Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Top Information Technology Companies For 2014

Salesforce.com (NYSE: CRM  ) first announced its intention to acquire cloud-based digital marketing leader ExactTarget for an estimated $2.5 billion on June 4, 2013. Just over a month later, the deal has been completed, Salesforce.com said today.

Salesforce.com intends to integrate ExactTarget solutions into its industry-leading CRM in an effort to "create a world-class marketing platform across email, social, mobile and the web," according to today's release.

In support of Salesforce.com's objective to expand its cloud-marketing solutions with the acquisition of ExactTarget, it cited Gartner�research that indicates, "CMOs will outspend CIOs on information technology by 2017."

In discussing the opportunity that ExactTarget solutions offer, Salesforce.com Chairman and CEO Marc Benioff cited data compiled by Gartner�that predicts, "CMOs will outspend CIOs on information technology by 2017." Benioff added, "The addition of ExactTarget makes Salesforce the starting place for every company and puts salesforce.com in the pole position to capture this opportunity."�

Hot Value Companies To Watch In Right Now: Arch Coal Inc. (ACI)

Arch Coal, Inc. produces and sells thermal and metallurgical coal from surface and underground mines located in the United States. As of December 31, 2013, it operated or contracted out the operation of 22 mines, and owned or controlled approximately 5.3 billion tons of proven and probable recoverable reserves. The company also owned or controlled primarily through long-term leases approximately 32,135 acres of coal land in Ohio; 22,417 acres of coal land in Maryland; 46,532 acres of coal land in Virginia; 425,038 acres of coal land in West Virginia; 107,668 acres of coal land in Wyoming; 267,024 acres of coal land in Illinois; 19,428 acres of coal land in Montana; 21,802 acres of coal land in New Mexico; and 20,166 acres of coal land in Colorado, as well as coal land in Kentucky. In addition, it owned or controlled through long-term leases smaller parcels of property in Alabama, Indiana, Washington, Arkansas, California, Utah, and Texas. The company sells coal to power pl ants, steel mills, and industrial facilities. Arch Coal, Inc. was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Ben Levisohn]

    The price of natural gas, however, has dropped 0.4% today, and wouldn’t you know it, coal stocks are weak. Cloud Peak Energy (CLD) has dropped 4.2% to $16.15, while Peabody Energy (BTU) has fallen 2.9% to $17.27. Arch Coal (ACI) is off 1.3% at $4.45, Alpha Natural Resources (ANR) has declined 1.4% to $5.76 and Consol Energy (CNX) has dipped 0.7% to $31.35.

  • [By Matt DiLallo]

    Norfolk
    The Norfolk area is home to coal-terminal operator Dominion Terminal Associates, among others. The facility is jointly owned by Peabody Energy (NYSE: BTU  ) , Arch Coal (NYSE: ACI  ) , and Alpha Natural Resources (NYSE: ANR  ) , which use it to ship coal around the world. It's a state-of-the-art facility that features many environmental safeguards to keep the 1.7 million net tons of coal storage capacity from causing any environmental damage. Overall, coal exports provide significant economic benefits to Norfolk as well as the state of Virginia as a whole. It's estimated that coal exports contributed to more than 19,000 jobs to the state and added $2.5 billion in related economic value.�

  • [By Ben Levisohn]

    Shares of Arch Coal (ACI) have plunged today after Morgan Stanley downgraded the company after predicting that even-cheaper natural gas would knock down coal prices–and Arch’s profits.

    Bloomberg News

    Morgan Stanley’s Stephen Byrd and team explain:

    NAPP coal demand is at the highest risk from negative gas basis in Marcellus and Utica. Although coal demand has rebounded from 2012, we see 2013 as a near term peak as regional gas prices in the production-heavy mid-Atlantic erodes NAPP demand. Although NAPP falls lower on a generic cost curve than CAPP, it is burned primarily in regions exposed to cheap gas from Marcellus and Utica production. We expect weak gas basis relative to Henry Hub to spread though PA, NJ, WV and even Ohio and Downstate NY in 2014, reducing capacity factors at coal plants in these regions. We see ~8mm tons decrease in PJM NAPP coal burn in 2014 relative to 2013.

    That’s bad for Arch Coal, Byrd says. He writes:

    We are downgrading Arch to Underweight from Equal-weight, driven by our more negative view of the domestic thermal coal market. Arch is a thermal-heavy name with significant balance sheet leverage, making the company vulnerable to prolonged depressed market conditions.

    Also taking a hit: Exelon (EXC), which Byrd downgraded to Underweight from Overweight.

    It’s not all bad news, however. Two utilities should benefit from this trend, Calpine (CPN) and Dominion Resources (D), although the advantage may already be priced into Dominion’s shares, Byrd says.

    Sahes of Arch Coal have dropped 5.3% to $3.90 at 3:03 p.m. today,�while Excelon has dropped 3.2% to $28.59. Calpine has gained 0.7% to $19.37 and Dominion is up 1.1% at $62.49. Consol Energy (CNX), which is also exposed to East Coast coal is down 2.1% at $37.55.

Top Information Technology Companies For 2014: Cereplast Inc (CERPQ)

Cereplast, Inc. (Cereplast), incorporated on September 29, 2001, is engaged in developing and commercializing bio-based resins through two product families: Cereplast Compostables Resins, which are compostable, renewable, ecologically sound substitutes for petroleum-based plastics, and Cereplast Sustainables resins (including the Cereplast Hybrid Resins product line), which replaces up to 90% of the petroleum-based content of traditional plastics with materials from renewable resources. The Company primarily conducts its operations through product families, such as Cereplast Compostables resins, Cereplast Hybrid Resins and Cereplast Algae Plastic resins. In October 2011, the Company purchased a manufacturing plant in Assisi (Cannara).

Cereplast Compostables resins are compostable and bio-based, ecologically sound substitutes for petroleum-based plastics targeting primarily compostable bags, single-use food service products and packaging applications. The Company offers 13 commercial grades of Compostable resins in this product line. Cereplast Sustainables resins are partially or fully bio-based, ecologically sound substitutes for fully petroleum-based plastics targeting primarily durable goods, packaging applications. The Company offers six commercial grades of Sustainable resins in this product line. Cereplast Hybrid Resins products replace up to 55% of the petroleum content in conventional plastics with bio-based materials, such as industrial starches sourced from plants. The Hybrid resins line is designed to offer similar properties to traditional polyolefins, such as impact strength and heat deflection temperature, and is compatible with existing converter processes and equipment. The first commercial product with Cereplast Algae Plastic resin is being produced and sold as part of the Company's Sustainables resin family.

The Company's Compostable resins are renewable substitutes for petroleum-based plastics targeting primarily single-use disposables. The Company's Compost! able Resins have been used to produce foodservice ware, including the first line of fully biodegradable and compostable foodservice ware. Cereplast Hybrid Resins uses renewable materials such as starches from corn and tapioca.

Cereplast competes with BASF, Dow Chemical, Lyondell Basell, DuPont, SABIC, Novamont, NatureWorks and Telles.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Bryan Murphy]

    The whole thing may seem a little "out there" at first glance, but truth be told, what Metabolix, Inc. does isn't terribly unusual anymore. It's just a little less sexy than what traders and stock speculators usually want to see and hear with their picks. Kraton Performance Polymers Inc. (NYSE:KRA) and the now-bankrupt Cereplast Inc. (OTCMKTS:CERPQ) are/were in the same business, along with several others. [Don't let the Cereplast bankruptcy filing deter you - it wasn't a lack of opportunity that up-ended CERP.]

Top Information Technology Companies For 2014: Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp (TNXP)

Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp., incorporated on November 16, 2011, is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing novel pharmaceutical products for disorders of the central nervous system (CNS). The Company develops TNX-102 sublingual tablet, or TNX-102 SL. TNX-102 SL is a novel dose and formulation of cyclobenzaprine (CBP), the active pharmaceutical ingredient of two prescribed muscle relaxant products, Flexeril and Amrix. TNX-102 SL is also intended for chronic use. It develops TNX-102 SL for the treatment of FM under a United States Investigational New Drug application (IND), and under three clinical trial applications (CTAs), filed in Canada. It also develops TNX-102 SL for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As of January 25, 2013, the Company focuses on product development, and had not generated any revenues.

The Company searches for potential therapeutic solutions among known pharmaceutical agents that lack regulatory approval for the indications it seeks, but may be approved for use in other indications. It seeks to create new dose and formulation options that are tailored to the therapeutic uses to which it applies these agents. TNX-102 SL is a small, rapidly disintegrating tablet containing CBP for sublingual administration at bedtime. The Company designed TNX-102 SL for delivery of CBP to the systemic circulation through sublingual transmucosal absorption and to avoid first-pass liver metabolism.

CBP is the active pharmaceutical ingredient in its lead product candidate, TNX-102 SL. In addition to CBP, TNX-102 SL contains inactive ingredients, called excipients, which are approved for pharmaceutical use. In addition to TNX-102 SL, it develops other formulations of CBP, including TNX-102 promicellar gelatin capsule, or TNX-102 gelcap. It developed TNX-102 gelcap under an agreement with Lipocine, Inc. (Lipocine), a contract formulation developer and small-scale manufacturer. In addition it has other pipeline of other product cand! idates, including TNX-201 and TNX-301. TNX-201 is based on isometheptene mucate and is under development as a treatment for certain types of headaches.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By John Udovich]

    It�� a new year and the first one and a half trading weeks of 2014 has not disappointed biotech investors as the sector and mid cap or small cap biotech or�pharma stocks like Intercept Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: ICPT), Epizyme Inc (NASDAQ: EPZM), Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp (NASDAQ: TNXP) and TNI BioTech Inc (OTCQB: TNIB) either surging or producing some news plus there have been IPO filings for future listings for�Flexion Therapeutics (NASDAQ: FLXN), Aldexa Therapeutics (NASDAQ: ALDX), Retrophin (NASDAQ:�RTRX) and Dicerna Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: DRNA). Consider the following news so far this year:

Top Information Technology Companies For 2014: Lincoln Educational Services Corporation(LINC)

Lincoln Educational Services Corporation provides post-secondary education services in the United States. The company offers degree and diploma programs for recent high school graduates and working adults in the areas of studies, such as health science, automotive technology, skilled trades, business and information technology, and hospitality services. As of December 31, 2011, it had 19,204 enrolled students. The company operates 46 schools in 17 states under Lincoln Technical Institute, Lincoln College of Technology, Lincoln College of New England, Nashville Auto-Diesel College, and Euphoria Institute of Beauty Arts and Sciences brand names, as well as offers online programs. Lincoln Educational Services Corporation was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in West Orange, New Jersey.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Jon C. Ogg]

    Teradyne will replace Scholastic Corp. (NASDAQ: SCHL) in the S&P MidCap 400, and Scholastic will replace Lincoln Education Services Corp. (NASDAQ: LINC) in the S&P SmallCap 600. Lincoln Education Services currently ranks 600th in the S&P SmallCap 600 and is no longer representative of the small cap market space.

Top Information Technology Companies For 2014: Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRT)

Federal Realty Investment Trust (the Trust) is an equity real estate investment trust (REIT) specializing in the ownership, management, and redevelopment of retail and mixed-use properties located in metropolitan markets in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, as well as in California. As of December 31, 2011, the Trust owned or had interest in community and neighborhood shopping centers and mixed-use properties, which are operated as 87 retail real estate projects, consisting approximately 19.3 million square feet. On December 30, 2011, it acquired an 8.1 acre land parcel adjacent to Plaza El Segundo. In January 2012, the Company acquired 89.9% interest in Montrose Crossing. In January 2013, the Company acquired East Bay Bridge shopping center. In April 2013, it acquired a shopping center on 9 acres directly across from the Noroton Heights train station. In January 2014, Federal Realty Investment Trust acquired controlling interest in two shopping centers totaling 285,600 square feet in affluent Monmouth County, New Jersey.

The Company�� portfolio includes retail in many formats ranging from regional community and neighborhood shopping centers, which are anchored by grocery stores to mixed-use properties, which are centered around a retail component but also include office, residential and/or hotel components. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company signed leases for a total of 1,417,000 square feet of retail space, including 1,294,000 square feet of comparable space leases. As of December 31, 2011, the real estate projects were 93.4% leased and 92.4% occupied. As of December 31, 2011, it owned a 30% interest in seven retail real estate projects totaling approximately one million square feet. As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned 90.9% interest in joint venture properties, which were leased and occupied.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Ken McGaha] rong>These Businesses Aren�� Cheap By Any Measure

    Value investors, such as myself, seem to always be compulsive about business fundamentals when assessing fair value. The numbers here do not paint a pretty picture in terms of compelling value.

    Company Ticker

    KRC

    KIM

    EGP

    FRT

    Dividend Yield

    2.25%

    3.88%

    3.34%

    2.54%

    Payout Ratio

    1,031%

    171%

    199%

    147.91%

    5-Div. Gwth.

    -9.61%

    -12.64%

    0.54%

    3.69%

    2014 P/E Ratio

    22.79

    16.69

    18.85

    25

    5-yr. Proj. Gwth.

    7.2%

    4.3%

    6.3%

    6.5%

    Price/Cash Flow

    22.12

    15.77

    17.92

    24.88

    Being a value oriented investor, I am always looking for ways to mitigate my risk and increase my upside potential through the acquisition of valuable assets at distressed prices. That is not what I see here. Each of these businesses are trading at huge multiples to their projected earnings growth rates for the next 5 years.

    In terms of the prices to free cash flow, KIM and EGP trade at multiples that would be reasonable for world-class businesses that are dominant in a critical industry. But a commercial REIT? I don�� think so. The price to cash flow multiples for KRC and FRT are simply outrageous for these businesses and would be very difficult to justify for any business. Are you really willing to buy a business that will take between 22 and 25 years to earn enough money to pay you back? Not me.

    Excellent Management Can Justify High Valuations

    Quite often in my life, I have come across people who failed to understand the distinction between price and cost or price and value. A business that appears to be expensive on the surface can, and sometimes does, offer an excellent value due to the existence of exceptional manage

  • [By Brad Thomas]

    REITs mentioned: (VTR), (OHI), (O), (DLR), (HCP), (HTA), (KIM), (FRT), (SPG), and (SKT).

    Note: This article is intended to provide information to interested parties. As I have no knowledge of individual investor circumstances, goals, and/or portfolio concentration or diversification, readers are expected to complete their own due diligence before purchasing any stocks mentioned or recommended.

  • [By Dan Burrows]

    Heck, over the last 20 years, NNN stock generated an annual return of 12.3%. That beats the broader market by more than 3 percentage points, making this one of the top dividend stocks to ride out any roughness.

    Dependable Dividend Stocks: Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRT)

    Dividend Yield: 2.8%
    YTD Gain: 12%

  • [By Shauna O'Brien]

    Jefferies reported on Wednesday that it has upgraded real estate investment trust Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRT).

    The firm has raised its rating on FRT from “Hold” to “Buy,” and has increased the company’s price target from $112 to $116. This price target suggests a 13% upside from the stock’s current price of $100.75.

    Analyst Omotayo Okusanya noted: “Based on our recent tour of Assembly Row, we are now convinced about the long term value of this development project. Our recent management meetings on Sept 4th also indicate that: 1) development projects at Pike and Rose as well as Santana Row remain on track and 2) FRT remains on track to keep generating industry leading SS NOI growth. With FRT also well positioned for rising rates, we find the story compelling and upgrade the stock to Buy from Hold.”

    Looking ahead, the firm has cut its estimates for FY2013 from $4.64 to $4.62 per share. FY2014 estimates have also been lowered from $4.97 to $4.96 per share.

    Federal Realty Investment Trust shares were mostly flat during pre-market trading Wednesday. The stock has been mostly flat YTD.

Top Information Technology Companies For 2014: Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina Inc.(PEBK)

Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. operates as the holding company for Peoples Bank, which provides various banking products and services to individuals and small to medium-sized businesses in Catawba Valley and surrounding communities in North Carolina. Its deposit products include demand deposits; interest-bearing checking accounts; NOW, MMDA, and savings deposits; regular savings accounts; money market accounts; time deposits; and certificates of deposit. The company?s lending portfolio comprises commercial loans, real estate mortgage loans, real estate construction loans, and consumer loans, as well as agricultural loans. It also provides real estate appraisal and real estate brokerage services, as well as access to investment counseling and non-deposit investment products, such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, tax deferred annuities, and related brokerage services. It operates 22 banking offices located in Lincolnton, Newton, Denver, Catawba, Conover, Maiden, Cla remont, Hiddenite, Hickory, Charlotte, Monroe, Cornelius, Mooresville, and Raleigh in North Carolina, as well as a loan production office in Denver, North Carolina. The company was founded in 1912 and is based in Newton, North Carolina.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Tim Melvin]

    Peoples Bank of North Carolina (PEBK) has also seen strong insider buying recently. One director as well as the CEO and Chairman of the board have made open market purchases of the stock in the past few months. The bank serves the central areas of North Carolina and also operates Banco de la Gente, which has four branches that serve the region�� fast-growing Latin American community. The bank serves a market with above-average economic prospects and has a very attractive 22-branch network that is likely to attract the attention of larger banks in the region.

  • [By Tim Melvin]

    Stilwell�� funds also bought more shares of Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina (PEBK). The bank operates in central North Carolina and has 22 branches with a little over $1 billion in assets. PEBK just reported a solid quarter, increasing earnings by more than 40% year-over-year while working down nonperforming assets by 30%. The bank also grew its deposit base in the quarter — a difficult accomplishment for many small banks this year.

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