It's not often you see a movie exceeding $1 billion in global box office sales.
Of the nearly 700 films released over the past year, only two were able to do so. Curiously enough,�both came from the creative minds at The Walt�Disney�Company (NYSE: DIS ) : First with $1.125 billion last summer from Disney Marvel's Iron Man 3, and more recently with $1.11 billion (and counting) from Walt Disney Animation's�Frozen.
In fact, Disney accounts for seven of the 18 films that have ever managed to top the $1 billion mark worldwide -- unadjusted for inflation, that is --�with some of its other massive titles including�Marvel's The Avengers, Pixar's Toy Story 3, and two films from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
But this begs the question: What will Disney's next $1 billion movie be?�
I think investors and movie fans need look no further than the May 30 debut of�Maleficent:
Angelina Jolie stars in Disney's Maleficent,�launching May 30. Credit: Disney.�
Spartan Motors, Inc. is an engineer and manufacturer in the heavy-duty, custom vehicles marketplace. The Company has five wholly owned operating subsidiaries: Spartan Motors Chassis, Inc. (Spartan Chassis), Crimson Fire, Inc. (Crimson), Crimson Fire Aerials, Inc. (Crimson Aerials), Utilimaster Corporation (Utilimaster) and Classic Fire LLC (Classic Fire). Spartan Chassis is a designer, engineer and manufacturer of custom heavy-duty chassis. The chassis consist of a frame assembly, engine, transmission, electrical system, running gear (wheels, tires, axles, suspension and brakes) and, for fire trucks and some specialty chassis applications, a cab. Crimson engineers and manufactures fire trucks built on chassis platforms purchased from either Spartan Chassis or outside sources. Crimson Aerials engineers and manufactures aerial ladder components for fire trucks. Classic Fire engineers and manufactures fire trucks that are built on commercial chassis. Utilimaster is a manufacturer of specialty vehicles made to customer specifications in the delivery and service market, including walk-in vans and hi-cube vans, as well as truck bodies. The Company is organized into two segments: Specialty Vehicles, which consists of the Company's emergency response chassis, motor home chassis, specialty vehicle chassis, emergency response bodies and related aftermarket parts and assemblies operations, and Delivery and Service Vehicles, consisting of delivery and service vehicles. On April 1, 2011, the Company acquired Classic Fire LLC (Classic Fire). In January 2013, the Company sold majority of its Wakarusa, Indiana facility to Forest River, Inc. On December 31, 2013, the Company sold its residual 35% interest in Folkestone SI 1 Pty Ltd to Folkestone Limited.
Specialty Vehicles
The Company's Specialty Vehicles segment consists of four wholly owned subsidiaries, Spartan Chassis, Crimson, Crimson Aerials, and Classic Fire. Spartan Chassis designs and manufactures custom chassis for emergency respons! e vehicles, motor homes and other specialty vehicles. Crimson and Classic Fire specialize in the manufacture of emergency response bodies, while Crimson Aerials specializes in the engineering and manufacture of aerial ladders and emergency response vehicle bodies. Sales from the Specialty Vehicles segment represented 61.1% during the year ended December 31, 2011.
The Company manufactures emergency response chassis and cabs to exact customer specifications. The Company has four fire truck models: Gladiator chassis, Metro Star chassis, Spartan Force chassis and Metro Star RT (rescue transport). The Company engineers and manufactures bodies for custom and commercial emergency response vehicles and apparatus. The Company engineers, manufactures and markets aerial ladder components for fire trucks. The Company manufactures chassis to the individual specifications of its motor home chassis original equipment manufacturers (OEM). Motor home chassis are into three models: Mountain Master series chassis, K2 series chassis and K3 series chassis.
Through its Spartan Chassis subsidiary, the Company develops specialized chassis to unique customer requirements. The Company also assembles the Isuzu N-Series Gasoline Cab-Forward Trucks.
Delivery and Service Vehicles
The Company manufactures delivery and service vehicles. The Company designs, develops, and manufactures products to customer specifications for use in the package delivery, one-way truck rental, bakery/snack delivery, utility, and linen/uniform rental businesses. The majority of its revenues are in the delivery and service market, which includes walk-in vans for the package delivery, bakery/snack delivery and linen/uniform rental markets. Its remaining revenues are from commercial truck bodies, along with aftermarket parts and assemblies. Sales from the Delivery and Service Vehicles segment represented 48.9% for the year ended December 31, 2011. The principal types of commercial vehicles are walk-in vans,! cutaway ! vans and truck bodies. Walk-in vans are sold under the Aeromaster brand. Cutaway vans are installed on cutaway van chassis, and are sold under the Utilimaster, Utilivan, Metromaster and Trademaster brand names. Cutaway bodies are primarily used for local delivery of parcels, freight and perishable food.
Advisors' Opinion: - [By Seth Jayson]
Calling all cash flows
When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on Spartan Motors (Nasdaq: SPAR ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.
Top 10 Sliver Stocks To Own Right Now: John Wiley & Sons Inc (JWA)
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., incorporated on January 15, 1904, is a global provider of knowledge and knowledge-based services in areas of research, professional development and education. Core businesses produce scientific, technical, medical and scholarly research journals, reference works, books, database services, and advertising; professional books and certification, assessment and training services, and education content and services, including online program management for colleges and universities and integrated online teaching and learning resources for instructors and students. The Company sells its products to customers in the Middle East (including Iran and Syria), Africa (including Sudan), Cuba, and other developing markets where it does not have operating subsidiaries. In April 2014, the Company acquired Profiles International, a provider of employment assessment and talent management solutions.
Research
The Company�� Research business serves the world�� research and scholarly communities and is a publisher for professional and scholarly societies. Research�� mission is to support researchers, professionals and learners in the discovery and use of research knowledge to achieve results that help shape the future. Research products include scientific, technical, medical and scholarly research journals, books, major reference works, databases, clinical decision support tools and laboratory manuals and workflow tools, in the publishing areas of the physical sciences and engineering, health sciences, social science and humanities and life sciences. Research customers include academic, corporate, government, and public libraries; researchers; scientists; clinicians; engineers and technologists; scholarly and professional societies, and students and professors. The Company�� Research products are sold and distributed globally, online and in print through multiple channels, including research libraries and library consortia, independent subscription agents, direct sa! les to professional society members, bookstores, online booksellers and other customers. Publishing centers include Australia, Germany, India, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States. Research accounted for approximately 57% of total Company revenue (fiscal 2013). The Company�� Research business is a provider of content and services in evidence-based medicine (EBM). Through the Company�� alliance with The Cochrane Collaboration, the Company publishes The Cochrane Library.
Wiley Online Library, the online publishing platform for the Company�� Research business, is a multidisciplinary collections of online resources covering life, health and physical sciences, social science and the humanities. Wiley Online Library delivers seamless integrated access to over four million articles from 1,500 journals, 13,000 online books, and hundreds of reference works, laboratory protocols and databases. Wiley Online Library provides the user with intuitive navigation, enhanced discoverability, expanded functionality and a range of personalization options. Wiley Open Access is the Company�� publishing program for open-access research articles. Under the Wiley Open Access business model, research articles submitted by authors are published and compiled by subject area into open-access journals. In addition to Wiley Open Access, the Company provides authors with the opportunity to make their individual research articles that were published within the Company�� paid subscription journals freely available to the general public through OnlineOpen.
Professional Development (PD)
The Company�� Professional Development business acquires, develops and publishes professional books, subscription products, certification and training services and online applications in the areas of business, finance, accounting, workplace learning, management, leadership, technology, behavioral health, engineering/ architecture and education. Products are developed in print and digitally ! for world! wide distribution through multiple channels, including major chains and online booksellers, independent bookstores, libraries, colleges and universities, warehouse clubs, corporations, direct to consumer, websites and other online applications. Publishing centers include Australia, Canada, Germany, India, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States. Professional Development accounted for approximately 24% of total Company revenue in fiscal year 2013. Professional Development revenue by product type includes eBooks and Print Books; Online Training and Assessment which is revenue from the sale of products and services focusing on workplace effectiveness and career success; Publishing Rights which is revenue from the licensing of the right to republish Wiley content either online or in print; Journal Subscriptions online and in print to professionals, and Other.
Education
The Company�� Education business produces educational content and services, including online program management for colleges and universities and integrated online teaching and learning resources for instructors and students. Education�� mission is to help teachers teach and students learn by delivering to students, faculty and institutions throughout the world personalized content, tools and services that demonstrate results. Education offers products and services principally delivered through college bookstores and online distributors, with customers having access to content in multi-media formats, as well as the traditional textbook. Education�� solutions are available in each of its publishing disciplines, including the sciences, engineering, computer science, mathematics, business and accounting, statistics, geography, hospitality and the culinary arts, education, psychology and modern languages. Education accounted for approximately 19% of total Company revenue in fiscal year 2013. Education revenue by product type includes eBooks and Print Textbooks; Online Program Management; WileyPLUS, the ! Company�! � online learning solution; revenue from the licensing of publishing content rights and Other Nontraditional and Digital Products, such as custom publishing and other content adaption��.
Education offers online learning solutions including WileyPLUS, it�� research-based, online environment for effective course teaching and learning that is integrated with a complete digital textbook. WileyPLUS improves student learning through instant feedback, personalized learning plans, and self- evaluation tools and a range of course-oriented activities, including online planning, presentations, study, homework and testing. The Company also provides the services of the Wiley Faculty Network, a global community of faculty that offers guidance, training, and resources. Through the Wiley Faculty Network, instructors and administrators can collaborate with each other, attend virtual and live events, and utilize a wealth of resources all designed to help them grow as educators.
Journal Products
The Company publishes approximately 1,600 Research and Professional Development journals. Journal subscription revenue and other related publishing income, such as advertising, backfile sales, the licensing of publishing rights, journal reprints and individual article sales accounted for approximately 48% of the Company�� consolidated fiscal year 2013 revenue. The journal portfolio includes titles owned by the Company, in which case they may or may not be sponsored by a professional society; titles owned jointly with a professional society; and titles owned by professional societies and published by the Company pursuant to long-term contracts. The Company also enters into agreements with outside independent editors of journals that state the duties of the editors, and the fees and expenses for their services. The Company sells journal subscriptions directly through Company sales representatives; indirectly through independent subscription agents; through promotional campaigns, and thro! ugh membe! rships in professional societies for those journals that are sponsored by societies. Journal subscriptions are primarily licensed through contracts for online content delivered through the Company�� online platform, Wiley Online Library.
Book Products
The Company�� Book products and book related publishing revenue, such as advertising and the sale of publishing rights, accounted for approximately 48% of the Company�� fiscal year 2013 revenue. The Company enters into agreements with authors that state the terms and conditions under which the materials will be published, the name in which the copyright will be registered, the basis for any royalties, and other matters. The Company develops content in a digital format that can be used for online and print products, resulting in productivity and efficiency savings, and enabling print-on-demand delivery. Book content is available online through Wiley Online Library, WileyPLUS, Custom Select and other platforms. Ebooks are delivered to intermediaries, including Amazon, Apple and Google for re-sale to individuals in various industry-standard formats, which are now also the preferred deliverable for licensees of all types, including foreign language publishers.
Other Digital Products and Services
The Company is focused on delivering content-enabled services which improve learning, career management and effectiveness for its target communities. The Inscape and ELS businesses, along with the Company�� Pfeiffer brand, represent the Company�� professional training and assessment services. These businesses offer a variety of classroom learning solutions and e-learning activities that are delivered to customers directly through online digital delivery platforms and also through an authorized distributor network of independent consultants, trainers and coaches. The Company�� professional training and assessment services offer highly flexible packages and modules for its customers that include online pre-w! ork and p! rofile assessments, self-study materials, online videos, mobile apps and other sophisticated planning tools.
The Company generates advertising revenue from print and online journal subscription products; its online publishing platform, Wiley Online Library; the Wiley Job Network, a full service online job board; online events such as webinars and virtual conferences; community interest websites such as spectroscopyNOW.com and websites for the Company�� brands like Dummies.com. The Company�� publications and services are sold throughout most of the world through operations located in Europe, Canada, Australia, Asia, and the United States.
Advisors' Opinion: Top 10 Sliver Stocks To Own Right Now: UQM Technologies Inc (UQM)
UQM Technologies, Inc. (UQM), incorporated on December 7, 1967, is a developer and manufacturer of electric motors, generators and power electronic controllers for the automotive, aerospace, military and industrial markets. The Company's primary focus is incorporating its advanced technology into products for clean vehicles including propulsion systems for electric, hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid electric and fuel cell electric vehicles. The Company makes propulsion system products, generators and related auxiliary components for electric vehicle (EVs), hybrid electric vehicle (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEVs) and fuel cell all-electric vehicles (FCEVs). The Company markets its products in many segments of the transportation sector including passenger vehicles and light trucks, commercial trucks and buses, off-road vehicles including agricultural and construction equipment, boats and military vehicles. The Company's principal products include propulsion motors and generators with power ratings from 25 kilowatts to 220 kilowatts, auxiliary motors and electronic controls, direct current (DC)-to-(DC) converters and DC-to-alternating current (AC) inverters that convert direct current to usable alternating current.
The Company's electric propulsion systems are powering development vehicles including the all-electric Audi A1 e-tron test fleet vehicles. In addition to these programs, the Company is supplying its electric propulsion systems and generators to various other international automakers and entrepreneurial automobile developers as part of their HEV, PHEV, EV and FCEV vehicle development programs. The Company has also developed electric power products for the aircraft and aerospace markets and the boat and marine market. In the boat market, the Company has developed generators for onboard power production in hybrid-electric boats as well as electric propulsion systems. The United States military purchases a range of ground vehicles each year, including combat vehicles such! as tanks, self-propelled artillery and armored personnel carriers, as well as a variety of light, medium and heavy-duty trucks for convoy and supply operations and for the transport of fuel used on the battlefield.
The Company competes Toyota, Honda, General Motors, Hitachi, Toshiba, Siemens, Delphi, Danaher, Enova, Continental, Magna, Remy, and Bosch.
Advisors' Opinion: - [By John Udovich]
When most people think of electric vehicle stocks, they probably think of troubled Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA) or one of the several Chinese stocks active in the space, but North America based large cap Magna International Inc (NYSE: MGA) and small caps Polypore International, Inc (NYSE: PPO), UQM Technologies Inc (NYSEMKT: UQM) and Green Automotive Company (OTCMKTS: GACR) are all players, one way or the other, in the electric vehicle space that most investors have probably overlooked or just aren�� aware of. Of course, we can argue�about whether or not purely electric vehicles or some sort of hybrid vehicles are the way of the future, but what cannot be argued about is the fact that the following electric vehicle stocks are at the forefront of EV or�hybrid technology and design:
Top 10 Sliver Stocks To Own Right Now: Rallye SA (RAL)
Rallye SA is a France-based holding company organized around two sectors of activity: large scale distribution to the food stores and supermarkets and distribution of sports items. The Company is present in France, Latin America, Poland, and Asia through its interests in brands, such as Geant, Monoprix, Leader Price, and United Grocers Cash & Carry, among others. It also has its interst in the Groupe Go Sport. Rallye SA is notably present in France, the United States, Luxembourg, Poland and Colombia, among others. The Company operates through its subsidiaries and affliated companies, such as Cobivia SAS, L��abitation Moderne de Boulogne, Magasins Jean SAS, Matignon Sablons SAS, MFD SA, Parande SAS, Casino Guichaqrd Perrachon DA, Groupe Go Sport, Sivigral SCI and French Develompent Venture SA.
Advisors' Opinion: - [By Holly LaFon]
A risk involved with the company is that its Republic Bank & Trust business derives 78% of its net income from TRS, which offers bank products that help get customers who electronically file their tax returns their payments. RB&T is only of the few financial institutions in the U.S. that provide the service. Under the program, the taxpayer may receive a Refund Anticipation Loan (RAL), which has been questioned by various governmental and consumer groups. In May 2011, RB&T received an order to cease and desist which could result in an order by the FDIC to terminate its RAL program. It has a hearing on Feb. 12, 2012 in Kentucky regarding the matter.
Top 10 Sliver Stocks To Own Right Now: Tractebel Energia SA (TBLE3)
Tractebel Energia SA (Tractebel Energia) is a Brazil-based company involved in the energy sector. The Company is engaged in the generation and sale of electric power generated by its assets or acquired through near and long-term agreements. In addition, it provides online customer services to its customers. Tractebel Energia operates power plants in the Brazilian states of Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, Parana, Sao Paulo, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Goias, Ceara, Piaui, Minas Gerais, Tocantins and Maranhao. The Company generates energy through hydroelectric power plants, thermoelectric plants, small hydroelectric power plants, wind farms and biomass fired power plants. The Company is controlled by GDF SUEZ Energy Latin America Participacoes Ltda.
Advisors' Opinion: - [By Patricia Lara]
The state-run water company�� market value rose to a record $11.1 billion at the end of last month, narrowing the gap to generator Tractebel Energia SA (TBLE3) to about $360.7 million, data compiled by Bloomberg show. That�� down from $1 billion at the end of last year and $3.89 billion at the start of 2012.
Top 10 Sliver Stocks To Own Right Now: NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NBY)
NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company, engages in the development of various product candidates for the therapeutic needs of the anti-infective market. Its products include Aganocide compounds comprising NVC-422 that are synthetic molecules for the treatment of impetigo and adenoviral conjunctivitis, as well as for reducing the incidence of urinary catheter blockage and encrustation, and the associated urinary tract infections. The company is also involved in developing NeutroPhase, a solution for cleansing and debriding wounds. It has collaboration and license agreement with Galderma S.A. to develop and commercialize its Aganocide compounds, which covers acne, impetigo, and other dermatological conditions. The company was formerly known as NovaCal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and changed its name to NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in February 2007. NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was incorporated in 2000 and is based in Emeryville, California.
Advisors' Opinion: - [By CRWE]
NovaBay(r) Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Amex:NBY), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing its first-in-class, anti-infective Aganocide(r) compounds for the local non-systemic treatment and prevention of infections, reported that Tom Paulson, Chief Financial Officer, will present at the Rodman & Renshaw 14th Annual Healthcare Conference held September 9-11, 2012, in New York, NY.
Top 10 Sliver Stocks To Own Right Now: Ur Energy Inc(URG)
Ur-Energy Inc., an exploration stage junior mining company, engages in the identification, acquisition, evaluation, exploration, and development of uranium mineral properties. The company has 13 projects located in Wyoming and Nebraska, the United States; and 3 exploration projects located in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, Canada. Its landholdings cover approximately 90,000 acres in the United States and approximately 140,000 acres in Canada. The company was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in Littleton, Colorado.
Advisors' Opinion: - [By The Energy Report]
JH: There are several companies that are in production that we follow in the U.S., such as Cameco Corp. (CCJ). Cameco produces at the Smith Ranch-Highland in the Powder River Basin. There's Uranium One, also in the Powder River Basin. There's Uranium Energy Corp. (UEC). A few near-term producers are rapidly coming online. Ur-Energy Inc. (URG) is one company we like in Wyoming.
- [By Bryan Murphy]
If you listened to my bullish calls from December 27th and/or February 24th about Uranerz Energy Corp. (NYSEMKT:URZ), Uranium Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ:URRE), and Ur-Energy Inc. (NYSEMKT:URG), then congratulations - you're now up as much as 50%, depending on when you stepped into a trade, and which stock you chose. Now get out. See, as well as URZ and URG have done and are doing (URRE not so much), it looks like the short-term rally I first spotted a little more than a couple of months ago has fully run its course, and now these names are setting up a pullback.
- [By James E. Brumley]
You know, were it just Uranium Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ:URRE) or just Ur-Energy Inc. (NYSEMKT:URG) or just Uranerz Energy Corp. (NYSEMKT:URZ) making a decided bullish move, I might be able to dismiss it. Similarly, if URZ had only been moving higher for one or two days (or only URG or only URRE), it might be easy to not be impressed. Neither of those situations has been the actual case, however. All three stocks have been moving upward for several days now, quite a bit, on noticeably higher volume. There's something "going on", as it were, and if prior group-wide movements are any clue, it's the kind of move worth tapping into.
- [By James Brumley]
PLAB’s per share income is expected to double next year, from 2013′s profit of 30 cents per share to 60 cents per share in 2014.
Ur-Energy (URG) 12/2 Price: $1.15