Best High Tech Stocks To Buy For 2016

Best High Tech Stocks To Buy For 2016: SMART Technologies Inc.(SMT)

SMART Technologies Inc. designs, develops, and sells interactive technology products and solutions that enhance learning and enable people to collaborate worldwide. The company offers a range of SMART Board interactive whiteboards and displays, as well as other interactive products, such as interactive tables, interactive pen displays, student response systems, wireless slates, audio enhancement systems, document cameras, conferencing software, and a line of interactive learning software. Its portfolio of related attachment products include SMART Response, SMART Slate, SMART Document Camera, SMART Table, SMART Audio, and SMART Classroom Suite. SMART Technologies also provides free online learning resources, an online teacher community, and training and professional development. It sells its interactive whiteboards through a network of distributors and dealers to the education, business, and government markets. The company was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Calgary , Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Michael Robinson]

  Smart Technologies (SMT)

  Smart Technologies is a company that literally lives up to its name. It's a supplier of interactive education tools, used by more than 40 million students, in more than 175 countries.

• [By MONEYMORNING.COM]

  Smart Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: SMT) is a company that literally lives up to its name. It's a supplier of interactive education tools used by more than 40 million students in more than 175 countries.

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/best-high-tech-stocks-to-buy-for-2016.html

Top Promising Companies To Own In Right Now

Top Promising Companies To Own In Right Now: Aviva plc (AV)

Aviva plc provides insurance, savings, and fund management products and services worldwide. It offers life insurance and savings products, which comprise pensions products, such as personal and group pensions, stakeholder pensions, and income drawdown; annuities; protection products, including term assurance, mortgage life insurance, flexible whole life, and critical illness cover; bonds and savings comprising single premium investment bonds, regular premium savings plans, mortgage endowment products, and funding agreements; and investment products consisting of unit trusts, individual savings accounts, and open ended investment companies, as well as equity release and structured settlements. The company also provides general and health insurance products that include personal lines of insurance products, such as motor, household, travel, and creditor insurance; commercial lines of insurance products consisting of fleet, liability, and commercial property insurance; health insurance products comprising private health, income protection, personal accident, and corporate healthcare insurance products; and insurance for corporate and specialty risks. In addition, it offers fund management products and services for institutional, pension fund, and retail clients. Aviva plc sells its products through various distribution channels, including direct sales forces, intermediaries, corporate partnerships, bancassurance, and joint ventures, as well as through the telephone and Internet. The company was formerly known as CGNU plc and changed its name to Aviva plc in July 2002. Aviva plc is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jason Shubnell]

  Shares of Aviva plc (NYSE: AV) were down 5.40 percent to $15.24 after the company announced its plans to sell US equity manager River Road to Affi! liated Managers Group.

• [By Rupert Hargreaves]

  Unfortunately, Prudential only offers a dividend yield of 2.4% at present, below that of its peers, such as Aviva (AV) and Legal & General (LGEN). Moreover, city analysts only expect Prudential to increase its payout by 10% this year and 5% during 2014.

• [By Alastair Millar]

  LONDON -- Last month, shares of Aviva  (LSE: AV  ) (NYSE: AV  )  plummeted on news that the insurer's dividend would be slashed 44% as the firm attempted to tackle its debts and rebuild its capital reserves. 

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-promising-companies-to-own-in-right-now-2.html

Top Life Sciences Companies To Watch For 2016

Top Life Sciences Companies To Watch For 2016: Basic Energy Services Inc. (BAS)

Basic Energy Services, Inc. provides various well site services to oil and natural gas drilling and producing companies in the United States. Its Completion and Remedial Services segment provides pumping services, such as cementing, acidizing, fracturing, coiled tubing, nitrogen, and pressure testing; rental and fishing tools; snubbing services; thru-tubing; cased-hole wireline services; and underbalanced drilling in low pressure and fluid sensitive reservoirs. This segment operates 228 pressure pumping units. It also operates 14 coiled tubing units; 49 air compressor packages; 12 wireline units; and 34 snubbing units. The company's Fluid Services segment offers oilfield fluid supply, transportation, storage, and construction services, which comprise the transportation of fluids and salt water; sale and transportation of fresh and brine water; rental of portable frac tanks and test tanks; operation of company-owned fresh water and brine source wells and non-hazardous wast ewater disposal wells; and preparation, construction, and maintenance of access roads, drilling locations, and production facilities. This segment owns and operates 955 fluid services trucks with a fluid hauling capacity of up to 150 barrels apiece. Its Well Servicing segment provides various services performed with a mobile well servicing rig and ancillary equipment, such as maintenance work, hoisting tools and equipment required by the operation, and plugging and abandonment services, as well as manufactures and sells workover rigs. It operates a fleet of 425 well servicing rigs. The company's Contract Drilling segment employs drilling rigs and related equipment to penetrate the earth to a desired depth and initiate production. This segment owns and operates 12 land drilling rigs. The company was formerly known as Sierra Well Service, Inc. and chan! ged its name to Basic Energy Services, Inc. in 2000. Basic Energy Services, Inc. was founded in 1992 and is based in Fort Wor t h, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Garrett Cook]

  Energy services shares fell by 0.12 percent on Friday. Top losers in the sector included Basic Energy Services (NYSE: BAS), down 8.6 percent, and Vaalco Energy (NYSE: EGY), off 5.7 percent.

• [By Garrett Cook]

  Energy services shares fell by 0.52 percent on Friday. Top losers in the sector included Basic Energy Services (NYSE: BAS), down 10 percent, and Clean Energy Fuels (NASDAQ: CLNE), off 6.1 percent.

• [By Dimitra DeFotis]

  The market seems to be showing fatigue particularly with positive onshore oil service data points that may no longer seem incremental. Investors have become especially focused on potential issues and macro concerns. We believe this phase of enhanced risk perceptions will pass and still recommend owning selective stocks based on attractive valuations and healthy fundamentals. Of the 16 oilfield services companies having reported their quarters to date, the share price changes have at times been difficult to tie to specific results.  … Five of the 12 companies who have beaten earnings expectations have seen their share prices drop on the day, including Basic Energy Services (BAS) (-9.0%), Baker Hughes (BHI) (-2.5%), National Oilwell Varco (NOV) (-1.5%), Oceaneering (OII) (-4.2%), and Schlumberger (SLB) (-2.0%). Other stocks beating expectations have traded higher as expected, including Cameron International (CAM) (+4.1%), FMC Technologies (FTI) (+3.1%), Mitcham In dustries (MIND) (+3.8%), Nabors Industries (NBR) (+1.2%), Patterson-UTI Energy (PTEN) (+1.8%), RPC (RES) (+8.4%), and Weatherford International (WFT) (+2.3%). Companies which have missed have universally seen their share prices decline, including Diamond Offshore Drilling (DO) (-4.3%), Gulfmark Offshore (GLF) (-0.1%), and Hercules Offshore (HERO) (-6.9%).! Hallibur! ton (HAL) was in line and flat on the day.

• [By Travis Hoium]

  What: Shares of oil and gas industry service company Basic Energy Services, Inc (NYSE: BAS  ) fell as much as 12% after reporting earnings.

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-life-sciences-companies-to-watch-for-2016.html

Top 5 Consumer Service Stocks To Watch For 2016

Top 5 Consumer Service Stocks To Watch For 2016: Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.(CLF)

Cliffs Natural Resources Inc., a mining and natural resources company, produces iron ore pellets, lump and fines iron ore, and metallurgical coal products. The company operates six iron ore mines in Michigan, Minnesota, and eastern Canada; two iron ore mining complexes in Western Australia; five metallurgical coal mines located in West Virginia and Alabama; and one thermal coal mine located in West Virginia. It also owns a 45% economic interest in a coking and thermal coal mine located in Queensland, Australia; and a 30% interest in Amapa, a Brazilian iron ore project in Latin America, as well as chromite properties in Ontario, Canada. The company, formerly known as Cleveland-Cliffs Inc, was founded in 1847 and is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  After yesterday’s announcement that Cliffs Natural Resources (CLF) would look to exit its Bloom Lake project, Deutsche Bank’s Jorge Beristain and team slashed their rating on the struggling iron miner to Hold from Buy. They explain why:

  Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

  Stripping out [Eastern Canada iron ore] operations from 1Q15 onwards, lowers Deustche Bank’s estimated EBITDA by an average of 5% over the next 3 years to ~$650m/yr, while reduced depreciation & amortization increases EPS. Incorporating estimated related closure costs of $700m (assuming $150m/yr in first three years and $125m/yr in following two) and
  $71m legal loss in 1Q15, [net-present value, or] NPV declines $4/sh to $12/sh. However, we note some potential NPV offsets (not yet considered) include reduced maintenance capex and SG&A costs reduce could provide ~$1/sh tailwind. Should Cliffs be in a position to forego remaining $750m tailings dam capex, NPV could increase a further ~$3/sh…!

  Cliffs' price target of $10 [down from $17. Ed.] is now based on 0.85x (from prior ~1.0x) our revised NPV of ~$12 ($16), calculated under a  discounted cash-flow methodology. Increased net-debt-to-EBITDA is becoming a source concern and reason for applying 15% discount to NPV. Risks include higher-/lower-than-expected iron ore and coal prices, possibility of breaching covenants (on reduced cash flow generation) and increase/decrease of foreign exchange rates, particularly for the Australian Dollar.

  Investors don’t appear too worried today, however. Cliffs shares have gained 6.3% to $8.69 at 1:35 p.m. today, even as BHP Billiton (BHP) has fallen 1.5% to $55 and Rio Tinto (RIO) has dropped 2.4% to $45.07.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Last week, Cliffs Natural Resources (CLF) surged after reports that U.S. steel-maker Nucor (NUE) was interested in a joint venturein Cliff’s troubled Bloom Lake project.

  Dado Galdieri

  JPMorgan’s Michael Gambardella and team explain the impact on Cliffs Natural Resources–and why Nucor might be interested:

  Heading into 3Q14 earnings, expectations for the potential value Cliffs could secure from Bloom Lake were negative given its high cost and burdensome rail take-or-pay contracts. However, as noted in our post-earnings report, management stated the Canadian subsidiary (which holds Bloom Lake) could be put into bankruptcy without any recourse to Cliffs. This effectively reset the Bloom Lake value to near zero with a positive upside should a JV be finalized to develop Phase II and take the increased production. A report in the Wall Street Journal refocused sentiment on the potential upside, naming Nucor and two Japanese steel mills as the potential partners in Phase II.

  The company is approaching the one year anniversary of the initial startup for the largest single [direct-reduced iron, or] DRI module in the world located in Louisiana. With deep water access and infrastructure to add a second modul! e, Nucor�! ��s interest in building Phase II centers on the possibility of securing a captive source of iron ore for its DRI capacity along with its fully integrated feed. While Bloom Lake has premium Fe content required to make DRI pellets, it does not have a pellet plant and in the past struggled to balance silica content with production volume and costs. In our view, Nucor's ultimate desire to participate in a Bloom Lake JV is likely contingent on securing low silica (~2%), DRI grade iron ore but would also require the investment to build a pellet plant.

  Shares of Cliffs Natural Resources has dropped 2.1% to $11 at 10:03 a.m. today, Nucor has fallen 1.7% to $53.17.

• [By Jayson Derrick]

  According to The Wall Street Journal, Nucor (NYSE: NUE) is interested in investing in Cliffs Natural Resources (NYSE: CLF) iron ore mine Bloom Lake in Quebec. Shares of Nucor gained 1.87 percent, closing at $54.06 while shares of Cliffs Natural Resources gained 6.95 percent, closing at $11.23.

• [By Chris Mydlo]

  Headlines across the financial news today include a write-down of $6 billion by Cliffs Natural Resources (CLF). The write-down is on its seaborne iron ore and metallurgical coal assets as iron-ore prices have dropped more than 40 percent this year. Based on the more recent quarterly filing ending June 30, Cliffs had a book value of $6.028 billion. Writing down $6 billion will bring the book value to near zero. The company is still going to operate as this is not a cash event and the credit rating was already dropped to junk status (BB-) leading up the event.

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-5-consumer-service-stocks-to-watch-for-2016.html

5 Best Sliver Stocks To Buy For 2015

In the video below we hear from Fedele Bauccio, founder and CEO of Bon Appetit Management. His company has built its reputation on locally sourced, seasonal, healthy foods, and is actively involved in sustainability issues affecting every aspect of the food industry.

Bauccio recounts his decision to leave a private company after a takeover and pursue his dream of making a difference in the institutional food-service industry by introducing the concept of a chef-driven restaurant company.

The Motley Fool's chief investment officer has selected his No. 1 stock for the next year. Find out which stock it is in the special free report: "The Motley Fool's Top Stock for 2013." Just click here to access the report and find out the name of this under-the-radar company.

Isaac Pino: Along the way -- you've been in the food industry for quite some time, ever since those days -- at what point did you decide that you wanted to do something entrepreneurial, and kind of break off? What went into that decision-making process?

10 Best Low Price Stocks To Own For 2016: Lam Research Corporation(LRCX)

Lam Research Corporation designs, manufactures, markets, refurbishes, and services semiconductor processing equipments used in the fabrication of integrated circuits. The company offers etch products that remove portions of various films from the wafer in the creation of semiconductor devices. Its etch products include dielectric etch, conductor etch, three-dimensional integrated circuit etch, MEMS devices, CMOS image sensors, and power devices for etching process. Lam Research Corporation also provides wafer cleaning steps that comprise post-etch and post-strip cleans, and pre-diffusion and pre-deposition cleans; and single-wafer wet clean and plasma-based bevel clean systems. The company offers its products to semiconductor manufacturers. It operates in the United States, Europe, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, and the Asia Pacific. Lam Research Corporation was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Fremont, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Companies that could benefit from a pickup in capital spending include Akamai Technologies (AKAM) and priceline.com (PCLN), which have the highest sensitivity to “non-residential fixed investment in Intellectual Property Products,” Frontier Communications (FTR) and Lam Research (LRCX), which have the highest sales sensitivity to non-residential fixed investment in Equipment,” and Transocean (RIG), which is among the companies with a high exposure to “non-residential fixed investment in Structures.”

• [By Sue Chang and Saumya Vaishampayan]

  $KLAC: KLA-Tencor Corp. (KLAC) �shares rose 1.9%. Analysts at J.P. Morgan on Monday initiated coverage of KLA-Tencor and Lam Research Corp. (LRCX) �at overweight.

• [By Ben Axler]

  In addition, the company announced in December 2012 that it entered a strategic collaboration agreement on ion implant, dry-strip, etch processes, and photoresist strip applications, including material modification implants and high-dose implant strip (HDIS) with Lam Research (LRCX). Lam also agreed to acquire ACLS's dry strip intellectual property and technology for $10.7m ($8.7m received immediately, and $2.0m based on milestones). ACLS will indefinitely retain the entire service and support contracts of its dry strip installed base. In addition to the immediate financial benefits, ACLS benefits from a partnership with Lam by getting better visibility into end customer problems, and the ability to expand addressable market opportunities.

• [By Brian Stoffel]

  3. Lam Research (NASDAQ: LRCX  ) , P/E of 166
  Lam's core business is in making equipment that helps to manufacture computer chips. The company trades at a lofty 166 times earnings right now, but if Lam is able to meet analyst expectations for 2013, today's price is just 12 times expected earnings.

5 Best Sliver Stocks To Buy For 2015: Energy Partners Ltd. (EPL)

EPL Oil & Gas, Inc. operates as an independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company. The company�s operations primarily focuses on the U.S. Gulf of Mexico shelf on state and federal waters offshore Louisiana. As of December 31, 2012, it had estimated proved reserves of 77.4 million barrels of oil equivalent, as well as interests in 37 producing fields located in the Gulf of Mexico shelf region. The company was formerly known as Energy Partners, Ltd. and changed its name to EPL Oil & Gas, Inc. in September 2012. EPL Oil & Gas, Inc. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  Yesterday, small cap Energy XXI (Bermuda) Limited (NASDAQ: EXXI)�announced a deal to acquire�EPL Oil & Gas Inc (NYSE: EPL) to create the largest publicly held independent oil producer on the Gulf of Mexico shelf, meaning it might be a good idea to look at other small cap Gulf oil stocks like W&T Offshore, Inc (NYSE: WTI), Stone Energy Corporation (NYSE: SGY) and Contango Oil & Gas Company (NYSEMKT: MCF). Energy XXI�� CEO John Schiller has talked about the details of the acquisition�with Jim Cramer on CNBC's "Mad Money" and he noted that��EPL Oil & Gas offers areas of expertise that EXXI currently lacks. However, investors who missed out on�yesterday�� 29% surge for EPL Oil & Gas�may want to check out these other small cap Gulf Oil stocks:

5 Best Sliver Stocks To Buy For 2015: Perfumania Holdings Inc(PERF)

Perfumania Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a wholesale distributor and specialty retailer of perfumes and fragrances in the United States and Puerto Rico. The company distributes designer fragrances to mass market retailers, drug and other chain stores, retail wholesale clubs, traditional wholesalers, and other distributors. It also owns and licenses designer and other fragrance brands. The company sells its products in retail stores on a consignment basis; and online through perfumania.com, an Internet retailer of fragrances and other specialty items. As of July 30, 2011, it operated a chain of 343 retail stores specializing in the sale of fragrances and related products. The company is based in Bellport, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  Vitamin Shoppe Inc (NYSE: VSI), Books-A-Million, Inc (NASDAQ: BAMM) and Perfumania Holdings, Inc (NASDAQ: PERF) have the dubious distinction of being�the worst performing small cap�specialty retail stocks for this year (according to Finviz.com) with losses of 4.85% and�3% and a gain of 0.61%, respectively, since the start of the year (See my previous article: This Year�� Best Performing Small Cap Specialty Retail Stocks? UNTD, TA & HZO). I should mention that the definition of specialty retail stocks might vary from one stock screener to another, but what�� clear is that these three small cap retail stocks have been heading in the wrong direction for investors for much of this year. �With that in mind, what sort of performance should investors expect from these small cap specialty retail stocks on Black Friday and for the all important holiday season? Here is what you need to be aware of:

5 Best Sliver Stocks To Buy For 2015: Nash-Finch Company(NAFC)

Nash-Finch Company operates as a wholesale food distributor in the United States. The company?s Military segment distributes grocery products to the United States military commissaries and exchanges in the United States and the District of Columbia, Europe, Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Azores, Egypt, and Bahrain. Its Food Distribution segment sells and distributes various branded and private label grocery products and perishable food products to approximately 1,500 independent retail locations through its 14 distribution centers. This segment also provides various services, including promotional, advertising, and merchandising programs; installation of computerized ordering, receiving, and scanning systems; retail equipment procurement assistance; accounting, budgeting, and payroll contract services; consumer and market research; remodeling and store development services; supply chain through Internet services; and securing existing grocery stores. The company?s Retail segment operates corporate-owned grocery stores under the Sun Mart, Econofoods, AVANZA, Family Thrift Center, Pick ?n Save, Family Fresh Market, Prairie Market, Saver?s Choice, Wally?s Supermarkets, and Wholesale Food Outlet banners primarily in the states of Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. This segment?s conventional grocery stores offer a range of grocery products and services, such as fresh meat counters, delicatessens, bakeries, eat-in cafes, pharmacies, banks, and floral departments, as well as provide check cashing, fax services, and money transfer services. As of December 31, 2011, the company served 93 retail stores operating under the IGA banner and 50 retail stores under the Food Pride banner; and operated 43 conventional supermarkets, 1 AVANZA grocery store, 1 Wholesale Food Outlet grocery store, and 1 Saver?s Choice store. Nash-Finch Company was founded in 1885 and is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Alex Planes]

  Sysco has avoided the margin compression suffered by chicken producers Tyson (NYSE: TSN  ) and Cal-Maine Foods (NASDAQ: CALM  ) and which was more deeply felt by smaller food-service operator Nash-Finch (NASDAQ: NAFC  ) . (It is omitted from this chart due to its drop into outright negative operating margin territory (a decline of roughly 250% in two years.) However, fellow food-service company United Natural Foods (NASDAQ: UNFI  ) has actually improved its margins, and restaurant chains both large and small (well, mid-size) have done an admirable job of holding the margin line in the face of rising input costs. So it appears that scale alone isn't enough to help Sysco outrun the rising costs of its products.

• [By Jeremy Bowman]

  What: Shares of Nash-Finch (NASDAQ: NAFC  ) and Spartan Stores (NASDAQ: SPTN  ) jumped as much as 16% and 15%, respectively, after Spartan said it would buy Nash-Finch, primarily for its military stores.

Top 5 Asian Companies To Buy For 2016

Top 5 Asian Companies To Buy For 2016: Hi Crush Partners LP (HCLP)

Hi Crush Partners LP, formerly Hi-Crush Partners LP, is a domestic producer of monocrystalline sand, a specialized mineral that is used as a proppant to enhance the recovery rates of hydrocarbons from oil and natural gas wells. The Company reserves consist of Northern White sand, a resource existing in Wisconsin and limited portions of the upper Midwest region of the United States. It owns, operates and develops sand reserves and related excavation and processing facilities and will seek to acquire or develop additional facilities. The Company's 561-acre facility with integrated rail infrastructure, located near Wyeville, Wisconsin, enables it to process and deliver approximately 1,600,000 tons of frac sand per year. In June 2013, Hi Crush Partners LP announced the completion of its acquisition of D&I Silica, LLC (D&I).

The Company's frac sand production is sold to investment grade-rated pressure pumping service providers under long-term, contracts that req uire its customers to pay a specified price for a specified volume of frac sand each month. The Company owns and operates the Wyeville facility, which is located in Monroe County, Wisconsin and, as of December 31, 2011, contained 48.4 million tons of proven recoverable sand reserves of mesh sizes it has contracted to sell. From the Wyeville in-service date to March 31, 2012, it had processed and sold 555,250 tons of frac sand.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Robert Rapier]

  The fracking revolution has created enormous opportunities for Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs) across the oil and gas industry. Upstream MLPs like BreitBurn Energy Partners (NASDAQ: BBEP) and Legacy Reserves (NASDAQ: LGCY) produced the oil and gas. There was a huge new requirement for sand in the fracking operations, and this encouraged new MLPs like Emerge Energy Services�! �(NYSE: EMES) and Hi-Crush Partners (NYSE:HCLP) — both of which have more than doubled in price over the past 12 months. Fracking also requires large volumes of water, which Cypress Energy Partners (NYSE: CELP) provides.

• [By Robert Rapier]

  MLPs that specialize in sand for hydraulic fracturing, like Hi-Crush Partners (NYSE: HCLP) and Emerge Energy Services (NYSE: EMES),  have shown outstanding performance since their IPOs, but if there is any slowdown in business each could be in for a sharp correction.

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-5-asian-companies-to-buy-for-2016.html

Hot Prefered Companies To Watch In Right Now

With the�SPDR S&P Biotech Index�up 38% over the trailing-12-month period, it's evident that investment dollars are willingly flowing into the biotech sector. Keeping that in mind, let's have a look at some of the rulings, studies, and companies that made waves in the sector last week.

All eyes are certainly on the annual American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting going on right now, but that didn't stop a gambit of positive and negative news from emerging in the biotech sector this week.

Omthera Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: OMTH  ) certainly made waves for investors by announcing its agreement to be purchased by AstraZeneca�for $323 million, with $120 million in additional contingency value dependent on the success of its pipeline. Omthera's lead compound is a late-stage fish-oil capsule known as Epanova, which is being targeted at lowering triglyceride levels in patients with a high risk of developing cardiovascular disease. With obesity remaining such a big concern in the U.S., fish oil products could become a booming market in terms of heart health maintenance in the future, and AstraZeneca may have snagged itself a steal of a deal. Omthera shareholders probably aren't complaining, either, as their stock doubled this week.

Top Mid Cap Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Ur Energy Inc(URG)

Ur-Energy Inc., an exploration stage junior mining company, engages in the identification, acquisition, evaluation, exploration, and development of uranium mineral properties. The company has 13 projects located in Wyoming and Nebraska, the United States; and 3 exploration projects located in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, Canada. Its landholdings cover approximately 90,000 acres in the United States and approximately 140,000 acres in Canada. The company was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in Littleton, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  Small cap nuclear fuel stock USEC Inc (NYSE: USU) is up some 300% this week���meaning its worth taking a closer look at the company along with the performance potential uranium or nuclear stock peers Uranium Resources, Inc (NASDAQ: URRE), Denison Mines Corp (NYSEMKT: DNN), Ur-Energy Inc (NYSEMKT: URG) and Uranerz Energy Corp (NYSEMKT: URZ).

• [By James Brumley]

  PLAB’s per share income is expected to double next year, from 2013′s profit of 30 cents per share to 60 cents per share in 2014.

  Ur-Energy (URG)

  12/2 Price: $1.15

• [By The Energy Report]

  DS: Two of our top picks are Cameco Corp. (CCJ) and Ur-Energy Inc. (URG). For Cameco, we've got a $25/share target and an outperform rating. This company is the industry's go-to, the blue chip uranium company. It's organically growing very low-cost operations, which are for the most part in very safe jurisdictions. It has a lower-risk approach to contracts, with a targeted pricing mix of about 40% fixed-pricing and 60% market-related pricing in the contract book. The company's got a solid balance sheet. We think it's going to end Q3/13 with about $800M in working capital and another $2 billion [$2B] in undrawn lines of credit. It's also diversified across the nuclear fuel chain, with exposure not only to its core uranium mining business but also with nuclear fuel services, like conversion and fuel fabrication. It's got a stake in the Bruce nuclear power plant as well as a newly bolted-on uranium trading business, so it's quite diversified. On top of that, Cameco pays a 2% dividend. We think it offers a very attractive risk/reward proposition at these levels.

Hot Prefered Companies To Watch In Right Now: YOU On Demand Holdings Inc (YOD)

YOU On Demand Holdings, Inc., incorporated on October 19, 2004, operates in the Chinese media segment through the Company�� Chinese subsidiaries and variable interest entities (VIEs) an integrated service solutions business for the delivery of video on demand (VOD) and enhanced premium content for digital cable providers, IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) providers, Over-the-Top (OTT) providers and mobile manufacturers. The Company is a multi-platform entertainment company delivering premium content, including Hollywood and China-produced movie titles, to customers across China via Subscription Video On Demand (SVOD) and Transactional Video On Demand (TVOD). The Company�� distribution partners include digital cable operators, IPTV operators, OTT operators and mobile smartphone manufacturers.

The Company provides customers the ability to view the Hollywood titles, as well as indigenous Chinese titles. The Company�� multiple platforms distribution capabilities provide viewers with access to the top selection of quality content during the earliest possible VOD windows for the viewing experience with full DVD-like control. The Company also offers free content including trailers, behind-the-scenes footage, celebrity interviews and more. The Company operates under a national government license obtained by CHC to serve as their exclusive agent in the People�� Republic of China (PRC), for operating and marketing TVOD, SVOD, Near Video on Demand (NVOD), and related Value-Added Services (VAS). Its platform and services include content and distribution agreements, governmental partnerships and approvals, infrastructure, encoding and transcoding, metadata management, marketing services and data reporting, collection and remittance.

The Company has content agreements with Warner Bros. Entertainment, Disney Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures, NBCUniversal, Miramax, Lionsgate, Magnolia Pictures, Screen Media Ventures, Gravitas Ventures, 3Net, K2 Communications and Film Buff. ! As of December 31, 2013, it had distribution agreements with several Chinese Cable television (TV) broadcast companies and IPTV providers which in total can potentially reach approximately 20 million households. In addition, the Company has distribution agreements with FutureTV (an OTT operator which is a subsidiary of China Network Television [CNTV], the official online division of Chinese national public broadcaster China Central Television [CCTV]) and Huawei (global information and communications technology solutions provider and the third largest global smartphone manufacture).

The Company competes with Youku, Tencent and Sohu.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Bryan Murphy]

  It's not the kind of stock you'd want to get married to here, but you might want to date You On Demand Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:YOD) for the next few days. Shares of YOD broke above a major resistance line on Friday, and put some distance between themselves and that line today. It's a clue that the bulls have overpowered the bears, and now that the ball is rolling, it should keep rolling for a while.

• [By Bryan Murphy]

  It's fun to be right, but that doesn't mean it's not also frustrating. With that being said, if you happened to get into You On Demand Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:YOD) on Tuesday based on my advice, let's go ahead and take your 30% profit - give or take - by selling YOD at the market.

Hot Prefered Companies To Watch In Right Now: Solta Medical Inc(SLTM)

Solta Medical, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, development, manufacture, and marketing of energy-based medical device systems for aesthetic applications primarily in North America, the Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East. It offers Fraxel re:pair system for use in dermatological procedures requiring ablation, coagulation, and resurfacing of soft tissue, as well as for rhytides, pigmentation, dyschromia, fine lines, acne, surgical scars, deeper lines, wrinkles, and actinic keratoses; and Clear + Brilliant system for patients who want to take control of their aging process. The company also provides Thermage CPT system that provides non-invasive treatment options for skin tightening; Liposonix system to destroy unwanted fat cells resulting in waist circumference reduction; Isolaz system for the treatment of inflammatory acne, comedonal acne, and mild to moderate inflammatory acne; and the CLARO device, a consumer handheld device for the tre atment of mild-to-moderate inflammatory acne, including pustular acne. Its customers principally include dermatologists, plastic surgeons, general and family practitioners, gynecologists, and ophthalmologists. The company sells its products primarily through a direct sales force, as well as through independent distributors; and CLARO device through retail and associated retailer?s Websites, and television retail networks, as well as through its own website in the United States. The company was formerly known as Thermage, Inc. and changed its name to Solta Medical, Inc. in January 2009. Solta Medical, Inc. was incorporated in 1996 and is headquartered in Hayward, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lauren Pollock]

  Solta Medical Inc.(SLTM) unveiled restructuring plans to improve its financial performance and has hired an adviser to help evaluate strategic alternatives, including a possible sale or merger of the medical aesthetics device maker. Investors cheered the news, sending shares up 7.7% to $1.97 premarket.

• [By Tess Stynes]

  Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Monday’s session are Sprint Corp.(S), American International Group Inc.(AIG)�and Solta Medical Inc.(SLTM)

Hot Prefered Companies To Watch In Right Now: UIL Holdings Corp (UIL)

UIL Holdings Corporation, incorporated on March 22, 1999, is engaged in the ownership of its operating regulated utility businesses. The utility businesses consist of the electric distribution and transmission operations of The United Illuminating Company (UI) and the natural gas transportation, distribution and sales operations of The Southern Connecticut Gas Company (SCG), Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation (CNG), and The Berkshire Gas Company (Berkshire, and together with SCG and CNG, the Gas Companies). The Company operates in Electric Distribution, Electric Transmission and Gas Distribution segments.

UI is an electric distribution and transmission utility. UI is also a party to a joint venture with certain affiliates of NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG affiliates) pursuant to which UI holds 50% of interests in GCE Holding LLC, whose wholly owned subsidiary, GenConn Energy LLC operates generation plants in Devon, Connecticut (GenConn Devon) and Middletown, Connecticut (GenConn Middletown).

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Utilities sector was the only decliner in the US market today. Top losers in the sector included UIL Holdings (NYSE: UIL), off 2.1 percent, and Crosstex Energy (NASDAQ: XTXI), down 2.2 percent.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Utilities sector was the only decliner in the US market today. Top losers in the sector included UIL Holdings (NYSE: UIL), off 2.1 percent, and Crosstex Energy (NASDAQ: XTXI), down 2.2 percent.

Hot Prefered Companies To Watch In Right Now: Old Dominion Freight Line Inc. (ODFL)

Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. operates as a less-than-truckload (LTL) motor carrier primarily in the United States. The company provides regional, inter-regional, and national LTL services. It also offers a range of logistics services, including ground and air expedited transportation, supply chain consulting, transportation management, truckload brokerage, container delivery, and warehousing services. In addition, the company provides door-to-door international freight services to and from North America, Central America, South America, and the Far East. As of December 31, 2010, it owned a fleet of 5,718 tractors and 20,986 trailers, as well as operated 213 service centers. The company was founded in 1934 and is based in Thomasville, North Carolina.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Smith]

  Consider: According to YRC, the $150.9 million it currently pays in annual interest exceeds the $92.6 million in interest obligations paid by "all [of its] competitors combined." Con-Way (NYSE: CNW  ) , for example, sports a debt load about half of YRC's, yet pays only about one-third �as much in interest on that debt. Old Dominion Freight (NASDAQ: ODFL  ) has 12% the debt �of YRC, but only 7% of the interest expense.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Wunderlich’s Nicholas Bender thinks FedEx’s results bode well for Old Dominion (ODFL), Con-way (CNW) and Saia (SAIA):

  We expect all less-than-truckload carriers to benefit in 2Q14 from the same trends that carried FedEx Freight to a banner 4Q14. This includes Hold-rated Old Dominion, which will continue to grow at well above market rates, and Buy-rated Con-way, which we believe can leverage a strong 2Q14 to prime the pump on margin enhancement efforts. Our favorite name in the space remains Saia (SAIA-$42.92, Buy), which will once again see accelerating tonnage growth in 2Q14. Though tonnage growth will moderate in� 2H14 due to steeper comps, there remains considerable potential for the company to boost yield and continue winning incremental business with new accounts.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Shares of Heartland Express have gained 50% this year, trumping the 38% rise in Con-Way (CNW) and the 29% advance in J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) but lagging Old Dominion Freight Lines (ODFL) and Swift Transportation (SWFT).

Top Penny Companies To Own For 2015

The results are in, and investors have jumped on 3D Systems' (NYSE: DDD  ) bandwagon again after the 3D-printing leader produced third-quarter earnings that were largely in line with Wall Street's expectations. A 4% rise in 3D Systems' stock price today may simply reflect widespread relief that the company, unlike its chief rival Stratasys, did not issue reduced forecasts for its full year. However, 3D Systems only bettered one of Wall Street's two key targets for the third quarter -- its $166.9 million top line came in slightly below the $167.7 million analysts had expected, but $0.18 in adjusted earnings per share was a penny better than the analyst consensus.

3D Systems held fast on its full-year guidance, which still calls for revenue to range from $650 million to $690 million, and for adjusted EPS to range from $0.70 to $0.80. With three quarters now in the tank, we can use the midpoints of these full-year ranges to estimate 3D Systems' expectations for its fourth quarter. Let's take a look at the results from this quarter and the expectations for the next, to see how they compare to 3D Systems' recent financial history:

10 Best Semiconductor Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Enstar Group Limited (ESGR)

Enstar Group Limited, through its subsidiaries, acquires and manages insurance and reinsurance companies in run-off. The company settles insurance and reinsurance claims. It also offers management and consultancy, claims inspection, and reinsurance collection services to its affiliates and third-party clients. The company operates in the United States, Bermuda, the United Kingdom, Europe, and Australia. Enstar Group Limited was formerly known as Castlewood Holdings Limited and changed its name to Enstar Group Limited. Enstar Group Limited was founded in 2001 and is based in Hamilton, Bermuda.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Matt Koppenheffer and David Hanson]

  In this segment from Thursday's Where the Money Is, Motley Fool financial analysts Matt Koppenheffer and David Hanson discuss Matt's stock pitch of the week, Enstar Group Ltd. (NASDAQ: ESGR  ) . In the insurance world, insurers can start an insurance business, or a line of insurance, that ends up performing poorly. This can force the insurer to then put that line of insurance, or the entire business, into what is known as run-off. This means they are no longer selling policies, and will only continue to manage the existing policies for the life of those policies. That is where Enstar comes in.

Top Penny Companies To Own For 2015: Ruth's Hospitality Group Inc.(RUTH)

Ruth?s Hospitality Group, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates restaurants in the United States and internationally. It operates the Ruth?s Chris Steak House, Mitchell?s Fish Market, Columbus Fish Market, Mitchell?s Steakhouse, and Cameron?s Steakhouse restaurant concepts in the full-service dining industry. The company?s restaurants cater to families, special occasion diners, and business clientele. As of December 27, 2009, it owned or operated 152 restaurants, including 64 company-owned Ruth?s Chris Steak House Company restaurants, 66 Ruth?s Chris Steak House franchise restaurants, 19 company-owned Mitchell?s Fish Markets, and 3 company-owned Mitchell?s Steakhouse restaurants. The company was formerly known as Ruth?s Chris Steak House, Inc. and changed its name to Ruth?s Hospitality Group, Inc. in February 2008. Ruth?s Hospitality Group, Inc. was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in Heathrow, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jeremy Bowman]

  What: Shares of Ruth's Hospitality Group (NASDAQ: RUTH  ) were making investors feel at home today, gaining as much as 14% after topping estimates, and announcing a quarterly dividend in its report today.

• [By Timothy Green]

  Another steakhouse operator which recently started paying a dividend is Ruth's Hospitality Group (NASDAQ: RUTH  ) . Ruth's is a small company that operates a handful of restaurant concepts, mainly steakhouses. In 2012 the company recorded about $400 million in revenue and $16 million in net income. The stock trades for about 27 times earnings.

Top Penny Companies To Own For 2015: American Capital Ltd.(ACAS)

American Capital, Ltd. is a private equity and venture capital firm specializing in management and employee buyouts, mezzanine, acquisition, recapitalization, middle market, and growth capital investments. The firm seeks to invest in senior debt mezzanine and equity financing for buyouts of private equity firms and direct in private and public companies. It also invests in special situations and in government. In special situations, the firm invests in troubled situations and in distressed situations. In this area, it invests in acquisitions of true turnarounds, 363 auctions, portfolio add-ons, operationally challenged companies; financings in exit, ABL loans, second lien refinance, and direct lending to distressed companies. The firm invests in manufacturing, services, and distribution companies with a special focus on energy sector. In energy production sector, the firm invests in lower risk oil and gas exploration, production and development; natural gas liquids; coal m ining and coal-fired generation; uranium mining and nuclear-fired generation; wind-powered generation; and solar-powered generation. In energy transmission sector, the firm invests in oil and gas pipelines; LNG tankers and regasification facilities; and power transmission. In energy distribution sector, it targets propane distribution; gas distribution; electricity distribution. In energy services sector, the firm invests in oil and gas services and utility services. The firm also targets investments in companies that provide services or products to federal, state or local governments. It seeks to invest in information technology, human resources/benefit administration, outsourcing, transaction processing, engineering and construction, logistics, original equipment manufacturers ? homeland security and component, after market parts and supplies, and technology. It invests as lead or participative investor. The firm and its affiliates invest from $5 million to $300 million pe r company in North America and ?5 million ($6.92520 millio! n) to ?25 million ($34.6260 million) per company in Europe. American Capital, Ltd. was founded in 1986 and is based in Bethesda, Maryland with additional offices in United States, Europe, and Asia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By James Brumley]

  The market’s starting to realize the selloff was an errant one, as DHI shares are perking up again. There’s still a ways to go before the stock’s back to where it started, though.

  American Capital Ltd (ACAS)

  12/2 Price: $15.29

• [By Dividend Growth Investor]

  As a dividend investor, I would expect that names in my portfolio in 2042 would likely be different than the names present in 2012. After all, since 2008 I have experienced several cuts in my income portfolio. I had one cut in 2008 (ACAS), two cuts in 2009 (GE, STT), one cut in 2010 (BP) and no cuts in 2011 and 2012. With three months to go in 2013, I have not experienced any dividend cuts either. By maintaining a relatively diversified portfolio consisting of over 40 individual issues, my total dividend income is somewhat immune by dividend cuts or eliminations. If two companies in an equally weighted portfolio of 40 issues completely eliminate dividends but the remaining 38 issues raise distributions by 5%, my dividend income would be unchanged for the year. Assuming that I manage to replace the fallen dividends stocks I sold with fresh income stocks, I might even be able to eke out a gain in total dividend income. Monitoring 40 ��50 positions should not take a lot of time as well. Assuming that investors have done their homework in the initial stage, future time could be allocated reading annual reports and maybe quarterly reports while also performing an annual checkup of their position. I would not expect this to take more than 10 -15 hours/week.

• [By BDC Buzz]

  FDUS is one of the few BDCs to consistently grow its NAV on a quarterly basis over the last two years. This is because most BDCs are regulated investment companies ("RIC") required to distribute at least 90% of capital gains, dividends and interest to shareholders to avoid taxation at the corporate level and 98% of net investment income to avoid paying a 4% excise tax. Excluding American Capital (ACAS) which converted from a RIC to a Subchapter C and does not pay a dividend, only a few BDCs have been able to pay a healthy dividend while increasing value per share - as discussed in "Triangle Capital: Is It Priced For Total Return?" including Main Street Capital (MAIN) and Triangle Capital (TCAP).

• [By Amanda Alix]

  The hunt for yield has led many investors to the doorsteps of mortgage REITs and business development companies, both of which are legally required to hand over 90% of their profits to shareholders in order to enjoy special tax status. With few exceptions, such as American Capital (NASDAQ: ACAS  ) , these BDCs often pay out healthy dividends, providing double-digit yields similar to many mREITs.

Top Penny Companies To Own For 2015: USA Technologies Inc.(USAT)

USA Technologies, Inc. supplies cashless, remote management, reporting, and energy management solutions for the unattended point of sale market primarily in the United States. The company offers networked devices and associated services that enable the owners and operators of stand-alone distributed assets, such as vending machines, kiosks, personal computers, photocopiers, and laundry equipment the ability to remotely monitor, control, and report on the results of these distributed assets, as well as the ability to offer their customers cashless payment options. Its products include Intelligent Vending, an ePort connect solution for the vending industry; Kiosk, an ePort solution that offers an electronic payment option and Web-based remote monitoring and management for various kiosk types; eSuds, a solution for the commercial laundry industry; Business Express, which provides self-service business center solutions to the hotel and motel industry; and ePort Transact soluti on for the self-service business center devices, such as printers and copy machines. The company also manufactures and sells energy conservation products comprising VendingMiser, CoolerMiser, VM2IQ and CM2IQ, SnackMiser, and PlugMiser for various existing equipment, including refrigerated vending machines and glass front coolers. USA Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1992 and is based in Malvern, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  USA Technologies (NASDAQ: USAT) is projected to report its Q3 earnings at $0.00 per share on revenue of $10.63 million.

  P&F Industries (NASDAQ: PFIN) is expected to report its quarterly results.

• [By Monica Gerson]

  USA Technologies (NASDAQ: USAT) is estimated to report its Q4 earnings at $0.02 per share on revenue of $9.89 million.

  Vail Resorts (NYSE: MTN) is projected to post a Q4 loss at $1.71 per share on revenue of $117.82 million.

Hot Defense Stocks To Watch Right Now

Hot Defense Stocks To Watch Right Now: Safran SA (SAF)

Safran SA is a France-based high-technology company which produces aircraft and rocket engines and propulsion systems. It divides its work into three segments: Aerospace, Aircraft, Defense and Security. The Aerospace Propulsion division provides engines, turbines and parts for aircraft, and rocket boosters for civil, military and spatial markets through several subsidiaries, including Snecma, among others. The Aircraft Equipment division produces landing gear, wheels and carbon brakes, aircraft engine nacelles and airborne power electronics through its subsidiaries, including Aircelle, among others. The Defense division includes the subsidiary, Sagem, and makes systems and equipment for inertial navigation and other defense applications to be used on military transport and combat aircraft, helicopters, warships, armored vehicles and artillery systems. In October 2013, the Company completed the sale of its United States-based subsidiary, Global Motors Inc to Allied Motion Inc. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sofia Horta e Costa]

  Vivendi SA climbed 2.7 percent after posting better-than-estimated third-quarter profit and saying it plans to spin off its French phone carrier SFR by July 2014. Serco Group Plc (SRP) increased 1.7 percent as UBS AG upgraded the stock. Safran SA (SAF) lost 3.2 percent as its largest shareholder sold a stake.

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/hot-defense-stocks-to-watch-right-now.html

Top 10 Railroad Companies To Watch For 2016

Top 10 Railroad Companies To Watch For 2016: Teradyne Inc.(TER)

Teradyne, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides automatic test equipment products and services worldwide. The company operates in three segments: Semiconductor Test, Systems Test Group, and Wireless Test. The Semiconductor Test segment designs, manufactures, and sells semiconductor test products and services. Its test systems are used for wafer level and device package testing. These chips are used in automotive, communications, consumer, computer, and electronic game applications. This segment provides its products to integrated device manufacturers (IDMs) that integrate the fabrication of silicon wafers into their business; fabless companies, which outsource the manufacturing of silicon wafers; foundries that cater to the processing and manufacturing of silicon wafers; and outsourced sub-assembly and test providers, which offer test and assembly services for the final packaged devices to fabless companies and IDMs. It also provides Magnum test platform that test s memory devices, such as flash memory and dynamic random access memory, as well as offers ETS platform for use by semiconductor manufacturers, and assembly and test subcontractors in the low pin count analog/mixed signal discrete markets. The Systems Test Group segment offers military/aerospace test instrumentation and systems; storage test systems for HDD manufacturers; and circuit-board test and inspection systems for electronics manufacturers of cell phones, servers, computers, Internet switches, automobiles, and military avionics systems. The Wireless Test segment designs, develops, and supports wireless test solutions for developing and manufacturing wireless devices, such as smart phones, tablets, notebooks/laptops, and personal computer peripherals. This segment offers cellular communication solution for verification and calibration of mobile devices; and products for connectivity testing. The company was founded in 1960 and is headquartered in North ! Reading, Massac h usetts.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Patricio Kehoe]

  The concept of diversity, when talking about a companys activities, is a sword with two edges. When performance hits the fan, diversity can turn into an advantage as only one segment can be affected. However, diversification can curtail winnings during a moment of bonanza. In other words, a company with five segments will see a relative smaller impact in overall performance than a company with activities in a single segment, when that segment experiences an abnormal growth. Hence, with a recovering construction market in the US and declining prices for mined commodities, a comparison between Caterpillar (CAT) and Terex (TER) is all the more relevant.

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/top-10-railroad-companies-to-watch-for-2016.html

Top 10 Telecom Stocks To Watch For 2016

Top 10 Telecom Stocks To Watch For 2016: Telstra Corporation Ltd (TLSYY.PK)

Telstra Corporation Limited (Telstra) telecommunications and information services company providing telecommunications and information services for domestic and international customers. The Company operates in nine segments: Telstra Consumer and Country Wide (TC&CW); Telstra Business (TB); Telstra Enterprise and Government (TE&G); Telstra Wholesale (TW); Telstra Media Group; Telstra International Group; TelstraClear; Telstra Operations and Other. On July 6, 2011, Telstra announced changes to its organisational structure. Effective August 1, 2011, the entire sales and retail customer service workforce, was unified in a single business unit, Telstra Customer Sales and Service, responsible for sales and services to all segments, including consumer, business, enterprise and government customers. On March 27, 2012, the Company sold its 67% shareholding in Dotad Media Holdings Limited, and on July 21, 2011, it sold its 64.4% shareholding in Adstream (Aust) Pty Ltd. On 17 May 201 2, the Company acquired an additional 11% interest in Autohome Inc. Effective August 22, 2013, Telstra Corp Ltd acquired NSC Group, a provider of industrial automation services. In November 2013, Telstra Corporation Limited increased its Autohome shareholding from 66% to 71.5%. Effective January 21, 2014, Telstra Corp Ltd acquired O2 Networks, a developer of data networking and network security software.

Telstra Consumer and Country Wide

The TC&CW segment is responsible for providing the full range of telecommunication products, services and solutions (across Mobiles, Fixed and Wireless Broadband, Telephony and Pay TV) to consumer customers in metropolitan, regional, rural and remote areas of Australia. This is achieved through inbound and outbound call centres, Telstra Shops (owned and licensed), Telstra Dealers and Telstra Digital. Telstra Digital is responsible for delivering self service capabilities for all Telstra c! ustomers, across all phases of the customer experience from browsing to buying and bill and service requests.

Telstra Business (TB)

TB is responsible for providing Australia's small to medium enterprises. It provides a range of telecommunications products, services and solutions, including the latest in cloud computing.

Telstra Enterprise and Government (TE&G)

TE&G is responsible for provision of network services and applications and integrated voice, data and mobile solutions. It provides these solutions via Telstra Next Generation Services to enterprise and government customers.

Telstra Operations (TOps)

TOps is responsible for overall planning, design, engineering and architecture of Telstra networks, technology and information technology; construction of infrastructure for its Company's fixed, mobile, Internet protocol (IP) and data networks; delivery of customer services across these networks; operation, assurance and maintenance, including activation and restoration of these networks, and supply and delivery of informationtechnology solutions to support its products, services, customer support functions and its internal needs. It also delivers network-centric professional services, managed services and outsourcing services for Telstra customers.

Telstra Wholesale (TW)

TW is responsible for the provision of a range of telecommunication products and services delivered over Telstra networks and associated support systems to non-Telstra branded carriers, carriage service providers and Internet service providers. Telstra Wholesale also provides services to NBN Co Limited.

Telstra Media Group (TMG)

TMG is responsible for the management and growth of the domestic directories and advertising business, including print, voice and digital directories, digital mapping and satellite navigation, digital display advertising and business information services. This includes th! e managem! ent of Yellow Pages, White Pages, Whereis, Citysearch, 1234 and Quotify. It also manages of its investment in Digital Media content, services and applications, including Trading Post, Telstra Advertising Network, BigPond content including music, movies, sport and games, Internet Protocol television (IPTV), online portals and the FOXTEL partnership.

Telstra International Group (TIG)

TI is responsible for managing Telstras assets outside Australia and New Zealand. It includes CSL New World Mobility Limited, which is its 76.4% owned Hong Kong-based subsidiary in, responsible for providing full mobile services, including handset sales, voice and data products to the Hong Kong market. These services are delivered over CSLs third generation (3G) and 4G Long Term Evolution networks. Its mainland China business provides digital media services in auto, IT and consumer electronics (this includes the Autohome and Sequel IT businesses). Its managed services and international connectivity business, provides managed network services, international data and voice, and satellite across Asia Pacific, China, India, Europe, and Africa.

TelstraClear

TClear is the Companys New Zealand subsidiary. TClear is responsible for providing full telecommunications services to the New Zealand market.

Telstra Innovation, Products and Marketing

TIPM is responsible for innovation, product, promotion and pricing across Telstra. TIPM is also responsible for the overall brand, sponsorship, promotion and advertising direction of Telstra, as well as maintaining industry analyst relations and embedding market-based management across the Company. This is done by delivering data-driven customer insights that put the customer at the centre of everything Telstra does.

Corporate areas

Corporate areas provides operational and strategic legal su pport and advice across the Company; manages Telstra's public policy and communications; provides th! e functio! ns of corporate

planning, accounting and administration, treasury, risk management and assurance, investor relations, mergers and acquisitions and corporate strategy. The segment also supports in organisational design and change, implementation of people and culture initiatives, leadership development, talent and succession management, health, safety and wellbeing, professional development, workplace relations and all employment and remuneration policies. The segment provides the functions of credit management, billing and procurement.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By David Hunkar]

  Current Dividend Yield: 4.91%
  Sector: Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels
  Country: Italy

  Company: Telstra Corp Ltd (TLSYY.PK)

  Current Dividend Yield: 6.43%
  Sector: Telecom
  Country: Australia

source from Top Stocks To Buy For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/top-10-telecom-stocks-to-watch-for-2016.html

Top 10 Blue Chip Stocks To Buy For 2015

Pharmaceutical stocks have traditionally been considered logical choices for dividend stocks; here, we look at one of the blue chips of the pharmaceutical world, selling at discounts to historical valuations, explains John Dobosz, editor of Forbes Dividend Investor.

New York-based Pfizer (PFE) is one of the world's largest biopharmaceutical companies that discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells medicines for humans and animals.

Celebrex, for treating arthritis, and Viagra, for erectile dysfunction, are two of Pfizer's best selling drugs. Other products are targeted at Alzheimer's disease, cardiovascular issues, depression, pain, respiratory ailments, and smoking cessation.

As blockbuster drugs lose patent protection, Pfizer must find new sources of growth to make up for the lower sales. What's encouraging is recent news from Merck (MRK) that it was working with Pfizer to develop new cancer drugs.

Revenue for 2014 is expected to dip 3% to $49.9 billion, with earnings inching higher by 2.3% to $2.27 per share. Earnings are expected to grow 12.9% for the year that just ended, with revenue up 15.7%.

Top European Companies For 2016: Philip Morris International Inc(PM)

Philip Morris International Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products in markets outside of the United States. Its international product brand line comprises Marlboro, Merit, Parliament, Virginia Slims, L&M, Chesterfield, Bond Street, Lark, Muratti, Next, Philip Morris, and Red & White. The company also offers its products under the A Mild, Dji Sam Soe, and A Hijau in Indonesia; Diana in Italy; Optima and Apollo-Soyuz in the Russian Federation; Morven Gold in Pakistan; Boston in Colombia; Belmont, Canadian Classics, and Number 7 in Canada; Best and Classic in Serbia; f6 in Germany; Delicados in Mexico; Assos in Greece; and Petra in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It operates primarily in the European Union, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Canada, and Latin America. The company is based in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Holly LaFon]

  GuruFocus: You��e buying a lot of global brands, and they all had in common emerging market growth, like Proctor and Gamble (PG), Pepsi (PEP), Philip Morris (PM), Johnson and Johnson (JNJ). Is that was a conscious investment theme or is that a coincidence?

• [By Alexandra Scaggs]

  Then the bank appeared to backpedal a bit in its note yesterday, cutting back on its recommended holdings in Ultimate Software Group(ULTI) and Mastercard(MA) and adding to its recommended positions in Anadarko Petroleum Corp.(APC), an energy stock, and Philip Morris International Inc.(PM), a consumer-staples stock. Morgan Stanley strategist Adam Parker �and his�team found that times when value stocks outperform growth stocks by such a wide margin “are typically followed by periods where value outperforms.”

Top 10 Blue Chip Stocks To Buy For 2015: International Business Machines Corporation(IBM)

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) provides information technology (IT) products and services worldwide. Its Global Technology Services segment provides IT infrastructure and business process services, including strategic outsourcing, process, integrated technology, and maintenance services, as well as technology-based support services. The company?s Global Business Services segment offers consulting and systems integration, and application management services. Its Software segment offers middleware and operating systems software, such as WebSphere software to integrate and manage business processes; information management software for database and enterprise content management, information integration, data warehousing, business analytics and intelligence, performance management, and predictive analytics; Tivoli software for identity management, data security, storage management, and datacenter automation; Lotus software for collaboration, messaging, and so cial networking; rational software to support software development for IT and embedded systems; business intelligence software, which provides querying and forecasting tools; SPSS predictive analytics software to predict outcomes and act on that insight; and operating systems software. Its Systems and Technology segment provides computing and storage solutions, including servers, disk and tape storage systems and software, point-of-sale retail systems, and microelectronics. The company?s Global Financing segment provides lease and loan financing to end users and internal clients; commercial financing to dealers and remarketers of IT products; and remanufacturing and remarketing services. It serves financial services, public, industrial, distribution, communications, and general business sectors. The company was formerly known as Computing-Tabulating-Recording Co. and changed its name to International Business Machines Corporation in 1924. IBM was founded in 1910 and is based in Armonk, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  IBM (NYSE: IBM  ) finished up about 0.8% after the company announced this morning that it would work with the newly formed Pivotal joint venture to help develop the Cloud Foundry open-source project and platform. By taking advantage of open cloud architecture, IBM hopes to lure customers to take advantage of applications without their being locked into a particular proprietary platform. With a jointly hosted conference in early September, IBM and Pivotal have a huge opportunity to further their business goals.

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  One of Accenture's biggest areas of growth has been in technology-related consulting, with the company having become the No. 2 IT consulting company in the world, trailing only rival IBM (NYSE: IBM  ) . Accenture's ability to take advantage of diversity in its employee ranks comes from its lack of a physical corporate headquarters, allowing employees to work in their home countries, and thereby attracting the most talented workers available in a given area. In particular, Accenture has focused much of its attention on India, with more than a quarter of its employees hailing from the subcontinent.

• [By tyokunbo]

  Hewlett Packard�� market rivals include Accenture (ACN), International Business Machines (IBM), and the privately held Dell. To gain advantage over the competition, Hewlett Packard is building a lean organization with a focus on its strong performance management.

• [By Steve Symington]

  23.�Berkshire lost nearly $1.4 billion in a single day last month when its 6% stake in�IBM (NYSE: IBM  ) plummeted 10% following the tech giant's first-quarter earnings report. Even so, shares of IBM still sit well above Berkshire's cost basis as of the end of 2012, near $171 per share. Considering Buffett stated earlier this year Berkshire's ownership interest in IBM was likely to increase in the future, don't be surprised if Buffett used the drop as an opportunity to add to his position.

Top 10 Blue Chip Stocks To Buy For 2015: Apple Inc.(AAPL)

Apple Inc., together with subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and markets personal computers, mobile communication and media devices, and portable digital music players, as well as sells related software, services, peripherals, networking solutions, and third-party digital content and applications worldwide. The company sells its products worldwide through its online stores, retail stores, direct sales force, third-party wholesalers, resellers, and value-added resellers. In addition, it sells third-party Mac, iPhone, iPad, and iPod compatible products, including application software, printers, storage devices, speakers, headphones, and other accessories and peripherals through its online and retail stores; and digital content and applications through the iTunes Store. The company sells its products to consumer, small and mid-sized business, education, enterprise, government, and creative markets. As of September 25, 2010, it had 317 retail stores, including 233 stores in the United States and 84 stores internationally. The company, formerly known as Apple Computer, Inc., was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Cupertino, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Brian Stoffel]

  It's not often that you get to see real-time updates on what analysts are buying and selling -- all for free. But with The Motley Fool's Real-Money Stock Picking program, you can do just that. And based on activity the last few weeks, one thing is clear: Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL  ) is cheap, and our analysts are buying up Apple stock right now!

• [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]

  Disney could send personalized smartphone alerts of short lines or flash-sale opportunities.

  Where can Disney go from there? It was originally suggested that the MagicBand could be used to pull up guest info that the family entertainment giant could use to enhance the experience. Characters would be able to identify guests by name, if the guests opted in, of course. Armed with info about their favorite rides, restaurants and even characters, Disney could send personalized smartphone alerts of short lines or flash-sale opportunities when guests are in the park. There's a fine line between enhancing a park outing and being creepy, but arming guests with the power to decide how immersive they want their experiences to be will go a long way toward silencing any privacy concerns. It also wouldn't be a surprise if MagicBand options themselves grow in the future. There are already limited-edition character wristbands, but what about designer models? What about Disney watches with RFID chips? What about fitness trackers, feeding off my earlier suggestion of a Run Disney MagicBand that takes advantage of its growing competitive running slate to roll out a fitness-tracking MagicBand? Getting folks to start wearing these bracelets outside of the theme park could also open up possibilities for not just Disney Store interactions but possibly even a digital wallet along the lines of Apple (AAPL) Pay or an unlocking mechanism for digital goodies at movie theaters and beyond. Disney really is just scratching the surface here. One can only imagine what will be possible in another year or two. More from Rick Aristotle Munarriz
  •3 More Reasons the Housing Bubble May Be About to Pop Again •Week's Winners, Losers: Walmart's Gains, 3-D Printing's Pains •A Desperate Microsoft Strikes Back on All Fronts

Top 10 Blue Chip Stocks To Buy For 2015: Chevron Corporation(CVX)

Chevron Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in petroleum, chemicals, mining, power generation, and energy operations worldwide. It operates in two segments, Upstream and Downstream. The Upstream segment involves in the exploration, development, and production of crude oil and natural gas; processing, liquefaction, transportation, and regasification associated with liquefied natural gas; transportation of crude oil through pipelines; and transportation, storage, and marketing of natural gas, as well as holds interest in a gas-to-liquids project. The Downstream segment engages in the refining of crude oil into petroleum products; marketing of crude oil and refined products primarily under the Chevron, Texaco, and Caltex brand names; transportation of crude oil and refined products by pipeline, marine vessel, motor equipment, and rail car; and manufacture and marketing of commodity petrochemicals, plastics for industrial uses, and fuel and lubricant additives. It a lso produces and markets coal and molybdenum; and holds interests in 13 power assets with a total operating capacity of approximately 3,100 megawatts, as well as involves in cash management and debt financing activities, insurance operations, real estate activities, energy services, and alternative fuels and technology business. Chevron Corporation has a joint venture agreement with China National Petroleum Corporation. The company was formerly known as ChevronTexaco Corp. and changed its name to Chevron Corporation in May 2005. Chevron Corporation was founded in 1879 and is based in San Ramon, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tyler Crowe]

  After 15 years of testing and optimizing the technique, meaningful shale gas production finally took off in 2009. By then, companies had become adept at identifying high-potential locations and decreasing operating costs. The combination of all this expertise lowers the risk of drilling a dud well than in other shale deposits around the world. So when a company wants to grow its natural gas production, it is much more likely to look at U.S. shale than others. Both Chevron (NYSE: CVX  ) and ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP  ) have announced that they intend to shift their capital expenditures more toward the U.S. than in riskier plays�abroad, and the lower risk�associated�with drilling the the U.S. is a large part of that decision.

• [By Sue Chang]

  On Friday, Chevron Corp. (CVX) �is projected to report third-quarter earnings of $2.69 a share, according to a consensus survey by Fact Set.

Top 10 Blue Chip Stocks To Buy For 2015: Visa Inc.(V)

Visa Inc., a payments technology company, engages in the operation of retail electronic payments network worldwide. It facilitates commerce through the transfer of value and information among financial institutions, merchants, consumers, businesses, and government entities. The company owns and operates VisaNet, a global processing platform that provides transaction processing services. It also offers a range of payments platforms, which enable credit, charge, deferred debit, debit, and prepaid payments, as well as cash access for consumers, businesses, and government entities. The company provides its payment platforms under the Visa, Visa Electron, PLUS, and Interlink brand names. In addition, it offers value-added services, including risk management, issuer processing, loyalty, dispute management, value-added information, and CyberSource-branded services. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jeff Reeves]

  Next Page

  High-Growth Stocks to Buy #1: Visa (V)

  Surprised that Visa (V), the payments processor that has been a household name for decades, is a high-growth stock?

• [By Sital S. Patel]

  Ellison wants to hear from management about how they plan to reinvent the bank in the next few years. Companies like The Blackstone Group (BX) �and BlackRock Inc. (BLK) � or some of the processors like Visa (V) �and Discover Financial Services (DFS) � are doing new, innovative things that are working, notes the portfolio manager.

Top 10 Blue Chip Stocks To Buy For 2015: McDonald's Corporation(MCD)

McDonald?s Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a worldwide foodservice retailer. It franchises and operates McDonald?s restaurants that offer various food items, soft drinks, coffee, and other beverages. As of December 31, 2009, the company operated 32,478 restaurants in 117 countries, of which 26,216 were operated by franchisees; and 6,262 were operated by the company. McDonald?s Corporation was founded in 1948 and is based in Oak Brook, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Matt Thalman]

  Despite announcing a $0.77 per-share quarterly dividend yesterday, McDonald's (NYSE: MCD  ) is down 1% today. However, shares could be moving lower because of news from yesterday: During the company's annual shareholder meeting, CEO Don Thompson had to defend his company against comments that McDonald's food is contributing to the obesity problem in America. Some critics have even pointed out that the company's marketing strategy -- including its mascot, Ronald McDonald -- has contributed to childhood obesity.�

• [By Editor , Dividend Growth Investor]

  McDonald’��� (MCD) franchises and operates McDonald’s restaurants in the United States, Europe, the Asia/Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, Canada, and Latin America. This dividend champion has rewarded shareholders with a dividend increase for 38 years in a row.

Top 10 Blue Chip Stocks To Buy For 2015: Colgate-Palmolive Company(CL)

Colgate-Palmolive Company, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and markets consumer products worldwide. It offers oral care products, including toothpaste, toothbrushes, and mouth rinses, as well as dental floss and pharmaceutical products for dentists and other oral health professionals; personal care products, such as liquid hand soap, shower gels, bar soaps, deodorants, antiperspirants, shampoos, and conditioners; and home care products comprising laundry and dishwashing detergents, fabric conditioners, household cleaners, bleaches, dishwashing liquids, and oil soaps. The company offers its oral, personal, and home care products under the Colgate Total, Colgate Max Fresh, Colgate 360 Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Bob Ciura]

  Investors often flock to consumer staples companies because of their stable businesses that produce reliable profits, year-in and year-out. Even when the economy takes a nosedive, companies like The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE: PG  ) and Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE: CL  ) see their earnings stay afloat. After all, even when consumers are under economic distress, they still have to buy everyday household items like toothpaste, soap, and paper towels.

Best Managed Healthcare Companies To Buy Right Now

Best Managed Healthcare Companies To Buy Right Now: Aixtron SE (AIXG)

AIXTRON SE (AIXTRON), formerly AIXTRON AG, incorporated in 1983, is a provider of deposition equipment equipment to the semiconductor and compound-semiconductor industry. The Company's technology solutions are used by a diverse range of customers worldwide to build advanced components for electronic and opto-electronic applications based on compound, silicon, or organic semiconductor materials. Such components are used in fiber optic communication systems, wireless and mobile telephony applications, optical and electronic storage devices, computing, signaling and lighting, displays, as well as a range of other technologies. AIXTRON's business activities include developing, producing and installing equipment for coating semiconductor materials, process engineering, consulting and training, including ongoing customer support. AIXTRON supplies to customers both full production-scale complex material deposition systems and small scale systems for research and development (R&D) use and small-scale production use.

AIXTRON's product range includes customized production and research scale compound semiconductor systems capable of depositing material films on up to 95 * two-inch diameter wafers per single production run, or smaller multiples of larger diameter wafers, employing MOCVD or Hydride Vapor Phase Epitaxy (HVPE) or organic thin film deposition on up to Gen. 3.5 substrates, including Polymer Vapor Phase Deposition (PVPD) or Organic Vapor Phase Deposition (OVPD) or large area deposition for Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLED) applications or Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Phase Deposition (PECVD) for depositing complex Carbon Nanostructures (Carbon Nanotubes, Nanowires or Graphene). AIXTRON also manufactures full production and research scale deposition systems for silicon semiconductor applications capable of d! epositing material films on wafers of up to 300 millimeters diameter, employing technologies, such as Chemical Vapor Depo sition (CVD), Atomic Vapor Deposition (AVD) and Atomic Layer! Deposition (ALD).

AIXTRON also offers a range of peripheral equipment and services, including products capable of monitoring the concentration of gases in the air and for cleaning the exhaust gas from metal organic chemical vapor deposition processes. The Company also assists its customers in designing the production layouts for the gas supply to thin film deposition systems. Additionally, the Company offers its customers training, consulting and support services.

The Company competes with Veeco Instruments Inc. (USA), Taiyo Nippon Sanso (Japan), Ulvac, Inc. (Japan), Tokki Corporation (Japan), Sumitomo (Japan), Applied Materials, Inc. (USA), Doosan DND Co., Ltd. (South Korea), Sunic System (South Korea), Tokyo Electron Ltd. (Japan), ASM International N.V. (Netherlands), IPS Technology (South Korea), Jusung Engineering Co. Ltd. (South Korea), and Hitachi Kokusai Electric Co. Inc. (Japan).

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Smith]

  This series, brought to you by Yahoo! Finance, looks at which upgrades and downgrades make sense and which ones investors should act on. Today, our headlines include upgrades for both industrialist Aixtron (NASDAQ: AIXG  ) and fashionista bebe stores (NASDAQ: BEBE  ) . But the news isn't all good, so let's start off with a few words on...

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  Aixtron SE (NASDAQ: AIXG) was downgraded to Sell from Hold at Canaccord Genuity.

  Buffalo Wild Wings Inc. (NASDAQ: BWLD) was downgraded to Outperform from Strong Buy at Raymond James.

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/best-managed-healthcare-companies-to-buy-right-now-2.html

Hot Financial Companies To Invest In Right Now

Hot Financial Companies To Invest In Right Now: Springleaf Holdings Inc (LEAF)

Springleaf Holdings, Inc. (Springleaf), incorporated on May 8, 2013, is a consumer finance company providing loan products to customers through it's nationwide branch network and through iLoan, it's Internet lending division. The Company originates consumer loans through it's network of 834 branch offices in 26 states and on a centralized basis as part of it's iLoan division. As of June 30, 2013, the Companys segments include: Consumer, Insurance, Portfolio Acquisitions, and Real Estate.

Consumer

Springleaf originate and service personal loans (secured and unsecured) through two business divisions: branch operations and it's iLoan division. Branch operations primarily conduct business in 26 states, which are it's core operating states. The iLoan division processes and underwrites loan applications that it receives through an Internet portal. If the applicant is located near an existing branch, it's iLoan division makes the credit decision regar ding the application and then refers the customer to a nearby branch for closing, funding and servicing. If the applicant is not located near a branch, it's iLoan division originates the loan.

Insurance

Springleaf offer credit insurance (life, accident and health insurance, and involuntary unemployment insurance), non-credit insurance, and ancillary products, such as warranty protection. The Company also require credit-related property and casualty insurance, when needed, to protect it's interest in the property pledged as collateral.

Portfolio Acquisitions

Springleaf acquired the SpringCastle Portfolio. This SpringCastle Portfolio was acquired from HSBC through a newly-formed joint venture in which it owns a 47% equity interest and which it consolidates in it's financial statements. The loans in the SpringCastle Portfolio vary in form and substance from it's typical branch serviced loans.

!

Real Estate

Springleaf service and hold real estate loans secured by! first or second mortgages on residential real estate. Real estate loans previously originated through it's branch offices are either serviced by it's branch personnel or by it's centralized servicing operation. Real estate loans previously acquired or originated through centralized distribution channels are serviced by one of it's indirect wholly owned subsidiaries, MorEquity, all of which are subserviced by Nationstar, except for certain securitized real estate loans, which are serviced and subserviced by third parties.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  Small cap installment loan and consumer financestock World Acceptance Corp (NASDAQ: WRLD), a potential peer of small cap Regional Management Corp (NYSE: RM) andmid capSpringleaf Holdings Inc (NYSE: LEAF), has elevated short interest of 38.72% according to Highshortinterest.com. However, World Acceptance Corp got on the radar of the shorts when the company disclosed that its being investigated by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureaufor its lending practices.

source from Top Stocks To Buy For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/hot-financial-companies-to-invest-in-right-now.html

The 6 Biggest Risk Factors for Insomnia

We often take sleep, the number of hours we get to sleep, or the quality of sleep we get, for granted. However, that may not be such a wise idea, as insomnia, a disorder that affects how you fall asleep, stay asleep, or a combination of the two, is becoming a major concern.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to a study published in 2011 and coordinated by the World Health Organization, insomnia costs U.S. employers a whopping $63 billion annually. Based on research that studied some 7,400-plus employed people across the United States, 23% suffered from insomnia at least three times a week, which resulted in the equivalent of 7.8 days of lost productivity each year -- or about $2,300 for an average employee's salary.

The effects of insomnia can range from mild sleepiness at work and tension headaches to potentially serious side effects such as depression and gastrointestinal symptoms. There's little sense in denying that at some point we all suffer from a case of insomnia in our lives, but the scary aspect is that some people live with this disorder on a regular, or chronic, basis.

According to the Mayo Clinic, there are six risk factors that can put you at a higher risk of developing insomnia (in no particular order): 

Being a woman: First off, let's not put men in the clear here, because they can get insomnia as well. However, hormonal fluctuations caused by menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause give women a far greater chance of developing insomnia than men. In addition, as we talked about a few weeks back, women are also more likely to develop certain types of depressive disorders that can lead to insomnia. Being over age 60: As we get older our sleep patterns have a habit of changing, which can wreak havoc on our bodies. Some of us learn to adapt with less sleep than others, but as a general rule, we need more recuperative sleep as we get older, to rest our bodies. If we don't get that sleep, some of those aforementioned unwanted mild to severe symptoms could develop. Having a mental health disorder: Certain diseases predispose people to a greater risk of developing insomnia. Anxiety, bipolar, and depressive disorders are three such ailments that often result in a higher percentage of people with insomnia. The Cleveland Children's Clinic further expounds on these disorders to include autism, as well as medical disorders such as fibromyalgia, heartburn, and thyroid disease.  Being stressed out: Back in May we looked at the three most common diseases caused by stress and learned that two of them, anxiety disorders and depression, are both high risk factors for causing insomnia. We've all probably dealt with some degree of insomnia related to our jobs; however, some people develop chronic insomnia based on life-altering events such as the loss of a loved one. According to the Mayo Clinic, unemployed people and those of low income are also at higher risk of developing insomnia. Working at night or changing shifts often: Nearly all of us prefer some stability in our sleep patterns. Admittedly, that can be difficult to get if you're working in a retail or overnight job, where your hours are subject to change on a daily or weekly basis. Without any real consistency, it can be difficult to get the proper amount of rest. Traveling a lot: No joke -- jet lag is a serious cause for concern. Traveling by plane across multiple time zones on a regular basis is a tiring experience, but it can also mess with people's internal clocks in a bad way, causing them to lose much-needed sleep.

Two ways to fix this
The medical community looks at insomnia from multiple perspectives, but the big key is whether this is a very temporary ailment for the individual, or if it's a chronic or recurring disorder.

Source: Luke O'Rourke, Flickr.

In cases where it's minor and/or temporary (e.g., a night or two), over-the-counter medications can often be effective. Sanofi (NYSE: SNY  ) , for example, owns the rights to Unisom, one of the most commonly used sleep aids, which it acquired when it purchased Chattem for $1.9 billion in 2009. Unisom is nothing more than a sedating antihistamine, but it can have unpleasant side effects such as daytime drowsiness, dry mouth, and dizziness. Therefore, physicians strongly discourage long-term usage of OTC medications -- often anything beyond two weeks.

If, instead, we're focusing on the chronic form of the diseases, then it comes down to whether your problem relates to falling asleep, staying asleep, or both. Chances are that you could be prescribed one of the following:

Lunesta: Developed by Sepracor, but purchased by Dainippon Sumitomo in 2009, Lunesta offers insomnia suffers help in both getting to sleep and staying asleep. In 2012, Lunesta brought in close to three-quarters of a billion dollars in sales, but it's set to face heavy generic competition beginning in 2014.

Ambien: Also developed by Sanofi but approved in 1992, Ambien peaked at roughly $2 billion in annual sales per year before going to generic versions some six years ago. But have no fear -- a newer generic version released by Ambien, known as zolpidem, is helping pick up where branded Ambien left off. However, it hasn't been an easy road for zolpidem-based sleep medications, which have been cited for having caused numerous auto accidents and other impairments the following morning. Recently, the FDA required Sanofi and other zolpidem-based sleep aids to cut their dosing in half to reduce these next-day lingering effects.

Sonata: Originally developed by King Pharmaceuticals, Sonata was brought under the Pfizer (NYSE: PFE  ) umbrella in 2010, when Pfizer acquired King. Like Ambien, Sonata for a time was a very popular sleep aid (in this case it was approved only to help people get to sleep, not necessarily to keep them asleep), but it ran into problems with its highly addictive properties. Today, Sonata is considered a controlled substance because of its addictive qualities, which can lead to abuse or dependence.

Counting sheep
But for each successful sleep aid to make it to insomnia sufferers, it seems there has been double that number of drugs that have failed to be successful.

The now-defunct Somaxon Pharmaceuticals, for example developed Silenor to treat patients who had no trouble getting to sleep but couldn't stay asleep. With fewer drugs indicated to treat this aspect of insomnia, expectations for the drug were quite high. If I recall correctly, I remember seeing estimates as high as $300 million-plus in sales of the drug for 2013. Through the first nine-months of 2012, Silenor sales totaled just a paltry $7.8 million. Now here's the real kicker: Somaxon signed on Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG  ) , a marketing behemoth, as its licensing partner to promote the drug. But rather than lock P&G into a deal whereby it shared some of the risk in exchange for a share of Silenor's potential, Somaxon practically took on all of the marketing risk and gave P&G an easy way to back out of its partnership -- which it did, not too long after.

More recently there was Merck's (NYSE: MRK  ) suvorexant, which received praise from the FDA's panel by a vote of 12-to-4 in favor of approval, yet also dealt with concerns about some 11% of patients who exhibited somnolence (a state of near-sleep) during the day. Lower doses of the drug reduced this occurrence to just 7%, but it wasn't enough to convince the FDA, which rejected the drug on dosing concerns. The overall consensus among the Street is that suvorexant's approval process could be delayed by one year or more.

The big bad wolf
What the sleep sector really needs is a new drug capable of knocking the socks off Wall Street and insomnia sufferers. I do believe Merck's suvorexant could be that drug. In late-stage clinical trials at both the higher (40mg) and lower dosage (20mg), suvorexant significantly helped patients gets to sleep faster (anywhere from 25.7 minutes to 33.7 minutes) and stay asleep longer when compared with the placebo.

Given the recent rash of somnolence brought to light by Ambien CR and other zolpidem product users, it's not a surprise to see the FDA taking the safer approach here and requiring Merck to come back with a lower-dose version of its drug. Peak sales estimates for the drug have fluttered around $700 million, but if it can perform similarly to its 20mg to 40mg dosing at, say, 10mg to 15mg, then I could easily see it hitting $1 billion mark in annual sales. Ultimately, even at half the lowest dose, this drug could help change the lives of chronic insomniacs, and it could be the smartest way for investors to sleep better at night.

Put simply, your financial health is just as important as your personal health. The Motley Fool's special free report "3 Stocks That Will Help You Retire Rich" names specific investment opportunities that could help you build long-term wealth and help you retire well. The Fool also outlines critical wealth-building strategies that every investor should know. Click here to keep reading.