LONDON -- The�FTSE 100�is sitting on another new five-year record at the time of writing, having gained 14 points to 6,571 so far today. Driven by positive earnings reports and economic optimism from China, the index of top UK shares has smashed through the record of 6,534 points it set on March 12, after four straight days of rises.
But not all FTSE 100 companies are enjoying the same success. Here are three whose shares are dropping today:
Sainsbury
J Sainsbury�shares dipped 9.8 pence (2.5%) to 387 pence by mid-morning, after the supermarket chain revealed a 1.4% fall in full-year pre-tax profit to 788 million pounds -- although�underlying profit is up 6.2%�to 756 million pounds. Total sales rose by 4.6% to 25.6 billion pounds. There will be a full-year dividend of 16.7 pence per share, which is a rise of 3.7% over last year and represents a yield of 4.3% on the current share price.
In other news, the company is to take full control of Sainsbury's Bank by buying the 50% owned by�Lloyds Banking Group, for 248 million pounds. The bank, which has been in operation since 1997, has grown its profits for five successive years and recorded a pre-tax profit of 59 million pounds in its last year.
Hot Industrial Disributor Companies To Buy Right Now: Middlesex Water Co (MSEX)
Middlesex Water Company (Middlesex), incorporated in 1897, is a water utility company. The Company owns and operates regulated water utility and wastewater systems in New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania. Middlesex also operates water and wastewater systems under contract on behalf of municipal and private clients in New Jersey and Delaware. It operates in two segments: Regulated and Non-Regulated. During the year ended December 31, 2011, its Regulated segment contributed approximately 90% of total revenues. The Regulated segment consists of collecting, treating and distributing water on a retail and wholesale basis to residential, commercial, industrial and fire protection customers in parts of New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania. This segment also includes regulated wastewater systems in New Jersey and Delaware. The Non-Regulated segment consists of non-regulated contract services for the operation and maintenance of municipal and private water and wastewater systems in New Jersey and Delaware.
The Company�� subsidiaries include Tidewater Utilities, Inc. (Tidewater) and Tidewater�� wholly owned subsidiaries, Southern Shores Water Company, LLC (Southern Shores) and White Marsh Environmental Systems, Inc. (White Marsh). Its other subsidiaries are Pinelands Water Company (Pinelands Water) and Pinelands Wastewater Company (Pinelands Wastewater) (collectively, Pinelands), Utility Service Affiliates, Inc. (USA), Utility Service Affiliates (Perth Amboy) Inc., (USA-PA), Tidewater Environmental Services, Inc. (TESI) and Twin Lakes Utilities, Inc. (Twin Lakes).
Middlesex System
The Middlesex System in New Jersey provides water services to approximately 60,000 retail customers, primarily in eastern Middlesex County, New Jersey and provides water under wholesale contracts to the City of Rahway, Townships of Edison and Marlboro, the Boroughs of Highland Park and Sayreville and the Old Bridge Municipal Utilities Authority. The Middlesex System treats, stores and dis! tributes water for residential, commercial, industrial and fire prevention purposes. The Middlesex System also provides water treatment and pumping services to the Township of East Brunswick under contract. The Middlesex System produced approximately 64% of its 2011 consolidated operating revenues.
The Middlesex System�� retail customers are located in an area of approximately 55 square miles in Woodbridge Township, the City of South Amboy, the Boroughs of Metuchen and Carteret, portions of the Township of Edison and the Borough of South Plainfield in Middlesex County and, to a minor extent, a portion of the Township of Clark in Union County. Retail customers include a mix of residential customers, industrial concerns and commercial and light industrial facilities.
The contract customers of the Middlesex System comprise an area of approximately 146 square miles with a population of approximately 303,000. Contract sales to Edison, Sayreville, Old Bridge, Marlboro and Rahway are supplemental to the existing water systems of these customers. The Middlesex System provides treated surface water under long-term agreements to East Brunswick, Marlboro, Old Bridge and Sayreville. Middlesex provides water service to approximately 300 customers in Cumberland County, New Jersey. Its Middlesex System, which produced approximately 15.6 billion gallons in 2011, obtains water from surface sources and wells, or groundwater sources.
Tidewater System
Tidewater, together with its wholly owned subsidiary, Southern Shores, provides water services to approximately 36,000 retail customers for domestic, commercial and fire protection purposes in over 300 separate community water systems in New Castle, Kent and Sussex Counties, Delaware. White Marsh is an additional wholly owned subsidiary that is unregulated as to rates and operates water and wastewater systems under contract for approximately 4,700 residential customers. White Marsh also owns the office buildings that Tid! ewater us! es as its central business office campus. The Tidewater System produced approximately 25% of its 2011 consolidated operating revenues. Its Tidewater System produced approximately 2 billion gallons in 2011 from 159 wells.
Utility Service Affiliates-Perth Amboy
Utility Service Affiliates-Perth Amboy (USA-PA) operates the City of Perth Amboy, New Jersey�� water and wastewater systems under a 20-year agreement, which expires in 2018. USA-PA serves approximately 11,000 homes and businesses, most of which are served by both the water and wastewater systems. USA-PA produced approximately 9% of its 2011 consolidated operating revenues.
Pinelands System
Pinelands Water provides water services to approximately 2,500 residential customers in Burlington County, New Jersey. Pinelands Water produced less than 1% of its 2011 consolidated operating revenues. Pinelands Water is not physically interconnected with the Middlesex System. Pinelands Wastewater provides wastewater services to approximately 2,400 residential customers. Under contract, it also services one municipal wastewater system in Burlington County, New Jersey with approximately 200 residential customers. Water supply to its Pinelands System is derived from four wells, which produced approximately 159.1 million gallons in 2011.
Utility Service Affiliates, Inc.
Utility Service Affiliates, Inc. (USA) offers residential customers in New Jersey and Delaware water service line and sewer lateral maintenance programs (LineCare). USA produced less than 1% of its 2011 consolidated operating revenues.
TESI System
TESI provides wastewater services to approximately 2,200 residential retail customers in Delaware. TESI produced approximately 1% of its 2011 consolidated operating revenues. The TESI System treated approximately 76.8 million gallons in 2011. The TESI System consists of seven wastewater treatment systems in Southern Delaware.
Twin Lakes Sys! tem
Twin Lakes provides water services to approximately 120 residential customers in Shohola, Pennsylvania. Twin Lakes produced less than 1% of its 2011 consolidated operating revenues. Water supply to Twin Lakes��customers is derived from two wells, which delivered approximately 26.6 million gallons in 2011.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Lawrence Meyers]
WGL serves about 170,000 customers in the Mid-Atlantic. So as you can see, it�� a broadly diversified dividend stock, and that�� one reason it has paid a dividend for 37 years. The dividend yield for WGL stock is presently at 4.4%.
Middlesex Water Company (MSEX)Dividend yield: 3.7%
- [By Marc Bastow]
Utility operator Middlesex Water (MSEX) raised its quarterly dividend 1.3% to 18 cents per share, payable on Dec. 2 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 15. The increase marks the 41st consecutive annual dividend increase.
MSEX Dividend Yield:�3.53% - [By Dividends4Life]
Starting in 2013 the federal tax rates on qualified dividends are 0%, 15% and 20%. The 20% rate is for taxpayers in the 39.6% tax bracket. For those in the 10% and 15% brackets, there is no tax on qualified dividends. In contrast, ordinary income is taxed at rates up to up to 39.6%. Below are several stocks that have consistently paid dividends through depressions, recessions, world wars, and other political and economic upheavals:WGL Holdings Inc. (WGL) provides natural gas service in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area and surrounding regions, including Maryland and Virginia. Yield: 4.1% | Paid Dividends Since: 1852Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM), formed through the merger of Exxon and Mobil in late 1999, is the world's largest publicly owned integrated oil company. Yield: 2.7% | Paid Dividends Since: 1882Consolidated Edison, Inc. (ED) is an electric and gas utility holding company serves parts of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Yield: 4.4% | Paid Dividends Since: 1885The Procter & Gamble Company (PG) is a leading consumer products company that markets household and personal care products in more than 180 countries. Yield: 3.2% | Paid Dividends Since: 1891The Coca-Cola Company (KO) is the world's largest soft drink company, KO also has a sizable fruit juice business. Yield: 2.9% | Paid Dividends Since: 1893General Mills, Inc. (GIS) is a major producer of packaged consumer food products, include cereal, yogurt and Betty Crocker desserts/baking mixes. Yield: 3.0% | Paid Dividends Since: 1898Avista Corp. (AVA) generates, transmits and distributes energy as well as engages in energy-related businesses in the United States and Canada. Yield: 3.0% | Paid Dividends Since: 1899MGE Energy Inc. (MGEE) is a public utility holding company that supplies electric service to apx. 140,000 customers; and natural gas service to apx. 145,000 customers in Wisconsin (as of December 2012). Yield: 2.8% | Paid Dividends Since: 1909Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) offers energy-related prod
10 Best Supermarket Stocks To Watch Right Now: Blackrock Global (BOE)
BlackRock Global Opportunities Equity Trust is a closed ended equity mutual fund launched by BlackRock, Inc. The fund is managed by BlackRock Advisors, LLC. It invests in the public equity markets across the globe. The fund invests in the stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. It primarily invests in all cap companies. The fund benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against the S&P Global Broad Market Index. BlackRock Global Opportunities Equity Trust was formed on May 31, 2005 and is domiciled in the United States.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Michael Cintolo]
Diamondback Energy currently estimates its proved oil and natural gas reserves at 63.6 billion barrels of oil equivalent (BOE), but believes that figure could grow by another 393 million (BOE) as methods improve for extracting resources from shale oil fields.
- [By Fede Zaldua]
Even when production was down by 2%, realization prices were up by 4% at $67.4 per barrel of oil equivalent (boe). Downstream was, by far, the weakest link of all. Downstream earnings declined aggressively by 76% year over year due to lower margins and the sale of two refineries in the U.S. As a matter of fact, earnings were 74% upstream, 14% Rosneft and 12% downstream. Earnings were good but they are still a reflection of a company that is trying to reshape itself.
- [By Canadian Value]
Post-scriptum: Wow! In a recent Bloomberg article, Andrew Gracie, an executive director at the Bank of England (BoE), was proposing that in the event of a bank failure, regulators could suspend derivatives contracts affecting the failed bank on a global basis.4 He further argues that ��he entry of a bank into resolution should not in itself be an event of default�� In other words, the solution proposed by the BoE to deal with a bank that fails and that has entered in a mountain of derivatives contracts is to suspend the market.
- [By idahansen]
Due to the impact of The Great Recession, stocks in the agricultural sector such as Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT), The Mosiac Company (NYSE: MOS), and Potash of Saskatchewan (NYSE: POT) are trading well below highs. The exchange traded fund for the industry, DBA Power Shares, (NYSE: DBA), is down more than 17% for the last year. Despite this bearish trend, legendary investors such as Warren Buffett, George Soros, and Jim Rogers are very positive for the agriculture group. With the long term bullish outlook for the sector from the greatest investors in history, small cap stocks active in the fertilizer sector such as Sirius Minerals (LSE: SXX) and Americas Petrogas (TSX: BOE) are especially attractive.
10 Best Supermarket Stocks To Watch Right Now: Yanzhou Coal Mining Company Limited(YZC)
Yanzhou Coal Mining Company Limited engages in the underground mining, preparation, and sale of coal. It involves in manufacturing, washing, processing, and selling steam coal used in the electricity power sector; and metallurgical coal used with coking coal in the process of pulverized coal injection, as well as operates six coal mines. The company also engages in the provision of railway transportation services; production and sale of coal chemicals, primarily methanol; and generation of electricity and heat. In addition, it involves in the manufacture and sale of mining machinery and engine products; and development of integrated coal technology. Further, the company engages in the transportation via rivers and lakes; sale of construction materials; and trading and processing of mining machinery. It has operations primarily in China, Japan, South Korea, and Australia. The company was founded in 1973 and is based in Zoucheng, the People's Republic of China. Yanzhou Coal Mining Company Limited is a subsidiary of Yankuang Group Corporation Limited.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Belinda Cao]
Yanzhou Coal Mining Co. (YZC), China�� fourth-largest coal producer, lost 3.6 percent last week to $10.33. The company posted its eighth weekly slump, the longest stretch of declines since August 1998. Bank of America Corp. cut the stock to the equivalent of sell from neutral May 3.
- [By Roberto Pedone]
Yanzhou Coal Mining (YZC) engages in the underground coal mining, as well as preparation, processing, sale and railway transportation of coal. This stock closed up 7.6% to $7.31 in Thursday's trading session.
Thursday's Range: $7.14-$7.31
52-Week Range: $6.68-$18.57
Thursday's Volume: 391,000
Three-Month Average Volume: 370,383From a technical perspective, YZC bounced sharply higher here right off some near-term support at $6.77 with above-average volume. This stock has been downtrending badly for the last six months, with shares plunging from its high of over $14 to its recent low of $6.68. During that move, shares of YZC have been consistently making lower highs and lower lows, which is bearish technical price action. That said, shares of YZC have recently formed a double bottom chart pattern at $6.68 to $6.77. This stock now looks ready to reverse that downtrend and possibly trigger a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if YZC manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $7.76 to $8 with high volume.
Traders should now look for long-biased trades in YZC as long as it's trending above its recent low of $6.77 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 370,383 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then YZC will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $9 to $10. Any high-volume move above those levels will then give YZC a chance to tag its next major overhead resistance levels at $10.67 to $11.11.
10 Best Supermarket Stocks To Watch Right Now: Pinnacle Entertainment Inc.(PNK)
Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. owns, develops, and operates casinos, and related hospitality and entertainment facilities in the United States. It operates casinos, such as L'Auberge du Lac in Lake Charles, Louisiana; River City Casino and Lumiere Place in St. Louis, Missouri; Boomtown New Orleans in New Orleans, Louisiana; Belterra Casino Resort in Vevay, Indiana; Boomtown Bossier City in Bossier City, Louisiana; and Boomtown Reno in Reno, Nevada. The company also operates River Downs racetrack in southeast Cincinnati, Ohio. As of May 26, 2011, it operated seven casinos and one racetrack. The company was formerly known as Hollywood Park, Inc. and changed its name to Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. in February 2000. Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. was founded in 1935 and is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Dan Radovsky]
Pinnacle Entertainment (NYSE: PNK ) has reached an agreement in principle with the Bureau of Competition of the Federal Trade Commission that would allow the company to complete its proposed acquisition of Ameristar Casinos (NASDAQ: ASCA ) , Pinnacle announced today.
- [By Ben Levisohn]
Pinnacle Entertainment (PNK) has gained 56% this year; Las Vegas Sands (LVS) has climbed 38%. And Deutsche Bank has nice things to say about both today.
BloombergFirst Pinnacle. Deutsche Bank’s Carlo Santarelli ponders the stock’s big move and comes away still seeing value in its shares. He writes:
When we upgraded PNK in April, our thesis centered on the FCF strength of the combined entities [Pinnacle completed its acquisition of Ameristar Casinos on Aug. 14], a handful of favorable catalysts, easing regional gaming comps, & an inexpensive relative valuation. Given the shares’ sizeable move since then, we believe it is worth revisiting the investment case. Post the announcement of several asset sales and the closing of the transaction, we are adjusting our estimates, raising our PT to $30 from $24, and maintaining our bullish view at current levels given what we still believe to be an attractive free cash flow valuation, meaningful potential synergy realization beyond the $40 mm of announced benefits, and a free option on a lagging regional recovery.
Santarelli also revisited Las Vegas Sands and there too, he likes what he sees. He writes:
With…LVS at [a share price level] that have been challenging to break from over the last year plus, we believe this time is different and hence we see continued upward momentum…In the case of LVS, we see; 1) meaningful mass market strength continuing through year end, setting the stage for upward company and market estimate revisions for 2014, 2) continued cash flow appreciation and capital returns serving as downside protection and positive catalysts, and 3) continued shared gains, largely driven by table optimization and mass market strength, driving both estimates and sentiment.
He also likes Wynn Resorts (WYNN), despite its 34% gain.�Santarelli writes:
As for WYNN, we believe near-term estimates continue to take a back seat to capital return
10 Best Supermarket Stocks To Watch Right Now: America's Car-Mart Inc.(CRMT)
America?s Car-Mart, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as an automotive retailer in the United States. It primarily sells older model used vehicles and provides financing for its customers. As of February 3, 2012, the company operated 112 automotive dealerships in 9 states. The company was founded in 1981 and is based in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Lawrence Meyers]
However, that growth is 20% in FY13, 15% in FY14 and 9% in the long term. PAG stock trades at $41, or about 13x FY14 estimates. It has the least leverage of all, at about $1 billion, and while it has positive FCF, that figure is weaker than our other options. PAG isn’t the worst of the car stocks, but AN stock is in better condition. I��l pass on PAG.
America�� Car-Mart (CRMT)America�� Car-Mart (CRMT) is the last of our used car stocks.
- [By tonyg34]
In a recent interview right here on GuruFocus, Tom Gayner of Markel (MKL) had a few things to say about CarMax (KMX). This prompted me to give the company a closer look. What follows is a business analysis. We will save considerations of stock analysis, such as price, for a later discussion.
I think that is a business that will continue to grow. I don't see any reason why you can't have a Carmax in a lot of towns way beyond what they're talking about right now. I think being the number one dealer, and having the number one market share in used car arena gives you great information on what transaction prices are. Then you work on the process to be as quick and as cost efficient in fixing the car and getting it sold, and have the confidence from customers when you offer warranties on the products. Those factors create a virtuous cycle. The more you do, the more you can do, the better the pricing is, the more the customers like you, the more your brand matters. The company will be around for a good long time. The management has done a very good job of creating the system and executing it.
CarMax was formed as a unit of Circuit City in 1993 and was spun off in 2002. Used-car sales account for about 80% of revenue. Competitors include, but certainly are not limited to, AutoNation (AN) and America's Car-Mart (CRMT) as well as private party sellers.
10 Best Supermarket Stocks To Watch Right Now: Interactive Leisure Systems Inc (IALS)
InterActive Leisure Systems Inc, formerly Dukeshire Ventures Inc., incorporated on August 2, 1999, is engaged in the development of Digital Versatile Disc (DVD), format known as Versatile Multilayer Disc (VMD). The Company consists of three operating divisions: Optics, Electronics and Media Division. Optics division is responsible for the development of the VMD disc in its entirety, from mastering, replication, printing to packaging besides the VMD replication lines in collaboration with a consortium partners. Electronics division handles development of high definition optical disc players. Media division is responsible for the development of the high definition format for the optical discs themselves together with authoring tools for the media industry to enable them to display their film content on VMD discs. On May 30, 2007, the Company acquired technology and file format to use with VMD players from Semilla Capital Ltd Hong Kong.
The Company is focussed on producing VMD disc in a number of formats including read only, write once, re-writable (RW) and read only/re-writable combined. The VMD drive is very similar to the standard DVD RW drive with modifications to the firmware to instruct the laser to read multiple layers. The modifications in the software re-calibrate the red laser, enabling it to read data on all data layers. The Company has developed its own VMD authoring software.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Peter Graham]
What�� the Catch With Bison Petroleum Corp? According to various disclosures, a transaction of $6,500 has or will occur to mention Bison Petroleum Corp in various investment newsletters. Last Wednesday, Bison Petroleum Corp provided a corporate update which also included further details about its Independence Prospect plus the appointment of two seasoned advisors. Back in August, Bison Petroleum Corp had acquired a 100% Working Interest (WI) and 80% Net Revenue Interest (NRI) in the 840-acre Independence Prospect located in the ��rolific�� Bighorn Basin, Wyoming and the company is currently developing an exploration plan for these leases plus they have appointed a Vice-President of Explorations and a Senior Geological Advisor. Back in September, Bison Petroleum Corp also announced the appointment of a new CEO and the launch of its corporate website. A quick look at Bison Petroleum Corp�� financials reveals no revenues; net losses of $340k (most recent reported quarter), $16k, $56k and $30k for the past four quarters; and $30k in cash to cover $36k in current liabilities at the end of last July.
Interactive Leisure Systems Inc (OTCMKTS: IALS) Announces AcquisitionsSmall cap Interactive Leisure Systems is a technology company specializing in the global travel industry that intends to purchase an enterprise software platform for the marketing, sale and management of travel products. On Friday, Interactive Leisure Systems sank 16% to $0.021 for a market cap of $1.44 million plus IALS is up 10,400% over the past year and up 425% over the past five years according to Google Finance.
10 Best Supermarket Stocks To Watch Right Now: Tetra Technologies Inc.(TTI)
TETRA Technologies, Inc. operates as a diversified oil and gas services company. The company operates in three divisions: Fluids, Production Enhancement, and Offshore. The Fluids Division manufactures and markets clear brine fluids, additives, and other associated products and services to the oil and gas industry for use in well drilling, completion, and workover operations in the United States, as well as in various countries in Latin America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa; and markets liquid and dry calcium chloride products to non-energy markets. The Production Enhancement division offers production testing services in various oil and gas basins in the United States, as well as in Mexico, Brazil, northern Africa, and the Middle East; and wellhead compression-based production enhancement services in the onshore producing regions of the United States, as well as various onshore basins in Canada, Mexico, South America, Europe, and Asia. The Offshore division pr ovides offshore services, including downhole and subsea oil and gas services, such as well plugging and abandonment, and wireline services; decommissioning and construction services utilizing heavy lift barges and various technologies for offshore oil and gas production platforms and pipelines; and conventional and saturated air diving services. It also engages in the exploration, development, and production of oil and gas properties in the offshore and onshore U.S. Gulf Coast region. This division provides its services to oil and gas companies and independent operators. The company was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in the Woodlands, Texas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Ben Levisohn]
What a ride it’s been for investors in�Tetra Technologies (TTI) today.
Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesShares of Tetra Technologies traded down as much as 16% this morning after the oil & gas services company reported a profit of 6 cents not including Maritech and other unusual items, missing analyst forecasts for 19 cents. Tetra Technologies also said it would make between 50 cents and 60 cents during fiscal 2014, below forecasts for 66 cents.
At 2:38 p.m., however, Tetra was trading down just 0.8% at $10.88. RBC’s Kurt Hallead and team explain why:
Tetra Technologies rallied after starting the day at -15%. We think there was an overreaction to the headline miss and�Tetra Technologies’ core operating business results, along with 2H14 guidance, were in line with expectations. Moving forward, the company has some key catalysts on the horizon that should lead to significantly improved operating performance and investor awareness. Key Catalysts:
1. Get Maritech (E&P P&A liability in GoM) off the books. Ideally by 3Q. Once this is done,�Tetra Technologies may implement a dividend or share repo program.
2. Broaden Production Testing customer base, which should lead to a ramp in margins.
3. Increase scale of Compressco through M&A, along with awareness of the MLP’s value to Tetra Technologies.
4. Sell the offshore services business to simplify business structure.
Shares of Tetra Technologies are down 12% in 2014.
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