The Dow Jones Industrials (DJINDICES: ^DJI ) have continued their string of recent gains this morning, up more than 150 points as of 10:55 a.m. EDT. Much of the enthusiasm among investors came from some promising economic reports, including weekly jobless-claim numbers that fell by 9,000 to 346,000, as well as a 0.5% gain in personal income that beat out a 0.3% jump in personal spending. In addition, strength on the housing front continued to bolster the economy, with the National Association of Realtors reporting that pending home sales jumped to six-and-a-half-year highs after a 6.7% increase in May.
Clearly, the financial health of consumers in general is of paramount importance to stocks throughout the economy, as consumer spending drives the majority of economic activity and can therefore make or break an economic recovery. But as for the housing-specific data, investors should be cautious before reading too much into this month's favorable data.
The specific danger to the housing market's recovery comes from mortgage rates, which have surged in the past two months by more than a full percentage point. The NAR noted in its report that in the short run, higher mortgage rates might have prompted greater numbers of contract signings as buyers rushed to take advantage of previously locked-in rates or sought to get financing before rates could rise even further. Big banks JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM ) and Bank of America (NYSE: BAC ) , which have risen 1.7% and 1.1%, respectively, likely owe at least some of their gains to optimism among investors that mortgage-lending activity can survive the recent rate increases.
Top Dividend Stocks For 2015: StellarOne Corporation(STEL)
StellarOne Corporation operates as the bank holding company for StellarOne Bank that provides various retail and small business banking, commercial banking, consumer lending, mortgage banking, and wealth management services to individuals, and small and middle-market businesses in Virginia. It generates various deposit products, including demand and time deposit accounts, money market accounts, checking accounts, certificates of deposit, and savings accounts. The company?s loan portfolio comprises consumer and commercial real estate loans, real estate and construction loans, commercial lines of credit, commercial term loans, home equity loans, consumer loans, and commercial, financial, and agricultural loans. It also provides credit cards, automated teller machine networks, and telephone and Internet banking, and online bill payment services. In addition, the company provides various wealth management and personal trust services, including estate administration and employ ee benefit plan administration, and planning specifically addressing the investment and financial management needs of its customers. As of December 31, 2009, StellarOne Corporation operated 56 financial centers, 1 loan production office, and approximately 60 automated teller machines in New River Valley, Roanoke Valley, Shenandoah Valley, and central and north central Virginia. The company was formerly known as Virginia Financial Group, Inc. and changed its name to StellarOne Corporation in February 2008. StellarOne Corporation was founded in 1911 and is headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Sean Williams]
What: Shares of StellarOne (NASDAQ: STEL ) , a commercial, mortgage, and wealth management bank servicing small and medium-sized businesses in Virginia, jumped as much as 20% after agreeing to be purchased by Union First Market Bancshares (NASDAQ: UBSH ) .
Top 10 Sliver Stocks For 2014: Komatsu Ltd (KMTUY)
Komatsu Ltd. (Komatsu), incorporated in May 13, 1921, is a global company engaged in the manufacturing, development, marketing and sale of a range of industrial-use products and services. The manufacturing operations of Komatsu are conducted primarily at plants located in Japan, the United States, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, Italy, Indonesia, China, Thailand and India. Komatsu�� products are primarily sold under the Komatsu brand name and almost all of its sales and service activities are conducted through its sales subsidiaries and independent distributors who primarily sell products to retail dealers in their respective geographic area. Komatsu operates and competes in the six principal markets, such as Japan, the United States, Europe and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), China, Asia (excluding Japan and China) and Oceania and the Middle East and Africa. In May, 2009, Komatsu acquired the additional interest in Komatsu Australia Corporate Finance Pty. Ltd.
Construction, Mining and Utility Equipment
The Company offers various types of construction, mining and utility equipment, ranging from super-large machines capable of mining applications to general construction equipment and mini construction equipment for urban use. Komatsu�� range of products in this operating segment also includes a variety of attachments to be used with its products. Komatsu�� principal products include excavating equipment, loading equipment, grading and roadbed preparation equipment, hauling equipment, forestry equipment, tunneling machines, recycling equipment, industrial vehicles, other equipment, engines and components, casting products and logistics.
Industrial Machinery and Others
The Company�� Industrial Machinery and Others segment products are used by a range of businesses and include industrial machinery, such as forging and sheet metal machinery and other services. Komatsu�� principal products include metal forging and stampi! ng presses, sheet metal machines, machine tools, defense systems, temperature-control equipment and others.
The Company competes with Caterpillar Inc., Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd., Volvo Construction Equipment NV, CNH Global N.V., Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., Doosan Infracore Co., Ltd. and Toyota Motor Corporation.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Dan Carroll]
Fellow Japanese manufacturer Komatsu's (NASDAQOTH: KMTUY ) shares have slid more than 3% this past month, but like Kubota, this stock has blown up in 2013 and could be headed higher with a win by Abe and the LDP. However, there's risk in Komatsu's lofty 45% profit growth outlook in 2013: The company's the top manufacturer in China, but given the current slowdown plaguing the second-largest economy on Earth, Komatsu investors could be left disappointed. Komatsu's likely to see a strong uptick for the full year due to the weak yen -- particularly if Abe moves more aggressively after the elections -- but China's slump could make meeting optimistic projections a tall order.
- [By Dan Carroll]
Chinese manufacturing and materials stocks may not be the only picks in trouble, however. Leading international manufacturers could see demand in the world's second-largest economy, cutting into lofty growth expectations that relied upon China's surge to make up for weakness elsewhere around the globe. Japanese industrial power Komatsu (NASDAQOTH: KMTUY ) , the second-largest industrial machinery manufacturer in the world, is betting on�growing Chinese demand this fiscal year, in combination with the weak yen, to fuel growth.
Top 10 Sliver Stocks For 2014: Expedia Inc.(EXPE)
Expedia, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an online travel company in the United States and internationally. It provides travel products and services to leisure and corporate travelers, offline retail travel agents, and travel service providers through a portfolio of brands, including Expedia.com, hotels.com, Hotwire.com, Expedia Affiliate Network, Classic Vacations, Expedia Local Expert, Expedia CruiseShipCenters, Egencia, eLong, Inc., and Venere Net SpA. The company?s travel offerings consist of airline tickets, hotel rooms, car rentals, destination services, cruises, and package travel provided by various commercial airlines, lodging properties, car rental companies, destination service providers, cruise lines, and other travel product and service companies on a stand-alone and package basis. It also facilitates the booking of hotel rooms, airline seats, car rentals, and destination services from its travel suppliers; and acts as an agent in the transa ction, passing reservations booked by its travelers to the relevant travel provider. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Benjamin Pimentel]
But Expedia Inc. (EXPE) �fell 6.2% to close at $48.51 after Deutsche Bank analyst Ross Sandler cut his rating on the online travel agency to hold from buy, citing intensifying competition in the U.S. market. Sandler also pointed to worries about management changes at Hotels.com.
- [By Hibah Yousuf]
While Priceline shares are not cheap, they're not terribly overvalued either for being the leader in online travel. Shares are trading around 21 times 2014 earnings estimates. That makes it more expensive than rival Expedia (EXPE), but the stock is trading at a discount compared to Orbitz (OWW) and TripAdvisor (TRIP).
- [By Lisa Levin]
Expedia (NASDAQ: EXPE) shares jumped 17.67% to $58.79 in pre-market trading after the company reported upbeat quarterly profit. Bank of America upgraded the stock Neutral to Buy and lifted the target price from $60 to $75.
Top 10 Sliver Stocks For 2014: Mizuho Financial Group Inc. (MFG)
Mizuho Financial Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides various banking and financial services in Japan and internationally. The company offers retail banking services, including housing and personal loans, credit cards, deposits, investment products, and consulting services; and corporate banking services comprising loans, syndicated loan arrangements, structured finance, advisory services, and capital markets financing services. It also provides derivatives and other risk hedging products; and securities services to individuals and corporate customers, as well as engages in the proprietary trading, such as foreign exchange and bond trading, and asset and liability management. In addition, the company offers wholesale securities and investment banking services, such as underwriting and trading of bonds and equities, advisory services, and structured finance. Further, it provides products and services related to trust, real estate, securitization and structured fi nance, pension and asset management, stock transfers, private banking, and trust and custody. Additionally, it offers non-banking services, including research and consulting services; information technology-related services; and advisory services to financial institutions. The company serves large corporations, financial institutions, public sector entities, foreign corporations, foreign governmental entities, individuals, small and medium sized enterprises, middle-market corporations, local governmental entities, and other public sector entities. It serves individual customers through its branch and automated teller machine network, as well as through telephone and Internet banking. As of March 31, 2010, the company had 431 branches in Japan. The company was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Daniel Inman]
Also in Japan, Mizuho Financial Group (JP:8411) � (MFG) �rose 0.5%, underperforming the broader market, after weekend media reports said that its Mizuho Bank unit will reprimand 54 current and former staff for failing to take responsibility for loans to borrowers associated with organized crime.
- [By MARKETWATCH]
LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Japanese stocks slipped early Monday, with the Nikkei Stock Average (JP:NIK) down 0.1% at 14,298.17, and the Topix dropping 0.4%. Singapore-traded lead futures for the Nikkei Average had suggested a 0.8% gain for the index, but the indicator fell after the Cabinet Office reported fourth-quarter economic growth of 0.3%, flat from the previous quarter and below expectations in separate Reuters and Wall Street Journal/Nikkei surveys. The disappointing economic data also pushed the yen higher, weighing on some exporters, with Panasonic Corp. (JP:6752) (PCRFF) down 1.8%, NEC Corp. (JP:6701) (NIPNF) off 1.3%, and Sony Corp. (JP:6758) (SNE) down 0.7% after S&P downgraded the firm's credit rating to BBB- from BBB with a negative outlook. Shares of Internet retailer Rakuten Inc. (JP:4755) (RKUNF) dropped 12% after announcing plans to buy online messaging and telecom firm Viber Media Inc. for $900 million as well as posting below-consensus full-year profit. Banks were broadly lower, with Mizuho Financial Group Inc. (JP:8411) (MFG) off 1% and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. (JP:8316) (SMFG) off 1.1%, though Daiwa Securities Group Inc. (JP:8601)
Top 10 Sliver Stocks For 2014: Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund (JFR)
Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund is a closed-end management investment company. The Fund invests primarily in senior loans whose interest rates float or adjust periodically based on a benchmark interest rate index. Under normal market circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its managed assets in adjustable rate secured senior loans and adjustable rate unsecured senior loans, which unsecured senior loans will be, at the time of investment, investment grade quality. In addition, at least 65% of the Funds assets will be invested in senior loans that are secured by claims on specific collateral. Nuveen Asset Management is the advisor of the Fund. The sectors covered by the portfolio include media, hotels, restaurants and leisure, healthcare providers and service, chemicals, United States of America, containers/packaging and other.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Dowdee]
The following 10 funds satisfied all of these conditions:
BlackRock Float Rate Strategies (FRA). This CEF sells at a discount of 3%, which is low compared to an average premium of 2% over the past year. The distribution has been managed at 6.1% and a small amount (less than 10%) has been return of capital (ROC). However, this has not negatively affected net asset value (NAV) so has not been destructive. The fund holds 447 securities, with 90% in floating rate loans. FRA utilizes 27% leverage and has an expense ratio of 1.7%, including interest payments. Eaton Vance Floating Rate (EFR). This CEF sells at a 1% premium, which is low compared to an average premium of 5% over the past year. The distribution is 6.2%, none of which was ROC. The fund holds 800 securities, with 90% in floating rate loans. About 85% of the securities are from U.S. companies. EFR utilizes 35% leverage and has an expense ratio of 1.8% including interest payments. ING Prime Rate Trust (PPR). This CEF sells for a premium of 2%, which is below the average premium of 5%. It has a distribution of 6.8%, none of which was ROC. The fund has 350 holdings, virtually all in senior loans and from US companies. PPR utilizes 29% leverage and has a high expense ratio of 2.1%, including interest payments. Invesco VK Dynamic Credit Opportunities (VTA). This CEF sells for a discount of 5%, which is below the average discount of 1%. It has a distribution of 7.1%, none of which was ROC. The fund has 495 holdings, with 76% in floating rate loans. About 25% of the loans are from non-US companies. VTA utilizes a relatively low 20% leverage but still has a high expense ratio of 2.1%, including interest payments. Invesco VK Senior Income (VVR). This CEF sells for a discount of 1%, which is below the average premium of 3%. It has a distribution of 7.1%, none of which was ROC. The fund has over 500 holdings, with 89% in floating rate loans. Almost all (95%) securities are from US companies. VVR ut
Top 10 Sliver Stocks For 2014: Telestone Technologies Corp.(TSTC)
Telestone Technologies Corporation offers wireless local-access network technologies and solutions primarily in the People?s Republic of China. Its access-network solutions include the research and development, and application of access network technology. The company designs and sells electronic equipments, such as wireless fiber-optic distribution system products, RFPA products, passive components, repeaters, radio frequency peripherals, and base station antennas used to provide access network solutions for 2G, 3G, broadband access, and CATV networks. It also offers project design, project management, installation, maintenance, and other after-sales services. In addition, Telestone provides various solutions to the telecommunications industry, which cover indoor and outdoor environments comprising hotels, residential estates, office buildings, airports, exhibition centers, underground stations, and highways and tunnels. Further, the company engages in the design, develop ment, production and installation, and trading of wireless telecommunication coverage system equipment. It also markets its products to 29 countries, including Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, and Vietnam. The company was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Beijing, China.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By insider]
The valuation box will also clearly indicate it if a company is traded at below its net current asset value (NCAV). Please see the valuation box for Telestone (TSTC) below.
Top 10 Sliver Stocks For 2014: Emerson Electric Company(EMR)
Emerson Electric Co. operates as a diversified manufacturing and technology company. The company engages in appliance solutions, climate technologies, industrial automation, motor technology, network power, process management, professional tools, and storage solutions businesses. Its appliance solutions business provides appliance controls, appliance motors, heating products, and white-rodgers; climate technology business provides heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) solutions for residential, industrial, and commercial applications; and industrial automation business offers bearings and power transmission products, electrical power generation products, electric motors, variable speed drives and servos, electrical products, material joining solutions, fluid automation products, and wind turbine systems. The company?s motor technology business provides appliance motors, HVACR motors, DC motors, fractional horsepower motors, integral horsepower a nd larger motors, and drives; network power business provides power, precision cooling, connectivity, and embedded solutions; and process management business provides various wireless related products from self-organizing field networks to wireless asset and people tracking. Its professional tools business offers pipe working and threading equipment, pressing technology, utility locating and visual diagnostics systems, drain maintenance tools, power tools, air tools, general purpose hand tools, wet/dry vacs, job site storage equipment, truck tool boxes and equipment, and van storage equipment; and storage solutions business provides shelving and storage products for residential, commercial, and foodservice needs, as well as offers specialized carts, mobile computer workstations, and cabinet fixtures. The company was founded in 1890 and is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Alex Planes]
Eaton's been moving higher all year, but this is just the continuation of a longer bullish trend that's followed the company's efforts to both deepen and broaden its reach. A $12 billion acquisition last year put Eaton in direct competition with Emerson Electric (NYSE: EMR ) and ABB (NYSE: ABB ) in energy infrastructure. That acquisition provided a double benefit for Eaton's bottom line, as the acquired Cooper Industries provided a low-tax domicile in Ireland that's projected to save Eaton many millions each year. Every advantage counts, as Eaton has to contend with super-conglomerate General Electric (NYSE: GE ) in several of its most important segments. Eaton and ABB are also both at risk of disruptive innovation from electrical integration systems that could replace several green-car charging components in one fell swoop.
- [By Dividends4Life]
There are a number of ways to invest successfully. I have friends who are very successful value investors. Most of their returns are earned through capital appreciation. They spend a great deal of time pouring through 10-Ks and 10-Qs of companies off the beaten path. The potential returns are high, but so is the effort put in their craft. At the other extreme there are successful traders. They look at their charts to determine entry and exit points for the day's transactions. Little to no time is spent analyzing the underlying fundamentals of the company since it likely will only be held for a very short period of time. I would put investors in dividend growth stocks somewhere between these two, but much closer to the pure value investor. Like the value investors, our time-frame is long term. Although we carefully research potential companies, our emphasis leans more toward fundamental metrics needed to sustain annual dividend growth, with less emphasis on current value. There are successful investors in each of the above groups, and they share a common trait. This trait is found in most all successful people ���t is their secret to success. Fortunately, this trait can be learned and mastered. The secret to successful investing is... discipline. A person that moves from one investment strategy to another lacks the discipline to be successful. Very few people are born with the raw intellect that allows them to just pick winning stocks out of the air. For the rest of us, we have to rely on our discipline to do what's necessary to identify stocks that will provide us with our best opportunity to succeed, and we have to remain focused on quality over the long-term. Our portfolios include stocks like:Emerson Electric Co. (EMR) | Yield: 2.5% Emerson Electric Co. designs and supplies product technology and delivers engineering services and solutions to a wide range of industrial, commercial and consumer markets around the world. The company has paid a cash dividend t
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