, energy and transportation enterprises and state and local governmental entities for deployment where the ability to communicate with mobile personnel or to command and control remote assets is crucial. Utilities! , oil and gas, mining, railroad and security companies rely on CalAmp products for wireless data communications to and from outlying locations, permitting real-time monitoring, activation and control of remote equipment. Applications include remotely measuring freshwater and wastewater flows, pipeline flow monitoring for oil and gas transport, automated utility meter reading, remote Internet access and perimeter monitoring. CalAmp is among the leaders in the application of wireless communications technology to Smart Grid power distribution automation for electric utilities.

MRM wireless solutions include global positioning system (GPS) location, cellular data modems and programmable events-based notification firmware as key components, allowing customers to know where and how their assets are performing, no matter where those mobile assets are located. Commercial organizations, vehicle finance providers, city and county governments, and a range of other enterprises rely on CalAmp products and systems to optimize delivery of services and protect valuable assets. Applications include fleet management, asset tracking, student and school bus tracking and route optimization, stolen vehicle recovery, remote asset security, remote vehicle start, and machine-to-machine communications. In addition to functioning as an OEM supplier of location and communications hardware for MRM applications, CalAmp is a total solutions provider of turn-key systems incorporating location and communications hardware, cellular airtime and Web-based remote asset management tools and interfaces.

The Company competes with Motorola Solutions, GE-MDS, Freewave, Sierra Wireless, GenX, Spireon, Novatel Wireless-Enfora and Xirgo.

Satellite

The Satellite segment develops, manufactures and sells DBS outdoor customer premise equipment and whole home video networking devices for digital and high definition satellite television (TV) reception. CalAmp's satellite products are sold primarily to ! EchoStar,! an affiliate of Dish Network.

The Company's DBS reception products are installed at subscriber premises to receive television programming signals transmitted from orbiting satellites. These DBS reception products consist principally of outdoor electronics that receive, process, amplify and switch satellite television signals for distribution over coaxial cable to multiple set-top boxes inside the home that can acquire, recognize and process the signal to create a picture.

The Company competes with Sharp, Wistron NeWeb Corporation, Microelectronics Technology, Pro Brand and Global Invacom.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Ben Levisohn]
My guess is that few traders are at their desks this morning–there’s almost no one at Barron’s office either–and stocks reflect that. Some, like Tesla�(TSLA) and CalAmp (CAMP), are seeing sizable� news-related moves.
[By Jason Shubnell]
Yesterday, CalAmp (NASDAQ: CAMP) issued a downbeat outlook for the fourth quarter.

CalAmp expected adjusted earnings of $0.19 to $0.23 per share on revenue of $60 million to $63 million. However, analysts were estimating earnings of $0.24 per share on revenue $63.2 million.
[By Luke Jacobi]
CalAmp (NASDAQ: CAMP) shot up 14.24 percent to $21.35 after the company reported upbeat fiscal second-quarter results.

HomeAway (NASDAQ: AWAY) was up as well, gaining 8.17 percent to $29.74 on speculation of takeover talks with Priceline.com (NASDAQ: PCLN).
[By Paul Ausick]
Canaccord Genuity also raised its price target on CalAmp Corp. (NASDAQ: CAMP) Tuesday, boosting it from $30.00 a share to $33.00. CalAmp makes wireless equipment and has a market cap of around $960 million. The company posted strong third-quarter results after markets closed Monday, and Canaccord expects strong growth in both the 2015 and 2016 fiscal years, based on the company’s expected fourth-quarter showing. Interestingly enough, CalAmp’s fourth-quarter estimates were slightly below consensus estimates.

Top 5 Wireless Telecom Companies For 2014: Vodafone Group PLC (VOD)

Vodafone Group Plc (Vodafone), incorporated in 1984, is a mobile communications company operating across the globe providing a range of communications services. The Company offers a range of products and services, including voice, messaging, data and fixed-line solutions and devices to assist customers in meeting their total communications needs. Vodafone has a global presence, with equity interests in over 30 countries and over 40 partner markets worldwide. It operates in three geographic regions: Europe, Africa and Central Europe; Asia Pacific, and the Middle East, and has an investment in Verizon Wireless in the United States. In October 2010, Vodafone Global Enterprise, the business within Vodafone, announced the acquisition of two telecom expense management (TEM) companies, Quickcomm and TnT Expense Management. In November 2011, the Company sold 24.4% interest in Polkomtel in Poland. In March 2012, Verizon Wireless, which is a joint venture of Verizon Communications Inc. and Vodafone, purchased the operating assets of Cellular One of Northeast Pennsylvania from the Company. In April 2012, its Netherlands-based division, Vodafone Libertel BV, acquired Telespectrum-DJ. On October 31, 2012, the Company acquired TelstraClear Limited. In May 2013, Vodafone Group Plc announced launch of its carrier services business unit.

In Europe, the Company�� mobile subsidiaries and joint venture operate under the brand name Vodafone. Its associate in France operates as SFR and Neuf Cegetel, and its fixed-line communication businesses operate as Vodafone, Arcor, Tele2 and TeleTu. Vodafone�� subsidiaries in Africa and Central Europe operate under the Vodafone brand, or in the case of Vodacom and its mobile subsidiaries, the Vodacom and Gateway brands. Its joint venture in Poland operates as Polkomtel and its associate in Kenya operates as Safaricom. The Company�� subsidiaries and joint venture in Fiji operate under the Vodafone brand, and its joint venture in Australia operates under the brands V! odafone and 3. The Company�� associate in the United States operates under the brand Verizon Wireless.

The Company�� range of handsets covers all its customer segments and price points, and is available in a variety of designs. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011 (fiscal 2011), 14 new handsets were released under its own brand and it shipped 5.8 million. In addition to handsets, it supplies a range of connected smart devices. It supplies the iPhone in 19 markets. During fiscal 2011, the Company launched its USB stick based on 4G/LTE technology in Germany and Verizon Wireless launched in the United States.; Vodafone WebBox; a smartphone roaming data plan that allows the European customers to use their home data plan abroad for only 2 a day to access the Internet, emails and applications; the Android-powered Vodafone 845 and 945 devices; Vodafone TV services; Vodafone 252, which comes pre-loaded with Vodafone M-Pesa for mobile payment services and a prepaid balance indicator that helps customers to keep track of their phone credit to avoid overspending; Vodafone M-Pesa in South Africa, Qatar and Fiji; 3G services in India, and LTE services by acquiring LTE spectrum in Germany.

The Company is a carrier of mobile voice traffic in the world providing domestic, international and roaming voice services to more than 370 million customers. Its networks sent and received over 292 billion text, picture, music and video messages during fiscal 2011. The Company ! serves mo! re than 75 million customers with data services, which allow access to the Internet, email and applications on their phones, tablets, laptops and netbooks. The Company provides a range of data products, including Machine-to-machine (��2M�� connections, which allow devices to communicate with one another via built-in mobile SIM cards; Third party billing; Financial services; Near field communication (��FC��, and Mobile advertising. The Company, as of March 31, 2011, served 5.3 million M2M connections around the world. NFC allows communication between devices when they are touched together or brought within a few centimetres of each other. The Company has mobile advertising business in 18 countries with a range of capabilities. Over six million customers use its fixed broadband services in 13 markets to meet their total communications needs. In addition, through Gateway, it provides wholesale carrier services to more than 40 African countries. Other service revenue includes business managed services, such as secure remote network access, and revenue from mobile virtual network operators generated from selling access to its network at the wholesale level. The Company�� enterprise customers range from small-office-home-office (��oHo�� businesses and small to medium-sized enterprises (��MEs��, through to domestic and multinational companies. The Company has 34 million enterprise customers accounting for around 9% of all customers and around 23% of service revenue. The Company focuses on SoHos and SMEs to provide customers with integrated fixed and mobile communications solutions. Vodafone Global Enterprise manages the communication needs of over 560 of the multinational corporate customers. It provides a range of managed services, such as Central Ordering, Device Manager, Spend Manager Solutions, Invoice Manager, Vodafone Neverfail and Telecoms management. The Company offers a range of total communications applications, as well as services for enterprise and consumer customers. Vodafone Alw! ays Best ! Connected software enables customers to stay connected to the Internet on the available connection wherever they are by automatically managing the switching between connection types including mobile broadband, Wi-Fi and LAN. Vodafone PC Backup is an online back-up and restores service that enables users to remotely store data securely and automatically via their Internet connection.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Alan Oscroft]
Secondly, if the fundamental nature of the company, including any of the factors that led to the original purchase decision, have changed, it's also time for a reevaluation. And�Vodafone (LSE: VOD ) (NASDAQ: VOD ) �has changed!
[By Evan Niu, CFA]
For the past 13 years, Verizon Communications' (NYSE: VZ ) main squeeze has been Vodafone (NASDAQ: VOD ) . The two paired up in April 2000 to found Verizon Wireless as a joint venture, which would proceed to become the largest wireless carrier in the U.S. with 98.9 million retail subscribers.

Top 5 Wireless Telecom Companies For 2014: CalAmp Corp (CAMP.O)

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Wireless DataCom

The Company's Wireless DataCom segment is comprised of a Wireless Networks business and an MRM business. CalAmp's Wireless Networks business provides products, systems and services to industrial, utility, energy and transportation enterprises and state and local governmental entities for deployment where the ability to communicate with mobile personne l or to command and control remote assets is crucial. Util! it! ies, oil and gas, mining, railroad and security companies rely on CalAmp products for wireless data communications to and from outlying locations, permitting real-time monitoring, activation and control of remote equipment. Applications include remotely measuring freshwater and wastewater flows, pipeline flow monitoring for oil and gas transport, automated utility meter reading, remote Internet access and perimeter monitoring. CalAmp is among the leaders in the application of wireless communications technology to Smart Grid power distribution automation for electric utilities.

MRM wireless solutions include global positioning system (GPS) location, cellular data modems and programmable events-based notification firmware as key components, allowing customers to know where and how their assets are performing, no matter where those mobile assets are located. Commercial organizations, vehicle finance providers, city and county governments, and a range of other enter prises rely on CalAmp products and systems to optimize delivery of services and protect valuable assets. Applications include fleet management, asset tracking, student and school bus tracking and route optimization, stolen vehicle recovery, remote asset security, remote vehicle start, and machine-to-machine communications. In addition to functioning as an OEM supplier of location and communications hardware for MRM applications, CalAmp is a total solutions provider of turn-key systems incorporating location and communications hardware, cellular airtime and Web-based remote asset management tools and interfaces.

The Company competes with Motorola Solutions, GE-MDS, Freewave, Sierra Wireless, GenX, Spireon, Novatel Wireless-Enfora and Xirgo.

Satellite

The Satellite segment develops, manufactures and sells DBS outdoor customer premise equipment and whole home video networking devices for digital and high definition satellite television (TV ) reception. CalAmp's satellite products are sold prim! arily ! t! o EchoSt! ar, an affiliate of Dish Network.

The Company competes with Sharp, Wistron NeWeb Corporation, Microelectronics Technology, Pro Brand and Global Invacom.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

What to Do (and Not Do) If You Win the $400 Million Powerball Lottery

Top 5 China Companies To Buy Right Now

Another huge Powerball lottery is on the way to making someone a sudden master of a new empire. The Powerball drawing for Wednesday, February 19, is now up to massive sum of $400 million in annuity value. An all-cash payout value is listed as $227.8 million.

The Powerball jackpot starts at $40 million, and it keeps rising until someone hits the jackpot. The question to ask, outside of whether you should really be playing, is what you should do if you win the lotto.

24/7 Wall St. has created a 12-step lottery winner program that is a bit more extreme than other lists of things to do if you win. Technically, it is a list of what not to do. The items covered include protecting yourself immediately, getting the proper advice in planning and in taxes, some things like what not go splurge on, and many more items.

Coming into vast sums of money this size is instant dynasty money, which should last for multiple generations ahead. Believe it or not, many lottery winners have ended up broke within just a few years of winning. We would not wish that on you, but without proper planning lotto winners put themselves in a serious predicament.

Here were the statistics from the February 15 Powerball lottery:

0 PA winners, jackpot rolls to $400,000,000 1 PA player matched 5 of 5, each receiving $1,000,000 3 PA players matched 4 of 5 and the Power Ball, each receiving $10,000 164 PA players matched 4 of 5, each receiving $100 231 PA players matched 3 of 5 and the Power Ball, each receiving $100 7,418 PA players matched 3 of 5, each receiving $7 3,491 PA players matched 2 of 5 and the Power Ball, each receiving $7 19,964 PA players matched 1 of 5 and the Power Ball, each receiving $4 38,295 PA players matched the Power Ball, each receiving $4

Monday, February 17, 2014

The bead on Super Bowl 2014 ads

This is the Super Bowl where ads may offer a bit less of the same — and a bit more of the unexpected.

As the price of ad time continues to escalate, advertisers continue to seek new ways — and new reasons — to stand out or even surprise. At a record $4 million per 30-second slot, "it's the most expensive ad time on television by a wide margin," says Jon Swallen, chief research officer at Kantar Media.

The Super Bowl, he notes, "marches to a very different beat than the rest of the TV business." And so, too, must the advertisers who want to stand out during the Feb. 2 broadcast on Fox, which is sold out of ad time.

Here are some thing they are doing differently for 2014:

• More first-time celebrities. As usual, there will be lots of celebrities in Super Bowl ads, but more will be first-timers. Laurence Fishburne, the straight-faced star of the 1999 hit sci-fi film The Matrix, will show up with a humorous twist on the cult classic in a Kia ad showcasing its new K900 luxury sedan. In the 60-second spot, Fishburne reprises his film character, Morpheus, and offers a shocked couple — waiting for their car at a fancy restaurant — a choice that mimics the "red pill" or "blue pill" choice he offered Matrix co-star Keanu Reeves in the film. In a phone interview, Fishburne says this commercial puts Morpheus "in a completely unexpected context." Super Bowl viewers who have "preconceived notions of who I am" may change their minds after watching this, he says.

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Wonderful Pistachios, meanwhile, has dropped YouTube phenom Psy, and will feature funny man Stephen Colbert in two 15-second Super Bowl commercials. Why the change? "We wanted to deepen the enthusiasm beyond the Super Bowl with talent that resonates with our target (buyers) over the full year," says Marc Seguin, marketing head at brand owner Paramount Farms.

• Several healthy food advertiser! s. As Americans continue to eat a bit healthier, there will be a tad less junk food and a few more better-for-you food ads in the Big Game. Besides the return of Wonderful Pistachios, yogurt brands Dannon and Chobani, will go toe-to-toe with spots.

• Some new car advertisers. Yes, there will be lots of car ads again, but they'll include some not in the last game. Jaguar will appear in its first-ever Super Bowl to tout its new F-Type sports coupe, while General Motors is returning.

• Several other first-time advertisers. Nestle is using the Super Bowl to promote the national roll-out of its new Butterfinger Peanut Butter Cup. Intuit will devote its first Super Bowl appearance will feature its small business contest winner whose big prize is a Big Game ad.

• Lots of surprises. Who can predict what Chrysler has up its sleeve this year, even though the automaker (again) hasn't even officially said it's in the game? And there's plenty of anticipation over just what Cheerios -- which went out on a limb with a much-discussed interracial family TV ad last spring — will do with its first-ever Super Bowl ad.

Super Bowl prices per 30-second ad slot: (in millions):

2014: $4.0

2013: $3.8

2012: $3.5

2011: $3.1

2010: $2.9

Source: Kantar Media

Friday, February 14, 2014

Using Charitable Gifts to Increase Your Income

Charitable gifts can help many people. Of course, they help the beneficiaries of charities. Well-planned gifts also can help the donor by reducing income taxes and by providing a stream of income from an asset that previously generated no income.

There are several charitable giving strategies that help donors generate income from their gifts. Each is appropriate in different situations.

Charitable remainder trust. This is the classic vehicle for converting an appreciated asset into a stream of income while helping others.

In the CRT, you donate appreciated capital gain property to a trust you created. The trust sells the property and invests the proceeds to generate income or to achieve a combination of income and capital gains. The trust pays you (or other beneficiaries you name) income for either a period of years (up to 20 years) or for life, whichever you designate. After the income period ends, the remainder of the property in the trust goes to the charity or charities you designated when creating the trust. The charities can be changed during the income payout period.

When you transfer property to the trust, you receive a charitable contribution deduction. The deduction is for less than the full value of the property. The deduction is based on current interest rates and your age (or the term of years the income is paid) and is computed using tables issued by the IRS. The older you are, the higher the percentage of the property's value you can deduct. There's a limit to the amount that can be deducted each year, and it depends on the type of property donated and the type or charity. Unused deductions generally can be carried forward to future years.

You don't owe income or capital gains taxes on the appreciation that occurred while you owned the property, and the trust doesn't pay any taxes when it sells the property since it is a charitable trust. So, the full value of the prop! erty after transaction costs can be invested.

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The value of the property also is excluded from your estate for federal tax purposes. So, the CRT is a valuable estate planning vehicle for those whose estates are large enough to worry about estate taxes.

The annual income payouts are based on a formula you set within limits set by the IRS. You can have the trust pay you a fixed percentage of the value of trust assets each year (known as a unitrust), or you can have the trust pay a fixed dollar amount (known as an annuity trust). You set the formula when creating the trust and can't change it.

The unitrust has the potential for the payouts to increase as the value of the trust's portfolio increases, giving you an inflation hedge. But there's no guarantee the trust value will increase each year, so payouts can fall or stagnate, depending on what the trust's value does. The annuity trust gives you a fixed payment you can plan on, though its value will lose ground to inflation over time.

There are some possible variations to consider on the payout for a unitrust. You can say there won't be an income payout in a year when the trust doesn't have enough income (interest, dividends, and rent) to make the payout. Known as a net income trust, this allows a younger person to set up the trust and take the tax deduction today but defer most of the income until later by having the trust invested so it doesn't generate much income. Later, the portfolio can be shifted to generate income.

This type of trust also can have a makeup provision so distributions that weren't made in some years because of the lack of income can be paid in future years when the trust has enough income. Finally, the net income trust can flip, so that it pays little or no income for a number of years, but then on a designated date its mandate changes to pay out a flat! rate eac! h year regardless of the amount of income earned. This is known as a FLIP CRUT.

The FLIP CRUT can be advantageous when you want a charitable contribution today for an asset that might not be sold for years. You can put land, private company stock, art, or collectibles in the trust. Years from now when you want income or believe the asset has appreciated enough, the trust sells the property and begins paying you income. Of course, this trust also is valuable when you want the charitable deduction now but don't want additional income for a few years.

There's a ceiling to the amount of payout you can receive from a CRT. The payout has to be set so, using assumptions set by the IRS, the charity is estimated eventually to receive at least 10% of the original trust value.

When you receive income from the trust it is included in your gross income. It is ordinary income to the extent of the trust's interest and dividend income. Distributions above that amount are capital gains until the gain that was inherent in the property when you transferred it to the trust is exhausted.

CRTs aren't without disadvantages, with the main one being the costs. You have to set up the trust, and it needs a trustee and someone to manage the portfolio. It also will have to file annual tax returns. Most advisors say a CRT probably doesn't make sense unless you're transferring at least $250,000 worth of property.

Charitable gift annuity. The charitable gift annuity is simpler than the CRT, but it's another way charitable contributions generate income while providing a tax benefit.

You transfer cash or property to a charity. In return it promises to pay you a stream of income for life or a period of years, whichever you select. Again, you don't pay capital gains taxes on the appreciation the property accrued during your ownership. You receive a tax deduction for part of the value of the property you transferred to the charity. As with the CRT, IRS tables determine your tax deductio! n, and th! e older you are the greater your deduction.

Each income payment you receive from the charity is partially tax-free as a return of principle and partially ordinary income, as with standard annuities, until the amount of your contribution to the charity is recovered. Details of how to compute the deduction are in IRS Publications 939 and 575, available free on the IRS web site www.irs.gov. Most charities also will provide tax information for you.

The charitable annuity provides you a steady, known flow of income for life while also helping the charity. You will receive a lower payout than you would from a commercial annuity from an insurer, because the charity takes part of the payment as a contribution. That's why you get a tax deduction.

You might receive a higher income payout from the charitable annuity, however, if you're donating appreciated property to the charity. To convert the appreciated property into a commercial annuity you'd have to sell the property, pay capital gains taxes on it, and invest the after-tax amount in an annuity. With the charitable annuity, you give the property to the charity and get credit for its full value. The charity doesn't have to pay taxes when it sells the property. The annuity also doesn't burden you with the administrative costs of a CRT, which is another reason it might give you higher income than some alternatives.

Keep in mind that all you're receiving from the charity is a promise to pay you money. You have no equity and no separate account at the charity. Even if the charity uses your contribution to buy a commercial annuity that funds your payout, you have no legal right to that annuity. If the charity has financial troubles, you're a general creditor. Some people lost part of their retirement incomes when they created charitable annuities with charities that invested their portfolios with Bernie Madoff. So, you want to deal only with an established charity that's been around for a while and has financial stability.

You a! ren't likely to get a better deal by shopping among charities. Most charities belong to a national group that sets the annuity payout rates and agree to adhere to those rates.

Suppose you also want to leave something for your heirs. Neither of these strategies will allow that. What some people do is use part of their tax savings from the charitable contributions to pay a life insurance policy and put it in what's known as a wealth replacement trust.

Charity and IRA conversions. You can combine a charitable contribution strategy with an IRA conversion.

Suppose you have a large traditional IRA you'd like to convert into a Roth IRA. You want to avoid those large required minimum distributions after age 70½ and help you or your heirs receive tax-free income in the future.

If the charitable remainder trust or charitable annuity already is a good idea for you, the benefits might be multiplied when you convert all or part of a traditional IRA into a Roth IRA in the same year you execute one of those strategies.

Here's how it works. You transfer property to either the CRT or charity, depending on the strategy you select. That generates a large tax deduction. If you don't have enough other income that will be offset by the tax deduction, consider converting enough of your IRA so that all or most of the conversion is tax free after being offset by the charitable deduction. That sets you up for tax-free income down the road from the Roth IRA and also reduces the RMDs as times goes on.

Combining one of the charitable strategies with an IRA conversion ensures that the tax benefits will last for many years.

These charitable strategies are ideal for people with highly appreciated assets that don't generate income. You don't want to incur the capital gains taxes now from selling the assets and converting them to income-paying investments. If you're already charitably inclined, consider these strategies as a way to generate income and avoiding the big tax bill.
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Thursday, February 13, 2014

URS Corp: What the Heck Just Happened?

Base jumping might be fun–but not when it’s one of your stocks doing the jumping. Case in point: Shares of URS Corp (URS), which are plunging this morning after the construction and engineering company offered guidance well below previous forecasts.

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URS Corp, which competes with the likes of Fluor (FLR), Jacobs Engineering (JEC) and Tetra Tech (TTEK), said it would earn between $3.20 and $3.30 a share in 2013–the previous range had been between $4.10 and $4.25 a share–and also offered guidance for 2014 that was well below analyst forecasts. On the plus side, URS said it would buy its shares back at a faster pace than previously announced.

Sterne Agee’s Michael Dudas and Patrick Uotila assess the damage to URS:

Management mea culpa on handful of Oil & Gas (O&G) project profit shortfalls and substandard execution within the segment. Stressed acute attention to that division with management change, strong company cash generation and accelerated buyback. In penalty box near term, but if O&G margins can normalize, shares should better reflect cash flow, organic revenue growth potential and repurchase support.

We continue to rate URS a Buy for the following reasons: Expectations now reset as management’s updated 2014 earnings per share guidance outlook of $3.20 to $3.50 ($4.13 – $4.53 cash EPS) could leave potential for upside with better managed Oil & Gas execution. As private sector revenues increase relative to public, we believe relative discounted peer valuation can improve from current levels.

D.A. Davidson’s John Rogers and Cory Mitchell believe URS’s valuation looks interesting:

The shares of URS have come under significant pressure as a result of the earnings shortfall, uncertainty regarding succession, and lack of execution on the most recent acquisition. Although these concerns appear valid and raise concerns about the company’s growth potential and risk, we believe the shares' current 15%-25% discount to peers is excessive. We are reducing our target to $50 from $60 based on 15x current 2014 EPS estimates and 7x EV/EBITDA. With nearly 20% upside from current levels, we continue to view the shares as undervalued and are maintaining our BUY rating.

Shares of URS Corp have plunged 13% to $43.13 today at 11:44 a.m., while Fluor has fallen 0.4% to $79.61, Jacobs Engineering has dropped 0.7% to $60.36 and Tetra Tech is off 0.4% at $28.67.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

10 Best Electric Utility Stocks To Own For 2014

Not long ago,�I mentioned to Fools a couple of major technological improvements that have brought about tremendous increases in oil and gas reserve growth and production. At the time, I was referring to the ability to find and produce previously unreachable hydrocarbons in the deepwater and to the role of hydraulic fracturing in shale rock formations .

Each of these breakthroughs benefits from other developments that have in turn made them feasible. I'm referring to advancements that, when incorporated into deepwater operations or fracking, lead to jumps in productivity, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and -- last but hardly least -- safety. In the two parts of this article, let's take a look at a few of these new wrinkles and at some of the companies that stand to benefit from them.

By the beautiful subsea
Subsea processing relocates many of the functions typically performed at or near the surface to the well site on the seafloor. There are numerous advantages to subsea production and processing. Two especially stand out: First, a single platform is able to service numerous well areas, thereby chopping the costs related to the construction, placement, and maintenance of multiple production platforms.

10 Best Electric Utility Stocks To Own For 2014: Palo Duro Energy Inc (PDE.V)

Palo Duro Energy Inc. engages in the exploration and development of oil and gas properties in the United States. It holds a 27% working interests in the Palo Duro Basin oil and gas fields in northwest Texas; and a 23% working interests in approximately 48,810 acre project located in McLennan County, Texas. The company is based in Vancouver, Canada.

10 Best Electric Utility Stocks To Own For 2014: Karmin Exploration Inc(KAR.V)

Karmin Exploration Inc. engages in the exploration and development of base metals and gold mineral properties in Brazil. The company owns a 30% interest in the Aripuana property located in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Its mineral portfolio comprises zinc, lead, copper, gold, and silver ores. The company was formerly known as Ambrex Mining Corporation and changed its name to Karmin Exploration Inc. in August 1999. Karmin Exploration Inc. was incorporated in 1995 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

Top 5 Dividend Companies To Buy For 2015: United Overseas Bank Ltd (U11.SI)

United Overseas Bank Limited provides financial products and services. The company�s Group Retail segment offers deposits, loans, investments, credit and debit cards, and insurance products to individuals and small enterprises; wealth management and restricted products, such as structured notes, funds of hedge funds, and insurance plans to the wealthy and affluent customers; and investment management, asset management, and estate planning services to the high net worth individuals and investors. United Overseas Bank�s Group Wholesale segment provides current accounts, deposits, lending, cash management, and cross-border payments; and asset, ship, trade, and structured finance to the medium and large enterprises, corporations, financial institutions, and government-linked companies and agencies. It also offers lead managing, equity underwriting, and corporate advisory services; solution-based structures to meet clients� financing requirements in structuring, underwriting , and arranging syndicated loans, leveraged buy-outs, and project and structured finance; and underwriting and lead managing bond issues. The company�s Global Markets and Investment Management segment offers treasury products and services comprising foreign exchange, money market, fixed income, derivatives, margin trading, futures broking, gold products, structured products, and banknote services, as well as engages in asset management, proprietary investment, and liquidity and capital funds management activities. United Overseas Bank�s Other segment is involved in insurance and property-related businesses. As of March 15, 2012, the company had a network of approximately 500 offices in 19 countries and territories in the Asia Pacific, western Europe, and North America. The company was formerly known as United Chinese Bank and changed its name to United Overseas Bank Limited in 1965. United Overseas Bank was founded in 1935 and is headquartered in Singapore.

10 Best Electric Utility Stocks To Own For 2014: GigaMedia Limited (GIGM)

Gigamedia Limited, through its subsidiaries, primarily engages in the operation of online games for online game players in Asia. The company provides a portfolio of online games, including MahJong, a traditional Chinese tile game; MMORPG, an Internet-based computer game; advanced casual games; and card, chance-based, and simple casual games. It also develops and licenses online poker, casino, and sports betting gaming software solutions, as well as offers application services for the online poker and casino markets primarily in the continental European markets. The company has strategic alliances with SoftStar Entertainment Inc., Neostorm Holdings Limited, XLGames Inc., Access China Holding Limited, Gorilla Banana Entertainment Corp., JC Entertainment Corporation, Possibility Space Incorporated, East Gate Media Contents & Technology Fund, and BetClic. GigaMedia Limited was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Eric Volkman]
GigaMedia (NASDAQ: GIGM ) results for the company's fiscal Q4 and 2012 have been released. For the quarter, revenue was $4.8 million, down by 34% from the $7.4 million in the same period the previous year. Attributable net loss, however, narrowed considerably to $15.4 million ($0.30 per diluted share) from Q4 2011's shortfall of $51.3 million ($1.01).

10 Best Electric Utility Stocks To Own For 2014: Usa Video Interactive Crp (US.V)

Oculus Visiontech Inc. engages in the design and marketing of digital watermarking, and streaming video and video-on-demand systems and services to business customers. It also offers source-to-destination digital media delivery solutions that allow live or recorded digitized and compressed video to be transmitted through Internet, intranet, satellite, or wireless connectivity. The company�s systems, services, and delivery solutions include digital watermark solutions and video content production, content encoding, media asset management, media and application hosting, multi-mode content distribution, transaction data capture and reporting, e-commerce, specialized engineering services, and Internet streaming hardware. Its products and services comprise MediaSentinel, a digital watermarking technology used to deter piracy of digital content; SmartMarks, which are invisible, unremovable, forensic digital watermarks imbedded in various video frames to protect digital video fr om piracy; StreamHQ, a collection of source-to-destination media delivery services; EncodeHQ, a service that digitizes and compresses analog-source video; hardware server and encoder system applications under the brand name of Hurricane Mediacaster; Zmail, a Web and media content delivery service to targeted audiences; and mediaClix, a service that delivers content similar to Zmail, originating from an existing Web presence. The company was formerly known as USA Video Interactive Corp. and changed its name to Oculus Visiontech Inc. in January 2012. Oculus Visiontech Inc. was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

10 Best Electric Utility Stocks To Own For 2014: Tata Communications Limited(TCL)

Tata Communications Limited provides integrated communications services worldwide. Its Global Voice Solutions segment offers international and domestic long distance voice solutions to mobile operators, broadband operators, Web portals, and carrier customers. The solutions include voice termination, international long distance inbound, universal international free phone, managed calling card, audiotext, ISDN, national long distance, and operator-assisted call services. This segment operates a network of approximately 41,000 route kilometers for domestic long distance services in India; and international networks with coverage in approximately 200 countries and territories. The company?s Global Data and Managed Services segment provides enterprise data solutions, such as international private leased circuits (PLC), national PLC, Internet leased line circuits, Internet access, frame relay, asynchronous transfer mode, data center infrastructure and application, virtual priva te network, television uplinking, transponder lease, hosted contacted center, MVOIP and IP voice connect, business messaging and collaboration, business audio and Web conferencing, managed security, telepresence virtual meeting room, media management platform, global video network, and Ethernet services. This segment?s carrier data services comprise global transmission, IP transit, managed node, and content delivery network services; and mobility services consist of wireless global and managed roaming, signaling connection control part, intelligent CAMEL eXchange, short messaging service hub enablement, and signaling monitoring, alarming, and reporting tool. Its Other segment offers net access using Wi-Fi, Internet telephony, broadband, and content services. The company was formerly known as Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited and changed its name to Tata Communications Limited in 2008. Tata Communications Limited was founded in 1986 and is based in Mumbai, India.

10 Best Electric Utility Stocks To Own For 2014: Zogenix Inc (ZGNX.W)

Zogenix, Inc. (Zogenix), incorporated on May 11, 2006, is a pharmaceutical company commercializing and developing products for the treatment of central nervous system disorders and pain. The Company�� product Sumavel DosePro offers needle-free subcutaneous administration of sumatriptan for the treatment of migraine and cluster headache in a pre-filled, single-use delivery system. Its lead product candidate, Zohydro (hydrocodone bitartrate, formerly ZX002) is a 12-hour extended-release formulation of hydrocodone without acetaminophen for the treatment of chronic pain requiring opioid therapy. It completed Phase 3 development of Zohydro in 2011. Its second DosePro investigational product candidate, Relday, is a injectable formulation of risperidone for the treatment of schizophrenia. Sumavel DosePro and Zohydro are used for the treatment options available to patients and physicians in the United States. Sumavel DosePro may serve as a treatment alternative to oral and na sal triptans and offers administration when compared to traditional, needle-based sumatriptan injection. In May, 2012, it submitted a New Drug Application to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The Company�� collaboration with Astellas has been terminated on March 31, 2012. Sumavel DosePro is a pre-filled, single-use disposable, needle-free drug delivery system that subcutaneously delivers 6 mg of sumatriptan in 0.5 mL of sterile liquid. Sumavel DosePro is designed to be portable, intuitive and easy-to-use. To use, the patient simply snaps off a plastic tip, flips back a lever and presses the end of the delivery system to the skin of the abdomen or thigh. Under the force of a small amount of compressed nitrogen gas, the liquid form of sumatriptan is expelled out of the device as a thin jet of medication, which pierces the skin and selectively deposits into the subcutaneous tissue.

Zogenix competes with GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca PLC, Endo Pharmaceuticals Holdings Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Merck & C! o! ., Inc., Pfizer Inc., Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc., MAP Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Abbott Laboratories, Alpharma Inc., Endo Pharmaceuticals Holdings Inc., King Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Mallinckrodt Inc., Purdue Pharma L.P., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Becton, Dickinson and Company, Owen Mumford Ltd., Ypsomed, Sandoz Inc., Bioject Inc. and Antares Pharma Inc.

10 Best Electric Utility Stocks To Own For 2014: Oracle Financial Services Software Ltd (ORCL.NS)

Oracle Financial Services Software Limited is principally engaged in the business of providing information technology (IT) solutions and knowledge processing services to the financial services industry worldwide. The Company has a suite of banking products, which caters to the needs of corporate, retail, investment banking, treasury operations and data warehousing. The Company operates in three segments: Product licenses and related activities, IT solutions and consulting services, and Business Processing Services (BPO). Product licenses and related activities segment deals with various banking software products. IT solutions and consulting services segment offers services spanning the entire lifecycle of applications used by financial service institutions. The division�� portfolio includes Consulting, Application, Support and Technology Services. BPO Services consists of business process outsourcing services to the Lending, Collections, Customer Service and Capital Mark ets industry.

10 Best Electric Utility Stocks To Own For 2014: Medical Corporation Australasia Ltd (MOD.AX)

MOD Resources Limited engages in the exploration and development of mineral resources. Its projects include Botswana Copper project covering an area of approximately 8,600 square kilometers on the Kalahari Copper Belt in Botswana; and Sams Creek Gold project, an undeveloped gold project in New Zealand. The company was formerly known as Medical Corporation Australasia Limited and changed its name to MOD Resources Limited in July 2011. MOD Resources Limited is based in Subiaco, Australia.

10 Best Electric Utility Stocks To Own For 2014: Calypso Uranium Corp (CLP.V)

Calypso Uranium Corp. engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral and energy projects in Argentina and the United States. The company owns the right to explore and develop prospective uranium properties, including the Huemul, Ranquil Co, Campesino Norte, La Pintada, Central Block, and San Jorge Basin projects that cover approximately 449,000 hectares and are located in Chubut, Mendoza, and Neuqu茅n provinces of Argentina. It also owns 51.4% interest in the Sage Creek claims, which consist of approximately 403 unpatented lode mining mineral claims covering 2,773 hectares and is located in southern Powder River Basin, Converse County, Wyoming. The company was formerly known as Calypso Acquisition Corp. and changed its name to Calypso Uranium Corp. in September 2007. Calypso Uranium Corp. is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

10 Best Electric Utility Stocks To Own For 2014: Golden Goliath Resources Ltd. (GNG.V)

Golden Goliath Resources Ltd., an exploration stage company, engages in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties. The company focuses on gold, silver, lead, and zinc deposits. It holds interests in 7 properties covering a total area of 20,794 acres located in the Uruachic mining district; the La Cruz silver property covering an area of 90 hectares located on the Sierra Madre Belt; and the Chamizal property covering an area of 689 hectares located to the south-southwest of the city of Chihuahua in Central Chihuahua. The company was incorporated in 1996 and is based in Vancouver, Canada.

10 Best Electric Utility Stocks To Own For 2014: M2 Telecommunications Group Ltd(MTU.AX)

M2 Telecommunications Group Limited provides retail and wholesale fixed line, mobile, and data telecommunications services for small to medium businesses and telecommunications resellers in Australia and New Zealand. Its services include fixed line voice services, including line rental services; mobile voice and data services; and terrestrial dial-up and high speed broadband Internet services, as well as mobile telephone hardware. The company also provides various Internet services, including business broadband ADSL, premium DSL, mobile broadband, BYO mobile broadband, and secure virtual private networks. M2 Telecommunications Group Limited was founded in 1999 and is based in Southbank, Australia.

10 Best Electric Utility Stocks To Own For 2014: SmartTrans Holdings Ltd(SMA.AX)

SmartTrans Holdings Limited provides online transport systems, software, and consulting services in Australia and China. The company offers SmartTrans e-Route, which plans deliveries; SmartTrans e-PoD, a real-time mobile solution to manage delivery functions; SmartTrans e-Track, a GPS tracking solution to enable fleet operations and provide real-time data; and SmartTrans EventTrack, a location-based service to enable the enjoyment and security of visitors at events. It also provides SmartTrans applications management platform, a modular technology suite that enables telecommunications, application, and content service providers to deliver various applications and content, and to push content onto handsets or smartphones. In addition, the company provides intelligent transport solutions for companies with vehicle fleets or field staff, including transport companies, manufacturers, service agencies, and security companies. SmartTrans Holdings Limited also offers the Greentra c Desktop Power Management Solution, an enterprise product that enables people to reduce the energy used by their computers at work or home by giving them feedback on the amount of energy they waste each day. Further, it explores for minerals in Mount Mackenzie, Waitara, and Riversleigh properties in Queensland focusing on zinc, lead, silver, copper, gold, and molybdenum deposits. SmartTrans Holdings Limited is headquartered in Leederville, Australia.

Monday, February 10, 2014

Jim Cramer buttons-up image with newest book

You may not be able to judge a book by its cover, but the photo of Jim Cramer on his newest book says it all.

Get Rich Carefully, Cramer's latest book on investing, shows the CNBC financial shock jock calmly standing in a dark suit, even wearing a jacket, with his hands in his pockets. Rather than gesticulating or shouting as on the covers of past books, Cramer stands with a tranquil, financial-adviser like smile on his face. Not exactly what you'd expect from the host of a TV show called Mad Money.

Meet a seemingly reformed Jim Cramer, the host of the CNBC stock-picking TV show, which first gained notice eight years ago by bringing high-emotion, shouting, general hootenanny and speculation to the usually staid world of investing. Cramer's latest book is a departure in spirit from the usual high-octane schtick -- for an approach Cramer says is more sobering and careful.

"You have to be serious and not flip," Cramer says. "We've all grown more conservative."

Careful isn't the word that usually comes to mind when investors think of Jim Cramer. The trader-turned-TV commentator became known for being a rabid stock picker that bangs on noise makers during the show and hollers "booyaa" to investors. On the show Cramer has dressed up as everything from a referee to a snowboarder to a can of Spam.

But Cramer says his show has changed, and his newest book reflects this epiphany. Cramer realized many investors were spooked by the Great Recession to such a degree they traded their stocks in for bonds and never came back. Investors also started to think the markets couldn't be trusted and were just a casino. Perhaps worst of all, investors allowed short-term shocks ranging from the debt-ceiling debates, budget showdowns and worries about the Federal Reserve to stoke their emotions and take over financial decisions.

Cramer is now professing a different, more traditional, approach to the stock picking. He sounds more like a portfolio manager of an actively managed mutual fund than ! a trader.. Among the ideas this new Cramer is advising includes the importance of:

• Big industry themes. Rather than chasing promising companies with interesting stories, Cramer says investors must instead identify big trends and invest appropriately. Cramer has what he calls the "Seven Major Themes Built to Last." Some of the themes Cramer says will be big in 2014 and beyond include the rise of social, mobile and cloud computing, companies that break into parts with spinoffs to unlock value and energy plays, which could present value opportunities.

• The role of the CEO. Cramer says he often meets company executives on the show who impress him, and convince him they can be trusted. These executives are visionary and powerful enough to see changes coming and can make adjustments that benefit investors despite turbulence in the macro economy. Cramer lists 21 "bankable" CEOs he says will pan out for investors including Dave Cote of Honeywell, Ron Shaich of Panera Bread and Howard Schultz of Starbucks.

• Ignoring macro economic noise. Cramer says one of his biggest lessons was allowing worries about what's going on in Washington to get him to bail out early on stocks he thought were good bets, too early. He sold prematurely in many cases, he says, missing out on the bigger gains. "If you take a longer-term view and invest carefully, you won't be shaken out," he says. "It's harder than I thought ... to not just jettison (a stock) because you're scared."

Telling investors to sit tight is a new thing for Cramer. On Oct. 6, 2008, amid the throes of the financial crisis, Cramer said on the Today show investors should take any money they'd need in five years or less out of the stock market. While the market's free-fall continued from that point, investors who simply stayed in the market were made whole in a year's time. Investors who stayed invested were also positioned for a powerful bull market in 2012 and 2013.

Cramer, though, still says he still advises against index mut! ual funds ! and exchange-traded funds, which academic research shows are often the best bet for long-term investors trying to remove emotion from their portfolios. "If you do your homework, you can do better," than the indexes, he says. The book's emphasis on CEOs, too, is pretty limited and based on Cramer's own hunches. Cramer says he only recommends CEOs he's met personally on the show, which reduces the universe of candidates, he says.

But Cramer says the goal is to urge people to come back to stocks and stick with their bets no matter what, if they've taken the time to research a company. "We've gone through a terrible time in the market," Cramer says. "You got blown out. People were too slick. Maybe I was too slick. This is everything but a slick book."

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Small Cap Furiex Pharmaceuticals (FURX) Has the Runs on Its Irritable Bowel Syndrome Drug (IBB & XBI)

Yesterday, small cap drug development collaboration company Furiex Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: FURX) surged 129.91% after announcing that its experimental drug had alleviated diarrhea and abdominal pain caused by irritable bowel syndrome in two studies, meaning its worth taking a closer look at the stock because that's a condition that effects millions of people (with no other effective drug to treat it) plus take a look at the performance of biotech benchmarks iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index ETF (NASDAQ: IBB) and SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (NYSEARCA: XBI).

What is Furiex Pharmaceuticals Inc?

Small cap Furiex Pharmaceuticals Inc is a drug development collaboration company using "innovative clinical development strategies" to accelerate and increase the value of partnered drug programs by advancing them through development in a cost-efficient manner. Basically, Furiex offers a new approach to help drug developers lower development costs and deliver products to the market more efficiently. Right now, the company has a robust and diversified drug pipeline that includes two marketed products and three programs in development across multiple therapeutic areas.

As for biotech performance benchmarks, the iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index ETF tracks the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index through 123 stocks and has a 77.79% weight in "biotechnology" and a 22.29% weight in Pharma while the SPDR S&P Biotech ETF tracks the S&P Biotechnology Select Industry Index with a 100% allocation in 71 biotechnology stocks.

What You Need to Know or Be Warned About Furiex Pharmaceuticals Inc

On Tuesday, Furiex Pharmaceuticals announced that top-line results for its two pivotal Phase III clinical trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of eluxadoline for the treatment of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome had met both the FDA and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) formally agreed-upon primary endpoints based on simultaneous improvements in stool consistency and abdominal pain. The announcement went into considerable detail about the results and mentioned that Eluxadoline had a favorable tolerability and safety profile in the trials.

It should be mentioned that irritable bowel syndrome is the most common functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorder with worldwide prevalence rates ranging from 9–23% and US rates generally in the area of 10–15% according to statistics from the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders. There are between 2.4 and 3.5 million annual physician visits for irritable bowel syndrome in the US alone and it accounts for up to 12% of total visits to primary care providers (35% to 40% of individuals who report IBS are male while approximately 60% to 65% of individuals are female) with the cost to society in terms of direct medical expenses and indirect costs being $21 billion or more annually.

In other words, Furiex Pharmaceuticals is sitting on a treatment that could help tens of millions of people around the world and the company is on track to apply for eluxadoline's approval by the end of the second quarter. Chairman Fred Eshelman also told investors in an investor call that he estimates annual sales of $750 million to $1 billion.

Investors should note that Furiex Pharmaceuticals has reported revenues of $40.51M (12 months ending 2012-12-31), $4.49M (12 months ending 2011-12-31), $8.90M (12 months ending 2010-12-31) and $6.31M (12 months ending 2009-12-31); but also net losses of $42.87M (12 months ending 2012-12-31), $48.98M (12 months ending 2011-12-31), $54.66M (12 months ending 2010-12-31) and $8.93M (12 months ending 2009-12-31). Last year, the company reported revenues of $15.55M (3 months ending 2013-09-30), $2.99M (3 months ending 2013-06-30) and $39.33M (3 months ending 2013-03-31) as well as net losses of $8.68M (3 months ending 2013-09-30) and $23.45M (3 months ending 2013-06-30) and net income of $8.97M (3 months ending 2013-03-31).

At the end of the third quarter, Furiex Pharmaceuticals had 34.67M in cash to cover $27.47M in current liabilities and $51.12M in long term debt – meaning getting eluxadoline to market will be a big help for the company's financials.

Share Performance: Furiex Pharmaceuticals Inc vs. IBB & XBI

On Tuesday, small cap Furiex Pharmaceuticals surged 129.91% to $105.69 (FURX has a 52 week trading range of $32.01 to $121.97 a share) for a market cap of $1.10 billion plus the stock is up 208.9% over the past year and up 724.4% since June 2010. Here is a look at the long term performance of Furiex Pharmaceuticals along with the iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index ETF and the SPDR S&P Biotech ETF:

As you can see from the above performance chart, small cap Furiex Pharmaceuticals has sort of underperformed the biotech ETFs benchmarks up until yesterday.

Finally, here is a look at the latest technical charts for Furiex Pharmaceuticals plus the iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index ETF and the SPDR S&P Biotech ETF:

The Bottom Line. Obviously investor not already in on the run small cap Furiex Pharmaceuticals had yesterday should be cautious about getting in now since there is bound to be some pull back after a 129.91% one day rise. Nevertheless and once the dust settles, Furiex Pharmaceuticals could be a long term winner thanks to its irritable bowel syndrome drug.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Gold ends lower as dollar gains, equities rebound

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Gold prices closed lower on Tuesday, giving back a portion of the previous day's gains but holding ground above $1,250 an ounce, as the dollar edged higher and U.S. equities saw a modest rebound.

Gold for April delivery (GCJ4) fell $8.70, or 0.7%, to settle at $1,251.20 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. March silver (SIH4) tacked on 1 cent, or 0.1%, to $19.42 an ounce.

AFP/Getty Images

Gold "traded within a tight band" as the global equities markets took a breather from Monday's volatile start, said Edmund Moy, chief strategist at gold-backed IRA provider Morgan Gold. The metal's prices also edged lower for most of the day without support from Asia, he said, where gold retailers remained largely closed until Thursday for the Lunar New Year holiday.

Gold plunged 28% in 2013 but has rebounded by around 4% since the beginning of the year on haven-related buying as global equity markets retreated. Gold gains, however, have been limited by a resilient dollar, which has also been underpinned by haven-related buying, said Fawad Razaqzada, analyst at Forex.com.

A stronger dollar can undercut dollar-priced commodities, making them more expensive for nondollar users. On Tuesday, the greenback rebounded against the Japanese yen.

"But if the recent soft patch in U.S. data continues, then calls for a pause or slower pace of unwinding [quantitative easing] will only increase, which may cause the dollar to tumble. That, in turn, could help underpin gold and silver more significantly," Razaqzada said in a note.

For now, adding pressure to both gold and silver prices, U.S. stocks climbed Tuesday , on the back of sharp losses in the previous session.

Metals-mining shares followed gold lower, with the Philadelphia Gold and Silver Index (XAU) losing 0.6%. The SPDR Gold Trust exchange-traded fund (GLD) lost 0.7%.

The market's in a third week of no sales or purchases into the SPDR Gold Trust, according to Julian Phillips, a contributor to GoldForecaster.com. That's in contrast to U.S. gold sales last year from ETFs and the major banks that saw nearly 1,300 metric tons of gold "disgorged from the U.S., refined and sent to the Far East," so in 2014, these sales are showing signs of halting, he said.

Gold sentiment gauge drops

But in January, sentiment toward gold bullion declined, according to BullionVault. Its Gold Investor Index, which measures the balance of BullionVault's buyers over sellers, slipped to its lowest level since July 2012 — to 51.9 from 52.9 in December.

That decline came even as gold prices recorded their first monthly gain in five months. A reading above 50 indicates more buyers than sellers.

"The stand-out choice last month was to do nothing, sitting on whatever physical gold bullion holdings clients had already built," said Adrian Ash, head of research at BullionVault. "No surprise perhaps. Long-term gold and silver investors typically prefer to buy cheap, or at least when the market is quiet as opposed to making headlines."

Gold futures on Monday jumped by more than $20 an ounce, propelled by a disappointing report on U.S. manufacturing and a brutal session for equities that helped bring the precious metal into positive territory for the first time in three sessions.

U.S. manufacturers expanded in January at the slowest rate in eight months as the pace of new orders sharply decelerated. The Institute for Supply Management index sank to 51.3% from 56.5% in December. That is the lowest level since last May and enough to draw investors to gold.

On Tuesday, gold prices briefly added to their losses after data on U.S. factory orders showed a fall of 1.5% in December, which was less than expected.

"Weakening global equities markets caused by disappointing U.S. and China manufacturing data, trouble in emerging-market currencies, and mixed earning reports drove strong gains for gold last week as investors sought safe haven assets," said Moy. "Gold is likely to trade in a narrow range until U.S. nonfarm payroll data is released on Friday."

Also on Comex Tuesday, April platinum (PLJ4) lost $13.20, or 1%, to $1,373.40 an ounce while March palladium (PAH4) gave up $2.60, or 0.4%, to $700.10 an ounce.

High-grade copper for March delivery (HGH4) rose under a penny to $3.19 a pound after losing 0.4% a day earlier.

Other must-read MarketWatch stories include:

Emerging-markets selloff 'a bit overdone,' says UBS CEO

This winning ETF strategy is at risk to lose

Should you refinance your student loan?

Monday, February 3, 2014

New strategy for equity investing during retirement ignites debate

Michael Kitces

A new paper that suggests rising equity exposure in retirement may in fact lead to better outcomes has set the web abuzz.

Financial planning literati Wade D. Pfau, professor of retirement income at The American College, and Michael Kitces, partner and director of research at Pinnacle Advisory Group, released a paper earlier this fall entitled “Reducing Retirement Risk with a Rising Equity Glidepath.”

The paper turns conventional retirement income strategy on its head. Mr. Kitces and Mr. Pfau observe that a U-shaped glide path in retirement — one in which equities are at their lowest allocation in the retirement transition and then rise afterward — is preferable to the standard downward slope of equity allocation as a client ages.

“Just as equity exposure can be more beneficial for those who are very young, so too can greater equity exposure in the later years of retirement actually help,” Mr. Kitces and Mr. Pfau wrote. “Especially in those scenarios where returns in the early retirement years are poor and favorable returns — with a healthy amount of equity exposure — are crucial to allow the portfolio to last.”

Those first 15 years of retirement are crucial: A strong market early in the client's retirement will put the investor far ahead of his or her goal, enough to buffer the effects of a bear market later in retirement, according to the paper. Meanwhile, if returns are poor in the first 15 years, the portfolio will need strong returns in the second half of retirement to ensure it lasts.

The paper aims for a starting point in retirement of about 20% to 40% in equity allocation, with a gradual increase of 1% per year to a maximum 60% to 80% allocation to stocks by the end.

The concept is generating plenty of discussion. “Sure. Why not. Let's allocate 90-year-old grandma to 90% stocks,” tweeted Moshe A. Milevsky, professor at the Schulich School of Business at York University in Toronto.

Sure. Why not. Lets allocate 90 year-old grandma to 90% stocks. http://t.co/dcC0JhZwpH

— Moshe A. Milevsky (@RetirementQuant) November 26, 2013

John Rekenthaler, vice president of research at Morningstar Inc., posted a rebuttal to the paper on Wednesday, asserting that at a starting point of 30% equities at retirement (culminating at 60%) with a 4% withdrawal rate, the “rising equities” path leads to only slightly better outcomes than taking a fixed glide path of 45% stocks and 55% bonds.

Mr. Rekenthaler argues that with a 25% average weighting in stocks in retirement, in which the rising glide path begins at 10% in stocks and ends at 40%, would not fare as well as a traditional glide path that starts at 40% in stocks at retirement and declines t! o 10%.

The article elicited a volley of tweets from Mr. Kitces and some lengthy comments on the page with the Morningstar article. “His 'proof' that the strategy doesn't work is in scenarios that have 50/50 chance of catastrophe anyway,” Mr. Kitces tweeted.

@jerrykerns His 'proof' the strategy doesn't work is in scenarios that have 50/50 chance of catastrophe anyway. @WadePfau

— MichaelKitces (@MichaelKitces) December 4, 2013

Mr. Rekenthaler shot back that a “25% equity position, like it or not, is the current status of many/most retiree stakes.”

He wrote” “I thought it was worth a look to see how the thesis played out at the asset mix that many people have.”

And also SWR research says 50-75% stocks throughout retirement, so we are more conservative; not Dow 36,000 @jerrykerns @MichaelKitces

— Wade Pfau (@WadePfau) December 5, 2013

Mr. Kitces noted that he hasn't heard much yet from the financial planning community on his findings. "A lot of people are stunned and trying to take it in," he said. "It's a very new discussion." The final version of the paper will be released in the January issue of the Journal of Financial Planning.

Either way, expect the contretemps to continue: Mr. Rekenthaler says he will post a follow-up to his critique of the paper today.

RT @jerrykerns: In comments section, @MichaelKitces responds to Rekenthaler's critique. http://t.co/j2VT2cEq1S

— MichaelKitces (@MichaelKitces) December 4, 2013