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How Many BG Staffing, Inc. (NYSEMKT:BGSF) Shares Have Insiders Sold, In The Last Year? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! We've lost count of how many times insiders have accumulated shares in a company that goes on to improve markedly. Unfortunately, there are also plenty of examples of share prices declining precipitously after insiders have sold shares. So before you buy or sellBG Staffing, Inc.(NYSEMKT:BGSF), you may well want to know whether insiders have been buying or selling. Most investors know that it is quite permissible for company leaders, such as directors of the board, to buy and sell stock on the market. However, most countries require that the company discloses such transactions to the market. We don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions. But equally, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether. As Peter Lynch said, 'insiders might sell their shares for any number of reasons, but they buy them for only one: they think the price will rise.' Check out our latest analysis for BG Staffing The Chairman, L. Baker, made the biggest insider sale in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for US$2.1m worth of shares at a price of US$24.12 each. While we don't usually like to see insider selling, it's more concerning if the sales take price at a lower price. It's of some comfort that this sale was conducted at a price well above the current share price, which is US$18.33. So it may not shed much light on insider confidence at current levels. We note that in the last year insiders divested 327k shares for a total of US$8.5m. In the last year BG Staffing insiders didn't buy any company stock. The chart below shows insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date! For those who like to findwinning investmentsthisfreelist of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. It appears that BG Staffing insiders own 10% of the company, worth about US$19m. While this is a strong but not outstanding level of insider ownership, it's enough to indicate some alignment between management and smaller shareholders. The fact that there have been no BG Staffing insider transactions recently certainly doesn't bother us. We don't take much encouragement from the transactions by BG Staffing insiders. But we do like the fact that insiders own a fair chunk of the company. Of course,the future is what matters most. So if you are interested in BG Staffing, you should check out thisfreereport on analyst forecasts for the company. Of courseBG Staffing may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see thisfreecollection of high quality companies. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
Have Insiders Been Selling First Merchants Corporation (NASDAQ:FRME) Shares? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! We often see insiders buying up shares in companies that perform well over the long term. On the other hand, we'd be remiss not to mention that insider sales have been known to precede tough periods for a business. So shareholders might well want to know whether insiders have been buying or selling shares inFirst Merchants Corporation(NASDAQ:FRME). Most investors know that it is quite permissible for company leaders, such as directors of the board, to buy and sell stock on the market. However, most countries require that the company discloses such transactions to the market. We don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions. But equally, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether. As Peter Lynch said, 'insiders might sell their shares for any number of reasons, but they buy them for only one: they think the price will rise.' View our latest analysis for First Merchants In the last twelve months, the biggest single sale by an insider was when the , Michael Marhenke, sold US$1.3m worth of shares at a price of US$49.21 per share. While insider selling is a negative, to us, it is more negative if the shares are sold at a lower price. It's of some comfort that this sale was conducted at a price well above the current share price, which is US$37.81. So it may not tell us anything about how insiders feel about the current share price. Over the last year, we can see that insiders have bought 1598.49 shares worth US$59k. On the other hand they divested 45680 shares, for US$2.2m. In total, First Merchants insiders sold more than they bought over the last year. You can see the insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below! If you like to buy stocks that insiders are buying, rather than selling, then you might just love thisfreelist of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them). Over the last three months, we've seen notably more insider selling, than insider buying, at First Merchants. We note Chairman of the Board Charles Schalliol cashed in US$170k worth of shares. On the flip side, insiders spent US$4.3k on purchasing shares. Because the selling vastly outweighs the buying, we'd say this is a somewhat bearish sign. Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. It appears that First Merchants insiders own 1.2% of the company, worth about US$22m. We've certainly seen higher levels of insider ownership elsewhere, but these holdings are enough to suggest alignment between insiders and the other shareholders. The stark truth for First Merchants is that there has been more insider selling than insider buying in the last three months. Zooming out, the longer term picture doesn't give us much comfort. But since First Merchants is profitable and growing, we're not too worried by this. While insiders do own shares, they don't own a heap, and they have been selling. So we'd only buy after careful consideration. If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check thisfreereport showing analyst forecasts for its future. But note:First Merchants may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at thisfreelist of interesting companies with high ROE and low debt. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
Do Institutions Own Shares In Frontline Ltd. (NYSE:FRO)? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! A look at the shareholders of Frontline Ltd. (NYSE:FRO) can tell us which group is most powerful. Generally speaking, as a company grows, institutions will increase their ownership. Conversely, insiders often decrease their ownership over time. Companies that used to be publicly owned tend to have lower insider ownership. With a market capitalization of US$1.4b, Frontline is a decent size, so it is probably on the radar of institutional investors. In the chart below below, we can see that institutions are noticeable on the share registry. Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholder can tell us about FRO. View our latest analysis for Frontline Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices. We can see that Frontline does have institutional investors; and they hold 28% of the stock. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of Frontline, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too. Frontline is not owned by hedge funds. There are a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future. The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it. Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group. Our data suggests that insiders own under 1% of Frontline Ltd. in their own names. But they may have an indirect interest through a corporate structure that we haven't picked up on. Keep in mind that it's a big company, and the insiders own US$1.9m worth of shares. The absolute value might be more important than the proportional share. It is good to see board members owning shares, but it might be worth checkingif those insiders have been buying. The general public holds a 19% stake in FRO. This size of ownership, while considerable, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders. Our data indicates that Private Companies hold 47%, of the company's shares. Private companies may be related parties. Sometimes insiders have an interest in a public company through a holding in a private company, rather than in their own capacity as an individual. While it's hard to draw any broad stroke conclusions, it is worth noting as an area for further research. Public companies currently own 6.5% of FRO stock. This may be a strategic interest and the two companies may have related business interests. It could be that they have de-merged. This holding is probably worth investigating further. I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. I like to dive deeperinto how a company has performed in the past. You can findhistoric revenue and earnings in thisdetailed graph. But ultimatelyit is the future, not the past, that will determine how well the owners of this business will do. Therefore we think it advisable to take a look atthis free report showing whether analysts are predicting a brighter future. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
Why Marijuana Stock Cronos Group Jumped 13.5% in June Shares of Canadian marijuana growerCronos Group(NASDAQ: CRON)popped 13.5% in June, according to data fromS&P Global Market Intelligence. This was a good performance relative to both the broader market -- theS&P 500returned 7.1% last month -- and the company's main peers. Of the top five largest cannabis stocks by market cap, onlyTilray-- up 22.5% -- performed better than Cronos. Shares ofCanopy Growth(NYSE: CGC)were flat, while shares ofAurora CannabisandAphriagained 3.3% and 6.4%, respectively. Image source: Getty Images. Cronos didn't release any notable news last month. We can probably attribute the stock's better-than-average performance relative to most of its peers to Wall Street action. On June 5, Bank of America Merrill Lynchupgraded its rating on Cronos stockall the way from underperform to buy and put a new $20 price target on the stock. (For some context, shares closed at $15.51 yesterday, July 2.) Shares soared to a closing gain of 10.9% following this upgrade. The primary reason for the upgrade? Cronos CEO Mike Gorenstein's comments at an analyst event that the company "would move aggressively into the U.S. hemp CBD [cannabidiol] market ... in the relatively near future," as my colleague Keith Speightswrote, citing a report by Bloomberg. Here's the year-to-date 2019 picture for Cronos stock: Data by YCharts. Canopy Growth and Aurora Cannabis stocks are up 49.2% and 53.8%, respectively, over this same period. Investors will probably soon be hearing more about Cronos' plans to enter the hemp-derived CBD market in the United States. Cronos has some quite distinct positives and negatives. Earlier this year, it became a more compelling competitor in the global cannabis space, thanks to a $1.8 billion investment from tobacco giantAltria(NYSE: MO), which bought a 45% stake in the company. Among its peers, only Canopy Growth has a larger cash stash, as well as a powerful strategic partner, alcoholic beverage makerConstellation Brands. That said, Cronos continues to face challenges in significantly ramping up its production capacity, and its stock's valuation remains extremely high relative to its peers, which all sport sky-high valuations. Cronos shares are trading at 223 times the company's trailing 12-month sales, while the price-to-sales ratios for Canopy and Aurora are about 63% and 51%, respectively. More From The Motley Fool • Beginner's Guide to Investing in Marijuana Stocks • Marijuana Stocks Are Overhyped: 10 Better Buys for You Now • Your 2019 Guide to Investing in Marijuana Stocks Beth McKennaowns shares of Canopy Growth. The Motley Fool recommends Constellation Brands. The Motley Fool has adisclosure policy.
5 Best Cannabis Stocks of 2019 So Far -- Are They Buys Now? Cannabis stocks are hot again. After a dismal performance in the latter part of 2018 for most cannabis stocks, the pendulum swung in the opposite direction during the first half of this year. The big Canadian cannabis producers haven't been the biggest winners, though. Which cannabis stocks delivered the most impressive year-to-date gains? Here are the five best cannabis stocks of 2019 so far -- and which ones appear likely to keep the momentum going. Image source: Getty Images. In 2018,Scotts Miracle-Gro(NYSE: SMG)stockplunged nearly 43%. But Scotts shares jumped 60% in the first half of this year. What turned things around? Scotts' consumer lawn and garden products business is roaring in 2019 after a late start to spring last year caused revenue shortfalls. The company's Hawthorne subsidiary ranks as the leading supplier of gardening products to the cannabis industry. Thanks in part to an aggressive promotion campaign, Hawthorne returned to solid growth in the first part of 2019 as well. Neptune Wellness Solutions(NASDAQ: NEPT)is another ancillary provider to the cannabis industry that's having a great year so far. Its stock vaulted 71% in the first six months of 2019 after rising less than 8% in 2018. Two catalysts have been key to Neptune's improving fortunes. In April, the company announced that it had begun to offer turnkey product development services for the U.S. hemp market. Neptune alsosigned a major agreement to provide extraction and purification services withTilrayin June, followed soon by a similar deal withThe Green Organic Dutchman. GW Pharmaceuticals(NASDAQ: GWPH)made history in 2018 by winning the first-ever approval from the Food and Drug Administration for a prescription drug made from the cannabis plant. Despite that great news, the biotech stock sank 26% last year. It's been a different story in 2019, however, with GW's share price zooming 77% higher in the first half of the year. Sales are booming for the company's cannabidiol (CBD) drug Epidiolex. GW started off 2019 by posting great Q4 results from the initial U.S. launch of Epidiolex. It then followed up witheven better Q1 results in May, with the drug's sales more than doubling what analysts expected. No U.S.-based cannabis stock has performed better so far this year thanInnovative Industrial Properties(NYSE: IIPR). Shares of the cannabis-focused real estate investment trust (REIT) soared 172% in the first six months of 2019 after gaining 40% last year. It's easy to see why investors have flocked to Innovative Industrial Properties. The company's revenue continues to grow by triple-digit percentages. It'sthe most profitable cannabis stock aroundwith its profits growing even faster than sales. Innovative Industrial Properties also pays an attractive dividend. The biggest winner among cannabis stocks so far this year is none other thanVillage Farms International(NASDAQ: VFF). After losing nearly half of its value in 2018, Village Farms stock skyrocketed 253% higher in the first half of 2019. Village Farms had enjoyed plenty of good news this year. The company's Pure Sunfarms joint venture withEmerald Health Therapeuticswon a supply agreement with the Canadian province of Ontario in February. Village Farms stock began trading on theNasdaqstock exchange. It announced steps to enter the U.S. hemp market. The company alsodelivered solid Q1 results. Just because a stock performs well over a six-month period doesn't mean that it will be a winner over the long run. Are any of the year's best-performing cannabis stocks so far great candidates to put on your buy list? I'd answer that question with a "no" for Village Farms. My view is that there will be a shakeout in the Canadian cannabis industry within the next couple of years as supply exceeds demand. Companies with strong international medical cannabis operations should survive and thrive after that shakeout. Others might not. Village Farms could fall into the latter category, considering that its primary focus is the Canadian market and it has alow crop yieldcompared to peers. My take is that Neptune and GW Pharmaceuticals are stocks to hold off on buying for now but keep them on your radar screen. Neptune seems to have significant potential as demand for cannabinoid extraction grows. It's still a small company that's losing a lot of money, though. GW's Epidiolex should keep on rolling. My concern with the stock is that its valuation largely factors in the growth for Epidiolex. Two of these stocks do look like great long-term picks to me, though. I like Scotts Miracle-Gro and Innovative Industrial Properties. Both companies have solid growth prospects as the U.S. cannabis industry expands. Both are profitable. Both stocks would benefit tremendously if efforts to legalize cannabis in the U.S. at the federal level gain traction. And both Scotts and Innovative Industrial Properties pay nice dividends. There's a lot to like about these two top-performing cannabis stocks. More From The Motley Fool • Beginner's Guide to Investing in Marijuana Stocks • Marijuana Stocks Are Overhyped: 10 Better Buys for You Now • Your 2019 Guide to Investing in Marijuana Stocks Keith Speightshas no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Innovative Industrial Properties and Nasdaq. The Motley Fool has adisclosure policy.
Samsung has successfully redesigned the Galaxy Fold, report says The end of the seemingly never-ending Galaxy Fold saga might be nigh. According to a new report fromBloomberg, Samsung has successfully redesigned its first foldable phone, fixing all of the issues that plagued the early units. The report comes just a day after Samsung CEO DJ Koh called the initial launch snafu "embarrassing." According to Koh, the company is currently testing more than 2,000 Fold devices, and all of the issues with the original units have been defined. SEE ALSO:Samsung's A90 smartphone might have a top processor and 6.7-inch screen Neither Bloomberg's report nor Koh have offered a new launch date for the Fold. Bloomberg, however, claims that the Fold should be ready to launch in time for the holiday season, but probably not as early as August 7, which is when Samsung will be launching another phone, the Galaxy Note 10.Read more... More aboutSamsung,Foldable Phones,Samsung Galaxy Fold,Tech, andSmartphones
One Thing To Remember About The Bel Fuse Inc. (NASDAQ:BELF.B) Share Price Want to participate in a short research study ? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! If you own shares in Bel Fuse Inc. ( NASDAQ:BELF.B ) then it's worth thinking about how it contributes to the volatility of your portfolio, overall. In finance, Beta is a measure of volatility. Volatility is considered to be a measure of risk in modern finance theory. Investors may think of volatility as falling into two main categories. The first category is company specific volatility. This can be dealt with by limiting your exposure to any particular stock. The other type, which cannot be diversified away, is the volatility of the entire market. Every stock in the market is exposed to this volatility, which is linked to the fact that stocks prices are correlated in an efficient market. Some stocks mimic the volatility of the market quite closely, while others demonstrate muted, exagerrated or uncorrelated price movements. Beta is a widely used metric to measure a stock's exposure to market risk (volatility). Before we go on, it's worth noting that Warren Buffett pointed out in his 2014 letter to shareholders that 'volatility is far from synonymous with risk.' Having said that, beta can still be rather useful. The first thing to understand about beta is that the beta of the overall market is one. Any stock with a beta of greater than one is considered more volatile than the market, while those with a beta below one are either less volatile or poorly correlated with the market. See our latest analysis for Bel Fuse What does BELF.B's beta value mean to investors? Looking at the last five years, Bel Fuse has a beta of 1.39. The fact that this is well above 1 indicates that its share price movements have shown sensitivity to overall market volatility. If this beta value holds true in the future, Bel Fuse shares are likely to rise more than the market when the market is going up, but fall faster when the market is going down. Beta is worth considering, but it's also important to consider whether Bel Fuse is growing earnings and revenue. You can take a look for yourself, below. Story continues NasdaqGS:BELF.B Income Statement, July 3rd 2019 Does BELF.B's size influence the expected beta? Bel Fuse is a noticeably small company, with a market capitalisation of US$206m. Most companies this size are not always actively traded. It takes less money to influence the share price of a very small company. This may explain the excess volatility implied by this beta value. What this means for you: Since Bel Fuse tends to moves up when the market is going up, and down when it's going down, potential investors may wish to reflect on the overall market, when considering the stock. In order to fully understand whether BELF.B is a good investment for you, we also need to consider important company-specific fundamentals such as Bel Fuse’s financial health and performance track record. I highly recommend you dive deeper by considering the following: Financial Health : Are BELF.B’s operations financially sustainable? Balance sheets can be hard to analyze, which is why we’ve done it for you. Check out our financial health checks here . Past Track Record : Has BELF.B been consistently performing well irrespective of the ups and downs in the market? Go into more detail in the past performance analysis and take a look at the free visual representations of BELF.B's historicals for more clarity. Other High-Performing Stocks : Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore our free list of these great stocks here . We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com . This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
3 International Companies Whose Products You May Use Soon International stocks are often overlooked, making them top targets for savvy investors seeking bargains. While investing overseas sounds complicated, you can buy many such stocks easily, either through American depositary receipts (ADRs) issued by U.S. banks (representing a specified number of shares in a foreign company), or through decisions by some overseas companies to list in the U.S. directly. To help you find foreign companies worth buying, we asked three Motley Fool contributors for their top ideas right now. Here's why they think you should consider puttingMelco Resorts & Entertainment(NASDAQ: MLCO),LVMH(NASDAQOTH: LVMUY), andRenault(NASDAQOTH: RNSDF)into your portfolio now. Todd Campbell(Melco Resorts & Entertainment):If your travel plans include Macao, then you could very well find yourself visiting a property owned by Melco Resorts & Entertainment, an operator of gambling casinos in Asia. Image source: Getty Images. Melco is heavily exposed to China via its properties in Macao, including Altira Macau, City of Dreams, and the Mocha Clubs, the largest noncasino electronic gambling-machine operator in Macao. It also has a cinema, retail, and gambling resort named Studio City there. Outside Macao, a subsidiary operates City of Dreams Manila, and Melco has interests in Crown Resorts Limited, a company behind the Crown Melbourne Entertainment Complex and Crown Perth Entertainment Complex in Australia; and Crown Aspinalls, a high-end casino in London. Various projects underway include new developments in Sydney and Cyprus. The company's big exposure to Macao has contributed to the stock slipping as the U.S.-China trade war escalated. But shares are bouncing back lately on better-than-expected gambling revenue in Macao and the recently announced trade truce. Gross gambling revenue (GGR) increased 5.9% in June in Macao, and analysts expect a similar improvement in July. The improvement, which follows consecutive monthly declines in March and April and a 1.8% improvement in May, could signal that Melco financials may pop from last quarter, when revenue grew 3.8% year over year to $1.36 billion. If so, then picking up shares now while they're trading about 28% off last summer's highs could pay off. Leo Sun(LVMH):There's a strong chance that you already useLVMH's products. The French company's portfolio of 75 high-end houses includes fashion brands Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Fendi; beauty products retailer Sephora; watch and jewelry brands like Bulgari and TAG Heuer, and spirit brands like Moet & Chandon and Hennessy. I've repeatedly called LVMH one of my favoritedefensive stocksfor the trade war, since it has a well-diversified, recession-resistant portfolio of brands, it consistently repurchases its stock and raises its dividend, and the EU isn't in a trade war with China. LVMH posted organic growth and operating-margin expansion across all of its business segments last year, and that growth continued into thefirst quarterof 2019. It also recently stated that its flagship Louis Vuitton brand was generating "unheard-of growth" in mainland China -- allaying concerns about that country's slowing economy. LVMH is also expanding its reach into new markets with two major deals withRihanna's Fenty-- one for beauty products and another for fashion products sold through an e-commerce platform and pop-up stores. Rihanna's Fenty Beauty is already a major growth engine for LVMH's cosmetics business, and the new fashion house should give its core fashion and leather business a big boost. Organic sales rose 11% last year as the company's net profit climbed 20%. Its stock isn't cheap at 30 times earnings, but I believe its many strengths justify that premium. Travis Hoium(Renault):The arrest of CEO Carlos Ghosn in late 2018 left the two companies he has led -- Nissan and Renault -- without the iconic leader of their renaissance. But that may open up an opportunity if iteventually leads to a new structure or owner for the companies,and Renault is a company I think we'll see more of in the U.S. The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance that Ghosn masterminded is behind 1 in 9 cars built in the world. But it's their leadership in electric vehicles that has me intrigued. Together, they're the largest maker of EVs in the world, and Renault makes small passenger vehicles and vans that fit well into the market. Small EVs like Renault's ZOE and Twizy have 186 and 62 miles of range, respectively, perfect for their small form factor. The Twizy has also introduced an innovative "battery hire" program, which is basically a battery rental with minimum capacity performance guaranteed. The company's Kangoo and Master vans fill a need in last-mile operations for delivery firms. Electric vehicles that operate in urban environments and run predictable, short routes are perfect for electric technology, and Renault is already in the market. The next step is to build a bigger presence in the U.S., and I think we'll see more of that in the next few years. 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 Leo Sunowns shares of LVMH Moet Hennessy L.V. (ADR).Todd Campbellhas no position in any of the stocks mentioned.Travis Hoiumhas 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.
What Investors Should Know About Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:BECN) Financial Strength Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc. (NASDAQ:BECN) is a small-cap stock with a market capitalization of US$2.6b. While investors primarily focus on the growth potential and competitive landscape of the small-cap companies, they end up ignoring a key aspect, which could be the biggest threat to its existence: its financial health. Why is it important? Since BECN is loss-making right now, it’s essential to assess the current state of its operations and pathway to profitability. The following basic checks can help you get a picture of the company's balance sheet strength. However, potential investors would need to take a closer look, and I recommend youdig deeper yourself into BECN here. Over the past year, BECN has maintained its debt levels at around US$2.9b – this includes long-term debt. At this stable level of debt, BECN currently has US$645k remaining in cash and short-term investments , ready to be used for running the business. On top of this, BECN has generated cash from operations of US$257m during the same period of time, leading to an operating cash to total debt ratio of 8.8%, meaning that BECN’s operating cash is less than its debt. At the current liabilities level of US$984m, the company has been able to meet these obligations given the level of current assets of US$2.2b, with a current ratio of 2.27x. The current ratio is calculated by dividing current assets by current liabilities. Usually, for Trade Distributors companies, this is a suitable ratio as there's enough of a cash buffer without holding too much capital in low return investments. With total debt exceeding equity, BECN is considered a highly levered company. This is somewhat unusual for small-caps companies, since lenders are often hesitant to provide attractive interest rates to less-established businesses. Though, since BECN is currently unprofitable, there’s a question of sustainability of its current operations. Running high debt, while not yet making money, can be risky in unexpected downturns as liquidity may dry up, making it hard to operate. Although BECN’s debt level is towards the higher end of the spectrum, its cash flow coverage seems adequate to meet obligations which means its debt is being efficiently utilised. Since there is also no concerns around BECN's liquidity needs, this may be its optimal capital structure for the time being. I admit this is a fairly basic analysis for BECN's financial health. Other important fundamentals need to be considered alongside. You should continue to research Beacon Roofing Supply to get a more holistic view of the small-cap by looking at: 1. Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for BECN’s future growth? Take a look at ourfree research report of analyst consensusfor BECN’s outlook. 2. Valuation: What is BECN worth today? Is the stock undervalued, even when its growth outlook is factored into its intrinsic value? Theintrinsic value infographic in our free research reporthelps visualize whether BECN is currently mispriced by the market. 3. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore ourfree list of these great stocks here. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
Could Novotek AB (STO:NTEK B) Have The Makings Of Another Dividend Aristocrat? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Could Novotek AB (STO:NTEK B) be an attractive dividend share to own for the long haul? Investors are often drawn to strong companies with the idea of reinvesting the dividends. If you are hoping to live on your dividends, it's important to be more stringent with your investments than the average punter. Regular readers know we like to apply the same approach to each dividend stock, and we hope you'll find our analysis useful. With Novotek yielding 4.1% and having paid a dividend for over 10 years, many investors likely find the company quite interesting. It would not be a surprise to discover that many investors buy it for the dividends. Some simple analysis can reduce the risk of holding Novotek for its dividend, and we'll focus on the most important aspects below. Click the interactive chart for our full dividend analysis Dividends are usually paid out of company earnings. If a company is paying more than it earns, then the dividend might become unsustainable - hardly an ideal situation. So we need to form a view on if a company's dividend is sustainable, relative to its net profit after tax. Looking at the data, we can see that 53% of Novotek's profits were paid out as dividends in the last 12 months. This is a fairly normal payout ratio among most businesses. It allows a higher dividend to be paid to shareholders, but does limit the capital retained in the business - which could be good or bad. Another important check we do is to see if the free cash flow generated is sufficient to pay the dividend. Novotek's cash payout ratio in the last year was 44%, which suggests dividends were well covered by cash generated by the business. It's encouraging to see that the dividend is covered by both profit and cash flow. This generally suggests the dividend is sustainable, as long as earnings don't drop precipitously. Remember, you can always get a snapshot of Novotek's latest financial position,by checking our visualisation of its financial health. One of the major risks of relying on dividend income, is the potential for a company to struggle financially and cut its dividend. Not only is your income cut, but the value of your investment declines as well - nasty. For the purpose of this article, we only scrutinise the last decade of Novotek's dividend payments. During the past ten-year period, the first annual payment was kr1.00 in 2009, compared to kr1.25 last year. Dividends per share have grown at approximately 2.3% per year over this time. It's good to see some dividend growth, but the dividend has been cut at least once, and the size of the cut would eliminate most of the growth, anyway. We're not that enthused by this. Examining whether the dividend is affordable and stable is important. However, it's also important to assess if earnings per share (EPS) are growing. Growing EPS can help maintain or increase the purchasing power of the dividend over the long run. Strong earnings per share (EPS) growth might encourage our interest in the company despite fluctuating dividends, which is why it's great to see Novotek has grown its earnings per share at 20% per annum over the past five years. With recent, rapid earnings per share growth and a payout ratio of 53%, this business looks like an interesting prospect if earnings are reinvested effectively. When we look at a dividend stock, we need to form a judgement on whether the dividend will grow, if the company is able to maintain it in a wide range of economic circumstances, and if the dividend payout is sustainable. Novotek's payout ratios are within a normal range for the average corporation, and we like that its cashflow was stronger than reported profits. We were also glad to see it growing earnings, but it was concerning to see the dividend has been cut at least once in the past. Overall we think Novotek is an interesting dividend stock, although it could be better. See if management have their own wealth at stake, by checking insider shareholdings inNovotek stock. Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try ourcurated list of dividend stocks with a yield above 3%. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
This 7.7%-Yielding Theme Park Stock Just Made a Splashy Acquisition Compared with many high-yieldreal estate investment trustsin the market,Cedar Fair(NYSE: FUN)has had a rather underwhelming 2019. Although the REIT sector has surged this year, Cedar Fair has been left behind. The stock is roughly flat for the year and is down 25% over the past 12 months. FUN Year to Date Price Returns (Daily)data byYCharts Nevertheless, Cedar Fair has a few things going for it. As the owner of 12 theme parks and manager of another, along with several hotels and 600 luxury RV sites on or near its properties, the company has a pretty solideconomic moat. Cedar Fair's theme parks are generally in locations away from large city centers, where its facilities are go-to destinations for the local population. It's also an "experience" stock unlikely to be disrupted by technology. In fact, management anticipates that 2019 will mark the 10thconsecutiveyear of revenue growth. By the way, theyieldon Cedar Fair's annual shareholder distribution to unit holders is nearly 8%. Typically, Cedar Fair grows by adding new rides, new food and beverages, and new features such as season passes to its existing facilities. However, the company just made two rather sizable acquisitions, which will extend the company's reach into Texas, a new geography for the company. Image source: Getty Images. Cedar Fair is purchasing two large water parks in Texas under the Schlitterbahn brand: one in New Braunfels, and another in Galveston. The total acquisition will be $261 million in cash, with the option to buy another 40-acre property owned by Schlitterbahn in Kansas City, Kansas, for $6 million. The transaction will expand Cedar Fair's total park count to 15. Cedar Fair management has described Schlitterbahn as "iconic," and it's easy to see why. The New Braunfels Schlitterbahn park just celebrated its 40th anniversary and Amusement Today, an amusement park authority, has named it "Best Water Park in the World" for21 straight years. The indoor Galveston Park is no slouch, either, having been named "Best Indoor Water Park in the World" for the past 10 years. The Schlitterbahn parks brought in 1.2 million guests and generated revenue of $68 million in 2018. That compares with Cedar Fair's 25.9 million guests and $1.35 billion in 2018 revenue. Cedar Fair's adjustedEBITDAmargin was also 35% last year, and while the company didn't disclose Schlitterbahn's profitability, it did say this: "Cedar Fair expects the two Texas locations to achieve an adjusted EBITDA margin in line with Cedar Fair's standalone results as management implements a number of growth and operational initiatives at the parks over the next two years, reflecting an accretive EBITDA multiple post-synergies." So it sounds as though Schlitterbahn may not currently be as profitable as Cedar Fair, but Cedar Fair appears to think it can leverage operational expertise to boost margin at Schlitterbahn. Then, when figuring the cost synergies of bringing the assets underneath Cedar Fair's company, the transactions could become margin-accretive. Cedar Fair does have a fairly good track record of improving its margin over the long term, though these improvements don't occur within a straight line: FUN EBITDA (Annual)data byYCharts To fund the acquisition, Cedar Fair issued $500 million of 10-year 5.25% senior unsecured notes. That's obviously more than the $261 million required to buy Schlitterbahn. Another $150 million will go toward buying the land underneath its California Great America Park. Buying that land will negate the need for lease payments -- which, since it's California, is probably skyrocketing -- and give Cedar Fair greater control of the location. In all, Cedar Fair has shown operational excellence and discipline over the course of its corporate life. While any large acquisition has some risk involved, it's probably a good bet that management will be able to integrate these assets effectively into the Cedar Fair family. In the first quarter of 2019, management noted that deferred revenue was up 12% for the first four months of the year, meaning the number of people signing up for season passes is up by double digits compared with last year at this time. Many of the company's parks in the Midwest and Canada are closed in the winter, but if advance ticket purchases are any indication, Cedar Fair should have a strong 2019. If the Schlitterbahn acquisition synergies are achieved, the company could have a much better year than the market apparently thinks. 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 Billy Dubersteinowns shares of Cedar Fair. His clients may own shares of the companies mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Cedar Fair. The Motley Fool has adisclosure policy.
This Utility Has What It Takes to Keep Growing With a modest $5 billion or so market cap,Black Hills Corporation(NYSE: BKH)is definitely not one of the largest utilities in the United States. However, it does offer investors one of the longest records of annual dividend increases among its peers, having reached an incredible 49 consecutive years -- which pits it against some of the most iconic names on theDividend Aristocratlist. It has no intention of letting that streak die. Here's what Black Hills has planned to keep its business, and dividend, growing. Black Hills operates regulated electric utilities, regulated natural gas utilities, and unregulated electric assets that sell power to others under long-term contracts. Its regulated rate base is spread roughly equally between electric and natural gas customers, with operations across seven states. That's a notable amount of diversification for such a small utility. Image source: Getty Images. The biggest knock against Black Hills is likely to be its exposure to coal. It owns a number of coal mines, and that fuel source makes up around a third of its power capacity, down from around two-thirds a decade ago. The interesting thing here is that Black Hills' power production from coal has fallen only a little bit on an absolute basis. The big change has been growth in natural gas-fired plants and increasing exposure to renewable power assets. This wasn't so much a wholesale change as a slow and steady shift driven by the purchase and sale of assets. All in all, Black Hills is clearly looking to change with the times. But it is doing so in a slow and steady fashion. That may not be a happy medium for environmentalists, but it is a very appropriate approach from a business perspective for a conservatively run utility. That's doubly true when a company is looking to protect a nearly 50-year record of annual dividend increases. Which leads to a look at the future. Black Hills'payout ratiois projected to be a reasonable 58% in 2019. Although up from around 50% in 2015, it's still well below the average for some of the largest names in the industry, which is closer to 70%. In fact a few of the industry giants, notably includingDuke,Dominion, andSouthern, are well above that average. In the end, Black Hills may be small, but its dividend appears to be well covered and there's little reason to expect that to change. (Which is one key reason why it has historically had a lower yield than these industry giants.) BKH Dividend Yield (TTM)data byYCharts Helping backstop the dividend's safety is the company's investment gradebalance sheet. Digging into that a little bit, the company estimates that its net debt to capitalization was around 58% at the end of the first quarter, down from 64% a year ago. Meanwhile, it has used less than a third of its $750 million bank credit line -- which can be expanded up to $1 billion if needed. All in all, there's no particular reason to be concerned about Black Hills' financial condition. Which is good news, because the company has plans to spend $2.8 billion between 2019 and 2025 on capital growth projects. Around 90% of that spending is going toward regulated utilities, where the investment will help Black Hills get customer rate increases approved by the government. And the $2.8 billion currently in the plan could rise over time, as the company expects to find additional opportunities for spending between 2020 and 2025. All of that spending will, in the end, help to keep the dividend heading higher. BKHdata byYCharts Black Hills may not be a giant utility, but it appears to have what it takes to keep rewarding investors with dividend hikes -- just as it has for nearly five decades. A strong balance sheet, a reasonable payout ratio, and $2.8 billion in capital spending plans should allow it to keep hiking its dividend in the mid-single digit range, just as it has been doing for the past few years. The problem with buying the utility today is that it appears to be a little pricey, with a big stock advance since early 2018 driving the yield down from 3.6% to around 2.6%. But the entire utility sector has seen a notable rally, so this isn't exactly unique to Black Hills. Investors who bought the company for its dividend and dividend growth prospects should likely stick around. Those interested in a new position, meanwhile, would be better off keeping it on their watch list for now. Investor sentiment will eventually turn and make Black Hills a dividend growth bargain again. And it looks like this utility small fry is worth the wait. 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 Reuben Gregg Brewerowns shares of Dominion Energy, Inc and Southern Company. The Motley Fool recommends Dominion Energy, Inc. The Motley Fool has adisclosure policy.
Why NovoCure Stock Jumped 19% in June What happened Shares of NovoCure (NASDAQ: NVCR) , which makes a device for treating cancerous solid tumors with electric fields, popped 19% in June, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence . For context, the S&P 500 returned in 7.1% last month. NovoCure stock's performance has been electrifying in 2019, with shares soaring 90.7% this year through July 2, versus the broader market's 19.8% return. Man sitting at desk wearing NovoCure's Optune, which appears like netting on his head and includes an over-the-shoulder attachment to the head device. Image source: NovoCure. So what We can attribute NovoCure stock's strong performance last month largely to a continuation of investor enthusiasm stemming from the company's May 23 announcement that it had received approval from the Food and Drug Administration to use its Optune device to treat malignant pleural mesothelioma. As I wrote last month, "This is an aggressive and rare form of cancer primarily caused by inhaling asbestos fibers into the lungs." Currently, the Jersey-based (Chanel Islands) company's device is used to treat glioblastoma (GBM), the most common primary brain cancer in adults and one of the most difficult types of cancer to treat. Optune is marketed for this indication in the United States and across the company's international markets, including Germany, Austria, and Japan. There were two notable June-specific catalysts for NovoCure stock's robust performance. On June 26, the company announced that the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Healthcare "has published its rapid report concluding that, based on a review of Novocure’s EF-14 phase 3 pivotal trial, patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM) lived longer when treated with Optune in addition to standard chemotherapy, without affecting quality of life." This finding brings the company a step closer to securing national reimbursement for Optune in Germany. Shares jumped 7.1% the next day. And on June 27, Wall Street firm Oppenheimer initiated coverage of the stock with an outperform rating, driving shares to a 3.9% gain. Story continues NVCR Chart Data by YCharts. Here's the year-to-date picture, through July 2: NVCR Chart Data by YCharts. Now what As I wrote last month, "Along with just receiving FDA approval to treat mesothelioma, NovoCure has other potential new catalysts for growth on the horizon this year. Notably, this includes a launch of Optune in China, which could approve the device to treat GBM this year, Chairman Bill Doyle said on the Q1 earnings call." Investors don't have long to wait for some material news, as NovoCure ("novo" is Latin for "new") just announced that it will be releasing its second-quarter 2019 results on Thursday, July 25, before the market opens. 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 Beth McKenna has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends NovoCure. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy .
Is Fair Isaac Corporation (NYSE:FICO) Excessively Paying Its CEO? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Will Lansing has been the CEO of Fair Isaac Corporation (NYSE:FICO) since 2012. This analysis aims first to contrast CEO compensation with other companies that have similar market capitalization. Then we'll look at a snap shot of the business growth. And finally we will reflect on how common stockholders have fared in the last few years, as a secondary measure of performance. This method should give us information to assess how appropriately the company pays the CEO. Check out our latest analysis for Fair Isaac According to our data, Fair Isaac Corporation has a market capitalization of US$9.2b, and pays its CEO total annual compensation worth US$12m. (This figure is for the year to September 2018). We think total compensation is more important but we note that the CEO salary is lower, at US$750k. We examined companies with market caps from US$4.0b to US$12b, and discovered that the median CEO total compensation of that group was US$6.9m. As you can see, Will Lansing is paid more than the median CEO pay at companies of a similar size, in the same market. However, this does not necessarily mean Fair Isaac Corporation is paying too much. We can get a better idea of how generous the pay is by looking at the performance of the underlying business. You can see a visual representation of the CEO compensation at Fair Isaac, below. Over the last three years Fair Isaac Corporation has grown its earnings per share (EPS) by an average of 14% per year (using a line of best fit). Its revenue is up 11% over last year. Overall this is a positive result for shareholders, showing that the company has improved in recent years. It's also good to see decent revenue growth in the last year, suggesting the business is healthy and growing. You might want to checkthis free visual report onanalyst forecastsfor future earnings. Boasting a total shareholder return of 185% over three years, Fair Isaac Corporation has done well by shareholders. As a result, some may believe the CEO should be paid more than is normal for companies of similar size. We compared total CEO remuneration at Fair Isaac Corporation with the amount paid at companies with a similar market capitalization. We found that it pays well over the median amount paid in the benchmark group. However, the earnings per share growth over three years is certainly impressive. In addition, shareholders have done well over the same time period. So, considering this good performance, the CEO compensation may be quite appropriate. Shareholders may want tocheck for free if Fair Isaac insiders are buying or selling shares. If you want to buy a stock that is better than Fair Isaac, thisfreelist of high return, low debt companies is a great place to look. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
U.S. private sector hiring picks up less than expected in June: ADP (Reuters) - U.S. companies added more jobs in June, but fewer than what analysts had forecast, raising concerns the labor market is softening even as the current U.S. economic expansion marked a record run this month, a report by a payrolls processor showed on Wednesday. The private sector payrolls increased by 102,000 jobs in June, falling short of the 140,000 projected by economists polled by Reuters. Private payroll gains in the month earlier were revised up to 41,000 from an originally reported 27,000 increase. The May reading was still the weakest since March 2010. The report is jointly developed with Moody's Analytics. Overall services-providing jobs grew by 117,000 last month, while goods-producing jobs fell by 15,000. Small businesses reduced their payrolls by 23,000 in June, while midsized and large companies added 60,000 and 65,000 workers, respectively, ADP said. The ADP figures come ahead of the U.S. Labor Department's more comprehensive non-farm payrolls report on Friday, which includes both public and private-sector employment. Economists polled by Reuters are looking for U.S. private payroll employment to have grown by 153,000 jobs in June, up from 90,000 the month before. Total non-farm employment is expected to have changed by 160,000. The unemployment rate is forecast to stay steady at the 3.6 percent recorded a month earlier. (Reporting by Richard Leong; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
Have Insiders Been Buying Slate Office REIT (TSE:SOT.UN) Shares? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! We've lost count of how many times insiders have accumulated shares in a company that goes on to improve markedly. On the other hand, we'd be remiss not to mention that insider sales have been known to precede tough periods for a business. So we'll take a look at whether insiders have been buying or selling shares inSlate Office REIT(TSE:SOT.UN). Most investors know that it is quite permissible for company leaders, such as directors of the board, to buy and sell stock on the market. However, such insiders must disclose their trading activities, and not trade on inside information. We would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing. But logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares. For example, a Columbia Universitystudyfound that 'insiders are more likely to engage in open market purchases of their own company’s stock when the firm is about to reveal new agreements with customers and suppliers'. View our latest analysis for Slate Office REIT Independent Trustee Thomas Farley made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for CA$227k worth of shares at a price of CA$6.18 each. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, even at a higher price than the current share price (being CA$5.85). Their view may have changed since then, but at least it shows they felt optimistic at the time. We always take careful note of the price insiders pay when purchasing shares. As a general rule, we feel more positive about a stock if insiders have bought shares at above current prices, because that suggests they viewed the stock as good value, even at a higher price. Over the last year, we can see that insiders have bought 102k shares worth CA$631k. In the last twelve months Slate Office REIT insiders were buying shares, but not selling. The chart below shows insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction! There are always plenty of stocks that insiders are buying. So if that suits your style you could check each stock one by one or you could take a look at thisfreelist of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them). I like to look at how many shares insiders own in a company, to help inform my view of how aligned they are with insiders. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. Our data suggests Slate Office REIT insiders own 0.4% of the company, worth about CA$1.9m. We prefer to see high levels of insider ownership. The fact that there have been no Slate Office REIT insider transactions recently certainly doesn't bother us. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. The transactions are fine but it'd be more encouraging if Slate Office REIT insiders bought more shares in the company. Of course,the future is what matters most. So if you are interested in Slate Office REIT, you should check out thisfreereport on analyst forecasts for the company. Of course,you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere.So take a peek at thisfreelist of interesting companies. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
Former Telegraph and Private Eye journalist Christopher Booker dies aged 81 Christopher Booker - Christopher Jones Christopher Booker, the former Telegraph journalist and first editor of Private Eye, has died aged 81. Mr Booker was a columnist for The Sunday Telegraph from its launch in 1961 to March this year when he retired. Allister Heath, Editor of The Sunday Telegraph , said: "Mr Booker was one of the great social critics of his generation, and one of the leading campaigning journalists of the post-war era. "We are honoured to have published him and, on behalf of everyone at The Telegraph , we send our condolences to his family and to all those who knew him." He penned his final article for this paper on March 31, citing health reasons as his reason for leaving. "One of my guiding principles as a journalist had long been to bring to light what I considered to be some shockingly important story which was not being properly covered elsewhere," he wrote. "And one of the reasons I have been very grateful to The Sunday Telegraph is the unusual freedom it gave me to pursue a long succession of such campaigning stories, if necessary for years on end." Mr Booker has written about literature, butterflies, religion, architecture, climate change and the European Union among other subjects. Signing off his final column , he wrote: "We are told we should try to leave the world in slightly better shape than we found it. But as I prepare to leave it, I have too long felt that I was no longer trying to change it and was only writing its epitaph. "Nevertheless I cannot forget all the thousands of admirable people I have come across through my years writing for The Telegraph. To them and all my loyal readers I am profoundly grateful." The satirical magazine Private Eye confirmed the news in a tweet on Wednesday afternoon. It read: "We are very sad to announce the death today of Christopher Booker. Author, journalist, satirist and the first editor of Private Eye, after a short illness. He was 81. Story continues "A full appreciation of his life and contributions to the magazine will be published in a future edition." Mr Booker's books included Castle of Lies and The Great Deception, where he put forward Eurosceptic arguments that would lay the foundation for much of today's Brexit debate. In 1961, he was one of the founders of the satirical magazine Private Eye alongside Richard Ingrams and Willie Rushton. He was its first editor but was ousted by Ingrams in 1963. He returned two years later and remained part of the team for the rest of his life. Of his time on the team, which also featured current editor Ian Hislop, he said: "Over the years ... I have enjoyed some of the most hilariously pleasurable times I can remember in my life. "Between us we have laughed our way through tens of thousands of joke items." Mr Booker attended the independent and boarding Shrewsbury School and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he read history. Read Chrisopher Booker's final piece: Farewell to the Telegraph and its readers after 60 wonderful years.
Vodafone 5G Network Opens New Front in Britain’s Wireless Wars (Bloomberg) -- Vodafone Group Plc switched on the U.K.’s second 5G wireless network on Wednesday, kicking off a commercial battle with dominant rival EE that could shape a decade of sales. The technology’s faster download speeds and more reliable connections give the first movers an opportunity to snatch a bigger share of a saturated market. Back in 2012, EE -- now owned by BT Group Plc -- launched 4G services almost a year ahead of the pack, an edge that cemented its position as the U.K.’s largest mobile carrier. Vodafone isn’t making the same mistake again. Its 5G service went live in seven cities just a month after EE’s launch, giving both companies a chance to grab business with early adopters. Britain’s other two mobile networks -- CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd.’s Three U.K. and Telefonica SA’s O2 -- aim to offer 5G by the end of the year. Britain’s mobile price war looks set to continue in the 5G era: Vodafone said Wednesday it would set prices according to connection speed rather than the amount of data consumed, and won’t charge a premium for 5G. “We’ve decided it’s time for the U.K. to be unlimited,” said Vodafone’s consumer director Max Taylor. The stakes are arguably higher now than when 4G was launched. Europe’s phone industry has been stagnating for several years, partly because handsets have become more expensive and offer fewer appealing features with each upgrade. That’s dampened an important source of revenue for the network operators. 5G marks a rare boost in power and speed. “5G is a massive opportunity for the smartphone sales business of operators like Vodafone,” said Canalys analyst Ben Stanton by email. “For the first time in a decade, customers will be compelled to upgrade both their device and their tariff at the same time.” EE has plastered 5G ads across big cities and enlisted rap star Stormzy in its biggest ever marketing effort, a spokesman said. It offered 5G connections at the five-day Glastonbury music festival, where Instagram-happy smartphone users gobbled up 104 terabytes of data, 1,000 times more than at the same event in 2010, according to EE. 5G gives Vodafone a chance to reset its brand after a period of intense customer complaints and cancellations that peaked in 2015, said Ben Wood, an analyst at CCS Insight. Vodafone poached Taylor in March from EE, where he was head of marketing. “If you can associate your network brand with being the best for 5G then that’s going to be a big leg-up on your rivals,” said Wood. Huawei Risks EE and Vodafone aim to reach more than 15 urban centers by year end. The networks can handle far more data than 4G and could end up being 100 times faster, pushing down operating costs. Yet the commercial opportunity is still clouded in uncertainty. All the U.K. carriers are rolling out hundreds of 5G radio antennas supplied by Huawei Technologies Co., before the government has decided whether to restrict the Chinese vendor over concerns that its 5G systems are vulnerable to espionage or disruption. If it does, the companies could have to replace Huawei gear with equipment from alternative suppliers. The U.K. is the biggest European market so far to offer competing 5G services. Two Swiss networks, Sunrise Communications Group AG and Swisscom AG, began theirs earlier this year. (Updates first paragraph with network going live, adds detail on pricing.) --With assistance from Nate Lanxon. To contact the reporter on this story: Thomas Seal in London at tseal@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Rebecca Penty at rpenty@bloomberg.net, Thomas Pfeiffer For more articles like this, please visit us atbloomberg.com ©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
Delta Air Lines Boosts Q2 Guidance Three months ago,Delta Air Lines(NYSE: DAL)reportedstrong results for the first quarterand projected that the good times would continue in the second quarter. Delta's forecast called for adjusted earnings per share to reach a range of $2.05 to $2.35, up from $1.77 a year earlier. On Tuesday, the airline told investors that results will come in near the high end of its guidance range for the second quarter. Delta's strong momentum also bodes well for its performance in the third quarter -- and beyond. In the first quarter, Delta Air Lines' revenue per available seat mile (RASM) increased 2.4%. The carrier expected similar trends in Q2, projecting a 1.5% to 3.5% RASM gain. Now the airline giant says that RASM rose about 3.5% last quarter, reaching the high end of its guidance range. Delta increased its capacity 4.7% year over year -- slightly ahead of its initial forecast -- enabling the carrier to deliver revenue growth between 8% and 8.5% (also better than its original outlook). Adjusted nonfuel unit costs are still on track to rise 1% to 2%, while Delta revised its fuel cost guidance down to a range of $2.07 to $2.12 per gallon from $2.10 to $2.20 per gallon previously. Delta's unit revenue growth accelerated last quarter. Image source: Delta Air Lines. The net result of all these changes is that Delta now estimates that it will post adjusted EPS between $2.25 and $2.35 for the quarter -- near the upper end of the range it provided in April. The midpoint of the new range would represent a 30% year-over-year EPS increase. It's also well ahead of the average analyst EPS estimate of $2.19. One notable aspect of Delta's performance last quarter was that its load factor -- the percentage of seats filled with paying customers -- rose significantly. In the first quarter of 2019, Delta's load factor ticked down by 0.2 percentage points compared to the prior-year period. By contrast, the carrier's load factor increased by 0.7 percentage points in April, 1.3 percentage points in May, and 1.9 percentage points in June. There is a pretty clear explanation for this trend. Delta is the only one of the top four U.S. airlines that didn't order theBoeing737 MAX. The grounding of the 737 MAX has forced all of its biggest rivals to cut their capacity in recent months, pushing more travelers into Delta's arms. Indeed, Delta's load factor actually decreased slightly in international markets, where the 737 MAX generally isn't used. Meanwhile, its load factor rose by more than 2 percentage points on domestic routes last quarter, reaching a practically unheard-of 90.9% in June. This load factor growth played a big part in Delta's strong unit revenue performance last quarter. Additionally, the supply-demand imbalance clearly gave the carrier more pricing power. Delta Air Lines will provide its initial outlook for the third quarter in its Q2 earnings release next week. Investors should expect another strong forecast. First, it is clear that the 737 MAX won't be able to return until the late fall at best. Meanwhile, the capacity crunch at Delta's top rivals will get worse. They all expected to add more 737 MAX jets to their fleets over the past few months. They also have less flexibility to boost utilization to make up for a smaller fleet during the summer, when utilization would already have been high. Second, Delta is on pace to see a much bigger benefit from lower oil prices in the third quarter than it did last quarter. (That said, oil prices have been volatile lately.) Delta's refinery should alsopost a sizable profit-- reducing Delta's net fuel bill -- due to the unexpected closure of a nearby refinery that suffered a major accident last month. This favorable environment could potentially allow Delta Air Lines to post an even bigger profit in Q3. With the 737 MAX potentially grounded for most of the fourth quarter as well, Delta's momentum could continue, allowing the airline to far exceed analysts' full-year EPS estimates. Of course, the 737 MAX won't stay grounded forever. But between fleet upgrades, other cost cuts, the global rollout of international premium economy seats, and the growth of itslucrative co-branded credit card program, Delta has plenty of other earnings growth drivers for the next few years. That makes the stock look like a terrific bargain at its current valuation of less than nine times forward earnings. 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 Adam Levine-Weinbergowns shares of Delta Air Lines. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Delta Air Lines. The Motley Fool has adisclosure policy.
A Note On Figeac Aero Société Anonyme's (EPA:FGA) ROE and Debt To Equity Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! While some investors are already well versed in financial metrics (hat tip), this article is for those who would like to learn about Return On Equity (ROE) and why it is important. By way of learning-by-doing, we'll look at ROE to gain a better understanding of Figeac Aero Société Anonyme (EPA:FGA). Our data showsFigeac Aero Société Anonyme has a return on equity of 13%for the last year. One way to conceptualize this, is that for each €1 of shareholders' equity it has, the company made €0.13 in profit. View our latest analysis for Figeac Aero Société Anonyme Theformula for ROEis: Return on Equity = Net Profit ÷ Shareholders' Equity Or for Figeac Aero Société Anonyme: 13% = €27m ÷ €200m (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2018.) Most readers would understand what net profit is, but it’s worth explaining the concept of shareholders’ equity. It is the capital paid in by shareholders, plus any retained earnings. Shareholders' equity can be calculated by subtracting the total liabilities of the company from the total assets of the company. ROE measures a company's profitability against the profit it retains, and any outside investments. The 'return' is the profit over the last twelve months. The higher the ROE, the more profit the company is making. So, as a general rule,a high ROE is a good thing. Clearly, then, one can use ROE to compare different companies. By comparing a company's ROE with its industry average, we can get a quick measure of how good it is. However, this method is only useful as a rough check, because companies do differ quite a bit within the same industry classification. You can see in the graphic below that Figeac Aero Société Anonyme has an ROE that is fairly close to the average for the Aerospace & Defense industry (12%). That's neither particularly good, nor bad. ROE doesn't tell us if the share price is low, but it can inform us to the nature of the business. For those looking for a bargain, other factors may be more important. If you are like me, then you willnotwant to miss thisfreelist of growing companies that insiders are buying. Virtually all companies need money to invest in the business, to grow profits. The cash for investment can come from prior year profits (retained earnings), issuing new shares, or borrowing. In the case of the first and second options, the ROE will reflect this use of cash, for growth. In the latter case, the debt used for growth will improve returns, but won't affect the total equity. In this manner the use of debt will boost ROE, even though the core economics of the business stay the same. Figeac Aero Société Anonyme does use a significant amount of debt to increase returns. It has a debt to equity ratio of 2.20. There's no doubt the ROE is respectable, but it's worth keeping in mind that metric is elevated by the use of debt. Debt increases risk and reduces options for the company in the future, so you generally want to see some good returns from using it. Return on equity is useful for comparing the quality of different businesses. Companies that can achieve high returns on equity without too much debt are generally of good quality. If two companies have around the same level of debt to equity, and one has a higher ROE, I'd generally prefer the one with higher ROE. Having said that, while ROE is a useful indicator of business quality, you'll have to look at a whole range of factors to determine the right price to buy a stock. The rate at which profits are likely to grow, relative to the expectations of profit growth reflected in the current price, must be considered, too. So I think it may be worth checking thisfreereport on analyst forecasts for the company. But note:Figeac Aero Société Anonyme may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at thisfreelist of interesting companies with high ROE and low debt. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
Does Danone S.A.'s (EPA:BN) Debt Level Pose A Problem? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! There are a number of reasons that attract investors towards large-cap companies such as Danone S.A. (EPA:BN), with a market cap of €49b. Doing business globally, large caps tend to have diversified revenue streams and attractive capital returns, making them desirable investments for risk-averse portfolios. However, the health of the financials determines whether the company continues to succeed. Let’s take a look at Danone’s leverage and assess its financial strength to get an idea of their ability to fund strategic acquisitions and grow through cyclical pressures. Note that this information is centred entirely on financial health and is a high-level overview, so I encourage you to look furtherinto BN here. Check out our latest analysis for Danone BN's debt levels have fallen from €20b to €18b over the last 12 months , which also accounts for long term debt. With this debt repayment, the current cash and short-term investment levels stands at €5.0b , ready to be used for running the business. Moreover, BN has generated cash from operations of €3.1b over the same time period, leading to an operating cash to total debt ratio of 17%, meaning that BN’s current level of operating cash is not high enough to cover debt. Looking at BN’s €10.0b in current liabilities, the company has been able to meet these commitments with a current assets level of €10b, leading to a 1.04x current account ratio. The current ratio is calculated by dividing current assets by current liabilities. Generally, for Food companies, this is a reasonable ratio since there is a bit of a cash buffer without leaving too much capital in a low-return environment. With total debt exceeding equities, Danone is considered a highly levered company. This isn’t surprising for large-caps, as equity can often be more expensive to issue than debt, plus interest payments are tax deductible. Accordingly, large companies often have lower cost of capital due to easily obtained financing, providing an advantage over smaller companies. We can test if BN’s debt levels are sustainable by measuring interest payments against earnings of a company. As a rule of thumb, a company should have earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of at least three times the size of net interest. In BN's case, the ratio of 17.8x suggests that interest is comfortably covered. High interest coverage serves as an indication of the safety of a company, which highlights why many large organisations like BN are considered a risk-averse investment. At its current level of cash flow coverage, BN has room for improvement to better cushion for events which may require debt repayment. Though, the company exhibits proper management of current assets and upcoming liabilities. This is only a rough assessment of financial health, and I'm sure BN has company-specific issues impacting its capital structure decisions. I recommend you continue to research Danone to get a more holistic view of the stock by looking at: 1. Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for BN’s future growth? Take a look at ourfree research report of analyst consensusfor BN’s outlook. 2. Valuation: What is BN worth today? Is the stock undervalued, even when its growth outlook is factored into its intrinsic value? Theintrinsic value infographic in our free research reporthelps visualize whether BN is currently mispriced by the market. 3. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore ourfree list of these great stocks here. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
At US$28.84, Is It Time To Put Bridge Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:BDGE) On Your Watch List? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Bridge Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:BDGE), operating in the financial services industry based in United States, saw significant share price movement during recent months on the NASDAQGS, rising to highs of $31.92 and falling to the lows of $27.83. Some share price movements can give investors a better opportunity to enter into the stock, and potentially buy at a lower price. A question to answer is whether Bridge Bancorp's current trading price of $28.84 reflective of the actual value of the small-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Let’s take a look at Bridge Bancorp’s outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change. Check out our latest analysis for Bridge Bancorp Bridge Bancorp appears to be overvalued by 26.6% at the moment, based on my discounted cash flow valuation. The stock is currently priced at US$28.84 on the market compared to my intrinsic value of $22.78. Not the best news for investors looking to buy! If you like the stock, you may want to keep an eye out for a potential price decline in the future. Since Bridge Bancorp’s share price is quite volatile, this could mean it can sink lower (or rise even further) in the future, giving us another chance to invest. This is based on its high beta, which is a good indicator for how much the stock moves relative to the rest of the market. Investors looking for growth in their portfolio may want to consider the prospects of a company before buying its shares. Buying a great company with a robust outlook at a cheap price is always a good investment, so let’s also take a look at the company's future expectations. With profit expected to grow by 38% over the next year, the near-term future seems bright for Bridge Bancorp. It looks like higher cash flow is on the cards for the stock, which should feed into a higher share valuation. Are you a shareholder?It seems like the market has well and truly priced in BDGE’s positive outlook, with shares trading above its fair value. At this current price, shareholders may be asking a different question – should I sell? If you believe BDGE should trade below its current price, selling high and buying it back up again when its price falls towards its real value can be profitable. But before you make this decision, take a look at whether its fundamentals have changed. Are you a potential investor?If you’ve been keeping an eye on BDGE for a while, now may not be the best time to enter into the stock. The price has surpassed its true value, which means there’s no upside from mispricing. However, the optimistic prospect is encouraging for BDGE, which means it’s worth diving deeper into other factors in order to take advantage of the next price drop. Price is just the tip of the iceberg. Dig deeper into what truly matters – the fundamentals – before you make a decision on Bridge Bancorp. You can find everything you need to know about Bridge Bancorp inthe latest infographic research report. If you are no longer interested in Bridge Bancorp, you can use our free platform to see my list of over50 other stocks with a high growth potential. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
Experion Holdings Ltd. Trading on Frankfurt Stock Exchange Under New Company Name VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 3, 2019 /Experion Holdings Ltd.("Experion" or the "Company") (TSXV:EXP) (OTCQB:EXPFF) (MB31.F), formerly Viridium Pacific Group Ltd., announced today that its shares are now trading on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the Company's new name Experion Holdings Ltd. The symbol and WKN have not changed and remains''MB31" and ''WKN:A2PLZG". The Company's shares continue to be listed on the TSXV under the ticker''EXP"and on the OTCQB market in the US under the ticker"EXPFF" Mr. Jay Garnett, Chief Executive Officer commented, "Experion is pursuing international growth strategies, such as the vast export market in countries with early opportunities. Having our new name reflected on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange will allow us to grow our shareholder base throughout Europe and attract global recognition as we work diligently to unlock value for our current shareholders and new shareholders to come" The Frankfurt Stock Exchange is one of the world's largest trading centres for securities. With a share in turnover of around 90 per cent, it is the largest of Germany's seven stock exchanges and it is an international trading centre, which is reflected in the structure of its participants. Of the approximately 200 market participants, roughly 50% are from countries other than Germany. On June 25th Experion announced an LOI with a Polish Import and Distribution Company. The LOI will see Experion exporting medical flower products to Poland for scientific purposes enabling the Polish Company to test and develop Experion's flower products. Ultimately Experion's goal is to export increased quantities of its flower products into Poland for medical use. Mr. Jay Garnett further commented "As investor interest and momentum in the cannabis industry continues to accelerate, Experion will be well-positioned to participate in the European and global cannabis markets as they continue to expand, and we receive our EU GMP certification that will allow Experion products to be exported across Europe." About Experion Holdings Ltd. Experion Holdings Ltd. is the parent company of Experion Biotechnologies Inc., a Health Canada licensed cultivator and processor of Cannabis, based in Mission, BC; and EFX Laboratories Inc., a medical products production and clinical research company based in Calgary, AB. Experion Holdings Ltd. is invested in a portfolio of products to address a wide spectrum of consumer needs' including Medical, Adult-use, and Wellness and Therapeutic products. For further information, please visit the Company's websitewww.experionwellness.comor contact: Judy-Ann Pottinger, Investor RelationsTel: (604) 617-5290judy-ann@experionwellness.com We invite all investors and other interested parties to join the Experion Holdings portal on 8020 Connect. Join here:http://connects.company/Experion Disclosure This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Although the Company believes that such information is reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward looking information is typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, forecast, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking information as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to: the state of the financial markets for the Company's equity securities; recent market volatility; the Company's ability to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies; the risks identified in the Filing Statement, and other risks and factors that the Company is unaware of at this time. The reader is referred to the Filing Statement dated September 25, 2017 and/or the most recent annual and interim Management's Discussion and Analysis for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects, copies of which may be accessed through the Company page on SEDAR atwww.sedar.com. SOURCE:Experion Holdings Ltd. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/550713/Experion-Holdings-Ltd-Trading-on-Frankfurt-Stock-Exchange-Under-New-Company-Name
Vanadium One Iron Appoints Dennis Moore to its Board of Directors TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / July 3rd, 2019 /Vanadium One Iron Corp. (VONE.V), is pleased to announce that it has appointed Dennis J. Moore to its Board of Directors. Dennis Moore holds a BSc. in Geology from the University of Oregon and a Master's degree in Engineering from the University of Sydney. Mr. Moore is also a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists and the Society of Economic Geologists. Since May 2017, Mr. Moore has been President, CEO and founder of Fremont Gold Ltd, a publicly-listed exploration and mining company with a portfolio of significant gold properties in Nevada, including the Gold Bar and Gold Canyon mines. From April 2005 through May 2016, Dennis was the founder, Executive Director and former VP Exploration of Magellan Minerals Ltd. While at Magellan he was responsible for assembling a 200,000 ha exploration portfolio in Brazil which included Cuiú Cuiú, Magellan's flagship property; leading the team responsible for the discovery of the Cuiú Cuiú and Tocantinzinho gold deposits; negotiating various contracts with local prospectors and tenement holders including an important stakeholders agreement with local miners and landowners at Cuiú Cuiú; and, building a 30 person technical team in Brazil. Mr. Moore has held numerous positions throughout his nearly 40 year career in the mining industry including Exploration Manager and Consulting Geologist, Brazauro Resources; Consulting Geologist for Minefinders Corp; Consultant Geologist to Newmont Mining Corp. in Bolivia and Peru; Environmental Site Manager at the Antamina Project in central Peru; Consultant Geologist for Barrick Gold in Peru; New Projects Manager for Altoro Resources Ltd., La Paz, Bolivia; Manager and principal consultant for Viking Minerals Pty. Limited; and, staff geologist for Geopeko Limited in eastern Australia. Mark Brennan, Vanadium One Chairman, commented, "Dennis brings a wealth of worldwide operational and finance experience to the Company and he will play a significant role in our growth and development. We welcome Dennis to the Board of Directors and look forward to utilizing his vast mining experience as the team works towards its PEA." Further, the Company wishes to announce that Mr. Victor Dario has retired from the Board of Directors. John Priestner, President and COO commented, "Victor has been a great friend to the Company, often as a mentor and always as a voice of sound and critical thinking. Victor is the longest standing member of the Board and his acute business and finance acumen made him an invaluable contributor to the Company for many years. We are grateful to have had Victor on the Board and we thank him for his service to the Company." About Vanadium One Iron Corp. Vanadium One Iron Corp. is a mineral exploration company headquartered in Toronto, Canada. The Company is focused on advancing its Mont Sorcier Project. The Mont Sorcier Project is a bulk tonnage magnetite iron ore and vanadium deposit, with very low titanium content, located near the northern Quebec mining town of Chibougamau, with access to world class infrastructure including rail, shipping and power. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF VANADIUM ONE IRON CORP. Martin Walter, CEOTel: 416-599-8547 Rodney Ireland, Investor RelationsTel: 416-599-8547 info@vanadiumone.com www.vanadiumone.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains "forward-looking information" including statements with respect to the future exploration performance of the Company. This forward-looking information involves 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 of the Company, expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks, as well as others, are disclosed within the Company's filing on SEDAR, which investors are encouraged to review prior to any transaction involving the securities of the Company. Forward-looking information contained herein is provided as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation, other than as required by law, to update any forward-looking information for any reason. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking information. SOURCE:Vanadium One Iron Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/550734/Vanadium-One-Iron-Appoints-Dennis-Moore-to-its-Board-of-Directors
The Internet Thinks Prince Harry Rudely Ignored Meghan Markle at a Baseball Game [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [BLANK_AUDIO] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] Over the weekend, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry took the day off from their parenting duties while making an appearance at London's first-ever MLB game . Despite Meghan and Harry's one-on-one time together technically being at an official royal event, they still snuck in some cute PDA at the stadium — just like any other couple. Dan Istitene/Getty Images However, at one point during their day date, royal watchers believed Harry wasn't enjoying his wife's company any more, and decided to blatantly ignore her when she tried to get his attention in the stands. In a video making the rounds on Twitter, Meghan leans in to say something to Harry while the prince turns away to speak to a fellow baseball fan. But it's not because he's being rude — he probably just can't hear her. Baseball games are loud, people. awkward #megxit pic.twitter.com/rGp2D0UVHi — piping hot tea ☕️ (@justmythorts) July 1, 2019 This isn't the first time a clip of the Sussexes has been misinterpreted on social media. During Trooping the Colour last month, the internet collectively lost its mind over a video of Harry telling an upset Meghan to turn around while on the balcony at Buckingham Palace. People thought they were in the midst of a couple's quarrel, when, in reality, Harry was just alerting Meghan to assume her position during the song "God Save the Queen." Sorry, naysayers. Meghan and Harry's love is still alive and well.
CO2 GRO Inc. Signs Agency Marketing Agreement with Henry James Innovations LLC TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / July 3, 2019 /Toronto based CO2 GRO Inc.("GROW")(TSX-V: GROW, OTCQB: BLONF, Frankfurt: 4021) is pleased to announce it has entered into an Agency Marketing Agreement ("AMA") with North Carolina based Henry James Innovations LLC ("HJI") to accelerate the commercialization of GROW's patent pending CO2 Delivery Solutions in North America and globally. The AMA allows GROW to leverage HJI's mostly U.S. marketing and sales team to initiate CO2 Delivery Solutions trials and commercial pilots with HJI's customers. GROW will lead all engineering and design support to HJI customers. Revenues from commercial agreements will be shared between GROW and HJI with GROW receiving 55% and HJI receiving 45%. The Agreement is dated June 28 2019. Its initial term is three years with additional automatic three-year terms. GROW's VP of Sales and Strategic Alliances, Aaron Archibald, commented, "The HJI AMA is part of GROW's marketing strategy to accelerate its CO2 Delivery Solutions roll-out to both the indoors and outdoors markets in the U.S., Canada and globally." HJI President Steve Stansell commented, "Our grower customers will benefit from a broader selection of plant efficiency, growth enhancement and plant health related products and services. Our company is proud to be partnering with GROW and is excited to bring their CO2 Delivery Solutions to our customers." About CO2 GRO Inc. GROW's mission is to accelerate all indoor and outdoor value plant growth naturally, safely, and economically using its patent pending CO2 Delivery Solutions. GROW's global target retail plant markets are food at $8 trillion per year (Plunkett Mar 2017), non-food at an estimated $1.2 trillion per year with retail tobacco at $760 billion (BA Tobacco 2017), floriculture at $100 billion by 2022 (MarketResearch.Biz estimate). Legal cannabis at $52.5 billion per year by 2023 (Statista) and legal US hemp CBD at $22B per year by 2022 (the Brightfield Group). GROW's CO2 Delivery Solutions are commercially proven, scalable and easily adopted into existing irrigation systems. The CO2 Delivery Solutions work by transferring CO2 gas into water and misting the water across the entire plant leaf surface which is a semi permeable membrane. The dissolved concentrated CO2 then penetrates the leaf's surface to provide more carbon for enhanced plant growth. Misting of water, dissolved nutrients and chemicals on plant leaves has been used for over 60 years by millions of indoor and outdoor growers. To date, outdoor growers have not had any way to enhance plant CO2 gas uptake for faster growth. Indoor CO2 gassing has enhanced plant yields for over 60 years but 60% of the CO2 gas used is typically lost from ventilation. Current greenhouse CO2 gassing levels of up to 1500 PPM are not ideal for worker health and safety. GROW's safer infused CO2 Delivery Solutions can be used by both indoor and outdoor plant growers with minimal dissolved CO2 gas loss and much greater CO2 plant contact resulting in higher plant yields than both CO2 gassing and no gassing plant yields. About Henry James LLC Henry James Innovations, LLC, a Raleigh, North Carolina based company was founded with the vision to help companies and individuals bring highly innovative, unique patented products to key US, Canadian and global markets. Leveraging over 30 years of commercial success and relationships, with expertise in sales, sales management, marketing and product distribution Henry James Innovations is currently launching and selling into the greenhouse, nursey, specialty agriculture market sectors, home and garden markets. In addition Henry James Innovations, LLC markets to the golf consumer and golf turf markets. For more information, please contact Steve Stansell, CEO, Henry James Innovations, LLC, +1-336-209-4316 orSteve@henryjamesllc.com Forward-Looking StatementsThis news release may contain forward-looking statements that are based on CO2 GRO's expectations, estimates and projections regarding its business and the economic environment in which it operates. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to control or predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in these forward looking statements and readers should not place undue reliance on such statements. Statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update them publicly to reflect new information or the occurrence of future events or circumstances, unless otherwise required to do so by law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For more information, please visitwww.co2gro.caor contact Sam Kanes, VP Communications at 416-315-7477. SOURCE:Co2 Gro Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/550706/CO2-GRO-Inc-Signs-Agency-Marketing-Agreement-with-Henry-James-Innovations-LLC
Rise Gold Announces C$1.75 Million Financing Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 3, 2019) - Rise Gold Corp. (CSE: RISE) (OTCQB: RYES) (the "Company") announces that it intends to raise up to C$1.75 million through the issuance of up to 25,000,000 units (each a "Unit") at a price of C$0.07 per Unit, with each Unit comprising one share of common stock (a "Share") and one-half of one share purchase warrant (the "Private Placement"). Each whole warrant (a "Warrant") entitles the holder to acquire one Share at an exercise price of C$0.10 for a period of three years from the date of issuance. The Offering will be conducted pursuant to available prospectus exemptions including sales to accredited investors, family members, close friends and business associates of directors and officers of the Corporation, to purchasers who have obtained suitability advice from a registered investment dealer pursuant to the exemption set out in BC Instrument 45-536 (Exemption from prospectus requirement for certain distributions through an investment dealer) (the "Investment Dealer Exemption") and to existing shareholders of the Corporation pursuant to the exemption set out in British Columbia Securities Commission BC Instrument 45-534 (Exemption from prospectus requirement for certain trades to existing security holders) (the "Existing Shareholder Exemption"). There is no minimum Offering size and the maximum offering is 25,000,000 units for gross proceeds of C$1,750,000. Assuming the Offering is fully subscribed, the Corporation plans to allocate the gross proceeds of the Offering to: (i) engineering and permitting on its Idaho-Maryland Gold Project (C$1,300,000) and (ii) general working capital (C$450,000). If the Offering is not fully subscribed, the Corporation will apply the proceeds to the above uses in priority and in such proportions as the Board of Directors and management of the Corporation determine is in the best interests of the Corporation. Although the Corporation intends to use the proceeds of the Offering as described above, the actual allocation of proceeds may vary from the uses set out above depending on future operations, events or opportunities. If the Offering is over-subscribed, subscriptions will be accepted at the discretion of the Corporation; therefore, it is possible that a subscriber's subscription may not be accepted by the Corporation even though it is received within the Offering period unless the Corporation determines to increase the size of the Offering. The Existing Shareholder Exemption is available to shareholders residing in all Canadian jurisdictions. Shareholders of record of the Corporation as at July 1, 2019 (the "Record Date") are eligible to participate under the Existing Shareholder Exemption. To rely upon the Existing Shareholder Exemption, the subscriber must: a) have been a shareholder of the Corporation on the Record Date and continue to hold shares of the Corporation until the date of closing of the Offering, b) be purchasing the Shares as a principal and for their own account and not for any other party, and c) may not subscribe for more than $15,000 of securities from the Corporation in any 12 month period unless they have first received advice from a registered investment dealer regarding the suitability of the investment. Existing shareholders interested in participating in the Offering should consult their investment advisor or the Corporation directly. In accordance with the requirements of the Investment Dealer Exemption, the Corporation confirms there is no material fact or material change related to the Corporation which has not been generally disclosed. The Offering may be closed in one or more tranches as subscriptions are received. There is no minimum subscription amount. All securities issued pursuant to the Private Placement will be subject to statutory hold periods in accordance with applicable United States and Canadian securities laws. Rise Gold will use the proceeds from the Private Placement for the advancement of its Idaho-Maryland Gold Project and for general working capital. The securities offered have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold absent registration or compliance with an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. About Rise Gold Corp. Rise Gold is an exploration-stage mining company. The Company's principal asset is the historic past-producing Idaho-Maryland Gold Mine located in Nevada County, California, USA. The Idaho-Maryland Gold Mine is a past producing gold mine with total past production of 2,414,000 oz of gold at an average mill head grade of 17 gpt gold from 1866-1955. Historic production at the Idaho-Maryland Mine is disclosed in the Technical Report on the Idaho-Maryland Project dated June 1st, 2017 and available onwww.sedar.com.Rise Gold is incorporated in Nevada, USA and maintains its head office in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. On behalf of the Board of Directors: Benjamin MossmanPresident, CEO and DirectorRise Gold Corp. For further information, please contact: RISE GOLD CORP.Suite 650, 669 Howe StreetVancouver, BC V6C 0B4T: 604.260.4577info@risegoldcorp.comwww.risegoldcorp.com The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this news release. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions related to certain factors including, without limitation, obtaining all necessary approvals, meeting expenditure and financing requirements, compliance with environmental regulations, title matters, operating hazards, metal prices, political and economic factors, competitive factors, general economic conditions, relationships with vendors and strategic partners, governmental regulation and supervision, seasonality, technological change, industry practices, and one-time events that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information contained in this release. Rise undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements or information except as required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visithttps://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/46050
This Integra Has a V-6 In the Middle and It Sounds Wonderful Photo credit: That Racing Channel - YouTube From Road & Track The Acura Integra came from the factory with its engine in the front, sending power to the front wheels. This Integra now has its engine in the middle, sending power to the rear wheels. It sounds wonderful. In the cabin behind the driver sits a J32A2 Honda V-6 out of an early 2000s Acura TL. It's reportedly unmodified, save for a tank of nitrous connected to the fuel system. Built for drag racing, it sends power to the ground via a six-speed manual transmission. It's almost like a miniature NSX. Here, listen for yourself. Welcome to Better Than Coffee , your daily dose of car sounds designed to help you kick that caffeine habit. via Engine Swap Depot ('You Might Also Like',) 16 of the Most Interesting Engine Swaps We've Ever Seen See 70 Years of the Greatest Ferraris Ever Built These Are the 14 Best New Cars for Less Than $45,000
California’s Cannabis Delivery Service Now Accepts Bitcoin SpeedWeed, California’s only legal cannabis delivery platform, announced that it is now accepting Bitcoin (BTC-USD). Customers can now use the popular cryptocurrency to purchase legal marijuana products from licensed dispensaries and have them delivered directly to their door, the company said in a statement. “With banks and credit card companies shying away from the cannabis industry, customers are forced to pay in cash. That’s really inconvenient. We have a better way,” SpeedWeed Director of Operations Ken Breese stated. “By allowing members to pay with crypto, we’re able to keep our promise: SpeedWeed is the safest, most convenient way to have cannabis delivered.” Launched in 2011 as a family business, SpeedWeed has become the largest cannabis delivery platform in America with over 200,000 members and growing. It gained notoriety for delivering medical marijuana to the homes of some of Hollywood’s biggest stars. The postCalifornia’s Cannabis Delivery Service Now Accepts Bitcoinappeared first onMarket Exclusive.
When Should You Buy Fortive Corporation (NYSE:FTV)? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Today we're going to take a look at the well-established Fortive Corporation (NYSE:FTV). The company's stock saw significant share price movement during recent months on the NYSE, rising to highs of $89.06 and falling to the lows of $75.76. Some share price movements can give investors a better opportunity to enter into the stock, and potentially buy at a lower price. A question to answer is whether Fortive's current trading price of $81.96 reflective of the actual value of the large-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Let’s take a look at Fortive’s outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change. Check out our latest analysis for Fortive The stock seems fairly valued at the moment according to my valuation model. It’s trading around 7.7% below my intrinsic value, which means if you buy Fortive today, you’d be paying a reasonable price for it. And if you believe that the stock is really worth $88.76, then there’s not much of an upside to gain from mispricing. Is there another opportunity to buy low in the future? Since Fortive’s share price is quite volatile, we could potentially see it sink lower (or rise higher) in the future, giving us another chance to buy. This is based on its high beta, which is a good indicator for how much the stock moves relative to the rest of the market. Future outlook is an important aspect when you’re looking at buying a stock, especially if you are an investor looking for growth in your portfolio. Buying a great company with a robust outlook at a cheap price is always a good investment, so let’s also take a look at the company's future expectations. Fortive’s earnings over the next few years are expected to increase by 42%, indicating a highly optimistic future ahead. This should lead to more robust cash flows, feeding into a higher share value. Are you a shareholder?It seems like the market has already priced in FTV’s positive outlook, with shares trading around its fair value. However, there are also other important factors which we haven’t considered today, such as the financial strength of the company. Have these factors changed since the last time you looked at the stock? Will you have enough conviction to buy should the price fluctuates below the true value? Are you a potential investor?If you’ve been keeping an eye on FTV, now may not be the most optimal time to buy, given it is trading around its fair value. However, the optimistic prospect is encouraging for the company, which means it’s worth diving deeper into other factors such as the strength of its balance sheet, in order to take advantage of the next price drop. Price is just the tip of the iceberg. Dig deeper into what truly matters – the fundamentals – before you make a decision on Fortive. You can find everything you need to know about Fortive inthe latest infographic research report. If you are no longer interested in Fortive, you can use our free platform to see my list of over50 other stocks with a high growth potential. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
Cars.com (CARS) Catches Eye: Stock Jumps 6.1% Cars.com Inc.CARS was a big mover last session, as the company saw its shares rise more than 6% on the day. The move came on solid volume too with far more shares changing hands than in a normal session. This stock, which remained volatile and traded within the range of $19.42 –$21.73 in the past one-month time frame, witnessed a sharp increase yesterday. The company has seen no changes when it comes to estimate revision over the past few weeks, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current quarter has also remained unchanged. The recent price action is encouraging though, so make sure to keep a close watch on this firm in the near future. Cars.com currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) while its Earnings ESP is 0.00%. Cars.com Inc. Price Cars.com Inc. price \| Cars.com Inc. Quote Investors interested in the Internet – Commerce industry may consider MercadoLibre, Inc. MELI, which has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can seethe complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Is CARS going up? Or down? Predict to see what others think:Up or Down Today's Best Stocks from Zacks Would 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 reportMercadoLibre, Inc. (MELI) : Free Stock Analysis ReportCars.com Inc. (CARS) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
Taking Advantage of Higher QLAC Limits in 2019 [Question]I invested $125,000 of my IRA in a qualified longevity annuity contract a few years ago. That was the maximum I could contribute then, but now I see that the maximum for 2019 is $130,000. Can I add $5,000 to the QLAC? [Answer]Possibly--though this can be a little tricky and requires a calculation, says Christine Russell, senior manager of retirement and annuities for TD Ameritrade. SEE ALSO: Take the True-or-False Annuities Quiz The QLAC premium limit is $130,000 for 2019, and that limit applies to all retirement accounts you own. So if you already invested $125,000 in a QLAC in your IRA under the old limit, you may be able to make additional QLAC purchases. However, Russell says, a lot of people forget that there is a percentage limit as well. Your total QLAC premiums can't exceed 25% of your retirement account balance, including the fair market value of QLACs already purchased, or $130,000--whichever is less. To determine the 25% limit for your IRAs, include all traditional IRAs , SEP IRAs or SIMPLE IRAs , but not Roth IRAs or inherited IRAs. (The 25% limit applies separately to each 401(k) you own.) SEE ALSO: How to Draw a Steady Paycheck in Retirement For example, let's say you paid $125,000 for a QLAC in 2016 when your IRA account balance was $500,000. As of December 31, 2018, the non-QLAC IRA balance is $380,000, while the QLAC's value is $125,000. (You should receive IRS Form 1098-Q, which shows the QLAC value.) That totals $505,000, and 25% of that total is $126,250. In this case, the percentage limit means you can only add $1,250 to the QLAC this year. If the IRA balance were larger, then the owner could add more to the QLAC in that example, says Russell. If the IRA balance was smaller, she notes, the owner might not be able to make any new QLAC investment. EDITOR'S PICKS Quiz: Test Your Knowledge of Annuities QLACs Can Deliver Late-in-Life Income How to Draw a Steady Paycheck in Retirement Copyright 2019 The Kiplinger Washington Editors
These Are the Only 15 Pot Stocks That Rose in the Second Quarter Thus far, 2019 has been a tale of two halves for the marijuana industry. In the first quarter, cannabis stocks were practically unstoppable, with the Horizons Marijuana Life Sciences ETF , a basket of more than four dozen pot stocks of various weightings, rising by roughly 50% and 14 well-known weed stocks surging by no less than 70% in a three-month span. Meanwhile, the second quarter was sort of a canna-bust. Inclusive of dividends paid, the Horizons Marijuana Life Sciences ETF declined by 13%, and 36 of the 58 qualifying pot stocks I follow (qualifying in the sense that they traded during the entirety of the second quarter) moved lower by a double-digit percentage. That's basically two-thirds of all major marijuana and ancillary pot stocks losing at least 10% in three months. A handful of dried cannabis buds lying atop a messy pile of cash. These marijuana stocks bucked the trend in Q2 and headed higher The bright spot is that 15 pure-play and associated cannabis stocks bucked the trend. Below you'll find these top-performing marijuana stocks from the second quarter, along with their corresponding gains, followed by a brief discussion as to why some of these companies led the way in the previous quarter. Zynerba Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ZYNE): Up 150% MediPharm Labs (NASDAQOTH: MEDIF): Up 58% Innovative Industrial Properties (NYSE: IIPR): Up 51% Valens GroWorks : Up 48% Shopify (NYSE: SHOP): Up 45% Neptune Wellness Solutions (NASDAQ: NEPT): Up 36% EnWave : Up 33% Planet 13 Holdings : Up 26% Scotts Miracle-Gro (NYSE: SMG): Up 25% 22nd Century Group : Up 22% Constellation Brands (NYSE: STZ): Up 12% Cara Therapeutics : Up 10% Flower One Holdings : Up 10% GW Pharmaceuticals : Up 2% Flowr Corp. : Up 1% These 15 marijuana stocks represent the roughly 1 out of 4 weed stocks that increased in value during the previous quarter. Now let's look at what worked so well for these companies. Two miniature baskets, with one holding a cannabis flower and the other holding an assortment of cannabis oils. Having a brand name went a long way in the second quarter Perhaps the first thing that really stands out from this second-quarter data is that having a brand name, as well as core operations that aren't tied to the marijuana industry, was the key to a solid performance. Story continues For example, Shopify, which supplies point-of-sale software to Quebec and select individual cannabis growers in various provinces, rose 45% in the second quarter. Shopify is expected to "see the green" in the years to come as marijuana companies lean on its sophisticated e-commerce platform to drive sales and improve the efficiency of their supply chains. Yet marijuana likely remains a relatively small component of Shopify's sales, meaning big gains in other industries thrust this popular software provider (and its revenue) higher. Constellation Brands, which gains its association with pot stocks via its 37% equity stake in Canopy Growth , gained a healthy 12% in the second quarter after reporting solid operating growth from its alcohol brands. Despite Canopy's 670-million-Canadian-dollar loss in fiscal 2019, resulting in a $106 million charge for Constellation (that's in U.S. dollars), the company still managed to boost beer shipments by 5.4% and grow sales by a little over 2% in its first quarter. Constellation Brands' earnings-per-share outlook for the year also rose modestly. Lawn and garden expert Scotts Miracle-Gro also dazzled with an uncharacteristically strong 25% gain in the three-month period. Even though Scotts Miracle-Gro's subsidiary Hawthorne Gardening, a supplier of hydroponics, lighting, soil, and nutrient solutions for the marijuana industry, has struggled, investors have kept in mind that the company's core lawn and garden segment for residential and commercial clients still represents north of 85% of total sales . In other words, having exposure to cannabis is great, but having a fallback business is even better when you're a brand-name company. A person holding a vial of cannabidiol oil in front of a cannabis plant. Anything involving CBD or CBD extraction was hot, hot, hot! As was the case with the best-performing marijuana stocks in the first half of 2019, the second quarter saw cannabidiol (CBD) extraction-service providers and CBD-based drug developers soar in value. CBD is the nonpsychoactive cannabinoid best known for its perceived medical benefits. CBD-focused drug developer Zynerba Pharmaceuticals was, hands down, the best marijuana stock in the second quarter and first half of the year. Zynerba's lead product, a transdermal CBD gel known as Zygel, is being tested in late-stage trials for Fragile X Syndrome and will be looked at closely for autism spectrum disorders. Not a lot is known about CBD's potential medical benefits, but the American public and investors appear convinced that it could be an inexpensive wonder drug for a host of ailments. Gaining access to CBD has also been a hot-button investment in the second quarter. Whereas retailers of CBD products are often the point of focus, it's extraction-service providers that have quietly delivered the strongest returns. MediPharm Labs, which had the second-best performance of any marijuana stock in the second quarter, signed an 18-month deal with Cronos Group in May that's worth at least $30 million and may increase to $60 million over 24 months. In return for providing Cronos with private-label concentrates, Cronos will use MediPharm Labs' Barrie, Ontario, extraction facility as a preferred partner for its processing needs under a separate agreement. Meanwhile, Neptune Wellness Solutions has been racking up major extraction deals like they're going out of style. On June 7, Neptune signed a three-year deal with Tilray to provide extraction for 120,000 kilos of total hemp and cannabis biomass. Five days later, it landed the largest extraction deal announced to date : a 230,000-kilo hemp and cannabis biomass agreement spanning three years with The Green Organic Dutchman . These extraction-service providers may not be consumer-facing names, but they could be the smartest way to play the rise of CBD . A hybrid greenhouse with flowering cannabis plants. Niche players thrived A final prominent theme in the second quarter among top performers was that niche players thrived. Companies that have little or no existing competition, at least in the sense of being publicly traded players, tended to do very well. For instance, cannabis real estate investment trust (REIT) Innovative Industrial Properties is the best-known (and only) way to play marijuana as a real estate investment. As a cannabis REIT, Innovative Industrial Properties will acquire assets (grow farms and processing sites) then lease these assets out for long periods of time. Not only does it reap the rewards of higher rental income when it acquires new properties, but it also passes along a 3.25% annual rental increase and a 1.5% management fee based on the rental rate, thereby providing modest organic growth. Since the year began, Innovative Industrial Properties has doubled the number of properties it owns to 22, and during the second quarter, it announced yet another increase to its quarterly dividend. Now paying out $0.60 per quarter, the company has increased its quarterly payout a cool 140% in just one year . More From The Motley Fool Beginner's Guide to Investing in Marijuana Stocks Marijuana Stocks Are Overhyped: 10 Better Buys for You Now Your 2019 Guide to Investing in Marijuana Stocks Sean Williams has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Shopify. The Motley Fool recommends Constellation Brands, Enwave, and Innovative Industrial Properties. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy .
How Many Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY) Shares Have Insiders Sold, In The Last Year? Want to participate in a short research study ? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! It is not uncommon to see companies perform well in the years after insiders buy shares. On the other hand, we'd be remiss not to mention that insider sales have been known to precede tough periods for a business. So we'll take a look at whether insiders have been buying or selling shares in Best Buy Co., Inc. ( NYSE:BBY ). What Is Insider Buying? It is perfectly legal for company insiders, including board members, to buy and sell stock in a company. However, most countries require that the company discloses such transactions to the market. We would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing. But it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing. For example, a Columbia University study found that 'insiders are more likely to engage in open market purchases of their own company’s stock when the firm is about to reveal new agreements with customers and suppliers'. Check out our latest analysis for Best Buy The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Best Buy In the last twelve months, the biggest single sale by an insider was when the , Richard Schulze, sold US$18m worth of shares at a price of US$69.53 per share. That means that even when the share price was below the current price of US$71.64, an insider wanted to cash in some shares. When an insider sells below the current price, it suggests that they considered that lower price to be fair. That makes us wonder what they think of the (higher) recent valuation. However, while insider selling is sometimes discouraging, it's only a weak signal. It is worth noting that this sale was only 0.7% of Richard Schulze's holding. Over the last year, we note insiders sold 1.0m shares worth US$71m. In the last year Best Buy insiders didn't buy any company stock. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below! NYSE:BBY Recent Insider Trading, July 3rd 2019 If you are like me, then you will not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying. Best Buy Insiders Are Selling The Stock The last three months saw significant insider selling at Best Buy. In total, insiders sold US$15m worth of shares in that time, and we didn't record any purchases whatsoever. In light of this it's hard to argue that all the insiders think that the shares are a bargain. Story continues Insider Ownership Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Best Buy insiders own about US$2.6b worth of shares (which is 14% of the company). This kind of significant ownership by insiders does generally increase the chance that the company is run in the interest of all shareholders. So What Do The Best Buy Insider Transactions Indicate? Insiders haven't bought Best Buy stock in the last three months, but there was some selling. And there weren't any purchases to give us comfort, over the last year. But since Best Buy is profitable and growing, we're not too worried by this. It is good to see high insider ownership, but the insider selling leaves us cautious. Therefore, you should should definitely take a look at this FREE report showing analyst forecasts for Best Buy . Of course Best Buy may not be the best stock to buy . So you may wish to see this free collection of high quality companies. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com . This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. View comments
Do FS Bancorp's (NASDAQ:FSBW) Earnings Warrant Your Attention? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Like a puppy chasing its tail, some new investors often chase 'the next big thing', even if that means buying 'story stocks' without revenue, let alone profit. And in their study titledWho Falls Prey to the Wolf of Wall Street?'Leuz et. al. found that it is 'quite common' for investors to lose money by buying into 'pump and dump' schemes. If, on the other hand, you like companies that have revenue, and even earn profits, then you may well be interested inFS Bancorp(NASDAQ:FSBW). Now, I'm not saying that the stock is necessarily undervalued today; but I can't shake an appreciation for the profitability of the business itself. Loss-making companies are always racing against time to reach financial sustainability, but time is often a friend of the profitable company, especially if it is growing. Check out our latest analysis for FS Bancorp If you believe that markets are even vaguely efficient, then over the long term you'd expect a company's share price to follow its earnings per share (EPS). That makes EPS growth an attractive quality for any company. Impressively, FS Bancorp has grown EPS by 32% per year, compound, in the last three years. If the company can sustain that sort of growth, we'd expect shareholders to come away winners. One way to double-check a company's growth is to look at how its revenue, and earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) margins are changing. Not all of FS Bancorp's revenue this year is revenuefrom operations, so keep in mind the revenue and margin numbers I've used might not be the best representation of the underlying business. FS Bancorp maintained stable EBIT margins over the last year, all while growing revenue 15% to US$75m. That's a real positive. You can take a look at the company's revenue and earnings growth trend, in the chart below. Click on the chart to see the exact numbers. Of course the knack is to find stocks that have their best days in the future, not in the past. You could base your opinion on past performance, of course, but you may also want tocheck this interactive graph of professional analyst EPS forecasts for FS Bancorp. I like company leaders to have some skin in the game, so to speak, because it increases alignment of incentives between the people running the business, and its true owners. As a result, I'm encouraged by the fact that insiders own FS Bancorp shares worth a considerable sum. Indeed, they hold US$16m worth of its stock. That's a lot of money, and no small incentive to work hard. That amounts to 7.1% of the company, demonstrating a degree of high-level alignment with shareholders. Given my belief that share price follows earnings per share you can easily imagine how I feel about FS Bancorp's strong EPS growth. I think that EPS growth is something to boast of, and it doesn't surprise me that insiders are holding on to a considerable chunk of shares. So this is very likely the kind of business that I like to spend time researching, with a view to discerning its true value. Of course, identifying quality businesses is only half the battle; investors need to know whether the stock is undervalued. So you might want to consider thisfreediscounted cashflow valuationof FS Bancorp. Of course, you can do well (sometimes) buying stocks thatare notgrowing earnings anddo nothave insiders buying shares. But as a growth investor I always like to check out companies thatdohave those features. You can accessa free list of them here. Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
This mobile phone plan hack could save you hundreds of dollars every year TL;DR:Tello gets you big four phone service for a quarter of the price. You might want to hear this, but you’re probably paying too much for your cell phone bill. It’s not your fault, though. The big name carriers offer irresistible deals on shiny new smartphones bundled with mobile plans that can seem like the only viable options. You assume you may be saving more in the long run, but really, you end up paying more out of pocket. Next thing you know, you're stuck in an ironclad contract. What you may not realize is that there’s life beyond big name carriers — and it could put more money back in your wallet.Read more... More aboutShopping Skimlinks,Shopping Solo,Tello,Discount Phone Plan, andCheap Smartphone Plan
U.S. trade deficit surges to five-month high as imports soar WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. trade deficit jumped to a five-month high in May as imports of goods increased, likely as businesses restocked ahead of an increase in tariffs on Chinese merchandise, eclipsing a broad rise in exports. The Commerce Department said on Wednesday the trade deficit surged 8.4% to $55.5 billion. Data for April was revised higher to show the trade gap widening to $51.2 billion instead of the previously reported $50.8 billion. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the trade gap widening to $54.0 billion in May. The goods trade deficit with China, a focus of President Donald Trump's "America First" agenda, increased 12.2% to $30.2 billion, with imports rising 12.8%. Trump recently raised additional import tariffs on Chinese goods, prompting Beijing to retaliate. Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping last week agreed to a trade truce and a return to talks. White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said on Tuesday talks were heading in the right direction, but it would take time to get the right deal made. The U.S.-China trade tensions have caused wild swings in the trade deficit, with exporters and importers trying to stay ahead of the tariff fight between the two economic giants. In May, goods imports increased 4.0% to $217.0 billion. Imports of consumer goods rose $1.4 billion, while those of motor vehicle and parts soared $2.3 billion to a record high. There were also big increases in imports of capital goods and industrial supplies and materials. Goods exports rose 2.8% to $140.8 billion. Exports of consumer goods increased $0.8 billion and soybean exports advanced $0.7 billion. Civilian aircraft exports rose $0.5 billion. Gains are, however, likely to be capped after Boeing in March suspended deliveries of its fastest-selling MAX 737 jetliner. The aircraft was grounded indefinitely following two deadly crashes in five months. Production of the troubled plane has been cut. When adjusted for inflation, the goods trade deficit increased $4.8 billion to $87.0 billion in May. The increase in the so-called real goods trade deficit suggests that trade could be a drag on second-quarter gross domestic product. Trade contributed 0.94 percentage point to the economy's 3.1% annualized growth pace in the first quarter. The Atlanta Fed is forecasting gross domestic product rising at a 1.5% rate in the April-June quarter. The wider trade deficit added to weak housing, manufacturing, business investment and moderate consumer spending in offering a downbeat assessment of the economy. (Reporting By Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Andrea Ricci) ((Lucia.Mutikani@thomsonreuters.com; 1 202 898 8315; Reuters Messaging: lucia.mutikani.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)
Is Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:BBGI) Balance Sheet Strong Enough To Weather A Storm? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Investors are always looking for growth in small-cap stocks like Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:BBGI), with a market cap of US$92m. However, an important fact which most ignore is: how financially healthy is the business? Evaluating financial health as part of your investment thesis is crucial, since poor capital management may bring about bankruptcies, which occur at a higher rate for small-caps. The following basic checks can help you get a picture of the company's balance sheet strength. However, potential investors would need to take a closer look, and I recommend youdig deeper yourself into BBGI here. Over the past year, BBGI has ramped up its debt from US$212m to US$283m – this includes long-term debt. With this increase in debt, BBGI's cash and short-term investments stands at US$16m to keep the business going. On top of this, BBGI has generated cash from operations of US$27m during the same period of time, leading to an operating cash to total debt ratio of 9.5%, indicating that BBGI’s debt is not covered by operating cash. With current liabilities at US$33m, it seems that the business has been able to meet these obligations given the level of current assets of US$67m, with a current ratio of 2.02x. The current ratio is the number you get when you divide current assets by current liabilities. Usually, for Media companies, this is a suitable ratio since there's a sufficient cash cushion without leaving too much capital idle or in low-earning investments. With debt reaching 87% of equity, BBGI may be thought of as relatively highly levered. This is a bit unusual for a small-cap stock, since they generally have a harder time borrowing than large more established companies. No matter how high the company’s debt, if it can easily cover the interest payments, it’s considered to be efficient with its use of excess leverage. A company generating earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) at least three times its net interest payments is considered financially sound. In BBGI's case, the ratio of 2.21x suggests that interest is not strongly covered, which means that lenders may be more reluctant to lend out more funding as BBGI’s low interest coverage already puts the company at higher risk of default. BBGI’s high cash coverage means that, although its debt levels are high, the company is able to utilise its borrowings efficiently in order to generate cash flow. This may mean this is an optimal capital structure for the business, given that it is also meeting its short-term commitment. I admit this is a fairly basic analysis for BBGI's financial health. Other important fundamentals need to be considered alongside. You should continue to research Beasley Broadcast Group to get a better picture of the small-cap by looking at: 1. Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for BBGI’s future growth? Take a look at ourfree research report of analyst consensusfor BBGI’s outlook. 2. Valuation: What is BBGI worth today? Is the stock undervalued, even when its growth outlook is factored into its intrinsic value? Theintrinsic value infographic in our free research reporthelps visualize whether BBGI is currently mispriced by the market. 3. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore ourfree list of these great stocks here. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
‘Moderation Bot’ Blacklists Telegram Users to Tackle Crypto Scams Blockchain advisory firm AmaZix is opening up access to its “moderation bot” to help stamp out cryptocurrency scams on popular messaging app Telegram. Using the bot, the company has built up a blacklist of Telegram users based on data collected over two years. So far, the list contains over 50,000 banned users, according to a press release emailed to CoinDesk. The database of dubious actors was developed through the moderation of groups on Telegram. From over 140 groups, AmaZix said it has seen over 730,000 Telegram users, of which over 54,500 (7.5 percent) were banned for apparently attempting some form of crypto scam. Related:Irish Crypto Exchange Bitsane May Have Disappeared With Users’ Funds These include impersonating admins and direct messaging users, posting fake offers or giveaways, posting links for cloned social media or other websites, and phishing group users in attempts to steal private keys. AmaZix CEO Jonas Karlberg explained how the system works in the release, saying: “Through our service, which takes the form of a bot that is added to a group, we offer free, real-time threat intelligence for Telegram. As soon as a user posts malicious content on any of the groups we monitor, they are automatically banned from all our groups, and added to our global blacklist.” All of the groups moderated byAmaZixhave had some scam activity, said Karlberg. “As soon as a project gets traction, the scammers move in. Telegram offers the criminals complete anonymity, so they use it with absolutely no fear of reprisals.” Related:Six Arrested Over Cloned Crypto Exchange That Stole €24 Million The company’s chief operating officer, Dejan Horvat, told CoinDesk that the service works in English only for now, but said many of its features do not require language. For example, forwarding links or accounts is banned. “If someone forwards spam, regardless of the language, then the bot will act on it. The only feature where language is important is the curse list where the bot deletes many curse words,” he said. Horvat added that, if a telegram user is wrongly blacklisted, they can report it to the team, “who will then investigate the situation and remove you from the blacklist if appropriate.” The blacklist is administered in “real-time” 24-hours a day by the firm’s channel moderators, according to the release. AmaZix has no formal relationship with Telegram currently, according to Horvat. Karlberg concluded: “Our hope is, by opening access and encouraging more people to use and contribute to our service, we will catch the scammers even more quickly. This will effectively discourage malicious activity on Telegram.” Telegramimage via Shutterstock • Scammers Target Would-Be Libra Crypto Buyers With Fake Site • Messaging Giant Telegram’s ICO Token Is at Last Going on (Limited) Public Sale
U.S. private sector employment grows at disappointingly slow pace Job growth in the U.S. private sector slowed again during the month of June, according to anew report from ADP Research Institute and Moody’s. The U.S. private sector added a disappointing 102,000 positions in June, lower than the 140,000 positions Wall Street was predicting. May’s figure was revised up to 41,000 from the 27,000 positions that was initially reported.Last month’s reading represented the smallest increasein private positions since the start of the economic expansion. “Job growth started to show signs of a slowdown,” said Ahu Yildirmaz, vice president and co-head of the ADP Research Institute. “While large businesses continue to do well, small businesses are struggling as they compete with the ongoing tight labor market.” While larger businesses were adding, small businesses with fewer than 50 employees saw a drop of 23,000 positions. Meanwhile, businesses with 19 or less employees reduced payrolls by 37,000 positions. The sector that continues to see weakness was the goods-producing sector, with construction falling by 18,000 positions. Within the services-producing sectors, leisure and hospitality added a meager 3,000 positions during June. “The goods producing sector continues to show weakness. Among services, leisure and hospitality’s weakness could be a reflection of consumer confidence,” Yildirmaz said. Consumer confidence levels dropped more than expected in June. The Consumer Board’s consumer confidence index fell to a reading of 121.5, which was its lowest level since September 2017. ADP’s private sector employment report comes amid heightened concerns about a a slowing U.S. economy, as many fear that the deceleration in recent economic data could spread more meaningfully to the labor market. “The muted 102,000 increase in the ADP’s measure of private payrolls in June, which follows an even weaker 41,000 gain in May, suggests that the deterioration in the broader economy has now spread to the labour market,” Capital Economics wrote in a note Wednesday. Though the ADP report is not always a reliable indicator of what the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report will illustrate, it does provide a bit of insight into the health of employment in the U.S. The BLS will release the June jobs report on Friday. Economists polled by Bloomberg are expecting the U.S. economy to have added 160,000 jobs in June, up from the 75,000 positions added in May. — Heidi Chung is a reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter:@heidi_chung. Follow Yahoo Finance onTwitter,Facebook,Instagram,Flipboard,LinkedIn, andreddit. • Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance More from Heidi: McDonald’s Japan is one of the most popular places on Facebook Tyson on alt-meat: We're going in big Taco Bell is testing plant-based proteins Chewy prices its IPO at $22 per share, raises just over $1 billion Amazon is on a hiring spree in China, exclusive data shows
Tesla's Vehicle Deliveries Soar Tesla's (NASDAQ: TSLA) second-quarter vehicle production and delivery update is out -- and investors are impressed based on the stock's sharp 7% jump in after-hours trading as of 6:40 p.m. EDT Tuesday. Deliveries during the quarter surged to a record high, driven primarily by a huge increase in Model 3 deliveries. The upbeat update on Tesla's vehicle sales followsworse-than-expected first-quarter deliveries, when the company's overseas expansion led to logistical challenges. Tesla delivered a record 95,200 vehicles in its second quarter. Fueled by continued growth in Model 3 production, this figure was up 134% year over year and 51% sequentially. These deliveries easily beat analysts' average forecast for deliveries of 91,000 units during the quarter. In addition, the figure was ahead of Tesla's previous quarterly record of about 90,966 vehicles.Â Of these deliveries, Tesla estimates 77,550 were Model 3 and 17,650 were Model S and X vehicles. Vehicle Q2 2019 Q2 2018 Change Model 3 deliveries 77,550 18,449 320% Combined Model S & X deliveries 17,650 22,319 (21%) Total vehicle deliveries 95,200 40,768 134% Deliveries are Tesla's end-of-quarter estimates and final figures can vary by around 0.5%, according to Tesla. Data source: Tesla's quarterly vehicle delivery updates and shareholder letters. Capturing where growth came from during the quarter, Model 3 deliveries soared 320% as the vehicle's production jumped. In the year-ago quarter, Tesla was still in"production hell,"with production running about six months behind schedule. But now Tesla was able to produce 72,531 Model 3 units in its second quarter alone, setting the stage for a huge year-over-year increase in Model 3 deliveries. Looking beyond Model 3 deliveries, it's worth noting that even though Model S and X deliveries were down 21% year over year, they were up 46% sequentially. This suggests that demand for the pricey vehicles is improving after a pull-forward of demand during the fourth quarter of 2018 (due to the halving of the federal electric vehicle tax credit at the end of last year) negatively impacted S and X deliveries in the first quarter of 2019. Perhaps one of the most important takeaways in Tesla's update on Tuesday was regarding the demand for Tesla's vehicles. "Orders generated during the quarter exceeded our deliveries, thus we are entering Q3 with an increase in our order backlog," Tesla stated. "We believe we are well positioned to continue growing total production and deliveries in Q3." Tesla's better-than-expected second-quarter deliveries and management's optimistic update on demand for its vehicles bode well for the automaker's ability to meet its full-year guidance for 360,000 to 400,000 total deliveries. 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 Daniel Sparksowns shares of Tesla. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Tesla. The Motley Fool has adisclosure policy.
What Kind Of Shareholders Own Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ:CTAS)? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! The big shareholder groups in Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ:CTAS) have power over the company. Generally speaking, as a company grows, institutions will increase their ownership. Conversely, insiders often decrease their ownership over time. Warren Buffett said that he likes 'a business with enduring competitive advantages that is run by able and owner-oriented people'. So it's nice to see some insider ownership, because it may suggest that management is owner-oriented. Cintas has a market capitalization of US$25b, so it's too big to fly under the radar. We'd expect to see both institutions and retail investors owning a portion of the company. In the chart below below, we can see that institutions are noticeable on the share registry. Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholder can tell us about CTAS. View our latest analysis for Cintas Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices. We can see that Cintas does have institutional investors; and they hold 69% of the stock. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone, since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of Cintas, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too. Since institutional investors own more than half the issued stock, the board will likely have to pay attention to their preferences. Hedge funds don't have many shares in Cintas. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too. The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO. Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group. Our most recent data indicates that insiders own a reasonable proportion of Cintas Corporation. Insiders own US$4.9b worth of shares in the US$25b company. That's quite meaningful. Most would be pleased to see the board is investing alongside them. You may wish toaccess this free chart showing recent trading by insiders. The general public, with a 12% stake in the company, will not easily be ignored. This size of ownership, while considerable, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders. It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Cintas better, we need to consider many other factors. I always like to check for ahistory of revenue growth. You can too, by accessing this free chart ofhistoric revenue and earnings in thisdetailed graph. But ultimatelyit is the future, not the past, that will determine how well the owners of this business will do. Therefore we think it advisable to take a look atthis free report showing whether analysts are predicting a brighter future. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
Where Will Aurora Cannabis Be in 5 Years? Most Canadian cannabis stocks are seemingly expensive today. After all, virtually none are profitable, and most have quarterly revenue under 100 million Canadian dollars. Yet some of these companies have seen their stocks bid up into the multibillions in market capitalization. In fact, Canadian leaderAurora Cannabis(NYSE: ACB) is currently valued at roughly $8 billion, despite making only about CA$75 million in revenue in its most recent quarter. Of course, the market isn't just looking at today, but ahead to the future. Investment bankCowen(NASDAQ: COWN) thinks worldwide cannabis sales will hit $75 billion by 2030, whileBank of America(NYSE: BAC) thinks the market could eventually more than double that figure,to $166 billion. Aurora is gunning to become the largest producer in the world and capture as much of this huge future market as possible. Here's Aurora's big vision looking a few years out. Aurora leads all other cannabis companies in terms of potential kilograms produced. In the most recent quarter, Aurora produced 15,590 kilograms, which annualizes to roughly 62,000 kilograms. But these numbers don't really tell the whole story. The first quarter also saw an inflection in the company's growing capabilities, with production surging nearly 100%quarter over quarter, not year over year. When current and funded capacity comes online, Aurora will be capable of producing over 625,000 kilos of cannabis annually -- roughly 10 times the current production run rate. That leads second-placeCanopy Growth(NYSE: CGC) by roughly 100,000 kilos. The amount of cannabis produced is not merely for the sake of size alone. Aurora is betting its massive scale will drive down costs per gram over time. That's a big deal, since many believe that cannabis will become relatively commoditized, and the lowest-cost producer usually has a competitive advantage in a commoditized market. While Aurora has also expanded aggressively internationally to 24 countries, it will also export a fair amount from its massive facilities in Canada. That should give Aurora a cost advantage relative to, say, its U.S. competitors, which must have several facilities across different states, because of federal U.S. laws. On the recentconference call with analysts, management said U.S. growers "have multiple state operators, multistate operators that have small facilities in their various states" and added, "[t]hat's not really the Aurora way of doing things." Management also pointed to the long-term advantage of Aurora's custom-built cannabis grow facilities. These differentiate Aurora from its competitors, which essentially use retrofitted greenhouses. Aurora has thus been able to better control its internal environment and has never had a crop loss. That's led to industry-leading efficiency. In the March-ended quarter, Aurora drove its costs per gram down from CA$1.92 to just CA$1.42. Again, this change was all in the span of just one quarter. While the company's average selling price also fell, it did so only mildly, from CA$6.80 to CA$6.40 per gram. Overall, the company's gross margin expanded from 54% to 55%. Aurora's management believes it can drive down costs to "well below CA$1 per gram," as its main Aurora Sky facility ramps up production this year. That would probably be the most efficient growth in the industry and could further buoy margins. If one factors in all of Aurora's capacity and uses a CA$6 per gram average selling price, Aurora could reach CA$3.75 billion in revenue within a few years, and if the costs per gram continue to drop, the 55% gross margin from the past quarter could potentially expand north of 60%. But Aurora isn't just about selling commodity flower cannabis at the lowest possible cost. The company is also looking to sell manufactured products at much higher prices. These products will come from the new Aurora Polaris facility, which was just announced in February. Polaris will focus on manufacturing cannabis from flower produced at the adjacent Aurora Sky facility into edibles, vapes, soft gels, and cosmetics. The two facilities are right next to Edmonton airport, and the company's central logistics and processing hub. Manufactured products help margins because they sell for much higher prices. Last quarter, Aurora's average selling price for cannabis extracts was a whopping $11.01 per gram, compared with just $5.86 for dried cannabis. Manufactured products are also key to Aurora's focus on the medical market. While many cannabis companies are focused on the faster-growth consumer market, Aurora is focused on the medical community first. That's for a few reasons. One, medical patients tend to buy high-margin manufactured products, and two, medical patients tend to be "sticky." According to Chief Corporate Officer Cam Battley, "Consumers, you never know, but with a medical patient, they're likely to stay with you as long as you keep them happy." Third, it's possible that Canadian excise taxes will be repealed for medical patients in the future. Currently, companies like Aurora pay the excise taxes themselves. Last quarter Aurora paid over CA$10 million in excise taxes alone. Aurora isn't ignoring the consumer market, either, but is focusing the higher-end organic segment. Organic cannabis, like organic food, is more difficult to cultivate, but it can earn a hefty price premium. Last quarter, Aurora closed its acquisition of Whistler Medical Marijuana, which makes organic, high-end cannabis in Western Canada. Aurora also has a significant minority stake inThe Green Organic Dutchman(NASDAQOTH: TGODF), which produces organic cannabis. Best-in-class scale and a focus on high-margin end markets could enable Aurora to become the highest-margin cannabis producer over time. In fact, the company expects to be EBITDA-positive in the upcoming quarter -- a feat unique to many cannabis companies today. Five years out, it appears investors could potentially be looking at a very profitable company, even on a net income basis. Shareholders also won't have to share the spoils. Aurora is one of the few companies that hasn't taken on a large strategic investor from outside the industry, such as Canopy did withConstellation Brands, orCronos Groupdid withAltria. As such, Aurora could wind up looking like the biggest winner in the industry five years from now, although an industry boom could lift many other top players as well. More From The Motley Fool • Beginner's Guide to Investing in Marijuana Stocks • Marijuana Stocks Are Overhyped: 10 Better Buys for You Now • Your 2019 Guide to Investing in Marijuana Stocks Billy Dubersteinowns shares of Bank of America. His clients may own shares of the companies mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Constellation Brands. The Motley Fool has adisclosure policy.
Truck driver survives fall into 40ft sinkhole which caused evacuation A truck driver plunged into a 40ft sinkhole in Naples, Italy. This is the shocking moment a lorry driver fell into a 40ft mystery sinkhole in Italy. The driver, 57, was rescued by firefighters in Naples and rushed to hospital on Monday. At least 15 local residents were urged to leave their homes as a safety precaution after a gas pipe leaked when the sinkhole emerged. The sinkhole measures around 26 feet wide and 40 feet deep, according to local reports, which described its formation as an “earthquake-like roar”. The road has since been closed and cordoned off. Vigili del Fuoco, the Naples Fire Brigade posted photos of the incident on Facebook and said that “a large chasm has affected the space in front of the Basilica of San Mauro in Largo San Mauro. At least 15 residents were evacuated after a gas pipe burst open. “The road has been closed to traffic. A small garbage truck collapsed into the cavity. “The driver, a 57-year-old, was slightly injured. Some colleagues helped him to save his life. READ MORE Donald Trump's Independence Day parade branded 'obscene' by former general Third of teachers say Brexit hitting language learning as parents say they'll be 'less useful after we leave EU' New Chinese magnetic levitation train ‘is faster than going by plane’ “The Carabinieri and the firefighters of Naples and Afragola intervened on the spot.” Water and electricity have also been cut off from the Casoria area in the southern region of Naples. Firefighter surveys the scene after authorities cordon off the area. Italian newspaper Il Messaggero described the sinkhole’s appearance as an “an earthquake” and said there was a pungent smell of gas in the region. Mayor of Casoria, Raffaele Bene, said: “It was the sinkhole that caused the pipe to break, and not a gas leak which triggered the [road] collapse.” Police and rescuers are carrying out investigations on the incident. The cause of the sinkhole is still unknown. Sinkholes are formed when the ground gets eroded due to a multitude of natural factors including human activity. They mainly occur on land made out of soluble rock, such as limestone, which is easily dissolved by water. Over time, the exposed rock gradually wears down and forms cracks under the surface. The rock beneath is no longer able to carry the weight of the soil sediments on top, causing it to collapse several feet into the ground. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK View comments
If You Had Bought Monotype Imaging Holdings (NASDAQ:TYPE) Stock Five Years Ago, You'd Be Sitting On A 41% Loss, Today Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! In order to justify the effort of selecting individual stocks, it's worth striving to beat the returns from a market index fund. But in any portfolio, there will be mixed results between individual stocks. At this point some shareholders may be questioning their investment inMonotype Imaging Holdings Inc.(NASDAQ:TYPE), since the last five years saw the share price fall 41%. The falls have accelerated recently, with the share price down 17% in the last three months. See our latest analysis for Monotype Imaging Holdings To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price. During the five years over which the share price declined, Monotype Imaging Holdings's earnings per share (EPS) dropped by 14% each year. This fall in the EPS is worse than the 9.9% compound annual share price fall. The relatively muted share price reaction might be because the market expects the business to turn around. The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). We know that Monotype Imaging Holdings has improved its bottom line lately, but is it going to grow revenue? Check if analysts think Monotype Imaging Holdings willgrow revenue in the future. It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. We note that for Monotype Imaging Holdings the TSR over the last 5 years was -34%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted thetotalshareholder return. Investors in Monotype Imaging Holdings had a tough year, with a total loss of 16% (including dividends), against a market gain of about 8.7%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 8.0% over the last half decade. We realise that Buffett has said investors should 'buy when there is blood on the streets', but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality businesses. Before spending more time on Monotype Imaging Holdingsit might be wise to click here to see if insiders have been buying or selling shares. For those who like to findwinning investmentsthisfreelist of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on US exchanges. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
Why Income Investors Should Have Nokian Renkaat Oyj (HEL:TYRES) In Their Portfolio Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Nokian Renkaat Oyj (HEL:TYRES) is a true Dividend Rock Star. Its yield of 5.8% makes it one of the market's top dividend payer. In the past ten years, Nokian Renkaat Oyj has also grown its dividend from €0.40 to €1.58. Below, I have outlined more attractive dividend aspects for Nokian Renkaat Oyj for income investors who may be interested in new dividend stocks for their portfolio. Check out our latest analysis for Nokian Renkaat Oyj It is a stock that pays a reliable and steady dividend over the past decade, at a rate that is competitive relative to the other dividend-paying companies on the market. More specifically: • Its annual yield is among the top 25% of dividend payers • It consistently pays out dividend without missing a payment or significantly cutting payout • Its dividend per share amount has increased over the past • It is able to pay the current rate of dividends from its earnings • It is able to continue to payout at the current rate in the future Nokian Renkaat Oyj's yield sits at 5.8%, which is high for Auto Components stocks. But the real reason Nokian Renkaat Oyj stands out is because it has a high chance of being able to continue to pay dividend at this level for years to come, something that is quite desirable if you are looking to create a portfolio that generates a steady stream of income. If there's one type of stock you want to be reliable, it's dividend stocks and their stable income-generating ability. In the case of TYRES it has increased its DPS from €0.40 to €1.58 in the past 10 years. During this period it has not missed a payment, as one would expect for a company increasing its dividend. This is an impressive feat, which makes TYRES a true dividend rockstar. The current trailing twelve-month payout ratio for the stock is 49%, which means that the dividend is covered by earnings. Going forward, analysts expect TYRES's payout to increase to 73% of its earnings. Assuming a constant share price, this equates to a dividend yield of around 5.9%. However, EPS is forecasted to fall to €2.56 in the upcoming year. Therefore, although payout is expected to increase, the fall in earnings may not equate to higher dividend income. If you want to dive deeper into the sustainability of a certain payout ratio,you may wish to consider the cash flow of the business. A business with strong cash flow can sustain a higher divided payout ratio than a company with weak cash flow. Investors of Nokian Renkaat Oyj can continue to expect strong dividends from the stock. With its favorable dividend characteristics, if high income generation is still the goal for your portfolio, then Nokian Renkaat Oyj is one worth keeping around. However, given this is purely a dividend analysis, I recommend taking sufficient time to understand its core business and determine whether the company and its investment properties suit your overall goals. Below, I've compiled three essential factors you should look at: 1. Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for TYRES’s future growth? Take a look at ourfree research report of analyst consensusfor TYRES’s outlook. 2. Valuation: What is TYRES worth today? Even if the stock is a cash cow, it's not worth an infinite price. Theintrinsic value infographic in our free research reporthelps visualize whether TYRES is currently mispriced by the market. 3. Other Dividend Rockstars: Are there strong dividend payers with better fundamentals out there? Check out ourfree list of these great stocks here. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
US trade deficit rises to 5-month high of $55.5B in May WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. trade deficit rose to a five-month high in May as the politically sensitive imbalances with China and Mexico widened. The Commerce Department said Wednesday that the gap between the goods and services the U.S. sells and what it buys from foreign countries rose 8.4% to $55.5 billion in May, the highest since December. Exports increased 2% to $210.6 billion on rising shipments of soybeans, aircraft and cars. But imports climbed more — 3.3% to $266.2 billion — on an increase in crude oil and cellphones. The deficit in the trade of goods with Mexico rose 18.1% to a record $9.6 billion. The goods gap with China widened 12.2% to $30.2 billion. President Donald Trump has sought to reduce America's persistent trade deficit, which he sees as a sign of economic weakness and the result of bad trade agreements crafted by naive U.S. negotiators. He has slapped tariffs on foreign steel, aluminum, dishwashers, solar panels and on thousands of Chinese goods. He also has renegotiated a trade pact with Canada and Mexico that awaits approval by Congress. And his team has conducted 11 rounds of talks with China aimed at pressuring Beijing to curb its aggressive push to challenge American technological dominance, an effort that allegedly includes cybertheft and forcing foreign firms to hand over trade secrets. Mainstream economists say the trade gap is the product of economic factors that don't respond much to changes in trade policy: Americans buy more than they produce, and imports fill the gap. And a persistently strong U.S. dollar also puts American exporters at a price disadvantage overseas. So far this year, the goods-and-services deficit is $261.4 billion, up 6.4% from January-May 2018. In May, the United States ran a $76.1 billion deficit in the trade of goods such as appliances and cars. That was partially offset by a $20.6 billion surplus in the trade of services such as banking and tourism.
Body and Mind Inc. Enters into Definitive Asset Purchase Agreement for ShowGrow California Dispensaries Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 3, 2019) - Body and Mind Inc. (CSE: BAMM) (OTC Pink: BMMJ) (the"Company"or"BaM"), is pleased to announce the Company has entered into a definitive asset purchase agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") to acquire a 100% ownership interest in ShowGrow's Long Beach, California dispensary, a settlement agreement ("NMG SD Settlement") to acquire a 60% ownership interest in ShowGrow's San Diego, California dispensary (the "Acquisition"), and a lease assignment (the "Lease Assignment") on the San Diego operation. The Purchase Agreement, Settlement, and Lease Assignment supersede the binding interim purchase agreement disclosed in the Company's news release dated November 28, 2018. The Purchase Agreement was entered into between the Company's wholly owned subsidiary, NMG Long Beach, LLC ("NMG LB"), Green Light District Holdings, Inc. ("GLDH") and Airport Collective, Inc. The NMG SD Settlement was entered into between Body and Mind ("BaM"), including its' subsidiaries, and Green Light District Holdings ("GLDH"), including its' subsidiaries. The Lease Assignment was entered into between the Company's 60%-owned subsidiary, NMG San Diego, LLC ("NMG SD"), Green Road, LLC, SGSD LLC, and SJJR LLC. The Acquisition provides the Company with a beachhead to establish retail operations in California, which will assist the Company in rolling out its brands beyond Nevada, Ohio and Arkansas. The Acquisition will enable the Company to access a seasoned retail management team that can also assist in adding value to the Nevada, Ohio and Arkansas platforms. The Acquisition provides exposure to high-growth, near-term revenue producing assets with solid earnings potential and access to deep domain knowledge of the California cannabis industry. "We have been working with ShowGrow for several months and are incredibly impressed with the domain knowledge, cannabis experience and marketing skills of the team," stated Robert Hasman, President of Nevada Medical Group LLC and board member of Body and Mind. "ShowGrow has a deep understanding of retail marketing and are synonymous with the early California cannabis industry. This acquisition will create a strong platform for our retail operations and successful brands." Transaction Highlights: The Acquisition is subject to certain closing conditions including receipt of applicable licences and was executed under the following terms: 1) The Acquisition Purchase Agreement purchase price is USD$6,700,000 (the "Purchase Price). The consideration under the Purchase Agreement includes the following on closing: 1. The USD$5,200,000 convertible note issued by GLDH to the Company on November 28, 2018 is to be applied towards the Purchase Price; 2. USD$1,500,000 to be paid in common shares of the Company ("Common Shares") at a price of CAD$0.7439 per Common Share to a maximum of 2,681,006 Common Shares (the "Share Payment") upon NMG LB receiving the transfer of all licenses, permits and BCC authorizations for NMG LB to conduct medical and adult-use commercial cannabis retail operations. The Share Payment is subject to reduction in the event there are undisclosed liabilities by GLDH and Airport Collective. 2) The NMG SD Settlement includes a total valuation of USD$2,000,000. The consideration under the NMG SD Settlement includes the following on closing; 1. USD$500,000 to be paid in Common Shares to Show Grow San Diego, LLC ("SGSD") at a share price equal to the maximum allowable discount pursuant to Canadian Securities Exchange policies, upon execution of the settlement agreement. 2. USD$750,000 to be paid in Common Shares to David Barakett at a price of CAD$0.7439 per Common Share to a maximum of 1,340,502 Common Shares (the "DB Share Payment") upon NMG San Diego, LLC ("NMG SD") receiving all licenses, permits and authorizations for NMG SD to conduct medical commercial cannabis retail operations. The DB Share Payment is subject to reduction whereby the reduction is tied to David Barakett agreeing to pay the Company 40% of the NMG SD start-up costs; and 1. USD$750,000 to be paid in Common Shares to David Barakett at a price of CAD$0.7439 per Common Share to a maximum of 1,340,502 Common Shares (the "DB Additional Shares Payment") upon NMG Sand Diego, LLC ("NMG SD") receiving all licenses, permits and authorizations for NMG SD to conduct adult-use commercial cannabis retail operations. The DB Additional Shares Payment is subject reduction whereby the reduction is tied to David Barakett agreeing to pay the Company 40% of the NMG SD start-up costs. 3) The Lease Assignment of a long-term lease agreement at the San Diego location. The Company is required to issue cash and share payments totaling USD$2,283,765.26 to the landlord as follows; 1. USD$750,000, payable in Common Shares at a share price equal to the maximum allowable discount pursuant to Canadian Securities Exchange policies, upon execution of the assignment agreement; 2. USD$783,765.26, payable in cash, within 5 business days following execution of the assignment agreement; 3. USD$750,000, payable in cash, including interest at 5% per annum, upon receipt of the San Diego Conditional Use Permit allowing adult-use commercial cannabis retail operations. 4) The Company providing a loan to GLDH in the amount of USD$200,000 at an interest rate of 12% per annum, accrued and compounded quarterly and due within 3 years, collateralized by the Common Shares to be earned by satisfying items 1 and 2 above. 5) The Company, through NMG LB, enters into a consulting agreement with David Barakett to provide certain consulting and advisory services to NMG LB, agrees to pay Mr. Barakett a total of USD$200,000. 6) The Company has agreed to forgive approximately USD$800,000 for prior operating loans advanced to GLDH; and; 7) In connection with the Agreement, the Company and its affiliates and subsidiaries licenses certain intellectual property from Green Light District Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and GLDH (GLDM and GLDH collectively referred to in this paragraph as "Licensor"). Licensor is granting the Company a perpetual license to utilize its operational intellectual property consisting of customer data, sales data, customer outreach strategies standard operating procedures, and other proprietary operational intellectual property. Licensor is granting the Company a license for 2 years to utilize intellectual property such as trademarks and branding (the "Branding IP"). As consideration for the licenses, the Company has agreed to utilize the Branding IP until June 19, 2021 at the Premises and at the San Diego retail location for a period of 2 years from operations commencing at that location. Additionally, the Company has agreed to pay Licensor 3% of gross receipts from sales at the Premises. About ShowGrow Long Beach ShowGrow Long Beach was a pioneer in medical cannabis and in 2019 added an adult-use license to their medical license. The dispensary is located at 3411 E. Anaheim Street in Long Beach, within proximity to Long Beach, Belmont Shore and California State University. ShowGrow Long Beach was voted Best Dispensary in Long Beach 2018 by Orange County Weekly. Long Beach has a population of roughly 500,000 and is the third largest city in California. The ShowGrow app has been downloaded by over 400,000 users and allows customers to view inventory, place orders for pickup and earn rewards. Visit ShowGrow Long Beach at:https://showgrow.com/locations/long-beach/ View ShowGrow video at:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oy0G14fsoQ About ShowGrow San Diego ShowGrow San Diego is currently under construction with a medical marijuana conditional use permit ("CUP") awarded by the county in Feb 2019 and architect plans complete. The future dispensary is located at 7625 Carroll Rd, San Diego CA 92121 and is anticipated to be approximately 3,000 square feet with up to 25 parking spaces. San Diego has a population of 1.2 Million people (2017) and the future dispensary is located within 5 miles of approximately 700,000 residents in the greater San Diego area. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (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 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, Arkansas, Ohio and its investment in California 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/46062
3 Tragic Retirement Investing Mistakes to Avoid Have you ever seen one of those giant jars of jelly beans where you're supposed to guess how many are inside? These games can be fun, but that doesn't mean they're easy. The reality is, it is insanely difficult to guess how many jelly beans can exist in a small space -- especially when you have almost no information to go on. SEE ALSO: Is 4% Withdrawal Rate Still a Good Retirement Rule of Thumb? I recently interviewed financial expert Peter Lazaroff on my Stay Wealthy Retirement Podcast to learn how we can apply the lessons learned from these games to the investment world. Peter is the author of a new book, Making Money Simple: The Complete Guide to Getting Your Financial House in Order and Keeping It That Way Forever , and he argues that investing does work similarly to these games, even though there are experts who have access to lots of information. In the global stock market, where there are over 75 million trades per day, you have investment firms pouring billions of dollars into research budgets and trading floors filled with Ph.D.s and experts trying to estimate what a security may be worth. As more and more people guess, there are flaws in their process, but the errors tend to cancel themselves out. This, my friends, is why passive, low-cost investing has been a winner for such a long time. With enough guesses being made, clear trends emerge and set the pace. This is also why it's extremely difficult to beat the market over the long term. Market trends are set by millions of guesses that average each other out, while your personal investing "guesses" could be all over the map. Don't Make These Three Investing Mistakes with Your Retirement At the end of the day, reducing the amount of guessing you make with your portfolio could be the best thing you can do for your retirement. There is no such thing as a perfect portfolio. There is only the one you can stick with for the longest amount of time, which gives you the greatest chance at the best returns. Story continues With that being said, there are some mistakes you should never make with your retirement portfolio if your goal is maximizing returns. Here are the top three errors Lazaroff says he's seen far too many people make in his career as a money manager: Mistake #1: Initiating or Expecting Activity for No Reason Whether investors save for retirement with or without a financial adviser, some of them start to correlate activity with progress. They want to see trades being made in their portfolios or new stocks being purchased at least every quarter. No matter whether these moves are good ones, they make them feel like they're doing something to reach their goals . "This need to be active is deeply ingrained in our DNA," Lazaroff says. And it's easy to think you're not helping yourself if you're not actively managing your portfolio. But Lazaroff says that's the opposite approach investors should take, since 99 times out of 100 the best action for your portfolio is no action at all. "Doing nothing is an active choice," he says, adding that he thinks a lot of people overthink their retirement and investing strategies to their own detriment. See Also: How Dividend-Paying Stocks May Help Boost Retirement Income Mistake #2: Being Too Cheap to Pay for Professional Help There are a ton of ways to invest on your own these days, but there's something to be said for hiring professional help to manage your portfolio. After all, what's more important than the portfolio that represents the collective efforts of your entire working years? Think of it this way: It's easy to pay someone to clean your house or mow your yard, right? If you pay someone to do it, there's little they can do to mess it up. On the flip side, if you decide to take care of these chores on your own, it's no big deal if you miss a sliver of grass or forget to clean your guest bath. But, your retirement portfolio comes with higher stakes than your home or your outdoor space. If you make too many mistakes or don't make the optimal moves, the financial toll can impact your portfolio for decades to come. Lazaroff says that one of the biggest problems with investing is that it's easy to do-it-yourself if you want. This gets people comfortable overseeing their money when they have no idea all the details they're missing out on. The bottom line: Sometimes you don't know what you don't know. And sometimes, hiring a professional can leave you better off -- even with a buy-and-hold strategy. Mistake #3: Failing to Understand Your Time Horizon No matter how much you love a buy-and-hold investing strategy, it's easy to get overly excited about click bait news articles or temporary fluctuations that affect your portfolio. But you have to remember that, when you invest money in the stock market, you're really making a bet that capital works over the long haul. This year's returns may not be that great, but it's the returns you score over 20, 30 or 40 years that matter most. Also keep in mind just how long your time horizon might be -- even if you're nearing retirement. Lazaroff says he frequently hears people in their 50s or 60s say they don't want to "wait something out" or take too much risk because they're running out of time, when really, they have plenty of time to grow their money. This is another area where having professional help with your portfolio can leave you ahead. You may not have a full grasp on how much risk you should take and for how long, but a fee-only financial adviser can help you figure it out. See Also: Control What You Can When Volatility Shakes Market Confidence Comments are suppressed in compliance with industry guidelines. Click here to learn more and read more articles from the author. This article was written by and presents the views of our contributing adviser, not the Kiplinger editorial staff. You can check adviser records with the SEC or with FINRA . EDITOR'S PICKS How to Manage Cash, Your Most Overlooked Asset Warning: Your Investment Return May Be MUCH Lower Than You Thought Warning: Your Investment Return May Be MUCH Lower Than You Thought Copyright 2019 The Kiplinger Washington Editors
Have Insiders Been Buying NP3 Fastigheter AB (publ) (STO:NP3) Shares? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! We've lost count of how many times insiders have accumulated shares in a company that goes on to improve markedly. Unfortunately, there are also plenty of examples of share prices declining precipitously after insiders have sold shares. So we'll take a look at whether insiders have been buying or selling shares inNP3 Fastigheter AB (publ)(STO:NP3). Most investors know that it is quite permissible for company leaders, such as directors of the board, to buy and sell stock on the market. However, most countries require that the company discloses such transactions to the market. We would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing. But logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares. For example, a Harvard Universitystudyfound that 'insider purchases earn abnormal returns of more than 6% per year.' See our latest analysis for NP3 Fastigheter Chief Executive Officer Andreas Nelvig made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for kr790k worth of shares at a price of kr79.00 each. That implies that an insider found the current price of kr83.00 per share to be enticing. While their view may have changed since the purchase was made, this does at least suggest they have had confidence in the company's future. If someone buys shares at well below current prices, it's a good sign on balance, but keep in mind they may no longer see value. Happily, the NP3 Fastigheter insiders decided to buy shares at close to current prices. Happily, we note that in the last year insiders bought 46657 shares for a total of kr3.2m. In the last twelve months NP3 Fastigheter insiders were buying shares, but not selling. The average buy price was around kr67.99. Although they bought at below the recent share price, it is good to see that insiders are willing to invest in the company. The chart below shows insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below! NP3 Fastigheter is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at thisfreelist of growing companies with insider buying. Over the last three months, we've seen significant insider buying at NP3 Fastigheter. Overall, two insiders shelled out kr990k for shares in the company -- and none sold. This makes one think the business has some good points. For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company insiders. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. Insiders own 2.0% of NP3 Fastigheter shares, worth about kr90m, according to our data. However, it's possible that insiders might have an indirect interest through a more complex structure. Overall, this level of ownership isn't that impressive, but it's certainly better than nothing! The recent insider purchases are heartening. We also take confidence from the longer term picture of insider transactions. Insiders likely see value in NP3 Fastigheter shares, given these transactions (along with notable insider ownership of the company). Therefore, you should should definitely take a look at thisFREEreport showing analyst forecasts for NP3 Fastigheter. Of courseNP3 Fastigheter may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see thisfreecollection of high quality companies. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
Here is Why Growth Investors Should Buy Core-Mark (CORE) Now Investors seek growth stocks to capitalize on above-average growth in financials that help these securities grab the market's attention and produce exceptional returns. But finding a great growth stock is not easy at all. In addition to volatility, these stocks carry above-average risk by their very nature. Also, one could end up losing from a stock whose growth story is actually over or nearing its end. However, the task of finding cutting-edge growth stocks is made easy with the help of the Zacks Growth Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which looks beyond the traditional growth attributes to analyze a company's real growth prospects. Our proprietary system currently recommends Core-Mark (CORE) as one such stock. This company not only has a favorable Growth Score, but also carries a top Zacks Rank. Research shows that stocks carrying the best growth features consistently beat the market. And for stocks that have a combination of a Growth Score of A or B and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy), returns are even better. While there are numerous reasons why the stock of this wholesale consumer products distributor is a great growth pick right now, we have highlighted three of the most important factors below: Earnings Growth Arguably nothing is more important than earnings growth, as surging profit levels is what most investors are after. For growth investors, double-digit earnings growth is highly preferable, as it is often perceived as an indication of strong prospects (and stock price gains) for the company under consideration. While the historical EPS growth rate for Core-Mark is 4.4%, investors should actually focus on the projected growth. The company's EPS is expected to grow 13.9% this year, crushing the industry average, which calls for EPS growth of 9.4%. Cash Flow Growth Cash is the lifeblood of any business, but higher-than-average cash flow growth is more beneficial and important for growth-oriented companies than for mature companies. That's because, high cash accumulation enables these companies to undertake new projects without raising expensive outside funds. Story continues Right now, year-over-year cash flow growth for Core-Mark is 22.2%, which is higher than many of its peers. In fact, the rate compares to the industry average of -0.1%. While investors should actually consider the current cash flow growth, it's worth taking a look at the historical rate too for putting the current reading into proper perspective. The company's annualized cash flow growth rate has been 12.1% over the past 3-5 years versus the industry average of 3.8%. Promising Earnings Estimate Revisions Beyond the metrics outlined above, investors should consider the trend in earnings estimate revisions. A positive trend is a plus here. Empirical research shows that there is a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements. There have been upward revisions in current-year earnings estimates for Core-Mark. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has surged 0.4% over the past month. Bottom Line While the overall earnings estimate revisions have made Core-Mark a Zacks Rank #1 stock, it has earned itself a Growth Score of A based on a number of factors, including the ones discussed above. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. This combination positions Core-Mark well for outperformance, so growth investors may want to bet on it. 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 Core-Mark Holding Company, Inc. (CORE) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research
One Thing To Remember About The Flushing Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:FFIC) Share Price Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! If you're interested in Flushing Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:FFIC), then you might want to consider its beta (a measure of share price volatility) in order to understand how the stock could impact your portfolio. Volatility is considered to be a measure of risk in modern finance theory. Investors may think of volatility as falling into two main categories. First, we have company specific volatility, which is the price gyrations of an individual stock. Holding at least 8 stocks can reduce this kind of risk across a portfolio. The second type is the broader market volatility, which you cannot diversify away, since it arises from macroeconomic factors which directly affects all the stocks on the market. Some stocks are more sensitive to general market forces than others. Some investors use beta as a measure of how much a certain stock is impacted by market risk (volatility). While we should keep in mind that Warren Buffett has cautioned that 'Volatility is far from synonymous with risk', beta is still a useful factor to consider. To make good use of it you must first know that the beta of the overall market is one. A stock with a beta greater than one is more sensitive to broader market movements than a stock with a beta of less than one. See our latest analysis for Flushing Financial Zooming in on Flushing Financial, we see it has a five year beta of 0.89. This is below 1, so historically its share price has been rather independent from the market. This suggests that including it in your portfolio will reduce volatility arising from broader market movements, assuming your portfolio's weighted average beta is higher than 0.89. Many would argue that beta is useful in position sizing, but fundamental metrics such as revenue and earnings are more important overall. You can see Flushing Financial's revenue and earnings in the image below. Flushing Financial is a small company, but not tiny and little known. It has a market capitalisation of US$619m, which means it would be on the radar of intstitutional investors. Small companies often have a high beta value, but they can be heavily influenced by company-specific events. This might explain why this stock has a low beta. The Flushing Financial doesn't usually show much sensitivity to the broader market. This could be for a variety of reasons. Typically, smaller companies have a low beta if their share price tends to move a lot due to company specific developments. Alternatively, an strong dividend payer might move less than the market because investors are valuing it for its income stream. This article aims to educate investors about beta values, but it's well worth looking at important company-specific fundamentals such as Flushing Financial’s financial health and performance track record. I highly recommend you dive deeper by considering the following: 1. Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for FFIC’s future growth? Take a look at ourfree research report of analyst consensusfor FFIC’s outlook. 2. Past Track Record: Has FFIC been consistently performing well irrespective of the ups and downs in the market? Go into more detail in the past performance analysis and take a look atthe free visual representations of FFIC's historicalsfor more clarity. 3. Other Interesting Stocks: It's worth checking to see how FFIC measures up against other companies on valuation. You could start with thisfree list of prospective options. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
Alphabet Gets CPUC Permit, Boosts Self-Driving Initiatives Here is another piece of good news forAlphabet’s GOOGL self-driving unit Waymo. Waymo has been granted a permit to offer self-driving car rides to public in California, which is another feather on its self-driving initiatives. The latest announcement makes Alphabet-owned Waymo the fourth company to get permission from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to carry passengers in autonomous vehicles. However, there are a few important things to be taken care of. The company needs to have a safety driver to take care during any emergency or untoward incident. In addition, none of the passengers could be charged for the service at this point of time. Notably, Zoox Inc. had won the first permit last December to carry passengers in self-driving cars, followed by two China-based companies, namely Pony.ai and AutoX. Notably, the latest advancement will help it in gaining momentum among consumers who are eagerly waiting to avail the driverless technology. This service, maybe in the long term, is going to aid the company’s revenue generation, which will in turn drive top-line growth. Alphabet Inc. Price and Consensus Alphabet Inc. price-consensus-chart \| Alphabet Inc. Quote Autonomous Vehicles Hold Promise Just last week, Waymo partnered with Lyft to provide 10 self-driving minivans to the latter for use in specific areas of Phoenix. In addition, Waymo signed a deal with Renault and its subsidiary Nissan, which aims at bringing automated vehicles to France and Japan, with possible expansion in the future. Last December, Waymo had unveiled its first paid self-driving taxi, Waymo One in Arizona, which currently serves people in the suburbs of Phoenix, namely Chandler, Tempe, Mesa and Gilbert. In addition, the company has expanded its scope in this particular space by rolling out self-driving trucks for freight services. All these factors will aid Alphabet in rapidly penetrating into the global self-driving car and truck market, which, per a report from Grand View Research, is projected to witness a CAGR of 63.1% between 2021 and 2030. Further, a report from Zion Market Research indicates that this market is expected to hit $26.58 billion by 2024, and witness a CAGR of 25.7% between 2018 and 2024. Therefore, Alphabet’s strong endeavors toward enhancing the self-driving service with commercial autonomous driving cars, trucks and taxis will continue to drive growth. Gaining Competitive Edge The immense growth opportunities in this autonomous vehicle market are luring enough to attract other tech giants like Apple AAPL, Uber, Amazon AMZN and Baidu BIDU, among others, which are also leaving no stone unturned to grab a piece of this market pie. Just last week, the iPhone maker confirmed that it had acquired self-driving start up Drive.ai. The deal will definitely boost Apple’s engineering talent strength, owing to Drive.ai engineer’s domain expertise in neural networks, which play an important role in developing software for driverless vehicles. Uber revealed the third generation of its self-driving car last month. Self-driving startup Aurora, backed by Amazon and Sequoia Capital, recently partnered with Fiat-Chrysler. The deal focuses on integrating Aurora’s technology into Fiat-Chrysler’s Ram trucks, with other vehicles likely to be added in the down the road. Nevertheless, Alphabet’s robust self-driving technology and trend of winning deals for testing driverless cars are acting as tailwinds. Also, Waymo One provides Alphabet a first mover advantage, which is anticipated to strengthen the company’s competitive position against its peers. Zacks Rank Currently, Alphabet carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can seethe complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of All Last year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce ""the world's first trillionaires,"" but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early. See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >> 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 reportAmazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) : Free Stock Analysis ReportBaidu, Inc. (BIDU) : Free Stock Analysis ReportAlphabet Inc. (GOOGL) : Free Stock Analysis ReportApple Inc. (AAPL) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
U.S. trade, services industry data point to slowing economy By Lucia Mutikani WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. trade deficit jumped to a five-month high in May as imports of goods increased, likely as businesses restocked ahead of an increase in tariffs on Chinese merchandise, overshadowing a broad rise in exports. The wider trade deficit reported by the Commerce Department on Wednesday added to weak housing, manufacturing, business investment and moderate consumer spending in suggesting that economic growth slowed in the second quarter. The labour market also appears to be losing momentum, with private employers adding far fewer-than-expected jobs to their payrolls in June. News on the vast services sector was also downbeat. The slowdown in activity as last year's massive stimulus from tax cuts and more government spending fades could prompt the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates this month. The U.S. central bank last month signalled it could ease monetary policy as early as at its July 30-31 meeting, citing rising risks to the economy from the trade war between the United States and China, and low inflation. The trade deficit surged 8.4% to $55.5 billion. Data for April was revised higher to show the trade gap widening to $51.2 billion instead of the previously reported $50.8 billion. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the trade gap widening to $54.0 billion in May. The goods trade deficit with China, a focus of President Donald Trump's "America First" agenda, increased 12.2% to $30.2 billion, with imports rising 12.8%. Trump imposed additional import tariffs on Chinese goods, after a breakdown in negotiations, prompting Beijing to retaliate. Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping last week agreed to a trade truce and a return to talks. White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said on Tuesday talks were heading in the right direction, but it would take time to get the right deal made. The U.S.-China trade tensions have caused wild swings in the trade deficit, with exporters and importers trying to stay ahead of the tariff fight between the two economic giants. The dollar dipped against a basket of currencies in thin U.S. trade ahead of Thursday's Independence Day holiday. U.S. Treasury prices rose and stocks on Wall Street were higher. In May, goods imports increased 4.0% to $217.0 billion. Apart from drawing more imports from China, imports from the European Union, Mexico and Canada increased to record highs in May. Imports of consumer goods rose $1.4 billion, while those of motor vehicle and parts soared $2.3 billion to an all-time high. There were also big increases in imports of capital goods and industrial supplies and materials. Some of the jump in the import bill in May also reflected higher petroleum imports and more expensive crude oil. EXPORTS INCREASE Goods exports rose 2.8% to $140.8 billion. Exports of consumer goods increased $0.8 billion and soybean exports advanced $0.7 billion. Civilian aircraft exports rose $0.5 billion. Gains are, however, likely to be capped after Boeing in March suspended deliveries of its fastest-selling MAX 737 jetliner. The aircraft was grounded indefinitely following two deadly crashes in five months. Production of the plane has been cut. When adjusted for inflation, the goods trade deficit increased $4.8 billion to $87.0 billion in May. The increase in the so-called real goods trade deficit suggests that trade could be a drag on second-quarter gross domestic product. Trade contributed 0.94 percentage point to the economy's 3.1% annualised growth pace in the first quarter. The Atlanta Fed is forecasting gross domestic product rising at a 1.5% rate in the April-June quarter. The ADP National Employment Report on Wednesday showed private payrolls increased by 102,000 jobs in June, accelerating from 41,000 in May. The increase was well below economists' expectations for a payrolls gain of 140,000. The ADP report, which is jointly developed with Moody's Analytics, potentially suggests a moderate rebound in the private payrolls component of the government's employment report. It came ahead of the release on Friday of the government's more comprehensive jobs data for June. Economists polled by Reuters are looking for non-farm employment to have increased by 160,000 jobs after rising by only 75,000 in May. Job growth has slowed to an average of 164,000 per month this year from 223,000 in 2018 as workers become scarce and the economy slows. The pace of job gains, however, remains above the roughly 100,000 per month needed to keep up with growth in the working age population. The unemployment rate is expected to have held near a 50-year low of 3.6% in June for a third straight month. Though hiring is slowing, employers are hanging on to their workers. A third report from the Labor Department on Wednesday showed initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 8,000 to a seasonally adjusted 221,000 for the week ended June 29. Economists forecast claims dropping to 223,000 last week. In a fourth report, the Institute for Supply Management said its non-manufacturing activity index fell to 55.1 in June, the lowest reading since July 2017, from 56.9 in May. A reading above 50 indicates expansion in the sector, which accounts for more than two-thirds of U.S. economic activity. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the index falling to 55.9 last month. The ISM said "a degree of uncertainty exists due to trade and tariffs." The June drop in services industry activity reflected declines in measures of production, new orders and employment. (Reporting By Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Andrea Ricci)
Secure a Steady Stream of Retirement Income With 4 Key Moves If you're worried about having enough money in retirement, you're not alone. Many workers fear that once their golden years arrive, they'll struggle to afford the many costs seniors face today. But if you make the following moves, you can secure a solid stream of income that'll make retirement less stressful and more enjoyable. Your Social Security benefits are calculated based on your 35 highest years of wages, and you're entitled to those monthly benefits in full once you reachfull retirement age. That age is either 66, 67, or 66 and a certain number of months, depending on your year of birth. That said, you have the option todelay benefitspast full retirement age, and in doing so, you'll increase them by 8% a year up until you turn 70. Image source: Getty Images. Not everyone can afford to delay Social Security, and in some cases, it doesn't make sense. For example, if you're in poor health, holding off on claiming benefits could actually cause you to lose out on lifetime income. But if your health is excellent and you're able to work longer, delaying Social Security could eventually put more money into your pocket for life. Saving for your later years inanytype of tax-advantaged retirement plan can help ensure that you have enough money to pay your bills as a senior. But if you want to get even more from your savings in retirement, fund aRoth IRAor 401(k). In doing so, you'll lose the up-front tax break you get when you contribute to a traditional retirement plan, but you'll gain the benefit of tax-free withdrawals as a senior. Imagine you manage to retire with $500,000 in savings. With a traditional IRA or 401(k), you'll owe the IRS a portion of each withdrawal you take. But if you save in a Roth account, that $500,000 is yours free and clear of taxes. Bonds are a fairly reliable retirement income stream, since they pay interest twice a year. But when you collect interest from corporate bonds, you pay taxes on that income. That's whymunicipal bondsare a great choice for retirees. Municipal bond interest is always tax-exempt at the federal level, and if you buy bonds issued by your home state, you'll avoid state and local taxes as well. Municipal bonds also have historically low default rates, which makes them a relatively safe investment. Of course, there are still risks involved in buying municipal bonds, and it's important to check your issuers'credit ratingsbefore moving forward. But generally speaking, your chances ofnotgetting the interest payments you're entitled to are fairly low. Many people associate retirement with not being able to work. But if your health is good enough, there's no reason you can't earn some type of income later in life. In fact, retirement is actually a great time tostart a business. That way, you can spend your days doing something meaningful, while boosting your income and alleviating some of the financial concerns you might otherwise face. And the busier that venture keeps you, the less money you're apt to spend on entertainment. You need money to fund and enjoy your retirement, and the more you have, the better. Securing a reliable income stream will help you to make the best of this stage in your life without living in fear of mounting bills. 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 The Motley Fool has adisclosure policy.
Even Crypto-Friendly Japan is Worried by Threat of Facebook’s Libra The list of regulators eyeing Facebook’s cryptocurrency with apprehension keeps growing less than a month since Libra was announced. According to theNikkei Asian Review, the Bank of Japan is worried that Libra will be a big risk to the existing financial systems as it is hard to regulate. Part of the reason for this concern is the fact that the price of Libra will be tied to a basket of currencies. Consequently, by not being pegged to one particular fiat currency, individual countries will exert little to no regulatory influence over thedigital currency. The BoJ has also expressed concerns over the fact that since domestic users of the cryptocurrency might withdraw their deposits and savings in small local financial institutions to buy Libra, it might deprive these fringe players their financial base. This is because Facebook, per the white paper, will deposit the funds with the big banks such as Mizuho Financial Group, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group. There is no guarantee that having purchased the cryptocurrency, domestic users will later sell it and transfer the funds back to the smaller financial institutions. Japan’s central bank is also worried that Libra will hurt the stability of financial systems. With Facebook expected to invest the funds (that are generated from users purchasing the cryptocurrency) in government securities, this could result in interest rate volatility. This volatility, in addition to the outflows from the smaller financial institutions, could destabilize the financial system. Additionally, since those who will hold Libra will not earn any interest, increasing or lowering interest rates to achieve monetary policy goals will be inconsequential going forward. Read the full story on CCN.com.
Should We Be Delighted With BorgWarner Inc.'s (NYSE:BWA) ROE Of 21%? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! One of the best investments we can make is in our own knowledge and skill set. With that in mind, this article will work through how we can use Return On Equity (ROE) to better understand a business. To keep the lesson grounded in practicality, we'll use ROE to better understand BorgWarner Inc. (NYSE:BWA). Our data showsBorgWarner has a return on equity of 21%for the last year. Another way to think of that is that for every $1 worth of equity in the company, it was able to earn $0.21. See our latest analysis for BorgWarner Theformula for return on equityis: Return on Equity = Net Profit ÷ Shareholders' Equity Or for BorgWarner: 21% = US$866m ÷ US$4.4b (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2019.) Most readers would understand what net profit is, but it’s worth explaining the concept of shareholders’ equity. It is all the money paid into the company from shareholders, plus any earnings retained. The easiest way to calculate shareholders' equity is to subtract the company's total liabilities from the total assets. ROE looks at the amount a company earns relative to the money it has kept within the business. The 'return' is the yearly profit. The higher the ROE, the more profit the company is making. So, all else being equal,a high ROE is better than a low one. Clearly, then, one can use ROE to compare different companies. Arguably the easiest way to assess company's ROE is to compare it with the average in its industry. The limitation of this approach is that some companies are quite different from others, even within the same industry classification. As you can see in the graphic below, BorgWarner has a higher ROE than the average (17%) in the Auto Components industry. That is a good sign. In my book, a high ROE almost always warrants a closer look. One data point to check is ifinsiders have bought shares recently. Companies usually need to invest money to grow their profits. That cash can come from issuing shares, retained earnings, or debt. In the case of the first and second options, the ROE will reflect this use of cash, for growth. In the latter case, the debt required for growth will boost returns, but will not impact the shareholders' equity. In this manner the use of debt will boost ROE, even though the core economics of the business stay the same. While BorgWarner does have some debt, with debt to equity of just 0.48, we wouldn't say debt is excessive. The fact that it achieved a fairly good ROE with only modest debt suggests the business might be worth putting on your watchlist. Careful use of debt to boost returns is often very good for shareholders. However, it could reduce the company's ability to take advantage of future opportunities. Return on equity is one way we can compare the business quality of different companies. In my book the highest quality companies have high return on equity, despite low debt. If two companies have the same ROE, then I would generally prefer the one with less debt. But when a business is high quality, the market often bids it up to a price that reflects this. The rate at which profits are likely to grow, relative to the expectations of profit growth reflected in the current price, must be considered, too. So you might want to check this FREEvisualization of analyst forecasts for the company. If you would prefer check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss thisfreelist of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
Will Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A.'s (BIT:G) Earnings Grow Over The Next Year? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! In December 2018, Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A. (BIT:G) announced its earnings update. Overall, analysts seem fairly confident, as a 21% increase in profits is expected in the upcoming year, against the past 5-year average growth rate of 8.3%. Presently, with latest-twelve-month earnings at €2.1b, we should see this growing to €2.6b by 2020. Below is a brief commentary around Assicurazioni Generali's earnings outlook going forward, which may give you a sense of market sentiment for the company. For those interested in more of an analysis of the company, you canresearch its fundamentals here. Check out our latest analysis for Assicurazioni Generali The longer term expectations from the 13 analysts of G is tilted towards the positive sentiment. Generally, broker analysts tend to make predictions for up to three years given the lack of visibility beyond this point. To reduce the year-on-year volatility of analyst earnings forecast, I've inserted a line of best fit through the expected earnings figures to determine the annual growth rate from the slope of the line. From the current net income level of €2.1b and the final forecast of €2.8b by 2022, the annual rate of growth for G’s earnings is 6.8%. EPS reaches €1.76 in the final year of forecast compared to the current €1.37 EPS today. In 2022, G's profit margin will have expanded from 3.0% to 3.8%. Future outlook is only one aspect when you're building an investment case for a stock. For Assicurazioni Generali, I've put together three important aspects you should further research: 1. Financial Health: Does it have a healthy balance sheet? Take a look at ourfree balance sheet analysis with six simple checkson key factors like leverage and risk. 2. Valuation: What is Assicurazioni Generali worth today? Is the stock undervalued, even when its growth outlook is factored into its intrinsic value? Theintrinsic value infographic in our free research reporthelps visualize whether Assicurazioni Generali is currently mispriced by the market. 3. Other High-Growth Alternatives: Are there other high-growth stocks you could be holding instead of Assicurazioni Generali? Exploreour interactive list of stocks with large growth potentialto get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
Taylor Swift shared an important lesson about the capitalist mode of production Karl Marx was not a fan of Taylor Swift. We can state this with certainty, mainly because the pop singer was still several generations away from being born back when Marx was penning revolutionary critiques of capitalism in the 1800s. Had they been contemporaries, though, the German philosopher and economist might very well have been humming along to “Bad Blood” while describing the process by which the private ownership of capital takes away workers’ stake in the products of their labor. At any rate, Marx’s theories are quite relevant to Swift’s current predicament. Jeffrey Epstein’s fortune is built on fraud, a former mentor says On June 30, Swift shared an emotional post on Tumblr explaining that her back catalog now belongs to a man she regards as an adversary, music executive Scooter Braun. Braun acquired the rights to Swift’s work as part of his $300 million purchase of Big Machine Label Group , the recording company that released all six of Swift’s albums before 2018. Swift’s Tumblr post accuses Braun of “incessant, manipulative bullying,” largely related to his role as the former manager of Swift’s long-standing nemesis , Kanye West. But the crux of her post centers on the injustice she sees in the fact that she doesn’t own the work she created, and that, in her words, “my musical legacy is about to lie in the hands of someone who tried to dismantle it.” https://taylorswift.tumblr.com/post/185958366550/for-years-i-asked-pleaded-for-a-chance-to-own-my The simplest way to improve your credit score is by using your email Setting aside the question of whether the allegations Swift raises in the post are true—for the back-and-forth on the various dimensions of that issue, check out this Vox explainer —the controversy is also drawing attention to the strange economics of creativity. On the surface, the maxim in Swift’s Tumblr post—”You deserve to own the art you make”—might seem obvious. But that’s not the way things work in the music industry. It’s entirely commonplace for record companies to hold the rights to artists’ music, and for those rights to be bought and sold with little regard for the preferences of the people who actually wrote the songs and played the instruments. To cite just one infamous example, Michael Jackson bought the rights to the Beatles catalog for $47.5 million in 1985, creating a rift in his friendship with Paul McCartney, who particularly disagreed with Jackson’s decision to license the group’s songs to commercials. Story continues This dynamic is hardly limited to music. Many publications have contracts with freelancers that include what’s known as a “ rights grabs ” clause—which asks writers to sign away the copyright that would have allowed them to make money should the article be adapted into a book or get turned into a screenplay. Inventors often make very little profit from their innovative ideas, whether because they didn’t secure a patent or because, like Superman creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, they sold the rights to their creations for a pittance only to have the work take off. Even NASA can’t necessarily hang onto its own property. In 1976, the space agency auctioned off more than 1,000 reels of videotape that happened to include one of just three surviving copies of the footage from the historic Apollo 11 Moon landing, and now the person who bought it—a former NASA intern himself—is putting the tape on the block at Sotheby’s . The upshot, as described by Noah Berlatsky in an article for NBC Think , is that in a capitalist society, it’s perfectly normal for creators to be deprived of the rights to their work. Marx himself argued this was the conceit that capitalism is built upon: Workers get paid wages in order to produce things that don’t belong to them, whether that’s songs or sweaters or steel rods, while the few who control the means of production—say, industrial machinery (or record labels)—actually own the goods and reap the benefits when they are sold. Marx said that the inevitable result of this system is “alienated labor,” in which workers are estranged from their work and thus, from themselves. Swift, of course, has had plenty of opportunity to profit from her body of work even without owning her recordings. But as Berlatsky points out, the majority of workers aren’t nearly so lucky. “The catch here is that most people not only don’t own their labor but aren’t in a cultural position to even imagine owning it,” he writes. “Swift can say, ‘I should own my albums,’ and it makes instant sense. But if an assembly line worker said, ‘I should own my cars,’ or a Walmart employee said, ‘I should own my store’ they’d receive substantially less public support, presuming they could even find anyone to listen.” That said, creative professionals and artists do seem increasingly invested in finding ways to challenge the status quo. As Swift writes in her Tumblr post, one of the reasons she signed with her new record label , Universal Music Group, was that the deal gives her ownership over her master recordings. Writers and photojournalists are pushing back against rights grabs , while musicians like Amanda Palmer and Chance the Rapper have opted not to sign with record labels in order to retain control of their work. And on the small-business level, the Harvard Business Review predicts that employee-owned companies, already gaining traction in the US, will continue to grow in popularity over the next few decades. Changing a system that regularly demoralizes workers by removing their sense of ownership over the things they create , however, is a much bigger endeavor. Sign up for the Quartz Daily Brief , our free daily newsletter with the world’s most important and interesting news. More stories from Quartz: The glow of the historic accord between Ethiopia and Eritrea has faded Zimbabwe banned the US dollar from being used so local bitcoin demand is soaring again
B2Gold Sells Mines & Assets in Nicaragua to Calibre Mining B2Gold Corp.BTG has inked an agreement per which the company will sell two gold mines and assets in Nicaragua to Calibre Mining Corp. for $100 million and 31% direct equity interest in Calibre. The two concerned gold mines are the El Limon and La Libertad Gold Mines, which B2Gold had acquired in 2009. The deal also includes the Pavon gold project and additional mineral concessions in Nicaragua currently held by B2Gold. Over the past decade, the company has invested more than $560 million in Nicaragua. It has significantly improved operations and economics of the El Limon Mine and constructed a mill facility. It also commenced profitable gold production at the La Libertad Mine and realized significant exploration success around both mines. Since 2009, these mines have produced more than 1.4 million ounces of gold. For fiscal 2019, the gold production from the two mines is expected to be 150,000-160,000 ounces. Through its significant equity interest in Calibre, B2Gold will be involved with the Nicaraguan operations and have right to appoint one director to the Board of Calibre and will be able to participate in an Advisory Board to the primary Board of Calibre. The consideration will be paid by a combination of cash, common shares and a convertible debenture. The closing of the transaction is subject to certain conditions including majority of minority shareholder approval, the successful negotiation and execution of a definitive agreement by B2Gold and Calibre, the closing of the concurrent private placement by Calibre and satisfactory due diligence by Calibre. The deal will enable the company to remain involved with the Nicaraguan operations. The La Libertad and El Limon Mines have been an important contributor to the local and national economies, accounting for a major percentage of the country's gold exports. Gold currently ranks third in Nicaragua’s main exports. With Calibre and the combined Nicaraguan management team focusing on these mines and other opportunities in the country, B2Gold will concentrate on continuing to optimize responsible production at its other existing mines in Mali, Namibia and the Philippines. It will also work toward developing its impressive pipeline of development and exploration projects. Additionally, B2Gold will continue to pursue additional greenfield and advanced exploration opportunities. B2Gold’s shares have gained 17.9% in the past year, compared with the industry’s growth of 21.7%. Zacks Rank & Key Picks B2Gold currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the basic materials space are Materion Corporation MTRN, Flexible Solutions International Inc. FSI and Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. FSUGY. These stocks currently sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can seethe complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Materion has an expected earnings growth rate of 27.3% for 2019. The company’s shares have gained 20.7% in the past year. Flexible Solutions has projected earnings growth rate of 342.9% for the current year. The company’s shares have soared 152.1% in a year’s time. Fortescue Metals has an estimated earnings growth rate of 230.4% for the current year. Its shares have rallied 101.8% in the past year. The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of All Last year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early. See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >> 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 reportFlexible Solutions International Inc. (FSI) : Free Stock Analysis ReportB2Gold Corp (BTG) : Free Stock Analysis ReportFortescue Metals Group Ltd. (FSUGY) : Free Stock Analysis ReportMaterion Corporation (MTRN) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Is It Too Late To Consider Buying First Financial Bancorp. (NASDAQ:FFBC)? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! First Financial Bancorp. (NASDAQ:FFBC), operating in the financial services industry based in United States, saw significant share price movement during recent months on the NASDAQGS, rising to highs of $25.8 and falling to the lows of $22.16. Some share price movements can give investors a better opportunity to enter into the stock, and potentially buy at a lower price. A question to answer is whether First Financial Bancorp's current trading price of $24.02 reflective of the actual value of the mid-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Let’s take a look at First Financial Bancorp’s outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change. Check out our latest analysis for First Financial Bancorp According to my valuation model, First Financial Bancorp seems to be fairly priced at around 18% below my intrinsic value, which means if you buy First Financial Bancorp today, you’d be paying a fair price for it. And if you believe that the stock is really worth $29.4, then there isn’t much room for the share price grow beyond what it’s currently trading. So, is there another chance to buy low in the future? Given that First Financial Bancorp’s share is fairly volatile (i.e. its price movements are magnified relative to the rest of the market) this could mean the price can sink lower, giving us an opportunity to buy later on. This is based on its high beta, which is a good indicator for share price volatility. Investors looking for growth in their portfolio may want to consider the prospects of a company before buying its shares. Buying a great company with a robust outlook at a cheap price is always a good investment, so let’s also take a look at the company's future expectations. With profit expected to grow by a double-digit 16% in the upcoming year, the short-term outlook is positive for First Financial Bancorp. It looks like higher cash flow is on the cards for the stock, which should feed into a higher share valuation. Are you a shareholder?FFBC’s optimistic future growth appears to have been factored into the current share price, with shares trading around its fair value. However, there are also other important factors which we haven’t considered today, such as the financial strength of the company. Have these factors changed since the last time you looked at the stock? Will you have enough confidence to invest in the company should the price drop below its fair value? Are you a potential investor?If you’ve been keeping tabs on FFBC, now may not be the most optimal time to buy, given it is trading around its fair value. However, the positive outlook is encouraging for the company, which means it’s worth further examining other factors such as the strength of its balance sheet, in order to take advantage of the next price drop. Price is just the tip of the iceberg. Dig deeper into what truly matters – the fundamentals – before you make a decision on First Financial Bancorp. You can find everything you need to know about First Financial Bancorp inthe latest infographic research report. If you are no longer interested in First Financial Bancorp, you can use our free platform to see my list of over50 other stocks with a high growth potential. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
Ameris Bancorp (ABCB) Closes Fidelity Deal, Appoints New CEO Ameris Bancorp ABCB has completed the buyout of Atlanta, GA-based Fidelity Southern Corporation in an all-stock deal. Additionally, Fidelity's banking subsidiary — Fidelity Bank — has been merged with and into Ameris Bancorp’s banking subsidiary, Ameris Bank. Per the terms of agreement, shareholders of Fidelity will receive 0.80 share of Ameris Bancorp for each share of Fidelity. At the time of announcement of the deal, it was stated that it will be accretive to Ameris Bancorp’s earnings in the mid-single digit range, after realization of cost saving of 40% on Fidelity’s projected non-interest expenses. The company will also benefit from revenue synergies and Fidelity’s low-cost deposits. The deal, announced in December 2018, has expanded Ameris Bancorp’s footprint over Florida and Georgia. Further, based on Mar 31, 2019, data, the combined company had $16.4 billion in assets, $13.8 billion in deposits and total loans worth $12.5 billion. These factors cheered investors, leading to 1.1% rally in Ameris Bancorp stock since the closure of the deal. Concurrently, H. Palmer Proctor, Jr. (formerly President of Fidelity and CEO of Fidelity Bank) has been appointed as the new CEO of Ameris Bancorp and Ameris Bank. This follows the resignation of the company’s earlier President, CEO and board of director Dennis J. Zember Jr. Also, five former Fidelity directors have been appointed to the board of directors of Ameris Bancorp and Ameris Bank. Further, Ameris Bank is planning “brand enhancement process” to “create a sharper, stronger and more recognizable brand, with elements from both Ameris Bank's and Fidelity Bank's current brand identities.” The initiative is expected to be completed by this year. Ameris Bancorp has been expanding inorganically over the past several years. Last year, the bank acquired Hamilton State Bancshares, Inc and Atlantic Coast Financial Corporation. With strong liquidity position and scope to expand, Ameris Bancorp is likely to continue following its inorganic growth strategy. These, in turn, are expected to support the company’s financials, going forward. Shares of Ameris Bancorp have rallied 24.4% over the past six months, outperforming the industry’s rise of 13.5%. Story continues Currently, Ameris Bancorp carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here . Of late, banking sector is witnessing a rise in M&A activities. Improving economy, easing banking regulations and lower tax rates have resulted in considerable liquidity for banks. Further, as small and mid-size banks continue to expand into different growth avenues, M&As are expected to remain part of their growth initiatives. Some banks that have entered into M&A agreements recently are Glacier Bancorp GBCI, Valley National Bancorp VLY and Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. PB. The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of All Last year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce ""the world's first trillionaires,"" but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early. See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >> 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 Valley National Bancorp (VLY) : Free Stock Analysis Report Ameris Bancorp (ABCB) : Free Stock Analysis Report Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. (PB) : Free Stock Analysis Report Glacier Bancorp, Inc. (GBCI) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research
Why German American Bancorp, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:GABC) High P/E Ratio Isn't Necessarily A Bad Thing Want to participate in a short research study ? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! The goal of this article is to teach you how to use price to earnings ratios (P/E ratios). We'll show how you can use German American Bancorp, Inc.'s ( NASDAQ:GABC ) P/E ratio to inform your assessment of the investment opportunity. German American Bancorp has a P/E ratio of 14.63 , based on the last twelve months. That means that at current prices, buyers pay $14.63 for every $1 in trailing yearly profits. View our latest analysis for German American Bancorp How Do I Calculate A Price To Earnings Ratio? The formula for P/E is: Price to Earnings Ratio = Share Price ÷ Earnings per Share (EPS) Or for German American Bancorp: P/E of 14.63 = $30.48 ÷ $2.08 (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2019.) Is A High Price-to-Earnings Ratio Good? A higher P/E ratio implies that investors pay a higher price for the earning power of the business. That isn't a good or a bad thing on its own, but a high P/E means that buyers have a higher opinion of the business's prospects, relative to stocks with a lower P/E. How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios P/E ratios primarily reflect market expectations around earnings growth rates. Earnings growth means that in the future the 'E' will be higher. That means unless the share price increases, the P/E will reduce in a few years. A lower P/E should indicate the stock is cheap relative to others -- and that may attract buyers. Most would be impressed by German American Bancorp earnings growth of 11% in the last year. And earnings per share have improved by 9.3% annually, over the last five years. With that performance, you might expect an above average P/E ratio. How Does German American Bancorp's P/E Ratio Compare To Its Peers? One good way to get a quick read on what market participants expect of a company is to look at its P/E ratio. You can see in the image below that the average P/E (12.9) for companies in the banks industry is lower than German American Bancorp's P/E. Story continues NasdaqGS:GABC Price Estimation Relative to Market, July 3rd 2019 That means that the market expects German American Bancorp will outperform other companies in its industry. Shareholders are clearly optimistic, but the future is always uncertain. So investors should always consider the P/E ratio alongside other factors, such as whether company directors have been buying shares . Remember: P/E Ratios Don't Consider The Balance Sheet It's important to note that the P/E ratio considers the market capitalization, not the enterprise value. In other words, it does not consider any debt or cash that the company may have on the balance sheet. The exact same company would hypothetically deserve a higher P/E ratio if it had a strong balance sheet, than if it had a weak one with lots of debt, because a cashed up company can spend on growth. Such expenditure might be good or bad, in the long term, but the point here is that the balance sheet is not reflected by this ratio. German American Bancorp's Balance Sheet German American Bancorp has net debt equal to 33% of its market cap. While that's enough to warrant consideration, it doesn't really concern us. The Verdict On German American Bancorp's P/E Ratio German American Bancorp trades on a P/E ratio of 14.6, which is below the US market average of 18.2. The EPS growth last year was strong, and debt levels are quite reasonable. The low P/E ratio suggests current market expectations are muted, implying these levels of growth will not continue. Given analysts are expecting further growth, one might have expected a higher P/E ratio. That may be worth further research . Investors have an opportunity when market expectations about a stock are wrong. If the reality for a company is not as bad as the P/E ratio indicates, then the share price should increase as the market realizes this. So this free visual report on analyst forecasts could hold the key to an excellent investment decision. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking at a few good candidates. So take a peek at this free list of companies with modest (or no) debt, trading on a P/E below 20. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com . This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
Did Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Use Debt To Deliver Its ROE Of 15%? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! While some investors are already well versed in financial metrics (hat tip), this article is for those who would like to learn about Return On Equity (ROE) and why it is important. By way of learning-by-doing, we'll look at ROE to gain a better understanding of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS). Our data showsUniversal Health Services has a return on equity of 15%for the last year. That means that for every $1 worth of shareholders' equity, it generated $0.15 in profit. See our latest analysis for Universal Health Services Theformula for ROEis: Return on Equity = Net Profit ÷ Shareholders' Equity Or for Universal Health Services: 15% = US$789m ÷ US$5.6b (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2019.) Most know that net profit is the total earnings after all expenses, but the concept of shareholders' equity is a little more complicated. It is the capital paid in by shareholders, plus any retained earnings. The easiest way to calculate shareholders' equity is to subtract the company's total liabilities from the total assets. Return on Equity measures a company's profitability against the profit it has kept for the business (plus any capital injections). The 'return' is the yearly profit. That means that the higher the ROE, the more profitable the company is. So, all else being equal,a high ROE is better than a low one. That means ROE can be used to compare two businesses. By comparing a company's ROE with its industry average, we can get a quick measure of how good it is. However, this method is only useful as a rough check, because companies do differ quite a bit within the same industry classification. The image below shows that Universal Health Services has an ROE that is roughly in line with the Healthcare industry average (14%). That's not overly surprising. ROE doesn't tell us if the share price is low, but it can inform us to the nature of the business. For those looking for a bargain, other factors may be more important. If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love thisfreelist of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them). Most companies need money -- from somewhere -- to grow their profits. The cash for investment can come from prior year profits (retained earnings), issuing new shares, or borrowing. In the first two cases, the ROE will capture this use of capital to grow. In the latter case, the debt required for growth will boost returns, but will not impact the shareholders' equity. In this manner the use of debt will boost ROE, even though the core economics of the business stay the same. Universal Health Services has a debt to equity ratio of 0.70, which is far from excessive. The fact that it achieved a fairly good ROE with only modest debt suggests the business might be worth putting on your watchlist. Careful use of debt to boost returns is often very good for shareholders. However, it could reduce the company's ability to take advantage of future opportunities. Return on equity is useful for comparing the quality of different businesses. In my book the highest quality companies have high return on equity, despite low debt. If two companies have the same ROE, then I would generally prefer the one with less debt. But when a business is high quality, the market often bids it up to a price that reflects this. Profit growth rates, versus the expectations reflected in the price of the stock, are a particularly important to consider. So you might want to check this FREEvisualization of analyst forecasts for the company. If you would prefer check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss thisfreelist of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
Canada posts C$762 million trade surplus in May By Kelsey Johnson OTTAWA (Reuters) - Rising exports of motor vehicles, aircraft and energy products helped Canada post a surprise C$762 million ($582 million) trade surplus in goods in May, Statistics Canada reported on Wednesday - only the second surplus seen since December 2016. The Canadian dollar rose slightly to 1.3085 against the U.S. dollar or 76.42 U.S cents. Analysts in a Reuters poll had forecast a shortfall of C$$1.50 billion. Statscan revised April's deficit to C$1.08 billion from an initial C$966 million. Statistics Canada said total exports rose 4.6% to a record C$53.1 billion in May. Exports of motor vehicles were up 12.4% in May to C$8.4 billion, thanks to increased shipments of passenger cars and light trucks after Canadian production increased. "We think it's an excellent sign of the recovery in Canadian trade and we think this dramatic about face is probably likely to persist given what we've seen in the underlying data," said Ross Prusakowski, principal economist at Export Development Canada. Exports of boats and other transportation equipment almost quadrupled in May in part because of higher demand for light armored vehicles from Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, exports of aircraft jumped 40.2% because of increased shipments of business jets and commercial aircraft, particularly to the United States. While the aircraft sector is known for being volatile, Prusakowski said Wednesday's data "does suggest that this is maybe of the export wave that we're expecting" following the announcement of new Airbus A220 contracts. "Overall, even though some of the strength could prove transitory, the trade surplus is positive for tracking," Royce Mendes of CIBC Capital Markets said in a note. On the energy front, exports of energy products rose 5.0% in May to C$10.8 billion, including a 2.8% jump in crude oil shipments, mainly on higher prices. Canada sent 73.9% of all its goods exports to the United States in May. Exports to the United States rose by 3.7% to a record C$39.3 billion, while imports dropped by 0.5%. As a result, Canada's bilateral trade surplus widened to C$5.9 billion in May from C$4.4 billion in April - the largest surplus since October 2008. (The story corrects deficit figure in paragraph three to C$966 million from C$966 billion.) (Reporting by Kelsey Johnson, Additional reporting by Fergal Smith in Toronto. Editing by Dale Smith and Chizu Nomiyama)
What Does FirstFarms A/S's (CPH:FFARMS) P/E Ratio Tell You? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! The goal of this article is to teach you how to use price to earnings ratios (P/E ratios). We'll look at FirstFarms A/S's (CPH:FFARMS) P/E ratio and reflect on what it tells us about the company's share price.FirstFarms has a P/E ratio of 41.57, based on the last twelve months. In other words, at today's prices, investors are paying DKK41.57 for every DKK1 in prior year profit. View our latest analysis for FirstFarms Theformula for P/Eis: Price to Earnings Ratio = Share Price ÷ Earnings per Share (EPS) Or for FirstFarms: P/E of 41.57 = DKK66 ÷ DKK1.59 (Based on the year to March 2019.) A higher P/E ratio means that investors are payinga higher pricefor each DKK1 of company earnings. That isn't necessarily good or bad, but a high P/E implies relatively high expectations of what a company can achieve in the future. Probably the most important factor in determining what P/E a company trades on is the earnings growth. If earnings are growing quickly, then the 'E' in the equation will increase faster than it would otherwise. Therefore, even if you pay a high multiple of earnings now, that multiple will become lower in the future. A lower P/E should indicate the stock is cheap relative to others -- and that may attract buyers. FirstFarms's 166% EPS improvement over the last year was like bamboo growth after rain; rapid and impressive. Unfortunately, earnings per share are down 1.9% a year, over 5 years. The P/E ratio essentially measures market expectations of a company. As you can see below, FirstFarms has a higher P/E than the average company (17.4) in the food industry. FirstFarms's P/E tells us that market participants think the company will perform better than its industry peers, going forward. Clearly the market expects growth, but it isn't guaranteed. So investors should delve deeper. I like to checkif company insiders have been buying or selling. One drawback of using a P/E ratio is that it considers market capitalization, but not the balance sheet. That means it doesn't take debt or cash into account. In theory, a company can lower its future P/E ratio by using cash or debt to invest in growth. Such spending might be good or bad, overall, but the key point here is that you need to look at debt to understand the P/E ratio in context. Net debt totals 92% of FirstFarms's market cap. This is a reasonably significant level of debt -- all else being equal you'd expect a much lower P/E than if it had net cash. FirstFarms has a P/E of 41.6. That's higher than the average in the DK market, which is 18. Its meaningful level of debt should warrant a lower P/E ratio, but the fast EPS growth is a positive. So despite the debt it is, perhaps, not unreasonable to see a high P/E ratio. Investors should be looking to buy stocks that the market is wrong about. People often underestimate remarkable growth -- so investors can make money when fast growth is not fully appreciated. We don't have analyst forecasts, but you might want to assessthis data-rich visualizationof earnings, revenue and cash flow. Of courseyou might be able to find a better stock than FirstFarms. So you may wish to see thisfreecollection of other companies that have grown earnings strongly. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
How Does Investing In BancFirst Corporation (NASDAQ:BANF) Impact The Volatility Of Your Portfolio? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Anyone researching BancFirst Corporation (NASDAQ:BANF) might want to consider the historical volatility of the share price. Volatility is considered to be a measure of risk in modern finance theory. Investors may think of volatility as falling into two main categories. The first type is company specific volatility. Investors use diversification across uncorrelated stocks to reduce this kind of price volatility across the portfolio. The second sort is caused by the natural volatility of markets, overall. For example, certain macroeconomic events will impact (virtually) all stocks on the market. Some stocks see their prices move in concert with the market. Others tend towards stronger, gentler or unrelated price movements. Beta can be a useful tool to understand how much a stock is influenced by market risk (volatility). However, Warren Buffett said 'volatility is far from synonymous with risk' in his 2014 letter to investors. So, while useful, beta is not the only metric to consider. To use beta as an investor, you must first understand that the overall market has a beta of one. Any stock with a beta of greater than one is considered more volatile than the market, while those with a beta below one are either less volatile or poorly correlated with the market. View our latest analysis for BancFirst Zooming in on BancFirst, we see it has a five year beta of 0.84. This is below 1, so historically its share price has been rather independent from the market. This suggests that including it in your portfolio will reduce volatility arising from broader market movements, assuming your portfolio's weighted average beta is higher than 0.84. Beta is worth considering, but it's also important to consider whether BancFirst is growing earnings and revenue. You can take a look for yourself, below. BancFirst is a small company, but not tiny and little known. It has a market capitalisation of US$1.9b, which means it would be on the radar of intstitutional investors. Small companies can have a low beta value when company specific factors outweigh the influence of overall market volatility. That might be happening here. One potential advantage of owning low beta stocks like BancFirst is that your overall portfolio won't be too sensitive to overall market movements. However, this can be a blessing or a curse, depending on what's happening in the broader market. In order to fully understand whether BANF is a good investment for you, we also need to consider important company-specific fundamentals such as BancFirst’s financial health and performance track record. I urge you to continue your research by taking a look at the following: 1. Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for BANF’s future growth? Take a look at ourfree research report of analyst consensusfor BANF’s outlook. 2. Past Track Record: Has BANF been consistently performing well irrespective of the ups and downs in the market? Go into more detail in the past performance analysis and take a look atthe free visual representations of BANF's historicalsfor more clarity. 3. Other Interesting Stocks: It's worth checking to see how BANF measures up against other companies on valuation. You could start with thisfree list of prospective options. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
Read This Before Buying The Swatch Group AG (VTX:UHR) For Its Dividend Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Today we'll take a closer look at The Swatch Group AG (VTX:UHR) from a dividend investor's perspective. Owning a strong business and reinvesting the dividends is widely seen as an attractive way of growing your wealth. Yet sometimes, investors buy a stock for its dividend and lose money because the share price falls by more than they earned in dividend payments. A 2.9% yield is nothing to get excited about, but investors probably think the long payment history suggests Swatch Group has some staying power. The company also bought back stock during the year, equivalent to approximately 2.8% of the company's market capitalisation at the time. Some simple analysis can reduce the risk of holding Swatch Group for its dividend, and we'll focus on the most important aspects below. Explore this interactive chart for our latest analysis on Swatch Group! Companies (usually) pay dividends out of their earnings. If a company is paying more than it earns, the dividend might have to be cut. So we need to form a view on if a company's dividend is sustainable, relative to its net profit after tax. Swatch Group paid out 50% of its profit as dividends, over the trailing twelve month period. This is medium payout level that leaves enough capital in the business to fund opportunities that might arise, while also rewarding shareholders. Besides, if reinvestment opportunities dry up, the company has room to increase the dividend. We also measure dividends paid against a company's levered free cash flow, to see if enough cash was generated to cover the dividend. Swatch Group paid out 84% of its cash flow last year. This may be sustainable but it does not leave much of a buffer for unexpected circumstances. It's positive to see that Swatch Group's dividend is covered by both profits and cash flow, since this is generally a sign that the dividend is sustainable, and a lower payout ratio usually suggests a greater margin of safety before the dividend gets cut. Remember, you can always get a snapshot of Swatch Group's latest financial position,by checking our visualisation of its financial health. Before buying a stock for its income, we want to see if the dividends have been stable in the past, and if the company has a track record of maintaining its dividend. For the purpose of this article, we only scrutinise the last decade of Swatch Group's dividend payments. During the past ten-year period, the first annual payment was CHF0.85 in 2009, compared to CHF8.00 last year. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 25% a year over that time. Dividends have been growing pretty quickly, and even more impressively, they haven't experienced any notable falls during this period. Examining whether the dividend is affordable and stable is important. However, it's also important to assess if earnings per share (EPS) are growing. Growing EPS can help maintain or increase the purchasing power of the dividend over the long run. Over the past five years, it looks as though Swatch Group's EPS have declined at around 15% a year. Declining earnings per share over a number of years is not a great sign for the dividend investor. Without some improvement, this does not bode well for the long term value of a company's dividend. When we look at a dividend stock, we need to form a judgement on whether the dividend will grow, if the company is able to maintain it in a wide range of economic circumstances, and if the dividend payout is sustainable. Firstly, we like that Swatch Group pays out a low fraction of earnings. It pays out a higher percentage of its cashflow, although this is within acceptable bounds. It's not great to see earnings per share shrinking. The dividends have been relatively consistent, but we wonder for how much longer this will be true. In sum, we find it hard to get excited about Swatch Group from a dividend perspective. It's not that we think it's a bad business; just that there are other companies that perform better on these criteria. Given that earnings are not growing, the dividend does not look nearly so attractive. See if the 23 analysts are forecasting a turnaround in ourfree collection of analyst estimates here. We have also put together alist of global stocks with a market capitalisation above $1bn and yielding more 3%. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
Futures Up Despite Growth Concerns, EU Leaders Reach Consensus, Asia Falls On Weak Data The U.S. futures are looking at a positive open on Wednesday despite lingering growth concerns. The trade-truce announced by Presidents Trump and Xi has increased optimism although evidence of global economic slowing persists. The ADP employment figures came in at 102,00 for the month of June, up from the previous month but still shy of the expectations. The pace of job growth in America has slowed significantly in the past three months and may lead to recession. The weekly jobless claims show jobless claims are hovering near long-term lows and consistent with general economic health. Jobless claims were released a day early due to a holiday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is the morning laggard with a gain of 0.16%, the S&P 500 and NASDAQ Composite are both up about 0.22%. Growth concerns are fueled by the seemingly endless string of tariffs coming out of Trump’s White House. Earlier in the week, Trump announced up to $400 million in new tariffs on EU goods, today he announced 400% tariffs on Vietnamese steel. The EU tariffs are meant to combat unfair subsidies on EU aircraft, the Vietnamese tariffs to combat steel-dumping from Korea and Taiwan. The EU markets are up modestly after consensus is reached on nominations for the bloc’s top spots. After three days of intense negotiation EU leaders have agreed on nominations for ECB chief and EU president. Christine Laggard of the IMF has been tapped for ECB chief, German Ursula von der Lyden for ECB president. The nominations will now go the EU parliament for confirmation. Bond yields in the EU fell sharply on the news while defensive stocks rallied. Laggard, at least, is seen as a dove and likely to embark on stimulus measures if approved. The UK FTSE 100 led today’s gains with an advance of 0.72% by midday. The moves come a day after UK PMI data shows the British economy shrank for the first time since 2016. The German DAX and French CAC were both showing gains near 0.60%. Asian markets were broadly lower on Wednesday despite hopes for a Trump/Xi trade deal. The Korean Kospi led the decline with a loss of -1.23% after the country lowered its growth forecast for the year. The Shanghai Composite posted the second largest decline, about -0.95%, after the Caixin PMI showed slowing in China’s small-cap economy. The Japanese Nikkei shed about -0.50%, the Hang Seng about -0.07%, while the Australian ASX posted the only gain in the region. Thisarticlewas originally posted on FX Empire • Investing in a late-cycle Economy • GBP/JPY Price Forecast – British pound stable during quiet session • S&P 500 Price Forecast – Stock market futures quiet during Holiday • EUR/USD Daily Forecast – Volatility Drops as US Traders Celebrate 4th of July • Can New ECB Head Christine Lagarde Help the EUR? • AUD/USD Price Forecast – Australian dollar stalls on thin holiday trading
What It's Really Like to Train for the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest Photo credit: Steven Ferdman - Getty Images From Men's Health Every July 4th, an elite crop of competitive eaters take the stage at Coney Island for a time-honored American tradition: seeing who can stuff the most hot dogs (plus bun!) down their throat in a 10-minute period. Yes, we're talking about the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. The reigning men's champion, Joey Chestnut, ate 74 of 'em in 2018; the women's champ, Miki Sudo, ate 37. The battle is grueling-full of sodium, sweat, and tears- and so is the months-long training process . In the lead-up to 2019's big event, we asked seven hopeful competitors to describe the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest experience, from training their stomachs to hold inhuman amounts of food, to what happens when it all comes out the other end. (We invited them to be as graphic as they pleased.) Here's who you'll hear from: Derek Jacobs : ate 23 hot dogs + buns in 10 minutes to qualify for Nathan's Geoffrey Esper : the 2017 and 2019 Hooters wing-eating champion Matt Hazzard : ate 29.5 hot dogs + buns in 10 minutes to quality for Nathan's Michelle Lesco : has scarfed down 25.5 hot dogs + buns at Nathan's Nick Wehry : ate 34 hot dugs + buns in 10 minutes to qualify for Nathan's Ronnie Hartman : once ate half a gallon of chili in a minute and 34 seconds Sophia DeVita : ate 16.25 hot dugs + buns in 10 minutes to quality for Nathan's And here's what they said about training for the 2019 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. Photo credit: Steven Ferdman - Getty Images How many hot dogs would you estimate you've eaten during your training for Nathan's this year? Jacobs: "At least 300." Esper: "I'd say 600-800. Too many." Hazzard: "By the time July 4th rolls around, I’ll have eaten over 1,200 hot dogs in preparation. I haven’t stopped training since last year’s contest, and it will be a key factor in my success at this year’s event." Lesco: "By the time I hit the Nathan's stage at Coney Island, I have usually already eaten a few hundred hot dogs with my training. Each practice aligns with donations for Charity: Water, which builds wells for communities throughout the world that don't have access to clean water." Story continues Wehry: "Hard to say to be honest, but in 2019 probably around 400 or so." Hartman: "I would estimate I’ve eaten about 250 hot dogs in the last year training for Nathan's." DeVita: "Estimated, I have probably consumed around 60-80 hotdogs for training this year." Photo credit: Michelle Lesco Describe your training style. What does a day in the life of someone training for Nathan's look like? Hazzard: "Competitive eating can be broken down into three fundamental components: eating speed, stomach capacity, and willpower. On a daily basis, I’ll train my stomach capacity by drinking large volumes of water (2+ gallons) in a very short period of time (~10 minutes). On a weekly basis, I’ll cook up a bunch of hot dogs and do a full 10-minute practice run. This helps to improve speed/technique and build the mental fortitude necessary to push through the proverbial ‘wall’ and continue to down more hot dogs when your body is screaming at you to stop." Lesco: "Waking up and hitting the gym and eating lots of salads. On training days, waking up with some coffee and spending an hour setting up and cooking hot dogs to prepare for a 10 minute battle against myself, with the help of my training partner Miki Sudo. But there are also a lot of other contests leading up to the Fourth, so some days are dedicated to preparing for crawfish, oysters, donuts, wings, and anything else Major League Eating throws at me." DeVita: "I typically try and keep my nutrition on point during the week so that I won’t feel too bad after a hot dog training session. I eat a lot of vegetables because they are low in calories and you can eat more of them to fill up your stomach. On top of that, I try to consume a lot of water with my meals." Photo credit: Matt Hazzard. How do you take care of your health while training? Do you work out? Jacobs: "Yes, competitive eating is weird, but in essence is still just another physical activity that requires you to be in shape. A typical contest is 10 minutes long; try to do anything as fast as you possibly can for 10 minutes straight and see if you don’t get tired. Eating isn’t any different. I stay active by training for obstacle course races (Spartan, Savage, Tough Mudder) and do at least six of those a year. I also train Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, and MMA 3-4 times a week and do weightlifting 3 times a week." Lesco: "We all work out. I do push-ups before bed and when I wake up. I do squats when I brush my teeth. I have a pull-up bar in my kitchen doorway. At the gym, though, I spend most of my time on the treadmill running." Photo credit: Derek Jacobs Wehry: "I dabble in lifting. Coming from a bodybuilding background I try to maintain my 'leftovers' of my competitive physique. I'm usually in the gym 5 days per week, but little to no cardio. Other than competition and training days, my calories are counted virtually year-round as well to maintain health and body composition. Although I do enjoy the occasional ice cream or donut date with my kids." Hartman: "I will eat in a calorie deficiency for about 2-3 weeks prior to a contest. I will lose about 3-5 lbs. prior to a contest just to 'make room' for the calories I’m going to take in for a contest. I work out 5-6 times a week. I also am a professional wrestler, and I train for that a few days a week." DeVita: "I work out 4-6 days a week for about an hour or two. I also compete in Olympic weightlifting meets (snatch and clean and jerk) so those are the main lifts I am training while I work out. Outside of weight training, I make sure to keep my nutrition on point 80% of the time." Photo credit: Sophia DeVita What do your friends, coworkers, and family think of your competitive-hot-dog-eating pursuits? Esper: "Most people think it’s kind of neat. But some definitely don’t understand. I guess it’s an unusual thing to do, so a mixed reaction is to be expected. Mostly though, I don’t really care what others think." Wehry: "Generally speaking, the family is concerned about your health. Friends and coworkers either think it’s disgusting or hilarious. However, although it's difficult, I try my best to not bring this aspect of my life home or to work." Hartman: "My mother thinks it’s disgusting, and can’t actually watch me compete, but she loves to listen and cheer for me to win. She understands how important it is to me, and supports me, even if she can’t watch it. My fiancée is the complete opposite. She can stomach anything and she is the one always encouraging me to push harder. My friends think it's pretty rad and it comes up routinely in our discussions. I actually just started a job at New Era Cap about 3 weeks ago, and I feel like the entire building already knows I’m a competitive eater, it’s a great ice breaker lol." Photo credit: Ronnie Hartman What's the grossest thing that's happened to your body during training? Feel free to get as graphic as you want. We love talking about poop and other bodily functions here at Men's Health . Esper: "I’ve never really had anything really gross happen. A couple of close calls, but I’ve always managed to get to a toilet on time. One time I drank a LOT of grape Kool-aid and my pee was purple for a little bit. That was a bit disturbing." Hazzard: "Anything present in your colon will soon be forced out...if you catch my drift." Lesco: "Probably almost shitting myself in the Walmart parking lot. I had taken some softeners to make sure I would be empty for a competition and apparently overshot how much was needed. So I was drinking some water outside my car in a Walmart parking lot and almost needed some wet naps. I managed to waddle to the McDonalds right near me and avoid any type of catastrophe. Close call though." Hartman: "My first year I was very eager to compete, so I drove from Ft. Stewart, Georgia, to Radcliff, Kentucky, in order to compete in a hardboiled egg eating contest. It was about a 14-hour drive one way. Well, I had just enough time after the contest to get back to Ft. Stewart before I was due for PT in the morning at 6:30. I went on to eat 60 some hard-boiled eggs during the contest and got in my car right after the contest to drive back. Well, the entire drive back I had the worst gas a human could ever have. I had to drive the entire time back with all 4 windows down. My car smelled like fart for about 6 months after that contest, nothing I could do could do could get that smell out." DeVita: "My first year, my body wasn’t used to the amount of sodium, fat, and carbs I was consuming in the contest, mainly because hot dogs are so processed. If it was a dessert contest my body would handle it better because I was doing food challenges on my YouTube channel ( Sophia DeVita ). That year I was bloated and didn’t poop for like a week or two, but my body finally adjusted with enough water, Pepto, and probiotics." What's your routine the day before the competition? How do you prepare your body? Jacbos: "No food day of, but lots and lots of caffeine. Helps get you amped up, but also helps clear out anything left in your system." Hazzard: "About 36-40 hours before a competition, I will transition to an 'all-liquid' diet to ensure my digestive tract is as empty as possible to allow more room for stomach expansion. I drink protein shakes, Gatorade, and fruit juices. It’s important to make sure you’re still getting enough calories heading into the contest because eating as fast as possible for 10 minutes straight in hot, humid conditions requires a surprising amount of energy and is physically exhausting." Wehry: "I personally cut out solid foods about 24 hours out. Just depend on Gatorade or essential amino acid drinks and electrolytes for energy. Push a bunch of fluid and make sure you 'empty out' so you have as much real estate to use as possible for the dogs. Then I'll get a light weight training session in really just to reset my mind and relax before the anxiety sets in." Photo credit: Nick Wehry Hartman: "The day before a contest I like to do a faster pace workout. I’ll rest like 30 seconds between sets, and like to get a good sweat on. During the day I will eat one meal that’s about 24 hours prior to my contest [and] that’s around 900-1,200 calories. I want to be empty for the contest, but I also need a few calories for energy." Can you describe the feeling you get while competing? What makes this appealing? Hazzard: "Before the contest, there are pre-game ‘jitters’ that most athletes experience regardless of sport. Once the countdown begins and the eating commences, there’s a huge surge of adrenaline and it’s off to the races. After you start getting full, but the elite can forge through until the end. It’s the same mentality of pushing through for that extra rep in the gym." Lesco: "I still get nervous on contest days. The second the countdown gets to one, though, it's all about trying to stay focused. I don't meditate in daily life, but I imagine it is somewhat like that: being critically aware of specific muscles, knowing what they are doing and what you want them to be doing while adapting to game day conditions. It's a battle for 10 minutes-not only against the others at the table, but against all the doubts and excuses your mind tries to throw at you to get you to give up. The appealing part is knowing it is possible to win both battles." DeVita: "Before the contest I typically get butterflies. It is the same feeling I would get before high school track meets or my college soccer matches. During the first five minutes I am excited and going as fast as possible, with the crowd cheering myself and other eaters to eat as many wieners as possible. The last five minutes are the worst. I feel my stomach getting full, the hot dogs aren’t tasting as good, the sodium is overwhelming my tastebuds. In the last minute I try to swallow everything to have an empty mouth. With the last 10 second I do my best to fit a whole hot dog and bun in my mouth. This is what’s called 'chipmunk.' After the contest I review what I have consumed and hope I did better than my last contest." At what point do the hot dogs stop tasting good? (Do you even like hot dogs?) Jacobs: "About 7 min in. If you are eating cheap dogs it can be much sooner, but Nathan’s franks really are good." Esper: "I don’t eat hot dogs as part of my normal diet. But obviously, I eat lots of them practicing. I never get sick oft hem. Actually, after Coney, I miss practicing with them. I’m lucky, I hardly ever get sick of eating foods. I can and sometime do eat the same food every day for weeks on end. I’ve been that way my entire life." Hazzard: "I’ll typically get tired of the taste after about 15 hot dogs, and then start dunking the buns in cherry Kool-Aid and raspberry lemonade to switch it up. Ironically, I now enjoy hot dogs more after eating them all of the time, and I’ve grown especially fond of the distinct Nathan’s Famous flavor." Lesco: "If you're doing it right, you're not super focused on the taste of the food, but you do notice. Luckily Nathan’s Famous hotdogs are a quality dog, so it takes longer for the flavor fatigue to set in. I would say around the 6-8 minute mark for me, things get rough. To be honest, now when I see hot dogs, they mean more business than enjoyment." Wehry: "I LOVE Nathan's Famous hot dogs. If I am at a BBQ with generic hot dogs, there is no way I would ever get one, but I honestly could eat a Nathan's Famous hot dog on any day of the year. The next day, I even eat the leftovers from my training runs. That said, I probably only really enjoy them until the 25th hot dog." Hartman: "I love hot dogs, growing up my two favorite foods were chicken wings and hot dogs. I’d say the first 15 are enjoyable. Anything after that is work." Photo credit: Anadolu Agency - Getty Images What happens to your body after the competition? Again, feel free to get as graphic as you want. Jacobs: "Beyond the obvious full feeling, immediately after you can feel very winded if you haven’t been able to time your breathing and eating together. Very salty foods will make you incredibly thirsty." Esper: "Usually I feel OK, depending on the food. I get really hot a couple of hours afterward and have lots of energy. Also, I get really thirsty. It’s really not a fun time. Some foods are much harder than others. I think the worst food of all though is chili. Chili does not stay with me very long after the contest. But I really don’t care for chili to begin with." Hazzard: "If you were successful during the competition and able to fill up to 85% or more of your stomach capacity, it’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. The prudent choose to do so sooner rather than later." Lesco: "Hot dogs have a lot of sodium, so post-contest, you get really thirsty. If I have eaten to capacity, it's usually a game of waiting for some good burps to make room for more water to rehydrate. The weirdest moment was that one year, all the hot dogs kind of sat on my bladder and for about 2 hours. I felt like I desperately had to pee. I imagine it's similar to what pregnant women go through when the baby shifts over their bladders." Hartman: "... Everyone wants to ask the poop question, so I’ll answer it for you. I’m normally backed up for 1-2 days after the contest. The third day after the contest, it’s like a constant mudslide throughout the day. I’ll let you figure that out..." ('You Might Also Like',) A Vegan Diet Helped This Man Lose 150 Pounds and Improve His Mental Health How to Cool Down After Your Hardest Workouts What Is The Lectin-Free Diet?
CSE New Listing - BevCanna Enterprises Commences Trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange - Video News Alert on Investmentpitch.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 3, 2019) - BevCanna Enterprises (CSE: BEV) is one of the latest new listings on the Canadian Securities Exchange. Based in British Columbia, BevCanna is a late stage applicant for a Cultivation Licence and Sales Licence for cannabis production on its leased lands located in Bridesville, British Columbia. For more information, please view the InvestmentPitch Media "video" which provides additional information on the company. If this link is not enabled, please visitwww.InvestmentPitch.comand enter "BevCanna" in the search box. Cannot view this video? Visit:http://www.investmentpitch.com/video/0_6rl5e1lt/New-Listing-BevCanna-Enterprises-CSEBEV- In May 2019, the company was granted a hemp cultivation licence by Health Canada. The company is currently evaluating potential joint venture or hemp crop sharing arrangements with other licensed producers of cannabis, as permitted by its hemp cultivation licence. The company has a 100-acre outdoor cultivation site in the fertile Okanagan Valley and the exclusive rights to a pristine spring water aquifer, as well as a world-class 40,000-square-foot, HACCP certified manufacturing facility, with a current bottling capacity of up to 72 million bottles annually. The company is positioning itself for future growth in the event that Health Canada expands legalization of cannabis into derivative products and beverages by leasing a production ready bottling facility and underground aquifer located on the same property. The company plans to develop and manufacture cannabinoid-infused beverages and consumer products for in-house brands and white label clients. The company is also working jointly with another company based in California to develop and commercialize cannabis beverage formulations for sale in California and elsewhere in the United States, where permitted by state laws. BevCanna's executive team is led by renowned retail executive Marcello Leone as CEO, and includes Martino Ciambrelli as President, John Campbell as CFO and Emma Andrews as Chief Commercialization Officer. Marcello Leone, CEO, stated: "The listing is the next step towards creating a unique portfolio of innovative and compelling consumer brands in the cannabis and hemp-infused product landscape. We already have the industry expertise, world-class infrastructure and unmatched natural resources to build a market leader, and this listing will provide the foundation to fully realize our potential. The CSE has become widely recognized as the leading exchange supporting the burgeoning legal cannabis industry. We're proud to join this elite group of listed companies and look forward to a long partnership with the organization." For more information, please visit the company's websitewww.bevcanna.com, contact Luca Leone, Investor Relations, at 604-880-6618 or emailluca@bevcanna.com. About InvestmentPitch Media InvestmentPitch Media leverages the power of video, which together with its extensive distribution, positions a company's story ahead of the 1,000's of companies seeking awareness and funding from the financial community. The company specializes in producing short videos based on significant news releases, research reports and other content of interest to investors. CONTACT: InvestmentPitch MediaBarry Morgan, CFObmorgan@investmentpitch.com To view the source version of this press release, please visithttps://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/46059
Blackrock Announces Change in CFO Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 3, 2019) - Blackrock Gold Corp. (TSXV: BRC) (OTC PINK: BKRRF)("Blackrock" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that Mr. Randy Minhas has joined the Company as Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Randy Minhas will be taking over the role from Mr. Kevin Strong who has left to pursue other opportunities. The Company thanks Mr. Strong and wish him the best in his future endeavors. Randy Minhasis a Chartered Professional Accountant with extensive finance experience in the technology, manufacturing and resources industries. Mr. Minhas has served as Director, Chief Financial Officer, and Controller for several publicly traded companies since 2011 focusing on forecasting, business development, development of internal controls and complete financial reporting services. In addition to previously serving as CFO of Blackrock, Mr. Minhas also formerly served as Group Controller for Rye Patch Gold Corp., a Nevada gold producer. Prior to joining Rye Patch Gold Corp., Mr. Minhas served as the Financial Reporting and SOX specialist for Golden Queen Mining Co. Ltd., helping take the company from an exploration stage company to a full gold and silver producing company. Mr. Minhas holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Simon Fraser University and completed his Chartered Accountant designation in 2008, while also completing his Chartered Director Certification in 2017. He currently serves as a Director for Clean Seed Capital Group Ltd. and Affinor Growers Inc. About Blackrock Blackrock is a junior gold-focused exploration company that is on a quest to make an economic discovery. Anchored by a seasoned Board, the Company is focused on their Silver Cloud property, a low-sulphidation epithermal gold & silver project, located along on the established Northern Nevada Rift gold trend in north-central Nevada. www.blackrockgoldcorp.com For further information, please contact: Andrew Pollard, Chief Executive OfficerBlackrock Gold Corp.Phone: 604 817-6044Email:andrew@blackrockgoldcorp.com The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this release. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor it's Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visithttps://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/46053
All You Need to Know About Alder BioPharmaceuticals (ALDR) Rating Upgrade to Buy Alder BioPharmaceuticals (ALDR) could be a solid choice for investors given its recent upgrade to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). An upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices -- has triggered this rating change. The sole determinant of the Zacks rating is a company's changing earnings picture. The Zacks Consensus Estimate -- the consensus of EPS estimates from the sell-side analysts covering the stock -- for the current and following years is tracked by the system. Since a changing earnings picture is a powerful factor influencing near-term stock price movements, the Zacks rating system is very useful for individual investors. They may find it difficult to make decisions based on rating upgrades by Wall Street analysts, as these are mostly driven by subjective factors that are hard to see and measure in real time. As such, the Zacks rating upgrade for Alder BioPharmaceuticals is essentially a positive comment on its earnings outlook that could have a favorable impact on its stock price. Most Powerful Force Impacting Stock Prices The change in a company's future earnings potential, as reflected in earnings estimate revisions, has proven to be strongly correlated with the near-term price movement of its stock. That's partly because of the influence of institutional investors that use earnings and earnings estimates for calculating the fair value of a company's shares. An increase or decrease in earnings estimates in their valuation models simply results in higher or lower fair value for a stock, and institutional investors typically buy or sell it. Their bulk investment action then leads to price movement for the stock. Fundamentally speaking, rising earnings estimates and the consequent rating upgrade for Alder BioPharmaceuticals imply an improvement in the company's underlying business. Investors should show their appreciation for this improving business trend by pushing the stock higher. Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate Revisions As empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock movements, tracking such revisions for making an investment decision could be truly rewarding. Here is where the tried-and-tested Zacks Rank stock-rating system plays an important role, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The Zacks Rank stock-rating system, which uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record, with Zacks Rank #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>. Earnings Estimate Revisions for Alder BioPharmaceuticals This drug developer is expected to earn -$4.43 per share for the fiscal year ending December 2019, which represents a year-over-year change of 9%. Analysts have been steadily raising their estimates for Alder BioPharmaceuticals. Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company has increased 3.4%. Bottom Line Unlike the overly optimistic Wall Street analysts whose rating systems tend to be weighted toward favorable recommendations, the Zacks rating system maintains an equal proportion of 'buy' and 'sell' ratings for its entire universe of more than 4000 stocks at any point in time. Irrespective of market conditions, only the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks get a 'Strong Buy' rating and the next 15% get a 'Buy' rating. So, the placement of a stock in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks indicates its superior earnings estimate revision feature, making it a solid candidate for producing market-beating returns in the near term. You can learn more about the Zacks Rank here >>> The upgrade of Alder BioPharmaceuticals to a Zacks Rank #2 positions it in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks in terms of estimate revisions, implying that the stock might move higher in the near term. 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 reportAlder BioPharmaceuticals, Inc. (ALDR) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
New Strong Sell Stocks for July 3rd Here are 5 stocks added to the Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) List today: Apergy CorporationAPY is a provider of engineered equipment and technologies. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has been revised 3.3% downward over the last 30 days. Ares Commercial Real Estate CorporationACRE is the owner and operator of a specialty finance company. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has been revised 0.7% downward over the last 30 days. Carnival CorporationCCL is the owner and operator of a leisure travel company. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has been revised 4.6% downward over the last 30 days. FedEx CorporationFDX is a provider of transportation, e-commerce and business services. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has been revised 10.5% downward over the last 30 days. Kaman CorporationKAMN is a distributor of electro-mechanical products, bearings and power transmission, motion control and electrical and fluid power components. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has been revised 16.6% downward over the last 30 days. View the entire Zacks Rank #5 List. 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 reportCarnival Corporation (CCL) : Free Stock Analysis ReportKaman Corporation (KAMN) : Free Stock Analysis ReportAres Commercial Real Estate Corporation (ACRE) : Free Stock Analysis ReportFedEx Corporation (FDX) : Free Stock Analysis ReportApergy Corporation (APY) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
Survey: Modest job gains in June hint at slowing economy WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. companies added just 102,000 jobs in June, a possible turning point that could signal a coming increase in the unemployment rate. Payroll processor ADP said Wednesday that the meager gains — after just 41,000 jobs were added in May — indicate a slowdown in the economy. The job growth of the past two months has not been substantial enough to keep pace with population growth, potentially indicating that the government's unemployment rate of 3.6% could rise, said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics. "It looks like unemployment is close to its bottom in this business cycle and will begin to move higher," Zandi said. "It is now clear that the slowdown we're experiencing is significant and the economy is very close to what I would call a stall-out speed." The economy just achieved the longest expansion in U.S. history, having grown for more than a decade. But a slowdown in manufacturing output and declines in construction spending have raised questions about whether the economy is losing momentum. ADP said that businesses with fewer than 20 employees cut 37,000 jobs. Construction firms let go 18,000 workers. Most of the gains came in the health care, education, professional services and trade and transportation sectors. The ADP's figures don't include government hiring and frequently diverge from the government's official report, which is scheduled to be released Friday. Economists expect that report will show job gains of 164,000, while the unemployment rate stays 3.6% for the third straight month.
Market Morning: Gold Slingshot, Cannabis Consolidation, Baidu Debacle, Vietnam Tariff Bazooka Gold Recovers after “Trade Deal Progress” Fall It didn’t take gold (NYSEARCA:GLD) long to recover after declining to $1,384 on Monday on news of the best meeting ever between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday. Xi promised to buy US agriculture, even though the Chinese government doesn’t actually buy food, but rather Chinese companies, and they already do this anyway. The two leaders agreed on nothing substantial and existing tariffs are still in place, but for some reason the gold market interpreted this as bearish. Over the long term, gold prices have nothing to do with trade wars, but rather currency debasement, which is certainly going on and has been for a very long time. Gold has recovered all the way up to its recent highs of $1,441 overnight, with prices rising particularly fast during Asian trade after US market close on Tuesday. Gold stocks recovered almost all of their Monday losses, though silver (NYSEARCA:SLV) continues to lag behind, which is unusual during a gold breakout. Either the breakout will be reversed, or silver has a lot of catching up to do. SEE:Canada’s Largest Cannabis Retailer Posts Operations Update; Plans to Open 40 Stores in 2019 Cannabis Consolidation Continues The cannabis sector is slowly maturing, but still filled with small companies sprouting up like mushrooms and snails. Rollup is occurring slowly but surely among the smaller companies trying to find various niches to fill in the new space. The latest minimerger is one between TransCanna Holdings (OTCMKTS:TCNAF) and Lifestyle Delivery Systems (OTCMKTS:LDSYF), with TransCanna being the acquiring firm. The combined firm will be focused on the California market, and is now big enough to avoid certain taxes and regulatory fees that should help increase profit margins. It will run close to 200,000 square feet of growing space and 25.5 acres of land in California designed for outdoor cannabis cultivation. “This proposed transaction represents an opportunity for all of the combined shareholders to benefit from an exceptionally well integrated platform, capable of avoiding excessive industry fees and taxes creating significantly larger profit margins. Merging the revenue generating assets created by the LDS team, including the flagship CannaStripsTM, with the scale oriented TransCanna team and their 196,000 sq ft vertically integrated, cannabis focused facility in central California equals, in our opinion, a California-based powerhouse,” stated Brad Eckenweiler, CEO of LDS. Is Hong Kong Anger Spilling Over Into Baidu? Beijing-based search engine Baidu (NASDAQ:BIDU) may be gettingsome backlash, perhaps connected to the uprising in Hong Kong against Chinese communist rule, though no connection has been determined yet. An unknown assailant poured a bottle of water over the head of Baidu CEO Robin Li as he was giving a talk on artificial intelligence and search. Li then screamed, “What’s your problem,” to the person, who did not respond, but quickly left the building, leaving Li all wet and bothered. He then attempted to tie in the unexpected hiccup to his determination to continue developing AI. The anger could be over Baidu cooperating with Beijing over the censorship of search results. Information is at a premium in China, as the communist regime typically censors information from the outside world, though it’s not as bad as North Korea. At least not yet. Trump Raises Taxes 456.23% on Americans Buying Vietnamese Steel Trump has declared a trade war on Vietnam. Hopefully this won’t restart the draft. Tariffs on imported steel from Vietnamhave been raisedto as high as 456.23%, because 456.24% would be considered just a tiny bit too high, 0.01% too high to be exact. The Commerce Department has decided that countries like South Korea and Taiwan, in an effort to circumvent the steel tariffs currently charged to Americans in order to import steel from them, have been shipping their steel to Vietnam to undergo minor processing, but the Trump Administration is now plugging that loophole with a giant wad of tariff gum. According to Trump, Vietnam is “almost the single-worst abuser of everybody.” Almost, but not quite. Trump did not elaborate on who was the single-worst abuser of ‘everybody”, ahead of Vietnam. Possibly North Korea? But he did go visit his friend Kim Jong Un after he got bored of the G20 meeting. Tesla Delivers Record Number of Cars, Investors Cheer Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) finally surprised markets with an impressivedelivery totalof 95,200 cars in three months, from April to June. Shares are up in European trading about 7.6% and look to follow in US trading at market open. The success, relatively, comes in the face of US tax credits of $3,750 being cut in half at the beginning July, and an expected loss this quarter. However, CEO Elon Musk has said that the company will be net positive for the second half of the year, though he’s made promises before, perhaps more than he should have. In another iffy sign, Tesla did not reiterate its guidance for deliveries of 360,000 to 400,000 cars delivered in 2019, even when prompted about the status of that guidance given last quarter, which means the number probably won’t be hit and the rate of 95,200 per quarter may not be sustainable. The postMarket Morning: Gold Slingshot, Cannabis Consolidation, Baidu Debacle, Vietnam Tariff Bazookaappeared first onMarket Exclusive.
Allot (ALLT) Surges: Stock Moves 5.1% Higher Allot Ltd.ALLT was a big mover last session, as the company saw its shares rise more than 5% on the day. The move came on solid volume too with far more shares changing hands than in a normal session. This breaks the recent trend of the company, as the stock is now trading above the volatile price range of $6.81 to $7.34 in the past one-month time frame.The company has seen no changes when it comes to estimate revision over the past few weeks, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current quarter has also remained unchanged. The recent price action is encouraging though, so make sure to keep a close watch on this firm in the near future.Allot currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) while its Earnings ESP is 0.00%. Allot Communications Ltd. Price Allot Communications Ltd. price \| Allot Communications Ltd. Quote Investors interested in the Computer - Networking industry may consider Cisco Systems, Inc. CSCO, which has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can seethe complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.Is ALLT going up? Or down? Predict to see what others think:Up or Down 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 reportAllot Communications Ltd. (ALLT) : Free Stock Analysis ReportCisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
Is Banner Corporation's (NASDAQ:BANR) High P/E Ratio A Problem For Investors? Want to participate in a short research study ? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! This article is written for those who want to get better at using price to earnings ratios (P/E ratios). We'll look at Banner Corporation's ( NASDAQ:BANR ) P/E ratio and reflect on what it tells us about the company's share price. Banner has a price to earnings ratio of 12.76 , based on the last twelve months. That corresponds to an earnings yield of approximately 7.8%. Check out our latest analysis for Banner How Do I Calculate A Price To Earnings Ratio? The formula for P/E is: Price to Earnings Ratio = Price per Share ÷ Earnings per Share (EPS) Or for Banner: P/E of 12.76 = $53.83 ÷ $4.22 (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2019.) Is A High Price-to-Earnings Ratio Good? A higher P/E ratio implies that investors pay a higher price for the earning power of the business. That is not a good or a bad thing per se , but a high P/E does imply buyers are optimistic about the future. How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios Earnings growth rates have a big influence on P/E ratios. When earnings grow, the 'E' increases, over time. Therefore, even if you pay a high multiple of earnings now, that multiple will become lower in the future. A lower P/E should indicate the stock is cheap relative to others -- and that may attract buyers. In the last year, Banner grew EPS like Taylor Swift grew her fan base back in 2010; the 110% gain was both fast and well deserved. And earnings per share have improved by 31% annually, over the last three years. So you might say it really deserves to have an above-average P/E ratio. Does Banner Have A Relatively High Or Low P/E For Its Industry? One good way to get a quick read on what market participants expect of a company is to look at its P/E ratio. As you can see below Banner has a P/E ratio that is fairly close for the average for the banks industry, which is 12.9. Story continues NasdaqGS:BANR Price Estimation Relative to Market, July 3rd 2019 Banner's P/E tells us that market participants think its prospects are roughly in line with its industry. The company could surprise by performing better than average, in the future. Checking factors such as director buying and selling . could help you form your own view on if that will happen. A Limitation: P/E Ratios Ignore Debt and Cash In The Bank Don't forget that the P/E ratio considers market capitalization. So it won't reflect the advantage of cash, or disadvantage of debt. Hypothetically, a company could reduce its future P/E ratio by spending its cash (or taking on debt) to achieve higher earnings. Such spending might be good or bad, overall, but the key point here is that you need to look at debt to understand the P/E ratio in context. Banner's Balance Sheet Net debt totals 19% of Banner's market cap. It would probably deserve a higher P/E ratio if it was net cash, since it would have more options for growth. The Verdict On Banner's P/E Ratio Banner trades on a P/E ratio of 12.8, which is below the US market average of 18.2. The company does have a little debt, and EPS growth was good last year. If it continues to grow, then the current low P/E may prove to be unjustified. Investors have an opportunity when market expectations about a stock are wrong. As value investor Benjamin Graham famously said, 'In the short run, the market is a voting machine but in the long run, it is a weighing machine.' So this free visualization of the analyst consensus on future earnings could help you make the right decision about whether to buy, sell, or hold. You might be able to find a better buy than Banner. If you want a selection of possible winners, check out this free list of interesting companies that trade on a P/E below 20 (but have proven they can grow earnings). We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com . This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
Women's Super League: Premier League could launch takeover Women’s football in England could be boosted by a possible Premier League take over of the Women’s Super League (WSL). According to the BBC talks have already taken place between the Premier League and the Football Association (FA), who currently own the domestic women’s league. Any deal would be seen as another big step in the right direction for the development of the league, following a record sponsorship agreement with Barclays from the 2019-20 season. Clubs in the WSL agreed to explore the idea at a shareholders’ meeting in June, although no timeframe has yet been set. Arsenal's Dominique Bloodworth (left) and Manchester City's Jill Scott battle for the ball (Photo by John Walton/PA Images via Getty Images) Although in recent times attendances have dropped, the Premier League is believed to see now as a great time to invest in the league. It follows England’s run to the semi-final of the Women’s World Cup, where a dream final appearance was denied them by reigning champions USA. That, plus the promotions of Manchester United and Tottenham to the top division, are reportedly seen as prime reasons to invest. It is believed the combination of those factors will help improve sponsorship and broadcasting deals. According to the BBC, neither the FA nor Premier League chose to comment. Featured from our writers Tea parties and Piers Morgan: USA rubs it in on Twitter England defeat was most-watched TV programme of the year Phil Neville: England 'touched the hearts of the nation' in World Cup defeat to USA
Tesla shares jump as record deliveries ease demand concerns By Vibhuti Sharma (Reuters) - Tesla Inc <TSLA.O> shares opened nearly 7% higher on Wednesday after Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk made good on his promise of delivering record number of electric cars in the second quarter, quelling fears about demand for its sedans and SUVs. Wall Street analysts and investors have raised doubts about demand and the Silicon Valley automaker's ability to sort out recent delivery issues, particularly after a disastrous first quarter when deliveries slumped 31%. "We are increasingly comfortable that they should reflect an even better in the third quarter, and probably their first hundred thousand in a quarter," Roth Capital analyst Craig Irwin said. Tesla delivered 95,200 vehicles in the second quarter, beating analysts' average estimates, but did not comment on when it would return to profitability. Shares of the company were up 6.4% at $238.92, their highest in nearly two months. Up to Tuesday close, the stock had lost nearly one-third of its value so far this year. Tesla's first quarter was hurt by logistics issues at international ports and a drop-off in U.S. orders after a tax credit was halved, which spurred concerns that demand for Tesla's electric cars may have peaked. While Musk has been trying to convince investors that demand remains high for Tesla cars and delivery could be made efficiently, some analysts remained skeptical about Tesla's ability to deliver on its promise and maintain margins. Needham analysts said they remain cautious about Tesla's ability to remain profitable and maintain healthy margins, with Credit Suisse analysts also echoing a similar view. In the quarter, Tesla delivered 77,550 Model 3s - seen as linchpin for its growth into a mass-market company. That compared with analysts' average estimate of 73,144, according to IBES data from Refinitiv. Bernstein analyst Toni Sacconaghi said Tesla "has a shot at being profitable this quarter on a non-GAAP (adjusted) basis, even with materially pressured automotive gross margins". Tesla still faces multiple challenges, including starting production in China in the backdrop of U.S.-China trade tensions and overhauling its production process at a time when several of its top executives are leaving the company. "These are undeniably strong numbers, but given Tesla's recent history of significant swings in performance from quarter-to-quarter we remain cautious for now," Hargreaves Lansdown analyst Nicholas Hyett said. (Reporting by Vibhuti Sharma and Tanvi Mehta in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty and Anil D'Silva)
AT&T Might Unload Regional Sports Networks to Reduce Debt AT&T Inc.T is mulling over a sale of its four regional sports networks in a bid to reduce its heavy-debt balance sheet, per Bloomberg. The move is part of the telecom giant’s ongoing efforts to trim up to $8 billion in liability by the end of 2019. Although, no official announcement has been made by the company about this deal.The wireless service provider is actively working out ways to honor its de-leveraging goals with healthy free cash flow and asset sales. At the end of first-quarter 2019, AT&T had $6,516 million in cash and equivalents with $163,942 million of long-term debt. It remains committed toward managing its debt portfolio and is on track to achieve its target of 2.5x debt-to-EBITDA range by 2019.Reportedly, the company’s regional networks could bring in around $1 billion as sale proceeds. These comprise AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (available in Utah, Nevada and Colorado), AT&T SportsNet Southwest (areas of Texas and Louisiana), and Root Sports Northwest (Alaska, Washington and Oregon).Moving on, Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. SBGI, which in May decided to buy 21 Fox regional sports networks from The Walt Disney Company DIS for $9.6 billion, could be among the probable buyers. In this context, Sinclair’s purchase of the Fox networks is still awaiting approval from the Department of Justice and the FCC.AT&T expects to continue its growth momentum through 2019 and beyond as it is well positioned to benefit from the impending 5G technology and extended LTE coverage. Over the past five years, the company has invested about $145 billion in wireless and wireline networks, including capital investments and acquisitions of wireless spectrum and operations. Its fiber network is one of the nation’s largest and connects more Internet of Things devices compared to any other provider in North America.In addition, AT&T has been raising cash by divesting holdings, including its stake in Hulu and its offices in New York. Together, the deals procured $3.6 billion. The company is spending heavily on a number of projects, including expansion of its 5G wireless network. However, it is likely to benefit from the solid momentum in its wireless business and 5G deployments in multiple U.S. cities.Further, the company is building networks that will likely enable fiber-based connectivity and LTE to work efficiently in parallel with 5G solutions, making the most of business transformation alongside opportunities to enhance revenues and reduce operating expenses.AT&T has long-term earnings growth expectation of 4.5%. Driven by diligent execution of operational strategies, the stock has rallied 18.6% compared with the industry’s rise of 10.6% in the year-to-date period. AT&T currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). A better-ranked stock in the industry is Verizon Communications Inc. VZ, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can seethe complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.Verizon has long-term earnings growth expectation of 4.3%.The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of AllLast year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early.See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >> 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 reportThe Walt Disney Company (DIS) : Free Stock Analysis ReportAT&T Inc. (T) : Free Stock Analysis ReportVerizon Communications Inc. (VZ) : Free Stock Analysis ReportSinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. (SBGI) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
Is There An Opportunity With FireEye, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:FEYE) 33% Undervaluation? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Does the July share price for FireEye, Inc. (NASDAQ:FEYE) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. This is done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Don't get put off by the jargon, the math behind it is actually quite straightforward. Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in theSimply Wall St analysis model. See our latest analysis for FireEye We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate: [{"": "Levered FCF ($, Millions)", "2020": "$124.3m", "2021": "$196.1m", "2022": "$254.5m", "2023": "$317.4m", "2024": "$368.9m", "2025": "$413.8m", "2026": "$452.5m", "2027": "$485.8m", "2028": "$514.8m", "2029": "$540.5m"}, {"": "Growth Rate Estimate Source", "2020": "Analyst x7", "2021": "Analyst x2", "2022": "Analyst x2", "2023": "Analyst x2", "2024": "Est @ 16.23%", "2025": "Est @ 12.18%", "2026": "Est @ 9.34%", "2027": "Est @ 7.36%", "2028": "Est @ 5.97%", "2029": "Est @ 5%"}, {"": "Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 10.46%", "2020": "$112.5", "2021": "$160.7", "2022": "$188.9", "2023": "$213.2", "2024": "$224.4", "2025": "$227.9", "2026": "$225.6", "2027": "$219.3", "2028": "$210.4", "2029": "$200.0"}] ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF)= $2.0b The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 10-year government bond rate (2.7%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 10.5%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF2029× (1 + g) ÷ (r – g) = US$541m × (1 + 2.7%) ÷ (10.5% – 2.7%) = US$7.2b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= $US$7.2b ÷ ( 1 + 10.5%)10= $2.66b The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is $4.64b. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding.This results in an intrinsic value estimate of $22.09. Compared to the current share price of $14.7, the company appears quite good value at a 33% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind. We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at FireEye as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 10.5%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.296. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. Whilst important, DCF calculation shouldn’t be the only metric you look at when researching a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. What is the reason for the share price to differ from the intrinsic value? For FireEye, I've put together three important factors you should further research: 1. Financial Health: Does FEYE have a healthy balance sheet? Take a look at ourfree balance sheet analysis with six simple checkson key factors like leverage and risk. 2. Future Earnings: How does FEYE's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with ourfree analyst growth expectation chart. 3. Other High Quality Alternatives: Are there other high quality stocks you could be holding instead of FEYE? Exploreour interactive list of high quality stocksto get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the NASDAQ every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks justsearch here. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
George Conway Gives Dems The Way To Trigger Trump's 'Final Meltdown' Attorney George Conway , who is married to White House counselor Kellyanne Conway , thinks he knows how to trigger President Donald Trump’s “final meltdown.” And he shared the tactic to Twitter on Tuesday with the hope that whoever ends up as the Democratic presidential nominee uses it to defeat Trump in the 2020 election. Conway shared the tip in response to another tweeter, who suggested prominent Democrats “should be poking” at Trump’s insecurities “every single day.” Conway agreed, and said “the opposing nominee’s campaign should consult a team of psychologists and psychiatrists to figure out how to do precisely this. It shouldn’t be hard to trigger the final meltdown.” Check out the exchange here: As I’ve said previously, the opposing nominee’s campaign should consult with a team of psychologists and psychiatrists to figure out how to do precisely this. It shouldn’t be too hard to trigger the final meltdown. https://t.co/EaAzGFoCef — George Conway (@gtconway3d) July 2, 2019 Kellyanne Conway maintains a lofty position in the Trump administration and regularly goes into bat for the president on cable television. Her husband, however, has been a persistent thorn in Trump’s side. George Conway has feuded with Trump online. Last month, he urged Republicans to take a new allegation of rape that advice columnist E. Jean Carroll leveled against the president seriously. Trump denies the accusation. Related... Twitter Users Have Field Day With Sarah Huckabee Sanders' Book News Lawrence O'Donnell Kills A Theory About Donald Trump Never Leaving Office CNN Fact-Checker Points Out This Telltale Sign When Donald Trump Lies Also on HuffPost Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost .
Enbridge Commences Open Season for Canada's Express Pipeline Enbridge Inc. ENB announced an open season for the Canada-based Express Pipeline Limited Partnership pipeline. The open season is for the shippers willing to carry oil through the to-be-expanded and the existing pipeline. For the capacity of the existing pipeline, the company has decided to commence open season from Jul 3 to Aug 7, 2019. Moreover, for the pipeline expansion, the open season will last through Aug 23, 2019. Overall, the shippers will be able to carry oil from Hardisty, Alberta, to Express Pipeline LLC pipeline, which operates the portion of the Express Pipeline in the United States. Per the company, the shipper will appreciate this open season since the pipeline bottleneck problem prevents transportation of sufficient oil from the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin. Headquartered in Calgary, Canada, Enbridge is a leading midstream energy player in North America. The company has a huge network of pipeline systems that transport oil, natural gas and liquids. Importantly, the company employs its Mainline and Express Pipeline to export roughly 2.9 million barrels of oil being produced in Canada to the United States every day. This reflects that almost 62% of Canadian oil is carried through the Mainline and Express Pipeline to America. Presently, Enbridge carries a a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Other prospective players in the energy space include Enterprise Products Partners L.P. EPD, Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. HLX and Approach Resources Inc. AREX. All the stocks sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here . Enterprise Products beats the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in the last four quarters. Helix Energy is likely to see earnings growth of 47.4% through 2019. Approach has surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in three of the last four quarters. The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of All Last year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce ""the world's first trillionaires,"" but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early. See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >> 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 Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (EPD) : Free Stock Analysis Report Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. (HLX) : Free Stock Analysis Report Enbridge Inc (ENB) : Free Stock Analysis Report Approach Resources Inc. (AREX) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Scotland loses out on lucrative 'Lord of the Rings' shoot over 'Brexit uncertainty', claims new report Viggo Mortensen and Orlando Bloom in Lord of the Rings (Credit: New Line) Amazons $1.5 billion (£1.19bn) Lord of the Rings series looks set to begin filming in New Zealand this month, after producers reportedly got cold feet about shooting in Scotland. The NZ Herald reports that a huge part of the series, said to be the most expensive TV show ever made , will be produced in Auckland, specifically at the Kumeu Film Studios and Auckland Film Studios, with an official announcement coming this month. The report states that pre-production on the Amazon show has been based at the two studios for the last year. Producers were also said to be considering Scotland as a production base, but New Zealands public-service radio broadcaster Radio New Zealand (Radio NZ), claims the tumultuous Brexit situation hindered Scotland's pitch. Trusted fan site TheOneRing.net says filming on the show will begin this month , despite there being no script in place, with principal photography due to begin in February 2020. No cast or characters have been confirmed so far. A spokesperson for Amazon told Yahoo: Were not commenting on this - we have not announced any location [for the show] at this time. Read more: LOTR show signs up Thrones writer Amazon s ecured the global TV rights for J.R.R. Tolkiens The Lord of the Rings in 2017 for a reported cost of around $250m (£198m) . The as-yet-untitled show will be a prequel, set before the events of Tolkiens The Fellowship of the Ring , first published in 1954. Radio NZ claims that a 30-minute phone call between Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Amazon boss Jeff Bezos helped to secure the five-year production for New Zealand. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos announces Blue Moon, a lunar landing vehicle for the Moon, 2019. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images) Ardern is said to have reassured Bezos about the nations security in the wake of the Christchurch mosque shootings on 15 March, however the PMs office said their discussion was entirely focussed on the atrocity. Ardern later confirmed New Zealand does have an incentive regime in place to attract filming in the country, but would not confirm what they involved. Story continues In April, Daily Record reported that the lucrative production was eyeing a new production facility Leith, Edinburgh, as potential base for the show. An industry source is cited as saying: Lord of the Rings producers are hoping to start filming at the new studio from about August to November. Its anticipated production will return for another three months from next March. There could be more after that. Its a massive contract and a gigantic boost for the studio and for Scotland. Read more: Tolkiens estate disavows biopic Screen Scotland , the body dedicated to facilitating film and TV productions in Scotland, tells Yahoo: Screen Scotland provides a confidential locations service to Film & TV productions looking to film in Scotland. This means we are unable to comment on discussions about specific productions. However they were quick to reassure that Brexit, however it plays out, will not affect prospective productions north of the border. Amazon currently films its hit sci-fi drama Outlander at the Wardpark Studios in Cumbernauld, and 2019 country music drama Wild Rose was also filmed in Scotland. Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe attending the UK premiere of Outlander which airs on Amazon Prime Instant Video on Thursday 26th, London. Film and TV in Scotland is a thriving growth industry, a Screen Scotland spokesperson explains. The Scottish Government has recently emphasised this by strengthening its commitment through significant increased resources and the establishment of Screen Scotland. We are continuing to work with the government, industry, BFI and European partners to support the best possible outcomes for the screen industries which will enable us to sustain our close working relationship with EU countries and maintain Scotlands highly competitive status as an attractive destination for international inward investment. In the ongoing Brexit negotiations, the UK government have demonstrated their ongoing support of the screen sector, confirming the UK creative sector tax reliefs - which are a huge driver for attracting international productions to the UK - will remain in place after leaving the EU. Read more: Crowe turned down bumper LOTR payday Peter Jacksons six Middle Earth films, which grossed over £4.6bn globally , were produced in New Zealand, although based out of Weta Workshop in Wellington, on the southern tip of the north island. That studio is currently occupied by James Camerons Avatar sequels for the foreseeable future, with the first of four sequels due in cinemas December 2020. Although it has no airdate confirmed, many believe the show will debut in 2021. The TV adaptation will cover different ground from the six films, focusing on previously unexplored stories based on J.R.R. Tolkiens original writings, Matt Galsor, a representative for the Tolkien Estate and Trust and HarperCollins, said in a statement . Rumours suggest the first season may follow the adventures of a young Aragorn , the character played by Viggo Mortensen in the films.
4 High Earnings Yield Stocks to Solidify Your Portfolio If you are uncertain whether to invest your money in bonds or stocks, an important parameter that can show you the right path is earnings yield. It is the reciprocal of the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio. This ratio is quite useful when it comes to determining undervalued stocks. Also, this ratio is effective for comparing stocks with the market or fixed income securities.Earnings yield can be calculated as (annual earnings per share/market price) x 100. While comparing similar stocks, the one with high earnings yield should generate higher returns.This ratio is handy for comparing the performance of the market with the 10-year Treasury yield. When the yield of the market index exceeds the 10-year Treasury yield, stocks can be said to be undervalued in comparison to bonds. This implies that investing in the stock market is a better option for a value investor.However, while T-bills are devoid of risks, investing in stocks always involves some inherent risks. Hence, it will be wise to add a risk premium to the Treasury yield while comparing with the earnings yield of a stock or the broader market.The Winning StrategyWe have setEarnings Yield greater than 10%as our primary screening criterion but it alone cannot be used for picking stocks that have the potential to generate solid returns. So, we have added the following parameters to the screen:Estimated EPS growth for the next 12 months greater than or equal to the S&P 500: This metric compares the 12-month forward EPS estimate with the 12-month actual EPS.Average Daily Volume (20 Day) greater than or equal to 100,000: High trading volume implies that a stock has adequate liquidity.Current Price greater than or equal to $5.Buy-Rated Stocks: Stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) have been known to outperform peers in any type of market environment. You can seethe complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.Here are four of the 33 stocks that made it through the screen:Columbus, OH-basedDSW Inc.DBI designs, produces and retails footwear and accessories. It has a Zacks Rank #2 and an expected EPS growth rate of 15% for the next 3-5 years.Maumee, OH-basedDana IncorporatedDAN is a provider of technology driveline, sealing and thermal-management products. It has a Zacks Rank #2 and an expected EPS growth rate of 3.6% for the next 3-5 years.Pittsburgh, PA-basedKoppers Holdings Inc.KOP is an integrated global provider of treated wood products, wood treatment chemicals and carbon compounds. It has a Zacks Rank #2 and an expected EPS growth rate of 18% for the next 3-5 years.Chicago, IL-basedUnited Airlines Holdings, Inc.UAL is the holding company for both United Airlines and Continental Airlines. It has a Zacks Rank #2 and an expected EPS growth rate of 20.9% for the next 3-5 years.You can get the rest of the stocks on this list by signing up now for a 2-week free trial to the Research Wizard stock picking and backtesting software. You can also create your own strategies and test them first before making investments.The Research Wizard is a great place to begin. It's easy to use. Everything is in plain language. And it's very intuitive. Start your Research Wizard trial today. And the next time you read an economic report, open up the Research Wizard, plug your finds in, and see what gems come out.Click here to sign up for a free trial to the Research Wizard today.Disclosure:Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material.Disclosure:Performance information for Zacks’ portfolios and strategies are available at:https://www.zacks.com/performance. 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 reportUnited Airlines Holdings Inc (UAL) : Free Stock Analysis ReportDana Incorporated (DAN) : Free Stock Analysis ReportKoppers Holdings Inc. (KOP) : Free Stock Analysis ReportDSW Inc. (DBI) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
Are Investors Undervaluing Grupo Financiero Galicia (GGAL) Right Now? The proven Zacks Rank system focuses on earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find winning stocks. Nevertheless, we know that our readers all have their own perspectives, so we are always looking at the latest trends in value, growth, and momentum to find strong picks. Of these, value investing is easily one of the most popular ways to find great stocks in any market environment. Value investors use tried-and-true metrics and fundamental analysis to find companies that they believe are undervalued at their current share price levels. In addition to the Zacks Rank, investors looking for stocks with specific traits can utilize our Style Scores system. Of course, value investors will be most interested in the system's "Value" category. Stocks with "A" grades for Value and high Zacks Ranks are among the best value stocks available at any given moment. One company value investors might notice is Grupo Financiero Galicia (GGAL). GGAL is currently holding a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) and a Value grade of A. We also note that GGAL holds a PEG ratio of 0.65. This popular figure is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also considers a company's expected EPS growth rate. GGAL's industry currently sports an average PEG of 1.43. Over the past 52 weeks, GGAL's PEG has been as high as 0.67 and as low as 0.38, with a median of 0.50. Value investors also frequently use the P/S ratio. This metric is found by dividing a stock's price with the company's revenue. This is a popular metric because sales are harder to manipulate on an income statement, so they are often considered a better performance indicator. GGAL has a P/S ratio of 1.75. This compares to its industry's average P/S of 1.83. These are just a handful of the figures considered in Grupo Financiero Galicia's great Value grade. Still, they help show that the stock is likely being undervalued at the moment. Add this to the strength of its earnings outlook, and we can clearly see that GGAL is an impressive value stock right now. 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 reportGrupo Financiero Galicia S.A. (GGAL) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
SpankChain CEO suggests Ethereum community should help run Libra Could the Ethereum community become one of the validators of Facebook’s Libra? That’s the radical idea proposed bySpankChainCEO Ameen Soleimani—who is well-known for his unique brand ofradical ideas. But, curiously enough, his “shower thought” seems to have taken off. Thespeculative tweetreceived 300 likes and more than 50 retweets, plus a lively discussion in response. Soleimani’s rough thinking was that some part of the Ethereum community could come together and raise $10 million to pay the entry fee Facebook requires to become a validator. It would also involve a decentralized organization to participate in governance of Libra. This would bring some of the control over it back into the crypto community, providing a stronger case that it is indeed decentralized—and not wholly Facebook-controlled. He suggested there would be three benefits for Libra in doing this. First, it would provide legitimacy in the eyes of the crypto cypherpunks—who dismissed Facebook’s blockchain asnot-a-blockchain. Second, it would connect Facebook with a talented developer community. Third, it would hedge against a growing barrier between Libra and the Ethereum grassroots community. However, not all cypherpunks agreed. A bitcoin-favouring cypherpunk known on Twitter as Storms,replied, “A lot of us cypherpunks don’t give a damn about Libra or Ethereum–the former isnon-existentnoise and the latter is unscalable, centralized tech that’s hardly indistinguishable from vaporware.” One commentatorsuggestedan even wackier idea—that Libra could add Ethereum to its basket of currencies that it uses to keep the price stable. However, while Facebook maintains Libra isnot-a-stablecoin, it has stated is wishes to keep the price more stable than traditional cryptocurrencies, making this idea seem unlikely. While the idea is in its initial stages, the Ethereum community has decided to give it some thought. Eva Beylin, who has worked on Ethereum and OmiseGo, put together an initial “requests for membership” document to see if there is any interest behind it. After tagging a bunch of related projects, one of the first responses was not entirely positive. John Light, communications at Aragon One,said, “I personally want no part in giving FB any more money or power, and I would oppose any effort to direct Aragon project funds to this cause.” Likewise, Virgil Griffith, who works on special projects at the Ethereum Foundation, toldDecrypt, “I don’t see us ever joining them. Don’t trust them. It’s unclear if they are interested in playing nice with others.” He also pointed out the recent similarities between Libra andHedera Hashgraph—suggesting this wasn’t a coincidence. Soleimani’s other, most recent radical idea was forMolochDAO, a funding project that was initially dismissed as simply, too dark. But that wasfully fundedthis year by crypto heavyweights Joe Lubin and Vitalik Buterin. Could lightning strike twice and bring forth the LibraDAO?
Are Investors Undervaluing Independent Contract Drilling (ICD) Right Now? The proven Zacks Rank system focuses on earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find winning stocks. Nevertheless, we know that our readers all have their own perspectives, so we are always looking at the latest trends in value, growth, and momentum to find strong picks. Of these, value investing is easily one of the most popular ways to find great stocks in any market environment. Value investors use tried-and-true metrics and fundamental analysis to find companies that they believe are undervalued at their current share price levels. In addition to the Zacks Rank, investors looking for stocks with specific traits can utilize our Style Scores system. Of course, value investors will be most interested in the system's "Value" category. Stocks with "A" grades for Value and high Zacks Ranks are among the best value stocks available at any given moment. One company value investors might notice is Independent Contract Drilling (ICD). ICD is currently holding a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) and a Value grade of A. Another notable valuation metric for ICD is its P/B ratio of 0.31. Investors use the P/B ratio to look at a stock's market value versus its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. This stock's P/B looks attractive against its industry's average P/B of 0.41. Over the past year, ICD's P/B has been as high as 0.85 and as low as 0.31, with a median of 0.63. Value investors also frequently use the P/S ratio. This metric is found by dividing a stock's price with the company's revenue. This is a popular metric because sales are harder to manipulate on an income statement, so they are often considered a better performance indicator. ICD has a P/S ratio of 0.63. This compares to its industry's average P/S of 0.64. These are just a handful of the figures considered in Independent Contract Drilling's great Value grade. Still, they help show that the stock is likely being undervalued at the moment. Add this to the strength of its earnings outlook, and we can clearly see that ICD is an impressive value stock right now. 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 reportIndependence Contract Drilling, Inc. (ICD) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
U.S. Economy Likely to Sustain Longest Expansion: 5 Top Picks With the advent of July 2019, the U.S. economy officially entered into the longest stretch of economic expansion at least since 1854. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), the country is in the 121st month of economic expansion, outpacing the previous longest chain of March 1991 to March 2001. Notably, per NEBR, the current expansion started in June 2009.Meanwhile, economists and financial experts are divided on the continuation of economic momentum. A section of economists and financial experts are concerned that the next downturn is approaching. However, fundamentals of the U.S. economy remain solid although the pace has slowed down. Despite the presence of near-term concerns, a closer look at the U.S. economy has a different story to tell, with enough reasons for further expansions.U.S. Economy on Solid GroundDuring the current expansion period, the U.S. economy has grown at an average of around 2.3%, much lower than the average growth of 4.2% during previous expansions. However, the reality is that, the current expansion started once the economy got rid of the great recession of 2008-2009, which was the severest downturn for the U.S. economy since the great depression of 1930s. It takes time for the economy to grow fast after collapsing.U.S. GDP grew at 2.9% in 2018 and 3.1% in the first quarter of 2019. Major decisions by the Trump administration like tax cut to a historic low level, increase in government spending and deregulation helped the economy to increase pace. However, trade-related concerns raised questions about the future growth of the economy. Meanwhile, the Fed is still projecting that the U.S. economy to grow by 2.2% in 2019.U.S. Economy Still Best GloballyThe most important driver of the current expansion is the U.S. labor market. Despite a slowdown of in nonfarm payroll in May, the economy continues to add fabulous number of jobs with unemployment rate at its 69 year low of 3.6%. The wage rate started picking up a healthy rate in the last three years. Despite these, inflation remains muted at just 1.6% far below the 2% target rate of the Fed.The IHS Markit reported that U.S. manufacturing PMI rose 50.6 in June from 50.1 in May. This is a significant achievement given the fact that trade negotiations between the United States and China broke down abruptly in early May. However, manufacturing PMI of China, Eurozone (especially Germany), the U.K. and Russia fell below 50, hinting at contraction.Moreover, U.S. industrial production recorded its highest gain in May since December 2018. Most importantly, U.S. manufacturing output registered its first monthly gain of 2019. In addition, core durable goods order –- a key metric to track business investment plan –- jumped significantly in May. These two metrics provide a major relief to the market’s concern that investment softened in the manufacturing sector, which constitutes 12% of the U.S. GDP.Meanwhile, year to date, three major stock indexes of Wall Street --- the Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite --- jumped 14.8%, 18.6% and 22.2%, respectively.Trade and Fed to Play Major RolesAt present, major concerns of the U.S. economy is the trade conflict with China. Although a quick solution to this problem is out of question, companies will heave a sigh of relief if the tariff war does not escalate further. A solution to the trade spat will also inject global economic growth.Moreover, a dovish stance taken by the Fed since the beginning of this year is considered as a major boost to the U.S. economy. So far, the central bank has kept its benchmark leading rate at 2.25 – 2.5%, and has hinted at rate cut this year itself.On Jun 19, in his speech following the FOMC meeting the Fed has removed the term “patient’’ from its minutes and added that “the FOMC will closely monitor the implications of incoming information for the economic outlook and will act as appropriate to sustain the expansion”. Investors are considering a rate cut at least by 25 basis points in July and one or two more cuts the rest of this year.Our Top PicksAt this stage, it will be prudent to invest in stock with strong growth potential and a favorable Zacks Rank. We have narrowed down our search to five such stocks with a Growth Score of A and Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can seethe complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Each of these stocks has moved higher year to date and still has upside left.The chart below shows price performance of our five picks year to date. Core-Mark Holding Co. Inc.CORE is one of the largest marketers of fresh and broad-line supply solutions to the convenience retail industry in North America. The company has expected earnings growth of 13.7% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved by 3.3% over the last 60 days. The stock has surged 69.8% year to date.Repligen Corp.RGEN develops, manufactures, and sells products used to enhance the interconnected phases of the biological drug manufacturing process in North America, Europe, APAC and internationally. The company has expected earnings growth of 27.4% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved by 8.2% over the last 60 days. The stock has surged 62.4% year to date.Aaron's Inc.AAN operates as an omnichannel provider of lease-purchase solutions to underserved and credit-challenged customers. It operates in three segments: Progressive Leasing, Aaron's Business, and DAMI. The company has expected earnings growth of 14% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved by 0.8% over the last 60 days. The stock has surged 50.6% year to date.HubSpot Inc.HUBS provides a cloud-based marketing and sales software platform for businesses in the Americas, Europe and the Asia Pacific. The company has expected earnings growth of 44.9% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved by 12.2% over the last 60 days. The stock has surged 38.4% year to date.Quanex Building Products Corp.NX is an industry-leading manufacturer of components sold to Original Equipment Manufacturers in building products industry. The company has expected earnings growth of 30.8% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved by 11.8% over the last 60 days. The stock has surged 37% year to date.The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of AllLast year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early.See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >> 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 reportHubSpot, Inc. (HUBS) : Free Stock Analysis ReportQuanex Building Products Corporation (NX) : Free Stock Analysis ReportAaron's, Inc. (AAN) : Free Stock Analysis ReportCore-Mark Holding Company, Inc. (CORE) : Free Stock Analysis ReportRepligen Corporation (RGEN) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
You Might Like Great Canadian Gaming Corporation (TSE:GC) But Do You Like Its Debt? Want to participate in a short research study ? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! While small-cap stocks, such as Great Canadian Gaming Corporation ( TSE:GC ) with its market cap of CA$2.6b, are popular for their explosive growth, investors should also be aware of their balance sheet to judge whether the company can survive a downturn. Assessing first and foremost the financial health is vital, as mismanagement of capital can lead to bankruptcies, which occur at a higher rate for small-caps. We'll look at some basic checks that can form a snapshot the company’s financial strength. However, this is not a comprehensive overview, so I’d encourage you to dig deeper yourself into GC here . Does GC Produce Much Cash Relative To Its Debt? GC's debt levels surged from CA$608m to CA$1.5b over the last 12 months – this includes long-term debt. With this growth in debt, GC currently has CA$304m remaining in cash and short-term investments to keep the business going. On top of this, GC has generated cash from operations of CA$431m during the same period of time, resulting in an operating cash to total debt ratio of 28%, meaning that GC’s current level of operating cash is high enough to cover debt. Does GC’s liquid assets cover its short-term commitments? At the current liabilities level of CA$281m, it appears that the company has maintained a safe level of current assets to meet its obligations, with the current ratio last standing at 1.48x. The current ratio is the number you get when you divide current assets by current liabilities. For Hospitality companies, this ratio is within a sensible range since there's a sufficient cash cushion without leaving too much capital idle or in low-earning investments. TSX:GC Historical Debt, July 3rd 2019 Does GC face the risk of succumbing to its debt-load? With debt reaching 93% of equity, GC may be thought of as relatively highly levered. This is a bit unusual for a small-cap stock, since they generally have a harder time borrowing than large more established companies. We can test if GC’s debt levels are sustainable by measuring interest payments against earnings of a company. Ideally, earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) should cover net interest by at least three times. For GC, the ratio of 5.15x suggests that interest is appropriately covered, which means that lenders may be inclined to lend more money to the company, as it is seen as safe in terms of payback. Story continues Next Steps: Although GC’s debt level is towards the higher end of the spectrum, its cash flow coverage seems adequate to meet obligations which means its debt is being efficiently utilised. Since there is also no concerns around GC's liquidity needs, this may be its optimal capital structure for the time being. Keep in mind I haven't considered other factors such as how GC has been performing in the past. I suggest you continue to research Great Canadian Gaming to get a more holistic view of the small-cap by looking at: Valuation : What is GC worth today? Is the stock undervalued, even when its growth outlook is factored into its intrinsic value? The intrinsic value infographic in our free research report helps visualize whether GC is currently mispriced by the market. Historical Performance : What has GC's returns been like over the past? Go into more detail in the past track record analysis and take a look at the free visual representations of our analysis for more clarity. Other High-Performing Stocks : Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore our free list of these great stocks here . We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com . This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
Alteryx, Inc. (NYSE:AYX): Time For A Financial Health Check Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Mid-caps stocks, like Alteryx, Inc. (NYSE:AYX) with a market capitalization of US$7.0b, aren’t the focus of most investors who prefer to direct their investments towards either large-cap or small-cap stocks. Surprisingly though, when accounted for risk, mid-caps have delivered better returns compared to the two other categories of stocks. Today we will look at AYX’s financial liquidity and debt levels, which are strong indicators for whether the company can weather economic downturns or fund strategic acquisitions for future growth. Remember this is a very top-level look that focuses exclusively on financial health, so I recommend a deeper analysisinto AYX here. Check out our latest analysis for Alteryx In the previous 12 months, AYX's rose by about US$203m made up of predominantly near term debt. With this growth in debt, AYX's cash and short-term investments stands at US$367m , ready to be used for running the business. On top of this, AYX has generated cash from operations of US$30m over the same time period, leading to an operating cash to total debt ratio of 15%, meaning that AYX’s debt is not covered by operating cash. At the current liabilities level of US$290m, it appears that the company has been able to meet these obligations given the level of current assets of US$459m, with a current ratio of 1.58x. The current ratio is calculated by dividing current assets by current liabilities. Generally, for Software companies, this is a reasonable ratio since there is a bit of a cash buffer without leaving too much capital in a low-return environment. With a debt-to-equity ratio of 54%, AYX can be considered as an above-average leveraged company. This is not unusual for mid-caps as debt tends to be a cheaper and faster source of funding for some businesses. No matter how high the company’s debt, if it can easily cover the interest payments, it’s considered to be efficient with its use of excess leverage. A company generating earnings after interest and tax at least three times its net interest payments is considered financially sound. In AYX's case, the ratio of 2.25x suggests that interest is not strongly covered, which means that lenders may be more reluctant to lend out more funding as AYX’s low interest coverage already puts the company at higher risk of default. AYX’s high cash coverage means that, although its debt levels are high, the company is able to utilise its borrowings efficiently in order to generate cash flow. This may mean this is an optimal capital structure for the business, given that it is also meeting its short-term commitment. This is only a rough assessment of financial health, and I'm sure AYX has company-specific issues impacting its capital structure decisions. You should continue to research Alteryx to get a more holistic view of the mid-cap by looking at: 1. Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for AYX’s future growth? Take a look at ourfree research report of analyst consensusfor AYX’s outlook. 2. Valuation: What is AYX worth today? Is the stock undervalued, even when its growth outlook is factored into its intrinsic value? Theintrinsic value infographic in our free research reporthelps visualize whether AYX is currently mispriced by the market. 3. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore ourfree list of these great stocks here. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
Investors flock to Woodford Patient Capital despite fund freeze Fund manager Neil Woodford. Photo: YouTube/Woodford Investment Management Investors are flocking to one of high-profile fund manager Neil Woodford’s investment funds despite the ongoing crisis at one of his other funds. Investment platform Interactive Investor said on Wednesday that its most widely bought fund in June was the Woodford Patient Capital Trust ( WPCT.L ). Woodford displaced the Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust, which had been its number one fund every month bar one since February 2014. Woodford Patient Capital jumped six places to take the top spot. The surge in interest came despite the ongoing saga at Woodford Equity Income Fund , one of the money manager’s other flagship funds. READ MORE: Investors still stranded as Woodford's £3.7bn fund stays frozen Woodford Equity Income was frozen on 3 June, meaning thousands of investors were unable to withdraw from a collective £3.7bn. The freeze came after a liquidity crunch caused by Woodford’s high-level of investments in illiquid assets, like stock in private businesses. The fund freeze has sparked an official investigation by the Financial Conduct Authority and dealt serious damage to Woodford’s reputation. “While there remain lots of questions about Woodford’s stock selection and valuation, some of our investors are clearly taking the view that some of the companies held in this trust may be big winners in the future, and that the current huge discount is therefore potentially attractive,” Moira O’Neill, head of personal finance at Interactive Investor, said. READ MORE: Funds like Woodford 'built on a lie' and 'fundamental questions' ignored Woodford Patient Capital has seen its share price decline since the Equity Income fund was frozen and the share price is now at a 30% discount to the fund’s net asset value. “Time will tell whether the investors who bought into WPCT last month were catching a falling knife or whether they have bought in at a great time,” O’Neill said. Last week Woodford Patient Capital moved to reassure investors and prop up its share price by pledging to reduce debt, put in place extra supervision measures, and shake-up its board. Read more on the Woodford Equity Income fund freeze: Investors still stranded as Woodford's £3.7bn fund stays frozen Shake-up at money manager Neil Woodford's business after fund freeze Funds like Woodford 'built on a lie' and 'fundamental questions' ignored Star fund manager Neil Woodford 'sailed close to the wind'
MIDEAST STOCKS-Most Gulf markets reverse course, Kuwait extends gains on MSCI upgrade * Saudi's Gulf General surges on insurance deal * Kuwait rises for a fifth-day * Dubai ends four days of gains * Qatari telecoms gain ahead of stock split By Ateeq Shariff July 3 (Reuters) - Most major Middle East markets clawed back earlier losses on Wednesday largely on back of their financial stocks, while Kuwait rose for the fifth straight session after MSCI's decision to upgrade Kuwaiti equities to its main emerging markets index. The Saudi index rose 0.2% with Al Rajhi Bank rising 0.6% and National Commercial Bank up 0.7%. Gulf General Cooperative Insurance jumped 7.7% after it won an insurance contract worth over 5% of its revenue in 2018. The index is up 12.8% this year, led by foreign investors. Saudi exchange data released on Monday showed foreigners bought a net 16.16 billion riyals ($4.31 billion) worth of Saudi stocks last month. Kuwait's index rose 0.8%, gaining for a fifth straight session. Last week, index compiler MSCI said it would move Kuwaiti equities to its main emerging markets index in 2020, a move that could trigger billions of dollars of inflows. Kuwait has outperformed its Gulf peers in anticipation of the MSCI move, gaining over 23% in the year-to-date. Middle Eastern funds plan to continue increasing their investments in Kuwait over the next three months, a Reuters poll found earlier this week. Qatar's index edged up 0.1%. Telecommunications operators Ooredoo jumped 3.2% while Vodafone Qatar was up 0.4% ahead of their stock split on Thursday. The index has gained in recent sessions as a 10-to-one stock split for companies on the exchange is being phased in from June 9 and will be completed by July 7. The move is designed to boost liquidity by encouraging smaller investors to buy shares. In Dubai, the index dropped 0.5% after four days of gains, pressured by a 1.3% fall in Emaar Properties and a 0.4% drop in its largest lender Emirates NBD. Growth of the United Arab Emirates' non-oil private sector softened a bit in June due to a slight increase in overall input prices, a survey of companies showed on Wednesday. The Abu Dhabi index edged up 0.2% with First Abu Dhabi Bank, the United Arab Emirates' largest lender, closing 0.7% higher. Egypt's blue-chip index traded flat with Telecom Egypt adding 2.2% and market heavyweight Commercial International Bank slipping 0.5%. SAUDI ARABIA The index rose 0.2% to 8,853 points ABU DHABI The index edged up 0.2% to 4,989 points DUBAI The index lost 0.5% to 2,666 points QATAR The index was up 0.1% at 10,591 points EGYPT The index was flat 14,137 points BAHRAIN The index added 0.5% to 1,499 points OMAN The index fell 0.9% to 3,825 points KUWAIT The index increased 0.8% to 6,506 points ($1 = 3.7502 riyals) (Reporting by Ateeq Shariff in Bengaluru Editing by Frances Kerry)
Are You Looking for a High-Growth Dividend Stock? Brookline Bancorp (BRKL) Could Be a Great Choice Whether it's through stocks, bonds, ETFs, or other types of securities, all investors love seeing their portfolios score big returns. But for income investors, generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments is your primary focus. While cash flow can come from bond interest or interest from other types of investments, income investors hone in on dividends. A dividend is that coveted distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders, and investors often view it by its dividend yield, a metric that measures the dividend as a percent of the current stock price. Many academic studies show that dividends account for significant portions of long-term returns, with dividend contributions exceeding one-third of total returns in many cases. Brookline Bancorp in Focus Headquartered in Boston, Brookline Bancorp (BRKL) is a Finance stock that has seen a price change of 8.76% so far this year. The bank holding company is paying out a dividend of $0.11 per share at the moment, with a dividend yield of 2.93% compared to the Financial - Savings and Loan industry's yield of 2.23% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.88%. In terms of dividend growth, the company's current annualized dividend of $0.44 is up 11.4% from last year. Brookline Bancorp has increased its dividend 3 times on a year-over-year basis over the last 5 years for an average annual increase of 4.36%. Future dividend growth will depend on earnings growth as well as payout ratio, which is the proportion of a company's annual earnings per share that it pays out as a dividend. Brookline's current payout ratio is 39%. This means it paid out 39% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividend. BRKL is expecting earnings to expand this fiscal year as well. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2019 is $1.16 per share, which represents a year-over-year growth rate of 8.41%. Bottom Line From greatly improving stock investing profits and reducing overall portfolio risk to providing tax advantages, investors like dividends for a variety of different reasons. It's important to keep in mind that not all companies provide a quarterly payout. High-growth firms or tech start-ups, for example, rarely provide their shareholders a dividend, while larger, more established companies that have more secure profits are often seen as the best dividend options. Income investors have to be mindful of the fact that high-yielding stocks tend to struggle during periods of rising interest rates. With that in mind, BRKL is a compelling investment opportunity. Not only is it a strong dividend play, but the stock currently sits at a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold). 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 reportBrookline Bancorp, Inc. (BRKL) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
Synchrony (SYF) Hits 52-Week High, Can the Run Continue? Have you been paying attention to shares of Synchrony Financial (SYF)? Shares have been on the move with the stock up 3.7% over the past month. The stock hit a new 52-week high of $35.53 in the previous session. Synchrony Financial has gained 50% since the start of the year compared to the 13.2% move for the Zacks Finance sector and the 30.3% return for the Zacks Financial - Miscellaneous Services industry. What's Driving the Outperformance? The stock has an impressive record of positive earnings surprises, as it hasn't missed our earnings consensus estimate in any of the last four quarters. In its last earnings report on April 18, 2019, Synchrony reported EPS of $1 versus consensus estimate of $0.88 while it missed the consensus revenue estimate by 1.58%. For the current fiscal year, Synchrony is expected to post earnings of $4.26 per share on $16.88 billion in revenues. This represents a 14.17% change in EPS on a 4.3% change in revenues. For the next fiscal year, the company is expected to earn $4.73 per share on $16.58 billion in revenues. This represents a year-over-year change of 10.89% and -1.75%, respectively. Valuation Metrics Synchrony may be at a 52-week high right now, but what might the future hold for the stock? A key aspect of this question is taking a look at valuation metrics in order to determine if the company is due for a pullback from this level. On this front, we can look at the Zacks Style Scores, as these give investors a variety of ways to comb through stocks (beyond looking at the Zacks Rank of a security). These styles are represented by grades running from A to F in the categories of Value, Growth, and Momentum, while there is a combined VGM Score as well. The idea behind the style scores is to help investors pick the most appropriate Zacks Rank stocks based on their individual investment style. Synchrony has a Value Score of A. The stock's Growth and Momentum Scores are B and D, respectively, giving the company a VGM Score of A. In terms of its value breakdown, the stock currently trades at 8.3X current fiscal year EPS estimates. On a trailing cash flow basis, the stock currently trades at 8.2X versus its peer group's average of 10.5X. Additionally, the stock has a PEG ratio of 1.08. This isn't enough to put the company in the top echelon of all stocks we cover from a value perspective. Zacks Rank We also need to look at the Zacks Rank for the stock, as this supersedes any trend on the style score front. Fortunately, Synchrony currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) thanks to rising earnings estimates. Since we recommend that investors select stocks carrying Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) and Style Scores of A or B, it looks as if Synchrony passes the test. Thus, it seems as though Synchrony shares could still be poised for more gains ahead. How Does Synchrony Stack Up to the Competition? Shares of Synchrony have been soaring, and the company still appears to be a decent choice, but what about the rest of the industry? Some of its industry peers are also solid potential picks, including AXA Equitable Holdings (EQH), Aercap Holdings N.V. (AER), and World Acceptance (WRLD), all of which currently have a Zacks Rank of at least #2 and a VGM Score of at least B, making them well-rounded choices. However, it is worth noting that the Zacks Industry Rank for this group is in the bottom half of the ranking, so it isn't all good news for Synchrony. Still, the fundamentals for Synchrony are promising, and it still has potential despite being at a 52-week high. 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 reportSynchrony Financial (SYF) : Free Stock Analysis ReportWorld Acceptance Corporation (WRLD) : Free Stock Analysis ReportAercap Holdings N.V. (AER) : Free Stock Analysis ReportAXA Equitable Holdings, Inc. (EQH) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
Should State Street Corporation (NYSE:STT) Be Part Of Your Dividend Portfolio? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Dividend paying stocks like State Street Corporation (NYSE:STT) tend to be popular with investors, and for good reason - some research suggests a significant amount of all stock market returns come from reinvested dividends. If you are hoping to live on the income from dividends, it's important to be a lot more stringent with your investments than the average punter. A high yield and a long history of paying dividends is an appealing combination for State Street. We'd guess that plenty of investors have purchased it for the income. Some simple analysis can reduce the risk of holding State Street for its dividend, and we'll focus on the most important aspects below. Click the interactive chart for our full dividend analysis Dividends are typically paid from company earnings. If a company pays more in dividends than it earned, then the dividend might become unsustainable - hardly an ideal situation. Comparing dividend payments to a company's net profit after tax is a simple way of reality-checking whether a dividend is sustainable. Looking at the data, we can see that 30% of State Street's profits were paid out as dividends in the last 12 months. This is medium payout level that leaves enough capital in the business to fund opportunities that might arise, while also rewarding shareholders. Besides, if reinvestment opportunities dry up, the company has room to increase the dividend. We update our data on State Street every 24 hours, so you can always getour latest analysis of its financial health, here. Before buying a stock for its income, we want to see if the dividends have been stable in the past, and if the company has a track record of maintaining its dividend. For the purpose of this article, we only scrutinise the last decade of State Street's dividend payments. During the past ten-year period, the first annual payment was US$0.96 in 2009, compared to US$1.88 last year. Dividends per share have grown at approximately 7.0% per year over this time. Businesses that can grow their dividends at a decent rate and maintain a stable payout can generate substantial wealth for shareholders over the long term. Examining whether the dividend is affordable and stable is important. However, it's also important to assess if earnings per share (EPS) are growing. Growing EPS can help maintain or increase the purchasing power of the dividend over the long run. State Street has grown its earnings per share at 5.9% per annum over the past five years. It's good to see decent earnings growth and a low payout ratio. Companies with these characteristics often display the fastest dividend growth over the long term - assuming earnings can be maintained, of course. We'd also point out that State Street issued a meaningful number of new shares in the past year. Regularly issuing new shares can be detrimental - it's hard to grow dividends per share when new shares are regularly being created. When we look at a dividend stock, we need to form a judgement on whether the dividend will grow, if the company is able to maintain it in a wide range of economic circumstances, and if the dividend payout is sustainable. Firstly, we like that State Street has a low and conservative payout ratio. Earnings per share growth has been slow, but we respect a company that maintains a relatively stable dividend. Overall we think State Street is an interesting dividend stock, although it could be better. Companies that are growing earnings tend to be the best dividend stocks over the long term. See what the 12 analysts we track are forecasting for State Streetfor freewith publicanalyst estimates for the company. If you are a dividend investor, you might also want to look at ourcurated list of dividend stocks yielding above 3%. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
3 Top Dividend Stocks to Buy Right Now If you're interested in dividend-paying stocks, you're in good company. It's been shown that dividend-paying companies outperform their non-dividend-paying peers, and as a result, dividend stocks have been among the stock market's best performers over the past decade. Income investors looking for a steady stream of income should consider buyingVerizon Communications(NYSE: VZ),Foot Locker Inc.(NYSE: FL), andCoca-Cola(NYSE: KO). Here's why. IMAGE SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES. Travis Hoium(Verizon Communications):I think one of the most underappreciated industries in the market today is wireless communications. Most Americans have a cell phone in their possession right now, yet the companies who provide critical cellular service aren't very loved by the market. But that gives investors the chance to buy an industry giant like Verizon Communications and get a lofty dividend yield of 4.2% along the way. The company is part of an oligopoly in wireless service, meaning a small number of competitors control most of the market, but it's the premium player in the space. Verizon is able to command higher prices and therefore better margins than competitors, and that pays off with greater profits. VZ Revenue (TTM)data byYCharts. Higher profitabilitywill really pay off as 5G services are rolled out across the country. Verizon will be able to bundle higher performance for mobile phones with connections to cars, watches, and even home broadband services. The number of devices we'll have connected to networks like Verizon's will only grow, and that should help its profits long term. The dividend yield is a healthy 4.2% today, but over the next decade I think there's a lot of growth left in that payout. Leo Sun(Foot Locker):Foot Locker's stock tumbled about 30% over the past three months, mostly after its first-quarter numbers missed estimates on both the top and bottom lines in late May. However, that sell-off reduced Foot Locker's forward P/E ratio to 8 and boosted its forward yield to nearly 4%. The retailer spent only 31% of its free cash flow and 29% of its earnings on that dividend over the past 12 months, and it's raised its payout annually for eight straight years. I believe Foot Locker's sell-off was a major overreaction forthree reasons. First, Foot Locker's 4.6% comps growth in the first quarter was solid, and marked its fourth straight quarter of positive growth. It also reaffirmed its full-year guidance for mid-single-digit comps growth. Second, Foot Locker's gross margin expanded sequentiallyandannually during the first quarter, and it expects that momentum to continue with a 20 to 40 basis point expansion for the full year. Foot Locker's inventories also held steady, rising a mere 0.1% annually during the quarter. Lastly, investors seemed to dump Foot Locker because it scaled back its buyback plans for the full year, which reduced its prior forecast for double-digit EPS for the full year to the high single digits. Conservative buybacks aren't necessarily a bad thing, and high single-digit growth matches its forward multiple. Therefore, Foot Locker probably won't rally anytime soon, but its low valuation, high yield, and promising growth prospects should set a firm floor under the stock. Todd Campbell(Coca-Cola):Coca-Cola benefits from the shift in the calendar to hot weather, but quenching consumers' thirst this summer isn't the only reason to consider buying shares in the beverage giant. An arbitration ruling was recently made in Coca-Cola's favor, allowing it to build a bigger footprint in the highly successful energy drink market. Last year,Monster Beverage(NASDAQ: MNST)and Coca-Cola agreed to arbitration over a disagreement in contract language associated with theirexisting relationship, which includes Coca-Cola's owning a 17% equity stake and distributing Monster beverages. According to Monster, the contract prohibited Coca-Cola from developing its own energy drink competitors to Monster. However, the arbitration panel determined Coca-Cola could indeed launch energy drinks if it did so under its existing brands. The two companies say they respect the decision and value their existing relationship, so a divorce isn't on the table -- at least not yet. Therefore, the decision means Coca-Cola can expand deeper into the category, boosting sales while also pocketing money from its relationship with Monster. There's no guarantee Coca-Cola's new drinks will be winners. Nevertheless, the potential for a new revenue driver alongside the natural seasonal sales tailwind could make it a good time to buy shares and pocket Coke's 3.1% dividend yield. 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 Leo Sunhas no position in any of the stocks mentioned.Todd Campbellhas no position in any of the stocks mentioned.His clients may have positions in the companies mentioned.Travis Hoiumowns shares of Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Monster Beverage. The Motley Fool recommends Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool has adisclosure policy.
Why Kinder Morgan Stock Is Up More Than 35% So Far in 2019 Shares ofKinder Morgan(NYSE: KMI)skyrocketed 35.8% through the first half of 2019, according to data provided byS&P Global Market Intelligence. Several factors have helped fuel the natural gas pipeline giant's stock, including itssolid first-quarter resultsand progress on the growth front. Kinder Morgan's growth engine kicked into another gear this year. The company's cash flow surged 10% year over year during the first quarter, thanks to a strong showing in its natural gas pipeline business. That puts the company on track to exceed itsfull-year forecast,which would see it produce a record $5 billion, or $2.20 per share, of cash flow. The company also fulfilled its promise to investors by boosting its dividend another 25% during the first quarter. Image source: Getty Images. Meanwhile, Kinder Morgan kept its growth engine well-fueled. The pipeline giant added $600 million of expansion projects during the first quarter -- primarily related to natural gas infrastructure -- which more than offset the $200 million of new assets it placed into service during the period. That helped boost its project backlog up to $6.1 billion. The pipeline company also made good progress on other projects it has in development. While Kinder Morganwalked away from one growth opportunity, it took notable steps forward on several others. For example, itteamed upwith fellow pipeline companyTallgrass Energy(NYSE: TGE)on a solution that could potentially increase oil transportation capacity out of the Rockies. Kinder Morgan would contribute two underutilized natural gas pipelines to the partnership that would also see Tallgrass Energy expand its Pony Express pipeline. Moving forward with that joint venture could also enable Kinder Morgan to expand its Double H oil pipeline in North Dakota. The market is finally starting to reward Kinder Morgan for all its hard work in recent years. The company has significantly improved its financial profile, as well as enhance the visibility of its growth prospects. While shares of the pipeline giant have been red-hot this year, the stock could have more upside. Shares remainridiculously cheapgiven the amount of cash the company is on track to produce this year, and the company'sgrowth engine is still revving up. That's why Kinder Morgan looks likeone of the top buys in the oil patch. 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 Matthew DiLalloowns shares of Kinder Morgan. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Kinder Morgan. The Motley Fool has adisclosure policy.
Nordson (NDSN) Acquires Germany-Based Optical Control GmbH Nordson CorporationNDSN recently announced that it has acquired Optical Control GmbH. Notably, the transaction is in sync with the company’s strategy to strengthen its Test and Inspectioncapabilities. The financial terms of the deal were kept under wraps.Nuremberg-based Optical Control is a developer of high speed, fully automatic counting systems with the help of X-ray technology. Notably, the company supplies automatic counting of components for strips, reels and trays along with basic inspection in printed circuit board manufacturing.This acquisition will augment Nordson Electronic Solutions product lines under the company’s Advanced Technology Systems segment. This will allow Nordson to diversify and expand the range of solutions it offers to its electronics customers.Our TakeNordson stands to benefit from its diversified product portfolio and large customer base in the packaging, nonwovens, electronics, medical, appliances, energy, transportation, building and construction, and general product assembly and finishing industries. Notably, the company anticipates strengthening end markets and growth initiatives to aid organic sales in fiscal 2019 (ending October 2019).However, rising costs and expenses have been a major concern for Nordson. It is worth mentioning here that the company recorded 1.2% year-over-year growth in cost of sales in the second quarter of fiscal 2019. (ended Apr 30, 2019). If unchecked, higher costs and operating expenses will prove detrimental to its margins and profitability. In the past month, shares of the Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have returned 8.2%, outperforming the industry’s average growth of 6%.Key PicksSome better-ranked stocks in the same space are Roper Technologies, Inc. ROP, RBC Bearings Incorporated ROLL and Chart Industries, Inc. GTLS. While Roper sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), RBC Bearings and Chart Industries carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can seethe complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.Roper exceeded estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average beat being 8.43%.RBC Bearings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average beat being 8.36%.Chart Industries surpassed estimates thrice in the trailing four quarters, the average beat being 16.56%.The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of AllLast year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce ""the world's first trillionaires,"" but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early.See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >> 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 reportRoper Technologies, Inc. (ROP) : Free Stock Analysis ReportNordson Corporation (NDSN) : Free Stock Analysis ReportChart Industries, Inc. (GTLS) : Free Stock Analysis ReportRBC Bearings Incorporated (ROLL) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research

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