Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.
What: Shares of energy service provider Newpark Resources (NYSE: NR ) jumped 17% today after the company released earnings.
So what: Revenue was up 7.7%, to $283 million in the first quarter, and net income jumped 11.1%, to $17.4 million, or $0.18 per share. Analysts only expected $278 million in revenue, and earnings of $0.17 per share, and the slight beat was enough to send shares higher. It didn't hurt that the report was accompanied by a $50 million share repurchase plan, which indicates that management is bullish on the company's long-term future.�
Now what: Drilling rigs are down in the U.S., so many service providers are showing negative results in the first quarter. Newpark was able to buck the trend with its fluids systems and engineering business, which saw a 13% increase in first quarter revenue. I think there's more growth in the future as overall drilling activity picks up, and an 11.3 forward P/E ratio is a good buying opportunity for investors.
Interested in more info on Newpark Resources? Add it to your watchlist by clicking here.
10 Best Solar Stocks To Own For 2015: Arkansas Best Corporation (ABFS)
Arkansas Best Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides freight transportation services and solutions. The company�s Freight Transportation segment offers aggregate, national, inter-regional, and regional transportation of general commodities; motor carrier freight transportation services; business-to-business air transportation services for exporting freight out of the United States and import into the United States; ocean transport services; global customizable supply chain solutions; and integrated warehousing services. Its Premium Logistics and Expedited Freight Services segment provides expedited freight transportation services to commercial and government customers; and premium logistics services that involve the deployment of specialized equipment to meet line haul requirements, such as temperature control, hazardous materials, geofencing, specialized government cargo, security services, and life sciences. This segment also offers domestic and international f reight transportation with air, ocean, and ground service. The company�s Truck Brokerage and Management segment provides third-party transportation brokerage and management services by sourcing various equipment types, including truckload, flatbed, intermodal, temperature-controlled, and specialized equipment coupled with carrier- and customer-based Web tools. Its Emergency and Preventative Maintenance segment offers roadside assistance and maintenance management services for commercial vehicles through a network of third-party service providers. The company�s Household Goods Moving Services segment provides third-party transportation, warehousing, and delivery services to the consumer, corporate, and military household goods moving markets. As of December 31, 2012, the company operated approximately 3,700 tractors and 20,000 trailers that were used in its line haul and local pickup and delivery operations. Arkansas Best Corporation was founded in 1935 and is headquartered in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Sean Williams]
Even the trucking companies that have been struggling are showing signs of life. Just last week, Arkansas Best (NASDAQ: ABFS ) announced a tentative agreement between its ABF Freight Systems subsidiary and the Teamsters union that should dramatically lower costs. Just days later, struggling trucker YRC Worldwide (NASDAQ: YRCW ) , which also reported its first quarterly profit in six years recently, confirmed that it's offered a preliminary proposal to acquire Arkansas Best. �
- [By Sean Williams]
This week's winner
Should it really surprise anyone that portfolio superstar Arkansas Best (NASDAQ: ABFS ) led the way with a 6.3% gain on the week. During the week, TheStreet.com upgraded Arkansas Best from sell to hold, citing increases in sales and income as the impetus for the upgrade. More so than that, trucking company Arkansas Best is being seen as a takeover target, with YRC Worldwide�expressing serious interest in acquiring the company. Let me not forget that we collected $0.03 per share from Arkansas Best in the form of a dividend as well! - [By John Udovich]
Despite what can best be described as a�soft economy, small cap trucking stocks YRC Worldwide, Inc (NASDAQ: YRCW), Arkansas Best Corporation (NASDAQ: ABFS), Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc (NASDAQ: FFEX), Saia Inc (NASDAQ: SAIA) and USA Truck, Inc (NASDAQ: USAK) have been trucking some pretty impressive returns since the start of the year. In fact, these small cap trucking stocks are up anywhere from 72% to 150% or so since the start of the year despite the slow economy. Certainly trucking stocks provide a good indicator of how the economy is doing, but might investors be�jumping the gun by pushing up these trucking stocks?
Best Income Stocks To Invest In 2014: Sinovac Biotech Ltd.(SVA)
Sinovac Biotech Ltd., a biopharmaceutical company, engages in the research, development, manufacture, and commercialization of vaccines against the hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and influenza viruses in the People's Republic of China. It offers Healive, an inactivated hepatitis A vaccine; Bilive, a combination of hepatitis A and B vaccine; Anflu, a split virus influenza vaccine; and Panflu, a vaccine against the influenza A H1N1 virus. The company's pipeline vaccine candidates include a split viron vaccine, which completed Phase II clinical trials for the H5N1 influenza virus; and a SARS vaccine, which completed Phase I clinical trials for the SARS virus. In addition, its pipeline vaccine candidates that completed the pre-clinical trials comprise human vaccines for EV71, pneumococcal conjugate, haemophilus influenzae type b, meningitis, Japanese encephalitis, chickenpox, mumps, and rubella diseases, as well as rabies vaccine for humans and animals. The company markets and sell s its vaccine products directly to the provincial and municipal disease control and prevention centers. It has a patent license agreement with the National Institutes of Health; distribution agreements with LG Life Sciences, Ltd. and Glovax C.V.; and a pandemic influenza vaccine co-development agreement with the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Sinovac Biotech Ltd. was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Beijing, the People's Republic of China.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Brian Pacampara]
Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, biopharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech (NASDAQ: SVA ) has received the dreaded one-star ranking.
- [By Rich Duprey]
Troubling is that it's a new presence in humans, and while that makes its spread among the populace difficult, scientists fear that it's gaining momentum. Sinovac Biotech (NASDAQ: SVA ) , which was approved to produce vaccines several years ago, jumped almost 7% yesterday as it gears up to mass produce a vaccine to combat the new threat.
- [By Louis Navellier]
LGND is a strong buy at today�� price.
Biotech Stocks to Buy: Sinovac Biotech (SVA)Sinovac Biotech LTD (SVA) is a Chinese biotech company that makes drugs to treat conditions such as hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and influenza viruses. The just announced that the phase three trials of a new drug to fight a virus called EV-71 that causes neurological conditions such hand foot and mouth disease showed great promise. Phase III trial results� EV71 vaccine show that the drug had a 94.8% efficacy rate against EV71-related hand, foot, and mouth disease, and a 100% efficacy rate against EV71-associated hospitalization and against HFMD with neurologic complications.
Best Income Stocks To Invest In 2014: JetBlue Airways Corporation(JBLU)
JetBlue Airways Corporation provides passenger air transportation services in the United States. As of December 31, 2011, it operated approximately 700 daily flights to 70 destinations in 22 states, Puerto Rico, and Mexico; and 12 countries in the Caribbean and Latin America through a fleet of 120 Airbus A320 aircraft and 49 EMBRAER 190 aircraft. The company, through its subsidiary, LiveTV, LLC, provides in-flight entertainment, voice communication, and data connectivity systems and services for commercial and general aviation aircraft, including live in-seat satellite television, digital satellite radio, wireless aircraft data link service, and cabin surveillance systems. JetBlue Airways Corporation was founded in 1998 and is based in Forest Hills, New York.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By DAILYFINANCE]
Getty Images WASHINGTON -- As one part of the U.S. government looks to remove restrictions on making phone calls from airplanes, another agency is apparently considering its own prohibition. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Thomas Wheeler told members of Congress that while his agency sees no technical reason to ban calls on planes, Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx told him Thursday morning that the DOT will be moving forward with its own restrictions. Wheeler called his proposal to rescind the ban "the responsible thing to do." Calls have been prohibited for 22 years over fears that they would interfere with cellular networks on the ground. Technological advances had resolved those concerns. "When the rationale for a rule doesn't exist, the rule shouldn't exist," Wheeler told members of the House Communications and Technology Subcommittee during his 39th day in office. Wheeler said he has called the chief executives of major airlines, telling them that the government isn't requiring them to allow calls. Ultimately, the decision will rest with individual airlines. "I understand the consternation caused by the thought of your onboard seatmate disturbing the flight making phone calls. I do not want the person in the seat next to me yapping at 35,000 feet any more than anyone else," Wheeler said. "But we are not the Federal Courtesy Commission." The DOT, which includes the Federal Aviation Administration, wasn't immediately available for comment. The FCC proposal comes just weeks after the Federal Aviation Administration lifted its ban on using personal electronic devices such as iPads and Kindles below 10,000 feet, saying they don't interfere with cockpit instruments. An Associated Press-GfK poll released Wednesday found that 48 percent of Americans oppose allowing cellphones to be used for voice calls while flying; just 19 percent support it. Another 30 percent are neutral. Among those who fly, opposition is stronger. Loo
- [By Adam Levine-Weinberg]
For the first few years of its existence, JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ: JBLU ) was the darling of the airline industry. While it had the prices of a low-cost carrier (compared to the lumbering legacy carriers of the day), it actually offered more amenities than most airlines, such as free satellite TV at every seat. Unfortunately, as legacy competitors improved their cost structures and oil prices rose, JetBlue's advantage shrank.
- [By Asit Sharma]
Earnings and valuation continue to look attractive
Alaska Airlines continues to impress investors with each earnings report. In its most recent filing for Q4 2013, the company reported record earnings of $78 million, a 68% increase over the prior year's quarter. The positive earnings were driven primarily by a 7% increase in revenue. When a company can increase earnings so significantly, it can offset a rise in the stock in terms of relative valuation, and we see this phenomenon at work with Alaska Airlines. When we reviewed the company's stock in November, ALK traded at 11.3 times trailing 12-month earnings. Since then, even after its price appreciation of more than one-fourth of its value, the airline's P/E ratio has remained in the same ballpark, at 13.0. This compares favorably to the peer group we previously compared ALK to. Currently, Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV ) trades at 22.5 trailing 12-month earnings, and the P/E ratios of the rest of the group are as follows:�Spirit Airlines�-- 25.3,�Republic Airways Holdings�-- 19.1, and�JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ: JBLU ) -- 17.6. Thus, relative to its competitors, Alaska still looks cheap. - [By Alex Planes]
On the other hand, Embraer may be fighting against the carrier current, which my fellow Fool Adam Levine-Weinberg says is moving in the direction of larger planes. JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ: JBLU ) , one of Embraer's prime customers, is about to start flying some larger Airbus 190-seat craft and will reduce the size of its Embraer 100-seat fleet to accommodate the new planes. For now, it looks like Embraer has more opportunity
Best Income Stocks To Invest In 2014: Susser Petroleum Partners LP (SUSP)
Susser Petroleum Partners LP is primarily engaged in fee-based wholesale distribution of motor fuels to Susser Holdings Corporation (SHC) and third parties. SHC operates over 540 retail convenience stores under its Stripes convenience store brand. In addition to distributing motor fuel, the Company also distributes other petroleum products, such as propane and lube oil, and it receive rental income from real estate that it lease or sublease. In January 2014, Susser Petroleum Partners LP announced the acquisition of the convenience store assets and fuel distribution contracts of Sac-N-Pac Stores, Inc. and 3W Warren Fuels, Ltd.
During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company distributed 789.6 million gallons of motor fuel to Stripes convenience stores and 522.8 million gallons of motor fuel to other customers. It also distributes Chevron, CITGO, Conoco, Exxon, Mobil, Phillips 66, Shamrock, Shell, Texaco and Valero branded motor fuel, as well as unbranded motor fuel. In addition to distributing motor fuel, it also distributes other petroleum products, such as propane and lube oil.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Robert Rapier]
Susser Petroleum Partners (NYSE: SUSP) debuted in September 2012, and has appreciated by 50 percent since. Susser engages in fee-based wholesale distribution of motor fuels. The partnership also distributes petroleum products like propane and lube oil, and receives rental income from real estate.
- [By Robert Rapier]
Susser Petroleum Partners (NYSE: SUSP) engages in fee-based wholesale distribution of motor fuels. The partnership also distributes petroleum products like propane and lube oil, and receives rental income from real estate.
Best Income Stocks To Invest In 2014: CyrusOne Inc (CONE)
CyrusOne Inc., incorporated on July 31, 2012, is a owner, operator and developer of enterprise-class, carrier-neutral data center properties. Enterprise-class, carrier-neutral data centers are purpose-built facilities with redundant power, cooling and telecommunications systems and that are not network-specific, enabling customer interconnectivity to a range of telecommunications carriers. The Company provides mission-critical data center facilities that protect operation of information technology (IT) infrastructure for approximately 500 customers. As of September 30, 2012, its customers included nine of the Fortune 20 and 108 of the Fortune 1000 or private or foreign enterprises of equivalent size. On July 31, 2012, the Company�� operating partnership, CyrusOne LP, was formed. On July 31, 2012, CyrusOne GP, the general partner of the Company�� operating partnership, was formed as a trust.
As of September 30, 2012, the Company�� property portfolio included 23 operating data centers in nine markets: Austin, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, Houston, London, San Antonio, Singapore, and South Bend providing approximately 1,630,000 net rentable square feet (NRSF) and powered by approximately 125 megawatts of utility power. The Company owns nine of the buildings in which its data center facilities are located. It leases the remaining 14 buildings, which account for approximately 600,000 NRSF. The Company also has 379,000 NRSF under development at three data centers in three markets (Dallas, Houston and Phoenix) and 762,000 NRSF of additional powered shell space under roof and available for development. In addition, it has approximately 146 acres of land that are available for future data center facility development. Along with its primary product offering, leasing of colocation space, its customers are interested in its ancillary office and other space.
As of September 2012, the Company added 36,000 Colocation Space (CSF) at its Westover Hills Blvd (San Antonio) facility, 47,0! 00 CSF at its Frankford Road (Carrollton) facility and 15,000 CSF at its Westway Park Blvd (Houston West) facility. The Company�� portfolio of properties consists primarily of data centers geographically concentrated in cities in Ohio and Texas, which comprised 38% and 59%, respectively, of its annualized rent as of September 30, 2012.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Jim Royal]
To recap, Cincinnati Bell owns a 69% stake in CyrusOne (NASDAQ: CONE ) , which is worth over $1 billion now. It intends to monetize this asset some time following a lock-up period that ends in January. CyrusOne is growing quickly, and revenue could easily climb 20% this year. This is Cincinnati Bell's best asset and the rapid deleveraging ��I expect debt could be slashed by 70% in the next year or two -- should help boost free cash flow markedly.
- [By Ong Kang Wei]
For example, Digital Realty (DLR) is the undoubted leader in the data storage industry, with a market cap of $8.3B. Its other three competitors, DuPont Fabros (DFT), CoreSite Realty (COR) and CyrusOne (CONE), have market caps of $1.5B, $930M and $430M respectively. In addition, with the level of complexity involving Digital's business making it immensely difficult for companies to operate data centre facilities, the company is in a good position for future growth. The company also has a wide network of 595 tenants (significantly more than other competitors), including CenturyLink (CTL), AT&T and Morgan Stanley (MS). This further secures its long term business prospects and also its dominance over its competitors.
Best Income Stocks To Invest In 2014: Ferro Corporation (FOE)
Ferro Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, produces and sells specialty materials and chemicals in the United States and internationally. It operates in six segments: Performance Coatings, Electronic Materials, Color and Glass Performance Materials, Polymer Additives, Specialty Plastics, and Pharmaceuticals. The company provides electronic, color, and glass materials, including conductive metal powders, polishing materials, glazes, enamels, pigments, decoration colors, and other performance materials. It also offers polymer and ceramic engineered materials, such as polymer additives, engineered plastic compounds, pigment dispersions, glazes, frits, porcelain enamel, pigments, inks, and high-potency pharmaceutical active ingredients. The company provides its products for a range of applications in various markets, such as appliances, automobiles, building and renovation, electronics, household furnishings, industrial products, packaging, and pharmaceuticals. The com pany sells its products to manufacturers of ceramic tile, major appliances, construction materials, automobile parts, glass, bottles, vinyl flooring and wall coverings, and pharmaceuticals directly, as well as through agents and distributors. Ferro Corporation was founded in 1919 and is headquartered in Mayfield Heights, Ohio.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Eric Volkman]
Ferro (NYSE: FOE ) now has a new man in its CEO office. The company's board has installed Peter Thomas as its chief executive and president, effective immediately. Since last November, he had served in an interim capacity in both positions.
Best Income Stocks To Invest In 2014: Tree.com Inc.(TREE)
Tree.Com, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in lending business in the United States. It owns various brands and businesses that provide information, tools, advice, products, and services for consumers looking to comparison shop for loans, real estate, and other services from businesses and professionals. The company?s LendingTree Loans segment originates, processes, approves, and funds various types of residential real estate loans primarily under the LendingTree Loans brand name. It offers a range of adjustable and fixed rate mortgage loans, including conforming and prime loans, as well as non-conforming and FHA loans. This segment sources its leads through online and telephone services, as well as through various non-LendingTree channels, such as third-party online lead aggregators and direct mail marketing campaigns. Its Exchanges segment consists of online lead generation networks under the LendingTree.com, GetSmart.com, DegreeTree.com, HealthTree.com, LendingT reeAutos.com, DoneRight.com, and InsuranceTree.com brands; and call centers that connect consumers and service providers, principally in the lending, higher education, home services, insurance, and automobile marketplaces. This segment also provides unsecured loans, automobile loans, credit cards, and various consumer insurance products, as well as opportunities for students seeking institutions of higher education, and home improvement professional services with contractors. The company is based in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Meanwhile, top decliners in the sector included Tree.Com (NASDAQ: TREE), down 4.7 percent, and Hilltop Holdings (NYSE: HTH), off 6.7 percent.
Top Headline
Office Depot (NYSE: ODP) reported upbeat first-quarter results and announced its plans to close at least 400 stores in the United States. For the full year, Office Depot also lifted its adjusted operating income outlook to at least $160 million versus $140 million. Office Depot posted a quarterly net loss of $109 million, or $0.21 per share, versus a year-ago loss of $17 million, or $0.06 per share. - [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]
Casper1774 Studio/Shutterstock You may not have noticed it, but recently, it's gotten easier to buy a new home. Last year, a strong housing market combined with fears that the Federal Reserve would eventually begin tapering its purchases of mortgage bonds. Together, these factors helped drive up the cost of a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage from about 3.3 percent in January 2013 to nearly 4.6 percent by September. Since then, mortgage rates have backed off those recent highs, bobbling back and forth between 4.5 percent or so, and, recently, 4.2 percent. This has helped to keep housing affordable for those who want to buy a home. But it did pose the bankers a dilemma: How could they get more people to want to buy homes in the first place, so that they could sell more mortgages? Answer: Make it easier to apply for a mortgage. Mortgage Down Payments Live Down to Their Name Last spring, lending data website LendingTree.com (TREE) released a report showing that the average down payment demanded by mortgage bankers to obtain a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage had fallen 9.4 percent since mid-2011. At 16.1 percent, it was nearly 4 full percentage points shy of the old rule of thumb that a home buyer should put 20 percent down on a new home. Six months later, average down payments had fallen to 15.73 percent of the value of a home. Now, LendingTree has put out an updated report showing that after down payment demands inched back up in 2013 (to 16.01 percent), they've begun to fall once more. At last report, mortgage bankers on average want to see a 15.78 percent down payment -- a bit more than what we saw last fall, but still continuing the downward trend in down payments. Why? One clue may be found in recent comments from Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist Frank Nothaft, who's been highlighting declines in existing-home sales, in new-home sales as well, and even in permits taken out to build houses, in a series of reports through April. If home-buying is
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