On Thursday, Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP ) will release its latest quarterly results. The key to making smart investment decisions on stocks reporting earnings is to anticipate how they'll do before they announce results, leaving you fully prepared to respond quickly to whatever inevitable surprises arise. That way, you'll be less likely to make an uninformed knee-jerk reaction to news that turns out to be exactly the wrong move.
Union Pacific has benefited from the cost advantage that railroads have during periods of high energy prices, but the devastation in the commodities markets recently has had a negative impact on shipping volume. Nevertheless, the railroad giant has managed to turn to alternative revenue sources. Let's take an early look at what's been happening with Union Pacific over the past quarter and what we're likely to see in its quarterly report.
Stats on Union Pacific
Analyst EPS Estimate
Top 10 Defensive Companies To Buy For 2015: Albany International Corp (AIN)
Albany International Corp., incorporated in 1895, is an advanced textile and material processing company. The Company�� business is a producer of custom-designed fabrics and belts essential to paper and paperboard production. The consumable fabrics are used to manufacture all grades of paper from lightweight paper to heavyweight containerboard. The Company has five segments: Paper Machine Clothing segment (PMC), Engineered Composites (AEC), Albany Door Systems (ADS), Engineered Fabrics (EF) and PrimaLoft Products. Albany International supplies the worldwide pulp and paper industry, as well as other process industries, with technologically advanced structured materials and related services. The Company maintains manufacturing facilities in Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, South Korea, Sweden, Turkey, and the United States. On January 11, 2012, the Company sold its assets in the Albany Door Systems (ADS) segment to ASSA ABLOY AB.
Paper Machine Clothing
During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Paper Machine Clothing (PMC) segment accounted for 81% of its total revenues. The Company designs, manufactures, and markets paper machine clothing for each section of the paper machine. PMC consists of permeable and non-permeable continuous belts of custom-designed and custom-manufactured engineered fabrics that are installed on paper machines and carry the paper stock through each stage of the paper production process. PMC products are consumable products of technologically design that utilize polymeric materials in a complex structure.
The Paper Machine Clothing segment�� products include forming, pressing, and dryer fabrics, and process belts. A forming fabric assists in sheet formation and conveys the very wet sheet (more than 75% water) through the forming section. Press fabrics are designed to carry the sheet through the press section, where water is pressed from the sheet as it passes through the press ni! p. In the dryer section, dryer fabrics manage air movement and hold the sheet against heated cylinders to enhance drying. Process belts are used in the press section to increase dryness and enhance sheet properties, as well as in other sections of the machine. The Company sells its PMC products directly to customer end-users, which are paper industry companies, some of which operate in multiple regions of the world. Its products, manufacturing processes, and distribution channels for PMC are substantially the same in each region of the world, in which the Company operates.
The Engineered Composites (AEC)
The Engineered Composites segment (AEC) provides custom-designed advanced composite structures based on technology to customers in the aerospace and defense industries. AEC�� is engaged in development program relates to the LEAP-X engine being developed by CFM International. Under this program, AEC is developing a family of composite parts, including fan blades, to be incorporated into the LEAP-X engine.
PrimaLoft Products segment
The PrimaLoft Products segment includes sale of insulation for outdoor clothing, gloves, footwear, sleeping bags, and home furnishings. This segment has sales operations in the United States, Europe, and Asia, through which it sells products produced by third parties. This segment also generates a portion of its income as royalties from the licensing of its intellectual property.
Engineered Fabrics segment
The Engineered Fabrics segment supplies consumable fabrics used to process paper pulp, as well as fabrics used in a range of industries other than papermaking. These other products include belts used to make non wovens, fiber cement building products, roofing shingles and corrugated sheets used in boxboard, as well as belts used in tannery and textile applications.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Seth Jayson]
Albany International (NYSE: AIN ) reported earnings on May 1. Here are the numbers you need to know.
The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), Albany International met expectations on revenues and missed estimates on earnings per share. - [By Seth Jayson]
There's no foolproof way to know the future for Albany International (NYSE: AIN ) or any other company. However, certain clues may help you see potential stumbles before they happen -- and before your stock craters as a result.
Hot Shipping Companies To Invest In 2014: Shiner International Inc.(BEST)
Shiner International, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the research and development, manufacture, sale, and distribution of technology driven advanced packaging film products. Its products include coated films, tobacco films, anti-counterfeit laser holographic films, color printed products, and water-based latex products. The company also offers biaxially-oriented polypropylene (BOPP) films for printing, lamination, and over-wrap packaging; and BOPP tobacco films for packaging appearance, product freshness, and clear optics. In addition, it provides color printing services that consist of surface printing and reverse printing services for consumer goods manufacturers and beverage companies. The company sells its products to companies in the various industries, such as food, tobacco, chemical, agribusiness, medical, pharmaceutical, personal care, electronics, automotive, construction, graphics, music and video publishing, and other consumer goods in China, Asia, A ustralia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America. Shiner International has a strategy alliance with The Treofan Group. The company based in Haikou City, China.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Sally Jones]
Looking through a kaleidoscope of facts about J. Kyle Bass, this guru quickly takes on a colorful and larger-than-life mythos. Hailing from the big-thinking state of Texas, Bass is often described as a big dreamer with a studious and practical streak. His career blossomed almost overnight when he reportedly made around a half a billion dollars betting against subprime CDOs in 2007. Bass comes across as a visionary who asks why not instead of why. He told CNBC that he likes to reduce email time and cut out the noise by learning about world markets through symbiotic relationships with friends like Alan Fournier and other billionaires. Every year Bass invites his notable friends to his ranch in Larue, Texas, for a special event called The Barefoot Economic Summit, Texas (BEST). Bass said he learns more in two days of the summit than in two months of emails.
Hot Shipping Companies To Invest In 2014: Reeds Inc.(REED)
Reed?s, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the development, manufacture, marketing, and sale of natural non-alcoholic and New Age beverages, candies, and ice creams primarily in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. The company?s New Age beverages product line includes natural soda, fruit juices and fruit drinks, ready-to-drink teas, sports drinks, and water. It also offers six Reed?s Ginger Brew flavors, including extra, original, premium, cherry ginger, raspberry ginger, and spiced apple ginger; five Virgil?s beverages comprising root beer, cream soda, orange cream soda, black cherry cream soda, and real cola; four zero calorie Virgil?s versions; two China Cola regular and cherry beverages; and two Sonoma Sparkler sparkling juices. In addition, the company offers three types of ginger candies, including crystallized ginger, ginger chews, and peanut butter ginger chews; and three flavors of ginger ice cream comprising original, green tea, and cho colate. Further, it provides Reed?s Natural Energy Elixir, an energy drink; and Reed?s Nausea Releif, a ginger brews based product with added B vitamins. Reed?s, Inc. sells its products to specialty gourmet and natural food stores, supermarket chains, retail stores, and restaurants through a network of natural, gourmet, and independent distributors, as well as through a direct sales team and independent sales representatives. The company was formerly known as Original Beverage Corporation and changed its name to Reed?s, Inc. in 2001. Reed?s, Inc. was founded in 1987 and is based in Los Angeles, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Udovich]
If you are looking for the next small cap beverage stock that could turn into the next Monster Beverage Corp (NASDAQ: MNST), under the radar beverage�companies like small caps National Beverage Corp (NASDAQ: FIZZ), Reed's, Inc (NYSEMKT: REED) and Konared Corp (OTCBB: KRED) could be just what you are looking for. I should point out that the beverage space is often a battle between David and Goliath as everyone, and especially�smaller players, must fight for every inch of shelf space. Nevertheless, the following small cap beverage stocks are at least holding their ground and putting up a good fight leading to profits for investors:
- [By Tabitha Jean Naylor]
Reed's (NYSE: REED)
The story goes that Reed’s beverage company got its beginning when Chris Reed found a 100-year-old beverage recipe in the UCLA library, and decided to brew it as an experiment. The company sold its first beverages to the public in 1989, which included a Caribbean style “homebrewed” ginger soda.
Hot Shipping Companies To Invest In 2014: Lanxess AG (LXS)
Lanxess AG is a Germany-based chemical holding company. Its activities are divided into three main segments. The Performance Polymers segment encompasses the activities of the Lanxess Group in the production of rubber and plastics, and includes Butyl Rubbers, Performance Butadiene Rubbers, Technical Rubber Products and Semi-Crystalline Products business units. The Advanced Intermediates segment is engaged in the development, production and marketing of industrial and fine chemicals and includes Basic Chemicals and Saltigo business units. The Performance Chemicals segment combines the Group's application-oriented activities in the field of process and functional chemicals, and includes Material Protection Products, Inorganic Pigments, Functional Chemicals, Leather, Rhein Chemie, Rubber Chemicals and Ion Exchange Resins business units. The Company operates worldwide through its subsidiaries. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Sofia Horta e Costa]
ThyssenKrupp AG (TKA), Germany�� largest steelmaker, rose to a five-week high. YOC AG (YOC) surged the most in more than three months after the mobile-phone advertising company said it sold 1.3 million euros ($1.7 million) of shares to increase capital. Lanxess AG (LXS), the chemical maker that joined the DAX in September, retreated 3.4 percent.
- [By Jonathan Morgan]
Lanxess AG (LXS), which makes specialty chemicals, plastics, and rubber used in car tires, jumped 6.6 percent to 57.21 euros. Michelin & Cie, Europe�� largest tiremaker, today reiterated its 2013 profit forecast as growing demand for high-margin tires for mining vehicles helps offset declining demand in Europe.
Hot Shipping Companies To Invest In 2014: Staffing 360 Solutions Inc (STAF)
Staffing 360 Solutions, Inc., incorporated on December 22, 2009, is an international staffing sector engaged in the acquisition and integration of the United States and international staffing agencies. Staffing 360 Solutions seeks staffing agencies in the information technology (IT), financial, accounting, healthcare and cyber security industries. On April 26, 2013, it consummated (the Closing) the acquisition 100% of the issued and outstanding stock of The Revolution Group, Ltd. (TRG). In March 2014, the Company announced that its subsidiary Staffing 360 Solutions (UK) Ltd acquired the business and assets of Poolia UK Ltd, subsidiary of Poolia AB. In May 2014, the Company acquired IT staffing firm PeopleSERVE.
In March 2012, the Company commenced its operations in the international staffing sector. On July 31, 2012, the Company formed Staffing 360 Alliance, Inc. (Staffing Alliance), which is a wholly owned subsidiary, for the purpose of exploring business prospects in the staffing sector. In September 2012, Alliance began operations and provides trained employees to companies who work in word processing, data entry, administrative support staff and other areas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Udovich]
The government's closely watched jobs report today is expected to show that nonfarm payrolls increased by 218,000 positions and may have finally returned employment to its pre-recession level, but executive search or staffing stocks like Hudson Global Inc (NASDAQ: HSON), Robert Half International Inc (NYSE: RHI) and up and coming Staffing 360 Solutions Inc (OTCBB: STAF) have already made investors winners since the official end of the recession:
- [By John Udovich]
As US and global economies recover, hiring should increase with overlooked recruitment related stocks like Cornerstone OnDemand, Inc (NASDAQ: CSOD), 51job, Inc (NASDAQ: JOBS) and Staffing 360 Solutions Inc (OTCBB: STAF) being among the first to benefit aside from those who have found employment:
- [By James E. Brumley]
If you saw the alarming headlines circulating everywhere this morning, then there's a good chance you've already taken on a new position in Fortinet Inc. (NASDAQ:FTNT) and Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ:CHKP). Both are solutions to the underscored problem, and truth be told, likely will benefit from ugly reality this morning's news is spreading. FTNT and CHKP may not be the best ways to play the news-based investing theme, however. The best long-term play is a solutions provider called Staffing 360 Solutions Inc. (OTCBB:STAF). While the company may not superficially sit in the same category as Fortinet or Check Point Software Technologies, fundamentally, it does, and may actually be better positioned for growth.
Hot Shipping Companies To Invest In 2014: Blount International Inc (BLT)
Blount International, Inc. (Blount) is a global industrial company. The Company designs, manufactures, and markets equipment, replacement and component parts, and accessories for professionals and consumers. The Company operates in two segments: Forestry, Lawn, and Garden (FLAG) segment and Farm, Ranch, and Agriculture (FRAG). It also manufactures and markets such items to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) under private label brand names. The Company specializes in manufacturing cutting parts and equipment used in forestry, lawn and garden; farming, ranching, and agricultural, and construction applications. Blount also purchases products manufactured by other suppliers that are aligned with the markets it serves and markets them, under one of its brands, through its global sales and distribution network. Its products are sold in over 115 countries and approximately 63% of the Company�� sales were made outside of the United States during the year ended December 31, 2011. It has manufacturing operations in the United States, Brazil, Canada, China, France, and Mexico. In addition, it operates marketing, sales, and distribution centers in Asia, Europe, North America, and South America.
On March 1, 2011, through its indirect wholly owned subsidiary Blount Netherlands B.V. (Blount B.V.), the Company acquired KOX GmbH and related companies (collectively KOX), a Germany-based direct-to-customer distributor of forestry-related replacement parts and accessories, primarily serving professional loggers and consumers in Europe. On August 5, 2011, through Blount Holdings France SAS, it acquired Finalame SA, which included PBL SAS and related companies (collectively PBL). On September 7, 2011, through its indirect wholly owned subsidiary SP Companies, Inc., the Company acquired GenWoods HoldCo, LLC and its wholly owned subsidiary, Woods Equipment Company (collectively Woods/TISCO). Woods/TISCO is a manufacturer and marketer of tractor attachments, implements, and replacement parts, primarily for! the agriculture, ground maintenance, and construction end markets.
Forestry, Lawn, and Garden Segment
The FLAG segment, manufactures and markets cutting chain, guide bars, and drive sprockets for chain saw use, and lawnmower and edger blades for outdoor power equipment. The FLAG segment also purchases replacement parts and accessories from other manufacturers and markets them, primarily under its brands, to its FLAG customers through the Company�� global sales and distribution network. The FLAG segment includes the operations of the Company that has served the forestry, lawn, and garden markets, as well as Carlton, KOX, and a portion of the PBL business. Its Forestry Products are sold under the Oregon, Carlton, KOX, Tiger, and Windsor brands, as well as under private labels for some of its OEM customers. Manufactured product lines include a range of cutting chain, chain saw guide bars, and cutting chain drive sprockets used on portable gasoline and electric chain saws and on mechanical timber harvesting equipment. The Company also purchases and markets replacement parts and other accessories for the forestry market, including small chain saw engine replacement parts, safety equipment and clothing, lubricants, maintenance tools, hand tools, and other accessories used in forestry applications. In 2011, the Company marketed a line of cordless electric chain saws under the Oregon PowerNow brand.
Blount�� lawn and garden products are sold under the Oregon and PBL brand names, as well as private labels for some of its OEM customers. Manufactured product lines include lawnmower and edger cutting blades designed to fit a variety of machines and cutting conditions. It also purchases and markets various cutting attachments, replacement parts, and accessories for the lawn and garden market, such as cutting line for line trimmers, air filters, spark plugs, lubricants, wheels, belts, grass bags, maintenance tools, hand tools, and accessories to service the lawn and garde! n equipme! nt industry. Its FLAG products are sold under both its own brands and private labels to OEMs for use on new chain saws and lawn and garden equipment, and to professionals and consumers as replacement parts through distributors, dealers, direct sales companies, and mass merchants. During 2011, approximately 21% of the FLAG segment�� sales were to OEMs, with the remainder sold into the replacement market.
The Company competes with Ariens, Briggs & Stratton, Fisher Barton, Husqvarna, Jaekel, John Deere, MTD, Northern Tool, Rotary, Stens, Stihl and TriLink.
Farm, Ranch, and Agriculture Segment
The Company�� FRAG segment manufactures and markets attachments and implements for tractors in a variety of mowing, cutting, clearing, material handling, landscaping and grounds maintenance applications, as well as log splitters, post-hole diggers, self-propelled lawnmowers, attachments for off-highway construction equipment applications, and other general purpose tractor attachments. In addition, the FRAG segment manufactures a variety of attachment cutting blade parts. The FRAG segment also purchases replacement parts and accessories from other manufacturers that the Company markets to its FRAG customers through its sales and distribution network. The FRAG segment includes the operations of SpeeCo, Woods/TISCO, and a portion of the PBL business.
Its equipment and tractor attachment products are sold under the Alitec, CF, Gannon, Oregon, PowerPro, SpeeCo, WainRoy, and Woods brand names, as well as under private labels for some of its OEM and retail customers. Product lines include attachments for tractors in a variety of mowing, cutting, clearing, material handling, landscaping and grounds maintenance applications, as well as log splitters, post-hole diggers, self-propelled lawnmowers, snow blowers, attachments for off-highway construction equipment applications, and other general purpose tractor attachments. OEM and aftermarket parts are sold under the PBL, Sp! eeCo, TIS! CO, Tru-Power, Vintage Iron, and WoodsCare brand names, as well as under private labels for some of its OEM customers. The FRAG segment manufactures a variety of attachment cutting blade component parts sold to OEM customers for inclusion in original equipment, and as replacement parts. The FRAG segment also markets replacement parts and accessories purchased from other manufacturers, including tractor linkage, electrical, engine and hydraulic replacement parts, and other accessories used in the agriculture and construction equipment markets.
The Company competes with Alamo Group, Champion, Doosan, Dover, Great Plains, Hope Haven, John Deere, Koch Industries, MTD, Swisher, A&I, Herschel, Kondex, Rasspe, SMA and Sparex.
Concrete Cutting and Finishing Products
The Company operates a business in the specialized concrete cutting and finishing market. These products are sold primarily under the ICS brand. The principal product is a diamond-segmented chain, which is used on gasoline and hydraulic powered concrete cutting saws and equipment. It also markets and distributes gasoline and hydraulic powered concrete cutting chain saws to its customers, which include contactors, rental equipment companies, and construction equipment dealers primarily in the United States and Europe. The power heads for these saws are manufactured by a third party.
The Company competes with Husqvarna and Stihl.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Tom Stoukas]
A gauge of basic-resources shares was the second-worst performer on the Stoxx 600. Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton Ltd. (BLT), the world�� largest mining companies, lost 4.5 percent to 2,674.5 pence and 4.6 percent to 1,728.5 pence, respectively.
- [By Corinne Gretler]
BHP Billiton (BLT) dropped 3.4 percent to 1,779 pence. Output of iron ore, its biggest earner, was 40.2 million metric tons in the three months to March 31, missing the median estimate of 42.3 million tons in a Bloomberg survey.
Hot Shipping Companies To Invest In 2014: World Energy Solutions Inc(DE)
World Energy Solutions, Inc. provides a range of energy management solutions to commercial and industrial businesses, institutions, utilities, and governments. It offers technology-enabled solutions, such as online audits of facilities to identify retrofit options and project management services for retrofit implementation, as well as cross-selling opportunities for commodity auctions. The company primarily focuses on retail and wholesale energy procurement clients via its online auction platforms, including the World Energy Exchange, the World Green Exchange, and the World DR Exchange. The World Energy Exchange enables energy consumers in North America to negotiate for the purchase or sale of electricity, natural gas, and other energy resources from energy suppliers who have agreed to participate on auction platform. The World Green Exchange enables buyers and sellers to negotiate for the purchase or sale of environmental commodities, such as renewable energy certificates , verified emissions reductions, and certified emissions reductions. The World DR Exchange enables curtailment service providers and energy consumers to negotiate in structured auction events designed to yield price transparency. The company was formerly known as World Energy Exchange, Inc. World Energy Solutions, Inc. was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rich Duprey]
Farm equipment manufacturer�Deere� (NYSE: DE ) �announced this morning�its second-quarter dividend of $0.51 per share, the same rate it paid last quarter after raising the payout 11%, from $0.46 per share.
- [By Mike the PhD]
Historically the stock prices of Deere (DE) and other agricultural equipment firms and retailers like Case-New Holland (CNH), Titan Machinery (TITN), AGCO (AGCO), Tractor Supply (TSCO), Valmont (VAL), and Lindsay (LNN) have tended to closely track the price of corn. When corn prices go up, farmers tend to make more money, and they spend that money on new equipment from Deere and other firms. This relationship is especially strong for Deere and Corn, but it holds true for all of the stocks above to some extent. (Correlation coefficients between all of the stock prices above and corn are statistically significant to at least the 5% level, see my blog here for more details.)
- [By Maria Armental var popups = dojo.query(".socialByline .popC"); popups.forEach]
Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Wednesday’s session are Kate Spade Co.(KATE), Deere(DE) & Co. and Fossil Group Inc.(FOSL)
- [By Jim Jubak]
Good news from Deere (DE) on fiscal first quarter 2014 earnings. The company announced earnings of $1.81 cents a share, 28 cents a share above the Wall Street consensus on revenue of $6.95 billion. (Also above Wall Street consensus of $6.76 billion.)
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