So far, Game of Thrones is beating Mad Men in the ratings war. The second episode of the fantasy epic based on author George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Fire and Ice" books drew in 4.3 million viewers, versus 3.4 million for the Mad Men premiere.
As far as I'm concerned, both shows are well written and worth watching. Yet if HBO were spun off from Time Warner (NYSE: TWX ) as an independent company, I'd still rather own shares of Mad Men distributor AMC Networks (NASDAQ: AMCX ) .
Sources: HBO, YouTube.
Why? Accessibility. By bundling its content with cable providers, HBO makes it unnecessarily difficult to cater to the increasing number of viewers who are just as comfortable watching via tablet as they are on TV.
Consider how Comcast's obtuse Xfinity service handles streamed HBO content. Watching on my Mac requires a log-in to comcast.net and then navigating to a "watch TV" tab, where I can look up episodes and movies. Once I've done that, starting or picking up an episode works great -- just so long as I haven't changed devices. The Comcast Web experience is self-contained.
Hot Healthcare Technology Stocks For 2015: Caesars Entertainment Corp (CZR)
Caesars Entertainment Corporation, incorporated on November 2, 1989, is a diversified casino-entertainment provider. The Company�� business is primarily conducted through a wholly owned subsidiary, Caesars Entertainment Operating Company, Inc. (CEOC), although certain material properties are not owned by CEOC. As of December 31, 2012, it owned, operated, or managed, through various subsidiaries, 52 casinos in 13 United States states and seven countries. The majority of these casinos operate in the United States, primarily under the Caesars, Harrah��, and Horseshoe brand names, and in England. In November 2012, the Company sold its Harrah's St. Louis casino to Penn National Gaming, Inc. In December 2012, the Company purchased all of the net assets of Buffalo Studios, LLC, a social and mobile games developer and owner of Bingo Blitz.
The Company�� casino entertainment facilities include 33 land-based casinos, 11 riverboat or dockside casinos, three managed casinos on Indian lands in the United States, one managed casino in Cleveland, Ohio, one managed casino in Canada, one casino combined with a greyhound racetrack, one casino combined with a thoroughbred racetrack, and one casino combined with a harness racetrack. The Company�� land-based casinos include nine in England, two in Egypt, one in Scotland, one in South Africa and one in Uruguay. As of December 31, 2012, its facilities had an aggregate of approximately three million square feet of gaming space and approximately 43,000 hotel rooms. In southern Nevada, Caesars Palace, Harrah�� Las Vegas, Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, Bally�� Las Vegas, Flamingo Las Vegas, Paris Las Vegas, Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino, The Quad Resort & Casino (formerly the Imperial Palace Hotel and Casino), Bill�� Gamblin��Hall & Saloon, and Hot Spot Oasis are located in Las Vegas and draw customers from throughout the United States. Harrah�� Laughlin is located near both the Arizona and California borders and draws customers primarily from! the southern California and Phoenix metropolitan areas and, to a lesser extent, from throughout the United States through charter aircraft. In northern Nevada, Harrah�� Lake Tahoe and Harveys Resort & Casino are located near Lake Tahoe and Harrah�� Reno is located in downtown Reno. These facilities draw customers primarily from northern California, the Pacific Northwest, and Canada.
The Company�� Atlantic City casinos, Harrah�� Resort Atlantic City, Showboat Atlantic City, Caesars Atlantic City, and Bally�� Atlantic City, draw customers primarily from the Philadelphia metropolitan area, New York, and New Jersey. Harrah�� Philadelphia (formerly Harrah's Chester) is a combination harness racetrack and casino located approximately six miles south of Philadelphia International Airport and draws customers primarily from the Philadelphia metropolitan area and Delaware. The Company�� Chicagoland dockside casinos, Harrah�� Joliet in Joliet, Illinois, and Horseshoe Hammond in Hammond, Indiana, draw customers primarily from the greater Chicago metropolitan area. In southern Indiana, it owns Horseshoe Southern Indiana, a dockside casino complex located in Elizabeth, Indiana, which draws customers primarily from northern Kentucky, including the Louisville metropolitan area, and southern Indiana, including Indianapolis. In Louisiana, the Company owns Harrah�� New Orleans, a land-based casino located in downtown New Orleans, which attracts customers primarily from the New Orleans metropolitan area. In northwest Louisiana, Horseshoe Bossier City, a dockside casino, and Harrah�� Louisiana Downs, a thoroughbred racetrack with slot machines, both located in Bossier City, cater to customers in northwestern Louisiana.
The Company owns the Grand Casino Biloxi, located in Biloxi, Mississippi, which caters to customers in southern Mississippi, southern Alabama, and northern Florida. Harrah�� North Kansas City dockside casino draws customers from the Kansas City metropolitan ar! ea. Harra! h�� Metropolis is a dockside casino located in Metropolis, Illinois, on the Ohio River, drawing customers from southern Illinois, western Kentucky, and central Tennessee. Horseshoe Tunica, Harrah�� Tunica, and Tunica Roadhouse Hotel & Casino, dockside casino complexes located in Tunica, Mississippi, are approximately 30 miles from Memphis, Tennessee and draw customers primarily from the Memphis area and, to a lesser extent, from throughout the United States through charter aircraft. Horseshoe Casino and Bluffs Run Greyhound Park, a land-based casino and pari-mutuel facility, and Harrah�� Council Bluffs Casino & Hotel, a dockside casino facility, are located in Council Bluffs, Iowa, across the Missouri River from Omaha, Nebraska. At Horseshoe Casino and Bluffs Run Greyhound Park, the Company owns the assets other than gaming equipment, and leases these assets to the Iowa West Racing Association (IWRA), a nonprofit corporation, and it manages the facility for the IWRA under a management agreement expiring in October 2024. The license to operate Harrah�� Council Bluffs Casino & Hotel is held jointly with IWRA, the qualified sponsoring organization.
The Conrad Resort & Casino located in Punta Del Este, Uruguay (the Conrad), draws customers primarily from Argentina and Uruguay. In November 2012, the Company announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement with Enjoy S.A. (Enjoy) to form a strategic relationship in Latin America. Under the terms of the agreement, Enjoy will acquire 45% of Baluma S.A., its subsidiary, which owns and operates the Conrad, and the Company will become a 10% shareholder in Enjoy upon consummation of the agreement. Upon the closing of the transaction, which is subject to certain conditions, including the receipt of all regulatory and governmental approvals, Enjoy will assume primary responsibility for management of the Conrad. Enjoy will have the option to acquire the remaining stake in Baluma S.A. between years three and five following closing. The cl! osing of ! the transaction remains subject to a number of conditions, including regulatory and governmental approvals in both Uruguay and Chile.
The Company owns four casinos in London: the Sportsman, the Golden Nugget, The Playboy Club London, and The Casino at the Empire. Its casinos in London draw customers primarily from the London metropolitan area, as well as international visitors. The Company also owns Alea Nottingham, Alea Glasgow, Alea Leeds, Manchester 235, Rendezvous Brighton, and Rendezvous Southend-on-Sea in the provinces of the United Kingdom, which primarily draw customers from their local areas. Pursuant to a concession agreement, it also operates two casinos in Cairo, Egypt, The London Club Cairo (which is located at the Ramses Hilton) and Caesars Cairo (which is located at the Four Seasons Cairo), which draw customers primarily from other countries in the Middle East. Emerald Safari, located in the province of Gauteng in South Africa, draws customers primarily from South Africa. It owsn and operates Bluegrass Downs, a harness racetrack located in Paducah, Kentucky.
The Company owns three casinos for Indian tribes: Harrah�� Phoenix Ak-Chin, located near Phoenix, Arizona, Harrah�� Cherokee Casino and Hotel, and Harrah�� Rincon Casino and Resort, located near San Diego, California. The Company manages Caesars Windsor, located in Windsor, Ontario, which draws customers primarily from the Detroit metropolitan area, Horseshoe Cleveland casino in Ohio, which it manages for Rock Ohio Caesars LLC (ROC), a venture with Rock Ohio Ventures, LLC (Rock Gaming), in which it has a 20% equity interest, and the Horseshoe Cincinnati casino in Ohio for ROC for a fee under a management agreement that will expire in March 2033. It also has a minority interest in Sterling Suffolk Racecourse, LLC (Suffolk Downs), which owns a horse-racing track in Boston, Massachusetts, and the right to manage a future gaming facility. The Company also owns ans operates a golf course on 175 acres of prime real! estate t! hrough a land concession on the Cotai strip in Macau.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Travis Hoium]
The recovery in Las Vegas is gaining steam, and after 6.4% growth in May and 4.3% growth over the past year, the gaming companies there have some room to breathe. MGM Resorts (NYSE: MGM ) and Caesars Entertainment (NASDAQ: CZR ) have the most to gain, but Wynn Resorts (NASDAQ: WYNN ) and Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS ) will benefit as well. In the following video, gaming analyst Travis Hoium covers who will benefit the most from Las Vegas' growth and one stock to stay away from.�
- [By Travis Hoium]
At its core,�Caesars Entertainment (NASDAQ: CZR ) is an extremely flawed company. It has a huge presence in the struggling regional gaming market, it has no exposure to gaming's biggest market, Macau, and it has $21.3 billion of debt strangling it. So how has it gained 130% this year, easily outpacing more profitable rivals? �
- [By Wallace Witkowski]
Shares of Caesars Entertainment Corp. (CZR) �fell 1.5% to $25.20 on light volume after the casino operator�� fourth-quarter loss widened.
- [By Travis Hoium]
What: Shares of Caesars Entertainment (NASDAQ: CZR ) jumped as much as 37% today after the company announced a growth spinoff.
So what: Caesars will spin off a "growth" subsidiary that will be called Caesars Growth Partners. Private-equity investors Apollo Management and TPG Capital have said they will each invest $250 million in the company, and Caesars shareholders will be able to contribute a proportional amount to buy into the company. Full details aren't yet available, but the move will reduce the parent company's debt and sell growth assets to shareholders. �
Hot Healthcare Technology Stocks For 2015: Baytex Energy Corp (BTE)
Baytex Energy Corp. (Baytex), incorporated on October 22, 2010, through its subsidiaries, are engaged in the business of acquiring, developing, exploiting and holding interests in petroleum and natural gas properties and related assets in Canada (in the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan) and in the United States (in the states of North Dakota and Wyoming). The Company acts as the financing vehicle for its subsidiaries by providing access to debt and equity capital markets. As of December 31, 2011, its primary assets are Baytex Energy Ltd. (Baytex Energy), which it owns. On February 3, 2011, the Company acquired heavy oil assets located in the Reno area of northern Alberta and the Lloydminster area of western Saskatchewan. On August 9, 2011, the Company acquired natural gas assets located in the Brewster area of west central Alberta. During the year ended December 31, 2011, it completed two dispositions of undeveloped lands; in the Kaybob South area of west central Alberta, it sold six sections of leasehold, including five sections with Duvernay rights, and in the Dodsland area in southwest Saskatchewan, it sold 32,600 net acres of leasehold in the halo of the field.
During 2011, the Company�� production averaged 50,132 barrel of oil equivalent per day, from its properties in Canada. During 2011, production averaged 50,132 barrel of oil equivalent per day. During 2011, light oil and natural gas liquid (NGL) production was 6,769 barrels per day. During 2011, heavy oil production was 35,252 barrels per day. During 2011, natural gas production was 48.7 million cubic feet per day. Its crude oil and natural gas operations are organized into three business units: Alberta/B.C., Saskatchewan and United States. Each business unit has a portfolio of mineral leases, operated and non-operated properties and development prospects. These plays include the Bakken/Three Forks in the Williston Basin of North Dakota and southeast Saskatchewan and the Viking in southwestern Saskatche! wan and eastern Alberta.
Saskatchewan Business Unit
As of December 31, 2011, the Saskatchewan Business Unit accounted for more than 38% of production. The Saskatchewan Business Unit's heavy oil operations include cold primary and thermal (steam-assisted gravity drainage) production. Production is generated from vertical, slant and horizontal wells using progressive cavity pumps capable of handling heavy oil combined with gas, water and sand. Once produced, the oil is delivered to markets in both Canada and the United States on pipelines, tanker trucks or railways. Heavy crude is blended with light-hydrocarbon diluents (such as condensate) prior to being introduced into a sales pipeline. The blended crude oil is then sold by Baytex. During 2011, production in the Saskatchewan Business Unit averaged approximately 20,958 barrels of oil equivalent per day, which was comprised of 19,828 barrels per day of heavy oil, 154 barrels per day of light oil and 5,860 thousand cubic feet per day of natural gas. During 2011, Baytex drilled 93 (87.9 net) wells in the Saskatchewan Business Unit resulting in 84 (78.9 net) oil wells, four stratigraphic test wells, four service wells, and one dry and abandoned well.
The Company�� Ardmore, Alberta is developed in the Sparky, McLaren and Colony formations. During 2011, average production was approximately 652 barrels per day of heavy oil and 158 thousand cubic feet per day of natural gas. During 2011, one well was drilled. As of December 31, 2011, Baytex had 34,000 net undeveloped acres in this area. Its Carruthers property consists of separate North and South oil pools in the Cummings formation. During 2011, 13 wells were drilled. During 2011, average production was approximately 2,444 barrels per day of heavy oil and 489 thousand cubic feet per day of natural gas. As of December 31, 2011, Baytex had 10,600 net undeveloped acres in this area. During 2011, the Company�� Celtic, Saskatchewan producing property produced averaged 3,013 ! barrels p! er day of heavy oil and 538 thousand cubic feet per day of natural gas. During 2011, Baytex drilled seven oil wells in the area. The Company�� Cold Lake, Alberta is a heavy oil property. Production is from the Colony, Upper McLaren, Rex and Sparky formations. During 2011, average oil production was approximately 270 barrels per day. During 2011, Baytex had 11,300 net undeveloped acres in this area.
During 2011, in Kerrobert SAGD project, the Company placed two new well pairs on production. During 2011, average production from the Kerrobert area was approximately 3,350 barrels per day of heavy oil, 154 barrels per day of light oil, and 1,999 thousand cubic feet per day of natural gas. During 2011, Baytex drilled five oil wells and eight service wells in this area. As of December 31, 2011, Baytex had 38,600 net undeveloped acres in this area. Lindbergh is a non-operated heavy oil property. Baytex has a 21.25% working interest in this property. During 2011, average production in this area was approximately 673 barrels per day of heavy oil and 71 thousand cubic feet per day of natural gas. During 2011, four wells were drilled in this area. As of December 31, 2011, Baytex had 800 net undeveloped acres in this area. During 2011, its Marsden/Epping/Macklin/Silverdale, Saskatchewan produced approximately 2,102 barrels per day of oil and 290 thousand cubic feet per day of natural gas. During 2011, nine oil wells were drilled in this area. Its Tangleflags is characterized by multiple-zone reservoirs with production from the Colony, McLaren, Waseca, Sparky, General Petroleum and Lloydminster formations. During 2011, Baytex drilled 11 horizontal oil wells in the Lloydminster formation. During 2011, average production was approximately 1,763 barrels per day of heavy oil and 543 thousand cubic feet per day of natural gas.
Alberta/B.C. Business Unit
The Alberta/B.C. Business Unit possesses a range of light oil, heavy oil and natural gas properties. During 2011, the Alberta/B.C.! Business! Unit produced light and heavy gravity crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids from fields in Alberta and British Columbia and accounted for approximately 58% of production. During 2011, production from this business unit averaged 27,833 barrel of oil equivalent per day, which was comprised of 15,425 barrels per day of heavy oil, 5,282 barrels per day of light oil and NGL and 42.8 million cubic feet per day of natural gas. During 2011, the Alberta/B.C. Business Unit participated in the drilling of 71 wells resulting in 61 oil wells, one natural gas well, seven stratigraphic test wells, one service well and one dry and abandoned well. As of December 31, 2011, its net undeveloped lands in this business unit totaled approximately 474,000 acres. During 2011, production from Bon Accord area was averaged approximately 905 barrels per day of light oil and 1,742 million cubic feet per day of natural gas. Natural gas is processed at two Baytex-operated plants and oil is treated at three Baytex-operated batteries. During 2011, in this area, Baytex drilled 11 horizontal Viking oil wells. As of December 31, 2011, Baytex had 18,300 net undeveloped acres in this area.
The Company�� Darwin/Nina/Goodfish/Lafond, Alberta produces natural gas from the Bluesky formation. During 2011, production averaged approximately 3,746 million cubic feet per day of natural gas. As of December 31, 2011, Baytex had 27,300 net undeveloped acres in this area. During 2011, the Company�� Leahurst, Alberta produced averaged approximately 2,633 million cubic feet per day of natural gas and 13 barrels per day of NGL from this multi-zone, year-round access area. Natural gas production from the Edmonton, Belly River, Viking and Mannville formations is processed. Baytex holds a total of 263 net sections of oil sands leases in the Peace River oil sands area, which includes the legacy Seal area and the Reno area. During 2011, production from the Peace River area was 15,425 barrels per day, which was comprised of 13,746 barr! els per d! ay from Seal and 1,679 barrels per day from Reno. During 2011, Baytex drilled 25 cold horizontal production wells and seven stratigraphic test wells at Seal and two cold horizontal production wells at Reno. The Peace River area includes 152,500 net undeveloped acres, including 57,000 net undeveloped acres at Seal and 95,500 net undeveloped acres at Reno.
During 2011, the Company�� Pembina production averaged 2,633 barrels per day of light oil and NGL and 22,428 million cubic feet per day of natural gas. During 2011, Baytex participated in drilling 19 wells in this area, resulting in 17 oil wells, one natural gas well, and one dry and abandoned well. During 2011, Pembina area drilling included five operated and 12 non-operated Cardium horizontal wells and completed with multi-stage fracture stimulations. During 2011, the Company�� production from Red Earth area averaged approximately 42 million cubic feet per day of natural gas and 522 barrels per day of light oil and NGL. During 2011, the Company�� Richdale/Sedalia property�� production averaged approximately 3,845 million cubic feet per day of natural gas and eight barrels per day of NGL. During 2011, the Company�� production from Stoddart area averaged approximately 4,498 million cubic feet per day of natural gas and 713 barrels per day of oil and NGL. During 2011, production from Turin was averaged approximately 345 barrels per day of oil and NGL and 856 million cubic feet per day of natural gas. Production is from the Second White Specks, Milk River, Bow Island, Mannville, Sawtooth and Livingstone formations.
United States Business Unit
During 2011, the Company focused its activities on the light oil resource play located in the Divide and Williams Counties of North Dakota. Production is from horizontal wells using multi-stage hydraulic fracturing in the Bakken and Three Forks formations. As of December 31, 2011, Baytex owned approximately 61,000 (24,800 net) developed acres. During 2011, Baytex parti! cipated i! n the drilling of 34 Bakken/Three Forks oil wells. During 2011, net production from the United States properties averaged 1,341 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By GURUFOCUS]
Canadian Trusts- Baytex Energy Trust (BTE) | Yield: 6.1%
- Enerplus Resources Fund (ERF) | Yield: 5.6%
- Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGH) | Yield: 7.1% - [By Rich Duprey]
Canadian oil and gas producer�Baytex Energy (NYSE: BTE ) announced yesterday its monthly dividend payment for June of $0.22 Canadian per share, the same monthly rate it's paid since 2011.�The U.S. dollar equivalent is approximately $0.2162 per share, assuming a foreign exchange rate of $0.9826 USD-CAD.
- [By Robert Rapier]
There are a number of quality Canadian E&P companies that are attractive at current prices. Among my favorites are Baytex Energy (NYSE: BTE, TSE: BTE), Cenovus Energy (NYSE: CVE, TSE: CVE) and Canadian Natural Resources (NYSE: CNQ, TSE: CNQ) I also like Peyto Exploration & Development (TSE: PEY, OTC: PEYUF) for aggressive investors. We have often discussed putting Peyto in one of the portfolios, but I would ideally like it a bit cheaper.
- [By Stephan Dube]
Peace River's most notable producers:
PennWest Exploration (PWE), see article here.Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A), see article here.Baytex (BTE), see article here.Strata Oil and Gas (SOIGF.PK), see article here.Petrobank Energy & Resources (PBEGF.PK), see article here.Cold Lake's most notable producers:
Top Airline Companies To Buy Right Now: Centene Corporation (CNC)
Centene Corporation provides multi-line healthcare programs and services in the United States. It operates in two segments, Medicaid Managed Care and Specialty Services. The Medicaid Managed Care segment provides Medicaid and Medicaid-related health plan coverage to individuals through government subsidized programs, including Medicaid, the State children�s health insurance program, long-term care, foster care, and Medicare special needs plans, as well as aged, blind, or disabled programs. Its health plans provide primary and specialty physician care, inpatient and outpatient hospital care, transportation assistance, emergency and urgent care, vision care, prenatal care, dental care, laboratory and x-ray services, immunizations, prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs, home health and durable medical equipment, behavioral health and substance abuse services, therapies, social work services, care coordination, and 24-hour nurse advice line. The Specialty Services segment manages behavioral healthcare for members; provides health insurance to individual customers and their families; implements life and health management programs; offers long-term care services to the elderly and people with disabilities; and administers routine and medical surgical eye care benefits through its network of eye care providers. It also offers telehealth services; and claims processing, pharmacy network management, benefit design consultation, drug utilization review, formulary and rebate management, specialty and mail order pharmacy services, and patient and physician intervention services, as well as provides care management solutions that automate the clinical, administrative, and technical components of care management programs. The company offers its services through primary and specialty care physicians, hospitals, and ancillary providers. Centene Corporation was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri.
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 Centene (NYSE: CNC ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below. - [By Lauren Pollock]
Centene Corp.(CNC) agreed to acquire a roughly 68% interest in U.S. Medical Management LLC, a provider of in-home health services, for $200 million in cash and stock as the Medicaid insurer continues to expand its stable of services. Centene also said it is forming a new health-care enterprise holding company that will connect it and other health solution providers.
- [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Shares of Centene (NYSE: CNC) got a boost, shooting up 9.77 percent to $62.89 on upbeat quarterly results. Centene reported its Q1 earnings of $0.57 per share on revenue of $3.46 billion.
- [By Monica Gerson]
Centene (NYSE: CNC) is estimated to report its Q3 earnings at $0.84 per share on revenue of $2.68 billion.
FMC Technologies (NYSE: FTI) is projected to post its Q3 earnings at $0.59 per share on revenue of $1.75 billion.
Hot Healthcare Technology Stocks For 2015: Pzena Investment Management Inc (PZN)
Pzena Investment Management, Inc. is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm also provides investment advisory services to funds. It provides its services to individuals, typically high net worth individuals; investment companies; charitable organizations; corporations; state or municipal government entities; pension and profit sharing plans; and pooled investment vehicles. The firm manages separate client-focused equity portfolios. It invests in the public equity markets across the globe. The firm primarily invests in value stocks of large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap companies. It employs fundamental analysis while making its investments. Pzena Investment Management, Inc. was founded in 1995 and is based in New York, New York.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Serena Saitto]
Officials at another Dell shareholder, Pzena Investment Management Inc. (PZN), which has opposed the buyout, didn�� return calls seeking comment.
- [By Bristol Voss]
Pzena Investment Management (NYSE: PZN) is an investment manager catering to wealthy families and other institutions. It has the largest market cap at $85.4 million, and its share price, although the highest at about $7, buys the most market cap per dollar of the three. It has a forward P/E of 14 and a dividend yield of 1.7%. For the most recent quarter, revenue grew 5.4% and earnings were flat. Although Pzena's gross profit margin was down from the previous year, it remains a very high 45.2%.
Hot Healthcare Technology Stocks For 2015: H&R Block Inc. (HRB)
H&R Block, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides tax preparation, retail banking, and various business advisory and consulting services. It operates in three segments: Tax Services, Business Services, and Corporate. The Tax Services segment offers H&R Block At Home, an income tax preparation software, as well as a range of online tax services, including tax advice, professional and do-it-yourself tax return preparation, and electronic filing services through its Web site at hrblock.com primarily in the United States, Canada, and Australia. This segment also provides the H&R Block Prepaid Emerald MasterCard and Emerald Advance lines of credit through H&R Block Bank, as well as other retail banking services, including checking and savings accounts, individual retirement accounts, and certificates of deposit; and sells refund anticipation loans and refund anticipation checks offered by third-party lending institutions, as well as offers income tax return preparation course s to the public. The Business Services segment provides tax and consulting services, wealth management, and capital markets services to middle-market companies. The Corporate segment engages in various operations, which include interest income from the United States passive investments, interest expense on borrowings, net interest margin and gains or losses relating to mortgage loans held for investment, real estate owned, residual interests in securitizations and other corporate expenses principally related to finance, legal, and other support departments. The company was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Wallace Witkowski]
H&R Block Inc. (HRB) �shares fell 1.3% to $30.55 on moderate volume after the tax service provider reported an adjusted fiscal third-quarter loss of 77 cents a share on revenue of $200 million. Analysts surveyed by FactSet had expected a loss of 8 cents a share on revenue of $519.3 million.
Hot Healthcare Technology Stocks For 2015: Cincinnati Bell Inc (CBB)
Cincinnati Bell Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides telecommunications and technology services. The company?s Wireline segment provides local voice services, including local telephone service, switched access, and value-added services, such as caller identification, voicemail, call waiting, and call return; data services comprising high-speed Internet using digital subscriber line technology, fiber to the home, dial-up Internet access, network access, and gigabit Ethernet and asynchronous transfer mode data transport services. This segment?s services also comprise long distance and voice over Internet protocol (VoIP)services, such as long distance voice, audio conferencing, VoIP, and other broadband services; entertainment services that consist of television over fiber optic cable and coaxial cable in limited areas, and DirecTV commissioning over the company?s operating area; and other services consisting of security monitoring, inside wire installation for busi ness enterprises, rental revenue of space, public payphones, and clearinghouse services. It?s Wireless segment provides advanced digital wireless voice and data communications services through the wireless network in a licensed service territory, which includes Greater Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio, and areas of northern Kentucky and southeastern Indiana. This segment offers postpaid and prepaid wireless subscription services; and wireless handset devices to customers to use its wireless services. The company?s Data Center Colocation segment provides data center colocation services to businesses. This segment operates 17 data centers with 639,000 square feet of total data center space in Texas, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, and Illinois. It?s IT Services and Hardware segment offers a range of managed IT solutions, including managed infrastructure services, IT and telephony equipment sales, and professional IT staffing services. The company was founded in 1873 and is based in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Jim Royal]
One of my favorite reasons to reinvest in stocks I already own is when an uncertain, but favorable catalyst occurs, but the stock does little. So my Special Situations portfolio is adding $1,000 to each of the following three stocks: Cincinnati Bell (NYSE: CBB ) , Bridgepoint Education (NYSE: BPI ) , and First Financial Northwest (NASDAQ: FFNW ) . Read on to see why.
- [By Mike Arnold]
Cincinnati Bell (CBB) ("CB" or "the company") is a storied, regional telecommunications player in Ohio undergoing considerable transformation, which began, in earnest, with the spin-off of its data warehousing business CyrusOne (CONE) ("Cyrus") in January 2013. CB still holds a ~69% economic interest in Cyrus, with the stated goal to monetize the asset over the next several years in order to pay down debt.
- [By Paulo Santos]
The birth of CONE was non-effusive; it came from the spin-off and IPO of the datacenter unit of Cincinnati Bell (CBB). Perhaps one could believe that not being a green field company, people didn't go as gaga on it. It came from a telecom dinosaur, after all.
Hot Healthcare Technology Stocks For 2015: RLI Corp. (RLI)
RLI Corp., through its subsidiaries, underwrites property and casualty insurance primarily in the United States. The company operates in three segments: Casualty, Property, and Surety. The Casualty segment provides general liability services consisting of coverage for third party liability of commercial insurers, including manufacturers, contractors, apartments, and mercantile; commercial and personal umbrella coverage; and commercial transportation that include automobile liability and physical damage insurance to local, intermediate, and long haul truckers, public transportation risks, and equipment dealers, as well as incidental and related insurance coverage. It also offers professional liability coverages, such as directors? and officers? liability insurance, employment practices liability, and other miscellaneous professional liability coverage; and specialty program coverages, such as commercial property, general liability, inland marine, and crime, as well as deduc tible buy-back. The Property segment offers property coverage that consists primarily of excess and surplus lines and specialty insurance, such as fire and earthquake. It also provides insurance for commercial and industrial risks, such as office buildings, apartments, condominiums, and certain industrial and mercantile structures, as well as writes boiler and machinery coverage; marine coverage, including hull, cargo, and protection and indemnity; homeowners and dwelling fire insurance; and property facultative reinsurance for insurance companies. The Surety segment specializes in writing small-to-large commercial and small contract surety coverages, as well as for the energy, petrochemical, and refining industries. It offers miscellaneous bonds, such as license and permit, notary, and court bonds; and fidelity and crime coverage for commercial insured and select financial institutions. RLI Corp. was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in Peoria, Illinois.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Neil Macneale]
The top-rated stock among split announcements is RLI Corp. (RLI). I had never heard of this company, and I'm pleased to make its acquaintance.
- [By Ben Levisohn]
For the past several years, Berkshire has contrasted its own cost-free float provided by profitable underwriting against the industry�� (unimpressive) tendency to lose money on underwriting while generating net returns from investment income. So far, so good. Less edifying, though, is the repeated contrast of Berkshire�� track record of profitability to State Farm��…even though, as a mutual company, State Farm�� profitability goals are inherently different from for-profit insurers like Berkshire. It�� true that through year-end 2013, Berkshire�� underwriters have ��ow operated at an underwriting profit for eleven consecutive years,��but so have ACE (ACE), American Financial (AFG),� AmTrust Financial (AFSI), Arch Capital (ACGL), Chubb (CB), HCC (HCC), Progressive (PGR), RLI (RLI), and W.R. Berkley (WRB), any or all of whom provide a more meaningful comparison than contrasting Berkshire�� results to a company that�� not out to produce a profit in the first place.
Hot Healthcare Technology Stocks For 2015: Sturm Ruger & Company Inc. (RGR)
Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of firearms in the United States. The company offers its products under the ?Ruger? name and trademark in four product categories, including single-shot, autoloading, bolt-action, and sporting rifles; over and under shotguns; rimfire autoloading and centerfire autoloading pistols; and single action and double action revolvers. It also manufactures and sells accessories and replacement parts for its firearms. In addition, the company produces and sells investment castings made from steel alloys. Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. sells its firearms through a network of selected licensed independent wholesale distributors; and markets investment castings through manufacturer?s representatives to commercial, sporting goods, and military sectors. The company was founded in 1948 and is based in Southport, Connecticut.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rich Duprey]
After the rapid-fire growth it experienced last year, the firearms industry is ready for a breather. Both Sturm, Ruger (NYSE: RGR ) and Smith & Wesson Holding (NASDAQ: SWHC ) still look like they're shooting out the lights, but with FBI background checks for gun applications cooling down considerably, investors might want to lower their sights for gunmakers just a bit.
- [By Steve Symington]
Investors who played the trend were certainly rewarded for their efforts; check out the performance of Cabelas, Olin, and gunmaker Sturm, Ruger (NYSE: RGR ) from the time Olin says the demand spiked until last Wednesday:
Hot Healthcare Technology Stocks For 2015: SilverSun Technologies Inc (SSNT)
SilverSun Technologies Inc, formerly Trey Resources, Inc., incorporated on October 3, 2002, is a business consultant for small and medium sized businesses and resellers and developers of financial accounting software. It also publishes its own electronic data interchange (EDI) software. It specializes in software integration and deployment, programming, and training and technical support, aimed at improving the financial reporting and operational efficiencies of small and medium sized companies. The sale of its financial accounting software is concentrated in the northeastern United States, while its EDI software and programming services are sold to corporations nationwide. It also provides software customization, data migration, business consulting, and implementation assistance for complex design environments. The Company�� three product categories include Financial Accounting Software, Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Software and Warehouse Management Systems. Its services include network services and business consulting. In January 2012, the Company acquired the Sage software customer accounts of IncorTech. In January 2012, the Company acquired remaining 20% of SWK Technologies. In April 2012, its subsidiary, SWK Technologies, sold the Sage ERP X3 global enterprise solution to a power generation facility in the Northeastern United States. In June 2012, the Company acquired Micro-Point, Inc. In February 2013, the Company's SWK Technologies, Inc. acquired Sage business partner accounts of Point Solutions, LLC. In February 2013, its wholly owned subsidiary, SWK Technologies Inc., completed the acquisition of the Sage business partner accounts of Colleyville, Texas-based SGEN, LLC (d/b/a Software Generation).
Financial Accounting Software
The Company resells accounting software published by Sage Software, Inc. (Sage) and Intuit, Inc. for the financial accounting requirements of small and medium sized businesses focused on manufacturing and distribution, and the delivery of! related services from the sales of these products, including installation, support and training. These product sales are primarily packaged software programs installed on a user workstation, on a local area network server, or in a hosted environment. The programs perform and support a variety of functions related to accounting, including financial reporting, accounts payable and accounts receivable, and inventory management. The Company provides a variety of services along with its financial accounting software sales. These services include training, technical support, and professional services. It also provides on-site training services that are tailored to meet the needs of a particular customer. It provides end-user technical support services through our support/help desk. Its professional services include project-focused offerings, such as software customization, data migration, and small and medium sized business consulting.
The Company competes with Microsoft.
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Software
The Company publishes its own EDI software MAPADOC. The MAPADOC EDI solution is a fully integrated EDI solution that provides users of Sage Software�� MAS family of accounting software products. MAPADOC provides the user with data entry time, elimination of redundant steps, the lowering of paper and postage costs, the reduction of time spent typing, signing, checking and approving documents and the ability to self-manage EDI. The Company markets MAPADOC solutions to its existing and new small and medium-sized business customers, and through a network of resellers.
The Company competes with True Commerce and Kissinger Associates.
Warehouse Management System (WMS)
The Company is a reseller of the Warehouse Management System (WMS) software published by Accellos, Inc. Accellos, Inc. develops warehouse management software for mid-market distributors. The primary purpose of a WMS is to control the movement and storage of mat! erials wi! thin an operation and process the associated transactions. The detailed setup and processing within a WMS can vary from one software vendor to another. The basic WMS uses a combination of item, location, quantity, unit of measure, and order information to determine where to stock, where to pick, and in what sequence to perform these operations. Accellos works as part of a operational solution by integrating seamlessly with RF hardware, accounting software, shipping systems and warehouse automation equipment. The Company markets the Accellos solution to its existing and new medium-sized business customers.
Network Services And Business Consulting
The Company provides network maintenance and service upgrades for its business clients. It provides various services for its clients, including server implementation, support and assistance, operation and maintenance of central systems, technical design of network infrastructure, technical troubleshooting for large scale problems, network and server security, and backup, archiving, and storage of data from servers.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By CRWE]
Today, SSNT has shed (-8.33%) down -0.010 at $.110 with 3,500 shares in play thus far (ref. google finance Delayed: 10:08AM EDT September 12, 2013).
SilverSun Technologies, Inc. previously reported its second quarter results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013.
Financial highlights for 3 months ended June 30, 2013 compared to 3 months ended june 30, 2012 are as follows. The Company reported revenues increased to $3,870,598, rising 26% from $3,071,425. Software sales climbed 14% to $528,368 from $462,151. Services revenues totaled $3,342,230, increasing 28% from $2,609,264. Income from operations rose to $77,339 from a loss from operations of $319,781. Net income was $62,185, or $0.00 earnings per basic and diluted share, compared to a net loss of $334,031, or 0.00 loss per basic and diluted share.
Hot Healthcare Technology Stocks For 2015: Aceto Corporation(ACET)
Aceto Corporation engages in the sourcing, regulatory support, marketing, and distribution of pharmaceutical intermediates and active ingredients, finished dosage form generics, nutraceutical products, agricultural protection products, and specialty chemicals worldwide. The company operates in three segments: Health Sciences, Specialty Chemicals, and Agricultural Protection Products. The Health Sciences segment supplies raw materials used in the production of nutritional and packaged dietary supplements, including vitamins, amino acids, iron compounds, and bio chemicals used in pharmaceutical and nutritional preparations. The Specialty Chemicals segment provides various chemicals used in plastics, surface coatings, textiles, fuels, and lubricants; organic intermediates used in the production of agrochemicals; and dye and pigment intermediates used in the color-producing industries, such as textiles, inks, paper, and coatings. This segment also offers diazos and couplers to the paper, film, and electronics industries. The Agricultural Protection Products segment sells herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, and other agricultural chemicals that control weed growth, as well as control the spread of insects and other microorganisms that can damage plant growth. This segment also provides sprout inhibitor for potatoes and an herbicide for sugar cane. It serves pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, agricultural, coatings, and industrial chemical consuming industries. Aceto Corporation was founded in 1947 and is headquartered in Port Washington, New York.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Richard Moroney]
Aceto (ACET) announced a 9% increase in its per-share dividend in August, the first increase since it switched to a quarterly payout schedule in 2012.
- [By Louis Navellier]
Portfolio Grader has noted the strong fundamentals and upgraded HII stock to an “A” last month, making it a strong buy consideration at current prices.
Aceto (ACET)Aceto (ACET) sources and sells the ingredients for pharmaceutical products. ACET operates in three divisions:
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