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The current Volkswagen Passat diesel is being shown the door, with its engine to be replaced later this year by a new diesel that will be widely used in VW's U.S. lineup. Other updates are due next year for the 2016 Passat. But the current diesel model remains popular — 42% of Passats sold in April were diesel. And it was a good month for Passat, so that's 42% of a strong number. VW's usual "take" rate for the TDI — VW's name for the diesel — is about 23%, so VW either was giving away the diesel Passat last month, or people suddenly realized that diesels are a good way to boost mileage without the complexity of a gas-electric hybrid. A heavily promoted bonus for buyers — a $1,000 card for diesel fuel — surely helped. Based on recent diesel prices and the car's combined city/highway mileage rating for the car, the card is worth roughly 8,600 free miles. Test Drive wanted to say farewell to the current Passat TDI with a reminder drive, hoping for more insight into why so many sold last month. And insights we got, though not all strictly related to the TDI powerplant: Expect good but not stupendous mileage in the city. That's what hybrids are for. Diesels excel on longer runs. We notched about 25 mpg in short-hop suburban schlepping; about 29 in longer suburban trips; and about 50 on the highway. Auto editor Fred Meier reported an astonishing 53.1 mpg with a different but similarly outfitted Passat TDI in 1,579 mostly highway miles from the East Coast over the mountains to the Midwest and back and driven, shall we say, not always gently. That tester was similar to VW's record-setting Passat that got 77.99 mpg in 8,122 miles through the Lower 48 states. The record-setter, though, had special tires and was driven strictly for mileage, without much regard for speed, convenience or comfort. The 53.1 was in the real world: 800 pounds of people and cargo, AC on, keeping up with, or passing, the Joneses on the turnpike. Don't expect gee-w! hiz electronics. For example, the backup camera has a dimmer image than some rivals, making it harder to use in low light. And phone pairing was non-pairing with our too-hip Windows phone. IPhone had better luck, maybe you will, too. Be delighted by the very roomy back seat. Look for opportunities to carry passengers back there. Remarkable. Renew your understanding of "elegant," an oft-misused word meaning high-class simplicity. Passat's interior is laudable for the elegance of its straightforward dash, gauges, upholstery and trim. The exterior is likewise applause-worthy for not trying too hard in pursuit of "styling." Reacquaint yourself with comfort. Passat's seats are close to the Goldilocks Baby Bear standard: just right. Firm, supportive but not back-breakers, as in some Europeans. Great for road trips. Be reminded how pleasant it is to pilot an engaging car. No-drama corners. Treat-filled steering and stopping. We found the ride could turn a bit choppy on wrinkled asphalt, which sounds like a "duh," but other test vehicles have handled that area more gracefully. What about that new EA288 diesel due in a few months? VW says it's rated 150 horsepower, up 10 hp, with the same 236 pounds-feet of torque. And it says emissions-reducing changes also result in better throttle response. We'd vote for that. While the test car wasn't sluggish, especially once it picked up a bit of speed, it could have felt perkier. Passat strikes us as a very good sedan, able to satisfy practical needs and driving enthusiast longings. Equip it with the TDI and it enjoys a "green" credential hard to find elsewhere. But if we were writing the check, we'd wait to try the new engine, or perhaps even bide our time until the updated 2016 model next year, hoping it has friendlier electronics and a handful of other updates. Without losing its elegance, of course. WHAT STOOD OUT Highway mpg: 50 or more without trying. Comfort: Lots of room, great seats. ! Driving feel: Nice mix of comfy, sporty. ABOUT THE 2014 VW PASSAT What? Midsize, front-drive, five-passenger, diesel-power sedan; VW calls its diesels TDI. Where? Built at Chattanooga, Tenn. How long? Current-design Passat on sale Since September 2011. New diesel engine's coming this summer and overall freshening of the car a year after that. How much? Passat TDI SE, the lowest-price diesel, starts at $27,115, including $820 shipping, $2,350 more than most similar gasoline model. Top diesel model, TDI SEL Premium, starts at $33,815. What makes it go? 2-liter, four-cylinder, turbocharged diesel rated 140 horsepower at 4,000 rpm, 236 pounds-feet of torque at 1,750 rpm. Six-speed manual standard, six-speed automatic optional. How big? Within an inch of Honda Accord all around. Passat has 102 cubic feet of passenger space, 15.9 cu. ft. in the trunk. Weighs 3,393 lbs. (163 lbs. more than gasoline model). Rated to carry 1,155 lbs. (manual) or 1,237 lbs. (automatic) of people, cargo, accessories. How thirsty? Manual rated 31 mpg city, 43 highway, 35 combined. Automatic: 30/40/34. Burns low-sulfur diesel, holds 18.5 gal. Manual test car registered 25.8 mpg (3.88 gallons per 100 miles) in mainly short suburban hops, 29.8 mpg (3.36 gal./100 mi.) in longer suburban trips. Colleague driving similarly equipped 2012 model recently got 53.1 mpg (1.88 gal./100 mi.) in about 1,500 miles of mostly highway, 30.2 mpg (3.31 gal./100 mi.) in city/suburb mix. Overall: A charmer, despite some annoyances.
The fiscal Q3 2014 earnings report for auto parts retailer stock AutoZone, Inc (NYSE: AZO), a peer of Advance Auto Parts, Inc (NYSE: AAP), O'Reilly Automotive Inc (NASDAQ: ORLY) and The Pep Boys - Manny, Moe & Jack (NYSE: PBY), is scheduled for before the market opens on Tuesday. Aside from the AutoZone earnings report, it should be said that Advance Auto Parts, Inc reported Q1 2014 earnings on May 15th (results were better than expected and they upped guidance); O'Reilly Automotive Inc reported Q1 2014 earnings on April 24th (results topped expectations); and The Pep Boys reported Q4 2013 earnings on April 15th and will report Q1 2014 earnings on June 10th (PBY reported a surprise loss as tire pricing negatively hit revenue). However and given the current uncertain economy that is keeping most consumers in their old cars, you would think that auto parts retailers in general would all be doing well. What Should You Watch Out for With the AutoZone, Inc Earnings Report? First, here is a quick recap of AutoZone's recent earnings history from Yahoo! Finance: Earnings HistoryMay 13Aug 13Nov 13Feb 14 | EPS Est | 7.21 | 10.34 | 6.28 | 5.55 | | EPS Actual | 7.27 | 10.42 | 6.29 | 5.63 | | Difference | 0.06 | 0.08 | 0.01 | 0.08 | | Surprise % | 0.80% | 0.80% | 0.20% | 1.40% |
In early March, AutoZone reported higher than expected quarterly sales and earnings, but shares fell because operating expenses rose 9% to about $700 million. AutoZone reported a 7.3% net sales increase to $2.0 billion, a domestic same store sales increase of 4.3% and a net income increase of 9.4% to $192.8 million. The Chairman/CEO commented: "We are pleased to report our thirtieth consecutive quarter of double digit earnings per share growth. The credit for this accomplishment goes to our passionate and dedicated AutoZoners across the globe who always put our customers first! During our second quarter, much of the U.S. experienced extreme weather conditions, and those weather patterns accelerated our growth in certain failure related hard part categories while our deferrable maintenance categories were challenged. We are continuing to test a variety of initiatives focused on improving inventory availability. One of the key initiatives is in the implementation phase, and while it is very early, we are pleased with our progress to date. The other tests are ongoing and it will take several more quarters before we determine our next steps." This time around and according to the Yahoo! Finance analyst estimates page, the consensus expects revenue of $2.33B and EPS of $8.44 – slightly down from the EPS consensus of $8.45 expected thirty days ago and up from the EPS consensus of $8.41 expected ninety days ago. On the news front, it was reported Thursday that Cleveland Research sees AutoZone's Q3 comp sales trends and earnings are tracking ahead of consensus driven by DIY momentum and commercial business. For that reason, they raised their Q3 EPS estimate to $8.50 verses a consensus of $8.46 and FY14 to $31.58 verses a consensus of $31.52. On Wednesday, it was reported that AutoZone June call option implied volatility is at 21, July is at 20, September is at 18 and December is at 17 verses a 26-week average of 19. This suggests slightly large near term price movement into the earnings report. What do the AutoZone, Inc Charts Say? The latest technical chart for AutoZone does show a slight downward trend since last February: 
And while The Pep Boys has given a rather flat performance since the end of the recession, AutoZone, Advance Auto Parts, Inc and O'Reilly Automotive Inc have all been giving investors a great performance: 
On the techncial chart side, Advance Auto Parts, Inc has produced a multiple top, O'Reilly Automotive is in a slight downtrend and The Pep Boys appears stuck in reverse: 
What Should Be Your Next Move? Traders might want to take a closer look at the AutoZone options trading activities. However, I don't see any reason for long term investors to be nervous as AutoZone heads into earnings.
The world of cars as its stands today will undergo a sea change in the next 20 years, and only those automakers that are able to turn this change into opportunity will survive. Oil and gas major BP's "Energy Outlook 2035" and other studies throw up some pretty amazing predictions: Hybrids would rule the market by 2035, constituting 67% of sales. Plug-in-hybrids and electric vehicles, or EVs, will take around 7% of the market share in 2035. Sales of conventional vehicles will decline by around 75%. Low-emission vehicle market will expand by 30.3% between 2012 and 2017. These facts indicate that green cars could be the future of the auto industry, and it's difficult to think about eco-freindly cars without thinking of Toyota (NYSE: TM ) . The Japanese auto major was the first to mass produce a hybrid, the Prius, back in 1997, and is a leader in the field. It has a fleet of electric vehicles, and is pioneering fuel cell vehicle technology. Let's take a look at Toyota's playbook. 
Source: Toyota
Hybrids
Toyota is the biggest seller of hybrids; global sales reached more than 6 million by end of 2013. It sold 2,302,000 hybrids in North America since the first-generation Prius was launched here in 2000. Over the years, Toyota has customized the Prius to suit American tastes -- the car has grown bigger in size, offers more features, and is available in several models. Though there's no doubting Prius' cult status in hybrid circles, its aging looks have faced flak and has put a mild brake on its growth. Honda (NYSE: HMC ) Accord overtook Prius in the first quarter of this calendar year by a small margin (around 293 units) to get to the top sales position in California, America's green car capital. To keep competition at bay, Toyota is constantly revving up things. The company will redesign the Prius for the 2015 model year -- the car will sport better looks and may create some new records with fuel economy. Edmunds.com expects combined mileage to touch 55 miles per gallon. At the Frankfurt Autoshow in Europe last year, Toyota displayed its hybrid line up, ranging from Yaris, Auris, Auris Touring Sports, to the Prius plug-in hybrid. The company is a leader in hybrid in Europe with Toyota and Lexus brands holding 75% of the market share. 
Source: Toyota
The automaker has an aggressive plan for the future as it looks to launch 15 new or refurbished hybrid models globally. This will add to the 23 hybrid Toyota and Lexus models it boasts of. The company is leveraging on the envious lead it has taken over all other automakers. EVs
Electric vehicles go one step up on hybrids in reducing CO2 emissions. Toyota has introduced a plug-in Prius 2014, adding to its EV offerings that include the RAV4 EV, and is even testing wireless recharging. 
RAV4, Source: Toyota
Though Toyota has its share of electric vehicles, the shortcomings of the battery-enabled powertrains and a lukewarm response from buyers to EVs made the company constrain its future plans. The unpopularity has even led the Obama administration to drift from its plan to have 1 million EVs on the U.S. roads by 2015. Knowing Toyota, it couldn't have just stopped at the pitfalls -- it has a viable Plan B, which brings us to fuel cells. FCV
Toyota is betting big on fuel cell technology and has put in extensive research and resources into it. In simple words, a fuel cell is like a power plant where hydrogen and oxygen mix together to produce electricity. The advantages of fuel cell vehicles compensate for the major disadvantages of the battery-run EV: It can cover a longer range and is competitive with hybrid and conventional models. It can refuel in the same time taken by a gasoline car -- five minutes. Toyota debuted its FCV Concept in the Tokyo Motor Show in November and at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January. The car can go 300 miles on full tank, catch speed up to 60 miles per hour in 10 seconds, and get refueled in three to five minutes. It will go on sale in 2015. Honda is also ready to launch its own hydrogen car for the masses in 2015, and both Japanese automakers are looking to sell around 1,000 cars each annually according to Japanese news agency, Nikkei. The hydrogen cars will be launched in the American, European and Japanese markets, with a price tag in the range of $50,000-$100,000. Nikkei has reported that prices could be at the higher end of the range but the carmakers are trying to get it down to a more affordable level with time. If Toyota can do with the FCV Concept what it did with the Prius, it can get a head start over its peers. Wrapping up
Toyota is quick to identify trends and capitalize on them. The carmaker knows that hybrids are here to stay and so it's going at the segment full bore, to take lead at such a level that leaves competitors gasping. While it's still early to predict the future, Toyota's shift from EVs to FCVs could be another example of its foresight. And all this while it keeps adding to revenues and profits. Warren Buffett just bought nearly 9 million shares of this company
Imagine a company that rents a very specific and valuable piece of machinery for $41,000… per hour (that's almost as much as the average American makes in a year!). And Warren Buffett is so confident in this company's can't-live-without-it business model, he just loaded up on 8.8 million shares. An exclusive, brand-new Motley Fool report details this company that already has over 50% market share. Just click HERE to discover more about this industry-leading stock… and join Buffett in his quest for a veritable landslide of profits!
Top 5 Growth Companies To Invest In 2015: Thoratec Corporation(THOR) Thoratec Corporation engages in the development, manufacture, and marketing of proprietary medical devices used for circulatory support. The company?s primary product lines include ventricular assist devices, such as HeartMate II, an implantable left ventricular assist device consisting of a rotary blood pump to provide intermediate and long-term mechanical circulatory support (MCS); and HeartMate XVE, an implantable and pulsatile left ventricular assist device for intermediate and longer-term MCS. Its ventricular assist devices also comprise Paracorporeal Ventricular Assist Device, an external pulsatile ventricular assist device, which provides left, right, and biventricular MCS approved for bridge-to-transplantation (BTT), including home discharge, and post-cardiotomy myocardial recovery; and Implantable Ventricular Assist Device, an implantable and pulsatile ventricular assist device designed to provide left, right, and biventricular MCS approved for BTT comprising hom e discharge, and post-cardiotomy myocardial recovery. The company also provides CentriMag, an extracorporeal full-flow acute surgical support platform that offers support up to 30 days for cardiac and respiratory failure. In addition, it offers PediMag and PediVAS extracorporeal full-flow acute surgical support platforms designed to provide acute surgical support to pediatric patients. The company sells its products through direct sales force in the United States, as well as through a network of distributors internationally. Thoratec Corporation was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Pleasanton, California. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Todd Campbell]
Competing for heart pump market share
Abiomed's products provide circulatory support for up to six hours and are designed for use in cardiac cath labs or during heart surgery, but competitors Thoratec (NASDAQ: THOR ) and Heartware (NASDAQ: HTWR ) ! target the intermediate- and long-term-use market instead. - [By Brian Pacampara]
What: Shares of medical device company Thoratec (NASDAQ: THOR ) sank 12% today after its quarterly results missed Wall Street expectations. source from USA Best Stocks:http://www.usabeststocks.com/top-5-growth-companies-to-invest-in-2015.html
Top Services Stocks For 2015: Pembina Pipeline Corp (PBA) Pembina Pipeline Corporation (Pembina) is a Calgary-based company, engaged in providing transportation and midstream services. It owns and operates: pipelines that transport conventional and synthetic crude oil and natural gas liquids produced in western Canada; oil sands, heavy oil and diluent pipelines; gas gathering and processing facilities; and, an oil and natural gas liquids infrastructure and logistics business. It has facilities located in western Canada and in natural gas liquids markets in eastern Canada and the United States. Pembina also offers a spectrum of midstream and marketing services. Pembinas Midstream business is organized into two segments: crude oil and NGL. The crude oil segment represents the Companys midstream operations. The NGL segment includes two operating systems: Redwater West and Empress East. Pembina's Conventional Pipelines business consists of a pipeline network, located 7,850 kilometers, that extends across much of Alberta and Britis h Columbia. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Vanin Aegea]
Two companies that have been around for some time now are Imperial Oil (IMO) and Pembina Pipeline (PBA). Political instability in the Middle East has also given an extra relevance to the reserves found at this region, so let us see what the future holds and what gurus think of them. source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/top-services-stocks-for-2015.html
Exone (XONE) has outperformed major players in the 3D printing industry, 3D Systems (DDD) and Stratasys (SSYS), since it went public in February 2013. Its stock price grew by 68% compared to growth of around 22% of the other two giants. Exone's stock price plummeted on Sep. 3, 2013 due to the company's secondary offerings. We believe this declining stock has upside potential, owing to its expansion plan in Germany. The company plans to enhance its facilities in Germany under its global growth strategy. Exone's above mentioned rivals also expect to grow with their strategies like acquisition and merger. So, there is lot of growth potential in the 3D printing industry, but which is the right bet for investors?
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XONE data by YCharts Growing globally Exone announced to expand its facilities in Germany in August 2013. The company has domestic facilities in the U.S., and its international facilities are located in Germany and Japan. Exone is expected to almost double its operations in Germany; the new expanded facility will comprise around 150,700 square feet, which is almost double the company's current 77,500 square foot facility. The expansion will merge the company's European facilities that include production; warehousing, research and development facility, and Exone's European headquarter. Top 10 European Stocks To Invest In 2015: STMicroelectronics N.V.(STM) STMicroelectronics N.V., an independent semiconductor company, engages in the design, development, manufacture, and marketing of a range of semiconductor integrated circuits and discrete devices. Its products include discrete and standard commodity components, application-specific integrated circuits, custom devices and semi-custom devices, and application-specific standard products for analog, digital, and mixed-signal applications. The company also offers subsystems and modules for the telecommunications, automotive, and industrial markets comprising mobile phone accessories, battery chargers, ISDN power supplies, and in-vehicle equipment for electronic toll payment, as well as provides Smartcard products. Its products are used in various microelectronic applications consisting of automotive products, computer peripherals, telecommunications systems, consumer products, industrial automation, and control systems. The company sells its products through distributors and ret ailers. STMicroelectronics N.V. was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Lee Jackson]
STMicroelectronics NV (NYSE: STM) supplies most set-top box chips for Scientific�Atlanta, and also sells chips for disk drives that end up in DVRs; but still has less than a 10% exposure. The consensus target for the stock is $11. Investors do receive an outstanding 4.0% dividend from the company. - [By Esekla]
Like Universal Display, InvenSense (INVN) represents a good long-term opportunity in its own right. The price entry point is not quite as good, though it has pulled back under my more recent price target of $15, when reports of a long-awaited Apple design win were challenged. Though conversations between the two are ongoing, InvenSense management's comments indicate an unwillingness to get roped into wrecking margin for volume, like many other Apple suppliers. Consequently, I don't believe they will gain Apple as a customer until the release of an iWatch or similar device that absolutely requires InvenSense's best-in-class form factors and power usage. It's also possible that continued good news on their legal battles with ST Micro (STM) could move the stock. - [By Tim Brugger]
In addition to the upgraded Atom processor rollout, Intel also announced a realignment of its management structure. Now comes word the "leading semiconductor company" named in a recent press release announcing the acquisition of a STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM ) and Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC ) mobile GPS joint venture was none other than Intel. When Krzanich said he was committed to the rapidly changing mobile computing market, he wasn't kidding; and that should be sweet music to the ears of Intel shareholders. - [By Dan Burrows]
Additionally, Wendy’s can use some of the cash freed up by the franchise model to invest in advertising and marketing, and that should boost customer traffic. Cheap Dividend Stocks #2: STMicroelectronics (STM) Share Price as of 4/4: $9.14
YTD Stock Performance: 14%
Dividend Yield: 4.4%
Top 10 European Stocks To Invest In 2015: TotalFinaElf S.A.(TOT) TOTAL S.A., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated oil and gas company worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Upstream, Downstream, and Chemicals. The Upstream segment engages in the exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas. It also involves in the transportation, trade, and marketing of natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG), as well as in LNG re-gasification and natural gas storage operations. In addition, this segment engages in the shipping and trade of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG); power generation from gas-fired power plants, nuclear, or renewable energies; production, trade, and marketing of coal, as well as in solar power systems and technology operations. As of December 31, 2010, it had combined proved reserves of 10,695 Mboe of oil and gas. The Downstream segment involves in refining, marketing, trading, and shipping crude oil and petroleum products. It also produces a range of specialty products, s uch as lubricants, LPG, jet fuel, special fluids, bitumen, marine fuels, and petrochemical feedstock. This segment holds interests in 24 refineries located in Europe, the United States, the French West Indies, Africa, and China, as well as operates a network of 17,490 service stations. The Chemicals segment produces base chemicals, including petrochemicals and fertilizers, as well as engages in rubber processing, resins, adhesives, and electroplating activities. TOTAL S.A. was founded in 1924 and is based in Paris, France. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Paul Ausick]
What�� really interesting about this sale though, is the buyer. Rosneft will join other big oil companies like BP plc (NYSE: BP), Royal Dutch Shell plc (NYSE: RDS-A), and Total SA (NYSE: TOT) as an owner of its own oil trading desk. Rosneft already owns an oil trading business and late last year essentially borrowed $10 billion from commodity traders Vitol and Glencore to help fund Rosneft�� purchase of BP�� stake in BP-TNK. The Russian company pledged some 500 million barrels of future production to the two trading houses in exchange for the cash. - [By Dan Caplinger]
Much of the reason for Statoil's weakness over the past year comes from a simple fact of geography. Investors have been extremely nervous about instability in the eurozone, and even though oil giants including France's Total (NYSE: TOT ) , Italy's Eni (NYSE: E ) , and Norway's Statoil all own energy properties located around the world, their shares have nevertheless traded as though they were overly exposed to their home markets. Moreover, Norway is among the most stable of Europe's national economies, making the cheap valuations even more ridiculous. - [By David Smith]
Bowing out of Egypt
It's also noteworthy that Egypt shares a western border with Libya, which is a significant producer, but where chaos and contretemps also reign. Is it any wonder, then, that Chevron (NYSE: CVX ) announced on Tuesday that it will unload its Egyptian downstream operations, including 66 service stations and a couple of oil depots, to Total (NYSE: TOT ) ? The French company is also buying the retail assets in the land of the Sphinx from Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS-B ) . Perhaps it knows something of which the rest of us are unaware. - [By Dan Carroll]
Europe has also experienced a tough economic climate this year, and the German DAX (DAXINDICES: ^DAX ) and French CAC 40 indexes haven't had the best time so far in 2013. France's index has managed to climb a fraction of a percent, but that hasn't helped many French stocks this year: French oil giant Total SA (NYSE: TOT ) has lost more than 10% year to date despite the company's forward-looking moves to expand into Africa and other locations; Total recently agreed to the construction of a refinery in Uganda for 30,000 barrels per day of refining. The DAX has dipped as Germany, long one of the lone bright spots in Europe, has seen its economy suffer from the eurozone's crisis and its PMI dive into contraction territory.
Top 5 China Stocks To Invest In 2015: Telefonica SA(TEF) Telefonica, S.A. provides fixed and mobile telephony services primarily in Spain, rest of Europe, and Latin America. Its fixed telecommunication services include PSTN lines; ISDN accesses; public telephone; local, domestic, and international long distance and fixed-to-mobile communications; corporate communications; video telephony; supplementary and business-oriented value-added services; network services; leasing and sale of handset equipment; and telephony information services. The company?s Internet and broadband multimedia services comprise Internet service provider service; portal and network services; retail and wholesale broadband access; narrowband switched access to Internet; naked ADSL, a broadband connection; residential-oriented value-added services; companies-oriented value-added services; television services, such as IPTV, cable television, and satellite television; and Fiber to the Home, a service for high speed Internet access and digital video recording. Its data and business-solutions services principally include leased lines; virtual private network services; fiber optics services; the provision of hosting and application; outsourcing and consultancy services; desktop services; and system integration and professional services. The company?s wholesale services for telecommunication operators primarily comprise domestic interconnection services; international wholesale services; leased lines for other operators? network deployment; local loop leasing under the unbundled local loop regulation framework; and bit stream services. It also offers various mobile and related services and products that include mobile voice services, value added services, mobile data and Internet services, wholesale services, corporate services, roaming, fixed wireless, and trunking and paging services. The company has a strategic alliance with China Unicom (Hong Kong) Limited. Telefonica, S.A. was founded in 1924 and is headquartered in Madrid, Spai n. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Chris Hill, Jason Moser, and Eric Bleeker, CFA]
Reports last week out of Spain indicated that AT&T (NYSE: T ) �was looking at making an offer to�Telefonica (NYSE: TEF ) �valued at $93 billion. According to Spanish newspaper El Mundo,�the sale didn't proceed in part because of governmental concerns over having a foreign company buy the country's most valuable telecom player. Yet even if AT&T and Telefonica aren't met to be, there is ample evidence that America's dominant mobile companies have begun looking abroad for growth. - [By Selena Maranjian]
Other companies didn't do quite as well last year, but could see their fortunes change in the coming years. Spanish telecom concern Telefonica (NYSE: TEF ) gained 5%. The company is saddled with a lot of debt, and some see it as a possible acquisition target. Meanwhile, Telefonica is pushing Windows phones in Europe, and it has sold its Irish subsidiary. - [By Dan Radovsky]
No go as yet for AT&T
As for U.S. No. 2 wireless company AT&T, last week Bloomberg reported knowledgeable people saying it has been holding talks with Telefonica (NYSE: TEF ) to buy a significant part of the Spanish telecom, or some of its other foreign assets.
Top 10 European Stocks To Invest In 2015: BP p.l.c.(BP) BP p.l.c. provides fuel for transportation, energy for heat and light, retail services, and petrochemicals products. Its Exploration and Production segment engages in the oil and natural gas exploration, field development, and production; midstream transportation, and storage and processing; and marketing and trading of natural gas, including liquefied natural gas (LNG), and power and natural gas liquids (NGL). This segment has exploration and production activities in Angola, Azerbaijan, Canada, Egypt, Norway, Russia, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as well as in Asia, Australasia, South America, North Africa, and the Middle East. This segment also owns and manages crude oil and natural gas pipelines; processing facilities and export terminals; and LNG processing and transportation, as well as NGL extraction facilities. BP p.l.c. has interests in the Trans-Alaska pipeline system, the Forties pipeline system, the Central Area transmission sys tem pipeline, the South Caucasus Pipeline, and Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, as well as in LNG plants located in Trinidad, Indonesia, and Australia. The company?s Refining and Marketing segment involves in the supply and trading, refining, manufacturing, marketing, and transportation of crude oil, petroleum, and petrochemicals products and related services to wholesale and retail customers primarily under the BP, Castrol, ARCO, and Aral brands. Its Other Businesses and Corporate segment produces and markets rolled aluminum products, as well as generates energy through wind, solar, biofuels, hydrogen, and carbon capture and storage sources; and engages in shipping activities. The company was founded in 1889 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Benjamin Shepherd]
In the meantime, though, 13 percent of the fund�� assets are devoted to health care with another 12.8 percent to consumer defensive names, helping to reduce the volatility of its portfolio. While the fund�� beta is roughly in line with the broader European market, its standard deviation is actually slightly lower while producing a superior return. It also offers an attractive 3.9 percent yield despite its focus on large, mature companies such as Nestle (OTC: NSRGY), Novartis (NYSE: NVS), HSBC (NYSE: HSBC) and BP (NYSE: BP).
With more good news coming from Europe every day, Vanguard European Stock Index rates a buy up to 65.
- [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 Aaron Levitt]
We��e in the thick of earnings season for the energy sector and BP (BP) and Occidental Petroleum (OXY) were the latest oil stocks to report earnings.
Top 10 European Stocks To Invest In 2015: British American Tobacco Industries p.l.c.(BTI) British American Tobacco p.l.c., through its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture, distribution, and sale of tobacco products. The company offers cigars, cigarettes, smokeless snus, roll-your-own, and pipe tobacco products under the Dunhill, Kent, Lucky Strike, Pall Mall, Vogue, Viceroy, Kool, Rothmans, Peter Stuyvesant, Benson & Hedges, and State Express 555 brand names. It has operations in the Asia-Pacific, the Americas, eastern and western Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. The company was founded in 1902 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. British American Tobacco p.l.c. operates independently of Remgro Ltd. as of November 03, 2008. Advisors' Opinion: Top 10 European Stocks To Invest In 2015: Aegon NV(AEG) AEGON N.V. provides life insurance, pensions, and asset management products and services worldwide. The company?s life insurance products include traditional, term, universal, whole, and other life insurance products sold as part of defined benefit pension plans, endowment policies, post-retirement annuity products, and group risk products; supplemental health insurance products comprise accidental death, other injury, critical illness, hospital indemnity, medicare supplement, and student health; specialty lines consists of travel, membership, and creditor products; and long term care insurance products for policyholders who require care due to a chronic illness or cognitive impairment. It also offers a range of savings and retirement products and services, including mutual funds, and fixed and variable annuities, savings accounts and investment contracts, segregated funds, guaranteed investment accounts, and single premium immediate annuities, as well as investment advice to individuals. In addition, the company offers employer solutions and pensions, such as retirement plans, pension plans, and pension-related products and services; investment products, including onshore and offshore bonds, and trusts; reinsurance products and solutions to life insurance and financial services companies; general insurance products comprising house, car, and fire insurance; and asset management products and services, including general account assets, unit-linked funds, and third party activities. AEGON N.V. markets its products through independent and career agents, financial planners, registered representatives, independent marketing organizations, banks, broker-dealers, benefit consulting firms, wirehouses, affinity groups, institutional partners, independent managing general agencies, and specialized financial advisors, as well as through online, direct, and worksite marketing. The company was founded in 1900 and is headquartered in The Hague, the Netherl ands. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Will Ashworth]
Assuming it delivers on its outlook for 2014, its current free cash flow yield is a very enticing 20%. This isn�� a growth stock, but its brands still possess hidden value. As cheap stocks go, it�� very attractive. Cheap Stocks to Buy: Aegon (AEG) It�� not often that you can buy a $19 billion market cap for under 10 bucks. Aegon�� a Dutch insurance company that�� had a rough ride over the past few years, and its stock�� suffered as a result. In the late ’90s AEG stock traded around $60 — it hasn�� been anywhere close since. However, it�� got some good assets that should bear fruit in the years to come. Aegon has 12,000 employees in the Americas doing business primarily under the Transamerica brand, which has been a part of AEG since 1999.
Top 10 European Stocks To Invest In 2015: Aercap Holdings N.V. (AER) AerCap Holdings N.V., through its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated aviation company worldwide. It engages in leasing and trading aircraft and engines; and selling parts. The company also provides aircraft management services, as well as aircraft and limited engine MRO services, and aircraft disassembly services through its repair stations. In addition, it offers aircraft services, including remarketing aircraft; collecting rental and maintenance payments, monitoring aircraft maintenance, monitoring and enforcing contract compliance, and accepting delivery and redelivery of aircraft; conducting ongoing lessee financial performance reviews; inspecting the leased aircraft; coordinating technical modifications to aircraft to meet new lessee requirements; conducting restructurings negotiations in connection with lease defaults; repossessing aircraft; arranging and monitoring insurance coverage; registering and de-registering aircraft; arranging for aircraft and aircraft engine valuations; and providing market research. The company?s management services include leasing and remarketing, cash management and treasury, technical advisory, and accounting and administrative services. As of March 31, 2011, it owned 272 aircraft and 95 engines, which it leased under operating leases to 118 lessees in 53 countries. The company was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Schiphol, the Netherlands. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Paul Ausick]
More than two years ago, American International Group Inc. (NYSE: AIG) filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for an initial public offering (IPO) in its aircraft leasing group, International Lease Finance Corp. (ILFC). That filing came to nothing, and AIG found little interest from buyers for ILFC, until Monday morning when it announced that AerCap Holdings N.V. (NYSE: AER) will buy the leasing operation for $3 billion in cash and 97.56 million shares of new AerCap stock. The total value of the deal is approximately $5.4 billion. - [By John Udovich]
Yesterday around midday,�Netherlands based aviation leasing stock�AerCap Holdings N.V. (NYSE: AER) began surging on rumors and closed up 11.6%, meaning its probably time to take a closer look at those rumors along with aviation leasing peers like small caps or mid caps�Aircastle Limited (NYSE: AYR), Air Lease Corp (NYSE: AL), Fly Leasing Ltd (NYSE: FLY) and AeroCentury Corp (NYSEMKT: ACY). - [By Ben Levisohn]
Finally. Finally American International Group (AIG) has disposed of its ILFC unit by selling it to AerCap Holdings (AER). Bloomberg News The Wall Street Journal has the details on the deal: - [By Roberto Pedone]
AerCap (AER) provides aircraft leasing and aviation finance services. This stock closed up 3.3% at $18 in Wednesday's trading session. Wednesday's Volume: 740,000
Three-Month Average Volume: 318,589
Volume % Change: 85% From a technical perspective, AER jumped higher here right above its 50-day moving average of $17.27 with above-average volume. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last five months, with shares moving higher from its low of $14.84 to its recent high of $18.16. During that uptrend, shares of AER have been making mostly higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of AER within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if AER manages to take out its 52-week high at $18.16 with high volume. Traders should now look for long-biased trades in AER as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $17.27 or above more near-term support at $17.17 and then once it sustains a move or close above its 52-week high at $18.16 with volume that's near or above 318,589 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then AER will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that move are $20 to $23.
Top 10 European Stocks To Invest In 2015: Fresenius Medical Care Corporation (FMS) Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA, a dialysis company, provides products and services for patients with chronic kidney diseases. As of May 12, 2011, it provided dialysis care services to 216,942 patients through its network of 2,769 dialysis clinics primarily in North America, Europe, Latin America, the Asia-Pacific, and Africa. The company also develops and manufactures various dialysis products, including hemodialysis machines, dialyzers, hemofilters, dialysis fluid filters, tubing systems, fistula needles, dialysis related equipment, acute hemodialysis machines, plasma filters, acute tubing systems and cassettes, catheters, and related disposable products for chronic hemodialysis, acute therapy, home therapy, and therapeutic apheresis, as well as dialysis drugs. In addition, it provides laboratory services. Fresenius Medical sells its products through distributors. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Bad Homburg, Germany. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Charles Carlson, CEO and Portfolio Manager, Horizon Investment Services]
For investors looking for growth but also income, I especially like three health-care related stocks��resenius Medical (FMS), Novo Nordisk (NVO), and Smith & Nephew (SNN). - [By Louie Grint]
Still unaffected
First, Fresenius Medical Care (NYSE: FMS ) is the No. 1 global provider of dialysis equipment. It enjoys leading market share of almost 33% in its home country. - [By Ben Eisen]
DaVita (DVA) �gained 8.9% and Fresenius (FMS) �rose 7.2%. - [By Johanna Bennett]
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid decided today to cut government payment to dialysis clinics. So why did share prices for DaVita HealthCare Partners (DVA) and rival Fresenius Medical Care (FMS) rise so steeply today?
  Popular Posts: 10 Best “Strong Buy” Stocks — EQM DAL ILMN and more13 “Triple A” Stocks to Buy7 Biotechnology Stocks to Buy Now Recent Posts: Biggest Movers in Healthcare Stocks Now – PDLI SIRO THC RDY Biggest Movers in Financial Stocks Now – PVTB BOFI KYE TFSL Biggest Movers in Technology Stocks Now – MENT AUO ULTI CSOD View All Posts For the current week, the overall ratings of three capital markets stocks are worse, according to the Portfolio Graderdatabase. Each of these rates a “D” (“sell”) or “F” overall (“strong sell”). This week, Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. () falls to a D (“sell”), worse than last week’s grade of C (“hold”). Affiliated Managers operates as an asset management company providing investment management services to mutual funds, institutional clients, and high net worth individuals in the United States. Shares of the stock have been exchanging at an usually rapid pace, twice the rate of the week prior. The stock has a trailing PE Ratio of 28.60. . The rating of GFI Group () declines this week from a C to a D. GFI Group provides brokerage services and data and analytics products to institutional clients. The stock also rates an F in Earnings Revisions. . The rating of Medallion Financial () slips from a C to a D. Medallion Financial is a specialty finance company that originates and services loans financing the purchase of taxicab medallions and related assets. The stock also gets an F in Earnings Surprise. . Louis Navellier’s proprietary Portfolio Grader stock ranking system assesses roughly 5,000 companies every week based on a number of fundamental and quantitative measures. Stocks are given a letter grade based on their results — with A being “strong buy,” and F being “strong sell.” Explore the tool here.
 At Personal Finance, we have grown increasingly concerned with the national trend toward underfunded retirement plans. As a service to our subscribers, for the next few weeks we'll send you a complimentary series of focused briefs to get you thinking about new ways to maximize performance both inside and outside of a structured 401k or similar plan. We hope you'll find these briefs useful … if they are not applicable to your situation please click here to stop receiving the series.
Are so-called "single asset allocation plans" a better deal than building your own asset allocation program out of individual funds? John Hancock certainly thinks so. In a brand new survey of John Hancock Retirement Plan services plan participants, the investment firm found that respondents "who invested exclusively in a single John Hancock asset allocation portfolio earned better returns on average than participants who selected individual investment options to form their portfolios over the five, ten, and fifteen year periods ending December 31, 2012." The gap isn't huge, but individual asset allocation plan investors earned 1.06% more, on an annual basis, in their retirement plans, than investors with non-asset allocation funds. Hancock says it's all about diversifying via "a single choice" – a term you rarely hear from Wall Street when discussing asset allocation investing. But individual asset allocation portfolios aren't exactly new, and they are becoming widely available in most 401k plans. Many such funds come under the banner of "One Choice Portfolios", i.e. signature target-date and target-risk asset allocations fund-of-funds that offer automatically diversified investment solutions in a single portfolio. By and large, asset allocation portfolios help 401k plan investors diversify by investing in myriad mutual funds through a single investment. The funds t! ypically include a mix of stock, bond and money market mutual funds based on the portfolio’s objectives. That mixture makes portfolio diversification a "one step" process, and one can hope it makes things easier for 401k plan participants looking to spread their money – and their risk – around.
Certainly, they're worth looking into – but know what you're looking for. Asset allocation funds usually come in two categories: Risk-based asset allocation fund: A portfolio that matches your comfort with market ups and downs. This fund aims to rebalance to stay at a balanced risk level, and you decide what that risk level should be. Time-based asset allocation fund: A portfolio based upon a future date when you plan to start using your money. This fund is adjusted automatically to grow more conservative as you get closer to your retirement date. If you find yourself buried under a blizzard of different funds in your 401k plan, give asset allocation plans a closer look – especially since they offer more performance, according to John Hancock, than the traditional blend of funds that comprise most 401k plan portfolios. As always, good luck, and good 401k savings – and I'll see you next week. Brian O'Connell is an investment analyst at Investing Daily, and the editor of the 401K Millionaire. An ex-Wall Street bond trader, he has appeared as an expert financial commentator on CNN, NPR, Fox News, Bloomberg, CNBC, C-Span, CBS Radio, and many other media broadcast outlets, and is the author of two best-selling books on retirement investing.
Bank of America (BAC), inclusive of yesterday's poor trading, has still provided investors a 37.9% return in the last 12 months, and has recently upped its dividend after passing its Federal Stress Test in the last month. Throughout 2014, the bank has continued to make progress in this regard. It's been settling litigation left and right, and CEO Brian Moynihan appears to continue steering the ship in the right direction. USA Today reported on recent litigation leading up to the bank's earnings: Bank of America in March agreed to pay $9.3 billion to settle claims it marketed risky mortgages to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. At the same time, the bank reached a $15 million settlement with the New York State Attorney General's office over its 2009 purchase of Merrill Lynch. And on April 9, the bank also agreed to pay $772 million in refunds and fines to settle allegations by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Office of Comptroller of the Currency that it had bilked millions of customers with deceptive credit card practices. The agreement was "in line with what we expected," bank spokesman Tony Allen said last week. Although many people seemed to be surprised by Bank of America's earnings, there were some of us that were expecting exactly what we got: good underlying bank performance that was negatively affected by one time legal costs. When the smoke cleared, the bank had beat on its revenue line, posting a number of $22.76 billion versus analyst estimates of $22.33 billion to $22.4 billion. Ex-items, the bank wound up earning $0.35 per share. In addition to its legal costs, the bank saw its mortgage business — which it has been trimming over the last couple of years — slowing. Mortgage originations were down 65%. The bank's balance sheet strength continued to improve. It had $1.4 billion in charge offs, down from $2.5 billion in the same quarter the year prior. Some of the more important news came later on in the afternoon when it reported the bank was close to settling with the DOJ, a reason which I think is one of the reasons it bolstered its legal reserves in quarter one: Bank of America (-2.5%) boosted legal reserves by $2.4 billion in the first quarter, and management is playing coy about why, but the WSJ says the bank is near a multi-billion dollar settlement with the DOJ to end civil probes into a number of legacy issues. The talks have been ongoing for months, but intensified, say sources, after JPMorgan late last year settled for $13 billion. If settled, it'll surely cost the bank a significant amount of money. But, it'll be over, and that's the important part. Putting their heads down and knocking each one of these out of the way until there's none left. It may not look like it, but the bank is making significant progress in this regard. The bank continues to get leaner and meaner under the watchful eye of Moynihan. The bank's total employees was down to 238,600 from 262,800 in the same quarter a year prior. It's also operating with 5% fewer branch locations. This is all part of a cost-cutting initiative that was put into place a couple of years ago, that is concluding during this year. Bank of America's banking division posted a profit of $1.66 billion, as compared to $1.45 billion a year earlier. This shows underlying fundamental progress for the bank's "meat and potatoes" business. As the bank continues to stay on the front line of the automation adoption curve in the banking sector, and continues to keep its head down and make progress, I think better days will be ahead for shareholders. Moynihan seems to be doing a damn good job in making progress to get the bank over the hump of the '07 to '08 disaster, which was the main item he was tasked with as CEO of the bank. I contend that BAC is a buy here. There's likely to be a couple more months of legalese headlines that could potentially mire the stock price, but in the long term, the bank's underlying business is performing. Better days are ahead for Bank of America; it just needs to hold on and wait. Moynihan has been doing a brilliant job since he began, and my trust is with him and Buffett that Bank of America will soon rise like a phoenix from the ashes. | Currently 5.00/512345 Rating: 5.0/5 (1 vote) | Voters: |
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College students are notorious for blurring the lines between pajamas and clothing, favoring floors over closets for clothing storage, and for borrowing outfits from friends and boyfriends — whether they fit or not. Then, one day, they put on a graduation gown and enter the job market where wardrobe norms can be a bit less lenient. "All of a sudden, they need to be wearing clothes that are tailored properly and that are pressed and professional," says Peggy Noe Stevens, author of "Professional Presence: A Four-Part Program for Building your Personal Brand" and president of Peggy Noe Stevens & Associates, a Louisville, Ky., image consulting firm. "Most of them have no idea where to begin. Many of them don't own a single item that could be worn into an interview." And buying that one great interview suit — a rite of passage 10 years ago — just doesn't cut it anymore. "The professional wardrobe has changed," says Stevens. "It's all over the board. Some companies are more casual; others are still suit and tie. ... You want to dress appropriately, but you want to do more than that. You want to dress like you belong." If that task seems daunting, it doesn't have to be. "Dressing for an interview takes some thought and some homework," says Wendy Jacobs, vice president and regional employment manager for BB&T. Jacobs interviews nearly 100 job candidates a year and also talks to business students about interviewing etiquette at local colleges. "I tell students to just pick up the phone," says Jacobs. "Call human resources and ask about the dress code. It's never wrong to do that." In other words, your clothes can set you apart. You want them to do that in a positive way.  Hannah Fulkerson(Photo: By Michael Clevenger/The C-J) To mak! e sure that happens, here's a quick list of interview dressing do's and don'ts: 1. BUILD YOUR GROWN-UP WARDROBE. Start assembling the makings of an adult closet now. "I tell students to start thinking about a professional wardrobe before or as soon as they graduate," says Stevens. "You need that suit, yes, but you should also think in terms of good basics. Good pants. A few good tailored shirts. Nice shoes." 2. LEARN HOW TO IRON. "I can't tell you how many people mention young people coming in looking rumpled," says Jacobs. "I always say, 'Neat, clean and pressed. It doesn't have to be expensive. But you have to look polished and presentable.' " 3. TAKE A GOOD LOOK IN THE MIRROR — OR GET A PROFESSIONAL OPINION. Extremely long hair, tattoos, nail art, wild hair colors and even facial hair for guys may be commonplace on campuses, but they're not as welcome in every workplace. "I tell grads to book a consultation and talk to a stylist," says Stevens. "You want to look polished and relevant." Whether or not you cut or color your hair, it's wise to go into an interview with a fairly conservative beauty look. 4. PUT YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD — AND NOT IN SANDALS. The experts agree that crazy, colorful, sexy shoes don't scream 'serious job candidate.' Whether it's a pair of wildly colored men's athletic shoes or chunky platform sandals, bold footwear is a step in the wrong direction. "Men should be wearing loafers or oxfords; women should stick with classic pumps or conservative peep toes," says Chris Fulkerson, president of VIP studios, a local image consulting agency. 5. PAY ATTENTION TO FIT. Buying grown-up clothes is a good start, but don't stop there: Make sure they fit properly. Take it to a tailor. Try it on for your parents. "You want to make sure the fit is precise," says Fulkerson, whose two college-age daughters recently found jobs. After all, anyone who takes the time to get the fit just right would probably take the time to attend to a whole host of other details tha! t an empl! oyer is looking to delegate. 6. MOM MAY BE WRONG: YOU PROBABLY CAN SKIP THE PANTYHOSE. Up until two or three years ago, pantyhose was a conservative workplace standard — even in the sweltering summer. Good news for recent grads: "Hose are not required anymore," says Jacobs. "It's worth a call to HR, but our bank is very conservative and we've changed our dress code." 7. AS LONG AS YOU DON'T LOOK SEXY. Bare legs may be OK, but not if you're showing too much of them. "One of the biggest mistakes women can make is dressing too sexy," says Jacobs. Hemlines should hit right above the knee and cleavage is a no-no. The same goes for clingy or sheer fabrics and "too much bling." 8. DON'T DRESS LIKE A CLONE. You want your clothes to be neat. Clean. Pressed. Well-fitting. But that doesn't mean they have to be boring. So forget those images of navy blue suits, pumps and suntan hose — or gray suits and rep ties — and find work clothes that you also actually like to wear. "If you feel good in your clothes, you project confidence," says Jacobs. And that, regardless of where you're interviewing, always works. THE LOOK THAT GOT THE JOB Sydney Fulkerson, a University of Kentucky senior in merchandising and business, was recently offered an internship with a small Los Angeles fashion label. Her look: -- A sophisticated (not sexy) leather skirt and top signal an interest in fashion. -- This sleek jacket looks polished and pulled together. -- An envelope clutch adds a finishing touch and organizes papers.
ANOTHER LOOK THAT LANDED THE JOB Hannah Fulkerson, who recently completed her master's degree in art therapy at the University of Louisville, just took a job as an art therapist working with children in Boston. -- Soft blue (jacket) is approachable. -- Black pants look professional, but not fussy. -- Shoulder bag and classic pumps are practical and pulled together.
    Popular Posts: The Top 10 S&P 500 Dividend Stocks for May5 Stocks to Buy in MayTwitter Stock Gets Third Upgrade in Three Days … And Still Isn’t a Good Buy Recent Posts: PLUG – Plug Power Stock a Sell Even on Good Earnings Weak Retail Sales Hurt Everything from Home Depot to Nike The Top 10 S&P 500 Dividend Stocks for May View All Posts Anyone who follows Plug Power (PLUG) won’t be surprised that PLUG stock managed to fall nearly 10% right after Wednesday’s opening bell. Wild swings are what Plug Power is known for, and there are sure to be many more — probably to the downside — ahead.  There are always a few stocks that a portion of the market falls head-over-heels in love with, despite investors’ better judgment. Take look at what PLUG stock has done over the last 12 months, and it’s abundantly clear some players are blinded by their ardor.
True, Plug Power is one of the few ways for investors to bet on the exciting and revolutionary technology of electricity-generating fuel cells. But since when does it make sense for shares in a company that helps power fork lifts to rise more than 1,400% in a year?  Just as worrisome is the epic volatility seen in Plug Power stock. Indeed, PLUG stock has traded in a range of 22 cents to $11.72 in the last year alone. Sure, Plug Power stock still is up more than 140% for the year-to-date, but it’s also off 64% since its March 10 high. Have a look at the chart:
How does anyone figure an entry and exit point in a stock like that — especially one as neurotic as Plug Power stock? Plug Power Stock Short Circuits on Earnings The latest sell0ff in PLUG was set in motion by disappointing quarterly earnings. Plug Power reported a wider net loss year-over-year, to $75.9 million, or 57 cents a share, from $8.6 million, or 18 cents, in 2013. Yes, much of that stemmed from a charge of $68.4 million for stock warrants, but even on an adjusted basis, PLUG missed analysts’ estimate. Plug Power had an adjusted loss of 6 cents when Wall Street was looking for a loss of 5 cents. Then again, missing by a penny a share is hardly a tragedy. Furthermore, although revenue declined to $5.6 million from $6.4 million, the top line comfortably exceeded Street estimates. That might be a disappointing quarter for PLUG, but it wasn’t so bad that the stock needed to be shellacked. However, PLUG took a bad beating because that’s what happens to momentum stocks with insanely high valuations when anything negative comes to light. Even after Wednesday’s selloff, Plug Power stock was luxuriously expensive, with a nosebleed forward price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 77. For comparison, the S&P 500 trades at 16 times forward earnings. Heck, even Netflix (NFLX) — a poster child for pricey momentum stocks — has a P/E of just 50. That’s not to say that PLUG doesn’t have a solid business or a great future. It very well may. Walmart (WMT), the world’s largest retailer, uses fuel-cell-powered forklifts aided by Plug Power’s systems. At an investor conference this week, PLUG said it will deliver more than 3,000 units this year and will end 2014 with a profit, excluding interest, taxes and depreciation. That’s nothing but good news for PLUG. It does not, however, make Plug Power stock a buy. Like fellow fuel-cell stocks Ballard Power Systems (BLDP) and FuelCell Energy (FCEL), PLUG stock trades wildly from headline to headline. The volatility alone makes Plug Power too risky because it’s far too easy to buy high. If anything, Plug Power stock is a sell if you’re sitting on gains. Momentum stocks don’t stand a chance in this market, especially if they carry a 1,400% gain over the last year. PLUG stock offers too many reasons to get out, and there looks to be plenty more selling ahead. That’s why it’s time to pull the plug. As of this writing, Dan Burrows did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.
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Source: Betterment.com / Stocks for the Long RunYet, stock ownership and attitudes towards stocks remain at relatively low and skeptical levels (see Gallup survey in Markets Soar and Investors Snore). It's true that attitudes are changing at a glacial pace and bond outflows accelerated in 2013, but more recently stock inflows remain sporadic and scared money is returning to bonds. Even though it has been over five years, the emotional scars from 2008-2009 apparently still need some time to heal.Investing in stocks can be very scary and hazardous to your health. For those millions of investors who realize they do not hold the emotional fortitude to withstand the ups and downs, leave the worrying responsibilities to the experienced advisors and investment managers like me. That way you can focus on your job and retirement, while the pros can remain responsible for hunting and slaying the boogeyman.www.Sidoxia.comWade W. Slome, CFA, CFP®Plan. Invest. Prosper.DISCLOSURE: Sidoxia Capital Management (SCM) and some of its clients hold long positions in certain exchange traded funds and WMT, but at the time of publishing SCM had no direct position in any other security referenced in this article. No information accessed through the Investing Caffeine (IC) website constitutes investment, financial, legal, tax or other advice nor is to be relied on in making an investment or other decision. Please read disclosure language on IC Contact page.