Best Construction Companies To Own For 2015

Best Construction Companies To Own For 2015: Tile Shop Holdings Inc (TTS)

Tile Shop Holdings, Inc., incorporated on June 21, 2012, is a specialty retailer of manufactured and natural stone tiles, setting and maintenance materials, and related accessories in the United States. The Company sells over 4,500 products from around the world, including ceramic, porcelain, glass, and stainless steel manufactured tiles and, marble, granite, quartz, sandstone, travertine, slate, and onyx natural tiles. It purchases its tile products and accessories directly from producers. The Company manufactures its own setting and maintenance materials, such as thinset, grout, and sealers under its brand name. The Company operates 70 stores in 22 states, with an average size of 23,000 square feet. It also sells its products on its Website. In January 2014 Tile Shop Holdings Inc launched its first retail store in Oklahoma City.

The Company offers a complete assortment of tile products, generally sourced directly from producers, including ceramic, porcelain, glass, and stainless steel manufactured tiles, and marble, granite, quartz, sandstone, travertine, slate, and onyx natural tiles. The Company also offers a range of setting and maintenance materials, such as thinset, grout and sealers, and accessories, including installation tools, shower and bath caddies, drains, and similar products.

The Company competes with Home Depot, Tile America, World of Tile, Century Tile, and Floor and Decor, Dal-Tile and Florida Tile.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Steve Symington]

  Almost two months ago, I singled outTile Shop Holdings (NASDAQ: TTS  ) as one ofthree great small-cap stockswith which many investors might not be familiar. After all, the high-end stone and tile specialist still had a market capitalization under $800 million at the time, and only just went public late last year.

source from Top Penny Stock! s For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/best-construction-companies-to-own-for-2015.html

Best Gas Stocks To Watch Right Now

Best Gas Stocks To Watch Right Now: SEACOR Holdings Inc (CKH)

SEACOR Holdings Inc, incorporated on November 7, 1989, is a global provider of equipment and services primarily supporting the offshore oil and gas and marine transportation industries. The Company offers customers a diversified suite of services, including offshore marine, aviation, inland river, marine transportation, crisis and emergency management preparedness and response solutions, commodity trading and logistics and offshore and harbor towing. On March 19, 2012, J.F. Lehman & Company acquired National Response Corporation and its affiliated businesses NRC Environmental Services, SEACOR Response, and SEACOR Environmental Products (collectively NRC) from the Company. In January 2013, the Company sold its energy trading division, SEACOR Energy Inc. to Par Petroleum Corporation. On January 31, 2013, it completed the spin off its Era Group Inc unit (Era).

Offshore Marine Services

The Companys Marine operates a diversified fleet of vessels, s ervicing the offshore oil and gas exploration, development, and production industry worldwide.The Companys marine provides its customers with the assembly of offshore vessel services in the global offshore oil and gas industry, including transport of personnel, platform supply, offshore accommodation, intervention, maintenance and repair support, standby safety services, anchor handling and mooring services, wind farm support, lift boat services, offshore construction support, well enhancement support, and lightering services.

Aviation Services

The Companys aviation services subsidiary, Era Group (Era), is the helicopter operators globally. ra supports the oil and gas industry in the United States Gulf of Mexico, Alaska, and internationally. Era provides air medical services, firefighting support, flightseeing tours in Alaska, and Search and Rescue and Emergency Medical Services. Era's affiliate, Era Training Center, offers flight trainin! g ser vices. Era also markets and distributes specialty helicopter! equipment and accessories.

Inland River Services

The Companys Inland River Services group owns and operates modern river transportation equipment; owns covered and open hopper barges, 10,000 and 30,000 barrel tank barges, deck barges, inland river towboats and smaller harbor boats; and provides ancillary services along the United States Inland River Waterways and the Parana-Paraguay and the Magdalena River Systems in South America. SCF Marine operates a fleet of hopper barges along the United States Inland River Waterways and South America, transporting agricultural, industrial, and project cargoes. The liquid division, Supercritical Fluid (SCF) Liquids, is a integrated towboat and tank barge company, specializing in the transportation of chemical, clean, and dirty products. Gateway Terminals is among the newest ethanol and petroleum storage terminals on the Mississippi River, with a capacity of 400,000 barrels and the ability to receive and tra nsfer products by barge, unit train, and truck.

Marine Transportation Services

The Companys ocean shipping and harbor towing subsidiary, SEACOR Ocean Transport, is an owner and operator of equipment engaged in oil transportation, bunkering, harbor towing, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal support, short sea shipping and logistics, and third-party ship management services. Through all aspects of its operations, SEACOR Ocean Transport focuses to provide its customers with marine transportation solutions.

Commodity Trading and Logistics

The Companys Commodity Trading and Logistics group specializes in the purchase, storage, transportation, and sale of agricultural and energy commodities, which include renewable fuels, blendstocks, sugar, rice, and salt. The Agricultural group is primarily focused on the global sourcing and logistics of sugar, rice, salt, and other dry bulk products. The Energy group is primarily f! ocu sed ! on the domestic trading and transportation of physical e! thanol an! d clean blendstocks.

Harbor and Offshore Towing Services

The Companys ocean shipping and harbor towing subsidiary, SEACOR Ocean Transport, is an operator of equipment engaged in oil transportation, bunkering, harbor towing, LNG terminal support, short sea shipping and logistics, and third-party ship management services. The harbor towing services group, Seabulk Towing, is a tugboat operator with operations along the Gulf Coast and Southeastern seaboard port system from Cape Canaveral, Florida, to Port Arthur, Texas. Seabulk Island Transport owns and operates four ocean tugs and five ocean liquid tank barges.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Traders Reserve]

  For investors who want a piece of this developing trend, Transocean and Seadrill are two of the bigger players in this arena. Other offshore drillers/rig operators are Noble (NE) and Ensco (ESV). Companies that provide services to offshore drillers and benefit from increases in exploration and drilling activity are Gulfmark Offshore (GLF), Hornbeck (HOS), Seacor (CKH) and Tidewater (TDW).

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/best-gas-stocks-to-watch-right-now.html

Best India Companies To Watch In Right Now

Best India Companies To Watch In Right Now: Sify Technologies Limited(SIFY)

Sify Technologies Limited provides enterprise and consumer Internet services primarily in India. The company offers various corporate network/data services comprising e-commerce and network connectivity solutions, such as end-to-end services network, application, and security services; voice origination and termination services; co-location and managed hosting services; and system integration services for data centre build, hardware distribution, security solutions, and turnkey projects. It also provides application services, including SLEMS and Microsoft Exchange messaging platforms; I-test for online assessment and LiveWire, which enable management of training processes across the organization; document management system for the management of documents electronically; and Forum, a forward supply chain solution. In addition, the company operates e-Ports that offer browsing, chat, email, gaming, utility bill payment, travel ticketing, hotel booking, mobile recharge, Intern et telephony, and online share trading services; and portals, which provide news, views, reviews, interactions, and services in the areas of movies, sports, finance, food, videos, astrology, online games, shopping, and travel, as well as offers content offerings and broadband services. Further, it provides infrastructure management services, such as network management, datacenter and helpdesk outsourcing, desktop and storage outsourcing, IT security outsourcing, LAN and WAN outsourcing, database and telecom outsourcing, and application monitoring and management services to automotive, chemical, media, and financial enterprises; and virtualization design, integration, and deployment services for servers, storage, networks, and end user clients. Sify has approximately 1,278 e-Ports in 200 towns and cities; and serves 1,06,000 broadband subscribers through 1500 cable TV Operators. The company, formerly known as Sify Limited, was founded in 1995 and i! s based in Chennai, India. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Leading and Lagging Sectors
  Technology stocks gained Tuesday, with Ku6 Media Co (NASDAQ: KUTV) leading advancers. Among leading tech stocks, gains came from Rubicon Technology (NASDAQ: RBCN), Bitauto Holdings (NYSE: BITA) and Sify Technologies (NASDAQ: SIFY).

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Leading and Lagging Sectors
  Technology stocks gained Tuesday, with Ku6 Media Co (NASDAQ: KUTV) leading advancers. Among leading tech stocks, gains came from Rubicon Technology (NASDAQ: RBCN), Bitauto Holdings (NYSE: BITA) and Sify Technologies (NASDAQ: SIFY). Utilities shares dropped by 0.11 percent in the US market today.

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/best-india-companies-to-watch-in-right-now.html

Top 10 India Stocks To Own For 2015

Top 10 India Stocks To Own For 2015: Stewart Information Services Corporation(STC)

Stewart Information Services Corporation provides title insurance and related information services required for settlement by the real estate and mortgage industries. It operates in two segments, Title Insurance-Related Services and Real Estate Information. The Title Insurance-Related Services segment offers services that include searching for and examining documents, such as deeds, mortgages, wills, divorce decrees, court judgments, liens, paving assessments, and tax records, as well as provides titles insurance for residential and commercial properties, undeveloped acreage, farms, ranches, and water rights. This segment serves attorneys, builders, developers, home buyers and home sellers, lenders, and real estate brokers. The Real Estate Information segment offers products and services, which primarily include lender services, title technology, foreign and domestic government services, mapping, title information, Internal Revenue Code Section 1031 tax-deferred property e xchanges, pre-employment services, and online filing and transaction management. Its customers include mortgage lenders and servicers, mortgage brokers, mortgage investors, government entities, commercial and residential real estate agents, land developers, builders, title insurance agencies, and others interested in obtaining property information, as well as accountants, attorneys, investors, and employers. The company has operations primarily in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, central Europe, Mexico, central America, and Australia. Stewart Information Services Corporation was founded in 1893 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By James Fink]

  My housing pick is Houston-based Stewart Information Services (STC), a 120-year-old real estate business founded in 1893, that is still owned and managed by the founding family.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Tower Grou! p has dropped 12% to $3.88 today at 11:39 a.m., while Stewart Information Services (STC) has dipped 0.1% to $31.16, theNavigators Group(NAVG) has fallen 1.4% to $54.78 and HCI Group(HCI) has gained 1% to $38.16.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Tower Group has dropped 40% to $4.43 today, and some other small insurers are also getting dinged this morning. HCI Group (HCI) has fallen 1.8% to $39.36, Stewart Information Services (STC) has declined 0.7% to $31.36 and the Navigators Group (NAVG) has ticked down 0.4% to $56.10.

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/top-10-india-stocks-to-own-for-2015.html

Disney's Empire Strikes on All Fronts to Promote 'Star Wars VII'

Hot Dividend Companies To Watch For 2015

disneyworld.disney.go.com We may be 19 months away from "Star Wars: Episode VII," but it's not too soon to start generating buzz. Director J.J. Abrams announced last week that the film's production crew is teaming up with UNICEF for a contest that will land someone a part in the movie. It's part of the Star Wars: Force for Change campaign that aims to raise funds and awareness for community-building projects in impoverished nations. However, for Disney (DIS) -- the family entertainment giant that paid $4 billion for Lucasfilm two years ago -- this is just another way to keep building interest for a movie that fans have been waiting for since 2005, when the last film came out. Disney wanted to have the new film out by next summer. The folks working on the film wanted to hold out until the summer of 2016 to get everything right. They split the difference. It's coming out on Dec. 18, 2015. It's a foregone conclusion that this will be the hit of the 2015 holiday season. Disney just wants to make sure that it's even bigger than that. Use the Force, Walt Disney has big plans for the Star Wars franchise, and it's apparent to anyone visiting Disney's Hollywood Studios in Florida these days. Celebrities and costumed characters converge for several weekends through June 15. Star Wars Weekends has been an annual event for years before the Lucasfilm acquisition. The park features the Star Wars-themed Star Tours attraction, and it's had a solid relationship with creator George Lucas before cutting him a big check. However, Disney is ramping it up. Character meals -- a staple at Disney's theme parks and resort hotels, where guests pay a premium to dine alongside Mickey Mouse and other characters -- have taken a Star Wars spin at Disney's Hollywood Studios. At the Star Wars Dine-In Galactic Breakfast at the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant, Darth Vader, stormtroopers and other iconic characters visit the dining cars. At night, Jedi Mickey's Star Wars Dine at Hollywood & Vine is hosted by Disney characters decked out in Star Wars garb. Mickey Mouse is Luke Skywalker. Goofy is Darth Vader. Minnie Mouse is Princess Leia, hair buns and all. The meals -- $48 for breakfast or $56 for dinner -- sold out quickly. One could say that patrons are hungry, but Disney's hungry for more. The Dark Side Disney isn't afraid to cut a big check to get its hands on endearing and enduring characters. It has negotiated 10-figure deals for Pixar, Marvel and now Lucasfilm. If you're the owner of a popular character-rich franchise, Disney wants to talk to you. The Pixar and Marvel deals have already paid for themselves by opening up Disney to computer-rendered characters and comic book superheroes. Disney can still create the occasional in-house hit. "Frozen" recently became the highest-grossing animated film of all time. However, the one Disney movie that it has yet to topple is Marvel's "The Avengers." Lucasfilm will be carved out into more than just the final three Star Wars movies. There is already chatter of spinning off secondary characters into their own franchises. Luke Skywalker may have been shocked to learn who his father was, but there's no denying who the parent company of Star Wars is these days. Disney's a well-oiled media empire that can elevate an entertainment brand higher across its TV networks (such as ABC and ESPN), theme parks, retail stores, and even cruise ships. More from Rick Aristotle Munarriz
•Chinese Dot-Coms Are Hot Again - Just Wait for Alibaba's IPO •Buyout Blunders: 5 Firms That Should've Said Yes to the Deals •Wall Street This Week: Good News from AutoZone, Costco?

Pilgrim Pride Corp Offers to Acquire Hillshire Brands Co (HSH)

Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. (PPC) announced on Tuesday morning said that it has made an offer to acquire Hillshire Brands Co. (HSH) for $6.4 billion.

Pilgrim’s Pride has offered Hillshire a total of $45 per share in cash, or $6.4 billion. This deal is expected to close during the third quarter. This report comes just two weeks after HSH agreed to acquire Pinnacle Foods Inc (PF).

Bill Lovette, Pilgrim’s CEO commented: “For Hillshire shareholders, our proposal provides a substantial premium, greater certainty and immediate cash value for their shares. We have long respected the Hillshire business and we are confident that Hillshire's board and shareholders will find our all-cash premium proposal to be superior to the pending acquisition of Pinnacle.”

HSH Dividend Snapshot

As market close on May 23, 2014

Click here to see the complete history of HSH dividends.

Hillshire Brands shares were up $8.21, or 22.20% during pre-market trading Tuesday. The stock is up 10.71% YTD.

Profiting In Bear And Bull Markets

Top 10 Life Sciences Stocks To Invest In 2015

Both bear markets and bull markets represent tremendous opportunities to make money, and the key to success is to use strategies and ideas that can generate profits under a variety of conditions. This requires consistency, discipline, focus and the ability to take advantage of fear and greed. This article will help familiarize you with investments that can prosper in up or down markets.

Ways to Profit in Bear Markets
A bear market is defined as a drop of 20% or more in a market average over a one-year period, measured from the closing low to the closing high. Generally, these market types occur during economic recessions or depressions, when pessimism prevails. But amidst the rubble lie opportunities to make money for those who know how to use the right tools. Following are some ways to profit in bear markets:
Short Positions: Taking a short position, also called short selling, occurs when you sell shares that you don't own in anticipation that the stock will fall in the future. If it works as planned and the share price drops, you must buy those shares at the lower price to cover the short position. For example, if you short ABC stock at $35 per share and the stock falls to $20, you can buy the shares back at $20 to close out the short position. Your overall profit would be $15 per share.
Put Options: A put option is the right to sell a stock at a particular strike price until a certain date in the future, called the expiration date. The money you pay for the option is called a premium. As the stock price falls, you can either exercise the right to sell the stock at the higher strike price or sell the put option, which increases in value as the stock falls, for a profit (provided the stock moves below the strike price).
Short ETFs: A short exchange traded fund (ETF), also called an inverse ETF, produces returns that are the inverse of a particular index. For example, an ETF that performs inversely to the Nasdaq 100 will drop about 25% if that index rises by 25%. But if the index falls 25%, the ETF will rise proportionally. This inverse relationship makes short/inverse ETFs appropriate for investors who want to profit from a downturn in the markets, or who wish to hedge long positions against such a downturn. Ways to Profit in Bull Markets
A bull market occurs when security prices rise faster than the overall average rate. These market types are accompanied by economic growth periods and optimism among investors. Following are some appropriate tools for rising stock markets:
Long Positions: A long position is buying a stock or any other security in anticipation that its price will rise. The overall objective is to buy the stock at a low price and sell it for more than you paid. The difference represents your profit.
Calls: A call option is the right to buy a stock at a particular price until a specified date. A call option buyer, who pays a premium, anticipates that the stock's price will rise, while the call option seller anticipates it will fall. If the stock price rises, the option buyer can exercise the right to buy the stock at the lower strike price and then sell it for a higher price on the open market. The option buyer can also sell the call option in the open market for a profit, assuming the stock is above the strike price.
Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs): Most ETFs follow a particular market average, such as the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) or the Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P 500) and trade like stocks. Generally, the transaction costs and operating expenses are low, and they require no investment minimum. ETFs seek to replicate the movement of the indexes they follow, less expenses. For example, if the S&P 500 rises 10%, an ETF based on the index will rise by approximately the same amount. How to Spot Bear and Bull Markets
Markets trade in cycles, which means that most investors will experience both in a lifetime. The key to profiting in both market types is to spot when the markets are starting to top out or when they are bottoming. Following are two key indicators to look for:
Advance/Decline Line: The advance/decline line represents the number of advancing issues divided by the number of declining issues over a given period. A number greater than 1 is considered bullish, while a number less than 1 is considered bearish. A rising line confirms that the markets are moving higher. However, a declining line during a period when markets continue to rise could signal a correction. When the line has been declining for several months while the averages continue to move higher, this could be considered a negative correlation, and a major correction or a bear market is likely. An advance/decline line that continues to move down signals that the averages will remain weak. However, if the line rises for several months and the averages have moved down, this positive divergence could mean the start of a bull market.
Price Dividend Ratio: This ratio compares the stock's share price with the dividend paid out over the past year. It is calculated by dividing the current stock price by the dividend. A decline in the ratio of 14-17 could indicate an attractive bargain, while a reading above 26 may signal overvaluation. This ratio and its interpretation will vary by industry, as some industries traditionally pay high dividends, while growth sectors often pay little or no dividends. Conclusion
There are many ways to profit in both bear and bull markets. The key to success is using the tools for each market to their full advantage. In addition, it is important to use the indicators in conjunction with one another to spot when both bull and bear markets are beginning or ending.

Short selling, put options, and short or inverse ETFs are just a few bear market tools that allow investors to take advantage of the market weakness, while long positions in stocks and ETFs and a call option are suitable for bull markets. The advanced decline line and price dividend ratio will allow you to spot market tops and bottoms.

5 Best High Tech Stocks To Own For 2015

5 Best High Tech Stocks To Own For 2015: Dorchester Minerals L.P.(DMLP)

Dorchester Minerals, L.P. engages in the acquisition, ownership, and administration of producing and non-producing natural gas and crude oil royalty, net profits, and leasehold interests in the United States. Its net profits interests represent net profits overriding royalty interests in various properties owned by the operating partnership; and royalty properties consist of producing and nonproducing mineral, royalty, overriding royalty, net profits, and leasehold interests located in 574 counties and parishes in 25 states. Dorchester Minerals Management LP serves as the general partner of Dorchester Minerals, L.P. The company was founded in 1982 and is based in Dallas, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Robert Rapier]

  Q: The writer before you did not like Dorchester.  Could you research it and give a recommendation by the next chat?

  Dorchester Minerals (Nasdaq: DMLP) is a Texas-based partnership that owns producing and non-producing crude oil and natural gas properties, royalty, overriding royalty, net profits, and leasehold interests. The partnership is primarily a natural gas producer, and the biggest knock against it historically is that it hasn’t done a great job of growing proved reserves:
  
  
  
  

  Dorchester Minerals Reserves History. Source: Dorchester Minerals Investor Presentation

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/5-best-high-tech-stocks-to-own-for-2015.html

Is that online bargain a deal, or a steal?

Bargain hunters beware: Your online auction purchase might be stolen goods.

Retailers estimate that one-third of auction and blog sites' listings for "new in box" or "new with tags" items are actually goods that were stolen through organized retail theft or otherwise fraudulently obtained, according to a new National Retail Federation report.

Nearly two-thirds — 61.1% — of the 76 retail loss prevention executives surveyed reported seeing an increase in such "e-fencing" over the past year.

"Thieves are preying on people looking for the best price," said Rich Mellor, senior advisor for asset protection at the NRF.

What thieves pick comes down to two attributes: "small box, big value," said Mark Turnage, chief executive of OpSec Security, which has monitored online sites for stolen items on behalf of clients. Commonly stolen items include razor blades, makeup, skincare products, baby formula, over-the-counter medications and tooth-whitening strips. Thieves also lift small gadgets such as disposable cellphones, digital cameras and electric shavers.

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Gift-card buyers may be an unwitting link in the retail-theft chain, too. About three-quarters of retailers told the NRF they see thieves returning stolen merchandise to get store credit, which the thieves then sell on the secondary market. Shoppers would encounter those as secondhand gift cards, probably loaded with an odd dollar amount.

Even if you're not concerned about the long-term, broader effect of organized retail theft on your wallet—retailers may account for such losses when setting prices and determining discount promotions — there are plenty of reasons for shoppers to worry right now about whether they're buying stolen goods.

Health and safety concerns are paramount for inge! sted goods — including over-the-counter meds and baby formula. "You have no idea what the storage conditions have been," said Turnage. Products may be expired, or have been stored at temperatures too high or low, making them less effective and unsafe to consume, he said.

There's also a slim chance of legal consequences for possessing stolen property. "Certainly, theoretically, someone who buys stolen property from an online vendor is just as liable as someone who buys it out of the back of a truck," said Stuart P. Green, a law professor at Rutgers University. Depending on how the local or state law is written, not knowing it was stolen isn't always a defense.

That said, the odds of being arrested are low. "As a matter of enforcement, it's bound to be harder to pursue people who are doing that," said Green, author of Thirteen Ways to Steal a Bicycle: Theft Law in the Information Age. Law enforcement is more likely to go after the thieves themselves, as well as the websites facilitating the transaction.

Spotting a steal

Retailers have been working with law enforcement and various websites to reduce the number of listings involving stolen goods, Mellor said. An eBay spokesman said the company has dedicated teams to mitigate listings of stolen property and other fraud. "We utilize a combination of sophisticated detection tools, enforcement and strong relationships with brand owners, retailers and law enforcement agencies to effectively combat fraudulent activity and present our customers with a safe, trusted shopping experience," he said.

Still, it's worth approaching online purchases from unknown retailers and individuals with caution:

"The very first warning flag that should go off for the consumers is quantity," said Turnage. Someone selling one or two new items might have legit reasons—they were an unwanted (and unreturnable) gift, for example. But thieves tend to list in bulk, something you'd spot looking at that seller's other current and recent listings. "Nobo! dy goes i! nto a store and buys two gross [i.e., two dozen dozen] and says, 'Oh, I bought too much, I'll go home and sell them online,'" he said.

Big discounts of 25% off or better can also be a red flag, said Mellor. There shouldn't be the same price cut on a brand new item as for one that's already been opened or gently used.

It can also help to scrutinize packaging, in photos and (if you do choose to buy) upon arrival. Thieves often blur out existing expiration dates or re-sticker them to make the product look current. But this tactic isn't foolproof. "The thieves are very good about changing labels on product," said Mellor.

© CNBC is a USA TODAY content partner offering financial news and commentary. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

Remarrying in retirement? Look before you leap

This is the reality: Baby Boomers are getting unhitched at a somewhat alarming rate.

Divorce can be devastating at almost any stage in life, but it can be downright disastrous to those preparing for or already in retirement.

One of the results, though, is that many are remarrying later in life. And the complications that come with second and third marriages -- ex-spouses, step children and retirement savings -- warrant special attention.

"The divorce rate on second marriages is over 60%," says Manhattan attorney Ann-Margaret Carrozza. "All marriages will end, whether it ends at death or divorce, but there are peculiar and particular property issues because one or both probably has adult children from a prior marriage."

The divorce rate among adults 50 and older doubled between 1990 and 2010, says the national Center for Family & Marriage Research. And the reasons, according to a new report by Securian Financial Group, is the same as divorces among younger age groups: lack of communication, financial disagreements, differing lifestyle expectations and simply growing apart.

And as complicated as divorce can be, remarriage can present another set of issues. So, financial planners and attorneys have advice for people about to take their second or third jump into matrimony, whether it's after divorce or after the death of a spouse. Tips from the experts:

1. Openly discuss both of your finances.

"The first recommendation I have for couples going into second or third marriage is don't do it alone," says Shelly-Ann Eweka, a financial planning manager at TIAA-CREF. " Talk to financial planning professionals."

Shelly-Ann Eweka is a financial planning manager at TIAA-CREF.(Photo: .)

Most people don't.! "Nearly two-thirds of married couples that were wedded last year did not talk about combining their finances or anything about finances," says Kimberly Foss, founder and president of Empyrion Wealth Management is Roseville, Calif.. "This is terrible."

Foss, author of the book Wealthy by Design: A 5-Step Plan for Financial Security, says she initially advises women "in transition" (divorced or widowed) to not talk about finances until a relationship gets serious.

"But at that age, when it's serious, when you talk about a wedding date, that's the time people should be talking about finances," she says.

Unfortunately, a lot of people who are getting married the second time want to keep their assets separate, says Jennifer Landon, President of Journey Financial Services, Idaho Falls, Idaho. ". Often they want to see that the spouse is taken care of. But beyond that they want to make sure anything left goes to their children."

But prospective spouses also need to know how much is already going to the children, says Dan McElwee, executive vice president at Ventura Wealth Management in Princeton, N.J. Millennials often have huge college debt, but parents often guarantee it."

For instance, he says, supposed a person guaranteed $250,000 in loans. "If my spouse were not to know about the debt I've guaranteed, that can be a tension point," he says.

2. Both partners need to review each other's credit reports.

"You should be disclosing your credit report, he should be disclosing his credit report," says Foss. "You need to be completely honest about where you stand financially. Finances are number one reason people get divorced, be it first , second or third marriage.​ The reason a lot of people don't is because often they don't have courage to talk about where they are financially," she says.

Foss recommends this for first marriages also. "A credit report will show a lot of your history. If you pay your bills or if you're been delinquent. Be honest about money befo! re the ma! rriage so that can alleviate future discord down the road."

Kimberly Foss wrote "Wealthy by Design: A 5-Step Plan for Financial Security."(Photo: .)

You have good reason to know your partner's debts, says Eweka. "You want to know what liabilities or what debt you and your spouse owe. There are some states where debts are a joint liabilities, regardless of who acquired it, during marriage. Be aware if there is substantial debt. You and and potential spouse need to communicate openly about plan to pay off that debt. It can be a huge challenge and cause a lot of stress."

3. Remember to change your beneficiaries.

John Bucsek, managing director of MetLife Solutions Group, says one of the biggest mistakes people make when they remarry is forgetting to change beneficiaries.

"Understanding and reviewing you beneficiaries on life insurance, annuities, IRAs is important," he says. "Also, your benefits at work. Quite often people have forgotten about those things. I've been involved where current spouse forgot to change the beneficiary from his old spouse. But it's binding, and money is going to the ex-spouse."

Top Defensive Stocks To Own For 2015

"There are certain financial assets where you name a direct beneficiary," says Curt Knotick, CEO of Accurate Solutions Group in Butler, Pa. "You have to understand the difference between beneficiary and a will. Beneficiary trumps will. You have to update. If you want your children to receive assets, make sure you update that benefit designation. In addition, CD accounts brokerage accounts, they can be listed as a transfer on death. Make sure it is updated with proper beneficiary de! signation! ."

4. Consider a pre-nuptial agreement.

'It's very important that anyone in a second marriage consider a pre-nup," says Carrozza. "Without a pre-nup, state law will give the surviving spouse extensive rights to the estate of the first to die. People in second marriages that didn't get a pre-nup, should consider a post nuptial agreement where they solidify their rights.

Carozza says she makes bringing up a pre-nup can be awkward for someone about to be married. So, she says, she tells clients to attribute the pre-nup to her.

"It's easier when it's coming from the evil lawyer," she says. "I sometimes soften the blow by saying I know this is the last thing you are thinking about. I become the heavy and say they absolutely have to do it or the kids will be fighting with each other."

5. Before you add your new partner's name to your home, consider the consequences.

"The single biggest issue involves the family home," says Carrozza. "In a second marriage, the primary residence is more likely to been titled in one family's name. I don't advice that couple in the second home own the home jointly. If they have adult children joint ownership will result in a windfall for one side or another. If the individual who owns the home puts the new spouse on the home, she inherits the house. If she dies, her children get it to the exclusion of the original owner's children.

Instead, she suggests a that you keep the home in your name and give your spouse occupancy rights, which will terminate upon that surviving spouse's death, remarriage or a stay in a nursing home. And the home will revert to the original owner's children.

"Children can be a little funny," says Curt Knotick, CEO of Accurate Solutions Group in Butler, Pa. "A second marriage and third marriage is one of biggest threats to their inheritance."

Warren Buffett Is Buying This Dividend Machine. Should You?

What do Warren Buffett, John Paulson, and Daniel Loeb have in common?

Well, yes, they are all really, really, really rich. Fair point.

But they are all also buying Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ  ) , according to required regulatory disclosures this week. The news has the stock trading higher by nearly 2.5% on Friday. 

If these giants of the investing world are buying, should you?

First of all, how much buying are we talking about?
Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK-A  ) (NYSE: BRK-B  ) bought a stake worth about $524 million as of March 31. An investment of this size likely means that the investment was made not by the Oracle of Omaha himself, but more likely one of his lieutenants, Ted Weschler or Todd Combs.

John Paulson disclosed a new position of about $416 million. Loeb's fund, Third Point LLC, bought about $166 million of Verizon stock. 

Verizon, as of Friday morning, has a market cap of $203 billion. All combined, the Berkshire, Third Point, and Paulson positions represent somewhere around 0.5% of the company.

Why are they buying?
Verizon's fundamentals are pretty fantastic. The company's financials are stable, marked by slow, steady growth and loads of cash flow. It's this cash flow that supports the second largest dividend on the Dow at 4.4%.

Verizon currently trades at about 11 times trailing twelve month earnings, according to Yahoo! Finance. Verizon's largest competitor, AT&T (NYSE: T  ) trades at 10.7 times trailing twelve month earnings. 

Speaking of AT&T
Earlier, I mentioned that Verizon has the second largest dividend on the Dow.

Who is #1?

That's right, AT&T.

AT&T currently has a dividend yield of 5.4%, and overall has a similar profile to Verizon. The company is huge, stable, slowly growing, and throwing off so, so much cash. On the surface, the companies really are very similar.

So what's the difference between AT&T and Verizon? Why are Paulson, Loeb, and Berkshire Hathaway all buying Verizon but not AT&T?

The truth is impossible to say. Perhaps one or all of these investors will speak publicly about their logic. But short of that, we're all just guessing. 

My opinion -- Verizon over AT&T
To me, the decision to buy Verizon over AT&T boils down to a two factors--one negative for AT&T and one positive for Verizon.

AT&T may not see the forest from the trees
Over the past six months, AT&T has been in a price war with smaller rival T-Mobile. The company won't admit this is happening, but a quick search will yield hundreds of articles detailing the subtle changes in AT&T's basic wireless plans targeted directly at T-Mobile.

Price wars, while potentially beneficial for the winner in the long term, can really hurt an organization's bottom line in the interim. And the benefits only really accrue if the company wins the war.

AT&T CFO John Stevens said of T-Mobile, "The competition is more noisey than disruptive."

That may be true, but the competition seems to have AT&T distracted at best, and more likely engaged in a price war despite the corporate public relations spin.

As an investor, I don't want my top executives squabbling semantics with an non-threatening, small competitor. I want them to be ruthlessly focused on the future, on executing, on out innovating the competition.

AT&T seems reactive. The best companies are not reactive, they are proactive.

Consumers simply prefer Verizon
In the world of wireless telecoms, consumer opinion matters. It shapes perception, and it dictates buying decisions. If I come into a decision with a predisposition that option A is better than option B, I'm much more likely to just go with option A. 

This is a huge advantage for Verizon, and a real problem for AT&T. Think back just a few years ago when the iPhone was exclusively available on AT&T's network. Do you remember the slow data? The dropped calls? The lost signals inside buildings?

I remember, and so do consumers across the nation. The experience still lingers in the collective conscious. In a Consumer Reports survey late last year, consumer said that Verizon is far and away the favored carrier among the largest U.S. providers. 

Hot Mid Cap Companies To Invest In Right Now

Verizon scored 71 points out of 100. That compares to 64 for AT&T and 65 for T-Mobile. Sprint was last with a score of 59. 

In other words, AT&T scored closer to last place than it did to first place Verizon. 

So, should you be buying?
To me, Verizon makes sense as a buy. The company trades at just 11 times earnings, it's a cash flow and profit machine, and its 4.4% dividend yield is pretty awesome. 

I also like that Verizon is the perennial top pick for consumers when evaluating the quality of the wireless network. Consumers buy what they perceive as the best option; today that option is Verizon.

The world is going mobile driven by smartphones and tablets, and the future of telecom is wireless, high speed broadband. From a big picture perspective, Verizon is positioned perfectly to profit from this transformation.

From the micro perspective to the macro perspective, Verizon makes a lot of sense. Its no wonder that Berkshire, Paulson, and Loeb are all buying.

Top dividend stocks for the next decade
The smartest investors know that dividend stocks simply crush their non-dividend paying counterparts over the long term. That's beyond dispute. They also know that a well-constructed dividend portfolio creates wealth steadily, while still allowing you to sleep like a baby. Knowing how valuable such a portfolio might be, our top analysts put together a report on a group of high-yielding stocks that should be in any income investor's portfolio. To see our free report on these stocks, just click here now.

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Analysts' Actions: CNP DKS EVR NMBL

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- RATINGS CHANGES

CST Brands (CST) was initiated with a hold rating at TheStreet Ratings.

Cree (CREE) was downgraded to hold at TheStreet Ratings.

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) was reinitiated at Barclays with an equal-weight rating. Catalysts include underlying demand growth in Texas at the utilities and distribution growth in the Anadarko system, Barclays said. Twelve-month price target is $26. Dick's Sporting Goods (DKS) was downgraded at Piper Jaffray to neutral from overweight. Twelve-month price target is $48. Company is facing increased competition in hard goods, Piper Jaffray said. Dick's Sporting Goods was upgraded at BMO Capital to market perform from underperform. Valuation call, based on a 12-month price target of $46, BMO Capital said. Evercore (EVR) was upgraded at JMP Securities to outperform from market perform. Twelve-month price target is $64. Stock is attractive, following the recent pullback, JMP said. Nimble Storage (NMBL) was upgraded at Wunderlich to buy from hold. Twelve-month price target is $38. New system architecture has been gaining traction and the company can gain market share, Wunderlich said. Editor's note: To see analysts' stock comments and changes to price targets and earnings estimates, go to "Street Notes" which is available only to Real Money subscribers. To find out how to become a subscriber, please click here. Follow TheStreet on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook. >>Read More: Don't Even Think About Selling Facebook >>Read More: Why AT&T's Deal for DirecTV Makes No Sense

Stock quotes in this article: CNP, DKS, EVR, NMBL 

Analysis: Credit agencies remain unaccountable

The Securities and Exchange Commission has kept the credit rating industry — whose dominant members, Standard & Poor's and Moody's, played a notoriously key role in the financial crisis — in legal limbo for four years. And the industry's just fine with that.

Apparently so are members of Congress, who have failed to press the SEC to hold credit agencies accountable, as law requires, for the ratings they issue on securities backed by mortgages or other assets.

The law, part of the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010 that Congress passed in response to the crisis, was intended to fix a main cause of the meltdown: high but highly inaccurate credit ratings that firms, particularly S&P and Moody's, gave to the likes of investment bank Lehman Brothers before it failed, insurance giant AIG before it nearly failed and billions of dollars of subprime mortgage securities that proved worthless.

"I'm disappointed," says Barney Frank, the now retired congressmen from Massachusetts who, as chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, helped craft the act that bears his name.

So are investors, who say the SEC's inaction leaves the economy vulnerable. They worry an ongoing lack of accountability permits credit agencies to return to bad habits.

"(A) higher standard of accountability ... would make rating agencies more diligent about the ratings process and, ultimately, more accountable for sloppy performance," says Ann Yerger, head of the Council of Institutional Investors, a shareholder advocacy group representing pension funds, employee benefit funds, endowments and foundations with combined assets of more than $3 trillion.

Dennis M. Kelleher, CEO of Better Markets, a nonpartisan, nonprofit group pushing to make financial markets fairer and more transparent, agrees: "Credit rating agencies are critical and must be held liable for their failures. The SEC has failed the American people."

S&P, Moody's and smaller rival Fitch for decades have avoided legal liability by suc! cessfully arguing in court case after court case that credit ratings are merely opinions and therefore protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Dodd-Frank changes that. It requires the SEC hold credit rating agencies to the same standard of "expert liability" that auditors and lawyers face when they give opinions in financial filings with the agency.

The SEC issued a rule in 2010 doing just that. The credit agencies response? They went on strike, threatening to withhold ratings. That would have disrupted credit markets, which rely on the agencies' assessment of how creditworthy securities and the companies that issue them are. Specifically, it would have frozen the asset-backed securities market that, including mortgage-backed securities, accounted for 25% of the nearly $40 trillion debt outstanding at the end of 2013.

SEC officials quickly backed down, saying that they would temporarily not enforce the rule so that credit agencies could have six months to adjust. That was four years ago, with no end in sight.

Credit reporting agencies like this state of affairs, because, although they lost the lobbying war to have the expert liability provision deleted from Dodd-Frank, they so far have won the fight to not have to comply with it.

Kathleen Day is a lecturer at The Johns Hopkins Carey Business School(Photo: Handout)

But as the economy recovers, and debt markets rebound, pension funds and other professional investors grow increasingly impatient with inaction by Congress and the SEC. Investors often are required to use credit ratings in weighing the risk a security will default.

Requiring the expert liability standard in SEC filings is one of several provisions in Dodd-Frank intended both to h! old credi! t agencies accountable and, at the same time, reduce the investing public's reliance on their ratings. For example, the act also requires the SEC and other federal agencies to delete references to credit ratings in regulations.

But while Dodd-Frank aims to reduce investors' reliance on ratings, it does not prevent them from doing so. And for those who do, Dodd-Frank says courts can hold a credit agency financially liable if it committed fraud or acted recklessly in preparing a rating. In other words, when credit agencies act irresponsibly, they can no longer rely on First Amendment protection against suits brought by investors.

"If credit rating agencies are deficient or do a bad job, they should be liable for investor losses. The risk of liability is really the only way to get quality control from them," Kelleher says.

Gregory W. Smith, CEO of the Colorado Public Employees' Retirement Association, agrees but is more sympathetic to the political reality the SEC faces. Unlike most other financial regulators, the SEC's budget is part of Congress's annual funding process. That enables financial industry executives who want less oversight to lobby to keep the agency underfunded and therefore constantly short of the manpower needed to do its job of policing markets and implementing new rules and oversight.

"In a perfect world, the SEC would have all the resources necessary to enforce credit rating agency accountability as it was originally contemplated in Dodd-Frank," Smith says.

Spokesmen for S&P and Moody's declined to comment except to say that they should not be held to the same liability standard that auditors face in SEC filings.

Officials at the SEC won't comment except to say that implementing Dodd-Frank is a top priority, which SEC Chairman Mary Jo White reiterated during recent testimony before the House Financial Services Committee. No specific mention of credit rating agency accountability came up at the hearing. Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas)! referred! to a spokesman questions about what, if any, oversight his committee has done on the issue. The spokesman pointed to a 15-month-old statement pledging oversight.

A spokesman for the Senate Banking Committee, chaired by Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.), declined comment.

Kathleen Day is a lecturer at The Johns Hopkins Carey Business School with campuses in Baltimore and Washington. Her e-mail is: kathleen.day@jhu.edu. Website: carey.jhu.edu.

EUR Contained While GBP Has Potential

Looking at Euro policy makers, from a market and credibility perspective, they are playing with fire by using strong words to talk about action in June. The biggest risk to the market is the ECB disappointing at the next rate decision meeting on June 5th as it has done in the past. If so, all the hard work done by the EUR bear over the past ten-day's would immediately be unwound, allowing the 18-member currency to bounce back towards the heavily defended and psychological €1.4000 print. The current price action since the single-currency's fall from grace after the ECB meeting could be ending.

To many, ECB action seems certain, but what's to be delivered remains unclear. Euro policy makes will have to deliver a compelling initiative, enough to ensure financial markets react positively and weaken the EUR. A -10/15 bp cut in key rates, a negative deposit rate and or leaving the SMP unsterilized is some examples of what's possible. Many expect that slashing deposit rates could have the biggest impact on weakening the EUR, especially against USD and GBP –now that the FED and BoE are expected to hike next year.

Large EUR outright moves are not common in this low rate environment. The current suppressed ‘option' volatilities would suggest that the most recent of declines could be a “one-off.” The EUR's rally from €1.3648 to €1.3732 coupled with the accompanying dip in US yields have certainly surprised a large percentage of the market. So far, this squeeze has not broken any technical levels, allowing investors to continue to try and pick-tops. Obviously, the longer the price action congregates at or near current levels (€1.3725), will begin to make the EUR bear that bit more nervous. Yesterday's larger buyers – mostly reserve managers – have an end use for the currency. Today's short positions are predominately being held by speculators. The EUR's recent rise, especially ahead of the weekend, could lead to further EUR support and more profit taking. However, from a technical perspective it would probably take a solid move above €1.3810 to damage any EUR bears hopes. For now, the single currency's bottom may be in, while the tops progress could be confined to €1.3800 region at least until next months ECB meet.

For now, the pound looks to be the best buy of a bad bunch, at least until the “long” trade has become ‘overcrowded' again. This was certainly in evidence when cable broke through the £1.7000 handle. Once through, many spec position began to talk €1.74 to £1.8000. However, the bull-run fell apart on the back of the EUR outright decline. Recent GBP selling has been led mostly by the EUR being dumped. With the spec long position now somewhat reduced the rate differential viewpoint certainly supports buying sterling on dips. For now, the 55-DMA and last months low (£1.6723) continues to support the pound.

The following article is from one of our external contributors. It does not represent the opinion of Benzinga and has not been edited.

Posted-In: Forex Markets

Originally posted here...

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Rackspace Hosting, Inc. (RAX) Q1 Earnings Preview: What a Difference $0.07 Makes

Rackspace Hosting, Inc. (NYSE:RAX) will release its First Quarter 2014 results After the market close on Monday, May 12, 2014. On the same day, management will host a conference call starting at 4:30 p.m. ET, 3:30 p.m. CT, 1:30 p.m. PT.

Wall Street anticipates that the cloud company will earn $0.12 per share for the quarter, which is $0.07 less than last year's profit of $0.19 per share. iStock expects Rackspace to hitWall Street's consensus number. The iEstimate is $0.12, too.

Sales, unlike earnings, are expected to increase, rising by a healthy 15.9% year-over-year (YoY). RAX's consensus revenue estimate for Q1 is $419.63 million, more than last year's $362.2 million.

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Rackspace Hosting offers a diverse portfolio of cloud computing services, including public, dedicated and private cloud, and hybrid hosting. The Company is a global company, selling its services to business customers in more than 120 countries.

Hitting Wall Street's target is the norm for RAX. Actual results equaled the consensus estimate eight of the last 16 quarterly announcements; however, things have become a more difficult lately.

The technology company missed the mark three of the last four quarters, falling short by an average of 12% less than forecasted. Those bearish misses were not kind to shareholder. RAX tumbled -15.6%, -15.9% and -19.30% in the three days surrounding the trio of EPS mishaps – OUCH! Meanwhile, the lone bullish beat in the last four got a yawn from investors, gaining just 0.7%.

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Although recent history is not favorable to earnings, two analysts upped their profit estimates within the last 30-days; one in the last week. That being said, the consensus of $0.12 is less than where analysts started the quarter: $0.15.

After reviewing RAX's income statement, we find some things we like and some we don't. We'll start with the don't like. Management increased general and administrative expenses (G&A) by 21.57% in 2013 versus sales growth of 17.23%. Had the executive team kept G&A in-line with sales growth, it would have added $10.6 million or $0.07 per share. The three misses in the last four quarters totaled $0.06.

On the plus side, Rackspace is investing heavily in research and development (R&D), and sales and marketing (S&M), both of which should payoff down the road.

Overall: Rackspace Hosting, Inc. (NYSE:RAX) struggled to hit the consensus in the last year, and the stock price has been worse off for it. If management can get G7A in-line with revenue growth, then misses might be less frequent, which could allow R&D and S&M time to pay off without killing the share price in the meantime. 

Crimea economy rattled by Russia takeover

KIEV, Ukraine – Russia's takeover of Crimea is rattling the economy in the province where several foreign companies have pulled out and Ukrainian business-people are being forced out.

Banks such as Hungary's OTP, Russia's Alfa Bank and others are among the businesses that have pulled operations from Crimea. Meanwhile, Ukrainian businesses – PrivatBank, VAB Bank, Bank Kyivska Rus and Imexbank – have had their licenses to operate revoked by the Central Bank of Russia.

"State-owned Russian banks are likely to take the space of the banks that have exited the peninsula in the near future," said Lilit Gevorgyan, senior sovereign risk analyst at IHS Global Insight in London. "It will take a considerable amount of time for private banking to return."

A bank targeted by American sanctions in retaliation for the annexation – Bank Rossiya – was one of the first to open a branch on the peninsula after the Russian invasion.

Russia President Vladimir Putin signed legislation in April declaring the region to be Russian territory following a disputed referendum by locals opting to join its neighbor. Russia had troops move into the province before the vote, which the West said was rigged in favor of pro-Russian Crimeans.

Since the takeover, Crimea seems to resemble the Putin economic policy of rewarding supporters through government actions.

McDonald's closed its three Crimean restaurants "due to the suspension of necessary financial and banking services" a company statement said. And some Ukrainians elsewhere in Ukraine are pulling back from spending money there.

"We don't want to spend our money in Russia," said Olena Zaitseva, a Ukrainian marine biologist who regularly conducts field work in Crimea. This year, she said she would cancel her trip.

The economic impact of Zaitseva's absence is more significant than it might at first appear. Under Ukrainian rule, sunflower seed exports, tourism, shipbuilding and solar energy were the mainstays of the Crimean economy! . But they've never been lucrative industries.

Governments in Kiev have struggled to bring Crimea's economy to the same standard of living as other Ukrainian regions since the former Soviet republic achieved independence in 1991.

Still, the region's per capita earnings are still around one-third lower than the rest of the country, according to a 2011 report by the Razumkov Center, an economic think tank in Kiev.

Ukraine's failure to turn around the peninsula's fortunes hasn't been lost on Putin.

"The Kremlin is keen to showcase the advantages of being part of the Russian economy," Gevorgyan said. "The Russian government has already announced $7 billion worth of spending projects which would also include building a connecting bridge with mainland Russia."

The public investment could signal the cutting of economic ties between Crimea and Ukraine for a long period of time, said Igor Burakovsky, director of the Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting in Kiev.

"Businesses have to be registered according to the Russian laws," Burakovsky said. "Definitely there will be some problems in order to work with the continental part of the Ukraine."

The situation is especially dire as the summer vacation season approaches.

People stand outside a closed McDonald's restaurant in Simferopol on April 4, 2014.(Photo: Alexander Polegenko, AP)

Around 4 million Ukrainians and 2 million Russians regularly go on their summer vacations in the Crimea. There have been reports of Russian plans to create a free economic area as well as a gambling zone with casinos to attract more Russian tourists in order to replace Ukrainians who aren't expected to return.

"The annexation of Crimea made me stop being lazy and ! finally f! ile documents for an international passport," said Yuriy Voronkov, a web developer from Kiev who is thinking about vacations in India or Thailand.

Anna Kholodnova, 23, of Kiev said she won't be going to the annual Koktebel Jazz Festival on the Black Sea coast. "It's not appealing to me anymore," she said.

Future developments — including unrest in Ukraine's largely Russian-speaking East — are also likely to create economic problems.

Ukraine has been providing energy and water to the peninsula, for example. It's not clear how long those utilities will remain. Ukrainians who sympathize with Kiev are still living in the region, so officials don't want to leave them in the dark or without water.

Still, the Ukrainian government has curbed the flow of water enough to harm agriculture, Burakovsky said. For Russia, meanwhile, the price tag for assimilating parts of Ukraine is growing.

In April, Standard & Poor's downgraded Russia's credit rating for the first time in more than five years to a notch above "junk" status. In late April, the International Monetary Fund said in a statement that capital outflow from Russia "increased significantly" in the first three months of 2014 to $51 billion. The Fund noted that investment in Russia would further dwindle because of the geopolitical situation.

The U.S. and European Union have also levied sanctions against Russian officials and companies with close links to Putin.

Gevorgyan estimated that pension payments for seniors, public sector wages and paying for half-completed infrastructure projects, including three power stations under development, would cost Moscow around roughly $5 billion annually.

Between the sanctions, investors pulling out and the chaotic business climate that's developed during the ongoing crisis, nobody will be eager to put money into Crimea anytime soon unless its Russian government funding, Gevorgyan said.

"Until the geopolitical crisis is put to rest for some time, it is hard to see i! nvestors ! flocking Crimea, including Russian private capital," she said.

Top 5 Managed Healthcare Companies To Buy Right Now

Before agreeing to buy The Star Tribune in Minneapolis, Glen Taylor asked other newspaper owners whether that was such a good idea.

"There were not a lot of people who said, 'Rush into it'. A lot of people said, "You should be cautious," the Twin Cities business icon told USA TODAY while on his way to watch the NBA team he owns, the Minnesota Timberwolves, play the Memphis Grizzlies Wednesday evening. But, he added, "I was given a really good history (of the paper). Where they make profits and potential new profits in the future."

Despite widespread concern about the future od newspapers in the digital age, the 72-year old chairman of Taylor Corporation took the plunge, making an offer this week to The Star Tribune's owners, Wayzata Investment Partners and GE Capital. The parties decline to disclose the offer price.Taylor expects the deal to close next month.

Top 5 Managed Healthcare Companies To Buy Right Now: Checkpoint Systms Inc.(CKP)

Checkpoint Systems, Inc. manufactures and markets identification, tracking, security, and merchandising solutions for the retail and apparel industry worldwide. The company operates in three segments: Shrink Management Solutions, Apparel Labeling Solutions, and Retail Merchandising Solutions. The Shrink Management Solutions segment provides shrink management and merchandise visibility solutions. It offers electronic article surveillance systems, such as EVOLVE, a suite of RF and RFID-enabled products that act as a deterrent to prevent merchandise theft in retail stores; and electronic article surveillance consumables, including EAS-RF and EAS-EM labels that work in combination with EAS systems to reduce merchandise theft in retail stores. This segment also provides keepers, spider wraps, bottle security, and hard tags, as well as Showsafe, a line alarm system for protecting display merchandise. In addition, it offers physical and electronic store monitoring solutions, incl uding fire alarms, intrusion alarms, and digital video recording systems for retail environments; and RFID tags and labels. The Apparel Labeling Solutions segment provides apparel labeling solutions to apparel retailers, brand owners, and manufacturers. It has Web-enabled apparel labeling solutions platform and network of 28 service bureaus located in 22 countries that supplies customers with customized apparel tags and labels. The Retail Merchandising Solutions segment offers hand-held label applicators and tags, promotional displays, and queuing systems. The company serves retailers in the supermarket, drug store, hypermarket, and mass merchandiser markets through direct distribution and reseller channels. Checkpoint Systems was founded in 1969 and is based in Thorofare, New Jersey.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lisa Levin]

  Checkpoint Systems (NYSE: CKP) surged 17.73% to $14.21. The volume of Checkpoint Systems shares traded was 525% higher than normal. Checkpoint announced its intent to extend the filing date of its annual report.

• [By Rich Smith]

  Three months after settling upon a new chief executive officer, it looks like Thorofare, N. J.-based Checkpoint Systems (NYSE: CKP  ) will soon have itself a new CFO as well.

• [By John Udovich]

  Small cap Checkpoint Systems, Inc (NYSE: CKP) fights shoplifting or retail theft and other forms of�"shrink��that costs retailers over $112 billion worldwide last year (according to a study funded by the company), meaning it might be an interesting stock to take a closer look at and to compare its performance with that of SPDR S&P Retail ETF (NYSEARCA: XRT) and PowerShares Dynamic Retail ETF (NYSEARCA: PMR). Just how bad can shoplifting or shrink be for a retailer? Troubled retailer J.C. Penney Company, Inc (NYSE: JCP) has just reported that shoplifting took a full percentage point off the department store chain's profit margins during the quarter. Moreover and given that tens of millions of Americans are now facing higher health insurance costs thanks to Obamacare (which will likely impact consumer discretionary spending),�retailers�will need to find ways to shore up their margins and bottom lines by preventing�retail theft with solutions from company�� like Checkpoint Systems.

Top 5 Managed Healthcare Companies To Buy Right Now: Akzo Nobel NV (AKZA)

Akzo Nobel NV is a manufacturer of paints, coatings and specialty chemicals based in the Netherlands. The Company operates within four segments. Within Buildings and Infrastructure segment, it manufactures decorative paints, protective, powder and coil coatings, and wood finishes for construction industry. Transportation segment offers specialty and powder coatings for automotive parts, peroxides, metal alkyls, and automotive, marine, yacht and aerospace coatings. Consumer Goods segment supplies finishes, adhesives and powder coatings for wood, specialty finishes for electronics, packaging coatings, surfactants, polymers and amines used in manufacture of soap, personal products and detergents. Within Industrial segment, it produces bulk chemicals, specialty chemicals, pulp and paper. In October 2013, it divested its Building Adhesives business; and acquired 50% stake and management control of Sadolin Paints Oman SAOC through joint venture agreement with Omar Zawawi Establishment LLC. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jonathan Morgan]

  Akzo Nobel NV (AKZA) tumbled 8 percent to 43.52 euros, the biggest slide since 2008. Europe�� largest paintmaker reported a 14 percent decline in second-quarter earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization to 474 million euros. Sales fell 4 percent to 3.87 billion euros. Analysts had predicted 3.9 billion euros in revenue on average, based on estimates collated by Bloomberg.

Top 5 Safest Stocks To Own Right Now: Grupo Televisa S.A.(TV)

Grupo Televisa, S.A.B., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a media company in Mexico and internationally. It operates in seven segments: Television Broadcasting, Pay Television Networks, Programming Exports, Publishing, Sky, Cable and Telecom, and Other Businesses. The Television Broadcasting segment engages in the production of television programming and broadcasting of channels 2, 4, 5, and 9; and production of television programming and broadcasting for local television stations in Mexico and the United States. The Pay Television Networks segment provides programming services for cable and pay-per-view television companies in Mexico, as well as other countries in Latin America, the United States, and Europe. The Programming Exports segment offers international licensing of television programming. The Publishing segment primarily publishes Spanish-language magazines in Mexico, the United States, and Latin America. The Sky segment provides direct-to-home broadcas t satellite pay television services in Mexico, Central America, and the Dominican Republic. The Cable and Telecom segment operates a cable and telecommunication system in the Mexico City metropolitan area. This segment provides data and long-distance services solutions to carriers and other telecommunications service providers through its fiber-optic network in Mexico and the United States; basic and premium television, pay-per-view, and telephone services. The Other Businesses segment engages in sports and show business promotion, soccer, feature film production and distribution, Internet, gaming, radio, and publishing distribution operations. The company was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Mexico City, Mexico.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Daniel Cross]

  Grupo Televisa (NYSE: TV) is a broadcasting company that is set to take advantage of growth in several areas. The increase in the United States' Hispanic population means there are 53 million potential users of Spanish-language networks like Univision. Grupo Televisa receives royalties from licensing its programs to Univision, and revenue is expected to top $270 million this year. The emergence of Mexico as a manufacturing powerhouse means that the middle class should see a boost as well. Pay TV is popular in Mexico, as seen by a 12% rise in that segment's revenues from last year. Operating margins are improving as well, increasing from 17% in 2011 to 26% as of the most recent quarter.

• [By Monica Wolfe]

  Grupo Televisa (TV)

  Over the past quarter the most gurus held on to Grupo Televisa S.A.B. There were twelve guru owners with seven gurus making buys last quarter and eight making sells. These gurus hold a combined weighting of 7.07%.

• [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 Grupo Televisa (NYSE: TV  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

• [By Michael J. Carr]

  Grupo Televisa (NYSE: TV) provides programming and cable and satellite services to viewers in the U.S., Mexico, the Dominican Republic and other countries. The company reported more than $5.5 billion in revenue over the past 12 months and earnings of more than $680 million, or $1.10 per share. Cash flow per share doubled in the past 12 months.

Top 5 Managed Healthcare Companies To Buy Right Now: Gladstone Commercial Corporation(GOOD)

Gladstone Commercial Corporation operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT) in the United States. It engages in investing in and owning net leased industrial and commercial real properties, and making long-term industrial and commercial mortgage loans. The company leases its real estate properties to small businesses, as well as to large public companies. As of December 31, 2009, it owned 64 properties, and held 1 mortgage loan. The company qualifies as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. As a REIT, it would not be subject to federal tax to the extent that it distributes at least 90% of its taxable income to its shareholders. The company was founded in 2003 and is based in McLean, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By GURUFOCUS]

  Gladstone Commercial Corporation (GOOD) operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT) in the United States.Yield: 7.9%

  Main Street Capital Corporation (MAIN) is a business development company specializing in long- term equity, equity related, and debt investments in small and lower middle market companies. Yield: 6.3%

Top 5 Managed Healthcare Companies To Buy Right Now: Indonesia Transport & Infrastructure Tbk PT (IATA)

PT Indonesia Transport & Infrastructure Tbk, formerly PT Indonesia Air Transport Tbk, is an Indonesia-based air transport service provider. The Company provides air transportation, hiring and/or leasing aircrafts, repairs and maintenance of aircrafts and trading of aviation technical equipment and related spare parts. It also provides medical evacuation services, tourism and scheduled flight services to several routes in central and eastern Indonesia. The Company operates various types of fixed wing aircrafts and helicopters, such as EC 155 B1, AS 365 Dauphin N2 twin turbine helicopter, Beechcraft 1900D, ATR 42-300, ATR 42-500 and Fokker 50. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Shereen El Gazzar]

  The forecast, from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), sees the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region with the strongest international passenger growth, with a compound average growth rate of 6.3% and 5.7% respectively.

Entrepreneurs, tech's a great tool — use it!

Hi, Gladys, Several months ago I was attending a network luncheon for entrepreneurs. The guest speaker was a man who gave a talk on the future of small business. According to him, within the next few years everyone would be shopping online. This would cause many small bricks-and-mortar businesses to shut down. I have owned a card and gift shop for many years, and so far we have been quite successful. How can I keep my small business thriving?

I have no idea what message the speaker was trying to convey but entrepreneurs created the technology world, and it's here to stay. And, the bricks-and-mortar world is not going away. However, you will need to find balance between the two worlds and use technology to your advantage. Computers, e-mail, Internet, websites, apps, tablets and various mobile devices have not only changed the way we do business it has enhanced the way we do business.

For instance, I belong to a gym and I have my days of being a slacker when it comes to exercising. The owners of the gym send a regular e-mail reminding their clients of the health benefits of exercise. They also include a healthy eating tips and sometimes an easy-to-prepare recipe. They understand that in order to keep customers and build new business they need to be in touch with us. And for me it works! All it takes is a computer, e-mail addresses of their current customers and the time to put the information together.

A successful business depends on the transfer of information and the gathering of knowledge. And it is easier now than ever. Tasks that once took hours or days now take minutes. We can respond to our customers' wants and needs more quickly and completely, and with fewer errors. We have at our fingertips educational resources, from up to date encyclopedias to in office learning programs never before available. Technology even allows us to be away from home and yet control the lights, temperatures, and security in our homes.

We can reach out to the entire world, makin! g it possible to expand our customer base and provide services and information that was never before available. Because of technology I can do workshops and individual consulting worldwide without leaving my office.

And technology is not just an advantage for business owners; everyone benefits. I often have dinner with my friend who lives 500 miles away via our devices. We set up our laptops on the dining room table and enjoy dinner and good conversation with each other over Skype. Without this technology we would just be voices on the phone.

Allow the world of technology to work for you. Take a look at all of the great possibilities that exist for you and your business to grow. Here are a few things to consider.

• Do you have the e-mail address of your customers so that you can alert them to specials and holiday sales?
• Do you have a website that works nicely with mobile devices. So that customers can read your offerings without difficulty?
• Can customers purchase items from your store online? This will allow customers to shop in your store 24/7
• Do you have a social media presence?

Many businesses both large and small have found that technology has been their path to success, enabling them to market their products and services. Give yourself the opportunity to learn as much as you can to help you continue to build your business.

I recently read Word of Mouse: 101 + Trends in How We Buy, Sell, Live, Learn, Work and Play, by Marc Ostrofsky. Marc says that we don't have to be intimidated by technology, and in some cases we may not completely understand how it works. But we do need to be aware of the many ways to use technology, so that we become and maintain success in business and in living.

In addition to Ostrofsky's book, there are many books, podcasts, websites, videos, etc. available that can help you learn how to make technology work to your advantage.

Gladys Edmunds, founder of Edmunds Travel Con! sultants ! in Pittsburgh, is an author and coach/consultant in business development. Her column appears Wednesdays. E-mail her at gladys@gladysedmunds.com. An archive of her columns is here. Her website is gladysedmunds.com.

Top Income Stocks For 2015

LONDON -- On Tuesday,�Apple� (NASDAQ: AAPL  ) management revealed that it was hiking its quarterly dividend by a huge 15% to $3.05 per share.

In its quarterly earnings report, Apple�announced that it would be returning $100 billion to shareholders by the end of 2015. It aims to achieve this through the new dividend, as well as by "aggressively expand[ing]" its share buyback scheme to $60 billion, previously $10 billion.

Fiscal earnings in Q2 did drop by 18%, although�this marginally beat analysts' consensus expectations. Gross margins�came in at 37.5%, however, which was at the low end of the management's forecast range.

Elsewhere in the report, Apple announced estimate-beating revenues, which increased by 11% to $43.6 billion, and net income of $9.5 billion -- or $10.09 per share -- in contrast to $11.6 billion ($12.30 per share) in the same period last year. More of its key products -- iPhones, iPads and Macs -- were sold against its comparative quarter last year, too.

Top Income Stocks For 2015: Panasonic Corporation(PC)

Panasonic Corporation develops, manufactures, and sells electronic products worldwide. The company offers video and audio equipment, and information and communications equipment; imaging equipment, such as flat-panel TVs and LCDs; digital AVC network equipment, including blu-ray disc recorders, digital cameras, and digital camcorders; business-use audiovisual (AV) equipment; notebook PCs; printers; security-related products comprising network cameras and POS system solutions; mobile phones; motors; car navigation systems, cameras, and digital terrestrial tuners. It also provides home appliances consisting of refrigerators, room air conditioners, washing machines and clothes dryers, and vacuum cleaners; and lighting and environmental systems, as well as components and devices for use in various products ranging from digital AV equipment, and information and communication devices to home appliances and industrial equipment; and offers electronic-parts-mounting machines, indu strial robots, and industrial equipment. In addition, the company provides solar photovoltaic systems and rechargeable batteries; electrical supplies, electric products, and building materials and equipment; personal care products, such as massage sofa, men?s shavers, hair dryers, and vibration toothbrushes; EV relays, and back and corner sensors; living station modular kitchen systems; home appliance- and communications-use relays and printed circuit board materials, and factory-automation -related products; and solar power generation systems and all-electric home design fixtures. It serves consumer, industrial and business corporations, governments, and other institutions, such as electric and electronic equipment manufacturers, automotive manufacturers, and various machinery makers. The company was formerly known as Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. and changed its name to Panasonic Corporation in October 2008. Panasonic Corporation is founded in 1918 and is based in Kadoma-shi, Japan.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Kyle Woodley]

  The short, sucky answer? A lot:

  Plans for a ��igafactory��meant to produce millions of electric-car batteries ginned up excitement, but also raised eyebrows. The Wall Street Journal reported on skepticism in the space — including from heads at Volkswagen (VLKAY) and battery maker Highpower International (HPJ). Now, even planned investment partner Panasonic (PC) now sounds iffy on the project, with company Kazuhiro Tsuga saying “the investment risk is definitely larger.” Not good. There also was Tesla�� direct sales snafu. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie huffed and puffed and (on March 11) successfully blew down Tesla�� direct sales model, with the Motor Vehicle Commission approving a measure to enforce an already-existing ban on direct sales. On the flip side, Tesla has scored victories in New York and Ohio in the past month, and is making progress in Arizona (which has a little incentive on the board). Production of the Model X has been pushed further back, to 2015. Musk’s reasons — mostly having to do with focusing on bolstering Model S sales — are valid, but that doesn�� really soften the blow of a longer wait for the much-anticipated addition to Tesla�� line. To address the issue of battery fires in the Model S, TSLA added titanium shields and aluminum deflector plates to new vehicles and offered to install them for free in all its existing cars. Tesla�� margins are excellent, and there�� no hard number on the cost impact of the fix, but titanium ain�� cheap. This definitely isn�� going to add to Tesla�� bottom line. What Now?

  I won�� belabor you with my bullish position on TSLA stock, but if you want, you can see it here. In short, Musk is a genius; Tesla products are quality and appeal to (and are priced for) the all-important luxury segment; and just given size and scale, TSLA has oh-so-much room to grow.

Top Income Stocks For 2015: North American Oil & Gas Corp (NAMG)

Calendar Dragon Inc., incorporated on April 7, 2010, is a development-stage company. The Company was formed to create a new calendaring tool that incorporates a range of features not offered by other providers, all in one lean online package. Its Website www.calendardragon.com was formed to bridge the gap between current social networking, e-mail and calendaring / scheduling activities for the individual, with applications to business, government, law enforcement, and medical.

The calendardragon.com Website focuses on having each of the various windows within the interface: Contacts like an email app, traditional left location; Events & to do lists along with ability to hide / show events and to do lists with others; Calendar customizable view; Message text (thread), along with list of participants in a separate pane, and Options. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2010, the Company did not generate any revenue.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  What�� the Catch With New Western Energy Corp? According to various disclosures, transactions of $3k and $4k have or will occur to mention New Western Energy Corp in various investment newsletters. Last Tuesday, New Western Energy Corp announced it had drilled the Anna #1 well to 1,793 ft. and the presence of coal gas was confirmed. If the quantity of gas is sufficient, the New Western Energy Corp will construct a gas gathering pipeline for no more than $200k to connect the field to the nearest sales point. Investors should be aware that the New Western Energy Corp has reported revenues of $19k (most recent reported quarter), $31k, $24k and $15k for the past four quarters along with net losses of $181k (most recent reported quarter), $1,025k, $106k and $110k.�Nevertheless and at the end of March, New Western Energy Corp had $793k in cash to cover $521k in current liabilities. That could be enough cash to sustain the company until it gets more revenue pumping in.

  North American Oil & Gas Corp (OTCBB: NAMG) Has Announced a Completed Strategic Review

  Small cap North American Oil & Gas Corp is focused on the prolific San Joaquin Basin in onshore California with existing foundation assets targeting exploration and exploitation of high impact oil and gas projects located near infrastructure and existing discoveries. On Friday, North American Oil & Gas Corp fell 1.05% to $0.940 for a market cap of $56.52 million plus NAMG is up 276% since November 2012 according to Google Finance.

5 Best Bank Stocks To Watch Right Now: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (SSNLF)

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. mainly engaged in the production of consumer electronic products. It operates in two divisions: DMC division, which is divided into consumer electronics (CE) and information technology & mobile communications (IM) businesses, as well as DS division, which is divided into semiconductor and liquid crystal display (LCD) businesses. Its CE business engages in the production of color televisions (CTVs), monitors, air conditioners, refrigerators and others. Its IM business engages in the production of printers, computers, handhold phones (HHPs) such as feature phones, smart phones and others, and network systems, among others. Its semiconductor business engages in the production of semiconductors, such as memories, system large scale integrated circuits (LSIs) and others. Its LCD business engages in the production of thin film transistor (TFT) LCDs and organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), among others. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake Maxwell Watts]

  Markets in Korea were higher for the seventh straight session, after a break for Christmas. The Kospi (KR:SEU) �was up 0.1%, near its highest levels in over three weeks. Index heavyweights Samsung Electronics Co. (KR:005930) � (SSNLF) �lost 0.1%, while steel producer Posco (KR:005490) � (PKX) �and auto manufacturer Kia Motors Co. (KR:000270) � (KIMTF) �gained 1.1% and lost 0.2%, respectively.

• [By Leo Sun]

  A true medical device smartwatch will be a huge step up from Samsung's (NASDAQOTH: SSNLF  ) Galaxy Gear, which was met with an icy market reception last September because of its high price tag of $299.99 and its dependence on Samsung's (NASDAQOTH: SSNLF  ) Galaxy smartphones.

• [By Louis Navellier]

  In addition to its earnings beat, news also broke that the company would acquire Intel Media, a start-up business inside Intel (INTC) that was working on an Internet-based television service. The price tag for the deal wasn’t announced, but earlier reports pegged it between $200 million and $500 million, as everyone from Samsung (SSNLF) to AT&T had talked to Intel about purchasing its TV business.

Top Income Stocks For 2015: Ishares Msci Italy Index Fund (EWI)

iShares MSCI Italy Index Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of publicly traded securities in the aggregate in the Italian market, as measured by the MSCI Italy Index (the Index). The Index seeks to measure the performance of the Italian equity market. The Index is a capitalization-weighted index that aims to capture 85% of the (publicly available) total market capitalization. Component companies are adjusted for available float and must meet objective criteria for inclusion in the Index. The Index is reviewed quarterly.

The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index. The Fund�� investment advisor is Barclays Global Fund Advisors.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tom Aspray]

  This is quite a bit better than the 9.2% gain of the iShares MSCI Italy (EWI) or the 8.9% rise in the iShares MSCI Austria (EWO). All three have done significantly better than the Spyder Trust (SPY), which is up 3.6%. The French and German country ETFs have not yet moved above their late 2013 highs.

Top Income Stocks For 2015: Wisconsin Energy Corporation (WEC)

Wisconsin Energy Corporation engages in the generation, distribution, and sale of electric energy and steam. The company also involves in the purchase, distribution, and sale of natural gas to retail customers, as well as in the transportation of customer-owned natural gas in Wisconsin. It generates electricity from coal, natural gas, wind, and hydro sources. The company offers its services under ?We Energies? name. It serves approximately 1,120,200 electric customers in Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan; approximately 1,064,500 gas customers in Wisconsin; and approximately 460 steam customers in metropolitan Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In addition, the company invests and develops in real estate properties, including business parks and other commercial real estate projects primarily in southeastern Wisconsin. It provides electric utility service to industries, such as mining, paper, foundry, food products, and machinery production, as well as to retail chains. The c ompany was founded in 1981 and is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dividends4Life]

  This week a few companies answered the call and rewarded their shareholders with higher cash dividends:
  
  Consolidated Edison Inc. (ED) engages in regulated electric, gas, and steam delivery businesses. January 16th the company increased its quarterly dividend 2.4% to $0.63 per share. The dividend is payable March 15, 2014, to stockholders of record on February 12, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 4.7%.
  
  Cousins Properties Incorporated (CUZ), a real estate investment trust (REIT), owns, develops, and manages real estate portfolio, as well as performs certain real estate-related services. January 16th the company increased its quarterly dividend 66.7% to $0.075 per share. The dividend is payable February 24, 2014, to stockholders of record on February 10, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 2.8%.
  
  Wisconsin Energy Corporation (WEC) generates and distributes electric energy, as well as distributes natural gas. The company operates in two segments, Utility Energy and Non-Utility Energy. January 16th the company increased its quarterly dividend 2% to $0.3900 per share. The dividend is payable March 1, 2014, to stockholders of record on February 14, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 3.8%.
  
  BlackRock Inc. (BLK) is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm primarily provides its services to institutional, intermediary, and individual investors. January 16th the company increased its quarterly dividend 14.9% to $1.93 per share. The dividend is payable March 24, 2014, to stockholders of record on March 7, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 2.4%.
  
  ONEOK Inc. (OKE) operates as a diversified energy company in the United States. January 15th the company increased its quarterly dividend 5.3% to $0.40 per share. The dividend is payable February 18, 2014, to stockholders of record on February 10, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 2.5%.
  
  Omega Healthcare Investors Inc. (OHI) is a real es

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Leading and Lagging Sectors
  Utilities sector was the only gainer in the US market on Friday. Leading the sector was strength from FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) and Wisconsin Energy (NYSE: WEC). Technology shares declined around 1.53 percent in Friday's trading.

Top Income Stocks For 2015: Renesola Ltd.(SOL)

ReneSola Ltd, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of solar wafers and solar power products. It offers virgin polysilicons, monocrystalline and multicrystalline solar wafers, and photovoltaic cells and modules. The company also provides cell and module processing services. Its products are used in a range of residential, commercial, industrial, and other solar power generation systems. The company sells its solar wafers primarily to solar cell and module manufacturers. It principally operates in Mainland China, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, India, Australia, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, France, the Czech Republic, and the United States. The company was founded in 2003 and is based in Jiashan, the People?s Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  On Thursday, ReneSola (NYSE: SOL  ) 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. That way, you'll be less likely to make an uninformed knee-jerk reaction to news that turns out to be exactly the wrong move.

Top Income Stocks For 2015: Alumina Ltd (AWC)

Alumina Limited, through its 40% equity interest in Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals, engages in the bauxite mining, alumina refining, and aluminum smelting businesses. It has interests in eight alumina refineries and eight bauxite mines, as well as operates two aluminum smelters in Victoria, Australia. The company also owns interests in a network of mines, refineries, and smelters in the United States, Guinea, Suriname, Jamaica, Brazil, and Spain. In addition, it owns and operates a shipping operation that transports alumina, aluminum, and raw materials worldwide. The company, formerly known as WMC Limited, was founded in 1970 and is based in Southbank, Australia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Krauth]

  Prospects are strong, as AA continues to push productivity gains and further penetrate sectors like aerospace and automotive. As automobiles look to improve fuel consumption, the average U.S. car will likely go from about 14 lbs. to 55 lbs. of aluminum in just the next three years. Alcoa CEO Klaus Kleinfeld thinks cars will contain 135 lbs. of aluminum within twelve years.

  The Even Better-Looking Sister Is... Another way to play aluminum might be through Alumina Ltd. (ADR) (NYSE: AWC).

  Alumina owns 40% of the world's largest alumina business, Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals (AWAC), with Alcoa owning and managing the other 60%.

Top Income Stocks For 2015: JinkoSolar Holding Company Limited(JKS)

JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of solar power products in China and internationally. The company provides solar modules, silicon wafers and ingots, and solar cells, as well as processing services, including silicon wafer tolling services. It sells its products under the JinkoSolar brand name. The company?s customers include distributors, project developers, and system integrators. It trades its products under short-term contracts and by spot market sales. The company also produces accessory materials for solar power products, such as solar aluminum frame, solar junction box, aluminum materials windows, and other metal component parts. JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. was founded in 2006 and is based in Shangrao, the People?s Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Zacks]

  On Dec 17, Zacks Investment Research upgraded JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (NYSE: JKS) to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

  Why the Upgrade?

• [By Anna Prior]

  Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Monday’s session are JinkoSolar Holding Co.(JKS), Tyson Foods Inc.(TSN) and�AbbVie Inc.

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Provided that the Chinese government either encourages or permits consolidation, any of these three could be an acquirer. The likeliest target, of course, is SunTech Power Holdings Co. Ltd. (NYSE: STP), which is reorganizing and which the government has already seemed to give up on. Other possible targets include ReneSola Ltd. (NYSE: SOL) and JinkoSolar Holding Co. Ltd. (NYSE: JKS).

Top Income Stocks For 2015: Chesapeake Energy Corporation(CHK)

Chesapeake Energy Corporation engages in the acquisition, development, exploration, and production of natural gas and oil properties in the United States. It also provides marketing and other midstream services. The company?s properties are located in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming. As of December 31, 2010, it had interests in approximately 45,800 gross productive wells. The company?s proved reserves include 17.096 trillion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent. Chesapeake Energy Corporation was founded in 1989 and is based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Del, Vecchio,]

  As energy takes on more of a global focus, so do the stocks of the companies that produce it. With the increase in hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, places once thought of as flyover states are now booming industrial areas because of the new ability to uncover deep underground stores of oil and natural gas. There's a lot of room for excavation and discovery in these areas, and companies such as Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK  ) , WPX Energy (NYSE: WPX  ) , and InterOil (NYSE: IOC  ) are taking full advantage.

• [By Aaron Levitt]

  While you can debate whether beaten-down natural gas producer Chesapeake (CHK) is a buy or just junk, its former MLP subsidiary Access Midstream Partners (ACMP) is very much in the ��uy, buy, buy!��camp.

• [By Matthew Smith]

  Speaking of leaders in the E&P names, we also want to point out the strength at Kodiak Oil & Gas (KOG) and Chesapeake Energy (CHK). Kodiak has quietly been moving higher and broke above $10/share on Friday with decent volume. The company continues to build upon their successes in the Bakken and it is still our belief that the company will ultimately get taken over because of their success. The company has a rich valuation but we continue to see costs fall as drilling techniques are standardized and the company gets to do more 'infill' drilling as opposed to exploration drilling to lock in leased land via held-by-production rights. Remember, as more infrastructure is built to take production out of the Bakken we will see transportation prices decline further (see article from above for more on this) and should see realized prices for that production increase as well. One should continue to be bullish here.