Agriculture sales and production expenses are reaching new record highs. U.S. producers sold $394.6 billion worth of agricultural products in 2012, which cost $328.9 billion to produce, according to the latest Census of Agriculture, released earlier this month by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Total organic product sales by farms have surged to $3.1 billion, up 82% since 2007. Overall, there are now 3.2 million farmers operating 2.1 million farms on 914.5 million acres across the nation.
Even though 87% of all U.S. farms are operated by families or individuals, large farms dominate the market. Three-quarters of all farms had sales of less than $50,000, producing only 3% of the total value of farm products sold. Farms with more than $1 million of sales produced 66% of the value. Much of the increased farm income was concentrated geographically, as California led the nation with nine of the 10 top counties for value of sales.
Hot Healthcare Technology Stocks To Invest In 2015: Rambus Inc.(RMBS)
Rambus Inc. engages in the creation, design, development, and licensing of patented innovations, technologies, and architectures to digital electronics products and systems. Its patented innovations include Dual Edge Clocking, which is designed to allow data to be sent on the clock pulse; Variable Burst Length that improves data transfer efficiency by allowing varying amounts of data to be sent per a memory read or write request in dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and flash memory; and FlexPhase technology, which synchronizes data output and compensates for circuit timing errors. The company also offers Channel Equalization to improve signal integrity and system margins in high speed parallel and serial link channels; Module Threading, which improves the power efficiency of a memory module by applying parallelism to module data accesses; and MicroLens optical design technology, which provides optimum utilization of high-brightness light-emitting diodes (LED) in edge-lit lighting applications. In addition, it licenses its architectures and industry-standard solutions for use in digital electronics products and systems, including XDR Memory Architecture enabling the production of DRAM; XDR2 Memory Architecture that incorporates DRAM micro-threading for graphics intensive applications, such as gaming and digital video; Mobile XDR Memory Architecture, which enables applications, such as HD video recording and 3D gaming on battery powered mobile devices; RDRAM Memory used in play stations, Intel-based personal computers, televisions, and routers; and FlexIO Processor Bus, a high speed chip-to-chip interface. Further, the company offers industry-standard chip interface solutions, including DDRx; digital logic controllers for peripheral component interconnect express and other industry standard interfaces; and custom solutions for displays, LED backlights, and general lighting. Rambus Inc. was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Ca lifornia.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rich Bieglmeier]
One-time Wall Street darling and high-flyer Rambus Inc. (NASDAQ:RMBS) is bucking an ugly, bloody tape. The memory-chip make is up more than 4% as we type thanks to an upgrade from Citi.
Hot Prefered Companies To Own For 2014: Single Touch Systems Inc (SITO.OB)
Single Touch Systems, Inc., incorporated on incorporated on May 31, 2000, is a mobile media solutions provider serving retailers, advertisers and brands. The Company offers its patented technologies through a modular, adaptable platform and a multi-channel messaging gateway to its customers, enabling them to reach consumers on all types of connected devices. Its solution is designed to drive return on investment for high-volume clients and/or customized branded advertisers. Its platform and tools are designed to enable brands or anyone with substantial reach to utilize the mobile device as a new means to communicate. Communication might be in the form of a reminder message in voice or Short Message Service (SMS), an abbreviated dial code or a coupon, promotion, or an advertisement. On July 26, 2013, the Company dismissed Weaver, Martin & Samyn, LLC (Weaver).
Messaging and Notifications
The Company�� Short Message Service (SMS) gateway has to be a channel for retailers to communicate with their brand loyalists on a personal level. This is accomplished through integration with the client�� customer relationship management (CRM) database. With such integration, retailers are able to send targeted mobile coupons and transactional messages based on a shopper�� CRM profile. Targeted mobile coupons can be sent based on past purchase behaviors making the content relevant and timely to a shopper. Transactional messages can add another layer of value by sending shipping and order pick-up alerts, as well as notifications for reorders, layaway and new product releases.
Abbreviated Dial Codes
The Company�� abbreviated dial codes have 10 times the recall of a common keyword-to-short-code solution. The Company has seen many of its clients using this as an on-ramp to mobility solutions.
Campaign Management and Analytics
The Company�� anywhere management platform is an easy to use Web interface that allows clients to manage and se! gment messaging campaigns with customized reporting tools. Its clients use this tool to drive campaigns related to in store events, product offerings, information and special sales. The message management systems enables the user to create a message, schedule its delivery time and frequency, segment audience groups for distribution and create message responders.
FollowMe
FollowMe provides a product to deliver location based mobile ads directly to consumers��smartphones for retailers and advertisers. The Company has found that by combining multiple real time bidding networks with its ability to serve coupons, ads and promotions at times and places when consumers are interested, it can create relevant content for consumers. FollowMe enables advertisers to deliver targeted ads in App to the smartphones of people within close proximity of a specific location. This service is offered by partnering with TheMobile Audience, a mobile demand side platform (DSP) that enables programmatic buying of mobile media across multiple real-time bidding (RTB) networks.
The Company compets with Voltari, Hippcricket and Hippcricket.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Markman Advisors]
Public companies leveraging their patent portfolios, (aka "patent plays"), are getting the market's attention. Companies such as Vringo (VRNG), ParkerVision (PRKR), MGT Capital (MGT), Worlds Inc. (WDDD.OB) and others have presented trading opportunities due to their volatility while retaining the chance for a big payoff to those investors who stay the course. Yet there exist viable patent plays that are still undiscovered. Some of these so called "plays," which are not getting enough attention, are actually real companies making and selling real products or services in contrast to pure patent monetization companies. Some known examples are Single Touch Interactive (SITO.OB) and Blue Calypso (BCYP.OB). This article is focused on another one of these patent plays, On Track Innovations Ltd. (OTIV).
Hot Prefered Companies To Own For 2014: Titan Company Ltd (TITAN)
Titan Company Limited, formerly Titan Industries Limited, is engaged in manufacturing of watches/accessories, jewelry, precision engineering and eyewear. The Company has four divisions: watches/accessories, jewelry, precision engineering and eyewear. As of March 31, 2012, the Company had 332 World of Titan stores. As of March 31, 2012, the Company had over three business units in Bangalore, India, a manufacturing unit at Hosur and three assembly plants located in the north of India. The brands under the watches/accessories division include: Titan, Sonata, Fastrack, Xylys and others. Tanishq is Titan�� line of jewelry with a range of jewelry, studded with diamonds or colored gems in 18-karat gold, 22-karat gold and platinum jewelry. Under eyewear division, there is a brand named Titan Eye plus. The precision engineering division includes machine building and automation solutions and tooling solutions. In March 2013, Titan Properties Ltd. was amalgamated with the Company. Advisors' Opinion:- [By James Miller Phd]
Peers like Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) and Oracle Corp. (ORCL) present strong competition in the could-based CRM market, and have been enhancing their companies through various acquisitions such as recently acquired Nimbula, Eloqua Inc., RightNow Technologies and Taleo Corp from Oracle, or MarketingPilot and Netbreeze from Microsoft. Competition is moreover expected to increase with the introduction of Microsoft Dynamics CRM software (Titan). Nevertheless, Salesforce has also been strengthening its product portfolio and expanding within the cloud based CRM services.
Hot Prefered Companies To Own For 2014: Zweig Fund Inc (ZF)
The Zweig Fund, Inc. (the Fund), incorporated on June 30, 1986, is a closed-end, diversified management investment company. The Fund�� objective is to increase capital primarily with investment in equity securities, consistent with capital preservation and reduction of risk. The Fund�� principal stock market sectors as on June 30, 2007, included information technology, financials, industrials, energy and healthcare.
The Fund�� investment adviser is Phoenix/Zweig Advisers LLC. As of June 30, 2007, its principal industrial positions included Cisco Systems, Corning Inc., EMC Corp., Ford, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, PowerShares QQQ, Nike, Nokia Corp. and Valero Energy.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Nathan Slaughter]
Consider the Zweig Fund (NYSE: ZF). It's a closed-end fund that has $340 million in net assets, which are invested in a diverse basket of blue-chip stocks such as PepsiCo, Apple, JPMorgan, Comcast, U.S. Bancorp and Qualcomm.
Hot Prefered Companies To Own For 2014: Cal-Maine Foods Inc (CALM)
Cal-Maine Foods, Inc., incorporated on September 10, 1969, is a producer and marketer of shell eggs in the United States. During the fiscal year ended June 1, 2013 (fiscal 2013), the Company sold approximately 948.5 million dozen shell eggs. Its primary business is the production, grading, packaging, marketing and distribution of shell eggs. It sells most of its shell eggs in the southwestern, southeastern, mid-western and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The Company markets its shell eggs through its distribution network to a group of customers, including national and regional grocery store chains, club stores, foodservice distributors and egg product manufacturers. It sells shell eggs to a majority of the food retailers in the United States. It is also a producers and marketers of specialty shell eggs in the United States. Specialty shell eggs include cage free and organic eggs. The Company owns 100% of Benton County Foods, LLC. In March 2014, the Company acquired 50% interests of Delta Egg Farm, LLC from Sunbest Foods of Iowa, Inc., a Moark, LLC affiliate, as result Delta Egg Farm, LLC, is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.
The Company markets its specialty shell eggs under various brands, such as Egg-Land�� Best, Land O��Lake, Farmhouse, and 4-Grain. It also produces specialty eggs, such as Egg-Land�� Best, Land O��Lake, Farmhouse, and 4-Grain. It has exclusive license agreements to market and distribute Egg-Land�� Best specialty shell eggs in major metropolitan areas, including New York City, and a number of states in the southeast and southwest. It markets cage free eggs under its trademarked Farmhouse brand and distribute those shell eggs across the southeast and southwest regions of the United States. It markets organic, all natural, cage-free, vegetarian, and omega-3 eggs under its 4-Grain trademark. It also produces market and distributes private label specialty shell eggs to several customers. Sales of specialty shell eggs accounted for approximately ! 16.4% of its total shell egg dozen volumes during fiscal 2013.
The Company�� operations are integrated. At its facilities, it hatches chicks, grows pullets, manufactures feed, and produces and distributes shell eggs. It produces approximately 95% of its chicks in its own hatcheries. It owns breeder facilities producing 18.5 million pullet chicks per year. These pullets are distributed to 42 laying operations around the southwestern, southeastern, mid-western and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The facilities produce an average of 1.9 million dozen shell eggs per day and process the shell eggs through grading and packaging without handling by human hands.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Mike Deane]
Before the opening bell on Monday morning, Cal-Maine Foods Inc (CALM)�reported its third quarter earnings, posting higher revenues and earnings than last year’s same period.
CALM’s Earnings in Brief
CALM reported third quarter sales of $395.5 million, which were up from last year’s Q3 revenues of $360.4 million. Net income for the quarter came in at $42.9 million, or $1.77 per diluted share, up from last year’s earnings of $30.6 million, or $1.27 per share. Cal-Maine blew analysts’ EPS estimates of $1.41 out of the water.CEO Commentary
CALM’s chairman, president and CEO, Dolph Baker, had the following comments: “Cal-Maine Foods delivered a solid performance for the third quarter of fiscal 2014 with our net sales up 10 percent over the same period last year. The higher sales reflect both improved volumes through the holiday season and higher average selling prices compared with the third quarter of fiscal 2013. Consumer demand for shell eggs has been strong at the retail level for both generic and specialty eggs, supported by below average temperatures across the country. In addition, the egg products segment of the industry has continued to experience strong demand due to the introduction of breakfast items at many quick serve restaurants, as well as increased exports.
CALM’s Dividend
Cal-Maine has been inconsistent with its dividend payments in the past, having paid its most recent dividend of 36 cents on February 13. Before that the company paid a dividend of 7 cents in November, 2013. It’s hard to predict what CALM’s next payout will be, but judging from its history of paying out higher dividends in April/May versus February, and due to its positive earnings release, CALM is likely to declare a dividend above 36 cents in the coming month.
Stock Performance
CALM stock was inactive in pre-market trading. YTD, the company’s stock is up 0.
- [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Top Headline
Cal-Maine Foods (NASDAQ: CALM) reported a 7% drop in its fiscal first-quarter earnings. Cal-Maine's quarterly profit fell to $8.8 million, or $0.36 per share, from $9.4 million, or $0.39 per share, in the year-ago period. - [By Victor Reklaitis]
On the earnings front, Cal-Maine (CALM) �is slated to report quarterly earnings at 6:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Monday. The egg producer is expected to report earnings per share of $1.59 on revenue of $386 million, according to a FactSet survey of one analyst. Shares of Cal-Maine are down 4.5% this year, trimming their 12-month gain to 35%.
Hot Prefered Companies To Own For 2014: Authentidate Holding Corp.(ADAT)
Authentidate Holding Corp. provides secure Web-based software applications and telehealth products and services in the United States. It offers Inscrybe Healthcare, a Web-based health information exchange and workflow automation solution that enables healthcare industry participants to exchange and track a range of documents, certificates, authorizations, and other information over various modes of communication, including electronic and fax delivery; Inscrybe Office, a Web-based service to sign, seal, and confirm receipt of important documents; and AuthentiProof, a content integrity and time-and-date stamp application. The company also provides the in-home ExpressMD solution, which integrates Electronic House Call in-home patient vital signs monitoring system with a software interface based on the Inscrybe Healthcare platform. It serves integrated delivery networks, physician groups and networks, managed care organizations, hospitals, medical centers, home health agencies , pharmacies, governments, and public health organizations through direct sales and reseller arrangements. The company was formerly known as Bitwise Designs, Inc. and changed its name to Authentidate Holding Corp. in March 2001. Authentidate Holding Corp. was founded in 1985 and is based in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By James E. Brumley]
In a perfect world, a stock's price is merely a reflection of a predictable combination of a company's history and forward-looking prospects. We don't live - or trade - in a perfect world though. In the real world, a chart not only tells a story, but illustrates traders' changing opinion of a stock. The good news is, traders move, thing, buy, and sell in fairly predictable patterns, and when you see certain hints fall in place, you can make a very good trade. Enter Authentidate Holding Corp. (NASDAQ:ADAT) and Greenhunter Resources Inc. (NYSEMKT:GRH). Both GRH as well as ADAT have taken on a bullish shape as of today, and both are apt to be at much higher levels in the foreseeable future.
Hot Prefered Companies To Own For 2014: Ocean Power Technologies Inc.(OPTT)
Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. engages in the development and commercialization of proprietary systems that generate electricity by harnessing the renewable energy of ocean waves primarily in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The company offers utility PowerBuoy system to supply electricity to a local or regional electric power grid; and autonomous PowerBuoy system that is designed to generate power for use independent of the power grid in remote locations. Its autonomous PowerBuoy system is also used in various applications, including homeland security, off-shore oil and gas platforms, aquaculture, and ocean-based communication and data gathering, such as tsunami warnings. The company sells its products to public utilities, independent power producers, and other governmental entities and agencies, as well as public and private entities that use electricity in and near the ocean. Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. was incorporated in 1984 and is headquartered in Penn ington, New Jersey.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Udovich]
Small cap Ocean Power Technologies Inc (NASDAQ: OPTT) just sank 34% on news that they have fired their CEO "for cause,��meaning its worth taking a closer look at the stock to see if there is anything to salvage (shares were rising more than 6% in after hours) plus take a look at the performance of potential renewable energy related peers like Ormat Technologies, Inc (NYSE: ORA), Broadwind Energy Inc (NASDAQ: BWEN) and China Ming Yang Wind Power Group Ltd (NYSE: MY).
- [By Dr. Kent Moors]
But Ocean Power Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq GM: OPTT) - a firm I have followed for some time - is different.
The whole company is worth just $16 million at the moment. But it's having success now using stationary buoys to generate power.
No comments:
Post a Comment