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Over 2,000 Walmart Customers Are Obsessed With This $9 Waterproof Mascara Summer is finally here and that means beach trips, pool parties, summer soirees and warm, sunshine-filled days ahead. It also means swapping out your makeup for sweat-proof and waterproof products because let’s face it, no one likes to look like a raccoon at the pool or show up to work with makeup melting off their face. We’ve all been there, right? Luckily, there are plenty of fabulous beauty products available on the market today that can help combat such situations. One of the most important beauty products to use during the hot summer months is a good waterproof mascara that can stand up to sweat, stay on in the pool, and give you full, beautiful lashes all day long. So if you’re not a huge fan of waterproof mascara, hear us out. There are definitely some products out there that leave your eyelashes feeling sticky, are impossible to remove even with micellar water makeup remover , and simply put, don’t deliver the gorgeous, full lashes that we all love and want. But don’t give up just yet because we’ve found a waterproof mascara that, according to Walmart customers, gives you thick, false-looking lashes . Perhaps the best part? It’s super affordable. We’re talking $9, people! L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Waterproof Mascara is loved by over 2,000 Walmart shoppers and boasts an average customer rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars. Its soft wavy bristle brush is made from over 200 bristles that provide flake-free, clump-free volume with ease. One happy customer wrote, “I have short straight lashes that can’t curl and I’m always skeptical of any new mascara. I decided to give lash paradise a try and I’m really happy. I applied 3 coats. No clumps, my lashes look fuller and longer, and the best part is the brush — I feel like it really covers every single lash.” “L’Oréal always has some of my most favorite mascaras, and this one exceeded every single expectation!! My lashes are very short and straight, but the combination of the formula and wand made my lashes look as if I were wearing falsies!” another shopper wrote. Available in three non-waterproof shades and one black waterproof formula, this L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara provides long, voluminous lashes for under $10 — and that’s definitely a deal we can get behind this summer. Story continues Buy It! L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Waterproof Mascara, $8.97; walmart.com
Why PG&E, Pier 1 Imports, and Sorrento Therapeutics Slumped Today Major indexes managed to post modest gains on Friday, capping a strong first half of 2019. Markets have recovered sharply since the worst levels of December 2018, and even though some fear that an economic slowdown might be ahead, there's considerable optimism that at least some of the challenges facing the global economy might ease up in the months to come. Yet among individual stocks, many companies still faced pressure from specific issues of their own. PG&E (NYSE: PCG) , Pier 1 Imports (NYSE: PIR) , and Sorrento Therapeutics (NASDAQ: SRNE) were among the worst performers. Here's why they did so poorly. Will fire season hit PG&E again this year? Shares of electric utility PG&E fell 4% as investors have once again gotten a reminder that the summer season in California will inevitably bring wildfires. Power lines have already gotten the blame in at least two fires in northern California, and others could follow as the season progresses. So far, this year's fires pale in comparison to the devastation wrought in past years, and investors have been optimistic that the utility's bankruptcy proceedings could help resolve some uncertainty. Yet the episodes show just how difficult it'll be to come up with a comprehensive solution to PG&E's liability problems -- especially if Mother Nature won't cooperate with more favorable weather conditions. Several power lines and transformers on a clear day near sunset or sunrise. Image source: Getty Images. Pier 1 keeps sinking Pier 1 Imports lost more ground on Friday, seeing its stock fall another 5% in the wake of difficult strategic moves to try to save the ailing retailer. Earlier this week , Pier 1 said that it would accelerate its planned closure of store locations, hoping to cut costs quickly enough to offset the big declines in same-store sales and large net losses that the home furnishings specialist has suffered. Pier 1's reverse stock split has thus far managed to keep it from having to deal with a New York Stock Exchange delisting, but the company will have to work hard to get its business moving in the right direction again. Story continues Sorrento makes a cheap sale Finally, shares of Sorrento Therapeutics plunged 21%. The biopharmaceutical company said that it had sold a combination of 8.33 million shares of stock along with three series of warrants to interested investors, with the entire package fetching $3 per share. The complicated transaction gives buyers the right to buy an extra share of Sorrento stock for $3.75 anytime between December 2019 and June 2029, as well as providing the opportunity to buy as many as two additional shares during set periods if certain conditions are met. The company expects to use the proceeds to work on its pipeline development, but as with past bouts of volatility , shareholders weren't pleased to see how low the pricing of the offering turned out to be. More From The Motley Fool 10 Best Stocks to Buy Today The $16,728 Social Security Bonus You Cannot Afford to Miss 20 of the Top Stocks to Buy (Including the Two Every Investor Should Own) What Is an ETF? 5 Recession-Proof Stocks How to Beat the Market Dan Caplinger has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy .
Bloomberg: Craig Wright Does Not Have Access to Bitcoin Fortune Craig Wrightsaid that he cannot comply with a court order to provide a list of all his early bitcoin (BTC) addresses, Bloombergreportedon June 28 The Australian computer scientist and self-proclaimedSatoshi Nakamotosaid that he may not be able to access the coins at all. As previouslyreported, theUnited StatesDistrict Court of the Southern District of Florida issued an order on May 3 requiring Wright to produce a list of his public bitcoin addresses. Wright, however,failedto disclose his bitcoin holdings per court order. The order was part of an ongoing case against Wright that was filed by the estate ofDavid Kleiman. Kleiman was a cyber-security expert, whom manybelieveto have been one of the first developers behind bitcoin andblockchaintechnology. Kleiman’s estatebroughtthe case to court in February 2018, claiming that Wright stole hundreds of thousands of BTC worth over $5 billion after Kleiman’s death, claiming that Wright “forged a series of contracts that purported to transfer Dave’s assets to Craig and/or companies controlled by him. Craig backdated these contracts and forged Dave’s signature on them.” Wright claims that he gave a key piece of information regarding the funds and wallets to Kleiman before his death, making it difficult to find the digital wallets or the funds they purportedly hold. Wright maintains that he was the mysterious creator of bitcoin, going so far as tofileU.S. copyright registrations for the bitcoin white paper. Wright stated that he decided to stop working on bitcoin in 2010, adding that “I brought in Dave because he was a friend and he knew who I was and he was a forensic expert and I wanted to wipe everything I had to do with bitcoin from the public record.” • Craig Wright Failed to Disclose Bitcoin Holdings in Court Case, Says Lawyer • Kik Hands Off Defend Crypto Fund to The Blockchain Association • Coinbase Releases Key Findings on Crypto Awareness and Adoption in US • Winklevoss’ Gemini Exchange Launches Chicago Office to Serve as Engineering Hub
Report: Warriors to offer Thompson five-year, $190 million max deal The Golden State Warriors are expected to offer All-Star shooting guard Klay Thompson a five-year, $190 million max contract this Sunday when free agency opens at 6 p.m. ET, according to a report by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. According to ESPN, Thompson and his agent, Greg Lawrence, have said over the past year that the 29-year-old guard would return to Golden State if offered the full five-year max deal, which appears to be on track, according to league sources. The five-time All-Star suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during Game 6 of the NBA Finals, but Wojnarowski reports that the Warriors are committed to keeping Thompson out of free agency as the team transitions into its new San Francisco arena. Thompson was selected 11th overall by the Warriors in the 2011 draft. In eight seasons with Golden State, he's averaged 19.5 points and has a 41.9 3-point shooting percentage. Last season he averaged 21.5 points and shot 40.2 percent from behind the arc. The Warriors have won three championships and reached five NBA Finals with Thompson. Also on Friday, Golden State announced multi-year contract extensions for general manager Bob Myers and chief operating officer Rick Welts. Myers, who has also served as president of basketball operations for three years, has served eight seasons as GM. Welts joined the Warriors organization in September 2011, after spending nine years in Phoenix Suns' front office. Earlier this month, the Warriors reached a fifth straight NBA Finals before losing to the Toronto Raptors in Game 6. They won back-to-back titles in 2017-18. --Field Level Media
How To Win Reality TV, According to Spin-Off Stars Photo credit: Bravo From ELLE Get out the throwing wine: ELLE.com is celebrating the best (and worst) of reality TV this week. What does it mean to "win" at reality tv? Once upon a time, it meant being the last man standing, going home with ONE MILLION DOLLARS, before taxes. Today, the winners of reality TV get spin-off series and legions of loyal fans who will buy their makeup line, low-calorie margarita mix, and cookbooks filled with recipes for food to make for your worst enemies. If you ask the reality stars who have done just that, they'll tell you a sort of formula exists. We spoke to Mari Takahashi , a former Survivor contestant turned successful YouTube gamer; Stassi Schroeder , star of Vanderpump Rules and a New York Times- Bestselling author; Kristin Cavallari , Laguna Beach alum, Very Cavallari star and owner of jewelry and clothing line UnCommon James; and Kim Zolziak-Biermann , former housewife turned podcast host, owner of Kab Cosmetics and Kashmere skin. Read what they have to say before you film your audition tape. Be authentic “I think viewers can sense when people are honest and authentic and real and open, not just about the good but also the bad and the struggles in their lives. People just want to relate to something so being honest and authentic naturally makes you standout." - Stassi Schroeder "My secret sauce might be my mouth. I think that I'm authentic. I've not always made the best decisions, and have not always been the greatest friend at times or whatever the case may be but I think I've just always kind of stayed true to who I am as a person.” - Kim Zolciak-Biermann "I think that you can really tell on screen when someone’s being authentic or not. But in the same breath I'm outspoken, I speak my mind, and I have a strong personality. You either loved me or hated me.” - Kristin Cavallari “I absolutely go with my gut. I go with what feels to me as the most genuine and authentic for where I am in my life. I had never expected myself to be any sort of advocate for STEM or go to Washington and lobby for space. I'm not an engineer. I'm not an expert in these things but I love it and I have a deep passion for it and enthusiasm for it.” - Mari Takahashi Story continues Say No To Projects “We're given like a bunch of opportunities and are constantly turning things down. It's hard to navigate the space to make the right decisions that are setting yourself up for a career later.” One example is that after I had my first baby I got offered a six figure deal to say I took a diet pill to lose all my baby weight. I had to say no because it goes against everything I believe in. I'm so incredibly healthy that it would pain me to have to lie about something like that. But that's a lot of money, you know, so, it was hard. I think ultimately what I've learned is that if it's not true to who I am, I'm not going to do it." - Kristin Cavallari “I have great tastes and people know that I don't skimp on anything, whether it's clothing or skincare, I use only the best products. I’ve turned down products left and right that they wanted me to promote on my social media because I’m not going to promote something I don’t believe in." - Kim Zolciak-Biermann Find your niche "I remember the day that Lisa called a meeting for everyone who worked at SUR – and we thought it was just a restaurant meeting – and the producers came to SUR and surprised us and said they wanted to film a show about the restaurant. They said, 'If you want to be on it, stay, draw straws, and we’re going to interview all of you.' They interviewed about 30 of us and I had the last straw, so I had to wait there all day long. By the time I sat down, they were you like 'You don’t even need to talk, everyone else has already talked about you for you.' And I was like 'Cool, so I got this in the bag?' Forge your own path and always take full shots." - Stassi Schroeder “You know I cuss in real life and I cuss on the show and I don’t alter that. I've also been super passionate as a mom and I think a lot of people could relate to me as a single mom. I found the love of my life and I think people can really relate to that as well. I think people can watch and see that it is possible." - Kim Zolciak-Biermann Choose a celebrity to model your career after “Who doesn't want to be Kim Kardashian from a standpoint of like, just everything she touches turns to gold? She puts her heart and soul. She's one of the hardest working women I know and I think she's beautiful. She's a mother and she's successful. I think Chrissy Tiegen is a great example as well. I'd love to cook like Chrissy Tiegen. I also know her as well and she's very, very funny. She's hilarious. I think Chrissy and Kim are both really good examples.”- Kim Zolciak-Biermann “I think Paris Hilton is a really really incredible example of all that happening because there's so much chatter around her and there always has been so much chatter around her. And while that chatter is happening, while we're all having these tiny, small conversations, she's building massive in just and massive companies and things like that. And so I think it's remembering how that small chapter at the end of the day doesn't matter as much.” - Mari Takahashi Work harder than anyone else "It's my work, work ethic is unbeatable and I get that from my dad. I worked my ass off. I'm incredibly driven and I always have been and I'm not going to let anything get in my way."- Kristin Cavallari “You can't ever expect what's going to happen in your life. But I always say just to show up and don't be an asshole. Just be easy to work with. The kind express gratitude.” - Mari Takahashi "I’m starting something new. I am creating a basic bitch empire, that everyone can relate to. I’m forging my own path because no one ever gets anywhere by just copying other people. You gotta come up with your own shit!" - Stassi Schroeder ('You Might Also Like',) 10 Pairs of White Sneakers That Go With Everything 50 Surprising Things You Never Knew About 'Sex and the City' 20 Serums to Solve All Your Skincare Problems
Tyra Banks Is Trying to Trademark 'Smize' Ice Cream Tyra Banks wants you to smile with your eyes-cream. The supermodel, 45, coined the phrase “Smize” (or, “smile with your eyes”) back in her days as host of the popular reality competition series America’s Next Top Model . And now, she wants to apply the term to what appears to be a new line of ice cream . According to a listing United States Patent and Trademark Office , Banks’ company applied on June 21 for the ownership of the term “Smize Cream.” A rep for Banks did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment, but Banks has spoken openly about her love for ice cream a lot in the past. RELATED: Dairy Queen Launches New Galaxy-Inspired Oreo Blizzard with ‘Sparkly Cosmic Swirls’ Back in May, while covering the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover for the first time, Banks spoke out about how the dessert helped her embrace her changing figure. “ I thought I needed to drop 30 pounds. I thought I had to look the same. Then the ice cream called my name ,” she wrote on Instagram, captioning a pic of the cover. “Yep, all flavors. From Butter Pecan to Matcha to Coffee. I love me some ice cream and I just couldn’t say no to it when I heard it calling. ‘TyTy, Come eat me…’ from my mom’s freezer.” “This is me in @si_swimsuit today. Ice Screaming from mountain tops, ‘Screw cookie cutter beauty!’ ” Banks said. “Yes, we should exercise. Stay healthy. Take our vitamins. But sometimes we can give ourselves permission to work out with a scoop of frozen deliciousness in our hands.” Tyra Banks | Manny Carabel/Getty RELATED: Big Gay Ice Cream Has 3 New Pint Flavors You Can Buy at the Grocery Store Banks has been one of the leading body image activists in the industry, starting the conversation about unrealistic standards in the industry over a decade ago. In 2007, after paparazzi photos of Banks on vacation in a swimsuit emerged, critics attacked her apparent weight gain. But Banks fought back, appearing on her talk show and exclaiming, “Kiss my fat a–!” “I’m happy that the fashion industry is finally catching up,” Banks told PEOPLE last March . “What I’m hoping for is that the Ashley Graham ‘s, the Gigi Hadid’ s, everyone is just models. Not plus, not short, not trans, not curvy. I just want it to be normal.” The model also opened up about her weight loss, a result of an ankle injury she sustained in 2017. “I lost 30 lbs.,” Banks shared with PEOPLE at the time . “Now I’m a different body type. But I don’t feel like I’m betraying people. I’ve still got a–, I’ve still got boobs!” View comments
When controversies hit, wait-and-see no longer works, U.S. companies find By Melissa Fares and Imani Moise NEW YORK (Reuters) - When Bank of America Corp held its annual meeting in April, activists insisted it stop financing private prison companies. On Wednesday, Bank of America did exactly that, distancing itself from a sector that has triggered protests over its links to the Trump administration's immigration policy and concerns about detention centre conditions. Hector Vaca, one of the activists at the April annual meeting, declared victory. Next, he hopes to get SunTrust Banks Inc to cut ties with private prisons. SunTrust did not respond to a request for comment. In the past, companies usually waited for controversies to lose steam and avoided taking a stance by declining to provide public comments, making changes slowly or not at all. Crisis communications experts say that companies are forced to act more quickly in today's fast-paced news and social media environment. "It's important to understand that companies in these situations have only bad options," U.S.-based crisis management consultant Eric Dezenhall said, adding that "there is no playbook or everyone would use it." Also this week, several hundred people, including employees of Wayfair Inc, rallied in Boston to protest the online retailer's alleged sale of furniture to a Texas detention facility housing migrant children. The spat was fuelled when a letter to Wayfair leaders from employees about the sale spread on Twitter. Wayfair declined to comment on the alleged sale. But it promptly made a $100,000 donation to the American Red Cross to aid humanitarian relief at the border. The rise in activism accompanies a surge in ENG investing, or investing based on environmental, social and governance factors. Morningstar estimates funds that invest according to non-economic guidelines managed $1.2 trillion at the end of last year. It has prompted companies to disclose more about how, and with whom, they do business and tackle issues they might have tried to evade in the past. Last year, a deadly shooting spree at a Parkland, Florida, high school brought long-running arguments about gun control in the United States to the fore once again. This time, some companies that had sold guns for years changed tack. Dick's Sporting Goods Inc stopped selling assault rifles and high-capacity magazines, opting to make it a fully transparent move. The retailer's chief executive, Edward Stack, spoke about the decision on ABC's "Good Morning America." Many praised the company, but not everyone agreed it was the right thing to do. Same-store sales at Dick's declined nearly 2% in the quarter after the decision, as customers citing a violation of their Second Amendment rights to bear arms called for a boycott online. Walmart Inc and Kroger's Fred Meyer were among other retailers who also announced they would limit the sales of firearms and ammunition, in their cases only selling to buyers over the age of 21. Others change course more quietly. Rather than going to the press, Wells Fargo & Co disclosed its decision to reduce its exposure to private prison companies without fanfare on the 43rd page of a 104 page-long document in January. Last year, Alphabet Inc's Google faced internal upheaval over a contract to help the U.S. military analyse aerial drone imagery. The company defused employee uproar over the deal by not renewing the contract. "Historically, we've relied on companies to tell us about their ENG performance, but that doesn't work anymore," said Witold Henisz, a professor of management at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. Younger generations, investors themselves and equipped with more access than ever to information about companies, are at the forefront of a more transparent, activism-fuelled corporate universe, he said, stressing the importance of data when it comes to ENG investing. Millennials are "even willing to take lower wages if they feel like a company has a strong social purpose," Henisz said. (Reporting by Melissa Fares and Imani Moise; Editing by Neal Templin and Rosalba O'Brien)
Add to Cart: 5 creative Fourth of July essentials for the perfect party Welcome to "Add to Cart," a video series that features must-have products for every occasion from graduations and weddings to holiday essentials. Are you hosting the Fourth of July celebration this year? We've got you covered. Here are five essential party items that will help you take your party to the next level -- and make summer entertaining a breeze! Shop all five of our must-haves below and see them in action in the video above. 1.MD Sports 5 in 1 Backyard Game Combo($30): No matter if your backyard is big or small, this game combo set will keep your family and friends occupied for hours. This pack comes with everything from a badminton set to slingshots and a frisbee. 2.Circleware Double Chalkboard Beverage Dispensers(36.99): Let your guests serve themselves while you entertain thanks to these drink dispensers. Just label your batched cocktails (or lemonade!), set out a few cups and you're good to go. 3.FreshJax Grilling Spice Gift Set($24.99): Amp up your burgers or grilled vegetables with this grilling spice set. Pro tip: This set of five fun spices also makes an excellent host or hostess gift for those people that love to grill! 4.Ice Cream Parlor Mixing Set($50): Easily customize your ice cream flavors like you're at the ice cream parlor with this mixing set. All you have to do is freeze the marble slab and then mix in your favorite toppings to any ice cream base. 5.4th of July Photo Booth Props($10): Bust out an instant camera (or selfie mode on your smart phone) to create a make-shift photo booth with these patriotic props. This is a super simple activity that will help to make fun memories that last for years to come. Don't forget toshop all of our favorite products hereand never miss a deal with ourDeal of the Day newsletter! Dress for the holiday this 4th of July!
New black Barbie doll wears natural hair, uses a wheelchair Barbie's new collection includes a black doll in a wheelchair, wearing natural hair. (Photo credit: Twitter) Barbie has traditionally been under fire for imposing false beauty standards, but almost six decades after they started off, the doll company is being celebrated for its careful attention to diversity and inclusion. On Feb. 11, Mattel announced a new member of Barbie’s “Barbie Fashionista” line — a doll in a wheelchair. A representative from Mattel tells Yahoo Lifestyle that a doll with a wheelchair accessory is one of the most requested items from Barbie fans, and within this line, there are now two options to choose from. With the products just hitting shelves next week, people are expressing how they absolutely love the new additions and took to Twitter to talk about them. One user Tweeted about how happy she is that young children today will be able to see themselves in Barbie’s collection and posted a photo of a doll, seated in an everyday-use wheelchair. Another replied, pointing out that she isn’t “merely a Barbie in a wheelchair,” but is a black Barbie, too. The doll sports natural hair, jeans and a striped t-shirt. There isn’t merely a Barbie in a wheelchair. THERE IS A BLACK BARBIE IN A WHEELCHAIR. I REPEAT, SIS IS BLACK!!!! 💃🏾💃🏾💃🏾💃🏾💃🏾 https://t.co/I9FcGdG1UV — Crutches THEE Spice ♿️ (@Imani_Barbarin) June 28, 2019 One person discussed how well thought out the doll is because she isn’t in a traditionally thought of, hospital-style wheelchair, but has one that doesn’t have handles. And it’s not a hospital style chair, either! (seeing as most wheelchairs are shown having handles even though many people have chairs without them) — Jackie (@xxxSouthpaw) June 28, 2019 Others, tired of the Barbie collections’ traditional straight, blonde hair were excited that the new doll wears natural hair. “I like how they kept the natural curls rather than straight hair,” one person commented. Story continues And she has natural hair! Hell yeah! — AwkyAmby (@AwkyAmby) June 28, 2019 I like how they kept the natural curls rather than straight hair. Curls are beautiful! — Philippa Barraclough (@PhilippaB) June 28, 2019 People were excited over how the doll represents them and others. In one comment, a person pointed out that the doll looks like her 6-year-old niece, who has limited mobility and is a person of color. I’m soooo excited!! I’m buying this for my niece... She has CP/ limited mobility & is POC.... the Barbie seriously looks like her! She’s also totally obsessed with barbies right now and it’s almost 6... — Naomi Schmahl #forsama (@SchmahlNaomi) June 28, 2019 Dude like representation like this is so important. I saw a Barbie in target a while ago that like was short and had a similar body type to me and it made me really happy. I’m so glad Barbie is doing this so more girls can see themselves with the doll and be like “hey that’s me!” — alondra 💕 @ μ’sic forever!! (@constarlations) June 28, 2019 While many people were excited about the new member to the Barbie family, some pointed out that a previous version of Barbie in a wheelchair didn’t fit through the infamous “Dreamhouse” doors. There was a Barbie in a wheelchair back in the 90s and her wheelchair infamously didn't fit through the Dreamhouse doors. Hopefully this one is more accessible ❤️ — Scarlett Harris (@ScarlettEHarris) June 28, 2019 They stopped making the og Barbie that uses a wheelchair in 2000, her chair didn’t fit in the dream house but I’m so glad she’s back now. — Angel Powell (@AngelBrittanyxo) June 28, 2019 However, this time around, people won’t have the same problem. “The product comes with a ramp to make the play as seamless as possible with current offerings, including the Dreamhouse,” Mattel says to Yahoo Lifestyle. “The wheelchair does not fit with every Barbie accessory currently, but will moving forward.” The representative added that the team tried to make sure the wheelchair was as realistic as possible. They collaborated with partners at UCLA Mattel Children’s hospital and wheelchair experts to create a toy that is “modeled after a real, rigid frame wheelchair.” The doll sold with the wheelchair also has an articulated body, so she can easily fit in the wheelchair. The new doll can be purchased here , starting next month. Representatives from Barbie did not immediately respond to Yahoo Lifestyle’s request for comment. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Women's soccer stars ask bosses to let fans take day off to watch quarterfinal game: 'It's gonna be a big one!' Lizzo says music festival guard 'attacked' her team: ‘Racism and bigotry don’t care if you’re a headliner’ 22-year-old quits job with condolence card: 'So very sorry for your loss' Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.
Report: Apple to shift assembly of Mac Pro from US to China SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Apple will manufacture its new Mac Pro computer in China, shifting away from a U.S. assembly line it had been using for that product in recent years, according to a report published Friday. The company intends to assemble the new Mac Pro in a factory near Shanghai, according to The Wall Street Journal , which cited unidentified people familiar with the plan. Apple issued a statement saying the new Mac Pro will be designed and engineered in California, but wouldn't say where it will be assembled. "We're proud to support manufacturing facilities in 30 U.S. states and last year we spent $60 billion with over 9,000 suppliers across the U.S.," Apple said. Even so, moving Mac Pro assembly to China represents a retrenchment that underscores the challenges that Apple might face as it explores ways to avoid potential tariffs that the Trump administration may slap on the iPhone and other Apple devices already being made in China. Unlike most other Apple products, the $6,000 Mac Pro isn't designed for the mass market. It's a high-end desktop computer designed for companies and people who have specialized needs. Apple has been assembling Mac Pros in Austin, Texas, since 2013 as part of a $100 million commitment that CEO Tim Cook trumpeted in a national television interview. But the Austin factory, run by Flex Ltd., encountered problems finding enough skilled labor willing to work for minimum wage, according to the Journal. Then, as Mac Pro sales faltered, Flex began laying off workers in Austin, and by last year had a skeleton crew left in in the city, according to a former Flex vice president quoted by the Journal. Flex declined to comment Friday. Apple is still spending $1 billion on a corporate campus in Austin in an expansion that is supposed to create at least 5,000 jobs. At the same time, Apple is scrambling for ways to insulate its product line from the trade war the Trump administration is waging with China. The Cupertino, California, company recently sent the administration a warning that the U.S. economy and its ability to compete would be undermined if the iPhone and other products made in China are hit by the next round of potential tariffs. Apple also is reportedly trying to figure out if it can move a significant portion of the manufacturing now being done in China to other countries in Asia.
Rent-A-Center to Initiate Quarterly Dividend, Stock Rises Rent-A-Center, Inc.RCII is focusing on boosting investor value through several growth initiatives and shareholder-friendly moves. To this end, the company announced initiation of quarterly cash dividend of 25 cents after completion of the refinancing of revolving credit facility and outstanding senior notes. The first quarterly cash dividend is anticipated to be announced in September and will be due in October.With regard to refinancing, the company is likely to sign contracts of new credit facilities, replacing the existing revolving credit facility. These refinancing proceeds, along with cash on hand, will be used to redeem the senior unsecured notes maturing in 2020 and 2021.Markedly, shares of this Plano, TX-based company increased approximately 3% after this announcement on Jun 27. In the past three months, shares of this Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) company have rallied roughly 23% outperforming the industry’s growth of 2.8%. We appreciate the company’s efforts to consistently enhance long-term shareholder value. Dividends not only improve shareholder returns but also raise the market value of the stock. Through this strategy, companies try to win investors and persuade them to either buy or hold the scrip instead of selling it.These apart, the company is focusing on cost containment, improving traffic trends, targeted value proposition and augmenting cash flow. It is also rationalizing store base and lowering debt load. The company lowered its net debt by more than $220 million during 2018 and $82 million in the first quarter of 2019. Also, the company’s cost saving initiatives reduced cost by $70 million in 2018. For 2019, it expects the cost-saving initiatives to help lower costs in excess of $140 million.Further, Rent-A-Center is investing in enhancing omni-channel platform so that customers can experience a seamless approach across channels, markets, retailers, products and brands. The company is increasing e-commerce offerings and mobile applications, and leveraging cloud-based point-of-sale platform to manage orders more efficiently, lower losses and cut operating costs.We expect all aforementioned factors to continue bolstering the company’s performance, and help it remain in investors’ good books.Other Key PicksThe Children's Place, Inc. PLCE has a long-term earnings growth rate of 8% and a Zacks Rank #1. You can seethe complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.Best Buy Co., Inc. BBY has a long-term earnings growth rate of 8.8% and a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).Aaron's, Inc. AAN has a long-term earnings growth rate of 15% and a Zacks Rank #2.Will you retire a millionaire?One out of every six people retires a multimillionaire. Get smart tips you can do today to become one of them in a new Special Report, “7 Things You Can Do Now to Retire a Multimillionaire.”Click to get it free >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.Click to get this free reportAaron's, Inc. (AAN) : Free Stock Analysis ReportRent-A-Center, Inc. (RCII) : Free Stock Analysis ReportChildren's Place, Inc. (The) (PLCE) : Free Stock Analysis ReportBest Buy Co., Inc. (BBY) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
Hedge-Fund Heir Found Guilty of Murdering Father After Allowance Was Cut Thomas Gilbert Jr., the adult son of a successful New York City hedge-fund manager, has been found guilty of the 2015 murder of his father after an alleged dispute over his weekly allowance. The New York jury reportedly found him guilty of three out of four charges, including “second-degree murder and weapon possession charges.” Gilbert’s five-week trial had been delayed in the years since the murder in order to determine whether or not he was mentally fit to stand trial. After undergoing four mental evaluations, one of which came back inconclusive, Gilbert, now 34, was eventually deemed fit to stand trial. He declined to appear in person for much of the trial, but was present for closing arguments on Wednesday. According to the New York Post , he faces up to life in prison and is set to be sentenced on Aug. 9. Is This Hedge-Fund Heir Insane or a Stone-Cold Killer? On January 4, 2015, Thomas Gilbert Jr. unexpectedly arrived at his parents' posh apartment in Manhattan’s Turtle Bay neighborhood, just hours after his father had told him that he was slashing his weekly allowance to $300. He told his mother, Shelley Gilbert, that he needed “to talk business” with his dad, Thomas Gilbert Sr., a founding managing partner at Wainscott Capital, a lucrative New York hedge fund. He then sent his mother out of the apartment to fetch him a sandwich and a Coke. Gilbert allegedly knew his mom didn’t keep the soda in the apartment, so she would have to go out to get it—leaving him alone with his dad. When his mother returned, she found the elder Gilbert shot in the head with a gun on his chest. His left hand was on the handle, “as if someone wanted it to appear it was suicide,” Craig Ortner, an assistant district attorney with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, said during the trial. Surveillance video shows the younger Gilbert, wearing a hoodie and carrying a gym bag, enter and leave his parent’s apartment building within a 15-minute span. Story continues After Shelley Gilbert discovered her husband shot in their apartment, and her son nowhere to be found, she called 911. “My husband is, I think, dead,” she told the operator, audibly distraught. When the operator asked her who had shot her husband, Gilbert responded: “My son—who is nuts. But I didn’t know he was this nuts,” she said. “I had no idea he was this nuts.” Gilbert Jr.’s former therapist, Susan Evans, who saw him for several years before the shooting, testified during the trial that he suffered from paranoid thoughts that were “interfering” with his ability to function. In the months before the incident, Evans recommended that he be screened for paranoid schizophrenia. Other former doctors testified that they prescribed him antipsychotic medication, but Evans said that Tommy did not take the medications regularly. Prosecutors argued that while he may have had issues, none of the doctors who had treated Tommy over the years had ever recommended anything in addition to therapy and medication. The jury was tasked with deciding whether Gilbert was unable to distinguish right from wrong at the time he shot and killed his father, a fact that was not disputed by the defense. Clothes, Sponges Stained With Missing Mom Jennifer Dulos’ Blood Found in Trash Cans: Police Before his father’s murder, Gilbert Jr. lived a comfortable life by any measure. He attended prep school in Manhattan, boarding school in Massachusetts, and graduated as a legacy from Princeton University. His psychological problems allegedly began after he graduated from college. According to Ortner, Gilbert spent most of his post-grad life in the Hamptons, “surfing, playing tennis, working out, and partying.” His parents paid the rent at his apartment in Manhattan’s expensive Chelsea neighborhood, took care of his car payments, auto insurance, and “even paid his parking tickets for him.” All on top of a whopping $1,000 per week allowance. In an attempt to make his son financially independent, the elder Gilbert began reducing his son’s weekly allowance in 2014. Around that same time, according to prosecutors, Gilbert Jr.’s computer history shows he began searching online for a hit man. The deposits first shrunk from $1,000 to $800, then to $600. Hours before he was killed, Gilbert Sr. cut his son’s allowance down to $300. Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
The Democrats Have No Answer for Mitch McConnell. Good. A fter two debates and countless promises of sweeping political reform, the most important question of either night was asked to the leading Democratic contender, who claims to have the most comprehensive and realistic political plans of all the candidates. Moderator Chuck Todd asked Senator Elizabeth Warren, “Do you have a plan to deal with Mitch McConnell?” Her response was immediate and confident. “I do,” she said. The crowd cheered. And what was that plan? After some generalized filibustering, she laid it out: “We have to push from the outside, have leadership from the inside and make this Congress reflect the will of the people.” No, really, that was her plan. You can watch the exchange here — oddly celebrated by the “Team Warren” Twitter account: Yeah— @ewarren even has a plan to deal with Mitch McConnell. #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/CymR0WfH3F — Team Warren (@TeamWarren) June 27, 2019 The very next day, as if the debate had been engineered to show his strength, McConnell was instrumental in strong-arming the House Democrats into passing the Senate’s version of a bill designed to ease the crisis on the border. The New York Times headline said it all: “ House Passes Senate Border Bill in Striking Defeat for Pelosi .” Oddly, some held him responsible for failing to repeal Obamacare while Obama was president . If D.C. was the swamp, then — in the memorable words of insurgent West Virginia Senate candidate Don Blankenship — McConnell was the “swamp captain.” He received no credit for maintaining enough Republican Senate discipline to block virtually every significant Obama legislative initiative after the Democrats lost their filibuster-proof majority. He received virtually no credit for getting the Obama administration to agree to make the majority of the Bush tax cuts permanent. He received only grudging credit for blocking Merrick Garland’s nomination to the Supreme Court and preserving a chance for a conservative Supreme Court majority. Story continues But now? I’d like to hear anyone make the argument that McConnell isn’t one of the most effective legislative leaders in modern American history. Republicans know it, Democrats know it, and this brings us to a challenge so profound that it lends an air of unreality to the entire Democratic presidential primary. It’s certainly possible for a Democratic candidate to beat Donald Trump. In spite of the strength of the economy, his polling numbers are in dangerous territory for an incumbent. But unless the Democrats can beat Trump and unseat Mitch McConnell as Senate majority leader and persuade a majority of the Senate to ditch the legislative filibuster, none of their sweeping plans will become law. That means no Medicare for All, no free college, no decriminalization of border crossings, no sweeping loan forgiveness. The Democratic stampede to the left doesn’t just enhance Trump’s reelection odds, it preserves McConnell’s power. There will be Americans who will choose to vote against Trump and against Medicare for All. They’ll disapprove of Trump but also want to block open borders. Those voters will vote to retain a Republican Senate. And make no mistake, even though more Republican Senate incumbents are up for election than Democratic incumbents, the map still isn’t that favorable for the Left. Unless Alabama primary voters lose their minds (again), Doug Jones won’t face Roy Moore in November. Alabama will vote red again, and that means Democrats would have to pick up four seats to create a Senate tie and take control if the Democrats win the White House. It won’t be easy. Don’t just take it from me. Take it from Vox : The road to a Democratic majority in the Senate, even a bare one, won’t be easy. “What makes this map very deceiving was in 2018, Democrats had to defend five seats in states Trump won by 19 points or more,” said Jennifer Duffy, a Senate expert at the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. “In this case, there’s no Republican sitting in a state that Clinton won by more than 5.” Every single presidential election we hear the same thing: “This is the most important election of our lifetimes.” In the age of negative polarization, we’ve added an ominous “and” — “and if we lose, America will be over.” But for 2020, this argument is fundamentally wrong. Unless a wave builds to such intensity that it topples the president, the Senate, and the filibuster, the Democratic candidates aren’t running to create Democratic socialism, they’re running for small-ball legislative compromises, regulations, and executive orders that would face immediate court challenges (and be immediately repealed by the next Republican president), and to appoint the few judges who could make it through Mitch’s gauntlet. That’s what gridlock looks like in a nearly evenly divided United States, and if that gridlock can force the real work of governance back to state and local governments, then gridlock can be healthy. It’s time for Republicans of every faction to acknowledge the truth — in the face of an uncertain presidential election, the GOP needs Mitch McConnell on that wall. So long as he retains his majority, the Democrats have no plan for “Cocaine Mitch,” and that is a good thing indeed. More from National Review Can Joe Biden Be America’s New Great Compromiser? A Syllabus of Errors The 2020 Election Conundrum
Tariffs could give Nike a leg up over competitors, analyst says Nike said following Thursday’s earnings report thattensions with China haven’t hurt its business in that country. The athletic shoe giant reported global sales increased 4% last quarter, with sales in Greater Chinarising22%. If the U.S.-China trade war continues, with increased tariffs on consumer goods, Simeon Siegel, Nomura senior equity analyst, told Yahoo Finance’sOn the Move, Nike could have a competitive advantage over rivals. Because of its size, consistent growth and hot shoe releases, Nike has pricing power, he said. “Nike will be best situated to pass on [price increases] — or more interestingly, they’ll be best situated to weather the storm,” said Siegel. “And perhaps what it does is hurt the competition and clears the deck.” The storm, so to speak, could be severe for apparel and footwear manufacturers as well as retailers in the U.S. “Across the board, [increased tariffs] will hurt the entire sector if it’s sustainable and hurt is a very nice adjective — cataclysmic, catastrophic — pick big words,” Siegel said. He pointed to some of Nike’s premium, flagship products as a source of the company’s strength, and a reason for its pricing power, should tariffs on Chinese imports increase by 25%. “They can drop a LeBron shoe that will be $350. That is not going to be what drives $35 billion worth of revenues. But because of that premium shoe, they can then sell $60 shoes to a lot of people. That $60 shoe becomes $75, people still want to feel like they’re LeBron,” he said. Other analysts pointed to Nike’s leadership position in the global market. Credit Suisse analysts who cover European footwear companies said that while Adidas is still the leader in China, that lead “must now be narrowing.” Globally, “the gap between Nike and Adidas performance is stark given the recent lack of brand momentum for Adidas,” analysts led by Szilvia Bor wrote in reaction to Nike earnings. Nike shares rose a quarter of a percent following its earnings report. Shares have gained 13% this year, compared with 16% for the S&P 500. Julie Hyman is the co-anchor ofOn the Moveon Yahoo Finance. Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Follow Yahoo Finance onTwitter,Facebook,Instagram,Flipboard,SmartNews,LinkedIn,YouTube, andreddit.
Women's World Cup: U.S. ousts France on Megan Rapinoe goals It was tense. Pressure-packed. And anything but easy. But the most anticipated women’s soccer game in two decades wasn’t supposed to be easy. And the United States won it anyway. The Americans beat France 2-1 in Paris on Friday to advance to the 2019 Women’s World Cup semifinals. Their hero? Megan Rapinoe . Of course it was Megan Rapinoe. On the biggest stage, in “the final before the final,” a quarterfinal showdown between the sport’s two best teams, it had to be Megan Rapinoe. At the end of a frenzied week , her two goals set up a meeting with England on Tuesday (3 p.m. ET, Fox). They put the U.S. 180 minutes away from a second consecutive world title. And they punctuated an absolutely glorious night for the sport. A night of song and dance . A night of patriotism and emotion . And a night of back-and-forth soccer that lived up to every ounce of hype. Megan Rapinoe celebrates her early goal for the U.S. against France in the 2019 Women's World Cup quarterfinals. (Getty) Megan Rapinoe creates, and scores, early goal The U.S. opener wasn’t all Rapinoe. But the pink-haired superstar enabled the sequence that led to another early goal. And then she scored it. It was Rapinoe’s quick thinking that snatched the defending champs a dangerous free kick. The ball had gone out of play on the left side. Rapinoe recouped it and, with urgency and might befitting a World Cup quarterfinal, hurled it down the line to Alex Morgan. Morgan, who had anticipated Rapinoe’s smart play, snuck behind the French defense. Griedge Mbock brought her down – a yellow card, and a foul on the edge of the box. From the ensuing free kick ... DREAM START FOR THE USA! 🇺🇸 @mpinoe 's free kick gets past everyone as the @USWNT takes an early lead once again! #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/K5oHYnCyvD — FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 28, 2019 Rapinoe’s low delivery slipped untouched, through a couple French legs, into the back of the net. Story continues It was fortunate, but also expertly placed, down the notorious avenue between wall and defensive line, where a deflection can also find the back of the net. Instead, the mass of bodies blinded goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi. And the Americans wheeled away in celebration. A balanced first half The U.S. looked far more prepared for the occasion early on. More accustomed to the pressure and nerves. “Some teams visit pressure,” U.S. head coach Jill Ellis had said a day earlier. “We live there.” And their familiarity showed. In the opening minute, Rapinoe danced by a couple French defenders and poked a ball into the path of Julie Ertz, whose 20-yard drive was held by Bouhaddi. After the goal, the U.S. threatened down the left again. Rapinoe played a one-two with Sam Mewis. The U.S. goalscorer cut inside and fed Morgan, whose shot was tame. The U.S. attack, overall, was very left-sided. Tobin Heath was invisible for much of the night. And as the half wore on, France grew into it. Kadi Diani was a constant menace down the right wing – though U.S. left back Crystal Dunn handled her remarkably well, given the circumstances. And the U.S. center backs were as solid as could be. Becky Sauerbrunn, whose mistake gifted Spain a goal four days earlier , was almost flawless. She stuck to French striker Valerie Gauvin, blocking one of her efforts at the top of the area. Both Sauerbrunn and Abby Dahlkemper dealt with crosses well. The Americans failed to find the possession that controlled previous games against weaker opposition. But they sat in a defined 4-1-4-1 defensive shape, with Ertz holding more than ever before. And they were relatively comfortable. Rapinoe doubles the U.S. lead The U.S. began the second half as it had the first. Mewis forced Bouhaddi into a diving save. Heath pounced on the rebound and drew a kick-save out of the French keeper with the follow-up. From the subsequent corner, Morgan pounded a shot off Amandine Henry’s ankle. Two minutes later, a goalmouth scramble fizzled out. Over the next 20 minutes, France began brewing danger, and looked like the better team. In the 58th minute, a back-post cross sent U.S. keeper Alyssa Naeher scrambling across her goal line. The ball fell to French star Eugenie Le Sommer, but her shot rippled the outside of the net. Moments later, Diani got in behind Dunn. But the lightning-quick American defender recovered to make a lunging block. And then it was Pinoe time once again. Or, rather, it was front-three time. Morgan slid in Heath. Heath crossed behind Mewis. Rapinoe, lurking in space on the weak side, as composed as ever, slammed her finish through a crowd. MORGAN ➡️ HEATH ➡️ RAPINOE A wonderful team goal doubles the @USWNT 's lead! #FIFAWWC 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/B9OGQIKzSP — FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 28, 2019 Late nerves With less than 15 minutes remaining, Heath had the ball in the back of the net and the goal appeared to send the U.S. to the semis. But it was disallowed by the tightest of offside calls. OFFSIDE!? 🤔 Heath puts in the USWNT's third goal of the night, but Dunn is judged to be offside... #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/KbXwe6QvPl — FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 28, 2019 Then, in the 81st minute, towering French center back Wendie Renard made it 2-1. GAME ON! 😳 Stop us if you've heard this before. Renard with the header off a set piece. France are back in it. #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/DGdOzfDNLZ — FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 28, 2019 Mewis, the tallest American player, had dropped into no-man’s land and inadvertently kept Renard onside. Minutes later, the French felt they should have had a penalty. Amel Majri’s cross struck Kelley O’Hara’s arm. But the referee, correctly, waved away complaints. O’Hara’s arm was in a natural position. There was nothing “deliberate” about the handball. “It wasn't like I was making my body big or anything,” O’Hara said postgame . “You never know, though, because [the rule is] a little sketchy sometimes, but thankfully they called it the right way.” When the final whistle sounded, Morgan looked up to the sky and raised two fists. O’Hara leapt into her arms. U.S. substituted streamed onto the pitch, embracing teammates, filling the Parc des Princes field with joy. But also with relief. Months, perhaps even years, had been building toward Friday. The USWNT, in so many ways, had bet on itself. And as it so often does, it cashed in. Now, the most difficult part: Going again. Tuesday, in Lyon, against England’s roaring Lionesses . And if all goes to plan, once again after that. – – – – – – – Henry Bushnell is a features writer for Yahoo Sports . Have a tip? Question? Comment? Email him at henrydbushnell@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter @HenryBushnell , and on Facebook . More from Yahoo Sports: Rose responds to LaVar Ball's cringeworthy remark Former WWE star tells harrowing depression tale Brady takes subtle shot at ESPN star's 'cliff' comment Report: Thompson, Warriors expected to reach max deal
Trump Supreme Court pick Kavanaugh delivered the goods for conservatives By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's appointee Brett Kavanaugh consistently delivered during his first term as a justice for conservatives who had hoped he would move the U.S. Supreme Court further to the right while still managing to keep a low profile following his acrimonious Senate confirmation process. As the top U.S. judicial body wrapped up nine months of work on Thursday, Kavanaugh's record showed he was in lockstep with the court's four other conservative members. At least based on his first term, Kavanaugh showed himself to be more reliably conservative than the justice who Trump appointed him to replace, Anthony Kennedy, who sometimes sided with the court's liberal bloc on issues including abortion and gay rights. The term's last day illustrated that well, with Kavanaugh firmly in the conservative camp in the two biggest rulings of the year. He and the other conservative justices, with the four liberal justices in dissent, delivered a 5-4 ruling that dealt a major blow to election reformers by refusing to curb politically inspired electoral district manipulation, called partisan gerrymandering. In another 5-4 ruling, conservative Chief Justice John Roberts - who now occupies the court's ideological center amid its rightward shift - joined the liberal justices in putting the brakes on Trump's plan to add a contentious citizenship question to the 2020 census, but Kavanaugh joined the other three conservatives in dissent. In other closely divided cases, Kavanaugh dissented in February when the court refused on a 5-4 vote to let a Louisiana restriction on abortion clinics to take effect. The same month he voted with the conservative majority to allow a Muslim prison inmate in Alabama to be executed without an imam present in the execution chamber over the dissent of the four liberals. Only once did Kavanaugh break with his four conservative colleagues to side with the liberals, though that was in a major business case in which the court ruled 5-4 to allow antitrust claims against Apple Inc to move forward. Story continues Ilya Somin, a law professor at George Mason University's Antonin Scalia Law School in Virginia, said most of Kavanaugh's votes were predictable based on his prior record as a judge on the federal appeals court in Washington. "So far, there's not a lot in the way of surprises with Kavanaugh. If he has been affected what happened in the confirmation hearings, it's very difficult to assess that effect," Somin added. "With Justice Kavanaugh, the president delivered on his promise to American voters to appoint justices who understand that their modest but critical job is to interpret the law as written - not how they wish it were written if they were lawmakers," added Mike Davis, a lawyer who played a key role in Kavanaugh's confirmation as an aide to Republican Senator Chuck Grassley. Kavanaugh, 54, also quietly did what he could to repair his public image, having been confirmed by a 50-48 Senate vote on Oct. 6, one of the tightest margins ever for a justice, after denying accusations of sexual assault. His affable demeanor during oral arguments at the court - he regularly exchanged friendly remarks off-mic with liberal colleague Elena Kagan - stood in stark contrast to his angry testimony during his confirmation hearings last September when accused Democrats of orchestrating a hit-job against him. CONFIRMATION FIGHT His nomination had appeared safe until Christine Blasey Ford, a university professor from California, went public in September with accusations that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her in 1982 when both were teenage high school students in Maryland. Two other women accused Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct dating to the 1980s. He denied the allegations. Following his contentious confirmation process, Kavanaugh has not given public speeches or made other high-profile public appearances, in contrast to some of his colleagues. A rare public sighting occurred when he took part in a May charity run in Washington. Kavanaugh, through a court spokeswoman, declined to comment on his first term. During oral arguments, Kavanaugh often asked questions toward the end of the one-hour sessions, after other justices weighed in. His tone was often deferential, in contrast to the occasionally confrontational approach that colleagues like conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch and liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor sometimes take. Kavanaugh and Gorsuch both were appointed by Trump, who picked them from a list prepared by conservative legal activists. The two have amassed solid conservative voting records on the court, though they sometimes have diverged from one another. They two were on opposite sides in 18 non-unanimous rulings out of 38 in which both participated. Overall, they agreed 70% of the time, according to Adam Feldman, a lawyer behind a court statistics blog called "Empirical SCOTUS." Kavanaugh was most closely aligned with Roberts, a conservative who takes more incremental approach to moving the court to the right. Kavanaugh voted with Roberts 94% of the time, the highest level of agreement among any two justices, according to Feldman. "The fact he stuck so closely to the chief is probably the most notable feature of his jurisprudence," said Nicole Saharsky, a lawyer who practices before the court. That may suggest Kavanaugh shares Roberts' concerns about the importance of the court's reputation as an independent branch that can rise above partisan politics, Saharsky added. Where Kavanaugh stands on incrementalism could become important in the coming years, particularly on abortion. Conservative activists want the court to reverse the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion nationwide, but the court's conservatives could instead whittle away at the decision by upholding abortion restrictions without taking the final step of overturning it. The court could address abortion again as soon as its next term, which starts in October, when it is likely to take up Louisiana's appeal seeking to reinstate the restrictive abortion law that the justices put on hold. For a graphic on major Supreme Court rulings, click https://tmsnrt.rs/2V2T0Uf (Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Will Dunham)
Ericsson Supports DIGI for Commercial 5G Network in Romania EricssonERIC recently announced that in concert with RCS & RDS (DIGI) — the Romanian business unit of Digi Communications N.V. — it has introduced Romania’s first 5G commercial service in the busiest areas of Bucharest. The latest move is expected to deliver increased speed for mobile broadband to businesses and consumers.Ericsson boasts a leading position in telecommunications innovation and has a strong commitment to R&D. The company has one of the industry’s comprehensive intellectual property portfolios, which includes more than 49,000 granted patents worldwide. It is the largest holder of standard essential patents for mobile communication.Positive industry trends are likely to boost the Swedish telecom equipment vendor’s long-term growth and profitability. The company continues to focus on its core business of selling networking equipment with the expected ramp up of 5G networks. It is also working to make sure that Europe can reap the benefits from better network capacity and ultra-low latency.Reportedly, Romania intends to start spectrum auction for additional spectrum required for 5G wireless networks in fourth-quarter 2019. Meanwhile, DIGI can offer initial 5G services through its available commercial spectrum within the 3.6–3.8 GHz band.While this first phase of DIGI’s 5G rollout is a Non-standalone deployment, the operator and Ericsson plans to activate more 5G radios and base stations in Bucharest and the city of Cluj-Napoca in the coming days.Built on DIGI’s 4G network, the improved mobile broadband capabilities allow customers to connect to both 4G and 5G concurrently. The operator is deploying Ericsson’s 3GPP standards-based 5G New Radio hardware and software. Customers can pre-order terminals compatible with 5G, VoLTE and VoWiFi technology.Ericsson is focusing on 5G system development and has undertaken many notable endeavors to position itself for market leadership. The growth in 5G subscriptions is estimated to be the fastest in North America, with 63% of projected mobile subscriptions within the next five years, followed by North East Asia with 47% and Europe with 40%.Further, Ericsson’s R&D investments over the past two years have secured a competitive and industry-leading offering. Artificial intelligence and automation remain key enablers for the company’s business development, creating customer and shareholder value. It continues to execute its key business strategies and is on track to achieve its 2020 financial targets.Driven by diligent execution of operational plans alongside enhanced technology collaboration with leading communications service providers, shares of Ericsson have rallied 34.5% compared with the industry’s rise of 23.1% over the past two years. Ericsson currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Better-ranked stocks in the industry include Ubiquiti Networks, Inc. UBNT, Harris Corp. HRS and Motorola Solutions, Inc. MSI. While Ubiquiti sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Harris and Motorola carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can seethe complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.Ubiquiti has long-term earnings growth expectation of 19.8%.Harris has long-term earnings growth expectation of 8%.Motorola has long-term earnings growth expectation of 7.7%.Will you retire a millionaire?One out of every six people retires a multimillionaire. Get smart tips you can do today to become one of them in a new Special Report, “7 Things You Can Do Now to Retire a Multimillionaire.”Click to get it free >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.Click to get this free reportEricsson (ERIC) : Free Stock Analysis ReportUbiquiti Networks, Inc. (UBNT) : Free Stock Analysis ReportMotorola Solutions, Inc. (MSI) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
British army officers wrongly believed alcohol made WW1 troops better fighters, claims addiction specialist Archive photo of WW1 soldiers in the trenches during the battle of the Somme 1916 - WARNING: Use of this copyright image is subject to the terms of use of BBC Pictures' Digital Picture British army officers wrongly believed WW1 troops fought better if they were drunk in battle, an addiction specialist has claimed. Senior commanders encouraged drinking among soldiers as they were following medical advice that claimed alcohol made them more effective fighters. Health experts believed that rum would “warm and dry out chilled troops” who were suffering from dysentery caught in the trenches, according to Dr Tim Leighton, Director of Professional Education and Research at Action on Addiction. But troops were unhappy with their 'rum rations' of 1/16th pint per day and wanted the “more generous” levels given to soldiers who fought in the army from the early 18th century. Many colonels agreed that the recommended level was too low and would give nervous fighters extra helpings to improve their confidence before infiltrating enemy lines. Lt Colonel J.S.Y. Rogers, a medical officer to the 4th Black Watch, said in the Report of Enquiry into Shell Shock in 1922: “Had it not been for the rum ration I do not think we should have won the war. Before the men went over the top they had a good meal and a double ration of rum and coffee.” According to the photograph's original caption these soldiers are the first to have crossed the River Somme Credit: Tom Marshall (PhotograFix) / med/Media Drum World British troops were also known to have drunken wine in preparation for battles in France and beer was regularly consumed between conflicts. Despite some historians citing alcohol as a vital part of boosting morale and camaraderie during the First World War , Dr Leighton believes it actually had a “negative effect” overall. “There are a lot of myths around. If you want people to charge into the enemy machine guns and you give them a bit of alcohol, it probably makes them a little more likely to do that but on the whole most of the research I have seen shows there is no real evidence that this really helped, he told an audience at the Chalke Valley History Festival near Salisbury. “It was the opinion of the Black watch medical officer that WW1 would not have been won if people had not been drinking. I think that on the whole the effect of these drugs on military effectiveness was negative.” Dr Leighton added: “It is probable that it made them braver and more willing to take risks. Whether this always made for more effective operations is open to doubt.”
Platinum Group Metals Ltd. Closes Non-Brokered Private Placement Vancouver, British Columbia and Johannesburg, South Africa--(Newsfile Corp. - June 28, 2019) -Platinum Group Metals Ltd.(TSX: PTM) (NYSE American: PLG) ("Platinum Group", "PTM" or the "Company") reports closing of the Company's previously announced non-brokered private placement with Hosken Consolidated Limited ("HCI"), an existing major shareholder of the Company, for gross proceeds of US$1.3 million (the "Private Placement"). In connection with the Private Placement, the Company issued an aggregate of 1,111,111 common shares to Deepkloof Limited, a subsidiary of HCI, at a price of US$1.17 per common share. On a non-diluted basis and after giving effect to the Private Placement, HCI's ownership percentage has increased from 20.05% to 22.60% of the Company's issued and outstanding common shares. The Company did not pay any finder's fees in connection with the Private Placement. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Private Placement for its share of remaining costs to complete a Definitive Feasibility Study ("DFS") now underway for the Waterberg palladium and platinum project (the "Waterberg Project") and for general corporate and working capital purposes. Securities issued pursuant to the Private Placement may not be traded for a period of four months plus one day from the closing of the Private Placement. The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act"), as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of such Act. HCI is a "related party" of the Company as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 -Protection of Minority Securityholders in Special Transactions("MI 61-101 but the Company is relying on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority approval requirements of MI 61-101 in connection with the Private Placement with HCI. The Company did not file a material change report more than 21 days before the expected closing date of the Private Placement as the Company wished to close the Private Placement on an expedited basis for sound business reasons. About Platinum Group Metals Ltd. Platinum Group is focused on, and is the operator of, the Waterberg Project, a bulk mineable underground palladium deposit in northern South Africa. Waterberg was discovered by the Company. On behalf of the Board ofPlatinum Group Metals Ltd. Frank R. HallamCFO, Corporate Secretary and Director For further information contact: R. Michael Jones, Presidentor Kris Begic, VP, Corporate DevelopmentPlatinum Group Metals Ltd., VancouverTel: (604) 899-5450 / Toll Free: (866) 899-5450www.platinumgroupmetals.net Disclosure The Toronto Stock Exchange and the NYSE American have not reviewed and do not accept responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this news release, which has been prepared by management. This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws and forward-looking statements within the meaning of U.S. securities laws (collectively "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, plans, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. All statements that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation, statements regarding the amount and use of proceeds of the Private Placement. Although the Company believes the forward-looking statements in this press release are reasonable, it can give no assurance that the expectations and assumptions in such statements will prove to be correct. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including the Company's inability to obtain required final regulatory approvals for the Private Placement and the risk factors described in the Company's most recent Form 20-F annual report, annual information form and other filings with the SEC and Canadian securities regulators, which may be viewed atwww.sec.govandwww.sedar.com, respectively. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward- looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. To view the source version of this press release, please visithttps://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/45984
Why OPKO Health Stock Jumped Today Shares ofOPKO Health(NASDAQ: OPK)jumped 9.9% higher on Friday after rising as much as 11.7% earlier in the day. The nice gain came after the healthcare company announced that Novitas Solutions issued a new proposed local coverage determination (LCD) that provided reimbursement for OPKO's 4Kscore prostate cancer test. Novitas' decision is a big win for OPKO Health. The Medicare program is administered by regional contractors that make their own coverage determinations. Novitas serves as the Medicare Administrative Contractor for an area that includes New Jersey, where OPKO's 4Kscore testing is actually performed. This area also includes Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania. Image source: Getty Images. Today's announcement comes after Novitas initially issued a negative local coverage determination. But OPKO submitted a request for reconsideration by Novitas. One factor in the reversal by Novitas could be OPKO's filing last week for Food and Drug Administration approval of 4Kscore. OPKO executive Steve Rubinstated in the company's Q1 conference callthat Novitas had raised the issue that the test wasn't FDA approved. OPKO doesn't provide sales information for 4Kscore in its financial releases. However, the company did report that utilization for 4KScore remained strong in the first quarter with around 19,400 tests performed. The turnabout by Novartis provided much-needed good news following adisappointing Q1 performance. There could be some more good news on the way. OPKO hopes to receive European approval for its secondary hyperparathyroidism drug Rayaldee in the not-too-distant future. In the meantime, the company is taking action to cut costs, particularly in its BioReference Labs segment, which is home to the 4Kscore test. It also continues to work to expand its payer networks. More From The Motley Fool • 10 Best Stocks to Buy Today • The $16,728 Social Security Bonus You Cannot Afford to Miss • 20 of the Top Stocks to Buy (Including the Two Every Investor Should Own) • What Is an ETF? • 5 Recession-Proof Stocks • How to Beat the Market Keith Speightshas no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has adisclosure policy.
Azarga Uranium Annual General and Special Meeting 2019 Voting Results VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2019 / AZARGA URANIUM CORP.'S (TSX: AZZ, OTCQB: AZZUF, FRA: P8AA)("Azarga Uranium" or the "Company") announces that all resolutions put forward at the Annual General and Special Meeting (the "Meeting") of the Company's shareholders (the "Shareholders") held 28 June 2019, as further described in the Company's information circular dated 15 May 2019, were approved, including the following: • Election of Directors: the nominees listed in the management proxy circular dated 15 May 2019 for the Meeting of the Company held on 28 June 2019: Glenn Catchpole, Matthew O'Kane, Sandra MacKay, Joseph Havlin, Todd Hilditch and Delos Cy Jamison were all elected as Directors until the next annual general meeting of the Shareholders. Detailed results of the vote for the election of Directors held at the Meeting are set out below: • Appointment of BDO Canada LLP as auditors of the Company for the fiscal period ending December 31, 2019 and the Director's right to fix the remuneration to be paid to BDO Canada LLP. • Issuance of 900,000 Shares as a bonus payment of which 800,000 are to two insiders of the Company (which was approved by the majority of disinterested shareholders). For further information, please see the Company's Report of Voting Results, which will be filed on SEDAR atwww.sedar.com. About Azarga Uranium Corp. Azarga Uranium is an integrated uranium exploration and development company that controls eleven uranium projects and prospects in the United States of America ("USA") (South Dakota, Wyoming, Utah and Colorado) and the Kyrgyz Republic, with a primary focus of developing in-situ recovery uranium projects in the USA. The Dewey Burdock in-situ recovery uranium project in South Dakota (the "Dewey Burdock Project"), which is the Company's initial development priority, has received its Nuclear Regulatory Commission License and draft Class III and Class V Underground Injection Control ("UIC") permits from the Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") and the Company is in the process of completing other major regulatory permit approvals necessary for the construction of the Dewey Burdock Project, including the final Class III and Class V UIC permits from the EPA. For more information please visitwww.azargauranium.com. Follow us on Twitter at@AzargaUranium.For further information, please contact: Blake Steele, President and CEO+1 303 790-7528 E-mail:info@azargauranium.com Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information Certain information and statements in this news release may be considered forward-looking information or forward-looking statements for purposes of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"), which reflect the expectations of management regarding its disclosure and amendments thereto. Forward-looking statements consist of information or statements that are not purely historical, including any information or statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such information or statements may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to Azarga Uranium's continued efforts to obtain all major regulatory permit approvals necessary for the construction of the Dewey Burdock Project, including the final Class III and Class V UIC permits from the EPA. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits Azarga Uranium will obtain from them. These forward-looking statements reflect management's current views and are based on certain expectations, estimates and assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect. A number of risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including without limitation: the risk that Azarga Uranium does not obtain all major regulatory permit approvals necessary for construction of the Dewey Burdock Project, including the final Class III and Class V UIC permits from the EPA, the risk that such statements may prove to be inaccurate and other factors beyond the Company's control. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and, except as required by applicable securities laws, Azarga Uranium assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results differed from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Additional information about these and other assumptions, risks and uncertainties are set out in the "Risks and Uncertainties" section in the most recent AIF filed with Canadian security regulators. The TSX has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this News Release. SOURCE:Azarga Uranium Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/550349/Azarga-Uranium-Annual-General-and-Special-Meeting-2019-Voting-Results
Secondhand fashion site The RealReal shares rise in debut NEW YORK (AP) — Shares of The RealReal jumped on their first day of trading Friday, as the secondhand-fashion online retailer tests investors' appetite for the staying power of online marketplaces for pre-owned discounted Gucci and other luxury goods. The San Francisco company, founded in 2011 by CEO Julie Wainwright, debuted on the Nasdaq Stock Market and is listed under the ticker "REAL." Late Thursday, the initial public offering of 15 million shares was priced at $20 a share, above an expected range of $17 to $19 a share. That would raise $300 million before expenses. The stock surged 44.5 %, closing the day at $28.90. The RealReal says it's the world's largest online marketplace for authenticated, consigned luxury goods. Its total revenue was $207.4 million last year, up 55% compared with 2017. As of the end of March, it offered more than 620,000 unique authenticated pre-owned luxury items bearing the brands of more than 5,500 luxury and top designers. But it hasn't made a profit and its losses widened to nearly $76 million last year, up from $42 million in the previous year, according to its prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The move to go public comes as online marketplaces that sell used clothing and other items are flourishing as a new generation of younger shoppers don't want to pay full price. They also are more conscious about the environment. While shoppers for years have been buying and selling used discounted designer items at thrift shops and on eBay, this latest generation of secondhand online retailers make the shopping experience easier, with new technology and services. Poshmark, an online retailer of secondhand clothing, expanded earlier this month into home decor with items including bedding and bath. Online rival ThredUP is opening physical stores. Meanwhile, Neiman Marcus in April bought a minority stake in resale site Fashionphile. As part of this deal, at select Neiman Marcus stores, customers are able to not only receive an immediate quote for their items from Fashionphile but also payments they can spend immediately on new luxury items at the store. Neiman Marcus says it will not be selling any preowned merchandise at its stores. Story continues The RealReal Inc. offers a "white glove" service where consignors, those who are selling their used designer goods, make an appointment with one of its luxury managers and receives a complimentary consultation at their home. It also operates 11 luxury consignment offices in key cities like New York and Los Angeles. It also operates three stores — two in New York and one in Los Angeles. The RealReal says it has been able to build trust among its customers. It says it employs more than 100 gemologists, horologists, brand experts and art curators and says that its authenticators are highly trained, experienced experts in their respective fields. The company says that as buyers become consignors and vice versa, it creates a "unique flywheel that further accelerates our momentum." Through March 31, 53% of its consignors are buyers and 13% of its buyers are consignors, according to the prospectus. "The sustainability of this model is going to hinge on their ability to do two key factors," said Alex Fitzgerald, manager in the consumer and retail practice of global consultancy A.T. Kearney. "As they grow, can they continue to offer enough high quality, interesting luxury items to meet demand and keep shoppers coming back for more? And will they be able to maintain their commitment to authentication which is essential to making the online consignment model work?" During a phone interview with The Associated Press, Wainwright said that she's confident about the company's ability to get regular supplies of luxury goods and "monetize it fast" and add authentication. "We are setting growth as a priority, but not growth at any cost," she added. "We're not sacrificing good business management for growth." The RealReal says that 80% of its consignors were female, primarily with household income of about $50,000. It says its top-selling luxury designers include Cartier, Chanel, Christian Louboutin, Gucci, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Rolex, Tiffany & Co. and Valentino. The RealReal, however, has also run into trouble with other luxury brands. Last November, Chanel filed a lawsuit against RealReal, alleging that the online retailer misrepresented certain counterfeit Chanel products as authentic ones. It also alleged that the resale of Chanel products confuses consumers into believing that Chanel is affiliated with The RealReal. The litigation in its early stages and the final outcome is uncertain, according to the prospectus. Wainwright called it an "annoyance suit that was unfounded." And she noted that RealReal is actually good for luxury brands since it creates more buying power for shoppers to buy new stuff as they look to recycle old items in their closet. She says buyers tend to buy up — they'll buy a $3,000 handbag instead of a $2,000 handbag if they know they can resell it for $1,000, for example. "We're a gateway for luxury for first time buyers," she added. ____ Follow Anne D'Innocenzio: https://twitter.com/ADInnocenzio
Handicapping the Q2 2019 Earnings Season We still have a couple of weeks to go before the Q2 earnings season really gets underway, but the reporting cycle has actually gotten underway already. We have a light reporting docket this week because of the July 4thholiday, but results from 20 S&P 500 members are out already. All of these initial releases from the likes of Nike (NKE), Micron Technology (MU), and others are for these companies’ fiscal quarters ending in May, which we count as part of the June-quarter tally. The fact is that by the time the big banks come around to report June-quarter results on July 16th, we will have seen such Q2 results from almost two dozen S&P 500 members already. The earnings growth picture is not expected to change much from the flat growth reading in the first quarter. This trend of flat to negative growth is expected to persist through the September quarter, with current consensus estimates looking for positive growth resuming in the last quarter of the year.  But Q4 is still far from away and a lot can happen between now and then. For Q2, total earnings for the S&P 500 index will decline -2.9% from the same period last year on +4.3% higher revenues, with 9 of the 16 Zacks sectors expected to have negative earnings growth, including the Tech sector. The overall tone and substance of management guidance during the last earnings season was on the negative side. This reflected a combination of slowing economic growth, particularly beyond the U.S., and rising input expenses. As a result, analysts steadily lowered their estimates for 2019 Q2, as you can see in the chart below. The chart below shows the earnings and revenue growth picture for the S&P 500 index for Q2, contrasted with what was actually reported in the preceding 4 quarters and what is expected in the following 3 periods. The table below shows the summary picture for 2019 Q2, contrasted with what was actually achieved in the preceding period. The Tech Sector Drag As you can see, growth is expected to be in negative territory for 8 of the 16 Zacks sectors, with Basic Materials, Aerospace, Technology, Conglomerates and Construction sectors expected to experience double-digit declines. It is the weak Tech growth that is dragging the aggregate Q2 earnings growth rate for the S&P 500 index the most. The Tech sector is the biggest earnings contributor in the S&P 500 index, bringing in 22.6% of the index’s total earnings in forward 4-quarter period. Excluding the Tech sector’s drag, total earnings growth for the remainder of the index would be down only -0.6%. Driving the Tech sector’s weak earnings growth expectation for the quarter is Apple (AAPL) and the broader semiconductor space. For Apple, June quarter earnings are expected to be down -15.4% on +0.1% higher revenues. The semiconductors industry has been struggling for the last few quarters and this trend is expected to continue in Q2 as well. The expectation is that the semiconductor industry’s earnings declines bottom in Q2 and start improving from Q3 onwards. The chart below reflects this expectation, though the fallout of the Huawei issue could be a lot more painful for the space than current estimates suggest, as Applied Materials’ (AVGO) guidance showed. While year-over-year earnings growth for the industry is expected to remain in negative territory over the second half of the year as well, the decline is expected to be progressively smaller, as you can see in the chart above. The expected end of this drag in the first quarter of 2020 is partly responsible for the expected double-digit growth for the sector that quarter, as shown in the chart below. Finance Earnings Barely Growing For the Finance sector, the second largest earnings contributor to the S&P 500 index, total Q2 earnings are expected to be up +3.2% on +6.3% higher revenues. This would follow +2.7% earnings growth on +8.2% revenue growth in Q1. The table below shows the constituent Finance sector industries at the medium level. The Major Banks industry, the group that includes the big money-center operators like JPMorgan (JPM) that kicks off the reporting cycle for the sector on July 16th, is expected to -4.1% lower earnings on +1.8% higher revenues. For an in-depth look at the overall earnings picture and expectations for Q2, please check out our weekly Earnings Trends report >>>> Earnings Growth Challenges to Persist Today's Best Stocks from ZacksWould you like to see the updated picks from our best market-beating strategies? From 2017 through 2018, while the S&P 500 gained +15.8%, five of our screens returned +38.0%, +61.3%, +61.6%, +68.1%, and +98.3%.This outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. From 2000 – 2018, while the S&P averaged +4.8% per year, our top strategies averaged up to +56.2% per year.See their latest picks free >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.Click to get this free reportNIKE, Inc. (NKE) : Free Stock Analysis ReportMicron Technology, Inc. (MU) : Free Stock Analysis ReportJPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) : Free Stock Analysis ReportBroadcom Inc. (AVGO) : Free Stock Analysis ReportApple Inc. (AAPL) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
Body and Mind Inc. Provides Update and Clarification on California Operations Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 28, 2019) - Body and Mind Inc. (CSE: BAMM) (OTC Pink: BMMJ) (the"Company" or "BaM"), a multi-state operator in Nevada, California, Ohio and Arkansas is pleased to provide an update on Satellites Dip, LLC's ("SD") distribution and manufacturing operation in California, which is being managed by BaM's California subsidiary, NMG Cathedral City, LLC ("NMG"). Pursuant to the management and administrative services agreement (the "Management Agreement") entered into between NMG and SD on June 6, 2019, NMG continues to expand operations at the SD facility and has hired numerous experienced extraction personnel, sourced fully tested extraction material and is working on commercial arrangements between SD and third-party cannabis brand owners. "We are excited to expand the operations at the Cathedral City facility," stated Sophia Hase, General Manager of NMG. "The state-of-the-art facility combined with Body and Mind's numerous years of extraction experience are an excellent combination as we expand operations for fully tested cannabis oils, extracts and edible brands for the California market." NMG is in the process of brokering an agreement between its affiliate company, Nevada Medical Group, LLC, and SD whereby SD will license certain trademarks and other intellectual property for use in respect of cannabis products manufactured by SD on terms at least as favorable as those being offered to Nevada Medical Group, LLC's most favored licensees. NMG has also commenced work on brokering commercial arrangements between SD and third-party cannabis brand owners whereby SD will license commercial cannabis brands from third parties. The Company would like to clarify certain statements in its news releases of June 11 and June 14, 2019, with respect to manufacturing activities in California. SD, a licensed cannabis business conducting commercial cannabis activity within the state of California, is the actual manufacturer. Pursuant to the Management Agreement, NMG manages all of the operations at SD's manufacturing facility in Cathedral City, California. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For further information, please contact: Michael MillsTel: 800-361-6312mmills@bamcannabis.com About Body and Mind Inc. BaM is a well capitalized publicly traded company investing in high quality medical and recreational cannabis cultivation, production and retail. Body and Mind has a strategic investment by Australis Capital Inc. Our wholly owned Nevada subsidiary was awarded one of the first medical marijuana cultivation licences and holds cultivation and production licenses. BaM products include dried flower, edibles, topicals, extracts as well as GPEN Gio cartridges and Lucid Mood offerings. BaM cannabis strains have won numerous awards including the 2019 Las Vegas Weekly Bud Bracket, Las Vegas Hempfest Cup 2016, High Times Top Ten, the NorCal Secret Cup and the Emerald Cup. BaM continues to expand operations in Nevada, California, Arkansas and Ohio and is dedicated to increasing shareholder value by focusing time and resources on improving operational efficiencies, facility expansions, state licensing opportunities as well as mergers and acquisitions. Please visitwww.bamcannabis.comfor more information. Safe Harbor Statement Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented in this news release constitutes "forward-looking statements" as such term is used in applicable United States and Canadian laws. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any other statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans, "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and should be viewed as "forward-looking statements". Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, the actual results of activities, variations in the underlying assumptions associated with the estimation of activities, the availability of capital to fund programs and the resulting dilution caused by the raising of capital through the sale of shares, accidents, labor disputes and other risks. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this news release and in any document referred to in this news release. Certain matters discussed in this news release and oral statements made from time to time by representatives of the Company may constitute forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Many of these factors are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially and that could impact the Company and the statements contained in this news release can be found in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities. To view the source version of this press release, please visithttps://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/45988
Shell to Divest Alberta Gas Assets to Pieridae for C$190M Royal Dutch Shell plcRDS.A is set to jettison natural gas assets in Alberta to Canada’s Pieridae Energy for C$190 million ($144.77 million). Pieridae intends to use the production from these assets to secure natural gas supply required for the first train of the flagship Goldboro LNG project. Per the deal, the Anglo-Dutch giant will offload all upstream and midstream assets in Alberta’s Foothills region. The upstream assets to be acquired by Pieridae netted approximately 29,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day to Shell in first-quarter 2019. This constituted about 120 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) of natural gas, 5,600 barrels per day (bbl/d) of natural gas liquids, and 3,200 bbl/d of condensate and light oil. Pieridae will also acquire three sour gas plants namely Jumping Pound, Caroline and Waterton, with a combined capacity of 750 MMcf/d. The firm will also take possession of a 1700-kilometer pipeline network and 14% stake in a sulfur plant. The deal is to be funded by cash and the issuance of stocks. Subject to satisfactory closing conditions and regulatory approvals, the transaction is set for closure in third-quarter 2019. With the deal, Pieridae moves a step closer to proceeding with the $10-billion Goldboro LNG plant in Nova Scotia. Production from the acquired assets will be used by Pieridae as Goldboro LNG feedstock. In addition to securing natural gas supplies, the deal will make Pieridae a major player in the Alberta midstream and upstream industry. The assets to be acquired complement the existing Alberta properties of Pieridae and will provide operational synergies to the firm. The company, which is seeking additional sources of natural gas for the Goldboro LNG plant, expects to ramp up its drilling program in the Foothills region over the next four years. The Goldboro project is likely to produce about 10 million tons of super-cooled LNG per year. The LNG is to be shipped mainly to European customers. Pieridae intends to use the pipelines owned by TC Energy TRP and Enbridge, Inc. ENB to ship Alberta gas to the Goldboro plant. Pieridae already has a 20-year sales agreement with German utility giant Uniper for the full capacity of Goldboro's first train and half of the total project. Pieridae, which already has all the necessary regulatory approvals for the LNG plant in place, is yet to make the final investment decision on the project. If the Goldboro project gets greenlighted, it will be the second major LNG plant in Canada after Shell’s $31-billion LNG project in Kitimat, British Columbia.Shell is currently the largest shareholder of the LNG Canada project with a 40% stake, with PETRONAS, PetroChina PTR, Mitsubishi and KOGAS being the other partners. While Shell is building Canada’s first LNG export terminal, it has divested all other operations in the country, including Alberta oil sands. The Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) supermajor intends to streamline portfolio and explore U.S. shale plays, much opposed to deploying money across capital-intensive operations in Canada. You can seethe complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Notably, the Canadian energy sector — which used to be a booming market — has not witnessed any major milestones over the past few years. Industry downturn, coupled with infrastructure deficiencies and U.S. shale revolution had hit the country hard. With the cancellation of major projects like Northern Gateway, Pacific NorthWest and Energy East, along with uncertainties associated with the existing ones, things had been quite dispiriting for investors in the Canadian oil energy space. Kitimat and Goldboro LNG plants have brought a ray of hope to the country’s energy industry’s plight. Notably, demand for LNG has been robustly growing of late, primarily as China and other Asian countries are making efforts to switch from coal to natural gas, which is touted to be the cheaper and cleaner burning fuel. Due to Canada’s proximity with the Asian markets and robust natural gas production in British Columbia and Alberta, the nation is a much-preferred destination for LNG export facilities. The startup of Kitimat and Goldboro projects is likely to unleash a new LNG wave in the nation. Will you retire a millionaire? One out of every six people retires a multimillionaire. Get smart tips you can do today to become one of them in a new Special Report, “7 Things You Can Do Now to Retire a Multimillionaire.” Click to get it free >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.Click to get this free reportRoyal Dutch Shell PLC (RDS.A) : Free Stock Analysis ReportPetroChina Company Limited (PTR) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTransCanada Corporation (TRP) : Free Stock Analysis ReportEnbridge Inc (ENB) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
Facebook's Libra coin likely to run a regulatory gauntlet By Anna Irrera and Katie Paul NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO(Reuters) - Facebook Inc will face unprecedented regulatory scrutiny over a new digital currency that the social media company hopes will become globally recognized legal tender within a year. Since Facebook unveiled its cryptocurrency, called Libra, 10 days ago, Reuters has spoken with more than a dozen people with experience in financial regulation, financial technology, payments or cryptocurrency. Few expected government agencies to proceed lightly. The company's announcement was met with immediate backlash from U.S. lawmakers and regulators across the globe, who are concerned that Facebook is already too massive and careless with users' privacy. Randal Quarles, chair of the Financial Stability Board, which coordinates financial rules for G20 countries, warned this week that wider use of crypto-assets for retail payments needs close global scrutiny by regulators. Cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin remain one of the least-regulated areas of finance. "It's a complete disaster from a regulatory perspective," said Barry Lynn, executive director of antitrust advocacy group the Open Markets Institute. "This is a corporation that's got fires all over the world with regulators. It's only going to get worse." The plan for Libra involves taking customer deposits, investing them in government bonds, holding traditional currencies in reserves and offering cross-border services and transacting in the new coin will require engagement with central banks, financial regulators and enforcement authorities around the globe. The Facebook subsidiary formed to handle Libra transactions, called Calibra, has applied for money-transfer licenses in the United States and registered with the U.S. Financial Crimes and Enforcement Network (FinCEN) as a money services business, a spokesman said. It has also applied for the license required to operate a cryptocurrency business in New York from the state's Department of Financial Services, a person familiar with the matter said. Representatives of Britain's Financial Conduct Authority, the Bank of England, and Switzerland's financial regulator FINMA have also said Facebook has been in touch. "The scrutiny that we've seen is something that we expected and welcome," a Facebook spokesman said. "We announced this early by design in order to have this discourse in the open and gather feedback." Reserves would be subject to monetary policies of countries where funds are located, the spokesman said. Calibra does not plan to apply for local banking licenses, he added. Facebook also formed a Geneva-based association to govern the new coin and hold the reserves, alongside several major partners. They plan to launch the whole system in the first half of 2020, and intend to eventually offer a broad suite of financial services, including loans. "They will not get a free pass anywhere," said Sean Park, Founder and Chief Investment Officer, at Anthemis, a venture capital firm that backs digital financial services companies. "And, given their intention to be global, they will ultimately need literally hundreds, perhaps thousands, of licenses from hundreds of different regulators across the globe." Besides central banks, markets regulators, consumer protection watchdogs, and agencies that tackle money laundering, tax evasion and other financial crimes, Facebook's payment network might also have to adhere to the Principles for Financial Market Infrastructures that are set by the Bank for International Settlements and the International Organization of Securities Commissions. There are also the privacy and antitrust regulators around the globe with whom Facebook is already battling. "Just in terms of new regulators, it's a whole new ball game," said Jeff Bandman, a former U.S. Commodities Futures Trading Commission official who now runs the fintech regulatory consultancy Bandman Advisors. "A year is enough time to meet with regulators, figure out where the real trouble spots are and potentially scale it back to something narrower." But its a challenge that Facebook appears willing to take, given the potential payoff with its 2.4 billion users, and the prospect of replicating the success of Chinese social networks such as WeChat, which has grown profits by offering financial services on its apps. RBC analysts described Libra as a "potential watershed moment" for Facebook in terms of revenue and user engagement. However, the costs could be substantial before income starts rolling in. It will need to set up an internal compliance framework with staffers who screen transactions for illicit activity and verify customer identities. Money-transfer giant Western Union Co for instance has spent $1 billion in compliance over the past five years, a spokesman said. Western Union is registered with FinCen and regulated under the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act, with licenses in 49 states, plus Washington, D.C. and three U.S. territories. It has licenses in more than 30 countries, and reporting obligations in more than 54. "I would say the risks are commensurate with the returns – potentially huge," said Pascal Bouvier, managing partner at MiddleGame Ventures, a financial technology venture capital firm. (Reporting by Anna Irrera in New York and Katie Paul in San Francisco; Editing by Lauren Tara LaCapra and Susan Thomas)
Rapinoe double takes U.S. past France into semi-finals By Simon Evans PARIS (Reuters) - Megan Rapinoe struck twice as the United States beat hosts France 2-1 in the women's World Cup quarter-finals at the Parc des Princes on Friday to set up a last-four clash with England. Rapinoe, who was involved in a spat with U.S. President Donald Trump during the build up to the game , opened the scoring in the fifth minute with a low-struck free-kick from the left that went in untouched through a crowd of players. The 33-year-old Rapinoe added their second goal in the 65th minute and although France got back in the game with a Wendie Renard header in the 81st, the U.S. held firm to maintain their record of never missing out on the World Cup semi-finals. A night which showed just how far the women's tournament has grown, with thousands of traveling American fans in a sell-out 45,000 crowd, ended in disappointment for the hosts. Corinne Diacre's French team played attractive, passing football but, while their style was more contemporary and aesthetically pleasing, it was the killer edge of the experienced Americans that proved decisive. "You have to give it up to the French team. They outplayed us for sure with the ball today," said Rapinoe. "But we were so good defensively, so strong. We hit them where it hurt, we took our chances. This team has an unreal amount of heart," she added. Heart and brains too. Seeing the French defense had put just two players in the defensive wall for the early free kick, Rapinoe accepted the invitation and her low drive flew through a crowded area and past unsighted goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi. FEW OPENINGS The U.S. have scored in the opening 12 minutes of every game in this tournament and they also could draw on the fact that they have never lost after taking the lead in a World Cup game. France's hopes of turning the match around depended on them opening up the American defense with their clever passing but while they impressed in build-up play they created few openings. Story continues France right winger Kadidiatou Diani put left back Crystal Dunn under intense pressure with her frequent dribbles down the flank, while on the left Amel Majri pushed progressively into an advanced role to the consternation of right back Kelley O'Hara. Yet despite all that promising play in the wide areas, the French struggled to provide striker Eugenie Le Sommer with real quality service and, having survived a wave of pressure after the interval, Rapinoe struck again. Alex Morgan's clever through ball put Tobin Heath into space on the right and her low cross, pulled back behind the French line, found the hovering Rapinoe who slotted home her fifth goal of the tournament with confidence. Heath's effort that would have wrapped up the game was ruled out for offside, and France responded with one last push. With nine minutes of normal time remaining, the home side finally got some reward when Renard rose above the American defense, whose marking was unusually sloppy, to glance in a header from a Gaetane Thiney free kick. There was a scare for the Americans when a ball from Majri struck O'Hara's arm inside the area, but the Ukrainian referee waved away the appeal, despite it being the kind of infringement that has been penalized in other games at the tournament. The Americans survived and while Ellis's side may not have the quality of passing and movement shown by the French, they have a resilience ingrained in their approach. "That was the most intense match I have ever been a part of. A win’s a win in a World Cup. I haven’t seen many pretty games in a World Cup," said Ellis. "France are an incredible team. The surge from the fans was intense, like a tsunami. I credit the players. They’ve taken everything on." Next up for the holders are England on Tuesday in Lyon and that should prove an equally tough test. For France, the inquest will begin in to how this talented side, once again fell short. "I still have work to do," said Diacre. "There are still certain things we need to fine-tune and work on together. Yes, it is a failure on a footballing level. We’re a long way off our target but I hope we have gained something elsewhere, and I hope we have won over the hearts and minds of the public." (Reporting by Simon Evans; Editing by Ken Ferris and Toby Davis)
401(k) Hardship Distributions: All You Need to Know We all know that havingan ample emergency fundis important to ensure solvency should you encounter unexpected expenses. And most people know that taking money out of a 401(k) is not ideal. But what happens when financial hardship arises and an emergency fund isn’t enough? That’s where 401(k) hardship distributions can come in. Before you borrow from your retirement savings, you should understand the risks. And if you need hands-on guidance while exploring 401(k) hardship distributions, consider enlisting the help of afinancial advisorin your area best suited to your needs. Check out our401(k) calculator. Ideally, no one would touch his or her 401(k) until retirement. In the real world, though, people draw on the money in their 401(k)s for things likemortgagepayments and financial emergencies. The rules for hardship withdrawals from a 401(k) vary slightly from plan to plan, but here are the basics: 1. Only certain expenses qualify TheIRSpermits hardship withdrawals in order to: • Pay your medical bills, or those of your spouse and dependents • Buy or retain a primary residence (i.e. avoid foreclosure or eviction) • Cover your educational expenses or those of your spouse and dependents • Pay for family funeral expenses • Cover the costs of certain kinds of home repairs, such as those necessary aftera natural disaster Some employers’ plans limit qualifying hardships further. In general, you’ll have an easier time qualifying for hardship distributions for medical and funeral expenses than for other types of bills. It’s easier to make a case for paying off an existing obligation than for a 401(k) hardship withdrawal for a home purchase. 2. It should be a last resort When you take hardship distributions from your 401(k), you’ll need to prove to the IRS that you don’t have other resources at your disposal, and that you’re not taking more than you need. In other words, you aren’t withdrawing extra from your 401(k) to prevent foreclosure andtake a Caribbean vacation. Related Article:How to Convince Your Employer to Add 401(k) Plans 3. You can’t withdraw everything The money that’s in your 401(k) is comprised of your contributions, the earnings on those contributions and any matching from your employer. Depending on your company’s plan, you may be able to withdraw some matched funds. You can’t withdraw earnings, though. That means what you can withdraw is up to the exact amount you contributed, not the sum of your contributions and the gains they’ve made over the years. 4. There will be tax consequences Taking a hardship withdrawal from your 401(k) is an alternative to taking aloan from your 401(k) funds. While you won’t have to pay the money back when you take a hardship distribution, there are still tax consequences for your401(k) early withdrawal– and a 10% penalty if you withdraw before age 59 and a half. The money you withdraw will be taxed as regular income, so it’s important to plan accordingly. Related article:When to Leverage a 401(k) for a Home Down Payment 5. You can’t contribute again for six months Once you take a hardship withdrawal from your 401(k), you’re not permitted to make a contribution to your 401(k) for six months. Even if your finances turn around quickly, you’ll have to wait before resuming contributions to your employer-sponsored retirement plan. The Bottom Line Once you resume contributions, you’ll realize how tough it is to make up for lost time. That’s why it’s a good idea to leaveyour 401(k) moneywhere it is if at all possible. To ensure you don’t find yourself in this position, consider working with a financial advisor to help you come up with a financial plan and make sure you stay on track. SmartAsset’sfree financial advisor matching toolmakes it easier to find an advisor who suits your needs. Simply answer a series of questions about your financial situation and goals. Then the program will narrow down your options from thousands of advisors to up to three registered investment advisors who suit your needs. You can then read their profiles to learn more about them, interview them on the phone or in person and choose who to work with in the future. This allows you to find a good fit while the program does much of the hard work for you. Photo credit:flickr, ©iStock.com/Creativeye99, ©iStock.com/stokkete The post401(k) Hardship Distributions: All You Need to Knowappeared first onSmartAsset Blog. • Lump Sum vs. Annuity: Which Should You Take? • What Are 414(h) Plans and How Do They Work? • What Is a Self-Directed Roth IRA?
AstraZeneca's Imfinzi Meets Endpoint in Lung Cancer Study AstraZeneca Plc AZN announced positive overall survival (OS) results from the phase III CASPIAN study evaluating Imfinzi (durvalumab) in first-line extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC), the most aggressive type of lung cancer. Data from an interim analysis conducted by an Independent Data Monitoring Committee showed that the study met its primary endpoint, as Imfinzi combined with standard-of-care medicine, etoposide, and platinum-based chemotherapy demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in OS compared with chemotherapy alone. This is the first study that offers the flexibility of combining immunotherapy with different platinum-based regimens in small cell lung cancer, expanding treatment options. Imfinzi, a PD-L1 inhibitor, is presently approved for unresectable, stage III NSCLC in second-line setting in the United States. The company is evaluating the drug in several late-stage studies for treating stage IV NSCLC. The drug is also approved for the treatment of bladder cancer. AstraZeneca’s shares are up 10.3% so far this year compared with the industry’s growth of 4.3%. Imfinzi in being studied in other SCLC studies as well. It is being tested following concurrent chemoradiation therapy in limited-stage SCLC in the phase III ADRIATIC study. Meanwhile, other than SCLC, key phase III trials are evaluating Imfinzi in combination with tremelimumab for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, liver cancer), NSCLC, and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. However, the drug is significantly lagging other approved PD-L1 inhibitors — Bristol-Myers’ BMY Opdivo and Merck’s MRK Keytruda — in terms of approved indications and sales. While Imfinzi recorded sales of $371 million in the first nine months of 2018, Opdivo and Keytruda generated $4.9 billion and $5 billion, respectively. Notably, Keytruda and Opdivo were launched much earlier than Imfinzi. Other PD-L1 inhibitors in the market are Pfizer’s PFE Bavencio and Roche’s Tecentriq. Story continues Earlier this month, Keytruda received FDA approval for metastatic SCLC in third- or later-line setting. This approval marks the first label expansion for Keytruda in the SCLC indication. AstraZeneca PLC Price AstraZeneca PLC Price AstraZeneca PLC price | AstraZeneca PLC Quote Zacks Rank AstraZeneca carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here . Will you retire a millionaire? One out of every six people retires a multimillionaire. Get smart tips you can do today to become one of them in a new Special Report, “7 Things You Can Do Now to Retire a Multimillionaire.” Click to get it free >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) : Free Stock Analysis Report Pfizer Inc. (PFE) : Free Stock Analysis Report Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMY) : Free Stock Analysis Report AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research
An ETF to Tap into the Growing Gig Economy This article was originally published onETFTrends.com. In an ever changing market, more workers are taking advantage of the side-hustle or the quickly rising gig economy that has been etching into the traditional workplace. Investors can also capitalize on the growth in this gig economy through a targeted exchange traded fund play. Chris Guillebeau, author of “100 Side Hustles”, explained that generating a significant amount of money using alternative platforms like Fiverr that recently went public can be lucrative,Yahoo! Financereported. “If you’re creative enough, they have lots of little up-sales and things,” Guillebeau said. “And then if you can take customers or clients from Fiverr, Upwork, all these other networks, eventually to become your own customers, then you can do it that way.” According to a recent Bankrate.com survey, almost half of millennials utilize gig economy to earn more cash on the side. The survey revealed that 48% of millennial workers surveyed moonlight to earn extra money, compared to 28% of Baby Boomers and 38% of Generation-Xers. “People are turning to these types of projects because there’s so much opportunity, there’s so many possibilities, there’s so much potential,” Guillebeau said. However, there are downsides to the new gig economy. For example, Uber and Lyft have been censured for how their drivers work long hours with relatively low pay and no benefits, highlighting the low levels of job security from these types of new gigs. As a way to target this rising market, investors can look to theSoFi Gig Economy ETF (GIGE) . GIGE is an actively managed fund, advised by Toroso Investments, that is designed to seek long term capital appreciation by capturing exposure to the economic shift toward gig-oriented companies. The “gig economy” refers to a group of companies that embrace and support the workforce in which employment is based around short-term engagements that allow for flexibility and personal freedom and temporary contracts. The fund is structured so that most companies that IPO can be included in the portfolio within 31 days of their IPO, as opposed to traditional passive funds that must likely wait 60 to 90 days to include a new IPO. For example, GIGE includes some well-known, side-job names like Uber and Lyft, which recently launched their IPOs. For more information on the markets, visit ourcurrent affairs category. POPULAR ARTICLES AND RESOURCES FROM ETFTRENDS.COM • SPY ETF Quote • VOO ETF Quote • QQQ ETF Quote • VTI ETF Quote • JNUG ETF Quote • Top 34 Gold ETFs • Top 34 Oil ETFs • Top 57 Financials ETFs • Facebook Libra: Weighing The Pros And Cons • As Bitcoin Surges Past $13K, Calls to Embrace Crypto Grow • GLDM Marks One Year Anniversary Today, Leads Gold-Backed ETF Flows • ROBO Global Healthcare Technology ETF Debuts on NYSE • Gold And Silver Rally On Unusual Options Activity READ MORE AT ETFTRENDS.COM >
Campbell (CPB) Looks Appealing on Portfolio Refinement Moves Campbell Soup CompanyCPB has been able to maintain strong footing in the food space, courtesy of well-chalked efforts to boost portfolio strength. This Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company gained 3.8% in the past three months compared with the industry’s rise of 0.3%. Let’s take a closer look at the factors that have made Campbell an attractive pick.Efforts to Bolster Portfolio is on TrackCampbell is undertaking important measures to refine portfolio, by exiting underperforming businesses and focusing on growth-oriented areas. Earlier, the company had revealed intentions to divest non-key businesses — Campbell International (which includes Arnott’s and the Kelsen Group) and Campbell Fresh (C-Fresh).In sync with such strategies, the company completed the divestiture of the Bolthouse Farms business to Butterfly Equity’s affiliate for $510 million. Also, it completed the sale of U.S. refrigerated soup and Garden Fresh Gourmet businesses during the third quarter of fiscal 2019. As a result of such moves, the company has successfully exited the underperforming C-Fresh unit. The company was struggling with its C-Fresh segment for quite some time on account of weak brand banners, which makes the divestiture of this unit appropriate. Further, management intends to utilize net sale proceeds to reduce debt load. Moreover, as part of the portfolio review and board-led strategy, management plans to focus on two separate businesses in the company’s key North American market — Campbell Snacks as well as Campbell Meals and Beverages. We note that strengthening presence in the fast-growing snacks arena is part of Campbell’s core strategies. Markedly, the company acquired Snyder's-Lance in the third quarter. The buyout is enhancing performance in the global biscuits and snacks portfolio. Among other moves to strengthen portfolio, the company acquired leading organic broth and soup producer — Pacific Foods — to expand in the fast-growing organic food space. Apart from these, the company is on track with innovations and initiatives to augment marketing support for its brands.Saving Initiatives Bode WellCampbell is progressing well with its multi-year cost-saving program, which includes measures like boosting supply-chain efficiencies and curtailing various cost elements. A portion of these savings are being reinvested in areas with high-growth potential. During the third quarter of fiscal 2019, Campbell generated savings worth $55 million, which included synergies associated with Snyder’s-Lance’s buyout. This generated savings from the program worth $605 million. On a year-to-date basis, savings from the program amounted to $150 million.The company now expects to generate nearly $180 million in fiscal 2019, including savings from C-Fresh. Further, management anticipates generating cumulative annualized savings from continuing operations of $850 million by fiscal 2022 end.Wrapping UpClearly, Campbell seems to be striking the right chords to boost business performance. We expect these lucrative moves to help the company to cushion hurdles such as soft weak U.S. soup sales and rising input costs. That said, we expect the company to continue in investors good books.Looking For More Consumer Staples Stocks? Check TheseThe Chefs' Warehouse CHEF, with a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), has long-term earnings growth rate of 15%. You can seethe complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.General Mills, Inc GIS, with an expected long-term earnings growth rate of 7%, also carries a Zacks Rank #2.Conagra Brands Inc. CAG, with long-term earnings growth rate of 7%, carries a Zacks Rank #2.Will you retire a millionaire?One out of every six people retires a multimillionaire. Get smart tips you can do today to become one of them in a new Special Report, “7 Things You Can Do Now to Retire a Multimillionaire.Click to get it free >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.Click to get this free reportGeneral Mills, Inc. (GIS) : Free Stock Analysis ReportThe Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. (CHEF) : Free Stock Analysis ReportCampbell Soup Company (CPB) : Free Stock Analysis ReportConagra Brands Inc. (CAG) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
Sophie Turner Wears High Heels and a Red Dress to Her Rehearsal Dinner Photo credit: BACKGRID From Harper's BAZAAR Sophie Turner was spotted wearing a red sleeveless sheath dress and heels for her rehearsal dinner with Joe Jonas this evening in the south of France. Jonas matched in a red suit. The look is reminiscent of a viral line in the Jonas Brothers' song, "Burnin' Up." Guests, including Priyanka Chopra and Ashley Graham, wore white to the dinner. Sophie Turner is the embodiment of the Jonas Brothers song "Burnin' Up" at her rehearsal dinner with Joe Jonas tonight. The Game of Thrones actress showed up literally wearing high heels and a red dress, bringing an iconic line from the 2008 hit to life. To be more specific, Turner wore a sleeveless sheath number and metallic heeled sandals for the fiery look-but we like the JoBros' description better. Photo credit: BACKGRID Photos from the celebration in the south of France show that Jonas matched in a crimson suit, while the rest of their guests wore white. (We love a color-coordinated dress code.) Among those in tow included Priyanka Chopra, who just wed Nick Jonas in December, Kevin and Danielle Jonas, and Ashley Graham and husband Justin Ervin. Photo credit: Arnold Jerocki - Getty Images Photo credit: Arnold Jerocki - Getty Images Photo credit: Arnold Jerocki - Getty Images The nuptial celebrations are racking up for Turner and Jonas, who are expected to have their second wedding ceremony tomorrow. After a week of lavish appearances in Paris (including a boozy boat cruise), the couple settled into Le Chateau de Tourreau yesterday and hung out by the pool. Earlier today, they were seen at a pre-wedding celebration where Turner wore a white Cushnie sheath dress and Jonas suited up in pinstripes. Fellow GoT star, Maisie Williams , was also seen at the fête. Sophie and Joe already tied the knot in early May in an intimate, legal ceremony in Las Vegas. Jonas explained to BAZAAR.com , "It was either the courthouse, or our version, and I preferred our version. Friends, Elvis, and Ring Pops." ('You Might Also Like',) The Essential British Packing List 30 Facial Moisturizers for Every Budget We Cut Bangs on 16 Different Women With The Help of Celebrity Stylist Justine Marjan
Bitcoin Searches Regain Stride Alongside Bullish BTC Price The BTC price has an 80.8 percent correlation to internet searches forbitcoin. That could be good news for future price movements. Olga Andrienko, head of global marketing at SEMrush, found a strong correlation between the two, tellingMarketWatch: “We also identified that there’s an 80.8% correlation ratio between Google searches and bitcoin price.” The correlation suggests bitcoin is currently in a healthy position. Between June 19 and June 26, bitcoin searches rose more than 158 percent. That coincided with a jump from the $9,100 mark up to a high of $13,782. The price of bitcoin reached $11,865 onCoinMarketCapat the time of writing, an eight percent increase over the past 24 hours but slightly below its week-long high achieved on Wednesday. The cryptocurrency is still well above its year-long low point of below $3,400 in February. Jumps in bitcoin searches have indicated previous bumps in interest. In May, searchesclimbed to a 13-month highafter a CBS 60 Minutes special shone a light on cryptocurrency. The episode saw Anderson Cooper trying to understand what a cryptocurrency actually is and Ann Silvio come to grips with the story behind Satoshi Nakamoto. Following the May 19 episode, which scored 8.2 million viewers, searches spiked in countries like South Africa and the Netherlands. Read the full story on CCN.com.
Making Cybercrime Work for You Ransomware attacks on businesses grew 500% last year — how to turn this into major portfolio gains $10 million. That’s how much Baltimore City officials approved this week to cover the ongoing cost of a cyberattack that has immobilized some of the city systems for nearly two months now. InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips These emergency funds were approved on Wednesday to help the hack-recovery process, which is now moving into its eighth week. If you’re not familiar with this story, it began back on May 7. That’s when hackers launched a ransomware attack on the city of Baltimore, shutting down city computer systems. The hackers encrypted data, demanding roughly $76,000 in bitcoin to unlock the files. Mayor Bernard “Jack” Young has refused to pay. Given this decision, some of Baltimore’s systems remain un-usable even today. For example, water billing remains offline. So, what’s been the cost to Baltimore of not paying the $76,000 ransom? $18.2 million. That’s the tally from Baltimore’s budget office, which includes a combination of lost or delayed revenue and direct costs to restore systems. As for the $18.2 million being vastly greater than the ransom demand, Mayor Young said: “We’re not going to pay criminals for bad deeds. That’s not going to happen.” He added that even if the city were to meet the ransom demands, “there’s no guarantee that if you pay, you reset your system.” ***Baltimore is just the latest city to be attacked by ransomware hackers City governments around the nation are under assault from ransomware. The malicious software infects entire computer networks, freezing up critical files and equipment until the organization pays for a key to unlock the information. In March of 2018, hackers shut down much of Atlanta’s city government operations. They asked for roughly $51,000 in bitcoin to release the encrypted data. City officials refused to pay. It was a decision that ultimately cost the municipality $17 million. But the attacks aren’t limited to major cities like Baltimore and Atlanta. Just weeks ago, hackers hit Riviera Beach, Florida, a city of just 35,000 people. For three weeks, the city has had its computer systems held hostage. Emails wouldn’t going through, 911 calls were unable to enter into computer records, and city systems such as water utilities were offline. All of this because someone in the government “clicked on an email.” Unlike Atlanta and Baltimore, Riviera Beach’s city council just voted to pay the $600,000 in bitcoin that the hackers have demanded. Interestingly, experts say this decision could set Riviera Beach up for even more hacking attacks, since the municipality has now proven it’s willing to pay. ***This problem isn’t going away A report from Recorded Future claims at least 170 state and local governments in the U.S. have been targets of ransomware attacks since 2013. And the cybersecurity company, Malwarebytes, reported in April that ransomware attempts on businesses jumped 500% just last year alone. Cybersecurity Ventures predicts that global cybercrime will cost upwards of $6 trillion (that’s trillion with a “T”) annually by 2021. That’s up from $3 trillion in 2015. On a side note for all you crypto fans, estimates are that by 2021, more than 70% of all cryptocurrency transactions will be used for illegal activity. Current estimates range from 20% (of the five major cryptocurrencies) to nearly 50% (of bitcoin). ***While playing defense against these attacks is critical for you personally, there’s a way to play offense with your investments That’s because the same attacks that cripple city governments are tailwinds driving huge profits for certain cybersecurity companies. Louis Navellier’sBreakthrough Stockssubscribers are already aware of this, as one of Louis’ picks is the cybersecurity company, CyberArk — now up over 42% since Louis’ February recommendation. Here’s what Louis wrote about the company in his recommendation: CyberArk is leading the charge to protect businesses against cyber attacks. The company provides privileged access security, which protects a business’ assets, data and infrastructure in the cloud, development pipeline and in-house. It’s a complete security solution that allows CyberArk Software’s customers to prevent cyber attacks, not just react to them. As a result, CyberArk Software’s security solutions are in top demand. About half of the Fortune 500 and more than 30% of the Global 2000 turn to CyberArk to protect their business against malicious cyber attacks. The company partners with more than 4,200 businesses around the world, and it has offices in the U.S., U.K., Europe and the Asia-Pacific. Louis’ February recommendation was well-timed. The company had a huge earnings-beat that month. Then another in May – posting 34% annual revenue growth and 114% annual earnings growth. Adjusted earnings soared 82.2% year-over year. It’s this strong earnings performance that’s behind the 42%+ gains in less than five months. ***Strong earnings performance is the foundation of Louis’ stock selection system If you’re less familiar with Louis’ approach to the markets, it’s actually quite simple. He tunes out the stories, hype, and headlines, and focuses on the one thing that really matters … Numbers. Is a company posting good sales numbers? And not just in the latest quarter …but over time? Are its earnings meeting Wall Street’s expectations? Better yet, are they exceeding them? In the long term, the answers to these questions determine whether your investment will provide you great returns … or lose you money. That’s because what drives stock prices over time are earnings. It’s that simple. Given this, inBreakthrough Stocks, Louis uses a proprietary 8-point system that focuses on numbers and quantitative factors. Doing this enables Louis to identify a select group of superior stocks that are poised for significant outperformance, like CyberArk, which currently holds an “A” rating. ***So, what are Louis’ eight criteria? Positive Earnings Revisions. He looks for stocks that have had their earnings estimates increased by Wall Street analysts. This is often a tip-off that a stock is about to beat earnings expectations. Positive Earnings Surprises. Louis looks to see if a stock has been able to beat its earnings estimates in the past, and by how much. This is important as it often indicates that the stock has been overlooked — so far — by Wall Street. Increasing Sales. Louis wants a company that can consistently grow its sales over time. That’s because this sales number is hard to fake. Sales growth is a solid indicator. Expanding Operating Margins. This indicates whether earnings are growing faster than sales. A company that’s able to expand its operating margins is usually a company that has a dominant position in its industry. Free Cash Flow. This is how much money a company has left over after paying the costs of its business. Strong cash flow is important because it allows a company to invest more resources in growing its business. Earnings Growth. Louis tells us that this is the heart of all good financial analysis. As long as a company is able to grow its organic earnings consistently, its stock will do well over the long term. Positive Earnings Momentum. In addition to earnings growth, Louis wants to see earnings growingrapidly. Return on Equity (ROE). Finally, ROE indicates how efficiently a company is managing its resources. Louis considers ROE to be a “report card” for how well management is doing at generating company returns on equity. Putting it all together, when a company rates highly on all eight factors, it becomes a strong buy in Louis’ system. When it doesn’t … it becomes a sell. ***Finally, there’s one more aspect of Louis’Breakthrough Stocksthat’s critical to big returns Size. You see, inBreakthrough Stocks, Louis focuses exclusively on small-cap stocks. Why? From Louis: If you’re looking for growth — even in periods when growth becomes scarce — small-cap stocks are where you’ll get it. This is because small-cap companies have much greater potential to produce giant returns for their shareholders in a short time than any other kind of company. The reason is simple. It’s much, much easier for a young, $500-million small cap to grow 10-fold than it is for a mature $500-billion giant to grow 10-fold. That’s just basic math. If your daughter sold 10 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies around the neighborhood on her own, you could probably help grow her results 10-times (selling 100 boxes) by driving her around and putting a little pressure on your friends or coworkers to buy some boxes. What if your daughter was a natural saleswoman and had sold 100 boxes on her own? To enjoy 10-times growth under that scenario, she’d have to sell 1,000 boxes. Not so easy anymore. That’s the mathematical challenge behind enjoying giant growth when a company is already doing giant sales. Louis’ focus on small-cap companies means there’s a greater chance of triple digit gains than were his focus on mega-cap stocks. ***As we wrap up, cybercrime is a major danger — and is only getting worse — but this trend is supporting gains from quality cybersecurity companies, like CyberArk On that note, Louis likes the stock up to $144, so there’s still room to establish a position even after its 42% gain since the original recommendation. And if you’d like to be in on this type of gain from the beginning,click hereto learn more about Louis’Breakthrough Stockssystem. Have a good evening, Jeff Remsburg Compare Brokers The postMaking Cybercrime Work for Youappeared first onInvestorPlace.
The Party of Illegal Immigration T here didn’t seem much room for Democrats to move left on immigration, but they’ve found it. On the first night of the Democratic debates, Julian Castro made a big issue of his call to repeal Section 1325 of Title 8 of the United States Code, which says it’s a federal crime to enter the country without authorization. This felt like a ploy for attention from the periphery of the second-tier debate stage, yet last night seven out of the ten candidates raised their hands for the idea, including top contenders Kamala Harris, Bernie Sanders, and Pete Buttigieg. The collective posture of the party is getting closer and closer to open borders, only without embracing the label. Illegal immigrants aren’t typically prosecuted under Section 1325, although the Bush administration started a program called “Operation Streamline” to increase prosecutions, hoping to discourage would-be crossers and especially to create a deterrent against illegal reentry (illegal entry is a misdemeanor often punished by time served, whereas illegal reentry is a felony). Such prosecutions were a key element of Trump’s family-separation policy that had to be quickly abandoned. The repeal of Section 1325 would send a message of permissiveness that would create another incentive for migrants to come across the border, and remove a tool for going after coyotes (it can be difficult to prove their offense, so prosecuting them for illegal entry is a backstop). Section 1325 has been on the books for 90 years, and it reflects the commonsense view that entering the United States without lawful permission should be a crime. Yes, it’d still be a civil offense to be present in the United States without papers, and in theory, still possible to be deported — although this brings us to the rest of the Democratic approach to immigration. Asked if an illegal immigrant in the interior of the country who hasn’t committed another crime should be deported, Joe Biden replied that such a person “should not be the focus of deportation.” Kamala Harris said he “absolutely” should not be deported, and Representative Eric Swalwell said “that person can be part of this great American experience.” This is a promise to gut interior enforcement that, coupled with the latitudinarian attitude at the border, would be a huge step toward open borders. Story continues If there were any doubt that Democrats want to welcome illegal immigrants and treat them like U.S. citizens, seeing every single candidate on the stage last night promising to provide government health insurance to illegal immigrants removes it. This, obviously, would be even more of a magnet to illegal immigration, and would erode the difference between U.S. citizens and people who literally showed up the day before yesterday in violation of our laws. Besides, the U.S. government is under enough fiscal strain providing promised benefits to citizens and legal residents without, in effect, extending the safety net to some percentage of the population of Northern Triangle countries. The Democrats’ radicalism on immigration is certainly a political mistake that will give President Trump ready fodder next year. We’d say it’s impossible for Democrats to get any further out on this limb, but the next round of debates is only a month away. More from National Review Don’t Buckle on Immigration The Crisis at the Border Trump’s End Run
Honda Accelerates Takata Airbag Recall Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site. Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site. Honda announced Friday that it’s ahead of schedule in replacing dangerous Takata airbag inflators in Honda and Acura models, and issued its final recall for 1.6 million vehicles. At the heart of the problem is the airbag’s inflator, a metal cartridge loaded with propellant wafers, which in some cases has ignited with explosive force. If the inflator housing ruptures in a crash, metal shards from the airbag can be sprayed throughout the passenger cabin, a potentially disastrous outcome from a supposedly life-saving device. The automaker says it has completed work on 83 percent of the affected models—a total of 22.6 million inflators in about 12.9 million Honda and Acura automobiles. Honda says it has parts available now to complete the recall process, and it encourages owners of affected Acura and Honda models to seek repairs immediately from their local dealership. The company says it will notify owners by mail in mid-August about the parts and urge them to have the recall work done. “Despite this tremendous progress, there’s still much work to be done,” said a Honda spokesman, Chris Martin. “We encourage everyone to recheck your VIN for open recalls and, if you find one that applies to your car, get it fixed as soon as possible.” Martin says that loaner cars will be available free to registered owners while the work is being done. Honda owners can learn more about the company’s airbag recalls here. The Takata recall covers 50 million airbag inflators in 37 million cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks from 19 manufacturers, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Honda’s announcement is part of an effort by NHTSA and automakers to space out the replacement of Takata airbag inflators based on the risk to drivers and passengers. Story continues The devices use ammonium nitrate to inflate the airbag in the event of a crash. The ammonium nitrate can become unstable over time, leading to inflators that explode with an unexpectedly violent force. According to NHTSA, if the defective airbag ruptures, it can spray sharp metal fragments directly at the driver and passengers, increasing the risk of death or injury. At least 15 drivers and passengers in the U.S. have died and more than 250 people have been injured because of the airbag inflators, NHTSA says. The goal has been to get replacement inflators to vehicle owners in the highest-risk regions first, and then to the rest of the country as the supply of replacement inflators grows. This is the first of the last wave of recalls; other automakers are expected to announce their final round of recalls early in 2020. “We applaud Honda’s announcement today. The company has really stepped up over the last few years to get deadly, defective Takata airbags out of its vehicles,” says William Wallace, manager of safety policy for Consumer Reports. “We wish we could say the same for every other automaker, some of which are failing consumers and leaving them at risk. NHTSA should use fines and other tools to hold those companies accountable and require them to take stronger action.” The Details: Vehicles Involved Acura 2003 Acura 3.2CL 2002-2003 Acura 3.2TL 2013-2016 Acura ILX 2003-2006 Acura MDX 2007-2016 Acura RDX 2005-2012 Acura RL 2009-2014 Acura TL 2009-2014 Acura TSX 2010-2013 Acura ZDX Honda 2001-2012 Honda Accord 2010-2015 Honda Accord Crosstour/Crosstour 2001-2011 Honda Civic 2002-2011 Honda CR-V 2011-2015 Honda CR-Z 2003-2011 Honda Element 2010-2014 Honda FCX Clarity 2007-2014 Honda Fit 2010-2014 Honda Insight 2002-2004 Honda Odyssey 2003-2015 Honda Pilot 2006-2014 Honda Ridgeline 2006-2010 Honda GL1800 Gold Wing (motorcycle) The problem: Defective airbags can seriously injure or kill the driver and/or front passenger. The fix: Replace the driver and/or passenger front airbag as needed. How to contact the manufacturer: Automobile owners can also check their vehicle's recall status now at the Acura Recall Lookup page and Honda Recall Lookup page or by calling 888-234-2138. Motorcycle customers can check recall status at the company's Product Recall Information page or by calling 866-784-1870 for Honda motorcycle recall information. More from Consumer Reports: Top pick tires for 2016 Best used cars for $25,000 and less 7 best mattresses for couples Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2019, Consumer Reports, Inc.
3 Stocks You Can Keep Forever One of the best ways to build wealth is to invest your money and let it work for you. And the most effective way to allow your investments to grow is to leave them alone for a long time and let them do their thing. But picking just any stocks won't work, no matter how much time you give them, so it's important to have the right companies from the start. To help you get started, here are three great companies that are leaders in their respective markets and have the potential to make great long-term investments. Read on to find out whyAmazon(NASDAQ: AMZN),Alphabet(NASDAQ: GOOG)(NASDAQ: GOOGL), andWaltDisney Company(NYSE: DIS)are top stocks to add to your forever portfolio. Image source: Getty Images. Investors looking for a fantastic long-term bet on the e-commerce market would be wise to pick up shares of Amazon. About 38% of all online sales in the U.S. this year will happen on the company's platform, and there's likely room for a lot more growth. Just 11% of all retail sales in the U.S. happen online, which means that as the e-commerce market grows, Amazon's business will grow right along with it. Amazon has done a fantastic job of not just attracting people to its e-commerce platform but also keeping them there. Amazon Prime members spend more money on the company's website than non-Prime members, and the company has built a massive Prime user base of more than100 million U.S. subscribersso far. While the majority of Amazon's sales come from e-commerce, the company generates most of its operating profitfrom its cloud computing segment, Amazon Web Services (AWS). This is important to note because AWS is the No. 1 public cloud computing platform right now, outpacingMicrosoftand Google, and this market is expected to be worth $278 billion by 2021. With Amazon's dominating the e-commerce and cloud computing spaces, the company's stock should be an easy pick for long-term investors. There's no denying Alphabet's dominance in the tech industry. The company has the most widely used mobile operating system in the world, its online suite of services is used by individuals and corporations alike, and the company is on a never-ending quest to tackle big problems it thinks it can fix. For example, Alphabet's self-driving vehicle company, Waymo, has already launched a commercialautonomous vehicle ridesharing serviceand is alreadyforging partnershipsthat could lead to eventually licensing its technology to create safer vehicles. This bet on self-driving cars could eventually pay off, as the driverless car market is expected to be worth$7 trillionby 2050. But Alphabet's bread and butter is, of course, its advertising business, and that's still humming along quite nicely. This year Alphabet's Google will take more than 37% of the digital advertising revenue market share in the U.S, leavingFacebookwith 22%. For investors looking for a tech giant that's not going away anytime soon, Alphabet fits the bill. Disney has always been a massive force in the entertainment world, but some of its moves over the past few years have set the company up to dominate its rivals for many more years to come. First, consider the company's $4 billion purchase of Marvel Studios five years ago, which gave Disney ownership of one of thebiggest superhero franchisesto date. And don't forget Disney's acquisition of LucasFilm in 2012, which gave Disney ownership of Star Wars, enabling the company to not just benefit from the films, but alsoexpand its theme parks. Finally, Disney's purchase of Twenty-First Century Fox giveseven more video contentto the entertainment company. Building on all these purchases, Disney has moved into the video content streaming service business and recently debuted its new Disney+ service. The company will combine all its video offerings into the service, giving its customers a blend of Fox programming, Star Wars, Marvel, classic movies, and new shows that its competitors will have a hard time matching. All of which makes Disney an even bigger entertainment juggernaut than it was before. While all the companies listed above should make excellent long-term investments, it doesn't mean that there won't be some ups and downs with their share prices along the way. The key to benefiting from these companies is to take a look at their competitive advantages right now, stick with them through the share price dips, and occasionally assess your investment thesis in the companies to ensure that your original reason for buying them still makes sense. More From The Motley Fool • 10 Best Stocks to Buy Today • The $16,728 Social Security Bonus You Cannot Afford to Miss • 20 of the Top Stocks to Buy (Including the Two Every Investor Should Own) • What Is an ETF? • 5 Recession-Proof Stocks • How to Beat the Market John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Teresa Kersten, an employee of LinkedIn, a Microsoft subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors.Chris Neigerhas no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of Alphabet (A shares), Alphabet (C shares), Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft, and Walt Disney. The Motley Fool has adisclosure policy.
Marcus Hiles: The Top Cities to Work for Tech is Led by Those in Texas DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2019 /The tech industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in the US with nearly 700k open jobs across the nation today. With the growing need for new talent to support this expanding market that has new businesses being established regularly, there are more than just major cities who have long dominated the market tapping into it. A new report by online financial resource, SmartAsset, highlights where those top locations are in the United States for tech jobs in 2019. In their list of The Best American Cities to Work in Tech in 2019, the report highlights ten of the best places for tech professionals today using data based around several key employment and income factors. Information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Census Bureau's American Community Survey and the Council for Community and Economic Research was used to evaluate over 150 cities and uncover where tech professionals can be most successful. The report looked at each cities' average salary, average cost of living compared to the national rate, ratio of workforce in tech vs other industries, unemployment rates of college-educated residents and finally the rate of tech pay in the city vs overall. Using these indicators, the top 10 list highlighted three cities located in Texas; Template, San Antonio and Dallas. "The state's metroplexes of Dallas and San Antonio have been building out and planning their key role in the country's tech space with a focus on harboring new technology and spawning and acquiring the world's leading brands." shares Texas-based entrepreneur and property developerMarcus Hiles. With recognition granted to both cities for their growing position in the tech market, Dallas has become one of the leading locations where not only new businesses are being formed but also the city where companies from other areas are relocating to. For San Antonio, the city has focused in on big opportunities in the sub-industries of the technology space. Cyber security is one of the fastest growing markets in tech and by working to support and build out the infrastructure and workforce behind the market, the city has become one of today's national leaders. Leveraging strategic investments to both educate and train the next generation of cyber security professionals San Antonio is ultimately helping to drive more interest from businesses and the employees that work at them. "This understanding and reliance on tech for a means of creating a more stable state economy and attractive offering for investors, entrepreneurs and businesses has been demonstrated by these top Texas locations." adds Marcus Hiles. Texas also has many other allures driving both businesses and employees in, which the SmartAsset report reflects. Having a nationally low cost of living has created incentive for many professionals to come to the state in seek of employment opportunities. This ability to specialize in a global industry as strong as the technology sector has enabled both the cities mentioned in the report and the overall state to achieve a growth trajectory that will only continue to expand as tech becomes more predominant in our country's economic strategy. To learn more about business and development news visitmarcushiles-news.com. YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwrLIhyaB0p_0F1gWg4R7cA/videos Houzz:https://www.houzz.com/pro/marcushiles/marcus-hiles Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/marcus.hiles/ MEDIA CONTACT: Marcus Hilesmedia@marcushiles.net SOURCE:Marcus Hiles View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/550352/Marcus-Hiles-The-Top-Cities-to-Work-for-Tech-is-Led-by-Those-in-Texas
Apple says it doesn't track you, but apps on iPhone sure do Apple is less data hungry than Facebook, Google and Amazon and processes data on device instead of Cloud. But apps still track you on iPhone and iPad.
Is Otter Tail Corporation (OTTR) A Good Stock To Buy? Out of thousands of stocks that are currently traded on the market, it is difficult to identify those that will really generate strong returns. Hedge funds and institutional investors spend millions of dollars on analysts with MBAs and PhDs, who are industry experts and well connected to other industry and media insiders on top of that. Individual investors can piggyback the hedge funds employing these talents and can benefit from their vast resources and knowledge in that way. We analyze quarterly 13F filings of nearly 750 hedge funds and, by looking at the smart money sentiment that surrounds a stock, we can determine whether it has the potential to beat the market over the long-term. Therefore, let’s take a closer look at what smart money thinks about Otter Tail Corporation (NASDAQ:OTTR). Otter Tail Corporation (NASDAQ:OTTR)investors should be aware of a decrease in activity from the world's largest hedge funds recently.OTTRwas in 10 hedge funds' portfolios at the end of the first quarter of 2019. There were 12 hedge funds in our database with OTTR positions at the end of the previous quarter. Our calculations also showed that OTTR isn't among the30 most popular stocks among hedge funds. In the financial world there are a large number of tools investors have at their disposal to grade stocks. A pair of the most under-the-radar tools are hedge fund and insider trading indicators. We have shown that, historically, those who follow the top picks of the best fund managers can outperform the broader indices by a solid amount. Insider Monkey's flagship best performing hedge funds strategy returned 25.8% year to date (through May 30th) and outperformed the market even though it draws its stock picks among small-cap stocks. This strategy also outperformed the market by 40 percentage points since its inception (see the details here). That's why we believe hedge fund sentiment is a useful indicator that investors should pay attention to. Let's take a look at the recent hedge fund action encompassing Otter Tail Corporation (NASDAQ:OTTR). At the end of the first quarter, a total of 10 of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey were long this stock, a change of -17% from the previous quarter. The graph below displays the number of hedge funds with bullish position in OTTR over the last 15 quarters. So, let's find out which hedge funds were among the top holders of the stock and which hedge funds were making big moves. More specifically,Renaissance Technologieswas the largest shareholder of Otter Tail Corporation (NASDAQ:OTTR), with a stake worth $47 million reported as of the end of March. Trailing Renaissance Technologies was GAMCO Investors, which amassed a stake valued at $17.9 million. Shelter Harbor Advisors, Blue Mountain Capital, and Zebra Capital Management were also very fond of the stock, giving the stock large weights in their portfolios. Since Otter Tail Corporation (NASDAQ:OTTR) has experienced falling interest from hedge fund managers, we can see that there exists a select few money managers who sold off their entire stakes in the third quarter. Intriguingly, David Harding'sWinton Capital Managementdropped the biggest stake of all the hedgies tracked by Insider Monkey, totaling about $0.4 million in stock. Brandon Haley's fund,Holocene Advisors, also cut its stock, about $0.4 million worth. These transactions are interesting, as aggregate hedge fund interest fell by 2 funds in the third quarter. Let's now take a look at hedge fund activity in other stocks similar to Otter Tail Corporation (NASDAQ:OTTR). These stocks are Alamos Gold Inc (NYSE:AGI), United Community Banks Inc (NASDAQ:UCBI), Sanmina Corporation (NASDAQ:SANM), and G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. (NASDAQ:GIII). This group of stocks' market valuations match OTTR's market valuation. [table] Ticker, No of HFs with positions, Total Value of HF Positions (x1000), Change in HF Position AGI,12,136451,1 UCBI,15,54356,1 SANM,18,208755,3 GIII,18,150459,5 Average,15.75,137505,2.5 [/table] View table hereif you experience formatting issues. As you can see these stocks had an average of 15.75 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $138 million. That figure was $72 million in OTTR's case. Sanmina Corporation (NASDAQ:SANM) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand Alamos Gold Inc (NYSE:AGI) is the least popular one with only 12 bullish hedge fund positions. Compared to these stocks Otter Tail Corporation (NASDAQ:OTTR) is even less popular than AGI. Our calculations showed thattop 20 most popular stocksamong hedge funds returned 6.2% in Q2 through June 19th and outperformed the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) by nearly 3 percentage points. A small number of hedge funds were also right about betting on OTTR, though not to the same extent, as the stock returned 6% during the same time frame and outperformed the market as well. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published atInsider Monkey. Related Content • How to Best Use Insider Monkey To Increase Your Returns • Billionaire Ken Fisher’s Top Dividend Stock Picks • 30 Stocks Billionaires Are Crazy About: Insider Monkey Billionaire Stock Index
Hedge Funds Have Never Been This Bullish On Telefonica S.A. (TEF) Our extensive research has shown that imitating the smart money can generate significant returns for retail investors, which is why we track nearly 750 active prominent money managers and analyze their quarterly 13F filings. The stocks that are heavily bought by hedge funds historically outperformed the market, though there is no shortage of high profile failures like hedge funds' 2018 losses in Facebook and Apple. Let’s take a closer look at what the funds we track think about Telefonica S.A. (NYSE:TEF) in this article. IsTelefonica S.A. (NYSE:TEF)a buy, sell, or hold? Hedge funds are in an optimistic mood. The number of long hedge fund positions went up by 4 in recent months. Our calculations also showed that tef isn't among the30 most popular stocks among hedge funds.TEFwas in 10 hedge funds' portfolios at the end of March. There were 6 hedge funds in our database with TEF positions at the end of the previous quarter. Hedge funds' reputation as shrewd investors has been tarnished in the last decade as their hedged returns couldn't keep up with the unhedged returns of the market indices. Our research has shown that hedge funds' small-cap stock picks managed to beat the market by double digits annually between 1999 and 2016, but the margin of outperformance has been declining in recent years. Nevertheless, we were still able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that outperformed the market by 40 percentage points since May 2014 through May 30, 2019 (see the details here). We were also able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that underperformed the market by 10 percentage points annually between 2006 and 2017. Interestingly the margin of underperformance of these stocks has been increasing in recent years. Investors who are long the market and short these stocks would have returned more than 27% annually between 2015 and 2017. We have been tracking and sharing the list of these stocks since February 2017 in our quarterly newsletter. We're going to take a gander at the latest hedge fund action surrounding Telefonica S.A. (NYSE:TEF). At Q1's end, a total of 10 of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey were long this stock, a change of 67% from the fourth quarter of 2018. By comparison, 6 hedge funds held shares or bullish call options in TEF a year ago. So, let's examine which hedge funds were among the top holders of the stock and which hedge funds were making big moves. Among these funds,Arrowstreet Capitalheld the most valuable stake in Telefonica S.A. (NYSE:TEF), which was worth $30.2 million at the end of the first quarter. On the second spot was Citadel Investment Group which amassed $6.1 million worth of shares. Moreover, Balyasny Asset Management, Stevens Capital Management, and McKinley Capital Management were also bullish on Telefonica S.A. (NYSE:TEF), allocating a large percentage of their portfolios to this stock. As industrywide interest jumped, key hedge funds have been driving this bullishness.Balyasny Asset Management, managed by Dmitry Balyasny, assembled the most outsized position in Telefonica S.A. (NYSE:TEF). Balyasny Asset Management had $1 million invested in the company at the end of the quarter. Matthew Tewksbury'sStevens Capital Managementalso initiated a $0.8 million position during the quarter. The following funds were also among the new TEF investors: Michael Platt and William Reeves'sBlueCrest Capital Mgmt., Mike Vranos'sEllington, and Michael Gelband'sExodusPoint Capital. Let's also examine hedge fund activity in other stocks similar to Telefonica S.A. (NYSE:TEF). We will take a look at Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX), Intercontinental Exchange Inc (NYSE:ICE), Orange S.A. (NYSE:ORAN), and Workday Inc (NASDAQ:WDAY). This group of stocks' market valuations are closest to TEF's market valuation. [table] Ticker, No of HFs with positions, Total Value of HF Positions (x1000), Change in HF Position PSX,43,1601311,-4 ICE,35,1777571,-6 ORAN,2,1103,0 WDAY,33,1399695,2 Average,28.25,1194920,-2 [/table] View table hereif you experience formatting issues. As you can see these stocks had an average of 28.25 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $1195 million. That figure was $39 million in TEF's case. Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand Orange S.A. (NYSE:ORAN) is the least popular one with only 2 bullish hedge fund positions. Telefonica S.A. (NYSE:TEF) is not the least popular stock in this group but hedge fund interest is still below average. This is a slightly negative signal and we'd rather spend our time researching stocks that hedge funds are piling on. Our calculations showed thattop 20 most popular stocksamong hedge funds returned 6.2% in Q2 through June 19th and outperformed the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) by nearly 3 percentage points. Unfortunately TEF wasn't nearly as popular as these 20 stocks (hedge fund sentiment was quite bearish); TEF investors were disappointed as the stock returned 1.6% during the same time period and underperformed the market. If you are interested in investing in large cap stocks with huge upside potential, you should check out thetop 20 most popular stocksamong hedge funds as 13 of these stocks already outperformed the market so far in Q2. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published atInsider Monkey. Related Content • How to Best Use Insider Monkey To Increase Your Returns • Billionaire Ken Fisher’s Top Dividend Stock Picks • 30 Stocks Billionaires Are Crazy About: Insider Monkey Billionaire Stock Index
Here’s What Hedge Funds Think About Barclays PLC (BCS) It seems that the masses and most of the financial media hate hedge funds and what they do, but why is this hatred of hedge funds so prominent? At the end of the day, these asset management firms do not gamble the hard-earned money of the people who are on the edge of poverty. Truth be told, most hedge fund managers and other smaller players within this industry are very smart and skilled investors. Of course, they may also make wrong bets in some instances, but no one knows what the future holds and how market participants will react to the bountiful news that floods in each day. The Standard and Poor’s 500 Index returned approximately 12.1% in the first 5 months of this year (through May 30th). Conversely, hedge funds’ top 20 large-cap stock picks generated a return of 18.7% during the same 5-month period, with the majority of these stock picks outperforming the broader market benchmark. Coincidence? It might happen to be so, but it is unlikely. Our research covering the last 18 years indicates that hedge funds' stock picks generate superior risk-adjusted returns. That's why we believe it isn't a waste of time to check out hedge fund sentiment before you invest in a stock like Barclays PLC (NYSE:BCS). Barclays PLC (NYSE:BCS)shares haven't seen a lot of action during the first quarter. Overall, hedge fund sentiment was unchanged. The stock was in 10 hedge funds' portfolios at the end of the first quarter of 2019. The level and the change in hedge fund popularity aren't the only variables you need to analyze to decipher hedge funds' perspectives. A stock may witness a boost in popularity but it may still be less popular than similarly priced stocks. That's why at the end of this article we will examine companies such as Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK), Moody's Corporation (NYSE:MCO), and Eaton Corporation plc (NYSE:ETN) to gather more data points. In the financial world there are tons of tools shareholders have at their disposal to grade publicly traded companies. A pair of the most useful tools are hedge fund and insider trading signals. Our experts have shown that, historically, those who follow the best picks of the top fund managers can outclass the broader indices by a solid margin (see the details here). [caption id="attachment_30647" align="aligncenter" width="478"] Boykin Curry of Eagle Capital[/caption] We're going to take a gander at the latest hedge fund action encompassing Barclays PLC (NYSE:BCS). At the end of the first quarter, a total of 10 of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey were bullish on this stock, a change of 0% from the previous quarter. On the other hand, there were a total of 8 hedge funds with a bullish position in BCS a year ago. With hedge funds' capital changing hands, there exists a few key hedge fund managers who were boosting their stakes meaningfully (or already accumulated large positions). Among these funds,Eagle Capital Managementheld the most valuable stake in Barclays PLC (NYSE:BCS), which was worth $127.6 million at the end of the first quarter. On the second spot was Segantii Capital which amassed $13.3 million worth of shares. Moreover, Renaissance Technologies, Masters Capital Management, and Citadel Investment Group were also bullish on Barclays PLC (NYSE:BCS), allocating a large percentage of their portfolios to this stock. Since Barclays PLC (NYSE:BCS) has faced falling interest from the smart money, we can see that there lies a certain "tier" of hedgies that slashed their entire stakes in the third quarter. It's worth mentioning that David Costen Haley'sHBK Investmentsdumped the biggest stake of the 700 funds watched by Insider Monkey, valued at close to $3 million in stock. Matthew Hulsizer's fund,PEAK6 Capital Management, also sold off its stock, about $1 million worth. These moves are important to note, as total hedge fund interest stayed the same (this is a bearish signal in our experience). Let's check out hedge fund activity in other stocks similar to Barclays PLC (NYSE:BCS). These stocks are Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK), Moody's Corporation (NYSE:MCO), Eaton Corporation plc (NYSE:ETN), and Worldpay, Inc. (NYSE:WP). This group of stocks' market valuations are closest to BCS's market valuation. [table] Ticker, No of HFs with positions, Total Value of HF Positions (x1000), Change in HF Position ADSK,57,3695998,-2 MCO,34,6446374,2 ETN,39,684979,9 WP,75,5218167,27 Average,51.25,4011380,9 [/table] View table hereif you experience formatting issues. As you can see these stocks had an average of 51.25 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $4011 million. That figure was $161 million in BCS's case. Worldpay, Inc. (NYSE:WP) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand Moody's Corporation (NYSE:MCO) is the least popular one with only 34 bullish hedge fund positions. Compared to these stocks Barclays PLC (NYSE:BCS) is even less popular than MCO. Hedge funds dodged a bullet by taking a bearish stance towards BCS. Our calculations showed that the top 20 most popular hedge fund stocks returned 6.2% in Q2 through June 19th and outperformed the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) by nearly 3 percentage points. Unfortunately BCS wasn't nearly as popular as these 20 stocks (hedge fund sentiment was very bearish); BCS investors were disappointed as the stock returned -4.4% during the same time frame and underperformed the market. If you are interested in investing in large cap stocks with huge upside potential, you should check out thetop 20 most popular stocksamong hedge funds as 13 of these stocks already outperformed the market so far in the second quarter. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published atInsider Monkey. Related Content • How to Best Use Insider Monkey To Increase Your Returns • Billionaire Ken Fisher’s Top Dividend Stock Picks • 30 Stocks Billionaires Are Crazy About: Insider Monkey Billionaire Stock Index
Here’s What Hedge Funds Think About MPLX LP (MPLX) "Since 2006, value stocks (IVE vs IVW) have underperformed 11 of the 13 calendar years and when they beat growth, it wasn't by much. Cumulatively, through this week, it has been a 122% differential (up 52% for value vs up 174% for growth). This appears to be the longest and most severe drought for value investors since data collection began. It will go our way eventually as there are too many people paying far too much for today's darlings, both public and private. Further, the ten-year yield of 2.5% (pre-tax) isn't attractive nor is real estate. We believe the value part of the global equity market is the only place to earn solid risk adjusted returns and we believe those returns will be higher than normal," said Vilas Fund in itsQ1 investor letter. We aren't sure whether value stocks outperform growth, but we follow hedge fund investor letters to understand where the markets and stocks might be going. This article will lay out and discuss the hedge fund and institutional investor sentiment towards MPLX LP (NYSE:MPLX). IsMPLX LP (NYSE:MPLX)the right investment to pursue these days? Investors who are in the know are getting less optimistic. The number of bullish hedge fund bets dropped by 1 in recent months. Our calculations also showed that mplx isn't among the30 most popular stocks among hedge funds. Why do we pay any attention at all to hedge fund sentiment? Our research has shown that hedge funds' large-cap stock picks indeed failed to beat the market between 1999 and 2016. However, we were able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that outperformed the market by 40 percentage points since May 2014 through May 30, 2019 (see the details here). We were also able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that'll significantly underperform the market. We have been tracking and sharing the list of these stocks since February 2017 and they lost 30.9% through May 30, 2019. That's why we believe hedge fund sentiment is an extremely useful indicator that investors should pay attention to. [caption id="attachment_758454" align="aligncenter" width="450"] James Dondero of Highland Capital Management[/caption] Let's analyze the fresh hedge fund action surrounding MPLX LP (NYSE:MPLX). Heading into the second quarter of 2019, a total of 10 of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey held long positions in this stock, a change of -9% from the previous quarter. On the other hand, there were a total of 15 hedge funds with a bullish position in MPLX a year ago. With hedgies' capital changing hands, there exists a select group of noteworthy hedge fund managers who were adding to their stakes significantly (or already accumulated large positions). According to publicly available hedge fund and institutional investor holdings data compiled by Insider Monkey,Stockbridge Partners, managed by Sharlyn C. Heslam, holds the most valuable position in MPLX LP (NYSE:MPLX). Stockbridge Partners has a $229.8 million position in the stock, comprising 8.5% of its 13F portfolio. On Stockbridge Partners's heels isZimmer Partners, managed by Stuart J. Zimmer, which holds a $125.9 million position; 1.5% of its 13F portfolio is allocated to the company. Remaining members of the smart money with similar optimism contain James Dondero'sHighland Capital Management, David M. Knott'sDorset Managementand Kelly Hampaul'sEverett Capital Advisors. Because MPLX LP (NYSE:MPLX) has experienced falling interest from the aggregate hedge fund industry, it's safe to say that there was a specific group of money managers who were dropping their full holdings heading into Q3. At the top of the heap, Daniel Arbess'sPerella Weinberg Partnerssold off the largest investment of all the hedgies monitored by Insider Monkey, worth close to $7.4 million in call options, and Matthew Hulsizer's PEAK6 Capital Management was right behind this move, as the fund sold off about $5.3 million worth. These bearish behaviors are interesting, as aggregate hedge fund interest dropped by 1 funds heading into Q3. Let's now take a look at hedge fund activity in other stocks similar to MPLX LP (NYSE:MPLX). These stocks are Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW), NXP Semiconductors NV (NASDAQ:NXPI), Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG), and Pioneer Natural Resources Company (NYSE:PXD). This group of stocks' market valuations match MPLX's market valuation. [table] Ticker, No of HFs with positions, Total Value of HF Positions (x1000), Change in HF Position GLW,37,622563,7 NXPI,52,3358284,-20 RSG,30,595673,0 PXD,55,1686677,-7 Average,43.5,1565799,-5 [/table] View table hereif you experience formatting issues. As you can see these stocks had an average of 43.5 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $1566 million. That figure was $399 million in MPLX's case. Pioneer Natural Resources Company (NYSE:PXD) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG) is the least popular one with only 30 bullish hedge fund positions. Compared to these stocks MPLX LP (NYSE:MPLX) is even less popular than RSG. Hedge funds dodged a bullet by taking a bearish stance towards MPLX. Our calculations showed that the top 20 most popular hedge fund stocks returned 6.2% in Q2 through June 19th and outperformed the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) by nearly 3 percentage points. Unfortunately MPLX wasn't nearly as popular as these 20 stocks (hedge fund sentiment was very bearish); MPLX investors were disappointed as the stock returned -2.3% during the same time frame and underperformed the market. If you are interested in investing in large cap stocks with huge upside potential, you should check out thetop 20 most popular stocksamong hedge funds as 13 of these stocks already outperformed the market so far in the second quarter. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published atInsider Monkey. Related Content • How to Best Use Insider Monkey To Increase Your Returns • Billionaire Ken Fisher’s Top Dividend Stock Picks • 30 Stocks Billionaires Are Crazy About: Insider Monkey Billionaire Stock Index
Here’s What Hedge Funds Think About Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEP) At Insider Monkey we follow nearly 750 of the best-performing investors and even though many of them lost money in the last couple of months of 2018 (some actually delivered very strong returns), the history teaches us that over the long-run they still manage to beat the market, which is why it can be profitable for us to imitate their activity. Of course, even the best money managers can sometimes get it wrong, but following some of their picks gives us a better chance to outperform the crowd than picking a random stock and this is where our research comes in. Korea Electric Power Corporation (NYSE:KEP)has seen an increase in activity from the world's largest hedge funds lately.KEPwas in 10 hedge funds' portfolios at the end of March. There were 9 hedge funds in our database with KEP positions at the end of the previous quarter. Our calculations also showed that kep isn't among the30 most popular stocks among hedge funds. Today there are dozens of methods market participants can use to size up their holdings. A couple of the best methods are hedge fund and insider trading activity. Our researchers have shown that, historically, those who follow the best picks of the best fund managers can trounce the S&P 500 by a solid amount (see the details here). [caption id="attachment_745225" align="aligncenter" width="473"] Noam Gottesman, GLG Partners[/caption] Let's take a glance at the key hedge fund action surrounding Korea Electric Power Corporation (NYSE:KEP). At the end of the first quarter, a total of 10 of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey were long this stock, a change of 11% from the previous quarter. On the other hand, there were a total of 7 hedge funds with a bullish position in KEP a year ago. So, let's see which hedge funds were among the top holders of the stock and which hedge funds were making big moves. When looking at the institutional investors followed by Insider Monkey, William B. Gray'sOrbis Investment Managementhas the largest position in Korea Electric Power Corporation (NYSE:KEP), worth close to $20.3 million, accounting for 0.1% of its total 13F portfolio. The second most bullish fund manager is Ben Levine, Andrew Manuel and Stefan Renold ofLMR Partners, with a $8.6 million position; the fund has 0.4% of its 13F portfolio invested in the stock. Remaining peers that are bullish include Peter Rathjens, Bruce Clarke and John Campbell'sArrowstreet Capital, Noam Gottesman'sGLG Partnersand Ken Griffin'sCitadel Investment Group. As one would reasonably expect, some big names were breaking ground themselves.GLG Partners, managed by Noam Gottesman, created the most valuable position in Korea Electric Power Corporation (NYSE:KEP). GLG Partners had $0.7 million invested in the company at the end of the quarter. Ken Griffin'sCitadel Investment Groupalso initiated a $0.5 million position during the quarter. The other funds with brand new KEP positions are Michael Gelband'sExodusPoint Capital, Israel Englander'sMillennium Management, and Matthew Tewksbury'sStevens Capital Management. Let's check out hedge fund activity in other stocks - not necessarily in the same industry as Korea Electric Power Corporation (NYSE:KEP) but similarly valued. These stocks are Diamondback Energy Inc (NASDAQ:FANG), Tenaris S.A. (NYSE:TS), Liberty Broadband Corp (NASDAQ:LBRDK), and Liberty Broadband Corp (NASDAQ:LBRDA). This group of stocks' market caps are similar to KEP's market cap. [table] Ticker, No of HFs with positions, Total Value of HF Positions (x1000), Change in HF Position FANG,47,1854682,3 TS,15,775378,2 LBRDK,39,3313669,4 LBRDA,19,579556,0 Average,30,1630821,2.25 [/table] View table hereif you experience formatting issues. As you can see these stocks had an average of 30 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $1631 million. That figure was $38 million in KEP's case. Diamondback Energy Inc (NASDAQ:FANG) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand Tenaris S.A. (NYSE:TS) is the least popular one with only 15 bullish hedge fund positions. Compared to these stocks Korea Electric Power Corporation (NYSE:KEP) is even less popular than TS. Hedge funds dodged a bullet by taking a bearish stance towards KEP. Our calculations showed that the top 20 most popular hedge fund stocks returned 6.2% in Q2 through June 19th and outperformed the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) by nearly 3 percentage points. Unfortunately KEP wasn't nearly as popular as these 20 stocks (hedge fund sentiment was very bearish); KEP investors were disappointed as the stock returned -15.5% during the same time frame and underperformed the market. If you are interested in investing in large cap stocks with huge upside potential, you should check out thetop 20 most popular stocksamong hedge funds as 13 of these stocks already outperformed the market so far in the second quarter. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published atInsider Monkey. Related Content • How to Best Use Insider Monkey To Increase Your Returns • Billionaire Ken Fisher’s Top Dividend Stock Picks • 30 Stocks Billionaires Are Crazy About: Insider Monkey Billionaire Stock Index
Here’s What Hedge Funds Think About Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P. (MMP) We can judge whether Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P. (NYSE:MMP) is a good investment right now by following the lead of some of the best investors in the world and piggybacking their ideas. There's no better way to get these firms' immense resources and analytical capabilities working for us than to follow their lead into their best ideas. While not all of these picks will be winners, our research shows that these picks historically outperformed the market when we factor in known risk factors. Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P. (NYSE:MMP)was in 10 hedge funds' portfolios at the end of the first quarter of 2019. MMP investors should pay attention to a decrease in activity from the world's largest hedge funds in recent months. There were 12 hedge funds in our database with MMP holdings at the end of the previous quarter. Our calculations also showed that mmp isn't among the30 most popular stocks among hedge funds. In the financial world there are a large number of tools investors have at their disposal to grade stocks. A pair of the most under-the-radar tools are hedge fund and insider trading indicators. We have shown that, historically, those who follow the top picks of the best fund managers can outperform the broader indices by a solid amount. Insider Monkey's flagship best performing hedge funds strategy returned 25.8% year to date (through May 30th) and outperformed the market even though it draws its stock picks among small-cap stocks. This strategy also outperformed the market by 40 percentage points since its inception (see the details here). That's why we believe hedge fund sentiment is a useful indicator that investors should pay attention to. We're going to take a look at the fresh hedge fund action surrounding Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P. (NYSE:MMP). Heading into the second quarter of 2019, a total of 10 of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey held long positions in this stock, a change of -17% from the previous quarter. Below, you can check out the change in hedge fund sentiment towards MMP over the last 15 quarters. So, let's find out which hedge funds were among the top holders of the stock and which hedge funds were making big moves. The largest stake in Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P. (NYSE:MMP) was held byRenaissance Technologies, which reported holding $29.2 million worth of stock at the end of March. It was followed by Osterweis Capital Management with a $17.3 million position. Other investors bullish on the company included Citadel Investment Group, Soros Fund Management, and BP Capital. Seeing as Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P. (NYSE:MMP) has faced a decline in interest from the entirety of the hedge funds we track, it's easy to see that there exists a select few fund managers who were dropping their positions entirely heading into Q3. Interestingly, Daniel Arbess'sPerella Weinberg Partnerssaid goodbye to the largest position of all the hedgies watched by Insider Monkey, comprising an estimated $13.9 million in stock. Matthew Hulsizer's fund,PEAK6 Capital Management, also dumped its stock, about $0.2 million worth. These transactions are interesting, as aggregate hedge fund interest was cut by 2 funds heading into Q3. Let's now take a look at hedge fund activity in other stocks similar to Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P. (NYSE:MMP). We will take a look at Devon Energy Corp (NYSE:DVN), Copart, Inc. (NASDAQ:CPRT), Markel Corporation (NYSE:MKL), and CNH Industrial NV (NYSE:CNHI). All of these stocks' market caps match MMP's market cap. [table] Ticker, No of HFs with positions, Total Value of HF Positions (x1000), Change in HF Position DVN,40,1406115,-2 CPRT,24,252865,-4 MKL,23,1039316,-1 CNHI,23,406434,7 Average,27.5,776183,0 [/table] View table hereif you experience formatting issues. As you can see these stocks had an average of 27.5 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $776 million. That figure was $69 million in MMP's case. Devon Energy Corp (NYSE:DVN) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand Markel Corporation (NYSE:MKL) is the least popular one with only 23 bullish hedge fund positions. Compared to these stocks Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P. (NYSE:MMP) is even less popular than MKL. Hedge funds dodged a bullet by taking a bearish stance towards MMP. Our calculations showed that the top 20 most popular hedge fund stocks returned 6.2% in Q2 through June 19th and outperformed the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) by nearly 3 percentage points. Unfortunately MMP wasn't nearly as popular as these 20 stocks (hedge fund sentiment was very bearish); MMP investors were disappointed as the stock returned 3.6% during the same time frame and underperformed the market. If you are interested in investing in large cap stocks with huge upside potential, you should check out thetop 20 most popular stocksamong hedge funds as 13 of these stocks already outperformed the market so far in the second quarter. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published atInsider Monkey. Related Content • How to Best Use Insider Monkey To Increase Your Returns • Billionaire Ken Fisher’s Top Dividend Stock Picks • 30 Stocks Billionaires Are Crazy About: Insider Monkey Billionaire Stock Index
Is AEGON N.V. (AEG) A Good Stock To Buy? "The global economic environment is very favorable for investors. Economies are generally strong, but not too strong. Employment levels are among the strongest for many decades. Interest rates are paused at very low levels, and the risk of significant increases in the medium term seems low. Financing for transactions is freely available to good borrowers, but not in major excess. Covenants are lighter than they were five years ago, but the extreme excesses seen in the past do not seem prevalent yet today. Despite this apparent ‘goldilocks’ market environment, we continue to worry about a world where politics are polarized almost everywhere, interest rates are low globally, and equity valuations are at their peak," are the words ofBrookfield Asset Management. Brookfield was right about politics as stocks experienced their second worst May since the 1960s due to escalation of trade disputes. We pay attention to what hedge funds are doing in a particular stock before considering a potential investment because it works for us. So let’s take a glance at the smart money sentiment towards AEGON N.V. (NYSE:AEG) and see how it was affected. IsAEGON N.V. (NYSE:AEG)a buy, sell, or hold? The best stock pickers are in a pessimistic mood. The number of long hedge fund bets were cut by 1 recently. Our calculations also showed that aeg isn't among the30 most popular stocks among hedge funds. According to most shareholders, hedge funds are seen as underperforming, old financial tools of yesteryear. While there are over 8000 funds trading today, Our experts look at the crème de la crème of this group, approximately 750 funds. These money managers command bulk of the smart money's total asset base, and by shadowing their unrivaled investments, Insider Monkey has uncovered a few investment strategies that have historically surpassed the broader indices. Insider Monkey's flagship hedge fund strategy exceeded the S&P 500 index by around 5 percentage points annually since its inception in May 2014 through June 18th. We were able to generate large returns even by identifying short candidates. Our portfolio of short stocks lost 28.2% since February 2017 (through June 18th) even though the market was up nearly 30% during the same period. We just shared a list of 5 short targets in ourlatest quarterly updateand they are already down an average of 8.2% in a month whereas our long picks outperformed the market by 2.5 percentage points in this volatile 5 week period (our long picks also beat the market by 15 percentage points so far this year). [caption id="attachment_746830" align="aligncenter" width="473"] Matthew Hulsizer of PEAK6 Capital[/caption] Let's take a look at the key hedge fund action encompassing AEGON N.V. (NYSE:AEG). Heading into the second quarter of 2019, a total of 10 of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey held long positions in this stock, a change of -9% from one quarter earlier. The graph below displays the number of hedge funds with bullish position in AEG over the last 15 quarters. So, let's find out which hedge funds were among the top holders of the stock and which hedge funds were making big moves. According to Insider Monkey's hedge fund database,Arrowstreet Capital, managed by Peter Rathjens, Bruce Clarke and John Campbell, holds the number one position in AEGON N.V. (NYSE:AEG). Arrowstreet Capital has a $22.6 million position in the stock, comprising 0.1% of its 13F portfolio. The second most bullish fund manager is Ken Griffin ofCitadel Investment Group, with a $3.1 million position; the fund has less than 0.1%% of its 13F portfolio invested in the stock. Remaining hedge funds and institutional investors that are bullish comprise Jim Simons'sRenaissance Technologies, and Paul Marshall and Ian Wace'sMarshall Wace LLP. Judging by the fact that AEGON N.V. (NYSE:AEG) has faced bearish sentiment from the aggregate hedge fund industry, it's easy to see that there were a few money managers that slashed their entire stakes by the end of the third quarter. At the top of the heap, Simon Sadler'sSegantii Capitaldumped the biggest investment of the "upper crust" of funds watched by Insider Monkey, totaling an estimated $4.8 million in stock. Matthew Hulsizer's fund,PEAK6 Capital Management, also dropped its stock, about $0.2 million worth. These moves are interesting, as aggregate hedge fund interest dropped by 1 funds by the end of the third quarter. Let's now review hedge fund activity in other stocks similar to AEGON N.V. (NYSE:AEG). We will take a look at WestRock Company (NYSE:WRK), PagSeguro Digital Ltd. (NYSE:PAGS), 58.com Inc (NYSE:WUBA), and Spectra Energy Corp. (NYSE:SE). This group of stocks' market valuations resemble AEG's market valuation. [table] Ticker, No of HFs with positions, Total Value of HF Positions (x1000), Change in HF Position WRK,23,460835,-6 PAGS,30,1280413,6 WUBA,24,528862,1 SE,50,2178777,36 Average,31.75,1112222,9.25 [/table] View table hereif you experience formatting issues. As you can see these stocks had an average of 31.75 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $1112 million. That figure was $31 million in AEG's case. Spectra Energy Corp. (NYSE:SE) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand WestRock Company (NYSE:WRK) is the least popular one with only 23 bullish hedge fund positions. Compared to these stocks AEGON N.V. (NYSE:AEG) is even less popular than WRK. Our calculations showed thattop 20 most popular stocksamong hedge funds returned 6.2% in Q2 through June 19th and outperformed the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) by nearly 3 percentage points. A small number of hedge funds were also right about betting on AEG, though not to the same extent, as the stock returned 4.9% during the same time frame and outperformed the market as well. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published atInsider Monkey. Related Content • How to Best Use Insider Monkey To Increase Your Returns • Billionaire Ken Fisher’s Top Dividend Stock Picks • 30 Stocks Billionaires Are Crazy About: Insider Monkey Billionaire Stock Index
Here’s What Hedge Funds Think About News Corp (NWS) You probably know from experience that there is not as much information on small-cap companies as there is on large companies. Of course, this makes it really hard and difficult for individual investors to make proper and accurate analysis of certain small-cap companies. However, well-known and successful hedge fund managers like Jeff Ubben, George Soros and Seth Klarman hold the necessary resources and abilities to conduct an extensive stock analysis on small-cap stocks, which enable them to make millions of dollars by identifying potential winners within the small-cap galaxy of stocks. This represents the main reason why Insider Monkey takes notice of the hedge fund activity in these overlooked stocks. IsNews Corp (NASDAQ:NWS)a buy right now? Prominent investors are becoming less confident. The number of long hedge fund positions retreated by 3 recently. Our calculations also showed that nws isn't among the30 most popular stocks among hedge funds.NWSwas in 10 hedge funds' portfolios at the end of the first quarter of 2019. There were 13 hedge funds in our database with NWS holdings at the end of the previous quarter. In the 21st century investor’s toolkit there are several tools stock market investors use to grade their stock investments. A couple of the most useful tools are hedge fund and insider trading interest. We have shown that, historically, those who follow the top picks of the best hedge fund managers can outpace the S&P 500 by a superb amount (see the details here). Let's take a gander at the latest hedge fund action regarding News Corp (NASDAQ:NWS). At the end of the first quarter, a total of 10 of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey held long positions in this stock, a change of -23% from the fourth quarter of 2018. By comparison, 10 hedge funds held shares or bullish call options in NWS a year ago. So, let's review which hedge funds were among the top holders of the stock and which hedge funds were making big moves. Among these funds,CQS Cayman LPheld the most valuable stake in News Corp (NASDAQ:NWS), which was worth $9.8 million at the end of the first quarter. On the second spot was Tensile Capital which amassed $9.4 million worth of shares. Moreover, Renaissance Technologies, GAMCO Investors, and Citadel Investment Group were also bullish on News Corp (NASDAQ:NWS), allocating a large percentage of their portfolios to this stock. Judging by the fact that News Corp (NASDAQ:NWS) has experienced bearish sentiment from the entirety of the hedge funds we track, it's easy to see that there was a specific group of hedgies who sold off their positions entirely by the end of the third quarter. Interestingly, Charles de Vaulx'sInternational Value Adviserssold off the biggest investment of the 700 funds followed by Insider Monkey, comprising about $43.6 million in stock. Richard S. Pzena's fund,Pzena Investment Management, also dumped its stock, about $1.9 million worth. These transactions are important to note, as aggregate hedge fund interest fell by 3 funds by the end of the third quarter. Let's also examine hedge fund activity in other stocks similar to News Corp (NASDAQ:NWS). We will take a look at The Toro Company (NYSE:TTC), TIM Participacoes SA (NYSE:TSU), Voya Financial Inc (NYSE:VOYA), and AMERCO (NASDAQ:UHAL). All of these stocks' market caps are closest to NWS's market cap. [table] Ticker, No of HFs with positions, Total Value of HF Positions (x1000), Change in HF Position TTC,16,577386,-5 TSU,16,341506,2 VOYA,45,1331987,7 UHAL,12,390787,5 Average,22.25,660417,2.25 [/table] View table hereif you experience formatting issues. As you can see these stocks had an average of 22.25 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $660 million. That figure was $36 million in NWS's case. Voya Financial Inc (NYSE:VOYA) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand AMERCO (NASDAQ:UHAL) is the least popular one with only 12 bullish hedge fund positions. Compared to these stocks News Corp (NASDAQ:NWS) is even less popular than UHAL. Hedge funds clearly dropped the ball on NWS as the stock delivered strong returns, though hedge funds' consensus picks still generated respectable returns. Our calculations showed thattop 20 most popular stocksamong hedge funds returned 6.2% in Q2 through June 19th and outperformed the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) by nearly 3 percentage points. A small number of hedge funds were also right about betting on NWS as the stock returned 9.8% during the same period and outperformed the market by an even larger margin. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published atInsider Monkey. Related Content • How to Best Use Insider Monkey To Increase Your Returns • Billionaire Ken Fisher’s Top Dividend Stock Picks • 30 Stocks Billionaires Are Crazy About: Insider Monkey Billionaire Stock Index
Were Hedge Funds Right About Flocking Into Tilray, Inc. (TLRY) ? The first quarter was a breeze as Powell pivoted, and China seemed eager to reach a deal with Trump. Both the S&P 500 and Russell 2000 delivered very strong gains as a result, with the Russell 2000, which is composed of smaller companies, outperforming the large-cap stocks slightly during the first quarter. Unfortunately sentiment shifted in May as this time China pivoted and Trump put more pressure on China by increasing tariffs. Hedge funds' top 20 stock picks performed spectacularly in this volatile environment. These stocks delivered a total gain of 18.7% through May 30th, vs. a gain of 12.1% for the S&P 500 ETF. In this article we will look at how this market volatility affected the sentiment of hedge funds towards Tilray, Inc. (NASDAQ:TLRY), and what that likely means for the prospects of the company and its stock. Tilray, Inc. (NASDAQ:TLRY)was in 10 hedge funds' portfolios at the end of March. TLRY investors should be aware of an increase in enthusiasm from smart money of late. There were 8 hedge funds in our database with TLRY positions at the end of the previous quarter. Our calculations also showed that tlry isn't among the30 most popular stocks among hedge funds. Hedge funds' reputation as shrewd investors has been tarnished in the last decade as their hedged returns couldn't keep up with the unhedged returns of the market indices. Our research has shown that hedge funds' large-cap stock picks indeed failed to beat the market between 1999 and 2016. However, we were able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that outperformed the market by 40 percentage points since May 2014 through May 30, 2019 (see the details here). We were also able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that'll significantly underperform the market. We have been tracking and sharing the list of these stocks since February 2017 and they lost 30.9% through May 30, 2019. That's why we believe hedge fund sentiment is an extremely useful indicator that investors should pay attention to. [caption id="attachment_746830" align="aligncenter" width="473"] Matthew Hulsizer of PEAK6 Capital[/caption] We're going to take a glance at the key hedge fund action encompassing Tilray, Inc. (NASDAQ:TLRY). At the end of the first quarter, a total of 10 of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey were bullish on this stock, a change of 25% from the fourth quarter of 2018. Below, you can check out the change in hedge fund sentiment towards TLRY over the last 15 quarters. So, let's examine which hedge funds were among the top holders of the stock and which hedge funds were making big moves. According to publicly available hedge fund and institutional investor holdings data compiled by Insider Monkey,Citadel Investment Group, managed by Ken Griffin, holds the largest position in Tilray, Inc. (NASDAQ:TLRY). Citadel Investment Group has a $66.1 million call position in the stock, comprising less than 0.1%% of its 13F portfolio. Coming in second isNewtyn Management, led by Noah Levy and Eugene Dozortsev, holding a $8.2 million position; the fund has 1.5% of its 13F portfolio invested in the stock. Some other members of the smart money with similar optimism comprise Daniel S. Och'sOZ Management, William C. Martin'sRaging Capital Managementand Matthew Hulsizer'sPEAK6 Capital Management. As one would reasonably expect, specific money managers were leading the bulls' herd.OZ Management, managed by Daniel S. Och, established the most valuable position in Tilray, Inc. (NASDAQ:TLRY). OZ Management had $3.9 million invested in the company at the end of the quarter. William C. Martin'sRaging Capital Managementalso initiated a $3.3 million position during the quarter. The other funds with brand new TLRY positions are Matthew Hulsizer'sPEAK6 Capital Management, Matthew Tewksbury'sStevens Capital Management, and Noam Gottesman'sGLG Partners. Let's now review hedge fund activity in other stocks similar to Tilray, Inc. (NASDAQ:TLRY). We will take a look at Old Republic International Corporation (NYSE:ORI), Integrated Device Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:IDTI), Aluminum Corp. of China Limited (NYSE:ACH), and GrubHub Inc (NYSE:GRUB). This group of stocks' market caps resemble TLRY's market cap. [table] Ticker, No of HFs with positions, Total Value of HF Positions (x1000), Change in HF Position ORI,19,432254,-4 IDTI,29,1393513,-6 ACH,4,5548,0 GRUB,32,742868,9 Average,21,643546,-0.25 [/table] View table hereif you experience formatting issues. As you can see these stocks had an average of 21 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $644 million. That figure was $22 million in TLRY's case. GrubHub Inc (NYSE:GRUB) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand Aluminum Corp. of China Limited (NYSE:ACH) is the least popular one with only 4 bullish hedge fund positions. Tilray, Inc. (NASDAQ:TLRY) is not the least popular stock in this group but hedge fund interest is still below average. This is a slightly negative signal and we'd rather spend our time researching stocks that hedge funds are piling on. Our calculations showed thattop 20 most popular stocksamong hedge funds returned 6.2% in Q2 through June 19th and outperformed the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) by nearly 3 percentage points. Unfortunately TLRY wasn't nearly as popular as these 20 stocks (hedge fund sentiment was quite bearish); TLRY investors were disappointed as the stock returned -30.6% during the same time period and underperformed the market. If you are interested in investing in large cap stocks with huge upside potential, you should check out thetop 20 most popular stocksamong hedge funds as 13 of these stocks already outperformed the market so far in Q2. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published atInsider Monkey. Related Content • How to Best Use Insider Monkey To Increase Your Returns • Billionaire Ken Fisher’s Top Dividend Stock Picks • 30 Stocks Billionaires Are Crazy About: Insider Monkey Billionaire Stock Index
Did Hedge Funds Drop The Ball On CAE, Inc. (CAE) ? At Insider Monkey, we pore over the filings of nearly 750 top investment firms every quarter, a process we have now completed for the latest reporting period. The data we've gathered as a result gives us access to a wealth of collective knowledge based on these firms' portfolio holdings as of March 31. In this article, we will use that wealth of knowledge to determine whether or not CAE, Inc. (NYSE:CAE) makes for a good investment right now. CAE, Inc. (NYSE:CAE)was in 10 hedge funds' portfolios at the end of the first quarter of 2019. CAE shareholders have witnessed an increase in support from the world's most elite money managers lately. There were 9 hedge funds in our database with CAE holdings at the end of the previous quarter. Our calculations also showed that cae isn't among the30 most popular stocks among hedge funds. Hedge funds' reputation as shrewd investors has been tarnished in the last decade as their hedged returns couldn't keep up with the unhedged returns of the market indices. Our research has shown that hedge funds' small-cap stock picks managed to beat the market by double digits annually between 1999 and 2016, but the margin of outperformance has been declining in recent years. Nevertheless, we were still able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that outperformed the market by 40 percentage points since May 2014 through May 30, 2019 (see the details here). We were also able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that underperformed the market by 10 percentage points annually between 2006 and 2017. Interestingly the margin of underperformance of these stocks has been increasing in recent years. Investors who are long the market and short these stocks would have returned more than 27% annually between 2015 and 2017. We have been tracking and sharing the list of these stocks since February 2017 in our quarterly newsletter. [caption id="attachment_745225" align="aligncenter" width="473"] Noam Gottesman, GLG Partners[/caption] Let's take a gander at the fresh hedge fund action regarding CAE, Inc. (NYSE:CAE). At Q1's end, a total of 10 of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey were bullish on this stock, a change of 11% from the fourth quarter of 2018. On the other hand, there were a total of 8 hedge funds with a bullish position in CAE a year ago. So, let's find out which hedge funds were among the top holders of the stock and which hedge funds were making big moves. The largest stake in CAE, Inc. (NYSE:CAE) was held byRenaissance Technologies, which reported holding $45.9 million worth of stock at the end of March. It was followed by Arrowstreet Capital with a $16.8 million position. Other investors bullish on the company included D E Shaw, GLG Partners, and Two Sigma Advisors. As aggregate interest increased, key money managers have jumped into CAE, Inc. (NYSE:CAE) headfirst.Sandler Capital Management, managed by Andrew Sandler, created the most outsized position in CAE, Inc. (NYSE:CAE). Sandler Capital Management had $8 million invested in the company at the end of the quarter. Gavin Saitowitz and Cisco J. del Valle'sSpringbok Capitalalso initiated a $0 million position during the quarter. Let's check out hedge fund activity in other stocks - not necessarily in the same industry as CAE, Inc. (NYSE:CAE) but similarly valued. These stocks are GCI Liberty, Inc. (NASDAQ:GLIBA), Hexcel Corporation (NYSE:HXL), XPO Logistics Inc (NYSE:XPO), and National Instruments Corporation (NASDAQ:NATI). This group of stocks' market valuations resemble CAE's market valuation. [table] Ticker, No of HFs with positions, Total Value of HF Positions (x1000), Change in HF Position GLIBA,36,1903190,-1 HXL,25,176354,2 XPO,26,2005525,-18 NATI,28,604817,-1 Average,28.75,1172472,-4.5 [/table] View table hereif you experience formatting issues. As you can see these stocks had an average of 28.75 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $1172 million. That figure was $118 million in CAE's case. GCI Liberty, Inc. (NASDAQ:GLIBA) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand Hexcel Corporation (NYSE:HXL) is the least popular one with only 25 bullish hedge fund positions. Compared to these stocks CAE, Inc. (NYSE:CAE) is even less popular than HXL. Hedge funds clearly dropped the ball on CAE as the stock delivered strong returns, though hedge funds' consensus picks still generated respectable returns. Our calculations showed thattop 20 most popular stocksamong hedge funds returned 6.2% in Q2 through June 19th and outperformed the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) by nearly 3 percentage points. A small number of hedge funds were also right about betting on CAE as the stock returned 19.8% during the same period and outperformed the market by an even larger margin. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published atInsider Monkey. Related Content • How to Best Use Insider Monkey To Increase Your Returns • Billionaire Ken Fisher’s Top Dividend Stock Picks • 30 Stocks Billionaires Are Crazy About: Insider Monkey Billionaire Stock Index
Hedge Funds Have Never Been This Bullish On Fanhua Inc. (FANH) We at Insider Monkey have gone over 738 13F filings that hedge funds and prominent investors are required to file by the SEC The 13F filings show the funds' and investors' portfolio positions as of March 31st. In this article, we look at what those funds think of Fanhua Inc. (NASDAQ:FANH) based on that data. IsFanhua Inc. (NASDAQ:FANH)the right pick for your portfolio? The smart money is taking a bullish view. The number of long hedge fund positions inched up by 1 recently. Our calculations also showed that FANH isn't among the30 most popular stocks among hedge funds.FANHwas in 10 hedge funds' portfolios at the end of the first quarter of 2019. There were 9 hedge funds in our database with FANH holdings at the end of the previous quarter. So, why do we pay attention to hedge fund sentiment before making any investment decisions? Our research has shown that hedge funds' small-cap stock picks managed to beat the market by double digits annually between 1999 and 2016, but the margin of outperformance has been declining in recent years. Nevertheless, we were still able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that outperformed the market by 40 percentage points since May 2014 through May 30, 2019 (see the details here). We were also able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that underperformed the market by 10 percentage points annually between 2006 and 2017. Interestingly the margin of underperformance of these stocks has been increasing in recent years. Investors who are long the market and short these stocks would have returned more than 27% annually between 2015 and 2017. We have been tracking and sharing the list of these stocks since February 2017 in our quarterly newsletter. Even if you aren't comfortable with shorting stocks, you should at least avoid initiating long positions in our short portfolio. [caption id="attachment_30621" align="aligncenter" width="487"] Cliff Asness of AQR Capital Management[/caption] Let's check out the new hedge fund action encompassing Fanhua Inc. (NASDAQ:FANH). At Q1's end, a total of 10 of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey held long positions in this stock, a change of 11% from the fourth quarter of 2018. Below, you can check out the change in hedge fund sentiment towards FANH over the last 15 quarters. So, let's review which hedge funds were among the top holders of the stock and which hedge funds were making big moves. According to Insider Monkey's hedge fund database, Peter Rathjens, Bruce Clarke and John Campbell'sArrowstreet Capitalhas the largest position in Fanhua Inc. (NASDAQ:FANH), worth close to $7.2 million, amounting to less than 0.1%% of its total 13F portfolio. The second largest stake is held byMillennium Management, led by Israel Englander, holding a $3.5 million position; less than 0.1%% of its 13F portfolio is allocated to the company. Other members of the smart money with similar optimism include Cliff Asness'sAQR Capital Management, Jim Simons'sRenaissance Technologiesand David Harding'sWinton Capital Management. As industrywide interest jumped, some big names have been driving this bullishness.Stevens Capital Management, managed by Matthew Tewksbury, established the largest position in Fanhua Inc. (NASDAQ:FANH). Stevens Capital Management had $0.4 million invested in the company at the end of the quarter. Minhua Zhang'sWeld Capital Managementalso initiated a $0.3 million position during the quarter. The other funds with new positions in the stock are Ken Griffin'sCitadel Investment Groupand Simon Sadler'sSegantii Capital. Let's also examine hedge fund activity in other stocks - not necessarily in the same industry as Fanhua Inc. (NASDAQ:FANH) but similarly valued. These stocks are Meritage Homes Corp (NYSE:MTH), Hilltop Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HTH), Delphi Technologies PLC (NYSE:DLPH), and Core-Mark Holding Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:CORE). This group of stocks' market values resemble FANH's market value. [table] Ticker, No of HFs with positions, Total Value of HF Positions (x1000), Change in HF Position MTH,14,177350,1 HTH,19,123299,5 DLPH,24,274206,6 CORE,24,76068,4 Average,20.25,162731,4 [/table] View table hereif you experience formatting issues. As you can see these stocks had an average of 20.25 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $163 million. That figure was $15 million in FANH's case. Delphi Technologies PLC (NYSE:DLPH) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand Meritage Homes Corp (NYSE:MTH) is the least popular one with only 14 bullish hedge fund positions. Compared to these stocks Fanhua Inc. (NASDAQ:FANH) is even less popular than MTH. Hedge funds clearly dropped the ball on FANH as the stock delivered strong returns, though hedge funds' consensus picks still generated respectable returns. Our calculations showed thattop 20 most popular stocksamong hedge funds returned 6.2% in Q2 through June 19th and outperformed the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) by nearly 3 percentage points. A small number of hedge funds were also right about betting on FANH as the stock returned 21.2% during the same period and outperformed the market by an even larger margin. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published atInsider Monkey. Related Content • How to Best Use Insider Monkey To Increase Your Returns • Billionaire Ken Fisher’s Top Dividend Stock Picks • 30 Stocks Billionaires Are Crazy About: Insider Monkey Billionaire Stock Index
Here’s What Hedge Funds Think About Leggett & Platt, Inc. (LEG) After several tireless days we have finished crunching the numbers from nearly 750 13F filings issued by the elite hedge funds and other investment firms that we track at Insider Monkey, which disclosed those firms' equity portfolios as of March 31. The results of that effort will be put on display in this article, as we share valuable insight into the smart money sentiment towards Leggett & Platt, Inc. (NYSE:LEG). Leggett & Platt, Inc. (NYSE:LEG)was in 10 hedge funds' portfolios at the end of the first quarter of 2019. LEG investors should be aware of an increase in activity from the world's largest hedge funds in recent months. There were 9 hedge funds in our database with LEG holdings at the end of the previous quarter. Our calculations also showed that leg isn't among the30 most popular stocks among hedge funds. In the financial world there are a large number of tools investors have at their disposal to grade stocks. A pair of the most under-the-radar tools are hedge fund and insider trading indicators. We have shown that, historically, those who follow the top picks of the best fund managers can outperform the broader indices by a solid amount. Insider Monkey's flagship best performing hedge funds strategy returned 25.8% year to date (through May 30th) and outperformed the market even though it draws its stock picks among small-cap stocks. This strategy also outperformed the market by 40 percentage points since its inception (see the details here). That's why we believe hedge fund sentiment is a useful indicator that investors should pay attention to. Let's take a look at the key hedge fund action regarding Leggett & Platt, Inc. (NYSE:LEG). At the end of the first quarter, a total of 10 of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey were long this stock, a change of 11% from the previous quarter. Below, you can check out the change in hedge fund sentiment towards LEG over the last 15 quarters. So, let's find out which hedge funds were among the top holders of the stock and which hedge funds were making big moves. According to Insider Monkey's hedge fund database, Joel Greenblatt'sGotham Asset Managementhas the largest position in Leggett & Platt, Inc. (NYSE:LEG), worth close to $11.2 million, accounting for 0.2% of its total 13F portfolio. The second largest stake is held by Noam Gottesman ofGLG Partners, with a $4.4 million position; less than 0.1%% of its 13F portfolio is allocated to the stock. Other professional money managers that are bullish encompass Ken Griffin'sCitadel Investment Group, Jeffrey Talpins'sElement Capital Managementand Matthew Hulsizer'sPEAK6 Capital Management. As aggregate interest increased, key money managers have been driving this bullishness.Element Capital Management, managed by Jeffrey Talpins, established the most outsized position in Leggett & Platt, Inc. (NYSE:LEG). Element Capital Management had $2.8 million invested in the company at the end of the quarter. Matthew Tewksbury'sStevens Capital Managementalso made a $1.7 million investment in the stock during the quarter. The following funds were also among the new LEG investors: Israel Englander'sMillennium Managementand Michael Gelband'sExodusPoint Capital. Let's now take a look at hedge fund activity in other stocks - not necessarily in the same industry as Leggett & Platt, Inc. (NYSE:LEG) but similarly valued. We will take a look at Equitrans Midstream Corporation (NYSE:ETRN), WPX Energy Inc (NYSE:WPX), Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. (NYSE:AQN), and Grand Canyon Education Inc (NASDAQ:LOPE). All of these stocks' market caps match LEG's market cap. [table] Ticker, No of HFs with positions, Total Value of HF Positions (x1000), Change in HF Position ETRN,19,559560,-9 WPX,42,794081,-4 AQN,12,54770,3 LOPE,26,151266,5 Average,24.75,389919,-1.25 [/table] View table hereif you experience formatting issues. As you can see these stocks had an average of 24.75 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $390 million. That figure was $28 million in LEG's case. WPX Energy Inc (NYSE:WPX) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. (NYSE:AQN) is the least popular one with only 12 bullish hedge fund positions. Compared to these stocks Leggett & Platt, Inc. (NYSE:LEG) is even less popular than AQN. Hedge funds dodged a bullet by taking a bearish stance towards LEG. Our calculations showed that the top 20 most popular hedge fund stocks returned 6.2% in Q2 through June 19th and outperformed the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) by nearly 3 percentage points. Unfortunately LEG wasn't nearly as popular as these 20 stocks (hedge fund sentiment was very bearish); LEG investors were disappointed as the stock returned -8.6% during the same time frame and underperformed the market. If you are interested in investing in large cap stocks with huge upside potential, you should check out thetop 20 most popular stocksamong hedge funds as 13 of these stocks already outperformed the market so far in the second quarter. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published atInsider Monkey. Related Content • How to Best Use Insider Monkey To Increase Your Returns • Billionaire Ken Fisher’s Top Dividend Stock Picks • 30 Stocks Billionaires Are Crazy About: Insider Monkey Billionaire Stock Index
Did Hedge Funds Drop The Ball On BRF S.A. (BRFS) ? Amid an overall bull market, many stocks that smart money investors were collectively bullish on surged during the first quarter. Among them, Facebook and Microsoft ranked among the top 3 picks and these stocks gained 40% and 25% respectively. Our research shows that most of the stocks that smart money likes historically generate strong risk-adjusted returns. That's why we weren't surprised when hedge funds’ top 20 large-cap stock picks generated a return of 18.7% during the first 5 months of 2019 and outperformed the broader market benchmark by 6.6 percentage points.This is why following the smart money sentiment is a useful tool at identifying the next stock to invest in. BRF S.A. (NYSE:BRFS)investors should be aware of an increase in hedge fund sentiment of late.BRFSwas in 10 hedge funds' portfolios at the end of the first quarter of 2019. There were 9 hedge funds in our database with BRFS holdings at the end of the previous quarter. Our calculations also showed that brfs isn't among the30 most popular stocks among hedge funds. Hedge funds' reputation as shrewd investors has been tarnished in the last decade as their hedged returns couldn't keep up with the unhedged returns of the market indices. Our research has shown that hedge funds' small-cap stock picks managed to beat the market by double digits annually between 1999 and 2016, but the margin of outperformance has been declining in recent years. Nevertheless, we were still able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that outperformed the market by 40 percentage points since May 2014 through May 30, 2019 (see the details here). We were also able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that underperformed the market by 10 percentage points annually between 2006 and 2017. Interestingly the margin of underperformance of these stocks has been increasing in recent years. Investors who are long the market and short these stocks would have returned more than 27% annually between 2015 and 2017. We have been tracking and sharing the list of these stocks since February 2017 in our quarterly newsletter. We're going to take a glance at the recent hedge fund action regarding BRF S.A. (NYSE:BRFS). Heading into the second quarter of 2019, a total of 10 of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey were long this stock, a change of 11% from the previous quarter. The graph below displays the number of hedge funds with bullish position in BRFS over the last 15 quarters. So, let's find out which hedge funds were among the top holders of the stock and which hedge funds were making big moves. Among these funds,Oaktree Capital Managementheld the most valuable stake in BRF S.A. (NYSE:BRFS), which was worth $34.8 million at the end of the first quarter. On the second spot was QVT Financial which amassed $8.2 million worth of shares. Moreover, Point72 Asset Management, HBK Investments, and Millennium Management were also bullish on BRF S.A. (NYSE:BRFS), allocating a large percentage of their portfolios to this stock. As aggregate interest increased, key hedge funds have jumped into BRF S.A. (NYSE:BRFS) headfirst.Point72 Asset Management, managed by Steve Cohen, established the most valuable position in BRF S.A. (NYSE:BRFS). Point72 Asset Management had $4.3 million invested in the company at the end of the quarter. Israel Englander'sMillennium Managementalso initiated a $1.3 million position during the quarter. The only other fund with a brand new BRFS position is Cliff Asness'sAQR Capital Management. Let's now take a look at hedge fund activity in other stocks similar to BRF S.A. (NYSE:BRFS). We will take a look at Paylocity Holding Corp (NASDAQ:PCTY), Casey's General Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:CASY), BWX Technologies Inc (NYSE:BWXT), and Avnet, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVT). This group of stocks' market valuations are closest to BRFS's market valuation. [table] Ticker, No of HFs with positions, Total Value of HF Positions (x1000), Change in HF Position PCTY,24,148784,10 CASY,18,51288,0 BWXT,18,107854,-1 AVT,17,586463,-7 Average,19.25,223597,0.5 [/table] View table hereif you experience formatting issues. As you can see these stocks had an average of 19.25 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $224 million. That figure was $54 million in BRFS's case. Paylocity Holding Corp (NASDAQ:PCTY) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand Avnet, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVT) is the least popular one with only 17 bullish hedge fund positions. Compared to these stocks BRF S.A. (NYSE:BRFS) is even less popular than AVT. Hedge funds clearly dropped the ball on BRFS as the stock delivered strong returns, though hedge funds' consensus picks still generated respectable returns. Our calculations showed thattop 20 most popular stocksamong hedge funds returned 6.2% in Q2 through June 19th and outperformed the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) by nearly 3 percentage points. A small number of hedge funds were also right about betting on BRFS as the stock returned 25.8% during the same period and outperformed the market by an even larger margin. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published atInsider Monkey. Related Content • How to Best Use Insider Monkey To Increase Your Returns • Billionaire Ken Fisher’s Top Dividend Stock Picks • 30 Stocks Billionaires Are Crazy About: Insider Monkey Billionaire Stock Index
Here’s What Hedge Funds Think About Virtusa Corporation (VRTU) Investing in hedge funds can bring large profits, but it’s not for everybody, since hedge funds are available only for high-net-worth individuals. They generate significant returns for investors to justify their large fees and they allocate a lot of time and employ a complex analysis to determine the best stocks to invest in. A particularly interesting group of stocks that hedge funds like is the small-caps. The huge amount of capital does not allow hedge funds to invest a lot in small-caps, but our research showed that their most popular small-cap ideas are less efficiently priced and generate stronger returns than their large- and mega-cap picks and the broader market. That is why we pay special attention to the hedge fund activity in the small-cap space. IsVirtusa Corporation (NASDAQ:VRTU)the right investment to pursue these days? The best stock pickers are turning less bullish. The number of bullish hedge fund positions retreated by 4 recently. Our calculations also showed that VRTU isn't among the30 most popular stocks among hedge funds. According to most investors, hedge funds are perceived as slow, outdated investment tools of yesteryear. While there are greater than 8000 funds trading today, Our experts choose to focus on the moguls of this club, approximately 750 funds. Most estimates calculate that this group of people oversee the majority of all hedge funds' total capital, and by observing their first-class equity investments, Insider Monkey has uncovered various investment strategies that have historically outpaced the market. Insider Monkey's flagship hedge fund strategy beat the S&P 500 index by around 5 percentage points annually since its inception in May 2014 through June 18th. We were able to generate large returns even by identifying short candidates. Our portfolio of short stocks lost 28.2% since February 2017 (through June 18th) even though the market was up nearly 30% during the same period. We just shared a list of 5 short targets in ourlatest quarterly updateand they are already down an average of 8.2% in a month whereas our long picks outperformed the market by 2.5 percentage points in this volatile 5 week period (our long picks also beat the market by 15 percentage points so far this year). We're going to review the latest hedge fund action surrounding Virtusa Corporation (NASDAQ:VRTU). At the end of the first quarter, a total of 10 of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey were long this stock, a change of -29% from one quarter earlier. By comparison, 18 hedge funds held shares or bullish call options in VRTU a year ago. With hedgies' capital changing hands, there exists a few notable hedge fund managers who were upping their stakes significantly (or already accumulated large positions). The largest stake in Virtusa Corporation (NASDAQ:VRTU) was held byRenaissance Technologies, which reported holding $25.4 million worth of stock at the end of March. It was followed by Portolan Capital Management with a $12.9 million position. Other investors bullish on the company included Driehaus Capital, Marshall Wace LLP, and P.A.W. CAPITAL PARTNERS. Seeing as Virtusa Corporation (NASDAQ:VRTU) has experienced bearish sentiment from the aggregate hedge fund industry, it's safe to say that there lies a certain "tier" of fund managers that elected to cut their entire stakes last quarter. Interestingly, David Costen Haley'sHBK Investmentscut the biggest investment of the "upper crust" of funds watched by Insider Monkey, worth an estimated $0.7 million in stock, and Paul Tudor Jones's Tudor Investment Corp was right behind this move, as the fund dropped about $0.3 million worth. These transactions are interesting, as aggregate hedge fund interest was cut by 4 funds last quarter. Let's also examine hedge fund activity in other stocks similar to Virtusa Corporation (NASDAQ:VRTU). We will take a look at B&G Foods, Inc. (NYSE:BGS), PROS Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:PRO), TIER REIT, Inc. (NYSE:TIER), and Knowles Corp (NYSE:KN). This group of stocks' market values match VRTU's market value. [table] Ticker, No of HFs with positions, Total Value of HF Positions (x1000), Change in HF Position BGS,19,195714,9 PRO,19,159084,4 TIER,12,127254,5 KN,17,223503,-7 Average,16.75,176389,2.75 [/table] View table hereif you experience formatting issues. As you can see these stocks had an average of 16.75 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $176 million. That figure was $63 million in VRTU's case. B&G Foods, Inc. (NYSE:BGS) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand TIER REIT, Inc. (NYSE:TIER) is the least popular one with only 12 bullish hedge fund positions. Compared to these stocks Virtusa Corporation (NASDAQ:VRTU) is even less popular than TIER. Hedge funds dodged a bullet by taking a bearish stance towards VRTU. Our calculations showed that the top 20 most popular hedge fund stocks returned 6.2% in Q2 through June 19th and outperformed the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) by nearly 3 percentage points. Unfortunately VRTU wasn't nearly as popular as these 20 stocks (hedge fund sentiment was very bearish); VRTU investors were disappointed as the stock returned -17% during the same time frame and underperformed the market. If you are interested in investing in large cap stocks with huge upside potential, you should check out thetop 20 most popular stocksamong hedge funds as 13 of these stocks already outperformed the market so far in the second quarter. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published atInsider Monkey. Related Content • How to Best Use Insider Monkey To Increase Your Returns • Billionaire Ken Fisher’s Top Dividend Stock Picks • 30 Stocks Billionaires Are Crazy About: Insider Monkey Billionaire Stock Index
Here’s What Hedge Funds Think About Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (TARO) There are several ways to beat the market, and investing in small cap stocks has historically been one of them. We like to improve the odds of beating the market further by examining what famous hedge fund operators such as Jeff Ubben, George Soros and Carl Icahn think. Those hedge fund operators make billions of dollars each year by hiring the best and the brightest to do research on stocks, including small cap stocks that big brokerage houses simply don't cover. Because of Carl Icahn and other elite funds' exemplary historical records, we pay attention to their small cap picks. In this article, we use hedge fund filing data to analyze Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE:TARO). Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE:TARO)investors should be aware of an increase in hedge fund sentiment lately. Our calculations also showed that TARO isn't among the30 most popular stocks among hedge funds. Why do we pay any attention at all to hedge fund sentiment? Our research has shown that hedge funds' large-cap stock picks indeed failed to beat the market between 1999 and 2016. However, we were able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that outperformed the market by 40 percentage points since May 2014 through May 30, 2019 (see the details here). We were also able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that'll significantly underperform the market. We have been tracking and sharing the list of these stocks since February 2017 and they lost 30.9% through May 30, 2019. That's why we believe hedge fund sentiment is an extremely useful indicator that investors should pay attention to. We're going to take a look at the recent hedge fund action surrounding Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE:TARO). At the end of the first quarter, a total of 10 of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey held long positions in this stock, a change of 25% from one quarter earlier. By comparison, 10 hedge funds held shares or bullish call options in TARO a year ago. With hedgies' sentiment swirling, there exists a few noteworthy hedge fund managers who were upping their stakes considerably (or already accumulated large positions). More specifically,Renaissance Technologieswas the largest shareholder of Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE:TARO), with a stake worth $46.1 million reported as of the end of March. Trailing Renaissance Technologies was Arrowstreet Capital, which amassed a stake valued at $18 million. Citadel Investment Group, D E Shaw, and Millennium Management were also very fond of the stock, giving the stock large weights in their portfolios. As aggregate interest increased, some big names have jumped into Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE:TARO) headfirst.Element Capital Management, managed by Jeffrey Talpins, assembled the most outsized position in Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE:TARO). Element Capital Management had $0.5 million invested in the company at the end of the quarter. Peter Algert and Kevin Coldiron'sAlgert Coldiron Investorsalso made a $0.4 million investment in the stock during the quarter. The only other fund with a new position in the stock is Bruce Kovner'sCaxton Associates LP. Let's now review hedge fund activity in other stocks similar to Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE:TARO). These stocks are The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NASDAQ:GT), TriNet Group Inc (NYSE:TNET), Commscope Holding Company Inc (NASDAQ:COMM), and Spire Inc. (NYSE:SR). All of these stocks' market caps resemble TARO's market cap. [table] Ticker, No of HFs with positions, Total Value of HF Positions (x1000), Change in HF Position GT,19,348140,-11 TNET,24,416936,7 COMM,23,1123484,-5 SR,15,100138,2 Average,20.25,497175,-1.75 [/table] View table hereif you experience formatting issues. As you can see these stocks had an average of 20.25 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $497 million. That figure was $74 million in TARO's case. TriNet Group Inc (NYSE:TNET) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand Spire Inc. (NYSE:SR) is the least popular one with only 15 bullish hedge fund positions. Compared to these stocks Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE:TARO) is even less popular than SR. Hedge funds dodged a bullet by taking a bearish stance towards TARO. Our calculations showed that the top 20 most popular hedge fund stocks returned 6.2% in Q2 through June 19th and outperformed the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) by nearly 3 percentage points. Unfortunately TARO wasn't nearly as popular as these 20 stocks (hedge fund sentiment was very bearish); TARO investors were disappointed as the stock returned -18.1% during the same time frame and underperformed the market. If you are interested in investing in large cap stocks with huge upside potential, you should check out thetop 20 most popular stocksamong hedge funds as 13 of these stocks already outperformed the market so far in the second quarter. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published atInsider Monkey. Related Content • How to Best Use Insider Monkey To Increase Your Returns • Billionaire Ken Fisher’s Top Dividend Stock Picks • 30 Stocks Billionaires Are Crazy About: Insider Monkey Billionaire Stock Index
FuelCell Energy to Provide a Carbon Capture Solution in UK FuelCell Energy, Inc.FCEL recently inked a deal with U.K.-based Drax Power Station to provide carbon capture solution. This will reduce carbon emissions from Drax’s boilers that use sustainable wood pellets as the chief source of energy. Fuel Cell will enable Drax to conduct a Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) study to evaluate the use of carbonate fuel cells in capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from boilers. Rationale of the Deal Being the largest decarbonization project in Europe, Drax is trying to reduce carbon usage for years and has successfully converted two thirds of the plant to use sustainable biomass instead of coal. To evolve as the world’s first negative emissions power station in the 2020s, Drax is undertaking several initiatives that focus on capturing carbon with cutting edge technology. To this end, FuelCell Energy’s carbon capture technology has the capability to concentrate CO2 from dilute flue gas during the power generation, which can be used for sequestration or utilization. This seems to have propelled Drax’s venture with Fuel Cell, with the former adopting Bio-Energy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) approach to lower carbon emission. Meanwhile, renowned energy company — Exxon Mobil XOM — which is also a leading carbon capture and storage applications provider, has been FuelCell’s partner since 2016. FuelCell’s advanced technology substantially improves CCS efficiency, effectiveness and affordability for large natural gas-fired power plants. This reflects on Drax’s decision to select FuelCell as its partner in carbon-emission reduction. FuelCell’s Potential in Europe’sCCS Market Per a report of Global Market Insights, carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) market sizeis expected to witness significant growth in the 2016-2023 period.Demand for clean power technologies is attracting significant investment in this market. Interestingly, Europe is projected to witness significant growth in the CCS market over the next few years. Considering this backdrop, FuelCell is expected to make considerable expansion in the European CCS market. Price Movement Shares of FuelCell Energy have plunged 98.8% in the past 12 months compared with the industry’s decline of 7.7%. Zacks Rank & Other Key Picks FuelCell Energy currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can seethe complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Other top-ranked stocks from the same industry are Bloom Energy Corp. BE and Covanta Holding Corp. CVA. Bloom Energy pulled off average four-quarter positive surprise of 21.64%. The company’s long-term earnings growth is pegged at 25%. Covanta Holding pulled off average four-quarter positive surprise of 2.19%. The company’s long-term earnings growth is pegged at 15%. Will you retire a millionaire?One out of every six people retires a multimillionaire. Get smart tips you can do today to become one of them in a new Special Report, “7 Things You Can Do Now to Retire a Multimillionaire.”Click to get it free >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.Click to get this free reportExxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) : Free Stock Analysis ReportFuelCell Energy, Inc. (FCEL) : Free Stock Analysis ReportCovanta Holding Corporation (CVA) : Free Stock Analysis ReportBloom Energy Corporation (BE) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
GoviEx Uranium announces results of voting for the election of directors Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 28, 2019) -GoviEx Uranium Inc.(TSXV: GXU) (OTCQB: GVXXF) ("GoviEx" or "Company") announces the results of voting by shareholders at the Company's Annual General and Special Meeting held today, Friday, June 28, 2019 (the "Meeting"), for the election of the Company's board of directors. All seven nominees listed in the management information circular dated May 6, 2019, for the Meeting, were elected as directors of the Company at the Meeting. Changes to the board Anthony Abbenante did not stand for re-election at the Meeting. "On behalf of the board and management, we thank Tony for his valuable contributions and guidance to the Company during his tenure as a director, and wish him the best in his future endeavours," said Govind Friedland, GoviEx's Executive Chairman. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. About GoviEx Uranium GoviEx is a mineral resource company focused on the exploration and development of uranium properties in Africa. GoviEx's principal objective is to become a significant uranium producer through the continued exploration and development of its flagship mine-permitted Madaouela Project in Niger, its mine-permitted Mutanga Project in Zambia, and its other uranium properties in Africa. Information Contacts Govind Friedland, Executive ChairmanDaniel Major, Chief Executive OfficerTel: +1-604-681-5529info@goviex.comwww.goviex.com To view the source version of this press release, please visithttps://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/45985
American Water Works Receives Rate Case Approval in Kentucky American Water Works Company, IncAWK recently announced that its subsidiary — Kentucky American Water — has received approval for water service rate hike from the Kentucky Public Service Commission, which was filed in November 2018. The rates will be effective from Jun 28, 2019. The rate review request will enable the company to make infrastructural investments worth $100 million, specifically toward water treatment and distribution system upgrade. The revised rates will hike monthly water bill to $37.27 from $32.06,for an average residential customer that consumes 3,869 gallons. Importance of Investments & Rate Raise Water utility companies provide24X7 drinking water and wastewater services to industrial, commercial and residential customers. To provide clean and safe water services, it is mandatory for these companies to frequently strengthen and upgrade their infrastructures. Thus, water utilities require constant funding to strengthen aging infrastructures by replacing soiled pipelines. Recently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of $2.6-billion fund to assist states, tribes and territories with improved drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. As most water utility companies are regulated, they depend on the commission for rate hikes. To recover investments related to upgrade or installation of the distribution systems, regulated companies file for rate hikes. Also, these hikes enable the companies to undertake further investments. Investment Plans The companyaims to invest $8-$8.6 billionfrom 2019 through 2023. These spending are expected to improve its earnings by 7-10% per year in the aforesaid period from 2017 levels. A significant chunk of $7.3-billion fund will be directed to strengthen the regulated businesses. The latest rate hike would enable American Water Works to duly make these investments. Other water utilities are also investing on their respective infrastructures. American States Water Company AWR invested $38.2 million for capital work in GSWC in 2018 and expects to spend $115-$125 million in 2019. Aqua America Inc WTR aims to invest more than $555 million, which is in sync with its ambitious investment target of more than $1.4 billion in the 2019-2021 period. Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo SBS plans to invest roughly R$18.7 billion to improve services over the period of 2019-2023. The expenditures will include R$7.8 billion on water, R$8.3 billion on sewage collection and R$2.6 billion on sewage treatment. Zacks Rank & Price Performance American Water Works currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can seethe complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Year to date, shares of the company have rallied 27% compared with the industry’s rise of 24%. Will You Retire a Millionaire?One out of every six people retires a multimillionaire. Get smart tips you can do today to become one of them in a new Special Report, “7 Things You Can Do Now to Retire a Multimillionaire.”Click to get it free >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.Click to get this free reportAmerican States Water Company (AWR) : Free Stock Analysis ReportAqua America, Inc. (WTR) : Free Stock Analysis ReportAmerican Water Works Company, Inc. (AWK) : Free Stock Analysis ReportCompanhia de saneamento Basico Do Estado De Sao Paulo - Sabesp (SBS) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
Why Did Stratasys Stock Jump 14%? What happened Shares of Stratasys (NASDAQ: SSYS) went stratospheric on Friday, closing the day up 14.4%. There's just one problem: No one seems to know why. What I can tell you is that there don't appear to be any positive catalysts for the move. No one upgraded the stock today. No analysts changed their price targets. The company didn't issue any press releases or Securities and Exchange Commission filings -- and isn't due to report earnings again for at least another month. Nor is Stratasys' move higher due to some enthusiasm for 3-D printing stocks in general. While peers such as 3D Systems , Protolabs , and Materialise also closed the day higher, none of them had nearly as good a day as Stratasys did. 3-D printer Image source: Getty Images. So what What caused this giant leap in Stratasys stock, on no news whatsoever? I wouldn't make anything of it. If there's some news out there that someone is trading on -- which sparked a reaction among momentum traders -- that news will come out in fairly short order, and we'll finally know the "why" of what happened today. And if not -- the stock will eventually give back its gains. Now what Stratasys is still unprofitable after six years of trying. Its forward P/E ratio is 60 (assuming it does finally turn a profit next year), and its ratio of price to free cash flow is over 50. I wouldn't be in any hurry to own it. More From The Motley Fool 10 Best Stocks to Buy Today The $16,728 Social Security Bonus You Cannot Afford to Miss 20 of the Top Stocks to Buy (Including the Two Every Investor Should Own) What Is an ETF? 5 Recession-Proof Stocks How to Beat the Market Rich Smith has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Proto Labs. The Motley Fool recommends 3D Systems and Stratasys. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy .
SpaceX reports milestone for Starlink satellite links — and sparks a debate An artist’s conception shows the deployment of SpaceX’s Starlink satellites. (SpaceX Illustration) In the wake of last month’s launch of 60 Starlink broadband data satellites, SpaceX says all but three of them are in communication with the company’s network of ground stations, including the satellite operation’s home base in Redmond, Wash. In an emailed update, SpaceX said Starlink is ready to go into a testing phase that involves streaming videos and playing video games via satellite. Forty-five of the satellites have used their onboard krypton ion thrusters to reach their intended 550-kilometer (342-mile) altitude. Five satellites are in the process of raising their altitude from the 440-kilometer-high (273-mile-high) orbits into which they were launched, and five more are undergoing checkouts in preparation for raising their orbits, SpaceX said. Two of the satellites are in communication but will be “intentionally deorbited to simulate an end-of-life disposal,” SpaceX said in today’s update. The remaining three Starlink satellites were initially in contact but are no longer in service, SpaceX said. They’ll eventually fall out of orbit and burn up in the atmosphere. “Now that the majority of the satellites have reached their operational altitude, SpaceX will begin using the constellation to start transmitting broadband signals, testing the latency and capacity by streaming videos and playing some high-bandwidth video games using gateways throughout North America,” SpaceX said. Those gateways include an installation in Redmond, where SpaceX’s satellite development team is based. According to filings with the Federal Communications Commission, the other gateways are in Hawthorne, Calif., where SpaceX is headquartered; North Bend, Wash.; Conrad, Mont.; Merrillan, Wis.; and Greenville, Pa. There’s also a telemetry and tracking station in Brewster, Wash. SpaceX said “Starlink is now the first NGSO [non-geosynchronous satellite orbit] system to operate in the Ku-band and communicate with U.S. ground stations, demonstrating the system’s potential to provide fast, reliable internet to populations around the world.” That statement isn’t intended merely as a marketing boast: In documents filed earlier this month with the Federal Communications Commission , SpaceX says its “first to operate” status with the FCC means it can “select its frequencies first” if there’s a conflict with other satellite telecommunication networks in low Earth orbit. SpaceX’s claim on that score has set off a flurry of regulatory filings from its rivals in the market for satellite broadband services, including the international OneWeb consortium and Canada’s biggest satellite operator, Telesat. Story continues OneWeb, for example, launched the first six Ku-band satellites for its broadband satellite constellation back in February. Kepler Communications, a Canadian venture that’s focusing on satellite services for the Internet of Things, has launched two Ku-band satellites so far — including one that went up on an Indian rocket last October. In one of this month’s filings , OneWeb charged that SpaceX was being “irresponsible” by going ahead with a Ku-band system under conditions that would interfere with OneWeb’s previously launched satellites. But SpaceX shrugged off OneWeb’s objections , as well as Kepler’s. It said neither OneWeb nor Kepler qualified for the FCC’s first-choice status because their ground stations weren’t in the U.S. Telesat, meanwhile, told the FCC that SpaceX seemed to be misreading the rules about getting its first choice for operating frequencies. This week, a lawyer for SpaceX filed a reply , basically seeking to find out what Telesat meant. On Thursday, Telesat’s lawyers basically said, “Stay tuned.” The exchange of FCC filings illustrates how tangled the regulatory environment for satellite internet broadband services can get. And things could get even more tangled if additional players including Amazon and Boeing join the fray. Here’s the full text of today’s statement from SpaceX: “Just a little over a month after a successful Falcon 9 launch, Starlink is now the first NGSO system to operate in the Ku-band and communicate with U.S. ground stations, demonstrating the system’s potential to provide fast, reliable internet to populations around the world. “57 Starlink satellites are communicating with SpaceX’s Earth stations using their broadband phased array antennas. 45 Starlink satellites have reached their operational altitude using their onboard propulsion systems, five additional satellites continue their orbit raise, as five others are going through checkouts prior to completing their orbit raise. Two satellites are being intentionally deorbited to simulate an end of life disposal. Three satellites which initially communicated with the ground but are no longer in service, will passively deorbit. Due to their design and low orbital position, all five deorbiting satellites will disintegrate once they enter Earth’s atmosphere in support of SpaceX’s commitment to a clean space environment. “SpaceX implemented slight variations across the 60 satellites in order to maximize operational capability across the fleet. While we are pleased with the performance of the satellites so far, SpaceX will continue to push the operational capabilities of the satellites to inform future iterations. And, now that the majority of the satellites have reached their operational altitude, SpaceX will begin using the constellation to start transmitting broadband signals, testing the latency and capacity by streaming videos and playing some high bandwidth video games using gateways throughout North America.” More from GeekWire: FCC approves SpaceX’s revised Starlink satellite plan; first wave gets set for liftoff SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket deals out a deck of 60 Starlink internet satellites FCC OKs SpaceX’s plan for 7,500 satellites in very low Earth orbit (and its rivals’ plans) Report: SpaceX raising $500M to get Starlink satellite service off the ground View comments
UPDATE 1-U.S. issues mixed report on Alaska Gasline's LNG export plant (Adds details from FERC report) June 28 (Reuters) - U.S. energy regulators issued a report on Friday for Alaska Gasline Development Corp's proposed $43.4 billion Alaska liquefied natural gas (LNG) project that found it would provide economic benefits to the state but could hurt the environment. In the report, known as an environmental impact statement, staff at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) concluded construction and operation of the project would result in "temporary, long-term, and permanent impacts on the environment." The staff said "some impacts would be adverse and significant" but noted that "most impacts would not be significant or would be reduced to less than significant levels with the implementation of proposed or recommended measures." "Alaska LNG holds the potential for significant environmental, energy, economic, and employment benefits for Alaskans," Alaska Gasline Interim President Joe Dubler said in a statement after FERC issued the draft report. "We will now begin to thoroughly examine this comprehensive document to understand the commission’s recommendations," Dubler said. Specifically, FERC staff said constructing the project would have significant impacts on the permafrost, wetlands and forests and could likely be significant for caribou. In addition, construction and operation is likely to adversely affect six federally listed species - spectacled eider, polar bear, bearded seal, Cook Inlet beluga whale, humpback whale and ringed seal. FERC staff, however, said the project would result in positive impacts on the state and local economies. Alaska Gasline said in March it signed agreements with BP PLC and Exxon Mobil Corp to help advance the development of the Alaska LNG project. BP and Exxon Mobil produce massive amounts of oil in Alaska and have discovered huge gas resources that are stranded in the North Slope. The project would allow that gas to access markets around the world. The project is designed to liquefy about 3.5 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) of natural gas from a facility to be built in Nikiski on the Kenai Peninsula southwest of Anchorage. It includes an 807-mile (1,300-km) pipeline from the North Slope. One billion cubic feet is enough gas to fuel about 5 million U.S. homes for a day. Alaska LNG is just one of more than four dozen LNG projects under development in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Just looking at projects under construction, U.S. LNG capacity is expected to jump to 10.0 bcfd by the end of 2020 from 6.4 bcfd now, putting the country on track to become the world's biggest LNG exporter by the mid 2020s. (Reporting by Scott DiSavino Editing by Tom Brown)
Teen vaping on the rise in U.S, Canada By Lisa Rapaport More American and Canadian teens are vaping than ever before, according to a new study, and researchers say the availability of e-cigarettes with more nicotine may partly explain the trend. The study team examined data on smoking and vaping by youth in Canada, England and the U.S. and found that between 2017 and 2018, the proportion of 16- to 19-year-olds who reported vaping in the past 30 days rose by almost 50% in the U.S. and nearly doubled in Canada, while remaining relatively constant in the UK. The proportion of teens who said they had vaped in the previous 30 days rose in Canada from 8.4% in July-August 2017 to 14.6 % in August-September 2018, and in the U.S. from 11.1% to 16.2% while remaining stable at just under 9% in the UK. "2018 marked the point at which new vaping technology started to take over the market, led by JUUL," said David Hammond of the School of Public Health at the University of Waterloo in Canada, who led the study. "The vapor from these products has a different chemistry that allows them to deliver very high levels of nicotine, similar to regular smoked cigarettes," Hammond said by email. "However, England has set maximum limits on nicotine concentrate, which cuts the nicotine level in half compared to the same brands sold in Canada and the U.S., and England has also more strict rules on advertising of e-cigarettes than the other two countries." JUUL debuted its e-cigarettes in the U.S. in 2015 and now commands more than half the market, researchers note in The BMJ. JUUL became available in the UK in July 2018 and in Canada in September 2018. Teen use of JUUL e-cigarettes increased in all three countries during the study period. The proportion of U.S. adolescents who reported JUUL was their usual brand surged threefold between 2017 and 2018 from 1% to 4.5%. Many youth think vaping is not harmful and many are unaware of the nicotine levels in the current generation of products, Hammond said. He added, "Parents and kids should know that these products are capable of producing addiction and may have long term health risks from exposing the lungs to chemicals from e-cigarettes." Story continues Some previous studies suggest that teens who vape may also be more likely than those who don't to start smoking traditional cigarettes and marijuana. Big tobacco companies, including Altria Group Inc, Lorillard Tobacco Co and Reynolds American Inc, are all developing e-cigarettes. The battery-powered devices feature a heating element that turns liquid containing nicotine and flavorings into a cloud of vapor that users inhale. In an emailed statement, JUUL said, "We don't want any non-nicotine user to use our products, especially youth," JUUL said in an emailed statement. "We agree with the authors of the study about the need to find 'the optimal regulatory balance that provides smokers with reasonable access to these products, while restricting features of such products that appeal to youth . . . ' and our actions to prevent underage use reflect that. We have taken aggressive action in both the U.S. and Canada to combat underage usage of our products while preserving the opportunity for adult smokers to switch from combustible cigarettes." One limitation of the study is that it relied on teens to truthfully report any vaping or smoking. Another drawback is that a one-year study may not necessarily reflect what would happen with vaping trends in the future. Still, parents should talk to children and teens about the dangers of smoking and vaping, said Professor Linda Bauld, chair of public health at the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, UK, who coauthored an editorial accompanying the study. "Parents should explain that vaping products are for adult smokers trying to quit, not teenagers who have never smoked," Bauld said by email. "Vaping is less harmful than smoking, that's why it is a good option for adult smokers," Bauld said. "But that doesn't mean that it is risk free and it is better for teenagers to use nothing - no vaping, no smoking." SOURCE: https://bit.ly/2Xbc6gn and https://bit.ly/2XaBWRr The BMJ, online June 20, 2019.
Papaya From Mexico Is Linked to 62 Cases of Salmonella Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site. Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site. Update: The likely source of this outbreak is Cavi brand whole, fresh papayas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration. The number of people who have become ill has increased to 71 and Florida and Texas have been added to the list of states where illness have been reported. The agencies are no longer advising people to avoid all fresh papaya from Mexico; only the Cavi brand. Before purchasing fresh papaya, be sure it is not from Cavi (ask at the store if the papaya is not labeled). If you can't determine the brand, don't buy it. If you have fresh papaya in your refrigerator and you don't know for sure that it is not from Cavi, don't eat it. Thinking about making a fruit salad for your next cookout? You may want to skip papaya. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced today that papaya from Mexico is the source of an outbreak of Salmonella Uganda in six states. More than 60 people have been sickened, and 23 of them were hospitalized. The states involved are in the Northeast: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. One person who was from Florida had traveled to Connecticut the week before getting sick. The agency is looking into the case of a person from Texas who became ill. The Food and Drug Administration is strongly advising grocery stores, restaurants, and other food service providers in all states not to sell or serve papayas imported from Mexico. “Salmonella Uganda is a very rare strain in the U.S.,” says James E. Rogers, Ph.D., director of food safety research and testing at Consumer Reports, “but this is a high hospitalization rate.” The papaya was sold whole, but it’s possible that individual grocery stores may have sliced it and are selling it in containers or salad bars. “Whole or sliced, it can be difficult to tell where the fruit was grown at the grocery store,” Rogers says. “Unless you are absolutely sure the fruit didn’t come from Mexico, don’t eat it, especially if you live in the states where people have become ill.” The CDC said that this is a fast-moving investigation, so more cases and more locations may be announced as it uncovers more information. It’s always a good idea to take food-safety precautions when you’re preparing any type of fruit. Wash fruit before you eat it, and use a vegetable brush to scrub hard fruits, even if you don’t plan to eat the skin. “Any time you chop or cut into a food, you increase the risk of contamination,” Rogers says. “If you’re cutting an avocado, papaya, or melon, dirt or bacteria or other germs from the rind can be transferred to the knives, prep surfaces, or to the inside of the fruit.” Story continues You can stay up to date on food-safety outbreaks and recalls by going to foodsafety.gov. Symptoms of Salmonella Most people will get diarrhea, a fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after they eat tainted food, with symptoms usually lasting four to seven days. Vomiting can occur but isn’t a classic symptom. If you're sick, the most important thing is to stay hydrated . Drink plenty of water, juice, broth, or other caffeine-free, nonalcoholic fluids. Call your doctor if you have diarrhea that lasts for more than three days, if the diarrhea is bloody, or if you have a fever of 101.5° F or higher. The Details Products involved: Papayas grown in Mexico. The problem: The fruit may be contaminated with Salmonella Uganda. More than 60 people in six states have become ill: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. The fix: If you shop in one of the six states, don’t buy papaya unless you're sure that it's not from Mexico. If you have any papaya in your refrigerator, throw it away. How to contact stores or suppliers: The CDC has not yet identified a single store or supplier. More from Consumer Reports: Top pick tires for 2016 Best used cars for $25,000 and less 7 best mattresses for couples Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2019, Consumer Reports, Inc. View comments
Heavily indebted Pemex says will merge units to save money MEXICO CITY, June 28 (Reuters) - The board of heavily indebted Mexican state oil company Pemex has unanimously approved a merger of four of its subsidiaries into two units, the company said in a statement on Friday. The merger of subsidiaries Pemex Exploration and Production with PPS and Pemex Industrial Transformation with Etileno is effective from July 1, the statement said. The merger aims to consolidate "austerity measures" with the goal of strengthening the company, the statement said. The government of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has repeatedly pledged to revive Petroleos Mexicanos, the formal name for Pemex. The world’s most indebted oil company, Pemex has seen oil output decline for 14 consecutive years. (Reporting by Sharay Angulo; editing by Delphine Schrank)
Mexico says 'maquila' plants to offer migrants 40,000 jobs MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador says his country's "maquila" assembly plants are offering to give 40,000 jobs to Central American migrants. Tens of thousands of migrants who hoped to reach the United States are stuck in Mexico. Many have been sent back to await court dates on their U.S. asylum claims. And Mexico has also stepped up raids on trains, buses and motels, to stop the migrants from moving north. Lopez Obrador said Friday "we prefer to keep them (migrants) in the south" of Mexico" because "we have more ability to care for them there." But many are in northern Mexico and need work. Lopez Obrador said an agreement would be signed soon to offer them 40,000 jobs at assembly plants, many located in northern border states.
Magic Johnson part of Lakers' Kawhi Leonard meeting, per report Magic Johnson is quite infamously no longer a member of the Los Angeles Lakers’ front office. He’s still reportedly going to be part of one of the team’s biggest meetings of the offseason. Representatives for top free agent Kawhi Leonard plan to meet with both Johnson and Lakers owner Jeanie Buss when free agency begins, according to Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times. Sources. Kawhi Leonard’s people plan on meeting with Lakers president Jeanie Buss and Magic Johnson next week when free agency starts. Will most likely be in LA — Brad Turner (@BA_Turner) June 28, 2019 In addition to the Lakers’ owner and its top tweeter , at least two of the four players left on the team’s roster are planning to take part in the team’s pitch. With the Lakers now expected to land a Kawhi Leonard meeting, a source tells @TheAthletic that LeBron James AND Anthony Davis are planning on being part of the formal pitch. — Sam Amick (@sam_amick) June 28, 2019 Yahoo Sports senior NBA reporter Chris Haynes had previously reported that the Lakers had landed a meeting with Leonard , but seeing Johnson join in for any part of the process is quite something. The Hall of Fame point guard resigned out of the blue near the end of the regular season, and has ruffled quite a few feathers on his way out . In one instance, Johnson publicly accused Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka of stabbing him in the back . And now, Johnson may be getting involved in the Lakers’ pursuit of the top free agent of the offseason. The Lakers just finished up clearing the cap space required to sign a max free agent like Leonard , and you’d figure that the forward ranks as the team’s top target. However, according to Ramona Shelburne, Johnson will not be part of any official team meetings due to NBA rules. Story continues Magic Johnson says he will help the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency in any way he can, but he is not permitted by NBA rules to be part of official team meetings with prospective free agents. Johnson said he has not been asked by the Lakers or owner Jeanie Buss to participate. — Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) June 28, 2019 Johnson’s meeting with Leonard may be just that, a Southern California native meeting one of Los Angeles’ basketball legends. Johnson says “A friend of mine called and says Kawhi wants to meet with you,” Johnson told ESPN. “I said no problem. I’m available if that’s what this man wants. “But I got a great life. I’m not trying to mess with anybody’s job.” — Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) June 28, 2019 Leonard just finished a season in which he led a Toronto Raptors team with no other superstars to the franchise’s first ever championship, averaging 30.5 points and 9.1 rebounds during the 2019 playoffs. With Leonard set to hit free agency, the Raptors are believed to be the favorite to land him . However, if there’s a team that can pry Leonard away, it’s probably playing in Staples Center. Magic Johnson will be a part of the Lakers' pitch to Kawhi Leonard. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) The Clippers have long been considered a possibility to sign the Southern California native, who has been reported in the past to want to return home. The Lakers, with LeBron James and Anthony Davis now on board, obviously offer a different dynamic than a Clippers team that made the playoffs last year despite featuring no stars even close to James’ caliber. It remains to be seen if Leonard is interested in creating a potential superteam. More from Yahoo Sports: Rose responds to LaVar Ball's cringeworthy remark Former WWE star tells harrowing depression tale Brady takes subtle shot at ESPN star's 'cliff' comment Wetzel: For the USWNT, Trump could be Motivator-in-Chief
Canada's Trudeau, Xi had 'positive' discussions as dispute rages -Ottawa OTTAWA, June 28 (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Chinese President Xi Jinping had "positive, constructive interactions" on the sidelines of the G20 summit on Friday as a dispute between the two countries rages, Trudeau's office said. Trudeau spoke "more than once" to Xi during a meeting of the Group of 20 leading economies in Osaka, Japan, said an official in Trudeau's office, who requested anonymity given the sensitivity of the situation. The contact between the two leaders was the first since diplomatic and trade relations turned icy last December after Canadian police arrested Huawei Technologies Co Ltd Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. warrant. Video footage from the meeting showed Trudeau and Xi speaking briefly through interpreters before shaking hands. "There will likely be more opportunities ahead to have a conversation if needed," said the official, who did not give any more details. China detained two Canadians after Meng's arrest and has charged them with spying. U.S. President Donald Trump, who is due to meet Xi on Saturday, said last week he would ask for the Canadians' release if Trudeau wanted him to do so. Earlier this week, China blocked all imports of Canadian meat after fraudulent documents were discovered. Chinese importers have also stopped buying Canadian canola. (Reporting by Kelsey Johnson and David Ljunggren; Editing by Sandra Maler)
Australia won’t take their foot off the gas despite already booking their place in the semi-finals Qualification is no longer an issue for Australia but captain Aaron Finch insists his fast bowlers are itching to keep their foot on the gas ahead of the semi-finals. Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc are among the quicks to have played every one of their side’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup matches, with seven games in 25 days under their belts so far. But any desire to put their feet up for Saturday’s showcase with New Zealand at Lord’s couldn’t be further from reality. Instead Finch and his strike bowlers are going all out in a repeat of the 2015 World Cup final, knowing just how vital it is to get another win under the belts as knockout cricket rapidly approaching. “They are both feeling really good at the moment,” said Finch of Cummins and Starc. “You don't want to upset the apple cart just for no reason, really. And that also comes down to how they are feeling, as well, and they are both feeling great at the moment. “I know that they have got no interest whatsoever in being rested or anything like that. “As a coaching staff and management of the players, everyone's really on the same page in that regard to keep we want to try and keep our winning momentum and making sure that we are never taking anything for granted in this tournament. “The guys are in really good form, as well, so you don't want to tempt that. We have a week between the next games which is nice as well.” READ: Rahul eyes England match after praising India’s restraint in West Indies victory READ: Krish Srikkanth Column: Kohli brilliance needs to be backed up by Indian team-mates Australia and New Zealand are no strangers to humdingers in the World Cup, with the two sides winning a classic each when they faced off on home territory four years ago. Historic rivalry is therefore up for grabs but with New Zealand just one win away from joining their neighbours in the semi-finals, there’s plenty at stake for both sides as Lord’s gets set to hit temperatures exceeding 30 degrees. And with New Zealand losing just one game so far this tournament, to Pakistan last time out, it’s far from going to be a walk in the park for Finch and his side. Not that the Australian captain would have it any other way when facing doing battle with Kane Williamson. “I think the great thing with New Zealand is that they fight and scrap every single game, regardless of whether it's a World Cup final or it's a club game,” he added. “That's a part of how they play their best cricket, and I know under Kane they certainly do fight and scrap for every run on the field. “They are a great fielding side. They put pressure on you. They have got world-class players. It's going to be a good game, no doubt. Story continues “I think if you get beaten on the day, you can wear that; if you fall a bit short here and there, you can wear being beaten by a better opposition or who out-classed you or out-skill you on the day.” © ICC Business Corporation FZ LLC 2019 View comments
Suspect Arrested, Charged With the Kidnapping and Murder of MacKenzie Lueck Salt Lake City Police announced on Friday at a press conference that they have arrested a suspect in connection to the kidnapping and murder of 23-year-old MacKenzie Lueck, a University of Utah student who went missing 11 days ago. Police Chief Mike Brown said that the suspect, Ayoola A. Ajayi, 31, was arrested Friday morning. He has been charged with aggravated murder, kidnapping and the desecration of a body. “This is one of the most difficult phone calls I’ve ever made,” Brown said at the press conference about notifying Lueck’s family. “We are devastated and heartbroken by this news.” Here’s what you need to know about the case. What do police say happened to Mackenzie Lueck? According to Chief Brown, Lueck met Ajayi in a Salt Lake City park on June 17 — the last day she was seen alive. She had just gotten back from a funeral with her family in her home state of California. She took a Lyft to the park around 3 a.m., directly from the airport. Police interviewed the Lyft driver who dropped her off at the park, who had said that she “did not appear to be in any kind of distress.” Police later said that the driver was not a person of interest. Lueck’s family reported her missing on June 20. Authorities investigated her phone records and social media, which showed that all communication and data use from her had stopped at 3 a.m. Her phone records also showed that the last person she spoke to was Ajayi. While investigating both Ajayi’s and Lueck’s phone records, the police discovered that Ajayi’s phone was in the same park around the same time her phone was used last. They also spoke with neighbors of Ajayi, who claimed they had seen him burning something in his backyard on June 17 and 18. While searching Ajayi’s property on June 26, police found several burnt items in his backyard which were later identified as Lueck’s, as well as burnt human tissue. The police were able to match the human tissue to Lueck’s DNA profile. Story continues In this June 24, 2019 file photo, a jogger runs pass a poster of Mackenzie Lueck at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City. One person was taken into custody Friday, June 28, in connection with the disappearance of Lueck, a Utah college student who disappeared 11 days ago. | Rick Bowmer—AP What have the police said about the suspect? Ajayi was taken into custody on Friday morning. When police had previously interviewed him, he told them he had text conversations with Leuck on June 16 but did not speak with her again after that. (He also denied meeting with her at anytime.) The police did not specify if Lueck knew Ajayi before this text conversation, or offer any details on the nature of their conversation. Brown said that they will continue to investigate and determine if Ajayi acted alone in the alleged murder or if he had help. Ajayi is currently being booked in the Salt Lake City Jail. It is unclear if he has legal representation.
Hedge Funds Have Never Been This Bullish On SSR Mining Inc. (SSRM) Before we spend countless hours researching a company, we like to analyze what insiders, hedge funds and billionaire investors think of the stock first. This is a necessary first step in our investment process because our research has shown that the elite investors' consensus returns have been exceptional. In the following paragraphs, we find out what the billionaire investors and hedge funds think of SSR Mining Inc. (NASDAQ:SSRM). SSR Mining Inc. (NASDAQ:SSRM)has seen an increase in enthusiasm from smart money in recent months. Our calculations also showed that SSRM isn't among the30 most popular stocks among hedge funds. Today there are plenty of methods market participants employ to grade stocks. A pair of the less utilized methods are hedge fund and insider trading indicators. Our experts have shown that, historically, those who follow the best picks of the elite money managers can trounce the market by a healthy amount (see the details here). Let's take a look at the new hedge fund action surrounding SSR Mining Inc. (NASDAQ:SSRM). Heading into the second quarter of 2019, a total of 13 of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey held long positions in this stock, a change of 8% from the fourth quarter of 2018. By comparison, 8 hedge funds held shares or bullish call options in SSRM a year ago. With the smart money's sentiment swirling, there exists a few key hedge fund managers who were increasing their holdings substantially (or already accumulated large positions). The largest stake in SSR Mining Inc. (NASDAQ:SSRM) was held byRenaissance Technologies, which reported holding $74 million worth of stock at the end of March. It was followed by Sun Valley Gold with a $11.3 million position. Other investors bullish on the company included Sprott Asset Management, Two Sigma Advisors, and PEAK6 Capital Management. As aggregate interest increased, key money managers were leading the bulls' herd.Waratah Capital Advisors, managed by Brad Dunkley and Blair Levinsky, established the most outsized position in SSR Mining Inc. (NASDAQ:SSRM). Waratah Capital Advisors had $2.3 million invested in the company at the end of the quarter. Richard Driehaus'sDriehaus Capitalalso initiated a $1.8 million position during the quarter. The other funds with new positions in the stock are Peter Rathjens, Bruce Clarke and John Campbell'sArrowstreet Capital, Cliff Asness'sAQR Capital Management, and Kenneth Tropin'sGraham Capital Management. Let's now review hedge fund activity in other stocks similar to SSR Mining Inc. (NASDAQ:SSRM). We will take a look at The Children's Place Inc. (NASDAQ:PLCE), Sirius International Insurance Group, Ltd. (NASDAQ:SG), Rush Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ:RUSHA), and Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE:BIG). All of these stocks' market caps match SSRM's market cap. [table] Ticker, No of HFs with positions, Total Value of HF Positions (x1000), Change in HF Position PLCE,22,254916,3 SG,1,3942,0 RUSHA,19,102027,-2 BIG,20,179321,1 Average,15.5,135052,0.5 [/table] View table hereif you experience formatting issues. As you can see these stocks had an average of 15.5 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $135 million. That figure was $107 million in SSRM's case. The Children's Place Inc. (NASDAQ:PLCE) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand Sirius International Insurance Group, Ltd. (NASDAQ:SG) is the least popular one with only 1 bullish hedge fund positions. SSR Mining Inc. (NASDAQ:SSRM) is not the least popular stock in this group but hedge fund interest is still below average. This is a slightly negative signal and we'd rather spend our time researching stocks that hedge funds are piling on. Our calculations showed thattop 20 most popular stocksamong hedge funds returned 6.2% in Q2 through June 19th and outperformed the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) by nearly 3 percentage points. Unfortunately SSRM wasn't nearly as popular as these 20 stocks (hedge fund sentiment was quite bearish); SSRM investors were disappointed as the stock returned 2.4% during the same time period and underperformed the market. If you are interested in investing in large cap stocks with huge upside potential, you should check out thetop 20 most popular stocksamong hedge funds as 13 of these stocks already outperformed the market so far in Q2. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published atInsider Monkey. Related Content • How to Best Use Insider Monkey To Increase Your Returns • Billionaire Ken Fisher’s Top Dividend Stock Picks • 30 Stocks Billionaires Are Crazy About: Insider Monkey Billionaire Stock Index
Is Evoqua Water Technologies Corp. (AQUA) A Good Stock To Buy? At Insider Monkey we track the activity of some of the best-performing hedge funds like Appaloosa Management, Baupost, and Tiger Global because we determined that some of the stocks that they are collectively bullish on can help us generate returns above the broader indices. Out of thousands of stocks that hedge funds invest in, small-caps can provide the best returns over the long term due to the fact that these companies are less efficiently priced and are usually under the radars of mass-media, analysts and dumb money. This is why we follow the smart money moves in the small-cap space. Evoqua Water Technologies Corp. (NYSE: AQUA ) shareholders have witnessed an increase in hedge fund interest recently. AQUA was in 13 hedge funds' portfolios at the end of March. There were 12 hedge funds in our database with AQUA holdings at the end of the previous quarter. Our calculations also showed that AQUA isn't among the 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds . Hedge funds' reputation as shrewd investors has been tarnished in the last decade as their hedged returns couldn't keep up with the unhedged returns of the market indices. Our research has shown that hedge funds' small-cap stock picks managed to beat the market by double digits annually between 1999 and 2016, but the margin of outperformance has been declining in recent years. Nevertheless, we were still able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that outperformed the market by 40 percentage points since May 2014 through May 30, 2019 ( see the details here ). We were also able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that underperformed the market by 10 percentage points annually between 2006 and 2017. Interestingly the margin of underperformance of these stocks has been increasing in recent years. Investors who are long the market and short these stocks would have returned more than 27% annually between 2015 and 2017. We have been tracking and sharing the list of these stocks since February 2017 in our quarterly newsletter. Story continues Philip Hempleman Ardsley Partners We're going to analyze the recent hedge fund action regarding Evoqua Water Technologies Corp. (NYSE: AQUA ). Hedge fund activity in Evoqua Water Technologies Corp. (NYSE:AQUA) At Q1's end, a total of 13 of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey were long this stock, a change of 8% from the previous quarter. By comparison, 16 hedge funds held shares or bullish call options in AQUA a year ago. With the smart money's positions undergoing their usual ebb and flow, there exists a few noteworthy hedge fund managers who were adding to their holdings significantly (or already accumulated large positions). AQUA_jun2019 More specifically, P2 Capital Partners was the largest shareholder of Evoqua Water Technologies Corp. (NYSE:AQUA), with a stake worth $67.6 million reported as of the end of March. Trailing P2 Capital Partners was Ardsley Partners, which amassed a stake valued at $11.8 million. Tudor Investment Corp, Point72 Asset Management, and GAMCO Investors were also very fond of the stock, giving the stock large weights in their portfolios. As one would reasonably expect, key money managers were leading the bulls' herd. Point72 Asset Management , managed by Steve Cohen, established the most valuable position in Evoqua Water Technologies Corp. (NYSE:AQUA). Point72 Asset Management had $5.4 million invested in the company at the end of the quarter. Israel Englander's Millennium Management also made a $2.3 million investment in the stock during the quarter. The other funds with new positions in the stock are Doug Gordon, Jon Hilsabeck and Don Jabro's Shellback Capital , David Costen Haley's HBK Investments , and Michael Platt and William Reeves's BlueCrest Capital Mgmt. . Let's check out hedge fund activity in other stocks similar to Evoqua Water Technologies Corp. (NYSE:AQUA). These stocks are Sleep Number Corporation (NASDAQ: SNBR ), Noble Midstream Partners LP (NYSE: NBLX ), MOGU Inc. (NYSE: MOGU ), and Momenta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: MNTA ). This group of stocks' market caps match AQUA's market cap. [table] Ticker, No of HFs with positions, Total Value of HF Positions (x1000), Change in HF Position SNBR,20,192016,2 NBLX,4,7623,-2 MOGU,1,440,-1 MNTA,18,259500,-2 Average,10.75,114895,-0.75 [/table] View table here if you experience formatting issues. As you can see these stocks had an average of 10.75 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $115 million. That figure was $106 million in AQUA's case. Sleep Number Corporation (NASDAQ: SNBR ) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand MOGU Inc. (NYSE: MOGU ) is the least popular one with only 1 bullish hedge fund positions. Evoqua Water Technologies Corp. (NYSE:AQUA) is not the most popular stock in this group but hedge fund interest is still above average. Our calculations showed that top 20 most popular stocks among hedge funds returned 6.2% in Q2 through June 19th and outperformed the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) by nearly 3 percentage points. Hedge funds were also right about betting on AQUA, though not to the same extent, as the stock returned 5.1% during the same time frame and outperformed the market as well. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published at Insider Monkey . 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Here’s What Hedge Funds Think About Silicon Motion Technology Corp. (SIMO) Amid an overall bull market, many stocks that smart money investors were collectively bullish on surged during the first quarter. Among them, Facebook and Microsoft ranked among the top 3 picks and these stocks gained 40% and 25% respectively. Our research shows that most of the stocks that smart money likes historically generate strong risk-adjusted returns. That's why we weren't surprised when hedge funds’ top 20 large-cap stock picks generated a return of 18.7% during the first 5 months of 2019 and outperformed the broader market benchmark by 6.6 percentage points.This is why following the smart money sentiment is a useful tool at identifying the next stock to invest in. Silicon Motion Technology Corp. (NASDAQ:SIMO)was in 13 hedge funds' portfolios at the end of the first quarter of 2019. SIMO shareholders have witnessed a decrease in activity from the world's largest hedge funds recently. There were 17 hedge funds in our database with SIMO positions at the end of the previous quarter. Our calculations also showed that SIMO isn't among the30 most popular stocks among hedge funds. Hedge funds' reputation as shrewd investors has been tarnished in the last decade as their hedged returns couldn't keep up with the unhedged returns of the market indices. Our research has shown that hedge funds' large-cap stock picks indeed failed to beat the market between 1999 and 2016. However, we were able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that outperformed the market by 40 percentage points since May 2014 through May 30, 2019 (see the details here). We were also able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that'll significantly underperform the market. We have been tracking and sharing the list of these stocks since February 2017 and they lost 30.9% through May 30, 2019. That's why we believe hedge fund sentiment is an extremely useful indicator that investors should pay attention to. Let's review the key hedge fund action encompassing Silicon Motion Technology Corp. (NASDAQ:SIMO). At Q1's end, a total of 13 of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey were bullish on this stock, a change of -24% from the previous quarter. On the other hand, there were a total of 11 hedge funds with a bullish position in SIMO a year ago. So, let's see which hedge funds were among the top holders of the stock and which hedge funds were making big moves. Among these funds,Cardinal Capitalheld the most valuable stake in Silicon Motion Technology Corp. (NASDAQ:SIMO), which was worth $40 million at the end of the first quarter. On the second spot was Yiheng Capital which amassed $36.6 million worth of shares. Moreover, Royce & Associates, Cloverdale Capital Management, and Point72 Asset Management were also bullish on Silicon Motion Technology Corp. (NASDAQ:SIMO), allocating a large percentage of their portfolios to this stock. Due to the fact that Silicon Motion Technology Corp. (NASDAQ:SIMO) has witnessed declining sentiment from hedge fund managers, it's safe to say that there exists a select few money managers who were dropping their full holdings last quarter. Interestingly, Anand Parekh'sAlyeska Investment Groupdropped the biggest investment of the "upper crust" of funds monitored by Insider Monkey, comprising an estimated $10 million in stock. David Costen Haley's fund,HBK Investments, also dumped its stock, about $0.9 million worth. These transactions are interesting, as total hedge fund interest dropped by 4 funds last quarter. Let's also examine hedge fund activity in other stocks - not necessarily in the same industry as Silicon Motion Technology Corp. (NASDAQ:SIMO) but similarly valued. We will take a look at Rubius Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:RUBY), Gossamer Bio, Inc. (NASDAQ:GOSS), State Auto Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:STFC), and Stamps.com Inc. (NASDAQ:STMP). All of these stocks' market caps resemble SIMO's market cap. [table] Ticker, No of HFs with positions, Total Value of HF Positions (x1000), Change in HF Position RUBY,5,25959,2 GOSS,12,225485,12 STFC,5,16077,1 STMP,29,265381,-4 Average,12.75,133226,2.75 [/table] View table hereif you experience formatting issues. As you can see these stocks had an average of 12.75 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $133 million. That figure was $161 million in SIMO's case. Stamps.com Inc. (NASDAQ:STMP) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand Rubius Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:RUBY) is the least popular one with only 5 bullish hedge fund positions. Silicon Motion Technology Corp. (NASDAQ:SIMO) is not the most popular stock in this group but hedge fund interest is still above average. Our calculations showed thattop 20 most popular stocksamong hedge funds returned 6.2% in Q2 through June 19th and outperformed the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) by nearly 3 percentage points. Hedge funds were also right about betting on SIMO, though not to the same extent, as the stock returned 5.1% during the same time frame and outperformed the market as well. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published atInsider Monkey. Related Content • How to Best Use Insider Monkey To Increase Your Returns • Billionaire Ken Fisher’s Top Dividend Stock Picks • 30 Stocks Billionaires Are Crazy About: Insider Monkey Billionaire Stock Index
Here’s What Hedge Funds Think About First Busey Corporation (BUSE) Most investors tend to think that hedge funds and other asset managers are worthless, as they cannot beat even simple index fund portfolios. In fact, most people expect hedge funds to compete with and outperform the bull market that we have witnessed in recent years. However, hedge funds are generally partially hedged and aim at delivering attractive risk-adjusted returns rather than following the ups and downs of equity markets hoping that they will outperform the broader market. Our research shows that certain hedge funds do have great stock picking skills (and we can identify these hedge funds in advance pretty accurately), so let’s take a glance at the smart money sentiment towards First Busey Corporation (NASDAQ:BUSE). IsFirst Busey Corporation (NASDAQ:BUSE)worth your attention right now? Prominent investors are becoming hopeful. The number of bullish hedge fund positions advanced by 1 lately. Our calculations also showed that BUSE isn't among the30 most popular stocks among hedge funds.BUSEwas in 13 hedge funds' portfolios at the end of March. There were 12 hedge funds in our database with BUSE holdings at the end of the previous quarter. According to most market participants, hedge funds are assumed to be worthless, old financial vehicles of yesteryear. While there are over 8000 funds trading today, Our experts look at the upper echelon of this club, around 750 funds. These investment experts have their hands on bulk of all hedge funds' total capital, and by tailing their finest investments, Insider Monkey has uncovered numerous investment strategies that have historically outpaced Mr. Market. Insider Monkey's flagship hedge fund strategy outperformed the S&P 500 index by around 5 percentage points per annum since its inception in May 2014 through June 18th. We were able to generate large returns even by identifying short candidates. Our portfolio of short stocks lost 28.2% since February 2017 (through June 18th) even though the market was up nearly 30% during the same period. We just shared a list of 5 short targets in ourlatest quarterly updateand they are already down an average of 8.2% in a month whereas our long picks outperformed the market by 2.5 percentage points in this volatile 5 week period (our long picks also beat the market by 15 percentage points so far this year). We're going to take a glance at the fresh hedge fund action regarding First Busey Corporation (NASDAQ:BUSE). At the end of the first quarter, a total of 13 of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey were long this stock, a change of 8% from one quarter earlier. The graph below displays the number of hedge funds with bullish position in BUSE over the last 15 quarters. With hedgies' positions undergoing their usual ebb and flow, there exists a select group of notable hedge fund managers who were adding to their holdings substantially (or already accumulated large positions). When looking at the institutional investors followed by Insider Monkey, Jim Simons'sRenaissance Technologieshas the biggest position in First Busey Corporation (NASDAQ:BUSE), worth close to $23.4 million, comprising less than 0.1%% of its total 13F portfolio. Coming in second isBasswood Capital, led by Matthew Lindenbaum, holding a $2.9 million position; 0.2% of its 13F portfolio is allocated to the company. Other members of the smart money that are bullish include D. E. Shaw'sD E Shaw, Israel Englander'sMillennium Managementand Cliff Asness'sAQR Capital Management. As one would reasonably expect, specific money managers have been driving this bullishness.ExodusPoint Capital, managed by Michael Gelband, initiated the most outsized position in First Busey Corporation (NASDAQ:BUSE). ExodusPoint Capital had $0.5 million invested in the company at the end of the quarter. David Harding'sWinton Capital Managementalso made a $0.3 million investment in the stock during the quarter. Let's now review hedge fund activity in other stocks - not necessarily in the same industry as First Busey Corporation (NASDAQ:BUSE) but similarly valued. We will take a look at SPX FLOW, Inc. (NYSE:FLOW), NovaGold Resources Inc. (NYSEAMEX:NG), Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE:ABG), and Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida (NASDAQ:SBCF). This group of stocks' market caps resemble BUSE's market cap. [table] Ticker, No of HFs with positions, Total Value of HF Positions (x1000), Change in HF Position FLOW,20,154898,0 NG,13,168145,-6 ABG,15,193748,-1 SBCF,8,44815,2 Average,14,140402,-1.25 [/table] View table hereif you experience formatting issues. As you can see these stocks had an average of 14 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $140 million. That figure was $35 million in BUSE's case. SPX FLOW, Inc. (NYSE:FLOW) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida (NASDAQ:SBCF) is the least popular one with only 8 bullish hedge fund positions. First Busey Corporation (NASDAQ:BUSE) is not the least popular stock in this group but hedge fund interest is still below average. Our calculations showed thattop 20 most popular stocksamong hedge funds returned 6.2% in Q2 through June 19th and outperformed the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) by nearly 3 percentage points. A small number of hedge funds were also right about betting on BUSE as the stock returned 7.3% during the same time frame and outperformed the market by an even larger margin. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published atInsider Monkey. Related Content • How to Best Use Insider Monkey To Increase Your Returns • Billionaire Ken Fisher’s Top Dividend Stock Picks • 30 Stocks Billionaires Are Crazy About: Insider Monkey Billionaire Stock Index
Did Hedge Funds Drop The Ball On NovaGold Resources Inc. (NG) ? The latest 13F reporting period has come and gone, and Insider Monkey is again at the forefront when it comes to making use of this gold mine of data. We have processed the filings of the more than 700 world-class investment firms that we track and now have access to the collective wisdom contained in these filings, which are based on their March 31 holdings, data that is available nowhere else. Should you consider NovaGold Resources Inc. (NYSEAMEX:NG) for your portfolio? We'll look to this invaluable collective wisdom for the answer. IsNovaGold Resources Inc. (NYSEAMEX:NG)a buy right now? Prominent investors are turning less bullish. The number of long hedge fund positions fell by 6 lately. Our calculations also showed that NG isn't among the30 most popular stocks among hedge funds. So, why do we pay attention to hedge fund sentiment before making any investment decisions? Our research has shown that hedge funds' small-cap stock picks managed to beat the market by double digits annually between 1999 and 2016, but the margin of outperformance has been declining in recent years. Nevertheless, we were still able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that outperformed the market by 40 percentage points since May 2014 through May 30, 2019 (see the details here). We were also able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that underperformed the market by 10 percentage points annually between 2006 and 2017. Interestingly the margin of underperformance of these stocks has been increasing in recent years. Investors who are long the market and short these stocks would have returned more than 27% annually between 2015 and 2017. We have been tracking and sharing the list of these stocks since February 2017 in our quarterly newsletter. Even if you aren't comfortable with shorting stocks, you should at least avoid initiating long positions in our short portfolio. Let's take a look at the recent hedge fund action regarding NovaGold Resources Inc. (NYSEAMEX:NG). At Q1's end, a total of 13 of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey held long positions in this stock, a change of -32% from the fourth quarter of 2018. On the other hand, there were a total of 14 hedge funds with a bullish position in NG a year ago. With hedgies' capital changing hands, there exists an "upper tier" of notable hedge fund managers who were adding to their stakes meaningfully (or already accumulated large positions). Among these funds,Paulson & Coheld the most valuable stake in NovaGold Resources Inc. (NYSEAMEX:NG), which was worth $91.7 million at the end of the first quarter. On the second spot was Empyrean Capital Partners which amassed $21.7 million worth of shares. Moreover, Moore Global Investments, Kopernik Global Investors, and Levin Capital Strategies were also bullish on NovaGold Resources Inc. (NYSEAMEX:NG), allocating a large percentage of their portfolios to this stock. Seeing as NovaGold Resources Inc. (NYSEAMEX:NG) has witnessed declining sentiment from the entirety of the hedge funds we track, it's easy to see that there exists a select few hedge funds that decided to sell off their full holdings last quarter. It's worth mentioning that Marc Lisker, Glenn Fuhrman and John Phelan'sMSDC Managementdropped the largest investment of all the hedgies watched by Insider Monkey, totaling about $16.7 million in stock. Peter Rathjens, Bruce Clarke and John Campbell's fund,Arrowstreet Capital, also cut its stock, about $5.3 million worth. These transactions are intriguing to say the least, as total hedge fund interest fell by 6 funds last quarter. Let's now take a look at hedge fund activity in other stocks - not necessarily in the same industry as NovaGold Resources Inc. (NYSEAMEX:NG) but similarly valued. We will take a look at Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE:ABG), Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida (NASDAQ:SBCF), McDermott International, Inc. (NYSE:MDR), and Weight Watchers International, Inc. (NASDAQ:WW). All of these stocks' market caps are similar to NG's market cap. [table] Ticker, No of HFs with positions, Total Value of HF Positions (x1000), Change in HF Position ABG,15,193748,-1 SBCF,8,44815,2 MDR,22,169071,-1 WW,20,210108,-3 Average,16.25,154436,-0.75 [/table] View table hereif you experience formatting issues. As you can see these stocks had an average of 16.25 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $154 million. That figure was $168 million in NG's case. McDermott International, Inc. (NYSE:MDR) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida (NASDAQ:SBCF) is the least popular one with only 8 bullish hedge fund positions. NovaGold Resources Inc. (NYSEAMEX:NG) is not the least popular stock in this group but hedge fund interest is still below average. Our calculations showed thattop 20 most popular stocksamong hedge funds returned 6.2% in Q2 through June 19th and outperformed the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) by nearly 3 percentage points. A small number of hedge funds were also right about betting on NG as the stock returned 18.5% during the same time frame and outperformed the market by an even larger margin. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published atInsider Monkey. Related Content • How to Best Use Insider Monkey To Increase Your Returns • Billionaire Ken Fisher’s Top Dividend Stock Picks • 30 Stocks Billionaires Are Crazy About: Insider Monkey Billionaire Stock Index
‘The View’ Co-Host Meghan McCain On Biden Attacks: “Ageist Crap, I Hate It” Click here to read the full article. Joe Biden took some flak from California Representative Eric Swalwell in Thursday night’s Democratic presidential debate on his age. That didn’t sit well with The View co-host Meghan McCain . The 76-year-old Biden, perceived as the Democrat presidential nomination front-runner at this early stage of campaigning, was a target several times during the debates. But Swalwell honed in on one particular issue. Related stories Popular Joe Biden Website Reportedly Started By Trump Operative Democratic Debate Night 2 Viewership Hits All-Time Debate High For Party Of FDR, JFK & HRC - Update Democratic Debate Night 2 Review: Joe Biden Takes A Beating But Keeps On Tickin', Kamala Harris Comes Out Swinging On NBC Stage “I was six-years-old when a presidential candidate came to the California Democratic Convention and said it’s time to pass the torch to a new generation of Americans,” Swalwell said. “That candidate was then-Senator Joe Biden. Joe Biden was right when he said it was time to pass the torch to a new generation of Americans 32-years-ago. He’s still right today.” Biden deflected the comment, noting he’s not ready to pass the torch, but not before a verbal brawl broke out that led to the defining moment of the debate, when Kamala Harris said that the public wasn’t interested in a “food fight.” McCain said on Friday’s The View that Swalwell was using “ageist crap” to attack Biden. “Did (Biden) have the greatest night he’s ever had debating? No. Did it change my opinion of him? No,” McCain said. “But I will say, Eric Swalwell with this ageist crap, I hate it. I work with women of all ages. I want experience and people who know how Washington works and who have served and have a life and experience they can bring that to the White House. I thought Pete Buttigieg looked real young last night and real green. And Eric Swalwell, take a seat, you’re an asterisk on the end, Ok?” Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter . For the latest news, follow us on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram .
Lam Research (LRCX) Outpaces Stock Market Gains: What You Should Know Lam Research (LRCX) closed at $187.84 in the latest trading session, marking a +0.92% move from the prior day. This move outpaced the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.58%. Elsewhere, the Dow gained 0.28%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq added 0.48%. Heading into today, shares of the semiconductor equipment maker had gained 4.2% over the past month, outpacing the Computer and Technology sector's gain of 3.51% and the S&P 500's gain of 3.62% in that time. LRCX will be looking to display strength as it nears its next earnings release. On that day, LRCX is projected to report earnings of $3.40 per share, which would represent a year-over-year decline of 35.97%. Our most recent consensus estimate is calling for quarterly revenue of $2.35 billion, down 24.82% from the year-ago period. For the full year, our Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $14.33 per share and revenue of $9.64 billion, which would represent changes of -19.81% and -12.95%, respectively, from the prior year. Investors should also note any recent changes to analyst estimates for LRCX. These revisions typically reflect the latest short-term business trends, which can change frequently. With this in mind, we can consider positive estimate revisions a sign of optimism about the company's business outlook. Based on our research, we believe these estimate revisions are directly related to near-team stock moves. To benefit from this, we have developed the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model which takes these estimate changes into account and provides an actionable rating system. The Zacks Rank system, which ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 0.01% higher. LRCX currently has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold). In terms of valuation, LRCX is currently trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 12.99. This represents a discount compared to its industry's average Forward P/E of 15.02. Also, we should mention that LRCX has a PEG ratio of 1.08. The PEG ratio is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but this metric also takes the company's expected earnings growth rate into account. The Semiconductor Equipment - Wafer Fabrication industry currently had an average PEG ratio of 2.04 as of yesterday's close. The Semiconductor Equipment - Wafer Fabrication industry is part of the Computer and Technology sector. This group has a Zacks Industry Rank of 192, putting it in the bottom 25% of all 250+ industries. The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1. Be sure to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and many more, on Zacks.com. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.Click to get this free reportLam Research Corporation (LRCX) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Iron Mountain (IRM) Outpaces Stock Market Gains: What You Should Know In the latest trading session, Iron Mountain (IRM) closed at $31.28, marking a +1.3% move from the previous day. This change outpaced the S&P 500's 0.58% gain on the day. At the same time, the Dow added 0.28%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 0.48%. Coming into today, shares of the real estate investment trust had gained 0.29% in the past month. In that same time, the Finance sector gained 2.46%, while the S&P 500 gained 3.62%. Wall Street will be looking for positivity from IRM as it approaches its next earnings report date. In that report, analysts expect IRM to post earnings of $0.51 per share. This would mark a year-over-year decline of 8.93%. Meanwhile, our latest consensus estimate is calling for revenue of $1.07 billion, up 0.76% from the prior-year quarter. IRM's full-year Zacks Consensus Estimates are calling for earnings of $2.22 per share and revenue of $4.31 billion. These results would represent year-over-year changes of -3.48% and +1.92%, respectively. Any recent changes to analyst estimates for IRM should also be noted by investors. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the company's business outlook. Research indicates that these estimate revisions are directly correlated with near-term share price momentum. To benefit from this, we have developed the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model which takes these estimate changes into account and provides an actionable rating system. The Zacks Rank system ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell). It has a remarkable, outside-audited track record of success, with #1 stocks delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 0.76% lower within the past month. IRM is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #4 (Sell). In terms of valuation, IRM is currently trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 13.9. This represents a discount compared to its industry's average Forward P/E of 14.94. It is also worth noting that IRM currently has a PEG ratio of 3.45. The PEG ratio is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but this metric also takes the company's expected earnings growth rate into account. The REIT and Equity Trust - Other was holding an average PEG ratio of 2.88 at yesterday's closing price. The REIT and Equity Trust - Other industry is part of the Finance sector. This industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 77, which puts it in the top 31% of all 250+ industries. The Zacks Industry Rank includes is listed in order from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1. You can find more information on all of these metrics, and much more, on Zacks.com. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.Click to get this free reportIron Mountain Incorporated (IRM) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Pinterest (PINS) Stock Sinks As Market Gains: What You Should Know In the latest trading session, Pinterest (PINS) closed at $27.22, marking a -0.04% move from the previous day. This change lagged the S&P 500's 0.58% gain on the day. At the same time, the Dow added 0.28%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 0.48%. Coming into today, shares of the digital pinboard and shopping tool company had gained 6.74% in the past month. In that same time, the Computer and Technology sector gained 3.51%, while the S&P 500 gained 3.62%. Wall Street will be looking for positivity from PINS as it approaches its next earnings report date. Investors should also note any recent changes to analyst estimates for PINS. These revisions help to show the ever-changing nature of near-term business trends. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the company's business outlook. Based on our research, we believe these estimate revisions are directly related to near-team stock moves. To benefit from this, we have developed the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model which takes these estimate changes into account and provides an actionable rating system. Ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), the Zacks Rank system has a proven, outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988. The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 3.03% higher within the past month. PINS currently has a Zacks Rank of #4 (Sell). The Internet - Software industry is part of the Computer and Technology sector. This industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 101, which puts it in the top 40% of all 250+ industries. The Zacks Industry Rank includes is listed in order from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1. Be sure to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and many more, on Zacks.com. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.Click to get this free reportPinterest, Inc. (PINS) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Autodesk (ADSK) Stock Sinks As Market Gains: What You Should Know Autodesk (ADSK) closed at $162.90 in the latest trading session, marking a -1.42% move from the prior day. This change lagged the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.58%. At the same time, the Dow added 0.28%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 0.48%. Prior to today's trading, shares of the design software company had gained 1.62% over the past month. This has lagged the Computer and Technology sector's gain of 3.51% and the S&P 500's gain of 3.62% in that time. ADSK will be looking to display strength as it nears its next earnings release. The company is expected to report EPS of $0.61, up 221.05% from the prior-year quarter. Meanwhile, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenue is projecting net sales of $787.43 million, up 28.73% from the year-ago period. Looking at the full year, our Zacks Consensus Estimates suggest analysts are expecting earnings of $2.82 per share and revenue of $3.28 billion. These totals would mark changes of +179.21% and +27.57%, respectively, from last year. Investors should also note any recent changes to analyst estimates for ADSK. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. With this in mind, we can consider positive estimate revisions a sign of optimism about the company's business outlook. Based on our research, we believe these estimate revisions are directly related to near-team stock moves. Investors can capitalize on this by using the Zacks Rank. This model considers these estimate changes and provides a simple, actionable rating system. The Zacks Rank system, which ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 0.4% lower. ADSK is currently a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). Digging into valuation, ADSK currently has a Forward P/E ratio of 58.6. For comparison, its industry has an average Forward P/E of 29.58, which means ADSK is trading at a premium to the group. Also, we should mention that ADSK has a PEG ratio of 1.54. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into account the stock's expected earnings growth rate. The Computer - Software was holding an average PEG ratio of 2.14 at yesterday's closing price. The Computer - Software industry is part of the Computer and Technology sector. This industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 102, which puts it in the top 40% of all 250+ industries. The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our individual industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1. You can find more information on all of these metrics, and much more, on Zacks.com. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.Click to get this free reportAutodesk, Inc. (ADSK) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
Fly Leasing (FLY) Gains But Lags Market: What You Should Know Fly Leasing (FLY) closed at $17.41 in the latest trading session, marking a +0.12% move from the prior day. The stock lagged the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.58%. At the same time, the Dow added 0.28%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 0.48%. Coming into today, shares of the commercial aircraft leasing company had gained 5.08% in the past month. In that same time, the Transportation sector gained 2.29%, while the S&P 500 gained 3.62%. Wall Street will be looking for positivity from FLY as it approaches its next earnings report date. This is expected to be August 22, 2019. On that day, FLY is projected to report earnings of $1.45 per share, which would represent year-over-year growth of 61.11%. Our most recent consensus estimate is calling for quarterly revenue of $142.91 million, up 39.19% from the year-ago period. FLY's full-year Zacks Consensus Estimates are calling for earnings of $3.93 per share and revenue of $486.52 million. These results would represent year-over-year changes of +36.46% and +16.31%, respectively. Any recent changes to analyst estimates for FLY should also be noted by investors. These revisions help to show the ever-changing nature of near-term business trends. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the company's business outlook. Based on our research, we believe these estimate revisions are directly related to near-team stock moves. Investors can capitalize on this by using the Zacks Rank. This model considers these estimate changes and provides a simple, actionable rating system. Ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), the Zacks Rank system has a proven, outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988. The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate remained stagnant within the past month. FLY currently has a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy). In terms of valuation, FLY is currently trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 4.43. For comparison, its industry has an average Forward P/E of 9.37, which means FLY is trading at a discount to the group. The Transportation - Equipment and Leasing industry is part of the Transportation sector. This group has a Zacks Industry Rank of 33, putting it in the top 13% of all 250+ industries. The Zacks Industry Rank includes is listed in order from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1. Make sure to utilize Zacks. Com to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and more, in the coming trading sessions. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.Click to get this free reportFly Leasing Limited (FLY) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Intuit (INTU) Outpaces Stock Market Gains: What You Should Know In the latest trading session, Intuit (INTU) closed at $261.33, marking a +1.29% move from the previous day. This change outpaced the S&P 500's 0.58% gain on the day. At the same time, the Dow added 0.28%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 0.48%. Prior to today's trading, shares of the maker of TurboTax, QuickBooks and other accounting software had gained 3.99% over the past month. This has outpaced the Computer and Technology sector's gain of 3.51% and the S&P 500's gain of 3.62% in that time. Wall Street will be looking for positivity from INTU as it approaches its next earnings report date. In that report, analysts expect INTU to post earnings of -$0.14 per share. This would mark a year-over-year decline of 143.75%. Our most recent consensus estimate is calling for quarterly revenue of $961.37 million, down 2.69% from the year-ago period. INTU's full-year Zacks Consensus Estimates are calling for earnings of $6.70 per share and revenue of $6.75 billion. These results would represent year-over-year changes of +19.43% and +13.2%, respectively. Investors should also note any recent changes to analyst estimates for INTU. These revisions typically reflect the latest short-term business trends, which can change frequently. As such, positive estimate revisions reflect analyst optimism about the company's business and profitability. Research indicates that these estimate revisions are directly correlated with near-term share price momentum. Investors can capitalize on this by using the Zacks Rank. This model considers these estimate changes and provides a simple, actionable rating system. The Zacks Rank system ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell). It has a remarkable, outside-audited track record of success, with #1 stocks delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Within the past 30 days, our consensus EPS projection remained stagnant. INTU is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy). Digging into valuation, INTU currently has a Forward P/E ratio of 38.53. Its industry sports an average Forward P/E of 29.58, so we one might conclude that INTU is trading at a premium comparatively. Investors should also note that INTU has a PEG ratio of 2.4 right now. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into account the stock's expected earnings growth rate. Computer - Software stocks are, on average, holding a PEG ratio of 2.14 based on yesterday's closing prices. The Computer - Software industry is part of the Computer and Technology sector. This group has a Zacks Industry Rank of 102, putting it in the top 40% of all 250+ industries. The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our individual industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1. You can find more information on all of these metrics, and much more, on Zacks.com. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.Click to get this free reportIntuit Inc. (INTU) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
Lockheed Martin (LMT) Outpaces Stock Market Gains: What You Should Know Lockheed Martin (LMT) closed at $363.43 in the latest trading session, marking a +1.21% move from the prior day. The stock outpaced the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.58%. Elsewhere, the Dow gained 0.28%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq added 0.48%. Prior to today's trading, shares of the aerospace and defense company had gained 5.01% over the past month. This has lagged the Aerospace sector's gain of 6.3% and outpaced the S&P 500's gain of 3.62% in that time. Wall Street will be looking for positivity from LMT as it approaches its next earnings report date. In that report, analysts expect LMT to post earnings of $4.72 per share. This would mark year-over-year growth of 9.51%. Meanwhile, our latest consensus estimate is calling for revenue of $14.16 billion, up 5.67% from the prior-year quarter. For the full year, our Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $20.50 per share and revenue of $58 billion, which would represent changes of +16.54% and +7.88%, respectively, from the prior year. Investors might also notice recent changes to analyst estimates for LMT. These revisions help to show the ever-changing nature of near-term business trends. As such, positive estimate revisions reflect analyst optimism about the company's business and profitability. Our research shows that these estimate changes are directly correlated with near-term stock prices. We developed the Zacks Rank to capitalize on this phenomenon. Our system takes these estimate changes into account and delivers a clear, actionable rating model. The Zacks Rank system ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell). It has a remarkable, outside-audited track record of success, with #1 stocks delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 0.14% lower. LMT is holding a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold) right now. Looking at its valuation, LMT is holding a Forward P/E ratio of 17.52. For comparison, its industry has an average Forward P/E of 16.4, which means LMT is trading at a premium to the group. Also, we should mention that LMT has a PEG ratio of 2.49. The PEG ratio is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but this metric also takes the company's expected earnings growth rate into account. The Aerospace - Defense industry currently had an average PEG ratio of 1.91 as of yesterday's close. The Aerospace - Defense industry is part of the Aerospace sector. This group has a Zacks Industry Rank of 49, putting it in the top 20% of all 250+ industries. The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our individual industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1. To follow LMT in the coming trading sessions, be sure to utilize Zacks.com. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.Click to get this free reportLockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Nordstrom (JWN) Outpaces Stock Market Gains: What You Should Know Nordstrom (JWN) closed the most recent trading day at $31.85, moving +1.27% from the previous trading session. The stock outpaced the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.58%. Meanwhile, the Dow gained 0.28%, and the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, added 0.48%. Prior to today's trading, shares of the department store operator had lost 3.14% over the past month. This has lagged the Retail-Wholesale sector's gain of 5.69% and the S&P 500's gain of 3.62% in that time. JWN will be looking to display strength as it nears its next earnings release. The company is expected to report EPS of $0.80, down 15.79% from the prior-year quarter. Meanwhile, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenue is projecting net sales of $3.94 billion, down 3.04% from the year-ago period. For the full year, our Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $3.34 per share and revenue of $15.58 billion, which would represent changes of -5.92% and -1.75%, respectively, from the prior year. It is also important to note the recent changes to analyst estimates for JWN. These recent revisions tend to reflect the evolving nature of short-term business trends. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the company's business outlook. Research indicates that these estimate revisions are directly correlated with near-term share price momentum. Investors can capitalize on this by using the Zacks Rank. This model considers these estimate changes and provides a simple, actionable rating system. Ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), the Zacks Rank system has a proven, outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 0.27% lower. JWN is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #5 (Strong Sell). Looking at its valuation, JWN is holding a Forward P/E ratio of 9.42. This represents a discount compared to its industry's average Forward P/E of 11.82. Investors should also note that JWN has a PEG ratio of 1.57 right now. The PEG ratio is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but this metric also takes the company's expected earnings growth rate into account. The Retail - Apparel and Shoes industry currently had an average PEG ratio of 1.15 as of yesterday's close. The Retail - Apparel and Shoes industry is part of the Retail-Wholesale sector. This industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 98, which puts it in the top 39% of all 250+ industries. The Zacks Industry Rank includes is listed in order from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1. To follow JWN in the coming trading sessions, be sure to utilize Zacks.com. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.Click to get this free reportNordstrom, Inc. (JWN) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Molina (MOH) Outpaces Stock Market Gains: What You Should Know Molina (MOH) closed at $142.87 in the latest trading session, marking a +1.08% move from the prior day. The stock outpaced the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.58%. At the same time, the Dow added 0.28%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 0.48%. Coming into today, shares of the provider of Medicaid-related services had gained 4.88% in the past month. In that same time, the Medical sector gained 3.02%, while the S&P 500 gained 3.62%. Wall Street will be looking for positivity from MOH as it approaches its next earnings report date. On that day, MOH is projected to report earnings of $2.56 per share, which would represent year-over-year growth of 13.78%. Our most recent consensus estimate is calling for quarterly revenue of $4.08 billion, down 16.49% from the year-ago period. MOH's full-year Zacks Consensus Estimates are calling for earnings of $10.93 per share and revenue of $16.39 billion. These results would represent year-over-year changes of +3.02% and -13.24%, respectively. Any recent changes to analyst estimates for MOH should also be noted by investors. These revisions help to show the ever-changing nature of near-term business trends. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the company's business outlook. Based on our research, we believe these estimate revisions are directly related to near-team stock moves. Investors can capitalize on this by using the Zacks Rank. This model considers these estimate changes and provides a simple, actionable rating system. Ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), the Zacks Rank system has a proven, outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988. The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 0.05% higher within the past month. MOH currently has a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy). In terms of valuation, MOH is currently trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 12.93. For comparison, its industry has an average Forward P/E of 14.89, which means MOH is trading at a discount to the group. Meanwhile, MOH's PEG ratio is currently 0.98. This popular metric is similar to the widely-known P/E ratio, with the difference being that the PEG ratio also takes into account the company's expected earnings growth rate. MOH's industry had an average PEG ratio of 1.03 as of yesterday's close. The Medical - HMOs industry is part of the Medical sector. This industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 18, which puts it in the top 8% of all 250+ industries. The Zacks Industry Rank includes is listed in order from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1. To follow MOH in the coming trading sessions, be sure to utilize Zacks.com. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.Click to get this free reportMolina Healthcare, Inc (MOH) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
Weibo Corporation (WB) Stock Sinks As Market Gains: What You Should Know In the latest trading session, Weibo Corporation (WB) closed at $43.55, marking a -0.8% move from the previous day. This change lagged the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.58%. At the same time, the Dow added 0.28%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 0.48%. Coming into today, shares of the company had gained 4.47% in the past month. In that same time, the Computer and Technology sector gained 3.51%, while the S&P 500 gained 3.62%. Investors will be hoping for strength from WB as it approaches its next earnings release. In that report, analysts expect WB to post earnings of $0.65 per share. This would mark a year-over-year decline of 4.41%. Meanwhile, our latest consensus estimate is calling for revenue of $429.69 million, up 0.73% from the prior-year quarter. WB's full-year Zacks Consensus Estimates are calling for earnings of $2.82 per share and revenue of $1.90 billion. These results would represent year-over-year changes of +3.3% and +10.52%, respectively. Investors should also note any recent changes to analyst estimates for WB. These revisions typically reflect the latest short-term business trends, which can change frequently. As such, positive estimate revisions reflect analyst optimism about the company's business and profitability. Research indicates that these estimate revisions are directly correlated with near-term share price momentum. Investors can capitalize on this by using the Zacks Rank. This model considers these estimate changes and provides a simple, actionable rating system. The Zacks Rank system, which ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate remained stagnant. WB is currently a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). Investors should also note WB's current valuation metrics, including its Forward P/E ratio of 15.55. For comparison, its industry has an average Forward P/E of 26.25, which means WB is trading at a discount to the group. It is also worth noting that WB currently has a PEG ratio of 0.74. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into account the stock's expected earnings growth rate. The Internet - Content was holding an average PEG ratio of 0.91 at yesterday's closing price. The Internet - Content industry is part of the Computer and Technology sector. This group has a Zacks Industry Rank of 102, putting it in the top 40% of all 250+ industries. The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our individual industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1. Make sure to utilize Zacks. Com to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and more, in the coming trading sessions. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.Click to get this free reportWeibo Corporation (WB) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
Jony Ive, the designer behind the iPhone, is leaving Apple SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — In a story June 27 about Jony Ive leaving Apple and an Aug. 26, 2011, profile on Ive, The Associated Press reported erroneously that he had founded a design company called Tangerine. Ive was among the first employees at Tangerine, but didn't start the company. A corrected version of the story is below: Jony Ive, the designer behind the iPhone, is leaving Apple Famed Apple design chief Jony Ive will leave the company this year SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The man behind the iconic designs of the iPhone, iMac and iPad is leaving Apple. Chief Design Officer Jony Ive is departing after more than two decades at Apple to start his own design firm, the company said Thursday. But he's not completely severing ties with the company he has worked at for nearly 30 years. Apple said it will be one of Ive's clients at his new firm. The Cupertino, California, company did not give an exact date for his departure. Ive has been a fixture on Apple's design team since the early 1990s and is known for shaping Apple's signature rounded, stylish designs. He is often pointed to as the visionary behind what set Apple apart from its competitors — technology that didn't just look like boxes of wires, but that was fashionable and trendy. Ive joined the company in 1992 as a young senior designer. Apple's co-founder and longtime leader Steve Jobs was in the midst of his 12-year exile at the time, and upon his return he named Ive senior vice president of industrial design. The pair were known to work closely together in the decades before Jobs' death in 2011 — once, Jobs referred to Ive as his "spiritual partner." Walter Isaacson, who wrote the 2011 biography "Steve Jobs," quotes the Jobs describing Ive as "wickedly intelligent in all ways." "He gets the big picture as well as the most infinitesimal details about each product. And he understands that Apple is a product company. He is not just a designer," Jobs told Isaacson. "He has more operational power than anyone else at Apple except me." Story continues The name for Ive's new design company, LoveFrom, comes from something Jobs once said to him, Ive told the Financial Times in an interview published Thursday. Jobs said making something with "love and care" was a fundamental component and doing so meant you were "expressing your gratitude to humanity, to the species." "I so identified with that motivation and was moved by his description," Ive said. Ive, Isaacson wrote, is a fan of the German industrial designer Dieter Rams, who "preached the gospel of 'less but better.'" Apple's designs, led by Ive, have become synonymous with elegant simplicity. "Simplicity isn't just a visual style," Ive told Isaacson. "It's not just minimalism or the absence of clutter. It involves digging through the depth of the complexity. To be truly simple, you have to go really deep." Ive was eventually promoted to his head of design role, where he shaped the simplistic and people-friendly phones and computers for which Apple has become known. Ive had a say in it all, from the bright, rounded iMacs of the 1990s to the sleek, silver and black iPhones of today. In more recent years, Ive put part of his focus into designing the company's giant spaceship-like campus, Apple Park. Ive, who grew up outside London, was knighted at Buckingham Palace in 2012. He studied design at Newcastle Polytechnic (now Northumbria University) in Newcastle, England, and was among the first employees at a design company called Tangerine — work that would lead him to Apple. He won't be immediately replaced. Two of his deputies will report directly to the company's chief operating officer, Jeff Williams, who has led the development of the Apple Watch.
Alibaba (BABA) Stock Sinks As Market Gains: What You Should Know Alibaba (BABA) closed at $169.44 in the latest trading session, marking a -0.85% move from the prior day. This change lagged the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.58%. At the same time, the Dow added 0.28%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 0.48%. Prior to today's trading, shares of the online retailer had gained 13.13% over the past month. This has outpaced the Retail-Wholesale sector's gain of 5.69% and the S&P 500's gain of 3.62% in that time. Investors will be hoping for strength from BABA as it approaches its next earnings release. The company is expected to report EPS of $1.44, up 18.03% from the prior-year quarter. Our most recent consensus estimate is calling for quarterly revenue of $16.52 billion, up 35.13% from the year-ago period. For the full year, our Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $6.42 per share and revenue of $74.48 billion, which would represent changes of +12.24% and +33.92%, respectively, from the prior year. Investors should also note any recent changes to analyst estimates for BABA. These recent revisions tend to reflect the evolving nature of short-term business trends. As such, positive estimate revisions reflect analyst optimism about the company's business and profitability. Research indicates that these estimate revisions are directly correlated with near-term share price momentum. We developed the Zacks Rank to capitalize on this phenomenon. Our system takes these estimate changes into account and delivers a clear, actionable rating model. Ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), the Zacks Rank system has a proven, outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988. The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate remained stagnant within the past month. BABA currently has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold). Valuation is also important, so investors should note that BABA has a Forward P/E ratio of 26.62 right now. For comparison, its industry has an average Forward P/E of 27.36, which means BABA is trading at a discount to the group. Also, we should mention that BABA has a PEG ratio of 0.99. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into account the stock's expected earnings growth rate. BABA's industry had an average PEG ratio of 1.79 as of yesterday's close. The Internet - Commerce industry is part of the Retail-Wholesale sector. This industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 170, which puts it in the bottom 34% of all 250+ industries. The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our individual industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1. Make sure to utilize Zacks. Com to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and more, in the coming trading sessions. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.Click to get this free reportAlibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Atlassian Corporation PLC (TEAM) Stock Sinks As Market Gains: What You Should Know Atlassian Corporation PLC (TEAM) closed at $130.84 in the latest trading session, marking a -0.15% move from the prior day. This change lagged the S&P 500's 0.58% gain on the day. Meanwhile, the Dow gained 0.28%, and the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, added 0.48%. Heading into today, shares of the company had gained 3.82% over the past month, outpacing the Computer and Technology sector's gain of 3.51% and the S&P 500's gain of 3.62% in that time. TEAM will be looking to display strength as it nears its next earnings release. In that report, analysts expect TEAM to post earnings of $0.16 per share. This would mark year-over-year growth of 23.08%. Our most recent consensus estimate is calling for quarterly revenue of $330.53 million, up 35.59% from the year-ago period. For the full year, our Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $0.82 per share and revenue of $1.21 billion, which would represent changes of +67.35% and +38%, respectively, from the prior year. Investors should also note any recent changes to analyst estimates for TEAM. These revisions help to show the ever-changing nature of near-term business trends. As such, positive estimate revisions reflect analyst optimism about the company's business and profitability. Based on our research, we believe these estimate revisions are directly related to near-team stock moves. Investors can capitalize on this by using the Zacks Rank. This model considers these estimate changes and provides a simple, actionable rating system. Ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), the Zacks Rank system has a proven, outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988. Within the past 30 days, our consensus EPS projection remained stagnant. TEAM is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold). Digging into valuation, TEAM currently has a Forward P/E ratio of 160.46. This represents a premium compared to its industry's average Forward P/E of 63.24. It is also worth noting that TEAM currently has a PEG ratio of 8.78. The PEG ratio is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but this metric also takes the company's expected earnings growth rate into account. Internet - Software stocks are, on average, holding a PEG ratio of 2.8 based on yesterday's closing prices. The Internet - Software industry is part of the Computer and Technology sector. This industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 101, which puts it in the top 40% of all 250+ industries. The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our individual industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1. To follow TEAM in the coming trading sessions, be sure to utilize Zacks.com. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.Click to get this free reportAtlassian Corporation PLC (TEAM) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Amgen (AMGN) Gains But Lags Market: What You Should Know Amgen (AMGN) closed the most recent trading day at $184.28, moving +0.14% from the previous trading session. This move lagged the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.58%. At the same time, the Dow added 0.28%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 0.48%. Prior to today's trading, shares of the world's largest biotech drugmaker had gained 8.86% over the past month. This has outpaced the Medical sector's gain of 3.02% and the S&P 500's gain of 3.62% in that time. Investors will be hoping for strength from AMGN as it approaches its next earnings release. On that day, AMGN is projected to report earnings of $3.59 per share, which would represent a year-over-year decline of 6.27%. Our most recent consensus estimate is calling for quarterly revenue of $5.66 billion, down 6.63% from the year-ago period. Looking at the full year, our Zacks Consensus Estimates suggest analysts are expecting earnings of $13.92 per share and revenue of $22.58 billion. These totals would mark changes of -3.33% and -4.94%, respectively, from last year. Any recent changes to analyst estimates for AMGN should also be noted by investors. These revisions typically reflect the latest short-term business trends, which can change frequently. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the company's business outlook. Research indicates that these estimate revisions are directly correlated with near-term share price momentum. We developed the Zacks Rank to capitalize on this phenomenon. Our system takes these estimate changes into account and delivers a clear, actionable rating model. The Zacks Rank system ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell). It has a remarkable, outside-audited track record of success, with #1 stocks delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Within the past 30 days, our consensus EPS projection has moved 0.2% lower. AMGN is currently a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). In terms of valuation, AMGN is currently trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 13.23. This represents a discount compared to its industry's average Forward P/E of 23.78. It is also worth noting that AMGN currently has a PEG ratio of 2.24. The PEG ratio is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but this metric also takes the company's expected earnings growth rate into account. The Medical - Biomedical and Genetics industry currently had an average PEG ratio of 2.06 as of yesterday's close. The Medical - Biomedical and Genetics industry is part of the Medical sector. This group has a Zacks Industry Rank of 67, putting it in the top 27% of all 250+ industries. The Zacks Industry Rank includes is listed in order from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1. Be sure to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and many more, on Zacks.com. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.Click to get this free reportAmgen Inc. (AMGN) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Splunk (SPLK) Outpaces Stock Market Gains: What You Should Know Splunk (SPLK) closed at $125.75 in the latest trading session, marking a +1.22% move from the prior day. This change outpaced the S&P 500's 0.58% gain on the day. At the same time, the Dow added 0.28%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 0.48%. Coming into today, shares of the maker of software that helps companies collect and analyze internal data had gained 5.64% in the past month. In that same time, the Computer and Technology sector gained 3.51%, while the S&P 500 gained 3.62%. Investors will be hoping for strength from SPLK as it approaches its next earnings release. On that day, SPLK is projected to report earnings of $0.12 per share, which would represent year-over-year growth of 50%. Meanwhile, our latest consensus estimate is calling for revenue of $486.70 million, up 25.34% from the prior-year quarter. SPLK's full-year Zacks Consensus Estimates are calling for earnings of $1.80 per share and revenue of $2.26 billion. These results would represent year-over-year changes of +35.34% and +25.21%, respectively. It is also important to note the recent changes to analyst estimates for SPLK. These revisions typically reflect the latest short-term business trends, which can change frequently. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the company's business outlook. Our research shows that these estimate changes are directly correlated with near-term stock prices. To benefit from this, we have developed the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model which takes these estimate changes into account and provides an actionable rating system. The Zacks Rank system ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell). It has a remarkable, outside-audited track record of success, with #1 stocks delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate remained stagnant. SPLK is holding a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold) right now. In terms of valuation, SPLK is currently trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 68.96. This represents a premium compared to its industry's average Forward P/E of 63.24. Investors should also note that SPLK has a PEG ratio of 2.49 right now. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into account the stock's expected earnings growth rate. The Internet - Software was holding an average PEG ratio of 2.8 at yesterday's closing price. The Internet - Software industry is part of the Computer and Technology sector. This industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 101, which puts it in the top 40% of all 250+ industries. The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1. To follow SPLK in the coming trading sessions, be sure to utilize Zacks.com. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.Click to get this free reportSplunk Inc. (SPLK) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
Advanced Emissions Solutions (ADES) Outpaces Stock Market Gains: What You Should Know In the latest trading session, Advanced Emissions Solutions (ADES) closed at $12.64, marking a +1.69% move from the previous day. This change outpaced the S&P 500's 0.58% gain on the day. At the same time, the Dow added 0.28%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 0.48%. Coming into today, shares of the clean-coal technology company had gained 4.54% in the past month. In that same time, the Industrial Products sector gained 6.64%, while the S&P 500 gained 3.62%. Wall Street will be looking for positivity from ADES as it approaches its next earnings report date. In that report, analysts expect ADES to post earnings of $0.74 per share. This would mark a year-over-year decline of 1.33%. Our most recent consensus estimate is calling for quarterly revenue of $21.26 million, up 397.89% from the year-ago period. Looking at the full year, our Zacks Consensus Estimates suggest analysts are expecting earnings of $3.39 per share and revenue of $95.14 million. These totals would mark changes of +92.61% and +297.33%, respectively, from last year. Investors should also note any recent changes to analyst estimates for ADES. These recent revisions tend to reflect the evolving nature of short-term business trends. With this in mind, we can consider positive estimate revisions a sign of optimism about the company's business outlook. Based on our research, we believe these estimate revisions are directly related to near-team stock moves. To benefit from this, we have developed the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model which takes these estimate changes into account and provides an actionable rating system. Ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), the Zacks Rank system has a proven, outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988. The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate remained stagnant within the past month. ADES currently has a Zacks Rank of #4 (Sell). Valuation is also important, so investors should note that ADES has a Forward P/E ratio of 3.67 right now. Its industry sports an average Forward P/E of 25.15, so we one might conclude that ADES is trading at a discount comparatively. The Pollution Control industry is part of the Industrial Products sector. This group has a Zacks Industry Rank of 89, putting it in the top 35% of all 250+ industries. The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our individual industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1. You can find more information on all of these metrics, and much more, on Zacks.com. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.Click to get this free reportAdvanced Emissions Solutions, Inc. (ADES) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
Veeva Systems (VEEV) Outpaces Stock Market Gains: What You Should Know Veeva Systems (VEEV) closed the most recent trading day at $162.06, moving +0.97% from the previous trading session. This move outpaced the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.58%. Meanwhile, the Dow gained 0.28%, and the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, added 0.48%. Heading into today, shares of the provider of cloud-based software services for the life sciences industry had gained 4.02% over the past month, outpacing the Computer and Technology sector's gain of 3.51% and the S&P 500's gain of 3.62% in that time. Wall Street will be looking for positivity from VEEV as it approaches its next earnings report date. The company is expected to report EPS of $0.49, up 25.64% from the prior-year quarter. Meanwhile, our latest consensus estimate is calling for revenue of $259.31 million, up 23.71% from the prior-year quarter. For the full year, our Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $2.03 per share and revenue of $1.05 billion, which would represent changes of +24.54% and +21.89%, respectively, from the prior year. Investors might also notice recent changes to analyst estimates for VEEV. These recent revisions tend to reflect the evolving nature of short-term business trends. As such, positive estimate revisions reflect analyst optimism about the company's business and profitability. Research indicates that these estimate revisions are directly correlated with near-term share price momentum. Investors can capitalize on this by using the Zacks Rank. This model considers these estimate changes and provides a simple, actionable rating system. The Zacks Rank system, which ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 4.34% higher. VEEV currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy). Digging into valuation, VEEV currently has a Forward P/E ratio of 79.2. Its industry sports an average Forward P/E of 63.24, so we one might conclude that VEEV is trading at a premium comparatively. Story continues Investors should also note that VEEV has a PEG ratio of 5.18 right now. This popular metric is similar to the widely-known P/E ratio, with the difference being that the PEG ratio also takes into account the company's expected earnings growth rate. VEEV's industry had an average PEG ratio of 2.8 as of yesterday's close. The Internet - Software industry is part of the Computer and Technology sector. This group has a Zacks Industry Rank of 101, putting it in the top 40% of all 250+ industries. The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our individual industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1. Make sure to utilize Zacks. Com to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and more, in the coming trading sessions. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Veeva Systems Inc. (VEEV) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Geo Group (GEO) Outpaces Stock Market Gains: What You Should Know Geo Group (GEO) closed the most recent trading day at $21.01, moving +1.2% from the previous trading session. This change outpaced the S&P 500's 0.58% gain on the day. Meanwhile, the Dow gained 0.28%, and the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, added 0.48%. Prior to today's trading, shares of the private prison operator had lost 3.98% over the past month. This has lagged the Finance sector's gain of 2.46% and the S&P 500's gain of 3.62% in that time. Wall Street will be looking for positivity from GEO as it approaches its next earnings report date. On that day, GEO is projected to report earnings of $0.66 per share, which would represent year-over-year growth of 10%. Meanwhile, our latest consensus estimate is calling for revenue of $610.10 million, up 4.56% from the prior-year quarter. For the full year, our Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $2.68 per share and revenue of $2.48 billion, which would represent changes of +8.5% and +6.54%, respectively, from the prior year. Investors might also notice recent changes to analyst estimates for GEO. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. As such, positive estimate revisions reflect analyst optimism about the company's business and profitability. Based on our research, we believe these estimate revisions are directly related to near-team stock moves. We developed the Zacks Rank to capitalize on this phenomenon. Our system takes these estimate changes into account and delivers a clear, actionable rating model. The Zacks Rank system ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell). It has a remarkable, outside-audited track record of success, with #1 stocks delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate remained stagnant within the past month. GEO is currently a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). In terms of valuation, GEO is currently trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 7.76. This valuation marks a discount compared to its industry's average Forward P/E of 14.94. It is also worth noting that GEO currently has a PEG ratio of 1.29. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into account the stock's expected earnings growth rate. The REIT and Equity Trust - Other industry currently had an average PEG ratio of 2.88 as of yesterday's close. The REIT and Equity Trust - Other industry is part of the Finance sector. This industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 77, which puts it in the top 31% of all 250+ industries. The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1. Be sure to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and many more, on Zacks.com. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.Click to get this free reportGeo Group Inc (The) (GEO) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.
YY (YY) Outpaces Stock Market Gains: What You Should Know In the latest trading session, YY (YY) closed at $69.69, marking a +0.94% move from the previous day. This move outpaced the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.58%. At the same time, the Dow added 0.28%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 0.48%. Prior to today's trading, shares of the social media company had lost 1.71% over the past month. This has lagged the Computer and Technology sector's gain of 3.51% and the S&P 500's gain of 3.62% in that time. YY will be looking to display strength as it nears its next earnings release. On that day, YY is projected to report earnings of $1.65 per share, which would represent a year-over-year decline of 18.72%. Our most recent consensus estimate is calling for quarterly revenue of $881.45 million, up 54.58% from the year-ago period. Looking at the full year, our Zacks Consensus Estimates suggest analysts are expecting earnings of $6.72 per share and revenue of $3.22 billion. These totals would mark changes of -5.75% and +36.35%, respectively, from last year. Any recent changes to analyst estimates for YY should also be noted by investors. These recent revisions tend to reflect the evolving nature of short-term business trends. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the company's business outlook. Research indicates that these estimate revisions are directly correlated with near-term share price momentum. We developed the Zacks Rank to capitalize on this phenomenon. Our system takes these estimate changes into account and delivers a clear, actionable rating model. Ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), the Zacks Rank system has a proven, outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate remained stagnant. YY currently has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold). Digging into valuation, YY currently has a Forward P/E ratio of 10.27. Its industry sports an average Forward P/E of 26.25, so we one might conclude that YY is trading at a discount comparatively. It is also worth noting that YY currently has a PEG ratio of 0.72. This popular metric is similar to the widely-known P/E ratio, with the difference being that the PEG ratio also takes into account the company's expected earnings growth rate. YY's industry had an average PEG ratio of 0.91 as of yesterday's close. The Internet - Content industry is part of the Computer and Technology sector. This industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 102, which puts it in the top 40% of all 250+ industries. The Zacks Industry Rank includes is listed in order from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1. Be sure to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and many more, on Zacks.com. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.Click to get this free reportYY Inc. (YY) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.
MasterCard (MA) Outpaces Stock Market Gains: What You Should Know MasterCard (MA) closed at $264.45 in the latest trading session, marking a +1.28% move from the prior day. This move outpaced the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.58%. Meanwhile, the Dow gained 0.28%, and the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, added 0.48%. Coming into today, shares of the processor of debit and credit card payments had gained 2.72% in the past month. In that same time, the Business Services sector gained 4.24%, while the S&P 500 gained 3.62%. Wall Street will be looking for positivity from MA as it approaches its next earnings report date. In that report, analysts expect MA to post earnings of $1.82 per share. This would mark year-over-year growth of 9.64%. Our most recent consensus estimate is calling for quarterly revenue of $4.10 billion, up 11.81% from the year-ago period. Looking at the full year, our Zacks Consensus Estimates suggest analysts are expecting earnings of $7.60 per share and revenue of $16.78 billion. These totals would mark changes of +17.1% and +12.22%, respectively, from last year. Investors should also note any recent changes to analyst estimates for MA. These revisions help to show the ever-changing nature of near-term business trends. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the company's business outlook. Based on our research, we believe these estimate revisions are directly related to near-team stock moves. Investors can capitalize on this by using the Zacks Rank. This model considers these estimate changes and provides a simple, actionable rating system. The Zacks Rank system ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell). It has a remarkable, outside-audited track record of success, with #1 stocks delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Within the past 30 days, our consensus EPS projection has moved 0.01% lower. MA is currently a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). In terms of valuation, MA is currently trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 34.34. This valuation marks a premium compared to its industry's average Forward P/E of 23.63. It is also worth noting that MA currently has a PEG ratio of 2.07. This popular metric is similar to the widely-known P/E ratio, with the difference being that the PEG ratio also takes into account the company's expected earnings growth rate. MA's industry had an average PEG ratio of 1.94 as of yesterday's close. The Financial Transaction Services industry is part of the Business Services sector. This group has a Zacks Industry Rank of 43, putting it in the top 17% of all 250+ industries. The Zacks Industry Rank includes is listed in order from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1. Make sure to utilize Zacks. Com to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and more, in the coming trading sessions. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.Click to get this free reportMastercard Incorporated (MA) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Here’s What Hedge Funds Think About Bluerock Residential Growth REIT Inc (BRG) The elite funds run by legendary investors such as David Tepper and Dan Loeb make hundreds of millions of dollars for themselves and their investors by spending enormous resources doing research on small cap stocks that big investment banks don't follow. Because of their pay structures, they have strong incentives to do the research necessary to beat the market. That's why we pay close attention to what they think in small cap stocks. In this article, we take a closer look at Bluerock Residential Growth REIT Inc (NYSE:BRG) from the perspective of those elite funds. Bluerock Residential Growth REIT Inc (NYSE:BRG)investors should be aware of an increase in activity from the world's largest hedge funds lately.BRGwas in 10 hedge funds' portfolios at the end of the first quarter of 2019. There were 8 hedge funds in our database with BRG positions at the end of the previous quarter. Our calculations also showed that brg isn't among the30 most popular stocks among hedge funds. To the average investor there are dozens of signals market participants put to use to appraise publicly traded companies. A pair of the less known signals are hedge fund and insider trading activity. We have shown that, historically, those who follow the top picks of the top hedge fund managers can outpace the broader indices by a very impressive amount (see the details here). [caption id="attachment_758454" align="aligncenter" width="450"] James Dondero of Highland Capital Management[/caption] Let's take a glance at the recent hedge fund action surrounding Bluerock Residential Growth REIT Inc (NYSE:BRG). At the end of the first quarter, a total of 10 of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey held long positions in this stock, a change of 25% from one quarter earlier. By comparison, 7 hedge funds held shares or bullish call options in BRG a year ago. With hedge funds' sentiment swirling, there exists a few noteworthy hedge fund managers who were adding to their holdings considerably (or already accumulated large positions). Among these funds,Harbert Managementheld the most valuable stake in Bluerock Residential Growth REIT Inc (NYSE:BRG), which was worth $12.8 million at the end of the first quarter. On the second spot was Renaissance Technologies which amassed $6.2 million worth of shares. Moreover, Highland Capital Management, Springbok Capital, and Arrowstreet Capital were also bullish on Bluerock Residential Growth REIT Inc (NYSE:BRG), allocating a large percentage of their portfolios to this stock. Consequently, specific money managers were breaking ground themselves.Arrowstreet Capital, managed by Peter Rathjens, Bruce Clarke and John Campbell, initiated the most outsized position in Bluerock Residential Growth REIT Inc (NYSE:BRG). Arrowstreet Capital had $1.5 million invested in the company at the end of the quarter. Israel Englander'sMillennium Managementalso made a $0.5 million investment in the stock during the quarter. The only other fund with a brand new BRG position is David Harding'sWinton Capital Management. Let's go over hedge fund activity in other stocks similar to Bluerock Residential Growth REIT Inc (NYSE:BRG). We will take a look at USA Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:USAT), Compugen Ltd. (NASDAQ:CGEN), Monroe Capital Corp (NASDAQ:MRCC), and ACM Research, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACMR). All of these stocks' market caps match BRG's market cap. [table] Ticker, No of HFs with positions, Total Value of HF Positions (x1000), Change in HF Position USAT,14,44291,-4 CGEN,3,6532,-1 MRCC,4,2895,1 ACMR,2,181,2 Average,5.75,13475,-0.5 [/table] View table hereif you experience formatting issues. As you can see these stocks had an average of 5.75 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $13 million. That figure was $27 million in BRG's case. USA Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:USAT) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand ACM Research, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACMR) is the least popular one with only 2 bullish hedge fund positions. Bluerock Residential Growth REIT Inc (NYSE:BRG) is not the most popular stock in this group but hedge fund interest is still above average. Our calculations showed thattop 20 most popular stocksamong hedge funds returned 6.2% in Q2 through June 19th and outperformed the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) by nearly 3 percentage points. Hedge funds were also right about betting on BRG as the stock returned 11.7% during the same period and outperformed the market by an even larger margin. Hedge funds were rewarded for their relative bullishness. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published atInsider Monkey. Related Content • How to Best Use Insider Monkey To Increase Your Returns • Billionaire Ken Fisher’s Top Dividend Stock Picks • 30 Stocks Billionaires Are Crazy About: Insider Monkey Billionaire Stock Index
Here’s What Hedge Funds Think About POSCO (PKX) Is POSCO (NYSE:PKX) a good bet right now? We like to analyze hedge fund sentiment before doing days of in-depth research. We do so because hedge funds and other elite investors have numerous Ivy League graduates, expert network advisers, and supply chain tipsters working or consulting for them. There is not a shortage of news stories covering failed hedge fund investments and it is a fact that hedge funds' picks don't beat the market 100% of the time, but their consensus picks have historically done very well and have outperformed the market after adjusting for risk. POSCO (NYSE:PKX)investors should be aware of a decrease in hedge fund interest lately.PKXwas in 11 hedge funds' portfolios at the end of March. There were 15 hedge funds in our database with PKX holdings at the end of the previous quarter. Our calculations also showed that PKX isn't among the30 most popular stocks among hedge funds. Hedge funds' reputation as shrewd investors has been tarnished in the last decade as their hedged returns couldn't keep up with the unhedged returns of the market indices. Our research has shown that hedge funds' small-cap stock picks managed to beat the market by double digits annually between 1999 and 2016, but the margin of outperformance has been declining in recent years. Nevertheless, we were still able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that outperformed the market by 40 percentage points since May 2014 through May 30, 2019 (see the details here). We were also able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that underperformed the market by 10 percentage points annually between 2006 and 2017. Interestingly the margin of underperformance of these stocks has been increasing in recent years. Investors who are long the market and short these stocks would have returned more than 27% annually between 2015 and 2017. We have been tracking and sharing the list of these stocks since February 2017 in our quarterly newsletter. We're going to take a look at the recent hedge fund action surrounding POSCO (NYSE:PKX). At Q1's end, a total of 11 of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey were bullish on this stock, a change of -27% from one quarter earlier. The graph below displays the number of hedge funds with bullish position in PKX over the last 15 quarters. With the smart money's capital changing hands, there exists a select group of noteworthy hedge fund managers who were upping their stakes considerably (or already accumulated large positions). Among these funds,Arrowstreet Capitalheld the most valuable stake in POSCO (NYSE:PKX), which was worth $42.7 million at the end of the first quarter. On the second spot was Pzena Investment Management which amassed $8.1 million worth of shares. Moreover, Millennium Management, D E Shaw, and LMR Partners were also bullish on POSCO (NYSE:PKX), allocating a large percentage of their portfolios to this stock. Judging by the fact that POSCO (NYSE:PKX) has faced declining sentiment from the aggregate hedge fund industry, logic holds that there were a few hedgies that elected to cut their entire stakes heading into Q3. It's worth mentioning that Prem Watsa'sFairfax Financial Holdingsdropped the largest stake of all the hedgies watched by Insider Monkey, valued at close to $10.4 million in stock, and David Kowitz and Sheldon Kasowitz's Indus Capital was right behind this move, as the fund dumped about $3.2 million worth. These moves are intriguing to say the least, as aggregate hedge fund interest was cut by 4 funds heading into Q3. Let's check out hedge fund activity in other stocks similar to POSCO (NYSE:PKX). We will take a look at IAC/InterActiveCorp (NASDAQ:IAC), Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG), Shinhan Financial Group Co., Ltd. (NYSE:SHG), and Grifols SA (NASDAQ:GRFS). This group of stocks' market values are closest to PKX's market value. [table] Ticker, No of HFs with positions, Total Value of HF Positions (x1000), Change in HF Position IAC,51,2017916,1 LNG,53,5187506,7 SHG,4,11258,-3 GRFS,14,267276,0 Average,30.5,1870989,1.25 [/table] View table hereif you experience formatting issues. As you can see these stocks had an average of 30.5 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $1871 million. That figure was $67 million in PKX's case. Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand Shinhan Financial Group Co., Ltd. (NYSE:SHG) is the least popular one with only 4 bullish hedge fund positions. POSCO (NYSE:PKX) is not the least popular stock in this group but hedge fund interest is still below average. This is a slightly negative signal and we'd rather spend our time researching stocks that hedge funds are piling on. Our calculations showed thattop 20 most popular stocksamong hedge funds returned 6.2% in Q2 through June 19th and outperformed the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) by nearly 3 percentage points. Unfortunately PKX wasn't nearly as popular as these 20 stocks (hedge fund sentiment was quite bearish); PKX investors were disappointed as the stock returned -5.8% during the same time period and underperformed the market. If you are interested in investing in large cap stocks with huge upside potential, you should check out thetop 20 most popular stocksamong hedge funds as 13 of these stocks already outperformed the market so far in Q2. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published atInsider Monkey. Related Content • How to Best Use Insider Monkey To Increase Your Returns • Billionaire Ken Fisher’s Top Dividend Stock Picks • 30 Stocks Billionaires Are Crazy About: Insider Monkey Billionaire Stock Index
Is Ferroglobe PLC (GSM) A Good Stock To Buy? The government requires hedge funds and wealthy investors that crossed the $100 million equity holdings threshold are required to file a report that shows their positions at the end of every quarter. Even though it isn't the intention, these filings level the playing field for ordinary investors. The latest round of 13F filings disclosed the funds' positions on March 31. We at Insider Monkey have made an extensive database of nearly 750 of those elite funds and famous investors' filings. In this article, we analyze how these elite funds and prominent investors traded Ferroglobe PLC (NASDAQ:GSM) based on those filings. Ferroglobe PLC (NASDAQ:GSM)has seen a decrease in activity from the world's largest hedge funds lately.GSMwas in 11 hedge funds' portfolios at the end of March. There were 14 hedge funds in our database with GSM positions at the end of the previous quarter. Our calculations also showed that GSM isn't among the30 most popular stocks among hedge funds. Hedge funds' reputation as shrewd investors has been tarnished in the last decade as their hedged returns couldn't keep up with the unhedged returns of the market indices. Our research has shown that hedge funds' large-cap stock picks indeed failed to beat the market between 1999 and 2016. However, we were able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that outperformed the market by 40 percentage points since May 2014 through May 30, 2019 (see the details here). We were also able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that'll significantly underperform the market. We have been tracking and sharing the list of these stocks since February 2017 and they lost 30.9% through May 30, 2019. That's why we believe hedge fund sentiment is an extremely useful indicator that investors should pay attention to. Let's view the recent hedge fund action regarding Ferroglobe PLC (NASDAQ:GSM). Heading into the second quarter of 2019, a total of 11 of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey were bullish on this stock, a change of -21% from one quarter earlier. By comparison, 18 hedge funds held shares or bullish call options in GSM a year ago. With hedge funds' sentiment swirling, there exists a select group of notable hedge fund managers who were upping their holdings meaningfully (or already accumulated large positions). Among these funds,Adage Capital Managementheld the most valuable stake in Ferroglobe PLC (NASDAQ:GSM), which was worth $29.2 million at the end of the first quarter. On the second spot was D E Shaw which amassed $4 million worth of shares. Moreover, Prescott Group Capital Management, Royce & Associates, and Millennium Management were also bullish on Ferroglobe PLC (NASDAQ:GSM), allocating a large percentage of their portfolios to this stock. Seeing as Ferroglobe PLC (NASDAQ:GSM) has witnessed bearish sentiment from the smart money, logic holds that there lies a certain "tier" of hedge funds who sold off their entire stakes by the end of the third quarter. It's worth mentioning that Peter S. Park'sPark West Asset Managementcut the biggest investment of all the hedgies tracked by Insider Monkey, valued at about $2.6 million in stock. Jerome L. Simon's fund,Lonestar Capital Management, also dropped its stock, about $0.2 million worth. These transactions are intriguing to say the least, as aggregate hedge fund interest was cut by 3 funds by the end of the third quarter. Let's now take a look at hedge fund activity in other stocks similar to Ferroglobe PLC (NASDAQ:GSM). These stocks are Southern National Banc. of Virginia, Inc (NASDAQ:SONA), Abeona Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:ABEO), Miller Industries, Inc. (NYSE:MLR), and Franklin Covey Co. (NYSE:FC). This group of stocks' market values are closest to GSM's market value. [table] Ticker, No of HFs with positions, Total Value of HF Positions (x1000), Change in HF Position SONA,8,19342,0 ABEO,15,69075,0 MLR,8,51292,0 FC,7,18239,-1 Average,9.5,39487,-0.25 [/table] View table hereif you experience formatting issues. As you can see these stocks had an average of 9.5 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $39 million. That figure was $43 million in GSM's case. Abeona Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:ABEO) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand Franklin Covey Co. (NYSE:FC) is the least popular one with only 7 bullish hedge fund positions. Ferroglobe PLC (NASDAQ:GSM) is not the most popular stock in this group but hedge fund interest is still above average. This is a slightly positive signal but we'd rather spend our time researching stocks that hedge funds are piling on. Our calculations showed thattop 20 most popular stocksamong hedge funds returned 6.2% in Q2 through June 19th and outperformed the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) by nearly 3 percentage points. Unfortunately GSM wasn't nearly as popular as these 20 stocks and hedge funds that were betting on GSM were disappointed as the stock returned -22% during the same period and underperformed the market. If you are interested in investing in large cap stocks with huge upside potential, you should check out thetop 20 most popular stocksamong hedge funds as 13 of these stocks already outperformed the market so far in Q2. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published atInsider Monkey. Related Content • How to Best Use Insider Monkey To Increase Your Returns • Billionaire Ken Fisher’s Top Dividend Stock Picks • 30 Stocks Billionaires Are Crazy About: Insider Monkey Billionaire Stock Index
Megan Rapinoe's dominant game had Twitter going wild U.S. women’s soccer star Megan Rapinoe dominated Friday’s game against France. The 33-year-old Rapinoe scored both the team’s goals, paving the way for the U.S. to defeat France 2-1 . Given the week Rapinoe has had — she feuded publicly with President Donald Trump — both her goals elicited some hot reactions from Twitter. After scoring her first goal , Rapinoe ran over to the crowd and extended both arms out. Turns out, that pose was pretty perfect for the Internet. Not surprisingly, people were quick to try and make Rapinoe’s pose the newest meme. Rapinoe’s girlfriend, Sue Bird, was among them: 🤫 pic.twitter.com/EzIY93gXR6 — Sue Bird (@S10Bird) June 28, 2019 pic.twitter.com/8OrJNaZaiI — Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) June 28, 2019 Nothing but respect for my president. https://t.co/gFFljeEDj5 — 𝗥𝗲𝘆-𝗥𝗲𝘆 🤞🏾✌🏾 (@TheNoLookPass) June 28, 2019 Many reactions referenced politics. when the president finds out megan rapinoe scored two goals vs. france. pic.twitter.com/0XqiO6SBVY — C.D. Carter (@CDCarter13) June 28, 2019 Trump trying to downplay Megan Rapinoe’s greatness in his head... pic.twitter.com/nq5ELvJ6dd — Kimberley A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) June 28, 2019 Pretty impressive that Megan Rapinoe was able to score, what with all that protesting she’s been doing all match — Jay Busbee (@jaybusbee) June 28, 2019 Some weren’t necessarily political, but were from actual politicians. Story continues . @USWNT just pulled off an incredible win against a tough, tough challenger!! Way to make us proud out there. You have the whole country cheering you on! https://t.co/eHmzWtYhM1 — Senator Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley) June 28, 2019 While others focused on Rapinoe being the GOAT ... sometimes literally. THE USWNT IS HEADED TO THE SEMIFINAL pic.twitter.com/Hn3Eh4uVHu — SB Nation (@SBNation) June 28, 2019 if rapinoe is ron swanson and bacon and eggs are goals pic.twitter.com/FQ8kWlcVOI — adam (@adamamin) June 28, 2019 ICONIC 🇺🇸 (via @brfootball ) pic.twitter.com/BtibJwWXyt — Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 28, 2019 With the win, the U.S. women’s team will advance to the semifinals. They’ll take on England on July 2. It also guarantees at least four more days of Rapinoe and Trump continuing to verbally spar with each other. That will ensure the memes stay fresh, at least. ——— Chris Cwik is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at christophercwik@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik More from Yahoo Sports: Rose responds to LaVar Ball's cringeworthy remark Former WWE star tells harrowing depression tale Brady takes subtle shot at ESPN star's 'cliff' comment Wetzel: For the USWNT, Trump could be Motivator-in-Chief
Hedge Funds Have Never Been More Bullish On Harvard Bioscience, Inc. (HBIO) The Insider Monkey team has completed processing the quarterly 13F filings for the March quarter submitted by the hedge funds and other money managers included in our extensive database. Most hedge fund investors experienced strong gains on the back of a strong market performance, which certainly propelled them to adjust their equity holdings so as to maintain the desired risk profile. As a result, the relevancy of these public filings and their content is indisputable, as they may reveal numerous high-potential stocks. The following article will discuss the smart money sentiment towards Harvard Bioscience, Inc. (NASDAQ:HBIO). IsHarvard Bioscience, Inc. (NASDAQ:HBIO)a good investment right now? Prominent investors are taking a bullish view. The number of long hedge fund positions advanced by 1 recently. Our calculations also showed that HBIO isn't among the30 most popular stocks among hedge funds.HBIOwas in 10 hedge funds' portfolios at the end of March. There were 9 hedge funds in our database with HBIO holdings at the end of the previous quarter. In the eyes of most market participants, hedge funds are viewed as worthless, old investment tools of yesteryear. While there are more than 8000 funds in operation at the moment, Our experts choose to focus on the elite of this club, approximately 750 funds. Most estimates calculate that this group of people administer the lion's share of the hedge fund industry's total capital, and by paying attention to their best picks, Insider Monkey has unearthed several investment strategies that have historically outpaced the market. Insider Monkey's flagship hedge fund strategy exceeded the S&P 500 index by around 5 percentage points a year since its inception in May 2014 through June 18th. We were able to generate large returns even by identifying short candidates. Our portfolio of short stocks lost 28.2% since February 2017 (through June 18th) even though the market was up nearly 30% during the same period. We just shared a list of 5 short targets in ourlatest quarterly updateand they are already down an average of 8.2% in a month whereas our long picks outperformed the market by 2.5 percentage points in this volatile 5 week period (our long picks also beat the market by 15 percentage points so far this year). Let's take a look at the key hedge fund action surrounding Harvard Bioscience, Inc. (NASDAQ:HBIO). At Q1's end, a total of 10 of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey held long positions in this stock, a change of 11% from one quarter earlier. The graph below displays the number of hedge funds with bullish position in HBIO over the last 15 quarters. With hedgies' positions undergoing their usual ebb and flow, there exists an "upper tier" of noteworthy hedge fund managers who were boosting their holdings considerably (or already accumulated large positions). More specifically,Royce & Associateswas the largest shareholder of Harvard Bioscience, Inc. (NASDAQ:HBIO), with a stake worth $7.5 million reported as of the end of March. Trailing Royce & Associates was Renaissance Technologies, which amassed a stake valued at $2.7 million. Fondren Management, Marshall Wace LLP, and Millennium Management were also very fond of the stock, giving the stock large weights in their portfolios. As one would reasonably expect, some big names have jumped into Harvard Bioscience, Inc. (NASDAQ:HBIO) headfirst.Fondren Management, managed by Bradley Louis Radoff, created the biggest position in Harvard Bioscience, Inc. (NASDAQ:HBIO). Fondren Management had $0.6 million invested in the company at the end of the quarter. Let's also examine hedge fund activity in other stocks similar to Harvard Bioscience, Inc. (NASDAQ:HBIO). These stocks are MDC Partners Inc. (NASDAQ:MDCA), Acacia Research Corporation (NASDAQ:ACTG), Community Bankers Trust Corp. (NASDAQ:ESXB), and Escalade, Inc. (NASDAQ:ESCA). This group of stocks' market values are similar to HBIO's market value. [table] Ticker, No of HFs with positions, Total Value of HF Positions (x1000), Change in HF Position MDCA,18,34475,3 ACTG,14,25644,1 ESXB,4,17035,0 ESCA,4,11822,1 Average,10,22244,1.25 [/table] View table hereif you experience formatting issues. As you can see these stocks had an average of 10 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $22 million. That figure was $12 million in HBIO's case. MDC Partners Inc. (NASDAQ:MDCA) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand Community Bankers Trust Corp. (NASDAQ:ESXB) is the least popular one with only 4 bullish hedge fund positions. Harvard Bioscience, Inc. (NASDAQ:HBIO) is not the least popular stock in this group but hedge fund interest is still below average. This is a slightly negative signal and we'd rather spend our time researching stocks that hedge funds are piling on. Our calculations showed thattop 20 most popular stocksamong hedge funds returned 6.2% in Q2 through June 19th and outperformed the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) by nearly 3 percentage points. Unfortunately HBIO wasn't nearly as popular as these 20 stocks (hedge fund sentiment was quite bearish); HBIO investors were disappointed as the stock returned -53.1% during the same time period and underperformed the market. If you are interested in investing in large cap stocks with huge upside potential, you should check out thetop 20 most popular stocksamong hedge funds as 13 of these stocks already outperformed the market so far in Q2. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published atInsider Monkey. Related Content • How to Best Use Insider Monkey To Increase Your Returns • Billionaire Ken Fisher’s Top Dividend Stock Picks • 30 Stocks Billionaires Are Crazy About: Insider Monkey Billionaire Stock Index
Here’s What Hedge Funds Think About BanColombia S.A. (CIB) There are several ways to beat the market, and investing in small cap stocks has historically been one of them. We like to improve the odds of beating the market further by examining what famous hedge fund operators such as Jeff Ubben, George Soros and Carl Icahn think. Those hedge fund operators make billions of dollars each year by hiring the best and the brightest to do research on stocks, including small cap stocks that big brokerage houses simply don't cover. Because of Carl Icahn and other elite funds' exemplary historical records, we pay attention to their small cap picks. In this article, we use hedge fund filing data to analyze BanColombia S.A. (NYSE:CIB). BanColombia S.A. (NYSE:CIB)investors should pay attention to an increase in enthusiasm from smart money in recent months.CIBwas in 11 hedge funds' portfolios at the end of the first quarter of 2019. There were 6 hedge funds in our database with CIB holdings at the end of the previous quarter. Our calculations also showed that cib isn't among the30 most popular stocks among hedge funds. So, why do we pay attention to hedge fund sentiment before making any investment decisions? Our research has shown that hedge funds' small-cap stock picks managed to beat the market by double digits annually between 1999 and 2016, but the margin of outperformance has been declining in recent years. Nevertheless, we were still able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that outperformed the market by 40 percentage points since May 2014 through May 30, 2019 (see the details here). We were also able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that underperformed the market by 10 percentage points annually between 2006 and 2017. Interestingly the margin of underperformance of these stocks has been increasing in recent years. Investors who are long the market and short these stocks would have returned more than 27% annually between 2015 and 2017. We have been tracking and sharing the list of these stocks since February 2017 in our quarterly newsletter. Even if you aren't comfortable with shorting stocks, you should at least avoid initiating long positions in our short portfolio. We're going to analyze the latest hedge fund action encompassing BanColombia S.A. (NYSE:CIB). Heading into the second quarter of 2019, a total of 11 of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey held long positions in this stock, a change of 83% from the fourth quarter of 2018. The graph below displays the number of hedge funds with bullish position in CIB over the last 15 quarters. With hedge funds' positions undergoing their usual ebb and flow, there exists an "upper tier" of notable hedge fund managers who were boosting their stakes significantly (or already accumulated large positions). When looking at the institutional investors followed by Insider Monkey, Bernard Horn'sPolaris Capital Managementhas the largest position in BanColombia S.A. (NYSE:CIB), worth close to $99.8 million, amounting to 4.1% of its total 13F portfolio. The second largest stake is held byRenaissance Technologies, managed by Jim Simons, which holds a $19.1 million position; the fund has less than 0.1%% of its 13F portfolio invested in the stock. Remaining professional money managers that are bullish contain Peter Rathjens, Bruce Clarke and John Campbell'sArrowstreet Capital, Israel Englander'sMillennium Managementand William B. Gray'sOrbis Investment Management. As industrywide interest jumped, some big names have jumped into BanColombia S.A. (NYSE:CIB) headfirst.Arrowstreet Capital, managed by Peter Rathjens, Bruce Clarke and John Campbell, assembled the biggest position in BanColombia S.A. (NYSE:CIB). Arrowstreet Capital had $14.2 million invested in the company at the end of the quarter. Richard Driehaus'sDriehaus Capitalalso initiated a $3.4 million position during the quarter. The other funds with brand new CIB positions are Ken Griffin'sCitadel Investment Group, Mike Vranos'sEllington, and Minhua Zhang'sWeld Capital Management. Let's check out hedge fund activity in other stocks - not necessarily in the same industry as BanColombia S.A. (NYSE:CIB) but similarly valued. These stocks are Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (NYSE:AAP), Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS), Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX), and Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO). This group of stocks' market caps match CIB's market cap. [table] Ticker, No of HFs with positions, Total Value of HF Positions (x1000), Change in HF Position AAP,47,2297068,-4 UHS,29,761401,1 DGX,22,303617,-4 ATO,20,292201,-5 Average,29.5,913572,-3 [/table] View table hereif you experience formatting issues. As you can see these stocks had an average of 29.5 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $914 million. That figure was $154 million in CIB's case. Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (NYSE:AAP) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO) is the least popular one with only 20 bullish hedge fund positions. Compared to these stocks BanColombia S.A. (NYSE:CIB) is even less popular than ATO. Hedge funds dodged a bullet by taking a bearish stance towards CIB. Our calculations showed that the top 20 most popular hedge fund stocks returned 6.2% in Q2 through June 19th and outperformed the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) by nearly 3 percentage points. Unfortunately CIB wasn't nearly as popular as these 20 stocks (hedge fund sentiment was very bearish); CIB investors were disappointed as the stock returned 0.1% during the same time frame and underperformed the market. If you are interested in investing in large cap stocks with huge upside potential, you should check out thetop 20 most popular stocksamong hedge funds as 13 of these stocks already outperformed the market so far in the second quarter. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published atInsider Monkey. Related Content • How to Best Use Insider Monkey To Increase Your Returns • Billionaire Ken Fisher’s Top Dividend Stock Picks • 30 Stocks Billionaires Are Crazy About: Insider Monkey Billionaire Stock Index