New products and changes introduced over the last week include a short-term emerging markets bond ETF from ProShares; an S&P 500-based ETF in China; and an annuity from Allianz Life with a 7-year decreasing surrender charge.
In addition, W.E, Donoghue launched a power dividend index fund; American Century offered a retirement plan assessment tool; and Franklin Templeton and K2 Advisors announced a multi-strategy fund.
Here are the latest developments of interest to advisors:
1) ProShares Launches Short-Term Emerging Market Bond ETF
Proshares announced Thursday the launch of the Short Term USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF (EMSH), which is designed to offer yield potential with reduced interest rate sensitivity.
EMSH tracks the DBIQ Short Duration Emerging Market Bond Index, which is composed of a diversified portfolio of U.S. dollar-denominated emerging markets bonds with a weighted average maturity of three years or less. The index currently includes bonds from 19 countries issued by sovereign governments, other government entities and agencies, as well as corporations that have significant government ownership. A country’s weight in the index is capped at 10%. Bonds must have a minimum $500 million outstanding issuance to be eligible.
10 Best Asian Stocks To Watch For 2015: Meadwestvaco Corporation (MWV)
MeadWestvaco Corporation (MWV) provides packaging solutions to the healthcare, personal care and beauty, food, beverage, home and garden, tobacco, and commercial print industries worldwide. The company?s Packaging Resources segment produces bleached paperboard, Coated Natural Kraft paperboard, and linerboard. Its Consumer Solutions segment designs and produces multi-pack cartons and packaging systems primarily for the beverage take-home and tobacco market. In addition, it offers a range of converting and consumer packaging solutions, including printed plastic packaging and injection-molded products used for personal care, beauty, and pharmaceutical products; and dispensing and sprayer systems for personal care, beauty, healthcare, fragrance, and home and garden markets. In addition, this segment has a pharmaceutical packaging contract with a mass-merchant, and manufactures equipment that is leased or sold to its beverage and dairy customers to package their products. The c ompany?s Consumer & Office Products segment manufactures, sources, markets, and distributes school and office products, time-management products, and envelopes in North America and Brazil through both retail and commercial channels. Its Specialty Chemicals segment manufactures, markets, and distributes specialty chemicals derived from sawdust and other byproducts of the papermaking process in North America, South America, and Asia. Its products include activated carbon used in emission control systems for automobiles and trucks, as well as for water and food purification applications, and performance chemicals used in printing inks, asphalt paving, adhesives, and lubricants for the agricultural, paper, and petroleum industries. MWV?s Community Development and Land Management segment involves in real estate development, forestry operations, and leasing activities. MeadWestvaco Corporation was founded in 1888 and is based in Glen Allen, Virginia.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Eric Volkman]
MeadWestvaco (NYSE: MWV ) is continuing to deliver payouts for its shareholders. The company has declared a fresh quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share, to be handed out on September 3 to shareholders of record as of August 31.�That amount matches each of the company's regular quarterly payouts stretching back to late 2010. Prior to that, it paid $0.23 per share.
Top 10 Dividend Stocks To Watch For 2014: CenturyLink Inc.(CTL)
CenturyLink, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated communications company. The company provides a range of communications services, including voice, Internet, data, and video services in the continental United States. Its services include local exchange and long distance voice telephone services, as well as enhanced voice services, such as call forwarding, caller identification, conference calling, voicemail, selective call ringing, and call waiting; wholesale local network access services; and data services, including high-speed Internet access services, data transmission services over special circuits and private lines, and switched digital television services, as well as special access and private line services. The company also offers fiber transport, competitive local exchange carrier, security monitoring, and other communications, as well as professional and business information services. In addition, it provides other related services, such as leasing, selling, installing, and maintaining customer premise telecommunications equipment and wiring; payphone services; and network database services, as well as participates in the publication of local telephone directories. Further, the company offers printing, direct mail services, and cable television services; and wireless broadband Internet access services and satellite television services. As of December 31, 2010, it operated approximately 6.5 million telephone access lines. CenturyLink, Inc was founded in 1968 and is based in Monroe, Louisiana.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Dan Caplinger]
On Wednesday, CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL ) will release its latest quarterly results. The key to making smart investment decisions on stocks reporting earnings is to anticipate how they'll do before they announce results, leaving you fully prepared to respond quickly to whatever inevitable surprises arise.�
Top 10 Dividend Stocks To Watch For 2014: Paychex Inc.(PAYX)
Paychex Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides payroll, human resource, and benefits outsourcing solutions for small-to medium-sized businesses in the United States and Germany. It offers payroll processing services, including calculation, preparation, and delivery of employee payroll checks; production of internal accounting records and management reports; preparation of federal, state, and local payroll tax returns; and collection and remittance of clients? payroll obligations. The company also provides payroll tax administration services; employee payment services; and regulatory compliance services, such as new-hire reporting and garnishment processing. Its human resource outsourcing services include payroll, employer compliance, human resource and employee benefits administration, risk management outsourcing, and the on-site availability of a professionally trained human resource representative, as well as provides employee handbooks, management manuals, and r equired regulatory forms. In addition, the company offers retirement services administration; workers? compensation; business-owner policies; commercial auto; and health and benefits coverage, including health, dental, vision, and life. Further, it provides online human resource administration software products for employee benefits management and administration, and time and attendance solutions. As of May 31, 2010, the company served approximately 536,000 clients in the United States; and 1,700 clients in Germany. Paychex, Inc. was founded in 1971 and is headquartered in Rochester, New York.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Caroline Bennett]
HR and payroll-solutions provider Paychex (NASDAQ: PAYX ) has increased its regular quarterly dividend by $0.02. This 6% rise is the company's largest since July 2007, and brings its quarterly payout to $0.35 a share.
- [By Monica Gerson]
Paychex (NASDAQ: PAYX) reported its FQ1 earnings of $0.44 per share on revenue of $607.9 million. However, analysts projected earnings of $0.43 per share on revenue of $605.1 million. Paychex shares fell 0.74% to $40.34 in the after-hours trading session.
- [By Mike Deane]
Paychex (PAYX) reported its second quarter results before the opening bell on Friday morning, posting higher revenue and earnings compared to last year’s Q2 figures.
PAYX’s�Earnings in Brief
Paychex reported second quarter revenues of $676.3 million, which is up from last year’s Q2 revenues of $616.4 million. Net income for the quarter came in at $173 million, or 47 cents per diluted share, up from last year’s Q2 figures of $158.7 million, or 43 cents per diluted share. The company�� earnings met analysts’ estimates of 47 cents per share, while revenues came in above the expectation of $672.61 million. Looking ahead, PAYX has reaffirmed its FY2015 guidance, and still sees revenue rising between 8% and 10%, and sees net income rising between 6% and 8%.CEO Commentary
PAYX president and CEO Martin Mucci had the following comments: ��ur results for the second quarter reflected growth and progress against key initiatives. We have experienced strong demand for our comprehensive suite of human resource outsourcing services, while payroll services revenue continues to advance. During the second quarter, we introduced Paychex Flex, an industry-leading solution that streamlines workforce management through innovative technology and flexible choice of service. This cloud-based platform with mobility applications offers powerful capabilities in a simple user experience that responds to the needs of our clients across the human capital management spectrum.��/p>
PAYX’s�Dividend
PAYX paid its most recent quarterly dividend of 38 cents on November 20. We expect the company to declare its next dividend in mid-January.
Stock Performance
PAYX stock was inactive in pre-market trading. YTD, the stock is up 4.88%.
PAYX�Dividend SnapshotAs of Market Close on December 18, 2014
Click here to see the complete history of PAYX dividends.
Top 10 Dividend Stocks To Watch For 2014: Paragon Shipping Inc.(PRGN)
Paragon Shipping Inc. provides shipping transportation services worldwide. The company engages in the ocean transportation of various drybulk cargoes and containers. Its fleet consists of 11 drybulk vessels with a total carrying capacity of 747,994 dwt. The company was founded in 2006 and is based in Voula, Greece.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Lisa Levin]
This industry fell 1.80% by 11:00 am ET. Paragon Shipping (NASDAQ: PRGN) shares dropped 3.9% in today's trading. Paragon Shipping's trailing-twelve-month ROE is -21.70%.
- [By Roberto Pedone]
Another under-$10 name shipping player that's starting to move within range of triggering a big breakout trade is Paragon Shipping (PRGN), which is engaged in transporting drybulk cargoes, including such commodities as iron ore, coal, grain and other materials along shipping routes worldwide. This stock has been on fire so far in 2013, with shares up sharply by 114%.
If you take a look at the chart for Paragon Shipping, you'll notice that this stock just recently took out its 50-day moving average of $4.19 a share with strong upside volume. Shares of PRGN are showing relative strength today, despite the overall market weakness, which shows this stock is in strong demand at current levels. This move is now starting to push shares of PRGN within range of triggering a big breakout trade
Market players should now look for long-biased trades in PRGN if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance at $4.90 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above that level with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 25,811 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then PRGN will set up to re-test or possibly take out its 52-week high at $5.70 a share. If that level gets taken out with volume, then PRGN could easily tag its next major overhead resistance levels at $7 to $8.35 a share.
Traders can look to buy PRGN off weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below its 50-day moving average of $4.19 a share, or below its 200-day moving average at $3.74 a share. One can also buy PRGN off strength once it clears $4.90 a share with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point. I would add to either position once PRGN takes out its 52-week high at $5.70 a share with strong upside volume flows.
Top 10 Dividend Stocks To Watch For 2014: S&P GSCI(GD)
General Dynamics Corporation, an aerospace and defense company, provides business aviation; combat vehicles, weapons systems, and munitions; military and commercial shipbuilding; and communications and information technology products and services worldwide. Its Aerospace group designs, manufactures, and outfits various large and mid-cabin business-jet aircraft; provides maintenance, repair work, fixed-based operations, and aircraft management services; and performs aircraft completions for aircraft. The company?s Combat Systems group offers tracked and wheeled military vehicles, weapons systems, and munitions. Its product lines include wheeled combat and tactical vehicles; battle tanks and infantry vehicles; munitions and propellant; rockets and gun systems; and axle and drivetrain components and aftermarket parts. This group also manufactures and supplies engineered axles, suspensions, and brakes for heavy-load vehicles for military and commercial customers. The company Advisors' Opinion:
- [By Rich Smith]
The Department of Defense ended the week with a bang (if you'll pardon the expression) on Friday, awarding no fewer than 29 separate contracts worth more than $951 million in aggregate. Publicly traded companies securing contracts included:
Top 10 Dividend Stocks To Watch For 2014: ConocoPhillips(COP)
ConocoPhillips operates as an integrated energy company worldwide. The company?s Exploration and Production (E&P) segment explores for, produces, transports, and markets crude oil, bitumen, natural gas, liquefied natural gas, and natural gas liquids. Its Midstream segment gathers, processes, and markets natural gas; and fractionates and markets natural gas liquids in the United States and Trinidad. The company?s Refining and Marketing (R&M) segment purchases, refines, markets, and transports crude oil and petroleum products, such as gasolines, distillates, and aviation fuels. Its Chemicals segment manufactures and markets petrochemicals and plastics. This segment offers olefins and polyolefins, including ethylene, propylene, and other olefin products; aromatics products, such as benzene, styrene, paraxylene, and cyclohexane, as well as polystyrene and styrene-butadiene copolymers; and various specialty chemical products comprising organosulfur chemicals, solvents, catalyst s, drilling chemicals, mining chemicals, and engineering plastics and compounds. The company?s Emerging Businesses segment develops new technologies and businesses. It focuses on power generation; and technologies related to conventional and nonconventional hydrocarbon recovery, refining, alternative energy, biofuels, and the environment. This segment also offers E-Gas, a gasification technology producing high-value synthetic gas. ConocoPhillips was founded in 1917 and is based in Houston, Texas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Joel South and Taylor Muckerman]
In the following video, Motley Fool energy analysts Joel South and Taylor Muckerman take a look at ConocoPhillips' (NYSE: COP ) dividend. The company just recently raised its dividend by 4.5% to $0.69 per quarter, or an annualized 4.2% yield. Joel tells investors why this independent exploration and production company is able to maintain such a high yield when others can't, why the company�� focus on production and away from exploration keeps the dividend safe, and what he likes about this company today.
- [By Matt DiLallo]
However, BP is planning a comeback in the Gulf in a big way as it plans to spend $4 billion annually over the next decade to grow its production in the Gulf. It's not alone as the Gulf is also starting to draw in some new players that are starting to make quite a splash. For example, earlier this year ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP ) announced two significant deepwater discoveries in the Gulf. These discoveries are likely the first of many for the company as it has been quietly building up its net acreage in the Gulf over the past few years. In fact, the company has more than doubled its acreage over the past two years, and it recently was the high bidder on 30 more blocks of Gulf acreage. As�ConocoPhillip and other peers�develop this recently acquired acreage, we could see production estimates for the region head even higher.
- [By Claudia Assis]
Major oil companies were mixed. Exxon shares rose 1%, and shares of ConocoPhillips (COP) �advanced 1.1%. Shares of Chevron, however, fell 0.1%.
- [By Matt DiLallo]
ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP )
Among the large independent exploration and production companies, ConocoPhillips has the characteristics I look for in a long-term investment. The company has a steady growth plan, which will see it boost its production and margins by 3%-5% annually through 2017, with multiple opportunities to keep growing beyond that date. In addition to its exceptional growth opportunities here in the states, Conoco's operations span the globe, including positions in the Canadian oil sands, Australian natural gas exports, and European offshore oil. That diversification has helped keep the company from suffering the fate of many of its landlocked U.S.-based peers.�
Top 10 Dividend Stocks To Watch For 2014: Cedar Shopping Centers Inc (CDR)
Cedar Shopping Centers, Inc., real estate investment trust, engages in the ownership, operation, development and redevelopment of supermarket-anchored community shopping centers and drug store-anchored convenience centers in the United States. As of December 31, 2007, it owned 118 properties, aggregating approximately 12.0 million square feet of gross leasable area primarily in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Virginia, Ohio, Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland, Michigan, and New York. Cedar Shopping has elected to be treated as a REIT for federal income tax purposes and would not be subject to federal income tax, if it distributes at least 90% of its REIT taxable income to its stockholders. The company was founded in 1984 and is based in Port Washington, New York.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Bill Smith]
Valuation
Lastly, because of the negative perception the entire industry has received, prices in this sector have been absolutely pummeled. ESI now trades at the lower end of all of its historical valuation bands: P/E, P/B, and P/S.
Bullish Points
Guru ownership and avg price: ESI owned by Hussman ($76.15), Weitz ($75.32), and Greenblatt ($73.29)Over 35% of shares are short, potential short squeezeStock buyback plan: ESI reduced outstanding shares by 19% yoy at the end of the 4th quarter. They repurchased 370K shares in 3Q11.The business model is scalable; the incremental cost to educate each additional student is low, leading to high marginsESI acquired Daniel Webster College, giving them a regional accreditation which they can use to broaden their reach in online classes
Bearish Points
High costs of education, in general, rightly or wrongly attract government intervention and could squeeze margins over time. Total student debt surpassed credit card balances, and sits at $1 Trillion as of the end of 2011.Subject to compliance with Dept of Education's 90/10 rules, which states a college can't collect more than 90% of revenue from students participating in federal loan programs.Cohort Default Rate (CDR): for-profit colleges must monitor the federal loan default rates of students who graduate or leave the school. If a school's CDR exceeds 25% for 3 consecutive years, or 40% in any one year, its students won't be eligible for federal financial aid.ESI competes on quality of product which is measured by graduation rates and ability to secure employment. For 2010, 70% of ESI graduates got employment in positions using skills taught in their program of study within 1 year. As of Oct 2011, this rate was 600 bp higher. The average annual salary reported by employed 2011 grads was $32K, compared to $32.4K for 2010 grads.With an improving economy, there's a potential ESI would see declining new student enrollmentsOver 35% of shares are short
Summary
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