One of our latest value recommendations is a firm that provides top-quality pet products and services in North America; this recession-resistant industry should produce steady growth in future years, suggests J. Royden Ward, editor of Cabot Benjamin Graham Value Investor.
PetSmart (PETM) carries a broad selection of high-quality pet supplies at everyday low prices. Stores offer 10,000 items, including nationally recognized brand names, as well as an extensive selection of private brands.
In 2013, its 1,289 stores produced an industry-leading $7.0 billion in revenue. Its broad product assortment is complemented by a selection of value-added pet services; virtually all of its stores offer complete pet training services and feature pet styling salons that provide high-quality grooming services.
PetSmart emphasizes premium dog and cat foods, many of which are not available at supermarkets, warehouse clubs, or mass merchandisers. The company also offers its own brands in supermarkets and pet stores.
5 Best Asian Stocks To Own Right Now: HCC Insurance Holdings Inc. (HCC)
HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. underwrites non-correlated specialty insurance products worldwide. The company operates in five segments: U.S. Property & Casualty, Professional Liability, Accident & Health, U.S. Surety & Credit, and International. The U.S. Property & Casualty segment provides aviation, small account errors and omissions liability (E&O), public risk, contingency, disability, residual value, employment practices liability (EPLI), technical property, primary and excess casualty, and brown water marine insurance products, as well as title and mortgage reinsurance products in the United States. The Professional Liability segment offers directors� and officers� (D&O) liability, large account E&O liability, fiduciary liability, fidelity and bankers blanket bonds, and EPLI for the United States and International-based policyholders. The Accident & Health segment provides medical stop-loss, short-term domestic and international medical, HMO reinsurance, and medical excess coverages in the United States. The U.S. Surety & Credit segment offers contract surety bonds, commercial surety bonds, and bail bonds; credit insurance policies for export trade transactions and structured trade transactions; and political risk and letters of credit insurance products. The International segment provides energy, property treaty, liability, surety, credit, direct and facultative property, ocean marine, accident and health, and other smaller product lines for international customers. The company markets its products directly to consumers, as well as through a network of independent agents and brokers, producers, and managing general agents. HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Ben Levisohn]
For the past several years, Berkshire has contrasted its own cost-free float provided by profitable underwriting against the industry�� (unimpressive) tendency to lose money on underwriting while generating net returns from investment income. So far, so good. Less edifying, though, is the repeated contrast of Berkshire�� track record of profitability to State Farm��…even though, as a mutual company, State Farm�� profitability goals are inherently different from for-profit insurers like Berkshire. It�� true that through year-end 2013, Berkshire�� underwriters have ��ow operated at an underwriting profit for eleven consecutive years,��but so have ACE (ACE), American Financial (AFG),� AmTrust Financial (AFSI), Arch Capital (ACGL), Chubb (CB), HCC (HCC), Progressive (PGR), RLI (RLI), and W.R. Berkley (WRB), any or all of whom provide a more meaningful comparison than contrasting Berkshire�� results to a company that�� not out to produce a profit in the first place.
- [By GURUFOCUS]
HCC Insurance Holdings Inc. (HCC) underwrites non-correlated specialty insurance products worldwide. The company operates in five segments: U.S. Property and Casualty, Professional Liability, Accident and Health, U.S. Aug. 21, the company increased its quarterly dividend 36% to $0.225 per share. The dividend is payable October 1, 2013 and will be paid on or about Oct. 15, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 2.1%.
- [By Ben Levisohn]
Shares of American International Group have dropped 1.7% to $49.67 at 1:19 p.m. today, while American Financial Group (AFG) has, dropped 0.2% to $57.23, HCC Insurance (HCC) is little changed at $45.12,�Travelers (TRV) has dipped 0.1% to $83.52 and Chubb (CB) is off 0.1% at $86.58.
Top 10 Supermarket Companies To Buy Right Now: PowerShares International Dividend Achievers Portfolio (PID)
PowerShares International Dividend Achievers Portfolio (the Fund) seeks to replicate, before fees and expenses, the International Dividend Achievers Index (the Index). The Fund invests in sectors, including financials, utilities, consumer staples, commercial banks, insurance, utilities and information technology. PowerShares Capital Management LLC is the adviser of the Fund.
The Index seeks to identify an international group of American Depository Receipts that have qualified as International Dividend Achievers. The Index is designed to track the performance of dividend paying American Depository Receipts and non-United States common or ordinary stocks trading on the NYSE, NADDAQ or AMEX.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Carlton Delfeld]
Second, add to the mix, one of my long-time favorite ETFs, the PowerShares International Dividend Achievers (PID).
To get into this exclusive basket, companies have to have a record of increasing dividends for five consecutive years. The United Kingdom and Canada make up 50% of its holdings with the US at only 6%.
- [By Editor , DividendChannel.com]
According to the ETF Finder at ETF Channel, Enbridge stock is an underlying holding representing 1.97% of the Powershares International Dividend Achievers ETF (PID), which holds $20,709,837 worth of ENB shares.
Top 10 Supermarket Companies To Buy Right Now: Body Central Corp.(BODY)
Body Central Corp. operates as a specialty retailer of young women's apparel and accessories in the south, mid-Atlantic, and midwest regions of the United States. The company operates specialty apparel stores under the Body Central and Body Shop banners, as well as a direct business of its Body Central catalog and e-commerce Website at bodyc.com. Its stores feature an assortment of tops, dresses, bottoms, jewelry, accessories, and shoes under Body Central and Lipstick labels. As of March 8, 2012 it operated 241 specialty apparel stores in 24 states. The company, formerly known as Body Central Acquisition Corp., was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Lee Jackson]
Body Central Corp. (NASDAQ: BODY) also comes in with an off-the-charts IRR of 26%. The company reported a dreadful second quarter, which hammered the share price. Body Central operates as a specialty retailer of young women’s apparel and accessories in the South, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions of the United States. It operates stores under the Body Central and Body Shop banners, as well as a direct business comprising its Body Central catalog and e-commerce website at bodycentral.com. The company’s stores sell tops, dresses, bottoms, jewelry, accessories and shoes, primarily under its Body Central and Lipstick labels. The lower the share price goes, the more attractive the stock becomes. The consensus price target is $11, with the high target at $12. The stock closed Thursday at $6.43.
Top 10 Supermarket Companies To Buy Right Now: bebe stores inc.(BEBE)
bebe stores, inc. engages in the design, development, and production of women?s apparel and accessories. Its products include a range of separates, tops, dresses, active wear, and accessories in career, evening, casual, and active lifestyle categories. The company markets its products under the bebe, BEBE SPORT, bbsp, and 2b bebe brand names targeting 21 to 34-year-old woman. As of July 2, 2011, it operated 252 retail stores, and an online store at bebe.com in the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Japan, and Canada, as well as 60 international licensee operated stores in south east Asia, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Russia, Mexico, and Turkey. The company was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Brisbane, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Monica Gerson]
Bebe Stores (NASDAQ: BEBE) shares declined 10.40% to $5.77 after the company reported a 5.7% drop in its Q3 same-store sales and issued a downbeat Q3 outlook.
- [By Jeremy Bowman]
What: Shares of Bebe Stores (NASDAQ: BEBE ) were back in style today, gaining as much as 11% after receiving an upgrade from Janney Capital from Neutral to Buy.
Top 10 Supermarket Companies To Buy Right Now: Black Hills Corporation (BKH)
Black Hills Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a diversified energy company in the United States. The company’s Electric Utilities segment generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to approximately 202,000 electric customers in South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, and Montana; and distributes natural gas to approximately 35,000 gas utility customers in Cheyenne, Wyoming. It owns 859 Megawatts of generation capacity and 8,530 miles of electric transmission and distribution lines. The company’s Gas Utilities segment distributes natural gas to approximately 532,000 natural gas utility customers in Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, and Kansas. It owns 624 miles of intrastate gas transmission pipelines and 19,979 miles of gas distribution mains and service lines. The company’s Oil and Gas segment is involved in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of crude oil and natural gas primarily in the Rocky Mountain region. This s egment’s principal assets include the operating interests in the properties in the San Juan basin, the Powder River basin, and the Piceance basin; and non-operated interests in wells located in the Williston, Wind River, Bear Paw Uplift, Arkoma, Anadarko, and Sacramento basins. As of December 31, 2012, it had total reserves of approximately 81 billion cubic feet equivalent of natural gas and crude oil. The company’s Power Generation segment produces electric power and sells the electric capacity and energy primarily to other utilities under long-term contracts. Its Coal Mining segment produces coal at its coal mine located near Gillette, Wyoming. The company also provides appliance repair services to approximately 62,000 residential customers; and constructs gas infrastructure facilities for gas transportation customers. Black Hills Corporation was founded in 1941 and is headquartered in Rapid City, South Dakota.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Laura Brodbeck]
Monday
Earnings Releases Expected: Black Hills Corporation (NYSE: BKH), CME Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CME), Leapfrog Enterprises (NYSE: LF), Hill International, Inc. (NYSE: HIL) Economic Releases Expected: eurozone manufacturing PMI, British construction PMI, US factory orders, Chinese services PMI, Indian services PMITuesday
- [By Marc Bastow]
Diversified energy company Black Hills (BKH) raised its quarterly dividend 2.6% to 39 cents per share, payable on Mar. 1 to shareholders of record as of Feb. 14. This is the 44th consecutive annual dividend increase, proving why utilities make such consistent dividend stocks.
BKH Dividend Yield: 2.84%
Top 10 Supermarket Companies To Buy Right Now: Omega Protein Corporation(OME)
Omega Protein Corporation, a nutritional ingredient company, engages in the processing, marketing, and distribution of fish meal, oil, and soluble products. The company produces and sells various protein and oil products derived from menhaden, a herring-like species of fish found in the U.S. coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. Its fish meal products include the Special Select, a premium grade fish meal that is targeted for monogastrics, including baby pigs, pets, shrimps, and fish; SeaLac, a premium grade fish meal that is targeted for the ruminant industry; and Fair Average Quality Meal, a commodity grade fish meal that is used in protein blends for catfish, pets, and other animals. Omega Protein Corporation?s fish oil products comprise crude unrefined fish oil, refined fish oil, and food grade oils. Its oil products are used in food production, feed production, certain industrial applications, and dietary supplements. The company?s fish solubles in clude Neptune fish concentrate that is used as the attractant in commercial baits, as well as in shrimp and finfish diets; OmegaGrow, a liquid soil or foliar-applied fertilizer for plant nutrition; and OmegaGrow Plus, a liquid foliar-applied fertilizer for plant nutrition that also helps to control insect and fungus problems. The company sells its products in the United States Mexico, Europe, Canada, Asia, and South and Central America. Omega Protein Corporation was founded in 1998 and is based in Houston, Texas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Garrett Cook]
Non-cyclical consumer goods & services shares fell 0.76 percent on Tuesday. Top losers in the sector included Diamond Foods (NASDAQ: DMND), down 4.2 percent, and Omega Protein (NYSE: OME), off 3.6 percent.
Top 10 Supermarket Companies To Buy Right Now: Embraer-Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica(ERJ)
Embraer S.A. engages in the development, production, and sale of jet and turboprop aircraft for civil and defense aviation markets. It also offers aircrafts for agricultural use; structural components, mechanical and hydraulic systems, and technical activities related to the production and maintenance of aerospace material. The company?s Commercial Aviation segment designs, develops, and manufactures various commercial aircraft for regional, low-cost, and mainline airlines primarily in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Its Defense and Security segment provides a range of integrated solutions for the defense and security market, including training/light attack aircraft, aerial surveillance platforms, military transport aircraft, and government transport aircraft; command, control, communications, computer, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems; and maintenance and material solutions. The company?s Executive Aviation segment develops a line of executive jets for fractional ownership companies, charter companies and air-taxi companies, and high-net-worth individuals. Its Aviation Services segment offers after-sales customer support services for the fleets of its commercial, executive, and defense customers. This segment also provides spare parts, maintenance and repair, training, and other product support services. The company?s Other segment involves in selling and leasing used aircraft; and offers structural parts, and mechanical and hydraulic systems for the production of helicopters. This segment also manufactures landing gear, and general aviation propeller aircraft, such as executive planes and crop dusters. It has a strategic alliance with European Aerospace and Defense Group. The company was formerly known as Embraer - Empresa Brasileira de Aeron Advisors' Opinion:
- [By Ben Levisohn]
Shares of Boeing have gained 0.9% to $132.19 at 10:24 a.m., while fellow jet makers Embraer (ERJ) and Airbus (EADSY) have risen 0.9% and 0.6%, respectively. Shares of Apple have dropped 0.2% to $605.25.
- [By Rich Smith]
Brazil's Embraer (NYSE: ERJ ) continued doling out subcontracts on its new E-Jets to major American airplane parts suppliers last week.
- [By Ben Levisohn]
Shares of Boeing have gained 1.9% to $127.89 at 2:07 p.m. today, but are still off 6.3% so far this year. Shares of Airbus (EADSY) have dropped 5.4% this year after rising 1.3% to $18.19 today, while Embraer’s (ERJ) 0.7% rise today puts it up 11% in 2014.
- [By Rich Smith]
Some commentators thought Boeing had the contract in the bag. In a tit-for-tat payback, Brazil was thought to favor the U.S. company, thanks to the U.S. Air Force's having recently bought 20 light attack planes from Brazilian planemaker Embraer (NYSE: ERJ ) .
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