Saturday, February 8, 2014

Analyst Hits Home Run in Akamai

Akamai Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM) has been a top name to buy at Oppenheimer for some time. This last week their due diligence paid as the company absolutely blew out numbers.

Akamai reported fourth-quarter 2013 earnings of 55 cents per share, which increased 10.0% on both a year-over-year and quarter-over-quarter basis. Earnings were above the higher-end of management's guided range of 49 cents to 53 cents per share. The stock followed through on the earnings and guidance strength and was up over 20%.The upbeat report followed days of hand-wringing on Wall Street about Akamai perhaps losing Apple as a big customer for bandwidth. That didn't happen and the stock exploded.

Oppenheimer made the stock one of their top technology names in late January. It was also just last weekend that Barron’s talked up the stock.

Akamai has been able to offer scalable benefits associated with offloading services from client infrastructures, allowing clients to have fewer hard assets in place while providing an ongoing revenue stream. This translates into 125,000+ servers operating dedicated, hybrid cloud and true cloud servers to provide IT and, increasingly, security services, in a vast array of companies across a widely diversified group of industries.

With an impressive client list that grows each quarter, the company is certainly firing on all cylinders. The Oppenheimer price target remains at $60 for now, and the consensus is at $57.44. Akamai was trading Friday afternoon at $56.61.

Friday, February 7, 2014

Will Pepsi Buy SodaStream?

Shares of SodaStream International Ltd. (NASDAQ: SODA) were higher Friday on continued speculation that PepsiCo Inc. (NYSE: PEP) might be interested in buying the Israeli company. The chatter comes as Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE: KO) has acquired a 10% stake in Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. (NASDAQ: GMCR).

Green Mountain makes the single-drink Keurig coffee making system and plans to market a cold-beverage version of the system later this year or next. If Coca-Cola starts to make one-drink syrups for the Keurig, Pepsi would logically almost be forced to respond. This helps explain the chatter. After all, Coca-Cola and Pepsi compete fiercely around the world, and any move by one usually triggers a response.

Some of the speculation has been fanned by a report from Citron Research, which suggested that a Pepsi-SodaStream combine makes sense. SodaStream is already in the market with its water-carbonation system. The cold-drink Keurig doesn’t exist yet. Citron follows stocks that are heavily shorted.

Where the chatter gets interesting is that the Wall Street Journal suggested SodaStream does not quite fit with the soft-drink giants because a consumer adds syrup to taste. The soft-drink makers want more control over taste.

This is the second time SodaStream has been linked to PepsiCo. Speculation grew last spring as the stock neared its peak. But the stock has fallen sharply since peaking at $77.80 in June, when the New York Post reported the company was having trouble attracting buyout interest.

The shares were at $39.66, up $1.31 or 3.4%, just before noon ET. They had briefly reached $40.74 right after the open. Since bottoming at $35.27 on Monday, they have risen 12.5%.

SodaStream has generated a bit of publicity for itself by taking shots at Coke and Pepsi. The company was asked by Fox to get rid of a line directly attacking Coke and Pepsi in its recent Super Bowl ad with actress Scarlett Johansson. One issue worth noting is that SodaStream’s entire market value is worth less than the 10% stake is valued at in Green Mountain Coffee Roasters.

Maybe it is time to put the barbs away, and maybe it is time for a handshake.

Top 5 New Companies To Invest In Right Now

It's been a busy month for Intel (NASDAQ: INTC  ) . Announcing the appointment of new CEO Brian Krzanich on May 2 was news in and of itself, but Intel was hardly done. Before handing the reins over to Krzanich, then-CEO Paul Otellini left a nice parting gift: The rollout of Intel's new and improved Atom processor specifically for use in mobile computing devices.

In addition to the upgraded Atom processor rollout, Intel also announced a realignment of its management structure. Now comes word the "leading semiconductor company" named in a recent press release announcing the acquisition of a STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM  ) and Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC  ) mobile GPS joint venture was none other than Intel. When Krzanich said he was committed to the rapidly changing mobile computing market, he wasn't kidding; and that should be sweet music to the ears of Intel shareholders.

The deal
ST-Ericsson is a joint venture between STMicroelectronics and Ericsson, and has been a money-losing proposition for the two IT manufacturing giants. In Q1 of this year alone, ST-Ericsson had an operating loss of $158 million with sales of $256 million. It's no wonder STMicroelectronics and Ericsson had planned to dissolve the 4-year-old venture. Investors might wonder why Intel's interested in what has been a losing proposition.

Top 5 New Companies To Invest In Right Now: OriginOil Inc (OOIL.PK)

OriginOil, Inc., incorporated on June 1, 2007, is a technology company. The Company is primarily involved in research and development activities, and sales of pilot and demonstration equipment. The Company has developed an energy production process for harvesting algae and cleaning up oil and gas water. To develop the energy and ancillary markets, the Company sells smaller-scale equipment, such as the Algae Appliance. The Company�� process, CLEAN-FRAC, represents a generation of water treatment that is chemical free. The Company's water cleanup technology, Electro Water Separation (EWS), is a chemical-free process that extracts organic contaminants from large quantities of water. Its products include EWS Algae, EWS Algae A4, EWS Algae A60, EWS Algae A200, EWS Petro P160, and EWS Aqua Q60.

The Company intends to embed its technology into larger systems through licensing and joint ventures. The Company is in the process of pursuing secondary licensing oppo rtunities outside of energy, including aquaculture. EWS Algae A4 is an entry-level algae harvester designed to make it easier and faster for producers and researchers to try and buy the Company's harvesting technology. EWS Algae A60 is a pilot scale algae harvester providing a low energy, chemical-free, continuous flow wet harvest system to dewater and concentrate the microalgae. EWS Petro Model 160 is designed to remove organics, such as crude oil, and suspended solids and bacteria from process water, such as produced or frac flowback water at a continuous flow rate of one barrel per minute or 160 liters per minute in continuous, chemical free operation. EWS Aqua Q60 is a commercial fish farming pond water treatment system, designed to clean pond water of ammonia, bacteria and aquatic animal pathogens in a continuous loop.

Top 5 New Companies To Invest In Right Now: Sunvalley Solar Inc (SSOL)

Sunvalley Solar, Inc., incorporated on August 16, 2007, is a solar power technology and system integration company. The Company is focused on developing its technology to install residential, commercial and governmental solar power systems. The Company offers turnkey solar system solutions for owners, builders and architecture firms, which includes designing, building, operating, monitoring and maintaining solar power systems. The Company's customers range from small private residences to commercial solar power users. The Company holds a C-46 Solar License from CBCL (California Board of Contractor License). Commercial solar power systems, which the Company has designed and installed includes office buildings, manufacturing facilities and warehouses. The Company is working to develop as an end-to-end solar energy solution provider by providing system solution, post-sale service, customer technical support, solar system design and field installation. The Company's business plans are focused in four specific areas: solar systems design and installation, solar technology research and development, solar equipment manufacturing and distribution, and distributed power plant projects.

Solar Systems Design and Installation

The Company's solar systems design and installation business includes designing solar systems for commercial, residential, governmental and non-profit customers; installing solar power systems and related constructional systems for solar power end users; providing technical support and service to solar power end users; providing system performance monitoring services to solar power end users, and providing government permit/incentives application services to solar power end users. The Company's installation business focuses on the installation of commercial and governmental solar power systems, as well as residential solar power systems.

Solar Technology Research and Development

The Company is developing a metallic sub-wavelength design t! o realize the combination of the electrodes as surface plasmon polariton (SPP) generators. The Company's technology uses SPP assisted solar technologies to enhance electricity production due to surface resonant excitation or SPR. The Company's patent-pending technology is able to increase the efficiency of thin-film-based solar cells to over 10%. The Company's research and development (R&D) topics include developing new coating technology; develop solar PV application technology, and commercializing the Company's advanced solar technology.

Solar Equipment Manufacturing and Distribution

The Company has signed distribution agreements with three solar panel producers in the world and one solar inverter suppliers. The Company's partnerships with these manufacturers in the solar power industry have allowed the Company to broaden the Company's customer base and to provide its customers with more cost competitive and complete solar system solutions with multiple selective options on PV panels and inverters.

Distributed Power Plant Projects

The Company is in the development stage for a range of business based on the installation of distributed solar power plants. The Company's plan is to use free roofs on private commercial buildings or private lands. The Company plans to build the power plants on private property. The Company would also use utility company billing systems to manage the system. The Company is negotiating with agricultural farmers who are its existing customers in the Palm Desert, California area to use their private lands to build its power plants. The Company is also in discussions with local utility companies about the possibility of selling excess solar power to be generated by the plants back to the utilities.

Best Biotech Stocks To Own For 2015: United American Petroleum Corp (UAPC)

United American Petroleum Corp., incorporated on November 19, 2004, is an exploration-stage company. The Company is an exploration company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and production of oil and gas properties. The Company's business is the acquisition of leasehold interests in petroleum and natural gas rights, either directly or indirectly, and the exploitation and development of properties subject to these leases. Its primary focus is to develop its properties that have potential for near-term production, it also provide operational expertise for several third party well owners out of its operational base in Austin, Texas. It has proved reserves in the State of Texas.

The Company owns interests in five oil and gas properties in Texas, which include The Marcee 1 Interest, The Lozano Interest, The Patriot Minerals Interests, The Gabriel and Rosser Interests and The Mckenzie State Well Interests. The Company owns a 100% working interest in the Marcee 1 Tract, which is located on approximately 112 acres of land in Gonzalez County, Texas (Marcee 1 Tract). It has completed a workover on the well. It owns a 100% working interest in the Hector Lozano Tract, which is located on approximately 110 acres, located in Frio County, Texas (Lozano Tract). The Lozano Tract is a producing asset with three wells. All three wells are producing a total of four to five barrels of oil per day.

The Company has multiple undivided working interests to certain existing wells and to certain leases located in Texas (Patriot Interests) from Patriot Minerals, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (Patriot). The Patriot Interests consist of undivided working interests including the Welder lease in Duval County, Texas; the Bailey Rogers and Fohn leases in Medina County, Texas; the Walker Smith lease in Wilbarger County, Texas; the Merrick Davis lease in Shackelford County, Texas, and the Crouch, Heady and Lane leases in Erath County, Texas. The Company has acquired certain oil and ! gas interests located in Bastrop County, Texas, (Gabriel Interests) from Gabriel Rosser, LP (Gabriel). The Gabriel Interests include Gabriel's undivided 50.83% working interest and 39.131% revenue interest in as the Gabriel 2 SWD Gabriel 3, 4, 5, 9, 15, Rosser #2 and #4 and Koi #1 wells. It also has 100% of McKenzie�� working interest in the McKenzie State Well No. 1, located in Pecos County, Texas from McKenzie Oil Corp. (McKenzie).

In addition to the Company's properties located in Texas, it owns certain oil and gas interests located near Anchorage, Alaska, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Northern Future Energy Corp. Northern Future Energy Corp. acquired an oil and gas lease for State of Alaska Oil and Gas Lease ADL 391120 Tract: CI2006-464, which contains approximately 545 acres, pursuant to a Purchase Agreement dated November 2009. It formed its wholly owned subsidiary, United Operating, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, for the purpose of operating the Patriot Interests, including, but not limited to the Merrick Davis #16 & #17 wells in Shackelford County, Texas; the Crouch and Lane Heady wells in Erath County, Texas; the Merrick Davis wells in Shackelford County, Texas; the Walker Smith #22D well in Wilbarger County, Texas, and the Walker Smith wells in Wilbarger County, Texas. Its wholly owned subsidiary, UAP Management, LLC, is formed for the purpose of managing the Gabriel Interests in Bastrop county, Texas.

Top 5 New Companies To Invest In Right Now: SolarCity Corp (SCTY)

SolarCity Corporation (SolarCity), incorporated on June 21, 2006, is engaged in the design, installation and sale or lease of solar energy systems to residential and commercial customers, or sale of electricity generated by solar energy systems to customers. The Company sells renewable energy to its customers. As of December 12, 2012, the Company served customers in 14 states. The Company�� residential customers are individual homeowners and homeowners. The Company�� commercial customers represent several business sectors, including technology, retail, manufacturing, agriculture, nonprofit and houses of worship. The Company has installed solar energy systems for several government entities, including the the United States Air Force, Army, Marines and Navy, and the Department of Homeland Security. The Company purchases major components, such as solar panels and inverters directly from multiple manufacturers. As of September 30, 2012, its primary solar panel suppliers were Trina Solar Limited, Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited and Kyocera Solar, Inc., among others, and its primary inverter suppliers were Power-One, Inc., SMA Solar Technology, AG, Schneider Electric SA, Fronius International GmbH and SolarEdge Technologies, among others.

Solar Energy Products

The Company�� solar energy products include Solar Energy Systems, and SolarLease and power purchase agreement finance products. The major components of its solar energy systems include solar panels that convert sunlight into electrical current. Most of its solar energy customers choose to purchase energy from the Company pursuant to one of two payment structures: a SolarLease or a power purchase agreement. In both structures, the Company charges customers a monthly fee for the power produced by its solar energy systems. In the lease structure, this monthly payment is pre-determined and includes a production guarantee. In the power purchase agreement structure, the Company charges customers a fee per kilowatt! hour based on the amount of electricity actually produced by the solar energy system.

Energy Efficiency Products and Services

The Company�� energy efficiency products and services include home energy evaluation and energy efficiency upgrades. The Company sells home energy efficiency evaluations to new solar energy system customers and existing customers. The Company�� energy efficiency upgrade products and services address heating and cooling, air sealing, duct sealing, water heating, insulation, furnaces, weatherization, pool pumps and lighting. As of December 12, 2012, the Company had completed over 13,000 home energy evaluations and performed more than 2,000 energy efficiency upgrades.

Other Energy Products and Services

The Company�� other energy products and services include electric vehicle charging and energy storage. The Company installs electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment that it sources from third parties. SolarCity markets EV equipment to residential and commercial customers through retail partnerships with companies, such as The Home Depot, and through EV manufacturers and dealerships, such as its partnership with Tesla Motors, Inc. The Company is developing a battery management system built on its solar energy monitoring communications backbone. As of December 12, 2012, the Company had over 100 energy storage pilot projects under contract. As of December 12, 2012, the Company had sold over 750 charging stations.

Enabling Technologies

The Company�� enabling technologies include SolarBid Sales Management Platform, SolarWorks Customer Management Software, Energy Designer, Home Performance Pro and SolarGuard and PowerGuide Proactive Monitoring Solutions. SolarBid is a sales management platform, which incorporates a database of rate information by utility, sun exposure, roof orientation and a range of other factors to enable a detailed analysis and customized graphical presentation of each customer� �s savin! gs.

SolarWorks is the software platform the Company uses to track and manage project. Energy Designer is a software application its field engineering auditors use to collect pertinent site-specific design details on a tablet computer. Home Performance Pro is its energy efficiency evaluation platform that incorporates the United States Department of Energy�� Energy Plus simulation engine. Home Performance Pro collects and stores details of a building�� construction and energy use. SolarGuard and PowerGuide provide its customers a view of their home�� or business�� energy generation and consumption.

The Company competes with American Solar Electric, Inc., Astrum Solar, Inc., Petersen Dean, Inc., Real Goods Solar, Inc., REC Solar, Inc., Sungevity, Inc., Trinity Solar, Inc., Verengo, Inc., SunRun Inc. and Ameresco, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Jon C. Ogg]

    SolarCity Corp. (NASDAQ: SCTY) saw its shares surge on Friday after the company offered guidance for 2013 and 2014. The move was so big that it was fighting for the pole position of the market’s top performers. It is also a move that may simply be too exaggerated.

Top 5 New Companies To Invest In Right Now: Solar Power Inc (SOPW)

Solar Power, Inc., incorporated on May 22, 2006, is a global solar energy facility (SEF) developer offering SEF development services. The Company offers an approach to design, engineer and construct photovoltaic (PV) solar systems for commercial and utility applications. In addition to developing SEFs using products manufactured by LDK Solar Co., Ltd. (LDK), its parent company, the Company also sells solar modules and balance of system components manufactured by third party vendors to other integrators in the United States, Asian, and European markets. In June 2012, the Company acquired 100% interest in Italy-based Solar Green Technologies (SGT) from LDK Solar Europe Holdings S.A., a wholly owned subsidiary of LDK Solar Co., Ltd.

In addition to designing, engineering and constructing SEFs, the Company also provides long-term operations and maintenance (O&M) services through its O&M program SPIGuardianTM. This service program provides a suite of services that commence upon a facility�� commissioning to provide performance monitoring, system reporting, preventative maintenance and full warranty support over the anticipated life of the SEF.

The Company competes with Sun Power Corporation, First Solar, SPG Solar, Sun Edison, Kyocera Corporation, Mitsubishi, Solar World AG, Sharp Corporation, Yiugli, Solar Fun and Suntech and Canadian Solar.

Top 5 New Companies To Invest In Right Now: Alterra Power Corp (MGMXF.PK)

Alterra Power Corp., formerly Magma Energy Corp., is a global renewable power company. It operates six power plants totaling 570 megawatt of capacity, including two geothermal facilities in Iceland, a geothermal plant in Nevada, British Columbia�� run of river hydro facilities and the province�� wind farm. As of June 30, 2011, its share of this production capacity was 315 megawatt. The Company also has a portfolio of exploration and development projects. The Company owns two geothermal power generation plants (the Svartsengi and Reykjanes Plants) and two geothermal exploration projects in Iceland (Eldvorp and Krysuvik) through its interest in HS Orka. In addition, it owns one geothermal power generation plant in Nevada (the Soda Lake Operation). In May 2011, it acquired Plutonic Power Corp. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011 (fiscal 2011), it sold a 25% interest in HS Orka to Jardvarmi slhf (Jardvarmi), which is a company-owned by a group of Icelandic pension f unds.

Top 5 New Companies To Invest In Right Now: SolarCity Corp (SCTY.W)

SolarCity Corporation (SolarCity), incorporated on June 21, 2006, is engaged in the design, installation and sale or lease of solar energy systems to residential and commercial customers, or sale of electricity generated by solar energy systems to customers. The Company sells renewable energy to its customers. As of December 12, 2012, the Company served customers in 14 states. The Company�� residential customers are individual homeowners and homeowners. The Company�� commercial customers represent several business sectors, including technology, retail, manufacturing, agriculture, nonprofit and houses of worship. The Company has installed solar energy systems for several government entities, including the the United States Air Force, Army, Marines and Navy, and the Department of Homeland Security. The Company purchases major components, such as solar panels and inverters directly from multiple manufacturers. As of September 30, 2012, its primary solar panel suppliers were Trina Solar Limited, Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited and Kyocera Solar, Inc., among others, and its primary inverter suppliers were Power-One, Inc., SMA Solar Technology, AG, Schneider Electric SA, Fronius International GmbH and SolarEdge Technologies, among others.

Solar Energy Products

The Company�� solar energy products include Solar Energy Systems, and SolarLease and power purchase agreement finance products. The major components of its solar energy systems include solar panels that convert sunlight into electrical current. Most of its solar energy customers choose to purchase energy from the Company pursuant to one of two payment structures: a SolarLease or a power purchase agreement. In both structures, the Company charges customers a monthly fee for the power produced by its solar energy systems. In the lease structure, this monthly payment is pre-determined and includes a production guarantee. In the power purchase agreem ent structure, the Company charges customers a fee per kilo! w! att hour based on the amount of electricity actually produced by the solar energy system.

Energy Efficiency Products and Services

The Company�� energy efficiency products and services include home energy evaluation and energy efficiency upgrades. The Company sells home energy efficiency evaluations to new solar energy system customers and existing customers. The Company�� energy efficiency upgrade products and services address heating and cooling, air sealing, duct sealing, water heating, insulation, furnaces, weatherization, pool pumps and lighting. As of December 12, 2012, the Company had completed over 13,000 home energy evaluations and performed more than 2,000 energy efficiency upgrades.

Other Energy Products and Services

The Company�� other energy products and services include electric vehicle charging and energy storage. The Company installs electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment that it sources from t hird parties. SolarCity markets EV equipment to residential and commercial customers through retail partnerships with companies, such as The Home Depot, and through EV manufacturers and dealerships, such as its partnership with Tesla Motors, Inc. The Company is developing a battery management system built on its solar energy monitoring communications backbone. As of December 12, 2012, the Company had over 100 energy storage pilot projects under contract. As of December 12, 2012, the Company had sold over 750 charging stations.

Enabling Technologies

The Company�� enabling technologies include SolarBid Sales Management Platform, SolarWorks Customer Management Software, Energy Designer, Home Performance Pro and SolarGuard and PowerGuide Proactive Monitoring Solutions. SolarBid is a sales management platform, which incorporates a database of rate information by utility, sun exposure, roof orientation and a range of other factors to enable a detailed a nalysis and customized graphical presentation of each c! ustom! er! �� sa! vings.

SolarWorks is the software platform the Company uses to track and manage project. Energy Designer is a software application its field engineering auditors use to collect pertinent site-specific design details on a tablet computer. Home Performance Pro is its energy efficiency evaluation platform that incorporates the United States Department of Energy�� Energy Plus simulation engine. Home Performance Pro collects and stores details of a building�� construction and energy use. SolarGuard and PowerGuide provide its customers a view of their home�� or business�� energy generation and consumption.

The Company competes with American Solar Electric, Inc., Astrum Solar, Inc., Petersen Dean, Inc., Real Goods Solar, Inc., REC Solar, Inc., Sungevity, Inc., Trinity Solar, Inc., Verengo, Inc., SunRun Inc. and Ameresco, Inc.

Top 5 New Companies To Invest In Right Now: WaterFurnace Renewable Energy Inc (WFIFF.PK)

WaterFurnace Renewable Energy, Inc. specializes in the design, manufacture and distribution of geothermal and water-source systems. It�� the United States subsidiary companies are WaterFurnace International, Inc. (WaterFurnace) and LoopMaster International, Inc. (LoopMaster). In December 2010, it incorporated two Australian subsidiaries: WaterFurnace International Asia Pacific Pty. Ltd. (WaterFurnace Asia Pacific) and Hyper WFI Pty. Ltd. (Hyper WFI). WaterFurnace designs, manufactures and distributes geothermal water source heating and cooling systems for residential, commercial and institutional buildings. LoopMaster installs geothermal loops for residential applications, does commercial conductivity testing and provides design and installation assistance. Hyper WFI designs, develops and builds devices that limit the inrush current, which electric motors draw upon start up. On January 21, 2011, the Company acquired inventory and fixed assets from Binary Engineering Pty. Ltd.

Top 5 New Companies To Invest In Right Now: SunPower Corp (SPWR)

SunPower Corporation, incorporated in April 1985, is a vertically integrated solar products and services company that designs, manufactures and delivers solar electric systems worldwide for residential, commercial, and utility-scale power plant customers. The Company operates in two business segments: the Utility and Power Plants (UPP) Segment and the Residential and Commercial (R&C) Segment. The UPP Segment refers to its solar products and systems business, which includes power plant project development and project sales, turn-key engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services for power plant construction, and power plant operations and maintenance (O&M) services. UPP Segment also sells components, including huge volume of sales of solar panels and mounting systems to third parties, sometimes on a multi-year, firm commitment basis. The R&C Segment focuses on solar equipment sales into the residential and small commercial market through its third-party global dealer network, as well as direct sales and EPC and O&M services in the United States and Europe for rooftop and ground-mounted solar power systems for the new homes, commercial and public sectors. In May 2012, K Road Power Holdings, LLC (K Road) and SunPower Corp announced that K Road acquired the 25-megawatt (AC) McHenry Solar Project, which the Company designed. In January 2013, the Company MidAmerican Solar acquired the 579-megawatt Antelope Valley Solar Projects (AVSP), two co-located projects in Kern and Los Angeles Counties in Calif from SunPower.

In January 2012, the Company completed its acquisition of the wholly owned Total SA subsidiary Tenesol SA, a global solar provider. In September 2011, NRG Energy Inc. acquired 250 megawatt California Valley Solar Ranch (CVSR) project from SunPower. In June 2011, the Company introduced SunPower E20 Series Solar Panel (E20) series. The Company�� customers in its UPP Segment include investors, financial institutions, project developers, electric utilities, and independent po! wer producers in the United States, Europe, and Asia. In its R&C Segment, the Company primarily sells its products to commercial and governmental entities, production home builders, and its third-party global dealer network serving residential owners and small commercial building owners.

Solar Cells

The A-300 solar cell is a silicon solar cell with a specified power value of 3.1 watts and a conversion efficiency averaging between 20.0% and 21.5%. The Company�� A-330 solar cell delivers 3.3 watts with a conversion efficiency of up to 22.7%.

Solar Panels

The Company�� SunPower solar panel series include solutions, such as SunPower E18 Series Solar Panel (E18), SunPower E19 Series Solar Panel (E19), and SunPower E20 Series Solar Panel (E20). Available in a 72-cell configuration, the E18 series panel uses its A300 all back-contact solar cells and delivers a total panel conversion of 18.1% to 18.5%. Available in a 72, 96, and 128-cell configuration, the E19 series panel uses its A300 all back-contact solar cells and delivers total panel conversion of 19.3% to 19.7%. Available in a 96-cell configuration, the E20 series panel uses its A-330 all back-contact solar cells and delivers total panel conversion of up to 20.1%.

Inverters

The Company sells a line of SunPower branded inverters. The inverters are manufactured by third parties.

Roof Mounted Products

The roof mounted products include SunPower T-5 Solar Roof Tile System (T-5), SunPower T-10 Commercial Solar Roof Tiles (T-10), PowerGuard Roof System (PowerGuard) and SunTile Roof Integrated System (SunTile). Tilted at a 5-degree angle, the T-5 roof tile is a non-penetrating photovoltaic rooftop product that combines solar panel, frame, and mounting system. The T-5 solar roof tile systems are primarily sold through its R&C Segment.

Tilted at a 10-degree angle, the T-10 commercial solar roof tiles is a non-penetrating panel interlock system! . Dependi! ng on geographical location and local climate conditions, this can allow for the generation of up to 10% more annual energy output than traditional flat roof-mounted systems. The T-10 commercial solar roof tile is primarily sold through its R&C Segment.

PowerGuard is a non-penetrating roof-mounted solar panel that delivers electricity while insulating and protecting the roof membrane from ultraviolet rays and thermal degradation. The PowerGuard roof system is primarily sold through its R&C Segment. SunTile solar shingles are designed to replace multiple types of roof panels, including the common concrete flat, low and high profile S tile and composition shingles. The SunTile roof system is also sold through its R&C Segment.

Ground Mounted Products

The ground mounted products include SunPower T-0 Tracker (T-0) & SunPower T-20 Tracker (T-20), SunPower Oasis Power Plant (SunPower Oasis), SunPower C-7 Tracker (C-7), and Fixed Tilt and SunPower Tracker Systems for Parking Structures. The T-0 and T-20 trackers are single-axis tracking systems that automatically pivot solar panels to track the sun's movement throughout the day. This tracking feature increases the amount of sunlight that is captured and converted into energy by up to 30% over flat or fixed-tilt systems, depending on geographic location and local climate conditions. A single motor and drive mechanism can control 10 to 20 rows, or more than 200 kilo watts of solar panels. The T-0 and T-20 trackers have been installed in a range of geographical markets principally in the United States, Germany, Italy, Portugal, South Korea, and Spain. The T-0 and T-20 trackers are sold through both its UPP and R&C Segments.

The Oasis is a solar power block that scales from 1 mega watts distributed installations to central station power plants. Oasis provides a way to deploy utility-scale solar power systems, streaming the development and construction process while optimizing the use of available land. The SunPow! er Oasis ! is sold through its UPP Segment. The C-7 combines a horizontal single-axis tracker with rows of parabolic mirrors, reflecting light onto linear arrays of its solar cells. The C-7 tracker is sold through its UPP Segment. SunPower has developed designs for solar power systems for parking structures in multiple configurations. These dual-use systems typically incorporate solar panels into the roof of a carport or similar structure to deliver onsite solar power while providing shade and protection. They are suited for parking lots adjacent to facilities. Fixed Tilt and SunPower Tracker Systems for parking structures are sold through both its UPP and R&C Segments.

Other System Offerings

SunPower�� metal roof system is designed for sloped-metal roof buildings, which are used in some winery and warehouse applications. This solar power system is designed for rapid installation. It also offers other architectural products, such as day lighting with translucent solar panels.

Balance of System Components

Balance of system components are components of a solar power system other than the solar panels. It includes SunPower branded inverters, mounting structures, charge controllers, grid interconnection equipment, and other devices depending on the specific requirements of a particular system and project.

The Company competes with Canadian Solar Inc., JA Solar Holdings Co., Kyocera Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation, Q-Cells AG, Sanyo Corporation, Sharp Corporation, SolarCity Corporation, SolarWorld AG, Sungevity, Inc., SunRun, Inc., Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd., Trina Solar Ltd., Yingli Green Energy Holding Co. Ltd., Abengoa Solar S.A., Acconia Energia S.A., AES Solar Energy Ltd., Chevron Energy Solutions, EDF Energy plc, First Solar Inc., NextEra Energy, Inc., OPDE Group, NRG Energy, Inc., Recurrent Energy, Sempra Energy, Skyline Solar, Inc., Solargen Energy, Inc., Solaria Corporation, SolFocus, Inc., SunEdison and Tenaska, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Taylor Muckerman and Joel South]

    Following the announcement that the United States installed 832 mega watts (MW) in the second quarter, it is clear that solar energy will continue to carve its place into our energy landscape. Given its integrated position with high efficiency panels, SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWR  ) has a great chance of succeeding no matter which sector of the solar industry wins out. Unfortunately for its less diverse peers, the same can't be said. Tune in below for more details.�

  • [By Tyler Crowe]

    Also, Total has shown it to be one of the more innovative thinkers compared to its other integrated major peers. It owns 66% of U.S. solar panel manufacturer SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWR  ) and is partnering with several major European airline companies to develop next-generation jet fuels. Tune in to the video conversation below where Fool.com contributors Tyler Crowe and Aimee Duffy take a look at more of Total's risky bets.�

  • [By Joel South]

    In the video below, Motley Fool energy analyst Joel South takes a question from a Motley Fool reader, who asks: "I just invested in SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWR  ) at $14 and $20 per share... thoughts?"

  • [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET.COM]

    SunPower is attempting to fuel the world with an alternative energy source through solar technology. The stock has seen a large decline over the last few years but is now attempting to reverse this trend and shoot higher. Over the last four quarters, earnings have improved while revenue figures have been on the rise, but investors have clearly expected more from the company. Relative to its peers and sector, SunPower has been a year-to-date performance leader. Look for SunPower to OUTPERFORM.

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Numbers Of Women In Top Board And Executive Jobs Stays Poor

New research show that women have not been able to break the glass ceiling at many large corporations, at least as measured by their numbers in senior management and on board.

According to research firm Catalyst

While companies based in other countries move ahead with plans to advance women to top leadership, progress in the F500 remains flat, according to the 2013 Catalyst Census: Fortune 500 Women Board Directors and the 2013 Catalyst Census: Fortune 500 Women Executive Officers and Top Earners.

Among the findings: Women held only 16.9% of corporate board seats in 2013, indicating no significant year-over-year uptick for the 8th straight year. And only 14.6% of Executive Officer positions were held by women—the 4th consecutive year of no year-over-year growth.

Women of color continued to fare particularly poorly, holding just 3.2% of all board seats . 10% of companies had no women serving on their boards; more than 2/3 of companies had no women of color directors. Women held only 8.1% of top earner slots—again no change from prior year.

 

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Shipping on hold as ice locks up Great Lakes

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The amount of the ice on the Great Lakes so far this season exceeds the long-term average for maximum coverage.

And plenty of winter remains.

MORE: Coldest Jan. in decades for many places
2013: Shrinking ice worries Great Lakes scientists

About 70.7% of the lakes were covered in ice this week, up from 60.1% last week and a maximum ice of 38.4% in the same period of 2013 and 12.9% in 2012.

This year's total is closer to the amount last seen in 2009. The extensive amount of ice could mean a slow start to the 2014 shipping season in March.

"Because we have so much ice, ... we're going to have to have some ice-breaking work just to move some ships around before we get the winds and weather to move the ice and get it away from the system, " said Mark Gill, director of vessel traffic services with the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. "Everybody wants to go, and everybody is laid up in different places."

Large chunks of the Great Lakes fleet spend the winter in shipyards, like Bay Shipbuilding Co. in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., for repair and renovation.

"We're going to have to go from port to port and form convoy lines to get everyone from these satellite locations into the main shipping lanes," Gill said. "That takes time, and time is money."

The Coast Guard is meeting with American and Canadian shipping officials to talk about plans for spring, he said.

“We had the first polar vortex, ... and the ice cover on the lakes just took off.”

— George Leshkevich, Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory

"It's going to be a slow, deliberate, move," he said about the start of the season. "We still have eight weeks of cold weather. ... If we continue on the track we are, we're going to continue to make ice and we're going to have more ice than we have icebreakers to deal with it."

The Coast Guard has nine ships on the lakes to combat the ice. Canada operates a pair of ice-breaking vessels.

The shippin! g season usually gets into full swing with the opening of the Soo Locks at Sault Ste. Marie, which is scheduled for March 25.

While this year's ice coverage exceeds recent years, it's still a long way from the 94.7% in the winter of 1979, according to figures from Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory in Ann Arbor, Mich. The lab is operated by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.

The long-term average for maximum ice coverage is about 51%. Maximum ice coverage usually occurs in February and into early March.

"We had the first polar vortex, ... and the ice cover on the lakes just took off," said George Leshkevich, scientist with the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory. "Lake Erie is about 96% ice covered now."

It is the most shallow of the lakes. Lake Superior is the deepest but also is the farthest north.

Last week, Lake Superior was about 69% ice covered; Lake Michigan 46% covered; Lake Huron 71% covered; and Lake Ontario about 26% covered.

Tom Hansen of Green Bay, Wis., drills holes while ice fishing Jan. 29, 2014, on the bay of Green Bay near Cecil Depeau Bay Shore Park(Photo: H. Marc Larson, Green Bay (Wis.) Press-Gazette)

"Compared to winters in the '70s and '80s, it's not terribly anomalous," Leshkevich said. "It's just that we haven't seen this much ice in the past two to three years, so when we get it it seems like a lot. It depends on which years you are comparing it to."

VIDEO: Ice levels on Lake Mich. highest in decades

It's still too early to tell what, if any, effect the amount of ice now on the lakes will have on next month's shipping season start.

"It depends on if we continue with the cold temperatures. T! he winds ! can have a great effect on the ice cover as well, breaking it up and moving it around," Leshkevich said. "If it continues like this, it could pose some serious problems at the start of the season. But it's very much dependent on the weather conditions."

Cold temperatures in the fall and early winter led to some early formation of ice on the lakes, which cut into the amount of cargo moving via ship. The Port of Green Bay ended operations a little earlier than normal.

"The ice and the weather really took a chunk out of iron ore and western coal" shipments during late-season shipping, said Glen Nekvasil, vice president of the Ohio-based Lake Carriers' Association. "Cargo that was booked to move in December and January didn't get loaded. If people can get going early, they will want to."

Hot Insurance Companies To Invest In 2014

Ships move hundreds of tons of cargo — including iron ore, coal and grain — on the five lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway that connects the lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.

The industry can't do much about the ice. Nekvasil said this winter points to the importance of the fleet of nine ice breaking vessels that the Coast Guard operates around the lakes.

"Without good ice-breaking resources, cargo does not move," he said.

A number of the ships are expected to undergo upgrades to extend the life of the vessels another 30 years. All of the ships are expected to be upgraded by 2020.

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On the Job: Prepare for the worst in your workp…

When we hear about incidents of workplace violence, it often seems like something that never could happen in our workplaces.

Until it does.

STORY: How D.C. Navy Yard shooting unfolded
STORY: 3rd victim dies after Fla. mass shooting

Statistics from the Occupational Health and Safety Administration show that homicide is the fourth leading cause of fatal occupational injuries in the United States. The Bureau of Labor Statistics finds that of 4,547 fatal workplace injuries reported in 2010, 506 were workplace homicides.

Further, homicides are the leading cause of death for women in the workplace.

On Sept. 16, a lone gunman fatally shot 12 people and injured three others at the Washington Navy Yard in our nation's capital, spurring more conversation about workplace safety.

Bad people are out there who want to harm good people, so we must admit that we need to be prepared for violence at work, a former Navy SEAL says. Just as workers may practice cardiopulmonary resuscitation or a fire drill, they also should practice how to evade or stop someone bent on hurting others.

Larry Yatch, chief executive of Minneapolis-based Sealed Mindset, provides programs on personal protection, defensive firearms and self-defense programs.

One mistake that people make is believing that if they're kind, moral and trusting, other people will be the same, he says. Unfortunately, bad people have proven that they have none of those qualities.

President Barack Obama embraces an unidentified woman Sept. 22, 2013, at a memorial service for the victims of the Washington Navy Yard shooting.(Photo: AP)

Another mistake some people make is thinking that they somehow will attract violence if they think ! about it, he says.

STORY: Managers not prepared for violence

But if companies and their employees don't think about violence and how they will respond to it, they won't be ready to react properly when it happens.

And a lack of training could get them hurt or killed, Yatch says.

A workplace's risk level may rise if it has high turnover, a highly negative culture, disagreements or employees facing domestic violence. If a company were to respond more proactively to such risks — such as posting a security guard near an worker experiencing violence at home — it can reduce risks.

While some may balk at the idea of planning for violence, he points out that fear often paralyzes workers during a shooting or causes them to make bad decisions that can risk their lives.

Once employees are trained on the best ways to react to threats, Yatch says their fear dissipates because they feel more in control.

Employees can learn how to:

• Identify threats. Processes need to be in place that help employees ID potential problems and communicate them to bosses or human resources staffers.

• Fight for their lives. "We tell people to not only lock the door against an intruder but to barricade it with anything they can find, whether it's desks or file cabinets or chairs," he says. Even if an intruder manages to push past such a barrier, the obstacles will make them stumble and provide workers the time to take other action.

• Practice tackling. A couple of people can jump on one intruder and stop him, Yatch says. More effective is a number of people piling on top of an attacker.

"There's always a chance that someone might get hurt, but it's a guarantee if you do nothing," he says.

If your company doesn't provide training, Yatch has one piece of advice that could save your life if violence breaks out in your workplace.

"What will make the biggest difference is the mindset that you bring," he says. "Know that you will survive and that you will no! t be a vi! ctim. You're significantly more likely to survive if you keep fighting and believe that you are not going to die. Never give up."

Anita Bruzzese is author of 45 Things You Do That Drive Your Boss Crazy ... and How to Avoid Them, www.45things.com. Twitter: @AnitaBruzzese.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

New Net domains expand Web addressing system

The Internet is about to undergo a growth spurt.

Hundreds of new Net domains will go live this year, driving an almost 50-fold increase over the long-standing 22 domains such as ".com" and ".net."

Some of the Net address endings, or new generic top-level domains (gTLDs) as they are known, have already gone live in recent days including ".guru" and ".singles." And several non-English domains including the Chinese characters for "network" just became operational, followed by another wave of generic domains — among them ".camera" and ".gallery" — up for grabs starting Wednesday.

This unprecedented increase in Net domains promises a wave of opportunities for online identity building. "For the first time in a long, long time, you are going to have relevant short identities for your online presence," says Mason Cole, spokesman at Donuts, a Bellevue, Wash.-based Net registry that plans to launch more than 100 new domains this year.

"Rather than the vague '.com' or '.org' … now a business, an individual, family or organization can attach an Internet presence to a term that is very specific," Cole says. "If you are into biking, you now have '.bike.' If you are a plumber, you now have '.plumbing.' If you are a pizza restaurant, pretty soon you are going to have '.pizza.'"

Before the year 2000, there were only eight domains used – ".arpa," ".com," ".edu," ".gov," ".mil," ".net," ".int" and ".org." (There were also country codes such as ".us" and ".uk.") Two subsequent expansions yielded domains such as ".biz" and ".xxx" to bring the total of non-country domains to 22.

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the non-profit group that manages such Net tasks, has approved more than 1,300 new domains, but will keep the additions to 1,000 or less this year. More than 120 new domains have been added to the Internet and will become available in the coming weeks.

"ICANN's function is to increase competition and creativity and the entrepreneurial ! spirit," says Brad White, the group's director of global media affairs. "What we did was lift that artificial limit (of 22 domains) and give the innovators a blank canvas: You guys paint the future of the Internet."

Those interested in owning a second-level domain — such as "mikes.bikes — can go to an online registrar such as Name.com, GoDaddy.com and Network Solutions and attempt to purchase it. (Those companies then check with registries such as Donuts.co to see if it's taken.)

Before domains are released, trademark holders have a chance to scoop up relevant addresses. "If you are Nike, you are going to get the first shot at 'nike.shoes' and the same with 'dominos.pizza,'" says Donuts' Cole.

Corporations have been faced with a decision whether to aggressively stake out new territory during the virtual land rush. "Big brand companies are dividing almost equally on whether to participate in this system or not to play," says Peter Brody, an intellectual property attorney with the Washington firm Ropes & Gray who focuses on advertising and marketing disputes. "It really is unclear whether this is going to be a waste of money or is really going to catch on."

For instance, Apple applied for, and was approved to administer, the ".apple" domain; while Microsoft and Sony got ".xbox" and ".playstation."

Companies such as Facebook, Twitter, Coke and Pepsi have not applied for a domain, each of which requires an $185,000 fee.

"Many brand owners are basically putting their heads in the sand and hoping that nothing bad will happen to them, and then we have others who are diving in with both feet," Brody says. "And the new domain names may not simply be new Internet addresses for old content. It is entirely possible a whole new set of technologies and environments could develop ... that will offer some really different user experiences."

Value Hunting in the USA - Franklin Templeton

With key stock indices in the US closing the year near historical highs and many pundits predicting stronger growth rates both in the US and globally going into 2014, one would think bargains would be hard to find this year. January's volatility, however, proved just how unpredictable markets can be. The recent market gyrations may be somewhat painful for many investors in the short-term, but the silver lining is that corrections can serve up buying opportunities, particularly for long-term, value-oriented investors like Cindy Sweeting, director of portfolio management at Templeton Global Equity Group. Despite the recent deterioration in market sentiment, she points to a number of trends and themes that are potentially supportive of continued economic and market strength. She and her team remain focused on finding individual stock values with good potential for cash generation that have previously been overlooked or unduly punished by market skepticism.

After a strong year for developed market equities in 2013, the general market consensus appears to be that developed markets will likely continue to outpace emerging markets and that the US is overvalued somewhat but that growth will likely be steady. Additionally, worries about Europe have generally taken a back seat to worries about China. Whether something detrimental will develop in equity markets this year is a coin toss, but if so, in our view, it will probably be connected to a big deterioration in earnings growth, given the expansion in valuation multiples we have seen over the last year. As bottom-up investors, we are less worried about the macroeconomic debates; we are primarily focused on determining where companies are in their earnings cycles, what will likely unfold in the way of normalized earnings and cash flows over the next five years, and where we think the market has mispriced that earnings and cash flow stream.

In the US, we believe the key is whether the economic recovery will be self-sustaining in the absence of the excessively easy monetary policy that the US Federal Reserve (Fed) has been providing via its longstanding Treasury asset purchase program known as Quantitative Easing (QE). Can the Fed orchestrate a steady, manageable rise in interest rates? Will employment and wage growth gather strength and create a virtuous growth cycle without Fed support? And will corporate earnings continue to come through as anticipated by the steady expansion we have seen in valuation multiples? These are all unknowns, but will likely be important parts of the equation for the US market.

US Economic Tailwinds

In our view, US earnings have already reached or exceeded previous highs, and valuations are relatively stretched as the Fed begins to taper QE. We believe we can find some good values at the individual stock level, but not wholesale value in the US, as equity prices have built in a fair bit of optimism that all will be well. I think it is important to recognize that there are a number of positives in the US that could provide tailwinds to support economic growth in the absence of ongoing extraordinary monetary support.

Inflation has been subdued in the US, and weakness in China has been a contributing factor. One can think of lower oil and commodities prices as a sort of tax cut for US consumers, helping to free up disposable income. A US energy renaissance has been taking place, led by a boom in shale oil and natural gas. By 2015, the International Energy Agency predicts the US will become the world's top oil producer.1 This energy revolution, the result of technological advances related to the extraction of oil and gas from existing wells, is leading to both rising production and a falling trade deficit; and the generally strong dollar that's accompanying that falling trade deficit supports import purchasing power for consumers.

Households have done a lot of deleveraging since the 2008-2009 financial crisis, which has been helped by both a decline in absolute debt and an increase in asset prices. US household leverage is lower than it has been in at least a decade, so we think there is some scope for credit expansion, which could support risk assets. However, debt and asset levels matter less than whether people have jobs and whether personal income is growing. So we do need to see that nascent signs of the latter improve further.

US corporate balance sheets are generally in good shape, according to our research. Two decades of falling interest rates have allowed a gradual shift toward a longer-term debt structure, so there is a reduced risk of constantly rolling debt. And, consumer and corporate America are producing free cash flow of more than 8.5% of GDP, which is not that far from a 60-year high.2

US market bears note that US equity valuations are now above their long-term average and that profit margins are at record highs. We would note that much of the expansion in profit margins has come out of the gross margin lines of manufacturers that have benefited from globalization. And even with the further steepening of the yield curve, we expect this could add to earnings overall, because the net interest income of the financial sector is almost three times the interest expense of the rest of the US economy.

Where are we finding values right now? One area is in oil services, where a recent period of oversupply in the industry weighed heavily on these stocks globally. The pharmaceutical industry offers more mature value holdings, which we acquired at low multiples amid concerns about patent expirations. These stocks have generally done well and are being complemented in our portfolios by innovative biotechnology firms with undervalued drug pipelines as well as selected specialty pharma and medical technology firms.

Financials were hit extremely hard during the 2008–2009 financial crisis, and US and European bank valuations plunged to levels only seen twice before in the past 120 years, notably during the Great Depression of the 1930s and the Inflation Crisis of the 1970s. Over the past few years, many banks have rebuilt their balance sheets, altered their business mixes and cut costs. Financial valuations have tracked returns very closely, and both have recovered from the lows reached in mid-2011. We do not believe return on equity (ROE) will likely recover to prior peaks, but our analysis shows that bank holdings have potential to improve further, particularly as business conditions begin to normalize and lending activities (at some point in the cycle) resume.

Of course, there are always risks to even the most sanguine of outlooks. The biggest risk in the US, as we see it, is probably a significant back-up in longer rates. Fortunately, the starting point of inflation is low. Regardless of the macro environment, we will continue to do what we've always done – uncover individual bargains. We continue to look for stock opportunities in the US and around the globe where we see low valuations, improving fundamentals, and good prospects for sizeable return of capital to shareholders.

Read the commentary here. 

About the author:Canadian Valuehttp://valueinvestorcanada.blogspot.com/
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Monday, February 3, 2014

Industry group launches latest TV commercial to build CFP brand

It came one day after the Super Bowl advertising blitz, but the CFP Board hopes that a “reality” TV spot it launched Monday will help convince consumers to turn to a certified financial planner for advice.

The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. unveiled an ad that shows average investors talking to a clean-cut investment adviser. He then reveals that he's actually a club DJ whose dreadlocks were shorn so that he could pose as a buttoned-down financial professional.

“I have no financial experience at all,” says the man, who also is an actor. He then briefly dances in front of his bewildered clients. The segment concludes with a voice over saying, “If they're not a CFP pro, you just don't know. Work with the highest standard.”

The ad is the latest installment in the CFP Board's $40 million public awareness campaign.

“It is fun, it is edgy, it is creative,” CFP Board chairman V. Raymond Ferrara said during a webinar on Monday.

The CFP Board set up a fake investment advisory firm and had real potential investors come in for a meeting with the ersatz adviser.

“It is frightening that these people were fooled by this guy, who was good but not great,” CFP Board chief executive Kevin Keller said. “The general public really was caught off guard.”

The TV ad will run on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, ESPN, BBC America, AMC and other networks through the tax season. The CFP Board also will advertise on NPR as well as on websites, online search engines and in print. CFP mark holders will be able to download material for their own use as well.

The CFP Board will spend $10 million this year on the campaign. It has been funded by a $145 annual increase in the CFP renewal fee. Mr. Keller said that the board has no plans to raise the fees “at this time.”

The target audience is people with $100,000 to $1 million in investible assets who are between the ages of 35 and 64.

Previous CFP ads have focused on ethics, planning and the comprehensive evaluations of CFP mark holders. The newest ads emphasize a broader overall theme of the quality that investors can get from a CFP.

“Our media strategy this year is to amplify that 'highest standard' positioning,” Mr. Crowder said.

Sunday, February 2, 2014

10 Best Construction Stocks To Invest In 2014

The number of bad China bank loans tripled in just six months of 2013, but bank profits remained mainly unscathed, writes MoneyShow's Jim Jubak, also of Jubak's Picks.

China's biggest banks cleaned house in the first half of 2013, tripling the amount of bad loans written off in the period from the first half of 2012.

That kind of coming clean would be a good thing—analysts have argued that China's banks have dragged their feet on writing off loans that have gone bad and are clearly never going to be repaid—except that it has raised fears that China's banks are cleaning house now in anticipation of a new wave of bad loans to come, as a result of a slowdown in China's economic growth.

In the first six months of 2013, China's five biggest banks wrote off 22.1 billion yuan ($3.65 billion) in debt. That was up from 7.65 billion yuan in the first half of 2012.

The worry is, with growth forecast to slow to 7.6% in 2013, the lowest growth rate since 1999, China's banks are facing a surge in bad loans as a result of the credit boom that began in 2009. The five biggest banks; Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Bank of Communications, Agricultural Bank of China, Bank of China, and the China Construction Bank, showed a 22.4 billion yuan ($3.68 billion) increase in nonperforming loans in the first half of 2013. That took the total for nonperforming loans to 350 billion yuan ($57.5 billion), or 1% of total loans, according to Bloomberg. In the first half of the year, the big five banks added 83 billion yuan ($13.6 billion) to their reserves for loan losses.

10 Best Construction Stocks To Invest In 2014: Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc. (ARE)

Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc., a real estate investment trust (REIT), engages in the ownership, operation, management, development, acquisition, and redevelopment of properties for the life sciences industry. Its properties consist of buildings containing scientific research and development laboratories, and other improvements. The company offers its properties for lease primarily to universities and independent not-for-profit institutions; and pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, life science product, service, biodefense, and translational research entities, as well as governmental agencies. As of December 31, 2006, it had 159 properties, including 156 properties located in 9 states in the United States and 3 properties located in Canada. As a REIT, the company is not subject to federal income tax to the extent that it distributes 100% of its taxable income to its stockholders. The company was founded in 1993 and is based in Pasadena, California.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Shauna O'Brien]

    Real estate investment trust Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc (ARE) announced on Tuesday that its board has approved a 4.6% increase to its quarterly dividend.

    The firm has raised its dividend from 65 cents to 68 cents per share, or $2.72 annually. The dividend will be paid on October 15 to shareholders of record on September 30. The stock will go ex-dividend on September 26.

    Alexandria Real Estate Equities shares were mostly flat during pre-market trading Tuesday. The stock is down 9% YTD.

  • [By Markus Aarnio]

    Owens Realty Mortgage's competitors include American Assets Trust (AAT), Alexandria Real Estate Equities (ARE) and Boston Properties (BXP). American Assets Trust has seen five insider buy transactions and four insider sell transactions this year. American Assets Trust has a dividend yield of 2.78%. Alexandria Real Estate Equities has seen 14 insider sell transactions this year. Alexandria Real Estate Equities has a dividend yield of 4.10%. Boston Properties has seen one insider buy transaction and four insider sell transactions this year. Boston Properties has a dividend yield of 2.43%.

10 Best Construction Stocks To Invest In 2014: Stanley Black & Decker Inc.(SWK)

Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. manufactures tools and engineered security solutions worldwide. The company?s Security segment provides a range of mechanical and electronic security products and systems, as well as various security services consisting of security integration systems, software, and related installation, maintenance, monitoring services; automatic doors, door closers, and exit devices; healthcare storage and supply chain solutions; patient protection products; hardware; and locking mechanisms. This segment sells its products to retailers; educational, financial, and healthcare institutions; and commercial, governmental, and industrial customers through direct sales forces and third party distributors. Its Industrial segment offers mechanics tools and storage systems, including wrenches, sockets, electronic diagnostic tools, tool boxes, and industrial storage and retrieval systems; engineered healthcare storage and retrieval systems; hydraulic tools and accessor ies; plumbing, heating, and air conditioning tools; assembly tools and systems; and specialty tools. This segment sells its products to industrial customers through third party distributors and direct sales forces. The company?s Construction & Do-It-Yourself segment manufactures hand tools, including measuring and leveling tools, planes, hammers, demolition tools, knives and blades, saws, chisels, and consumer tackers; consumer mechanics tools; storage units comprising plastic and metal tool boxes; and pneumatic tools and fasteners for use in construction, remodeling, furniture making, pallet and manufacturing applications. This segment sells its products to professional end users and consumers through retailers, including home centers, mass merchants, hardware stores, and retail lumber yards. The company was formerly known as The Stanley Works and changed its name to Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. in March 2010. Stanley Black & Decker was founded in 1843 and is based in New B ritain, Connecticut.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Rich Smith]

    This series, brought to you by Yahoo! Finance, looks at which upgrades and downgrades make sense, and which ones investors should act on. Today, our headlines feature a pair of downgrades, for toolmaker Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE: SWK  ) and electrical equipment maker EnerSys (NYSE: ENS  ) alike. But the news isn't all bad, so before we address those two, let's take a look at why one analyst thinks that...

  • [By Motley Fool Staff]

    Power tools for the handy pop
    As much as I'd love to fill my closet with another dated paisley print tie off the discount rack, what I'd really like are some new tools in the shed and shares of�Stanley Black & Decker� (NYSE: SWK  ) in my portfolio.�

  • [By Caroline Bennett]

    The Board of Directors for industrial tool producer Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE: SWK  ) has approved an increase to its quarterly dividend. The company's payout will go up $0.01 to a total of $0.50 per share, and will be payable on Sept. 17 to recorded shareholders as of Sept. 6.

  • [By Laura Brodbeck]

    Wednesday

    Earnings Expected From: Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE: BK), Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (NYSE: SWK), US Bancorp (NYSE: USB), Bank of America Corp (NYSE: BAC), Pepsico, Inc. (NYSE: PEP), American Express Company (NYSE: AXP), eBay Inc. (NASDAQ: EBAY) Economic Releases Expected: US Beige Book, Canadian manufacturing sales, US CPI

    Thursday

5 Best Industrial Conglomerate Stocks To Own Right Now: Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas SA (FCC)

Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas SA (FCC) is a Spain-based company, which is primarily engaged, together with its subsidiaries in the construction and environmental services sector. The Company�� activities include the collection, treatment and elimination of solid urban waste, street cleaning, sewer system maintenance, green areas and buildings maintenance, urban transport, treatment and elimination of industrial waste, full-service water supply management and cement manufacture. The Company is also active in the real estate development, as well as in the renewable energy industry. In addition, the Company is a parent of Grupo FCC, a group which comprises a number of controlled entities.

10 Best Construction Stocks To Invest In 2014: Chicago Bridge & Iron Company NV (CBI)

Chicago Bridge & Iron Company N.V. (CB&I) is one of the integrated engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services providers and process technology licensors, delivering solutions to customers primarily in the energy, petrochemical and natural resource industries. CB&I consist of three business sectors: Steel Plate Structures, Project Engineering and Construction, and Lummus Technology. Through these business sectors, the Company offers services both independently and on an integrated basis.

As of December 31, 2012, the Company had more than 900 projects in process in more than 70 countries. On February 13, 2013, it acquired The Shaw Group Inc. (Shaw).

Steel Plate Structures

Steel Plate Structures provides engineering, procurement, fabrication and construction services, including mechanical erection services, for the hydrocarbon, water and nuclear industries. Projects include above ground storage tanks, elevated storage tanks, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) tanks, pressure vessels, and other specialty structures, such as nuclear containment vessels. Customers include international energy companies, such as Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil and Shell; national energy companies, such as ADNOC (Abu Dhabi), CNOOC (China) and Saudi Aramco (Saudi Arabia); and regional energy companies, such as Kinder Morgan (United States) and Suncor (Canada).

Project Engineering and Construction

Project Engineering and Construction provides engineering, procurement, fabrication and construction services for upstream and downstream energy infrastructure facilities. Projects include LNG liquefaction and regasification terminals, gas processing plants, refinery units, petrochemical complexes and a wide range of other energy-related projects. Customers include international energy companies, such as British Petroleum, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil and Shell; national energy companies, such as Ecopetrol (Colombia) and ORPIC (Oman); and regio! nal energy companies, such as Dominion (United States), Gazprom (Russia), Nexen (United Kingdom), and Woodside (Australia).

Lummus Technology

Lummus Technology provides licenses, services, catalysts and equipment for the hydrocarbon refining, petrochemical, and gas processing industries. Customers include international energy companies, such as Chevron and Shell; national energy companies, such as Pemex (Mexico), Petrochina (China), Rosneft (Russia) and Sabic (Saudi Arabia); and regional refiners and chemical and gas processing companies, such as China Coal (China), IRPC (Thailand), Kazakhstan Petrochemical (Kazakhstan), and Williams Energy Services (United States).

Power provides a range of services, including design, EPC, technology and consulting services, primarily to the fossil and nuclear power generation industries. Plant Services provides electric power refueling outage maintenance, turnaround maintenance, routine maintenance, offshore maintenance, modifications, capital construction, off-site modularization, fabrication, reliability engineering, plant engineering, plant support and specialty services. Additionally, it provides services to restore, rebuild, repair, renovate and modify industrial and electric power generation facilities, and offers predictive and preventive maintenance services. Environmental & Infrastructure (E&I) provides full-scale environmental and infrastructure services for government and private-sector clients. These services include program and project management, design-build, engineering and construction, sustainability and energy efficiency, remediation and restoration, science and technology, facilities management and emergency response and disaster recovery. Fabrication and Manufacturing is a worldwide supplier of fabricated piping systems primarily to the electric power, petrochemical and refinery industries, supporting both external clients and other Shaw business sectors.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Louis Navellier]

    However, there some pockets of opportunity in the infrastructure space. Chicago Bridge and Iron (CBI) doesn�� build many bridges anymore, but it does build storage tanks for liquids and gasses, which gives them an early edge in the rush to build liquefied natural gas facilities. The stock received an upgrade from Jeffries last week and is starting to attract some attention from Wall Street. The steady improvements in business conditions were picked up in Portfolio Grader, and the stock was upgraded to a ��uy��in August.

10 Best Construction Stocks To Invest In 2014: Cimpor Cimentos de Portugal SGPS SA (CPR)

Cimpor Cimentos de Portugal SGPS SA is a Portugal-based holding company engaged in the construction materials sector. The Company is primarily active in the production and sale of cement and clinker. It also involved in the manufacturing and marketing of ready-mix concrete, dry mortars and aggregates. As of December 20, 2012, the Company operated in Portugal, Egypt, Cape Verde, Angola, Mozambique, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. The Company�� investments are held essentially through two subsidiaries: Cimpor Portugal SGPS SA, which holds the investments in companies dedicated to the production of cement, concrete, aggregates and mortar in Portugal, and Cimpor Inversiones SA, which holds the investments in companies operating abroad.

10 Best Construction Stocks To Invest In 2014: KBR Inc. (KBR)

KBR, Inc. operates as an engineering, construction, and services company supporting the energy, hydrocarbon, government services, minerals, civil infrastructure, power, and industrial sectors worldwide. Its Downstream business unit provides front end engineering design; detailed engineering; engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC); EPC management; and program management services to petrochemical, refining, coal gasification, and syngas markets. The company?s Government and Infrastructure business unit provides program and project management, contingency logistics, operations and maintenance, construction management, engineering, and other services to military and civilian branches of governments and private clients. Its Services business unit delivers engineering, construction, construction management, fabrication, maintenance, and turnaround services. It also offers maintenance, construction, and drilling support services for offshore oil and gas producing facili ties using semisubmersible vessels. This segment serves oil, gas, petrochemicals, and hydrocarbon processing industries, as well as power, alternate energy, pulp and paper, industrial and manufacturing, and pharmaceutical industries. The company?s Technology business unit offers various process technologies, including value-added technologies in the coal monetization, petrochemical, refining, and syngas markets. Its Upstream business unit constructs liquefied natural gas, gas-to-liquids, onshore oil and gas production facilities, offshore oil and gas production facilities, and onshore and offshore pipelines. The company?s Ventures business unit invests in and manages projects, where the company provides engineering, construction, construction management or operations, and maintenance services. KBR, Inc. was founded in 1901 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Monica Gerson]

    KBR (NYSE: KBR) is expected to post its Q3 earnings at $0.70 per share on revenue of $1.99 billion.

    Zynga (NASDAQ: ZNGA) is estimated to post a Q3 loss at $0.04 per share on revenue of $142.67 million.

  • [By Ben Levisohn]

    Shares of Harsco have gained 4.7% to $26.43 today at 1:16 p.m., outpacing other construction & engineering companies. Dycom (DY) has advanced 0.5% to $30, KBR Inc. (KBR) has ticked up 0.1% to $33.03, Worthington Industries�(WOR) has risen 2.8% to $38.85�and Tutor Perini (TPC) has rallied 3.6% to $22.46.

10 Best Construction Stocks To Invest In 2014: EMCOR Group Inc. (EME)

EMCOR Group, Inc. provides electrical and mechanical construction, and facilities services primarily to commercial, industrial, utility, and institutional customers in the United States, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company offers various electrical and mechanical systems, including electric power transmission and distribution systems, such as power cables, conduits, distribution panels, transformers, generators, uninterruptible power supply systems, and related switch gear and controls; premises electrical and lighting systems, including fixtures and controls; low-voltage systems comprising fire alarms, and security and process control systems; voice and data communications systems, including fiber-optic and low-voltage cabling systems; and roadway and transit lighting and fiber-optic lines. It also provides heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration, and clean-room process ventilation systems; fire protection systems; plumbing, processing, and piping systems; controls and filtration systems; water and wastewater treatment systems; central plant heating and cooling systems; cranes and rigging; millwrighting; and steel fabrication, erection, and welding systems. In addition, the company offers facilities services comprising industrial maintenance and services; outage services to utilities and industrial plants; commercial and government site-based operations and maintenance; military base operations support; mobile mechanical maintenance and services; floor care and janitorial; landscaping, lot sweeping, and snow removal; facilities and vendor management; call center; building systems installation and support; and technical consulting and diagnostic services. Further, it provides small modification and retrofit projects; retrofit projects; and program development, management, and maintenance services for energy systems. EMCOR Group, Inc. was founded in 1966 and is headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Eric Volkman]

    EMCOR Group (NYSE: EME  ) is growing the old-fashioned way -- with the purchase of outside assets. The company announced�that it will acquire the privately held RepconStrickland, a Texas-based firm it describes as "a leading provider of recurring turnaround and specialty services to the North American refinery and petrochemical markets."

10 Best Construction Stocks To Invest In 2014: HSIL Ltd (HSNT.NS)

HSIL Limited is engaged in manufacturing of sanitaryware products. The Company operates in two segments: sanitaryware and glassware. Its products include Sanitaryware, Faucets, Tiles, Kitchen appliances, Container Glass, PET Bottles and Wellness products. Its brands include Hindware, Hindware Art, Hindware Italian Collection, Raasi, Benelave and Queo. It also operates in two divisions: Building Products and Container Glass. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012, it launched 25 new sanitaryware products under the Hindware portfolio, two series of faucets under the Benelave brand, two new varieties of tiles (double charge tiles and three dimensional tiles) and six kitchen appliances. Its manufacturing facilities are located at Bahadurgarh, Haryana; Somanypuram, Bibinagar, Andhra Pradesh, and Bhiwadi, Rajasthan. On August 12, 2011, the Company acquired Garden Polymers Private Limited. On March 20, 2013, it disinvested/sold its entire investment in AGI Glasspack Ltd.

10 Best Construction Stocks To Invest In 2014: Fluor Corporation(FLR)

Fluor Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides engineering, procurement, construction, maintenance, and project management services worldwide. Its Oil & Gas segment offers design, engineering, procurement, construction, and project management services to upstream oil and gas production, downstream refining, chemicals, and petrochemicals industries. This segment also provides consulting services comprising feasibility studies, process assessment, and project finance structuring and studies. The company?s Industrial & Infrastructure segment offers design, engineering, procurement, and construction services to the transportation, wind power, mining and metals, life sciences, manufacturing, commercial and institutional, telecommunications, microelectronics, and healthcare sectors. Its Government segment provides engineering, construction, logistics support, contingency response, management, and operations services to the United States government focusing on the Departme nt of Energy, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Defense. The company?s Global Services segment offers operations and maintenance, small capital project engineering and execution, site equipment and tool services, industrial fleet services, plant turnaround services, temporary staffing services, and supply chain solutions. Its Power segment provides engineering, procurement, construction, program management, start-up and commissioning, and operations and maintenance services to the gas fueled, solid fueled, plant betterment, renewables, nuclear, and power services markets. The company also offers unionized management and construction services in the United States and Canada. Fluor Corporation was founded in 1912 and is headquartered in Irving, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Louis Navellier]

    If we look at the sector using Portfolio Grader, we see that many of the big names in the group like Flour (FLR), Granite Construction (GVA) and KBR incorporated (KBR) are rated ��ell.��The anticipated spending for both government and private industry simply hasn�� materialized, and the companies are not seeing revenue or profit growth.

  • [By CRWE]

    Fluor Corporation�� (NYSE:FLR) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, David Seaton, and Chief Financial Officer, Biggs Porter, will give a presentation to investors at the Credit Suisse 2012 Engineering & Construction Conference in New York on Thursday, June 7 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

  • [By Editor , ETFChannel.com]

    CAT operates in the Construction sector, among companies like Deere (DE) which is up about 0.1% today, and Fluor (FLR) trading lower by about 0.6%. Below is a three month price history chart comparing the stock performance of CAT, versus DE and FLR.

10 Best Construction Stocks To Invest In 2014: Tutor Perini Corporation(TPC)

Tutor Perini Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides diversified general contracting, construction management, and design-build services to private clients and public agencies worldwide. It operates in three segments: Civil, Building, and Management Services. The Civil segment involves in public works construction, and the repair, replacement, and reconstruction of infrastructure. This segment?s civil contracting services include construction and rehabilitation of highways, bridges, mass transit systems, and wastewater treatment facilities. The Building segment provides services to various specialized building markets for private and public works clients, such as the hospitality and gaming, transportation, healthcare, municipal offices, sports and entertainment, education, correctional facilities, biotech, pharmaceutical, industrial and high-tech markets, electrical and mechanical, plumbing, and HVAC services. The Management Services Segment offers diversifie d construction and design-build services to the United States military and government agencies, surety companies, and multi-national corporations in the United States and internationally. This segment also provides rapid response and contract completion services; and management or general contracting services to fulfill the contractual and financial obligations of the surety on notification from the surety of a contractor bond default. The company was founded in 1894 and is headquartered in Sylmar, California.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Rich Smith]

    Following up on the news that it's the likely winner of a $985 million contract to design the Madera-to-Fresno segment�of California's new high-speed railway, civil engineering firm Tutor Perini� (NYSE: TPC  ) announced Tuesday that it's scored a second major contract win.

10 Best Construction Stocks To Invest In 2014: Aegion Corp (AEGN)

Aegion Corporation, incorporated on August 17, 2011, is engaged in infrastructure protection, providing technologies and services to protect against the corrosion of industrial pipelines and for the rehabilitation and strengthening of sewer, water, energy and mining piping systems and buildings, bridges, tunnels and waterfront structures. The Company operates in five segments: Energy and Mining, North American Sewer and Water Rehabilitation, European Sewer and Water Rehabilitation, Asia-Pacific Sewer and Water Rehabilitation and Commercial and Structural. The Company�� business activities include manufacturing, distribution, installation, coating and insulation, cathodic protection, research and development and licensing. Its products and services are utilized and performed in more than 100 countries across six continents. The Company offers solutions for rehabilitating aging or deteriorating infrastructure and protecting new infrastructure from corrosion. In June 2013, Aegion Corporation announced that it has sold its 50% interest in Insituform Rohrsanierungstechniken GmbH (Insituform-Germany) to Per Aarsleff A/S. In July 2013, Aegion Corp announced that it has completed the acquisition of Brinderson, L.P.

In March 2012, the Company organized United Special Technical Services LLC (USTS), a joint venture located in the Sultanate of Oman between United Pipeline Systems and Special Technical Services LLC (STS), for the purpose of executing pipeline, piping and flow line high-density polyethylene lining services throughout the Middle East and Northern Africa. United Pipeline Systems holds a 51% equity interest in USTS and STS holds the remaining 49% equity interest. In November 2012, the Company acquired the shares of its joint venture partner, SPML Infra Limited (SPML), an unaffiliated Indian contractor, in Insituform Pipeline Rehabilitation Private Limited (Insituform-India) in order to continue to pursue business opportunities in India involving CIPP installations and third party tube! sales, as well as to promote its other products and services. In January 2012, the Company purchased Fyfe Group�� Latin American operations (Fyfe LA), which included all of the equity interests of Fyfe Latin America S.A., a Panamanian entity (and its interest in various joint ventures located in Peru, Costa Rica, Chile and Colombia), Fyfe Latin America S.A. de C.V., an El Salvadorian entity, and Fibrwrap Construction Latin America S.A., a Panamanian entity. In April 2012, the Company purchased Fyfe Group�� Asian operations (Fyfe Asia), which included all of the equity interests of Fyfe Asia Pte. Ltd, a Singaporean entity (and its interest in two joint ventures located in Borneo and Indonesia), Fyfe (Hong Kong) Limited, Fibrwrap Construction (M) Sdn Bhd, a Malaysian entity, Fyfe Japan Co. Ltd and Fibrwrap Construction Pte. Ltd and Technologies & Art Pte. Ltd., Singaporean entities.

Energy and Mining

The Company�� energy and mining operations provide rehabilitation and corrosion protection services for industrial, mineral, oil and gas piping systems and structures. The Company also offers products for gas release and leak detection systems. Its worldwide energy and mining operations are headquartered in Chesterfield, Missouri. These operations are conducted through its various subsidiaries (United Pipeline Systems based in Durango, Colorado, Bayou based in New Iberia, Louisiana, Corrpro based in Houston, Texas, CRTS based in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Hockway based in the United Arab Emirates). Certain of its energy and mining operations outside of the United States are conducted through its wholly owned subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, Portugal, Chile, Canada, Argentina, Brazil and the United Arab Emirates and through its joint ventures in Canada, Mexico, Oman, Singapore, Saudi Arabia and Morocco.

United Pipeline Systems performs pipeline rehabilitation services using its Tite Liner process. Its Bayou business performs internal and external pipeline coating, lini! ng, weigh! ting and insulation services, as well as specialty fabrication services for offshore deep water installations, including project management and logistics. Its Corrpro business performs fully-integrated corrosion prevention services including: engineering; product and material sales; construction and installation; inspection, monitoring and maintenance; andcoatings. Its CRTS business specializes in the application of internal and external corrosion coatings services and equipment for new pipeline construction projects. Its Hockway business performs cathodic protection, engineering and design, manufacturing, maintenance and installation services to the oil and gas markets.

Water and Wastewater Rehabilitation Operations

The Company�� sewer rehabilitation activities are conducted principally through installation and other construction operations performed directly by its subsidiaries. In certain geographic regions, the Company has granted licenses to unaffiliated companies. Its North American Water and Wastewater operations, including research and development, engineering, training and financial support systems, are headquartered in Chesterfield, Missouri. During the year ended December 31. 2012, tube manufacturing and processing facilities for North America were maintained in eight locations, geographically dispersed throughout the United States and Canada.

The Company also conducts Insituform CIPP process rehabilitation operations worldwide through its wholly owned subsidiaries and through direct and indirect joint venture relationships. The results from these operations are included in its European Water and Wastewater and Asia-Pacific Water and Wastewater operating segments, as appropriate. The Company utilize multifunctional robotic devices developed by its French subsidiary in connection with the inspection and repair of pipelines. The Company also maintain a manufacturing facility in Wellingborough, United Kingdom to support European operations and through wh! ich the C! ompany sell liners to third parties.

Commercial and Structural Operations

The Company�� commercial and structural operations perform rehabilitation and strengthening of pipelines, buildings, bridges, tunnels and waterfront structures throughout the United States and Canada through Fibrwrap Construction Services, headquartered in Ontario, California, in its Asian markets through Its wholly owned subsidiaries and through Its joint ventures in Borneo and Indonesia and in its Latin American markets through its joint ventures in Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica and Peru. Through Fyfe Co., headquartered in San Diego, California, the Company designs and manufactures the FRP composite systems used in these applications. It�� wholly owned Fyfe entities located in El Salvador, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia and Hong Kong and its Fyfe joint ventures in Borneo and Indonesia, provide product and engineering services throughout Latin America and Asia-Pacific. Its licensee in Greece provides product and services throughout the Middle East and Europe.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Rich Duprey]

    Infrastructure protection specialist Aegion (NASDAQ: AEGN  ) announced yesterday that it was acquiring maintenance, contraction, and engineering firm�Brinderson for $150 million and that the deal will close on July 1.

10 Best Construction Stocks To Invest In 2014: Clean Wind Energy Tower Inc (CWET.PK)

Clean Wind Energy Tower, Inc. (Clean Wind), incorporated on January 22, 1962, focuses on becoming a provider of green energy. As of December 31, 2011, Clean Wind had designed and was preparing to develop, and construct Downdraft Towers that use non-toxic elements to generate electricity and clean water by integrating and synthesizing a range of proven, as well as emerging technologies.

The Downdraft Tower is a hollow cylinder with a water spray system at the top. Pumps deliver water to the top of the Downdraft Tower to spray a fine mist across the entire opening. The water evaporates and cools the hot dry air at the top. The cooled air is denser and heavier than the outside warmer air and falls through the cylinder at speeds up to and in excess of 50 miles per hour (mph), driving the turbines located at the base of the structure. The turbines power generators to produce electricity.

The Company competes with Southern California Edison Company, Pacific Gas & Electric Company, San Diego Gas & Electric Company, Arizona Public Service Company, Florida Power & Light Company, enXco, Inc., PPM Energy, Inc. and UNS.

10 Best Construction Stocks To Invest In 2014: HSIL Ltd (HSIL)

HSIL Limited is engaged in manufacturing of sanitaryware products. The Company operates in two segments: sanitaryware and glassware. Its products include Sanitaryware, Faucets, Tiles, Kitchen appliances, Container Glass, PET Bottles and Wellness products. Its brands include Hindware, Hindware Art, Hindware Italian Collection, Raasi, Benelave and Queo. It also operates in two divisions: Building Products and Container Glass. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012, it launched 25 new sanitaryware products under the Hindware portfolio, two series of faucets under the Benelave brand, two new varieties of tiles (double charge tiles and three dimensional tiles) and six kitchen appliances. Its manufacturing facilities are located at Bahadurgarh, Haryana; Somanypuram, Bibinagar, Andhra Pradesh, and Bhiwadi, Rajasthan. On August 12, 2011, the Company acquired Garden Polymers Private Limited. On March 20, 2013, it disinvested/sold its entire investment in AGI Glasspack Ltd.