ORCL – Oracle’s Problems Signal a Sell

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Welcome to the Stock of the Day!

For much of 2013, Oracle (ORCL) has struggled to get its footing. However, with a $10 billion stock buyback in the works and its next earnings announcement in a few weeks, is now a good time to pick up this software titan on the cheap?

Let’s take a closer look and find out.

Company Profile

Oracle is one of the nation’s largest hardware and software companies. Notably, the company has been around since 1977—so it has kept pace with much of the computer revolution. Over the years, the company has rolled out wave after wave of successful database management systems and has managed to capture the third-highest software sales. Oracle  is also known for its enterprise resource planning software, its customer relationship management software as well as its supply chain management software. The company currently employs 120,000 worldwide.

Earnings Buzz

Oracle is due to release its second-quarter operating results after the closing bell on Tuesday, December 17. Right now, analysts expect sales to tick up 0.8% (compared with the same quarter prior year) and earnings to climb 4.7%. Those are pretty modest projections, but it’s still better than the industry average for Application Software companies.

On average, analysts expect Oracle’s competitors to see earnings fall 14.3% compared with last year. However, starting the following quarter, the trend reverts to what it has been for quite some time: For the bulk of 2014, Oracle is expected to underperform the industry average.

Competition Breakdown

As you can tell, Oracle is not the only major software player to have issues. Oracle competes with the likes of computing giants International Business Machines (IBM) and Microsoft (MSFT). If you plug all three of these companies in my Portfolio Grader tool, you can see that Microsoft is the strongest right now in terms of buying pressure and fundamentals. So of the three, MSFT is the only stock I’d recommend at current prices.

Meanwhile, Oracle and IBM are both D-ranked sells due to poor buying pressure, anemic sales growth and slow earnings momentum.

Current Ratings

This stock has had a rough time over the past 12 months, oscillating between hold and sell territory. And things have been looking down lately. Currently, the stock is rated a sell due to weakening buying pressure (as shown by its F-rated Quantitative Grade).

Meanwhile, Oracle’s sales growth and earnings momentum have both been downgraded to C-ratings. However, the company still ranks highly on cash flow and return on equity, which are both A-rated. Operating margin growth and earnings growth earn B-ratings. So ORCL receives a B for its overall Fundamental Grade.

Bottom Line: As of this posting I consider ORCL a D-rated Sell.

Would you like to check the fundamentals backing up one of your stocks? For more stock grades, please visit my Portfolio Grader website!

Top 10 Income Companies To Invest In Right Now

The S&P may be trading above 1,700, but a Wells Fargo analyst says it’s not likely to stay there, as corporate earnings get squeezed—especially in the consumer-staples sector.

Wells Fargo (WFC) senior analyst Gina Martin Adams, who spoke with CNBC over the weekend, sees the major index at 1,440 by year end, or down nearly 16%. She also moved consumer staples to underweight.

Earnings revisions have been hurting the sector, which has been “leading the S&P on the downside,” Martin Adams said.

The reason? “Disposable income growth, at 2.4% year over year, is growing at its slowest pace in nearly 50 years, outside of the 2008-'09 recession,” she said.

The bearish analyst and institutional equity strategist also points out that the consumer-staples sector is down about 2.5% in the past three months.

“The bear case for staples and the [S&P] index at large is the earnings environment,” she said; earnings growth is at a 5%-6% pace for the third quarter but could slow down in the fourth.

Top 5 Services Stocks To Invest In 2015: QSC AG (QSC)

QSC AG is a Germany-based telecommunications provider that offers enterprise customers and resellers a range of broadband communication services, from site networking to voice and data services. The Company operates in three business segments: Direct Sales; Indirect Sales, and Resellers. The Direct Sales segment (former Managed Services) focuses on larger and mid-size enterprises, and includes the business of subsidiaries INFO AG and IP Partner. The Indirect Sales segment focuses on regional partners that offer a portfolio of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) products, solutions and services, including Internet Service Providers (ISP), as well as voice and data services. The Resellers segment focuses on ISPs and telecommunication carriers that do not have an infrastructure of their own and primarily address residential customers. The Resellers segment also includes conventional voice business. In August 2013, it merged with INFO AG. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jonathan Morgan]

  QSC AG (QSC), a provider of telephony and data services to small and medium-sized businesses, jumped 9.5 percent after posting an increase in quarterly net income. Deutsche Boerse AG (DB1) retreated 2.7 percent after Equinet Bank AG downgraded the shares to sell.

Top 10 Income Companies To Invest In Right Now: Rogue Resources Inc (RRS)

Rogue Resources Inc., formerly Rogue Iron Ore Corp., is an exploration-stage company. The Company is engaged in acquiring, exploring, and evaluating mineral properties located in Canada and the United States. The Company owns a 100% interest in Radio Hill Iron Ore property. The Radio Hill Iron Ore property consists of a 12,000 hectare land package located 85 kilometer southwest of Timmins, Ontario. Langmuir Property located seven kilometers by road from Liberty Mines Nickel mill, which has a capacity of 2000 tons/day. Langmuir Property is consists of 74 contiguous unpatented mining claims of 856 units (13,841 hectares). The Langmuir Property includes over 30 kilometer of terrain consists of ultramafic and mafic flows and sills for hosting nickel, copper and platinum group mineralization (PGM). As of April 1, 2012, the Company completed 31 drill holes at Radio Hill for a total of 7,828 meters. In March 2013, it completed the spin off its Rapier Gold Inc unit. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Alexis Xydias]

  Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS) led commodity producers higher amid signs of growing demand from the world�� second-biggest economy. BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP) and Rio Tinto Group, the world�� largest mining companies, rallied more than 3 percent. Standard Life Plc (SL/) declined 3.3 percent as analysts raised concern about the insurer�� earnings.

• [By Namitha Jagadeesh]

  Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS) slid 1.4 percent after second-quarter profit slumped 61 percent. BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP) and Rio Tinto Group contributed the most to a decline by U.K. commodity producers. Old Mutual Plc (OML) advanced 2.9 percent after Africa�� biggest insurer said profit rose 14 percent in the first half.

Top 10 Income Companies To Invest In Right Now: ValueClick Inc.(VCLK)

ValueClick, Inc. provides various products and services that enable marketers to advertise and sell their products through online marketing channels primarily in the United States and the United Kingdom. The company?s Affiliate Marketing segment provides technology platforms, advertising network, and customer services, which enable advertisers to create their own commissioned online sales force comprising third-party Website publishers. This segment offers its services under the Commission Junction brand. Its Media segment provides digital marketing services and tailored programs under ValueClick Media brand name that enable marketers to create and increase awareness for their products and brands; attract visitors; and generate leads and sales through the Internet and mobile applications. The company?s Owned & Operated Websites segment offers its services through various Websites comprising Pricerunner and Smarter.com Websites, which enable consumers to research and comp are products from online and/or offline merchants; Couponmountain.com Website that enables consumers to locate coupons and deals related to products and services; and Investopedia.com Website, which provides information on various financial and investment topics, including a proprietary dictionary of financial terms. This segment also operates vertical content Websites that offer consumers information and reference material in various topics in healthcare, finance, travel, home and garden, education, and business services. Its Technology segment operates as an application service provider and offers technology infrastructure tools and consultative services that enable marketers to implement and manage their online display advertising, search engine marketing, and email campaigns. The company serves direct marketers, advertisers, advertising agencies, and traffic distribution partners. ValueClick, Inc. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Westlake Village, California.< /p> Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Brian Pacampara]

  What: Shares of digital marketing company ValueClick (NASDAQ: VCLK  ) plummeted 17% today after its quarterly results and outlook disappointed Wall Street.

• [By Rich Smith]

  ValueClick got toggled off
  Google's�mini-rival in the market for online ads, ValueClick (NASDAQ: VCLK  ) , beat earnings by a couple of cents in yesterday's earnings report. Unfortunately, this good news isn't translating into good grades on Wall Street, as a whole series of analysts cut their ratings on the stock to various flavors of "hold." Stephens and Cantor Fitzgerald, Craig-Hallum and Raymond James -- one and all, the analysts are downgrading ValueClick today -- but why?

Top 10 Income Companies To Invest In Right Now: Alpha Pro Tech Ltd (APT)

ALPHA PRO TECH, LTD. (Alpha Pro Tech), incorporated on June 15, 1994, is in the business of protecting people, products and environments. The Company also manufactures a line of building supply construction weatherization products through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Alpha ProTech Engineered Products, Inc. Its products are sold under the Alpha Pro Tech brand name, as well as under private label. The Company's products are grouped into three business segments: the Building Supply segment, which consists of construction weatherization products, such as housewrap and synthetic roof underlayment, the Disposable Protective Apparel segment, which consists of disposable protective apparel, such as shoecovers, bouffant caps, gowns, coveralls, lab coats, frocks and other miscellaneous products and the Infection Control segment, which consists of face masks and eye shields.

Building Supply

The Building Supply segment consists of a line of construction supply weatherization products, namely housewrap and synthetic roof underlayment. This line of products is a natural extension of the Company's core capabilities: creating products designed to protect people and environments. The housewrap, under the trademark REX, offers a weather resistant barrier and, to the homeowner, years of lower energy consumption. REX Wrap and REX Wrap Plus are woven and coated polypropylene micro perforated weather resistant barriers, and REX Wrap Fortis is an engineered composite made up of a woven fabric, a monolithic breather film and a non-woven sheet, offering a non-perforated membrane.

Disposable Protective Apparel

The Disposable Protective Apparel segment includes many different styles of disposable products, such as shoecovers, bouffant caps, gowns, coveralls, lab coats, frocks and other miscellaneous products. The products are manufactured by subcontractors in Asia and, to a much lesser extent, a subcontractor in Mexico. Certain products are made using materials supplied by th! e Company.

Infection Control

The Infection Control segment includes face masks and eye shields. The Company's face masks come in a range of filtration efficiencies and styles. The Company's Positive Facial Locka feature provides a custom fit to the face to prevent blow-by for better protection. The Company's Magic Arch feature holds the mask away from the nose and mouth, creating a comfortable breathing chamber.

Kimberly Clark, 3M Company, Johnson & Johnson, White Knight/Precept, Cardinal Health, Inc., Medline Industries Inc., VWR International, LLC, Kimberly Clark, 3M Company, Kappler USA, DuPont and Allegiance Health Care.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Rooney]

  Alpha Pro Tech (APT) also makes protective equipment for healthcare workers. Its stock jumped 5% on Friday alone.

  Some investors believe the airline industry is also vulnerable to the outbreak. Concerns about air travel rose this month after a Dallas nurse, who treated an Ebola patient, flew round trip between Dallas and Cleveland before being diagnosed with the virus.

Top 10 Income Companies To Invest In Right Now: SPDR S&P Russia ETF (RBL)

SPDR S&P Russia ETF (the Fund) seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P Russia Capped BMI Index (the Index). The Index is a float adjusted market cap index designed to define and measure the investable universe of publicly-traded companies domiciled in Russia. The Index component securities are a subset, based on region, of component securities included in the S&P Global BMI Equity Index. The Global BMI Equity Index is a comprehensive, float-weighted, rules-based benchmark that is readily divisible and customizable. The Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index or in American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) or Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs) based on securities comprising the Index. The Fund�� investment advisor is SSgA Funds Management, Inc. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Charles Sizemore]

  But what exactly are you buying when you buy Russian stocks? Let�� take a look under the hood at the ETFs that track the Russian market: the Market Vectors Russia ETF (RSX), the iShares MSCI Russia Capped Index (ERUS) and the SPDR S&P Russia (RBL).

• [By John Waggoner]

  First up: SPDR S&P Russia (ticker: RBL), which concentrates on Russian stocks. The fund has more than 16% of its assets in Gazprom, and plunged 7.9% in early Monday trading. Following close behind: Market Vectors Russia ETF (RSX), in contrast, has just 7.8% of its assets in Gazprom. It tumbled 6.9% Monday.

Top 10 Income Companies To Invest In Right Now: Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc (CNAT)

Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc., incorporated on July 13, 2005, is a biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of medicines to treat liver disease. The Company is developing its lead compound, emricasan, for the treatment of patients in orphan populations with chronic liver disease and acute exacerbations of chronic liver disease. The Company has designed a clinical program to demonstrate the therapeutic benefit of emricasan across the spectrum of fibrotic liver disease. The Company�� initial development strategy targets indications for emricasan with high unmet clinical need in orphan patient populations, such as patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), chronic liver failure (CLF), and patients who have developed liver fibrosis post-orthotopic liver transplant due to Hepatitis C virus infection (HCV-POLT).

The Company has completed two placebo-controlled Phase II trials in patients with liver disease showing reductions in ALT levels that occur rapidly, within as little as one day after initiation of therapy, and are maintained throughout the treatment period. In the Company�� 204-patient Phase 2b trial, it also measured cCK18, an important biomarker of apoptosis and disease severity. Emricasan has been generally well-tolerated in all of the clinical studies. As of July 23, 2013, the Company had not generated any revenue.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lauren Pollock]

  Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s(CNAT) shares jumped 26% to $7.75 premarket after the biotechnology firm said its treatment for chronic liver disease has been granted a status that could mean quicker approval.

• [By John Udovich]

  Recent IPO�FibroGen Inc (NASDAQ: FGEN) surged 22.96% today, reportedly after the journal Hepatology published the results of a workshop between the FDA and the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD) which laid out criteria for a phase three study of a treatment for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)���meaning its worth taking a closer look at the stock along with the performance of potential small cap or mid cap liver disease stock peers like Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: CNAT), Intercept Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: ICPT) and Raptor Pharmaceutical Corp (NASDAQ: RPTP) which rose 24.35%, 10.98% and 2.02%, respectively. According to Investors Business Daily, NASH (the more serious version of fatty liver disease) is potentially an enormous market with about 6 million�US patients but the�lack of previous treatments had left it unclear how the FDA would measure success against the disease while FibroGen Inc doesn't yet have a NASH human trial in the works, it has said it hopes to start one for its lead candidate FG-3019 (its in mid-stage trials for pulmonary fibrosis and liver fibrosis due to hepatitis B infection).

• [By John Udovich]

  While Intercept Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: ICPT) surged earlier this year and Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc (NASDAQ: ACHN) has surged this week after Merck & Co. Inc (NYSE: MRK) agreed to purchase hepatitis stock�Idenix Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: IDIX) at a 239% premium, it seems the herd has realized that small cap Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: CNAT) is also a liver disease stock as shares suddenly surged 56.69% on no apparent company news. But just what is�Conatus Pharmaceuticals and is it worth taking a chance on?

Top 10 Income Companies To Invest In Right Now: ProLogis(PLD)

Prologis Inc. is an independent equity real estate investment trust. It invests in the real estate markets across the globe. The firm engages in the ownership, development, management, and leasing of industrial distribution and retail properties. It was previously known as Security Capital Investment Trust. Prologis Inc. was formed in 1991 and is based in San Francisco, California with an additional office in Denver, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  But the S&P 500′s biggest losers show the kind of carnage long predicted by those fearful of higher yields. How’s this for evidence: Real-estate investment trusts,�whose yields look more paltry with every tick higher in the 10-year Treasury, made up half of the top-10 losers. Prologis (PLD) fell 8.4% to $35.08, the Macerich Co. (MAC) dropped 8.2% to $56.72 and Health Care REIT (HCN) was off 8.1% at $58.57.

• [By Oliver Pursche]

  As the real-estate crisis unfolded in 2008, Mr. Moghadam acted boldly and intelligently, taking advantage of opportunities around the world and eventually merging AMB with ProLogis (PLD) �in 2011 to create the current, a company who�� stock, since the bottom of the crisis in 2009, has outperformed the S&P 500.

Top Energy Stocks To Buy For 2014

Canadian Solar (NASDAQ: CSIQ  ) announced today that it has won a contract to supply Asia-based Soleq Solar with modules totaling 91 MW for solar power for projects in Thailand.

"We chose to work with Canadian Solar because of their vast industry experience and track record delivering high quality modules to large scale solar power projects worldwide," said Soluq spokesperson Adam Balin in a statement. "Canadian Solar understands our requirements for quality and reliability, and is a perfect fit with our focus on maximizing return on investment while generating clean, renewable energy for Thailand."

According to the press release, Canadian Solar will supply its CS6X high output�photovoltaic (PV) modules across 10 separate projects. Although Soleq will own and operate the solar farms, two other companies will provide engineering, procurement, and construction services.

"We are honored to be selected to supply our modules for Soleq's landmark power plants in Thailand," said Canadian Solar Chairman and CEO Dr. Shawn Qu. "We are also pleased with the progress of our market diversification strategy to reduce our exposure to European markets and to minimize policy risk. This module supply agreement underscores our success expanding our global footprint, building new customer relationships, and gaining market share in important growth markets."

5 Best Japanese Stocks To Own For 2015: Ivanhoe Energy Inc (IVAN)

Ivanhoe Energy Inc. (Ivanhoe), incorporated on February 21, 1995, is an independent international heavy oil development and production company. Ivanhoe�� core operations are in Canada, Ecuador, China and Mongolia, with business development opportunities worldwide. Ivanhoe�� wholly owned subsidiary, Sunwing Energy Ltd. (Sunwing) is focused on a natural gas exploration project (the Zitong Block) in Sichuan Province of China. The Sichuan Basin is located in central China approximately 930 miles southwest of Beijing. Its oil and gas operations are located in three geographic areas: Asia, Canada and Ecuador. In December 2012, the Company had closed the Share Purchase and Sale Agreement with MIE Holdings Corporation for all of the interest of its indirect, wholly owned subsidiary, Pan-China Resources Ltd.

Asia

In China, Sunwing operates the 659,840-acre (1,031-square-miles) Zitong gas exploration block in the Sichuan Province, and it holds a 90% Contractor Interest in a Petroleum Contract with PetroChina Company Limited. Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company of Japan holds the remaining 10% Contractor Interest. Sunwing produces approximately 1,800 (gross) barrels of light oil per day in Dagang, in China's Hebei province, in a production sharing agreement with Petrochina in which Sunwing is the operator and maintains a royalty interest in the revenue stream from its first project carried out in the Daqing Oil Field. In November 2002, the Company entered into a 30 year production sharing contract (PSC) with China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) for the Zitong block, which covers an area of approximately 248,000 gross acres after contractual relinquishments in the Sichuan basin.

During the year ended December 31, 2006, the Company farmed out 10% of its working interest in the Zitong block to Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company Inc. of Japan. In Phase I of the contract, Ivanhoe reprocessed 1,649 miles of two dimensional (2D) seismic data and acquired 705 miles of new 2D s! eismic data. In Phase II of the contract, the Yixin-2 and Zitong-1 gas wells were drilled during the year ended December 31, 2010, and completed during the year ended December 31, 2011. Ivanhoe�� oil production originates in the Kongnan oilfield in Dagang, Hebei Province, China (the Dagang field). In 2011, production in averaged 967 barrels per day net. The Company�� Nyalga Block XVI is in the Khenti and Tov provinces in Mongolia. The block covers an area of approximately 3.1 million gross acres, after a 25% relinquishment in 2010.

Canada

Ivanhoe holds a 100% working interest in the Tamarack Project, subject only to a 20% back-in right held by Talisman Energy. Tamarack is a 6,880 acre lease located approximately 10 miles northeast of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. The Tamarack integrated oil sands project (Tamarack Project) consists of a two-phased 40,000 bbl/d steam-assisted gravity drainage thermal recovery (SAGD) and HTL facility.

Ecuador

The Company's activities in Latin America are carried out under its wholly owned subsidiary, Ivanhoe Energy Latin America Inc. Ivanhoe Energy Ecuador Inc., a Canadian company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ivanhoe Energy Latin America Inc. and is responsible for the Company's activities in Ecuador. In October 2008, Ivanhoe Energy Ecuador Inc. had signed a 30 year contract with the Ecuador state oil companies Petroecuador and Petroproduccion. The contract gives Ivanhoe the right to explore and develop the Pungarayacu heavy oil field in Block 20, an area of 426 square miles, approximately 125 miles southeast of Quito, Ecuador�� capital city. Block 20 is an area of approximately 426-square-miles (1,103.34-square-kilometers) located 125 miles (201.17 kilometers) southeast of Quito. Block 20 contains the 250-square-mile (647.5-square-kilometer) Pungarayacu oil field. In 2010, Ivanhoe drilled its two appraisal wells in the Pungarayacu field. The second, IP-5b, well was drilled, cored and logged to a total depth ! of 1,080 ! feet. The well was perforated in the Hollin oil sands and steam was injected into the reservoir resulting in production of heated heavy oil. In 2011, the heavy crude oil extracted from the IP-5B well was upgraded to local pipeline specifications using Ivanhoe�� HTL upgrading process. In 2011, the Company completed a 190-kilometer 2-D seismic survey over the southern portion of Block 20.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Stephan Dube]

  Athabasca's most notable producers:

  Suncor Energy (SU) (Part 1), see article here.Suncor Energy (Part 2), see article here.Athabasca Oil (ATHOF.PK), see article here.Canadian Natural Resources, see article here.Imperial Oil, see article here.Cenovus Energy (CVE), see article here.MEG Energy (MEGEF.PK), see article here.Devon Energy, see article here.Royal Dutch Shell, see article here.Ivanhoe Energy (IVAN), see article here.Nexen (CNOOC) (CEO), see article here.

  An analysis of the current operations of the company will be examined with the objective to provide the most complete information available to potential investors before deciding to seize the opportunity that the 54,132 square miles of the Carbonate Triangle has to offer. Let's start by introducing Athabasca, a famous and most prolific region in the Canadian oil sands as well as one of the largest reserve in the world.

Top Energy Stocks To Buy For 2014: HRT Participacoes em Petroleo SA (HRTPY.PK)

HRT Participacoes em Petroleo SA, formerly BN 16 Participacoes Ltda, is a Brazil-based holding company engaged in the oil and gas industry. The Company is primarily involved in the exploration and production (E&P) of oil and natural gas in Brazil and Namibia. Through its subsidiaries, it is active in the geophysical and geological research, exploration, development, production, import, export and sale of oil and natural gas, as well as in the provision of air logistics services in transporting people and equipment related to oil and gas activities in the exploratory campaign in the Solimoes Basin. As of December 31, 2011, the Company had seven subsidiaries, including Integrated Petroleum Expertise Company Servicos em Petroleo Ltda (IPEX), HRT O&G Exploracao e Producao de Petroleo Ltda, HRT Netherlands BV, HRT America Inc, HRT Africa, HRT Canada Inc and Air Amazonia Servicos Aereos Ltda.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By stanh30]

  In 2010 Brazil�� HRT Participacoes em Petroleo S.A. (HRTPY.PK) raised $1.5 billion in an IPO to fund a highly touted and highly expensive oil & gas exploration campaign in both the Amazon and offshore Namibia. Management was very promotional and overpromised and underdelivered. The three exploration wells in Namibia were all failures and the Conclusion of Solimoes Gas Monetization Study leads the market (myself included) to conclude that there is little or no present value in the discoveries in the Solimoes basin. The stock has lost 85% in just the last year, and over 97% in the last three years. Early investors like Southeastern Asset Management have lost most of their money and have either given up or believe the market cap has become too small and insignificant to warrant further examination.

Top Energy Stocks To Buy For 2014: WPX Energy Inc (WPX)

WPX Energy, Inc. (WPX Energy), incorporated on April 19, 2011, is an independent natural gas and oil exploration and production company engaged in the exploitation and development of long-life unconventional properties. The Company focuses on exploiting its natural gas reserve base and related NGLs in the Piceance Basin of the Rocky Mountain region, and on developing its positions in the Bakken Shale oil play in North Dakota and the Marcellus Shale natural gas play in Pennsylvania. Its other areas of domestic operations include the Powder River Basin in Wyoming and the San Juan Basin in the southwestern United States. In addition, it owns a 69% controlling ownership interest in Apco Oil and Gas International, Inc. (Apco), which holds oil and gas concessions in Argentina and Colombia. As of December 31, 2010, it had proved reserves of 4,473 Bcfe, 59% of which were proved developed reserves. Average daily production as of March 31, 2011 was 1,251 MMcfe/d.

Bakken Shale

The Company acquired 89,420 net acres in the Williston Basin in North Dakota that is prospective for oil in the Bakken Shale. It acquired all of this acreage in December 2010 through the acquisition of Dakota-3 E&P Company LLC. As of December 31, 2010, it had three rigs operating on the Bakken Shale acreage. Since acquiring this acreage, the Company has drilled 10 operated wells on the Bakken Shale properties; nine Middle Bakken formation wells and one Three Forks formation well. Six of these wells have been completed and connected to sales with initial 30 day production rates ranging from 750 Boe/d to 1,100 Boe/d.

Marcellus Shale

The Company�� 99,301 net acres in the Marcellus Shale were acquired through two key transactions and additional leasing activities. In July 2010, the Company acquired 42,000 net acres in Susquehanna County in northeastern Pennsylvania. As of December 31, 2010, the Company had five rigs operating in the Marcellus Shale.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By MARKETWATCH]

  SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Wall Street hedge-fund investor David Einhorn was active in the last quarter of 2013, taking new stakes in technology and energy companies, while trimming existing holdings in insurer Aetna (AET) , NCR Corp (NCR) and WPX Energy (WPX) , according to an SEC filing Friday. Einhorn's Greenlight Capital picked up stakes in Anadarko Petroleum (APC) , BP (BP) , McDermott Intl. (MDR) , Micron Technolgy (MU) and Take-Two Interactive (TTWO) , according to the latest 13F filing. He trimmed stakes in Aetna, Einstein Noah (BAGL) and WPX Energy, according to the filing.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  WPX Energy (NYSE: WPX) was also on the rise, gaining 3.32 percent to $19.63 on seemingly little news.

  ON Semiconductor (NASDAQ: ONNN) shares gained as well, rising 2.84 percent to $9.77 after the company announced it would acquire assets from Platinum Energy for $92 million in cash after the close yesterday.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Not all stocks are created equal, however, and the analysts expect some stocks to handily outperform others, and their top picks “are poised to deliver long-term, capital-efficient growth…while trading at attractive valuations that currently provide 20%+ upside to our price targets.” Their winners?�Oasis Petroleum (OAS),�Approach Resources (AREX),�Bonanza Creek Energy�(BCEI) and Gulfport Energy�(GPOR), all of which are rated Buy with Oasis also added to Goldman’s conviction list. Investors, however, should avoid �WPX Energy�(WPX), which the analysts rate a Sell. They explain why:

• [By Robert Rapier]

  Last November Tulsa-based oil and gas producer�WPX Energy�(NYSE: WPX)�announced its intention�to spin off production assets in Colorado. WPX Energy Partners will hold working interests in mature natural gas properties in the Piceance Basin of Colorado. The announcement indicated a desire to carry out the IPO during the first half of 2014, but the company has yet to file forms with the SEC.

Top Energy Stocks To Buy For 2014: Western Gas Equity Partners LP (WGP)

Western Gas Equity Partners, LP, incorporated on September 11, 2007, was formed to own three types of partnership interests in Western Gas Partners, LP (WES). WES is a limited partnership formed by Anadarko Petroleum Corporation to own, operate, acquire and develop midstream energy assets. As of December 31, 2011, the Company had no independent operations. On January 13, 2012, WES acquired 100% interest of Mountain Gas Resources LLC (MGR). On August 1, 2012, WES acquired 24% interest of Chipeta Processing LLC (Chipeta).

WES is engaged in the business of gathering, processing, compressing, treating and transporting natural gas, condensate, natural gas liquids (NGLs) and crude oil for Anadarko, as well as third-party producers and customers. The assets of WGP, through its partnership interests in WES, include thirteen gathering systems, seven natural gas treating facilities, ten natural gas processing facilities, two NGL pipelines, one interstate gas pipeline, one intrastate gas pipeline, and three separate interests in Fort Union, White Cliffs Pipeline, LLC (White Cliffs) and Rendezvous Gas Services, LLC (Rendezvous). These assets are located in East and West Texas, the Rocky Mountains (Colorado, Utah and Wyoming), and the Mid-Continent (Kansas and Oklahoma). WES also has facilities under construction in South Texas and northeast Colorado. During the year ended December 31, 2011, WES completed the construction of a cryogenic processing train at its Chipeta facility , which had a designed capacity of approximately 300 million cubic feet of natural gas per day and was placed into service in October 2012.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jonas Elmerraji]

  The exact same setup is potentially giving traders a reason to jump into shares of $8.5 billion midstream gas company Western Gas Equity Partners (WGP). Just like Flotek, WGP is forming a textbook channel up. And this week, Western Gas is testing trendline support.

  It's a little too early to call WGP's trendline buyable here. At some point, all trends eventually fail -- and when this one does, you don't want to be left holding the bag. A bounce this week will be a good indication that WGP can still catch a bid at this price level. When and if that happens, I'd recommend keeping a tight protective stop in place just below WGP's most recent swing low at $38.

  While the 50-day moving average has been crossing paths with WGP quite a bit in the last month, I'd recommend ignoring it. The average hasn't acted as a meaningful support or resistance level to date. In the case of this particular name, it's just not technically relevant.

Top Energy Stocks To Buy For 2014: Gevo Inc (GEVO)

Gevo, Inc., incorporated in June 2005, is a renewable chemicals and advanced biofuels company. The Company is focused on the development and commercialization of alternatives to petroleum-based products. The Company operates in two segments: Gevo, Inc. Segment and Gevo Development/Agri-Energy Segment. Gevo, Inc. Segment is responsible for all research and development activities related to the future production of isobutanol, maintaining and protecting its intellectual property portfolio, developing future markets for its isobutanol and providing corporate oversight services. Its Gevo Development/Agri-Energy Segment is responsible for the production of ethanol and related products. In September 2010, the Company acquired a 22 MGPY ethanol production facility in Luverne, Minnesota that the Company intends to retrofit to produce isobutanol.

The Company�� isobutanol can also be converted by its customers into a range of hydrocarbons, which form the basis for the production of many products, including plastics, fibers, rubber and other polymers and hydrocarbon fuels, including jet and diesel fuel. Its technology platform consists of biocatalysts and a isobutanol separation unit. Together these technologies form the Gevo Integrated Fermentation Technology (GIFT). GIFT is designed to allow relatively low capital expenditure retrofits of existing ethanol facilities, enabling isobutanol production from a range of renewable feedstocks. The Company�� biocatalysts are microorganisms that have been designed to metabolize sugars to produce isobutanol.

GIFT consists of two components, biocatalysts which convert sugars derived from multiple renewable feedstocks into isobutanol through fermentation, and a separation unit which is designed to continuously separate isobutanol from water during the fermentation process. The Company developed its technology platform to be compatible with the existing approximately 20 BGPY of global operating ethanol production capacity, as estimated by the R! enewable Fuels Association (RFA).

The Company competes with Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLC (Butamax), BP p.l.c. (BP), E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Butalco GmbH, Cathay Industrial Biotech Ltd., METabolic EXplorer S.A., TetraVitae Bioscience, Inc., Cobalt Technologies, Inc., Green Biologics Ltd. Shell Oil Products US (Shell Oil), BP, DuPont-Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol LLC, Abengoa Bioenergy, S.A., POET, LLC, ICM, Mascoma, Range Fuels, Inbicon A/S, INEOS New Planet BioEnergy LLC, Coskata, Archer Daniels Midland Company, BlueFire Ethanol, Inc., KL Energy Corporation, ZeaChem Inc., Iogen Corporation, Qteros, Inc., and AE Biofuels, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  Small cap biofuel or synthetic fuel stocks Gevo, Inc (NASDAQ: GEVO), KiOR Inc (NASDAQ: KIOR), Solazyme Inc (NASDAQ: SZYM) and Syntroleum Corp (NASDAQ: SYNM) all seem to have been seeing some trading action in recent days���meaning its worth taking a closer look at all four�before taking a look at their rather dismal�long term performance while noting that none are yet profitable:

• [By Bryan Murphy]

  It was already hanging by a thread, and then only because it bounced back from an early-November plunge. But, with the action we've seen from Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ:GEVO) since that now-failed recovery effort, it's pretty safe to say GEVO is beyond help/hope, if it falls under one more big line in the sand.... and it's looking like it's only a matter of time before that happens.

• [By Robert Rapier]

  KiOR (Nasdaq: KIOR) is one of three advanced biofuel companies that venture capitalist Vinod Khosla took public in 2011. The other two were Amyris (Nasdaq: AMRS) and Gevo (Nasdaq: GEVO). Each of these companies has seen its share price drop sharply since the IPO. While KiOR is one of the few companies to have produced advanced biofuel for sale, the volumes have consistently come in below company guidance, and I expect production costs to remain above the sales price for the foreseeable future.

• [By Dallas Salazar]

  Gevo Inc (GEVO), the worlds only commercial producer of bio based isobutanol, has made incredible strides over the last two quarters in the way of improving the fundamentals of their company. Essentially, GEVO has had to do a complete rebuild of the foundation of their company along with learn an entirely new operating process. They have successfully been able to do both along with begin commercial production, expand production to a second production train, and begin supplying the US Coast Guard with isobutanol. They have made all of these fundamental improvements to the company while the stock has remained largely unchanged since before production. This is what makes Q3/2013 so important.

Top Energy Stocks To Buy For 2014: Pengrowth Energy Corp (PGH)

Pengrowth Energy Corporation (Pengrowth) is engaged in the development, production and acquisition of, and the exploration for, oil and natural gas reserves in the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Nova Scotia. The Company�� producing properties include Lindbergh, Swan Hills Area, Greater Olds/Garrington Area and Southeast Saskatchewan. In February 2012, the Company commenced the injection of steam at its Lindbergh pilot project. On May 31, 2012, the Company acquired NAL Energy Corporation. In November 2012, the Company acquired additional Lochend Cardium assets with production capability of approximately 650 barrels of oil equivalent, weighted 95% to light oil. In March 2013, the Company completed the divestiture of its non-core Weyburn asset. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By GURUFOCUS]

  Canadian Trusts- Baytex Energy Trust (BTE) | Yield: 6.1%
  - Enerplus Resources Fund (ERF) | Yield: 5.6%
  - Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGH) | Yield: 7.1%

5 Best Oil Service Stocks To Watch For 2015

5 Best Oil Service Stocks To Watch For 2015: Biogen Idec Inc(BIIB)

Biogen Idec Inc. discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets therapies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, hemophilia, and autoimmune disorders in the United States and internationally. Its marketed products include the AVONEX for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS); RITUXAN for treating relapsed or refractory, CD20-positive, and B-cell Non-Hodgkin?s lymphoma (NHL); TYSABRI to treat relapsing MS; FUMADERM for the treatment of severe plaque psoriasis in adult patients; and FAMPYRA, an oral compound for the improvement of walking in adult patients with MS with walking disability. Biogen Idec Inc.?s products under Phase III consist of PEGylated interferon beta-1a designed to prolong the effects and reduce the dosing frequency of interferon beta-1a; BG-12 for the treatment of MS; Daclizumab, a monoclonal antibody in relapsing MS; Long-lasting factor IX and VIII fusion protein for the treatment of hemophilia B; GA101, a monoclonal antibody for t h e treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and NHL; and Dexpramipexole, an orally administered small molecule for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The company?s Phase I clinical trial products include Anti-LINGO for use in multiple sclerosis, Neublastin for use in neuropathic pain, CD40L for use in systemic lupus erythematosus, ANTI-TWAEK humanized monoclonal antibody for TWEAK, and BIIB037 for use in Alzheimer's disease; and Phase II clinical trial product comprises OCRELIZUMAB, a humanized monoclonal antibody for treating CD20. It has collaboration agreements with Genentech, Inc.; Elan Pharma International, Ltd; Acorda Therapeutics, Inc.; Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB; Abbott Biotherapeutics Corp; and Vernalis plc. The company was formerly known as IDEC Pharmaceuticals Corporation and changed its name to Biogen Idec Inc. in November 2003. Biogen Idec Inc. was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Weston, Mass! achusetts.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Philip Springer]

  Just last week, the major US stock averages hit all-time highs, led by large-cap stocks, including some that had been lagging for many years. But it’s been a different story in March-April for stocks that had the biggest gains of 2013 and early this year.
  
  This week brought more bad news for the stock market’s two most overvalued sectors, biotechnology and information technology. Worse, when the paddy wagon came, as usual it took the good stocks with the bad, to rephrase an old Wall St aphorism in politically correct terms.
  
  Yesterday, the technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index tumbled 3.1 percent, its biggest one-day drop in nearly 2陆 years. This dragged the broader market sharply lower, as investors resumed selling biotechnology stocks in general and many technology stocks. As of April 10, the Nasdaq Composite was 7 percent off its 14-year high, which was reached last month. Yet the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average remain not far from their all-time record peaks, down 3 percent and 2.5 percent respectively.
  
  There are many reasons for the decline of both the junk and the good growth stocks. First, the broad market has been long overdue for a 10 percent correction, which still hasn’t occurred.
  
  Second, the high fliers were much more overdue for a reality check. These particularly include extremely overvalued companies in social media, the “cloud,” 3d printing, biotechnology and more.
  
  Third, the new-issues market, which naturally has consisted primarily of info tech and biotech issues, created too much new supply that inevitably dampened investor demand for the more established companies in those sectors.
  
  The increased importance of trading exchange-traded funds, as both a way to invest and to hedge against market declines, inevitably adds to the downward pressure in this situation. Reason: Shares of all of their components are sold, ! regardles! s of each stoc k’s relative me

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  Biogen Idec Inc. (NASDAQ: BIIB) was reiterated as Outperform, but the target price was raised to $290 from $255 (versus a $244.92 close) based mostly on higher Tecfidera and Hemophilia franchise peak sales estimates, at Credit Suisse.

source from Top Stocks To Buy For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/5-best-oil-service-stocks-to-watch-for-2015.html

Best Healthcare Equipment Companies To Own For 2015

Best Healthcare Equipment Companies To Own For 2015: Orbotech Ltd.(ORBK)

Orbotech Ltd. engages in designing, developing, manufacturing, marketing, and servicing yield-enhancing and production solutions for specialized applications in the supply chain of the electronics industry. The company?s products include automated optical inspection (AOI), automated optical repair, laser direct imaging, digital legend printing, laser drilling, laser plotters, computer-aided manufacturing, and engineering solutions for printed circuit boards (PCBs) and other electronics component manufacturing; and AOI, test, repair, and process monitoring systems for flat panel display (FPD) manufacturing. It also develops and markets character recognition solutions and services primarily to banks, financial institutions, and other payment processing institutions for use in check and healthcare payment processing. In addition, the company is involved in the research and development of products for the deposition of anti-reflective coating on crystalline silicon photovolta ic wafers for solar energy panels. It primarily serves manufacturer of PCB, FPD, liquid crystal displays, and other electronic components worldwide. The company was formerly known as Optrotech Ltd. and changed its name to Orbotech Ltd. as a result of its merger with Orbot Systems Ltd. in October 1992. Orbotech Ltd. was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Yavne, Israel.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Calling all cash flows
  When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on Orbotech (Nasdaq: ORBK  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

• [By John! Emerson]

  Orbotech (ORBK) and Rudolph Technologies (RTEC) Sizable Net-Nets in the AOI Sector

  As noted previously, I rode the elevator up and then back down on Camtek (CAMT), a tiny Israeli automated optical inspection (AOI) company. By late 2008 the company had fallen to below $1 per share. Both of Camtek's larger rivals, RTEC and ORBK, had dropped to absurdly low levels by November 2008. I used the opportunity to switch out of CAMT and some of my other losing propositions in favor of these superior companies. In the process, I created a large amount of tax loss carry-forwards which would allow me to minimize my future taxation when I decided to sell these cyclical entities.

• [By John Emerson]

  AOI companies had little in the way of competition since they held a specialty niche and their systems were protected by patents. Years of R&D would be required to unseat them by way of technological superiority; therefore it made more sense for a larger company to assimilate them should they wish to enter the AOI sector. That said, CAMT was much smaller than its archrival Orbitech (ORBK) in the PCB AOI sector; thus their key to long term growth lied in their penetration into the rapidly expanding semiconductor AOI sector. In that area, their main completion was August Semiconductor.

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/best-healthcare-equipment-companies-to-own-for-2015-3.html

Best Semiconductor Stocks To Buy For 2015

Best Semiconductor Stocks To Buy For 2015: Broadcom Corporation(BRCM)

Broadcom Corporation designs and develops semiconductors for wired and wireless communications. It provides a portfolio of system-on-a-chip (SoC) and software solutions for the manufacturers of computing and networking equipment, digital entertainment and broadband access products, and mobile devices, which enable the delivery of voice, video, data, and multimedia content to the home, office, and mobile environment. Its broadband communications products include cable modem SoCs; femtocell SoCs; MPEG/AVC/VC-1 encoders and transcoders; xDSL, passive optical network, and cable modem customer premises equipment and central office solutions; powerline networking SoCs; digital cable, direct broadcast satellite, terrestrial, and Internet protocol (IP) set-top box integrated receiver demodulators; high definition television and standard definition TV SoCs; and Blu-ray disc SoCs. The company?s mobile and wireless products comprise Wi-Fi and Bluetooth SoCs, wireless connectivity com bo chips, global positioning system SoCs, multimedia processors, applications processors, power management units, VoIP SoCs, mobile TV SoCs, and near field communications tags. Its infrastructure and networking products include Ethernet copper transceivers, Ethernet controllers and switches, backplane and optical front-end physical layer devices, security processors and adapters, and broadband processors. The company markets and sells its products through direct sales force, distributors, and manufacturers? representatives in the United States, as well as through regional offices, and a network of independent distributors and representatives in Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America. The company was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Irvine, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Motley Fool Staff]

  Ashraf Eassa: I've been bu! llish on chip maker Broadcom (NASDAQ: BRCM  ) for quite a while now. Although some investors might be disappointed that the company wasn't able to become the mobile processor powerhouse that the company itself had hoped, the remaining business continues to be incredibly compelling.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Companies that could be hurt by tax reform due to their already low tax rates include Broadcom (BRCM) and Celgene (CELG), while Best Buy (BBY),  Madison Square Garden (MSG) and Gap (GPS) could benefit, Senyek says.

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/best-semiconductor-stocks-to-buy-for-2015.html

Hot Retail Companies To Watch In Right Now

Hot Retail Companies To Watch In Right Now: Pier 1 Imports Inc (PIR)

Pier 1 Imports, Inc. (Pier 1 Imports), incorporated in April 30, 1986, is a global importer of imported decorative home furnishings and gifts. As of March 2, 2013, the Company had 1,062 stores in the United States and Canada. During the fiscal year ended March 2, 2013 (fiscal 2013), the Company opened 22 new Pier 1 Imports stores and closed 12 stores. The Company operates regional distribution center facilities in or near Baltimore, Maryland; Columbus, Ohio; Fort Worth, Texas; Ontario, California; Savannah, Georgia, and Tacoma, Washington. The specialty retail operations of the Company consist of retail stores and e-Commerce operations conducting business under the name Pier 1 Imports, which sell a range of furniture, decorative home furnishings, dining and kitchen goods, candles, gifts and other specialty items for the home.

As of March 2, 2013, the Company operated 982 Pier 1 Imports stores in the United States and 80 Pier 1 Imports stores in Canada. During fiscal 2013, the Company supplied merchandise and licensed the Pier 1 Imports name to Grupo Sanborns, which sold Pier 1 Imports merchandise primarily in a store within a store format in 49 Sears Mexico stores and one store in El Salvador. The stores consist of freestanding units located near shopping centers or malls and in-line positions in major shopping centers. Pier 1 Imports operates in all major United States metropolitan areas and many of the primary smaller markets.

Decorative Accessories

This merchandise group constitutes the range of category of merchandise in Pier 1 Imports' sales mix. These items are imported primarily from Asian and European countries, as well as some domestic sources. This merchandise group includes decorative accents, lamps, vases, dried and artificial flowers, baskets, ceramics, dinnerware, bath and fragr! ance products, candles, seasonal and gift items.

Furniture

This merchandise group cons ists of furniture and furniture cushions to be used in livin! g, dining, office, kitchen and bedroom areas, sunrooms and on patios. Also included in this group are wall decorations and mirrors. These goods are imported from a variety of countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Brazil, Thailand, China, the Philippines, India and Indonesia, and are also obtained from domestic sources. This merchandise group is made of metal or handcrafted natural materials, including rattan, pine, beech, rubberwood and selected hardwoods with either natural, stained, painted or upholstered finishes.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Pier 1 Imports Inc (NYSE: PIR) is estimated to post its Q3 earnings at $0.20 per share on revenue of $488.26 million.

  ConAgra Foods Inc (NYSE: CAG) is projected to report its Q2 earnings at $0.61 per share on revenue of $4.20 billion.

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Wall Street expects Pier 1 Imports Inc (NYSE: PIR) to post its Q3 earnings at $0.20 per share on revenue of $488.26 million. Pier 1 Imports shares gained 0.87% to close at $13.91 yesterday.

• [By Grace L. Williams]

  It wouldn’t be much of a shock. In an article earlier today, MarketWatch reporter Andria Cheng notes that industry rivals including Pier 1 Imports (PIR), the Container Store (TCS) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) lowered their profit or sales outlooks. Cheng also notes that Bed Bach & Beyond had cut its outlook in June to $1.08 a share from $1.16. She continues:

• [By Alanna Petroff]

  Watch Pier 1 Import (PIR)trading Thursday. Shares plunged in extended trading after the company said profit was nearly cut in half during the most recent quarter.

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/hot-retail-companies-to-watch-in-right-now-! 2.html

Best Services Stocks To Buy Right Now

Best Services Stocks To Buy Right Now: Document Security Systems Inc (DSS)

Document Security Systems, Inc. (DSS), incorporated on May 30, 1984, develops, markets, secure technologies. The Company specializes in fraud and counterfeit protection for all forms of printed documents and digital information. The Company holds numerous patents for optical deterrent technologies that provide protection of printed information from unauthorized scanning and copying. The Company operates three production facilities, a security and commercial printing facility, a packaging facility and a plastic cards facility, where the Company produces secure and non-secure documents for its customers. The Company licenses its anti-counterfeiting technologies to printers and brand-owners. In addition, the Company has a digital division which provides cloud computing services for its customers, including disaster recovery, back-up and data security services. The Company operates in four segments: DSS Printing Group, DSS Plastics Group, DSS Packaging Group and DSS Digital Gr oup. In June 2013, Document Security Systems Inc announced the closing of its previously announced merger with Lexington Technology Group, Inc. In October 2013, the Company announced that it has acquired two portfolios that will enable DSS to develop protected hardware and peripherals that incorporate core DSS security technologies.

The Company provides document security technology to security printers, corporations, consumer product companies and governments worldwide and for currency, identifications, certifications, travel documents, prescription and medical forms, consumer product and pharmaceutical packaging, and school transcripts. Its products are delivered on paper, plastic, or digitally via its AuthentiGuard DX product suite.

DSS Printing Group

The DSS Printing Group provides secure and commercial printing services for end-user customers along with technical support for the Companys technology licens! ees. The division produc es a wide array of printed materials such as security paper, vital records, prescription paper, birth certificates, receipts, manuals, identification materials, entertainment tickets, secure coupons, parts tracking forms, brochures, direct mailing pieces, catalogs, business cards, etc. The division also provides the basis of research and development for its security printing technologies.

DSS Plastics Group

The DSS Plastics Group manufactures laminated and surface printed cards which can include magnetic stripes, bar codes, holograms, signature panels, invisible ink, micro fine printing, guilloche patterns, biometric, radio frequency identification (RFID) and watermarks for printed plastic documents such as identity cards, event badges, and drivers licenses.

DSS Packaging Group

The DSS Packaging Group produces custom paperboard packaging serving clients in the pharmaceutical, beverage, photo packaging, toy, specialty foo ds and direct marketing industries, among others. The division incorporates the Company's security technologies into printed packaging to help companies prevent or deter brand and product counterfeiting.

DSS Digital Group

The DSS Digital Group provides data center centric solutions to businesses and governments delivered via the cloud. This division is also develops digital data security technologies based on the Companys optical deterrent technologies.

The Company competes with Standard Register Company, De La Rue Plc, Sharp, Xerox Canon, Ricoh, Hewlett Packard, Eastman Kodak, NoCopi Technologies, Graphic Security Systems Corporation, RR Donnelley, Canadian printer Quebecor World, Bristol ID, AbNote, LaserCard Corporation and L-1 Identity Solutions, Rock-Tenn Company, Caraustar Industries, Inc., Graphic Packaging Holding Company and Mead Westvaco.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Susan Decker]

  Document Security Systems Inc. (DSS), based in Rochester! , New Yor! k, is suing Facebook Inc. and LinkedIn Corp. for infringing technology covering online collaboration. The patents were acquired in a reverse merger with Lexington Technology Group Inc., an intellectual property company. The shares have fallen 33 percent since the deal closed on July 1.

• [By James E. Brumley]

  In a perfect world stocks would move in predictable, manageable ways. We don't live - nor do we trade in - a perfect world. In the real world we have to adapt to and deal with the curve balls the market throws us, and there are no two stocks that illustrate that point better than Document Security Systems, Inc. (NYSEMKT:DSS) and Nortech Systems Incorporated (NASDAQ:NSYS) to today. While both NSYS and DSS are up today, one's overbought and ripe for a pullback, while the other is likely at the beginning of a trade-worthy rally.

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  Document Security Systems (DSS) is engaged in fraud and counterfeit protection for all forms of printed documents and digital information. This stock closed up 8.7% to $1.68 in Tuesday's trading session.

  Tuesday's Range: $1.48-$1.68
  
  52-Week Range: $1.37-$4.60
  
  Tuesday's Volume: 755,000
  
  Three-Month Average Volume: 472,073

  From a technical perspective, DSS ripped higher here right above some near-term support at $1.45 with above-average volume. This stock has been downtrending badly for the last three months, with shares dropping from its high of $3.64 to its recent low of $1.37. During that move, shares of DSS have been making mostly lower highs and lower lows, which is bearish technical price action. That said, shares of DSS have now started to rebound off that $1.37 low and it's now quickly moving within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if DSS manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $1.75 to $1.88 with high volume.

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in DSS as long as it's trending above som! e near-te! rm support levels at $1.45 to $1.37 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 472,073 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then DSS will set up to re-test or possibly take out its 50-day moving average at $2.05 to its next major resistance area at $2.30. Any high-volume move above those levels will then put its 200-day at $2.39 or $3 into range for shares of DSS.

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/best-services-stocks-to-buy-right-now-3.html

Top 5 Oil Service Stocks To Own For 2014

Oil prices might be at multiyear lows but on Thursday, small cap oil services stock Key Energy Services, Inc (NYSE: KEG) surged 35.59%���meaning its worth taking a closer look at the stock along with the performance of oil benchmarks like the Market Vectors Oil Services ETF (NYSEARCA: OIH) and the United States Oil Fund LP ETF (NYSEARCA: USO). After all, oil services stocks should not be surging right now.

What is Key Energy Services, Inc?

Small cap Key Energy Services is the largest onshore, rig-based well servicing contractor based on the number of rigs owned and provides a complete range of well intervention services with operations in all major onshore oil and gas producing regions of the continental United States and internationally in Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, the Middle East and Russia. Onshore energy production services and solutions include drilling and workover rigs, coiled tubing, frac stack and well testing, fluid services, onshore and deepwater fishing, and rental services.

5 Best Quality Stocks To Watch For 2015: Xinyuan Real Estate Co Ltd(XIN)

Xinyuan Real Estate Co. Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, engages in residential real estate development in China. The company?s residential projects comprise various residential buildings that include multi-layer apartment buildings, sub-high-rise apartment buildings, or high-rise apartment buildings; auxiliary services and amenities, such as retail outlets, leisure and health facilities, kindergartens, and schools; and small scale residential properties. It also offers property management and other real estate related services, such as landscaping and installing intercom systems. In addition, the company leases properties, including an elementary school, a basement, three clubhouses, five kindergartens, and parking facilities. As of December 31, 2010, it had 21 completed projects with a total gross floor area (GFA) of approximately 2,049,460 square meters and comprising a total of 23,324 units, as well as 8 projects under construction with a total GFA of 1,804,946 sq uare meters. It primarily operates in seven tier II cities, comprising Hefei, Jinan, Kunshan, Suzhou, Zhengzhou, Xuzhou, and Chengdu. The company was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Beijing, the People?s Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Benjamin Shepherd]

  In the meantime though, I would avoid betting on a hard Chinese landing, a bet that has cost many investors dearly over the past few years. I would, however, avoid most of the leading Chinese real estate developers such as China Vanke (OTC: CVKEF) and Xinyuan Real Estate (NYSE: XIN) which are almost entirely dependent on the domestic markets.

Top 5 Oil Service Stocks To Own For 2014: Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd (FRFHF.PK)

Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited (Fairfax) is a financial services holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, is principally engaged in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance and the associated investment management. The Company�� segments consist of Insurance, Reinsurance, Insurance and Reinsurance Other, Runoff, and Corporate and Other. On December 22, 2011, the Company completed the acquisition of 75% interests in Sporting Life Inc. On August 16, 2011, the Company acquired William Ashley China Corporation. On March 24, 2011, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Fairfax completed the acquisition of The Pacific Insurance Berhad. On February 9, 2011, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Fairfax completed the acquisition of First Mercury Financial Corporation. In October 2012, its RiverStone runoff subsidiary acquired all the outstanding shares of Brit Insurance Limited.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Alex Jordon]

  There's talk that Prem Watsa, head of Fairfax Financial Holdings (FRFHF.PK), could possibly be involved in a privatization bid for the company. Consider:

• [By Infinity Group]

  With 515 million shares outstanding, this equates to 33% of all shares being shorted. It should also be noted that Prem Watsa's Fairfax Financial Holdings (FRFHF.PK) is holding 51.8 million BlackBerry shares. Prem Watsa stated at the annual FairFax shareholders meeting that Fairfax is holding a long position with BlackBerry and anticipates shareholder value increasing over the next 2-3 years. The cost basis for FairFax financial holdings is approximately $17 per BlackBerry share.

Top 5 Oil Service Stocks To Own For 2014: Chelsea Therapeutics International Ltd.(CHTP)

Chelsea Therapeutics International, Ltd., a development-stage pharmaceutical company, focuses on the acquisition, development, and commercialization of therapeutic products for the treatment of various human diseases. It is involved in developing Droxidopa, a therapeutic agent for the treatment of symptomatic neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (NOH) associated with primary autonomic failure and falls related to NOH in Parkinson?s Disease (PD), as well as other norepinephrine-related conditions and diseases, including intradialytic hypotension, fibromyalgia, adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, and freezing of gait in PD and down syndrome. The company intends to market its Droxidopa drug under the Northera brand name. It also engages in developing a portfolio of molecules for the treatment of various autoimmune/inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, Crohn?s disease, ankylosing spondylitis, uveitis, psoriatic arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, and other immunological disorders. The company?s molecule products include a portfolio of metabolically inert antifolate molecules consisting of CH-1504 and CH-4051, which are orally available molecules with anti-inflammatory, autoimmune, and anti-tumor properties that inhibit various key enzymes required for cell proliferation; and a portfolio of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, known as the I-3D portfolio, for applications in autoimmune diseases and transplantation. Chelsea Therapeutics International, Ltd. was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By MONEYMORNING]

  Chelsea Therapeutics International Ltd. (Nasdaq: CHTP) is a 10-year-old development-stage biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C. Shares got our attention mid-month when the stock soared 160% on heavy volume after a panel of federal experts recommended approval of its most advanced candidate, Northera. A blood pressure treatment designed to prevent dizziness and fainting in Parkinson's disease patients, the advisory group concluded the drug is effective enough to warrant regulatory approval. The outside panel's endorsement came with the condition the drug only be approved for short-term use in a defined group of patients.

• [By Lauren Pollock]

  Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Wednesday’s session are Bank of America Corp.(BAC), Chelsea Therapeutics International Ltd.(CHTP) and NuVasive Inc.(NUVA)

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  Chelsea Therapeutics International Ltd. (NASDAQ: CHTP) is finding a serious victory from its hypotension drug. Shares hit a 52-week high — make that a three-year high — after the company confirmed an accelerated FDA approval of its Northera for the treatment of low blood pressure, following FDA panel backing just last month.

Top 5 Oil Service Stocks To Own For 2014: Doral Financial Corporation (DRL)

Doral Financial Corporation operates as a bank holding company for Doral Bank that provides retail banking services to general public and institutions. It operates through four segments: Puerto Rico, the United States, Liquidating Operations, and Treasury. The company accepts deposits; obtains borrowings; originates and invests in loans, including residential real estate mortgage loans; invests in mortgage-backed securities and other investment securities; and offers traditional banking services. It also offers commercial and construction loan products; and purchases assigned interests in senior credit facilities from the syndicated leverage loan market in the United States. In addition, the company provides consumer loans, such as consumer credit, personal loans, loans on savings deposits, and other consumer loans. Further, it offers commercial real estate loans; commercial loans, including lines of credit and term facilities, and working capital for specific purposes, su ch as to finance the purchase of assets, equipment, or inventory; and construction lending products, as well as industrial and land loans. Additionally, the company originates, purchases, and sells mortgage loans; and offers property, casualty, life, and title insurance products primarily to its mortgage loan customers. It operates a network of 26 branches in Puerto Rico; 3 branches in the metropolitan area of New York; and 5 branches in the northwest area of Florida. Doral Financial Corporation was founded in 1972 and is based San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jayson Derrick]

  An attorney at Doral (NYSE: DRL) stated that the company has “not left negotiations” with Puerto Rico's Treasury. Shares lost 2.86 percent, closing at $8.15.

• [By John Udovich]

  For investors looking for exposure to the US commonwealth of Puerto Rico, banking stocks Doral Financial Corp (NYSE: DRL), First Bancorp (NYSE: FBP), OFG Bancorp (NYSE: OFG) and Popular Inc (NASDAQ: BPOP) offer the best bet as these Puerto Rico stocks trade on major US exchanges rather than the OTC. However, it should be mentioned that there has been a slowdown in Puerto Rico�� economy which has also shrunk in five of the past seven fiscal years. Then last�February, Puerto Rico�� debt was cut to speculative grade by the three largest credit-rating companies while�Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla has proposed a series of budget cuts to help tackle the island�� mounting debt load -including the freezing public workers��salaries and the closing about 100 schools.

Top Airline Companies For 2014

The Federal Communications Commission is reviewing its 22-year ban against in-flight cellphone calls, igniting concerns among frequent fliers about plane cabins becoming much noisier.

At its meeting Dec. 12, the FCC will consider changing its rules to allow passengers access to mobile wireless services. The 1991 ban began because of concerns about jamming ground stations.

"Modern technologies can deliver mobile services in the air safely and reliably, and the time is right to review our outdated and restrictive rules," FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said. "I look forward to working closely with my colleagues, the FAA and the airline industry on this review of new mobile opportunities for consumers."

The FCC will collect public comment if the proposal moves forward, but opposition erupted immediately.

Top 5 Integrated Utility Stocks For 2015: ANA Holdings Inc (ALNPF)

ANA HOLDINGS INC., formerly All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd., is a Japan-based airline holding company. Its Air Transportation segment is engaged in the air transportation business, the provision of various services at airports, the provision of reservation services via telephone, the freight express business, and the maintenance of aircrafts in domestic and overseas markets. The Traveling segment plans and sells tour packages under the brand names ANA Hello Tour and ANA Sky Holiday, it also offers services to travelers at arrival areas and sells travel products and air tickets. The Others segment involves in the information communication, trading and merchandise business, building management, logistics and airplane fixture repair business, and hotel operation. On March 4 and March 5, 2013, it fully acquired all shares of one and two consolidated subsidiaries through stock swap, respectively, made them become wholly-owned subsidiaries. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Daniel Inman]

  In Tokyo, ANA Holdings (JP:9202) � (ALNPF) �declined 4.7% after the airline lowered its 2013 fiscal-year net profit forecast by 65% on higher fuel costs and slow service expansion because of delays in Boeing (BA) �787 Dreamliner deliveries.

Top Airline Companies For 2014: Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes SA (GOL)

Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A. (GoL) is a low-cost, low-fare airline in the world providing service on routes connecting all of Brazil�� cities and from Brazil to cities in South America and select touristic destinations in the Caribbean. As of March 31, 2010, GoL offered approximately 800 daily flights per day to 61 destinations connecting cities in Brazil, as well as destinations in Argentina, Bolivia, Curacao, Aruba, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela. GoL is a holding company, which owns directly or indirectly shares of five subsidiaries: VRG Linhas Aereas S.A. (VRG) and four offshore finance subsidiaries, Gol Finance Cayman and GAC Inc., which owns Sky Finance and Sky Finance II. VRG is the Company�� operating subsidiary, under which it conducts its business. Gol Finance, GAC Inc., Sky Finance and Sky Finance II are off-shore companies established for the purpose of facilitating cross-border general and aircraft financing transactions.

GoL�� passenger transportation services include ticketless travel; online sales, check-in, seat assignment and flight change and cancellation services; online flight status service; Web-enabled cell phone ticket sales and check-in; self check-in at kiosks at designated airports; designated female lavatories; friendly and efficient in-flight service; modern aircraft interiors; quick turnaround times at airport gates; free or discounted shuttle services between airports and drop-off zones on certain routes; buy on board services on certain flights; mobile check-in and boarding pass (100% paperless boarding), and iPhone application for check-in, electronic boarding pass and Smiles account management. On December 31, 2009, the Company had an operational fleet of 108 operational aircraft and a total fleet of 127. As of March 31, 2010, one of its Boeing 767 aircrafts was subleased to a charter company in the United States, one is under final formalization process for a wet lease to a Brazilian company for flights connecting Brazil to! Angola and three are under final stages of negotiation to be chartered to operate intercontinental flights. At December 31, 2009, GoL had a total of 127 aircraft, 94 of which were under operating leases and 33 were under finance leases.

The Company competes with TAM Linhas Aereas S.A.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jim Jubak]

  One place to look for it this week has been in the ADRs, the New York traded ADRs, American Depository Receipts of GOL. One of the two big Brazilian airlines is the only one that is not owned by somebody else. The symbol is (GOL). It went up like 9.5% on October 21; it went up about 4.5% on October 22, pulled back a tiny little bit on October 23, but still a major, major move. This is basically on the effect of a weaker dollar versus the Brazilian real, since GOL is basically a domestic airline and almost all their revenue is denominated in real, which means that when the real gets cheap against the dollar, it hurts their revenue, especially because most of their costs, a lot of their costs, probably about 80% of their costs are denominated in dollars. A strong dollar means what they pay for oil, kerosene, jet fuel, what they pay for debt service, what they pay on airplane leases, all denominated in dollars, goes up, so GOL has been getting hammered on this. The reversal of this is a big deal for the stock.

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  One airline player that's starting to trend within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade is Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes (GOL), through its subsidiaries, engages in the air transportation of passengers, cargo, and mailbags in Latin America. This stock has been hammered by the bears so far in 2013, with shares off by 42%.

  If you look at the chart for Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes, you'll notice that this stock has been uptrending strong for the last two months, with shares moving higher from its low of $2.74 to its recent high of $3.83 a share. During that uptrend, shares of GOL have been mostly making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. Shares of GOL just recently formed a double bottom above its 50-day moving average at $3.57 to $3.55 a share. Shares of GOL are now starting to spike higher above those support levels and move within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade.

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in GOL if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $3.83 to $4.14 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 2.19 million shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then GOL will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance level at its 200-day moving average of $5.30 a share to $6 a share.

  Traders can look to buy GOL off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below its 50-day moving average of $3.46 a share. One can also buy GOL off strength once it takes out those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes (NYSE: GOL) was down, falling 6.31 percent to $4.0850 after the company posted a loss in the third quarter.

  Commodities
  In commodity news, oil traded up 1.33 percent to $94.28, while gold traded up 0.28 percent to $1,274.70.

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  Gol Linhas A茅reas Inteligentes S.A. (NYSE: GOL) is a Brazilian airline carrier, as well as a mail and cargo carrier. At $4.65, the 52-week trading range is $2.74 to $7.67.

Top Airline Companies For 2014: Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA (NAS)

Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA is a Norway-based company active in the low-cost airline industry. It operates scheduled services with additional charter services. It has a route portfolio that stretches across Europe into North Africa and the Middle East, as well as Thailand and the US. The Company operates approximately 400 routes and over 120 destinations. It has a fleet of over 80 jet aircrafts, including Boeings 737-800, Boeings 787-8 Dreamliners, Boeings 737 MAX8 and Airbuses A320neo. It is the parent company of the Norwegian Group and operates through subsidiaries, including Norwegian Air Shuttle Polska Sp z o o, Norwegian Air Shuttle Sweden AB, Call Norwegian AS, NAS Asset Management Norway AS, among others. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By GURUFOCUS]

  EMC�� products ��both hardware and software - are litearlly a geek�� wonderland alphabet soup, which include Storage Area Network (SAN), Network Attached Storage (NAS), Direct Attached Storage (DAS), Virtual SAN, All-Flash XtremIO, Atmos, Avamar, �Data Domain, Isilon, Pivotal, ViPR Software Defined Storgae, VMAX, VNX, VNXe, VPLEX, VSPEX (none of these are typos).� Information storage makes up 70% of revenues and virtualization 23% of revenues.� Products generate 55% of revenues.� Services generate 45% of revenues.� The Company�� gross profit split is approximaltey 67% data storage and 31% virtualization.

Top Airline Companies For 2014: AirAsia Bhd (AIRA.KL)

AirAsia Berhad (AirAsia) is principally engaged in providing air transportation services. It has covered over 80 destinations via 160 routes crisscrossing 18 countries. AirAsia has in the pipeline approximately 355 single-aisle aircraft from Airbus - 264 A320 new engine options (neo) and 93 A320 current engine options (ceo). The Company�� ancillary services include in-flight meals, check-in baggage, counter check-in, Pick-a-Seat, Hot Seat selection, Fly-Thru, Red Carpet and various merchandise (on-board, as well as in its online Megastore) and cargo service. Indonesia AirAsia introduced approximately 10 new routes. Of these, 11 were internal: Bandung - Pekanbaru, Jakarta - Semarang, Denpasar - Yogyakarta, Denpasar - Surabaya, Medan - Pekanbaru, Medan - Banda Aceh, Surabaya - Bandung, Surabaya - Jakarta, Surabaya - Semarang, Makassar - Jakarta and Makassar - Balikpapan. The Company�� operations are conducted in Malaysia. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Johanna Bennett]

  But AirAsia (AIRA.KL) shares, which were also downgraded by AllianceDBS, fell 8.5% on the local exchange. The airplane�� lead insurer, Allianz SE (AZSEY), and the manufacturer, Airbus Group (EADSY), each fell roughly 1% in early afternoon market action.

Top Airline Companies For 2014: Delta Air Lines Inc (DAL)

Delta Air Lines, Inc. (Delta) provides scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo throughout the United States and around the world. The Company�� route network gives it a presence in every domestic and international market. Delta�� route network is centered around the hub system it operate at airports in Amsterdam, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-JFK, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City and Tokyo-Narita. Each of these hub operations includes flights that gather and distribute traffic from markets in the geographic region surrounding the hub to domestic and international cities and to other hubs. The Company�� network is supported by a fleet of aircraft that is varied in terms of size and capabilities.

Delta has bilateral and multilateral marketing alliances with foreign airlines to improve its access to international markets. These arrangements can include code-sharing, reciprocal frequent flyer program benefits, shared or reciprocal access to passenger lounges, joint promotions, common use of airport gates and ticket counters, ticket office co-location, and other marketing agreements. Its international code-sharing agreements enable it to market and sell seats to an expanded number of international destinations. The Company has international codeshare arrangements with Aeromexico, Air France, Air Nigeria, Alitalia, Aeroflot, China Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, CSA Czech Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air, Olympic Air, Royal Air Maroc, VRG Linhas Aereas (operating as GOL), Vietnam Airlines, Virgin Australia and WestJet Airlines.

In addition to the Company�� marketing alliance agreements with individual foreign airlines, it is a member of the SkyTeam airline alliance. Delta also has frequent flyer and reciprocal lounge agreements with Hawaiian Airlines, and codesharing agreements with American Eagle Airlines (American Eagle) and Hawaiian Airlines. It has air service agreements with multiple do! mestic regional air carriers that feed traffic to its route system by serving passengers primarily in small-and medium-sized cities.

Through the Company�� regional carrier program, it has contractual arrangements with 10 regional carriers to operate regional jet and, in certain cases, turbo-prop aircraft using its DL designator code. In addition to Delta�� wholly owned subsidiary, Comair, it has contractual arrangements with ExpressJet Airlines, Inc. and SkyWest Airlines, Inc., both subsidiaries of SkyWest, Inc.; Chautauqua Airlines, Inc. and Shuttle America Corporation, both subsidiaries of Republic Airways Holdings, Inc.; Pinnacle Airlines, Inc. and Mesaba Aviation, Inc. (Mesaba), both subsidiaries of Pinnacle Airlines Corp. (Pinnacle); Compass Airlines, Inc. (Compass) and GoJet Airlines, LLC, both subsidiaries of Trans States Holdings, Inc. (Trans States), and American Eagle.

The Company�� SkyMiles program allows program members to earn mileage for travel awards by flying on Delta, Delta�� regional carriers and other participating airlines. Mileage credit may also be earned by using certain services offered by program participants, such as credit card companies, hotels and car rental agencies. In addition, individuals and companies may purchase mileage credits. The Company reserves the right to terminate the program with six months advance notice, and to change the program�� terms and conditions at any time without notice.

SkyMiles program mileage credits can be redeemed for air travel on Delta and participating airlines, for membership in the Company�� Delta Sky Clubs and for other program participant awards. Mileage credits are subject to certain transfer restrictions and travel awards are subject to capacity controlled seating. During the year ended December 31, 2011, program members redeemed more than 275 billion miles in the SkyMiles program for more than 12 million award redemptions. During 2011, 8.2% of revenue miles flown on Delta were from a! ward trav! el.

The Company generates cargo revenues in domestic and international markets through the use of cargo space on regularly scheduled passenger aircraft. Delta is a member of SkyTeam Cargo, an airline cargo alliance. SkyTeam Cargo offers a network spanning six continents and provides customers an international product line.

The Company has several other businesses arising from its airline operations, including aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO); staffing services for third parties; vacation wholesale operations, and its private jet operations. Delta�� MRO operation, known as Delta TechOps, is an airline MRO in North America. In addition to providing maintenance and engineering support for its fleet of approximately 775 aircraft, Delta TechOps serves more than 150 aviation and airline customers. Its staffing services business, Delta Global Services, provides staffing services, professional security, training services and aviation solutions to approximately 150 customers. The Company�� vacation wholesale business, MLT Vacations, is the provider of vacation packages in the United States. Its private jet operations, Delta Private Jets, provides aircraft charters, aircraft management and programs allowing members to purchase flight time by the hour.

The Company competes with SkyTeam, United Air Lines, Continental Airlines, Lufthansa German Airlines, Air Canada, American Airlines, British Airways and Qantas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  Delta Air Lines Inc. (NYSE: DAL) just hit a new high of $29.39 as well. At $29.17, its new 52-week range is $9.50 to $29.39 and its market cap is worth close to $25 billion. The UAL-Continental�merger and AMR-US merger may leave Delta as odd-man-out for the legacy carriers. The consensus price target is only a few percent higher at $30.88 and $34.00 is the highest price target.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  There’s been a lot of talk that investors are ready to shed their pessimistic views on airline stocks like Alaska Air (ALK) Delta Air Lines (DAL), United Continental Holdings (UAL) and American Airlines (AAL) and embrace them for the long term. The only problem: There’s no sign that they actually are.

• [By Sue Chang and William L. Watts]

  Delta Air Lines Inc. (DAL) �shares gained 2.9%. Delta on Wednesday said its consolidated passenger unit revenue rose 5.5% in September, thanks to trans-Atlantic and domestic business.

• [By Whitney Kisling]

  While history shows re-elected Republicans have had better stock-market performance, with an average 5 percent gain in the first year of their second terms compared with a 1.2 percent loss for Democrats, 2013 is on track for the best return in a decade. This year�� rally in the S&P 500 is the broadest on record, with shares of Assurant Inc., Delta Air Lines Inc. (DAL) and 442 more companies rising, data since 1990 compiled by Bloomberg show.

Top Airline Companies For 2014: SkyWest Inc (SKYW)

SkyWest, Inc. (SkyWest), incorporated in 1972, through subsidiaries, SkyWest Airlines, Inc. (SkyWest Airlines) and ExpressJet Airlines, Inc. (ExpressJet) operates the regional airline in the United States. In addition, the Company provides ground handling services for other airlines throughout its system. The Company operates in two segments: SkyWest Airlines and ExpressJet. On December 31, 2011, its subsidiary, ExpressJet Airlines, Inc. (ExpressJet Delaware) was merged into its subsidiary, Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Inc. (Atlantic Southeast), with the surviving company named ExpressJet Airlines, Inc. (the ExpressJet Combination). ExpressJet includes the operations of Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Inc. (Atlantic Southeast) and ExpressJet Airlines, Inc. (ExpressJet Delaware), which is prior to the ExpressJet Combination.

As of December 31, 2011, SkyWest and ExpressJet offered scheduled passenger and air freight service with approximately 4,000 total daily departures to different destinations in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. All of its flights are operated as Delta Connection, United Express, Continental Express, US Airways Express or Alaska under code-share arrangements with Delta, United Air Lines, Inc. (United), Continental Airlines, Inc. (Continental), US Airways Group, Inc. (US Airways) and Alaska Airlines (Alaska). As of December 31, 2011, its consolidated fleet consisted of a total of 732 aircraft, of which 443 were assigned to United and Continental, 268 were assigned to Delta, eight were in preparation for new code-share assignments, five were assigned to Alaska, four were subleased to affiliated entities, two were assigned to US Airways and two were subleased to unaffiliated entities. In addition, it provides electronic or paper copies of its filings free of charge upon request.

As of December 31, 2011, it operated two types of regional jet aircraft: the Bombardier Aerospace (Bombardier) regional jet, which include the 50-seat Bombardier CRJ20! 0 Regional Jet (the CRJ200), the 70-seat Bombardier CRJ700 Regional Jet (the CRJ700) and the 70-90-seat Bombardier CRJ900 Regional Jet (the CRJ900), and the 50-seat Embraer ERJ-145 regional jet (ERJ145). As of December 31, 2011, it also operated the 30-seat Embraer Brasilia EMB-120 turboprop (the Brasilia turboprop). During the year ended December 31, 2011, approximately 65.2% of the Company's aggregate capacity was operated under the United Express Agreements and Continental Express Agreement, approximately 33.6% was operated under the Delta Connection Agreements, approximately 0.9% was operated under the Alaska Capacity Purchase Agreement, approximately 0.1% was operated under the US Airways Express Agreement and approximately 0.2% was operated under a code-share agreement with AirTran Airways, Inc.

On November 17, 2011, SkyWest Airlines and US Airways entered into the SkyWest Airlines US Airways Express Agreement. As of December 31, 2011, SkyWest Airlines operated two CRJ200s under the SkyWest Airlines US Airways Express Agreement, flying a total of approximately ten US Airways Express flights per day between Phoenix and designated outlying destinations. On April 13, 2011, SkyWest Airlines and Alaska entered into the SkyWest Airlines Alaska Capacity Purchase Agreement. As of December 31, 2011, SkyWest Airlines operated five CRJ700s under the SkyWest Airlines Alaska Capacity Purchase Agreement, flying a total of approximately 30 Alaska flights per day between Seattle, Portland and designated outlying destinations.

As of December 31, 2011, SkyWest Airlines and ExpressJet scheduled the daily flights as Delta Connection carriers: 530 flights to or from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, 316 flights to or from Salt Lake City International Airport, 132 flights to or from Minneapolis International Airport, 94 flights to or from Memphis International Airport, 94 flights to or from Detroit International Airport and 8 flights to or from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Inte! rnational! Airport.. As of December 31, 2011, SkyWest Airlines scheduled 15 daily flights as an Alaska carrier to or from Portland International Airport and 15 daily flights as an Alaska carrier to or from Seattle International Airport. As of December 31, 2011, SkyWest Airlines scheduled ten daily flights as an US Airways Express carrier to or from Phoenix International Airport.

As of December 31, 2011, SkyWest Airlines and ExpressJet scheduled the daily flights as a United or Continental Express carrier: 572 flights to or from Houston International Airport, 486 flights to or from Chicago O'Hare International Airport, 412 flights to or from Denver International Airport, 306 flights to or from San Francisco International Airport, 284 flights to or from Los Angeles International Airport, 214 flights to or from Newark International Airport, 148 flights to or from Washington Dulles International Airport, 128 flights to or from Cleveland International Airport and 64 flights to or from other airports. As of December 31, 2011, it operated 17 CRJ200s for United under a pro-rate agreement. The Company also operated one CRJ200 under a pro-rate agreement with Delta, as of December 31, 2011.

SkyWest Airlines

SkyWest Airlines provides regional jet and turboprop service primarily located in the midwestern and western United States. SkyWest Airlines offered approximately 1,650 daily scheduled departures as of December 31, 2011, of which approximately 1,110 were United Express flights, 500 were Delta Connection flights, 30 were Alaksa-coded flights and 10 were US Airways Express flights. SkyWest Airlines' operations are conducted from hubs located in Chicago (O'Hare), Denver, Los Angeles, Houston, Portland, Seattle, Phoenix, San Francisco and Salt Lake City. SkyWest Airlines' fleet as of December 31, 2011 consisted of 21 CRJ900s, all of which were flown for Delta; 96 CRJ700s, of which 70 were flown for United, 21 were flown for Delta and five were flown for Alaska; 153 CRJ200s, of which 82 ! were flown! for United, 61 were flown for Delta, eight were in preparation for service under a code-share agreement with US Airways and two were flown for US Airways; and 45 Brasilia turboprops, of which 35 were flown for United and 10 were flown for Delta.

As of December 31, 2011, SkyWest Airlines was conducting its Delta Connection operations pursuant to the terms of an Amended and Restated Delta Connection Agreement, which obligates Delta to compensate SkyWest Airlines for its direct costs associated with operating Delta Connection flights, plus a payment based on block hours flown (the SkyWest Airlines Delta Connection Agreement). SkyWest Airlines' United code-share operations are conducted under a United Express Agreement, pursuant to which SkyWest Airlines is paid primarily on a fee-per-completed block hour and departure basis, plus a margin based on performance incentives (the SkyWest Airlines United Express Agreement). During December 31, 2011, SkyWest Airlines entered into code-share agreements with Alaska and US Airways, pursuant to which SkyWest Airlines is paid primarily on a fee-per-completed block hour and departure basis, plus a fixed margin per aircraft each month.

ExpressJet

ExpressJet provides regional jet service principally in the United States, primarily from hubs located in Atlanta, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago (O'Hare), Denver, Houston, Newark and Washington Dulles. ExpressJet offered more than 2,100 daily scheduled departures as of December 31, 2011, of which approximately 650 were Delta Connection flights and 1,450 were Continental Express or United Express flights. As of December 31, 2011, the combined fleet of ExpressJet consisted of 10 CRJ900s, which were flown for Delta, 46 CRJ700s,which were flown for Delta, 113 CRJ200s, 99 of, which were flown for Delta and 14 of, which were flown for United and 242 ERJ145s, which were flown for United or Continental.

Under the terms of a Second Amended and Restated Delta Connection Agreement exec! uted betw! een Delta and Atlantic Southeast and to, which ExpressJet is a party (the ExpressJet Delta Connection Agreement), Delta has agreed to compensate ExpressJet for its direct costs associated with operating Delta Connection flights, plus, if ExpressJet completes a certain minimum percentage of its Delta Connection flights, a specified margin on such costs. Under the ExpressJet Delta Connection Agreement, excess margins over certain percentages must be returned to or shared with Delta, depending on various conditions. ExpressJet's Continental and United code-share operations are conducted under a Capacity Purchase Agreement between ExpressJet and Continental (the Continental CPA) and two United Express Agreements between ExpressJet and United (collectively, the ExpressJet United Express Agreements), pursuant to, which ExpressJet is paid by Continental or United, as applicable, primarily on a fee-per-completed block hour and departure basis, plus a margin based on performance incentives.

The Company competes with Air Wisconsin Airlines Corporation, American Airlines, Inc. Delta Air Lines, Inc. Compass Airlines, Alaska Air Group, Inc. Mesa Air Group, Inc., Pinnacle Airlines Corp., Republic Airways Holdings Inc. and Trans State Airlines, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Adam Levine-Weinberg]

  On Wednesday, I wrote that regional airline king SkyWest (NASDAQ: SKYW  ) is a business under threat, due to the growing obsolescence of 50-seat jets. The company has long-term contracts to fly its fleet of more than 500 50-seat jets for various partners -- particularly Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL  ) and United Continental (NYSE: UAL  ) -- but once those contracts end, nobody will want these fuel-guzzling aircraft.

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Passenger airline operator�SkyWest (NASDAQ: SKYW  ) announced today its third-quarter dividend of $0.04 per share, the same rate it's paid since 2008.

• [By Asit Sharma]

  What a difference a mega-order makes! Recently, I discussed Embraer's (NYSE: ERJ  ) disappointing first quarter in light of its long-term prospects. At the time, I put forward that if Embraer could add another $1 billion-$2 billion in orders to its backlog, a missing puzzle piece would fall into place, making this company a persuasive investment candidate. Last week's announcement of a significant order from regional airline SkyWest, (NASDAQ: SKYW  ) , provides a $4.1 billion jigsaw cutout to complete Embraer's picture. �