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In the video below, Blake observes how smaller companies like iRobot� (NASDAQ: IRBT ) and AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV ) , as well as huge defense contractors such as Lockheed Martin� (NYSE: LMT ) and Northrop Grumman� (NYSE: NOC ) , are positioned to benefit from this trend.
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Best Up And Coming Companies To Watch For 2015: Altair Nanotechnologies Inc.(ALTI)
Altair Nanotechnologies Inc. develops, manufactures, and sells nano-structured lithium titanate spinel, battery cells, battery packs, and multi-megawatt battery systems, as well as provides related design, installation, and test services in the United States and internationally. The company also provides contract research services to develop intellectual property and/or new products and technology. It markets its energy storage solutions to power companies and electric grid operators; and batteries to electric and hybrid-electric bus manufacturers, and other industrial markets. The company was formerly known as Altair International Inc. and changed its name to Altair Nanotechnologies Inc. in July 2002. Altair Nanotechnologies Inc. was founded in 1973 and is headquartered in Reno, Nevada. Altair Nanotechnologies, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Canon Investment Holdings Limited.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Bryan Murphy]
Anybody who was lucky enough to be in an Altair Nanotechnologies Inc. (NASDAQ:ALTI) position anytime before October 11th, then congratulations - you're now up anywhere between 38% and 157%, depending on when you stepped in. Now get out. Instead, use that capital to step into an Amarin Corporation plc (NASDAQ:AMRN) position, which took a 20% hit on Friday. The rally from ALTI looks like it's ready to unravel, while the implosion from AMRN looks ripe for a reversal too.
Hot Long Term Companies For 2014: Tesco Corporation(TESO)
Tesco Corporation engages in the design, manufacture, and service delivery of technology based solutions for the upstream energy industry worldwide. The company?s Top Drive segment manufactures, sells, and supports top drives used in drilling operations to rotate the drill string while suspended from the derrick above the rig floor. This segment?s product line includes various portable and permanently installed top drive products with lifting capacities of 150 through 750 tons, which are hydraulically and electrically powered. It also provides top drive rental services on a day-rate basis for land and offshore drilling rigs and engages in the recertification of working units, such as top drives, power units, and other top drive product and component repairs. This segment serves drilling contractors, rig builders, equipment brokers, and oil and natural gas operating companies. Its Tubular Services segment offers proprietary tubular services using its Casing Drive System, a tool that facilitates running and reaming casing into a well bore; and installation service of deep water smart well completion equipment using the company?s Multiple Control Line Running System technology. This segment also provides equipment and personnel for the installation of tubing and casing, including power tongs, pick-up/lay-down units, torque monitoring services, connection testing services, and power swivels for new well construction, and in work-over and re-entry operations. The company?s CASING DRILLING segment provides CASING DRILLING technology, which allows an oil or gas well to be drilled using well casing pipe, eliminating the use of drill pipe and drill collars. Tesco Corporation was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Sophia Yan]
Wal-Mart (WMT, Fortune 500) said this month that it would close a number of stores in China. Earlier this year, Tesco (TESO) transferred its 131 stores and shopping mall business in China to a joint venture with a state-owned company.
Hot Long Term Companies For 2014: New Western Energy Corp (NWTR)
New Western Energy Corporation, incorporated on September 25, 2008, is an oil and gas and mineral exploration and production company with current projects located in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas. The Company�� principal business is in the acquisition, exploration and development of, and production from oil, gas and mineral properties. The Company�� project includes Oklahoma Project, Texas Project, Kansas Project and Pennsylvania project. As of December 31, 2011, the Company�� total estimated unproved reserves were approximately 1,495,757 barrels of oil reserves. On January 2, 2012, the Company acquired of 100% interest in Royal Texan.
Oklahoma Project
This project comprises of two leases Glass and Phillips. The Glass Lease is located in Roger County, Oklahoma. The Glass leasehold property contains approximately 120 acres. The Phillips Lease is located in Rogers County, Oklahoma. The Phillips leasehold property contains approximately 150 acres. The Company�� oil leases located in Oklahoma were originally obtained from one lessor RC Oil Co.
Texas Project
This project comprises of three leases Swenson, Reves and McLellan. On January 27, 2011, the Company�� subsidiary New Western Texas acquired a 50% working interest in 160 acres of oil and gas leases in Jones County, Texas, known as the Swenson Lease. On August 8, 2011, the Company�� subsidiary New Western Texas was assigned from a third party a Paid Up Oil and Gas Lease agreement with Michael L. McLellan and Paula McLellan (Lessors), which provided us a 50% working interest in approximately 160 acres of land for the purpose of exploring for developing, producing and marketing oil and gas, along with all hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon substances produced.
Kansas Project
On December 20, 2011, entered into an assignment of oil and gas lease with an independent third party for an oil and gas property in Kansas referred to as Chautauqua Lease, whereby the assignor gra! nted the rights to the Company to carry on geographical and other exploratory work, including core drilling, and the drilling, and operating for producing, and marketing all of the oil, gas, including all associated hydrocarbons. As of December 31, 2011, the Company has not started any oil and gas exploration on Chautauqua Lease.
Pennsylvania project
The property is approximately 23 acres and is located on a glacial aged kame terrace. The terrace sands, gravels and finer sediments were deposited in response to blockage by glacial ice. Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale natural gas producers operate approximately 50,000 wells and deliver more than 158 billion cubic feet of natural gas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Peter Graham] New Western Energy Corp (OTCMKTS: NWTR) May Have Enough Cash for Now
Small cap New Western Energy Corp is an independent energy company engaged in the acquisition, development, production, and exploration of oil, gas and minerals primarily in North America. On Friday, New Western Energy Corp fell 16% to $0.189 for a market cap of $13.02 million plus NWTR is down 37% over the past year and down 10% since February 2012 according to Google Finance.
Hot Long Term Companies For 2014: PowerSecure International Inc (POWR)
PowerSecure International, Inc. provides energy and smart grid solutions to electric utilities and their commercial, institutional, and industrial customers. The company?s products and services include Interactive Distributed Generation power systems, smart grid monitoring for electric utilities, peak shaving and demand response, and standby power dispatch and control products; and switchgear products and systems under the NexGear brand name. It also offers utility infrastructure products and services, including transmission and distribution system construction and maintenance under the UtilityServices brand name; engineering, regulatory consulting, and electric grid system design services under the UtilityEngineering and PowerServices brand names; LED lighting for grocery, drug, and convenience stores under the EfficientLights brand name; other LED-based lighting, including street lights; lighting and efficiency products for commercial and industrial customers under the E nergyLite brand name; and LED lighting and lighting components for OEMs and electronics manufacturers, as well as for commercial, industrial, and consumer lighting applications under the IES brand name. PowerSecure serves electric utilities, as well as commercial, institutional, and industrial customers in the United States, the Mid-Atlantic, the Midwest, and the Gulf Coast regions. The company was formerly known as Metretek Technologies, Inc. and changed its name to PowerSecure International, Inc. in August 2007. PowerSecure International, Inc. was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Wake Forest, North Carolina.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By MONEYMORNING]
A good choice here is Power Secure International Inc. (Nasdaq: POWR).
Power Secure International is a leader in combining electricity distribution with enhanced infrastructure protections. POWR is up 43% since being introduced to Energy Inner Circle readers a little over eight months ago.
Hot Long Term Companies For 2014: Obagi Medical Products Inc.(OMPI)
Obagi Medical Products, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company, develops, markets, and sells topical aesthetic and therapeutic prescription skin care systems. It offers Obagi Nu-Derm System, including prescription and OTC drugs that are used for the treatment of fine lines, wrinkles, acne, photo damage, hyperpigmentation, melasma, laxity, and skin sallowness; Obagi Condition and Enhance Systems that are used before and after surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures; Obagi-C Rx System comprises Vitamin C with 4% hydroquinone system to treat skin conditions resulting from sun damage and the oxidative damage of free radicals; and Professional-C products consisting of Vitamin C serums for the treatment of antioxidant protection, fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation. The company also provides ELASTIderm Eye and D�olletage, which increases the elasticity and skin tone of eyes, face, neckline, and chest; ELASTILash Eyelash Solution that enhances the appearance of thickness and fullness of eyelashes; CLENZIderm M.D. Systems and Tretinoin for treating acne; and Obagi Rosaclear System used for the treatment of rosacea. In addition, it offers Refissa and Blue Peel RADIANCE used for the treatment of fine facial lines, hyperpigmentation, and tactile roughness; Metronidazole used for the treatment of rosacea; Obagi Blue Peel Essential Kit used for the treatment of fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation. Further, the company licenses non-prescription product concepts under the Obagi trademark to a Japanese-based pharmaceutical company for sale through consumer distribution channels in Japan. Obagi Medical Products, Inc. sells its products through sales force and distribution partners in the United States, North and Central America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia to dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and other physicians that are focused on aesthetic and therapeutic skin care. The company was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Lon g Beach, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By David Williamson]
Though many excited traders had hoped to see the bidding war continue between Valeant Pharmaceuticals (NYSE: VRX ) and Merz over Obagi Medical Products (NASDAQ: OMPI ) and a subsequent run-up in the stock price of the smaller dermatological products maker, Merz has now walked away from the table, leaving the highly acquisitive Valeant the victor. In this video, Motley Fool health care analyst David Williamson gives us some background on these companies and tells us how Valeant plans to profit from the deal, and describes for investors why this is a win both for Obagi and for Valeant.
Hot Long Term Companies For 2014: Zale Corp (ZLC)
Zale Corporation, incorporated on April 26, 1991, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, is a retailer of fine jewelry in North America. The Company operates in three segments: fine jewelry, kiosk jewelry and all other. As of July 31, 2012, the Company operated 1,124 specialty retail jewelry stores and 654 kiosks located mainly in shopping malls throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. The Company�� fine jewelry segment consists of five brands: Zales Jewelers, Peoples Jewellers, Zales Outlet, Mappins Jewellers, and Gordon's Jewelers The Company�� kiosk jewelry operates under the brand names Piercing Pagoda, Plumb Gold, and Silver and Gold Connection (collectively, Piercing Pagoda) through mall-based kiosks. The Company provides insurance and reinsurance services for various types of insurance coverage, which is marketed primarily to its private label credit card guests, through Zale Indemnity Company, Zale Life Insurance Company and Jewel Re-Insurance Ltd.
Fine Jewelry
Each brand specializes in fine jewelry and watches, with merchandise and marketing emphasis focused on diamond products. Zales Jewelers is the Company's national brand in the United States providing moderately priced jewelry to a range of guests. Zales Outlet operates in outlet malls and neighborhood power centers and capitalizes on Zales Jewelers' national advertising and brand recognition. Gordon's Jewelers is a value-oriented regional jeweler. Peoples Jewellers, Canada's fine jewelry retailer, provides guests with shopping experience. Mappins Jewellers offers Canadian guests a selection of merchandise from engagement rings to fashionable and contemporary fine jewelry.
The Company has extended its reach of certain brands through the use of its Webstores, mobile devices and social media to provide its guests access to its brands wherever and whenever they choose. In addition, the Company offers its guests the option to purchase warranty coverage on substantially all of its mercha! ndise in Fine Jewelry. The Company also offers repair services to guests who do not purchase warranty coverage. Zales Jewelers (Zales), the Company's United States based flagship, is a brand name in jewelry retailing in the United States, operating 639 stores in 50 states and Puerto Rico with an average store size of 1,681 square feet. Gordon's Jewelers (Gordon's) operates 147 stores in 27 states and Puerto Rico with an average store size of 1,534 square feet.
The Company�� Zales brand is positioned as the Diamond Store emphasizing on diamond jewelry, especially in the bridal and fashion segments. Zales and Gordon's combined revenues accounted for 60% of the Company's total revenues during the fiscal year ended July 31, 2012 (fiscal 2012). Both brands operate as multi-channel retailers and serve Internet guests through the e-commerce sites www.zales.com and www.gordonsjewelers.com, which accounted for approximately 5% of the Company's total revenues in fiscal 2012.
In Canada, the Company operates 206stores in nine provinces. The Company's Canadian operations consist of two brands, Peoples Jewellers (Peoples) and Mappins Jewellers (Mappins), and accounted for 17% of the Company's total revenues in fiscal 2012. The average store size is 1,605 square feet with an average transaction value of $332 in fiscal year 2012. Peoples serves Internet guests through the e-commerce site, www.peoplesjewellers.com. The Company operates 132 Zales Outlet (Outlet) stores in 35 states and Puerto Rico, sales from which accounted for 10% of its total revenues in fiscal 2012. The average store size is 2,362 square feet in fiscal 2012.
Kiosk Jewelry
The Company�� kiosk jewelry segment is focused on the opening price point jewelry guest. The Company's presence in Kiosk Jewelry has been expanded through the e-commerce site, www.pagoda.com. The Company also offers its guests the option to purchase warranty coverage on certain products. As of July 31, 2012, Piercing Pagoda op! erated 65! 4 locations in 41 states and Puerto Rico, sales from which accounted for 13% of the Company's total revenues in fiscal. Piercing Pagoda offers collection of bracelets, earrings, charms, rings, non-precious metal products and 14 karat and 10 karat gold chains, as well as a selection of silver and diamond jewelry, all in basic styles at moderate prices. Kiosk locations average 188 square feet in size in fiscal 2012.
All Other
The Company insurance companies are the insurers (either through direct written or reinsurance contracts) of the Company's guests' credit insurance coverage. In addition to providing merchandise replacement coverage for certain perils, credit insurance coverage provides protection to the creditor and cardholder for losses associated with the disability, involuntary unemployment, leave of absence or death of the cardholder. Zale Life Insurance Company also provides group life insurance coverage for the Company's eligible employees. In fiscal year 2012, 36% of the Company's private label credit card purchasers purchased some form of credit insurance. In fiscal year 2012, all other accounted for approximately 1% of the Company's total revenues.
The Company competes with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., .C. Penney Company, Inc., Signet Jewelers Limited, and QVC, Inc.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Roberto Pedone]
Zale (ZLC) is a specialty retailer of fine jewelry in North America. This stock closed up 2.5% to $9.52 in Thursday's trading session.
Thursday's Range: $9.29-$9.56
52-Week Range: $2.94-$9.85
Thursday's Volume: 567,000
Three-Month Average Volume: 951,295From a technical perspective, ZLC bounced modestly higher here right above its 50-day moving average of $8.70 with lighter-than-average volume. This stock has been consolidating and trending sideways over the last month, with shares moving between $8.44 on the downside and $9.70 on the upside. This spike today is now starting to push ZLC within range of triggering a major breakout trade above the upper-end of its recent sideways trading chart pattern. That trade will hit if ZLC manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $9.70 to its 52-week high at $9.85 with high volume.
Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ZLC as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $8.70 or above more support at $8.44 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 951,295 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then ZLC will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $12 to $14.
- [By Lauren Pollock]
Zale Corp.'s(ZLC) fiscal first-quarter loss narrowed as the jewelry retailer reported higher same-store sales across nearly all stores it operates and overall margin growth.
- [By John Kell]
Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Wednesday’s session are Zale Corp.(ZLC), Herbalife Ltd.(HLF) and Devon Energy Corp.(DVN)
- [By Rick Aristotle Munarriz]
Steve Mack/FilmMagic There was no shortage of wonders of blunders even in this holiday-shortened market week. From a retailer's gadget going cold to some jewelers just starting to heat up, here's a rundown of the week's smartest moves and biggest errors in the business world. Men's Wearhouse (MW) -- Loser Jos. A. Bank (JOSB) tried to acquire the larger Men's Wearhouse a few weeks ago. It didn't pan out, and now Men's Wearhouse has made an offer to buy Jos. A. Bank. This is technically a smart move, especially since the two companies should be able to realize some serious cost savings as a combined entity. However, this still is being scored as a blunder because Men's Wearhouse originally balked at Jos. A. Bank's buyout at least partially on the grounds that antitrust regulators would not allow it to take place. Now it has to eat its words. Yahoo! (YHOO) -- Winner Yahoo! announced on Monday that Katie Couric will be joining the meandering dot-com giant as its global anchor next year. She will help develop the coverage at Yahoo News, giving the Web giant some welcome street cred in reporting circles. Couric won't be leaving TV. She plans to continue hosing her syndicated daytime take show -- Katie -- that runs through ABC News. Yahoo! has struggled with online advertising growth lately, and Couric's presence should help increase what it can milk out of advertisers. The Nook -- Loser Barnes & Noble (BKS) posted disappointing quarterly results, but the real culprit here was a sharp drop in sales for the struggling bookseller's Nook e-reader and tablet lines. Shares of Barnes & Noble slipped after reporting a 32 percent plunge in Nook sales. The slide over the past year consists of a 41 percent decline in device and accessories and an even more problematic 21 percent drop in digital content. After all, it's one thing if no one's buying new Nooks, but it's even more troublesome if the wider usage base is buying less digital content. Jewelry -- Winne
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