PetSmart, Inc.: An Earnings Preview

PetSmart (NASDAQ: PETM  ) will unleash earnings on Monday. Here's what you need to watch for in the company's results.

Earnings expectations
The first issue that needs to be addressed is whether the pet-centric retailer met Wall Street's expectations. Analysts tag profits for PetSmart at $1.22 per share this quarter, down from $1.24 per share one year ago. The company projects its full-year 2013 EPS outlook in the range of $3.88 to $3.98, up from the $3.55 it earned in 2012. I'll be looking to see if the Phoenix-based retailer met its fourth-quarter and full-year 2013 EPS estimates.

Hot Consumer Service Companies To Buy For 2015

Sales growth
PetSmart's sales growth has outpaced the industry, with company net sales having increased more than 8% on average annually from 2008 through 2012. Yet PetSmart's growth rate has since slowed. Last quarter, same-store sales grew 2.7%, compared to 3.4% for Q2 2013. Meanwhile, sales for PetSmart services -- like boarding, training, grooming, and veterinary -- were up 5.2%, down from 7.3% for Q2. For the fourth quarter, PetSmart expects same-store sales growth between 2.5% and 3.5%. I'll be looking for what type of sales growth took place in the fourth quarter and for the full year. Specifically, I'll be watching for where PetSmart achieved growth, be it merchandise sales, sales from services, in-store, and online.

Giant merchants circling the dog park
Mainstream and e-tailing merchants Wal-Mart and Amazon.com have aggressively entered the pet supply market with countless pet products, premium private-label dog food, free shipping, and two-day delivery guarantees. Since 88% of PetSmart's sales are derived from merchandise as opposed to services, these retailing giants could potentially bite into PetSmart's revenues.

Yet PetSmart's strengths lie in its strong brand and differentiation through its service offerings. Services not only drive PetSmart's margins substantially but also provide an in-store customer experience that online competitors can't touch. North America's largest provider of pet services knows this and is quickly growing its service offerings. PetSmart's services sales have grown 63% over the past five years, from $455 million in 2007 to $740 million in 2012.

Foolish final thoughts
With the company returning more than 250% to shareholders over the past five years, PetSmart investors' tails have happily wagged for years. Will PetSmart continue to warm investors' hearts or, instead, offer a cold nose this quarter? Monday's earnings release will give us some indication.

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WhatsApp Deal a Kik for Messaging Startups

NEW YORK (The Deal) -- Facebook's  (FB) blockbuster, $19 billion purchase of WhatsApp has focused attention on the increased value of mobile messaging.

Buying WhatsApp has both offensive and defensive elements, as UBS  (UBS) analyst Eric Sheridan noted. Facebook gains a popular messaging platform with more than 450 million users per month, which Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg said he expects to eventually hit 1 billion.

Zuckerberg also keeps WhatsApp's horde of subscribers out of the hands of competitors such as Yahoo! (YHOO) or Google (GOOG).

A range of global upstarts provide variations of mobile messaging over the Internet. Hong Kong-based Tencent operates messaging apps WeChat and Weixin, the latter focused on the Chinese market. Subscribers can make audio and video calls, and exchange photos. Combined, WeChat and Weixin had more than 270 million users at the close of the third quarter, growing nearly 125% from the same period a year earlier. Tencent, which trades on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, reports fourth-quarter numbers on March 19. Dutch messaging company Nimbuzz has 120 million users and gains 4.5 million per month, according to its website. The company has backing from Mangrove Capital Partners and South African media group Naspers. The company offers free voice and video calls over its broadband app, but charges for calls to phones. Line Corp. of Tokyo has 340 million users for its free call and messaging app and said it expects to reach 500 million users this year. "Line has really been pushing games," SNL Kagan analyst Seth Shafer said. Within the games, users can purchase extra lives, or turns. Line also sells stickers that subscribers use to adorn messages. Some have featured star soccer players in Mexico.

Stock quotes in this article: FB, YHOO, GOOG, ZNGA, QCOM, UBS 

Top 5 Canadian Companies To Own For 2015

Founded in 2009 at the University of Waterloo in Canada, Kik Interactive Inc. has more than 100 million users. The company has integrated a Web browser into its app. Zynga  (ZNGA) has developed some games for the company.

Kik closed a $19.5 million investment in April 2013, and has received funds from Foundation Capital, RRE Ventures, Spark Capital and Union Square Ventures.

Mountain View, Calif., social media company TangoME Inc. has 160 million members for its calling and messaging app. Its backers include Draper Fisher Jurvetson and Qualcomm's (QCOM) venture arm, among others. The company closed a $40 million round in April 2012.

Tango launched a partnership with Spotify AB in Oct. 2013 that allows users to share music. While companies have experimented with games, ads and other ways of monetizing their services, SNL's Shafer noted that only WhatsApp has introduced an annual fee. The introduction of games could make messaging companies attractive to some suitors, he added. The strategy for making money from messaging apps is a work in progress. Still, more deals may follow if Zuckerberg's bold move makes other large Internet groups feel defensive.

Stock quotes in this article: FB, YHOO, GOOG, ZNGA, QCOM, UBS 

5 Best Consumer Service Stocks To Invest In Right Now

Getty Images We all remember the subprime mortgage crisis. The financial system was thrown into chaos, and many homeowners lost their homes during these dark days. Fortunately, the vast powers of the Federal Reserve were summoned to help stabilize the housing market, and along with it, the entire economy. The Fed worked its monetary magic, and the housing market is finally returning to normal. However, there is another crisis brewing just under the economy's surface. The sector this potential crisis is in isn't as large as the subprime mortgage sector, but it's still a $27 billion sector, according to Forbes magazine. In fact, Forbes reports that 1 in 4 Americans may be participants in this potential crisis. Driving Toward a New Economic Cliff I became aware of this potential time bomb last year. A close friend was financially destroyed by the subprime mortgage crisis. He is an investor and was overleveraged on more than a dozen investment properties. He was finally forced to declare bankruptcy to get out from under the mountain of debt. Within a week of the bankruptcy filing, he started getting letters from companies like Wells Fargo (WFC) and General Motors (GM). While my friend was used to getting nasty letters from banks and finance companies, these letters were very different. These were not demand letters challenging his bankruptcy, threatening lawsuits or anything the least bit negative. Believe it or not, these letters were pre-approval letters for auto credit! In fact, one financial company actually sent my bankrupt friend a check for $30,000 to be used at any participating auto dealer for the car of his choice. He took the check and bought a used BMW. I couldn't believe it. Here's a bankrupt guy with a credit score in the low 400s, working a menial labor job, with automobile credit being thrown at him by several large and reputable lenders. These were not the "buy here, pay here" sharks at the corner used-car lot. While I was happy for my friend, I was reminded strongly of the subprime mortgage crisis. Folks with really bad credit and sketchy employment were able to get mortgages that they really couldn't afford during the subprime mortgage crisis. Now the same thing is happening with auto loans. The Numbers Behind the Looming Bust I have started to see more and more advertising for this type of lending, raising the question of whether the subprime auto loan market will explode like the subprime mortgage market. I wondered, if this situation is truly a financial bubble, when will it burst -- and how can I best position myself to profit? After asking these questions, I thought of John Paulson making $3.7 billion during the collapse of the subprime mortgage market. The thought of replicating just a tiny fraction of Paulson's success motivated me to find the answer. Here's what I discovered. Bloomberg has reported the average loan to value, or LTV, for subprime auto loans has increased to 114.5 percent this year from 112 percent in 2010. Loan to value is a measure of the money lent as a percentage of the market value of the asset. A 114.5 percent LTV means that the auto loan is for 14.5 percent more than the actual value of the car. For comparison, the average LTV of subprime auto loans in 2008 maxed out at 121 percent. This increase in LTV is signaling greater competition and a decrease in underwriting guidelines in the subprime auto sector. In other words, more and riskier loans are being made. Subprime auto lender Exeter Finance, recently acquired by the Blackstone Group (BX), has reported an increase in late payments from 5 percent in 2012 to 7.8 percent this year. However, it's important to note that subprime lenders Banco Santander's (SAN) U.S. consumer unit and GM Financial have reported lower loan losses from 2010 loans than losses from loans originated in 2007 and 2008. How to Profit If the Bubble Bursts GM, which is heavily involved in subprime lending, has improved dramatically since its pre-bailout days. The company has posted more than $1 billion in net income in each of the past four quarters. However, 88 percent of GM's North American consumer finance receivables are firmly in the subprime category. In fact, GM listed consumer receivables 31 or more days late at $1.1 billion, a 34 percent increase from last year. Making matters worse, auto dealers with weak financials currently owe GM nearly $1.6 billion, per Bloomberg. This is up from just $12 million, indicating a radical increase. The question is, can GM remain profitable after the U.S. Treasury pulls completely out? Remember, the Treasury Department filed its final plan to close out its GM holdings in September. I think GM made the mistake of placing short-term profits before long-term goals with its aggressive pursuit of highly risky subprime loans. As more and more subprime borrowers default, GM's bottom line will be hurt substantially. No company can withstand massive defaults of loans. The technical picture shows a double top in the $41.50 range on the daily chart. I would not be surprised to see General Motors trading at $28 within the next 15 months.

5 Best Consumer Service Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Soligenix Inc (SNGX.OB)

Soligenix, Inc., incorporated on January 16, 1987, is a development-stage biopharmaceutical company. The Company is focused on developing products to treat the side effects of cancer treatment and gastrointestinal diseases, as well as developing several biodefense vaccines and therapeutics. The Company operates in two business segments: BioTherapeutics and BioDefense. As of December 31, 2011, the Company�� products, which were under development, include orBec, SGX201, SGX203, LPM Leuprolide, ThermoVax, RiVax and SGX202. On September 15, 2011 the Company's Phase III clinical trial for orBec in the treatment of gastrointestinal Graft-versus-Host disease (GI GVHD). In addition, the Company is developing oral BDP in other therapeutic indications, such as pediatric Crohn's disease and radiation enteritis.

BioTherapeutics Overview

The Company's BioTherapeutics business segment focuses to develop orBec (oral beclomethasone dipropionate( oral BDP)) and other biotherapeutic products, while the Company's collaboration partner, Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Sigma-Tau) will commercialize orBec and oral BDP in North America and Europe, if approved. orBec represents a first-of-its-kind oral, locally acting therapy tailored to treat the gastrointestinal manifestation of Graft-versus-Host disease (GVHD). orBec is formulated for oral administration as a single product consist of two tablets. SGX201 is a delayed-release formulation of beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) specifically designed for oral use. SGX203 is a two pill delivery system of a delayed release formulation of BDP specifically designed for oral use that allows for delivery of immediate and delayed release BDP throughout the small bowel and the colon. The Company's Lipid Polymer Micelle (LPM) oral drug delivery system is a platform technology.

Vaccines/BioDefense Overview

The Company's Vaccines/BioDefense business segment includes RiVa x, the Company's ricin toxin vaccine, and SGX204, its anthr! a! x vaccine, and SGX202, its gastrointestinal acute radiation syndrome (GI ARS) program. The Company�� Thermostability technology, ThermoVax, is a method of rendering aluminum salt, Alum, adjuvanted vaccines stable at elevated temperatures. SGX204 is the Company�� acquired vaccine based on a recombinant Protective Antigen (rPA) derivative. RiVax is the Company�� vaccine developed to protect against exposure to ricin toxin. SGX202 is an oral immediate and delayed release formulation of the corticosteroid beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) is being developed for the treatment of GI ARS.

The Company competes with Genzyme, Abgenix, and PDL BioPharma, Inc., Kiadis Pharma, Chiesi Pharmaceuticals, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and PATH, Kansas University Macromolecular and Vaccine Stabilization Center, Variation Biotechnologies, Inc, Emergent BioSolutions, Inc, Pharmathene, Dynavax, Panacea Biotech, Paxvax, Elusys Therapeutics, Pfenex, Compass Biotech, Endo Ph armaceuticals, Human Genome Sciences, Elusys Therapeutics, Medarex, Bavarian Nordic, the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Cleveland Biolabs, Aeolus Pharmaceuticals, Boulder Biotechnology, RxBio, Inc., Exponential Biotherapies Inc., Osiris Therapeutics, Inc., ImmuneRegen BioSciences, Inc., Neumedicines, Inc., Cellerant Therapeutics, Onconova Therapeutics, Inc., Araim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., EVA Pharmaceuticals, Terapio, Cangene Corporation, Humanetics Corporation, the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences Center, Novartis, Medimmune, and Ariad.

5 Best Consumer Service Stocks To Invest In Right Now: The KEYW Holding Corporation(KEYW)

The KEYW Holding Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides mission-critical cybersecurity and cyber superiority solutions to defense, intelligence, and national security agencies in the United States. Its solutions, services, and products support the collection, processing, analysis, and use of intelligence data and information in the domain of cyberspace. The company offers engineering services and solutions to solve discreet and complex cybersecurity, cyber superiority, and intelligence challenges; and specialized training, field support, and test and evaluation services. The KEYW Holding Corporation is also involved in collecting data and information in cyberspace encompassing the entire electromagnetic spectrum; processing data and information from cyberspace to make it accessible to a range of analytical needs and resources; analyzing data and information that is collected, processed, correlated, and made accessible to transform them into usable information for its customers. In addition, it impacts or creates integrated intelligence data and information, which is used in observing, preventing, and responding to known and emerging threat events, actions, and agents in a real time. Further, the company engages in the development, integration, deployment, and sustainment of agile airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance collection platforms to austere environments. Additionally, it develops and sells hardware products to create intelligence insight and capture information that help identify, locate, and monitor activity to its intelligence agency customers. The KEYW Holding Corporation is headquartered in Hanover, Maryland.

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 KEYW Holding (Nasdaq: KEYW  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

• [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 KEYW Holding (Nasdaq: KEYW  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

• [By Seth Jayson]

  KEYW Holding (Nasdaq: KEYW  ) reported earnings on April 30. Here are the numbers you need to know.

  The 10-second takeaway
  For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), KEYW Holding beat expectations on revenues and missed expectations on earnings per share.

Top 5 Low Price Stocks To Invest In 2015: ASHMORE GROUP ORD GBP0.0001 WI(ASHM.L)

Ashmore Group plc is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm through its subsidiaries invests in the public equity, fixed income, and currency markets across the globe. It typically makes its fixed income investments in corporate and external debt. The firm makes its currency investments in domestic currency and domestic currency denominated debt. It also employs a special situation investing approach to invest in corporate restructurings through distressed debt, private and public equity, and equity-linked securities. The firm employs a top down and bottom up approach to make its investments. It obtains external research to compliment its in-house research. Ashmore Group Plc was founded in 1992 and is based in London, United Kingdom.

5 Best Consumer Service Stocks To Invest In Right Now: DiaMedica Inc (DMA.V)

DiaMedica Inc. (DiaMedica) is a development-stage company. The Company is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of drugs for the treatment of diabetes and related diseases. DiaMedica's compound, DM-199, is a recombinant human protein for the treatment of both Type I and Type II diabetes and their complications. DiaMedica is starting a Phase I/II clinical trial for DM-199. DM-199 is a recombinant human protein, which improves glucose control, protects beta cells through the expansion of a population of antigen-specific immunosuppressive cells (Tregs), and proliferates insulin producing beta cells through the activation of certain growth factors. The Company�� DM-204 is a G-protein-coupled receptor agonist (GPCR) monoclonal antibody to treat Type II diabetes and some of the associated complication's. activating a receptor resulted in insulin sensitivity, insulin secretion and vasodilation.

5 Best Consumer Service Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Health Management Associates Inc.(HMA)

Health Management Associates, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the operation of general acute care hospitals and other health care facilities in non-urban communities in the United States. Its hospitals provide services, including general surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics, emergency room care, radiology, oncology, diagnostic care, coronary care, and pediatric services. The company also offers outpatient services, such as one-day surgery, laboratory, x-ray, respiratory therapy, cardiology, and physical therapy. In addition, its hospitals provide specialty services in cardiology, neuro-surgery, oncology, radiation therapy, computer-assisted tomography scanning, magnetic resonance imaging, lithotripsy, and full-service obstetrics. As of December 31, 2011, the company operated 66 hospitals with a total of 10,330 licensed beds in non-urban communities in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and West Virginia. Health Management Associates was founded in 1977 and is based in Naples, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Keith Speights]

  Another potential issue stems from the possibility that hospitals could push doctors in their employment to pump up numbers of admissions and tests. Health Management Associates (NYSE: HMA  ) is under investigation in several states for possible actions including the "medical necessity of emergency room tests and patient admissions." A 60 Minutes story in December focused on some of these alleged admissions issues. The company disputes these accusations.

• [By Lauren Pollock]

  Health Management Associates Inc.(HMA) said its newly constituted board is evaluating its $3.9 billion deal to be acquired by fellow hospital operator Community Health Systems Inc.(CYH) The review comes about a month after hedge fund Glenview Capital Management LLC gained shareholder approval to replace the hospital operator’s entire board. But its agreement earlier this year to be acquired by rival Community Health didn’t appease Glenview, which also is the top shareholder in Community Health.

5 Best Consumer Service Stocks To Invest In Right Now: FirstMerit Corporation(FMER)

FirstMerit Corporation operates as the bank holding company for FirstMerit Bank, N.A. that provides a range of banking, fiduciary, financial, insurance, and investment services to corporate, institutional, and individual customers in northern and central Ohio, and western Pennsylvania. The company?s commercial business offers commercial term loans, revolving credit arrangements, asset-based lending, leasing, commercial mortgages, real estate construction lending, letters of credit, cash management services, and other depository products. Its retail business provides various financial products and services, including consumer direct and indirect installment loans, debit and credit cards, debit gift cards, residential mortgage loans, home equity loans and lines of credit, fixed and variable annuities, and ATM network services, as well as deposit products comprising checking, savings, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit. The company?s wealth business provides a sset management, private banking, financial planning, estate settlement and administration, and credit and deposit products and services. FirstMerit Corporation also offers trust and investment services, including personal trust and planning, and investment management; retirement plan services; retail mutual funds, other securities, variable and fixed annuities, personal disability and life insurance products, and brokerage services; and private banking services, including credit, deposit, and asset management solutions. As of December 31, 2009, it operated a network of 160 full service banking offices and 182 ATMs. The company was founded in 1855 and is headquartered in Akron, Ohio.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tim Melvin]

  The year ahead should be a great one for the smaller bank stocks. Larger regionals like Huntington Bancorp (HBAN) and Capital Ban Financial (CBF) have made it clear they intend to grow by acquisition in the years ahead. Banks like First Merit (FMER) and First Merchants (FRME) have done deals in the past year and are open to doing more to increase their market share and footprints. This should be the year the floodgates open and we see the first wave of merger activity in small banks.

5 Best Consumer Service Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Baxano Surgical Inc (BAXS.W)

Baxano Surgical Inc, formerly TranS1 Inc., incorporated in May 2000, is a medical device company focused on designing, developing and marketing products that implement its approach to treat degenerative conditions of the spine affecting the lower lumbar region. It develops its pre-sacral approach to allow spine surgeons to access and treat intervertebral spaces without compromising important surrounding soft tissue, nerves and bone structures. As of December 31, 2011, the Company was marketing the AxiaLIF family of products for single and multilevel lumbar fusion, the Vectre and Avatar lumbar posterior fixation systems and Bi-Ostetic bone void filler, a biologics product. All of the Company�� AxiaLIF products are delivered using its pre-sacral approach. It generates revenue from the sales of itsimplants and disposable surgical instruments. It has two distinct sales methods. The first method is when implants and/or disposable surgical instruments are sold directly to h ospitals or surgical centers for the purpose of conducting a scheduled surgery. In November 2011, the Company launched its VEO Lateral Access and Interbody Fusion System.

The Company sells its products directly to hospitals and surgical centers in the United States and certain European countries, and to independent distributors elsewhere. The Company also markets its products at various industry conferences and through industry organized surgical training course. The Company has developed and markets two fusion products that are delivered using its pre-sacral approach include AxiaLIF 1L and AxiaLIF 2L+. Its products include surgical instruments for creating an access route to the L4/L5/S1 vertebral bodies, fusion implants, as well as supplemental stabilization products.

AxiaLIF Lumbar Fusion Implants

The Company markets AxiaLIF family of products for single and two level lumbar fusion, the VEO lateral access and interbody fusion system , the Vectre and Avatar posterior fixation systems and Bi-! Os! tetic bone void filler, a biologics product. The Company also market products that may be used with its AxiaLIF surgical approach, including bowel retractors, a bone graft harvesting system and additional discectomy tools. Its AxiaLIF implants and instruments, combined with facet screws or pedicle screws, provide surgeons with the tools necessary to perform a lumbar fusion.

The Company's AxiaLIF 1L and AxiaLIF 2L+ implants are threaded titanium rods, that come in varying lengths to enable one-level L5/S1 fusions and two-level L4/L5/S1 fusions. As they are implanted, its design allows for the separation of the vertebrae to restore disc height.

VEO Lateral Access and Interbody Fusion System

This system features a two-stage retraction method that focuses on nerve visualization followed by controlled retraction. The VEO Lateral System is designed for direct visualization of the psoas muscles and adjacent nerves prior to muscle dissection, and features a full range of PEEK lateral interbody implants and a variety of ergonomic instruments.

TranS1 Access and Disc Preparation Instruments

The Company�� pre-sacral approach requires the use of a sterile set of surgical instruments that are used to create a safe and reproducible working channel and to prepare the disc and vertebrae for its implant. The instrumentation contained in the set includes stainless steel navigation tools and tubular dissectors to create the working channel, as well as nitinol cutters and brushes to cut and remove the degenerated disc material and prepares the disc space for its implant and the bone graft material.

Vectre Facet Screw System

The Company's Vectre facet screw system offers a cannulated facet screw inserted over a guidewire to provide stability while reducing the muscle and tissue trauma associated with conventional pedicle screws. The Vectre system features offer a reproducib le posterior fixation option in select patients.

!

! AVATAR ! Pedicle Screw System

In January 2010, the Company entered into an agreement to distribute Avatar, a pedicle screw system. Avatar can be used with or without its implants to provide lumbar posterior fixation. The AVATAR MIS System offers cannulated pedicle screws inserted over a guidewire to reduce muscle and tissue trauma. Extended tabs integrated to the screws provide a pathway for implantation of the rod while minimizing tissue dissection.

Bi-Ostetic Bone Void Filler

In February 2010, TranS1 entered into an agreement to sell Bi-Ostetic, an osteoconductive bone substitute. Bi-Ostetic is an alternative to allografts or cadaver bone. The spongy granules are bioceramics with interconnected porosity that mimic the cancellous bone structure.

Iliac Crest Bone Graft Harvesting System

The Company�� Iliac Crest Bone Graft Harvesting System is developed to aid surgeons in harvesting iliac crest autograft via a minimal ly invasive approach. Use of autograft, which is osteogenic, osteoinductive and osteoconductive, further improves the chances of fusion success. It provides structural support as well as scaffolding for new bone growth.

The Company competes with Medtronic Sofamor Danek, Johnson & Johnson DePuy Spine, Stryker Spine, NuVasive, Zimmer Spine, Synthes, Orthofix International, Globus Medical and Alphatec Spine.

5 Best Consumer Service Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Rye Patch Gold Corp (RPM.V)

Rye Patch Gold Corp., an exploration stage company, engages in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties in Nevada, the United States. The company primarily explores for gold and silver deposits. It holds interests in the Wilco, Lincoln Hill/Gold Ridge, Jessup, Patty, Garden Gate Pass, and South Coal Canyon projects covering an area of approximately 175 square kilometers located in Nevada. Rye Patch Gold Corp. was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

5 Best Consumer Service Stocks To Invest In Right Now: London Stock Exchange(LSE.L)

London Stock Exchange Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the admission of securities to trading; the delivery of trading systems; clearing and settlement of trading in securities; the organization and regulation of markets in securities; and the provision of real time data and other information products, and technology services. It operates in four segments: Capital Markets, Post Trade Services, Information Services, and Technology Services. The Capital Markets segment facilitates the companies to raise capital, including equity and debt, as well as provides liquid secondary markets for the trading. This segment operates through the Main Market, which offers listing and trading of equity, debt, and other securities; AIM, an equities market for smaller growing companies; Professional Securities Market that provides listing of debt and depository receipts to professional investors; and Specialist Fund Market that provides listing of specialized investment funds. It has 2,938 companies listed or admitted on its markets. The Post Trade Services segment provides various risk management and trade processing services to ensure the completion of trades and custody of assets. It also offers clearing, settlement, and custody services for equity, derivative, and fixed income securities on various platforms and for over the counter products. The Information Services segment provides real time data and other information products, including reference data, indices and desktop solutions for trading participants and investors. The Technology Services segment ensures speed, performance, security, and flexibility of trading, as well as sells systems to third parties. It also offers technology connections and data centre services for clients as well as technology and enterprise services sales to third parties worldwide. London Stock Exchange Group plc was founded in 1698 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

5 Best Consumer Service Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA)

Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) is a government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) chartered by the United States Congress to support liquidity and stability in the secondary mortgage market, where mortgage-related assets are purchased and sold. The Company�� activities include providing market liquidity by securitizing mortgage loans originated by lenders in the primary mortgage market into Fannie Mae mortgage-backed securities (Fannie Mae MBS), and purchasing mortgage loans and mortgage-related securities in the secondary market for its mortgage portfolio. Fannie Mae operates in three business segments: Single-Family business, Multifamily Business (formerly Housing and Community Development (HCD)) and Capital Markets group. Its Single-Family Credit Guaranty and Multifamily businesses work with its lender customers to purchase and securitize mortgage loans customers deliver to the Company into Fannie Mae MBS.

The Company obtains funds to support its business activities by issuing a variety of debt securities in the domestic and international capital markets. Fannie Mae acquires funds to purchase mortgage-related assets for its mortgage portfolio by issuing a variety of debt securities in the domestic and international capital markets. It also makes other investments. Fannie Mae conducts its business in the United States residential mortgage market and the global securities market. It conducts business in the United States residential mortgage market and the global securities market. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company��

Single-Family Business

Single-Family business includes mortgage securitizations, mortgage acquisitions, credit risk management and credit loss management. Single-Family business works with the Company�� lender customers to provide funds to the mortgage market by securitizing single-family mortgage loans into Fannie Mae MBS. Its Single-Family business also works with its Capital Markets group to facilitate the pu! rchase of single-family mortgage loans for the Company�� mortgage portfolio. Fannie Mae�� Single-Family business prices and manages the credit risk on its single-family guaranty book of business, which consists of single-family mortgage loans underlying Fannie Mae MBS and single-family loans held in its mortgage portfolio. Single-Family business and Capital Markets group securitize and purchase primarily single-family fixed-rate or adjustable-rate, first lien mortgage loans, or mortgage-related securities backed by these types of loans.

The Company securitizes or purchases loans insured by Federal Housing Administration (FHA), loans guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and loans guaranteed by the Rural Development Housing and Community Facilities Program of the Department of Agriculture, manufactured housing loans, reverse mortgage loans, multifamily mortgage loans, subordinate lien mortgage loans and other mortgage-related securities. Its Single-Family business securitizes single-family mortgage loans and issues single-class Fannie Mae MBS. Fannie Mae�� Single-Family business securitizes loans solely in lender swap transactions, in which lenders deliver pools of mortgage loans to the Company, which are placed immediately in a trust, in exchange for Fannie Mae MBS backed by these loans. Generally, the servicing of the mortgage loans held in its mortgage portfolio or that backs its Fannie Mae MBS is performed by mortgage servicers on the Company�� behalf. Lenders who sell single-family mortgage loans to Fannie Mae service these loans for the Company. For loans it owns or guarantees, the lender or servicer must obtain its approval before selling servicing rights to another servicer.

Fannie Mae�� mortgage servicers collect and deliver principal and interest payments, administer escrow accounts, monitor and report delinquencies, perform default prevention activities, evaluate transfers of ownership interests, respond to requests for partial releases of s! ecurity, ! and handle proceeds from casualty and condemnation losses. Its mortgage servicers are the primary point of contact for borrowers and perform implementation of its homeownership assistance initiatives, negotiation of workouts of troubled loans, and loss mitigation activities. Mortgage servicers also inspect and preserve properties and process foreclosures and bankruptcies.

Multifamily Mortgage Business

Multifamily business works with the Company�� lender customers to provide funds to the mortgage market by securitizing multifamily mortgage loans into Fannie Mae MBS. Through its Multifamily business, Fannie Mae provides liquidity and support to the United States multifamily housing market principally by purchasing or securitizing loans that finance multifamily rental housing properties. It also provides some limited debt financing for other acquisition, development, construction and rehabilitation activity related to projects that complement this business. Fannie Mae�� Multifamily business also works with its Capital Markets group to facilitate the purchase and securitization of multifamily mortgage loans and securities for Fannie Mae�� portfolio, as well as to facilitate portfolio securitization and resecuritization activities.

The Company�� multifamily guaranty book of business consists of multifamily mortgage loans underlying Fannie Mae MBS and multifamily loans and securities held in Fannie Mae�� mortgage portfolio. Revenues for Fannie Mae�� Multifamily business are derived from a variety of sources, including guaranty fees received as compensation for assuming the credit risk on the mortgage loans underlying multifamily Fannie Mae MBS and on the multifamily mortgage loans held in its portfolio and on other mortgage-related securities; transaction fees associated with the multifamily business, and other bond credit enhancement related fees. As with the servicing of single-family mortgages, multifamily mortgage servicing is performed by the lenders who! sell the! mortgages to the Company. Fannie Mae�� Multifamily business is organized and operated as an integrated commercial real estate finance business.

Capital Markets

Capital Markets group's primary business activities include mortgage and other investments, mortgage securitizations, structured mortgage securitizations and other customer services, and interest rate risk management. Capital Markets group manages the Company�� investment activity in mortgage-related assets and other interest-earning, non-mortgage investments. It funds its investments primarily through proceeds the Company receives from the issuance of debt securities in the domestic and international capital markets. Its business activity is focused on making short-term use of its balance sheet rather than long-term investments. Activities Fannie Mae is undertaking to provide liquidity to the mortgage market include whole loan conduit, early funding, real estate mortgage investment conduit (REMICs) and other structured securitizations and dollar roll transactions. Whole loan conduit activities include its purchase of both single-family and multifamily loans principally for the purpose of securitizing them. During the year ended December 31, 2010, it was engaged in dollar roll activity. A dollar roll transaction is a commitment to purchase a mortgage-related security with a concurrent agreement to re-sell a similar security at a later date or vice versa.

Fannie Mae�� Capital Markets group is engaged in issuing both single-class and multi-class Fannie Mae MBS through both portfolio securitizations and structured securitizations involving third party assets. Its Capital Markets group creates single-class and multi-class Fannie Mae MBS from mortgage-related assets held in its mortgage portfolio. Fannie Mae�� Capital Markets group may sell these Fannie Mae MBS into the secondary market or may retain the Fannie Mae MBS in its investment portfolio. The Company�� Capital Markets group creates single-clas! s and mul! ti-class structured Fannie Mae MBS, for its lender customers or securities dealer customers, in exchange for a transaction fee. The Company�� Capital Markets group provides its lender customers and their affiliates with services that include offering to purchase a range of mortgage assets, including non-standard mortgage loan products; segregating customer portfolios to obtain optimal pricing for their mortgage loans, and assisting customers with hedging their mortgage business.

Although the Company�� Capital Markets group�� business activities are focused on short-term financing and investing, revenue from its Capital Markets group is derived primarily from the difference, or spread, between the interests it earns on its mortgage and non-mortgage investments and the interest it incurs on the debt the Company issues to fund these assets. Its Capital Markets revenues are primarily derived from the Company�� mortgage asset portfolio. Capital Markets group funds its investments primarily through the issuance of a variety of debt securities in a range of maturities in the domestic and international capital markets. Investors in the Company�� debt securities include commercial bank portfolios and trust departments, investment fund managers, insurance companies, pension funds, state and local governments, and central banks.

The Company competes with Freddie Mac, FHA and Ginnie Mae.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Shayndi Raice]

  The Department of Justice and Bank of America(BAC) will go head-to-head Tuesday morning as the government attempts to hold the bank liable for allegedly misrepresenting the quality of loans sold to mortgage-finance firms Fannie Mae(FNMA) and Freddie Mac(FMCC).

• [By Sue Chang]

  On Friday, the Journal reported that the bank agreed to pay roughly $4 billion to the Federal Housing Finance Agency to settle claims that it misled Fannie Mae (FNMA) and Freddie Mac (FMCC) �about the quality of loans sold to them ahead of the 2008 financial crisis.

5 Best Consumer Service Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Malbex Resources Inc(MBG.V)

Malbex Resources Inc., an exploration stage company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of precious metal projects in Argentina and Peru. The company primarily explores for gold and silver. Its principal property includes Del Carmen project that covers approximately 15,129 hectares located near the southern end of the El Indio Gold Belt, Argentina. The company is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

Comcast's Big Buy Is Great for Time Warner Shareholders but Bad for Everybody Else

If you don't like your cell phone service, you can usually switch, and aggressive competition that includes a promise by two major carriers to pay your contract termination fees has made this easier than ever. If you don't like your bank, there are probably a dozen within driving distance that would be happy to have you. Don't like the airline you flew on for your last vacation? Just book with someone else next time.

But if you don't like your cable TV or Internet provider (and in many cases these services are bundled by the same company), you're pretty much stuck with it. Since these services are necessarily limited by the reach of their service network, the best way for big cable companies to grow in recent years has been to simply buy smaller cable companies.

The limit of that consolidation might finally be tested by last night's news that Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA  ) (NASDAQ: CMCSK  ) has made an offer to buy Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC  ) for $45.2 billion. According to Reuters, the new company would boast roughly 30 million video subscribers after divesting about 3 million. That's more than half of the 56.4 million American cable video subscribers last reported by the National Cable and Telecommunications Association (NCTA), and it's still about a third of the total pay-TV market when DISH Network's 20 million subscribers and DirecTV's 14 million subscribers are added to the tally.

Here's how the new Comcast Time Warner would stack up on the NCTA's rankings:

Create Infographics.

The new Comcast Time Warner would also have more high-speed Internet subscribers than it would cable subscribers, barring other divestitures, which would give it a nearly 40% share of all American broadband subscriptions. This is worse for consumers and for the country than Comcast Time Warner's sizable control of the country's cable pipes, as I'll soon explain:

Create Infographics.

This sort of dominance over two major parts of the American telecom landscape is perhaps matched by the market share of the Big Two wireless carriers -- Verizon (NYSE: VZ  ) and AT&T (NYSE: T  ) each controls about a third of all American wireless subscriptions -- but it's more dangerous now in light of the recent net neutrality rulings that now allow broadband Internet providers to restrict subscriber access to various sites and services by slowing down speeds or even blocking access entirely.

Comcast Time Warner, separately or together, has already been fighting a losing battle against streaming video and satellite service as a cable company, since industrywide subscriptions have actually declined by more than 15% since peaking in 2001. However, Internet service provider Comcast Time Warner would have unprecedented leverage over its online-based cable competitors now that it can legally prioritize some streams of data over others.

And don't expect Comcast Time Warner to suddenly start caring about customer complaints if its merger passes regulatory muster, either. Both companies have been perennial contenders for "Worst Company in America" or "Worst Customer Service" (these awards should be largely interchangeable), no mean feat in an industry that often gets one of the lowest positive scores from American consumers. Last year, Gallup found that the airline and advertising industries both had better public perceptions than the television sector. That $1.5 billion in "operating savings" Comcast is looking to find in the acquisition? It's probably just another way to say that customer service will get even slower and less effective as the company trims its new roster.

Comcast Time Warner's dominance of both the cable and broadband Internet markets might be enough to block the combination, but it's difficult to say which way telecom regulators will sway this time. There are more mid-tier and smaller-scale cable and Internet competitors than there are wireless competitors for Verizon and AT&T, and there's not much geographic overlap between Comcast and Time Warner today, so most customers would see little difference in their (strained) interactions with an amalgamated company.

However, further consolidation in the upper echelons of America's cable and Internet industries would undoubtedly be bad for consumers over the long run if larger providers achieve greater levels of control over what its subscribers can access. Millions of Comcast and Time Warner subscribers can already attest to the frustration of dealing with the companies for even mundane matters, and a larger Comcast would have little impetus to give its locked-in user base better service. Should one company control so much of the nation's Internet access? We're likely to find out what regulators think soon enough.

Who can still win in the post-cable era?
You know cable's going away. But do you know how to profit? There's $2.2 trillion out there to be had. Currently, cable grabs a big piece of it. That won't last. And when cable falters, three companies are poised to benefit. Click here for their names. Hint: They're not Netflix, Google, and Apple.

Tom Perkins: Taxes will lead to 'economic extinction' of the 1%

Fortune's Adam Lashinsky and Tom Perkins during an appearance Thursday in San Francisco.

SAN FRANCISCO (CNNMoney) Tom Perkins -- venture capitalist and co-founder of the VC firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers -- spoke with Fortune's Adam Lashinsky at San Francisco's Commonwealth Club Thursday night.

The event, entitled "The War on the 1%," focused on the issue of income inequality. Perkins, 82, not only revealed his opinions on social, fiscal, and monetary policy, but he also clarified his views on how taxes are being used as a weapon against the wealthy 1% as a whole.

Perkins' infamous Jan. 24 letter to the editor published in the Wall Street Journal compared modern discrimination against America's rich to Nazi Germany's treatment of the Jews. He also claimed that the 1% currently faces a "rising tide of hatred" akin to Kristallnacht. He has since apologized for his extreme comparison, and he said at the event, "Kristallnacht should never have been used. The Holocaust is incomparable." However, Perkins maintained his stance that the wealthy are persecuted, particularly in San Francisco where the Occupy movement, outrage over city gentrification, and protests against Google employee buses illustrate a "demonization of the rich."

Ultimately, the biggest issue Perkins claimed to have with the treatment of the 1% is taxes. "I wouldn't say taxation is a form of persecution," he said. "But the extreme progressivism of the tax system is." He cited statistics about the tax contributions that wealthy Americans make -- including that the top 1% pays more taxes than the bottom 90% combined --and said that the top 1% is carrying the government. "Government is a giant beast that has to be fed, and it's fed with taxes," he said. "And taxes will go up and up and up."

Perkins pegged the problem of the American taxation system on failures in social, fiscal, and monetary policy. The income gap has roots in the War on Poverty, Perkins said, which he wished "had not been such a fiasco." He blamed Lyndon B. Johnson's social programs for an increase in out-of-wedlock birthrates and low-income single parent households. Fiscally, Perkins said that the government spends too much money on entitlement programs, an issue highlighted by the debt that the U.S. accrues as a result. "We're on a knife edge with this incredible debt that can't be paid back," Perkins said. Finally, Perkins views on monetary policy were that historically low interest rates have led to a boom in tech startups. Which, according to Perkins, is a bad thing. "An incredible amount o! f money has flowed into venture capital," he said. So, when students drop out of college and move to Silicon Valley to start companies or design software, "There's so much money [in Silicon Valley], that they can keep failing and failing, so they aren't learning in college anymore."

  The $350k watch worth 69 Rolexes

Up until the evening of the event -- which Perkins said offstage will probably be his last -- the series of dramatic exchanges between Perkins and the press led Kleiner Perkins and other venture capitalists to distance themselves from his inflammatory statements. "Tom Perkins has not been involved in KPCB in years," Kleiner Perkins tweeted after the letter was published. "We were shocked by his views expressed today in the WSJ and do not agree." Perkins was disappointed by KPCB's response. "They could have chosen not to say anything, but instead they threw me under the bus," he said at the event.

When challenged to say, in 60 seconds, how he would change the world, Perkins made a playfully controversial response. He suggested that, in the tradition of Thomas Jefferson's voting land owners and Margaret Thatcher's idea of only allowing taxpayers to vote, "The Tom Perkins system is: you don't get the vote if you don't pay a dollar in taxes. But what I really think is it should be like a corporation. You pay a million dollars, you get a million votes. How's that?" To which the audience responded with laughter. Perkins later said offstage that what he meant was that, with 50% of registered U.S. voters not paying taxes, "we got ourselves into a mess."

Though Perkins apologized for the use of his Holocaust analogy, he did circle back to the reason for his original thinking at the event. "I think the parallel holds," he said. "The typical Germa! n had nev! er met a Jew." To which Lashinsky suggested, "So perhaps the typical Occupy protester has never met someone who rides a Google bus."

The last question an audience member asked at the end of the event was what the 1% fears. While the Jews of Nazi Germany feared deportation and extermination, what was it that made Perkins afraid of "the war on the 1%?"

Perkins said the fear is higher taxes until there is no 1%. "It's an economic extinction, not a physical one."

Gold’s prospects in 2014 look tarnished

Bloomberg Gold futures prices fell 28% in 2013, their first yearly loss in 13 years.

The story was originally published on Dec. 20. It has been updated to reflect year-end data.

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — The year 2013 put an end to a dozen years of annual gold gains, and the metal's prospects for recovery in 2014 don't look great.

Gold futures prices (GCG4)  lost 28% in 2013, the first yearly loss since 2000 and the largest annual loss for gold futures since at least 1984, according to FactSet data tracking the most active contracts.

It's a tough reversal for investors who hung onto the precious metal in hopes the forces that increased gold prices by seven times by its peak in 2011 from late 2000 — the popularity of gold-backed exchange-traded funds, rising global wealth and worries about inflation — would stoke demand for the natural resource for decades to come.

Enlarge Image

"Gold has lost its luster as an investment vehicle in 2013," said Jeffrey Wright, managing director at H.C. Wainwright.

Gold traders and investors spent much of the year fretting over the question of if and when the Federal Reserve would begin to taper its $85 billion-a-month asset-purchase program and they clung onto comments from Fed officials and mulled economic data for hints on the answer.

"The ghost of tapering has been there from March 2013," said Chintan Karnani, chief market analyst at Insignia Consultants.

On Dec. 18, it came to life. The Fed announced it will reduce the pace of its asset purchases to $75 billion from $85 billion a month starting in January — and if the economy improves at the pace the Fed expects, Chairman Ben Bernanke said he could foresee the bond-purchase program coming to an end by late next year.

MarketWatch Special Report: Investing in 2014 » • 10 money-making investment ideas for 2014
• What the big money is betting on in 2014
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• Sidelined? Here's how to get back into market
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By the next day's close, prices lost over 3% to finish at a more than three-year low under $1,200 an ounce. The metal stayed near that level through the month's end, settling Tuesday at $1,202.30 an ounce.

Less money-printing "theoretically leads to less dilution of the U.S. dollar, which theoretically leads to less inflation, which logically would be bad for gold," which is seen as a hedge against inflation, Adam Koos, president of Libertas Wealth Management Group, explained.

"Unfortunately for gold bulls, there is no bottom in sight from a technical viewpoint, so what looked like a bottom-forming range has now broken out to the downside," said Koos. "Gold buyers should wait till early-to-mid January and take a look at the picture then before they consider opening position at this point."

An 'extraordinary' 2013

The year 2013 certainly started out with promise — and expectations for $2,000 gold prices — but ended with forecasts for declines to $1,000 in the new year.

It was an "extraordinary year for gold," said Julian Phillips, founder of and contributor to GoldForecaster.com.

"It started well with demand from Asia rising nicely, but then the prospects of stronger economic growth in the U.S. caused U.S. institutional gold investors to see the potential for greater profits in equities," he said. Losses for gold futures in 2013 compare with a yearly gain in the S&P 500 (SPX) of 29.6%.

The year 2013 was also a year that gold reacted "negatively to positive news," said Insignia's Karnani. "Gold should have risen in 2013 on tapering uncertainty," but instead they fell, he said.

Gold prices also continued to fall during the U.S. government shutdown in October, which should have resulted in higher gold prices, he said. "If gold prices cannot rise on a [price] positive set of news flows, investors ought to be concerned over gold investment and they will be churning their portfolio for better returns."

3 Reasons RadioShack Is a Value Trap

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Actions always speak louder than words.

That is especially true when it is a retailer slamming the doors shut on about 500 stores, as RadioShack (RSH) is doing. For those looking to profit, it will be almost impossible to find any shares of RadioShack to short as the float is already over 45%, according to Yahoo! Finance.

For those considering going long on RadioShack, don't.  RadioShack is a classic value trap, not a value play.

As detailed in a previous article, the retail sector is filled with value traps such as Sears Holding (SHLD), J.C. Penney (JCP) and Bon-Ton Stores (BONT).

A value trap is company that looks to be undervalued due to how low the stock is trading on a price-to-book and price-to-sales ratio. With a price-to-sales ratio of 0.06 and a price-to-book ratio of 0.57, RadioShack certainly appears to be a value play. But those ratios are not a result of the market inefficiently pricing RadioShack. Its sales are plunging. Sales growth for the past five years was flat. Quarterly sales growth is down by 10.30%. Same-store sales are down 8.4% for the most recent quarter. There is no missing value in the sales aspects of RadioShack as it is clearly on a downward trend for sales, which is the lifeblood of a retailer. Another reason this is a value trap: The assets are not undervalued. As with many other retailers, the real estate of RadioShack has been touted as being valuable. It is not. There is one billion square feet of vacant real estate in the United States, according to Urban Land Magazine. Sears has 118 closed stores already available. J.C. Penney recently announced that more stores were being closed. Dots LLC, a fashion retailer, just filed for bankruptcy and is trying find a buyer for more than 400 stores. Now add 500 additional stores from RadioShack to that pile of empty brick and mortar. Finally, RadioShack is a horrible business enterprise with no upside. It is losing money with a negative profit margin of 7.20%. There is a huge debt load that has to be paid from the falling sales that lose money, too. The debt-to-equity ratio for RadioShack is 1.27. That means that it required $1.27 in borrowing to create every dollar in equity. The return on equity for RadioShack is a negative 52.80%, so heaping on that debt was hardly in the best interest of the shareholders! When the share price jumps -- as it did Monday after its successful Super Bowl commercial -- those long should sell. If that somehow provides an opportunity to short, do it. RadioShack has 100.1 million shares outstanding with $3.13 in cash per share on the books. At present, according to Finviz, its income is a negative $263.90 million. This does not leave RadioShack with much time before its cash runs out, especially when it is losing money with falling sales and a ton of debt. At the time of publication the author had no position in any of the stocks mentioned. This article represents the opinion of a contributor and not necessarily that of TheStreet or its editorial staff.

Stock quotes in this article: RSH, SHLD, BONT, JCP 

Top 10 New Stocks To Invest In Right Now

In the following video segment, author Debra Kaye discusses her new book, Red Thread Thinking. She explains how companies such as Whole Foods Market and Patagonia are able to make their products stand out from the crowd and communicate their differences effectively. The full version of the interview can be found here.

A transcript follows the video.

If you're looking for a great stock idea, The Motley Fool's chief investment officer has selected his No. 1 stock for the next year. Find out which stock it is in the brand-new free report: "The Motley Fool's Top Stock for 2013." Just click here to access the report and find out the name of this under-the-radar company.

Brendan Byrnes: One of the things you talk about in the book also is getting your products to stand out. How can companies best do that, and maybe some examples of companies that are doing a great job?

Debra Kaye: The way you get your product to stand out is, first of all, innovation. Your product has to have a point of difference. It can't just be marketing.

Top 10 New Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Solar Power Inc (SOPW.PK)

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 tha t 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 10 New Stocks To Invest In Right Now: WaterFurnace Renewable Energy Inc (WFIFF)

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 Penny Companies To Own For 2014: Osage Exploration and Development Inc (OEDV)

Osage Exploration and Development, Inc. (Osage) is an oil and natural gas exploration and production company with reserves and production in the country of Colombia and the state of Oklahoma. The Company�� pipeline is located in Colombia. The Companys focuses on developing its 28,000-acre Horizontal Mississippian block along the Nemaha Ridge in Logan County, Oklahoma, with their partners Slawson Exploration, and U.S. Energy Development Corp. The Company generates oil sales from its production operations in Colombia and in the state of Oklahoma and pipeline revenues from its Cimarrona property in Colombia. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company drilled two salt water disposal wells and commenced drilling the Wolfe#1-29H, the Company�� horizontal Mississippian well in Logan County, Oklahoma. In January 2012, the Company began drilling the Krittenbrink 2-36H, the Company�� second well in Logan County.

The Company�� subsidiary, Cimarrona LLC, owns a 9.4% interest in certain oil and gas assets in the Guaduas field, located in the Dindal and Rio Seco Blocks that consist of 21 wells, of which seven are producing, that covers 30,665-acres in the Middle Magdalena Valley in Colombia, as well as a pipeline with a capacity of approximately 30,000 barrels of oil per day. The Cimarrona property, but not the pipeline, is subject to an Ecopetrol Association Contract (the Association Contract) whereby the Company pays Ecopetrol S.A. (Ecopetrol) royalties of 20% of the oil produced.

The Company has acquired oil and gas leases in Logan County, Oklahoma targeting the Mississippian formation. The Mississippian formation is located on the Anadarko Shelf in northern Oklahoma and south-central Kansas. The top of this expansive carbonate hydrocarbon system is encountered between 4,000 and 6,000 feet and lies stratigraphically between the Pennsylvanian-aged Morrow Sand and the Devonian-aged Woodford Shale formations. The Mississippian formation reach 600 feet in gross thickness a! nd the targeted porosity zone is between 50 and 300 feet in thickness. The Company owns 100% of the working interest in certain producing oil and natural gas leases located in Osage County, Oklahoma (Hopper Property). The Property consists of 23 wells, 10 of which are producing wells, on 480 acres.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By CRWE]

  Today, OEDV surged (+1.96%) up +0.03 at $1.56 with 178,129 shares in play thus far (ref. google finance Delayed: 12:28PM EDT August 30, 2013).

  Osage Exploration and Development, Inc. previously reported preliminary production results on the Mallard 1-16H Horizontal Mississippian well in Logan County, Oklahoma. The well, located in Section 16-17N-3W, achieved a 24-hour peak initial production rate of 705 barrels of oil plus associated natural gas on an electric submersible pump and a 48/64��choke.

• [By CRWE]

  Today, OEDV surged (+6.78%) up +0.08 at $1.26 with 39,220 shares in play thus far (ref. google finance Delayed: 11:56AM EDT August 22, 2013).

  Osage Exploration and Development, Inc. previously reported financial results for the three months ended June 30, 2013 and provided an update on field operations. For the quarter, the Company reported a 75.8% increase in revenues of $2.4 million compared to the same period in 2012, and operating income of $1.2 million versus a loss of $274,563 for the period ending June 30, 2012.

  Osage participated in drilling ten wells during the second quarter, bringing the total number of wells in which Osage has an interest to twenty-nine as of June 30, 2013. Additionally, the Company reported average daily production roughly in-line with first quarter production.

Top 10 New Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Lustros Inc (LSTS)

Lustros, Inc., incorporated on July 30, 1980, is a development-stage company. The Company manufactures copper sulfate from traditional mining and leftover tailings. The Company's manufacturing facilities are located in Chile, South America. In October 2013, Lustros Inc announced that its subsidiary, Sulfatos Chile SA, completed its first sale of Pentahyrdate Copper Sulfate.

On June 25, 2012, the Company created a new subsidiary, Mineraltus S.A. (Mineraltus). The Company owns 80% interest of Mineraltus. On August 22, 2012, the Company formed Lustros Chile SpA as a 100% owned subsidiary. On March 25, 2012, the Company sold the assets (including the Power-Save name) of its renewable energy and energy savings product business.

Top 10 New Stocks To Invest In Right Now: New Energy Technologies Inc (NENE.PK)

New Energy Technologies, Inc., incorporated on May 5, 1998, is a development-stage company. The Company is engaged in renewable and alternative energy business. The Company conducts its operations through two wholly owned subsidiaries: Kinetic Energy Corporation (KEC), Sungen Energy, Inc. and New Energy Solar Corporation (New Energy Solar). The Company focuses on the development of two technologies: MotionPower Technology for capturing the kinetic energy of moving vehicles to generate electricity, and SolarWindow Technology, which enables see-through glass windows to generate electricity by spraying glass surfaces with its electricity-generating coatings to their glass surface. It has filed 10 patent applications for inventions related to its MotionPower Technology and one for its SolarWindow Technology. As of June 21, 2012, it had no commercial products. As of June 21, 2012, the Company had no revenues.

SolarWindow

The Company�� SolarWindow products in development are designed to generate electricity on glass while remaining see-through. It has six product development goals for its SolarWindow technology: SolarWindow - Commercial, which is a flat glass product for installation in new commercial towers under construction and replacement windows; SolarWindow - Structural Glass, which is a structural glass walls and curtains for tall structures; SolarWindow - Architectural Glass, which is a textured and decorative interior glass walls and room dividers; SolarWindow - Residential, which is a window glass for installation in residential homes under construction and replacement windows; SolarWindow - Flex , which is a film which may be applied directly onto glass, similar to aftermarket window tint films, for retrofit to existing commercial towers, buildings, and residential homes; and SolarWindow - BIPV, which is a building product components associated with building-integrated-photovoltaic (BIPV) applications in h omes, buildings, and office towers.

MotionPowe! r!

MotionPower products are designed to generate electricity from the capture and conversion of available kinetic energy into electricity, which is present in vehicles which are slowing down before stopping. It is developing three MotionPower products: MotionPower - Heavy, which is a fluid-driven, system with limited moving mechanical components for installation at sites where big rigs, such as tractor trailers, buses, and commercial vehicles are traveling at below 15 miles per hour and are in the process of slowing down; MotionPower - Auto, which is a fluid-driven, system similar to MotionPower - Heavy for installation at sites where cars and light-duty trucks, such as sport utility vehicles and automobiles, are traveling at below 15 miles per hour and are in the process of slowing down; and MotionPower - Express, which is a mechanical system for installation at sites where all cars, light-duty trucks, motor homes, buses, big rigs, and commercial vehicles are tra veling faster than 15 miles per hour and are in the process of slowing down.

The Company competes with Konarka Technologies, Inc., XsunX, Inc. and Sharp Corporation.

Top 10 New Stocks To Invest In Right Now: New Energy Technologies Inc (NENE)

New Energy Technologies, Inc., incorporated on May 5, 1998, is a development-stage company. The Company is engaged in renewable and alternative energy business. The Company conducts its operations through two wholly owned subsidiaries: Kinetic Energy Corporation (KEC), Sungen Energy, Inc. and New Energy Solar Corporation (New Energy Solar). The Company focuses on the development of two technologies: MotionPower Technology for capturing the kinetic energy of moving vehicles to generate electricity, and SolarWindow Technology, which enables see-through glass windows to generate electricity by spraying glass surfaces with its electricity-generating coatings to their glass surface. It has filed 10 patent applications for inventions related to its MotionPower Technology and one for its SolarWindow Technology. As of June 21, 2012, it had no commercial products. As of June 21, 2012, the Company had no revenues.

SolarWindow

The Company�� SolarWindow products in development are designed to generate electricity on glass while remaining see-through. It has six product development goals for its SolarWindow technology: SolarWindow - Commercial, which is a flat glass product for installation in new commercial towers under construction and replacement windows; SolarWindow - Structural Glass, which is a structural glass walls and curtains for tall structures; SolarWindow - Architectural Glass, which is a textured and decorative interior glass walls and room dividers; SolarWindow - Residential, which is a window glass for installation in residential homes under construction and replacement windows; SolarWindow - Flex , which is a film which may be applied directly onto glass, similar to aftermarket window tint films, for retrofit to existing commercial towers, buildings, and residential homes; and SolarWindow - BIPV, which is a building product components associated with building-integrated-photovoltaic (BIPV) applications in homes, buildings, and office towers.

MotionPower

MotionPower products are designed to generate electricity from the capture and conversion of available kinetic energy into electricity, which is present in vehicles which are slowing down before stopping. It is developing three MotionPower products: MotionPower - Heavy, which is a fluid-driven, system with limited moving mechanical components for installation at sites where big rigs, such as tractor trailers, buses, and commercial vehicles are traveling at below 15 miles per hour and are in the process of slowing down; MotionPower - Auto, which is a fluid-driven, system similar to MotionPower - Heavy for installation at sites where cars and light-duty trucks, such as sport utility vehicles and automobiles, are traveling at below 15 miles per hour and are in the process of slowing down; and MotionPower - Express, which is a mechanical system for installation at sites where all cars, light-duty trucks, motor homes, buses, big rigs, and commercial vehicles are traveling faster than 15 miles per hour and are in the process of slowing down.

The Company competes with Konarka Technologies, Inc., XsunX, Inc. and Sharp Corporation.

Top 10 New Stocks To Invest In Right Now: OriginOil Inc (OOIL)

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 opportunities 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.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By CRWE]

  Today, OOIL�has shed (-3.12%) down -0.01 at $.31 with 95,929 shares in play thus far (ref. google finance Delayed: 2:04PM�EDT October 15, 2013).

  OriginOil, Inc. previously reported it has signed its first pay-per-barrel agreement with Industrial Systems, Inc. (ISI) for a water treatment system integrating OriginOil�� process as the first stage of treatment.

  Delta, Colorado-based ISI has agreed that it will operate the Model P160 as part of its overall frac flowback water cleanup service, and pay OriginOil a fee for each barrel processed.

Top 10 New Stocks To Invest In Right Now: First Power and Light Inc (VOLT.PK)

First Power and Light, Inc. (FPL), formerly Mainstream Entertainment, Inc., incorporated on June 24, 2008, is a full service solar installation company. The Company is engaged in the financing, design, installation and maintenance of small to large scale solar installations. The Company�� services include residential, commercial and solar farms.

As of July 22, 2013, the Company has completed over 400 commercial, Federal Government and residential installations. The Company has developed software. Its monitoring software provides both the Company and its customers with a view of their energy generation, consumption and carbon offset through an application available on smart-phones and any device with a Web browser.

Top 10 New Stocks To Invest In Right Now: EcoloCap Solutions Inc (ECOS.PK)

EcoloCap Solutions Inc. (EcoloCap), incorporated on March 18, 2004, is a development stage company. The Company is an integrated network of environmentally focused technology companies that design, develop, manufacture and sell cleaner alternative energy products.

The Company through its subsidiary Micro Bubble Technologies Inc. (MBT), developed and manufactures M-Fuel. The Company also developed the Carbon Nano Tube Battery (CNT-Battery), and the Nano Li- Battery both recyclable, rechargeable batteries. MBT has also developed a process that blends non-miscible liquids (oil and water) on a submicron level in order to create a non-emulsified fuel product that it calls EM-Fuel.

Top 10 New Stocks 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 Travis Hoium]

  A silver lining
  There are a few companies this is good for, something the market isn't recognizing right now. Europe has been a huge drag for both SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWR  ) and First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR  ) over the past few years and this may be a chance to turn that momentum around.

• [By Travis Hoium]

  SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWR  ) made a similar move in late May when it offered $300 million of convertible notes, due 2018. The notes carry a low interest rate of 0.75%, but can be converted into shares of SunPower stock at $24.95 per share if shares trade above that level by then. So, this wasn't a full-share sale like First Solar's announcement, but it's dilutive nonetheless.�

• [By Travis Hoium]

  The company's economies of scale may not lead to industry leading margins for much longer either. SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWR  ) is releasing C7 this year, which concentrates the sun's rays seven times onto its high-efficiency solar cells. With a higher-efficiency offering SunPower can pack more solar onto the same land as First Solar, which will put pressure on First Solar's less-efficient modules as SunPower's costs drop.

Top 10 New Stocks 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 Tyler Crowe and Aimee Duffy]

  Who said solar energy wasn't a worthwhile investment? It certainly wasn't Goldman Sachs. The company just announced a financing deal with SolarCity (NASDAQ: SCTY  ) for $500 million to provide upfront costs to install panels for SolarCity's clients. Based on SolarCity's business model, this isn't just charity on Goldman's part.�

• [By Travis Hoium]

  SolarCity (NASDAQ: SCTY  ) won't see a change in what it pays for Chinese modules -- and that's a good thing today. Part of a potential negotiation among the U.S., Europe, and China could have led to China raising prices on all solar modules here at home. That could have resulted in higher costs for SolarCity, something that will be averted for now.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Equities Trading UP
  SolarCity (NASDAQ: SCTY) shot up 10.25 percent to $59.45 after the company priced $54.425 million of Solar Asset Backed Notes. Baird upgraded the stock from Neutral to Outperform.

• [By Travis Hoium]

  What: Shares of First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR  ) dropped as much as 10% today, dragging the rest of the industry down with it. SolarCity (NASDAQ: SCTY  ) dropped as much as 11% and SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWR  ) fell 7% in early trading.

Top 10 New Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Alterra Power Corp (MGMXF)

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 funds.

Top 10 New Stocks 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 10 New Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Solar Energy Initiatives Inc (SNRY.PK)

Solar Energy Initiatives, Inc., incorporated on June 20, 2006, is a provider of solar solutions with three wholly owned subsidiaries focused on projects, solar education and distribution of solar products. Its products include solar panels, inverters, solar thermal systems, system design, financial consulting and analysis, construction management, and maintenance and monitoring. The SNRYPower subsidiary is a developer and manager of municipal and commercial scale solar projects. The Solar-EOS Inc subsidiary is engaged in education and continuous improvement of solar energy trade professionals. The SNRYSolar Inc subsidiary is a wholesale distributor of branded photovoltaic and thermal (water heating) systems selling via a network of dealers throughout the United States and the Caribbean. During the fiscal year ended July 31, 2010 (fiscal 2010), the Company sold its interests in SolarEnergy.com, a domain name and digital property back to its original owner. In February 20 11, the sold its Solar (EOS) Division.

Solar EOS, Inc.

Solar EOS, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Solar Energy Initiatives, Inc. It is an education group dedicated to the creation, training, advancement and continuous improvement of professionals through standard and customized solar training programs and workforce development. It supports the growth of the solar industry through training and education. Solar EOS provides training through its Professional Development Institute and through its Technical Installation Schools, as well as through its Customized Training Programs.

Professional Development Institute offers programs to architects, engineers, general contractors, roofers, plumbers, facility managers and owner�� representatives. The institute offers solar courses to members of the professional communities. Many courses provide needed continuing education units for licensure and professional registrations. Solar EOS is al so an approved Ukulele Society of Great Britain (USGB) Edu! ca! tion Provider. These classes are paid for by the professional or his company when taking the course.

Technical Installation Schools focus on workforce development and public/private partnerships. The school trains the next generation of solar thermal and photovoltaic installers in construction best practices, utilizing hands-on training, real world situations, theory and design coursework, and professional development training. Career Services programs, partnerships and dealer relationships drive the job placement of the students. These courses are paid for by the business rather than the individuals.

Customized Training Programs work through partnerships with universities, community and technical colleges, non profits, corporations, professional organizations, municipalities and workforce redevelopment agencies to meet the specific needs of groups of students. The Company writes the curriculum, provides the instructors, coordinates workshops, dev elops training programs, and hosts webinars and on-demand webcasts. The students do not pay for the course but is paid for through a variety of government programs in the form of a grant. As of October, 2010, the Company entered the fourth class for the Technical Installation School and graduated over 50 students, and trained more than 100 professionals in its Professional Development Institute.

SNRY Solar Inc.

SNRY Solar Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Solar Energy Initiatives, Inc. (SEI). SNRY Solar is responsible for two areas: wholesale sales and government programs. SNRY Solar represents several manufacturers of solar systems and components in the Photovoltaic (PV), Solar Thermal / Hot Water (HW) and solar pool heating systems. SNRY Solar inventories and sells these components and systems to a network of installers, dealers and other business types across the United States and the Caribbean. SNRY Solar provides technical information, supp ly coordination and extensive sales support to aide th! ese in! d! ependent! businesses. These support functions include but are not limited to preliminary engineering, scoping and drawings to support sales activity as well as lead generation tools, product recommendation and proposal support. SNRY Solar has developed business models which engage community groups, local, state and federal leaders and grass roots organizations to seek available funds to support job creation through solar.

SNRY POWER Inc.

SNRY POWER Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary that focuses on developing solar photovoltaic (PV) panel systems for either mounting on the ground or on rooftops. These systems, once installed, generate electricity that is sold to various third parties including utilities, home and business owners, municipalities and other government agencies. In the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) program, the Company builds the PV system at no charge to the host (the municipality or other customer). The system is built on space (either land o r rooftop) provided by the host in exchange for a reduction in the hosts payment for electricity (usually expressed in cents per kilowatt hour (KWh).

The Company is constructing a one mega watt (MW) ground mounted solar PV system on land provided by the Cherokee School District in North Carolina. It has secured construction financing to build 50% of the system and considering selling the system in fiscal 2010.

Solar panels are solar cells electrically connected together and encapsulated in a weatherproof package. The Company purchases from Suntech, GE Solar, BP Solar and other vendors in the Unites States and off-shore. Inverters transform direct current (DC), electricity produced by solar panels into alternating current (AC), electricity used in homes and businesses. Inverters are used in every on-grid solar power system and feed power either directly into the structure�� electrical circuit or into the utility grid. In North America, it sells b randed inverters designed for use in residential ! and comme! rc! ial syste! ms. Inverters it sources include models spanning a power range of 2.5 to 500 kilowatts. Its inverters are manufactured by Solectria, Xantrex, SMA Technologies, AG and PV Powered. Solar thermal systems include a solar collector, which gathers solar radiation to heat air or water for domestic, commercial or industrial use, piping and/or pump(s) to move heated water and a tank for storage. The Company provides dealers and customers with a variety of services, including system design, energy efficiency, financial consulting and analysis, construction management and maintenance and monitoring. Solar electric and solar thermal systems are designed to take into account the customer�� location, site conditions and energy needs.

The Company competes with groSolar, Sunpower, Sunwize, BP Solar, Evergreen Solar and GE Solar.